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.

1609-1610

THE HOLIE BIBLE FAIT …

THE HOLIE BIBLE FAITHFVLLY TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH, OVT OF THE AVTHENTICAL LATIN.

Diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greeke, and other Editions in diuers languages.

With ARGVMENTS of the Bookes, and Chapters: ANNOTATIONS. TABLES: and other helpes, for better vnderstanding of the text: for discouerie of CORRVPTIONS in some late translations: and for clearing CONTROVERSIES in Religion.

BY THE ENGLISH COLLEGE OF DOWAY.

Haurietis aquas in gaudio de fontibus Saluatoris.

Isaiae. 12.

You shal draw waters in ioy out of the Sauiours fountaines.

Printed at Doway by LAVRENCE KELLAM, at the signe of the holie Lambe.

M. DC. IX.

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APPROBATIO.

NOs infrascripti, in alma Duacensi vniuersitate Sacrae Theologiae Doctores & Professores, hanc Anglicanam Veteris Testamenti translationem, quam tres diuersi eius nationis eruditissimi Theologi, non solum fidelem, sed propter diuersa quae ei sunt adiuncta, valde vtilem fidei Catholicae propagandae ac tuendae, & bonis moribus promouendis, sunt testati: quorum testimonia ipsorum syngraphis munita vidimus; cuius item Translationis, & Annotationum auctores nobis de fidei integritate, & eruditionis praestantia probè sunt noti: his rebus adducti & nixi, fructuose euulgari posse censuimus. Duaci. 8. Nouembris. 1609.

GVILIELMVS ESTIVS Sacrae Theologiae Doctor, & in Academia Duacensi Professor.
BARTHOLOMAEVS PETRVS Sacrae Theologiae Doctor, & in Vniuersitate Duacensi Professor.
GEORGIVS COLVENERIVS S. Theologiae Doctor, & eiusdem in Academia Duacena Professor.

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TO THE RIGHT VVELBELOVED ENGLISH READER GRACE AND GLORIE IN IESVS CHRIST EVERLASTING.

AT LAST through Gods goodnes (most dearly beloued) we send you here the greater part of the Old Testament: as long since you receiued the New; faithfully translated into English. The residue is in hād to be finished: and your desire therof shal not now (God prospering our The cause of delay in setting forth this English Bible. intention) be long frustrate. As for the impediments, which hitherto haue hindered this vvorke, they al proceded (as manie do know) of one general cause, our poore estate in banishment. VVherin expecting better meanes, greatter difficulties rather ensued. Neuertheles you wil hereby the more perceiue our feruent good wil, euer to serue you, in that we haue brought forth this Tome, in these hardest times, of aboue fourtie yeares, since this College was most happely begune. VVherfore we nothing doubt, but you Anno. 1568. our dearest, for whom we haue dedicated our liues, wil both pardon the long delay, which we could not wel preuent, and accept now this fruict of our laboures, with like good affection, as we acknowlege them due, and offer the same vnto you.

If anie demand, why it is now allowed to haue the holie VVhy & how it is allowed to haue holie Scriptures in vulgar tongues. Scriptures in vulgar tongues, which generally is not permitted, but in the three sacred only: for further declaration of this, & other like pointes we remite you to the Preface, before the New Testament. Only here, as by an Epitome, [Page] we shal repete the summe of al, that is there more largely discussed. To this first question therfore we answer, that both iust reason, & highest authoritie of the Church, iudge it not absolutly necessarie, nor alwayes conuenient, that Scriptures being hard are not to be read of al. holie Scriptures should be in vulgar tongues. For being as they are, hard to be vnderstood, euen by the lerned, reason doth dictate to reasonable men, that they were not written, nor ordayned to be read indifferently of al men. Experiēce also teacheth, that through ignorance, ioyned often with Manie take harme by reading holi [...] Scriptures. pride and presumption, manie reading Scriptures haue erred grosly, by misunderstanding Gods word. VVhich though it be most pure in it self, yet the sense being adulterated lib. de Prescrip. is as perilous (saith Tertullian) as the stile corrupted. S. Ambrose obserueth: that vvhere the text is true, the Arrians interpretation lib. 2, ad Gratian. c. 1. Tract. 18 in Ioan. hath errors. S. Augustin also teacheth, that here sies and peruerse doctrines entangling soules, and throvving them dovvne headlong into the depth, do not othervvise spring vp, but vvhen good (or true) Scriptures are not vvel (and truly) vnderstood, and vvhen that vvhich in them is not vvel vnderstood, is also rashly & boldly auouched. For the same cause, S. Ierom vtterly disallowed, Epist. 103. c. 6. that al sortes of men & wemen, old & yong, presumed to read: & talke of the Scriptures: wheras no articene, no tradsman dare presume to teach anie facultie, vvhich he hath not first lerned. Seing therfore that dangers, & hurtes happen in manie, the careful chief Pastores in Gods Church, haue alwaies Reading. of Scriptures moderated. moderated the reading of holie Scriptures, according to persons, times, and other circumstances; prohibiting some, and permitting some, to haue and read them, in their mother tongue. So S. Crysostom trāslated the Psalmes & some other partes of holie Scriptures for the Armenians, Scriptures translated into diuers tongues. when he was there in banishment. The Slauonians Bibl. Sanct. lib. 4. and Gothes say they haue the Bible in their languages. It was translated into Italian by an Archbyshop of Genua. Into French in the time of king Charles the fift: especially because the waldensian heretikes had corruptly translated [Page] it, to maintaine their errors. VVe had some partes in English Lib. 1. Hist. c. 47 Linvvod lib. 1. translated by Venerable Bede: as Malmesburie witnesseth. And Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canturburie in a Councel holden at Oxford, straictly ordayned, that no heretical translation set forth by wicliffe, and his complices, nor anie other vulgar Edition should be suffered, til it were approued by the Ordinarie of the Diocese: alleaging S. leroms iudgement of the difficultie & danger in translating holie Scriptures out of one tongue into an other. And therfore it must nedes be much more dangerous, when ignorant people read also corrupted translations. Now since Luther, and his folowers haue pretended, that the Catholique A calumnious suggestion of Lutheranes. Romane faith and doctrine, should be contrarie to Gods written word, & that the Scriptures were not suffered in vulgar languages, lest the people should see the truth, & vvithal these new maisters corruptly turning the Scriptures into diuers tongues, as might best serue their owne opinions: against this false suggestion, and practise, Catholique Pastores haue, for one especial remedie, set forth true and sincere Translations in most languages of the Latin Church. But so, that people must read them with licence of their spiritual superior, as in former times they were in like sort limited. Such also of the Laitie, yea & of the meaner lerned Clergie, as were permitted to read holie Scriptures, did not presume to interprete hard places, nor high Mysteries, much lesse to dispute and contend, but leauing the discussion therof to the more lerned, searched rather, VVhat part of Scriptures be most conuenient for vulgar readers. and noted the godlie and imitable examples of good life, and so lerned more humilitie, obedience, hatred of sinne, feare of God, zele of Religion, and other vertues. And thus holie Scriptures may be rightly vsed in anie tongue, to teach, to argue, to correct, to instruct in iustice, that the man of [...] Tim 3. God may be perfect, and (as S. Paul addeth) instructed to euerie good vvorke, when men laboure rather to be doers of Gods [...]ac. 1. wil & vvord, then readers or hearers only, deceiuing themselues.

[Page]But here an other question may be proposed: VVhy we VVhy we translate the old Latin text. translate the Latin text, rather then the Hebrew, or Greke, which Protestantes preferre, as the fountaine tongues, wherin holie Scriptures were first written? To this we answer, that if in dede those first pure Editions were now More pure then the Hebrew or Greke now extant. extant, or if such as be extant, were more pure then the Latin, we would also preferre such fountaines before the riuers, in whatsoeuer they should be found to disagree. But the ancient best lerned Fathers, & Doctors of the Church, Tertulliā li. 5. cont Marcion S. Ambrose. li. 3 deSpirit. San. c. 11 S. Ieron: li. 1. con. Iouiniā. do much complaine, and testifie to vs, that both the Hebrew and Greke Editions are fouly corrupted by Iewes, and Heretikes, since the Latin was truly translated out of them, whiles they were more pure. And that the same Latin hath bene farre better conserued from corruptions. So that the old Vulgate Latin Edition hath bene preferred, and vsed for most authentical aboue a thousand and three hundered yeares. For by this verie terme S. Ierom calleth that Version the vulgate or common, which he conferred with in 49. Isaiae. the Hebrew of the old Testament, and with the Greke of the New; which he also purged from faultes committed by writers, rather amending then translating it. Though in li. 20. c. 24 mora. Epist. dedicat. ad Leandr. li. 2. Doct Christ. c. 14. lib. 6. Etymol. c. 5. & li. 1 de Diuin offic. c. 12. regard of this amending, S. Gregorie calleth it the nevv versiō of S. Ierom: who neuertheles in an other place calleth the self same, the old Latin Edition, iudging it most worthy to be folowed. S. Augustin calleth it the Italian. S. Isidorus witnesseth Receiued by al Churches. that S. Ierom; version was receiued and approued by al Christian Churches. Sophronius also a most lerned man, Turned into Greke. seing S. Ieroms Edition so much estemed, not only of the Latines, but also of the Grecians, turned the Psalter & Prophetes, out of the same Latin into Greke. Of latter times what shal we nede to recite other most lerned men? S. Bede S. Anselme, S. Bernard, S. Thomas, S. Bonauenture, & the rest? VVho al vniformly allege this only text as authentical. In so much that al other Latin Editions, which S. Ierom Prefat. in Iosue. saith were in his time almost innumerable, are as it were [Page] fallen out of al Diuines handes, and growne out of credite Al others growne out of vse. S. Ierom excelled al other Doctors in translating & expounding holie Scriptures. and vse. If moreouer we consider S. Ieroms lerning, p [...]etie, diligence, and sinceritie, together with the commodities he had of best copies, in al languages then extant, and of other lerned men, with whom he conferred: and if we so cōare the same with the best meanes that hath bene since, surely no man of indifferent iudgement, wil match anie other Edition with S. Ieroms: but easely acknowlege with the whole Church Gods particular prouidēce in this great Doctor, as wel for expounding, as most especialy for the His Edition free from. partialitie. true text and Edition of Holie Scriptures. Neither do we flee vnto this old Latin text, for more aduantage. For besides that it is free from partialitie, as being most ancient of al Latin copies, and long before the particular Controuersies of these dayes beganne; the Hebrew also & the Greke when they are truly translated, yea and Erasmus his Latin, in sundrie places, proue more plainly the Catholique Romaine Preferred before al other Editions by Beza. doctrine, then this which we relie vpon. So that Luc. 22. v. 20. Prefat. Noui. Testam. Anno. 1556. Luc. 1. v. 1. Beza & his folowers take also exception against the Greke, when Catholiques allege it against them. Yea the same Beza preferreth the old Latin Version before al others, & freely testifieth, that the old Interpreter translated religiously. VVhat then do our countriemen, that refuse this None yet in England allowed for sufficient. Latin, but depriue themselues of the best, and yet al this while, haue set forth none, that is allowed by al Protestantes, for good or sufficient.

How wel this is donne the lerned may iudge, when by mature conference, they shal haue made trial therof. And if VVhat is done in this Edition anie thing be mistaken, we wil (as stil we promise) gladly Preface before the nevv Testam. correct it. Those that trāslated it about thirtie yeares since, were wel knowen to the world, to haue bene excellent in the tongues, sincere men, and great Diuines. Only one Diuers readinges resolued vpon, & none leift in the margent. thing we haue donne touching the text, wherof we are especially to geue notice. That whereas heretofore in the best Latin Editions, there remained manie places differing [Page] in wordes, some also in sense, as in long processe of time, the writers erred in their copies; now lately by the care & diligence of the Church, those diuers readings were maturely, and iuditiously examined, and conferred with sundrie the best written and printed bookes, & so resolued vpon, that al which before were leift in the margent, are either restored into the text, or els omitted; so that now none such remaine in the margent. For which cause, we haue againe conferred this English translation, and conformed They touched not present controuersies. it to the most perfect Latin Edition. VVhere yet by the way we must geue the vulgar reader to vnderstand, that very few or none of the former varieties, touched Controuersies of this time. So that this Recognition is no way suspicious of partialtie, but is merely donne for the more secure conseruation of the true text; and more ease, and satisfaction of such, as otherwise should haue remained more doubtful.

Now for the strictnes obserued in translating some VVhy some vvordes are not translated into vulgar English. wordes, or rather the not translating of some, which is in more danger to be disliked, we doubt not but the discrete lerned reader, deepely weighing and considering the importance of sacred wordes, and how easely the translatour may misse the sense of the Holie Ghost, wil hold that which is here donne for reasonable and necessarie. VVe haue also the example of the Latin, and Greke, where some wordes Some Hebrew wordes not translated into Latin, nor Greke. are not translated, but left in Hebrew, as they were first spoken & written; which seeing they could not, or were not conuenient to be translated into Latin or Greke, how much lesse could they, or was it reason to turne them into English? S. Augustin also yeldeth à reason, exemplifying in the li 2 Doct. Christ. cap. 11. wordes Amen and Alleluia, for the more sacred authoritie therof. More authoritie in sacred tongues. which doubtles is the cause why some names of solemne Feastes, Sacrifices, & other holie thinges are reserued in sacred tongues, Hebrew, Greke, or Latin. Againe for necessitie, English not hauing à name, or sufficient terme, we either [Page] kepe the word, as we find it, or only turne it to our English Some vvordes can not be turned into English: termination, because it would otherwise require manie wordes in English, to signifie one word of an other tongue. In which cases, we commonly put the explication in the margent. Briefly our Apologie is easie against English Protestantes; because they also reserue some wordes in Protestantes leaue some vvordes vntranslated. the original tongues, not translated into English: as Sabbath, Ephod, Pentecost, Proselyte, and some others. The sense wherof is in dede as soone lerned, as if they were turned so nere as is possible into English. And why then may we not say Prepuce, Phase or Pasch, Azimes, Breades of Proposition, Holocaust, and the like? rather then as Protestantes translate them: Foreskinne, Passeouer, The feast of svvete breades, Shevv breades, Burnt offerings: &c. By which termes, whether they be truly translated into English or no, we wil passe ouer. Sure it is an English man is stil to seke, what they meane, as if they remained in Hebrew, or Greke. It more importeth, that nothing be wittingly and falsly translated, for aduantage of doctrine in matter of faith. VVherein as we dare boldly auouch the sinceritie of this Translation, and that nothing is here either vntruly, or obscurely donne of purpose, in fauour of Catholique Romane Religion: so we can not but complaine, and chalenge English Protestantes, Corruptions in Protestantes Translations of holie Scriptures. for corrupting the text, cōtrarie to the Hebrew, & Greke, which they professe to translate, for the more shew, and mainteyning of their peculiar opinions against Catholiques. As is proued in the Discouerie of manifold corruptiōs. For example we shal put the reader in memorie of one or two. Gen. 4. v. 7. whereas (God speaking to Cain) the Hebrew wordes in Grammatical construction may be translated either thus: Vnto thee also perteyneth the lust THEROF, & thou shalt haue dominion ouer IT: or thus; Also vnto thee HIS desire Of purpose against Catholique doctrine shal be subiect, & thou shalt rule ouer HIM: though the coherēce of the text requireth the former, & in the Bibles printed 1552. and. 1577. Protestantes did so translate it: yet in [Page] the yeare 1579. and 1603. they translate it the other way, Against▪ free wil. rather saying, that Abel was subiect to Cain, and that Cain by Gods ordinance, had dominion ouer his brother Abel, then that concupiscence or lust of sinne is subiect to mans wil, or that man hath powre of free wil, to resist (by Gods grace) tentation of sinne. But as we heare in a new Edition (which we haue not yet sene) they trāslate it almost as in the Against Melchisedechs sacrifice. first in like sorte Gen. 14. v. 18. The Hebrew particle VAV, which S. Ierom, and al Antiquitie translated ENIM (FOR) Protestants wil by no meanes admitte it, because (besides other argumentes) we proue therby Melchisedechs Sacrifice. And yet themselues translate the same, as S. Ierom doth, Gen. 20. v. 3. saying: FOR she is a mans vvife. &c. And against holie Images. Againe Gen. 31. v. 19. the English Bibles. 1552. and 1577. translate Theraphim, IMAGES. VVhich the Edition of 1603▪ correcting, translateth IDOLES. And the marginal Annotation wel proueth, that it ought to be so translated.

VVith this then we wil conclude most deare (we speake This Edition dedicated to al that vnderstand English. to you al, that vnderstand our tongue, whether you be of contrarie opinions in faith, or of mundane feare participate with an other Congregation; or professe with vs the same Catholique Religion) to you al we present this worke: dayly beseching God Almightie, the Diuine VVisedom, Eternal Goodnes, to create, illuminate, and replenish your spirites, with his Grace, that you may attaine eternal Glorie. Euerie one in his measure, in those manie Mansions, prepared and promised by our Sauiour in his Fathers house. Not only to those which first receiued, & folowed his Diuine doctrine, but to al that should afterwardes beleue in him, & kepe the same preceptes. For there is one God, one also Mediatour of God and men: Man Christ Iesus. VVho gaue himself a Redemption for al. VVherby appeareth his wil, that al should be saued. VVhy then are not al saued? The Apostle addeth: that they must first come to the knowlege Christ redeemed al, but al are not saued. of the truth. Because without faith it is impossible to please [Page] God. This ground worke therfore of our creation in Christ True faith first necessarie. by true faith, S. Paul labored most seriously by word and writing, to establish in the hartes of al men. In this he confirmed the Romanes by his Epistle, cōmending their faith, as already receiued, and renowmed in the whole world. He preached the same faith to manie Nations. Amongst others to the lerned Athenians. VVhere it semed to some, as absurde, as strange; in so much that they scornfully called him avvord-sovver, and Preacher of new gods. But S. Augustin Act. 17. v. 18. Ser. 42. de Sanct. alloweth the terme for good, which was reprochfully spoken of the ignorant. And so distinguishing betwen Reapers, and Sovvers in Gods Church, he teacheth, that The twelue Apostles were first Reapers, before they were Sowers▪ S. Paul at first a Sower, or Seminarie Apostle. wheras the other Apostles reaped in the Iewes, that which their Patriarches and Prophetes had sowne; S. Paul sowed the seede of Christian Religion in the Gentiles. And so in respect of the Israelites, to whom they were first sent, calleth the other Apostles Messores, Reapers, and S. Paul, being specially sent to the Gentiles, Seminatorem a Sovver, or Seminarie Apostle. VVhich two sortes of Gods workmen are stil in the Church, with distinct offices of Pastoral cures, and Apostolical missions; the one for perpetual gouernment of Pastoral cures and Apostolical missions. Catholique countries: the other for conuersion of such, as either haue not receiued Christian Religion, or are relapsed. As at this time in our country, for the diuers sortes of pretended religions, these diuers spiritual workes are necessary, to teach and feede al Britan people. Because some in error of opinions preach an other Gospel, wheras in veritie New doctrine is falsly called the Gospel. there is no other Gospel. They preach in dede new doctrines, S. Aug. de v [...]lit crede 1. c. Mat. 15. which can not saue. Others folow them beleuing falshood. But vvhen the blinde lead the blinde (not the one The seduced, & externally conformable are punished with the authors of iniquitie▪ only, but) both fal into the ditch. Others conforme themselues, in external shew, fearing them that can punish, and kil the bodie. But our Lord vvil bring such as decline into (vniust) Psalmo. 124. obligations, vvith them that vvorke iniquitie. The Reliques and smal flock of Catholiques in our country, haue [Page] great sadnes, and sorow of hart; not so much for our owne affliction, for that is comfortable, but for you our brethren, and kinsemen in flesh and bloud. VVishing with our owne temporal damage whatsoeuer, your saluation. Now -. Cor. 6. is the acceptable time, now are the dayes of saluation, the Grace in the new Testamēt more abundant then in the old. time of Grace by Christ, whose dayes manie Kinges & Prophetes desired to see: they saw them ( in spirite) and reioyced. Luc. 10. But we are made partakers of Christ, and his Mysteries; so that our selues neglect not his heauenly riches: if we receiue & kepe the beginning of his substance, firme vnto the end; that is, the true Catholique faith; building theron good workes by his grace; without which we can not thinke a good thought, by which we can do al thinges necessarie to saluation. But if we hold not fast this ground, al the building fayleth. Or if confessing to know God in wordes, we Tit. 1. denie him in deedes, committing workes of darknes; Both wicked workes, and omission of good workes are damnable. or omitting workes of mercie, when we may doe them to Mat. 25. our distressed neighbours; brifly if we haue not charitie, the 1. Cor. [...]3. forme and perfection of al vertues, al is lost, and nothing worth. But if we builde vpon firme grounde, gold, siluer, and precious stones, such building shal abide, and make 1. Pet. 1. our vocation sure by good workes. as S. Peter speaketh. These (saith S. Paul) are the heyres of God, coheyres of Innumerable saued by Christ. Christ. Neither is the number of Christs blessed children Apoc. 7. coūted, as of the Iewes, an hundred fourtie foure thousand, of euerie tribe of Israel twelue thousand signed; but a most great multitude of Catholique Christians, which no man can number, of al nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne of the lambe, clothed in white robes, and palmes ( of triumph) in their handes: hauing ouercome tentations in the vertuous race of good life. Much more those which also indure persecution for They are more happie that suffer persecution for the truth. the truthes sake, shal receiue most copious great rewardes in heauen. For albeit the passions of this time ( in themselues) are not Vvorthie, or comparable in dignitie. condigne, to the glorie to come, that shal be reueled [Page] in vs: yet our tribulation, which presently is momentanie, 2. Cor. 4. and light, worketh ( through grace) aboue measure excedingly an eternal weight of glorie. VVhat shal we therfore meditate of the especial prerogatiue of English Catholiques at this time? For to you it is geuen for Christ, not only that you beleue in him, but also that you suffer for English Catholiques most happie in this age. him. A litle now, if you must be made pensiue in diuers 1. Pet. 1. tentations, that the probation of your faith, much more precious then gold, which is proued by the fire, may be found vnto praise, and glorie, and honour, in the reuelation of Iesus Christ. Manie of you haue susteyned the spoile of your goodes with ioy, knowing that you haue a better and a permanent substance. Others haue benne depriued of your children, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and nerest frendes, in readie resolution also, some with sentence of death, to lose your owne liues. Others haue had trial of reproches, mockeries, and stripes. Others of bandes, prisons, and banishmentes. The innumerable renowmed late English Martyres, & Confessors, whose happie soules The due praise of Martyres, and other glorious Sainctes excedeth mortal tongues. for confessing true faith before men, are now most glorious in heauen, we passe here with silence; because their due praise, requiring longer discourse, yea rather Angels, then English tongues, farre surpasseth the reach of our conceiptes. And so we leaue it to your deuout meditation. They now secure for themselues, and solicitous for vs their dearest clientes, incessantly (we are wel assured) intercede before Christs Diuine Maiestie, for our happie consummation, with the conuersion of our whole countrie. To you therfore (dearest frendes mortal) we direct this speach: admonishing ourselues & you, in the Apostles wordes, that for so much as we haue not yet resisted tentations to (last) Patience necessarie to the end of mans life. bloud (and death itself) patience is stil necessarie for vs, that doing the wil of God, we may receiue the promise. So we repine not in tribulation, but euer loue them that hate vs, pittying their case, and reioycing in our owne. For [Page] neither can we see during this life, how much good they Persecution profitable. do vs; nor know how manie of them shal be (as we hartely desire they al may be) saued: our Lord and Sauiour hauing paide the same price by his death, for them and for vs. Loue al therefore, pray for al. Do not lose your confidence, which hath a great remuneration. For yet a litle, and a very litle while, he that is to come, wil come, and he wil not slacke. Now the iust liueth by faith, beleeuing with Rom 10. Heb. 10. hart to iustice, and confessing with mouth to saluation. But Confession of faith before men necessarie to saluation. he that withdraweth himself shal not please Christs soule. Attend to your saluation, dearest countriemen. You that are farre of, draw nere, put on Christ. And you that are within Christs fold, kepe your standing, perseuere in him to the end. His grace dwel and remaine in you, that glorious crownes may be geuen you.

AMEN.

From the English College in Doway, the Octaues of AL SAINCTES. 1609.

The God of patience and comfort geue you to be of one mind, one tovvards another in IESVS Christ; that of one mind, vvith one mouth you may glorifie God.

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THE SVMME AND PARTITION OF THE HOLIE BIBLE.
With a brife note of the Canonical and Apochryphal Bookes.

By the vniforme consent of al learned Diuines, the holie Bible, S. Ierom. Epist. ad Paulin. de omnib S. Scipt. libris. S. Aug. prefat in specul. li. 2. dc doct christ. ca. 9. li. I. de Gen. cō tra Manich. ca. 4. li. de catechiz rudib. c. 3. & 4. l. 2. qq. su per Exod q. 73. li. 15. cont. Faust. Manich. cap. 2. li 18. ciuit. ca 54. de vera relig. c. 27. li. 4. cōt. Faust. ca. 2. S. Greg. h [...]. 6. in Ezech. I. How the holie Scriptures conteine al knowlege neceslarie to saluation. The old and the new Testament shew the same God, Christ, Church and other Mysteries of Religion. The old more obscurely, with lesle helpes. The new more expresly and yeldeth more grace. or written word of God, conteyneth Expressed orimplied, al thinges that man is to beleue, to obserue, & to auoid, for obtayning of aeternal saluation. That is, al matters of faith & maners, by which we may know and serue God, and so be spiritually ioyned with him, in this life, & in eternitie. For both the old & new Testament propose and testifie vnto vs, one and the same God, the same Christ, the same Church, and other Mysteries of our beleefe, not differing in substance, but in maner of vttering; the old more obscurely in figures and prophecies foretelling those thinges, which the New declareth (in great part) as donne and performed. VVherupon saith S. Augustin: In the Old Testament the New lieth hidden: & in the New the Old lieth open. And touching their names, wherein appareth difference, the one (saith the same Doctor) is called the old Testament, either because it propofeth promises of temporal thinges (VVherwith our old corruptnes is allured) Or in respect of the New, by which it is fulfilled, and in some part abolished. The other is called the New, because by it man is renewed, and hath promise of eternal life: VVhich shal neuer waxe old nor decay. Likewise S. Gregorie the great testifieth this conformitie, and correspondence betwen the Old and New Testament, affirming that the same is signified by the prophet Esccbiels vision of an hcele, which had foure faces, or apparence of foure whiles, the shape whereof was, as it were, a wheele in the middes of a wheele. What is this saith he, nisi quod in Testamenti veteris litera Testamentum nouum latuit per Allegoriam? but that in the letter of the old Testament, the New lay hidden by an Allegorie? In both Testaments, are foure sortes of Bookes.

And as the same is the summe and subject of both Testaments: so both are diuided (for the more principal partes therof) into foure sortes of Bookes: Legal, Historical, Sapiential, & Prophetical. The Legal bookes of the old Testament are the fiue Bookes of Moises; Genesis, Exodus, Leuiticus, Legal. [Page] Numeri, & Deuteronomie; whereto answer in the new Testament, the foure Gospels of S. Matthew, S. Marke, S. Luke, & S. Iohn. Historical bookes of the old Testament, are the Bookes of Iosue, Iudges, Historical. Ruth, foure bookes of Kinges, two of Paralipomenon, Esdras with Nehemias, Tobias, Iudith, Hester, Iob, & two of the Machabees; vnto which, in the new Testament, answer the Actes of the Apostles. Sapiential. Sapiential, of the old Testament, are the Prouerbes, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, Booke of wisdome, & Ecclesiasticus; and of like sorte are in the new Testament, the Epistles of S. Paul & of other Apostles. Prophetical Prophetical bookes are Dauids Psalter (which is also Sapiential, yea like wise Legal and Historical) the Bookes of Isaias, Ieremias with Baruch, Ezechiel, Daniel, the twelue lesse Prophetes, Osea, Ioel, Amos, Abdias, Ionas, Michaeas, Nahum, Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggaeus, Zacharias, Malachias. And in the new Testament, the Apocalips of S. Iohn the Apostle.

Al these Bookes are vndoubtedly Canonical, as the Authores cited in Al these books recited are Canonical, and of infallible truth. Cone. Carth. An. Dni 419. Conc. Laodic cap. 59. Florent Instruct. Armen. decret. 7. Trident Sess. 4. S. Atha. in Synop. S. Aug. li. 2. doct Christ c. 8 Isider. li. 6. Elymol c. I. & alibi. Nicep. li. li. 4. cap. 15. Euseb li. 5. c. 8. the inner margent testifie. And consequently al, and al the partes therof; are of infallible truth. For otherwise as S. Augustin teacheth, if anie part were false, or doubtful, al were vncertaine. once admittiug falsehood (saith he, Epist, 8. ad Ieroni) in such soueraigne authoritie, no parcel of these bookes should remaine, which anie way should seme hard to maners, or incredible to beleue, but it might by this most pernicious rule be turned to an officious fiction of the author. That is: If anie error could be committed by the authores of Scriptures, either through ignorance, obliuion, or anie other humane frailtie, what soeuer were produced, exception might be taken, and question made, whether the author had e [...]red, or no? True it is, that some of these bookes (as we shal particularly Apochryphal of two sortes. 1. Not declared canonical. 2. Reiected as erronious. discusse in their places) were sometimes doubted of by some Catholiques, and called Apochrypal, in that sense, as the word properly signifieth hidden, or not apparent. So S. Ierom (in his Prologue before the Latin Bible) calleth diuers bookes Apochryphal, being not so euident, whether they were Diuine scripture, because they were not in the lewes Canon, nor at first in the Churches Canon, but were neuer reiected, as false or erronious. In which sense the Prayer of Manasses, the third booke of Esdras, and third of Machabees are yet called Apochryphal. As for the fourth of Esdras, and fourth of Machabees there is more doubt. But diuers others, as the booke ascribed to Enoch, the Gospels of S. Andrew, S. Thomas, S. Bartholmew, and the like recited by S. Gelasius (Decreto de libris Ecclesiasticis dist. 15. Can. Sancta Romana) S. Innocentius the first (Epist. 3.) S. Ierom, Ep ad Laetam, S. Augustin li. 15. cap. 23. de ciuit. Dei. Origen homis. 2. in Cantica. are in a worse sense called Apochryphal, & are reiected as [Page] conteyning manifest errors, or fained by Heretikes. Neither can a Christian The Holie Ghost declareth by the Church which Bookes are Diuine Scriptures. Catholique he otherwise assured, Which Bookes are Diuine and Canonical Scriptures, but by declaration of the Catholique Church, which without interruption Mat. 28. Ioan. 14. 16. Act. 2. 20 1. Tim. 3. succedeth the Apostles, to whom our Sauiour promised, and sent the Holie Ghost, to teach al truth. For if in anie thing more then others, assuredly one chief and most necessarie point is, to know and declare, which Bookes are Gods holie Word: being of most singular importance.

THE SVMME OF THE OLD TESTAment, as it is distinguished from the new.

Not withstanding the subiect, & general argument of both Testaments The old and new Testament differ in time. In maner of vttering. Varietie of Precepss. Promises. Meanes. is one & the same in substance, as is already said, yet they differ in time, in maner of vttering of Mysteries, in varietie of precepts, & promises, also in meanes to obserue the thinges exacted, & to attayne to the end proposed, Temo. 3. quest. 10 Algasiae. In regard wherof S. Ierome saith: Lex Moysi & omne vetus instrumentum elementa mundi intelliguntur, quibus quasi elementis, & Religionis exordijs Deum discimus. The law of Moyses and al the old Testament are vnderstood the elements of the world, by which, as by first rudiments & beginnings, we lerne to know God. For that in it we haue first the Law of nature: and asterwards a law written, with promises of temporal rewardes; as long life, land flowiug with milke & honie, & the like; but it brought nothing Heb. 7. 9. 10. Gal. 4. to perfection, as S. Paul saith, when giftes & hostes were offered, which could not according to conscience, make the obseruer perfect. For the helpes of that time, were but infirma & egena elemēta: Weake & poore elements. Likewise in general, touching the punishments The old Testament conteyneth figures of the new. A continual visible Church from the beginning of the world to Christ. The same Mystical bodie, but different in state. Diuided into six ages. The first age continued. 1656. yeares. that sometimes happened to the people of the old Testament, when they transgressed, the same Apostle affirmeth, that al the same chanced to 1. Cor. 10 them in figure, & are written for our correption, vpon whom the ends of the world are come. so that the old Testament, or Law was Gal. 3: but our pedagogue in Christ. Yet it setteth forth to vs the whole course of Gods Church, for the space of foure thousand yeares, that is, from the beginning of the world vntil Christ our Redemer. which Diuines diuide into six ages, wherein was varietie & change of her state, three vnder the Law of nature, and three others vnder the written Law. The seuenth & last age being this time of grace (wherin we now are) from Christ, to the day of general Iudgement: as the world was made in six dayes, and in the seuenth God is said to haue rested, and therfore sanctified it, in other sort, then the former six. The eight wil be after the Resurrection, during for al eternitie.

VVhich six ages of the ancient Church, & old Testament, are thus distributed. Gen. 1. The first from the Creation to Noes floud, conteyning the space of 1656. [Page] yeares. The second from the floud to the going of Abraham out of his countrie, The second 368. or 398. The third. about. 4 [...]0. Gen. 8. Gen 12. Genebrard Chronolog. S. Aug. li. 15. c. 8. ciuit. Gal. 3. Exo. 16. 3. Reg. 6. 3 Reg. 7. 1. Esdiae 1. 368. or counting Cainan (Gen. 11. iuxta 72. & Luc. 3.) 398. yeares. The third from Abraham his going forth of his countrie, to the parting of the children of Israel out of Aegypt. VVhich-some count to haue continued 720. yeares, others (whom we folow) but 430. And thus farre in the law of nature before the written law. The fourth age dured, 480. yeares, from The fourth 480. the deliuerie of the children of Israel forth of Aegypt, to the fundation of the Temple in Ierusalem. The fifth age was from the fundation of the Temple, to The fifth 4 [...]0. The sixth, nere 640. Al the time from the creation to Christ aboue. 4000. yeares. the captiuitie & transmigration of the Iewes into Babylon, about 430. yeares. And the sixth age dured about 640. yeares, from the Captiuitie of Babylon to Christ. In al which times God was acknowledged and rightly serued, by a continual visible Church, with true Religion; the same & no other, which now that Church holdeth, that is called and knowen by she name of Catholique. As we intend, by Gods assistance, to shew by briefe Annotations, concerning diuers particular points now in Controuersie, as the holie Text geueth occasion. And especially by way of Recapitulation after euerie one of the six ages, when we come to those passages in the Historie, where the same are ended.

OF MOYSES THE AVTHOR OF THE fiue first bookes.

MOyses (so called because he was taken from the water, as the name MOYSES. signifieth, taken from the water. Exod. 6. N [...]m. 26. 1. Par. 6. Ioseph li. 2 Antiq. cap. 9. S. Aug▪ ser. 88. de temp. S. Greg. oratio. in laudem Basilij magni. S. Aug. li. 18. ciuit. c. 39. signifieth) was borne in Aegypt, the sonne of Amram, the sonne of Caath, the sonne of Leui the Patriarch, and so of Iacob, Isaac, and Abraham. His maruelous deliuerie from drowning, his education, excellent forme, singular wisdome, heroical vertues, rare dexteritie in al affayres, & whole life most admirable, are gathered out of holie Scriptures, by S. Gregorie Bishop of Nissen, into a briefe Summe, most worthie to be read, but to large for this place. He was borne about the yeare of the world two thousand The excellencie of Moyses foure hundred, long before al prophane writers, yea before manie of the Painimes false goddes, as S. Augustin declareth in diuers places of his most excellent booke intituled of the Citie of God. He liued in this world 120. yeares▪ Of which 40. were in Pharaos court, as the adopted sonne of Pharaos daughter: fourtie in banishment from Aegypt in Madian: and fourtie more he gouerned the people of Israel. His singular prayses are also briefly touched in the last chapter of Deuteromie, added by Iosue. and in the booke of Deut. 34. Eccli 45. Glos. ord Ecclesi [...]sticus. He died in the desert, and was buried in the va [...]le of Moab, so His sepulchre not knowen [...]o anie man. secretly that no mortal man knew his sepulchre, lest the Iewes, who were very prone to Idolatrie, should haue adored his bodie with diuine honour, for the greatnes and multitude of his miracles, and for the singular estimation, they had of him for the same.

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THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF GENESIS.

THIS first Booke of holie Sripture, called Genesis, which signifieth Genesis written by Moyses Alwayes authentical. So knowen by Tradition, confirmed by Christ. Alleaged also by the Apostles. Religion reueled to special persons, and so obserued by Traditions. birth or beginning, was written by Moyses, when he was designed by God, to instruct & rule the children of Israel. As also the other foure bookes folowing. The Author and authoritie of al which fiue bookes, were euer acknowledged by the faithful, both of the old and new Testament: and so accounted and estemed by tradition, til Christ and his Apostles: who also Mat. 19. Heb. 11. Iacob. 2. 1. Pet. 2. 2. Pet. 2. confirmed them by their testimonies, and allegations of the same, as of holie Scriptures. From the creation vntil Moyses writ (which was aboue two thousand and foure hundred yeares) the Church exercised Religion by Reuelations made to certaine Patriarches, and by Traditions from man to man, without anie Scriptures or Law written. But the peculiar people of God being more visibly separated from other nations, & manie errors abunding in the S. Aug. quest. vet & noui Testam. cap. 3. world, God would for correction & confutation therof, haue his wil made fu [...]her knowen to his children, and so remaine amongst them in written VVhy Scripture was written. VVhat Moyses specially sheweth in this booke. record, by his faithful seruant and Prophet Moyses. VVho therfore declareth the Author and beginning of al thinges, that is, How al creatures were made by God, and of him haue their being, and by him only are conserued. He teacheth expresly that there is one onlie God, against those that imagined and brought into the phantasies of men manie goddes. That the whole or vniuersal substance of heauen and earth, with their ornaments and accidents, were made in time; against those that thought the first fundation therof had euer benne. That God doth gouerne the same; against those that say, al is ruled by d [...]stenie or by the starres, and not by the continual prouidence of God. That God is a rewarder of the good, and a punisher of euil; which sinners seme either not to know, or grosly to forgete. And that God created al for mans vse and benefite, which should make vs grateful. VVherfore Man most particularly described: The right line from Adam to Noe. holie Moyses more particularly describeth the beginning of man; what he was at first; how he fel; how al mankind is come of one man: deducing the Genealogie of Adam, especially to Noe. Then how men being more and more defiled vpon the earth, with wicked, especially carnal sinnes, were by Gods iust wrath drowned with an vniuersal floud.

Againe how a few reserued persons multiplied the world a new. But this of spring also falling into manie sinnes, especially Idolatrie and spiritual fornication, as those of the first age did to carnal offences, God stil conserued some faithful & true seruants▪ Of which Moyses specially pursueth The principal Patriarches from Noe to the 12. sonnes of I [...]cael. the line of Noe by Sem his first begotten sonne. Then describeth the particular Gen. 10. vocations, liues, maners, notable sayings, and noble factes, with sincere religion of Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, Ioseph, & other holie Patriarches: who liued before the written lavv. Likevvise vpon vvhat occasion, & in vvhat [Page] mane [...], Iacob otherwise called Israel, with al his progenie, descended from the Land of Canaan into Aegypt, and were there entertayned. So this booke This booke diuided into eight partes▪ contayneth the historie of two thousand three hundred & odde yeares. And it may be diuided into eight partes. The first contayneth the Creation of 1. Heauen and Earth, & other Creatures, and lastly of Man chap. 1. & 2. The second part is of the trangression & fal of man, & his casting out of 2. Paradise, of multiplication of m [...]n, and of sinne, though stil some were iust, of the general floud, that drowned al except eight persons, & few other liuing creatures of the earth. from the third chap. to the 8. The third part is 3. of the new increase, & multiplication of the same. from the 8. chap. to the 11. The fourth, of the confusion of tongues, & the diuision of nations. in 4. 5. the 11. chap. The fift relateth Abrahams going forth of his countrie, Gods promise, that in his seede al Nations should be blessed, & the commandment of Circumcision, from the 12. chap. to the 21. The sixth part recounteth the 6. progenie, and other blessings, especially the great vertues of Abraham, Isaac, and Ia [...]ob. from the 21. chap. to the 37. The seuenth part reporteth the felling 7. of Ioseph into Aegypt, and his aduancement there. from the 37. chap. to the 46. The eight and last part is of Iacob, and his progenies going into 8. Aegypt, their intertainment there, and of Iacobs, and finally of Iosephs death. in the fiue last cahpters.

The signification of the markes here vsed, for direction of the reader.

The numbers in the argumentes of chapters point to the verse, where the matter mentioned beginneth.
This forme of crosse [†] in the text, sheweth the beginning of euerie verse.
The numbers in the inner margent ouer against the crosse, shew the number of verses in the same chapter.
This marke▪ signifieth that there foloweth an Annotation after the chapter, vpon the word, or wordes, wherto it is adioyned. The number also of the same verse is prefixed to the Annotation.
These foure prickes :: shew that there is an Annotation in the margent, vpon that place. And when manie occurre, the first answereth to the first marcke, the second to the second, and so forth. In like maner the citations of places in the inner margent, are applied to the authores alleaged.
But when there be more such marginal annotations, then may easely be applied, we vse the letters of the Alphabete for direction.
This forme of a starre [*] in the text or annotations, pointeth to the explication of some word or wordes, in the margent.
Sometimes we put the Concordance of other Scriptures in the inner margent of the text.
VVe haue also noted in the margent, when the Bookes of holie Scripture (or partes thereof) are read in the Churches Seruice. For their sakes, that desire to re [...]d the same, in order of the Ecclesiastical Office.

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THE BOOKE OF GENESIS, IN HEBREW BERESITH.

CHAP. 1. God createth heauen and earth, and al things therin; distinguishing and The first part. Of the creatiō of al things. bevvtyfying the same; 26. last of al the sixth day he createth man: to vvhom he subiecteth al corporal things of this inferior vvorld. The Church readeth this booke in her Office from Septuagesima til Passion Sunday. Also this first chapter & beginning of the second on Easter Eue before Masse.

N▪ THE beginning GOD created heauen and earth. † And the earth was 2 Act. 14, 15. 17, 24. Psalm. 32, 6. 135, 5. Eccli. 10, 1. [...]eb. 11, 3. voide & vacant, and darkenes was vpon the face of the deapth: and▪ the Spirite of God moued ouer the waters. † And God said: Be light made. 3 And light was made. † And God 4 saw the light that it was good: & he diuided the light from the darkenes. † And he called the 5 light, Day, and the darkenes, Night: and there was euening & morning, that made one day. † God also said: Be The firmament is al the space from the earth to the hieghest starres. the lowest part diuideth betwene the waters on the earth and the waters in the ayer. S. Aug. li. II. de Gen. ad lit. c. 4 a firmament 6 made amidst the waters: and let it diuide betwene waters & waters. † And God made a firmament, and diuided 7 Iob. 38. Ier. 10, 13. the waters, that were vnder the firmament, from those, that were aboue the firmament. And it was so done. † And 8 God called the firmament, Likewise heauē is al the space aboue the earth. in whose lowest part are birdes and waters, in the higher part starres. the hieghest is the Empyrial heauen. Esa. 66. Heauen: and there was euening & morning that made the second day. † God also said: Let 9 the waters that are vnder the heauen, be gathered together into one place: and let the drie land appeare. And it was so done. † And God called the drie land, Earth: and the gathering 10 of waters together, he called Seas. And God sawe that it was good. † And said: Let the earth shootforth grene 11 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 12 [Page 2] 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 13 euening & morning that made the third day. † Againe God 14 said: Be there lightes made in the firmament of heauen, to diuide the day & the night, and let them be The lights made the first day, are disposed the fourth day in their proper courses for more distinction of times. S. Dionys. ca. 4. de diuin▪ nom. S. Tho. p. 1. q. 67. a. 4. & q. 70. a. 2. for signes & seasons, and dayes and yeares: † to shine in the firmament of 15 heauen, & to giue light vpon the earth. And it was so done. † And God made▪ two The Sūne & Moone: for though the moone be the least visible starre except Mercurie, yet it geueth more light on the earth by reason it is nerer, and so Moyses speaketh according to the vulgar capacitie and vse of things. S. Aug. li. 2. de Gen. ad lit. ca. 16. great lights: a greater light, to gouerne 16 the day: and a lesser light to gouerne the night: and starres. † And he set them in the firmament of heauen, to 17 shine vpon the earth. † and to gouerne the day & the night, 18 and to diuide the light & the darkenes. And God sawe that it was good. † And there was euening and morning 19 that made the fourth day. † God also said: Let the waters 20 bring forth creeping creature hauing life, and flying foule, ouer the earth vnder the firmament of heauen. † And God 21 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, 22 and replenish the waters of the sea: and let the birds be multiplied vpon the earth. † And there was euening & 23 morning that made the fifth day. † God said moreouer: Let 24 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 25 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 26 Man to our image, & likenes: and let him haue dominion Col. 3, 10. 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 27 owne image: to the image of God he created him, male & Mat. 19, 4. female he created them. † And God blessed them, and saith: 28 “ 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 29 said: Behold I haue giuen you al maner of hearbe that seedeth vpon the earth, and al trees that haue in them selues [Page 3] 30 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 31 they may haue to feede vpon. And it was so done. † And God sawe al things that he had made, and Euerie creature in nature is good, but al considered together make the whole world perfect▪ most apt to mans vse and Gods glorie. S. Aug. li. 1 de Gen. cont. Manich. ca. 21. 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 The Church had only Traditions & no Scripture aboue 2400. yeares. 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. Tradition [...] necessarie for three causes. 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 1 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 [...]. Epist. [...]und. c. [...]5 vvhich is the Gospel. Secondly holie Scriptures being once knowen to be the 2 word of God, and so of most eminent authoritie of al writings in the world, Scripture of most eminent authoritie. 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 Luc. 10, 16. Act. 15, 28. 2. Thess. 2. Origen. super. Gen. c. 1. Aug. li. 2. de Gen. cont Manich. ca. 2. 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 Scriptures hard. 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 [Page 4] 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, lib. 1. c. 18. & lib. 8. c. 2. 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, Bas. ho. 9. in Genes. Chrisost. epist. 44. Amb. & Beda in examen. Ieron. Epistol. ad Eustoch. Gen. 1. v. 3. & 14. Exo. 20, 5. & 18, v. 20. Ioan. 8, 25. Rom. [...]. 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 why Scriptures are hard. 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; Three spiritual senses besides the Literal. 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 Allegorical Moral. 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 Ieron. Epistol. 8 [...]. ad Ocea. Tert. d [...] Baptis. 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. A figure of Baptisme. 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 called fishes. 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 Light being an accident remayned without subiect, by the iudgement of some lerned Fathers. 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 [Page 5] remaine without their subiect. which a Sacramentarie wil be loath to grant, The accidents of breade and wine can remaine by Gods power without their subiectes. Tenne prerogatiues of man in his creation. 1. made like to God. 2. The Mysterie of the B. Trinitie insinuated in his creation. 3. produced by God him selfe. 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 4. placed in paradise. 5. Lord of al earthlie creatures. 6. innocencie. 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 7. excellent knowlege. 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 8. powre to liue euer. 9. gift of prophecie. 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 10. God conuersed familiarly with man. 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 Gods blessing alwayes effectual. 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 Especially in the holie Eucharist. 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. [Page 6] 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 Not al men & [...]emen commanded to marie. 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.

God createth not new kindes of creatures, yet stil worketh. Io. 5, 17. conseruing & gouerning al things and creatch soules, grace, and glorie of the same kind S. Aug. li, 4 de Gen. adlit. [...]. 12.

THE heauens therfore & the earth were fully finished, 1 and al the furniture of them. † And the seuenth day 2 Exod. 20, 11. Deut. 5, 14. Heb. 4, 4. God ended his woorke which he had made: & Mans soule is immediatly created by God not produced of other substance as the soules of beastes and plants are. rested“ the seuenth day, from al woorke that he had done. † And he 3 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 4 they were created in the day, when our Lord God made the heauen, and the earth. † And euery plant of the filde, before 5 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 6 out of the earth, watering al the ouermost part of the earth. † Our Lord God therfore formed man of the slyme of the 7 earch: and :: breathed into his face the breath oflife, & man 1. Cor. 15, 45, became a liuing soule.

† And our Lord God had Vvhether this paradise be now extant is vncertayne, though it be certaine that Enoch and Elias are yet liuing in earth S. Aug. li. 2. cont. Pelagi. c. 23. See Perereus. li. 3. q. 5. & li. 7. q. vltima. planted a Paradise of pleasure 8 from the beginning: wherin he placed man whom he had formed. † And our Lord God brought forth of the ground 9 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 10 place of pleasure to water Paradise, which from thence is diuided into four heades. † The name of the one is Phison: 11 that is it which compasseth al the land of Heuilath, where gold groweth. † And the gold of that land is very good: 12 [Page 7] there is sound bdelium, & the stone onyx. † And the name 13 of the second riuer is Gehon: that is it which compasseth al the land of Ethiopia. † And the name of the third riuer is 14 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 15 Paradise of pleasure, to woorke, & keepe it. † And he commanded 16 him saying: Of euerie tree of Paradise eate thou: † But“ of the tree of knowledge of good & euil eate thou 17 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 18 man to be alone: let vs make him a helpe like vnto him selfe. † Our Lord God therfore hauing formed of clay al 19 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 20 of the ayre, and al cattel of the filde: but vnto Adam there was not found an helper like him selfe. † Our Lord God 21 Mat. 19, 5. Mar. 10, 7. 1. Cor. 6 16. Eph. 5, 31. 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 As we say brick is made of earth, and a house is built of bricke: so Adam was made of earth and Eue built of a ribbe of Adam. And that of one ribbe, as if God should build a house of one bricke, or as in dede he fed. 5000. men with fiue loaues. Chris. ho. 15. S. Aug. Tract. 24. in Ioan. S. Tho. p. 1. q. 92. a. 3. 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 23 of my flesh:she shal be called woman, because she was taken out of man. † Wherfore man shal leaue his father & mother, 24 & shal cleaue to his wife, & they shal be Not three, nor foure, nor more. for then two were chā ged to an other number. S. Ier. li. 1. cont. loui. two in one flesh. † And they were both naked; to wit Adam & his 25 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 Obseruation of holie dayes by Gods institution. 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 [...] Psal. 6. & 11. 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 [Page 8] Apostles time, praying and hearing the word of God read and expounded in Act. 13, 14. Leuit. 23. the Sabboth day. VVherby we see that distinction of dayes pertayneth to Religion, Obseruatiō of festiual dayes is religious, not Iudaical, nor heathnish. 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 Honour of Sainctes is to the greater honour of Christ. see the Annotations in the English new Testament. 4. chap. to the Galathians. Hon [...] ▪ in 40. Martyr [...]s. 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 VVhy a particular positiue law besides the general lawes of God & nature, was geuen to man. first reason. 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 charitie: God gaue him an other particular law, that he should not eate of the tree of knovvlege of good and euil. And that for two special reasons, which S. Augustin lib. 8. de Gen. ad lit. c. 11. Psal. 15. noteth vpon this place. First, that God might declare him selfe to be Lord of man. VVhich was absolutely necessarie for man, and nothing at al profitable to God, who nedeth not our seruice, but we without his dominion should vtterly fal to nothing. Nec enim ipso non creante, &c. For he not creating vs, neither could vve haue bene, no [...] he not conseruing vs, could vve remayne, nor he not gouerning vs, could vve liue rightly. VVherfore he onlie is our true Lord, vvhom not for his, but for our [...]. reason. ovvne profite and saluation vve serue. The other reason was, that God might geue man matter wherin to exercise the vertue of obedience, and to shew him selfe a subiect of God. VVhich could not be so properly and effectually declared by keping other lawes, nor the enormitie of disobedience appeare so euidently▪ as by fulfilling of Gods wil commanding him, or by doing his owne wil, moued to the contrarie, in a thing of it selfe indifferent, & only made vnlawful, because it was forbid. But let vs heare S. Augustins owne wordes. The sinne of disobedience. Nec potuit melius aut diligentius cō [...]end [...]ri quantum malum sit sola inobedientia, &c. Neither could it (saith this great Doctor) be better, nor more exactly signified ‘how bad a thing sole disobedience is, then where a man became guiltie of iniquitie, because he touched that thing contrarie to prohibition, which if he, not forbidden, had touched, he had not sinned at al. For he that saith, for example sake, Touch not this herbe, supposing it is poysenful, and doth forwarne Ioyned with damage to him that disobeyeth. one of death, if he touch it, death assuredly falleth on the contemner of the precept: yea though no man had prohibited, and he had touched, for he should dye because the same thing bereueth him of health and life, whether it had benne forbidden him or no. Also when one forbiddeth that thing Ioyned with damage of him that forbiddeth. to be touched, which would not in dede preiudice him that toucheth, but him that forbiddeth, as if one take an others money, being forbid by him▪ whose the money is, it is a sinne in him that is forbidden, because it is iniurie to him that forbiddeth. But when that thing is touched which neither should hurt him [Page 9] that toucheth, nor any other, if it were not forbid, wherfore is it prohibited, but that the proper goodnes of obedience, and the euil of disobedience might appeare?’ Thus S. Augustin sheweth, that disobedience is a sinne, because it is against a precept, though otherwise the thing that is done were not euil. And True obedience is blind and prompt. amongst other good notes, teacheth that true obedience inquireth not, wherfore a thing is commanded, but leauing that to the Superior, promptly doth that is appointed.

17. Of the tree eate thou not.] This example of our first parents transgression Not meate, but the di [...]obedience hurteth him that transgresseth the precept of abstinence. Lawes in things indifferent bind in conscience. Temporal punishment due after sinne is remitted. Death due to al for Original sinne. Yea to infants who haue no other sinne. Also other penalties insticted vpon infants. sheweth, how friuolous an answer it is to say; that breaking of commanded fastes, or eating meates forbidden can not hurt vs, the meate being good Math. 9, Luc. 10. S. Epiph. in compē. f [...]dei Cat. S. Aug. epist. 80. and holsome: for so the fruite of the tree was good, and should haue hurt no man, if it had not benne forbidden. Euen so al meates of their owne nature are good, yet the precept of fasting (foretold by our Sauiour in general, and determined by his Church in particular) and so of anie other like law, though it be in things otherwise indifferent, proceeding from lawful Superiors, bindeth the subiects in conscience. And the transgression is properly disobedience, what other sinne soeuer may also be mixed therwith.

17. Thou shalt dye the death.] Against the new doctrine, denying that after Caluin l. 3. inst. c. 4 parag. 31. & 32. sinne is remitted, anie temporal punishment remaineth for the same, this place declareth that death (wherof God forewarned Adam, if he should eate of the fruite forbidden) remained due, and was at last inflicted vpon him, for his sinne, which was presently remitted vpon his repentance.

Againe for so much as we are al subiect to death, it proueth that we were al Rom. 5. guiltie of this sinne, by which death came vpon al men, as S. Paul teacheth. Els God should punish vs without our fault, which is vnpossible that his goodnes should do. Especially it appeareth in infants, who dying before they come to lib. 13. de ciuit. c 6. lib. 2. de pec. mer. & remis. c. 34. Gen. 17. Ioan. 3. S. Greg. li. 4. Moral. c. 2. vse of reason, can neuer cōmit other sinne. for though they were circumcised, or had Sacrifice offered, or other remedie vsed for them before Christ, or baptised since Christ: yet they suffer (as S. Augustin noteth) both death and manie other penalties, of sickenes, cold, heate, hunger, and the like, which can neither be to them matter of merite (as to others it may be) nor profite them for auoiding of other sinnes, seing they dye in their infancie. Yea moreouer if they dyed without circumcisiō, or other remedie of those former times, their soules perished from their people; and now without Baptisme can neuer enter into the kingdome of heauen, which could not stand with Gods iustice, if they were not guiltie of sinne.

CHAP. III. By the craft of the Diuel speaking in a serpent, our first parents transgressed The second part. Of the fal of man, and propagation of man and of sinne. Gods commandment. 7. who being ashamed vvould hide them selues. 9 but are reproued by God. 14. and besides other particular punishements (yet with promise of a Redemer) are cast out of Paradise.

BVT Serpēts most craftie to escape harme, when they hurt men: so is the diuel. the serpent also was more subtile then al the beasts 1 of the earth, which our Lord God had made. Which said to the woman:▪ Why hath God commanded you, that [Page 10] you should not eate of euerie tree of Paradise? † To whom 2 the woman answered: Of the fruite of the trees that are in paradise, we doe eate: † but of the fruite of the tree 3 which is in the middes of paradise, God hath commanded vs that we should not eate: and that we should not touch it, lest perhapes we die. † And the serpent said to the woman: 4 No you shal not dye the death. † For God doth know that in 5 2. Cor. 11. 3. what day soeuer you shal eate therof, your eyes shal be opened: and you shal be as gods, knowing good & euil.

† The woman therfore sawe that the tree was good to 6 eate, and fayre to the eyes, and delectable to behold: and she tooke of the fruite therof, and did eate, and gaue to her Eccl. 25. 1. Tim. 2, 14. husband, who did eate. † And the eyes of them both were 7 opened: and when they After sinne they were ashamed, not before S. Chris. perceiued themselues to be naked, they sowed togeather leaues of a figge tree, and made themselues aprons.

† And hearing the voice of our Lord God walking in 8 paradise at the after none ayre: Adam hid himselfe and so did his wife from the face of our Lord God, amidst the trees of paradise. † And our Lord God called Adam, and 9 said to him: Where art thou? † Who said: I heard thy voice 10 in paradise: and I feared, because I was naked, and I hid me. † To whom he said: And who hath told thee that thou 11 wast naked, but that thou hast eaten of the tree▪ whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eate? † And 12 Adam said: The woman, which thou gauest me to be my felow companion, gaue me of the tree, and I did eate.

† And our Lord God said to the woman: Why hast thou 13 done this? who answered: The serpent deceiued me, & I did eate. † And our Lord God said to the serpent: Because 14 thou hast done this thing, Al this curse perteineth to the diuel that spake in the serpēt. S▪ Aug, l. 2. de Gen. ad lit. cap. 36. S. Beda in hunc locum. accursed art thou among al catle, & beasts of the earth: vpon thy brest shalt thou goe, & Earthlie or worldlie and carnal men S. Greg. in Psal. 101. earth▪ shalt thou eate al the dayes of thy life. † I wil put 15 enmyties betwen thee & the woman, and thy seed and the seed of her▪ ▪ she shal bruise thy head in peeces, & thou shalt lye in waite Though good men resist tentations at the first assaults, and so bruise the serpēts head, yet he [...]o [...]eth stil to deceiue especially in the end of mans life▪ signified by the [...]eele. S Gre. in cap. 1. Iob. of her heele. † To the woman also he said: 16 I wil multiplie thy trauailes, and thy child bearinges: in trauaile shalt thou bring forth children, and thou shalt be vnder thy husbands power, and he shal haue dominion ouer 1. Cor. 14. thee. † And to Adam he said: Because thou hast heard the 17 voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, whereof I cō manded [Page 11] thee, that thou shouldest not eate, cursed is the earth in thy woorke: with Al men trauel one way or other: & such as suffer wides to ouergrowe (in their souls) shal after this life either sustaine the fyre of Purgatorie or eternal paine. S. Aug. li 2. c. 20▪ de Gen. cō. Man. much toyling shalt thou eate thereof al the dayes of thy life. † Thornes and thystles shal it 18 bring forth to thee, & thou shalt eate the herbes of the earth. † In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread, til 19 thou returne to earth, of which thou wast taken: because ▪ dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt returne.

† And Adam called the name of his wife, Eue: for because 20 She was mother rather of al the dying: but in figure of our B. Lady who is mother of Christ, life it selfe, she is called mother of the liuing. S. Epiph. her. 78. she was mother of al the liuing. † Our Lord God also 21 made for Adam and his wife garments of skynnes, and clothed them. † And said: Loe Adam is become as it were one 22 of vs, knowing good & euil: now therfore▪ lest perhapes he reach forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, & eate, and liue for euer. † And our Lord God sent him out of 23 the paradise of pleasure, to worke the earth of which he was taken. † And he cast out Adam: and▪ placed before the paradise 24 of pleasure Cherubins, & a flaming, and a turning sworde, for to keepe the way of the tree of life.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. III

1 VVhy hath God? [Here we may see how sinne came first amongst men. For Sinne entred among men by the enuie & craft of the diuel, man cō senting to his suggestions. Eue first sined in thought, then in words last in deedes. the diuel enuying mās happie state tempted Eue the weaker person, beginning Cap. 2. 24. Ioan. 8, 44. S. Aug. lib. 14. deciuit. c. 11. Rupert. li. de Trinit. & operibus eius c. 4. with a question, therby to allure her into conference, and by such a question as might bring her into suspition of Gods affection towards man, saying: VVhy hath God commanded you, that you should not eate of euerie tree of paradise? insinuating by these words, and withal internally suggesting, that God dealt hardly with them, abridging their libertie without cause. And when he had got so much of her, that she was displeased with the precept, which she shewed by adding of her owne (to make it seme more greuous) that they were forbidden to touch the tree: and againe by reporting the punishment as doubtful, saying: lest perhaps vve dye, then the tempter auouched boldly, and falsly, that they should not dye, and charged God to be enuious of the benefite they should get by eating of that tree, saying their eyes should be opened, and they should be as Goddes, knowing good and euil. Vpon which perswasion, and liking also she had to the fruite, she did take and eate, and perswaded Adam also to eate. And forthwith Bad sequels of sinne. they saw that they would not haue seene, knew euil which they had better Lib. de vera Religione c. 14. Lib. 1. Retract. c. 13. not to haue knowen, were ashamed, and endeuored to couer, and hide them selues. Euen thus the diuel dealeth with men euer since, assaulting the weaker persons, and weaker part, as the flesh and sensualitie, and by them setteth vpon No sinne can be without freewil. the stronger and superior part, to get consent of freewil, without which there is no sinne. According to that famous saying of S. Augustin: Pe [...]atum adeo est voluntarium, vt nullo modo sit peccatum, si non voluntarium. Sinne is so voluntarie, that [Page 12] in no vvise it can be sinne, if it be not voluntarie. wherfore it was no sinne in Eue to Concupiscēce no sinne, but the effect, and occasion of sinne. Also occasion of merite. be tempted by the serpent, which she could not auoide, nor in Adam to be tempted by Eue, but they sinned when they consented to the euil suggestions. And S Aug. lib. 1. de nupt. & con. c. 23. Gal. 5. 2 Tim. 2. now in the regenerate, though concupiscence remaine, which is the effect of sinne past, & occasion of sinne in those that yeld againe to tētations, yet is it not sinne, but punishment of sinne, and matter of exercise in the iust, and if we resist, of merite: and therfore S. Paul exhorteth vs, to vvalle in the spirite, and the lusts of the flesh vve shal not accomplish. And in an other place sheweth, that he vvhich fighteth lavvfully, shal be crovvned.

15. She shal bruise] Protestants wil not admitte this reading, ipsa conteret, she The Latin text defended against Kemnisius and other Protestants. See Card. Bellarmin. li. 2. c. 12. de verbo Dei. Both readings veld the same sense. shal bruise, lest our Blessed Ladie should be said anie way to bruise the serpents head. And Kemnisius amongst others saith, that al ancient Fathers read, ipsum, not, ipsa. But he is conuinced of lying by Claudius Marius Victor. lib. 1. in Gen. Alcimus Auitus lib. 3. carm. c. 6. S. Chrisostom bom. 17. in Genes. S. Ambrose lib de fuga saeculi cap. 7. S. Augustin lib. 2. de Genesi contra Manichaeos, cap. 18 & lib. 11. de Genesi ad literam cap. 26. S. Gregorie lib. 1. Moralium cap. 38. And after them S. Bede, Eucherius, Rabanus, Rupertus, Strabus, and Lira vpon this place, S. Bernard ser 2. super Misus est. And manie others, who read ipsa as the Latin text now hath.

But whether we read, She shal bruise, or, her sede, that is her sonne Christ, shal bruise the serpents head, we attribute no more, nor no lesse to Christ, nor to our Ladie by the one reading, then by the other: for by the text, I vvil put [...]nmit [...]es betvven thee and the vvoman, betvven thy seede, and her seede. It is clere, that this enmitie and battle pertained to the woman and her seede on the one partie, and to this diuel, that spake by the serpent, and al the wicked, on the other partie, and that the victorie should happen to mankind. VVhich being captiue by Adams sinne, occasioned by a woman, should be redeemed, both As Adam was the cause, and [...]e an occasion of mans captiuitie: so Christ is the true cause and his mother an occasion of our restauration. sexes, though in farre different sorte, concurring therto. And so it is most true, that Christ by his owne proper powre, and his blessed mother by her most immediate cooperating to his Incarnation (and consequently to other Misteries) did bruise the serpents head, breake and vanquish his powre. S [...]eneus li 3. c. 33. & lib. 5. circa med, S. Epiph, Haer. 78. S. Ieron. ep 22. ad Eustoch. S. Aug. (or S. Fulgent) ser. 18 de Sanctis. de fide & Symb. de Agone Christiano. Ser. 2. super Missus est. As manie ancient Fathers do excellently discourse: namely S. Bernard, writing vpon these wordes in the Apocalips. cap. 12. A great signe appeared in heauen, a vvoman clothed vvith the sunne: Albeit (saith he) by one man and one woman we were greatly damaged: yet (God be thanked) by one man and one woman al losses are repaired, and that not without great increase of graces. For the benefite doth farre excede the losse. Our merciful father geuing vs for a terrestrial Adam Christ our Redemer, & for old Eue Gods owne mother. Moreouer Our B. Ladie resisted al euil suggestions. as the same S. Bernard sheweth, this blessed Virgin in singular sorte bruised the serpents head, in that she quite vanquished al maner suggestions of the wicked serpēt, neuer yelding to, not taking delight in anie euil moued by him.

19. Dust thou art] By these wordes Adam was admonished to humble him selfe, considering the matter wherof his bodie was made, and into which he Iob 42. Esai. 58. Ierem. 6. Ionae. 3. Mat. 11. should be resolued againe. wherupon it came to be a ceremonie amongst penitents, The ceremonie of ashes, on Ashwenesday. to cast ashes on their heads. As appeareth in holie Scriptures for which cause the Church now also vseth this ceremonie the first day of Lent, putting ashes on her childrens heades: willing them to remember, that dust they are, and to dust they shal returne, to moue vs by this meditation to more serious penance.

22. [...]st perhaps] Notwithstanding Gods eternal decree in disposing al Gods prouidence concurreth with mans free wil. thinges, and his omnipotencie which nothing can resist, yet he produceth [Page 13] good, and either auoideth or disposeth of euil which he suffereth, by ordinarie meanes, as appeareth Act. 27, v. 31. and that because man hath free wil, with de grat. & liber. arb. c. 6. de corrept. & grat. ad art. falso impos. which God concurreth, & destroyeth not nor forceth. as S. Augustin teacheth.

24. Placed Cherubins] Man being cast out of paradise, the same is defended Paradise defended by Angels and by fire & sworde. God destroyeth not nature with duble gard. with Angels, that are watchful, wise, and potent; and with fire and sword, most terrible armoure to man. wherby againe we see, that God vseth ordinarie meanes in his prouidence, as the ministrie of Angels & humane terror, and would neither destroy the tree, nor depriue it of the vertue to prolong life, nor bereue man of freewil, by which he might desire to returne: but conseruing nature in al creatures, preuenteth inconueniences otherwise. Good Angels hinder diuels of their desires.

These Angels also hinder the diuel, that he can not enter paradise, lest he S. Aug. lib. 11. de Gen ad lit. c. 40. should take of the fruite of the tree, and geue it to men to prolong their liues, and therby draw them to his seruice.

CHAP. IIII. VVicked Cain killeth holie Abel. 9. vvhose bloud cryeth for reuenge. 11. Cain a cursed vacabond, 17. hath much issue. 25 Adam also hath Seth, and Seth Enos.

AND Adam knewe Eue his wife: who conceiued and 1 brought forth Cain, saying: I haue gotten a man through God. † And againe she brought forth his brother 2 Abel. And Abel was a shepehard, & Cain a husbandman. † And it befel after manie dayes that Cain “offred of the 3 fruites of the earth giftes to our Lord. † Abel also A figure of the Lambe that was slaine from the beginning of the world. Apoc. 13, v. 8. offred 4 Heb. 11. of the first begotten of his flocke, and of their fat: and our Lord“ had respect to Abel, & to his giftes. † But to Cain, 5 and to his giftes he had not respect: & Cain was exceeding angrie, and his countenance abated. † And our Lord said 6 to him: Why art thou angrie? and why is thy countinance fallen? † If thou doe wel, “shalt thou not receiue againe: 7 but if thou doest il, shal not thy sinne forth with be present at the dore? but the lust therof shal be“ vnder thee, and thou shalt haue dominion ouer it.

† And Caine said to Abel his brother: Let vs goe forth abroad. 8 And when they were in the filde, Caine rose vp against his brother Abel, and slewe him. † And our Lord said to 9 Sap. 10. Cain: Where is Abel thy brother? Who answered: I know [...]. 10. 3. not: am I my brothers keper? † And he said to him: What 10 hast thou done? VVilful murther is one of the sinnes that crie to God for reuenge. the voice of thy brothers bloud crieth to me out of, the earth. † Now therfore cursed shalt thou be 11 vpon the earth, which hath opened her mouth, & receiued the bloud of thy brother at thy hand. † When thou shalt til 12 [Page 14] it, it shal not yeld to thee her fruite: a roag and vagabound shalt thou be vpon the earth. † And Cain said to our Lord: 13 Myne iniquitie is greater, then that I may deserue pardon. † Loe thou doest cast me out this day from the face of the 14 earth, and from thy face shal I be hid, and I shal be a vagabound & fugitiue on the earth: euerie one therfore that findeth me, shal kil me. † And our Lord said to him: No, it shal 15 not so be: but whosoeuer shal kil Cain, shalbe punished seauen fould. And our Lord put a marke on Cain, that whosoeuer found him should not kil him.

† And “Cain went forth from the face of our Lord, and 16 dwelt as a fugitiue on the earth at the east side of Eden. † And Cain knewe his wife, who conceiued, and brought 17 forth Enoch: And By the increase of Abrahās seede (by the line onlie of Isaac and Iacob, besides the issues of Ismael and Esau) in litle more then 400. yeares to aboue six hundreth thousand men able to beare armes (Num. 1.) it appeareth that Caines progenie in as manie yeates might suffice to people a citie, yea a whole countrie. S. Aug. l. 15 ciuit. c. 8. he built a citie, & called the name therof by the name of his sonne, Enoch. † Moreouer Enoch be 18 gat Irad, and Irad begat Mauiael, and Mauiael begat Mathusael, and Mathusael begat Lamech. † Who tooke This Lamech of Cains issue, is the first that is noted in Scripture, to haue taken two wiues. two 19 wiues, the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the other Sella. † And Ada brought forth Iabel, who was the 20 father of them that dwel in tents, and of heardsmen. † And 21 his brothers name was Iubal: he was the father of them that sing on harpe & organes. † Sella also brought forth Tubalcain, 22 who was a hammerer & worker in al worke of brasse & iron. And the sister of Tubalcain was Noema. † And Lamech 23 said to his wiues Ada and Sella: Heare my voice ye wiues of Lamech, harken to my talke: for▪ I haue slaine a mā to the wounding of my selfe, and a stripeling to mine owne drie blowe brewsing. † Seuenfould vengeance shal be taken 24 of Cain: but of Lamech seuentie times▪ seuen fould.

† Adam also knewe his wife again: and she brought forth a 25 sonne, and called his name Seth, saying: God hath giuen me other seede for Abel, whom Cain slewe. † But to Seth also 26 was borne a sonne, whom he called Enos, this man▪ began to inuocate the name of our Lord.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. IIII

3. Offered giftes] Either God him selfe taught Adam, and he his children, or els they knew by instinct of nature, that Sacrifice must be offered to God, to acknowledge therby his supreme dominion ouer man, and mans due subiection [Page 15] to his diuine Maiestie. And that not only in internal affection, which External Sacrifice due to God in euerie Law. (as S. Augustin, and al Catholique Doctors teach) is principally required, but Lib 10. de ciuit. also in external things, because we consist of bodie, and not only of soule, and haue, by Gods goodnes, the vse of corporal things. As here we see example [...]. 5. Leuit. 1 Dan 12. Mal. 1. Luc. 22. in the law of nature: and the same was ordained by written precept in the law of Moyses: the Prophetes▪ also foretold, that external Sacrifice should be offered in the law of grace, and new Testament, to wit, the same which Christ instituted, and left in his Church, to continew to the end of the world. Moreouer this homage of offering Sacrifice is so peculiar to God only, that albeit Sacrifice due to God onlie, and to no creature. manie other exterior rites and seruices are vsed both to God & men, as to be bare head, to be we, to kneele, & the li [...]e before them, either of great hum [...]liti [...] Lib. 10. ciuit. cap. 4. Aristot. li. 2 Meta his. [...]tl i [...]. 9. Polit. 7. c. 8. (saith S. Augustin) or of pestiferous [...]latterie, to such as are homines colendi, venerandi, si autem eis multum additur, & adorandi: men to be vvorshipped, reuerenced and of much be geuen them, adored (for this terme of adoring is also applied to men in holie Scriptures Gen. 23. v 7. 27. v. 29.) yet Sacrifice is due to God only, and to no creature how excellent so euer. In so much (saith the same Doctor) that as al nations founde it necessarie to offer Sacrifice, so none durst sacrifice to anie nisi et, quem Deum autsciuit, aut putauit, aut finxit: but to him whom they either knew, or thought, or fained to be God.

4. Hadre [...]tect to Abel [Both Cain and Abel did wel in offering external Sacrifice, but they differed much in sinceritie and maner of choosing or diuiding To. 3. q. 4. Quaest. Hebraie. Lib 15. ciuit c. 7. Mala. 1. Hebr. 11. Leuit. 9. Iudic. 6. 2. Par. 7. 3. Reg 18. 2. Mac 1 their oblations, touching Gods part and their owne, as S. Iustinus Martyr, Abels Sacrifice declared acceptable, & not Cains, by some external signe. S. Hierom, S. Augustin and others teach. For Abel offered of the best things, of the first begotten of his flock, and of their satte. And therfore God respected and approued it. But to Cain and to his giftes he had not respect, because he wanted sincere deuotiō. VVhich difference of Gods acceptance appeared doubtles, as S. Hieromand S. Augustin supposed, by some external signe, otherwise Cain had not vnderstood it. Most like it was by fire sent from God, which inflamed and consumed Abels Sacrifice, & not Cains. As we read of diuers other Sacrifices in holie Scriptures.

7. Shalt thou not receiue:] Reward of good workes, and punishment of euil are Reward and punishment according to our workes. clerly proued by this place. God saying to Gain: If thou doest vvel, shalt thou not receiue againe? what els but wel for wel doing? as Abel receiued consolation of his Sacrifice wel offered. but if thou doest il, shal not thy sinne be present forth vvith at the dore? afflicting thy conscience; and not suffering thy mind to be in quiet, for remorse of thy wicked fact, and feare of iust iudgement. For hence it came that Cains countenance fel, and his stomack boyled with angre: punishment so beginning euen in this life; & much more in the next world our Sauiour wil render (as him selfe saith) to euery man according to his workes: which Mat. 16. Rom. 2. the Apostle expresseth more distinctly, eternal life, or vvrath & indignation.

7▪ Vnder thee [This Text so plainly sheweth freewil in man, also after his Freewil in mā also after his falle. Heretical trāslation. falle, that the English Protestans to auoid so clere a truth, for these wordes, the lust ther of (to wit of sinne) shal be vnder thee, and thou halt haue dominion ouer it, corruptly translate in some of their Bibles thus: Vnto thee his desire shal be Bible 1579. sub [...]ect, and thou shalt rule ouer him. As if God had said, that Abel should be vnder [...]ain. As the phantastical Manichees peruerted the sense, whose absurditie S. Augustin controlleth maintayning the true construction of the wordes, [...]b. 15. c. 7. ciuit. Tu dominabe [...] is illius; nunquid fratris? absit. Cuius igitur nisi pecuati? Thou shalt rule ouer: VVhat, ouer thy brother? Not so. Ouer vvhat then but sinne? In other English Editions, namely in the last, which we suppose they wil stand to, it is better, but yet obscure thus, Vnto thee shal be the desire therof, and thou shalt haue rule of [...]. [Page 16] Let vs therfore examine the sense, and if S. Hierome, the great scripture Doctor Quaest. Hebraic. in Gen. did rightly vnderstand it, God did speake to this effect to Cain: Because thou hast freevvil, I vvarne thee, that sinne haue not dominion ouer thee, but thou ouer sinne. The Hebrew also & Greeke text proue freewil in Cain. The Hebrew hath thus: ad te appetitus eius, et tu dominaberis in eum, or, ei. Vnto thee the appetite therof, and thou shalt rule ouer it. Thargum Hierosolomitanum concludeth Gods speach to Cain thus: Into thy hand I haue geuen povvre of thy concupiscence, and haue thou dominion therof: vvhether thou vvilt to good or to euil. The Greke hath thus: To thee is the conuersion therof, and thou shalt beare rule ouer it: to wit, appetite, lust, concupiscence is vnder thy wil. Finally, al antiquitie vniuersalitie Freewil testified by antiquitie, vniuersalitie, and consent of lerned & reasonable persons. Luther abhor red the name of freewil. S. Augustin. li. de v [...] ra Rel. ca. 14. and vniforme consent of Christian Doctors, and other lerned Philosophers, and reasonable men hold it for certaine and an euident truth, that man yea a sinner hath sreewil. Yet Luther, the father of Protestants, so abhorred this truth, that he could not abide the very word, nor voutsafe (when he writ against it) to title his beastlie booke, Contra liberum arbitrium, Against freevvil: but, De seruo arbitrio. Of seruil arbitriment. And denieth that man is in aniwise free to choose, to resolue, or determine, but in al things seruil, tyed, constrained, and compelled to whatsoeuer he doth, saith, or thincketh. Further, that man in al his actiōs is like to a hackney, that is, forced to goe whither the rider wil haue him. And knowing the whole world against him, shameth not to confesse, that he setteth them al at naught in respect of him selfe, concluding thus: lib. de seruo arbitrio. I haue not (saith he) conferred vvith anie in this booke, but I haue affirmed, and I do affirme. Neither vvil I that anie man iudge hereof, but I counsail al to obey, or yeelde to myn Caluin also misliketh the word freewil. opinion. Caluin also for his part, conspireth in this heresie with Luther, but more faintly rather wisheth, then imagineth that men be so madde as to flee lib. 2. c. 2. par. 8. lib. 2. aduers. Iouinian. from the name of freewil. I (saith Caluin) neither myselfe vvould vse this vvord, and vvould vvish others, if they as [...]e me counsaile, to abstaine from it. But we wil be VVhere is necessitie there is nether reward not punishment due. bold to oppose S. Hieromes reason against Luther, Caluin, al Manichees, and others that denie freewil. God made vs (saith he) vvith freevvil, neither are vve dravven by necessitie to vertues nor to viees; othervvise vvhere is necessitie, there is neither damnation nor crovvne.

16. Cain vvent forth] It is a marke of Heretikes to make breach, and goe 1. Ioan. 2. Tract. de Zelo & liuore. forth of the Church. And commonly it cometh of enuie. Some runne into heresies Going forth of the Church a marke of Heretikes. and schismes (saith S. Cyprian) vvhen they enuie Bishops, vvhilest one either complaineth that him selfe vvas not rather ordained, or disdaineth to suffer an other aboue him. Hereupon he kicketh, hereupon he rebelleth. Enuie moued Cain to kil his brother, because his 1. Ioan. 3. ovvne vvorkes vvere vvicked and reiected: and his brothers iust, and estemed. So going forth became obstinate, obdurate, and desperate in his sinne, and being reprobate of God, began a wicked Citie, opposite to the Citie of God. VVherfore Moyses, as S. Augustin noteth, intending to describe, and shew the lib. de Pastore. c. 8. &c. 20. perpetual continuance of Gods Citie, the true Church, from Adam, which he doth by the line of Seth to Noe, and so forward to his owne time, would not omit to tel also the progenie of Cain, euen to the floode, wherin al his ofspring was finally drowned and destroyed, that the true Citie of God might appeare more distinct, more cōspicuous, & more renowmed. And that in deede the same only (and not anie broken and interrupted companies or conuenticles) might be knowen to be the true Church of God.

23. I haue slaine] So hard and obscure is this place, that S. Hierom required Scripture hard Tom. 3. ad 1. quaest. Damas [...] ▪ by S. Damasus Pope to expoundit, dareth not affirme anie one sense for certaine, but proposing diuers, which the text may seme to beare; wisheth the Pope (who was also very lerned) to examine al more at large: putting him in mind that Origen writ his twelfth and thirtenth bookes vpon this onlie place. [Page 17] The most probable exposition semeth to be gathered out of the Hebrewes A probable sense according to the Hebrewes Tradition. Tradition, that this Lamech of the issue of Cain (for there was an other Lamech of Seths progenie) much addicted to hunting, and his eyes decaying, vsed in that excercise the direction of a young man his nephew, the sonne of Tubalcain. VVho seing something moue in bushes, supposing it to be a wild beast, willed his grandfather to shoote at the same: which he did, and stroke the marke with a deadlie wound, and approching to take the pray, found it to be old Cain. VVhereupon sore amazed, afflicted, and moued with great passion, did so beate the young man, for his il direction, that he also died of the drie blowes. After both which mishappes, and his passion at last caulmed, Lamech lamenteth as the text saith, that he had killed a man and stripling, towit, the one with a wound, the other with drie blowes, for which he feared seuenfold punishment more then Cain suffered for killing Abel. Neuertheles S. Chris. ho. 20. in Gen. S. Hierom & other Fathers thinke it probable, that Lamech killing the one of ignorance, the other in passion, was not so seuerly punished as he feared. And so they vnderstand the rest of this passage, that seuenfold vengance was taken of Cain, by prolongation of his miserable life til his seuenth generation, when Lib. 1. Antiq. ca. 2. Origen in Gen. Luc. 3. one of his owne issue slew him, and an other of the same linage with him. And Lamech was punished seuentie seuenfold when his seuentie seuen children (for so manie he had, as Iosephus writeth) and al their ofspring perished in the floud. Mystically by seuentie seuen may be signified that the sinne of mankind Mystical sense should be punished and expiated in Christ our Redemer. who was borne in the seuentie seuenth generation from Adam.

26. Begane to inuocate.] Seth was a most holie man, and so brought vp his Suidas vocabulo Seth. Ioseph. l. 1. Ant [...]. S. Aug. epist. 99. ad Euod. children, that they were called the sonnes of God. Gen. 6. Adam also and Eue were penitent, and became great confessors, and are now Sainctes. And so it can not be doubted but amongst other spiritual exercises they prayed and inuocated God. And therfore that which is here said: He (towit Enos) bagane or (as the Hebrew hath) then was begune, to inuocate the name of our Lord, can not Publike prayer besides Sacrifice in the Church of God. be vnderstood of priuate, but of some publique prayer of many meeting togeather, & obseruing some rites & set forme in peculiar place dedicated to diuine Seruice, the Church being now growne to a competent multitude. And that besides Sacrifice, which was also before, as appeareth both by Cain & Abel.

CHAP. V. The progenie of Adam, & number of their yeares (vvith the death of the rest, & translation of Enoch) in the line of Seth, to Noe & his three sonnes.

THIS is the booke of the generation of Adam. In the 1 Sap. 2, 24. Eccli. 17, 1. day, when God created man, to the likenes of God 2 made he him. † Male and female created he them; and blessed them: and called their name Adam, in the day when 3 they were created. † And Adam liued a hundred and thirtie yeares; and begat to his owne image and likenes, and called 4 his name Seth. † And the dayes of Adam, after he begat Seth, came to eight hundred yeares: and he“ begat sonnes [Page 18] and daughters. † And al the time that Adam liued, came 5 to nine hundred and thirtie yeares,“ and he died. † Seth also 6 liued a hundred fiue yeares, and begat Enos. † And Seth 7 liued after he begat Enos, eight hundred and seuen yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters. † And al the dayes of Seth 8 came to nine hundred & twelue yeares, and he died. † And 9 Enos liued nintie yeares, and begat Cainan. † After Whose 10 birth he liued eight hundred & fiftene yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters. † And al the dayes of Enos came to 11 nine hundred and fiue yeares, and he died. † Cainan also liued 12 seuentie yeares, & begat Malaleel. † And Cainan liued 13 after he begat Malaleel, eight hundred & fourtie yeares, and begat sonnes & daughters. † And al the dayes of Cainan 14 came to nine hundred and ten yeares, and he died. † And 15 Malaleel liued sixtie fiue yeares, and begat Iared. † And Malaleel 16 liued after he begat Iared, eight hundred and thirtie yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters. † And al the dayes 17 of Malaleel came to eight hundred nyntie fiue yeares, & he died. † And Iared liued a hundred sixtie two yeares, and begat 18 Enoch. † And Iared liued after he begat Enoch eight 19 hundred yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters. † And al 20 the dayes of Iared came to nine hundred sixtie two yeares, & he died. † Moreouer Enoch liued sixtie fiue yeares, & begat 21 Mathusala. † And Enoch This Hebrew phrase vvalked vvith God, signifieth that he liued wel & pleased God. walked with God: & liued after 22 he begat Mathusala, three hundred yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters. † And al the dayes of Enoch came to three 23 hundred sixtie fiue yeares. † And he walked with God, and 24 “was seene no more: because God The seuentie two Interpreters say, God translated him And so doth S. Paul. Heb. 11. tooke him. † Mathusala 25 also liued a hundred eightie seuen yeares, & begat Lamech. † And Mathusala liued, after he begat Lamech, seuen hundred 26 eightie two yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters. † And al the dayes of Mathusala came to This is the longest life of al here recited But if we consider that Adam was as strong of bodie, the first day he was ere ated, as these others were at the age of 60. yeares (before which, none are said no haue begot children) and so subsract 60. yeares from Mathusala, then Adam liued in mans state longer then he by 21. yeares. nyne hundred 27 sixtie nine yeares, & he died. † And Lamech liued a hundred 28 eightie two yeares, and begat a sonne: † and he called his 29 name Noe, saying: This sonne shal comfort vs from the workes & labours of our handes on the earth, which our Lord cursed: † And Lamech liued▪ after he begat Noe, fiue 30 hundred nintie fiue yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters. † And al the dayes of Lamech came to seuen hundred seuentie 31 seuen yeares, and he died. And The second prophecie before Male on Easter Eue. Noe when he was fiue hundred yeares olde, begat Sem, Cham, and Iaphat.

[Page 19]

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. V.

4. Begate sonnes and daughters.] Moyses in this genealogie reciteth not alwayes S. Aug. li. 15. ciuit. c. 20. The cōtinual succession of Gods Church, and interruption of other communities. the first begotten, nor the whole progenie by their names (for then he should haue repeated Cain and Abel, and haue named many others) but those onlie by whom the Church of God continued, signifying the rest in general, whose succession was cut of by the floud.

5. And he died.] By this Gods word is verified saying, that Adam should dye, if he should eate of the forbidden tree. And the diuel is proued a lyer, saying, they should not dye. It is also most true that Adam dyed that day in which How mā died the day that he sinned. he did eate. For he began that very day to decline to death; and so doth al mankind euer since, as truly said the woman of Thecua to king Dauid: vve doe al 2. R. 14. die, and as vvaters that returne not, vve fal dovvne on the earth. And vvhat els (saith S. Gregorie) is this daylie decaying of our corruption, but a lingering death? And ho. 37. in Euangel. Psal. 89. S. Ireneus li. 5. aduer. Heret. Cicero li. de Senec. & q 1. Tuscul. none of al these that liued longest reaching to a thousand yeares (which with God is as one day) man dyed in that day in which he transgressed.

Morally ancient Fathers here note, that albeit the life of the Patriarkes seemeth Al time is short in respect of eternitie. long to vs, yet if we cōpare the same to eternitie it is nothing. Neither by the iudgement of Philosophers may aniething be counted long, that hath an end: as Tullie bringing Cato wisely disputing, sheweth the longest life to be but a short moment. VVhereby againe we may see what losse we sustaine by sinne: seeing if sinne had not benne, we should al haue benne translated from earth to heauen, and neuer haue dyed.

24. VVas seene no more.] That Enoch and Elias are yet aliue is a constant Enoch & Elias yet▪ liuing in bodie. knowne truth, in the hartes and mouthes of the faithful, saith S. Augustin in his first booke, de peccat. merit & remiss. c. 3. and confirmeth the same in diuers li. 20. ciuit. c 29. lib. 2. de gratia Christi c. 23. tract. 4. in Ioā. other places. And it is testified by very many both Greeke and Latin Doctors. S. Ireneus li. 5. S. Iustinus Martyr, q. 85. ad Orthodoxos. S. Hippolitus li. de Antichristo. S. Damascen, li. 4. de Orthodoxafide. S. Hierom. epist. 61. ad Pamach. c. 11. S. Ambrose in Psalm. 45. S. Chrysostom. ho. 21. in Gen. ho. 58. in Mat. ho. 4. in epist. 2. ad Thess. ho. 22. in ep. ad Heb. S. Greg. li. 14. Moral. c. 11, ho. 12. in Ezech. S. Prosp. li. vlt. de promis. S. Bede in c. 9. Marc. Manifest Scripture that Elias yet liueth, and shal be slaine & an other with him▪ Likewise that Enoch did not see death. Theophilact and O [...]cumenius in cap. 17. Mat. and others innumerable. Touching Elias it is manifest in Scriptures, that he shal come, & preach, & be Malac. 4 Apo. 11. slaine with an other witnes of Christ, before the terrible day of Iudgement. Of Enoch Moyses here maketh the matter more then probable, saying of euerie one of the rest, he dyed, onlie of Enoch saith not so, but that he appeared, or [...]. Eccli. 44 Heb. 11. vvas seene no more. For which the seuentie two interpreters say, And he vvas not found, for God translated him. VVhich can not signifie death, but transporting, or remouing to an other place. VVhereto agreeth the author of Ecclesiasticus, saying: Enoch pleased God, and vvas translated. But most clearly S. Paul saith. Enoch vvas translated, that he should not see death. and he vvas not found for God translated him. VVith what plainer wordes can any man declare, that a These Scriptures speake of temporal not of spiritual death. special person were not dead, then to say: He vvas translated, or cōueyed away, that he should not see death? Neither is it a reasonable euasion to interprete this of spiritual death. For so Adam being eternally saued (as S. Irenaeus li. 3. c. 34. Epiphan. con. haeresim 46. S. Agu [...]in epist. 99. ad Euodium, and others teach, [Page 20] and the whole Church beleeueth) was preserued from that death, and so vndoubtedly were Seth, and Enos being most holie. and the rest here recounted, as is most probable. Neuertheles for further confutation of the contrarie ho. 21. in Gen. lib. 1. de pec. mer. c. 2. & 3. l. 9. de Gē. ad lit. c. 6. S. Tho. in c. 11. ad Hebreos. opinion of Protestants, the reader may also obserue the iudgement of S. Chrisostom, who affirmeth that Though it be not a matter of faith, vvhether Enoch The Fathers proue by the scriptures that Enoch is not dead. be novv in Paradise from vvhence Adam and Eue vvere expelled, or in some other pleasant place: Dicunt tamen sacrae Scriprurae quod Deus transtulit eum, & quod viuentem transtulit eum, quod mortem ipse non sit expertus. The holie Scriptures say that God translated him, and that he translated him aliue, that he felt not (or hath not experienced) death. And S. Augustin as expresly saith. Non mortuus, sed viuus translatus est. He (to vvit Enoch) is translated, not dead but aliue. Yea he teacheth how his life is sustayned thus many thousand yeares vpon earth. And sheweth moreouer that both Enoch and Elias shal dye. For seing Enoch and Elias (saith he) are dead in Adam, and carying the ofspring of death in their flesh, to pay that debt, are to returne to this life (of common conuersation) and to pay this debt vvhich so long is deferred.

Diuers reasons are also alleaged, why God would reserue these two aliue. Causes why Enoch & Elias are reserued aliue. S. Chris. ho. 21. in Gen. et in 2. Thes. 2 Theodor. q. 45. in Gen. Aretas, in 11. Apoc. S. Greg. lib. 14. Moral. c. v [...]. & ho. 12 in Ezech. Eccl. 44. Mala. 4. Eccl. 48. First to shew by example, that as their mortal bodies are long conserued from corrupting or decaying, in like sorte Adam and Eue and al others not sinning, should haue bene conserued, and according to Gods promise, neuer haue died, 1 but after some good time translated to heauen, and indued with immortalitie. 2 Secondly to giue vs an argument of immortalitie, which is promised after the general Resurrection. For seing God doth preserue some mortal, so long from al infirmitie, we may assuredly beleue that he wil geue immortal & eternal life of bobie and soule to his Sainctes, after they haue payed the debt of death, and 3 are risen againe. Thirdly these two (one of the law of nature, the other of the law of Moyses) are preserued aliue, to come amongst men againe towards See D. Sand. lib. 8. c. 35. de Monar. Eccl. And F. Pererius in c. 12. Danielis. the end of the world, to teach, testifie, and defend the true faith and doctrin of Christ, against Antichrist, when he shal most violently oppugne & persecute the Church. Of Enoch it is said in the booke of Ecclesiasticus, that he was translated, vt det gentibus poenitenntiam, that he geue repentance to the nations, by his preaching, & reducing the deceiued from Antichrist. And of Elias Malachie prophicieth, that he shal come before the great and terrible day of our Lord, and shal turne the hart of the fathers (that is the people of the Iewes) to the sonnes (the Christians) and of the sonnes (the deceiued Christians) to the fathers, the ancient true Catholiques.

CHAP. VI. Mans sinnes cause of the deluge. 4. Giants vvere then vpon the earth. 8. Noe being iust vvas commanded to build the Arke, 18. vvherin he vvith seuen persons more, and the seede of other liuing things vvere saued.

AND after that men began to be multiplied vpon the 1 The professors of true religion were called the sōnes of God▪ the folowers of errors the sōnes of men. earth, & had procreation of daughters: † The :: sonnes 2 of God seing the daughters of men, that they were faire, tooke to them selues wiues out of al, which they had chosen 3 And God said: My spirit shal not remaine in man for euer, [Page 21] because he is flesh: & his dayes shal be an hūdred & twentie yeares. † And ▪ Giants were vpon the earth in those dayes. 4 For after the sonnes of God did companie with the daughters of men, and they brought forth children, these be the mightie of the olde world, famous men. † And God seing 5 the malice of men was much on the earth: and that al the cogitation of their hart was bent to euil at al times, † it 6 God who is immutable, & subiect to no passion, yet by the enormitie of sinnes semeth prouoked to wrath, and to repent that he had made man. S. Amb. li. de Noe & arca. c. 4. repented him that he had made man on the earth. And touched inwardly with sorrowe of hart, † I wil, saith he: cleane 7 take away man, whom I haue created, from the face of the earth; from man euen to beastes, from that which creepeth euen vnto the foules of the ayre. for it repenteth me that I haue made them.

† But Noe found grace before our Lord: † These are the 8. 9. generations of Noe: ▪ Noe was a iust and perfect man in Eccl. 44, 17. In al generations God reserued some iust. Much more in the law of Grace. his generations, he did walke with God. † And he begat 10 three sonnes, Sem, Cham, & Iapheth. † And the earth was 11 corrupted before God, and was replenished with iniquitie. † And when God had perceiued that the earth was corrupted 12 (for al flesh had corrupted his way vpon the earth) † he said to Noe: The end of al flesh is come before me, the 13 earth is replenished with iniquitie from the face of them, & I wil destroy them with the earth. † Make thee an arke of 14 timber planke: cabinets shalt thou make in the arke, and shalt pitch it within, and without with bitume. † And thus 15 shalt thou make it. The length of the Arke shal be three hundred▪ cubitts: fiftie cubitts the breadth, and thirtie cubitts the height of it. † Thou shalt make a windowe in the 16 arke, and in a cubit finish the toppe of it: and the dore of the arke thou shalt set at the side belowe, middle chambers, and third loftes shalt thou make in it. † Behold I wil 17 bring the waters of a great floud vpon the earth, that I may destroy al flesh, wherin there is breath of life vnder heauen. Al thinges that are in the earth, shal be consumed: † and I 18 wil establish my couenant with thee: and thou shalt enter into the arke, thou and thy sonnes, and thy wife, and the wiues of thy sonnes with thee. † And of al liuing creatures 19 of al flesh, thou shalt bring payres into the arke, that they may liue with thee, of the male sexe, and the female. † Of 20 foules according to their kind, and of beastes in their kind, & of al that creepeth on the earth according to their kind: [Page 22] payres of al sortes shal enter in with thee, that they may liue. † Thou shalt take therfore with thee of al meates, that 21 may be eaten, and thou shalt lay them vp with thee: and they shal be meate for thee and them. † Noe therfore A right example of a iust maa. did 22 Heb. 11. al thinges, which God commanded him.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VI.

2. Sonnes of God.] The progenie of Seth, professing true faith & Religion, Sōnes of God and sonnes of men was then such a distinction, as now Catholiques and Heretiks. were called the sonnes of God: and those of Cains issue and congregation, lib. 15. c. 23. ciuit. De vera relig. c. 7. con. epist. sund. c. 4 Trac. 32. in Ioan. folowing erronious and wicked opinions, were called the sonnes of men. VVhich were then the distinctiue termes of true and false Religion, as afterwardes were the termes of Iewes and Gentiles: after Christ, Christians and Paganes: and lastly true and false Christians are distinguished, by the names of Catholiques and Heretikes. As S. Augustin teacheth, in his questions vpon Genesis, & other places. VVhich is confirmed by the like iugement of S. Ciril Alexandrinus li. 9. aduers. Iulianum. S. Ambrose li. de Noe & arca. c. 4. S. Pacianus epist. ad Symphorianum. Theodoret. & manie others vpon this place.

3 An hundred and tvventie yeares.] Mans life was not here shortned to an Philo. Iosephus. Lactant. Rupert. Tostatus. hundred and twentie yeares, as some haue misunderstood this place. For after This warning and expectation of repentance sheweth freewil in mā. this diuers liued much longer, as appeareth in the genealogie of Sem to Abram in the 11. chapter of Genesis. And Abraham liued. 175. yeares (c. 25.) Isaac 180. (c. 35.) Iacob 147. (c. 47.) and Ioiadas borne 1500. yeares after, liued 130. yeares (2. Par. 24.) But 120. yeares were granted before the floud for that generation to repent in, as the Chaldee Edition expresseth more plainely: Terminus dabitur ei centum viginti annorum si sorte conuertatur. The tearme of an hundred and twentie yeares shal be geuen them, if perhaps they may conuert. And so S. Chrisostom. S. Hierom. and S. Augustin expound this Scripture. Yet whether God cut of 20. of these yeares, and brought the floud after a 100 (for Noe had his sonnes when he was 500. yeares old, & the floud came in the 600. yeare of his age) or that this warning was geuen twentie yeares before ho. 22. in Gen. Tradit. Heb. lib. 15. c. 24. ciuit. anie of his sōnes were borne, is not so easely decided by the holie Doctors. Scriptures not easie. How easie soeuer Protestants say al Scriptures are. Though vnder correction of better iudgement, it semeth more probable, that Moyses by anticipation ioyneth the birth of Noes sonnes (when he was 500. yeares old) to the rest of the geneologie of the first Patriarkes, in the former chapter, and then telleth of this admonition, geuen 20. yeares before their birth. And so God expected the peoples repentance the whole time of 120. yeares prescribed.

4. Grants vvere vpon the earth.] Some haue thought that these giantes were Erronious opinions concerning these giants. not men, nor begotten by men, but that either diuels, which fel at first from heauen, or other Angels allured with concupiscence, begate them of the daughters of Cain. Philo Iudeus in his booke de Gigantibus, writeth that those whom Moyses here called Augels, the Philosophers called Genios. Qui sunt animalia aë [...]ea, vvhich are liuing creatures vvith ayrie bodies Iosephus (li. 1. Antiq.) saith that Angels begate these giants. Tertullian also li. de habitu muliebri) holdeth the same error, and diuers more otherwise good authors. [Page 23] But S. Ciril of Alexandria (li. 9. aduer. Iulian) S. Chrisostom (homil 22. in The principal doctors proue that they were men, and begotten of men First reason Gen) S. Ambrose de Noe & arca. c. 4.) S. Augustin (li. 15. c. 23. de ciuit) S. Hierom (Tradit. Hebraic) and other most principal Doctors teach it to be vntrue, yea vnpossible, that these giants should haue bene begotten by anie other creatures then by men. For that Angels and diuels are mere spirits without al natural bodies. And if they had ayrie bodies (as they haue not) yet they could not haue such generation. For the powre or force to engender belongeth 2 to the vegatatiue soule, whose proper operations are to tuine nutriment into the substance of the subiect wherin it is, and to engender new issue or ofspring from the same, as Aristotle sheweth (li. 2. de anima, textu. 24.) And in what bodies soeuer there is vegetatiue soule, it must needes be, that the same was engendred, and must some times decay and die, and so diuels should be mortal. Moreouer if they could haue generation togeather with 3 mankind, then such issue should be a distinct species both from man and diuel, as a mule differeth both from horse and asse. Againe, if spirits had abused wemen 4 in assumpted bodies, and shape of men, yet they did not take them to 5 wiues as the Scripture saith they did, who begate these giants. Finally the holie Scripture here expresly calleth the giants men. These be the mightie ones, famous men. The modestie of Scripture terming them famous, whom our common Giants most monstruous in bodie and in minde. phrase would cal infamous being more monstrous in wickednes of mind, then in hugenes of bodie. For they were most insolent, lasciuious, couetous, cruel, and in al kinde of vices most impious.

5. Al the coigtation bent to euel.] Luther (in his 21. article condemned by Leo the tenth) would proue by these wordes, and the like folowing, Al siesh Luthers argument that al mens workes are sinnes. had corrupted his vvay vpon earth, that al workes of men are sinnes For (saith he) seeing the hartes of al men are bent alwaies to euil, and al humane actions proceede from the hart, it must needes be that the hart as the fountaine being corrupt, the streames also issuing from the same must be corrupted. Againe al flesh hauing corrupted his way vpon earth, there is not any iust man (saith he) nor any man without sinne: and with Protestantes al sinnes are mortal. But Heretikes arguments are like to that the Poëts feyne of Sisyphus laboring to Heretiks like to Sisyphus. earie a great stone to the toppe of an high hil, which when he hath brought almost to the height, it stil falleth from him, & tumbleth againe to the bottome. Euen so their arguments that make greatest shew of prouing their opinions, The sinnes before the floud very greuous in foure respects, are nothing but vaine traueling, when they come to be tried by the true sense of holy Scripture. In this place Moyses describeth the enormitie of sinne that reigned in the world before the floud, for which God sent that destruction. For it was haynous in deede, and that especially in foure respects. First the malice and wickednes was general, which is signified by those wordes, al flesh hath 1 corrupted his vvay vpon earth. Secōdly it was great malice, signified by the words 2 much, and, al the cogitations of their hart is bent to euil. For they committed al maner of wickednes in hautines of pride, in al lasciuiousnes of the flesh, in al crueltie of robbing, sacking, & murthering, in al impietie, against God & man. 3 Thirdly, it was of long continuance, and dayly iterated. For Cain once fallen into damnable sinne neuer repented, and al his progenie was exceding wicked and after that Adam and Seth were dead, and Enoch translated, manie of the faithful fel to the wicked sorte, and became worse and worse omni tempore, alwaies, or euerie day. Fourthly they were obstinate and obdurate, not repenting 4 when Noe built the arke, and preached iustice (as S. Peter testifieth) and therfore 2. Pet. 2. God saued him and his familie, bringing in the deluge vpon the vvorld of the impious. Al which maketh nothing at al for Luther. For although the malice of man, [Page 24] and corruption of flesh, was then verie genaral, great, of long continuance, Luthers argugument answered. & obstinate, yet was it not so vniuersal, but that God him selfe excepted Noe, saying to him I haue found thee iust in my sight in this generation, whereby it is clere that these general termes, al cogitation and al flesh, haue exceptions. As likewise other as general propositions in this same chapter, concerning the punishment threatned, comprehend not absolutly al, and euerie one, but almost al, very few excepted. I vvil cleane take avvay, or destroy man vvhom I haue created, from the face of the earth. The end of al flesh is come before me. againe, that I may destroy al flesh vvherein is breath of life vnder heauen. These are very general speaches, that al should be destroyed, and yet eight persons of mankind, that had the same natural flesh, and amongst other liuing creatures, that had breath, diuers payres were saued aliue. So that this place (nor anie other in holie Scripture) wil not Ezech. [...]. Luc. 1 & 2. Apoc. 22. proue that Protestants paradox, that al mens actions are mortal sinnes, or that no man in this life is or can be iust: but manie scriptures tel vs plainly that some men were iust, as Noe, Iob, Daniel, Zacharias, Elisabeth, Simeon and others Of Noe see more in the next annotation.

9. Noe vvas a iust and perfect man] Here Noe is not onlie called iust, but also Noe iust and perfect. perfect. The hebrew word tamim of the verbe tamam (which signifieth to finish or accomplish) sheweth that Noe was a perfect or complete man doing al that he was commanded, and performing the offices of al vertues that pertained to him; and that not in a vulgar and meane sorte, but in a high degree, & heroical maner, as sundrie ancient Fathers haue gathered vpon this place. VVe shal cite some few of their sayings for example. S. Hierom (Tradit. Hebraic. in Gen.) distinguishing betwen consummate iustice (of the next life) & iustice of this generation (or transitorie life) saith: Noe the iust man vvas perfect in his generations: Noe did vvalke vvith God: that is, did folovv his steppes. S. August. (li. 15. ciuit. c. 26.) saith the like, that Noe vvas called iust in his generation, tovvit, not as the citizens of Gods citie are to be perfected in that immortalitie, in vvhich they shal be equal to Angels, but as they may be perfect in this pilgramage. And in his booke de perfectione contra Caelestium. he describeth him to be a perfect man, that runneth VVho is perfect in this life. vvithout blame tovvards perfection, voide of damnable sinnes, and is not negligent to cleanse venial sinnes, by almes, prayers, and other good workes. S. Ambrose also testifieth, (li. de Noe & arca c. 4.) that albeit the world was verie wicked, yet some were iust, saying: By the grace (or fauoure) vvhich Noe found, is shevved that other nens offence doth not obscure the iust man, vvho is pray [...]ed, not by the nobilitie of his birth, but by the merit of his iustice and perfection. S. Chrisost. most largely (ho. 23. in Gen) setteth forth the iustice and perfection of Noe. VVhere after he hath shewed that Noe deserued in deede the name of a man, because he by flying vices, and folowing vertues conserued the image of man, when others like beastes were ledde away and ruled by their wicked lustes, proceedeth thus in his commendation. ‘Behold (saith he) an other kind of praise: Noe is called, iust, which denomination comprehendeth al vertue. For this name iust we vse to pronounce of them, that exercise al maner of vertue. And that you may lerne, how he ariued to the very toppe which was then also required of our nature, the Scripture saith, he vvas iust, being perfect in his generation. He petformed what thinges soeuer it behoueth one to doe that embraceth vertue, for such a one is perfect, he intermitted nothing, he halted in nothing, he did not wel in this thing, and sinned in that thing, but was perfect in euerie vertue, which was requisite for him to haue. Moreouer to make also this iust man more conspicuous to vs in regard of the time, and by comparing him with others, the Scripture saith, he vvas perfect in his generation: in that time, in that [Page 25] peruerse generation, which declined vnto euil, which would not so much as pretend anie resemblance of vertue. In that generation therefore, in those times, that iust man not only pretended, but arriued to that height of vertue, that he became perfect, and in al thinges absolute. And that which I said before, to doe wel amongst the enimies of vertue, amongst them that forbid vertue, doth alwaies testifie a greater poyse of vertue, so by this occasion the iust man got greater prayses. Neither doth diuine Scripture here make an end of praising him, but further sheweth the excellencie of his vertue, and that he Diuin [...] calcuio. was approued by Gods owne censure, for besides saying: He vvas perfect in his generation, it addeth, that Noe pleased God. So great was the renowme of his vertue, that he deserued to be praysed of God. For Noe pleased God saith the Scripture, that you may know that he was approued of God. He pleased that eye, that can not be deceiued, by his good workes.’ Thus farre S. Chrisostom and much more to the same effect. S. Gregorie the great in his fifth booke of 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 Appelles an old Heretike, that denied Christ to haue true flesh. 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, A general answer to al calumniators of wise and learned men. 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 cō tained Origens opinion of long cubites not probable. six ordinarie cubites: and so doubtles the arke might easily containe al [...]o 2. in 6. Gen. 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 Moyses in other places can not be vnderstood to speake of o long cubites. 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 Exod. 27. 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 l. 15. ciuit c. 27. 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 [Page 26] 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 Deu. [...]. 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 1 thy house into the arke: for I haue sene thee iust Noe was iust not only by the estimation of men, but in deede and before God. in my sight in this generation. † Of al beasts that are Obseruation of cleane and vncleanne beastes by tradition, before the law of Moyses. cleane, 2 thou shalt take seauen, and seauen, male & female: † but 3 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 4 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 5 Lord had commanded him. † And he was six hundred yeares 6 old, when the waters of the floud flowed ouer the earth. † And Noe entred and his sonnes, his wife and the wiues of 7 Mat. 24. Luc▪ 17. of his sonnes with him into the arke, because of the waters of the floud. † Of beasts also the cleane and the vncleane, 8 & of foules, and of al that moueth vpon the earth; † two & 9 two went to Noe into the arke, male and female, as our Lord had commanded Noe. † And after the seauen dayes 10 were passed, the waters of the floud flowed ouer the earth. † In the six hundred yeare of the life of Noe, in the second 11 moneth, in the seauententh day of the moneth, al the fountaines of the The Hebrew word Thehom signifieth a gulfe of water, from whence new fountaynes sprang, more abundantly thē euer since or before. greate deapth were broken vp, and Arubbah signifieth great pipes or windowes, by which water fell downe in great abūdance from the ayre, here called heauen, S. Hier. quest. Heb. S. Epiph, ad Io. Hierosolom. S. Chr. [...]. 25. in Gen. the floud gates of heauen were opened: † and the raine fel vpon the 12 earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nights. † In the verie point 13 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 14 [Page 27] 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 15 into the arke, two and two of al flesh, wherin there was breath of life. † And such as entred in, male and female of 16 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 17 fourtie daies vpon the earth: and the waters increased, and lifted vp the arke on high from the earth. † For they ouerflowed 18 excedingly: and filled al on the face of the earth: moreouer the arke fleeted vpon the waters. † And the waters 19 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, 20 which it couered. † And al flesh was consumed that 21 moued vpon the earth, of foule, of cattle, of beasts, and of al creepers, that creepe vpon the earth: al men, † and al 22 things, wherin there is breath of life on the earth, died. † And he cleane destroied al substance, that was vpon the 23 Sap. 10. 4. [...]cl. 39. 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 24 1. Pet. 3. an hundred fiftie dayes.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VII.

16. Shut him in] God who by his only wil could in a moment haue drowned al the rest of the world, sauing whom he pleased, not needing in any thing the helpe of his creatures, yet would vse both natural, & supernatural meanes, God vseth both natural and supernatural meanes, as secundarie causes, in producing, conseruing, gouerning, punishing, & in rewarding his creatures. as the labour of Noe to build the arke, new fountaines springing, and the heauens powring downe water fourtie dayes togeather, afterwards the winde to dry vp the earh, and because the dore being great (for Elephants [...] to enter in) and was to be firmed without (as S. Ambrose noteth) for better induring the li. de Noe & area, c. 15. forcible waters, could not commodiously be closed by Noe, our Lord (by the ministrie of Angels) shut him in on the out side, to teach vs by al this, and the like disposition of things, that albeit his Diuine omnipotencie can do what he wil al alone, yet he wil haue his creatures to concurre and cooperate as secundarie causes, sometimes naturally, sometimes supernaturally, or miraculously, as it pleaseth his goodnes to impert to them powre and vertue.

23. But only Noe] As there is not anie thing in al the old Testament, from the creation of the world til the coming of Christ, more notable, more admirable, or of greater importance, then this historie of the general floud; so was [Page 28] there nothing (though al, or most chanced to them in figure) that euer more Al or most thinges in the old Testament be in figure of the new, & no figure more exact then the floud of Noe. 1. Cor. 10 aptly, more liuely, or more exactly prefigured Christ and his Church, with the rest of al mankind, then did Noe and the arke, & the drowning of the rest of the world in that deluge. VVhich S. Augustin declareth in many places, but Ep. 95. l. 5. de Baptis c. 28. de vnitate Eccles. ca. 5. In Psal. 103. & 131 Ser. 69. de tē pore. 1. Pet. 3. Mat. 24. Luc. 17. most especially and of purpose in his twelfth booke against Faustus the Manichee, from the 14. chapter to the 22. and in his fifteenth booke of the citie of God, in the two last chapters: where he sheweth at large both the certaintie of the historie, and that as certainely it was a figure of things in the new Testament, and withal the great congruitie betwen the figure & the things figured. The same did Origen explicate (homil 2. in Gen.) S. Gregorie (homil 12. in How the Doctors applie the figure to the things figured Ezech.) Rupertus (li. 4. comment. in Gen. c. 71. & sequent.) and diuers other ancient Doctors, confirming their expositions by S. Peters testimonie, saying: In the arke a fevv, that is eight soules (or persons) vvere saued (from drowning) by vvater, vvherunto Baptisme being of the like forme novv saueth you also. And by our Sauiours wordes saying: As in the dayes of Noe▪ so shal also the comming of the sonne of man be. In summe the Doctors teach, that Noe signifying rest was a figure Noe signified Christ. The arke the Church. of Christ, the very rest of mans soule. VVhom who soeuer foloweth shal find rest for their soules. The arke signifieth the Church, the forme therof being six times so long as broad, and tenne times so long as hiegh, resembleth the proportion of mans bodie, lying prone or prostrate. The dore in the side representeth the wound in Christs side, from whence flowed the holie Sacraments, Entrance into the Church by Baptisme. Vertue of Sacraments cometh from Christs Passion Doctors and Pastores in the Church. by which the faithful enter into the Church, and are sanctified. The timber wherof the arke is made, & the water bearing it vp, signified the Crosse of Christ and Baptisme. For as Noe (saith S. Augustin) vvith his, vvas deliuered by li. 12. de Baptis. c.14. the vvater and the vvoode, so the familie of Christ, by Baptisme signed vvith Christs Passion on the Crosse. Likewise the squarnes of the timber which both sustayned the burden of al contayned in the arke, and resisted the boystrous waues of the floud beating without, did signifie such men in the Church, as be constant & stand firmly in al sortes of tentations: especially godlie & lerned Doctors and Pastors, who by worde and example vphold and cōfirme the faithful people in al afflictions within, and withstand and conuince al Heretikes, and other Infidels that oppugne the Church without. Againe the hiegher & lower rowmes with the midle chambers & third loftes, & other distinctions of cabinets, and Varietie of states and orders in the Church partitions, and al sortes of liuing creatures cleane and vncleane, receiued therin, did signifie the varieties of al states & functions, and diuersitie of maners and merites in the Church, in which are persons of al degrees, Clergie and Good and euil in the Church Perpetuitie o [...] the Church. Laitie, Potentates, Princes, subiectes, good and euil. The most strong kind of glew called bitumen, signified the permanent or euerlasting stabilitie, and vnseparable cōnexion of the Church, by the grace and continual assistance of the Holie Ghost conseruing the same. The consummation of the arke in one cubite signified the vnitie of the same Church, which is one in al times, and places. Vnitie of the Church. Neither would God almightie haue manie arkes, for Noe and his sonnes or other creatures, nor manie chiefe rulers (though he would that of them should come manie Nations) but one only arke, and one chiefe gouernour therof, and that al without the same should corporally dye, to signifie that al One chiefe gouernour in the Church which dye without the Church do perish, and are eternally damned. wherupon Epist. 57. ad Damasum. S. Hierom, amongst other Fathers, sheweth that al within the Church, that communicate with the Sea Apostolique (wherin S. Damasus sate then gouernour) are as those in the arke of Noe, and al Schismatikes, Heretikes No saluation out of the Church. and other Infidels are in like case, with the rest of the world, that were drowned with the floud.

The end of the first age.

[Page 29]

A BRIEFE REMONSTRANCE OF THE STATE OF THE CHVRCH, AND FACE OF Religion, in the first age of the world. From the creation to Noes floud: the space of 1656. yeares.

HERE according to our purpose mentioned before, we wil briefly recite certaine principal points of Religion, taught and obserued in the first age. In which the foundations of the true maner of seruing God (that should be continued to the end of the world) were laid, and prospered in some, as appeareth in these seuen first chapters of Genesis. But first of al, we shal in two words repete (as it is clerly geathered in the same holie Scripture) the state of man before, and immediatly after his fall, being the subiect to whom al this pertayneth.

After therfore that God had created other things, both in heauen and Man made to Gods image, and in happie state. earth, last of al he made Man, to his owne image and likenes, with vnderstanding and freewil, therin like to Angels, and superior to al other creatures, and so made him Lord and maister of al earthlie things. Neither were these the greatest benesits which God bestowed on man: for his diuine goodnes ind [...]ed also this his reasonable creature, with innocencie & original iustice, whereby al things were most rightly ordered within him, and about him. Man obeyed God, and al earthlie creatures obeyed man. His mind, wil, and reason were obedient to God; his senses & inferior part of his soule were subiect to reason; his flesh and bodie obeyed the spirite; and al earthlie creatures obeyed him. God also adorned man with excellent knowledge, both natural and supernatural. And albeit his bodie was of corruptible substance, yet the same, and al his posteritie, if they had not sinned, should haue benne conserued, and without dying, haue benne translated Man placed in Paradise. to euerlasting life. Thus man was placed in Paradise, and E [...] there made of a ribbe of his side, to be his mate and vnseparable companion, as man and wife ioyned in Mariage, with Gods blessing, for increase and multiplication. As appeareth in the two first chapters of this booke.

But God hauing made man right, he intangled him selfe ( [...] holie Eccle. 7, 30 sap. 2. 24. Man sel by yelding to tentations. Scripture speaketh) with infinite questions. For the diuel enuying mans felicitie in [...]gled our mother E [...]e with questions and lies, and then by her, first seduced and deceiued, allured also Adam to the transgression of Gods commandment. And so they lost original iustice, which Adam had receiued for him selfe and al mankind: and al proceeding from them by natural propagation [Page 30] are borne the children of wrath, in original sinne contracted from Original sinne. Adam, slaues of the diuel, not only subiect to temporal death, but also are excluded for euer from heauenly blisse and glorie: except by Christs redemption particularly applied, they be restored to grace & iustice in this life.

And touching Adam and Eue, whose sinne was not original but actual, Adam and Eue, were penitent. directly committed by them selues, Gods mercie so reclamed them by new grace, that they despared not (as Cain, and some orhers did afterwards) but with hope of remission were sorie and penitent, and accordingly receiued penance, and redemption. For God brought Adam from his sinne (as Sap, 10. holie writte testifieth) and the same is collected of Eue, God shewing the like signes of his prouident mercie towards them both, of which we shal by and by note some for example.

Now let vs see the more principal points of faith and Religion professed and obserued by the Church of God before Noes floud. First they beleeued in Faith in one God. one Eternal and Omnipotent God, who made the whole world and al things therin of nothing. which is easely confessed of al that are not plaine Atheists, and may be proued against them by reason. And therfore Adam and other Patriarches could not erre in this Article, nor others be ignorant therof, except they were very wicked.

The Mysterie also of the Blessed Trinitie, three Diuine Persons in one God, The blessed Trinitie. though farre aboue the reach of mans reason, yet was beleued more expresly by som [...], more implied by others, and conserued from age to age by tradition, at least amongst the chiefe heades and leaders. wherupon Moyses afterwardes insinuated the same great Mysterie, by diuers wordes and phrase [...], writing of God and his workes. The two wordes God created if they be rightly considered importe so much. For the word Elohim, God, in the plural number, signifyeth pluralitie of Persons (for manie Gods it can not signifie, seeing there is but one God) and the verbe bara, created, in the singular number signifyeth one God in nature and substance, albeit three Persons. For whatsoeuer Though the B. Trinitie worke ioyntly in al creatures, yet diuers workes are atributed to distinct Persons. God doth in creatures, is the worke of the whole Trinitie: though holie Scriptures do oftentimes appropriate some worke to one Diuine Person, some to another. which also proueth distinction of Persons in God. So the wordes God created heauen and earth signifie the Father, to whom powre is Gen. [...]. attributed. In the beginning, signifie the Sonne, to whom wisdome is appropriated, and the words, The Sprite of God moued ouer the waters, signifie the Holie Ghost, by whose bountiful goodnes, the waters were made fruictful. Likewise Gods owne wordes: Let vs make man signifie the pluralitie of Persons, and Image and likenes in the singular number, signifie one God.

Men also knew by faith manie things perteyning to them selues. As that the bodie was made of the slime of the earth: the soule not produced of anie [Page 31] thing formerly existing, but created immediatly of nothing and naturally By faith the state of man past & present was knowne. immortal: that the soule of Adam was indued with grace and iustice: that he fel from that happie state, by yelding to tentation, and breaking Gods commandment of abstinence: that for the same sinne Adam and Eue were cast forth of Paradise, and al mankind subiect to death, and other calamities.

For remedie against sinne, & restauration to grace, they beleeued in Christ Beleefe in Christ to come. promised to be borne of the womans seede, who by his death should conquer the wicked serpent, deliuer man from captiuitie, and restore him to spiritual life. And this is the cause of the perpetual enmitie betwen the woman (especially the most blessed Virgin Mother, of whom Christ tooke flesh) and the serpent, and betwen her seede, the spiritual children of Christ, and the serpents seede, the whole companie of the wicked. Of this battle and conquest Targhum Hierosolimitanum thus speaketh. There shal be remedie and Remedie for men but none for Angels that fel. Heb. 2, 16. health to the children of wemen, but to thee, o serpent, there shal be no medicine, yea they shal tread thee vnder their feete, in the latter dayes, by the powre of Christ their King. Likewise Gods familiar conuersation with diuers men in mans shape (Gen. 2. 3. 4. 6. and 7. was a signe of Christs incarnation And The Sacrifices immolated did prefigurate his death, in respect wherof it is said in the Apocalips, The Lamb [...] was Apoc. 13. 8. slaine from the beginniing of the world. But more expresly S. Paul testifieth, that Abel, Enoch, and Noe beleeued in Christ, naming them for example of the first age, and others of other times, and in the end concludeth, that manie more being approued by the same faith, receiued not the Heb. 11. promise (to wit in their life time) God prouiding that they without None admitted into heauen before Christ. others (of the new Law) should not be consummate, that is, not admitted into heauenlie ioyes & fruition of God, vntil the way of eternal glorie were opened by our Lords Passion and As [...]ension.

Neither did the true seruants of God, in those first dayes, only beleeue in hart, but they also professed their saith, & Religion by external Rites, namely External Sacrifice. in offering of Sacrifice (the most special homage & seruice to God) which is clerly testified, cha. 4. as wel bloudie in figure of Christs Passion, as vnbloudie in figure of the holie Eucharist. Also the accepting of the one rightly offered by Abel, & reiecting the other not donne sincerly by Cair, was declared by external signes, which Cain disdayning and enuying his brothers good worke, knowing his owne to be naught, of mere malice killed his brother.

Besides Sacrifice they had also other Rites in publique Assemblies, praying Publique prayer with other Rites. and inuocating the name of our Lord, in more solemne maner, from Enos time and so forvvard, according to that is recorded of him, in the end of the fourth chapter. for douteles Adam, Abel, and Seth did also pray and call vpon God, and therfore it was some addition or increase of solemnitie in the seruice of God, which is referred to Enos,

[Page 32]They had moreouer other ceremonies: of the seuenth day particularly blessed Ceremonial obseruations. Feastes. Abstinence. Cleane & vncleane Places dedicated to prayer. Gen. 2. 3. and sanctified by God, kept holie by Adam and other Patriarches as Abben Ezra witnesseth in his commentaries vpon the tenne commandements. Of abstayning Gen. 29. Gen. 9, Gen. 7, 2. Gen. 4. 26. from meates, for it semeth the more godlie sorte did eate no flesh, before the floud, which was after permitted. Obseruation of cleane and vncleane beastes for Sacrifice. Of peculiar places dedicated to religious vses where people mette together to pray. Likwise diuers other things in the first age were figures of Christs Sacraments: the Spirite of God geuing powre to the waters, Figures of Christs Sacraments. Baptisme Mariage. Gen. 1. (as Tertullian S. Hierom and others expound it) and the floud of Noe, by S. Peters testimonie, were figures of Baptisme. Mariage instituted in Paradise, is 1. Pet▪ [...]. the very paterne of holie Matrimonie, a Sacrament in the Church of Christ, where one man and one wife are on lie lawful, and not more at once in anie wise, Christ reforming that which in Moyses law was tolerated (for hardnes Mat▪ 19. of mens hartes, and for auoyding murther, to put away one wife, and take an other) to this first institution as it was in the beginning, two in one flesh, Gē. 2, 24 not three nor more. The repentance of Adam and Eue was a perfect and examplare Penance. figure of the Sacrament of Penance. First they were ashamed, couering their nakednes, and hiding them selues, which shewed their griefe and Contrition. Gen. 3. sorow for the sinne committed Secondly they confessed their fault, and by what meanes it happened. For God examining Adam, he answered truly Confession. and simply saing: The woman which thou gauest me, to be my companion, gaue me of the tree and I did eate. Likwise Eue confessed sincerly, saying: The serpent deceiued me, and I did eate. Thirdly God gaue them penance (besides death before threatned and other penalties Satisfaction. annexed) that Eue should in paine and trauel bring forth her children; and Adam should eate his bread, in the sweate of his face. And withal cast them forth of Paradise. But not forth of his fauoure, as appeared by his making them garments of skinnes, granting them and their posteritie, From hence is taken the ceremonie of ashes, on Ashwene day. the rest of the earth to liue and labour in, especially to serue him, and do penance, with admonition to remember, that of duct man was made, and into dust he shal returne. Al which were signes of loue, and that finally he would bring them, and manie more to eternal saluation.

The first borne and heades of families were Priests al the time of the law of nature, vntil the law being changed, God tooke Priests only of the stock of Priesthood. Aaron, and the rest of the Leuites to assist them in that function, Aaron & Priesthood & Law stand & change together. N [...]m [...]. 10, 12. 45. his sonnes thou shalt appoint, saith our Lord, ouer the seruice of Priesthood, for I haue taken the Leuites of the children of Israel for euerie first borne. And [...]. Paul teacheth, that changing of Priesthood and changing of the law goe alwayes together, shewing euidently that euerie lawful communitie or commonwealth vnder God, hath external Priesthood. So that if there had benne no distinct order of external Priesthood in the law [Page 33] of nature, or now were none in the law of grace (as Protestantes say there is Latherli. de abroganda Missa. not) there were no law at al. See more of this point in the Annotations, chap. 7. ad Hebre. Here we only obserue that Abel, Seth, Enos, and other Patriarches were Priestes, and exercised priestlie functions: yea Cain also was a Priest (though a bad one) and offered Sacrifice.

But external offices or ministerie, without a wel disposed mind, and sincere vertues producing Good workes, did neuer iustifie anie man. And Good worke necessarie. therfore Cains Sacrifice, offered with a peruerse mind, was not respected by Gen. 4. God, as Abels was: wherupon he becoming worse, and more malicious, God sharply reproued his anger and enuie, conceiued without iust cause, saying: If thou doest wel, shalt thou not receiue againe: but if thou doest il, shal not thy sinne forwith be present at the dore? clerly shewing that euerie one shal receiue according to his workes.

This place also euidently sheweth Freewil, yea in a wicked man. For this Freewil. expostulation had neuer benne vttered, by our most reasonable Lord, and Maister, if Cain had benne depriued of freewil. For he might haue excused himselfe, and must needes haue benne holden excused, if he had benne forced to do as he did. But God charged him as inexcusable, and as one that knew, or ought to know, that he had freewil. And doth further inculcate, that he had, and should haue powre, and freewil ouer his concupiscence, to correct the same, if he would, saying: The lust therof shal be vnder thee, and thou shalt haue domion ouer it. So that no sinner, be he neuer so [...]. de ser [...] arbit. li 2. Instit. ca 2. par. 8. Gen. 3. wicked, much lesse a iust man, lacketh freewil. yet Luther abhorreth the very word, and Caluin wisheth it out of the world.

Temporal punishment is proued to be due for sinne remitted, by that Temporal paine due for sinne remitted. both death, and other penalties are inflicted, by Gods iustice vpon men, after iustification, and by the particular punishments laid vpon Adam and Eue, confessing their faultes.

Purgatorie is also proued by the same iustice of God. For when anie dieth Purgatorie. penitent, and yet haue not madeful satisfaction, they must suffer for that remaineth after death, and be purged, before they can enter into rest. which remnant of debt our B. Sauiour calleth The last farthing, and saith, it must Mat. 5. be payed. The lewes also at this day hold the doctrin of Purgatorie by tradition. And consequently they Pray for soules departed, not only to God, Prayer for the dead. And to Saincts. but also to the ancient Patriarches (which likewise sheweth Inuocation of Saincts) in these wordes: Yee fathers which sleepe in Hebron, Offici [...] pro defunctis. open to him the gates of Eden. that is of Paradise, which was planted in Eden. And Hebron is the place where Adam was buried, and his sepulcher Sepulchers of Patriarches religiously conserued religiously conserued in the time of Iosue, aboue 1500 yeares after his Iosue 14. Gen. 23. death. The same is the place which Abraham bought, and there buried Sara: where also him selfe, and Isaac, and Iacob were buried: and to which finally [Page 34] the bodies of the twelue sonnes of Iacob were translated from Sichem. As Iosephus li. 2 Antiquit writeth. And sichem also was specially honored, because such persons had benne buried there, as S. Hierom witnesseth, of his owne knowledge Epist. ad Pamach. in his time.

Againe by religious care of burying the dead in this first age, Enoch Enoch translated aliue. was more certainly knowen to be Translated aliue, and not to be dead. For the seuentie Interpreters, and S. Paul say He was not found, which Gen [...]. Heb. 11. importeth that they sought diligently for him, and that his bodie could not be found, for God translated him.

By al which we see mutual offices, and communion of good workes amongst Communion of Saincts. good men aliue and dead, which is called Cōmunion of Saincts. And herein Angels lacked not their offices. For God set Cherubins to kepe Ministerie of Angels. Gen. 3. 24. the gate of Paradise, that neither man should enter, being iustly expelled for sinne, nor diuels, as S. Augustin noteth; left they should take fruite of li. 11 d [...] Gen ad lit. c. 40. the tree of life, and geuing it to men, allure them to more sinne. And now Saincts being exalted to Angels glorie, haue like honorable offices towards Honour of Saincts▪ other men, as Angels haue. Yea the bloud of Abel vniustly shed by Cain, Gen. 6. and iustly to be reuenged by God, sheweth the peculiar honour, which God bestoweth vpon his Saints, for their vertues and merites in this life, & especially Psal. 11 [...]. in their death. For Precious in the sight of our Lord, is the death of his Saincts.

Hence also is proued, that seeing in this life the good are afflicted, and General Iudgement. the bad oftentimes prosper temporally, there must nedes be an other Court of exact Iustice, and an other Reaconing day, wherin euerie one shal receiue, according as they haue donne good or euil. which was sufficiently intimated by Gods discussing, and manifesting Abels and Cains deserts, which were hidden before, and in part rewarding them accordingly, yet reseruing the ful reward of the one, and punishment of the other to the next world. Of the Iudge and his sentence Enoch (alleadged by S. Iude the Iudge of the world. Epist. Iudae. v. 14. Apostle) proficied clerly, saying: Behold our Lord cometh in his holie thousands, to doe iudgement aganst al, and to reproue al the impions, of al the workes of their impietie, wherby they haue donne impiously, and of al the hard things which impious sinners haue spoken against him. Thus holie Enoch preached touching the wicked, which thought there was no Iudgement to come, nor Iudge to be feared.

At this Iudgement al shal appeare in bodie and soule returning to life. For that Al men shal rise from death is proued, by the immortalitie of Resurrection. mans soule, which God did not make nor produce of corruptible matter, but immediatly Breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became Gen. 2. 7. a liuing soule. so the soule being immortal, and hauing a natural [Page 35] inclination to the bodie, mans natural perfection requireth the coniunction of bodie and soule. for neither soule nor bodie separated is a man, but both ioyned in one subsistence are a man, in so much that mankind should perish, except the bodies shal rise againe, and liue with the soules. And then shal the bodies be qualified according to the state of the soules, happie or miserable for euer.

Of Eternal life the translation of Enoch is a figure. For seeing God preserueth Gen. 5. Euerlasting life. his corruptible bodie so long, from death and infirmitie, it is a token and manifest signe, that by the same powre of God, the bodies of men shal The blessed in eternal ioy. at last day, after that al men are once dead, rise againe, and remaine with the soules for euer. The good in Eternal ioy: the wicked in Eternal paine. The wicked in eadles paine. Both signified by the custodie of the gate of Paradise by Angels; who for Gen. 3. 24. euer kepe out these, that are stil defiled with sinne, and so they depart into fire euerlasting, and admit the innocent and iust into the kingdome of heauen, which is euerlasting ioy and perfect felicitie.

Thus we see the face and briefe summe of Religion, in the beginning of Church euer visible. Succession of Patriarches. the world, til the floud: and the state of the Church, which was alwayes Visible, consisting of men good and bad, with a continual Succession of Rulers, as wel spiritual as temporal. For the first borne were both Priestes and Princes in euerie familie. And amongst the same one euer chief of al. From One supreme head of the Church. which ranke Cain was excluded, or rather excluded him selfe, by Going Gen. 4, 16. Gen 5. forth from the face of our Lord. Wherupon holie Moyses r [...]teth this Monarchical succession of one chiefe, and Supreme Head, from Adam by the line of Seth, Enos, Cainan, Malaleel, Iared, Enoch. Mathusala, Lamech, and Noe. Neuertheles he setteth downe also the progenie Gen. 4, 17. S. Aug. li. de Pastore. c. 8. &. 20. of Cain, the first beginner of a worldlie, schismatical, and heretical conuenticle, opposite to the Citie of God. He denied Gods prouidence (as Cains negatiue doctrin. Thargum Hierosolomitanum testifieth) protesting to Abel, That there was no Iustice nor Iudge, nor other world then this, no reward for vertue, nor punishment for sinne, and so desperatly he killed Abel. of these negatiue principles proceeded other like detestable opinions, and most wicked life, sauage and barbarous crueltie, and al kind of impietie. And in processe of time albeit manie True faith stil remained in manie. Some also iust and perfect. remained in true faith, and vnitie of the Church, yet by conuersation with such miscreantes, especially by occasion of Mariages betwen the Gen. 6. faithful and infidels, almost the whole world was corrupted in maners. But Noe was iust and perfect. In punishment therefore of so great and enormious Interruption of heretical Sinagogues. sinnes, God sent the general floud, wherby al Cains progenie, and al other infidels were wholly destroyed and extinguished, and the true Church notably purged; onlie iust Noe and his familie reserued. By whom the same Cōtinuance of the Church true Church was continued, and the world againe replenished with men.

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CHAP. VIII. The waters diminishing by litle and litle, 6. Noe sendeth forth a crow, 8. The second age of the world. after him a doue, thrise: 18. lastly goeth forth with al that were with him in the arke. 20. erecteth an Altar, and offereth Sacrifice.

AND God remembred Noe, and al the beasts, and al the 1 The third part of this booke. Of the newincrease & multiplication of the world. cattle, which were with him in the arke, and brought a winde vpon the earth, and the waters decreased. † And the 2 sountaines of the depth, and the floud gates of heauen, were shut vp: and the rayne from heauen was stayd. † And 3 the waters returned from the earth going & comming: and they begane to decrease after a hundred fiftie dayes. † And 4 the arke rested the seauenth moneth, the seauen & twentith day of the moneth vpon the mountaines of Armenia. † But 5 the waters for al that were going and decreasing vntil the tenth moneth: for in the tenth moneth, the first day of the moneth, the topps of the mountaines appeared. † And after 6 that fourtie dayes were passed, Noe opening the windowe of the arke, which he had made, let forth a crowe: † which 7 went forth, and did The crowe returned not into the arke, but (as appeareth by the He brew text) going and returning rested vpon the arke. not returne, til the waters were dried vpon the earth. † He sent forth also a doue after him, to see 8 if the waters were ceased yet vpon the face of the earth. † Which finding not where her foote might rest, returned 9 to him into the arke: for the waters were vpon the whole earth: and he stretched forth his hand, and caught her and brought her into the arke. † And hauing expected yet seauen 10 moe dayes, againe he let forth a doue out of the arke. † But she came to him at euentide, carrying a bough of an 11 oliue tree, that had greene leaues in her mouth. Noe therfore vnderstood that the waters were ceased vpon the earth. † And he expected yet neuertheles other seauen dayes: and 12 he sent forth a doue, which returned not any more vnto him. † Therfore in the sixt hundred and one yeare, the first moneth, 13 the first day of the moneth the waters were cleane diminished vpon the earth: and Noe opening the roofe of the arke, looked, and sawe that the face of the earth was dried. † In They entred into the arke the 17. day, the secōd moneth of the other yeare: so they remained there 12. monethes and tenne dayes. the second moneth, the seuen & twentyth day of the 14 moneth the earth was dried. † And God spake to Noe, saying: 15 [Page 37] † Goe forth of the arke, thou & thy wife, thy sonnes and the 16 wiues of thy sonnes with thee. † Al cattle, that are with thee 17 of al flesh, as wel in soules, as in beastes, & al creepers, that creepe vpon the earth, bring out with thee, & goe yee vpon the earth: increase and multiplie vpon it. † Noe therfore 18 went forth, and his sonnes: his wife, and the wiues of his sonnes with him. † Yea and al cattle, beastes, and creepers 19 that crepe vpon the earth, according to their kinde, went sorth out of the arke. † And Noe▪ built an Altar to our Lord: 20 and taking of al cattle and foules that were cleane, offered Holocausts vpon the Altar. † And our Lord smelled a sweete 21 sauour, and said: I wil no more curse the earth for men: for the sense and cogitation of mans hart are prone to euil from their youth: I wil no more therfore strike euerie liuing soule as I haue done. † Al the dayes of the earth, In the whole yeare of the floud was no sowing nor reaping, nor pleasant varietie of times, but al desolate & miserable: hence forth God promiseth more seasonable times S. Amb. ii. de▪ Noe & Arca. c. 23. seedtime 22 and haruest, cold and heate, sommer and winter, night and day shal not rest.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VIII.

20. Built an Altar] Noe without expresse commandment, and without Noes sacrifice manie wayes cōmendable. delay, offereth Sacrifice to God, for the benefite receiued, in his, and his families conferuation, with the other liuing creatures, in that general deluge of the world, VVel knovving (saith S. Ambrose) That to be true thankesgeuing, vvhich Li. de Noe & Arca c 22. 1. Voluntarie, 2. Speedie. is presented, not commanded: therfore he made no delay. For the vertue of a gratful mind excludeth doutful deliberation, and he that expecteth, til the d [...]bt of thankes be exacted, is an vngratful person. For more solemnitie, he dedicated an apt and 3. Solemne. permanent place, for this peculiar diuine seruice, Building an Altar to our Lord. The Hebrew word Mizbeach (of the verbe Zabach, to kil, or make sacrifice) Heb. 13, 10. and the Greeke Thysiasterion, signifie an Altar to sacrifice on, not a common table for meate. He offered of the cleane and best things because pure and 4. Pure. deuout Sacrifice is due to God. Moreouer it was large and bountiful, for he 5. Bountiful. offered of al the kindes of cleane beastes and foules. Finally he offered them in Holocaustes, where al was burned and consumed in the honour of God. How 6. Holocaust. gratful al this was to God, Moyses signifieth saying: Our Lord smelled a svveete Leuit. 1. Psal. 50. Isaie 1. Amos. 5. [...]al. 1. Iust. Mar. li 3. q. 4. S. Hiero. [...]. Heb. Sacrifice is pleasant to God: not for the external things but for the sincere mind. sauour. not that either anie sweete corporal sauour could of it selfe delight God, who is the most spiritual substance, or that the burning of flesh, bones, and bowels of beastes could yeld sweete sauour; but the deuou [...] mind declared by such external dutie greatly pleased God. For God requireth both, but specially a sincere hart. As not only diuine Scriptures, and holie Fathers, but also moral Philosophers teach vs. It vvere a greu us thing (saith Plato writing of sacrifices) If God had respect railier to the giftes, and sacrifices of men, then to their mind. lib. perites proseuches.

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CHAP. IX. God reneweth the blessing of multiplication, 3. alloweth the eating of flesh, but not of bloud. 8. promiseth neuer againe to destroy the world by water 22. Chamsaw, and reported his fathers nakednes, which Sem and Iapheth couered. 24. For which he his cursed, and they are blessed.

AND God blessed Noe and his sonnes. And he said to 1 them: Of this commandment, or rather blessing see the Annotations. chap. [...]. v. [...]8. Increase, & multiplie, and replenish the earth. † And your terror and dread be it vpon al the beasts of the 2 earth, and vpon al the foules of the ayre, with al that moue vpon the earth: al the fishes of the sea are deliuered to your hand. † And“ al that moueth, and liueth shal be yours for 3 meat: euen as the grene herbes haue I deliuered al to you. † Sauing that“ flesh with bloud you shal not eate. † For I 4 5 wil require the bloud of your soules at the hands of al beasts: Leuit 17. and at the hand of man, at the hand of eech man, and of his brother, wil I require the soule of man. † Who soeuer shal 6 sheed mans bloud, his bloud shal be [...]hed: for to the image of God man was made. † But increase you and multiplie, 7 and goe vpon the earth, and fil it.

† Thus also said God to Noe, and to his sonnes with him: 8 † Behold I wil establish my couenant with you, and with 9 your seede after you: † and with euerie liuing soule, that is 10 with you, as wel in al foules as in cattle & beasts of the earth that are come forth out of the arke, and in al beasts of the earth. † I wil establish my couenant with you, and al flesh 11 shal be no more destroyed with the waters of a floud, neither shal there be from henceforth a floud to wast the earth. † And God said: This is the signe of the couenant which I 12 geue betwen me and you, and betwen euerie liuing soule, that is with you, for perpetual generations: † The rainbow was before, but was not a signe, as God saith henceforth it should be, for men to remember his promise. Seuerianus in Gen. S. Tho. Quod [...]b. 3. a. 30. my bowe 13 wil I set in the clouds, and it shal be the signe of a couenant betwen me and betwen the earth. † And when I shal couer 14 the element with cloudes, my bowe shal appeare in the cloudes: † and I shal remember my couenant with you, and 15 with euerie liuing soule that beareth flesh: and there shal no more be waters of a floud, to distroy al flesh. † And my 16 bowe shal be in the cloudes, and I shal see it, and I shal remember the euerlasting couenant, that was made betwen [Page 39] God and euerie liuing soule of al flesh which is vpon the earth. † And God said to Noe: This shal be the signe of the 17 couenant, which I established, betwen me & al flesh of the earth. † The sonnes therfore of Noe, that came out of the 18 arke, were Sem, Cham, and Iaphet: and Cham he is the father of Chanaan. † These three are the sonnes of Noe: and 19 By this it is clere that Noe had no more children after the floud. S. Chrisost. b [...]. 29. in Gen. of these was al mankind spred ouer the whole earth.

† And Noe a husbandman began to til the grounde, and 20 planted a vineyard. † And drinking of the wine was made 21 “drunke, and naked in his tabernacle. † Which when 22 Cham the father of Chanaan, had seene, to wit that his fathers priuities were bare, he told it to his two bretheren abroad. † But in dede Sem and Iapheth put a cloake vpon 23 their shoulders, and going backward, couered the priuities of their father: and their faces were turned away, and they sawe not their fathers priuities. † And Noe awaking from 24 the wine, when he had learned what his younger sonne had done to him, † he said:“ Cursed be Chanaan, a seruant of seruantes 25 shal he be vnto his bretheren. † And he said: Blessed 26 Apoc. 13. 8. be the Lord God of Sem, Chanaan be his seruant. † “God 27 enlarge Iapheth, and dwel he in the tabernacles of Sem, and Chanaan be his seruant. † And Noe liued after the floud 28 three hundred fiftie yeares. † And al his dayes were in the 29 Heb. 11. whole nyne hundred fiftie yeares: and he died.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. IX.

3 Al that moueth] S. Iustinus Martyr, S. Chrisostom, and other ancient Ad. q. 119. Ho. 27. in Gen. Voluntarie abstinence without cōmandment. Doctors proue, that flesh was lawful to be eaten before the floud: but being not necessarie, because men were stronger, and other things also of more force, the better sorte which were of Seths race abstained from it. But after the floud flesh being more necessarie, God altereth that custome of abstinence, with this limitation and commandment, that they shal not eate bloud.

4. Flesh vvith bloud] Though this positiue precept, of not eating bloud, serued wel to make men more abhorre manslaughter (which is forbid by the Abstinence from bloud some times commanded not alwaeys. law of nature, and the reuenge therof here and in other places seuerly threatned) yet it was specially geuen both immediatly after the floud, and in the law of Moyses (with manie the like) to exercise men in obedience. And the Leuit 17. same was renewed, for a time, by the Apostles, to appease a controuersie in the primitiue Church. For that the Iewes conuerted to Christ, hauing benne Act. 15 long accustomed to this obseruation, could not indure to see it broken, by themselues, or other Christians, and being no great burden, for the Gentiles, [Page 40] it was decreed that al should kepe it. And so peace was made Neuertheles it was abolished when the cause ceassed. As S. Augustin declareth against Faustus li: 32. [...]. 13. the Manichee. Sach is the authoritie of the Church to decree, and againe to disanul an obseruation of a thing of it selfe indifferent.

21. Dru [...]e] Noe sinned not, by the common iudgement of ancient Fathers, Noe sinned not in drunkennes: S. Chrisost ho. 29. S. Theod. q. 65. S. Amb. 6. 30. de Noe & Arca. Li. 72. 6. 24. cont. Faust. in that he was ouercome with wine, because he knew not the force therof, hauing drunck only water al his life before. But this external rebuke, and worldlie disgrace happened to Noe, in figure of Christ naked on the Crosse. As S. Cyprian (Epist. 63. ad Coecilium) S. Augustin (li. 16. de ciuit. c. 2. Noe a figure of Christ Sem and Iaphet a figure of the Church, Cham of Insidels. & li. 12. contra Faustum Manicheum. c. 23. &. 24) Eucherius, Repertus and others (vpon this place) do teach. And likwise that Sem and Iapheth were a figure of the Church consisting of Iewes and Gentiles, and Cham of Heretikes, and other Infidels, that deride the infirmities, which our Sauiour sustayned. ‘Goe to now (yee Manichees, saith S. Augustin) obiect calumnies to the ancient holie Scriptures, doe so, yee children of Cham, to whom naked flesh semeth vile, by which your selues were begotten. For neither could yee by anie meanes haue benne called Christians, except Christs as he was fortold by the Prophetes, had come into the world, had drunck that cuppe of his vinyard, which could not passe from him, had slept in his passion, as in drunkennes of folie (which is wiser then men) and so the infirmitie of mortal flesh (which is stronger then men) had become naked, by the secret counsel of God, which infirmitie vnles the WORD OF GOD had taken vpon him, the very name Christian, wherof yee also glorie, had not benne at al in the earth.’

25. Cursed be Chanaan] VVhy Chanaan the sonne is cursed, and not his VVhy Chanaan is cursed rather then Cham. father Cham, diuers yeld diuers reasons. S. Theodoretus reporteth out of the q. 57. l [...] Geu. Hebrew Doctors, that Chanaan a boy first saw his grandfathers nakednes, and told the same to his father, and so they both derided that they should haue couered, Chams other sonnes not offending, and therfore not his whole progenie but only Chanaan & his posteritie were here cursed by Noe. S. Chrisostome ho. 29. supposeth that for so much as God had blessed Noe & his three sonnes coming forth of the Arke, he could not presume to curse anie of those, whom God had blessed, therfore cursed Chanaan who in wickednes was like to his father. S. Gregorie bringeth this, for example of wicked men, escaping punishment Sinnes punished in the posteritie. in this life, and are punished in the next, and in their posteritie, folowing their vices. VVhat meaneth it (saith he) that Cham sinning, Chanaan his sonne Li. 26. Moral. c. 18. had sentence of reuenge, but that the sinnes of the reprobate prosper here in this life vnreuenged, and are punished aftervvards? And clere it is that Chanaans most wicked The effect of blessing and cursing. posteritie were subdued in the end, and most of them destroied by the children of Israel (who were of Sem) vnder the conduct of Iosue, according to Act. 13. Rom. 11. Ep hes. 2. Tradit Hebra. Li. 16. ciuit. c. 2. Li 12 c. 24. cont Eaust. Li 4. c. 38. in Gen. Noes prophetical blessing of Sem, and cursing of Chanaan.

27. God enlarge] This blessing of Iapheth was literaly fulfilled, when (according Iapheths blessing. Literal Mystical. to his name, which signifieth Latitude or enlargement) his plentiful issue possessed most ample countries, both in the Continent, and Ilandes. But mystically it had effect (As S. Hierom. S. Augustin. Rupertus and others expeund it) when the Apostles, being Iewes of the race of Sem, first builded the Christian Church, wherin the most part of that nation refused to dwel, contemning Christs Gospel & grace, and the fulnes of Gentiles entred in, and were made inheriters. Finally Chanaan is seruant to both Sem and Iapheth, in How Heretikes serue Catholiques. that Heretikes being vnder the Iurisdiction of the Church, geathered of Iewes and Gentiles, serue to stur vp Catholiques diligence to more exact knowledge of al truth; and their patience to more merite and glorie.

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CHAP. X. The genealogie of Noes children, by whom the World was increased againe, after the floud.

THESE are the generations of the sonnes of Noe, Sem, 1 Cham, and Iapheth: and children were borne to them after the floud. † The children of Iapheth: Gomer, and Magog, 2 and Madai, and Iauan, and Thubal, and Mosoch, and Thiras. † Moreouer the children of Gomer: Ascenez and 3 Riphath and Thogorma. † And the sonnes of Iauan: Elisa 4 and Tharsis, the Cetims and the Dodanims. † Of these 5 were diuided the Iles of Nations in their countries, ech one according to his tongue and their families in their nations. † And the sonnes of Cham: Chus, and Mesraim, and Phut, 6 and Chanaan. † And the sonnes of Chus: Saba, and Heuila, 7 & Sabatha, and Regma, & Sabathaca. The sonnes of Regma: Saba, and Dadan. † Moreouer Chus begat“ Nemrod: he began 8 to be mightie in the earth, † and he was a valiaunt hunter 9 That is in his sight who can not be deceiued. before our Lord. Therof rose a prouerbe: As it were Nemrod the valiaunt hunter before our Lord. † And the 10 beginning of his kingdome was Babylon, and Arach, and Achad, and Chalanne in the land of Sennaar.† Out of that 11 land came forth“ Assur, and builded Niniue, and the streets of the citie, and Chale. † Resen also betwen Niniue and 12 Chale: this is the great citie. † But Mesraim also begat 13 the Ludims, & the Anamims, & the Laabims, the Nephthuims, † and the Phetrusims, and the Casluims: of whom 14 came forth the Philistims & the Caphtorims. † And 15 Canaan begat Sidon his first begotten, Hethaeus, † and 16 Iebusaeus, and Amorrhaeus, and Gergesaeus, † Heuaeus and 17 Aracaeus: Sinaeus', † and Aradius, Samaraeus, and Hamathaeus: 18 and afterwardes were spred the people of the Chananits. † And the limitts of Chanaan were from Sidon as we 19 come to Gerara euen to Gaza, vntil thou enter to Sodoma & Gomorrha, and Adama, & Seboim euen to Lesa. † These 20 are the children of Cham in their kinreds, and tongues, and generations & lands, and nations. † Of Sem also Hence S. Augustin geathereth that the people of Israel were called Hebrewes of this Heber. l. 16. c. 3. ciuit. father of 21 al the children of Herber, the elder brother of Iapheth were borne. † The children of Sem: Aelam and Assur, and 22 [Page 42] Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. † The children of Aram: 23 Vs, and Hul, and Gether, and Mes. † And Arphaxad also 24 begat Sale, of whom was borne Heber. † And to Heber 25 were borne two sonnes: the name of the one was Phaleg, Heber hauing a sonne borne when the tongues were diuided called him Phaleg, which signifieth diuision S. Aug. li. 16. c. 11. ciuit because that in his dayes was the earth diuided: and his brothers name was Iectan. † The which Iectan begat 26 [...]lmodad, and Saleph, and Asarmoth, Iare, † and Aduram, 27 and Vzal, and Decla, † and Ebal, and Abimael, Saba, 28 † and Ophir, and Heuila, and Iobab. al these were the children 29 of Iectan. † And their dwelling was from Messa as we 30 goe on as far as Sephar a mountaine in the east. † These are 31 the children of Sem according to their kinred and tongues, and countries in their nations. † These are the families of 32 Noe, according to their peoples & nations. Of these were [...] the nations diuided on the earth after the floud.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. X.

8. Nemrod.] To this Nemrod the sonne of Chus, first builder and king of Nemrod king of Babylon, a su [...]tle & cruel giant. Li. 1. c. 4. Antiqi [...]. l. Antiq. Chalda. [...]i. 1. c. 2. in Osee. li. 16 c. 3. 4. & 17. ciuit. Berosus Annian. li. 4. c. 5. Eusebius in chron. & ali [...]. Babylon, Iosephus, S. Epiphanius, S. Hierom, S. Augustin, and generally al ancient writers ascribe the first tyrannie, and first setting vp of an earthlie citie opposite to the Citie of God after the floud. He was a Valiant, or rather a Viol [...]nt hunter a giant hunter (saith S. Augustin, according to the seuentie Interpreters) who by falshood and force brought manie vnder his dominion. For he sturred vp pride (saith Iosephus) and contempt of God in men, auoching that they were not beholding to God for present felicitie, but to their owne vertue; An Arch-heretike. and so supposing men would fal from God to him, if he offered him selfe a leader, and helper against a new floud, by litle and litle drew al to tyrannie. He was otherwise called Saturnus, and was at length amongst others accounted a god. After him his sonne Belus Iupiter (as most authors affirme) raigned 65 yeares. And then succeded Ninus the first king of the Assirians.

11. Assur builded Niniue] Here is great difficultie, and much dispute amongst writers, who this Assuris. Briefly, we may either say with Iosephus, and S. Augustin, that Assur the sonne of Sem built a citie, which afterwards Assur, sonne [...]f Sem, or [...] king of Assirians. Ninus of Chams race enlarged, enriched, and changing the name called it li. 1. Antiq. c. 4. Li. 16. c. 3. ciuit. Euseb. in chron. Ninum: or els that this word Assur here signifieth (as. 4. Reg. 15. Psal. 82. Esaiae 10. & 31.) the king of Assirians, to wit Ninus the sonne of Belus, who as al histories greeke and barbarous reporte (saith S Hierom) was the first that raigned ouer al Asia, & among the Assirians built Ninum a citie of his owne name, which the Hebrewes cal Niniue. He set vp the Monarchie of the Assirians, called the golden kingdom, which stood 1240. yeares. And made his father Belus to be honored for a god. To whom the Babilonians, as Plinie testifieth, Iud. 19. Num. 25. 4. Reg. 1. 3. Reg. [...]. first erected statuas, altares, & temples. Of this Belus or Bel of Babylon were First false goddes. also deriued other false goddes, as Belial the god of Libertines, or without yoke, Beelphegor god of the Moabites, Beelzebub of the Acharonites, Baal in Samaria, Baalim amongst the Philistims: and the like in other nations.

[Page 43]32. The Nations] How manie Nations and tongues were in the world immediatly after the towre of Babylon, is more cōmonly supposed, then clerly The common opinion o [...] tongnes is not clere in Scripture. Yet this number of nations and tongues may be probably geathered in this and other places of Genesis. shewed by old or late writers. Only it semeth certaine and euident, that there were iust as manie tongues as Nations But to finde precisly (as the common opinion holdeth) 72, is hard. For in this chapter (where they would count this number) are not mentioned so manie. Neuertheles if we adde certaine that begane distinct Nations afterwards, til Iacob with his children went into Aegypt (in whom only the Hebrew Nation and Tongue continued to Christs time, the number wil come right. Of Iapheth were borne 7. sonnes S. Aug. 16. c. 3. ciuit. chiefe of Nations. Againe of Gomer (besides his supposed successor, who can not be counted beginner of an other distinct nation) came 2. other heades. Likwise of Iauan (besides his first sonne) rose 3. more nations. Of Cham by his first sonne Chus were 6. nephewes princes of nations. Againe of Regma (besides his successor) came one more. And Nemrod besides his kingdom of Babylon, raysed vp other 6. By his second sonne Mesraim came 8. nations, Chams third sonne Phut made ouly one nation. And Chanaan his sonnes made 11. more. Of Sem (last mentioned for better connecting the maine Historie, and succession of the Church) came the chife and principal Nation The Hebrews chiefe of these nations. the Hebrewes, descending from him by Arphaxad, Sale, Heber, and so directly to Iacob. Of Sem also were borne 4. other sonnes beginners of [...]ations. Againe of Aram (besides his first sonne) were 3. fathers of nations. Likwise of Heber (besides the Hebrewes descending by Phaleg) were borne to his other sonne Iectan 13. heades of nations. These are al that are named in this place: to wit, of Iapheth, 12. of Cham 33. and of Sem 21. which make in al 66. wherunto if Gen. 24. 19. 17. 25, 6. 25, 23. we adioyne Nachor (Abrahams brother) Moab, and Ammon (Lots sonnes) also Ismael (Abrahams eldest sonne) and his issue by Cetura, and finally Esau (Iacobs brother) who made 6. more distinct nations, the whole number is 72. This probable collection, with the rest, we submit to better iudgement.

CHAP. XI. God hindereth the vaine purpose of building a hiegh towre, 7. by confounding The fourth part of this booke. Of the diuision of tōgues and nations. mens tongues. 9. wherof it is called Babel. 10. The genealogie of Sem to Abram.

AND the earth was of one tongue, and al one speach. 1 † And when they remoued from the east, they found 2 a plaine in the land of Sennaar, and dwelt in it. † And eech 3 one said to his neighboure: Come, let vs make bricke, and bake them with fire. And they had bricke in steed of stone, and bitume in steed of morter: † and they said: Come, “let vs 4 make vs a citie and a towre, the toppe wherof may reach to heauen: and let vs renowne our name before we be dispersed into al lands. † And our Lord descended to see the citie 5 and the towre, which the children of Adam builded, † and 6 he said: Behold, it is one people, and one tongue is to al: and [Page 44] they haue begunne to doe this, neyther wil they leaue of from their determinations, til they accomplish them indede. † Come ye therfore,“ let vs goe downe, and there confound 7 their tongue, that none may heare is neighbours voice. † And so our Lord dispersed them from that place into al 8 lands, and they ceased to build the citie. † And therfore 9 the name therof was called Babel, He that spea keth so confusedly that he is not vnderstood is said to bable. because there the tongue of the whole earth was confounded: and from thence our Lord dispersed them vpon the face of al countries.

† These are Moyses here sheweth the succession of Patriarches, from Sem to Abraham, as he did before from Adam to Noe. S. Aug. li. 16. c. 10. ci. the generations of Sem: Sem was an hundred 10 yeares old when he begat Arphaxad, two years after the floud. † And Sem liued after he begat Arphaxad, fiue hundred 11 yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters. † Moreouer 12 Arphaxad liued thirtie fiue yeares, and“ begat Sale. † And 13 Arphaxad liued after he begat Sale, three hundred three yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters. † Sale also liued 14 thirtie yeares, and begat Heber. † And Sale liued after he 15 begat Heber, foure hundred three yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters. † And Heber liued thirtie foure yeares, and 16 begat Phaleg. † And Heber liued after he begat Phaleg, 17 foure hundred thirtie yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters. † Phaleg also liued thirtie yeares, and begat Reu. 18 † And Phaleg liued after he begat Reu, two hundred nine 19 yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters. † And Reu liued 20 thirtie two yeares, and begat Sarug. † Reu liued also after 21 he begat Sarug, two hundred seauen yeares: and begat sonnes & daughters. † And Sarug liued thirtie yeares, and 22 begat Nachor. † And Sarug liued after he begat Nachor, 23 two hundred yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters. † And Nachor liued nine and twentie yeares, and begat 24 Thare. † And Nachor liued after he begot Thare, an hundred 25 and nintene yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters. † And Thare liued seauentie yeares, and begat Abram 26 and Nachor, and Aran. † And these are the generations 27 of Thare: Thare begat Abram, Nachor, & Aran. Moreouer Aran begat Lot. † And Aran died before Thare his 28 father, in the land of his natiuitie in Vr a citie, or territorie of Chaldea. 70. Interpret. and Iosephus li. 1. Antiq. Vr of the Chaldees. † And Abram & Nachor maried wiues: the name of Abram 29 his wife was Sarai: and the name of Nachor his Wife, Melcha the daughter of Aran the father of Melcha, and the father of Iescha. † And Sarai was barren, neither had she 30 [Page 45] children. † Thare therfore :: tooke Abram his sonne, and 31 Abram was commanded to goe forth of Chaldea, as appeareth Act. 7. v. 4. Though this iourney is here ascribed to Thare as the principal person. Lot the sonne of Aran, his sonne, & Sarai his daughter in law, the wife of Abram his sonne, and brought them out of Vr of the Chaldees, for to goe into the land of Chanaan: and they came as farre as Haran, and dwelled there. † And the dayes of Thare came to two hundred fiue 32 yeares, and died in Haran.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XI.

4. Let vs make] Here we may see in Nemrod the common causes of heresies, Pride is cause offchisme and heresie. False pretences deceiue the simple. and the maner of Hertikes ptoceding. For he hauing a sutle proud, and aspiring mind, first detracted from God, perswading men (as is noted before) not to depend vpon Gods prouidence, and finding some others of like humour, they conspired together, and drew more folowers, by bearing the simpler S. Chris. ho. 30. in Gen. Cassian. [...]ollat. 4. c. 12. sorte in hand (for it was vnpossible wise men should beleue it) that they would make a towre of defence against a new floud, if God should thinck to Heretikes prosper for a time, but are confounded in the end. Ministrie of Angels. drowne the world againe. But their principal intention was to make themselues great and strong for the present, and famous to posteritie. Al which God ouerthrew neither suffering them to build vp their imagined castle of strength nor to be praised for their worke, but made them infamous to the worlds end.

7. Let v [...] confound] God in dissipating this vaine worke of men, would vse Li de t [...] fus. ling. ho. 11. in Numer. li. 16. c. 6 ciuit. li. 2. Moral. in. c 1. lob. the ministerie of Angels. As not only Philo Iudeus, and Origen, but also S. Augustin, S. Gregorie, and other fathers expound these wordes, Come, let vs descend, and confound their tongue. Where they also note Gods singular wisdome, God turneth the offence of men to good. Two miracles In priuation of one tongue and geuing a new. mercie, and iustice, so punishing the offence, that he turneth it to his owne glorie, and the profite of al men: shewing his powre and soueraigne Maiestie by two great miracles. First by so suddainly and vtterly depriuing al those builders, of their vsual tongue, that presently they could neither speake it, nor vnderstand it. Secondly, by geuing diuers distinct languages to seueral sortes or families, which they immediatly vnderstood, and spoke most promptly, as if they had long before lerned and vsed the same. But to no man was geuen more then one language. And so, to the more commoditie of al mankind, they were forced to part into sundrie coastes of the earth, which they inhabited and replenished Diuision among euil men is profitable. with distinct Nations, hauing the same Angels their spiritual Patrones and Protectors, which had seuerally changed their language. In particular, Li. 34. Moral. in. c. 41. Iob. ho. 11. in Gen. l. 16. c. 11 & li. 18. c. 39. ci. S. Aug. li. 6. c. 4. ciuit. it was profitable to the good who being before oppressed by the vnited powre of manie wicked, were releeued (as S. Gregorie teacheth) when their persecutors were diuided. These good were the familie of Heber, as S. Chtisostom, The member offending is punished. and S. Augustin proue. For seing the change of tongues was inflicted for punishment, it appeareth that Heber and his familie were innocent of the vaine attempt, whose tongue was not changed, but remained the same, and of Heber and his familie cōsented not to the building of Babel. him was called the Hebrew tongue for distinction sake after there were manie tongues, which before had no distinct name being the only tongue of al men. Againe touching the offenders (who were punished in their tongues, that they could not be vnderstood commanding one an other, because they would not vnderstand God iustly commanding them al) they also reaped this profite, [Page 46] that they were forced to leaue of that bad worke, and withal to seeke more ample habitations, who If they had there more increased in number and streingth, vvould vvithout doubt (saith S. Chrisostom) haue attempted vvorse things. And infinite Ho. 30. in Gen. S. Greg. ho 30 in [...]an. manslaughter would haue benne committed, amongst so manie for possession of that one citie & towre. Finally the fathers note that as God wrought Gift of tōgues most profitable to the Church. here much good by diuision of tongues: so he wrought much more by communion of tongues, geuen to the Apostles, therby inabling them to gether one Church of al Tongues and Nations.

12. Begat Sale] Here is an intricate difficultie. For the Hebrew and Latin text, both here and in Palalippomenon, saying Arphaxad begat Sale, the 72. Scriptures hard 1. Par. 1. Interpreters and S. Luke place Cainan betwen them, as sonne of Arphaxad, Iuc. 3. v. 36. Li. 16. c. 10. ciuit. and father of Sale. Eusebius also in his Chronicle, with most Greeke Doctors, and S. Augustin, count Cainan in this Genealogie of Sem. VVherupon manie do number him in this ranck, and suppose that Moyses omitted him for some Some think Moyses omitted Cainan for a mysterie. Mysterie, and yet writeth truly, that Arphaxad begat Sale, not his proper sonne, but his sonnes sonne: as S. Mathew sayth, Ioram begat Ozias, who Mat. 1. was his nephewes nephew. But against this solution it is replied, that then Arphaxad should haue bene a grandfather at 35. yeares of age: which were strange in those daies, how soeuer it is now. And a greatter difficultie, or rather absurditie must also be granted, that Arphaxad begat both Cainan Refutation. at the age of 35. yeares, according to the 72. Interpreters, and that Sale was also begotten the same yeare, according to the Hebrew, being both true. VVhich inconuenience is not in the Genealogie written by S. Matthew. Others therfore according to the Hebrew and Latin text, with most Latin Doctors, omit Cainan in this place, and Paralipomenon, namely with S. Hierom, Others coniecture Cainan should not be in the text of the 70. Quest. Hebra. who diligently examining and reconciling varieties, betwen the Hebrew and the Greeke, maketh no mention at al of this difference. VVhich maketh some to coniecture, that in S. Hieroms time Cainan was not in the Greeke copies, at least not in those that he had, and held for the best. And at this day some haue him not. VVhich may be admitted for a probable answere touching Editio quedam vaticana the Hebrew and Greeke of the old Testament. But for so much as al But neuer anie Catholique (nor heretike before Beza) put Cainan out of S. Lukes Gospel. copies, both Greeke & Latin, also S. Hieroms Edition of S. Lukes Gospel haue Cainan, the difficultie stil remaineth betwen Moyses and S. Luke. How then shal this doubt be solued▪ we can not solue it. And no maruel. For venerable Bede could not. VVhose wordes are these: S. Luke vseth rather the Greeke Prefat. cōment. in Acta. Apost. testimonies then the Hebrew: wherof hapeneth that I much maruel at, and for dulnes of wit, being striken with great admirrtion, I can not throughly scan, seeing in the Hebrew veritie are founed only tenne generations from the floud vnto Abraham, by what meanes S. Luke, who (the Holie Ghost gouerning A memorable sentence of S. Beda. his penne) could in no sorte write false, would rather set downe eleuen generations in the Gospel, Cainan adioyned according to the seuentie Interpreters. Thus writeth S. Beda, reuerently admiring that he could not vnderstand. For being assured that the Holie Ghost gouerned the pennes both of Moyses and S. Luke, and that he is not contrarie to him selfe, it must nedes be Beza sacrilegiously proud. true which ech of them writeth, though other learned men can not reach the profoundnes of some difficulties that occure. And therfore Beza was extreme saucie to dash Cainan out of S. Lukes Gospel, and that wittingly and most impudently saying, in his Annotations: Non dubitauimus expungere: VVe doubted The heretical English Editions differ in this point. not to put it out. The former English Editions, otherwise corrupt in manie 1552 1577. places, haue Cainan in the text of S. Lukes Gospel, but their latter translaters are in this point pure Bezites.

The end of the second age.

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THE CONTINVANCE OF THE CHVRCH AND RELIGION, IN THE SECOND AGE OF THE WORLD. From Noes floud to Abrahams going forth of his countrie. The space of 368. yeares.

NO MAN can wel doubt nor wil denie, that the same Church continued al the second age which was in the first, considering that Noe Noe and Sem liued in Abrahams time. liued aboue 50. yeares after the birth of Abraham, and sem 150. more: and that these three, and some others of that time are renowmed in holie scripture, for sincere professors of true Religion. But for more manifestation of their faith, and that the Church was then very conspicuous, we shal repete certaine Articles of Religion professed in the second age. principal pointes of Religion professed and practised al that time, by a continual knowne visible companie vnited in one mystical bodie: though in the meane while, the wicked sprong and grew in number and worldlie force, much oppressing yet neuer suppressing the good.

First iust Noe coming forth of the arke with his familie, professed his religious Gen. 8. One God. External Sacrifice Priesthood Altares. Christ. Crosse. The B. Trinitie. Redemer. mind to One God almightie, supreme Lord of al, by Offering external voluntarie, speedie, pure, solemne, and bountiful Sacrifice of Holocaustes, as a Priest vpon an Altar. After which most gratful office, God Gen. 9. making a couenant with him and his seede, neuer againe to destroy the world by water, confirmed the same by the signe of the rainbow, which represented the second Person of the B. Trinitie, the Sonne of God, Christ our Lord to be borne The Sōne of man, & extended vpon the Crosse: in whom Heb. 11. Noe beleeuing was instituted heyre of the iustice, which is by faith in our Redemer.

VVe haue here againe Gods operatiue blessing, with the effect of increase Gen. 9. Gods blessing operatiue. Fathers blessing & cursing and multiplication, the issue of Noe by his three sonnes, in short time making manie Nations. By the way also we haue an example of Fathers solemne [...]. 9. v. 25. Blessing and Cursing their children. The effectes wherof succeded afterwardes accordingly. Likwise in this age was geuen a particular precept Not [...]. 9. v. 4. [...]. 9. v. 20 Abstinence from bloud. Cleane, and vncleane. to eate bloud. And Noe obserued distinction of Cleane beastes, offering Sacrifice in them only, as before the floud, he was commanded to take moe of them into the arke, then of the Vncleane.

In that so ample mention is made of sinne and wickednes, there is no [...]. 10, 10. [...]. 11. 2. Pet. 2. Penance preached and inflicted. doubt, but Noe, the preacher of iustice, admonished and exhorted sinners to Repentance: yea he Punished Cham & Chanaan, by his curse in their posteritie. And God him selfe Threatned to exacte the bloud of man vniustly [...]. 9. 5. [...]. 11. shed. In the meane time Inflicted also some punishment vpon the builders of Babel, by confounding their tongues. And that by the Ministerie Ministerie of Angels. of Angels.

Which punishment in part, and threates of more importe a General [Page 48] Resurrection, and Iudgement, where al things shal be exactly discussed Resurection Iudgement. Eternal ioy, and paine. and Iudged. And then wil folow Eternal life to the good: and Euerlasting paine to the damned.

Al these points of Religion (and others mentioned in the former age, and no doubt taught by Noe & his sonnes) shew clerly a Visible Church, Church visible Good and bad in the Church consisting of good and bad. Noe remaning the same man as before the floud; Cap. 8. & 9. c. 10, 21. Sem and Iapheth are commended and blessed for wel doing; Cham blamed, & cursed in his posteritie: yet neither he nor anie of his sonnes or daughters fel into heresie, or other infidelitie, for anie thing that appeareth in Scripture, or other authentical testimonie. Heber also and his familie are particularly commended by Moyses, as the right folowers, and the spiritual children of Sem (who had innumerable other carnal children) as those that were innocent touching the presumptuous building of others, who for the Ho. 3 [...], in Gen. li. 16. c 11. & li. 18. c. 39. ciuit. same fault lost their old tongue, which the familie of Heber kept. As S. Chrisostom and S. Augustin do proue. Againe, diuers of this familie falling afterwards Alwaies some good. by litle and litle to other nations, the Familie of Thare, saith the same S. Augustin (li. 16. c. 12.) albeit not al, or not alwayes, yet euer some of them, and Abraham continually, with Sem, Heber, Phaleg, & L. 5. c. 35. Moral in 3. Iob. manie others, not mentioned by Moyses in his briefe description (as S. Gregorie doubteth not to suppose) were iust, and kept the true faith, and vndefiled Religion.

But Nemrod Chams nephew, and sonne of Chus described for a valiant Nemrod an Arch-heretike. hunter, a violent giant, and tyrant, was an Archheretike, a deuiser and Ioseph li. 1. c. 4. Antiq. teacher of false doctrin, against God and true faith. By sutletie and tyrannie he induced manie of liking or of feare to folow him, and so in schisme he maintained heresie, That men were not beholding to God, but to His proud heresie. them selues, for temporal prosperitie.

VVherof begane a new & cruel confederacie, against the Citie of God, & the second great Sect of Infidels. For Barbarisme being the first, begun by The first Sect of Infidels was Barbarisme before the floud. The second Scythisme. Cain and ended by the floud: The second mother of al Sectes beginning Li. de heresibus after the floud (as S. Epiphanius writeth) was Scythisme: so called of the Scythians a most cruel people. Who according to Nemrods heresie (not thincking themselues beholding to God for temporal happines, but to their owne forces) tyrannized ouer the weaker, and manie wicked banning together extremly oppressed the more peacable, especially the Church and true seruants Crueltie. of God. And this was one special cause of building Babylon, besides their ambicious desire of perpetual fame, and their bearing the simple in hand of a defence against a new floud, to make it in dede, a strong hold for tyrants to offend others, and to defend themselues. Wherfore God (who before destroyed al Infidels by the floud) confounded these builders by diuiding their tongues, and so forced them to breake, and part into manie countries.

[Page 49]Thus mankind being diuided vpon the earth, opinions also were multiplied Vntruthes are vnconstant. concerning Religion. For shortly the perswation of mens trusting in themselues, and in other mortal men appeared absurde, euen the strongest feeling aduersities, or fayling sometimes of their purposes, saw there was neede of supernal helpe, and that earthlie things depended much vpon diuine wil and powre. But bauing forsaken God Almightie, the onlie maker and conseruer of al, they begane to imagine and serue false goddes, both famous dead men, which had prospered in this world, and diuers other things, by which they receiued commoditie, or feared damage.

Hence therfore rose the third principal Sect called Grecisme, beginning The third Sect was Grecisme. also in this second age, as the same S. Epiphanius writeth. For Ninus the first king of the Assirian great Monarchie, brought to passe that his father Belus Idolatrie. Iupiter was estemed and worshipped for the onlie great God by the Assirians. To him the Babylonians erected first Temples Altares and Statuas. Nemrod also by the name of Saturnus, as the progenitor of Belus, and first great Satur d [...]rum. King or Tyrant of Babylon, was accounted a god, and the father of goddes. Dinastae were those that raigned in Aegipt by force and policie: & after were great goddes, and litle goddes. About this time likwise begane the Dinastae among the Aegyptians, and not sowner, as they vainly brag to haue benne before the floud: yea much longer then in deede the world hath benne. Moreouer the Chaldees worshipped the fire. Others the sunne, the moone, and innumerable other feaned goddes. Against al which (and likwise against al heresies) are two special arguments. First that they were not from the beginning, as the true God, and al truthes are knowne and receiued by continual Tradition, but brought in Idolatrie and Heresie are cō futed, by that they beginne disorderly; and are at dissention in their imagined Religions. afterwards by men, and comonly by il men. Secondly they are not accepted and esteemed for goddes, or truthes, in al places, but with great diuersitie and dis [...]ention, one sort allowing that others despice, as holie Athanasius notably writeth in his oration against Idols in these wordes. Quot sunt gentes totidem deorum genera confinguntur &c. ‘How manie nations (saith he) so manie kindes of goddes are feaned. Also the same countrie, the same citie dissenteth within it selfe in superstition of Idols. The Phenicians certes acknowledge not the Egiptians goddes, neither doe the Egiptians adore the same Idols with the Phenicians: Nor the Scithians receiue the goddes of the Persians, nor the Persians of the Scithians: The Pelasgies refuse the Thrasian goddes, the Thrasians know not the Thebians. The Indians are against the Arabians, the Arabians against the Aethiophians: and in like sorte the Aethiopians differ in their religious affaires from the Arabians. The Syrians worship not the goddes of the Cilicians, and the nations of Capadocia besides al these haue goddes of other names. The Bithinians also fea [...]ed diuers goddes, the Armenians againe diuers from them. What nede we manie wordes? Those that are in the continent honour other goddes from the Iland-people. In briefe ech citie and eech village not knowing the goddes of their neighboures, [Page 50] setteth forth their owne, & estemeth them only in place of goddes.’ Thus farre S. Athanasius. Name we like countries, prouinces, cities, and townes Luthers progenies differ as much in opinions of Religion, as Painimes do in their false goddes. in these partes of Europe, where Luthers scholars haue set their feete, consider the forme of Religion, and opinions which they hold, and we shal see as vnorderlie beginnings, and as horrible dissentions in heresies (which S. Hierom calleth the Idols of the New Testament) as the ancient fathers haue in. c. 11. O [...]ee. discryed in Paganisme. For Lutherans or Protestants hauing no lawful generation, but proceding of bastards race, vpstartes of vnknowne progenie, are no lesse at discordes among them selues, only al agreing against Catholiques, like syncretisantes against their cōmon enimies, or Herod, Pilate, & the Iewes against Christ. And in England alone are diuers Sectes without Sectes in England diuers from Luther, and eech one from the rest. possible meanes to agree in one. For albeit the ciuil state endeuoreth prudently and seriously to bring al to vniformitie, at least in publique shew, yet they are but like manie faces vnder one hood, euerie sorte keping their owne opinions; yea almost euerie preacher and meane scholar (to say nothing of artificers and common ministers) arrogating to be his owne Iudge, contemneth to stand to Luther or Caluin, to Geneua or Parlament, to Conuocation or Synod of their owne, but to his owne only vnderstanding, and interpretation of Proud and cō tentious spirites are hardly perswaded to the truth. holie Scripture. Nor yet to that alwayes; for when he is pressed with that he once said, he wil forgete it, or eate his owne word, if he haue not written it, or that you haue readie witnes against him, so hard it is to make a deceiued Protestant or Puritan confesse that he is conuinced, except by very pregnant meanes you can first cast out of him, or bind fast the spirite of presumption, dissention Vnlerned Catholiques beleue the same saith in al points with the lerned. and contention: wheras the simpliest Catholique in the world hath the selfe same faith in al points, with the whole Church, in which he remaineth, and vpon whose iudgement he dependeth.

To returne therfore, from whence we are not vnnecessarily digressed, we li. 16. c. 10. ciuit▪ conclude with S. Augustin; VVhen Moyses had shewed the beginning and progresse of Nemrods earthlie citie, leauing it in Babylon, that is confusion, as needles to prosecute it futher, he returneth to declare the pertual succession of the Citie of God, the Church, as before the floud from Adam The succession. of Patriarches from Noe to Abraham. to Noe, by the line of Seth, so after the floud from the same Noe, by the line of Sem, Arphaxad, Sale, Heber, Phaleg, Reu, Sarug, Nachor, Thare, and Abraham. The rest of Sems children, and al the progenies of lapheth and Cham, as not pertaining to this purpose, omitted, so connecting those in order of generations, by whom the succession is directly brought to Abraham, Prince of the elected people, a most special Patriarch, to whom new Abraham a principal Patriarch. and great promisses are made of multiplication of his seede, and possession of the land of Chanaan, but especially of Christ our Redemer, and the same manie waies confirmed, as wil appeare in the next age.

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CHAP. XII. Abram commanded by God to leaue his countrie, with promise to be blessed The beginning of the third age. in his Seede, 5. taking his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot, 6. wandreth in the land of Chanaan, 7. erecteth an Altar in Sichem, 8. an other in Bethel. 10. Thence by occasion of famine passeth into Aegipt. 14. where The fifth part of this booke. Of Abrahams leauing his coūtrie, Gods blessing of his seede, & commandment of Circumcision. his wife (called his sister) is taken into the kings house, 19. but vntouched is restored to him.

AND our Lord said to Abram: Goe forth of thy countrie, 1 Act. 7. and out of thy kinred, and out of thy fathers house, and come into a land, which I wil shew thee. † And 2 I wil make thee into a great nation, and I wil blesse thee, and magnifie thy name, and thou shalt be blessed. † I wil 3 blesse them and blesse thee, and cursse them that cursse thee, and In Christ borne of Abrahames seede al nations are blessed. Gal. 3. IN THEE shal al the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Heb. 11. † Abram therfore went out as our Lord had commanded 4 him, and with him went Lot: seauentie fiue yeares old was Abram when he went forth out of Haran. † And he tooke 5 Sarai his wife, and Lot his brothers sonne, and al the substance which they had possessed, and the soules which they had gotten in Haran: and went forth to goe into the land of Chanaan. And when they were come into it, † Abram 6 passed through the countrie vnto the place Sichem, as farre as the noble vale: and the Cananite was at that time in the countrie. † And our Lord appeared to Abram, and said to 7 him: To thy seed wil I giue this land. Who builded there Abram dedicated Altars to God especially in those places where he receiued promises, or benefites. S. Chrisost. ho. 31. in Gen. an altar to our Lord, that had appeared to him. † And marching 8 on from thence to a mountaine, that was on the east side of Bethel, there he pitched his tent, hauing Bethel on the west, and Hay on the east: he builded there also an altar to our Lord, and called vpon his name. † And Abram went forward 9 going, and proceding on to the south. † And there 10 came a famine in the countrie: and Abram descended into Aegypt, to be as a pilgrime there: for the famine was very sore in the land. † And when he was nere to enter into 11 Aegypt, he said to Sarai his wife: I know that thou art a fayre woman: † and that when the Aegyptians shal see thee, 12 they wil say: She is his wife: and they wil til me, and reserue [Page 52] thee. † ▪ Say therfore, I pray thee, that thou art my sister: 13 that I may be wel vsed for thee, and that my soule may liue for thy sake.

† When Abram therfore was entred into Aegypt, the 14 Aegiptians sawe the woman that she was passing beautiful. † And the princes told Pharao, and praised her to him: and 15 the woman was taken into the house of Pharao. † And 16 they vsed Abram wel for her sake. And he had sheepe and oxen and he asses, and men seruants, and maid seruants, and shee asses, and Cammels. † But our Lord God by corporal affliction hindered Pharao and his men from doing violence to Sarai S. Chrisost: ho. 32. in Gen. scourged Pharao 17 with very sore plagues, and his house for Sarai Abrams wife. † And Pharao called Abram, and said to him: What 18 is this that thou hast done to me? Why didst thou not tel me that she was thy wife? † For what cause didst thou say, she 19 was thy sister, that I might take her to my wife? Now therfore there is thy wife, take her, and goe thy ways. † And 20 Pharao gaue certaine men commandment in the behalfe of Abram: and they conducted him, and his wife, and al that he had.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XII.

13. Say therfore] Abraham concealed that Sarai was his wife, and lyed not Gen. 13. in saying, she was his sister: as he also called Lot his brother, being his brothers Men are bond to do their lawful endeuoures, and to commit the test to God. sonne, and she his brothers daughter. VVherby he preuented danger of his owne life, vsing such lawful meanes as lay in him, committing his wiues li. 16. [...]. 19. ciuit. & q. 16. in Gen. chastitie to Gods protection, which him self could not prouide for. In which case if he had not donne his owne endeuour, he had rather tempted God (saith S Augustin) then trusted in God. And so God preserued her, though she was in Pharao his house. v. 17.

CHAP. XIII. Abram & Lot returne from Aegypt into Chanaan, 6. and being rich separate themselues, 10, Lot choosing the countrie about Iordain, Abram dwelleth in Chanaan. 14. where againe God promiseth him that land, and multiplication of his seede. 18. And he erected an other Altar to God.

ABRAM therfore ascended out of Aegypt, he and his 1 wife, and al that he had, and Lot with him to the south [Page 53] coast. † And he was very rich in possession of gold and 2 siluer. † And he returned by the way, that he came, from 3 the south vnto Bethel, euen to the place where before he had pitched a tabernacle betwen Bethel and Hay: † in the 4 place of the altar which he had made before, and there he called vpon the name of our Lord.

† But Lot also that was with Abram, had flocks of s [...]eepe, 5 and heards of beasts, and tents. † Neyther was the land able 6 to receiue them, for to dwel togeather: for their substance was much, and they could not dwel togeather. † Wherupon 7 also there arose strife amongst the heardsmen of Abram and of Lot. And that time the Chananite and the Pherisite dwelled in that countrie. † Abram therfore said to Lot: Let 8 there be no brawle I beseech thee betwen me and thee, and betwen my heardsmen, and thy heardsmen: for we be Foure sortes of bretheren inholie writte: ge [...]man brothers, as Iacob and Esau: of kinred, as Abraham and Lot: of the same nation, as the Iewes and Samaritanes: in Religion as al Catholiques. brethren. † Behold the whole land is before thee: goe aparte 9 from me, I pray thee: if thou wilt goe to the left hand, I wil take the right: if thou choose the right hand, I wil passe to the left.

† Lot therfore lifting vp his eyes, sawe al the countrie about 10 Iordaine, which was watered through out before that our Lord subuerted Sodome and Gomorre, as the paradise of our Lord, and like as Aegypt as men come vnto Segor. † And 11 Lot chose vnto him the countrie about Iordaine, and he departed from the East: and they were seperated either brother from the other. † Abram dwelt in the land of Chanaan: 12 and Lot abode in the townes, that were about Iordaine, and dwelt in Sodome. † And the men of Sodome were verie 13 wicked, and sinners before the face of our Lord out of measure. † And our Lord said to Abram, after that Lot was seperated 14 from him: Lyft vp thyn eyes, and looke from the place, wherin thou now art, to the north and south, to the east and west. † Al the land, which thou seest, wil I geue 15 to thee, & to thy seed for euer. † And I wil make Not the children of the flesh but the children of promisse are the seede. Rom. 9. and are innumerable. Apoc. [...]. [...]. 9. thy seede 16 as the dust of the earth: if any man be able to number the dust of the earth, thy seede also shal he be able to number. † Arise and walke through the land in the length, and in 17 the breath therof: for I wil geue it to thee. † Abram therfore 18 remouing his tent, came, and dwelt beside the vale of Mambre, which is in Hebron: and he builded there an altar to our Lord.

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CHAP. XIIII. The king of Sodom with other foure kings are ouercome in battle, by foure others: 12. where Lot is taken 14. but Abram with 318. persons prosecuting and ouercoming the victorers, 16. rescued Lot, with al the captiues and pray. 18. Melchisedech King and Priest blessed Abram, 20. Abram payed tithes to him. 21. and rendered the spoile to the king of Sodom.

AND it came to passe in that time, that Amraphel the 1 king of Sennaar, and Arioch the king of Pontus, and Chodorlahomor king of the Elamyts, and Thadal the king of nacions † made warre against Barra the king of Sodome, 2 and against Bersa the king of Gomorra, and against Sennaab the king of Adama, and against Semebar the king of Seboim, and against the king of Bala, the same is Segor. † Al these 3 came together into the Woodland vale, which now is the salt sea. † For they had serued Chodorlamor twelue yeares, 4 and the thirtenth yeare they reuolted from him. † Therfore 5 in the fourtenth yeare came Chodorlahomor, and the king that were with him: and they stroke Raphaim in Astarothcarnaim, and Susim with them, and Emim in Sauee of Cariathaim, † and the Corrheans in the mountains of Seir, euen 6 to the Champion countrie of Pharan, which is in the wildernes. † And they returned, and came as farre as the fountaine 7 of Misphat, the same is Cades: and they stroke al the countrie of the Ameleichites, and of the Amorheans, that dwel in Assasonthamar. † And they went forth the king of 8 Sodome, and the king of Gomorra, and the king of Adama, and the king of Seboim, moreouer also the king of Bala, which is Segor: and they set themselues against them in battaile aray in the Woodland vale: † to wit against Chodorlahomor 9 king of the Elamites, and Chadal king of nacions, and Amraphel king of Sennaar, and Arioch king of Pontus: foure kings against fiue. † But the Woodland vale had many 10 pitts of bitume. Therfore the king of Sodome, and of Gomorra turned their backes, and were ouerthrowne there: and they that remained fled to the mountaine. † And they 11 tooke al the substance of the Sodomites, and Gomorrheans, and tooke al kind of victuales, and went their way: † and 12 Lot also and his substance, the sonne of Abrams brother, who [Page 55] dwelled in Sodom. † And behold one, that had escaped, 13 told Abram the Hebrew, that dwelt in the vale of Mambre, the Amorrean brother of Eschol, and the brother of Aner: for these had made a league with Abram. † Which when 14 Abram had heard, to witt, that his brother Lot was taken, he numbred of the seruantes borne in his house, wel appointed three hundred and eightene: and pursued them vnto Dan. † And diuiding his companie, he ranne vpon them 15 in the night: and stroke them, and pursued them vnto Hoba, which is on the left hand of Damascus. † And he brought 16 backe al the substance, and Lot his brother with his substance, the wemen also and the people. † And the king of 17 Sodom went forth to meete them, after he returned from the slaughter of Chodorlahomor, and of the kinges that were with him in the vale Sauee, which is the kings vale. † But “Melchesidech the king of Salem, “ bringing forth 18 bread and wine, for he was the Priest of God most highe, † “blessed him, and said: Blessed be Abram to God the highest, 19 which created heauen and earth: † and blessed be God 20 the highest, by whose protection, the enemyes are in thy hands. And“ he gaue him the tythes of al. † And the king 21 of Sodom said to Abram: Geue me the soules, and the rest take to thee. † Who answered him: I lift vp my hand to my 22 Lord God most hiegh possessor of heauen and earth, † that 23 from the very woofe-thread vnto the shoe latchet, I wil not take of al that are thine: Abraham enriched by God, would take no more of man, but his soldiars sustenance. The proper hire of spiritual work men, S. Chrisost in Gen. lest thou say: I haue enriched Abram: † except such thinges, as the young men haue 24 eaten, and the shares of the men, that came with me, Aner, Eschol, and Mambre: these shal take their shares.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XIIII.

18. Melchisedech] S. Hierom being earnestly requested by Euagrius, to Tomo 3. prope initium. Old heresie [...] concerning Melchisedech. geue his iudgement touching Melchisedech, whom a nameles author had endeuored to proue to be the Holie Ghost, plainly confuteth that error: as also an other error of Origen and Didymus saying, he was an Angel. Likewise S. Epiphanius ( heresi 55. & 76) relateth and condemneth a third error, of some that thought him to be the Sonne of God. These two Fathers, and S. Augustin ( li. de heresibus her. 34.) and diuers others, whom S. Hierom alleageth proue euidently, that he was a very man, a Priest and a king, yea the hiegh Priest (at least of that countric) Superior to Abraham, and a figure of Christ. [Page 56] Besides these heresies the same S. Hierom relateth two probable opinions. The Iewes Rabins generally hold that Melchisedech was Sem the sonne of Noe A probable opinion that Sem and Melchisedech was al one. from whom Abraham and al the Hebrewes descended. VVhich they seme rather to affirme, as loath to confesse that anie man, of other nation then their owne, should haue bene greater and more excellent then Abraham in spiritual causes, then for anie reason they do, or can alleage. Yet manie especially latter writers as Liranus, Tostatus, Genebrardus and others do embrace this opinion as most probable. Though S. Hierom semeth only to haue added Ep. ad Euag. the Hebrewes opinion (as he saith) because he would intimate al to his freind, when he had first cited grauer authores, S. S. Ireneus, Hypolitus, Eusebius More probable that Melchisedech was a Chananite. Cesariensis, Eusebius Emissenus, Apolinarius, and Eustathius, al agreably affirming that Melchisedech was a Chananite, king of Salem, which was afterwards called Ierusalem. To this opinion agreeth Philo Iudaeus continually speaking of him, as of a stranger to the Iewes nation. Iosephus also a Iew writeth plainly ( li. 7. de bello Iudaico. c. 18.) that he was of Chanaan, and Prince of the Chananites. Also S. Dionysius Ariopagita, ( Caelest. Hier. c. 9.) S. Epiphanius ( her. 55. & 67) Theoderetus ( q. 63. in Gen.) and Suidas, are of the same mind, and manie other christitian Doctors. VVho confirme their assertion by that Heb. 7. v. 6. S. Paul saith to the Hebrewes: He vvhose generation is not numbred among them, Proued: by S. Pauls wordes. tooke tithes of Abraham. For what els can S. Paul meane, but that Melchisedechs kinred and people, was diuers from the kinred, and people of the Iewes? which he could not say of Sem, from whom Abraham & al Iewes descended: as it can not be said, that Adam and Noe are of diuers genetation from anie people that now liueth, because we al come of them. Of this difficultie (not pettaining to anie controuersie of our time) the studious may see more in F. Pererius his commentaries vpon this. 14. chap. of Genesis. disp. 3.

18. Bringing forth] Seing the Royal Prophet Dauid, and S. Paul say Christ Psal. 109 Heb. 7. is a Priest for euer according to the order of Melchisedech, we demand of Protestants, Christ is a Priest according to the order of Melchisedech. if Christ fulfilled not Melchisedechs figuratiue Sacrifice offered in bread and wine, by offering his owne bodie and bloud at his last supper in formes of bread & wine, and by instituting the same to be offered by his Priests til the end of the world, what other figuratiue sacrifice of Melchisedech they can find performed by Christ, by which it may appeare that he is a Priest for euer according to that order? Caluin (li. 4. Instit. c. 18. para 2.) Kemnisius (par. 2. exam. pag. 740. &. 747) Peter martyr (in 1. Cor. 5.) and most English Protestants grant that Melchisedech was a Priest, and that the peculiar function VVhy the Protestants haue ministers and no Priests of a Priest is to offer Sacrifice, wherfore they hauing no sacrifice wil haue only ministers and no Priests, but they denie that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice in bread and wine. VVherupon we ioyne issue with them to proue that he did. and that by this place amongst others of holie Scripture.

Kemnisius complayneth that the Latin text hath Obtulit for Protulit, Offered, for Brought forth. And to disproue the same, he alleageth the Hebrew, Chaldee, Greke, and S. Cyprian. But Catholiques more iustly complaine of him, for lying. For al Latin Editions haue Proferens, bringing forth. The question therfore The state of the controuersie. in controuersie is, to what end and vse Melchisedech brought forth bread and wine? Caluin and Kemnisius say it was only to refresh or feede Abraham and his men, and not for sacrifice. which their bare saying is without reason, for that there was store of victuals in the pray (v. 11.) and they had eaten therof. v. 24. S. Chris. ho. 36. in Gen. Moreouer the Hebrew word Hotsi, brought forth, is a word pertayning to Sacrifice, as in the 6. chap of Iudges. (v. 18. and 19) and importeth that the bread and wine were first offered in Sacrifice, and then doubtles they did participat: [Page 57] though they wanted not other fufficient corporal foode. Againe the wordes folowing For he vvas the Priest of God most hiegh, can haue no other sense, but that he did the function of a Priest in the bread & wine which he brought, Melchisedech offered sacrifice in bread and wine. otherwise if the only cause of bringing that prouision had benne to releue the campe with victuals, the reason would rather haue benne yelded, because he was a bountiful King, a liberal Prince, a special freind to Abraham, as in deede he was, but none of these reasons, or the like fitted this purpose so wel, nor touched the cause of bringing forth bread and wine, as to signifie that he was a Priest, whose office is to offer Sacrifice.

Here againe some Protestants take exception against the Latin text, that the The latin text iustified by other places, yea by Protestants translations causual coniunction Enim, for, is not agreable to the Hebrew, but should be the copulatiue Et, and, which is a meere wrangling. For the lerned know wel ynough, that the Hebtew particle is better expressed in such places, by Enim or, quia, for or because, then by &. And so the English Bible printed in the yeare of our Lord. 1552. readeth: Melchisedech king of Salem brought forth bread and vvine: for he vvas the Priest of the most hieghest God. The latter Editions also in like places haue not the copulatiue And, but some other word as the sense requireth. Gen. 20. v. 3. Thou art but a dead man, for the vvomans sake vvhich thou hast taken: for she is a mans vvife. where the Hebrew phrase is, And she is maried to a husband. Gen. 30. v. 27. they read thus: For I haue proued that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake, where precisly construing the Hebrew they should say, I diuined (or coniectured) and the Lord blessed me for thy sake. Likewise Esaie, 64. v. 5. they read: But Loe, thou hast bene angrie, for vve offended, the Hebrew is thus. Loe thou art angrie, and vve haue sinned In the same place, they translate, Yet shal vve be saued, vvhich the Hebrew expresseth by the copulatiue, And we shal be saued. So when they thinke it conuenient, they translate the Hebrew particle, For, that, yet, which strictly signifieth And.

Now let vs also see the original in this place. In the Hebrew it is thus: The Hebrew text sheweth that Melchisedec did the office of a Priest in bread and wine. VMALCHI TSEDEC MELEC CHALEM HOTSI LECHEM VAIAIIN. VEHV COHEN LEEL ELION. VAIE VARECHEHV, &c. In English word for word thus: And Melchisedech king of Salem brought forth bread and vvine. And he the priest to God most hiegh. And he blessed him, &c. where albeit the causual word For, is not expressed, yet these wordes, And he the priest, further declaring that besides the office and dignitie of a King (which was said before) Melchisedec was also a Priest, must nedes signifie that he did something about the bread and wine belonging to a Priests office. And what that something The proper office of a Priest is to offer Sacrifice. was, perhaps the Vniuersitie of Cambridge wil testifie, whose late professor of Diuinitie teacheth plainly, that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice, and was therin a figure of Christ (Pag. 6. Reprehen) Sacerdotes (saith he) ij vere & proprie Guiliel. vvhitak. contra Gregor. Martin. sunt, qui sacrificia faciunt; qualis fuit Aaron, & Aaronis silij, & Melchisedechus, & quem illi adumbrabant, Christus. Priestes truly and properly are they, that offer sacrifices, such as vvas Aaron, and the sonnes of Aaron, and Melchisedech, and Christ, vvhom they prefigured. If then both Aaron & Melchisedech were truly and properly Priests, because they offered sacrifices (according to this Professors definition) and both were figures of Christ, it must needes be granted that as Christ fulfilled the figure of Aarons bloudie sacrifices, in offering him selfe vpon the Crosse: so he also fulfilled the figure as wel of vnbloudie sacrifices of Aaron, as especially of Melchisedechs Sacrifice in some other besides that on the Crosse, seeing the prophet Dauid and S. Paul say, Christ is a Priest (not according to Aarons order, for that was to haue an end, but) For euer according to the order of Melchisedech. And what other Sacrifice did our Sauiour offer to remaine [Page 58] perpetual, but of his owne bodie & bloud in vnbloudie maner, vnder the formes Christ stil exerciceth the office of Priesthood according to the order of Melchisedech by the ministerie of Priests. of bread and wine, with commandment to his Apostles and Priests to do the same til the end of the world? Let the indifferent reader weigh it wel. And whosoeuer is not very proud wil for his better instruction, or confirmation, esteme the vniforme iudgement of manie, ancient, godlie, and lerned Fathers writing vpon this place. VVe wil only recite their wordes, without other deduction for breuitie sake.

S. Clemens Alexandrinus (li 4. Strom. versus finem). writeth thus: Melchisedech king of Salem, Priest of God most hiegh, gaue wine & bread santified nutriment in type of the Eucharist.

S. Cyprian (Epist 63. ad Caecilium) Christ is Priest for euer according to the The ancient fathers proue that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice in bread & wine in figure of Christ, and of other Priests of the new Testament. order of Melchisedech, which order is this coming from that Sacrifice, and thence descending, that Melchisedech was Priest of God most hiegh, that he offered bread & wine, that he blessed Abraham. For who is more a Priest of God most hiegh, then our Lord Iesus Christ, who offered Sacrifice to God the Father, and offered the same, which Melchisedech had offered, bread and wine, to wit, his owne bodie and bloud. And a litle after: That therfore in Genesis, the blessing might be rightly celebrated, about Abraham, by Melchisedec the Priest, the image of Christs Sacrifice co [...]sisting in bread and wine went before, which thing our Lord perfecting and performing, offered bread and chalice mixt with wine, and he that is the plenitude, fulfilled the veritie of the prefiguted image.

Eusebius Cesariensis. (li 5. Demonst. Euang. c. 3.) Euen as he who was Priest of Nations was neuer sene to offer corporal sacrifices, but only bread & wine, when he blessed Abraham: so first our Lord & Sauiour him selfe, then priests that come from him, exercising the spiritual office of Priesthood in al nations after the Ecclesiastical ordinances, do represent the mysteries of his bodie, and healthful bloud in bread & wine. which mysteries Melchisedech knew so long before by diuine spirite, and vsed as representations of things to come.

S. Ambrose (li. 5 de Sacramen. c. 1.) VVe know the figure of the Sacraments▪ went before, in Abrahams times, when Melchisedech offered Sacrifice.

Idem. in cap. 5 Heb. It is clere that oblations of cattle are vanished, which were in Aarons order, but Melchisedechs institution remayneth, which is celebrated al the world ouer in administration of the Sacraments.

S Hierom. (Epist. ad Marcellamo vt migret Bethleem.) Haue recourse to Genesis, and you shal find Melchisedech king of Salem, prince of this citie, who euen then in figure of Christ offered bread and wine, and dedicated the Christian mysterie in our Sauiours bodie and bloud. Idem Epist. ad Euagrium: Melchisedech offered not bloudie victims, but dedicated the Sacrament of Christ in bread and wine, simple and pure sacrifice. Idem. Quest. in Gen. c. 14: Our mysterie is signified in the word of order, not by Aaron in imolating brute victims, but in offering bread and wine, that is the bodie and bloud of our Lord Iesus. Idem in c. 26. Matthei▪ Melchisedech the Priest of God most hiegh, by offering bread and wine, prefigured the Mysterie of the Eucharist.

S. Chrisostom (ho. 35. in Gen.) Seeing the figure; thinck also I pray thee, of the veritie ho. 36 After that Melchisedec king of Salem brought bread and wine (for he was Priest of God most hiegh) Abraham receiued his oblations.

S. Augustin (Epist. 95.) Melchisedech bringing forth the sacrament (or mysterie) of our Lords table, knew how to figurate his eternal ptiesthood. Idem li. 16. c 22 ciuit There first appeared that sacrifice, which is now offered to God by Christians in the whole world. Idem li. 17. c. 17. li. 18. c. 35. and [Page 59] vpon the Psalme. 109. li. 1. contra aduers. Leg. & prophet. c. 20. Ser. 4. de Caluin cōtemneth al the ancient fathers. in ca. 9. Heb. Sanctis Innocentibus. But it is bootles or nedles to cite more places, or more authors. for whosoeuer wil not submit their iudgements to these, would not, it is like, beleue, if their owne maisters, should rise agane and warne them, lest they be damned for their incredulitie.

19. Blessed him] Caluin (in cap. 7. v. 9. Heb) Musculus (locis com. c. de Missa Papist) and some other Protestants to auoid the connexion of Melchisedechs Priesthood and bringing fo [...]th of bread and wine, wil nedes haue these wordes, He vvas a Priest, referred only to that which foloweth, he blessed Abraham. And some English translaters for this purpose haue corrupted the text, Bible 1579. Heretical translation. by changing, And into Therfore, saying thus: And he vvas a Priest of the most hiegh God, therfore he blessed him. which is also a false glosse. For Melchisedech did not blesse Abram because he was a Priest, for Abram was also a Priest, but because he was a greater Priest then Abram. which S. Paul vrgeth saying: VVithout al contradiction that vvhich is lesse, is blessed of the better, Heb. 7, Iosue 8. &. 22. 3 Reg. 8. The greatter blesseth the lesse. concluding therupon that Melchisedech was greatter then Abraham. Agane other Superiors that are not Priests may blesse their inferiors. As Iosue and Salomon blessed the people, and parents blesse their children.

20. Gaue tith [...]s] This is an other prerogatiue of Melchisedec, that Abram Paying of tithes in the law of nature. payed tithes to him, which S. Paul likwise explicateth (Heb. 7.) and proueth therby that Christs Priesthood is greatter then the Leuitical. Moreouer this paying of tithes by Abraham sheweth the antiquitie of this tradition, being practised in Abrahams time, that the spiritual Superiors receiued tithes of their inferiors.

CHAP. XV. Abram doubting and lamenting that he should haue no childe, God promiseth him much issue, 6. who beleuing is iustified, 9. offereth Sacrifice prescribed by God, 13. and is forwarned that his seede shal be in strange land 400. yeares. 14. shal be deliuered from seruitude 18. and possesse Chanaan.

VVHEN these things therfore were done, the word 1 of our Lord was made to Abram by a vision saying: Feare not Abram, I am thy protector, & thy reward exceding great. † And Abram said: Lord God, what wilt thou geue 2 me? I shal goe without children: and the sonne of the stuard of my house is this Damascus Eliezer. † And Abram 3 added: But to me thou hast not geuen seede: and loe my seruant borne in my house, shal be myn heire. † And immediatly 4 the word of our Lord came to him saying: He shal not be thy heyre: but he that shal come out of thy wombe, him shalt thou haue thin heire. † And he brought him forth abroad, 5 and said to him: Looke vp to heauen, and number the starres, if thou canst. And he said to him: So shal thy seed be. [Page 60] † Abram“ beleued God, and it was reputed to him vnto 6 Ro. 4. Gal. 3. Iac. 2. iustice. † And he said to him: I am the Lord that brought 7 thee out from Vr of the Chaldees for to giue thee this land, and that thou mightest possesse it. † But he said: Lord 8 God, how may I know that I shal possesse it? † And our 9 Lord answered, and said: These three kindes of beastes and two of birdes signifie that the Israelites should be three generations in a strange land, the fourth in the desert, the fifth in possession of Chanaan, Theod. q. 65. in Gen. Take me a cowe of three yeares old, and a shee goat of three yeares, and a ramme of three yeares, a turtle also, and a pigeon. † Who taking al these, diuided 10 them by the mydes, and laid ech two peeces arowe one against the other: but the birdes he diuided not. † And 11 the foules lighted vpon the carcasses, and Abram droue them away. † And when the sunne was setting, a deepe 12 sleepe fel vpon Abram, and a great and darkesome horrour inuaded him. † And it was said vnto him: Know and foreknow 13 Act. 17. know that a pilgrime shal thy seede be in a land not their owne (and they shal bring them vnder bondage, and afflict them) Abraham and his seed werein strange land 400 and odde yeares, but in seruitude and affliction about 140. foure hundred yeares. † But the nation, whom they 14 shal serue, I wil iudge: and after this they shal goe forth Exo. 12. with great substance. † And thou shalt goe to thy fathers 15 in peace, buried in a good old age. † But in the fourth generation 16 they shal returne hither: for God deferreth to punish, either that the wicked may amend, or the good be exercised by them. S Aug. Psal. 54. or because the iniquity is not come to that great measure which his wisdome for [...]eeth, and wil punish in the end, to his owne more glorie, and more good of others. S. Greg. ho. 11. in 3. Ezech. To beleue Gods word without staggering is an act of iustice. as yet the iniquities of the Amorrheanes are not at the ful vntil this present time.

† Therfore when the sunne was set, there arose a darke 17 mist, and there appeared a fornace smoking, and a flake of fire passing betwene those diuisions. † That day God 18 made a couenant with Abram, saying: To thy seede wil I geue this land from the riuer of Aegypt euen to the great riuer Euphrates, † the Cineans, & Cenezites, the Cedmonites, 19 † and the Hethits, and the Pherezits, the Raphaims also, 20 † and the Amorreans & the Cananites, and the Gargasites, and 21 the Iebusites.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XV.

6. Beleued God] S. Hilarie (li. 9. de Trin) and S. Ambrose (li. 1. de Abraham. c. 3) by this exāmple teach vs, what maner of faith is reputed to iustice. to wit, such a faith as without tergiuersation, or requiring of proofe or reason, doth simply beleue that which God once saith, because he is omnipotent, how farsoeuer the thing that is said surmounteth our vnderstanding. For so heroical was the act of Abrahams faith, promptly beleuing Gods word in a matter most [Page 61] hard to his former conceipt, that for the same he receiued singular prayse; and for the like afterwards was called The father of mamenation▪ (c. 17. v. 5) and by Not workes before faith but ioyned with faith are meritorious. S. Paul. The father of al that beleue (Ro. 4. v. 11) where the Apostle teacheth that Abraham had no iustice, nor estimation of iustice before God, vntil he beleued in Christ (v. 18. 19, 20) because al workes before that faith are insufficient. Neyther was this a sole faith but had other necessarie vertues of hope, and charitie, humilite, reuerence, obedience, & the like ioyned with it. wherfore S. Iames testifieth that Abraham was iustified by workes (that is by Onlie faith doth not iustifie. workes folowing faith not going before faith. For Faith (saith he) if it haue not workes, is dead in it self. (c. 2. v. 17) And by workes Abrahams faith was consummat. v 22. And concludeth thus: Do yee see, that by workes a man is iustified and not by faith only. v. 24.

CHAP. XVI. Sarai geueth her handmaid Agar as a wife to Abram. 4. who conceiuing despiseth her mystresse, is therfore afflicted, & flyeth away. 7. But is warned by an Angel to returne and humble herselfe, 15. which she doth and beareth Ismael.

SARAI therfore, the wife of Abram, had brought forth 1 no children: but hauing an handmaid an Aegyptian named Agar, † she said to her husband: Behold, our Lord hath 2 closed me, that I might not beare: Goe in vnto my handmaid, if happely of her at the least I may haue children. And when he agreed to her in this request, † she toke Agar the 3 Aegyptian her handmaid tenne yeares after that they first dwelled in the land of Chanaan: and gaue her vnto her husband“ to wife. † Who did companie with her, but she 4 Some obey whilest they are rude, or in low state, but hauīg got a litle knowlege, or aduancement disdaine their aduancers. S. Gregorie. li. 21. in 1. Reg. 3. perceauing that she was with childe, despised her mistresse. † And Sarai said to Abram: Thou doest vniustly against me: 5 I gaue my handmaid into thy bosome, who perceauing herself to be with child, despiseth me. Our Lord iudge betwen me and thee. † To whom Abram making answere: 6 Behold, saith he, thy hādmaid is in thine owne hand, vse her as it pleaseth thee. When Sarai therfore did afflict her, she ranne away. † And an angel of our Lord hauing found her, 7 beside a fountaine of water in the wildernesse, which is in the way to Sur in the desert, † he said to her: Agar, the 8 handmaid of Sarai, whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? who answered: From the face of Sarai my mistresse doe I flye. † And the angel of our Lord said to her: Returne 9 [Page 62] to thy mistresse, and humble thy selfe vnder her hand. † And 10 again: Multiplying, sayth he, wil I multiplie thy seed, and it shal not be numbred for the multitude therof. † And againe 11 after that: Behold, saith he, thou art with child, and thou shalt bring forth a sonne: and thou shalt cal his name Ismael, because the Lord hath heard thin affliction. † He shal 12 be a wild man: his hand shal be against al men, and al mens hands against him: and ouer against al his bretheren shal he pitch his tents. † And she called the name of our Lord that 13 spake vnto her: Thou the God which hast sene me. For she said: verily here haue I sene the backe partes of him that hath sene me. † Therfore she called that wel, the Wel of 14 him that liueth and seeth me. The same is betwen Cadesse, and Barad. † And Agar brought forth a sonne to Abram: 15 who called his name Ismael. † Eightie and sixe yeares old 16 was Abram when Agar brought him forth Ismael.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVI.

3. To vvife] The Manichees did calumniat holie Abraham, and other Patriarches Manichees, condemned pluralitie of wiues in the Patriarches. Luther alloweth▪ it in Christians. Other Protestants in some case. S. Aug. li. 22. c. 47. cont. Faust. Luther propsit. 62. 65. et 66. triarches for hauing manie wiues, condemning them of incontinencie and adulterie for the same. Luther in the contrarie extreme held it not vnlawful, but indifferent, now in the law of grace, for a man to haue more wiues then one at once. And some English Protestants hold, that for adulterie, the innocent partie may marie an other, the first liuing. But the Catholique doctrin distinguishing times and causes, sheweth how pluralitie of wiues was lawful sometimes, and at other times, especially since Christ, altogether vnlawful, and vndispensable. The summe of which veritie is this. By the first institution of Mariage in the state of innocencie, and law of nature, and by the law of Christ, it is vnlawful for anie man to haue more wiues, and for anie woman to haue more husbands, then one. In the one part of which Law notwithstanding S. Aug. de bono coniugali. ca. 17. God sometimes dispensed. For there be two kindes of preceptes Two sortes of preceptsin the law of nature. pertaining to the law of nature. One sorte are as first principles of the law of nature, in which God neuer dispēseth, much lesse anie man. As that one woman may not haue more husbands then one, because the same would rather hinder procreation, and so were directly against the fruict of mariage. The other sorte are as conclusions drowne from the first principles, in which God sometimes dispenseth, but neuer anie man▪ As in this present example: seeing it is against natural procreation that one woman should haue manie husbands, it is conuenient also, there being ordinarily as manie men as wemen in the world, that euerie man likwise should be restrained to one wife, for so procreation may rather be increased, then if some men haue manie wiues, and others by that occasion haue none at al, except in some special case. As after the floud, when there was searsetie of people, God dispensed with such men as indeede were like to make greatter procreation by pluralitie of wiues. VVhich [Page 63] appeareth sufficiently by that Sarai perswaded her owne husband, to marie an Pluralitie of wiues sometimes allowed. other wife, and he a true seruant of God agreed therto, not as a new thing but as a lawful practise of those times. And Moyses here and in other places stil Deut. 21. speaketh of it, as of a custome knowne to the people for lawful. If a man (saith he) haue tvvo vviues, one beloued and the other hated, and they haue children by him, and the sonne of the hated be first borne, he can not preferre the sonne of the beloued. wherby is clere that two wiues were then lawful, and the children of both legitimate, and that the first borne must be preferred, without respect of first or last mariage. Yet this dispensation either ceased before Christs time, the cause ceasing, when the world was replenished; or at least our Sauiour tooke By the law of Christ in no case lawful. it away, restoring Matrimonie to the first institution of two in one flesh. who Math. 19. Gen. 2. pleaseth to see the Doctors that vnderstand, and expound the Scriptures to this effect, may read S. Augustin li. 22. c. 30. &. 47. con. Faust. Manich. li. 16. c. 25. & 38. ciuit. & li. 1 de adulter. coniugijs. S. Christom ho. 56. in Gen. S. Amb. li. de Abraham. c. 4. Also S. Chrisost. S. Hierom. and S. Bede in. 19. Mathei.

CHAP. XVII. God renewing his promises to Abram, 5. changeth his name, 10. and commandeth Circuncision. 15. changeth also his wiues name, promiseth a sonne of her. 20. Likewise that Ismael shal prosper. 23. and the same day Abraham circuncised himselfe, and Ismael, and al the men of his house.

ANd after that he beganne to be nyntie and nyne yeares 1 old, our Lord appeared vnto him: and said vnto him: I am the God almightie: walke before me, and be He is perfect in this life, that sincerly & diligently tendeth towards perfection of the next life. And this God here commanded to Abraham, & Christ to al Christians. Math. 5. S. Aug. li. de perfect. cont. Caelest. See Gen. 6. v. 9 perfect. † And I wil make my couenant betwen me and thee: and 2 I wil multiplie thee exceadingly. † Abram fel flat on his 3 face. † And God said to him: I am, and my couenant is 4 with thee, & thou shalt be a father of manie nations. † Neyther 5 shal thy name be called any more Abram: but thou shalt be called Abraham: because a father of“ many nations I haue made thee. † And I wil make thee encrease excedingly, 6 and I wil make thee into nations, and kinges shal come forth of thee. † And I wil establish my couenant betwen 7 me and thee, and betwen thy seede after thee in their generations by a perpetual couenant: to be thy God, and thy sedes after thee. † And I wil geue to thee, and to thy seed 8 the land of thy peregrination, al the land of Chanaan for a perpetual possession, and I wil be their God. † Againe God 9 said to Abraham: And thou therfore shalt keepe my couenant, and thy seed after thee in their generations. † This is 10 my couenant which you shal obserue betwen me and you, [Page 64] and thy seede after thee: Al the malekind of you ▪ shal be circumcised: † and you shal circumcise the flesh of your prepuce, 11 that it may be for a signe of the couenant betwen me and you. † An infant of Circumcision and name receiued the eight day signified the association of Saints in heauen after the seuen dayes trauel of this world. Ser. de circum. apud S. Cyprian. eight daies shalbe circumcised among 12 you, al malekind in your generations: aswel the homebred shal be circumcised, as the bought seruant of whosoeuer he is, not of your stocke: † and my couenant shal 13 be in your flesh for a perpetual couenant. † The male, whose 14 flesh of his prepuce shal not be circumcised, that soule ▪ shalbe destroied out of his people: because he hath broken my couenant. † God said also to Abraham: Sarai thy wife 15 thou shalt not cal Sarai, but Sara. † And I wil blesse her, 16 and of her I wil giue thee a sonne, whom I wil blesse, and he shalbe into nations, and kings of peoples shal spring of him. † Abraham fel vpon his face, & Abraham laughed not doubting but reioycing. S. Ambro. li. de Abraham c. 4. S. Aug. li. 16 c. 26. de ciuit. laughed, saying in his hart: 17 Shal trowest thou to him that is an hundred yeare old a sonne be borne? and Sara that is nyntie yeares old shal she beare? † And he said to God: I would that Ismael may liue 18 before thee. † And God said to Abraham: Sara thy wife 19 shal beare thee a sonne, and thou shalt cal his name Isaac, and I wil establish my couenant to him for a perpetual couenant, and to his seed after him. † Concerning Ismael also I 20 haue heard thee. behold, I wil blesse him, and encrease, and multiplie him exceadingly: twelue dukes shal he beget, and I wil make him into a great nation. † But my couenant I wil 21 establish with Temporal blessings were common to Ismael, but spiritual pertained properly to Isaac and Israel, & their successessors. Isaac, whom Sara shal bring forth to thee at this time an other yeare. † And when he had leaft of speaking 22 with him, God ascended from Abraham. † And Abraham 23 tooke Ismael his sonne, and al the homebred of his house: and al whom he had bought, al the males of al the men of his house: and he circumcised the flesh of their prepuce forth with the very same day, as God had commanded him. † Abraham was nyntie and nyne yeares old, when he 24 circumcised the flesh of his prepuce. † And Ismael his sonne 25 was ful thirtene yeares old at the time of his circumcision. † The selfsame day was Abraham circumcised and Ismael 26 his sonne. † And Conformitie in Religion conserueth peace in euery familie. Tho. Anglus in hunc locum. al the men of his house, as wel the home 27 bred▪ as the bought seruantes and strangers were circumcised togeather.

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ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVII.

5. Manie nations] Abram signifying Hiegh or Noble father, changed into Changing of names is mystical. S. Aug. li. 16 c. 28 & 39. ciuit. S. Hierom. Tradit. Hebraicis. Abraham, which signifieth Father of manie (nations) and Sarai signifying My Princes, changed into Sara, which absolutly signifieth Princesse, importe great Mysteries intended by God. For by this changing of names was declared and confirmed, that Abraham by the issue that he should haue of Sara, should be the father of manie nations, which S. Paul expresly applieth to his spiritual children▪ those especially that should beleue in Christ, of the Gentiles prefigured by Isaac borne of the freevvoman, by the promise, as the Iewes were prefigured Gal. 4. Isa. 54. by Ismael borne of the bondvvoman according to the flesh, concluding with the Abraham natural father of foure nations: spiritual father of al that do beleue in Christ. Rom. 4, 11. The Church of Christ euer consisteth of many nations. prophet Esai, that Manie are the children of the desolate, that before vvas barren. For albeit Abraham was natural father of foure nations, The Ismaelites, Madianites, Idumeans, and the Israelites, yet he was spiritual father of manie more, to wit, of al nations that beleue in Christ from his owne time to the [...]d of the world, of which some are Iewes, but the greatest part Gentiles▪ as the same Apostle sheweth. Rom. 4. Gal. 4. Ephes. 3. Collos. 1. and in other places. wherby is clere, that the Church of Christ doth alwayes consist of manie nations, not as Donatistes and Protestants absurdly say, sometimes of few inuisible or vnknowen persons, for so Abraham should sometimes be father of few or no nations, which d [...]rogateth either from Gods omnipotencie if he could not, or from his fidelitie if he should not maintaine his promise, made to Abraham for euer.

10. shal be circumscised] The Sacrament of Circumcision here first instituted, Circumcision a figure of Baptisme. about 400. yeares before the Law of Moyses, is a perfect figure of Baptisme, resembling it in foure things. First by both these Sacraments the faithful are distinguished from infidels. Secondly proffession of faith is made in them both, either by those that receiue the same, if they be of discretion, or by others for them, if they be infants. Thirdly by both these Sacraments entrance is made into the Church, and to the participation of other Sacraments and spiritual rites. Fourrhly both these Sacraments induce subiection to the iurisdiction, and lawes of the Church. But Baptisme doth farie excel Circumcision Baptisme excelleth Circumcision. in that it is more easie, or lesse painful, more vniuersal, for it pertaineth to al nations, and both sexes; and especially in vertue and efficacie, for Baptisme as an instrumental cause remitteth sinne and iustifieth, Circumcision was only a signe that grace was geuen, & sinne remitted. Againe Baptisme imprinteth a character in the soule, the other leaueth a marck only in the flesh. Finally Baptisme openeth the gate of heauen, in vertue of Christs passion now past, which circumcision could not before Christ suffered death. Of which both resemblance and difference S. Augustin treateth in manie places, especially li. 3. de doct. christ c. 9. Epist. 118. and Ianuarium. li: 19. c. 13. cont. Faust & in Psal. 73. where he also maketh like comparison betwen other Sacraments of the old and new Testament.

14. Shal be destroyed] Here occurre two difficulties about the true sense of Two difficulties. this hard place▪ First whether this punishment belonged to them only, by whose fault circumcision was omitted; or to infants also that should be circumcised and were not. Secondly whether temporal punishment, or eternal▪ [Page 66] was here threatned sor transgression of this precept. Touching the first doubt, it semeth probable, that this punishment pertained only to those, by whose To whom the punishment pertained whē circumcision was omitted. negligence themselues, or others of their charge, were not circumcised: for that the reason why such a one is punished is aleaged, Because he hath broken Gods couenant. VVhich is only in their powre to kepe or breake, that are of discretion, and not in the powre of infants. The indifferencie also of the Hebrew and Greeke text fauoreth this sense, for where according to the Latin we read, The male vvhose flesh of prepuce is not circumcised, The Hebrew and Greke may be translated, The male that doth not circumcise the flesh of his prepuce, which can not be ment of an infant of eight dayes old. This exposition is likewise confirmed by example, Exodi. 4. where Moyses was in danger to be slaine by an Angel, because his sonne was not circumcised. Neuertheles S. Augustin (li. 3. c. 18. cont. Inlian. li. 16. c. 27. ciuit. and in other places) proueth that this commination pertained also to infants. whose iudgement is confirmed by the 70. Interpreters adding for explication these wordes, the eight day. which necessarily include infants, as subiect to this punishment. not for that they could transgresse this precept, or commit a new sinne, but for lack of circumcision. The reason wherof is, for that God now determined this only remedie for original sinne, in the male sex of Abrahams seede, in place of sacrifice, or other profession of faith vsed before, and that in case it could conueniently be applied for otherwise the former remedies were stil aualable.

Concerning the other difficultie manie ancient fathers expound these wordes, shal be destroyed out of his people, of only temporal punishment; either what punishment was threatned. death, as the like phrase signifieth, Exodi. 12. VVhosoeuer shal eate leuened bread, his soul shal perish out of Israel; or temporal separation from the people of God, as Num. 19. Euerie one that toucheth the dead corse, shal perish out of Israel. But S. Augustin (li. 3. c. 18. cont. Iulian. li 5. hypog. & alibi) S. Gregorie (li. 4. Moral. c. 2. &. 3.) S. Prosper (li. de promiss. Dei. p. 1. c. 14.) S. Beda (li. 2. in Lucam. c. 8) and S. Bernard (ser. 3. de circum) vnderstand this threatning not only of temporal punishment, but also of eternal separation from God, and the Circumcision instituted to distinguish the people of God and for remedie of original sinne in some persons, but not in al. societie of Saints. And that also infants are so secluded only for lack of this remedie, as now children which dye without Baptisme, cōmitting no new fault are depriued of the vision of God, for their original sinne not remitted. VVherupon is geathered that albeit Circumcision was principally instituted to distinguish the people of God, which should come of Abrahams seede, from other nations, yet it was also for remission of original sinne: not in al, but in those to whom God appointed this particular remedie.

CHAP. XVIII. Angels intertained as ghests by Abraham 10. tel when Sara shal beare a sonne, wherat she laughing, they cōfirme that they had said. 16. They also fortel the destruction of Sodom. 22. for which Abraham prayed six times.

ANd God appeared to him in the vale of mambre as he 1 sat in the dore of his tent, in the verie heat of the day. † And when he had lifted vp his eyes, there appeared to him 2 three men standing nere vnto him: whom after he had sene, [Page 67] he ranne to meete them from the dore of his tent, and adored to the ground. † And He said Abraham saw three, and adored one. professing three diuine persons and one God. S. Aug. li. 16. c. 29. ciuit. Lord, if I haue found grace 3 Heb. 13. in thy sight, goe not past thy seruant: † but I wil fetch 4 a little water, and wash ye your feete, and rest ye vnder the tree. † And I wil fet a morsel of bread, and strengthen 5 your hart, afterward you shal passe: for therfore are you come aside to your seruāt. Who said: Do as thou hast spoken. † Abraham made hast into the tent to Sara, and said to her: 6 Make hast, temper togeather three measures of floure, and make harth cakes. † But him selfe ranne to the heard, and 7 tooke from thence a calfe verie tender and verie good, and gaue it to a young man: who made hast and boiled it. † He 8 tooke also butter and mylke, and the calfe which he had boyled, and set before them: but him selfe did stand beside them vnder the tree. † And when they had eaten, they 9 said to him: Where is Sara thy wife? He answered: Loe she is in the tent. † To whom he said: Returning I wil come to 10 thee at this time, life accompaning, and Sara thy wife shal Rom. 9. haue a sonne. Which when Sara heard, she laughed behind the dore of the tent. † And they were both aged, and farre 11 entred in yeares, and it ceased to be with Sara after the maner of wemen. † Who laughed secreatly saying: After 12 I am waxen old, & my Lord is an old one, shal I geue my selfe to pleasure? † And our Lord said to Abraham: Why did Sara 13 laugh, saying: Shal I an old woman beare a child in deed? † Is there any thing hard to God? According to appointment 14 I wil returne to thee this verie selfe same time, life accompaynig, and Sara shal haue a sonne. † Sara denied, saying: 15 I laughed not: being much afraid. But our Lord: Abraham laughing with admiration for ioy was not reprehended, but Sara laughing of diffidence was reprehended, by him that seeth the hart. S. Aug. q. 36. in Gen. & li. 16. c. 31 ciuit. It is not so, saith he: but thou didst laugh. † When the men therfore 16 were risen vp from thence, they turned their eyes against Sodome: and Abraham did goe with them, bringing them on the way. † And our Lord said: Can I conceale from Abraham 17 the things which I wil doe: † wheras he shal be 18 into a nation great, and verie strong, and in him are TO BE BLESSED al the nations of the earth? † For I 19 know that he wil commande his children, and his house after him that they kepe the way of the Lord, and doe iudgement and iustice: that for Abrahams sake the Lord may bring to effect al the things that he hath spoken vnto him.

Therfore said our Lord. † The crye of Sodome, and 20 [Page 68] Gomorre is multiplied, and their sinne is aggrauated excedingly. † I wil descend, and see whether they haue in acte 21 accomplished the crye that is come to me: or whether it be not so, that I may know. † And they turned them selues 22 from thence, and went their way to Sodome: but Abraham as yet stood before our Lord. † And approching he said: 23 what! wilt thou destroy the iust with the wicked? † what a wall are iust men to their countrie? their faith saueth vs, their iustice defendeth vs from destruction. S. Amb. li. 1. de Abraham. c. 6. If there 24 shalbe fiftie iust persons in the citie, shal they perish withal? and wilt thou spare that place for fiftie iust, if they be therin? † Be it farre from thee, that thou doe this thing, and that 25 thou kil the iust with the wicked, and that the iust be in like case as the wicked, this is not beseeming thee: which iudgest al the earth, no thou wilt not do this iudgement. † And our Lord said to him: If I shal find in Sodome fiftie 26 iust persons within the citie, I wil spare the whole place for their sake. † And Abraham answered, and said: Because I 27 haue once begunne, I wil speake to my Lord, wheras I am dust and ashes. † What if there shal be fiue lesse then fiftie 28 iust persons? wilt thou for fortie fiue destroy the whole citie? And he said: I wil not destroy it, if I shal finde fiue and fourtie. † And againe he said vnto him: But if 29 fourtie shalbe found there, what wilt thou doe? He said: I wil not strike it for fourties sake. † Lord, saith he, be not 30 angrie I besech thee, if I speake: what if thirtie shal be founde there? He answered: I wil not doe it, if I shal find thirtie there. † Because, saith he, I haue once begunne, I 31 wil speake to my Lord: What if twentie shalbe founde there? He said: I wil not destroy it for twenties sake. † I beseech 32 thee, saith he, be not angrie Lord, if I speake yet once more: What if tenne shalbe found there? And he said: I wil not destroy it for tennes sake. † And our Lord departed after 33 that he ceased to speake vnto Abraham: and Abraham returned into his place.

CHAP. XIX. Lot receiuing Angels in his house, is abused by the Sodomites. 12. He with his wife (26. who for looking back is turned into a statua of salt) and his two daughters are deliuered. 24. Sodome and Gomorre are burned. 31. Lot lieth vnwitting with both his daughters, begat of them Moab and Ammon, of whom came the Moabites and Ammonites.

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AND the two angels came to Sodome at euen, and Lot 1 sitting in the gates of the citie. Who when he had sene them, rose vp and went to meete them: and adored prostrate vnto the ground, † and said: I besech you, my Lords, turne 2 Abraham & Lot by hospitalitie met [...]ted to receiue Angels in steed of mē. Heb. 1 [...]. into the house of your seruant, and lodge there: wash your feet, and in the morning you shal go forth on your way. Who said: No, but we wil abide in the streat. † He compelled 3 them earnestly to turne in vnto him: and when they were entred into his house, he made them a banquet, and baked vnleauened bread, and they did eate. † And before 4 they went to bed, the men of the citie beset the house from young to old, al the people togeather. † And they called 5 Lot, and said to him: Where are the men that came in to thee at night? bring them forth hither that we may know them. † Lot going forth to them, and shutting the dore after him, 6 said: † Doe not so, I besech you, my brethren, doe not 7 commit this euil. † I haue two daughters, which as yet haue 8 not knowen man: I wil bring them forth to you, and abuse you them as it shal please you, so that you do no euil to these men, because they are entred vnder the shadowe of my roofe. † But they said: Get thee backe thither. And againe: Thou 9 camest in, said they, as a stranger, what to be a iudge? Thy selfe therfore we will afflict more then these. And they did violence to Lot exceadingly: and it was euen nowe at the point that they would break the dores. † And behold the 10 men put forth their hand, and drew in Lot vnto them, and shut the dore: † and them, that were without, they stroke 11 with blyndnes from the least to the greatest, so that they could not find the dore. † And they said to Lot: Hast thou 12 here anie of thine? sonne in law, or sonnes, or daughters, al that are thine, bring them out of this citie: † for we wil 13 destroy this place, for that This sinne crieth to heauen for reuenge. their crye is waxen lowde before our Lord, who hath sent vs to destroy them. † Therfore Lot 14 went forth, and spake to his sonnes in lawe that were to take his daughters, and said: Arise: get you forth out of this place, because our Lord wil destroy this citie. And he semed vnto them to speake as it were in iest. † And when it was 15 morning, the angels vrged him, saying: Arise, take thy wife, and the two daughters which thou hast: least thou also perish withal in the wickednes of the citie. † He lingring, 16 they tooke his hand, and the hand of his wife, and of his two [Page 70] daughters, because our Lord spared him. † And they led 17 him forth, and set him without the citie: and there they spake to him, saying: Saue thy life: looke not backe, neither stay thou in al the countrie about: but saue thy selfe in the mountaine, lest thou also perish withal. † And Lot said 18 to them: I beseech thee my Lord, † because thy seruant hath 19 fonnd grace before thee, and thou hast magnified thy mercie, which thou hast wrought with me, in that thou wouldest saue my life, and safe I can not be in the mountaine, lest perhaps the euil catch me, and I dye. † There is this citie hereby 20 at hand, wherunto I may flee, a little one, and I shalbe safe in it: is it not a little one, and my life shalbe saued? † And he 21 said to him: Behold also in this point I haue heard thy prayers, not to ouerthrow the citie for which thou hast spoken. † Make hast, and be saued there: because I can not doe any 22 thing til thou enter in thither. Therfore the name of that citie was called * Segor. † The sunne was risen vpon the 23 a litle one earth, & Lot entred into Segor. † Therfore our Lord rained 24 vpon Sodome and Gomorre brimstone & fire from our Lord out of heauen: † and he subuerted these cities, and al the 25 countrie about, al the inhabitants of the cities, and al things that spring of the earth. † And his wife Lots wife turned into salt, admonisheth the seruants of God to procede in vertue, & not to looke back to vice. Luc. 17. S. Aug. li. 16. c. 30. ciuit. looking behind her, 26 was turned into a statua of salt. † And Abraham getting vp 27 early in the morning, there where before he had stood with our Lord, † beheld Sodome & Gomorre, and the whole 28 land of that countrie: and he saw the cinders rise vp from the earth as it were the smoke of a fornace. † For when 29 God subuerted the citties of that countrie, he Lot neither perfect, nor very wicked was deliuered for Abrahams [...]e. S. Aug. [...]. 45 in Gen. remenbring Abraham, deliuered Lot out of the subuersion of the cities wherein he had dwelt. † And Lot ascended out of Segor, 30 and abode in the mountaine, his two daughters also with him (for he was afraid to abide in Segor) and he abode in a caue him selfe, and his two daughters with him. † And the elder 31 said to the younger: Our father is old, and there is no man left on the earth, that may companie with vs after the maner of the whole earth. † Come, let vs make him drunke 32 with wine, and let vs lie with him, that we may preserue seed of our father. † They therfore made their father to drinke 33 wine that night: and the elder went in, and lay with her father: but he perceaued not, neyther when his daughter lay downe, nor when she rose vp. † The next day also the elder 34 [Page 71] said to the younger: Behold I lay yesternight with my father, let vs make him drinke wine also this night, and thou shalt lye with him, that we may saue seed of our father. † They 35 made their father drinke wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in, and lay with him: and neyther then truly did he perceaue when she lay downe, or when she rose vp. † The two daughters therfore of Lot were with 36 child by their father. † And the elder bare a sonne and she 37 called his name Moab: he is, the Moabites & Ammonites were two distinct nations. perhaps of the 72. See. p. 43. father of the Moabites euen to this present day. † The younger also bare a sonne, and 38 she called his name Ammon, that is the sonne of my people: he is the father of the Ammonites euen to this day.

CHAP. XX. Abraham seiorning in Geraris, his wife is taken into King Abimelechs house, but by Gods commandement is restored vntouched, 14. with great giftes, 17. and Abraham praying Abimelechs house is cured.

ABRAHAM remoued from thence into the south 1 countrie, and dwelt betwene Cades, and Sur: and he liued as a pilgrime in Gerara. † And he said of Sara his 2 wife: She is See pag. 52. my sister. Abimelech therfore the king of Gerara sent, and tooke her. † And God came to Abimelech in 3 a dreame by night, and said to him: Loe thou shalt dye for the woman that thou hast taken: for she hath a husband. † But 4 Abimelech had not touched her, and he said: Lord wilt thou kil a nation that is ignorant and iust? † Did not he say 5 to me: She is my sister: and she say, He is my brother? in simplicitie of my hart, and cleanenes of my hands haue I done this. † And God said to him: And I do know that thou 6 didest it with a sincere hart: and therfore I kept thee that thou shouldest not sinne against me, and I permitted not that thou shouldest touch her. † Now therfore restore the wife 7 to her husband, because he is a prophet: and he shal pray for thee, and thou shalt liue: but if thou wilt not restore her, know thou that dying thou shalt dye, thou and al things that are thine. † And Abimelech forth with rising vp in the night, 8 called al his seruantes: and he spake al these words to their eares, and al the men were sore afraid. † And Abimelech 9 [Page 72] called also for Abraham, and said to him: What hast thou done to vs? what haue we offended against thee, that thou hast brought vpon me and vpon my kingdom a great sinne? that which thou oughtest not to doe, thou hast done to vs. † And 10 again expostulating, he said: What sawest thou, that thou didest this? † Abraham answered: I thought with my selfe, 11 saying: Perhaps there is not the feare of God in this place: and they wil kil me for my wife: † howbeit otherwise also 12 in verie deed she is my sister, Not his fathers owne daughter, but of his progenie. S. Aug. li. 22. cont. Faust. c. 35. & li. 16. c. 19. & 30. de ciuit. the daughter of my father, and not the daughter of my mother, and I tooke her to wife. † And after that God brought me out of my fathers house, I 13 said to her: This mercie thou shalt doe with me: In euerie place, which we shal come vnto, thou shalt say that I am thy brother. † Therfore Abimelech Kinges of the earth esteming the Church only for a laudable people of God, seeke to subiect her to them selues: but knowing her to be the inuiolable spouse of Christ, subiect them selues to her, and offer to her most honorable giftes. S. Aug. il. 22. cont. Faust. c. 38. tooke shepe & oxen, and 14 seruants, and handmayds, and gaue to Abraham: and restored to him Sara his wife, † and said: The land is before you, 15 dwel whersoeuer it shal please thee. † And to Sara he said: 16 Behold I haue geuen thy brother a thousand peeces of siluer, this shal serue thee for a veile of thine eyes to al that are with thee, and whither soeuer thou shalt goe, remenber also thou wast taken. † And Abraham praying, God healed Abimelech 17 and his wife, and his handmaids, and they bare children: for our Lord had closed vp euerie matrice of the house 18 of Abimelech for Sara Abrahams wife.

CHAP. XXI. Isaac is borne. 4. circumcised, 8. and weaned. 9. Agar and Ismael are put The sixt part of this booke. forth of Abrahams house, 15. but after desolation are nourished, and prosper in the desert. 22. King Abimelech and Abraham make a Of the progenie & other blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. league confirming it with oath.

AND our Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and 1 fulfilled the things which he spake. † And she conceaued 2 and bare a sonne in her old age, at the time that God had foretold her. † And Abraham called the name of 3 his sonne, which Sara bare him, Abraham & Sara laughed (he admiring, she doubting) at the ioyful promise of a sonne, & therfore he is called Isaac, which signifieth laughter S. Aug li. 16. c. 31. ciuit. Isaac: † and he circumcised 4 him the eight day, as God had commanded him, † when 5 he was an hundred yeares old: for at this age of his father, was Isaac borne. † And Sara said: Laughter God hath 6 [Page 73] made to me: whosoeuer shal heare of it, wil laugh with me. † And again she said: Who that shal heare of it would 7 beleue Abraham, that Sara gaue sucke to a sonne, which she bare him now being an old man? † The child therfore 8 grewe, and was weined: and Abraham made a great feast in the day of his weining. † And when Sara had senne the 9 sonne of Agar the Aegyptian playing with Isaac her sonne, she said to Abraham: † Cast out this handmaid, and her 10 sonne: for the sonne of the handmaid shal not be heire with my sonne Isaac. † Abraham tooke this greuously for 11 his sonne: † To whom God said: ▪ Let it not s [...]me greuous 12 to thee for the boy, and for thy handmaid: al things that Sara shal say to thee, heare her voice: because See chap. 17. v. 21. in Isaac shal Rom. 9. Heb. 11. seed de called to thee. † But the sonne also of the handmaid 13 I wil make into a great nation, because he is thy seede. † Abraham therfore rose vp in the morning, and taking 14 bread and a bottle of water, put it vpon her shoulder, and deliuered the boy and dismist her. Who went away, and wandred in the wildernesse of Bersabee. † And when the 15 water in the bottle was spent, she cast the boy vnder one of the trees, that were there. † And she went her way, and 16 sate ouer against a great way of as farre as a bowe can cast. for she said: I wil no see the child dying: and sitting ouer against, she lifted vp her voice and wept. † And God heard 17 the voice of the boy: and an angel of God called Agar from heauen, saying: What doest thou Agar? feare not: for God hath heard the voice of the boy, from the place wherin he is. † Arise, take vp the boy, and hold his hand: for into 18 a great nation wil I make him. † And God opened her eyes: 19 who seing a wel of water, went, and filled the bottle, and gaue the boy to drinke. † And God was with him: who 20 grew, and abode in the wildernes, and became a young man archer. † And he dwelt in the wildernes of Pharan, and 21 his mother tooke a wife for him out of the land of Aegypt. † The same time said Abimelech, and Phicol the general 22 of his armie to Abraham: God is with thee in al things which thou doest. † Sweare therfore by God, not to hurt 23 me, and my posteritie, and my stocke: but according to the mercie, that I haue done thee, thou shalt doe to me, and to the land wherin thou hast liued a stranger. † And Abraham 24 said: I wil sweare. † And he rebuked Abimelech for the 25 [Page 74] wel of water, which his seruants had taken away by force. † And Abimelech answered: I knew not who did this thing: 26 yea and thy selfe didest not tel me, and I heard not of it but to day. † Abraham therfore tooke sheepe and oxen, and 27 gaue to Abimelech: and both of them made a league. † And 28 Abraham set seuen ewe lambes of the flocke apart. † To 29 whom Abimelech said: What meane these seuen ewe lambes, which thou hast made to stand apart? † But he said: Seuen 30 ewe lambes shalt thou take at my hand: that they may be a testimonie for me, that I digged this wel. † Therfor was 31 that place called vvel of oath Bersabee: because there both did sweare. † And they made a league for the wel of oath. † And Abimelech 32 33 arose, and Phicol the general of his armie, and they returned to the land of the Palestines. But Abraham planted a groue in Bersabee, and called therupon the name of our Lord God eternal. † And he was a seiorner in the land of the 34 Palestines manie dayes.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXI.

12. Let it not] It semed so hard, inhumaine, and vniust to cast Agar and Ismael Separation to be made in families, when iust cause requireth. out of the house, that Abraham would not haue done it, onles God had commanded him in this to heare the voice of Sara. But when he knew Gods wil therin, not respecting flesh and bloud, nor disputing further of the lawfulnes of the fact, sent them both away, commending them to Gods protection: and so by this separation the familie was made quiet. It represented also a notable Mysterie of the Synagog of the Iewes & Church of Christ. As S. Augustin Mystical sense li. 15. c. 2. ciuit. doth excellently expound the same, according to S. Paul (Gal. 4.) That Ismaels playing with Isaac was persecution, because it tended to peruert him, shewing it to be a greater iniurie, to delude and deceiue anie, in drawing The true Church doth not persecute but iustly punisheth offenders. Heretikes and other infidels do persecute when either by word, or sword they impugne the truth. them to new and particular companies, then corporally to persecute them: and Epist. 48. &. 50. that the Church, and Catholique Princes punish heretikes for their good, to make them returne to the truth, or finally to cease from seducing others. Ecce libera afflixit ancillam, & non illam vocat persecutionem. Apostolus, ludit seruus cum Tract. 11. in Ioan. domino, & persecutionem vocat. Afflictio ista non vocatur persecutio, & lusi [...] illa vocatur persecutio. Behold the freewoman afflicted the handmaide, and the Apostle calleth it not persecution, the seruant playeth with the maister, and he calleth it persecution. This affliction is not called persecution, and that play is called persecution. Againe, he sayeth of Sara, Illusionem vidit in illo lusu, animaduertit Tract. [...]. serui superbiam, displicuit illi, eiecit soras. She saw foule play in that play, she noted the seruants pride, it displeased her, she cast him forth of the dores. S. Hierom also teacheth that the spiritual neuer persecuteth the carnal: but spareth him in 4. Gal. as his rustical brother, knowing that he may in time be profitable.

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CHAP. XXII. The faith and obedience of Abraham is proued in his redines to sacrifice his sonne Isaac. 11. He is stayed from the act by an Angel. 16. Former promises are renewed to him. 20. And his brother Nachor hath also much issue.

VVHICH things being done, God“ tempted Abraham, 1 The third prophecie in the office before Masse on Easter eue. And the first on whitsuneue. and said to him; Abraham, Abraham. But Iudith. 8. Heb. 112. he answered: Here I am. † He said to him: This historie is clere, and a most notorious example of perfect obedience. Take thy only 2 begotten sonne, whom thou louest, Isaac, and goe into the Land of vision: and there thou shalt offer him for an holocaust vpon one of the mountaines which I wil shew thee. † Therfore Abraham rising vp in the night, sadled his asse: 3 taking with him two young men, and Isaac his sonne: and when he had cut wood for the holocaust, he went his way to the place which God had commanded him. † And the third 4 day, lifting vp his eyes, he sawe the place afarre of: † and 5 he said to his young men: Tarie you here with the asse: I and the boy going with spede as farre as yonder, after we haue adored, wil returne to you. † He tooke also the wood 6 of the holocaust, and laid it vpon Isaac his sonne: and him selfe caried in his hands fire and a sword. And as they went on together, † Isaac said to his father: My father. And he 7 answered: What wilt thou sonne? Behold, saith he, fire and wood: where is the victime of the holocaust? † And 8 Abraham said: God wil prouide vnto him selfe the victime of the holocaust, my sonne. They went on therfore together: † and they came to the place which God had shewed 9 him, wherin he builed an altar, and laid the wood in order vpon it: and when he had bound Isaac his sonne, he laid him on the altar vpon the pile of wood. † And he stretched 10 forth his hand, and caught the sword, for to sacrifice his sonne. † And behold an angel of our Lord from heauen 11 cried, saying: Abraham, Abraham. Who answered: Here I am. † And he said to him: Stretch not forth thy hand vpon 12 the boy, neither doe thou any thing to him: now haue I knowen that thou fearest God, and hast not spared thine onlie begotten sonne for my sake. † Abraham lifted vp his 13 eyes, and saw behind his backe a ramme amongst the briers [Page 76] sticking fast by the hornes, which he tooke and offered an holocaust in stede of his sonne. † And he called the name of 14 that place, It is a gratful and religious thing, by naming of places, to cō serue the memorie of Gods benefites, that posteritie may know them. S. Chrisost. ho. 48. in Gen. Our Lord seeth. Wherupon euen to this day it is said, In the mountaine our Lord wil see. † And the angel of 15 our Lord called Abraham the second time from heauen, saying: † By my owne selfe haue I sworne, saith the Lord: 16 because thou hast done this thing, and hast not spared thine onlie begotten sonne for my sake: † I wil blesse thee, and I 17 wil multiplie thy sede as the starres of heauen, and as the sand that is by the sea shore: thy sede shal possesse the gates of his enemies, † and in thy sede SHAL BE BLESSED al 18 the nations of the earth, because thou hast obeyed my voice. † Abraham returned to his young men, and they went to 19 Bersabee together, and he dwelt there. † These things so 20 being done, it was Nachors progenie is here mentioned to shew whence Rebecca came, whom Isaac maried. told Abraham that Melca also had borne children to Nachor his brother, † Hus the first be gotten, & 21 Buz his brother, and Camuel the father of the Sirians, † and 22 Cased, and Azau. Pheldas also & Iedlaph, † and Bathuel, of 23 whom was borne Rebecca: these eight did Melcha beare, to Nachor Abrahams brother. † And his concubine, named 24 Roma, bare Tabee, and Gaham, and Tahas, and Maacha.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXII.

1. Tempted.] God tempteth none to euil (as S. Iames teacheth) but by God tempteth not to euil, but by experience maketh knowen what vertue is in men. Isaac figured Chists diuinitie, the Rāme his humanitie. Iac. 1. 13. trial and experiment maketh men knowen to the world, as here Abrahams Heb. 11, 19. S. Aug. li. 16. c. 32. ciuit. Theod. q. 72. in Gen. faith and singular obedience were manifested, when he doubted not To offer his only begotten in Sacrifice, accounting that God is able to raise vp euen from the dead. VVherupon he receiued his sonne againe in parable, that is, in figure and mysterie of Christ dead and aliue againe. Isaac also in this action signified the diuinitie of Christ which suffered not, and the ramme among the briers figured his humanitie, that should be offered in Sacrifice to God.

CHAP. XXIII. Sara dying Abraham solemnizeth her funeral. 4. byeth a field with a duble caue of Ephron, 15. for four hundreth sicles. 19. and there burieth her.

AND Sara liued an hundred twentie seuen yeares. 1 † And she died in the citie of Arbee which is 2 [Page 77] Hebron, in the land of Chanaan: And Abraham came to mourne, and weepe for her. † And after that he was risen 3 vp from A cleare example of religious office in burying the dead, See. 2. Reg. 1. and 2. Paral. 35. the funeral obsequies, he spake to the children of Heth, saying: † I am a stranger and pilgrime among 4 you: geue me the right of a sepulchre with you, that I may burie my dead. † The children of Heth answered, 5 saying: † My lord heare vs, thou art a prince of God among 6 vs: in our principal sepulchres burie thou thy dead: and no man can let thee but that in his owne monument thou mayest burie thy dead. † Abraham rose vp, and Adoration vsed for reuerence done to men. See also c. 27. v. 29. c 33. v 37 and S. Aug. q. 6 [...]. in Gen. adored 7 the people of the land, towit the children of Heth: † and he said to them: If it please your soule that I burie 8 my dead, heare me, and be intercessors for me to Ephron the sonne of Seor: † that he geue me the duble caue, 9 which he hath in the vttermost part of his field: for money to the worth therof let him deliuer it to me before you for possession of a sepulchre. † And Ephron dwelt in the 10 middest of the children of Heth. And Ephron made answer to Abraham in the hearing of al that went in at the gate of the citie, saying: † No, it shal not be so, my lord, but 11 thou rather harken to that which I doe say: The field I deliuer to thee, and the caue that is therin, in the presence of the children of my people, burie thy dead. † Abraham 12 adored before the people of the land. † And he 13 spoke to Ephron, his people standing round about: I beseech thee to heare me: I wil geue money for the field: take it, and so I wil burie my dead in it. † And Ephron answered: 14 † My lord, heare me. The ground which thou desirest, is 15 worth foure hundred sicles of siluer: this is the price between me and thee: but how much is this? burie thy dead, † Which when Abraham had heard, he weyed the money, 16 that Ephron had asked, in the hearing of the children of Heth, foure hundred sicles of siluer of common currant money. † And the field that before time was Ephrons, 17 wherin was the duble caue, looking towards Mambre, aswel it, as the caue, and al the trees therof in al the lymits therof round about: † was made sure to Abraham for a 18 possession, in the sight of the children of Heth, and of al that went in at the gate of his citie. † And so Abraham buried 19 Sara his wife in the duble caue of the field, that looked towards Mambre, this is Hebron in the land of Chanaan. [Page 78] † And the field was made sure to Abraham, and the caue, 20 that was in it, for a possession to burie, in of the Children of Heth.

CHAP. XXIIII Abrahams seruant adiured and sent by him into Mesopotamia, to seke a wife for Isaac, 12. prayeth to God for a signe, findeth Rebecca, 34. and demanding her for this purpose, 50. with her parents, 58. and her owne consent, she goeth with him, 67. is maried to Isaac: who therby is comforted for the death of his mother.

AND Abraham was old, and of manie dayes: and our 1 Lord had blessed him in al things. † And he said to 2 the elder seruant of his house, which was ruler ouer al that he had: Put thy hand vnder my thighe, † that I may adiure 3 thee by our Lord, God of heauen and earth, that thou In choosing a wife a vertuous stock and familie especially true faith and religion, are before al other things to be considered & preferred. S. Amb. li. 1. c. 9. de. Abrah. S. Chrisost. ho. 48. in Gen. take not a wife for my sonne, of the daughters of the Cananites, among whom I dwel: † but that thou goe vnto myne owne 4 countrie and kindred, and thence take a wife for my sonne Isaac. † The seruant answered: If the woman wil not come 5 with me into this land, whether must I bring thy sonne backe againe to the place, from whence thou didest come forth? † And Abraham said: Beware thou neuer bring my 6 sonne backe againe thither. † Our Lord God of heauen, 7 which tooke me out of my fathers house, and out of my natiue countrie, which spake to me, and sware to me, saying: To thy sede wil I geue this land: he shal send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take from thence a wife for my sonne: † but if the woman wil not folow thee, thou shalt 8 not be bound by the oath: only bring not my sonne thither againe. † The seruant therfore put his hand vnder the thigh 9 of Abraham his lord, and sware to him vpon this worde. † And he tooke tenne camels of his lords heard, and departed, 10 of al his goods carying something with him, and setting forward went on into Mesopotamia to the citie of Nachor. † And when he had made the camels lye downe 11 without the towne beside a wel of water at euen, at the time when wemen are wont to come forth to drawe water, he said: † O Lord God of my lord Abraham, mete me to day, 12 [Page 79] I beseech thee, and doe mercifully with my maister Abraham. † Behold I stand nigh to the fountaine of water, and 13 the daughters of the inhabiters of this citie, wil come forth to drawe water. † Therfore“ the maid, to whom I shal say: 14 Bowe downe thy tankard that I may drinke: and she shal answere, Drinke, yea to thy camels also wil I geue drinke: she it is, whom thou hast prouided for thy seruant Isaac: and by this I shal vnderstand, that thou hast delt mercifully with my maister. † Neyther had he yet ended these wordes 15 within him selfe, & behold Rebecca came forth, the daughter of Bathuel, the sonne of Melcha wife to Nachor the brother of Abraham, hauing a tankard on her shoulder: † a passing 16 comely maide, & most beautiful virgin, & not knowen to man: and she was gone downe to the fountaine, and had filled her tankard, and came backe. † And the seruant ranne 17 to mete her, and said: Geue me a little water to drinke of thy tankard. † Who answered: Drinke my lord. And quickly 18 she let downe the tankard vpon her arme, and gaue him drinke. † And when he had druncke, she added: but for 19 thy camels also I wil drawe water, til al doe drinke. † And 20 powring out the tankard into the troughes, she ranne backe to the wel to drawe water: and being drawen gaue it to al the camels. † But he musing beheld her with silence, 21 desirous to know whether our Lord had made his iourney prosperous, or not. † And after that the camels had drunck, 22 the man plucked forth golden earelettes, weying two sicles: and as manie braceletts of tenne sicles weight. † And he 23 said to her: whose daughter art thou? shew me: is there anie place in thy fathers house to lodge? † Who answered: 24 I am the daughter of Bathuel, the sonne of Melcha, whom she bare to Nachor. † And she added, saying: Of strawe also 25 and hay we haue good store, and a large place to lodge in. † The man bowed him selfe, and adored our Lord, 26 † saying: Blessed be the Lord God of my lord Abraham, 27 that hath not taken away his mercie & truth from my lord, and hath brought me the streight way into the house of my lords brother. † The maide therfore ranne, and reported 28 into Her father hauing perhaps manie wiues and euerie one a seueral house she went to her mother house. her mothers house al things that she had heard. And Rebecca had a brother named Laban, who in al haist 29 went forth to the man, where the fountaine was. † And 30 when he had seene the eareletts and braceletts in his sisters [Page 80] hands, and had heard al her words reporting: These words spake the man vnto me: he came to the man which stoode beside the camels, and nighe to the fountaine of water: † and said to him: Come in, thou blessed of our Lord: Why 31 standest thou without? I haue prepared the house, and a place for the camels. † And he brought him in into his 32 lodging: and he vnharnessed the camels, and gaue strawe and hay, and water to wash his feet, and of the men that were come with him. † And bread was set before him. 33 Who said: I wil not eate, til I speake my message. He answered him: Speake. † And he said: I am the seruant of 34 Abraham: † and our Lord hath blessed my lord wonderfully, and he is magnified: and he hath geuen him sheepe, and oxen, siluer and gold, men seruants and wemen seruants, camels, and asses. † And Sara my lordes wife hath borne 36 my lord a sonne in her old age, and he hath [...]euen him al things that he had. † And my lord adiured me saying: Thou 37 shalt not take a wife for my sonne of the Chananites, in whose land I dwel: † but thou shalt goe to my fathers house, 38 and of mine owne kinred shalt thou take a wife for my sonne: † but I answered my Lord: What if the woman wil not 39 come with me? † Our Lord, saith he, in whose sight I 40 walke, wil send his angel with thee, and wil direct thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my sonne of myne owne kinred, and of my fathers house. † Thou shalt be innocent 41 from my curse, when thou shalt come to my kinne, and they wil not geue her thee. † I came therfore to day to 42 the wel of water, and said: O Lord God of my lord Abraham, if thou hast directed my way, wherin I now walke, † behold 43 I stand besides the wel of water, and the virgin, that shal come forth to drawe water, when she shal heare me say: Geue me a litle water to drinke of thy tankard: † and 44 she shal say to me: Drinke both thou and for thy camels I wil drawe also: that is the woman, which our Lord hath prepared for my maisters sonne. † And whilest I pondered 45 these things secretly with my selfe, Rebecca appeared comming with a tankard, which she caried vpon her shoulder: and she went downe to the fountaine, & drew water. And I said to her: Geue me a litle to drinke. † Who spedelie 46 let downe the tankard from her shoulder, and said to me: Drinke both thou, and to thy camels I wil geue drinke. [Page 81] I dranke, and she watered the cammels. † And I asked 47 her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? who answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the sonne of Nachor, whom Melcha bare him. I hoong therfore earelettes to adorne her face, and I put braceletts vpon her hands. † And prostrate 48 I adored our Lord, blessing the Lord God of my lord Abraham, who hath brought me the straight way to take the daughter of my lords brother for his sonne. † Wherfore 49 if you doe according to mercie and truth with my lord, shew me: but if it please you otherwise, that also tel me, that I may goe to the right hand, or to the left. † And 50 Laban and Bathuel answered: From our Lord the word hath proceded: we can not speake any other thing with thee besides his pleasure. † Behold Rebecca is before thee, 51 take her and goe thy waies, and let her be the wife of thy lords sonne, as our Lord hath spoken. † Which when Abrahams 52 seruant heard, falling downe he adored our Lord to the grounde. † And taking forth vessel of siluer, and 53 gold, and garments, gaue them to Rebecca for a present. To her brothers also, and to her mother he offred giftes. † A banket was made, and eating and drinking togeather 54 they lodged there. And in the morning, the seruant arose, and said: Dismisse me, that I may goe to my lord. † And 55 her brother, and mother answered: Let the maide tarie at the least tenne days with vs, and after she shal depart. † Stay 56 me not, said he, because our Lord hath directed my way: dismisse me that I may goe on to my lord. † And they said: 57 Let vs cal the maid, and As children ought not to mary without their parents good liking: so the parties owne consent is most necessarie. S. Amb. Epist. 43. aske her wil. † And being called, 58 when she was come, they asked: Wilt thou goe with this man? who said: I wil goe. † They dismissed her therfore, 59 and her nurce, and Abrahams seruant, and his companie, † wishing prosperitie to their sister, and saying: Thou art 60 our sister, encrease thou into thousand thousands, and thy seed possesse the gates of their enemies † Therfore Rebecca, 61 and her maides being set vpon camels, folowed the man: who with speed returned vnto his lord; and † the same 62 time Isaac walked along the way, that leadeth to the wel of the Liuing and the seing, so called: for he dwelt in the south countrie; † and he was gone forth to Suach signifieth to speake consideratly with hart or mouth. Here S. Ambrose (li. 1. c. 1. de Isaac) and S. Aug. (q. 69. in Gen) vnderstand it of mental praye [...] meditate in 63 the field, the day nowe being wel spent: and when he had cast vp his eyes, he saw camels coming a farre of. † Rebecca 64 [Page 82] also, when she saw Isaac, lighted of the camel, † and said 65 to the seruant: Who is that man which cometh towards vs along the field? And he said to her. The same is my lord. But she quickly taking her cloake, couered her selfe. † And 66 the seruant told Isaac al things that he hed done. † Who 67 brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and tooke her to wife: and he loued her so much, that it did moderate the sorrowe, which was chanced of his mothers death.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXIIII.

14. The maide to vvhom I shal say] Obseruation of speaches called ominous, Ominous speaches sometimes supersticious. which are interpreted to signifie good or euil luck, are sometimes supersticious, & suggested by euil spirites, who now & then telling, or insinuating some truth, get credite, and so allure men to attend to such vaine, vncertaine, and vnlawful signes, as S. Augustin testifieth (li. 2. de Gen. ad lit. c. 17. & li. 12. c. 22.) Neuertheles such signes are sometimes lawfully obserued, & desired from Some times lawful. God, as the same Doctor disputeth (li. quest. super Gen q. 53) and S. Chrisostome teacheth more clerly (ho. 45. in Gen) likewise S. Theodoret (q. 73. in Gen) But whosoeuer wil not erre in particular cases, must folow either expresse Holie scripture and the Church are iudges of doubtful obseruations. Scripture, or the iudgement of the Church, which is alwayes directed Ioan. 14. by the spirite of truth. And touching this prayer of Abrahams seruant, and his desire of this determinate signe, to know the maide, whom God had prouided to be Isaachs wife, the fathers generally hold that it was religious, deuout, and discrete. For he being careful of his masters busines, and not trusting his owne iudgement, but relying vpon that Abraham had said, Our Lord shal send his Angel before thee, commended so weightie a cause to God by prayer, the Angel Eliezers prayer, for a particular signe, was lawful, deuout, and discrete. suggesting both to him to desire, and to the maide to performe (as the euent sheweth) such qualities and vertues in her, as were most agreable to the great charitie and hospitalitie dayly practised in Abrahams house, most conuenient and necessarie (as he discretly considered) for that familie, and good of manie. The like obseruations were approued in Gedeon, and Ionathas. And Iudic. 7. 1. Reg. 14 to pray for such signes in some case, or for manifest miracles is also approued by the Apostles example praying God To shevv by lote vvhich of the tvvo he had chosen to the Apostleship, in place of Iudas. And that he would extend his hand to Act. 1. &. 4. cures, & signes, & wonders, to be done by the name of his holie sonne IESVS.

CHAP. XXV. Abraham hauing manie children by his wife Cetura, died at the age of 175. yeares: 12. Ismael also hauing twelue sonnes dukes, died. 19. Isaac praying for his barren wife, she hath Esau and Iacob twinnes. 30. Esau selleth his first birth right to Iacob for a messe of potage.

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AND Abraham maried an other wife named Cethura: 1 † which bare him Zamran, and Iecsan, and Madan, 2 and Madian, and Iesboc, and Sue. † Iecsan also begat 3 Saba and Dadan. The Children of Dadan were Assurim, and Latusim, and Loomim. † But also of Madian was borne 4 Epha, and Opher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaa: al these were the children of Cetura. † And Abraham gaue 5 al his possessions to Isaac: † and ▪ to the children of his 6 concubines he gaue gifts, and separated them from Isaac his sonne, whilest himselfe yet liued, to the east countrie. † And the days of Abrahams life were a hundred seuentie 7 and fiue yeares. † And decaying dyed in The life of the iust hath fulnes of dayes though it be otherwise short; the daies of the wicked are void of fruict, be they manie or few. S. Ambrose li. de Abraham. a good old age, 8 and hauing liued a great time, and being ful of days: and was gethered to his people. † And there buried him Isaac 9 and Ismael his sonnes in the duble caue, which was situated in the field of Ephron the sonne of Seor the Hethite, ouer against Mambre, † which he had bought of the children 10 of Heth: there was he buried, and Sara his wife. † And 11 after his death God blessed Isaac his sonne, who dwelled beside the wel of the Liuing and seing so named. † These 12 are the generations of Ismael the sonne of Abraham, whom Agar the Aegyptian bare him, Saraes seruant: and † these 13 are the names of his children according to their calling and generations. The first begotten of Ismael Nabaioth, then Cedar, and Adbeel, and Mabsam, † Masma also, and Duma, 14 and Massa, † Hadar, and Thema, and Iethur, and Naphis, 15 and Cedma. † These are the sonnes of Ismael: and these 16 are their names by their castles and townes, twelue princes of their tribes. † And the yeares of Ismaels life came to an 17 hundred thirtie seauen, and decaying died, and was put vnto his people. † And he dwelt from Heuila euen to Sur, 18 which looketh towards Aegypt, as they enter to the Assirians, before the face of al his bretheren died he. † These 19 also are the generations of Isaac the sonne of Abraham: Abraham begat Isaac: † who when he was fortie yeares 20 old, tooke to wife Rebecca the daughter of Bathuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia, sister to Laban. † And Isaac besought 21 our Lord for his wife, because she was barren: who ▪ heard him, and made Rebecca to conceaue. † But the 22 little ones strugled in her wombe; who said: If it should be so with me, what nede was there to conceaue? And she [Page 84] S. Augustin ( [...]q. 72. in Gen) disputeth but could not decide, whether Rebecca went to some Priest, or Prophet, or Altar, or whither els, or only retyred to priuate prayer. went to consult our Lord. † Who answering said: Two 23 nations are in thy wombe, and two peoples shal be diuided out of thy wombe, and one people shal ouercome the other, and “the elder shal serue the younger. † Now her time 24 was come to be deliuered, and behold twinnes were found in her wombe. † He that came forth first, was read, and al 25 hearie in manner of a skinne: and his name was called Esau. Immediatly the other coming forth, held his brothers plant in his hand: and therfore he called him Iacob. † Threescore 26 yeares old was Isaac, when the litle ones were borne vnto him. † Who being growne vp, Esau became a man cunning 27 in hunting, and a husband man: but Iacob Holie Scripture premonisheth Iacobs sinceritie, lest in the Mysteries folowing he might be suspected of false dealing S. Aug. li. 16. c. 37. ciuit. a plaine man dwelled in tents. † Isaac loued Esau, because he did eate 28 of his hunting: and Rebecca loued Iacob. † And Iacob 29 boyled broth: to whom Esau being come faynt out of the field, † said: Geue me of this read broth, because I am exceding 30 faint. For which cause his name was called Edom. † To whom Iacob said:“ Sel me thy first-birth-right. 31 † He answered, Loe I dye, what wil the first birth right 32 auaile me? † Iacob said: Sweare therfore to me. Esau sware 33 to him, and sould his first-birth-right. † And so taking 34 bread and the rice broth, did eate, and drinke, and went his way; little esteeming that he had sold his first birth right.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXV.

6. To the children of his concubines] S. Augustin (li. 16. c. 34. de ciuit) VVhy Agar & Cetura being lawful wines are called cō cubines. Their childrē signified Pagaines & Heretikes. sheweth that both Agar and Cetura, being Abrahams lawful wiues (for so they are called in holie Scripture) are also called concubines, because they had not like priuileges to Sara, whose sonne was sole heyre to his father, and the children of the others had only giftes (or mouable goods) not attayning to the promised kingdom. And al this for mysterie sake. For Ismael signified the carnal people before Christ, the children of Cetura prefigured Heretikes, who suppose themselues to pertaine to the new Testament, but are separated no lesse then the Iewes from Christs Kingdom. And albeit there was also an other particular reason, why Agar was called concubine, because she was a second wife, the first then liuing, yet this lerned father saith, he did not see, why Cetura being maried after the death of Sara, should be called concubine, but only for this Mysterie.

21. Heard him] Notwithstanding Gods assured promise, that Isaach Gods predestination and for seing include, & not exclude the meanes by which his wil is done. should haue issue (Gen. 21. v. 12) yet he prayeth instantly for the same. And Moyses here attributeth Rebeccas conceiuing to Isaachs prayer. wherby we [Page 85] see that Gods sorseing, predestinating, and promising exclude not, but in dede include secondarie causes, and ordinarie meanes, by which his eternal wil and pleasure is fulfilled. For as God did sorsee that Rebecca should haue children, so he did forsee, that Isaac should pray for it, and obtayne it; and the one was as sure to come to passe as the other. And the same consequence is true concerning eternal life as S. Gregorie teacheth. li. 1. c. 8. Dialog.

23. The elder shal serue the younger] As before (c. 17. v. 21. &. c 21. v. 12.) The couenant made to Abraham pertaned only to Isaac, and Iacob, not to the rest of his issue. the couenant and great promises made to Abrahams sede, are declared to pertaine only to Isaac, and not to Ismael, nor to the other brothers: so the same belong not to Esau, the elder, but only to Iacob the younger sonne of Isaac, the Holie Ghost saying, The elder shal serue the younger. And withal signifieth, (saith S. Augustin) that the elder people of the Iewes shal serue the younger li. 16. c. 35. ciuit. 2. Reg. 8. Psal. 59. Christian people. For although it may be vnderstood literally to be fulfilled, in that the Idumeans coming of Esau, were subdued by King Dauid coming of Iacob; yet it is more conueniently beleeued, that this prophecie tended to a greater thing. And what is this, but that which is euidently fulfilled in the Iewes and Christians?

An other great document of grace S. Paul geathereth vpon this Mysterie: Gods mere mercie in electing anie, his iustice to the reprobate. that the twinnes being not yet borne, nor hauing done any thing good or euil, Rom. 9. without anie good merites, the younger is elected, the elder reprobate. For doubtles (saith S. Augustin) touching original sinne they were both equal, and concerning proper sinne, neither of them had anie at al. By which example he sheweth Gods mere mercie in the elect, and iustice in the reprobate. as is more largely noted in the English New Testament, vpon the ninth chapter to the Romanes.

31. Sel me thy first birth right] Iacob instructed by his mother, that God Iacob lawfully bought but Esau sinned in selling the first-birthright. had chosen him in place of his brother Esau (for to her God had reueled that the elder should serue the younger) did lawfully vse this oportunitie to get Esaus grant of the right pertaining to the first borne, but Esau in selling it finned, shewing himselfe an intemperate prophane man. Heb. 12.

CHAP. XXVI. Isaac by reason of famine goeth into Gerara, 3. where God reneweth to him the promises made to Abraham. 9. King Abimelech blameth him for calling his wife his sister. 15. the people enuying his Wealth, quareleth for his welles 26. At last Abimelech maketh league with Isaac.

AND when a famine was risen in the land, after that 1 sterilitie, that had chanced in the dayes of Abraham, Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Palestines into Gerara. † And our Lord appeared to him, and said: God by Abrahams exā plar life inuited the Aegyptians to true religion: now commandeth Isaac to stay in Gerara to the like end. S. Theod. q. 76. in Gen. Goe not downe 2 into Egypt, but rest in the land which I shal tel thee. † And 3 seiourne in it, and I wil be with thee, and wil blesse thee: for to thee and to thy seed, I wil geue al these countries, accomplishing the oath which I sware to Abraham thy father. [Page 86] † And I wil multiplie thy seed as the starres of heauen: and 4 I wil geue to thy posteritie al these countries: and in thy seed SHAL BE BLESSED al the nations of the earth, † for 5 because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my preceptes and commandements, and obserued “my ceremonies & lawes. † Therfore Isaac abode in Gerara. † Who when he 6 7 was asked by the men of that place, concerning his wife, answered: She is See pag 52. my sister. for he was afraid to confesse that she was married to him, thinking lest peraduenture they would kil him because of her beautie. † And when 8 verie manie days were passed, and he abode there, Abimelech the king of the Palestines looking forth through a windowe, sawe him sporting with Rebecca his wife. † And 9 calling for him, he said: It is euident that she is thy wife: why didest thou faine her to be thy sister? He answered: I feared lest I should die for her. † And Abimelech said: Why 10 hast thou deceaued vs? some man of the people might haue lyen with thy wife, & thou haddest brought vpon vs Adulterie a great sinne also among Painims a great sinne. And he commanded al the people, saying: † He that 11 shal touch this mans wife, dying shal dye. † And Isaac sowed 12 in that land, and he found that same yeare“ an hundred fold: and our Lord blessed him. † And the man was made rich, 13 and he went prospering and encreasing, til he was made exceeding great: † and he had also possessions of sheep and 14 of heards, and a verie great familie. For this the Palestines enuying him, † stopped at that time al the welles, that the 15 seruants of his father Abraham had digged, filling them vp with water: † in so much that Abimelech himselfe said 16 to Isaac: Depart from vs, because thou art become mightier then we a great deale. † And departing, to come to the 17 Torrent of Gerara, and to dwel there: † againe he digged 18 other welles, which the seruants of his father Abraham had digged, and which, after his death, the Philistines had stopped vp of old: and he called them by the same names, which his father before had called them. † And they digged in 19 the The chanel where sometimes a vehement streame rūneth, sometimes none at al. Torrent, and found liuing water: † but there also the 20 pastors of Gerara made a brawle against the pastors of Isaac, saying: It is our water. for which cause he called the name of the wel, by occasion of that which had hapned, VVrangling. Calumne.† And they digged also an other: & for that they brawled 21 likewise, and he called the name of it, Enmitie. † Going 22 [Page 87] foreward from thence he digged an other wel, for which they contended not: therfore he called the name therof, Latitude, saying: Now hath our Lord dilated vs, and made vs to encrease vpon the earth. † And he went vp from that 23 place vnto Bersabee, † where our Lord appeared to him 24 that same night, saying: I am the God of Abraham thy father, do not feare, because I am with thee: I wil blesse thee, and multiplie thy seed for my seruant Abrahams sake. † Therfore he builded there an altar: and hauing called 25 vpon the name of our Lord, he pitched his tent: and commanded his seruants that they should digge a wel. † To the 26 which place when there were come from Gerara Abimelech, and Ocozath his freind, and Phicol chieffe captaine of his souldiers, † Isaac spake to them: Why are ye come to me a 27 man whom you hated, and haue thrust our from you? † Who 28 answered: We saw that the Lord is with thee, and therfore we said: Let there be an oath betwen vs, and So nations of the world first enuyed the Church of Christ, but after made peace with it. let vs make a league, † that thou do vs no harme, as we also haue touched 29 nothing of thine, neither haue we done that which might hurt thee: but with peace haue we dismist thee encreased with the blessing of the Lord. † Therfore he made 30 them a feast, and after they had eaten and drunken † arising 31 in the morning, they sware one to an other: and Isaac dismissed them peaceably into their place. † And behold the 32 same day came the seruants of Isaac telling him of a wel, which they had digged, and saying: We haue found water. † Wherupon he called it Abundance: and the name of 33 the citie was geuen Bersabee, euen vnto this present day. † But Esau being fourtie yeares old married wiues, Iudith 34 the daughter of Beeri the Hethite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon of the same place: † both which had Esau by marying against his parents wil, made breach from them. offended 35 the mind of Isaac and Rebecca.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXVI.

5. My ceremonies] These were not the same ceremonies and lawes which External ceremonies in the law of nature. were afterwards prescribed by God, and deliuered by Moyses, but other obseruances by which Abraham and other holie Patriarches before him, serued God with certaine external worship, differing from the rites of the Gentiles, especially from Enostime (Gen. 4.) and so forward.

[Page 88]12. An hundred fold] For this increase of wealth the King and people at first enuied Isaac, but afterwards perceiuing that God almightie, whom he Christian for titude preuaileth more by suffering, then by forcible resisting. serued, so blessed him, the rest of the land remaining barren, they sought to make league with him (v. 28) Euen so the Kings and nations of the world, first enuying and persecuting Christs Church, at leingth seing it stil prosperous became with al humilitie children of the same Church, and seruants of Christ, being ouercome not by force of armes but by patience, & peacable endeuours of those whom they most hated. VVherof excellently saith S. Leo (Ser. 1. in Natali. Apost) Although Rome renowmed by manie victories, dilated her Empyre by land and by sea, yet was it lesse, that martial trauel subdued, then that which Christian peace hath obtained. The Bishops of Rome hauing larger Iurisdiction spiritual, then euer the Roman Coesars had temporal Dominion.

CHAP. XXVII. Iacob by his mothers counsail getteth his fathers blessing in place of Esau, 42. And by her is aduised (for auoiding Esaus wrath, who threatned to kil him) to flie to his vncle Laban, in Haran of Mesopotamia.

AND Isaac was old, and his eyes were dimme, and he 1 could not see: and he called Esau his elder sonne, and said to him: my sonne? Who answered Here I am. † To 2 whom his father: Thou seest, quoth he, that I am old, and know not the day of my death. † Take thy instruments, thy 3 quiuer, and bowe, and goe abrode: and when thou hast taken any thing by hunting, † make me broth therof, as 4 thou knowest I like, and bring that I may eate: and my soule may blesse thee before I dye. † Which when Rebecca 5 had heard, and he was gone into the field to fulfil his fathers The Epistle on Saturday the second weke in Lent. commandement, † she said to her sonne Iacob: I heard thy 6 father talking with Esau thy brother, and saying to him: † Bring me of thy hunting, and make me meates that I may 7 eate, and blesse thee in the sight of our Lord before I dye. † Now therfore my sonne, assent to my counsel: 8 † and go thy way to the flocke, bring me two kiddes of the 9 best, that I may make of them meat for thy father, such as he gladly eateth: † which when thou hast brought in, and he 10 hath eaten, he may blesse thee before he dye. † To whom 11 he answered: Thou knowest that Esau my brother is an hearie man, and I am smooth: † if my father shal feele 12 me, and perceaue it, Iacob secure in conscience that the right of first-birth belonged to him, yet feared to geue occasiō of offence to his father. I feare lest he wil thinke I would [Page 89] haue deluded him, and I shal bring vpon me a curse for a blessing. † To whom his mother said: This curse, my sonne, 13 light vpon me: only heare thou my voice, and go, fetch me the things which I haue said. † He went, and brought, 14 and gaue them to his mother. She dressed meats, euen as she knew his father liked. † And she did on him the garments 15 of Esau verie good, which she had at home with her: † and the litle skinnes of the kidds [...]e put about his hands, 16 and couered the bare of his necke. † And she gaue him the 17 broth, and deliuered him bread that she had baked. † Which 18 when he had caried in, he said: My father? But he answered: I heare. Who art thou my sonne? † And Iacob said:▪ I am 19 thy first begotten Esau: I haue done as thou didest command me: arise, sit, and eate of my hunting, that thy soule may blesse me. † And againe Isaac to his sonne: How 20 couldest thou, said he, find it so quickly, my sonne? Who answered: It was truly Gods wil, but not in that s [...] as Isaac vnderstood it. It was the wil of God that that which I would came quickly in my way: † And Isaac said: Come hither, 21 that I may feele thee my sonne, and may proue whether thou be my sonne Esau, or no. † He came nere to his father, and 22 when he had felt him, Isaac said: The voice verely, is the voice of Iacob: but the hands, are the hands of Esau. † And 23 he▪ knew him not, because his hearie hands had made him like vnto the elder. Blessing him therfore, † he said: Art 24 thou my sonne Esau? He answered: I am. † But he said: 25 Bring me the meats of thy hunting, my sonne, that my soule may blesse thee. Which when they were brought and he had eaten, he offred him wine also, which after he had drunke, † he said to him: Come nere me, and geue me a 26 kisse, my sonne. † He came nere, and kissed him. And immediatly 27 as he felt the fragrant sauoure of his garments, blessing him, he said: Behold the sauoure of my sonne is as the sauoure of a plentiful field, which our Lord hath blessed. † God geue thee of the deaw of heauen, and of the fatnes of 28 the earth abundance of corne and wine. † And let peoples 29 serue thee, and tribes adore thee: be thou lord of thy brethren, and thy mothers children bowe they before thee. He that shal curse thee, be he cursed: and he that shal blesse thee, be he replenished with blessings. † Isaac had scarce 30 ended his wordes, and Iacob now gone forth abroad, but Esau came, † and brought in to his father meates made 31 [Page 90] of his hunting, saying: Arise my father, and eate of thy sonnes hunting: that thy soule may blesse me. † And Isaac 32 said to him: Why! who arth thou? Who answered: I am thy first begotten sonne Esaù. † Isaac was amazed and astonied 33 exceadingly: and marueling more then a man can beleue, said: Who is he then that euen now brought me venison that he had taken, and I did eate of al thinges before thou camest? and I haue blessed him, Isaac now knowing it to be Gods wil, ratified that he had done. and he shal be blessed. † Esau hauing heard his fathers wordes, roared out with 34 a great crye: and being dismaied, said: Blesse me also, my father. † Who said: Thy brother came deceiptfully and tooke 35 thy blessing. † But he said again: Rightly is his name called 36 Iacob: for he hath supplanted me loe the second time: my first-birth-right he tooke before, and now the second time he hath stollen my blessing. And againe to his father he said: Hast thou not reserued me also a blessing? † Isaac answered: 37 I haue appointed him thy Lord, and al his brethren I haue made subiect to his seruice: with corne and wine I haue established him, and for thee, my sonne, what shal I doe more after this? † To whom Esau said: Hast thou one only blessing, 38 father? I besech thee blesse me also. And when he wept that he howled againe, † Isaac being moued, said to him: 39 In worldlings blessing consisteth in transitorie welth. the fat of the earth, and in the deaw of heauen from aboue † shal thy blessing be. Thou shalt liue by the sworde, 40 and shalt serue thy brother: and The Idumeans being subdued by king Dauid (2 Reg. 8.) reuolted from king Ioram, and had a king of their owne (4. Reg. 8.) they were againe subdued by Hircanus (teste Iosepho. li. 13. Antiq) but againe Herod an Idumean raigned in Iewrie Math. 2. Luc. 1. the time shal come, when thou shalt shake of, and loose his yoake from thy necke. † Esau therfore alwaies hated Iacob for the blessing wherwith 41 his father had blessed him: and he said in his hart: The daies wil come of the mourning of my father, and I wil kil Iacob my brother. † These things were told to Rebecca: 42 who sending & calling Iacob her sonne, said to him: Behold Esau thy brother threatneth to kil thee. † Now therfore, 43 my sonne, heare my voice, and get thee vp and flye to Laban my brother into Haran: † and thou shalt dwel with him a 44 few daies, til the furie of thy brother be asswaged, † and 45 his indignation cease, and he forget those things, which thou hast done to him: afterward I wil send, and bring thee from thence hither. Why shal I be depriued of both sonnes in one day? † And Rebecca said to Isaac: I am wearie of my life 46 for the daughters of Heth: if Iacob take a wife of the stocke of this land, I list not liue.

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ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXVII.

19. I am thy first begotten Esau.] Iacob was not by nature the first begotten; Iacob did not lie, nor sinne in saying he was Esau. &c. but by Gods ordinance, & by couenant made with Esau, had right to the preeminence, and priuilegies belonging to the first borne. So he did not lie, but spake a truth, meaning that he was that sonne, to whom by diuine election the first-birth-right was dew, which his father supposed to pertaine to Esau.

But because some scorners of Christian doctrin (like to the old Manichees) vse to say, that Catholique Doctors, and Schoolmen excuse, and condemne whom they list by such glosses, let such reprouers vnderstand, that both moderne He is proued innocent by the text. and ancient Catholique writers auow this defence of the holie Patriarch Iacob, not by priuate spirite, but by the most true and proper sense of holie Scripture itselfe. VVhere it may appeare, if they wil axamine the text, that Iacob in al this procurement of his fathers blessing, neither did anie thing vniustly, nor said anie thing falsly. First it was reueled to his mother (chap. 1. 25. v. 23.) That the elder (of her twinnes) should serue the younger. Secondly, holie 2. Scripture testifieth in the same chapter (v. 27.) That Iacob vvas a plaine (or sincere) Man, void of vniust dealing Thirdly, for more quiet enioying that 3. right, which God had ordained for him, he procured his brothers consent and confirmation (v. 33) Fourtly though he was secure in conscience that 4. the blessing was dew to him, yet he feared (v. 12.) lest he might geue occasion of offence to his father, to whom this mysterie was not yet reueled. Fiftly 5. Isaac perceiuing at last Gods wil, that Iacob should be preferred, was neither offended with him, nor reuoked his blessing, as vnlawfully surprised, but condescending therto, ratified that he had done, saying (v. 33.) I haue blessed him, and he shal be blessed. Sixtly, God himselfe from this time forwards often 6. appeared to Iacob, and with great promises, and manie temporal and spiritual benefites, declared his singular loue to him. Seuently, these three Patriarches 7. Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob are special renowmed Sainctes of the old Testament: yea the Lord and Creator of al would peculiarly be called (Exodi. 3.) the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. Moyses praying instantly for Gods mercie and clemencie towards the people (Exodi. 32.) besought him to remember Abraham Isaac, and Iacob his seruants: and so in both old and new Testament these three are often mentioned as chiefe Princes in the Kingdom of Heauen. Al which shewe the great vertues and holines of them al.

And touching this fact of Iacob, where (if euer aniewhere) might seme The Fathers proue his innocencie in this fact. to be some great sinne. S. Augustin at large proueth that he did not herein sinne at al: That vvhich Iacob did (saith he, li. cont. mendacium c. 10.) By his mothers instruction to deceiue his father, if it be diligently considered, vvas no lie, but a mysterie, and therfore for the samiliar counsail of the Holie Ghost, vvhich his mother had receiued, he is excused from sinne. The same he confirmeth. q. 74. in Gen. li. 16. c. 37. de ciuit. & li. 22. c. 34 cont. Faust. The same also teach S. Chrisostom ho. 53 in Gen. S. Hierom Epist. 125. S. Theodoret. q. 79. & 80. in Gen. S. Gregorie, ho. 6. in Ezechielem. S. Bede, Isidorus, Innocentius 3▪ Rupertus and others vpon this place, al agreing absolutly that euerie lie is a sinne, declare that Euerie lie is a sinne. Iacob lied not, but stil spake the truth, confirming their exposition by other [Page 92] like places of Scripture. As when our Sauiour said of S. Iehu Baptist (Math. 11.) He is Elias meaning that he was Elias in spirite not in person. So Iacob said truly that he was Esau, not meaning in person but in right of the first borne, by Gods ordinance: Esau also hauing condescended therto by couenant and oath. In that also he deceiued his father, was no sinne. For it was a lawful Some deceipt good. and good deceipt, such a one (saith S. Chrisostom) as Hieremie speaketh Ho. 6. ad Col. Hier. 20. Epist. 125. of, Lord thou hast deceiued me, and I am deceiued, so Isaac was deceiued, not as we commonly cal deceipt, but to his owne and others good, by Gods disposition.

23. Knevv him not] S. Damasus demanding of S. Hierom, what might be the reason why God would suffer his holie seruant Isaac not to know Iacob, but to be deceiued, and through ignorance to blesse whom he would not; It was good that Isaac knew not Iacob. when he blessed him. declareth that it happened not only to Iacob, but also to manie other like holie men, to be ignorant of manie things, and to be deceived in error of opinion: and that this error was profitable to Isaac and his house For if he had geuen this blessing (which was a spiritual Iurisdiction) to Esau, as he purposed, he had committed a noxious error in dede, by preferring a bloudie man, one that was readie, if he could, to haue killed his brother. (v. 41.) omitting him, that was sincere and very vertuous, and had done his owne wil, not Gods wil therin.

But why would not God reuel his wil to Isaac (as he had commanded a farre greater thing to Abraham to sacrifice the same Isaac) that he might wittingly haue blessed Iacob by Gods commandment? The Fathers do probably alleage this for one reason, that if Esau, being a fierce and cruel man, had perceiued Good in respect of Esau. that his father had willingly preferred Iacob, he would haue bene incensed against his father, conceiued and attempted euil against him. An other reason. S. Chrisostom and Theodoret do yeld, that by this strange maner of imparting More to Gods glorie, and Iacobs commendation. Ho. 53. q. 79. in Gen. this blessing, it might more manifestly appeare to be Gods wil and ordinance, and not to procede from mans affection, that Iacob should be preferred.

CHAP. XXVIII. Iacob with his fathers blessing, and admonition not to take a wife of Chanaan, but of the daughters of his vncle Laban, goeth into Mesopotamia: (6. Esau in the meane time marieth a third wife, his vncle Ismaels daughter) 11. Iacob seeth in slepe a ladder reaching to heauen, Angels ascending and descending, and our Lord leyning theron renewed the promises made to Abraham and Isaac. 16. And be away king maketh a vow.

ISAAC therfore called Iacob, and blessed him, and commanded 1 him saying: Take not a wife of the stocke of Chanaan: † but goe, and make a iourney into Mesopotamia 2 of Syria, to the house of Bathuel thy mothers father, and take thee a wife thence of the daughters of Laban thin vncle. † And God almightie blesse thee, and make thee 3 [Page 93] encrease, and multiplie thee: that thou maiest be into multitudes of peoples. † And Isaac againe cōfirmeth the blessings of Abraham to Iacob, and his sede, omitting Esau: yea and God repeteth the same. v. 13. geue he thee the blessings of Abraham, 4 and to thy seed after thee: that thou mayest possesse the land of thy perigrination, which he promised to thy grandfather. † And when Isaac had dismist him, taking 5 his iourney he came to Mesopotamia of Syria to Laban the sonne of Bathuel the Syrian, brother to Rebecca his mother. † And Esau seing that his father had blessed Iacob, and 6 had sent him into Mesopotamia of Syria, to marry a wife thence; and that after the blessing he had commanded him, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Chanaan: † and that Iacob obeying his parents was gone into 7 Syria: † hauing tryal also that his father did not willingly 8 see the daughters of Canaan: † he went to Ismael, and 9 tooke to wife besides them, which he had before, Maheleth the daughter of Ismael Abrahams sonne, sister to Nabaioth. † Therfore Iacob being departed from Bersabee, went on 10 The Epistle in a votiue Masse for trauelers. to Haran. † And when he was come to a certaine place, 11 and would rest in it after sunne set, he“ tooke one of the stones that lay there, and putting it vnder his head, slept in the same place. † And he saw in his sleepe“ a ladder standing 12 Sap. 10. vpon the earth, and the top therof tooching heauen: the angels also of God ascending and descending by it, † and 13 our Lord leyning vpon the ladder saying to him: I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the Land, wherin thou sleepest, I wil geue to thee and to thy seed. † And thy seed shal be as the dust of the earth: thou 14 shalt be dilated to the West, and to the East, & to the North, and to the South: and IN THEE and thy seed al the tribes of the earth SHAL BE BLESSED. † And I wil be thy 15 keeper whither so euer thou goest, and wil bring thee backe into this land: neither wil I leaue thee, til I shal haue accomplished al things which I haue said. † And when Iacob 16 was awaked out of sleepe, he said: In dede our Lord is in this place, and I wist not. † And trembling he said: How 17 terrible is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and the gate of heauen. † And Iacob arising in the morning, 18 tooke the stone, which he had laid vnder his head, and“ erected it for a title, powring oyle vpon the toppe. † And he called the name of the citie House of God. Bethel, which before 19 was called Luza. † And he“ vowed a vowe, saying: If God 20 [Page 94] shal be with me, and shal keepe me in the way, by the which I walke, and shal geue me To whom ynough is not ynough, to him nothing is ynough Aulus Gell. bread to eate, and rayment to put on, † and I shal be returned prosperously to my fathers 21 house, the Lord shal be my God, † and this stone, which 22 I haue erected for a title, shal be called the House of God: and of al things that thou shalt geue to me, I wil offer tithes to thee.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXVIII.

11. Tooke of the stones] Iacob traueling into a strange countrie went in such VVhy Iacob traueled in poore state. poore state, the better to hide his departure from Esau▪ who otherwise might haue killed him by the way. It was also thus disposed by God, that Iacobs faith and confidence might, to his greatter merite, be exercised: and that Gods prouidence might more manifestly appeare, as it did in his returne after twentie yeares, when with most gratful mind he recounted Gods benefites saying (Gen. 32) VVith my staffe I passed ouer this Iordan, and now with two troupes I do returne.

12. A ladder] He that was in temporal distresse, was maruelously comforted A notable example of Gods comforth to the afflicted. Al nations beleuing in Christ are blessed in him. spiritually, by seing a ladder that reached from the earth to heauen; Angels passing vp and downe the same, and the Sonne of God leaning vpon it, as he that reigneth both in heauen and earth, who in particular promised him, and his sede that whole land, that he and his sede should be blessed, yea that in His Sede al nations should be blessed, and that he would kepe and protect him where soeuer he went. How al this was performed is briefly rehersed in the booke of wisdom. chap. 10.

18. Erected it, povvring oyle] To erect a stone, and powre oyle vpon it, was nowise supersticious in Iacob Neither did he lerne it of Idolaters: for Erecting and annointing of Altares is a religious office being done to Gods honour. The Church lerneth not rites of Idolaters, but they of the Church. Difference in religious, supersticious, & ciuil honour consisteth in the persons, & intentions. he abhorred and detested al idolatrical obseruances But as S. Iustinus Martyr S. Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Eusebius and others testifie, idololatrical superstition did rather imitate true religious ceremonies For the diuel alwayes affecting that honour, which he seeth done to God, perswaded those whom he seduced, and blinded with errors, to serue him in such maner of external rires, as God was serued, that therby he might either haue like worship with God, as it happened among Painim Idolaters: or els depriue God of this kind of honour, as now we see Protestants reiect and pul downe consecrated Altares, pretending them to be supersticious. VVherin they shew most grosse ignorance, if in dede they so iudge of ignorance, and not of mere malice. For who is so simple, but he may see, that the chiefe difference betwen Religion and Superstition in external things, consisteth in the persons to whom they are done, & in the intētion of the doers, & by the same difference of persons ciuil honour is also distinguished, from both religious and supersticious. As he that kneeleth to God, religiously honoreth God. Kneeling to the sunne, moone, or other false Gods, supersticiously honoreth the diuel, & kneeling to the King, ciuilly honoreth the King. Iacob without doubt did al to Gods onlie honour. And that which he did in this place, is now vsed in the [Page 95] Catholique Church. For so Rabanus a diligent obseruer and writer of Ecclesiastical Rites, Ceremonies, and Customes touching the vse of holie oyle witnesseth (li. 1. c. 45. Institut. cleric.) that the Altar being first sprinkled with water, is annointed with Chrisme, to the example of the Patriarch Iacob, who after that dreadful vision, erected a stone for a title (or monument) powring oyle theron, and calling that place The house of God. S Cyprian Two sortes of holie oyle. also writing of Chrisme, mentioneth the two sortes of holie oyle vsed in the Church; one of simple oyle consecrated by a Bishop, which is vsed for Catechumes before Baptisme, persons possessed, and the sick; the other is made of oyle and balme, also consecrated by a Bishop, and this is vsed in Baptisme, Confirmation, and in consecrating Altares, Kings, and Priests.

20. Vovved] It can not be vnderstood that Iacob here vowed, or promised Vowes are properly of things which are not otherwise commanded. only to serue God, as the Soueraigne Lord of al creatures, for to that he was bond, whether he should prosper temporally or no; but that he vowed particular godlie workes, to which he was not otherwise obliged. As here he expresseth two things. Presupposing before al, that the Lord Omnipotent shal be his God, he addeth, first And this stone, vvhich I haue erected for a title, shal be called the house of God. wherby he promised the building of a Church, performed at his returne (chap. 35.) Secondly he added, And of al things vvhich thou shalt geue me I vvil offer tubes to thee. And this Likwise was of free deuotion. For tithes also in the law of nature were dew to Priests, and by inferior Priests Gen. 14. to the chiefe Priest, as Abraham gaue tithes to Melchisedech. And so al his tithes were dew to his father, and after his father him selfe was chiefe: yet he promised them to God, that is, to offer them in Sacrifice, and bestow them in other vses pertaining to Gods seruice.

CHAP. XXIX. Iacob intertained by Laban, 15. serueth him seuen yeares for Rachel, 23. but first receiuing Lia, 27. seuen dayes after receiueth also Rachel, and serueth for her seuen yeares more. 31. She remaining barren, Lia beareth foure sonnes.

IACOB therfore going on his iourney, came into the East 1 countrie. † And he sawe a wel in the field, and three 2 flockes of sheepe lying beside it: for of it the beasts were watered, and the mouth therof was closed with a great stone. † And the maner was when al the sheepe were geathered 3 togeather they did rowle of the stone, and after the sheepe were refreshed they put it on the mouth of the wel againe. † And he said to the sheperds: Brethren, Whence are 4 you? Who answered: Of Haran. † And he asked them, 5 saying: Know you Laban the sonne of Nachor? They said: We do knowe him. † Is he in health? quoth he: He is in 6 health, say they: And behold Rachel his daughter cometh [Page 96] with his flocke. † And Iacob said: There is yet much day 7 remaining, neither is it time to bring the flockes into the foulds againe: first geue the sheep drinke, and so bring them backe to feede. † Who answered: We can not, til al the 8 cattel be gethered together: and we remoue the stone from the wels mouth, that we may water the flocks. † They were 9 yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her fathers sheepe: for the fed the flocke. † whom when Iacob had 10 seene, and knew her to be his cosen germaine, and that they were the sheepe of Laban his vncle: he remoued the stone, wherwith the wel was closed. † And hauing watered the 11 flocke, he S. Augustin. (q. 87. in Gen) cōmendeth familiar kissing of kinsfolke and frendes as a laudable custome in some countries. It is no where more ciuil & modest then in England. kissed her: and lifting vp his voice wept, † and he 12 told her that he was her fathers brother, and the sonne of Rebecca: but she in hast went and told her father. † Who 13 when he heard that Iacob his sisters sonne was come, he ranne forth to mete him: and embracing him, and hartely kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his iourney, † he answered: Thou art my 14 bone and my flesh. And after the dayes of one moneth were expired, † he said to him: because thou art my brother, 15 shalt thou serue me VVithout [...] ges?gratis? Tel me what wages wilt thou take. † He had in dede two daughters, the name of the 16 elder was Lia: and the younger was called Rachel. † But Lia 17 was bleare eyed: Rachel wel fauored, and of a bewtiful countenance. † Whom Iacob louing, said: I wil serue thee for 18 Rachel thy younger daughter, seauen yeares. † Laban answered: 19 It is better that I geue her to thee then to an other man, tary with me. † Iacob therfore serued for Rachel 20 seuen yeares: and they semed a few dayes because of the greatnes of his loue. † And he said to Laban: geue me 21 my wife: because now the time is complete, that I may companie with her. † Who hauing bid a great number 22 of his freinds to the feast, made the mariage. † And at 23 night Laban greeously offended, neither could Lia be excused, but Iacob was innocent, in this fact. he brought in Lia his daughter to him, † geuing his 24 daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. With whom when Iacob had compained after the maner, when morning was come he saw Lia: † and he said to his father in lawe: What 25 is it that thou didest meane to doe? did not I serue thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceiued me? † Laban answered: 26 It is not the custome in this place, that we bestowe the younger in mariage first. † Make vp the After seuen daies he had Rachel who was his first spouse. S. Hierom Tradit Heb. S. Aug. q. 89. in Gen. weeke of dayes 27 [Page 97] of this match: and I wil geue the this same also, for the worke that thou shalt serue me other seauen yeares. † He 28 yelded to his pleasure: and after the weeke was past, he maried Rachel to wife: † to whom her father had deliuered 29 Bala for to be her seruant. † And hauing at length obteined 30 the mariage that he wished, he preferred the loue of the later before the former, seruing with him other seauen yeares. † And our Lord seing that he despised Lia, opned 31 her wombe, her sister remaining barren. † Who conceaued 32 and bare a sonne, and called his name Ruben, saying: Our Lord saw mine affliction: now my husband wil loue me. † And againe she conceaued and bare a sonne, and said: For 33 because our Lord heard that I was contemned, he hath geuen this also to me: and she called his name Simeon. † And she conceaued the third time, and bare an other 34 sonne: and said: Now also my husband wil be ioyned to me, for because I haue borne him three sonnes: and therfore she called his name, Leui. † The fourth time she conceaued 35 and bare a sonne, and said: Now wil I conffesse to our Lord. And for this she called him Iuda: And she left bearing.

CHAP. XXX. Rachel yet barren, deliuereth her handmaide to Iacob, Who beareth two sonnes. 9. Lia ceasing to beare geueth her handmaid also, and she beareth two more. 17. Then Lia beareth other two sonnes and one daughter. 22. Rachel beareth Ioseph. 25. Iacob desirous to returne home, is hyred to stay for a certaine part of the stockes increase. 43. Wherby he becometh exceeding rich.

AND Rachel seing she was vnfruitful, Not properly [...] ▪ but griefe & [...] [...]ul [...] ▪ S. Aug. li 22▪ c 5 [...] ▪ cont. Faust. enuied her sister, 1 and said to her husband: Geue me children, otherwise I shal dye. † With whom Iacob being angrie answered: 1 Am I as God, who hath depriued thee of the fruite of thy wombe? † But she said: I haue here my seruant Bala: Companie 3 with her, that she may beare vpon my knees, and I may haue children of her. † And she gaue him Bala into 4 Of pluralitie of wi [...]s see pag. 62. mariage: who, † when her husband had compained with 5 her, conceaued and bare a sonne. † And Rachel said: Our 6 Lord hath iudged for me, and hath heard my voice, geuing [Page 98] me a sonne. and therfore she called his name, Dan. † And againe Bala conceauing bare an other, † for whom 7 8 Rachel said: God hath compared me with my sister, and I haue preuailed: and she called him Nepthali. † Lia perceauing 9 that she had left bearing, deliuered Zelpha her handmaid to her husband. † Who conceauing and bringing 10 forth a sonne, † she said: Happely. And therfore 11 called his name Gad. † Zelpha also bare an other. 12 † And Lia said: This is for my blessednes: for wemen wil 13 cal me blessed. Therfore she called him, Aser. † And Ruben 14 going forth in the time of wheat haruest into the field, found mandragores: which he brought to his mother Lia. And Rachel said: Geue me part of thy sonnes Holie Scripture (saith S. Augustin) would neuer h [...]e mentioned such womanlie de [...]ires, but to admonish vs to [...]ke great misteries therin. li. 22 c. 56. [...]o [...]t. [...]austum. mandragores. † She answered: Doest thou thinke it a smal matter, that 15 thou hast taken my husband from me, vnlesse thou take also my sonnes mandragores? Rachel said: For thy sonnes mandragores let him sleepe with thee this night. † And when 16 Iacob returned at euen from the field, Lia went out to meete him, and said: Companie with me, because with wages I haue hired thee for my sonnes mandragores. And he slept with her that night. † And God heard her prayers: 17 and she conceaued and bare the fifth sonne, † and said: God 18 hath geuen me a reward, because I gaue my handmaid to my husband. And she called his name Issachar. † Againe 19 Lia conceauing, bare the sixt sonne, † and said: God hath 20 endowed me with a good dowrie: this turne also my husband wil be with me, for because I haue borne him six sonnes, and therfore she called his name, Zabulon. † After 21 whom [...]he bare a daughter, named Dina. † Our Lord also 22 remembring Rachel, heard her, and opened her wombe. † Who conceaued, and bare a sonne, saying: God hath taken 23 away my reproch. † And she called his name, Ioseph, 24 saying: Our Lord adde to me an other sonne. † And when 25 Ioseph was borne, Iacob said to his father in lawe: Dismisse me that I may returne into my countrie, and to my land. † Geue me my wiues, and my children, for whom I haue 26 serued thee, that I may depart: thou knowest the seruice that I haue serued thee. † Laban said to him: Let me finde 27 grace in thy sight: I haue learned by experience, that God hath blessed me for thy sake: † appoint thee wages which 28 I shal geue thee. † But he answered: Thou knowest how I 29 [Page 99] haue serued thee, and how great thy possession hath benne in my hands. † Thou hadest a smal thing before I came 30 to thee, and now thou art made rich: and our Lord hath blessed thee at my comming in. It is reason therfore that once I prouide also for mine owne house. † And Laban 31 said: What shal I geue thee? But he said: I wil nothing: but if thou wilt doe that which I demande, I wil fede, and kepe thy sheepe again. † Goe round about al thy flockes, 32 and separate al the shepe of diuers colours, of speckled flyse: and what soeuer shal be russet and spotted, and of diuers colours, aswel in the shepe, as in the goates, shal be my wages. † And my iustice shal answer for me to morowe, 33 before thee when the time of the bargaine shal come: and al that shal not be of diuers colours, and spotted, and russet, aswel in the shepe as in the goates, shal accuse me of theft. † And Laban said: I like wel that thou demandest. 34 † And he separated the same day the shee goates, and the 35 shepe, and the he goates, and the rammes of diuers colours, and spotted: and al the flocke of one coloure, that is of white and blacke flyse, he deliuered in the hand of his sonnes. † And he put a space of three dayes iourney betwixt him 36 and his sonne in lawe, who fed the rest of his flocke. † Iacob 37 therfore Iacob did iustly vse this meanes to recouer th [...] which Laban withheld s [...]ō him being du [...] for the dowrie of his wiues, and recompence for his seruice. Rupert li. 7. c 39. in Gen. taking grene roddes of the poplare, and of the almond, and of the plaine trees, in part pilled them: and when the barkes were taken of, in the parts that were pilled, there appeared whitnes: but the parts that were whole, remayned grene: and by this meanes the colour was made diuers. † And he put them in the troughes, where 38 the water was poured out: that when the flockes should come to drinke, they might haue the roddes before their eyes, and in the sight of them conceaue. † And it came to 39 passe that in the verie heate of the ramming, the shepe beheld the roddes, and brought forth spotted, and of diuers colours, and speckled. † And Iacob diuided the flocke, and 40 put the roddes in the troughes before the eyes of the rammes: and al the white and the blacke were Labans: and the rest, Iacobs, when the flockes were separated one from the other. † Therfore when the ewes went to ramme, in the 41 prime time, Iacob put the roddes in the troughes of water before the eyes of the rammes, and of the ewes, that in looking vpon them they might conceaue: † but when the 42 [Page 100] later comming was, and the last conceauing, he did not put them. And those that were late warde, became Labans: and they of the prime time, Iacobs. † And the man was enriched 43 beyond measure, and he had manie flockes, wemen seruantes and men seruants, camels and asses.

CHAP. XXXI. Iacob by Gods commandment parteth secretly with al he hath towards his father. 21. Laban pursueth him. 26. expostulating why he went in secrete maner. 30. especially chargeth him with stelling his goddes. 31. Iacob excuseth himselfe, not knowing that Rachel had taken a way the Idols. 34. and she deludeth his diligent searching for them. 36. Then Iacob expostulateth with Laban for this vnkindnes. 43. Finally they make a league and depart [...]ch to his owne countrie.

AFTER he heard the wordes of Labans sonnes saying: 1 Iacob hath taken al that was our fathers, and being enriched of his substance, is become great: † and perceauing 2 also Labans countenance, that it was not towards him as yesterday and the other day, † especially our 3 Lord saying to him: Returne into the land of thy fathers, and to thy kinred, and I wil be with thee. † He sent, and 4 called Rachel and Lia into the field, where he fed the flockes, † and said to them: I see your fathers countenance 5 that it is not towards me as yesterday and the other day: and the God of my father hath bene with me. † And your 6 selues knowe that I haue serued your father to the vttermost of my power. † Yea your father also hath circum [...]ented 7 me, and hath changed my wages tenne times: and yet God hath not su [...]red him to hurt me. † If at any time 8 he said: They of diuers colours shal be thy wages: al the [...]pe brought forth young of diuers colours, but when he said contrarie: Thou shalt take al the white ones for thy wages: al the flockes brought forth white ones † And God 9 [...] taken your fathers substance, and geuen it to me. † For after the time came of the ewes conceauing▪ I lifted 10 vp mine eyes, and sawe in my sleepe the males ascending vpon the females of diuers colours, and the spotted, and the speckled. † And the angel of God said to me in sleepe: 11 [Page 101] Iacob? And I answered: Here I am. † Who said: Lyft vp 12 thine eyes, and see al the males ascending vpon the females, them of diuers colours, the spotted and the speckled. For I haue seene al things that Laban hath done to thee. † I am 13 the God of Bathel, where thou didest Annointing of Altar [...], and free vowes are gratful [...]es to God. See. chap. 28. annointe the stone, and didest vowe the vowe vnto me. Now therfore arise, and goe out of this land, returning into the land of thy natiuitie. † And Rachel and Lia answered: Haue we any thing 14 left in the goods, and heritage of our fathers house? † Hath 15 he not reputed vs as strangers, and sould vs, and eaten vp the price of vs? † But God hath taken our fathers riches, 16 and deliuered them to vs, and to our children: wherfore do al things, that God hath commanded thee. † Iacob therfore 17 rose vp, and setting his children, and wiues vpon camels, went his way. † And he tooke al his substance, and flockes, 18 and whatsoeuer he had gotten in Mesopotamia, and went forward to Isaac his father into the land of Chanaan. † At 19 that time Laban was gone to sheare his sheepe, and Rachel [...]ole the“ idols of her father. † And Iacob would not 20 Ter [...] confesse to his father in lawe that he fled. † And when he 21 was gone as wel him selfe as al things that were his right, and hauing passed the riuer was marching on to Mount Galaad, † it was told Laban the third day that Iacob fled. 22 † Who, taking his brethren vnto him, pursued him seuen 23 dayes: and he ouertoke him in the Mount Galaad. † And 24 he saw in his sleepe God saying vnto him: Take hede thou speake not roughly anie thing against Iacob. † And Iacob 25 had now pitched his tent in the mountaine: and when he with his brethren had ouertaken him, he pitched his tent in the same Mount Galaad. † And he said to Iacob: Why 26 didest thou so, that vnwitting to me thou wouldest carie away my daughters as captiues with the sword? † Why 27 wouldest thou flee without my knowledge, and not tel me, that I might haue brought thee on the way with ioy, and songues, and timbrels, and eithernes? † Thou hast not suffred 28 me to kisse my sonnes and daughters: thou hast donne foolishly▪ now also in dede, † my hand is able to requite 29 thee euil: but the God of your father said vnto me yesterday: Take hede thou speake not any thing against Iacob roughly. † Suppose, thou diddest desire to goe to thy freinds, and 30 hadest a longing to thy fathers house: why didest thou steale [Page 102] my goods? † Iacob answered: In that I departed vnwitting 31 to thee, I feared lest thou wouldest take away thy daughters by force. † But wheras thou chargest me with theft: with 32 whom soeuer thou shalt find thy goddes, let him be slaine before our brethen. search, what soeuer of thy things thou shalt finde with me, and take away. Saying this, he knew not that Rachel had stollen the idols. † Laban therfore 33 hauing gone into the tent of Iacob, and of Lia, and of both the hand-maides, found them not. And when he was entred into Rachels tent, † she in hast hid the idols vnder the 34 camels litter, and satte therupon: and when he had sought al the tent, and found nothing, † she said: Let not my 35 lord be angrie that I can not rise vp before thee, because according to the custome of wemen it is now chanced to me. so his carefulnes in seeking was deluded. † And Iacob 36 being [...] sinned [...]. Psal. 4. angrie said in chiding maner: For what fault of myne, and for what offence of my part hast thou so chaffed after me, † and searched al my houshould stuffe? What hast thou 37 found of al the sabstance of thy house? lay it here before my brethren, and thy brethren, and let them iudge betwen me & thee. † Haue I therfore bene with thee twentie yeares? 38 thy ewes and goates were not barren, the wethers of thy flocke I did not eate: † neyther that which the beast had 39 caught did I shew to thee, I made good al the damage: whatsoeuer perished by theft, thou didest exact it of me: † day and night was I parched with heate, and with frost, 40 and sleepe did flye from myne eyes. † And in this sorte haue 41 I serued thee in thy house twentie yeares, fourtene for thy daughters, and six for thy flockes: thou hast changed also my wages tenne times. † Vnles the God of my father Abraham, 42 and the feare of Isaac had holpe me, peraduenture now thou h [...]st sent me away naked: God beheld my a [...]iction and the laboure of my hands, and rebuked thee yesterday. † Laban answered him: The daughters are mine 43 and the children, and thy flockes, and al things that thou seest are mine: what can I do to my daughters, and nephews? † Come therfore, let vs enter in league: that it 44 may be for a testimonie betwen me and thee. † Iacob therfore 45 tooke a stone, and erected it for a title: † and he said 46 to his brethren: Being hither stones. Who gethering them [...] m [...]e a heape, and they did eate vpon it: † Which 47 [Page 103] Laban called The witnesse heape: and Iacob called The hillock of testimonie, either of them according to the proprietie of his language. † And Laban said: This heape shal 48 be a witnes betwen me and thee this day, and therfore the name therof was called Galaad, that is, The witnes heape. † Our Lord behold and iudge betwen vs when we shal be 49 departed one from the other, † if thou shalt afflict my 50 daughters, and if thou bring in other wiues ouer them: none is witnes of our talke but God, who is present and beholdeth. † And he said againe to Iacob: Behold this heape, 51 and the stone which I haue erected betwen me and thee, † shal be a witnes: this heape, I say, and the stone be they 52 for a testimonie, if either I shal passe beyond it going towards thee, or thou shalt passe beyond it, thinking harme to me. † The God of Abraham, and the God of Nachor 53 iudge betwen vs, the God of their father. Iacob therfore sware by the feare of his father Isaac: † and after he had 54 offred victimes in the mountaine, he called his brethren to eate bread. Who when they had eaten, lodged there: † but 55 Laban arising in the night, kissed his sonnes, and daughters, and blessed them: and returned vnto his place.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXI.

19. Id [...]ls.] Images of false goddes (as these were) are most properly Images of false goddes are idols. Some images are neither religious nor supersticious. Some are religious. called idols. And so the hebrew word Teraphim is here rightly translated idols▪ which in other places signifieth other things As The statua which Michol put in Dauids bed, couering the head therof with a hearie goates 1. Reg. 19. skinne, to deceiue Saules seriants who sought Dauids death, is called Teraphim, and may there be translated a statua, image, or similitude, but not an idol. Againe. Osee the Prophet fortelling the lamentable state of the Israelites, sayeth, they shal be long without King, prince, sacrifice, altar, ephod, and [...]. 3. Teraphim, which last word in the Protestants English Bibles remaineth vntranslated VVhere if they had translated Images▪ (as here they doe) it would proue, that some images pertaine to true religion, the want wherof is lamented among other principal things.

These idol▪ Rachel stole from her father, to withdraw him from idolatrie. Rachel tooke away her fathers Idols, for h [...] good. as S. Basil (in lib. Prouerb.) S. Gregorie Nazianzen. (orat. de Pascha [...]e) and Theodoret (q. 89. in Gen.) expound it And in this, saith Theodoret, she was a right figure of the Catholique Church, which depriueth idolaters of their idols. It is probable also by her base vsing of them, that she held them not for goddes, when she put them vnder the camels litter▪ and sate vpon them. Finally that she reserued them, and did not cast them away▪ nor burne, [Page 104] nor burie them, argueth that they were perhaps of precious mettal, or other She kept them in recompēce of wrongs. matter, which she might turne to profite: and that lawfully in part of recompence, that she and her sister, had no other dowrie, but rather were sold to [...]acob. VVho also had suffered much iniurie at their fathers handes.

CHAP. XXXII. Angels mete Iacob by the way. [...]. He sendeth messengers and giftes to pacifie his brother Esau. 24. wrestling with an Angel is not ouercome, in fine the Angel benummeth his thiegh, blesseth him, and for telleth that he shal be called Israel.

IACON also went on his iourney that he had begunne: 1 and the Angels of God met him. † Whom when he had 2 seene, he said: These are the Campes of God, and he called the name of that place Mahanaim, that is, Campes. † And 3 he sent also messengers before him to Esau his brother into the land of Seir, into the countrie of Edom: † and he commanded 4 them, saying: Thus speake ye vnto my lord Esau: This saith thy brother Iacob: I haue soiourned, and haue bene with Laban vntil this present day. † I haue oxen, and 5 asses, and sheepe, and men seruants, and wemen seruants: and now I send a l [...]agacie to my lord, that I may finde grace in thy sight. † And the messengers returned to Iacob, 6 saying: We came to Esau thy brother, and behold he cometh with spede to mete thee with foure hundred men. † Iacob 7 “feared exceedingly: & being sore affraid diuided the people that was with him, the flockes also and the shepe and the o [...]en, and the camels, into two troupes, † saying: If Esau 8 come to one troupe, and strike it, the other troupe that remaineth, shal be saued. † And Iacob said: O God of my 9 father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac: O Lord that didest say to me: Returne into thy land, and into the place of thy natiuitie, and I wil doe thee good. † I am inferiour to 10 al thy mercies, and thy truth that thou hast fulfilled to thy seruant. With my staffe I passed ouer this Iordain: and now with two troupes I doe returne. † Deliuer me from the 11 hand of my brother Esau, because I am sore affraid of him: lest perhaps he come, and strike the mother with the children. † Thou didest say that thou wouldest do good to me, 12 [Page 105] and dilate my seed as the sand of the sea, which for multitude can not be numbred. † And when he had slept there that 13 night, he separated of those things which he had, giftes to his brother Esau, † she goates two hundred, he goates 14 twentie, ewes two hundred, and rammes twentie, † thirtie 15 milch camels with their coltes, sourtie kine, and twentie bulles, twentie she asses, and their foles ten. † And he sent 16 by the handes of his seruants, euerie flocke by it selfe, and he said to his seruants: Goe before me, and let there be a space betwen flocke and flocke. † And he commanded the 17 former, saying: If thou mete my brother Esau, and he aske thee, whose art thou? or whither goest thou? or whose are these that thou doest folowe? † thou shalt answere: 18 Iacobes thy seruant, he hath sent them for gifts to my lord Esau: himselfe also cometh after vs. † In like maner he 19 gaue commandements to the second, and the third, and to al that folowed the flocks, saying: With the selfe same words speake ye to Esau, when you shal finde him. † And 20 ye shal adde: Iacob also thy seruant himselfe foloweth on after vs; for he said: I wil pacifie him with the gifts that goe before, and afterward I wil see him, perhaps he wil be gracious vnto me. † The giftes therfore went before him, 21 but himselfe lodged that night in the campe. † And when 22 he was risen early he tooke his two wiues, and his handmaides as manie, with his eleuen sonnes, and passed ouer the ford Iaboc. † And when he had set ouer al things that 23 appertained to him, † he taried alone: and behold“ a man 24 wrasteled with him til morning. † Who when he saw that 25 he could not ouercome him, he touched the sinowe of his thighe, and forthwith it shranke. † And he said to him: Let 26 me goe for it is breake of day. He answered: I wil not let thee goe, vnlesse thou blesse me. † He therfore said: What 27 is thy name? He answered: Iacob. † But he, no, thy name, 28 quoth he, The changing of his name here promised, is performed chap. 35. S. Hieron. Tradit▪ Heb. shal not be called Iacob, but Israel: for if thou hast bene strong against God, how much more shalt thou preuaile against men? † Iacob asked him: Tel me by what name 29 art thou called? He answered: Why doest thou aske my name? and blessed him in the same place. † And Iacob called the 30 name of the place Phanuel, saying: I haue sene God face to face, and my soule was made safe. † And immediatly the 31 sunne rose to him, after that he was past Phanuel; but he [Page 106] halted on his foote. † For which cause the children of 32 Israel eate not the sinowe, that shrunke in Iacobes thighe, vnto his present day: because he touched the sinowe of his thighe, and it shrunke.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXII.

7. Feared exceedingly] Iustly may we meruel, why Iacob so often assured Iacobs feare was iust, and without fault. by Gods promises, confirmed by his manie blessings, protected in al former dangers, accompained the night before with armies of Angels, indued also with al vertues, and namely with perfect charitie (which expelleth feare) 1. Ioan▪ 4. q. 102. [...] Gen. was for al this so vehemently afeard! S. Augustin answereth, that he neither distrusted in God, nor did anie vnlawful thing: but did his owne endeuour wisely and confidently, lest by presuming or desparing he should rather haue tempted God, then trusted in him. The causes of his feare were in respect of The causes of his feare. The humble conceipt of him selfe. him selfe and his brother. For considering Gods former promises, benefites & protections were not to be presumed as absolute signes of his perpetual loue but conditional, if him selfe perseuered sincerly in Gods seruice. And seing Eccle. [...]. The iust man / novveth not vvhether he be vvorthie of loue, or of hatred, he might doubt, lest by his twentie yeares conuersation among Infidels in Mesopotamia, he had contracted some sinnes, for which God might suffer him to fall into calamitie and affliction. And though he was in dede stil more and more vertuous, and consequently in Gods more fauour and protection: yea so much the more, by how much lesse he presumed of his owne good state and merites: yet by the vehement apprehending of his brothers inclination to reuenge, Esaus inclination & meanes to reuenge. the greatnes of the occasion by procuring the first-birth-right, and his fathers blessing from him, the newes of his speedie coming towards him with foure hundred men, the natural situation of the place, where Esau might es [...]aly inu [...]ron him, and (as he humbly thought) his owne vnworthines, he was possessed with natural feare (such as happeneth to constant men) and was sore afflicted for the tender care of his familie. But reflecting vpon Gods goodnes, he prudently disposed of his people and flockes, and besought God to protect him and his, by prayer qualified with requisite conditions, to wit, with Iacobs prayer qualified with Humilitie. Gratitude. Confidence. Meeknes. humilitie, not asking for his owne but for Abraham and Isaacs sake, and for Gods owne promise, acknowledging himselfe to be lesse then Gods mercies towards him, with gratitude recounting great benefites receiued, saying, VVith my staffe I passed ouer this Iordan, and novv vvith [...]vvo troupes I do returne, with confidence in that God had said, he VVould dilate his sede as the sand of the sea, and with meeknes in sending giftes and good vvordes to Esau. Thus finally he pacified him, and so his owne feare was turned into ioy.

24. A man vvrastled] This wrestling with an Angel assumpting a bodie Iacobwrestled with an Angel corporally & spiritually. in forme of a man was corporal, as the effect shewed in Iacobs sinow shrunck Osee. 12. vp, which made him to halt. v. 25 & 31. It was also spiritual, as appeareth by his earnest prayer, vrging and at last obtayning the Angels blessing. S. Dionys. c. 4. cel. Hierer▪ S. Greg. prefat. in Iob. Theodoret, q. 91. in Gen.

[Page 107]

CHAP. XXXIII. Iacob seing Eau come with a great troupe of men, feareth harme, but is most curteously entertained by him. 10. He hardly perswadeth Esau to take giftes, 13. and to returne home. 17. So Iacob coming by Socoth to Salem, there byeth a field, pitcheth his tents, and erecteth an Altar.

AND Iacob lifting vp his eyes, saw Esau coming, and 1 with him foure hundred men: and he diuided the children of Lia and of Rachel, and of the two handmaides: † and he put both the handmaids & their children foremost: 2 and Lia, and her children in the second place: and Rachel, and Ioseph last. † And himselfe going foreward adored prostrate 3 to the grownd seuen times, vntil his brother came nere. † Esau therfore running to mete his brother, embraced 4 him: and clasping him fast about the necke, and kissing him wept. † And casting vp his eyes, he saw the 5 wemen and their litle ones, and said: What meane these? And do they perteyne to thee? He answered: They are the litle ones which God hath geuen to me thy seruant. † And 6 the handmaides and their children coming nere, bowed themselues. † Lia also with her children came nere: and 7 when they had adored in like maner, last Ioseph and Rachel adored. † And Esau said: What are the troupes that I did 8 mete? He answered: That I might find grace before my lord. † But he said: I haue plentie, my brother, be thy things to 9 thy selfe. † And Iacob said: Do not so I besech thee, but 10 if I haue found grace in thin eyes, take a litle present at my hands: for so haue I seene thy face, as if I should haue seene Iacob seing Gods hand in this change of his brothers mind, not of flaterie, but sincerly acknowledged his benignitie, as Gods countenance towards him. the countenance of God: be gracious to me, † and take 11 the blessing, which I haue brought thee, and which God hath geuen me, who geueth al thinges. Scarse at his brothers great instance, taking it, † he said: Let vs march on together, 12 and I wil accompanie thee in thy iourney. † And Iacob 13 said: My lord thou knowest that I haue with me litle ones, and sheepe, and kine with young: which if I cause to ouerlaboure themselues in going, in one day al the flockes wil die. † It may please my lord to goe before his seruant: 14 and I wil folow softly after him, as I shal see my litle ones [Page 108] to be able, vntil I come to my lord in Seir. † Esau answered: 15 I besech thee, that of my people at the leastwise, which is with me, there may remaine some to accompanie thee in the way. It is not needful, said he, this only I haue nede of, that I may finde grace (my lord) in thy sight. † Esau therfore 16 returned that day the same way, that he came into Seir. † And Iacob cometh into Socoth: where hauing built a 17 house, and pitched his tents, he called the name of that place Socoth, that is, Tabernacles. † And he passed into 18 Salem a citie of the Sichimites, which is in the land of Chanaan, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Siria: and he dwelt beside the towne. † And he bought that part of 19 the field, wherin he had pitched his tents, of the children of Hemor, the father fo Sichem for an hundred lambes. † And erecting an altar there, on it he called vpon the 20 most mightie God of Israel.

CHAP. XXXIIII. For rauishing Dina, the Sichimetes (being first circumcised) are slaine by Simeon and Leui her brothers. 27. The rest of Iacobs sonnes spoile the citie. 30. Iacob blameth them, fearing harme may come by this fact.

AND Dina the daughter of Lia went forth :: to see the 1 O Dina (saith S. Bernard) what nedewas there to see wemen of a strange countrie? Tract. de gradib. humilitatis. wemen of that countrie. † Whom when Sichem had 2 seene the sonne of Hemor the Heuite, the prince of that land, he was in loue with her: and he tooke her away, and lay with her, by force rauishing the virgin. † And his soule 3 was fast kint vnto her, and wheras she was sad, he comforted her with sweete wordes. † And going to Hemor 4 his father, he said: Take me this wench to be my wife. † Which when Iacob had heard, his sonnes being absent, 5 and occupied in feeding of the cattle, he held his peace til they returned. † And when Hemor Sichems father was 6 come forth to speake vnto Iacob, † behold his sonnes came 7 out of the field: and hearing what had passed, they were passing wrath, because he had done a foule thing in Israel, and committed an vnlawful fact, in rauishing Iacobs daughter † Hemor therfore spake to them: The soule of my sonne 8 Sichem is sastned to your daughter: Geue her vnto him to [Page 109] wife: † and let vs contract mariages one with an other: 9 geue vs your daughters, and take you our daughters. † And 10 dwel with vs: the land is at your commandement, tille, occupie, and possesse it. † Yea and Sichem also said to her 11 father and to her brethren: Let me finde grace in your sight: and what soeuer you shal appointe I wil geue: † raise the 12 dowrie, and require giftes, and I shal gladly geue, what you shal demande: only geue me this wench to wife. † Iacobs 13 sonnes answered Sichem & his father They offended by falsly pretending religion, and by excesse in reuenge, & therfore are reproued by their father. v 30. & chap. 49 v 5. Otherwise their zeale was iust to punish so foule a fault Iudith. 9. in guile, being wrath for the deflouring of their sister: † We can not doe that 14 which you demande, nor geue our sister to an vncircumcised person: which with vs is an vnlawful & abhominable thing. † But in this order we may be confederate, if you wil be 15 like to vs, and al the man sex among you be circumcised: † then wil we geue and take mutually your daughters, and 16 ours: and we wil dwel with you, and wil be one people: † but if you wil not be circumcised, we wil take our daughter, 17 and depart. † The offer pleased Hemor, and Sichem 18 his sonne: † neither did the young man make delay, but 19 forthwith fulfilled that which was demanded: for he loued the wench exceedingly, and he was the greatest man in al his fathers house. † And going into the gate of the citie, 20 they spake to the people: † These men are men of peace, 21 and are willing to dwel with vs: let them occupie in the land, and til it, which being large and wide doth lacke men to tille it: their daughters we shal take to wife, and ours we wil geue to them. † One thing there is for the which so great 22 a good is differred: If we circumcise our men sexe, folowing the rite of the nation. † And their substance, and cartle, 23 and al things that they possesse, shal be ours: only in this let vs condescend, and dwelling togeather, we shal make one people. † And they al assented, and circumcised al the man 24 sex. † And behold the third day, when the griefe of the 25 woundes is most paineful: Iacobs two sonnes, Simeon and Leui the brothers of Dina, taking their swordes, entred into the citie boldly: and killing al the man sex, † murdred withal 26 Hemor and Sichem, taking away Dina their sister out of Sichems house. † When they were gone forth, the other 27 sonnes of Iacob ranne in vpon them that were slaine: and spoiled the citie in reuenge of the rape. † And wasting al 28 things that were in their houses, and fildes, their sheepe and [Page 110] heardes, and asses, † their little ones also, and their wiues 29 they led away captiue. † Which things when they had 30 boldly atcheiued, Iacob said to Simeon and Leui: You haue trubled me, and made me odious to the Chananites, and Pherezites the inhabiters of this land. we are few: they being gethered together wil strike me; and I, and my house shal be destroyed. † They answered: What should they 31 abuse our sister as a strumpet?

CHAP. XXXV. Iacob purging his whole familie of idols, goeth by Gods commandment into Bethel, 7. There buildeth an Altar. 8. Debora dieth. 9. God appearing againe to Iacob blesseth him, and changeth his name into Israel. 16. Rachel bearing Beniamin dieth, and is buried in Bethleem, 22. Ruben lyeth with Bala. 23. Israels twelue sonnes are recited. 28. Isaac dieth at the age of 180. yeares. and his sonnes Esau and Iacob burie him.

IN THE meane time God spake to Iacob: Arise, and goe 1 vp to Bethel, and dwel there, and make an altar to God that appeared to thee when thou diddest flie from Esau thy brother. † And Iacob hauing called together al his house, 2 said:“ Cast away the strange goddes that are among you, and be clensed and change your garments. † Arise, and let 3 vs goe vp into Bethel, that we may make there an altar vnto God: who heard me in the day of my tribulation, and accompained me in my iourney. † They gaue to him therfore 4 al the strange goddes that they had, and the earelets which were in their eares: but he buried them vnder the An execrable tree terebinth,that is behind the citie of Sichem. † And when they were 5 departed, God (when it pleaseth him) maketh the weake stronger then the mightie; and few more terrible then [...]nie. S. Ch [...]isost. ho. 59. S. Aug. q. 112. in Gen. the terror of God inuaded al the cities rounde about, and they durst not pursew them going away. † And 6 Iacob came to Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, surnamed Bethel: he and al the people that was with him. † And he builded there an altar, and called the name of that 7 place, The house of God: for there God appeared to him when he fled from his brother. † The same time died 8 Debora the nurse of Rebecca, and was buried at the foote of Bethel vnder an oke: and the name of that place was called, The oke of weeping. † And God appeared again 9 [Page 111] to Iacob after he returned from Mesopotamia of Siria, and he blessed him, † saying: Thou The name of supplanter not sufficiently expressing his valure he is also called Israel. See the Annotation. shalt not be called any more 10 Iacob, but Israel shal be thy name. And he “ called him Israel, † and said to him: I am God almightie, encrease thou 11 and multiplie: Of thee shal be nations and peoples of nations, kinges shal come forth of thy loynes. † And the land 12 which I gaue to Abraham and Isaac, I wil geue to thee, and to thy seede after thee. † And he departed from him. 13 † But he erected a title of stone, in the place where God had 14 spoken vnto him: offering vpon it liquide offeringes, and powring oile on it: † and calling the name of that place, 15 Bethel. † And being gone forth from thence, he came in 16 the spring time to the land which leadeth to Ephrata: wherin when Rachel was in trauaile, † because of difficultie 17 in her trauaile, she beganne to be in danger, and the midwife said vnto her: Feare not, for thou shalt haue also this a sonne. † And her soule departing for paine, and death 18 now at hand, she called the name of her sonne Benoni, that is the sonne of my paine: but his father called him Beniamin, that is the sonne of the right hand. † Rachel therfore died, 19 and was buried in the hye way that leadeth to Ephrata, this Math. 2. same is Bethleem. † And Iacob erected a title ouer her sepulchre: 20 This is the litle of Rachels monument, vntil this present day. † Departing thence, he pitched his tent 21 beyond the Flocke tower. † And when he dwelt in that 22 countrie: Ruben went, and For this fact Ruben was excluded from the chiefe dignitie among his bretheren. Gen. 49. slept with Bala his fathers concubine: which thing he was not ignorant of. And the sonnes of Iacob were twelue. † The sonnes of Lia: Ruben the 23 first begotten, and Simeon, and Leui, and Iudas, and Issachar, and Zabulon. † The sonnes of Rachel: Ioseph and Beniamin. 24 † The sonnes of Bala Rachels handmaid: Dan and 25 Nepthali. † The sonnes of Zelpha Lias handmaid: Gad and 26 Aser: these are the sonnes of Iacob, that were borne to him in Mesopotamia of Siria. † He came also to Isaac his father 27 in Mambre, the citie of Arbee, this is Hebron: wherin Abraham and Isaac soiourned. † And the dayes of Isaac 28 were complete an hundred eyghtie yeares. † And spent 29 With age he died, and was put to his people, being old and ful of dayes: and Esau and Iacob his sonnes buryed him.

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ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXV.

2. Cast avvay the strange goddes] Iacob preparing to performe his vow Clensing from sinne is the first office of the seruants of God. of building a house & altar to God, first extirpateth al Idolatrie from amongst his people; and then by Sacrifice appeaseth Gods wrath prouoked how soeuer and specially by Simeon and Leui killing the Sichemites. Duly considering that what people or person desireth Gods protection & blessings, must first be pure in Religion, and clensed from sinnes: Quia e [...] nulla no [...]ebit aduersitas, si nulla e [...] dominetur iniquitas: because no aduersitie shal hurt him, if no iniquitie haue dominion ouer him. orat. fer. 6. post cineres.

10. Called him Israel.] As the Patriarch now performeth his vow to God: The name ISRAEL signifieth special prerogatiues in the Patriarch Iacob. so God fulfilleth his promise, geuing him a new name. For Iacob a supplanter, signifying too smal force & praise for such a champion, God therfore honored him with the name of Israel. That is, One that seeth and contemplateth God, as most ancient writers expound it. Also A prince, or valient vvith God, as S. Hierom sheweth Tradit. Heb. For Isra in Hebrew signifieth To dominier, or rule ouer, and El signifieth God. And so this name geuen to him testifieth that he, by Gods gift and grace, was valient euen against an Angel representing God, much more against men, and other aduersaries. Others interprete it, The right one of God. as witnesseth the same S. Hierom both here, and in his commentaries in 44. Isaie. Al do importe a great excellencie in this Patriarch. And the successe of things confirmeth the same. Particularly in that not onlie some one of his sonnes (as in the issue of Abraham and Isaac, the rest being excluded) but his whole progenie of twelue sonnes, making twelue Tribes, were participant of the peculiar blessings, in their ofspring possessing Al his twelue sonnes in their posteritie were heires of the promised land. the promised land, and excedingly increasing became the most principal nation in the world, the selected people of God, called by the name and title Of the children of Israel. Of whom not only Moyses, but al the old Testament most specially treateth, and of whom and in whom the promised Messias, the Redemer of mankind should be borne.

CHAP. XXXVI. Esau with his wiues and children parteth from Iacob. 9. His genealogie is recited, with their habitations.

AND“ these are the generations of Esau, the same is 1 Edom. † Esau tooke wiues of the daughters of Chanaan:“ 2 Ada the daughter of Elon the Hetheite, and Oolibama the daughter of Ana daughter of Sebeon the Heueite: † Basemath also the daughter of Ismael sister of Nabaioth. 3 † And Ada bare Eliphaz: Basemath bare Rahuel: 4 [Page 113] † Oolihama bare Iehus and Ihelon and Coree. these are the 5 sonnes of Esau, that were borne to him in the land of Chanaan. † And The separation of Esau from Iacob. Esau tooke his wiues and sonnes and daughters, 6 and euerie soule of his house, and his substance, and catle, and al that he could haue in the land of Chanaan: and he went into an other countrie, and“ departed from his brother Iacob. † For they were exceding rich, and could 7 not dwel together: neither was the land of their peregrination able to beare them, for the multitude of flockes. † And Esau“ dwelt in Mount Seir, he is Edom. † And these 8 9 are the generations of Esau the father of Edom in mount Seir, † and these are the names of his sonnes: Eliphaz the 10 sonne of Ada the wife of Esau: Rahuel also the sonne of Basemath his wife. † And Eliphas had sonnes: Theman, 11 Omar, Sepho, and Gathan, and Cenes. † And Thamna was 21 the concubine of Eliphas the sonne of Esau: which bare to him Amalech. these are the sonnes of Ada the wife of Esau. † And the sonnes of Rahuel: were Nahath & Zara, Samma 13 and Meza. these were the sonnes of Basemath the wife of Esau. † These also were the sonnes of Oolibama, the daughter 14 of Ana, the daughter of Sebeon, the wife of Esau, which she▪ bare to him, Iehus, and Ihelon, and Coree. † These 15 were dukes of the sonnes of Esau: the sonnes of Eliphaz the first-begotten of Esau: duke Theman, duke Omar, duke Sepho, duke Cenes, † duke Coree, duke Gatham, 16 duke Amalech, these are the sonnes of Eliphaz in the land of Edom, and these are the sonnes of Ada. † These 17 also were the sonnes of Rahuel, the sonne of Esau: duke Nahath, duke Zara, duke Zamma, duke Meza▪ and these are be the dukes of Rahuel, in the Land of Edom: these be the sonnes of Basemath the wife of Esau. † And these 18 were the sonnes of Oolibama the wife of Esau: duke Iehus, duke Ihelon, euke Coree. these be the dukes of Oolibama, the daughter of Ana, and wife of Esau. † These are 19 the sonnes of Esau, and these are the dukes of them: the same is Edom. † These are the sonnes of Seir the horreite, 20 the inhabiters of the land: Lotan, and Sobal, and Sebeon, and Ana, † and Dison, and Eser, and Disan. These 21 are dukes of the Horreite, the sonnes of Seir in the Land of Edom. † And Lotan had sonnes: Hori and Heman▪ and 22 the sister of Lotan, was Thamna. † And these were the 23 [Page 114] sonnes of Sobal: Aluan and Manahar, and Ebal, and Sepho and Onam. † And these were the sonnes of Sebeon: 24 Aia and Ana. This is Ana that found the hot waters in the wildernes, when he fed the asses of Sebeon his father: † and 25 he had a sonne Dison, and a daughter Oolibama. † And 26 these were the sonnes of Dison: Hamdan, and Eseban, and Iethram, and Charan. † These also were the sonnes of Eser: 27 Balaan, and Zauan, and Acan. † And Disan had sonnes: 28 Hus, and Aram. † These were dukes of the Horreites: duke 29 Lotan, duke Sobal, duke Sebeon, duke Ana, † duke 30 Dison, duke Eser, duke Disan: these were dukes of the Horreites that ruled in the Land Seir. † And the Kinges that 31 ruled in the land of Edom, before that the children of Israel had a king, were these: † Bela the sonne of Beor, and the 32 name of his citie Denaba. † And Bela died, and By the common opinon of Latin and Greke fathers, this was holie. Iob. as we shal discusse when we come to his booke against the hebrew doctors, who say Iob was of Nachors race. Iobab the 33 sonnne of Zara of Bosra reigned in his steed. † And when 34 Iobab was dead, Husam of the land of the Themans reigned in his steed. † He also being dead, there reigned in his steed 35 Adad the sonne of Badad, that stroke Madian in the countrie of Moab: and the name of his citie was Auirh. † And 36 when Adad was dead, there reigned for him Semla of Masreca. † He also being dead, Saul of the riuer Rohoboth, 37 reigned in his steed. † And when he also was dead, Balanan 38 the sonne of Achobor succeeded into the kingdome. † This 39 man also being dead Adar reigned in his place, and the name of his citie was Phau: and his wife was called Meetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezaab. † These 40 therfore be the names of the dukes of Esau in their kinreds, and places, and callings: duke Thamna, duke Alua, duke Ietheth, † duke Oolibama, duke Ela, duke Phinon, 41 † duke Cenez, duke Theman, duke Mabser, 42 † duke Magdiel, duke Hiram: these are the dukes of Edom 43 dwelling in the land of their empire, the same is Esau the father of the Idumeians.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXVI.

1. The generations of Esau] As before Moyses described the genealogies chap. 4. 10 22. 25. of Cain, of Iapheth and Cham, of Nachor, of Ismael, and other sonnes of Abraham, so here he recordeth an other collateral progenie of Esau, that the [Page 115] difference and distinction of them, and the selected people of God might be By comparison of interrupted companies the cō tinual succession of the Church is more glorious. more conspicuous, because contraries opposed are sene more clerly. And so the Churches succession and perpetual light, compared with the interrupted and obscure companies, shineth the brighter. For albeit in those other generations there might be manie faithful and iust persons, among the infidels and wicked, and of some we are assured (as of Lot and Iob) yet faith and religion decayed, and was extinguished in their carnal children, and only continued in the right line from Adam to Iacob, whose twelue sonnes were fathers and beginners of twelue▪ Tribes, and in them the same true Religion was stil conserued and publikly professed, as in the onlie knowne visible Church, til the cōming of Christ. as S. Augustin clerly sheweth in his excellent worke of the Citie of God: especially in the 15. and 16. bookes, in manie chapters.

2. Ada the daughter of Elon] In the 26. chap. (v. 34.) Esaus two wiues, One place of Scripture feemeth contrarie to an other but is not. which he tooke in Chanaan are called Iudith the daughter of Beeri the Hetheire, and Basemath the daughter of Elon of the same place, and here the same two wiues are named Ada the daughter of Elon the Hetheite, and Oolibama the daughter of Sebeon the Heueite. VVhich neither agree in names nor countrie. Againe his third wife Ismaels daughter, here named Basemath, in 28. chap v. 9. is called Maheleth. For reconciliation of which and otherlike difficulties, or seeming contradictions, albeit he lerned expositors say, that either these persons had diuers names, or one was true and natural father, an other legal, or adoptiue, for there were such also before the law of Moyses, as appeareth in the historie of Thamar: yet it were hard to Holie Scriptures not easie to be vnderstood. geue a determinate solution of this difficultie. VVhich example, with manie others (by vs omitted in these briefe annotations) conuince the Protestants presumptuous error, holding that Scriptures are easie to be vnderstood.

6. Departed from his brother. 8. Dvvelt in Mount Seir] Here is an other difficultie (though not so intricate as the former) how Esau now parted into Esaus last parting from Iacob. Mount Seir, seing he dwelled there, when his brother Iacob came from Mesopotamia. chap. 22. v. 3. VVhich S. Augustin (q. 119. in Gen.) solueth saying: Esau first dwelt in Seir after he was disapointed of his fathers blessing, but dwelt againe with his father, after Iacobs returne from Mesopotamia, and now went to Seir againe after his fathers death.

CHAP. XXXVII. The seuenth part of this booke. How Ioseph was sold into Aegypt, and there aduanced. Ioseph informing his father of his brethrens faults. 5. and telling his dreames, is by them more hated. 13. being sent to visite them, 18. they first thinke to kil him, 26. but by Iudas co [...]sel sel him to the Ismael [...]tes. 29. vnwiting to Ruben. 33. his father lamenteth supposing him to be slaine by some wild beast. 36. He is sold againe to Putiphar in Aegypt.

AND Iacob dwelt in the land of Chanaan, wherin his 1 father soiourned. † And These things folowing hapned to Iacob▪ in his generations, that is in his childrē. See S. Chrisost. ho. 23. in Gen. these are his generations: 2 Ioseph when he was sixten e yeares old, fed the flock with [Page 116] his brethren being yet a boy: and he was with the sonnes of Bala and Zelpha his fathers wiues: and he accused his brethren to his father of That for il life they were infamous▪ the hebrew word d [...]a signifieth infamie. a most wicked crime. † And Israel 3 loued Ioseph aboue al his sonnes, because he had begotten him“ in his old age: and he made him a coate of diuers coloures. † And his brethren seing that he was loued of his 4 father, more then al his sonnes, they hated him, neither could they speake any thing to him peaceably. † It chanced 5 also that he reported to his brethren a dreame, that he had seene: which occasion was the seed of greater hatred. † And he said to them: Heare my dreame which I 6 haue seene: † I thought we bounde sheaues in the field: 7 and my sheafe arose as it were, and stood, and your sheaues standing about did adore my sheafe. † His brethren answered: 8 What shalt thou be our king? or shal we be subiect to thy dominion? This occasion of his dreames and wordes ministred nourishment to the enuie and hatred. † He sawe 9 also an other dreame, which telling his brethren, he said: I sawe in a dreame, as it were the sunne, and the moone, and eleuen starres adore me. † Which when he had reported 10 to his father, and brethren, his father rebuked him, and said: What meaneth this dreame that thou hast seene? why shal I and thy mother, and thy brethren adore thee vpon the earth? † His brethren therfore enuyed him: but The Epistle on friday, in the second weke of Lent. his 11 father considered the thing with him selfe. † And when 12 his brethren abode in Sichem, feeding their fathers flockes, † Israel said to him: Thy brethren feed sheepe in Sichem: 13 come, I wil send thee to them. Who answering, † I am 14 readie; he said to him: Goe, and see if al things be wel with thy brethren, and the sheepe: and bring me word againe what they doe. Being sent therfore from the Vale of Hebron, he came to Sichem: † and a man found him there wandring 15 in the field, and asked what he sought. † But he answered: 16 Brothers easily enuie eech other: but the parents are glad of their childrens aduancement. I seeke my brethren, shew me where they fede the flockes. :: So Christ, & al good Pastors. † And the man said to him: They are departed from this 17 place: for I heard them say: Let vs goe into Dothain. Ioseph therfore went forward after his brethren, and found them in Dothain. † Who when they had seene him a farre 18 of, before he came nighe them, they deuised to kil him: † and spake among them selues: Behold the dreamer commeth, 19 † come, let vs kil him, and cast him into an old 20 [Page 117] cesterne: and we wil say A naughtie wild beast hath deuoured him: So the Iewes thinking to preuēt Christs exaltation cooperated vnwitting therto Prosper. li. de promiss. Dei. and then it shal appeare what his dreames doe profite him. † And Ruben hearing this, endeuored 21 to deliuer him out of their hands, and said: † Do not take 22 away his life, neyther sheed ye blood: but cast him into this cesterne, that is in the wildernesse, and keepe your handes harmeles: and he said this, desirous to deliuer him out of their handes, and to restore him to his father. † As 23 soone therfore as he came vnto his brethren, forthwith they stripped him out of his side coate, and of diuers colours. † And cast him into the old cesterne, that had not water. 24 † And sitting to eate bread, they saw Ismaelites wayfaring 25 men cōming from Galaad, and their camels carying spices, and rosen, and mirrh into Aegypt. † Iudas therfore said to 26 his brethren: What auaileth it vs if we kil our brother, and conceale his bloode? † It is better that he be sold 27 to the Ismaelites, and that our handes be not polluted: for he is our brother and our flesh. His brethren assented to his wordes. † And when the Madianite marchants passed by, 28 they drawing him out of the cesterne, sold him to the Ismaelites, for Some read thirtie: And as the reading is diuers, so Christ whom Ioseph signified is more & lesse estimed of diueres. S. Aug. Ser. 81. de temp: twentie peeces of siluer, who brought him into Aegypt. † And Ruben returning to the cesterne, findeth 29 not the boy: † and renting his garments went to his brethren, 30 and said: The boy doth not appeare, and whither shal I goe? † And they tooke his coate, and dipped it in 31 the blood of a kidde, which they had killed: † sending 32 some that should carie it to their father, and should say: This we haue founde: see whether it be thy sonnes coate, or no. † Which when the father acknowledged, he said: 33 It is my sonnes coate, a naughtie wild beast hath eaten him, a beast hath deuoured Ioseph. † And tearing his garments, 34 did on sackcloth, mourning his sonne a great time. † And al his children being gethered together to asswage 35 their fathers sorowe, he would not take comforte, but said: I wil descend vnto my sonne“ into hel, mourning. And whilest he perseuered in weeping, † the Madianites 36 sold Ioseph in Aegypt to Phutiphar an Eunuch of Pharoes maister of the souldiars.

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ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXVII.

3. In his old age] This being one cause why Iacob loued Ioseph aboue The least offensiue cause is alleaged, why Iacob loued Ioseph aboue his bretheren God turneth euil to good effect. S. Aug. li. 14. c. 27. ciuit. al his other sonnes, for that he was the youngest of the eleuen (for Beniamin the twelfth was yet an infant) it is alleaged in holie Scripture (saith S. Chrisostom. Epist. ad Olympiam) as least offensiue to his bretheren. For a more special cause was, for his mother Rachels sake, but most principal cause of al was, for his great vertues, and mature iudgement; for which God also preferred him aboue them al, and now forshewed the same by visions in sleepe. VVhich they enuying and meaning to preuent, did in dede vnwitting cooperate therto, Gods prouidence turning their euil worke to infinite good. As the same holie Ioseph truly interpreteth it to them, after their fathers death, when they iustly feared reuenge, for so gteat and inhumane iniuries done vnto him. chap. 50. v. 20.

35. Into hel mourning.] Protestants denying more places for soules after Graue for hel corruptly trā slated. this life, then Heauen for the iust, and Hel for the wicked, translate the hebrew word Sheol, graue for hel. Because if they should grant that Iacob, or other holie fathers of the old Testament descended into hel, they must confesse some other hel, then where the damned are tormented, whither no Christian wil say that those fathers went. If they contended only about the sense and meaning of the text, it were more tolerable, for therin they speake, according See. [...]. Hiero. Ep. 119. S. Aug. li. 20. c. 15. ciuit. to their erronious opinion, as they thinke. But knowing as some VVilful corruption. of them doe, that Hel is the true word of the text, there is no sinceritie nor moral honestie in putting Graue, in place therof. And that they know it, the second table of the Bible, printed at London 1602. witnesseth, noting for a common place, that in the 37. chap. of Genesis. v. 35. Hel is taken for graue, therby confessing, that the true English word of the holie Scripture in that place is Hel, but that they would haue it to signifie graue. VVherupon anie reasonable man would thinke to finde the word Hel in the text, with some glosse to shew that graue were to be vnderstood. But in al their Editions, also in that which was printed the yeare next folowing, 1603 wherto the same table is adioyned, they reade graue, and not hel in that place, though in some Nu 16. 2. Reg. 22. Iob. 17 Psal. 15 17. 85 other places, they much disagree in translating the same word.

As for the sense, it can not be that Iacob ment the graue: for when he said he would goe to his sonne, he supposed him to be deuoured by a wild beast, and Iacob spake of hel not of graue. not buried in a graue. And therfore must necessarily meane, that he would goe where he thought the soule of his sonne to be. VVhich was neither in heauen, for then he would rather haue ascended thither ioyful, then descended to anie place mourning; neither did he meane the hel of the dammed, for that had bene desperation; but to a lowe place, where the iust soules then remained in rest, which was called Limbus Patrum, or Abrahams bosome. That is, saith Abrahams besome. Iue. 16. S. Augustin, in his answere to Bishop Euodius (Epist. 99.) secretae cuiusdam quiet is habitatio. The habitation of a certaine secret rest.

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CHAP. XXXVIII. Iudas hauing three sonnes by a Chananite. 6. marieth the first, and after his death, the second to Thamar. 10. who also dying, he delayeth to match the third with her. 15. But him selfe begetteth of her (taking her for a harlote) two sonnes twinnes, Phares and Zara.

THE Moyses in serteth here this historie, because Christ should be borne of the genealogie of Iudas & Phares. Mat. 1. same time Iudas going downe from his brethren, 1 turned in to a man an Odollamite, named Hiras. † And 2 he sawe there the daughter of a man of Chanaan, called Sue: and taking her to wife, he did companie with her. † Who conceaued, and bare a sonne, and called his name 3 Her. † And conceauing a childe againe, she called her sonne 4 after he was borne, Onan. † She bare also the third: whom 5 she called Sela after whose birth, she ceased to beare any more. † And Iudas gaue a wife to Her his first begotten, 6 named Thamar. † Also Her the first begotten of Iudas, 7 was wicked in the fight of our Lord: and was slaine of him. † Iudas therfore said to Onan his sonne: companie with 8 thy brothers wife, and be ioyned to her, that thou mayest “ rayse seede to thy brother. † He knowing that the children 9 should not be borne to himselfe, companying with his brothers wife, shed his seede vpon the ground, left children might be borne in his brothers name. † And therfore our 10 Lord stroke him, because he did a detestable thing. † For 11 the which cause Iudas said to Thamar his daughter in lawe: Be a widowe in thy fathers house, til Sela my sonne growe vp: for he feared lest he also might dye, as his brethren. Who went her way and dwelt in her fathers house. † And after 12 many dayes were come and gone: the daughter of Sue the wife of Iudas died: who after his mourning hauing receiued consolation, went vp to the shearers of his sheepe, himselfe and Hiras his shepheard of his flocke, the Odolamite, into Thamnas. † And it was told Thamar sinned desiring to be a mother without lawful mariage: and Iudas sinned lying with a supposed harlot S. Aug. li. 22. c 61. 62. & 63 cont. Faust. Thamar that her 13 father in law came vp into Thamnas to sheare his sheepe. † Who putting of the garments of her widowhood, tooke 14 a veile: and changing her habite, sate in the crosse way, that leadeth to Thamnas: because Sela was growne, and she had not taken him to her husband. † Whom when Iudas had 15 [Page 120] seene, he supposed her to be an harlot: for she had couered her face, lest she should be knowen. † And going vnto 16 her, he said: Suffer me to lye with thee: for he knew her not to be his daughter in law. Who answering: What wilt thou geue me that thou maiest enioy my companie? † He 17 said: I wil send thee a kid out of the flockes. And when she said againe: I wil suffer that thou wilt, if thou geue me a pledge, til thou send that which thou doest promise; † Iudas said: What wilt thou to be geuen thee for a pledge? 18 She answered: Thy ring, and bracelet, and staffe which thou holdest in thy hand. The woman therfore by once companying conceaued, † and rising she went her way: and 19 putting of the apparel which me had taken, put on the garments of her widowhood. † And Iudas sent a kid by his 20 shephard the Odolamite, that he might receiue the pledge againe, which he had geuen to the woman: who when he had not found her, † he asked the men of that place: Where 21 is the woman that sate in the crosse way? Al making answere: There was no harlot in this place. † He returned to Iudas, 22 and said to him: I haue not found her: yea the men also of that place said vnto me, that there neuer sate harlot there. † Iudas said: Let her take it to her, surely she can not charge 23 vs with a lye, I sent the kid which I promised: and thou didest not find her † And behold after three moneths they 24 told Iudas, saying: Thamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot, and her bellie semeth to swel. And Iudas said: Bring her forth Adultrie punisable by death, in the law of nature. that she may be burnt. † Who when she 25 was led to execution, she sent to her father in law, saying: By that man, whose these things are, haue I conceaued: looke whose the ring is, and the bracelet, and the staffe. † Who acknowledging the giftes, said: She is iuster then I: 26 because I did not geue her to Sela my sonne. But he knew her no more. † And when she was readie to be brought to bed, 27 there appeared twinnes in her bellie: and in the verie deliuerie of the infants, one put forth the hand, wherin the midwife tyed a skarlet string, saying: † This shal come 28 forth the former. † But he drawing backe his hand, the other 29 came forth: and the woman said: Why is the partition diuided for thee? and for this cause called his name Phares. † Afterward his brother came forth, in whose hand was the 30 skarelet string: whom she called Zara.

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ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXVIII.

8. Raise sede to thy brother] By this it appeareth, that in the law of nature, How a man might marie his brothers wife in the law of nature. The Churches decree is now our rule. when a maried man died without issue, his brother might lawfully marie the widow; whose first sonne should be counted and called the sonne and heyre of his vncle dead before. The same was established by the law of Moyses (Deut. 25) VVhich being now abrogated, it remaineth in the Churches powre to constitute a law in this behalf, and consequently to dispence in the same, so farre as is agreable with the law of nature. VVherof see more. Leuit. 18.

CHAP. XXXIX. Ioseph being in great credite with his maister, hath the whole charge of his house. 7. Contemning his mystris solicitation to incontinencie, 13. is falsly accused by her to his maister: 20. and cast into prison, 21. Where againe he getteth credite, and hath the charge of al the prisoners.

THERFORE Ioseph was brought into Aegypt, and Putiphar 1 an Eunuch of Pharao, prince of his armie, a man of Aegypt bought him, at the hand of the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought. † And Ioseph endued with al vertues was a special mirrhor of chastirie S. Amb. li. de Ioseph. c [...]. our Lord was with him, 2 and he was a man, that in al things did prosperously: and he dwelt in his maisters house, † who knewe verie wel that 3 our Lord was with him, and that al thinges which he did, were directed by him in his hand. † And Ioseph found grace 4 before his maister, and ministred to him: by whom being made ruler ouer al his thinges, he gouerned the house committed to him, and al thinges that were deliuered vnto him: † and our Lord blessed the house of the Aegyptian 5 for Iosephes sake, and multiplied as wel in houses, as in The foure cardinal vertues reigned in him. landes al his substance. † Neither knew he any other 6 thing, but the bread which he did eate. And Ioseph was of beautiful countenance, and comely fauored to behold. † After manie dayes therfore his maistresse cast her eyes on 7 Ioseph, and said: Sleepe with me. † Who Temperance. in no wise assenting 8 to that wicked act, said to her: Behold, my maister hauing deliuered al thinges vnto me, knoweth not what he hath in his owne house: † neither is there any thing 9 [Page 122] which is not in my power, or that he hath not deliuered to me, beside thee, that art his wife: Iustice. how therfore can I do this wicked thing, and sinne against my God? † With these 10 kinde of wordes Fortitude. day by day both the woman was importune vpon the young man: and he refused the aduoutrie. † And it chanced on a certaine day, that Ioseph went into 11 the house, and did some businesse without anie man with him: † and [...]he catching the skirte of his garment, said: 12 Sleepe with me. who Prudence. leauing the cloke in her hand, fled, and went forth abroad. † And when the woman sawe the 13 garment in her handes, and her selfe to be contemned, † she 14 called to her the men of her house, and said to them: See he hath brought in an Hebrew, to delude vs: he came vpon me, for to lie with me: and when I had cried our, † and he heard 15 my voice, he left the cloake that I hold, and fled forth. † For 16 an argument therfore of her credite, she reserued the cloake, and shewed it to her husband returning home, † and said: 17 There came vnto me the Hebrew seruant, whom thou didest bring hither, for to delude me: † and when he heard me 18 crie, he left the cloke which I held, and fled forth. † His 19 maister hearing these thinges, and geuing ouer light credite to his wiues wordes, was very wrath: † and deliuered Ioseph 20 into prison, where the kinges prisoners were kept, and he was there shut vp. † And God is more specially with his seruants in affliction then in prosperitie S Amb li. de Ioseph. c. 5 our Lord was with Ioseph, and 21 hauing mercie vpon him gaue him grace in the sight of the chiefe of the prison. † Who deliuered in his hand al the prisoners 22 that were kept in custodie: and whatsoeuer was done, was vnder him. † Neyther did himselfe knowe any thing, 23 hauing committed al things to him: for our Lord was with him, and directed al his workes.

CHAP. XL. Ioseph interpreteth the dreames of two Eunuches prisoners 12. that the one should be restored to his office, 16. the other be hanged, 20. The third day the euent declareth the interpretations to be true, but Ioseph is forgotten.

THESE thinges being so done, it chanced that two 1 Eunuches, the cupbearer of the king of Aegypt, and his baker, offended against their lord. † And Pharao being 2 [Page 123] wrath against them (for the one was chiefe of the cupbearers, the other chiefe baker) † he sent them into the prison 3 of the captaine of the souldiers, in the which Ioseph also was prisoner. † But the keeper of the prison deliuered them 4 to Ioseph, who also ministred to them: some litle time was passed, and they were kept in custodie. † And they sawe 5 ech of them both a dreame in one night, according to an interpretation agreing to them selues: † to whom when 6 Ioseph was entred in the morning, and saw them sad, † he 7 asked them, saying: Why is your countenance sadder to day then it was woont? † Who answered: We haue seene a 8 dreame, & there is no bodie to interprete it to vs. And Ioseph said to them: Why “ doth not interpretation belong to God? Tel me what you haue seene. † The chiefe of the cupbearers 9 first told his dreame: I saw before me a vine, † wherin were three branches, growing by litle and litle 10 into buddes, and after the blossomes the grapes waxed ripe: † and the cup of Pharao in my hand: and I tooke the grapes, 11 and wrong them into the cup which I held, and I gaue the cup to Pharao. † Ioseph answered: This is the interpretation 12 of the dreame: The three branches, are yet three dayes: † after the which Pharao wil remember thy seruice, 13 and wil restore thee to thy old degree: and thou shalt geue him the cup according to thyne office, as before thou haddest wont to doe. † Only remember me, when it shal be 14 wel with thee, and doe me this mercie: to put Pharao in mind that he take me out of this prison: † because I was 15 taken away by stealth, out of the land of the hebrewes, and here an innocent was I cast into the lake. † The maister of 16 the bakers seing that he had wisely resolued the dreame, he said: And I also saw a dreame, That I had three baskettes of meale vpon my head: † and that in one basket that was the 17 higher, I caried al meates that are made by the art of baking, and that the birds did eate out of it. † Ioseph answered: 18 This is the interpretation of the dreame: The three basketts, are yet three dayes: † after the which Pharao wil take thy 19 head from thee, and hang thee Death on the crosse was most cruel, & most ignominious. Cicero. 7. Ver: yet suffered by Christ, and by him madeglorious. Sap. 2. Philip 2. on the crosse, and the foules shal teare thy flesh. † The third day after this was the birth 20 day of Pharao: who making a great feast to his seruantes, at the banket he remembred the maister of the cupbearers, and the chiefe of the bakers. † And he restored the one into 21 [Page 124] his place, to reach him the cuppe; † the other he hanged on 22 a gibbet, that the truth of the interpreter might be approued. † And yet notwithstanding the chiefe of the cupbearers, 23 prosperous thinges succeeding, forgat his interpreter.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XL.

8. Doth not interpretation belong to God?] Dreames do come of diuers Some dreames are natural. causes. Some of natural complexion, or disposition, wherby Philosophers or Phisitions may probably iudge of the state of mans bodie. Some are rather effects of things past, then signes of anie thing to come. Of which sorte the wise man saith: Dreames do folovv manie cares. (Eccle 5.) Some are suggested Some are illusions of euil spirites. by euil spirites, either to flatter worldlings with great pretenses, or to terrifie weake mindes with dangers and afflictions, or to vexe and truble those in sleepe, whom they can not easely moue waking. as. S. Gregorie discourseth (li. 8. Moral in cap 7. Iob) Some dreames are of God, as in Iacob, Ioseph, Some are from God. these Eunuches, Pharao, Nabuchodonosor, and others both good and euil men. But to discerne, and assuredly to iudge of some dreames, whether they Dan. 4 be from God, by holie Angels, or illusions of euil spirites, is a special gift of Holie Scripture and the Church are iudges of doubtful dreames. God, as also the interpretation therof belongeth to God, as Ioseph here testifieth. VVhosoeuer therfore wil be secure must relie either vpon expresse Scripture, or iudgement of the Church, as in ominous speaches was noted before (chap. 24.) Otherwise the general rule is, not to obserue dreames. Deut. 18.

CHAP. XLI. Pharao dreaming of fat and leane kine▪ 5. also of ful and thinne eares of corne, 8. no other being able to interprete, 9 Ioseph is remembred 25. who interpreting the same▪ [...]8. is made ruler ouer al Aegypt. 50. marieth, and hath two sonnes, Manasses and Ephraim.

AFTER two yeares Pharao his dreames, and his Eunuches were prophetical. For by them God for shewed things to come: v 25. yet they were no prophets, but Ioseph: who had the gift to interpret them. S. Aug. li. 12. c. 9 de Gen. ad lit. S. Greg. li. 11. Moral. in c. 13. Iob. Pharao saw a dreame. He thought 1 he stood vpon a riuer, † out of the which came vp 2 seuen kine, faire and fat exceedingly: and they fed in marish places. † Other seuen also came vp out of the riuer, foule, 3 and caryan leane: and they fed on the very banke of the riuer, in grene places: † and they deuoured them, that had 4 the merucylous beautie and good state of bodies. Pharao after he waked, † slept againe, and saw an other dreame: 5 [Page 125] Seuen eares of corne grew forth vpon one stalke ful and faire: † there sprang also other eares as many, thinne and 6 blasted with adustion, † deuouring al the beautie of the 7 former. Pharao awaking vp after his rest, † and when 8 morning was come, being frighted with feare, he sent to al the interpreters of Aegypt, and to al the wise men: and they being called for, told them his dreame, neither was there anie that could interprete it. † Then at length the maister of the 9 cupbearers remembring himselfe, said: I confesse my sinne: † The king being angrie with his seruantes, commanded 10 me and the chiefe of the bakers to be cast into the prison of the captaine of the souldiers: † where in one night both 11 of vs saw a dreame portending things to come. † There 12 was there a young man an hebrew, seruant to the same captaine of the souldiers: to whom telling our dreames, † we 13 heard whatsoeuer afterward the euent of the thing proued to be so. for I was restored to my office: and he was hanged vpon a gibbet. † Forthwith at the kinges commandment, 14 Ioseph being brought out of the prison they polled him: and changing his apparel, brought him vnto him. † To 15 whom he said: I haue seene dreames, and there is not anie that can expound them: which I haue heard, thou doest most wisely interprete. † Ioseph answered: Without me, 16 God shal answere prosperous thinges to Pharao. † Pharao 17 therfore told that he had seene: Me thought I stoode vpon the banke of the riuer, † and seuen kine came vp out of 18 the banke of the riuer, exceeding faire, and ful of flesh: which grazed on greene places in a marish pasture. † And 19 behold, there folowed these, other seuen kine, so passing il fauored and leane, that I neuer saw the like in the land of Aegypt; † which hauing deuoured and consumed the 20 former, † gaue no token of their fulnes: but with the like 21 leanenes and deformitie, looked heauelie. Awaking, and fallen againe into a deepe sleepe, † I sawe a dreame: Seuen 22 eares of corne grew forth vpon one stalke, ful and verie faire. † Other seuen also thinne and blasted, with adustion, 23 sprang of the stalke: † which deuoured the beautie 24 of the former: I told the dreame to the coniecturers, and there is no man that can declare it. † Ioseph answered: 25 The kinges dreame is one: God hath shewed to Pharao These things came to passe by Gods particular prouidēce. Psalm. 4. God called (or caused) a samine vpon the land. the thinges that he wil doe. † The seuen faire kine, and 26 [Page 126] the seuen“ ful eares: be seuen yeres of plentifulnes: and both conteine the selfe same meaning of the dreame. † Also the seuen leane and thinne kine, that came vp after 27 them, and the seuen thinne eares, and blasted with the burning winde: are seuen yeares of famine to come. † Which 28 shal be fulfilled in this order. † Behold there shal come 29 seuen yeares of great fertilitie in the whole Land of Aegypt: † after which shal folowe other seuen yeares of so great 30 sterilitie, that al the abundance before shal be forgotten: for the famine shal consume al the land, † and the greatnes 31 of the scarsitie, shal destroy the greatnes of the plentie. † And in that thou didest see the second time a dreame perteining 32 to the same thing: it is a token of the certeintie, for that the worde of God shal come to passe, and be fulfilled spedely. † Now therfore let the king prouide a wise man and 33 industrious, and make him ruler ouer the Land of Aegypt: † that he may appointe ouerseers ouer al countries: and 34 gether into barnes the fifth part of the fruites, during the seuen yeares of the fertilitie, † that now presently shal 35 ensewe: and let al the corne be laid vp, vnder Pharaoes handes, and let it be reserued in the cities. † And let it be 36 in a readines, against the famine of seuen yeares to come, which shal oppresse Aegypt, and the land shal not be consumed with scarsitie. † The counsel pleased Pharao, and al 37 his seruants: † and he spake to them: Can we find such an 38 other man, that is ful of the spirite of God? † He said therfore 39 to Ioseph: Because God hath shewed thee al things that thou hast spoken, can I find a wiser and one like vnto thee? † Thou shalt be ouer my house, and at the commandment 40 of thy mouth al the people shal obey: only in the throne of the kingdome I wil goe before thee. † And againe Pharao 41 said to Ioseph: Behold, I haue appointed thee ouer the whole land of Aegypt. † And he tooke his ring from his 42 owne hand, and gaue it into his hand: and he put vpon him a silke roabe, and put a chaine of gold about his necke. † And he made him goe vp into his second chariot, the cryer 43 proclayming that al should bowe their knee before him, and that they should know he was“ made gouernour ouer the whole Land of Aegypt. † And the king said to Ioseph: 44 I am Pharao: without thy commandment no man shal moue hand or foore in al the land of Aegypt. † And he turned his 45 [Page 127] name, and called him in the Aegyptian togue“ the Sauiour of the world. And he gaue him to wife Aseneth the daughter of Putiphar Cohen signifieth priest; as not only the latin, but also the 70. & Philo and Iosephus here translate though sometimes it signifieth prince▪ as the Chaldey paraphrasis interpreteth, wherby it is probable that this Putiphar was both a priest, and a prince. priest of Heliopolis. Ioseph therfore went forth to the land of Aegypt († and he was thirtie yeares old when 46 he stood in the sight of king Pharao) and did circuite al the countries of Aegypt. † And the fertilitie of the seuen 47 yeares came: and the corne being bound vp into sheaues was gethered togeather into the barnes of Aegypt. † Al 48 the abundance also of graine was laid vp in euerie citie. † And there was so great abundance of wheat, that it became 49 equal to the sand of the sea, and the plentie exceeded measure. † And there were borne vnto Ioseph two sonnes 50 before the famine came: whom Aseneth the daughter of Putiphar priest of Heliopolis bare him. † And he called the 51 name of the first begotten Obli [...]n. Manasses, saing: God made me to forget al my labours, & my fathers house. † The name also 52 of the second he called Fruitful or Grovving. Ephraim, saing: God hath made me to encrease in the land of my pouertie. † Therfore when 53 the seuen yeares of the plentifulnes, that had bene in Aegypt were passed: † the seuen yeares of scarsitie beganne to 54 come, which Ioseph foretold: and in the whole world the famine preuailed, but in al the land of Aegypt there was bread. † The which being in hunger, the people cried to 55 Pharao, desiring foode. To whom he answered: Goe ye to Ioseph: and whatsoeuer he shal say to you, that doe ye. † And the famine dayly encreased in al the land: and Ioseph 56 opened al the barnes, and sold to the Aegyptians: for them also the famine had opressed. † And al prouinces came into 57 Aegypt, to buy victuales, and to moderate the miserie of the scarsitie.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLI.

43. Made gouernour] It is easie in the eyes of God, suddenly to enrich the Holie Ioseph suddenly aduanced. poore. For who would haue thought (saith Philo) that in one day a boudman E [...]li. 11. li de Ioseph. should be made a lord, a poore prisoner the chiefe of the nobilitie, an vnder gaolor the viceroy, or kings deputie, for a common prison to haue a kinglie court of his owne, from extreme ignominie, to ascend into so hiegh a roome of dignitie!

45. Sauiour of the vvorld] In the original text the new name and title geuen [Page 128] by Pharao to Ioseph is expressed by these two wordes, Saphnath pahanaach: the former saphnath in Hebrew signifieth a secrete or hidden thing, of saphan to hide: but the signification of the other word pahanaach, is more vncertaine, being found no where els in the holie Bible. The Rabins do commonly interprete them both together, The man to vvhom secretes are reueled, or, The reueler Ioseph truly called the reueler of secrets. of secretes▪ and so this name agreeth wel to Ioseph, in respect of the gift of interpreting dreames. But besides his interpreting, he also gaue most wise counsel, that tended to the saftie of manie, which, it is like, Pharao ment to expresse by this new name. And S. Hierom, who doubtles with great diligence, and no lesse iudgement, searched the true signification therof, saith, But more honorably, the Sauiour of the world. Therin a figure of Christ. that albeit this name in Hebrew soundeth The finder out of secrets, yet seing it was imposed by an Aegyptian (who knew no Hebrew) the reason therof must be had of the same tongue; and these two wordes in the Aegyptian language are interpreted The Saniour of the vvorld: for that he deliuered the world from the iminent ruine of famine. Thus saith S. Hierom. And so most aptly the figure answereth to Christ, the true SAVIOVR of the world.

CHAP. XLII. Iacob sendeth tenne of his sonnes to bye corne in Aegypt. 7. where Ioseph knowing them, they not knowing him, with hard speaches putteth them in prison. 18. At last Simeon remayning in castodie, til Beniamin be brought, the rest are dismissed, 25. with their money, vnknowen to them, in their sackes.

AND Iacob hearing, that victuales were sold in Aegypt, 1 he said to his sonnes: Why neglect ye? † I haue heard 2 that wheat is sold in Aegypt: Goe ye downe, and bye vs necessaries, that we may liue, and not be consumed with lacke. † Therfore the tenne brethren of Ioseph going downe, to 3 bye corne in Aegypt, † Beniamin being kept at home by 4 Iacob, who said to his brethren: Lest perhaps he take any harme in the iourney: † entred into the land of Aegypt 5 with others that went to bye. for the famine was in the land of Chanaan. † And Ioseph was prince in the land of Aegypt, 6 and at his pleasure corne was sold to the people. And when his brethren had adored him, † and he knewe them, he 7 spake as it were to strangers“ somewhat roughly, asking them: From whence came you? Who answered: From the Land of chanaan, that we may bye necessaries to liue. † And 8 yet himselfe knowing his brethren, was not knowen of them. † And remembring the dreames, which some times 9 he had seene, he said to them:“ You are spies: to view the [Page 129] weaker parts of the land you are come. † Who said: It is 10 not so, my lord, but thy seruantes are come to bye victuals. † We are al the sonnes of one man: we are come as 11 men of peace, neither do thy seruantes goe about anie euil. † To whom he answered: It is otherwise: you came to 12 consider the vndefensed partes of this land. † But they: 13 We thy seruantes, say they, are twelue brethren, the sonnes of one man in the Land of Chanaan: the youngest is with our father, the other is not liuing. † This is it, quoth he, that 14 I said: You are spies. † Now presently I wil take a trial of 15 you:“ by the health of Pharao you shal not depart hence, vntil your youngest brother do come. † Send you one of you 16 to bring him: and you shal be in prison, til the thinges be proued which you haue said, whether they be true or false: If these things which ye say be proued false, ye are to be held as spies, for your lying. S Aug 1. 139. super Gen. otherwise by the health of Pharao you are spies. † Therfore 17 he put them in prison three dayes. † And the third day 18 bringing them out of prison, he said: Doe as I haue said, and you shal liue: for I feare God. † If you be men of peace, 19 let one of your brethren be bounde in prison: and goe ye your wayes, and carie the corne that you haue bought, vnto your houses, † and bring your youngest brother to me, 20 that I may proue your sayings to be true, and that you die not. They did as he had said, † and they talked one to 21 an other: Worthely do we suffer these thinges, because we haue sinned against our brother, seing the distresse of his soule, whilest he besought vs, and we heard not: therfore is this tribulation come vpon vs. † Among whom Ruben 22 one of them, said: Why, did not I say to you: Sinne not against the boy: and you heard me not? Loe his blood is required. † And they knew not that Ioseph vnderstood: 23 because he spake to them by an interpreter. † And he turned 24 away himselfe a litle while, and wept: and returning he spake to them. † And taking Simeon, and binding him 25 in their presence, he commanded his seruantes that they should fil vp their sackes with wheat, and put euerie mans money againe in their bagges, geuing them besides for to eate on the way: who did so. † But they carying their corne 26 vpon their asses, tooke their iourney. † And one of them 27 opening his sacke, to geue his beast prouender in the inne, beholding the money in the sackes mouth, † he said to his 28 brethren: My money is geuen me againe, behold it is in the [Page 130] sacke. And being astonyed, and trubled amongest themselues, they said: What is this, that God hath done vnto vs? † And they came to Iacob their father into the land of 29 Chanaan, and they told him al thinges that had chanced vnto them, saying: † The lord of the land spake to vs 30 roughly, and thought vs to be spies of the prouince, † to 31 whom we answered: We are men of peace, neither do we attempt any treachery. † We are twelue brethren borne 32 of one father: one is not liuing, the youngest is with our father in the Land of Chanaan. † Who said to vs: Thus shal 33 I trie that you be men of peace: Leaue one of your brethren with me, and take ye prouision necessarie for your houses, and goe your wayes, † and bring your youngest brother to 34 me, that I may know you are not spies: and you may receiue this felowe againe, that is kept in prison: and afterwardes may haue licence to bye what thinges you wil. † This 35 being said, when they powred out their corne, euerie man found his money tied in the mouth of the sackes: and al being astonyed together, † their father Iacob said: You 36 haue made me to be without children, Ioseph is not liuing, Simeon is kept in bondes, and Beniamin you wil take away: al these euils are fallen vpon me. † To whom Ruben answered: 37 Kil my two sonnes, if I bring him not againe to thee: deliuer him into my hand, and I wil restore him vnto thee. † But he said: My sonne shal not go downe with you: 38 his brother is dead, and he alone is remayning: if any aduersitie shal chance to him in the land to the which you goe, you shal bring downe Myn old age or, me an old man. S. Aug. q. 142. my hoare heares with sorowe“ vnto hel.

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLII.

7. Some vvhat roughly] Ioseph afflicted his bretheren to bring them into consideration of their former faultes, and to true contrition. VVithout which, Contrition necessarie for the remission of sinnes. though iniuries be remitted by men, yet the offenders are not absolued before God. Therfore he louing them and hating their sinne, by affliction brought them to vnderstanding. VVho being at last truly penitent, he acknowledged and most louingly embraced them, and prouided for them in their necessitie. S. Aug. ser. 82. de temp. And this example S. Gregorie (ho. 22. in Ezech) applithe to the instruction of pastors of soules: that they procure true repentance [Page 131] before absolution of sinnes. Ne si inordinate culpa dimittitur, is qui est enlpabilis, Disorderlie remission is hurtful. in reatu grauius astringatur. Lest, if the fault be disorderly remitted he that is faultie be more greuously intangled in guilt of conscience: therfore with much discretion seueritie in shew, & elemencie in mind are required.

9. You are spies] To the same purpose he calleh them spies. After the Ioseph calleth his brothers spies for their good. maner of examiners calling suspected persons, as they may seme to be: therby to trie what they would answer. Al for their holsome penance, and withal to procare them afterwards more compassion among the Aegyptians. S. Aug. q. 139. super. Gen.

15. By the health of Pharao.] Ioseph in swearing by Pharaos health, honored It is lawful to sweare by creatures. God, the geuer and conseruer of health, life, power, dignitie and al that was in Pharao. wherby we see that this maner of swearing was lawful. As now likewise Christians lawfully sweare not only by God, but also by his creatures, saying: As God shal helpe them, & his holie Gospels: so it be with due circumstances, and requisite conditions, namely with those which the Prophet Hieremie mentioneth, in truth, in iudgement, and in iustice: not salfe, rash, nor of an [...]ier. 4. vniust thing: nor in frequent and cōmon talke (a most bad custome) for so thou must neirher sweare by God himself, nor (as our sauiour teacheth) by Mat. 5. In some case more conuenient then to name God expresly. heauen, nor by the earth, nor by Hierusalem, nor by thy head, nor anie thing els: signifying that in some case, and due maner we may sweare by any of these. And in this particular Ioseph did rather name Pharao in his oath then God, as wel to conceale himself as yet from his brethren, as to strike more terrour in their hartes, by naming his master the King, in whom he had more interest then they.

38. Vnto hel.] To that place where soules remaine, as before. chap. 37. v. 35. For this phrase, of bringing vnto hel, and descending into hel, vsually spoken Diuers mansions in hel. in the old Testament, of al sortes of soules both iust and wicked, signifieth that al went that time to hel, that is, to a lowe place, farre distant from heauen. But some to rest, and some to paine. VVherupon S. Hierom saith: Hel is a place. wherin soules are included, either in rest, or in paines, according to the qualitie of their deserts.

CHAP. XLIII. The famine pressing, the land, Iacob willith his sonnes to goe againe int. Aegypt to bye more corne: 3. who refusing to goe without Beniamin. 11. he is sent with them, and presents and duble money, lest the former were brought back by error. 16. Ioseph seing Beniamin, 23. deliuereth Simeon, and intertaineth them al at dinner.

IN THE meane time the famine did oppresse al the land 1 very sore. † And the prouision being spent, which they 2 had bronght out of Aegypt, Iacob said to his sonnes: Goe againe, and by vs a little victual. † Iudas answered: That 3 same man denounced vnto vs vnder attestation of an oath, saing: You shal not see my face, vnlesse you bring your [Page 132] youngest brother with you. † If therfore thou wilt send 4 him with vs, we wil goe forward together, and wil bye necessaries for thee: † but if thou wilt not, we wil not goe: 5 for the man, as we haue often said, denounced vnto vs saing: You shal not see my face without your youngest brother. † Israel said to them: You haue done this to my miserie, in 6 that you told him that you had an other brother also. † But 7 they answered: The man asked vs in order our progenie: if our father liued: if we had a brother: and we answered him consequently to that which he demanded: could we know that he would say: Bring hither your brother with you? † Iudas also said to his father: Send the boy with me, 8 that we may set forwarde, and may liue: lest we and our litle ones die. † I take vpon me the boy: require him of my hand, 9 vnlesse I bring him againe, and restore him to thee, I wil be Guilt of sīne is a greater bond then the life of Rubens sonnes; which he offered, & Iacob yelded not therto▪ & yet granted to this offer of Iudas. guiltie of sinne against thee for euer. † If del [...]y had not 10 bene made, we had bene come now the second time. † Therfore 11 Israel their father said to them: If it must nedes be so, do that you wil: take of the best fruites of the land in your vessels, and carie to the man for presents, a courtesie of rosen, and of honey, and of incense, of mirhe, of terebinth, and of almondes. † Duble money also carie with you: 12 and recarie that you founde in your sackes, lest perhaps it was done by an errour: † but take also your brother, and 13 goe to the man. † And my God almightie make him fauorable 14 vnto you: and send backe with you your brother, whom he keepeth, and this Beniamin: as for me I shal be desolate without children. † The men therfore tooke 15 the presentes, and the duble money, and Beniamin: and went downe into Aegypt, and stood before Ioseph. † Whom 16 when he had seene▪ and Beniamin withal▪ he commanded the steward of his house, saing: Bring in the men into the house, and kil victimes, and prepare a feast: because they shal eate with me at noone. † He did that which was commanded 17 him, and brought the men into the house. † And 18 there being sore afraied, they said one to an other: because of the money, which we caried backe the first time in our sackes, we are brought in: that he may turne vpon vs Calumniam. a false accusation, and forceibly bring both vs, and our asses into bondage. † Wherfore in the verie dore stepping to the 19 steward of the house, † they spake: Sir we desire thee to 20 [Page 133] heare vs. Now once before we came downe to bye prouision: † which being bought, when we were come to the 21 Inne, we opened our sackes, and found our money in the mouthes of the sackes: which we haue now brought againe in the same weight. † But we haue brought other money 22 besides, to bye the thinges that are necessarie for vs: our conscience is not priuie, who put it in our bagges. † But he 23 answered: Peace be with you, feare you not: your God, and the God of your father hath geuen you treasures in your sackes. for the money, which you gaue me, I haue for good. And he brought forth Simeon vnto them. † And being 24 brought into the house, he fetched water, and they washed their feete, and he gaue prouender to their asses. † But 25 they made readie the presentes, til Ioseph should come in at noone: for they had heard that they should eate bread there. † Therfore Ioseph came in to his house, and they offered 26 him presentes holding them in their handes, and They now adore him, whom they sold, lest they should adore him. S. Greg. ho 22. in Ezech. they adored prostrate to the ground. † But he curteously resaluting 27 them, asked them saying: Is the old man your father in health, of whom you told me? Is he yet liuing? † Who 28 answered: Thy seruant our father is in health, he is yet liuing. And bowing themselues, they adored him. † And 29 Ioseph lifting vp his eyes, sawe Beniamin his brother of the same mother, and said: Is this your young brother, of whom you told me? And againe: God, saith he, be merciful vnto thee my sonne. † And he made hast because his hart was moued 30 vpon his brother, and teares brake forth: and entring into his chamber he wept. † And when he had washed his face, 31 comming forth againe, he refrained himselfe, and said: Set bread on the table. † Which being set downe, to Ioseph a 32 part, and to his brethren apart, to the Aegyptians also that did eate with him apart (for it is vnlawful for the Aegyptians to eate with the Hebrewes, and See Exodi. 8. v. 26. they thinke such a feast prophane). † they sate before him, the first begotten according 33 to his first-birth, and the youngest according to his age. And they maruailed out of measure, † taking the portions 34 that they receiued of him: and the greater portion came to Beniamin, so that it exceeded Euerie one hauing fiue portions, Beniamin had duble. Iosephus li. 1. Antiq. by fiue partes. And they dranke and were“ in ebriated with him.

[Page 134]

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLIII.

34. Inebriated.] Not that they did eate or drinck to much, or fel into excesse, Moderation to be vsed in feasting. but competently. As the earth is said to be inebriated with raine (Psal. 64.) being sufficiently watered, and so made fructful, not drowned, nor ouerflowed, for so it is vnfructful. S. Hierom. Tra dit. Heb. S. Aug. q. 144. super Gen.

CHAP. XLIIII. Ioseph causeth their sackes to be filled with corne, and their money to be put againe therin, and in Beniamins sack also a siluer cuppe, 4. and when they were parted, sending after them, chargeth them with theft. 12. And the cuppe being fond in Beniamins sack, they al much afflicted returne to Ioseph. 17. who threatning to kepe Beniamin, 18. Iudas intreateth, 32. and finally offereth himselfe to seruitude for him.

AND Ioseph commanded the steward of his house, 1 saing: Fil their sackes with corne, as much as they can hold: and put the money of euerie one in the top of his sack. † And in the sackes mouth By this Ioseph tried his bretherens affection, whether they would intrete for Beniamin, or suffer him to be captiue: as they had be sore sold him selfe to captiuitie. Theod. q. 105. in Gen. of the younger put my 2 siluer cup, and the price which he gaue for the wheat. And it was so done. † And when the morning rose, they were 3 dismist with their asses. † And they were now departed out 4 of the citie, and had gone forward a little way: then Ioseph sending for the steward of his house, said: Arise, quoth he, and pursew the men: and ouertaking them say to them: Why haue you rendred euil for good? † The cup which you 5 haue stollen, is that wherin my lord doth drinke, and wherin he is wont to diuine: you haue done a verie euil thing. † He 6 did as he had commanded. And hauing ouertaken them, he spake to them in the same order. † Who answered: Why 7 doth our lord speake so, as though thy seruautes had committed so haynous a fact? † The money, that we found in 8 the top of our sackes, we recaried to thee from the land of Chanaan: and how foloweth it, that we haue stollen out of thy lordes house, gold or siluer? † With whom soeuer of 9 thy seruautes that shal be found, which thou seekest, let [Page 135] him die, and we wil be the bondmen of our lord. † Who 10 said to them: Be it done according to your sentence: with whom soeuer it shal be found, be he my bondman, and you shal be guiltles. † Therfore in haste taking downe their 11 sackes vpon the ground, euerie man opened. † Which when 12 he had searched, beginning from the elder euen to the youngest, he found the cup in Beniamins sack. † But 13 they O torments of mercie▪ he vexeth whom he loueth. S. Greg. ho. 22. in Ezech. renting their garments, and loading their asses againe, returned into the towne. † And Iudas foremost with his 14 brethren entred in to Ioseph (for he was not yet gone out of the place) and they fel togeather before him on the ground. † To whom he said: Why would you doe soe? 15 know you not that there is not the like to me in the science Ioseph being in deede a propher, knowing more then al sorcerers in Aegypt spoke of himselfe as he was estemed in that place. S. Aug. q. 145. super Gen. of diuining. † To whom Iudas said: What shal we answere, 16 my lord? or what shal we speake, or be able iustly to pretend? God hath found the iniquitie of thy seruantes: loe we are al bondmen to my lord, both we, & he, with whom the cup was found. † Ioseph answered: God forbid that 17 I should so doe: he that stole the cup, the same be my bondman: and goe you free vnto your father. † And Iudas approching 18 nearer, said boldly: I beseech thee my lord, let thy seruant speake a word in thine eares, and be not angrie with thy seruant: for after Pharao thou art, † my lord. Thou 19 didest aske thy seruantes the first time: Haue you a father or a brother? † and we answered thee my lord: We haue a 20 father an old man, and a little boy, that was borne in his old age; whose brother by the mother is dead: and his mother hath him only, and his father loueth him tenderly. † And 21 thou saidst to thy seruants: Bring him hither to me, and I wil set myn eyes on him. † We suggested to my lord: The boy 22 can not leaue his father: for if he leaue him, he wil die. † And 23 thou saidest to thy seruants: Vnlesse your youngest brother come with you, you shal no more see my face. † Therfore 24 when we were gone vp to thy seruant our father, we told him al things that my lord did speake. † And our father said: 25 Goe againe, and bye vs a litle wheate. † To whom we said: 26 we can not goe: if our youngest brother shal goe downe with vs, we wil set forward together: otherwise he being absent, we dare not see the mans face. † Wherunto he answered: 27 You know that my wife bare me two. † One went forth, and 28 you said: A beast did deuour him: and hitherto he appeareth [Page 136] not. † If you take this also, and ought befal him in the way, 29 you shal bring downe See pag. 130. my hoare hayres with sorow vnto hel. † Therfore if I shal enter to thy seruant our father, and the 30 boy be wanting (wheras his life dependeth vpon the life of him) † and he shal see that he is not with vs, he wil dye, & thy 31 seruants shal bring downe his hoare hayres with sorow vnto hel. † Let me be thy proper seruant, that did take 32 him into my protection and promised saying: Vnlesse I bring him againe I wil be guilty of sinne against my father for euer. † I therfore thy seruant wil tary in steed of the childe in 33 the seruice of my lord, and let the childe goe vp with his brethren. † For I can not returne to my father, the childe being 14 absent; lest I stand by a witnes of the calamitie, that shal oppresse my father.

CHAP. XLV. Ioseph manifesteth himself to his bretheren. Who being much terified he comforteth them, and weeping embraceth euerie one 16. The bruite wherof coming to Pharao, he congratulating commandeth Ioseph to cal his father with al his familie into Aegypt. 21. So the eleuen brothers aresent away with gifies and prouision for Iacobs iourney. 26. Al which the father vnderstanding is reuiued in spirite.

IOSEPH could no longer refrayne manie standing by in 1 presence: wherupon he commanded that al should goe forth, and no stranger should be present at their acknowledging one of another. † And he lifted vp his voice with 2 weeping, which the Aegyptians heard, and al the house of Pharao. † And he said to his Brethren: I am Ioseph: is my 3 father yet liuing? His brethren could not answer him being teribly astonyed out of measure. † To whom gently he said: 4 Come hither to me. And when they were come nere him, I am, quoth he, Ioseph, your brother, whom you solde into Aegypt. † Be not affraid, neither let it seeme to you a hard case 5 that you did sel me into these countries: for Gods prouidence turned their euil dealing to the good of the whole familie chap. 50. [...]. [...]0. God sent me before you into Aegypt for your preseruation. † For it is 6 two yeares since the famin begain to be vpon the earth, and yet fiue yeares remaine, wherin there can be neither earing nor reaping. † And God sent me before, that you may be preserued 7 [Page 137] vp on the earth, and may haue victuals to liue. † Not 8 by your counsail, but by the wil of God was I sent hither: who hath made me as it were a father to Pharao, and lord of his whole house, and prince in al the land of Aegypt. † Make 9 hast and get ye vp to my father, and you shal say to him: Thy sonne Ioseph willeth thus: God hath made me lord of the whole land of Aegypt: come downe to me, tary not. † And 10 thou shalt dwel in the land of Gessen: and thou shalt be nere me thou and thy sonnes, and thy sonnes children, thy shepe, and thy heardes. and al things that thou dost possesse. † And 11 there I wil fede thee (for yet there are fiue yeares of famine remayning) lest both thou perish, and thy house, & al things that thou dost possesse. † Behold, your eyes, and the eyes 12 of my brother Beniamin doe see, that it is my mouth that speaketh vnto you. † Report to my father my whole glorie 13 and al things that you haue seene in Aegypt: make hast, and bring him to me. † And falling vpon the neck of his brother 14 Beniamin, embracing him he wept: he also in like maner weeping vpon his neck. † And Ioseph kissed al his brethren, 15 and wept vpon euerie one: after which things they were bold to speake vnto him. † And it was heard of, and very 16 famously reported abrode in the kings courte: The brethren of Ioseph are come: and Iosephs pr [...] dēt proceding before he made him selfe knowen to his brethrē and them to Pharao, procured al this ioy & fauour towards them in Aegypt. Pharao was glad, and al his familie. † And he spake to Ioseph that he should command his 17 brethren, saying: Loading your beasts goe into the Land of Chanaan, † and take thence your father and kinne, and come 18 to me: and I wil geue you al the good things of Aegypt, that you may eate the marow of the land. † Geue commandment 19 also that they take waynes out of the land of Aegypt, for the carage of their litle ones and wyues: and say: Take vp your father, and make hast to come with al spede. † Neither 20 doe you leaue any thing of your houshould stuffe: for al the riches of Aegypt, shal be yours. † And the sonnes of 21 Israel did as it was commanded them. To whom Ioseph gaue waynes according to Pharaos commandment: and victuals for the way. † He bad also to be brought vp for 22 euery one two robes: but to Beniamin he gaue three hundred peeces of siluer with fiue robes of the best: † sending to his 23 father as much money and rayment, adding besides them he asses that should carie of al the riches of Aegypt, and as many shee asses, carying wheat for the iourney and bread. † Therfore 24 [Page 138] he dismissed his brethren, and when they were departing he said to them:“ Be not angrie in the way. † Who 25 going vp out of Aegypt, came into the land of Chanaan to their father Iacob. † And they told him saying: Ioseph thy 26 sonne is liuing: and he ruleth in al the Land of Aegypt. Which when Iacob heard, awaking as it were out of a heauie sleepe, notwithstanding did not beleeue them. † They on the contrarie 27 side reported the whole order of the thing. And when he sawe the waynes and al things that he had sent, his spirit reuiued, † and he said: It sufficeth me if Ioseph my sonne 28 be liuing yet: I wil goe, and see him before I dye.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLV.

24. Be not angrie in the vvay] Trauelers in iourney are easily prouoked to Occasion of sinne to be auoided. anger and brawling: especially if they auoide not probable occasions. Therfore Ioseph admonisheth his brothers to beware therof, lest in talking of him, and how they had sold him to strangers, some of them might accuse others, and excuse themselues, and so fal in to new offences. S. Chris. ho. 64. in Gen.

CHAP. XLVI. Israel warranted in a vision from God, goeth into Aegypt with al his famimlie, The eight and last part of this booke. 8. who are here recited. 28. Ioseph meeting him in Gessen, aduiseth him to tel Pharao, that they are shepheards by their trade of life.

AND Israel taking his iourney, with al things that he 1 Of Iacob and his progenies going into Aegypt; Of his and Iosephs death. had“ came to the wel of the oath, and killing there victimes to the God of his father Isaac. † He heard him 2 by a vision of the night calling him, and saying vnto him: Iacob, Iacob. To whom he answered: Loe here I am. † God 3 said to him: I am the most mightie God of thy father: feare not, goe downe into Aegipt, for into a great nation wil I make thee there. † I wil goe downe with thee thither, 4 and thence wil I bring thee returning: Ioseph also shal put his handes vpon thine eyes. † And Iacob rose vp from 5 the wel of the oath: and his sonnes tooke him vp, with their little ones and wiues in the waynes, which Pharao had sent to carie the old man, † and al that he had possessed 6 [Page 139] in the Land of Chanaan: and he came into Aegypt with al his sede, † his sonnes, and nephewes, daughters, and al 7 his progenie together. † And these are the names of the 8 children of Israel, that entred into Aegypt, him selfe with his children. His first-begotten Ruben. † The sonnes of 9 Ruben: Henoch and Phallu and Hesron and Charmi. † The 10 sonnes of Simeon: Iamuel and Iamin and Ahod, and Iachin and Sohar, and Saul the sonne of Chananitesse. † The 11 sonnes of Leui: Gerson and Caath and Merari. † The 12 sonnes of Iuda: Her and Onan & Sela and Phares and Zara. And Her and Onan died in the land of Chanaan. And there were sonnes borne to Phares: Hesron and Hamul. † The 13 sonnes of Issachar: Thola and Phua and Iob and Semron. † The sonnes of Zabulon: Sared & Elon and Iahelel. 14 † These are the sonnes of Lia, which she bare That is, She bare their fathers in Mesopotamia. S. Aug q. 151. in Gen. in Mesopotamia of Syria with Dina his daughter. Al the soules of his sonnes and daughters, are thirtie three. † The sonnes of 16 Gad: Sephion and Haggi and Siuni and Esebon and Heri and Arodi and Areli. † The sonnes of Aser: Iamne and 17 Iesua and Iessui and Beria, Sara also their sister. The sonnes of Beria: Heber and Melchiel. † these be the sonnes of 18 Zelpha, whom Laban gaue to Lia his daughter. and these she bare to Iacob sixtene soules. † The sonnes of Rachel 19 Iacobs wife: Ioseph and Beniamin. † And there were 20 sonnes borne to Ioseph, in the Land of Aegypt, which Aseneth the daughter of Putiphar priest of Heliopolis bare to him: Manasses and Ephraim. † The sonnes of Beniamin? 21 Bela and Bechor and Asbel and Gera and Naaman and Echi and Ros and Mophim and Ophim and Ared. † these 22 be the sonnes of Rachel, which she bare to Iacob: al the soules, fourtene. † The sonnes of Dan: Husim. 23 † The sonnes of Nepthali: Iaziel and Guni and Ieser and 24 Sallem. † These be the sonnes of Bala, whom Laban gaue 25 to Rachel his daughter: and these she bare to Iacob: al the soules, seuen. † Al the soules, that entred with Iacob 26 into Aegypt, and that came out of his thighe, besides his sonnes wiues,“ sixtie six. † And the sonnes of Ioseph, 27 that were borne to him in the land of Aegypt, two soules. Al the soules of the house of Iacob, that entred into Aegypt, were“ seuentie. † And he sent Iudas before him to Ioseph, 28 that he should tel him, and he should come into Gessen to [Page 140] meete him. † Whither when he was come, Ioseph addressing 29 his chariot went vp to mete his father, vnto the same place: and seing him fel vpon his neck, and as they embraced he wept. † And his father said to Ioseph: Now wil 30 I die with ioy, because I haue seene thy face, and do leaue thee aliue. † But he spake to his brethren, and to al his 31 fathers house: I wil goe vp, and wil tel Pharao, and wil say to him: My brethren, and my fathers house, that were in the Land of Chanaan, are come to me: † and the men 32 are pastours of sheepe, and their trade is to feede flockes: Aegyptians honoring shepe, goates, and kyne for goddes, detested them that did gouerne, kil, or eate those cattel. their cattel, and heardes, and al that they could haue, they haue brought with them. † And when he shal cal you, 33 and shal say: What is your trade? † You shal answer: We thy 34 sernantes are pastours, from our infancie vntil this present, both we and our fathers. And this you shal say, that you may dwel in the Land of Gessen, because he Aegyptians :: detest al pastours of sheepe.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLVI.

1. Came to the vvel of oath] In this holie place (called Bersebee, that is, vvel of oath, where Abraham and Isaac had confirmed by oath, their league with the God reueleth his wil in holieplaces. Kings of the countrie, and erected Altares, Iacob also consulted God, about his going into Aegypt, and was commanded to goe with al that he had.

26. Sixtie six. 27. Seuentie.] The difficultie in these two verses, concerning the number of Israelites, that were at first in Aegypt with Iacob, is easily explicated, that iust sixtie six, of his owne issue, came in with him; and himselfe being counted maketh sixtie seuen, adding also Ioseph (who was there before) and his two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim (borne there) they were in al seuentie. But a far greater difficultie remaineth: for besides these seuentie A difficultie how manie Israelites came at first into Aegypt. persons, the Septuagint Greeke Interpreters number and name fiue more; to wit, a sonne and a nephew of Manasses (the first called Machir, the other Galaad,) and two sonnes of Ephraim (called Sutalaam, and Taam,) and one nephew (named Edem) which number of seuentie fiue. S. Steuen also citeth, Act. 7. folowing the vulgar knowen Scripture of the Septuagint, rather then the Hebrew text. Now in what sense, these fiue could be said to haue entred into Aegypt with Iacob, being not then borne; may some of them not borne during Iacobs life, for Iacob liued but seuentene yeares in Aegypt (chap 47. v. 28) and Ioseph being maried but nine yeares before (for this was the second deare yeare, after the seuen plentiful yeares) his sonnes could not excede seuen or eight yeares, when Iacob came to Aegypt; and so being but 24. or 25. yeares old at his death, could not then be grandfathers: how therfore these fiue named by the Septuagint, and some others, not then borne, of the [Page 141] lines of Phares and Beniamin, recited here by Moyses, could be saied to come Numbers mystical, sometimes no [...] explicable in the literal sense. with Iacob into Aegypt, S. Augustin findeth so insoluble, that he doubteth not to affirme, some great hidden mysterie to be vnderstood by the Septnagint Interpreters, in these numbers, not otherwise perhaps explicable according to the letter.

CHAP. XLVII. Iacob with his sonnes being come into Gessen, Pharao granteth them the same place to dwel in. 13. The famine forceth the Aegyptians to sel al their goods, landes, and possessions to the King, 22. except the Priests part, to whom the king aloweth necesarie foode, without paying for it. 27. After seuentene yeares Iacob adiureth Ioseph, to burie him amongst his ancesters.

IOSEPH therfore going in told Pharao, saing: My father 1 & brethren, their sheepe and heardes, & al thinges that they possesse, are come out of the Land of Chanaan: & behold they stay in the Land of Gessen. † The vtmost also of his brethren 2 fiue persons he presented before the king: † whom 3 he asked: What trade haue you? They answered: We thy seruantes are pastours of sheepe, both we, and our fathers. † We are come to soiourne in the land, because there is no 4 grasse for thy seruantes flockes, the famine being very sore in the land of Chanaan: and we desire thee to command that we thy seruantes may be in the Land of Gessen. † And the 5 King therfore said to Ioseph: Thy father and thy brethren are come to thee. † The Land of Aegypt, is in thy sight: 6 make them to dwel in the best place, and deliuer them the Land of Gessen. And if so be thou knowe that there are industrious men among them, appoint them maisters of my cattel. † After this Ioseph brought in his father to the King, 7 and set him before him: who blessing him, † and being 8 asked of him: How manie be the dayes of the yeares of thy life? † He answered: The dayes of the pilgrimage of my 9 life are an hundred thirtie yeares, :: few, and :: euil, and ::Euerie mans life is shorte, & replenished with manie miseries. Iob. 14. they are not come to the dayes of my fathers, in which they were pilgrimes. † And blessing the king, he went forth. 10 † But Ioseph gaue possession to his father and his brethren 11 in Aegypt, in the best place of the land, in Rhamesses, as Pharao had commanded. † And he nourished them, and al 12 [Page 142] his fathers house, alowing victuales to euerie one. † For in 13 the whole world there wanted bread, and famine oppressed the land, especially of Aegypt and Chanaan. † Out of which 14 he gethered together al the money for the selling of corne, and brought it in vnto the kings treasure. † And when the 15 byers wanted money, al Aegypt came to Ioseph, saying: Geue vs bread: why die we before thee, our money failing? † To whom he answered: Bring your cattel, and for them 16 I wil geue you victuales, if you haue not to pay. † Which 17 when they had brought, he gaue them sustenance for horses, and sheepe, and oxen, and asses: and he sustayned them that yeare for the exchange of the cattel. † And they came the 18 second yeare, and said to him: We wil not conceale from our lord, that our money fayling, our cattel withal haue fayled: neither art thou ignorant, that we haue nothing besides our bodies and land. † Why therfore shal we die 19 in thy sight? both we and our land wil be thyne: bye vs to be the kings bondmen, and geue vs sede, lest for default of tillers the land be turned into a wildernes. † Ioseph therfore 20 bought al the Land of Aegypt, euery man selling his possessions for the greatnes of the famine. And he brought it vnder Pharaos handes, † and al the people therof from the fardest 21 ends of Aegypt, euen to the vttermost coasts therof, † “ sauing 22 the land of the “ Priests, which the king had deliuered them: The priests, of Aegypt being not forced to laboure for their liuing, found out the Mathematiques, as wituesseth Aristotle. in princ. Metaph. to whom also a certaine alowance of victuals was geuen out of the cōmon barnes, and therfore they were not driuen to sel their possessions. † Ioseph therfore said to 23 the people: Behold as you see, Pharao possesseth both you and your land: take sede, and sowe the fields, † that you 24 may haue corne. The fifth part you shal geue to the king: the other foure I am content you shal haue for sede, and for foode to your families and your children. † Who answered: 25 Our life is in thy hand: only let our lord haue a respect vnto vs, and we wil gladly serue the king. † From that time vntil 26 this present day in the whole land of Aegypt, the fifth part is paied to the kings, and it became as it were a lawe, sauing the land of the priests, which was free from this condition. † Israel therfore dwelt in Aegypt, that is, in the Land of 27 Gessen, and possessed it: and was increased, and multiplied exceedingly. † And he liued in it seuenteene yeares: and 28 al the dayes of his life came to an hundred fourtie seuen [Page 143] yeares. † And when he sawe that the day of his death approched, 29 he called his sonne Ioseph, and said to him: If I haue found grace in thy sight, put thy hand vnder my thigh: and thou shalt doe me this mercie and truth, not to bury me in Aegypt: † but “ I wil sleepe with my fathers, and take 30 me away out of this land, and burie me in the sepulchre of my ancesters. To whom Ioseph answered: I wil doe that thou hast commanded. † And he said: Sweate then to me. 31 Who swearing, Israel adored God, turning “ to the beds head.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLV

22. Sauing the land of the Priests.] Let them heare which now liue (saith S. Chrysostom) what great care men had in times past of the priests, of idols: H [...]. 65. in Gen. The immunitie and care of Priests in the law of nature. Yea amongst Insidels. and let them learne at least to yeeld like honour to true priests, to whom the ministerie of al diuine offices is committed. For if the Aegyptians, in their errors, had so great care of Idols, thincking them to be more honored, if their ministers were respected, how great condemnation doe they not deserue, that now diminish that, which pertaineth to the prouision of priests? Doe yee not know that the honour pertaineth to God himself? Regard not therfore him to whom the honouris exhibited. For it is not for his cause to whom thou Much more amongst Christians, Priests ought to be respected. doest it, but for his sake whose priest he is, that of him thou maiest abundantly receiue rewards. VVherfore he said: He that shal doe it to one of these, hath done it for me: & He that receiueth a prophet, in the name of a prophet, shal receiue the revvard Math. 25. & 10. of a prophet. VVil our Lord reward thee according to the worthines or meannes of his ministers? According to thine owne alacritie, he either crowneth or condemneth. &c. I say not this for the priests sakes, but for yours, desiring to gaine you in al things. For in lieu of that litle you geue, you shal receiue immortal rewards, and vnspeakeable good. Let vs consider these things, and haste to serue them, not looking vpon the cost, but vpon the gaine, and increase that riseth therof. &c. For whatsoeuer you bestow vpon Gods priests, he accounteth it as bestowed on himself. And he that so bestoweth, shal not only receiue like retrbution, but manifold greater: our merciful God, alwayes of the abundance of his mercie, exceeding the things which are done by vs. Let vs not therfore be worse then infidels, who for the error of idols gaue so much to their seruants; for how much error and truth do differ, so much difference is there, betwen theirs and Gods Priests. Thus much and something more writeth S. Chrisostom vpon this place. Cohen in some place signifieth Prince, but is here translated Priest, in al the English Bibles.

22. Priests] The Hebrew word Cohenim is here vniuersally translated Priests, in al languages and Editions: which (chap. 40. v. 45.) some translate Prince: and more probably (2. Reg. 8. v. vlt.) where Dauids sonnes are called Cohenim: who were in dede Princes, and not properly Priests. But in this present place it signifieth those, to whom Pharao alowed particular prouision in the time of dearth, which al vnderstand of Priests, and not of Princes.

[Page 144]30. I vvil sleepe vvith my fathers] Albeit neither the lack of burial, nor anie Special place of burial lawfully desired, and spiritually profitable. crueltie nor contumelie vsed against dead bodies, can annoy the iust, for those that kil mens bodies, can aftervvards doe them noe more harme: yet it is both a lawful Luc 12▪ natural desire, and a spiritual comfort and profit, to be buried in special places, where their owne frends, or holie persons are buried, or where God is more specialy serued, Sacrifice, and other prayers offered. And so both Iaeob and Ioseph desired to rest in the land of Chanaan, where their parents were buried and where Christ should be borne and redeeme mākind. But wordlie pompe But pompe auaileth not the dead. and honour of funerals, are rather the cōfort of the liuing, then the reliefe of the departed. as S. Augustin teacheth, in Psal. 115. For in the sight of men, the troupe of seruants (saith the same S. Augustin lib. 1. c. 13. de ciuit.) made solemne and glorious exequies to the rich glutton, that was cloathed in silk, and fared delicately in his life, but in the sight of God, the Angels ministerie made far more excellent to poore Lazarus, though they caried not his bodie into a marble tombe, but his soule into Abrahams bosome.

31. To the beds head.] S. Paul alleaging this place saith: Iacob adored the top Heb. 11. of (Ioseph) his rod, folowing the Septuagint, who for the same Hebrew word (being without points, that is, without vowels) in this place say, rod, and in The Septuagint are not contrarie to the Hebrew and Latin text, but supplie that was omitted. the next chapter (v. 2.) interpret bed. For Matteh signifieth a rod, and Mittah, a bed. The Latin rherfore translating bed, as the Hebrew is pointed, and the Septuagint, and S. Paule reading rod, both are true, and both together expresse the whole action, that Iacob taking Iosephs rod into his hand, and turning to the beds head, leaned on the top of the rod, and adored not only God, the Lord and geuer of al good, but also his sonne Ioseph now the chiefe ruler and Prince of Aegypt. as S. Augustin expoundeth. q 162. in Gen. And herein saith S. Chrisostom (ho 66) Iosephs dreame was fulfilled, that the sunne and moone should adore him. The like saith Theodoret (q. 108 in Gen) And Procopius Adoration of God and creatures is not repugnant. addeth that Iacob adoring Iosephs rod, adored also Christs kingdome, prefigured by the same rod. But how adoration of creatures redoundeth to the honour of God, more is noted vpon the said place of S. Paul. Heb. 11.

CHAP. XLVIII. Ioseph visiteth his father being sick. 5. Who adopteth his two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim, 13. and blesseth them, preferring the younger before the elder, contrarie to Iosephs mind. 22. And geueth a portion of land to Ioseph, aboue his brethren.

THESE things beīng so done, it was told Ioseph that his 1 father was sicke: who, taking his two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim, went forward. † And it was told the old man: 2 Behold thy sonne Ioseph cometh to thee. Who being strengthned sate on his bed. † And Ioseph being entred in 3 to him, he said: God almightie appeared to me in Luza, which is in the Land of Chanaan: and he blessed me, † and sayd: 4 I wil increase, and multiplie thee, and make thee into multitudes [Page 145] of peoples: and I wil geue thee this land, and to thy sede after thee for an euerlasting possession. † Thy two 5 sonnes therfore, which were borne to thee in the Land of Aegypt before I came hither to thee, shalbe myne: Ephraim and Manasses, as Ruben and Simeon shalbe reputed to me. † But the rest begotten of thee after them, shalbe thyne, 6 and shal be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions. † For vnto me, when I came out of Mesopotamia, 7 Rachel dyed in the land of Chanaan in the very iourney, and it was spring time: and I entered into Ephrata, and buried Mat. 2. her by the way side to Ephrata, which by an other name is called Bethleem. † And seeing his sonnes he said to him: 8 Who are theise? † He answered: They are my sonnes, 9 whom God hath geuen me in this place. Bring them, quoth he, to me, that I may blesse them. † For Israels eyes were 10 dymme by reason of very great age, and he could not see clearly. And when they were set beside him, kissing and embracing them, † he said to his sonne: I am not defrauded 11 of thy sight: moreouer God hath shewed me thy sede. † And 12 when Ioseph had taken them from his fathers lappe, he adored prostrate vnto the ground. † And he set Ephraim 13 on his right hand, that is, on the left hand of Israel: but Manasses on his owne left hand, to wit, on his fathers right hand, and put them nere to him. † Who “ stretching forth 14 his right hand, put it vpon the head of Ephraim the younger brother: and By this he made a crosse prefiguring the Crosse of Christ. Isidor in hun [...] locum. the left vpon the head of Manasses, that was the elder, “ changing handes. † And Iacob blessed the 15 sonnes of Ioseph, and said: God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac haue walked, God that feedeth me from my youth vntil this present day: † “ The Angel that deliuereth 16 me from al euils, blesse these children: and be my name called vpon them, the names also of my fathers Abraham, and Isaac, and grow they into a multitude vpon the earth. † And Ioseph seing that his father had put his right 17 hand vpon the head of Ephraim, tooke it heauily: and taking his fathers hand he went about to lift it from Ephraims head, and to remoue it vpon the head of Manasses. † And 18 he said to his father: It is not conuenient father so to be: because this is the first begotten put thy right hand vpon his head. † Who refusing, said: I know my sonne, I know: 19 and this same in dede shal be into peoples, and shal be multiplied: [Page 146] but his younger brother shal be greater then he: and his sede shal growe into nations. † And he blessed them at 20 that time, saying: In thee shal Israel be blessed, and it shalbe said: God do vnto thee as vnto Ephraim, and as vnto Manasses. And he sette Ephraim before Manasses. † And he 21 said to Ioseph his sonne: Behold I dye, and God wil be with you, and wil bring you backe into the land of your fathers. † I doe geue thee one portion aboue thy brethren, 22 which I tooke out of the hand of the Amorrhean with my sword and bowe.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLVIII.

14. Streatching forth his right hand.] As nature hath made the right hand The right hād also in spiritual things, preferred before the left. Arist. li. 2. de caelo. textu. 8. & de inces. animal, ca. 4. readier to moue, stronger to worke and resist, and apter to frame and fashion anie thing, so generally we vse it more then the left. And when we vse both handes at once, we ordinarily applie the right hand to the greater, and more excellent effect, both in spiritual and corporal things. As in confirmation of fidelitie or freindship, in blessing, writing, fieghting, playing, and in most others things, we vse the right hand, either only or chiefly. So the Patriarch Iacob laide his right hand vpon Ephraim, knowing by prophetical spirite, The younger brother preferred signified the Gentiles before the Iewes. that he should be preferred, before his elder brother Manasses Literally fulfilled in Iosue, Ieroboam, and other chief Princes of Ephraims issue. And mystically in the Gentils, being later called of God, and yet preferred before the Iewes. S. Cypri li. 1. c. 21. aduer. Iudeos: S. Amb. li. de Benedict. Patriarch. c. 1. S. Aug. li. 16. c. 42. de ciuit. &c.

14. Changing handes.] The mysterie, of the Gentils excelling the Iewes Procop. Isidor. in Gen. in time of grace, often prefigured by preferring the younger brother before the elder (Abel before Cain; Abraham before Nachor; Isaac before Ismael; Iacob himself before Esau; and now Ephraim before Manasses) is here further represented by Iacobs forming of a crosse, with his armes laied one ouer the other, when he blessed his two nephewes: who otherwise might haue The forme of the Crosse prefigured by Iacob crossing his armes. laied his right hand first vpon one, and then vpon the other; or haue caused them to change places; but he wittingly crossed his armes, and changed his handes; or according to the Hebrew, made his handes vnderstand, that is, by his handes made it to be vnderstood, not only that the younger should be in place of the elder, Ephraim before Manasses, and much more the Gentiles before the Iewes, but also that this greater Mysterie should be effected by Christ dying on a Crosse. For what els could the verie crossing of his armes, so wittingly and purposly done, signifie, but the forme and figure of Christs Crosse? As els where the wood, which young Isaac caried on his back vnto the mountaine prefigured the mattet or substance of the same Crosse Al accomplished when Christ was crucified: wherby the Iewes were scandalized, and the Gentiles called and saued. Our Sauiour himselfe for telling, that he being exalted (to Ioan. 12. Collos. 2. wit vpon the Crosse) vvould dravv al vnto himself. And S. Paul teaching that Christ sastned the hand vvriting, that vvas against vs; vpon the Crosse.

[Page 147]16. The Angel that deliuereth me.] It is euident by this plaine text, that Iacob was deliuered from euiles by an Angel, and that he inuocated the same Angel Protection & Inuocation of Angels. to blesse his nephewes, S. Basil ( li. 3. cont. Eunom in initio) sheweth by this place amongst others, that an Angel is present with euerie one, as a pedagogue, and pastour, directing his life. S. Chrysostom also ( ho. 7. in land. S. Pauli) citeth this place in testimonie, that proper Angels are deputed to protect men. Yet Protestants say, that this Angel must be vnderstood of Christ: remitting their glosse to the. 31. ca. v. 13. and 32. v. 1. of Genesis, where it can not be proued. But the ancient Fathers teach the patronage & Iuuocation of Angels grounded in holie Scripture. Namely in this place, and manie other places in the old Proued by ancient Fathers. Testament. Also Mat 18. Act. 12. 1. Cor. 11. & the like. For example, S. Iustinus Martyr in explic. qq necess. q. 30. affirming it for a knowen truth, declareth that those Angels, which receiue the charge of guardīg men, cōtinew the same office either to both soule and bodie, or to the soule after it is parted from the bodie, S. Cyril of Alexandria (lib. 4. cont. Iulian. prope init.) shewing how God vseth the ministerie of holie Angels, for mens saluation, saith: Hi noxias a nobis abigunt feras &c. These (Angels) driue away noysome wildbeasts from vs: and reskew those that are caught, from their crueltie, and teach what soeuer is laudable, to make our passage free, and not pestered, when with vs they glorifie one soueraigne God. S. Chrysostom (ho. 60, in Math 18) S. Hierome vpon the same place, S. Ambrose, in Psal. 38. S. Augustin li. 83. qq. q. 79. & li. Soliloq. c 27. S Gregorie li. 4. c. 31. in 3 Iob S. Bernard ser. 5. Dedicat. Eccles. & ser. 12. in Psal 90. & others, so vniuersally teach the same, that Caluin (li. Instit c. 14. sect. 38.) dare not denie it, and yet wil nedes doubt of it.

16. Be my name called vpon them.] This place hath two good literal God for his Saints sake sheweth fauour to their frends. senses. For first it importeth that Ephraim and Manasses were made participant among the Tribes, of the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. Secondly that God would blesse them, for Abraham, Isaac, and Iacobs sake: so Moyses praying for the whole people (Exodi. 32.) besought God to remember, Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and God was therwith pacified.

CHAP. XLIX. Iacob replenished with the spirite of prophecie, a litle before his death, fortelleth his sonnes manie things, that shal happen to their posteritie. Chargeth some of them with faultes past, blesseth euerie one. 29. Appointeth where to burie him. 32. and dyeth.

AND Iacob called his sonnes, and said to them: Come 1 together, that I These are predictiōs not al blessings. S. Amb. li. de Benedict Patriar. may shew you the things that shal come to you in the last dayes. † Come together, and heare 2 you sonnes of Iacob, heare ye Israel your father:

† Ruben my first begotten, thou art my strength, and 3 the begining of my sorow: former in giftes, greater in empyre. † Thou art poured out as water, A prophecie not an imprecation. S Aug. li. 16 c 22. ont. Faust. encrease thou 4 not: “ because thou diddest ascend thy fathers bed, and diddest defile his coutch.

[Page 148]† Simeon and Leui brethren: “ vessels of iniquitie warring 5 † Into their counsel come not my soule, and in their congregation 6 be not my glorie: because in their furie they slew a man, and in their wilfulnes they vndermined a wall. That these are most profound Mysteries, is easie to conceiue, but most hard to vnderstand them. In some the Patriarch recounteth things past in his life, for telling the effects therof to come. Other things he forsheweth pertayning to the diuision of the Land of Chanaan, others to the times of the Iudges, of the Kings, of the Captiuitie, of Deliuerie from thence, of Christ, of Antichrist, and of the end of this world. Of al which diuers anciēt fathers haue written large cōmentaries, & godlie treatises. † Cursed be their furie, because it is stubborne: and their 7 indignation, because it is hard: I wil diuide them in Iacob, and wil disperse them in Israel.

† Iudas, thee thy brethren shal praise: thy hand shalbe in 8 the neck of thyne enemies: thy fathers children shal adore thee. † A lions whelp Iudas: to the pray my sonne thou 9 didst ascend: taking thy rest thou didst lye as a lion, and as it were a lyonesse, who shal raise him vp? † “ The scepter 10 shal not BE TAKEN away from Iudas, and a duke out of his thigh, til he doe come that is to be sent, and the same shal be the expectation of the gentiles † Tying to the vineyard 11 his colt, and to the vine, o my sonne, his [...]he asse. “ He shal wash his stole in wine, and in the bloud of the grape his cloke. † His eyes are more beautiful then wine, and his 12 teeth whiter then milke.

13 † Zabulon shal dwel in the shore of the sea, and in the road of shippes reaching as farre as Sidon.

† Issachar a strong asse lying at rest betwen the borders. 14 † He saw rest that it was good: and the earth that it was 15 very good: and he put vnder his shoulder to cary, and became seruing vnder tributes.

† Dan shal iudge his owne people as also an other tribe in 16 Israel. † Be Dan “ a snake in the way, a serpent in the path, 17 byting the hoosses of the horse, that his ryder may fal backward. † I wil expect THY SALVATION O Lord. 18

19 † Gad, the gyrded shal fight before him: and himself shal be gyrded backward.

† Aser, his bread is sat, and he shal geue daynties to kinges. 20

21 † Nepthali, a [...]art let forth, & geuing speaches of beautie.

† Ioseph a child encreasing, encreasing and comelie to 22 behold: the daughters coursed to and for vpon the wall. † But the dart men did exasperate him, & brawled, and 23 enuied him. † His bowe sate vpon the strong, & the bands 24 of his armes and his handes were dissolued, by the handes of the mightie of Iacob: thence came forth a pastour, the stone of Israel. † The God of thy father shal be thy helper, & 25 [Page 149] the Almightie shal blesse thee with the blessinges of heauen from aboue, with the blessinges of the deapth, that lieth beneath, with the blessings of the pappes and of the wombe. † The blessinges of thy father were strengthned with the 26 blessings of his fathers: vntil the desire of the eternal hilles came: be they vpon the head of Ioseph, & vpon the crowne of the Nazarite among his brethren.

27 † Beniamin This prophecie S. Augustin vnderstandeth of S. Paul, of the tribe of Beniamin; who was first a persecutor, and after an Apostle of Christ. Ser. 14. de Sanctis. a rauening woolfe, in the morning shal eate the pray, and in the euening shal diuide the spoile.

† Al these in the tribes of Israel twelue: these things 28 spake their father to them, and he blessed euerie one, with their proper blessings † And he commanded them, saying: 29 I am geathered vnto my people: burie you me with my fathers in the duble caue, which is in the field of Ephron the Hethite, † against Mambre in the Land of Chanaan, which 30 Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hethite for a possession to burie in. † There they buried him, & Sara 31 his wife: there was Isaac buried with Rebecca his wife: there also Lia doth lie buried. † And when he had finished 32 the precepts wherwith he instructed his sonnes, he plucked vp his feet vpon the bed, and died: & he was put vnto his people.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLIX.

4. Because thou didest ascend thy fathers bed] For this crime of incest Ruben Ruben for his sinne was put from the prerogatiues of the first borne was depriued of his first birth-right. VVho being by order of birth former in guiltes, wherby he should haue had duble portion; and greater in Empire, wherby he should haue bene Prince or Lord ouer his bretheren, the former prerogatiue was geuen to Ioseph, whose two sonnes were heades of two Tribes, the other was geuen to the Tribe of Iuda, in Dauid and his posteritie. He was also depriued of his prerogatiue in Priesthood, which was after annexed to the Tribe of Leui, wherupon the Chaldee paraphrasis speaketh thus to Ruben: It belonged to thee to haue receaued three better lettes then thy brethren, Priesthood, Best portion, and the Kingdome: But because thou hast sinned, the duble portion is geuen to Ioseph, the Kingdome to Iudas, and Priesthood to Leui.

5. Veselles of iniquitie] Albeit Simeon and Leui were moued with iust The zeale of Simeon & Leui was cōmendable: but their maner of reuenge, was manie wayes faultie. zeale to punish the soule crime committed by Sichem, against their sister and Iudith. [...]. whole familie: yet in their maner of reuenging were manie sinnes worthely condemned by Iacob, both immediatly after the fact, and here at his death. For before the slaughter they committed there greate sinnes; in that they [Page 150] rashly did it vnknowne to their father therby putting him & themselues in extreme danger, if God had not maruelously protected them; in falsly pretending agreement and league with the Sichamites, which they ment not to performe; and in sacrilegiously abusing the Sacrament of Circumcision, making it a cloke to deceiue their ennemies. In the fact also they committed other foure grosse crimes: cruelly killing those, that offered other abundant satisfaction; murthering others that were altogether innocent; sacking and destroying the citie, and carying away wemen and children captiue. Mystically S. Ambrose, Ruffinus, Isidorus, and others vnderstand this prophecie, The Priests & Scribes furie, obstinacie, & hard harts against Christ. of the Scribes and the Priestes, descending of Simeon and Leui, who were most eagre against our Sauiour, as himself more plainely fortold, saing: The sonne of man▪ balbe betrayed to the chiefe Priestes, and to the Scribes, and they shal Mat. 20. condemne him to death. Their furic was cursed aboue al surie, Because (as Iacob here saith) it vvas stubborne, or obstinate, for they did not only condemne Christ Ioan. 11. to death in their wicked councel, but also vrged and pressed Pilat, endeuoringe to saue him, & sturred vp the people to crye: Take him avvay, Crucisie him. Ioan. 18. Yea their indignation was so hard, that they preferred Barabbas before Christ.

10. The scepter shal not be taken avvay.] Here the Patriarch Iacob fortelleth the time, when the promised Messias should come into the world, Taking away of the regal scepter from the Iewes a signe of Christs coming. by this signe that the scepter should not be taken from Iuda, til the same Redeemer of mankind were at hand. Not that the regal scepter should remaine in the Tribe of Iuda, from Iacobs death [...]il Christes comming: for that Kingdome beganne first in Dauid, aboue six hundred yeares after Iacobs death, and after the captiuitie of Babylon the highe Priests of the Tribe of Leui did gouerne also the state, & not only the Church, other six hundred yeares. But the sense is, that of the Tribe of Iuda should rise most gloriouse Kinges, whose crowne and Kingdome should remaine with the Iewish Nation, vntil their expected Messias should drawe nere, and then be taken from them by the Gentiles VVhich was downe by Herod, whose father was an Idumean, his mother an Arabique. Thus the Ancient fathers with one accorde vnderstood this prophecie. S. Iustinus Martyr. Ser. cum Triphone. Eusebius Cesarien lib Hist. Eccles. cap 6. S. Athanasius. lib. de Incarnat. S. Ambrose lib de Benedict. Patriarch c. 4. S. Chrysostom. Ilo. 67. in Gen. S. Augustin lib. 18. c. 45. de ciuit. Theodoretus. q. vlt. in Gen.

11. He shal vvash hisstole in vvyne.] By wine, and bloud of the grape, what Our Lords real presence in the B. Sacrament prophecied. li. 2. Ep. 3. other thing is shewed (saith S. Cyprian Epist ad Coecil. 63) but the wine of the Chalice of our Lordes bloud? Likwise Tertullian (lib 4. contra Marcionem) expoundeth the stole to signifie Christs flesh, and the wine his bloud. In al which booke his drift is to shewe that Christ did not destroy the olde Testament, but fulfilled the figures and prophecie therof. And not that Christ gaue his bodie in figure only, as our aduersaries alleadge him.

17. Be Dan a snake in the vvay.] This prophecie most ancient Fathers vnderstood Ancient Fathers suppose that Antichrist shal be of the tribe of Dan. of Anti Christ. namely S. Irenaeus, lib. 5. aduers. Haeres: S. Hyppolitus Martyr Orat▪ de consumma [...]. soeculi. S. Ambrose. c. 7 de Benedict. Patriarch. S. Augustin. q. 12. in Iosue. Prosper, lib. de promiss. & praedicts Dei. P. 4. Theodoret. q. vlt. in Gen. S. Gregorie, lib. 30. Moral. c. 18, and many others vpon the 7. chap. of the Apocalips. where they suppose S. Ioan did omitt Dan from amongst the Elect of the Israelitical Tribes, in detestation of Antichrist, to be borne of that Ioan. 5. Tribe. And certayne it is, that the Iewes wil receiue, and folowe him for their Messias. as our Sauiour himselfe saith; VVhich maketh it very probable, that he shal be a Iewe borne, else they would not so easily admitt him.

[Page 151]22. Ioseph a childe encreasing] Ioseph was in manie respectes a figure of Ioseph in manie things prefigured Christ. Christ, especially in that he was loued of his father before al his bretheren, solde by his brethrn to the Gentiles of enuie, and for money, aduanced to dignitie and authoritie, the deliuerer of Aegypt from famine, and called Sauiour of the world; al performed in Christ, the true Childe encreasing.

CHAP. L. Ioseph causeth his fathers bodie to be embawmed; 3. the dayes of mourning being expired, 6. with Pharaos leaue, Ioseph with the ancients of Aegypt, al his brethren, and elder sorte of Israelites goe, and solemnly burie the bodie in Chanaan. 14. After their returne, his brethren fearing, le [...]t ioseph wil now reuenge former iniuries, he freely forgeueth al. 22. At the age of 110. yeares, adiuring the posteritie to carie his bones into Chanaan he dieth, and is put in a coffin.

VVHICH Ioseph seeing, fel vpon his fathers face 1 weeping and kissing him. † And he commanded 2 his seruantes the physitians, that they should embawme his father with spices. † Who fulfilling his commandements, 3 there passed fourtie dayes: for this was the maner of corses embawmed, and Aegypt mourned him seuentie daies. † And the mourning time being expired, Ioseph spake to 4 the familie of Pharao: If I haue found grace in your sight, speake in the eares of Pharao: † for so much as my father did 5 adiure me, saing: Behold I die, in my sepulchre Iacob digged a sepulcher for himselfe, though it be not hertofore mentioned when he did it. S. Aug. q. 170. in Ge [...]. which I digged for my selfe in the land of Chanaan, thou shalt burie me. I wil goe vp therfore, and burie my father, and returne. † And Pharao said to him: Goe vp and burie thy father as 6 thou wast adiured. † Who going vp, there went with him 7 al the ancients of Pharaos house, and al the elders of the Land of Aegypt: † the house of Ioseph with his brethren, 8 sauing their little ones, and the flockes and heards, which they had left in the Land of Gessen. † He had also in his 9 traine chariotts and horsemen: and it became no smal multitude. † And they came to the floore of Atad, which is 10 situate beyond Iord aine: where celebrating the exequies with great and vehement mourning, they spent ful seuen dayes. † Which when the Inhabiters of the Land of Chanaan 11 had seene, they said: This is a great mourning vnto the Aegyptians. And therfore the name of that place was called, [Page 152] The mourning of Aegypt. † Therfore the sonnes of Iacob 12 did as he commanded them: † and carying him into 13 the Land of Chanaan, they buried him in the duble caue, which Abraham had bought with the field for a possession to burie in of Ephron the Hethite against Mambre. † And 14 Ioseph returned into Aegypt with his brethren, and with al the traine, his father being buried. † After whose death, 15 his brethren fearing, and talking one with an other: Lest perhaps he be mindful of the iniurie which he suffered, and requite vs al the euil that we haue done, † they aduertised 16 him saing: Thy father commanded vs before he died, † that 17 we should say thus much to thee in his wordes: I besech that thou forget the wicked fact of thy brethren, and the sinne & malice which they haue exercised against thee: we also desire thee, that to the seruants of the God of thy father thou remit this iniquitie. Whom when Ioseph ad heard he wept. † And his brethren came to him: and 18 This word adoring often in holie Scripture signifieth ciuil honour: as here it can haue no other sense. adoring prostrate on the ground they said: We are thy seruantes. † To whom he answered: Feare not: can we resist 19 the wil of God? † “You thought euil against me: but God 20 turned that into good, that he might exalt me, as presently you see, and might saue many peoples. † Feare not: I wil 21 feed you & your lirle ones, and he comforted them, and spake gently & mildly. † And he dwelt in Aegypt, with al 22 his fathers house: and liued an hundred and tenne yeares. And he sawe the children of Ephraim vnto the third generation. Also the children of Machir the sonne of Manasses were borne in Iosephs knees. † Which thinges being done, 23 he spake to his brethren: After my death God wil visite you, and wil make you goe vp out of this land, to the land which he sware to Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. † And when he had 24 adiured them and said: God wil visite you,▪ carie my bones with you out of this place: † he died, being an hundred 25 and tenne yeares old. And being embawmed with spices, was put in a coffin in Aegypt.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP L.

20. You thought euil.] This plaine distinction sheweth, that sinne is wholly Mans wil, not God the cause of sinne. of the sinner; and that God hath no part therin, but turneth it to good For those things which Iosephs brethren did against him, were occasions of his [Page 153] aduancement in Aegypt, through the omnipotent wisdome of God. VVhose [...]opeitie is, out of euerie euil to draw good. S. Chrisost. ho. 67. in Gen. S. Aug. Enchirid. c. 11. & li. 14. c. 27. de [...]it.

25. Carie my bones vvith you.] For the same reasons Ioseph would be finally buried in Chanaan, for which Iacob desired to be there buried (chap. 47.) Ioseph, for his brethrēs sake, differred his desired burial in Chanaan. but Ioseph would not presently be caried thither, lest it might haue geuen offence to the Aegyptians, or at least haue diminished their fauoure towardes his brethren: and withal he would confirme his brethren in their hope of returning, seing he was content, that his bodie should expect in Aegypt, til the whole Nation should returne into Chanaan.

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THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF EXODVS.

MOYSES hauing prosecuted in Genesis, the sacred historie of the The continuation of this booke with Genesis. The increase of the Israelites was enuyed, feared, and their religion hated. Gen. 50. Church, vnto Iosephs death, containing the space of 2310. yeares, continueth the same in Exodus, for 145. yeares more. VVhere he first briefly recounteth, Exod. 1. how a smal number of Israelites, especially after the death of Ioseph, being much increased, a new King (risen in the meane time, who knew not Ioseph) together with other Aegyptians, enuying their better partes, both of bodie and minde, and more fortunate progres in wealth; fearing also lest they stil multiplying, either by their owne forces, or ioyning with other foreners, might spoile Aegypt, and returne into Chanaan; and hating their Religion, because they acknowledged, one onlie, eternal, omnipotent God, denying and detesting the new imaginarie goddes of the Aegyptians; resolued and publickly decreed, by oppression to hinder their increasing, & Their persecution. to keepe them in bondage and seruitude. But God almightie, who had chosen them for his peculiar people, did not only so conserue and multiplie them, that of seuentie persons, which came into Aegypt, in the space of two hundred and Their greater multiplicatiō. Exod. 2. Num. [...]. fiefteene yeres, there were six hundred thousand men, able to beare armes, besides wemen, children, and old men, which by estimation might be three millions in al, but amongst other most strange and miraculous workes, especally deliuered Exod. 2. one Hebrew infant from drowning. whom afterwards he made the The persecutor admonished, and punished. Gods people mightely deliuered. 3. Guide, and supreme Gouernour of the same people; by him admonished the 5. King to cease persecuting, and diuers waies plagued him & his people, for their 7. obdurat and obstinate crueltie. In fine called away, and mightily deliuered 12. his owne people; drowned that king and al his armie, in the red sea, the Israelites 14. wonderfully passing through, as in a drie chanel, the waters standing on both sides, like two walles. In the desert, fed them miraculously with Manna, Miraculously sustained in the desert. 16. and gaue them al necessaries, defending them also from enimies. Then God, hauing 17. thus selected and seuered his people from al other nations, gaue them a written law, as wel of Moral, as Ceremonial and Iudicial preceptes, with the 20. maner of making the Tabernacle, erecting Altares, consecrating Priects, with Instructed with Lawes, Moral, Ceremonial, and Iudicial. 26. the institution of daylie sacrifice, and of al vestures, veselles, & other holie 27. things belonging to the seruice of God. So this booke may be diuided into three 30. partes. First is declared the Israelites seruile affliction in Aegypt, vvith their & seq. deliuerie from thence: in the fieftene first chapters. Then how they were maintained in the desert, and prepared to receiue a law: in the foure next chapters. In the other 21. chapters, the lavv is prescribed, instructing them hovv to liue tovvards God, and al men.

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THE BOOKE OF EXODVS. IN HEBREW VEELLE SEMOTH.

CHAP I. The smal number of Israelites much increasing in Aegypt, 6. especially after the death of Ioseph and his brethren, 8. a new king, that knew not Ioseph in vaine striueth to hinder their multiplication, 11. by imposing workes vpon them, 15. and by commanding to kil, 22. and to drowne al the malchildren of them. God in the meane time rewardeth the midwiues, that fearing him, killed not the children.

THESE be the names of the children 1 The first part of this booke. Of the Israelites seruile affliction in Aegypt, and their deliuerie from thence. of Israel, that entred into Aegypt with Iacob: they did enter in euerie one with their houses, † Ruben, Simeon, 2 Leui, Iudas, † Issachar, Zabulon, and 3 Beniamin, † Dan, and Neptali, Gad, 4 and Aser. † Therfore al the soules 5 that came out of Iacobs thigh, were seuentie: and Ioseph was in Aegypt. † Who being dead, 6 and al his brethren, and al that generation, † the children 7 of Israel increased, and as it were springing vp did multiplie: and growing strong exceedingly, filled the land. † In the 8 meane time there arose a new king ouer Aegypt, that knew not Ioseph: † and he said to his people: Behold Enuie, vaine feare, ( v. 10.) & hatred of true religiō (v. 13.) are the causes why Infidels persecute the faithful. the people 9 of the children of Israel is much, and stronger then we. † Come, let vs wisely oppresse the same, The first persecution was in temporal losses and bodilie paines, by pressing them with workes. lest perhaps it 10 multiplie: and if there shal be anie warre against vs, it ioyne with our enemies, and we being ouerthrowne, they depart out of the land. † Therfore ^:: he set ouer them maisters of 11 the workes, to afflict them with burdens: and they built vnto Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom, and Ramesses. † And the more they did oppresse them, so much the more 12 they multiplied, and increased: † and the Aegyptians ^:: hated 13 [Page 156] the children of Israël, and deriding afflicted them: † and 14 they brought their life into bitternes with the hard workes of clay, and bricke, and with al seruice, wherewith they were pressed in the workes of the earth. † And the King of 15 Aegypt said to the mid wiues of the Hebrewes: of whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua, † commanding them: 16 The second was secrete murther. When you shal be midwiues to the Hebrew wemen, and the time of deliuerie is come: if it be a manchild, kil it: if a woman, reserue her. † “ But the midwiues feared God, and 17 did not according to the commandement of the king of Aegypt, but preserued the menchildren. † To whom being 18 called vnto him, the king said: What is this that you ment to do, that you would saue the men-children? † Who answered: 19 The “ Hebrew wemem are not as the Aegyptian wemen: for they haue the knowledge to play the mindwife them selues, and before we come to them, they are deliuered. † God therfore did wel to the midwiues: and the people 20 encreased, and became strong exceedingly. † And “ because 21 the midwiues feared God, [...]e built them houses † Pharao 22 therfore commanded al his people, saying: Whatsoeuer shal be borne of the male se [...], The third was open murther. cast it into the riuer: whatsoeuer of the female, reserue it.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. I.

17. But the midvviues feared God.] In commendation of the midwiues not God must be feared before Princes commanding contrarie things. obeying the kings commandment, Moyses opposeth the feare of God, to the feare of Princes; shewing therby that when their commandments are contrarie, the subiects must feare God, and not do that the Prince commandem. So Mat 10. Luc. 12. Act. 4. & 5. did our Sauiour himself teach, and that for feare of damnation, saying: Feare him vvho hath povver to cast into het And so his Apor [...]les indued with the Holie Ghost, practised, answering in this case, that they must heare God rather then men. Againe, God must be obeyed rather then men. Alwayes vnderstood, when they Princes must be obeyed in lawful things. are contrarie For otherwise both S. Peter and S. Paul teach vs, that Princes, 1. Pet 2. Ro. 13. yea Infidels, of whom they especially speake, must be obeyed:

19. Hebrevv vvemen are not.] Herein the midwiues sinned. For it is neuer lawful to lye. Because the lavv of God is truth, wherby S. Augustin proueth (li. coot. mend. c. 10) Allies are sinnes and vnlawful. Psal. 11 [...] v. 142. that whatsoeuer varieth from truth is vnlawful. VVhen therfore (saith he) examples of lying are proposed to vs out of holie Scripture, either they are not lies, but are thought to be, whiles they are not vnderstood, o [...] if they be lies, they are not to be imitated, because they are vnlawful. [...] Gregorie teacheth the same (li. 18. Moral. c. 20.) Q [...]a proselt [...] ab [...] [Page 157] discrep it, quitquid [...] [...]eritate discord [...]t: Because assuredly vvhatsoeuer disagreeth from veritie, differeth from equitie. Yet these fathers▪ hold such an officious lye, as this Venial sinnes. was, to be a lesse sinne, and more easily pardoned, and purged by good workes folowing.

21. Because the midwiues feared God.] Feare of God [...]s [...] is properly taken in holie Scripture is that holie feare [...] by which the children of God re [...]aine Feare of God. meritorious. from sinne, and that with temporal dange [...] ▪ lest they should ofend the diuine Maiestie. So these midwiues endangering their owne liues, by not fullfiling Pharaos commandment, had the true feare of God, and for the same were rewarded, Temporal rewardes promised in the old Testamēt, eternal in the new. as is most probable, eternally: though mention be here made only of temporal reward; afte [...] the [...] of the old [...]. VVhere such promises were made to Abraham, and other most godlie Patriarches, 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 1 house of Leui: and he tooke a wife of his owne stocke. † Who conceaued, and [...]are a sonne: and seing him a goodlie 2 one, [...]id him three monethes. † And “ when now she could 3 not conceale him, she tooke a basket made of b [...]ishes, and dawbed it with * bitume and pitch: and put wi [...]h in it kind of [...]l [...]vv, so [...]lled. the lit [...]e infant, and laid him in a sedgie place by the riuers brinke, † his sister standing a farre of, and considering the 4 euent of the thing. † And behold the daughter of Pharao 5 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 6 crying, hauing pitty on it, said: This is one of the infantes of the Hebrewes. † To whom the childes sister said: Wilt 7 thou that I goe, & ca [...]ro thee an Hebrew woman, that may nurse the litle infant? † She answered: Goe. The maid 8 went and called her mother. † To whom Pharaos daughter 9 speaking▪ Take, quoth [...], this child, and nu [...] him for me: [Page 158] 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 10 sonne, and called him Mos, in the Aegyptian tongue signifieth vvater, and Ises, saued. Ioseph. li. 2. Antiq. & Clemens. Alexan. li. 1. Stromat. Moyses, saying: Because from the water I did take him. † In those dayes after that Moyses 11 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 12 about hither & thither, and saw no man present, ▪ he stroke the Aegyptian, and hid him in the sand. † And going forth 13 an other day, he saw two Hebrewes brawling: and he said to him that did the wrong: Why strikest thou thy neighbour? † Who answered: The guiltie persō reiected Moyses for lack of knowē authoritie, but God cōfirmed his cōmission. Act. 7. So the Iewes reiected Christ, Iudge of the world. Who hath appointed thee prince & iudge 14 ouer vs? Wilt thou kil me, as yesterday thou didest the Aegyptian? Moyses He feared to tempt God by staying, but not the sierc [...]es of the king. Heb. 11. feared, and said: How is this thing come abroad? † And Pharao heard of this talke, and sought to 15 kil Moyses: who fleeing from his sight, abode in the Land of Madian, and sate beside a wel. † And the priest of Madian 16 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, 17 and droue them away: and Moyses arose, and defending the maides, watered their sheepe. † Who being returned to 18 Raguel their father, he said to them: Why are you come sooner then you were woont? † They answered: A certaine 19 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 20 you let the man goe? cal him that he may eate bread. † Therfore Moyses sware that he would dwel with him. 21 And he tooke Sephora his daughter to wife: † who bare 22 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 23 children of Israel groning, cried out because of the workes: and Oppression of innocents crieth to heauen for reuenge. their crie ascended vnto God from the workes. † And 24 he heard their groning, & remembred the couenant which he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. † And our Lord 25 looked vpon the children of Israel and knew them.

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ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. II.

3. VVh [...]n she could not conceal him.] These godlie and prudent parents, Moyses parēts did prudently expose him to some danger, to auoide greater. 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 Reuelations and Gods determinations do not exclude but include mans endeuour. Though Moyses iustly killed the Aegyptian, yet others may not imitate his example. wife was great, how to saue the infant, if it were a man child, God reueled to li. 2. Antiq. 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 li. 16. c. 19. de [...]iuit. 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 Act. 7. 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 1 The three first lessons on the 4. sunday in Lent. 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 2 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 3 said: I wil goe, and see this great vision, why the bush is not burnt. † And our Lord seeing that he went forward to [Page 160] see, he called him out of the middes of the bush, and said: Moyses, Moyses. Who answered: Here I am. † But he said: 5 Approch not hither, loose of thy shoe from thy feet: See what maner of reuerence and deuotion is prescribed; to goe bare foo [...]e to holie places.▪ for the place, wherin thou standest, is Of holie places, and of christian deuotion in going to them. S. Hierom writeth largely. [...]pist. 17. 18. & 27. holie ground. † And he said: I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, 6 the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob. Moyses hid his face: for he durst nor looke against God. † To whom 7 our Lord said: I haue sene the affliction of my people in Aegypt, and I haue heard their crye because of their rigour that ouersee the workes: † and knowing their sorow, I 8 am descended to deliuer them out of the handes of the Aegyptians, and to bring them out of that land into a land good, and large, into a land that floweth with milke and honie, to the places of the Chananeite, and Hetheite, and Amorrheite, and Pherezeite, and Heueite, and Iebuseite. † Therfore the 9 crye of the children of Israel is come vnto me▪ and I haue sene their affliction, wherwith they are oppressed by the Aegyptians. † But come, and I wil send thee to Pharao, that thou 10 mayest being forth my people, the children of Israel out of Aegypt. † And moyses said to God: Who am I that I shal 11 [...]oe to Pharao, and bring forth the children of Israel out of Aegypt? † Who said to him: I wil be with thee: and this 12 thou shalt haue for a signe, that I haue sent thee: When thou shalt haue brought my people out of Aegypt, thou shalt sacrifice to God vpon this mountaine. † Moyses said to God: 13 Loe I shal goe to the children of Israel, and say to them: The God of your fathers hath sent me to you. If they shal say to me: What is his name? What shal I say to them? † God 14 said to Moyses:▪ I AM WHICH AM. He said: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: HE WHICH IS, hath sent me to you. † And God said againe to Moyses: These 15 thinges shalt thou say to the children of Israel: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob hath sent me, to you: This is the most proper name but the most common is GOD, deriued in manie languages of Good. Mat. 19. v. 17. this is my name for euer, and this is my memorial into generation and to generation. † Goe, and geather together the ancients of 16 Israel, and thou shalt say to them▪ The Lord God of your fathers hath appeared to me the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob, saying: Visiting I haue visited you: and I haue sene al thinges that haue chanced to you in Aegypt: † and I haue said the word to bring you 17 [Page 161] forth out of the affliction of Aegypt, into the land of the Chananeite, and Hetheite, and Amorrheite, and Pherezeite, and Heueite, and Iebuseite, to a Land that floweth with milke & honie. † And they shal heare thy voice: and thou 18 shalt enter in, thou and the ancientes of Israel to the king of Aegypt, and thou shalt say to him: The Lord God of the Hebrewes hath called vs: We wil goe three dayes iourney into the wildernes, to sacrifice vnto the Lord our God.

† But I know that the king of Aegypt wil not dismisse you 19 to goe but by mightie hand. † For I wil stretch forth my 20 hand, and wil strike Aegypt in al my marueils, which I wil doe in the middes of them: after these he wil dismisse you. † And I wil geue grace to this people, in the sight of the 21 Aegyptians: and when you shal goe forth, you shal not depart emptie: † but ech woman shal aske of her neighbour 22 and of her that is in house with her, vessels of siluer and of gold, and rayment: and you shal lay it vpon your sonnes and daughters, and Al that anie man possesset [...] in this world, is but lent by God. And therfore he iustly taketh away, and lendeth to others; disposing of al as pleaseth him. shal spoyle Aegypt.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. III.

1. Our Lord appeared.] S Steuen reciting this vision saieth, an Angel appeared Act. 7. to Moyses: and so it is in the Hebrew text, in the Chaldee Paraphrasis, and in the Septuagi [...]t Interpreters. Neither is the latin Edition (reading Lord) contrarie to the other which reade Angel, no more then one place of holie Al appatition [...] to the Patriarches and Prophetes were made by Angels, though sometimes attributed to God. Proued by holie Scriptures and Fathers. Scripture, is contrarie to an other in the same language, but very consonant in sense, sometimes attributing the same apparitions and other workes to God, as the author and principal Agent, and sometimes to Angels, the next and immediate ministers of God. For so not only S. Steuen in the place alleaged, but also S. Paul saith plainly (Gal. 3.) that the Lavv vvas deliuered by Angels. And in his Epistle to the Hebrewes, proueth the excellencie of Christs Law aboue the old law, by the difference of the persons, by whom both were geuen: affirming that the former vvas s [...]en by Angels, the other declared by our Lord Iesus Heb. 2. Christ. VVherof S. Cyril of Alexandria discourseth largely (li. 8. c. 2. Thesau.) shewing that in deede Angels deliuered the law, yet not by their owne authoritie, but as seruants and legates of God. And before him S. Dionyse of Ariopagite (li. coelest. Hietar. c. 4.) taught the very same, the lavv (sayeth he) as holie vvrittes testifie, vvas geuen to vs by Angels: yea al apparitions, made to the ancient fathers before the law, and after it, were made by Angels. A litle after obiecting to himselfe, that diuine Scriptures also testifie, that the law was geuen Exod. 19. 20. and granted to Moyses by God, to teach vs that in deede it hath the forme of sacred and diuine law, answereth, eam Angelorum ad nos opera peruenisse, that it came to vs [from God] by the meanes of Angels. In like maner S. Iustinus [Page 162] Martyr ( inexplic. qq. necess. q. 142.) saieth, al those Angels, which haue appeared in Gods place, or haue spoken with men, haue also benne called by the name of God, as he that spoke with Iob, and with Moyses. S. Augustin after a large discourse of this matter, in his second, third, and fourth bookes de Trinitate, hath these wordes: (li. 4. c. vlti.) If it be demanded of me, how either the voices, or sensible formes, and shewes were made before the incarnation of the vvord of God, which prefigured the same, I answer that God wrought them by Angels, which also I suppose I haue sufficiently shewed by testimonies of holie Scriptures Likwise S. Gregorie ( Prefat. in Iob. c. 2) saith plainly, that an Angel appeared to Moyses in the firie bush, yet is called God, because he was the legate of God, and therfore spoke, as if God himselfe had spoke in diuine Person, explicating the same by two examples, Dauid saied: My people attend my Examples. Psal. 77. lavv, yet neither the people, nor law was Dauids, but Gods. And the reader dayly amiddes the people proclameth: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, Exo. 3. and the God of Iacob. Neither doth he truly say, that he is God, nor by that he sayeth, doth he goe from the rule of truth. He also confi [...]meth the same doctrin, li. 28. Moral. ca. 5. And further teacheth that Angels protect men, and God executeth his wil by Angels. prouinces, and execute Gods wil in this infe [...]ior world. And so do the other Doctors of the Church. S. Gregorie Nazianzen, orat. ad 150. Epistop. & orat. 2. de Theologia. in sine vtriusque. S. Basil. li. 3. cont. Funom. S Athanasius ser. 4. cont. Arian, longius a princ. & Epist. de senten. Dioni [...]ij Alexan. in sine. S. Ambrose, ser. 1. in Psal. 118. S. Chrysost. ho. 6. and S. Hierom. li. 3. comment. in Mat. 18.

14. I am vvhich am,] Al other things besides God, once were not; and being are limited in nature; neither could persist vnles God conserued them; mame things also haue lost, or shal lose their propet essence and being, and whiles they remaine haue continual alterations. Onlie God eternally is without beginning, ending, limitation, dependence, or mutation, cōsisting only of himselfe, and al other things ar [...] of him Therfore this name, QVI EST, HE WHICH IS, The most proper name of God is, [...] WHICH IS. is most proper to God, not determining anie maner, but indeterminatly signifying al maners of being, for so it importeth the very infinite immensitie of Gods substance. S. Damascen. li. 1. c. 12. Orthodoxae sidei. S. Tho. p. 1. q. 13. a. 11.

CHAP. IIII. Moyses receiuing power to vvorke miracles in confirmation of his mission, 14. and his brother Aaron being designed to assist him, 20. goeth vvith vvife and children towards Aegypt, 25. is in danger to be slaine for not sooner circumcising his sonne. 27. Aaron meeteth him, 29. so they goe together, and declare to the people, that God wil deliuer them.

MOYSES answering said: “They wil not beleue me, 1 nor heare my voice, but they wil say: Our Lord hath not appeared to thee. † Therfore he sayd to him: What is 2 that thou holdest in thy hand? He answered: A rodde. † And our Lord sayd: Cast it vpon the ground. He did cast it, 3 and it was turned into a serpent, so that Moyses fled. † And 4 [Page 163] our Lord sayd: Sretch thy hand, and catch the tayle therof. He stretched it forth, & tooke hold of it, and it was turned into a rodde. † That they may beleue, quoth he, that the 5 Lord God of their fathers hath appeared to thee, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, & the God of Iacob. † And 6 our Lord sayd agayne: Put thy hand into thy bosome. Which when he had put into his bosome, he brought it forth ful of leprosie like snow. † Draw backe, quoth he, thy hand 7 into thy bosome. He drew it backe, and brought it forth agayne, & it was like the other flesh. † If they wil not beleue 8 thee, quoth he, nor heare the word of the former signe, they wil beleue the word of the signe folowing. † And if so 9 be they wil beleue neither of these two signes, nor heare thy voice: take water of the riuer, & powre it out vpon the drie land, and whatsoeuer thou drawest of the riuer, shal be turned into bloud. † Moyses sayd: I beseech thee, Lord, I 10 am not eloquent from yesterday and the day before: and since thou hast spoken to thy seruant, I haue more impediment & slownes of tongue. † Our Lord sayd to him: 11 Who made the mouth of man? or who framed the dumme and deafe, the seeing and the blinde? did not I? † Goe on 12 therfore, and I wil be in thy mouth: & wil teach thee what thou shalt speake. † But he sayd: I besech thee, Lord, send 13 whom thou wilt send. † Our Lord being angrie at Moyses, 14 sayd: Aaron thy brother the leuite, I know that he is eloquēt: behold he cometh forth to meete thee, & seeing thee shal be glad at the hart. † Speake to him, and put my wordes in 15 his mouth: & I wil be in thy mouth, and in his mouth, and wil shew you what yee must doe. † He shal speake in thy 16 steed to the people, and shal be thy mouth: but thou shalt be to him in those thinges that perteine to God. † God designed a rodde for an instrument to work miracles. This 17 rodde also take in thy hand, wherwith thou shalt doe the signes. † Moyses went his way, & returned to Iethro his 18 father in law, and sayd to him: I wil goe and returne to my brethren into Aegypt, that I may see if they be yet aliue. To whom Iethro sayd: Goe in peace: † Therfore our Lord sayd 19 to Moyses in Madian: Goe, and returne into Aegypt: for they are al dead that sought thy life. † Moyses therfore 20 tooke his wife, & his children, and set them vpon an asse: and returned into Aegypt, carying the rodde of God in his hand. † And our Lord said to him returning into Aegypt: 21 [Page 164] See that thou doe al the wonders, which I haue put in thy hand, before Pharao: See the Annotations cha. 7. v. 3. I wil indurate his hart, and he wil not dismisse the people. † And thou shalt say to him: This sayth 22 the Lord: My first begotten sonne is Israel. † I sayd to thee: 23 dismisse my sonne that he may serue me, & thou wouldest not dismisse him: behold I wil kil thy first-begotten-sonne. † And when he was in his iourney, in the Inne, our Lord 24 mette him, and would haue killed him. † Sephora by & 25 by tooke a very sharp stone, and circuncided the prepuce of her sonne, & Sephora cast the prepuce at Moyses feete: and said: :: I had lost thee my spouse except I had redeemed thee with the bloud of my child. And: the Angel let Moyses goe. S. Aug. q. 11. in Exod. iuxta 70. touched his feete, and sayd: Miracles a motiue to true beleefe A blouddie spouse thou art to me. † And :: he let him goe after she 26 had said, A blouddie spouse thou art to me, because of the circumcision. † And our Lord said to Aaron: Goe to Moyses 27 into the desert. Who went forth to mete him vnto the Mountaine of God, and kissed him. † And Moyses told Aaron 28 al the wordes of our Lord, by which he had sent him, & the signes that he had commanded. † And they came together, 29 and gathered together al the ancientes of the children of Israel. † And Aaron spake al the wordes which our Lord 30 had said to Moyses: and he wrought the signes before the people, † and :: the people beleued. And they heard that 31 our Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked vpon their affliction: & they adored prostrate.

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII.

[...]. They vvil not beleue me.] Moyses wisely considering that the children of Israel, much lesse Pharao, would hardly beleue his bare woord, affirming that he was sent to them by God, proposed this difficultie before he tooke the Embacie vpon him. For without good proofe both the Israelites, and Aegyptians Miracles necessarie and sufficient to proue extraordinary vocation of new preachers might haue reiected him, as seming to come of his owne priuate spirite, being no ordinarie superior, neither of the whole people, nor of his owne tribe, nor first of his familie; for Aaron was his elder brother. Therfore God gaue him powre of working miracles, to proue his extraordinarie mission true and lawful. VVhich sufficed to make euen Pharao him selfe to know, that he was sent from God almightie, though it mollified not his stubborne hart, to obey Gods commandement: and it fully satisfied the children of Israel touching al things which he denounced, beleuing him that God mercifully looked vpon their affliction & would deliuer them. VVherupon they adored prostrate▪ as the last wordes of this chapter testifie. VVhere we see both the necessitie, and sufficiencie of miracles to proue the extraordinarie vocation of such as preach otherwise then was taught before. For this cause our Sauio [...] himselfe confirming [Page 165] his doctrin by miracles, saied to the Iewes: If you vvil not beleue me, beleue by vvorkes. Againe he said of them: If I had not done among them vvorkes that no other Ioan. 10. Ioan. 15. Mat. 9. Mat. 16. man hath done, they should not haue sinne. And cōformably sending his Apostles to preach the Gospel, gaue them powre to worke miracles in his name. So did S. Peter and S. Iohn heale the lame. Act. 3. And S. Paul auouched miracles for the signes of his Apostleship. 2. Cor. 12.

CHAP. V. Moyses and Aaron require of Pharao in the behalfe of God, to let his people the Hebrewes goe and sacrifice in the desert. VVhich he contemning, 5. oppresseth them more, denying them stravv, and yet exacting the accustomed number of brickes. 20. The people oppressed impute their miserie to Moyses and Aaron. 12. But Moyses prayeth to God for them.

AFTER these things Moyses and Aaron went in, and 1 said to Pharao: This saith the Lord God of Israel: dismisse my people that they may sacrifice to me in the desert. † But he answered: Who is the Lord, that I should 2 heare his voice, and dismisse Israel? I know not the Lord, and Israel I wil not dismisse. † And they said: The God of 3 the Hebrewes hath called vs, to goe three daies iourney into the wildernesse, and to sacrifice to the Lord our God: lest perhappes there chance to vs pestilence or sword. † The 4 king of Aegypt said to them: Why do you Moyses and Aaron solicite the people from their workes? Goe you to your burdens. † And Pharao said: The people of the land is much: 5 you see that the multitude is secretly increased: VVordlie men thinke Gods people encrease most by rest, but indede they multiplie more, when they are oppressed. S. Cyprian de exhort. Mart. c. 10. how much more if you geue them rest from their workes? † Therefore 6 he commanded in that day the ouerseers of the workes and the exactores of the people, saying: † You shal no more 7 geue straw to the people for to make brickes, as before: but let them selues goe and geather straw. † And the taske of 8 brickes, which they did before, you shal put vpon them, neither shal you diminish any thing: for they are idle, and therfore they crie, saying: Let vs goe, and sacrifice to our God. † Let them be oppressed with workes, and let them 9 accomplish them: that they hearken not to lying wordes. † Therefore the ouerseers of the workes and the exactors 10 going forth said vnto the people: Thus saith Pharao: I allow you no straw: † goe, and geather if you can find any where: 11 [Page 166] neither shal anie thing of your worke be diminished. † And 12 the people was dispersed through al the Land of Aegypt to geather straw. † And the ouerseers of the workes were 13 instant, saying: Finish your worke euerie day, as before you were wont to doe when straw was geuen vnto you. † And 14 the ouerseers of the workes of the children of Israel were scourged of Pharaos exactors, saying: Why do you not make vp the taske of brickes as before, neither yesterday, nor to day? † And the ouerseers of the children of Israel came, and 15 cried out to Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so against thy seruantes? † Straw is not geuen vs, and brickes are commanded 16 vs in like sorte: behold we thy seruantes are beaten with whippes, and thy people is vniustly dealt withal. † Who said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let vs goe 17 and sacrifice to our Lord. † Goe therfore, and worke: straw 18 shal not be geuen you, and you shal geue vp the accustomed number of brickes. † And the ouerseers of the children of 19 Israel saw them selues in hard case, because it was said vnto them: There shal not a whitte be diminished of the brickes for euerie day. † And they mette Moyses and Aaron, who 20 stood ouer against them, coming forth from Pharao: † and 21 they said to them: Our Lord see and iudge, because The craftie diuel knowīg that weake men afflicted are easely moued to murmur, sturred this people against their owne leaders S. Greg. li. 29. c. 14. Moral. you haue made our sauour to stinke before Pharao and his seruantes, and you haue geuen him a sword, for to kil vs. † And Moyses returned to our Lord, and said: Lord Gods prouidēce suffereth his children, to be most afflicted, when relife is nere at hand. Theod. q. 13 in Exod. why 22 hast thou afflicted this people? wherfore hast thou sent me? † For since the time that I entered in to Pharao to speake in 23 thy name, he hath afflicted thy people: and thou hast not deliuered them.

CHAP. VI. God reueling himselfe more to Moyses then he had done to former Patriarches, 6. commandeth him to tel the children of Israel, that he seeing their miseries, wil deliuer them from Aegypt, and geue them possession of Chanaan. 14. The genealogies of Ruben, Simeon, and especially of Leui are recited, 26. to shew the origin of Moyses and Aaron.

AND our Lord said to Moyses: Now thou shalt see 1 what thinges I wil doe to Pharao: for by a mightie hand shal he dismisse them, and in a strong hand shal he cast them [Page 167] out of his land. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: 2 I am the Lord † that appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to 3 Iacob, as God almightie: and“ my name Adonai is not the name here vttered to Moyses but is redde in place of the vnknowen name. ADONAI I did not shew them. † And I made a couenant with them, to 4 geue them the Land of Chanaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. † And I haue heard the groning 5 of the children of Israel, wherwith the Aegyptians haue oppressed them: and I haue remembred my couenant. † Therfore say to the children of Israel: I the Lord who wil 6 bring you forth out of the worke-prison of the Aegyptians, & wil deliuer you from seruitude: and redeme you in a high arme, and great iudgements. † And I wil take you to me for 7 my people, and I wil be your God: and you shal know that I am the Lord your God, that brought you forth out of the worke-prison of the Aegyptians: † and brought you into the 8 land, ouer which I lifted vp my hand to geue it to Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob: and I wil geue it you to possesse, I the Lord. † Moyses then told al to the children of Israel: who 9 did not hearken vnto him, for anguish of spirit, and most painful worke. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: 10 † Goe in, and speake to Pharao the king of Aegypt, that he 11 dismisse the children of Israel out of his land. † And Moyses 12 answered before our Lord: Behold the children of Israel heare me not: and how wil Pharao heare, especially wheras I am of vncircumcised lippes? † And our Lord spake to 13 Moyses and Aaron, and he gaue them commandement vnto the children of Israel, & vnto Pharao the king of Aegypt, that they should bring forth the children of Israel out of the land of Aegypt. † These are Princes of their houses by their families. 14 The sonnes of Ruben the first begotten of Israel: Henoch and Phallu, Hesron and Charmi. † These are the 15 kinreds of Ruben. The sonnes of Simeon: Iamuel and Iamin, and Ahod, and Iachin, and Soar, and Saul the sonnes of the Chananitesse, these are the progenies of Simeon. † And these 16 are the names of the sonnes of Leui by their kinreds: Gerson and Caath and Merari. And Ioseph died first of the twelue bretheren. Gen. 50. Leui liued lōgest and so the yeares of their liues are recorded in holie Scriptures, & not of the rest▪ Chronolog. [...]. the yeares of the life of Leui were an hundred thirtie seuen. † The sonnes of Gerson: 17 Lobni and Semi, by their kinreds. † The sonnes of Caath: 18 Amram, and Isaar, and Hebron and Oziel. the yeares also of Caaths life, were an hundred thirtie three. † The sonnes of 19 Merari: Moholi and Musi. these be the kinreds of Leui by [Page 168] their families. † And Amram tooke to wife locabed See Num. 26. v. 59. his 20 patr [...] lem pr [...] patrua, quae latin [...] non d [...]r. aunt by the fathers side: who bare him Aaron and Moyses. And the yeares of Amrams life were an hundred thirtie seuen. † The sonnes also of Isaar: Coree, and Nepheg, and Zechri. 21 † The sonnes also of Oziel: Mizael, and Elizaphan, and Sethi. 22 † And Aaron tooke to wife Elizabeth the daughter of Aminadab, 23 sister of Nahason, who bare him Nadab, and Abiu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar. † The sonnes also of Core: Aser, 24 and Elcana, & Abiasaph. these be the kinreds of the Corites. † But Eleazar the sonne of Aaron tooke a wife of the daughters 25 of Phutiel: who bare him Phinees. It perteined not to Moyses present purpose, to prosecute the genealogies of Iacobs other sonnes, being come to the origin of the Priestlie tribe in Leui the third sōne. [...]. Aug. q. 15. in Exod. these are the heads of the Leuitical families by their kinreds. † This is Aaron 26 and Moyses, whom our Lord commanded that they should bring forth the children of Israel out of the land of Aegypt by their troupes. † These are they that spake to Pharao the 27 king of Aegypt, that they might bring forth the children of Israel out of Aegypt: this is Moyses, and Aaron, † in the day 28 when our Lord spake to Moyses in the land of Aegypt▪ † And 29 our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: I the Lord: speake to Pharao the king of Aegypt, al thinges which I speake to thee. † And Moyses said before our Lord: Loe I am of vncircumcised 30 lippes, how wil Pharao heare me?

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VI.

3. My name Adonai] Here and in manie other places of holie Scripture in the Hebrew text, is that name of God of foure letters, which the Iewes say is ineffable Yet sure it is, that Moyses heard it pronounced, and afterwards writte it as he did the rest in Hebrew letters (which are al consonants) without In place of the name of God counted ineffable, is commonly redde Adonai. vowels. But the Rabbins that long after put points or vowels to al other words, put none to this. For al then redde Adonai in place therof. And so the Latin, and al vulgar Catholique versions, keepe the same word vntranslated. The Septuagint in Greke translate KYPIO [...], which in Latin is Dominus, in English Mat. 4. v. 7, 10. Rom. 15. v. 11. Lord. So also al ancient Fathers, and (which is most of al) our Sauiour, and his Apostles, alleaging sentences of the old Testament, where this name is contained, stil expresse it by wordes that signifie Lord. Only certaine late writers haue framed a new word, by putting the points of Adonai, to the proper letters of this vnknowen name, which are Iod, He, Vau, He, and so sound it Iehouah: Iehouah is not the right name of God. S. Dionyse. S. Hierom. Theodoret. Damas [...]. which was scarse heard of before an hundred yeares. As Bishop Genebrard, Cardinal Bellarmin, and F. Pererius proue, for that neither ancient Fathers, writing whole Treatises de Diuinis nominibus, nor the elder Rabbins, nor later most learned Hebricians, as Rabbi Moyses, Aben Ezram, Lira, Paulus Burgensis and others, neuer mention Iehouah amongst the Names or titles of God.

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CHAP. VII. Moyses being constituted as God of Pharao, and Aaron as the prophet of Moyses, they declare Gods commandment to Pharao; 10. turne the rodde into a serpent; 17. & the water into bloud, which is the first plague. 22. The magicians doe the like by inchantments, and Pharaos hart is indurate.

AND our Lord said to Moyses: Behold I haue appointed 1 thee “the God of Pharao: and Aaron thy brother shal be Aaron also was the prophet of God, but subordinate vnder Moyses, and ouer Pharao. S. Aug. q. 17. in Exod. thy prophet. † Thou shalt speake to him al thinges 2 that I command thee: and he shal speake to Pharao, that he dismisse the children of Israel out of his land. † But“ I wil 3 indurate his hart, and wil multiplie my signes and wonders in the Land of Aegypt, † and he wil not heare you: and I wil 4 put in my hand vpon Aegypt, and wil bring forth my armie and people the children of Israel out of the Land of Aegypt, by very great iudgements. † And the Aegyptians shal know 5 that I am the Lord, which haue stretched forth my hand vpon Aegypt, and haue brought forth the children of Israel out of the middes of them † Therfore Moyses and Aaron 6 did as our Lord had commanded: so did they. † And Moyses 7 was eightie yeares old, and Aaron eightie three, when they spake to Pharao. † And our Lord said to Moyses and Aaron: 8 † When Pharao shal say vnto you, Shew signes: thou shalt 9 say to Aaron: Take thy rodde, and cast it before Pharao, and it shal be turned into a serpent. † Therfore Moyses and 10 Aaron going in vnto Pharao, did as our Lord had commanded. And Aaron tooke the rodde before Pharao and his seruantes, the which was turned into a serpent. † And Pharao 11 called Iannes and Mambres. 2. Tim. 3. knowen by tradition. the wise men and the enchanters: and “they also by Aegyptian enchantments and certaine secrecies did in like maner. † And euery one did cast forth their roddes, the 12 which were turned into dragons: but Aarons rodde deuoured their roddes. † And Pharaos hart was indurate, and he heard 13 them not, as our Lord had commanded. † And our Lord 14 said to Moyses: Pharaoes hart is aggrauated, he wil not dismisse the people. † Goe to him in the morning, behold he 15 wil goe forth to the waters: and thou shalt stand to meete him vpon the banke of the riuer: and the rodde that was [Page 170] turned into a dragon, thou shalt take in thy hand. † And 16 thou shalt say to him: The Lord God of the Hebrewes sent me to thee, saying: Dismisse my people to sacrifice vnto me in the desert: and vntil this present Induration of hart (saith S. Bernard) is neither cut with remorse, nor softened with pittie, nor moued with prayers, nor yeldeth to threates: yea is more hardned by punishments. li. 1. de consid. ad Eugen. thou wouldest not heare. † This therfore saith our Lord: In this thou shalt know that 17 I am the Lord: behold I wil strike with the rodde, that is in my hand, the water of the riuer, and it shal be turned into bloud. † The fishes also, that are in the riuer, shal dye, and 18 the waters shal putrifie, and the Aegyptians shal be afflicted drinking the water of the riuer. † Our Lord also said to 19 Moyses: Say vnto Aaron, Take thy rodde, and stretch forth thy hand vpon the waters of Aegypt, and vpon their floudes, and riuers and pooles, and al the lakes of waters, that they may be turned into bloud: and be there bloud in al the Land of Aegypt, as wel in the vessels of wood as of stone. † And 20 Moyses and Aaron did as our Lord had commanded: and lifting vp the rodde he stroke the water of the riuer before Pharao and his seruantes: The first plague in water, in which the Aegyptiās drowned the Hebrewes infants. Theodoret q. 19. in exod. the like Ap. 16 Because the wicked spil the bloud of Gods Saintes, he wil geue them bloud to drinke. which was turned into bloud. † And the fishes, that were in the riuer, died: and the riuer, 21 putrified, and the Aegyptians could not drincke the water of the riuer, and there was bloud in the whole Land of Aegypt. † And the enchaunters of the Aegyptians with their enchantments 22 did in like maner: and Pharaoes hart was indurate, neither did he heare them, as our Lord had commaunded. † And he turned away him selfe, and went into his house, 23 neither did he yet set his hart to it this time also. † And al 24 the Aegyptians digged round about the riuer for water to drinke: for they could not drinke of the water of the riuer. † And seuen dayes were fully ended, after that our Lord 25 stroke the riuer.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VII.

1. The God of Pharao.] The name of God, which essentially is proper only to the three Diuine Persons of the B. Trinitie, and incommunicable to anie creature The name of God attributed to men. (Sap. 14.) is neuertheles by similitude attributed in holie Scripture to other persons. As (Exod. 22. v. 8.) Iudges, or princes, are called goddes, for the eminent authoritie and powre which they haue from God. So Moyses was Iudges called goddes. Moyses the God of Pharao. constituted the Iudge and God of Pharao, not only to punish him, for his obstinacie, and finally to compel him to dismisse the Israelites out of Aegypt, but also to terrifie him so in the meane time, that he being otherwise a mightie King, and extremly and often afflicted by Moyses, yet durst neuer lay violent handes vpon him, left himsefe, and al his nation should presently haue bene [Page 171] destroyed. As S. Hilarie ( lib. 7. de Trinitate) & S. Gregorie ( ho. 8. in EZech.) note vpon this place. Likwise Priests are called goddes ( Exod 22. v. 28.) for their Priests called goddes Other title [...] of God geuen to men. sacred function, pertaining to Religion and Seruice of God. Prophetes also are called Videntes, Seers (1. Reg. 9.) because by participation of diuine knowledge, they see sometimes the secretes of other mens hartes, things supernatural, and future contingent, though properly and naturally onlie God almightie is Scrutator cordis, the searcher of the hart, and knoweth al things ( Sap. 1.) Againe S. Peter Moyses a Holie Prophete, Priest, and Prince. saieth (2. Epist. c. 1.) that iust men are made partakers of diuine nature. VVhich is rather more then to participate in name. Al which titles rightly perteined to Moyses, being in life Holie, in knowledge a Prophete, in function a Psal. 98. v. 6. Priest, and in powre a Prince. In the same sense of participation, Saintes are called our Mediators, Aduocates, Redemers, Deliuerers, and the like.

3. I vvil indurate] According to our purpose mentioned in the Annotations vpon the 9. chap. to the Romanes, we shal here recite the summe of S. Augustins Protestants hold God to be the cause that men do sinne, yet not the cause of sinne. doctrine ( Ser. 88. de tempore) touching the hard question: How God did indurate Pharaoes hart. And withal we shal briefly explicate, according to the doctrine of the same, & other most learned Fathers of the Church, the true sense of this and like places, by which Zuinglius, Caluin, Beza, and other Sectaries, would proue that God not only permitteth, but also commandeth, inclineth, inforceth, and compelleth men to do that which is sinne: yea that God is the author, internal mouer, & inforcer, that man transgresseth; though they denie th [...]t God sinneth, or is cause of the malice of sinne. For exāple, Zuinglius Zuinglius doctrine. ( Ser. de prouidentia Dei, ca. 5) saieth: Numen ipsum auctor est eius, quod nobis est iniustitia, illi vero nullatenus est. The diuine povvre it selfe is author of that thing, vvhich to vs is iniustice, but to him in no vvise is. And alitle after, Cum igitur Angelum transgressorem [...]acit, & hominem, ipse tamen transgressor non cōstituitur. VVhen therfore God maketh Angel, and man transgressor, yet himself is not made a transgressor. Cha. 6. Vnum igitur atque idem sacinus, puta adulterium aut homicidium, quantum Dei est auctoris, motoris, impulsoris, opus est, crimen non est: quantum hominis est, crimen acscelus est. Therfore the self same act, as adulterie or manslaughter, as it is of God the author, mouer, inforcer, is a worke, is not a crime: but as it is of man, is a crime, & a wicked act. Caluin ( li 8. Instit. c. 17. para. 11.) affirmeth that the diuel, & the Caluins doctrine. whole band of the wicked can not conceiue, nor endeuoure, nor doe anie mischief, nisi quantum Deus permi [...]erit, imo [...]isi quantum ille mandarit. but so farre as God permitteth (which al Catholiques firmly beleue) nay [...]ut so far as he cōmandeth: which al Catholiques abhorre and detest. Likewise ( li. 2. c. 4. para. 4) alleaging Gods wordes, saying he had aggrauated, and hardned Pharaoes hart, affirmeth, that which God did more, besides not mollifying his hart, was, quod obstinatione pectus eius ob [...]irmandum Satanae mandauit, that he committed his hart to Satan to be obdurated vvith obstinacie: making God the author, and Satan only Bezas doctrin. the minister of hardning Pharaos hart. Beza folowing this race ( in Respon. ad Castallionem, Aphorismo 22.) saieth, God so vvorketh by euel instruments, that he doth not only suffer them to worke, nor only moderateth the euent, sed etiam vt excitet, impellat, moueat, regat, atque adeo (quod omniū est maximum) etiam creet, vt per illa agat quod constituit: but also sturreth them vp, driueth them forward, By their doctrin it necessarily foloweth, that God should he author of sinne. moueth them, ruleth them, and (which is most of al) euen createth them, that by them he may vvorke that which he appointed. Al vvhich (saith he) God doth rightly, and vvithout anie iniustice. So in dede these men say, when they are pressed with the blasphemous absurditie, that they make God author and cause of sinne, which necessarily and euidently foloweth of their doctrin. For by the very light of nature, it is clere, that the commander or inforcer is author [Page 172] of that euil which an other doth, by his cōmandement or inforcement, and by al law of nature and nations, diuiue and humane, is condemned as culpable and guiltie of the fault, which the other cōmitteth: but these ministers say (in the places aboue cited) God c [...]mandeth, inforceth, and vvorketh al that a sinner doth. Ergo, God by this doctrin must be author, culpable, and guiltie of sinne. VVhich is so blasphemous, and horrible to Christian eares, that they dare not say it in expresse termes.

Seing then God is said to haue indurated Pharaoes hart, and al, confesse that The state, of the controuersie. induration of hart is a most greuous sinne, the controuersie is: VVhether God commanded, inforced, and wrought the induration in Pharaoes hart, or only permitted it? or what els God did to Pharao, wherby his hart was indurate; and finally by whom it was properly indurate, by God, or by Pharao him S. Augustins doctrin. ser. 88 de temp. God forsaketh not, til he be forsaken. selfe? Al which S. Augustin explicateth, laying first this ground (which euerie one is faithfully and firmly to beleue) that God neuer forsaketh any man, before he be first forsaken by the same man: yea God also long expecteth, that a sinner which much and often offendeth, conuert and liue. But when the sinner Ezech▪ [...]. abideth long in his wickednes, of the multitude of sinnes riseth desperation, of desperation is ingendred obduration. For vvhen the impious▪ is comon to Pr [...]. 18. the depth of sinnes, he contemneth. Obduration therfore cometh not of Gods powre compelling, but is ingendred by Gods remisnes, or indulgence, and so not diuine powre, but diuine patience did harden Pharaoes hart. How often soeuer therfore our Lord saieth: I vvil indurate the hart of Pharao, he would nothing God by not punishing permitted Pharao to indurate him self. And that for his former sinnes. els to be vnderstood, but I wil suspend my plagues and punishments, wherby I wil permit him through mine indulgence to be obdurate against me. Perhaps some wil aske, why did God by sparing him, let him be indurate? why did God take from him his wholsome punishment? I answer securely: this was done, because Pharao, for the huge heape of his sinnes, deserued not as a child, to be corrected vnto amendment, but as an enemie was suffered to be indurate. For of them, whom Gods mercie suffereth not to be indurate, it is written: God Heb 12. Apoc. 3. Prou. 8. scourgeth euerie child vvhom he receiueth. And in an other place. VVhom I loue I correct and chastise: Againe VVhom God loueth he chastiseth. Let no man therfore with Paganes and Manichees presume to reprehend or blame Gods iustice, but certainly beleue, that not Gods violence made Pharao indurate, but his owne wickednes, and his vntamed pride against Gods precepts. Againe, what els is it to In absence of grace sinne obdurateth. say, I vvil indurate his hart, but when my grace is absent from him, his owne wickednes wil obdurate him?

To know this by examples: water is congeled with vehement cold, but the heate of the sunne coming vpon it, is resolued, and the sunne departing, it freezeth againe. In like maner by the lasines of sinners, charitie wa [...]eth cold, Gods grace in the obstinate, like the heate of the sunne in cold water. & they are hardned as yse: but when the heate of Gods mercie commeth vpon them, they are againe so [...]tned. So Pharao without pittie or compassion afflicting the Hebrewes, became as hard as yse, but Gods hand touching him with afflictions, he made humble supplication, that Moyses and Aaron would pray to God for him, promising what they demanded: againe, when the plagues were remoued, he was more indurate against God and his people, then before. VVherby we see, Gods gentlenes, indulgence, and sparing of Pharao, not his [...]igour, nor his wil or set purpose, but his permission, and Pharaoes owne wilful As a father for not punishing is saied to spoile, so God to indurate. malice hardned his hart, and brought him to obstinate contempt of Gods cōmandments. And therfore God did only indurate him, in that cōmon phrase of speaking, as a father, or a maister hauing brought vp his child or seruant delicatly, and not sufficiently punished his frequent faultes, wherby he becometh [Page 173] worse and worse, desperate and obdurate, at last the father or maister saieth: I haue made thee thus bad as thou art I by sparing thee and suffering thee to haue thine owne pleasure, haue nourished thy peruersnes, and carelesnes: Al the wicked may iustly be dam [...]d▪ but some are iustified and saued. yet he saieth not this, as though by his wil and intention, but by his goodnes and gentlenes the man became so wicked. It may here be demanded againe; why did not our Lord so mercifully punish Pharao, as wholy to reclame him, for it semeth that had benne greatest mercie? and God dealeth so with some, why doth he not with al, that al might be saued? First it is most iustly and rightly ascribed to their iniquitie, which deserue to be indurate: againe why this sinner is reclaimed, and not an other of the same il deserts, is to be referred to Gods inscrutable iudgements, which are often secrete, neuer vniust. Let it therfore suffice piously and humbly to beleue, that as Moyses Deut. 32. Psal. 5. Rom. 9. God neuer willeth but only suffereth sine. testifieth, God is faithful and vvithout anie iniquitie, iust and right: and as the royal Prophet also professeth, Thou art not a God that vv [...] iniquitie, and as the Apostle teacheth, there is no iniquitie vvith God. By al which and some more to the same effect (which we omit) S. Augustin concludeth againe, that properly Pharao Pharao abusing Gods benefites hardned his ow [...]e start. And [...] fully perished hardened his owne, hart, God only by bestowing benefites vpon him, which he abused, and not plaguing him so much, as he deserued, but letting him liue, and reigne, and persecute the Church for the time, vntil he and al his armie were in the middes of the sea. VVhither (as the same lerned father noteth (ser. 89.) their owne desperate boldnes drew them, vaine furie through their owne madnes prouoking them to goe so farre, where God not working, but only ceasing to continew his miracle, the waters returning to their owne nature, and meeting together inuolued and drowned them al.

Other like expositions the same lerned father hath in other places. As, q. 18. Other places of S. Augustin super Exodum, he teacheth that Pharao being already so wicked through his owne fault, other things were done to him and his people, which partly were to the correction of others, and might haue bene to his, but he abusing al▪ became worse & worse, by Gods suffering and dispensation, not only for his [...] ▪ but euidently iust punishment. Li. 5. cont. Iulian c. 3. touching the ground of tentation [...]. 1. Gods iustice [...]de [...]nt when [...] are [...]o [...] notorious. he alleageth the Apostle saying: Euerie one is tempted of his ovvne concupiscence, abstracted and allured: but touching one kind of Gods punishing some, that are ouerwhelmed in obstinate sinnes, he alleageth the saying of an other Aopstle. God hath deliuered them into passions of ignominie; and into a reprobate [...]n [...]e, Rom. 5. to do those things that are not conuenient, for God deliuereth them (saith he) conveniently: that the same sinnes are made both punishments of sinnes past, and are deserts of punishments to come. Yet he maketh not the willes euil, but vseth the euil as he wil, who can not wil anie thing vniu [...]ly. Againe, q. 24. It appeareth Gods patience of it self profitable, by euil harts made vnprofitable. (saith he) that the causes of induration of Pharaoes hart, were not only for that his Inchanters did like things (to those which Moyses and Aaron did▪ but the very patience of God, by which he spared him. Gods patience according to mens hartes is profitable to some to repentance, to some vnprofitable to resist God, & persist in euil: yet not of it selfe vnprofitable, but through the euil hart.

Briefly. q▪ 36. I haue harned Pharaoes hart, that is, I haue bene patient ouer him and his seruants. Epist 105. God doth not indurate by imperting malice, but by not imperting mercie (or grace) Li▪ de Proed [...]st▪ & Grat. c 4. God is sayed to Miracul [...]rum [...]bera [...]bra [...]sabat. Not doing called sometimes doing the contrarie. indurate him, whom he wil not mollisie. So, to make him blinde whom he wil not illuminate. So also to repel him, whom he wil not cal. And [...] ▪ 6 what is that to say: I vvil indurate his hart, but I wil not mollifie it▪ cap 14. It ought to haue auailed Pharao to saluation, that Gods patience de [...]erring his iust and deserued punishment, multiplied vpon him frequent stripes of miracles, or miraculous [Page 174] punishmēts. Cap 15. Did not Nabucodonosor repent being punished after Freewil the cause of diuers endes in Pharao and Nabucodonosor. innumerable impieties, and recouered the kingdome which he had lost? But Pharao by punishment became more obdurate, and perished. Both were men, both Kings, both persecutors of Gods people, both gently admonished by punishments. VVhat then made their endes diuers, but that the one feeling Gods hand mourned in remembrance of his owne iniquitie, the other by his freewil fought against Gods most merciful veritie?

Neither is this the doctrin of S. Augustin alone, but of other Doctors also. Other ancient Doctors teach the same. Origen. Origen ( li. 3. Periarch. c. de Libert. arbitrij) saieth: the Scripture sheweth manifestly, that Pharao was indurate by his owne wil. For so God saied to him: Thou vvouldest not: If thou vvilt not dismisse Israel.

S. Basil. ( Orat. quod Deus non sit auctor malorum) saieth, God beginning with E [...]o. 4 [...] ▪ lesse scourges, proceeded with greater and greater to plague Pharao, but did S. Basil. not mollifie him being obstinate, neither yet did punish him with death, vntil he drowned himselfe, when he presumed through pride, to passe▪ the same way, by which the iust went, supposing the redde sea would be passable to him, as it was to the people of God. S Chrysostom. ( ho. 67. in Ioan.) God is saied in holie Chrysostom. Scripture to haue indurate some, and deliuered some into reprobate sense, not for that these things are done by God (coming in dede of mans owne proper malice) but because God iustly leauing men▪ these things happen to them. And ( in cap. 1. Rom.) He deliuered (into reprobate sense) is nothing els, but he Damascen. permitted. S. Damascen ( li. 4. ca. 20. de fide orthodoxa) It is the maner of holie Scripture to cal the permission of God his act. As, He hath geuen them the spirite of Isa. 6. Rom. 11. v. 8. com [...]unction; eyes, that they may not see: and eares that they may not heare, and the like; al which are to be vnderstood not as proceding of Gods action, but as of Gods permission, to wit, for mans free power of working. S. Hierom ( Epist. Hierom. 150. resp. ad q. 10.) Not Gods patience is to be accused, but their hardnes who abuse Gods goodnes to their owne perdition. Theodoret. ( q. 17 in Exod.) It Theodoret. is to be noted, that if Pharao had bene euil by nature, he had neuer changed his minde. And (after diuers mutations recited, how sometimes he would dismisse Israel, other times be would not) al these (saith he) Moyses recorded to teach vs, that neither Pharao was of peruerse nature, neither did our Lord God make his mind hard and rebellious. For he that now inclineth to this part, now to that, plainly sheweth freewil of the mind.

S. Gregorie ( li. 11. ca. 8. Moral.) God is saied to indurate by his iustice, when he doth not mollifie a reprobate hart. And ( li. 31. c. 11.) Our Lord is saied to Gregorie the great. haue indurated Pharaoes hart, not that he brought the hardnes itselfe, but for that his desertes so requiring, he did not mollifie it, with sensibilitie of feare infused from aboue. S. Isidorus ( li. 2. ca. 19. de summo bono.) Sinne is permitted Isidorus. for punishment of sinne, when a sinner, for his desert forsaken of God, goeth into an other worse sinne.

Finally conference of holie Scriptures, as in other hard places, so in this, geueth light for better vnderstanding therof. For diuers places do not only shew that in al these resistances, mutations of mind, and obstinacie of hart, Pharao was neuer depriued of freewil, as the Doctors before cited do note, but also The act of induration attributed to Pharao himself in diuers places. expressly attribute the act of induration to himself. Cha 8. v. 15. Pharao seeing that rest vvas geuen he hardned his ovvne hart. v. 32. where the latin readeth in the passiue voice, ingrauatum est cor Pharaon [...], Pharaos hart vvas hardned, which is Bible. 1552. 1577. 160 [...]. more obscure, the Hebrew saieth actiuely, & the protestantes so translate, Pharao hardned his hart this time also. Likewise cha. 9. v. 7. the Hebrew saieth, Pharaoes hart hardned it selfe. Also v. 35. He hardned his ovvne hart, he and his [Page 175] seruants. Cha. 13. v. 15. VVhen Pharao had indurated himselfe. And, 1. Reg▪ 6. v. 6. How it [...], God cast Pharao into the sea▪ when himselfe ranne in wilfully▪ VVhy do you harden your hartes, as Aegypt and Pharao hardned their hart? Al which are reconciled with the other textes, that say God indurated Pharaoes hart, vnderstanding that phrase in like sense to this. (cha. 15. v 4.) God hath cast Pharao his chariotes, and his armie into the sea. VVhere God only permitted, and no way forced Pharao and his armie, to follow the Hebrewes betwen the walles of water. As before is here noted out of S. Basil, and S. Augustin, and the text it Ser. 89. selfe maketh it euident. Againe manie other places confirme, that not God, Not God but man the cause of sine: proued by other scrptures. but the sinners owne wilfulnes, is the proper cause of his sinne. Iob. 24. v. 23 God hath geuen him place for penance, and he abuseth it vnto pride. Eccle. 8. v. 11. Because sentence is not quickly pronounced against the euil, the children of men cōmit euils without al feare. Osee. 13, v. 9. Perdition is thine, o Israel, only in me thy helpe. Rom. 2. v. 4. The benignitie of God bringeth thee to penance: but according to thy hardnes, and impenitent hart, thou heapest to thy selfe wrath. Ephes. 4. v. 19. Gentiles haue geuen vp themselues to impudicitie ( or vvantonnes.) And manie like places shew, that God is not the mouer, author, nor forcer of anie thing, as it is sinne: but man him selfe is the author by wilfully consenting to tentations of the diuel, the flesh, and the world, and by abusing Gods benefites, and resisting his grace.

11. They also] True miracles, being aboue the course of al created nature, True miracles do certainly proue the truth. can not be wrought but by the powre of God; who is truth it selfe, and can Mar. 16. v. 20. lib. 2. v. 4. not geue testimonie to vntruth, and therfore they certainly proue that to be true, for which they are done▪ Other strange things done by enchanters, false prophetes, and diuels, are not in deede true miracles▪ but either sleights, by quicknes and nimblenes of hand, called legier-demain, conueing one thing Some strange things done by sleight, by deceipt of senses, & by course of nature, especially by diuels. away and bringing an other; or false presentations deceiuing the senses▪ and S. Aug. li. 18. c. 18. ciuit. imaginations of men, by making things seme to be that they are not; or els are wrought by applying natural causes knowen to some, especially to diuels; who also by their natural force can do great thinges, when God permitteth them. And so by enchantments and certaine secrecies, these sorcerers either conueyed away the roddes, and water, and brought dragons, and bloud▪ in their place, & more frogges, from other places; or els by the diuels vsing natural agents turned roddes into serpentes, water into bloud, & other matter into frogges: al which might be done naturally in longer time, & by the diuel in short time. Manie things aboue the diuels natural powre. The diuels powre is much restrained. But manie thinges are wholy aboue the diuels powre: as to destroy the world, to change the general order therof: to create of nothing: to raise the dead to life; to geue sight to the borne blind; & the like, which are only in Gods powre. In things also diuels naturally can do, they are much restrayned by Gods goodnes, lest they should deceiue, or hurt mankind at their pleasure. So these Enchanters fayled in the fourth attempt, not able to make more sciniphes, ▪nor anie more such prodiges: and were only permitted to produce such serpents, as were deuoured by Aarons serpent: and to change water into bloud: and to increase the number of frogges, for the greater plague, and no profite of the Aegyptians. Neither could they remoue anie plague. Nay themselues were so plagued with boyles, that for paine, or for shame, they could not stand before Moyses.

It is further to be obserued, that whensoeuer anie haue attempted to worke False prophets euer faile, when they pretend by miracles to proue their doctrine. Simon Magus confounded. miracles to proue false doctrin, they haue failed, and by Gods prouidence bene 3. Reg. [...]9. lib. 1. confounded. As when Baals false prophetes, crying to their false goddes from morning til noone, could not bring fire for their sacrifice: and yet the diuel brought fire to burne Iobs shepe and seruants: God permitting the one, and [Page 176] not the other. God also for a time suffered Simon Magus to make shew of miracles, and at last (as Egesippus li. 3. de excid. Hierosol. c. 2. and manie others testifie) to flie into the ayer, as though he would haue ascended into heauen, but S Peter praying to God, the magician, notwithstanding his wings wherwith he presumed to flie, fel downe and broke his legges, that he could not goe. To omitte manie examples, Gregorius Turonensis li. 2. hist. Franc. c. 3. witnesseth, that one Cyrola an Arian Patriarch, pretending to obtaine of God Cyrola an Arian Bishop detected. sight to a man, that feaned him selfe blind, the man was presently blind in deede, and exclaming cryed: Take here thy money which thou gauest me, to deceiue the world, restore me my sight, which I had euen now, and by thy perswasion, and for this money, I feaned to want. It happened worse to one Bruley a poore man in Geneua, whom Caluin with wordes and money perswaded Caluins attempt misproued and he de [...]iued to feane him selfe dead, and so pretending to raise him to life, the man was found dead in dede, and not he but his wife (hauing consented to the deuise) lamented in earnest, enuehing against that false Apostle, calling him a secrete these, and a wicked murderer, that had killed her husband. So writeth M. Ierom Bolseck in vita Caluini. And besides the womans vnexpected outcrie, and asseue [...]ation, that her husband was not dead before, but that, through Caluins perswasions, and promises to releue them with almes, they so feaned, al Geneua did knowe, that Caluin endeuoured to raise the man, and could not. These and manie others haue attempted and could do nothing, but against them selues.

Al the danger is when in dede wonders are done that may seme to be miracles. Gods prouidence in most danger. 1 His special warning not to credit preachers of a new Religion, though they pretend to be prophetes, or to worke wonders. 2 Most dangerous seducers reigne but short time. 3 Notes to know Antichrist. 4 Against most dangerous assaltes God sendeth most forcible resistāce. Against such therfore Gods prouidence more particularly assisteth his seruantes diuers wayes. First he warneth al to stand fast when such tentations happen. Deut. 13. If there rise among you a prophet, or one that saieth, he hath sene a dreame, and fortelleth a signe, and a wonder, and it cometh to passe which he spake, and he say to thee: Let vs goe & folow strange goddes, whom thou knowest not, and let vs serue them, thou shalt not heare the wordes of that prophet, or dreamer. In like maner our Sauiour foretelling that false christes, Mat. 24. & false-prophetes, shal by great signes & wonders seduce many, warneth al saying: Loe I haue fortold you. If therfore they shal say vnto you: He is in the desert, goe not out. Behold in the closets, beleue it not. Secondly God suffered not the Enchanters of Aegypt, nor Simon Magus long: and for the elect, the dayes of Antichrists dangerous persecution shal be shortned. Thirdly holy Scripture so describeth Antichrist, and his actes, as when he cometh he may Ioan 5. 2. Thes. 2. Apoc. 13. be sooner knowne. Our Sauiour saieth: The Iewes wil receiue him. S. Paul calleth him the man of sinne, importing one singular man, and the same replete with al wickednes▪ extolled aboue al that is called God, or is vvorshipped. Neither worshipping true God, nor other false God aboue him selfe. He shal be deadly wonded and cured. Not only he shal shew strange wonders, but also one of his prophetes shal bring fire from the firmament, & his image shal speake. Fourtly as our Lord gaue powre and authoritie to his great Prophet Moyses, against the Aegyptian Enchanters, in the end of the law of nature, before the written law: and to his first chief vicar S. Peter, in the beginning of the law of grace, to control & confound Simon Magus: so he wil send his two reserued great Prophetes Enoch and Elias nere the end of the world, to resist Antichrist, and to teach, testifie, and confirme with their bloud the doctrin of Christ. For they Apoc. 11 A [...]oc. 20. shal be slaine, and rise againe after three dayes, and ascend into heauen. Then See. pag. 19. Antichrist holding him selfe most secure, shal sudainly be destroyed. 2. Thes. 2.

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CHAP. VIII. The second plague is of frogges. 7. the enchanters make the like. 8. Pharao promiseth to let the Israelites goe and sacrifice, so the frogges be taken away 13 which being donne he breaketh promise. 16. The third plague is of sciniphes. 18. which the enchanters can not make. 21. The fourth is of flies. 29. Pharao againe promiseth to dismisse the people of God, but doth it not.

OVR Lord also said to Moyses: Goe in to Pharo, and 1 thou shalt say vnto him: This saith the Lord: Dismisse my people, for to sacrifice vnto me. † but If Pharao had not freewil threatning of punishmēt were vniust. Origen. li. 3. Per [...]ar. c. de. lib a [...]b [...]it. He that can not do otherwise doth not sinne, as both lerned and vnlerned cōfesse. S Aug. de ver [...] Relig. c. 14. if thou wilt not 2 dismisse them, behold I wil strike al thy coastes with frogges. † And the riuer shal bubble with frogges: which shal come 3 vp, and enter into thy house, and thy bed chamber, and vpon thy bedde, and into the houses of thy seruantes, and vnto thy people, and into thy ouens, and into the remaines of thy meates: † and vnto thee, & to thy people, and to 4 al thy seruantes shal the frogges enter. † And our Lord said 5 to Moyses: Say vnto Aaron: Stretch forth thy hand vpon the floudes, and vpon the riuers and the pooles, and bring forth The 2. plague Multitude of frogges. frogges vpon the Land of Aegypt. † And Aaron stretched 6 forth his hand vpon the waters of Aegypt, and the frogges came vp, and couered the Land of Aegypt. † And 7 the enchanters also by their enchantments did in like maner, and they brought forth frogges vpon the Land of Aegypt. † And Pharao called Moyses & Aaron, and said to them: 8 The Enchā ters could bring more frogges, but not take these away. Pray ye to the Lord to take away the frogges from me & from my people: and I wil dismisse the people to sacrifice vnto the Lord. † And Moyses said to Pharao: Appoint me 9 when I shal pray for thee, and for thy seruantes and for thy people, that the frogges may be driuen away from thee and from thy house, and from thy seruantes, and from thy people: and may remaine only in the riuer. † Who answered: 10 To morow. But he said: According to thy word wil I doe: that thou maist know that there is not the like to the Lord our God. † And the frogges shal depart from thee, and from 11 thy house, and from thy seruantes, and from thy people: and shal remaine only in the riuer. † And Moyses and Aaron 12 went [...]orth from Pharao: and Moyses cried to our Lord for [Page 178] the promise, concerning the frogges, which he had agreed to Pharao † And our Lord did according to the word of Moyses: 13 and the frogges dyed out of the houses, and out of the villages, and out of the fieldes: † and they gathered them together 14 into huge heapes, and the earth did rotte. † And 15 Pharao seing that rest was geuen Pharaos induration ascribed to himself he hardned his owne hart; and heard them not, as our Lord had commanded. † And 16 our Lord said to Moyses: Speake to Aaron: Stretch forth thy rodde, and strike the dust of the earth: and be there The 3. plague Sciniphes, smale flying beastes, especially molesting mens eyes▪ Philo l. 1. de vita Moysi. Sciniphes in the whole Lord of Aegypt. † And they did so. And 17 Aaron streched forth his hand, holding the rodde: and he stroke the dust of the earth, and there were made sciniphes on men and on beastes: al the dust of the earth was turned into sciniphes through the whole Land of Aegypt. † And the 18 enchaunters with their enchauntmentes practised in like maner, to bring forth sciniphes, and The diuels powre▪ limited by God Iob▪ 1. 2 they could not: and there were sciniphes as wel on men as on beastes † And the 19 enchaunters said to Pharao: The enchanters conuinced in their vnderstanding, confessed the power of God, but not changed in affection, persisted in malice against the truth. This is the finger of God. And Pharaoes hart was indurate, and he heard them not as our Lord had commanded. † Our Lord also said to Moyses: Arise 20 early, and stand before Pharao: for he wil goe forth to the waters: and thou shalt say to him: This saith our Lord: Dismisse my people to sacrifice vnto me. † And if thou wilt not 21 dismisse them, behold I wil send in vpon thee, and vpon thy seruantes, and vpon thy people, and vpon thy houses al kind of The 4 plague Abundance of al sortes of flies. flies: and the houses of Aegypt shal be filled with flies of diuers kindes, and the whole land wherein they shal be. † And I wil make the Land of Gessen merueilous in that day, 22 wherin my people is, so that flies shal not be there: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord in the middes of the earth. † And I wil put a diuision betwene my people & thy people: 23 to morow shal this signe be. † And Our Lord did so. And 24 there came a very greuious flie into the houses of Pharao and of his seruantes, and into al the Land of Aegypt: and the Land was corrupted by such kind of flies. † And Pharao 25 called Moyses and Aaron, and said to them. Goe and sacrifice to your God in this land. † And Moyses said: It can 26 not so be done: for if we shal offer the abominations of the Aegyptians to the Lord our God: and Aegyptians worshipping beasts thought it intolerable abomination to kil, or eate, or burne t [...]em in sacrifice [...]n. 43. v. 32▪ 46. v. 34. we kil those thinges which the Aegyptians doe worshippe before them: they wil beate vs downe with stones. † We wil goe forth three dayes 27 [Page 179] iourney into the wildernes: and we wil sacrifice vnto the Lord our God, as he hath commanded vs. † And Pharao said: 28 I wil dismisse you to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the desert: but goe noe farder: pray for me. † And Moyses said: 29 Being gone forth from thee, I wil pray to our Lord: and the flie shal depart from Pharao, and from his seruantes, and from his people to morow: but deceiue no more so, that thou wilt not dismisse the people to sacrifice vnto our Lord. † And Moyses being gone forth from Pharao, prayed our 30 Lord. † Who did according to his word: and he tooke away 31 the flies from Pharao, and from his seruants, and from his people: there was left not so much as one. † And Pharaoes 32 hart In the Hebrew: Pharao hardned his o [...]n [...] hart, also this time. was hardned, so that neither this time would he dismisse the people.

CHAP. IX. The fifth plague is pestilence among the Aegyptians cattle. 8. The sixt boyles in men and beastes. 18. the seuenth, haile. 27. Pharao confessing God to be iust, and himselfe and his people impious, promiseth againe to dismisse the people, 34. but faileth to do it.

AND our Lord said to Moyses: Goe in to Pharao, and 1 speake to him: This saith our Lord, the God of the Hebrewes: dismisse my people to sacrifice vnto me. † And 2 if thou refuse, and holdest them: † behold my hand shal be 3 vpon thy fieldes: and vpon thy horses, and asses, and camels, and oxen, and sheepe, The 5. plague Pestilence amongst cattel. a verie sore pestilence. † And our 4 Lord wil make a merueile betwene the possessions of Israel & the possessions of the Aegyptians, that nothing at al perish of those thinges that pertaine to the children of Israel. † And 5 our Lord hath appointed a time, saying: To morow wil our Lord doe this thing in the land. † Our Lord therfore did this 6 thing the next day: and Not al the beastes died, for some died in the 7 & 10. plagues but al that died pertaine [...] to the Aegyptians. al the beastes of the Aegyptians dyed, but of the beastes of the children of Israel nothing at al perished. † And Pharao sent to see: neither was there anything 7 dead of that which Israel possessed. And Pharaoes hart In Hebr. [...]an [...]bad [...]b Parhaoh Phara [...]es hart hardned it selfe. was hardned, and he did not dismisse the people. † And our Lord said to Moyses, & Aaron: Take [...]our 8 handes ful of ashes out of the chimney, and let Moyses sprinkle it into the ay [...]e before Pharao. † And be there 9 [Page 180] dust vpon al the Land of Aegypt: for there shal be in men, & beastes The 6 plague Boyles in men and beastes. boyles, and swelling bladders in the whole land of Aegypt. † And they tooke ashes out of the chimney, and 10 stoode before Pharao, and Moyses: sprinkled it into the ayre: and there were made boyles of swelling bladders in men and beastes. † Poore Enchanters, that could neither escape, nor cure this plague. neither could the enchanters stand before 11 Moyses for boyles that were vpon them, and in al the Land of Aegypt. † And our Lord did indurate Pharaoes hart, & 12 he heard them not, as our Lord spake to Moyses. † And our 13 Lord said to Moyses: In the morning arise, and stand before Pharao, & thou shalt say to him: This saith the Lord, the God of the Hebrewes: Dismisse my people to sacrifice vnto me. † Because this time I wil send al my plagues vpon thy 14 hart, and vpon thy seruantes, and vpon thy people: that thou mayest know rhere is not the like to me in al the earth. † For now stretching forth my hand I wil strike thee, and 15 thy people with pestilence, and thou shalt perish from the earth. † And therfore In Hebrew I haue made thee stand, in the 70▪ and chalde paraphrasis I haue kept thee aliue. In the Latin. I haue put or set thee, that in thee, through thyn owne malice indurate, I may make knowen my powre to mā kind. S. Aug. de Predest. et Grat. c. 6. The 7. plague Terrible haile, thunders and lightnings. haue I set thee, that in thee I may 16 shew my might, and my name may be told in al the earth. † Doest thou yet hold backe my people: and wilt thou not 17 dismisse them? † Behold I wil raine to morow this very 18 houre Rom. 5. haile exceeding much: such as was not in Aegypt from the day that it was founded, vntil this present time. † Send therfore now presently, and gather together thy cattle, 19 and al thinges that thou hast in the field▪ for men & beastes, and al thinges that shal be found abroad, and not gathered together out of the fieldes, and the haile fal vpon them, shal die. † He that feared the word of our Lord of 20 Pharaoes seruantes, made his seruantes to flie, and his beastes into houses: † but he that neglected the word of our Lord, 21 let alone his seruantes, and his beastes in the fieldes. † And 22 our Lord said to Moyses: Stretch forth thy hand towards heauen, that there may be haile in the whole Land of Aegypt vpon men, and vpon beastes, & vpon euerie herbe of the field in the Land of Aegypt. † And Moyses stretched forth his 23 rodde toward heauen, and our Lord gaue thunders, and haile and running lightenings on the land: and our Lord rained haile vpon the Land of Aegypt. † And the haile and fire mixt 24 together did driue: and it was of so great bignes, as neuer before appeared in the whole Land of Aegypt since that nation was made † And the haile smote in al the Land of Aegypt al 25 [Page 181] thinges that were in the fieldes, from man euen vnto beast: and euerie herbe of the field did the haile strike, and euerie tree of the countrie it did breake. † Only in the Land of 26 Gessen, where the children of Israel were, the haile fel not. † And Pharao sent, and called Moyses and Aaron, saying to 27 them: I haue sinned now also, the Lord is iust: I and my people, impious. † Pray ye the Lord that the thunders may 28 cease, and the haile: that I may dismisse you, and ye tarie not here any longer † Moyses said: When I shal be gone 29 forth out of the citie, I wil stretch forth my handes to our Lord, and the thunders shal cease, and the haile shal not be: that thou maist know that the earth is our Lords: † but I 30 know that neither thou, nor thy seruantes do yet feare the Lord God. † The flexe therfore, and the barley were hurt, 31 because the barley came vp grene, and the flaxe now was boulled: † but the wheate, and other winter corne were not 32 hurt, because they were late ward. † And Moyses going forth 33 from Pharao out of the citie, stretched forth his handes to our Lord: and the thunders & haile ceased, neither did there droppe raine any more vpon the earth. † And Pharao seing 34 that the raine, and the haile and thunders were ceased, he increased his sinne: † In Hebrew. Vaiachbed libb [...] hu vahabadaf. And he hardned his ovvne hart, he and his seruants. and his hart was aggrauated, and 35 the hart of his seruantes, and indurate exceedingly: neither did he dismisse the children of Israel, as our Lord had commanded by the hand of Moyses.

CHAP. X. The eight plague, of Locustes. 21. the ninth darknes: Pharao yeldeth that al men and children should goe to the desert, but not the cattle. 28. At last commandeth Moyses to come no more in his sight, which Moyses forecelleth shal so be.

AND our Lord said to Moyses: Goe in to Pharao: for By Gods patience ouer Pharao & his seruants, in not destroying them, their wicked mind became more obstinate. S. Aug. q. 30. & 36. in Exod. I 1 haue indurate his hart, and the hart of his seruantes: that I may worke these my signes in him, † and thou maist 2 tel in the eares of thy sonne, and of thy nephewes, how often I haue broken the Aegyptians, & wrought my signes in them: and you may know that I am the Lord. † Moyses therfore 3 and Aaron went in to Pharao, and said to him: Thus saith the Lord the God of the Hebrewes: Til when wilt thou not be [Page 182] subiect to me? dismisse mv people, to sacrifice vnto me. † But if thou resist, and wilt not dismisse them: behold I wil 4 bring in to morow The 8. Plague Innumerable locustes, litle flying beastes with long hinder legges that destroy graine, grasse & fruict. Plinius. li. 11. c. 29. S. Greg li. 31. c. 20. Moral. the locust into thy coastes: † which 5 may couer the face of the earth, that nothing therof appeare, but that which the haile hath left may be eaten: for it shal gnawe al trees that spring in the fieldes. † And they shal fil 6 thy houses, and the houses of thy seruantes, and of al the Aegyptians: such a number as thy fathers haue not seene, nor grand-fathers, since they arose vpon the earth, vntil this present day. And he turned him selfe away, and went forth from Pharao † And Pharaoes seruantes said to him: How long 7 shal we endure this scandal? Dismisse the men, to sacrifice to the Lord their God. Doest thou not see that Aegypt is vndone? † And they called back Moyses, and Aaron vnto Pharao: who 8 said to them: Goe, sacrifice to the Lord your God: who are they that shal goe? † Moyses said: With our young and old we 9 wil goe, with our sonnes and daughters, with our sheepe and heardes: for it is the solemnitie of the Lord our God. † And 10 Pharao answered: So be the Lord with you, as I shal dismisle you, and your litle ones: who doubteth but that Because Gods seruants may not temporize in religion, politiques vniustly charge them to haue bad intentions. you intend very wickedly? † It shal not so be: but goe ye men only, 11 and sacrifice to the Lord: for this your selues also desired. And immediatly they were cast out from Pharaoes sight. † And 12 our Lord said to Moyses: Strech forth thy hand vpon the Land of Aegypt vnto the locust, that it come vpon it, and deuoure euerie herbe that remained after the haile. † And 13 Moyses stretched forth his rodde vpon the Land of Aegypt: and our Lord brought in a burning wind al that day, & night: and when it was morning, the burning winde raised the locustes: † which came vp ouer the whole Land of Aegypt: 14 and sate in al the coastes of the Aegyptians innumerable, the like as had not bene before that time, nor shal be afterward. † And they couered the whole face of the earth, wasting al 15 thinges. Therfore the grasse of the earth was deuoured, and what fruites soeuer on the trees, which the haile had left: there was also nothing at al left that was greene in the trees, and in the herbes of the earth, in al Aegypt. † For the which 16 cause Pharao in hast called Moyses and Aaron, and said to them: I haue sinned against the Lord your God, and against you † But now forgeue me my sinne this time also, and pray 17 to the Lord your God, that he take away from me this death. [Page 183] † And Moyses going forth from Pharaoes sight, prayed to 18 our Lord: † who made a very vehement wind to blow from 19 the west, and taking the locustes it threw them into the Red sea: there remained not so much as one in al the coastes of Aegypt. † And our Lord did indurate Pharaoes hart, neither 20 did he dismisse the children of Israel. † And our Lord said to 21 Moyses: Stretch for thy hand toward heauen: and be there The 9. plague Horrible darknes three dayes together. darkenesse vpon the Land of Aegypt so thicke, that it be palpable. † And Moyses stretched forth his hand toward 22 heauen: and there was made horrible darkenesse in the whole Land of Aegypt three dayes. † No man saw his brother, nor 23 moued himselfe out of the place where he was: but wheresoeuer the children of Israel dwelt, there was light. † And 24 Pharao called Moyses and Aaron, and said to them: Goe sacrifice to the Lord: let your sheepe only, and heardes remaine, let your litle ones goe with you. Moyses said: Hostes 25 also & holocaustes thou shalt geue to vs, which we may offer to the Lord our God. † Al the flockes shal goe with vs: there 26 shal Gods people must be resolute in Religion. not a hoofe remaine of them: the which are necessarie vnto the seruice of the Lord our God: especially wheras we know not what must be offered, til we come to the very place. † And our Lord did indurate Pharaoes hart, and he 27 would not dismisse them. † And Pharro said to Moyses: 28 Getre thee from me, and beware thou see not my face any more: in what day soeuer thou shalt come in my sight, thou shalt dye. † Moyses answered: So shal it be as thou hast spoken, 29 I wil not see thy face any more.

CHAP. XI. God biddeth Moyses cause the people of Israel to borow siluer and gold vessels of the Aegyptians. 4. Fortelleth one other plague, the death of the first borne. 9. and that Pharao wil stil be obdurate.

AND our Lord said to Moyses: Yet with one plague 1 more wil I touch Pharao & Aegypt, and after this he shal dismisse you, and compel you to goe forth. † Thou shalt 2 sav therfore to al the people that euerie man aske of his frend, & euery woman of her neighbour vessels of siluer, & of gold. † And the Lord wil geue grace to his people in the sight of the 3 Aegyptians. And Moyses was a very great man in the Land of [Page 184] Aegypt, in the sight of Pharaoes seruantes, & of al the people. † And he said: This saith our Lord: At midnight I wil enter 4 into Aegypt: † and :: euerie first-begotten in the Land of 5 The to plague Death of the firstborne in men & beastes of the Aegyptians. the Aegyptians shal dye, from the first begotten of Pharao who sitteth in his throne, euen to the first-begotten of the handmaid that is at the mil, & al the first-begotten of beastes. † And there shal be a great crie in the whole Land of Aegypt, 6 such as neither hath bene before, nor shal be afterward. † But 7 with al the children of Israel there shal not a dogge mutter, from man euen to beast: that you may know with how great a miracle our Lord doth diuide the Aegyptians & Israel. † And 8 al these thy seruantes shal come downe to me, and shal adore me, saying: Goe forth thou, & al the people that is vnder thee: after this we shal goe forth. † And he departed from 9 Pharao exceeding angrie. And our Lord said to Moyses: Pharao wil not heare you that manie signes may be done in the Land of Aegypt. † And Moyses and Aaron did al the wonders 10 that are written; before Pharao. And our Lord :: hardned [...] As before c [...]. v. 3. c. 9. v. 16. c. 10. v. 1. Pharaoes hart, neither did he dismisse the children of Israel out of his Land.

CHAP. XII. The maner of preparing, and eating the Paschal lambe, sprinckling the dore-postes with bloud therof: 15. eating no leuened bread seuen dayes together. 29. The first borne of men and beastes among the Aegyptians are slaine. 35. The Israelites goe away spoyling Aegypt. 43. Incircumcised me [...] may not eate the Phase.

AND our Lord said to Moyses, and Aaron in the Land 1 The Epistle in the office on good friday. And the 9. prophecie before Mas [...]e on Easter eue. of Aegypt: † This moneth, shal be to you the beginning 2 of monethes: it shal be the first in the monethes of the yeare. † Speake yee to the whole assemblie of the 3 children of Israel, & say to them:“ The tenth day of this moneth let euerie man take a lambe by their families and houses. † But if the number be lesse then may suffice to eate 4 the lambe, he shal take vnto him his neighbour that ioyneth to his house, according to the number of soules which may suffice to the eating of the lambe. † And it shal be alambe 5 without spotte, a male of a yeare old: according also to which rite you shal take Such as had not meanes to take a lambe, tooke a kidde vsing al the same Rites. a kidde. † And you shal kepe him vntil 6 [Page 185] the fourtenth day of this moneth: and the whole multitude of the children of Israel shal Shachatu, immolabunt, shal offer or sacrfice: not only kil, as protestants translate. sacrifice him at euen. † And 7 they shal take of the bloud therof, and put vpon both the postes, and on the vpper-dore-postes of the houses, wherin they shal eate him. † And they shal eate the flesh that 8 night rosted at the fire, and vnleauened bread with wilde lettice. † You shal not eate therof any thing raw, nor boyled 9 in water, but only rosted at the fire: the head with the feete and entralles therof you shal deuoure. † Neither shal there 10 remaine any thing of him vntil morning. If there be any thing left, you shal burne it with fire. † And thus you shal 11 Passage in killing the firstborne of Aegypt, and not of Israel. S. Hiero. in Mat. 26. eate him: you shal gird your reynes, and you shal haue shoes on your feete, holding staues in your handes, and you shal eate speedely: for it is the :: Phase (that is the Passage) of the Lord. † And I wil passe through the Land of Aegypt that 12 night, and wil strike euery first begotten in the Land of Aegypt from man euen vnto beast: and The idols of Aegypt were ouerthrowne, as Dagon was in Azotum. 1. Reg. 5. S. Hierom Epist. ad Fabiol. extradit. Hebr. in al the goddes of Aegypt I wil doe iudgements, I the Lord. † And the bloud 13 shal be vnto you for a signe in the houses where you shal be: and I shal see the bloud, and shal passe ouer you: neither shal there be among you a destroying plague when I shal strike the Land of Aegypt. † And you shal haue this day for 14 a moniment: and you shal celebrate it solemne to the Lord in your generations with an euerlasting obseruation. † Seuen 15 dayes shal you eate azimes: in the first day there shal be noe leauen in your houses: whosoeuer shal eate leauen, that soule shal perish out of Israel, from the first day vntil the seuenth day. † The first day shal be holie and solemne, and 16 the seuenth day with the like festiuitie shal be venerable: no worke shal you doe in them, except those thinges, that pertaine to eating. † And you shal obserue the azymes: for 17 in the selfe same day I wil bring forth your armie out of the Land of Aegypt, and you shal keepe this day vnto your generations with a perpetual rite. † The first moneth, the fourtenth 18 day of the moneth at euen you shal eate Christ obseruing this precept, had no leuened bread at his last supper: and so instituted the Eucharist in vnleuened. azymes vntil the one and twentith day of the same moneth at euen. † Seuen dayes there shal not be found leauened in your 19 houses: he that shal eate leauened, his soule shal perish out of the assemblie of Israel, as wel of strangers as of them that are borne in the land. † Nothing leauened shal you eate: in 20 al your habitations you shal eate azymes. † And Moyses 21 [Page 186] called al the Ancients of the children of Isael, and said to them: Goe take a lambe by your families, and sacrifice the Phase. † And Sprinckling of bloud with [...]yslop here & [...]euit. 14 Num. 19 prescribed signifieth mās deliuerie by Christs bloud working in Baptisme and other Sacraments. Heb. 9. dippe a bunche of hyssope in the blould that 22 is at the doore, and sprinkle the vppertransome of the doore therwith, and both the doore cheekes: let none of you goe out of the doore of his house til morning. † For our Lord 23 wil passe striking the Aegyptians: and when he shal see the bloud on the vppersil, and on both the postes, he wil passe ouer the doore of the house, and not suffer the striker to enter your houses and to hurt. † Keepe this thing as a law to 24 thee and thy children for euer † And when you are entred 25 into the Land, which our Lord wil geue you as he hath promised, you shal obserue these ceremonies. † And when your 26 children shal say to you: What is this religion? † you shal 27 say to them: It is the victime of our Lords passage, when he passed ouer the houses of the chidlren of Israel in Aegypt striking the Aegyptians, and deliuering our houses. And the people bowing them selues adored. † And the children of 28 Israel going forth did as our Lord had commanded Moyses and Aaron. † And it came to passe at midnight, our Lord 29 stroke Punishment conforme to their sinne, for persecuting Gods [...]i [...]st begotten sonne Israel. Exod. 4. v. 22. Theodor. q. 32. in Exod. euerie first-begotten in the Land of Aegypt, from the first-begotten of Pharao, who sate in his throne, vnto the first-begotten of the captiue woman that was in the prison, and euerie first begotten of beastes. † And Pharao arose in 30 the night, and al his seruantes, and al Aegypt: and there arose a great crie in Aegypt: for neither was there a house wherin there lay not a dead one. † And Pharao calling Moyses and 31 Aaron, in the night, said: Arise and goe forth from my people, you and the children of Israel: goe, sacrifice to the Lord as you say. † Your sheepe and heardes take you as you 32 demanded, and departing blesse me. † And the Aegyptians 33 vrged the people to goe forth out of the land quickly, saying: We shal al die. † The people therfore tooke dough before 34 it was leauened: and tying it in their clokes, put it vpon their shoulders. † And the children of Israel did as Moyses had 35 commanded: and they asked of the Aegyptians vessels of siluer and gold, and very much rayment. † And our Lord 36 gaue grace to the people before the Aegyptians that they did lend them: and [...]awful spoile by the warrant of God, Lord of al. they spoyled the Aegyptians. † And the 37 children of Israel sette forward from Ramesse into Socoth, almost six hundred thousand of foote men, beside litle ones. [Page 187] † But also the common people of al sortes innumerable went 38 vp with them, sheepe and heardes and beastes of diuerse kindes exceding manie. † And they baked the meale, which 39 a litle before they had taken out of Aegypt tempered: and made hearth cakes vnleauened: for it could not be leauened the Aegyptians vrging them to depart, & not suffering them to make any tarriance: neither did they thinke vpon preparing any meate. † And the dwelling of the children of Israel 40 that they abode From the promise made to Abraham (Gen 12. v 7.) and his first going into Aegypt (v. 10) to this time were 4 [...]0. yeares. Gal. 3. of which they were in great persecution aboue 80. yeares, before that in seruitude about 60. more, before that also they were strangers partly in Aegypt, partly in Chanaan the rest of this time, See. Gen. 15. v. 13. The 70. read in Aegypt and in Chanaan, for explication, as S. Augustin no teth li. 16. c. 10. ciuit. in Aegypt, was foure hundred thirty yeares. † The which being expired, the same day al the armie of our 41 Lord went forth out of the Land of Aegypt. † This is the 42 obseruable night of our Lord, when he brought them forth out of the Land of Aegypt: this night al the children of Israel must obserue in their generations. † And our Lord said to 43 Moyses and Aaron: This is the religion of the Phase: No aliene shal eate of it. † And euerie bought seruant shal be 44 circumcised, and so shal eate. † The stranger and the hireling 45 shal not eate therof. † In one house shal it be eaten, 46 neither shal you carrie forth of the flesh therof out of the house, neither shal you breake a bone therof. † Al the assemblie 47 of the children of Israel shal make it. † And if any 48 of the soiourners be willing to dwel among you, and make the Phase of the Lord, first al the male that he hath shal be circumcised, and then shal he celebrate it according to the rite: & he shal be as he that is borne in the land: but if there be any man vncircumcised, he shal not eate therof. † Al one 49 law shal be to him that is borne in the land and to the prose lyte that soiourneth with you. † And al the children of Israel 50 did as our Lord had commanded Moyses and Aaron. † And 51 the same day our Lord brought forth the children of Israel out of the Land of Aegypt by their troupes.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XII.

3. The tenth day] Our Sauiour Christ instituting the Sacrament of the Eucharist, Christs action sheweth that the Paschal lambe was a figure of the Eucharist. after the celebration of the Paschal lambe, whiles they were at supper, the night before his death, therby sufficiently declared, that this old Pasch was a figure, not only of his Passion and Sacrifice on the Crosse, but also of that he then did so solemnly with his Apostles. whom also in that action he made Priests, commanding them, and their successors, to do the same in commemo [...]ation of him, til the end of the world. Other circumstances likewise, and conference [Page 188] of the one with the other make it more clere, that as in some respectes it more resembled Christs Passion, and Sacrifice on the Crosse, so in others it Some things in the Paschal lambe prefigured Christ both on the Crosse and at his last supper. more expressed the Eucharist, and mystical commemoration of his death, though also in manie it profigured Christ in both places. For example, The preparing of the lambe the tenth day signified our Sauiours coming into Hierusalem, the same tenth day of the first moone, now represented in the Church on Palmesunday. Also the choise qualities of the lambe, vvithout spotte, a male, of the first yeare, foreshewed in general the puritie, fortitude, meeknes, and al perfection of the true Lambe of God, that ta [...]eth avvay the sinne of the vvorlde. Ioan [...]. More particularly the killing and bereuing the Paschal Lambe of natural life, Some more expresly signified his Passion Others immediatly the Eucharist. the sprinkling of his bloud on the dore-postes, the [...]st [...] at t [...]e [...]ire, and not breaking Ioa. 19. anie b [...]ne therof, most specially expressed Christs death on the Crosse. But the fourtenth day, & the euining agree only with the Eucharist, instituted the night before our Lords Passion, which he suffered the fiftenth (being the ful moore) and at midday, as ancient S. Dionyse of Ariopagite (in two Episties, to Polic [...]rpus, and to Appollophanes) testifieth, admiring the miracle of the sunnes Eclip [...]e, that hapned the same time. Neither did the [...]ating of the Lambe directly prefigurate the oblation on the Crosse, for Christ was not crucified to be eaten but the Sacrament in formes and bread and vvine was expresly figured by eating the lambe with vnleauened bread, and drinking the cuppe therto idioyned (Luc. 2 [...]. v 17.) In like sorte the Lambe immolated in commemoration of the deliuerie of Israel from death, and from seruitude, when the-first-borne of Aegypt were slaine, most aptly prefigured the Eucharist, which is a perpetuat commemoration of mans redemption, and deliuerie from eternal death, and from bondage of the diuel and sinne, by Christes death on the Crosse, which death in dede was the very redemption and deliuerie of mankind, and not a commemoration therof. Finally the immolating of the Lambe vvithin the house with precise commandment to carie nothing therof forth, perteined particularly to the Eucharist, which our Lord celebrated vvithin the house, wherby S. Cyprian ( lib. de vnit. Eccles.) proueth, that the B. Sacrament must not be giuen to anie ou [...] of the Catholique Church, though Christs Passion be extended to al the world, as wel to bring such as are without, into the Church, as to saue those that are Ancient writers expound this figure of the Eucharist. already entred in. In this sorte the most ancient and best expositors of holie Scripture, explicate this special figure of the Paschal Lambe. As we shalhere produce some witnesses in confirmation of this truth.

Tertulian lib. 4. contra Marcionem, expounding our Sauiours wordes: VVith Luc. 2 [...]. desire I haue desired to eate this Pasch vvith you before I suffer saieth, Christ coueted not veruecinam Iudaeorum, the mutton of the Iewes, but professing that with Tertullian proueth, by this figure fulfilled in the Eucharist▪ that Christ hath a true and not a phantastical bodie. desire he desired to eate the Pasch, as his owne (for it was vnmete that God should couete anie thing not his owne) the bread which he toooke, and gaue to his disciples, he made his owne bodie, saying: This is my bodie, that is, a figure of my bodie Figura autem nonsuisset, nisi veritatis esset corpus. But it had not bene a figure (saith he) onles it vv [...]re a bodies of veritie, or, a verie bodie, to wit, not phantastical as the heretike Marcion imagined; because the figures in the old Testament were not figures, except a true bodie answered vnto them. So the Sacramentaries sense, that Tertullian should cal the Eucharist a figure, is quite against his meaning, and maketh him conclude nothing against Marcion; wheras his whole drift is, by the figures of the old Testament to proue, that in the Eucharist Hiere. [...]. v. 19. is the true & real bodie of Christ, and that consequently Christ hath a true and real bodie Origen ( in 26. Mat.) teacheth that in the great parlar. (where Christ did ea [...]e the Paschal Lambe) he also made his new Pasch.

[Page 189]S. Cyprian. ( 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 Psal. 103. 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 The same Sacrifice offered by Priests. 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 1. Cor. 5. 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 S. Gregories moralization of this figure, applied to the B Sracrament. 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 VVhat persons are to receiue the B. Sacrament. 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 [Page 190] 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 The thing figured farre excellleth the figure. 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 The Eucharist is also a Sacrifice. 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 1 2 me euerie first borne that openeth the matrice in the [...] The first lesson at Mattins on Candlemasse day. children of Israel, as wel of men as of beastes: for they are al mine. † And Moyses said to the people: Remember this day 3 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 4 corne. † And when our Lord shal haue brought thee into 5 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 The old Testament proposed cōmonly temporal rewardes. S Hierom▪ l [...]p. ad Dardanum. 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 6 day shal be the solemnitie of our Lord. † Azimes shal you 7 eate seuen dayes: there shal not be seene anie leauened thing with thee, nor in al thy coastes. † And thou shalt tel thy 8 sonne in that day, saying: This is that which our Lord did to [Page 191] me when I came forth out of Aegypt. † And it shal be as a 9 signe in thy hand, and as a moniment before thine eyes: and that the law of our Lord be alwayes in the mouth, for in a strong hand our Lord hath brought thee out of Aegypt. † Thou shalt keepe this obseruation at the sette time from 10 dayes to dayes. † And when our Lord shal haue brought thee 11 into the Land of the Chananeite, as he sware to thee and thy fathers, and shal geue it thee: † thou shalt separate al that openeth 12 the matrice vnto our Lord, and al that is brought forth in thy cattel: whatsoeuer thou shalt haue of male sexe thou shalt consecrate to our Lord. † The first borne of an asse thou 13 shal change for a sheepe: and if thou doe not redeeme it, thou shalt kil it. And euerie first borne of men among thy children, thou shalt redemne with a price. † And when thy 14 sonne shal aske thee to morow, saying: What is this? thou shalt answere him: With a strong hand did our Lord bring vs forth out of the land of Aegypt, out of the house of seruitude. † For In the Hebrew. vvhen Pharao had indurated himselfe. when Pharaoes hart was indurate, and would not 15 dismisse vs, our Lord slew euerie first-borne in the Land of Aegypt, from the first-borne of man to the first borne of beastes: therfore I sacrifice to our Lord al that openeth the matrice of the male sixe, and al the first borne of my sonnes I doe redeme. † It shal be therfore as a signe in thy hand, and 16 as a thing hanged before thine eyes, for a remembrance: because our Lord by a strong hand hath brought vs forth out of Aegypt. † Therfore when Pharao had sent forth the people, 17 our Lord ledde them not by the way of the Philisthijns countrie which is neere: thinking Gods preuention to auoid tentations sheweth free wilin man lest perhappes it would repent them, if they should see warres arise against them, and would returne into Aegypt. † But he ledde them about by the way 18 of the desert, which is besides the Red sea: and the children of Israel went vp out of the Land of Aegypt armed. † Moyses 19 also By this appeareth how much Moyses estemed Iosephs charge concerning translation of his bones. Also S. Paul commendeth it. Heb. 11. tooke Iosephes bones with him: because he had adiured the children of Israel, saying: God shal visite you, carrie out my bones from hence with you. † And marching from 20 Socoth they camped in Etham in the vtmost coastes of the wildernesse. † And our Lord went before them to shew the 21 way by day in a piller of a cloude, and by night in a piller of fire: that he might be the guide of their iourney both times. † There neuer failed the piller of the cloude by day, nor the 22 piller of fire by night, before the people.

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CHAP. XIIII. Iharao persecuting the children of Israel with a great armie. 10. they murmur against Moyses, 13. but are encoureged by him, and passe through the red sea drie foote. 23. Pharao and his hoste Wilfully following are drowned.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to 12 the children of Israel: Let them returne and campe ouer against Phihahiroth which is betwene Magdal and the sea against Beelsephon: in the sight therof you shal campe vpon the sea † And Pharao wil say concerning the children of 3 Israel: They are straitened in the land, the desert hath shute them in. † And I wil indurate his hart, Although the Hebrew Greke and Latin haue, And he, yet Protestants corruptly thrust in the text, that he shal, to make it sound to their sense, that God did not only permit, but worke Pharaoes induration. and he wil pursew 4 you: and I wil be glorified in Pharao, and in al his armie: and the Aegyptians shal know that I am the Lord. And they did so. † And it was told the king of Aegyptians that the people 5 was fled: and the hart of Pharao and of his seruantes was changed toward the people, and they said: What meant we to doe, that we dismissed Israel from seruing vs? † Therfore 6 he made readie his chariotte, and tooke al his people with him. † And he tooke six hundred chosen chariottes, and al 7 the chariottes that were in Aegypt: and captaines of the whole armie. † And our Lord hardned Pharaoes hart the 8 king of Aegypt, and he pursewed the children of Israel: but they went forth in a mightie hand. † And when the Aegyptians 9 pursewed their steppes going before, they found them encamped at the sea side: al Pharaoes horse and chariottes, and the whole armie were in Phihahiroth against Beelsephon. † And when Pharao approched, the children of Israel 10 lifting vp their eies, saw the Aegyptians behind them: and they feared exceedingly, and cried to our Lord, † and 11 said to Moyses: Perhappes there were no graues in Aegypt, therfore thou hast taken vs thence to die in the wildernes: why wouldest thou doe this, in bringing vs out of Aegypt? † Is not this the word that we spake to thee in Aegypt, 12 saying: Depart from vs, that we may serue the Aegyptians? for it was much better to serue them, then to die in the wildernes. † And Moyses saied to the people. Feare not: stand, 13 and see the great wonders of our Lord that he wil doe this day: for the Aegyptians, whom now you see, you shal no [Page 193] more see for euer. † Our Lord wil fight for you, and you shal 14 hold your peace. † And our. Lord said to Moyses: A sorowful hart, lamentably mourning for the people is called crying to God. S. Hierom. in Gal. 4. Why 15 criest thou to me? speake to the children of Israel that they goe forward. † But thou lift vp thy rodde, and stretch forth 16 thy hand vpon the sea, & diuide it: that the children of Israel may goe in the middes of the sea by drie ground. † And I 17 wil indurate the hart of the Aegyptians to pursew you: and [...]. Reg. 6. I wil be glorified in Pharao, and in al his hoste, and in his chariottes and in his horsemen. † And the Aegyptians shal know 18 that I am the Lord when I shal be glorified in Pharao, and in his chariottes & in his horsemen. † And Protection of Angels. the Angel of God, 19 that went before the campe of Israel, remouing him selfe, went behind them: and together with him the piller of the cloude, leauing the foreward, † stode behind, betwen the Aegyptians 20 campe and the campe of Israel: and it was a darke cloud, and lightening the night, so that they could not come to ech other the whole night time. † And when Moyses had 21 stretched forth his hand vpon the sea, our Lord tooke it away, a vehement and burning winde blowing al the night, and turned it into drie ground: and the water was diuided. † And 22 the children of Israel went through the middes of the dire sea: for the water was as it were a wal on their right hand & their 23 left. † And the Aegyptians pursewing went in after them, and al Pharaoes horses, his chariottes and horsemen through the The fourth prophecie in the office before Masse on Easter [...]u [...]. And the second on whitsuneue middes of the sea. † And now the morning watch was come, 24 and behold our Lord looking vpon the Aegyptians campe through the piller of fire & the cloude, slew their armie: † and 25 ouerthrew the wheeles of the chariottes, and they were borne into the depth. The Aegyptians therfore said: Let vs flee from Israel: for the Lord fighteth for them against vs. † And our Lord said to Moyses: Stretch forth thy hand 26 vpon the sea, that the waters may returne to the Aegyptians vpon their chariottes and horsemen. † And when Moyses 27 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, 28 and ouerwhelmed the chariottes and the horsemen of al Pharaoes armie, who folowing were entred into the sea, So in Baptisme al sinnes are destroyed. S [...]yp. [...]p. 76. in fine S. Aug. Tract. 12. & 13. in Ioan. neither did there so much as one of them remaine. † But the 29 children of Israel marched through the middes of the drie sea, [Page 194] & 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 30 day out of the hand of the Aegyptians. † And they saw the Aegyptians 31 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, The same credite is geuen to God speaking by Moyses, as if he had spoken immediatly by himself. S. Hiero. in Epist. ad Philem. & 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 The first of al Canticles, sacred or prophane. Origen. ho. 6. in Exod. sang Moyses and the children of Israel this song 1 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 2 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. 3 † Pharaoes chariottes and his armie God only suffered them to goe into the sea. For they went of their owne accord supposing they might folowe where the Israelites went before. S. Aug. ser. 89. de temp. he hath cast into 4 the sea: his chosen princes are drowned in the red sea. † The 5 depthes haue ouerwhelmed them, they are sonke into the botome like a stone. † Thy right hand ô Lord is magnified 6 in strength: thy right hand, ô Lord, hath striken the enimie. † And in the multitude of thy glorie thou hast 7 put downe thy aduersaries: thou hast sent thy wrath, which hath deuoured them like stuble. † And in the spirite of 8 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 9 ouertake, I wil diuide the spoiles, my soule shal haue his fil: I wil draw forth my sword, my hand shal kil them. † The 10 spirit blewe and the sea ouerwhelmed them: they sanke as lead in the vehement waters. † Who is like to thee, 11 among the strong ô Lord? who is like to thee, magnifical in sanctitie, terrible and laudable, doing meruailes? † Thou 12 didst stretch forth thy hand, and the earth deuoured them.

† Thou hast in thy mercie bene a guide to the people 13 which thou hast redemed: and in thy strength thou hast [Page 195] caried them vnto thy holie habitation. † Nations rose 14 vp, and were angrie: sorowes possessed the inhabiters of Philisthijm. † Then were the princes of Edom trubled, 15 trembling ceazed on the sturdie of Moab: al the inhabiters of Chanaan were starke. † Let feare and dread fal vpon 16 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 17 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. 18

† For Pharao on horsebake entred in with his chariottes 19 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 Musical instrumēts vsed before the law of Moyses in the seruice of God. a tymbrel in her hand: 20 and al the wemen went forth after her with tymbrels and daunces, † to whom she beganne the song, saying: Let 21 vs sing to our Lord, for he is gloriously magnified, the horse and his rider he hath cast into the sea. 22

† And Moyses remoued Israel from These things chanced to them in figure 1. Cor. 10. 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 23 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 24 shal we drinke? † But he cried to our Lord. who did shew 25 him The wholsome wood of the Crosse made the bitter sea of gentiles, swete. Theodoret. q. 26. in Exod. 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 26 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 27 into Elim, where there were twelue fountaines of water, & seuentie palme trees: and they camped byside the waters.

The end of the third age.

[Page 196]

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 The same Church & Religion in this age as in the former. 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 Beleefe in one God. 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 Three diuine Persons. Angels, in forme of men, vvhom, by special instinct of God, he adored as one: and first spake vnto them as to one: Lord if I haue found grace in thy sight, goe not past thy seruant; and by and by as to manie: VVash yee your feete. In like maner Moyses sometimes speaketh plurally as of manie; There appeared to him three men, they saied: VVhere is Sara? sometimes singularly; He said: I wil come. So Lot (Gen. 19.) spake to two Angels representing the Sonne of God, and the Holie Ghost, one God with the Father, first as to manie, I besech you my Lordes, turne into the house of your seruant; after as to one: I besech thee my Lord, because thy seruant hath found grace before thee. VVho likewise answered as one only: I haue heard thy prayer. Againe Moyses sheweth distinction of Persons in God, saying (v. 24.) Our Lord rained from our Lord. Io [...] also (who liued in this age) and his frendes professed and serued the same one God, auouching him to be the onlie God and Lord, that geueth and taketh away (Chap. 1. 2.) He the maker and peculiar Keeper of men. He that taketh away sinne, and iniquitie (c. 7.) He that doth great things, incomprehensible, and meruelous, [Page 197] wherof there is no number, (c. 9.) And that with termes appropriated to the three diuine Persons (c. 26.) In his strength sodainly the seas are Strength (or power) the Father, vvisdome the Sonne, Spirite the Holie Ghost. gathered togeather, and with his wisedom he stroke the proud man. His Spirite hath adorned the heauens. The same Mysterie of pluralitie of Persons in one God is more clere by the Hebrevv text chap. 30. v. 11. and 35. v. 10. where the same actions are ascribed to God, as to one, and as to manie.

But most euident are the promises, figures, and prophecies of Christ our Christ promised to Abraham. Redemer. For besides present abundance of riches, promise of great progenie, and that the same should possesse the fruitful L [...]ad of Chanaan (three special blessings of the old Testament) God promised Abraham a farre greater thing (Gen. 12.) that in his seede al nations and kindreds of the earth should be blessed. In confirmation whereof, God also changed his name Abram (high or noble father) into Abraham (Father of manie nations, Gen. 17. And so he was natural father of foure great Kingdomes, Ismaelites, Madianites, Idumeans, and Israelites: but spiritual father of manie more, to wit, of al that beleue in Christ, Iewes and Rom. 9. Gentiles, from that time to the worlds end. The same promises of possessing To Isaac. And to Iacob. Chaanan and of Christ vvere renevved and confirmed to Isaac. (Gen. 26.) in like sorte to Iacob (28.) for they pertained not to Ismael, nor to the other Christ prefigured by Abraham. sonnes of Abraham, nor to Esau. Moreouer Christ, our Redemer and deliuerer from sinne, and captiuitie of the diuel, was prefigured by Abraham, at last deliuering those from captiuitie, who otherwise endeuoring to shake of the yoke of Cordorlahomor, fel further into subiection and bondage (Gen. 14.) Also Melchisedech, King and Priest, of vnknowen generation, extraordinarie By Melchisedech. vocation, without predecessor, or successor, prefigured Christ King and Priest for euer, who not by successors, but by Priests his vicars, perpetually exerciseth al Priestlie functions. Likewise Isaac borne aboue the common course of nature By Isaac. (Gen. 21) singularly beloued of his father, carying wood on his back for the sacrificing of himselfe (22.) Iacob flying his brother Esau (27.) hardly Iacob. treated by Laban, (31.) yet alwayes inuincible against his aduersaries, (32.) Ioseph hated of his brethren, sold and deliuered to Gentiles, (37.) By them Ioseph. also persecuted, (39.) but afterwardes aduanced, and called the Sauiour of the world, (41.) Iust Iob vehemently afflicted; Moyses hidden for a Iob. Moyses. while, then exposed to danger, and thence deliuered: afterwards manifesting him selfe to his brethren, by them reiected, bewrayed, and flying from Pharao (Exo. 2.) returning againe (Exod. 3. 4. &c.) and at last deliuering the Israelites from bondage of Aegypt (Exo 14) And manie other things, as And manie other things. the ramme sacrificed in place of Isaac (Gen. 22.) the ladder of Iacob (Gen 28.) Iosephs scepter (47.) Aarons rodde (Exo. 7.) Paschal lambe (12.) prefigured Christ, borne of a Virgin; the onlie Sonne of God; sometimes hidden, other [Page 198] times conuersant with men, hated, persecuted, sold, betraied; who caried his ovvne crosse, was sacrificed, vanquished al his enimies, aduanced, and acknowledged the true Sauiour of the world, Redemer and deliuerer of mankind, from seruitude, slauerie, thraldome, and bondage of sinne, death, and the diuel. Prophecie of Christ. Againe Abraham prophecied that of his seede Christ our Sauiour should be borne, when he saied to his seruant (Gen. 24.) Put thy hand vnder my thigh, that I may adiure thee by our Lord God of heauen & earth, that is, by Christ, who should come of his loynes, as S. Hierom (Tradit Heb. in Gen. et explic. Psal. 44.) S. Ambrose (li. 1. c. 9. de Abraham) and S. Augustin (q. 62. in Gen. et li. 16. c. 33. ciuit.) expound it. More euidently Iacob (Gen. 49.) The scepter shal not be taken away from Iudas, and a duke of his thigh, til he do come that is to be sent, and the same shal be the expectation of the Gentiles. Iob as planely: I know Iob. 19. that my redemer liueth. Moyses foreknowing that Christ the true Redemer, and chiefe Lawgiuer should be sent, praied God to hasten his mission, saying: I besech thee Lord, send whom thou wilt send. (Exod. 4.) Sacrifice. Altares. Churces, dedicated.

External Sacrifice was frequent and solemne, as the soueraigne homage to God. And manie Altares erected by Abraham for that purpose (Gen. 12. 13. 15. 22.) Vnbloudie, in bread and wine by Melchisdech (Gen. 14.) other liquide sacrifices (Gen. 35. v. 14) offered by Iacob, with dedication of the place called Bethel: the house of God: which he also before hand promised by Vowes. vow (Gen 28.) Diuers other Sacrifices offered by Isaac, and Iacob (Gen 26. 31. 33. 36.) By Iob and his frends (Iob. 1. & 42.) by Moyses, Aaron, and other ancients of Israel. (Exod. 12.) Al which consequently shew Priesthood, Priesthood. whose proper office is to offer Sacrifice, though amongst al the aboue named, onlie Melchisedech was called a Priest. And among the gentiles we finde that Putiphar (Gen. 41.) and Iethro (Ex. 3.) whose daughters Ioseph and Moyses Priuilege of Priests. maried) were called Priests, or as the word Cohenim doth also signifie, Princes, for they were great and eminent men in their countries. At least those that by special priuilege were exempted from selling their landes to Pharao, and had not withstanding prouision of mantenance in time of dearth (Gen. 47.) were properly called Priests, for such function as they had in seruing their idols. For where vvas true and right Sacrifice, there vvere also right VVhere is no sacrifice no priest is required. Priests, and vvhere Idololatrical sacrifice there were like Priests, and vvhere no external sacrifice at al (as amongst Protestants) there are no Priests, but ministers only.

In this age also (long before Moyses) the Sacrament of Circumcision vvas Circumcision. giuen to Abraham, for distinction of Gods selected and peculiar people, and for remedy of original sinne, in the male sexe of Abrahams seede, and others of his communitie. In the other sexe, and other generations, former remedies of sacrifice, or other profession of faith were auailable. For other sinnes, not [Page 199] only internal repentance was necessarie, which vvas euer principally required Penance. (& therfore Ioseph dealt so seuerly vvith his brethren, til they had hartis sorow Gen. 44 and contrition for their sinnes) but also certaine external purifications, as Mariage. vvashing and changing garments, vvere ordained, (Gen. 35.) Mariage though not then a Sacrament, yet was religiously regarded, with special care of faith and religion in the choise of persons, (Gen. 24. 27, v. 46. c. 28. v. 1.) and of Degrees of cō sanguinitie. certaine degrees of consanguinitie and affinitie. Adulterie was punishable by death (Gen. 38.) and in no wise counted lawful, no not among the heathen. (Gen. 12. 20. 24. 26. 29. 34. 39.) Pluralitie of vviues in some persons and Pluralitie of wiues lawful sometimes, neuer of husbands. Blessings. cases, lawful in the lavv of nature (Gen. 16. 25. 29.) as also afterwards in the lavv of Moyses, not in the law of grace, nor euer pluralitie of husbands.

Spiritual blessing, a preeminence of greater persons, so Melchisedech blessed Abraham (Gen. 14.) Isaac blessed Iacob (c. 27.) and Iacob his sonnes (c. 49.) and the sonnes of Ioseph, with imposition of handes, and framing the forme of a crosse (48.) Other Ceremonies of oyle and wine (Gen. 28. 35.) Signe of the Crosse. Ceremonies. Musical instruments. sprinkling the bloud of the Paschal lambe, eating the lambe standing with their loynes gyrded, shooes on their feete, staues in their handes, and with speede (Exo. 12). Musical instruments in Diuine seruice. (Exod. 15.)

Christes Baptisme prefigured by Circumcision, (Gen. 17.) for Christians are Baptisme prefigured. circūcised (saith S. Paul) in the Circumcision of Christ, buried with him in Baptisme. Also by the cloude vvhich stoode betwene the Aegyptians and Israelites, lightning the night on the one side (tovvards Gods people) dark on the other (tovvards their enemies) and by the redde sea, vvhich saued the children of Israel, and drovvned the Aegyptians (Exo. 14.) Al were baptised in the cloude, and in the sea. So the bread and vvine 1. Cor. 10. offered by Melchisedech, the Paschal lambe, and vnleauened bread prefigured The B. Sacrament. the B. Sacrament, and Sacrifice of Christs bodie and bloud, in formes of bread and wine. Iacob also prophecied of this most excellent Mysterie (Gen. 49.) He shal wash his stole in wine, and his cloke in the bloud of the grape. In like sorte Melchisedechs Priesthood was a plaine figure of Christs Priesthood of the new Testament. Priesthood, who first by himself consecrated and offered his ovvne bodie and bloud, and stil doth the same by his Priests handes of the new Testament.

Diuers other Rites were knovven and obserued by Tradition. So Abraham Traditions. Tythes. paied Tythes to his spiritual Superior (Gen. 1 [...].) taught his children and familie to keepe the way of our Lord. and doe iudgement and iustice, (Gen. 18. v. 19.) Isaac and Iacob kept and taught the Ordinances, Preceptes Forme of iustice. Precepts. Raising seede to the brother Abstinence. and Ceremonies of their ancesters, vvithout Lavves or precepts vvritten (Gen. 26.) Iudas commanded his second sonne to take the widovv of his brother deceased without children (Gen. 38.) The children of Israel abstained from eating the sinevv of the thigh, in remembrance that the sinew of Iacobs thigh was shrunke (Gen. 32.).

[Page 200]Freewil in men proued, by that Iosephs brethren in selling him thought Freewil. euil, not moued nor inclined therto by God, who had no part in their euil thought, but turned it to good. (Gen. 50.) by Gods threatning Pharao (Exo. 8) If thou wilt not dismisse Israel VVhich were vniust if Pharao could not doe otherwise. Likewise by that Pharao often changed his mind, sometimes promising to dismisse the Hebrewes, and againe refusing to doe it, which sheweth (saieth Theodoret) freewil of the mind: and by Gods preuention of rentations, leading the Israelites not the neerest way, but by the desert, lest perhaps it would repent them; and they would returne into Aegypt (Exod. 13) Mans consent therfore is free notwithstanding Mans industry necessarie. Gods wil, direction, and commaundement. And so his industry is required in his dailie affaires, and then to relie on Gods prouidence, otherwise only to expect Gods wil, operation, or protection, man himself endeuoring nothing is to tempt God. Therfore Abraham (Gen. 12.) Isaac (c. 26.) Iacob (ca. 32.) and the parents of Moyses (Exo. 2) being in feare and distresse vsed al prudence to auoid imminent dangers, albeit they had special God tempteth nor to euil. reuelations of safetie and happie successe. Neither doth God euer tempt anie man to sinne, but proueth his seruants and maketh them knowen to the world for example of others, and their owne merit. Gen. 22. Iob. 1. 2. &c.

Onlie faith doth not iustifie, nor workes without saith, but both together Faith and good workes together iustifie, and are meritorious, but neither of them alone. do iustifie, and are meritorious: so Abraham beleued God because he is omnipotent and truth it selfe, and it was reputed to him vnto iustice (Gen. 15.) but this faith was not sole, for it had hope, loue, obedience, and other vertues adioyned, and so his beleuing was an act of iustice. In like maner Abraham was iustified by workes, offering Isaac his sonne Iet. 2. vpon the Altar (Gen. 22.) but this worke presupposed faith, that God Heb. 11. is able to raise euen from the dead. So by workes faith is consummate. By hospitalitie Abraham and L [...]t vnawares receiued Angels Heb. 1 [...]. Perfection in this life. Foure principal merites of Abraham. 1. Prompt obedience. 2. Faith without staggering. 3. Propagation of faith and religion. to harbour. (Gen. 18. 19.) Abraham was perfect according to perfection of this life. (Gen. 17.) most highly commended for foure more notorious actes proceding of two special vertues faith and obedience. The first was his promot obedience, in leauing his countrie and kindred, going he knew not whither, nor how far [...] simply and cherfully expecting Gods further direction, when to goe, and where to abide, (Gen. 12.) The second was his excellent faith presently beleeuing Gods promise (which by al humane reason semed vnpossible) that he should haue innumerable progenie (Gen. 15.) The third was, that he did not only most sincerly and religiously serue God, but also taught his posteritie so to do, as God himself testifieth of him, saying: I know that he wil command his children, and his house after him, that they kepe the way of the Lord, and do iudgement and iustice. 4. Perfect obedience. (Gen. 18.) The fourth was that most heroical act of obedience, admirable [Page 201] to al ages, being readie to kil, and sacrifice his owne most dearly beloued sonne Isaac. For which God sware by himself, that he would manie waies blesse him, because (sateth God) thou hast obeyed my voice (Gen. 22.) He prayed for Sodom, and had preuailed, if tenne iust persons Other iust men. had benne found in that citie (Gen. 18.) And Lot was deliuered from Isaac. thence for Abrahams sake (Gen. 19.) Isaac was also of most sincere mind, deuout to God, exercised himself in meditation or mental prayer (Gen. 24.) Iacob. obtained by prayer his desire of issue. (Gen. 25.) Likewise Iacob is described in the holie text a plaine (or sincere and innocent) man. (Gen. 25. v. 27.) patient and constant in tribulations. (Gen. 29. 31. 32. 33.) He lawfully purchased Esaus consent of the firstbirthright. (Gen 25. v. 31.) He neither He spake truth in mystical sense. lied, nor otherwise sinned, when he answered his father that he was Esau his first begotten sonne (Gen. 27.) but spake truth in mystical sense, agreable to Gods wil and ordinance, who so transposed Isaacs blessing from Esau to Iacob. VVhich Isaac at length vnderstanding, conformed him self therto, and confirmed the same (v. 33. & ch. 28.) giuing Esau such contentment as he could of temporal blessings. Ioseph is renowmed for al vertues, Ioseph. Iob. euen from his youth to his death (Gen. 37. 39. 50.) Iob Was simple and right, fearing God and departing from euil, a iust and innocent man, both before and in his tribulations, not sinning with his lippes: neither spake he anie foolish thing against God (ch. 1.) yea more afflicted retained innocencie (ch. 2.) and finally God receiued his prayer for others, and restored al his losses duble. (ch. 42.) Moyses a most special Moyses. selected Prophet, the meekest man on the earth, of singular Zeale seuerly Nu. 12. punished sinne, but withal most charitably prayed God to forgiue the people Exo. 32. and conserue his Church.

God of his mere mercie electeth al those, whom he wil iustifie and saue, Election is of Gods mercie. Predestination excludeth not ordinary meanes. offering al sufficient grace, iustly leaueth some obstinate sinners in state of damnation, (Gen. 25. Exo. 7.) His predestination, foreknowledge and promise, do not exclude but include the meanes, wherby his wil is done in the iust (Gen. 25. 37. 45 50.) Neither is Gods reprobation the cause of anie mans damnation, but mans owne sinne the proper cause, both of reprobation & damnation. For example, Pharao & his people enuying, vainly fearing Sinne is the cause of reprobation. Pharao and other Aegyptians hardned their owne harts. and for their religion hating, and persecuting the children of Israel, by oppressing them with vnsupportable laboures, by commanding secretly to kil their infants, and that not succeding, by a new decree to drowne them (Exo. 1.) were mercifully after long conniuence, admonished by Gods legates in his name quietly to permit his people to serue him; but they wilfully contemned this gentle admonition, Pharao proudly and insolently answering: Who is the Lord, that I should heare his voice, and dismisse Israel? I know not the Lord, and Israel I wil not dismisse. (Exo. 5.) So [Page 202] they hardned their owne hartes, and more greuously afflicted the faithful God did only permitte them to obdurate themselues. God permitting the wicked to liue, and prosper for a time in this world, not punishing them so much as they deserued, nor mollifying their hartes, not illuminating their vnderstanding vnto effectual conuersion, but iustly permitting them to persist in obstinacie (Ex. 7. 8. 9. 10. &c.). Protection & Inuocation of Angels and Patriarches.

Protection of Angels & inuocation is proued, (Gen. 24. 32. 48.) Patriarches names also inuocated (c. 48. v. 16.) Isaac was blessed & prospered for Abrahams sak [...], because Abraham obeyed Gods voice, kept his precepts S. Aug▪ li 16 c. 36. [...]. & cōmandements, obserued his ceremonies & his lawes. (Gen. 26.) Adoration of creatures. Iosephs rodde adored by Iacob. (Gen. 47.) Moyses commanded to put of his shooes, because the place was holie (Exod. 3.) Swearing by creatures Swearing by creatures. Ominous speach. Dreames. Images. Reliques. Deuotion to holie places. Figure of Christ crosse. lawful, and some times more conuenient, then immediatly by God him selfe (Gen. 42.) Likewise Ominous speach. (Gen. 24.) and Dreames. (Gen 37. 40 41) are sometimes lawfully obserued, and are from God. Idols alwaies vnlawful, but not al Images (Gen. 31. 35.) Reliques to be reuerently vsed, as Iosephs bodie conserued in a coffin in Aegypt, (Gen vlt.) translated by Moyses (Exo. 13.) and so brought into Chanaan, and layed Iosue 24. with other Patriarches in Sichem. Going bare foote to holie places an act of religious reuerence, and deuotion. (Ex. 3.) The signe of the crosse vsed by Iacob. (Gen 48.) a figure of Christs crosse. The wood cast by Moyses into the bitter water, and making it sweete (Exo. 15.) an other figure therof.

Funeral obsequies were obserued by Abraham for his wife Sara Funeral offices (Gen. 23.) with mourning and weeping for her, according to the qualitie of so holie a person, who it is like needed not other satisfactorie workes as Saul and Ionathas, and others slaine in battel, for whom Dauid and his 2. Reg. [...]. court did not only mourne and weepe, but also fasted til euen. He also bought Place dedicated for burial a field with a duble caue, where he buried her, dedicating it for this peculiar vse, and both himself, and Isaac, Iacob, Rebecca, and Lia were there buried. (Gen. 49. v. 31.) Ioseph with al his brethren mourned for their father Iacob, Mourning 40 dayes. Exequies of seuen dayes. first fourtie dayes in Aegypt, then carying him into Chanaan, celebrated the exequies other seuen dayes (Gen. 50.) His particular digging of his owne graue (v. 5.) and both his and Iosephs special charge to be buried amongst their ancesters, and the translation of al the twelue sonnes of Special place of burial rightely desired. No soule before Christ entred into heauen Diuers places in hel. Act. 7. v. 16. Iacob, into Sichem, confirme the desire of burial in one place rather then in an other, to be agreable to nature, and holie Scriptures.

Touching the soules departed, euen the most perfect, went into the lower partes, generally called Hel. But some were in rest, others in paines, according to their desertes, none in heauen before Christ. As S. Hierom (comment▪ in Osee. 13. et Eccles. 3.) proueth by Iacobs vvordes (Gen. 37.) I wil descend vnto my sonne into hel. by Iobs lamentation (ch. 7. et 17.) that al (good and bad) were retained in hel, saying! If I shal expect, [Page 203] hel is my house, and in darknes I haue made my bed. VVhich place or receptacle of such Saintes, as Iacob and Iob, vvas doubtles farre distant from hel of the damned, for betvven Lazarus in Abrahams bosome and Luc. 16. the glutton intorments, is a great chaos (or large space) and yet the highest of these places is called hel.

In respect of Resurrection, the same Iacob called his life in this vvorld Resurrection a pilgrimage (Gen. 47.) and Iob, (ch. 7.) a warfare vpon earth: professing expressly (ch. 19.) In the last day I shal rise out of the earth. And I shal be compassed againe with my skinne, and in my flesh I shal see God. Our B. Sauiour also proueth the Resurrection, because the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob (Exo. 3.) is God of them, not Mat. 22 as they are dead, but as they are liuing, and to returne againe to life in bodie and soule together. Of general Iudgement Iob saieth (ch. 31.) What shal General Iudgement. I doe when God shal rise to iudge? and when he shal aske, what shal I answere him? And Eliu (ch. 34.) saieth: The omnipotent wil render a man his worke, and according to the waies of euerie one, he wil reeompence them. Sodom and Gomorra (Gen. 19.) were example [...]. Pet. 2. [...]p. Iud. Eternal punishment of the wicked: and ioy of the blessed. (saith S. Peter. and S. Iude) of eternal punishment in hel fire.

Of eternal life Iacob professed his hope (Gen. 49.) saying: I wil expect thy saluation ô Lord. And Moyses (as S. Paul testifieth) denied him selfe to be the sonne of Pharaoes daughter, esteming the reproch of Christ greater riches, then the treasure of the Aegyptians. For Heb. 11. he looked vnto the reward. Thus much touching particular pointes of Continuance of the Church notwithstanding breathes from it. Religion. It resteth to see the visible knowen members of the Church, with the heades and gouernors therof, succeding without interruption in the same age, notwithstanding some brake and departed from them, and other innumerable Sectes of Infidels stil multiplied in the world.

To beginne therfore with Abraham, before the former age was ended, Abraham neuer contaminate in Religion. (at which time he was 75. yeares old) holie Scriptures stil speake of him, as alwaies vndefiled, and a true seruant of God, though his father Thare and his brother Nachor sometimes serued strange goddes, (Iosue. 24.) but were reclamed, and the whole familie, (as S. Augustin proueth, lib. 16. c. Thare and Nachor reduced from idolatrie. 13. de ciuit) was persecuted by the Chaldees. VVherupon Thare leauing Chaldea brought Abraham, Lot, and Sarai, so farre as Haran in Mesopotamia (Gen. 11.) whither also Nachor repaired afterwards, and there made his habitation, as appeareth (Gen. 24.) But Abraham vvas sooner, and more specially persecuted in Chaldea, as Iosephus testifieth (li. 1. Antiq.) for his Abraham publikly professed his faith. clere and publique profession of one God, Creator of al things, and that by his only goodnes, and not by mens ovvne povver, happines is attained. Further Suidas (vocab. Abraham) vvriteth, that at the age of 14. yeares, he admonished his father, not for lucre sake, to seduce men by vvorshipping images [Page 204] of false goddes, auouching that there is no other, but the celestical God, maker of the whole world. In vvhich sincere profession hovv he alvvaies perseuered is often testified, and needles here to be repeted. Also Sem, Sale, and Heber Sem. Sale. Heber. his proper ancesters (the ninth, seuenth, and sixth in right line before him) were al holie men, and liued al Abrahams time, much of Isaachs, and part of Iacobs dayes. Likevvise Melchisedech King and Priest (a distinct person, of Melchisedech. an other lineage, as vve suppose, from Sem) liued in the beginning of this age. Al which being renowmed men had great troupes, or rather countries, which Manie professors of true Religion. with them serued the only true God. VVherof we haue example, in that Abraham (being but a stranger in Chanaan) vpon a suddaine exploite, (Gen. 14.) made readie of the seruants borne in his house, three hundreth and eighteene wel appointed, men of armes, al of the same religion; for shortly after they were al circumcised (Gen. 17.) yet was king Melchisedech of more power and authority then he. And the other here mentioned, except his elder brother Nachor, and his nephevv Lot, vvere his ovvne direct progenitors, and by likelihood more potent. Againe from Abraham the succession held on right to Aaron and Moyses, and the vvhole people of Israel, vvhich vvith them passed out of Aegypt through the redde sea.

But in the meane time, diuers also of Abrahams kindred and seede, brake Breaches from the Church. of from this communitie: and fel to idolatrie. For albeit Lot, his brothers sonne perseuered in the true seruice of God, yet Lots sonnes, Moab and Ammon, at least the Moabites and Ammonites, two nations that came of them Moabites and Ammonites. Nachors progenie. (Gen. 19.) were infidels and idolaters. Likewise though Nachor, and Bathuel (Nachors sonne) continued henceforth in true faith and religion, yet Laban (the same Bathuels sonne) had false goddes, vvhich Rachel tooke away (Gen 31) But true religion being not wholly extinguished in these families, both Isaachs wife Rebecca, and Iacobs wiues Lia and Rachel, with their handmaides Bala and Zelpha, either beleued rightly, or were more easily brought Ismaelites. to true beleefe, and seruice of God. Ismael Abrahams first sonne was in his youth euel disposed (Gen. 21.) and for endeuoring to corrupt Isaac (vvhich S. Paul calleth persecution) was together with his mother Agar, Gal. 4. cast out of Abrahams house, yet prospered in the desert; had twelue sonnes dukes, sometimes visited his father, and together with Isaac buried him (Gen. 25.) And at the age of 137. yeares died and was 2. Paral. 12 16. &, 28. put to his people, that is, to others like himself good or euil. Abraham also separated his other sonnes begotten of Cetura (v. 6.) from Isaac, to whom only and not to any other, the promised land of Chanaan, and other Madianites. more special blessings pertained. Of these last sonnes came the people of Madianites, who kept some resemblance with the people of God in religion, and therin prefigured heretikes, that descend from Catholique race, but falling to schisme & heresie, doe not participate eternal enheritance, with the spiritual [Page 205] children of God as S. Augustin teaceth (q. 70. in Gen.) In like sorte of the two sonnes of Isaac, onlie Iacob had the spiritual blessing, and Idumeans. enheritance therto belonging (Gen. 27.) Esau though prophane in maners selling his birthright (Gen. 25. v. 32) which wa [...] asp [...]ritual turisdiction Heb. 12. wherin he was a figure of the reprobate, yet it semeth he kept the true faith (Gen. 35. v. vlt.) But whether he did or no, sure it is, Iob, (who is probably thought to be of his race (Gen. 36.) was a most holie man and a rare example of vertue. But the posterities of them both, and al the progentes of Ismael, and of Abrahams other sonnes by Cetura, sooner or later [...]l to infidelitie Idolatrie stil increasing yet the Church continued, yea also increased. and idolatrie. In other nations of the world, stil new goddes and goddeses were multiplied vpon euerie occasion, As S. Augustin (li. 18. de ciuit.) recounteth diuers. Al which notwithstanding, the true Church and citie of God continued most visible and notorious, yea with meruelous increase, especially after they were more hated and afflicted in Aegypt (Exo. 1.) VVhither they were brought by the strange and special prouidence of God, more strangely preserued, and most miraculously deliuered from thence.

Much more the Church of Christ (wherof this was a shadow, and The Church of Christ in the new Testamēt alwayes visible and great. figure) hath benne and shalbe euer most visible, from the first foundation therof to the worlds end For besides the promises and predictions in the new Testament, al the Scriptures also of the old, which fortel Christ, do withal forshew his Church. Totum quod annunciatur de Christo (saieth S. Augustin de vnitate Eccles. c. 2.) caput & corpus est. Al that is The same Scriptures forshew Christ and his Church. spoken of Christ is (of) the head and the bodie; The head is the onlie begotten Iesus Christ, the Sonne of the liuing God: he the Sauiour of the bodie. His bodie the Church. Againe (c. 4.) Totus Christus caput & corpus est. VVhole Christ is the head and the bodie. The head, the onlie begotten Sonne of God, and the bodie his Church: the bridgrome and bride, tvvo in one flesh. Yea for no other cause (saieth he li. de catech. rud. c. 3.) were al those things written, before the coming of our Lord, which we read in holie Scriptures, but that his coming might be commended, and the future Church prefigured, that is, the people of God through out al nations, which is his bodie. The same doth S. Paul teach vs, not only saying (Gal. 3.) The law was our pedagogue (or conductor) to Christ, but also (1. Cor. 12.) that as the (natural) bodie is one and hath manie members, and al the members of the bodie, wheras they be manie, yet are one bodie; so also Christ. And (Coloss. 1.) that Christs bodie is the Church. As therfore the great blessing of Multitude of progenie promised to Abraham pertaineth to the Church of Christ. redemption and saluation was promised in Christ (Gen. 12. &c.) so it was withal expressed, that al nations, and kindreds of the earth should be Gen. 13. [...]. 17. &. 22. partakers therof, yea so innumerable as the dust of the earth, the starres of heauen, and sandes of the sea. VVhich S. Paule saieth (Rom. 9.) is [Page 206] not ment of Abrahams natural children, but of the children of promise, such as the Romane Christians, and others, Ievves and Gentiles. So S. Iohn Apoc. 7. saw in a vision as a certaine number of twelue thousand signed of euerie tribe of Israel, but after these a great multitude which no man could number of al nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. To say Very absurde to say, the Church of Christ was at anie time obscure. therfore, as some old and nevv heretikes doe, that the Church of Christ some times consisteth of fevv, or, inuisible persons, vvere to say God kept not promise vvith Abraham (Gen. 17.) and to make the bodie and thing figured, more obscure then the shadovv and figure; seeing in the whole time of the Lavv of nature, that is in these three first ages of the vvorld, the Church being but a figure of that vvhich is novv, yet vvas alvvayes visible and notorious, as hath benne declared. And that vvith perpetual succession of supreme Succession of spiritual gouernets during the law of nature. heades, rulers and gouerners. As is before noted in the first age from Adam Iob. 19. to Noe: in the second from Noe to Abraham: so in this third, by the right line of Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, Leui, Caath, and Amram, to Aaron and Moyses, (Exo. 6.) the Holie Ghost not there reciting more genealogies being come to the origin of the Pristlie Tribe, that is to these tvvo vvhom his diuine goodnes selected and ordained, as vvel to speake to Pharao in behalf of the children of Israel, and to bring them out of the Land of Aegypt, as aftervvards by one of them to giue his people a vvritten Lavv, Priesthood Moyses law established in Aarons seede. and in the other a perpetual prouision of spiritual pastors. For in Aaron the Ex. 28. Nu. [...]. elder brother God established an ordinarie succession of Priesthood, from that time to Christ, vvhich before pertained to the firstborne in euerie familie: [...]dioyning the rest of Leuites tribe to assist them, in administration of sacred things. But Moyses the younger brother vvas extraordinarily called (which Moyses chiefe in spiritual and temporal gouernment. God therfore shewed and confirmed by special miracles) not onlie to Priesthood, but also to be as the God of Pharao, Superior of Aaron, chiefe mediator betwen God and his people, as wel in deliuering them from the seruitude of Aegypt, and in receiuing the Law, and deliuering it to them, as in al other supreme gouernment spiritual and temporal during his life.

CHAP. XVI. The people murmuring for meate, and that they had left the flesh pottes of Aegypt, The beginning of the fourth age. 4 God geueth them quailes, and Manna. 16. VVherof they are commanded to gather for euerie day, 22. but the sixt day duble for the Sabbaoth, The second parte of this booke How the Israelites were sustained in the desert, & prepared to receiue the Law. 32. and to kepe a measure of it in the tabernacle for a memorie.

AND they sette forward from Elim, and al the multitude 1 of the children of Israel came into the desert Sin, [Page 207] which is betwene Elim & Sinay: the fiftenth day of the second moneth, after they came forth out of the Land of Aegypt. † And al the assemblie of the children of Israel murmured 2 against Moyses and Aaron in the wildernesse. † And 3 the children of Israel said to them: Would to God we had died by the hand of our Lord in the Land of Aegypt, when we sate ouer the flesh pottes, and did eate bread our fill: why haue you brought vs into this desert, that you might kil al the multitude with famine? † And our Lord said to Moyses: 4 Behold I wil raine you bread from heauen: let the people goe forth, and gather that sufficeth for euerie day: God least it in their wil to be content with ynough, or to couere more, yet suffered them not to haue more, when it came to measurin [...]g, v. 18. & 2. Cor. 8. that I may proue them whether they wil walke in my law, or no. † But the sixt day let them prouide for to bring in: and let it 5 be duble to that they were wont to gather euerie daie. † And Moyses and Aaron said to al the children of Israel: 6 At euen you shal know that our Lord hath brought you forth out of the land of Aegypt: † and in the morning you 7 shal see the glorie of our Lord: for he hath heard your murmuring against our Lord: but as for vs, what are we, that you mutter against vs? † And Moyses said: At euen our 8 Lord wil geue you flesh to eate, and in the morning bread your fill: for he hath heard your murmuringes, which you haue murmured against him, for what are we? neither is your murmuring against vs, but against our Lord. † Moyses also 9 said to Aaron: Say to the whole assemblie of the children of Israel: Approch you before our Lord: for he hath heard your murmuring. † And when Aaron spake to al the assemblie of 10 the children of Israel, they looked toward the wildernesse: and behold the glorie of our Lord appeared in a cloud. † And 11 our Lord spake to Moyses, saving: † I haue heard the murmuringes 12 of the children of Israel, say to them: At euen you shal eate flesh, and in the morning you shal haue your fil of bread: and you shal know that I am the Lord your God. † Therfore it came to passe at euen, and These birdes by Gods prouidence came from other places to the children of Israel Nu. 11. v. 31. the quaile rose, and 13 couered the campe: in the morning also a dew lay round about the campe. † And when it had couered the face of the 14 earth, it appeared in the wildernesse smal, and as it were beaten with a pestil like vnto the hoare frost on the ground. † Which when the children of Israel had seene, they said one 15 to an other: ▪ Man-hu! which signifieth: What is this! for they knew not what it was. To whom Moyses said: This is [Page 208] the bread, which our Lord hath geuen you to eate. † This is 16 the word, that our Lord hath commanded: Let euerie one gather of it so much as sufficeth to eate: a gomor euerie man, according to the number of your soules that dwel in a tent so shal you take vp. † And the children of Israel did so: and 17 they gathered, one more, an other lesse. † And they measured 18 by the measure of a gomor: neither he that gathered more, had aboue: nor he that prouided lesse, found vnder: but euerie one gathered, according to that which they were able to eate. † And Moyses said to them: Let no man leaue 19 therof til the morning. † Who heard him not, but certaine 20 of them left vntil the morning, and it beganne to be ful of wormes, and it putrified. and Moyses was angrie against them. † And euerie one of them gathered in the morning, so 21 much as might suffice to eate: and after the sunne waxed hotte, it melted. † But in the sixt day they gathered duble 22 portions, that is, two gomors euerie man: and al the princes of the multitude By their wo [...]dering at the duble quā titie, it appeareth they intended not to gather so much. came, and told Moyses. † Who said to 23 them: This is it which our Lord hath spoken: The Sabbathes rest is sanctified vnto our Lord to morow. Whatsoeuer is to be wrought, doe it: and the meates that are to be made readie, make them readie: and whatsoeuer shal remaine, lay it vp vntil the morning. † And they did so as Moyses had 24 commanded, and it putrified not, neither [...] was there worme found in it. † And Moyses said: Eate it to day, because it is 25 the Sabbath of our Lord: to day it shal not be found in the field. † Gather it six dayes: but in the seuenth day is the Sabbath 26 of our Lord, therfore it shal not be found. † And the 27 seuenth day came: and some of the people going forth to gather, found not. † And our Lord said to Moyses: How long 28 wil you not keepe my commandementes, and my law? † See 29 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 30 seuenth day. † And the house of Israel called the name therof 31 Manna: which was as it were coriander seede white, and the taist therof like to flowre with honie. † And Moyses 32 sayd: This is the word, which our Lord hath commanded: By anticipation Moyses writeth here the commadment geuen when the Tabernacle and Arck were finished. Exo. [...]. Fil a gomor of it, and let it be kept vnto the generations to come hereafter: that they may know the bread, wherwith I [Page 209] fed you in the wildernes, when you were brought forth out of the Land of Aehypt. † And Moyses sayd to Aaron: Take 33 This Relique was put in a golden vessel▪ Heb 9. though it was infinitly inferior to Christs flesh [...] 6 yea inferior to the flesh [...] anie glorified Sainct. 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 34 put it in the tabernacle to be reserued. † And the children 35 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 36 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 Manna so called of Man-hu. 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 It was a figure of the Eucharist. 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. li. 3. c 37. [...]o 45 T [...] [...]26. Ioan. 6. v. 25. 41. 49. 51. 55. 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 Twelue miracles in Manna. 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. Psal 77. v 25 [...]. li. 1. c 12 cont Occol [...]m [...]. [...]. [...]. li. [...] c 12 par [...]m. 1. Secondly, it was not produced from the earth, nor water, as ordinarie meates 2. are▪ but came from the ayre. Thirdly, how fast or slowly soeuer anie man did 3. 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, 4. 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 5. 6. 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, 7. [Page 210] 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 8. 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. 9. 10. 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 11. 12. 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 No miracle in Protestants Communion. 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 Al the said miracles are more eminent in the B. Sacrament. 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 1. 2. 3. and entire (4). It geueth abundance of grace in this life, signified by the day 4. before the Sabbath, for the glorie of the next li [...]e in eternal [...]est. (5) where is 5. no more vse of Sacraments, but euerlasting fruition of glorie (6) VVhoso 6. 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) 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, 8. 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, 9. 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 10. 11. conceipts loathsome (11) Being worthely receiued into our mortal bodies, our arke or temporal tabernacle, it remaineth in incorruptible effect, wherby the bodie shalbe raised againe from death, and together with the soule be eternally glorified. (12) In the meane time of this pilagrimage of mankind, 12. it is our way-faring special prouision, dailie and supersubstantial bread, til we shal possesse the promised land, the kingdome of heauen in eternal blisse.

CHAP. XVII. The people murmuring againe in Raphidim for want of drinck, our Lord giueth them water out of arock. 8. Amalech fighteth with them And Moyseslifting vp his hand in prayer, Israel ouercometh, otherwise Amalech pr [...]a [...]leth.

THERFORE al the multitude of the children of Israel 1 setting forward from the desert Sin, by their mansions, [Page 211] according to the word of our Lord, camped in Raphidim, where there was no water for the people to drinke. † Who 2 chiding against Moyses, said: Geue vs water, that we may drinke To whom Moyses answered: Why chide you against me? Wherfore doe you tempt our Lord? † The people therfore 3 was thirstie there for lacke of water, and murmured against Moyses, saying: Why didst thou make vs goe forth out of Aegypt, to kil vs, and our children, and our beastes with thirst. † And Moyses cried to our Lord, saying: What 4 shal I doe to this people? Yet a litle while, and they wil stone me. † And our Lord said to Moyses: Goe before the people, 5 and take with thee of the ancients of Israel: and the rodde wherwith thou didst strike the riuer, take in thy hand, and goe. † Behold I wil stand there before thee, vpon the rocke 6 Horeb: and thou shalt strike the rocke, and water shal goe out therof, that the people may drinke. Moyses did so before the ancientes of Israel: † and he called the name of that 7 place, Temptation, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and for that they tempted our Lord, saying: Is the Lord amongst vs or not? † And Amalec came, and fought 8 against Israel in Raphidim. † And Moyses sayd to Iosue: 9 Choose out men: and goe forth and fight against Amalec: to morow I wil stand in the toppe of the hil, hauing the rodde of God in my hand. † Iosue did as Moyses had spoken, and 10 he fought against Amalec: but Moyses and Aaron and Hur went vp vpon the toppe of the hil. † And when Moyses 11 lifted vp his hands, Israel ouercame: but If this ceremonie of holding vp his handes was of such importance in the law of nature, why do Heretikes deride the same, and the like in the Catholique Church? VVheras also our Sauiour lifting vp his hands blessed his disciples. Luc. 24 S Damascen also teacheth ( li 4. c. 12 Oxthox.) that this exten [...]ion of his handes prefigured the Crosse of Christ. And now it representeth the same. if he did lette them downe a little, Amalec ouercame. † And the handes 12 of Moyses were heauie: therfore they tooke a stone, and putte vnder him, wherupon he sate: and Aaron and Hur staied vp his handes on both sides. And it came to passe that his handes were not wearie vntil sunne sette. † And Iosue 13 put Amalec to flight, & his people by the edge of the sword. † And our Lord said to Moyses: Write this for a monument 14 in a booke, & deliuer it to the eares of Iosue: for I wil destroy the memorie of Amalec from vnder heauen. † And Moyses 15 builded an Altar: and called the name therof, Our Lord my exaltation, saying: † Because the hand of our Lords 16 throne, and the warre of our Lord shal be against Amalec, from generation vnto generation.

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CHAP. XVIII. Iethro Moyses father in law bringeth to him his wise and childrens, 8. And hearing the great workes of God. 12. offereth Sacrifice. 13 and Wisely aduised Moyses to appoint subordinate officers to iudge lesse causes, reseruing the greater to him selfe.

AND when Iethro the Cohen in Hebrew signifieth Pri [...]e o [...] P [...]st which offices in the law of nature were often ioyned in one person. priest of Madian, the allied of 1 Moyses, had heard al the thinges, that God had done to Moyses, and to Israel his people, and that our Lord had brought forth Israel out of Aegypt: † he tooke Sephora 2 the wife of Moyses whom he had sent backe: † and her 3 two sonnes, of which one was called Gersam, his father saying: I haue bene a stranger in a forren countrie. † And 4 the other Eliezer: for the God of my father, quoth he, is my helper, and hath deliuered me from Pharaoes sword. † Iethro therfore the allied of Moyses came and his sonnes, 5 and his wife to Moyses into the desert, where he was camped beside the mountayne of God † And he sent word to 6 Moyses, saying: I Iethro thy allied come to thee, and thy wife, and thy two children with her. † Who going forth 7 to mere his allied, adored, and kissed him: and they saluted on an other with wordes of peace. And when he was entred into the tent, † Moyses told his allied al thinges that our 8 Lord had done to Pharao, and the Aegyptians for Israel: and the whole trauaile which had chanced to them in the iourney, and that our Lord had deliuered them. † And 9 Iethro reioyced for al the good thinges, that our Lord had done to Israel, because he had deliuered them out of the handes of the Aegyptians, † and he said: Blessed is the 10 Lord, that hath deliuered you out of the hand of the Aegyptians, and out of the hand of Pharao, that hath deliuered his people out of the hand of Aegypt. † Now 11 doe I know, that the Lord is great aboue al goddes: for because they dealt proudely against them. † Iethro therfore 12 the allied of Moyses offered holocaustes and hostes to God: and Aaron and al the ancientes of Israel came, to eate bread with him before God. † And the next day Moyses sate 13 to iudge the people, who stoode by Moyses from morning [Page 213] vntil night. † Which thing when his allied had seene, to 14 witte, al thinges that he did in the people, he said: What is this that thou doest in the people? Why sittest thou alone, and al the people attendeth from morning vntil night? † To 15 whom Moyses answered: The people cometh to me seeking the sentence of God. † And when anie controuersie chanceth 16 among them, they come vnto me to iudge betwene them, and to shew the preceptes of God, and his lawes. † But he said: Thou doest not wel: † thou art t [...]red with 17 18 foolish labour, both thou, and this people that is with thee, the busines is aboue thy strength, thou alone canst not susteyne it. † But Manifold wisdome, wherof Daniel prophecieth (c. 12. v. 4) in Christian gentils, was here prefigured in Iethio a gentil heare my wordes and counseils, and God 19 shal be with thee. Be thou to the people in those thinges that pertaine to God, to report their wordes vnto him: † and to shew to the people the ceremonies and rite of 20 wor [...]hipping, and the way wherin they ought to walke, and the worke that they ought to doe. † And prouide out of 21 al the people men that are wise, and doe feare God, in whom there is truth, and that doe hate aua [...]ice, and appointe of them tribunes, and centurions, and quinquagenarians, and deanes, † which may iudge the people at al tymes: and 22 what great matter soeuer [...]a [...] fal out, let them referre it to thee and let them iudge the lesse matters only: and so it may be lighter for thee, the burden being imparted vnto others. † If thou doest this, thou shalt fulfil the commandment 23 of God, and shal be able to beare his preceptes: and al this people shal returne to their places with p [...]eace. † Which 24 thinges when Movses heard To whom Moyses willingly yelded. Origen. in hunc locum. Morally Superiors are admonished by Moyses example to lerne of a [...]e man, that which is good. 5. Chrysostom. [...]o. de fer [...]nd [...]s reprehensio [...]b [...]. [...]. he did al thinges that he had suggested vnto him. † And choosing substantial men out of 25 al Israel, he appointed them princes of the people, tribunes, and centurions, and quinquagenarians, and deanes. † Who 26 iudged the people at al time: and whatsoeuer was of greater difficultie they referred to him, themselues iudging the easier cases only. † And he dismissed his allied: who returning 27 went into his countrie.

CHAP. XIX. Nere to mount sinai, with commemoration of their deliuerie from Aegypt [...] the people are commanded to be sanctified. [...]6. and so our Lord coming in thunders and lightnings speaketh with Movses.

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IN the third moneth of the depature of Israel out of the 1 Land of Aegept,▪ this day they came into To this place (which was their 12 mansion) they came the 47. day after they parted from Aegypt. And the third day folowīg which was the [...]o, the law was geuen in mount Sinay S. Hierom. Epist 1. ad Fabiolam. the wildernesle of Sinai, † For departing out of Raphidim, and coming 2 to the desert of Sinai, they camped in the same place, and there Israel pitched their tentes ouer against the mountaine. † And Moyses went vp to God: and our Lord called 3 him from the mountaine, and said: God would haue their free consent, els it were not a perfect couenant Theodoret. q 35 in Exod. This shalt thou say to the house of Iacob, and shalt tel the children of Israel: † Your selues haue sene what I haue done to the Aegyptians, 4 how I haue carried you vpon the winges of eagles, and haue taken you vnto me. † If therfore you wil heare my 5 voice, and keepe my couenant, you shal be In this couenant God promiseth particular loue; Priestlie function, wherby they might better serue him; and effectual grace and sanctitie. my peculiar of al peoples: for al the earth is myne. † And you shal be vnto 6 me The people promise loyaltie to God; and to keepe his commandements. a priestlie kingdome, and So Angels & Saincts offer our prayers & other good workes to God, though he know al things before hand. a holie nation: these are the wordes that thou shalt speake to the children of Israel. † Moyses came: and calling together the nations of the 7 people, he declared al the wordes which our Lord had commanded him. † And al the people answered together :: Al 8 thinges that our Lord hath spoken, we wil doe. And when Moyses had reported the peoples wordes to our Lord, † our 9 Lord said to him: Now presently wil I come to thee in the darkenesse of a cloude, that the people may heare me speaking to thee, and may beleue thee for euer. Moyses therfore :: told the peoples wordes to our Lord † Who said to him: 10 Goe to the people, and sanctifie them to day, and to morow, and let them wash their garmentes. † And let them be 11 readie against the third day: for in the third day the Lord wil descend in the sight of al the people vpon the mount Sinai. † And thou shalt appoynt certaine limites to the people 12 in circuite, and shalt say to them: Beware ye ascend not into the mount, and that you touch not the endes therof: euerie one that toucheth the mount, dying shal dye. † Handes shal 13 not touch him, but he shal be stoned to death, or shal be shot through with arrowes: whether it be beast, or man, it shal not liue. When the trumpet shal beginne to sound, then let them ascend into the mount. † And Moyses came downe 14 from the mount to the people, and sanctified them. And when they had washed their garments, † he said to them: 15 Be readie against the third day, and come not neere your wiues. † And now the third day was come, and the morning 16 appeared: and behold thunders deganne to be heard, [Page 215] and lightenings to flash, and a verie thicke cloude to couet the mount, and the noyse of the trumpet sounded exceedingly: and the people, that was in the campe, feared. † And 17 when Moyses had brought them forth to mete with God from the place of the campe, they stoode at the botome of the mount † And al the mount Sinai smoked: for because 18 our Lord was descended vpon it in fyre, and the smoke arose from it as out of a fornace: and al the mount was terrible. † And the sound of the trumpet grew lowder by litle and 19 litle, and was drawen out a length: Moyses spake, and God answered him. † And our Lord descended vpon the mount 20 Sinai in the very toppe of the mount, and he called Moyses into the toppe therof Whither when he was ascended, † he 21 said vnto him: Goe downe, and charge the people: lest perhaps they wil passe their limittes to see the Lord, and a very great multitude of them perish. † The priestes also that 22 come to the Lord▪ let them be sanctified, lest he strike them. † And Moyses said to our Lord: The comon people can not 23 ascend into the mount Sinai: for thou didst charge, and command, saying: Put limittes about the mount and sanctifie it. † To whom our Lord said: Goe, gette thee downe 24 and thou shalt come vp, & Aaron with thee: but The people and al inferior clergie also, are to kepe their limites and to lerne Gods wil of their superiors the priests and the people let them not passe the limittes nor ascend to the Lord, lest perhappes he kil them. † And Moyses went 25 downe to the people, and told them al.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XIX.

1. This day.] The first day of the third moneth the children of Israel came into the desert of Sinai so counting 16 dayes remaining of the first moneth when they parted from Aegypt, al the second moneth of [...] dayes, this first day of the third moneth, and three dayes more, in which they were sanctified Agreement of old and new mysteries. by washing and other ceremonies (v. 10.) the Law was geuen the fifteth day, in figure of the Law of Christ, promulgated on whitsunday, the fifteth day after our Redemption. VVherby we see meruelous correspondence of diuine Mysteries, in the old and new Testament. S. Augustin Epist. 119 c. 16. The third part of this booke: [...] Diuine Lawes: M [...]l: and Iudicial.

CHAP. XX. Moyses receiueth the D cologue or tenne commandments of God, for al the people. 23. with rep [...]tion that they [...]al not make [...]a [...] goddes, nor make Altares but of earth, or vnbe [...]ved stone, and without slippes.

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AND our Lord spake al these wordes: † I am the Lord 1▪ 2 thy God, which brought thee forth out of the Land of Aegypt, out of the house of seruitude. † Thou shalt not 3 haue▪ strange goddes before me. † Thou shalt not make to 4 thee▪ a In Hebrew [...] in Greke [...], in [...], in English a [...] [...] This com [...] and [...]e one of the nine folowing Catech. Ro. p 3 q. 9. grauen thing, no [...] any similitude that is in heauen aboue, & that is in the earth beneth, neither of those thinges that are in the waters vnder the earth. † Thou shalt not adore 5 them, nor serue them: I am the Lord thy God mightie, ielous, :: visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children, vpon the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: † and 6 doing mercie vpon thousandes to them that loue me, and keepe my preceptes † Thou shalt not take the name of the 7 Lord thy God in vaine▪ for the Lord wil not hold him innocent that shal take the name of the Lord his God vainly. † Remember that thou sa [...]ctif [...] the sabbath day. † Six dayes 8 9 shalt thou worke, and shalt doe al thy workes. † But on the 10 seuenth day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: thou shalt doe to worke in it, thou and thy sonne, and thy daughter, thy man seruant, and thy woman seruant, thy beast, and the stranger that is with in thy gates. † For six dayes the Lord 11 made heauen and earth, and the sea, and al thinges that are in in them, and rested in the seuenth day, therfore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and sanctified it. † Honour thy father The Epistle on wenesday in the third weeke of Lent 12 and thy mother, that thou mayst be long liude vpon the earth which the Lord thy God wil geue thee. † Thou 13 shalt not murder. † Thou shalt not committe aduo [...]rie. 14 † Thou shalt not steale. † Thou shalt not speake against 15 16 thy neighbour [...]lfe testimonie. † Thou shalt not couet thy 17 neigbours house: neither shalt thou desire his wife, nor seruant, nor handmaide, nor oxe, nor asse, nor any hing that is his. † And al the people saw the voices and the [...]ames, and 18 the sound of the trumper, and the mount smoking: and being [...]ighted and stroken with feare they stoode a farre of, † saying to Moyses: Speake thou to vs, and we wil 19 heare: let not our Lord speake to vs, lest perhappes we die. † And Moyses said to the people. Feare not: for God 20 came to proue you, and that his t [...]rrour might be in you, and you should not sinne. † And the people stoode a fa [...]re 21 of But Moyses went [...]nto the darke cloud wherein God was. † Our Lord said moreouer to Moyses: This shalt thou 22 say to the children of Israel: You haue seene that from [Page 217] heauen I haue spoken to you. † You shal not make goddes 23 of siluer, nor goddes of gold shal you make to you. † An 24 Altar This and other ceremonial precepts are determinate lawes, for obseruing the cōmandments of the first table pertaining to God. of earth you shal make to me, and you shal offer vpon it vour holocastes and pacifiques, your sheepe and oxen in euerie place where the memorie of my name shal be: I wil come to thee, and wil blesse thee. † And if thou make 25 an Altar of stone vnto me, thou shalt not build it of hewed stones: for if thou lift vp thy knife ouer it, it shal be polluted. † Thou shalt not goe vp by grieses vnto myne Altar, lest 26 thy turpitude be discouered.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XX.

3. Strange goddes] Protestants pretend here to proue, that al Catholiques are Protestants charge al Catholiques to be Idolaters. Idolaters, for honoring Sainctes, and their Reliques and Images. And they haue so defamed Catholique Religion in this behalfe, that the vulgar sorte of deceiued people, otherwise knowing Catholiques to be ordinarily of moderate conuersation in life, of iust dealing towardes their neighboures, addicted to prayer, fasting, almes, and manie good woorkes, more wanting They abuse their folowers among them selues: yet supposing them, notwitstanding these laudable qualities, to be Idolaters, are therby auerted from Catholique Religion. And surely it were a iust cause, if it were true. As wel therfore to purge our selues of so haynous an imputed crime, as to remoue this dangerous block of erronious conceipt, we shal here note some of the Protestants egregious lies, against the whole Church militant, and blasphemous reproches against the the glorious Sainctes: then briefly declare the true and sincere doctrine, and They belie the Church militant. practise of the Catholike Church in this point. Luther in his posul vpon the Gospel of our Lordes Incarnation, sayth: Papist [...] Virginem Mariam Deum constituunt: Omnipotentiam [...]i in caelo, & in terra tribuunt. The Papists (saith he) make the Virgin Marie God: they attribute to her omnipotencie in heauen and in earth. In Papistrie al expected more fauour and grace from her, then from Christ himself. His scholar Melancton ( in locis comm [...]) postilling the first Precept, saith: Papistes inuocate Sainctes, and worship Images in heathnish maner. Caluin ( li. de necess. refor Eccles.) saith: those of the Emperours religion (meaning al Catholiques) so diuide Gods offices among Sainctes, that they ioyne them to the Soueraigne God, as collegues; in which multitude God lieth hidden. Against the most glorious virgin mother the same Luther ( ser. de natali virg. Mar.) feared not to say, that he estemed no more of the Blaspheme the triumphant. prayer of S▪ Marie, then of anie one of the people And his reason is worse then his wicked assertion, for that, saith he, al that beleue in Christ are as iust, and as holie as the virgin Mar [...]e, or anie other Sainct how great soeuer. The Magdeburgian Centuriators (li. 1. Cent. 1.) affirme that the virgin Marie sinned greuously, yea compare her imagined faultes with the sinne of Eue in paradise. (li. 2.) They charge S. Peter and S▪ Paul (also after their conuersions) with diuers great crimes. Caluin (li. 3. Inst. c▪ 2. parag. 31.) condemneth Sara [Page 218] and Rebecca of great sinnes (c. 4.) reprehendeth Iudas Machabeus for superstitious, and preposterous zeale, in causing Sacrifice to be offered for the dead. In his commentarie (in 32. Exodi) he accuseth most holie and meke Moyses of arrogancie and pride And (li. 3 Instit. c. 20. pa. 27.) he scuruely scoffeth at al Sainctes in general, saying; If they heare mortal mens prayers, they must haue eares so long, as from heauen to earth. And calleth them not only homines mortuos, dead men, (which S. Hierom reproued in Vigilantius) but also Al modest mē wil condemne these blasphemies. Catholique doctrine and practise conuince their lies. The true Catholique doctrin Honour due to excellencie vmbras, laruas, colluuiem: shadovves, night goblins, stincking silth. yet more, ( li. de vera refor. Eccles. rat.) he calleth them Monstra, carnifices, bestias, monsters, hangmen, beastes. These and like blasphemies modest men can not but abhore and detest. Their lies also are conuinced by S. Hierom, handling this matter of purpose against Vigilantius, by S. Augustin touching it by occasion ( li. 20. c. 21.) against Faustus the Manachey, Thomas VValdensis ( To. 3. tit. 13 de Sacramentalibus) against wiclif. by al Catechismes and Christian Instructions, teaching nothing like, but quite contrarie to these mens reportes. In summe they al teach, that Sainctes are to be honored with religious honour, which is greater then ciuil, but infinitly inferiour to diuine, as the excellencie of God surmounteth al excellencie created.

For better declaration wherof, it is to be considered, that seing by the law of God and nature, honour is due to excellencie, there must be so manie distinct kindes of honour, as there be general kindes of excellencie, which are three. The first of God, infinite, and incomparably aboue al: the second is supernatural Three kindes of excellencie but created, as of grace and glorie: the third is humane or natural, consisting in natural giftes, or worldlie powre and dignitie, al three as distinct as God, heauen, and earth. To these three general kindes of excellencie perteine Therfore three kindes of honour. therfore other three as distinct kindes of honour; to wit, Diuine due to God only, called by vse and appropriation of a greeke world Latria: the second Dulia, belonging to Sainctes, and other holie things, eleuated by God aboue the course of nature, in diuers degrees, but within the ranck of creatures: the third is ciuil honour, due to humane and worldlie excellencie, according to diuers states and qualities of men. The first of these which is diuine, may in no case be geuen to anie creature, how excellent soeuer. The third which is ciuil, as both Catholiques and Protestants hold for certaine, is not competent nor agreable to Sainctes, but to mortal worldlie men in respect of temporal excellencie. Al the controuersie therfore is about the second. VVhich Caluin Protestants denie anie honour to be due to Saincts. Their obiection. First answer. ( li. 1. Instit. c 11. & 12.) and al protestant writers denie & reiect, and so would haue no honour at al geuen to Sainctes. Obiecting as old heretikes did, that Catholiques do al the same external actes, as standing bare head, bowing, kneeling, praying, and the like to Sainctes, as to God himself. VVe answer, that the distinctiō of honour cōsisteth not alwayes in the external action, but in the intention of the mind. For when we do such external actes of honour to God, we intend therby to honour the Creator and Lord of al, and so it is diuine honour, but doing the same external actes to a Saint, we conceiue of him, as a glorious seruant of God, and so we honour him as a sanctified and glorified Example of this necessary distinction. creature, Gods subiect and seruant. VVithout this diuersitie of intentions in your mind, you can not shew difference, betwen the honour you do to God, and that you do to the King, by bowing, kneeling, and the like. For it is the same external action: yet no Christian doubteth but he honoreth God with Second answer. diuine honour, & the King with ciuil. Againe we answer, that we do not al the external actions of honour to Sainctes, which we doe to God. For Sacrifice is donne only to God, and to no Sainct; and because Altares perteine to Sacrifice, [Page 219] they are erected to God only, though oftentimes in memorie of Saincts.

Both which answers S. Augustin gaue long since, to Faustus the Manachie, S Augustin declareth this doctrin: and geueth both the former answers. arguing that Catholiques by doing the same external actes, worshipped Martyrs with diuine honour, and so turned them into Idols, as that heretike inferred. VVherupon S. Augustin declareth, that Christian people celebrate li. 20. c. 21. ‘together the memories of Martyrs with Religious solemnitie, to styr vp imitation, to be partakers of their merites, and to be holpen by their prayers. Yet so that we erect not Altares (because they are for Sacrifice) to anie Martyr, though in Three causes of celebrating Saincts memories. memorie of Martyrs, but to God of Martyrs. For who euer standing at the Altar, in places of Sainctes bodies, saide: VVe offer to thee Peter, or Paul, or Cyprian, but that which is offered, is offered to God, who crowned the Martyrs, at their memories, whom he crowned, that by commonition of the very places, greater affection may arise, to inkindle charitie, both towards them, whom we may imitate, and towards him, by whose helpe we may VVe honour Martyrs with that worship of loue and societie, wherwith holie men are worshipped in this life. VVhose hart we perceiue is prepared to like sufferance for the Euangelical veritie: but Martyrs more deuoutly, by how much more securly, after al vncertainties are ouercome, and with how much more confident praise, we preach them now victours in a more happie life, then others yet fighting in this But with that worshippe, which in greke is called Latria, Latria is honour proper to God. Sacrifice only to God. a eru [...]e property due to God, which in Latin can not be expressed by one word, we neither worship, nor teach to be worshipped but one God. And for so much as offering of Sacrifice perteineth to this worshippe (wherof they are called Idolaters, that offer sacrifice to anie Idols) we by no meanes offer anie such thing, nor te [...]ch to be offered, either to anie Martyr, or blessed soule, or holie Angel.’ Thus farre S. Augustin The same teacheth ‘Theodoret ( li. 8. ad Grecos) Our Lord hath depriued false goddes of the honour, they had in Temples, and in place of them caused his Martyrs to be honored: yet not in the same maner, for we neither bring hostes, nor libaments to Martyrs, but honour them, as holie men, and most deare freinds of God.’ It would be to long to cite manie ancient Fathers, testifying and teaching that Saincts are to be honored.

More compendiously we wil take our aduersaries confession, the Magdeburgian Protestants confesse that the ancient Fathers honored Saincts, and their Reliques. Centuriators. VVho ( Prof Cent. 6.) holding that the Church was only pure from idolatrie the first hundred yeares of Christ, and that it begane to faile in the second and third age, more in the fourth and fifth, and was vtterly perished in the sixth, impute the cause of her ruine, that the very chiefe ‘men taught and practised the honour of Saincts First of al (say they) these horrible and pernicious darknes, as certaine black cloudes couering the whole firmament. rose vp in the ver [...]e assemblie of teachers. For that partly the very Doctors of the Church, partly other supersticious men, augmented ceremonies and humane worshippes in the Temples. For sacred houses began to be :: Manna was put in a golden vessel. Heb. 9. built in al places, with great coste, altogether in heathnish maner: not principally to the end, Gods word might there be taught, but that some honour might be exhibited to the Reliques of Saincts, and that foolish people might there worship dead men. And how pleasant eloquent is that Gregorie, called How saucie are heretikes to scoffe at so renowmed a Doctor! the great, how feruent, when, as from his three footed stoole, he preached the maner of consecrating these houses? And a litle after By this occasion dead creatures, and bloudles half wormeaten bones began to be honored, inuocated, and worshipped with diuine honour. Al which The Doctors o [...] the Church not only wincked at, but also set forvvard.’ Thus the reader seeth, notwithstanding [Page 220] standing their lies, scoffes, and blasphemies, Protestants do confesse, that the Church and her chiefe pillers, straight after the first hundred yeares of Christ, fiue hundred next folowing, honored Saincts and their Reliques. Neither wante there autentical examples of holie Scriptures, wherby the same is proued. As. Gen. 32 48. Exodi. 3. 32. Num. 22. Iosue 5. 3. Reg. 18. 4. Reg. 2. Psalm. 98. and els vvhere.

4. A grauen thing] Here the same falsi [...]iers of Christian doctrin, do not Protestants haue corrupted the text in al their English Bibles. only peruert the sense of holie Scripture, wresting that against Images, which is spoken against Idols, but also shamfully corrupt the text, by translating grauen image, neither folowing the Hebrew, Greke, nor Latin. For the Hebrew word. pes [...]l, is the verie same that sculp [...]i [...]e in Latin, that is a grauen or carued thing. The Greke hath [...], an idol. So al Protestants English Bibles are false.

In the meane time til they correct their bookes, they may please to remember, that God shortly after this ( Exod. 25.) commanded to make Images God commanded to make Images. of Angels, to wit Cherubins. Likewise a brasen serpent ( Num. 21.) Also oxen and Lions (3. Reg. 6. & 7.) Neither are Puritanes so precise, but that they engraue, carue, print, paint, cast, sow, embrother, and otherwise make, and kepe Images, pu [...]tractes, and pictures of men, and other things. As for worshipping of sacred Images the second concel of Nice ( Act. 4.) The concel of Trent ( sess. 25.) S. Gregorie the great ( li. 7. [...]p. 5. & 53.) S. Damascen in diuers Christ, and Saincts are honored in their Images. whole bookes, and manie others, and al Catholique Catechismes and Christian Instructions teach, that the honour is not done to the Image for it self, but at the presence of the Image, to Christ, or Sainct, whose Image it is.

An other controuersie Caluin here maketh, that from these wordes, Thou shalt not make, beginneth the second precept, so counting foure precepts in the first table, and six in the second. But being no matter of faith, how they The first table containeth three precepts the second seuen. are diuided, so al the wordes, and the number of tenne commandemens be acknowledged (for holie Scripture calleth them tenne, Exo 34. v. 28. Deut. 4. v. 13. & 10. v. 4) we wil not contend: but only as more reasonable we folow the common maner of diuiding the first table into three precepts, directing vs to God, the second into seuen, belonging to our neighbour, approued for the better by S. Augustin ( q 71 in Exodum) and generally receiued of al Catholiques; grounded vpon this reason, among others, because to make or haue a The first can not wel be diuided. picture, or similitude of anie creature, to the end to adore it as God, were in dede to haue a strange God, which is forbid in the first wordes▪ and so al that foloweth to the comination and promise, forbiddeth false goddes, and appeareth to be but one precept in substance. But the desire and internal consent The ninth and tenth are as distict, as the sixth and seuenth. to adultrie, and to theift, differ altogether as much, as the external actes of the same sinnes; and therfore seing adultrie and theift are forbidden to be committed, by two distinct precepts, the prohibition of the internal desire, with mental consent to the same, doth also require two precepts.

CHAP. XXI. Iudicial precepts concerning bondmen and bondvvemen. 12. Manslaughter and striking: killing and cursing of parents. 23. The lavv of like paine for a hurt, 28. of an oxe striking vvith his horne.

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THESE are the Iudicial lawes do instruct in particular, [...]w to kepe the commandments of the second table, pertaining to our neighboures. iudgements which thou shalt propose 1 to them. † If thou bye an Hebrew seruant, six yeares 2 shal be serue thee: in the seuenth he shal goe out free gratis. Paying nothing. † With what rayment he entred in, with the like let him go 3 out: if hauing a wise, his wife also shal goe out with him. † But if his lord geue him a wife, and she beare sonnes & 4 daughters: the woman and her children shal be her lordes: but himselfe shal goe out with his rayment. † And if the 5 seruant say: I loue my lord and wife & children, I wil not goe out free: † his lord shal present him to The Iudges authorized by God. the goddes, 6 and he shal be sette to the dore and the postes, and he shal bore his eare through with an awle: and he shal be his bondman for euer. † If any man sel his daughter to be a seruant, 7 she shal not goe out, as bondweman are wont to goe out. † If she mislike the eyes of her maister to whom she was 8 deliuered, he shal dismisse her: but he shal not haue authoritie to sel her vnto a strange people, if he despise her. † But 9 if he despouse her to his sonne, he shal doe to her after the maner of daughters. † And if he take an other wife for 10 him, he shal prouide her a mariage, and rayment, and thē price of her chastitie he shal not denie. † If he doe not 11 these three thinges, she shal goe out gratis without monie. † He that striketh a man wilfully to kil him, dying let him 12 die. † But he that did not lye in waite for him, but God 13 deliuered him into his handes: I wil appoint thee a place whereunto he ought to flee. † If a man of sette purpose 14 kil his neighbour, and by lying in waite for him: thou shalt plucke him out from mine Altare, that he may die. † He that 15 striketh his father or mother, dying let him die. † He that 16 shal steale a man, and sel him, being conuicted of the trespasse, dying let him die. † He that curseth his father, or 17 mother, dying let him die. † If men fal at wordes, and the 18 one strike his neighbour with a stone or with his fist, and he die not, but lye in his bedde: † if he rise, and walke abrode 19 vpon his stafe, he that did strike shal be quitte, yet so that he make restitution for his worke, and for his expenses vpon the phisicians. † He that striketh his man or mayde seruant 20 with a rodde, and they die in his handes, he shal be guiltie of the crime. † But if the partie remayne aliue a day or two, 21 he shal not be subiect to punishment, because it is his money. † If certaine fal at wordes, and one strike a woman with 22 [Page 222] child, and she in deede aborte, but her selfe liue: he shal be subiect to so much damage as the womans husband shal require, and as arbiters shal award. † But if her death doe ensue 23 thereupon, he shal render life for life, † eye for eye, 24 tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foote for foote, † adustion 25 for adustion, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. † If any man 26 strike the eye of his manseruant or maidseruant, and leaue them but one eye, he shal make them free for the eye which he put out. † Also if he strike out a tooth of his manseruant 27 or maydseruant he shal in like maner make them free. † If 28 an oxe with his horne strike a man or a woman, and they die, he shal be stoned: and his flesh shal not be eaten, the owner also of the oxe shal be quitte. † But if the oxe were wont 29 to strike from yesterday and the day before, and they warned his maister, neither did he shutte him vp, and he kil a man or a woman: both the oxe shal be stoned, and they shal put to death his owner also. † And if they sette a price vpon him, 30 he shal geue for his life whatsoeuer he is asked. † Also if with 31 his horne he strike a sonne, or a daughter, he shal be subiect to the like sentence. † If he inuade abondman or bondwoman, 32 he shal geue thirtie sicles of siluer to their maister, but the oxe shal be stoned. † If a man open a cesterne, and 33 digge one, and doe not couer it, an oxe or an asse fal into it, † the owner of the cesterne shal pay the price of the beastes: 34 and that which died, shal be his owne. † If one mans oxe 35 gore an other mans oxe, and he die: they shal sel the oxe that liueth, and shal diuide the price, and the carcasse of that which died they shal parte betwen them. † But if he knew 36 that his oxe was wont to strike from yesterday and the day before, and his maister did not keepe him in: he shal render oxe for oxe, and shal take the carcasse whole.

CHAP. XXII. The punishment of theift, 5. and other trespasses, 7. if a thing committed to custodie or lent doth perish, 16. of deflovvring a virgin, 18. of inchanting, bestialitie, and idolatrie, 21. of hurting strangers, vvidovves, and orphanes. 25. The lavv of lending vvithout vsurie, 26. of taking pleadge, 28. of reuerence to superiors, and of paying tithes.

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IF any man steale an oxe or a sheepe, and kil or sel it: he 1 shal restore VVhere great faults are cōmitted, punishment is inflicted according to the enormitie of the sinne, aboue the proportion of the iniurie. Theodoret. q. 50. in Exod. Deut. 25. Mystically, He that taketh from the Church a daylie laborer in Gods field, sinneth more greuously and deserueth more punishment, then he that taketh a priuate man of Christs flock, Rabanus. fiue oxen for one oxe, and Iudges called goddes for their eminent authoritie. Exo. 7. v. 1. foure sheepe for one sheepe. † If the theefe be found breaking vp the 2 house or vndermining it, and taking a wound die: the striker shal not be guiltie of bloud. † But if he doe this when the 3 sunne is risen, he hath cōmitted manslaughter, and himself shal die. If he haue not wherwith to make restitution for the theft, himselfe shal be sold. † If that which he stole, 4 be found with him, aliue, either oxe, or asse, or sheepe: he shal restore duble. † If anie man hurt a field or a vineyard, 5 and let goe his beast to feede vpon that which is other mens: the best of whatsoeuer he hath in his owne field, or in his vineyard, he shal restore according to the estimation of the damage. † If fire breaking forth light vpon the thornes, and 6 catch stackes of corne, or corne standing in the fieldes, he shal render the damage that kindled the fire. † If a man 7 committe money, or vessel vnto his frend to keepe, and they be stolen away from him, that receaued them: if the theefe be found, he shal restore duble: † if the theefe be not 8 knowen, the maister of the house shal be brought to :: the goddes, and shal sweare that he did not extend his hand vpon his neighbours good, † to doe any fraud, as wel in oxe as in 9 asse, and sheepe and rayment, and whatsoeuer may bring damage: the cause of both parties shal come to the goddes: and if they geue iudgement, he shal restore duble to his neighbour. † If a man committee asse, oxe, sheepe, or any 10 beast, to his neigbours custodie, and it die, or be hurt, or be taken of enemies, and no man saw: † there shal be an oath 11 betwen them, that he did not put forth his hand to his neighbours good: and the owner shal admitte the oath, and he shal not be compelled to make restitution. † But if it were 12 taken away by stelth, he shal restore the damage to the owner. † If it were eaten of a beast, let him bring vnto him that 13 which was slaine, and he shal not make restitution. † He 14 that asketh of his neighbour to borow any of these thinges, and it be hurt or dead the owner being not present, he shal be compelled to make restitution. † But if the owner be 15 present, he shal not make restitution, especially if it were hired and came for the hire of the same. † If a man seduce 16 a virgin being not yet despoused, and lie with her: he shal endowe her, and haue her to wife. † If the virgins father 17 [Page 224] wil not geue her, he shal geue money according to the maner of the dowrie, which virgins are wont to receaue. † Inchanters 18 thou shalt not suffer to liue. † He that lieth with a 19 brute beast, dying let him die. † He that sacrificeth to goddes, 20 shal be put to death, but to the Lord only. † Thou shalt not 21 molest a stranger, nor afflict him: The law of nature requireth to do to others as we would they should do to vs. For which cause (besides others) God suffered his people to be strangers in Aegypt, to moue them to compassion towards others in like case, Rabanus. for your selues also were strangers in the Land of Aegypt. † A widow and an orphane 22 you shal not hurt. † If you hurt them, they wil crie out to 23 me, and I wil heare their crie: † and my furie shal take indignation, 24 and I wil strike you with the sword, and your wiues shal be widowes, and your children orphanes. † If 25 thou lend money to my people being poore, that dwelleth with thee, thou shalt not vrge them as an exactour, nor oppresse them with vsuries. † If thou take of thy neighbour 26 a garment in pledge, thou shalt geue it him againe before sunne sette. † For that same is the onlie thing, wherwith he 27 is couered, the clothing of his bodie, neither hath he other to sleepe in: if he Oppression of the poore crieth to God for renenge. the goddes, and 28 the prince of thy people thou shalt not curse. † Thy tithes 29 and thy first fruites thou shalt not slacke to pay, the firstborne of thy sonnes thou shalt geue me. † Of thy oxen also & 30 sheepe thou shalt doe in like maner: seuen dayes let it be with the damme, the eight day thou shalt render it to me. † Holie 31 men you shal be to me: the flesh that beastes haue tasted of before, you shal not eate, but shal cast it to the dogges.

CHAP. XXIII. Lawes are appointed to Iudges, (the enemies oxe, or asse to be saued) 8. namely not to take bribes. 10. The seuenth yeare, and day al must rest. 14. Three principal feastes must be solemnized euerie yeare 20. Conduction and protection of an Agel is promised. 24. the people is agane commanded to destroy Idols. 29. VVhy their enemies shal be destroyed by litle and litle.

THOV shalt not admitte a lying voice: neither shalt 1 thou ioyne thy hand to say false testimonie for a wicked person. † Thou shalt not folow the multitude to doe euil: 2 neither shalt thou in iudgement, argree to the sentence of the most part▪ to stray, from the truth. † The Al vertues being [...]ded in iustice, cease to be true vertues, when iustice is not first obserued. S. [...]ierom in Psal. 32. et in Prou. 31. poore man 3 4 [Page 225] also thou shalt not pitie in iudgement. † If thou meete thy 4 enemies oxe, or asse going astray, bring it backe to him. † If thou see the asse of him that hareth thee lye vnderneth 5 his burden, thou [...]halt not passe by, but shalt li [...]t him vp with the same. † Thou shalt not decline the poore mans iudgement. 6 † A lye thou shalt auoide. The innocent and iust 7 person thou shal not put to death: because I abhorre the impious man. † Neither shalt thou take bribes, which doe 8 blind also the wise, and peruert the wordes of the iust. † The 9 stranger thou shalt not molest. for you know the hartes of strangers: because your selues also were strangers in the Land of Aegypt. † Six yeares thou shalt sow thy ground, and shalt 10 gather the corne therof. † But the seuenth yeare thou shalt 11 let it alone, and make it to rest, that the poore of thy people may eate, and whatsoeuer shal be leift, let the beastes of the field eate it: so shalt thou doe in thy vineyard and thy oliuete. † Six dayes thou shalt worke: the seuenth day thou shalt 12 cease, that thy oxe may rest and thine asse: and the sonne of thy handmaide may be refreshed, and the stranger. † Kepe 13 Three principal feastes besides the Sabbath, & some others. al thinges that I haue said to you. And by the name of foren goddes you shal not sweare, neither shal it be heard out of your mouth. † Three times euerie yeare you shal celebrate 14 feastes to me. † Thou shalt keepe Pasch in memorie of their deliuerie from Aegypt. the solemnitie of 15 Azymes. Seuen dayes shalt thou [...]a [...]e azymes, as I commanded thee, in the time of the moneth of new corne, when thou didst come forth out of Aegypt: thou shalt not appeare in my sight emprie. † And the solemnitie of the 16 haruest Pentecost, when they receiued the Law. of the first fruites of thy worke, whatsoeuer thou didst sow in the field. The solemnitie also in the end of the yeare, Tabernacles in memorie of Gods protection fourtie yeares in the desert. when thou hast gathered al thy corne out of the field. † Thrise a yeare shal al thy male sexe appeare before 17 the Lord thy God † Thou shalt not sacrifice the bloud of 18 my victime vpon leu [...]n, neither shal the fatte of my solemnitie remaine vntil the morning. † The first fruites of the 19 corne of thy ground thou shalt carrie into the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boyle a kidde in the milke of his damme. † Behold I wil send myne Angel, which shal 20 goe before thee, and keepe thee in thy iourney, and bring thee into the place that I haue prepared. † Obserue him, and 21 heare his voice, neither doe thou thinke him one to be contemned: for he wil not forgeue when thou hast sinned, and [Page 226] my name is in him. † But i [...] thou wilt heare his voice, and 22 doe al that I speake, I wil be enemie to thyne enemies, & wil afflict them that afflict thee. † And myne Angel shal goe 23 before thee, and shal bring thee in vnto the Amorrheite, and Hetheite, and Pherezeite, and Chananeite, and Heueite, and [...]ebuzeite, whom I wil destroy. † Thou shalt not adore 24 their goddes, nor serue them. Thou shalt not doe their workes, but shalt destroy them, and breake their statues. † And you shal setue the Lord your God, that I may blesse 25 your bread & waters, and may take away infirmitie from the middes of thee. † There shal not be a fruitlesse nor barren 26 bodie in thy land: I wil fil the number of thy dayes. † I wil send my terrour to runne before thee, and wil kil 27 al people, to whom thou shalt enter: and wil turne the backes of al thyne enemies before thee: † sending forth 28 hornets before, that shal chase away the Herueite, and Chananeite, and Hetheite, before thou enter. † I wil not cast 29 them out from thy face in one yeare: lest the land be brought into a wildernesse, and beastes encrease against thee. † By 30 litle and litle I wil expel them from thy sight, til thou be increased, and dost possesse the Land. † And I wil sette thy 31 boundes from the Redde sea vnto the sea of the Palestines, and from the desert vnto the riuer: I wil deliuer the inhabitantes of the Land in your handes, and wil cast them out from your sight. † Thou shalt Peace with infidels forbidden to Gods people. not enter league with them, 32 nor with their goddes. † Let them not dwel in thy land, lest 33 perhapes they make thee to sinne against me, if thou serue their goddes: which vndoubtedly wil be a scandal to thee.

CHAP. XXIIII. Moyses with others are commanded to ascend, he to the Lord, the rest a farre of 4. They offer Sacrifice. 8. Moyses sprinckleth the bloud of the Testament vpon the people. 15. Then ascending to the mountaine, God couereth it with a firie cloude.

TO Moyses also he said: Goe vp to the Lord, thou, and 1 Aaron, Nadab and Abiu, and seuentie Ancientes of Israel, and you shal adore a farre of. † And Moyses onlie 2 shalascend to the Lord, and they shal not approach: neither shal the people ascend with him. † Moyses therfore came 3 [Page 227] and told the people al the wordes of our Lord, and the iudgementes: and al the people answered with one voice: Al the wordes of our Lord, which he hath spoken we wil doe. † And Moyses wrote al the wordes of our Lord: and rising in 4 the morning he As when Moyses had brought the Israentes from bondage, and receiued the law for them he built an Altar for Sacrifice: so Christ hauing redemed vs, and geuē vs a Law, for applicatiō of the fruict therof Altares are erected, & Sacrifice offered. builded an Altar at the foote of the mount, & twelue titles according the twelue tribes of Israel. † And 5 he sent young men of the children of Israel, and they offered holocaustes, and sacrificed pacifique victimes to our Lord, calues. † Moyses therfore tooke the halfe part of the bloud, 6 and put it into bowles: and the residue he powred vpon the Altar. † And taking the volume of the couenant, he reade 7 the people hearing it: Who said: Al thinges that our Lord hath spoken, we wil doe, and we wil be obedient. † And 8 he tooke the bloud, and This was donne corporally to the Iewes. In Christians▪ Christs bloud applied by Sacrifice and Sacraments sanctifieth their soules. Heb. 9. sprinkled it vpon the people, and said: ▪ This is the bloud of the Couenant which our Lord hath made with you vpon al these wordes. † And there 9 went vp Moyses and Aaron, Nadab and Abiu, and seuentie of the ancientes of Israel: † and they saw the God of Israel: 10 and vnder his feete as it were a worke of sapphirstone, and as the heauen, when it is clere. † Neither did he set his hand 11 vpon those of the children of Israel, that retired farre of, and they saw God, and did eate, and drinke. † And our Lord 12 said to Moyses: Come vp to me into the mount, and be there: and I wil geue thee tables of stone, and the law, and the commandementes which I haue written: that thou maist teach them. † Moyses rose vp, and his minister Iosue: and 13 The lesson in Masse on Imber wenesday in Lent. Moyses ascending into the mount of God, † said to the 14 Ancientes: Expect here til we returne to you, you haue Aaron and Hur with you: If anie question shal rise, you shal referre it to them. † And when Moyses was ascended, a 15 cloud couered the mount, † and the glorie of our Lord 16 dwelt vpon Sinai, couering it with a cloud six dayes, and the seuenth day he called him out of the middes of the darkenesse. † And the forme of the glorie of our Lord, was as it 17 were fire burning vpon the toppe of the mount, in the sight of the children of Israel. † And Moyses entring into the 18 middes of the cloude, ascended into the mount: and he was there fourtie dayes, and fourtie nightes.

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ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXIIII.

8. This is the bloud of the couenant.] Our Sauiour in the institution of the A figure of Christs bloud in the B. Sacrament. Eucharist, by vsing the same wordes, applying them to him selfe, This is my Mat. 26. bloud of the new Testament, signifieth that be fulfilled this figure at his last supper VVhich proueth both a Sacrifice of bloud then offered by him, as this bloud of the old Testament was already shed, when Moyses pronounced those wordes; and the real presence of Christs bloud. For els, if it were but wine, it were not better in substance then the figure, which was real bloud. Isychius. li. 1. c 4. in Leuit.

CHAP. XXV. Oblations of first fruictes, and freegiftes for making the Tabernacle, and things perteyning th [...]r [...]o 10. The Arck. 17. The Propitiatorie, and Cherubims. 23. A table, and theron the Lo [...]ues ef proposition. 31. A candlestick, 37. and seuen lampes, with snuffers of gold.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to 1 2 the children of Israel, that they take first fruites for me of euerie man that offereth of his owne accord, you shal take them. † And these are the thinges which you must take: 3 As the Israelites were prompt to offer these external things in the old law, so Christians must offer the like for Gods seruice: but specially al sortes of vertues, Faith, hope, charitie, penance, deuotion, prayer almes, fasting. &c. Gold, and siluer, and brasse, † hyacinth and purple, and 4 scarlet twise died, and silke, and the haire of goates, † and 5 rammes skinnes died redde, and ianthin skinnes, and the wood setim: † oyle to make lightes: spices for oyntement, 6 and for incense of good sauour: † Onyx stones, and pretious 7 stones to adorne the ephod, and rationale. † And they shal 8 make me a sanctuarie, and I wil dwel in the middes of them: † according to al the similitude of the tabernacle which I wil 9 shew thee, & of al the vessel to the seruice therof: & thus you shal make it: † frame an arke of the wood setim, the length 10 wherof shal haue two cubites & an halfe: the bredth, a cubite and an halfe: the height, likewise a cubite and an halfe. † And 11 thou shalt plate it with most pure gold within and without: and ou [...]r it thou shalt make a golden crowne round about: † and foure golden ringes, which thou shalt put at the foure 12 corners of the arke: let two ringes be on the one side, and two on the other. † Thou shalt make barres also of the wood 13 [Page 229] setim, and shalt couer them with gold. † And thou shalt put 14 them in through the ringes that are in the sides of the arke, that it may be caried on them: † the which shal be alwayes 15 in the ringes, neither shal they at anie time be drawen out of them. † And thou shalt put in the arke the testification 16 which I wil geue thee. † Thou shalt make a Propitiatorie of 17 most pure gold: the length therof shal hold two cubites and an halfe, and the bredth a cubite & an halfe. † Two If Images were vnlawful God would not haue commanded to make Cherubims. [...]. [...]. 2. Cherubims 18 also thou shalt make of beaten gold, on both sides of the oracle. † Let one Cherub be on the one side, and the other 19 on the other. † Let them couer both sides of the Propitiatorie 20 spreading their winges, and couering the oracle, and let them looke one towards the other, their faces turned vnto the Propitiatorie wherwith the arke is to be couered, † wherin 21 thou shalt put the testimony that I wil geue thee. † Thence 22 wil I command, and wil speake to thee ouer the propitiatorie & [...]o [...] the middes of the two Cherubims which shal be vpon the arke of testimonie, al thinges which I wil command the children of Israel by thee. † Thou shalt make a table also of 23 the wood setim, hauing two cubites in length, and in bredth a cubite, and in height a cubite and an halfe. † And thou shalt 24 plate it with most pure gold▪ & thou shalt make to it a golden ledge round about, † and to the ledge it self a crowne enterpolished, 25 foure fingers high: and vpon the same, an other golden crowne. † Thou shalt prepare also foure golden 26 ringes, and shalt put them in the foure corners of the same table at euerie foote. † Vnder the crowne shal the golden 27 ringes be, that the barres may be put through them, and the table may be carried. † The barres also them selues thou 28 shalt make of the wood setim, and shalt compasse them with gold to beare vp the table. † Thou shalt prepare also sawcers, 29 and phials, censers, and goblettes, wherein the libamentes are to be offered, of most pure gold. † And thou shalt sette 30 vpon the table For the perpetual v [...]e and sanctitie of these loaues, which none might eate but such as were pure (1. Reg. 21.) they prefigured [...]he holie Eucharist S. [...]ur in T [...]. 1. S Damna [...]n de oxtho. li. 4 c. 14. S. Cyril. [...]the [...] 4. And consequently Christ is really present in the [...]. Sacrament. For if there were bread in substance, it should not excel the figure; which is required it, euerie thing prefigured. Colless. 2. loaues of proposition in my sight alwaies. † Thou shalt make also a candlesticke beaten of most pure 31 gold, the shaft therof, and branches, cuppes, and boules, and lilies proceding from the same. † Six branches shal goe forth 32 of the sides, three out of one side, and three out of the other. † Three cuppes as it were in maner of a nutte on euerie 33 branch, and a boule withal, and a lilie: and three cuppes likewise of the fashion of a nutte in an other branch, and [Page 230] a boule withal, and a lilie. This shal be the worke of the six branches, that are to be drawen forth from the shaft: † and 34 in the candlesticke it selfe shal be foure cuppes in maner of a nutte, and at euerie one boules and lilies. † Boules vnder 35 two branches in three places, which together make six comnig forth out of one shaft. † Both the boules therfore 36 and the branches shal be out of it, al the whole beaten of most pure gold. † Thou thalt make also seuen lampes, and 37 shalt sette them vpon the candlesticke, for to geue light ouer against. † The snuffers also and where the snuffinges shal be 38 put out, let them be made of most pure gold. † The whole 39 weight of the candlesticke with al the furniture therof shal haue a talent of most pure gold. † Looke, and make it according 40 to the paterne, that was shewed thee in the mount.

CHAP. XXVI. The forme of the Tabernacle, with the appertinances, and of vvhat matter number, and qualities al things shal be.

AND the tabernacle thou shalt make thus: Tenne 1 curtines shalt thou make of twisted silke, and hyacinth, and purple, and scarlet twise died, varied with imbrodered worke. † The length of one curtine shal haue twentie eight 2 cubites: the bredth, shal be of foure cubites. Al the curtines shal be of one measure. † Fiue curtines shal be Christs members by their vnion & communitie assist ech other, and adorne his tabernacle, the Church. ioyned one 3 to an other, and the other fiue shal hang together with the connexion. † Loupes of hyacinth thou shalt make in the 4 sides and toppes of the certines, that they may be compled one to an other. † Fiftie loupes shal euerie curtine haue on both 5 sides, so set on, that one loupe may be against another loupe, and one may be sitted to the other. † Thou shalt make also 6 fiftie circles of gold wherwith the veiles of the curtines are to be ioyned, that it may be made one tabernacle. † Thou 7 shalt make also eleuen curtines of haire, to couer the toppe of the tabernacle. † The length of one haire curtine shal 8 haue thirtie cubites: and the bredth, foure: the measure of al the curtines shal be equal. † Of the which, fiue thou shalt 9 ioyne apart, and the six thou shalt couple one to an other, so that the sixt curtine in the front of the roofe thou shalt duble. † Thou shalt make also fiftie loupes in the edge of one 10 [Page 231] curtine, that it may be ioyned with the other: and fiftie loupes in the edge of the other curtine, that it may be coupled with his felow. † Thou shalt make also fiftie buckles 11 of brasse, wherwith the loups may be ioyned, that of al there may be made one couering. † And that which shal remaine 12 in the curtines, that are prepared for the roofe, to witte, one curtine that is ouerplus, with the halfe therof thou shalt couer the backeside of the tabernacle. † And there shal hang 13 downe a cubite on the one side, and an other on the other side, which is the ouerplus in the length of the curtines, fensing both sides of the tabernacle. † Thou shalt make 14 also an other couer to the roofe of ramnes skinnes died redde: and ouer that againe an other couer of ianthine skinnes. † Thou shalt make also the bordes of the tabernacle 15 standing vpright of the wood setim, † of the which let 16 euerie one haue ten cubites in length, and in bredth one and an halfe a peece. † In the sides of the borde, shal be made 17 two morteses, wherby one borde may be ioyned to an other borde: and after this maner shal al the bordes be prepared. † Of the which twentie shal be in the south side that tendeth 18 Southward. † For the which thou shalt cast fourtie feete 19 of siluer, that there may two feete be put vnder euerie borde at the two corners. † In the second side also of the tabernacle 20 that looketh to the North, there shal be twentie bordes, † hauing fourtie feete of siluer, two feete shal be 21 put vnder euerie borde. † But on the west quarter of the 22 tabernacle thou shalt make six bordes, † and againe other 23 two which shal be erected in the corners at the backe of the tabernacle. † And they shal be ioyned together from beneth 24 vnto the toppe, and one ioynture shal hold them al. The like ioynture shal be kept for the two bordes also that are to be put in the corners. † And they shal be in al eight bordes, 25 their siluer feete sixtene, two feete accounted for euerie borde. † Thou shalt make also fiue barres of the wood setim, 26 to hold together the bordes on the one side of the tabernacle, † and fiue others on the other side, and as manie at the west 27 side: † which shal be put along by the middes of the bordes 28 from one end to the other. † The bordes also them selues 29 thou shalt plate with gold, and shalt castringes of gold to be sette vpon them, through which the barres may hold together the bordeworke: the which thou shalt couer with plates of [Page 232] gold. † And thou shalt erect the tabernacle according to 30 the paterne that was shewed thee in the Mount. † Thou 31 shal [...] make also a veile of hyacinth, and purple, and scarlet twise died, and twisted silke, wrought with imbrodered worke and goodhe varietie: † which thou shalt hang before 32 foure pillers of the wood setim, the which themselues also shal be plated with gold, and shal haue foure heades of gold, but [...]ete of siluer. † And the veile shal be hanged on with 33 ringes, within the which thou shalt put the arke of testimonie, with the which also the Sanctuarie, and the sanctuaries of the Sanctuarie, shal be diuided. † Thou shalt set also 34 the Propitiatorie vpon the arke of testimonie in the The chie [...]est part of the Tabernacle, called Sancta sanctorum Holie of holies. Sancta sanctorum: † and the table without the veile: and ouer against 35 the table the candlesticke in the south side of the tabernacle: for the table shal stand in the north side. † Thou shalt 36 make also a hanging in the entring of the tabernacle of hyacinth, and purple, and scarlet twise died▪ and twisted silke, with imbrodered worke. † And fiue pillers of the wood 37 setim thou shalt plate with gold, before the which the hanging shal be drawen: whose heades shal be of golde, and feete of brasse.

CHAP. XXVII. An Altar must be made vvith things belonging therto. 9. Also the court of the tabernacle vvith hangings and pillers. 20. And prouision of oyle for lampes.

THOV shalt make also an Altar of the wood setim, 1 which shal haue fiue cubites in length, and as manie in bredth, that is, foure square, and three cubites in height. † And there shal be at the foure corners hornes of the same: 2 and thou shalt couer it with brasse. † And thou shalt make 3 for the vses therof pannes for to take the ashes, and tongues and fleshhookes, and fire pannes. al the vessel thou shalt make of brasse. † And a grate in maner of a nette of brasse: 4 at the foure corners wherof shal be foure ringes of brasse, † which thou shalt put vnder the hearth of the Altar: and 5 the grate shal be vnto the middes of the Altar. † Thou shalt 6 make also two barres for the Altar of the wood setim, which thou shalt couer with plates of brasse: † and thou shalt 7 drawe them through ringes, and they shal be on both sides of the Altar to carrie it. † Not massie, but emptie and 8 [Page 233] hollow in the inside shalt thou make it, as it was shewed thee in the Mount. † Thou shalt make also the court of 9 the tabernacle, in the south part wherof against the south there shal be hanginges of twisted silke: one side shal hold in length an hundred cubites. † And twentie pillers with 10 as manie feete of brasse, which shal haue heades with their engrauinges of siluer. † In like maner also on the north 11 side there shal be in length hanginges of an hundred cubites, twentie pillers, and feete of brasse as manie, and their heades with their engrauinges of siluer. † But in the 12 bredth of the court, that looketh to the west, there shal be hanginges of fiftie cubites, and ten pillers, and as manie feete. † In that bredth also of the court, which looketh to 13 the east, there shal be fiftie cubites. † in the which there 14 shal be deputed to one side hanginges of fiftene cubites, and three pillers and as manie feete: † and in the other side there 15 shal be hanginges conteyning fiftene cubites, three pillers, and as manie feete. † And in the entring of the court there 16 shal be made an hanging of twentie cubites of hyacinth and purple, and scarlet twise died, and twisted silke, with embrodered worke: it shal haue foure pillers, with as manie feete. † Al the pillers of the court round about shal be garnished 17 with plates of siluer, siluer heades, and feete of brasse. † In length the court shal occupie an hundred cubites, in 18 bredth fiftie, the height shal be of fiue cubites▪ and it shal be made of twisted silke, and shal haue feete of brasse. † Al the vessel of the tabernacle for al vses and ceremonies, 19 the pinnes as wel of it as of the court, thou shalt make of brasse. † Command the children of Israel that they bring 20 thee oyle of the oliuetrees the purest, and beaten with a pestil: that a lampe may burne God would not haue darknes in his tabernacle by day nor night, signifying that his people ought alwayes to shine in good workes. S. Beda li. 3 c. 1. de tabernac. alwayes † in the tabernacle 21 of the testimonie, without the veile that is drawen before the testimonie. And Aaron and his sonnes shal place it, that it may geue light before the Lord vntil the morning. † It shal 22 be a perpetual obseruance through out their succcessions before the children of Israel.

CHAP. XXVIII. God commandeth Moyses to make diuers sortes of vestures for Aaron and his sonnes, prescribing the matter, maner, and ornaments therof.

[Page 234]

TAKE vnto thee also Aaron thy brother with his sonnes, 1 from among the children of Israel, Vocation necessarie to spiritual function. Heb. 5. that they may doe the function of priesthoode vnto me: Aaron, Nadab, and Abiu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. † And thou shalt make an holie 2 vesture to Aaron thy brother for glorie and bewtie. † And 3 thou shalt speake to al the wise of hart, whom I haue replenished with the spirit of wisdome, that they make Aarons vestures, wherin he being sanctified may minister to me. † And 4 These vestments sign fie that Bishopes and Priestes must haue special vertues, discretion▪ puritie of life, sincere intention, contemplatiō of God, supportation of the peoples infirmitie▪ solicitude of their good, exampla [...] life, sound doctrin, and band of vnion. S. Hiero. ad Fabi [...]l. de vestitu Sacerdotum. to. 3. these shal be the vestments that they shal make: Rationale and an Ephod, a tunike and a straite linnen garment, a mitre and a girdle. They shal make the holie vestments for thy brother Aaron and his sonnes, that they may doe the function of priesthood vnto me. † And they shal take gold, and 5 hyacinth, and purple, and scarlet twise died, and silke. † And 6 they shal make the Ephod of gold and hyacinth and purple, and scarlet twise died, and twisted silke, embrodered with diuers colours. † It shal [...]u [...] two edges ioyned in the toppe 7 on both sides, that they [...]a [...] be closed together † The verie 8 Workemanship also and al the varietie of the worke shal be of gold and hyacinth, and purple, and scarlet twise died, and twisted silke. † And thou shalt take two Onyx stones, 9 and shalt graue in them the names of the children of Israel: † six names in one stone, and the other six in 10 the other, according to the order of their natiuitie. † After the worke of a grauer and the grauing of a lapidarie, 11 thou shalt graue them with the names of the children of Israel, sette in gold and compassed about: † and thou shalt 12 put them in both sides of the Ephod, a memorial for the children of Israel. And Aaron shal beare their names before the Lord vpon both shoulders, for a remembrance. † Thou shalt make also hookes of gold, † and two litle 13 14 cheynes of most pure gold linked one to an other, which thou shalt put into the hookes. † The Rationale of iudgement 15 also thou shalt make with embrodered worke of diuers colours, according to the workmanship of the Ephod of gold, hyacinth, and purple, and scarlet twise died, and twisted silke. † It shal be foure square and duble: it shal 16 haue the measure of a palme aswel in length as in bredth. † And thou shalt set in it foure rewes of stones: In the first 17 rew shal be the stone sardius, and topazius, and the emeraud: † in the second the carbuncle, the sapphire, and the iasper: 18 [Page 235] † in the third a ligurius, an achates, an amethyst: † in the fourth 19 20 a chrysolith, an onyx, and beryllus. they shal be set in gold by their rewes. † And they shal haue the names of 21 the children of Israel: with twelue names shal they be grauen, euerie stone with the names of euerie one according to the twelue tribes. † Thou shalt make in the Rationale cheynes 22 linked one to an other of the purest gold: † and two ringes 23 of gold, which thou shalt put in both the toppes of the Rationale: † and the golden cheynes thou shalt ioyne to the 24 ringes, that are in the edges therof: † and the endes of the 25 cheynes them selues thou shalt couple with two hookes on both sides of the Ephod, which is toward the Rationale. † Thou shalt make also two ringes of gold which thou shalt 26 put in the toppes of the Rationale, in the brimmes, that are ouer against the Ephod, & looke toward the backe partes therof. † Moreouer also other two ringes of gold, which are 27 to be set on both sides of the Ephod beneth, that looketh toward the nether ioyning, that the Rationale may be fitted with the Ephod, † and may be fastened by the ringes therof 28 vnto the ringes of the Ephod with a lace of hyacinth, that the ioyning artificially wrought may continew, and the Rationale and Ephod may not be separated one from the other. † And Aaron shal beare the names of the children of Israel 29 in the Rationale of iudgement vpon his brest, when he shal enter into the Sanctuarie, a memorial before the Lord for euer. † And thou shalt put in the Rationale of iudgement 30 Knowledge of the cause, and sincere proceding therin, are the two keyes of right iudgement. Doctrine, and Veritie, which shal be on Aarons brest, when he shal goe in before the Lord: and he shal beare the iudgement of the children of Israel on his brest, in the sight of the Lord alwayes. † And thou shalt make the tunike of the 31 Ephod al of hyacinth, † in the middes wherof aboue shal be 32 a hole for the head, and a border round about it wo [...]en, as is wont to be made in the vtmost partes of garments, that it may not easely be broken. † And beneth at the feete of the 33 same tunike, round about, thou shalt make as it were pomegranates, of hyacinth, and purple, and scarlet twise died, litle belles interposed betwen, † so that there be a bel of 34 gold and a pomegranate: and againe an other bel of gold and a pomegranate. † And Aaron shal be vested with it in the 35 office of his ministerie, that the sound may be heard, when he goeth in and cometh out of the Sanctuarie, in the sight [Page 236] of the Lord, and that he die not. † Thou shalt make also 36 a plate of the purest gold: wherin thou shalt graue after the worke of a grauer, Holie to the Lord. † And thou shalt 37 tie it with a lace of hyacinth, and it shal be vpon the mitre, † hanging ouer the forehead of the high Priest. And Aaron 38 shal carie the iniquities of those thinges, which the children of Israel haue offered and sanctified, in al their giftes and donaries. And the plate shal be alwayes in his forehead, that the Lord may be wel pleased with them. † And thou 39 shalt gird the tunike with silke, and thou shalt make a silken mitre, and a bawdrike of embrodered worke. † Moreouer for the sonnes of Aaron thou shalt prepare 40 linnen tunikes, and bawdrikes and mitres for glorie and bewtie: † And with al these thinges thou shalt vest Aaron 41 thy brother, and his sonnes with him. And thou shalt consecrate the handes of them al, and shalt sanctifie them, that they may doe the function of priesthood vnto me. † Thou shalt make also linnen breches, to couer the flesh 42 of their turpitude from the reynes vnto the thighes: † and 43 Aaron and his sonnes shal vse them when they shal enter into the tarberbernacle of testimonie, or when they approch to the Altar to minister in the Sanctuarie, lest guiltie of iniquitie they die. It shal be a law for euer to Aaron, and to his seede after him.

CHAP. XXIX. The maner of consecrating Aaron and other Priests: vvith burnt offerings, 26. and pacifiques, wherof Aaron and his sonnes shal participate. 38. The institution of the daylie sacrifice of tvvo lambes, one in the morning, the other at euen.

BVT this also shalt thou doe, Special preparation before Bishops and Priests be consecrated. that they may be consecrated 1 to me in priesthood. Take a calfe from the heard, and two rammes without spotte, † and vnleuened bread, 2 and a cake without leuen, tempered with oile, wafers also vnleauened anoynted with oile: of wheaten flowre thou shalt make al. † And being put in a basket thou shalt offer them: 3 and the calfe and the two rammes. † And thou shalt bring 4 Aaron and his sonnes to the doore of the tabernacle of testimonie. And The first preparation in the p [...] to b [...]e [...]a [...]d is cl [...]ng from [...] ▪ then to [...]e adorned with the vertues aboue mentioned pag. 234. when thou hast washed the father with his [Page 237] sonnes in water, † thou shalt vest Aaron with his vestments, 5 that is, with the linnen garment and the tunicke, and the Ephod and the Rationale, which thou shalt gird with the baudrike. † And thou shalt put the mitre vpon his 6 head, and the holie plate vpon the mitre, † and thou shalt 7 powre the oile of vnction vpon his head: and by this rite shal he be consecrated. † His sonnes also thou shalt bring, 8 and shalt inuest them with the linnen tunickes, and gird them with a bawdrike, † to witte, Aaron and his children, 9 and thou shalt put mitres vpon them: and they shal be priestes to me by a perpetual religion. After that thou shalt haue consecrated their handes, † thou shalt 10 present also the calfe before the tabernacle of testimonie. And Aaron and his sonnes shal lay their handes vpon his head, † and thou shalt kil him in the sight of the Lord, 11 beside the doore of the tabernacle of testimonie. † And 12 that which thou takest of the bloud of the calfe, thou shalt put vpon the hornes of the Altar with thy finger, and the reit of the bloud thou shalt powre at the botome therof. † Thou shalt take also the whole fatte that 13 couereth the entralles, and the caule of the liuer, and the two kidneys, and the fatte that is vpon them, and shalt offer a burnt sacrifice vpon the Altar: † but the 14 flesh of the cal [...]e and the hide and the dung, thou shalt burne abrode without the campe, because it is for sinne. † Thou shalt take also one ramme, vpon the head 15 wherof Aaron & his sonnes shal lay their handes. † Which when thou hast killed, thou shalt take of the 16 bloud therof, and powre round about the Altar. † And 17 the ramme it selfe thou shalt cut into peeces, and his entralles and feete being washed, thou shalt put vpon the flesh cut in peeces, and vpon his head. † And thou shalt 18 offer the whole ramme for a burnt sacrifice vpon the Altar: it is an oblation to the Lord a most sweete sauoure of the victime of the Lord. † Thou shalt take also the other 19 [...]amme, vpon whose head Aaron and his sonnes shal lay their handes. † Which when thou hast immolated, thou 20 shalt take of his bloud, and put vpon the tippe of the right eare of Aaron and of his sonnes, and vpon the thumbes and great toes of their right hand and foote, and thou shalt powre the bloud vpon the Altar round about. † And 21 [Page 238] when thou hast taken of the bloud that is vpon the Altar, and of the oile of vnction, thou shalt sprinkle Aaron and his vesture, his sonnes & their vestmentes. And after they and their vestmentes are consecrated, † thou shalt take 22 the fatte of the ramme, and the tayle & the talow, that couereth the lunges, and the caule of the liuer, and the two kidneies, and the fatte, that is vpon them, and the right shoulder, because it is the ramme of consecration: † and a 23 peece of one loafe, a cake tempered with oile, a wafer out of the basket of azymes, which is sette in the sight of the Lord: † and thou shalt put al vpon the handes of Aaron and of his 24 sonnes, and shalt sanctifie them eleuating before the Lord. † And thou shalt take al from their handes: and shalt burne 25 them vpon the Altar for an holocauste, a most sweete sauour in the sight of the Lord, because it is his oblation. † Thou 26 shalt take also the brest of the ramme, wherwith Aaron was consecrated, and eleuating it thou shalt sanctifie it before the Lord, and it shal fal to thy patt. † And thou shalt sanctifie 27 both the consecrated brest, and the shoulder that thou didst separate of the ramme, † wherwith Aaron was consecrated 28 and his sonnes, and they shal fal to Aarons part and his sonnes by a perpetual right from the children of Israel: because they are the primitiues and beginninges of their pacifique victimes which they offer to the Lord. † And the 29 holie vesture, which Aaron shal vse, his sonnes shal haue after him, that they may be anoynted, and their handes consecrated in it. † He of his sonnes that shal be appoynted 30 high priest in his steede, & that shal enter into the tabernacle of testimonie to minister in the Sanctuarie, shal weare it seuen dayes. † And thou shalt take the ramme of the consecration, 31 and shalt boyle the flesh therof in a holie place; † which Aaron shal eate and his sonnes. The lo [...]ues also, 32 that are in the basket, they shal eate in the entrie of the tabernacle of testimonie, † that it may be a placable sacrifice, 33 and the handes of the offerers may be sanctified. A stranger shal not eate of them, because they are holie. † And if there remaine of the consecrated flesh, or of the 34 bread til the morning, thou shalt burne the remaynes with fire: they shal not be eaten, because they are sanctified. † Al, that I haue commanded thee, thou shalt doe vpon 35 Aaron and his sonnes. Seuen dayes shalt thou consecrate [Page 239] their handes: † and thou shalt offer a calfe for sinne euerie 36 day for expiation. And thou shalt cleanse the Altar when thou hast offered the hoste of expiation, and shalt anoynt it vnto sanctification. † Seuen dayes shalt thou expiate 37 the altar & sanctifie it, and it shal be most Holie. euerie one, that shal touch it, shal be sanctified.

† This is it which thou shalt doe vpon the Altar: Two 38 lambes of a yeare old Diuers things were offered at diuers times, and al signified Christs Sacrifice in his Church s. Aug li. 1. c▪ 18. co [...] aduers. leg. & prophet. yet none daylie but a lambe: more particularly signifiing the daylie offering of the lambe of God and perpetual effect therof. Origen. [...]n. Ioan. 1. euerie day continually, † one lambe 39 in the morning, & an other at euen, † the tenth part of flowre 40 tempered with oile beaten, which shal haue in measure the fourth part of an hin, and wine for libation of the same measure to one lambe. † And the other lambe thou shalt 41 offer at euen, according to the rite of the morning oblation, and according to that which we haue said, for a sauour of sweetnesse: † it is a sacrifice to the Lord, by perpetual oblation 42 vnto your generations, at the doore of the tabernacle of testimonie before the Lord, where I wil appoint to speake vnto thee. † And there wil I command the children of 43 Israel, and the Altar shal be sanctified in mv glorie. † I wil 44 sanctifie also the tabarnacle of testimonie with the Altar, and Aaron with his sonnes, to doe the function of priesthood vnto me. † And I wil dwel in the middes of the 45 children of Israel, and wil be their God, † and they shal 46 know that I am the Lord their God, that haue brought them out of the Land of Aegypt, that I might abide among them, I the Lord their God.

CHAP. XXX. How, and of what matter, the Altar of incense shal be made: 12. VVhat money shal be gathered for the vse of the Tabernacle. 18. A brasen lauer is also to be made, 25. and holie oile of vnction.

THOV shalt make also an Altar to burne incense, of the 1 wood setim, † hauing a cubite of length, and an other 2 of bredth, that is, foure square, and two cubites in height. The hornes shal procede out of the same. † And thou shalt 3 plate it with the purest gold, as wel the grate therof, as the walles round about, and the hornes. And thou shalt make to it a crowne of gold round about, † and two golden 4 ringes vnder the crowne on either side, that the barres may [Page 240] be put into them, and the Altar may be caried. † The barres 5 also them selues thou shalt make of the wood setim, and shalt plate them with gold. † And thou shalt set the Altar 6 against the veile, that hangeth before the arke of testimonie before the propitiatorie wherwith the testimonie is couered, where I wil speake to thee. † And Aaron shal burne incense 7 vpon it, swetely fragrant, in the morning. When he shal dresse the lampes, he shal burne it: † and when he shal place 8 them at euen, he shal burne incense euerlasting before the Lord through your generations. † You shal not offer vpon 9 it incense of an other composition, nor oblation, and victime, neitheir shal you offer libamentes. † And Aaron shal 10 pray vpon the hornes therof once a yeare, with the bloud of that which was offered for sinne, and shal pacifie vpon it in your generations. It shal be most Holie to the Lord. † And 11 our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † When thou shalt take 12 the summe of the children of Israel according to their number, euerie one of them shal giue a price for their soules to the Lord, and there shal be no scourge among them, when they shal be reckened. † And this shal euerie one giue that 13 passeth to the naming, That is, 7. d ob English. For a sicle of the Sanctuarie is about 15. d halfe a sicle according to the measure of the temple. A sicle hath twentee Obolus, 3. farthings. aboles. The halfe part of a sicle shal be offered to the Lord. † He that is 14 accounted in the number, for twentie yeares and vpward, shal giue price. † The rich man shal not adde to halfe a sicle, 15 and the poore man shal diminish nothing. † And the money 16 being receiued, which was contributed of the children of Israel, thou shalt deliuer vnto the vses of the tabernacle of testimonie, that it may be a monument of them before the Lord, and he may be propitious to their soules. † And our 17 Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Thou shalt make also a 18 lauer with his foote of brasse, to wash in: and thou shalt set it betwen the tabernacle of the testimonie and the Altar. And water being put into it, † Aaron and his sonnes shal 19 wash therin their handes and feete, † when they are going 20 into the tabernacle of testimonie, and when they are to come vnto the Altar, to offer on it incense to the Lord, † lest perhappes 21 they die. it shal be an euerlasting law to him, and to his seede by successions. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, 22 † saying: Take spices, of principal and chosen myrrh fiue 23 hundred sicles, and of cinnamon halfe so much, that is, two [Page 241] hundred fiftie sicles, of calamus in like maner two hundred fiftie, † and of casia fiue hundred sicles after the weight of the 24 Sanctuarie, of oile of oliues the measure hin: † and thou shalt 25 make the holie oile of vnction, an ointment compounded by the art of an vnguentarie, † and therof thou shalt anoynt 26 the tabernacle of testimonie, and the arke of the testament, † and the table with the vessel therof, the candlesticke, and 27 the furniture therof, the Altars of incense, † and of holocauste, 28 and al the furniture that perteyneth to the seruice of them. † And thou shalt sanctifie al, and they shal be most 29 Holie: he that shal touch them, shal be sanctified. † Thou 30 shalt anoynt Aaron and his sonnes, and shalt sanctifie them, that they may doe the function of priesthood vnto me. † To 31 the children of Israel also thou shalt say: This oile of vnction shal be holie vnto me through your generations. † The flesh 32 of man shal not be anoynted therewith, and you shal make none other after the composition of it, because it is sanctified, and shal be holie vnto you. † What man soeuer shal 33 compound such, and shal giue therof to a stranger, shal be abandoned out of his people. † And our Lord said to Moyses: 34 Take vnto thee spices, stactee, and onycha, galbanum of swete sauour, and the clearest frankincense, al shal be of equal weight: † and thou shalt make incense compounded 35 by the worke of an vnguentarie, exactly tempered, and pure, and most worthie of sanctification. † And when thou hast 36 beaten al into verie smal pouder, thou shalt set of it before the tabernacle of testimonie, in the place where I wil appeare to thee. Most Holie shal the incense be vnto you. † Such 37 confection you shal not make vnto your owne vses, because it is holie to the Lord. † What man soeuer shal make the 38 like, to enioy the smel therof, shal perish out of his people.

CHAP. XXXI. Beseleel and Ooliab are deputed by our Lord to make the Tabernacle, and the things belonging thereto. 12. The obseruation of the sabbath day is againe commanded. 18 And our Lord deliuereth to Moyses tvvo tables vvritten with the singer of God.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Behold, I 1 2 haue called by name Beseleel the sonne of Vri the [Page 242] sonne of Hur of the tribe of Iuda, † and I haue replenished 3 him with the spirit of God, with wisdome, & vnderstanding, and knowledge in al worke, † to deuise whatsoeuer may 4 be artificially made of gold, and siluer, and brasse, † of marble, 5 and precious stones, and diuersitie of wood. † And I 6 haue geuen him for his felow Ooliab the sonne of Achisamech of the tribe of Dan. And in the hart of euerie skilful man haue I put wisdome: that they may make al things which I haue commanded thee, † the tabernacle of couenant, and 7 the arke of testimonie, and the propitiatorie, that is ouer it, and al the vessel of the tabernacle, † and the table and the 8 vessel therof, the candlesticke most pure with the vessel therof, and the Altares of incense, † and of holocauste, and 9 al their vessel, the lauer with his foote, † the holie vestments 10 in the ministerie for Aaron the priest, and for his sonnes, that they may execute their office, about the sacred things: † the oile of vnction, and the incense of spices in the Sanctuarie, 11 al thinges which I haue commanded thee, shal they make. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake 12 13 to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: See that you keepe my sabbath: because it is a signe betwen me and you in your generations: that you may know that I am the Lord, which sanctifie you. † Keepe you my sabbath: for it 14 is holie vnto you: he that shal pollute it, dying shal die: he that shal doe worke in it, his soule shal perish out of the middes of his people. † Six dayes shal you doe worke: in the 15 seuenth day is the sabbath, the holie rest to the Lord. Euerie one that shal doe any worke in this day, shal die. † Let the 16 children of Israel keepe the Sabbath, and celebrate it in their generations. It is an euerlasting couenant † betwen me and 17 the children of Israel, and a signe perpetual. for in six dayes the Lord made heauen and earth, and in the seuenth he ceased from worke. † And our Lord, when he had ended such 18 speaches in mount Sinai, gaue vnto Moyses two stone tables of testimonie, written Not by Movses, but by an Angel, at Gods appointment. Gal. 3. v. 19. with the finger of God.

CHAP. XXXII. The people (Aaron consenting) make & adore the image of a calfe. 7. which God reue [...]ling to Moyses, 11. be praieth our Lord, for Abraham, Isaac, and Iacobs sake to spare the people, and performe his promise. [Page 243] 14. VVherwith God is pacified. 15. Yet Moyses coming from the Mount, and seeing the calfe, and idolatrie, throweth downe the tables and breaketh them. 20. destroyeth the idol, 21. blameth Aaron, 27. causeth manie Idolaters to be slaine, 31. and againe prayeth for the people.

AND the people seeing that Moyses made tariance ere 1 he came downe from the mount, being assembled against Aaron, they sayd: Arise, make vs Aaron knew what goddes they ment, to wit, such as they had senne worshipped in Aegypt, and therfore he made them a molten calfe. v. 4. goddes, that may goe before vs: for what hath chanced to this Moyses the man that brought vs out of the Land of Aegypt, we know not. † And Aaron sayd to them: Take the golden 2 earlettes from the eares of your wiues, and sonnes and daughters, & bring them to me. † And the people did that he had 3 cōmanded, bringing the earlettes to Aaron. † Which when he 4 had receiued, he formed them by founders worke, and made of them“ a molten calfe. And they sayd: These are thy goddes Israel, that haue brought thee out of the land of Aegypt. † Which when Aaron had senne, he builded an 5 altar before it, and by a cryers voice proclaimed saying: Tomorow is the solemnitie of the Lord. † And rysing in the 6 morning, they offered holocaustes, and pacifique hostes, and the people sate downe to eate, and to drinke, and they role vp Excesse in play called foolish mirth, is the daughter of gluttonie, and mother of Idolatrie. S. Greg. li. 31. c. 31. Moral. to play. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: Goe, 7 get thee downe: thy people, which thou hast brought out of the Land of Aegypt, hath sinned. † They haue quickly 8 reuolted from the way, that thou didst shew them: and they haue made to them selues a molten calfe, and haue adored, and immolating hostes vnto To the molten calfe, which they had made. it, haue sayd: These are thy goddes Israel, that haue brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt † And againe our Lord said to Moyses: I see that 9 this people is stiffenecked: † God saying, suffer me, signifieth that he could be hindered S. Hierom. in Ion [...]. 1. suffer me, that my furie may be angrie against them, and that I may destroy them, and I wil make thee into a great nation. † But“ Moyses besought 11 the Lord his God, saying: Why Lord, is thy furie angrie against thy people, whom thou hast brought forth of the Land of Aegypt, in great power, and in a strong hand? † Let 12 not the Aegyptians say I beseech thee: He hath craftely brought them forth, that he might kil them in the mountaynes, and destroy them from the earth: let thyne anger cease, and be pacified vpon the wickednes of thy people. †“ Remenber Abraham, Isaac, and Israel Not only Gods promise. but also his seruants merites are here proposed for procuring mercie to the people. See the Annotation. thy seruantes, 13 [Page 244] to whom thou swarest by thine owne self, saying: I wil multiplie your seed as the starres of heauen: and this whole land, wherof I haue spoken, I wil giue to your seed, and you shal possesse it alwayes. † And our Lord was pacified from doing 14 the euil which he had spoken against his people. † And 15 Moyses returned from the mount, carying the two tables of testimonie in his hand, written on both sides, † and made 16 by the worke of God: the writing also of God was grauen in the tables. † And Iosue hearing the tumult of the people 17 crying out, said to Moyses: The noyse of battaile is heard in the campe. † Who answered: It is not the crie of men encouraging 18 of fight, nor the shoute of men compelling to flee: but I doe heare the voice of singers. † And when he approched 19 to the campe, he saw the calfe, and the daunces: and being Moyses the meekest manon earth. (Nu. 12.) in Gods cause was most zelous against sinne. [...]. Aug. q. 144. in Exod. very wrath, he threw the tables out of his hand, and brake them at the foote of the mount. † and catching the 20 calfe which they had made, he burnt it, and bette it into powder, which he strawed into water, and gaue thereof drinke to the children of Israel. † And he said to Aaron: 21 What hath this people done to thee, that thou shouldest bring vpon them an heinous sinne? † To whom he answered: Let 22 not my lord be offended: for thou knowest this people, that it is prone to euil: † they said to me: Make vs goddes, that 23 may goe before vs: for vnto this same Moyses, that brought vs forth out of the Land of Aegypt, we know not what is chanced. † To whom I said: Which of you hath gold? They 24 tooke, and brought to me: and I cast it into the fire, and Aaron confessed the fault briefly, not intending a friuolous excuse: for he could not thinke, but Moyses knew the truth. [...]. Aug. q. 145 in Exod. this calfe came forth. † Moyses therfore seeing the people 25 that they were made naked (for Aaron had spoiled them for the ignominie of filth, and had set them naked among their enemies) † and standing in the gate of the campe, he said: If 26 any man be our Lords, let him ioyne to me. And there gathered vnto him al the sonnes of Leui: † to whom he said: 27 This saith the Lord God of Israel: Put euerie man his sword vpon his thigh: goe, & returne from gate to gate through the middes of the campe, and euerie man kil his brother, and frend, and neighbour. † And Their zeale vsed with authoritie and order is here rewarded: which otherwise wanting, when Simeon and Leui slew the Sichemites, was blamed by Iacob. Gen. 34. & 49. the sonnes of Leui did according 28 to the saying of Moyses, and there were slaine in that day about three thousand men. † And Moyses said: You haue 29 consecrated your handes this day to our Lord, euerie man in his sonne & in his brother, that blessing may be giuen to you [Page 245] † And when the next day was come, Moyses spake to the 30 people: You have sinned a verie great sinne: I wil goe vp to our Lord, if by anie meanes I may be able to intreate him for your sinful fact. † And returning to our Lord▪ he said: 31 I beseech thee: this people hath sinned a heinous sinne, and they haue made to them selues goddes of gold: either forgiue them this trespasse, † or if thou doe not, Moyses not content with his owne saluation, would rather perish with the people, then they should al be destroied: and therfore at his instance God pardoned them. S. Hicr [...]. E [...]. 12 ad Ga [...]d. & in Ione. 1. S. Aug q. 147. in Exod. strike me out 32 of the booke that thou hast written. † To whom our Lord 33 answered: He that hath sinned to me, him wil I strike out of my booke: † but goe thou, and leade this people whither 34 I haue told thee: myne Angel shal goe before thee. And I in the day of reuenge wil visite this sinne also of theirs. † Our Lord therfore smote the people for the fault concerning 35 the calfe, which Aaron had made.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXII.

4. A molten calfe] No other reason can be imagined, why the people This people thought the calfe to be the true God. falling to Idolatrie, required the image of a calfe, rather then of anie other thing, but for that they thought the blacke calfe with white spottes, called Apis, or Serapis, whom they sawe the Aegyptians estemed most of al their S. Aug. li. 18. c [...]. ciuit. goddes, to be the chiefe, or onlie God. And therfore to this famous Idol, they ascribed the benefite of their deliuerie from bondage, saying: These are thy goddes, o Israel, that haue brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt. So they ment not They adored that which the image represented. to worship our Lord, the true God, in that image, as Caluin would haue it, li. 1. c. 11. para. 9. Instit. but the very calfe whose image it was, for adoring immediatly the calues image, and immolating hostes to it (v. 8.) they protested that to be their God, which the image represented. This appeareth also, Deut. 32. v. 18. God that begat thee thou hast forsaken: and hast forgotten our Lord thy creatour. And Psal. 105. v. 21. They forgat God, vvhich saued them.

11. Moyses besought.] Albeit Moyses with most humble submission prayed Caluin chargeth Moyses with arrogancie. Moyses charitie concurred with Gods prouidence. for the people, which God so accepted, that he was therby pacified, (v. 14.) yet Caluin here condemneth him of arrogancie, and pride, as though he imperiously In hunc locum. prescribed law to God, spoyling him of his iustice. Much otherwise S. Hierom ( Epist. 12. ad Gaudent.) commending his feruent charitie, doubteth not to say. Dei potentiam serui preces impediebant. The seruantes prayers hindered Gods povver, because God himself saying, suffer me, that my furie may be angrie against them, and that I may destroy them: shewed his diuine prouidence to be such, as he might be staied, from doing that vvhich be threatned.

13. Remember Abraham,] It much trubled Caluin, that for obtaining pardon S. Aug. q. 149. in Exod. S. Chrys▪ ho. 42. in Gen. The [...]d. q 67. in Exo. God sheweth mercie for the merites of his seruants. for the people, the Patriarches are mentioned, for whose sake and merites, mercie, and protection was promised by God (Gen. 18. 22. 26.) ▪prophecied by Iacob, (Gen. 48.) performed here, and in manie other places. And it is a vaine euasion to say; God shewed his mercie for his promise sake only; for he promised the same for their merites; as appeareth in the places alleaged. Grace goeth before merites. Though al merites procede from Gods grace, first geuen without merite [...]. 1. Cor. 4. v. 7. S. Aug. degrat. & lib. arb. c. 6.

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CHAP. XXXIII. Gods wrath being mitigated by Moyses, the people mourne for their sinne, 7. Moyses pitcheth the tabernacle vvithout the campe, and therin conuerseth familiarly vvith God. 18. desiring to see his glorie.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: Goe, get thee 1 vp from this place, thou and thy people which thou hast brought out of the Land of Aegypt, into the land wherof I sware to Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, saying: To thy seede I wil giue it: † and I wil send an Angel thy 2 precusor, that I may cast out the Chananeite, and Amorrheite, and Hetheite, and Pherezeite, and Heueite, and Iebuseite, † and thou maiest enter into the land that 3 floweth with milke and honey: for God w [...]uld not in this passage worke such miracles, as he did, bringing them forth of Aegypt. So it is a comination because they werest ubborne and stiffe necked. I wil not goe vp with thee, because thou art a stiffenecked people: lest perhappes I destroie thee in the way. † And the people hearing this 4 verie il saying, mourned: and no man put on his ornamentes after the custome. † And our Lord sayd to Moyses: Speake 5 to the children of Israel: Thou art a stiffenecked people, once I shal goe vp in the middes of thee, and shal destroy thee. Now presently lay away thy ornamentes, that I may know what to doe vnto thee. † Therfore the children of 6 Israel layd away their ornamentes from mount Horeb.

† Moyses also taking the tabernacle, pitched it without the 7 campe a farre of, and called the name thereof, The Tabernacle of couenant. And al the people, that had anie question, went forth to the Tabernacle of couenant, without the campe. † And when Moyses went forth to the tabernacle, 8 al the people rose vp, and euerie one stoode in the dore of his pauilion, and they beheld the backe of Moyses, til he entred into the tabernacle. † And when he was entred into the 9 Tabernacle of couenant, the piller of the cloude came downe, and stoode at the doore, and he spake with Moyses, † al they 10 beholding that the piller of the cloud stoode at the doore of the Tabernacle. And they stoode, and adored at the doores of their tabernacles. † And our Lord spake vnto Moyses 11 face to face, as a man is wont to speake to his frend. And when he returned into the campe, his minister Iosue the sōne of Nun, a yong man, departed not from the Tabernacle. † And Moyses said to our Lord: Thou commandest me to 12 [Page 247] leade forth this people: and doest not shew me whom thou wilt send with me, especially wheras thou hast said: I know thee by name, and thou hast found grace in my sight. † If 13 therfore I haue found grace in thy sight, shew me thy face, that I may know thee, and may find grace before thine eyes, looke vpon thy people this nation. † And our Lord said: 14 My face shal goe before thee, and I wil giue thee rest. † And 15 Moyses sayd: If thy selfe doest not goe before, bring vs not out of this place. † For whereby shal we be able to know 16 I and thy people, that we haue found grace in thy sight, vnles thou walke with vs, that we may be glorified of al peoples, that dwel vpon the earth? † And our Lord said to Moyses: 17 This word also, which thou hast spoken, wil I doe: for thou hast found grace before me, and thy selfe I haue knowen by name. † Who said: Shew me thy glorie. † He answered: 18 19 I wil shew thee The vision of God in gloric, is algo [...]d. al good, and God by his grace maketh his seruants to cal vpon his name. S. Aug. q 154. in Exod. wil cal in the name of the Lord before thee: and I wil haue mercie on whom I wil, and I wil be merciful to whom it shal please me. † And againe 20 he sayd: Thou canst not see my face: None in this life can see God as Saincts do in glorie. 1. Ioan. 3. for man shal not see me, and liue. † And againe: Behold, quoth he, there is 21 a place with me, and thou shalt stand vpon the rocke. † And 22 when my glorie shal passe, I wil sette thee in a hole of the Rom 9. rocke, and protect thee with my right hand, vntil I passe: † and I wil take away my hand, and thou shalt see Moyses saw more glorious workes & effectes of God, then other Prophets, yet not his substance and diuine nature. Theodoret. q. 68. in Exod S Hier. de verb. Isa. vidi. Dom. S. Chrysost. ho. 4. de in copie, Dei natura. my 23 backe-partes: but my face thou canst not see.

CHAP. XXXIIII. Moyses goeth againe into Mount Sinai, vvith new tables, praying for the people. 10. to whom God promiseth to giue possession of the Land. 12. Prohibiteth al association vvith the Gentiles, for feare of Idolatrie, 18. geueth precepts concerning the first borne, the Sabbath, and other feastes. 28. After fourtie dayes fast, Moyses returneth to the people with the commandements, and his face appearing horned, he couereth it, whensoeuer he speaketh to the people.

AND after this he said: The first tables being broken, yet others are made: so though the first grace geuen in Baptisme be lost, Yet there remaineth penance, as the second table of saftie after shipwrake S. Hiero. Epis ad Demedriad. Cut thee two tables of stone 1 like vnto the former, and I wil write vpon them the wordes, which the tables had, which thou hast broken. † Be readie in the morning, that thou maiest forwith go vp 2 into the mount Sinai, and thou shalt stand with me vpon the toppe of the mount. † Let no man go vp with thee, neither 3 let anie man be sene throughout the whole mount: the oxen [Page 248] also and the sheepe let them not feede ouer against. † He 4 cut out therfore two tables of stone, such as had bene before: and rising very early he went vp into mount Sinai, as our Lord had commanded him, carying with him the tables. † And when our Lord was descended in a cloude, Moyses 5 stoode with him, calling vpon the name of our Lord. † Who 6 passing before him, he said: chief ruler. Dominatour Lord God, merciful and clement, patient and of much compassion, and true, † Which keepest mercie vnto thousandes: which takest away 7 iniquitie, and wicked factes, and sinnes, and no man of him selfe is innocent before thee. Which doest render the iniquitie of the fathers to the children, and to the nephewes vnto the third and fourth generation. † And Moyses making hast, 8 bowed flatte vnto the earth, and adoring † he said: If I haue 9 found grace in thy sight o Lord, I beseech thee that thou wilt goe with vs (for it is a stiffe necked people) and take away our iniquities and sinnes, and possesse vs. † Our Lord answered: 10 Notwithstanding his former commination chap. 33. v 3 God here promiseth new benefites. I wil make a couenant in the sight of al, I wil do signes that were neuer sene vpon the earth, nor in anie nations: that this people may see, in the middes of whom thou art, the terrible worke of the Lord which I wil doe. † Obserue al 11 thinges which this day I command thee: I my self wil cast out before thy face the Amorrheite, and Chananeite, and Hetheite, the Pherezeite also, and Heueite, and Iebuseite. † Beware thou neuer ioyne amitie with the inhabitants of 12 that land, which may be thy ruine: † but destroy their altars, 13 breake their statues, and cut downe their groues: † adore 14 not a strange God. The Lord his name is Ielouse, God is an emulatour. † Enter no traffick with the men of those regions: 15 lest, when they haue fornicated with their goddes, and haue adored their idols, some man cal thee to eate of the thinges immolated. † Neither shalt thou take a wife for thy sonnes 16 of their daughters: lest after them selues haue fornicated, they make thy sonnes also to fornicate with their goddes. † Molten goddes thou shalt not make to thee † Thou shalt 17 18 keepe the solemnitie of the azymes. Seuen dayes shalt thou eate azymes, as I haue commanded thee, in the time of the moneth of new corne: for in the moneth of spring time thou didst goe out of Aegypt. † Al of the male kind, that 19 openeth the matrice, shal be mine. Of al beastes as wel oxen as of sheepe, it shal be mine. † The firstborne of an asse 20 [Page 249] thou shalt redeeme with a sheepe: but if thou wilt not giue a price for it, it shal be slaine. The firstborne of thy sonnes thou shalt redeeme: neither shalt thou appeare emptie in my sight. † Six dayes shalt thou worke, the seuenth day thou 21 shalt cease to eare, and reape. † The solemnitie of weekes 22 thou shalt make to thee, in the first fruites of corne of thy wheate haruest, and the solemnitie, when the time of the yeare returneth that al thinges are laid vp. † Three tymes 23 of the yeare al thy male shal appeare in the sight of the omnipotent Lord God of Israel. † For when I shal haue 24 taken away the nations from thy face, and shal haue dilated thy borders, no man shal lie in wayte against thy land, when thou doest goe vp, and appeare in the sight of the Lord thy God thrise in a yeare. † Thou shalt not immolate the bloud 25 of my hoste vpon leauen: neither shal there remaine in the morning of the victime of the solemnitie of the Phase. † The first of the fruites of thy ground thou shalt offer in 26 the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boile a kidde in the milke of his damme. † And our Lord said to Moyses: 27 Write thee these wordes, in which I haue made a couenant both with thee and with Israel. † Therfore he was there with 28 our Lord fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes: he did not eate bread, and he dronke no water, and God by an angel not Moyses. supra v 1. & Deut. 10. v. 2. & 4. he wrote in the tables the wordes of the couenant, How soeuer the commandments are diuided in both tables, here it is certaine, that there be no more nor fewer then tenne in al. tenne † And when Moyses 29 came downe from the mount Sinai, he held the two tables of testimonie, and he knew not that his face was So his face appeared to the beholders, by reason of the glistering beames of his countenance shining gloriously, after his conuersation with God fourtie dayes: which signifieth that much more that which abideth (in al eternitie) is in glorie. 2. Cor. 3. horned by the conuersation of the talke of our Lord. † And Aaron 30 and the children of Israel seing the face of Moyses horned, they were afraid to come neere. † And being called of him, 31 they returned as wel Aaron as the princes of the synagogue. And after that he spake to them, † al the children of Israel 32 also came to him: whom he commanded al thinges that he had heard of our Lord in mount Sinai. † And hauing ended 33 his talke, he put The same veile (saieth S. Paul) remaneth vpon the hart of the Iewes, that they can not see Christ, til by his special grace they shal be illuminated: 2 Cor 3. The like is vpon the hart of Heretikes that can not see the Church. S. Aug. in Psal. 30. con 2. a veile. vpon his face. † Which going in 34 to our Lord, and speaking with him, he toke away vntil he went forth, and then he spake to the children of Israel al thinges that had bene commanded him. † Who saw that the 35 face of Moyses coming forth was horned, but he couered his face againe, if at anie time he spake to them.

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CHAP. XXXV. The precept of the Sabbath is yet renewed. 4. First fruites, and other giftes are required, and duly offered, for the making of the tabernacle and other thinges therto belonging, which are here recited. 30. Beseleel and Oo. iab are appointed workmen for this purpose.

THERFORE After the fall of the people to Idolatrie, their punishment, and repentāce, their reconciliation to God and new tables of the commandments made and written, Moyses repeteth the former precept, of keping the Sabbath, and prouideth al necessaries to the making of the Tabernacle, wherto the Princes and people most promptly and liberally contribute S. Aug. q. 172. in Exo. al the multitude of the children of Israel 1 being gathered together, he said to them: These are the thinges which our Lord hath commanded to be done. † Six 2 dayes you shal do worke: the seuenth day shal be holie vnto you, the sabbath, and rest of our Lord: he that shal do anie worke in it, shal be slaine. † You shal not kindle site in al 3 your habitations on the sabbath day. † And Moyses said to 4 al the assemblie of the children of Israel: This is the word that our Lord hath commanded, saying: † Separate with 5 you first fruites to the Lord. Let euerie one that is willing and hath a readie hart, offer them to the Lord: gold and siluer, and brasse, † hyacinth and purple, and scarlet twise died, 6 and silke, the haire of goates, † and rammes skinnes died 7 redde, and ianthin skinnes, the wood setim, † and oile to 8 maintaine lightes, and to make ointment, and most sweete incense, † Onyx stones, and pretious stones, for the adorning 9 of the Ephod and the Rationale. † Whosoeuer of you 10 is wise, let him come, and make that which our Lord hath commanded: † to wit, the Tabernacle, and the roofe therof, 11 and the couer, the ringes, and the bordeworke with the barres, the pinnes and the feete: † the Arke and the staues, 12 the propitiatorie, and the veile, that is drawen before it: † the Table with the barres and the vessel, and the loaues 13 of proposition: † the Candlesticke to beare vp the lightes, 14 the vessel therof and the lampes, and the oile to the nourishing of fires: † the Altar of incense, and the barres, and 15 the oile of vnction and the incense of spices: the Hanging at the doore of the tabernacle: † the Altar of holocauste, 16 and his grate of brasse, with the barres and vessel therof: the Lauer and his feete: † the Curtines of the court with the 17 pillers and the feete, the hanging in the doores of the entrie, † the pinnes of the tabernacle and of the court with their 18 litle cordes: † the Vestimentes, that are to be vsed in the 19 ministerie of the sanctuarie, the vesture of Aaron the high [Page 251] Priest, and of his sonnes, to do the function of Priesthood vnto me. † And al the multitude of the children of Israel 20 going forth from the sight of Moyses, † offered first fruites 21 to our Lord with a most prompt and deuoute minde, to make the worke of the tabernacle of the testimonie. Whatsoeuer was necessarie to the seruice therof and to the holie vestiments, † both men and wemen did giue, tablettes and 22 earlettes, ringes and bracelettes: euerie vessel of gold was separated for the donaries of our Lord. † If anie man had 23 hyacinth, and purple, and scarlet twise died redde, and ianthin skinnes, † metal of siluer and brasse, they offered to our 24 Lord, and the wood setim for diuers vses. † But the skilful 25 wemen also gaue such thinges as they had sponne, hyacinth, purple, and scarlet, and silke, † and goates haire, geuing al 26 of their owne accord. † But the princes offered onyx stones, 27 and pretious stones, for the Ephod and the Rationale, † and spices and oile to maintaine the lightes, and for the 28 preparing of ointment, and to make the incense of most sweete sauour. † Al men and wemen with deuoute mind 29 offered donaries, that the workes might be made which our Lord had comanded by the hand of Moyses. Al the children of Israel did dedicate voluntarie thinges to our Lord.

† And Moyses said to the children of Israel: Behold, 30 our Lord hath As matter alone is not sufficient for a building without artificers, to whom God geueth special skil: so for expounding holie Scripture God geueth particular knowledge to Pastors and Doctors, to the consummation of Sainctes, to the worke of the ministerie, to the edifying of the bodie of Christ. (the Church. Ephes. 4. called by name Beseleel the sonne of Vri the sonne of Hur of the tribe of Iuda. † And hath filled 31 him with the spirit of God, with, wisdome and intelligence, and science and allearning † to deuise and to make worke 32 in gold and siluer, and brasse, † and in grauing stones, 33 and in carpenters worke. Whatsoeuer can be deuised artificially, † he hath giuen in his hart: Ooliab also the sonne 34 of Achisamech of the tribe of Dan: † both hath he instructed 35 with wisedome, to make the workes of a carpenter, a tapester, an embroderer of hyacinth and purple, and scarlet twise died, and silke, and to weaue al thinges, and to inuent al new things.

CHAP. XXXVI. More being geuen then was needeful. 6. Moyses made to be proclamed that no more should be offered. 8. So the curtines, 13. ringes, 18. buckles, 19. the couer, 20. bordes, 21. barres, 35. a veile, 36. pillers, and a hanging are made readie.

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BESEL [...]EL therfore, and Ooliab, and euerie wise man, 1 to whom our Lord gaue wisedome and vnderstanding, to know how to worke artificially, made the thinges that are necessarie for the vses of the Sanctuarie, and which our Lord did command. † And when Moyses had called them, 2 and euerie cunning man, to whom our Lord had geuen wisedome, and such as of their owne accord had offered themselues to the making of the worke, † he deliuered al the 3 donaries of the children of Israel vnto them. Who being earnest about the worke, the people daily in the morning did offer their vowes. † Whereupon As the people abounded in deuotion, so the workmen of modestie and religion would haue no more then necessarie [...]. Augustin q. [...]71. in Exod. the arstificers being 4 constrained to come, † said to Moyses: The people offereth 5 more then is necessarie. † Moyses therfore commanded proclamation 6 to be made by the criers voice: Let neither man nor woman offer anie more in the worke of the Sanctuarie. And so they ceased from offering giftes, † because the thinges 7 that were offered did suffice and were ouer much. † And 8 al the wise harted men, to accomplish the worke of the tabernacle, made ten curtines of twisted silke, and hyacinth, and purple, and scarlet twise died, with varied worke, and the art of embrodering: † of which one had in length 9 twentie eight cubites, and in bredth foure: there was one measure of al the curtines. † And he ioyned fiue curtines, 10 one to an other, and the other fiue be coupled to themselues one with an other. † He made also loupes of hyacinth in the 11 edge of one curtine on either side, and in the edge of the other curtine in like maner, † that the loupes might meete 12 one against an other, and might be ioyned eech with other. † Whereupon also he did cast fiftie ringes of gold, that might 13 catch the loupes of the curtines, and might be made one tabernacle. † He made also eleuen curtines of goates haire 14 to couer the roofe of the tabernacle: † one curtine in length 15 had thirtie cubites, & in bredth foure cubites: al the curtines were of one measure: † of which fiue he ioyned apart, & the 16 other six apart. † And he made fiftie loupes in the edge of one 17 curtine, and fiftie in the edge of an other curtine, that they might be ioyned one to an orher. † And fiftie buckles of 18 brasse wherwith the roofe might be knitte together, that of al the curtines there might be made one couering. † He made 19 also a couer for the tabernacle of rammes skinnes died redde: & an other couer ouer that of ianthin skinnes. † He made 20 [Page 253] also the bordes of the tabernacle of the wood setim standing. † The length of one borde was ten cubites: and the bredth 21 contained one cubite and an halfe. † There were two morteses 22 throughout euerie borde, that one might be ioyned to the other. So made he in al the bordes of the tabernacle. † Of 23 the which twentie were at the south side against the South, † with fourtie feete of siluer. Two feete were put vnder one 24 borde on either side of the corners, where the morteses of the sides end in the corners. † At that side also of the tabernacle, 25 that looked toward the North, he made twentie bordes, † with fourty feete of siluer, two feete for euery borde. † But 2627 against the west, to witte, at that side of the tabernacle, which looketh to the sea, he made six bordes, † and two other at ech 28 corner of the tabernacle behind: † which were also ioyned 29 from beneth vnto the toppe, & they grew together into one connexion. So he made on either side at the corners † that 30 there were in al eight bordes, and had sixteene feete of siluer, to witte, two feete vnder euerie borde † He made also barres 31 of the wood setim, fiue to hold together the bordes of one side of the tabernacle, † and fiue other to ioyne together 32 the bordes of the other side: and besides these, fiue other barres at the west side of the tabernacle against the sea. † He 33 made also an other barre, that might come by the middes of the bordes from corner vnto corner. † And the bordeworke 34 it selfe he plated with gold. And their ringes he made of gold, through which the barres might be drawen: the which also themselues he couered with plates of gold. † He made also 35 a veile of hiacinth, and purple, scarlette, and twisted silke, with embrodered worke, varied and distinguished: † and 36 foure pillers of the wood setim, which with their heades he plated with gold, casting their feete of siluer. † He made 37 also a hanging in the entrie of the tabernacle of hyacinth, purple, scarlet, and twisted silke, with the worke of an embroderer: † and fiue pillers with their heades, which he 38 couered with gold, and their feete he did cast of brasse.

CHAP. XXXVII. Beseleel maketh the Arke. 6. the Propitiatorie, with Cherubimes, 10. the Table, vvith vessel belonging therto, 17. the Candlesticke vvith bowles and branches 23. seuen lampes with snuffers, 25. the Altar of incense, 29. and compoundeth the incense.

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AND Beseleel made also the arke of the wood setim, 1 hauing two cubites and an halfe in length, and a cubite and an halfe in bredth, the height also was of one cubite and an halfe: and he plated it with the purest gold within and without. † And he made to it a crowne of gold round 2 about, † casting foure ringes of gold at the foure corners 3 thereof: two ringes in the one side, and two in the other. † Barres also he made of the wood setim, which he plated 4 with gold, † and which he put into the ringes, that were at 5 the sides of the arke to carie it. † He made also the Propititorie, 6 that is, the Oracle, of the purest gold, two cubites and an halfe in length, and a cubite and an halfe in bredth. † Two Cherubins also of beaten gold, which he sette on 7 either side of the Propitiatorie: † One Cherub in the toppe 8 of one side, and the other Cherub in the toppe of the other side: two Cherubins in each toppe of the Propitirtorie, † spreading their winges, and The Cherubins couering al vpon and within the arke signifie (saith S Gregorie Nyssen) that the Scriptures haue a hiegher sense then the literal. de vita Moyseos post medium. couering the Propitiatorie, 9 and looking one toward the other and toward it. † He made 10 also the table of the wood setim in length two cubites, and in bredth one cubite, which had in height a cubite & an halfe. † and he did compasse it with the finest gold, and he made 11 to it a golden ledge round about, † and to the ledge it selfe a 12 golden crowne enterpolished of foure fingers, and vpon the same an other golden crowne. † And he cast foure ringes of 13 gold, which he put in the foure corners at euerie foote of the table † against the crowne: and he put the barres into them, 14 that the table might be caried. † The barres also them selues 15 he made of the wood setim, and compassed them with gold. † And the vessel for the diuers vses of the table, sawcers, 16 phiales, and goblettes, and censars, of pure gold, wherein the libamentes are to be offered. † He made also the candlesticke 17 beaten of the finest gold. From the shaft wherof the branches, cuppes, and boules and lilies did proceede: † six 18 on both sides, three branches on one side, and three on the other: † three cuppes in maner of a nutte on euerie branch, 19 and boules withal and lilies: and three cuppes of the fashion of a nutte in an other branch, and boules withal and lilies. The worke of the six branches, that proceded from the shaft of the candlesticke, equal † And in the shaft it selfe were 20 foure cuppes after the maner of a nutte, and boules withal at euerie one and lilies: † and boules vnder two branches in 21 [Page 255] three places, which together make six branches proceding from one shaft. † both the boules therfore, & the branches 22 were out of it, al beaten of the purest gold. † He made also 23 the seuen lampes with their snuffers, and the vessel, where the snuffings should be put out, of most pure gold. † The 24 candlesticke withal the vessel therof did weigh a talent of gold. † He made also the altar of incense of the wood setim, 25 hauing a cubite euerie way foure square, and in height two: from the corners wherof the hornes did procede. † And 26 he plated it with the purest gold, with the grate and the walles and the hornes. † And he made to it a crowne of gold 27 round about, and two golden ringes vnder the crowne at either side, that the barres may be put into them, and the altar may be caried. † And the barres them selues he made 28 also of the wood setim, and couered them with plates of gold. † He compounded also oile for the ointment of sanctification, 29 and incense of the purest spices with the worke of a pigmentarie.

CHAP. XXXVIII. The same Beseleel maketh the Altar of Holocauste. 8. the brasen lauer. 9. the court with pillers and hanginges. 21. The giftes that were offered are recited.

HE MADE also the Altar of Holocauste of the wood 1 setim, fiue cubites foure square, and three in height: † the hornes wherof did procede from the corners, and he 2 couered it with plates of brasse. † And for the vses therof 3 he prepared of brasse diuers vessels, cauldrons, tonges, fleshhookes, pothookes, & firepannes. † And the grate therof 4 in maner of nette he made of brasse, and vnder it in the middes of the altar an hearth, † casting foure ringes at as 5 manie toppes of the nette, to put in barres to carie it: † the 6 which themselues also he made of the wood setim, and couered them with plates of brasse: † and he drew them 7 through the ringes, that stoode out in the sides of the altar. And the altar it selfe was not massie, but holow of bordes, and within emptie. † He made also the lauer of brasse, with 8 the foote therof, of wemens glasses, These wemen watched there for deuotion, and it semeth the same custome continued til Christs time. For Anna the widow obserued this state of life. Luc. [...] that watched in the doore of the tabernacle. † He made also the court, in the 9 south side wherof were hanginges of twisted silke, of an hundred cubites, † twentie pillers of brasse with their feete, 10 [Page 256] the heades of the pillers, & the whole grauing of the worke, of siluer. † In like maner at the north side the hanginges, 11 pillers, and feete and the heades of the pillers were of the same measure, and worke and metal. † But on that side that 12 looketh to the West, there were hanginges of fiftie cubites, ten brasen pillers with their feete, and the heades of the pillers, and al the grauing of the worke, of siluer. † Moreouer 13 against the East he prepared haginges of fiftie cubites: † of the which, one side conteyned fistene cubites of three 14 pillers, with their feete: † and on the other side (because 15 betwen both he made the entrie of the tabernacle) there were hanginges equally of fiftene cubites, and three pillers, and feete as manie. † Al the hanginges of the court were 16 wouen of twisted silke. † The feete of the pillers were of 17 brasse, and their heades with al their grauinges of siluer: but the pillers also of the court them selues he plated with siluer. † And in the entrie therof he made with embrodered worke 18 a hanging of hyacinth, purple, scarlet, and twisted silke, that had twentie cubites in length, but the height was fiue cubites according to the measure, which al the hanginges of the court had. † And the pillers in the entrie were foure 19 with feete of brasse, and their heades and grauinges of siluer. † The pinnes also of the tabernacle and of tpe court round 20 about he made of brasse. † These are the iustrumentes of the 21 taberbacle of testimonie, which were numbred according to the precept of Moyses, in the ceremonies of the Leuites by the hand of Ithamar the sonne of Aaron the priest: † which 22 Beseleel the sonne of Vri, the sonne of Hur, of the tribe of Iuda had accomplished, as our Lord commanded by Moyses, † hauing ioyned to him selfe for his compagnion Ooliab the 23 sonne of Achisamech of the tribe of Dan: who was himself also an egregious artificer in wood, and a tapister and embroderer of hyacinth, purple, scarlet, and silke. † Al the gold 24 that was spent in the worke of the Sanctuarie, and that was offered in donaries, was nine and twentie talentes, and seuen hundred thirtie sicles according to the measure of the Sanctuarie. † And it was offered of them that passed to the number, 25 from twentie yeares and vpward, of six hundred three thousand, and fiue hundred fiftie, able men to beare armes. † There were moreouer an hundred talentes of siluer, wherof 26 were cast the feete of the Sanctuarie, and of the entrie where [Page 257] the velle hangeth. † An hundred feete were made of an 27 hundred talentes, one talent being accoūted for euerie foote. † And of the thousand seuen hundred, and seuentie fiue he 28 made the heades of the pillers, which them selues he also plated with siluer. † Of brasse also there were offered seuentie 29 two thousand talentes, and foure hundred sicles besides, † of the which were cast the feete in the entrie of the 30 tabernacle of testimonie, and the altar of brasse with the grate therof, and al the vessel, that pertayne to the vse therof, † and the feete of the court aswel in the circuite as in 31 the entire therof, and the pinnes of the tabernacle and of the court, round about.

CHAP. XXXIX. Al the ornamentes of Aaron and his sonnes are made. 31. and the whole vvorke of the Tabernacle is perfited.

MOREOVER of hyacinth and purple, scarlet and silke 1 he made the vestures, that Aaron should weare when he ministred in the holie places, as our lord commanded Moyses. † He made therfore an Ephod of gold, hyacinth, 2 and purple, and scarlet twise died, and twisted silke, † with 3 embrodered worke, and he did cut thinne plates of gold, and drew them smal into threedes, that they might be twisted with the woufe of the former colours, † and two edges 4 coupled one to the other in the toppe on either side, † and 5 a bawdrike of the same colours, as our Lord had commanded Moyses. † He prepared also two Onyx stones, fast sette and 6 closed in gold, and grauen by the art of a lapidarie, with the names of the children of Israel: † and he set them in the 7 sides of the Ephod for a moniment of the children of Israel, as our Lord had commanded Moyses. † He made also a Rationale 8 with embrodered worke according to the worke of the Ephod, of gold, hyacinth, purple, and scarlet twise died, and twisted silke: † foure square, duble, of the measure of a 9 palme. † And he set foure rewes of precious stones. In the 10 first rewe was sardius, topazius, an emeraud. † In the second, 11 a carbuncle, a saphire, and a iasper. † In the third, a ligurius, 12 an achates, and an amethist. † In the fourth a chrysolith, an 13 onyx, and beryllus, compassed and enclosed in gold by their [Page 258] rewes. † And the twelue stones them selues, were grauen 14 with the names of the twelue tribes of Israel, euerie one with his seueral name. † They made also in the rationale litle 15 cheynes linked one to an other of the purest gold, † and two 16 hookes, and as manie ringes of gold. Moreouer the ringes they set on either side of the Rationale, † on the which 17 the two golden cheynes should hang, which they put into the hookes, that stoode out in the corners of the Ephod. † These both before and behind did so agree with them selues, 18 that the Ephod and the Rationale might be knit one to the other, † tyed to the bawdrike and with ringes strongly 19 coupled, which a lace of hyacinth ioyned, lest they should flagge loosely, and be moued one from the other, as our Lord commanded Moyses. † They made also the tunike of the 20 Ephod al of hyacinth, † and a hole for the head in the vpper 21 part against the middes, and the border of the hole round about wouen: † and beneth at the feete pomegranates of 22 hyacinth, purple, scarlet, and twisted silke: † and litle belles 23 of the purest gold, which they did put betwen the pomegranates in the vtmost part of the tunike round about: † to 24 witte, a bel of gold, and a pomegranate, wherwith the high priest went adorned, when he executed his ministerie, as our Lord had commanded Moyses. † They made also silken tunikes 25 with wouen worke for Aaron and his sonnes: † and 26 mitres with their litle crownes of silke: † linnen breeches 27 also, of fine line: † and a girdle of twisted silke, hyacinth, purple, 28 & scarlet twise died, with the art of embrodering, as our Lord had commanded Moyses. † They made also the plate 29 of Alexander the great seeing Iaddus the hiegh Priest, bearing this venerable plate on his forehead, with great reuerence went vnto him, and adored the name of God written in the pla [...]e. Iosephus. li. 11. c. 8. Antiq. sacred veneration of most pure gold, and they wrote in it with the worke of a lapidarie: The Holie of our Lord: † and they tyed it to the mitre with a lace of hyacinth, as 30 our Lord had commanded Moyses. † Therfore al the worke 31 of the tabernacle & of the roofe of testimonie was perfited: and the children of Israel did al thinges which our Lord had commanded Moyses. † And they offered the tabernacle and 32 the roofe and the whole furniture, ringes, bordes, barres, pillers and their feete, † the couer of rammes skinnes died 33 redde, and the other couer of ianthin skinnes, † the veile, 34 the arke, the barres, the propitiatorie, † the table with the 35 vessel therof and the loaues of proposition: † the candlesticke, 36 the lampes, and the furniture of them with the oyle: [Page 259] † the altar of gold, and the ointment, and the incense of 37 spices: † and the hanging in the entrie of the tabernacle: 38 † the altar of brasse, the grate, the barres, and al the vessel 39 therof: the lauer with the foote therof: the hanginges of the court, and the pillers with their feete: † the hanging in 40 the entrie of the court, and the litle cordes, and the pinnes therof. Nothing wanted of the vessel, that was commanded to be made for the ministerie of the tabernacle, and for the roofe of couenant. † The vestimentes also, which the 41 priestes vse in the Sanctuarie, to witte, Aaron and his sonnes, † the children of Israel offered, as our Lord had commanded. 42 † Which thinges after that Moyses saw al finished, he 43 blessed them.

CHAP. XL. According to Gods commandment Moyses erecteth the Tabernacle, vvith al thinges appertayning, the first day of the second yeare after their deliuerie from Aegypt. 32. God replenisheth the same vvith his Maiestie, a cloude remayning ouer it by day, and a piller of fire by night, but vvhen they shal march, the same passeth before them.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † The The Tabernacle, prepared in the first yeare and erected the first day of the second yeare, signifieth the Church of Christ prepared in the old Testament, & established, exalted, and confirmed in the new. first 1 2 moneth, the first day of the moneth, thou shalt erect the tabernacle of the testimonie, † and shalt put in it the arke, 3 and shalt let downe before it the veile: † and bringing in the 4 table, thou shalt set vpon it the thinges that are commanded after the rite. The candlesticke shal stand with the lampes therof, † and the altar of gold whereon the incense is burned, 5 before the arke of testimonie. Thou shalt put the hangging in the entrie of the tabernacle, † and before it the altar 6 of holocauste: † the lauer betwen the altar and the 7 tabernacle, which thou shalt fil with water. † And thou 8 shalt compasse about the court with hanginges, and the entrie therof. † And taking the oile of vnction thou shalt anoynte 9 the tabernacle with the vessel therof, that they may be sanctified: † the altar of holocauste and al the vessel therof: 10 † the lauer with the foote therof; al shalt thou consecrate 11 with the oile of vnction, that they may be More holie then anie thīg without the Sanctuarie, but the Sancta Sanctorum it selfe was then most holie of al places in this world. most Holie. † And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sonnes to the doore 12 of the tabernacle of testimonie, and hauing washed them with water, † thou shalt reuest them with the sacred vestimentes, 13 [Page 260] that they may minister to me, and the vnction of them may prosper to an euerlasting priesthood. † And Moyses 14 did al thinges which our Lord had commanded. † Therfore 15 the first moneth of the second yeare, the first day of the moneth, the tabernacle was placed. † And Moyses erected, 16 it, and put the bordes and feete and barres, and reared the pillers, † and spred the roofe ouer the tabernacle, putting 17 ouer it a couer, as our Lord had commanded. † He put also 18 the testimonie in A gomor of Manna was now put in the arke mentioned before. chap. 16. the arke, thrusting barres vnderneth, and the oracle aboue. † And when he had brought the arke 19 into the tabernacle, he drew before it the veile to fulfil the commandement of our Lord. † He sette the table also in the 20 tabernacle of testimonie at the north side without the veile, † ordering the bread of proposition before it, as our Lord 21 had commanded Moyses. † He sette the candlesticke also in 22 the tabernacle of testimonie ouer against the table on the south side, † placing the lampes in order, according to the 23 precept of our Lord. † He set also the altar of gold vnder 24 the roofe of testimonie against the veile, † and burned vpon 25 it the incense of spices, as our Lord had commanded Moyses. † He put also the hanging in the entrie of the tabernacle of 26 testimonie, † and the altar of holocauste in the entrie of 27 the testimonie, offering on it the holocauste, and the sacrifices, as our Lord had commanded. † The lauer also he set 28 betwen the tabernacle of testimonie and the altar, filling it with water. † And Moyses and Aaron, and his sonnes 29 washed their handes and feete, † when they entred the roofe 30 of couenant, and went to the altar, as our Lord had commanded Moyses. † He erected also the court round about the tabernacle 31 and the altar, drawing the hanging in the entrie therof. After al thinges were perfited, † the cloude couered 32 the tabernacle of testimonie, and the glorie of our Lord filled it. † VVithout al doubt (s [...]th S. Augustin. q. 173. in Exod.) Moyses prefigured other persons when he entred into the cloud on mount Sinai, and others now when he could not enter into the tabernacle reple nished with the glorie of God. In Sinai he signified those that penetrate the profound mysteries of Christ, here the Iewes who vnderstād not the same. Neither could Moyses enter the roofe of couenant, 33 the cloude couering al thinges, and the maiestie of our Lord shining, because the cloude had couered al thinges. † If at 34 anie time the cloud did leaue the tabernacle, the children of Israel went forward by their troupes: † If it hong ouer, they 35 remained in the same place. † For the cloude of our Lord 36 honge ouer the tabernacle by day, and a sire by night, in the sight of al the children of Israel throughout al their mansions.

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THE ARGVMENT OF LEVITICVS.

VVHEN the Tabernacle was erected, nere to Mount Sinai, Exod. vlt. So soone as the Tabernacle was erected God declared the offices of the Leuites, written in this booke: wherof it is called Leuiticus. the first day of the second yeare, after the children of Israel parted from Aegypt, and was so replenished with Gods Maiestie, that none, no not Moyses him self could enter in, our Lord speaking from thence, called Moyses, and declared to him the offices of the Leuites; whom only, and no others, he deputed for the administration, and charge Nu. 1. of sacred things: wherof this booke (wherin they are written) is called Leuiticus. In which saith S. Hierom, al and euerie Sacrifice, yea almost Epist. ad Paulinum. Leuit. 1. 8. euerie sillable, and Aarons vestments, and the whole Leuical order breath forth heauenlie sacraments, or mysteries. For first God here prescribeth what sacrifices he wil haue, in what manner, and to The contents of this booke. what purposes. Then what partes and qualities he requireth in Priests; how they shal be vested and consecrated, seuerly punishing some that transgressed: with commandment neither to offer in sacrifice, nor to eate things reputed 11. 12. 18. vncleane, and the maner of purifying such things, and persons, as by diuers occasions were polluted: Interposing also some moral, and iudicial precepts; appointeth certaine solemne feastes, times of rest, and Iubilie yeare. Finally promiseth rewardes, and threatneth pu [...]ishments to those that kepe or breake 23. 26. 27. his commandments: with particular admonition touching vowes and tithes. So this booke may be diuided into fiue special partes. The first, of diuers Diuided into fiue parts. sortes of Sacrifices: in the seuen first chapters. The second, of consecrating Priests, and their v [...]stments, with punishment for offering strange fire. in the three next chapters. The third, of distinction betwen cleane and vncleane, with the maner of purifying certaine legal vncleanes, and other precepts moral and iudicial. from the 11. chap. to the 23. The fourth, of feasts, times of rest, and Iubilie with priuiledges, rewardes, and punishments, from the 23. chap. to the 27. The fifth, of vowes, and tithes. in the last chapter.

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THE BOOKE LEVITICVS, IN HEBREW VAICRA.

CHAP. I. Diuers rites in offering holocaustes, as wel of cattle, 14. as of birdes.

AND OVR LORD called Moyses, and 1 The first part of this booke. Of diuers sortes of Sacrifices. spake to him out of the tabernacle of testimony, saying: † Speake to the children 2 of Israel; & thou shalt say to them: “The man of you, that shal offer an hoste to our Lord, of beastes, that is of oxen & sheepe, offering victimes † if his oblation be“ an holocauste, 3 and of the heard; he shal offer The best and perfectest of euerie kind is to be offered to God, not the blind, lame, or weake. Gen. 4. Malach. 1. a male, without spotte, at the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie, to propitiate our Lord vnto him: † and he shal put his handes vpon the heade of 4 the hoste, and it shal be acceptable, and profitable to his expiation. † And he shal immolate the calfe before our Lord, 5 and the children of Aaron the priestes shal offer the bloud therof, powring it in the circuite of the altar, which is before the dore of the tabernacle. † And the skinne of the 6 hoste being plucked of, the ioyntes they shal cut into peeces, † and shal put fire vnderneth in the altar, hauing before laid 7 a pyle of wood in order: † and the ioyntes that are cut out, 8 laying in order thereupon, to wit, the head, & al thinges that cleane to the liuer, † the entralles and feete being washed 9 with water, and the priest shal burne them vpon the altar for an holocauste, and “sweete sauoure to our Lord. † And 10 if the oblation be of flockes, an holocauste of sheepe or of goates, a lambe of a yeare old without spot shal he offer: † and he shal immolate it at the side of the altar that looketh 11 [Page 262] to the North, before our Lord: but the bloud therof the sonnes of Aaron shal poure vpon the altar round about: † and they shal diuide the ioyntes, the head, and al that 12 cleane to the lyuer: and shal lay them vpon the wood, vnder which the fire is to be put: † but the entrales and the [...]e [...]te 13 they shal wash with water. And the whole the priest shal offer, and burne vpon the altar for an holocaust, and most sweete sauoure to our Lord. † But if the oblation of holocaust 14 to our Lord be of birdes, of turtles and young pigions, † the 15 priest shal offer it at the altar: and writhing the head to the necke, and breaking the place of the wound, he shal make the bloud to runne downe vpon the brimme of the altar: † but the croppe of the throate, and the fethers he 16 shal cast nigh to the altar at the east side, in the place where the ashes are wount to be powred out, † and he shal breake 17 the pinnions therof, and shal not cut, nor diuide it with a knife, and shal burne it vpon the altar, putting fire vnder the wood. It is an holocaust and oblation of most sweete sauoure to our Lord.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. I.

2. The man that shal offer] Sacrifice being the most special external seruice, Sacrifice presupposed to be necessary, God prescribeth the rites to be obserued therin. wherby man acknowledgeth the supreme dominion of God, and his owne subiection and homage to his diuine Maiestie, was so wel knowen to be necessarie (as being in most frequent vse in the law of nature, and in al nations) that here neded not anie new precept in general, that the people of God should offer sacrifice, though for special purposes, certaine particular sacrifices were some times appointed, but this dutie & obligation presupposed, our Lord first admonishing to offer the best, and perfectest things in euerie kind, prescribeth with what rites, and ceremonies it shal be done. As in offering an holocaust of the heard, it must be a male vvithout spotte; and be offered at the dore of the tabernacle, the offerer putting his handes vpon the head of the hoste; the priests must offer the bloud, povvring it in the circuite of the altar; plucke of the skinne; cut the ioyntes in peeces; lay them in order; the entrales and feete being vvashed, burne al vpon the Altar; And the like in other sacrifices, al for iust and reasonable causes, without which the wisdome of God doth nothing. Sap. 7. & Psal. 103. v 24.

3. An holocaust] In respect of diuers things offered, the diuers maner, and Three kindes of Sacrifice. causes of offering, there were manie sortes of Sacrifices: but al are reduced to three kindes. The first was Holocaust, in which al was burned in the honour of God, and resolued into vapour, which ascendeth vpwards in signe that al Holocauste. we haue is of God. The second was Sacrifice for sinne, & that of diuers sortes, Sacrifice for sinne. Pacifique Sacrifice. for the varietie of sinnes and persons; and part of this sacrifice was burned, the other part belonged to the Priests. The third was Pacifique sacrifice, wherof one part was burnt, an other pertayned to the Priests, and an other to them, that gaue the oblation. And of this kinde there were two sortes, one of [Page 264] thanksgeuing for benefites receiued: the other to procure fauoure in anie good For benefites receiued: or desired. enterprise, or desire. Al the which did prefigure and forshew one only Sacrifice of Chtists bodie and bloud, offered by him in two maners; bloudie on the Crosse once for euer, wherof S. Paul expressy speaketh (Heb. 9.) vnbloudie in formes of bread and wine, wherof the same S. Paul speaketh (Heb. 13. v. 10.) shewing that Christians haue an Altar, and consequently a Sacrifice farre excelling Al sacrifices of the old Testament prefigured Christs Sacrifice on the Crosse, and in the Eucharist. those of the Tabernacle; and our Sauiour him selfe ( Math. 26. v. 25.) speaking of the contents in the chalice, said: it was his bloud of the nevv Testament, which he then instituted and dedicated, as is there noted. And the ancient Fathers (by Caluins confession in Heb. 9.) generally vse this distinction of the same Sacrifice offered in bloudie, & in vnbloudie maner. They likewise teach that al lawful Sacrifices of the Law of nature, and of Moyses did end, and were complete in this one, which is our daylie Sacrifice, our immaculate l [...]m [...]e, our manna, our libament, our holocaust, our Sacrifice for sinne, our Pacifique Sacrifice for al purposes, and in steede of al old Sacrifices. So S. Augustin lib 8. c. 27. lib. 17. c. 20. de ciuit. lib. 3 de Bapis. c. 19. lib. 1. cont. a [...]u [...]rs l [...]g & ptophet. c. 18. & 20. S. Chrysost. in Psal. 95. S. Leo. ser. 8. de Pass. and other fathers teach.

9. Svvetesauour.] Not that the sauour of corporal things (though it were Not the external worke for it selfe but sincere deuotion pleaseth God. External sacrifices were ordained: 1. to keepe the people from Idolatrie. 2. To induce them to internal vertues. sweter then of burnt flesh and bones) delighteth Gods most pure substance: but for that mans frailtie in some good sorte performing his dutie, is very acceptable to his diuine goodnes. For otherwise he required not these Sacrifices, nor other external Rites for him felf, but he would haue his people for their owne good to be exercised therein: especially for three causes. First to kepe them from Idolatrie, wherto they were very prone, as appeareth by their often falling, notwithstanding continual admonitions to the contrarie. For being as it were burdened with manie ceremonies, pertaining to Gods true seruice, they might haue lesse mind, leysure, and occasion to serue Idols Secondly, for so much as man consisteth of soule and Io. 4. v 24. Rom. 6. v. 19. bodie, as the soule must interiorly vvorship God in spirite and veritie; so the bodie must also honour him exteriorly, seruing iustice vnto sanctification: that is by external good workes to increase iustice, and sanctitie, when by them the mind is instructed and inuited to know and honoure God. For otherwise saieth S Dionyse ( c. 1. [...]alest▪ Hi [...]rer.) vnles mans vnderstanding vse the helpe of corporal things, diuine veritie can not be attained. And S. Augustin ( lib. 10. c. 5 ciuit.) teacheth that God commanded external Sacrifices, thereby Psal. 5 [...]. to lead his seruants vnto mortified spirites, contrite and humbled harts, to mercie and compassion towards others. In briefe ( c. 3. Enchir) to the true and perfect seruing of his Diuine powre by faith, hope, and charitie. Thirdly, that 3. To signifie greater Mysteries of the new Testament. these external Sacrifices and Rites might prefigure and signifie greater, more excellent, and more effectual Mysteries of the new Testament. For as S. Paul speaketh ( Heb. 10.) the lavv (of Moyses) hauing a shadovv of good things to come, not the verie image of the things, brought not to perfection; nor tooke avvay sinnes by the bloud of oxen or goa [...]es, but being (asis [...]id) a shadovv, rather shaded then perfectly shewed the great benefites, which the new law as a perfect image liuely representeth: especially Christs passion, which is the verie fountaine of grace and mercie. And wheras the old law could not iustifie ( Gal. 3.) the law of Christ doth in dede iustifie, as the Gospel witnesseth, saying: (Ioan 1 v. 17.) The lavv vvas geuen by Moyses, grace and veritie vva [...] made by Iesus Christ.

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CHAP. II. How to offer flovvre, 4. loaues, wafers, with oile and incense, without leauen or honie, 12. also first fruictes. 13. And salt in euerie oblation.

VVHEN a soule shal offer an oblation of sacrifice 1 to our Lord, These oblations were specially for the poorest sorte. So God tempered his law to the abilitie of euerie one. Theod. q. 1. in Leuit. fine flowre shal be his oblation. and he shal poure oyle vpon it, and put franckincense, † and 2 shal carie it to the sonnes of Aaron the priests: of whom one shal take a handful of the flowre, and the oile, and al the franckincense, and shal put it a memorial vpon the Altar for a most sweete sauour to our Lord. † And that which 3 shal be left of the sacrifice, shal be Aarons, and his sonnes, Holie of holies among the oblations of our Lord. † But 4 when thou offerest a sacrifice baked in the ouen: of flowre, to wit, loaues without leauen, tempered with oyle, and wafers vnleauened layd ouer with oyle. † If thine oblation 5 be of the frying panne, of flowre tempered with oyle, and without leuen, † thou shalt diuide it in litle peeces, and shalt 6 poure oyle vpon it. † And if the sacrifice be from the gridiron, 7 in like maner the flowre shal be tempered with oyle, † which offering to our Lord, thou shalt deliuer to the handes 8 of the priest. † Who hauing offered it, shal take a memorie 9 of the sacrifice, and burne vpon the altar for a swete sauour to our Lord, † and whatsoeuer is left, shal be Aarons, and his 10 sonnes, Holie of holies among the oblations of our Lord. † Euerie oblation, that is offered to our Lord, shal be made 11 :: without leauen, neyther shal any leauen and As literally no leauen, not honey might be offered in sacrifice: so al sinne and carnal delectatiō must be excluded in christian life. honie be burned in the sacrifice of our Lord. † The first fruites only 12 of them and the giftes you shal offer: but vpon the altar they shal not be put, for a sauour of swetnes. † What sacrifice 13 soeuer thou offerest, thou shalt season it with salt neither shalt thou take away the salt of the couenant of thy God from thy sacrifice. In euerie oblation thou shalt offer That salt signifieth discretion, appeareth by S Paul exhorting to seasonal our talke with salt Collos. 4. v. 6. salt. † But if 14 thou offer a gyfte of the first fruites of thy corne to our Lord, of the eares being yet greene, thou shalt drie it at the fire, and bruise it in maner of meale, and so shalt thou offer thy first fruites to our Lord, † powring oyle vpon it, and putting 15 on franckincense, because it is the oblation of our Lord. † Wherof the priest shal burne for memorie of the gift, part 16 of the meale bruised, and of the oile, and al the frankincense.

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CHAP. III. How the pacifique hostes must be offered of beeues, 6. shepe, 7. lambes, 12. and goates.

AND if his oblation be an hoste of pacifiques, and he 1 wil offer of beues, male or In holocaust onlie the male was offered, c [...]ap. 1. in other sacrifices both sexes were acceptable. female, without spot shal he offer them before our Lord. † And he shal lay his hand vpon 2 the head of his victime, which shal be immolated in the entrie of the tabernacle of testimonie, and the sonnes of Aaron the priest shal poure the bloud in the circuite of the altar. † And they shal offer of the host of pacifiques, for an 3 oblation to our Lord, the fatt that couereth the entralles, and whatsoeuer fatt is within: † the two kidneys with the 4 fatt wherwith the guttes are couered, and the caule of the liuer with the two little kydneys. † And they shal burne 5 them vpon the altar, for an These partes and the fatt: were burned as an Holocaust, the rest of the oblation being pacifique. holocaust, putting fire vnder the wood: for an oblation of most swete sauour to our Lord. † But if his oblation, and the hoste of pacifiques be of 6 flocks, whether he offer male, or female, they shal be without spot. † If he offer a lambe before our Lord, † he shal put his 7 8 hand vpon the head of his victime; which shal be immolated in the entrie of the tabernacle of testimonie: and the sonnes of Aaron shal powre the bloud therof in the circuite of the altar. † And they shal offer of the hoste of pacifiques, a sacrifice 9 to our Lord: the fatt and the whole rumpe, † with 10 the kidneys, and the fatt that couereth the bellie and al the vital partes, and both little kydneys, with the fatt that is about the guttes, and the caule of the liuer with the two little kidneys. † And the priest shal burne them vpon the altar, 11 to the foode of the fire, and of the oblation of our Lord. † If 12 his oblation be a goate, and he offer it to our Lord, † he 13 shal put his hand vpon the head therof: and shal immolate it in the entrie of the tabernacle of testimonie. And the sonnes of Aaron shal poure the bloude therof in the circuite of the altar. † And they shal take of it to the foode of our 14 Lords fire, the fatt that couereth the bellie, and that couereth al the vital partes: † the two little kydneys with the 15 caule, that is vpon them about the guttes, and the tallowe of the liuer with the little kidneys: † and the priest shal 16 [Page 267] burne them vpon the altar, to the food of the fire, and of a most sweete sauour. Al the fatt shal be our Lordes † by a 17 perpetual right in your generations, and in al your habitations: you shal eate no bloude nor fat at al.

CHAP. IIII. Hovv a Priest, 13. the multitud [...], 22. a Prince, 27. or anie one of the people, sinning of ignarance, must offer hostes.

AND our Lord spake to moyses, saying: † Speake to 12 the children of Israel: The soule that sinneth by Ignorance of that we are bond to know is sinne: and more in Priests then in others. ignorance, and doth anie thing of al the commandmentes of our Lord, which he commanded not to be done. † If the 3 priest that is anointed sinne, making the people to offend, he shal offer for his sinne, a calfe without spott to our Lord: † and he shal bring it to the dore of testimonie before our 4 Lord, and shal put his hand vpon the head therof, and shal immolate it to our Lord. † He shal drawe also of the bloud 5 of the calfe, carying it into the tabernacle of testimonie. † And when he hath dipped his finger in the bloud he shal 6 sprinckle it VVe see here and in manie other places that numbers are mystical, not alwayes supersticious. seuen times before our Lord, against the veile of the Sanctuarie. † and of the same bloud he shal put 7 vpon the hornes of the altar of incense most acceptable to our Lord, which is in the tabernacle of testimonie. And al the rest of the bloud he shal powre at the foote of the altar of holocauste in the entrie of the tabernacle. † And the 8 fatt of the calfe he shal take away for the sinne, aswel that which couereth the entralles, as al the partes that are within. † The two little kidneys, and the caule that is vpon them 9 beside the guttes, and the fatt of the [...]iuer with the two litle kidneis, † as is taken away from the calfe which is an host 10 of pacifiques, and he shal burne them vpon the altar of hollocauste. † But the skinne and al the flesh with the heade 11 and feete and boweles and dung, † and the rest of the bodie 12 he shal carie forth without the campe into a cleane place, where the ashes are wount to be powred out: and he shal burne them vpon a pyle of wood, which shal be burnt in the place where the ashes are powred out. † And if al the multitude 13 of Israel be ignorant, and through ignorance do that which is against the commandement of our Lord, † and 14 [Page 268] afterward vnderstand their sinne, they shal offer for their sinne A Priest, and the whole multitude offered the same sacrifice of a calfe, for their sines: the Prince offered a male goate, a priuate person a femal. See Theod▪ ret. q▪ 1. in Le [...] versus finem. a calfe, and shal bring it to the dore of the tabernacle. † And 15 the ancientes of the people shal put their handes vpon the head therof before our Lord. And the calfe being immolated in the sight of our Lord, † the priest that is anoynted, shal 16 carie of the bloud into the tabernacle of testimonie, † dipping 17 his finger, and sprinkling seuen times against the veile. † and 18 he shal put of the same bloud on the hornes of the altar, that is before our Lord, in the tabernacle of testimonie: and the rest of the bloud, he shal poure at the foote of the altar of holocauste, which is at the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie. † And al the fatte therof he shal take vp, & shal 19 burne it vpon the altar: † doing so with this calfe, as he did 20 also before: and the priest praying for them, our Lord wil be propitious vnto them. † But the calfe it selfe he shal carie 21 forth without the campe, and shal burne it like as the former calfe: Though in ordinarie sacrifices for sinne, one part was alotted to the Priests (by whose ministerie God remitted sinnes) yet of the sacrifice for a priests sinnes, or for the sinnes of the multitude, the priests had no part, lest they should saue cost, or reape commoditie by sacrifice for their owne or the whole peoples sinnes▪ but al was burned as in a holocaust. Theodoret q. 3. in Leuit. S. Tho 1▪ 2. q. [...]02. 2. 3. ad. 8. because it is for the sinne of the multitude. † If a 22 Prince sinne, and by ignorance do of manie thinges one, that by the law of our Lord is forbidden: † and afterward vnderstandeth 23 his sinne, he shal offer an hoste to our Lord, a bucke of the goates without spotte. † And he shal put his hand 24 vpon the head therof: and when he hath immolated it in the place where holocaust is wont to be slaine before our Lord, because it is for sinne, † the priest shal dippe his finger in the 25 bloud of the hoste for sinne, touching the hornes of the altar of holocauste, and the rest powring at the foote therof. † But the fatt he shal burne vpon it, as is wont to be done in 26 the victimes of pacifiques: and the priest shal pray for him, and for his sinne, and it shal be forgiuen him. † And if a 27 soule of the people of the land shal sinne through ignorance, doing anie of those thinges, that by the law of our Lord are forbidden, and offending, † and knoweth his sinne, he shal 28 offer a she goate without spotte. † And he shal put his hand 29 vpon the head of the host that is for sinne, and shal immolate it in the place of holocaust. † And the priest shal take vp of 30 the bloud with his finger: and touching the hornes of the altar of holocaust, the rest he shal powre out at the foote therof. † But taking away al the fatt, as is wont to be taken away 31 of the victimes of pacifiques, he shal burne it vpon the altar, for a swete sauour to our Lord; and he shal pray for him, and it shal be forgeuen him. † But if he offer of the flocke 32 [Page 269] a victime, for his sinne, to wit, an ewe without spotte; † he 33 shal put his hand vpon the head therof, and shal immolate it in the place where the hostes of holocausts are wont to be slayne. † And the priest shal take of the bloud therof with 34 his finger, and touching the hornes of the altar of holocaust, the rest he shal powre at the foote therof. † Al the fatte also 35 he shal take away, as the fatte of the ramme, that is offered for pacifiques, is wont to be taken away: and shal burne it vpon the altar, a burnt sacrifice of our Lord: and he shal pray for him, and for his sinne, and it shal be forgiuen him.

CHAP. V. Of hostes, for the sinne of concealing an others periur [...]e. 2. for vncleanes 4. for vaine svvearinge 14. for rrour in exercising holie rites, 17. & for anie sinne committed by ignorance.

IF a soule sinne, and heare the voice of one swearing, and 1 be witnes because either he him selfe sawe, or is priuie to it: VVhen periurie doth preiudice an others cause, he that knoweth the truth is bond to reueil it to the Iudge; but with discretion to auoide scandal. vnlesse he vtter it, he shal beare his iniquitie. † The 2 soule that toucheth anie vncleane thing, either that which was killed of a beast, or died of it selfe, or anie other thing that creepeth: and forgeteth his vncleannes is guiltie, and hath offended: † and if he touch anie thing of the vncleannesse 3 of man, according to anie imputitie wherwith he is wount to be polluted, & hauing forgotten, doe knowe it afterward, he shal be guiltie of an offence. † The soule that 4 sweareth, and vttereth with his lippes, that he would doe Swearing to do that is euil, or not doing that is lawfally sworne, is sinne. either il; or wel, and bindeth the same with an oathe, and his word, & hauing forgotten afterward vnderstandeth his offence, † let him do penance for his sinne, † and 5 6 offer of the flockes an ewe lambe, or a shee goate, and the priest shal pray for him and for his sinne: † but if he be not 7 able to offer a beast, let him offer two turtles, or two young pigions to our Lord, one for sinne, and the other for an holocaust, † and he shal geue them to the priest: who offering 8 the sirst for sinne, shal wryth backe the heade therof to the litle pinions, so that it sticke to the necke, and be not altogeather broken of. † And of the bloud therof he shal 9 sprinckle the wall of the altar, and whatsoeuer is left, he shal make it distil to the bottome therof, because it is for sinne. [Page 270] † And the other he shal burne for an holocauste, as is wount 10 to be done: and the priest shal pray for him, and for his sinne, and it shal be forgeuen him. † And if his hand be not able 11 to offer two turtles, or two young pigions, he shal offer for his sinne, of floure the tenth part of an ephi. He shal not put oyle vpon it, nor cast anie frankincense theron, because it is for sinne, † and he shal deliuer it to the priest: who taking 12 therof a ful handful, shal burne it vpon the altar for a moniment, of him that did offer it: † praying for him and 13 making expiation, but the part that is left, him selfe shal haue for a gifte. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: 14 † If a soule transgressing the ceremonies, by errour shal 15 sinne in those thinges that are sanctified to our Lord, he shal offer for his offence a ramme, without spotte out of the flockes, that may be bought for two sicles, according to the weight of the Sanctuarie: † and For remission of sinne restitution is first required if [...]niu [...]e was done. the damage it selfe which 16 he did, he shal restore, and the fift part he shal adde besides, deliuering it to the priest, who shal pray for him, Besides restitution satisfaction is also necessarie for the offence to God. Theodoret. q. 2. in [...]. offering the ramme, and it shal be forgeuen him. † If a soule sinne 17 by ignorance, and do one of those thinges which by the lawe of the Lord are forbidden, and being guiltie of sinne, vnderstand his iniquitie, † he shal offer a ramme without spotte 18 of the flockes to the priest, according to the measure, and estimation of the sinne: who shal pray for him, because he did it vnwitting: and it shal be forgiuen him, † because by 19 errour he offended against the Lord.

CHAP. VI. Oblation for sinne vvittingly committed. 8. The maner of offering holocaust. 12. Continual fire to be kept in the Altar. 14. The sacrifices vvhich Priests shal offer at their Consecration. 24. In general of hostes for sinne, and vvho shal eate of the same and vvhere.

OVR Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † The soule 1 2 that shal sinne, and contemning the Lord, shal denie vnto his neighbour the thing deliuered to his custodie, which was committed to his credite, or shal by force extort anie thing, or do oppression, † or shal finde a thing lost, and 3 denying it, be also foresworne, and shal doe anie other thing of manie, wherin men are wount to sinne, † being conuicted 4 of the offence, † he shal render al thinges which by 5 [Page 271] fraude, he would haue obteyned, whole, and the fift part besides to the owner vnto whom he did the damage. † But 6 Such examples of penāce or satifaction for sinne besides restitution of that was wrong fully taken, are frequent in Moyses Law. for his sinne he shal offer a ramme without spott out of the flocke, and shal geue it to the priest, according to the estimation, and measure of the offence: † who shal pray for 7 him before the Lord, and he shal haue forgeuenes for euerie thing that in doing he sinned. † And Our Lord spake to 8 Moyses, saying: † Command Aaron and his sonnes: This is 9 the Law of an holocaust: It shal be burnt vpon the altar, al night vntil morning: the fire shal be vpon the same altar. † The priest shal be reuested with the tunike and the linnen 10 femoralles: and he shal take vp the ashes, which the deuouring fire burned, and putting them besides the altar, † shal 11 be vnuested of his former vestments, and being clothed with others, shal carie them forth without the campe, and in a most cleane place shal cause them to be consumed vnto dust. † And the fire on the altar This fire was first sent miraculously from God. ( in [...]ra. c. 9. v. 24.) and according to this cōmandment, was perperpetually conserued: from which al fire was to be taken that was vsed in the tabernacle S. Aug. q. 31. & Theod. q 9. in Leuiticum. Mystically it signified, that the fire of charitie being first kindled in mans hart by Gods grace, must be continually nourished and kept burning, from which al other good workes are deriued. shal alwaies burne, which the 12 priest shal nourish, putting wood vnderneth, in the morning euerie day, and laying on the holocaust, therupon shal burne the fatte of the pacifiques. † This fire is continual 13 which shal neuer faile on the altar. † This is the Law of the 14 sacrifice and libamentes, which the children of Aaron shal offer before the Lord, and before the altar. † The priest shal 15 take vp a handful of the floure, that is tempered with oyle, and al the frankincense, that is put vpon the floure: and he shal burne it on the altar for a moniment of most sweeteodour to the Lord: † and the part of the floure that is left, 16 shal Aaron eate with his sonnes, without leauen: and he shal eate it in the Holie place of the court of the tabernacle. † And therefore it shal not be leauened, because part therof 17 is offered for the burnt sacrifice of the Lord. It shal be most Holie, as that for sinne, and for offence. † The males 18 onlie of Aarons stocke shal eate it. † It shal be an ordinance and euerlasting in your generations of the sacrifices of the Lord. Euerie one that toucheth them, shal be sanctified. † And 19 our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † This is the oblation of 20 Aaron, and of his sonnes, which they must offer to the Lord, in the day of their vnction. The tenth part of an ephi of floure shal they offer in a sacrifice for euer, halfe therof in the morning, and halfe therof at euen: † which being tempered 21 with oile shal be fried in a frying panne. † And the priest 22 [Page 272] that by right succeedeth his father, shal offer it hote, for a most swete odour to the Lord, and it shal wholy be burnt on the altar. † For euerie sacrifice of the priest shal be consumed 23 with fire, neither shal anie man eate therof. † And 24 our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to Aaron and his 25 sonnes: This is the law of the hoste for sinne. In the place where the holocaust is offered, shal it be immolated before our Lord It is Holie of holies. † The priest that doth offer it, 26 shal eate it in a holie place, in the courte of the tabernacle. By slesh of penance is vnder stood, fasting, watchig, haircloth, teares, prayers, a [...]mes which whosoeuer duly toucheth shal be sanctified. He sych [...]us Hierosol. li. 2. in Leuit. c. 6. † Whatsoeuer shal touch :: the flesh therof, shal be sanctified. 27 If of the bloud therof a garment be sprinkled, it shal be washed in a holie place. † And the earthen vessel, wherin 28 it was sodden, shal be broken. but if the vessel be of brasse, it shal be scoured, and washed with water. † Euerie male of 29 the priestlie race shal eate of the flesh therof, because it is Holie of holies. † For the hoste that is slaine for sinne, 30 whose bloud is caried into the tabernacle of testimonie to make expiation in the Sanctuarie, shal not be eaten, but shal be burnt with fire.

CHAP. VII. The maner of offering hostes for offences. 11. and of pacifique victimes. for thanksgeuing. 22. No fatte, 26. nor bloud is to be eaten.

THIS also is the lawe of an hoste for an offence, the 1 most Holie: † therfore where the holocaust is immolated, 2 the victime also for an offence shal be slaine: the bloud therof shal be poured round about the altar. † They shal 3 offer therof the rumpe and the fatte that couereth the entralles: † the two little kidneys, and the fatte that is beside 4 the guttes, and the caule of the lyuer with the two litle kidneys. † And the priest shal burne them vpon the altar: 5 it is the burnt sacrifice of our Lord for an offence. † Euerie 6 male of the priests stocke, in a holie place shal eate this flesh, because it is most Holie. † As the hoste for :: sinne is 7 offered, so also that for an This text sheweth there is difference in the nature of a fault committed, commonly called sinne, & of dutie omitted here called offence. in latin peccatū and delictum. Yet both are alike offencife to God, in matter of equal importance. As appeareth, for that the same sacrifice was offered for both. S. A [...]. q. 20. in Leuit. offence: the lawe of both hostes shal be one: to the priest that offereth it, it shal pertaine. † The priest that offereth the victime of holocaust, shal haue 8 the skinne therof. † And euerie sacrifice of flowre, that is 9 baked in the ouen, and whatsoeuer is prepared vpon the grediron, or in the frying panne, it shal be that priestes by [Page 273] whom it is offered. † Whether they be tempered with oyle, 10 or drie, to al the sonnes of Aaron equal measure shal be diuided to euerie one. † This is the law of the hoste of pacifiques 11 that is offered to our Lord. † If the oblation be for 12 thankes geuing, they shal offer loaues without leauen tempered with oyle, and wafers vnleauened laid ouer with oyle, and fryed floure, and manchets tempered with the mingling of oyle: † loaues also leauened with the hoste of thankes, 13 which is offered for pacifiques: † wherof one for first fruites 14 shal be Geuen or presented to our Lord, not offered vpon the Altar. for no leauen could be offered in sacrifice. cap. 2. v. 15 offered to our Lord, and shal be the priests that shal poure out the bloud of the hoste. † the flesh wherof 15 shal be eaten the same day, neither shal anie of it remaine vntil morning. † If anie man by vowe, or of his owne accorde 16 offer an hoste, it shal in like maner be eaten the same day: but if ought remaine vntil the morrow, it is lawful to eate it: † but whatsoeuer the third day shal find, fire shal 17 consume it. † If anie man eate of the flesh of the victime of 18 pacifiques the third day, the oblation shal be of none effect, neither shal it profite the offerer: yea rather whatsoeuer soule shal defile it selfe with such meate, shal be guiltie of preuarication. † The flesh that hath touched any vncleane 19 thing, shal not be eaten, but shal be burnt with fire: he that is cleane, shal eate therof. † A soule being polluted that 20 eateth of the flesh of the hoste of pacifiques, which is offered to our Lord, shal perish from his people. † And that which 21 hath touched the vncleannes of man, or of beast, or of anie thing that can pollute, and eateth of such kind of flesh, shal perish from his people. † And our Lord spake to 22 Moyses, saying: † Speake to the children of Israel: The fatte 23 of a sheepe, and of an oxe, and of a goate you shal not eate. † The fatte of the carcasse of cartaine, and of the beast, that 24 was caught of an other beast, you shal haue for diuers vses. † If anie man eate the fatte, that should be offered for the 25 burnt sacrifice of our Lord, he shal perish out of his people, † The bloud also of whatsoeuer beast you shal not take in 26 meate, aswel of birdes as of cattel. † Euerie soule that eateth 27 bloud, shal perish out of his people. † And our Lord 28 spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to the children of Israel. 29 saing: He that offereth a victime of pacifiques to our Lord, let him offer therwith a sacrifice also, that is, the libaments therof. † He shal hold in his handes the fatte of the hoste, 30 [Page 274] and the brest: and when he hath offered and consecrated both to our Lord, he shal deliuer them to the priest, † who 31 shal burne the fatte vpon the altar, but the breast shal be Aarons, and his sonnes. † The right shoulder also of the pacifique 32 hostes shal fal for first fruites of the priest. † He of the 33 sonnes of Aaron, that offereth the bloud, and the fatte, him selfe shal haue the right shoulder also for his portion. † For 34 the brest of eleuation and the shoulder of seperation I haue taken of the children of Israel, from their pacifique hostes, and haue geuen them to Aaron the priest, and to his sonnes, by a lawe for euer, of al the people of Israel. † This is the 35 anoynting of Aaron and his sonnes, in the ceremonies of our Lord, in the day when Moyses offered them, that they might doe the function of priesthood, † and the thinges that 36 our Lord commanded to be geuen them of the children of Israel, by a perpetual religion in their generations. † This is 37 the lawe of holocauste, and of the sacrifice for sinne, and for an offence, and for consecration, and the victimes of pacifiques: † Which our Lord apointed to Moyses in mount 38 Synai when he commanded the children of Israel, that they should offer their oblations to our Lord in the desert of Synai.

CHAP. VIII. Moyses consecrateth Aaron high Priest. 13. and his sonnes Priests, 33. continuing The second part. Of consecrating Priests, and their vestmēts: with punishment of some that transgressed. in the tabernacle seuen dayes and nights.

AND Our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Take Aaron 1 2 with his sonnes, their vestimentes, and the oyle of vnction, a calfe for sinne, two Rammes, a basket with azymes, † and thou shalt gather al the assemblie to the dore of 3 the tabernacle. † And Moyses did as our Lord had commaunded. 4 And al the multitude being gathered before the dore of the tabernacle, † he said: This is the word, that 5 our Lord hath commanded to be done. † And immediatly 6 he “ offered Aaron & his sonnes: and when he had VVashing signified puritie required in Priests. washed them, † “ he Precious vestiments their dignitie: and holie oile their authoritie. reuested the high priest, with the sttait linnen 7 garment, girding him with a bawdrike, and reuesting him with the tunike of hyacinth, and ouer it he put the Ephod, † which he straitening with the girdle, fitted it to the Rationale, 8 wherin was VVhen the high Priest at anie time put the Ephod to the Rationale, God gaue answers to his demandes, in matters of doctrine and veritie which king Dauid willed Abiathar to doe 1. Reg. 23. v. 9. Neuer could anie woman weue doctrin & veritie. but diuine vvisdom did make such garmēts. S. Cyril. lib. 6. in Leuit. Doctrine and Veritie, † with the 9 mitre also he couered his head: and vpon it, against the forehead, he put the plate of gold consecrated in sanctification, [Page 275] as our Lord had commanded him. † He “ tooke also the oyle 10 of vnction, wherwith he anoynted the tabernacle, with al the furniture therof. † And sanctifying them, and hauing 11 sprinckled the altar seuen times, he anoynted it, and al the vessel therof, and the lauer with the foote therof he sanctified with the oyle. † The which pouring vpon Aarons head, 12 he anoynted, and consecrated him: † his sonnes also after 13 he had offered them, he reuested with linnen tunikes, and girded them with bawdrikes, and put mitres on them, as our Lord had commanded. † He “ offered also the calfe for 14 sinne: and when Aaron and his sonnes had put their handes vpon the head therof, † he did immolate it: drawing the 15 bloud, and dipping his finger, touched the hornes of the altar round about. Which being expiated, and sanctified, he poured the rest of the bloud at the botome therof. † But 16 the fatte that was vpon the entralles, and the caule of the liuer, and the two little kidneys, with their little tallow he burnt vpon the altar: † the calfe with the skinne, and the 17 flesh, and the dung, he burnt without the campe, as our Lord had commanded. † He offered also a ramme for an 18 holocaust: vpon the head wherof when Aaron and his sonnes had put their handes, † he did immolate it, and poured the 19 bloud therof in the circuite of the altar. † And cutting the 20 ramme it selfe into peeces, the head therof, and the ioyntes, and the fatte he burnt with fire, † hauing first washed the 21 entralles, and the feete. and the whole ramme together he burnt vpon the altar, because it was an holocaust of most swete odour to our Lord, as he had commanded him. † He 22 offered also the second ramme, for the consecration of priests: and Aaron, and his sonnes did putte their handes vpon the head therof: † which when As wel by the function of cōsecrating Priests, as of offering Sacrifice it appeareth that Moyses was a Priest▪ Yea the chiefe and hieghest Priest ( saith S. Augustin) for his more excellent ministerie and extraordinarie calling: Aaron was hiegh priest for his Pontifical inuesture, and ordinarie vocation, which should continew in his successors. q. 23. in Leuit. Moyses had immolated, 23 taking of the bloud therof, he touched the tippe of Aarons right eare, and the thumbe of his right hand, in like maner also of his foote. † He offered also the sonnes of Aaron: and 24 when of the bloud of the ramme, being immolated, he had touched the tippe of the right eare of euerie one, and the thumbes of the right hand and foote, the rest he poured on the altar, round about: † but the fatte, and the rump, and 25 al the fatte that couereth the entralles, and the caule of the liuer, and the two kidneies with their fatte, & with the right shoulder, he seperated. † And taking out of the basket 26 [Page 276] of azymes, which was before our Lord, a loafe without leauen, and a manchet tempered with oile, and a wafer he put them vpon the fatte, and the right shoulder, † deliuering 27 al to Aaron, and to his sonnes. Who hauing lifted them vp before our Lord, † he tooke them againe of their handes, 28 and burnt them vpon the altar of holocaust, because it was the oblation of consecration, for a swete odoure, of the sacrifice to our Lord. † And he tooke of the ramme of consecration, 29 the brest for his portion, eleuating it before our Lord, as our Lord had commanded him. † And taking the 30 oyntment, and the bloud that was vpon the altar, he sprinckled it vpon Aaron, and his vestiments, & vpon his sonnes and their vestiments. † And when he had sanctified them in 31 their vestiments, he commanded them, saying: Boile the flesh before the dore of the tabernacle, and there eate it. Eate ye also the loaues of consecration, that are laid in the basket, as our Lord commanded me, saying: Aaron and his sonnes shal eate them: † and whatsoeuer shal be left of the flesh, 32 and the loaues, fire shal consume. † Out of the dore also of 33 the tabernacle you shal not goe forth seuen daies, vntil the day wherein the time of your consecration shal be expired. for in seuen dayes the consecration is finished: † as at this 34 present it hath bene done, that the rite of the sacrifice might be accomplished. † Day & night shal you tarie in the tabernacle 35 obseruing the watches of our Lord, lest you die: for so it hath bene commanded me. † And Aaron, and his 36 sonnes dld al thinges which our Lord spake by the hand of Moyses.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VIII.

6. Offered Aaron] By this maner of taking, offering, and consecrating Aaron Particular calling and consecration necessarie to priestlie offices, & authoritie in spiritual causes. Hiegh Priest, S. Paul sheweth that none may chalenge to them selues, nor presume to exercise priestlie offices, or anie authoritie in spiritual causes, but such as be orderly called therto. Yea that Christ him self would not haue exercised this function, but that he was also called of God vnto it, saying: Euerie Heb. 5. Hiegh Priest taken from among men, is appointed for men, in those thinges that pertaine to God. Neither doth anie man take the honour to himself, but he that is called of God, as Aaron. So Christ also did not glorifie himself, that he might be made a Hiegh Priest: but he that spake to him: Thou art a Priest for Psal. 109. euer, according to the order of Melchisedech. Aarons sonnes were also called, but to lower offices, dignitie, and authoritie. And both he and they were ordained Ordering of Priestes was a Sacrament in the law of Moyses. and consecrated by a peculiar Sacrament, to wit, by certaine determinate external [Page 277] ceremonies and rites, signifying grace geuen them by God, for the due performing of their function. For first they were taken from the common state of men, wherby is designed their ordinarie vocation; then purified by certaine washings and sacrifice for sinne, signifying special puritie required in them, afterwardes inuested with holie and precious garmentes, which signified their sacred function, and great dignitie, excelling al temporal dominion and principalitie; finally consecrated in solemne maner with holie ointment, and bloud of pacifique sacrifice offered for this purpose; other sacrifice of holocaust also offered in the same solemnitie.

7. Reuested] The hiegh Priest had seuen special ornaments in his vesture. Seuē precious vestments for the high Priest signifiing: 1. Puritie. 2 Discretion. 3. Good works of edification. First, a straict linnen vvhite garment; signifying puritie of life most specially required in Priestes. Secondly a girdle, or Bavvdrike, of twisted silke and gold, embrodered worke, in coloures yelow, blew, purple, and scarlet; signifying discrete moderation of his actes, to the spiritual profite of al sortes of people. Thirdly a Tunike, or long robe downe to the foote, of hyacinth; or blew silke, at the skirt therof like pomegranates wrought of twisted silke, blew, purple and scarlet, and litle belles of purest (yelow) gold interposed one by the other rownd about; of ech sorte seuentie two; signifying heauenlie conuersation S. Hierom. Epist ad Fabiol vpon earth, also vnion and concord in faith and maners, with edification 4. Toleration of others infirmities by good workes. Fourthly, an ornament vpon his shoulders, called an Ephod, of gold and twisted silke, embrodered of the former coloures, reaching before to the girdle, with two precious Onyx stones closed in gold, one hauing engrauen six names of the tribes of Israel, set on one shoulder, the other hauing the other six names on the other shoulder; for a remembrance that he must supporte, and meekly beare the infirmities of the people. Fiftly, a breast 5. Knowledge and sinceritie. plate called Rationale, of the same precious matter, the measure of a palme, foure square, embrodered with the same foure coloures, with foure rewes of twelue precious stones, and therin engrauen the names of the twelue tribes. Besides which were engrauen also VRIM and THVMMIM, Illuminations and Perfections, or Doctrin and Veritie, because the hiegh Priest must haue knowledge of the truth, and sincere intention. Likwise in the Ephod and Rationale were ringes, hookes, and chaines of purest gold, to ioyne them fast together. Al signifying the perpetual solicitude and care which he ought to haue in his hart, to know and teach the truth, that the people may truly serue God, to his 6. Intentiō directed to God 7. Contemplation of God & his workes. honour and their owne saluation. Sixtly, a Mitre of twisted silke, with little crownes embrodered worke, set on his head, to signifie that he must direct al his actions to Gods glorie, that sitteth aboue al. Seuenthly, A plate of sacred veneration, made of the finest gold, with the most holie name of God engrauen, set on his forhead; to put him stil in remembrance to contemplate God and his workes.

13. His sonnes] The other Priests had three special ornaments: a linnen vvhite Other Priestes had also three ornamentes. garment, a Bavvdrike, and a Mitre, for glorie and bewtie; to signifie the qualities aboue mentioned, puritie, discretion, and direct intention also required in them.

10. Tooke oile] A third thing that Moyses was bid to take, besides the men and vestiments, was the holie oile of vnction, which he poured only vpon the Aaron annointed high Priest hiegh Priests head, not on other Priests; to signifie that powre descended from him to the rest. But both he and they, and their holie vestiments were sprinkled with this oile, and with bloud taken from the altar; their right eares also His sonnes also consecrated were touched with the bloud of a ramme, sacrificed, and their right thumbes, and great toes of their right handes, and feete; to signifie prompt obedience, and right intention, in offering sacrifice, according to Gods ordinance, and [Page 278] not after the maner of infidels, or humane inuention, nor to anie sinister intent or purpose.

14. He offered the calfe] Other thinges which Moyses was here commanded Al three kindes of sacrifice offered at the consecration of Priests. to take, at the consecration of Priests, were a calfe, to be offered in sacrifice for sinne; two rammes, the one in holocaust, the other in pacifique sacrifice, for the consecration of Priests; and a basket of vnleuened bread, to be offered with the two rammes. Al for the greater solemnitie of this Sacrament of Orders. By which Aaron and his sonnes were made the lawful and ordinarie Num. [...]. Priests of the law newly deliuered by Moyses. And so Priesthood was changed Priestood and Law changed together. from the first borne of euerie familie, and established only in Aaron and his sonnes, and their issue male, to be in like sorte consecrated. And the rest of the Leuites to assist them. By this also was prefigured the Sacrament of holie Orders in the Church of Christ, with an other change of Priesthood from the familie & order of Aaron, to Priestes of the new Testament, of what familie or The Sacramēt of holie Orders prefigured. and the new Law. nation soeuer. And withal an other change of the law. For the Priesthood being translated, it is necessarie (saith S. Paul) that a translation of the Lavv be also Heb. 7. made. And this Sacrament in dede geueth grace (as by the other it was only signified) to those that are rightly ordered. As the same Apostle testifieth, willing Timothie to resuscitate the grace geuen him by imposition of handes 2. Timot. 1. S Ambrose in 1. Timot. 4. S. August. lib. de bono coniugals: c. 24. &. lib: 2. contra Epsti Parmen Theodoret. q. 48. in lib. Num.

CHAP. IX. Sacrifices for sinne, 12. and of holocauste, 18. and pacifiques are offered: 22. and Aaron stretching forth his hand blesseth the people.

AND when the eight day was come, Moyses called 1 Aaron and his sonnes, and the ancients of Israel, and said to Aaron: † Take of the heard The people before worshipped a calfe for God. Exod 32. Now therfore they offer a calfe in sacrifice to God, for their sinne, and to kepe them from idolatrie▪ S. Hieron▪ in Hierem. 7. a calfe for sinne, and a 2 ramme for an holoucast, both without spot, and offer them before our Lord. † And to the children of Israel thou shalt 3 speake: Takeye a bucke goate for sinne, and a calfe, and a lambe, of a yeare old, & without spot for an holoucast, † an 4 oxe and a ramme for pacifiques: and immolate them before our Lord, offering in the sacrifice of euerie one, flowre tempered with oile; for to day our Lord wil appeare to you. † They tooke therfore al thinges that Moyses had cōmanded 5 before the dore of the tabernacle: where when al the multitude stood, † Moyses said: This is the word, which our Lord 6 hath commanded: doe it, God appeared in his worke by sending fire to burne the sacrifice, without mans industrie v. 24. and his glorie wil appeare to you. † And he said to Aaron: Approch to the altar, & immolate for 7 thy sinne: offer the holocaust, and pray for thy self and for the people, and when thou hast slaine the peoples hoste, pray for them, as our Lord hath cōmanded. † And forthwith Aaron 8 approching to the altar, immolated the calfe for his sinne: † the bloud wherof his sonnes brought to him: wherin dipping 9 [Page 279] his finger, he touched the hotnes of the altar, and poured the rest at the foote therof. † And the fatte, and the litle 10 kidneis, and the caule of the liuer, which are for sinne, he burnt vpon the altar, as our Lord had commanded Moyses: † but the flesh and skinne therof he burnt with fire without 11 the campe. † He immolated also the victime of holocaust: and 12 his sonnes brought him the bloud therof, which he poured in the circuite of the altar. † The hoste also it selfe being cut 13 into peeces, they brought with the head and euerie member. Al which he burnt with fire vpon the altar, † hauing first 14 washed the entralles and the feete with water. † And offering 15 for the sinne of the people, he slew the bucke goat: and exp [...]ating the altar: † he made the holocaust, † adding in 16 the sacrifice the libaments, which are offered withal, and burning 17 them vpon the altar, be side the ceremonies of the morning holocaust. † He immolated also the oxe, and the 18 ramme, the pacifique hostes of the people: and his sonnes brought him the bloud, which he poured vpon the altar round about. † The fatte also of the oxe, and the rump of 19 the ramme, and the two little kindneis with their fatte, and the caule of the liuer † they put vpon the brests. and after 20 the fatte was burnt vpon the altar, † their brests, and the 21 right shoulders, Aaron did seperate, eleuating them before our Lord, as Moyses had commanded. † And This did signifie that Christ, in whō al nations are blessed, should be stretched on the Crosse where he redemed vs, in memorie wher of we now make the signe of the Crosse. stretching 22 forth his hand to the people, he blessed them. And so the hostes for sinne, and the holocaustes, and the pacifiques being finished, he descended. † And Moyses and Aaron going 23 into the tabernacle of testimonie, and afterward comming forth, blessed the people. And the glorie of our Lord appeared to al the multitude: † and behold The Priests were commā ded to nourish and kepe this fire petpetually▪ that it should not be extinguished. cha. 6. v. 12. a fire coming forth from 24 our Lord, deuoured the holocaust, and the fatte that was vpon the altar: Which thing, when the multitude had senne, they praised our Lord, falling on their faces.

CHAP. X. Nadab and Abiu the sonnes of Aaron, for offering strange fire, are burnt to death, and cast out of the campe. 6. for whom the people mourne, but not the Priests. 8. Priests are forbid to drinke wine, when they enter into the tabernacle, 12. and are commanded to eate the residew of oblations in the holie place. 16. which this timein part they omitted, and are excused, being sorowful for that vvhich happened to Nadab and Abiu.

[Page 280]

AND Nadab, and Abiu the sonnes of Aaron catching 1 censors, did put in fire, and incense therupon, offering before our Lord strange fire: which was not commanded them. † And fire comming forth from our Lord, Such as receiued more at Gods hand, are more seuerly punished if they transgresse. S. Aug. q. 21. in Leuit. By this also al are warned to be content with the doctrine of the Holie Ghost, to abhorre heresies, the fautors wherof adde falsehood to Gods word, & preferre their owne wicked inuentions be fore the true sense of holie Scripture. Theod. q 9. in Leuit. deuoured 2 them, and they dyed before our Lord. † And Moyses said to 3 Aaron: This is it which our Lord hath spoken: I wil be sanctified in them, that approch to me, and in tbe sight of al the people I wil be glorified. Which Aaron hearing held his peace. † And Moyses calling Misael, and Elisaphan the 4 sonnes of Oziel, the vncle of Aaron, said to them: Goe and take away your bretheren from the sight of the Sanctuarie, and carie them without the campe. † And going forthwith 5 they tooke them as they lay, reuested with linnen tunikes, & did cast them forth, as it had bene commanded them. † And 6 Moyses spake to Aaron, & to Eleazar, and Ithamar his sonnes: Vncouer not your heades, and rent not your vestiments, lest perhaps you die, and indignation come vpon al the assemblie. Let your brethren, and al the house of Israel, lament the burning that our Lord hath raised, † and your selues shal 7 not goe out of the dore of the tabernacle, otherwise you shal perish: for the oyle of holie vnction is vpon you. Who did al thinges according to the precept of Moyses. † Our Lord 8 also said to Aaron: † Wine, and anie thing that may make 9 drunke, you shal not drinke, thou and thy sonnes, Abstinence from wine cō manded to Priests when they serued in the tabernacle not at other times▪ for they serued at certaine times by turnes. Theod. q. 10 in Leuit. As for drunkennes it is forbid to al men, and at al times. when you enter into the tabernacle of testimonie, lest you die: because it is an euerlasting precept through your generations. † And that you may haue knowledge to discerne betwen 10 the holie and prophane, betwen the polluted and cleane: † and may teach the children of Israel al my ordinances, 11 which the Lord hath spoken to them by the hand of Moyses. † And Moyses spake to Aaron and to Eleazar, and Ithamar 12 his sonnes, that were left: Take the sacrifice, that is remayning of the oblation of our Lord, and eate it without leauen beside the altar, because it is Holie of holies. † And you 13 shal eate it in a holie place: which is giuen to thee and thy sonnes of the oblations of our Lord, as it hath bene commanded me. † The brest also that is offered, and the shoulder 14 that is seperated, you shal eate in a most cleane place thou and thy sonnes, and thy daughters with thee. For they are laid apart for thee and thy children, of the healthful hostes of the children of Israel: † because the shoulder and the 15 [Page 281] the brest, and the fatte that is burnt on the altar, they haue eleuated before our Lord, and they pertaine to thee, and to thy sonues by a perpetual lawe, as our Lord hath commanded. † Among these thinges, when Moyses sought for the 16 bucke goate, that had bene offered for sinne, he found it burnt: and being angrie against Eleazar, and Ithamar the sonnes of Aaron that remained, he said: † Why did you not 17 eate the hoste for sinne, in a holie place, which is most Holie, and geuen to you, that you may beare the iniquitie of the multitude, and may pray for it in the sight of our Lord, † especially 18 wheras of the bloud therof, there hath not bene caried within the holie places, and you ought to haue eaten it in the Sanctuarie, as it was commanded me? † Aaron answered: 19 This day hath bene offered the victime for sinne, and the holocaust before our Lord: and to me that is chanced which thou seest. how could I eate it, or please our Lord in ceremonies hauing Natural gri [...]e of mind made Aaron both vnwilling to eate & lesse apt to co [...]plete al the ceremonies: so without sinne he omitted that pertained to his commoditie, offering it to God. a sorowful hart? † Which when 20 Moyses had heard, he was satisfied with his answere.

CHAP. XI. The distinction of cleane and vncleane in beastes, fish, birdes, and other things. The third part Of things cleane and vncleane, with the maner of purifying: & other precepts moral & iudicial. 43. With commandment to be holie, and impolluted.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses and Hitherto God reueled his Law to Moyses onlie, and by him to the people. Now also to Aaron after he was cōsecrated high Priest: yet not alwayes, for Moyses was stil superior. chap. 12. 14. 16. 17. &c. Aaron, saying: 1 † Say to the children of Israel: These are the beasts 2 which you ought to eate of al the liuing things of the earth † Euerie one that hath the hoofe diuided, and cheweth the 3 cudde among the cattel, you shal eate. † But whatsoeuer in 4 dede cheweth the cudde, and hath an hoofe, but diuideth it not, as the camel, and others, that you shal not eate, and among the▪ vncleane you shal repute it. † Cherogril which cheweth 5 the cudde, and diuideth not the hoofe, is vncleane. † The hare also: for that also cheweth the cudde, but diuideth 6 not the hoofe. † And the swine: which though it diuideth 7 the hoofe, cheweth not the cudde. † The flesh of these 8 you shal not eate, nor touch their carcasses, because they are vncleane to you. † These are the thinges that brede in the 9 waters, and which it is lawful to eate. Al that hath finnes, and scales, aswel in the sea, as in the riuers, and the pooles, you shal eate. † But whatsoeuer hath not finnes and scales, of 10 those that moue and liue in the waters, shalbe vnto you abhominable, † and execrable, their flesh you shal not eate, 11 [Page 282] and their carcasses you shal avoide. † Al that haue not 12 finnes and scales in the waters, shal be polluted. † Of birdes 13 these are they which you must not eate, and are to be auoided of you: The Eagle, and the griffon, and the osprey, † and 14 the kite, and the vulture according to his kinde, † and euerie 15 one of the rauens kinde, according to their similitude, † the 16 ostrich, and the owle, and the sterne, and the hauke according to his kinde. † the scritchowle, and the diuer, and the 17 storke, † and the swanne, and the onocratal, and the porphirion, 18 † the herodian, and the charadrion according to 19 his kind, the lapwing also, and the batte. † Of foules euerie 20 one that goeth vpon foure feete, shal be abhominable to you. † And whatsoeuer walketh vpon foure feete, but 21 hath the legges behind longer, wherwith he hoppeth vpon the earth, † that you shal eate, as is the bruke in his kind, the 22 attake, and the ophiomach, and the locust, euerie one according to their kinde. † But of foule whatsoeuer hath foure 23 feete onlie, shal be execrable to you: † and whatsoeuer shal 24 touch the carcasses of them, shal be polluted, and shal be vncleane If in dede this vncleānes were a sinne, it should be clensed by contritiō, and neither necessarily remaine til night, nor thē be taken away without other meanes. vntil euen: † and if it be necessarie that he carie 25 anie of these that be dead, he shal wash his clothes, and shal be vncleane vntil sunne sette. † Euerie beast that hath a 26 hoofe, but diuideth it not, neither cheweth the cudde, shal be vncleane: and whatsoeuer toucheth it, shal be defiled. † That 27 which walketh vpon hands of al beasts, which goe on foure feete, shal be vncleane: he that toucheth their carcasses, shal be polluted vntil euen. † And he that carieth such carcasses, 28 shal wash his clothes, and shal be vncleane vntil euen: because these thinges are vncleane to you. † These also shal 29 be reputed among polluted thinges, of al that moue vpon the earth, the weesel and the mouse and the crocadile, euerie one according to their kinde, † the migale, and the camelean, 30 and the stellion, and the lizard, and the moule: † al 31 these are vncleane. He that toucheth their carcasses, shal be vncleane vntil euen: † and that wherupon anie thing of 32 their carcasses falleth, shal be polluted aswel vessel of wood and rayment, as skinnes and haire clothes: and in whatsoeuer vessel anie worke is done, they shal be dipped in water, and shal be polluted vntil euen, and so afterward shal be cleane. † But the earthen vessel, wherinto anie of these falleth within 33 it, shal be polluted, and therfore is to be broken. † Al 34 [Page 283] meate, which you shal eate, if the water be poured vpon it, shal be vncleane; and al liquor that is dronke of al vessel, shal be vncleane. † And vpon whatsoeuer ought of such carcasses 35 falleth, it shal be vncleane: whether ouens, o [...] pottes with feete, they shal be distroyed, and shal be vncleane. † But the fountaines and the cesternes, and al collection of 36 waters shal be cleane. He that toucheth their carcasse, shal be polluted. † If it fal vpon seede corne it shal not pollute it. 37 † But if any man poure water vpon the seede, and afterward 38 it be touched with the carcasses, it shal be forthwith polluted. † If a beast be dead, of which it is lawful for you to eate, he 39 that toucheth the carcasse therof, shal be vncleane vntil euen: † and he that eateth or carieth anie thing therof; shal wash 40 his clothes, and shal be vncleane vntil euen. † Al that creepeth 41 vpon the earth, shal be abhominable, neither shal it be taken for meate. † Whatsoeuer goeth vpon the brest on 42 foure feete, and hath manie feete, or traileth on the earth, you shal not eate, because it is abhominable. † Doe not contaminate 43 your soules, not touch ought therof, lest you be vncleane. † For I am the Lord your God: be holie, because I am 44 holie. Pollute not your soules in anie creeping beast, that moueth vpon the earth. † For I am the Lord, that brought 45 you out of the Land of Aegypt, that I might be your God. † You shal be holie because I am holie. † This is the lawe 46 of beasts and foules, and of euerie liuing soule, that moueth in the waters, and creepeth on the earth, † that you may 47 know the differences of the cleane, and the vncleane, and know what you ought to eate, and what to refuse.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XI.

4. Vncleane you shal repute it.] In the first age of the world, before Noes Gen. 7. [...]. 8. Some things connted vncleane in the law of nature & of Moyses. Three causes of this obseruance. 1. For instruction. 2. For exercise of obedience. floud, and so forward by tradition; and after by the written Law, some liuing creatures were reputed vncleane, and forbid to be eaten or offered in sacrifice. Not as euel of themselues, for euerie creature of God is good, by nature 1. Tim. 4. and creation: but this distinction and prohibition was made in the old Testament, for iust causes, as the ancient fathers note specially three. First, for instruction of the people much inclined to idolatrie, God distinguished al beastes, birdes, and fishes into cleane and vncleane, wherby al men might know, that none of them is God. For hovv can anie man of reason (saieth lerned Theodoret. q. 11. in Leuit.) thinck that to be God, vvhich either he abhorreth as vncleane, or offereth in sacrifice to the true God, and eateth therof himself? Secondly, God commanded this obseruance to exercise his people in obedience, with precepts not [Page 284] otherwise necessarie, but because he so commanded. As at first he commanded Adam not to eate of the tree of knowledge of good and euel. The transgression wherof brought al mankind into miserie. From which againe Christ by his Rom. 5. 2. Mach. 6. & 7. obedience redemed vs. For obseruation of this law old Eleazarus, and the seuen bretheren with their mother, did geue their liues, rather then they would eate swines flesh, and for the same are glorious Martyrs, as testifie S. Cyprian Epist 56. ad Thibaritanos. & li. de exhort. Mart. c 11. S. Gregorie Nazianzen, orat. 20. de Machab. S. Chrysostom. de natiuitate septem Machab. S. Ambrose. li. 1. de officijs. c. 4. & li. 2. de Iacob. c. 10. & 11. and the whole Church 3. For signification. celebrating their feast, the first day of August. Thirdly and most specially these obseruations were commanded for signification of vertues to be embraced, and of vices or sinnes to be auoided. Such beastes therfore were holden for cleane, and allowed for mans foode, as diuide the hoofe, and ruminate, or chew the cudde, signifying discretion betwixt good and euel; and diligent The things holden for cleane signified vertues. consideration, or meditation of Gods law: and the beastes which lack those two properties of diuiding the hoofe, and chewing the cudde, or either of them, were reputed vncleane, signifying such men as care not whether they do wel or euel, or do not ruminate, and meditate good things, which they heare or read, forgetting or neglecting, what is taught them. Likewise the The vncleane signified vices. fishes that haue finnes and scales, which signifie eleuating of the mind, and austeritie of life, were counted cleane: but these that want either of the same were vncleane and prohibited. Also certaine birdes were estemed cleane and allowed to be eaten: others vncleane and forbid As the Eagle, signifying pride: the griffon, tyrannie; the osprey, oppression; the kire, fraud; the vultare, sedition; al kindes of rauens, carnal voluptousnes; the ostrich, worldlie cares; the owle, slouth, or dulnes in spiritual things; the sterne, duble dealing; al kindes of haukes, crueltie; the schritch owle, luxnrie; the diuer, gluttonie; the storke, enuie; the swanne, hypocrisie; the onocratal, auarice; the porphirion, selfe wil; the herodian, a bloudie mind; the caladrion, much babling; the lapwing, desolation of mind, or desperation; the batte, earthlie policie; and the like ‘in other birdes, beastes, and fishes. Al agreable to that time, in which (saieth S. Augustin. li. 6 c 7. cont. Faust.) those things were to be foreshewed, not Christians are not bound to the obseruances of the old law, but to that which they signified. only in wordes, but also in factes, which should be reueled in latter time; and being now reueled by Christ, and in Christ, the burdenous obseruances are not imposed to the faithful gentiles, to whom yet the authoritie of the prophecie is commended.’ To the same effect. li. cont. Adimant, c. 15. & li 50. homil. ho. 45. S Hicrom. in Matt. 15 Origenes, ho. 7. S. Cyril. li. 7. in Leuit. S. Gregorie, in Cant. 7. Procopius in Leuit. 11. Out of whom and others S. Thomas explicateth at large, that which we haue here briefly noted. 1. 2. q. 102. 2. 6.

CHAP. XII. The law of wemens purification that beare children. The second & third Lessons on Candlemas day.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to 1 2 the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: A woman, if The most pure virgin mother, was not subiect to this law For she conceiued not by the seede of man, yet obserued the custome of other wemen Luc. 2. as Christ also would be baptized by S. Iohn Baptist. Mat. 3. to geue example of humilitie. S. Cyril. li. 8. in Leuit. S Bernard Ser. 3. de Purific. receauing seede she beare a man child, shal be vncleane seuen daies, according to the daies of the separation of her floures. † And the eight day the litle infant shal be 3 circumcised: † but her self shal remaine three & thirtie 4 [Page 285] daies in the bloud of her purification: No holie thing shal she touch, neither shal she enter into the Sanctuarie, vntil the daies of her purification be expired. † But if she beare a 5 woman child, she shal be vncleane two weekes, according to the custome of the fluxe of her flowers, and sixtie six daies she shal remaine in the bloud of her purification. † And 6 when the daies of her purification are expired, for a sonne, or for a daughter, she shal bring a lambe of a yeare old for an holocaust, and a young pigeon or a turtle for sinne, to the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie, and shal deliuer them to the priest, † who shal offer them before our Lord, and 7 shal pray for her, and so she shal be cleansed from the fluxe of her bloud. this is the lawe for her that beareth a man child or woman child. † And if her hand finde not, neither is able 8 to offer a lambe, she shal take two turtles, or two young pigeons, one for an holocaust, and an other for sinne. and the priest shal pray for her, and so she shal be cleansed.

CHAP. XIII. The law concerning leprosie in men, 47. and in garments.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, and Aaron, saying: 1 † The man, in whose skinne and flesh shal arise a diuers 2 colour or a blister, or any thing as it were shyning, that is to say the plague of the leprosie, shal be brought It pertained to the Priests to discerne of leprosie, in figure of Priestes authoritie to bind and loose sinnes in the new Testament. S. Chrysost. li. 3. de Sacerdotio. to Aaron the priest, or any one of his sonnes. † Who seing the 3 leprosie in his skinne, & the heare turned into a white colour, and the forme it self of the leprosie lower then the skinne, and the other flesh: it is the plague of the leprosie, and at his arbitrement he shal be seperated. † But if there 4 be a shining whitenesse in the skinne, and not lower then the other flesh, and the heare of the old colour, the priest shal shut him vp seuen daies, † and the seuenth day he shal vew 5 him: and if the leprosie be growne no farder, nor hath passed the former limites in the skinne, againe he shal shut him vp other seuen daies. † And the seuenth day he shal behold: 6 if the leprosie be somewhat obscure, and not growne in the skinne, he shal cleanse him, because it is a scabbe: and the man shal wash his clothes, and shal be cleane. † And if the 7 leprosie grow againe, after that he was sene of the priest and restored to cleannesse; he shal he brought vnto him, † and 8 shal be condemned of vncleannesse. † If the plague of the 9 [Page 286] leprosie be in a man, he shal be brought to the priest, † and 10 he shal view him. And when there is Leprosie making spottes in the skinne of an other colour, signifieth heresie, that mixeth falshood with truth. [...] Aug. li. 2. quest. Euangel. c. 4 [...]. a white colour in the skinne, and hath changed the looke of the heare, and the flesh also it selfe appeare quicke: † it shal be iudged a verie 11 old leprosie, and growne into the skinne. The priest therfore shal contaminate him, and shal not shut him vp, because he is vncleane euidently. † But if the leprosie spring forth running 12 about in the skinne, and couer al the flesh from the head to the feete, whatsoeuer falleth vnder the sight of the eies, † the priest shal vew him, and shal iudge that he is taken with 13 a Sometimes that semeth leprosie, or herelie, which is not: wherof the priest is to iudge. Deut. 17. most cleane leprosie: for that it is al turned into whitnesse, and therfore the man shal be cleane. † But when 14 there shal appeare in him quicke flesh, † then by the iudgement 15 of the priest he shal be polluted, and shal be reputed among the vncleane. for quick flesh if it be spotted with leprosie, is vncleane. † And if againe it be turned into whitenesse, 16 and couer al the man, † the priest shal vew him, and 17 shal iudge him to be cleane. † And the flesh and the skinne 18 wherin a boile is risen, and healed, † and in the place of the 19 boile, there appeare a white scarre, or somewhat redde, the man shal be brought to the priest: † and when he shal see 20 the place of the leprosie lower then the other flesh, and the heare turned into whitenes, he shal contaminate him: for the plague of leprosie is risen in the boile. † But if the heare 21 be of the old colour, and the scarre somewhat obscure, & be not lower then the next flesh, he shal shut him vp seuē dayes. † And if it be growne farder, he shal iudge him to haue the 22 leprosie. † but if it stay in his place, it is the scarre of a boile, 23 and the man shal be cleane. † And the flesh and skinne, that 24 fire hath burnt, and being healed hath a white or a reade scarre, † the priest shal consider it, and loe it is turned into 25 whitenesse, and the place therof is lower then the other skinne: he shal contaminate him, because the plague of leprosie is risen in the scarre. † But if the colour of the heare 26 be not changed, nor the blemish lower then the other flesh, and the forme it self of the leprosie be somewhat obscure, he shal shut him vp seuen dais, † and the seuente day he shal behold 27 him: if the leptosie be growne farder in the skinne, he shal contaminate him, † but if the whitnes stay in his place, 28 not very cleare, it is the plague of a burning, and therfore he shal be cleansed, because it is the scarre of a burning. [Page 287] † Man, or woman, in whose head or beard the leprosie riseth, 29 the priest shal see them. † and if the place be lower then 30 the other flesh, and the heare yelow, and thinner then it was wont; he shal contaminate them, because it is the leprosie of the heade and the beard. † But if he perceiue the 31 place of the spotte equal with the flesh neere vnto it, and the heare blacke: he shal shut him vp seuen daies, † and in the 32 seuenth day he shal looke vpon it. If the spotte be nor growne, and the heare be of his owne colour, and the place of the plague euen with the other flesh: † the man shal be shauen 33 sauing the place of the spotte, and shal be shut vp orther seuen daies. † If the seuenth day the plague seeme to haue staid in 34 his place, & not lower then the other flesh, he shal cleanse him, and his clothes being washed he shal be cleane. † But 35 if after his clensing the spotte be growne againe in the skinne, † he shal no more seeke whether the heare be changed into 36 a yelow colour, because he is euidently vncleane. † Moreouer 27 if the spotte be staid, & the heare be blacke, let him know that the man is healed, and let him boldly pronounce him cleane. † Man, or woman, in whose skinne appeareth 38 whitenesse, † the priest shal vew them. If he find that whitnesse 39 somewhat obscure shineth in the skinne, let him know that it is not the leprosie, but a spotte of white colour, and that the man is cleane. † The man whose heare falleth 40 of from his head, is bald and cleane: † and if the heare fal 41 from his forehead, he is bald before and cleane. † But if in 42 the baldnesse or in the baldnesse before there be risen a white or reddish colour, † and the priest perceiue this, he shal 43 condemne him vndoubtedly of leprosie, which is risen in the baldnesse. † Whosoeuer therfote shal be defiled with leprosie 44 & is separated at the arbitrement of the priest, † shal 45 haue his clothes hanging loose, his head bare, his mouth couered with a cloth, he shal crie him self polluted and vncleane. † Al the time that he is a lepre & vncleane, he shal dwel 46 alone without the campe. † A wollen or linnen garment, 47 that shal haue the leprosie † in the warpe, and the woufc, 48 or els a skinne, or whatsoeuer is made of a skinne, † if it be 49 a white or reddish spott, it shal be reputed infected with leprosie, 50 and shal be shewed to the priest. † Who hauing considered it shal shut it vp seuen daies: † and the seuenth day 51 againe beholding it, if he find that it is growne, it is a leprosie [Page 288] that continueth: he shal iudge the garment polluted, and euerie thing wherin it shal be found, † and therfore it shal 52 be burnt with fire. † But if he see that it is not growne, 53 † he shal command, and they shal wash that, wherin the leprosie 54 is, and he shal shut it vp other seuen daies. † And 55 when he shal see that the old shape is not returned, neither yet that the leprosie is growen furder, he shal iudge it vncleane, and burne it with fire, for that the leprosie is spred in the outside of the garment or through the whole. † But 56 if the place of the leprosie be somewhat obscure, after that the garment is washed, he shal breake it of, and diuide it from that which is sounde. † And if besides in those places, 57 that before were without spotte there appeare a flying and wandring leprosie: it must be burnt with fire: † if it be ceassed, 58 he shal wash with water the partes, that be pure, the second time, & they shal be cleane. † This is the law of the 59 leprosie of a wollen and linnen garment, of the warpe and the woufe, and of al stuffe of skinnes, how it ought to be clensed, or contaminated.

CHAP. XIIII. Sacrifices for clensing leprosie in men, 33. the maner of viewing whether leprosie be in a house or no, 40. and of clensing it.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † This is the 1 2 rite of a lepre, when he is to be cleansed. † He shal be 3 brought to the priest: who going out of the campe, when he shal finde that the leprosie is cleansed, † he shal command 4 him, that is purified, that he This gift & sacrifice were commanded (saith S. Augustin) because the Sacrifice of Christs bodie was not yet ordained, which now serueth for al other sacrifices. l [...] ▪ 1. ca. 19. et. 20. cont. aduersar. [...]eg. et. prophet. offer for him selfe two liue sparowes, which it is lawful to eate, and cedar wood, and scarlet & hyssope. † and he shal command that one of the 5 sparowes be immolated in an earthen vessel ouer of vvel or riuer, not of a cesterne poole, or marr [...]. liuing water: † but the other being aliue with the cedar wood, and 6 scarlet and the hyssope he shal dippe in the bloud of the sparowe that is immolated, † wherwith he shal sprinckle him, 7 that is to be cleansed, seuen times, that he may be rightly purged: and he shal let goe the liue sparow, that it flie into the field. † And when the man hath washed his clothes, he 8 shal shaue al the heare of his bodie, and shal be washed with water: and being purified he shal enter into the campe, yet so for al that, that he tarie without his owne tent seuen daies, † and the seuenth day he shal shaue the heare of his head, and 9 [Page 289] his beard and eye browes, and the heare of his whole bodie. And hauing washed againe his clothes, and his bodie, † the 10 eight day he shal take two lambes without spotte, and an ewe of a yeare old without spotte, and three tenths of floure tempered with oyle for a sacrifice, and a sextarie of oyle apart. † And when the priest that purifieth the man, hath set him, 11 and al these things before the Lord in the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie, † he shal take a lambe, and offer it for 12 offence, & the sextarie of oyle. and hauing offered al before the Lord, † he shal immolate the lambe, where the hoste 13 for sinne is wont to be immolated, and the holocaust, that is, in a holie place. For as for sinne, so also the hoste for offence pertaineth to the priest: it is Holie of holies. † And 14 the priest taking of the bloud of the hoste, that was immolated for offence, shal put it vpon the tippe of the right eare of him that is cleansed, and vpon the thumbes of his right hand and foote: † and of the sextarie of oile he shal poure 15 into his owne left hand, † and shal dippe his right finger in 16 it and shal sprinckle before the Lord seuen times. † and the 17 residue of the oile in his left hand, he shal poure vpon the tippe of the right eare of him that is cleansed, and vpon the thumbes of his right hand and foote, and vpon the bloud that was shed for offence, † and vpon his head. † And he 18 19 shal pray for him before the Lord, and shal make the sacrifice for sinne. then shal he immolate the holocaust, † and put it 20 on the altar with the libaments therof, and the man shal orderly be cleansed. † But if he be poore, and his hand can not 21 finde the thinges aforesaid, for offence he shal take a lambe for an oblation, that the priest may pray for him, and a tenth part of floure tempered with oile for a sacrifice, and of oile a sextarie, † and two turtles or two young pigeons, 22 of the which let one be for sinne, and the other for an holocaust: † and he shal offer them the eight day 23 of his purification to the priest, at the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie before the Lord: † who receiuing the lambe 24 for offence, and the sextarie of oile, shal eleuate them together: † and the lambe being immolated, of the bloud therof 25 he shal put vpon the tippe of the right eare of him that is cleansed, and vpon the thumbes of his right hand and foote: † but part of the oile he shal poure into his owne left hand, 26 † wherin dipping the finger of his right hand, he shal 27 [Page 290] sprinckle it seuen times before the Lord: † and he shal touch 28 the tippe of the right eare of him that is cleansed, and the thumbes of his right hand & foote, in the place of the bloud that was shed for offence: † and the other part of the oyle, 29 that is in his left hand, he shal poure vpon the head of the purified person, that he may propitiate the Lord for him: † and 30 a turtle, or yong pigeon he shal offer, † one for offence, and 31 the other for an holocaust, with their libaments. † This is 32 the sacrifice of a lepre, that is not able to haue al thinges for the cleansing of him self. † And our Lord spake to Moyses 33 and Aaron, saying: † When you shal be entred into the 34 Land of Chanaan, which I wil geue you in possession, if there be the plague of leprosie in a house, † he whose house it is, 35 shal goe & tel the priest, saying: It semeth to me, that there is as it were the plague of leprosie in my house. † But he shal 36 command, that they carie forth al thinges out of the house, before he goe into it, and see whether it haue the leprosie, lest al thinges become vncleane that are in the house. And afterward he shal goe in to consider the leprosie of the house: † & if he see in the walles therof as it were litle dintes, disfigured 37 with palenesse or rednesse, and lower then al the rest, † he 38 shal goe out of the dore of the house, and forthwith shut it seuen daies. † And returning the seuenth day, he shal consider 39 it. If he finde that the leprosie is growne, † he shal command, 40 the stones wherein the leprosie is, to be plucked out, and to be throwen without the citie into an vncleane place: † & the house it self to be scraped on the inside round about, 41 and the dust of the scraping to be dispersed without the citie into an vncleane place, † and other stones to be laid in 42 their places, that were taken away, and the house to be playstered with other morter. † But if after the stones be plucked 43 out, & the dust scraped of, and it playstered with other earth, † the priest going in perceiue that the leprosie is returned, 44 and the walles ful of spottes, it is a lasting leprosie, and the house vncleane: † the which forthwith they shal destroy, 45 and the stones and timber therof, and al the dust they shal cast without the towne into an vncleane place. † He that 46 entreth into the house when it is shut, shal be vncleane vntil euen: † and he that sleepeth in it, and eateth anything, shal 47 wash his clothes. † But if the priest going in perceiue that 48 the leprosie is not growne farder in the house, after it was [Page 291] playstred againe, he shal purifie it being made whole againe: † and for the purification therof he shal take two sparowes, 49 and cedrewood, and scarlet and hyssope: † and when one 50 sparow is immolated in an earthen vessel ouer liuing waters, † he shal take the ceder wood, and the hyssope, and the scarlet, 51 and the liue sparowe, and shal dippe al in the bloud of the sparowe that is immolated, and in the liuing water, and he shal sprinckle the house seuen times, † and shal purifie it as 52 wel with the bloud of the sparow, as with the liuing water and with the liue sparow, and with the cedrewoode and the hyssope and the scarlet. † And when he hath let goe the sparow 53 to flie freely away into the field, he shal pray for the house, and it shal be rightly cleansed. † This is the law of al 54 leprosie and percussion, † of the leprosie of garments and 55 houses, † of a scarre and of blisters breaking forth, of a shining 56 spotte, and when the colours are changed into diuers kindes, † that it may be knowen at what time anie thing is 57 cleane, or vncleane.

CHAP. XV. The law of vncleane issues in men, 19. and in wemen.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses and Aaron, saying: 1 † Speake to the children of Israel, and say to them; 2 The man that hath a fluxe of sede, shal be If natural infirmities brought vncleānes much more lasciuiousnes of the mind. Theod. q. 15. & 20. in Leuit. vncleane. † And 3 then he shal be iudged subiect to this fault, when the filthie humour at euerie moment, cleaueth to his flesh, and is congealed. † Euerie bedde wheron he sleepeth, shal be vncleane, 4 and where soeuer he sitteth. † If anie man touch his 5 bedde, he shal wash his clothes: and him self being washed with water, shal be vncleane vntil euen. † If he sitte where 6 that man had sitten, he also shal wash his clothes: and being washed with water, shal be vncleane vntil euen. † he that 7 toucheth his flesh, shal wash his clothes: and him self being washed with water shal be vncleane vntil euen. † If such a 8 man cast his spittle vpon him that is cleane, he shal wash his clothes: and being washed with water he shal be vncleane vntil euen. † The padde wherupon he sitteth shal be vncleane: 9 † and whatsoeuer hath bene vnder him, that hath 10 the fluxe of seede, shal be polluted vntil euen. He that carieth any of these thinges, shal wash his clothes: and him self being washed with water, shal be vncleane vntil euen. [Page 292] † Euerie one, whom he toucheth that is such an one, hauing 11 not washed his handes before, shal wash his clothes, and being washed with water, shal be vncleane vntil euen. † The 12 earthen vessel that he toucheth shal be broken: but the wodden vessel shal be washed with water. † If he be healed 13 that hath such a disease, he shal number seuen daies after his cleansing, and hauing washed his clothes, and al his bodie, in liuing water, he shal be cleane. † And the eight day he 14 shal take two turtles, or two yong pigeons, and he shal come into the sight of our Lord, to the dore fo the tabernacle of testimonie, and shal geue them to the priest. † who shal To make, offer, and sacrifice an hoste [...]is al one. make 15 one for sinne, and the other for an holocaust, and he shal pray for him before our Lord, that he may be cleansed of the fluxe of his seede. † The man from whom issueth the seede of 16 copulation, shal wash with water al his bodie: and he shal be vncleane vntil euen. † The garment and skinne, that he 17 weareth, he shal wash with water, and it shal be vncleane vntil euen. † The woman with whom he compaineth shal 18 be washed with water and shal be vncleane vntil euen. † The 19 woman that monthly hath the fluxe of bloud, shal be separated seuen daies. † Euerie one that toucheth her, shal be 20 vncleane vntil euen: † and that whereon she sleepeth or 21 sittteh in the daies of her separation shal be polluted. † He 22 that toucheth her bedde shal wash his clothes: and him self being washed with water, shal be vncleane vntil euen. † Whosoeuer shal touch any vessel wherupon she sitteth, he 23 shal wash his clothes: and him self being washed with water shal be polluted vntil euen. † If a man companie with her 24 in the time of her menstrual bloud, he shal be vncleane seuen daies: and euerie bedde wheron he sleepeth shal be polluted. † The woman that hath a fluxe of bloud many daies not in 25 her menstrual time, or that ceaseth not to haue a fluxe, after the menstrual bloud, as long as she is subiect to this disease, she shal be vncleane, as if she were in her menstrual time. † Euerie bedde, whereupon she sleepeth, and vessel wheron 26 she sitteth, shal be polluted. † Whosoeuer toucheth them 27 shal wash his clothes: and him self being washed with water, shal be vncleane, vntil euen. † If the bloud stay and cease 28 to runne, she shal count the seuen daies of her purification: † and the eight day she shal offer for her selfe to the priest, 29 two turtles, or two young pigeons, at the dore of the tabernacle [Page 293] of testimonie: † who shal make one for sinne, and the 30 other for an holocaust, and he shal pray for her before our Lord, and for the sluxe of her vncleannesse. † You shal teach 31 therefore the children of Israel, that they take heede of S. Hierom. ( [...]s cap. 5 ad [...] at:) vnderstandeth this place of the abominable sines that may not be named. vncleannesse, and die not in their filthinesse, when they shal pollute my tabernacle that is among them. † This is the law 32 of him that hath the fluxe of sede and that is polluted by copulation, † and the woman that is separated in her menstrual 33 times, or that hath a continual fluxe of bloud, and of the man, that sleepeth with her.

CHAP. XVI. VVhen and how the high Priest must enter into the Sanctuarie. 14. How he shal expiate (or reconcile) the same, 16. and the Tabernacle, 18. and the Altar. 20. How he shal offer a [...]ue goate, and send him into the wildernes. 29. And al must celebrate the feast of expiation, or clensing from sinnes.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, after the death of the 1 two sonnes of Aaron, when they were slaine offering strange fire: † and he commanded him, saying: Speake to 2 Aaron thy brother, that he Only once in the yeare the high priest, and no other, entred into Sancl [...] [...] v. 34. signifying that heauen was not open to anie Sainct, before Christs passion: Heb. 9. v. 8. enter not at al times into the Sanctuarie, that is within the veile before the propitiatorie, wherwith the arke is couered, lest he die (for in a cloude wil I appeare ouer the oracle) † vnlesse he doe these thinges 3 before: He shal offer a calfe for sinne, and a ramme for an holocaust. † He shal be reuested with a linnen tunike, he 4 shal hide his priuities with linnen femoralles: he shal be girded with a linnen girdle, a linnen mitre shal he put vpon his head: for these are holie vestmentes: withal which, when he is washed, he shal be reuested. † And he shal receiue of the 5 whole multitude of the children of Israel two bucke goates for sinne, and one ramme for an holocaust. † And when 6 he hath offered the calfe, and praied for him self, and for his owne house, † he shal make the two bucke goates to 7 stand before the Lord in the dore of the tabernacle of testimostimonie: † and casting lottes vpon both, one for the Lord, & 8 an other for the goate of dismission: † that, whose lotte fel to 9 the Lord, he shal offer for sinne: † but that, whose lotte was 10 to be the goate of dismission, he shal set aliue before the Lord, that he may Praying that al their sinnes may be remitted. poure out prayers vpon him, and dismisse him into the wildernesse. † After that these thinges be 11 ̄BCH 143-476 [Page 294] duly celebtated, he shal offer the calfe, and praying for him self and for his house, he shal immolate it: † and taking the 12 thurible, which he hath filled of the burning coales of the altar, and taking vp with his hand of the compounded persume for incense, he shal goe in beyond the veile into the Holie place: † that when the incense is put vpon the fire, 13 the cloude therof and the vapour may couer the oracle, which is ouer the testimonie, and he die not. † He shal take 14 also of the bloud of the calfe, and sprinckle with his finger seuen times against the propitiatorie to the east. † And when 15 he hath killed the bucke goate for the sinne of the people, he shal carie in the bloud therof within the veile, as hath bene commanded of the bloud of the calfe, that he may sprinckle it against the oracle, † and Sinnes do so defile the soule that the very holiest of al places is accounnted as contaminate therby. Theodo. [...]. 22. in Leuit. [...] sine. expiate the Sanctuarie 16 from the vncleannesse of the children of Israel, and from their preuarications, and al their sinnes. According to this rite shal he doe to the tabernacle of testimonie, which is fixed among them in the middest of the filth of their habitation. † Let no man be in the tabernacle when the high priest 17 goeth into the Sanctuarie, to pray for him self and for his house, & for the whole assemblie of Israel, vntil he come forth. † And when he is come forth to the altar that is before 18 the Lord, let him pray for him self, and taking the bloud of the calfe, and of the bucke goate, let him poure it vpon the hornes therof round about: † and sprinckling with his finger 19 seuen times, let him expiate, and sanctifie it from the vncleannesse of the children of Israel. † After he hath clensed 20 the Sanctuarie, and the tabernacle, and the altar, then let him offer the liue goate: † and putting both handes vpon his 21 head, let him confesse al the iniquiries of the children of Israel, and al their offences and sinnes: which praying to light on his head, he shal send him forth by a man ready therto, into the desert. † And God so remitteth sinnes to those that are truly peninitent, as that which is caried into a wildernes and neuer returneth. when the goat hath caried al their 22 iniquities into the solitarie ground, and shal be let goe into the desert, † Aaron shal returne into the tabernacle of testimonie, 23 and putting of the vestiments, which he had on him before when he entred into the Sanctuarie, and leauing them there, † he shal wash his flesh in a holie place, and shal be 24 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 25 [Page 295] fatte, that is offered for sinnes, he shal burne vpon the altar. † but he, that hath let goe the goate of dismission, shal wash 26 his clothes, and bodie with water, and so shal enter into the campe. † But the calfe & the bucke goate, that were immolated 27 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 28 them, shal wash his clothes, and his flesh with water, and so shal enter into the campe. † And this shal be to you an 29 euerlasting ordinance: The Besides particular sacrifices for euerie oues sinnes, once in the yeare was instituted a general expiatiō of al. 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 30 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 31 rest, and you shal afflict your soules by a perpetual religion. And the priest shal expiate, that is annoynted, and whose 32 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 33 the tabernecle of testimonie and the altar, the priestes also and al the people. † And this shal be an ordinance for euer, 34 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 1 2 Aaron and his sonnes, and to al the children of Israel, saying to them: This is the word, which our Lord hath cō manded, saying: † Anie man whosoeuer of the house of 3 Israel, if he If anie killed for sacrifice he must offer it at the dore of the tabernacle▪ that a priest might offer it on the Altar, for no other man, nor place was allowed, without special dispensation of God. And so Samuel offered sacrifice in an other place, 1. Reg. [...]. Hlias [...]. Reg. 18. and Dauid also being no Priest. 2. Reg. 24 so S. Aug. explicateth, this text. q. 56. in Leuit. 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 5 to the priest their hostes, which they kil in the filde, that they [Page 296] 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 6 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, 7 with whom they haue committed fornication. It shal be an ordinance for euer to them and to their posteritie. † And 8 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 9 tabernacle of testimonie, that it may be offered to our Lord, shal perish out of his people. † Anie man whosoeuer of the 10 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 11 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 12 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 13 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 14 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 15 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 16 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 1 2 the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: I the [Page 297] Lord your God, † according to the custome of the Land of 3 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, 4 and shal walke in them. I the Lord your God. † Keepe my 5 lawes and iudgmentes, which a man doing, shal liue in them. I the Lord. † No man shal approch to her that is “ next of 6 his bloud, to reueale her It is then turpitude when the act is vnlawful. But honest in lawful Mariage. S. Aug. li: 3. Locutionum. & li. de bono coniugali. turpitude. I the Lord. † The 7 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 8 not discouer: for it is the turpitude of thy father. † The turpitude 9 of thy sister by father, or by mother, which was borne at home or abroad, thou shalt not reueale. † The turpitude 10 of thy sonnes daughter or of thy neece by thy daughter, thou shalt not reueale: because it is thy turpitude. † The 11 turpitude of thy fathers wiues daughter, which she bare to thy father, and is thy sister, thou shal not reueale. † The turpitude 12 of See chap. 20: the difference of punishmēts, for violating these lawes in the first and second degree. Also betwen consanguinitie & affinitie, in the same collateral degree. thy fathers sister thou shalt not discouer: because she is the flesh of thy father. † The turpitude of thy mothers 13 sister thou shalt not reueale, because she is of the flesh of thy mother. † The turpitude of thy fathers brother thou shalt 14 not reueale, neither shalt thou approch to his wife, who is ioyned to thee by affinitie. † The turpitude of thy daughter 15 in law thou shalt not reueale, because she is thy sonnes wife, neither shalt thou discouer her ignominie. † The turpitude 16 of thy brothers wife thou shalt not reueale: because it is the turpitude of thy brother. † The turpitude of thy wife, and 17 her daughter thou shalt not reueale. Her sonnes daughter, and her daughters daughter, thou shalt not take, to reueale her ignominie: because they are her flesh, and such copulation is incest. † Thou shalt not take thy wiues sister for an 18 harlote, to vexe her withal, neither shalt thou reueale her turpitude, whiles she is yet liuing. † To a woman, hauing 19 her flowers, thou shalt not approch, neither shalt thou reueale her turpitude. † With thy neighbours wife thou shalt 20 not companie, nor be polluted with commixtion of seede. † Of thy seede thou shalt not geue to be consecrated to the 21 idol Moloch, nor pollute the name of thy God: I the Lord. † Companie not with mankind, as with womankind, 22 [Page 298] because it is abomination. † With no beast shalt thou companie, 23 neither shalt thou be polluted with it. A woman shal not lie downe to a beast, nor companie with it: because it is an hainous fact. † Neither be ye polluted in anie of the 24 thinges wherwith al the nations haue bene contaminated, which I wil cast out before your sight, † and wherwith the 25 land is polluted: whose abominations I wil visite, that it vomite out the inhabitants therof. † Keepe my ordinances 26 and iudgements, and doe not any of these abominations, as wel the same countrieman as the stranger, that seiourneth with you. † For al these execrable thinges did the inhabitants 27 of the land, that haue bene before you, and haue polluted it. † Beware therfore lest in like maner it vomite out 28 you also, when you shal doe the like thinges, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. † Euerie soule, that shal 29 doe anie of these abominations, shal perish from the middes of his people. † Keepe my commandements. Doe not the thinges which they haue done, that haue bene before you, and be not polluted in them: I the Lord your God.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVIII.

6 Next of his bloud.] Mariage is forbid first and most strictly by the law of Mariage forbid in al degrees in the right line, by the law of nature. Secondarily in the first collateral degree of cōsanguinitie. nature, in al degrees in the right line ascending and decending, both in consanguinitie 1. Cor. [...]. v. 1. and affinitie. S. Paul testifying that among the heat hen, no man could haue his fathers vvise. And in the right line God him selfe (who onlie can) neuer dispensed. Secondarily, the first collateral degree in consanguinitie, that is, betwen brother and sister, by one parent, or by both, is also vnlawful by the law of nature, except in the beginning of the world, when Adams children must nedes marie together, God so ordayning that al mankind should be propagated Act. 17. v. 26. [...]. Aug. de bono cō i [...]g. c. 1. by one man (for of him also the first woman was made) but after this beginning it was neuer allowed, nor perhaps can be dispensed withal, at least neuer was by anie man. Though Beza ( li. de repudijs & diuo [...]tijs) and some English Bezites charge Pope Martin the fifth, to haue dispensed with one, that Beza belieth Pope Martin. had maried his owne natural sister: which is a false reporte. For it was with one, who hauing committed fornication with one sister, afterwardes maried the other, from whom he could not be separated without great scandal, the pretended mariage being publike, and the impediment secrete: as S. Antoninus writeth. par. 3. sum. Theol. tit. 1. c. 11. But besides the right line, and the Al other degrees depend on positiue lawes: which haue bene & may be altered Proued by Scriptures, and reasons. first collateral degree in consanguinitie, no other collateral degrees are prohibited by the law of nature, but by positiue only. So this present law, written by Moyses, forbade to marie in the first collateral degree of affinitie, but the same law commanded ( Deut. 25.) that in case a maried man died without issue, his brother should marie the widow. VVherby is clere that this degree, and others more remote, were not prohibited by the law of nature. For then [Page 299] God would not haue made a contrarie general law, in anie case, for the whole nation of the Iewes, his people; and that vnder penaltie to be obserued, which is contrarie to the qualitie of indulgence or dispensation, and no such necessitie, as in the beginning of the world. VVherfore al protestants that say, the whole law written by Moyses concerning degrees of consanguinitie and First proofe. affinitie, is the law of nature, and so pertaineth to Christians, must necessarily say also, that if now a maried man die without issue, his brother must marie his wife. VVhich specially they denie. It is also proued that this and some other 2 proofe. degrees expressed in this place, were not against the law of nature (which is common to al nations, commonly or easely knowne to al men by discourse of reason) because no common wealth among the Gentiles did punish, nor Aristot. li. 2. Pol. modest men forbeare, or reprehend such mariages: as appeareth by Laban, who after he had deceiued Iacob by geuing him one sister for an other, offered him also the former promised, whom without difficultie of conscience he accepted (Gen. 29.) neither did that holie Patriareh thinke it vnlauful to keepe them both. And when Iudas matched his second sonne, and promised the third to the wife of his first sonne, he did it according to the custome of that place & time. Gen. 38. And Noemi spoke according to the same custome. Ruth. 1. v. 11. Againe where this law forbiddeth a man to marie, or companie with his wiues 3 proofe. sister, it addeth, vvhiles she is liuing, not prohibiting mariage, when his first wife is dead. Yet his wiues sister is as nere in affinitie, as his brothers wife. Likewise the diuersitie of punishments ( chap. 20.) for transgression of this 4 proofe. law, either in the right line, or in the first collateral degree of consanguinitie, who were punished by death; and for transgressing in the first collateral degree of affinitie, or in the second either of consanguinitie or affinitie, who had lesse punishments, sheweth that the former degrees are prohibited by the law of nature, and not the other: for then the violation should be like sinne, and punished alike. Finally it is euident, that certaine of these degrees are not against 5 proofe. the law of nature, by the example of holie Abraham, who in, and according, to the law of nature, maried his brothers daughter called Sarai, otherwise Iescha, Gen. 11. which mariage God approued by manie blessings. Also Iacob S. [...]ero. quest. Heb. in Gen. maried two sisters together. Two sonnes of Iudas maried the same woman successiuely. And Amram (Moyses father) maried his aunt, his fathers sister. Exod. 6. v. 20. Num. 26. v. 59. VVherfore seing neither the first collateral degree in affinitie, nor the second collateral in consanguinitie or affinitie, is forbid by the law of nature but by positiue only, and that both ceremonial and iudicial lawes of the old Testament ceassed in the New, and are abrogated by Ceremonial & iudicial lawes of Moyses are abrogated by Christ. Christ, it resteth proued that the same bind not Christians, but as they are renewed and established by the Church, or Christian commonwelthes. And as this is donne in temporal causes by temporal States, partly by renewing and establishing the same, which was in the law of Moyses, as by punishing wilful murder by death; Exod. 21. v. 12. partly with alteration, as by punishing theift in some countries with death, but not adultrie, which were contrarie in the old Testament, Gen. 38. v. 24. 44. 17. Exod. 22. v. 1. Leuit. 20. v. 10: in like sorte the And new are establshed. Church of Christ ordaineth lawes, altereth, & vpon iust occasions dispenceth, in al degrees of consanguinitie and affinitie, not forbid by the law of nature

CHAP. XIX. Diuers Moral, Ceremonial, and Iudicial precepts are briefly recited.

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OVR Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to al the 1 2 The Epistle on VVenesday in Passion weke. assemblie of the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: Be ye holie, because I the Lord your God am holie. † Let euerie one feare his father, and mother. Keepe my Sabbathes. 3 I the Lord your God. † Turne not your selues to 4 idols, neither make you to your selues molten goddes. I the Lord your God. † If ye immolate an hoste of pacifiques to 5 the Lord, that it may be placable, † that day wherin it is immolated, 6 shal you eate it, and the next day: and whatsoeuer shal be left vntil the third day, you shal burne with fire. † if 7 after two daies anie man eate therof, he shal be profane, and guiltie of impietie: † and shal beare his iniquitie, because he 8 hath polluted the holie of the Lord, and that soule shal perish out of his people. † And when thou reapest the corne of 9 thy lande, thou shalt not sheare the face of the earth to the verie ground: neither shalt thou gather the eares that remaine. † Neither in thy vineyard shalt thou gather the clusters, 10 and grapes that fal downe, but shalt leaue them to the poore, and the strangers to take. I the Lord your God. † You 11 shal not committe theft. You shal not lie, neither shal anie man deceaue his neighbour. † Thou shalt not forsweare 12 thy self in my name, nor pollute the name of thy God. I the Lord. † Thou shalt not calumniate thy neighbour, nor oppresse 13 him by violence. The worke of thy hireling shal not abide with thee vntil morning. † Thou shalt not speake euil 14 of the deafe man, nor put a stumbling blocke before the blinde: but thou shalt feare the Lord thy God, because I am the Lord. † Thou shalt not doe that which is vniust, nor 15 iudge vniustly. Consider not the person of a poore man, neither honour thou the countenance of him that is mightie. Iudge iustly to thy neighbour. † Thou shalt not be a criminatour, 16 nor a whisperer among the people. Thou shalt not stand against the bloud of thy neighbour. I the Lord. † Thou 17 shalt not hate thy brother in thy hart, but controwle him openly, lest thou incurre sinne through him. † Seeke not reuenge, 18 nor be mindeful of the iniurie of thy citizens. Thou shal [...] loue thy freind as thy self. I the Lord. † Keepe ve my 19 lawes. Thou shalt not make thy cattel to gender with the beasts of an other kinde. Thy field thou shalt not sowe with diuers seede. A garment, These diuersities are not prohibited for them selues, for the ornaments of the tabernacle and of Priests were made of diuers things; but schisme, and al participation with heretikes, and other infidels is forbid. 2. Cor. 6. Dravv not in yoke vvith i [...]si [...]els. Theodoret. q. 27. in Leutt. that is wouen of two sortes, thou shalt not put on. † If a man lie with a woman by carnal copulation, 20 [Page 301] that is a bondwoman also mariable, and yet not redemed with a price, nor made free, both shal be beaten, and they shal not die, because she was not free. † And for his 21 offence he shal offer to the Lord, at the dore of the tabernacle of testimonie a ramme: † and the priest shal pray for him, 22 and for his sinne before the Lord, and he shal become propitious to him againe, and the sinne shal be forgeuen. † When you shal be entred into the land, and haue planted 23 in it fruite trees, you shal take away the prepuces of them: the fruite, that come forth shal be vncleane to you, neither shal you eate of them. † But in the fourth yeare, al their 24 fruite shal be sanctified, laudable to the Lord. † And the 25 fifth yeare you shal eate the fruites, gathering the ofspring, that they bring forth. I the Lord your God. † You shal not 26 eate with bloud. You shal not diuine, See Gen. 40. v. 8. nor obserue dreames. † Neither shal you cut your heare roundwise: nor shaue 27 your beard. † And for the dead you shal not cut your flesh, 28 neither shal you make in your selues any figures or markes, I the Lord. † Make not thy daughter a common strumpet, 29 lest the land be contamined, and filled with wickednesse. † Keepe ye my Sabbathes, and feare my Sanctuarie. I the 30 Lord. † Decline not to magicians, neither aske any thing of 31 soothsayers, to be polluted by them. I the Lord your God. † Before the hoare head rise vp, and honour the person of 32 an old man: and feare the Lord thy God. I am the Lord. † If a stranger dwel in your land, and abide among you, doe 33 not vpbraid him: † but let him be among you as the same 34 countrie man: and you shal loue him as your selues: for you also haue bene strangers in the Land of Aegypt. I the Lord your God. † Do not anie vniust thing in iudgement, in rule, 35 in weight, or measure. † Let the balance be iust, and the 36 weightes equal, the busheliust, and the sextarie equal. I the Lord your God, that brought you out of the Land of Aegypt. † Keepe al my preceptes, and al my iudgements, & doe them. 37 I the Lord.

CHAP. XX. VVhosoeuer geueth of his seede to Moloch must be stoned to death. 6▪ Althat decline to Magicke, 9. eurse their parents, 10. commit ad [...]ltri [...], certaine incest, or bestialitie shal die 19. Other incest is depriued of children. 22. The Israelites also shal be cast out▪ of the Land▪ if they committe such

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AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † These thinges 1 2 thou shalt speake to the children of Israel: If anie man of the children of Israel, and of the strangers, that dwel in Israel, geue of his seede to the idol Moloch, dying let him die: the people of the land shal stone him. † And I wil set my 3 face against him: and wil cut him of from the middes of his people, because he hath geuen of his seede to Moloch, and hath contaminated my Sanctuarie, and polluted my holy name. † And if the people of the land neglecting, and as it 4 were litle esteming my commandement, let alone the man that hath geuen of his seede to Moloch, and wil not kil him: † I wil sette my face vpon that man, and his kinred, and 5 wil cut of both him, and al that consented with him, to committe fornication with Moloch, out of the middes of their people. † The soule, that shal decline to Magitians, and 6 south sayers, and shal committe fornication with them, I wil sette my face against it, and destroy it out of the middes of his people. † Sanctifie your selues, and be holie, because I am 7 the Lord your God. † Keepe my precepts, and doe them. I 8 the Lord that sanctifie you. † He that curseth his father, or 9 mother, dying let him die: he hath cursed father, and mother, his bloud be vpon him. † If any man commit adulterie 10 with an other mans wife, and commit aduontrie with his neighbours wife, dying let them die, both the adulterer and the aduoutresse. † He that lieth with his stepmother, and reuealeth 11 the ignominie of his father, dying let both die: their bloud be vpon them. † If anie man lie with his daughter in 12 law, let both die, because they haue done an heinous fact: their bloud be vpon them. † He that lieth with man as if he 13 should companie with woman, both haue committed abomination dying let them die: their bloud be vpon them. † He that besides his wife the daughter, Violating this law in anie degree in the rightline, either of consanguinitie, or affinitie, or in the first colla teral degree of cōsanguinitie, was punished with death; but in the first collateral of affinitie, and in the second collateral degree as wel of cōsanguinitie, as affinitie, with lesse punishment. VVhich sheweth greatter obligation, & greatter sinne, cōcerning the right line, then the collateral, also in the first degree of consanguinitie then in the second; and more in consanguinitie then in affinitie. marieth her mother, 14 hath done wickednes: he shal burne aliue with them, neither shal there so great abomination remaine in the middes of you. † He that shal companie with beast and cattel 15 dying let him die: the beast also doe ye kil. † The woman 16 that shal lie vnder anie beast, shal be killed together with the same: their bloud be vpon them. † He that taketh his sister 17 the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother, and seeth her turpitude, and she beholdeth her brothers ignominie: they haue committed a shameful thing: they shal be [Page 303] slaine, in the sight of their people, because they haue reuealed one an others turpitude, and they shal beare their iniquitie. † He rhat compaineth▪ with a woman in her menstrual 18 fluxe, and reuealeth her turpitude, and she openeth the fountaine of her bloud, both shal be destroyed out of the middes of their people. † The turpitude of :: thy aunt by thy mother, 19 and of thy aunt by thy father, thou shalt not discouer: he that doeth this, hath disclosed the ignominie of his flesh, both shal beare their iniquitie. † He that compaineth with 20 the wife of his vncle by the father, or of his vncle by the mother, and reuealeth the ignominie of his kinted, both shal beare their sinne: without children they shal die. † He that 21 marieth his brothers wife, doth an vnlawful thing, he hath reuealed his brothers turpitude: they shal be without children. † Keepe my lawes, and iudgementes, and doe them: 22 lest the land which you shal enter into and inhabite, vomite out you also. † Walke not in the ordinances of the nations, 23 which I wil expel before you. For Not for euerie kind of sinne (though euerie one is punishable,) but for the more hainous, & for altogether the Chananites were cast out of their land. al these thinges haue they done, and I haue abhorred them. † But to you I speake: 24 Possesse their land, which I wil geue you for an inheritance, a land flowing with milke and honie. I the Lord your God, that haue seperated you from other peoples. † Therfore 25 doe you also seperate the cleane beast, from the vncleane, and the cleane foule from the vncleane: pollute not your soules, in beastes, and birdes, and al thinges that moue on the earth, and which I▪ haue shewed vnto you, to be polluted. † You shal be holie vnto me, because I the Lord am 26 holie, and I haue separated you from other peoples, that you should be mine. † Man, or woman, in whom is a pithonical 27 or diuining spirite, dying let them die, they shal stone them: their bloud be vpon them.

CHAP. XXI. At what funerals Priests may not be present. 7. VVhat wemen they may not marie, 9. a priests daughter committing fornication must be burned. 10. The high Priest shal not vncouer his head, nor rent his garment, nor be present at anie funeral, nor at al goe forth of the holie place. 13. when he marieth he must take a virgin. 16. None that hath a blemish in his bodie (though he be of Aarons stock) shal minister in the Sanctuarie, nor approch to the Altar.

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OVR Lord said also to Moyses: Speake to the priestes 1 the sonnes of Aaron, and thou shalt say to them: Let not a priest be contaminated in the deathes of his citizens, † but onlie in his kinne, and nigh of bloud, that is to say, 2 vpon his father and mother, and sonne, and daughter, brother also, † and sister being a virgin which hath not bene maried 3 to a husband: † but neither in By the prīce 5. Paul▪ vnderstood the high Priest. Act. 23. the prince of his people 4 shal he be contaminated. † Neither shal they shaue their 5 head, nor beard, nor make incisions in their flesh. † They 6 shal be holie to their God, and shal not pollute his name: for the burnt sacrifice of the Lord, and breades of their God doe they offer, and therfore they shal be holie. † A 7 whore and a vile strumpette he shal not take to wife, nor her, that is put away from her husband: because they are cō secrated to their God, † and offer the breades of proposition. 8 Be they holie therfore, because I also am holie, the Lord, that sanctifie them. † The daughter of a priest if she 9 be taken in whordome, & dishonour the name of hir father, shal be burnt with fire. † The grand bishoppe, that is to say 10 the priest that is greatest among his brethren, vpon whose head hath bene poured the oyle of vnction, and whose handes were consecrated in priesthood, and who was reuested with the holie vestimentes, shal not vncouer his head, he shal Caiphas rēt his garments ( Mat. 26.) cō trarie to this law, malice making him neglect his owne dignitie not rent his garments: † and to no dead person shal 11 he enter in at al. vpon his father also, and mother shal he not be contaninated. † Neither shal he goe forth out of the 12 holie places, lest he pollute the Sāctuarie of the Lord, because the oyle of the holie vnction of his God is vpon him. I the Lord. † He shal take a virgin vnto his wife: † but a widow 13 14 and her that is put away, and a filth, and a whore he shal not take, but a maide of his owne people: † that he mingle not 15 the stocke of his kinred with the common people of his nation: because I am the Lord that sanctifie him. † And 16 our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to Aaron: The 17 man of thy seede throughout their families, that hath If such deformities and defectes made men irregular, and vnmete to exercise priest lie function in the old testament, how a blemish, shal not offer breades to his God, † neither shal he 18 approch to his ministerie: If he be blinde, if lame, if he haue a litle, or a great, or a crooked nose, † if his foote be 19 broken, if his hand, † if he be crooke backed, or blere eyed, 20 or haue a pearle in his eye, or a continual scabbe, or drie scurffe in his bodie, or be burnt. † Euerie one that hath a 21 [Page 305] blemish of the seede of Aaron the priest, shal not approch to offer the hostes to the Lord, nor the breades to his God. † He shal eate notwithstanding of the breades, that are 22 offered in the Sanctuarie, † yet so that he enter not within 23 the v [...]ilen, or approch to the altar, because he hath a blemish, and he must not contaninate my Sanctuarie. I the Lord that sanctifie them. † Moyses therfore spake to Aaron, and to 24 his sonnes and to al Israel, al thinges that had bene commanded him.

CHAP. XXII. VVho may eate of sanctified things. 17. And what things may be offered.

OVR Lord also spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to 1 2 Aaron and to his sonnes, that they beware of those that are the consecrated thinges of the children of Israel, and contaninate not the name of the thinges sanctified to me, which they offer. I the Lord. † Say to them, and to their 3 posteritie: Euerie man of your stocke, that approcheth to those thinges that are consecrated, and which the children of Israel haue offered to the Lord, in whom there is vncleanesse, shal perish before the Lord. I am the Lord. † The 4 man of the [...]eede of Aaron, that is a leper, or hath a fluxe of seede, By these accidental vncleannes, was prefigured the censure of susspension in clergie men. shal not eate of those thinges that are sanctified to me vntil he be healed. He that toucheth a thing vncleane by occasion of that is dead, and he from whom issueth seede as it were of copulation, † and he that toucheth a creeping 5 beast, and whatsoeuer vncleane thing, the touching wherof is filthie, † shal be vncleane vntil euen, and shal not eate 6 those thinges that are sanctified: but when he hath washed his flesh with water, † and the sunne is downe, then being 7 cleansed he shal eate of the sanctified thinges, because it is his meate. † Carrien and that which was taken of a beast, 8 they shal not eate, nor be polluted in them. I am the Lord. † Let them keepe my preceptes, that they be not subiect to 9 sinne, and die in the Sanctuarie, when they shal haue polluted it. I the Lord that sanctifie them. † No stranger shal eate 10 of the sanctified thinges, the priestes guest, and hireling shal not eate of them. † But whom the priest hath bought, 11 and he that is his seruant borne in his house, these shal eate of them. † If the daughter of a priest be maried to anie of 12 the people: of those thinges that are sanctified, and of the [Page 306] first fruites she shal not eate. † But if she be a widow, or put 13 away, and without children returne to her fathers house: as she was wont being a maide, she shal be fedde with her fathers meates. No stranger hath power to eate of them. † He 14 that eateth of the sanctified thinges by ignorance, shal adde the fifth part with that which he did eate, and shal geue it to the priest into the Sanctuarie. † Neither shal they contaminate 15 the sanctified thinges of the children of Israel, which they offer to the Lord: † lest perhappes they sustaine the iniquitie 16 of their offence, when they shal haue eaten the sanctified thinges. I the Lord that sanctifie them. † And our Lord 17 spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to Aaron, and to his 18 sonnes, and to al the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The man of the house of Israel, and of the strangers which dwel with you, that offereth his oblation, either paying his vowes, or offering of his owne accord, whatsoeuer that be which he presenteth for an holocaust of the Lord, † to be offered by you, it shal be a male without spotte of 19 beefes, and muttons, & of goates. † If it haue a blemish, you 20 shal not offer it, neither shal it be acceptable. † The man 21 that offereth a victime of pacifiques to the Lord, either paying his vowes, or offering of his owne accorde, aswel of beefes as of muttons, shal offer it without blemish that it may be acceptable: there shal be no blemish in it. † If it be blind, 22 if it be broken, if it haue a scarre, if blisters, or a scabbe, or a drie scurfe: you shal not offer them to the Lord, nor burne of them vpon the Lordes altar. † An oxe and a sheepe, hauing 23 the eare and the taile cut of, thou maiest offer voluntarily but a vow can not be paied of them. † No beast that hath the 24 stones bruised, or crushed, or cut and taken away, shal you offer to the Lord, and in your land make not this at al. † Of 25 the hand of a stranger you shal not offer breades to your God, and what other thing soeuer he would geue: because they are al corrupted, and blemished: you shal not receiue them. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † An oxe, 26 a sheepe, and a goate, when they are brought forth, shal be 27 seuen daies vnder the vdder of their damme: but the eighr day, and so forward they may be offered to the Lord. † Whether 28 it be a beefe, or a sheepe, they shal not be immolated in one day with their young ones. † If you immolate an hoste 29 for thankes giuing to the Lord, that he may be placable, † the 30 [Page 307] same day you shal eate it, there shal not ought remaine vntil the morning of the next day. I the Lord. † Keepe my commandementes, 31 and doe them. I the Lord. † Pollute not my 32 holie name, that I may be sanctified in the middes of the children of Israel. I the Lord that sanctifie you, † and brought 33 you out of the Land of Aegypt, that I might be your God. I the Lord.

CHAP. XXIII. The solemnities of the Sabbath, 5. of Pasch and first fruites. 15. of Pentecost, The fourth part. Of feastes, times of rest, & Iubilie. with priuilegies, rewardes & punishments. 23. of Trumpettes, 26. of Expiations, 33. of Tabernacles; and with what rites the same shal be celebrated.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to the 1 2 children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: These are “the festiuities of our Lord, which you shal cal holie. † Six daies ye shal doe worke: There were eight seueral, feastes commāded by this law (besides the dailie sacrifice) mentioned. Num. 28. & 29. of which onlie seuen are here expressed. the seuenth day, because it 3 is the rest of the sabbath, shal be called holie. No worke shal you doe in it: it is The Sabbath in memorie that God created al things in six daies & rested the seuenth. the Sabbath of the Lord in al your habitations. † These therfore are the holie festiuities of the 4 Lord, which you must celebrate in their times. † The first 5 moneth, the fourtenth day of the moneth at euen, is the Pasch in memorie of their deliuerie from Aegypt. Phase of the Lord: † and the fiftenth day of this moneth 6 is the solemnitie of the Azymes of the Lord. Seuen daies shal you eate azymes. † The first day shal be most solemne vnto 7 you, and holie: no seruile worke shal you doe in it: † but you 8 shal offer sacrifice in fire to the Lord seuen daies. but the seuenth 1. day shal be more solemne, and more holie: and you shal doe no seruile worke in it. † And our Lord spake to 9 Moyses, saying: † Speake to the children of Israel, and thou 10 shalt say to them. When you shal be entred into the land, which I wil geue you, and shal reape your corne, you shal bring sheaues of eares, the first fruites of your haruest to 2. the priest: † who shal eleuate the bundle before the Lord, 11 the next day after the Sabbath, that it may be acceptable for you, and shal sanctifie it. † And in the self same day that the 12 sheafe is consecrated, shal be killed a lambe without spotte of a yeare old for an holocaust of the Lord. † And the libaments 13 shal be offered with it, two tenthes of floure tempered with oile, for a burnt sacrifice of the Lord, and a most sweete odour: libaments also of wine, the fourth part of an hin. † Bread, and fried barlie, and frumentie, you shal not 14 [Page 308] eate of the corne, vntil the day that you offer therof to your God. It is a precept for euer in your generations, and al your habitations. † You shal number therfore from the morow 15 after the Sabbath, wherin you did offer the sheafe of the first fruites, seuen ful weekes, † vnto the morow after the 16 3. seuenth weeke be expired, that is to say Pentecost in remembrance of receiuing the law. fiftie daies, and so you shal offer a new sacrifice to the Lord. † out of al your 17 habitations, two loaues of first fruites, of two tenthes of floure See chap. 7. v. 14. leauened, the which you shal bake for the first fruites of the Lord. † And you shal offer with the breades seuen 18 lambes without spotte of a yeare old, and one calfe from the heard, and two rammes, and they shal be for an holocaust with their libamentes, for a most sweete odour to the Lord. † You shal make a bucke goate also for sinne, and two lambes 19 of a yeare old for hostes of pacifiques. † And when the 20 priest hath eleuated them with the breades of the first fruites before the Lord, they shal turne to his vse. † And you shal 21 cal this day most solemne, and most holie: no seruile worke shal you doe in it. It shal be an euerlasting ordinance in al your habitations, and generations. † And after you reape 22 the corne of your land, you shal not cut it to the verie ground: neither shal you gather the eares that remaine, but you shal let them alone for the poore and for strangers. I am the Lord your God. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, 23 saying: † Speake to the children of Israel: The seuenth 24 moneth, on Feast of trumpets, in memorie that a rāme sticking by the hornes was offered by Abraham in stead of Isaac. the first day of the moneth, shal be a Sabbath, 4. a memorial, by sounding of trumpettes, and shal be called holie: † no seruile worke shal you doe in it, and you shal 25 offer holocaust to the Lord. † And our Lord spake to 26 Moyses, saying: † vpon the tenth day of this seuenth 27 moneth shal be the day of Feast of Expiation i [...] memorie of the [...]nne in worshipping the calfe, and for al sinnes forgotten, or vnknowne. expiations most solemne, and it shal be called holie: and you shal afflict your soules in it, and shal offer holocaust to the Lord. † No seruile worke shal 28 5. you doe the time of this day: because it is a day of propitiation, that the Lord your God may become propitious vnto you. † Euerie soule, that is not afflicted this day, shal perish 29 out of his people: † and which shal doe anie worke, the 30 same wil I destroy out of his people. † No worke therfore 31 shal you doe in it: it shal be an euerlasting odinance vnto you in al your generations, and habitations. † It is a Sabbath of 32 resting, and you shal afflict your soules the ninth day of the [Page 309] moneth: from euen vntil euen you shal celebrate your sabbathes. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, saing: † Speake 33 34 to the children of Israel: From the fiftenth day of this seuenth moneth, shal be the festiuitie of Feast of Tabernacles, to remēber Gods protection in the wildernes, where they dwelled in tabernacles 40▪ yeares. tabernacles seuen 6. daies to the Lord. † The first day shal be called most solemne 35 and most holie: no seruile worke shal you doe in it. And seuen daies you shal offer holocaustes to the Lord. † The eight 36 day also shal be most solemne and most holie, and you shal offer holocaustes to the Lord: for it is of Feast of Assemblie and collection in memorie of peace geuen in the land of promise. assemblie and collection: no seruile worke shal you doe in it. † These are 37 the festiuities of the Lord, which you shal cal most solemne and most holie, and shal offer in them oblations to the Lord, 7. holocausts and libaments according to the rite of euerie day: † beside the sabbathes of the Lord, and your giftes▪ and those 38 that you shal offer by vow, or which you shal giue to the Lord voluntarily. † Therfore from the fiftenth day of the 39 seuenth moneth, when you shal haue gathered al the fruites of your land, you shal celebrate the festiuitie of the Lord seuen daies, on the first day and the eight shal be a sabbath, that is rest. † And you shal take to you the first day the fruites 40 of a most fa [...]e tree, and the branches of palmes, and boughes of the tree with th [...]k [...] leaues, and willowes of the brooke, and you shal reioice before the Lord your God. † And 41 you shal celebrate the solemnitie therof seuen daies in the yea [...]. It shal be an These feasts were euerlastīg to the Iewes in their generations, that is, neuer to be altered by them, nor during their state. S. Aug. q. 43▪ in Exod. euerlasting ordinance in your generations. The seuenth mo [...]h shal you celebrate the festiuitie, † and shal dwel in bowres seuen daies. euerie one, that is of 42 the stocke of Israel▪ shal abide in tabernacles: † that your 43 postoririe may learne that I made the children of Israel, to dwel in tabernacles, when I brought them out of the Land of Aegypt. I the Lord your God. † And Moyses spake cōcerning 44 the solemnities of our Lord to the children of Israel.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXIII.

2. The festiuities] As other lawes written by Moyses concerning Sacrifices, Sacraments, Degrees hindering mariage, punishments of sinnes, and the Festiual daies perteine to the seruice of God. like, are partly moral, pertaining to the law of nature, partly ceremonial, or iudicial, which may be altered: so this law of festiuities is partly moral, for that al men are bound to kepe some festiual dayes in honour of God, partly ceremonial, and so the Sabbath day was kept holie in the old Testament, the seuenth day of the weke, and other feastes, the dayes here prescribed. But these particular feastes and times▪ are abrogated by Christ▪ whom [Page 310] they prefigured. In so much that now it is not lawful to kepe them, for it would signifie that Christ were not come, as S. Paul teacheth ( Rom. 14. Galat. 4. Colloss. 2. and in other places) and it were plaine Iudaisme, and Heresie It is heresie to kepe the Sabbath holie day. condemned by the Councel of Laodicia cap. 29. accursing them that Iudaize abstayning that day from vvorkes. S. Gregorie also resuteth this heresie, li. 11. Epist. 3 shewing that Antichrist wil embrace it fauouring the Iewes: In place wherof the next day (which we cal sunday) is made a perpetual holie day, by authoritie of the Church, and called dies Dominica our Lords day (Apoc. 1.) In place therof we kepe Sunday. And this change the Protestants confesse to be lawful and necessarie, though we haue no other expresse scripture, when, or by whom it was donne, but only that S. Iohn had his reuelation in our Lords day, but by perpetual tradition al Christians know, that the day after the sabbath is our wekelie holie day, in memorie of Christs Resurrection the same day, and in figure of the general resurrection of al men, and of life euerlasting to the blessed. S. Aug. li. 22. c. 30. ciuit. & Epist. 119. c. 15. and S. Hierome Epist. ad Hedib. The same reason and authoritie do also warrant the change of other feastes, and institution of new, in honour of God, our Sauiour Iesus Christ, his Mother, and Other feastes also changed, and new instituted by the same authoritie. other Sainctes, and in memorie of benefites receiued, as here we see in the old Testament diuers were commanded by God, some also instituted long after Moyses, as by Mardocheus and other Iewes, Ester. 9. and the restauration with new dedication of the altar 1. Machab. 4. obserued by our sauiour Ioan. 10. v. 22.

CHAP. XXIIII. Prouision of oile for lampes in the Tabernacle. 5. The making, and disposing the loaues of proposition, 10. The punishment of blasphemie, and man slaughter. 18. And the paine of equal reuenge.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Command 1 2 the children of Israel, that they bring vnto thee: oyle of oliues most pure, and cleare, to furnish the lampes continually, † without the veile of the testimonie in the tabernacle 3 of couenant. And Aaron shal sette them from euen vntil morning before the Lord, by a perpetual seruice and rite in your generations. † Vpon the candlesticke most 4 cleane shal they be putte alwaies in the sight of the Lord. † Thou shalt take also floure, and shalt bake therof twelue 5 breades, which shal haue euerie one Two tenthes of an ephi, that is, two gomors A gomor of Manna, which is the tenth part of an ephi, sufficied one man for a day. Exod. 16. v. 16. & 36. so that one of these loaues was as much as al the meate which two do ordinarily eate in one day. two tenthes: † which 6 thou shalt sette six one against an other vpon the most cleane table before the Lord, † and thou shalt put vpon them the 7 clearest franckincense, that the bread may be for a moniment of the oblation of the Lord. † Euerie sabbath they 8 shal be changed before the Lord, receiued of the children of Israel by an euerlasting couenant: † and they shal be 9 Aarons and his sonnes, that they may eate them in a holie place: because it is most Holie of the sacrifices of the Lord [Page 311] by a perpetual righr. † And behold there went forth the 10 Ionne of a woman of Israel, whom she had borne of an Aegyptian among the children of Israel, and fel at wordes in the campe with a man of Israel. † And when he had blasphemed 11 the name, and had cursed it, he was brought to Moyses: (And his mother was called Salumith, the daughter of Dabri of the tribe of Dan.) † And they did cast him into 12 prison, til they might know what our Lord would command. † Who spake to Moyses, † saying: Bring forth the blasphemer 13 14 without the campe, and let al that heard him, put their handes vpon his head, and let al the people stone him. † And to the children of Israel thou shalt speake: The man 15 that curseth his God, shal beare his sinne: † and he that 16 blasphemeth the name of the Lord, dying let him dye: al the multitude of the people shal stone him, whether he be a natural, or stranger. He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, dying let him dye. † He that striketh, and killeth a 17 man, dying let him dye. † He that striketh a beast, shal 18 render one for it, that is to say, soule for soule, † He that 19 giueth anie of his neighbours a blemish This Law de signing equalitie, was to put a limite, not to enforce to reuenge, for the partie damaged, if he would, might remitte al or part. S. Aug. li. 19. c. 25. cont. Faustum. as he did, so shal it be done to him: † fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth 20 for tooth he shal restore. What blemish he gaue, the like shal he be compelled to sustaine. † He that striketh a beast, 21 shal render an other. He that striketh a man, shal be punished. † Let there be equal iudgement among you, whether a 22 stranger, or a natural sinne: because I am the Lord, your God. † And Moyses spake to the children of Israel: and 23 they brought him forth that had blasphemed, without the campe, and they stoned him. And the children of Israel did as our Lord had commanded Moyses.

CHAP. XXV. The law of the seuenth yeare, 8. and fiftith yeare, which is the Iubilie. 13. when al enheritance sold returneth to the former owner. (24. as also it may in the meane time be redeemed) 35. Vsurie prohibited, 39. and seruitude among the Israelites, only they may be hyred til the Iubilie yeare. 47. and may be redeemed from seruitude of strangers: 54. at least they shal be free in the yeare of Iubilie.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses in the mount Sinai, 1 saying: † Speake to the children of Israel, and thou 2 shalt say to them: When you shal be entred to the land which [Page 312] I wil geue you, thou shalt sabbatize the sabbath to the Lord. † Six yeares thou shalt sowe thy field, and six yeares 3 thou shalt cut thy vineyard, and shalt gather the fruites therof: † but in the seuenth yeare a sabbath shal be to the earth, 4 of the resting of the Lord: the field thou shalt not sowe, and the vineyard thou shalt not cut. † The thinges that 5 the ground shal bring forth of it self, thou shalt not reape: and the grapes of thy first fruites thou shalt not gather as a vintage: for it is a yeare of the resting of the earth: † but 6 they shal be vnto you for meate, to thee and thy manseruant, to thy woman seruant and hyreling, and to the stranger that seiourneth with thee: † to thy beastes and cattel al thinges 7 that grow shal giue meate. † Thou shalt number 8 thee also seuen weekes of yeares, that is to say, seuen times seuen, which together make fourtie nine, yeares: † and thou Of sounding with trūpets, which is pleasant & ioyful, cometh the name of Iubilie: the effect of it is remission of al bondes, restauration of former libertie, and recouerie of enheritāce. In the old Testament of tēporal things in the new of spiritual, praefigured therby: as remissiō of sinne; deliuerie frō bondage therof; recouerie of grace; and preparation to eternal glorie. shalt sound with the trumpet the seuenth 9 moneth, the tenth day of the moneth, in the time of propitiation in al your land. † Thou shalt sanctifie the fifteth 10 yeare, and shalt proclaime remission to al the inhabitantes of thy land: for it is the yeare of Iubilie. Euerie man shal returne to his possession, and euerie one shal goe backe to his old familie: † because it is the Iubilie and the fifteth 11 yeare. You shal not sowe nor teape the thinges that growe in the field of their owne accord, and the first fruites of vintage you shal not gather, † because of the sanctification of the 12 Iubilie, but forth with as they grow you shal eate them. † In 13 the yeare of Iubilie al shal returne to their possessions. † When thou shalt sel anie thing to thy neighbour, or shalt 14 buy of him, presse not thy brother, but according to the number of the yeares of Iubilie thou shalt buy of him, † and according to the supputation of the fruites he shal 15 sel to thee. † The moe yeares remaine after the Iubilie, so 16 much more shal the price increase: and the lesse time that thou shal account, so much the lesse shal the purchase: be valued. for the time of the fruites he shal sel to thee. † Doe not afflict your contrimen, but let euerie one feare 17 his God, because I the Lord your God. † Do my preceptes, 18 and keepe my iudgementes, and fulfil them: that you may dwel in the land without anie feare, † and the ground may 19 yeld you her fruites, which you may eate vnto your fil, fearing no mans inuasion. † But if you say: What shal we 20 [Page 313] eate the seuenth yeare, if we sowe not, nor gather our fruites? † I wil geue you my benediction the sixt yeare, and it shal 21 yeld the fruites of three yeares: † and the eight yeare you 22 shal sowe, and shal eate of the old fruites, vntil the ninth yeare: til new be growne, you shal eate the old. † The land 23 also shal not be sould for euer: because it is mine, and you are my strangers and seiourners. † For the which cause al 24 the countrie of your possession shal be sould vnder the condition of redemption. † If thy brother impouerished sel 25 his litle possession, and his kinseman wil, he may redeme that which he had sould. † but if he haue no kinseman, and him 26 self can finde the price to redeme it: † the fruites shal be 27 accounted from that time when he sould it: and the residue he shal restore to the buier, and so he shal receiue his possession againe. † but if his hand finde not to repay the price, 28 the buier shal haue that he bought, vntil the yeare of Iubilee. For in it al sale shal returne to the owner, and to the old possessour. † He that selleth a house within the walles of a citie, 29 shal haue licence to redeme it, vntil one yeare be expired, † if he redeme it not, and the compasse of the yeare be fully 30 out, the buier shal possesse it, and his posteritie for euer, and it can not be redemed, no not in the Iubilee. † But if the 31 house be in a village, that hath not walles, it shal be sould according to the law of fieldes. if it be not redemed before, in the Iubilee it shal returne to the owner. † The houses of 32 Leuites, which are in cities, may alwaies be redemed: † if 33 they be not redemed, in the Iubilee they shal returne to the owners, because the houses of the cities of the Leuites are for possessions among the children of Israel. † But let not 34 their suburbes be sould, because it is a perpetual possession. † If thy brother be empouerished, and weake of hand, and 35 thou receiue him as a stranger and seiourner, and he liue with thee, † take not vsuries Iewes for their aduātage hold it lawful, to take vsurie of strangers, not obseruing that it is also commanded often in scripture, not to afflict, but to loue strangers. Exod. 22. 23. Leuit. 19 of him, nor more then thou gauest. 36 feare thy God, that thy brother may liue with thee. † Thou shalt not geue him thy money to vsurie, and an ouer 37 plus of the fruites thou shalt not exact of him. † I the Lord 38 your God, that brought you out of the Land of Aegygt, that I might geue you the Land of Chanaan, and might be your God. † If thy brother constrained by pouertie, sel him self 39 to thee, thou shalt not oppresse him with the seruitude of seruants, † but he shal be as an hireling, and a seiourner: 40 [Page 314] vntil the yeare of Iubilee he shal worke with thee, † and 41 afterward he shal goe out with his children, and shal returne to his kinred and to the possession of his fathers. † for they 42 are my seruantes, and I brought them out of the Land of Aegypt. let them not be sould by the condition of seruantes: † afflict him not by might, but feare thy God. † Let 43 44 your man seruant, and woman seruant, be of the nations that are round about you. † And of the strangers, that 45 seiourne with you, or that were borne of them in your land, these you shal haue for seruantes: † and by right of inheritance 46 shal leaue them to your posteritie, and shal possesse them for euer. but your brethren the children of Israel doe ye not oppresse by might. † If the hand of a stranger or 47 seiourner grow strong among you, and thy brother empouerished sel him self to him, or to any of his stocke: † after 48 the sale he may be redeemed. He that wil of his brethren shal redeme him, † both the vncle by father, and the 49 vncles sonne, and the kinsman, and the allied. But and if him self be able also, he shal redeme him selfe, † accounting onlie the yeares from the time of his selling 50 vnto the yeare of Iubilee: and accounting the money, that he was sould for, according to the number of the yeares and the reckning of an hyreling. † If they be more yeares 51 that remaine vntil the Iubilee, according to these also shal he repay the price. † if few, he shal make the reckning 52 with him according to the number of the yeares, and shal repay to the buyer for that which remaineth of the yeares, † his wages being allowed for the which he serued before: 53 he shal not afflict him violently in thy sight. † And if by 54 these meanes he can not be redemed, in the yeare of Iubilee he shal goe out with his children. † For the children of 55 Israel are my seruantes, whom I brought forth out of the Land of Aegypt.

CHAP. XXVI. VVith new prohibition of Idolatrie, and commandment to kepe the Sabbath 3. rewardes are promised to al that obserue Gods precepts. 14. And manie miserable punishments are threatned to al transgressors.

I THE Lord your God: you shal not make to your selues 1 an idol and Heretikes holding their corrupt course, wil nedes haue an image of Christ, or Sainct, to be the grauen thing, which is forbidden in holie Scriptures: & therfore falsly translate, Pesel a grauen image where indede it signifieth an image, picture or purtrature of an idol. that is, a grauen idol. So here as in other places, it is forbid to make an idol, or similitude of anie idol. thing grauen, neither shal you erect titles, nor set a notorious stone in your land, for to adore it. [Page 315] for I am the Lord your God. † Keepe my sabbathes, and 2 dread my Sanctuarie. I the Lord. † If you walke in my preceptes, 3 and keepe my commandementes, and doe them, I wil geue you raine in their seasons, † and the earth shal bring 4 forth her spring, and the trees shal be replenished with fruites. † The threshing of your haruest shal reach vnto vintage, and 5 the vintage shal reach vnto sowing time: and you shal eate your bread to your fil, and without feare shal you dwel in your land. † I wil geue peace in your coastes: you shal sleepe, 6 and there shal be none to make you afraid. I wil take away euil beastes: and the sword shal not passe through your quarters. † You shal pursue your enemies, and they shal fal before 7 you. † fiue of yours shal pursue an hundred strangers, 8 and an hundred of you tenne thousand: your enemies shal fal by the sword in your sight. † I wil respect you, and make 9 you encrease: you shal be multiplied, and I wil establish my couenant with you. † You shal eate the eldest of the old 10 store, and new coming vpon it you shal cast forth the old. † I wil sette my tabernacle in the middes of you, and my 11 soule shal not cast you of. † I wil walke among you, and wil 12 be your God, and you shal be my people. † I the Lord your 13 God: that haue brought you out of the Land of the Aegyptians, that you should not serue them, and that haue broken the chaines of your neckes, that you might goe vpright. † But if you wil not heare me, nor doe al my commandements, 14 † if you dispise my lawes, and contemne my iudgementes 15 that you do not those thinges which are appointed by me, and bring my couenant to nothing worth: † I also 16 wil do these thinges to you: I shal quickly visite you with pouertie, and burning heat, which shal waist your eies, and consume your liues. you shal sowe your seede in vaine, which shal be deuoured of the enemies. † I wil sette my face 17 against you, and you shal fal downe before your enemies, and shal be made subiect to them that hate you. you shal flee, when no man pursueth you. † But if you wil not 18 obey me so neither, I wil increase your chastisementes seuen fould for your sinnes, † and wil breake the pride 19 of your stubburnesse. and I wil make to you the heauen, from aboue as iron, and the earth as brasse. † Your labour 20 shal be spēt in vaine, the earth shal not bring forth her spring, nor the trees yeld their fruites. † If you walke contrarie 21 [Page 316] to me, and wil not heare me, I wil increase your plagues vntil seuen fould for your sinnes: † and I wil send in vpon you 22 the beastes of the field, which may consume you, and your cattaile, and may bring al thinges to a smal number, and that your waies may be made desert. † And if you wil 23 neither so receiue discipline, but walke rather contrarie to me: † I also wil goe opposite against you, and wil strike 24 you seuen times for your sinnes. † and I wil bring in vpon 25 you the sword a reuenger of my couenant. And when you shal flee into the cities, I wil send the pestilence in the middest of you, and you shal be deliuered in the handes of the enemies, † after I shal haue broken the staffe of your bread: 26 so that tenne wemen shal bake your breades in one ouen, and shal render them by weight: and you shal eate, and shal not be filled. † But if you wil neither by these meanes heare 27 me, but walke against me: † I also wil goe against you in 28 contrarie furie, and wil chastice you with seuen plagues for your sinnes, † so that you shal This extreme famine fel vpon some of them in Samaria. 4. Reg. 6. vpon others in Hierusalem 4. Reg. 25. most specially whē they were besiged by Titus. Iosephus li. 7. [...]. 6. dc b [...]llo lu [...]. eate the flesh of your 29 sonnes and of your daughters. † I wil destroy your excelses, 30 and breake your idols. You shal fal among the ruines of your idols and my soule shal abhorre you, † in so much that I wil 31 bring your cities into a wildernesse, and I wil make your Sanctuaries desert, neither wil I receiue any more the most sweete odour. † And I wil distroy your land, and your enemies 32 shal be astonied vpon it, when they shal be inhabitants therof. † And you I wil disperse into the Gentiles, and wil 33 draw out the sword after you, and your land shal be desert, and your cities destroied. † Then shal the land take pleasure 34 in her sabbathes al the daies of her desolation: when you shal be † in the enemies land, she shal sabbatize, and rest in the 35 sabbathes of her desolation, because she did not rest in your sabbathes when you dwelt in it. † And they that shal remaine 36 of you, I wil put feare in their hartes in the countries of their enemies, the sound of a flying leafe shal terrifie them, and they shal flie it as it were a sword: they shal fal, when no man pursueth, † and they shal euerie one fal vpon their 37 brethren, as flying from warres, none of you shal be so hardie as to resist your enemies. † You shal perish among the 38 Gentiles, and the enemies land shal consume you. † And if 39 of them also some remaine, they shal pine away in their iniquities, in the land of their enemies, and for the sinnes of [Page 317] their fathers, and their owne they shal be afflicted: † vntil 40 they confesse their owne and their auncetours iniquities, wherby they haue preuaricated against me, and walked contrarie vnto me. † I also therfore wil walke against them, and 41 bring them into their enemies land, vntil their vncircumcised mind be ashamed: then shal they pray for their impieties. † And I wil remember my couenant, that I made with 42 Iacob is first here named, because he had no other children but this people, for Isaac was also father of the [...]dun e [...]s, and Abrah [...] m [...]eoue [...] of the Ismaelites and Mad [...]tes, and because the great promises made to Abraham and Isarc pertained only to the Israel [...] tes▪ Theoderet. q. 36. in [...]euit. Iacob, and Isaac, and Abraham. Of the land also I wil be mindful: † which when it shal be left of them, shal take 43 pleasure in her sabbathes, being desolate for them. But they shal pray for their sinnes, for that they reiected my iudgementes, and dispised my lawes. † Howbeit euen when they 44 were in the land of their enemies, The church neuer wholly decayeth. I did not cast them of altogether, neither did I so dispise them, that they should be consumed, and I should make my couenant with them frustrate. For I am the Lord their God, † and I wil remember 45 mine old couenant, when I brought them out of the Land of Aegypt, in the sight of the Gentiles, for to be their God, I the Lord. These are the iudgementes, and precepts, and lawes, which our Lord gaue betwen him self and the children of Israel in Monnt Sinai by the hand of Moyses.

CHAP. XXVII. How some vowes of diuers persones may be redemed, but some may not be The fifth part. Of vowes and Tithes. changed. 28. Al, one way or other, must be discharged. 30. Tithes also must be payed, either the same that are due or more.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to 12 the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The man that shal haue made a vow, and Because [...]o other but the tribe of Leui could serue about the tabernacle, and yet others might desire to serue there, they might in steed therof geue a price [...] & haue the reward of their good wil. bound his soule to God, by estimation he shal geue the price. † If it be a man 3 from the twenteth yeare vntil three score, he shal geue fiftie sicles of siluer, after the measure of the Sanctuarie: † if a 4 woman, thirtie. † But from the fift yeare vntil the twenteth, 5 a man shal geue twentie sicles: a woman tenne. † From one 6 moneth vntil the fift yeare, for a man shal be geuen fiue sicles: for a woman three. † One that is three score and aboue a 7 man shal geue fiftene sicles: a woman tenne. † if he be 8 poore, and not able to pay the estimation he shal stand before the priest: and as much as he shal esteme, and see him able to pay, so much shal he geue. † But the beast, that may be immolated 9 to the Lord, if a man doe vow it, shal be holie, † and 10 [Page 318] can not be changed, that is to say, The thing that is vowed, if it may be performed, pleaseth God better, then a change. neither a better for a bad, nor a worse for a good. and if he change it: both it self that was changed, and that for the which it was changed, shal be consecrated to the Lord. † The vncleane beast, 11 which can not be immolated to the Lord, if anie man vow it shal be brought before the priest. † Who iudgeing whether 12 it be good or euel, shal set the price. † which if he that offereth 13 wil geue, he shal adde aboue the estimation the fift part. † If a man vow his house, and sanctifie it to the Lord, 14 the priest shal consider it, whether it be good or bad, and according to the price, which he shal appoint, it shal be sold. † But if he that had vowed, wil redeme it, he shal geue the 15 fift part of the estimation besides, and shal haue the house. † And if he vow the field of his possession, and consecrate it 16 to the Lord, the price shal be estemed according to the measure of the seede. If the ground be sowed with thirtie bushels of barly, let it be solde for fiftie sicles of siluer. † If he vow 17 his field immediatly from the yeare of Iubilee, that is beginning, how much it can be worth, at so much it shal be estemed: † but if sometime after: the priest shal account the 18 money according to the number of yeares, that remaine vntil the Iubilee, and there shal be diminished of the price. † And 19 if he that had vowed, wil redeme his field, he shal adde the fift part of the estemed money, and shal possesse it. † And 20 if he wil not redeme it, but it be sould to any other man, he that had vowed it, can redeme it no more: † for when the 21 day of Iubilee commeth, it shal be sanctified to the Lord, and the possession consecrated pertaineth to the right of the priestes. † If the field be bought, and being not of his auncetors 22 possession be sanctified to the Lord, † the priest shal 23 account the price according to the number of yeares, vnto the iubilee: and he that had vowed, shal geue that to the Lord. † but in the Iubilee, it shal returne to the former 24 owner, that sould it, and had it in the lotte of his possession. † Al estimation shal be weighed by the A sicle was about 15. ^d obolus three farthinges. sicle of the sanctuarie. 25 A sicle hath twentie oboles. † The “ first borne, 26 which pertaine to the Lord, no man may sanctifie and vow: whether it be oxe, or sheepe, they are the Lordes. † And if 27 it be an vncleane beast, he that offereth it shal redeme it, according to thy estimatimation, and shal adde the fift part of the price. If he wil not redeme it, it shal be sould to an other [Page 319] for how much soeuer it was estemed by thee. † Anie thing 28 that is A vow made approued and consecrated to God, can not be changed by anie man, The [...] [...]t. q. vlt. [...]n Leuit. consecrated to the Lord, whether it be man, or beast, or field, shal not be sould, neither can it be redemed. Whatsoeuer is once consecrated, shal be holie of holies to the Lord. † And any consecration, that is offered of a man, 29 shal not be redemed, but dying shal die. † Al tithes of the 30 land, whether of corne, or of the fruites of trees, are the Lordes, and are sanctified to him. † And if anie man wil 31 redeme his tithes, he shal adde the fift part of them. † Of 32 al the tithes of oxen, and sheepe and goates, that passe vnder the sheepheardes rodde, euerie tenth that commeth shal be sanctified to the Lord. † It shal not be chosen 33 neither good nor bad, neither shal it be changed for an other. If anie man change it: both that which was changed, and that for the which it was changed, shal be sanctified to the Lord, and shal not be redeemed. † These are the precepts, 34 which our Lord commanded Moyses vnto the children of Israel in the mount Sinai.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXVII.

26. The sirst borne.] God here forbiddeth to vow the sirst borne, and geueth Vowes are properly of things not commanded. the reason, for that they are the Lordes, shewing that those things, wherto we are already bound, are not properly matter of vow. But a vowe properly is a religious promise voluntarily made to God, of a good thing, vnto which we were not bound. And that the same is verie gratful to God, appeareth not only in Rmm. 6. 30. Deut. 23. Psal. 21. 49. 75. 115. 131. this chapter, and in manie other places of Moyses law, but also in the law of And are gratful to God. nature Gen. 28. Iacob vowed, and God accepted therof. Gen. 31. v. 13. And the royal Prophet in diuers Psalmes pertaining to the new Testament commendeth vowes. It is certaine also & manifest. 1. Tim. 5. that widowes did lawfully Also in the new Testament. vowe chastitie in the primitiue Church: and such as did afterward breake the same, did violate their promise to God. Innumerable also most lerned and most godlie fathers, haue euer from Christs time both taught and practised religious vowes, of obedience to superiors, who otherwise had no authoritie ouer them, and of perpetual chastitie, and voluntarie pouertie. It is likewise, and continually hath benne, a most common practise in the Church, to vow other good workes of pietie, as to visite holie places, to build Churches, Collegies, Hospitals, and the like, being no way bound therto but of mere deuotion. See Annotations. 1. Tim. 5.

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THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF NVMERI.

IN this booke called Numeri, are contained (saieth S. Hierom) the Epist. ad Paulin. Mysteries of al Arithmetike, or numberiug, of the Prophecie of Mysteries cō tained in these histories. Balaam, and of the fourtie two Mansions of the Israelites, in the desert. VVhich mystical sense the same great Doctor, as also S. Augustin and qq. in Num. Exod. 40 Leuit. 1. Num. 1. other Fathers do gather of the literal, written by Moyses. VVho here prosecuteth the sacred historie after Genesis and Exodus (Leuiticus also containing one moneth) from the second moneth of the second yeare, after the deliuerie of The contents according to the letter. the Israelites out of Aegypt, nere 39. yeares, to the last of Moyses life. First therfore Chap. 1. 26. he reportet [...] how al the men of twelue tribes, of the age of twentie yeares and vpward, were numbered. Likewise the tribe of Leui was numbered and [...]. 4. 18. 2. 1 [...]. imployed parth in priestlie function, the rest to assist the priests. He describeth also the oraer of marching and encamping, the Leuites alwayes next and round about the Tabernacle: the other twelue tribes in circuite of them on al sides. He moreouer recordeth certaine notable murmurings, tumults, schismes, and 11. 12. 13. 14. rebellions with the euents therof, and miserable endes of chief seducers. VVhose great iniuries Moyses mekely sustained with singular patience, stil executing 16. 20. 5. 6. 15. his owne function with heroical fortitude. Among which, diuers precepts and lawes are partly repeated partly added, as wel concerning Religion and 17. 19. 27. 28. 29. 30. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 31. 32. 33. Gods seruice, as godlie policie and ciuil gouernment of the people, with chastisment of offenders. How also their enemies endeuoured to annoy them, Bala [...] king of Moab procuring Balaam the sorcerer, so much as in him lay, to curse them, but al in vaine Yet by carnal fornication manie were drawen to spiritual. VVicked life draweth to Idolatrie. Both which being punished God againe prospered his people, in diuers encounters and battailes against Infidels. Finally the promised Land of Chanaan on both sides lordaine is described by limites, which they shal parte amongst 34. 35. them by lo [...]t, the Leuites mingled in euerie tribe, with their appointed cities and commodities for habitation, and the tithes, first fruites, oblations 18. 35. and abundant prouision for their maintenance. Cities also of refuge are designed for casual manslayers: and a law established that al shal marie 36. within their owne tribes, to avoide confusion of inheritances. So this booke Three partes [...] this booke. may be diuided into three partes. In the first the principal and most perfect sort of the people are numbered, and disposed in order according to diuers states and offices, before they depart from the desert of Sinai▪ in the nine first chapters. Then are related sundrie thinges, which happened vnto them in the rest of their iourney, especially manie and great impediments, through al which God punishing some, brought the residue to enioy the promised land▪ from the 10. chap. to the end of the 33. Lastly the countrie of Chanaan is againe promised, with order so to poss [...]sse and enioy it, that euerie tribe may haue and keepe their seueral partes, in the three last chapters.

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THE BOOKE NVMERI (OR NVMBERS) IN HEBREW VAIED ABBER.

CHAP. I. Al the men of twelue tribes of Israel, of the age of twentie yeares and vpwardes The first part. Of those which are [...] bred of the 12. Tribes sitte for warre, & of the Leuites designed to serue the Tabernacle. (but not vnder, nor wemen,) are numbred: 20. and are sound in al six hundred thirtie thousand fiue hundred fiftie. 47. The Leuites not yet numbred, are designed to serue about the Tabernacle.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses in the 1 desert of Sinai in the tabernacle of couenant, the first day of the second moneth, the second yeare of their going out of Aegypt, saying: † Take the 2 summe of the whole assemblie of the children of Israel by their kinredes, & houses, and the names of euerie one, whatsoeuer of the male sexe, † from the twentith yeare and 3 vpward, of al the strong men of Israel, and you shal number them by their troupes, thou and Aaron. † And there shal be 4 with you the princes of the tribes, and of the houses in their kinredes, † whose names are these: Of Ruben, 5 Elizur the sonne of Sedeur. † Of Simeon, Salamiel the 6 sonne of Surisaddai. † Of Iuda, Nahasson, the sonne of 7 Aminadab. † Of Issachar, Nathanael the sonne of Suar. 8 † Of Zabulon Eliab the sonne of Helon. † And of the 9 10 sonnes of Ioseph, of Ephraim, Elisama the sonne of Ammiud. of Manasses, Gamaliel, the sonne of Phadassur. † of Beniamin, 11 Abidan the sonne of Gedeon. † of Dan, Ahiezer 12 the sonne of Ammisaddai. † of Aser, Phegiel the sonne 13 of Ochran. † Of Gad, Eliazaph the sonne of Duel. † Of 14 15 Nephthali, Ahira the sonne of Enan. † These are the most 16 noble princes of the multitude by their tribes and kinredes, [Page 322] and the heades of the hoste of Israel: † whom Moyses and 17 Aaron tooke with al the multitude of the common people: † and assembled them the first day of the second moneth, 18 reckening them by the kinredes, and houses, and families, and heades, and names of euerie one from the twentith yeare and vpwarde, † as our Lord had comanded Moyses. 19 And they were numbered in the desert of Sinai. † Of Ruben 20 the first begotten of Israel, by their generations and families and houses, and names of euerie heade, al that is of the male sexe, from twentith yeare and vpwarde, of them that goe forth to warre, † fourtie six thousand fiue hundred. † Of 21 22 the sonnes of Simeon by the generations and families, and houses of their kinredes were reckened by the names and heades of euerie one, al that is of the male sexe, from twentith yeare and vpward, of them that goe forth to warre, † fiftie 23 nine thousand three hundred. † Of the sonnes of Gad, by 24 the generations and families and houses of their kinredes were reckned by the names of euerie one from twentie yeares and vpwarde, al that went forth to warre, † fourtie fiue 25 thousand six hundred fiftie. † Of the sonnes to Iuda by the 26 generations and families and houses of their kinredes, by the names of euerie one from the twentith yeare and vpward, al that could goe forth to warre, † were reckned 27 seuentie foure thousand six hundred. † Of the sonnes of 28 Issachar, by the generations and families and houses of their kinredes, by the names of euerie one from the twentith yeare and vpward, al that went forth to warre, † were reckened 29 fiftie foure thousand foure hūdred. † Of the sonnes of Zabulon, 30 by the generations and families and houses of their kinredes, were reckened by names of euerie one from the twentith yeare and vpward, al that could goe forth to warre, † fiftie 31 seuen thousand foure hundred. † Of the sonnes of Ioseph, 32 namely of the sonnes of Ephraim by the generations families and houses of their kinredes were reckened by the names of euerie one, from the twentith yeare and vpward, al that could goe forth to warre, † fourtie thousand fiue hundred. 33 † Moreouer of the sonnes of Manasses, by the generations 34 and families and houses of their kinredes, were reckened by the names of euerie one from twentie yeares and vpward, al that could goe forth to warre, † thirtie two thousand 35 two hundred. † Of the sonnes of Beniamin by the generations 36 [Page 323] and families and houses of their kinredes were reckened by names of euerie one from the twentith yeare and vpward, al that could goe forth to warre, † thirtie fiue 37 thousand foure hundred. † Of the sonnes of Dan, by the 38 generations and families, and houses of their kinredes, were reckened by the names of euerie one from twentie yeares and vpward, al that could goe forth to warre, † sixtie two 39 thousand seuen hundred. † Of the sonnes of Aser, by the 40 generations and families and houses of their kinredes, were reckened by the names of euerie one from the twentith yeare and vpward, al that could goe forth to warre, † fourtie 41 thousand and a thousand fiue hundred. † Of the sonnes of 42 Nephthali, by the generations, and families, and houses of their kinredes were reckened by the names of euerie one from the twentith yeare and vpward, al that could goe forth to warre, † fiftie three thousand foure hundred. † These 43 44 are they, whom Moyses and Aaron numbered, and the twelue princes of Israel, euerie one by the houses of their kinredes. † And the whole number of the children of Israel by their 45 houses and families, from the twentith yeare and vpward, that could goe to warre. † Were Coming into Aegypt they were but 70. Exo. 1. increased in 216. yeares vnto 603550. not counting the tribe of Leui, nor wemen, nor anie vnder 20. yeares, nor old men vnable to goe to warre. six hundred three thousand 46 men fiue hundred fiftie. † But the Leuites in the tribe 47 of their families were not numbered with them. † And our 48 Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Number not the tribe of 49 Leui, neither shalt thou put the summe of them with the children of Israel: † but appoint them ouer the tabernacle 50 of testimonie, and al the vessel therof, and whatsoeuer pertaineth to the ceremonies. They shal carie the tabernacle and al the furniture therof: and they shal be in the ministerie, and shal pitch round about the tabernacle. † When you 51 are to goe forward, the Leuites shal take downe the tabernacle: when you are to campe, they shal set it vp. what Al other tribes were in respect of seruing about the tabernacle called strangers. 3. Aug. q. 3. in Num. stranger soeuer cometh to it, he shal be slaine. † And the 52 children of Israel shal campe euerie man by his troupes and bands and hoste. † Moreouer the Leuites shal pitch their 53 tents round about the tabernacle, lest there come indignation vpon the multitude of the children of Israel, and they shal watch in the custodies of the tabernacle of testimonie. † The children of Israel therfore did according to al thinges 54 which our Lord had commanded Moyses.

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CHAP. II. At the east side of the Tabernacle the tribe of Iuda as chiefe, with Issachar and Zabulon do pitch their tents, and march first: 10. on the south Ruben, with Simeon and Gad (17. the Tabernacle is caried, and erected by the Leuites, who lodge and march round about it) 18. on the weast side, Ephraim with Manasses and Beniamin: 25. on the north, Dan with Aser and Nephthali.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses and Aaron saying: 1 † Euerie one of the children of Israel by the troupes, 2 ensignes, and standerts, and houses of their kinredes shal campe, round about the tabernacle of couenant. † On the 3 east Iudas shal pitche his tents by the troupes of his bande: and the prince of his sonnes shal be Nahasson the sonne of Aminadab. † And the whole summe of the warriers of his 4 stocke, seuentie foure thousand six hundred. † Beside him 5 camped they of the tribe of Issachar, whose prince was Nathanael the sonne of Suar. † and al the number of his 6 warriers fiftie foure thousand foure hundred. † In the tribe 7 of Zabulon the prince was Eliab the sonne of Helon. † and 8 al the hoste of warriers of his stocke, fiftie seuen thousand foure hundred. † Al that were numbered in the campe of 9 Iudas, were an hundred eightie six thousand foure hundred: and they by their troupes shal march first. † In the campe 10 of the sonnes of Ruben on the south side the prince shal be Elisur the sonne of Sedeur: † and the whole hoste of his 11 warriers, that were numbred, fourtie six thousand fiue hundred. † Beside him camped they of the tribe of Simeon: 12 whose prince was Salamiel the sonne of Surisaddai. † and 13 the whole hoste of his warriers, that were numbred, fiftie nine thousand three hundred. † In the tribe of Gad, the 14 prince was Eliasaph the sonne of Duel. † and the whole 15 hoste of his warriers, that were numbred, fourtie fiue thousand six hundred fiftie. † Al that were reckened in the 16 campe of Ruben, an hundred fiftie thousand and a thousand foure hundred fiftie by their troupes: they shal march in the second place. † But the tabernacle of testimonie 17 shal be lifted vp by the offices of the Leuites and their troupes. As it shal be sette vp, so shal it be taken downe. Euetie one shal march by their places, and orders. † On 18 the west side shal be the campe of the sonnes of Ephraim, whose prince was Elisama the sonne of Ammiud. † the 19 [Page 325] whole hoste of his warriers, that were numbered, fourtie thousand fiue hundred. † And with them the tribes of the 20 sonnes of Manasses, whose prince was Gamaliel the sonne of Phadassur. † and the whole hoste of his warriers, that 21 were numbered, thirtie two thousand two hundred. † In 22 the tribe of the sonnes of Beniamin the prince was Abidan the sonne of Gedeon. † and the whole host of his warriers, 23 that were reckened, thirtie fiue thousand foure hundred. † Al that were numbered in the campe of Ephraim, an hundred 24 eight thousand one hundred by their troupes: they shal march the third. † On the north part camped the 25 sonnes of Dan: whose prince was Ahiezar the sonne of Ammisaddai. † the whole hoste of his warriers, that were 26 numbered, sixtie two thousand seuen hundred. † Besides 27 him they of the tribe of Aser pitched their tents: whose prince was Phegiel the sonne of Ochran: † the whole 28 hoste of his warriers, that were numbered, fourtie thousand and a thousand fiue hundred. † Of the tribe of the sonnes 29 of Nephthali the prince was Ahira the sonne of Enan. † the 30 whole hoste of his warriers, fiftie three thousand foure hundred. † Al that were numbered in the campe of Dan, 31 were an hundred fiftie seuen thousand six hundred: and they shal march last. † This is the number of the children 32 of Israel, by the houses of their kinredes and troupes of the hoste being diuided, six hundred three thousand fiue hundred fiftie. † And the Leuites were not numbered among 33 the children of Israel: for so our Lord had commanded Moyses. † And the children of Israel did according to al 34 thinges, that our Lord had commanded. They camped by their troupes, and marched by their families and houses of their fathers.

CHAP. III. The Leuites are assumed to the seruice of the Tabernacle, 14. numbered by their seueral families, and their offices distinguished, 45. They are taken to God in place of the first borne of the children of Israel. The residue of the first borne, aboue the number of Leuites, are redemed with price.

THESE are the generations of Aaron and Moyses in the 1 day that our Lord spake to Moyses in Mount Sinai. † And these be the names of the sonnes of Aaron: his first 2 begotten Nadab, then Abiu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar. [Page 326] † These are the names of the sonnes of Aaron the priests that 3 were anointed, and whose handes were filled and cōsecrated, to doe the function of priesthood. † For Nadab and Abiu 4 died, when they offered the strange fire in the sight of our Lord, in the desert of Sinai, without children: and Eleazar and Ithamar did the function of priesthood in the presence of Aaron their father. † And our Lord spake to moyses, 5 saying: † Bring the tribe of Leui, and make them stand in 6 the sight of Aaron the priest to minister vnto him, and let them watch, † and obserue whatsoeuer pertaineth to the 7 seruice of the multitude before the tabernacle of testimonie, † and let them keepe the vessel of the tabernacle, seruing in 8 the ministerie therof. † And thou shalt geue the Leuites for 9 a gift, † to Aaron and to his sonnes, to whom they are deliuered 10 of the children of Israel. But Aaron and his sonnes thou shalt appoint ouer the seruice of priesthood. As none but Leuites might serue in the tabernacle: so none but of Aarons stock might do the office of Priest hood. The stranger, that approcheth to minister, shal die. † And our 11 Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † I haue taken the Leuites 12 from the children of Israel, for euerie first borne, that openeth the matrice among the children of Israel, and the Leuites shal be mine. † For the first borne is mine: since I stroke the 13 first borne in the Land of Aegypt: I haue sanctified to me whatsoeuer is first borne in Israel from man vnto beast, they are mine: I the Lord. † And our Lord spake to moyses in 14 the desert of Sinai, saying: † Number the sonnes of Leui by 15 the houses of their fathers and their families, euerie male from one moneth and vpward. † Moyses numbered, as our 16 Lord had commanded, † and there were found the sonnes of 17 Leui by their names, Gerson and Caath and Merari. † The 18 sonnes of Gerson: Lebni and Semei. † The sonnes of Caath: 19 Amram, and Iesaar, Hebron and Oziel. † The sonnes of 20 Merari: Moholi and Musi. † Of Gerson were two families, 21 the Lebnitical, and Semeitical: † of whom were numbered 22 the people of male sexe from one moneth and vpward, seuen thousand fiue hundred. † These shal pitch behind the taberna 23 cle on the West. † vnder their prince Heliasaph, the sonne of Lael. † And their charge shal be in the tabernacle of couenāt, 25 † the tabernacle it selfe and the couer therof, the hanging that 26 is drawne before the dores of the roofe of couenant, and the curtines of the court: the hanging also that is hanged in the entrie of the court of the tabernacle, and whatsoeuer pertaineth [Page 327] to the rite of the altar, the cordes of the tabernacle, and al the furniture therof. † The kinred of Caath shal 27 haue the peoples of the Amramites, and Iesaarites, and Hebronites, and Ozielites. These are the families of the Caithites reckened by their names: † al of the male sexe from one 28 moneth and vpward, eight thousand six hundred, they shal haue the gard of the Sanctuarie, † and shal campe on the 29 south side. † And their prince shal be Elizaphan the sonne of 30 Oziel: † and they shal keepe the arke, and table and the candlesticke, 31 the altars, and the vessel of the Sanctuarie, wherin the ministration is, and the veile, and al such kind of implementes. † And One chiefe Monarch in the Church to whom al other Superiors are subordinate. the prince of the princes of the Leuites, Eliazar, 32 the sonne of Aaron the priest, shal be ouer them that watch for the custodie of the Sanctuarie. † But of Merari 33 shal be the peoples of the Moholites, and Musites, reckened by their names: † al of the male kind from one moneth and 34 vpward, six thousand two hundred. † Their prince Suriel 35 the sonne of Abihaiel: they shal campe on the north side. † Vnder their custodie shal be the bordes of the tabernacle, 36 and the barres, and the pillers and their feete, and al thinges that pertaine to this kind of seruice: † and the pillers of the 37 Moyses is stil counted, and hath chiefe place and office among the Priestes, which were absurde, saieth S. Augustin ( in Psal 98.) if he were not a priest. court round about with their feete, and the pinnes with the cordes. † Before the tabernacle of couenant, that is to say, on 38 the east side, shal :: Moyses and Aaron campe, with The sonnes of Moyses were with him so long as he liued, but after his death they serued the Priests, as other Leuites did, and were numbred with the Caathites. 1. Paral. 23. v. 12. their sonnes, hauing the custodie of the Sanctuarie, in the middes of the children of Israel. what stranger soeuer cometh therto, shal die. † Al the Leuites, that Moyses and Aaron numbered 39 according to the precept of our Lord by their families in the male kinde from one moneth and vpward, were twentie two thousand. † And our Lord said to Moyses: Number the first 40 borne of the male sex of the children of Israel, from one moneth and vpward, and thou shalt haue the summe of them. † And thou shalt take the Leuites vnto me for al the first 41 borne of the children of Israel, I am the Lord: and their cattel for al the first borne of the cattel of the children of Israel. † Moyses reckened, as our Lord had commanded, the first 42 borne of the children of Israel. † and the males by their 43 names, from one moneth and vpward, were twentie two thousand two hundred seuentie three. † And our Lord spake 44 to Moyses, saying: † Take the Leuites for the first borne of 45 the children of Israel, and the cattel of the Leuites for their [Page 328] cattel, and the Leuites shal be mine. I am the Lord. † But for 46 the price of two hundred seuentie three, of the first borne of the children of Israel, :: that exceede the number of the Leuites, This number exceedeth the [...] the [...] the [...]. † thou shalt take fiue sicles for euerie head, after the measure 47 of the Sāctuarie. A sicle hath twentie oboles. † And thou 48 shalt giue the money to Aaron and to his sonnes the price of them that are aboue. † Moyses therfore tooke their money, 49 that were aboue, and whom he redemed of the Leuites, † for 50 the first-borne of the children of Israel, a thousand three hundred sixtie fiue sicles, according to the weight of the Sanctuarie, † and gaue it to Aaron and his sonnes, according to 51 the word that our Lord had commanded him.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. III.

39. Tvventie tvvo thousand.] Immediatly before were numbered of Gersonites [...]hy 300 are [...] in the [...] summe o [...] the Leuites. ( v. 22.) 7500. of Caathites ( v. 28.) 8600 and of Merarites ( v. 34.) 6200. which make in al 22300. VVhy then are 300. left out of the total summe? especially seing by and by ( v. 43.) a smaler, and other odde numbers of 273. are expressed, and therupon inferred ( v. 46.) that the first borne of the Israelites did so much exceede the Leuites. VVheras if the whole number of Leuites had bene also expressed in the general summe, as it is contained in the three particular summes, the Leuites should exceede the first borne of Israelites by the number of 27. For answere to this difficultie, some suppose that the first borne of the Leuites were iust 300. and therfore so manie supplying only their owne places, there remained iust twentie two thousand to supplie the places of the first borne of other Israelites, and so the Leuites were sewer then those for whom they were taken vnto Gods seruice, by the number of 273. But that the first borne of Leuites were neither more nor sewer then 300. is not euident by the text. Howsoeuer therfore this doubt Perfect numbers signifie perfection. be solued, sure it is, by S. Hieroms iudgement ( cited in the argument) that these numbers are mystical. And the iust number of 22. thousand Leuites may signifie ( [...] Or [...] [...]n, homil. 4. in Num.) perfection, required in those that are designed to the particular seruice of God; as there be also iust 22. Hebrew letters; and 22. Patriarches from Adam to Iacob, from whom the Israelites descended.

CHAP. IIII. Distinct offices are assigned to the families of Aaron, 15. of the other sonnes of Caath, 21. of Gerson, 29. and of Merari, 34. who are al numbred from the age of thirtie yeares to fiftie, and so imployed to their offices and burdens.

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AND our Lord spake to Moyses, and Aaron, saying: 1 † Take the summe of the sonnes of Caath out of the 2 middes of the Leuites, by their houses and families, † from 3 the thirtith yeare & vpward, vnto the fiftith yeare, of al that goe in to stand and to minister in the tabernacle of couenant. † This is the seruice of the sonnes of Caath: † when the 4 5 campe is to remoue, Aaron and his sonnes shal enter into the tabernacle of couenant, and In this case it was necessarie for the priests to enter in, where otherwise none entered but the high Priest, and that but once in the yeare. And al being foulded vp, others also entered to carie it away. v. 15. Sanctum sanctorum, and shal take downe the veile that hangeth before the dore, and shal wrappe in it the arke of testimonie, † and shal 6 couer it agayne with a couer of Ianthine skinnes, and shal spread ouer it a cloth al of hyacinth, and shal draw in the barres. † The tabel also of proposition they shal wrappe 7 in a cloth of hiacinth, and shal put with it the censers and litle morters, the goblettes and cuppes to powre the libaments: the breades shal be alwayes on it: † and they shal 8 spread ouer it a cloth of scarlet, which againe they shal couer with a veile of ianthine skinnes, and shal put in the barres. † They shal take also a cloth of hiacinth wherwith they shal 9 couer the candlestick with the lampes and tongs therof and snuffers and al the vessels of oyle, which are necessarie for the dressing of the lampes: † and ouer al they shal put a couer 10 of ianthine skinnes, and put in the barres. † Moreouer the 11 golden altar also they shal wrappe in a cloth of hyacinth, and shal spreade ouer it a couer of ianthine skinnes, and put in the barres. † Al the vessel wherwith the ministration is 12 done in the Sanctuarie, they shal wrappe in a cloth of hiacinth and shal spread ouer it a couer of ianthine skinnes, and put in barres. † But the altar also they shal make cleane 13 from the ashes, and shal wrappe it in a purple cloth, † and 14 shal put with it al the vessel, that they vse in the ministerie therof, that is to say, fire pannes, fleshhookes and forkes, pothookes and shouels. Al the vessel of the altar together they shal couer with a veile of ianthine skinnes, and shal put in the barres. † And when Aaron & his sonnes haue 15 wrapped vp the Sanctuarie and the vessel therof in the remouing of the campe, then shal the sonnes of Caath enter in to carie the thinges wrapped vp: and they shal not touch the vessel of the Sanctuarie, lest they die. These are the burdens of the sonnes of Caath in the tabernacle of couenant: † ouer whom shal be Eleazar the sonne of Aaron 16 [Page 330] the priest, to whose charge perteyneth the oyle to dresse the lampes, and the incense of composition, and the sacrifice, that is alwayes offered, and the oyle of vnction, and whatsoeuer perteyneth to the seruice of the tabernacle, and of al the vessel, that are in the Sanctuarie. † And our Lord spake 17 vnto Moyses and Aaron, saying: † See that by your negligence those that are next vnto you incurre not offence, for so none shal be excused. Destroy not the people 18 of Caath out of the middes of the Leuites: † but doe this to 19 them, that they may liue, and not die, if they touch Sancta sanctorum. Aaron and his sonnes shal enter, and they shal dispose the charges of euerie one, and shal diuide what euerie one must carie. † Let others by no curiositie see the thinges 20 that are in the Sanctuarie before they be wrapped vp, otherwise they shal die. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: 21 † Take the summe of the sonnes of Gerson also by their 22 houses and families and kinredes, † from thirtie yeares and 23 vpward, vnto fiftie yeares. Number them al that goe in and minister in the tabernacle of couenant. † This is the office 24 of the familie of the Gersonites, † for to carie the curtines 25 of the tabernacle, and the roofe of the couenant the other couer, and ouer al the ianthine couer, and the hanging that hangeth in the entrie of the tabernacle of couenant, † the 26 curtines of the court, and the veile in the entrie that is before the tabernacle. Al thinges that pertayne to the altar, the cordes, and vessel of the ministerie, † shal the sonnes of 27 Gerson carie, by the commandment of Aaron & his sonnes: and euerie one shal knowe to what burden they must be assigned. † This is the seruice of the familie of the Gersonites 28 in the tabernacle of couenant, and they shal be vnder the hand of Ithamar the sonne of Aaron the priest. † The 29 sonnes of Merari also by the families and houses of their fathers thou shalt recken, † from thirtie yeares and vpward, 30 vntil fiftie yeares, al that enter in to the office of their ministerie, and to the seruice of the couenant of testimonie. † These are their burdens: They shal carie the bordes of 31 the tabernacle and the barres therof, the pillers and the feete of them, † the pillers also of the court round about, 32 with their feete and pinnes and cordes. Al the vessel and implementes they shal receiue by account, and so shal carie them. † This is the office of the familie of the Merarites, and 33 their ministerie in the tabernacle of couenant: and they shal be vnder the hand of Ithamar the sonne of Aaron the priest. [Page 331] † Moyses therfore and Aaron and the princes of the synagogue 34 reckened the sonnes of Caath, by their kinredes and houses of their fathers, † from thirtie yeares and vpward, 35 vnto the fiftith yeare, al that enter in to the ministerie of the tabernacle of couenant: † and they were found two 36 thousand seuen hundred fiftie. † This is the number of the 37 people of Caath that enter into the tabernacle of couenant: these did Moyses and Aaron number according to the word of our Lord by the hand of Moyses. † The sonnes of 38 Gerson also were numbered by the kinredes and houses of their fathers, † from thirtie yeares and vpward, vnto the 39 fiftith yeare, al that enter in to minister in the tabernacle of couenant: † and they were found two thousand six hundred 40 thirtie. † This is the people of the Gersonites, whom Moyses 41 and Aaron numbered according to the word of our Lord. † The sonnes of Merari also were numbered by the kinredes 42 and houses of their fathers, † from thirtie yeares and vpward, 43 vnto the fiftith yeare, al that enter in to accomplish the rites of the tabernacle of couenant: † and they were found 44 three thousand two hundred. † this is the number of the 45 sonnes of Merari, whom Moyses, and Aaron reckened according to the commandment of our Lord by the hand of Moyses. † Al that were reckened of the Leuites, and 46 whom Moyses and Aaron and the princes of Israel tooke by name, by the kinredes and houses of their fathers, † from 47 thirtie yeares and vpward, vnto the fiftith yeare, entring in to the ministerie of the tabernacle, and to carie the burdens, † were in al eight thousand fiue hundred eightie. 48 † According to the word of our Lord did Moyses recken 49 them, euerie one according to their office and burdens, as our Lord had commanded him.

CHAP. V. Lepers and al polluted persons must be cast out of the campe. 5. Confession of sinne, and satisfaction for trespasse. 9. First fruites and oblations pertaine to the Priestes. 11. The law of ielosie.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Command 1 2 the children of Israel, that they cast out of the campe Stil by the lesse (saieth Theodoret) God instructeth in the greatter. q 8. in Nū. If therfore lepers were cast out of the campe, how much more iustly are heretiques cast out of the Church? euerie leper, and whosoeuer hath a fluxe of seede, and is polluted vpon the dead: † as wel man as woman cast yee 3 out of the campe, lest when they shal dwel with you, they [Page 332] contaminate it. † And the children of Israel did so, and 4 they did cast them forth without the campe, as our Lord had spoken to Moyses. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: 5 † Speake to the children of Israel: man, or woman, when 6 they shal do any of al the sinnes, that are wont to chance to men, and by negligence haue transgressed the commandement of the Lord, and haue offended, † they“ shal confesse 7 their sinne, and restore the principal it self, and the fifth part ouer to him, against whom they sinned. † But if there be 8 none to receiue it, they shal geue it to the Lord, and it shal be the priestes, the ramme excepted, that is offered for expiation, to be a placable hoste. † Al the first fruites also, which 9 the children of Israel doe offer, pertaine to the priest: † and 10 whatsoeuer is offered into the Sanctuarie of euerie one, and is deliuered to the handes of the priest, it shal be his. † And 11 our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to the children 12 of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The man, whose wife erreth, and contemning her husband † hath slept with an 13 other man, and her husband could not find it, but the adulterie is secrete, and can not be proued by witnesses, because she was not found in the adulterous fact: † God ordained this law, and miraculously concurred therin, to auoid wiuesslaughter, vpō vehement [...]elosie. Theod. q. 10. in Num. if the spirit of 14 ielousie stirre vp the husband against his wife, which either is polluted, or is charged with false suspition, † he shal bring 15 her to the priest, and shal offer an oblation for her the about the eight part of our pe [...]k. tenth part of a satum of barley meale: he shal not powre oile theron, not put frankincense vpon it: because it is a sacrifice of ielousie, and an oblation searching out adulterie. † The 16 priest therfore shal offer it, and set it before the Lord. † And 17 he shal take VVater sanctified by special rites is called holie water, and serueth to holie vse. chap. 8. v. 7. c. 19. v. 9. holie water in an earthen vessel, and he shal cast a little grauel of the pauement of the tabernacle into it. † And when the woman shal stand in the sight of the Lord, 18 he shal vncouer her head, and shal put vpon her handes the sacrifice of recordation, and the oblation of ielousie: and him selfe shal hold the most bitter waters, wheron he heaped curses with execration. † and he shal adiure her, and shal 19 say: If an other man hath not slept with thee, and if thou be not polluted by forsaking thy husbandes bedde, these most bitter waters shal not hurt thee, wherupon I haue heaped curses. † But if thou hast declined from thy husband, & art 20 polluted, and hast lien with an other man: † thou shalt be 21 subiect to these maledictions: Our Lord geue thee for a [Page 333] malediction, and an example of al among his people: make he thy thigh to rotte, and bellie swelling burst asunder. † the 22 The water wheron the priest laide curses to light on the woman if she were guiltie. cursed water enter into thy bellie, and thy wombe being swolne let thy thigh rotte. And the woman shal answer, Amen, amen. † And the priest shal write these curses in a 23 booke, and shal wash them out with the most bitter waters, wherupon he heaped the curses, † and he shal geue them 24 her to drinke. Which when she hath drunke vp, † the priest 25 shal take of her hand the sacrifice of ielousie, and shal eleuate it before the Lord, and shal put it vpon the altar: yet so notwithstanding that first, † he take a handful of the sacrifice of 26 that, which is offered, & burne it vpon the altar: and so geue the most bitter waters to the woman to drinke. † Which 27 when she hath drunke, if she be polluted, and by contempt of her husband guiltie of adulterie, the waters of malediction shal goe through her, and her bellie being puft vp her thigh shal totte withal: and the woman shal be for a malediction, and an example to al the people. † But if she be not polluted, 28 she shal be blamelesse, and shal beare children. † This is the 29 law of ielousie. If the woman decline from her husband, and if she be polluted, † and the husband stirred with the spirit 30 of ielousie brought her in the sight of the Lord, and the priest haue done to her according to al thinges that are written: † the husband shal be without fault, and she shal beare her 31 iniquitie.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. V.

7. Shal confesse their sinne.] General confession (such as Protestantes make) Particular confession of sinnes, & satisfaction, required by the law of God. sufficed not here for purging sinnes: but whosoeuer transgressed anie of Gods commandments, were bound by this diuine positiue law, to confesse expresly and distinctly their sinne, which in particular they had committed. Also to make restitution, if wrong were donne to anie other, with a fifth part aboue the principal. And for further satisfaction to God they must offer sacrifice. Al which did plainly prefigure & foreshew the necessitie of particular confession of sinnes, and satifaction, in the Sacrament of Penance, instituted by Christ. Ioan. 20.

CHAP. VI. Consecration, 14. and oblation of Nazareites. 22. Asette forme how the Priest shal blesse the people.

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AND our Lord spake vnto Moyses, saying: † Speake to 1 2 the children of Israel, and thou shal say to them: Man, or woman, when they shal make a vow to be sanctified, and“ wil consecrate them selues to the Lord: † they shal absteine 3 from wine, & euerie thing, that can make one drunke, vineger of wine, and of any other potion, and whatsoeuer is pressed out of the grape, they shal not drinke: new grapes and drie they shal not eate † al the daies wherin they are by 4 vow cōsecrated to the Lord: whatsoeuer may be of the vineyard, from the reisen to the kernel they shal not eate. † Al 5 the time of his separation a rasour shal not passe ouer his head vntil the day be expired, that he is consecrated to the Lord. He shal be holie, VVhen Samson was depriued of these haires he lost his streingth [...]d [...]c. 16. whiles the bush of haire on his head doth grow. † Al the time of his consecration he shal 6 not enter in to the dead, † neither shal he be contaminated 7 no not on his fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters corps, because the consecration of his God is vpon his head. † Al the daies of his separation he shal be holie to the 8 Lord. † But if anie man die sodenly before him, the head of 9 his consecration shal be polluted: which he shal shaue forthwith in the same day of his purgation, and againe the seuenth day. † and in the eight day he shal bring two turtles, or two 10 young pigeons to the priest in the entrie of the couenant of testimonie. † and the priest shal offer one for sinne, and the 11 other for an holocaust, and shal pray for him, because he hath sinned by occasion of the dead: and he shal sanctifie his head that day: † and shal consecrate to the Lord the daies of 12 his separation, offering a lambe of a yeare old for sinne: yet so that the former daies be made frustrate, because his sanctification was polluted. † This is the law of consecration. 13 When the daies, that by vow he had determined, shal be expired: he shal bring him to the doore of the tabernacle of couenant, † and shal offer his oblation to the Lord, a male 14 lambe of a yeare old without spotte for an holocaust, and an ewe lambe of a yeare old without spotte for sinne, and a ramme without spotte, for a pacifique hoste, † a basket also 15 of vnleuened breades that are tempered with oile, and wafers without leuen anointed with oile, and the libamentes of euerie one: † which the priest shal offer before the Lord, 16 and shal offer as wel for sinne, as for an holocaust. † But the 17 [...]amme he shal immolate for a pacifique hoste to the Lord, [Page 335] offering withal the baskette of azymes, and the libamentes that by custome are dew. † Then shal the Nazareite be shauen 18 before the dore of the tabernacle of couenant, from the bush of the haire of his consecration: and he shal take his haires, and lay them vpon the fire, that is put vnder the sacrifice of pacifiques. † And a shoulder of the ramme boyled, 19 and one cake without leuen out of the baskette, and one wafer vnleuened, and he shal deliuer them into the handes of the Nazareite, after that his head be shauen. † And receiuing 20 them againe from him, he shal eleuate them in the sight of the Lord: and being sanctified they shal be the priestes, as the breast, which was commanded to be separated, and the shoulder. after these thinges the Nazareite may drinke wine. † This is the law of the Nazareite, when he shal vow his oblation 21 to the Lord in the time of his consecration, besides those thinges which his hand shal find, according to that which he had vowed in his minde, so shal he do to the fulfilling of his sanctification. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, 22 saying: † Speake to Aaron and his sonnes: A special and determinate forme of blessing. Thus shal you 23 blesse the children of Israel, and you shal say to them: † Our 24 Lord blesse thee, and keepe thee. † Our Lord shew his face 25 to thee, and haue mercie vpon thee. † Our Lord turne his 26 countenance vnto thee, and geue thee peace. † And VVhen the priest vttereth the wordes God geueth the effect. they 27 shal inuocate my name vpon the children of Israel, and I wil blesse them.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VI.

2. VVil consecrate themselues] To such as of their owne accord, would bind God prescribed the rule of Nazareites, & the rites of their consecration. themselues by vow to certaine thinges not cōmanded, God prescribeth a Rule containing three special obseruations; not to drincke wine, or anie thing that may make drunck; not to cut their haire; and not to touch a dead corps. He appointeth likewise rites in making this profession, and calleth the professed Nazareites, that is, segregated or separated from the ordinarie state of people; though it was, for most part, but for a time, to be limited by the parties them selues, and in some perpetual, as in Samson. Iudic. 13. Now vvhat do Nazareites [...]. Aug. q. 52. in lib. Iudic. The same was a figure of vowes both temporal and perpetual. signifie, saith S. Gregorie ( li. 33. c. 23. Moral.) but those that abstaine, and containe voluntarily from things oshervvise lavvful? As from eating flesh, either for certaine daies and times, or altogether; from Mariage; from proprietie in worldlie goodes; and the like.

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CHAP. VII. In dedication of the Tabernacle, the princes of the twelue tribes offer iointly six waines, and twelue oxen. 11. Then euerie prince seueral daies make other oblations. 89. And God speaketh to Moyses from the Propitiatorie.

AND it came to passe in the day that Moyses finished 1 the tabernacle, and erected it: he anoynted also and sanctified it with al the vessel therof, the altar likewise and al the vessel therof. † The princes of Israel and the heades 2 of the families, that were in euerie tribe, and the rulers of them, that had bene numbered, offered † giftes before our 3 Lord six waines couered, with twelue oxen. Two princes offered one waine, and euerie man one oxe and they offered them before the tabernacle. † And our Lord said to Moyses: 4 † Take them of their handes to serue in the ministerie of 5 the tabernacle, and thou shalt deliuer them to the Leuites according to the order of their ministerie. † When Moyses 6 therfore had taken the waines and the oxen, he deliuered them to the Leuites. † Two waines and foure oxen he gaue 7 to the sonnes of Gerson, according to that which was necessarie for them. † the other foure waines, and the eight 8 oxen he gaue to the sonnes of Merari according to their offices and seruice, vnder the hand of Ithamar the sonne of Aaron the priest. † but to the sonnes of Caath he gaue not 9 waines and oxen: because they serue in the sanctuarie, and carie their burdens Of great reuerence they cariod the arke, and propitiatorie, and the holie vessel ordinarily vpon their shoulders, yet the same were sometimes caried on waines. 2. Reg. 6. vpon their owne shoulders. † The 10 princes therfore offered vnto the dedication of the altar, the daie wherin it was anoynted, their oblation before the altar. † And our Lord said to Moyses: Let the princes one 11 and one euerie day offer their giftes vnto the dedication of the altar. † The first day Nahasson the sonne of Aminadab 12 of the tribe of Iuda offered his oblation: † and there were 13 in it a siluer plate of an hundred and thirtie sicles weight, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles according to the weight of the Sanctuarie, both ful of flower tempered with oyle for a sacrifice: † a little morter of ten sicles of gold ful of 14 incense: † an oxe out of the hearde, and a ramme, and a 15 lambe of a yeare old for an holocaust: † and a bucke goat 16 for sinne: † and for a sacrifice of pacifiques, two oxen, fiue 17 rammes, fiue bucke goates, fiue lambes of a yeare old. this is the oblation of Nahasson the sonne of Aminidab. † The 18 [Page 337] second day offered Nathanael the sonne of Suar, prince of the tribe of Issachar, † a plate of siluer weying an hundred 19 thirtie sicles, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles, according to the weight of the Sanctuarie, both ful of flowre tempered with oile for a sacrifice: † a litle morter of gold 20 hauing ten sicles ful of incense: † an oxe out of the heard, 21 and a ramme, and a lambe of a yeare old for an holocaust: † and a bucke goate for sinne: † and for a sacrifice of pacifiques, 22 23 two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue bucke goates fiue lambes of a yeare old. this was the oblation of Nathanael the sonne of Suar. † The third day the prince of the sonnes 24 of Zabulon Eliab the sonne of Helon, † offered a plate of 25 siluer weighing an hundred thirtie sicles, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles after the weight of the Sanctuarie, both ful of flower tempered with oyle for a sacrifice: † a litle 26 morter of gold weighing ten sicles ful of incense: † an oxe 27 out of the heard, and a ramme, and a lambe of a yeare old for an holocaust: † and a bucke-goate for sinne, † and 28 29 for a sacrifice of pacifiques, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue bucke goates, fiue lambes of a yeare old. this is the oblation of Eliab the sonne of Helon. † The fourth day the prince 30 of the sonnes of Ruben, Elisur the sonne of Sedeur, † offered 31 a plate of siluer weighing an hundred thirtie sicles, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles after the weight of the Sanctuarie, both ful of flower tempered with oile for a sacrifice: † a litle morter of gold weighing ten sicles ful of incense: 32 † an oxe out of the heard, and a ramme, and a lambe of a 33 yeare old, for an holocaust: † and a bucke goate for sinne: 34 † and for pacifiques hostes two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue 35 bucke goates, fiue lambes of a yeare old. this was the oblation of Elisur the sonne of Sedeur. † The fifth day the 36 prince of the sonnes of Simeon Salamiel the sonne of Surisaddai. † offered a plate of siluer weighing an hundred 37 thirtie sicles, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles after the weight of the Sanctuarie, both ful of flowre tempered with oile for a sacrifice: † a litle morter of gold weighing ten 38 sicles ful of incense: † an oxe out of the heard, and a 39 ramme, and a lambe of a yeare old for an holocauste: † and 40 a bucke goate for finne: † and for pacifique hostes, two 41 oxen, fiue rammes, fiue bucke goates, fiue lambes of a yeare old. this was the oblation of Salamiel the sonne of Surisaddai. [Page 338] † The sixt day the prince of the sonnes of Gad, Eliasaph 42 the sonne of Duel † offered a plate of siluer weighing a 43 hundred thirtie sicles, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles after the weight of the Sanctuarie, both ful of flowre temp [...]red with o [...]le for a sacrifice: † a litle morter of gold 44 weighing ten sicles ful of incense: † an oxe our of the heard, 45 and a ramme, & a lambe of a yeare old for an holocaust: † and 46 a bucke goate for sinne: † and for pacifique hostes, two 47 oxen, fiue rammes, fiue bucke goates, fiue lambes of a yeare old. this was the oblation of Eliasaph the sonne of Duel. † The seuenth day the prince of the sonnes of Ephraim, 48 Elisama the sonne of Ammiud † offered a plate of siluer 49 weighing a hundred thirtie sicles, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles after the weight of the Sanctuarie, both ful of flowre tempered with oile for a sacrifice: † a litle morter 50 of gold weighing ten sicles ful of incense: † an oxe out 51 of the heard, and a ramme, and a lambe of a yeare old for an holocaust: † and a bucke goate for sinne: † and for pacifique 52 53 hostes, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue bucke goates, fiue lambes of a yeare old. this was the oblation of Elisama the sonne of Ammiud. † The eight day the prince of the 54 sonnes of Manasses, Gamaliel the sonne of Phadassur, † offered 55 a plate of siluer weighing an hundred thirtie sicles, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles after the weight of the Sanctuarie, both ful of flowre tempered with oile for a sacrifice: † a litle morter of gold weighing ten sicles, ful of 56 incense: † an oxe out of the heard, and a ramme, and a 57 lambe of a yeare old for an holocaust: † and a bucke goate 58 for sinne: † and for pacifique hostes, two oxen, fiue rammes, 59 fiue bucke goates, fiue lambes of a yeare old. this was the oblation of Gamaliel the sonne of Phadassur. † The ninth 60 day the prince of the sonnes of Beniamin, Abidan the sonne of Gedeon, † offered a plate of siluer weighing an hundred 61 thirtie sicles, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles after the weight of the sanctuarie, both ful of flower tempered with oile for a sacrifice: † a litle morter of gold weighing ten 62 sicles ful of incense: † an oxe out of the heard, and a ramme, 63 and a lambe of a yeare old for an holocaust: † and a bucke 64 goate for sinne: † and for pacifique hostes, two oxen, fiue 65 rames, fiue bucke goates, fiue lambes of a yeare old this was the oblation of Abidan the sonne of Gedeon. † The tenth 66 [Page 339] day the prince of the sonnes of Dan, Ahiezer the sonne of Ammisaddai † offered a plate of siluer weighing an hundred 67 thirtie sicles, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles, after the weight of the Sanctuarie, both ful of flowre tempered with oile for a sacrifice: † a litle morter of gold weighing ten 68 sicles ful of incense: † an oxe out of the heard, and a ramme, 69 and a lambe of a yeare old for an holocaust: † and a bucke 70 goate for sinne: † and for pacifique hostes, two oxen, fiue 71 rammes, fiue bucke goates, fiue lambes of a yeare old. this was the oblation of Ahiezer the sonne of Ammisaddai. † The 72 eleuenth day the prince of the sonnes of Aser, Phegiel the sonne of Ochran † offered a plate of siluer weighing an hundred 73 thirtie sicles, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles after the weight of the Sanctuarie, both ful of flowre tempered with oile for a sacrifice: † a litle morter of gold weighing 74 ten sicles ful of incense: † an oxe out of the heard, and a 75 ramme, and a lambe of a yeare old for an holocaust: † and 76 a bucke goate for sinne: † and for pacifique hostes, two oxen, 77 fiue rammes, fiue bucke goates, fiue lambes of a yeare old. this was the oblation of Phegiel the sonne of Ochran. † The 78 twelfth day the prince of the sonnes of Nephthali, Ahira the sonne of Enan † offered a plate of siluer weighing an hundred 79 thirtie sicles, a phial of siluer hauing seuentie sicles after the weight of the Sanctuarie, both ful of flowre tempered with oile for a sacrifice: † a litle morter of gold weighing 80 ten sicles, ful of incense: † an oxe out of the heard, and a 81 ramme, and a lambe of a yeare old for an holocaust: † and 82 a bucke goate for sinne: † and for pacifique hostes, two oxen, 83 fiue rammes, fiue bucke goates, fiue lambes of a yeare old. this was the oblation of Ahira the sonne of Enan. † These 84 thinges were offered of the princes of Israel in the dedication of the altar, in the day wherin it was consecrated. plates of siluer twelue: phials of siluer twelue: litle morters of gold twelue: † so that one plate had an hundred and thirtie sicles 85 of siluer, and one phial had seuentie sicles: that is, in the whole of al the vessel of siluer two thousand foure hundred sicles, by the weight of the Sanctuarie. † litle morters of 86 gold twelue ful of incense weighing ten sicles a peece, by the weight of the Sanctuarie: that is, in the whole an hundred twentie sicles of gold: † oxen out of the heard for an holocaust 87 twelue, rammes twelue, lambes of a yeare old twelue, [Page 340] and their libamentes: twelue bucke goates for sinne. † For 88 pacifique hostes, oxen twentie sowre, rammes fixtie, bucke goates sixtie, lambes of a yeare old sixtie. These thinges were offered in the dedication of the altar, when it was anointed. † And when Moyses entred into the tabernacle of couenant, 89 to consult the oracle, he heard the voice of him that spake to him from the propitiatorie, that was ouer the arke betwen the two Cherubs, from whence also he spake to him.

CHAP. VIII. Seuen lampes are so placed on the golden candlestucke, that they may shine towardes the breades of proposition. 5. the ordination of the Leuites. 24. And at what age they shal serue in the tabernacle.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to 12 Aaron, and thou shalt say to him: When thou shalt place the seuen lampes, let the candlesticke be sette vp in the south part ouer against the north, toward the table of the breades of proposition, ouer against that part toward which the candlesticke looketh, shal they shine. † And Aaron did so, 3 and he put the lampes vpon the candlesticke, as our Lord had cōmanded Moyses. † this was the making of the candlesticke, 4 of beaten gold, as wel the middle shaft, as al thinges that arose of both sides of the branches: according to the example which our Lord shewed to Moyses, so wrought he the candlesticke. † And our Lord spake to Moyses saying: † Take 56 the Leuites out of the middes of the children of Israel, and thou shalt purifie them, † according to this rite: Let them be 7 sprinkled with This water was mixed with ashes of a redde. ow sacrificed without the campe. chap. [...]9. the water of lustration, & shaue al the haires of their flesh. And when they haue washed their garmentes, and are cleansed, † they shal take an oxe out of the heardes, 8 and his libament flowre tempered with oyle: and an other oxe out of the heard thou shalt take for sinne: † and thou shalt 9 bring the Leuites before the tabernacle of couenant, calling together al the multitude of the children of Israel. † And 10 when the Leuites are before the Lord, the children of Israel shal put their handes vpon them. † and Aaron shal offer the 11 Leuites, a gift in the sight of the Lord from the children of Israel, that they may serue in his ministerie. † The Leuites also 12 shal put their handes vpon the heades of the oxen, of the which thou shalt make one for sinne, and the other for holocauste of the Lord, to pray for them. † And thou shalt sette 13 [Page 341] the Leuites in the sight of Aaron and of his sonnes, and being offered shal consecrate them to the Lord, † and shal separate 14 them from the middes of the children of Israel, to be mine. † And afterward they shal enter into the tabernacle of couenant, 15 to serue me. And thou shalt so purifie and consecrate them for an oblation of the Lord: because they were geuen me for a gift of the children of Israel. † For the first borne 16 that open euerie matrice in Israel, I haue taken them. † For 17 mine are al the first borne of the children of Israel, as wel of men as of beastes. From the day that I smote euerie first borne in the Land of Aegypt, haue I sanctified them to me: † and I haue taken the Leuites for al the first borne of the 18 children of Israel: † and haue deliuered them for a gift to 19 Aaron and his sonnes out of the middes of the people, to serue me for Israel in the tabernacle of couenant, and to pray for them that there be no plague among the people, if they should presume to approch vnto my Sanctuarie. † And 20 Moyses and Aaron and al the multitude of the children of Israel did concerning the Leuites the thinges that our Lord had commanded Moyses: † and they were purified, and 21 washed their garmentes. And Aaron Aaron hauing receiued the Leuites, presēted them to God, and so addicted them to their designed offices. eleuated them in the sight of our Lord, and prayed for them, † that being purified 22 they might enter to their offices into the tabernacle of couenant before Aaron & his sonnes. Fuen as our Lord had cō manded Moyses touching the Leuites, so was it done. † And 23 our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † This is the law of the 24 Leuites, From twentie fiue yeares and vpward, they shal enter in to minister in the tabernacle of couenant. † And when 25 they shal haue accomplisheth the fiftith yeare of their age, they shal cease to serue: † and shal be the ministers of their 26 brethren in the tabernacle of couenant, to keepe the thinges that are cōmended to them, but not to do the verie workes. Thus shalt thou dispose to the Leuites in their custodies.

CHAP. IX. The percept of Pasch to be made the fourtenth day of the first moone, is renewed. 6. But the vncleane, and trauelers in a iorney the fourtenth day of the second moneth. 15. The campe must rest or march, as the cloud or piller of fire, remaineth ouer the tabernacle, or departeth.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, in the desert of Sinai 1 the second yeare, after they went out of the land of [Page 342] Aegypt, the first moneth saying: † Let the children of Israel 2 make the Phase in his time, † the fourtenth day of this 3 moneth at euen, according to al the ceremonies and iustifications therof. † And Moyses commanded the children of 4 Israel that they should make the Phase. † Who made it in his 5 time: the fourtenth day of the moneth at euen in mount Sinai. According to al thinges that our Lord had commanded Moyses the children of Israel did. † But behold 6 certaine vncleane By touching the dead. [...]. [...]. q. 15. in Num. vpon the soule of man, which could not make the Phase on that day, coming to Moyses and Aaron, † said to them: We are vncleane vpon the soule of man. 7 why are we defrauded that we can not offer the oblation to our Lord in the dew time among the children of Israel? † To 8 whom Moyses answered: Stand that I may aske counseil what our Lord wil command concerning you. † And our 9 Lord God answered by a voice framed by an Angel from the propitiatorie. chap. 7. [...]. 89. spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to the children 10 of Israel: The man that shal be vncleane vpon a soule, or in his iourney farre of in your nation, let him make the Phase to the Lord † in the second moneth, the fourtenth day of 11 the moneth at euen: with azymes and wilde lettise shal they eate it: † they shal not leaue anie thing therof vntil morning 12 and a bone therof they shal not breake, al the rite of the Phase they shal obserue. † But if anie man both be 13 cleane, and was not in his iourney, and yet did not make the Phase, that soule shal be destroyed out from among his peoples, because he offered not sacrifice to the Lord in his dew time: he shal beare his sinne. † The seiourner also and 14 stranger if they be with you, shal make the Phase to the Lord, according to the ceremonies and iustifications therof. The selfe same precept shal be among you aswel to the stranger, as to him that is borne in the countrie. † Therfore the 15 day that the tabernacle was erected, a cloude couered it. And from euening ouer the tabernacle there was as it were the likenesse of fire vntil morning. † So was it done alwaies: by day the cloude couered it, and by night as it were the likenesse of fire. † And when the 17 cloude that protected the tabernacle, had bene taken away, then the children of Israel marched: and in the place where the cloude had stoode, there they camped. † At the commandment 18 of our Lord they marched, and at his commandment they pitched the tabernacle. Al the daies that the [Page 343] cloude stoode ouer the tabernacle, they remained in the same place: † and if it chanced that it did continew ouer 19 it a long time, the children of Israel were in the wa [...]s of our Lord, and marched not † for as manie daies sooner as 20 the cloude had bene ouer the tabernacle. At the commandment of our Lord they pitched their tentes, and at his commandement they tooke them downe. † If the cloude had 21 bene from euen vntil morning, and immediatly at day breake had forsaken the tabernacle, they marched: and if it had departed after a day and a night, they tooke down their tentes. † But if for two daies or one moneth or a longer 22 time it had bene ouer the tabernacle, the children of Israel remained in the same place, and marched not: but immediatly as it had departed, they remoued the campe. † By 23 the word of the Lord they pitched their tentes, and by his word they marched: and were in the watches of our Lord according to his commandment by the hand of Moyses.

CHAP. X. The second part. Of diuers impediments, which happened to the Israelites, and renouation of sundrie precepts, in their iorney from the desert of Sinai to the campe of Moab. Trumpets are sounded by the priestes, diue [...]sly for diuerse purposes. 11. The campe marcheth from the desert of Sinai. 29. Moyses intreateth Hobab the Madianite to remaine with them. 35. His prayer when the arke is taken vp, and sette downe.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Make thee 1 2 two trumpettes of beaten siluer, wherwith thou maiest cal togeather the multitude when the campe is to be remoued. † And when thou shalt sound with the trumpettes, al 3 the multitude shal gather vnto thee to the doore of the tabernacle of couenant. † If thou sound but once, the princes 4 shal come to thee, and the heades of the multitude of Israel. † But if the trumpeting sound in length and with a broken 5 tune, they shal moue their campe first that are on the east side. † And at the second sound and the like noyse of the trumpet, 6 they shal take vp their tentes that dwel toward the south. and after this maner shal the rest doe, when the trumpettes shal sound to the marching. † But when the people is to be 7 gathered together, the sound of the trumpet shal be plaine, and they Before the whole multitude, plaine and necessarie pointes of doctrine must only be vttered, but before the lerned and wiser sorte▪ shal not make a broken sound. † And the sonnes 8 of Aaron the priestes shal sound with the trumpettes: and this shal be an ordinance for euer in your generations. † If 9 you goe forth to warre out of your land against the enimies [Page 344] that fight against you, you shal sound with trumpettes in [...]ghe [...] mysteries may be treated and taught. Theod. [...]. [...]. in Num. l [...]ngth, and there shal be a remembrance of you before the Lord your God, that you may be deliuered out of the handes of your enemies. † If at anie time you shal haue a banket, 10 and festiual daies, and Calendes, you shal sound with trumpettes ouer the holocaustes, and pacifique victimes, that they may be vnto you for a remembrance of your God. I the Lord your God. † The second yeare, in the second moneth, the 11 twentith day of the moneth was the cloude lifted vp from the tabernacle of couenant. † and the children of Israel marched 12 by their troupes from the desert of Sinai, and the cloud rested in the wildernesse of Pharan. † And the first moued 13 their campe according to the cōmandement of our Lord by the hand of Moyses. † The sonnes of Iudas by their 14 troupes: whose prince was Nahasson the sonne of Aminadab. † In the tribe of the sonnes of Issachar, the prince was Nathanael 15 the sonne of Suar. † In the tribe of Zabulon, the 16 prince was Eliab the sonne of Helon. † And the tabernacle 17 was taken downe, which the sonnes of Gerson and Metari carying, marched. † And the sonnes of Ruben also marched, 18 by their troupes and order, whose prince was Helisur the sonne of Sedeur. † And in the tribe of Simeon, the prince 19 was Salamiel the sonne of Surisaddai. † Moreouer in the 20 tribe of Gad, the prince was Eliasaph the sonne of Duel. † And the Caathites also marched carying the Sanctuarie. 21 So long was the tabernacle caried, til they came to the place of erecting it. † The sonnes of Ephraim also moued their 22 campe by their troupes, in whose hoste the prince was Elisama the sonne of Ammiud. † And in the tribe of the sonnes 23 of Manasses, the prince was Gamaliel the sonne of Phadassur. † And in the tribe of Beniamin the prince was Abidan the 24 sonne of Gedeon. † The last of al the campe marched the 25 sonnes of Dan by their troupes, in whose hoste the prince was Ahiezer the onne of Ammisaddai. † And in the tribe 26 of the sonnes of Aser, the prince was Phegiel the sonne of Ochran. † And in the tribe of the sonnes of Nephthali the 27 prince was Ahira the sonne of Enan. † These are the campes, 28 and the marchinges of the children of Israel by their troupes when they marched † And Moyses said to Hobab the sonne 29 of Raguel the Madianite, Either this Hobab was otherwise called Raguel, [...] 2. and also I [...]o, Exo. 3. and was father in law to Moyses, or els he was sonne of the same Raguel, and brother in law to Moyses. his cognat [...] vel aff [...] n [...] ▪ allied: We march toward the place, which our Lord wil geue vs: come with vs, that we [Page 345] may do thee good: for our Lord hath promised good thinges to Israel. † To whom he answered: I wil not goe with thee, 30 but I wil returne to my countrie, wherein I was borne. † And he said: Doe not forsake vs: for thou knowest in 31 what places through the desert we may campe, and Moyses meaneth, that whē by the cloud and piller of fire (their special guides) the people should come to new places, this Madianite his allied might direct them where to finde best pasture, water and like commodities, nere to them. thou shalt be our guide. † And when thou comest with vs, whatsoeuer 32 shal be best of the riches, which our Lord shal deliuer vs, we wil geue thee. † They marched therfore from the 33 Mount of our Lord three daies iourney, and the arke of the couenant of out Lord went before them, for three daies prouiding a place for the campe. † The cloude also of our Lord 34 was ouer them by day when they marched. † And when the 35 arke was lifted vp, Moyses said: Besides general prayers for al purposes, some are composed, and applied for special times and occasions. Arise Lord, and be thyne enemies dispersed, and let them flee that hate thee, from thy face. † And when it was sette downe, he said: Returne Lord 36 to the multitude of the hoste of Israel.

CHAP. XI. The people murmuring are punished with fire. 7. Manna is againe described. 10. Moyses being afflicted with solicitude of trublesome people, 16. God adioyneth seuentie Ancients to sustaine part of his burden. 18. promiseth to geue al the people flesh. 25. The ancients do prophecie. 31. The people haue their sil of flesh. 33. but forthwith manie die of the plague. Wherof the place is called, The sepulchre▪ of concupiscence.

IN the meane time there arose a murmuring of the people, 1 as it were repyning for labour, against our Lord. Which when our Lord had heard, he was angrie. And the fire of our Lord being kinled against them, deuoured the vttermost part of the campe. † And when the people had cried to Moyses, 2 Moyses prayed to our Lord, and the fire was quenched. † And 3 he called the name of that place, Kindling: for that the fire of our Lord had bene kindled against them. † For These were Aegyptians that parted out of their countrie with the Israelites, and now murmuring drawe others by example to the same sinne. the common 4 vulgar people, that came vp with them, burned with desire, sitting and weeping, the children of Israel being ioyned together with them, and said: Who shal geue vs flesh to eate? † We remember the fishes that we did eate in Aegypt 5 gratis: the cucumbers come vnto our minde, and the melons, and leekes and onions and garlike. † Our soule is drie 6 our eies behold nothing els but Manna. † And the Manna 7 was as it were the seede of Coriander, of the colour of bdellion. † And the people went about, & gathering it, grounde 8 [Page 346] it in a milne, or braied it in a morter, boyling it in a potte, and making cakes therof of the taist as it were of oyled bread. † And when the dew fel in the night vpon the campe, the 9 Manna also fel withal. † Moyses therfore heard the people 10 weeping by their families, euerie one at the doores of his tent. And the furie of our Lord was exceding wrath: but to Moyses also it semed an intolerable thing. † and he said to 11 our Lord: Why hast thou afflicted thy seruant? wherfore do I not finde grace before thee? and why hast thou laid the weight of al this people vpon me? † Haue I conceaued al 12 this multitude, or begotten them, that thou shouldest say to me: Carie them in thy bosome as the nource is wont to carie the litle infant, and beare them into the land, for the which thou hast sworne to their fathers? † Whence shal I haue 13 flesh to geue to so great a multitude? they whine against me, saying: Geue vs flesh that we may eate. † I alone can not sustaine 14 al this people, because it is heauie for me. † But Prayers of holie men are with submission of their willes to Gods wil, either expressed or implied. if 15 it seme vnto thee otherwise, I beseche thee to kil me, and let me finde grace in thine eies, that I be not molested with so great euils. † And our Lord said to Moyses: Gather me seuentie 16 men of the ancientes of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the ancientes of the people and maisters: and thou shalt bring them to the doore of the tabernacle of couenant, and shalt make them to stand there with thee, † that I may descend 17 and speake to thee: and God imperted of the same spirite to these Ancientes, wherof he had geuē to Moyses, that they might haue so much helpe of grace as pleased God, and Moyses haue neuer thelesse. S. Aug. q. 1 [...]. in Num. I wil take of thy spirit, and wil deliuer to them, that they may sustaine with thee, the burden of the people, and thou onlie be not burdened. † To 18 the people also thou shalt say: Be sanctified: to morrow you shal eate flesh? for I haue heard you say: Who shal geue vs meates of flesh? it was wel with vs in Aegypt. That the Lord may geue you flesh, and you may eate: † not one day, nor 19 two, or fiue or ten, no nor twentie, † but euen to a moneth 20 of daies, til it goe out a your nosethrils, and be turned to lothsomenes, because you haue reiected the Lord, who is in the middes of you, and haue whyned before him, saying: Wherfore came we out of Aegypt? † And Moyses said: There are 21 six hundred thousand footemen of this people, & sayest thou: I wil geue them flesh to eate a whole moneth? † Why, shal 22 a multitude of sheepe and oxen be killed, that it may suffise for meate? or shal al the fishes of the sea be gathered togeather, for to fil them? † To whom our Lord answered: Why, 23 [Page 347] is the hand of the Lord vnable? Now presently thou shalt see whether my word shal be accomplished in deede. † Moyses 24 therfore came, and told the people the wordes of our Lord, assembling seuentie men of the ancientes of Israel, whom he caused to stand about the tabernacle. † And our 25 Lord descended in a cloude, and spake to him, taking a way of the spirit that was in Moyses, and geuing to the seuentie men. And when the spirit had rested on them, they prophecied, neither ceased they any more. † And there had remained 26 in the campe two men, of the which one was called Eldad, and the other Medad, vpon whom the spirit rested. Gods grace sometimes preuenteth the ordinarie meanes Theodoret. q. 21. in Num. for they also had bene enrolled, and were not gone forth to the tabernacle. † And when they prophecied in the campe, 27 there ran a boy, and told Moyses, saying: Eldad and Medad do prophecie in the campe. † Forthwith Iosue the sonne of 28 Nun, the minister of Moyses, and chosen of manie, said: My Lord Moyses forbid them. † But he said: Why hast thou 29 emulation for me? O that al the people might prophecie, and that our Lord would geue them his spirit? † And Moyses returned, 30 and the ancientes of Israel into the campe. † And a 31 winde coming forth from our Lord, taking quailes ouer the sea brought them, and let them fal into the campe the space of one daies iourney, on euerie side of the campe round about, and they did flie in the ayre two cubites high ouer the earth. † The people therfore rising vp al that day, and the 32 night, and the next day, gathered togeather a multitude of qualies, he that did least, ten cores: and they dried them round about the campe. † As yet the flesh was in their teeth, 33 neither had that kind of meate failed: and behold the furie of our Lord being prouoked against the people, stroke them with an exceding great plague. † And that place was called, 34 By this example and figure S. Paul sheweth that al shal not be saued, which are baptised, & communicate in the same faith & Sacraments, but those only which also please God in their workes. 1. Cor. 10. The Sepulchres of concupiscence: for there they buried the people that had lusted. And departing from the Sepulchres of concupiscence, they came vnto Haseroth, and taried there.

CHAP. XII. Marie and Aaron murmur against Moyses. 6. whom God praiseth aboue other prophetes. 10. Marie being stricken with leprosie, Aaron confesseth his fault. 13. Moyses prayeth for her, and after seuen daies separation from the campe, she is restored.

AND Marie and Aaron spake against Moyses, for his 1 Exod. 2. wife the Madianites were also called Aethiopipians. S. Aug. q. 20. in Num. Aethiopian, † and they said: hath our Lord 2 [Page 348] spoken by Moyses onlie? hath he not spoken to vs also in like manner? Which when our Lord had heard, († The Holie Ghost forced Moyses to vtter his owne praise, which of him self, he desired not. For 3 Moyses was the mildest man aboue al men, that dwelt vpon the earth) † immediatly he spake to him, and to Aaron 4 and Marie: Goe forth you three onlie to the tabernacle of couenant. And when they were come forth, † our 5 Lord descended in the piller of a cloude, and stoode in the entrie of the tabernacle calling Aaron and Marie. Who going vnto him, † he said to them: Heare my wordes: If 6 there shal be among you a prophete of the Lord, in vision wil I appeare to him, or in sleepe I wil speake ho him. † But 7 my seruant Moyses is not such an one, who in al my house is most faythful: † for mouth to mouth I speake to him: and 8 plainely, and not by riddels and figures doth he see the Lord. Why therfore did you not feare to detract from my seruant Moyses? † And being wrath against them, he went away: 9 † the cloude also departed that was ouer the tabernacle: 10 and behold Marie appeared white with leprosie as it were snow. And Aaron was not publikly punished, lest therby he had bene made cō [...]emptible to the people, but was otherwise chatised. when Aaron had looked on her, and saw her wholy couered with leprosie, † he said to Moyses: I besech 11 thee my Lord, lay not vpon vs this sinne which we haue foolishly committed, † let not this woman be as it were 12 dead, and as an abortiue that is cast forth of the mothers wombe. Lo now the one halfe of her flesh is deuoured with the leprosie. † And Moyses cried to our Lord, saying: God, 13 I besech thee, heale her. † To whom our Lord answered: 14 If her father had spitte vpon her face, ought she not to haue bene ashamed seuen daies at the least? Let her be separated seuen daies without the campe, and afterwards she shal be called againe. † Marie therfore was shut forth without the 15 campe seuen daies: and the people moued not from that place, vntil Marie was called againe.

CHAP. XIII. From the desert of Pharan Moyses sendeth twelue men (of euerie tribe one) to view the Land of Chanaan. 17. changeth Osee his name into Iosue, 18. instructeth them which way to goe, and what to note in the land: 22. which they performe: 26. and after fourtie dayes returne, bringing with them fruites, in token of the landes fertilitie. 29. but in other respects (the rest besides Caleb and Iosue) discoureging the people make them to murmur.

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AND the people marched from Haseroth pitching their 1 tentes in the desert of Pharan. † And there our Lord 2 spake to Moyses, saying; † Send men, that may view the 3 Land of Chanaan, which I wil geue to the children of Israel, one of euerie tribe, of the princes. † Moyses did that which 4 our Lord had commanded, from the desert of Pharan sending principal men, whose names be these. † Of the tribe 5 of Ruben, Samua the sonne of Zechur. † Of the tribe of 6 Simeon, Saphat the sonne of Huri. † Of the tribe of Iuda, 7 Caleb the sonne of Iephone. † Of the tribe of Issachar, 8 Igal the sonne of Ioseph. † Of the tribe of Ephraim, Osee 9 the sonne of Nun. † Of the tribe of Beniamin, Phal [...] 10 the sonne of Raphu. † Of the tribe of Zabulon, Geddiel 11 the sonne of Sodi. † Of the tribe of Ioseph, of the scepter 12 of Manasses Gaddi, the sonne of Susi. † Of the tribe of 13 Dan, Ammiel the sonne of Gemalli. † Of the tribe of Aser, 14 Sthu [...] the sonne of Michael. † Of the tribe of Nephthali, 15 Nahabi the sonne of Vapsi. † Of the tribe of Gad, Guel 16 the sonne of Machi. † These are the names of the men, 17 whom moyses sent to view the Land: and he called Osee the sonne of Nun, Changing of his name literally imported the great office of chiefe Duke vnto which he was designed. mystically prefigured our Lord IESVS, for it is the same name in Hebrew, and signifieth SAVIOVR Theod. q. 25. in Num. Iosue. † Moyses therfore sent them to view 18 the Land of Chanaan, and said to them: Goe vp by the south side. And when you shal come to the mountaines, † view the 19 Land, what it is: and the people that are the inhabitantes therof, whether they be strong or weake: few in number or manie: † the land it self, whether it be good or badde: what 20 manner of cities, walled or without walles: † the ground, 21 fatte or barren, wooddie or without trees. Be of good courage, and bring vs of the fruites of the Land. And it was the time when now the first ripe grapes are to be eaten. † And 22 when they were gone vp, they viewed the Land from the desert of Sin, vnto Rohob as you enter to Emath. † And they 23 went vp at the south side, and came to Hebron, where were Achiman and Sisai and Tholmai the sonnes of Enac. for Hebron was built seuen yeares before Tanis the citie of Aegypt. † And going forward as farre as the Torrent 24 of cluster, they cutte of a branch with the grapes therof, which two men carried vpon a leauer. They tooke of the pomegranates also and of the figges of that place: † which was called Nehelescol, that is to say, the 25 Torrent of cluster, for that thence the children of Israel had [Page 350] caried a cluster. † And the discouerers of the Land returning 26 after fourtie daies, hauing circuted al the countrie, † came 27 to Moyses & Aaron and to al the assemblie of the children of Israel into the desert of Pharan, which is in Cades. And speaking to them & to al the multitude they shewed the fruites of the Land: † and reported, saying: We came into the Land 28 to which thou didst send vs, which in very deede floweth with milke and honie, as by these fruites may be knowen: † but it hath very strong inhabitantes, and cities great and 29 walled. The stocke of Enac we saw there. † Amalec dwelleth 30 in the south, the Hetheite and the Iebuseite and the Amorrheite in the mountaines: but the Chananeite abideth beside the sea and about the streames of Iordan. † Among 31 these thinges Caleb appeasing the murmuring of the people that rose against Moyses, said: Let vs goe vp and possesse the Land, because we may obtaine it. † But the others, that had 32 bene with him, said: No, we are not able to goe vp to this people, because it is stronger then we. † And they detracted 33 from the Land, which they had viewed, before the children of Israel, saying: The Land, which we haue viewed, Pretending falsly that the Land had an vnwholsome ayre, deuouring the inhabitātes, & not possible to be obtained by reasō of the gyants, couertly they detracted frō Gods powre, or his good wil towards them, who had promised the same. And therfore he gaue it to their children, but not to these seducers and murmurers. chap. 14. v. 23, 29. deuoureth her inhabitantes: the people, that we beheld, is of a tall stature. † There we saw certaine monsters of the sonnes 34 of Enac, of the gyantes kind: to whom being compared, we seemed as it were locustes.

CHAP. XIIII. The mutinous murmuring people being vnplacable, 11. God expostulateth their ingratitude, threatneth to destroy them. 13. Yet Moyses pacifieth his wrath, 22. but so that al which were numbered coming from Aegypt, except C [...]leb and Iosue, shal die in the wildernes. 31. and their children shal possesse the promised land. 40. Then fighting contrarie to Moyses admonition are beaten, and manie slaine by their enimies.

THERFORE al the multitude crying out wept that 1 night, † and al the children of Israel murmured against 2 Moyses and Aaron, saying: † Would God we had died in 3 Aegypt: and These murmurers had their wish, to their owne punishmēt. chap. 14. v. 29. 26. v. 64. in this vaste wildernesse would God we might die, and that our Lord would not bring vs into this Land, lest we fal by the sword, and our wiues and children be ledde captiue. Is it not better to returne into Aegypt? † And one 4 said to an other: It is so absolutly necessarie in euerie communitie to haue one Superior [...] fal, that verie [...]u [...]e [...]s themselues do euer choose such a one, & cal him, the Electo. Let vs appoint a captaine, and let vs returne into Aegypt. † Which Moyses and Aaron hearing fel 5 [Page 351] flatte vpon the ground before al the multitude of the children o [...] Israel. † But Iosue the sonne of Nun, and Caleb the 6 sonne of Iephone, who them selues also had viewed the land, rent their garmentes, † and spake to al the multitude of the 7 children of Israel: The Land, which we haue circuted, is very good. † If our Lord be propitious, he shal bring vs into it, 8 and deliuer vs a ground flowing with milke and honie. † Be 9 not rebellious against our Lord: neither feare ye the people of this land, for euen as bread so we may deuoure them. al aide is gone from them: our Lord is with vs, feare ye not. † And when al the multitude cried, and would haue stoned 10 them, the glorie of our Lord appeared ouer the roofe of couenant in the sight of al the children of Israel. † And our 11 Lord said to Moyses: How long wil this people detract me? How long wil they not beleue me in al the signes, that I haue done before them? † I wil strike them therfore with pestilence, 12 and wil consume them: but thee I wil make prince ouer a great nation, and a stronger then this is. † And Moyses 13 said to our Lord: That the Aegyptians, from the middes of whom thou hast brought forth this people, † and the inhabitantes 14 of this Land, which haue heard that thou Lord art among this people, and art sene face to face, and thy cloude protecteth them, and in a piller of a cloude thou goest before them by day, and in a piller of fire by night:) † may 15 heare that thou hast killed so great a multitude as it were one man, and may say: † He could not bring in the people into 16 the Land, for which he had sworne: therfore did he kil them in the wildernesse. † Let therfore the strength of our Lord 17 be magnified as thou hast sworne, saying: † The Lord is patient 18 and ful of mercie, taking away iniquitie and wicked deedes, & leauing no man innocent, which visitest the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation. † Forgeue, I besech thee, the sinne of this thy 18 people, according to the greatnes of thy mercie, as thou hast bene propitious to them since their going out of Aegypt vnto this place. † And our Lord said: I haue forgeuen it according 20 to thy word. † Liue I: and the whole earth shal be replenished 21 with the glorie of the Lord. † After the sinne is forgeuen, yet punishment remaineth to be inflicted. But yet al the 22 men that haue sene my maiestie, and the signes that I haue done in Aegypt, and in the wildernesse, and haue tempred me now ten times, neither haue obeied my voice, † they shal 23 [Page 352] not see the Land for the which I sware to their fathers, neither shal any of them that hath detracted me, behold it. † My seruant Caleb, who Although grace be first geuē without desert: yet good workes done by grace do merite reward. S. Aug. de [...]at. & lib. arb. c. 6. being ful of an other spirit hath 24 folowed me, wil I bring in vnto this Land which he hath circuted: and his seede shal possesse it. † Because the Amalecite 25 and the Cananeite dwel in the valleis. To morrow remoue the campe, and returne into the wildernesse by the way of the Redde sea. † And our Lord spake to Moyses and Aaron, 26 saying: † How long doth this vngratious multitude murmur 27 against me? I haue heard the complaintes of the children of Israel. † Say therfore to them: liue I, sayeth our 28 Lord: According as you haue spoken I hearing it, so wil I do to you. † In this wildernesse shal your carcasses lie. Al you 29 that are numbered from twentie yeares & vpward, and haue murmured against me, † you shal not enter into the Land, 30 ouer the which I haue lifted vp my hand to make you inhabite it, except Caleb the sonne of Iephone, and Iosue the sonne of Nun. † But your litle ones, of whom you said, that 31 they should be a pray to the enemies, wil I bring in: that they may see the Land, that hath misliked you. † Your carcasses 32 shal lie in the wildernesse. † Your children shal wander 33 in the desert fourtie yeares, and Temporal punishment laid vpon the children for their fathers sinnes, is for their owne spiritual good. S. Aug. Epist. [...]. ad. A [...]tum. shal beare your fornication, vntil the carcasses of their fathers be consumed in the desert, † according to the number of the fourtie daies, wherin 34 you viewed the Land: a yeare shal be reputed for a day. And fourtie yeares you shal receiue your iniquities, and shal know my reuenge: † for as I haue spoken, so wil I doe to al 35 this wicked multitude, that hath risen togeather against me: in this wildernesse shal it faile, and die. † Therfore al the 36 men, whom Moyses had sent to view the Land, and which returning had made al the multitude to murmur against him, detracting from the Land that it was naught, † died and were 37 stroken in the sight of our Lord. † But Iosue the sonne of 38 Nun, and Caleb the sonne of Iephone liued of al them, that had gone to view the Land. † And Moyses spake al these 39 wordes to al the children of Israel, and the people mourned excedingly. † And behold very early in the morning rising 40 they went vp to the toppe of the mountaine, and said: We are readie to goe vp to the place, wherof our Lord hath spoken: for we haue sinned. † To whom Moyses said: Why 41 transgresse you the word of our Lord, which shal not suceede [Page 353] prosperousely with you? † Goe not vp, for our Lord is 42 not with you: lest you fal before your enemies. † The Amalecite 43 and the Chananeite are before you, by whose sword you shal fal, for that you would not consent to our Lord, neither wil our Lord be with you. † But they being blinded 44 went vp to the toppe of the mountaine. But the arke of the testament of our Lord & Moyses departed not from the campe. † And the Amalecite came downe and the Cananeite, that 45 dwelt in the mountaine: and striking and hewing them, pursewed them as farre as Horma.

CHAP. XV. Certaine precepts concerning Sacrifices, 17. and first fruites, are repeted, 22. also touching different punishment of sinne comitted by ignorance and by set wilfulnes. 32. and accordingly one is stoned to death, for gathering stickes on the Sabbath day. 37. Al are commanded to carie a signe in their garments, therby to remember the commandments of God.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to 1 2 the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: When you shal be entred into the Land of your habitation, which I wil geue you, † and shal make oblation to the Lord for an 3 holocaust, or victime, paying vowes, or voluntarily offering giftes, or in your solemnities burning a sweete sauour vnto the Lord, of oxen or of sheepe: † whosoeuer immolateth 4 the victime, shal offer a sacrifice of flowre, the tenth part of an ephi tempered with oyle, which shal haue in measure the fourth part of an [...]in: † and wine of the same measure to 5 powre the libamentes shal he geue for the holocaust or for the victime. For euerie lambe † and ramme there shal be a 6 sacrifice of flowre of two tenthes, which shal be tempered with oile the third part of an hin: † and wine for the libamente, 7 the third part of the same measure, shal he offer for a sweete sauour to the Lord. † But when thou makest an holocaust 8 or hoste of oxen, to fulfil thy vow or for pacifique victimes, † thou shalt geue for euerie oxe three tenthes of 9 flowre tempered with oile, which shal haue halfe the measure of a hin: † [...]nd wine to powre libamentes of the same 10 measure for an oblation of most sweete sauour to the Lord. † So shalt thou doe † for euerie oxe and ramme and lambe 11 12 and buckegoate. † As wel they that are borne in the countrie 13 as the strangers † after one rite shal offer sacrifices. 14 [Page 354] † There shal be al one precept and iudgement as wel to your 15 selues as to the strangers of the land. † Our Lord spake to 16 Moyses, saying: † Speake to the children of Israel, and thou 17 shalt say to them: † When you are come into the land, which 18 I wil geue you, † and shal eate of the breades of that countrie, 19 you shal separate first fruites to the Lord † of your meates. 20 As of your barne floores you separate first fruites, † so 21 of your pastes shal you geue first fruites to the Lord. † And if 22 through ignorance you omitte any of these thinges, which the Lord hath spoken to Moyses, † and by him hath commanded 23 you, from the day that he beganne to command and so forward, † and the multitude haue forgotten to do it: 24 they shal offer a calfe out of the heard, an holocauste for a most sweete sauour to the Lord, and the sacrifice and libamentes therof, as the ceremonies require, and a buckegoate for sinne: † and the priest shal pray for al the multitude of 25 the children of Israel: and it shal be forgeuen them, because they sinned not wittingly, offering notwithstanding burnt sacrifice to the Lord for them selues and for their sinne and errour: † and it shal be forgeuen al the people of the children 26 of Israel, and the strangers, that seiourne among them: because it is the fault of al the people through ignorance. † But if one soule shal sinne vnwitting, he shal offer a she 27 goate of a yeare old for his sinne: † and the priest shal pray 28 for him, because he sinned vnwitting before the Lord: and he shal obteine him pardon, and it shal be forgeuen him. † As wel to them that are borne in the countrie as to the 29 strangers one law shal be for al, that sinne by ignorance. † But the soule, that Though sinnes wittingly committed, procedīg of pride and contempt of Gods commandment, could not be pardoned by the law: yet such may also be remitted through true repentance. S. Aug. q. 25. in Num. through pride committeth any thing, 30 whether he be borne in the countrie, or a stranger, (because he hath bene rebellious against the Lord) shal perish out of his people: † for he hath contemned the word of the Lord, 31 and made his precept of no effect: therfore shal he be destroyed, and shal beare his iniquitie. † And it came to passe, 32 when the children of Israel were in the wildernesse, and had found a man gathering slickes on the Sabbath day, † they 33 presented him to Moyses and Aaron and the whole multitude. † Who shut him into prison, not knowing what they 34 should doe with him. † And our Lord said to Moyses, Seueritie is vsed towardes those that knowīg Gods wil do contrarie. Luc. 12. v. [...]7. dying 35 let this man die, let al the multitude stone him without the campe. † And when they had brought him out, they stoned 36 [Page 355] him, and he died as our Lord had commanded. † Our Lord 37 also said to moyses: † Speake to the children of Israel, and 38 thou shalt say to them, that they make them selues The Iewes in Christs time hypochritically enlarged these fringes, for vaine shew of holines. Mat. 23. fringes in the corners of their garmentes, putting in them ribandes of hyacinth: † which when they shal see, they may remēber 39 al the commandements of the Lord, and not folow their owne cogitations and eies fornicating after diuers thinges, † but rather mindful of the preceptes of the Lord may do 40 them, and be holie to their God. † I the Lord your God, that 41 brought you out of the Land of Aegypt, that I might be your God.

CHAP. XVI. Core and his complices, making schisme against Moyses and Aaron, 31. some are swalowed in the earth, with their families and substance; 35. other two hundred and fiftie offering incense, 41. and fourtene thousand seuen hundred of the common people, murmuring in behalfe of the sedicious, are consumed with fire from heauen.

AND behold Core the sonne of Isaar, the sonne of 1 Caath, the sonne of Leui, and Dathan and Abiron the sonnes of Eliab, Hon also the sonne of Pheleth of the children of Ruben, † “ rose against Moyses, and other of the 2 children of Israel two hundred fiftie men, princes of the synagogue, and which in the time of assemblie were called by name. † And when they had stoode vp against Moyses and 3 Aaron, they said: Let it suffice you, that So Luther ( li. de abrog. Missa) and other enimies of Ecclesiastical Hiererchy, wil haue no proper Priesthood in the Church of Christ because al Christians are called a holie priestbood. 1: Pet. 2 and Priestes. Apoc. 1. al the multitude consisteth of holie ones, and our Lord is among them: Why lift you vp your selues aboue the people of our Lord? † Which 4 when Moyses had heard, he fel flatte on his face: † and speaking 5 to Core and al the multitude, he said: In the morning our Lord wil make it knowne who pertaine to him, and the holie the wil ioyne to him selfe: and whom he shal choose, they shal approch to him. † This do therfore: Take euerie 6 man their censars, thou Core, and al thy councel: † and taking 7 fire in them to morrow, put vpon it incense before our Lord: and whom soeuer he shal choose, the same shal be holie: you do much exalt your selues ye sonnes of Leui. † And 8 he said againe to Core: Heare ye sonnes of Leui, † Is it a 9 smal thing vnto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from al the people, and ioyned you to him selfe, that you should serue him in the seruice of the tabernacle, and should [Page 356] stand before the ful assemblie of the people, and should minister to him? † did he therfore make thee and al thy brethren 10 the sonnes of Leui to approch vnto him, that you should chalenge vnto you the priesthood also, † and al thy companie 11 should stand against our Lord? for what is Aaron that you murmur against him? † Moyses therfore sent to cal Dathan 12 and Abiron the sonnes of Eliab. Who answered: We come not. † Why, is it a smal matter to thee that thou hast brought 13 vs out of a land, that folowed with milke and honie, to kil vs in the desert, vnles thou rule also like a lord ouer vs? † In deede hast thou brought vs into a land, that floweth 14 with riuers of milke and honie, & hast thou geuen vs possessions of fieldes & vineyardes? What, wilt thou plucke out our eies also? We come not. † Moyses therfore being very wrath, 15 said to our Lord: Respect not their sacrifices: thou knowest that I haue not taken of them so much as a little asse at anie time, neither haue afflicted anie of them. † And he said to 16 Core: Thou, and al thy congregation stand ye apart before our Lord, and Aaron to morrow apart. † Take euerie one 17 your censars, and put incense vpon them, offering to our Lord two hundred fiftie censars: Let Aaron also hold his censar. † Which when they had done, Moyses and Aaron standing, 18 † and had heaped together al the multitude against them 19 to the dore of the tabernacle, the glorie of our Lord appeared to them al. † And our Lord speaking to Moyses and Aaron, 20 said: † Separate your selues from the middes of this congregation, 21 that I may sodenly destroy them. † Who felilatte on 22 their face, and said: Most mightie God of the spirites of al flesh, when one sinneth, shal thy wrath rage against al? † And our Lord said to Moyses: † Command the whole 23 24 people that they separate them selues from the tabernacles of Core and Dathan and Abiron. † And Moyses arose, and 25 went to Dathan and Abiron: and the ancientes of Israel folowing him, † he said to the multitude: Depart from the tabernacles 26 of the impious men, and touch not the thinges that pertaine to them, Those that touch things perteining to impietie, or depart not from the tabernacles of schismatikes are inwrapped in their sinnes: much more to goe vnto bcretical Synagogues is condemned. See [...] Cyprian. li. de la [...]s. [...]a ag. [...]. lest you be wrapped in their sinnes. † And when they were departed from their tentes round about, 27 Dathan and Abiron coming forth stood in the entrie of their pauilions with their wiues and children, and al the multitude. † And Moyses said: Moyses pro [...]ed before▪ by miracles, ( Exod. 4.) that he was sent of God: and now he proueth againe by miracle, that he and Aaron, and not these schismatikes were called and sent by God to gouerne his people. In this you shal know 28 that our Lord hath sent me to do al thinges that you see, and [Page 357] that I haue not forged them of my owne mind: † If they die 29 the accustomed death of men, and if the plague, wherwith others also are wont to be visited, do visite them, out Lord did not send me: † but if our Lord do a new thing, that the 30 earth opening her mouth swallow them downe, & al thinges that pertaine to them, and they descend quicke into hel, you shal know that they haue blasphemed our Lord. † Immediatly 31 therfore as he ceased to speake, the earth brake insunder vnder their feete: † and opening her mouth, deuoured them 32 with their tabernacles & al their substance. † and they went 33 downe into hel quicke couered with the ground, and perished out of the middes of the multitude. † But al Israel, that 34 stoode round about, fled at the cric of them that perished, saying: Lest perhappes the earth swallow vs also. † But a fire 35 also coming forth from our Lord, slew the two hundred fiftie men, that offered the incense. † And our Lord spake 36 to Moyses, saying: † Command Aaron being already established high Priest, God againe confirmeth in [...]le [...] zar the progenie of priestlie succession, in Aarons stock, and no [...] in other Leuites. S. Aug, q. 30. in [...]um. El [...]zar the sonne of Aaron 37 the priest that he take vp the censars that lie in the burning fire, and that he sprinkle the fire hither and thither: because they be sanctified † in the deathes of the sinners: 38 and let him beate them into plates, and fasten them to the altar, because there hath bene offered incense in them to the Lord, and they are sanctified, that the children of Israel may see them for a signe and a monument. † Eleazar therfore the 39 priest tooke the brasen censars, wherin they had offered, whom the burning fire deuoured, and bette them into plates, fastening them to the altar: † that the children of Israel 40 afterward might haue, wherwith to be admonished, that no stranger approch, and he that is not of the seede of Aaron, to offer incense to our Lord, lest he suffer as Core hath suffered, and al his congregation, according as our Lord spake to Moyses. † And al the multitude of the children of Israel murmured 41 the day folowing against Moyses and Aaron, saying: You haue killed the people of our Lord. † And when there rose 42 a sedition, and the tumult grew farder, † Moyses and Aaron 43 fled to the tabernacle of couenant. Which after they were entred the cloude couered it, and the glorie of our Lord appeared. † And our Lord said to Moyses: † Depart from the 44 middes of this multitude, This multitude did only in wordes fauour schisma [...]kes, what iudgemēt then remaineth to those which [...] external ac [...] participat [...] [...] hereti [...] ▪ euen now wil I destroy them. 45 And as they lay vpon the ground, † Moyses said to Aaron: 46 Take the censar, and drawing fire from the altar, put incense [Page 358] vpon it, going quickly to the people to pray for them: for euen now is the wrath come forth from our Lord, and the plague rageth. † Which when Aaron had done, and had 47 runne to the middes of the multitude, which now the burning fire did waste, he offered the incense: † and standing 48 betwen the deade and the liuing, he prayed for the people, and the plague ceased. † And there were, that were strooken, 49 fourtene thousand and seuen hundred men, beside them that had perished in the sedition of Core. † And Aaron returned 50 to Moyses vnto the doore of the tabernacle of couenant after that the destruction was ceased.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVI.

2. Rose against Moyses.] By this most famous Schisme and terrible punishment This historie [...]others others were writtē for our admonition. 1. Cor. 10. Core and his c [...]plices were not heretikes, but only schismatikes. therof, al are warned to kepe order, vnitie, and peace within the Church of God; and in nowise to communicate with heretikes, or schismatikes in the act of heresie or schisme. A necessarie admonition especially in such times and places as we liue in, and see greater breaches made from ordinarie and lawful Pastors, then this was. For as S. Ignatius wel noteth ( Epist. 3. ad Magnatianos) Core Dathan and Abiron impugned not directly the law, but resisted Moyses and Aaron: Yet were they and manie thousandes with them, seuerly punished for their conspiracie. S. Cyprian ( lib. 1. Epist. 6.) obserueth the same, saying: Core Dathan and Abiron acknowledged the same God with Aaron and Moyses, liuing vnder the same law and religion, and inuocated one true God, yet because, passing the appointed ministerie of their owne place, opposite to Aaron (who by Gods fauour and ordinance had receiued lawful Priesthood) they tooke vpon them to sacrifice, they were forthwith punished by God for their God accepteth not sacrifice done against his ordinance. vnlawful attempts: neither could their sacrifices irreligiously and vnlawfully offered against Gods ordinance be ratified, nor profite them at al. thus teacheth S. Cyprian the glorious Martyr. And the text is clere, that they were neither Idolaters nor Heretikes, but the chiefe of them being Leuites, of the familie of Caath, (who were nerestin kinred, and in office to the priests) and other principal men of diuets tribes, enuying the superioritie of Moyses and Aaron, and that priesthood was established only in Aarons progenie, arrogated to themselues the office of priests and offered incense, further pretending, for vpholding their schisme, that there should be no Superior at al aboue the holie people of God, which albeit they did not beleue, yet therby they drew the multitude to fauour and folow them. But God deciding this debate, to take God by [...]pre [...]hmēt pre [...]nted heres [...], wherto al [...] tendeth. away the contradiction, made the earth to open, and swallow vp those that first refused to obey Moyses, with their tabernacles and substance; and fire from heauen to consume two hundred and fiftie which offered incense; and fourtene thousand seuen hundred of the common people, for imputing to their Superiors the destruction of the sedicious, were also consumed with fire, raging amongst the whole multitude, til Aaron sent by Moyses, and offering incense [Page 359] appeased Gods wrath, and saued the rest. And wil anie Christians, (that know Not only the authores of wickednes, bu [...] al that con [...]nt, much more that cooperate, ar [...] vvorthie of death. Rom. [...]. they haue immoital soules, and that God is a iust Iudge) thincke to escape with lesse damnation, who for anie worldlie game, fauour, or feare, yeld their bodilie and personal presence at seruice or sermon of heretikes, oranic way communicate with heretikes in practise of heresie?

CHAP. XVII. Moyses taking of the princes of twelue tribes twelue roddes, and one of Aaron for the tribe of Leui, layeth them al in the tabernacle al night, 8. where Aarons rodde (and none of the rest) buddeth, bloometh, and bringeth forth fruite, 9. And al being shewed to the people, Aarons is caried back, and kept for a monument in the tabernacle.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Speake to 1 2 the children of Israel, and For more satisfaction to the whole people God confirmeth Aarons authoritie by a new miracle. v. 10. take a rodde of euerie one of their kinredes, of al the princes of their tribes, twelue roddes, and the name of euerie one thou shalt write vpon his rodde. † and the name of Aaron shal be in the tribe of Leui, 3 and one rodde shal conteine al their families: † and thou 4 shalt lay them in the tabernacle of couenant before the testimonie, where I wil speake to thee. † Whomsoeuer of 5 these I shal choose, his rodde shal blossome: and I shal stay from me the grudginges of the children of Israel, wherwith they murmur against you. † And Moyses spake to the children 6 of Israel: and al the princes gaue him roddes by euerie tribe: and they were twelue roddes besides Aarons rodde. † Which when Moyses had laid before our Lord in the tabernacle 7 of testimonie: † returning the day folowing he 8 found that“ Aarons The rodde signified the B. Virgin mother; and the rodde in the house of Leui was budded: and the buddes therof swelling, the blossomes were shotte forth, which spredding the leaues, were desormat [...] fully formed. fashioned into almondes Christ, to wit, the v [...]te [...] pill his humanitie, the shel his crosse, the kernel his diuinitie: VVho pacified by the bloud of his crosse, al thinges in earth and in heauen. Collos. 1. S. Aug. ser. 3. de temp. almondes. † Moyses therfore brought forth al the 9 roddes from the sight of our Lord to al the children of Israel: and they saw and euerie one receiued their roddes. † And 10 our Lord said to Moyses: Carie backe Aarons rodde into the tabernacle of testimonie, that it may be kept there for a signe of the rebellious children of Israel, and let their complaintes cease from me, lest they die. † And Moyses did as our Lord 11 had commanded. † And the children of Israel said to Moyses: 12 Behold we are consumed, we are al perished. † Whosoeuer 13 approcheth to the tabernacle of our Lord, he dieth. Are we al to be destroyed vnto vtter consumption?

[Page 360]

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVII.

8. Aarons rodde.] This rodde without roote, neither it self planted, nor anie liue branch ingraffed therin, al drie without iuyce or moisture, bringing Example of one miracle proueth the possibilitie of an other. forth buddes, flowers, and fruite, was a figure that our B. Ladie should beare a sonne, and remaine a Virgin. And this example euidently demonstrateth that she could so do, it being no more contrarie to nature, that a virgin should conceiue, and beare a child without losse of virginitie, then that the drie rodde should bud and beare fruite, without ordinarie concourse of nature. S. Aug. ser. 3. de temp. S. Greg. Nisse [...]. de natiuit. Dom. S. Bernard. ho. 2. in Euang. Missus est.

CHAP. XVIII. The charge and burden of Priestes within the tabernacle, and of Leuites about the same. 8. First fruites, and oblations are due to the Priestes; 21. the tithes to the Leuites; 26. who of the same pay tithes to the Priestes.

AND our Lord said to Aaron: Thou, and thy sonnes, 1 and the house of thy father with thee shal beare the iniquitie of the Sanctuarie: both thou & thy sonnes together shal beare the sinnes of your priesthood. † but thy brethren 2 also of the tribe of Leui, and the scepter of thy father take with thee, and let them be readie at hand, and minister to thee: but thou and thy sonnes shal minister in the tabernacle of testimonie. † And the Leuites shal watch vpon thy preceptes, 3 and vpon al the workes of the tabernacle: so not withstanding, that they approch not to the vessel of the Sanctuarie and to the altar, lest both they die, and you perish withal. † but let them be with thee, and watch in the custodies 4 of the tabernacle, and in al the ceremonies therof. A stranger shal not ioyne with you. † Watch in the custodie 5 of the Sanctuarie, and in the ministerie of the altar: lest indignation rise vpon the children of Israel. † I haue geuen 6 you your brethren the Leuites out of the middes of the children of Israel, and haue deliuered them a gifte to the Lord, to serue in the ministeries of his tabernacle. † And thou and 7 thy sonnes looke to your priesthood: and al thinges that perteyne to the seruice of the altar, and that are within the vele, shal be executed by the priestes. if anie stranger approch, Oz [...] was slaine for touching the arck [...]. Reg. 6. he shal be slaine. † And our Lord spake to Aaron, behold I haue 8 geuen thee the custodie of my first fruites. Al thinges that are sanctified of the children of Israel, haue I deliuered to thee and to thy sonnes for the priestlie office, as euerlasting [Page 361] ordinances. † These thinges therfore shalt thou take of 9 those, that are sanctified, and are offered to the Lord. Al oblation, and sacrifice, and whatsoeuer is rendred to me for sinne and offence, & becometh Holie of holies, shal be thine, and thy sonnes. † In the Sanctuarie shalt thou eate it: males 10 onlie shal eate therof, because it is to thee a cōsecrated thing. † But the first fruites, which the children of Israel shal vow 11 and offer, I haue geuen thee, and thy sonnes, and thy daughters for a perpetual right. he that is cleane in thy house, shal eate them † Al the best of oile, and wine, and corne, whatsoeuer 12 first fruites they offer to the Lord, I haue geuen them to thee. † Of fruites al the first, that the ground bringeth 13 forth, and are brought to the Lord, shal turne to thy vses: he that is cleane in thy house, shal eate them. † Euerie thing 14 that the children of Israel render by vow, shal be thine. † Whatsoeuer first breaketh forth from the matrice of al 15 flesh, which they offer to the Lord, whether it be of men, or of beastes, shal be thy right: yet so, that for the first borne of man thou take a price, and euerie beast that is vncleane thou cause to be redemed, † whose redemption shal be after one 16 moneth, for fiue sicles of siluer, by the weight of the Sanctuarie. A sicle hath twentie oboles. † But the first borne 17 of beefe and sheepe and goate thou shalt not cause to be redemed, because they are sanctified to the Lord. onlie the bloud of them thou shalt powre vpon the altar, and the fatte thou shalt burne for a most sweete odour to the Lord. † But 18 the flesh shal turne to thy vse, as the consecrated brest, and the right shoulder, shal be thine. † Al the first fruites of the 19 Sanctuarie which the children of Israel offer to the Lord, haue I geuen thee and thy sonnes, and daughters for a perpetual right This couenant of firstfruites and other rights geuen to the Priests shal be perpetual, as salt is in euerie sacrifice. Leuit. 2. A couenant of salt is it for euer before the Lord, to thee and to thy sonnes. † And our Lord said to Aaron: 20 In their land you shal possesse nothing, neither shal you haue a portion among them: I am thy portion and inheritance in the middes of the children of Israel. † And to the sonnes of 21 Leui I haue geuen al the tithes of Israel in possession for the ministerie wherwith they serue me in the tabernacle of couenant: † that the children of Israel approch not any more 22 to the tabernacle, nor committe Punishable with death. deadlie sinne, † onlie 23 the sonnes of Leui seruing me in the tabernacle, and bearing the sinnes of the people. it shal be an euerlasting ordinance in [Page 362] your generations. No other thing shal they possesse, † being 24 content with the oblation of tithes, which I haue separated for their vses and necessaries. † And our Lord spake to 25 Moyses, saying: † Command the Leuites, and denounce 26 vnto them: When you shal receiue of the children of Israel the tithes, which I haue geuen you, offer first fruites of them to the Lord, that is to say, the tenth part of the tenth: † that 27 it may be reputed to you for an oblation of first fruites, as wel of the barne floores as of the presses, † and of al thinges 28 wherof you receiue tithes, the first fruites offer to the Lord, and geue them to Aaron the priest. † Al thinges that you 29 shal offer of the tithes, and shal separate for the giftes of the Lord, they shal be the best and chosen thinges. † And thou 30 shalt say to them: If you offer al the goodlie and the better thinges of the tithes, it shal be reputed to you as if you had geuen first fruites of the barne floore and the presse: † and 31 you shal eate them in al your places, as wel you as your families: because it is the reward for the ministerie, wherwith you serue in the tabernacle of testimonie. † And you shal not 32 sinne in this point, reseruing the principal and fatte thinges to your selues lest you pollute the oblations of the children of Israel, and die.

CHAP. XIX. A redde cow is offered in burnt victime for sinne: 9. whose ashes are mingled in water, for expiation of diuers legal vncleanes, 11. as by touching the dead, 14. by entring into the tent of the dead, also the vessel that is therin, and the vessel that lacketh a couer, 22. and whatsoeuer the vncleane toucheth.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses and Aaron, saying: 1 † This is the religion of The same things saith S August. ( q. 33.) and Theodoret ( q. 36. in Num) which were shadow ed and prefigured in the old Testament, are reueled and manifested in the New. And this special sacrifice prefigured diuers particular things in Christs Passiō. the victime, which the 2 Lord hath appointed. Command the children of Israel, that they bring vnto thee His bodie of Adam signifying redde earth a redde cow of At the age of 33. yeares ful age, wherin is Alwayes most pure from sinne. no blemish, and that hath Free from al bondage. not caried yoke: † and you shal deliuer 3 her to Eleazar the priest. who bringing her forth Crucified without the gate of Hierusalem. without the campe, shal immolate her in the sight of al: † and 4 dipping his finger in her Al Sacramēts haue their vertue of Christs bloud. bloud, shal sprinkle it against the doores of the tabernacle seuen times, † and shal burne her 5 in the sight of al, committing From the sole of his feet to the toppe of his head al wounded, with the whippes, crowne, nailes. &c. aswel her skinne and the flesh as the bloud, and the dong to the fire. † VVood of the crosse brought life to the world. Wood also of the 6 cedar, and Liuely heate of so infinite charitie dissolueth the coldnes of death. hyssope, and scarlet Christs suffering an exāple that we must also sustaine afflictions. twise died shal the priest [Page 363] cast into the flame, that wasteth the cow. † And then at 7 length washing his garmentes, and his bodie, he shal enter into the campe, and Those that procured, o [...] cooperated to Christs death were polluted with sinne. shal be polluted vntil euen. † But he 8 also that burneth her, shal wash his garmentes and his bodie, and shal be vncleane vntil euen. † And Ioseph and Nicodemus buried Christ; a man that is cleane 9 shal gather the ashes of the cow, and shal powre them out without the campe in His sepulcher was glorious. a most cleane place, that they may be reserued for the multitude of the children of Israel, and for water of aspersion: because the cowe was burnt for sinne. † And when he that caried the ashes of the cow, hath washed 10 his garmentes, Those also that buried him, neded cloansing by his Passion, not for that work. but for their sinnes. he shal be vncleane The old law did not remitte sinnes but the new. vntil euen. The children of Israel, and the strangers that dwel among them, shal haue this for a holie thing by a perpetual ordinance. † He that 11 toucheth the dead corps of a man, and is vncleane therfore seuen daies: † shal be sprinkled of Baptisme in the name of the B. Trinitie this water the third day, 12 and the seuenth, and so shal be cleansed. If he were not sprinkled, the third day Without which no other Sacramēt auaileth. the seuenth day he can not be clensed. † Euerie one that toucheth the dead corps of mans soule, and 13 is not sprinkled with this commistion, shal pollute the tabernacle of the Lord, and shal perish out of Israel: because he was not sprinkled with the water of expiation, he shal be vncleane, and his filthinesse shal remaine vpon him. † This 14 is the law of the man that dieth in a tabernacle: Al that enter into his tent, and al the vessel that are there, shal be polluted seuen daies. † The vessel, that hath no couer, nor bynding 15 ouer it, shal be vncleane. † If any man in the field touch 16 the corps of a man that was slaine, or that died of himself, or his bone, or graue, he shal be vncleane seuen daies. † And 17 they shal take of the ashes of combustion and of sinne, and shal powre liuing water vpon them into a vessel. † in the 18 which when a man that is cleane hath dipped hyssope, he shal sprinkle therwith al the tent, and al the implementes, and the men polluted with such contagion: † and in this maner he 19 that is cleane shal purge the vncleane the third and seuenth day. And being expiated the senenth day, he shal wash both himself and his garmentes, and be vncleane vntil euening. † If anie man be not expiated after this rite, his soule shal 20 perish out of the middes of the Church: because he hath polluted the Lordes Sanctuarie, and is not sprinkled with water of lustration. † This precept shal be an ordinance for euer. 21 He also that sprinkleth the waters, shal wash his garmentes: [Page 364] Euerie one that toucheth the waters of expiation, shal be vncleane vntil euen. † Whatsoeuer he toucheth that is vncleane, 22 he shal make it vncleane: and the soule, that toucheth anie of these thinges, shal be vncleane vntil euen.

CHAP. XX. ari [...] the sister of Moyses dieth. 2. The people murmure for lack of water, 7. Moys [...]s and Aaron being commanded to draw some out of a rock, do it doutfully: 12. and for the same are foretold that they shal die in the desert. 14. Not obtaining licence to passe through Edom, 22. they come into Mount Hor, where Eleazar is ordained hiegh Priest, Aaron dieth, and is mourned by the people thirtie daie.

AND the children of Israel, and al the multitude came 1 into the desert Sin, the first moneth: and the people abode in Cades. And Marie died there, and was buried in the same place. † And when the people lacked water, they came 2 The Epistle on friday in the third weke of Lent. together against Moyses and Aaron: † and being turned 3 into sedition, said: Would God we had perished among our brethren before our Lord. † Why haue you brought forth 4 the Church of our Lord into the wildernesse, that both we and our cattel should die? † Why did you make vs ascend 5 out of Aegypt, and haue brought vs into this exceding naughtie place which can not be sowed, which bringeth forth neither figge, nor vines, nor pomegranates, moreouer also hath no water for to drinke? † And Moyses and Aaron, the multitude 6 being dismissed, entring into the tabernacle of couenant, fel flatte vpon the ground, and cried to our Lord, and said: Lord God heare the crie of this people, and open vnto them thy treasure the fountaine of liuing water, that being satisfied, their murmuring may cease. And the glorie of our Lord appeared ouer them. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, 7 saying: † Take the rodde, and assemble the people together, 8 thou and Aaron thy brother, and speake to The [...]ock signified Christ, the rodde his Crosse. s. Aug. [...] 35 in Num the rocke before them, and it shal geue waters. And when thou hast brought forth water out of the rocke, al the multitude shal drinke and their cattel. † Moyses therfore tooke the rodde, 9 which was in the sight of our Lord, as he commanded him, † the multitude being assembled before the rocke, and he 10 said to them: Heare ye rebellious and incredulous: Can we out of this rocke bring you forth water? † And when Moyses 11 had lifted vp his hand stricking the rocke, By this the crosse is more euidently signified, which was made of two peeces of wood. s. Aug. [...]. twise with [Page 365] the rodde, there came forth great plentie of water, so that the people drunke and their cattel. † And our Lord said to 12 Moyses and Aaron: Because Not doubting of Gods powre, but supposing it vnmete, that God shold stil worke miracles for so [...]b borne a people, they did not speake to the rock, asthey were cō manded, but chiding the incredulous multitude, spake to them ambiguously, & so by occasion of others sinne, also offended, and for the same were punished. [...]. P [...]ut. 1, v [...] [...], v. 16. & 4, [...], 2 [...]. s. Aug q. 19. The [...]. q 38, in Xu [...]. you haue not beleued me, to sanctifie me before the children of Israel, you shal not bring in these peoples into the land, which I wil geue them. † This 13 is the water of contradiction, where the children of Israel quarelled against our Lord, and he was sanctified in them. † In the meane time Moyses sent messengers from Cades to 14 the King of Edom, which should say: Thus thy brother Israel biddeth vs to say: Thou knowest al the labour, that hath taken vs, † in what maner our fathers went downe into Aegypt, 15 and there we dwelt a great time, and the Aegyptians afflicted vs, and our fathers: † and in what maner we cried 16 to our Lord, and he heard vs, and sent an Angel, that hath brought vs out of Aegypt. Loe being presently in the citie of Cades, which is in thy vttermost borders, † we besech thee 17 that we may haue licence to passe through thy countrie. We wil not goe through the fieldes, not through the vineyardes, we wil not drinke the waters of thy welles, but we wil goe the common high way, declining neither to the right hand, nor to the left, til we be past thy borders. † To whom Edom 18 answered: Thou shalt not passe by me, otherwise I wil come armed against thee. † And the children of Israel said: We 19 wil goe by the beaten way: and if we and the cattel drinke thy waters, we wil geue thee that which is iust: there shal be no difficultie in the price, only let vs passe speedely. † But 20 he answered: Thou shalt not passe: And immediatly he came forth to meete them with an infinitie multitude, and a strong hand, † neither would he condescend to them desiring to 21 grant them passage through his borders. For the which cause Israel turned an other way from him. † And when they had 22 remoued the campe from Cades, they came into the mountaine Hor, which is in the borders of the land of Edom: † Where our Lord spake to Moyses: † Let Aaron, sayeth he, 23 goe to his people: for he shal not enter to the Land, which I haue geuen the children of Israel, for that he was incredulous to my mouth, at the Waters of contradiction. † Take 25 Aaron and his sonne with him, and thou shalt bring them into the mountaine Hor. † And when thou hast vnuested 26 the father of his vesture, thou shalt reuest therewith Eleazar his sonne: Aaron shal be gathered, and die there. † Moyses 27 [Page 366] did as our Lord had commanded: and they went vp into the mountaine Hor before al the multitude. † And when he 28 had spoyled Aaron of his vestimentes, be reuested Eleazar his sonne with them. † After that he was dead in the toppe 29 of the mountaine, he went downe with Eleazar. † And al 30 the multitude seeing that Aaron was dead, Mourning the dead was long before this obserued by tradition. G [...]. 23. 50. mourned vpon him thirtie daies throughout al their families.

CHAP. XXI. Israelites at the first encounter with the Chananeites hauing the worse, after their vow kil the King of Arad, and destroy his cities. 4. The people againe murmuring are stricken with firie serpents, 7. but confessing their fault, Moyses by Gods commandment setteth vp a brasen serpent for a remedie. 10. They march through diuers places. 17. and sing a Canticle at a wel which God gaue them. 21. They kil Sehon King of the Amorreites, and conquer his land. 33. Likwise Og King of Basan.

VVHICH when the Chananeite king of Arad, who 1 dwelt toward the south, had heard, to wit, that Israel was come by the way of the spies, he fought against them, and being victour, he tooke the pray of them. † But 2 Israel binding himself, by vow to our Lord, said: If thou wilt deliuer this people into my hand, I wil destroy their cities. † And our Lord heard the prayers of Israel, and deliuered 3 the Chananeite, whom they slew ouerthrowing their cities: and they called the name of that place Horma, that is to say, Anathema. † And they marched also from the mountaine 4 Hor, by the way that leadeth to the Redde sea, that they might compasse the land of Edom. And the people began to be wearie of the iourney and labour: † and speaking 5 against God and Moyses, they said: Why didst thou bring vs out of Aegypt, to die in the wildernesse? There wanteth bread, waters there are none: our soule now lotheth at this most light meate. † Wherfore our Lord sent vpon the people 6 firie serpentes, at whose plagues and the deathes of verie manie, † they came to Moyses, and said: We haue sinned, 7 because we haue spoken against our Lord and thee▪ Pray that he take from vs the serpentes. And Moyses prayed for the people, † and our Lord spake to him: God forbidding images of idols, yet commandeth to make an image for a good purpose. Make a brasen 8 serpent, and sette in for a signe: he that being striken looketh on it, shal liue. † Moyses therfore made Christ expoundeth this erecting of the brasen serpent, of him self to be cru [...]fied. Ioan. 3. A BRASEN 9 SERPENT, and set it for a signe: whom when they that [Page 367] were striken, looked on, they were healed. † And the children 10 of Israel marching camped in Oboth. † Whence departing 11 they pitched their tentes in Ieabarim, in the wildernesse, that looketh toward Moab against the east part. † And 12 remouing from thence, they came to the Torrent Zared. † Which they forsaking camped against Arnon, which is in 13 the desert, & standeth out in the borders of the Amorrheite. For Arnon is the border of Moab, diuiding the Moabites & the Amorrheites. † Wherof it is said in the booke of 14 the warres of our Lord: As the Aegyptians were drowned in the sea; so the Amorrheites were oppressed by the rockes falling vpon them, & the waters caried their carcases into the valley of Moab. As he did in the Redde sea, so wil he doe in the streames of Arnon. † The rockes of the torrentes 15 were bowed, that they might rest in Ar, and lie in the borders of the Moabites. † From that place appeared the 16 wel, wherof our Lord spake to Moyses: Gather the people together, and I wil geue them water. † Then Israel sang 17 this verse: Arise the wel. They sang therto: † The wel, which 18 the princes digged, and the captaines of the multitude prepared in the law geuer, and in their staues. And they marched from the wildernesse to Mathana. † From Mathana vnto 19 Nahaliel: from Nahaliel vnto Bamoth. † From Bamoth is a 20 valley in the countrie of Moab, in the toppe of Phasga, which looketh toward the desert. † And Israel sent messengers to 21 Sehon King of the Amorrheites, saying: † I besech thee 22 that I may haue licence to passe through thy land: we wil not goe aside into the fieldes and the vineyardes, we wil not drinke waters of the welles, we wil goe the kinges high way, til we be past thy borders. † Who would not grant that Israel 23 should passe by his borders: but rather gathering an armie, went forth to meete them in the desert, and came vnto Iasa, and fought against them. † Of whom he was strooken 24 in the edge of the sword, and his land was possessed from Arnon vnto Ieboc, and to the children of Ammon: for the borders of the Ammonites were kept with a strong garrison. † Israel therfore tooke al his cities, and dwelt in the cities of 25 the Amorrheite, to wit, in Hesebon, and the villages therof. † The citie Hesebon was Sehons the king of the Amorrheite, 26 who fought against the king of Moab: and tooke al the land, that had bene of his dominion, as farre as Arnon. † Therfore it is said in the prouerbe: Come into Hesebon, 27 let the citie of Sehon be built and erected: † A fire went 28 forth from Hesebon, a flame from the towne of Sehon, and [Page 368] deuoured Ar of the Moabites, and the inhabitantes of the high places of Arnon. † Wo to thee Moab, thou art vndone 29 people of Chamos. He hath geuen his sonnes into flight, and his daughters into captiuitie to Sehon the King of the Amorrheites. † Their yoke is perished from Hesebon vnto 30 Dibo [...], they came wearie into Nophe, and vnto Medaba. † Israel therfore dwelt in the Land of the Amorrheite. 31 † And Moyses sent some to take a view of lazer: Whose villages 32 they tooke, and possessed the inhabitantes. † And 33 they turned them selues, and went vp by the way of Basan, and Og the King of Basan came against them with al his people, to fight in Edrai. † And our Lord said to Moyses: Feare 34 him not, for into thy hand I haue deliuered him, and al his people, and land: and thou shalt doe to him as thou didst to Sehon the King of the Amorrheites, the inhabiter of Hesebon. † They therfore smote him also With his sonnes, and 35 al his people vnto vtter destruction, and they possessed his land.

CHAP. XXII. Balac King of Moab fearing the Israelites, sendeth for Balaam a souths [...]r to curse them. 8. VVho consulting his false god, is forbid by God almightie to goe, and so excuseth him self. 15. Balac sendeth againe offering greater reward, 19. he againe consulteth, and God bidd [...]th him goe. [...]. but sendeth an Angel to meete him in the way, whom his asse seing, hu [...] neth three times, and so often he beateth her, 28. then she speaketh, expostulating his hard vsage. 31. he also seeth the Angel. 35. and is chargeg. [...] speake nothing but that the Angel shal suggest.

AND marching forward they camped in the champion 1 countrie of Moab, where Iericho is situated beyond Iordan. † And Balac the sonne of Sephor seeing al thinges 2 that Israel had done to the Amorrheite, † and that the Moabites 3 were in greate feare of him, and could not susteyne his assault, † he said to the elders of Madian: So wil this people 4 destroy al that dwel in our coastes, as the ox [...] is wont to eate the grasse vnto the verie rootes. And he was at the same time King in Moab. † He sent therfore messengers to Balaam the 5 sonne of Behor a Southsayer, who dwelt vpon the riuer of the land of the children of Ammon, to cal him, and to say: Behold a people is come out of Aegypt, that hath couered the [Page 369] face of the earth, sitting against me. † Come therfore, and 6 curse this people, because it is mightier then I: if by any meanes I may strike them and cast them out of my land▪ for I know that he is blessed whom thou shalt blesse, and cursed vpon whom thou shalt heape curses. † And the ancientes 7 of Moab went, and the elders of Madian, hauing the price of diuination in their handes. And when they were come to Balaam, and had told him al the wordes of Balac: † he 8 answered: Tarie here this night, and I wil answer whatsoeuer He consulted his false god, whom he serued, & called him the Lord, not knowing our Lord God almightie. Theodoret. q. 40. Pr [...]copius. in Num. the Lord shal say to me. And whiles they stayed with Balaam, God our Lord answered him, not suffering the diuel to speake in this case. God came, and said to him: † What would 9 these men that are with thee? † He answered: Balac the 10 sonne of Sephor king of the Moabites hath sent to me, † saying: Behold a people that is come out of Aegypt, hath 11 couered the face of the land: come, and curse them, if by any meanes fighting I may driue them away. † And God 12 said to Balaam: Goe not with them, neither doe thou curse the people: because it is blessed. † Who in the morning 13 arising said to the princes: Goe into your countrie, because the Lord hath forbid me to come with you. † The princes 14 returning, said to Balac: Balaam would not come with vs. † Againe he sent many moe and more noble, then he had 15 sent before. † Who when they were come to Balaam, said: 16 Thus sayeth Balac the sonne of Sephor: Slacke not to come to me: † for I am readie to honour thee, and whatsoeuer 17 thou wilt I wil geue thee: Come, and curse this people. † Balaam answered: If Balac would geue me his house ful 18 of siluer and gold, I can not change the word of the Lord my God, to speake either more, or lesse. † I besech you 19 that you wil also tarie here this night, and I may know what the Lord wil answer me Being sufficiently informed before, for worldlie lucre he demandeth againe, & God for his punishment letteth him goe: but suffereth him not to curse, no [...] speake euil of the Israelites, but cō trariwise to prophecie much good, which should come vnto them. once more. † God therfore came 20 to Balaam in the night, and said to him: If these men be come to cal thee, arise and goe with them: yet so, that thou doe that which I shal command thee. † Balaam arose in the 21 morning, and sadling his asse went with them. † And God 22 was angrie. And an Angel of our Lord stoode in the way against Balaam, who sate vpon the asse, and had two seruantes with him. † The asse seeing the Angel standing in the way, 23 with a drawen sword, turned her self out of the way, and went by the field. Whom when Balaam had bette, and had brought her againe to the beaten way, † the Angel 24 [Page 370] stoode in the streicttes of two walles, wherwith vineyardes were inclosed. † Whom the asse seeing, ioyned her selfe 25 close to the wal, and brused the foote of him that ridde. But he beate her againe: † and neuerthelesse the Angel passing 26 to a narrow place, where there could be no going a side neither to the right hand nor to the left, stoode to meete him. † And when the asse had seene the Angel standing, she fel 27 vnder the feete of the rider. Who being angrie, bette her sides with a staffe more vehemently. † And our Lord opened 28 the mouth of the asse, and she spake: What haue I done to thee? why strikest thou me? loe now the third time? † Balaam Nothing is here to be more merueled ( sayeth S. Augustin) then that he was not afraide whē he heard his asse speake vnto him. But being accustomed to such monstruous things he replied familiarly, nothing therwith astoonished. answered: Because thou hast deserued, and hast 29 abused me: I would I had a sword, that I might kil thee. † The asse said: Am not I thy beast, on which thou hast 30 beene alwayes accustomed to ride vntil this present day? tel me what like thing did I euer to thee. But he said: Neuer. † Forthwith our Lord opened the eies of Balaam, and he 31 Yet seing an Angel, he fel downe terrified, and adored him. [...]. 48. in Num. saw the Angel standing in the way with a drawen sword, and he Balaam knowing him to be an Angel that appeared, neither adored him with diuine honour as God, nor with ciuil, as a mortal man, but with religious honour, lesse then diuine, & more then ciuil. See Exod. 20. adored him flatte to the ground. † To whom the 32 Angel said: Why beatest thou thy asse the third time? I am come to withstand thee, because thy way is peruerse, and contrarie to me: † and vnlesse the asse had turned out of 33 the way, geuing place to me resisting thee, I had slaine thee, and she should haue liued. † Balaam said: I haue 34 sinned, not knowing that thou didst stand against me: and now if it displease thee that I goe, I wil returne. † The 35 Angel said: God sometimes maketh false prophetes to vtter a truth, because preiudicate mindes do rather geue eare to such, thē to true prophetes. Theod. q. 45. in Num. Goe with these men, and see thou speake no other thing then I shal command thee. He went therfore with the princes. † Which when Balac heard, he came forth 36 to meete him in a towne of the Moabites, that is situated in the vttermost borders of Arnon. † And he said to Balaam: I 37 sent messengers to cal thee, why didst thou not come immediatly vnto me? was it because I can not reward thy coming? † To whom he answered: Loe here I am: Shal I be able to 38 speake any other thing, but that which God shal put in my mouth? † They therfore went on together, and came into 39 a citie, that was in the vttermost borders of his kingdome. † And when Balac had killed oxen, & sheepe, he sent therof 40 to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him, presentes. † And when morning was come, he brought him to the excelses 41 of Baal, and he beheld the vttermost part of the people.

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CHAP. XXIII. Balaam endeuoureth to curse Israel, but God forceth him to blesse them. 11. Againe he vrgeth him to curse them, but he stil prophecieth good things of them. 26. Yet Balac insisteth willing him to curse, or not to blesse them.

AND Balaam said to Balac: Before the diuel would curse Gods people he required sacrifice▪ which being offered yet he could not worke his malice. For by Gods commandmēs ( saith S. Hierom. de mans. 42.) Israel is blessed, cursing turned into praise and Gods voice is heard sounding from a profaine mouth. Build me here seuen altares, 1 and prepare as manie calues, and rammes of the same number. † And when he had done according to the 2 word of Balaam, they together laid a calfe and a ramme vpon an altar. † And Balaam said to Balac: Stand a while beside 3 thy holocauste, vntil I goe, if happely the Lord wil meete me, and whatsoeuer he shal command, I wil speake to thee. 4 † And when he was gone in hast, God mette him. And Balaam speaking to him, said: I haue erected seuen altares, 5 and haue laid thereon a calse and a ramme. † And our Lord put a word in his mouth, and said: Returne to Balac, and 6 thus shalt thou speake. † Returning he found Balac standing beside his holocauste, and al the princes of the Moabites: 7 † and taking vp his parable, he said: From Aram hath Balac King of the Moabites brought me, from the mountaines of the East: Come, quoth he, and curse Iacob: make 8 hast, and detest Israel. † How shal I curse, whom God hath not cursed? By what meanes may I detest, whom the Lord 9 detesteth not? † From the highest flintes shal I see him, and from the hilles shal I view him. The people shal dwel alone, 10 and among the Gentiles shal not be accounted. † Who may be able to number the dust of Iacob, and to know the number of the stocke of Israel? Heretikes, & other infidels desire sometimes to die in state of Catholiques, though they wil not liue as they do. S. Greg. li. 33. c. 27. Moral. My soule die the death of the 11 iust, and my last endes be made like to them. † And Balac said to Balaam: What is this that thou doest? That thou shouldest curse mine enemies I called thee: and thou contrariewise 12 blessest them. † To whom he answered: Can I speake ought els, but that which the Lord commandeth? 13 † Balac therfore said: Come with me into an other place whence thou mayest see part of Israel, and canst not see the 14 whole, from thence curse them. † And when he had brought him into a high place, vpon the toppe of the mountaine Phasga, Balaam builded seuen altares, & laying thereon 15 calues and rammes, † he said to Balac: Stand here beside 16 thy holocaust, whiles I goe to meete him. † Whom when our Lord had mette, and had put the word in his mouth, he said: [Page 372] Returne to Balac and thus thou shalt speake to him. † Returning 17 he found him standing beside his holocauste, and the princes of the Moabites with him. To whom Balac said: What hath the Lord spoken? † But he taking vp his parable, 18 said: Stand Balac, and harken, heare thou sonne of Sephor: † God is not as man, that he may lie, nor as the sonne of 19 man, that he may be changed. Hath he said then, and wil he not doe? hath he spoken, and wil he not fulfil? † I was 20 brought to blesse, the blessing I am not able to stay. † There 21 is no Idol in Iacob, neither is there [...]ikne [...] of id [...]l. simulachre to be seene in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, and the sound of the victorie of the king in him. † God hath brought him out 22 of Aegypt, whose strength is like to the vnicorne. † There 23 is no South saying in Iacob, nor diuination in Israel. In their times it shal be said to Iacob and Israel what God hath wrought. † Behold the people shal rise vp as a lionesse, and 24 as a lion shal raise it self: It shal not lie downe til it deuoure the pray, and drinke the bloud of the slaine. † And Balac 25 said to Balaam: VVhen Infidels can not draw others to false worship, or cursing, they are content that men professe no God, nor religion at al. neither curse, nor blesse him. † And he 26 said: Did I not tel thee, that whatsoeuer God should command me, that would I doe? † And Balac said to him: 27 Come, and I wil bring thee to an other place: if happely it please God that thence thou mayest curse them. † And when 28 he had brought him vpon the toppe of the mountaine Phogor, which looketh to the wildernesse, † Balaam said to him: 29 Build me here seuen altares, and prepare as manie calues, and rammes of the same number. † Balac did as Balaam had said: 30 and he laide the calues and the rammes on euerie altar.

CHAP. XXIIII. Balaam forced by the euidence of truth (though not conuerted in wil to serue God, whom he confesseth to be omnipotent) prophecieth stil more good of Israel: 10. wherefore Balac interrupteth him, and he answereth plainly that God almightie wil haue it so. 15. And so proceeding he prophecieth of CHRIST. 20. Also of Amalacheites, Cineites, and Italians.

AND when Balaam had seene that it pleased our Lord 1 that he should blesse Israel, he went not as before he had gone, to seeke Southsaying: but directing his countenance against the desert, † and lifting vp his eies, he saw 2 Israel abiding in their tentes by their tribes: and the spirit of [Page 373] God coming The spirite of prophecie came more vpon him, but not grace iustifying: M [...] do prophecie, and cast out diuels, and worke other miracles, and yet be dāned Mat. 7. v. 22. vehemently vpon him, † taking vp his parable 3 he said: Balaam the sonne of Beor hath said: The man hath said: whose eye is stopped: † The hearer of the wordes 4 of God hath said, he that hath beholden the vision of the Omnipotent, he that falleth, and so his eies are opened: † How beautiful are thy tabernacles ô Iacob, and thy tentes 5 ô Israel! † As wooddie valleis, as watered gardens beside 6 the riuers, as tabernacles which the Lord hath pitched, as cedres by the waters side. † Water shal flow out of his 7 bucket, and his seede shal be into manie waters. For Agag shal his king be taken away, and his kingdom shal be taken away. † God hath brought him out of Aegypt, whose strēgth 8 is like to the rhinocerote. They shal deuoure nations his enimies, and breake their bones, and pearce them with arrowes. † Lying he hath slept as a lion, and as a lionesse, 9 whom none shal be bold to rayse vp. He that blesseth thee, him self also shal be blessed: he that curseth thee, shal be reputed accurst. † And Balac being angrie against Balaam, 10 clapping his handes together said: To curse mine enemies I called thee, whom thou contrariewise hast blessed the third time: † returne to thy place. I was determined verily to 11 honour thee magnifically, but the Lord hath depriued thee of the honour appointed. † Balaam made answer to Balac: 12 did I not say to thy messengers, whom thou didst send to me: † If Balac would geue me his house ful of siluer and gold, I 13 can not passe the word of the Lord my God, to vtter of my owne minde either any good, or euil: but whatsoeuer the Lord shal say, that wil I speake? † But yet going to my people, 14 I wll geue thee counsel, what thy people shal doe to this people in the last time. † Therfore taking vp his parable, 15 againe he said: Balaam the sonne of Beor hath said: The man whose eye is stopped, hath said: † the hearer of the 16 wordes of God hath said, who knoweth the doctrine of the Highest, and seeth the visions of the Omnipotent, who falling hath his eies opened. † I shal see him, but not now: I 17 shal behold him but not neere. In some [...]o [...] this prophecie was fulfilled in King Dauid. 2. Reg. 5. 8. & seq. but perfectly in Christ the bright, and mornīg starre▪ Apoc. 22. To whom not anie one, or manie, but in general al nations are geuē for inheritāce, and the endes of the world, in possession. Psal. 2. Act. [...]. v. 8. A STARRE SHAL RISE out of Iacob, and a rodde shal arise from Israel: and shal strike the dukes of Moab, and shal waist al the children of Seth. † And Idumea shal be his possession: the inheritance 18 of Seir shal come to their enemies: but Israel shal doe manfully. † Of Iacob shal he be that shal rule, and shal 19 [Page 374] destroy the remaines of the citie. † And when he had seene 20 Amalec, taking vp his parable, he said: Amalec the beginning of Gentiles, whose latter endes shal be destroyed. † He 21 saw also the Cineite: and taking vp his parable, he said: Thy habitation in deede is strong: but if thou build thy nest in a rocke, † and thou be chosen of the stocke of Cin, how 22 long shalt thou be able to continew? For Assur shal take thee. † And taking vp his parable againe he spake: Alas, 23 who shal liue, when God shal doe these thinges? † They 24 shal come in galleies from Italie, they shal ouercome the Assyrians, and shal waist the Hebrewes, and at the last them selues also shal perish. † And Balaam rose, and returned into 25 Not to his countrie, but to his place of abode among the Madianites: for there he was slaine shortly after. chap. 31. v. 8. his place: Balac also returned the way that he came.

CHAP. XXV. By carnal fornication manie are drawen to spiritual. For which twentie foure thousand are slaine. 10. Phinees his Zele in stabbing to death two fornicators, is commended by God, and rewarded.

AND Israel at that time abode in Settim, and the people 1 Balaam gaue this diuelish counsel to allure men by bellichere and lecherie vnto idolatrie. chap. 31. v. 16. And euen so Heretikes drawe manie in these daies to heresie. Sea Apoc. 2. v. 14. fornicated with the daughters of Moab, † who called 2 them to their sacrifices. And they did eate and adore their goddes. † And Israel was professed to Beelphegor, and our 3 Lord being angtie, † said to Moyses: Take al the princes of 4 the people, and hang By assistance of the princes hang the idolaters. v. 5. them vp against the sunne on gibbettes: that my furie may be auerted from Israel. † And 5 Moyses said to the Iudges of Israel: Kil euerie man his neighbours, that are professed to Beelphegor. † And behold one 6 of the children of Israel entred in before the face of his brethren to a whore a Madianite in the sight of Moyses, and of al the multitude of the children of Israel, who wept before the doores of the tabernacle. † Which thing when Phinees 7 had sene the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest, he arose out of the middes of the multitude, and catching a dagger, † went in after the man of Israel into the brothel 8 house, and thrust them through both together, to witte, the man and the woman in the genitalles. And the plague ceased from the children of Israel, † and there were slaine fowre 9 and twentie thowsand men. † And our Lord said to Moyses: 10 † Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest 11 Either Phinees was one of the Iudges▪ and so an example for such Magistrates to do iustice; or he had a particular inspiration, which is no warrant for priuate men, to do the like. For by Catholique doctrin, killing of men is neither allowed, nor excused but whē it is done by publique authoritie, or by mere casualitie, against the killers wil. Catechis. Rom. p. 3. c. 6. q. 5. D. T [...]. 2. 2. q. 60 a. 6. hath auerted my wrath from the children of Israel: because he was moued with my zele against them, that my self [Page 375] might not destroy the children of Israel in mine owne zele. † Therfore speake to him: Behold I geue him the peace of 12 my couenant, † and there shal be as wel to him as to his 13 seede the couenant of priesthood for euer, because he hath bene zelous for his God, and hath expiated the wicked fact of the children of Israel. † And the name of the man of Israel, 14 that was slaine with the woman of Madian, was Zambri the sonne of Salu, a prince of the kinred and tribe of Simeon. † Moreouer the Madianesse, that was slaine with him, was 15 called Cozbi the daughter of Sur a most noble prince of the Madianites. † And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Let 16 17 the Madianites finde you their enemies, and strike you them: † Because they also haue done like enemies against you, and 18 haue guilfully deceiued you by the Idol Phogor, and Cozbi the daughter of the duke of Madian their sister, who was strooken in the day of the plague for the sacrilege of Phogor.

CHAP. XXVI. Al the men of twelue tribes being againe numbered, from the age of twentie yeares and vpward, are found to be six hundred one thousand seuen hundred and thirtie. 57. Of the tribe of Leui also, numbered of the male sex from the age of one moneth and vpward, are found twentie three thousand. 64. al being dead in the desert, which were numbered before, except Caleb and Iosue.

AFTER Gods wrath being pacified by extirpation of the old bad people, the new progenie is numbered which shal possesse the promised land S. Hierom. de Mans. 42. to. 3. the bloud of the offenders was shed, our Lord 1 said to Moyses and Eleazar the sonne of Aaron, the priest: † Number the whole summe of the children of Israel 2 from twentie yeares and vpward, by their houses and kinredes, al that can goe forth to warres. † Moyses therfore 3 and Eleazar the priest spake, in the champion countrie of Moab vpon Iordan against Iericho, to them that were † from twentie yeares and vpward, as our Lord had commanded, 4 of whom this is the number: † Ruben the first 5 borne of Israel, his sonne, Henoch, of whom is the familie of the Henochites: and Phallu, of whom is the familie of the Phalluites: † and Hesron, of whom is the familie of the 6 Hesronites: and Charmi, of whom is the familie of the Charmites. † These are the families of the stocke of Ruben: 7 whose number was found fourtie three thousand, and seuen hundred thirtie. † The sonne of Phallu, Eliab. † his sonnes, 8 9 Namuel and Dathan and Abiron. These are Dathan and [Page 376] Abiron the princes of the people, that rose against Moyses and Aaron in the sedition of Core, when they rebelled against our Lord: † and the earth opening her mouth deuoured 10 Core, verie manie dying, when the fire burnt two hundred fiftie men. And there was a great miracle done, † that Core perishing, They were retained in the ayre, til the earth broken vnder them was closed againe. his sonnes perished not. † The 11 sonnes of Simeon by their kinredes: Namuel, of him is the 12 familie of the Namuelites: Iamin, of him is the familie of the Iaminites: Iachin, of him is the familie of Iachinites: † Zare, of him is the familie of the Zareites: Saul, of him 13 is the familie of the Saulites. † these are the families of the 14 stocke of Simeon, of which the whole number was two and twentie thousand two hundred. † The sonnes of Gad by 15 their kinredes: Sephon, of him is the familie of the Sephonites: Aggi of him is the familie of the Aggites: Suni, of him is the familie of the Sunites: † Ozni, of him is the famile 16 of the Oznites: Her, of him is the familie of the Herites: † Arod of him is the familie of the Arodites: Ariel, of 17 him is the familie of the Arielites. † these are the families of 18 Gad, of which the whole number was fourtie thousand fiue hundred. † The sonnes of Iudas, Her, and Onan, who died 19 both in the land of Chanaan. † And the sonnes of Iudas by 20 their kinredes were: Sela, of whom is the familie of the Selaites: Phares, of whom is the familie of the Pharesites: Zare, of whom is the familie of the Zareites. † Moreouer 21 the sonnes of Phares: Hesron, of whom is the familie of the Hesronites: and hamul, of whom is the familie of the Hamulites. † these are the families of Iudas, of which the whole 22 number was seuentie six thousand fiue hundred. † The 23 sonnes of Issachar, by their kinredes: Thola, of whom is the familie of the Tholaites: Phua, of whom is the familie of the Phuaites: † Iasub, of whom is the familie of the Iasubites: 24 Semran, of whom is the familie of the Semranites. † these are the kinredes of Issachar, whose number sixtie 25 fowre thousand three hundred. † The sonnes of Zabulon 26 by their kinredes: Sared, of whom is the familie of the Saredites: Elon of whom is the familie of the Elonites: Ialel, of whom is the familie of Ialelites. † These are the kinredes of 27 Zabulon, whose number was sixtie thousand fiue hundred. † The sonnes of Ioseph by their kinredes, Manasses and Ephraim. 28 † Of Manasses was borne Machir, of whom is the 29 [Page 377] familie of the Machirites. Machir begat Galaad, of whom is the familie of the Galaadites. † Galaad had sonnes: Iezer, 30 of whom is the familie of the Iezerites: and Helec, of whom is the familie of the Helecites. † and Asriel, of whom is 31 the familie of the Asrielites: and Sechem, of whom is the familie of the Sechemites. † and Semida, of whom is the familie 32 of the Semidaites: and Hepher, of whom is the familie of the Hepherites. † And Hepher was the father of Salphaad, 33 who had no sonnes, but onlie daughters, whose names are these: Maala, and Noa, and Hegla, and Melcha, and Tersa. † these are the families of Manasses, and the number of them 34 is fiftie two thousand seuen hundred. † And the sonnes of 35 Ephraim by their kinredes were these: Suthala, of whom is the familie of the Suthalaites: Becher, of whom is the familie of the Becherites: Thehen, of whom is the familie of the Thehenites. † Moreouer the sonne of Suthala was Heran, 36 of whom is the familie of the Heranites. † these are the 37 kinredes of the sonnes of Ephraim: whose number was thirtie two thousand fiue hundred. † These are the sonnes of 38 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 39 familie of the Suphamites: Hupham, of whom is the familie of the Huphamites. † The sonnes of Bela: Hered, and Noeman. 40 Of Hered, the familie of the Heredites: of Noeman, the familie of the Noemanites. † These are the sonnes of 41 Beniamin by their kinredes, whose number was fourtie fiue thousand six hundred. † The sonnes of Dan by their kinredes: 42 Suham, of whom is the familie of the Suhamites: these are the kinredes of Dan by their families. † al were Suhamites, 43 whose number was sixtie foure thousand foure hundred. † The sonnes of Aser by their kinredes: Iemna, of 44 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 45 of the Heberites: and Melchiel, of whom is the familie of the Melchielites. † And the name of the daughter of 46 Aser, was Sara. † these are the kinredes of the sonnes of 47 Aser, and their number fiftie three thousand foure hundred. † The sonnes of Nephthali by their kinredes: Iesiel, of 48 [Page 378] whom is the familie of the Iesielites: Guni, of whom is the familie of the Gunites, † Ieser, of whom is the familie of 46 the Ieserites: Sellem, of whom is the familie of the Sellemites. † these are the kinredes of the sonnes of Nephthali by 50 their families: whose number was fourtie fiue thousand foure hundred. † This is the summe of the children of Israel, that 51 were reckened, six hundred thousand, and a thousand seuen hundred thirtie. † And our Lord spake to Moyses saying: 52 † To these shal the land be diuided according to the number 53 of names for their possessions. † To the greater number 54 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 55 tribes and the families. † Whatsoeuer shal chance by lotte, 56 that let either the more take, or the fewer. † This also is the 57 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 58 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 Amram maried his aunt: which sheweth that the second degree in consanguinitie is not forbid by the law of nature; though it was after prohibited by a positiue law. Leuit. 18. the daughter of 59 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 60 and Ithamar: † of the which Nadab and Abiu died, when 61 they had offered the strange fyre before our Lord. † And al 62 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 63 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 64 numbered before by Moyses and Aaron in the desert of Sinai. † For our Lord had foretold that al should die in the wildernesse 65 And none remained of them, but Caleb the sonne of Iephone, and Iosue the sonne of Nun.

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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 1 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 2 priest, and al the princes of the people at the doore of the tabernacle of couenant, and said: † Our father died in the desert, 3 neither was he in the sedition, that was raised against our Lord vnder Core, but he died in For the general murmuring, wherof al the people were guiltie. cha. 14. [...]. 29. 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 4 cause to the iudgement of our Lord. † Who said to him: 5 † The Daughters of Salphaad require a iust thing: geue them 6 possession among their fathers kinne, and let them succede him in the inheritance. † And to the children of Israel thou 7 shalt speake these thinges: † When a man dieth without a 8 sonne, his inheritance shal passe to his daughter. † If he 9 haue no daughter, he shal haue his brethren his successours. † And if he haue no brethren neither, you shal geue the inheritance 10 to his fathers brethren. † but if he haue no such 11 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 12 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 13 goe to thy people, as thy brothet Aaron is gone: † because 14 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 [Page 380] Cades of the desert Sin. † To whom Moyses answered: 15 † Our Lord the God of the spirites of al flesh prouide a man, 16 that may be ouer this multitude: † and may goe out and enter 17 in before them, and bring them out, or bring them in: lest the people of our Lord be as sheepe without a Temporal Princes are also pastors, or shepheards of the people: but this made not Iosue supreme in spiritual causes. For it is clere in the next lines that he had but part of Moyses his glorie, or office▪ and that was to be temporal prince, Eleazar being chief in causes spiritual, before vvhom and the multitude he was ordained Duke, but Eleazar consulted God for him, and directed his principal actions, called here his going out, and going in. pastor. † And our Lord said to him: Take Iosue the sonne of Nun, a 18 man in whom is the Spirit, and put thy hand vpon him. † Who shal stand before Eleazar the priest and al the multitude: 19 † and thou shalt geue him preceptes in the sight of al, 20 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, 21 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 multitude. † Moyses did as out Lord 22 had commanded. And when he had taken Iosue, he sette him before Eleazar the priest, and al the assemblie of the people. † And imposing his handes on his head, he repeted al thinges 23 that our Lord had commanded.

CHAP. XXVIII. Special sacrifices are appointed for euerie day in the morning and euening. 9. Likewise for euerie Sabbath day, 11. for the first day of euerie moneth, 16. for Pasch, 26. and for Penticost.

OVR Lord also said to Moyses: † Command the children 1 2 of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: My oblation and breades, and burnt sacrifice of most sweete odour offer ye Varietie of Sacrifices for diuers times. in their times. † These are the sacrifices which you 3 must offer: Two lambes of a yeare old without blemish daily for Euerie day twise. the euerlasting holocaust: † one you shal offer in the 4 1. morning, and the other at euen: † the tenth part of an ephi 5 of floure, which shal be tempered with the purest oile, and shal haue the fourth part of an hin. † It is the continual holocaust 6 which you offered in Mount Sinai for a most sweete odour of the burnt sacrifice of the Lord. † and for a libament 7 you shal offer of wine the fourth part of an hin for euerie lambe in the Sanctuarie of the Lord. † And the other 8 lambe in like maner you shal offer at euen according to al the rite of the morning sacrifice, and of the libamentes therof, an oblation of most sweete odour to the Lord. † And on the 9 2. day of On the Sabbath day. the Sabbath, you shal offer two lambes of a yeare old without blemish, and two tenthes of flowre tempered [Page 381] with oile in sacrifice, and the libamentes † which are ritely 10 powred euerie Sabbath for an euerlasting holocaust. † And 11 3. in The Neomenia, or new moone. the Calendes you shal offer an holocauste to the Lord, two calues of the heard, one ramme, seuen lambes of a yeare old without blemish, † and three tenthes of flowre tempered 12 with oile in sacrifice for euerie calfe: and two tenthes of flowre tempered with oile to euerie ramme: † and the tenth 13 part of a tenth of flowre tempered with oile in sacrifice to euerie lambe. it is an holocaust of most sweete odour and burnt sacrifice to the Lord. † And the libamentes of wine, 14 that are to be powred for euerie victime, shal be these: The halfe part of an hin for euerie calfe, the third to a ramme, the fourth to alambe. this shal be the holocaust through al monethes, that succede one an other as the yeare turneth about. † A bucke goate also shal be offered to the Lord for sinnes 15 an euerlasting holocaust with his libamentes. † And in the 16 first moneth, Pasch, or Phase. the fourtenth day of the moneth shal be the 4. Phase of the Lord, † and the fiftenth day the solemnitie: 17 seuen daies shal they eate azymes. † Of the which the first 18 day shal be venerable and holie: no seruile worke shal you doe therein. † And you shal offer burnt sacrifice an holocaust 19 to the Lord, two calues of the heard, one ramme, seuen lambes of a yeare old without blemish: † and the sacrifice of 20 euerie one of flowre which shal be tempered with oile, three tenthes to euerie calfe, and two tenthes to euerie ramme, † and the tenth part of a tenth, to euerie lambe, that is to 21 say, to the seuen lambes. † And one bucke goate for sinne, 22 that expiation may be made for you, † beside the morning 23 holocaust which you shal alwaies offer. † So shal you do 24 euerie day of the seuen daies for a foode of the fire, and for a most sweee odour to the Lord, which shal rise of the holocaust, and of the libamentes of euerie one. † The seuenth 25 day also shal be most solemne and holie vnto you: no seruile 5. worke shal you doe therein. † The day also of Pentecost▪ first fruites 26 when you shal offer new fruites to the Lord, after that the weekes be accomplished, shal be venerable and holie: no seruile worke shal you doe therein. † And you shal offer an 27 holocaust for a most sweete odour to the Lord, two calues of the heard, one ramme, and seuen Lambes of a yeare old without blemish: † and in the sacrifices of them three tenthes of 28 flowre tempered with oile to euerie calfe, to euerie ramme [Page 382] two, † euerie lambe the tenth part of a tenth, which together 29 are seuen lambes. a goate also † which is slaine for expiation: 30 beside the euerlasting holocaust and the libamentes therof. † Al shal you offer without blemish with their libamentes. 31

CHAP. XXIX. In the seuenth moneth are celebrated with particular sacrifices the feastes of Trumpets, 7. of Expiation, 12. of Tabernacles, 35. and of Assemblie and Collection. 6.

THE Feast of Trumpets. first day also of the seuenth moneth shal be venerable 1 and holie vnto you. no seruile worke shal you doe therein, because it is the day of sounding and of trumpetes. † And you shal offer an holocaust for a most sweete odour 2 to the Lord, one calfe of the heard one ramme, and seuen lambes of a yeare old without blemish: † and in their sacrifices 3 of floure tempered with oile three tenthes to euerie calfe, two tenthes to a ramme, † one tenth to a lambe, which 4 together are seuen lambes: † and a bucke goate for sinne, 5 which is offered for the expiation of the people, † besides 6 the holocaust of the Calendes with the sacrifices therof, and the euerlasting holocaust with the accustomed libamentes. With the same ceremonies shal you offer burnt sacrifice for a 7. most sweete odour to the Lord. † The Feast of Expiation. tenth day also of 7 this seuenth moneth shal be holie and venerable vnto you, and you shal For remissiō of sinnes the penitents did cooperate by penal workes of fasting and abstinence, from euen vntil euen▪ Leuit. 23. [...]. [...]2. S. Aug. q. 57. in Num. Theod. q. 32. in Leuit. afflict your soules: no seruile worke shal you doe therein. † And you shal offer an holocaust to the Lord 8 for a most sweete odour, one calfe of the heard, one ramme, seuen Lambes of a yeare old without blemish: † and in their 9 sacrifices of floure tempered with oile three tenthes to euerie calfe, two tenthes to the ramme, † the tenth part of a tenth 10 to euerie lambe, which are in al seuen lambes: † and a bucke 11 goate for sinne, besides these thinges that are wont to be offered for offence vnto expiation, and for the euerlasting holocaust with their sacrifice & libamentes. † But the Feast of Tabernacles. fiftenth 12 day of the seuenth moneth, which shal be vnto you holie and venerable, no seruile worke shal you doe therein, but you 8. shal celebrate the solemnitie to the Lord seuen daies. † and 13 you shal offer an holocaust for a most sweete odour to the Lord, calues of the heard thirtene, rammes two, lambes of a yeare old without blemish fourtene: † & in their libamentes 14 [Page 383] of flowre tempered with oile three tenthes to euerie calfe, which are together thirtene calues: and two tenthes to euerie ramme, that is, together to two rammes, † and the 15 tenth part of a tenth to euerie lambe, which are together fourtene lambes: † and a bucke goate for sinne, beside the 16 euerlasting holocauste, and the sacrifice, and the libament therof. † The next day you shal offer calues of the heard 17 twelue, two rammes, lambes a yeare old without blemish fourtene: † and the sacrifices and libamentes of euerie one 18 to the calues and the rammes and the lambes you shal ritely celebrate: † and a bucke goate for sinne, beside the euerlasting 19 holocauste, and the sacrifice and libament therof. † The third day you shal oster eleuen calues, two rammes, 20 lambes of a yeare old without blemish fourtene: † and the 21 sacrifices and the libamentes of euerie one to the calues and the rammes and the lambes you shal ritely celebrate: † and a 22 bucke goate for sinne, beside the euerlasting holocauste, and the sacrifice, and libament therof. † The fourth day you shal 23 offer ten calues, two rammes, lambes a yeare old without blemish fourtene: † and the sacrifices and the libamentes of 24 euerie one to the calues and the rammes and the lambes you shal titely celebrate▪ † and a bucke goate for sinne, beside 25 the euerlasting holocauste, and the sacrifice therof and libament. † The fifth day you shal offer nine calues, two rammes, 26 lambes of a yeare old without blemish fourtene: † and 27 the sacrifices and the libamentes of euerie one to the calues and the rammes and the lambes you shal ritely celebrate: † and a bucke goate for sinne, beside the euerlasting holocauste, 28 and the sacrifices therof and libament. † The sixt 29 day you shal offer eight calues, two rāmes, lambes of a yeare old without blemish fourtene: † and the sacrifices and the 30 libamentes of euerie one to the calues and the rammes and the lambes you shal ritely celebrate: † and a bucke goate for 31 sinne, beside the euerlasting holocauste, and the sacrifice therof and libament. † The seuenth day you shal offer seuen 32 calues, and two rammes, lambes of a yeare old without blemish fourtene: † and the sacrifices and the libamentes of 33 euerie one to the calues and the rammes and the lambes you 9. shal ritely celebrate: † and a bucke goate for sinne, beside 34 the euerlasting holocauste and the sacrifice therof and libament. † The Feast of Assemblie, and Collection. eight [...] is most solemne, no seruile 35 [Page 384] you doe therin, † offering an holocauste for a most sweete 36 odour to the Lord, one calfe, one ramme, lambes of a yeare old with out blemish seuen. † and the sacrifices and the libamentes 37 of euerie one to the calues and the rammes and the lambes you shal ritely celebrate: † and a bucke goate for 38 sinne, besides the euerlasting holocauste, and the sacrifice therof and libament. † These thinges shal you offer to the 39 Lord in your solemnites: besides your vowes and voluntarie oblations in holocauste, in sacrifice, in libament, and in pacifique hostes.

CHAP. XXX. Voluntarie vowes or oathes of men; 14. of maides in their fathers houses, 7. or newly maried; 10. of widowes, or wiues diuorced, 11. and of wiues in their husbands houses: and how they bind, or are made frustrate.

AND Moyses told the children of Israel al thinges that 1 our Lord had commanded him: † and he spake to the 2 princes of the tribes of the children of Israel: This is the word that our Lord hath commanded: † If any man He that voweth abstinence from a thing lawful, maketh it vnlawful to him selfe by his vow. S. Aug. q. 56. in Num. make 3 a vowe to our Lord, or binde him self by an oath: he shal not make his word frustrate, but al that he promised he shal fulfil. † If a woman vowe any thing, and binde herself with 4 an oath, she that is in her fathers house, and as yet in maydens age: if her father know the vowe that she promised, and the oath wherwith she bound her soule, and hold his peace, she shal be bound to the vowe: † Whatsoeuer she 5 promised and sware, she shal fulfil in deede. † but if immediatly 6 as he heareth it, her father do gaine say it, both her vowes and her othes“ shal be frustrate, neither shal she be bound to the promisse, for that her father hath gainesaid it. † If she haue a husband, and vowe any thing, and the word 7 once going out of her mouth binde her soule by an oath: † the day that her husband heareth it, and doth not gaine say 8 it, she shal be bound to the vowe, and shal render whatsoeuer she promised. † but if as sowne as he heareth he gaine 9 say it, and make her promises frustrate, and the wordes wherwith she had bound her soule: our Lord wil be In this case God wil not impute it to her for a sīne. S. Aug. q. 58. propitious to her. † The widowe, and she that is deuorced whatsoeuer 10 they vowe, they shal render. † The wife in the house of her 11 husband, when she hath bound her self by vowe and by oath, † if her husband heare, and hold his peace, neither doe 12 [Page 385] gaynesay the promisse, she shal render whatsoeuer she had promissed. † but if forthwith he gaynesay it, she shal not be 13 holden bound to the promisse: because her husband gaynesaid it, and our Lord wil be propitious to her. † If she vowe 14 and binde her selfe by oath, to By afflicting of the soule [...] here vnderstood, restraining sensual delectation. S. Aug. q. 57. in Num. afflict her soule by fasting, or abstinence from other thinges, it shal be in the arbitrement of her husband, whether she shal do it, or not do it. † and if the husband hearing it hold his peace, and differre 15 sentence til an other day: whatsoeuer she had vowed and promised, she shal render: because immediatly as he heard it, he held his peace. † but if he gaynesay it after that he 16 knew it, The husbād reuoking his consent, once geuen by word, or by silence to his wiues vow, sinned, but the wife was bound to obey him, and so was excused. him selfe shal beare her iniquitie. † These are 17 the lawes, which our Lord appointed to Moyses betwen the husband and the wife, betwene the father and the daughter, that is as yet in maidens age, or that abideth in her fathers house.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXX.

6. Shal be frustrate] Vowes, which fathers and husbandes could frustrate' Vowes of things not commanded. in their daughters and wiues, must needes be ment of things not commanded by God. For it was not in their powre to dispence in Gods precepts. As for example, touching the feast of Expiration, it was not in the arbitrement of fathers and husbandes (as here it was v. 14) whether their daughters and wiues should fast or no: but was absolutely saied: ( Leuit. 23. v. 29.) [...]uerie soule that is not afflicted (that is, which fasteth not) this day, shal perish out of his people. And so in S. Aug, q. 57. in Num. other precepts were necessarie obligations. Besides which it is gratful also to God, that his seruantes bind them selues to other good workes, wherto they are not otherwise bound.

CHAP. XXXI. The Madianites are slaine in battle, for that they had drawen the people of Israel to sinne. 11. The praye is brought to Moyses, 14. VVho being angrie that the wemen (which were the occasion of sinne) are saued aliue, commandeth to k [...]lal the male children, and al the wemen sauing only virgins. 19. The souldiars are purified, as also the praye, 26. and then diuided among the victours, and other people, taking out portions for the Leuites. 48. The princes of the hoste geue free offerings to our Lord.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Reuenge 1 2 first the children of Israel on the Madianites, and so thou shalt be gathered to thy people. † And Moyses forthwith 3 said: Arme of you men to fight, which may take the [Page 386] reuenge of our Lord on the Madianites. † Let a thousand 4 men of euerie tribe be chosen of Israel to be sent to the warre. † And they gaue a thousand of euerie tribe, that is to 5 say, twelue thousand wel appointed to fight: † whom Moyses 6 sent with Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the priest, and the holie vessel, and the trumpettes to sound he deliuered to him. 5 † And when they had fought against the Madianites and had 7 ouercome, al the men they slew, † and their kinges Eui, and 8 Recem, and Sur, and Hur, and Rebe, fiue princes of the Nation: VVith whō he sinned, with them he was also iustly punished. Balaam also the sonne of Beor they killed with the sword. † And they tooke their wiues, and litle ones, and al 9 their goodes: whatsoeuer they had bene able to make, they spoiled: † as wel cities as townes and castels the fire did 10 consume. † And they tooke the praye, and al thinges that 11 they had taken as wel of men as of beastes, † and they 12 brought them to Moyses, and Eleazar the priest, and to al the multitude of the children of Israel. but the rest of the implementes they caried to the campe in the champion countries of Moab, beside Iordan against Iericho. † And Moyses and 13 Eleazar the priest went forth, and al the princes of the synagogue to meete them without the campe. † And Moyses 14 being angrie with the princes of the hoste, the tribunes, and the centurions that were come from the battle, † said: 15 Why haue you reserued the wemen? † Are not these they, 16 that deceiued the children of Israel at the suggestion of Balaam, and made you preuaricate against our Lord vpon These wemen bringing imagies of Beelphogot, caused the Israelites to offer sacrifice to him, before they should committe fornication with them. the sinne of Phogor, whereupon also the people was stroken? † Therfore kil al whatsoeuer is of the male sexe, among In more detestation of the parents sinne, God cō manded to kil these children & so they were preuented, from committing the like crimes. But ordinarily, wemen & children ought not to be slaine after the victorie. Deut. 20. v. 14. the 17 litle ones also: and the wemen, that haue knowne men in carnal copulation, slea ye: † but the gyrles and al the 18 wemen that are virgins reserue to you: † and tarying without 19 the campe seuen dayes. He that hath killed a man, or touched him that is killed, shal be expiated the third day and the seuenth. † And of al the praye, whether it be garment, 20 or vessel, and some thing prepared for implementes, of goates skinnes, and heare, and wood shal be expiated. † Eleazar 21 also the priest spake to the hoste, that had fought, in this maner: This is the precept of the law, which our Lord hath commanded Moyses: † Gold, and siluer, and brasse, and 22 yron, and leade, and tinne, † and al that may passe through 23 the fyre, shal be purged by fyre, but whatsoeuer can not [Page 387] abide the fire, shal be sanctified with the water of expiation: † and you shal wash your garmentes the seuenth day, and 24 being purified, afterward you shal enter into the campe. † And our Lord said to Moyses: † Take the summe of those 25 26 thinges, that were taken from man vnto beast, thou and Eleazar the priest and the princes of the multitude: † and 27 thou shalt diuide the praye equally betwene them, that fought & went forth to the warre, and betwen the rest of the multitude. † and thou shalt separate a portion to the Lord 28 from them, that fought and were in the battle, one soule of fiue hundred as wel of mankind as of oxen and asses and sheepe, † and thou shalt geue it to Eleazar the priest, because 29 they are the first fruites of the Lord. † Out of the halfe 30 part also of the children of Israel thou shalt take the fiftith head of mankind, and of oxen, and asses, and sheepe, and of al beastes, and thou shalt geue them to the Leuites, that watch in the custodies of the tabernacle of the Lord. † And 31 Moyses and Eleazar did, as our Lord commanded. † And 32 the praye which the hoste had taken, was of sheepe six hundred seuentie fiue thousand, † of oxen seuentie two thousand, 33 † of asses sixtie one thousand. † The soules of the 34 35 folkes of the female sexe, that had not knowne men, thirtie two thousand. † And the halfe part was geuen to them, that 36 had bene in the battle, of sheepe three hundred thirtie seuen thousand fiue hundred: † of the which for the portion of 37 our Lord were reckened sheepe six hundred seuentie fiue. † And of the thirtie six thousand oxen, oxen seuentie and 38 two: † of the thirtie thousand fiue hundred asses, asses sixtie 39 one: † of the soules of mankind sixtene thousand, there 40 fel to the portion of our Lord thirtie two soules. † And 41 Moyses deliuered the number of the first fruites of our Lord to Eleazar the priest, as it had bene commanded him, † of 42 the halfe part of the children of Israel, which he had separated to them, that had bene in the battle. † But of the halfe 43 part that had chanced to the rest of the multitude, that is to say, of the three hundred thirtie seuen thousand fiue hundred sheepe, † and of the thirtie six thousand oxen, † and of the 44 45 thirtie thousand fiue hundred asses, † and of the sixtene 46 thousand of mankind, † Moyses tooke the fiftith head, and 47 gaue it to the Leuites, that watched in the tabernacle of our Lord, as our Lord had commanded. † And when the princes 48 [Page 388] of the hoste were come to Moyses, and the tribunes, and centurions, they said: † We thy seruantes haue reckened the 49 number of the warryers, which we had vnder our hand: and not so much as one verily was lacking. † For this cause we 50 offer in the donaties of our Lord euerie one that which we could finde in the praye of gold, garters and tablettes, ringes and braceletes, and cheynes, that thou maiest, pray to our Lord for vs. † And Moyses and Eleazar the priest receiued al 51 the gold in diuerse formes, † in weight sixtene thousand, 52 seuen hundred fiftie sicles of the tribunes and of the centurions. † For that which euerie one had spoiled in the praye, 53 was his owne. † And that which was receiued they brought 54 into the tabernacle of testimonie, for a monument of the children of Israel before our Lord.

CHAP. XXXII. The children of Ruben and Gad, demanding to haue inheritance on that side Iordan, where they yet are, 7. Moyses iustly rebuketh them; 16. yet vpon condition that they wil march first ouer Iordan, and remaine the first in battle, til the land be subdued to the children of Israel, 28. he granteth to them, and the halfe tribe of Manasses, that which they request.

AND the children of Ruben and Gad had much cattel, 1 and they had in beastes an infinite substance. And when they had seene Iazer and Galaad fitte countries for to feede cattel, † they came to Moyses and Eleazar the priest, 2 and the princes of the multitude, and said: † Ataroth, and 3 Dibon, and Iazer, and Nemra, Hesebon, and Eleale, and Sabam, and Nebo, and Beon, † the land, which our Lord 4 smote in the sight of the children of Israel, is of a verie plentiful soile for the feeding of beastes: and we thy seruantes haue very much cattel: † and we pray thee if we haue 5 found grace before thee, that thou geue vs thy seruantes the same in possession, and A right figure of those that would possesse heauen without labour or danger. But none shal be crovvned vnles he striue lavvfully. 2. Tim. 2. make vs not passe ouer Iordan † To 6 whom Moyses answered: Why shal your brethren goe to sight, and wil you sitte here? † Why subuert you the mindes 7 of the children of Israel, that they may not be bold to passe into the place, which our Lord wil geue them? † Did not 8 your fathers so, when I sent from Cadesbarne to view the Land? † And when they were come as farre as the Valley of 9 cluster, hauing viewed al the countrie, they subuerted the hart of the children of Israel, that they should not enter the [Page 389] coastes, which our Lord gaue them. † Who being wrath 10 sware, saying: † If these men, that came vp out of Aegypt, 11 from twentie yeares and vpward, shal see the land, which vnder othe I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob: and they would not folow me, † except Caleb the sonne of Iephone 12 the Cenezeite, and Iosue the sonne of Nun: these haue fulfilled my wil. † And our Lord being wrath agaynst 13 Israel, led him about through the desert fourtie yeares, vntil the whole generation was consumed, that had done euil in his sight. † And behold, quoth he, you are risen vp in steed 14 of your fathers, the ofspring and disciples of sinful men, to augment the furie of our Lord agaynst Israel. † But if 15 you wil not folow him, he wil leaue the people in the wildernesse, and you shal be the cause of the death of al. † But 16 they coming nere, said: We wil make shepcottes, and stalles for our cattel, for our litle ones also fensed cities: † and 17 we our selues armed and girded wil march on to battle before the children of Israel, vntil we bring them in vnto their places. Our litle ones and whatsoeuer we can haue, shal be in walled cities, because of the lying of wayte of the inhabitantes. † We wil not returne into our houses, vntil the children 18 of Israel possesse their inheritance: † neither wil we 19 seeke any thing beyound Iordan, because already we haue our possession on the east side therof. † To whom Moyses 20 said: If you doe that you promisse, march on wel appointed before our Lord to fight: † and let euerie man of warre 21 passe ouer Iordan, vntil our Lord subuert his enemies, † and 22 al the Land be subdued to him: then shal you be blamelesse before our Lord and before Israel, and you shal obteyne the countries that you would in the sight of our Lord. † But 23 if you doe not, that which you say, no man can doubt but you sinne against God: and know ye that your sinne shal apprehend you. † Build therfore cities for your litle ones, 24 and sheepecotes and stalles for your sheepe and cattel: and accomplish that which you haue promised. † And the children 25 of Gad and Ruben said to Moyses: We are thy seruantes, we wil do that which our lord commandeth. † We wil 26 leaue our litle ones, and our wiues, and sheepe, and cattel in the cities of Galaad: † and we thy seruantes al wel appoynted 27 wil march on to the warre, as thou my lord speakest. † Moyses therfore commanded Eleazar the priest, and Iosue 28 [Page 390] the sonne of Nun, and the princes of the families by the tribes of Israel, and he said to them: † If the children of Gad, 29 and the children of Ruben passe with you ouer Iordan al armed to the warre before our Lord, and the Land be subdued to you: geue them Galaad in possession. † But if they wil 30 not passe armed with you into the Land of Chanaan, let them take places to dwel in among you. † And the children 31 of Gad, and the children of Ruben answered: As our lord hath spoken to his seruantes, so Wil we doe: † our 32 selues atmed wil march before our Lord into the Land of Chanaan, and we confesse that we haue already receiued our possession beyond Iordan. † Moyses therfore gaue to the 33 children of Gad and Ruben, and to the halfe tribe of Manasses the sonne of Ioseph, the kingdome of Sehon king of the Amorrheite, and the kingdome of Og king of Basan, and their land and the cities therof round about. † Therfore 34 the sonnes of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, † and Etroth, and Sophan, and Iazar, and Iegbaa, † and 35 36 Bethnemra, and Betharan, cities fensed, aud sheepecotes for their sheepe. † But the children of Ruben builded Hesebon, 37 and Eleale, and Cariathaim, † and Nabo, and Baalmeon 38 changing their names, Sabama also: geuing names to the cities, which they had built. † Moreouer the children of 39 Machir, the sonne of Manasses went into Galaad, and wasted it killing the Amorrheite the inhabiter therof. † Moyses 40 therfore gaue the land of Galaad to Machir the sonne of Manasses, who dwelt in it. † And Iair the sonne of Manasses 41 went, and tooke the villages therof, which he called Hauoth Iair, that is tho say, the Villages of Iair. † Nobe also went, 42 and tooke Canath with the villages therof: and he called it by his owne name Nobe.

CHAP. XXXIII. The 42. mansions of The children of Israel betwen Aegype and the Land of promise are recited. 50. they are commanded to kil al the inhabitents, to purge the land of idolatrie, and diuide it among them.

THESE are These remonings, and camping places signifie by what degrees christians leauing sinnes, and folowing Christ (our guide) may come to perfect pietie. S. Hierom. de mans. 42. ad Fahiol. the mansions of the children of Israel, that 1 went out of Aegypt by their troupes in the hand of “Moyses and Aaron, † which Moyses described according to 2 the places of the campe, which by our Lords commandement they changed. † They children of Israel therfore departing 3 [Page 391] from Ramesses the first moneth, the fiftenth day of the first moneth, the morow after they made the Phase, in a mightie hand, al the Aegyptians seeing them, † and burying their 4 first borne, which our Lord had strooken (yea and on their goddes also he had exercised vengeance) † they camped in 5 Soccoth. † And from Soccoth they came into Etham, which 6 is in the vttermost borders of the wildernesse. † Departing 7 thence they came ouer against Phihahiroth, which looketh toward Beelsephon, and camped before Magdal. † And departing 8 from Phihahiroth, they passed through the middes of the sea into the wildernesse: and walking three dayes through the deserr Etham, they camped in Mara. † And 9 departing from Mara, they came into Elim, where there were the twelue fountaines of waters, and the seuentie palme trees: and there they camped. † But departing thence 10 also, they pitched their tentes vpon the Redde sea. And departing from the Redde sea, † they camped in the defert Sin. 11 † From whence departing, they came into Daphca. † And 12 13 departing from Daphca, they camped in Alus. † And departing 14 from Alus, they pitched their tentes in Raphidim, where the people wanted water to drinke. † And departing 15 from Raphidim, they camped in the desert of Sinai. † But 16 departing also from the desert Sinai, they came to the Sepulchres of concupiscence, † And departing from the Sepulchres 17 of concupiscence, they camped in Haseroth. † And 18 from Haseroth they came into Rethma. † And departing 19 from Rethma, they camped in Remmonphares. † Whence 20 departing they came into Lebna. † From Lebna they camped 21 in Ressa. † And departing from Ressa, they came into 22 Ceelatha. † Whence departing, they camped in the mountayne 23 Sepher. † Departing from the mountayne Sepher, 24 they came into Harada. † Thence departing, they camped 25 in Maceloth. † And departing from Maceloth, they came 26 into Thahath. † From Thahath they camped in Thare. 27 † Whence departing, they pitched their tentes in Methca. 28 † And from Methca they camped in Hesmona. † And departing 29 30 from Hesmona, they came into Moseroth. † And 31 from Moseroth they camped in Beneiaacan. † And departing 32 from Beneiaacan, they came into the mount Gadgad. † Whence departing, they camped in Ietebatha. † And 33 34 from Ietebatha they came into Hebrona. † And departing 35 [Page 392] from Hebrona, they camped in Asiongaber. † Thence departing, 36 they came into the desert Sin, this is Cades. † And 37 departing from Cades, they camped in the mount Hor, in the vttermost borders of the Land of Edom. † And Aaron 38 the priest went vp into the mountayne Hor at the commandement of our Lord: and there he died the fourtith yeare of the coming forth af the children of Israel out of Aegypt, the fifth moneth, the first day of the moneth, † when he was an 39 hundred three and twentie yeares old. † And the Chananeire 40 king of Arad, who dwelt toward the south. heard that the children of Israel were come into the Land of Chanaan. † And departing from the mountayne Hor, they camped in 41 Salmona, † Whence departing, they came into Phunon. 42 † And departing from Phunon, they camped in Oboth. 43 † And from Oboth they came into lieabarim, which is in 44 the borders of the Moabites. † And departing from Lieabarim 45 they pitched their tentes in Dibongad. † Whence departing, 46 they camped in Helmondeblathaim. † And departing 47 from Helmondeblathaim, they came to the mountaynes Abarim against Nabo. † And departing from the mountaines 48 Abarim, they passed to the champion countries of Moab, von Iordan, against Iericho. † And there they camped 49 from Bethsimoth vnto Abelsatim in the plainer places of the Moabites, † where our Lord spake to Moyses: † Command 50 51 the children of Israel, and say to them: When you shal haue passed Iordan, entring the Land of Chanaan, † destroy 52 al the inhabitants of that Land: breake their titles, and burst to fitters their statues, and wast al their excelses, † cleansing 53 the Land, and dwelling in it. for I haue geuen it you in possession, † which you shal diuide among you by lotte. To the moe you shal geue the larger, and to the fewer the straiter. To euerie one as the lotte shal fall, so shal the inheritance be geuen. By the tribes and the families the possession shal be diuided. † But Danger to those that destroy not infidelitie, and al enormious sinnes, which dwelt in their soules before their conuersion. if you wil not kil the inhabitantes of the 55 Land: they that remaine, shal be vnto you as it were nailes in your eyes, and speares in your sides, and they shal be your aduersaries in the Land of your habitation: † and whatsoeuer 56 I had thought to do to them, I wil do to you.

[Page 393]

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXIII.

1 Moyses and Aaron.] Moyses by whom the Law was geuen, and Aaron in Two handes which worke saluation. whom Priesthood was established, signified good workes, and the right worship of God. Of which (saieth S. Hierom) each one needeth the other. For neither doth it profite thee to exercise vertues vnles thou knowest thy Creator: nor the worshipìng of God auaileth thee to saluation, vnles thou sulfil the precepts of thy Maker. By these two handes, as with two Seraphims we breake out into confession of the holie Trinitie, saying: Holie, holie, holie Lord God of [...]oastes. Epist. ad Fabiol de 42. Mans.

CHAP. XXXIIII. The situation and limites of Chanaan, towards the South, the VVeast, the North, and the East. 13. which must be diuided by lotte among nine tribes and a halfe (the other two and a half hauing their partes ouer Iordan) 16. with the names of the persons that shal make the diuision.

AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: † Command 1 2 the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: when you are entred into the Land of Chanaan, and it shal be fallen vnto you by lotte in possession, it shal be limited by these borders: † The southside shal beginne from the wildernesse 3 Sin, which is beside Edom: and it shal haue toward the East Otherwise called the dead sea, where Sodom and Gomort had stood. the most salt sea for the limites. † The which shal compasse 4 the south side by the ascending of A mountaine so called of the multitude of scorpions, which were in it. the Scorpion, so that they shal passe into Senna, and reach toward the South as farre as Cadesbarne, from whence the frontiers shal goe forth to the towne named Adar, and shal reach as farre as Asemona. † And the border shal goe round about from 5 Asemona to the Torrent of Aegypt, and shal end in the shore of the Mediterraneal sea, called great in respect of the lakes in the holie Land. great sea. † And the west side shal beginne from the 6 great sea, and the same shal be the limite therof. † Moreouer 7 toward the North part the borders shal beginne from the greate sea, reaching vnto the Mount of Libanus. most high mountaine, † from he which they shal come vnto Emath as farre as the 8 borders of Sedada: † and the frontiers shal goe as farre as 9 Sephorna, and the towne Enan. These shal be the borders in the North part. † From thence they shal marke out the 10 boundes toward the East side from the village Enan vnto Sephama, † and from Sephama the boundes shal goe downe 11 vnto Rebla against the fountaine Daphnim: from thence they shal come [...]astward to the sea Cenereth, † and shal 12 [Page 394] reach as farre as Iordan, and at the last shal be closed in by the most salt sea. This you shal haue for your Land by the boundes therof round about. † And Moyses commanded 13 the children of Israel, saying: This shal be the Land, which you shal possesse by lotte, and which our Lord hath commanded to be geuen to the nine tribes, and to the halfe tribe. † For the tribe of the children of Ruben by their families, 14 and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the number of their kinredes, the halfe also of the tribe of Manasses, † that is, two tribes and an halfe, haue taken their portion 15 beyond Iordan against Iericho at the east side. † And our 16 Lord said to Moyses: † These are the names of the men, that 17 shal diuide the Land vnto you, Eleazar the priest, and Iosue the sonne of Nun, † and one prince of euerie tribe, † whose 18,19 names are these: Of the tribe of Iuda, Caleb the sonne of Iephone. † Of the tribe of Simeon, Samuel the sonne of 20 Ammiud. † Of the tribe of Beniamin Elidad the sonne of 21 Chaselon. † Of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bocci the 22 sonne of Iogh. † Of the children of Ioseph of the tribe of 23 Manasses, Haniel the sonne of Ephod. † Of the tribe of Ephraim, 24 Camuel the sonne of Sephthan. † Of the tribe of Zabulon, 25 Elisaphan the sonne of Pharnach. † Of the tribe of 26 Issachar, duke Phaltiel the sonne of Ozan. † Of the tribe of 27 Aser, Ahiud the sonne of Salomi. † Of the tribe of Nephthali: 28 Phedael the sonne of Ammiud. † These are they whom 29 our Lord commanded to diuide the Land of Chanaan to the children of Israel.

CHAP. XXXV. Cities and suburbes are appointed for the Leuites, among the other tribes. 6. Of which six shal be for refuge of such as vnwittingly kil anie man, 22. where, keping them selues til the death of the high Priest, they shal be safe. 30. VVilful murtherers conuicted (so it be by more then one witnes) must die forthwith.

THESE thinges also spake our Lord to Moyses in the 1 champion countries of Moab vpon Iordan, against Iericho: † Command the children of Israel that they geue 2 vnto the Leuites of their possessions † cities to dwel in, 3 and their suburbes round about: that them selues may abide in the townes, and the suburbes may be for their cattel and beastes: † which from the walles of the cities outward, 4 [Page 395] round about, shal reach the space of a thousand paces. † Toward the East shal be two thousand cubites: and toward 5 the South in like manner shal be two thousand: toward the sea also, which looketh to the West, shal be the same measure: and the North part shal be limitted with equal boundes. And the cities shal be in the middes, and the suburbes without. † And of the same townes, which you shal geue 6 to the Leuites, six shal be separated for the ayde of fugitiues, that he may flee to them which hath shed bloud: and beside these other fourtie two townes, † that is, in al fourtie eight 7 with their suburbes. † And those cities, that shal be geuen 8 of the possessions of the children of Israel, from them that haue more, moe shal be taken away: and that haue lesse, fewer. Eache shal geue townes to the Leuites according to the measure of their inheritance. † Our Lord said to Moyses: 9 † Speake to the children of Israel, & thou shalt say to them: 10 When you shal haue passed ouer Iordan into the Land of Chanaan, † determine what cities shal be for the succour 11 of fugitiues, that haue not voluntaryly shed bloud: † in 12 which when the fugitiue shal be, the kinseman of him that is killed can not kil him, vntil he stand in the sight of the multitude, and his cause be iudged. † And of those cities, 13 that are separated for refuge of the fugitiues, † three shal 14 be beyond Iordan, and three in the Land of Chanaan, † as 15 wel for the children of Israel as for strangers and soiouners, that he may flee to them, which hath not voluntaryly shed bloud. † If any man strike with yron, and he die that was 16 strooken, he shal be guiltie of murder, and him self shal die. † If he cast a stone, and he that is strooken die: he shal be 17 punished in like manner. † If he that is strooken with wood 18 die, he shal be reuenged by the strikers bloud. † The kinsman 19 of him that is slaine, shal kil the murderer, Yet not before sentenc [...] of death. [...]. 12. & 24. S. Aug. q. 65. in Num. as sowne as he apprehendeth him, he shal kil him. † If through hatred 20 one push a man, or cast any thing at him by stratageme: † or being his enemie, strike him with his hand, and he die: 21 the striker shal be guiltie of murder. the kinseman of him that is slaine as sowne as he findeth him, shal kil him. † But 22 if by chance medlie, and without hatred, † and enemitie, he 23 do any of these thinges, † and this be proued in the hearing 24 of the people, and the question debated betwen him that stroke, & the next of bloud: † the innocent shal be deliuered 25 [Page 396] from the hand of the reuenger, & by sentence shal be brought backe into the citie, to which he had fled, and he shal tarie there, Mystically this signified, that the way to true life was not open before Christs death Theodor. q. 51. in Num. S. Grig. ho. 6. in Ezechielem. vntil the High priest, that is anointed with the holie oile, do die. † If the murderer be found without the limites 26 of the cities, that are deputed to the banished, † and be strooken 27 of him that is the reuenger of bloud: he shal be guiltles that killed him. † For the fugitiue ought to haue stayed in 28 the citie vntil the death of the High priest. And after he is dead, then shal the murderer returne into his countrie. † These thinges shal be perpetual, and for an ordinance in al 29 your habitations. † The murderer shal be punished by witnesses: 30 none shal be condemned, at the testimonie of one man. † You shal not take a price of him, that is guiltie of bloud, 31 he also shal die forth with. † The banished and fugitiues 32 before the death of the High priest may by no meanes returne into their owne cities. † Pollute not the land of your 33 habitation, which is polluted with the bloud of innocentes: neither can it otherwise be expiated, but by his bloud, that shedeth an other mans bloud. † And so shal your possession 34 be cleansed my self abyding with you. For I am the Lord that dwel among the children of Israel.

CHAP. XXXVI. That the inheritances may not be alienated from one tribe to an other, al must marrie within their owne tribes.

AND the princes also of the families of Galaad, the sonne 1 of Machir, the sonne of Manasses of the stocke of the children of Ioseph came: and spake to Moyses before the princes of Israel, and said: † Our Lord hath commanded 2 thee our lord that thou shouldest by lotte diuide the Land to the children of Israel, and that to the daughters of Salphaad our brother thou shouldest geue the possession dew to their father: † Whom if men of an other tribe take to wiues, their 3 possession shal folow, and being translated to an other tribe, it shal be a diminishing of our inheritance. † And so it shal 4 come to pas [...]e, that when the Iubilee, that is the fiftith yeare of remission is come, the “distribution of the lottes shal be confounded, and the possession of one shal passe to others. † Moyses answered the children of Israel, and as our Lord 5 commanded, said: The tribe of the children of Ioseph hath spoken rightly. † And this law is promulgated of our Lord 6 [Page 397] touching the daughters of Salphaad: Let them marrie to whom they wil, onlie that it be to the men of their owne tribe: † lest the possession of the children of Israel be mingled 7 from tribe into tribe. For Al were not bound by this law to marie; but al that would marrie must contract within their owne tribe. al men shal marrie wiues of their owne tribe and kinred: † and al wemen shal take husbandes 8 of the same tribe: that the inheritance may remaine in the families, † and that the tribes be not mingled among 9 themselues, but remaine so † as they were separated by our 10 Lord. And the daughters of Salphaad did as it had beene commanded: † and Maala, and Thersa, and Hegla, and 11 Melcha, and Noa were married to the sonnes of their vncle by their father † of the familie of Manasses, who was the 12 sonne of Ioseph: and the possession, that had beene allotted to them, remained in the tribe and familie of their father. † These are the commandementes and iudgementes, which 13 our Lord commanded by the hand of Moyses to the children of Israel, in the champion countries of Moab vpon Iordan against Iericho.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXVI.

4. Distribution of lottes] By reason of two former lawes, the one ( Leuit. 25.) prouiding that inheritance of landes should not be sold, nor otherwise alienated, but vntil the Iubilee yeare, and then returne to him, or his heyres, to Restrant in Mariages also for a temporal▪ cause. whom it pertained before; the other ( Num. 27.) ordaining that for lack of a sonne, daughters should enherite; this difficultie did rise; in case an enheretrixe did marrie a man of an other tribe, her landes by that meanes should passe from tribe to tribe, and not be restored in the Iubilee yeare. For auoiding of which inconuenience a further law is made, that none shal marrie out of their owne tribe.

Neuerthelesse the tribe of Leui made mariages with the tribe of Iuda: as [...]. [...]. [...]. [...]. appeareth by that Zacharie the priest married Elizabeth cosin to our B. Ladie of the tribe of Iuda; though in the old Testament there is no such expresse dispensation, Tradition nor explication of the law, but by tradition was holden for lawful and practised by so holie a man as Zacharie. And not without mysterie (as S. Augustin noteth li. 2. c. 2. d [...] consen. Euang.) for that Christ the Annointed of God, Christ a King and a Priest. was prefigured by the annointing of Kings, and Priests, and borne of the royal and priestlie tribes, being both a King and a Priest.

[Page 398]

THE ARGVMENT OF DEVTERONOMIE.

DEVTERONOMI, in English The second law, so called not that there be two lawes of Moyses, but because the same which was first This booke is a repetition, explication, and suplement of the Law. S. Aug. q. 49. in Deutero [...]. geuen in Mount Sinai, fiftie dayes after the children of Israel parted from Aegypt, is here repeted, in the eleuenth moneth of the fourtith yeare of their abode in the desert. In which repetition albeit Moyses explicateth the same law, adding also diuers things not expressed before: yet is it but an Abbridgement conceiued and vttered in fewer wordes. VVhereupon S. Bode (in princ. Leuit.) compareth this booke with the foure precedent, as one made It presigured the Gospel. et princ. Leutero. of them al. For wheras the former foure prefigured the foure Gospels, this signified the whole Gospel, contained in al foure. Likewise S. Hierom calleth it A prefiguration of the Euangelical law: so iterating former things, that al become new of old. (Epist ad Paulin. Mans. vlt. ca. 7. & de Mans. 42.) But touching the literal sense, Moyses here compriseth foure general things: vnto which after his death the fifth is added; and so the whole conteineth fiue partes. First, he briefly reciteth Gods special benefites Conteineth fiue partes. Chap. 1. bestowed on this people, and their ingratitude, incredulitie, murmurings, and punishments. in the three first chapters. Secondly he repeteth and 4. 12. explicateth Gods precepts, moral, ceremonial, and iudicial, with the functions and offices of Priests, and Leuites. from the 4. chap. to the 27. Thirdly 27. he denounceth Gods promises of manie blessings, and thretes of punishments, for keeping or breaking his commandments. from the 27. chap. to 31 Fourthly 31. he exhorteth them to serue and loue God, but withal fortelleth, that they wil often fal to great sinnes, and for the same shal be punished, and at last forsaking Christ, shal be forsaken: yet finally blesseth their tribes, in figure of the Gentiles, that shal be called in their place. chap. 31. 32. and 33. Fiftly, in 34. the last chapter, losue writeth the death, burial, and singular commendation of Moyses.

[Page 399]

THE BOOKE OF DEVTERONOMIE, IN HEBREW ELLE HADDEBARIM.

CHAP. I. Moyses beginneth, the first day of the eleuenth moneth and fourtith yeare after the children of Israel parted from Aegypt, to repete and explicate the Law; 6. first putting them in mind of Gods munisicence, his owne and other superiors care ouer them, their ingratitude, incredultie, murmuring, 34. The first part. A repetition of Gods benefites, the peoples ingratitude, and punishment. and punishment for the same.

THESE are the wordes, which Moyses 1 spake to al Israel beyond Iordan, in the champion wildernesse, against the Read sea, betwen Pharan and Thophel and Laban and Haseroth, where there is verie much gold: † eleuen daies from Horeb by the way 2 of mount Seir to Cadesbarne. † The fourtith yeare, the eleuenth moneth, the first day of the moneth 3 Moyses spake to the children of Israel al thinges that our Lord had commanded him to say vnto them: † after that 4 he had stroke Sehon king of the Amorrheites, which dwelt in Hesebon: and Og the king of Basan which abode in Aseroth, and in Edrai, † beyond Iordan in the Land of Moab. 5 And Moyses began to expound the law, and to say: † The 6 Lord our God spake to vs in Horeb, saying: It is sufficient for you that you haue stayed in this mountaine: † returne, 7 and come to the mountaine of the Amorrheites, and to the rest that are next to it champion and hillie and lower places against the South, and beside the shore of the sea, the Land of the Chananeites, and of Libanus vnto the greate riuer Euphrates. † Behold (quoth he) I haue deliuered it to you: 8 enter in and possesse it, vpon the which our Lord sware to [Page 400] your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, that he would geue it to them, and to their seede after them. † And I said to 9 you at that time: † I alone can not susteyne you: because 10 the Lord your God hath multiplied you, and you are this day as the starres of heauen, verie manie. † (The Lord God of 11 your fathers adde to this number manie thousandes, and blesse you as he hath spoken.) † I alone am not able to susteyne 12 your businesses, and the charge of you and your quareles. † Geue from among you wise and skilful men, and 13 such whose conuersation is approued in your tribes, that I may appoint them your princes. † Then you answered 14 me: The thing is good which thou meanest to do. † And 15 I tooke of your tribes men wise and noble, and appointed them princes, tribunes, and centurions, and quinquagenarians, and deanes, that might teach you al thinges. † And 16 I commanded them, saying: Heare them, and iudge that which is iust: whether he be the same countrie man, or a stranger. † There shal be no difference of persons, so shal you 17 heare the litle as the great: neither shal you accept any mans person, because it is the iudgement of God. And if any thing seme hard to you, referre it to me, and I wil heare it. † And 18 I commanded al thinges that you ought to do. † And departing 19 from Horeb, we passed through the terrible and huge wildernesse, which you saw, by the way of the mountaine of the Amorrheite, as the Lord our God had commanded vs. And when we were come into Cadesbarne, † I said to you: 20 You are come to the mountaine of the Amorrheite, which the Lord our God wil geue to vs. † See the Land which the 21 Lord thy God geueth thee: goe vp and possesse it, as the Lord our God hath spoken to thy fathers: feare not, neither dread you any thing. † And you came al vnto me, and said: Let vs 22 send men that may view the Land: and may bring vs word what way we shal ascend, and to what cities to goe. † And 23 because the saying pleased me, I sent of you twelue men, one of euerie tribe. † Who when they had gone, and were ascended 24 into the mountaines, they came as farre as the Valley of cluster: and the Land being viewed, † taking of the fruites 25 therof, to shew the fruitfulnesse, they brought vnto vs, and said: The Land is good, which the Lord our God wil geue vs. † And you would not goe vp, but being incredulous 26 at the word of the Lord our God, † you murmured in your 27 [Page 401] tabernacles, and said: Our Lord hateth vs, and therfore hath brought vs out of the Land of Aegypt, that he might deliuer vs into the hand of the Amorrheite, and destroy vs. † Whither 28 shal we goe vp? the messengers haue feared our hart, saying: The multitude is verie great, and taller of stature then we: the cities greate, and fensed euen vnto heauen, the sonnes of the Enacims we haue seene there. † And I said to you: 29 God so helpeth his seruantes, that they also must cooperate. S. Aug. q. 1. in Deut. Feare not, neither be ye afrayd of them: † Our Lord God, 30 which is your conductour, him self wil fight for you, as he did in Aegypt in the sight of al. † And in the wildernesse 31 (thy selfe haste seene) the Lord thy God hath caried thee, as a man is wont to beare his litle sonne, al the way, that you haue walked, vntil you came to this place. † And neither 32 so did you beleue the Lord your God, † who went before 33 you in the way, and marked out the place, wherein you should pitch your tentes, in the night shewing you the way by fyre, and in the day by the piller of a clowde. † And 34 when our Lord had heard the voice of your wordes, being wrath he sware and said: † There shal not any of the men of 35 this wicked generation see the good Land, which by oath I promised to your fathers: † beside Caleb the sonne of Iephone. 36 For he shal see it, and to him I wil geue the Land, that he hath troden, and to his children, because he hath folowed the Lord. † Neither is Difference of sinnes. his indignation against the 37 people to be merueiled at, wheras our Lord being God is also angrie with his good seruantes, and punisheth thē temporally, for smal sinnes. S. Aug. q. 1. in Iosue. angrie with me also for you, said: Neither shalt thou enter in thither. † But Iosue the sonne of Nun thy minister, he shal enter for 38 thee: exhort and strenghen him, and he shal by lotte diuide the Land to Israel. † Your litle ones, of whom you said that 39 they should be ledde captiues, and your sonnes that this day know not the difference of good and euil, they shal enter in: and to them I wil geue the Land, and they shal possesse it. † But returne you and goe into the wildernesse by the way 40 of the Reddesea. † And you answered me: We haue sinned 41 to our Lord: we wil goe vp and fight, as the Lord our God hath commanded. † And when you readie armed went vnto the mountaine, † our Lord said to me: Say to them: Goe 42 not vp, and fight not, for I am not with you: lest you fal before your enemies. † I spake, and you heard not: but resisting 43 the commandement of our Lord, and swelling with pride you went vp into the mountaine. † Therfore the 44 [Page 402] Amorrheite that dwelt in the mountaines issuing forth, and coming to meete you, pursewed you, as bees are wont to pursew: and smote you from Seir as farre as Horma. † And 45 when returning you went before our Lord, he heard you not, neither would he condescend to your voice. † You abode 46 therfore in Cadesbarne a great time.

CHAP. II. VVith commemoration of Gods continual protection of the Israelites, they are forbid to fight against the Idumeans, 9. the Moabites, or Ammonites▪ 24. But against Sehon King of Hesebon they should fight, kil him and al his, and possesse his land.

AND departing thence we came into the wildernesse, 1 that leadeth to the Redde sea, as our Lord had said to me: and we compassed the mountaine Seir a long time. 2 † And our Lord said to me: † It is sufficient for you to haue 3 compassed this mountaine: goe toward the North. † And 4 command thou the people, saying: You shal passe by the borders of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwel in Seir, and they wil be affraid of you. † Looke diligently 5 therfore that you sturre not against them. For I wil not geue you of their land so much as the steppe of one foote can treade, because I haue geuen the mountaine Seir to be the possession of Esau. † Meates you shal bie of them with money, 6 and shal eate: bought water shal you draw, and drinke. † The Lord thy God hath blessed thee in euerie worke of thy 7 handes: he knoweth thy iourney, how thou hast passed this great wildernesse, for fourtie yeares the Lord thy God dwelling with thee, & thou hast wanted nothing. † And when we 8 had passed by our brethren the children of Esau, that dwelt in Seir, by the champion way from Elath & from Asiongaber, we came to the way, that leadeth into the desert of Moab. † And our Lord said to me: Fight not against the Moabites, 9 neither make battel against them: for I wil not geue thee any of their land, because I haue geuen Ar to the children of Lot in possession. † Emim first were the inhabiters therof, 10 a great people, and valiant, and so tall that These were men of very great stature, but not equal to the giantes before the s [...]ould. they were thought, † as it were giantes, of the Enacims stocke, & were 11 like the children of the Enacims. Moreouer the Moabites cal them Emim. † But in Seir before dwelt the Horrins: who 12 being expelled and destroyed, the children of Esau did inhabite [Page 403] it, as Israel did in the land of his possession, which our Lord gaue him. † Rysing vp therfore to passe the Torrent 13 Zared, we came to it. † And the time, that we walked from 14 Cadesbarne vnto the passage of the torrent Zared, was thirtie and eight yeares: vntil al the generation of the men that were warriers was consumed out of the campe, as our Lord had sworne: † whose hand was against them, that they should 15 perish from among the campe. † And after al the warryers 16 were dead, † our Lord spake to me, saying: † Thou shalt 17 18 passe this day the borders of Moab, the citie named Ar: † and approching vnto the frontiers of the children of Ammon, 19 beware thou fight not against them, neither once moue to battel: for I wil not geue thee of the land of the children of Ammon, because I haue geuen it to the children of Lot in possession. † It was reputed the land of giantes: and 20 giantes in old time dwelt in it, whom the Ammonites cal Zomzommim, † a great and huge people, and of long stature, 21 as the Enacims whom our Lord destroyed before their face: and he made them to dwel in their steede, † as he had done 22 to the children of Esau, that dwelt in Seir, destroying the Horrheites, and deliuering their land to them, which they possesse vntil this present. † The Heueites also, that dwelt in 23 Haserim as farre as Gaza, the Capadocians expelled: who issuing out of Capadocia, destroyed them, and dwelt in their steede. † Arise ye, and passe the torrent Arnon: behold I 24 haue deliuered in thy hand Sehon king of Hesebon the Amorrheite, and beginne to possesse his land, and By this we are instructed to fight aga [...]st in [...]ideles, but not without special cause against christians, signified by the childrē of Lot and Esau. make warre against him. † This day wil I beginne to send thy 25 terrour and feare vpon the peoples, that dwel vnder the whole heauen: that hearing thy name they may quake, and tremble after the manner of wemen in trauel, and be pinched with sorow. † I sent therfore messengers from the 26 wildernes of Cademoth to Sehon the king of Hesebon with peaceable wordes, saying: † We wil passe through thy land, 27 we wil goe the common high way: we wil not decline neither to the right hand, not to the left. † Sel vs meates for 28 money, that we may eate: Geue vs water for money, and so we wil drinke. Onlie this that thou wilt graunt vs passage, † as The I dumeans once denied them passage Num. 20. v. 20. but afterwards granted therto. the children of Esau haue done, that dwel in Seir, and 29 the Moabites, that abide in Ar: vntil we come to Iordan, and passe to the Land, which the Lord our God wil geue vs. [Page 404] † And Sehon the king of Hesebon would not geue vs passage: 30 because the Lord thy God had God permitted him for his former sinnes, to indurate him selfe. See Exod. 7. v. 3. indurated his spirit, and hardened his hart, that he might be deliuered into thy handes, as now thou seest. † And our Lord said to me: Behold 31 I haue begunne to deliuer Sehon vnto thee, and his land, beginne to possesse it. † And Sehon came forth to meete vs 32 with al his people to battel in Iasa. † And the Lord our God 33 deliuered him to vs: and we smote him with his sonnes and al his people. † And al his cities we tooke at that time, killing 34 the inhabiters therof, men and wemen and litle ones. we left nothing among them. † Except the cattel, which came 35 to their portion that tooke prayes: and the spoyles of the cities, which we tooke † from Aroer, which is vpon the 36 banke of the torrent Arnon, a towne that is situated in a valley, as farre as Galaad. There was not a village or citie, that escaped our handes: the Lord our God deliuered al vnto vs. † Except the land of the children of Ammon, to the 37 which we approched not: and al that adioyne to the torrent Ieboc, and the cities on the mountaine, and al the places, from which the Lord our God prohibited vs.

CHAP. III. The victorie against Og king of Basan of the giants stock is repeted, 12. Ruben Gad and halfe tribe of Manasses haue possession on the other side Iordan from their brethren. 23. Moyses praying that he may goe ouer Iordan, for the sinnes of the people is denied.

THERFORE turning we went vp by the way of Basan: 1 and Og the king of Basan came forth to meete vs with his people to fight in Edrai. † And our Lord said to me: Feare 2 him not: because he is deliuered into thy hand with al his people and his land: and thou shalt doe to him as thou hast done to Sehon king of the Amorrheites, that dwelt in Hesebon. † Therfore the Lord our God deliuered into our 3 handes Og also the king of Basan, and al his people: and we stroke them to vtter destruction, † waisting al his cities at 4 one time. there was not a towne that escaped vs: sixtie cities, al the countrie of Argob the kingdome of Og in Basan. † Al 5 the cities were fensed with verie high walles, and with gates and barres, beside innumerable townes that had no walles. † And we destroyed them, as we had done to Sehon the king 6 of Hesebon, destroying euerie citie, and men and wemen [Page 405] and children: † but the cattel, and the spoyles of the cities 7 we tooke for our praye. † And we tooke at that time the 8 land out of the hand of two kinges of the Amorrheites, that were beyond Iordan: from the torrent Arnon vnto the mountaine Hermon, † which the Sidonians cal Sarion, and 9 the Amorrheites Sanir: † al the cities, that are situated in 10 the plaine, and al the Land of Galaad and Basan as farre as Selcha, and Edrai cities of the kingdome of Og in Basan. † For onlie Og the king of Basan remayned of the stocke 11 of giantes. his bed of yron is shewed, which is in Rabbath of the children of Ammon, hauing nine cubites in length, and foure in breadth after the measure of Longer sorte of cubites are a foote and 9, inches: so this bed was 15. foote and nine inches long, and 7. foote brode. Vitruuius Agricola. the cubite of a mans hand. † And we possessed the Land at that time from 12 Aroer, which is vpon the banke of the torrent Arnon, vnto the halfe part of mount Galaad: and the cities therof I gaue to Ruben and Gad. † And the other part of Galaad, and al 13 Basan of the kingdome of Og, I deliuered to the halfe tribe of Manasses, al the countrie of Argob: and al Basan is called the Land of giantes. † Iair the sonne of Manasses possessed 14 al the countrie of Argob vnto the borders of Gessuri, and Machati. And he called Basan by his owne name, Hauoth Iair, that is to say, the townes of Iair, Esdras adding these wordes, and often times the like, did not against the law, because such additions are agreable and not contrarie to that which was written before. vntil this present day † To Machir also I gaue Galaad. † And to the tribes 15 16 of Ruben and Gad I gaue of the Land of Galaad as farre as the Torrent Arnon, halfe of the torrent, and the confines vnto the torrent Ieboc, which is the border of the childrē of Ammon: † and the plaine of the wildernesse, and Iordan, and 17 the borders of Cenereth vnto the sea of the desert, which is most salt, at the foote of mount Phasga against the east. † And 18 I commāded you at that time, saying: The Lord your God geueth you this land for an inheritance, goe wel appointed before your brethren the children of Israel al you strong men: † except your wiues, and litle ones and your cattel. For I 19 know you haue much cattel, & they must remaine in the cities, which I haue deliuered you, † vntil our Lord geue rest to 20 your brethren, as he hath geuen to you: and they also possesse the Land, which he wil geue them beyond Iordan: then shal euerie man returne to his possession, which I haue geuen you. † Iosue also at that time I commanded, saying: Thyne eyes 21 haue seene what the Lord your God hath done to these two kinges: so wil he doe to al the kingdomes, to the which thou [Page 406] shalt passe. † Feare them not: for the Lord your God wil fight 22 for you. † And I prayed our Lord at that time, saying: † Lord 23 24 God thou hast begonne to shew vnto thy seruant thy greatnes, and most mightie hand. for neither is there other God either in heauen, or in earth, that is able to doe thy workes, and to be compared to thy strength. † I wil passe ouer 25 therfore, and wil see this excellent Land beyond Iordan, and this goodlie mountaine, and Libanus. † And our 26 Lord was angrie with me See Num. [...]. [...]. 12. for you, and heard me not, but said to me: It sufficeth thee: speake no more to me of this matter. † Goe vp to the toppe of Phasga, and cast thine 27 cies round about to the west, and to the north, and the south, and the east, and behold it. for thou shalt not passe this Iordan. † Command Iosue, and encourage and strenghen him: for 28 he shal goe before this people, and shal diuide vnto them the Land, which thou shalt see. † And we abode in the valley against the temple of Phogor.

CHAP. IIII. Moyses exhorteth the people to kepe Gods commandments. 15. Namely that they make no similitude nor image of man, nor of beast, bird, fish, sunne, moone, nor of anie creature to serue the same for the Creator. He fortelleth The second part. A repetition & explication of the law. his owne death, 23. threatneth them if they forsake God. 41. and appointeth three cities of refuge, on the same side Iordan.

AND now Israel heare the preceptes and iudgementes, 1 which I teach thee: that doing them, thou mayest liue, and entring in mayest possesse the Land, which the Lord the God of your fathers wil geue you. † You “shal not adde to 2 the word, that I speake to you, neither shal you take away from it: keepe the commandment of the Lord your God which I command you. † Your eyes haue seene al thinges 3 that our Lord hath done against Beelphegor, how he hath destroyed al his worshippers out of the middes of you. † But 4 you that cleaue to the Lord your God, liue al vntil this present day. † You know that I haue taught you preceptes and 5 iustices, as the Lord my God hath commanded me: so shal you do them in the Land, which you shal possesse: † and 6 you shal obserue, and fulfil them in worke. For To kepe Gods cōmandments is counted by al nations the most excellent wisdome. this is your wisedome, and vnderstanding before peoples, that hearing al these preceptes, may say: Behold a people ful of wisedome and vnderstanding, a great nation. † Neither is there other 7 [Page 407] nation so great, that hath goddes approching vnto them, as our God is present at al our petitions. † For what other 8 nation is there so renowmed that hath the ceremonies, and iust iudgementes, and the whole law, which I wil sette forth this day before your eyes. † Keepe thy selfe therfore, 9 and thy soule carefully. Forget not the wordes, that thyne eyes haue seene, and let them not fal out of thy hart al the daies of thy life. Thou shalt teach them thy sonnes and thy nephewes, † the day wherin thou didst stand before 10 the Lord thy God in Horeb, when our Lord spake to me, saying: Assemble vnto me the people, that they may heare my wordes, and may learne to feare me al the time that they liue on the earth, and may teach their children. † And you 11 came to the foote of the mount, which burned euen vnto heauen: and there was in it darkenes, and a clould and mist. † And our Lord spake to you from the middes of the fyre. 12 The voice of his wordes you heard, and forme you saw not at al. † And he shewed you his couenant, which he commanded 13 you to do, and the Here and in other places it is manifest that the commandments, called the Decalogue, are iust tenne. tenne wordes, that he wrote in two tables of stone. † And he cōmanded me at that time that 14 I should teach you the ceremonies and iudgementes, which you should doe in the Land, that you shal possesse. † Keepe 15 therfore your soules carefully. You saw not any similitude in the day, that our Lord spake to you in Horeb from the middes of the fire: † lest perhaps deceiued you might make 16 you a grauen similitude, or image of male or female, † the 17 similitude of al cattel, that are vpon the earth, or of birdes, that flie vnder heauen, † and of creeping beastes, that moue 18 on the earth, or of fishes, that vnder the earth abide in the waters: † lest perhapes lifting vp thyne cies to heauen, thou 19 see the Sunne and the Moone, and al the starres of heauen, and deceiued by errour thou adore and serue them, which the Lord thy God created to serue al nations, that are vnder heauen. † But you our Lord hath taken, and brought out 20 of the yron furnace of Aegypt, to haue you his people by inheritance, as it is this present day. † And our Lord was angrie 21 with me for your wordes, and he sware Venial and least sinnes passe not with out temporal punishment. that I should not passe ouer Iordan, nor enter into the excellent Land, which he wil geue you. † Behold I die This was also a Mysterie, that the old law, signified by Moyses, could not bring to heauen, the true land of promise, but the law of Christ, signified by Iosue. Theodoret, q. 43. in Deut. in this ground, 22 I shal not passe ouer Iordan: you shal passe, and possesse the goodlie Land. † Beware lest at any time thou forget the 23 [Page 408] couenant of the Lord thy God, which he hath made with thee: and make to thee a grauen similitude of those thinges, which our Lord hath prohibited to be made: † because the 24 Lord thy God is a consuming fyre, ielouse God. † If you shal 25 begette sonnes and nephewes, and abide in the Land, and being deceiued make to you some similitude, committing euil before the Lord your God, to prouoke him to wrarh: † I cal this day heauen and earth witnesses, that you shal 26 quikly perish from out of the Land, which being passed ouer Iordan you shal possesse. You shal not dwel therin long time, but our Lotd wil destroy you, † and disperse you into al nations, 27 and you shal remaine a few among the nations, to the which our Lord wil lead you. † and there you shal serue 28 goddes, that were framed with mens hand, wood and stone that see not, nor heare, nor eate, nor smel. † And when 29 thou shalt seeke there the Lord thy God, thou shalt finde him: yet so, if thou seeke him with al thy hart, and al tribulation of thy soule. † After that al the thinges aforesaid 30 shal finde thee, and in Conuersion of the Iewes in the end of the world. the latter time thou shalt returne to the Lord thy God, and shalt heare his voice. † Because the 31 Lord thy God is a merciful God: he wil not leaue thee, nor altogether destroy thee, nor forget the couenant, wherein he sware to thy fathers. † Aske of the dayes of old, that haue 32 bene before thy time from the day that God created man vpon the earth, from one end of heauen to the other end therof, if euer there was done the like thing, or it hath beene knowen at any time, † that a people should heare the voice of 33 God speaking out of the middes of fyre, as thou hast heard, and liued: † if God so did that he went in, and tooke vnto 34 him a Nation out of the middes of nations, by temptations, signes, and wonders, by fight and strong hand, and stretched out arme, and horrible visions according to al thinges, that the Lord your God did for you in Aegypt, thine eies seeing it: † that thou mightest know that our Lord, he is God, and 35 there is none other beside him, † from heauen he made 36 thee to heare his voice, that he might teach thee. And in earth he shewed thee his fyre, verie greate, and thou didst heare his wordes out of the middes of the fyre, † because he 37 loued thy fathers, and chose their seede after them. And he brought thee out of Aegypt, going before thee in his great power, † to destroy verie great nations and stronger then 38 [Page 409] thou at thy entring in, and to bring thee in, and geue thee their land in possession, as thou seest this present day. † Know 39 therfore this day, and thinke in thy hart that our Lord he is God in heauen aboue, and in the earth beneth, and there is none other. † Keepe his preceptes and commandementes, 40 which I command thee: that it may be wel with thee, and thy children after thee, and thou mayest remayne a long time vpon the Land, which the Lord thy God wil geue thee. † Then Moyses separated three cities beyond Iordan at the 41 east side, † that he might flee to them which should kil his 42 neighbour not voluntarily, neither was his enemie a day or two before, and he might scape to some of these cities: † Bosor in the wildernesse, which is situated in the champion 43 countrie of the tribe of Ruben: and Ramoth in Galaad, which is in the tribe of Gad: and Golan in Basan, which is in the tribe of manasses. † This is the law, that Moyses 44 sette before the children of Israel, † and these are the testimonies 45 and ceremonies and iudgementes, which he spake to the children of Israel, when they came out of Aegypt, † beyond Iordan in the valley against the temple of Phogor 46 in the land of Sehon king of the Ammorrheite, that dwelt in Hesebon, whom Moyses stroke. The children of Israel also comming out of Aegypt † possessed his land, and the 47 land of Og the king of Basan, the two kinges of the Amorrheites, which were beyond Iordan toward the rysing of the sunne: † from Aroer, which is situated vpon the banke of 48 the torrent Arnon, vnto the mountaine Sion, which is also Hermon, † al the plaine beyond Iordan at the east side, 49 vnto the sea of the wildernesse, and vnto the foote of mount Phasga.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. IIII.

2. You shal not adde.] Moyses can not meane, that no more should be As other Scriptures are included in the law, so also Traditiōs are conteined in the Scriptures. written, nor commanded; for then the last chapter of this booke, and the rest of the Bible should not haue benne written after his death; neither ought the Priestes or Prophetes to haue commanded anie thing not expressed in the law. And wheras Protestantes say that al other Scriptures are included in the Brentius Kēnisius Caluin. lawe, or pertaine to the explicatiō or performance therof: we also answer that vnwritten Traditiōs both in the old and new Testament are likewise implied, included, or perteine to the explication or performance of the law. For euen as the written doctrin of the Prophetes, yea and of Christ, and his [Page 410] Apostles, in general is conteined in the law of Moyses, so also are certaine fastes, feastes, rites, ceremonies and other traditions proued and confirmed by general speaches and axiomes written in holie Scriptures, as by our Sauiours wordes to his Apostles Luc. 10. He that heareth you, heareth me. S. Paules to other Christians (1. Cor. 10.) other things vvhen I come I vvil dispose (2. Thess 2.) Hold the traditions vvhich you haue lerned: and the like. VVherupon S. Augustin The Church, commended by Scriptures, approueth Traditions. Li. 1. cont Crescon. c. 33. geueth this rule, that albeit an euident example can not be produced of holie Scripture, yet the truth of the same Scriptures is holden by vs, vvhen vve do that pleaseth the vvhole Church, vvhich the authoritie of Scriptures commendeth. The same he teacheth. Epist. 80. and in manie other places. So do S. Epiphanius in compend. sides Cathol. S Hierom. Dialog. cont. Lucifer. c. 4. S. Chrysost, ho. 4. in 1. Thessal 4. S. Basil. de Spiritu Sancto, c. 39. S. Ireneus li. 3. c. 4.

CHAP. V. The tenne commandements are repeted and explaned. 23. with commemoration of their dread and feare, When they heard the voice from the clowde, and saw the mountaine burne.

AND Moyses called al Israel, and said to them: Heare 1 Israel the ceremonies & iudgements, which I speake in your eares this day: lerne them, and It is not ynough to beleue only, or to know the commandments, but necessarie also to fulfil them in [...]vor [...]e. fulfil them in worke. † The Lord our God made a couenant with vs in Horeb. 2 † Not with our fathers did he make the couenant, but with 3 vs at this present, and doe liue. † Face to face did he speake 4 to vs in the mount out of the middes of the fyre. † I was 5 arbiter and The title of mediator lawfully ascribed to Gods lieu [...]enant in [...]rth. mediatour betwixt our Lord and you at that time, to shew you his wordes, for you feared the fire, and went not vp into the mount, and he said: † I the Lord thy 6 God, that brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt out of the house of seruitude. † Thou shalt not haue strange goddes in 7 my sight. † “Thou shalt not make to thee a thing grauen, 8 nor the similitude of any thinges, that are in heauen aboue, and that are in the earth beneath, and that abide in the waters vnder the earth. † Thou shalt not adore them, and thou 9 shalt not serue them. For I am the Lord thy God, a Iealouse God, tendering the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation to them that hate me, † and doing mercie vpon manie thousandes to them that 10 loue me, and keepe my preceptes. † Thou shalt not vsurpe 11 the name of the Lord thy God in vaine: for he shal not be vnpunished that taketh his name vpon a vaine thing. † Obserue 12 the day of the Sabbath, to sanctifie it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee. † Six dayes shalt thou worke, 13 and shalt doe al thy workes. † The seuenth is the day of the 14 [Page 411] Sabbath, that is, the rest of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not doe any worke therin, thou, and thy sonne and daughter, man seruant and woman seruant, and oxe, and asse, and al thy cattel, and the stranger that is within thy gates: that thy man seruant may rest, and thy woman seruant, euen as thy selfe. † Remember that thou also didest serue in Aegypt, 15 and the Lord thy God brought thee out from thence in a strong hand, and stretched out arme. Therfore hath he commanded thee that thou shouldest obserue the Sabbath. † Honour 16 thy father and mother, as our Lord thy God hath commanded thee, that thou mayst liue a long time, and it may be wel with thee in the Land, which the Lord thy God wil geue thee. † Thou shalt not murder. † Neither shalt thou committe 17 18 aduoutrie. † And thou shal not steale. † Neither 19 20 shalt thou speake against thy neighbour false testimonie. † Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife: Coueting as other mans wife, and coueting his goodes, differ as much, as the exterior actes of adultry and of theft. And so these two commandments are as distinct as the former two. Nor house, 21 nor field, nor man seruant, nor woman seruant, nor oxe, nor asse, and al thinges that are his. † These wordes spake 22 our Lord to al your multitude in the mount, out of the middes of the fi [...]e and the cloude, and the darkenes, with a loude voice, adding nothing more: and he wrote them in the two tables of stone, which he deliuered vnto me. † And you 23 after you heard the voice out of the middes of the darkenes, and saw the mount burne, came to me al the princes of the tribes and the elders, and you said: † Behold the Lord our 24 God hath shewed vs his maiestie and greatnes, for we haue heard his voice out of the middes of the fire, and haue proued this day that God speaking with man, man hath liued. † Why 25 shal we die therfore, and this exceding great fire deuoure vs? For if we heare the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shal die. † What is al flesh, that it should heare 26 the voice of the liuing God, who speaketh out of the middes of the fire as we haue heard, and may liue? † Approche 27 thou rather: and heare al thinges that the Lord our God shal say to thee: and thou shalt speake to vs, and we hearing wil doe them. † Which when our Lord had heard, he said to me: 28 I haue heard the voice of the wordes of this people, which they spake to thee: they haue spoken al thinges wel. † Who 29 shal geue them to haue such a minde, that they would feare me, and keepe al my commandementes at al time, that it may be wel with them and with their children for euer? [Page 412] † Goe and say to them: Returne into your tentes. † But 30 31 thou stand here with me, and I wil speake to thee al my commandementes, and ceremonies and iudgementes: which thou shalt teach them, that they may doe them in the Land, which I wil geue them in possession. † Keepe therfore and 32 doe the thinges which our Lord God hath commanded you: you shal not decline neither to the right hand, nor to the left: † but the way that the Lord your God hath commanded 33 shal you walke, that you may liue, and it may be wel with you, and your daies may be prolonged in the land of your possession.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. V.

8. Thou shalt not make.] If our aduersaries would quietly consider the coherence of the holie text, they might easely see, that this prohibition of making, and worshipping the similitude of anie creature, perteyneth to the Images of Idols forbid, but not of other things. former sentence: Thou shalt not haue strange goddes: more particularly forbidding either to make Idoles, or to worship such as others make; and that with commination, because our Lord is a ielous God, and wil not suffer his honour to be geuen to anie creature. But other Images were made in the old Testament, by Gods commandment, and likewise Images of Christ and his Sainctes are lawful and profitable among Christians. as before is noted. Exod. 20.

CHAP. VI. God is diligently to be serued, and loued with thy whole hart, thy whole soule, and whole strength. Al his precepts, ceremonies and iudgements must be carefully kept, and commended to posteritie.

THESE are the preceptes, and ceremonies, and iudgementes, 1 which the Lord your God commanded that I should teach you, and you should doe them in the Land, whereunto you passe ouer to possesse it: † that thou mayest 2 feare the Lord thy God, and keepe his commandementes and preceptes, which I command thee, and thy sonnes, and nephewes, al the dayes of thy life, that thy dayes may be prolonged. † Heare Israel, and obserue that thou doe the 3 thinges which our Lord hath commanded thee, and it may be wel with thee, and thou mayest be greately multiplied, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee a land flowīg with milke and honie. † Heare Israel, The Lord our God, is 4 one Lord. † Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with thy 5 whole hart, and with thy whole soule, and with thy whole [Page 413] strength. † And these wordes, which I command thee 6 this day, shal be in thy hart: † and thou shalt tel them to 7 thy children, and thou shalt meditate sitting in thy house, and walking on thy iourney, sleeping, and rysing. † And 8 thou shalt bind them as a signe on thy hand, and they shal be & shal moue betwen thine eies, † and thou shalt write them 9 in the entrie, and on the doores of thy house. † And when 10 the Lord thy God shal haue brought thee into the Land, for the which he sware to thy fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob: and shal haue geuen thee great and goodlie cities, which thou didst not build, † houses ful of al riches, which thou 11 didst not erect, cesternes which thou didst not digge, vineyardes and oliueyardes, which thou didst not plant, † and 12 thou shalt haue eaten and be ful: † take heede diligently 13 lest thou forget our Lord, that brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt, out of the house of seuitude. Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God, and Some adoration agreeth to creatures, but seruice of Latria to God onlie S. Aug. q 61. in Gen. him onelie shalt thou serue, and by his name shalt thou sweare. † You shal not goe after the strange 14 goddes of al Nations, that are round about you: † because 15 the Lord thy God is a Iealouse God in the middes of thee: lest sometime the furie of the Lord thy God be wrath against thee, and take thee away from the face of the earth. † Thou 16 shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, as thou didst tempt him in the place of tentation. † Keepe the preceptes of the Lord 17 thy God, and the testimonies and ceremonies, which he hath commanded thee: † And doé that which is pleasant 18 and good in the sight of our Lord, that it may be wel with thee: and entring in thou mayest possesse the goodlie Land, wherof our Lord sware to thy fathers, † that he would destroy 19 al thy enemies before thee, as he hath spoken. † And 20 when thy sonne shal aske thee to morrow, saying: What meane these testimonies, and ceremonies, and iudgementes, which the Lord our God hath commanded vs? † thou shalt 21 say to him: We were the bondmen of Pharao in Aegypt, and our Lord brought vs out of Aegypt in a strong hand: † and 22 he did signes & wonders great and verie sore in Aegypt against Pharao, and al his house, in our sight, † and he brought vs 23 out from thence, that being brought in he might geue vs the Land, wherupon he sware to our fathers. † And our Lord 24 commanded that we should doe al these ordinances, and should feare the Lord our God, that it might be wel with vs [Page 414] al the daies of our life, as it is at this day. † And he wil be 25 merciful to vs, if we keepe and doe al his preceptes before the Lord our God, as he commanded vs.

CHAP. VII. No league nor felowship to be had with the Gentiles: 5. but their altares, groues, and al their idoles to be destroyed. 17. God promiseth victories to his people, willing them to trust in him, and serue him.

VVHEN the Lord thy God shal haue brought thee 1 into the land, which thou doest enter in to possesse, and shal haue destroyed manie Nations before thee, the Hetheite, and the Gergezeite, and the Amorrheite, and the Chananeite, and the Pherezeite, and the Heueite, and the Iebuseite, seuen nations of much greater number then thou art, and stronger then thou: † and the Lord thy God shal 2 haue deliuered them to thee, thou shalt strike them vnto vtter destruction. Thou shalt not make league with them, nor pitie them, † nor make mariages with them. Thy daughter 3 thou shalt not geue to his sonne, nor take his daughter for thy sonne: † for he wil seduce thy sonne, that he folow not 4 me, and that he rather serue strange goddes, and the furie of our Lord wil be wrath, and shal quickly destroy thee. † But 5 these thinges rather you shal doe to them: Ouerthrow their altares, and breake their statuees, and cutte downe their groues, and burne their sculptiles. † Because thou art a 6 holie people to the Lord thy God. The Lord thy God hath chosen thee, to be his peculiar people of al peoples, that are vpon the earth. † Not because you passed al nations in 7 number, is our Lord ioyned vnto you, and hath chosen you, wheras you are fewer then al peoples: † but because our 8 Lord hath loued you, and hath kept the oath, which he sware to your fathers: and hath brought you forth in a strong hand, and redemed you from the house of seruitude, out of the hand of Pharao the king of Aegypt. † And thou shalt know 9 Not withstanding this commination, God ofrentimes differreth punishment, expecting the sinners repentance. that the Lord thy God, he is a strong and faith ful God, keping his couenant and mercie to them that loue him, and to them that keepe his preceptes, vnto a thousand generations: † and 10 rendring forthwith to them that hate him, so that he destroyeth them, and differreth no longer, :: immediatly rendering to them that they deserue. † Keepe therfore the preceptes 11 and ceremonies and iudgementes, which I command [Page 415] thee this day to doe them. † Gods promises cōditional, if his people serue him. If after thou hast heard these 12 iudgementes, thou keepe and doe them, the Lord also thy God wil keepe the couenant vnto thee, and the mercie which he sware to thy fathers: † and he wil loue and multiplie 13 thee, and wil blesse the fruite of thy wombe, and the fruite of thy land, thy corne, and vintage, oile, and heardes, the flockes of thy sheepe vpon the Land, for the which he sware to thy fathers that he would geue it thee. † Blessed shalt 14 thou be among al peoples. There shal be none barren with thee of neither sexe, as wel in men as in thy flockes. † Our 15 Lord wil take away from thee al disease: and the sore infirmities of Aegypt, which thou knowest, he wil not bring vpon thee, but vpon al thyne enemies. † Thou shalt deuoure 16 al the peoples, which the Lord thy God wil gene thee. Thyn eye shal not spare them, neither shalt thou serue their goddes, lest they be the ruine of thee. † If thou say in thy hart: These 17 nations are moe then I, how shal I be able to destroy them? † Feare not, but remember what the Lord thy God did to 18 Pharao and to al the Aegyptians, † the exceding great plagues, 19 which thyne eies saw, and the signes and wonders, and the strong hand, and the stretched out arme, that the Lord thy God might bring thee forth: so wil he doe to al peoples, whom thou fearest. † Moreouer hornettes also wil the Lord 20 thy God send vpon them, vntil he destroy and consume al that escaped thee, and can hide them selues. † Thou shalt not feare 21 them, because the Lord thy God is in the middes of thee, a mightie God and terrible: † he wil consume these nations in 22 thy sight by litle and litle and by partes. Thou mayest not destroy them al together: lest perhappes the beastes of the earth multiplie against thee. † And the Lord thy God wil geue them 23 in thy sight: and wil kil them vntil they be vtterly destroyed. † And he wil deliuer their kinges into thy handes, and thou 24 shalt destroy their names vnder heauen: no man shal be able to resist thee, vntil thou destroy them. † Their sculptiles thou 25 shalt burne with fyre: thou shalt not couet the siluer and gold, wherof they were made, neither shalt thou take to thee any thing therof, lest thou offend, because it is the abomination of the Lord thy God. † Neither shalt thou bring in ought of 26 the Idol into thy house, lest thou become anathema, as also that is. As filthines thou shalt detest it, and as vncleannes and filth thou shalt account it abominable, because it is anathema.

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CHAP. VIII. The people is put in mind of afflictions which happened in the deserte, and of benefites as wel past, as promised▪ 11. to the end they loue and serue God more effectually.

EVERIE commandement, that I command thee this 1 day, take diligent heede that thou doe it: that you may liue, and be multiplied, and entring in may possesse the Land, for the which our Lord sware to your fathers. † And thou 2 shalt remember al the iourney, through the which the Lord thy God hath brought thee fourtie yeares by the desert, that he might afflict and proue thee, and that the thinges that were in thy hart might be made knowen, whether thou wouldest keepe his commandementes or not. † He afflicted 3 thee with penurie, and gaue thee for meate Manna, which thou knewest not nor thy fathers: for to shew vnto thee that God is able to make foode of what he plesse, or to sustaine men without [...]cate. not in bread onlie a man liue, but in euerie word that procedeth from the mouth of God. † Thy rayment, wherwith 4 thou wast couered, hath not decayed for age, and thy foote is not worne, loe this is the fourtith yeare. † That thou mayest 5 recount in thy hart, that as a man disciplineth his sonne, so the Lord thy God hath disciplined thee, † that thou ▪shouldest 6 keepe the cōmandementes of the Lord thy God, & walke in his wayes, and feare him. † For the Lord thy God wil 7 bring thee in vnto a good land, a land of riuers & waters and of fountaynes: in the plains wherof and mountaynes deepe floudes gush out: † a land of wheate, of barley & vineyardes, 8 wherein figge trees and pomegranates, and oliueyardes doe grow: a land of oyle and honie. † Where without any 9 penutie thou shalt eate thy bread, and enioy abundance of al thinges: whose stones are yron, and out of the mountaynes therof are digged metalles of brasse: † that when 10 thou hast eaten, and art ful, thou mayest blesse the Lord thy God for the excellent land, which he hath geuen thee. † Obserue, and beware lest at any time thou forget the Lord 11 thy God, and neglect his commandementes and iudgementes and ceremonies, which I command thee this day: † lest 12 after thou hast eaten and art filled, hast built goodlie houses, and dwelled in them, † and shalt haue heardes of oxen and 13 flockes of sheepe, of gold and siluer, and of al thinges plentie, † thy hart be lifted vp, and thou remember not the Lord 14 [Page 417] thy God, that brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt, out of the house of seruitude: † and was thy conductor in the 15 huge and terrible wildernesse, wherein was the serpent burning with his breath, and the scorpion and A serpent lesse then a scorpion, making those whom he byteth to die of thirst Sol [...]us in polyhist. cap. de Africa. the dipsas, and no waters at al: who brought forth riuers out of the hardest rocke, † and fed thee with Manna in the wildernesse, which 16 thy fathers knew not. And after he had afflicted and proued thee, at the last he had mercie vpon thee, † lest thou shouldest 17 say in thy hart: Myne owne force, and the strength of myne owne hand, haue archieued al these thinges for me. † But remember the Lord thy God, that he hath geuen thee 18 strength, that he might fulfil his couenant, concerning which he sware to thy fathers, as this present day sheweth. † But if forgetting the Lord thy God, thou shalt folow 19 strange goddes, and shalt serue and adore them: behold now I foretel thee that thou shalt perish vtterly. † As the Nations, 20 which our Lord destroyed at thyne entrie, so shal you also perish, if you be disobedient to the voice of the Lord your God.

CHAP. IX. Lest they should impute the victories (which they shal haue) to them selues, 6. they are put in mind of their often prouoking Gods wrath, 12. by idolatrie, 22. by murmuring, by concupiscence, by contempt, and other sinnes. 25 for which they should haue bene destroyed, but God spared them for his prou [...]se made to Abraham Isaeac and Iacob.

HEARE Israel: Thou shalt goe ouer Iordan this day; 1 to possesse verie greate nations and stronger then thy selfe, huge cities, and walled Holie Scripture vseth the figure Hyperbola, folowing the vulgar maner of speakīg as wel to helpe the vnderstanding, as to moue affectiō in great and extraordinarie things. euen vnto heauen, † a great 2 people and tal, the sonnes of the Enacims, whom thou hast seene, and heard, against whom no man is able to resist. † Thou shalt know therfore this day that the Lord thy God 3 him selfe wil passe ouer before thee, a deuouring and consuming fyre, who shal destroy and abolish and bring them to nothing before thy face quickly, as he hath spoken to thee. † Say not in thy hart, when the Lord thy God shal haue destroyed 4 them in thy sight: For my iustice hath our Lord brought me in to possesse this land, wheras these nations were destroyed for their impieties. † For not because of thy iustices, 5 and equitie of thy hart doest thou enter in to possesse their landes: but because they haue done impiously, at thy [Page 418] entring in they are destroyed: and that our Lord might accomplish his word, which by oath he promised to thy fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. † Know therfore that not for 6 thy iustices hath the Lord thy God geuen thee this excellent land in possession, wheras thou art a verie stiffe necked people. † Remember, and forget not how thou didst prouoke 7 the Lord thy God to wrath in the wildernesse. From the same day, that thou camest out of Aegypt vnto this place, thou hast alwayes contended against our Lord. † For in 8 Horeb also thou didst prouoke him, and being wrath he would haue destroyed thee, † when I went vp into the 9 mounte, to receiue the tables of stone, of the couenant which our Lord made with you: and I continewed in the mounte fourtie daies and nightes, not eating bread, nor drinking water. † And our Lord gaue me two tables of stone 10 written with the singer of God, and conteyning al the wordes that he spake to you in the mounte from the middes of the fyre, when the assemblie of the people was gathered. † And 11 when fourtie dayes were passed, and as manie nightes, our Lord gaue me the two tables of stone, the tables of couenant, † and he said to me, Arise, and goe downe from hence 12 quickly: for thy people, which thou didst bring out of Aegypt, haue quickly forsaken the way, that thou hast shewed them, and haue made them The similitude of a calfe and called it their god. Exed. 32. a molten idol. † And againe 13 our Lord said to me: I see that this people is stiffe necked: † suffer me that I may destroy them, and abolish their name 14 from vnder heauen, and may set thee ouer a Nation, that is greater and stronger then this. † And when I came downe 15 from the burning mounte, and held the two tables of couenant with both handes, † and saw that you had sinned to 16 the Lord your God, and had made you a molten calfe, and had quickly forsaken his way, which he had shewed you: † I cast the tables out of my handes, and brake them in your 17 sight. † And I fel downe before our Lord as before, fourtie 18 dayes and nightes not eating bread, not drinking water, for al your sinnes, which you committed against our Lord, and prouoked him to wrath: † for I feared his indignation and 19 anger, wherwith being moued agaynst you, he would haue destroyed you. And our Lord heard me this time also. 20 † Against Aaron also being exceeding angrie, he would haue destroyed him, and for him, in like maner did I [Page 419] pray. † And your sinne that you had committed, that is, the 21 calfe, I tooke, and burnt it with fyre, and breaking it into peeces, and bringing it wholy into dust, I threw it into the torrent, that de [...]cendeth from the mount. † In the burning 22 also and in the tentation, and in the Sepulchres of concupiscence you prouoked our Lord: † and when he sent you 23 from Cadesbarne, saying. Goe vp, and possesse the Land, that I haue geuen you, and you contemned the commandement of your Lord God, and did not beleue him, neither would you heare his voice: † but were alwaies rebellious 24 from the day that I beganne to know you. † And I lay before 25 our Lord fourtie dayes and nightes, in the which I humbly besought him, that he would not destroy you as he had threatened: † and praying I said: Lord God, destroy not 26 thy people, and thyne inheritance, which thou hast redemed in thy greatnes, whom thou didst bring out of Aegypt in a strong hand. † Remember thy seruantes Abraham, Isaac, 27 and Iacob: regard not the stubbournes of this people, and his impietie and sinne: † lest perhappes the inhabitantes of 28 the land, out of which thou hast brought vs, say; The Lord could not bring them in vnto the Land, that he promised them, and he hated them: therfore did he bring them forth, that he might kil them in the wildernes. † Which are thy 29 people and thyne inheritance, whom thou didst bring forth in thy great strength, and in thy stretched out arme.

CHAP. X. Moyses receiuing the second tables of the tenne commandments, and making an arke put them therin. 6. with mention of certaine places where the children of Israel had camped, of Aarons death, and to the Leuites offices, and possesstons, 12. be inculcateth the feare and loue of God, and the keping of his precepts. 16. namely to circumcise the hart. 19. to loue strangers 20. and not to serue, nor sweare by false goddes.

AT that time our Lord said to me: Hewe thee two tables 1 of stone, as the former were, and come vp to me into the mounte: and thou shalt make an arke of wood, † and 2 I wil write in the tables the wordes that were in them, which before thou didst breake, and thou shalt put them in the arke. † I made therfore an arke of the wood Settim. And 3 when I had hewed two tables of stone like to the former, I went vp into the mount, hauing them in my handes. † And 4 [Page 420] he wrote in the tables, according as he had written before, the ten wordes, which our Lord spake to you in the mount from the middes of the fyre, when the people was gathered: and he gaue them to me. † And returning from the mount, 5 I came downe, and put the tables into the arke, that I had made, which are there til this present, as our Lord commanded me. † And the children of Israel remoued their campe 6 from Beroth of the children of Iacan into This Mosera where Aaron died, is more commonly called Hor. Num. 20. &. 33. Mosera, where Aaron died and was buried, for whom, Eleazar his soone did the function of priesthood. † Thence they came into 7 Gadgad: from the which place departing, they camped in Ietebatha, in a Land of waters and torrentes. † At that time 8 he separated the tribe of Leui, to carie the arke of the couenant of our Lord, and to stand before him in the ministerie, and to blesse in his name vntil this present day. † For the 9 which cause Leui had no part, nor possession with his brethren: because our Lord him self is his possession, as the Lord thy God promised him. † And I stoode in the mount, 10 as before, fourtie daies and nightes: and our Lord heard me this time also, and would not destroy thee. † And he said to 11 me: Goe, and march before the people, that they may enter, and possesse the Land, which I sware to their fathers that I would deliuer to them. † And now Israel, what doth the 12 Lord thy God require of thee, but that thou feare the Lord thy God, and walke in his waies, and loue him, and serue the Lord thy God with al thy hart, and with al thy soule: † and 13 keepe the commandementes of our Lord, and his ceremonies, which I command thee this day, that it may be wel with thee? † Behold heauen is the Lords thy God, and the heauen 14 of heauen, the earth and al thinges that are in it. † And 15 yet to thy fathers was our Lord ioyned, and he loued them, and chose their seede after them, that is to say you, from al Nations, as this day it is proued. † Circumcise therfore the 16 prepuce of your hart, and your necke indurate no more: † because the Lord your God he is the God of goddes, and 17 the Lord of lordes, a great God and mightie, and terrible, that accepteth not person nor giftes. † He doth iudgement to the 18 pupil and the widowe, loueth the stranger, and geueth him victual & rayment. † And do you therfore loue strangers because 19 you also were strangers in the Land of Aegypt. † Thou 20 shalt feare the Lord thy God, and serue him only: to him thou [Page 421] shalt cleaue, and VVhen iust cause requireth an oath, it must be made in the name of God, not of false goddes. shalt sweare in his name. † He is thy praise, 21 and thy God, that hath done for thee these greate and terrible thinges, which thyne eies haue seene. † In seuentie soules did 22 thy fathers goe downe into Aegypt: and behold now the Lord thy God hath multiplied thee as the slarres of heauen.

CHAP. XI. For the benefites of God (wherof some are repeted, and others promised) the Israelites are bound to loue him. 16. but if they forsake him he threatneth punishmentes, 26. proposing benediction and malediction as they shal deserue.

LOVE therfore the Lord thy God, and obserue his preceptes 1 and ceremonies, his iudgementes and commandmentes at al time. † Know this day the thinges that your 2 children know not, who saw not the discipline of the Lord your God, his great doinges and strong hand, and stretched out arme, † the signes and workes which he did in the 3 middes of Aegypt to Pharao the king, and to al his land, † and 4 to al the hoste of the Aegyptians, and to their horses and charriottes: how the waters of the red sea couered them, when they pursewed you, and how our Lord destroyed them vntil this present day: † and to you what thinges he hath 5 done in the wildernes, til you came to this place: † and to 6 Dathan and Abiron the sonnes of Eliab, which was the sonne of Ruben: whom the earth opening her mouth swalowed vp with their houses and tabernacles, and al their substance, which they had in the middes of Israel. † Your eies haue 7 seene al the great workes of our Lord, that he hath done, † that you may keepe al his commandementes, which I command 8 you this day, and may enter in, and possesse the Land, to the which you enter, † and may liue in it a great time: 9 which our Lord by oath promised to your fathers, and to their seede, flowing with milke and honie. † For the Land, 10 which thou goest to possesse, is not as the Land of Aegypt, which thou camest out of, where when the seede is sowen, waters are brought in to water it after the maner of gardens. † but it is hilly and champion, expecting raine from heauen. 11 † which the Lord thy God doth alwaies visite, and his eies 12 are on it from the beginning of the yeare vnto the end therof. † If then you obey my commandementes, which I command 13 you this day, that you loue the Lord your God, and serue him [Page 422] with al your hart, and with al your soule: † he wil geue rayne 14 to your Land Raine after seeding and before haruest signifieth Gods grace first stirring vp the soule, and assisting the same to the end. the timely and the lateward, that you may gather your corne, and wine, and oile, † and haye out of the 15 fieldes to feede your cattel, and that your selues may eate and be filled. † Beware lest perhaps your hart be deceiued, and you 16 depart from our Lord, and serue strange goddes, and adore them: † and our Lord being wrath shutte vp heauen, and 17 the raine come not downe, nor the earth geue her spring, and you perish quickly from the excellent Land, which our Lord wil geue you † Put these my wordes in your hartes and 18 mindes, and hang them for a signe on your handes, and place them betwen your eies. † Teach your children that they 19 meditate them, when thou sittest in thy house, & walkest on the way, and liest downe and rysest vp. † Thou shalt write 20 them vpon the postes and gates of thy house: † that thy 21 daies may be multiplied, and the dayes of thy children in the Land, which our Lord sware to thy fathers, that he would geue it them as long as the heauen hangeth ouer the earth. † For if you keepe the commandementes which I command 22 The second lesson in Masse on Imber Saturday in Lent you, and doe them, that you loue the Lord your God, and walke in al his wayes, cleauing to him, † our Lord wil destroy 23 al these nations before your face, and you shal possesse them, which are greater and stronger then you. † Euerie 24 place, that your foote shal treade, shal be yours. From the desert, and from Libanus, from the great riuer Euphrates vnto the west sea shal be your borders. † None shal stand against 25 you: your terrour and feare shal the Lord your God geue vpon al the land that you shal treade, as he hath spoken to you. † Behold I sette forth in your sight this day God worketh, and we cooperate, for he taketh not away, but helpeth free wil. S. Aug. q. 15. in Deut. benediction 26 and malediction: † benection, if you obey the commandementes 27 of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: † malediction, if you obey not the commandementes 28 of the Lord your God, but reuolt from the way, which now I doe shew you, and walke after strange goddes, which you know not. † And when the Lord thy God shal 29 haue brought thee into the Land, to the which thou goest to inhabite, thou shalt put the benediction vpon mounte Garizim, the malediction vpon mounte Hebal: † which are 30 beyond Iordan behinde the way that bendeth to the going downe of the sunne in the Land of the Chananeite, which dwelleth in the champion countrie against Galgala, which is [Page 423] beside the valle that reacheth and entreth farre. † For you 31 shal passe ouer Iordan, to possesse the Land, which the Lord your God wil geue you, that you may haue and possesse it. † See therfore that you fulfil the ceremonies and iudgementes, 32 which I shal sette this day in your sight.

CHAP. XII. Al idolatrie, and whatsoeuer apperteineth therto must be destroyed. 5. Sacrifices, tithes, and donaries must be offered in the special place, 15. Eating flesh they must not eate the bloud. 29. In no case to imitate the idolatrie of gentiles.

THESE are the preceptes and iudgementes, that you 1 must do in the Land, which the Lord God of thy fathers wil geue thee, to possesse it al the daies, that thou shalt goe vpon the earth. † Subuert al places, wherein the nations, 2 which you shal possesse, worshipped their goddes vpon the high mountaines, and hilles, and vnder euerie tree ful of leaues. † Ouerthrow their altares, and breake their statues, 3 their groues burne with fire, and their Idols hewe al to peeces: destroy their names out of those places. † You shal 4 not doe so to the Lord your God: † but Peculiar place appropriate to Gods seruice. to the place, which 5 the Lord your God hath chosen of al your tribes, to put his name there and to dwel in it, shal you come: † and shal offer 6 in that place your holocaustes and victimes, the tithes and first fruites of your handes, and your vowes and donaries, the first borne of your oxen and sheepe. † And you shal eate 7 there in the sight of the Lord your God: and you shal reioyce in al thinges, whereunto you shal put your hand, you and your house, wherein the Lord your God hath blessed you. † You shal not doe there the thinges, that we doe here this 8 day In the dese [...] they could not obserue the ceremonies of the Law: but comming to rest they were bound to kepe al one sette forme of holie rites. euerie man that which seemeth good to him self. † For 9 vntil this present time you are not come to rest, and to the possession, which the Lord your God wil geue you. † You 10 shal passe ouer Iordan, and shal dwel in the Land, which the Lord your God wil geue you, that you may haue rest from al enemies round about: and may dwel without al feare, † in 11 the place, which the Lord your God shal choose, that his name may be therin. Thither shal you bring al the thinges, that I command you, holocaustes, and hostes, and tithes, and the first fruites of your handes: and whatsoeuer is the principal in the giftes, that you shal vowe to our Lord. † There 12 [Page 424] shal you feaste before the Lord your God, you and your sonnes and daughters, men seruantes and wemen seruantes, and the Leuite, that dwelleth in your cities▪ for he hath no other part and possession among you. † Beware thou offer 13 not thy holocaustes in euerie place, that thou shalt see: † but 14 in that, which our Lord shal choose, in one of thy tribes shalt thou offer hostes, and shalt doe what thinges soeuer I command thee. † But if thou wilt eate, and the eating of 15 flesh delight thee, kil, and eate according to the blessing of the Lord thy God, which he hath geuen thee in thy cities: whether it be vncleane, that is to say, blemished and feeble: or cleane, that is to say, sound and without blemish, such as is lawful to be offered, as the doa and the hart, shalt thou eate it, † only without eating of the bloud, which thou shalt 16 power out vpon the earth as water. † Thou canst not eate 17 in thy townes the tithe of thy corne, and wine, and oyle, the first borne of thy heardes and cattel, and al thinges that thou vowest, and that thou wilt offer voluntarily, and the first fruites of thy handes: † but before the Lord thy God shalt 18 thou eate them in the place, which the Lord thy God shal choose, thou and thy sonne and thy daughter, and man seruant, and woman seruant, and the Leuite, that dwelleth in thy cities: and thou shalt reioyce and be refreshed before the Lord thy God in al thinges, whereunto thou shalt extend thy hand. † Take heede thou forsake not the Leuite al the 19 time that thou liuest in the land. † When the Lord thy God 20 shal haue dilated thy borders, as he hath spoken to thee, and thou wilt eate the flesh, that thy soule desireth: † and if the 21 place be farre of, which the Lord thy God shal choose, that his name may be there, thou shalt kil of the heardes and cattel, which thou hast as I haue commanded thee, and shalt eate in thy townes, as it pleaseth thee. † As the doa is eaten 22 and the hart, so shalt thou eate them: both the cleane and vncleane shal eate in common. † This onlie beware, that 23 thou eate not the bloud, for their bloud is for the soule: and therfore thou must not eate the soule with the flesh: † but 24 vpon the earth thou shalt▪ power it as water, † that it may 25 be wel with thee and thy children after thee, when thou shalt doe that which pleaseth in the sight of our Lord. † But 26 the thinges which thou hast sanctified, and vowed to our Lord, thou shalt take vp, and shalt come to the place, which [Page 425] our Lord shal choose: † and shalt offer thy oblations the 27 flesh and the bloud vpon the altar of the Lord thy God: the bloud of thy hostes thou shalt power on the altar: and the flesh thy self shalt eate. † Obserue and heare al thinges that 28 I command thee, that it may be wel with thee and thy children after thee for euer, when thou shalt doe that which is good and pleasing in the sight of the Lord thy God. † When 29 the Lord thy God shal haue destroyed before thy face the nations, that thou entrest in to possesse, and thou shalt possesse them, and dwel in their land: † beware lest thou imitate 30 them, after they be subuerted at thy entring in, and thou require their ceremonies, saying: As these nations haue worshipped their goddes, so wil I also worshippe. † Thou shalt 31 not doe in like maner to the Lord thy God. For al the abominations, that our Lord doeth abhorre, haue they done to their goddes, offering their sonnes and daughters, and burning them with fyre. † What I command thee, ▪ that onlie 32 doe to our Lord: neither adde any thing, nor diminish.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XII.

32 That only do to our Lord.] VVheras the Gentiles offered their sonnes and No hostes lawful in sacrifice but such as the law appointed daughters (v. 31.) and other abominable sacrifices to Idols, God commandeth his people to offer those things only, which are prescribed by the law, and neither to imolate anie other thing, nor exclude anie thing appointed by the same law for sacrifice. As for other preceptes, it is likewise forbid to adde or diminish anie thing that may corrupt the law: but was euer lawful for Superiors, New precepts may be added, not contrarie to the former. to adde more preceptes agreable, and not contrarie to the former. So King Dauid established a new law that such as stayed with the baggage, should haue like portion of the praye, with those that fought in battel. 1. Reg. 30. And our Sauiour by his presence (Ioan 10▪) approued the feast of dedication, instituted long after Moyses law. 1. Machab, 4.

CHAP. XIII. False Prophets must be slaine, 6. how nere soeuer they be in kinred, or freindshipe. 12. The whole citie that shal permite false doctrin must be vtterly destroyed, men, beastes, and al moueables, and neuer be built againe.

IF there rise in the middes of thee a prophete, or one that 1 saieth he hath seene a dreame, and foretel a signe and a wonder, † and it come to passe which he spake, and he say 2 to thee: Noueltie in Religion is a marke of idolatrie or heresie. Let vs goe, and folow strange goddes, which thou knowest not, and let vs serue them: † thou shalt not heare 3 [Page 426] the wordes of that prophete or dreamer: for the Lord your God tempteth you, that it may appeare whether you loue him or no, with al your hart, and with al your soule. † Folow the 4 Lord your God, and feare him, and keepe his commandementes, and heare his voice: him you shal serue, and to him you shal cleaue. † And that prophete or forget of dreames 5 shal be slaine: because he spake that he might auert you from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the Land of Aegypt, and redemed you from the house of seruitude: that he might make thee to erre from the way, that the Lord thy God commanded thee: and thou shalt take away the euil out of the middes of thee. † If thy brother the sonne of thy 6 mother, or thy sonne or daughter, or thy wife that is in thy bosome, or thy freind, whom thou louest as thy soule, wil perswade thee secretly, saying: Let vs goe, and serue strange goddes, which thou knowest not, nor thy fathers, † of al 7 nations round about, that be nigh or farre, from the beginning vnto the end of the earth, † consent not to him, 8 nor heare him, neither let thyne eie spare him to pitie and hide him, † but Euerie priuat man is not commanded, nor warrented by this to kil: but euerie one is bound to informe the Magistrate, and so by order of iustice to procede against the wicked. :: Such as wil not indure discipline are called children of Be [...]lial, that is, vvithout yoke. forthwith thou shalt kil him▪ let thy 9 hand be first vpon him, and after thee al the people lay hand on him. † With stones shal he be stoned to death: because 10 he would haue withdrawen thee from the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt, from the house of seruitude: † that al Israel hearing may feare, and 11 may doe no more any thing like to this. † If in one of thy 12 cities, which the Lord thy God shal geue thee to inhabite, thou heare some say: † There are gone forth :: children of 13 Belial out of the middes of thee, and haue auerted the inhabitants of their citie, and haue said: Let vs goe, and serue strange goddes which you know not: † inquire carefully, 14 and diligently, the truth of the thing being looked into, if thou finde it certaine that is said, and that this abomination is in act committed, † thou shalt forthwith strike the inhabitantes 15 of that citie in the edge of the sworde, and shalt destroy it and al thinges that are in it, vnto the very beastes. † What stuffe also soeuer there is, thou shalt gather together 16 in the middes of the streares therof, and shalt burne it with the citie it selfe, so that thou consume al thinges to the Lord thy God, and it be a heape for euer: it shal be built no more, † and there shal nothing sticke in thy hand of that anathema: 17 [Page 427] :: that our Lord may be turned from the wrath of his furie, and may haue mercie on thee, and multiplie thee as he sware to thy fathers, † when thou shalt heare the voice of the Lord 18 thy God, keeping al his preceptes, which I command thee this day, that thou mayest doe that which is pleasing in the sight of the Lord thy God.

CHAP. XIIII. Gentiles maner of mourning for the dead is prohibited. 3. Likewise to eate things vncleane, with mention of certaine cleane and vncleane beastes, 9. fishes, 11. and birdes. 21. Also preceptes of pietie, clemencie, paying tithes, first fruites, 27. nourishing of Leuites, strangers, orphanes, and widowes.

BE YE the children of the Lord your God: you shal not 1 cutte your selues, nor make bauldnes for the dead. † because 2 thou art a holie people to the Lord thy God: and he chose thee to be his peculiar people of al nattions, that are vpon the earth. † Eate not the thinges that are vncleane. 3 † This is the beast, that you ought to eate, The oxe, and the 4 sheepe, and the goate, † the hart and the doa, the buffle, 5 the chamois, the pygargue, the wilde beefe, the cameloparde. † Euerie beast, that diuideth the hoofe in two partes, and 6 cheweth the cudde, shal you eate. † But of them, that chew 7 the cudde, and diuide not the hoofe, these you shal not eate, as the camel, the hare, the cherogril: because they chew the cudde, and diuide not the hoofe, they shal be vncleane to you. † The swine also because it diuideth the hoof, and cheweth 8 not the cudde, shal be vncleane▪ their flesh you shal not eate, and their carcasses you shal not touche. † These shal you 9 eate of al that abide in the waters: Such as haue finnes and scales, eate: † them that are without finnes and scales, eate 10 not, because they are vncleane. † Al birdes that are cleane 11 eate. † The vncleane eate not: to witte, the eagle, and the 12 grype, and the osprey, † the ringtaile, and the vulture and 13 kite according to their kinde: † and al of the rauens kinde, 14 † and the ostriche, and the owle, and the sterne, and the 15 hawke according to his kinde: † the herodian and the 16 swanne, and the stroke, † and the diuer, the porphyrion, 17 and nightcrow, † the onocratal, and the charadrion, euerie 18 one in their kinde: the lapwing also and the batte. † And 19 al that creepeth and hath litle winges, shal be vncleane, and 20 shal not be eaten. † Al that is cleane, eate. † But whatsoeuer 21 [Page 428] is dead of it selfe, eate not therof. If these thīgs were vncleane by nature they were not lawful for anie nation to eate, but being only forbid to the Iewes sheweth, that this prohibition was ceremonial, only for that time and people. To the stranger, that is within thy gates, geue it to eate, or sel it to him: because thou art the holie people of our Lord thy God. Thou shalt Al shew of crueltie to be auoided. Mystically this presigured, that Christ (for the similitude of sinful flesh signified by a kidde) should not be slaine in his infancie. [...]. Tho. 1. 2. q. 102. [...]. 6. ad 4. not boyle a kidde in the milke of his damme. † The 22 tenth part thou shalt seperate of al thy fruites that spring in the earth euerie yeare, † and thou shalt eate in the sight of 23 our Lord thy God in the place, which he shal choose, that his name may be inuocated therin, the tithe of thy corne, and wine, and oile, and the first borne of thy heardes and sheepe: that thou mayest lerne to feare our Lord thy God at al time. † But when the way, and the place which our Lord thy God 24 shal choose, are farre, and he hath blessed thee, and thou canst not carie al these thinges thither, † thou shalt sel, and 25 bring al into a price, and shalt carie it in thy hand, and shalt goe to the place, which our Lord thy God shal choose: † and 26 thou shalt buy with the same money whatsoeuer pleaseth thee, either of heardes, or of sheepe, wine also and sicere, and al that thy soule desireth: and thou shalt eate before our Lord thy God, and shalt feast, thou and thy house: † and 27 the Leuite that is within thy gates, beware thou forsake him not, because he hath no other part in thy possession. † The 28 third yeare thou shalt separate an other tenth of al thinges, that growe to thee at that time: and shalt lay it vp within thy gates. † And the Leuite shal come that hath no other 29 part nor possession with thee, and the stranger and pupil and widow, that are within thy gates, and shal eate and be filled: that our Lord thy God may blesse thee in al the workes of thy handes that thou shalt doe.

CHAP. XV. Remission of dibtes in the seuenth yeare to the israelites, but not to strangers. 4. Albeit there wil alwayes be some poore, yet they must so lend to their needie bretheren, that none be forced to begge. 12. Abought seruant that is an hebrew must be set free in the seuenth yeare, 16. except he desire to serue stil. 19. The firstborne in al cattel must be consecrated to God, without making priuate profite therof.

IN the seuenth yeare thou shalt make a remission, † which 1 2 shal be celebrated in this order. He to whom any thing is owing of his freind or neighbour and brother, can not aske it againe, because it is the yeare of remission of our Lord. † Of the seiourner and stranger thou shalt exact: of thy 3 [Page 429] countrie man and neighbour thou shalt not haue power to require it. † And The Israelites were boūd to do their endeuour that none should be needie among them: notwithstanding for exercise of loue & charitie Gods prouidence suffered some to be poore. [...]. 7. &. 11. needie person and begger there shal be 4 none among you: that our Lord thy God may blesse thee in the land, which he wil geue thee in possession. † Yet so if thou 5 heare the voice of our Lord thy God, and keepe al thinges that he hath bid, and which I command thee this day, he wil blesse thee, as he hath promised. † Thou shalt lend to manie 6 nations, and thy selfe shalt borrow of no man. Thou shalt haue dominion ouer verie manie nations, and no man shal haue dominion ouer thee. † If one of thy brethren that abideth 7 within the gates of thy citie in the land, which our Lord thy God wil geue thee, come to pouertie: thou shalt not harden thy hart, nor close thy hand, † but shalt open it to the 8 poore man, and shalt lend him, that which thou perceiuest he hath neede of. † Beware lest perhaps an impious cogitation 9 steale in vpon thee, and thou say in thy hart: The seuenth yeare of remission draweth nigh; & turne away thy eies from thy poore brother denying to lend him that which he asketh: lest he crie against thee to our Lord, and He that can and wil not feede his neighboure in extremitie, killeth him. S. Amb. li. 2. de Offic. c. 7. it become a sinne vnto thee. † But thou shalt geue to him: neither shalt thou 10 doe any thing craftely in releuing his necessities: that our Lord thy God may blesse thee at al times, and in al thinges whereunto thou shalt put thy hand. † There shal not want 11 poore in the land of thy habitation: therfore I command thee that thou open thy hand to thy needie and poore brother, that liueth in the Land. † When thy brother an Hebrew 12 man, or Hebrew woman is sold to thee, and hath serued thee six yeares, in the seuenth yeare, thou shalt let him goe free: † and to whom thou geuest freedom, thou shalt in no case 13 suffer him to depart emptie: † but geue him his way fare of 14 thy flockes, and of thy barne floore, and thy presse, wherwith our Lord thy God shal blesse thee. † Remember that 15 thy self also didst serue in the Land of Aegypt, and our Lord thy God made thee free, and therfore doe I now command thee. † But if he say: I wil not depart: because he loueth 16 thee, and thy house, and feeleth that he is wel with thee: † thou shalt take an awle, and bore through his eare in the 17 dore of thy house, and he shal serue thee for euer. to thy woman seruant also thou shalt doe in like maner. † Turne not 18 away thine eies from them, when thou makest them free: because he hath serued thee six yeares after the wages of an [Page 430] hireling: that our Lord thy God may blesse thee in al the workes that thou doest. † Of the first borne, that come 19 forth in thy heardes and sheepe, whatsoeuer is of the male sexe, thou shalt sanctifie to our Lord thy God. Thou shalt not worke with the first borne of an oxe, and thou shalt not sheare the first borne of thy sheepe. † In the sight of our 20 Lord thy God shalt thou eate them euerie yeare in the place, that our Lord shal choose, thou and thy house. † But if it 21 haue blemish, and be either lame, or blind, or in any part diffigured or feeble, it shal not be immolated to our Lord thy God. † but within the gates of thy citie shalt thou eate it: 22 as wel the cleane as the vncleane in like maner shal eate them as the doa, and the hart. † This onlie shalt thou obserue, 23 that their bloud thou eate not, but power it out on the earth as water.

CHAP. XVI. Three more solemne feastes to be kept euerie yeare, Pasch, 9. Pentecost, 13. and The rest of the feastes are mentioned Leuit. 23. Num. 28. &. 29. the feast of tabernacles, 18. Iust Iudges to be appointed in euerie citie. 21▪ Al occasions of Idolatrie to be auoyded.

OBSERVE the moneth of new corne, and Here only three of the principal. the first 1 of the spring time, that thou mayest make the Phase to our Lord thy God: because in this moneth our Lord thy God, brought thee out of Aegypt by night. † And thou shalt immolate 2 1. the Phase to our Lord thy God, of sheepe, and of :: Pasch. oxen in the place, which our Lord thy God shal choose, that his name may dwel there. † Thou shalt not eate in it leuened 3 bread: Seuen daies shalt thou eate without leuen, the bread of affliction, because in feare didst thou come out of Aegypt: that thou mayest remember the day of thy comming out of Aegypt, al the dayes of thy life. † Leuened shal not appeare 4 in al thy coastes for seuen daies, and there shal not remayne of the flesh of that which was immolated at euen the first day vntil morning. † Thou canst not immolate the 5 Phase in euerie one of thy cities, which our Lord thy God wil geue thee; † but in the place, which our Lord thy God 6 shal choose, that his name may dwel there: thou shalt immolate the Phase at euen at the going downe of the sunne, when thou camest out of Aegypt. † And thou shalt boyle, and eate 7 is in the place, which our Lord thy God shal choose, and in the morning rysing vp thou shalt goe into thy tentes. † Six 8 [Page 431] daies shalt thou eate azymes: and in the seuenth day, because it is the collection of our Lord thy God, thou shalt doe no worke. † Seuen weekes shalt thou number thee from that 9 2. Pentecost. day wherein thou didst put the sickle to the corne, † and 10 thou shalt celebrate the festiual day of weekes to our Lord thy God, a voluntarie oblation of thy hand, which thou shalt offer according to the blessing of our Lord thy God: † and 11 thou shalt feast before our Lord thy God, thou, & thy sonne, and thy daughter, and thy man seruant, and thy woman seruant, and the Leuite that is within thy gates, and the stranger and pupil and widow, which abide with you: in the place which our Lord thy God shal choose, that his name may dwel there: † and thou shalt remember that thou wast a seruant 12 in Aegypt: and thou shalt keepe and doe the thinges that are commanded. † The solemnitie also of Tabernacles 13 3. Feast of Tabernacles. thou shalt celebrate seuen daies, when thou hast gathered thy fruite of the barne floore and the presse: † and thou shalt 14 feast in the festiuitie, thou, thy sonne, and thy daughter, thy man seruant and woman seruant, the Leuite also and stranger, and pupil and widow that are within thy gates. † Seuen daies shalt thou celebrate the feastes to our Lord 15 thy God in the place, which our Lord shal choose: and our Lord thy God wil blesse thee in al thy fruites, and in euerie worke of thy handes, and thou shalt be in ioye. † Three 16 times in a yeare shal al thy male appeare in the sight of our Lord thy God in the place which he shal choose: in the solemnitie of Azymes, in the solemnitie of weekes, and in the solemnitie of Tabernacles. There shal not appeare before our Lord any emptie: † but euerie one shal offer according 17 to that he hath, according to the blessing of our Lord his God, which he shal geue him. † Iudges and maisters shalt 18 thou appoynt in al thy gates, which our Lord thy God shal geue thee, in euerie of thy tribes: that they may iudge the people with iust iudgement, † and not decline to either part. 19 Thou shalt not accept person, nor giftes: because that giftes blinde the eies of the wise, and change the wordes of the iust. † It is not ynough to doe that is iust except it be donne iustly, to a good end, for loue of iustice. Iustly shalt thou pursew that which is iust: that 20 thou mayest liue and possesse the Land, which our Lord thy God shal geue thee. † Thou shalt plante no groue, nor any 21 tree neere the altar of our Lord thy God. † Neither shalt thou make nor sette to thy self a statue: which thing our Lord thy God hateth.

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CHAP. XVII. Perfect hostes, not mamed nor defectiue, must be offered to God, Idolaters stoned to death. 8. VVhen inferior iudges differ, the cause must be decided, by the High Priest in consistorie. Who is warranted not to erre therin, and al are bound to obey his sentence. 14. The dutie also of a king (Whom in future time God wil condescend to geue them) is described, with special charge to receiue the law of God at the Priestes handes.

THOV shalt not immolate to our Lord thy God a 1 sheepe, and an oxe, wherein there is blemish, or any fault: because it is abomination to our Lord thy God. † When there shal be found with thee within one of 2 thy gates, which our Lord thy God shal geue thee, man or woman that do euil in the sight of our Lord thy God, and transgresse his couenant, † that they goe and serue 3 strange goddes, and adore them, the sunne and the moone, and al the hoste of heauen, which thinges I commanded not: † and this is told thee, and hearing it thou hast inquired 4 diligently, and found it to be true, and the abomination is committed in Israel: † thou shalt bring forth the man and 5 the woman, that haue committed that most heynous thing, to the gates of thy citie, and they shal be stoned. † At the 6 mouth of two, or three witnesses shal he perish that is to be slaine. Let no man be killed, one onlie geuing testimonie against him. † The hand of the witnesses shal be first to kil 7 him, and the hand of the rest of the people shal be layd on last: that thou mayest take away the euil out of the middes of thee. † “ If thou perceiue that the iudgement with thee 8 be hard and doubtful betwen bloud and bloud, cause and cause, leprosie and not leprosie: and thou see that the wordes of the iudges within thy gates doe varye: arise, and goe vp to the place, which our Lord thy God shal choose. † And 9 thou shalt come to the priestes of the Leuitical stocke, and to In the councel of Priestes one supreme Iudge, which was the High Priest. v. 12. the iudge, that shal be at that time: and thou shalt aske of them, “ who shal shew thee the truth of the iudgment. † And thou shalt do whatsoeuer they, that are There were not manie presidentes at once, but in succession, one after an other. presidentes of the place, which our Lord shal choose, shal say and teach thee, † according to his law; and thou shalt folow 11 their sentence: neither shalt thou decline to the right hand nor to the left hand. † But “ he that shal be proude, refusing 12 to obey the commandement of the Priest, which at that time [Page 433] ministreth to our Lord thy God, and the decree of the iudge, that man shal die, and thou shalt take away the euil out of Israel: † and the whole people hearing shal feare, that none 13 afterward swel in pride. † When thou art entred the Land, 14 which our Lord thy God wil geue thee, and doest possesse it, and dwellest in it, and sayest: I wil sette a king ouer me, as al nations haue round about: † him shalt thou sette, whom 15 our Lord thy God shal choose of the number of thy brethren. A man of an other nation that is not thy brother, thou canst not make king. † And when he is made, he shal not multiplie 16 to him selfe horses, nor lead backe the people into Aegypt, taking high courage for the number of his horsemen, especially whereas our Lord hath commanded you that in no case you returne any more the same way. † He Pluralitie of wiue is not here forbid; for king Dauid transgressed not this precept hauing more then one or two: but Salomon offended in multiplying manie wiues. S. Aug. q. 27. in Deut. shal not 17 haue manie wiues, that may allure his minde, nor huge weightes of siluer and gold. † And after he shal sitte in the 18 throne of his kingdome, he shal copie to him selfe the Deuteronomie of this Law in a volume, Temporal good Princes take the law, and word of God, at the Priests handes. taking the copie of the priestes of the Leuitical tribe, † and he shal haue it 19 with him, and shal reade it al the dayes of his life, that he may learne to feare our Lord his God, and keepe his wordes and ceremonies, that are commanded in the law. † And that 20 his hart be not lifted vp into pride ouer his brethren, nor decline to the right side or the left side, that he may reigne a long time, and his sonnes ouer Israel.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVII.

8. If the iudgement be hard.] For a ful and assured decision of al controuersies, Supreme Iuge of controuersies. God here instituted to his people a supreme Tribunal, that in case inferior Iudges varied in iudgement, recourse might be had to the Councel of Priestes, where one chiefe Iudge, the High Priest, was appointed to geue sentence, and al others commanded to receiue and obey the same.

9. vvho shal shevv the truth.] God so assisted this consistorie with his spirite of truth, that their sentence was infallible: though otherwise they might erre, Sentence of the Iewes consistorie infallible. either in life, or in priuate opinion. VVherfore, our Sauiour distinguishing betwen their publique doctrin, and their workes, taught the people, that for somuch as the Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moyses chaire, and yet transgressed Gods commandmentes, euerie one should obserue and doe as they saide: but not doe according to their vvorkes. Mat. 23. And S. Iohn ascribeth the true sentence geuen by Caiphas in the councel, to his office of High Priest, saying: The high priest was chief Iudge. (Ioan. 11.) He said not this of him selfe, but being the high priest of that yeare, he prophecied that IESVS should die for the nation and to gather into one the children [Page 434] of God. VVhere the high priest by vertue and priuilege of his office, vttered the truth, which him selfe neither meant nor vnderstood. And this happened when the Law and Priesthood of the Iewes was to decline & geue place to Christs new ordinance, and therfore no doubt God euer directed the sentence of the high Priest: and most specially now Christ preserueth the Apostolique See from error Protestantes friuolous euasion. in faith, and in general decrees touching manners: yea though the chiefe visible Iudge were as wicked as Caiphas. And therfore the Protestantes euasion is friuolous, limiting the priests sentence to binde the subiectes, so long as he is English Bible. 1603. the true minister of God, and pronounceth according to his vvord. For except God assisted him, that he should pronounce according to his word, and so al men rest satisfied, submitting them selues to his sentence, the controuersie should be endles, and this consistorie nothing worth: but stil be new examinations, and new iudgementes, whether the former were according to Gods word or no.

12. He that shal be proude.] This also conuinceth, that al were bound to Pride in priuate opinion punished with death. accept of the high priests sentence, the law condemning him of pride, that refused to obey the commandment of the Priest, vvhich at that time ministred to our Lord; and for his disobedience punishing him with death.

CHAP. XVIII. In steed of other inheritance Priesies and Leuites haue prouision by Sacrifices and oblations. 9. Al superstition to be auoided. 15. Perpetuitie of prophetes, and finally one special PROPHET (towit, CHRIST) is promised. 20. False prophetes must be slaine.

THE priestes and Leuites, and al that are of the same 1 tribe, shal haue no part nor inheritance with the rest of Israel, because they shal eate the sacrifices of our Lord, and his oblations, † and nothing els shal they receiue of the 2 possession of their brethren: for our Lord him selfe is their inheritance, as he hath spoken to them. † This shal be the 3 right of the priestes from the people, and from them that offer victimes: whether they immolate oxe, or sheepe, they shal geue to the priest the shoulder and the mawe: † the first 4 fruites of corne, of wine, and oile, and a part of the woolle of their sheepe shearing. † For him hath our Lord chosen of 5 al thy tribes, that he might stand, and minister to our Lord he and his sonnes for euer. † If a Leuite goe out of one of 6 thy cities of al Israel in the which he dwelleth, and would come desiring the place which our Lord shal choose, † he 7 shal minister in the name of our Lord his God, as al his brethren the Leuites, that shal stand at that time before our Lord. † He shal receiue the same portion of meates, that 8 the rest doe: beside that, which in his owne citie is dew to him by succession from his fathers. † When thou art entred 9 the Land, which our Lord thy God shal geue thee, beware [Page 435] thou be not willing to imitate the abominations of those nations. † Neither let there be found in thee any that shal 10 expiate his sonne, or daughter, making them to passe through the fyre: or that demandeth of southsayers, and obserueth dreames and diuinations, neither let there be a sorcerer, † nor 11 inchanter, nor that consulteth with pithone, or diuiners, and seeketh the truth of the dead. † for al these thinges out 12 Lord abhorreth, and for these abominations wil he destroy them at thy entring in. † thou shalt be perfect, and without 13 spotte with our Lord thy God. † These nations, whose land 14 thou shalt possesse, heare southsayers and diuiners: but thou art otherwise instructed of our Lord thy God. † “ A PROPHET 15 of thy nation and of thy brethren like vnto me, wil our Lord thy God raise vp to thee: him thou shalt heare, † as 16 thou didst request of our Lord thy God in Horeb, when the assemblie was gathered, and saidst: I wil no more heare the voice of our Lord my God, and this exceding great fire I wil see no more, lest I die. † And our Lord said to mie; They 17 haue spoken al thinges wel. † A prophete wil I rayse vp to 18 them out of the middes of their brethren like to thee: and I wil put my wordes in his mouth, and he shal speake al thinges that I shal command him. † but he that wil not heare 19 his wordes, which he shal speake in my name, I wil be the reuenger. † And the prophet that being depraued with arrogancie 20 wil speake in my name, the thinges This sorte of false prophets signified Heretikes, that preach false things in Christs name. that I did not command him to say, These prefigured Apostataes, which renouncing Christ, expresly professe false goddes. or in the name of strange goddes, shal be slaine. † And if in secrete cogitation thou answer: 21 How shal I vnderstand the word, that our Lord spake not? † This signe thou shalt haue: That which the same prophete 22 foretelleth, in the name of the Lord and cometh not to passe: that our Lord hath not spoken, but by the arrogancie of his minde the prophet hath forged it: and therfore thou shalt not feare him.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVIII.

15. A PROPHET of thy nation.] Amongst other places this plainly proueth The same wordes may haue diuers literal senses. that the same wordes in holie Scripture may haue diuers literal senses. For first the coherence of the text sheweth, that God here promised to geue his people an other extraordinarie prophet, after Moyses death, of their owne nation: as wel to take away occasion of seeking to southsayers, diuiners, and other prophane prophetes of false goddes, strictly forbidden in the wordes [Page 436] going immediatly before; as in approbation of their conuenient desire, mentioned in the wordes folowing, to heare Gods wil, not by himself, nor by an Angel, but by Moyses, who was now shortly to be taken from them. And so this promise was first performed in Iosue, succeding next after Moyses in gouernment. And as neede required God ceassed not to send more prophetes besides their ordinarie Priests Againe this place is also vnderstood of Christ our Sauiour, chief Prophete, and master of al prophetes; S Peter so expounding it; Act. 3. v. 22. & 23.

CHAP. XIX. Certaine cities of refuge must be assigned for casual manslaughter. 11. wilful murther punished by death without remission, 15. so it be conuinced by two or three witnesses. 16. False witnesses punished with the paine, which the crime obiected deserueth.

VVHEN our Lord thy God hath destroyed the nations, 1 whose land he wil deliuer to thee, and thou doest possesse it, and dwellest in the cities and houses therof: † three cities shalt thou separate to thee in the middes of the 2 Land, which our Lord thy God wil geue thee in possession, † The way to the cities of refuge were paued, and markes set for direction, that he which fled might not erre in his way. preparing diligently the way: and thou shalt diuide the 3 whole prouince of thy Land equally into three partes: that he which for murder is a fugitiue, may haue neere at hand, whither to escape. † This shal be the law of the murderer 4 that fleeth, whose life is to be saued: He that striketh his neighbour vnwitting, and that is proued yesterday and the day before to haue had no hatred against him: † but to haue 5 gone with him simply vnto the wood to cutte wood, and in cutting the wood of axe slipped out of his hand, and the yron falling from the handle strooke his freind, and killed him: he shal flee to one of the cities aforesaid, and liue: † lest 6 perhaps the next kinseman of him, whose bloud was shed, pricked with sorow, pursew, and apprehend him if the way be too long, and stricke his life, that is not guiltie of death, because he is proued to haue had no hatred before, against him that was slaine. † Therfore I command thee, that thou 7 separat three cities of equal distance one from an other. † And 8 when our Lord thy God shal haue dilated thy borders, as he sware to thy fathers, and shal geue thee al the Land, that he promised them, († yet so, if thou keepe his commandementes, 9 and do the thinges which I command thee this day, that thou loue our Lord thy God, and walke in his wayes at al time) thou shalt adde to thee other three cities, and shalt duble the number of the three cities aforesaid: † that innocent 10 [Page 437] bloud be not shed in the middes of the Land, which our Lord thy God wil geue thee to possesse, lest thou be guiltie of bloud. † But if any man hating his neighbour, lie in wayte 11 for his life, and rise and strike him, and he die, and he flee to one of the cities aforesaid, † the ancientes of his citie shal 12 send, acd take him out of the place of refuge, and shal deliuer him into the hand of the kinseman of him, whose bloud was shed, and he shal die. † This was sayd to the whole people who must not intreate for the murderers pardon: but the kinsmen of him that was slaine, might remitte the punishment. Thou shalt not pitie him, and thou 13 shalt take away the guiltie bloud out of Israel, that it may be wel with thee. † Thou shalt not take, and transferre thy 14 neighbours boundes, which thy predecessours did sette in thy possession, which our Lord thy God wil geue thee in the Land, that thou shalt receiue to possesse. † One witnesse 15 shal not stand against any man, whatsoeuer sinne, or wickednesse it be: but in the mouth of two or three witnesses shal euerie word stand. † If a lying witnesse stand against a man, 16 accusing him of preuarication, † both of them, whose the 17 cause is, shal stand before our Lord in the sight of the priestes and the iudges that shal be in those daies. † And when searching 18 most diligently, they shal finde that the false witnes hath said a lie against his brother: † they shal render to him 19 as he meant to doe to his brother, and thou shalt take away the euil out of the middes of thee: † that others hearing 20 may haue feare, and may not be bold to doe such things. † This pertained to the Iudge: who without partialitie must do iustice. Thou shalt not pitie him, but life for life, eie for eie, 21 tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foote for foote shalt thou exacte.

CHAP. XX. Lawful warres are to be vndertaken with corege and confidence. 5. Such as for special causes may be discoreged, must be dismissed from the field, 10. VVhat to be obserued towardes the enimie. 19. VVhat trees may not be cut downe, and what sorte may be, for the vse of warres.

IF thou goe forth to warre against thyne enemies, and see 1 the horse men and chariottes, and the multitude of the aduersaries hoste greater then thou hast, thou shalt not feare them: because the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt. † And when the battel is 2 now at hand, the priest shal stand before the armie, and shal speake to the people thus: † Heare Israel, you this day ioyne 3 battel against your enemies, let not your hart feare, be not [Page 438] affrayd, retire not, neither dread them: † because our Lord 4 your God is in the middes of you, and wil fight for you against your aduersaries, to deliuer you from danger. † The Captaines 5 also through euerie bande in the hearing of the hoste shal proclaime: Men possessed with such desires haue not like valure to good souldiars. And by worde or example often discorege others. So in spiritual warfare, we must not be addicted to worldlie profites, or pleasures. what man is there, that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him goe, and returne into his house, lest perhaps he die in the battel, and an other dedicate it. † What man is there that hath planted a vineyard, 6 and hath not as yet made it to be common, wherof al men may lawfully eate? let him goe, and returne into his house: lest perhaps he die in the battel, and an other man execute his office. † What man is there, that hath despoused a 7 wife, and not taken her? let him goe, and returne into his house, lest perhaps he die in the warre, and an other take her. † These thinges being said they shal adde the rest, and 8 shal speake to the people: What man is there feareful, and fainte harted? let him goe, and returne into his house, lest he make the hartes of his brethren to feare, as him selfe is frighted with feare. † And when the Captaines of the host shal 9 hold their peace, and make an end of speaking, euerie man shal prepare their bandes to fight. † If at anie time thou 10 come to winne a citie, thou shalt first offer peace. † If they 11 receiue it, and open the gates to thee, al the people that is therein, shal be saued, and shal serue thee vnder tribute. † But if they wil not make peace, and shal beginne battel against 12 thee, thou shalt assalt it. † And when our Lord thy 13 God shal deliuer it into thy hand, thou shalt strike al, that is therein of the male sexe, in the edge of the sword, † excepting 14 wemen and children, the cattel and other thinges, that are in the citie. Al the praye thou shalt diuide to the armie, and thou shalt eate of the spoiles of thine enemies, which our Lord thy God shal geue thee. † So shalt thou doe to al 15 cities, that be verie farre from thee, and be not of these cities, which thou shalt receiue in possession. † But of those cities, 16 that shal be geuen thee, thou shalt suffer none at al to liue: † but shalt kil them in the edge of the sword, to witte, the 17 Hetheite, and Amorrheite, and Chananeite, the Pherezeite, and Heueite, and Iebuseite, as our Lord thy God hath commanded thee: † lest perhaps they teach you to doe al the abominations, 18 which them selues did worke to their goddes: and you sinne against our Lord your God. † When thou hast 19 [Page 439] besieged a citie a long time, and hast compassed it with munition to winne it, thou shalt not cutte downe the trees, that may be eaten of, neither shalt thou spoile the countrie round about with axes: because it is a tree, and not a man, neither can it increase the number of warryers against thee. † But if 20 there be any trees not fruitful, but wilde, and apt for other vses, cutte them downe, and make engines, vntil thou take the citie, which fighteth against thee.

CHAP. XXI. How to seeke out a secrete murtherer. 10. wemen taken in battel may be maried, and afterwardes can not be sold nor made bond wemen. 15. The eldest sonne may not be depriued of his birthright for hatred of his mother. 18. A stubburne sonne must be stoned to death. 22. VVhen one is hanged on a gibbet, he must be taken downe the same day, and buried.

VVHEN there shal be found in the Land, which 1 our Lord thy God wil geue thee, the corps of a man slaine, and he that is guiltie of the murder is not knowne † thy ancientes, and iudges shal goe forth, and measure from 2 the place of the corps the distance of euerie citie round about: † and which they shal perceiue to be neerer then the 3 rest, the ancientes of that citie shal take an heifer out of the heard, that hath not drawen yoke, nor ploughed the ground, † and shal bring her to a rough and stonie valley, that neuer 4 was ploughed, nor receiued seede: and in it they shal strike of the necke of the heifer: † and the priestes the sonnes of 5 Leui shal come, whom our Lord thy God hath chosen to minister to him, and to blesse in his name, and at their word euerie matter dependeth, and whatsoeuer is cleane or vncleane must be iudged. † And the ancientes of that citie shal 6 come to the slaine person, and shal wash their handes ouer the heifer, that was strooken in the valley, † and shal say: 7 Our handes did not sheede this bloud, By this ceremonie and abiuration they purged them selues, that they were not negligent in doing iustice. nor our eies seee it. † be merciful to thy people Israel, whom thou hast redemed 8 o Lord, and impute not innocent bloud in the middes of thy people Israel. And the guilte of bloud shal be taken from them: † and thou shalt be free from the innocents bloud, that 9 was shed, when thou shalt haue done that which our Lord hath commanded thee. † If thou goe forth to fight against 10 thyne enemies, and our Lord thy God deliuer them in thy hande and thou leade them away captiue, † and seest in 11 [Page 440] the number of the captiues a beautiful woman, and louest her, and wilt haue her to wife, † thou shalt bring her into 12 thy house: who shal shaue of her hare, and payre her nailes, † and put of the rayment, wherein she was taken: and sitting 13 in thy house, shal mourne her father and mother one moneth: and afterward thou shalt enter vnto her, and shalt sleepe with her, and she shal be thy wife. † But if afterward she 14 content not thy mynde, thou shalt let her goe free, neither canst thou sel her for money, nor oppresse her by might: because thou hast humbled her. † If a man haue two wiues, 15 one beloued, and the other hated, and they haue begotten children by him, and the sonne of the hated be the firstborne, † and he meaneth to diuide his substance among his sonnes: 16 he can not make the sonne of the beloued the first borne, and preferre him before the sonne of the hated, † but the sonne 17 of the hated he shal acknowledge for the first borne, and shal geue to him of those thinges, which he hath, al duble: for this is the beginning of his children, & to this are dew the first brith rightes. † If a man begette a stubbourne and froward 18 sonne, that wil not heare the commandementes of his father and mother, and being chastened, contemneth to be obedient: † they shal take him, and bring him to the ancientes 19 of his citie, and to the gate of iudgement, † and 20 shal say to them: This our sonne is froward and stubborne, he contemneth to heare our admonitions, he geueth himself to comessation, and to ryote and banketinges: † the people 21 of the citie shal stone him: and he shal die, that you may take away the euil out of the middes of you, and al Israel hearing it may be afrayde. † When a man hath offended so 22 that he is to be punished by death, and being condemned to die is hanged on a gybbet: † his bodie shal not remaine vpon 23 the tree, but the same day shal be buried: because he is Mystically, he is cursed that persisteth in sinne, as it were hanging on the tree, by which our first parents sinned accursed of God that hangeth on a tree: and thou shalt not contaminate thy Land, which our Lord thy God geueth thee in possession.

CHAP. XXII. Pietie towardes neighboures. 5. neither sexe may vse the apparel of the other▪ 6. crueltie to be auoided euen towardes birdes, 8. batlement about the roofe af a house. 9. Things of diuers kindes not to be mixed. 12. cordes in the hemes of a cloke. 13. Trial and punishment of adulterie and of deflowring virgines. 30. the sonne may not marie his stepmother.

[Page 441]

THOV shalt not see thy brothers oxe, or sheepe straying, 1 and passe by: but shalt bring it backe to thy brother, † although thy brother be not nigh, and thou know him 2 not: thou shalt bring them vnto thy house, and they shal be with thee vntil thy brother seeke them, and receiue them. † In like manner shalt thou doe with his asse, and with his 3 rayment, and with euerie thing of thy brothers, that shal be lost: if thou finde it, neglect it nor as perteyning to an other. † If thou see thy brothers asse or oxe to be fallen in the way, 4 thou shalt not contemne it, but shalt list it vp with him. † A woman shal not be clothed with mans apparel, neither 5 shal a man vse womans apparel: for he is abominable before God that doeth these thinges. † If walking by the way 6 thou finde a birdes nest in a tree or on the ground, and the damme sitting vpon the young or the egges: thou shalt not hold her with her young, † but shalt let her goe, taking the 7 young and holding them: that it may be wel with thee, and thou mayest liue a long time. † When thou buildest a new 8 house, thou shalt make Their houses had flat roofes as manie of our churches, pallaces, and castles, where battlements are necessarie for danger of falling when, anie walke theron. a batlement to the roofe round about: lest bloud be shed in thy house, and thou be guiltie an other slipping, and falling headlong. † Thou shalt not 9 sowe thy vineyard with diuerse seede: lest both the seede which thou didst sow, and the thinges that grow of the vineyard, For correction of so couetous a mind the whole fruicte must be offered to pious vses. Theodoret. q. 23. in Deut. be sanctisied rogether. † Thou shalt not plough 10 with an oxe and asse together. † Thou shalt not weare a 11 garment that is wouen of wolle and linnen. † Thou shalt 12 make litle cordes in the hemme at the foure corners of thy cloke, wherwith thou shalt be couered. † If a man marrie 13 a wife, and afterward hate her, † and seeke occasions to put 14 her away, obiecting vnto her a verie il name, and say: I tooke this wife, and compayning with her: I found her not a virgin: † her father and mother shal take her, and shal 15 carie with them the signes of her virginitie to the ancientes of the citie that are in the gate: † and the father shal say: 16 I gaue my daughter vnto this man to wife: whom because he hateth, † he layeth vnto her a verie il name, so that he sayeth: 17 I found not thy daughter a virgin: and behold these are the signes of my daughters virginitie. they shal spread the vesture before the ancientes of the citie: † and the ancientes of that 18 citie shal take the man, and beate him, † c [...]ndemning him 19 besides in a hundred sicles of siluer, which he shal geue to [Page 442] the wenches father, because he hath infamousely spred a verie il name vpon a virgin of Israel: and he shal haue her to wife, and can not put her away al the daies of his life. † But if it be true which he obiected, and virginitie be not 20 found in the wench: † they shal cast her forth without the 21 doores of her fathers house, and the men of her citie shal stone her to death, and she shal die: because she hath done wickednes in Israel, to fornicate in her fathers house: and thou shalt take away the euil out of the middes of thee. † If 22 a man lie with an others mans wife, both shal die, that is to say, the aduouterer and the aduouteresse: and thou shalt take away the euil out of Israel. † If a man haue despoused 23 a maide that is a virgine, and some man finde her in the citie, and lie with her, † thou shalt bring forh both of them to 24 the gate of that citie, and they shal be stoned: the maide, because she cried not, being in the citie: the man, because he hath humbled his neighbours wife. and thou shalt take away the euil from the middes of thee. † But if the man finde 25 the maide that is despoused, in the field, and taking her, lie with her, he alone shal die: † the maide shal suffer nothing, 26 neither is she guiltie of death: for as a theefe ryseth against his brother, and taketh away his life, so also did the maide suffer. † she was alone in the field: she cried, and there was no man 27 to deliuer her. † If a man finde a maide that is a virgin, which 28 hath not a spouse, and taking her lie with her, and the matter come into iudgement: † he that lay with her, shal geue to 29 [...]he father of the maide siftie sicles of siluer, and shal haue her to wife, because he hath humbled her: he can not put her away al the daies of his life. † No man shal take his fathers 30 wife, nor reuele his couering.

CHAP. XXIII. Eunuches, bastardes, Moabites, & Ammonites may not enter into the Church. 7. Idumeans, and Aegyptians may be admitted. 9. Obseruation of spiritual and corporal cleannes. 15. other preceptes concerning fugitiues, 17. fornication, 19. vsurie. 21. vowes, 24. and eating other mens grapes or corne.

AN Such as are barrē in good workes can not enter into Gods house. Theod. q. 25. in Deut. eunuch that hath his stones broken, or cutte of, 1 & his yeard cutte away, shal not enter into the church of our Lord. † Mamzer, that is to say, one borne of a common 2 woman, shal not enter into the church of our Lord, vntil the tenth generation. † The These natiōs not able to hurt the children of Israel, neither by denying ordinarie curtesies, nor by force, nor by hyring Balaā to curse them, yet inuegling them with carnal sinnes, signified obstinate peruerse sinners, that nouer amending can neuer be rightly receiued into the Church of God. Ammonite, and the 3 [Page 443] Moabite yea after the tenth generation shal not enter into the church of our Lord, for euer: † because they would not 4 meete you with bread and water in the way, when you came out of Aegypt: and because they hyred against thee Balaam, the sonne of Beor of Mesopotamia in Syria, to curse thee: † and our Lord thy God would not heare Balaam, and he 5 turned his cursing into thy blessing, for that he loued thee. † Thou shalt not make peace with them, neither doe thou 6 seeke their good al the daies of thy life for euer. † Thou 7 shalt not abhorre the Idumeite, because he is thy brother: nor the Aegyptian, because thou wast a stranger in his land. † They that are borne of them, in the third generation shal 8 enter into the church of our Lord. † When thou goest forth 9 against thyne enemies to battel, thou shalt keepe thy self from al euil thing. † If there be among you a man, that is 10 polluted in a dreame by night, he shal goe forth without the campe, † and shal not returne, before he be washed with 11 water at euen: and after sunne sette he shal returne into the campe. † Thou shalt haue a place without the campe, whither 12 thou mayest goe to the necessities of nature, † carying 13 on thy girdle a piked instrument. & when thou sittest downe, thou shalt digge round about, and with the earth that is digged vp shal couer † that which thou art eased of (for our 14 Lord thy God walketh in the middes of thy campe, to deliuer thee, and to geue thyne enemies vnto thee) and let thy campe be holie, and let no filthines appeare therein, lest he forsake thee. † Thou shalt not deliuer the seruant to his Maister, 15 that is fled to thee. † he shal dwel with thee in the place, 16 that shal please him, and in one of thy cities shal he rest: vexe him not. † There shal be no whoore of the daughters of 17 Israel, nor whooremonger of the sonnes of Israel. † Thou 18 shalt not offer the hire of a strompet, nor the price of a dogge, in the house of our Lord thy God, whatsoeuer it be that thou hast vowed: because both is abomination before our Lord thy God. † Thou shalt not lend to thy brother money to vsurie, 19 nor corne, nor any other thing: † but Onlie lawful enemies are here called strangers: where therfore is iust cause of warre, there only it is lawful to exercise vsurie. S. Amb. li. de Tobia. c. 15. to the strāger. And to 20 thy brother thou shalt lend, that which he needeth without vsurie: that our Lord thy God may blesse thee in al thy worke in the Land, which thou shalt enter to possesse. † When 21 thou hast vowed a vow to our Lord thy God, thou shalt not slacke to pay it: because our Lord thy God wil require it. [Page 444] and if thou delay, it shal be reputed to thee for sinne. † Vowes binde where otherwise was no obligation. If 22 thou wilt not promise, thou shalt be without sinne. † But 23 that which is once gone out of thy lippes, thou shalt obserue, and shalt doe as thou hast promised to our Lord thy God, and hast spoken with thy proper wil and thyne owne mouth. † Entring into thy neighbours vineyarde, eate grapes as much 24 as shal please thee: but carrie none out with thee. † If thou 25 enter into thy freindes corne, thou shalt breake the eares, and rubbe them in thy hand: but with a sikcle thou shalt not reape.

CHAP. XXIIII. Diuorce permitted to auoide greater euil. 5. The newly maried must not goe to warre. 7. He that traterously selleth a man must be slaine, 8. disobedience to Priestes incurreth leprosie▪ 10. Such things may not be taken to pledge, as can not be wel spared. 14. Poore laborers must be presently payed. 16. not one punished for an others fault, but right iudgement to al, 18. and liberalalmes to the poore.

IF a man take a wife, and haue her, and she finde not grace 1 before his eies for sonne lothsomenes: he shal write a bil of diuorce, and shal geue it in her hand, and▪ dimisse her out of his house. † And being departed when she shal haue married 2 an other husband, † and he also hateth her, and hath 3 geuen her a bil of diuorce, and hath dimissed her out of his house, or is deade: † the former husband can not take her 4 againe to wife: because she is polluted, and is made abominable before our Lord: lest thou make thy Land to sinne, which our Lord thy God shal deliuer thee to possesse. † When a man hath lately taken a wife, he shal not goe forth 5 to battel, neither shal any publique necessitie be inioyned him, but he shal attend to his owne house without fault, that one yeare he may reioyce with his wife. † Thou shalt 6 not take for a pledge the nether, or the vpper milstone: because This hebrew phrase signifieth, that pledging the thing wherin the meanes of life consisteth is as if he pledged his life. he hath pledged his life to thee. † If any man be 7 taken soliciting his brother of the children of Israel, and selling him take a price, he shal be slaine, and thou shalt take away the euil from the middes of thee. † Obserue diligently 8 that thou incurre not the plague of leprosie, but thou shalt doe whatsoeuer the priestes of the Leuitical stocke shal teach thee, according to that, which I haue commanded them, and fulfil thou it carefully. † Remember what our Lord your 9 [Page 445] God did to Marie, in the way when you came out of Aegypt. † When thou shalt require of thy neighbour any thing, that 10 he oweth thee, thou shalt not enter into his house to take away a pledge: † but thou shalt stand without, and he shal 11 bring forth to thee that which he hath. † but if he be poore, 12 the pledge shal not lodge with thee that night, † but forthwith 13 thou shalt restore it to him before the going downe of the sunne: that sleeping in his rayment, he may blesse thee, & thou mayest haue iustice before our Lord thy God. † Thou 14 shalt not denie the hyre of the needie, and poore man thy brother, or the stranger, that dwelleth with thee in the land, and is within thy gates: † but the same day thou shalt pay 15 him the price of his labour, before the going downe of the sunne, In case the laborer susteyneth his life by his dailie wages, then not to pay him is in effect to kil him. and such sinne crieth to God for reuenge. because he is poore, and there withal susteyneth his life: lest he crie against thee to our Lord, and it be reputed to thee for a sinne. † The fathers shal not be slaine for the 16 children, nor the children for the fathers, but cuerie one shal die for his owne sinne. † Thou shalt not peruert the iudgement 17 of the stranger and the pupil, neither shalt thou take away the widowes rayment for a pledge. † Remember that 18 thou didst serue in Aegypt, and our Lord thy God deliuered thee from thence Therfore I command thee that thou doe this thing. † When thou hast reaped the corne in thy field, 19 and forgetting hast left a sheafe, thou shalt not returne to take it away: but thou shalt suffer the stranger, and the pupil, and the widow to take it away, that our Lord thy God may blesse thee in al the worke of thy handes. † If thou haue 20 gathered the fruites of thy oliue trees, whatsoeuer remaineth on the trees, thou shalt not returne to gather it: but shalt leaue it to the stranger, the pupil, and the widow. † If thou 21 make vintage of thy vineyard, thou shalt not gather the clusters that remaine, but they shal goe to the vses of the stranger, the pupil, and the widow. † Remember that thou 22 also didst serue in Aegypt, and therfore I command thee that thou doe this thing.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXIIII.

1. Dimisse her.] VVhether this diuorce was tollerated as a lesse sinne, to auoide a greater, as S. Hierom. ( li. 1. in Mat. c. 5. & li 3. in c. 19.) S. Chrysostom. ( ho. 12. in Mat. 5.) and others teach; or dispensed withal, and so made [Page 446] lawful to the Iewes, which is also probabtle, for hat none of the holie Prophetes VVhether the band of mariage could be [...]oosed or no in the old law, amongst Christiās it can not be dissolued. did euer reprehend it; sure it is, that Christ either by correcting a fault, or by recalling a former dispensation, restored the insolubilitie of mariage to the first institution, saying: (Mat. 19.) That vvhich God hath ioyned together, let not man separate. Further answering the Phareses, concerning this law: that Moyses for the hardnes of your hart permitted you to dimisse your vviues: but from the beginning it vvas not so. And albeit he alloweth separation of man and wife for fornication, yet for no cause neither of them can marie againe, so long as the other liueth. As S. Augustin ( li. 1. de adulter. coningijs. c. 11. & 12.) by conference of three Euangelistes wordes touching this point, plainly sheweth, concluding No not for adultrie. that for so much as holie Scripture calleth him (that taketh a woman so dimissed) not a husband, but an adulterer, she is stil his vvife, by vvhom for fornication she vvas dimissed. Likewise he proueth by S. Paules doctrin. ( Rom. 7. & 1. Cor. 7.) that though diuorce be made for adultrie, yet neither the guiltie nor innocent partie can marie an other, for the Apostle saieth: a vvoman is vnder the lavv of her husband, so long as he liueth, if her husband be dead, she is loosed from his lavv. Therfore her husband liuing, she shal be called an aduoutresse, if she be vvith an other man. ‘ If she part let her remaine vnmaried, or be reconciled to her husband. A vvoman is bond to the lavv so long time, as her husband lieth, &c. These wordes of the Apostle (sayeth he, li. 2. c. 4.) so often repeted, so often incultated, are true, are liuclie, are sound, are plaine. A woman beginneth not to be the wife of a later hushand, except she cease to be the wife of the former And she caeseth to be the wife of the former, if he die, not if he (or she) committe adultrie.’ Therfore a wife is lawfully dimissed Only before consummatiō Mariage is dissolued by solemne vow in Religion. for fornication, but the bond of the former remaineth, for which cause he is guiltie of adultrie, that marieth her that is dimissed, yea though it be for fornication. Thus and much more sayeth. S. Augustin in the same, & in other bookes. And al the ancient fathers, and lerned schoolmen teach vniformly, that nothing but bodilie death can loose the band of Mariage consummate; nor of vnconsummate, but death, or solemne vow in an approued rule of religion.

CHAP. XXV. Punishment afflicted according to the fault, but so that he which is beaten haue not aboue fourtie stripes. 4. The oxes mouth not be mooseled that treadeth corne. 5. A maried man dying without issue, his brother must marie the widow. 11. The wife that taketh her husbands aduersarie by priuities must lose her hand. 13. no false weightes, nor measures to be kept. 17. Amelicites must be vtterly destroyed.

IF there be a controuersie betwen some, and they cal vpon 1 the iudges: whom they shal perceiue to be iust, to him they shal geue the price of iustice: whom impious, him they shal condemne of impietie. † And if they see that the offender be 2 worthie of stripes: they shal cast him downe, & shal cause him to be beaten before them. According to the measure of the sinne shal the measure also of the stripes be: † yet so, that they 3 exceede not the number of fourtie: lest thy brother depart fowly torne before thyne eies. † Thou shalt S. Paul expoundeth this of the spiritual laborer in Gods Church that he must haue his main tenāce for his trauel. 1. Cor. 9. & 1. Tim. 5 It was also ment of oxen, so it hath two literalsēses. Theod. q 31. in Deut. not moosel the 4 [Page 447] mouth of the oxe that treadeth out thy corne in the flore. † When brethren shal dwel together, & one of them die without 5 children, the wife of the deceased shal not marie to an oother: but▪ his brother shal take her, and rayse vp the seede of his brother: † and the first borne sonne of her he shal cal by 6 his name, that his name be not abolished out of Israel. † But if 7 he wil not take his brothers wife, that by law is dew to him, the woman shal goe to the gate of the citie, and cal vpon the ancientes, and say: My husbandes brother wil not rayse vp his brothers seede in Israel: nor take me to his wise. † And 8 sorthwith they shal cause him to be sent for, and shal aske him. If he answer: I wil not take her to wife: † the woman 9 shal come to him before the ancientes, and shal take of his shoe from his foote, and He that disdaineth to honour his brother is iustly despised. spitte in his face, and say: So shal it be done to the man, that buildeth not his brothers house. † And his name shal be called in Israel A lasie familie & vnprofitable to the cōmōwealth. Mystically, Pastors and Doctors must beget spiritual children to Christ, not to themselues; & so they are called Christians, not Paulians, whom S. Paul conuerted. And he that is elected by the church to spiritual functiō, & neglecteth his dutie, is worthie of reproch and in famie. S. Aug. li. 32. c. 10. cont. Faust. Manich. The house of the 10 vnshodde. † If two men fal at wordes betwixt them selues, 11 and one beginne to brawle against the other, and the wife of the one willing to deliuer her husband out of the hand of the stronget, put forth her hand, and take his priuities: † thou 14 shalt cutte of her hand, neither shalt thou be moued with any pitie vpon her. † Thou shalt not haue diuerse weightes 13 in thy bagge, a greater and a lesse: † neither shal there be in 14 thy house a greater bushel and a lesse. † Thou shalt haue a 15 weight iust and true, and thy bushel shal be equal and true: that thou mayest liue a long time vpon the Land, which our Lord thy God shal geue thee. † For thy Lord abhorreth him, 16 that doth these thinges, and detesteth al iniustice. † Remember 17 what Amalec first impugned Israel after they had passed the redsea. Exo. 17. Amalec did to thee in the way when thou camest out of Aegypt: † how he mette thee: & stroke the hindemost 18 of thy armie, which being wearie rested them selues, when thou wast spent with famine and labour, and he feared not God. † Therfore when our Lord thy God shal geue thee 19 rest, and subdewe al nations round about in the Land, which he hath promised thee: thou shalt destroy his name vnder heauen. Beware thou forget it not.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXV.

5. His brother shal take her.] This proueth euidently that the prohibition, not to marie the brothers wife ( Leuit. 18.) was a positiue law, binding only [Page 448] when the first brother dying left issue. For dying without issue, his brother Mariage with the brothers wife, he dying without issue. was bound by this law to marie the widow. In default of the brother, the next of kinne was to marie her: and for default of neerer, the more remote. so Booz maried Ruth. Neither was it contrarie, but agreable to the law of nature, to Rut [...]. 3. &. 4. marie the brothers wife when he was dead without issue, as is before noted. Gen. 38.

CHAP. XXVI. First fruites must be offered in special place assigned to Gods seruice, professing of gratitude for the land possessed according to Gods promise. 12. Likewise tithes of the third yeare, 16. with conclusion, that the people promise to obserue al the preceptes of God, and so doing he wil protect and prosper them.

AND when thou art entred into the Land, which our 1 The third lesson in Masse on Imber Saturday in whit funweke. Lord thy God wil geue thee to possesse, and hast obteyned it, and dwellest in it: † thou shalt take first of al thy 2 fruites, and put them in a maunde, and shalt goe to the place, which our Lord thy God shal choose, that his name may be inuocated there: † and thou shalt goe to the priest, that shal 3 be in those daies, and say to him: I professe this day before our Lord thy God, that I am entred into the Land, for the which he sware to our fathers, that he would geue it vs. † and 4 the priest taking the maund at his hand, shal sette it before the altar of our Lord thy God: † and thou shalt speake in the 5 sight of our Lord God: Laban pursued Iacob, when he parted from Mesopothamia of Syria. Gen. 27. The Syrian persecuted my father, who descended into Aegypt, and seiourned there in a verie smale number and grew into a nation greate and strong and of an infinite multitude. † And the Aegyptians afflicted vs, 6 and persecuted vs laying on most grieuous burdens: † and 7 we cried to our Lord the God of our fathers: who heard vs, and respected our affliction, and labour, and distresse: † and brought vs out of Aegypt in a strong hand, a stretched 8 out arme, in great terrour, in signes and wonders: † and 9 brought vs into this place, and deliuered to vs this Land flowing with milke and honie. † And therfore now I offer first 10 fruites of the Land, which our Lord hath geuen me. And thou shalt leaue them in the sight of our Lord thy God, adoring our Lord thy God. † And thou shalt feast in al the good 11 The first lessō in Masse on Imber Saturday in Lent. thinges, which our Lord thy God hath geuen to thee, and thy house, thou and the Leuite, and the stranger that is with thee † When thou hast finished the tithe of al thy fruites, in The people payed euerie yeare two [...] thes: first to the Leuites: the second for entertaining trauelers to & from Ierusalē & euerie third yeare, a third tith for relief of the poore inhabitantes. the 12 third yeare of tithes thou shalt geue to the Leuite, and the [Page 449] stranger, and the pupil, and the widow, that they may eate within thy gates, and be filled: † and thou shalt speake in 13 the sight of our Lord thy God: I haue brought that which is sanctified out of my house, and haue geuen it to the Leuite and the stranger, and the pupil and the widow, as thou hast commanded me: I haue not transgressed thy commandements nor forgotten thy preceptes. † I haue not eaten of them 14 in my mourning, nor separated them in any vncleannes, nor spent of them any thing in funerals. I haue obeyed the voice of our Lord my God, and haue done al thinges as thou didst command me. † Looke from thy sanctuarie, and thy high 15 habitation of heauen, and blesse thy people Israel, and the Land, which thou hast geuen vs, as thou swarest to our fathers, a land flowing with milke and honie. † This day our 16 Lord thy God hath commanded thee to doe these commandmentes and iudgementes: that thou keepe and fulfil them with al thy hart, and with al thy soule. † Mutual pact betwen God & his peoples that they seruing him, he wil reward them. Thou hast chosen 17 our Lord this day, to be thy God, and to walke in his waies, and keepe his ceremonies, and preceptes and iudgementes, and obey his commandement. † And our Lord 18 hath chosen thee this day, that thou shouldest be his peculiar people, as he hath spoken to thee, and thou shouldest keepe al his commandementes: † and make thee higher then al nations 19 which he created, to his prayse, and name, and glorie: that thou mayest be a holie people of our Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.

CHAP. XXVII. Gods commandmentes must be written in plastred stones. An Altar erected, and Sacrifices offered. 12. Obseruers of the commandments must be The third part Gods promises & threates, for keeping or breaking his commandments. blessed, and transgressors cursed. 14. with the forme of cursing idolaters, and diuers other enormious sinners.

AND Moyses and the ancientes of Israel commanded 1 the people, saying: Keepe euerie commandment that I command you this day. † And when you are passed ouer 2 Iordan into the Land, which our Lord thy God wil geue thee, thou shalt erect great stones, and shalt polish them with plaster, † that thou mayest write on them al the wordes 3 of this law, when thou hast passed ouer Iordan: that thou mayest enter into the Land, which our Lord thy God wil geue thee, a land flowing with milke and honie, as he sware to thy [Page 450] fathers. † When therfore you are passed Iordan, erect the 4 stones which I command you this day in mount Hebal, and thou shalt polish them with plaster: † and thou shalt build 5 there an altar to our Lord thy God of stones, which yron hath not touched, † and of stones not fashioned nor polished: 6 and thou shalt put vpon it holocaustes to our Lord thy God, † and shalt immolate pacifique hostes, and eate there, and 7 feaste there before our Lord thy God. † And thou shalt write 8 vpon the stones al the wordes of this law plainely and cleerly. † And Moyses and the priestes of the Leuitical stocke 9 said to al Israel: Attend, and heare Israel: This day thou art made the people of our Lord thy God: † thou shalt heare his 10 voice, and doe the commandementes and iustices, which I command thee. † And Moyses commanded the people in 11 that day, saying: † The ancientes of euerie tribe. These shal stand to blesse the people, 12 vpon mount Garizim, when you are past Iordan: Simeon, The Leuites proper office was to blesse. Leui, Iudas, Issachar, Ioseph, and Beniamin. † And ouer 13 against them these shal stand to curse on mount Hebal. Ruben, Gad, and Aser, and Zabulon, Dan and Nephthali: † And the But by occasion of sinne their office was also to pronounce curses. Leuites shal pronounce, and say to al the men 14 of Israel with a high voice: † Cursed be the man that maketh 15 a grauen and molten thing, the abomination of our Lord, the worke of the handes of artificers, and shal put it Though the sinnes were secrete, yet the offenders were cursed: publique sinnes were also publikely punished. in secrete. and al the people shal answer, and say: Amen. † Cursed be he that honoureth not his father and mother. 16 and al the people shal say: Amen. † Cursed be he that remoueth 17 his neighbours boundes. and al the people shal say: Amen. † Cursed be he that maketh the blinde to goe amisse 18 in his iourney. and al the people shal say: Amen. † Cursed 19 be he that peruerteth the iudgement of the stranger, of the pupil and the widow. and al the people shal say: Amen. † Cursed be he that sleepeth with his fathers wife, and reuealeth 20 the couer of his bedde. and al the people shal say: Amen. † Cursed be he that lyeth with any beast. and al the 21 people shal say: Amen. † Cursed be he that sleepeth with 22 his sister, the daughter of his father, or of his mother. and al the people shal say: Amen. † Cursed be he that sleepeth 23 with his mother in law. and al the people shal say: Amen. † Cursed be he that secretely striketh his neighbour. and al 24 the people shal say: Amen. † Cursed be he that taketh giftes, 25 to kil the soule of innocent bloud. and al the people shal say: [Page 451] Amen. † Cursed be he that obydeth not in the wordes of 26 this law, and fulfilleth them not in worke. and al the people shal say: Amen.

CHAP. XXVIII. Diuers blessings are promised to the obseruers of Gods commandmentes. 15. and curses threatned to transgressors.

BVT if thou wilt heare the voice of our Lord thy God, 1 that thou doe and keepe al his commandementes, which I command thee this day, our Lord thy God wil make thee higher then al nations, that be on the earth. † And Temporal blessings belonged to sensual people of the old testament: now the poore in spirite are blessed, that mourne, and suffer persecution for truth and iustice. al these 2 blessinges shal come vpon thee, and ouertake thee: yet so if thou heare his preceptes. † Blessed shalt thou be in the citie, 3 and blessed in the field. † Blessed shal be the fruite of thy 4 wombe, and the fruite of thy ground, and the fruite of thy cattel, the troupes of thy heardes, & the foldes of thy sheepe. † Blessed shal thy barnes be, and blessed The poore beīg releeued of thy superfluitie shal blesse thee. thy remaines. 5 † Blessed shalt thou be comming in and going out. 6 † Our Lord wil geue thyne enemies, that rise vp against thee, 7 to fal downe in thy sight: one way they shal comme against thee, and seuen wayes they shal flee from thy face. † Our 8 Lord wil send forth blessing vpon thy cellars, and vpon al the workes of thy handes: and wil blesse thee in the land, that thou shalt receiue. † Our Lord wil rayse thee vp vnto him 9 self to be a holie people, as he sware to thee: If thou keepe the commandmentes of our Lord thy God, and walke in his waies. † And al the people of the earth shal see that the name 10 of our Lord is inuocated vpon thee, and they shal feare thee. † Our Lord wil make thee abound with al goodes, with the 11 fruite of thy wombe, and the fruite of thy cattel, with the fruite of thy land, which our Lord sware to thy fathers that he would geue thee. † Our Lord wil open his most excellent 12 treasure, the heauen, that it may geue rayne to thy land in due season: and wil blesse al the workes of thy handes. And thou shalt lend to many nations, and thy self shalt take lone of no man. † And our Lord shal make thee Thou shalt rule ouer others & none ouer thee. the heade, 13 and not thr taile: and thou shalt be alwaies aboue, and not vnder: Yet alwaies with this condition: if thou serue God. yet so, if thou wilt heare the commandmentes of our Lord thy God which I command thec rhis day, and keepe and doe them, † and decline not from them neither to the 14 right hand, nor to the left, nor folow strange goddes, nor [Page 452] serue them. † But if thou wilt not heare the voice of our 15 Lord thy God, to keepe, and doe al his commandmentes and ceremonies, which I command thee this day, Thus most cōmonly sinners were cursed in the old Testament, but such as now serue not God rightly, and yet prosper in this world, shal in a moment descend into hel. Iob. 21. al these curses shal come vpon thee, and ouertake thee. † Cursed shalt thou 16 be in the citie, cursed in the field. † Cursed shal thy barne 17 be, and cursed thy remaines. † Cursed shal be the fruite of 18 thy wombe, and the fruite of thy ground, the heardes of thy oxen, and the flockes of thy sheepe. † Cursed shalt thou be 19 comming in, and cursed going out. † Our Lord shal send 20 vpon thee famine & hunger, and rebuke vpon al the workes, which thou shalt doe: vntil he consume, and destroy thee quickly, for thy most wicked inuentions, wherein thou hast forsaken me. † Our Lord sette the pestilence vpon thee, 21 vntil he consume thee out of the land, which thou shalt enter in to possesse. † Our Lord strike thee with pouertie, with 22 the feuer and cold, with burning and heate, and with corrupt ayre and blasting, and pursew thee til thou perish. † Be the 23 heauen, that is ouer thee, of brasse: and the ground, that thou treadest, of yron▪ † Our Lord geue dust for rayne vpon 24 thy land, and ashes descend from heauen vpon thee, til thou be consumed. † Our Lord deliuer thee to fal downe before 25 thyne enemies. one way goe thou forth against them, and flee seuen, and be thou dispersed through out al the kingdomes of the earth. † and be thy carcasse meate to al the fowles of 26 the ayre, and beastes of the earth, and be there none to driue them away. † Our Lord strike thee with the boile of Aegypt, 27 and the part of thy bodie, by the which dung is cast out, with scabbe also and itche: so that thou canst not be cured: † Our 28 Lord strike thee with madnes & blindnes and furie of minde, † and grope thou at midday as the blinde is wont to grope 29 in the darke, and direct not thy wayes. And at al times susteyne thou wrong, and be thou oppressed with violence, neither haue thou any to deliuer thee. † Take thou a wife, 30 and an other sleepe with her. Build thou a house, and dwel not therin. Plant thou a vineyard, and take not the vintage thereof. † Be thy oxe immolated beforte thee, and thou not 31 eate therof. Be thy asse taken away in thy sight, and not restored to thee. Be thy sheepe geuen to thyne enemies, and be there none to helpe thee. † Be thy sonnes and thy daughters 32 deliuered to an other people, thyne eies seing, and daseling at the sight of them al the day, and be there no strength in [Page 453] thy hand. † The fruites of thy land, and al thy laboures let 33 a people eate, which thou knowest not: and be thou alwaies susteyning calumnie, and oppressed al dayes, † and astonished 34 at the terrour of those thinges, which thyne eies shal see. † Our Lord strike thee with a verie sore botche in the 35 knees and shankes, and be thou vncurable from the sole of the foote vnto the toppe of thy head. † Our Lord shal 36 bring thee, and thy King, whom thou shalt appoint ouer thee, vnto a nation, which thou and thy fathers know not: and there thou shalt serue strange goddes, wood and stone. † And thou shalt be destroyed for a prouerbe and fable to 37 al peoples, vnto whom our Lord shal bring thee in. † Thou 38 shalt cast much seede into the ground, and gather litle: because the locustes shal deuoure al thinges. † Thou shalt plant 39 a vineyard, and digge, and the wine thou shalt not drinke, nor gather any thing therof: because it shal be wasted with wormes. † Thou shalt haue oliues in al thy borders, and 40 shalt not be anointed with the oyle: because they shal droppe away, & perish. † Thou shalt begette sonnes and daughters, 41 and shalt not enioy them: because they shal be ledde into captiuitie. † Al thy trees and the fruites of thy ground the 42 blasting shal consume. † After manie other plagues and punishments, at last the Iewes refusing and persecutīg Christ, were reiected, and Gentiles called into the Church, and aduanced aboue them. Theod q. 34. in Deut. The stranger that liueth with 43 thee in the Land, shal ascend ouer thee, and shal be higher: and thou shalt descend downeward, and be inferior. † He 44 shal lend thee, and thou shalt not lend him. He shal be as the head, and thou shalt be the tayle. † And al these curses 45 shal come vpon thee, and pursewing shal ouertake thee, til thou perish: because thou heard not the voice of our Lord thy God, nor kept his commandmentes and ceremonies which he commanded thee. † And they shal be in thee as 46 signes and wonders, and in thy seede for euer: † because 47 thou didst not serue our Lord thy God in ioy, and gladnes of hart, for the abundance of al thinges. † Thou shalt serue 48 thine enemie, whom our Lord wil send vpon thee, in hunger, and thirst, and nakednes, and al penurie: and he shal put an yron yoke vpon thy necke, til he consume thee. † Our Lord 49 wil bring vpon thee a Nation from a farre, and from the vttermost endes of the earth, in likenes of an eagle that flieth with vehemencie: whose tongue thou canst not vnderstand: † a verie malapert Nation, that wil attribute nothing to the 50 ancient, nor haue pitie on the litle one, † and wil deuoure 51 [Page 454] the fruite of thy cattel, and the fruites of thy Land: vntil thou perish, and wil not leaue thee wheate, wine, and oile, heardes of oxen, and flockes of sheepe: vntil it destroy thee, † and consume thee in al thy cities, and thy strong and highe 52 walles be destroyed, wherin that hadst confidence in al thy Land. Thou shalt be besieged within thy gates in al thy Land, which our Lord thy God wil geue thee: † and thou shalt 53 cate the fruite of thy wombe, and the flesh of thy sonnes and of thy daughters, which our Lord thy God shal geue thee, in the distresse and vastation wherwith thyne enemie shal oppresse thee. † The man that is delicate in thee, and very 54 riotious, shal much enuie his owne brother, and his wife, that lieth in his bosome, † so that he shal not geue them of 55 the flesh of his children, which he wil eate: because he hath nothing els in the siege and penurie, wherwith thine enemies shal waste thee within al thy gates. † The tender and delicate 56 woman, that could not goe vpon the ground, nor sette downe her foote for ouer much nicenes and tendernes, wil enuie her husband, that lyeth in her bosome, vpon the flesh of her sonne, and daughter, † and the filthines of the after 57 birthes, that come forth from the middes of her thighes, and vpon the children that are borne the same howre. for they shal eate them secretely because of the penurie of al thinges, in the siege and vastation, wherwith thine enemie shal oppresse thee within thy gates. † Vnlesse thou keepe, and doe 58 al the wordes of this law, that be written in this volume, and feare his name glorious and terrible, that is. Our Lord thy God: † our Lord shal increase thy plagues, and 59 the plagues of thy seede, greate plagues and continuing, sore infirmities and perpetual. † and he shal turne vpon thee 60 al the afflictions of Aegypt, which thou didst feare, and they shal cleaue to thee. † Moreouer also al the diseases, and plagues, 61 that be not written in the volume of this law, our Lord wil bring vpon thee, til he consume thee: † and you shal remaine 62 few in number, which before was as the starres of heauen for multitude, because thou heardst not the voice of our Lord thy God. † And as before our Lord reioyced vpon you, 63 doing good to you, and multiplying you: so he shal reioyse destroying and subuerting you, so that you may be taken away from the Land, which thou shalt enter to possesse. † Our Lord shal disperse thee into al peoples, from the farthest 64 [Page 455] partes of the earth to the endes therof: and there thou shalt serue strange goddes, which thou art ignorant of and thy fathers, woode and stone. † In those nations also thou 65 shalt not be quiet, neither shal there be resting for the steppe of thy foote. For our Lord wil geue thee a feareful hart, and daseling eies, and a soule consumed with pensifenes: † and 66 thy life shal be as it were hanging before thee. Thou shalt feare night and day, and thou shalt not trust in thy life. † In 67 the morning thou shalt say: Who wil graunt me euening? and at euening: Who wil grant me morning? for the fearefulnes of thy hart, wherwith thou shalt be terrified, and for those thinges, which thou shalt see with thine eies. † Our Lord 68 shal bring thee againe with shippes into Aegypt by the way, wherof he said to thee that thou shouldest see it no more. There shalt thou be sould to thine enemies for bondmen and bondweomen, and no man shal bye you.

CHAP. XXIX. A couenant and oath is made betwen God and his people (with commemoration of sundrie benefites by them receiued) that keping his law they shal be more blessed: and breaking the same shal susteine the threatned punishmentes.

THESE are the wordes of the couenant which our Lord 1 commanded Moyses to make with the children of Israel in the Land of Moab: beside that couenant which he made with them in Horeb. † And Moyses called al Israel, 2 and said to them: you saw al thinges, that our Lord did before you in the Land of Aegypt to Pharao, and to al his seruantes, and to his whole land, † the great tentations, which 3 thine eies haue seene, those mightie signes, and wonders, † and our Lord For sinnes past God letteth some runne into reprobate sense, permitting them to their owne freewil, who being voide of grace wilfully obdurate them selues. Theod. q. 37. in Deut. hath not geuen you a hart to vnderstand, 4 and eies to see, and eares that can heare, vnto this present day. † He hath brought you fourtie yeares by the desert: your 5 garmentes are not worne out, neither are the shoes of your feete consumed with age. † Breade you haue not eaten, wine 6 and sicer you haue not drunke: that you might know that I am the Lord your God. † And you came to this place: and 7 there came forth Sehon the King of Hesebon, and Og the King of Basan, meeting vs to fight. And we stroke them, † and tooke their land, and deliuered it in possession to Ruben 8 and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasses. † Keepe therfore 9 [Page 456] the wordes of this couenant, and fulfil them: that you may vnderstand al thinges that you doe. † You stand this 10 day al before our Lord your God, your princes, and tribes, and ancientes, and doctors, al the people of Israel, † your 11 children and your wiues, and the strangers that abide with thee in the campe, besides the cutters of wood, and them, that carie water: † that thou mayest passe in the couenant 12 of our Lord thy God, and in the oath which in this day our Lord thy God maketh with thee: † that he may rayse thee 13 vp a people to him selfe, and he be thy God as he hath spoken to thee, and as he sware to thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. † Neither with you onlie doe I make this couenant, 14 and confirme these oathes, † but with al that be present and 15 absent. † For you know how we dwelt in the Land of Aegypt, 16 and how we haue passed through the middes of nations, which passing through † you haue seene their abominations 17 and filth, that is to say, their Idols, wood and stone, siluer and gold, which they worshipped. † Lest perhaps there be among 18 you man or woman, familie or tribe, whose hart is turned away this day from our Lord God, to goe and serue the goddes of those Nations: and there be among you A mind secretly infected with idolatric. a roote bringing forth gal and bitternes. † And when he shal heare the wordes 19 of this oath, he blesse him selfe in his hart, saying: I shal haue place, and walke in the prauitie of my hart: and the The appetite drunken with pleasures thirsteth stil more. drunken take to her the thirstie, † and our Lord forgeue him not: 20 but then his furie most specially fume, and his zeale against that man, and al the curses sitte vpon him, that be written in this volume: and our Lord abolish his name vnder heauen, † and consume him vnto perdition out of al the tribes of 21 Israel, according to the curses, that are conteyned in the Booke of this law and couenant. † And the generation folowing 22 shal say, and the children that shal be borne from thence forth, and the strangers, that shal come from a farre, seeing the plagues of that Land, and the infirmities, wherwith our Lord hath afflicted it, † burning it with brimstone, 23 and heate of the salt, so that it can no more be sowen, nor any grene thing spring therof, after the example of the subuersion of Sodom and Gomorrha, Adama, and Seboim, which our Lord subuerted in his wrath and furie. † And al 24 the Nations shal say: Why hath the Lord done thus to this Land? what is this exceding wrath of his furie? † And they 25 [Page 457] shal answer: Because they forsooke the couenant of the Lord, which he made with their fathers, when he brought them out of the Land of Aegypt: † and they haue serued strange 26 goddes, and adored them, whom they knew not, and to whom they had not beene designed: † therfore the furie 27 of the Lord was wrath against this Land, to bring vpon it al the curses, that are written in this volume: † and he hath 28 cast them out of their land, in wrath and furie, and in verie great indignation, and hath throwen them into a strange land, as this day it is proued. † Thinges hidden, Secrete thinges are knowne to God, manifest thīges to men Theod. 9. 38. in Deut. to our Lord 29 God: which are manifest, to vs and to our children for euer, that we may doe al the words of this Law.

CHAP. XXX. If the children of Israel, offending and falling into the forsaide curses shal repent, God wilrestore them to his blessings againe. 11. leauing it in their powre to serue him if they wil, 17. and therfore warneth them that the impenitent shal assuredly perish, because hauing life and death, blessing and cursing proposed, they choose the worse.

THERFORE when al these wordes shal be come vpon 1 thee, the blessing or cursing, which I haue sette forth before thee: & thou be touched with repentance of thy hart in al nations, into which our Lord thy God dispersed thee, † and shalt returne to him, and obey his commandmentes, as 2 I this day command thee, with thy children in al thy hart, and in al thy soule: † our Lord thy God wil bring thee againe 3 from thy captiuitie, and haue mercie vpon thee, and gather thee againe out of al the peoples, into which he dispersed thee besore. † If thou be dispersed as farre as the poles of 4 heauen, thence wil our Lord thy God draw thee backe, † and wil take thee to him, and bring thee into the Land, 5 which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt obteyne it: and blessing thee, wil make thee to be Some sinners through great repentance become more vertuous, and are more rewarded then some that offended lesse. of a greater number, then were thy fathers. † Our Lord thy▪ God wil circumcile 6 thy hart, and the hart of thy seede: that thou mayest loue oure Lord thy God in al thy hart, and in al thy soule, that thou mayest liue. † And al these curses he wil turne vpon 7 thine enemies, and them that hate and persecute thee. † But 8 thou shalt returne, and heare the voice of our Lord thy God, and shalt doe al the commandmentes which I command thee this day: † and our Lord wil make thee abound in al 9 [Page 458] the workes of thy handes, in the issue of thy wombe, and in the fruite of thy cattel, in the fertilitie of thy ground, and in the plentie of al thinges. For our Lord wil returne to reioyse vpon thee in al riches, as he reioysed in thy fathers: † yet so, 10 if thou heare the voice of our Lord thy God, and keepe his preceptes and ceremonies, which are written in this law: and returne to our Lord thy God in al thy hart, and in al thy soule. † This commandment, that I command thee this daie, 11 “is not aboue thee, nor so farre of, † nor situated in heauen 12 that thou maiest say: Which of vs is able to ascend vnto heauen to bring it to vs, that we may heare and fulfil it in worke? † Nor placed beyond the sea: that thou mayest pretend, 13 and say: Which of vs can passe ouer the sea, and bring it euen vnto vs: that we way heare, and doe that which is commanded? † But the word is very neere thee, in thy 14 mouth and in thy hart, to doe it. † Consider that I haue 15 “set before thee this day life and good, and contrariewise death and euil: † that thou mayest loue our Lord thy God, 16 and walke in his waies, and keepe his commandmentes and ceremonies and iudgementes: and thou mayest liue, and he multiplie thee, and blesse thee in the Land, which thou shalt enter to possesse. † But if thy hart be auerted, and thou wilt 17 not heare, and deceaued with errour thou adore strange goddes, and serue them: † I foretel thee this day that thou 18 shalt perish, and abide a litle time in the Land, which passing ouer Iordan, thou shalt enter to possesse. † “I cal for witnesses 19 this day heauen and earth, that I haue proposed to you life and death, blessing and cursing. God gaue man libertie to choose, what he would folow. S. A [...]b. in Psal. 40. v. 10 Choose therfore life, that both thou mayest liue, and thy seede: † and mayest loue 20 our Lord thy God, and obey his voice, and cleaue to him (for he is thy life, and the length of thy daies) that thou mayest liue in the Land, for the which our Lord sware to thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, that he would geue it them.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXX.

6. God vvil circumcise thy bart.] Most true it is, that of our selues, without By grace men are made able to kepe Gods cōmandments Gods grace none can kepe or fulfil the commandmentes. But he, whose hart God doth circumcise, is therby made able to loue God with al his hart, and with al his soule. And except some hartes were thus circumcised, and so made able to loue God aboue al, and consequently their neighboures, God should not performe his promise, that he wil circumcise the hart of some.

[Page 459]11. Is not aboue thee.] VVhen thou art stirred vp, assisted, and indued with So the commandmentes are not impossible. S. Aug. denat. et grat. c. 69. et q. 54. in Deut. rheod q. [...]8. in Deut. S. Cypri. li. 3. c. 52. ad Quir. S. Amb. in Psal. 40. Gods grace, the commandment of God is not (then) aboue thee, nor faire of from thee, but very nere thee, in thy mouth (to confesse God, and his truth) and in thy hart, to do it. But you wil aske: How then cometh it to passe, that manie hauing receiued sufficient grace, yet do not kepe Gods commandmentes? God him self answereth:

15. That he hath set before thee life and good, and contrrivvise death and euil; he inuiteth and helpeth, yet forceth thee not he geueth [...]thee powre & abilitie, helping Freew [...]. and not destroying thy freewil, that thou maist loue our Lord thy God, walke in his wayes, and kepe his commandements. But if thy hart be auerted and ( v. 17.) thou vrilt not heare, thou shalt perish. Againe God inculcateth:

19. I cal for vvitnesses heauen and earth, that I haue proposed to you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose therfore life &c. VVhat Doctor can teach more plainly the possibilitie of keeping Gods commandmentes; and frewil in man, then this text of holie Scripture?

CHAP. XXXI. Moyses substituteth Iosue his successour in temporal gouernment. 9. deliuereth The fourth part. An exhortation to serue God, with predictiō of their often sinnes and punishmentes. the law to the Priestes. 16. God fortelleth that the people wil often forsake him, and that he wil punish them. 19. commandeth Moyses to write a canticle, (an abrigement of the Law) easie to be remembred. 25. and in further testimonie against them, the Leuites must put this booke in the arke of couenant.

MOYSES therfore went, and spake al these wordes 1 to al Israel, † and said to them: I am this day a hundred 2 and twentie yeares old, I can not He meaneth that he cā not exercise the office of a captaine general, and bring the people into the promised land. goe out and come in any longer, especially wheras our Lord also hath said to me: Thou shalt not passe ouer this Iordan. † Our Lord therfore 3 thy God wil passe ouer before thee: he wil destroy al these nations in thy sight, and thou shalt possesse them: and this Iosue shal passe ouer before thee, as our Lord hath spoken. † And our Lord shal doe to them as he did to Sehon and Og 4 the kinges of the Ammorheites, and to their land, and shal destroy them. † Therfore when our Lord shal haue deliuered 5 these also to you, you shal doe in like manner to them as I haue commanded you. † Doe manfully, and be strengthned: 6 feare not, neither tremble ye at their sight: because our Lord thy God him selfe is thy conductor, and wil not leaue, nor forsake thee. † And Moyses called Iosue, and said to him 7 before al Israel: Take courage, and be strong: for thou shalt bring in this people into the Land, which our Lord sware that he would geue to their fathers, and thou shalt diuide it by lotte. † And our Lord that is your conductor, him selfe 8 [Page 460] wil be with thee: he wil not leaue, nor forsake thee: feare not, neither dread thou. † Moyses therfore wrote this law, 9 and deliuered it to the priestes the sonnes of Leui, which caried the arke of the couenant of our Lord, and to al the ancientes of Israel. † And he commanded them saying: After 10 seuen yeares, in the yeare of remission, in the solemnitie of tabernacles, † when al come together out of Israel, to appeare 11 in the sight of our Lord thy God in the place, which our Lord shal choose, thou shalt read the wordes of this law before al Israel, they hearing, † and the people being assembled 12 together, as wel men as wemen, children, and strangers, that are within thy gates: that hearing they may learne, and feare our Lord your God, and keepe, and fulfil al the wordes of this law. † Their children also who now are ignorant; that 13 they may heare, and feare our Lord their God, al the daies that they liue in the Land, which passing ouer Iordan you goe to obteyne. † And our Lord said to Moyses: Behold the daies of 14 thy death are nigh: cal Iosue, and stand ye in the tabernacle of testimonie, that I may command him. Moyses therfore and Iosue went, and stoode in the tabernacle of testimonie, † and our Lord appeared there in the piller of a cloude: 15 which stood in the entring of the tabernacle. † And our 16 Lord said to Moyses: Behold thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers, and this people rysing vp wil fornicate after strange goddes in the Land, to the which it entreth to dwel therein: there wil they forsake me, and wil make the couenant, which I haue made with them, of none effect. † And my furie shal 17 be wrath against them in that day: and I wil forsake them, and wil hide my face from them, and they shal be deuoured: al euils and afflictions shal finde them, so that they shal say in that day: In truth because God is not with me, these euils haue found me. † But I wil hide, and keepe close 18 my face in that day, for al the euils, which they haue done, because they haue folowed strange goddes. † Now therfore 19 write vnto you M [...]ter is more easily kept in memorie then prose. this canticle, and teach the children of Israel: that they know it by hart, and sing it by mouth, and this song be vnto me for And so by this Canticle they are conuinced that they were abundantly for warned, not to breake couenāt with God. a testimonie among the children of Israel. † For I wil bring them into the Land, for the which 20 I sware to their fathers, flowing with milke and honie. And when they haue eaten, and are ful, and fatte, they wil turne away to strange goddes, and serue them: and wil detract [Page 461] from me, and make my couenant of none effect. † After 21 that manie euils and afflictions shal haue found them, this canticle shal answer them for a testimonie, which no obliuion shal take away out of the mouth of their seede. For I know their cogitations, what thinges they are about to doe this day, before that I bring them into the Land, which I haue promised them. † Moyses therfore wrote the canticle, 22 The eleuenth prophecie in the office before Mas [...]e on Easter eue. And the third on whitsuneue. and taught it the children of Israel. † And our Lord commanded 23 Iosue the sonne of Nun, and said: Take courage, and be strong: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the Land, which I haue promised, and I wil be with thee † Therfore 24 after that Moyses wrote the wordes of this law in a volume, and finished it: † he commanded the Leuites, that 25 caried the arke of the couenant of our Lord, saying: † Take 26 this booke, and put it in the side of the arke of the couenant of our Lord your God: that it may be for a testimonie against thee. † For I know thy contention, and thy most stiffe 27 necke. Whiles I yet liue and goe in with you, you haue done alwayes contenciously against our Lord: how much more when▪ I shal be dead▪ † Gather to me al the ancientes by 28 your tribes, and your doctors, and I wil speake these wordes in their hearing, and wil inuocate against them heauen and earth. † For I know that after my death you wil doe wickedly, 29 and wil decline quickly from the way, that I haue commanded you: and euils shal come vpon you in the later times, when you shal doe euil in the sight of our Lord, to prouoke him by the workes of your handes. † Moyses therfore 30 spake, in the hearing of the whole assemblie of Israel, the wordes of this song, and finished it euen to the end.

CHAP. XXXII. A Canticle of the Law, wherin the people are exhorted to serue God, for his The canticle at Laudes on Saturday. perfect goodnes, for his singular benefites, for their former ingratitude, and for his mercie stil mixed with his punishmentes. 44. Al which being a Al thinges in heauen and in cart [...] testifie, that God dealeth wel with his people. earnestly commended to them to remember and teach their children, 48. Moyses is commanded to goe into a mountaine, whence he shal see the promised land, but not enter into it.

1 HEARE ye ^:: heauens what thinges I speake, the earth heare the wordes of my mouth.

2 † My Doctrine doth fructifie in good soules as raine & dew in the ground. doctrine grow together as raine, my speach flow as the dew, as it were a shower vpon the herbe, and as it were droppes vpon the grasse.

3 [Page 462]† Mans first dutie is to praise God. Because I wil inuocate the name of our Lord: geue magnificence to our God.

4 † The workes of God be perfect, and al his waies iudgementes: God is faithful, and without any iniquitie, iust and right.

5 † They The next, to acknowledge his owne sinnes & defectes haue sinned to him, and not his children in filthines: a froward and peruerse generation.

6 † These thinges doest thou render to our Lord thou foolish and vn wise people? Is not he thy father, that hath possessed thee, and made, and created thee?

7 † Remember the old daies, thinke vpon euerie generation: aske thy father, and he wil declare to thee: thy elders, and they wil tel thee.

8 † When the highest At the towre of Babel. diuided the nations: when he separated the sonnes of Adam, he appointed the limites of people according to Israel being but one people possessed the inheritance of seuen other nations. the number of the children of Israel.

9 † But our Lords part, is his people: Iacob the corde of his inheritance.

10 † He God choise Israel to be his peculiar people of mere grace and protected them. found him in a desert land, in a place of horrour, and of wast wildernes: he ledde him about, and taught him: and kept him as the apple of his eye.

11 † As the eagle prouoking her young to flie, and houering ouer them, hath he spred his winges, and he hath taken him, and caried him on his shoulders.

12 † Our Lord onlie was his guide: and there was not with him a strange God.

13 † He placed him ouer an high land: that he might eate the fruites of the fieldes, that he might sucke Bees without mens industrie made honie in the rockes. honie out of the rocke, and Oliue trees prospered in stonie places. oile out of the hardest stone.

14 † Butter from the heard, and milke of the sheepe with the fatte of lambes, and of rammes the sonnes of Basan: and bucke goates with the marow of wheate, and might drinke the bloud of the grape most pure.

15 † The Temporal prosperitie occasion of the Iewes reuolting from God beloued was made grosse, and spurned: made grosse, fatted, dilated, he left God his maker, and departed from God his saluation.

16 † They prouoked him in strange goddes, and in abominations stirred him to anger.

17 † They immolated to diuels and not to God, to goddes, which they knew not: there came Noueltie allureth carnal people to idolatrie and heresie. new & fresh ones, whom their fathers worshipped not.

18 [Page 463]† God that begatte thee thou hast forsaken, and hast “forgotten our Lord thy creatour.

19 † Our Lord saw, and was moued to wrath: because his sonnes and daughters prouoked him.

20 † And he said: For their peruersnes God withdrew his helpe from them. I wil hide my face from them, and wil confider their last: for it is a peruerse generation, and vnfaithful children.

21 † They God first loueth, before anie man loueth him, but men first for▪ sake God, before he forsake them. haue prouokedme in that, which was no God, and haue angred me in their vanities: and I wil prouoke them in that, which is no people, and in The Iewes reputed most Gētiles foolish yet now they are inferior to al. a foolish nation wil I anger them.

22 † A fyre is kindled in my wrath, and shal burne euen to the lowest partes of hel: and shal deuoure the earth with her spring, and shal burne the foundations of mountaines.

23 † I wil heape euils vpon them, and myne arrowes I wil spend in them.

24 † They shal be consumed with famine, and birdes shal deuoure them with most bitter biting: the teeth of beastes wil I send vpon them, with the furie of those that traile vpon the ground, and creepe.

25 † Without shal the sword deuoure them, & within fearefulnes, the young man and the virgin together, the sucking child with the old man.

26 † I said: Where are they? I wil make their memorie to cease from among men.

27 † But For iust causes God some times differreth punishment. for the wrath of the enemies I haue differred: lest perhaps their enemies might be proude, and would say: Our mightie hand, and not the Lord, hath done al these thinges.

† A nation without counselis it, and without wisedome. 28

29 † O that they were True wisdome considereth thinges past, vnderstandeth things present, and prouideth for things to come. wise, and vnderstoode, and would prouide for their last.

30 † How should one pursew a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight? was it not therfore, because their God sold them, and our Lord inclosed them?

31 † For our Lord is not as their goddes: Al infideles confesse more Maiesty in the true God and in his Religiō ▪ then in their owne. our enemies also are iudges.

32 † Of the vineyard of Sodom, is their vineyard, and of the suburbes of Gomorrha: their grape the grape of gall, and the clusters most bitter.

33 † The gall of dragons their wine, and the venime of Aspes vncurable.

34 [Page 464]Are not these thinges laid vp with me, and signed in my treasures?

35 † Reuenge is myne, and I wil repay them in time, that their foote may slide: the day of perdition is at hand, and the times make hast to be present.

36 † Our Lord wil iudge his people, and wil haue mercie on his seruantes: he shal see that their hand is weakened, and Euen such offenders as thinck them selues secure, escape not. the shut vp also haue fayled, and the residew be consumed.

37 † And he shal say: Where are their goddes, in whom they had confidence.

38 † Of whose victimes they did eate fatte, and dranke the wine of their libamentes: It is vnpossible that false goddes should helpe theirfolowers in necessitie. Let them arise, and help you, and protect you in necessitie.

39 † See ye that I am onlie, and there is no other God besides me: I wil kil▪ and I wil make to liue: I wil strike, and I wil heale, and there is none that can deliuer out of my hand.

40 † I wil lift vp my hand to heauen, and wil say: I liue for euer.

41 † If I shal whette my sword as the lightening, and my hand take iudgement: I wil repay vengeance to myne enemies, and them that hate me wil I requite.

42 † I wil embrew my arrowes with bloud, and my sword shal deuoure flesh, of the bloud of the slaine and of captiuitie, of The vaine counsel of the wicked being detected shal be punished. the bare head of the enemies.

† You gentiles“ prayse his people, because he wil reuenge the 43 bloud of his seruantes: and wil repay vengeance vpon their enemies, and wil be propitious to the land of his people. † Moyses therfore came and spake al the wordes of this canticle 44 in the eares of the people, he and Iosue the sonne of Nun. † And he finished al these wordes, speaking to the children 45 of Israel. † and he said to them: Sette your hartes on al 46 the wordes, which I testifie to you this day: that you command them to your children to keepe and to doe, and to fulfil al thinges of this law that are written: † for not in vaine are 47 they commanded you, but that euerie one should liue in them: which doing you may continew a long time in the Land, which passing ouer Iordan you enter to possesse. † And our Lord spake to Moyses in the same day, saying: 48 † Goe vp into this mount Abarim, that is to say, of passages, 49 into mount Nebo, which is in the Land of Moab against Iericho: and see the Land of Chanaan, which I wil deliuer to [Page 465] the children of Israel to obteyne, and die thou in the mount. † Which going vp vnto thou shalt be ioyned to thy peoples, 50 as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was layd to his people: † because you did preuaricate against me in the 51 middes of the children of Israel at the Waters of contradiction in Cades of the desert of Sin: and you did not sanctifie me among the children of Israel. † Ouer against shalt 52 thou see the Land, and shalt not enter into it, which I wil geue to the children of Israel.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXII.

18. Forgotten our Lord.] Caluin ( li. 1. Instit. c. 11. parag. 9.) contending that Caluin contradicteth the holie Scripture. it is idolatrie, to worship Christ in his picture, saieth the idolatrie committed about the molten calfe ( Exod. 32.) consisted in worshipping the true God in that image of a calfe: affirming that the Ievves vvere not so inconsiderate, as not to remember, that it vvas God vvhich had brought them out of the Land of Aegypt. Quite contrarie to this text, which saieth: God that begate thee thou hast forsaken, and hast forgotten our Lord thy creator. Caluin therfore was either ignorant or forgetful, that the Holie Ghost here chargeth them, to haue forsaken and forgotten God the Creator; or els (which is worse) Knowing and remembring it, he was most impudent in auouching the contrarie.

43. Praise his people.] In the people of the Iewes were alwayes some good, Alwaies some good in the Church of the old Testamēt. & worthie of praise, that serued God; and sometimes suffered persecution for iustice; whose bloud God promised here to reuenge, and for their sakes to be merciful to others. Al which we see was performed, in that God reduced them from captiuitie, and conserued them after in their countrie til Christs time, for so he was propitious to the land of his people.

CHAP. XXXIII. Moyses blessing the tribes of Israel (Simeon omitted) prophecyeth particularly of euerie one. 26. Againe exhorteth them, that as God hath chosen them his peculiar people, so they loue and honour him their onlie God.

1 THIS is The ancient fathers expound these blessinges rather of the Church of Christ, then of the Iewes Synagogue. s. Aug. q. 56. Theod. q. 44. in Deut. the blessing, wherwith Moyses the man of God blessed the children of Israel, before his death.

2 † And he said: Our Lord“ came from Sinai, and from Seir is he risen to vs: he hath appeared from mount Pharan, and with him thousādes of Sainctes. In his right hand a fyrie law.

3 † He hath loued the peoples, al the saintes are in his hand: and they that approch to his feere, shal receiue of his doctrine.

4 Moyses commanded vs a law, the inheritance of the multitude of Iacob.

5 [Page 466]† He shal be king with the most right, the princes of the people being assembled with the tribes of Israel.

† Liue Ruben, and die he not, and be he litle in number. 6

7 † This is the blessing of Iudas: Heare Lord the voice of Iudas, and bring him in vnto his people: his handes shal fight for him, and he shal be his helper against his aduersaties.

† To Leui also he said: Thy perfection, and thy doctrine 8 be to thy holie man, whom thou hast proued in tentation, and iudged at the Waters of contradiction. † He that The priestlie tribe must especially preferre Gods seruice before their neerest kinred. said 9 to his father, and to his mother: I know you not; and to his brethren: I know you not: & they knew not their children. These kept thy word, and obserued thy couenant, † thy 10 iudgementes o Iacob, and thy law o Israel: they shal put incense in thy furie, and holocaust vpon thyne altar. † Blesse 11 Lord his strength, and receiue the workes of his handes. Strike the backes of his enemies, and they that hate him, let them not rise vp.

12 † And to Beniamin he said: The best beloued of our Lord The Temple was built in the tribe of Beniamin, which God more specially protected, and so they dwelt more securely. Theod. q. 45. in Deut. shal dwel confidently in him: as in a bride chamber al the day shal he abide, and betwen his shoulders shal he rest.

† To Ioseph also he said: Of the blessing of our Lord be 13 his land, of the fruites of heauen, and the dew, & the depth lying vnderneth. † Of the pomes of the fruites of the sunne 14 and moone, † of the toppes of the old mountaynes, of the 15 pomes of the eternal hilles: † and of the fruites of the earth, 16 and of the fulnes therof. The blessing of him, that appeared in the bush, come vpon the head of Ioseph, and vpon the crowne of the nazarite among his brethren. † His beautie 17 as of the first borne of an oxe, his hornes the hornes of an vnicorne: in them shal he winow the Nations euen to the endes of the earth. these are the multitudes of Epthaim is preferred before his elder brother, agreable to their granfathers prophetical blessing. Gen. 48. Ephraim, and these the thousandes of Manasses.

† And to Zabulon he said: Reioyse Zabulon in thy going 18 out, and Issachar in thy tabernacles. † They shal cal the peoples 19 to the mountaine: there shal they immolate the victimes of iustice. Who shal sucke the inundation of the sea as milke, and the hidden treasures of the sandes.

† And to Gad he said: Blessed be Gad in breadth: as a 20 lion hath he rested, and taken the arme and the toppe of the head. † And he saw his principalitie, that in his part the doctor 21 was reposed: which was with the princes of the people, [Page 467] and did the iustices of our Lord, and his iudgement with Israel.

22 † To Dan also he said: Dan a lions whelpe, he shal flow largely from Basan.

23 † And to Nephthali he said: Nephthali shal enioy abundance, and shal be ful of the blessinges of our Lord: the sea and the south he shal possesse.

† To Aser also he said: Blessed be Aser in children, be he 24 acceptable to his brethren, and dippe he in oile his foote. † His shoe yron and brasse. As the daies of thy youth, so also 25 thy old age.

† There is no other God as the God of the rightest: the 26 mounter of heauen is thy helper. By his magnificence the cloudes runne hither and thither, † his habitation is aboue, 27 and vnder the euerlasting armes: he shal cast out the enemie from thy face, and shal say: Be destroyed.

28 † The sinne of Zābri a prince of Simeons tribe, in fresh memorie ( Nu. 25.) semeth to be the cause, why this tribe is not partilarly blessed, but only in general with al Israel. Israel shal dwel confidently, and alone. The eie of Iacob in the land of corne and wine, and the heauens shal be mistie with dew.

29 † Blessed art thou Israel: who is like to thee o people, that art saued in our Lord? the shield of thy helpe, and the sword of thy glorie: thy enemies shal denie thee, and thou shalt treade their neckes.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXIII.

2. Came from Sinai.] According to the historie Moyses recounteth here three benefites. First that God gaue the Law in Sinai. ( Exod. 20.) Secondly, he cured those which were bitten with serpentes nere to Seir. ( Num. 21.) Thirdly in mount Pharan he appointed Seuentie ancientes to assist Moyses in iudgementes The prophetical sense of these blessīges is more certaine, & more euident, then the historical. ( Num. 11.) But according to the Mysterie, which specially is intended, S. Augustin ( q. 56. in Deut.) saieth this prophecie is not to be negligently passed ouer. For it euidently appeareth that this benediction perteineth to a new people, whom Christ our Lord hath sanctified, in whose person Moyses spake and not in his owne. So in this prophetical and proper sense (saieth this Doctor) our Lord and Sauiour cometh from Sinai, which is interpreted tentation, when he passed the tentation of his passion and death, Heb. 2. v. 18. Christ riseth from Seir, interpreted hearie, for that in the similitude of the flesh of sinne, e [...]en of sinne, he damned sinne in the flesh. Rom. 8. v. 3. He appeareth from mount Pharan interpreted fruitful mountaine, in that he geueth abundance of grace in his Church of the new Testament; which is a citie set vpon a hil. Mat. 5.

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CHAP. XXXIIII. Moyses seeth the promised land, but is not suffered to goe into it, 5. He dieth at the age of 120. yeares. God burieth his bodie secretly, and al Israel The fifth part. The death, burial and singular praise of Moyses. mourne for him thirtie dayes. 9. Iosue replenished (by imposition of Moyses handes) with the spirite of God succedeth. 10. But Moyses for his special familiaritie with God, and for most wonderful miracles is commended aboue al other Prophetes.

MOYSES therfore went vp from the champion of 1 Moab vpon mount Nebo, into the toppe of Phasga against Iericho: and our Lord shewed him God eleuated his visiue powre aboue nature to see so farre. al the land of Galaad as farre as Dan, † and al Nephthali, and the land of 2 Ephraim and Manasses, and al the Land of Iuda vnto the vtmost sea, † and the south part, and the bredth of the plaine 3 of Iericho a citie of palmetrees as farre as Sego [...]. † And our 4 Lord said to him: This is the Land, for the which I sware to Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, saying: To thy seede wil I geue it. Thou hast seene it with thyne eies, and shalt not passe ouer to it. † And Moyses the seruant of our Lord died there, in the 5 land of Moab, our Lord commanding it: † and he buried him 6 in the valley of the Land of Moab against Phogor: and Onlie Angels (whose ministerie God vsed herein) knew the place of his burial: lest the Iewes prone to idolatrie might haue honored him for God. no man hath knowne his sepulchre vntil this present day.

† Moyses was an hundred and twentie yeares old when he 7 died: his eie was not dimme, neither were his teeth moued. † And the children of Israel mourned him in the champion 8 countrie of Moab thirtie daies: and the daies of their mourning that mourned for Moyses were accomplished. † And 9 Iosue the sonne of Nun was replenished with the spirit of wisedome, because Moyses did put his handes vpon him. And the children of Israel obeied him, and did as our Lord commanded Moyses. † And there rose no more a prophete 10 in Israel as Moyses, whom our Lord had knowen face to face, † in al signes and wonders, which he sent by him, to doe 11 in the Land of Aegypt to Pharao, and to al his seruantes, and to his whole Land, † and al the strong hand, and great meruailes, 12 which Moyses did before al Israel.

The end of the fiue bookes of Moyses, conteining the Law.

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THE SECOND PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: CONTEINING HISTORICAL BOOKES.

The argument of the booke of Iosue.

VVHETHER Iosue himself writ this booke (which is the common Histor: Scholast. VVhosoeuer was author, the authoritie of this booke is certaine. opinion) or some other, it was euer held vndoubtedly by al, for Canonical Scripture: and according to the distribution of the whole Bible into Legal, Historical, Sapiential, and Prophetical Bookes, this is the first of the historical sorte. But as the fiue procedent called Legal, besides the Law, comprehend also the historie of the Church, from the beginning of Bookes of holie Scripture principally treating of seueral argumentes, yet in the same participat ech sorte with others. the world nere 2500. yeares, and withal conteine much diuine Wisdome, & Prediction of thinges to come: so these bookes now folowing called Historical, and likewise the Sapiential and Prophetical ensuing after, participate each with others in their seueral argumentes: euerie one more or lesse inducing Gods seruantes to keepe his Law; recording thinges donne; teaching what is most meete to be donne; and foreshewing before hand, thinges donne afterwardes, or which yet shal come to passe. So this booke doth not only set forth the Actes of Iosue, who succeded Moyses in tēporal gouernment of Gods The côtentes of this books. people, commanding and directing them by lawe and wisedome; but also S. Hiero. Epist. ad Paulin. S. Amb. in Psal. 47 S. Aug. li. 12 c. 31. & li. 16. c. 19. contra. Faust. Manich. the same thinges donne by him, and his verie name (as S. Hierom, & other Fathers teach) prefigure our Lord IESVS Christ. For in Hebrew IEHOSVA is the name both of this Capitaine General, the leader of The Israelites ouer Iordan into the Land of promise, and of our Lord and SAVIOVR, who by his Baptisme, and other Sacramentes bringeth his people of al Nations, into the true Land of the liuing, where is life and felicitie euerlasting. Touching th [...]fore the historie, these foure special thinges are here described. Diuided into foure partes. 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.

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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. The first part. Of the passage of Israel ouer Iordan.

AND it came to passe after the death 1 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 2 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 3 shal treade, wil I deliuer to you, as I haue spoken to Moyses. † From the desert and Libanus vnto the great riuer Euphrates, 4 al the land of the Hetheites vnto the great sea against the going downe of the sunne, shal be your border. † No man 5 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 6 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 7 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 8 mouth: but thou shalt meditate in it daies and nightes, that [Page 471] thou maiest keepe and doe al thinges that be written in it: then shalt thou direct thy way, and vnderstand it. † Behold 9 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 10 the princes of the people, saying: Passe through the middes of the campe, and command the people, and say: † Prepare 11 for your selues Besides Man na, which ye [...] c [...]assed not, they might [...] they would▪ prouide other meate: prefiguring that in the primitiue Church, it should be lawful to vse legal ceremonies, with euangelical rites for a time, til the old law were buried with honour. 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 12 and Gaddites, and halfe tribe of Manasses he said: † Remember 13 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 14 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 15 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 16 thou hast commanded vs we wil doe: and whither soeuer thou shalt send vs, we wil goe. † As we obeyed Moyses in 17 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 18 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 1 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: 2 Behold there are men come in hither by night of the children [Page 472] of Israel, to spie the Land. † And the king of Iericho sent to 3 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 4 them, and said: I confesse they came to me, but Notwithstanding this officious lie, (which is a venial sinne) S. Paul, Heb. 11. and S. Iames (c. 2.) testifie, that she was iustified by her faith in God, and by good workes towards these men. S. Aug. cont. M [...]udac. [...]. 17. See Annot. Iac. 2. v. 25. I knew not whence they were: † and when the gate was a shutting in 5 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 6 house, and couered them with the stalke of flaxe, which was there. † And they that were sent, folowed them, the way that 7 leadeth to the ford of Iordan: and they being gone out the gate for with was shutte. † Neither were they yet a sleepe 8 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 9 your terrour is fallen vpon vs, and al the inhabitantes of the Land are become fainte. † We haue heard that the Lord 10 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 11 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 12 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 13 and sisters, and al thinges that he theirs, and deliuer our soules from death. † Who answered her: Be our liues for 14 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 15 out of a window: for her house ioyned fast to the wall. † And 16 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. 17 We shal be quitte from this oath, wherwith thou hast sworne vs: † if we entring the Land, there be this purple corde a 18 signe, and thou tie it in the window, by the which thou hast let vs downe: and gather thy father and mother, and brethren and al thy kindred into thy house. † He that shal goe forth 19 [Page 473] of the doore of thy house, his bloud shal be vpon his head, and we shal be quitte. But the bloud of al, that shal be with thee in the house, shal redound vpon our head, if any man touch them. † But if thou wilt betray vs, and vtter this talke 20 abroade, we shal be quitte from this oath, wherwith thou hast adiured vs. † And she answered: As you haue spoken, 21 so be it done, and dismissing them to goe, she hong the purple corde in the window. † But they walking came to the 22 mountaines, and [...]aried there three dayes, til they returned that pursewed them: for seeking euerie way, they found them not. † Who being entred into the citie, the discouerers returned, 23 and came downe from the mountaine: and passing ouer Iordan, they came to Iosue the sonne of Nun, and told him al thinges that had chanced to them, † and said: Our Lord 24 hath deliuered al this land into our handes, and al the inhabitantes therof are ouerthrowen with feare.

CHAP. III. After three dayes abode by the bankes of Iordan, 3. the Priestes with the Arke of God entering first into the riuer, 15. the vpper part miraculously standeth and swelleth, the lower running away, they goe into the midde chanel, and there stay, whiles al the people passe ouer drie foote.

IOSVE therfore rysing vp in the night, remoued the 1 campe: and departing from Setim, they came to Iordan, he, and al the children of Israel, and abode there for three dayes. † Which being passed, the herauldes went through 2 the middes of the campe, † and beganne to proclaime: 3 In place of the cloud, and piller of fire, the arke is now caried for their guid and direction. When you shal see the arke of couenant of our Lord your God, and It perteined to the Leuites office to carie the arke. Num. 4 but in this special seruice & miraculous passage the Priestes did carie it: so the greater may do the office of the lesse, not contrariwise. the priestes of the Leuitical stocke carying it, ryse you also, and folow them going before: † and let there 4 be betwen you and the arke the space of two thousand cubites: that you may see it a farre of, and know which way you may goe: because you haue not walked by it before: and beware you approch not to the arke. † And Iosue said to the 5 people: Be sanctified: for to morrow our Lord wil doe among you merueilous thinges. † And he said to the priestes: 6 Take vp the arke of the couenant, & goe before the people. Who fulfilling his commandementes, tooke it, and walked before them. † And our Lord said to Iosue: This day wil I 7 beginne to exalt thee before al Israel: God shewed by this miracle, that Iosue had special commission from him, and that vnder his gouernment the people should prosper. that they may know as I was with Moyses, so am I with thee also. † And doe 8 [Page 474] thou“ command the priestes, that carie the arke of the testament, and say to them: When you shal be entred into part of the water of Iordan, stand in it. † And Iosue said to the children 9 of Israel: Come hither, and heare the word of our Lord your God. † And againe he said: In this you shal know that 10 our Lord the liuing God is in the middes of you, and shal destroy in your sight the Chananeite and Hetheite, the Heueite and Pherezeite, the Gergeseite also and the Iebuseire, and the Amorrheite. † Behold the arke of the couenant of the Lord 11 of al the earth shal goe before you into Iordan. † Prepare 12 twelue men of the tribes of Israel, one of euerie tribe. † And 13 when the priestes that carie the arke of the Lord of the whole earth shal sette the steppes of their feete in the waters of Iordan, the waters, that are beneath, shal runne downe and decay: and those that come from aboue, shal stand together in one heape. † Therfore the people went out of their 14 tabernacles, to passe ouer Iordan: and the priestes, that caried the arke of the couenant, went on before them. † And 15 they being entered into Iordan, and their feete dipped in part of the water (and Iordan in the haruest time had filled the bankes of his chanel) † the waters that came downeward 16 stoode in one place, and like a mountaine swelling vp appeared farre from the citie, that is called Adom to the place of Sarthan: but those that were beneth, ranne downe into the Sea of the wildernes (which now is called the dead sea) vntil they wholy decayed. † And the people went against Iericho: 17 and the priestes that caried the arke of the couenant of our Lord, stoode girded vpon the drie ground in the middes of Iordan, and al the people passed ouer through the drie chanel.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. III.

8. Command the priestes.] Because Iosue commanded the priestes to take An obiection for laiheadship of the Church. the arke, and stand with it in Iordan; for that also ( chap. 5) he ministred, or appointed others to minister, the Sacrament of Circūcision; Likewise ( chap. 8.) blessed the people; and ( chap. 24.) renewed Gods couenant with them; English Protestantes inferre, that he was chief superior in spiritual causes; and therfore lay princes are supreme heades, & gouerners of the Church immediatly vnder God. But none of these actions, nor al put together do proue their purpose. Answer. For notwithstanding he very lawfully did these, and other like thinges, yet he [Page 475] had a spiritual superior in earth, which was Eleazar the high priest For Moyses Moyses chief both in spiritual and temporal authoritie▪ which was after diuided betwen the high Priest & temporal Prince. The high priest superiour. Iosue executed Gods wil, not by spiritual iurisdictiō, but with subordination to the high priest. being extraordinarie superior of al, both in spiritual and temporal causes, the ordinarie priesthood, and spiritual supremacie was established in Aaron and his sonnes, as appeareth Leuit. 8. Num. 20. and other places: and the temporal gouernment after Moyses was geuen to Iosue, succeding to him ( Num. 27.) Exod. 4. 5. 6. &c. Deut. 17. not in al, but in part of his glorie (or authoritie) his whole honour (or power) being destributed betwen the high Priest, and the temporal Prince, as learned Theodoret ( q. 48 in Num.) noteth vpon the sacred text; expresly distinguishing their offices ( v. 21.) that Eleazar the priest should consult our Lord for him (and so receiue answer in doctrin and veritie, Exod. 28. Leuit. 8.) and that Io [...]ue should goe out and goe in, and al the children of Israel vvith him (that is, lead and gouerne the people) at Eleazars vvord. VVhere it is manifest that Iosue was not set ouer Eleazar, but Eleazar ouer him. That therfore which Iosue did in spiritual affaires, was in subordination to the high priest; by whose direction, approbation, or ratihabition, he commanded some of the priestes to carie the arke, and with it to goe into Iordan, and coming into the m [...]dde chanel to stand there, whiles al the armie and people passed ouer: also gaue order that al should be Chap. 5. 8. 22. 23. 24. circumcised; blessed the people; read the law; and after godlie exhortations, renewed the couenant betwen God and them; al in way of execution of Gods wil & cōmandementes, not by anie pretended iurisdiction in spiritual thinges.

In like sorte manie other good temporal Princes, as wel in the old as the new Testament, haue disposed and executed diuers thinges perteining to Gods seruice: their office requiring that they should set forward, maintaine and defend Other good princes haue also much aduanced religion, but not taken supramacie in spiritual causes. true faith and religion. Especially Christian Princes, of whom Esai propheciced ( chap. 49.) that Kinges should be softer fathers, and Queenes the nources of the Church.

Conformably wherto S Augustin teacheth ( li. 3 c. 51. cont. Crescon) that Kinges, in that they are Kinges, serue God by commanding good thinges, and forbidding euel, not only perteining to humaine societie, but also belonging to Gods religion. To this effect Constantin the great did manie religious actes: yea euen those thinges which our aduersaries wrest to their owne sense, shew euidently his due submission to his spiritual pastors. As when vrged by the Donatistes peruerse importunitie, and being desirous (as S. Augustin testifieth, Epist 166.) to bridle so great impudencie, he heard and iudged Bishop Cecilians cause, after other Bishops sentence for him against the heretikes; where he both gaue iudgement agreable to the Bishops, and yet pleading parden, excused himself for this fact. VVhich had not neded, if he had bene the ordinarie Veniam [...]etiturus For maintaining Catholique religion against heretikes, the kings of Spaine haue the title Catholique. The French Kinges, most. Christian. Kinges of England, Defenders of the saith. or competent iudge. Optatus also writeth ( li. 1. cont. Parmen.) that the same Emperour Constantin exclamed against the appellantes in these wordes: O ra [...]ida furoris audacia! sicut in causis Gentilium s [...]ri solet, appellationem interposuerunt. O outragious boldnes of furie! like as in causes of Gentiles is wont, they haue interposed an appeal. The like good offices did Iustinian, and Charles the great, and manie other Christian Emperours and Kinges; for which they are much renowmed in the whole Church; and some haue benne honoured for their religious zele, with glorious titles geuen to them and their successors. To the Kinges of Spaine, from the time of Al [...]onsus King of Castil, aboue eight hundred yeares agone, for expelling the Arians, was geuen the title of Cathoque as Michael Ritins a Neapolit [...]n writeth. To the French Kinges the title of most Christian, from the time of Philip the Emperour, about 400. yeares since, for expelling the Albigenses, as recordeth Nicholaus Gillius. To our King Henrie the eight of England, for his booke of the Sacramentes against Luther, [...]n. Do. 1521. Pope Leo the tenth gaue the title: Defender of the saith.

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CHAP. IIII. In memorie of their miraculous passage, twelue chief men, of the twelue tribes, [...]uke so manie great stones from the middes of Iordan, 9. and put other twelue, where the priestes stood with the arke. 18. The waters returne to their former course. And the twelue stones are erected for a monument.

VVHo being passed ouer, our Lord said to Iosue: 1 † Choose twelue men one in euerie tribe: † and 2 command them that they take vp out of the middes of the 3 chanel of Iordā, where the feete of the priestes stoode, twelue most hard stones, which you shal put in the place of the campe, where you shal pitch tentes this night. † And Iosue 4 called twelue men, whom he had chosen out of the children of Israel, one of euerie tribe, † and he said to them: Goe 5 before the arke of our Lord your God to the middes of Iordan, and carrie from thence euerie man a stone on your shoulders, according to the number of the children of Israel, † that it may be Is not the forme of a crosse as conueniēt a signe, to put christians in mind, how our Sauiour redemed vs, as these stones were to the Iewes, how God brought their fathers ouer Iordan? a signe among you: and when your children 6 shal aske you to morrow, saying: What meane these stones? † You shal answer them: The waters of Iordan decayed 7 before the arke of the couenant of our Lord, when it passed ouer the same: therfore were these stones sette for a monument of the children of Israel for euer. † The children 8 of Israel therfore did as Iosue commanded them, carying out of the chanel of Iordan twelue stones, as our Lord had commanded him, according to the number of the children of Israel, vnto the place, wherein they camped, and there they sette them. † Other twelue stones also Iosue put in 9 the middes of the chanel of Iordan, where the priestes stoode, that caried the arke of the couenant: and they be there vntil this present day. † But the priestes that caried 10 the arke, stoode in the middes of Iordan, til al thinges were accomplished, which our Lord had commanded Iosue, to speake to the people, and Moyses had said to him. And the people made hast, and passed ouer. † And when they had al 11 passed ouer, the arke also of our Lord passed ouer, the priestes also went before the people. † The children of Ruben also 12 and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasses, went armed before the children of Israel, as Moyses had commanded them: † and fourtie thousand fighting men by troupes, and bandes, 13 [Page 477] marched through the plaine and champion countrie of the citie of Iericho. † In that day our Lord magnified Iosue before 14 al Israel, that they should feare him, as they had feared Moyses, whiles he yet liued. † And he said to him: † Command 15 16 the priestes, that carie the arke of the couenant, that they comme vp out of Iordan. † Who commanded them, 17 saying: Come ye vp out of Iordan. † And when they that 18 caried the arke of the couenant of our Lord, were come vp, and began to treade on the drie ground, the waters returned into their chanel, and ranne as they were wont before. † And the people came vp out of Iordan, the tenth day of the 19 first moneth, and camped in Galgal against the East side of the citie of Iericho. † the twelue stones also, which they 20 had taken out of the chanel of Iordan, Iosue sette in Galgal, † and said to the children of Israel: When your children shal 21 aske their fathers to morrow, and shal say to them: What meane these stones: † You shal teach them, and say: By the 22 drie chanel did Israel passe ouer this Iordan, † your Lord God 23 drying the waters therof in your sight, vntil you passed ouer: † as he had done before in the readsea, which he dried til 24 we passed throuh: † that al the people of the earth may learne 25 the most strong hand of our Lord, that you also may feare our Lord your God.

CHAP. V. The kinges of Chanaan are sore, frighted with the newes of Israels passage ouer Iordan. 2. Circumcision is againe commanded, and obserued, which had bene ommitted in the desert fourtie yeares. 10 They make their Pasch. 12. Manna ceaseth. 13. And an Angel appeareth to Iosue.

THERFORE after that al the kinges of the Ammorrheites, 1 which dwelt beyond Iordan at the west side, and al the kinges of Chanaan, which possessed the places nigh to the great sea, had heard that our Lord had dried the streames of Iordan before the children of Israel, til they passed ouer, their hart failed, and there remained no spirit in them, fearing the entring of the children of Israel. † At that time our 2 Lord said See annotations. annotations. c. 3. v. 8. to Iosue: Make thee kniues of stone, and circumcise Circūcision had bene omitted sourtie yeares, whiles they were in the deserte, alwayes vncertaine when to march, & so it is now commanded the second time. the second time the children of Israel. † He did 3 that which our Lord had commanded, and he circumcised the children of Israel in the hil of the prepuces. † And this 4 is the cause of the second circumcision: Al the people, that [Page 478] came out of Aegypt of the malekinde, al the fighting men, died in the desert by the long circuites of the way, † who 5 were al circumcised. But the people that was borne in the desert, † during the fourtie yeares of the iourney in the wide 6 wildernes was incircumcised: til they were consumed that had not heard the voice of our Lord, and to whom he had sworne before, that he would not shew them a land flowing with milke and honie. † The children of these succeded in 7 the place of the fathers, and were circumcised of Iosue: for they were in the prepuce euen as they were borne, neither had any circumcised them in the way. † And after that they 8 were al circumcised, they abode in the same place of the campe, vntil they were whole. † And our Lord said to Iosue: 9 This day haue I taken away the reproch of Aegypt from you. And the name of that place was called Galgal, vntil this present day. † And the children of Israel abode in Galgal, & they 10 made the Phase▪ the fourtenth day of the moneth at euen in the champion of Iericho: † and they did eate of the corne 11 of the Land the next day, azyme loaues and Fu [...] men [...]ie. polēt of the same yeare. † And Manna failed after they did eate of the corne of 12 the Land, neither did the children of Israel vse that meate any more, but they did eate of the corne of the present Land of Chanaan. † And when Iosue was in the field of the citie of 13 Iericho, he lifted vp his eies, and saw a man standing against him, holding a drawen sword, and he went to him, and said: Art thou ours, or our aduersaries? † Who answered: No: but 14 I am a Not God, but of Gods hoste. prince of the host of our Lord, and now I come. † Iosue fel flatte on the ground. And“ adoring he said: What 15 speaketh my Lord to his seruant? †“ Loose, sayth he, thy 16 shoe from thy feete: for the place wherein thou dost stand, is holie. And Iosue did as it was commanded him.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. V.

15. Adoring.] Iosue knowing that the person which appeared, was an Angel and not God, nor a man, neither adored him with godlie honour, for that had bene idolatrie, nor with ciuil, for that perteineth to wordlie and temporal excellencie. Religious honour due to Angels. and is not competent to sacred thinges, especialy to immortal and See Annot. Ex [...]. 20. glorious spirites; and therfore the honour he did to this Angel, was religious honour infinitly inferior to diuine, and yet much greater then ciuil.

16. Loose thy shoe.] The Angel did not only accept of the honour donne Holie places. vnto him, but also required more, shewing that the verie place was holie for his presence, being otherwise the common field of Iericho.

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CHAP. VI. Some priestes carying the arke, others sounding Iubilee trumpetes, [...]r [...]ed m [...] going before, and the rest of the people folowing, goe euerie day once, six The second part. Of conque [...]ing the Land of promise. dayes together, and the seuenth day, seuen times, round about Iericho. 16. at last al making a great shoote, the walles fal downe, and they entering [...] kil and destroy al (22. sauing Rahab and her kinred.) The gold, siluer, brasse, and iron are brought into the treasurie. 26. And he is cursed that shal build the citie againe.

AND Iericho was shut and [...]ensed, for feare of the children 1 of Israel, and no man durst goe out or come in. † And our Lord said to Iosue: Behold I haue geuen into thy 2 handes Iericho, and the king therof, and al the valiant men. † God appointed this long and solemne procession to the end it might appeare, that the walles of Iericho [...]el not by chance, no [...] by force of mans industrie, but by the mightie hand of God. Goe round about the citie al you that be men of warre 3 once a day: so shal you doe six daies. † And the seuenth day the 4 priestes shal take vp the seuen trumpettes, which are vsed in the Iubilee, and shal goe before the arke of the couenant: and you shal goe about the citie seuen times, and the priestes shal sound with trumpetes. † And when the voice of the trumpet 5 shal sound in length and with a broken tune, and shal sound in your eares, al the people shal crie together with a verie greate shoote, and the walles of the citie shal fall to the ground, and they shal enter in euerie one at the place against which they 6 shal stād. † Iosue therfore the sonne of Nun called the priestes, and said to them: Take vp the arke of the couenant: and let seuen other priestes take vp the seuen trūpe [...]tes of the iubilees, and march before the arke of our Lord. † To the people also 7 he said: Goe, and cōpasse the citie, the armed going before the arke of our Lord. † And when Iosue had ended his wordes, 8 and the seuen priestes sounded with seuen trumpettes before the arke of the couenant of ou [...] Lord, † and al the armed hoste 9 went before, the rest of the commō people folowed the arke, and al places sounded with the trumpettes. † But Iosue had 10 commanded the people, saying: You shal not crie, neither shal your voice be heard, nor any word goe out of your mouth: vntil the day come wherin I shal say to you: Crie, and shoote. † Therfore the arke of our Lord went about the 11 citie once a day, and returning into the campe, abode there. † Iosue therfore rysing in the night, the priestes tooke the 12 arke of our Lord, † and seuen of them seuen trumpettes, 13 which are vsed in the iubilee: and they went before the arke of our Lord walking and sounding: and the armed people [Page 480] went before them, and the rest of the common people folowed the arke, and they sounded with trumpettes. † And 14 they went round about the citie the second day once, and returned into the campe. So did they six daies. † But the 15 seuenth day, rysing vp early, they went about the citie, as it was ordained, seuen times. † And when in the seuenth going 16 about the priestes sounded with the trumpettes, Iosue said to al Israel: Make a shoote: for our Lord hath deliuered to you the citie: † and let this citie be anathema: and al thinges 17 that are in it, to our Lord. onlie Rahab the harlot let her liue, with al that be with her in the house: for she hidde the messengers whom we sent. † But you beware you touch not 18 ought of those rhinges, that are commanded, and be guiltie of preuarication, and Manie are held guiltie of sinne, and are iustly punished for the fact of one or few, either because they cō sented, or concealed, or neglected to punish the offenders: or els they suffer temporal affliction for their warning to abhorre sinne, & for increase of their merite. [...]. Aug. q. 8. & 9. in Iosue. al the campe of Israel be vnder sinne, and be trubled. † But whatsoeuer gold or siluer there shal 19 be, and of brasen vessels and yron, let it be consecrated to our Lord, layd vp in his treasures. † Therfore al the people making 20 a shoote, and the trumpettes sounding, after that the voice and the sound thundred in the eares of the multitude, the walles forthwith fell: and euerie man went vp by the place, that was against him: and they tooke the citie, † and killed al thinges that were in it, from man to woman, 21 from the infant to the old man. The oxen also and sheepe, and the asses they stroke in the edge of the sword. † But to 22 the two men that had bene sent for spies, Iosue said: Goe into the house of the woman the harlotte, and bring her forth, and al thinges that be hers, as you assured her by oath. † And the young men going in, brought out Rahab, and her 23 parentes, her brethren also and al her stuffe and kinred, and made them to tarie without the campe. † But the citie, and 24 al thinges, that were found therein they burnt; except the gold and siluer, and brasen vessels, and yron, which they consecrated vnto the treasurie of our Lord. † But Rahab the 25 harlotte and the house of her father, and al that she had, Iosue caused to liue, and they dwelt in the middes of Israel vntil this present day: for that she hidde the messengers, which he had sent to view Iericho. At that time, Iosue pronounced a curse, saying: † Hi [...]l fel into this curse for reparing Iericho. 3. Reg. 16. v. 34. Cursed be the man before our Lord, that 26 shal rayse vp and build the citie of Iericho. In his first borne lay he the fundations therof, and in the last of his children sette he vp the gates therof. † Our Lord therfore was with Iosue, and his name was bruited in al the earth.

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CHAP. VII. For the sinne of Achan, reseruing secretly to himself certaine money, and other precious thinges, the Israelites are beaten in battel. 13. But the offender being found out, and stoned to death, Gods wrath is turned from them.

BVT the children of Israel transgressed the commandment, 1 & vsurped of the anathema. For Achan the sonne of Charmi, the sonne of Zabdi, the sonne of Zare of the tribe of Iuda, tooke somewhat of the anathema: and our Lord was angrie against the children of Israel. † And when Iosue sent 2 from Iericho men against Hai, which is beside Bethauen, at the East side of the towne of Bethel, he said to them: Goe vp, and view the Land: who accomplishing his commandmentes, viewed Hai. † And returning they said to him: Let 3 not al the people goe vp, but let two or three thousand men goe, and destroy the citie: why shal al the people be vexed in vaine against verie few enemies? † There went vp therfore 4 three thousand fighting men. Who immediatly turning their backes, † were strooken of the men of the citie of 5 Hai, and there fel of them So God tempered his punishment that but few were slaine, and afterwards gaue the towne to the Israelites without losse of any of their men. six and thirtie men: and the aduersaries pursewed them from the gate as farre as Sabarim, and they stricke them flying away by the descent: and the hart of the people was much afrayd, and melted like vnto water. † But Iosue rent his garmentes, and fel flatte on the 6 ground before the arke of our Lord vntil euening, as wel he as al the ancientes of Israel: and they cast dust vpon their heades, † and Iosue said: Alas ô Lord God, why wouldest 7 thou bring this people ouer the riuer of Iordan, to deliuer vs into the handes of the Amorrheite, and to destroy vs, would God as we beganne, we had taried beyond Iordan. † My Lord 8 God what shal I say, seeing Israel turning their backes to their enemies? † The Chananeites shal heare of it, and al 9 the inhabitantes of the Land, and being gathered together in a plumpe shal compasse vs about, & shal destroy our name from the earth: and what wilt thou doe to thy greate name? † And our Lord said to Iosue: Arise, Prayer wil not auaile til iustice be first donne. why liest thou 10 flatte on the ground? † Israel hath sinned, and transgressed 11 my couenant: and they haue taken of the anathema, and haue stolen and lyed, and haue hid it among their vessel. † Neither can Israel stand before his enemies, and he shal 12 flee them: because he is polluted with the anathema. I wil [Page 482] be no more with you, til you dispatch him, that is guiltie of this wicked fact. † Arise, sanctifie the people, and say to 13 them: Be sanctified against to morrow: for thus saith our Lord God of Israel: There is anathema in the middes of thee o Israel: thou canst not stand before thyne enemies, til he be destroyed out of thee that is contaminated with this wicked fact. † And you shal come in the morning euerie one by 14 your tribes: and what tribe soeuer the lote shal finde, it shal come by the kindredes therof, the kinred by the houses, and the house by the men. † And whosoeuer he be that shal be 15 taken in this fact, he shal be burnt in the fyre with al his substance, because he hath transgressed the couenāt of our Lord, and hath done abomination in Israel. † Iosue therfore rysing 16 in the morning, made Israel to come by their tribes, and it was found the tribe of Iuda. † Which being presented by 17 the families therof, it was found the familie of Zare. Presenting that also by the houses, he found it Zabdi: † whose 18 house diuiding into euerie man, he found Achan the sonne of Charmi, the sonne of Zabdi: the sonne of Zare of the tribe of Iuda. † And Iosue said to Achan: My sonne, geue 19 glorie to our Lord God of Israel, and confesse, and tel me what thou hast done, hide it not. † And Achan answered Iosue, and said to him: In deede I haue sinned to our Lord the God of Israel, and thus and thus haue I done. † For I saw 21 among the spoiles a cloke of scarlet verie good, and two hundred sicles of siluer, and a golden rule of fiftie sicles: and coueting I tooke it away, and hid it in the ground against the middes of my tabernacle, and the siluer I couered with the earth digged vp. † Iosue therfore sent ministers: who running 22 to his tabernacle, found al thinges hid in the same place, and the siluer withal. † And taking it away out of the rent, 23 brought it to Iosue, and to al the children of Israel, and threw it before our Lord. † Iosue therfore taking Achan 24 the sonne of Zare, and the siluer and the cloke, and the golden rule, his sonnes also and daughters, his oxen and asses, and sheepe, and the tabernacle it self, and al the stuffe: (and al Israel with him) they brought them to the valley of Achor: † where Iosue said: Because thou hast disturbed vs, our Lord 25 disturbe thee in this day. And al Israel stoned him: and al thinges that were his, were consumed with fyre. † And 26 gathered together vpon him a greate heape of stones, which [Page 483] remaineth vntil this present day. And the furie of our Lord was auerted from them. And the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, vntil this day.

CHAP. VIII. By stratageme of an ambushment the citie of Hai is taken and burned, and al the inhabitantes slaine. 29. the king hanged. 30. An Altar built, Sacrifice offered, 32. the law written in stones, the people blessed, and the blessinges and cursinges read before them al.

AND our Lord said to Iosue: Feare not, neither doe 1 thou dread: take with thee al the multitude of fighting men, and rysing goe vp vnto the towne of Hai. behold I haue deliuered into thy hand the King therof, & the people, and the citie and the land. † And thou shalt do to the citie 2 of Hai, and to the King therof, as thou hast done to Iericho, and to the King therof: but the praye and al the cattel you shal spoyle for your selues: Deceiptes [...] stratagemes are lawful in iust warre; but not falshood, nor breach of promise. [...]. Aug. q. 10. [...] Iosue. lay ambushmentes to the citie behind it. † And Iosue arose, and al the hoste of the men of 3 warre with him, to goe vp into Hai: and thirtie thousand chosen valiant men he sent in the night, † and commanded 4 them, saying: Lay ambushmentes behinde the citie: neither retyre you farre of: and you shal al be readie. † But I and 5 the rest of the multitude, which is with me, wil goe vp on the contrarie side against the citie. And when they shal issue out against vs, as we did before, we wil flee, and turne our backes: † til pursewing they be drawen forward farre from 6 the citie: for they wil thinck that we flee as before. † We 7 therfore fleeing, and they pursewing, you shal rise out of the ambushmentes, and shal waist the citie: and our Lord your God wil deliuer it into your handes. † And when you shal 8 take it, burne it, and you shal doe al thinges so, as I haue commanded. † And he dismissed them away, and they went 9 on to the place of the ambushment, and sate betwen Bethel and Hai, at the West side of the citie of Hai. But Iosue that night stayed in the middes of the people, † and rysing early 10 he mustered his soldiars, and went vp with the ancientes in the fronte of the hoste, enuironed with the ayde of the fighting men. † And when they were come, and were gone vp 11 directly against the citie, they stoode on the North side of the citie, betwen which and them was a valley in the middes. † And These fiue thousād were of the thirtie thousand, which were first sent. v. 3. The other 25000 ioyned with Iosues troupe, & entered into the citie. fiue thousand men had he chosen, and sette in the 12 [Page 484] embushmentes betwen Bethel and Hai on the West side of the same citie: † but al the rest of the hoste went in battel 13 aray on the North side, so that the last of the multitude did reach to the West side of the citie. Iosue therfore went that night, and stoode in the middes of the valley. † Which 14 when the King of Hai had seene, he made hast in the mourning, and issued forth with al the host of the citie, and bent his armie toward the desert, being ignorant that there lay embushmentes secretly behind his backe. † But Iosue, 15 and al Israel gaue backe, feyning feare, and fleeing by the way of the wildernes. † But they cried alowde together, and 16 encouraging one an other, pursewed them. And when they were gone from the citie, † and Not one fitte to beare armes was left. not one remained in the 17 citie of Hai and Bethel, that pursewed not Israel (euen as they had rushed out leauing the townes open,) † our Lord 18 said to Iosue: He life his shield vpon a long pike or lance, that it might be sene fitte of. Lift vp the shield, that is in thy hand, against the citie of Hai, for I wil deliuer it to thee. † And when he 19 had lifted vp his shield against the citie, the embushementes, that lay hidde, rose vp immediately: and going to the citie, tooke and burnt it. † And the men of the citie, that pursewed 20 Iosue, looking backe and seeing the smoke of the citie rise vp euen to heauen, they could no more flee hither and thi [...]her: especially whereas they, that had feyned running away, and went toward the wildernes, most valiantly resisted against the pursewe [...]s. † And Iosue and al Israel seeing that 21 the citie was taken, and the smoke of the citie rose vp, returning he stroke the men of Hai. † For they also that had 22 taken and burnt the citie, issuing out of the citie against their owne men, beganne to strike the enemies in the middes of them. When the aduersaries therfore were slaine on both sides, so that none of so great a multitude was saued, † they 23 tooke the King of the citie of Hai aliue, and presented him to Iosue. † Therfore al being slaine, that had pursewed 24 Israel fleeing to the desertes, and falling by the sword in the same place, the children of Israel returning stoke the citie. † And there were that fel that same day from man vnto woman, 25 twelue thousand men, al of the citie of Hai. † But 26 Iosue plucked not in his hand, which he had strethched forth on high, holding the shield til al the inhabitantes of Hai were slaine. † And the cattel and the praye of the citie the 27 children of Israel diuided among them, as our Lord had commanded [Page 485] Iosue. † Who burnt the citie, and made it a heape 28 for euer: † the king also therof he hong on a gibbet vntil 29 euening and the going downe of the sunne. And he commanded, and they tooke downe his corps from the gibbet: and threw it in the verie entring of the citie, heaping vpon it a great heape of stones, which remaineth vntil this present day. † Then Iosue built an altar to our Lord the God of Israel 30 in mount Hebal, † as Moyses the seruant of our Lord had 31 commanded the children of Israel, and it is written in the volume of the law of Moyses: an Altar of vnhewed stones which yron hath not touched; and he offered vpon it holocaustes to our Lord, and immolated pacifique victimes. † And 32 he wrote vpon stones the Deuterenomie of the law of Moyses, which he had ordered before the children of Israel. † And al the people, and the ancientes, and the princes and 33 iudges stoode on both sides of the arke, in the sight of the priestes that caried the arke of the couenant of our Lord, as wel the stranger as also the man of the same countrie. the half part of them beside mount Garizim, and halfe beside mount Deut. 27. Hebal, as Moyses the seruant of our Lord had commanded. And first in deede he Al superiors may blesse their subiectes, Princes their people; and parentes their children. blessed the people of Israel. † After 34 this he reade al the wordes of the blessing & the cursing, and al thinges that were written in the volume of the law. † Nothing 35 of those thinges, which Moyses had commanded, did he leaue vntouched, but he repeated al thinges before al the multitude of Israel, the wemen and children and strangers, that dwelt among them.

CHAP. IX. Other nations fearing Israel ioyne their forces to fight against them, 3. but the Gabaonites send embassadors, feyning craftily to come farre of, 14. with whom Iosue and the ancientes of Israel make league binding it by oath. 16. within three dayes they are detected to be nere inhabitantes. VVherupon the people murmur against their princes. VVho yet for their oath, let the Gabaonites liue. 20. only making them and their progenie perpetual seruantes, to cutte wood, and carie water.

VVHICH thinges being heard, al the kinges beyond 1 Iordan, that dwelt in the mountaines and champion countries, in the places by the sea side and the shore of the great sea, they also that dwelt beside Libanus, the Hetheite and Amorreite, the Chananeite, the Pherezeite, and [Page 486] the Heueite, and the Iebus eite, † were gathered, to fight 2 against Iosue and Israel with one minde, and one sentence. † But they that dwelt in Gabaon, hearing al thinges that 3 Iosue had done to Iericho and Hai: † subtelly deuising tooke 4 prouision for them selues, laying old sackes vpon their asses, and bottels of wine rent and sowed againe, † and shoes very 5 old which for a shew of oldenesse were clouted with speckes, putting on them old garmentes: the loaues also, which they caried for prouision by the way, were heard, and broken into peeces: † and they went on to Iosue, who then abode in 6 the campe at Galgal, and said to him, and withal to al Israel: We are come from a farre countrie, desirous to make peace with you. And the children of Israel answered them, and said: † Lest perhaps you dwel in the Land which is dew to vs by 7 lotte, and we can not enter a league with you. † But they said 8 to Iosue: We are thy seruantes. To whom Iosue said: Who are you? and whence came you? † they answered: From a 9 very farre countrie are thy seruantes come in the name of the Lord thy God. For we haue heard the fame of his might, al thinges that he did in Aegypt, † and to the two kinges of 10 the Amorrheites that were beyond Iordan, Sehon the king of Hesebon, and Og the king of Basan, that were in Astaroth: † and our ancientes, and al the inhabitantes of our 11 Land said to vs: Take in your handes victuals for a very long way, and goe meete them, and say: We are your seruantes, enter a league with vs. † Behold, these loaues we tooke 12 hotte, when we departed from our houses to come to you, now they are become drie, and broken for ouer much oldenesse. † the bottels of wine we filled being new, now they 13 are burst & dissolued. The garmentes and shoes that we haue vpon vs, and which we haue on our feete, for the length of the long way are worne, and almost consumed. † They tooke 14 therfore of their victuals, and In such a case they ought to haue consulted God, to wirte, the high Priest putting on the Ephod & Rationale, should haue prayed at the dore of the tabernacle, where our Lord appointed to speake vnto him. Exo. 29 v. 42 It was also ordained. Num. 27. v. 21. that Eleazar should cōsult our Lord, when anie thing was to be donne by Iosue, which omittīg to do they were deceiued by these Gabaonites. asked not the mouth of our Lord. † And Iosue made peace with them, and entring a 15 league promised that they should not be slaine: the princes also of the multitude sware to them. † But three daies after 16 that the league was made, they heard that they dwelt nigh, and they should be among them. † And the children of Israel 17 remoued the campe, and came into their cities the third day, whose names are these, Gabaon, and Chaphira, and Beroth, and Chariathiarim. † And they stroke them not, because 18 [Page 487] the princes of the multitude had sworne in the name of our Lord the God of Israel. Therfore al the common people murmured against the princes. † Who answered them: We 19 haue sworne to them in the name of our Lord the God of Israel, and therfore we may not touch them. † But this we 20 wil doe to them: Let them be reserued in dede aliue, lest the wrath of God be stirred against vs, if we shal be forsworne: † but so let them liue, that for the vses of the whole multitude 21 they hew wood, and carie in water. Who speaking these thinges, † Iosue called the Gabaonites, and said to them: 22 Why would you deceiue vs by fraude to say: We dwel very farre of from you, wheras you are in the middes of vs? † Therfore you shal be vnder a curse, and there shal not faile 23 of your stocke a hewer of wood, and a carier of water into the house of my God. † Who answered: It was told vs thy 24 seruantes, that the Lord thy God had promised Moyses his seruant, that he would deliuer you al the Land, and would destroy al the inhabitantes therof. Therfore we feared excedingly and prouided for our liues, cōpelled by your terrour, and we tooke this counsel. † And now we are in thy hand: 25 that which seemeth vnto thee good and right, doe to vs. † Iosue therfore did as he had said, and deliuered them from 26 the hand of the children of Israel, that they should not be slaine. † And he decreed in that day, that In these Gabaonites of Chanaans race was fulfilled Noes prophecie. Geu. 9. that Chanaan should be a seruant to his brethren. they should be in 27 the ministerie of al the people, and of the altar of our Lord, hewing wood, and carying water, vntil this present time, in the place which our Lord hath chosen.

CHAP. X. [...]iue kinges of the Amorrheites besieging Gabaon, because it is confederate with Israel, 6. Iosue with his armie defeateth theirs, killing and pursewing them. 11. manie also are slaine with haile stones. 12, At the prayer of Iosue the sunne and moone stand stil the space of one day. 22. The fiue kinges are hanged on gibbetes. 28. He taketh also and subdueth diuers cities. 40. and countries.

VVHICH thinges when Adonisedec king of Ierusalem 1 had heard, to witte, that Iosue had taken Hai, and had subuerted it (for as he had done to Iericho & the king therof, so did he to Hai, & their king) and that the Gabaonites were fled to Israel, and were their confederates, † he 2 was sore afrayd. For Gabaon was a great cititie, and one of [Page 488] the kinglie cities, and greater then the towne of Hai, and al their men of warre most valiant. † Therfore Adonisedec 3 king of Ierusalem sent to Oham king of Hebron, and to Pharam king of Ierimoth, to Iaphia also king of Lachis, and to Dabir king of Eglon, saying: † Come vp to me, and bring 4 ayde, that we may ouercome Gabaon, because it reuolted to Iosue, & to the children of Israel. † Therfore the fiue kinges 5 of the Amorrheites being assembled went vp: the king of Ierusulem, the king of Hebron, the king of Ierimoth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon, together with their hostes, & camped about Gabaon, assaulting it. † But the inhabitantes 6 of the citie Gabaon which was besieged, sent to Iosue, who then abode in the campe at Galgal, & said to him: withdraw not thy handes from the helpe of thy seruantes: come vp quickly and deliuer vs, and bring ayde: for there are assembled against vs al the kinges of the Ammorrheites, which dwel in the mountaines. † And Iosue went vp from Galgal, and al 7 the hoste of the men of warre with him most valiant men. † And our Lord said to Iosue: Feare them not: for I haue deliuered 8 them into thy handes: none of them shal be able to resist thee. † Iosue therfore came in vpon them sodenly, 9 going vp al the night from Galgal † And our Lord trubled 10 them at the sight of Israel: and destroyed them with a greate slaugher in Gabaon, and pursewed them by the way of the ascent to Bethoron, and stroke them vnto Azeca and Maceda † And when they fled the children of Israel, and were in the 11 descent of Bethhoron, our Lord sent vpon them greate stones from heauen as farre as Azeca: and there died farre more with the stones of haile, then they whom the children of Israel had strooken with the sword. † Then spake Iosue to 12 our Lord in the day, that he deliuered the Amorreite in the sight of Israel, and said before them: Thou Sunne against Gabaon moue not, and thou Iosue did thinke if the moone moued the sunne also must necessarily moue so he obtained the stay of both. Moone against the valley of Aialon. † And the Sunne and Moone stoode stil, til the people 13 reuenged themselues of their enemies. Is not this writren in the booke of the iust? The Sunne therfore stood stil in the middes of heauen, and hastened not to goe downe the space of one day. † There was not before nor Til after the time this booke was written. after so long a 14 day, our Lord God condescending to worke so great a miracle at the instance of his seruant. obeying the voice of a man, and fighting for Israel. † And Iosue returned with al Israel into the campe of 15 Galgal. † For the fiue kinges were fled, and had hid themselues 16 [Page 489] in a caue of the citie of Maceda. † And it was told Iosue that 17 the fiue kinges were found lying hid in a caue of the citie of Maceda. † Who commanded them saying: Rowle great stones 18 into the mouth of the caue, and sette industrious men, which may keepe them shut in: † and stand not you stil, but pursew 19 the enemies, and kil al the hindermost of them that flee, neither let them enter into the [...]ortes of their cities, whom our Lord God hath deliuered into your handes. † The aduersaries 20 therfore being slaine with a great slaughter, and almost consumed to vtter destruction, they that could escape from Israel, God so disposed, that they should not cō quer al in one yeare: lest the land had benne brought into a vvildernes, and beastes increased against them Exod. 23. v. 29▪ Morally it signifieth, that the children of God must be exercised in tribulations and mortification lest vices grow in them. Procop. in Exod. entered into fensed cities. † And al the hoste 21 returned to Iosue in Maceda, where then the campe was, safe and the ful number: and no man durst once mutter against the children of Israel? † And Iosue commanded, saying: 22 Open the mouth of the caue, and bring forth to me the fiue kinges, that lie hid therin. † And the ministers did as it 23 was commanded them: and they brought to him the fiue kinges out of the caue, the king of Ierusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Ierimoth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon. † And when they were brought forth to him, he 24 called al the men of Israel, and said to the princes of the hoste that were with him: Goe, and sette your feete vpon the neckes of these kinges. Who when they had gone, and troden with their feete the neckes of them lying vnder, † againe he said to them: Feare ye not, neither dread, take 25 courage and be strong: for so wil our Lord doe to al your enemies, against whom you fight. † And Iosue stroke, and 26 slew them, and hanged them vpon fiue gibbettes: & they hung vntil euening. † And when the sunne was downe, he 27 commanded the soldiars to take them downe from the gibbettes Who cast them being taken downe into the caue, wherin they had lyen hid, & put on the mouth therof great stones, which continew vntil this present. † The same day Iosue 28 tooke Maceda and stroke it in the edge of the sword, & killed the king & al the inhabitantes therof: he left not in it so much as sm [...]le reliques. And he did to the king of Maceda, as he had done to the king of Iericho▪ † and he passed with al Israel from 29 Maceda vnto Lebna, and fought against it: † which our 30 Lord deliuered with the king therof into the handes of Israel: and they stroke the citie in the edge of the sword, and al the inhabitantes therof▪ they left not in it anie remaines. And [Page 490] they did to the king of Lebna, as they had done to the king of Iericho. † From Lebna he passed vnto Lachis with al Israel: 31 and placing the hoste round about assaulted it. † And 32 our Lord deliuered Lachis into the handes of Israel, and he tooke it the day folowing, and stroke it in the edge of the sword, and euerie soule, that was in it, as he had done to Lebna. † At that time went vp Horam the king of Gazer, 33 to ayde Lachis: whom Iosue stroke with al his people to vtter destruction. † And he passed from Lachis vnto Eglon, and 34 compassed it, † and wonne it the same day: & stroke in the 35 edge of the sword al the soules, that were in it according to al thinges that he had done to Lachis. † He went vp also with 36 al Israel from Eglon vnto Hebron, and fought against it: † tooke it, and stroke it in the edge of the sword, the king also 37 therof, and al townes of that countrie, & al the soules, that remained in it: he left not therein anie remaynes: as he had done to Eglon, so did he also to Hebron, al thinges that he found in it consumning with the sword. † Thence returning 38 vnto Dabir, † he tooke it, and wasted it: the king also therof 39 and al the townes round about he stroke in the edge of the sword: he left not in it anie remaines: as he had done to Hebron and Lebna and to their kinges, so did he to Dabi [...] and the king therof. † Iosue therfore stroke al the hillie countrie 40 and south and champaine, and Asedoth with their kinges: he left not in it anie reliques, but euerie thing that could breath he slew, as our Lord the God of Israel had commanded him, † from Cadesbarne vnto Gaza. Al the Land of Gosen 41 vnto Gabaon, † and al their kinges, and countries he tooke 42 and wasted at one assault: for our Lord the God of Israel suoght for him. † And he returned with al Israel to the place 43 of the campe in Galgal.

CHAP. XI. Iabin a more principal king somoneth other kinges to ioyne with him against Israel. 6. Iosue animated with Gods promise of victorie, 7. ouerthroweth them al. 16. Subdueth their countries 12. killeth also manie of the giantes stocke.

VVHICH thinges when Iabin the king of Asor 1 had heard, he sent to Iobab the king of Madon, and to the king of Semeron, and to the king of Achsaph: † to the kinges also of the North, that dwelt in the mountaines 2 [Page 491] and in the plaine against the south side of Ceneroth, in the champaine also and countries of Dor by the sea side: † the Chananeite also on the East and West, and the Amorrheite 3 and Hetheite and Pherezeite & Iebuseite in the mountaines: the Heueite also which dwelt at the foote of Hermon in the Land of Maspha. † And they issued forth al with their 4 troupes, a people exceeding manie as the sand, that is in the shore of the sea, their horses also and chariottes of passing great multitude. † And al these kinges assembled together 5 in one at the Waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. † And 6 our Lord said to Iosue: Feare them not: for to morrow this selfe same houre wil I deliuer al these to be wounded in the sight of Israel: their horses thou shalt hoghsinew, and their chariottes thou shalt burne with fire. † And Iosue came, and 7 al the hoste with him against them to the Waters of Merom sodenly, and ranne in vpon them, † and our Lord deliuered 8 them into the handes of Israel. Who stroke them, and pursewed them as farre as great Sidon, and the Waters of Maserephoth, and the field of Masphe, which is on the East side therof. Therfore he stroke al, so that he le [...]t no reliques of them: † and he did as our Lord had commanded him, 9 their horses he hoghsinewed, and their chariottes he burnt. † And returning immediatly he tooke Asor: and the king 10 therof he stroke with the sword. For Asor in old time among al these kingdomes held the principalitie. † And he 11 stroke al the soules, that abode there: he left not in it anie remaines, but to vtter destruction he wasted al thinges, and the citie it selfe he destroyed with fyre. † And al the cities 12 round about, their kinges also he tooke, stroke & destroyed, as Moyses the seruant of God had commanded him. † Except 13 the cities, that were situated on hilles and higher ground, the rest Israel burnt: one onlie Asor verie wel fensed he consumed with fyre. † And al the praye of these cities and the 14 cattel the children of Israel diuided among them selues, al the men being slaine. † As our Lord had commanded Moyses 15 his seruant, so did Moyses command Iosue, and he accomplished al thinges: he ommitted not of al the commandementes, not so much as one word, which our Lord had commanded Moyses. † Iosue therfore tooke al the hillie countrie, 16 and south, and the land of Gosen, and plaine, and the West quarter, and the mountaine of Israel, and the champaine [Page 492] countrie therof: † and the part of the mountaine, that goeth 17 vp to Seir as farre as Baalgad by the plaine of Libanus vnder mount Hermon: al their kinges he tooke, stroke, and slew. † These warres cōtinued nere seuen yeares. as appeareth. chap. 14. v. 10. A great time did Iosue fight against these kinges. 18 † There was not a citie that did deliuer it selfe to the children 19 of Israel, except the Heueite, which dwelt in Gabaon: for he tooke al by fight. † For it was For their enormious sinnes God left them in their owne reprobate sense, not imposing necessitie of sinning, but permitting them to indurate their owne hartes. See An not. Exod. 7. the sentence of our Lord, that 20 their hartes should be indurate, and they should fight against Israel, and fall, and should not deserue anie clemencie, and should perish, as our Lord had commanded Moyses. † At 21 that time Iosue came, and slew the Enacimes of the mountaines, of Hebron, and Dabir, and Anab, and from al the mountaine of Iuda and Israel, and destroyed their cities. † He leift not any of the stocke of Enacimes, in the Land of 22 the children of Israel: sauing the cities of Gaza, and Geth, and Azotus, in the which onlie they were leift. † Iosue therfore 23 tooke al the Land, as our Lord spake to Moyses, and deliuered it in possession to the children of Israel, according to their partes and tribes▪ and Hence forth they had not general warres but diuers tribes had particular▪ as appeareth. chap. 15. &c. the Land rested from battels.

CHAP. XII. Besides Sehon and Og kinges of Hesebon and Basan slaine by Moyses, 7. are reckened thirtie one kinges slaine by Iosue.

THESE are the kinges, which the children of Israel 1 stroke, and possessed, their Land beyond Iordan toward the rysing of the sunne, from the torrent Arnon vnto mount Hermon, and al the East part, that looketh toward the wildernes. † Sehon the king of the Amorrheites, which dwelt 2 in Hesebon, had dominion from Aroer, which is situated Num. 21. Deut. 3. vpon the banke of the torrent Arnon, and of the middel part in the valley and of halfe Galaad, as farre as the torrent Iaboc, which is the border of the children of Ammon. † and from 3 the wildernes vnto the sea of Ceneroth against the East, and vnto the Sea of the wildernes, which is the most salt sea, on the East side by the way that leadeth to Besimoth: and on the South side, which lyeth vnder Asedoth, as farre as Phasga. † The border of Og the king of Basan, of the remnant of 4 the Raphaims who dwelt in Astaroth, and in Edrai, and had dominion in mount Hermon, and in Salecha, and in al Basan, vnto the borders † of Gessuri, and Machati, and of the halfe 5 part of Galaad: the borders of Sehon the king of Hesebon. [Page 493] † Moyses the seruant of our Lord, and the children of Israel 6 stroke them, and Moyses deliuered their Land in possession to the Rubenites, and Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasses. † These are the Kinges of the Land, whom Iosue stroke and 7 the children of Israel beyond Iordan on the West side, from Balaalgad in the field of Libanus, vnto the mount, part wherof goeth vp into Seir: and Iosue deliuered it in possession to the tribes of Israel, to euerie one their portions, † as wel 8 in the mountaines as in the plaine and champaine countries. In Asedoth, and in the wildernes, and in the south was the Hetheite and the Amorrheite, the Chananeite, and the Pherezeite, the Heueite, and the Iebuseite. † The king of Iericho 9 one: the king of Hai, which is on the side of Bethel, one: † the king of Ierusalem one, the king of Hebron one, 10 † the King of Ierimoth one, the King of Lachis one, † the 11 12 King of Eglon one, the King of Gazer one, † the King of 13 Dabir one, the King of Gader one, † the King of Herma 14 one, the King of Hered one, † the King of Lebna one, the 15 King of Adullam one, † the King of Maceda one, the King 16 of Bethel one, † the King of Taphua one, the King of Opher 17 one, † the King of Aphec one, the King of Saron one, † the 18 19 King of Madon one, the King of Asor one † the King of 20 Semeron one, the King of Acsaph one, † the King of Thenac 21 one, the King of Mageddo one, † the King of Cades one, the 22 King of Iachanan one, † the King of Carmel one, the King 23 of Dor, and of the prouince of Dor one, the King of the Nations of Galgal one, † the King of Thersa one: al the 24 Kinges Moyses slew two kinges, & Iosue thirtie one. thirtie one.

CHAP. XIII. God commandeth Iosue to diuide the land (describing the limites therof) The third part. Partitiō of the land among nine tribes & a half. amongst nine tribes and a half. 8. with a recapitulation of the partes already geuen, on the other side Iordan, to the other two tribes and a half. The tribe of Leui (v. 14. &. 33.) hath their prouision in other maner.

IOSVE was old, and striken in age, and our Lord said to 1 him: Thou art old, and of a great age, and there is a verie large countrie left, which is not yet diuided by lotte: † to 2 witte, al Galilee, Philisthijm, and al Gessuri. † From the 3 trubled riuer, that watereth Aegypt, vnto the borders of Accaron against the North: the Land of Chanaan, which is diuided vnto fiue Lordes of the Philisthiimes, the Gazeites, the [Page 494] Azotians, the Ascalonites, the Getheites, and the Accaronites. † But on the South side are the Heueites, al the Land 4 of Chanaan, and Maara of the Sidonians as farre as Apheca, and the borders of the Amorrheite, † and his confines. The 5 countrie also of Libanus against the East from Baalgad vnder mount Hermon, til thou enter into Emath. † Of al that dwel 6 in the mountaine from Libanus, vnto the Waters Maserephoth, and al the Sidonians. I am he that wil destroy them from the face of the children of Israel. These partes are designed though not yet conquered. Let it come therfore into a portion of the inheritance of Israel, as I haue commanded thee. † And now diuide the Land in possession to the 7 nine tribes, and to the half tribe of Manasses, † with the 8 which Ruben & Gad haue possessed the Land, which Moyses the seruant of our Lord deliuered to them beyond the streames of Iordan, on the east side. † From Aroer, which is situate 9 on the banke of the torrent Arnon, and in the middes of the valley, and al the champayne of Medaba, as farre as Dibon: † and al the cities of Cehon, the King of the Amorrheite, 10 which reigned in Hesebon vnto the borders of the children of Ammon. † And Galaad, and the border of Gessuri 11 and Maccati, and al mount Hermon, and al Basan, as farre as Salecha, † al the Kingdome of Og in Basan, which 12 reigned in Astaroth and Edrai, he was of the reliques of the Raphaims: and Moyses stroke, and destroyed them. † And 13 the children of Israel would not destroy Gessuri and Machati: and they haue dwelt in the middes of Israel vntil this present day. † But to the tribe of Leui he gaue no possession: but the 14 sacrifices and victimes of our Lord the God of Israel, that is his inheritance, as he spake to him. † Moyses therfore gaue 15 possession to the children of Ruben according to their kinredes. † And their border was from Aroer, which is situate 16 on the banke of the torrent Arnon, and in the middes of the valley of the same torrent: al the plaine, that leadeth to Medaba, † and Hesebon, and al their villages, which are in the 17 champayne. Dibon also, and Bamothbaal, and the towne Ba [...]maon, † and Iassa, and Cedimoth, and Mephaath, 18 † and Cariathaim, and Sabama, and Sarathasar in the mountaine 19 of the Valley. † Bethfogor and Asedoth, Phasga and 20 Bethiesimoth, † and al the champayne cities, and al the 21 Kingdomes of Sehon the King of the Amorrheite, that reigned in Hesebon, whom Moyses stroke with the princes of [Page 495] Ma ian: the Heueite, & Recem, and Sur, and Hur, and Rebe Dukes of Sehon inhabitantes of the Land. † And Balaam 22 the sonne of Beor the soothsayer, did the children of Israel kil by the sword with the rest that were slayne. † And the 23 riuer of Iordan was made the border of the children of Ruben. This is the possession of the Rubenites by their kinredes of cities and villages. † And Moyses gaue to the tribe of Gad 24 and to his children possession by their kinredes, the diuision wherof is this. † The border of Iaser, and al the cities of Galaad, 25 and the half part of the Land of This part the Amorreites had taken and possessed; otherwise the Israelits were prohibited to take anie thīg from the Ammonites. Deut 2. the children of Ammon: as farre as Aroer, which is against Rabba: † and 26 from Hesebon vnto Ramoth, Masphe and Betonim: and from Manaim vnto the borders of Dabir. † In the valley alo Bethhara, 27 and Bethnemra, and Socoth, and Saphon the other part of the Kingdom of Sehon the King of Hesebon: the end of this also is Iordan, vnto the vttermost part of the sea Cenereth beyond Iordan on the east side. † This is the possession 28 of the children of Gad by their families, their cities, and villages. † He gaue also to the half tribe of Manasses, 29 and their children possession according to their kinredes, † the beginning wherof is this: from Manaim al Basan, and 30 al the kingdoms of Og the King of Basan, and al the villages of Iair, which are in Basan, threescore townes. † And the 31 half part of Galaad, and Astaroth, and Edrai, cities of the kingdom of Og in Basan: to the children of Machir, the sonne of Manasses to the half part of the children of Machir according to their kinredes. † This possessiō diuided Moyses 32 in the champayne countries of Moab, beyond Iordan, against Iericho on the East side. † But to the tribe of Leui he gaue 33 no possession: because our Lord the God of Israel him self is their possession, as he spake to them.

CHAP. XIIII. Caleb of the tribe of Iuda (s [...]ing some knew their lottes already, and that the whole land was now to be diuided) 6. demandeth, according to Gods promise made by Moyses (for his true and good report of the same land, when he with others viewed it) that Hebron be geuen him, and his seede to inherite, 13. which Iosue confirmeth vnto him.

THIS is it, which the children of Israel possessed in the 1 Land of Chanaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Iosue the sonne of Nun, & the princes of the families by the tribes [Page 496] of Israel gaue to them: † diuiding al thinges by lotte, as our 2 Lord had commanded in the hand of Moyses, to the nine tribes, and the half tribe. † For to two tribes and a half 3 Moyses had geuen possession beyond Iordan: besides the Leuites, which receiued no land among their brethren: † but 4 The Leuites hauing their portions in other maner, yet there were twelue tribes to receiue portiōs by reason that Iacob adopted Iosephs two sonnes. Gen. 48. into their place succeded the children of Ioseph diuided into two tribes, of Manasses and Ephraim: neither did the Leuites receiue other portion in the Land, but cities to inhabite, and their suburbes to feede their beastes and cattel. † As 5 our Lord had commanded Moyses, so did the children of Israel, and they diuided the Land. † Therfore the children 6 of Iuda came to Iosue in Galgal, and Caleb the sonne of Iephone the Cenezeite spake to him: Thou knowest what our Lord spake to Moyses the man of God concerning me & thee in Cadesbarne. † Fourtie yeares old was I when Moyses the 7 seruant of our Lord sent me from Cadesbarne, to view the Land, and I reported to him that which to me semed true. † But my brethren, that had gone vp with me, discouraged 8 the hart of the people: and I neuertheles folowed our Lord my God. † And Moyses sware in that day, saying: The Land, 9 which thy foote hath troden, shal be thy possession, and thy childrens for euer, because thou hast folowed our Lord my God. † Our Lord therfore hath granted me life, [...]s he promised 10 vntil this present day. It is After the viewing of the land. Num. 1 [...]. the Israelites remained in the desert. 38. yeares: so they were nere seuen yeares in warres. fourtie and fiue yeares, since our Lord spake this worde to Moyses, when Israel walked through the wildernes: this day am I eightie and fiue yeares old † so [...]ustie, as I was at that time when I was sent to view: 11 the strength of that time contineweth in me vntil this day, as wel to fight as to goe. † Geue me therfore this mountaine, 12 which our Lord promised, thy selfe also hearing it, wherein are the Enacims, and great cities and fensed: Gods promise is euer sure on his part, but because it is conditional, if we serue him sincerly, o [...] wil being f [...]ee, he saith: [...]f perhaps our lord be vvith me. if perhaps our Lord be with me, and I shal be able to destroy them, as he promised me. † And Iosue blessed him, and deliuered to him 13 Hebron in possession. † And from thence forth Onlie the countrie of Hebron was geuen to Caleb, for the citie it self and suburbes belonged to the Priestes. chap. 21 [...] v. 11. Hebron belonged 14 to Caleb the sonne of Iephone the Cenezeite, vntil this present day: because he folowed our Lord the God of Israel † The name of Hebron before was called Cariath 15 Arbe: Adam the greatest among the Enacims was layd there: and See be [...]ore. Chap. 11. v. 23. the Land ceased from battels.

[Page 497]

CHAP. XV. The borders of the lotte of Iuda, 13. including Calebs particular inheritance (16. out of which he geueth Cariath Sepher, and his daughter to Othoniel, for winning it:) 21. with the names of the cities therof. 63. the Iebuseite yet dwelling with Iuda in Hierusalem.

THERFORE the lotte of the children of Iudas by their 1 kinredes was this: From the border of Edom, vnto the desert of Sin against the South, and vnto the vttermost part of the south coaste. † the beginning therof was from the 2 toppe of the most salt sea, and from the brinke therof, that looketh to the South. † And it goeth forth against the Ascent 3 of the Scorpion, and passeth through into Sina: and ryseth vp into Cadesbarne, & reacheth into Esron, ascending to Addar, and cōpassing Carcaa, † and thence passing through 4 into Asemona, and reaching to the Torrent of Aegypt: and the borders therof shal be the great sea. this shal be the end of the south coast. † But on the East side the beginning 5 shal be the most salt sea vnto the vtmost partes of Iordan: and those places that looke to the North from the brinke of the sea vnto the same riuer of Iordan. † And the border goeth 6 vp into Beth hagla, and passeth from the north into Beth Araba: ascending to the stone of Bohen the sonne of Ruben. † And reaching as farre as the borders of Debera from the 7 Valley of Achor, against the North looking toward Galgal, which is opposite to the Ascent of Adommim, on the south side of the torrent: and passeth the waters, that are called The Fountayne of the sunne: and the endes therof shal be to the Fountayne rogel. † And it ascendeth by the 8 valley of the sunne of Ennom on the side of the Iebuseite toward the South, this is Ierusalem: and thence rearing it self to the toppe of the mountayne, which is against Geennom toward the West in the toppe of the Valley of Raphaim against the North. † And it passeth through from 9 the toppe of the mountaine to the fountaine of the water Nephtoa: and reacheth to the townes of mount Ephron: and bendeth into Baala, which is Cariathiarim, that is to say, a citie of wooddes. † And it compasseth from Baala against 10 the West, vnto mount Seir: and passeth by the side of mount Iarim toward the North into Ches [...]on: and goeth downe into Bethsames, and passeth into Thamna. † And it reacheth 11 [Page 498] toward the North coast of a part of Accaron at the side: and bendeth to Sechrona, and passeth mount Baala: and cometh into Iebneel, and is shut vp with the end of the great sea toward the West. † These are the borders of the children of 12 Iudas in circuite in their kinredes. † But to Caleb the sonne 13 of Iephone he gaue a portion in the middes of the children of Iudas, as our Lord had commanded him: Cariath Arbe the father of Enac, that is Hebron. † And Caleb destroyed out 14 of it the three sonnes of Enac, Sesai and Ahiman & Tholmai of the stocke of Enac. † And from thence going vp he came 15 to the inhabitantes of Dabir, which before was called Cariath sepher, that is to say, a citie of letters. † And Caleb 16 said: He that shal strike Cariath-sepher, and take it, I wil geue him Axa my daughter to wife. † And Othoniel the sonne 17 of Cenez, the yonger brother of Caleb tooke it: and he gaue him Though it was prohibited that the nephew should marie his [...]unt, yet the vncle was not expresly forbid to marie his neece by Moyses law Leuit. 18. And albeit there is the same degree of consanguinitie, yet not the same incō uenience, by reason the same person remaineth subiect, that was inferior before mariage. :: Because ordinarily the south part of the world is more drie and barren then other partes, a barren place is called a south land, in respect of more settile ground. Axa his daughter to wife † Who going together, she 18 was moued by her husband to aske a field of her father, and she sighed as she sate on her asse. To whom Caleb said: What aileth thee? † But she answered: Geue me a blessing: ^:: a 19 South and drie Land thou hast geuen me, ioyne also a waterie. Caleb therfore gaue her a waterie ground aboue & beneath. † This is the possession of the tribe of the children of Iudas 20 by their kinredes. † And the cities from the vttermost partes 21 of the children of Iudas by the borders of Edom on the South: were Gabseel and Eder and Iagur, † and Cina and 22 Dimona and Adada, † and Cades, and Asor, and Iethnan, 23 † Ziph and Telem and Baloth, † Asor the new and Carioth, 24 25 Hesron, this is Asor. † Amam, Sama, and Molada, † and 26 27 Asergadda and Hassemon and Bethphelet, † and Hasersual 28 and Bersabee and Baziothia † and Baala and Iim an Esem, 29 † and Eltholad and Cesil and Harma † and Siceleg, and Medemena 30 31 and Sensenna, † Labaoth and Selim and Aen and 32 Remon. al the cities twentie nine, and their villages. † But in 33 the champayne countries: Estaol and Sarea and Asena, † and 34 Sanoc & Engannim and Taphua and Enaim, † and Ierimoth, 35 and Adullam, Socho and Azeca, † and Saraim and Adithaim 36 and Gedera and Gederothaim: fourteene cities, and their villages. † Sanan and Hadasta and Magdalgad, † Delean and 37 38 Masepha and Iecthel, † Lachis and Bascath and Eglon, 39 † Chebbon and Leheman and Cethlis † and Gideroth and 40 Bethdagon and Naama and Maceda: sixtene cities, and their 41 [Page 499] villages. † Labana and Ether and Asan, † Iephtha and Esna 42 43 and Nesib, † and Ceila and Achzib and Mareza: nine cities, 44 and their villages. † Accaron with the townes and villages 45 therof. † From Accaron vnto the sea: al places that bend 46 toward Azotus and the villages therof. † Azotus with the 47 townes and villages therof. Gaza with the townes and villages therof, vnto the torrent of Aegypt, and the great sea is the border therof. † And in the mountayne: Samir and 48 Iether and Socoth † and Danna and Cariath senna, this is 49 Dabir: † Anab and Istemo and Anim, † Gosen and Olon 50 51 and Gilo: eleuen cities and their villages. † Arab and Ruma 52 and Esaan, † and Ianum and Beth thaphua and Apheca, 53 † Athmatha and Cariath-arbe, this is Hebron, and Sior: nine 54 cities and their villages. † Maon and Carmel and Ziph and 55 Iota, † Iezrael and Iucadam and Zanoe, † Accain, Gabaa 56 57 and Thamna: ten cities and their villages. † Halhul, and 58 Bethsur, and Gedor, † Mareth, and Beth-anoth, & Eltecon: 59 six cities and their villages. † Cariathbaal, this is Cariathiarim 60 the citie of wooddes, and Arebba: two cities and their villages. † In the desert Beth-araba, meddin, and Sachacha, 61 † and Nebsan, and the citie of salt, and Engaddi: six cities, 62 and their villages. † But the Iebuseite the inhabitant of Ierusalem 63 the children of Iudas The Iebuseites kept a strong castle in Ierusalem, til king Dauid tooke it from them. 2. Reg. 5. could not destroy: and the Iebuseite dwelt with the children of Iudas in Ierusalem vntil this present day.

CHAP. XVI. The tribe of Ephraim, (younger sonne of Ioseph) receiue their lotte. 10. The Chananeite yet dwelleth with them paying tribute.

THE lotte also of Ruben for the sinne of incest losing the priuelegies of birthright ( Gen. 49) Priesthood was geuen to Leui, the kingdome to Iuda, and duble portiō to Ioseph. Paraphr. Chald. the children of Ioseph fel from Iordan 1 against Iericho and the Waters therof, on the east: the wildernes which goeth vp from Iericho to the mountaine of Bethel: † and goeth out from Bethel to Luza: and 2 passeth the border of Archia, to Atharoth. † And descendeth 3 Westward, by the border of Iephleti, vnto the borders of Beth horon the lower, and to Gazer: and their countries are ended by the great sea: † and Manasses and Ephraim the 4 children of Ioseph possessed it. † And the border of the children 5 of Ephraim was made according to their kinredes: and their possession toward the East was Ataroth addar vnto Beth-horon the higher. † And the confines goe out vnto the 6 [Page 500] sea: but Machmethath looketh to the North, and it compasseth the borders against the East into Thanath-selo: and passeth through on the East side to Ianoe. † and it goeth 7 downe from Ianoe into Ataroth & Naaratha: and it cometh into lericho, and goeth our to Iordan. † From Taphua it 8 passeth through against the sea into the Valley of reedes, and the issues therof are into the most salt sea. this is the possession of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families. † And cities with their villages were separated to the children 9 of Ephraim in the middes of the possession of the children of Manasses, † and the children of Ephraim slew not 10 the Chananeite, which dwelt in Gazer: and the Chananeite dwelt in the middes of Ephraim vntil this dav tributarie.

CHAP. XVII. The half tribe of Manasses (eldest sonne of Ioseph) receiue their lotte. 3. including the daughters of Salphaad. 14. with an enlargement of inheritance to the same tribes of Ephraim and Manasses.

AND this lotte fel to the tribe of Manasses (for he is the 1 first borne of Ioseph) to Machir the first borne of Manasses the father of Galaad, who was a warlike man, and had for possession Galaad and Basan: † and to the rest of the children 2 of Manasses according to their families, to the children of Abiezer, and to the children of Helec, and to the children of Esriel, and to the children of Sechem, and to the children of Hepher, and to the children of Semida. these are the children of Manasses the sonne of Ioseph, males by their kinredes. † But Salphaad the sonne of Hepher the sonne of Galaad 3 the sonne of Machir the sonne of Manasses had no sonnes, but onlie daughters: whose names be these, Maala, and Noa and Hegla and Melcha and Thersa. † And they 4 came in the presence of Eleazar the priest, and of Iosue the sonne of Nun, and of the princes, saying: Our Lord commanded by the hand of Moyses, that a possession should be geuen vs in the middes of our brethren. And he gaue them according to the commandement of our Lord a possession in the middes of their fathers brethren. † And the cordes fel 5 to Manasses ten, beside the Land of Galaad and Basan beyond Iordan. † For the daughters of Manasses possessed inheritance 6 in the middes of his sonnes. And the Land of Galaad fel to the lotte of the children of Manasses that remayned. † And the border of Manasses from Aser, was Machmat hath 7 [Page 501] which looketh to Sichem: and goeth out on the right hand beside the inhabitantes of the Fountaine of Taphua. † For in the lotte of Manasses was fallen the Land of 8 Taphua, The land or territorie of Taphua fallig to the lotte of Manasses, yet Taphua (that is the citie it selfe) was the childrens of Ephraim. which is beside the borders of Manasses, the childrens of Ephraim. † And the border of the 9 Reede valley went downe into the south of the torrent of the cities of Ephraim, which are in the middes of the cities of Manasses: the border of Manasses on the North of the torrent, and the issue therof goeth to the sea: † so that the 10 possession of Ephraim is on the South, and on the North of Manasses, and the sea incloseth both, and they be ioyned one to an other in the tribe of Aser on the Noth, and in the tribe of Islachar on the East. † And the inheritance of Manasses 11 in Issachar and in Aser was Bethlan and the villages therof, and Ieblaam with the villages therof, and the inhabitantes of Dor, with the townes therof, the inhabitantes also of Endor with the townes therof. and in like maner the inhabitantes of Thenac with the townes therof, and the inhabitantes of Mageddo with the townes therof, and the third part of the citie of Nopheth. † Neither could the children of Manasses 12 ouerthrow the cities, but the Chananeite began to dwel in The Chananeite remained in the Land of Manasses, for a time. his Land. † But after that the children of Israel grew to 13 be strong, they subdewed the Chananeites, and made them their tributaries, neither did they kil them. † And the children 14 of Ioseph spake to Iosue, and said: Why hast thou geuen me the possession of one lotte and corde, wheras I am of so great a multitude, and our Lord hath blessed me? † To whom 15 Iosue said: If thou be a great people, goe vp into the wood, and cutte thee roome in the Land of the Pherezeite and Raphaims: because the possession of mount Ephraim is narrow for thee. † To whom the children of Ioseph answered: 16 We can not goe vp to the mountaines, wheras the Chananeite that dwel in the champayne countrie, wherein are situated Bethsan with the townes therof, and Iezrael possessing the middes of the valley, vse yron chariottes. † And Iosue said 17 to the house of Ioseph, of Ephraim and Manasses: Thou art a great people, and of great strength, thou shalt not haue one lotte, † but thou shalt passe to the mountaine, and shalt cutte 18 and make glades for thee to inhabite: and mayest procede farder, when thou hast subuerted the Chananeite, whom thou sayest to haue yron chariotes, and to be very strong.

[Page 502]

CHAP. XVIII. From the campe of Israel in Silo surueyers are sent to diuide the rest of the Land into seuen partes, for the seuen tribes yet without portions. 10. VVhich being donne, Iosue casteth lottes for them, 11. and the first lotte falleth to Beniamim, 12. Whose part is described by the limites, 21. with the names of the principal cities.

AND al the children of Israel were assembled in Silo, 1 and there they pitched the tabernacle of the testimony, and the Land was subdewed to them. † But there remained 2 seuen tribes of the children of Israel, which as yet had not receiued their possessions. † To whom Iosue said: How long 3 are you slack with cowardenes, and enter not to possesse the Land, which our Lord the God of your fathers hath geuen you? † Choose of euerie tribe three men, that I may send 4 them, and they may goe and circuite the Land, and marke it out according to the number Not equal bu [...] proportionable partes were assigned, for so it was commanded. Num. 26. v. 54. To the greater number to geue a greater portion, and to the fewer a lesse. of euerie multitude: and report vnto me that which they haue marked out. † Diuide 5 vnto you the Land into seuen partes: let Iudas be in his boundes on the south quarter, and the house of Ioseph on the North. † the Land in the middes betwen these marke 6 out into seuen partes: and you shal come hither to me, that After the portions were appointed by mens industrie & discretion, God confirmed the same by lotte, to take away al occasiō of discontentment. before our Lord your God I may cast the lotte for you: † for the Leuites part is not among you, but the priesthood 7 of our Lord is their inheritance. And Gad and Ruben, and the half tribe of Manasses had now receiued their possessions beyond Iordan at the East side: which Moyses the seruant of our Lord gaue them. † And when the men were rysen vp, 8 that they might goe to marke out the land, Iosue commanded them, saying: Circuite the Land and marke it out, and returne to me: that here before our Lord, in Silo I may cast the lotte for you. † They therfore went on: and going 9 ouer it, diuided it into seuen partes, writing it in a volume. And they returned to Iosue into the campe in Silo. † Who 10 did cast lottes before our Lord in Silo, and diuided the Land to the children of Israel into seuen partes. † And first came 11 vp the lotte of the children of Beniamin by their families, to possesse the Land betwen the children of Iudas and the children of Ioseph. † And their border was against the North 12 from Iordan: going forward by the side of Iericho on the north quarter, and thence▪ Westward rysing vp vnto the [Page 503] mountaines, and reaching to the wildernes of Bethauen, † & passing through by Luza to the South, the same is Bethel: 13 and goeth downe into Ataroth addar vnto the mountaine, that is on the South of Bethhoron the lower. † And it bendeth 14 compassing against the sea, South ward of the mountaine that looketh to Bethhoron against the South: and the issues therof are into Cariathbaal, which is called also Cariathbaal which is called also Cariathiarim, a citie of the children of Iudas. This is their coast against the sea, toward the West. † But on the South from part of Cariathiarim the border 15 issueth forth against the sea, and cometh to the fountaine of the waters of Neph [...]oa. † And it goeth downe into part of 16 the mountaine that looketh toward the Valley of the children of Ennom: and is against the north quarter in the vttermost part of the Valley raphaim, And it goeth downe into Gehennom (that is, the valley of Ennom) by the side of the Iebuseite to the South: and cometh to the Fountaine of Rogel, † pasling to the north, and going forth to Ensemes, 17 that is to say, the fountaine of the sunne: † and it passeth 18 vnto the litle hilles, that are against the ascent of Adommim: and goeth downe to Abenboen, that is, the stone of Boen the sonne of Ruben: and it passeth on the north side to the champaine countries: and goeth downe into the playne, † and passeth by against the North of Bethagla: 19 and the issues therof are against the brincke of the most salt sea on the North in the end of Iordan to the south quarter: † which is the border therof on the East. This is the possession 20 of the children of Beniamin by their borders round about, and their families. † And their cities were, Iericho 21 and Bethhagla and Vallis Casis, † Beth Araba and Samaraim 22 and Bethel, † and Auim and Aphara and Ophera, † Towne 23 24 Emona and Ophni and Gabee: twelue cities, & their townes. † Gabaon and Rama and Beroth, † and Mesphe, and Caphara, 25 26 and Amosa, † and Recem, Iarephel and Tharela, 27 † and Sela, Eleph, and Iebus, which is Ierusalem, Gabaath 28 and Cariath: fourteenne cities, and their townes. This is the possession of the children of Beniamin by their families.

CHAP. XIX. The second lotte falleth to the tribe of Simeon, the situation of whose inheritance is described, with the names of their principal cities. 10. The third [Page 504] in like sorte, to Zabulon. 17. The fourth to Issachar. 24. The fifth to Aser. 32. The sixt to Nepthali 40. And the seuenth to Dan. 49. Al the Land being distributed among the tribes, with common consent they geue a special citie to Iosue, in the middes of them.

AND the second lotte came forth of the children of 1 Simeon by their kinreddes: and their inheritance was, † in the middes of the possession of the children of Iudas: 2 Bersabee and Sabee and Molada, † and Hasersual, Bala and 3 Asem, † and Eltholad, Bethul and Harma, † and Siceleg 4 5 and Bethmarchaboth and Hasersusa, † and Bethlebaoth and 6 Sa [...]ohen: thirtene cities, and their townes. † Ain and Remmon 7 and Athor and Asan: foure cities, and their townes: † al the litle townes round about these cities vnto Baalath 8 Beer Ramath against the south quarter. This is the inheritance of the children of Simeon according to their kinredes, † in the possession and corde of the children of Iudas: because 9 it was greater. and therfore the children of Simeon possessed in the middes of their inheritance. † And the third 10 lotte fel of the children of Zabulon by their kinredes: and the border of their possession was made as farre as Sarid. † And it went vp from the sea and Merala, and came into 11 Debbaseth: as farre as the torrent, which is against Ieconam. † And it returneth from Sared against the East into the endes 12 of Ceseleth thabor: and it goeth out to Dabereth, and ryseth vp against Iaphie. † And thence it passeth along to the east 13 side of Geth hepher and Thacasim: and goeth out into Remmon, Amthar and Noa. † And it compasseth to the North 14 of Hanathon: and the issues therof are the valley Iephtahel, † and Cateth and Naalol and Semeron and I [...]rala and Bethlehem: 15 twelue cities, and their townes. † This is the inheritance 16 of the tribe of the children of Zabulon by their kinredes, the cities and their litle townes. † The fourth lotte 17 came forth to Issachar by their kinredes. † and his inheritance 18 was Iezrael and Casaloth and Sunem, † and Hapharaim 19 and Sehon, and Anaharath † and Rabboth and Cesion, 20 Abes, † and Rameth, and Engannim, and Enhadda and 21 Bethpheses. † And the border therof cometh to Thabor 22 and Sehesema and Bethsames: and their issues were Iordan: sixtene cities, and their townes. † This is the possession of 23 Issachar by their kinredes, the cities, and their litle townes. [Page 505] † And the fifth lotte fel to the tribe of the children of Aser 24 by their kinredes: † and their border was Halcath and Chali 25 and Beten and Axaph, † and Elmelec and Amaad and Messal: 26 and it reacheth to Carmel of the sea and Sihor and Labanath. † And it returneth against the east of Bethdagon: and passeth 27 along to Zabulon and the Valley Iephthael against the North into Bethemec and Nehiel. And it goeth out to the left side of Cabul, † and Abran and Rohob and Hamon and 28 Cana, as farre as great Sidon. † And it returneth into Horma 29 vnto the verie wel fensed citie Tyre, and vnto Hosa: and the issues therof shal be into the sea from the corde of Achziba: † and Amma and Aphec and Rohob. cities twentie two, 30 and their townes. † This is the posseffion of the children of 31 Aser by their kinredes, and the cities and their townes. † Of 32 the sonnes of Nepthali fel the sixt lotte by their families: † and the border beganne from Heleph and Elon into Saanaim, 33 and Adami, which is Neceb, and Iebnael vnto Lecum: and their issues vnto Iordan: † and the border returneth 34 against the West into Azanoththabor, and thence goeth out into Hucuca, and passeth along into Zabulon against the South, and into Azer against the West, and into Iuda vnto Iordan against the rising of the sunne. † cities very wel fensed, 35 Assedim, Ser, and Emath, and Reccath and Cenereth, † and Edema and Arama, Asor † and Cedes and Edrai, Enhasor 36 37 † and Ieron and Magdalel, Horem and Bethanath 38 and Bethsames: ninetene cities, and their townes. † This 39 is the possession of the tribe of the children of Nephthali by their kinredes, the cities and their townes. † To the tribe 40 of the children of Dan by their families came forth the seuenth lotte: † and the border of their possession was Sara 41 and Esthaol, and Hirisemes, that is the sunne. † Selebin and 42 Aialon and Iethela, † Elon and Themna and Acron, † Elthece, 44 43 Gebbethon and Balaath, † and Iud and Bane and Barac 45 and Gethremmon: † and Meiarcon & Arecon, with the border 46 that looketh toward Ioppe, † and is shut vp with the same 47 end. And the children of Dan went vp, and fought against Lesem, and they tooke it: and they stroke it in the edge of the sword, and possessed, and dwelt in it, calling the name of it Lesem Dan, by the name of Dan the father therof. † This 48 is the possession of the tribe of the sonnes of Dan, by their kinredes, the cities and their townes. † And when he had made 49 [Page 506] an end of diuiding the Land by lotte to euerie one by their tribes, Of modestie Iosue would not assigne to him selfanie place, but the whole people freely granted his request. the children of Israel gaue possession to Iosue the sonne of Nun in the middes of them, † according to the 50 commandement of our Lord, the citie which he requested, Thamnath Saraa in mount Ephraim: and he built the citie, and dwelt in it. † These are the possessions, which Eleazar 51 the priest, and Iosue the sonne of Nun, and the princes of the families, and of the tribes of the children of Israel, diuided by lotte in Silo, before our Lord at the doore of the tabernacle of testimonie, and they parted the Land.

CHAP. XX. Six cities of refuge for such as commit casual manslaughter are named, 6▪ in which remayning til the death of the high priest, they may then returne to their proper dwelling place, and be safe.

AND our Lord spake to Iosue, saying: Speake to the 1 children of Israel, and say to them: † Separate the cities 2 of the fugitiues, of the which I spake to you by the hand of Moyses; † that he may flee to them whosoeuer shal 3 strike a soule vnwitting: and may escape the wrath of the nigh kinseman, which is the reuenger of bloud: † when he 4 shal be fled to one of these cities: he shal stand before the gate of the citie, and shal speake to the ancientes of that citie At first entering it sufficed to allege in general his innocencie, but after he must be tried in particular. those thinges, that may proue him selfe innocent: and so they shal receiue him, and geue him place to inhabite. † And 5 when the reuenger of the bloud shal pursew him, they shal not deliuer him into his handes: because he stroke his neighbour by ignorance, neitheir is he proued to be his enemie two or three dayes before. † And he shal dwel in that citie, til he 6 stand before iudgement rendring a cause of his fact, and the high priest die, which shal be at that time: then shal the manslaer returne, and enter into the citie and his house out of the which he had fled. † And they appointed Cedes in 7 Galilee of the mount of Nepthali, and Sichem in the mount of Ephraim, and Cariatharbee, the same is Hebron in the mount of Iuda † And beyond Iordan against the East quarter 8 of Iericho, they appointed Bosor, which is situated in the champaine wildernes of the tribe of Ruben, and Ramoth in Galaad of the tribe of Gad, and Gaulon in Basan of the tribe of Manasses. † These cities were appointed to al the 9 children of Israel, and to the strangesrs, that dwelt among [Page 507] them: that he might flee to them which vnwittingly had striken a soule, and might not die in the hand of the kinseman, coue [...]ing to reuenge the bloud shed, vntil he might stand before the people to declare his cause.

CHAP. XXI. Cities with suburbes are assigned to the tribe of Leui. 4. To the sonnes of Caath by the line of Aaron being priestes, thirtenne, 5. to the rest of Caaths progenie, being Leuites, tenne. 6. To the sonnes of Gerson Leuites thirte [...]ne 7. To the sonnes of Merari Leuites (34. of a lower degree) twelue. 9. with the names of al the cities: 39. in al fourtie eight. 41. So Gods promise is fully performed hauing geuen the whole Land to Israel in peaceable possession.

AND the princes of the families of the Leui came to 1 Eleazar the priest, and Iosue the sonne of Nun, and to the chief of the kinredes in euerie tribe of the children of Israel: † and they spake to them in Silo of the Land of 2 Chanaan, and said: Our Lord commanded by the hand of Moyses, that cities should be geuen vs to inhabite, and their suburbes to feede cattel. † And the children of Israel gaue 3 of their possessions according to the commandement of our Lord, cities and their suburbes. † And the lotte came forth 4 vnto the familie of Caath of the children of Aaron the priest out of the tribe of Iudas, and Simeon, and Beniamin, thirtene cities. † And to the rest of the children of Caath, that is to 5 the Leuites, which remayned, out of the tribes of Ephraim, and Dan, and the halfe tribe of Manasses, ten cities. † Moreouer 6 to the children of Gerson came forth a lotte, that they should take of the tribes of Issachar and Aser and Nephthali, and the halfe tribe of Manasses in Basan, cities in number thirtene. † And to the sonnes of Merari by their kinredes, 7 of the tribe of Ruben and Gad and Zabulon, twelue cities. † and the children of Israel gaue to the Leuites cities 8 and their suburbes, as our Lord commanded by the hand of Moyses, geuing to euerie one by lotte. † Of the tribes of the 9 children of Iudas and Simeon Iosue gaue cities: whose names be these, † to the children of Aaron by the families of Caath 10 of the Leuitical stocke (for the first lotte came forth to them) † Cariatharbe the father of Enac, which is called Hebron, 11 in the mountaine of Iudas, and the suburbes therof round about. † But the fieldes and the townes therof he had geuen 12 [Page 508] to Caleb the sonne of Iephone to possesse. † He gaue therfore 13 to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron a citie of refuge, and the suburbes therof: & Lobna with the suburbes therof: ( 16 † and Iether and Estemo, † and Holon, and Dabir, † and Ain, 14 15 and Ieta, and Bethsames, with the suburbes therof: nine cities of two tribes, as hath bene said. † And of the tribe of the children 17 of Beniamin, Gabaon, and Gabae, † and Anathoth and 18 Almon, with their suburbes: foure cities. † Al the cities together 19 of the children of Aaron the priest, thirtene, with their suburbes. † But to the rest by the families of the children of 20 Caath of the Leuitical stocke was geuen this possession. † Of 21 the tribe of Ephraim, the cities of refuge, Sichem with the suburbes therof in the mountayne of Ephraim, and Gazer † and Cibsaim, and Beth horon, with the suburbes therof, 22 foure cities. † Of the tribe of Dan also, Eltheco and Gabathon, 23 † and Aialon and Gethremmon, with the suburbes 24 therof, foure cities. † Moreouer of the half tribe of Manasses, 25 Thanac and Gethremmon, with their suburbes two cities. † Al the cities ten, and their suburbes, were geuen to 26 the children of Caath of the inferiour degree. † To the children 27 of Gerson also of the Leuitical stocke he gaue of the half tribe of Manasses the cities of refuge, Gaulon in Basan, and Bosram, with their suburbes, two cities. † Moreouer of the 28 tribe of Issachar, Cesion, and Dabereth, † and Iaramoth, 29 and Engannim, with their suburbes, foure cities. † And of 30 the tribe of Aser, Masal and Abdon, † and Helcath, and 31 Rohob, with their suburbes, foure cities. † Of the tribe 32 also of Nephthali the cities of refuge, Cedes in Galilee: and Hammoth Dor, and Carthan, with their suburbes, three cities. † Al the cities of the families of Gerson, 33 thirtene, with their suburbes. † And to the children of 34 Merari Leuites of the inferiour degree by their families was geuen of the tribe of Zabulon, Iecnam and Cartha † and Damna and Naalol, foure cities with their suburbes. 35 † Of the tribe of Ruben beyond Iordan against Iericho the 36 cities of refuge, Bosor in the wildernes, Misor and Iaser and Iethson and Mephaath, foure cities with their suburbes. † Of the tribe of Gad the cities of refuge, Ramoth in Galaad, 37 and Manaim and Hesebon and Iaser, foure cities with their suburbes † Al the cities of the children of Merari by their 38 families and kinredes, twelue. † Therfore al the cities of the 39 [Page 509] Leuites in the middes of the possession of the children of Israel were fourtie eight † with their suburbes, euerie one 40 distributed by the families. † And our Lord God gaue to Israel 41 God gaue al the Land in due time, but not al at once▪ for the causes expressed. Exo. 23. v. 29. Deut. 7. v. 22. al the Land, that he had sworne he would geue to their fathers: and they possessed it, and dwelt in it. † And peace 42 was geuen by him on al nations round about: and none of their enemies durst resist them, but al were brought into their dominion. † Not so much certes as one word, which 43 he had promised, that he would performe vnto them, was frustrate, but al thinges were accomplished in deedes.

CHAP. XXII. The tribes of Ruben and Gad, and half Manasses returne to their possessions. The fourth part. Two tribes & a halfe returne to their possessions; Iosues godly admonitions; & his, and Eleazars death. 10. VVho building an altar by the side of Iordan, the other tribes suspect that they wil make a schisme, and therfore purpose to fight against them. 13. But first sending an ambassage to admonish them, 21. they answer that they made not an altar, for sacrifice, but only for a monument, that notwithstāding they dwel on the other side of Iordan, yet they are of the same people of God, 30. wherwith al Israel is satisfied.

THE same time Iosue called the Rubenites, and Gadites, 1 and the halfe tribe of Manasses, † and said to them: 2 You haue done al thinges that Moyses the seruant of our Lord cōmanded you: me also haue you obeyed in al thinges, † neither haue you left your brethren a long time, vntil this 3 present day, keeping the commandement of our Lord your God. † Therfore because our Lord your God hath geuen 4 your brethren quietnes and peace, as he promised: returne, and goe into your tabernacles, and to the land of your possession, which Moyses the seruant of our Lord deliuered to you beyond Iordan: † It perteineth to al magistrates, and other superiors to admonish their subiectes of their dutie towardes God. before al other thinges. alwayes so that you keepe attentiuely, 5 and in worke fulfil the commandement, and the law which Moyses the seruant of our Lord commanded you, that you loue our Lord your God, and walke in al his wayes, and obserue al his commandementes, & cleaue to him, and serue him in al your hart, and in al your soule. † And Iosue Al superior [...] may impert blessing to their subiectes. blessed 6 them, and dismissed them. Who returned into their tabernacles. † And to the halfe tribe of Manasses Moyses had geuen 7 possession in Basan: and therfore to the halfe that remayned, Iosue gaue a lotte among the rest of their brethren beyond Iordan at the West side. And when he dismissed them into their tabernacles, & had blessed them, † he said to them: 8 [Page 510] In much substance and riches returne to your seates, with siluer and gold, brasse and yron, and varietie of rayment: diuide the praye of your enemies with your brethren. † And 9 the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, and the halfe tribe of Manasses returned, and went from the children of Israel in Silo, which is situated in Chanaan, to enter into Galaad the Land of their possession, which they had obteyned according to the commandement of our Lord in the hand of Moyses. † And when they were come to the litle banckes 10 of Iordan, into the Land of Chanaan, they built beside Iordan an altar of an infinite greatnes. † So it behoueth al the seruantes of God to see in time, that no schisme be made. and therfore orderly to inquire of euerie show of euil. 1. Thes. 5. Which thing when 11 the children of Israel had heard, and certaine messengers had reported to them that the children of Ruben, and Gad, and the halfe tribe of Manasses had builded an altar in the Land of Chanaan, vpon the litle banckes of Iordan, against the children of Israel: † they assembled al in Silo, that they might 12 goe vp, and fight against them. † And in the meane time they 13 sent to them into the Land of Galaad, Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the priest, † and ten princes with him, one of euerie 14 tribe. † Who came to the children of Ruben, and Gad, and 15 the halfe tribe of Manasses into the Land of Galaad, and said to them: † This message doth al the people of our Lord send 16 to you: What is this transgression? Why haue you forsaken our Lord the God of Israel, building a sacrilegious altar, and reuolting from the worshippe of him? † Is it a smale thing 17 to you that Sinnes past are imputed to such as fal againe as a grauating their new sinnes by reason of more ingratitude. you sinned in Beelphegor, and vntil this present day the spotte of this abomination abideth in vs? and many of the people fel dead. † And you to day haue forsaken 18 our Lord, and to morow his wrath wil rage As before chap. 7. so if these had bene culpable al Israel might feare to be punished, except iustice were donne vpon the offenders. against al Israel. † But if you thinke the land of your possession to be vncleane, 19 passe to the Land, wherein is the tabernacle of our Lord, and dwel among vs: only that you depart not from our Lord, and from our companie, an altar being built beside the altar of our Lord God. † Did not Achan the sonne of 20 Zare transgress the commandement of our Lord, and his chap. 7. wrath lay vpon al the people of Israel? And he was one man, and I would he alone had perished in his wicked fact. † And 21 the children of Ruben, and Gad, and of the halfe tribe of Man [...]sses answered the princes of the legacie of Israel: † The 22 most mightie God our Lord, The most mightie God our Lord, him selfe knoweth, and Israel together shal vnderstand: If [Page 511] with the mind of preuarication we haue erected this altar, let him not keepe vs, but punish vs presently: † and if we did 23 it with that minde, that we might lay vpon it holocaustes, and sacrifice, and pacifique victimes, let him selfe examine it and iudge: † and not rather with that meaning and deliberation, 24 that we said: To morrow your children wil say to our children: What haue you to doe with our Lord the God of Israel? † Our Lord hath put a border betwen vs and you, 25 O ye children of Ruben, and children of Gad, the riuer Iordan: and therfore you haue no part in our Lord. And by this occasion your children shal auert our children from the feare of our Lord. We therfore thought it better, † and said: Let 26 vs build vs an altar, In the law of Moyses was one onlie altar for sacrifice, for the whole people of God, to auoide schisme and idolatrie. Now in the Church (being in al nations) are manie altares, & but one onlie Sacrifice prefigured by al the former. as S. Augustin teacheth li 17. c. 20▪ de [...]iuit. S. [...]o. Se [...]. [...]. [...] P [...]ssione. not for holocaustes, nor to offer victimes, † but for a testimonie betwen vs and you, and our issue 27 and your progenie, that we may serue our Lord, and it may be our right to offer both holocaustes, and victimes, and pacifique hostes: and that your children to morrow say not to our children: You haue no part in our Lord. † And if they 28 wil say so, they shal answer them: Behold the altar of our Lord, which our fathers made, not for holocaustes, nor for sacrifice, but for our testimonie and yours. † God saue vs 29 from this abomination that we should reuolt from our Lord, and leaue his steppes, erecting an altar to offer holocaustes, and sacrifices, and victimes, beside the altar of our Lord God, which is erected before his tabernacle. † Which thinges 30 being heard, Phinees the priest, and the princes of the legacie, which were with him, were pacified: and they admitted most willingly the wordes of the children of Ruben, & Gad, and of the halfe tribe of Manasses. † And Phinees the priest 31 the sonne of Eleazar said to them: Now we know that our Lord is with vs, because you are not culpable of this preuarication, and haue deliuered the children of Israel from the hand of our Lord. † And he returned with the princes from 32 the children of Ruben and Gad, out of the Land of Galaad, into the Land of Chanaan, to the children of Israel, and reported to them. † And the saying pleased al that heard it. And 33 the children of Israel praysed God, and they did no more say, that they would goe vp against them, and fight, and destroy the Land of their possession. † And the children of Ruben, 34 & the children of Gad called the altar, which they had built, Our testimonie, that our Lord he is God.

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CHAP. XXIII. Iosue being old admonisheth the people to keepe▪ Gods commandementes. 12. and to auoide mariages, and al societie with gentiles, lest falling to idolatrie God as certainly punish them, as he hath benne benificial, and bountiful to them.

AND when much time was passed, after that our Lord 1 had geuen peace to Israel, al the nations being subdewed round about, and Iosue now verie ancient, and of a great age: † Iosue called al Israel, and the elders, and the 2 princes and the iudges, and the maisters, and said to them: I am old, and farre gone in age: † and you see al thinges, 3 that our Lord your God hath done to al the nations round about, God fought for the Isiachtes three ma [...] of wayes: sometimes alone, they not fighting at al; as when the Aegyptians were drowned in the read sea: sometimes they doing his cōmandmentes he apparently assisted them, as in the siege of Iericho, the walles miraculously fel downe ( c. 6) & haile stones killed their enimies ( chap. 10.) but most times inu [...]sibly, as wel by geuing them courege, as by striking their enimies with terrour. And al these wayes God also fighteth for his seruantes in spiritual warres against the diuel, the flesh, & the world. how him selfe hath fought for you: † and now 4 because he hath by lotte diuided to you al the Land, from the East part of Iordan vnto the great sea, and manie nations yet remaine: † Our Lord your God wil destroy them, and take 5 them away from your face, and you shal possesse the Land, as he hath promised you. † Onlie take courage, and be careful, 6 that you keepe al thinges which be written in the volume of the law of Moyses: and decline not from them neither to the right hand nor to the left: † lest after that you are entred in 7 to the Gentiles, which shal be among you, you sweare in the name of their goddes, and serue them, and adore them: † but 8 cleaue to our Lord your God: which you haue done vntil this day. † And then our Lord God wil take away in your sight 9 the great nations and very strong, and no man shal be able to resist you. † One of you shal pursew a thousand men of the 10 enemies: because our Lord your God him self wil fight for you, as he hath promised. † This onlie beware very diligently 11 before hand, that you loue our Lord your God. † But 12 if you wil cleaue to the errour of these nations, that dwel among you, and make mariages with them, and ioyne amitie: † euen now know ye that our. Lord your God wil not destroy 13 them before your face, but they shal be a pitte and a snare for you, and a stumbling blocke at your side, and stakes in your eies, til he take you away and destroy you from this excellent Land, which he hath deliuered to you. † Behold I this day 14 enter into the way of al flesh, and you shal know with al your minde that al the wordes, which our Lord promised that he would performe to you, one is not escaped without effect. [Page 513] † Therfore as he hath fulfilled in deede that which he promised, 15 and al thinges prosperous haue come: so wil he bring vpon you what euils soeuer he hath threatened, til he take you away and destroy you from this excellent Land, which he hath deliuered to you, † because you haue transgressed 16 the couenant of our Lord your God, which he hath made with you, and haue serued strange goddes, and adored them: quickly and in hast shal the furie of our Lord ryse against you, and you shal be taken away from this excellent Land, which he hath deliuered to you.

CHAP. XXIIII. In consideration of diuers principal benefites here recited, 14. Iosue exorteth the people to serue God sincerly, seing it is in their choise to do wel or euil. 16. they promise al true seruice and obedience to God. 25. VVherupon he reneweth the pact betwen God and them, writing it in the volume of the law, and erecting a great stone in testimonie. 29. He dieth and is buried in mount Ephraim. 32. Iosephs bones are buried in Sichem. 33. Eleazar the high priest also dieth and is buried in Ephraim.

AND Iosue gathered together al the tribes of Israel into 1 Sichem, and called the ancientes, and princes, and iudges, and maisters: and they stoode in the sight of our Lord: † and to the people he spake in this maner: Thus saith our 2 Lord the God of Israel: Beyond the riuer did your fathers dwel from the beginning, Thare the father of Abraham, and The Israelites descended also of Nachor, by Rebecca, his sonnes daughter, the wife of Isaac. Gen. 24. of Nachor: and“ they serued strange goddes. † I tooke 3 therfore your father Abraham from the coastes of Mesopotamia: and brought him into the Land of Chanaan: and multiplied his seede, † and gaue him Isaac: and againe to him 4 I gaue Iacob and Esau. Of whom, to Esau I gaue mount Seir to possesse: but Iacob, and his children went downe into Aegypt. † And I sent Moyses and Aaron, and stroke Aegypt 5 with many signes and wonders. † And I brought you and 6 your fathers out of Aegypt, and you came to the sea: and the Aegyptians pursewed your fathers with chariotes and horsemen, as farre as the Read sea. † And the children of Israel 7 cried to the Lord: who did put darkenes betwen you and the Aegyptians, and brought the sea vpon them, & ouerwhelmed them. Your eies saw al thinges that I did in Aegypt, and you dwelt in the wildernes a great time: † and I brought you 8 into the Land of the Amorrheite, which dwelt beyond Iordan. And when they fought against you, I deliuered them [Page 514] into your handes, and you possessed their Land, and slew them. † And there rose Balac the sonne of Sephor king of 9 Moab, and fought against Israel. And he sent and called Balaam the sonne of Beor, that he might curse you: † and 10 I would not heare him, but contrariwise by him I blessed you, and deliuered you out of his hand. † And you passed Iordan, 11 and came to Iericho. And the men of that citie fought against you, the Amorrheite, and Pherezeite and Chananeite, and the Hetheite, and Gergeseite, and the Heueite, and Iebuseite: and I deliuered them into your handes. † And I sent before 12 you hornettes: and I cast them forth out of their places, the two Kinges of the Amorrheites, not in thy sword and bow. † And I gaue you the Land, wherein you laboured not, and 13 the cities which you built not, to dwel in them: vineyardes and oliue trees, which you planted not. † Now therfore 14 feare our Lord and serue him with a perfect and verie true hart: and Iosue being a prophet saw some of their hartes inclined to idoles, though exteriorly they then had none among them. S. Aug. q. 29. in Iosue. take away the goddes, which your fathers serued in Mesopotamia and in Aegypt, and serue our Lord. † But 15 if it like you not to serue our Lord, choise is geuen you: choose this day that which pleaseth you, whom you ought especially to serue, whether the goddes, which your fathers serued in Mesopotamia, or the goddes of the Amorrheites, in whose Land you dwel: but I and my house wil serue our Lord. † And the people answered, and said: God forbid we 16 should leaue our Lord, and serue strange goddes. † Our 17 Lord God he brought vs, and our fathers out of the Land of Aegypt, out of the house of seruitude: and did in our sight great signes, and kept vs in al the way, by the which we walked, and among al the peoples, through which we passed. † And he hath cast out al the nations, the Amorrheite inhabiter 18 of the Land, which we haue entred. We therfore wil serue our Lord, because he is our God. † And Iosue said to 19 the people: You can not serue our Lord: for God is holie, and a mightie aemulator, neither wil he pardon your wickednes and sinnes. † If you leaue our Lord, and serue strange 20 goddes, he wil turne him self, and wil afflict you, and ouerthrow you after he hath geuen you good thinges. † And the 21 people said to Iosue: No, it shal not be so as thou speakest, but we wil serue our Lord. † And Iosue said to the people: 22 You are witnesses, that your selues haue chosen to you our Lord for to serue him. And they answered: Witnesses. [Page 515] † Now therfore, quoth he, take away strange goddes our 23 of the middes of you, and incline your hartes to our Lord the God of Israel. † And the people said to Iosue: We wil serue 24 our Lord God, and wil be obedient to his preceptes. † Iosue 25 therfore in that day This renouation of the same couenāt presigured the law of the new Testament. S. Aug. q. 30. in Iosue. made a couenant, and proposed to the people preceptes and iudgementes in Sichem. † He wrote 26 also al these wordes in the volume of the law of our Lord: and he tooke a very great stone, and put it vnder the oke, that was in the Sanctuarie of our Lord: † and said to al the people: 27 Behold this stone shal be a testimonie for you, that To the more confusion of reasonable creatures wilfully offending, vnsensible things are made witnesses, because they euer obey Gods wil, which is the best maner of hearing. Theod. q. 19. in Iosue. it hath heard al the wordes of our Lord, which he hath spoken to you: lest perhaps hereafter you wil denie, and lye to our Lord your God. † And he dismist the people, euerie one into their 28 possession. † If Iosue writ the rest of this booke, then Samuel added these last verses. Hist. S [...]hol. And after these thinges Iosue the sonne of 29 Nun the seruant of our Lord died, being a hundred and ten yeares old: † and“ they buried him in the coastes of his possession 30 in Thamnathsare, which is situated in the mountaine of Ephraim, on the North part of mount Gaas. † And Israel 31 serued our Lord al the daies of Iosue, and of the ancientes, that liued a long time after Iosue, and that had knowen al the workes of our Lord which he had done in Israel. † The 32 Iosephs Mausoleum (o [...] famous sepulchre) remained in Sichem in S. Hieroms time. as he wit nesseth. Tradit. Hebra. in Gen. prope sinem. bones also of Ioseph which the children of Israel had taken Gen. 5 [...]. [...]xo. 13. out of Aegypt, they buried in Sichem, in part of the field, which Iacob had bought of the sonnes of Hemor the father of Sichem, for a hundred yong ewes, and it was in the possession of the sonnes of Ioseph. † Eleazar also the sonne of 33 Aaron died: and they buried him in Gabaath of Phinees his sonne, which was geuen him in mount Ephraim.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXIIII.

2. They serued false goddes.] It is euident by this place, that Thare, and some Thare sometime serued false goddes, but Abraham neuer. other progenitors of Israel sometimes serued false goddes, from which they were reduced: but Abraham was euer preserued in true religion; and the whole familie of Thare was therfore persecuted in Chaldea▪ as S. Augustin sheweth li. 16. c. 13. de ciuit. Likwise Theodoret, q. 18. in Iosue, and other both ancient and late writers teach the same as is already noted. pag. 203.

30. They buried.] In that no mention is made of mourning for Iosue, S. Hierom Before Christ none entered into heauen. noteth a mysterie, and a special point of Chistian doctrin: It semeth to me (saieth he Epist. de 42. Maus. mans. 33.) that in Marie prophecie is dead, in Moyses and Aaron, an end is put to the law and priesthood of the Iewes. For so much as they could neither passe into the land of promise, nor bring the beleuing people out of the wildernes of this world. And ( Mans 34.) Aaron (sayeth he) was mourned, (and so was Moyses) Iesus is not mourned that is, in the law was descentinto hel ( called limbus) in the Gospel is passage to paradise.

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THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.

SAINCT Hierom geuing this general rule (Epist. ad Eustoch. virg.) that A rule for reading historical bookes. in reading historical bookes of holie Scripture, the historie, as fundation of veritie, is to be loued, but the spiritual vnderstanding rather to be folowed: agreably therto teacheth (Epist ad Paulin.) that in this booke of Iudges there be as manie figures, as princes of the people. Neither doth he meane that there were no more, but for example sake affirmeth that these Iudges, raised vp after Iosue, and sent of God The Iudges of Israel figures of Christs Apostles▪ to deliuer the people fallen for their sinnes into afflictions, were types and figures of the Apostles and Apostolical men, sent by Christ to propagate and defend his Church of the new Testament. For albeit diuers of these Iudges were sometimes great offenders, yet they were reclamed by Gods special grace, and so amending their errors did great thinges, to the singular honour of God: and are renowmed among the holie Patriarces and Prophetes, particularly praysed in bolie Scipture, saying: And the Iudges, euerie one by his name, They were al finally holie men. E [...]li. 4 [...]. whose hart was not corrupt: Who were not auerted from our Lord, that their memorie may be blessed, and their bones spring out from their place, and their name remaine for euer, the glorie of holie men remaining to their children. After Iosue therfore, who it semeth guided and ruled the people 32. yeares, this booke, written (as is The Contents of this booke. most probable) by Samuel, shewing the famouse Actes of these Iudges of Israel, prosecuteth the historie of the Church the space of 288. yeares more. And may be diuided into three partes. First, is described in general the state of the people, Diuided into three partes. sometimes wel and sincerly seruing God, other times falling to great sinnes. in the two first chapters. Secondly, their offences, afflictions, repentance, and deliuerie from their enemies are more particularly reported from the third chap. to the 17. Thirdly, other special accidents, which happened within the same time, are recorded▪ in the last fiue chapters.

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THE BOOKE OF IVDGES, IN HEBREW SOPHETIM.

CHAP. I. Vnder a general captaine of the tribe of Iuda, assisted by the tribe of Simeon, The first part. A gene [...]al recapitulation of the peoples state. Israel subdueth diuers cities of the gentiles (12. Othoniel taking Cariath sepher possesseth it, and marieth Calebs daughter, obtainig also addition of her dowrie) 21. Iebuseites yet dwel in Hierusalem with Beniamin, 27. and the Chananeites with diuers of the tribes.

AFTER the death of Iosue the children of Israel 1 The maner of consulting our Lord was by the High priest praying in the tabernacle. Exo. 29. v. 42. consulted our Lord, saying: Who shal goe vp before vs against the Chananeite, and shal be captaine of the warre? † And our Lord said: 2 The first general captaine after Iosue, and diuers of the Iudges, were of the tribe of Iuda, but not al, as appeareth in this booke. Iudas shal goe vp: behold I haue deliuered the Land into his handes, † And Iudas said to Simeon his brother: 3 Come vp with me into my lotte, and fight against the Chananeite, that I also may goe forward with thee into thy lotte. And Simeon went with him. † And Iudas went vp, and our 4 Lord deliuered the Chananeite, and the Pherezeite into their handes: and they stroke in Bezec ten thousand men. † And 5 they found Adonibezec in Bezec, and fought against him, and stroke the Chananeite, and the Pherezeite. † And Adonibezec 6 fled: whom pursewing they tooke, cutting of the extreme partes of his handes and feere. † And Adonibezec 7 said: Seuentie kinges hauing the extreme partes of their handes and seete cut of, gathered vp the reliques of meates vnder my table: as I haue done, so hath God repayed me. And they brought him into Ierusalem, and there he died. † Therfore 8 the children of Iudas assaulting Ierusalem, tooke it, and stroke it in the edge of the sword, setting the whole citie on fyre. † And afterward going downe they fought against the 9 Chananeite, which dwelled in the mountaines, and southward, and in the champaine countries. † And Iudas going 10 forward against the Chananeite, that dwelled in Hebron (the name wherof was before time Cariatharbe) stroke Sesai, and Ahiman, and Tholmai: † and departing thence went 11 to the inhabitantes of Dabir, the old name wherof was Cariath Sepher, that is, a citie of letters. † And Caleb said: He 12 [Page 518] that shal strike Cariath Sepher, and spoile it, I wil geue him Axa my daughter to wife. † And when Othoniel the sonne of Cenez, the yonger brother of Caleb had taken it, he gaue him Axa his daughter to wife. † Whom going on her 14 way her husband admonished to aske a field of her father. To whom, when she had sighed sitting on her asse, Caleb said: What aileth thee? † But she answered: Geue me a blessing, for 15 a drie land thou haft geuen me: geue me also a waterie. Caleb therfore gaue her a watrie ground aboue, & waterie beneath. † And the children of the Cineite the cosin of Moyses went 16 vp from the citie of palmes, with the children of Iudas into the deset of his lotte, which is at the south side of Arad, and dwelt with him. † But Iudas went with Simeon his brother, 17 and together they stroke the Chananeite that dwelt in Sephaath, and slew him. And the name of the citie was called, Horma, that is, Anathema. † And Iudas tooke Gaza with the 18 coastes therof, & Ascalon, and Accaron with their boundes. † And our Lord was with Iudas, and he posessed the mountaines: 19 neither could he destroy the inhabitantes of the valley, because they had manie Strong weapons crooked like sickles made fast to the chariottes which cut in peeces, men, horses, and other chariottes that came in their way. hooked chariotes. † And 20 they gaue to Galeb Hebron, as Moyses had said, who destroyed out of it the three sonnes of Enac. † But the Iebuseite 21 the inhabiter of Ierusalem the children of Beniamin destroyed not: and the Iebuseite dwelt with the children of Beniamin in Ierusalem vntil this present day. † The house 22 also of Ioseph went vp into Bethel, and our Lord was with them. † For when they besieged the citie, which before was 23 called Luza, † they saw a man comming out of the citie, and 24 said to him: Shew vs the entrrance of the citie, and we wil shew thee mercie. † Who when he had shewed them, they 25 stroke the citie in the edge of the sword: but that man, and al his kinred they dismissed. † Who being dismist, went into the 26 Land of the Hetthims, and built there a citie, and called it Luza: which is so called vntil this present day. † Manasses 27 also destroyed not Bethsan, and Thanac with their litle townes, and the inhabitantes of Dor, and Ieblaam, and Mageddo with their litle townes. And the Chananeite began to dwel with them. † But after that Israel was waxen strong, 28 he made them tributaries, and would not destroy them. † Ephraim also killed not the Chananeite, that dwelt in 29 Gazer, but dwelt with him. † Zabulon destroyed not the 30 [Page 519] inhabitantes of Cetron, & Naalol: but the Chananeite dwelt in the middes of him, and was made tributarie to him. † Aser 31 also destroyed not the inhabitantes of Accho, and of Sidon, of Ahalab, and Achazib, and Helba, and Aphec, and Rohob: † and he dwelt in the middes of the Chananeite the inhabiter 32 of that Land, neither did he kil them. † Nepthali also destroyed 33 not the inhabitantes of Bethsames, & Bethanath: and he dwelt in the middes of the Chananeite the inhabiter of the Land, and the Bethsamites & Bethanites were tributaries to him. † And the Amorrheite straytened the children of Dan 34 in the mountaine, and gaue them not place to goe downe to the playne: † and he dwelt in mount Hares which is inter 35 preted shelles, in Aialon and Salebim. And the hand of the house of Ioseph was agrauated, and he became tributarie to him. † And the border of the Amorrheite was from the Ascent 36 of the Scorpion, the rocke, and the higher places.

CHAP. II. An Angel reciting manie benefites of God towardes Israel, and their ingratitude, 4. they weepe for their faultes. 10. After the death of Iosue and other antientes of his time, the people often fal, and repenting are deliuered from afflictions. 19. but stil fal againe worse and worse.

AND the An Angel taking the forme of a man as before to Iosue, ( ch. 5.) so now appearing to the people, spake to them in the name of God, whose messenger he was. Angel of our Lord went vp from Galgal to 1 the place of weepers, and said: I brought you out of Aegypt, and haue brought you into the Land, for the which I sware to your fathers: and I promised that I would not make frustrate my couenant with you for euer: † onlie so 2 that you should not make a league with the inhabitantes of this Land, but should ouerthrow their altares: and you would not heare my voice: why haue you done this? † For the 3 which cause I would not destroy them from before your face: that you may haue enemies, and their goddes may be a ruine vnto you. † And when the Angel of our Lord spake 4 these wordes to al the children of Israel: they lifted vp their voice, and wept. † And the name of that place was called, 5 the place of weepers, or of teares: and By special dispensation sacrifice was sometimes lawfully offered in other places though the Tabernacle (and afterward the Temple) was the onlie place commanded. Deut. 12. Iosue. 22. S. Aug. q. 36. in Iudic. there they immolated hostes to our Lord. † Iosue therfore dismissed the 6 people, and the children of Israel went euerie one into his possession, to obtayne it: † and they serued our Lord al his 7 daies, and the daies of the ancientes, of them that liued a long time after him, and knew al the workes of our Lord, which [Page 520] he had done with Israel. † And Iosue the sonne of Nun, the 8 seruant of our Lord, died, being a hundred and ten yeares old, † and they buried him in the borders of his possession in 9 Thamnathsare in the mount of Ephraim, on the North side of mount Gaas. † And al that generation was gathered to 10 to their fathers: and there rose others, that knew not our Lord, and the workes which he had done with Israel. † And 11 the children of Israel did euil in the sight of our Lord, and serued Baalim. † And they left our Lord the God of their 12 fathers, that had brought them out of the Land of Aegypt: and folowed strange goddes, and the goddes of the peoples, that dwelt round about them, and adored them: and they prouoked our Lord to anger, † leauing him, and seruing 13 Baal and Astaroth. † And our Lord being wrath against Israel, 14 deliuered them into the handes of ransackers: who tooke them and sold them to the enemies, that dwelt round about: neither could they resist their aduersaries: † but whither 15 soeuer they had meant to goe, the hand of our Lord was vpon them, as he spake, and sware to them: and they were vehemently afflicted. † And our Lord These Iudges were extraordinarily raised vp to deliuer the people repenting, when they were fallen into afflictiōs for their sinnes.raysed vp Iudges, 16 that should deliuer them from the handes of the wasters: but neither would they heare them, † fornicating with strange 17 goddes, and adoring them. They did quickly forsake the way, in the which their fathers had gone: and hearing the commandementes of our Lord, they did al thinges contrarie. † And when our Lord raysed vp Iudges, in their daies he was 18 moued with mercie, and heard the groninges of the afflicted, and deliuered them from the slaughter of the wasters. † But 19 after the Iudge was dead, they returned, and did much worse things then their fathers had done, folowing strange goddes seruing them, and adoring them. They left not their inuentions, and the verie hard way, by which they were accustomed to walke. † And the furie of our Lord was angrie against 20 Israel, & said: Because this nation hath made my couenāt frustrate, which I had made with their fathers, & hath cō temned my voice: † I also wil not destroy the nations which 21 Iosue did let alone, and died: † that in them I may trie Israel, 22 whether they wil keepe the way of the Lord, and walke in it, as their fathers kept it, or no. † Our Lord therfore left al 23 these nations, and would not quickly ouerthrow them, neither deliuered them into the handes of Iosue.

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CHAP. III. The people associating them selues with Gentiles, against whom they ought to The second part. Of the common peoples often falling to idolatrie, their repentance, and deliuetie. fight. 8. are inuaded by forraine kinges: 9. but repenting are deliuered by Othoniel. 12. Falling againe, afflicted, and repenting, 15. are deliuered by Aod, 21. secretely killing Eglon their enemie. 31. After him Samgar defendeth Israel against the Philisthimes.

THESE are the Nations, which our Lord left, that in 1 them he might instruct Israel, and al that had not knowen the warres of the Chananeites: † that afterward their 2 children might lerne to fight with their enemies, and to be accustomed to warre: † the fiue princes of the Philisthimes, 3 and the Chananeite, and Sidonian, and Heueite, that dwelt in mount Libanus, from mount Baal Hermon to the entring into Emath. † And he left them, that in them he might trie 4 Israel, whether they would heare the commandementes of our Lord, which he had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moyses, or not. † Therfore the children of Israel dwelt 5 in the middes of the Chananeite, and Hetheite, and Amorrheite, and Pherezeite, and Heueite, and Iebuseite: † and 6 they tooke their daughters to wiues, and them selues gaue their owne daughters to their sonnes, & serued their goddes. † And they did euil in the sight of our Lord, and forgat their 7 God, seruing Baalim and Astaroth. † And our Lord being 8 wrath against Israel, deliuered them into the handes of Chusan Rasathaim the king of Mesopotamia, and they serued him eight yeares. † And they cried to our Lord: who raysed 9 them vp In manie places we see the worde sauiour, and like titles geuen to men, as the seruantes and officers of God, who is the proper and principal Sauiour of al. S. Aug. q. 18. in Iudic. a sauiour, and deliuered them, to witte, Othoniel the sonne of Cenez, the yonger brother of Caleb: † and the 10 Spirit of our Lord was in him, and he iudged Israel. And he went forth to fight, and our Lord deliuered into his handes Chusan Rasathaim the king of Syria, and oppressed him. † And the land rested In these 40. yeares are included the eight yeares of their seruitude, v. 8. & so in the rest of this historie. otherwise the number of yeres agreeth not with the count. 3. Reg. 6. v. 1. fourtie yeares, and Othoniel the 11 sonne of Cenez died. † And the children of Israel added to 12 doe euil in the sight of our Lord: who strengthned against them Eglon the king of Moab: because they did euil in his sight. † And he ioyned to him the children of Ammon, and 13 Amalec: and he went and stroke Israel, and possessed the Citie of palmes. † And the children of Israel serued Eglon 14 the king of Moab eightene yeares: † and afterward they 15 cried to our Lord: who raysed vp vnto them a sauiour called Aod, the sonne of Gera, the sonne of Iemini, who vsed both [Page 522] handes for the right. And the children of Israel sent by him presentes to Eglon the king of Moab. † Who made him self 16 a two edged sword, hauing in the middes a hafte in length the palme of a hand, and was girded therwith vnder his cassocke on the right thigh. † And he presented the giftes to 17 Eglon the king of Moab. And Eglon was exceeding grosse. † And when he had presented the giftes vnto him, he 18 brought his felowes on the way that came with him. † And 19 returning from Galgal, where the Idols were, he said to the King: I haue a secrete message to thee ô king. And he commanded silence: and al being gone forth, that were about him, † Aod went in to him: and he sate in a sommer chamber 20 alone, and he said: Aod hauing special inspiration from God to do this fact, (as S. Augustin noteth vpon these wordes. q 20. in Iudic.) is not to be imitated by priuat men. See Num. 25. v. 11. A word from God I haue to thee. Who forthwith rose out of his throne. † And Aod put forth 21 his left hand, and tooke the dagger from his right thigh, and fastened it into his bellie † so mightely that the haft folowed 22 the blade in the wound, and was closed vp fast with the most fatte grease. Neither did he plucke out the dagger, but as he had striken so leift it in the bodie: and forthwith by the secrete partes of nature the ordure of the bellie came forth. † But Aod shutting the doores of the chamber very 23 diligently, and locking them sure, † went out by a posterne 24 doore. And the kinges seruantes going in, saw the doores of the chamber shut, and they said: Peraduenture he purgeth his bellie in the sommer chamber. † And expecting long til 25 they were ashamed, and seeing that no man did open, they tooke a key: and opening they found their lord on the earth lying dead. † But Aod, whiles they were trubled, escaped, 26 and passed by the Place of Idols, whence he had returned. And he came into Seirath: † and forthwith the trumpet sounded 27 in the mount of Ephraim: and the children of Israel went downe with him, him self going in the front. † Who said to 28 them: Folow me: for our Lord hath deliuered our enemies the Moabites into our handes. And they went downe after him, and occupied the fordes of Iordan, which bring ouer into Moab: and they suffered no man to passe: † but they stroke 29 the Moabites at that time, about ten thousand, al stoute and strong men, none of them could escape. † And Moab was 30 humbled that day vnder the hand of Israel: and the Land rested eightie yeares. † After him was Samgar the sonne of 31 Anath, who stroke, of the Philisthimes six hundred men with the culter of a ploughe: and he also defended Israel.

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CHAP. IIII. Againe the people sinning are oppressed, and crying to God, 4. by direction of Debbora a prophetesse, Barac fighteth against Sisara their enemie. 15. who stricken with feare, and fleeing away, 17. Iahel pretending his saftie killeth him in her house.

AND the children of Israel added to doe euil in the sight 1 of our Lord after the death of Aod, † and our Lord deliuered 2 them into the handes of Iabin the king of Chanaan, which reigned in Asor: and he had a captaine of his armie named Sisara, and he dwelt in Haroseth of the gentiles. † And 3 the children of Israel cried to our Lord: for he had nine hundred yron hooked chariottes, and for twentie yeres had vehemently oppressed them. † And there was one Debbora 4 a prophetese the wife of Lapidoth, which Being a prophetesse she resolued hard and obscure thinges, but exercised no iurisdiction in anie causes, for that belonged to the councel of Priestes and of seuentie ancientes, where the high priest was the chief Iudge. Num. 11. Deut. 17. Spiritually Debbora signified the Church & Barac christian Princes, who are directed in their warres, and other actions by spiritual superiors. as Origen, and other ancient writers expouud this historie. iudged the people at that time. † And she sate vnder a palme tree, which was 5 called by her name, betwen Rama and Bethel in the mount of Ephraim: and the children of Israel went vp to her for al iudgement. † Who sent, and called Barac the sonne of Abinoem 6 of Cedes in Nepthali: and she said to him: Our Lord God of Israel hath commanded thee, Goe, and lead an armie into mount Thabor, and thou shalt take with thee ten thousand fighting men of the children of Nepthali, and of the children of Zabulon: † and I wil bring vnto thee in the 7 place of the Torrent Cison, Sisara the prince of the hoste of Iabin, and his chariotes, and al the multitude, and wil deliuer them in thy hand. † And Barac said to her: If thou come 8 with me, I wil goe: If thou wilt not come with me, I wil not goe. † Who said to him: I wil goe in deede with thee, 9 but at this time the victorie shal not be imputed to thee, because Sisara shal be deliuered into the hand of a woman. Debbora therfore arose, and went with Barac into Cedes. † Who calling vnto him Zabulon and Nepthali, went vp 10 with ten thousand fighting men, hauing Debbora in his companie. † And Habet the Cineite was in time past departed 11 from the rest of the Cineites his brethren of Hobab, the cosin of Moyses: and had pitched his tentes vnto the valley, which is called Sennim, and was nere Cedes. † And it was told 12 Sisara, that Barac the sonne of Abinoem was gone vp into mount Thabor: † and he gathered nine hundred yron hooked 13 chariottes, and al his armie from Haroseth of the gentiles [Page 524] to the torrent Cison. † And Debbora said to Barac: Arise, for 14 this is the day, wherin our Lord hath deliuered Sisara into thy handes: behold he is thy leader. And Barac went downe from mount Thabor, and ten thousand fighting men with him. † And our Lord terrified Sisara, and al his chariotes, 15 and al the multitude in the edge of the sword at the sight of Barac: in so much, that Sisara leaping downe from his chariote, fled a foote, † and Barac pursewed the chariotes fleeing, 16 and the armie vnto Haroseth of the gentiles, and al the multitude of the enemies was vtterly destroyed. † But Sisara 17 fleeing came to the tent of Iahel the wife of Haber the Cineite. for there was peace betwixt Iabin the king of Asor, and the house of Haber the Cineite. † Iahel therfore going forth 18 to meete Sisara, said to him: Come in to me my Lord, come in, feare no [...]. Who being entred into her tabernacle, and couered of her with a cloke, † said to her: Geue me, I beseech 19 thee, a little water, for I am very thirstie. Who opened a bottle of milke, and gaue him to drinke, and couered him. † And 20 Sisara said to her: Stand before the doore of the tabernacle, and when any shal come asking thee, and saying: Is there any man here? Thou shalt say: There is none. † VVho is this woman ful of confidence, piercing the temples of the enimies head with a naile, but the faith of the Church destroying the diuels kingdomes with the crosse of christ? S. Aug. li. 12. [...]. 32. cont. Iaust. Manich. Iabel also prefigured our B. Ladie who crushed the serpentes head. Iahel therfore 21 the wife of Haber tooke a nayle of the tabernacle, taking with al a hammer also: and going in secretely, and with silence she put the naile vpon the temple of his head, and striking it with the hammer, fastened it into his braine euen to the ground: who ioyning deepe sleepe and death together, faynted, and died. † And behold Barac folowing Sisara 22 came: & Iahel going forth to meete him, said to him: Come, and I wil thew thee the man whom thou seekest. Who when he was entered in vnto her, saw Sisara lying dead, and the nayle fastened in his temples. † Therfore God that day humbled 23 Iabin the king of Chanaan before the children of Israel: † which increased daily, and with strong hand oppressed 24 Iabin the king of Chanaan, til they destroyed him.

CHAP. V. The Canticle of Debbora and Barac geuing thankes after their victorie.

1 AND Debbora and Barac the sonne of Abinoem sang in that day, saying:

2 † You that of Israel haue voluntarily offered your liues to peril, The greater blesse the lesse by imparting spiritual benefites, so God, and superiors blesse their subiectes. Men blesse God, & the lesse their betters, by geuing thankes, and prayses. blesse our Lord.

3 [Page 525]† Heare you kinges, and geue eare ye princes: I am, She inculcateth that she must so much more praise God for this victorie, because he forshewed it by her, & by her directed the general captaine Barac, lest it might be ascribed either to wisdome or valure of anie man. I am she, that wil sing to our Lord, I wil chaunte to our Lord the God of Israel.

4 † Lord when thou wentst out of Seir, and didst passe by the countries of Edom, the earth was moued, & the heauens and cloudes distilled waters.

5 † The mountaines melted before the face of our Lord, and Sinai before the face of our Lord God of Israel.

6 † In the daies of Samgar the sonne of Anath, in the daies of Iahel the pathes rested: and they that went by them, walked by by waies.

7 The valiantes in Israel ceased, and rested: vntil Debbora arose, a mother rose in Israel.

8 Our Lord chose new warres, and the gates of the enemies him selfe subuerted: shield and speare if there appeared among fourtie thousand of Israel.

9 † My hart loueth the princes of Israel: you that of your owne good wil offered your selues to danger, blesse our Lord.

10 † You that ride vpon your Those that subdew their bodies to the spirite ride vpon fayre asses Origen, hom. 6. in c. 5. Iudic. faire asses, and sitte in iudgement, and walke in the way, speake.

11 † Where the chariottes were frushed together, and the armie of the enemie was suffocated, there let the iustices of our Lord be told, and his clemencie toward the valiantes of Israel: then did the people of our Lord goe downe to the gates, and obteyned the principalitie.

12 † Arise, arise Debbora, arise, arise, and speake a canticle: Arise Barac, and apprehend thy captiues thou sonne of Abinoem.

13 The remnant of the people is saued, our Lord hath fought in the valiantes.

14 Out from Ephraim he destroyed them into Amalec, and after him out from Beniamin into thy peoples O Amalec: Out from Machir there descended princes, and our from Zabulon they that led the armie to fight.

15 † The captaines of Issachar were with Debbora, and folowed the steppes of Barac, who as it were into a headlong and bottomeles pitte gaue him self to danger: Ruben being diuided against it self, there was found contention of couragious persons.

16 Why dwellest thou betwen the two boundes, that thou mayest heare the whistlinges of the flockes? Ruben being [Page 526] diuided against it self, there was found contention of couragious men.

17 † Galaad rested beyond Iordan, and Dan gaue him self to shippes: Aser dwelt in the sea shore, and abode in hauens.

18 † But Zabulon and Nepthali offered their liues to death in their countrie of Merome.

19 † 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.

20 † From heauen they fought against them: the starres remayning in their order and course, fought against Sisara.

21 † The torrent of Cison drew their carcasses, the torrent of Cadumim, the torrent of Cison: my soule tread downe the strong ones.

22 † The hoofes of the horses fel of, the strongest of the enemies fleeing violently, and falling downe headlong.

23 † 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.

24 † Iahel the figure was blessed amongst wemen: much more the most holie virgin mother of God is blessed aboue alwemen. Blessed among wemen be Iahel the wife of Haber the Cineite, and blessed be she in her tabernacle.

25 † To him that asked water she gaue milke, and in the phial of princes she offered butter.

26 † 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.

27 † Betwen her feete he fel: he failed, and died: he was rowled before her feete, and he lay without life and miserable.

28 † 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?

29 † One wiser then the rest of his wiues, answered these wordes to her mother in law:

30 † 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.

31 † 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. 32

CHAP.

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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 1 Lord: who deliuered them into the hand of Madian seuen yeares, † & they were sore oppressed of them. And they 2 made them selues dennes and caues in the mountaines, and very wel fensed places to resist. † And when Israel had 3 sowen, Madian came vp and Amalec, and the rest of the East nations: † and pitching their tentes by them wasted al thinges 4 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 5 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 6 in the sight of Madian. † And he cried to our Lord desiring 7 helpe against the Madianites. † who sent vnto them 8 S. Augustin ( q 31. in Iudic.) supposeth that this messenger sent from God called a man & a prophete (for the forme, wherin he appeared) was the same Angel which sate vnder the oke and sent Gedeon to deliuer Israel. v. 11. 12. &c. 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 9 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 10 your God, feare not the goddes of the Amorrheites, in whose land you dwel. And you would not heare my voice. † And 11 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 12 Lord appeared to him, and said: Our Lord be with thee ô most valiant of men. † And Gedeon said to him: I besech 13 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 14 [Page 528] 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, 15 wherein shal I deliuer Israel? behold my familie is the meanest in Manasses, and I the least in my fathers house. † And our 16 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, 17 quoth he, grace before thee, geue me a signe that it is thou which speakest to me. † Neither depart thou hence, til I 18 returne to thee, bringing a sacrifice, and offering He meant not to offer sacrifice to the Angel, but that either the Angel, or himselfe in presence of the Angel, should offer it to God and so in dede the Angel partly directed him what to do, partly executed the office himselfe, by touching the oblation with his rodde; and miraculously bringing fire to consume the sacrifice. to thee. Who answered: I wil tarie thy coming. † Gedeon therfore 19 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 20 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 21 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 22 Lord, said: Alas my Lord God: that I haue seene the Angel our Lord face to face. † And our Lord said to him: Peace 23 be with thee: feare not, thou shalt not die. † And Gedeon 24 built there An altar for a monument, not for sacrifice. 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 25 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 26 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 27 taking to him ten men of his seruantes, did as our Lord had commanded him. But fearing his fathers house, and the men of that citie, he would not doe it by day, but accomplished al thinges by night. † And when the men of that towne were 28 [Page 529] risen in the morning, they saw the altar of Baal destroyed, and the groue cut downe, and the other bullocke laid vpon the altar, which then was built, † They said one to an other: 29 who hath done this? And when they inquired for the author of the fact, it was said: Gedeon the sonne of Ioas did al these thinges. † And they said to Ioas: Bring forth thy sonne hither, 30 that he may die: because he hath destroyed the altar of Baal, and hath cut downe his groue. † To whom he answered: 31 Why are you reuengers of Baal, that you fight for him? he that is his aduersarie, let him die before to morrow light appeare: if he be God, reuenge he him self, on him that hath raysed his altar. † From that day Gedeon was called The strength of Baal, or stronger then Baal. Ierobaal, 32 because Ioas had said: Let Baal reuenge him self on him, that hath raysed his altar. † Therefore al Madian, and 33 Amalec, and the east peoples were gathered together, and passing ouer Iordan, camped in the vaile Iezrael. † But the spirit 34 of our Lord reuested Gedeon, who sounding with a trumpet called together the house of Abiezer, to folow him. † And 35 he sent messengers into al Manasses, which it selfe also did folow him: and other messengers into Aser and Zabulon and Nepthali, which mette him. † And Gedeon said to God: If 36 thou saue Israel by my hand, as thou hast spoken, † I wil putte 37 this fleece of wool on the floore: if there shal be Dew first in the fleece and after on the ground signified grace and true religion first in one people, after in al nations. Sainct Amb. Ser. 13. de Natal Dom. Venr. Beda. qq) in Iudic. c. 4. Also Christs Incarnation without detriment of his mothers virginitie, of whose grace al are replenished S. Bernard. ho. 2. in Missus est. dew in the fleece onlie, and on al the ground drienes, I shal know that by my hand, as thou hast spoken, thou wilt deliuer Israel. † And it came so to passe. And rysing in the night wringing 38 the fleece, he filled a vessel with the dew. † And he said 39 againe to God: Let not thy furie be angry against me if I tempt once againe, seeking a signe in the fleece. I desire that the fleece onlie may be drie, and al the ground wette with dew. † And God did that night as he had requested: and there was 40 drienes in the fleece onlie, and dew on al the ground.

CHAP. VII. Gedeon marching with thirtie two thousand men, al that are fearful, and that drinke water kneeling are dimissed, & onlie three hundred that drinke litle remaine, 9 By a Madianites dreame Gedeonis encouraged. 16 By a stratageme the enemie is frihgted & ouerthrowne. 24. The Ephraites kil Oreb and Zeb.

THERFORE, Ierobaal, which is also Gedeon, rysing 1 in the night, and al the people with him, came to the fountaine that is called Harad▪ and the campe of Madian was [Page 530] in the valley on the North side of the high hil. † And our 2 Lord said to Gedeon: There is much people with thee, neither shal Madian be deliuered into their hand: lest Israel glorie against me, and say: By myne owne force I am deliuered. † Speake to the people, and proclame in al their hearing: 3 He that is fearful and timorous, let him returne. And they departed from mount Galaad, and there returned two and twentie thousand men, and onlie ten thousand remained. † And our Lord said to Gedeon: Yet there is a great multitude, 4 leade them to the waters, and there I wil proue them: and of whom I shal tel thee that he goe with thee, let him goe: whom I shal forbid to goe, let him returne. † And when 5 the people were come downe to the waters, our Lord said to Gedeon: They that shal lappe the water with their tongues, as dogges are wont to lappe, thou shalt separate them apart: but they that shal drinke bowing downe their knees, shal be on the other part. † The number therfore of them that had 6 lapped watter, their hand casting it to their mouth, was three hundred men: and al the rest of the multitude had drunck kneeling. † And our Lord said to Gedeon: In the three 7 hundred men, that lapped water, I wil deliuer you, and geue Madian in thy hand: but let al the rest of the multitude returne into their place. † Taking therfore victuals and trumpettes 8 according to the number, al the rest of the multitude he commanded to depart to their tabernacles: and him selfe with the three hundred gaue him selfe to the battel. And the campe of Madian was beneath in the valley. † The same 9 night our Lord said to him: Arise, and goe downe into the campe: because I haue deliuered them into thy hand. † But 10 if thou be afraid to goe alone, let Phara thy seruant goe downe with thee. † And when thou shalt heare what they 11 speake, then shal thy handes be strengthned, and thou shalt goe downe more secure to the enemies campe. He therfore went downe and Phara his seruant into part of the campe, where the watch was of men in armes. † But Madian and 12 Amalec, and al the East peoples lay scattered in the valley, as a multitude of locustes▪ their camels also were innumerable, as the sand that lieth in the sea shore. † And when Gedeon was 13 come, one told his neighbour Obseruation of dreames is generally forbid. Leuit. 19. v. 26. Deut. 18 v. 10. yet here, and in other places, it is euident, God would haue some obserued. See Annot. Gen. 40. a dreame: & in this manner he reported that which he had seene: I [...]aw a dreame, & there semed to me as it were a harth loafe of barlie to roll, & to come [Page 531] into the campe of Madian: and when it was come to the tabernacle, it stroke it, and ouerthrew it, and beate it al flatte with the earth. † He to whom he spake, answered: This 14 is no other thing, but the sword of Gedeon the sonne of Ioas the man of Israel. For the Lord hath deliuered Madian into his handes, and al their campe. † And when 15 Gedeon had heard the dreame, and the interpretation therof, he adored: and turned to the campe of Israel, and said: Arise ye, for our Lord hath deliuered the campe of Madian into our handes. † And he diuided the three hundred men into three 16 partes, and gaue them trumpettes in their handes, and These thinges were ridiculous (saieth venerab. Beda c. 5. qq▪ in Iudic.) if they had not bene terrible to the enemies. emptie pitchers, and lampes in the middes of their pitchers. † And he said to them: What you shal see me doe, that doe 17 ye: I wil enter into part of the campe, and that which I shal doe folow you. † When the trumpet shal sound in my hand, 18 doe you also sound and crie together round about the campe: To our Lord It is no derogation to God, that honour is also geuen to his seruantes. and to Gedeon. † And Gedeon went in, and 19 the three hundred that were with him, into part of the campe, the watch of midnight beginning, and raysing vp the watch men they began to sound with their Trumpetes signified preachers of Christ, pitchers the bodies of Martyres, & lampes their vertues and miracles. Vener. Beda. qq. in Iudic. c. 5. trumpettes, and to clappe the pitchers one against an other. † And when they 20 sounded in three places round about the campe, and had broken the pitchers, they held the lampes in the left handes, and with the right they sounded the trumpettes, and cried: The sword of our Lord and of Gedeon: † standing euerie 21 one in his place round about the enemies campe. Therfore the whole campe was trubled, and crying out and howling they fled: † and the three hundred men neuertheles persisted 22 sounding with the trumpettes. And our Lord sent in the sword in al the campe, and they murdered one an other, † fleeing as farre as Bethsetta, and the brinke of Abelmehula 23 in Tebbath. But the men of Israel of Nephthali, and Aser shoutting together, and al Manasses pursewed Madian. † And Gedeon sent messengers into al mount Ephraim, 24 saying: Come downe to meete Madian, and take the waters before them to Bethbera and Iordan. And al Ephraim shouted, and tooke the waters before them and Iordan vnto Bethbera. † And two men that were apprehended of Madian, 25 Oreb, and Zeb: Oreb he slew in the Rocke of Oreb, Zeb [...]n the Presse of Zeb. And they pursewed Madian, carying the heades of Oreb and Zeb to Gedeon beyond the streames of Iordan.

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CHAP. VIII. The Ephr [...]imites quareling because they were not called to the Warres, are pacified by Gedeon. 4. The men of Soccoth and Phanuil denying victuals for the campe, Gedeon (in the meane time (10.) ouerthrowing the enemie) 15. reuengeth their reprochful contempt. 18. killeth Sebee and Salmana. 22. refuseth dominion, 24. but receiueth as a gift, the Iewels taken in the praye. 27. maketh therof an Ephod, which turneth to the ruine of his familie, 30. Hauing seuentie sonnes by his wiues, and one by a concubine, dieth in good old age. 33. and the people fal againe to idolatrie.

AND the men of Ephraim said to him: What is this that 1 thou didst meane to doe, that thou wouldest not cal vs when thou didst goe to fight against Madian? chyding bitterly and almost offering violence. † To whom he answered: 2 A soft answer breaketh anger: hard speach stirreth vp furie Prou. 15. What could I haue done like to that, which you haue done. Is not the cluster of Ephraim better then the vintages of Abiezer? † Into your handes hath our Lord deliuered the 3 princes of Madian, Oreb and Zeb, what could I haue done the like as you haue done? Which when he had spoken, their spirit rested, wherwith they did swel against him. † And 4 when Gedeon was come to Iordan, he passed ouer it with the three hundred men, that were with him: and for wearines, they could not pursew them that fled. † And he said to the 5 men of Soccoth: Geue, I beseech you, bread to the people, that is with me, because they are verie faint: that we may pursew Zebee, and Salmana the kinges of Madian. † The 6 princes of Soccoth answered: Peraduenture the palmes of the handes of Zebee and Salmana are in thy hand, & therfore thou requirest that we geue bread to thy armie. † To whom he 7 said: When our Lord therfore shal haue deliuered Zebee and Salmana into my handes, I wil teare your flesh with the thornes, and briers of the desert. † And going vp from 8 thence, he came into Phanuel: and he spake to the men of that place the like thinges. To whom they also answered, as the men of Soccoth had answered. † He said therfore to 9 them also: When I shal be returned conquerour in peace, I wil destroy this towre. † But Zebee and Salmana rested 10 with al their armie. For fiftene thousand men were remayning of al the troupes of the East peoples, an hundred and twentie thousand fighting men and those that drew sword, being slayne. † And Gedeon going vp by the way of them, 11 [Page 533] that dwelt in tabernacles, on the East side of Nobe, and Iegbaa, stroke the campe of the enemies, which were secure, and suspected no mischance. † And Zebee and Salmana fled, 12 whom Gedeon pursewing apprehended, al their hoste being put out of aray. † And returning from the battel before 13 sunne rysing, † he tooke a boy of the men of Soccoth: and 14 he asked him the names of the princes and ancientes of Soccoth, and he described seuentie seuen men. † And he came 15 to Soccoth, and said to them: Behold Zebee, and Salmana concerning whom you vpbraided me, saying: Peraduenture the handes of Zebee and Salmana are in thy handes, and therfore thou desirest that we geue bread to the men that bewearie, and are fainte. † He tooke therfore the ancientes of 16 the citie, and thornes and briers of the desert, and tore them with the same, and cut the men of Soccoth into pieces. † The tower also of Phanuel he ouerthrew, killing the inhabitantes 17 of the citie. † And he said to Zebee and Salmana: 18 What manner of men were they, whom you slew in Thabor? Who answared: Like vnto thee, and one of them as it were the sonne of a king. † To whom he answered: They were 19 my brethren, the sonnes of my mother. Our Lord liueth, that if you had saued them, Zebee and Salmana were not of anie of the seuen nations, whom God commanded to destroy and therfore Gedeon might haue spared their liues, if he would. I would not kil you. † And he said 20 to Iether his eldest sonne: Arise, and kil them. Who drew not out his sword: for he was afraid, because he was yet a boy. † And Zebee and Salmana said: Doe thou rise, and runne 21 vpon vs: because according to his age is the strength of a man. Gedeon rose vp, and slew Zebee and Salmana: and he tooke the ornamentes and bosses, wherwith the neckes of kinges camels are wont to be adorned. † And al the men of Israel 22 said to Gedeon: Kinges may do ante thing not contrarie to the law: but Iudges & Dukes may onlie do according to the law. See. 1. Reg. 8. Rule thou ouer vs, and thy sonne, and thy sonnes sonne: because thou hast deliuered vs from the hand of Madian. † To whom he said: I wil not rule ouer you, 23 neither shal my sonne rule ouer you, but our Lord shal rule ouer you. † And he said to them: One petition I request of 24 you: Geue me the earlettes of your praye. For the Ismalites were accustomed to haue golden earlettes. † Who answered: 25 we wil geue them most willingly. And spreading a mantel on the ground, they cast on it the earlettes of the praye: † and the weight of the earlettes that he desired, was a thousand 26 fiue hundred sicles of gold, besides the ornamentes, and iewels, and purple vesture, which the kinges of Madian were [Page 534] wont to vse, and besides the golden chaines of the camels, † And Gedeon made therof an Ephod, and put it in his citie 27 Ephra. And al Israel did fornicate in it, and it became a ruine to Gedeon and to al his house. † But Madian was humbled 28 before the children of Israel, neither could they any more lift vp their neckes: but the land rested for fourtie yeares, wherin Gedeon ruled. † Ierobaal therfore the sonne of Ioas 29 went, and dwelt in his owne house: † and he had seuentie 30 sonnes, which came out of his thigh, because he had manie wiues. † And his His handmaide o [...] seruant not a harlotte: to wit, such a one as had not the priuiledge of a wife. as Gen. 25. v. 6. concubine, which he had in Sichem, 31 bare him a sonne named Abimelec. † And Gedeon the sonne 32 of Ioas died in a good old age, & was buried in the sepulchre of his father in Ephra of the familie of Ezri. † But after that 33 Gedeon was dead, the children of Israel were auerted, and did fornicate with Baalim. And they made a couenant with Baal, that he should be their God: † neither did they remember our 34 Lord their God, which deliuered them out of the handes of al their enemies round about: † neither did they mercie with 35 the house of Ierobaal Gedeon, according to al the benefites that he had done to Israel.

CHAP. IX. Abimelech Gedeons concubins sonne killeth his brethren, 7. onlie the yongest escapeth, & by aparable expostulateth the iniurie donne to his fathers house. 23. Shortly the Sichemites detest Abimelech. 26. Ga [...]l conspireth against him, but is ouercome. 50. Finally Abimalech is wounded to death by a woman.

AND This sonne of Gedeon by his seruant prefigured Antichrist who wil persecute the Church and reigne for a while: but in the end shal be destroyed. S. Beda c. 6. qq in Iudic. Abimelech the sonne of Ierobaal went into 1 Sichem to his mothers brethren and spake to them, and to al the kinred of the house of his mothers father, saying: † Speake to al the men of Sichem: whether is better 2 for you, that seuentie men haue dominion ouer you al the sonnes of Ierobaal, or that one man haue dominion ouer you? and withal consider that I am your bone, and your flesh. † And his mothers brethren spake of him to al the men of 3 Sichem, al these wordes, and inclined their hartes after Abimelech, saying: He is our brother. † And they gaue him seuentie 4 weight of siluer out of the temple of Baalberit. Who hyred therewith vnto him self needie men and vagaboundes, and they folowed him. † And he came into his fathers house 5 in Ephra, and murdered his brethren the sonnes of Ierobaal [Page 535] seuentie men, vpon one stone: and there remayned Ioatham the youngest sonne of Ierobaal, and was hidde. † And al the 6 men of Sichem assembled together al the families of the citie of Mello: and they went & made Abimelech king, beside the oke, that stood in Sichem. † Which being told to Ioatham, 7 he went, True pastores in the time of Antichrist wil still auouch the truth and the right of the Church. and stoode in the toppe of mount Garizim: and lifting vp his voice, he cried, and said: Heare me ye men of Sichem, so as God may heare you. † “The trees went to 8 anointe a king ouer them: and they said to the Oyle spiritually signifieth the grace of the Holie Ghost, making peace of conscience in mens soules towardes God. oliue tree: Reigne ouer vs. † Which answered: Can I forsake my fatnes, 9 which both goddes do vse, and men, and come to be promoted among the trees? † And the trees said to the 10 The swetnes of Gods law producing good workes. figge tree: Come, and take the kingdome ouer vs. † Which 11 answered them: Can I forsake my sweetenes, and my most sweete fruites, and go to be promoted among the other trees? † And the trees spake to the Contemtible in outward shew, but bringing forth liquour of meruelous force; which sorte of workes God is most delighted withal: and men most admire. Psal. 85 vine: Come, and reigne ouer 12 vs. † Which answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that 13 chereth God and men, & be promoted among the other trees? † And the trees said to The rhamnus signifieth base and ambicious men. the brierre bramble [...]rthistle. rhamnus: Come, and reigne 14 ouer vs. † Who answered them: If in deede you make me 15 your king, Come, and rest vnder my shadow: but if you meane it not, let there fyre issue forth of the rhamnus, and deuoure the ceders of Libanus. † Now therfore, if you haue 16 wel, and without sinne appointed Abimelech king ouer you, and haue dealt wel with Ierobaal, and with his house, and haue requitted him the like for his benefites, who fought for you, † and put his life in dangers, that he might deliuer 17 you from the hand of Madian, † who now are risen against 18 my fathers house, and haue killed his sonnes seuentie men vpon one stone, and haue made Abimelech the sonnè of his handmaide king ouer the inhabitantes of Sichem, because he is your brother. † If therfore you haue dealt wel, and without 19 fault with Ierobaal, and his house, reioyse this day in Abimelech, and reioyse he in you. † But if vniustly: let there 20 fyre issue forth from him, and consume the inhabitantes of Sichem, and towne of Mello: and let there fire goe forth from the men of Sichem, and from the towne of Mello, and deuoure Abimelech. † Which thinges when he had said, he 21 fled, and went into Bera: and dwelt there for feare of Abimelech his brother. † Abimelech therfore reigned ouet Israel 22 three yeares. † And our Lord sent God doth suggest only good cogitations▪ as remo [...]e of conscience in the seche [...]tes, for their ingratitude towardes Gedeon and for so wicked and cruel a murder of his sonnes▪ wherupon they begāne to detest Abimelec and, so hatred grew betwen him & them, which is a most euil spirite▪ but their former sinne, not God, was the cause therof. S. Aug. q. 45. in Iudic. a verie euil spirit betwen 23 [Page 536] Abimelech and the inhabitantes of Sichem: Who began to detest him, † and to lay the wickednes of the murdering of 24 the seuentie sonnes of Ierobaal, and the sheading of their bloud vpon Abimelech their brother, and vpon the rest of the princes of the Sichimites, that had holpen him. † And they 25 sette an ambushment against him on the toppe of the mountaines: and whiles they taryed for his coming, they committed robberies, taking prayes of them that passed by: and it was told Abimelech. † And Gaal the sonne of Obed came 26 with his brethen, and passed into Sichem. At whose coming the inhabitantes of Sichem taking courage, † issued forth 27 into the fieldes, wasting the vineyardes, and treading the grapes: and gathering companies of musicions went into the temple of their god, and in their bankettes and cuppes cursed Abimelech, † Gaal the sonne of Obed crying: Who is Abimelech, 28 and what is Sichem, that we should serue him? Is he not the sonne of Ierobaal, and hath made Zebul his seruant prince ouer the men of Empor the father of Sichem? Why then shal we serue him? † would God that some man would geue 29 this people vnder my hand, that I might take Abimelech out of the way. And some said to Abimelech: Gather together a multitude of an armie, and come. † For Zebul the prince of 30 the citie, hearing the wordes of Gaal the sonne of Obed, was very wrath, † and sent messengers secretely to Abimelech, 31 saying: Behold, Gaal the sonne of Obed is come into Sichem with his brethren, and rayseth the citie against thee † Arise 32 therfore in the night with the people, that is with thee, and lie hidde in the field: † and betimes in the morning at sunne 33 rysing, sette vpon the citie. And when he issueth forth against thee with his people, do to him what thou shalt be able. † Abimelech therfore arose with al his armie in the night, and 34 laide ambushementes nere to Sichem in foure places. † And 35 Gaal the sonne of Obed went forth, & stoode in the entrance of the gate of the citie. And Abimelech rose, and al his armie with him from the place of the ambushmentes. † And when 36 Gaal had seene the people, he said to Zebul: Behold a multitude cometh downe from the mountaines. To whom he answered: Thou seest the shadowes of the mountaines as it were heades of men, and with this errour thou art deceiued. † Againe Gaal said: Behold there cometh downe people from 37 the nauel of the land, and one trouppe cometh by the way, [Page 537] that looketh to the oke. † To whom Zebul said: Where is 38 now thy mouth, wherwith thou didst speake? Who is Abimelech that we should serue him? Is not this the people, which thou didst despise? Goe forth, and fight against him. † Gaal therfore went, the people of the Sichimites looking 39 on, and fought against Abimelech, † who pursewed him 40 fleeing, and driue him into the citie: and there were slaine of his part manie, vnto the gate of the citie: † and Abimelech 41 sate in Ruma: but Zebul expelled Gaal, and his companions out of the citie, neither did he suffer them to abide in it. † Therfore the day folowing the people went 42 forth into the field. Which being told to Abimelech, † he 43 tooke his armie, and diuided it into three troupes, setting ambushmentes in the fieldes. And seeing that the people came out of the citie, he arose, & set vpon them † with his owne 44 troupe, oppugning and besieging the citie: and two troupes scattered through the field pursewed the aduersaries. † Moreouer 45 Abimelech al that day oppugned the citie: which he tooke, & killed the inhabitantes therof, and destroyed it, so that he For more reuenge he sowed the citie with salte, which maketh ground barren, Theod. q. 17. in lib. Iudie. sowed salt in it. † Which when they had heard 46 that dwelt in the towre of Sichem, they entered into the temple of their god Berith, where they had made a couenant with him, and therof the place had taken his name, which was exceding wel fensed. † Abimelech also hearing that the 47 men of the towre of Sichem were gathered together, † he 48 went vp into mount Selmon with al his people: and taking an axe, he cut of the bough of a tree, and laying it on his shoulder & carying it, he said to his companions: That which you see me do, doe ye out of hand. † They therfore cutting 49 of boughes from the trees, euerie man as fast as he could, folowed their captaine. Who compassing the forte burnt it: and so it came to passe, that with the smoke and the fyre a thousand persons were slaine, men and wemen together, of the inhabitantes of the towre of Sichem. † And Abimelech 50 departing thence came to the towne of Thebes, which compassing he besieged with his armie. † And there was in the 51 middes of the citie an high towre, to the which were fled both men and wemen together, and al the princes of the citie, the gate being shut very strongly, and they standing vpon the batlementes of the towre by the bulwarkes. † And Abimelech coming nere the towre, fought manfully: 52 [Page 538] and approching to the doore, endeuoured to put fire vnder it: † and behold one woman casting from aboue a peece of a 53 milstone, Euels shal betide the vniust man to destruction. Psal. 139. dashed it against the head of Abimelech, and brake his brayne. † Who called by and by his esquire, and 54 said to him: Draw out thy sword, and strike me: lest perhaps it be said that I was slaine of a woman. Who doing as he was commanded slew him. † And when he was dead, al that 55 were with him of Israel, returned into their seates: † and 56 God repayed the euil, that Abimelech had done against his father, killing his seuentie brethren. † The Sichemites were 57 also rewarded for that which they had wrought, and the curse of Ioatham the sonne of Ierobaal came vpon them.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. IX.

8. The trees went to annoint a king.] According to the historie Ioatham Gedeons Vngtatful people render iniuries for benefites. youngest sonne, by a parable iustly expostulateth the iniurie donne by the Sichemites to his fathers house, in preferring a base bound womans sonne, and cruelly murdering the rest of his sonnes: who with much trauel, and manie dangers of his owne life, had deliuered them from seruitude. But in the spiritual sense, which (as the ancient fathers note) is chiefly intended, Idolaters and Heretikes are reproued, who rather accept of vniust vsu [...]pe [...]s, that wil serue Infidels promote wicked men to authoritie. their licentious appetites, and mantaine vice and wickednes, then to be ruled by iust and lawful Superiors, appointed by Gods ordinance, indued with grace of the Holie Ghost (signified by the oliue tree;) such as bring forth wholsome swete vertues (signified by the sigge tree;) and are replenished with admirable fortitude (signified by the vine tree▪) and in their places set vp base, ambitious, Abimelech a figure of Antichrist. crnel, and crabbed spirites, signified by the bramble, or brere. Thus Nemrod, Abimelech, Mahomet, and innumerable other tyrantes haue benne aduanced, & especially Antichrist shal be extolled aboue al that is called God, or is vvorshipped, and 2. Thess. 2. shal most cruelly persecute al Chatholiques, that wil not conforme them selues to his procedings. But in fine (as here is prefigured in Abimelech) sire shal rise against this bramble Antichrist, and shal denoure him and al his together. S. Beda. 99. in lib. Iudic. c. 6.

CHAP. X. Thola ruleth in Israel twentie three yeares. 3. lair twentie two. 6. The people fal againe to idolatrie, are afflicted by the Philisthimes, and Ammonites. 10. they▪ crie to God for helpe, who biddeth them cal for helpe to the goddes whom they haue serued. 16. but crying stil to God, and throwing away their idoles, he hath compassion of them.

AFTER Abimelech there arose Ruler in Israel Thola the 1 sonne of Phua the vncle of Abimelech, a man of Issachar, which dwelt in Samir of mount Ephraim: † and iudged 2 [Page 539] Israel three and twentie yeares, and died and was buried in Samir. † After him succeded Iair the Galaadite, who iudged 3 Israel for two and twentie yeares, † hauing thirtie sonnes sitting 4 vpon thirtie asse coltes, & princes of thirtie cities, which of his name were called Hauoth Iair, that is, the townes of Iair, vntil this present day in the Land of Galaad. † And 5 Iair died; and was buried in the place, which is called Camon. † But the children of Israel ioyning new sinnes to 6 their old, did euil in the sight of our Lord, & serued the Idols, Baalim and Astaroth, & the goddes of Syria and of Sidon and of Moab and of the children of Ammon and of the Philisthimes: and they left our Lord, and did not serue him. † Against 7 whom our Lord being wrath, deliuered them into the handes of the Philisthijms and of the children of Ammon. † And they were afflicted, and sore opressed for eightene 8 yeares, al that dwelt beyond Iordan in the Land of the Amorrheite, which is in Galaad: † in so much, that the children 9 of Ammon passing ouer Iordan, wasted Iudas and Beniamin and Ephraim: and Israel was afflicted exceedingly. † And 10 crying to our Lord, they said: We haue sinned to thee, because we haue forsaken our Lord God & haue serued Baalim. † To whom our Lord spake: Haue not the Aegyptians and 11 the Ammorrheites, and the children of Ammon and the Philisthijms, † the Sidonians also and Amalech and Chanaan 12 oppressed you, & you cried to me, and I deliuered you out of their hand? † And yet you haue forsaken me, and haue worshipped 13 strange goddes: therfore I wil not adde to deliuer you any more: † goe and inuocate the goddes which you 14 haue chosen: let them deliuer you in the time of distresse. † And the children of Israel said to our Lord: We haue sinned, 15 render to vs whatsoeuer pleaseth thee: only now deliuer vs. † In saying which thinges, Not euerie one that sayeth: Lord, Lord but he tha [...] doth the wil of God, &c. Mat. 7. they threw away out of their 16 coastes al the idols of strange goddes, and serued our Lord God: who sorowed for their miseries. † Therfore the children 17 of Ammon crying together pitcht their tentes in Galaad: against whom the children of Israel being assembled camped in Maspha. † And the princes of Galaad said euerie 18 one to their neighbours: Who of vs shal first beginne to fight against the children of Ammon, shal be the duke of the people of Galaad.

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CHAP. XI. Iephte reiected by his brethrens, is intreated by the ancientes of Galaad to returne and fight for them against the Ammonites. 12. with whom he first pleadeth the cause of Israel by iust reasons, 26. and long prescription. But they persisting obstinate, he (30. inconsideratly vowing) 32. ouerthroweth them, 34. and sacrificeth his onlie daughter.

THERE was at that time Iephte the Galaadite a most valiant 1 man and a warrier, the sonne of a woman that was The hebrew word Z [...]nah signifieth also [...]n [...]n keeper. an harlot, who was borne of Galaad. † And Galaad had a 2 wife of whom he had sonnes: who after they were growen, cast out Iepthte, saying: Thou canst not be heyre in the house of our father, because thou art borne of an other mother. † Whom he fleeing and auoyding, dwelt in the Land of Tob: 3 and there were gathered to him needie men, and theeui [...]h, and folowed him as their prince. † In those dayes the children of 4 Ammon fought against Israel. † who pressing sore vpon them, 5 the ancientes of Galaad went to take Iephte out of the Land of Tob to helpe them: † and they saied to him: Come and be 6 our prince, and fight against the children of Ammon. † To 7 whom he answered: Are not you they that hated me, and cast me out of my fathers house, and now are come to me forced by necessitie. † And the princes of Galaad said to Iephte: For 8 this cause be we now If they had not concurred to his expulsion, it might haue sufficed to haue sent for him, but in this case the ancientes iudged it meete to goe in person, and to in treat him. So Christ was reiected by the Iewes, and returneth not to them til in the end of the world they shal seeke vnto him. [...]. Aug. q. 49. in Iudic. post [...]e [...]iū. come to thee, that thou goe forth with vs, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be the captaine of al that dwell in Galaad. † Iephte also said to them: 9 If you be come to me sincerly, that I should fight for you against the children of Ammon, and if our Lord deliuer them into my handes, shal I be your prince? † Who answered him: 10 Our Lord which heareth these thinges, him selfe is mediatour and witnes that we wil doe as we haue promised. † Iephte therfore went with the princes of Galaad, and al 11 the people made him their prince. And Iephte spake al his wordes before our Lord in Maspha. † And he sent messengers 12 to the king of the children of Ammon, which should say in his person: What is betwen me and thee, that thou art come against me, to wast my Land? † To whom he answered: 13 Because Israel tooke my land, when he ascended out of Aegypt, from the coasts of Arnon vnto Iaboc and Iordan▪ now therfore with peace restore the same to me. † By whom Iephte 14 againe sent word, and commanded them that they should say [Page 541] to the king of Ammon: † Thus sayth Iephte: Israel did not 15 take the Land of Moab, nor the Land of the children of Ammon: † but when they ascended out of Aegypt, he walked 16 through the desert vnto the Readsea, and came into Cades. † And he sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying: Suffer 17 Num. 20 me that I may passe through thy land. Who would not condescend to his requestes. He sent also to the king of Moab, who also him selfe contemned to geue passage. He abode therfore in Cades, † and compassed the Land of Edom at the 18 side, and the land of Moab: and came against the East quarter of the Land of Moab, and camped beyond Arnon: neither would he enter the boundes of Moab: for Arnon is the border of the Land of Moab. † Israel therfore sent messengers to 19 Sehon the king of the Ammorrhei [...]es, who dwelt in Hesebon, and they said to him▪ Suffer me to passe through thy land vnto the riuer. † Who also him selfe despising the wordes of 20 Israel, suffered him not to passe through his borders: but gathering an infinite multitude went forth against him into Iasa, and resisted strongly. † And our Lord deliuered him into 21 the handes of Israel with al his armie, and he stroke him, and possessed al the Land of the Ammorrheite the inhabiter of that countrie, † and al the coastes therof from Arnon vnto 22 Iaboc, & from the wildernes vnto Iordan. † Our Lord therfore 23 the God of Israel subuerted the Amorrheite, his people of Israel fighting against him, and wilt thou now possesse his land? † Are not those thinges which In the opinion of infidels, it semed that they possess [...]d countries by the helpe of false goddes, and so they thought them selues to haue iust title. Much more iust is the title when God almighty geueth victorie of conquest. S. Aug. q. 48. in Iudie. Chamos thy God possessed, 24 dew to thee by right? But the thinges that our Lord God hath obteyned conquerour, shal come to our possession: † vnlesse perhaps thou be better then Balac the sonne of Sephor 25 the king of Moab: or canst shew, that he wrangled against Israel, and fought against him, † when he dwelt in Hesebon, 26 and the litle to w [...]es therof, and in Aroer, and the townes therof, or in al the cities nere Iordan, for He argueth vpon prescription of 300. yeares being nere so much. for there wanted scarce thirtie: being from the conquest made by Moyses ( Num. 21.) til the time of Iephte about 270. yeares. three hundred yeares. Wherfore haue you so long attempted nothing for reclaime? † Therfore I doe not sinne against thee, but thou 27 doest euil against me, denouncing me vniust warres. Our Lord be iudge the arbiter of this day betwen Israel, and betwen the children of Ammon. † And the king of the children of 28 Ammon would not harken to the wordes of Iephte, which he sent him by the messengers. † Therfore the spirite of our 29 Lord came vpon Iephte, and circuiting Galaad, and Manasses. [Page 542] Maspha also of Galaad, and thence passing to the children of Ammon, † he vowed a vow to our Lord, saying: If thou 30 wil [...] deliuer the children of Ammon into my handes, † This vow was vnlawful, for the law forbiddeth to offer man or woman in sacrifice Exo. 34. v. 20. Deut. 12. v. 31. whosoeuer shal first come forth out of the doores of my 31 house, and shal meete me returning with peace from the children of Ammon, him wil I offer an holocauste to our Lord. † And Iephte passed to the children of Ammon, to fight 32 against them: whom our Lord deliuered into his handes. † and he stroke from Aroer til thou come to Mennith, 33 twentie cities, and as farre as Abel, which is sette with vineyardes, with a very great plague. and the children of Ammon were humbled by the children of Israel. † But Iephte returning 34 into Maspha to his house, his onlie begotten daughter mette him with tymbrels and daunces. for he had not other children. † Whom when he saw, he rent his gatmentes, 35 and said: Wo is me my daughter thou hast deceiued me, and thy self art deceiued: for I haue opened my mouth to our Lord, and I can doe no other thing. † To whom she answered: 36 My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth to our Lord, do vnto me whatsoeuer thou hast promised, the reuenge and victorie of thyne enemies being granted to thee. † And she said to her father: This only graunt me which I 37 desire: Suffer me that two monethes I may goe about the mountaines, and In the old testament mariage was ordinarily preferred before single life but in the new, it is better to kepe virginity 1. Cor. [...]. [...]. 38. bewayle my virginitie with my felowes. † To whom he answered: Goe. And he dismissed her two 38 monethes. And when she was gone with her felowes and companions, she mourned her virginitie in the mountaines. † And the two monethes being expired, she returned to 39 her father, and he“ did to her as he had vowed, who knew not man. Thence forth a fashion in Israel, and a custome was kept: † that after the compasse of a yeare the daughters of 40 Israel assemble together, and mourne the daughter of Iephte the Galaadite foure dayes.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XI.

[...]9. Did to her as he had vovved▪] VVhether Iephte did wel or no in sacrificing his daughter, hauing vowed to offer in sacrifice whosoeuer (or whatsoeuer) should first mete him returning with victorie, as it hapened she did, is a great and hard question, saieth S. Augustin ( q. 49. in lib. Iudic) and not easily decided, the holie Iephte offended in vowing vndiscretly. But not in performing his vow as ancient fathers thinke more probable. scripture neither approuing nor reprouing his fact▪ Neuertheles by conference of other scriptures and discourse of reason, he iudgeth it most probablo that [Page 543] Iephte offended in vowing without special warrant from God, to sacrifice, that which by the law was not sacrificable; yet [...]inned not in performing his vow, but rather pacified God therby, whose wil it semed to be, that for punishment of his sinne he should sacrifice his daughter, because by his diuine prouidence she first mette him: and the omission might rather haue benne for his natural loue towards his onlie childe, then for the vnlawfulnes of the sacrifice: seing it once pleased God to command Abraham to immolate his sonno Isaac, though when it came to execution▪ he forbade the same, appointing an other hoste in place of the childe, which here he did not. Neither was it iniurious to the daughter, seing she, as al mankinde, must once die when God appointeth. Yea further S. Augustin. she offered her self freely (which semed to be by Gods instinct) willing her father to do to her whatsoeuer he had promised to God. This is the summe of S. Augustins large discourse. Likewise S. Ambrose ( li. 3. de Officiis c. 12.) supposeth assuredly that this prince Iephte offended in vowing vn [...]duisedly, for S. Ambrose. it also repented him, when his daughter first mette him: yet that with godlie feare and dreade he performed to his owne bitter paine that which he had promised: inst [...]ting an anniuersarie lamentation of his daughter, for a warning to posteri [...] of more circumspection in making vowes. S. Hierom also ( li. 1. aduers. Io [...]i [...].) approueth their opinion that say: It was Gods ordinance Iephte S. Hierom. should se [...]e the errour of his vnaduised vow, by the death of his daughter, for a document to others. The very same teacheth S. Chrisostom, ( [...]o. 14. ad pop. Antioch.) that God would haue this errour to be thus punished, that others S. Chrysostom. might be warned from vowing the like. S. Gregoire Naziazen ( orat. de [...]achab [...]) preferring the martyrdome of the seuen brothers and their mother, befor this sacrifice of Iephte as more aduised, and more honorable, yet condemneth S. Gregorie Nazianzen. not this, but recounteth it amongst other commendable actes. Theodoret ( q. 19. in Iudic.) and al the afore said fathers do highly commend the daughters Theodoret. promptnes in offering her self to be sacrificed, which either much extenuated he [...] fathers fault, or wholly iustified his fact. Thus the ancient fathers moderate their censures. Yet a new glosser of the English Bible without scruple Bible [...]603. Protestants censure. sayeth, that by his [...]ash vow, and vvicked performance his victorie vvas defaced; and againe, that he was ouercome vvith blinde Zele, not considering whether the vow was lawful or no.

CHAP. XII. Ephraites rising against Iephte, fourtie two thousand of them are slaine. 8. Abesan is Iudge. 11. After him Abialon 13. Then Abdon.

BVT behold in Ephraim there arose a sedition. For they 1 passing against the North, said to Iephte: Going to fight against the children of Ammon, why wouldst thou not cal vs, that we might goe with thee? Therfore we wil burne thy house. † To whom he answered: I and my people were at 2 great strife against the children of Ammon: and I called you, that you should ayde me, and you would not doe it. † Which 3 I seeing That, is expose [...] my self to danger trusting to Gods helpe & [...]y [...] owne handes, when others would not assist me. put my life in myne owne handes, and passed to the children of Ammon, and our Lord deliuered them into my handes. What haue I deserued, that you rise against me in battel. † Therfore al the men of Galaad being called to him, 4 [Page 544] he fought against Ephraim: and the men of Galaad stroke Ephraim, because he had said: Iephte being of Manasses tribe the Ephraites enuied his glorie and calumniously obiected that he and his followers were fugitiues so raised a tumulte to their owne [...]e. Galaad is a fugitiue of Ephraim, and dwelleth in the middes of Ephraim and Manasses. † And the Galaadites tooke the fordes of Iordan, by 5 the which Ephraim was to returne. And when there had come to the same one of the number of Ephraim, fleeing and had said: I besech you let me passe: The Galaadites said to him: Art thou not an Ephraite? Who saying: I am not: † they 6 asked him: Say then Schibboleth, which is interpreted an Eare of corne. Who answered, Sibboleth, not being able by the same letter to expresse, an eare of corne. And immediatly being apprehended they killed him in the very passage of Iordan. And there fel at that time of Ephraim two and fourtie thousand. † Therfore Iephte the Galaadite iudged Israel 7 six yeares: and he died, and was buried in his citie of Galaad. † After him Abesan of Bethlehem iudged Israel: † who had 8 9 thirtie sonnes, and as manie daughters, which he sending abrode, gaue to husbandes, and tooke wiues for his sonnes of the same number, bringing them into his house. Who iudged Israel seuen yeares: † and died and was buried in Bethlehem. 10 † To whom succeeded Ahialon a Zabulonite: and he iudged 11 Israel ten yeares: † and he died and was buried in Zabulon. 12 † After him Abdon iudged Israel, the sonne of Illel a Pharathonite: 13 † who had fourtie sonnes, and of them thirtie nephewes, 14 mounting vpon seuentie asse coltes, and he iudged Israel eight yeares: † and he died, and was buried in Pharathon 15 of the Land of Ephraim, in the mount of Amalec.

CHAP. XIII. The people fal againe to idolatrie and are afflicted by the Philisthims. 3. An Angel fortelleth Manue his wife, that she shal haue a sonne, and that he shal be a Nazareite from his birth. 11. confirmeth the same to Manue. 16. They offer sacrifice to God. 24. The childe is borne, called Samson, and blessed of God.

AND againe the children of Israel did euil in the sight of 1 our Lord: who deliuered them into the handes of the Philisthimes fourtie yeares. † And there was a certaine man 2 of Saraa, and of the stocke of Dan, named Manue, hauing a wife barren, † To whom an Angel of our Lord appeared, 3 and said to her: Thou art barren and without children: but thou shalt conceiue & beare a sonne: † beware therfore that 4 [Page 545] thou Abstinence not only from thinges vncleane by the law but also from wine and sider was a preparation to the childe, who should abstaine from them al his life. drinke not wine & sicer, nor eate any vncleane thing: † because thou shalt conceiue and beare a sonne, whose head 5 the raser shal not touch: for he shal be a Nazareite of God, Other Nazerites obserued a prescripte rule of abstinence for a time only Num. 6. but Samson al his life; as a more perfect figure of Christ. from his infancie, and from his mothers wombe, and he shal beginne to deliuer Israel from the handes of the Philistijmes. † Who when she was come to her husband, said to 6 him: A man of God came to me, hauing an Angelical contenance, exceeding terrible. Whom when I had asked, who he was, and whence he came, and by what name he was called, he would not tel me: † but this he answered: Behold 7 thou shalt conceiue and beare a sonne: beware thou drinke not wine, nor sicer, and that thou eate not any vncleane thing: for the child shal be the Nazereite of God from his infancie, and from his mothers wombe vntil the day of his death. † Manue therfore prayed to our Lord, and said: I 8 besech thee ô Lord, that the man of God, whom thou didst send, may come againe, and teach vs what we ought to doe concerning the child, that shal be borne. † And our Lord 9 heard Manue praying, and the Angel of our Lord appeared againe to his wife sitting in the field. but Manue her husband was not with her. Who when she had seene the Angel, † hastened, 10 and ranne to her husband: and she told him, saying: Behold “ the man hath appeared to me, whom I saw before. † Who rose, and folowed his wife: and comming to the man, 11 said to him: Art thou he that didst speake to the woman? And he answered: I am. † To whom Manue, when, sayd he, 12 thy word shal be fulfilled, what wilt thou that the child doe? or from what shal he keepe him self? † And the Angel of 13 our Lord said to Manue: From al thinges, which I haue spoken to thy wife, let him refraine him self: † and whatsoeuer 14 groweth of the vineyard, let him not eate: wine and sicer let him not drinke, let him not eate any vncleane thing: and whatsoeuer I haue commanded her, let him fulfil and keepe. † And Manue said to the Angel of our Lord: I besech thee 15 that thou condescend to my petitions, and let vs Manue taking the Angel for a holie prophete iustly thought he would not admitte, not cō mand anie thing but that was lawful. And so did as the Angel appointed him, though he was no priest, nor the place proper to sacrifice, but by extraordinarie dispensation. make to thee a kidde of goates. † To whom the Angel answered: If 16 thou constraine me, I wil not eate thy breade: but if thou wilt make holocaust, offer it to our Lord. And Manue knew not that it was an Angel of our Lord. † And he said to him: 17 What is thy name, that, if thy word shal be fulfilled, we may honour thee? † To whom he answered: Why askest thou 18 [Page 546] my name, which is merueilous? † Manue therfore tooke a 19 kidde of the goates, and the libamentes, and put them vpon a rocke, offering to our Lord, who doeth meruelous thinges: and he and his wife looked on. † And when the flame of 20 the altar ascended into heauen, the Angel of our Lord ascended together in the flame. Which when Manue and his wife had seene, they fel flatte on the ground, † and the Angel of 21 our Lord appeared to them no more. And forthwith Manue vnderstood that it was an Angel of our Lord, † and he said to 22 his wife: Dying we shal die, because we haue seene Though Manue saw not God in his owne person, yet seing him in his messenger feared death. S. Aug. q. 54. in Iudi [...]. God. † To whom his wife answered: If our Lord would haue killed 23 vs, he would not haue taken of our handes holocaustes and libamentes, neither would he haue shewed vs al these thinges, nor haue told vs these thinges that are to come. † She 24 therfore bare a sonne, and called his name Samson. And the child grewe, and our Lord blessed him. † And the Spirit of 25 our Lord beganne to be with him in the campe of Dan betwixt Saraa and Esthaol.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XIII.

10. The man hath appeared.] Al ancient fathers and Catholique writers say, this was an Angel, which appeared in the forme of a man, and it is plaine by Protestantes either contradict themselues, or teach Arrianisme. the text. Yet some protestantes wil haue this person to be Christ, the eternal vvord of God. VVho afterwardes became man. And neuertheles where by & by Bible 1603. (v. 16.) he admonisheth Manue to offer sacrifice to God, they note that he sought not his ovvne honour but Gods, vvhose messenger he vvas: either plainly contradicting themselues, or els teaching Arrianisme, as though the Sonne of God were not God; or inferiour to God the Father.

CHAP. XIIII. Samson desirous to marrie a Philisthime woman 5. by the way killeth a lion. 8. In whose mouth after few dayes, finding honey, 12. he proposeth therof a riddle to the Philisthiims for a wager: 15. which reueling to his wife, she telleth it to his aduersaries. 19. He killeih and spoyleth thirtie men, so payeth the wager: and his wife taketh an other man.

SAMSON therfore went downe into Thamnatha, and 1 seeing there a woman of the daughters of the Philisthims, † he went vp, and told his father and his mother, saying: I 2 saw a woman in Thamnatha of the daughters of the Philisthijms: which I besech you take for me to wife. † To whom 3 [Page 547] his father and mother said: It was prohibited ( Deut. 7. v. 3. to make mariage with the Gentiles, but God some times dispensed: as here it appeareth he did. v. 4. Is there not a woman among the daughters of thy bretheren, and in al my people, that thou wilt take a wife of the Philisthijms, which are vncircumcised? And Samson said to his father: Take this for me: because she hath pleased mine eyes. † But his parentes knew 4 not that the thing was done of our Lord, and he sought an occasion against the Philisthims. for at that time the Philisthiims had dominion ouer Israel. † Samson therfore went 5 downe with his father and mother into Thamnatha. And when they were come to the vineyardes of the towne, there appeared a lions whelpe cruel, and roaring, and mette him. † And the Spirit of our Lord came vpon Samson, 6 and he tore the lion, as if he should teare a kidde into peeces, hauing nothing at al in his hand: and this thing he would not tel to his father and mother. † And he went downe and 7 spake to the woman, that had pleased his eies. † And after 8 some dayes returning to take her, he went aside to see the carcasse of the lion, and behold there was a swarme of bees in the mouth of the lion and a honie combe. † Which when 9 he had taken in his handes, he did eate in the way: and coming to his father and other, he gaue them part, who also them selues did eate: neither would he for al that tel them, that he had taken the honie from the bodie of the lion. † His father therfore went downe to the woman, and made 10 his sonne Samson a feast. for so yong men were accustomed to doe. † When the citizens therfore of that place had 11 seene him, they gaue him thirtie companions to be with him. † To whom Samson spake: I wil propose you a riddle, 12 which if you shal solue me within the seuen dayes of the feast, I wil geue you thirtie sindones, and as many coates: † but if you shal not be able to solue it, you shal geue 13 me thirtie sindones, and cotes of the same number. Who answered him: Propound the riddle, that we may heare it. † And he said to them: Out of the eater came forth meate, 14 and out of the strong issued forth sweetenes. neither could they for three dayes solue the proposition. † And when the 15 seuenth day was come, they said to the wife of Samson: Speake to thy husband, and vse perswasion to him, that he tel thee what the riddle signifieth. Which thing By threates they made he [...] betray her husband: and neuertheles destroyed both her and her father. cha. [...]5. v. 6. so persecuters of the Church deale with such, as trayterously or of frailtie serue their turne. if thou wilt not doe, we wil burne thee, and thy fathers house: haue you therfore called vs to the bridal that you might spoyle vs? [Page 548] † Who shed teares before Samson, and complained saying: 16 Thou hatest me, and louest me not: therfore the probleme, which thou hast propounded to the sonnes of my people, thou wilt not expound to me. But he answered: I would not tel it to my father and mother: and can I tel it to thee? † The 17 seuen daies therfore of the feast she wept before him: and at the length the seuenth day for that she molested him he expounded it. Who immediately told her countrie men. † And they told it him the seuenth day before the going 18 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, 19 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 20 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 1 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, 2 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 3 day there shal be no fault in me against the Philisthimes: for I wil doe you euils. † And he went, Being Iudge of the people he had helpe of others to [...]ake so manie foxes with [...]es. or otherwise, being great store in that countrie. caught three hundred 4 foxes, and he coupled them tayle to tayle, and tyed fyrebrandes in the middes: † which kindling with fyre, he let 5 them goe, that they might runne abroade hither and thither. Who immediately went on into the corne of the Philisthimes. [Page 549] 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 6 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 7 these thinges, notwithstanding yet wil I require reuenge of you, and then I wil rest. † And he stroke them with a great 8 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 9 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 10 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 11 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 12 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 13 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 Iawebone 14 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 15 a iawe bone, to witte, the iawe bone of an asse, which lay there, catching it, A notorious miracle to kil so manie with so meane a weapon without other helpe of man. And by common reason as vncredible, as the great mysteries of Catholique Religion. he slewe therwith a thousand men, † and said: In the iawe bone of an asse, in the iawe of the 16 colt of she asses haue I destroyed them, and haue strooke a thousand men. † And when he had ended these wordes 17 singing, he threw the iaw bone out of his hand, and called the name of that place Ramathlochi, which is interpreted the [Page 550] lifting vp of the iaw bone. † And being very thirstie, he 18 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 It was a greater miracle to draw water out of a drie bone, then out of the earth or stones: but al things are possible to God, which he pleaseth to do. opened a great tooth in the 19 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 20 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 1 was or, an In [...]e [...]per. 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 3 then arising he For such admirable streingth the heth [...]i [...]h people thought Samson to be Hercules. S. Aug. li. 18. c. 19. ciuit. But he was indeede farre stronger then they feaned of Hercules, who they said, was not able to fight against two: whereas Samson alone killed a thousand with the iaw bone of an asse. c. 15. v. 15. 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, 4 which dwelt in Valley Sorec, and she was called Dalila. † And the princes of the Philisthiims came to her, and said: 5 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 6 thee, wherein thy greatest strength is, and what it is wherewith being bound thou canst not breake forth. † To whom 7 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 8 [Page 551] vnto her seuen cordes, as he had said: with the which she bound him, † ambushementes lying secretely in wayte neere 9 her, and in the chamber expecting the end of the thing, and she cried to him: The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson. Who brake the bandes, as if a man should breake a thread of to [...] twyned with spittle, when it hath taken the sauor of fyre: and it was not knowen wherein his strength was. † And 10 Dalila said to him: Behold thou hast deluded me, and hast spoken false: now at the least tel me wherwith thou mayest be bound. † To whom he answered: If I shal be bound with 11 new cordes, that were neuer occupied, I shal be weake, and like to other men. † With the which Dalila againe bound 12 him, and cried: The Philisthijmes vpon thee Samson, ambushementes being prepared in the chamber. Who did so breake the bandes as threades of linnen cloth. † And Dalila said to 13 him againe: How long deceiuest thou me, and speakest false? Shew wherewith thou mayest be bound. To whom Samson answered: If thou platte seuen heares of my head with a heare lase, and fasten a nayle tyed round about them in the ground, I shal be weake. † Which when Dalila had done, 14 she said to him: The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson. Who rysing vp from sleepe drew out the nayle with the heares and the heare lase. † And Dalila said to him: How doest thou say 15 that thou louest me, whereas thy mind is not with me? These three times thou hast lied to me, & wouldest not tel wherein thy greatest strength is. † And when she molested him, and 16 continually hong vpon him for many daies, not geuing him space to rest, his soule faynted, and was wearied euen vnto death. † Then opening the truth of the thing, he said to her: 17 There neuer came yron vpon my head, because I am a Nazareite, that is to say, consecrated to God from my mothers wombe: if my head shal be shauen, Supernatural streingth, or grace departeth when any leaue the rule of their profession. my strength shal depart from me, and I shal fayle, and shal be as other men. † And she seing that he had confessed to her al his minde, 18 sent to the princes of the Philisthijms and willed them: Come vp yet once more, for now he hath opened his hart to me. Who went vp taking with them the money which they had promised. † But she made him to sleepe vpon her knees, and 19 to lay his head in her bosome. And she called a barber, and shaued his seuen heares, and beganne to driue him away, and thrust him from her: for immediately the streingth departed [Page 552] from him: † and she said: The Philisthijms vpon thee Samson. 20 Who arysing from sleepe, said in his mind: I wil goe forth as I did before, and wil shake my self, not knowing that our Lord was departed from him. † Whom when the Philisthijmes 21 had apprehended, forthwith they plucked forth his eies, and led him to Gaza bound with chaynes, and being shut vp in prison they made him grinde. † And now his heares 22 had begone to grow againe, † and the princes of the 23 Philisthijms assembled in one, that they might immolate magnifical hostes to Dagon their god, and might feast, saying: Our God hath deliuered our enemie Samson into our handes. † Which thing the people also seing, praysed their god, and 24 said the same thinges: Our God hath deliuered our aduersarie into our handes, who destroyed our countrie, and killed verie manie. † And reioysing through out their bankettes, when 25 they had now taken their good cheere, they commanded that Samson should be called, and should play before them. Who being brought out of prison played before them, and they made him to stand betwen two pillers. † Who said to the 26 seruant that gouerned his steppes: Suffer me to touch the pillers, on which al the house stayeth, and let me leane vpon them, and rest a litle. † And the house was ful of men and 27 wemen, and there were al the princes of the Philisthijms, also from the roofe and higher part, about three thousand of both sexe beholding Samson playing. † But he inuocating 28 our Lord, said: Lord God remember me, & restore now to me myne old strength my God, that I may He desired to be reuenged, not of rancour of mind but of zele of iustice. And so al the elect & glorified Sainctes desire reuēge. Luc. 18. v. 8. Apoc. 6. v. 10. reuenge me of myne enemies, and for the losse of two eies may receiue one reuenge. † And taking both the pillers, on which the house 29 rested, and holding the one in his right hand, and the other in his left, † he said: “Let me die with the Philisthijms. And 30 the pillers being strongly shaken, the house fel vpon al the princes, and the rest of the multitude, that was there: and he killed manie moe dying, then before he had killed liuing. † And his brethren going downe and al his kindred, they 31 tooke his bodie, and buried it betwixt Saraa and Esthaol in the sepulchre of his father Manue, and he iudged Israel twentie yeares.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVI.

30. Let me die vvith the Philisthiims.] Manie thinges do iustifie Samsons fact Samson excused in killing himselfe wīth his enemies. in killing himself with the Philisthiims. First it appeareth by the miracle, that [Page 553] God directly and extraordinarily concurred by restoring in that moment his admirable streingth, that he could pull downe two such pillers. And conformably we may gather, that God inspired his mind to attempt this fact, and so he erred not, but obeyed God herein: as S. Augustin noteth. li. 1. c. 21. & 26. de ciuit. Dei. Secondly he was moued with zele of Gods honour, hearing the Idolaters praise their false god Dagon. Thirdly, he had a good and pure intention to reuenge him selfe for Gods more glorie, praying to him for restauration of streingth. Fourthy he did not directly desire to kil himselfe, but to kil the Philisthims, Samson a figure of Christ. though himselfe must also die with them. And in this act especially he was a figure of Christ, who chiefly by his death conquered his enemies.

CHAP. XVII. Michas and his mother cause a grauen, and a molten idol to be made of siluer. The third part. Of certaine accidentes which happened in the time of the Iudges. 5. He maketh one of his sonnes priest for the idol, 10. and for the same purpose hyreth also a Leuite.

THERE was at that time a certaine man of mount 1 Ephraim named Michas, † who said to his mother: 2 The thousand and hundred siluer peeces, which thou hadst separated to thy selfe, and concerning the which thou didst sweare in my hearing, behold I haue, and they are with me. To whom she said: Blessed be my sonne to the Lord. † He 3 therfore rendred them to his mother, who had said to him: I haue consecrated and vowed this siluer to the Lord, that my sonne may receiue it of my hand, and make In hebrew pesel vmassecah, in Latin sculptile & constatile, a grauen & molten thing an image or forme made in mettle for a god, and so called, v. 5. was in dede an idol of Gentilitie, and nothing at al against sacred Images of Christ and his Sainctes in the Catholique Church. wherof more is noted. Gen. 31. Exo. 20. a grauen and :: a molten (god) and now I deliuer that to thee. † He rendred 4 them therfore to his mother: who tooke two hundred siluer peeces and gaue them to the siluersmith, that he might make of them a grauen and a molten (god) which was in the house of Michas. † Who separated also therein a litle house 5 to the God, and made an Ephod, and Theraphim, that is to say, a priestlie vestiment, and idoles: and he Annointed his hādes with oyle, as was prescribed. Exo. 29. Leu. 8: But such an apish imitation was of no value, where was neither true vocation in the annointed (for he descended not of A [...]ton, but of Moyses, chap. 18. v. 30.) nor authoritie in him that vsed this ceremony filled the hand of one of his sonnes, and he became his priest. † In those 6 daies there was not a king in Israel, but euerie one did that, which semed right to him self. † There was also an other 7 yong man of Bethelem Iuda, of the kinred therof: and he was a Leuite, and dwelt there. † And going forth out of the 8 citie of Bethelehem, he would seiourne wheresoeuer he should find it comodious for him. And when he was come into mount Ephraim, making his iourney, and had turned aside a little into the house of Michas, † he was demanded 9 of him whence he came. Who answered: I am a Leuite of Bethlehem Iuda, and I goe to dwel where I shal be able, and shal perceiue it to be profitable for me. † And 10 [Page 554] Michas said: Abide with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I wil geue thee euerie yeare tenne siluer peeces, and duble liuerie, and the thinges that be necessarie for victual. † He was content, and abode with the man, and was 11 vnto him as one of his sonnes. † And Michas filled his hand, 12 and had the yong man for a priest with him, saying: † Now 13 I know that God wil do me good An Apostata Leuite was accounted more sufficient then an idolatrical priest to serue an idol. so he that is a Priest of a Deacon once catholikly consecrated, is a sufficient (yea too sufficient) a minister with protestantes. hauing a priest of the Leuitical kinde.

CHAP. XVIII. First sending spie to discouer, 11 six hundred armed men of the tribe of Dan goe to seeke possessions. 14. By the way they take the idol, and idolatrical priest from Michas. 27. surprise the towne of Lais, 30. and there set vp idolatrie.

IN those dayes there was not a king in Israel, and the tribe 1 of Dan sought possession for it selfe, that it might dwel therein: for vntil that day it had Their whole portiō was assigned ( Ios 19) but through their owne [...]outh they possessed litle of it, so that hitherto the greatest part was not receiued. not receiued a lotte among the other tribes. † Therfore the children of Dan sent fiue 2 men of their stocke and familie most valiant from Saraa and Esthaol, that they might view the land, and diligently behold it, and they said to them: Goe, and consider the land. Who going forward when they were come into mount Ephraim, and had entered into the house of Michas, they rested there: † and knowing the voice of the yong man the Leuite, and 3 vsing his lodging, they said to him: Who brought thee hither? What doest thou here? For what cause wouldest thou come hither? † Who answered them: These, and these thinges hath 4 Michas done to me, & hath hyred me for wages to be his priest. † And they desired him that he would consult They ment the false god which the apostata Leuite serued. the Lord, that 5 they might know whether they should goe on a prosperous iourney, and the thing should haue effect. † The diuel answered, as his maner is obscurly, sometimes truly & sometimes falsly. Who answered 6 them: Goe in peace: The Lord regardeth your way, and the iourney that you goe. † The fiue men therfore going came to 7 Lais, & they saw the people dwelling in it without any feare, according to the custome of the Sidonians. secure and quiet, no man at al resisting them, & of greate riches, and separated farre from Sidon and from al men. † And returning to their 8 brethren in Saraa and Estaol, and asking what they had done they answered them: † Arise, and let vs goe vp to them: for 9 we haue seene the Land exceding rich and plentiful: neglect not, slacke not: let vs goe, and possesse it, it wil be no labour. [Page 555] † We shal enter vnto them being secure, into a most large 10 countrie, and our Lord wil deliuer to vs the place, wherein is penurie of nothing, of those thinges that grow on the earth. † There departed therfore from the kinred of Dan, 11 that is to say, from Saraa and Esthaol six hundred men, furnished with warlike armour, † and going vp they taried in 12 Cariathiarim of Iuda: which place from that time tooke the name of the Tentes of Dan, and it is at the backe of Cariathiarim. † Thence they passed into mount Ephraim. And when 13 they were come to the house of Michas, † the fiue men, that 14 before had been sent to view the Land of Lais, said to the rest of their brethren: You know that in these houses there is an Ephod, and Theraphim, and a grauen, and molten god: See what pleaseth you. † And when they had turned a litle aside, 15 they entred into the house of the yong man the Leuite, which was in the house of Michas: and saluted him with peaceable wordes. † And the six hundred men so as they were armed, 16 stoode before the doore. † But they, that were entred the 17 house of the yong man, endeuoured to take away the grauen, the Ephod, and the idols, and molten god, and thepriest stoode before the doore, the six hundred most valiant men expecting not farre of. † They therfore that were entred tooke the grauen, 18 the Ephod, the theraphim and molten god. To whom the priest said: What doe you? † To whom they answered: 19 Hold thy peace, and put thy finger vpon thy mouth and come with vs, that we may haue thee for a father, and a priest. Whether is better for thee, that thou be a priest in the house of one man, or in one tribe and familie in Israel? † Which when he 20 had heard, he agreed to their wordes, and tooke the Ephod, and idols, and grauen god, and departed with them. † Who 21 when they went forward, and had made the children and the cattel to goe before them, and al that was percious, † and 22 were now farre from the house of Michas, the men that dwelt in the house of Michas crying out together folowed, † and 23 at their backe began to shoute. Who looking backe, said to Michas: What meanest thou? Why doest thou crie? † Who 24 answered: My Goddes, which I made me, you haue taken away, and the priest, and al that I haue, and doe you say: What aileth thee? † And the children of Dan said to him: 25 Beware thou speake no more vnto vs, and there come vnto thee men prouoked in mind, and thou with al thy house [Page 556] perish. † And so they went on their iourney begone. But 26 Michas seing that they were stronger then he, returned into his house. † And the six hundred men tooke the priest, and 27 the thinges which we spake of before, and came into Lais to a people that was quiet and secure, and stroke them in the edge of the sword: and the citie they deliuered to fyre, † no 28 man at al bringing them succour, for that they dwelt farre from Sidon, and had with no men anie societie and affayres. And the citie was situated in the countrie of Rohob: which building agayne they dwelt in it, † calling the name of the 29 citie Dan, according to the name of their father, whom Israel had begotten, which before was called Lais. † And they 30 sette vp to them selues the Pesel, eidolon, sculptile, the grauen thing, falsly called god. c. 17. v. 5. grauen idol, and Ionathan the sonne of Gerson the sonne of Moyses, and his sonnes priestes in the tribe of Dan, vntil the day of their captiuitie. † And 31 the idol of Michas remayned with them al the time, that the house of God was in Silo. In those daies there was not a king in Israel.

CHAP. XIX. A Leuite bringing homeward his reconciled wife, 15. at Gabaa in the tribe of Beniamin hardly getteth lodging. 25. his wife is there vilanously abused by wicked men, and in the morning found dead. 29. whereupon her husband cutteth her bodie, and sendeth peeces to euerie tribe of Israel, requiring them to reuenge the wicked fact.

THERE was a certaine man a Leuite, dwelling on the 1 side of mount Ephraim, who tooke a wife of Bethlehem Iudae. † which left him, and returned vnto her fathers house 2 into Bethlehem, and abode with him foure monethes. † And 3 her husband folowed her, willing to be reconciled vnto her, and to speake her fayre, and to bring her backe with him, hauing in his companie a seruant and two asses: who receiued him, and brought him into her fathers house. Which when his father in law had heard, and had seene him, he mette him ioyful, † and embraced the man. And the sonne 4 in law taried in the house of his father in law three daies, eating with him and drinking familiarly. † But the fourth 5 day arysing before day, he would depart. Whom his father in law held, and said to him: Tast first a litle bread, & strengthen thy stomacke, and so thou shalt depart. † And they sate together, 6 and did eate and drinke. And the father of the yong [Page 557] woman said to his sonne in law: I besech thee that thou tarie here to day, and let vs make merie together. † But he rysing 7 vp, beganne as if he would depart. And neuertheles with much adoc his father in law stayed him, and made him to tarie with him. † But when morning was come, the Leuite 8 prepared to goe his iourney. To whom his father in law againe: I besech thee, quoth he, that thou take a litle meate, and making thy self strong, til the day be farder spent, afterward thou mayest depart. They did eate therfore together. † And the yong man arose, that he might sette forward with 9 his wife and his seruant. To whom his father in law spake againe: Consider that the day is more declining to the west, and draweth nigh to euening: tarie with me to day also, and spend the day in mirth, and to morrow thou shalt depart that thou mayst goe into thy house. † His sonne in law would 10 not condescend to his wordes: but forthwith went forward, and came ouer against Iebus, which by an other name is called Ierusalem, leading with him two asses loden, and his She was his lawful wife and so called. v. [...]. [...] 9.) et also is called concubine because she had no dawrie, nor as yet enioyed the priuiledges of a mistris in her husbands house. concubine. † And now they were come nigh to Iebus and 11 the day changed into night: & the seruant said to his maister: Come, I besech thee, let vs turne into the citie of the Iebuseites, and tarie in it. † To whom his maister answered: I wil 12 not enter into the towne of a strange nation, which is not of the children of Israel, but I wil passe as farre as Gabaa: † and 13 when I shal come thither, we wil lodge in it, or at the least in the citie of Rama. † They passed therfore by Iebus, and went 14 on their iourney begone, and the sonne went downe to them byside Gabaa, which is in the tribe of Beniamin: † and they 15 turned into it, that they might lodge there. Whither when they were entred, they sate in the streate of the citie, and no man would receiue them to lodge. † And behold there appeared 16 an old man, returning out of the field and from his worke in the euening, who him self also was of mount Ephraim, and dwelt as a stranger in Gabaa, but the men of that countrie were the children of Iemini. † And lifting vp 17 his eies, the old man saw the man sitting with his fardels in the streate of the citie, and said to him: Whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? † Who answered him: We departed 18 from Bethlehem Iuda, and we goe to our place, which is on the side of mount Ephraim, from whence we went into Bethlehem: and now we goe to the house of God, and none [Page 558] wil receiue vs vnder his roofe, † hauing straw and hay for 19 prouender of the asses, and bread and wine for the vse of my self and of thy handmaid, and of the seruant that is with me: we lacke nothing but lodging. † To whom the old man 20 answered: Peace be with thee, I wil geue al thinges that are necessarie: only, I besech thee, tarie not in the streate. † And 21 he brought him into his house, and gaue prouender to his asses: and after they had washed their feete, he receiued them to a bankette. † They making merie, and after the labour of 22 their iourney, refreshing their bodie with meate and drinke, there came men of that citie, the children of Belial (that is to say, without yoke) and besetting the old mans house, beganne to knocke at the doores, crying to the maister of the house, and saying: Bring forth the man, that entred into thy house, that we may abuse him. † And the old man went out 23 to them, and said: Doe not so brethren, doe not this euil: because this man is entered to my lodging, and cease from this folie: † I haue a daughter that is a virgin, and this man hath 24 a concubine, I wil bring them forth to you, that you may humble them, & fulfil your lust: only, I beseche you, worke not this wickednes against nature on the man. † They would 25 not agree to his wordes. which the man seing, he brought forth his concubine to them, and he deliuered her to them to be illuded: whom when they had abused al the night, they let her goe in the morning. † But the woman, when the 26 darkenes departed, came to the doore of the house, where her lord lodged, and there fel downe. † Morning being 27 come, the man arose, and opened the doore, that he might finish his iourney begone: and behold his concubine lay before the doore, her handes spredde on the threshold. † To 28 whom he, thinking that she tooke her rest, spake: Arise, and let vs walke. Who answering nothing, perceiuing that she was dead; he tooke her, and laid her vpon his asse, & returned into his house. † Which when he was entered vnto, he tooke 29 asword, and cutting the carcasse of his wife with her bones into twelue partes and peeces, he sent them into al the borders of Israel. † Which when euerie one had seene, they 30 cried together: There was neuer such a thing done in Israel from that day, when our fathers ascended out of Aegypt, vntil this present time: geue sentence, and decree in common what is needeful to be done.

[Page 559]

CHAP. XX. Al the other tribes fighting against Beniamin, 13. because they wil not punish the malefactors, 21. haue the worse, 25. also the second time. 29. but the third time the Beniamites are al slaine sauing six hundred men.

THERFORE al the children of Israel went forth, and 1 were gathered together, as it were one man, from Dan to Bersabee, and the Land of Galaad, to our Lord in Maspha: † and al the corners of the people, and al the tribes of Israel 2 assembled into the church of the people of God foure hundred thousand footemen warriers. († Neither were the 3 children of Beniamin ignorant that the children of Israel were come vp into Maspha.) And the Leuite the husband of the woman that was killed being asked, how so great wickednes had beene cōmitted, † answered: I came into Gabaa 4 of Beniamin with my wife, and there I tooke my lodging: † and behold the men of that citie by night besette the house 5 wherein I taried, meaning to kil me, and vexing my wife with incredible furie of lust, finally she died. † Whom being 6 taken I did cutte into peeces, and sent the partes into al the borders of your possession: because neuer was there so heinous an offense, and so greate an abomination done in Israel. † You are al present the children of Israel, determine what 7 you ought to doe. † And al the people standing, answered as 8 it were by the word of one man: we wil not depart into our tabernacles, neither shal any man enter into his house: † but 9 this wil we doe in common against Gabaa. † Let ten men be 10 chosen of an hundred out of al the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring victuals for the armie, and that we may fight against Gabaa of Beniamin, & render to it for the wicked fact, which it deserueth. † And al Israel assembled to the citie, as it were 11 one man with one minde, and one counsel: † and they sent 12 messengers to al the tribe of Beniamin, which should say▪ Why is there soe great abomination found in you? † Deliuer the 13 men of Gabaa, that haue committed this heinous fact, Omission & contemp [...] to punish hainous [...]imes is a [...] cause to make w [...] [...] ▪ that they may die, and the euil may be taken away out of Israel▪ Who would not heare the commandment of their brethren the children of Israel: † but o [...] of al cities, which were of 14 their lotte, they assem [...] Gabaa▪ to avde them, and to fight against a [...] the [...] ▪ † [...]nd there were found 15 [Page 560] fiue and twentie thousand of Beniamin of them that drew sword, beside the inhabitantes of Gabaa, † which were 16 seuen hundred most valiant men, so fighting with the left hand as with the right: and so directly casting stones with [...]inges, that they could strike a heare also, and the stroke of the stone should not be caried awry on either part. † Of the 17 men of Israel also, beside the children of Beniamin, were found foure hundred thousande of them that drew swordes, & were prepared to fight. † Who rising came into the house 18 of God, that is, into Silo: and they consulted God, and said: Who shal be in our armie general of the battel against the children of Beniamin? To whom our Lord answered: Let One of the tribe of Iuda. Iudas be your captayne. † And forth with the children of 19 Israel arysing in the morning, camped beside Gabaa: † and 20 thence proceeding to fight against Beniamin, beganne to assault the citie. † And the children of Beniamin issuing out 21 of Gabaa, slew of the children of Israel that day two and twentie thousand men. † Agayne Israel hauing confidence 22 Being farre more in number & hauing the iust cause, yet had the worse, because they trusted in their owne streingth. in their strength and number, sette the armie in aray in the same place, wherein they had fought before: † yet so that 23 they did first goe vp and weepe before our Lord vntil night: and consulted him, and said: Shal I procede any more to fight against the children of Beniamin my brethren, or not? To whom he answered: God also punished al Israel by this ciuil warre, for suffering idolattie in the tribe of Dan. cha. 18. v. 30. which they ought to haue punished. Deut. 13. v. 12. Goe vp to them, and enter battel. † And when the children of Israel the next day had proceded 24 against the children of Beniamin to battel, † the children of 25 Beniamin brake forth out of the gates of Gabaa: and meeting them they raged with so great a slaughter against them, that they ouerthrew eightene thousand men that drew swotd. † For the which thing al the children of Israel came into the 26 house of God, and sitting wept before our Lord: and they fasted that day vntil euening, and offered to him holocaustes, and pacifique victimes, † and asked him concerning their 27 state. At that time the arke of the couenant of our Lord was there, † and By this it appeareth that this historie happened not long after the death of Eleazarus. Ios. 24. v. 33. to whom hissonne Phinees succeded in the spiritual Supremacie of the Church. Phinees the sonne of Eleazarus the sonne of 28 Aaron prouost of the house. They therfore consulted our Lord, and said: Shal we goe forth any more to fight against the children of Beniamin our brethren, or rest? To whom our Lord said: Goe vp, for to morrow I wil deliuer them into your handes. † And the children of Israel sette ambushmentes 29 round about the citie of Gabaa: † and the third time, 30 [Page 561] as once and twise, they brought forth their armie against Beniamin. † But the children of Beniamin also issued forth 31 boldly out of the citie, and pursewed a long way the aduersaries fleeing, so that they wounded of them, as the first day and the second, and slew them turning their backes by two wayes, wherof the one went into Bethel, and the other into Gabaa, and ouerthrew about thirtie men: † for they thought 32 to kil them after their accustomed maner. Who feyning artificially as though they fled tooke aduise to draw them away from the citie, & as it were fleing to bring them to the pathes aforesayd. † Therfore al the children of Israel rysing out of 33 their seates, sette their armie in battel aray, in the place which is called Baalthamar. The ambushmentes also, which were about the citie, began by litle and litle to open them selues, † and to proceede from the West part of the citie. Yea and 34 other ten thousand men of al Israel prouoked the inhabitantes of the citie to skit mishes. And the battel grew sore against the children of Beniamin: and they vnderstoode not that on euerie side destruction hong ouer them. † And our Lord 35 stroke them in the sight of the children of Israel, and they slew of them in that day fiue and twentie thousand, and an hundred men, al warryers and that drew sword. † But the 36 children of Beniamin when they saw them selues to be inferiour, beganne to flee. Which the children of Israel seing, gaue them place to flee, that they might come to the ambushmentes prepared, which they had sette neere the citie. † Who 37 when they had sodenly risen out of their dennes, and Beniamin turned their backes to the sleaers, they entred the citie, and stroke it in the edge of the sword. † And the children of 38 Israel had geuen a signe to them, whom they had laid in the ambushementes, that after they had taken the citie, they should kindle a fire: that the smoke ascending on high, they might shew that the citie was taken. † Which when the 39 children of Israel saw being in the verie fight (for the children of Beniamin thought that they fled, and pursewed more instantly, hauing slaine thirtie men of their armie.) † and 40 they saw as it were a piller of smoke to rise vp from the citie. Beniamin also looking backe, when he saw the citie taken, and the flames caried on high: † they that before had feyned 41 as if they fled, turning their face resisted more manfully. Which when the children of Beniamin had sene, they were [Page 562] turned into flight, † and beganne to goe the way of the desert, 42 the aduersaries pursewing them thither also. But they also that had fyred the citie, mette them. † And so it came to 43 passe, that on both sides they were slaine of the enemies, neither was there any rest of men dying. They fel, and were ouerthrowen on the east side of the citie of Gabaa. † And 44 there were that were slaine in the same place, eightene thousand men, al most valiant warryers. † Which when they had 45 seene, that were remayning of Beniamín, they fled into the wildernes, and went on to the rocke, the name wherof is Remmon. In that flight also stragling, and going diuers waies, they slew fiue thousand men. And whereas they went farder, they pursewed them, and slew also other two thousand. † And so it came to passe, that al which were slaine of 46 Beniamin in diuerse places, were fiue and twentie thousand one hundred fighting men, most prompt to warres. † There 47 remayned therfore of al the number of Beniamin that could escape, and flee into the wildernes, six hundred men: and they abode in the Rocke Remmon foure monethes. † But 48 the children of Israel retyring, stroke al the remaines of the citie with the sword from men euen to beastes, and al the cities and villages of Beniamin the deuouring flame did consume.

CHAP. XXI. The tribe of Beniamin is repayred, 8. by foure hundred virgins reserued in the slaughter of Iabes Galaad. 19. and by other virgins taken, that come forth of Silo to daunce.

THE children of Israel sware also in Maspha, and said: 1 None of vs shal geue of his daughters to the children of Beniamin to wife. † And they came al to the house of God 2 in Silo, and sitting in his sight vntil euening, lifted vp their voice, and with great wayling beganne to weepe saying: Wherfore ô Lord God of Israel is this euil done in thy people, that this day one tribe should be taken away out of vs? † And on the morrow rising early, they built an altar: and 4 offered there holocaustes, and pacifique victimes, and said: † Who hath not ascended in the hoste of our Lord of al the 5 tribes of Israel? For they had bound them selues with a great othe, when they were in Maspha, that they should be slayne which had beene wanting. † And the children of Israel being 6 [Page 563] Lest either iustice be ouer sharpe, or mercie too relaxe, with great art of discretion, gouernours must obserue mercie iustly aduising, and discipline piously ch [...] sticings. S. Greg. li, 1. Epist. 24. moued with repentance vpon their brother Beniamin, beganne to say: One tribe is taken away out of Israel, † whence shal they take wiues? For we haue al sworne in 7 common, that we wil not geue our daughters to them. † Therfore they said: Who is there of al the tribes of Israel, 8 that went not vp to our Lord into Maspha? And behold the inhabitantes of Iabes Galaad were found not to haue bene in that armie. († At that time also when they were in Silo, 9 none of them was found there.) † They sent therfore ten 10 thousand the strongest men, and commanded them: Goe, and strike the inhabitantes of Iabes Galaad in the edge of the sword, as wel their wiues as their litle ones. † And this shal 11 be it which you shal obserue: Al of the male kinde, and wemen, that haue knowen men, kil ye, but the virgins reserue. † And there were found of Iabes Galaad foure hundred virgins, 12 that knew not mans bedde, and they brought them to the campe in Silo, into the Land of Chanaan. † And they 13 sent messengers to the children of Beniamin, that were in Rocke Remmon, and commanded them that they should receiue them in peace. † And the children of Beniamin came 14 at that time, and there were geuen vnto them wiues of the daughters of Iabes Galaad: but others they found not, which they might geue them in like maner. † And al Israel was 15 very sorie, and repented for the killing of one tribe out of Israel. † And the ancientes said: What shal we doe to the 16 rest, that haue not taken wiues? For al the wemen in Beniamin are dead. † And we must very carefully, and with great 17 studie prouide, that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel. † For our owne daughters we can not geue them, being 18 bound with an oath and a curse, wherby we said: Cursed be he that shal geue to Beniamin anie of his daughters to wife. And they tooke counsail, and said: Behold there is an anniuersaire 19 solemnitie of our Lord in Silo, which is situate on the North of the citie of Bethel, on the East side of the way, that goeth from Bethel to Sichem, and on the South of the towne of Lebona. † And they commanded the children of 20 Beniamin, and said: Goe, and lie hidde in the vineyardes. † And when you shal see the daughters of Silo come forth 21 after the maner to lead daunses, issue forth sodenly out of the vineyardes, and catch of them euerie one his wife, and goe into the Land of Beniamin. † And when their fathers shal 22 [Page 564] come, and their brethren, and shal beginne to complaine against you, and to chide, we wil say to them: Haue pittie on them: for they tooke them not away by the right of warryers and conquerours, but when they desired to receiue them, you gaue them not, and on your part the fault was committed. † And the children of Beniamin did, as it had beene 23 commanded them: and according to their number, they tooke away to them selues of those that ledde the daunses, euerie one his wife: and they went into their possession, building cities, and dwelling in them. † The children of Israel 24 also returned by their tribes, and families into their tabernacles. In those daies there was not a King in Israel: but euerie one did that In the time of the Iudges the people presumed more to do that semed to them selues right, or good though it was nought; which afterwardes the kinges more restrained and punished. which semed right to him selfe.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF RVTH.

AMONGST other thinges that happened to the people of Israel, in the time of the Iudges, this historie of Ruth, to witt, her coming from Moab, her conuersion to true Religion, godlie conuersation, and mariage with The historie of Ruth is regestred in holie Scripture, for the genealogie of Dauid, and especially of our Sauiour Christ. Booz of the tribe of Iuda, is recorded, as a more principal matter. For that not onlie king Dauid, but consequently also our SAVIOVR, the Redemer of mankind descended from her. VVherby was fore signified, that as saluation thus proceded from the Gentiles together with the Iewes: so the Gentiles are made partakers of the same grace. More clerly prophecied, as S. Hierom noteth, by Isai ( cap. 16.) saying: Send forth ô Lord the lambe, the Ruler of the earth, from the Rocke of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion. That is, from Ruth the gentile to Hierusalem, or rather Iudic. 12. to the Church. This mariage of Ruth came to passe about the time of Abesan Iudge. The booke was written, as is most probable, by Samuel: and is diuided into foure chapters; whose contentes folow in their places.

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THE BOOKE OF RVTH.

CHAP. I. By occasion of famine Elimelech of Bethleem going with his wife Noemi, and two sonnes, into the Land of Moab, there dieth. 4. His sonnes marrie wiues of that countrie, and die without issue. 6. Noemi returning homewardes hardly perswadeth one of her daughters in law, to part from her. 15. The other, called Ruth, wil needes goe with her, professing the same God and Religion. 19. So these two arriue in Betheleem.

IN the dayes of one Iudge, when the Iudges ruled, 1 there came a famine in the Land. And there went a man of Bethleem Iuda, to seiourne in the land of Moab with his wife, and two children. † him self 2 was called Elimelech, and his wife, Noemi: and his two sonnes, the one Mahalon, and the other Chelion, Ephraites of Bethleem Iuda. And entring into the countrie of Moab, they abode there. † And Elimelech the husband of Noemi 3 died: and she remained with her sonnes. † Who tooke wiues 4 of the Moabites, of the which one was called Orpha, and the other Ruth. And they abode there ten yeares, † and both died, 5 to witte, Mahalon and Chelion: and the woman remayned destitute of her two children & her husband. † And she arose to 6 goe into her countrie with both her daughters in law from the countrie of Moab: for she had heard that our Lord had respected his people, & had geuen them victuals. † She therfore 7 went forth from the place of her peregrination, with both her daughters in law: and being now sette in the way to returne into the Land of Iuda, † she said to them: Goe into 8 your mothers house, our Lord doe mercie with you, as you haue done with the dead and with me. † Grant he vnto you 9 to find rest in the houses of your husbandes, which you shal take. And she kissed them. Who lifting vp their voice beganne to weepe, † & to say: We wil goe on with thee to thy people. 10 † To whom she answered: Returne my daughters, why come 11 you with me? shal I haue sonnes any more in my wombe, that you may hope for husbandes of me? † Returne my daughters, 12 and goe your wayes: for I am now spent with old age, and not fitte for wedlocke. Although I might conceiue this [Page 566] night, and beare children, † if you would expect til they 13 grow, and be of mans age, you shal be old women be [...]o▪ you marrie. Doe not so my daughters, I besech you: for your distresse doth the more greue me, and the hand of our Lord is come forth against me. † Therfore lifting vp their voice, they 14 beganne to weepe agayne, Orpha kissed her mother in law, and returned: Ruth cleaued to her mother in law. † to whom 15 Noemi said: Behold thy kinse woman is returned to her people, and Noemi perswaded not to idolatre, but in sinuated that if Ruth would not returne to her countrie, she must also leaue the false goddes. And so she answered, that she would serue the same true God of Israel. to her goddes, goe with her. † Who answered: 16 Be not against me, to the end that I should leaue thee and depart: for whither soeuer thou shalt goe, I wil goe: and where thou shalt abide, I also wil abide. Thy people my people, and thy God my God. † The land that shal receiue thee dying, in 17 the [...]ame wil I die: and there wil I take a place for my burial. These thinges doe God to me, & these thinges adde he, if death onlie shal not separate me and thee. † Noemi therfore seing, 18 that Ruth with a stidfast mind had determined to goe forward with her, would not be against it, nor perswade her any more to returne to her frendes: † and they went forth 19 together, and came into Bethlehem. Who being entered into the citie, a brute was quickly spred among them: and the wemen said: This is that Noemi. † To whom she said: Cal 20 me not Noemi (that it to say, beautiful) but cal me Mara (that is to say, bitter) because with bitternes hath the Almightie very much replenished me. † I went forth She had a husband and two sonnes, and sufficient prouision, but now was bereued of them al. ful, 21 and our Lord hath brought me backe emptie. Why therfore doe you cal me Noemi whom our Lord hath humbled, and the Almightie hath afflicted? † Noemi therfore came with 22 Ruth the Moabite her daughter in law, from the Land of her peregrination: and returned into Bethlehem, when barley was first reaped.

CHAP. II. Ruth gathering eares of corne in Booz field, 8. he kindly biddeth her tarie with his seruantes. 17. At night she returneth carying good quantit [...]e of corne, and part of the meate, which they gaue her, to her mother in law.

AND Elimelech her husband had a cosin, a mightie man, 1 and of great riches, named Booz. † And Ruth the 2 Moabite said to her mother in law: If thou command, I wil goe into the field, and gather the eares of corne, that shal escape the handes of the reapers, where soeuer I shal find the [Page 567] grace of the father of the house fauorable towardes me. To whom she answered: Goe my daughter. † She went therfore 3 and gathered the eares of corne after the backes of the reapers. And it chanced that the owner of the same field was Booz, who was of the kinred of Elimelech. † And behold, 4 he came out of Bethlehem, and said to the reapers: The Church vseth this salutation in the holie sacrifice and other diuine office. Our Lord be with you. Who answered him: Our Lord blesse thee. † And Booz said to the yongman, that was ouerseer of the 5 reapers: Whose maide is this? † To whom he answered: 6 This is that Moabite, which came with Noemi, from the countrie of Moab, † and she desired that she might gather 7 the eares of corne that remayne, folowing the steppes of the reapers: and from morning vntil now she stayeth in the field, and not so much as for a very moment hath she returned home. † And Booz said to Ruth: Heare me daughter, goe not 8 into an other field to gather, neither depart thou from this place: but ioyne thy selfe to my maides, † and where they 9 haue reaped, folow. For I haue commanded my seruantes, that no man molest thee: but if thou shalt thirst also, goe to the fardels, and drinke the waters, wherof the seruantes also doe drinke. † who falling on her face and adoring vpon 10 the ground, said to him: Whence cometh this to me, that I should find grace before thine eies, and that thou wouldest voutsafe to know me a strange woman? † To whom he 11 answered: Al thinges haue beene told me, which thou hast done to thy mother in law after the death of thy husband: and that thou hast leift thy parentes, and the land wherein thou wast borne, and art come to a people, which before thou knewest not. † Our Lord Booz doubted not but reward was due to good workes. render vnto thee for thy 12 worke, and God grant thou mayest receiue Yea a ful reward, answe [...] able to Ru [...]h pietie: Vvhich must be spiritual and eternal. a ful reward of our Lord the God of Israel, to whom thou art come, & vnder whose winges thou art fled. † Who said: I haue found grace 13 in thine eies my lord, which hast comforted me, and hast spoken to the hart of thy handmaide, which am not like to one of thy maides. † And Booz said to her: When the houre shal 14 come to eate, come hither, and eate bread, and dippe thy morsel in the vinagre. She therfore sate at the side of the reapers, and she heaped to her selfe polent, and did eate and was filled, and tooke the leauinges. † And from thence she arose, 15 to gleane the eares of corne after her maner. And Booz commanded his seruantes, saying: Yea and if she wil reape with [Page 568] you, forbid her not: † and of your owne handfuls also cast 16 forth of purpose, and let them remaine, that she may gather them without bashefulnes, and gathering let no man controwle her. † She gleaned therfore in the field vntil euening: 17 & that which she had gathered beating with a rodde & threshing she found of barley as it were the measure of an ephi, that is, three bushels. † Which carying she returned into 18 the citie, and shewed to her mother in law: moreouer she brought forth, and gaue her of the remaynes of her meate, wherwith she had beene filled. † And her mother in law said 19 to her: Where hast thou gathered to day, and where hast thou wrought? blessed be he that hath had mercie on thee. And she told her with whom she had wrought: and she told the mans name, that he was called Booz. † To whom Noemi 20 answered: Be he blessed of our Lord: because the same grace, which he had shewed to the liuing, he hath kept also to the dead. And agayne she said: The man is our nigh cosin. † And 21 Ruth, This also, quoth she, he commanded me, that so long I should ioyne my self to the reapers, til al the corne were reaped. † To whom her motherinlaw said: It is better my 22 daughter, that thou goe forth with his maides to reape, lest in an other mans field some may resist thee. † She therfore 23 ioyned her self to the maides of Booz: and so long reaped with them, til the barley and the wheate were layd vp in the barnes.

CHAP. III. Ruth instructed by her mother in law sleepeth at Booz feete, 8. and signi [...]ing that she perteyneth to him by the law of affinitie, receiueth a good answer, 14. and six measures of barley.

BVT after that she was returned to her motherinlaw, 1 she heard of her: My daughter, I wil seeke thee rest, and wil prouide that it may be wel with thee. † This Booz, to 2 whose maides thou art ioyned in the field, is our nigh kinsman, and this night he wynoweth the barne floore of the barley. † Wash therfore and annoynte thy self, and put on 3 thy better garmentes, and goe downe into the barne floore, let no man see thee, til he shal haue ended eating & drinking. † And when he shal goe to sleepe, marke the place wherein 4 he sleepeth: and thou shalt come, and discouer the mantel wherwith he is couered toward his feete, and shal cast thy [Page 569] self downe and lie there: The euent shewed that Noemi was inspired by God to geue such direction to Ruth, & to foretel what Booz would doe. and he wil tel thee what thou must doe. † Who answered: Whatsoeuer▪ thou shalt command, 5 that wil I doe. † And she went downe into the barne 6 floore, and did al the thinges which her mother in law had commanded her. † And when Booz had eaten, & drunken, 7 and was made pleasant, and was gone to sleepe by the heape of sheaues, she came closely, and discouering the mantel, at his feete, layd her self downe▪ † And behold, when it was 8 now midnight the man was afrayd, and trubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feete, † and said to her: Who art thou? 9 And she answered: I am Ruth thy handmaide: spred thy mantel vpon thy seruant, because thou art nigh of kinne. † And he said: Blessed art thou of our Lord my daughter, 10 and the former mercie thou hast passed with the later: because thou hast It was very cōmendable that she loued her first husband and mother in law: but more vertue infleing occasion of sinne with young men, and seeking to marie according to the law of God with her former husbands kinsman. Deut. 25. not folowed yong men either poore or rich. † Feare not therfore, but whatsoeuer thou shalt say to me, 11 I wil doe to thee. For al the people that dwelleth within the gates of my citie, knowe, that thou art a woman of vertue. † Neither doe I denie my self nigh of kinne, but there is an 12 other neerer then L † Rest this night: and when morning is 13 come, if he wil retayne thee by the right of nigh of kindred, the thing is wel done, but if he wil not, I wil take thee without al doubt, our Lord▪ liueth, sleepe vntil morning. † She 14 slept therfore at his feete til the night was gone. Therfore she arose before men could know one an other, and Booz said: Beware lest any man know that thou camest hither. † And agayne, Spred, quoth he, thy mantel, wherwith thou art 15 couered, and hold it with both handes. Who spredding and holding it, he measured six measures of barley, and put it vpon her. Who carying it entred into the citie, † and came 16 to her mother in law. Who said to her: What hast thou done daughter? And she told her al thinges, that the man had done to her. † And she said: Behold six measures of barley hath 17 he geuen me, and he said: I wil not haue thee returne emptie to thy mother in law. † And Noemi said: Expect daughter 18 til we see what end the thing▪ wil haue. For the man wil not cease vntil he haue accomplished that which he hath spoken.

CHAP. IIII. Booz before the ancientes of the citie (the neerer kinsman refusing) possesseth the inheritance of Elimelech, 10. and marieth Ruth. 13. Hath by her a [Page 570] sonne, the grandfather of Dauid. 18. VVhose genealogie by this occasion is recited, from Phares the sonne of Iudas the patriarch.

BOOZ therfore went vp to the gate, and sate there. And 1 when he had seene the nigh kinsman passe by, of whom the talke was had before, he said to him: Turne in a litle while, and sitte here: calling him by his name. Who turned in, and sate. † And Booz taking ten men of the citie, said to 2 them: Sitte ye here. † Who sitting downe, he spake to the 3 nigh kinseman: Noemi, who is returned from the countrie of Moab, wil sel the part of the field belonging to Booz calleth his kinsman brother, as Abraham called Lot his brother. Gen. 13. being his Nephevv. our brother Elimelech. † Which I would thee to vnderstand, and 4 would tel thee before al that sitte, and the ancientes of my people. If thou wilt possesse it by the right of nigh kindred: bye, and possesse it. but if it please thee not, tel me the same, that I may know what I ought to doe. For there is no nigh kinseman sauing thee, which art first, and me, who am second. But he answered: I wil bye the field. † To whom 5 Booz said: When thou shalt bye the field at the womans hand, thou must take also Ruth the Moabite, which was the wife of the deceased: that thou mayest rayse vp the name of thy kinsman in his inheritance. † Who answered: 6 I yeld my right of nigh kindred: for I may not abolish the posteritie of myne owne familie. Doe thou vse my priuiledge, which I professe that I doe willingly forgoe. † And 7 See Deut. 25. noting here withal, that the penaltie was lesse, whch an other kinsman vndertaking the mariage, the woman was preuēted from complayning before the iudge. this in old time was the maner in Israel betwen kinsemen, that if at any time one yelded to an other his right: that the graunt might be sure, the man put of his shoe, and gaue it to his neighbour. this was a testimonie of yelding in Israel. † Booz therfore said to his kinseman: Take of thy shoe. 8 Which immediatly he loosed from his foote. † But to the ancientes, 9 and the whole people he said: You are witnesses this day, that I haue purchased al thinges which were Elimelechs; and Chelions and Mahalons; Noemi deliuering them: † and 10 haue taken in mariage Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahalon, that I may rayse vp the name of the deceased in his inheritance, lest his name be abolished out of his familie and brethren and people. You, I say, are witnesses of this thing. † Al the people that was in the gate answered, and the ancientes: 11 We are witnesses: Our Lord make this woman, which entereth into thy house, as Rachel, and Lia, which [Page 571] builded the house of Israel: that she may be an example of vertue in Ephrata, and may haue a famous name in Bethlehem: † and that thy house may be, as the house of Phares, 12 whom Thamar bare to Iudas, of the seede which our Lord shal geue thee of this yong woman. † Booz therfore tooke 13 Ruth, and had her to wife: and went in vnto her, and our Lord gaue her to conceiue, and to beare a sonne. † And the 14 wemen said to Noemi: Blessed be our Lord, which hath not suffered that there should fayle a successor of thy familie: that his name should be called in Israel. † And thou shouldest 15 haue one that may comfort thy soule, and cherish thy old age. For of thy daughter in law is he borne, which wil loue thee: and much better is she to thee, then if thou hadst seuen sonnes. † And Noemi taking the child put it in her 16 bosome, and did the office of a nource and of one that should carie him. † And the women her neighbours congratulating 17 her, and saying: There is a sonne borne to Noemi: called his name Obed: this is Here appeareth the final cause of writting this historie, to shew the Genealogie of King Dauid from Iudas the Patriarch, of whom Christ should descend, so prophecied: Gen. 49. and shewed to be performed; Mat. 1. the father of Isai, the father of Dauid. † These are the generations of Phares: Phares begat Esron, 18 † Esron begat Aram, Aram begat Aminadab, † Aminadab 19 20 begat Nahasson, Nahasson begat Salmon, † Salmon begat 21 Booz, Booz begat Obed, † Obed begat Isai, Isai begat Dauid. 22

THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKES OF KINGES AND PARALIPPOMENON IN GENERAL.

AFTER the booke of Iudges (wherunto Ruth is annexed) rightly folow the bookes of Kinges: signifying that after the general Iudgement cometh the euerlasting Kingdome. As venerable Beda expoundeth this connexion qq̄. in 1. Reg. c. 1. These histories are also expounded mystically by the ancient Fathers. of bookes, wherin he also explicateth manie other Mysteries of Christ & the Church praefigured in these histories. Likewise S. Gregorie teacheth that besides Prolog [...] in 1. Reg. li. 17. c. 4. ciuit. Ep. ad Paulin. the historical & moral sense expressed in the simplicitie of the letter, an other mystical vnderstanding is to be sought the height of the Allegorie. In confirmation wherof he citeth S. Augustin and S. Hierom; who say, that Elcana his two wiues signified the Synagogue of the Iewes, and the Church of Christ: & that the death of Heli & Saul, with translation of [Page 572] Priesthood to Samuel and Sadoch, and of the Kingdome, to Dauid and his Successors, praefigured the new Priesthood, and new Kingdome of Christ the old ceasing which were shadowes therof. So these two great Doctors S. Gregorie and S. Beda, insisting in the steppe of other lerned holie Fathers, that had gone before them, expound these histories not only historically but also mystically. The historie first setteth forth the changing of the forme of gouernment The general contents of al the bookes of Kinges & Para lippomenon. from Iudges to Kinges: and then at large what Kinges did reigne ouer the Hebrew people, as wel in one intire Realme, as ouer the same people diuided into two kingdomes; their more principal Actes; their good and euil behauiour; also the prosperitie, declinations, and final captiuities of both the Kingdomes. Al which is conteined in foure bookes of Kinges, with other two partly repeting that was saied before, but especially supplying thinges omitted in the whole sacred historie from the beginning of the world, called Paralippomenon. The two first are also called the Bookes of Samuel, though he writ not Samuel writ the first part, but vncertaine who writ the rest. one of them wholly, for he died before the historie of the former ended; but they goe both vnder his name, because he annointed the two first Kinges, and writ a great part of their Actes. Wherto the rest was added either by Dauid and Salomon, as some thinke, or by Nathan and Gad, as is probably gathered, 1. Paralip. 29. v. 29. The authors also of the third and fourth bookes of Kinges, and of the two of Paralippomenon are vncertaine; yet al haue euer bene receiued and held for Canonical Scripture.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIRST BOOKE OF KINGES.

THIS first booke may be diuided into foure partes. First are recorded the Cōtents of the first booke, diuided into foure partes. gouernmētes of Heli & Samuel, with the occasions of changing the state of that commonwealth into a Kingdome▪ in the eight first Chapters, Secondly, the election and gouernment of Saul their first King. from the 9. chap. to the 16. Thirdly, Dauids annointing, his vertues, trubles, and persecutions. from the 16. chap. to the 28. Fourthly, the ruine of Saul and exaltation of Dauid. in the foure last Chapters.

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THE FIRST BOOKE OF SAMVEL, WHICH WE CAL THE FIRST OF KINGES.

CHAP. I. Elcana hauing two wiues, the one called Anna, is barren, and for the same These bookes are read at Mattins from the feast of the B Trinitie vntil the first sundaie of August. is repro [...]hed by the other, called Phenenna. 9. Anna voweth, and prayeth for a man child, 19. conceiueth and beareth a sonne, calleth him Samuel: 24. and presenteth him to the seruice of God in Silo.

THERE was a man of Ramathaimsophim, 1 of mount Ephraim, & his name Elcana, the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne The first part. Of the gouernments of Heli and Samuel: and of changing the state into a kingdome. of Eliu, the sonne of Thohu, the sonne of Suph, an Ephraite: † and he had 2 two wiues, the name of one was Anna, and the name of the second Phenenna. Phenenna had children: but Anna had not children. † And that man went vp from his citie vpon ordinarie 3 dayes, to adore and sacrifice vnto the Lord of hostes in Silo. And there were the two sonnes of Heli, Ophni and Phinees, priestes of our Lord. † The day came therfore, & Elcana 4 immolated, and gaue to Phenenna his wife, & to al her sonnes and daughters partes: † but to Anna he gaue one part with 5 heauie cheere, because he loued Anna. And our Lord had shut her matrice. † Her aduersarie also afflicted her, and vexed 6 her sore, in so much that she vp brayded her, that our Lord had shut her matrice: † and so did she euerie yeare, when the 7 time returned, that they went vp to the temple of our Lord: and so she prouoked her: moreouer she wept, and tooke not meat. † Elcana therfore her husband said to her: Anna, why 8 weepest thou? and why doest thou not eate? and wherfore doest thou afflict thy hart? Am not I better to thee, then [Page 574] tenne children? † And Anna arose after she had eaten and 9 drunke in Silo. And Heli the priest sitting vpon a Stoole before the postes of the house of our Lord, † wheras Anna had 10 a heauie hart, she praied to our Lord, weeping aboundantly, † and she vowed a vowe, saying: O Lord of hostes, if regarding 11 thou wilt behold the affliction of thy seruant, and wilt be mindeful of me, and not forgette thy handmaide, and wilt geue vnto thy seruant a man childe: I This childe being of the tribe of Leui, though not of Aarons stock, was lawfully vowed to the seruice of the tabernacle, by his parentes during his childhood, but coming to yeares of discretion he was at his owne electiō to continew, or to depart. If he had bene of anie other tribe, he must haue bene redemed. Leuit. 27. wil geue him to our Lord al the daies of his life, & the rasour shal not come vpon his head. † And it came to passe, when she multiplied praiers 12 before our Lord, that Heli obserued her mouth. † Moreouer 13 Anna spake in her hart, and onlie her lippes moued, and voice there was not heard at al. Heli therfore thought her to be drunke, † and sayd to her: How long wilt thou be drunke? 14 digest a litle the wyne, wherwith thou art wette. † Anna 15 answering, Not so, quoth she, my lord: for I am an exceding vnhappie woman, and wine and whatsoeuer may inebriate, I haue not drunke, but I haue powred out my soule in the sight of our Lord. † Account not thy handmaide as one of 16 the daughters of Belial: for of the multitude of my sorrow and heauines haue I spoken vntil this present. † Then Heli 17 saied to her: Goe in peace: and the God of Israel geue thee thy petition, which thou hast asked him. † But she sayd: 18 Would God thy handmaide may find grace in thyne eyes. And the woman went on her way, and did eate, and her countenance was no more changed otherwise. † And they rose in 19 the morning, and adored before our Lord: and they returned, & came into their house to Ramatha. And Elcana knew Anna his wife: and our Lord remembred her. † And it came 20 to passe after a certaine compasse of dayes, Anna conceiued & bare a sonne, and called his name Samuel: because she asked him of our Lord. † And Elcana her husband went vp, and al 21 her house, to immolat vnto our Lord the solemne hoste, and his vowe, † and Anna went not vp: for she sayd to her husband: 22 I wil not goe til the infant be weaned, and til I may bring him, that he may appeare before the sight of our Lord, and may remayne there continually. † And Elcana her husband 23 sayd to her: Doe that which seemeth good to thee, and tarie til thou weane him: and I pray that our Lord fulfil his word. The woman therfore taried, and gaue her sonne sucke, til she remoued him from the milke. † And she brought him 24 [Page 575] with her, after she had weaned him, with three calues, & three bushels of meale, and a flagon of wine, and she brought him to the house of our Lord in Silo. But the childe was yet a litle infant: † and they immolated a calfe, and offered the childe 25 to Heli. † And Anna said: I besech thee my lord, thy soule 26 liueth my lord: I am that woman, which stoode before thee here praying our Lord. † For this childe did I pray, and our 27 Lord hath geuen me my petition, which I asked him. † Therfore 28 I also haue geuen him to our Lord al the daies, which he shal liue, that he may be applied to our Lord. And they adored our Lord there. And Anna prayed, and sayd:

CHAP. II. Anna geueth thankes in a Canticle. 11. the sonnes of▪ Heli greuously sinning are reprehended, but not duly corected, by their father. 21. Anna beareth three sonnes more, and two daughters. 27. Heli is threatned, 34. and the death of his two sonnes fortold.

1 MY hart hath reioysed in our Lord, and my horne is The Canticle at Laudes on wenesday. exalted in my God: my mouth is dilated vpon myn enemies: because I haue ioyed in thy saluation.

2 † There is none holie as our Lord is: for neither is there an other beside thee, and there is none so strong as out God.

3 † Doe not multiplie to speake high thinges, boasting: Leaue of to praise idoles, as ye haue accustomed to doe. let old matters depart from your mouth: because our Lord is a God of al knowlege, and to him cogitations are prepared.

4 † The bow of the strong men is ouercome, and the weake are girded with strength.

5 † They that before were filled haue hyred out them selues for bread: and the hungrie are filled, vntil The Church of Gentiles. the barren woman bare verie manie: and The Synagogue of the Iewes. S. Aug. li. 17. c. 4. cini [...]. she that had manie children, was weakened.

6 † Our Lord mortifieth and quickeneth, bringeth downe to hel and fetcheth backe agayne.

7 † Our Lord maketh poore and enricheth, humbleth and lifteth vp.

8 † He rayseth the needie man from the dust, and from the dung he lifteth vp the poore: that he may sitte with princes, and hold the throne of glorie. For the poles of the earth are our Lords, and vpon them he hath sette the world.

† The feete of his Saintes he wil keepe, and the impious 9 shal be silent in darknes: because in his owne force man shal [Page 576] not be strengthned. † Our Lord shal his aduersaries feare: 10 and vpon them shal he thunder in the heauens: our Lord s [...]al iudge the endes of Neither Dauid no [...] Salomon, much l [...]ss [...] an [...] other King, possened or [...]udged the endes of the ta [...]th: but [...]ts enheritance reacheth to the endes of the earth. Psal. 2. v. 18. the Earth, and shal geue empire to his king, and shal exalt the horne of his Christ.

† And Elcana went into Ramatha, vnto his house: but the 11 childe ministered in the sight of our Lord before the face of Heli the priest. † Moreouer the sonnes of Heli, were the 12 sonnes of Belial, not knowing our Lord, † nor the office of 13 priestes to the people: but whosoeuer had immolated a victime, the seruant of the priest came, whiles the flesh was in boyling, and had a flesh hooke with three teeth in his hand, † and thrust it into the kettle, or into the caudron, or into 14 the potte, or into the panne: and al, that the flesh hooke brought vp, the priest tooke to him selfe. so did they to al Israel that came into Silo. † Yea before they burnt the fatte, 15 the seruant of the priest came, and sayd to him that immolated: Geue me flesh, that I may boyle it for the priest: for I wil not take flesh of thee sodde, but raw. † And he that immolated 16 sayd to him: Let the fatte first be burnt to day according to the maner, and take vnto thee how much soeuer thy soule desireth. Who answering said to him: Not so: for thou shalt geue it now, or els I wil take it away by force. † Therfore 17 the sinne of the yong men was exceding great before our Lord: because men detracted from the sacrifice of our Lord. † But Samuel ministred before the face of our Lord: a child, 18 girded with an ephod of linnen. † And his mother made 19 him a litle tunike, which she brought vpon the ordinarie daies, going vp with her husband, to immolate the solemne host. † And Heli blessed Elcana and his wife: and he saied to 20 him: Our Lord render thee seede of this woman, for the vsurie that thou hast geuen our Lord. And they went into their place. † Our Lord therfore visited Anna, and she conceiued, 21 and bare three sonnes, and two daughters: and the childe Samuel was magnified before our Lord. † And Heli 22 was very old, and heard al thinges which his sonnes did to al Israel: and how they slept with the wemen that wayted at the doore of the tabernacle: † and he sayd to them: Why doe 23 you these kinde of thinges, which I heare, very naughtie thinges, of al the people? † Doe not so my sonnes: for it is 24 not a good report, which I doe heare, that you make the people of our Lord to transgresse. † If man shal sinne against 25 [Page 577] man, God may be pacified toward him: but if a man shal sinne against our Lord Sinnes directly against God, and that hinder his seruice, are more hardly remitted: but none at al a [...]e irremissible before death, because during life euerie one may truly repent, if he wil: and to al true penitētes God promisseth remission of sinnes Ezech. 33. who shal pray for him? And they heard not the voice of their father, Gods determination to punish tooke not away their freewil, but for their obstinacie he leift them to themselues, without his grace, and so iustly punished them. See S. Aug. li. 5. cont. Iulian. c. 3. because our Lord would kil them. † But the childe Samuel prospered, and grew, and 26 pleased both our Lord and men. † And there came a man of 27 God to Heli, and said to him: Thus [...]ayth our Lord: Was not I openly reueled to thy fathers house, when they were in Aegypt in the house of Pharao? † and I chose him of al the 28 tribes of Israel for my priest, that he might ascend to my altar, and burne to me incense, and might carie the ephod before me: and I gaue to thy fathers house al thinges of the sacrifices of the children of Israel. † Why haue you with 29 your heele reiected my victime, and my giftes which I commanded to be offered in the temple: and hast rather honoured thy sonnes then me, that you would eate the first fruites of euerie sacrifice of Israel my people? † Therfore sayeth our 30 Lord the God of Israel: Speaking I speake that thy house, and the house of thy father should minister in my sight, for euer. But now sayeth our Lord: Be this farre from me: but whosoeuer shal glorifie me I wil glorifie him: and they that contemne me, shal be base. † Behold the daies come: and I 31 wil cut of thy arme, and the arme of thy fathers house, that there may not be an old man in thy house. † And thou shalt 32 see This was fulfilled as in the figure in Samuel, not wholly, for priesthood stil remained in the line of Aaron, as appeareth in Achias, Abiathar & Sadoc. ch. 14. 22. & 2▪ Reg. 8. but perfectly in Christ 1. Reg. c. 2. whom thou enuiest in the temple, in al prosperities of Israel and there shal not be an old man in thy house for euer. † Notwithstanding I wil not altogether take away a man of 33 thee from myn altar: but that thyne eyes may fayle, and thy soule melt: and a great part of thy house shal die when it is come to mans age. † And this shal be a signe to thee, which 34 shal come vpon thy two sonnes, Ophni, and Phinees: In one day they shal both die▪ † And I wil rayse vp vnto me a faithful 35 priest, which shal doe according to my hart, and my soule: and I wil build him a faythful house▪ and the same shal walke before my Christ al daies. † And it shal come to passe, that 36 whosoeuer shal remayne in thy house, shal come that he may be prayed for, and shal offer a peece of siluer, and a manchet of bread, and shal say: Leaue me I besech thee to one priestly part, that I may eate a morsel of bread.

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CHAP. III. Samuel thrise called vpon in sleepe by vision from God, repaireth to Heli, 10. the fourth time our Lord reueleth to him the euil, that shal fall to Heli, and his house. 16. Which he, being requested, declateth to Heli.

AND the childe Samuel ministred to our Lord before 1 Heli, and the word of our Lord was Rare thinges are called precious, and so the gift of prophecie is here termed, which was then granted to few. precious in those daies, there was no vision manifest. † It came to passe therfore 2 on a certayne day Heli lay in his place, and his eies were become dimme, neither could he see. † This vision happened early in the morning, before the time of dressing the lampes, when some were put out and others light. before the lampe 3 of God was extinguished, Samuel slept in the temple of our Lord, where the arke of God was. † And our Lord called 4 Samuel. Who answering, said: Loe here I am. † And he 5 ranne to Heli and said: Loe here I am: for thou didst cal me. Who saied: I did not cal thee: returne and sleepe. And he went and slept. † And our Lord added againe to cal Samuel. 6 And Samuel rysing vp went to Heli, and said: Loe here I am: because thou didst cal me. Who answered: I did not cal thee my sonne: returne and sleepe. † Moreouer Samuel did not 7 yet know our Lord, neither had the word of our Lord beene reueled to him. † And our Lord added, and called Samuel 8 yet the third time. Who rysing vp went to Heli, † and said: 9 Loe here I am: because thou didst cal me. Heli therfore vnderstood that our Lord called the childe, and said to Samuel: Goe, & sleepe: & if he shal cal the hereafter, thou shalt saie: Speake Lord, for thy seruant heareth. Samuel therfore went & slept in his place. † And our Lord came, and stoode: and he called, 10 as he had called twise, Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel sayd: Speake Lord for thy seruant heareth. † And our Lord said to 11 Samuel: Behold I doe a thing in Israel: which whosoeuer shal heare, both his eares shal tingle. † In that day wil I rayse vp 12 against Heli al thinges which I haue spoken touching his house: I wil beginne, and accomplish it. † For I haue foretold 13 him that I would iudge his house for euer, because of iniquitie, for that he knewe that his sonnes did wickedly, and hath not corrected them. † Therfore haue I sworne to the 14 house of Heli, that the iniquitie of his house can not be expiated with victimes and giftes for euer. † And Samuel slept 15 vntil morning, and opened the doores of the house of our Lord. And Samuel feared to tel the vision vnto Heli. † Heli 16 therfore called Samuel, and said: Samuel my sonne: Who [Page 579] answering, said: Here I am. † And he asked him: What is 17 the word, that our Lord hath spoken to thee? I besech thee conceale it not from me. These thinges doe God to thee, and these doe he adde, if thou shalt hide from me a word of al the wordes, which were said to thee. † Samuel therfore told him 18 al the wordes, & did not hide them from him. And he answered: It is our Lord: let him doe that which is good in his eies. † And Samuel grewe, and our Lord was with him, and there 19 fel not of his wordes vpon the ground. † And al Israel knewe 20 from Dan to Bersabee, that faithful Samuel was the prophet of our Lord. † And our Lord added to appeare in Silo, because 21 our Lord had bene reueled to Samuel in Silo, according to the word of our Lord. And the word of Samuel came to passe to al Israel.

CHAP. IIII. The Israelites are beaten in batle by the Philisthijms. 3. VVho for their better protection and comfort, fetch the Arke of God into the campe: 10. but are beaten againe, the Arke taken, and with manie others the two sonnes of Heli are slaine. 13. Al which Heli vnderstanding falleth from his seate, and breaketh his neck: 19. also his daughter in law presently traueling of childe is deliuered of a sonne.

AND it came to passe in those daies, the Philisthijms 1 assembled together to fight: and Israel went forth to meete the Philisthims into battle, & camped beside the Stone of helpe. Moreouer the Philisthijms came into Aphec, † and 2 put their armie in aray against Israel. And after they had ioyned battle, Israel turned their backes to the Philisthims: and there were slaine in the fight here and there through the fieldes, as it were foure thousand men. † And the people returned 3 to the campe: and the ancientes of Israel said: Why hath our Lord stricken vs to day before the Philisthijms? Their confidence of helpe from God, by presence of the arke was good and commendable, but their sinnes deserued to be punished. Let vs fetch vnto vs the arke of the couenant of our Lord from Silo, and let it come into the middes of vs, that it may saue vs from the hand of our enemies. † The people therefore sent into 4 Silo, and they tooke from thence the arke of the couenant of the Lord of hostes sitting vpon the Cherubims: and the two sonnes of Heli were with the arke of the couenant of God, Ophni and Phinees. † And when the arke of the 5 couenant of our Lord was come into the campe, al Israel made a shoute with a great crie, and the earth sounded. † And 6 [Page 580] the Philisthims heard the voice of the crie, and said: What is this voice of a great crie in the campe of the Hebrewes? And they knewe that the arke of our Lord was come into the campe. † And the Philisthijms were afrayd, saing: God is 7 come into the campe. And they mourned, saing: † Woe to vs: 8 for there was not so great reioysing yesterday and the day before: woe to vs. Who shal keepe vs from the hand of these high Goddes? these be the Goddes, that stricke Aegypt with al plague, in the desert. † Take courage, and be men, ye Philisthijms: 9 lest you be seruantes to the Hebrewes, as they also haue ferued you: take courage and fight. † The Philisthijms 10 therfore fought, and Israel was slaine, and euerie man fled into his tabernacle: and there was made an exeeding great plague: and there fel of Israel thirtie thousand footemen. † And the arke of God was taken: the two sonnes also of 11 Heli died, Ophni and Phinees. † And a man of Beniamin 12 running out of the battle aray, came into Silo that day, his garment rent, and sprinkled on his head with dust. † And 13 when he was come, Heli sate vpon a stoole ouer against the way looking. For his hart was fearful for the arke of God. And that man after he was entred in, told it to the citie: and al the citie howled. † And Heli heard the sound of the crie, 14 and said: What is this sound of this same tumult? But he hastened, and came, and told Heli. † And Heli was nintie and 15 eight yeares old, and his eyes were dimme, and he could not see. † And he said to Heli: I am he that came from the battle, 16 and I he that fled out of the field this day. To whom he said: What is done my sonne? † And he brought the newes answering: 17 Israel, quoth he, is fled before the Philisthijms, and a great ruine is made in the people: moreouer also thy two sonnes are dead, Ophni and Phinees: and the arke of God is taken. † And when he had This zele of religion in Heli towards the arke, is a great signe that he died in good state though he was temporally punished for not correcting his sonnes. named the arke of God, he fel 18 from his stoole backward beside the doore, & his necke being broken he died. For he was an old man, and of a great age: and he iudged Israel fourtie yeares. † And his daughter in 19 law, the wife of Phinees was great with childe, and nigh to be deliuered: and hearing the reporte that the arke of God was taken, and her father in law was dead, and her husband, she bowed her self and was deliuered: for sudden paynes were fallen vpon her. † And in the very moment of her 20 death, they said to her that stoode about her: Feare not [Page 581] because thou hast borne a sonne. Who answered them not, nor gaue heede to it. † And she called the childe Ichabod, 21 saing: The glorie is translated from Israel, because the arke of God is taken, and for her father in law, and for her husband; † and she said: The glorie is translated from Israel, 22 for that the arke of God was taken.

CHAP. V. Dagon falleth downe twise in presence of the Arke, his head and handes broken of. 6. The Philisthijms being sore plagued in al their cities where the arke cometh, 11. determine to send it backe to the Israelites.

AND the Philistijms tooke the arke of God, and caried 1 it from the Stone of helpe into Azotus. † And the 2 Philistijms tooke the arke of God, and brought it into the temple of Dagon, and sette it beside Dagon. † And when 3 the Azotians had risen early the next day, behold So sowne as Christs Gospel or Testament came among the Gentiles, al false goddes & idolatry fel downe. S. Beda. qq in 1. Reg. c. 3. Dagon lay flatte on the ground before the arke of our Lord: and they tooke Dagon, and restored him into his place. † And 4 agayne early the next day rising vp, they found Dagon lying vpon his face on the earth before the arke of our Lord: and the head of Dagon, and the two palmes of his handes were cutte of vpon the threshold: † moreouer the bodie only 5 of Dagon was remayning in his place. For this cause the priestes of Dagon, and al that enter into his temple, tread not vpon the threshold of Dagon in Azotus vntil this day. † And the hand of our Lord was heauie vpon the Azotians, 6 and he plagued them, and stroke Azotus and the coastes thereof in the secrete part of the fundament. And the townes and fieldes bubbled forth in the middes of that country, and there came forth mise, and there was confusion of great death in the citie. † And the men of Azotus seing this maner 7 of plague, said: Let not the arke of the God of Israel tarie with vs: because his hand is sore vpon vs, and The arke being a holie thing, as Reliques are, was terrible to their false god, the diuel, so the Reliques of S. Babilas ouerthrew the false god Apollo as [...]. Chryso [...]. testifieth at large. li. cont. Gentiles, [...]. 5. vpon Dagon our God. † And sending they gathered together al the princes 8 of the Philistijms to them, and said: What shal we doe with the arke of the God of Israel? And the Getheites answered: Let the arke of the God of Israel be caried about, and they caried about the arke of the God of Israel. † And they 9 carying it about, the hand of our Lord was made through euerie citie by an exceding great slaughter: and it strake the men of euery city, from litle vnto great, & they had emeroides [Page 582] in their secrete partes. And the Getheites tooke counseil, and made themselues stooles of skinnes. † They sent therfore the 10 arke of God into Accaron. And when the arke of God was come into Accaron, the Accaronites cryed out, saying: They haue brought vnto vs the arke of the God of Israel, to kil vs & our people. † They sent therefore & gathered together al the 11 princes of the Philistijms: who sayd: Dimisse the arke of the God of Israel, & let it returne into his place, & not kil vs with our people. † For there was made the feare of death in euery 12 citie, & the hand of God exceding greuous. the men also that had not died, were striken in the secrete part of the buttockes: and the howling of euery citie went vp into heauen.

CHAP. VI. The Arke is sent backe with siue emeroids and fiue mise of gold, vpon a new wayne drawne by two milch kyne. 13. which coming directly to Bethsames are sacrificed, the wayne seruing for fire, the Leuites kepe the Arke. 19. Many others are slaine looking of curiositie into it.

THEREFORE the arke of God was in the country of 1 the Philisthijms seuen monethes. † And the Philisthijms 2 called the priestes and soothsaiers, saying: What shal we doe with the arke of the Lord? tel vs▪ how we may send it backe into his place. Who said: † If you send back the 3 arke of the God of Israel, send it not away emptie, but that which you owe render vnto it for sinne, and then you shal be cured: and you shal know why his hand departeth not from you. † Who answered: What is that which we ought 4 to render vnto it for sinne? And they answered: † According 5 to the number of the prouinces of the Philisthijms you shal make siue golden emroides, and fiue golden mise▪ because there hath bene one plague to you, and to your princes. And you shal make the similitudes of your emeroides, and the similitudes of the mise, that haue destroied the land, and you shal geue glorie to the God of Israel: if perhaps he wil lighten his hand from you, and from your goddes and from your land. † Why doe you harden your hartes, as Obstinate sinners doe harden their owne hartes, not God, but by suffering them so to do. [...]ee A [...]not. [...]d. 7. Aegypt 6 and Pharao did harden their hart? did not he after he was striken, then dimisse them, and they departed? † Now 7 therfore take and make one new wayne: and two kine hauing calued, on which there hath no yoke beene put, couple in the wayne, and shut vp their calues at home. † And you 8 [Page 583] shal take the arke of the Lord, and put it in the wayne, and the vessels of gold, which you haue payed him for sinne, you shal put into a litle casket at the side thereof: and dimisse it that it may goe. † And you shal looke: and if so be 9 that it shal goe vp by the way of his coastes against Bethsames, he hath donne vs this great euil: but if not: we shal know that his hand hath not touched vs, but it hath happened by chance. † They therefore did in this maner: and taking 10 two kine, that had sucking calues, yoked them to the wayne, and shut vp their calues at home. † And they layd 11 the arke of God vpon the wayne, and the litle casket, that had the golden mise and the similitudes of emeroides. † And the 12 kine went directly by the way, that leadeth to Bethsames, and they went one way, going forward and lowing: and they declined not neither to the right hand nor to the left: but the princes also of the Philistijms folowed vnto the borders of Bethsames. † Moreouer the Bethsamites reaped wheat 13 in the valley: and lifting vp their eies, they saw the arke, and were gladde when they had seene it. † And the wayne came 14 into the field of Iosue the Bethsamite, and stoode there. And there was a great stone, and they did cut the wood of the wayne, and layed the kine vpon it an holocaust to our Lord. † And the Leuites tooke downe the arke of God, 15 and the litle casket, that was at the side of it, wherin were the vessels of gold, and they put it vpon the great stone. The men also of Bethsames offered holocaustes, and immolated victimes that day to our Lord. † And the fiue princes 16 of the Philistijms saw, and returned into Accaron that day. † And these are the golden emeroides, which the Philistijms 17 rendred for sinne to our Lord: Azotus one, Gaza one, Ascalon one, Geth one, Accaron one: † and the golden mise according 18 to the number of the cities of the Philistijms, of the fiue prouinces, from walled citie vnto towne that was without wal, and vnto Abel the great, wherupon they put the arke of our Lord, which was vntil that day in the field of Iosue the Bethsamite. † But he stroke of the men of Bethsames, for 19 that they had As the arke was terrible to the infideles, ( chap. 5.) so also to those that beleued right but vsed it not reuerently. seene the arke of our Lord: and he stroke of the people seuentie men, and fiftie thousand of the common people. And the people mourned, because our Lord had striken the common people with a great plague. † And the men 20 of Bethsames sayd: Who shal be able to stand in the sight of [Page 584] our Lord God this holie one? and to whom shal he goe vp from vs? † And they sent messengers to the inhabitantes of 21 Caria Thiarim, saying: The Philistijms haue brought backe the arke of our Lord, come downe & fetch it backe vnto you.

CHAP. VII. The Arke is brought to the house of Abinadab in Gabaa, 3. By Samuels exhortation, the people cast away the idols and serue only God. 10. Samuel offering sacrifice and praying, Israel preuaileth against the Philisthijms.

THEREFORE the men of Caria Thiarim came, and 1 These men knowing that the presence of the arke was good for them (though the Bethsamites had benne punished for their irreuerence towardes it) feared not to receiue and kepe it. brought backe the arke of our Lord, and caried it into the house of Abinadab in Gaaba: And Eleazar his sonne they sanctified, that he might keepe the arke of our Lord. † And 2 it came to passe, from the day that the arke of our Lord abode in Caria Thiarim the dayes were multiplied (for it was now the twentith yeare) and al the house of Israel rested after our Lord. † And Samuel spake to al the house of Israel, 3 saying: If you turne to our Lord in al your hart, take away the strange goddes out of the middes of you, Baalim, and Astaroth: and prepare your hartes to our Lord, and serue him only, and he wil deliuer you from the hand of the Philisthijms. † Therefore the children of Israel tooke away Baalim 4 and Astaroth, and serued our Lord only. † And Samuel sayd: 5 Gather together al Israel into Masphath, that I may pray our Lord for you. † And they assembled into Masphath: and 6 they drew water, and powred it out in the sight of our Lord, and they fasted that day, and sayd there: We haue sinned to our Lord. And Samuel iudged the children of Israel in Masphath. † And the Philisthijms heard that the children of 7 Israel were gathered together into Masphath, and the princes of the Philisthijms went vp to Israel. Which when the children of Israel had heard, they were afrayde at the face of the Philisthijms. † And they said to Samuel: cease not to crie to 8 our Lord God for vs, that he saue vs from the hand of the Philisthims. † And Samuel tooke one sucking lambe, and offered 9 i [...] a whole holocauste to our Lord: and Samuel cried to our Lord for Israel, and our Lord heard him. † And it came to 10 passe, when Samuel offered the holocauste, the Philisthijms beganne battel against Israel: but our Lord thundered with a great noise in that day vpon the Philisthijms, and terrified them, and they were slaine before the face of Israel. † And 11 [Page 585] the men of Israel issuing out of Masphath pursued the Philisthijms, and stroke them vnto the place, that was vnder Bethcar. † And Samuel tooke one stone, and layd it betwen 12 Masphath and Sen: and he called the name of that place, The stone of helpe. And he sayd: Thus farre hath our Lord holpen vs. † And the Philistijms were humbled, neither added 13 they any more to come into the borders of Israel. Therefore the hand of our Lord was made vpon the Philistijms, al the dayes of Samuel. † And the cities, which the Philistijms had 14 taken from Israel, were rendred to Israel, from Accaron vnto Geth, and their borders: and [...]e deliuered Israel from the hand of the Philistijms, and there was peace betwen Israel and th [...] That is [...] say, the Phili [...], who were [...] o [...] the seuen nations of Chanaan, which God comm [...]nded his people to destroy, [...] the Amorrheites. Amorrheite. † Samuel also [...]udged Israel al the 15 daies of his life: † and he went euerie [...]eare circu [...] Bethel 16 and Galgala and Masphath, and [...]udged Israel in the foresaid places. † And he returned into Ramatha: for there was 17 his house, and there he iudged Israel: he built also there an altar to our Lord.

CHAP. VIII. Samuel growing old, and his sonnes for bribes peruerting iudgement, the people require to haue a king. 7. [...]o Whom by Gods commandment, Samuel for [...]heneth the law of a king, to make them cease from their demand; 19. but they persist therein.

AND it came to passe when Samuel waxed old, he appoynted 1 his sonnes iudges ouer Israel. † And the name 2 of his first begotten sonne was Ioel: and the name of the second Abia, iudges in Bersabee. † And his sonnes walked nor 3 in his waies: but they declined after auarice, & tocke bribes, and peruerted iudgement. † Heli his sonnes g [...]ieuously offending in then office before ( chap 2.) and now Samuels sonnes also peruerting iudgem [...]t gaue occasion to the people, to demand a l [...]ng to iudge their temporal causes rightly not declining to wrong for bribes. Therfore al the ancientes of 4 Israel being assembled, came to Samuel into Ramatha. † And 5 they sayd to him: Behold thou art old, and thy sonnes walke not in thy wayes: appoynt vs a king, that he may iudge vs, as also al nations haue. † And the word was misliked in the eyes 6 of Samuel, because they had sayd: Geue vs a king, that he may iudge vs. And Samuel prayed to our Lord. † And our 7 Lord sayd to Samuel: Heare the voice of the people in al thinges which they speake to thee. for they haue not “reiected thee, but me, that I should not reigne ouer them. † According to al their workes, which they haue done from 8 the day that I brought them out of Aegypt vntil this day: as [Page 586] they haue forsaken me, and serued strange goddes, so doe they also vnto thee. † Now therefore heare their voice: but yet 9 testifie to them, and foretel them the Misphat signifieth maner, fashion, or proceding. right of the king, that shal reigne ouer them. † Samuel therfore spake al the wordes 10 of our Lord to the people which had desired a king of him, † and sayd: This shal be“ the right of the king, that shal reigne 11 ouer you: Your sonnes he wil take, and put in his chariotes, and wil make them vnto him the horsemen, and running footmen before his chariotes, † and wil appoynt them his 12 tribunes, and centurions, and the plowers of his fieldes, and mowers of his corne, and makers of his armour and of his chariotes. † Your daughters also wil he take to make ointementes, 13 and to be cookes, and bakers. † Your fieldes also, 14 and vineyardes, and the best oliuetes he wil take away, and geue to his seruantes. † Yea and your corne also, and the 15 reuenewes of your vineyardes he wil tithe, to geue his eunuches and seruantes. † Your seruantes also and handmaides, 16 and goodliest yong men, and asses he wil take away, and put in his worke. † Your flockes also wil he tithe, you shal be 17 his seruantes. † And you shal crie in that day from the face 18 of the king, which you haue chosen you: and our Lord God alwaies heareth those that truly repent for their sinnes, but doth not alwayes deliuer them from afflictions, which are due for offences, or profitable for probation and merite of his children. wil not heare you in that day, because you desired vnto your selues a king. † But the people would not heare the voice 19 of Samuel, but sayd: Not so: for there shal be a king ouer vs, † and we also wil be as al nations: and our king shal 20 iudge vs, and shal goe forth before vs, and shal fight our battels for vs. † And Samuel heard al the wordes of the 21 people, and spake them in the eares of our Lord. † And our 22 Lord said to Samuel: Heare their voice, and appoynt a king ouer them. And Samuel sayd to the men of Israel: Let euerie man goe into his citie.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VIII.

7. Reiected me.] For so much as God had chosen Israel a peculiar people to [...]od. 19. Deut. 17. Iudi [...]. 2. v. 16. him self, and hitherto ruled the same by his Priestes established among them, Vvhy the peoples demand to haue a king is disliked. and by Iudges extraordinarily raised vp, and sent by him, to deliuer them in their distresses, their demand now to haue a King, who (after the maner of other nations) should be their Lord, and haue more dignitie, and authoritie ouer them, then Dukes or Iudges had, is interpreted, as in effect to reiect God▪ in that they disliked, & sought to change his forme of gouernment. And therfore this request of the people iustly displeased both Samuel and God himself.

[Page 587]11. The right of the King.] Samuel here by Gods appointment, to diswade Kinges sometimes oppresse their subiectes by Gods sufferance, but vniustly. the people from their desire of a king, at least to admonish them before hand, what they are like to find by experience, reciteth such thinges, as Kinges abusing [...]. Cyp. li. 3. ep. 9. siue 65. [...]. Hier [...] ▪ in Osee 8. [...]. Greg. li. 4. c. 2. in 1. Reg. 8. their powre do oftentimes practise, by reason of their high dignitie, and litle feare of controlment, but vniustly and vnlawfully; according to the doctrin of ancient Fathers. Amongst others. S. Cyprian calleth the exactions of kinges here recited, greuous iniuries. S. Hierom dura imperia, & seruitutem. rigorous or cruel gouernmentes, and seruitude. S. Gregorie proueth the same by two contrarie examples. Seing (sayeth he) that which is here foretold, was punished in Achab and Iesabel (3. Reg. 21.) it sheweth, that it was not right by diuine iudgement, which they exacted. And when the elect King Dauid was to build an altar to our Lord (1. Paral. 21.) he would not take part of Ornans field, except he payed a iust price for it. Moreouer the law prescribing the dutie of Kinges ( Deut. 17. v. 16. &c.) commandeth them not to multiplie horses, not Kinges haue prerogatiues aboue, but not cont [...]aric to the lawes. to heape riches, not to take high courage, that their hartes be not lifted vp into pride ouer their bretheren. Neuertheles Kinges haue great prerogatiues (more then Dukes, and Iudges) besides, and aboue, but neuer contrarie to the law; that albeit they can not take their subiectes landes or goodes, neither for them selues, nor to geue to their seruantes at their pleasure: yet in diuers cases subiectes are bound, to contribute of their priuate goodes, to supplie the necessitie of the King, or of the commonwealth, as by nature euerie part must suffer damage, or danger in defence of the principal member, or whole bodie. And if anie refuse so to do, they may iustly be compelled.

Furthermore in case Kinges or other Princes commit excesses, and oppresse Euil princes may be deposed by God & the Church▪ but not by the people only. their subiectes, yet are they not by and by to be deposed by the people, nor Concil. Lateran c. 3. de heret. commonwealth, but must be tolerated with patience, peace, and meeknes, til God by his souereigne authoritie, left in his Church, dispose of them: which his diuine wisdom and goodnes often differreth to do, as here he expresly forewarneth, saying: ( v. 18) You shal crie in that day, from the face of your King, and our [...]ord vvil not [...]eare you And the reason is, because he wil punish the sinnes of the people, by suffering euil princes to reigne. Iob. 34. v. 30.

Of which important difficultie, falling sometimes betwen Princes and their Pointes obserued in the constitution and deposition of King Saul. subiectes, who so desireth, may search the iudgement of ancient Fathers, and see S. Thomas, and other schole Doctors, 2. 2. q. 12. a. 2. Here only for better vnderstanding of this present text, these brief pointes may be obserued First, the people of their owne wil desired to haue a King. Secondly, they requested the same at the handes of samuel their present Superiour. Thirdly, this demand 1. 2. 3. 4. displeased both Samuel and God himself. Fourthly, yet God condescended to grant their suite, but with an admonition, and forewarning of the inconueniences, which they should finde and feele. Fiftly, God himself designed 5. the person that should be King, reueled him by vision, and commanded Samuel to annoint him. Sixtly, God neuertheles by guiding the lotte, more manifestly 6. 7. declared, and confirmed his election. Seuently, God deposed the same King, for transgressing his law, chap. 13. v. 13. and disobeying his commandment. chap. 15. v. 23. appointing an other, by the ministerie of Samuel. chap. 16. Eightly, notwithstanding his deposition, he remained in his dignitie til his 8. death, which happened by other meanes. chap. 31. By al which it appeareth, that God constituted Saul the first King of the Iewes, the people suing to haue a King; but deposed him for euil behauiour, the people desiring no such thing, and Samuel the Prophet much lamenting the same. Yet was he not actually be [...]iued of the crowne and kingdom during his life.

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CHAP. IX. Saul by occasion of seeking his fathers asses cometh to Samuel. 15. Who had a reuelation of his coming, and a commandment to annoint him. 22. He is entertained and lodged with Samuel.

AND there was a man of Beniamin named Cis, the sonne 1 The second part. The election, annointing▪ & gouernement of King Saul. of Abiel, the sonne of Seor, the sonne of Bechorath, the sonne of Aphia, the sonne of a man of Iemini, valiantin strength. † And he had a sonne called Saul, chosen & good: 2 and there was not a man of the children of Israel better then he: from the shoulder and vpward he appeared aboue al the people. † And the asses of Cis the father of Saul were lost: 3 and Cis said to Saul his sonne: Take one of the seruants with thee, and rising goe, and seeke the asses. Who when they had passed by mount Ephraim, † and by the land of Salisa, and 4 had not found, they passed also through the land of Salim, and they were not: yea and by the Land of Iemini, and found them not. † And when they were come into the Land of 5 Suph, Saul saide to the seruant that was with him: Come let vs returne, lest perhaps my father hath let alone the asses, and be careful for vs. † Who sayd to him: Behold a man of God 6 is in this citie, a famous man: al that he speaketh, cometh to passe without doubt▪ now therefore let vs goe thither, if perhaps he may tel vs of our way, for which we are come. † And 7 Saul sayd to his seruant: Loc we wil goe: what shal we carie to the man of God? The bread is spent in our males: and present we haue none to geue vnto the man of God, nor any thing els. † Agayne the seruant answered Saul and sayd: Behold 8 there is found in my hand the fourth part of a sicle of siluer, let vs geue it to the man of God, that he may tel vs our way. † (For in time past in Israel so euery man spake, going to consult God, Come, and let vs goe to the S [...]er. For he that at this day is called a Prophete, in time past was called One that by diuine inspiration foreseeth thinges too▪ come. a S [...]r.) † And Saul sayd to his seruant: Thy word is very good, 10 come let vs goe. And they went into the citie, wherein the man of God was. † And when they went vp the ascent of the 11 citie, they found maides coming forth to draw water, and sayd to them: Is the Seer here? † Who answering sayd to 12 them: Here he is. Loe before thee, make hast now: for this day he came into the citie, because this day there is a sacrifice of the people in the excelse. † Entring into the citie immediatly 13 [Page 589] you shal find him, before he goe vp into the excelse to eate. for the people wil not eate til he come: because he wil blesse the Hoste, and afterward they shal eate that are inuited. Now therefore goe vp, because this day you shal finde him. † And they went vp into the citie. And when they 14 walked in the middes of the citie, Samuel appeared coming forth against them, to goe vp into the excelse. † And our 15 Lord had reueled the eare of Samuel one day before Saul came, saying: † This very houre, that now is, to morrow 16 wil I send to thee a man of the Land of Beniamin, and thou shalt annoint him ruler ouer my people of Israel: and he shal saue my people from the hand of the Philistiims: because I haue respected my people, for Oppression of innocentes crieth to heaven. their crie is come to me. † And when Samuel had beheld Saul, our Lord sayde to 17 him: Behold the man, of whom I told thee, this man shal rule ouer my people. † And Saul came to Samuel in the middes 18 of the gate, and sayd: Shew me, I pray thee, where is the house of the Seer? † And Samuel answered Saul, saying: I am the 19 Seer, goe vp before me into the excelse, that you may eate with me to day, and I wil dimisse thee in the morning: and al thinges that are in thy hart, wil I tel thee. † And concerning 20 the asses, which thou didst lose three dayes agone, be not careful, because they are found. And whose shal be al the best thinges of Israel? not to thee and to al thy fathers house? † And Saul answering, sayd: Am not I the sonne of I [...]mini 21 of the least tribe of Israel, and my kindred the last among al the families of the tribe of Beniamin? Why therfore hast thou spoken this word to me? † Samuel therefore taking Saul 22 and his seruant, brought them into the parlour, and gaue them a place in the chiefe rowme of them that were inuited. for there were about thirtie men. † And Samuel sayd to the 23 cooke: Geue the portion, which I gaue thee, and commanded that thou shouldest lay it vp apart with thee. † And the cooke 24 lifted vp a shoulder, and sette it before Saul. And Samuel said: Behold that which hath remayned, sette it before thee, and eate: because of purpose it was kept for thee, when I called the people. And Saul did eate with Samuel that day. † And 25 they descended from the excelse into the towne, and he spake with Saul in the toppe of the house: and he prepared a bed for Saul in the highest rowme, & he slept. † And when they were 26 risen in the morning, and it beganne now to be light, Samuel [Page 590] called Saul in the high chāber, saying: Arise that I may dismisse thee. And Saul arose: and they went both forth: to witte, he and Samuel. † And when they came downe in the vttermost 27 part of the citie, Samuel said to Saul: Speake to the seruant that he goe before vs, and passe: but stay thou alitle while, that I may tel thee the word of our Lord.

CHAP. X. Saul is annointed king, and confirmed by signes that his ordinance is of God. 10. He prophecieth, which the people doth admire. 17. Samuel calleth the people together, for appointing a king, the lotte falleth on Saul. 25. and the law of the king is againe mentioned.

AND Samuel tooke [...]. Gregorie here noteth, that such as are placed in height of gouernement, are annointed with oyle, which signifieth mercie, light, and cu [...]ing of others. a litle vessel of But the litle vessel foreshewed that Saul not perseuering in grace, should be deposed from his kingdom. li. 4 c. 5. in 1. Reg. 10. oyle, and powred 1 vpon his head, and kissed him, and sayd: Behold, our Lord hath annointed thee vpon his inheritance to be prince, and thou shalt deliuer his people out of the handes of their enemies, that are round about them. And this shal be a signe vnto thee, that God hath annointed thee to be prince. † When 2 thou shalt be departed from me this day, thou shalt finde two men beside the sepulchre of Rachel in the borders of Beniamin, in the South, and they shal say to thee: The asses are found, which thou dist goe to seeke: and thy father letting goe the asses, is careful for you, and sayeth: What shal I doe concerning my sonne? † And when thou shalt depart thence, 3 and passe farder, and tha [...]t come to the oke Thabor, three men going vp to God into Bethel shal finde thee there, one carying three kiddes, and an other three manchettes of bread, and an other carying a flagon of wine. † And when they 4 haue saluted thee, they wil geue thee two loaues, and thou shalt take them of their hand. † After these thinges thou 5 shalt come into the hil of God, where the garrison of the Philisthiimes is: and when thou shalt be entered there into the citie, thou shalt meete there a flocke of prophetes coming downe from the excelse, and before them psalterie and tymbrel, and [...]halme, and harpe, and themselues prophecying. † And the Spirit of our Lord shal sease vpon thee, 6 and thou shalt prophecie with them, and shalt be changed into an other man. † Thefore when al these signes shal 7 chance to thee, doe whatsoeuer thy hand shal finde, because our Lord is with thee. † And thou shalt goe downe before 8 me into Galgala (for I wil come downe to thee) that thou [Page 591] mayest offer oblation, and immolate pacifique victimes: Samuel enioynet [...] obedience to Saul to trie his humilitie. S. Greg. li. 4 c. 5. in 1▪ Reg 10. seuen daies shalt thou expect, til I come to thee, and I wil shew thee what thou must doe. † Therfore when he had turned away 9 his shoulder to depart from Samuel, God God gaue him peculiar grace for executing the office of a king. changed vnto him another hart, and al these thinges came in that day. † And 10 they came to the foresaid hil, and behold a troupe of prophetes meeting him: & the By and by also the gift of prophecie. Spirit of our Lord seased vpon him. and he prophecied in the middes of them. † And al that had 11 knowen him yesterday and the day before, seing that he was with the prophetes, & did prophecie, said to ech other: What thing hath happened to the sonne of Cis? what is Saul also among the prophetes? † And one answered an other, saying: 12 And who is Then superious. their father? therefore it was turned into a prouerbe: What is Saul also among the prophetes? † And he ceased 13 to prophecie, and came to the excelse. † And Sauls vncle 14 sayd to him, and to his seruant: Whitherwent you? who answered: To seeke the asses: which when we had not found, we came to Samuel. † And his vncle sayd to him: Tel me what 15 Samuel sayd to thee. † And Saul sayd to his vncle: He told vs 16 that the asses were found. But concerning the word of the kingdom which Samuel had spoken to him, he told him not. † And Samuel called together the people to our Lord in Maspha: 17 † And sayd to the children of Israel: Thus sayth our 18 Lord the God of Israel: I brought Israel out of Aegypt, and deliuerd you from the hand of the Aegyptians, and from the hand of al the kinges which afflicted you. † But you this day 19 haue reiected your God, who only hath saued you out of al your euils and tribulations: and you haue said: Not so: but appoint a king ouer vs. Now therefore stand before our Lord by your tribes, and by your families. † And Samuel brought 20 al the tribes of Israel, and the By lotte the people were assured that the election was of God. S. Greg. [...]b [...]dem. lotte fel on the tribe of Beniamin. † And he brought the tribe of Beniamin and 21 the kinreds thereof, and it fel vpon the kindred of Metri, and it came vnto Saul the sonne of Cis. They therfore sought him, and he was not found, † And after these thinges they 22 consulted our Lord whether he would come thither. And our Lord answered: Behold he is hid at home. † They ranne 23 therefore and tooke him from thence: and he stood in the middes of the people, and he was higher then al the people from the shoulder and vpward. † And Samuel said to al the 24 people: Certes you see whom our Lord hath chosen, that [Page 592] there is not the like to him in al the people. And al the people cried, and sayd: God saue the King. † And Samuel spake to 25 the people the law of the kingdom, and wrote it in a booke, and layd it vp before our Lord: and Samuel dismissed al the people, euerie one into his owne house. † But Saul also departed 26 vnto his house into Gabaa: and there went with him part of the armie, they whose hartes God had touched. † But 27 the children of Belial sayd: What shal this fellow be able to saue vs? and they despised him, and brought him not presentes: but he dissembled as though he heard not.

CHAP. XI. Ammonites fighting against Iabes Galaad, and the citie readie to yelde, 5. Saul gathereth an armie, 11. ouerthroweth the enimie, 14. and is established King.

AND it came to passe as it were a moneth after, Naas 1 the Ammonite ascended, and began to fight against Iabes of Galaad. And al the men of Iabes sayd to Naas: Make a league with vs, and we wil serue thee. † And Naas the 2 Ammonite answered them: In this wil I make a league with you, that I may plucke out the right eyes of you al, and may make you a reproch [...] al Israel. † And the ancientes of Iabes 3 sayd to him: Graunt vnto vs seuen daies, that we may send messengers vnto al the coastes of Israel: and if there shal not be that may defend vs, we wil come forth to thee. † The 4 messengers therefore came into Gabaa of Saul: and they spake these wordes, in the hearing of the people: and al the people lifted vp their voice, and wept. † And behold Saul 5 came, folowing oxen out of the field, and sayd: What ayleth the people that they weepe? And they told him the wordes of the men of Iabes. † And the Spirit of our Lord seased on 6 Saul, when he had heard these wordes, and his furie was exceding wrath. † And taking both the oxen, he cutte them 7 into peeces, and sent them into al the coastes of Israel by messengers, saving: Whosoeuer shal not goe forth, and folow Saul and Samuel, so shal it be done to his oxen. Therefore the feare of our Lord inuaded the people, and they went forth as it were one man. † And he numbered them in Bezec: 8 and there were of the children of Israel three hundred thousand: and of the men of Iuda thirtie thousand. † And they 9 sayd to the messengers that came▪ Thus shal you say to the [Page 593] men, that are in Iabes Galaad: To morow, when the sunne shal waxe hote, you shal haue relife. The messengers therefore came, and told the men of Iabes: Who were glad. † And 10 they said: In the morning As the men of Iabes deluded their enimies by aequiuocation, so speaking that they were otherwise vnderstood then they ment: so the seruantes of God being tempted with concupiscence of glutoni [...] (signified by Naas) must deceiue their carnal appetite, by promising to satisfie the desire of the flesh, but in deede kepe such temperance, as they may kil the cōcupiscence, and not be killed by it. S. Greg. li. 5. c. 1. in 1. Reg. 11. we wil come forth to you: and you shal doe to vs whatsoeuer shal please you. † And it came 11 to passe, when the morow was come, Saul sette the people into three partes: and entered into the middes of the campe in the morning watch, and stroke Ammon vntil the day waxed hote, and the rest were dispersed, so that there were not left among them two together. † And the people sayd 12 to Samuel: Who is this that said: what shal Saul reigne ouer vs? Geue vs the men and we wil kil them. † And Saul sayd: 13 No man shal be killed this day, because our Lord this day hath releued Israel: † And Samuel said to the people: Come and 14 let vs goe into Galgal, and let vs renewe there a kingdome. † And al the people went into Galgal, and there they made 15 Saul king before our Lord in Galgal, & they immolated there pacifique victimes before our Lord. And Saul reioysed there, and al the men of Israel excedingly.

CHAP. XII. Samuel being iustified by the people for his good behauiour, 6. chargeth them with ingratitude towardes God, 14. admonishing them, and shewing by a signe, that they offended in demanding a king. 20. Exhorteth them now to serue God, promiseth to pray for them, and forwarneth that they shal receiue as they deserue.

AND Samuel sayd to al Israel: Behold I haue heard your 1 voice according to al thinges which you haue spoken to me, and I haue appointed a king ouer you. † And now 2 the king goeth before you: and I am waxen old and haue gray heares: moreouer my sonnes are with you: therfore hauing conuersed with you from my youth vntil this day, loe I am readie. † Speake of me before our Lord, and before his 3 Christ, whether I haue taken any mans oxe, or asse: If I haue calumniated any man, if I haue oppressed any man, if I haue taken gift of any mans hand: and I wil contemne that same this day, and wil restore it to you. † And they 4 said thou hast not calumniated vs, nor oppressed vs, nor taken ought of any mans hand. † And he sayd to them: Witnes 5 is our Lord against you, and witnes is his The annointed king. Christ in this day, that you haue not found any thing in my hand. And [Page 594] they said: Witnes † And Samuel said to the people: Our Lord 6 who made Moyses and Aaron, and brought our fathers out of the Land of Aegypt is present. † Now therefore stand, that I 7 may contend in iudgement against you before our Lord, concerning al the mercies of our Lord, which he hath done with you, and with your fathers: † how Iacob entred into Aegypt, 8 and your fathers cried to our Lord: and our Lord sent Moyses and Aaron, and brought your fathers out of Aegypt: and placed them in this place. † Who forgat our Lord their God, and 9 he deliuered them in the hand of Sisara master of the hoste of Haser, and in the hand of the Philisthijmes, and in the hand of the king of Moab, and they sought against them. † But afterward they cried to our Lord, and said: We haue 10 sinned, because we haue forsaken our Lord, and haue serued Baalim and Astaroth: now therefore deliuer vs from the hand of our enemies, and we wil serue thee. † And our Lord sent 11 [...] immediatly by God, but would haue king to reigne ouer them▪ imagening that so they should be better protected, and defended from forraine enemies wherin they preferred their owne conceite and iudgement before Gods disposition. and therfore this sinne is often here inculcated, and much reprehended. S. Greg li. 5. c. 2. in 1. [...]. 12. Ierobaal, and mi [...]tie Samson. Badan, and Iepte, and Samuel, and deliuered you from the hand of your enemies round about, and you dwelt securely. † But you seing that Naas, king of the children 12 of Ammon was come against you, you said to me: They [...]ent that they would not be ruled and protected as hither to they had bene, by Dukes & Iudges ordained Not so, but a king shal reigne ouer vs: whereas our Lord your God did reigne among you. † Now therfore your king is readie, 13 whom you haue chosen and desired: behold our Lord hath geuen you a king. † If you shal feare our Lord, and serue him, 14 and heare his voice, and not exasperat the mouth of our Lord: both you, and the king which reigneth ouer you, shal be folowers of our Lord your God. † but if you wil nor heare the 15 voice of our Lord, but shal exasperat his wordes, the hand of our Lord shal be vpon you, and vpon your [...] [...]ures. S. [...]reg. thunder. fathers. † But 16 now also stand, and see this great thing which our Lord wil doe in your sight. † Is it not wheare haruest to day? I wil 17 cal vpon our Lord, & he wil geue * noyses and rayne: and you shal know, and see that you haue done great euil to your selues in the sight of our Lord, desiring a king ouer you. † And 18 Samuel cried to our Lord, and our Lord gaue noyses and raine in that day. † And al the people feared excedingly our Lord 19 and :: Samuel. And al the people said to Samuel: Pray for thy seruantes to our Lord thy God, that we die not. for we haue added euil to al our sinnes, that we desired vnto vs a king. † And Samuel sayd to the people: Feare not, you haue done 20 al this euil: but yet depart not from the They feared God so much the more▪- because they feared al [...]o his seruant. :: For sinners to come before Gods face were presumption, not to come to his back, or to depart from thence, were desperation. So Marie Magdalen with feare and hope approched & taried at Christs back. Luc. 7. S. Greg. loco citato. backe of our Lord, [Page 595] but serue our Lord in al your hart. † And decline not after 21 vaine thinges, which shal not profite you, nor deliuer you, because they are vaine. † And our Lord wil not forsake his 22 people for his great name: because our Lord hath sworne to make you a people to him self. † And farre from me be 23 this sinne in our Lord, that I should cease to pray for you, and I wil teach you the good and right way. † Therefore 24 feare our Lord, and serue him in truth and from your whole hart. for you haue seene the great workes which he hath done among you. † But if you shal perseuer in malice: both you 25 and your king shal perish together.

CHAP. XIII. Saul and Ionathas preuaile in battel against the Philisthijms. 5. who increasing their forc [...]s, the Isra [...]lites for fea [...]e flee away and hid themselues, 8. Samuel not coming to the campe, Saul presumeth to offer sacrifice, 11. for which Samuel reproueth him, and declareth that his kingdom shal be translated to an other. 17. The Philisthijms oppresse the Israelites. and depriue them of armour.

A CHILD of Saul beginning to reigne was innocent and humble as a child of one yeare. one yeare was Saul when he began to 1 reigne, and And in that state reigned the first two yeares. S. Greg. in hunc locum. two yeares he reigned ouer Israel. † And 2 Saul chose to him selfe three thousand of Israel: and there were with Saul two thousand in Machmas, and in the mount of Bethel: and a thousand with Ionathas in Gabaa of Beniamin, moreouer the rest of the people he sent backe euerie man into their tabernacles. † And Ionathas stroke the garrison 3 of the Philisthijms, which was in Gabaa. Which when the Philisthijms had heard, Saul sounded with the trumpet in al the land, saying: Let the Hebrewes heare. † And al 4 Israel heard this maner of bruite: Saul hath striken the garrison of the Philisthijms: and Israel tooke courage against the Philisthijms. The people therfore cried after Saul in Galgal. † And the Philisthims were gathered together to fight against 5 Israel, thirtie thousand chariotes, and six thousand horsemen, and the rest of the common people, as the sand which is in the sea shore very much. And going vp they camped in Machmas at the East of Bethauen. † Which when the men of Israel 6 had seene them selues put in a streict (for the people was afflicted) they hid them selues in caues, and in secrete places, in rockes also, and in dennes, and in cesternes. † And the 7 [Page 596] Hebrewes passed Iordan into the Land of Gad and Galaad. And when Saul was yet in Galgal, al the people was sore afrayd, which folowed him. † And he expected seuen daies 8 according to the appointment of Samuel, and Samuel came not into Galgal, and the people slipt away from him. † Saul 9 therfore said: Bring me the holocauste, and the pacifiques. And he offered the holocauste. † And when he had finished 10 offering the holocauste, behold Samuel came: and Saul went forth to mete him & salute him. † And Samuel spake to him: 11 What hast thou done? Saul answered: Because I sawe that the people slipt from me, and thou wast not come according to the dayes appointed, moreouer the Philisthijms were gathered together into Machmas, † I said: Now wil the Philisthijms 12 come downe to me into Galgal, & I haue not pacified the face of our Lord. Compelled by necessitie, I offered the holocauste. † And Samuel said to Saul: Thou hast He offended in offering sacrifice being neither a priest, nor extraordinarily allowed to do that office, and for this and other faultes was deposed. done folishly, 13 neither hast thou kept the commandementes of our Lord thy God, which he commanded thee. Which Gods foresight of sinne, and perordination to punish it, taketh not away freewil, nor possibilitie of wel doing, nor of reward. S. Aug. li. 3. c. 4. de lib. arbit. if thou hadst not done, euen now had our Lord prepared thy kingdom ouer Israel for euer, † but thy kingdom shal no farder 14 arise. Our Lord hath sought him a man according to his hart: and him hath our Lord commanded to be prince ouer his people, because thou hast not obserued the thinges which our Lord commanded. † And Samuel arose and went vp from 15 Galgal into Gabaa of Beniamin. And numbered the people, which were found with him, as it were six hundred men. † And Saul and Ionathas his sonne, and the people that 16 were found with them, was in Gabaa of Beniamin: moreouer the Philisthijms had pitched in Machmas. † And there 17 issued forth to praye from the campe of the Philisthians three companies. One compaine went on against the way of Ephra to the Land of Saul. † Moreouer an other went by the way 18 of Bethhoron, & the third had turned it self to the way of the border, in the valley Seboim against the desert. † Moreouer 19 there was not found an yron smith in al the Land of Israel. for the Philisthijms had so prouided, lest perhaps the Hebrewes should make sword or speare. † Al Israel therefore 20 went downe to the Philisthijms, that euerie man might whette his plough culter, and spade, & axe, and take. † Therefore 21 the edges of the shares, and spades, & forkes with three teeth, and axes, were blunt, euen to the godeprick, which [Page 597] was to be mended. † And when the day was come to fight, 22 there was not found sword and speare in the hand of al the people, that was with Saul and Ionathas, except Saul and Ionathas his sonne. † And the station of the Philistijms went 23 forth, to passe vp into Machmas.

CHAP. XIIII. Ionathas trusting in God, accompained with one man, his father not knowing, goeth into the Philisthijms campe; killeth twentie men and trubleth their whole armie. 16. Saul vnderstanding the same, approcheth with his armie, and they gette a great victorie. 24. But Saul hauing commanded vnder paine of death, that none should eate til night, Ionathas for taisting a litle honie (though ignorant of the prohibition) is iudged to die. 45. But the people oppose themselues, and deliuer him from death. 47. Saul prospereth in his kingdom, with his samilie.

AND it chanced on a certeine day that Ionathas the 1 sonne of Saul sayd to the yong man that bare his armour: Come, & let vs passe to the garison of the Philisthijms, which is beyond yonder place. But to his father he told not this same thing. † Moreouer Saul abode in the vtmost part 2 of Gabaa vnder the pomegranate tree, which was in Magron: and the people with him was about six hundred men. † And 3 Achias the sonne of Achitob the brother of Ichabod the sonne of Phinees, which was borne of Heli the priest of our Lord in Silo, bare the ephod. But the people also was ignorant whither Ionathas was gone. † And there were betwen 4 the ascentes, by the which Ionathas endeuoured to passe vnto the garison of the Philistijms, rockes standing vp on both sides, and as it were in maner of teeth stiepe broken rockes on either side, the name of one Boses, and the name of the other Sene: † one rocke standing out toward the 5 North ouer against Machmas, and the other to the South, against Gabaa. † And Ionathas sayd to the yong man that 6 bare his armour: Come, let vs passe to the station of these vncircumcised, if haply our Lord wil make for vs: because it is not hard for our Lord to saue either in manie, or in fewe. † And his esquier sayd to him: Doe al thinges which please 7 thy minde: goe whither thou desirest, and I wil be with thee wheresoeuer thou wilt. † And Ionathas sayd: Behold we 8 passe to these men. And when we shal appeare to them, † If 9 they shal speake to vs in this maner: Tarie til we come to [Page 598] you: let vs stand in our place, and not goe vp to them. † But 10 if they shal say: Come vp to vs: let vs goe vp, because our Lord hath deliuered them in our handes, Ominous speaches are proued by this and some other examples to be sometimes of God, though sometimes this kind of obseruation is supersticious. As before is noted. Gen. 24. this shal be a signe vnto vs. † Both of them therefore appeared to the station of 11 the Philisthims: & the Philistijms sayd: Behold the Hebrewes come out of the caues, wherein they were hid. † And the 12 men of the garnison spake to Ionathas and to his esquier, and sayd: Come vp to vs, and we wil shew you a thing. And Ionathas sayd to his esquier: Let vs goe vp, folow me: for our Lord hath deliuered them into the handes of Israel. † And Ionathas 13 went vp on his handes & feete creeping, and his esquier after him. Therefore some fel before Ionathas, other some his esquier folowing slewe. † And the first slaughter, with 14 which Ionathas & his esquier made, was as it were of twentie men in the halfe part of an aker, which a yoke of oxen is wont to plough in a day. † And there was made a miracle in 15 the campe, through the fieldes: yea and al the people of their garrison, which had gone to take prayes, was astonyed, and the land was trubled: and it happened as a miracle from God. † And the watchemen of Saul, which were in Gabaa, of 16 Beniamin looked, & loe a multitude ouerthrowen, & fleeing hither and thither. † And Saul sayd to the people, which was 17 with him: Enquire, and see who is gone from vs. And when they had sought, it was found that Ionathas was not present and his esquier. † And Saul sayd to Achias: Bring the arke 18 of our Lord. (for the arke of God was there that day with the children of Israel.) † And when Saul spake to the priest, 19 there arose a great tumult in the campe of the Philistijmes: and it grewe by litle and litle, and sounded more cleerely. And Saul sayd to the priest: Pray no more nor expectno longer▪ so they proceded to battel withou sur [...]er warrant. Draw together thy hand. † Saul 20 therefore and al the people that was with him, shouted together, and they came to the place of the fight: and behold euerie mans sword had beene turned to his neighbour, and a slaughter exceding great. † But the Hebrewes also which 21 had bene with the Philistijms yesterday and the day before, and went vp with them in the campe, returned to be with Israel, which were with Saul and Ionathas. † Al the Israelites 22 also which had hid themselues in mount Ephraim, hearing that the Philistijms were fled, ioyned them selues with their fellowes in battel. And there were with Saul as it were ten thousand men. † And our Lord in that day saued Israel. 23 [Page 599] and the fight reached as farre as Bethauen. † And the men of 24 Israel were ioyned among themselues in that day: and Saul adiured the people, saying: Cursed be the man, that shal eate bread vntil euening, til I be reuenged of myne enemies. And the whole people did eate no bread: † and al the common 25 people of the land came into a forest, wherein was honie vpon the face of the field. † The people therefore entred 26 into the forest, and there appeared dropping honie, and no man put his hand to his mouth. for the people feared the oath. † But Ionathas had not heard when his father adiured the 27 people: and he put forth the tippe of the rod, which he had in his hand, and dipped it into a honie combe: and he turned his hand to his mouth, and his eies were illuminated. † And 28 one of the people answering, sayd: Thy father hath bound the people with an oath, saying: Cursed be the man that shal eate bread this day. (and the people was faynt) † And Ionathas 29 sayd: Ionathas was excused by ignorance, & by necessitie; and therfore was iustly deliuered by the people; and his father offended, in not excep [...]ing the case of necessitie, & through more e [...]g [...]e zele of reu [...]ge, then he had warrant from, God, whose answer he would not expect v. 19 My father hath trubled the land: your selues haue seene that myn eies are illuminated, because I haue tasted a litle of this honie: † how much more if the people had 30 eaten of the praye of their enemies, which they found? had there not beene made a greater plague in the Philistijms? † They stroke therefore in that day the Philistijms from 31 Machmas vnto Ailon. And the people was wearied excedingly: † and being turned to the praye tooke sheepe, and 32 oxen, and calues, & slew them on the ground: and the people did eate VVherof folowed also an other sinne, that the people fainting for lacke of meate did eate flesh with the blood, contrarie to the law. with bloud. † And they told Saul saying that the 33 people had sinned to our Lord, eating with bloud. Who sayd: You haue transgressed: Roule to me euen now a great stone. † And Saul sayd: Disperse your selues among the common 34 people, and tel them that euerie man bring me his oxe and ramme, and kil ye them vpon this same, and eate, and you shal not sinne to our Lord eating with bloud. Al the people therefore brought euerie man his oxe in his hand vntil night: and slewe them there. † And Saul built an altar to our Lord; 35 and then first did he beginne to build an altar to our Lord. † And Saul sayd: Let vs fal vpon the Philistijms by night, and 36 let vs spoyle them til it waxe light in the morning, neither let vs leaue a man of them. And the people sayd: Doe al that semeth good in thyne eies. And the priest sayd: Let vs approch hither to God. † And Saul consulted our Lord: Shal I pursew 37 the Philistijms? wilt thou deliuer them into the handes [Page 600] of Israel? And Before, v. 19. Saul would not expect Gods answer: now therfore God wil not answer him. he answered him not in that day. † And Saul 38 sayd: Bring hither al the corners of the people: and know, and see by whom this sinne hath chanced to day. † Our Lord 39 the sauiour of Israel liueth, that if it were done by Ionathas my sonne, he shal die without reuoking. Whereunto none of the people gaynesayed him. † And he sayd to al Israel: Be you 40 seperated into one side, and I with Ionathas my sonne wil be on the other side. And the people answered Saul: Doe what semeth good in thyn eies. † And Saul sayd to our Lord: Lord 41 God of Israel, geue a signe: and Ionathas was caught and Saul, and the people went forth. † And Saul sayd: Cast ye lotte 42 betwen me, and Ionathas my sonne. And Ionathas was found to haue transgressed the vnaduised cōmandment, but Saul him self was in a greatter fault of rash proceding, and vndiscrete commanding. Ionathas was taken. † And Saul sayd to Ionathas: Tel me what thou hast 43 done. And Ionathas told him, and sayd: Tasting I tasted in the tippe of the rod, which was in myn hand a litle honie, and behold I die. † And Saul sayd: These thinges doe God 44 to me, and these thinges adde he, that dying thou shalt die Ionathas. † And the people said to Saul: Shal Ionathas then 45 die, which hath made this great saluation in Israel? this is vnlawful: our Lord liueth, if there shal fal a heare from his head vpon the ground, because with God hath he wrought to day. The people therefore deliuered Ionathas, that he should not die. † And Saul retyred, neither did he pursew the Philistjims: 46 moreouer the Philistijms departed into their places. † And 47 Saul, his kingdom being established ouer Israel, fought round about against al his enemies, against Moab, and the children of Ammon, and Edom, and the kinges of Soba, and the Philistians: and whither soeuer he turned him self, he ouercame. † And gathering together an armie, he stroke Amalec, and 48 deliuered Israel from the hand of the spoylers thereof. † And 49 the sonnes of Saul, were Ionathas and Iesui, and Melchisua: and the names of his two daughters, the name of the first borne Merob, and the name of the yonger Michol. † And 50 the name of Sauls wife, Achinoam the daughter of Achimaas: and the name of the prince of his host Abner, the sonne of Ner, the cosin german of Saul by the father. † Moreouer 51 Cis was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner, the sonne of Abiel. † And there was mightie battel agaynst the 52 Philisthians al the dayes of Saul. For whomsoeuer Saul had seene a valiant man, and fitte for battel, he ioyned him to him self.

[Page 601]

CHAP. XV. Saul is commanded vtterly to destroy the Amalecites. 8. but he taking Agag their king spareth his life, & chiefe of the praye. 10. For which disobedience (20. though pretending that the best thinges were reserued for sacrifice) he is deposed from his kingdom. 24. Then acknowledgeth his fault. 32. Samuel cutteth Agag in peeces 35. and mourneth for Saul.

AND Samuel said to Saul: Our Lord sent me to annointe 1 thee king ouer his people Israel; now therefore heare the voice of our Lord: † Thus sayth the Lord of hostes: I 2 haue recounted whatsoeuer Amalec hath done to Israel: how he resisted them in the way when they came vp out of Aegypt. † Now therefore goe, and Amalec is stricken when the flesh is chasticed by abstinence. strike Amalec, and Destroyed when the mind is restrained from vncleane cogitations. S. Greg [...] li. 6. c. 1. in [...]. Reg. 15. destroy 3 al that he hath: spare him not, and couet not ought of his thinges: but kil from man vnto woman, both childe & suckling, oxe and sheepe, camel and asse. † Saul therefore commanded 4 the people, and numbered them as it were lambes: two hundred thousand footemen, & ten thousand of the men of Iuda. † And when Saul was come vnto the citie of Amalec, 5 he laid ambushementes in the torrent. † And Saul said to 6 the Cineite: Goe ye, retyre and depart from Amalec: lest perhaps I wrappe thee in with him. for thou hast done mercie with al the children of Israel, when they descended out of Aegypt. And the Cineite departed out of the middes of Amalec. † And Saul stroke Amalec from Heuila, vntil thou come to 7 Sur, which is ouer against Aegypt. † And he apprehended 8 Agag the king of Amalec aliue: but al the comon people he slewe in the edge of the sword. † And Saul and the people 9 spared Agag, and the best flockes of sheepe and heardes, and the garmentes and rammes, and al thinges, that were fayre, neither would they destroy them: but whatsoeuer was vile and refuse, that they destroyed. † And the word of our Lord 10 was made to Samuel, saying: † It repenteth me that I haue 11 made Saul king: because he hath forsaken me, & hath not fulfilled my wordes in worke. And Samuel was strooken sadde, and cried to our Lord al the night. † And when Samuel had 12 risen in the night, to goe to Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, that Saul was come into Carmelus, and had erected to him selfe a triumphant arch, and returning was passed, and gone into Galgal. Samuel therefore came to Saul, and Saul offered an holocaust to our Lord of the first of the prayes, [Page 602] which he had brought from Amalec. † And when Samuel 13 was come to Saul, Saul sayd to him: Blessed be thou to our Lord, I haue fulfilled the word of our Lord. † And Samuel 14 sayd: And what is this voice of flockes, which soundeth in myne eares, and of heardes, which I heare? † And Saul said: 15 They haue brought them from Amalec: for the people hath spared the better sheepe and heardes that they might be immolated to our Lord thy God, but the rest we haue slaine. † And Samuel said to Saul: Suffer me, and I wil shew thee 16 what our Lord hath spoken to me this night. And he sayd to him: Speake. † And Samuel said: When thou wast a little 17 one in thyne owne eyes, VVhen Saul was humble he was exalted, now being proud he is reiected. was thou not made chief in the tribes of Israel? And our Lord annointed thee to be king ouer Israel, † and our Lord sent thee on the way, and sayd: 18 Goe, and kil the sinners of Amalec, and thou shalt fight against them vntil the vtter destruction of them. † Why therefore 19 hast thou not heard the voice of our Lord: but art turned to the praye, and hast done euil in the eies of our Lord? † And 20 Saul said to Samuel: Yea I haue heard the voice of our Lord, and haue walked in the way by which our Lord sent me, and haue brought Agag the king of Amalec, and Amalec I haue slaine. † But the people tooke of the praye sheepe and oxen, 21 the principal of those thinges which were slaine, to immolate to our Lord their God in Galgal. † And Samuel said: 22 Why wil our Lord haue holocaustes and victimes, and not rather that the voice of our Lord be obeyed? For By ordinarie sacrifices, we geue our external goodes to God, by obedience we geue our selues S Greg. li. 6 c. 2. in 1. Reg. 25. BETTER is obedience then victimes: and to harken rather then to offer the fatte of rammes. † Because it is as it were the sinne of 23 inchantment, to resist: and as it were the wickednes of idolatrie, to refuse to obey. For as much therefore as thou hast reiected the word of our Lord, our Lord hath reiected thee that thou shalt not be king. † And Saul said to Samuel: I haue 24 sinned, because I haue transgressed the saying of our Lord, and thy wordes, fearing the people, and obeying their voice. † But now beare I besech thee my sinne, and returne with 25 me, that I may adore our Lord. † And Samuel sayd to Saul: 26 I wil not returne with thee, because thou hast reiected the word of our Lord, and our Lord hath reiected thee that thou shalt not be king ouer Israel, † And Samuel turned him selfe 27 to depart: but he caught the hemme of his cloke, which also did rent. † And Samuel said to him: Our Lord hath rent the 28 [Page 603] kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath deliuered it to thy neighbour better then thou. † Moreouer the Triumpher 29 in Israel wil not spare, and he wil not be turned with repentance: for neither is he a man that he may repent. † But 30 he said: I haue sinned: how be it now honour me before the ancientes of my people, and before Israel, and returne with me, that I may adore our Lord thy God. † Samuel therefore 31 returning folowed Saul: and Saul adored our Lord. † And Samuel 32 said: Bring vnto me Agag the king of Amalec. And Agag was presented to him very fatte, trembling. And Agag sayd: Doth bitter death thus separat? † And Samuel said: As thy 33 sword hath made wemen without children, so shal thy mother among wemen be without children. And Samuel hewed him into peeces before our Lord in Galgal. † And Samuel 34 departeth into Ramatha: but Saul ascended vnto his house into Gabaa. † And Samuel saw Saul no more vnto the day 35 of his death: but yet Samuel lamented Saul because it God is said improperly to repent, when he altereth the thing, that he did before. S. Amb. li. de Nos ca. 4. repented our Lord that he had appointed him king ouer Israel.

CHAP. XVI. Samuel by Gods commandment annointeth Dauid King. 14. Gods spirite parteth from Saul, and a wicked spirite vexeth him. 16. the vexation is The third part. Dauids annointing, his vertues, and persecution. mitigated by Dauids playing on a harpe

AND our Lord said to Samuel: How long doest thou 1 mourne Saul, whom I haue reiected that he rule not ouer Israel? fil thy horne with oile, and come, that I may send thee to Isai the Bethlehemite: for I haue prouided me a king among his sonnes. † And Samuel said: How shal I goe? for Saul 2 wil heare of it, and wil kil me. And our Lord said: A calfe of the heard shalt thou take in thy hand, and shalt say: I am come to immolate vnto our Lord. † And thou shalt cal Isai to the 3 victime, and I wil shew thee what thou must doe, and thou shalt annointe whomsoeuer I shal shew to thee. † Samuel 4 therefore did as our Lord spake to him. And he came into Bethlehem, and the ancientes of the citie merueled, meeting him, and they said: Is thy entrance peaceable? † And he said: 5 Peaceable: I am come to immolate vnto our Lord, be ye sanctified, and come with me that I may immolate. He therefore sanctified Isai and his sonnes, and called them to the sacrifice. † And when they were entered in, he saw Eliab, and said: Is 6 there before our Lord his Christ? † And our Lord said to Samuel. 7 Respect not his countenāce, nor the talnes of his stature: [Page 604] because I haue reiected him, neither doe I iudge according to the looke of man: for man seeth those thinges which appeare, but our Lord “beholdeth the hart. † And Isai called 8 Aminadab, and brought him before Samuel. Who said: Neither this hath our Lord chosen. † And Isai brought 9 Samma, of whom he sayd: This also hath not our Lord chosen. † Isai therefore brought his seauen sonnes before 10 Samuel: and Samuel sayd to Isai: Our Lord hath not chosen of these. † And Samuel sayd to Isai: Are al thy sonnes now 11 fully come? Who answered: Yet there is left a litle one, and he feedeth sheepe. And Samuel sayd to Isai: Send, and bring him: for neither wil we sitte downe til he come hither. † He 12 sent therefore, and brought him. And he was reade and beautiful to behold, and of a comelie face. And our Lord said: Arise, and annoint him, for he it is. † Samuel therefore tooke 13 the horne of oile, and annointed him in the middes of his brethren: and the Spirit of our Lord from that day, and so forward was directed vpon Dauid: and Samuel rising went into Ramatha. † And the Spirit of our Lord departed from 14 Saul, and a wicked spirit vexed him, By Gods per mission. S. Aug▪ li 2. q. [...]. ad Sim [...]l [...]c [...]an S. [...]eda. qq. [...]n 1. Reg. c. 5. from our Lord. † And the seruantes of Saul said to him: Behold an euil spirit 15 of God vexeth thee, † Let our lord command, and thy seruantes 16 which are before thee, wil seeke a man skilful to Naturally (as these men truly iudged) musique helpeth some il disposition of humores, and draweth also the mind from so vehement apprehension of afflictions: but here it semeth more probable, that God supernaturally reliued Saul by Dauids playing on the harpe, together with his sincere deuotion, for more manifest condemnation of the one, and instification of the other Glos. ordin. S. Greg. play on the harpe, that when the euil spirit of our Lord shal take thee, he may play with his hand, and thou beare it more it more easily. † And Saul sayd to his seruantes: Prouid me 17 therefore some man that playeth wel, and bring him to me. † And one of the seruantes answering, sayd: Behold I haue 18 seene the sonne of Isai the Bethlehemite skilful to play, and very valiant in strength, and a warlike man, and wise in his wordes, and a beautiful man: and our Lord is with him. † Saul 19 therfore sent messengers to Isai▪ saying: Send vnto me Dauid thy sonne, which is in the pastures. † Isai therefore tooke 20 an asse loaden with loaues, and a flagon of wine, and one kidde of the goates, and sent it by the hand of Dauid his sonne to Saul. † And Dauid came to Saul, and stoode before him: 21 but he loued him excedingly, & was made his esquier. † And 22 Saul sent to Isai, saying: Let Dauid stand in my sight: for he hath found grace in myn eies. † Therefore whensoeuer the 23 euil spirit of our Lord caught Saul, Dauid tooke his harpe, & strooke with his hand, and Saul was refreshed, and waxed better▪ for the euil spirit departed from him.

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ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVI.

7. Beholdeth the hart.] It is proper to God to see the secrete cogitations of How Saintes and Prophetes know mens thoughtes. mens hartes, of himselfe and by his owne powre. And glorified Sainctes know our cogitations by seing God, in whom al things appeare, that perteine to their state, and for the profite of others. S. Aug. li. de cura promortuis, c. 15. S. Greg. li. 12 c. 13. Moral. Prophetes being yet mortal, by inspiration do also see secrete cogitations. 1. Reg. 9. 3. Reg. 14. &c.

CHAP. XVII. Goliath a Philistian chalengeth anie one of Israel to combate. 12. Dauid being sent by his father to visit his brethren. 23. and hearing al Israel so reprochfully prouoked, offerech to vndertake the chalenge: 34. shewing by former actes that he dare accept it. 37. And so by Gods special helpe wherein he trusteth, 49. ouerthroweth the chalenger with a stone of his s [...]ing, and cutieth of his head with his owne sword. 51. the Philistijms fleeing are slaine, and Dauid bringeth the mans head to Saul.

AND the Philisthijms gathering together their companies 1 vnto battel, assembled into Socho of Iuda: and camped betwen Socho & Azeca in the borders of Dommim. † Moreouer Saul and the children of Israel being gathered 2 together came into the Valley of terebinth, and they put the armie in aray to fight against the Philistijms. † And the Philistijms 3 stoode vpon the mountaine on this side, and Israel stoode vpon the mountaine on the other side: and the valley was betwen them. † And there came forth a man that was 4 a bastard from the campe of the Philistians named This bold and impudent chalenger signifieth the diuel, or anie arch heretike, that prouoketh the Church of God▪ but is ouercome by the humble of hart and confident in God, & slaine with his owne weapon. Goliath, of Geth, in height six cubites and a palme: † and a helmet 5 of brasse vpon his head, and he was clothed with a cote of mayle linked. moreouer the weight of his cote of mayle was fiue thousand sicles of brasse: † and he had brassen bootes 6 on his thighes, and a target of brasse couered his shoulders. † And the shaft of his speare was as it were a weauers beame. 7 and the verie yton of his speare had six hundred sicles of yron: and his esquier went before him. † And standing he 8 cried against the bandes of Israel, and sayd to them: Why came you prepared to fight? Am not I a Philistian, and you the seruantes of Saul? Choose out a man of you and let him descend to fight hand to hand. † If he shal be able to fight 9 [Page 606] with me, and strike me, we wil be seruantes to you: but if I shal preuaile, and shal beate him, you shal be seruantes, and shal serue vs. † And the Philistian sayd: I haue defyed the 10 bandes of Israel this day: Geue me a man, and let him fight with me hand to hand. † And Saul and al the Israelites hearing 11 such wordes of the Philistian were astonied, and feared excedingly. † And there was Dauid the sonne of a man that 12 was an Ephratheite, of whom there was mention before, of Bethlehem Iuda, whose name was Isai, who had eight sonnes, and he was in the dayes of Saul an old man, and aged among men. † And his three elder sonnes went after Saul into 13 battel: and the names of his three sonnes, which went to battel, were Eliab the first begotten, and the second Abinadab, the third also Samma: † and Dauid was the yongest. 14 The three elder therefore hauing folowed Saul, † Dauid 15 went, and returned from Saul, to feede his fathers flocke in Bethlehem. † But the Philistian came forth morning and 16 euening, and stoode fourtie dayes. † And Isai sayd to Dauid 17 his sonne: Take for thy brethren an ephi of polent, and these ten loaues, and runne into the campe to thy brethren, † and 18 these ten litle cheeses thou shalr carie to the tribune: and shalt visite thy brethren, if they doe wel: and learne with whom they are placed. † And Saul, and they, and al the 19 children of Israel fought in the Valley of terebiuth against the Philistijms. † Dauid therefore arose in the morning, and 20 commended the flocke to the keeper: and he went loaded as Isai had commanded him. And he came to the place Magala, and to the host, which issuing out to fight had made a shoute in the battel. † For Israel had put them selues in aray, and the 21 Philistijms on the contrarie side were prepared. † Dauid 22 therefore leauing the vessels which he had brought, vnder the hand of him, that was keeper at the bagage, ranne to the place of the battel and asked if al thinges went wel with his brethren. † And when he yet spake to them, that man the bastard 23 appeared coming vp, named Goliath, the Philistian of Geth, coming vp from the campe of the Philistians: and he speaking these self same wordes, Dauid heard them. † And 24 al the Israelites when they had sene the man, fled from his face, fearing him excedingly. † And some one of Israel sayd: 25 Haue you seene this man that came vp, to defye Israel he came vp? The man therefore Christ ouercoming the diuel receiued the Church to his spouse. S. Greg. that shal strike him, the King [Page 607] wil geue him his daughter, and he wil make his fathers house without tribute in Israel. † And Dauid spake to the 26 men that stood with him, saying: What shal be geuen to the man that shal beate this Philistian, and shal take away the reproch from Israel? For who is this vncircumcised Philistian, which hath vpbraided the armies of the liuing God? † And the people reported vnto him the self same worde, 27 saying: These thinges shal be geuen to the man, that shal strike him. † Which when Eliab his eldest brother had heard, 28 when he spake with others, he was angrie against Dauid, and sayd: Wherefore cau [...]cst thou? and why hast thou left those few sheepe in the desert? I know thy pride, and the wickednes of thy hart: that to see the battel thou art come downe. † And Dauid sayd: What haue I done? is there not cause to 29 speake? † And he went a litle aside from him to an other: 30 and sayd the sel same word. And the people answered him as before † And the wordes which Dauid spake were heard, and 31 told in the sight of Saul. † To whom when he was brought, 32 he spake vnto him: Let not any mans hart be discouraged in him: I thy seruant wil goe, and wil fight against the Philistian. † And Saul sayd to Dauid: Thou art not able to 33 resist this Philistian, nor to fight against him, because thou art a childe, but he is a man of warre from his youth. † And 34 Dauid sayd to Saul: Thy seruant did fecde his fathers slock, and there came a lyon, or, for and. v. 36. 37. or a beare, and tooke a ramme out of the middes of the flocke: † and I pursued them, and stroke 35 them, and plucked them out of their mouth, and they arose vp against me, and I caught their chinne, and I strangled and slew them. † For He that hath ouercome the spirit of pride, and of carnalitie (signified by a lion, and a beare) is able also to ouercome the diuel. both the lyon and the beare did I thy 36 seruant kil: therefore this vncircumcised Philistian also, shal be as it were one of them. Now wil I goe and take away the reproch of the people: for who is this vncircumcised Philistian, which hath beene so hardie to curse the host of the liuing God? † And Dauid sayd: Our Lord which hath deliuered 37 me from the hand of the lion, and of the beare, he wil deliuer me from the hand of this Philistian. And Saul sayd to Dauid: Goe, and our Lord be with thee. † And Saul clothed 38 Dauid with his rayments, and put an helmet of brasse vpon his head, and vested him with a coate of maile. † Dauid therefore 39 being girded with his sword ouer his rayment, beganne to proue if he could goe armed: for he was not accustomed. [Page 608] And Dauid sayd to Saul: I can not goe so, because I am not vsed, and he layd them of. † And he tooke his staffe, which 40 he had alwaies in his handes: & he chose him fiue most bright stones out of the torrent, and cast them into the shepherds skrippe, which he had with him, and he tooke a sling in his hand, and went forth against the Philistian. † And the Philistian 41 went, going, and approching against Dauid, and his esquier before him. † And when the Philistian had seene, 42 and beheld Dauid, he despised him. And he was a yong man redde, and beautiful to behold. † And the Philistian sayd 43 to Dauid: Why am I a dogge, that thou comest to me with a staffe? And the Philistian cursed Dauid in his goddes. † and 44 sayd to Dauid: Come to me, and I wil geue thy flesh to the foules of the ayre and the beastes of the earth. † And Dauid 45 sayd to the Philistian: Thou comest to me with a sword, and speare, and sheeld, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the bandes of Israel, whom thou hast defied † this day, and our Lord shal geue thee in my 46 hand, and I shal strike thee, and take away thy head from thee: and I shal geue the carcasses of the campe of the Philistijms this day, to the fowles of the ayre, and to the beastes of the earth: that al the earth may knowe that there is a God in Israel. † And al this assemblie shal know, that not in sword, 47 nor in speare, doth our Lord saue, for it is his battel, and he wil deliuer you into our handes. † When the Philistian therefore 48 was risen vp, and came and approched against Dauid, Dauid made hast, & ranne to the battel against the Philistian. † And he put his hand into his skrippe, and tooke one stone, 49 and cast it with the sling, and fetching it about stroke the Philistian in Pride hauing impudencie of the forhead, is ouerthrowne by humilitie of Christs crosse. whose signe therfore we carie in our forhead. S. Aug. li. 50. homil. ho. 31. the forehead, and he fel on his face vpon the earth. † And Dauid preuailed agaynst the Philistian with 50 sling and stone, and he stroke, and slew the Philistian. And whereas Dauid had no sword in his hand, † he ranne, and 51 stood vpon the Philistian, and tooke his sword, and drew it out of the scabard, and slew him, and cut of his head. And the Philistijms seing, that the strongest of them was dead, did flee. † And the men of Israel and Iuda rising vp shouted, and 52 pursued the Philistians til they came into a valley to the gates of Accaron, and there fel wounded of the Philistijms in the way of Saraim, as farre as Geth, & as farre as Accaron † And 53 the children of Israel returning, after they had pursued the [Page 609] Philistians, inuaded their campe. † And Dauid taking the 54 head of the Philistian brought it into Ierusalem: but his armour he layd in his tabernacle. † And at the same time that 55 Saul saw Dauid going forth against the Philistian, he sayd to Abuer the prince of the armie: :: Of what stocke is this yong :: Saul knew no [...] Dauid, being perhaps in a shep wards habue though he had not long besore serued & pleased him wel. ch. 16. v. 21. man descended, Abner? And Abner sayd: Thy soule liueth ô king, if I know. † And the king sayd: Aske thou, whose sonne 56 this yong man is. † And when Dauid was returned, after the 57 Philisthian was slaine, Abner tooke him, and brought him in before Saul, hauing the head of the Philistian in his hand. † And Saul sayd to him: O yong man of what progenie art 58 thou? And Dauid sayd: I am the sonne of thy seruant Isai the Bethlemite.

CHAP. XVIII. Dauid and Ionathas enter league of frendship. 6. Saul hearing Dauid praised aboue himself is offended, 10. and vexed with an euil spirit, attempteth twise to kil him: 17. premiseth to geue him his eldest daughter in mariage, but geueth her to an other, 20. and geueth him the yonger, thereby to one throw him: 25. putting him also in more danger, by requiring of him an hundred prepuces of Philistijms. 27. Dauid bringeth him two hundred, and his fame encreaseth.

AND it came to passe, when he had finished to speake 1 vnto Saul, the soule of Ionathas was ioyned fast to the soule of Dauid, & Ionathas loued him as his soule. † And Saul 2 tooke him in that day, and did not grant vnto him to returne into his fathers house. † And Dauid and Ionathas entered a 3 league, for he loued him as his soule. † For Ionathas stripped 4 himself of the cote wher with he was clothed, and gaue it to Dauid, and the rest of his garments, vnto his sword, & bowe, & vnto his belt. † Dauid also went forth to al thinges wheretosoeuer 5 Saul sent him, & he behaued himself wisely: and Saul placed him ouer the men of warre, and he was accepted in the eies of al the people, and specially in the cies of Saules seruantes. † Moreouer This happened not immediatly after the victorie against Go [...]ath but when Dauid had dwelt some time in Sauls house, and was very gratful to him and to al the court and people. when Dauid returned, after he stroke the 6 Philistian, the wemen came forth from al the tribes of Israel, singing and dancing to Saul the King, in timbrels of ioy, and in cornettes. † And the wemen sang, playing, and saying: 7 Saul stroke a thousand, and Dauid ten thousand. † And 8 Saul was VVhen the praises of one importe diminishing of an other, he that is proud, as Saul now was, is moued to enuie and malice, more and more as the vetrues of the other and his praises do increase. exceding angrie, and this word was displeasant in his eies: and he sayd: They haue geuen Dauid ten thousand, [Page 610] and to me they haue geuen a thousand: what remayneth for him but only the kingdom? † Therefore Saul did not looke 9 vpon Dauid with right eies from that day and afterward. † And a day after, the euil spirit of God inuaded Saul, and he 10 prophecied in the middes of his house. And Dauid played with his hand as euery day. And Saul held a speare, † and 11 threw it, thinking that he could naile Dauid to the wal, and Dauid declined from his face the second time. † And Saul 12 feared Dauid because our Lord was with him, and was departed from himself. † Saul therefore remoued him from 13 him, and made him a tribune ouer a thousand men, and he went out and came in before al the people. † Also in al his 14 wayes, Dauid delt wisely, and our Lord was with him. † Saul 15 therefore saw that he was exceding wise, and he beganne to beware of him. † But al Israel, and Iuda loued Dauid, for he 16 came in and went out before them. † And Saul sayd to 17 Dauid: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her wil I geue thee to wife, only be thou a valyant man, and fight the battels of our Lord. And Saul thought saying: Be not my hand vpon him, but let the handes of the Philistians be vpon him. † And 18 Dauid sayd to Saul: What am I, or what is my life, or the kindred of my father in Israel, that I should be made the sonne in lawe of the king? † And it came to passe, at what 19 time, Merob the daughter of Saul should haue beene geuen to Dauid, she was geuen to Hadriel the Molathite to wife. † But Dauid loued Michol the other daughter of Saul. And 20 it was told Saul, and it pleased him. † And Saul sayd: I wil 21 geue her to him, that she may be a scandal vnto him, and that the hand of the Philistians may be vpon him. And Saul sayd to Dauid: In two thinges thou shalt be my sonne in lawe this day. † And Saul commanded his seruantes: Speake to Dauid 22 secretly out of my presence, saying: Behold thou pleasest the King, and al his seruantes loue thee. Now therefore be thou the kinges sonne in lawe. † And the seruantes of Saul spake 23 al these wordes in the eares of Dauid. And Dauid sayd: Doth it seme vnto you a smal matter to be the sonne in lawe of a King? But I am a poore man, and of smal ability. † And the 24 seruantes of Saul reported, saying: These maner of wordes hath Dauid spoken. † And Saul sayd: Speake thus to Dauid: The king nedeth no dowrie, but only an hundred prepuces of the Philistians, that reuenge may be made of the kinges [Page 611] enemies, Moreouer Saul thought to deliuet Dauid into the handes of the Philistians. † And when his seruantes had reported 26 to Dauid the wordes that Saul had sayd, the word was liked in the eies of Dauid, to be made the kings sonne in lawe. † And after fewe days Dauid rising vp, went with the men 27 that were vnder him, and he stroke of the Philistijms two hundred men, and brought their prepuces, and numbered them to the King, that he might be his sonne in law, Saul therefore gaue him Michol his daughter to wife. † And Saul 28 saw, and vnderstood that our Lord was with Dauid. And Michol the daughter of Saul loued him. † And Saul began 29 more to feare Dauid: and Saul became enemie to Dauid al daies. † And the princes of the Philistians went forth: and 30 from the beginning of their going forth, Dauid behaued him self more wisely, then al the seruantes of Saul, and his name was made renowmed excedingly.

CHAP. XIX. Saul intending to kil Dauid is pacified by Ionathas. 9. Neuertheles attempteth agayn to kil him, and missing his purpose, 11. sendeth souldiars to take and bring him backe that he may be slaine, but Michol his wife helpeth him away, and excuseth her self to her father, as if she had done it for feare. 18. Dauid and Samuel flee into Naioth. 20. Againe Saul sendeth souldiars after them three times, and they al doe prophecie. 22. then himself pursueth Dauid, and also prophecieth.

AND Saul spake to Ionathas his sonne, and to al his seruantes, 1 that they should kil Dauid. Moreouer Ionathas the sonne of Saul, loued Dauid excedingly. † And Ionathas 2 told Dauid, saying: Saul my father seeketh to kil thee: wherefore looke to thy self I besech thee in the morning, and thou shalt abide secretly, and shalt be hid. † But I going 3 forth wil stand beside my father, in the field wheresoeuer he shal be: and I wil speake of thee to my father, and whatsoeuer I shal see, I wil tel thee. † Ionathas therefore spake good 4 wordes of Dauid to Saul his father: and sayd to him: Sinne not, o King against thy seruant Dauid, because he hath not sinned toward thee, and his workes are very good for thee. † And he put his life in his hand, and stroke the Philistian, 5 and our Lord made great saluation to al Israel. Thou hast seene & didst reioice, why therefore sinnest thou in innocent blood killing Dauid, who is without fault? † Which when 6 [Page 612] Saul had heard, being pacified with the voice of Ionathas, he sware: Our Lord liueth, he shal not be slaine. † Ionathas 7 therefore called Dauid and shewed him al these wordes, and Ionathas brought in Dauid to Saul, and he was before him, as he had bene yesterday and the day before. † And there was 8 battel raysed againe, and Dauid going forth, fought against the Philistijms, and stroke them with a great slaughter, and they fled from his face. † And the euil spirit of our Lord came 9 vpon Saul, and he sate in his house, and held a speare: moreouer Dauid played with his hand. † And Saul endeuoured to 10 naile Dauid to the wal with his speare. And Dauid declined from the face of Saul and the speare without making wound, pearced the wal, and Dauid fled, and was saued that night. † Saul therefore sent of his guarde into Dauids house, that 11 they should keepe him, & that he might be killed in the morning: Which when Michol his wife had told Dauid, saying▪ Vnles thou saue thy self this night, to morowe thou shalt die: † she let him downe through a windowe, moreouer he went 12 and fled away, and was saued. † And Michol tooke This statua, or image can not importe an idol, as the same word teraphim doth. Gen 31 for here no idolatrie at al was cōmitted, but a right office done by the wife towards her husband. The same word also signifieth religious thinges belonging to Gods seruice. [...]ee. 3. a statua, 13 and put it vpon the bed, and a hearie skinne of goates she layd at the head thereof, and couered it with garmentes. † And 14 Saul sent serieantes, that should take away Dauid by force, and it was answered that he was sicke. † And againe Saul 15 sent messengers to see Dauid, saying: Bring him to me in the bed, that he may be slaine. † And when the messengers were 16 come, there was found a statua vpon the bed, and skinnes of goates at the head thereof. † And Saul sayd to Michol: Why 17 hast thou mocked me, and let goe myn enemie that he might flee? And Michol answered Saul: Because he sayd to me: Let me goe, otherwise I wil kil thee. † But Dauid fleing was saued, 18 and came to Samuel in Ramatha, and told him al thinges that Saul had done to him: and he & Samuel went & abode in Naioth. † And it was told Saul by some saying: Behold Dauid 19 is in Naioth in Ramatha. † Saul therefore sent seriantes to 20 take away Dauid: who when they had seene a troupe of prophetes prophecying, & Samuel standing ouer them, the spirit of our Lord came also on them, and they also began to prophecie. † Which when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers: 21 but they also did prophecie. And againe Saul sent the third messengers: who also prophecied And Saul being wrath for anger, † went also him selfe into Ramatha, and came as 22 [Page 613] farre as the great cesterne, which is in Socho, and asked, and said: In what place are Samuel and Dauid? And it was told him: Loe they are in Naioth in Ramatha. † And he went 23 into Naioth in Ramatha, and the Spirit of our Lord came vpon him, and he walked going, and he Saul and his messengers had not the gift of prophecie, as godlie prophetes had by an inherent habite, but transitorie, as Baalams asse had facultie to speake, at one time, but did not afterward speake anie more. S. Aug. l [...]. 2. q. 1. ad Simplician. prophecied til he came into Naioth in Ramatha. † And he stripped himselfe 24 of his garments, and prophecied with the rest before Samuel, and sang naked al that day and night. Wherupon there went out also a prouerb: What is Saul also among the prophetes.

CHAP. XX. Ionathas comforteth Dauid, 3. confirmeth their former league. 18. By an appointed signe (24. endeuoring first, but in vaine, to pacifie his father) 35. certifieth Dauid of his fathers malice against him. 41. They meete againe secretly, and sorowfully part ech from other.

BVT Dauid also fled from Naioth, which is in Ramatha, 1 and coming spake before Ionathas: What haue I done? what is myn iniquitie, and what sinne of myn against thy father, that he seeketh my life? † Who sayd to him: God 2 forbid, thou shalt not die: for neither wil my father doe any thing great or litle, vnles he first tel me: this word therefore only hath my father concealed from me? no this shal not be. † And he sware againe to Dauid. And Dauid sayd: Thy father 3 surely knoweth, that I haue found grace in thy sight, and: wil say: Let not Ionathas know this, left perhaps he be sad. Yea more our Lord liueth, and thy soule liueth, by one degree only (as I may so say) I and death are diuided. † And 4 Ionathas said to Dauid: Whatsoeuer thy soule shal say to me, I wil doe for thee. † And Dauid sayd to Ionathas: Behold the 5 calendes are to morowe, & I after the maner am wont to sitte beside the king to eate: dismisse me therefore that I may be hid in the field vntil the euening of the third day. † If thy 6 father looking inquire for me, thou shalt answer him: Dauid desired me, that he might goe quickely into Bethlehem his citie: because there be solemne victimes to al of his tribe. † If he shal say, Wel: peace shal be to thy seruant, but if 7 he be angrie, know that his malice is complete. † Doe mercie 8 therefore toward thy seruant: because thou hast caused me thy seruant to enter the league of our Lord with thee. but if there be any iniquitie in me, do thou kil me, and bring me not in to thy father. † And Ionathas sayd: Be this farre from thee, for 9 [Page 614] neither can it be, that I should not tel thee, if I shal certainly know that my fathers malice is complete against thee. † And 10 Dauid answered Ionathas: Who shal bring me word, if thy father answer thee perhaps any thing sharpely of me? † And 11 Ionathas sayd to Dauid: Come, let vs goe forth abroad into the field, and when they were both gone forth into the field, † Ionathas said to Dauid: Lord God of Israel, if I shal search 12 out my fathers meaning, to morowe or the day after, and some good thing be vpon Dauid, and I send not immediatly vnto thee, and make thee know thereof, † these thinges doe 13 our Lord to Ionathas, and these thinges adde he. But if my fathers malice shal perseuer against thee, I wil reuele thyn care, and wil dismisse thee, that thou mayst goe in peace, and our Lord be with thee, as he hath beene with my father. † And if I liue, thou shalt doe me the mercie of our Lord, but 14 if I die, † thou shalt not take away thy mercie from my 15 house for euer, when our Lord shal haue rooted out the enemies of Dauid, euerie one out of the land, take he away Ionathas from his house, and our Lord require it of the handes of Dauides enemies. † Ionathas therefore made a league with 16 the house of Dauid: and our Lord required it of the handes of Dauids enemies. † And Ionathas added to sweare vnto 17 Dauid, because he loued him, for as his owne soule, so he loued him. † And Ionathas sayd to him: To morowe are the 18 calendes, and thou shalt be asked for: † for thy sitting wil be 19 inquired of til after to morowe. Thou shalt therefore goe downe in hast, and shalt come to the place, where thou must be hid in the day, when it is lawful to worke, and thou shalt sit beside the stone, which is named Ezel. † And I wil shoote 20 three arrowes nere it, and wil shoote as it were excersising my self at a marke † I wil send also a boy saying to him: Goe, 21 and fetch me the arrowes. † If I shal say to the boy: Loe the 22 arrowes are on this side thee, take them vp: come thou to me, because there is peace to thee, and there is no euil, our Lord liueth. But if I shal speake thus to the boy: Loe the arrowes are beyond thee: Goe in peace, because our Lord hath dimissed thee † And corcerning the word which I and thou 23 haue spoken, our Lord be betwen thee and me for euer. † Dauid therefore was hidde in the fielde, and the calendes 24 came, and the king sate downe to eate bread. † And when 25 the king was sette vpon his chaire (according to the custome) [Page 615] which was beside the wal, Ionathas arose, and Abner sate at the side of Saul, and Dauids place appeared voide. † And 26 Saul sayd nothing that day, for he thought it had chanced perhaps vnto him, that he was not cleane, nor purified. † And 27 when the second day was come after the calendes, againe Dauids place appeared emptie. And Saul said to Ionathas his sonne: Why came not the sonne of Isa [...] neither yesterday, nor to day to eate? † Ionathas answered Saul: He desired 28 me instantly, that he might goe into Bethlehem, † and he 29 said: Let me goe, because there is a solemne sacrifice in the citie, one of my brethren hath sent for me: now therefore if I haue found grace in thy sight, I wil goe quickly, and see my brethren. For this cause he came not to the kings table. † But 30 Saul being wrath against Ionathas, said to him: Thou sonne of a woman which of her owne accord rauisheth a man, am I ignorant that thou louest the sonne of Isai vnto thyne owne confusion, and to the confusion of thyne ignominious mother? † For al the dayes, that the sonne of Isai shal liue vpon 31 the earth, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Therefore now presently send, and bring him to me: because he is the sonne of death. † And Ionathas answering Saul his 32 father, faid: Why shal he dye? what hath he done? † And 33 Saul caught a speare to strike him. And Ionathas vnderstood that it was determined of his father, that he would kil Dauid. † Ionathas therefore rose from the table in anger of furie, 34 and did not eate bread the second day of the calendes. For he was stroken heauie vpon Dauid, because his father had confounded him. † And when the morning appeared, Ionathas 35 came into the field according to the appointment with Dauid, and a little boy with him. † and said to his boy: Goe, and 36 fetch me the arrowes, which I shoote. And when the boy had runne, he shotte an other arrowe beyond the boy. † The 37 boy therefore came to the place of the arrowe, which Ionathas had shotte: and Ionathas cried behind the back of the boy, and said: Loe the arrowe is there further beyond thee. † And Ionathas cried againe behind the back of the boy, 38 saying: Make hast spedely, stand not. And Ionathas his boy gathered vp his arrowes, and brought them to his master: † and he was altogether ignorant, what was done: for only 39 Ionathas and Dauid knew the matter. † Ionathas therefore 40 gaue his armour [...] to the boy, and said to him: Goe, and cary [Page 616] them into the citie. † And when the boy was gone, Dauid 41 rose out of his place, which did bend to the South, and falling flatt on the ground, adored thrise: and kissing one another, they wept together, but Dauid more. † Ionathas therefore 42 said to Dauid: Goe in peace: what soeuer we haue sworne both of vs in the name of our Lord, saying: Our Lord be betwen me and thee, and betwen my seede and thy seede for euer. † And Dauid arose, and departed: but Ionathas also 43 entred into the Citie.

CHAP. XXI. In case of necessitie Achimelech the priest g [...]ueth halowed bread to Dauid, 8. also the sword which he had taken from Goliath 10. then: Dauid going to Achis king of Geth, is forced to faine himself madde.

AND Dauid came into Nobe to Achimelech the priest: & 1 Achimelech was astonyed, because Dauid was come. And he said to him: Why thou alone, and none is with thee? † And Dauid said to Achimelech the priest: The king hath 2 commanded me a word and said: Let no man know the thing, for which thou art sent by me, and what maner precepts I haue geuen thee, for my seruantes also I haue appointed into such and such a place. † Now therfore if thou haue any 3 thing at hand, yea if but fiue loaues, geue me or whatsoeuer thou shalt finde. † And the priest answered Dauid, saying I 4 haue no Distinction of common & holie bread. Also an example of dispensation in case of necessitie. lay breads at hand, but only holy bread, if the seruants be cleane, especially from wemen? † And Dauid answered 5 the priest, and said to him: And truly, if the matter be concerning wemen, we haue refrained our selues from yesterday and the day before, when we came for [...]h, and the vessels of the seruants were holie. Moreouer this way is polluted, but it also shal be sanctified this day in the vessels. † The priest therefore gaue him halowed bread; for neither 6 was anie bread there, but only the loaues of proposition, which had bene taken away from the face of our Lord, that hoate loaues might be sette downe. † And there was there 7 a certaine man of the seruantes of Saul that day, within the tabernacle of our Lord: and his name was Doeg an Idumeite, the mighti [...]st of Saules pastours. † And Dauid said to Achimelech: 8 H [...]st thou here at hand a speare, or a sword? because myn owne sword, and myne owne weapons I tooke not with me. for the kings word hastened forward. † And the priest 9 [Page 617] said: Loe here the sword of Goliath the Philistian, whom thou slewest in the Valley of terebinth, is wrapped vp in a mantel behind the Ephod: if thou wilt take this, take it. for neither is here any other beside that. And Dauid said: There is none other like to that, geue me it. † Dauid therefore arose, 10 and fled that day from the face of Saul: and came to Achis the king of Geth, † and the seruantes of Achis said to him, 11 when they had seene Dauid: Is not this Dauid the king of the land? Did they not sing in dances to this man saying: Saul stroke a thousand, and Dauid ten thousand? † But Dauid 12 put these wordes in his hart, and feared excedingly at the face of Achis the king of Geth. † And he Dauid most wisely in such distresse fained himself to be a foole. By which the Holie Ghost mystically signified that Christ should do such things not of feare but of diuine wisdom, as he should be coū ted a foole. Mar. 3. v. 21. Luc. 23. v. 11. 1. Cor. 1. v. 23 [...]. Beda. Quest. in 1. Reg. c. 14. changed his countenance 13 before them, and slipt downe betwen their handes: and he stumbled at the doores of the gate, & his spittle ranne downe vpon his bearde. † And Achis said to his seruantes: 14 You haue seene the man madde: why haue you brought him to me? † Doe we lack madde men, that you haue brought in 15 this felowe, to play the madde man in my presence? shal this man enter into my house?

CHAP. XXII. Dauid with a great retin [...] goeth to the king of Moab 5. but by aduise of Gad the prophet, returneth into Iuda. 6. Saul lamenting that many conspire against him. 9. Doeg accuseth Achimelech, 14. who iustifieth both Dauid and himself. 16. He and al the Priestes with much people in Nobe are slaine by Sauls commandment, 20. onlie Abiathar escaping flieth to Dauid.

DAVID therefore went from thence, and fled to the caue 1 of Odellam. Which when his brethren had heard, and a his fathers house, they went downe to him thither. † And 2 there were gathered vnto him, al that were in distresse, and oppressed with debt, and of a pensiue hart, and he was made their prince, and there were with him about foure hundred men. † And Dauid departed from thence into Maspha which 3 is Moab: and he said to the king of Moab: Let my father and my mother tary with you, I besech thee, til I know what God wil doe to me. † And he left them before the face of 4 the king of Moab, and they abode with him al the dayes that Dauid was in garrison. † And Gad the prophet said to Dauid: 5 Tary not in garrison, depart, and goe into the Land of Iuda. And Dauid departed, and came into the forest of Hare [...]. [Page 618] † And Saul heard that Dauid had appeared, and the men that 6 were with him. And Saul when he abode in Gabaa, and was in the wood, which is in Rama, holding a speare in his hand, and al his seruantes that stood about him, † he sayd to his 7 seruantes that stoode about him: Heare me now ye children of Iemini: wil the sonne of Isai geue to al you fieldes, and vineyardes, and make al you tribunes, & centurions: † because 8 you haue al conspired against me, and there is none that telleth me, especially where my sonne also hath entred league with the sonne of Isai? There is none of you, that pitieth my case, neither is there that telleth me: for that my sonne hath raised vp my seruant against me, lying in waite for me vntil this day. † And Doeg the Idumeite which stood by, and was 9 the chief among the seruantes of Saul, answering, I sawe, quoth he, the sonne of Isai, in Nobe with Achimelech the sonne of Achitob the priest. † Who consulted our Lord for 10 him, and gaue him victuals, yea and the sword of Goliath the Philistian he gaue to him. † The king therefore sent to cal 11 for Achimelech the priest the sonne of Achitob, and al his fathers house, the priestes that were in Nobe, who came al to the king. † And Saul said to Achimelec: Heare thou sonne 12 of Achitob. Who answered: I am readie, my Lord. † And 13 Saul said to him▪ Why haue you conspired against me, thou, and the sonne of Isai, and hast geuen him bread and a sword, and hast consulted our Lord for him, that he might rise vp against me, continuing a traitour vntil this day? † And Achimelech 14 answering the king, said: And who amongst al thy seruantes faithful as Dauid, and the kings sonne in lawe, and going fourth at thy commandmēt, and glorious in thy house? † Did I beginne this day to consult our Lord for him? farre 15 be this from me: let not the king suspect such a thing against his seruant, in al the house of my father: for thy seruant knew not any thing concerning this busines, either litle or great. † And the king saidy: Ding thou shalt dye Achimelec, thou, 16 and al thy fathers house. † And the king said to the curriers, 17 that stood about him: Turne your selues, and kil the priests of our Lord, Saul vniustly condemning Dauid, condemned also al those that iustified him. for their hand is with Dauid, knowing that he was [...]led, and they told me not. And Seing so manifest iniustice and crueltie they obeyed God, rather then m [...]. the kings seruantes would not extend their handes vpon the priests of our Lord. † And the king said to Doeg: Turne thou, and runne vpon 18 the priests. And Doeg the Idumeite being turned, tanne vpon [Page 619] the priests, and murdered in that day eightie fiue men reuested with an ephod of linnen. † And Nobe the citie of the 19 priests, he stroke in the edge of the sword, men and wemen, and children, and sucklinges, and oxe and asse, and shepe in the edge of the sword. † But one sonne of Achimelech the 20 sonne of Achitob, escaping, whose name was Abiathar, fled to Dauid, † and told him that Saul had slaine the priestes 21 of our Lord. † And Dauid said to Abiathar: I knew in that 22 day when Doeg the Idumeit was there, without doubt he would tel Saul, I am giltie of al the soules of thy father. 23 † Abide with me, feare not: if any man shal seeke my life, he shal seeke thy life also, and with me thou shal be preserued.

CHAP. XXIII. The citie of Ceila oppugned by the Philistijms is releeued by Dauid. 7. Who fearing to be there betrayed, 13. fleeth into the desert of Ziph. 16. Ionathas repayreth secretly to him, and they confirme againe their former league. 19. The Ziphians promise to betray Dauid: 27. but Saul leaueth for a while to persecute him, being forced to defend the land from the Philistians inuading it.

AND they told Dauid, saying: Behold the Philistijms 1 oppugne Ceila, and spoyle the barnes. † Dauid therefore 2 consulted our Lord, saying: Shal I goe, and strike these Philistians? And our Lord sayd to Dauid: Goe, and thou shalt strike the Philistians, and shalt saue Ceila. † And the men 3 that were with Dauid, sayd to him: Behold we resting here in Iurie are afrayd, how much more if we shal goe into Ceila against the bandes of the Philistians? † Againe therefore 4 Dauid consulted our Lord. Who answering sayd to him: Arise, and goe into Ceila: for I wil deliuer the Philistians in thy hand. † Dauid therefore, and his men, went into Ceila, and 5 fought against the Philistians, and droue away their beastes, and stroke them with a great slaughter, and Dauid saued the inhabitantes of Ceila. † Moreouer at that time, when Abiathar 6 the sonne of Achimelech fled to Dauid into Ceila, he went downe hauing with him an ephod. † And it was told 7 Saul that Dauid was come into Ceila: and Saul sayd: Our Lord hath deliuered him into my handes, and he is shut vp being entered the citie, wherein are gates and lockes. † And Saul 8 commanded al the people, that they should goe downe into Ceila to fight, and beseige Dauid, and his men. † Which when 9 [Page 620] Dauid vnderstood, that Saul secretly prepared euil [...] against him, he sayd▪ to Abiathar the priest: By this it appeareth that Dauid consulted God by the high priest▪ and the high priest for this purpose ioyned the priestlie ornament called Ephod to the Rationale, and so had reuelatiō from God. Exo 18. Leuit. 8. Applie the Ephod. † And Dauid sayd: Lord God of Israel, thy seruant hath heard 10 a bruite, that Saul determineth to come into Ceila, to destroy the citie for me: † Wil the men of Ceila deliuer me into his 11 handes? and wil Saul come downe, as thy seruant hath heard? Lord God of Israel tel thy seruant. And our Lord sayd: He wil come downe. † And Dauid said: Wil the men of Ceila 12 deliuer me, and the men that are with me, into the handes of Saul? And our Lord sayd: Conditionally: If thou [...]arie here. They wil deliuer thee. † Dauid 13 therefore arose and his men about six hundred, and going out of Ceila, wandered hither and thither vncertaine: and it was told Saul that Dauid was [...]led from Ceila, and was saued: for which cause he dissembled to goe forth. † But Dauid abode 14 in the desert in most strong places, and he taried in the mount of the desert Ziph, in a shadowed hil. Saul notwithstanding sought him alwayes: and our Lord deliuered him not into his handes. † And Dauid saw that Saul was gone forth to 15 seeke his life. Moreouer Dauid was in the desert Ziph, in a wood. † And Ionathas the sonne of Saul arose, and went to 16 Dauid into the wood, and strengthened his handes in God: and sayd to him: † Feare not: for neither shal the hand of 17 Saul my father finde thee, and thou shalt reigne ouer Israel, and I shal be second to thee, yea and my father knoweth this. † Both therefore made a league before our Lord: And Dauid 18 abode in the wood: but Ionathas returned into his house. † And the Zeipheites went vp vnto Saul in Gabaa, saying: 19 Loe doth not Dauid lye hid with vs in the most safe places of the wood, in the Hil Hachila, which is on the right hand of the desert? † Now therefore, as thy soule hath desired, come 20 downe: & it shal be our charge to deliuer him into the kinges handes. † And Saul sayd: Blessed be ye of our Lord, because 21 you haue pitied my case. † Goe therefore I pray you, and prepare 22 diligently, and deale curiously, and consider the place, where his foote is, and who hath seene him there, for he thinketh of me, that I craftely lye in waite for him. † Consider 23 and see al his lurking holes, wherein he is hid, and returne to me with the certeintie of the thing, that I may goe with you. Yea and if he shal stoppe vp himselfe into the earth, I wil search him out among al the thousandes of Iuda. † But they 24 rising went into Ziph before Saul: and Dauid and his men [Page 621] were in the desert Maon, in the champaine country at the right hand of Iesimon. † Saul therefore and his companie 25 went to seeke him: and it was told Dauid, and forthwith he went downe to the rocke, and abode in the desert Maon, which when Saul had heard, he pursued Dauid in the desert Maon. † And Saul went at the side of the mountaine on 26 the one part: and Dauid and his men were in the side of the mountaine on the other part: moreouer Dauid despayred that he could escape, from the face of Saul: Saul therefore and his men in maner of a ring, compassed Dauid and his men, to take them. † And a messenger came to Saul, saying: 27 Make hast, and come, because the Philistijms haue powred in themselues vpon the land. † Saul therefore returned 28 leauing of to pursew Dauid, and he went to meete the Philistians. for this cause, they called that place, the Rocke diuiding.

CHAP. XXIIII. Saul chancing to come into a caue, Dauid being hid with others in the same place, only cutteth the skirt of his cloke, 5. which after shewing, Saul acknowledgeth his fault, and ceaseth for a time to persecute him.

DAVID therefore went vp from thence, and dwelt in 1 the safest places of Engaddi. † And when Saul was returned, 2 after he pursued the Philistians, they told him, saying▪ Behold, Dauid is in the desert Engaddi. † Saul therefore taking 3 vnto him three thousand chosen men of al Israel, went forth to search out Dauid, and his men, yea ouer the steepe broken rockes, which are accessible only to wilde goates. † And he came to the shepcotes, which fel in his way as he 4 went▪ and there was a caue, which Saul entred into, to doe his casement: moreouer Dauid and his men lay hid in the inner part of the caue. † And the seruantes of Dauid sayd to 5 him: Behold the day, whereof our Lord sayd to thee: I wil deliuer thee thyne enemie, that thou mayest doe to him as it shal seeme good in thyne eies. Dauid therefore arose, and cut of the hemme of Saules cloke softly. † After this A tender cō science had scruple of a smal doubt which was no sinne: a large cōscience sticketh at nothing. Dauids 6 hart stroke him, for that he had cut of the hemme of Saules cloke. † And he sayd to his men: Our Lord be merciful vnto 7 me, Saul being annointed king by God▪ appointment, could not lawfully be slaine by his subiectes without like ordinance from God. For though Dauid was also already annointed, yet that was not to reigne presently, but when Saul should die, or otherwise be taken away. that I doe not this thing to my Maister the annointed of our Lord, that I should lay my hand vpon him, because he is the annointed of our Lord. † And Dauid perswaded 8 [Page 622] his men with wordes, and permitted them not to rise against Saul: moreouer Saul rising out of the caue, went on his iourney begunne. † And Dauid rose vp after him: and going out 9 of the caue, cried behind Sauls backe, saying: My Lord King. And Saul looked backe behind him: and Dauid bowing him selfe flat toward the ground adored, † and sayd to Saul: Why 10 doest thou heare the wordes of men that say: Dauid seeketh euil against thee? † Loe this day thyne eies haue seene, that 11 our Lord deliuered thee in my hand, in the caue, and I had a cogitation to kil thee, but myn eie hath spared thee. For I sayd: I wil not extend myn hand vpon my lord, because he is the annointed of our Lord. † But rather see and knowe, o 12 my father, the hemme of thy cloke in my hand, that when I did cut of the hemme of thy cloke, I would not extend my hand vpon thee. Marke, and see, that there is no euil in my hand, nor iniquitie, neither haue I sinned against thee: but thou lyest in waite for my life, to take it away. † Our Lord 13 iudge betwen me and thee, and our Lord reuenge me of thee, but be not my hand vpon thee. † As also it is sayd in the old 14 prouerbe: FROM the impiovs shal impietie procede: be not therefore my hand vpon thee: Whom doest thou persecute O King of Israel? † Whom doest thou persecute? thou persecutest 15 a dead dog, and a flea. † Our Lord be iudge, & iudge betwen 16 me and thee, and he see, and iudge my cause, and deliuer me out of thy hand. † And when Dauid had fully ended speaking 17 such wordes to Saul, Saul sayd: Is this thy voice my sonne Dauid? and Saul lifted vp his voice, and wept: † and sayd to 18 Dauid: Thou art iuster then I: for thou hast donne me good turnes, and I haue rendred thee euil. † And thou hast shewed 19 this day what good thinges thou hast done to me: how our Lord deliuered me into thy hande and thou hast not killed me. † For who when he hath found his enemie, wil let him 20 goe in a good way? But our Lord render thee this good turne, for that which thou hast wrought toward me this day. † And 21 now because I knowe that thou most certeinly shalt reigne, and haue the kingdome of Israel in thy hand: † sweare to me 22 in our Lord, not to destroy my seede after me, nor to take away my name from the house of my father. † And Dauid 23 sware to Saul. Saul therefore went in to his house: and Dauid and his men went vp into safer places.

[Page 623]

CHAP. XXV. Samuel dieth and is mourned. 3. Dauid requesting, 10. and not obtaining victuals of Nabal, 13 threatneth to kil him. 14. But his wife Abigail prudently preuenteth the reuenge, 18. by sending victuals, 23. and geuing good wordes. 37. Al which when Nabal vnderstandeth, he [...]ainteth, and after tenne dayes dieth. 39. Dauid marieth Abigail: 43. also Achinoam: 44. and his wife Michol is geuen to an other.

AND Samuel died, and al Israel was gathered together, 1 and they mourned for him, and buried him in his house in Ramatha. And Dauid rising went downe into the desert of Pharan. † And there was a certaine man in the wildernes 2 of Maon, and his possession in Carmel, and that man was exceding great: and he had three thousand sheepe, & a thousand goates: and it chanced that his flocke was shorne in Carmel. † And the name of that man was Nabal: and the 3 name of his wife Abigail. and that woman was very wise and beutiful: moreouer her husband hard, and very il, and malicious: and he was of the kindred of Caleb. † When Dauid 4 therefore heard in the desert, that Nabal sheared his flocke, † he sent tenne yong men, and sayd to them: Goe vp 5 into Carmel, and you shal come to Nabal, and shal salute him in my name peaceably. † And you shal say: Peace be to my 6 brethren, and to thee, and peace to thy house, and to al whatsoeuer thou hast be peace. † I haue heard, that thy shephards 7 which were with vs in the desert did sheare we haue neuer molested them, neither hath ought beene wanting to them at any time of the flocke, al the time that they were with vs in Carmel. † Aske thy seruantes, and they wil tel thee. Now 8 therefore let thy seruantes finde grace in thyne eies: for we are come in a good day, whatsoeuer thy hand shal finde, geue thy seruantes, and thy sonne Dauid. † And when Dauids 9 seruantes were come, they spoke to Nabal al these wordes in Dauids name: and so held their peace. † But Nabal answering 10 the seruantes of Dauid, said: Who is Dauid? and what is the sonne of Isai? There are seruantes multiplied now a daies which flee from their masters. † Shal I then take my 11 breades, and my waters, and the flesh of my cattel, which I haue killed for my sheares, and geue to men whom I know nnt whence they are? † Therefore the seruantes of Dauid 12 returned by their way, and returning came and told him al the [Page 624] wordes that he had said. † Then sayd Dauid to his seruantes: 13 Euery man gird him with his sworde. And they were euery one girded with their swordes. And Dauid also was girded with his sworde: and there folowed Dauid about foure hundred men: moreouer two hundred remayned at the baggage. † But to Abigail the wife of Nabal one of their seruantes told, 14 saying: Behold Dauid hath sent messengers from the desert, to blesse our maister. & he disdayned them: † these men were 15 good ynough to vs, and not trublesome: neither did euer any thing perish al the time, that we haue couuerst with them in the desert: † they were in steed of a wal to vs both in the day 16 and in the night, al the dayes that we fed the flockes with them. † Wherefore consider, & thinke what thou hast to doe, 17 for Not a malicious mind, such as Saul bore vniustly against Dauid; but punishmēt is decreed against Nabal, for not only denying a reasonable request, but also for so reprochful an answer. malice is accomplished against thy husband, and against thy house, and he is the sonne of Belial, so that no man can speake to him. † Abigail therefore made hast, and tooke 18 two hundred loaues, and two bottels of wine, and fiue muttons ready drest, and fiue measures of polent, and a hundred branches of raysens, and two hundred mases of drie figges, and laid them vpon asses: † and said to her seruantes: Goe 19 before me: loe, I wil folow you at your backe: but she told not her husband Nabal. † When she therefore had gotten 20 vpon an asse, and came downe to the foote of the mountaine, Dauid and his men came downe meeting her, whom she also mette. † And Dauid said: In vaine veryly haue I preserued 21 al thinges that were this mans in the desert, and there perished nothing of al that perteined to him: and he hath rendred me Euil wordes for curteous vsage heret o sore, and for late gentil intreating by messengers. euil for good. † These thinges doe God to the enemies 22 of Dauid, and these thinges adde he, if I shal leaue of al thinges that perteine to him vntil morning, any thing pissing against the wal. † And when Abigail had seene Dauid, she 23 made hast, and light from her asse, and fel downe before Dauid vpon her face, and adored vpon the earth, † and fel at 24 his feete, and sayd: In me my lord be this iniquitie: let thy handmayde speake I besech thee in thine eares: and heare the wordes of thy seruant. † Let not my lord the king I pray 25 thee, set his hart vpon this naughtie man Nabal: because according to his name, he is a foole, and follie is with him: but I thy handmaide sawe not thy seruantes my lord, whom thou didst send. † Now therefore my lord, our Lord liueth, 26 and thy soule liueth, who hath stayed thee that thou shouldest [Page 625] not come vnto blood, and hath saued thy hand to thee: and now be thine enemies as Nabal, and they that seeke euil to my lord. † Wherefore receiue this benediction, which thy 27 handmaide hath brought to thee my lord: and geue to thy seruantes that folow thee my lord. † Take away the iniquitie 28 of thy handmaide: for our Lord making wil make to my lord a faithful house, because thou my lord doest fight the battels of our Lord: let not malice therefore be found in thee al the dayes of thy life. † For if a man shal rise, persecuting 29 thee, and seeking thy life, the life of my lord shal be kept, as in the Things tye [...] in bundels are stronger and more secure, then single and loose. bundel of the liuing, with our Lord thy God: Moreouer the life of thine enemies shal be whurled, and in the violence, and whurle of a sling. † When our Lord therefore 30 shal doe to thee, my lord, al good thinges, which he hath spoken concerning thee, and shal constitute thee prince ouer Israel, † this shal not be an occasion of sobbing to thee, and 31 a scruple of hart to my lord, that thou hast shed innocent blood, or thy selfe hast reuenged thy selfe: and when our Lord hath bestowed these benefites vpon my lord, thou shalt remember thy handmaide. † And Dauid sayd to Abigail: 32 Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel, who hath sent thee this day to meete me, and blessed be thy speach, † and blessed 33 be thou, which hast stayed me to day, that I might not goe to blood, and reuenge me with myn owne hand. † Otherwise 34 our Lord liueth the God of Israel, who hath staied me, that I should not doe thee any euil: vnles thou hadst quickely come to meete me, there had not remained to Nabal vntil morning light, any pissing against a wal. † And Dauid tooke 35 of her hand al thinges which she had brought him, and said to her: Goe peaceable into thy house, behold I haue heard thy voice, and haue honoured thy face. † And Abigail came 36 to Nabal: and behold he had a feast in his house, as it were the feast of a king, and Nabals hart was pleasant: for he was drunke excedingly: and she told him not a word little or great vntil morning. † But early when Nabal had digested his 37 wine, his wife told him these wordes, and his hart was dead inwardly, and he became as a stone. † And when ten dayes 38 had passed, our Lord stroke Nabal, and he died. † Which 39 when Dauid had heard that Nabal was dead, he sayd: Blessed be our Lord, who hath iudged the cause of my reproch at the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his seruant from euil, and the [Page 626] malice of Nabal hath our Lord rendred vpon his head. Dauid therefore sent, and spake to Abigail, that he might take her to himselfe to wife. † And Dauids seruantes came to Abigail 40 into Carmel, and spake to her, saing: Dauid hath sent vs vnto thee, to take thee to his wife. † Who arising adored flat toward 41 the earth, and sayd: Loe let thy seruant be as an handmaide, to wash the feete of the seruantes of my lord. † And Abigail 42 arose, and made hast, and gatte vpon an asse, and fiue wemen went with her waiting maides, and folowed the messengers of Dauid, and became his wife. † Yea and Achinoam also did 43 Dauid take of Iezrahel: and both were his wiues. † But Saul 44 gaue Michol his daughter Dauids wife to Phalti, the sonne of Lais, who was of Gallim.

CHAP. XXVI. The Ziphians bewrraying the place, Saul besiegeth Dauid. 5. who by night goeth where Saul and his men are a sleepe, 9. hurteth him not: 12. but taketh from him his speare and bottle of water: 14. sheweth what he hath done. 21. Saul againe confesseth his fault, and promiseth peace.

AND there came Zepheites vnto Saul in Gabaa, saying: 1 Behold Dauid is hid in the hil Hachila, which is ouer against the wildernes. † And Saul arose, and went downe into 2 the desert Ziph, and with him three thousand men of the chosen of Israel, to seeke Dauid in the desert Ziph. † And 3 Saul camped in Gabaa Hachila, which was ouer against the wildernes in the way: and Dauid dwelt in the desert. And seing that Saul was come after him into the deset, † he sent 4 discouerers, and lerned that he was come thither most certainly. † And Dauid arose secretly, and came to the place 5 where Saul was: and when he had seene the place, wherein Saul slept, and Abner the sonne of Ner, the prince of his warre, and Saul sleeping in the tent, and the rest of the multitude round about him, † Dauid spake to Achimelech the 6 Hetheit, and Abisai the sonne of Seruia the brother of Ioab, saying: Who wil goe downe with me to Saul into the campe? And Abisai said: I wil goe with thee. † Dauid therefore and 7 Abisai came to the people by night, and found Saul lying and sleeping in the tent, and his speare fixed in the ground at his head: and Abner, and the people sleeping round about him. † And Abisai said to Dauid: God hath shut vp thine 8 enemie this day into thy handes: now therefore I wil thrust [Page 627] him through with my speare in the earth once, and twise shal not neede. † And Dauid said to Abisai: Kil him not: for 9 Dauid is resolute, and often repeteth, that it is not lawful for priuate subiectes to kil their prince, no although him selfe was annointed to succede. who shal extend his hand vpon the annointed of our Lord, & shal be innocent? † And Dauid said: Our Lord liueth, vnlesse 10 our Lord shal strike him, or his day come to die, or descendig into battel he perish: † Our Lord be merciful vnto me, 11 that I extend not my hand vpon the annointed of our Lord. now therefore take the speare, which is at his head, & cuppe of water, and let vs goe. † Dauid therefore tooke the speare, 12 and cuppe of water, which was at Saules head, and they went away: and there was none that sawe, or vnderstood, or awaked, but al slept, because the dead sleepe Gods prouidence sent this extraordinary sleepe and inspired Dauid, to doe this fact, for more iustification of his innocencie▪ of our Lord, had fallen vpon them. † And when Dauid had passed ouer 13 against, and stood in the toppe of the mountaine farre of, and a good space betwen them, † Dauid cried to the people, and 14 to Abner the sonne of Ner, saying: Wilt thou not answer Abner? And Abner answering sayd: Who art thou, that criest and disquietest the king? † And Dauid sayd to Abner: Art not 15 thou a man? And who is like thee in Israel? why therefore hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for one of the multitude hath entered in to kil the king thy lord. † This thing is not 16 good, which you haue done: Our Lord liueth, you are the children of death, which haue not kept your lord, the annointed of our Lord. Now therefore behold where the kinges speare is, & where the cup of water is, which was at his head. † And Saul knew Dauids voice, and sayd: Is this thy voice, 17 my sonne Dauid? And Dauid sayd: My voice, my lord king, † and he said: For what cause doth my lord persecute his 18 seruant? What haue I done? or what euil is there in my hand? † Now therefore heare, I pray, my lord King, the wordes of 19 thy seruant: If our Lord stirre thee vp against me, let there be odoure of sacrifice: but if the sonnes of men, they are cursed in the sight of our Lord, which haue cast me out this day, that I should not dwel in the inheritance of our Lord, saying: Goe, serue strange goddes. † And now let not my blood be 20 shed vpon the earth before our Lord, for the king of Israel, is come forth to seeke one flea, as the perdix is pursued in the mountaines. † And Saul sayd: I haue sinned, returne my 21 sonne Dauid, for I wil no more doe thee euil, for that my life hath bene precious in thyne eies to day: for it appeareth that I haue done foolishly, and haue bene ignorant of very many [Page 628] thinges. † And Dauid answering, sayd: Behold the kings 22 speare, let one of the kings seruants passe, and take it. † And 23 our Lord wil reward euerie one according to his iustice, and fidelitie: for our Lord hath deliuered thee this day into my hand, & I would not extend my hand vpon the annointed of our Lord. † And as thy life hath bene magnified to day in 24 myne eies, so be my life magnified in the eies of our Lord, and deliuer he me from al distresse. † Saul therefore sayd to Dauid: 25 Blessed art thou my sonne Dauid: and truly doing thou shalt doe, and preuayling thou shalt preuaile. And Dauid went into his way, and Saul returned into his place.

CHAP. XXVII. Dauid for more securitie goeth againe to Achis king of Geth, 5. obtaineth of him the citie of Siceleg, (6. by which meanes it becometh subiect to the kinges of Iuda) 8. and maketh prayes vpon the enemies of King Achis.

AND Dauid sayd in his hart: at length I shal fal one day 1 into the handes of Saul: is it not better that I flee, and be saued in the Land of the Philistians, that Saul may despaire, and cease to seeke me in al the coastes of Israel? I wil flee therefore his handes. † And Dauid arose, and went himselfe, 2 and the six hundred men with him, to Achis the sonne of Maoch, the King of Geth. † And Dauid dwelt with Achis 3 in Geth, he and his men; euerieman & his house, and his two wiues, Achinoam the Iezrahelite, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel. † And it was told Saul that Dauid was fled 4 into Geth, and he added no more to seeke him. † And Dauid 5 sayd to Achis: If I haue grace in thy sight, let there a place be geuen me in one of thy cities of this countrie, that I may dwel there: for why abideth thy seruant in the citie of the king with thee? † Achis therefore gaue him in that day Siceleg: 6 for which cause Siceleg became the kinges of Iuda vntil this day. † And the number of the daies, that Dauid 7 dwelt in the country of the Philistians, was foure monethes. † And Dauid went vp, and his men, and draue prayes out of 8 These countries were neither subiect to the Philistijms not to the Israelites, and were also of those nations whom God had cōmanded to dest [...]roy, dwelling within the land of Chanaan. Deut, 25. Gessuri, and Gerzi, and from the Amalecites: for these villages were inhabited in the land in old time, as men goe to Sur, as farre as the Land of Aegypt. † And Dauid stroke al the 9 land, neither left he anie man or woman: and taking the sheepe & oxen, and asses, & camels, and garments, he returned & came to Achis. † And Achis sayd to him: Whom hast thou 10 [Page 629] set vpon to day? Dauid answered: Against the south of Iuda, and against the south of Ier [...]miel, and against the south of Ceni. † Dauid gaue life neither to man nor woman, neither 11 brought them into Geth, saying: Lest perhaps they speake against vs. These thinges did Dauid, and this was decreed of him al the daies that he dwelt in the countrie of the Philistians. † Achis therefore did credite Dauid, saying: Manie 12 euils hath he wrought against his people Israel: Therefore he shal be my seruant for euer.

CHAP. XXVIII. The Philistians fighting against Saul, Dauid promiseth fidelitie to Achis. 3. Saul destroyeth magicians, 6. but God not answering him, 7. seeketh a woman that hath a Pithon spirite, 12. willeth her to raise vp Samuel. The fourth part. Of the ruine of Saul, and exaltation of Dauid. 15. who appearing fortelleth him, that he, and his sonnes shal die the next day.

AND it came to passe that in those daies the Philistijms 1 gathered together their companies, that they might be prepared to battel against Israel: and Achis sayd to Dauid: Knowing know thou now, that thou shalt goe forth with me in the campe, thou, and thy men. † And Dauid sayd to 2 Achis: Now thou shalt know what thy seruant wil doe. And Achis sayd to Dauid: And I wil appoint thee keper of my head al daies. † And Samuel was dead, and al Israel mourned 3 for him, and buried him in Ramatha his citie. And Saul tooke al the magicians and soothsayers out of the land. † And 4 the Philistijms were gathered together, and came and camped in Sunam: and Saul also gathered together al Israel, and came into Gelboe. † And Saul saw the campe of the Philistijms, 5 and feared, and his hart was afrayd excedingly. † And he 6 consulted our Lord, and he answered him not, neither by dreames, nor by priestes, nor by prophetes. † And Saul sayd 7 to his seruantes: Seeke me a woman that hath a pithonical spirite, and I wil goe to her, and wil aske by her. And his seruantes sayd to him: There is a woman that hath a pithonical spirite in Endor. † He therefore changed his habite and was 8 clothed with other garmentes, and he went himselfe, and two men with him, and they came to the woman in the night, and sayd to her: Deuine vnto me in the pythonical spirite, and raise me vp whom I shal tel thee. † And the woman sayd 9 to him: Loe, thou knowest what great thinges Saul hath done, [Page 630] and how he hath raysed the magicians and sothsayers out of the land: why therefore doest thou lye in waite for my life, that I may be slaine? † And Saul sware vnto her in our Lord, 10 saying: Our Lord liueth, there shal no euil happen vnto thee for this thing. † And the woman sayd to him: Whom shal I 11 rayse vp to thee? Who sayd: Raise me vp Samuel. † And 12 when the woman had seene Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, and sayd to Saul: Why hast thou deceiued me? for thou art Saul. † And the King sayd to her: Feare not: what sawest 13 thou? And the woman sayd to Saul: I saw Not manie but one excellent person, an old man come lie in apparel. :: Saul adored not Samuel with diuine honour, but with dulia, reuerencedue to a blessed soule. Goddes coming out of the earth. † And he sayd to her: What maner of forme 14 hath he? who sayd: An old man is come vp, and he is clothed with a mantel. And “ Saul [...]iadag [...] cognouit Luevv. vnderstood that it was Samuel,and he bowed himselfe vpon his face on the earth, and :: adored. † And Samuel sayd to Saul: why hast thou disquieted 15 me, that I should be raised vp? And Saul sayd, I am in great distresse: for the Philistijms fight against me, and God is departed from me, and would not heare me, neither in the hand of prophetes, not by dreames: therefore I haue called thee, that thou shouldest shew me, what I shal doe. † And Samuel 16 sayd: Why askest thou, whereas our Lord is departed from thee, and is passed to thine aduersarie? † For our Lord wil 17 doe to thee as he spake in my hand, and he wil cut thy kingdome out of thy hand, & wil geue it to thy neighbour Dauid: † because thou hast not obeyed the voice of our Lord, neither 18 didst thou the wrath of his furie in Amalec. Therefore that which thou sufferest hath our Lord done to thee this day. † And our Lord wil geue Israel also with thee into the handes 19 of the Philistijms: and to morow thou and thy sonnes shal be In state of the dead in an other world, not in the same particular state. with me: yea the campe also of Israel wil our Lord deliuer into the handes of the Philisthijms. † And forthwith Saul 20 fel stretched forth on the ground, for he feared much the wordes of Samuel, and there was no strength in him, because he had not eaten bread al that day. † That woman therefore 21 went vnto Saul (for he was very much trubled) and sayd to him: Behold thy handmaide hath obeied thy voice, and I haue put my life in my hand: and I heard the wordes, which thou spakest to me. † Now therefore heare thou also the voice of 22 thy handmaide, and I wil set before thee a morsel of bread, that eating thou mayest recouer strength, and be able to goe on thy iourney. † Who refused, and sayd: I wil not eate. But 23 [Page 631] his seruantes and the woman forced him, and at length hearing their voice, he arose from the ground, and sate vpon the bed. † And that woman had a pasture fed calfe in the house, 24 and s [...]e made hast, and killed him: and taking meale kneded it, and baked azimes, † and sette before Saul, and before his 25 seruantes, who when they had eaten rose vp, and walked al that night.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXVIII.

14. Saul vnderstood that it vvas Samuel.] It is not defined nor certaine, whetherthe soule of Samuel appeared, or an euil spirit tooke his shape, and spake to Saul. S. Augustin ( li. 2. q. 3. ad Simplician) proposeth both the opinions as S. Augustin: opinion whether Samuele soule appeared, or no. probable. VVhere first he sheweth, that Samuels soule might appeare; either brought thither by the euil spirite, which is not so much to be merueled at, as that our Lord and Sauiour suffered him self to be sette vpon the pinnacle of the temple, and to be caried into a high mountaine by the diuel; yea to be taken prisoner, bound, whipped, and crucified, by the diuels ministers: or els that the spirite of the holie prophet, was not raised by force of the inchantment, or anie powre of the diuel, but by Gods secrete ordinance vnknowen to the pythonical woman, and to Saul, and so appeared in the kings presence, and stroke him with diuine sentence Againe he answereth, that there may be a more easie and readie sense of this place, to wit, that Samuels spirite (or soule) was not in deede raised, but an imaginarie illusion made by the diuels inchantment, which semed to be Samuel, and which the Scripture calleth by the name of Samuel, as pictures or images are commonly called those persons or thinges, More probable that his verie soule appeared, not compelled by the euil spirite but obeying Gods secrete ordinance. which they represent. So when we behold pictures in a table, or on a wal, we say, this is Cicero, that is Salust, that Achilles, that is Rome. To this effect S. Augustin discourseth more at large in the place before cited. But in an other worke written after ( de cura pro mortuis gerenda. c. 15.) teaching that soules of the dead appeare sometimes to the liuing, he saieth expresly, Samuel the prophet being dead, foretold suture thinges to King Saul yet liuing. Though some be of opinion (saieth he) that Samuel himself appeared not, but some euil spirit tooke his similitude.

And this last iudgement of S. Augustin is much confirmed; first by the wordes of this text, literally and plainly affirming that Samuel appeared, and spake First proose▪ to Saul, and Saul to him. and that Saul vnderstood (or [...]nevv, not only thought, imagined, or supposed) that it vvas Samuel. Secondly, this apparition came sooner, preuenting the inchantment, and in better order, then the pithonical 2 woman expected, as appeareth by her answer, saying she saw God (or an excellent person) ascending in comelie maner and attyre: whereas euil spirites vsed to appeare (as the Rabbins testifie) in vglie bodies, with the heeles into the ayer, and head downward. Thirdly, the Author of Ecclestasticus (ch. 46.) amongst the prayses of Samuel the prophet, saieth, he slept, (or died) and certified 3 the King, and shevved to him, the end of his life. VVhere it semeth clere, that the same person that died, denounced Gods wil and sentence to Saul. Moreouer [Page 632] if it had bene an illusion of an euil spirite, it would hardly seme anie praise at al. Fourthly, the diuel could not naturally foretel that Saul and his sonnes, 4 with manie of the people should be slaine the next day, and Dauid reign [...] after him: neither is it probable, that God reueiled such secretes to euil spirites, wherby men might take more occasion to folow nicromancie. Fiftly, most Fathers and Doctors are of the same iudgement. S. Iustinus Martyr. [...] to. [...]. pag. 210. Dialogo cum Triphone. S. Basil. Epist. 80. ad Eustathium. S. Ambrose li. 1. in Luc. 1. S. Hierom. in Isaiae. 7. Iosephus li. 6. c. 15. Antiq. and manie other old and late writers. The chiefest argument for the other opinion is the authoritie of Tertullian. li. de anima. Procopius and Eucherius vpon this place. and the vncertaine authors, Questionum apud Iustinum. q. 52. lib. de mirabil. Sac. Script. and Quest. vet. Testamenti, q. 27. apud Augustinum, tomo. 3. et. 4. As for the Protestantes denying, that soules once parted from their bodies, can appeare to anie aliue, S. Augustin confuteth them, both by this example of Samuel, supposing the Soules sometimes appeare after death. loco [...] tat [...]. booke of Ecclesiasticus to be Canonical Scripture, and of Moyses being dead, and Elias yet liuing (whom they hold also to be dead) both appearing with Christ in his transfiguration. Mat. 17.

CHAP. XXIX. Dauid going with the Philistijms towards the warre, 4. the princes vrge and force the king to send him back.

THEREFORE al the companies of the Philistijms were 1 gathered together into Aphec: and Israel also camped vpon the fountaine, which was in Iezrahel. † And the princes 2 in dede of the Philistijms marched in hundreds and thousandes: but Dauid and his men were in the last companie with Achis. † And the princes of the Philistijms sayd to Achis: 3 What meane these Hebrewes? And Achis sayd to the princes of the Philistijms: Doe you not knowe Dauid, which was the seruant of Saul the king of Israel, and is with me manie daies, or He speaketh by amplification to make his fact seme more reasonable: whereas the time of Dauids abode with him was but foute monethes. ch. 27. v. 7. yeares, and I haue not found any thing in him, since the day that he fled to me, vntil this day? † But the 4 princes of the Philistijms were angrie against him, and sayd to him: Let this man returne, and abide in his place, wherein thou hast appointed him, and let him not goe downe with vs into battel, lest he become an aduersarie to vs, when we shal beginne to fight: for how can he otherwise pacifie his lord, but in our heades? † Is not this Dauid, to whom they sang 5 in dances, saying: Saul hath strooke his thousandes, & Dauid his ten thousandes? † Achis therefore called Dauid, and sayd 6 to him: The Lord liueth, thou art iust, and good in my sight: and thy going out, & thy coming in is with me in the campe: and I haue not found in thee anie euil, since the day that thou camest to me vntil this day: but thou pleasest not the nobles. [Page 633] † Returne therefore, and goe in peace, and offend not the 7 eies of the princes of the Philistijms. † And Dauid sayd to 8 Achis: For what haue I done, and what hast thou found in me thy seruant, since the day that I haue beene in thy sight, vntil this day, that I may not come, and fight against the enemies of my lord the King? † And Achis answering spake to Dauid: 9 I know that thou art good in my sight, as an Angel of God: but the princes of the Philistijms haue sayd: He shal not goe vp with vs into battel. † Therefore arise in the morning, 10 thou, and the seruantes of thy lord, which came with thee: and when you are risen in the night, and it shal beginne to waxe light, goe foreward. † Dauid therefore arose in the 11 night, he and his men, that they might sette foreward in the morning, and returne to the land of the Philistijms: and the Philistijms went vp into Iezrahel.

CHAP. XXX. Dauid returning to Siceleg, findeth it burned and spoiled, and himself in danger of the people: 7. By our Lords warrant be pursueth the enemie, 11. taketh a guide: 17. recouereth al that was taken away: 22. and rewardeth the souldiars, also those that stayed with the baggage; 25. making it a lawe for the time to come, shat the keepers of the baggage, shal haue like share with those that fight in battel.

AND when Dauid and his men were come to Siceleg 1 the third day, the Amalecites had made an inuasion on the south side into Siceleg, and had strooken Siceleg, and burnt it with fire. † And had led away wemen captiue out of 2 it, from the lesse vnto the great: and had not killed any man, but had led them with them, and went on their iourney. † When Dauid therefore and his men were come to the citie, 3 and had found it burnt with fire, and their wiues, and their sonnes, and their daughters to be led away captiue, † Dauid 4 and the people that was with him, lifted vp their voices, and mourned til teares fayled them. † For the two wiues also of 5 Dauid were led away captiue, Achinoam the Iezraelite, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel. † And Dauid was 6 strooken very sad: for the people would haue stoned him, because the soule of euerie man was bitterly affected vpon their sonnes, and daughters: but Dauid was strengthened in our Lord his God. † And he sayd to Abiathar the priest the 7 sonne of Achimelech: Applie Consuit out Lord for me:so Dauid by the priests mediation, was instructed what to do. vnto me the Ephod. And [Page 634] Abiathar applied the Ephod to Dauid, † and Dauid consulted 8 our Lord, saying: Shal I pursue these theeues, and shal I take them or no? And our Lord sayd to him: Pursue them: for thou shalt take them without doubt, & take from them the praye. † Dauid therefore went himselfe, and the six hundred men 9 that were with him, and they came vnto the Torrent Besor: & some being wearie stayed. † But Dauid himself, and foure 10 hundred men pursued: for two hundred stayed, who being wearie could not passe the Torrent Besor. † And they found 11 an Aegyptian in the field, and brought him to Dauid: and they gaue him bread to eate, and water to drink, † and also a peece 12 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 13 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, 14 and against Iuda, and at the south of Caleb, and burnt Siceleg with fire. † And Dauid sayd to him: Canst thou bring me to 15 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 16 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 17 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 18 thinges, that the Amalecites had taken, and he reskewed his two wiues. † Neither was there anie wanting from litle to 19 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, 20 and draue them before his face: and they sayd: This is the praye of Dauid. † And Dauid came to the two hundred men, 21 which being wearie had staied, neither were able to folow Dauid, and he had bidden them to rest in the Torrent Besor: [Page 635] 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 22 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 23 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 24 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 25 downe from that day, and euer after It is not against Gods cōmandment, Deut. 4. &. 12. to make new lawes, so they be conformable, & not contrarie to Gods former lawes▪ it was decreed, and ordained as a law in Israel. † Dauid therefore came into Siceleg, 26 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 27 in Ramoth toward the South, and them that were in Gether, † and them in Aroer, and them in Sephamoth, and them in 28 Esthamo, † and them in Rachal, and them in the cities of Ierameel, 29 and them in the cities of Semi, † and them in Harama, 30 and them in the lake of Asan, and them in Athach, † and them in Hebron, and to the rest that were in those 31 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 1 of Israel fled before the face of the Philistijms, and fel being slaine in mount Gelboe. † And the Philistijms fel vpon 2 Saul, and vpon his sonnes, and they stroke Ionathas, and Abinadab, and Melchisua the sonnes of Saul, † and the whole 3 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 4 :: Saul killing himself after that he was wounded [...] his enimies signifieth those that being ouercome by tentations desperatly persist, & wilfully die in their sinne. S. Greg. [...]o 10 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 [Page 636] vpon it. † Which when his esquier had seene, to wit that Saul 5 was dead, himselfe also fel vpon his sword and died with him. † Saul therefore died, and his three sonnes, & his esquier, and 6 al his men in that day together. † And the children of Israel, 7 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, 8 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, 9 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 10 temple of Astaroth, but his bodie they hung on the wal of Bethsam. † Which when These men are cōmendable for gratitude towards Saul, who had deliuered them. ch. 11. for a vvorke of mercie in burying the dead: for pietie towards their king and princes, and for fortitude in atchiuing so heroical an act. the inhabiters of Iabes Galaad 11 had heard whatsoeuer the Philistijms had done to Saul, † al 12 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 13 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 booke is wholly of Dauid▪ this second booke is wholly of King Dauid. VVhose 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 His succession to the kingdom. 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 His vertues. mourning for Saul and that familie, his deuotion, fortitude, pietie, and gratitude Faultes. 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 Thankes, and Prophecie. 22. and 23. chapters conteyne his thankesgeuing to God for benefites receiued, and prophecie of thinges to come, with a catalogue of valiant men.

[Page 637]

THE SECOND BOOKE OF SAMVEL, WHICH WE CAL THE SECOND OF KINGES.

CHAP. 1. Dauid hearing that Saul and Ionathas are slaine, 11. mourneth with al his familie, weeping and fasting. 13. causeth him to be slaine who affirmed that he had killed king Saul. 18. He traineth vp archers. 19. and inuiteth also al Israel to mourne.

AND it came to passe, after that Saul was dead, 1 that Dauid returned from the slaughter of Amalec, and taryed in Siceleg two dayes. † And in the 2 third day there appeared a man coming out of Sauls campe, his garments torne, and sprinkled on the head with dust, and as he came to Dauid, he fel vpon his face, and adored. † And Dauid said vnto him: Whence 3 comest thou? Who said to him: I fledde out of the campe of Israel. † And Dauid said vnto him: What is the matter that 4 is done? tel me. Who said: The people is fled out of the battel, and many of the people are ouerthrowen and dead: yca Saul also and Ionathas his sonne are dead. † And Dauid said 5 to the yong man that told him: How knowest thou that Saul is dead, and Ionathas his sonne? † And the young 6 man that told him, sayd: He fained al this, thincking to get fauoure (for Saul killed himself, li. 1. ch. 31.) but Dauid punished him, as such a crime desetued. v. 15. By chance I came into mount Gelboe, and Saulleaned vpon his speare: moreouer the chariots and horsemen approched vnto him, † and turning backward, 7 and seing me he called. To whom when I had answered, here I am: † he said to me: Who art thou? And 8 I said to him: I am an Amalecite, † And he said to me: Stand 9 vpon me, and kil me: because anguishes hold me, and as yet al my life is in me. † And standing vpon him, I killed him▪ 10 for I knewe that he could not liue after the fal: and I tooke the Diademe that was on his head, & the bracelette from his arme, and haue brought to thee my lord hither. † And Dauid 11 taking his garments rent them, and al the men that were with him, † and they Exequies of Saul obserued with mourning weeping and fasting. mourned, and wept, and fasted vntil euening 12 vpon Saul and vpon Ionathas his sonne, and vpon the people [Page 638] of our Lord, and vpon the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword. † And Dauid said to the yong man that 13 had told him: Whence art whou? Who answered: I am the sonne of a man a stranger of Amalec. † Dauid said to him: 14 Why didst thou not feare to put to thy hand, to kil the annointed of our Lord? † And Dauid calling one of his seruants 15 said: Goe runne vpon him. Who stroke him, and he died. † And Dauid said to him: Thy bloud be vpon thine owne 16 head: for thyn owne mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I haue slaine the annointed of our Lord. † And Dauid mourned 17 this kind of mourning vpon Saul, and vpon Ionathas his sonne, († and he commanded that they should The Philisthijms were strong & cunning archers therefore Dauid commanded that his subiectes should lerne and exercise the same maner of fight. teach the 18 children of Iuda the bowe, as it is written in the Booke of the iust.) And he said: Consider, o Israel for them that be dead wounded vpon thy high places. † The Nobles, ô Israel, are 19 slayne vpon thy mountaynes: how are the valiants fallen? † Tel it not in Geth, neither tel ye it in the high waies of 20 Ascalon: lest perhaps the daughters of the Philisthijms be gladde, lest the daughters of the vncircumcised reioice. † Mountaines of Gelboe, let neither dew, nor rayne come 21 vpon you, neither be they fields of the first fruits: because there was the shield of the valiantes cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he were not annointed with oyle. † From the 22 bloud of the slaine, from the fatte of the valiants, the arrowe of Ionathas neuer returned backward, and the sword of Saul did not returne emptie. † Saul and Ionathas amiable, and 23 comely in their life, in death also were not diuided: swifter then eagles, stronger then lyons. † Yee daughters of Israel 24 weepe vpon Saul, who clothed you with scarlet in delicaces, who gaue golden ornaments to your attyre. † How haue 25 the valiantes fallen in battel? Ionathas bene slayne in thy high places? † I am sorie for thee my brother Ionathas exceeding 26 beautiful, and amiable aboue the loue of wemen. As the mother loueth her onlie sonne, so did I loue thee. † How 27 haue the strong fallen, and the weapons of warre perished?

CHAP. II. Dauid is receiued and annointed King of Iuda. 5. He commendeth those of Iabes Galaad, which buried Saul. 8. Isboseth the sonne of Saul reigneth ouer the rest of Israel. 12. whereby riseth sharpe warre betwen Abner and Ioab, chief captaines of the two kinges. 30. Manie more are slaine of Abners partie then of Ioabs.

[Page 639]THEREFORE after these thinges Dauid consulted 1 our Lord, saying: Shal I goe vp into one of the cities of Iuda? And our Lord said to him: Goe vp. And Dauid said: Whit her shal I goe vp. And he answered him: Into Hebron. † Dauid therefore went vp, and his two wiues, Achinoam the 2 Iezrahelite, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: † yea 3 and the men also that were with him, Dauid brought euery one with his houshould: and they abode in the townes of Hebron. † And the men of Iuda came, and This second annointing, as also the third, ( ch. [...].) was in confirmation and to put him in possession of the first m [...] long before. 1. Reg. 16. annoynted Dauid 4 there, to reigne ouer the house of Iuda. And it was told Dauid, that the men of Iabes Galaad had buried Saul. † Dauid 5 therefore sent messengers vnto the men of Iabes Galaad, and sayd vnto them: Blessed be you to our Lord, which haue done this mercie with your lord Saul, and haue buried him. † And now our Lord certes wil render you mercie and truth: 6 but I also wil requite you the good turne, for that you haue done this thing. † Let your handes be strengthned, and be 7 yee stout men: for although your lord Saul be dead, yet the house of Iuda hath annointed me to be their king. † But 8 Abner the sonne of Ner prince of Sauls armie, tooke Isboseth the sonne of Saul, & led him about through the campe, † and ordained him king ouer Galaad, and ouer Gessuri, 9 and ouer Iezrahel, & ouer Ephraim, and ouer Beniamin, and ouer al Israel. † Fourtie yeares old was Isboseth the sonne 10 of Saul when he began to reigne ouer Israel, and he reigned He reigned two yeares before he beganne much to decline, but in al seuen yeares and a half, for so long Dauid reigned only in Iuda. v. 11. two yeares: and only the house of Iuda folowed Dauid. † And the number of the daies, that Dauid abode, reigning 11 in Hebron ouer the house of Iuda, was seuen yeares and six monethes. † And Abner the sonne of Ner went forth, and 12 the seruantes of Isboseth the sonne of Saul, out of the campe into Gabaon. † Moreouer Ioab the sonne of Saruia, and 13 the seruants of Dauid went forth, and mette them beside the poole of Gabaon, and when they were come together into one place, they sate one ouer against an other: these on the one side of the poole, and they on the other. † And 14 Abner said to Ioab: Let the yong men rise, and Hence perhaps cometh the phraise, that one armie playeth vpon an other vvith smal and great ar [...] lane, that is, strike and kil their enimies with al sortes of gunnes. Iosephus li. 7. c. 1. Antiq. play before vs. And Ioab answered: Let them rise. † There rose therefore 15 and passed twelue in number, of Beniamin, of Isboseths part the sonne of Saul, and twelue of the seruantes of Dauid. † And euery one taking the head of his mate, sticked his 16 sword into the side of his aduersarie, and they fel together: [Page 640] & the name of the place was called: The field of the valiantes, in Gabaon. † And there rose a very sore battel in that day: and 17 Abner was put to flight, & the men of Israel, by the seruantes of Dauid. † And there were there the three sonnes of Saruia, 18 Ioab, and Abisai, and Asael: moreouer Asael was a most swift runner, as it were one of the roes, that abide in the wooddes. † And Asael pursued Abner, and declined not to the right 19 hand nor to the left omitting to pursue Abner. † Abner 20 therefore looked backe behind him, and said: Art thou Asael? Who answered: I am. † And Abner said to him: Goe to the 21 right hand, or to the left, and apprehend one of the young men, and take to thee his spoyles. But Asael would not leaue but vrged him. † And againe Abner said to Asael: Retyre, 22 and do not folowe me▪ left I be compelled to sticke thee to the ground, and I shal not be able to lift vp my face to Ioab thy brother. † Who contemned to heare, and would not goe 23 aside: Abner therefore stroke him, with his speare turned backe in the priuy partes, and thrust him through, and he dyed in the same place: and al that passed by that place, wherein Asael fel and dyed, did stay. † But whiles Ioab and Abisai 24 pursued Abner fleeing, the sunne went downe: and they came as farre as the hil of the water conduit, that is ouer against the valley the way of the desert in Gabaon. † And the children 25 of Beniamin were assembled together to Abner: and being gathered in a plumpe into one troupe, they stoode in the toppe of one hil. † And Abner cried out to Ioab, and said: 26 Shal thy sword rage vnto vtter destructrion? knowest thou not that desperation is dangerous? how long differrest thou to say to the people, that they leaue to pursue their brethren? † And Ioab said: Our Lord liueth, if thou hadest spoken, 27 in the morning had the people retyred, from pursuing their brethren. † Ioab therefore sounded the trumpette, and al 28 the armie stood, neither did they pursue Israel any further, nor enter into fight. † And Abner and his men went through 29 the champaine country, al that night: and they passed Iordan, and hauing viewed al Beth horon, came to the campe † Moreouer 30 Ioab returning, after he had leift Abner, assembled al the people: and there wanted of Dauids seruantes nintene men, beside Asael † But the seruantes of Dauid stroke of Beniamin, 31 and of the men, that were with Abner three hundred three score, who also died. † And they tooke Asael, & buried 32 [Page 641] him in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem: and Ioab, and the men that were with him, walked al the night, and in the very twilight they came into Hebron.

CHAP. III. [...]boseths forces daily decay, Dauid increaseth in powre, and hath manie sonnes. 7. Abner vpon occasion of a sclander breaketh from Isboseth, and serueth Dauid, bringing Michol to him, and much people of Israel. 23. Ioab of emulation and reuenge killeth Abner. 28. for which Dauid is offended with Ioab, 31. and mourneth for Abner.

THERE was made therefore long strife betwen the 1 house of Saul, and betwen the houre of Dauid: Dauid prospering and alwaies stronger then himself, but the house of Saul decreasing daily. † And there were sonnes borne to 2 Dauid in Hebron: and his first begotten was Amnon of Achinoam the Iezrahelite. † And after him Cheleab of Abigail 3 the wife of Nabal of Carmel: moreouer the third Absalom the sonne of Maacha the daughter of Tolmai king of Gessur. † And the fourth Adonias, the sonne of Haggith: and the 4 fifth Saphathia, the sonne of Abital. † The sixt also Iethraam 5 of Egla the wife of Dauid. these were borne to Dauid in Hebron. † Therefore when there was battel betwen the house 6 of Saul and house of Dauid, Abner the sonne of Ner ruled the house of Saul. † And Saul had a concubine named Respha, the 7 daughter of Aia. And Isboseth said to Abner: † Why diddest 8 thou go in to my fathers concubine? Who being wrath exceedingly for the wordes of Isboseth, said: What Am I co [...] temptible in thy sight, and yet head of them that oppose against Dauid, I that haue donne so much for thee, wil not indure to be reprehended, for a smal fault. So God suffereth the maintainers of an eui [...] quarel to fal out among them selues, wherby the right cause is aduanced. am I a dogges head against Iuda this day, which haue done mercie vpon the house of Saul thy father, and vpon his brethren and neerest freinds, & haue not deliuered thee into the hands of Dauid, & hast thou sought against me that thou mightest charge me for a woman to day? † These things do God to Abner, and these 9 things adde he to him, vnlesse as our Lord hath sworne to Dauid, so I doe truth to him. † That the kingdom be transferred 10 from the house of Saul, and the throne of Dauid be 11 exalted ouer Israel, and ouer Iuda, from Dan to Bersabee. † And he could not answer him any thing, because he feared him. † Abner therefore sent messengers to Dauid for himself 12 saying: Whose is the land? And that they should say: Make amitie with me, & my hand shal be with thee: and I wil reduce vnto thee al Israel. † Who said: Very wel: I wil make amitie 13 [Page 642] with thee: but one thing I desire of thee, saying: Thou shalt not see my face before thou bring Michol the daughter of Saul: and so thou shalt come, and see me. † And Dauid sent 14 messengers to Isboseth the sonne of Saul saying: Restore my wife Michol, which I berrothed to me for an hundred prepuces of the Philisthijms. † Isboseth therefore sent, 15 and tooke her from her husband Phaltiel, the sonne of Lais. † And her husband folowed her, weeping as farre as Bahurim: 16 and Abner said to him: Goe, and returne. Who returned. † Abner also spake to the ancients of Israel, saying: 17 Both yesterday and the day before you sought Dauid that he might reigne ouer you. † Now therefore do so: because our 18 Lord hath spoken to Dauid, saying: In the hand of my seruant Dauid I wil saue my people Israel from the hands of the Philistijms, and of al their enemies. † And Abner spake also to 19 Beniamin. And he went to speake vnto Dauid in Hebron al things which pleased Israel, and al Beniamin. † And he came 20 to Dauid into Hebron with twentie men: and Dauid made a feast to Abner, and to his men that came with him. † And 21 Abner sayd to Dauid: I wil rise, that I may gather vnto thee my lord king al Israel, and may enter a league with thee, and thou mayst reigne ouer al, as thy soule desireth. When Dauid therefore had brought Abner on the way, and he was gone in peace, † forthwith Dauids seruantss and Ioab came, 22 hauing slayne the robbers, with a praye exceding great: and Abner was not with Dauid in Hebron, Because he had now dismissed him, and he was departed in peace. † And Ioab, 23 and al the armie which were with him, came afterward: it was therefore told Ioab, that Abner the sonne of Ner came to the king, and he dismissed him, and he departed in peace. † And Ioab went in to the king, and said: What hast thou 24 done? Behold Abner came to thee: why didst thou dismisse him and he is gone and departed? † knowest thou not Abner the 25 sonne of Ner, that to this end he came to thee, that he might deceiue thee, and might know thy going out, and thy coming in, and vnderstand al things that thou doest? † Ioab therfore 26 being gone from Dauid, sent messengers after Abner, and brought him backe from the cesterne Sira, Dauid being ignorant therof. † And when Abner was returned into Heborn, 27 Ioab brought him aside to the middes of the gate, to spake vnto him in guile: and stroke him there in the priuie [Page 643] partes, and he died, in reuenge of the bloud of Asael his brother. † Which when Dauid had heard, that the thing 28 was now done, he said: I am innocent, and my kingdom before God for euer from the bloud of Abner the sonne of Ner, † and come it vpon the head of Ioab, and vpon al his fathers 29 house: neither let there fayle of the house of Ioab one hauing a fluxe of seede, and a leper, and houlding the distaffe, and falling by the sword, lacking bread. † Ioab therefore and 30 Abisai his brother slewe Abner, because he had killed Asael their brother in Gabaon in the battel. † And Dauid said to 31 Ioab, and to al the people, that were with him: Rent your garmentes, and be girded with sacke clothes, and mourne before the funeral of Abner. Moreouer king Dauid folowed the beere. † And when they had buried Abner in Hebron, 32 king Dauid lifted vp his voice, and wept vpon the graue of Abner: and al the people also wept. † And the king mourning 33 and lamenting Abner, sayd: Not as cowardes are wont to die, hath Abner died. † Thy handes were not bound, and 34 thy feete were not loden with fetters: but as men are wont to fal before the children of iniquitie, so art thou fallen. And al the people dubling it wept vpon him. † And when al the 35 multitude was come to take meate with Dauid, when it was yet cleere day Dauid sware, saying: These thinges do God to me, and these adde he, if before sunne set I shal tast bread or any thing els. † And al the people heard, and al thinges pleased 36 them which the king did in the sight of al the people. † And al the people knewe, and al Israel in that day that it 37 was not the kinges doing, that Abner the sonne of Ner was slayne. † The king also said to his seruantes: Are you ignorant 38 that a prince and the greatest is slayne this day in Israel? † But I as yet weake, being newly receiued king, and not able to punish strong offenders. But Ioab & others were afterwardes punished, 3. Reg. 2. delicate, and annointed king: moreouer the 39 the sonnes of Saruia are hard to me: our Lord reward him that doth euil according to his malice.

CHAP. IIII. Baana and Rechab secretly kil Ioboseth: 8. bring his head to Dauid. 9. who condemning their fact, putteth them to death.

AND Isboseth the sonne of Saul heard that Abner was 1 slaine in Hebron: and his handes were weakened, and al Israel was trubled † And the sonne of Saul had two men 2 captaynes of robbers, the name of one Baana, and the name of the other Rechab, the sonnes of Rhemmon the Berothite [Page 644] of the sonnes of Beniamin: for Beroth also was accounted in Beniamin. † And the Berothites fled into Gethaim, and 3 were there strangers vntil that time. † And Ionathas the 4 sonne of Saul had a sonne lame in his feete: for he was fiue yeares old, when the tydinges came of Saul and Ionathas from Iezrahel. his nurse therefore taking him, fled: and when she made hast to flee, he fel, and was made lame: and he was called Miphiboseth. † Therefore the sonnes of Rhemmon 5 the Berothite, Rachab and Baana coming, entered into the house of Isboseth in the heat of the day: who slept vpon his bed at noone. † And they entered into the house secretely 6 taking eares of corne, and Rechab and Baana his brother, stroke him in priuy partes and fled. † And when they were 7 entred into the house, he slept vpon his bed in a parler, and striking they killed him: and taking away his head they went by the way of the desert al night. † And brought the head of 8 Isboseth to Dauid into Hebron: and they said to the king: Behold the head of Isboseth the sonne of Saul thine enemie who sought thy life: and our Lord hath geuen my lord the king this day reuenge of Saul, and of his seede. † But Dauid 9 answering Rechab, and Baana his brother, the sonnes of Rhemmon the Berothite, and sayd to them: our Lord liueth, which hath deliuered my soule out of al distresse, † for so much 10 as him that told me, and said: Saul is dead, who thought that he told prosperous thinges, I apprehended, and slewe him in Siceleg, to whom I should haue geuen a reward for his tydinges. † How much more now when wicked men haue slaine 11 an innocent man in his owne house, vpon his bed, shal I not require his bloud of your hand, and take you away from the 12 earth? † Dauid therefore commanded his seruantes, and they slew them, and cutting of their hands and feete, hanged them ouer the poole in Hebron: but the head of Isboseth they tooke, and buried in the sepulcher of Abner in Hebron.

CHAP. V. VVith general consent Dauid is annointed king of al Israel. 7. He taketh the towre of Sion in Ierusalem, destroying the Iebuseites. 9. buildeth there a new house: 13 marieth more wiues, and hath more children. 17. The Philiflym: rising against him are ouerthrowen: 22. also the second time.

AND al the tribes of Israel came to Dauid in Hebron, 1 saying: Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh. † Yea and 2 yesterday also and the day before when Saul was king ouer vs, [Page 645] thou wast he that didst leade vs forth and bring backe Israel: and our Lord sayd to thee: Thou shalt feede my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince ouer Israel. † The ancientes also of 3 Israel came to the king into Hebron, and king Dauid made a league with them in Hebron before our Lord: and they They annoint him againe in confirmation of their consent (as Iuda had donne chap. 2) acknowledging Gods ordinance. 1. Reg. 16. annointed Dauid to be king ouer Israel. † Thirtie yeares old was 4 Dauid when he began to reigne, and he reigned fourtie yeares. † In Hebron he reigned ouer Iuda seuen yeares and six 5 monethes: and in Ierusalem he reigned three and thirtie yeares ouer al Israel & Iuda. † And the king went, & al the men 6 that were with him, into Ierusalem to the Iebuseite the inhabiter of the land: & they said to Dauid: Thou shalt not come in hither, vnlesse thou take away the blind and the lame, saying: Dauid shal not come in hither. † But King Dauid now atcheued that the tribe of Iuda could not in the time of Iosue. Iosue▪ 15. Dauid tooke the towre 7 of Sion, this is the citie of Dauid. † For Dauid had proposed 8 in that day a reward to whosoeuer should strike the Iebuseite, and touch the gutters of the house toppes, and take away the blind and the lame that hated the soule of Dauid: therefore it is sayd in the prouerbe: Idoles that haue eyes and can not see, feete and can not goe, shal not enter into the Church of Christ. The blind and the lame shal not enter into the temple. † And Dauid dwelt in the towre, and 9 called it, The citie of Dauid: & built round about from Mello and inwards. † And he went prospering and growing vp, and 10 our Lord the God of hostes was with him. † Hiram also the 11 king of Tyre sent messengers to Dauid, and ceder trees, and carpenters, and masons for walles: and they built a house for Dauid. † And Dauid knew that our Lord had confirmed him 12 king ouer Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdome ouer his people Israel. † Dauid therefore tooke yet concubines 13 and wiues of Ierusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were borne to Dauid other sonnes also and daughters: † And these be the names of them, that were borne to 14 him in Ierusalem, Samua, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Salomon, † and Iebahar, and Elisua, and Nepheg, † and Iaphia, 15 16 and Elisama, and Elioda, and Eliphaleth. † The Philistijms 17 therefore heard that they had annointed Dauid to be king ouer Israel: and they went vp al to seeke Dauid: which when Dauid had heard, he went downe into a hold. † And the Philistijms 18 coming were spred in the Vale Raphaim. † And Dauid 19 consulted our Lord, saying: Shal I goe vp to the Philistijms? and wilt thou geue them into my hand? And our Lord sayd to Dauid: Goe vp, because deliuering I wil geue the Philistijims [Page 646] in thy hand. † Dauid therefore came into Baal Pharasim: and 20 stroke them there, and said: Our Lord hath diuided mine enemies before me, as waters are diuided, therefore the name of the place was called Baal Pharasim. † And they leift there 21 their [...]c [...]lp▪ [...]lia, grauen goddes: which Dauid, and his men tooke. † And the Philistians added yet to go vp, and spred themselues 22 in the Vale Raphaim † And Dauid consulted our Lord: 23 Shal I goe vp against the Philistijms, and wilt thou deliuer them into my handes? Who answered: Goe not vp against them, but fetch a compasse behind their backe, and thou shalt come to them over against the peare trees. † And when thou 24 shal [...] heare the sound of one going in the toppe of the pearetrees, then shalt thou enter battel: because then wil our Lord goe forth before thy face, to strike the campe of the Philistijms. † Dauid therefore did as our Lord had commanded 25 him, and he stroke the Philistijms from Gabaa, vntil thou come to Gezer.

CHAP. VI. VVith great solemnitie Dauid bringeth the A [...]ke of God from Abinadabs h [...]u [...]. 6. Oz [...] for touching it is sodenly slaine. 9. whereupon Dauid fearing to bring it to his ow [...] house, leaueth it in the house of Obededom three monethes, 12. then fetcheth it, dancing before it, though Michol scorne his deuotion. 17. He offereth sacrifices, distributeth giftes, blesseth the people. 23. And Michol is barren.

AND Dauid againe gathered together al the chosen of 1 Israel, thirtie thousand. † And Dauid arose, and went, 2 and al the people that was with him of the men of Iuda, to bring the arke of God, vpon which was inuocated the name of the Lord of hostes, which sitteth in the Cherubins vpon it. † And they la [...]d the arke of God vpon a new wayne: and 3 [...]ook [...] it out of the house of Abinadab, who was in Gabaa: and Oz [...], and Ahio the sonnes of Abinadab, did driue the new wa [...]ne. † And when they had taken it out of the house 4 of Abinadab, who was in Gabaa, Ahio keeping the arke of God went before the arke. † But Dauid▪ and al Israel played 5 before our Lord in al wrought wood, both on harpes, and lates and [...]ls and [...]itterns and cymbals. † And after they 6 came to the Floore of Nichon, Oza put forth his hand to the arke of God, and h [...]ld it: because the oxen spurned, and made it leane aside. † And our Lord was wrath with indignation 7 [Page 647] against Oza, and stroke him for the [...] there [...] & [...] that [...], as he [...] to [...]. S. [...] S. [...]. rash [...]nes: who died there before the arke of God. † And Dauid was s [...]ook [...]n sad▪ 8 for that our Lord had strooken Oza, and the name of that place was called: The striking of Oza vn [...]il this day. † And 9 Dauid feared our Lord in that day, saying: How shal the arke of our Lord come vnto me? † And he would not haue the 10 arke of our Lord turne in to himself into the citie of Dauid: but he caused it to turne in vnto the house of Obededom the Getheite. † And the arke of our Lord dwelt in the house of 11 Obededom the Getheite three monethes: and our Lord blessed Obededom, and al his house. † And it was told king 12 Dauid, that our Lord had blessed Obededom, and al that he had for the arke of God. Dauid therefore went, and brought away the arke of God out of the house of Obededom, into the citie of Dauid with ioy. † And when they had passed, 13 that caried the arke of our Lord, six passes, he immolated an oxe and a ramme. † And Dauid danced with al his might 14 before our Lord. moreouer Dauid was girded with a linnen ephod. † And Dauid, and al the house of Israel brought the 15 arke of testament of our Lord in iubilation, and in sounde of trumpet. † And when the arke of our Lord was entred into 16 the citie of Dauid, Michol the daughter of Saul looking forth through a window, sawe king Dauid leaping, and dancing To dance before the arke is to dance before our Lord. before our Lord: and she despised him in her hart. † And 17 they brought in the arke of our Lord, and sette it in his place in the middes of the tabernacle, which Dauid had pitched for it: and Dauid offered holocaustes, and pacifiques before our Lord. † And when he had accomplished offering holecaustes 18 and pacifiques, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hostes. † And he distributed to al the multitude 19 of Israel as wel man as woman, to euerie one, one cake of bread, and one roasted peece of beefe, and flowre fryed with oyle: and al the people went, euerie man into his house. † And Dauid returned to blesse his owne house: and Michol 20 the daughter of Saul coming forth to meete Dauid, sayd: How glorious was the king of Israel to day vncouering himself before the handmaydes of his seruantes, and was naked, as if one of the ribbaldes should be naked. † And Dauid sayd 21 vnto Michol: Before our Lord, which hath chosen me rather then thy father, and then al his house, and commanded me that I should be duke ouer the people of our Lord in [Page 648] Israel, † both wil I play, & wil become more vile then I haue 22 beene: and I wil be humble in mine eies, and with the handmaydes, of whom thou speakest, I wil appeare more glorious. † Therefore vnto Michol the daughter of Saul was there no 23 child borne vnto the day of her death.

CHAP. VII. Dauids good purpose to build a Temple is differred by Gods appointment. 12. with promise that his sonne shal performe it, and be established in the kingdom. 18. For al which he rendereth thankes to God.

AND it came to passe when the king sate in his house, 1 and our Lord had geuen him rest on euery side from al his enemies, † he sayd to Nathan the prophet: Doest thou 2 see that I dwel in a house of cedar, and the arke of God is sette The tabernacle made by Moyses was a goodlie thing, but being couered with skinnes and in manie respectes insufficient for Gods seruice, Dauid desired to build a glorious Temple. But was not permitted to do it, for mysterie sake to signifie that Christ the true Salomon should build his Church, that farre excelleth the Synagogue of the Iewes, and old Testament S. Augustin. li. 17. c. 8. deciuit. in the middes skinnes? † And Nathan sayd to the king: 3 Al that is in thy hart, goe doe, because our Lord is with thee. † And it came to passe in that night: and behold the word 4 of our Lord to Nathan, saying: † Goe, and speake to my seruant 5 Dauid: Thus sayth our Lord: Shalt thou build me a house to dwel in? † For neither haue I dwelt in house from the day 6 that I brought the children of Israel out of the Land of Aegypt, vntil this day: but I walked in tabernacle, and in tent. † Through out al the places, that I haue passed with al the 7 children of Israel, speaking did I speake to one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to feede my people Israel, saying: Why did you not build me a house of cedar? † And 8 now these thinges shalt thou say to my seruant Dauid: Thus sayth the Lord of hostes: I tooke thee out of the pastures folowing the flockes, that thou shouldest be prince ouer my people Israel: † and I haue beene with thee wheresoeuer 9 thou hast walked, and haue slayne al thine enemies from thy face: and haue made thee a great name, according to the name of the great ones, that are in the earth. † And I wil appoint 10 a place for my people Israel, and wil plant it, and they shal dwel vnder it, and shal be trubled no more: neither shal the children of iniquitie adde to afflict them as before. † From the day that I appointed Iudges ouer my people Israel: 11 and I wil geue thee rest from al thine enemies. and our Lord foretelleth thee, that our Lord wil make thee a house. † And when thy daies shal be accomplished, and thou shalt 12 sleepe with thy fathers, I wil rayse vp thy seede after thee, [Page 649] which shal come forth of thy wombe, and He that supposeth this great promise to be fulfilled in Salomon, erreth much sayeth S. Augustin. ibidem▪ I wil establish his kingdom. † He shal build a house to my name, and I wil 13 establish the throne of his kingedome for euer. † S. Paul expoundeth this of Christ. Heb. 1. v 5. I wil be 14 to him for a father, and he shal be to me for a sonne: who if This can not be saied of Christ, but of Salomon, and of anie christian. so this place hath manie literal senses. he shal do any thing vniustly, I wil rebuke him in the rod of men, and in the plagues of the sonnes of men. † But my 15 mercie I wil not take away from him, as I tooke from Saul, whom I remoued from thy face. † And thy house shal be 16 faithful, and The Sea Apostolique, & priestly powre in the church of christ, is this perpetual kingdom. S. Epiphanius. Heresi. 29. thy kingdom for euer before thy face, and thy throne shal be firme continually. † According to al these 17 wordes, and according to al this vision, so did Nathan speake to Dauid. † And Dauid went in, and sate before our Lord, 18 and said: Who am I ô Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus farre? † But this also hath semed 19 litle in thy sight ô Lord God, vnles thou didst speake also of the house of thy seruant for a long time: for this is the law of Adam, Lord God. † What can Dauid therefore adde yet, 20 to speake vnto thee? for thou knowest thy seruant ô Lord God. † For thy word, and according to thy hart thou hast 21 done al these great thinges, so that thou wouldest notifie it to thy seruant. † Therefore art thou magnified ô lord God, 22 because there is none like to thee, neither is there a God besides thee, in al thinges that we haue heard with out eares. † And what nation is there in the earth, as thy people Israel, 23 for the which Here and in manie other places the Hebrew word is of the plural number, Elohim, Goddes, signifying more diuine Persons. God hath gone, that he might The worke of mans Redemption is appropriated to God the Sonne. redeme it to be his people, and might make him selfe a name, & doe for them great wonders, and horrible thinges vpon the earth, before the face of thy people, whom thou redemedst to thy self out of Aegypt, from the nations and from their goddes. † For 24 thou hast confirmed thy people Israel to be an euerlasting people: and thou Lord God art become their God. † Now 25 therefore ô Lord God, raise vp for euer the word, that thou hast spoken vpon thy seruant, and vpon his house: and doe as thou hast spoken, † that thy name may be magnified for euer, 26 and it may be said: The Lord of hostes is God ouer Israel. And the house of thy seruant Dauid shal be established before our Lord, † because thou ô Lord of hostes God of Israel hast reueled 27 the eare of thy seruant, saying: A house I build thee: therefore hath thy seruant found his hart to pray thee with this prayer. † Now therefore ô Lord God, thou art God, and 28 thy wordes shal be true: for thou hast spoken to thy seruant [Page 650] these good thinges. † Beginne therefore, and blesse the house 29 of thy seruant, that it may be for euer before thee: because thou Lord God hast spoken, by thy blessing shal the house of thy seruant be blessed for euer.

CHAP. VIII. Diuers nations and countries to which Israel payed tribute, are subdued by Dauid, and pay tribute to Israel 16. Chief officers are mentioned.

AND it came to passe after these thinges Dauid stroke 1 the Philistijms, and humbled them, and Dauid tooke the Bridle of tribute out of the hand of the Philistijms † And 2 he stroke Moab, and measured them with For [...] [...] p [...] Dauid comp [...]ssing then with cordes, as [...] are e [...]i [...]d, cast them on the around, and by lotte killed some, and spared some aliue. a corde, making them euen with the earth and he measured two cordes, one to kil, and one to saue aliue: and Moab became seruing Dauid vnder tribute. † And Dauid stroke Adarezer the sonne 3 of Rohob king of Soba, when he went forth to haue dominion ouer the riuer Euphrates. † And Dauid hauing taken 4 of his part a thousand seuen hundred horsemen, and twentie thosand footemen, hogh sinewed al the chariot horses: and he leift of them a hundred chariotes. † There came also Syria 5 of Doma [...]cus, to bring ayde vnto Adar ezer the king of Soba: and Dauid stroke of Syria two and twentie thousand men. † And Dauid put a garrison in Syria of Damascus: and Syria 6 became seruing Dauid vnder tribute: and our Lord preserued Dauid in al thinges to whatsoeuer he went forth. † And Dauid 7 tooke the golden armour, which the seruantes of Adarezer had, and brought them into Ierusalem. † And out of 8 Bete, and out of Beroth the cities of Adar-ezer king Dauid tooke brasse exceding much. † And Tou the king of Emath 9 heard, that Dauid had striken al the force of Adar-ezer, † And Tou sent Ioram his sonne to king Dauid, to salute 10 him congratulating, and to geue thankes: for that he had ouerthrowen Adarezer, and striken him. For Tou was enemie to Adarezer, and in his hand were vessels of gold, and vessels of siluer, and vessels of brasse: † which also king 11 Dauid sanctified to our Lord with the siluer and gold, that he had sanctified of al the nations, which he had subdewed † of Syria, and Moab, and the children of Ammon, and the 12 Philistijms, and Amalec, and of the spoiles of Adarezer the sonne of Rohob king of Soba. † Dauid also Sette [...] an Arch in memorie of triumph. made himselfe 13 a name, when he returned hauing taken Syria in the Valle of Salt-pittes, eightene thousand being slayne: † and he put 14 [Page 651] souldiours in Idumea, and placed a garrison: and al Idumea was made to serue Dauid: and our Lord preserued Dauid in al thinges to whatsoeuer he proceeded. † And Dauid reigned 15 ouer al Israel: Dauid also did iudgement and iustice to al his people. † And Ioab the sonne of Seruia was ouer the armie: 16 moreouer losaphat the sonne of Ahilud was [...]rcha [...] [...]l [...]r. recorder: † and Sadoc the sonne of Achitob, and Achimelech the sonne 17 of Abiathar, were priestes: and Saraias, scribe: † And Banaias 18 the sonne of Ioiada was ouer These were archers and sling throwers of the guard. Phara [...]rasis [...]h [...]ll. the Cerethi and Phelethi: and the sonnes of Dauid Or priestes, o [...] chief rulers. See the annotation. Gen 47. v. 22. 1. Pa [...]l, 18. v. 17. princes.

CHAP. IX. Miphiboseth a lame sonne of Ionathas is piously releeud by Dauid: 9. geuing to his vse the particuar inheritance of Saul.

AND Dauid sayd: Is there any thinke you that is remaining 1 of the house of Saul, that I may do mercie with him for Ionathas sake? † And there was of the house of Saul, 2 a seruant named Siba: whom when the king had called vnto him, he said to him: art thou Siba? And he answered: I am so thy seruant. † And the king said: Is there anie remaining 3 of the house of Saul, that I may doe with him the mercie of God? And Siba said to the king: There is yet liuing a sonne of Ionathas, lame of his feete. † Where is he? quoth he. And Siba 4 sayd to the king: Behold he is in the house of Machir the sonne of Ammiel in Lodabar. † King Dauid therefore sent, 5 and tooke him out of the house of Machir the sonne of Ammiel of Lodabar. † And when Miphiboseth the sonne of 6 Ionathas the sonne of Saul was come to Dauid, he fel on his face, and adored. And Dauid said: Miphiboseth? Who answered: Here I am thy seruant. † And Dauid said to him: 7 Feare not, because doing I wil do mercie on thee for Ionathas thy father, & I wil restore The parti [...] lar inhere [...] that per [...]ined to Sauls familie. the landes of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eate bread vpon my table alwaies. † Who adoring 8 him, said: Who am I thy seruant, that thou hast respect vpon a dead dogge like vnto me? † The king therefore called 9 Siba the seruant of Saul, and said to him: Al thinges whatsoeuer were Sauls, and al his house, I haue geuen to thy masters sonne. † Til for him therefore the land, thou and thy 10 sonnes, and thy seruants: and thou shalt bring in meates for thy masters sonne, that he may be maintained: and Miphiboseth the sonne of thy lord shal eate alwaies bread Not si [...]e [...] table with the king but haue his diet of the kinges prouision, besides the forsaide inheritance. vpon [Page 652] my table. And Siba had fiftene sonnes, and twentie seruants. † and Siba said to the king: As thou my lord king hast commanded 11 thy seruant, so wil thy seruant doe: and Miphiboseth shal eate vpon my table, as one of the sonnes of the king. † And Miphiboseth had a little sonne called Micha: and al 12 the kinred of the house of Siba serued Miphiboseth. † Moreouer 13 Miphiboseth dwelt in Ierusalem: because he did eate alwaies of the kings table: and he was lame on both feete.

CHAP. X. Hanon king of Ammon for euil entreating Dauids men, sent vnto him of curtesie, 7. is iustly plagued, with his confederates. 15. Also the second time they are ouerthrowen by Dauid.

AND it came to passe after these thinges, that the king of 1 the children of Ammon died, and Hanon his sonne reigned for him. † And Dauid said: I wil doe mercie with 2 Hanon the sonne of Naas, as This Naas king of Ammon curtously intertained Dauids freindes which escaped from the king of Moab, killing most of them that were cō mended to him, because Dauid had leift his countrie, and was returned into Iuda. 1. Reg. 22. Histor. Eccles. his father hath done mercie with me. Dauid therefore sent, conforting him by his seruants vpon his fathers death. But when the seruantes of Dauid were come into the land of the children of Ammon, † the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanon 3 their lord: Thinkest thou that for the honour of thy father Dauid hath sent comforters vnto thee, and not rather that he might search, and spy into the citie, and ouerthrow it, hath Dauid sent his seruants vnto thee? † Hanon therefore tooke 4 the seruants of Dauid, and shaued the one half of their breard, and curte away halfe their garments vnto the burtockes, and sent them away. † Which when it was told Dauid, he sent to 5 meete them: for the men were counfounded very fowly, and Dauid commanded them: Tary in Iericho, til your beard be growen, and then returne. † And the children of Ammon 6 seing that they had done iniurie to Dauid, sent, and hyred for wages the Syrian of Rohob, and the Syrian of Soba, twentie thousand footemen, and of the king Maacha a thousand men, and of Istob twelue thousand men. † Which when Dauid had 7 heard, he sent Ioab and the whole armie of warryers. † The 8 children therefore of Ammon issued forth, and sette their men in aray before the verie entrance of the gate: but the Syrian of Soba, and Rohab, and Istob, and Maacha were by them selues in the fielde. † Ioab therefore seing, that 9 [Page 653] there was battel prepared against him, both before him and behind him, he piked out of al the chosen of Israel, and directed his armie agaynst the Syrian: † and the rest of the 10 people he deliuered to Abisai his brother, who directed his armie against the children of Ammon. † And Ioab sayd: If 11 the Syrian shal preuayle against me, thou shalt ayde me: and if the children of Ammon shal preuayle agaynst thee, I wil ayde thee. † Play the man, and let vs fight for our people, and 12 the citie of our God: and our Lord wil doe that which is good in his sight. † Ioab therefore and the people that were with 13 him, began to fight against the Syrians: Who immediatly fled from his face. † And the children of Ammon seing that the 14 Syrians were fled, they also fled from the face of Abisai, and entred into the citie: and Ioab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Ierusalem. † Therefore the Syrians 15 seing that they were fallen before Israel, they gathered themselues together. † And Adar-ezer sent, and fetched out the 16 Syrians, that were beyond the riuer, and brought their armie: and Sobach the maister of Adar-ezers warre, was their chief captaine. † Which when it was told Dauid, he gathered together 17 al Israel, and passed ouer Iordan, and came into Helam: & the Syrians put them selues in aray against Dauid, & fought against him. † And the Syrians fled from the face of Israel, and 18 Dauid slewe of the Syrians seuen hundred chariotes, and fourtie thousand horsemen: and Sobach the prince of the warre he stroke: who forth with died. † And al the kinges, that were to 19 ayde Adarezer, seing them selues ouercome of Israel, were afrayd and fled eight & fiftie thousand before Israel. And they made peace with Israel: and serued them, and the Syrians were afrayd any more to ayde the children of Ammon.

CHAP. XI. Dauid ouercome with concupiscence committeth adulterie with Bethsabee: 6. not finding other meanes to hide the crime, causeth her husband Vrias to be slaine. 27. Then marieth her, she beareth a sonne, and God is offended.

AND it came to passe the yeare turning about, at such 1 time when kinges are wont to procede to battels, Dauid sent Ioab, and his seruantes with him, and al Israel, and they spoyled the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabba: but Dauid remayned in Ierusalem. † Whiles these thinges were 2 in doing, it chanced that Dauid arose from his bed after [Page 654] noone, and walked in the toppe of the kinges house: and he saw a woman washing her self, ouer against the roofe of his house: and the woman was very beautiful. † The king therefore 3 sent, and inquired what woman it was. And it was told him, that she was Bethsabee the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Vrias the Hetheite. † Dauid therefore sending messengers, 4 Then do sius the E [...]rerour preten [...]ing to be excused from punishment for his sinnes, because king Dauid also was an adulter [...] and a manslaver, S. Ambrose replied, saying: Thou that hast solovveding Dauid evving, folovv him [...]epenting. After which admon [...]tion the Emperour most humbly did publique penance inioyned him by the Bishop. in v [...]a. Theod [...]sij. tooke her, who when she was entered in to him, he slept with her: and forth with she was sanctified from her vnclennes: † and she returned into her house hauing conceiued 5 a childe. And sending she told Dauid, and sayd: I haue conceiued. † And Dauid sent to Ioab, saying: Send me Vrias the 6 Herheite. And Ioab sent Vrias to Dauid. † And Vrias came 7 to Dauid. And Dauid asked how wel Ioab did, & the people, and how the warre was ordered. † And Dauid sayd to Vrias: 8 Goe into thy house, and wash thy feete. And Vrias went forth out of the kinges house, and the kinges meate folowed him. † But Vrias slept before the gate of the kinges house, with 9 the other seruantes of his lord, and went not downe to his owne house. † And it was told Dauid of them that sayd: 10 Vrias went not into his house. And Dauid sayd to Vrias: didst thou not come from thy iourney? Why didst thou not goe downe into thy house? † And Vrias sayd to Dauid: The Arke 11 of God and Israel and Iuda dwel in pauilions, & my lord Ioab and the seruantes of my lord abide vpon the face of the earth: and shal I enter into my house, to eate and to drinke, and sleepe with my wife? by thy health, and by the health of thy soule I wil not do this thing. † Dauid therefore sayd to Vrias: 12 Tarie here also this day, and tomorow I wil dismisse thee. Vrias taried in Ierusalem that day and the next: † and Dauid 13 called him to eate before him and to drinke, and he made him. drunke: who going out at euen, slept on his couche with the seruantes of his lord, and went not downe into his house. † The morning therefore was come, and Dauid wrote a 14 letter to Ioab: and sent it by the hand of Vrias, † writing in 15 the letter: Sette ye Vrias in the front of the battel, where the fight is strongest: and leaue him, that being striken he may die. † Therefore when Ioab besieged the citie, he put Vrias 16 in the place where he knew the strongest men were. † And 17 the men issuing out of the citie, fought against Ioab, and there fel of the people of the seruantes of Dauid, and Vrias also the Hetheite died. † Ioab therefore sent, and told Dauid 18 [Page 655] al the story of the battel: † and he commanded the messanger, 19 saying: When thou hast told al the story of the battel to the king, † if thou see him to be angrie, and he say: Why approched 20 you to the wal, to fight? Knew you not that manie weapons are throwen from aboue of the wal? † Who stroke 21 Abimelec the sonne of Ierobaal? did not a woman cast vpon him a peece of a milstone from the wal, and slew him in Thebes? Why approched you nere the wal? Thou shalt say: Also thy seruant Vrias the Hetheite is slayne. † The messenger 22 therefore departed, and came, and told Dauid al thinges that Ioab had commanded him. † And the messenger sayd to 23 Dauid: The men haue preuailed against vs, and they issued forth to vs into the field: and we violently pursewed them euen to the gate of the citie. † And the archers shot arrowes 24 at thy seruantes from of the wal aboue: and there died of the kinges seruantes, yea and thy seruant Vrias the Hetheite is dead. † And Dauid sayd to the messenger: Thus shalt thou 25 say to Ioab: Let not this thing discomfort thee: for the euent of warre is diuerse: now this man, and now that man the sword consumeth: encourage thy warryers against the citie, that thou inayst destroy it, and exhort them. † Also the wife 26 of Vrias heard, that Vrias her husband was dead, & she mourned for him. † And the mourning being past Dauid sent, and 27 brought her in into his house, and she became his wife, and she bare him a sonne: and this thing which Dauid had done, was displeasant before our Lord.

CHAP. XII. Nathan the prophet by a parable induceth Dauid to condemne him self of great sinne, 7. blameth and threatneth him for the same. 13. But vpon his confession denounceth remission of his sinne, with reseruation of temporal punishment, 15. the death of the childe. 24 Bethsabee beareth another sonne, who is called Salomon. 26. The citie of Rabbath is taken, and a rich crowne with other praye.

OVR Lord therfore sent Nathan to Dauid: Who when 1 he was come to him, he sayd vnto him: There were two men in one citie, one riche, and the other poore. † The rich 2 man had sheepe, and oxen axceding manie. † But the poore 3 man had nothing at al, beside one litle ewe, which he had bought and nourished, and which had growen in his house together with his children, eating of his bread, and drinking [Page 656] of his cuppe, and sleping in his bosome: and it was to him as a daughter. † And when a certayne stranger was come to 4 the riche man, he sparing to take of his owne sheepe and oxen, to make a feast for that stranger, which was come to him, tooke the poore mans ewe, and made meates therof for the man that was come to him. † And Dauid being excedingly 5 wrath with indignation against that man, sayd to Nathan: Our Lord liueth, the man that hath done this is the childe of death. † He shal render the ewe fourefold, because 6 he hath done this thing, and hath not spared. † And Nathan 7 sayd to Dauid: Thou art that man. Thus sayth our Lord the God of Isaael: I annointed thee to be king ouer Israel, and I deliuered thee from the hand of Saul, † and gaue thee the 8 house of thy lord, and the wiues of thy lord in thy bosome, and haue geuen thee the house of Isrtel and Iuda: and if these thinges be litle, I wil adde farre greater thinges vnto thee. † Why therefore hast thou contemned the word of the lord, 9 that thou wouldest doe euil in my sight? Vrias the Hetheite thou hast smitten with the sword, & his wife thou hast taken to thy wife, and hast slayne him with the sword of the children of Ammon. † For which thing the sword shal not depart 10 from thy house Now & then some of thy seede shal be violently slaine: so were slaine three of his owne sonnes, Ammon, chap. 13. Absalom chap. 18. Adonias, 3. Reg. 2. six sonnes of Iosaphat, and al Iorams sonnes saue one, [...] paralip. 21. also Ochozias. Amasias, Iosias. 2. Par. 24 25. 35. and the sonnes of Sedechias, himselfe hauing his eyes put out and so brought into Babylon. 4. Reg. 25. for euer, because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Vrias the Hetheite, to be thy wife. † Therfore thus sayth our Lord: Behold, I wil rayse 11 vpon thee euil out of thine owne house, and wil take thy wiues before thine eies, and geue them to thy neighbour, and he shal slepe with thy wiues in the sight of this Sunne. † For thou hast done it secretly: but I wil doe this word in 12 the sight of al Israel, and in the sight of the Sunne. † And 13 Dauid sayd to Nathan: I haue sinned to our Lord. And Nathan sayd to Dauid: Our Lord also hath taken away thy sinne: thou shalt not die. † Neuertheles, because thou hast made 14 the enemies of our Lord to blaspheme, for this thing, the sonne that is borne to thee, dying shal dye. † And Nathan 15 returned into his house. Our Lord also stroke the child, which the wife of Vrias had borne to Dauid, and he was past hope. † And Dauid besought our Lord for the child: and Dauid 16 fasted a fast, and going in aside, lay vpon the ground. † And 17 the ancientes of his house came, being earnest with him, that he would rise from the ground: who would not, neither did he eate meate with them. † And it chanced the seuenth day 18 [Page 657] that the infant died: and the seruantes of Dauid feared to tel him, that the child was dead. For they sayd: Behold when the child yet liued, we spake to him, and he heard not our voice: how much more if we shal say: The child is dead, wil he afflict him self? † When Dauid therfore sawe his seruantes 19 muttering, he vnderstood that the infant was dead: and he sayd to his seruantes: Is the child dead? Who answered him: He is dead. † Dauid therfore rose from the ground; and was 20 washed and annoynted: and when he had changed his garment, he entered into the house of our Lord: and adored, and came into his owne house, and he called for bread, and he did eate. † And his seruantes sayd vnto him: What thing is this, 21 that thou hast done? for the infant, when he yet liued, thou didst fast and weepe: but the child being dead, thou didst rise vp, and hast eaten bread. † Who sayd: For the infant, whiles 22 he yet liued, I fasted and wept: for I sayd: Who knoweth if perhaps our Lord wil geue him to me, and the infant may liue? † But now because he is dead, why do I fast? Shal I be 23 able to cal him againe any more? I shal go to him rather: but he shal not returne to me. † And Dauid comforted Bethsabee 24 his wife, and going in vnto her, slept with her: Who bare a sonne, and he called his name Salomon, and our Lord loued him. † And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophete, 25 and called his name, Amiable to our Lord, because our Lord loued loued him. † Ioab therfore fought against Rabbath of the 26 children of Ammon, and wonne the kinges citie. † And 27 Ioab sent messengers to Dauid, saying: I haue fought against Rabbath, and the Citie of waters is to be taken. † Now therfore 28 gather the rest of the people, and besiege the citie, & take it: lest when the citie shal be wasted of me, the victorie be ascribed to my name. † Dauid therfore gathered al the people, 29 and went forth against Rabbath: and when he had fought, he tooke it. † And he tooke the crowne of their king from his 30 head, in weight a talent of gold, hauing most pretious stones, and it was put vpon Dauids head. Yea & the praye of the citie he caryed away exceding much: † bringing forth also the 31 people therof sawed them, and drewe round about ouer them chariotes shod with yron: and he diuided them with kniues, and drew them through in forme of brikes: so did he to al the cities of the children of Ammon: and Dauid returned, and al the armie into Ierusalem.

[Page 658]

CHAP. XIII. Amnon rauisheth Thamar. 20. For which Absalom killeth him. 37. and flyeth into Gessur.

AND it came to passe after these thinges, that Amnon 1 the sonne of Dauid loued the sister of Absalom the sonne of Dauid, being very beautiful, called Thamar, † and 2 was fond on her excedingly, so that for the loue of her he was sicke: because wheras she was a virgin, it semed vnto him had hard to doe any thing vnhonestly with her. † But Amnon 3 a freind, named Ionadab the sonne of Semmaa Dauids brother, a very wise man: † Who sayd to him: Why art thou so 4 worne away with leanenes the kinges sonne, day by day? Why doest thou not tel me? And Amnon sayd to him: I loue Thamar the sister of my brother Absalom. † To whom Ionadab 5 answered: Lye vpon thy bed, and fayne sickenes: and when thy father shal come to visite thee, say to him: Let my sister Thamar, I pray, come to me, to geue me meate, and to make me broth, that I may eate of her hand. † Amnon therefore 6 lay downe, and began as it were to be sicke: and when the king came to visite him, Amnon sayd to the king: Let Thamar my sister come, I besech you, that she may make in my sight two litle suppinges, and I may take meate of her hand. † Dauid therfore sent home to Thamar, saying: Come into 7 the house of Amnon thy brother, & make him broth. † And 8 Thamar came into the house of Amnon her brother: and he lay, who taking meale tempered it: and resoluing it in his sight she made suppinges. † And taking that which she had 9 boyled, she powred it out, and set it before him, and he would nor eate: and Amnon sayd: Put forth al from me. And when they had put forth al, † Amnon sayd to Thamar: Bring in 10 the meate into the parler, that I may eate of thy hand. Thamar therfore tooke the suppinges, which she had made, and caryed it in to Amnon her brother in the parler. † And when 11 she had offered him the meate, he caught her, and sayd: Come, lie with me my sister. † Who answered him: Doe not so my 12 brother, doe not rauish me: for this is not lawful in Israel. Doe not this folie. † For I shal not be able to beare my reproch, 13 and thou shalt be as one of the foolish in Israel: but rather speake to the king, and he wil not denie me to thee. † But he would not rest at her petitions, but preuayling by 14 [Page 659] force raui hed her, and lay with her. † And Amnon hated 15 her with exceding great hatred: so that the hatred was greater, wherewith he hated her, then the loue with the which before he loued her. And Amnon said to her: Arise; and goe. † Who answered him This euil, which now thou doest 16 against me expelling me, is greater then that which thou didst before. And he would not heare her: † but calling the 17 seruant, that ministred to him, he said: Thrust this woman our from me: and shut the doore after her. † Who was clothed 18 with a garment downe to the foote: for the kinges daughters that were virgins, vsed such kinde of garmentes. His seruant therfore thrust her out: and shut the doore after her. † Who 19 sprinkling ashes on her head, renting her long garment, and her handes vpon her head, went going on, and crying. † And 20 Absolon her brother sayd to her: hath Amnon thy brother lyen with thee? but now sister hold thy peace, he is thy brother: neither afflict thou thy hart for this thing. Thamar therefore taryed pyning in the house of Absalom her brother. † And when Dauid the king had heard these wordes, 21 he was greeued excedingly. † Moreouer Absalom spake not 22 to Amnon neitheir good nor euil: for Absalom hated Amnon because he had rauished Thamar his sister. † And it came to 23 passe after the space of two yeares, that the sheepe of Absalom were shorne in Baalhasor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom called al the kinges sonnes, † and he came to the 24 king, and said to him: Behold t [...]y seruantes sheepe are to be shorne: Let the king, I pray, with his seruantes come to his seruant. † And the king said to Absalom: Doe not so my 25 sonne, request not that we come al, & charge thee. And when he was earnest with him▪ & he would not goe, he blessed him. † And Absalom said: If thou wilt not come, at the least let 26 Amnon my brother, I besech thee, come with vs. And the king said to him: It is not necessary that he goe with thee. † Absalom 27 therefore was earnest with him, and he let Amnon and al the kinges sonnes goe with him. And Absalom made a feast as it were the feast of a king. † And Absalom had commanded 28 his seruantes, saying: Marke when Amnon shal be drunke with wine, and I shal say to you: Strike him, and kil him, feare not: for it is I that command you: take courage, and play the valiant men. † Therefore the seruantes of Absalom 29 did against Amnon, as Absalom had commanded them. [Page 660] And al the kinges sonnes rysing gatte vp euery one vpon their mules, and fled. † And when they yet went on in their way, 30 a rumour came to Dauid, saying: Absalom hath stricken al the kinges sonnes, and there is not leift of them so much as one. † The king therfore rose vp, and rent his garmentes: 31 and fel vpon the ground, and al his seruantes, that stood about him, rent their garmentes. † But Ionadab the sonne 32 of Semmaa Dauids brother answering, sayd: Let not my lord the king thinke, that al the kinges sonnes be slayne: Amnon only is dead, because he was put in the mouth of Absalom since the day that he rauished Thamar his sister. † Now 33 therefore let not my lord the king put this word vpon his hart, saying: Al the kinges sonnes are slayne: because Amnon only is dead. And Absalom fled: and the seruant that was the scoutewatch, lifted vp his eies, and looked: and behold much people came by a byway on the side of the mountayne. † And Ionadab sayd to the king: Loe the kinges 35 sonnes be come: according to the wordes of thy seruant so is it done. † And when he had ceased to speake, the kinges sonnes also appeared: & entring in they lifted vp their voice, and wept: yea the king also and al his seruantes bewailed with an exceding great weeping. † Moreouer Absalom 37 fleing, went to Tholomai the sonne of Ammiud the king of Gessur, Dauid therefore mourned for his sonne al daies. † And Absalom when he was fled, and come into Gessur, was there three yeares. † And king Dauid ceased to pursew 38 Absalom, because he was comforted vpon the death of Amnon.

CHAP. XIIII. Ioab suborning a woman first to propose the suite by a parable, 21. obtayneth pardon for Absalom. 24. but so that he appeareth not in the kinges presence. 25. He is exceding fayre, hath three sonnes and one daughter. 29. Ioab refusing to deale further for his free release, Absalom burneth his corne. 31. Then Ioab procureth his accesse to the king.

AND Ioab the sonne of Saruia, vnderstanding that the 1 kinges hart was turned to Absalom, † he sent to 2 Thecua, and tooke thence a prudent woman: and he sayd to her: Feyn e that thou mournest, and put on a mourning garment, and be not annoynted with oyle, that thou mayst be as a woman now along tyme mourning for one dead. [Page 661] † And thou shalt goe in vnto the king, and shalt speake to 3 him these maner of wordes. And Ioab put the wordes in her mouth. † Therefore when the woman of Thecua was gone 4 in to the king, she fel before him vpon the ground, and adored and said: Saue me ô king. † And the king sayd to her: What 5 matter hast thou? Who answered: Alas, I am a widow woman: for my husband is dead. † And thy handmaide had 6 two sonnes: who fel at wordes against eche other in the field, and there was none to stay them: and the one stroke the other, and slew him. † And behold the whole kinred rysing against 7 thy handmaide, saith: Deliuer him that hath striken his brother that we may kil him for the life of his brother, whom he hath slayne, and may cleane destroy the heire: and they seeke to extingnish my sparkle, which is leift, that there may no name remaine to my husband, nor reliques vpon the earth. † And the king said to the woman: Goe into thy house, and 8 I wil geue commandement for thee. † And the woman of 9 Thecua said to the king: Vpon me, my lord, be the iniquitie, and vpon the house of my father: but be the king and his throne innocent. † And the king said: He that shal gaynesay 10 thee bring him to me, & he shal adde no more to touch thee. † Who sayd: Let the king remember our Lord his God, that 11 the next of bloud be not multiplied to reuenge, and that they kil not my sonne. Who sayd: Our Lord liueth, there shal not fal of the heares of thy sonne vpon the earth. † The woman 12 therefore sayd: Let thy handmayde speake to my lord the king a word. † And he sayd: Speake. † And the woman 13 sayd: Why hast thou thought such a thing agaynst the people of God, and why hath the king spoken this word, that he would sinne, and not bring againe his banished one? † We 14 doe al dye, and as waters that returne not, we fal downe on the earth: neither wil God haue a soule to perish, bur reuoketh, meaning that he perish not altogether that is cast of. † Now therefore I come, that I may speake to my lord the 15 king this word, the people being present. And thy handmayd sayd: I wil speake to the king, if by any meanes the king may doe the word of his handmaide. † And the king hath heard, 16 to deliuer his handmaide out of the hand of al, that would destroy me out of the inheritance of our Lord, and my sonne together. † Let thy handmaide therefore say, that the word 17 of my lord the king be made as a sacrifice. For euen as an [Page 662] Angel of God, so is my lord the king, that he is moued neither with blessing nor cursing: Wherefore our Lord also thy God is with thee. † And the king answering, sayd to the woman: 18 Hide not from me the thing that I aske thee. And the woman sayd to him: Speake my lord king. † And the king sayd: Is 19 the hand of Ioab with thee in al these thinges? The woman answered, and sayd: By the health of thy soule, my lord king, it is neither on the left hand, nor on the right of al these thinges, which my lord the king hath spokeu: for thy seruant Ioab, he commanded me, and he put al these wordes into the mouth of thy handmayde. † That I should change the forme 20 of this speach, thy seruant Ioab commanded this: and thou my lord king, art wise, as an Angel of God hath wisdom, that thou vnderstandest al thinges vpon the earth. † And the king 21 sayd to Ioab: Behold I being pacified haue done thy word: Goe therefore, and cal agayne the boy Absalom. † And Ioab 22 falling vpon his face vnto the earth, adored, and Praised and thanked the king. blessed the king: and Ioab sayd: This day thy seruant hath vnderstood, that I haue found grace in thy sight my lord king: for thou hast done the word of thy seruant. † Ioab therefore arose 23 and went into Gessur, and brought Absalom into Ierusalem. † But the king sayd: Let him returne into his house, and not 24 see my face. Absalom therefore returned into his house, and the kings face he saw not. † Moreouer like as Absalom, there 25 was not a man in al Israel so beautiful, and exceding comelie: from the sole of the foote to the crowne there was no blemish in him. † And when he powled his heare (once a yeare 26 he was powled, because his bush did burden him) he weighed the heare of his head at two hundred sicles, of the common weight. † And there were borne to Absalom These children died before him as appeareth, cha. 18. three sonnes: 27 and one daughter, named Thamar, of a goodly beautie. † And Absalom abode in Ierusalem two yeares, and saw not 28 the kinges face. † He therefore sent to Ioab, to send him to 29 the king: who would not come to him: And when he had sent the second time, and he would not come to him, † he 30 sayd to his seruantes: You know the filde of Ioab beside my filde, that hath barley haruest: goe therefore and burne it with fyre. The seruantes therefore of Absalom burnt the corne with fyre. And Ioabs seruantes coming, renting their garmentes, sayd: The seruantes of Absalom haue burnt part of the filde with fyre. † And Ioab arose, & came to Absalom 31 [Page 663] in his house, & sayd: Why haue thy seruantes burnt my corne with fire? † And Absalom answered Ioab: I sent to thee beseching 32 thee that thou wouldest come vnto me, and I might send thee to the king, and thou shouldest say to him: Wherefore came I out of Gessur? It was better for me to be there: I besech thee therefore that I may see the face of the king: & if he be mindeful of mine iniquitie, let him kil me. † Ioab 33 therefore entring in to the king, told him al thinges: and Absalom was called, and he entered in to the king: and adored vpon the face of the earth before him: and the king kissed Absalom.

CHAP. XV. Absalom getteth fauour of the people, 7. and conspireth in Hebron agaynst his father. 14. VVho fleeing, 19. With difficultie permitteth Ethai a stranger to goe with him: 24. but sendeth Sadoc, and other priestes and leuites with the arke back into the citie. 31. Sendeth Chusat to defeate Achitophels counsel.

THEREFORE after these thinges Absalom made him 1 self chariotes, and horsemen, and fiftie men, that should goe before him. † And Absalom rising early, stoode beside 2 the entrance of the gate, and euerie man that had busines to the kinges iudgement, did Absalom cal to him, and sayd: Of what citie art thou? Who answering sayd: Of such a tribe of Israel am I thy seruant. † And Absalom answered him: Thy 3 wordes seeme vnto me good and iust. But there is none to heare thee appointed of the king. And Absalom sayd: † Oh 4 who would appoint me iudge ouer the land, that al might come to me which haue busines, and I might iudge iustly? † Yea and when a man came vnto him to salute him, he put 5 forth his hand, and taking him, kyssed him. † And this did 6 he to al Israel coming for iudgement, to be heard of the king, and he intised the hartes of the men of Israel. † And after 7 fourtie yeares, Absalom sayd to king Dauid: Let me goe, and pay my vowes which I haue vowed to our Lord in Hebron. † For thy seruant vowing did vow, when he was in Gessur of 8 Syria, saying: If our Lord wil bring me againe into Ierusalem, I wil sacrifice to our Lord. † And king Dauid sayd to him: 9 Goe in peace. And he arose, and went into Hebron. † And 10 Absalom sent spies into al the tribes of Israel, saying: forthwith as you shal heare the sound of the trumpet, sav ye: [Page 664] Absalom reigneth in Hebron. † Moreouer with Absalom 11 there went two hundred men out of Ierusalem being called, going with a simple hart, and vtterly ignorant of the cause. † Absalom also sent for Achitophel the Gilonite, Dauids 12 counseler, from his citie Gilo. And when he immolated victimes, there was made a strong conspiracie, and the people running together increased with Absalom. † A messenger 13 therefore came to Dauid, saying: Al Israel with al their hart foloweth Absalom. † And Dauid said to his seruantes, that 14 were with him in Ierusalem: Arise let vs flee: for there wil be no escape for vs from the face of Absolom: make hast to goe out, lest coming perhaps he ouertake vs, and force ruine vpon vs, and strike the citie in the edge of the sword. † And the kinges seruantes said to him: al thinges whatsoeuer 15 our lord the king shal command, we thy seruantes wil gladly execute. † The king therefore went forth, and al his 16 house on foote: & the king leift ten wemen his Concubines were lawfully maried but had not al priuilegies as other wiues. See [...]. 25. Iudi [...]. 19. concubines to keepe the house. † And the king going forth & al Israel on 17 their feete, stoode farre from the house: † and al his seruantes 18 walked by him, and the legions Cerethi, and Phelethi and al the Getheites, valiant warriers, six hundred men which had folowed him from Geth footemen, went before the king. † And the king said to Ethai the Getheite: Why comest thou 19 with vs? returne and dwel with the king, because thou art a stranger, and art come forth out of thy place. † Yesterday 20 thou camest, and to day shalt thou be forced to goe forth with vs? but I wil goe whither I shal goe: returne, and leade backe thy brethren with thee, and our Lord wil doe with thee mercie, and veritie, because thou hast shewed grace and fidelitie. † And Ethai answered the king, saying: The Lord 21 liueth, and my lord the king liueth: for that in what place soeuer thou shalt be, my lord king, either in death, or in life, there wil thy seruant be. † And Dauid said to Ethai: Come, 22 and passe. And Ethai the Getheite passed, and al the men that were with him, and the rest of the multitude. † And they al 23 wept with alowd voice, and al the people passed: the king also went ouer the Torrent Cedron, and al the people marched against the way, that looketh to the desert. † And Sadoc 24 also the priest came, and al the Leuites with him carying the arke of the couenant of God, and they sette downe the arke of God: & Abiathar ascended, til al the people was fully [Page 665] passed, which was come forth of the citie. † And the king 25 sayd to Sadoc: Cary backe the Arke of God into the citie: if I shal finde grace in the sight of my Lord, he wil bring me agayne, and wil show me it, and his tabernacle. † But if he 26 shal say to me: Thou pleasest me not: I am readie, let him doe that which is good before him. † And the king sayd to Sadoc 27 the priest: O seer returne into the citie in peace: and Achimaas thy sonne, and Ionathas the sonne of Abiathar, your two sonnes let them be with you. † Behold I wil be hid in 28 the champayne of the desert, til there come word from you aduertising me. † Sadoc therefore and Abiathar caryed backe 29 the Arke of God into Ierusalem: and they taried there. † Moreouer Dauid went vp mount Oliuet, climbing & weeping, 30 going bare foote, and his head He couered his head that he might not be seene to weepe, lest he should discorege the people. neuertheles the people also wept, and likewise couered their heades. couered, yea and al the people which was with him, their head couered went vp weeping. † And it was told Dauid that Achitophel also was 31 in the conspiracie with Absalom, and Dauid sayd: Infatuare o Lord I besech thee, the counsel of Achitophel. † And when 23 Dauid went vp to the toppe of the mount, wherein he would adore our Lord, behold there mette him Chusai the Arachite, his garment rent and his head ful of earth. † And Dauid 33 sayd to him: If thou come with me, thou shalt be a burden to me: † but if thou returne into the citie, and wilt say 34 to Absalom: I am thy seruant, o king: as I haue beene thy fathers seruant, so I wil be thy seruant: thou shalt defeate the counsel of Achitophel. † And thou hast with thee Sadoch, 35 and Abiathar the priests: and euery word whatsoeuer thou shalt heare from out of the kinges house, thou shalt tel Sadoc, and Abiathar the priestes. † And there are with them their 36 two sonnes Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc, and Ionathas the sonne of Abiathar: and you shal send by them vnto me euery word whatsoeuer you shal heare. † Chusai therefore the 37 frend of Dauid coming into the citie, Absalom also entred into Ierusalem.

CHAP. XVI. Siba bringing victuals obtaineth (by false suggestion) his maister Miphiboseths enheritance. 5. Semei curseth, and throweth stones at the king, who neuertheles forbiddeth to kil him. 15. Absalom entreth into Hierusalem, 16. intertayneth Chusai, 20. and by Achitophels aduise lieth with his fathers concubines.

[Page 666]AND when Dauid had passed a litle the toppe of the 1 Mount, Siba the seruant of Miphiboseth appeared coming to meete him, with two asses, which were loden with two hundred loaues, and a hundred bunches of raysens, an hundred masses of figges, and a bottel of wine. † And the 2 king said to Siba: What meane these thinges? And Siba answered: The asses are for the kinges houshould to sitte on: and the loaues and the figges to eate for thy seruantes, and the wine to drinke if any man shal fainte in the desert. † And 3 the king said: Where is thy masters sonne? And Siba answered the king: He hath remained in Ierusalem, saying: This day wil the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. † And the king said to Siba: King Dauid was here abused by false information: to which he ought not so easely to haue geuen credite. chap. 19. v. 24. Let al thinges be thine that 4 were Miphiboseths. And Siba said: I besech thee let me find grace before thee, my lord king. † King Dauid therefore came 5 as farre as Bahurim: & behold there came forth thence a man of the kinred of the house of Saul named Semei, the sonne of Sera, and he proceded going forth, & cursed. † And he threw 6 stones against Dauid, & against al the seruantes of king Dauid & the whole people, & al the warriers went on the right, and the left side of the king. † And thus spake Semei when he 7 cursed the king: Come forth, come forth thou man of bloud, and man of Belial. † Our Lord hath repayed thee al the bloud 8 of the house of Saul: because thou hast inuaded the kingdom for him, and our Lord hath geuen the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy sonne: and behold thyne euiles presse thee, because thou art a man of bloud. † And Abisai the 9 sonne of Seruia said to the king: Why curseth this dead dogge my lord the king? I wil goe, and strike of his head. † And 10 the king said: What is it to me and you, ye sonnes of Saruia? Let him alone that he may curse: for our Lord hath 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. commanded him to curse Dauid: and who is he that dare say, why hath he so done? † And the king said to Abisai, and to al his 11 seruantes: Behold my sonne, that came out of my wombe, seeketh my life: how much more the sonne of Iemini? let him alone that he may curse according to the precept of our Lord: † if perhaps our Lord may respect mine affliction, and 12 our Lord may render me good for this dayes cursing. † Dauid 13 therefore walked and his companie in the way with him. And Semei by the banke on the hils side, went ouer against him, cursing, and casting stones against him, and sprinkling [Page 667] earth. † The king therefore came, and al the people with 14 him wearie, and they were refreshed there. † But Absalom 15 and al his people entered into Ierusalem, yea and Achitophel with him. † And when Chusai the Arachite Dauids frend 16 was come to Absalom, he said to him: God saue thee ô king, God saue thee ô king. † To whom Absalom, is this, quoth 17 he, thy kindenes toward thy frend? why wentest thou not with thy frend? † And Chusai answered Absalom: Not so: 18 because I wil be his, whom our Lord hath chosen, and al this people, and al Israel, and with him wil tarie. † Yea that I 19 may adde this also, whom shal I serue? not the kinges sonne? as I haue serued thy father, so wil I serue thee also. † And 20 Absalom said to Achitophel: Consult what we ought to doe. † And Achitophel said to Absalom: Goe in to the concubines 21 of thy father, which he hath left to keepe the house: 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. that when al Israel shal heare that thou hast defiled thy father, their handes may be strengthened with thee. † They pitched 22 therefore a tent for Absalom in the house toppe, and he went in to his fathers concubines before al Israel. † And the counsel 23 of Achitophel, which he gaue in those dayes, as if a man should consult God: so was al the counsel of Achitophel, both when he was with Dauid, and when he was with Absalom.

CHAP. XVII. Achitophel counselleth Absolom: presenly to assault his father with forces, 7. Chusai perswadeth the contrarie, 15. and secretly aduertiseth the king therof. 23. Achitophel hangeth him self. 25. Absolom appointeth Amasa general of his armie. 27. Other freindes bring victuals to the kinges campe.

ACHITOPHEL therefore said to Absolom: I wil choose 1 me twelue thousand men, and rysing I wil pursew Dauid this night. † And falling vpon him (for as much as he is 2 weary, and of weakened handes) I wil strike him: and when al the people is fled, that is with him, I shal strike the king being desolate. † And I shal reduce al the people, as one man 3 is wont to returne: for thou seekest one man: and al the people shal be in peace. † And his saying pleased Absalom, and 4 al the ancientes of Israel. † But Absalom sayd: Cal Chusai 5 the Arachite, and let vs heare what he also sayeth. † And 6 when Chusai was come to Absalom, Absalom sayd to him: This maner of speache spake Achitophel: shal we doe it or no? What counsel geuest thou? † And Chusai sayd to Absalom: 7 [Page 668] It is not good counsel, that Achitophel hath geuen this time. † And agayne Chusai inferred: Thou knowest thy father, 8 and the men that are with him, to be verie valiant, and of fel courage, as if a beare in the wood her whelpes being taken away should rage: yea and thy father is a man of warre, neither wil he abyde with the people. † Perhaps he lyeth 9 now hid secretely in caues, or in some one place where he list▪ and when any one shal fal in the beginning, there shal one heare whosoeuer shal heare it, & say: There is made a slaughter in the people that folowed Absalom. † And euerie one 10 of the most valiant whose hart is as it were alyons, shal fainte for feare: for al the people of Israel knowe thy father to be a valiant man, and that al be strong which are with him. † But this semeth vnto me to be good counsel: Let al Israel 11 be gathered to thee, from Dan to Bersabee, as the sand of the sea innumerable: and thou shalt be in the middes of them. † And we shal sette vpon them in what place soeuer they shal 12 be found: and we shal couer them, as dew is wont to fal vpon the earth: and we shal not leaue of the men, that are with him, not so much as one. † And if he shal enter into any citie, 13 al Israel shal cast ropes vpon that citie round about, and we wil drawe it into the torrent, that there be not found therof not so much as a litle stone. † And Absalom sayd, and 14 al the children of Israel: The counsel of Chusai the Arachite is better then the counsel of Achitophel: and by the wil of our Lord was the profitable counsel of Achitophel defeated, that our Lord might bring in euil vpon Absalom. † And 15 Chusai sayd to Sadoc and Abiathar the priestes: In this and this maner gaue Achitophel counsel to Absalom, and to the Ancientes of Israel: and I gaue such and such counsel. † Now therfore send quickly, and tel Dauid, saying: Tarie 16 not this night in the champayne of the desert, but without delay passe ouer: lest perhaps the king be swalowed vp, and al the people that is with him. † And Ionathas & Achimaas 17 stood by the Fountayne rogel: there went a maide and told them: and they went forward, to report the message to king Dauid: for they could not beseene, nor enter into the citie. † And a certayne boy saw them, and told Absalom: 18 but they making hast entered into the house of a certayne man in Bahurim, who had a wel in his court, and they went downe into it. † And a woman tooke, and spred a couering 19 [Page 669] ouer the mouth of the wel, as it were drying sodde barley: and so the thing was not knowen. † And when Absaloms 20 seruantes were come into the house, they sayd to the woman: Where is Achimaas, and Ionathas? And the woman answered them: They passed in hast, hauing tasted a litle water. But they that sought, when they had not sound, returned into Ierusalem. † And when these were gone, they went vp 21 out of the wel, and going on told king Dauid, and sayd: Aryse ye, and passe quickly the riuer: because this maner of counsel hath Achitophel geuen against you. † Dauid therfore arose, 22 and al the people that was with him, and they passed ouer Iordan, vntil it waxed light, and not one at al was remayning, which did not passe the riuer. † Moreouer Achitophel seing 23 that his counsel was not executed, sadled his asse, and rose and went into his house and into his citie: and taking order with his house, Bad counsa [...] often falleth worst to the counseller▪ hanged him self, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. † But Dauid came into the Campe, and 24 Absalom passed ouer Iordan, he and al the men of Israel with him. † But Absalom appoynted Amasa for Ioab ouer the 25 armie: and Amasa was the sonne of a man, which was called Iethra of Iezrael, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Naas, the sister of Saruia which was the mother of Ioab. † And Israel camped with Absalom in the Land of Galaad. 26 † And when Dauid was come into the Campe, Sobi the sonne 27 of Naas of Rabbath the sonnes of Ammon, and Machir the sonne of Amihel of Lodabar, & Berzellai the Galaadite of Rogelim, † presented vnto him hanginges, and tapestrie, and 28 earthen vessels, wheate, and barley, and meale, and polent, and beanes, and rishe, and fryed pease, † and honie, and butter, 29 sheepe, & fatte calues▪ and they gaue to Dauid and the people, that was with him, to eate: for they suspected that the people with hunger and thyrst was faynte in the desert.

CHAP. XVIII. King Dauid disposeth his armie in three partes, geuing special charge to saue Absalom aliue. 9. VVhom neuertheles (hanging by the heares of his head in an oke) Ioab killeth: 16. and saueth the common people. 19. VVhich Dauid vnderstanding greatly bewayleth Absalom.

DAVID therfore hauing viewed his people, appointed 2 ouer them tribunes & centurions, † and gaue the third 1 part of the people vnder the hand of Ioab, and the third part [Page 670] vnder the hand of Abisai the sonne of Seruia the brother of Ioab, and the third part vnder the hand of Ethai, who was of Geth: and the king said to the people: I also wil goe forth with you. † And the people answered: Thou shalt not goe 3 forth: for whether we shal flee, it wil be no great importance to them of vs: or whether the halfe part of vs shal fal, they wil not greatly care: because thou alone art accounted for ten thousandes: it is better therefore that thou be in the citie to ayde vs. † To whom the king said: What seemeth good to 4 you, that wil I doe. The king therfore stoode beside the gate: and al the people went forth by their troupes, by hundredes and by thousandes. † And the King commanded Ioab, and 5 Abisai, and Ethai, saying: 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. Saue me the child Absalom. And al the people heard the King commanding al the princes for Absalom. † The people therfore went out into the filde against 6 Israel, & the battel was fought in the forest of Ephraim. † And the people of Israel was slayne there of Dauids armie, 7 and there was made a great slaughter in that day, of twentie thousand. † And the battel there was dispersed vpon the face 8 of al the earth, and there were manie moe, whom the forest had consumed of the people, then they whom the sword deuoured in that day. † And it chanced that Absalom mette 9 the seruantes of Dauid, sitting on a mule: and when the mule was gone in vnder a thicke oke and a great, his head stucke to the oke: and he hanging betwen heauen and earth, the mule that he rode vpon passed through. † And one sawe this & told 10 Ioab: saying: I saw Absolom hang vpon an oke. † And Ioab 11 sayd to the man that told him: If thou sawest him, why didst thou not nayle him to the earth, and I had geuen thee ten sicles of siluer, and one belt? † Who sayd to Ioab: If thou 12 wouldest pay downe in my handes a thousand peeces of siluer, I would not lay my handes vpon the kinges sonne: for in our hearing the king commanded thee, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Keepe me the child Absalom. † Yea and if 13 I had done agaynst my life boldly, this could not haue beene hid from the king, and thou wouldest haue stand agaynst it? † And Ioab sayd: Not as thou wilt, but I wil set vpon him 14 before thee. He tooke therefore three lances in his hand, and thrust them in the hart of Absalom: and when as yet he panted for life sticking on the oke, † there ranne ten 15 yong men the squyers of Ioab, and striking they killed him. [Page 671] † And Ioab sounded the trumpet, and stayed the people, 16 that they should not pursew Israel fleeing, willing to spare the multitude. † And they tooke Absalom, and cast him in the 17 forrest, into a great pitte, and they heaped vpon him an exceding great heape of stones: but al Israel fled into their tabernacles. † Moreouer Absalom had erected to himself, 18 whiles he yet liued, a title which is in the kinges Valley: for he said: I haue Al his sonnes being [...]ea [...], [...]t he had once three sonnes & a daughter. chap. 14. v. [...]. no sonne, and this shal be a monument of my name. And he called the title by his name, and it is called The hand of Absalom, vntil this present day. † And 19 Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc said: I wil runne, and tel the king, that our Lord hath done him iudgement of the hand of his enemies. † To whom Ioab said: Thou shalt not be messenger 20 this day, but thou shalt carie the message an other day: to day I wil not haue thee carie the message, for the kinges sonne is dead. † And Ioab said to Chusai: Goe, and tel 21 the king what thou hast seene. Chusai adored Ioab, and ranne. † And againe Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc said to Ioab: 22 What letteth if I also runne after Chusai? And Ioab sayd to him: Why wilt thou runne my sonne? thou shalt not be caryer of good tydinges. † Who answered: But what if I runne? 23 And he said to him: Runne. Achimaas therfore running a nere way out went Chusai. † And Dauid sate betwen the 24 two gates: and the watchman that was in the toope of the gate vpon the wal, lifting vp his eies, saw a man running alone. † And crying out he told the king: and the king said: 25 If he be alone, there are good tydinges in his mouth. And he making hast, and coming neerer, † the watchman saw an 26 other man running, and crying alowde in the toppe, he said: There appeareth vnto me an other man running alone. And the king said: And this is a good messenger. † And the 27 watchman, I behold, said he, the running of the former, as it were the running of Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc. And the king said: He is a good man: and cometh bringing good newes. † And Achimaas crying, sayd to the king: God saue 28 thee ô king. And adoring the king before him flatte to the earth, he said: Blessed be our Lord thy God, who hath shut vp the men that haue lifted vp their handes against my lord the king. † And the king said: Is the child Absalom safe? And Achimaas 29 sayd? I saw a great tumult, when thy seruant Ioab sent, ô king, me thy seruant: other thing I know not. † To whom 30 [Page 672] the king, Passe, sayd he, and stand here. † And when he had 31 passed, and stood, † Chusai appeared: and coming he sayd: I 31 bring good tydinges my lord king: for our Lord hath iudged for thee this day of the hand of al that haue rysen against thee. † And the king sayd to Chusai: Is the child Absalom safe? 32 To whom Chusai answering, sayd: Let the enemies of my lord the king become, as the child, and al that ryse against him vnto euil. † The king therfore being made sorie, went 33 vp into the high chamber of the gate, and wept. And thus he spake, going: My sonne Absalom, Absalom my sonne: who would graunt me that I might die for thee, Absalom my sonne, my sonne Absalom.

CHAP. XIX. Dauid moued by Ioabs admonition, 8. ceaseth mourning for Absalom, and reconcileth the rebels. 19. Semei is pardoned. 24. Mipbiboseth clereth him self of his seruantes false accusation, yet recouereth not his whole right. 32. Berzellai is courteously intreated. 40. The other tribes contend with Iuda for their affection to the king.

AND it was told Ioab, that the king wept, and mourned 1 for his sonne: † And the victorie was turned into 2 mourning that day to al the people: for the people heard it sayd in that day: The king soroweth vpon his sonne. † And the 3 people shunned that day to enter into the citie, as a people turned, & fleing out of battel is wont to shrinke aside. † Moreouer 4 the king couered his head, and cried with a lowd voice: O my sonne Absalom, o Absalō my sonne, o my sonne. † Ioab 5 therfore entring in to the king, into his house, sayd: Thou hast cōfounded this day the countenances of al thy seruantes, that haue saued thy life, and the life of thy sonnes, and thy daughters, and the life of thy wiues, and the life of thy concubines. † Thou louest them that hate thee, and thou hatest 6 them that loue thee: and thou hast shewed this day that thou carest not for thy nobles, and for thy seruantes: and in deede I knowe now, that if Absalom liued, and al we had beene slayne, then it would please thee. † Now therfore arise, and 7 come forth, and speaking vnto them satisfie thy seruantes: for I sweare to thee by our Lord, that if thou wilt not goe forth, not one verely wil remayne with thee this night: and this shal be worse for thee, then al the euils, which haue come vpon thee from thy youth vntil this present. † The king 8 [Page 673] therfore arose and sate in the gate: and it was told al the people that the king sate in the gate: and al the multitude came forth before the king, but Israel fled into their tabernacles. † Al the people also stroue in al the tribes of Israel, 9 saying: The king hath deliuered vs out of the hand of our enemies, he hath saued vs from the head of the Philistianes: and now he fled out of the land for Absalom. † But Absalom 10 whom we annoynted ouer vs, is dead in the battel: how long are you stil, and reduce not the king? † But king Dauid sent 11 to Sadoc, and Abiathar the priestes, saying: Speake to the Ancientes of Iuda, saying: Why come you last to bring backe the king into his house? (And the saying of al Israel was come to the king in his house.) † You are my brethren, 12 you my bone, and my flesh, why do you last bring backe the king? † And say ye to Amasa: Art not thou my bone, and 13 my flesh? These thinges do God to me, and these adde he, if thou be not the chiefe captayne of warfare before me alwayes for Ioab. † And he inclined the hart of al the men of 14 Iuda, as it were of one man: and they sent to the king, saying: Returne thou, and al thy seruantes. † And the king returned, 15 and came as far as Iordan, and al Iuda came as far as Galgal to meete the king, and to bring him ouer Iordan. † And 16 Semei the sonne of Gera the sonne of Iemini of Bahurim made hast, and went downe with the men of Iuda to meete king Dauid † with a thousand men of Benjamin, and Siba 17 the seruant of the house of Saul: and his fiftene sonnes, and twentie seruantes were with him: and rushing into Iordan, † passed the fordes before the king, that they might helpe 18 ouer the kinges houshould, and doe according to his commandement. And Semei the sonne of Gera prostrate before the king, when he had now passed Iordan, † sayd to him: 19 Impute not to me my lord the iniquirie, nor remember the iniuries of thy seruant in the day that thou my lord king wentest out of Ierusalem, nor put it in thy hart o king. † For 20 I thy seruant acknowledge my sinne: and therefore this day I am first come of al 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. the house of Ioseph, and am descended to meete my lord the king. † But Ab [...]a [...] the sonne of Saruia 21 answering, sayd: What shal Semei for these wordes not be slayne, because he reuiled the annoynted of our Lord? † And 22 Dauid sayd: What is to me and you ye sonnes of Saruia? Why are you made this day as satan to me? Shal there a man be [Page 674] killed in Israel to day? Doe I not know that this day I am made king ouer Israel? † And the king sayd to Semei: Thou shalr 23 not die. And he sware to him. † Miphiboseth also the sonne 24 of Saul came downe to meete the king, his feete vnwashed, and his beard not pouled: and he had not washed his garmentes from the day that the king went forth, vntil the day of his returne in peace. † And when he had mette the king 25 at Ierusalem, the king sayd to him: Why camest thou not with me Miphiboseth? † And he answering, sayd: My lord 26 king, my seruant contemned me: and I thy seruant spake to him that he should fadle me an asse, that getting on I might goe with the king: for I thy seruant am lame. † Moreouer 27 he hath also accused me thy seruant to thee my lord king: but thou my lord king art as an Angel of God, doe what pleaseth thee. † For neither was my fathers house ought els, but 28 guiltie of death to my lord king: and thou hast put me thy seruant among the guestes of thy table? What iust complaynt therfore haue I? or what can I further crie out to the king? † The king therfore sayd to him: What speakest thou any 29 more? That is determined which I haue spoken: Thou, and Siba diuide the possessions. † And Miphiboseth answered the 30 the king: Yea let him take al, for so much as my lord king is returned peaceably into his house † Berzellai also the Galaadite, 31 coming downe from Rogelim, brought the king ouer Iordan, being readie also to attend on him beyond the riuer. † And 32 Berzellai the Galaadite was verie old, that is to say, of foure score yeares, and he gaue the king victuals, when he abode in the Fild: for he was an exceding rich man. † The king therfore 33 sayd to Berzellai: Come with me, that thou mayst rest secure with me in Ierusalem. † And Berzellai sayd to the 34 king: How manie are the daies of the yeares of my life, that I should goe vp with the king into Ierusalem? † I am this 35 day foure score yeares old, are my senses quicke to discerne sweete, or sowre? or can meate or drinke delight thy seruant? or can I heare more the voyce of singing men and singing wemen? Why should thy seruant be a burden to my lord the king? † I thy seruant wil goe forward a litle from Iordan 36 with thee: I neede not this recompense, † but I besech thee 37 that I thy seruant may returne, and die in my citie, and be buried by the sepulchre of my father, and my mother. But there is thy seruant Chamaam, let him goe with thee, my lord [Page 675] king, and doe to him whatsoeuer semeth good to thee. † The 38 king therfore sayd to him: Let Chamaam passe on with me, and I wil doe for him whatsoeuer shal please thee, and al, that thou shalt aske of me, thou shalt obtayne. † And when al 39 the people and the king had passed Iordan, the king kissed Berzellai, and blessed him: and he returned into his place. † The king therfore passed into Galgal, and Chamaam with 40 him, and al the people of Iuda had brought ouer the king, and the halfe part onlie of the people of Israel were present. † Therfore al the men of Israel concurring to the king, sayd 41 to him: Why haue our brethren the men of Iuda stolen thee, and brought the king and his houshould ouer Iordan, and al the men of Dauid with him? † And euerie man of Iuda answered 42 the men of Israel. Because the king is neerer to me: why art thou angrie for this matter? haue we eaten any thing of the kinges, or were there giftes geuen vs? † And 43 a certayne man of Israel answered the men of Iuda, and sayd: I am greater by ten partes with the king, & to me pertayneth Dauid more then to thee: Why hast thou done me wrong, and it was not told me first, that I might bring backe my king? And the men of Iuda answered more sharply then the men of Israel.

CHAP. XX. Seba raiseth rebellion, is pursued by Ioab, (10. VVho in the way trecherously killeth Amasa,) 13. Abela is besieged, because Seba saueth him self there. 20. but his head being cut of and cast ouer the wal to Ioab, the armie departeth. 23. Chief men in office are mentioned.

IT chanced also that there was there a man of Belial, 1 named Seba, the sonne of Bochri, a man of Iemini: and he sounded the trumpet, and sayd: We haue no part in Dauid, nor inheritance in the sonne of Isai: Returne into thy tabernacles Israel. † And al Israel was separated from Dauid, and 2 folowed Seba the sonne of Bochri: but the men of Iuda stucke to their king from Iordan vnto Ierusalem. † And 3 when the king was come into his house to Ierusalem, he tooke the ten wemen his concubines, which he had leift to keepe the house, and he deliuered them into custodie, allowing them victuals: and he went not in vnto them, but they were shut vp vntil the day of their death liuing in widowhood. † And the king sayd to Amasa: Cal me together al the 4 [Page 676] men of Iuda agaynst the third day, and be thou present. † Amasa therfore went to cal together Iuda, and taryed 5 beyond the time appoynted which the king had assigned him. † And Dauid sayd to Abisai: Now wil Seba the sonne 6 of Bochri more astlict vs, then Absalom: take therefore the seruantes of thy Lord, and pursew him, lest perhaps he finde fensed cities, & escape vs. † There went forth therfore with 7 him Ioabs men, Cerethi also and Phelethi: and al the strong men yssued forth of Ierusalem to pursew Seba the sonne of Bochri. † And when they were beside the great stone, which 8 is in Gabaon, Amasa coming mette them. Moreouer Ioab was clothed with a strayte cote according to the measure of his stature, and vpon it girded with a sword hanging downe to the flanke, in a scabbarde, which being made for the purpose could with light mouing come sorth and strike. † Ioab 9 therfore sayd to Amasa: God saue thee my brother. And he held with his right hand the chinne of Amasa, as it were kissing him. † But Amasa marked not the sword, which Ioab 10 had, who strick him in the side, and powred out his bowels on the ground, neither added he the second wound, and he dyed. And Ioab, and Abisai his brother pursewed Seba the sonne of Bochri. † In the meane time certayne men, when 11 they stoode by the carcasse of Amasa, Ioabs company, sayd: Loe he that would haue beene for Ioab the companion of Dauid. † And Amasa embrewed with bloud, lay in the middes 12 of the way. A certayne man saw this that al the people stayed to see him, and he remoued Amasa out of the way into the filde, and couered him with a garment, that they which passed might not stay because of him. † He therefore being 13 remoued out of the way, euery man passed folowing Ioab to pursew Seba the sonne of Bochri. † Moreouer he had passed 14 through al the tribes of Israel vnto Abela, and Bethmaaca: and al the chosen men were gathered together vnto him. † They therfore came, and assaulted him in Abela, and in 15 Bethmaaca, and they compassed the citie with munitions, and the citie was besieged: and al the multitude, that was with Ioab, laboured to destroy the walles. † And a wise 16 woman cryed out from the citie: Heare ye, heareye, tel Ioab: Approche hither, and I wil speake with thee. † Who when 17 he was come to her, she sayd to him: Art thou Ioab? And he answered, I am. To whom she spake thus: Heare the wordes [Page 677] of thy handmayd. Who answered: I doe heare. † And she 18 agayne sayd: A saying was vsed in the old prouerbe: They that aske, let them aske in Abela: and so they prospered. † Am not I she that answer truth in Israel, and thou seekest 19 to subuert the citie, & to ouerthrowe a mother citie in Israel? Why throwest thou downe hedlong the inheritance of our Lord? † And Ioab answering, sayd: God sorbid, God sorbid 20 that I should, I do not throw downe, nor destroy. † The matter is not so, but a man of mount Ephraim, Seba the sonne of Bochri by name, hath lifted vp his hand agaynst king Dauid: Deliuer him onlie, and we wil depart from the citie. And the woman sayd to Ioab: Behold his head shal be throwen to thee of the wal. † She therfore went to al the 22 people, and spake to them wisely: who threw the head of Seba the sonne of Bochri being cut of, to Ioab. And he sounded the trumpet, and they departed from the citie, euery one into their tabernacles: and Ioab returned to Ierusalem vnto the king. † Ioab therfore was ouer al the armie of Israel: and 23 Banaias the sonne of Ioiada ouer the Cheretheites and Pheletheites. † But Aduram ouer the tributes: moreouer Iosaphat 24 the sonne of Ahilud, was register. † And Siua, a scribe: 25 and Sadoc and Abiathar, priestes. † And Ira the [...]ai [...]ite was 26 the Chiefe or great in [...]amil [...]iti [...]. priest of Dauid.

CHAP. XXI. E [...]mine oppressing Isiael three yeares, for the sinne of Saul agaynst the Gabaonites, 6. seuen of Saulsrace (7. Miphiboseth saned) are crucisied. 12. Their bones with Sauls and Ionathas are buried in the Land of Beniamin. 15. Dauid hath foure great battels and victories against the Philistians.

AND there came a famine in the daies of Dauid three 1 yeares continually: and Dauid consulted the oracle of our Lord. And our Lord sayd: For Saul, and his bloudy house, because he slewe the Gabaonites. † The king therfore calling 2 the Gabaonites, sayd to them. (Moreouer the Gabaonites were not of the children of Israel, but the reliques of the Amorrheites: For the children of Israel had sworne to them, Iosue. [...]. and Saul would strike them of zeale, as it were for the children of Israel and Iuda.) † Dauid therfore sayd to the Gabaonites: 3 What shal I do for you? And what shal be the expiation for you, that you may blesse the inheritance of our Lord? † And the Gabaonites sayd to him: We haue no 4 [Page 678] question vpon siluer and gold, but agaynst Saul, and agaynst his house: neither wil we that a man be slayne of Israel. To whom the king sayd: What wil you then that I do for you? † Who sayd to the king? The man, that hath wasted vs and 5 oppressed vs vniustly, we must so destroy, that there be not so much as one leift of his stocke in al the coastes of Israel. † Let there be geuen vs seuen men of his children, that we 6 may crucifie them to our Lord in Gabaa of Saul, once the chosen of our Lord. And the king sayd: I wil geue them. † And the king spared Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathas 7 the sonne of Saul, for the oth of our Lord, that had beene betwen Dauid, and betwen Ionathas the sonne of Saul. † The king therfore tooke the two sonnes of Respha the 8 daughter of Aia, whom she bare to Saul, Armoni, and Miphiboseth: and the fiue sonnes of Michol the daughter of Saul, which she bare to Hadriel the sonne of Berzellai, that was of Molathi, † and gaue them into the handes of the Gabaonites: 9 who crucified them on a hil before our Lord: and these seuen dyed together in the first dayes of haruest, when the reaping of barley began. † And Respha the daughter of 10 Aia taking a heare cloth, spred it vnder her vpon the rocke from the beginning of haruest, til water dropped vpon them from heauen: and she suffered not the birdes to teare them by day, nor the beastes by night. † And the thinges 11 were told Dauid, which Respha had done, the daughter of Aia, the concubine of Saul. † And Dauid went, and tooke 12 the bones of Saul, and the bones of Ionathas his sonne from the men of Iabes Galaad, who had stolen them out of the streate of Bethsan, in the which the Philistijms hanged them when they had killed Saul in Gelboe. † And he caried thence 13 the bones of Saul, and the bones of Ionathas his sonne: and gathering the bones of them, that were crucified, † they 14 buried them with the bones of Saul, and of Ionathas his sonne in the Land of Beniamin, in the side, in the sepulchre of Cis his father: and they did al thinges that the king had commanded, and God was made propitious agayne to the land after these thinges. † And there was a battel made agayne of 15 the Philistianes against Israel, and Dauid went downe, and his seruantes with him, and fought agaynst the Philisthijms. And Dauid faynting, † Iesbibenob, which was of the kinred of 16 Arapha, the yron of whose speare weyed three hundred [Page 679] ounces, and he was girded with a new sword, assayed to strike Dauid. † And Abisai the sonne of Saruia reskewed him, and 17 striking the Philistian killed him. Then sware Dauids men, saying: Thou shalt no more goe forth with vs into battel, lest thou put out the lampe of Israel. † There was also a second 18 battel in Gob against the Philistians: then stroke Sobochai of Husathi, Saph of the stocke of Arapha of the kindred of the gyantes. † There was also a third battel in Gob 19 agaynst the Philistians, in the which Adeodatus the sonne of the Forest a broderer the Bethlehemite stroke Goliath the Getheite, the shaft of whose speare was as it were a weauers beame. † The fourth battel was in Geth: in the which 20 was a tal man, that had six fingers and six toes on eche hand and foote, that is fowre and twentie, and he was of the race of Arapha. † And he blasphemed Israel: and Ionathan the 21 sonne of Samaa the brother of Dauid stroke him. † These 22 foure were borne of Arapha in Geth, and they fel by the hand of Dauid, and of his seruantes.

CHAP. XXII. King Dauids Canticle of thankesg [...]uing, for his deliuerie from al enemies: 44. VVith a prophecie of the reiection of the Iewes, and vocation of the Gentiles.

AND Dauid spake to our Lord the wordes of this song, 1 in 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. the day that our Lord deliuered him out of the hand of al his enemies, and out of the hand of :: Saul. † And 2 he sayd:

Our Lord is my rocke, and my strength, and my sauiour.

3 † God is my strong one, I wil hope in him: my shilde, and the horne of my saluation: my lifter vp, and my refuge: my sauiour, from iniquitie thou wilt deliuer me.

4 † Our Lord prayse worthie wil I inuocate: and from mine enemies I shal be saued.

5 † Because the pangues of death haue compassed me: the streames of Belial haue terrified me.

6 † The ropes of hel haue compassed me: the snares of death haue preuented me.

7 † In my tribulation I wil inuocate our Lord, and I wil crie my God: and he wil heare my voice out of his holie temple, and my crie shal come to his eares.

8 † The earth quaked and trembled, the fundations of the [Page 680] mountaynes were strycken, and shaken, because he was angrie with them.

9 † A smoke arose out of his nosethrels, and a fyre from his mouth shal deuoure: coles were kindled from him.

10 † And he bowed the heauens, and descended: and miste vnder his feete.

11 † And he ascended vpon the Cherubins, and flew: and slidde ouer the winges of the winde.

12 † He put darkenes round about him a couer: stilling waters out of the clowdes of heauen.

13 † By the shyning in his presence: the coles of fire were kindled.

14 † Our Lord wil thunder from heauen: and the high one wil geue his voice.

15 † He shot his arrowes and dispersed them: lightning, and consumed them.

16 † And the ouerflowinges of the sea appeared, and the fundations of the world were discouered at the rebuking of our Lord. at the breathing of the spirit of his furie.

17 † He sent from hygh heauen, and tooke me, and drewe me out of manie waters.

18 † He deliuered me from my most mightie enemie, and from them that hated me: because they were stronger then I.

19 † He preuented me in the day of my affliction, and our Lord became my stay.

20 † And he brought me forth into latitude, he deliuered me, because I wel pleased him.

21 † Our Lord wil reward me according to my iustice: and according to the cleannes of my handes wil he render to me.

22 † Because I haue kept the wayes of our Lord, and haue not done impiously, from my God.

23 † For al his iudgementes are in my sight: and his pre [...]eptes I haue not remoued from me.

24 † And I shal be perfect with him: and shal keepe my self from myne iniquitie.

25 † And our Lord wil restore vnto me according to my iustice: and according to the cleannes of my handes in the sight of his eyes.

26 † With the holie one thou shalt be holie: and with the strong perfect.

27 † W [...] the elect thou shalt be elect: and with the peruerse t [...]ou [...]lt be peruerted.

28 [Page 681]† And the poore people thou wilt saue: and the hautie in thyne eies thou wilt humble.

29 † Because thou art my lampe o Lord: and thou wilt illuminate my darkenes.

30 † For in thee I wil runne girded: in my God I wil leap [...] ouer the wal.

31 † God, his way immaculate, the word of our Lord is examined by fyre: he is the shield of al that trust in him.

32 † Who is God beside our Lord: and who is strong beside our God?

33 † God who hath girded me with strength: and made euen my perfect way.

34 † Making my feete equal with the hartes, and setting me vpon my high places.

35 † Teaching my handes vnto battel: and framing myne armes as it were a brasen bow.

36 † Thou hast geuen me the shield of thy saluation: and thy mildenes hath multiplied me.

37 † Thou shalt enlarge my steppes vnder me: and myne ankles shal not fayle.

38 † I wil pursew myne enemies, and bruise them: and wil not returne til I consume them.

39 † I wil consume and break them, that they rise not: they shal fal vnder my feete.

40 † Thou hast girded me with strength to battel: thou hast bowed vnder me them that resist me.

41 † Myne enemies thou hast made to turne to me the backe: them that hated me, and I shal destroy them.

42 † They shal crie, and there shal not be to saue, to our Lord, and he wil not heare them.

43 † I wil destroy them as the dust of the earth: as the myre of the streates wil I bruise and breake them.

44 † Thou wilt saue me from the contredictions of my people: thou wilt keepe me to be 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. the head of the Gentiles: the people which I knowe not, wil serue me.

45 † The children alienes wil resist me, with the hearing of the eare they wil obey me.

46 † The children alienes are fallen away, and shal be straytened in their distresses.

47 † Our lord liueth, and my God is blessed: and the strong God of my saluation shal be exalted.

48 [Page 682]† God which geuest me reuenges, and throwest downe peoples vnder me.

49 † Which bringest me out from myne enemies, and from them that resist me dost lift me vp: from the wicked man thou shalt deliuer me.

50 † Therfore wil I confesse vnto thee o Lord among the Gentiles, and wil sing to thy name.

51 † Magnifying the saluations of his king, and doing mercie to his Christ Dauid, and to his seede for euer.

CHAP. XXIII. The last wordes of Dauid concerning reward of the good, 6. and punishment of the bad. 8. A Catalogue of Dauids valiant men.

AND these are Dauides last wordes. Dauid the sonne of 1 Isai sayd: The man sayd, to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Iacob, the excellent Psalmist of Israel: † The Spirit of our Lord hath spoken by 2 me, and his wordes by my tongue. † The God of Israel sayd 3 to me, the Strong one of Israel hath spoken, the Dominatour of men, the iust ruler in the feare of God. † As the light of 4 the mourning when the sunne ryseth, early without cloudes glistereth, and as by rayne grasse springeth our of the earth. † 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 [...] ▪ Neither is my house so great with God, that he should enter 5 with me an eternal couenant firme in al thinges & assured. For al my saluation, and al my wil: neither is there ought therof that springeth not. † And transgressors shal be plucl [...]ed 6 vp as thornes euety one: which are not taken with handes. † And if a man wil touch them, he shal be armed 7 with yron and a lance staffe, and kindled with fyre they shal be burnt vnto nothing. † These be the names of the valiantes 8 of Dauid. Sitting in his chaire the wisest prince amongest three, he is as it were the most tender litle worme of the wood, which killed eight hundred at one brunt. † After 9 him, Eleazar the sonne of his vncle the Ahohite among the three valiantes, that were with Dauid when they desyed the Philisthijms, and were gathered thither into barrel. † And 10 when the men of Israel were gone vp, he stood and stroke the Philistians til his hand faynted, and waxed stiffe with the sword: and our Lord made a great victorie that day: and the people, that was sled, returned to take away of the spoyles of them that were slayne. † And after him Semma the sonne of 11 [Page 683] Age of Arari. And the Philisthijms were gathered togehter in their ward: for there was there a filde ful of rice. And when the people was fled from the face of the Philisthijms, † he stood in the middes of the filde, and defended it, and 12 stroke the Philisthians: and our Lord gaue great saluation. † Moreouer also before there went downe three which were 13 princes among thirtie, and came to Dauid in the haruest time into the caue of Odollam: and the campe of the Philistianes was placed in the Vale of the giantes. † And Dauid was in a 14 hold: moreouer the ward of the Philisthianes was then in Bethlehem. † Dauid The king proposed not this for desire of that water, but to trie and exercise his mens fortitude. therfore desyred, & sayd: O that some 15 man would geue me drinke of the water out of the cesterne, that is in Bethlehem beside the gate. † Three valiantes therfore 16 brake into the campe of the Philistianes, and drew water out of the cesterne of Bethlehem, that was beside the gate, and brought it to Dauid: but he would not drinke, but Precious thinges are most mete to be offered to God. offered it to our Lord, † saying: Our Lord be merciful to me, 17 that I doe not this thing: shal I drinke the bloud of these men that went, & the peril of their liues? Therfore he would not drinke. These thinges did the three strongest. † Abisai 18 also the brother of Ioab the sonne of Saruia, was prince of three, it is he that lifted vp his speare agaynst three hundred, whom he slewe, renowmed among three, † and the noblest 19 of three, and he was the chiefe of them, but to the three first he raught not. † And Banaias the sonne of Ioiada the most 20 valiant man of great workes, of Cabseel: he stroke the two lions of Moab, and he went downe, and stroke the lyon in the middes of the cesterne in the dayes of snow. † He also 21 stroke the Aegyptian, a man worthie to be a spectacle, hauing in his hand a speare: therfore when he came downe to him with a rod, by force he wrested the speare out of the hand of the Aegyptian, and slewe him with his owne speare. † These 22 thinges did Banaias the sonne of Ioiada. † And he renowmed 23 among the three valiantes, which were the nobler among thirtie: but vnto the three he raught not: and Dauid made him of his secrete counsel. † Asael the brother of Ioab among 24 the thirtie, Elahanan the sonne of his vncle of Bethlehem. † Semma of Harodi, Elica of Harori, † Heles of Phalti, 25 26 Hira the sonne of Acces of Thecua, † Abiezer of Anathoth, 27 Mobonnai of Husati, † Selmon the Ahohite, Maharai the 28 Netophathite, † Heled the sonne of Baana, he also a 29 [Page 684] Netophathite, Ithai the sonne of Ribai of Gabaath of the children of Benjamin, † Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai 30 of the Torrent Gaas, † Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaueth 31 of Beromi, † Eliaba of Salaboni: The sonnes of Iassen, Ionathan, 32 † Semma of Orori, Ahiam the sonne of Sarar the 33 Ararite, † Eliphelet the sonne of Aasbai the sonne of Machati, 34 Eliam the sonne of Achitophel the Gelonite, † Hesrai 35 of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi, † Igaal the sonne of Nathan of 36 Soba, Bonni of Gadi, † Selec of Ammoni, Naharai the Berothite 37 the squyer of Ioab the sonne of Saruia, † Ira the Iethrite, 38 Gareb he also a [...]ethrite, † Vrias the Hetheite. Al 39 thirtie seuen.

CHAP. XXIIII. For Dauids sinne in numbring the people, 11. three sortes of punishments are proposed to his election: 14. of which he chooseth the plague, and seuentie thousand die in three dayes. 16. God sheweth mercie. 17. Dauid prayeth. 18. buildeth an altar, 25. and the plague ceaseth.

AND This sinne & punishment happened before, when Dauid had health and streingth of bodie. the furie of our Lord added to be angrie agaynst 1 :: 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. Israel, and stirred vp Dauid among them saying: Goe, number Israel and Iuda. † And the king sayd to Ioab the 2 General of his armie: Walke through al the tribes of Israel from Dan to Bersabee, and number ye the people, that I may know the number therof. † And Ioab sayd to the king: Our 3 Lord thy God increase thy people, as much more as now it is, and agayne multiplie it an hundred fold in the sight of my lord the king: but what meaneth my lord the king by this kind of thing? † How beit the kinges word more preuailed 4 then the wordes of Ioab, and of the chiefe of the armie: and Ioab went forth, and the captaynes of the souldiars from the face of the king, to number the people of Israel. † And when 5 they had passed Iordan, they came into Aroer to the right hand of the citie, which is in the Vale of Gad. † And by Iazer 6 they passed into Galaad, and into the lower countrie of Hodsi, and they came into the wooddie countrie of Dan. And going about neere Sidon, † they passed nigh to the walles of 7 Tyre, and al the land of the Heueite, and the Chananeite, and they came to the south of Iuda into Bersabee: † and hauing 8 viewed the whole land, after nine monethes and twentie dayes, they were come to Ierusalem. † Ioab therfore gaue 9 the number of the description of the people to the king, and [Page 685] there were found of Israel eight hundred thousand strong men, that could drawe sword: and of Iuda fiue hundred thousand fighting men. † But Dauids Contrition. hart strooke him, after the 10 people was numbred: and Dauid sayd to our Lord: Confession. I haue sinned very much in this fact: but I pray thee Lord to transferre the iniquitie of thy seruant, because I haue done exceding folishly. † Dauid therfore arose in the morning, and the 11 word of our Lord was made to Gad the prophete and Seer of Dauid, saying: † Goe, and speake to Dauid: Thus sayth our 12 Lord: Satisfaction. Choyse is geuen thee of three thinges, choose one of them which thou wilt, that I may do it to thee. † And when 13 Gad was come to Dauid, he told him, saying: Either famine shal come to thee seuen yeares in thy land: or three monethes thou shalt flee thy aduersaries, and they shal pursew thee: or certes three dayes the pestilence shal be in thy land. Now therfore deliberate, and see what word I shal answer to him that sent me. † And Dauid sayd to Gad: I am distressed excedingly: 14 but it is better that I fal into the handes of our Lord (for his mercies be manie) then into the handes of men. † And our Lord sent the pestilence in Israel, from morning 15 The Epistle in a votiue Masse in tyme of plague or mortalitie. vnto the time appoynted, and there died of the people from Dan to Bersabee seuentie thousand men. † And when the 16 Angel of Our Lord had stretched forth his hand ouer Ierusalem to destroy it, our Lord had pitie vpon the affliction, and sayd to the Angel that stroke the people: Temporal punishment inflicted after the guilt of sinne was remitted▪ It is sufficient: now hold thy hand: and the Angel of our Lord was beside the floore of Areuna the Iebuseite. † And Dauid sayd to our 17 Lord when he saw the Angel striking the people: I am he that haue sinned, I haue done wickedly: these that are the sheepe, what haue they done? let thy hand, I beseche thee be turned agaynst me, and agaynst my fathers house. † And 18 Gad came to Dauid in that day, and sayd to him: Goe vp, and build an altar to our Lord in the [...]oore of Areuna the Iebuseite. † And Dauid went vp according to the word of Gad, 19 which our Lord had cōmanded him. † And Areuna looking, 20 perceiued the king and his seruantes to come towards him † And going forth he adored the king with his face bowing 21 to the earth, and sayd: What is the cause that my lord the king cometh to his seruant? To whom Dauid sayd: That I may bye of thee the floore, and build an altar to our Lord, and the slaughter may cease which rageth among the people. [Page 686] † And Areuna sayd to Dauid: Let my lord the king take, and 22 offer, as it pleaseth him: thou hast the oxen for holocauste, and the wayne, and the yokes of the oxen for prouision of wood. † Areuna gaue al thinges to the king: and Areuna 23 sayd to the king: The Lord thy God receiue thy vowe. † To 24 whom the king answering, sayd: Not so as thou wilt, but I wil bye it of thee at a price, and I wil not offer to our Lord my God holocaustes 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. geuen gratis. Dauid therfore bought the floore, and the oxen, for fiftie sicles of siluer: † and 25 Dauid built there an altar to our Lord, & offered holocaustes and pacifiques: and our Lord became merciful to the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE OF KINGES.

VVITH commemoration of king Dauids old age, of his appointing a successour, and of his death, in the first and part of the second chapters, this booke conteyneth two other principal partes: the former is of king Salomon: of his entrance to the kingdom; his deuotion; wisdom; magnificence; richesse; great familie; building of the Temple; and other The contentes of this booke, diuided into three partes. sumptuous palaces; of his fal also into luxurie, and idolatrie; in the rest of the second chapter to the end of the eleuenth. The other part sheweth the diuision of the kingdom; onlie two tribes remayning to Roboam, Salomons sonne, with title of king of Iuda; and tenne passing to Ieroboam his seruant, called king of Israel. So folow the seueral reignes of Abias, Asa, and Iosaphat kinges of Iuda: and of Madab, Baasa, Ela, Zambri, Amri, Achab with Iezabel, and Ochosias kinges of Israel: with the preaching, miracles, and other actes of Abias, Elias, Eliseus, and other prophetes▪ in the other eleuen chapters.

[Page 687]

THE THIRD BOOKE OF KINGES; ACCORDING TO THE HEBREWES THE FIRST OF MALACHIM.

CHAP. I. King Dauid waxing old, Abisag a Sunamite is brought to him. 5. Adonias pretending to reigne, 11. Nathan and Beth [...]abee obtaine, 28. that Salomon is declared and annointed King. 41. VVherupon Adonias (his folowers parting to their houses) 50. fleeth to the altar in the tabernacle, but vpon promise of safe [...] doth homage to Salomon.

AND king Dauid was old, and had manie daies 1 The first pa [...] King Dauides admonitions to his sonne: and his death of age: and when he was couered with clothes, he was not warmed. † His seruantes therfore 2 sayd to him: Let vs seeke for our lord the king a yong woman a virgin, and let her stand before the king, and cherishe him, and sleepe in his bosome, and warme our lord the king. † They sought therfore 3 a beautiful yong woman in al the costes of Israel, and they found Abisag a Sunamite, and brought her to the king. † And the damsel was exceding beautiful, and she slept 4 with the king, and serued him, but the king did not know her. † And Adonias the sonne of Haggith was eleuated, 5 saying: I wil reigne. And he made him self chariotes and horsemen, and fiftie men, that should runne before him. † Neither did his father controwle him at any time, saying: 6 Why didst thou this? And he also was very beautiful, the second borne after Absalom. † And he had talke with Ioab the 7 sonne of Saruia, & with For this conspiracie Abiathar was deposed. ch. [...] v. 27. Abiathar the priest, who furthered Adonias side. † But Sadoc the priest, and Banaias the sonne 8 of Ioiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Semei, and Rei, and the strength of Dauids armie was not with Adonias. † Adonias 9 therfore hauing immolated rammes and calues, and al satte beastes beside the Stone zoheleth, which was nigh to the Fountaine Rogel, called al his brethren the sonnes of the [Page 688] king, and al the men of Iuda the seruantes of the king: † But 10 Nathan the prophet, and Banaias, and al the strong ones, and Salomon his brother he called not. † Nathan therfore sayd 11 to Bethsabee the mother of Salomon: Hast thou not heard that Adonias the sonne of Haggith hath reigned, and our lord Dauid is ignorant therof? † Now therfore come, take counsel 12 of me, and saue thy life, and thy sonne Salomons. † Goe, 13 and enter in to king Dauid, and say to him: Didst not thou my lord king sweare to me thy handmayd, saying: Salomon thy sonne shal reigne after me, and he shal sitte in my throne? Why then reigneth Adonias? † And whiles thou 14 art yet speaking there with the king, I wil come after thee, and make vp thy wordes. † Bethsabee therfore went in to 15 the king in the chamber: and the king was exceding old, and Abisag the Sunamite ministred to him. † Bethsabee bowed 16 her self, and adored the king. To whom the king sayd: What is thy wil? quoth he. † Who answering sayd: My lord, thou 17 didst sweare to thy handmayd by our Lord thy God, that Salomon thy sonne shal reigne after me, and he shal sitte in my throne. † And behold now Adonias reigneth, thou my lord 18 the king not knowing therof. † He hath killed oxen, & al fatte 19 thinges, and manie rammes, and called al the kinges sonnes, Abiathar also the priest, and Ioab the General of the warfarre: but Salomon thy seruant he called not. † Notwithstanding 20 my lord king, the eyes of al Israel looke vpon thee, that thou wouldest shew them, who shal sitte in thy throne my lord king after thee. † And it shal be when my lord king sleepeth 21 with his fathers, I and my sonne Salomon shal be Basely estemed, or punished as offenders vpon suspition or [...]lo [...]. sinners. † As she was yet speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet 22 came. † And they told the king, saying: Nathan the prophete 23 is here. And when he was gone in to the king, and had adored bowing to the earth, † Nathan sayd: My lord king, didst 24 thou say: Let Adonias reigne after me, and let him sitte vpon my throne? † Because he is gone downe to day, and hath immolated 25 oxen, and fattelinges, and manie rammes, and called al the kinges sonnes, and the captaynes of the armie, Abiathar also the priest: and they eating and drinking before him, and saying: God saue the king Adonias: † me thy seruant, and 26 Sadoc the priest, and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada, and Salomon thy seruant he called not. † Is this word proceded from 27 my lord the king, and hast thou not told me thy seruant who [Page 689] should sitte vpon the throne of my lord the king after him? † And king Dauid answered, saying: Cal vnto me Bethsabee. 28 Who when she was entered in to the king, and stood before him, † the king sware, and sayd: Our Lord liueth, which 29 hath deliuered my soule from al distresse, † that as I sware to 30 thee by our Lord the God of Israel, saying: Salomon thy sonne shal reigne after me, and he shal sitte vpon my throne for me, so wil I doe this day. † And Bethsabee bowing her 31 con [...]enance vnto the earth adored the king, saying: God saue my lord for euer. † King Dauid also said: Cal me Sadoc the 32 priest, and Nathan the prophet, & Banaias the sonne of Io [...]ad [...]. Who when they were entred in before the king, † he said to 33 them: Take with you the seruantes of your lord, and sette Salomon my sonne vpon my mule: and bring him into Gihon. † And let Sadoc the priest anoint him there, and Nathan the 34 prophet to be king ouer Israel: and you shal sound the trumpet, and shal say: God saue king Salomon. † And you shal 35 goe vp after him, and he shal come, and shal sitte vpon my throne, and he shal reigne for me: and I wil ordaine him that he be prince ouer Israel, and ouer Iuda. † And Banaias 36 the sonne of Ioiada answered the king, saying: Amen: so speake our Lord the God of my lord the king. † As our Lord 37 hath beene with my lord the king, so be he with Salomon, and make his throne higher then the throne of my lord king Dauid. † Sadoc therfore the priest, and Nathan the prophet 38 went downe, and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada, and Cherethi, and Phelethi: and they set Salomon vpon the mule of king Dauid, and brought him into Gihon. † And Sadoc the priest 39 tooke a horne of oile out of the tabernacle, and annointed Salomon: and they sounded the trumpet, and al the people said: God saue king Salomon. † And al the multitude went 40 vp after him, and the people singing on shaulmes, and reioysing with great gladnes, and the earth sounded of their crie. † And Adonias heard, and al that were inuited of him, 41 and the feast was ended: yea and Ioab hearing the voice of the trumpet, said: What meaneth the crie of the citie making a tumult? † As he yet spake, came Ionathas the sonne 42 of Abiathar the priest: to whom Adonias said: Come in, because thou art a stout man, and bringest good newes, † And 43 Ionathas answered Adonias: Not so: for our lord king Dauid hath appointed Salomon king. † and hath sent with 44 [Page 690] him Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophete, and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada, and Cerethi, and Phelethi, and they haue set him vpon the kinges mule. † And Sadoc the priest, and Nathan 45 the prophete haue annointed him king in Gihon: & they are gone vp thence reioysing, and the citie sounded: this is the voice that you heard. † Yea and Salomon sitteth vpon 46 the throne of the kingdom. † And the kinges seruantes entring 47 in, haue blessed our lord king Dauid, saying: God amplify the name of Salomon aboue thy name, and magnifie his throne aboue thy throne. And the king 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. adored in his bed: † and he hath thus spoken: Blessed be our Lord the 48 God of Israel, who hath geuen this day one sitting in my throne, mine eies seing it † They therfore were terrified, 49 and they al arose, that had beene inuited of Adonias, and euery man went his way. † And Adonias fearing Salomon 50 arose, and went, and held the horne of the altar. † And they 51 told Salomon saying: Behold Adonias fearing king Salomon, hath taken hold of the horne of the altar, saying: Let king Salomon sweare to me this day, that he wil not kil his seruant with the sword. † And Salomon sayd: If he be a good man, 52 there shal not so much as one heare of his fal vpon the ground▪ but if euil shal be found in him, he shal die. † King 53 Salomon therfore sent, and brought him out from the altar: and going in he adored king Salomon: and Salomon sayd to him: Goe to thy house.

CHAP. II. Dauid geueth godlie preceptes to Salomon. 5. willeth him to punish certaine offenders: 10. and dieth. 12. Salomon reigneth. 13. Adonias, by intercession of [...]e [...]hsabee, requesleth to haue Abisag to wife: 22. but is put to death for demanding her. 26. Abiathar the priest is banished, and deposed, for conspiring with Adonias. 28. Ioab also for the same cause, and former crimes is slaine. 36. Semei is confined in Ierusalem, 40. & for transgressing his limites, together with old faultes is likewise slaine.

AND the dayes of Dauid approched that he should die, 1 and he commanded his sonne Salomon, saying: † I 2 enter into the way of al flesh: take courage, and play the man. † And obserue the watches of our Lord thy God, that thou 3 walke in his waies, and keepe his ceremonies, and his preceptes, and iudgementes, and testimonies, as is written in the law of Moyses: that thou mayst vnderstand al thinges which thou doest, and whithersoeuer thou shalt turne thy selfe: [Page 691] † that our Lord may confirme his wordes, which he hath 4 spoken of me, saying: If thy children shal keepe their waies, and shal walke before me in truth, in al their hart, and in al their soul, there shal not altogether be taken from thee a man out of the throne of Israel. † Thou knowest also what Ioab 5 the sonne of Saruia hath done to me, what he did to the two princes of the armie of Israel, to Abner the sonne of Ner, and Amasa the sonne of Iether: whom he slewe, & [...]hed the bloud of warre in peace, & put the bloud of battel in his belt, which was about his loynes, and in his shoe, which was on his feete. † Thou shalt doe therfore according to thy wisdom, and 6 shalt not bring his hoare head peaceably vnto hel. † But to 7 the sonnes also of Berzellai the Galaadite thou shalt render kindnes, and they shal eate on thy table: for they mette me when I fled from the face of Absolom thy brother. † Thou 8 hast also with thee Semei the sonne of Gera the sonne of Iemini of Bahurim, who cursed me with a wicked curse, when I went to the Campe; but because he came downe to meete me when I passed Iordam, and I sware to him by our Lord, saying: I wil not kil thee with the sword: † doe not thou 9 suffer him to be guiltles. But thou art a wise man, so that thou knowest what thou shalt doe to him▪ and thou shalt bring his hoare heare with bloud vnto hel. † Dauid therefore slept with 10 his fathers, and was buried in the citie of Dauid. † And the 11 daies that Dauid reigned in Israel, are fourtie yeares: in Hebron he reigned seuen yeares, in Ierusalem thirtie three.

† And Salomon sate vpon the throne of Dauid his father, 12 The second part. O [...] Salomons r [...]ne, and actes good and bad. and his kingdome was confirmed excedingly. † And Adonias 13 the sonne of Haggith entered in to Bethsabee the mother of Salomon. Who said to him: Is thy coming peaceable? Who answered: peaceable. † And he added: I haue a word to speake 14 with thee. To whom she said: Speake. And he: † Thou knowest, 15 quoth he, that the kingdom was mine, and al Israel had purposed to make me ouer them to be their king: but the kingdom is transposed, & is made my brothers: for it was appointed him of our Lord † Now therefore I desire one petition 16 of thee; Confound not my face▪ Who said to him: Speake. † And he said: I pray speake to Salomon the king (for he can 17 not denie thee any thing) that he geue me Abisag the Sunamite to wife. † And Bethsabee saied: wel, I wil speake [...] thee 18 to the king † Bethsabee therefore came to king Salomon, to 19 [Page 692] speake vnto him for Adonias: and the king arose to meete her, and adored her, and sate downe vpon his throne: and a throne was sette for the kinges mother, who sate on his right hand. † And she said to him: One litle petition I desire of thee, confound 20 not my face And the king said to her: My mother aske: for In al co [...]e [...] suires [...] [...] the [...] to heare his mother. it behoueth not that I turne away thy face. † Who said: 21 Let Abis [...]g the Sunamite be geuen to Adonias thy brother to wife. † And king Salomon answered, and said to his mother: 22 Why doest thou aske Abis [...]g the Sunamite for Adonias? aske for him also the kingdom: for he is my brother elder then I, & hath Abiathar the priest, & Ioab the sonne of Saruie. † Therfore 23 king Salomon sware by our Lord, saying: These thinges doe God to me, and these adde he, because Adonias hath spoken this word against his life. † And now, our Lord liueth 24 which hath established me, and placed me vpon the throne of Dauid my father, and which hath made me a house, as he spake, this day shal Adonias be slaine. † And king Salomon 25 sent by the hand of Banaias the sonne of Ioiada, who slewe him, and he died. † To Abiathar also the priest the king said: 26 Goe into Anathoth to thy field, and thou in deede art a man of death: but to day I wil not kil thee, because thou didst carie the arke of our Lord God before Dauid my father, & hast susteyned labour in al thinges, wherein my father laboured. † Salomon therefore 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. cast out Abiathar, that he should not 27 be the priest of our Lord, that the word of our lord might be fulfilled, which he spake concerning the house of Heli in Silo. † And then a messenger came to Ioab for that Ioab had 28 turned after Adonias, and after Salomon had not turned: Ioab therfore fled into the tabernacle of our Lord, & caught the horne of the altar. † And it was told king Salomon, that 29 Ioab was fled into the tabernacle of our Lord, and was beside the altar: & Salomon sent Banaias the sonne of Ioiada, saying: Goe, kil him. † And Banaias came to the tabernacle of our Lord, and said to him: Thus sayth the king: Come forth. Who said: I wil not come forth, but here wil I die. Banaias reported his word to the king, saying: Thus spake Ioab, and thus he answered me. † And the king said to him: Doe as he 31 hath spoken: and kil him, & burie him, and thou shalt remoue the innocent bloud, which hath beene shed of Ioab, from me, and from the house of my father. † And our Lord shal render 32 his bloud vpon his head, because he murdered two iust men, & [Page 693] better then him self: and slew them with his sword, my father Dauid not knowing, Abner the sonne of Ner general of the warfare of Israel, and Amasa the sonne of Iether general of the armie of Iuda: † and their bloud shal returne vpon the head of 33 Ioab, and vpon the head of his seede for euer But to Dauid and his seede and his house, and to his throne be peace for euer from our Lord. † Banaias therfore the sonne of Ioiada 34 went vp, and setting vpon him slewe him: and he was buried in his house in the desert. † And the king appoynted Banaias 35 the sonne of Ioiada for him ouer the armie, and Sadoc the priest he 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. placed for Abiathar. † The king also sent, and 36 called Semei, and said to him: Build thee a house in Ierusalem, and dwel there: and thou shalt not goe out thence hither and thither. † But what day soeuer thou shalt goe out, and shalt 37 passe the Torrent Cedron know that thou art to be slaine: thy bloud shal be vpon thy head. † And Semei said to the king: 38 The saying is good: as my lord the king hath spoken, so wil thy seruant doe. Semei therfore dwelt in Ierusalem, manie dayes. † And it came to pas [...]e after three yeares, that the seruantes 39 of Semei sled to Achis the sonne of Maacha the king of Geth: and it was told Semei that his seruantes were gone into Geth. † And Semei arose, and sadled his asle, and went 40 to Achis into Geth to require his seruantes, and he brought them out of Geth. † And it was told Salomon that Semei 41 went into Geth out of Ierusalem, and was returned. † And 42 sending he called him, and said to him: Did I not testifie to thee by our Lord, and told thee before: What day soeuer thou going out shalt passe hither & thither, know that thou shalt die? And thou didst answere me: The saying is good, which I haue heard. † Why then hast thou not kept the oath of our 43 Lord, and the precept that I commanded thee? † And the 44 king said to Semei: Thou knowest al the euil, wherof thy hart is priuy to thy selfe, which thou dist to Dauid my father: our Lord hath rendred thy malice vpon thy head: † And king 45 Salomon be blessed, and the throne of Dauid shal be stable before our Lord for euer: † The king therfore commanded Banaias the sonne of Ioiada: who going out, stroke him, and he died.

CHAP. III. King Salomon marieth Ikaraos sister. 3. offereth Victims in high places. 5. admonished by God in his sleepe to demand what he wil, he asketh wisdom [Page 694] to gouerne his people. 10. which God granteth him, with much richesse also and glorie. 16. He decideth a controuersie betwen two wemen contending about a liuing child and a dead.

THE kingdom therfore was established in the hand of 1 Salomon, and he was ioyned in affinitie to Pharao the king of Aegypt: for he tooke his daughter, and brought her into the citie of Dauid, vntil he accomplished building his owne house, and the house of our Lord, and the wal of Ierusalem round about. † But yet the people immolated in the 2 excelses: for there was no temple built to the name of our Lord vntil that day. † And Salomon loued our Lord, walking 3 in the preceptes of Dauid his father, sauing that he immolated in the excelses, and burnt incense. † He went therfore into 4 Gabaon, to immolate there: for that was a verie great excelse: a thousand hostes for holocaust did Salomon offer vpon that altar in Gabaon. † And our Lord appeared to Salomon in a 5 dreame by night saying: Aske what thou wilt that I may geue it thee. † And Salomon said: Thou hast done great mercie 6 with thy seruant Dauid my father, euen as he walked in thy fight in truth, and iustice, and a right hart with thee: for thou hast kept thy great mercie, and hast geuen him a sonne sitting vpon his throne, as it is this day. † And now Lord 7 God, thou hast made thy seruant to reigne for Dauid my father: but I am a litle childe, and ignorant of my going out and coming in. † And thy seruant is in the middes of the 8 people, which thou hast chosen, a people infinite, which can not be numbred and counted for the multitude. † Thou 9 shalt therfore geue to thy seruant a docible hart, that he may iudge the people, & discerne betwen good and euil. For who shal be able to iudge this people, this thy people great in number? 10 † The word therfore was liked before our Lord, that Salomon had asked such a thing. † And our Lord sayd to Salomon: 11 Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not desired for thy self manie dayes, nor riches, nor the liues of thine enemies, but hast desired wisedom for thy self to discerne iudgement: † behold I haue done vnto thee according to thy wordes, 12 & haue geuen thee a wise hart and intelligent, in so much that [...] before thee hath beene like thee, nor shal a [...]ise after thee. † Ye [...] and these thinges, which thou di [...] not aske, I 13 haue geuen thee: to witte, riches, and glorie, so that none [Page 695] hath beene like thee [...]g the kinges al dayes hertofore. † And if thou wilt wall [...] my wayes, and keepe my preceptes 14 and my [...]n mand [...]ntes, as thy father wa [...]k [...]. I wil make thy dayeslong. † Therfore Salomon awaked, and perceiued 15 that it was a dreame: and when he was come to Ierusalem, he stood before the arke of couenant of our Lord, and offered holocaustes, and made pacifique victimes, and a great feast to al his seruantes. † Then came there two wemen har 16 The Epistle on monday in the 4 weke of Le [...]. lottes to the king, and stood before him: † of the which one 17 said: I besech thee, my lord, I and this woman dwelt in one house, and I was deliuered of a childe beside her in the chamber. † And the third day, after that I was deliuered, she also 18 was deliuered, and we were together, and no other person with vs in the house, except we two. † And this womans 18 childe died in the night. For sleping she oppressed him. † And 20 rysing in the dead tyme of the night, she tooke my childe from the side of me thy handmayd being aslepe, and layed it in her bosome: and her childe that was dead, she put in my bosome. † And when I was rysen in the morning to geue my 21 childe milke, he appeared dead: whom more diligently beholding when it was cleere day, I found that it was not mine which I bare. † And the other woman answered: It is not 22 so as thou sayst, but thy childe is dead, and mine liueth. On the contrarie part she sayd: Thou liest: for my childe liueth, and thy childe is dead. And in this maner they stroue before the king. † Then sayd the king: This woman saith, My childe 23 liueth, and thy childe is dead. And this hath answered, No, but thy childe is dead, and mine liueth. † The king therfore 24 said: Bring me a sword. And when they had brought a sword before the King, † Diuide, quoth he, the liuing child into 25 two partes, and geue the halfe part to one, and halfe to the other. † But the woman, whose childe was aliue, said to the 26 king (for her bowels were moued vpon her childe) I besech thee my lord, geue her the childe aliue, and kil it not. On the contrarie part she sayd: 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. be it neither mine, nor thine, but let it be diuided. † The king answered, and said: Geue 27 vnto this woman the infant aliue, and let it not be killed for this is the mother therof. † Al Israel therfore heard the 28 iudgement that the king had iudged, and they feared the king, seing the wisedom of God to be in him to doe iudgement.

[Page 696]

CHAP. IIII. Chiefe men of Salomons kingdom are recited by their names, and offices. 22. likewise the prouision of victuals for his house, 26. the number of his horses, 19. his wisedom excelleth al others. 3 [...]. he writte manie parables and verses, and lernedly discoursed of al thinges.

AND king Salomon was reigning ouer al Israel: † and 1 2 these were the princes which he had: Azarias the sonne of Sadoc the priest: † Elihoreph, and Ahia the sonnes of Sisa 3 Scribes: Iosaph at the sonne of Ahilud, register: † Banaias the 4 sonne of Ioiada, ouer the armie: and Sadoc, and Abiathar priestes. † Azarias the sonne of Nathan, ouer them that assisted 5 the king: Zabud the sonne of Nathan priest the kinges frend: † and Ahizar gouernour of the house: and Adoni [...]am the 6 sonne of Abda ouer the tributes. † And Salomon had twelue 7 gouernours ouer al Israel, which serued out victuals for the king and for his house: for euerie one ministred necessaries, eche man his moneth in the yeare. † And these are their 8 names: Benhur in mount Ephraim. † Bendecar, in Macces, 9 and in Salebim, and in Bethsames, and in Elon, and in Bethhanan. † Benhesed in Aruboth: his was Socho, and al the 10 land Epher. † Benabinadab, whose was al Nepha Dor, had 11 Tapheth the daughter of Salomon to wife. † Bana the sonne 12 of Ahilud gouerned Thanach and Mageddo, and al Bethsan, which is beside Satthana vnder Iezrahel, from Bethsan vnto Abelmehula ouer against Iecm [...]an. † Bengaber in Ramoth 13 galaad: had Auothiair the sonne of Manasses in Galaad, he was chiefe in al the countrie of Argob, which is in Basan, three score cities great and walled, which had brasen lockes. † Ahinadab the sonne of Addo was chiefe in Manaim. 14 † Achimaas in Nephthali: yea he also had Basemath the daughter 15 of Salomon in mariage. † Baana the sonne of Husi, in 16 Aser, and in Baloth. † Iosaphat the sonne of Pharue, in Isacar. 17 † Semei the sonne of Ela, in Beniamin. † Gaber the sonne 18 19 of Vri, in the land of Galaad in the land of Sehon the king of the Ammorrheite, & of Og the king of Basan, ouer al thinges that were in that land. † Iuda and Israel innumereble as the 20 sand of the sea in multitude: eating, and drinking, and reioysing. 21 † And Salomon was in his dominion, hauing al the kingdomes with him from the riuer of the land of the Philisthijms vnto the border of Aegypt: of them that offered him [Page 697] presents, and serued him al the dayes of his life. † And the 22 prouision of Salomon was euerie day thirtie measures of floure, & three score measures of meale, † tenne fat oxen and 23 twentie pasture fed, & a hundred rammes, beside the venison of hartes, roes, and buffles, & fatted foule. † For he possessed 24 al the countrie, which was beyond the riuer, from Thapsa vnto Goza, and al the kinges of those countries: and he had peace on euerie side round about. † And Iuda and Israel 25 dwelt without anie feare, euerie one vnder his vine, and vnder his figtree, from Dan vnto Bersabe al the dayes of Salomon. † And Salomon had fourtie thousand stalles of chariothorses 26 and twelue thousand for the saddle. † And the foresaide 27 gouernours of the king fed them: yea and the necessaries of king Salomons table they gaue forth with great care in their time. † Barley also and strow for the horses, and beastes, 28 they brought to the place, where the king was, according as it was appointed them. † God also gaue wisdom to Salomon 29 and prudence exceding much, and latitude of hart as the sand that is in the sea shore. † And the wisdom of Salomon passed 30 the wisdom of al them in the east, and of the Aegyptians, † and he was wiser then al men: wiser then Ethan the Ezralite, 31 and Heman, and Chalcol, and Dorda the sonnes of Mahol and he was renowmed in al nations round about. † Salomon 32 also spake These bookes are not extant. three thousand parables: and his songues were a thousand & fiue. † And he disputed of trees from the ceder, 33 that is in Libanus, vnto the hyssop which cometh out of the wal: and he discoursed of beastes, and foules, and creeping wormes, and fishes. † And there came from al people to heare 34 the wisdom of Salomon, and from al the kinges of the earth, which heard his wisdom.

CHAP. V. Hiram king of Tyre granteth timber and workmen for building the Temple: Salomon allowing victuals, and paying wages. 13. the number of workmen and ouerseers.

HIRAM also the king of Tyre sent his seruantes to Salomon: 1 for he heard that they had auointed him king for his father: because Hiram had bene Dauids frend at al time. † And Salomon sent to Hiram, saying: † Thou knowest 2 the wil of Dauid my father, and that he could not build 3 a house to the name of our Lord his God, because of warres [Page 698] imminent round about vntil our Lord put them vnder the sole of his feete. † But now our Lord my God hath geuen me rest 4 round about: and there is no satan, nor il rencounter. † Wherfore 5 I purpose to build a temple to the name of our Lord my God, as our Lord hath spoken to Dauid my father, saying: Thy sonne, whom I wil geue for thee vpon thy throne, he shal build a house to my name. † Command therfore that thy 6 seruantes cut me downe cedres out of Libanus, and let my seruantes be with thy seruantes: and I wil geue thee the hire of thy seruantes whatsoeuer thou wilt aske, for thou knowest how there is not in my people a man that hath skil to hew wood as the Sidonians. † When Hiram therfore had heard the 7 wordes of Salomon, he reioysed excedingly, and said: Blessed be the Lord God this day, who hath geuen vnto Dauid a sonne most wi [...]e ouer this people so great in number. † And Hiram 8 sent to Salomon, saying: I haue heard whatsoeuer thou hast willed me: I wil doe al thy wil in cedre trees, and firre trees. † My seruantes shal bring them downe from Libanus to the 9 s [...]a▪ and I wil put them in boates in the sea, vnto the place, which thou shalt signifie to me; and wil land them there, and thou shalt take them: and thou shalt allow me necessaries, that there be meate geuen for my house. † Therfore Hiram 10 gaue Salomon cedre trees, and firre trees, according to al his wil. † And Salomon allowed Hiram twentie thousand cores 11 of wheate, for prouision for his house, and twentie cores of [...] pure oile: these thinges did Salomon geue to Hiram euerie yeare. † Our Lord also gaue wisedom to Salomon, as he 12 spake to him: & there was peace betwen Hiram & Salomon, and both made a league. † And king Salomon chose workm [...]n 13 out of al Israel, and the taxed number was of thirtie thousand men. † And he sent them into Libanus, ten thousand 14 euerie moneth by course, so that two monethes they were in their houses: and Adoniram was ouer this taxing. † And Salomon had seuentie thousand of them that caried 15 burdens, and eightie thousand hewers of stones in the mountaine: † besides the ouerseers which were ouer euerie worke, 16 in number three thousand, and three hundred that commanded the people, and them that did the worke. † And the 17 king commanded, that they should take great stones, chosen stones for the foundation of the temple, and should square them: † which the masons of Salomon, and masons of 18 [Page 699] Hiram hewed: moreouer the Giblians prepared timber and stones, to build the house.

CHAP. VI. In the yeare foure hundred and foure score after the Israelites came from Aegypt, Salomon, the fourth yeare of his reigne, begenneth to build the Te [...]e 2. The principal partes with the greatnes, forme, and ornamentes therof [...] described. 38. It is in building seuen yeares.

AND it came to passe in the foure hundred and foure 1 score yeare of the coming forth of the children of Israel out of the Land of Aegypt, in the fourth yeare, the moneth Zio (that is the second moneth) of the reigne of Salomon ouer Israel, he began to build a house to our Lord. [...] 2 the house, which king Salomon built to our Lord, had three score cubites in length, and twentie cubites in br [...]h▪ [...]nd thirtie cubites in height. † And there was a porche [...] 3 the temple of twentie cubites of length, according to the measure of the bredth of the temple: and it had ten cubites of bredth before the face of the temple. † And he made in 4 the temple Narovv vvithout & broad vvithin. oblique windowes. † And he built vpon the wal of the temple loftes round about, † in the walles of the 5 house round about the temple and the oracle, and he made sides round about. † The loft that was vnderneth, had fiue cubites 6 of bredth, & the middle loft was of six cubites in bredth, and the third loft had seuen cubites of bredth. And he put beames in the house round about on the outside, that they might not cleaue to the walles of the temple. † And the 7 house when it was built, was built of stones hewed and perfected: and hammer, and hachet, and al the to [...]l [...] of y [...] were [...] not heard in the house when it was built. † The doot [...] 8 of the middle side was in the wal of the house on the r [...]h [...] hand: and by wynding staires they went vp into the middle row me, and from the middle into the third. † And he built 9 the house, and finished it: he couered also the house with seelings of cedre trees. † And he built a loft ouer al the 10 house fiue cubites of height, and he couered the house with cedre timber. † And the word of our Lord came to Salomon, 11 saying: † This house, which thou buildest, if thou wilt 12 walke in my preceptes, and doe my iudgementes, and keepe al my commandementes, going in them, I wil establish my word to thee, which I spake to Dauid thy father. † And I 13 [Page 700] wil dwel in the middes of the children of Israel, and wil not forsake my people Israel. † Salomon therfore built the house, 14 and finished it. † And he built the walles of the house on the 15 inside, with cedre loftes, from the pauement of the house to the toppe of the walles, and to the roofes, he couered it with cadre trees on the inside: and he couered the floore of the house with boordes of firre. † And he built loftes of cedre 16 timber of twentie cubites at the hinder part of the temple, from the pauement to the higher partes: and he made the inner house of the oracle to be Holie of holies or most holie place. Sanctum Sanctorum. † Moreouer the temple it self was fourtie cubites before the 17 doores of the oracle. † And al the house was couered within 18 with cede [...], hauing roundels, and the ioyntes therof coningly wrought and the engrauinges standing out: al thinges were couered with bordes: 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. neither could there a stone appeare in the wal at al. † And he made the oracle in the middes 19 of the house, in the inner part, that he might put the arke of couenant of our Lord there. † Moreouer the oracle had 20 twentie cubites in length, and twentie cubites of bredth, and twentie cubites in height. And he couered and seeled it with most pure gold▪ and the altar also he decked with ceder. † The house also before the oracle he couered with most 21 pure gold, and fastened on plates with nailes of gold. † And 22 there was nothing in the temple that was not couered with gold: yea and al the altar of the oracle he couered with gold. † And he made in the oracle two cherubs of oliue trees, of 23 ten cubites in height. † One wing of a cherub of fiue cubites, 24 and the other wing of a cherub fiue cubites: that is, hauing tenne cubites, from the end of one wing vnto the end of the other wing. † Of ten cubites also was the second cherub: 25 in like measure, and the worke was one in both cherubs, † that is to say, one cherub had the height of ten cubites, 26 and in like maner the second cherub. † And he put the cherubs 27 in the middes of the inner temple: and the cherubs extended their winges, and the one wing touched the wal, and the wing of the second cherub touched the other wal: and the other winges in the middle part of the temple touched ech other. † He couered also the cherubs with gold. † And 28 29 al the walles of the temple round about he graued with diuerse engrauinges and caruing: & he made in them cherubs, and palme trees, and 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. diuerse pictures, as it were standing [Page 701] out of the wal, and coming forth. † Yea the pauement also 30 of the house he couered with gold within and without. † And 31 in the entrance of the oracle he made litle doores of the timber of oliuetrees, and fiue corner postes. † And two doores 32 of oliuetimber: and he graued in them pictures of Cherubs, and figures of Palme trees, and grauen workes standing out very much; and he couered them with gold: and he couered as wel the cherubs as the palmetrees, and the other thinges with gold. † And he made in the entrance of the temple postes 33 of oliuetimber foure square: † and two doores of firre trees, 34 one agaynst an other: and either doore was duble, and so opened with folding leaues. † And he graued cherubs, and 35 palmetrees, and engrauinges appearing very much: and he couered al with golden plates in square worke by rule. † And 36 he built the inner court with three rowes of stones polished, and one rowe of ceder timber. † In the fourth yeare was the 37 The end of the fourth age. house of our Lord founded in the moneth of Zio: † and in 38 the eleuenth yeare in the moneth Bul (that is the eight moneth) the house was perfected in al the workes therof, and in al the implementes therof: and he was building it seuen yeares.

THE CONTINVANCE OF THE CHVRCH AND RELIGION IN THE FOVRTH AGE: FROM the parting of Israel out of Aegypt, to the fundation of the Temple. The space of 480. yeares.

VVE HAVE senne already in the three first ages, or distinct times of the world, the biginning, increase, and continuance of the Church and Religion of God, without interruption. Now in this fourth age, in which God gaue his people a written Law, it is yet more euident, that the Articles of [...]aith, other pointes of religion, & state of the Church more expressed in this fourth age then before. same faith and religion, not only continued but also was more expressed, and explicated; and the Church had more varietie of Sacrifices, Sacraments, and other holie Rites, & Obseruances: & the two states Ecclesiastical and Temporal more distinguished, and ech of them, especially the Priestlie and Leuitical Hierarchie, more disposed in subordination: the ciuil gouernment also vnder Dukes Iudges, and Kinges, more distributed among superiour and inferiour officers then before.

For first the principal point and ground of al religion, the beleefe in Beleefe in one God. one God, and his proper diuine worship, is aboue al most stristly commanded, often repeated, diligently obserued by the good, and seuerely punished in [Page 702] trans gressours. To which end and purpose, after that God had singularly selected three more renowmed Patriarches, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, preseruing them by his special grace from idolatrie, and from wicked wayes of most peoples and nations, blessed their seede, not in the whole progenie of the two former, but in Iacob onlie, whom he otherwise named Israel, multiplying his children excedingly, yea most of al (which was most maruelous) in holie persecution: then bringing them forth of the fornace of Egypt, in his strong hand, as is recorded in the former age, at last his Diuine Maiestie deliuered to them his perfect and eternal Law, conteyned Diuine lawes. in two tables, distributed into tenne preceptes, teaching them their Moral. proper duties first towards himselfe their God and Lord, then towards ech other. Adding moreouer for the practise and execution therof, other particular Ceremonial precepts of two sortes, to witte, Ceremonial prescribing certaine determinate maners and rites, in obseruing the commandements of the first table pertaining to God: and Iudicial lawes directing in particular how to fulfil the Iudicial commandements of the second table, concerning our duties towards our neighbours. So we see the whole law is nothing els, but to loue God aboue al, Mat. 22. and our neighboures as our selues. The maner of performing al, is to beleue and hope in one onlie Lord God, honour and serue him alone, who made al of nothing, conserueth al, wil iudge al, and render to al men as they deserue, and therfore fully to confirme this point, he beginneth his commandements with expresse prohibition of al false and imaginarie goddes, saying (Exod. 20. v 3.) Thou shalt not haue strange goddes, & after Onely God to be [...]. threates to the transgressours, and recital of the other nine commandementes, he concludeth ( v. 23.) with repetition of the first, saying: You shal not make goddes of siluer, nor goddes of gold shal you make to you. [...] i [...] repeted and explaned ( Deut. 5.) And in the next chapter Moyses [...] the people saith: Heare Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. And God himselfe speaking againe sayth: (Exod. 23.) See ye that I am onlie, and there is no other God besides me. The royal prophet Dauid (2 Reg. 22. and Psalm. 17.) who is God but our God? and in sundrie other places the sene [...] doctrine of one God is grounded, confirmed, and established.

The Misterie of the B. Trinitie, or of three Diuine Persons, is no lesse true The [...] and certaine, then that there is but one God, though not so manifest to reason, no [...] so expressly taught in the old Testament, yet beleued then also, and often in inuaded, where God is expressed by names of the plural number: as Elobim, Elim, Elah [...], Saddai, Adonai, Tsebaoth: which import pluralitie of Persons in God, who is b [...]e one nature and substance. Distinction also of Persons in God [...]ced (Exod. 33.) God saying: I wil cal in the name of the Lord That is (as S. Augustin and other fathers expound it) the second q. 154. in Eoxd. Person by his grace maketh his seruants to cal vpon God. More distinctly [Page 703] (Psalm. 2.) The Lord said to me: Thou art my Sonne, I this day haue begotten thee. (Psalm. 109.) The Lord said to my Lord: that is, God the Father to God the Sonne: who according to his diuinitie is the Lord of Dauid, according to his humanitie the sonne of Dauid. The same Mat. 22. king Dauid maketh mention also of the third Person, the Holie Ghost praying (Psalm. 50.) Thy holie Spirit take not from me. In the forme of blessing the people (Num. 6.) al three Persons some to be vnderstood in the name of our Lord thrise repeted; our Lord (the Father) blesse thee and keepe thee. Our Lord (the Sonne) shew his face to thee, and haue mercie vpon thee Our Lord (the Holie Ghost) turne his countenance vnto thee, and geue thee peace.

Of the Incarnation of the Sonne of God, we haue in this age manie prophecies [...] Christ. and figures. Moyses euidently (Deut. 18) forsheweth that after other prophets Christ the Sonne of God should come in flesh, and redeme mankind, as S. Peter teacheth (Act. 3.) Likewise in his Canticle, and Blessing of the tribes (Deut. 32 & 33) he speaketh more expresly of Christ and his Church, then of the Iewes and thier Synagogue. The starre prophecied by Balaam (Num. 24.) forshewed both to Iewes and Gentiles, that Christ should subdue al nations. Iosu [...] both in name and office was a manifest figure of IESVS Christ, Also the Iudge, and Kinges, some in one thing, some in an other, most especially king Dauid and king Salomon, were figures of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. The brasen serpent (Num. 21.) sign fied Christ to be crucified, as him selfe expenndeth it (Ioan. 3.) Bri fly the whole Law was a pedagogue, or conductor to bring men to Christ (Galat. 3.) and by him to know God and them selues: to wit, God omnipotent, al perfect, Creator of al, our Father, Redemer, and Sanctifier: and man his chief earthlie creature; though of himselfe w [...]k [...] and impotent, yea through sinne miserable, yet in nature of free condition, indued wish vnderstanding, to conceiue, and discourse; and with freewil, to choose or refuse what liketh or displeaseth him.

For God appointing al creatures their offices, ingraffed in al other thinges Freewil in Angels and men inuariable inclination to performe the same, so that they could neither by vertue nor sinne make their state better not worse then it was created, but ordaining Angels and men to a higher end of eternal felicitie, left their wils free to agree vnto, or to resist his precepts, and counsels. VVherupon Angels cooperating with Gods grace were confirmed in glorie, and some reuoking were eternally damned. Man also offending fel into damnable state, but through penance may be saued, if he cooperate with new grace of our Redemer, which is in his choise to doe, or omitte. As when God gaue his people meate in the desert (Exod. 16.) he so instructed them, how to receiue it and vse it, without force or compulsion, that he might proue them (as himself speaketh) [Page 604] whether they would walke in his law or no. And after making couenant with them (Exod. 19. Deut. 26.) required and accepted their voluntarie consent: entring into formal contract or bargaine betwen him self and them: he promising on the one partie to make them his peculiar people, a priestlie kingdome, and a holie nation: they on the other partie promising loyaltie, obedience and obseruation of his commandements, saying: Al thinges that our Lord hath spoken we wil doe. For which cause Gods promises are conditional (Deut. 7.) if thou kepe his iudgements, God wil keepe his couenant to thee. Againe most plainly (Deut. 11.) Behold I sette before your sight this day benediction and malediction, and (Deut. 30.) I cal for witnesses this day heauen and earth, that I haue proposed to you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose▪ therfore life that thou mayest liue. In al which it is certaine that Gods promise being firme, mans wil is variable, and so the euent not necessarie: which made Caleb hoping of victorie to say (Iosue 14.) if perhaps our Lord be with me. Neither doth Gods foreknowledge make the euent necessarie, Obiection of Gods [...]or [...]novvledge answered. for he seeth the effect in the cause, as it is voluntarie or casual: yea God knoweth al before, and some times fortelleth thinges, vvhich conditionally vvould happen, and in deed (the condition fayling) come not to passe, as (1. Reg. 23.) God answered, that the men of Ceila would betray Dauid (meaning if he staied there) vvhich they did not; for he parted from thence.

Yet is not man able by this his freedome, nor otherwise of himself, to do, Grace necessarie. nor so much as to thinke anie good thing but through Gods mere mercie, and 2. Cor. [...]. grace, geuen him without his deseruing, sufficient to al, and effectual to those that accept it. God also giueth particular grace for special functions; as (Leuit. 8.) to Priestes (Num. 11.) to seuentie ancients, and (1. Reg. 10.) to king Saul.

By vvhich diuine assistance the commandements of God are possible, Gods cōmand mentes possible to be kept. as himselfe auoucheth, saying: (Deut. 30.) This commandment that I command thee this day is not aboue thee. Againe; I haue sette before thee life and good, death and euil, that thou mayest loue God, walke in his wayes, and keepe his commandementes.

Workes done by grace and freevvil are good and commendable, Moyses so testifing (Deut. 14.) This is your wisdome and vnderstanding before peoples. Yea are meritorious: and revvardes are promised for the same Good workes. (Leuit. 26.) and contrariwise punishments threatned to the transgressours. Meritorious. And Booz knowing revvard to be due for vvel doing, prayed God to render to Ruth (ch. 2.) a ful reward for her wel deseruing. The royal prophet affirmeth (Psalm. 18.) that in keeping Gods preceptes is much reward. and (Psal. 118.) professeth that he inclined his hart to keepe them for reward.

Amongst other seruices of God, and meanes of mens saluation, external [Page 705] Sacrifice is of the greatest. And therfore the maner of offering al sortes is a [...] D [...]ers sertes▪ of Sacrifices large prescribed in the Law, especially in the seuen first Chapters of Leuiticus. The first and principal was Holocaust, wherin al the oblation was [...]rned Holocaust. and consumed in the honour of God our Soueraigne Lord. The second was Sacrifice for sinne, according to the diuersitie of offences and persones, wherof [...] sinne. part was burned, the other part remained to the priestes, except it were for the sinnes of priestes, or of the whole multitude (Leuit. 4.) for then the priestes had no portion, but al was offered to God. The third was pacifique sacrifice, Pacifique. either of thanksgeuing for benefites receiued, or to obtaine Gods fauour in al occurrent necessities, and good desires. And of both these sortes one part was consumed in Gods honour, an other part was the priestes, the third was theirs that gaue the oblation. In confirmation of these sacrifices God at first miraculously sent fire to burne them (Leuit. 9.) wherof he had geuen commandment before (Leuit. 6.) that it should be conserued, and neuer extinguished, Fire sent from God [...] charitie. to teach vs especially of the new Testament, that haue the real Sacrifice, and verie hodie of the former shadowes and figures, to nourish and keepe the fire of charitie, not procured by our owne power, but geuen by God, that it neuer cease, nor be extinguished in our hartes.

Likewise in the same law of Moyses, besides▪ Circumcision instituted before Sacraments (Gen. 17.) and here confirmed and continued (Leuit. 12. Iosue. 5) al hostes and sacrifices for sinne (Leuit. 4. 5. 6. and 7.) consecration of Priestes, (Leuit. 8) and the sacrifices adioyned therunto, also diuers other washinges and purifications of legal vncieannes (Leuit. 14. 15. 16. Alanus de Sacra. c. 9. and 17.) were al Sacraments; signifying either first iustification and remission of sinne, or increase of grace, and puritie; of which sort it is also probable that the Paschal lambe, and Loaues of proposition were sacramentes (Exod. 12. 25.) VVhich multitude S. Augustin comparing with Manie more in the old Testament then in the new. ours of the new Testament, sayth: The people bound with feare in the old law, was burdened with manie sacraments. For this was li de vera Religi [...]ne c. 17. profitable to such men (saith he) to make them desire the grace, foretold by the prophetes, which being come from the wisdome of God becoming Man, by whom we are called into freedom, a few most wholsome Sacraments are instituted, which hold the societie of christian people vnder one God of a free multitude. But as Christes sacraments are fewer in number, so they are more excellent in vertue. And to most of these new, the former do answere as figures and shadowes. Christs Sacraments more excellent. So to our Baptisme answereth Circumcision, as S. Paul teacheth (Coloss. 1.) that Christians are circumcised in the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in Baptisme. To our holie Eucharist, as it is a Sacrament, did answere the Paschal lambe, & Loaues of proposition, as also Manna, and bloud of the Testament. It was prophech [...]ed Psal. 18. Adore his [Page 706] foote stoole: as holie Fathers expound it. And as the same Eucharift 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. is a Sacrifice, it was prefigured by al the old Sacrifices of the law of nature, and of Moyses: as S. Augustin, and S. Leo do proue; and prophecied (Psal. 19.) Be he mindful of al thy sacrifice &c. To the sacrament of holie Orders answered consecration of Priests. Al the ablutions, purifications, cleansinges and oblations for sinne, which in great part were both Sacramentes and Sacrifices, answered to our Sacrament of Penance, which was also prefigured by the second tables of the decalogue. (Exod. 34.) More plainly forshewed by example of particular confession of sinnes and satisfaction (Num. 5. 14. and 29.) Contrition also was no lesse required, as appeareth by the example of king Dauid. 2 Reg. 24. Mariage in the old Testament, though not a sacrament yet signified the Sacrament of Mariage among Christians. But the Sacrament of Confirmation had not anie so answerable a figure, in the old law, which brought not to perfection. Neither Extreme vnction, because the law gaue not immediate entrance into the kingdome of heauen, which defectes were signified by the high priestes entring only once in the yeare into Sancta Sanctorum. Leuit. 16.

Likewise touching practise of holie Rites; diuers vncleannes hindering participation Some like im [...]ments in [...]se of holie Rites. of sacrifices, and conuersation with other men (Leuit. 14.) Degrees of consanguinitie and affinitie; hindering mariage (Leuit. 18.) and sundrie Irregularities excluding from the office of Priests (Leuit. 21.) were figuratiue resemblances of sinnes and censures, and of impediments to holie Orders, and to Mariage, in the new Testament.

To the peculiar seruice of God perteyned also the Tabernacle, with the Tabernacle. Propitiatorie with appertinances. Propitiatorie, Arke, Cherubims, Table for loaues of proposition, Candlesticke, Lampes, Altares for Holocaustes, & Incense, Vestments for Priestes, a brasen lauer, and other vessels described Exod. 29. et seq. Al which were kept and carried by the Leuites, resting or marching in the middes of the campe. Num. 2. 3. And when the Land of Chanaan was conquered, the same were fixed in Silo. Iosue 18. Whither the people resorted at certaine sette times, and vpon sundrie occasions. From thence long after they tooke the Arke; and often vpon diuers occasions remouing it, made Oratories, or Chappels, wheresoeuer it rested, deuotion increasing, & religious estimation of it in al Israel. 1. Reg. 4. 7. 10. Yea the infidel Philisthims in Azotus seing and feeling the vertue therof, ouerthrovving their god Dagon, and them selues sore plagued, found it best for them to send the Arke home to the Israelites, not vvithout costlie and pretious oblations (1. Reg. 5. & 6.) King Dauid most specially honoring it (2. Reg. 6.) VVho further considering that himself dvvelt in a house of cedar, and the Arke of God remained in the tabernacle couered vvith skinnes, intended to build a more excellent house for God. 2. Reg. 7. But his godlie purpose vvas differred by Gods appointment, and [Page 707] his sonne king Salomon builded the famous Temple in Hierusalem. 3. Reg. 6.

VVhich succeding in place of the Tabernacle, ech of them (one after the The Tabernacle, and afterwardes the Temple, the onlie place for Sacrifice. other) was the only ordinarie place of Sacrifice. The law commanding (Leuit. 17.) If anie man of the house of Israel, kil an oxe, or a sheepe, or a goate (towit for Sacrifice, as S. Augustin, and other fathers expound it) Q [...]est. 56. in Leuit. and offer it not at the dore of the tabernacle, (afterwards at the dore of the Temple) he shal be guiltie of bloud, as if he had shed bloud. and so shal he perish out of the middes of his people. Neuertheles Yet God some times dispensed therein. vpon occasions, and by special reuelation sacrifice was lawfully offered in other places. For so in the time of the tabernacle, Samuel the prophet, offered Sacrifice in Masphath. 1 Reg. 7. And the prophet Elias offered Sacrifice without the Temple, vvhen he conuinced the false prophetes of Baal. 3 Reg. 18. whose fact (as S. Augustin noteth) the miracle sufficiently shewed to be ibidem. donne by Gods dispensation.

And as pecultar places were dedicated, so also special times were sanctified, Feastes of the old law. and diuers feastes, and festiuities partly ordained before (as the Sabbath. Gen. 2. and Pasch Exod. 12.) were confirmed by the Law (Exod. 20. 23.) and others likevvise instituted (Exod. 23. Leuit. 23. Num. 28. 29. and Deut. 16.) with proper sacrifices for euerie sort. First and most general was the dailie sacrifice of a lambe euerie day twise, at morning and euening (Exod. 29.) which was not properly a feast, but a sacred perpetual office in the tabernacle, and after in the temple. At the rest were festiual dayes, in which it was not Figh [...]sortes of feastes, besides the dailie sacrifice. lawful ordinarily to do seruile worke. The first of these was the Sabbath, that is the seuenth and last day of euerie weke, which is our saturday: Kept stil solemnly by the Iewes, euen at this time, in al places vvhere they dvvel; but not by Christians, because the old Lavv is abrogaeed; and vve kepe the next day, which is Sunday, holie, by institution and tradition of the Church. The second, Neomenia, or new moone, in which day they alwaies beganne the moneth; and twelue such monethes made a yeare, by the course of the moone; for by the course of the sunne, the yeare conteineth eleuen dayes more, which in three yeares make aboue a moneth. And so euerie third yeare, and sometimes the second (for it happened seuen times in nintene yeares) had thirtene monethes: and was called Annus embolismalis, being increased S. Beda de Embolismo. [...]. 1. by meanes of those eleuen dayes. The third feast was Pasch, or Phase, first instituted at the parting of the children of Israel out of Aegypt, in the ful moone of the first moneth in the spring, in which the Paschal lambe was eaten, as is prescribed; Exod. 12. The fourth feast was Pentecost, or first fruites, the fiftith day after Pasch, when Moyses receiued the Lavv in mount Synai. The fifth, the feast of Trumpets, the first day of the seuenth moneth, in grateful memorie that a ramme sticking by the hornes, vvas offered in sacrifice by Abraham in place of Isaac. The sixth vvas the feast of Expiation, the tenth [Page 708] day of the seuenth moneth; vvherein solemne fast vvas also prescribed from Prescribed fast from euen to euen. euening of the ninth day to euening of the tenth, for remission of sinnes in general, besides particular sacrifices and satisfaction for euerie sinne, wherof anie man found himself guiltie. The seuenth vvas the feast of Tabernacles, seuen dayes together, beginning the fiftenth of the seuenth moneth, in memorie of Gods special protection, vvhen they remained in [...]abirnacles, fourtie yeares in the desert. The eight feast vvas of Assemblie and Collection, the next day after the forsaid seuen, in commemoration of vnion in the people, and peaceable possession in the promised land. In this day general collection vvas made for necessarie expences in the publique seruice of God.

Moreouer the seuenth yeare vvas as a Sabbath of rest (Leuit. 25.) in Seuenth yeare of rest: and Iubiley yeare. vvhich no land vvas plowed, no vines pruined, nor those fruites gathered that sprong vvithout mans industrie of the earth. Againe the fiftith yeare vvas peculiarly made holie, and called the Iubiley, or ioyful yeare. In it al bondmen vvere sette free; al inheritances amongst the Israelites, being for the time, sold or otherwise alienated, returned to the former ovvners.

Besides Sacrifices; Sacramentes; holie places, holie times, and manie other sacred O [...]r ceremonial obseruances. [...] and vncleane. things belonging therto; there were yet more ceremonial Obseruances commanded by Moyses law, as vvel perteyning to the seruice of God in that time, as signifying christian life and maners. So certaine beastes, birdes, and fishes were reputed vncleane (Leuit. 11.) and Gods people forbid to eate them; No bloud to be eaten, nor [...]. as also that they should not eate anie bloud at al, nor fatte. Leui. 3. The reason of al which vvas not, as though anie creature were il in nature, but partly to auoide idolatrie, partly to exercise them in obedience, and temperance; & partly for that the same thinges signified vices and corruptions, from which Not [...] [...]eed [...] in one field. Christians especi [...]lly ought to resraine. Likewise Leuit. 19▪ they were commanded not to sovv their fieldes vvith tvvo sortes of seede; nor to vveare garmentes wouen of tvvo sortes of stuffe, that they might be more distinguished from Infidels No cloth of d [...]ers matter. by external signes, and not only by Circumcision, but especially to teach christians to practise simple innocencie, & to auoid duble & deciptful dealing.

A [...] vvhich, and other preceptes as wel moral, as ceremonial and iudicial, Strict commandment to kep [...]l the Law. vvere most strictly cōmanded; the obseruers blessed & rewarded; & transgressours seuerly threatned vvith great curses (Leuit. 20. 26. Deut. 4. 27. 28.) and diuers actually punished, Exod. 32. three thousand slaine for committing idolatrie. Manie swallovved vp in the earth. (Num. 16.) descending quicke into hel, & manie more burned vvith fire from heauen, for making and fauoring The obseruers blessed and rewarded. Schisme. Yea by one meanes & other, al that vvere aboue twentie yeares of age, coming forth of Aegypt, except tvvo onlie (Iosue & Caleb) died in the desert, for the general murmur of the people. Num. 11. 14. 25. & 26. Al Israel beaten in Trans [...]r [...]ss [...]s cursed and punished. battle til one malefactor Achan was discouered & punished. Ios. 7. Al the tribes were punished for suffering publique idolatrie in Dan: and Beniamin [Page 709] almost extirpate, for not punishing certaine malefactours. Iudic. 20. And the vvhole people verie often inuaded & sore afflicted for their sinnes; as appeareth in the booke of Iudges. In particular also diuers were aduanced & prospered for their vertues, as Iosue, Caleb, Phinees, Samuel, Dauid and others. Contrariwise Nadab and Abiu priests were miraculously burnt for offering strange [...]re, Leuit. 10. One stoned to death for gathering stickes on the sabbath day, Num. 15. King Saul deposed, for presuming to offer sacrifice, & not destroying Infidels (1. Reg. 13. 15.) & Oza, 2 [...] Reg. 6. sodenly slaine for touching the Arke of God, the Lavv forbidding vnder paine of death, Num. 1. v. 51. & 18. v. 7. that none should approch to holie office being not therto orderly called.

Of workes also of Supererogation (called counsailes not preceptes) vve haue VVork [...] of supererogation. Vowes. examples in vovves, voluntarily made of thinges not commanded; the law prescribing vvhat vovves might be made, & by vvhom. Nu. 30. And Num. 6. a particular rule was proposed to such as of their ovvne accord, vvould embrace it, & a distinct name geuen them, to be called Nazarites, that is, Seperate Nazarit [...]. or Sanctified. In which state they vvere to remaine either for a time, limited by themselues or their parents, or perpetually, if they so promised. Iudic. 13. 1. Reg. 1. For s [...] farre as their promise extended, they were strictly obliged to performe. Deut. 23. When thou hast vowed a vow to our Lord thy God, thou shalt not slacke to pay it: because our Lord thy God wil require it: and if thou delay, it shal be reputed to thee for sinne. If thou wilt not promise, thou shalt be without (this) sinne. Pay thy vowes vnto the Highest, Psal. 75. Vow ye▪ and render (your vowes) to our Lord your God, Psal. 49. The Rechabites aftervvardes Rechabites. had a like rule to the Nazarite [...]; & the same perpetual (Hierem. 3 [...].) neuer to drinke wine, nor to build nor dwel in houses, but in tabernacles, nor sow corne, nor plant vineyardes. VVhich rule though instituted by a man, yet the obseruation therof vvas much commended & rewarded by God. v. 19. Such distinct state of religious persons, with other states of the church of Christ, were also prefigured (Leuit. 11.) by the cleane Three so [...] of Chri [...] prefigured. fishes, of three distinct vvaters, as some holie Fathers do mystically expound that place. To vvitte, the cleane fishes of the sea are the multitude of lay persons, which are dravven out of the sea of this vvorld, and happely found good Laitie. fishes in our Lords nette. Math. 13. The cleane fishes of the riuers, are the good and fruitful Clergie men, that vvatter the vvhole earth, by teaching Clergie. Christian doctrin, and ministring holie Sacramentes, vvith other Rites, and Gouerning the whole Church. And the cleane fishes of standing pooles, are Mounkes. the Monastical persons, liuing perpetually in Cloysters, vvhere good soules are alwayes readie for our Lordes table, as S. Bernard teacheth. Holie scip [...] res expo [...] mystically, Much more the more ancient fathers. S. Beda S. Gregorie, S. Augustin, and others explicate innumerable places of holie Scripture mystically; relying therin [Page 710] vpon example of the new Testament so expounding the old. Namely S. Paul S. Bern. Ser 1. de S. Andrea. S. Beda [...]. 4. S. Aug. cont. Faust. S. Greg. in li. 1. Reg. et in Iob. teaching (as before is noted) that the whole law was a pedagogue guiding men to Christ, and affirming that al thinges happened to the people of the old Testament in figure of the new.

Leauing therfore to prosecute the same further, which would require a verie great worke, it may here suffice to geue according to the literal sense, a briefe view of certaine other pointes of Religion, practised in this fourth age.

VVhere it is clere, that as Iacob the Patriarch had fortold (Gen. 48.) that Abrahams, Isaacs, and his owne name should be inuocated, so Moyses Inuocation of Patriarches. prayed God for his promise made to them, and for their sake, to pardon the people, saying: Exod. 32. Remember ô Lord Abraham, Isaac, & Israel. And our Lord was pacified, from doing the euil which he had spoken against his people. His diuine prouidence so disposing, that he could be S. Hiere. Ep. 12. ad Gauden. hindered, by such prayers, from that which h [...]threatned. And whereas Moyses Obiections answered by holie Scriptu [...]es. did not directly inuocate the holie Patriarches, as Christians now cal vpon glorified Sainctes, to pray for them, the cause of difference is, for that now Sainctes seing God, know in him, whatsoeuer perteyneth to their glorie, which state none b [...]fore Christ attain [...]d vnto. Num 35. v. 25. Deut. 4. v. 12. Againe Protestantes obiect, that for so much as God knoweth al our necessities desires, dispositions, and whatsoeuer is in man, it is needles (say they) superfluous & in vaine, that Sainctes should commend our causes. To this we answer, that not only glorious Sainctes, but also mortal men by Gods ordināce (by which nothing is done vainely) do such offices, as mediators betwen God and other men; for so Moyses told the wordes of the people to our Lord (Exod. 19.) notwithstanding Gods omniscience, or knowledge of al thinges. Also God expresly commanded Iobs freinds to goe to Iob, promising to heare his Iob. 4 [...]. prayer for th [...]m. As for Sainctes hearing or knowing our prayers made to them, How Sainctes kn [...]w mens prayers. though onlie God of himselfe, and by his owne power, seeth mens secrete cogitations, and therfore is properly called the searcher of hartes (1. Reg. 16.) yet God communicateth this pow [...]r to prophetes, to see the secrete thoughtes of others; so Samuel knew the cogitations of Saul (1. Reg. 9. v. 20.) And Abias saw by reuelation the coming of Ierobomas wife to him in Silo (3. Reg. 14.) Much more God reuealeth our present state, and acts to glorified soules; vvho are as Angels in heauen (Math. 22.) and being secure of their owne glorie, are careful (sayeth S. Cyprian) of our Saluation. Titles geuen to men in office, and to Sainctes. lib. de mortalitate. Neither is it derogation to God that Saints are honoured, and titles ascribed to them, of intercessors, mediators, and the like; for such titles are geuen to them not as to God, but by vvay of participation only. So Iudges are called goddes andsauiours (Exod. 21. Iudic 3.) and Priestes called goddes (Exod. 21.) Praise geuen to God and Gedeon Iudic. 7. Angels ad [...] [...]ed. Protection and adoration of Angels is very frequent, Exod. 23. 31. [Page 711] Num. 22. Iosue. 5. Iudic. 2. 6. 13. The names of the twelue sonnes of Israel were grauen in the two chiefe ornaments of the high priest, in the Ephod and Rationale (Exod. 28.) Manna was not only reserued as a memorie of Gods singular benefite, but also honorably reposed as a Reliqués▪ Relique in a golden vessel, and kept in the Arke of God (Exod. 16. Heb. 9.) Iosephs bones reserued and remoued (Iosue 24.) Images of Images. holie Cherubims were made and sette vp together with the Arke, and Propitiatorie in the chiefe place of the Tabernacle, called Sancta Sanctorum (Exod. 25.) An image also of a serpent was made in brasse for the health of those that were striken by serpentes (Num. 21.) Images also of lions and oxen were made, and sette vnder the foote of the lauer (called a sea) in the Temple (3. Reg. 7.) The honour done to anie holie thing, namely to the Arke (2. Reg. 6.) redounded to Gods more honour, and al this so farre from idolatrie, that quite contrarie, in presence of the Arke the idol Dagon fel to the ground, and broke in peeces. 1. Reg. 5.

Exequies for the dead with weeping and fasting were then practised Exequies f [...] the dead. in the Church, as appeareth by the peoples mourning for Aaron thirtie dayes. Num. 20. Also for Moyses. (Deut. 34.) By the Gabaonites fasting seuen dayes for Saul and his sonnes lately slaine. 1. Reg. 31. Likewise king Dauid with al his court mourning weping and fasting for them. 2. Reg. 1. Al which were to no purpose, if soules departed could not be releiued by such meanes. It moreouer appeareth that the same royal prophet beleued diuers places to be in hel, when he said (Psal. 85.) Thou hast deliuered my soule from the lower hel, signifiyng plainly that there is a lower and a higher hel: which higher the Church calleth Purgatorie. Purgatorie. where soules suffer that paine in satisfaction for their sinnes, which remaineth not satisfied before death, & is due after the guilt of sinne is remitted, the law prescribing that besides restitution of damage, sacrifice should also be offered (Leuit. 5. 6. 16.) And Dauid was punished by the death of his child. 2. Reg. 12. & by the plague sent amongst his people 2. Reg. 24. after his sinnes were remitted. He feared also punishment in the other world, yea two sortes and therfore prayed to be deliuered from both, saying: (Psal. 6.) Lord rebuke me not in thy furie, nor chastice To. 2. in sept. Psal paeuitent. me in thy wrath. That is (saith S. Gregorie) Strike me not with the reprobate, nor aflict me with those, that are purged by the punishing flames. And most expresly signifieth also a higher place called hel, saying (Psal. 15.) in the person of Christ to his Father. Thou shalt not Limbus patt [...]. leaue my soule in hel. From vvhence Christ deliuered the holie Patriarches Prophetes and other perfect soules; resting vvithout sensible paine, & brought No entrance into heauen before Christ. them into heauen, vvhither before him none could enter. VVhich vvas also signified by the cities of refuge, whence none might depart to their proper [Page 712] countrie, til the death of the high priest (Num. 35.) & by Moyses dying in the desert, and not entring into the promised land ouer Iordan. Deut. 4. 31. &. 34.

Presupposing the general Resurrection of al men (as a truth knovven by former traditions) king Dauid shevveth the difference of the vvicked, and Resurrection. godlie in that time, saying (Psal. 1.) The impious shal not rise againe in iudgement: nor sinners in the councel of the iust. That is, the vvicked shal not rise to ioy & glorie, as the iust & godlie shal doe.

Of general iudgement is more plainly prophecied, 1. Reg. 2. That our Lord shal iudge the endes of the earth, not that Dauid, nor Salomon, Iudgement. but Christ should raigne in his m [...]litant Church, euen to the endes of the earth, and in fine iudge the vvhole vvorld. The same is confirmed Psal. 49. God wil come manifestly our God, and he wil not kepe silence. Fire shal burne forth in his sight. Psal. 95. He shal iudge the round world in equitie, and the peoples in his truth. Psal. 96. Fire shal goe before him, and shal inflame his enemies round about. Againe the same royal prophete (Psalm. 48.) describeth the future and eternal state of the damned saying: as sheepe (creatures vnable to helpe themselues) they are put in hel, death shal feede vpon them. Of the blessed he addeth: And the iust shal rule ouer them in the morning, that is, in the resurrection, and Psal. 149. The Sainctes shal reioyse in glorie, they shal be ioyful in their beddes (in eternal rest.) The exaltations (pra [...]ses) of God in their throate, and two edged swordes in their handes: to doe reuenge in the nations, punishments among the peoples. To bind their kinges in fetters, and their nobles in yron Eternal paine of the damned and glorie of the blessed. manicles. That they may doe in them the iudgement that is written: This glorie is to al his Sainctes. And much greater glorie belongeth to Sainctes: for this is but accidental, vttered according to vulgar capacitie. The essential and perfect glorie, which no eye hath seene, nor eare hath heard. 1. Co [...]. [...]. nor hart can cone iu [...], consisteth in seeing God. Among accidental glorious [...] dowries of glorified bodies presigured. giftes, the foure dowries of glorified bodies are especially prefigured: Impassibilitie 1 Cor. [...]. by the wood Setim, wherof the Arke was made (Exod. 25.) Agilitie and Penetrabilitie in some sorte by Dauids quicknes against G [...]liath, and his conuering of him self into Sauls campe and forth againe (1. Reg. 17. and 26.) but a more plaine figure of Claritie was in Moyses face (Exod. 34.) which by his conuersation with God, became more glorious then mortal eyes were able to behold, glistering and shining as most splendent Cath [...]. c [...]s. Rom p. 1. c 12. q 9. l [...]ght through christal, described as if his skinne had benne a clere horne, a [...]earing and spreading beam [...] like the sunn [...], proceding from the beautie of his soule, so th [...] none of al the people could looke directly vpon him, except he couered his face.

[Page 713]Thus much concerning particular pointes of faith and religion. And it is The Church more knowen to other nations then before. no lesse euident, that the vniuersal Church and Citie of God stil continued: yea was more visible, and conspicuous to the whole world then before. First by Gods maruelous protection therof in the desert, and famous victories and conquestes of the land of Chanaan. And by the excellent lawes geuen to this people; which al nations admired, and none had the like. Deut. 4. For in this fourth age, besides other lavves and preceptes, the spiritual and temporal States were more distinguished, and the Ecclesiastical Hierarchie The Ecclesiastical and temporal states more distinguished especially disposed in subordination of one supreme head, with inferiour gouerners, ech in their place and office, for edification of the whole bodie. For Moyses being chief ruler and conduct [...]r of the Israelites out of Aegypt, receiued and deliuered to them the written Law (Exod. 20.) And for obseruation and conseruation therof by Gods expresse appointment (Leuit. 8.) consecrated Aaron the ordinarie High priest, himself remayning stil extraordinarie Superiour, also aboue Aaron. And after Aaron he consecrated in like maner his sonne Eleazar high priest, and successour to his father (Num. 20.) To whom Succession of High Priestes. succeded others in this order (1. Paralip. 6.) Phinees, Abisuë, Bocci, Ozi, Zacharias, (otherwise 1. Reg. 1. called Heli) Meraioth, Amarias (otherwise Achimelec, whom Saul slew, 1. Reg. 22.) Achitob (othervvise Abiathar, vvho vvas deposed, 3. Reg. 2.) and Sadoc, in vvhose time the Temple vvas founded.

To these vvere adioyned other Priestes, also consecrated in a praescript forme (Leuit. 8.) and Leuites ordayned to assist in lower and distinct offices (Num. 3. & 4.) In the first degree the Caathites, whose office was to Distinction of offices in Priestes & Leuites. carrie the Sanctuarie, and vessel therof vvrapped vp by the priestes, but vvere forbid in paine of death, to touch them, or to see them. In the second degree the Gersonites; vvho carried the cortines and couers of the Tabernacle, and vessel of the Altar. In the third degree the Merarites; vvho carried the bordes, barres, and pillers, vvith their feete, pinnes, cordes, and other implementes of the tabernacle; euerie one according to their office and burdens, Num. 4. v. vlt.

But in the temporal state and gouernment Iosue of the tribe of Ephraim Succession of temporal princes interrupted. Dukes: succeeded to Moyses (Num. 27. Deut. 3. &. 34.) And after Iosue were diuers interruptions of succession, with gouerners of diuers tribes, and change of gouernment, from Dukes to Iudges, and from Iudges to Kinges. For after Iosues death the people being sore afflicted by inuasions of Infidels, God raised certaine special men, with title of Iudges to deliuer and Iudges. saue them. First Othoniel of the tribe of Iuda; then Aod of Beniamin; after him Samgar (the Scripture not signifying of what tribe) then Barach with Debora of Ephraim; Gedeon of Manasses; Abimelech, his bas [...] sonne, an vsurper; Thola of Issachar; Iair, and Iephte of Manasses; [Page 714] Abesan of Iuda; Aialon of Zabulon; Abdon of Ephraim; Sampson of Dan; and Heli, who was also high priest of Aarons stocke, otherwise called Zaraias (1. Paralip. 6.) and Samuel also of the tribe of Leut a Prophet. In his time the people demanding and vrging to haue a King, Saul of the Kinges. tribe of Beniamin was annointed. 1. Reg. 10. But for transgressing Gods commandments, especially for exercising spiritual function without warrant (1. Reg. 13.) and not destroying idolaters (1. Reg. 15.) was deposed, and Dauid of the tribe of Iuda was annointed King; who after manie great trubles, possessed the whole kingdome, and died in peace, leauing his sonne Salomon inuested and annointed king in his throne.

The Church being thus established in distinct states and orders, albeit there M [...] Church. were manie imperfections in al sortes of persons, and great sinnes committed, yet God so punished offenders, and chastised the whole people, that he stil conserued, the greatest, or chiefe part, in true faith and religion. For whiles they were in the desert, they murmured very often against God, and his Ministers Murmure. their Superiours. (Exod. 17. Num. 11. 14 20. 21.) Manie fel to idolatrie Idolatrie. (Exod. 32.) Aaron not free from cooperating in the peoples sinne. Nadab and Abiu Aarons sonnes, and consecrated priestes, offered strange fire (Leuit. 10) Core Dathan and Abiron, with their complices made [...]e. a great schisme (Num. 16.) Manie committed carnal fornication with [...]. Infidels; and were therby drawen to spiritual (Num. 25.) Of which and other like, [...]innes the Psalmist speaketh (Psal. 94.) exhorting his people not to harden their hartes, as in the desert their fathers had tempted God. Fourtie yeares was I offended (sayth God) with that generation, and sayd: They alwayes erre in hart. And therfore he sware in his wrath: that the same generation should not enter into the promised land of Chanaan: but their children entred and possessed it. Num. 14. Iesue. 3.

A [...] the people falling to idolatrie and other sinnes, were afflicted and sore press [...]d by forraine enemies, but repenting were deliuered and saued by certain [...] capitaines called Iudges and Iudic. 3. Sauiours: as appeareth in the booke of iudges. They had also tribulations by some of their owne nation, for among the Iudge one (called Abimelee) was a tyrannical vsurper. (Iudic. 9.) Saul their first King falling from God vniustly persecuted Dauid (1. Reg. 18. & [...].)▪ Ambitious Absolom rebelled against the King his father. (2. Reg. 15.) and Seba of the tribe of Beniamin raised an other rebellion (2. Reg. 20.) [...]wise Adonias, assisted by Abiathar the high priest, and by Ioab general of the armie, pretended to reigne his father Dauid yet liuing, to preuent S [...]n of the kingdom 3. Reg. 1.) So God both shewed his iustice, in suffering su [...] afflictions to happen, for punishment of sinne: and his mercie, in sauing hi [...] Church from ruine.

Moreouer for preseruatiō of the Church, there were diuers diuine Ordinances [Page 715] prouided by the law. For first al were strictly commanded, not to cōmunicate Ordinarie meanes of conseruing the Church. No participation with infi [...]els. No [...]. But one Tabernacle. One Altar [...] [...]. with Infidels in their idolatrie (Ex. 23.) nor with Schismatikes in their schisme (Nu. 16.) but to destroy al Idolaters (Num. 33.) and shunne al nouelties in religion, as a sure marke of idolatrie, or false doctrine (Deut. 13.) Further 8. Chris. orat. 1. aduers. Iudeos. to conserue vnitie there was but one Tabernacle, and one Altar for Sacrifice, in the whole people of Israel. VVherupon when the two tribes and halfe, on the other side Iordan, had made a seueral altar, al the tribes that dwelt in Chanaan, suspecting it was for sacrifice, sent presently to admonish them, and prepared to make warre against them, except they destroyed their new altar, but being aduertised that it was only an altar of monument, and not for sacrifice, were therwith satisfied. (Iosue. 22.) Afterwards the tribe of Dan, setting vp idolatrie, and the other tribes not correcting it, they were al punished. VVhich happened by occasion of an other enormous sinne, committed and not corrected in the tribe of Beniamin. For the other eleuen tribes making warre against them for this iust cause, yea by Gods direction, and warrant, yet had the worse, susteyning great slaughter of men in two conflictes; and in the third Beniamin was almost destroyed. Iudic. 20.

Finally for decision of al controuersies and ending of strife, the High One supreme Iudge of controuersies. Al bound to obey him. His sentence infallible. Priest was expresly ordayned supreme Iudge, (Deut. 17.) And al were commanded in paine of death to submitte their opinions, and obey his sentence: with promise of Gods assistance, wherby his definitions were certaine and infallible. For in consultations of doubtes, and difficult cases, God inspired him with doctrine of veritie (Exod. 28. 29. Leuit. 8. Num. 3. 7. 9. 1. Reg. 23, 30.) VVhich iudgement Seate Christ admonished the Iewes to repayre vnto and folow (Math. 23.) though the Iudges themselues did not the thinges which they taught. In so much that Caiphas, through this assistance of Gods spirite, being otherwise a wicked man, yet pronounced the truth, That one must die for the people. VVhich therfore S. Iohn the Euangelist ascribeth to his Chayre and office, because he was High priest that yeare. Ioan. 11.

Seing then Gods prouidence and continual assistance was so clere, and assured The Church of Christ preserued from [...]ing in Religion. in the Church of the old Testament, much more is the Church of christ builded vpon a sure rocke, assured of his perpetual assistance, and Math. 16. 28. Luc. 22. Ioan 14. 16. Eph. 4. [...]. T [...]m. 3. always preserued from erring in Faith, or in general practise of Religion. And that by Gods like assured ordinance of one supreme head and Iudge, S. Peter, & his Successour: for vvhom our Sauiour prayed, that his faith should not faile. Further commanding him, that he should confirme his brethren. Al vvhich vvse see is performed in the Successours of S. Peter, vvheras the successours of the other Apostles, are al failed long since. The same most assured stabilitie of the Church of Christ, is further confirmed by the whole Lavv and Prophetes. Namely, Deut. 32. and 33. vvhere Moyses fortelleth more povver and grace in the Church, to be collected in the [Page 716] Gentiles of al natiōs, then euer vvas in that of the Israelites or Iews. Likewise, 1. Reg. 2. The same vvas both prefigured and prophecied by holie Anna: The hungrie (those that desire Gods grace and glorie) are filled: vntil the barren woman (the Church of the Gentiles) bare verie manie: & she that had manie children was weakned. Shewing that the Church of the Iewes had manie, vntil the plenitude of Gentiles much more abounded. Wherfore the Psalmist inuiteth al nations to praise God, saying: Psal. 116. Praise our Lord al ye Gentiles: praise him al ye peoples. Also 2. Reg. 7. God promised Dauid, saying: Thy Kingdome for euer before thy face, and thy Not anie temporal but Christs kingdom is in al nations and perpetual. throne shal be firme continually. which was not verified in Dauids temporal S. Aug. li. 17. [...] [...]. de [...] uit S. [...]pip [...] heres. 2 [...]. kingdome. For it was quickly diuided, after Salomons death, and a smal part left to his sonne Roboam. And after the captiuitie in Babilon, his seede bad onlie title and right without possession of royal throne. Againe 2. Reg. 22. The same royal prophet in his Canticle of thankes geuing, and last prophetical wordes (chap. 23.) much preferreth the spiritual kingdome of Christ, before the earthlie kingdome of the Iewes. But most specially and plainly in the Psalmes. Psal. 2. Why did the Gentiles rage, & peoples meditate vaine thinges? Signifying that the furie of al aduersaries rageth in vaine, against Christ and his Church. For, I am appointed, by him King (sayth Christ The Church of Christ vniuersal. to his Father) ouer Sion, his holie hil. I wil geue thee (sayth God to his Sonne) the Gentiles for thine inheritance, and thy possession the Act. 4. endes of the earth. Psal. 17. A people which I knew not, hath serued me. Psal. 44. The Queene (the Church) stood on thy right hand in golden rayment, compassed with varietie; of vertues, and diuers sortes of holie professions. Psal. 47. Mount Sion is founded with the exultation of the whole earth. For euer and euer he (Christ) shal rule vs euermore. Psal. 86. Glorious thinges are sayd of thee, ô citie of God. But omitting innumerable other such textes, the 88. Psalme conteyneth a large prophecie of Christ and his Church, where S. Augustin geueth vs this in hunc. Psalm. brief admonition. Christiani estis, Christum agnoscite. You are Christians, agnize Christ. I wil put (joyth God) his hand in the sea, Christs dominion in the Gentiles, and his right hand in the riuers; al sortes shal serue him. He shal be high aboue the kinges of the earth. Of the Church he addeth: I wil put his seede for euer and euer, and his throne as the dayes of heauen. Neither do sinnes frustrate this promise of God, therfore it foloweth: But if his children shal forsake my law: and wil not walke in my iudgements. If they shal profane my iustices, The Iewes wil not see Christ: 2. Cor. 3. And Heretikes wil not see the Church: which yet is alwayes visible. S. Aug. in Psal. 30. c [...]n [...]. 2. Collat. Carthag. at cont, Donatist. and not keepe my commandements; VVhat then, wil Christ for al this abandon his Church, as he did the old Synagogue, of which God sayth: Deut. 32. They haue prouoked me in that which was no God: and I wil prouoke them, in that which is no people? Not so. How then? I wil [Page 717] visite, sayth our Lord, their iniquities with a rodde, and their sinnes with stripes. But my mercie I wil not take away from him. This is a strong Firmament (sayth S. Augustin) God promiseth, yea sweareth, Ibidem. and vvil not lie to Dauid, that his seede shal continew for euer. His throne as the Sunne in Gods sight, and the Moone perfected for euer. So this great Doctor [...]heweth by holie Scriptures against the Donatistes, and in them against Protestantes, that the militant Church of Christ hath benne stil, and shal be visible, during this transitorie world.

CHAP. VII. Salomons palace, 2. his house in the forrest, 8. and the quenes house is built, 13. The beginning of the fifth age. Two great brasen pillers: 23. asea (or lauer) 27. tenne brasen ferte. 38. tenne lesse lauatorics, and other vessels, and implementes pertaining to the Temple, adorned vvith images of Angels, and other creatures are further described.

AND his owne house Salomon built in thirtene yeares, 1 and brough it to perfection. † He built also the house 2 of the forest of Libanus of an hundred cubites in length, and fiftie cubites in bredth, and thirtie cubites in height: and foure score galleries betwen pillers of ceder: for he had cut ceder trees into pillers. † And he decked the whole vaut 3 with bordes of ceder, which was held vp with fiue and fourtie pillers. And one order had fiften pillers, † set one against 4 an other, † and looked one ouer against an other, with 5 equal space betwen the pillers, and ouer the pillers square beames in al equal. † And the porche of the pillers he made of 6 fiftie cubites in length, and thirtie cubites in bredth: and an other porche before the greater porche: and pillers, and toppes vpon the pillers. † He made also the porche of the throne, 7 wherein the seate of iudgement is; and couered it with ceder wood from the pauement vnto the toppe. † And the litle 8 house, where they sate in iudgement, was in the middes of the porche of like worke. He made also a house for the daughter of Pharao (which Salomon had taken to wife) of such worke, as also this porche. † Al of chosen stones, which were sawed 9 by a certain rule & measure both within & without: from the fundation to the toppe of the walles, & without vnto the greater courte. † And the fundations of chosen stones, great stones 10 of ten or eight cubites. † And aboue there were hewed chosen 11 stones of equal measure, and in like maner of ceder. † And 12 the greater court round with three rewes of hewed stones, [Page 718] and one rew of planed ceder, moreouer also in the inner court of the house of our Lord, and in the porche of the house. † King Salomon also sent, and tooke Hiram from Tyre, 13 † the sonne of a widow woman of the tribe of Nepthali, 14 his father a Tyrian, an artificer in brasse, and ful of wisdom, and intelligence, and skil to make al worke of brasse. Who when he was come to king Salomon, made al his worke. † And he cast two brasen pillers, of eightene cubites in height 15 one piller: and a line of twelue cubites compassed both pillers. † He made also two litle heades, which should be put vpon the 16 heades of the pillers, cast of brasse: fiue cubites high one litle head, and fiue cubites the other litle head: † and as it were in 17 maner of a nette, and of cheynes knitte one to the other with maruelous worke. Both litle heades of the pillers were cast: seuen rewes of litle nettes in one litle head, & seuen litle nettes in the other litle head. † And finished the pillers, and two 18 rewes round about euerie nette, that they might couer the litle heades, which were ouer the toppe of the pomegranates: in like maner did he also to the second litle head. † And the litle 19 heades, that were vpon the heades of the pillers, were made as it were with lilie worke, in the porche, of foure cubites. † And againe other litle heades in the toppe of the pillers 20 about, according to the measure of the piller against the litle nettes: and of the pomegranates were two hundred rewes round about the second litle head. † And he sette two pillers 21 in the porche of the temple: and when he had erected the piller on the right hand, he called the name therof, Firmnes. Iachin: in like maner he erected the second piller, and called the name therof in strength▪ Booz. † And vpon the heades of the pillers he put a 22 worke in maner of a lilie: and the worke of the pyllers was perfected. † He made also A vessel so [...] for the [...] being [...]. a sea of founders worke of ten 23 cubites from brimme to brimme, round in cōpasse, the height therof was of fiue cubites, and a corde of thirtie cubites did compasse it, round about▪ † And the grauing vnder the brīme 24 compassed it, ten cubites going about the lauatorie: there were two rewes of chamfered forowed grauinges cast. † And 25 it stood vpon twelue oxen, of which three looked to the North, and three to the West, and three to the South, and three to the East, and the sea was ouer them: whose hinder par [...] were al [...]id inward. † And the thickenes of the lauatorie 26 w [...] of [...]lr [...] c [...]s: and the brimme therof as it were [Page 719] the brimme of a chalice, and the leafe of crisped lilie: it contayned two thousand [...]atus contayned [...]. bates. † And he made ten brasen seete, 27 of foure cubites in length euerie foote, and foure cubites in bredth, and three cubites in height. † And the verie worke 28 it selfe of the feete, was entergrauen: and enterg [...] betwen the ioyntures. † And betwen the litle crownes and 29 the playtes, lions, and oxen, and cherubs: and in the ioyntures likewise aboue: and vnder the lions, and oxen as it were [...] des of brasse hanging downe. † And foure wheeles at euerie 30 foote, and axeltrees of brasse: and at foure [...]ides as it were litle shoulders vnder the lauatorie cast, looking one against an other. † The mouth also of the lauatorie was inward in 31 the toppe of the head: and that which appeared outward, was of one cubite al round, and together it had one cubite & a halfe: and in the corners of the pillers were diuers engrauinges: and the middle enterpillers square not round. † The 32 foure wheeles also, which were at the foure corners of a foote, ioyned one to an other vnder the foote: one wheele had in height a cubite and a halfe. † And they were such wheeles as 33 are accustomed to be made in a chariote: and their axeltrees and spokes, and strakes, and naues, al cast. † For those foure 34 litle shoulders also at euerie corner of one foote, were cast out of the foote and ioyned together. † And in the toppe of 35 the foote was a certayne roundnes of halfe a cubite, so wrought, that the lauatorie might be put thereon, ha [...] ▪ the engrauinges therof, and diuerse caruinges of it self. [...] 36 graued also in those fielinges, which were of brasse, and in the corners, cherubs, and lions, and palmetrees, as it w [...] [...] the similitude of a man standing, that they semed not to be engrauen, but put to round about. † After this maner made 37 he ten feete, of one casting and measure, & like grauing. [...] 38 made also ten lauatories of brasse: one lauatorie conteyned fourtie bates, and it was of foure cubites: also at euerie foote, that is ten, he put so manie lauatories. † And he sette the ten 39 feete, fiue on the right side of the temple, and fiue on the leaft: and the sea [...]e put on the right side of the temple against the East toward the South † Hiram therfore made cauldrons, 40 and thoueles, and litle pottes, and perfected al the worke of king Salomon in the temple of our Lord. † Two pyllers, and 41 two cordes of the litle heades, vpon the litle heades of the pyllers: and two litle nettes, to couer the two cordes, that were [Page 720] ouer the heades of the pyllers. † And foure hundred pomegranates 42 in the two nettes: two rewes of pomegramates in euerie nette, to couer the cordes of the litle heades, which were vpon the heades of the pyllers. † And tenne 43 feete, and tenne lauatories vpon the feete. † And one sea, 44 and twelue oxen vnder the sea. † And cauldrons, and shouels, 45 and litle pottes. Al the vessels that Hiram made to king Salomon in the house of our Lord, were of bright latten. † In the champayne countrie of Iordan did the king cast 46 those thinges in a clay ground, betwen Sacoth and Sarthan. † And Salomon placed al the vessel: but for the exceding 47 great multitude the brasse could not be weyed. † And Salomon 48 made al the vessels in the house of our Lord: an altar of gold, and a table, wherupon the loaues of proposition should be put, of gold: † and candlestickes of gold, fiue on the right 49 hand, and fiue on the leaft against the oracle, of pure gold: and as it were lilie floures, and lampes aboue of gold: and golden snuffers, † and water pottes, and fleshehookes, and 50 phiales, and morters, and censars, of most pure gold: and the [...]ndges of doores of the inner Sanctum sanctorum, and of the doores of the house of the temple, were of gold. † And 51 Salomon perfected al the worke that he did in the house of our Lord, and brought in the thinges that Dauid his father Had designed and dedicated to holie vses. had sanctified, siluer and gold, and the vessel, and layed them in the treasures of the house of our Lord.

CHAP. VIII. The arke is brought in, and the temple dedicated. 10. a glorious cloyvde replenisheth it, 14. Salomon prayeth long to God, 55. blesseth the people. 62. and manie victimes are offered in this solemne festiuitie.

THEN were gathered together al the ancientes of Israel 1 with the princes of the tribes, and the heades of the families of the children of Israel to king Salomon into Ierusalem: that they might carrie the Arke of the couenant of our Lord out of the citie of Dauid, that is, out of Sion. † And 2 al Israel assembled to king Salomon in the moneth of Ethanim, on a solemne day, that is the seuenth moneth. † And 3 al the ancientes of Israel came, and the priestes tooke the arke, † and caried the arke of our Lord, and the tabernacle 4 of couenant, and al the vessels of the Sanctuarie, that were in the tabernacle: and the Priestes and the Leuites caried them. [Page 721] † And king Salomon, and al the multitude of Israel, which 5 was assembled vnto him, went with him before the arke, and they immolated sheepe and oxen without estimation & number. † And the priestes brought in the arke of the couenant 6 of our Lord into his place, into the oracle of the temple, into Sanctum sanctorum vnder the winges of the cherubs. † For 7 the cherubs spred their winges ouer the place of the arke, and couered the arke, and the barres therof aboue. † And 8 whereas the barres stood out, and the endes of them appeared without in the Sanctuarie before the oracle, they appeared no farder outward, which also were there vntil this present day. † And in the arke there was There was no more with in the arke, Deut. 10. but on the outside was the rodde of Aaron. Nu. 17. Heb. 9. the golden potte with Manna. Exod 16 Heb 9. and the booke of the law repeted by Moyses. Deut. 31. nothing els but two tables 9 of stone, which Moyses put in it in Horeb, when our Lord made the couenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the Land of Aegypt. † And it came to passe, 10 when the priestes were gone out of the Sanctuarie, a clowde filled the house of our Lord, † and the priestes could not stand 11 and minister for the clowde: for the glorie of our Lord had filled the house of our Lord. † Then sayd Salomon: Our 12 Lord sayd that he would dwel in a clowde. † Building I haue 13 built a house for thy habitation, thy most firme throne for euer. † And the king turned his face, and Prices blesse their people & parentes their children. blessed al the 14 church of Israel: for al the church if Israel stood. † And Salomon 15 sayd: Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel, who spake by his mouth to Dauid my father, & in his owne handes hath perfected it, saying: † Since the day that I brought my 16 people Israel out of Aegypt, I chose no citie of al the tribes of Israel, that a house might be built, and my name might be there: but I chose Dauid to be ouer my people Israel. † And 17 Dauid my father would haue built a house to the name of our Lord the God of Israel: † and our Lord sayd to Dauid my father: 18 In that thou hast thought in thy hart to build a house to my name, thou hast done wel, casting this same thing in thy mynd. † Neuerthelesse thou shalt not build me a house, but 19 thy sonne, that shal come forth of thy reynes, he shal build a house to my name. † Our Lord hath confirmed his word, 20 which he spake: and I stand for Dauid my father, and sitte vpon the throne of Israel, as our Lord hath spoken: and I haue built a house to the name of our Lord the God of Israel. † And I haue appoynted there a place for the arke, wherin 21 the couenant of our Lord is, which he made with our fathers, [Page 722] when they came out of the Land of Aegypt. † And Salomon 22 stood before the altar of our Lord in the sight of the assemblie of Israel, and extended his handes toward heauen, † and sayd: 23 Lord God of Israel, there is no God like to thee in heauen aboue, and vpon the earth beneth: which keepest couenant and mercie with thy seruantes, that walke before thee in al their hart. † Which hast kept to thy seruant Dauid my father, 24 the thinges that thou hast spoken to him: by mouth thou didst speake, and with thy handes thou hast accomplished, as this day proueth. † Now therfore Lord God of Israel, keepe 25 vnto thy seruant Dauid my father the thinges which thou hast spoken to him, saying: There shal not be taken away of thee a man before me, which sitteth vpon the throne of Israel: Salomon knew wel Gods conditional promise, but perseuered not in keping his cōmandments, and therfore a great part of the kingdom was takē from his children, yet the right of the kingdom of Iuda remayned to his seede euen to Christ our Sauiour. yet so if thy children shal keepe their way, that they walke before me as thou hast walked in my sight. † And now 26 Lord God of Israel, let thy wordes be established, which thou hast spoken to thy seruant Dauid my father. † Is it then to 27 be thought that in deede God dwelleth vpon the earth? for if heauen, and the heauens of heauens can not conteyne thee, how much more this house, which I haue built? † But looke 28 toward the prayer of thy setuant, and to his petitions ô Lord my God: heare the hymne and the prayer, which thy seruant prayeth before thee this day: † that thy eies be opened vpon 29 this house night and day: vpon the house, wherof thou sayest: My name shal be there: that thou heare the prayer, which thy seruant prayeth in this place to thee. † That thou heare 30 the request of thy seruant and of thy people Israel, whatsoeuer they shal pray for in this place, and thou shalt heare in the place of thy habitation in heauen: and when thou hast heard, thou shalt be merciful. † If a man shal sinne agaynst 31 his neighbour, and shal haue any oath, wherwith he is held fast bound: and shal come because of the oath before thine altar into thy house, † thou shalt heare in heauen: and shalt 32 doe, and iudge thy seruantes, condemning the impious, and rendring his way vpon his head, and iustifying the iust, and Reward of good workes. rewarding him according to his iustice. † If thy people Israel 33 shal flec their enemies (because they wil sinne agaynst thee) and doing penance, and confessing to thy name, shal come, and pray, and besech thee in this house; † heare in 34 heauen, and forgeue the sinne of thy people Israel, and thou shalt reduce them vnto the land, which thou gauest to their [Page 723] fathers. † If the heauen shal be shut, and it rayne not, because 35 of their sinnes, and praying in this place, they doe penance to thy name, and shal be conuerted from their sinnes through their affliction: † heare them in heauen, and forgeue 36 the sinnes of thy seruantes, and of thy people Israel: and shew them a good way wherin they may walke, and geue rayne vpon thy land, which thou hast geuen to thy people in possession. † If famine aryse in the land, or pestilence, or corrupt 37 ayre, or blasting, or locust, or rust, and their enemie afflict them besieging the gates, al plague, al in firmity, † al 38 cursing, and banning, that shal chance to any man of thy people Israel: if any man shal know the wound of his hart, and shal spred forth his handes in this house, † thou shalt 39 heare in heauen, in the place of thy habitation, and shalt be merciful agayne, and shalt so doe that thou geue to euerie one according to his wayes, as thou shalt see his hart (for thou onlie knowest the hart of al the children of men) † that 40 they feare thee al the dayes, which they liue vpon the face of the land, which thou hast geuen our fathers. † Moreouer 41 also the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, when he shal come from a farre countrie for thy name (for thy great name shal be heard of, and thy strong hand, † and thy stretched 42 out arme euerie where) when therfore he shal come, and shal pray in this place, † thou shalt heare in heauen, in 43 the firmament of thy habitation, & thou shalt doe al thinges, for the which the stranger shal inuocate thee: that al the peoples of the earth may lerne to feare thy name, as thy people Israel, and may proue that thy name is inuocated vpon this house, which I haue built. † If thy people shal goe forth to 44 warre agaynst their enemies, by the way, whithersoeuer thou shalt send them, they shal pray to thee agaynst the way of the citie, which thou hast chosen, and agaynst the house, which I haue built to thy name, † and thou shalt heare in 45 heauen their prayers, and their petitions, and shalt doe iudgement for them. † But if they shal sinne to thee (for there is 46 no man which sinneth not) and thou being wrath shalt deliuer them to their enemies, and they shal be led captiue into the land of their enemies farre or neere, † and shal doe penance 47 in their External workes of penance, except they proceede from the hart, suffice not for remission of sinne. hart in the place of captiuirie, and conuerted shal besech thee in their captiuitie, saying: We haue sinned, we haue done wickedly, we haue dealt impiously: † and 48 [Page 724] shal returne to thee in al their hart, and al their soule, in the land of their enemies, to the which they shal be led captiue: & shal pray to thee agaynst the way of their land, which thou gauest to their fathers, and of the citie which thou hast chosen, & of the temple which I haue built to thy name: † thou 49 shalt heare in heauen, in the firmament of thy throne their prayers, and their petitions, and shalt doe their iudgement for them: † and shalt be merciful to thy people, which sinned 50 to thee, and to al their iniquities, where with they haue transgressed agaynst thee: and thou shalt geue mercie before them, that shal haue them captiues, that they may haue compassion on them. † For they are thy people, and thine inheritance, 51 whom thou hast brought out of the Land of Aegypt, from the middes of the yron fornace. † That thy eies be open to the 52 petition of thy seruant, and of thy people Israel, & thou heare them in al thinges for which they shal inuocate thee. † For 53 thou hast separated them to thee for an inheritance from al the peoples of the earth, as thou hast spoken by Moyses thy seruant, when thou didst bring our fathers out of Aegypt, Lord God. † And it came to passe, when Salomon had accomplished 54 praying to our Lord al this prayer and petition, he rose from the sight of the altar of our Lord: for he had fastened both knees on the ground, and had spred his handes toward heauen. † He stood therfore and blessed al the assemblie 55 of Israel with a lowde voyce, saying: † Blessed be our 56 Lord, which hath geuen rest to his people Israel, according to al thinges that he hath spoken: there hath not fayled so much as one word of al the good thinges, that he spake by Moyses this seruant. † Be our Lord God with vs, as he hath 57 beene with our fathers, not forsaking, nor reiecting vs. † But 58 incline he our hartes to him, that we may walke in al his waies, and keepe his commandementes, and his ceremonies, and iudgementes whatsoeuer he commanded our fathers. † And be these my wordes, wherewith I haue prayed 59 before our Lord, approching to our Lord God day and night, that he may doe iudgement for his seruant, and for his people Israel day by day: † that al the peoples of the earth may 60 knowe, that our Lord he is God, and there is none other besides him. † Let our hart also be perfect with our Lord God, 61 that we walke in his decrees, and keepe his cōmandementes, as also this day. † Therfore the king, and al Israel with him, 62 [Page 725] did immolate victimes besore our Lord. † And Salomon killed 63 pacis [...]que hostes, which he immolated to our Lord, of oxen two and twentie thousand, and of sheepe an hundred twentie thousand: and they dedicated the temple of our Lord, the king, and the children of Israel. † In that day the king 64 sanctified the middes of the court, that was before the house of our Lord: for he made the holocaust there, and sacrifice, and fatte of the pacifiques: because the brasen altar, that was before our Lord, was too litle, and could not take the holocaust, and sacrifice, and fatte of the pacifiques. † Salomon 65 therfore made in that time a solemne festiuitie, and al Israel with him, a great multitude from the entrance of Emath vnto the Ryuer of Aegypt, before our Lord God, seuen daies and seuen daies, that is, fourtene daies. † And in the eight day 66 he dismissed the people: Who :: blessing the king, went into their tabernacles reioysing, and with a ioysul hart for al the good thinges, that our Lord had done to Dauid his seruant, and to Israel his people.

CHAP. IX. Our Lord appearing againe to Salomon. 4. admonisheth him and his people to keepe the precepts. 6. threatning punishment if they do not. 10. The king of Tyre receiueth tvventie cities of Salomon, but liketh them not. 14. Salomon buildeth more cities and tovvnes. 20. Maketh diuers nations tributarie. 24. The Quene repayreth to her house. 25. The king offereth victimes thrise euerie yeare. 26. and fetcheth gold from Ophir.

AND it came to passe when Salomon had perfected the 1 building of the house, of our Lord, & the kinges house, and al that he wished and would haue done, † our Lord appeared 2 to him the second time, as he had appeared to him in Gabaon. † And our Lord said to him: I haue heard thy prayer 3 & thy petition, which thou hast prayed before me: I haue sanctified this house, which thou hast built, that I might put my name there for euer, and myne eies and my hart shal be there alwaies. † Thou also if thou wilt walke before me, as thy father 4 walked, External worship is not acceptable to God, except it procede from internal sinceritie and d [...]odon. VVherfore S. Augustin sayth: God is worshipped in faith, hope, and charitie. Enchirid. c. [...]. in simplicitie of hart, and in equitie: and wilt doe al thinges, which I haue commanded thee, and wilt keepe my ordinances and my iudgementes, † I wil sette the throne of 5 thy kingdom ouer Israel for euer, as I haue spoken to Dauid thy father, saying: There shal not be taken away a man of thy stocke from the throne of Israel. † But if by reuolting you 6 [Page 726] and your children shal turne away, not folowing me, nor keeping my commandementes, and my ceremonies, which I haue proposed to you, but shal goe and worshippe strange goddes, and adore them: † I wil take away Israel from the 7 face of the land, which I haue geuen them, and the temple which I haue sanctified to my name, I wil cast away from my sight, and Israel shal be for a prouerbe, and for a fable to al peoples. † And this house shal be for an example: euerie one 8 that shal passe by it, shal wonder, and hisse, and say: Why hath the Lord done thus to this land, and to this house? † And they shal answere: Because they haue forsaken the 9 Lord their God, which brought their fathers out of the Land of Aegypt, and haue folowed strange goddes, & adored them, and worshipped them: therfore hath the Lord brought vpon them al this euil. † And twentie yeares being complete, after 10 that Salomon had built the two houses, that is, the house of our Lord, and the house of the king † (Hiram the king of 11 Tyre ministring to Salomon ceder trees & firre trees, and gold according to al that he had neede) then Salomon Salomon did not [...]el these cities, for he could not alienate them, but let the king of Tyre haue the vse and reuenewes in payment for timber, & for the gold which he sent. gaue to Hiram twentie townes in the Land of Galilee. † And Hiram 12 went from Tyre, to see the townes which Salomon had geuen him, and they pleased him not, † and he sayd: Are these the 13 cities, which thou hast geuen me, brother? And he called them the land dirtie or disples sing. Chabul, vntil this day. † Hiram also sent to king 14 Salomon an hundred and twentie talentes of gold. † This is 15 the summe of the expences, which king Salomon offered to build the house of our Lord, and his owne house, and Mello, and the wal of Ierusalem, and Heser, and Mageddo, and Gazer † Pharao the king of Aegypt came vp and rooke Gazer, and 16 burnt it with fire: And the Chananite, that dwelt in the citie, he slewe, and gaue it for a dowrie to his daughter the wife of Salomon † Salomon therfore built Gazer, and Bethhoron 17 the lower, † and Baalath, and Palmi [...]a in the Land of the wildernes. 18 † And al the villages, that perteyned to him, and were 19 without wal, he fensed, and the cities of the chariotes, and the cities of the horsemen, and whatsoeuer pleased him to build in Ierusalem, and in Libanus, and in al the land of his dominion. † Al the people, that was remayning of the Amorrheites, 20 and Hetheites, and Pherezeites, and Heueites, and Iebuseites, that are not of the children of Israel: † their children, 21 that were remayning in the land, to witte, those whom [Page 727] the children of Israel could not abolish: Salomon made tributaries, vntil this day. † But of the children of Israel Salomon 22 appoynted not any man to serue, but they were men of warre, and his seruantes, and princes, and captaynes, and ouerseers of the chariotes and horses. † And there were princes 23 ouer al the workes of Salomon, made ouerseers, fiue hundred fiftie, which had the people subiect, and commanded ouer their appoynted workes. † And the daughter of Pharao went 24 vp out of the citie of Dauid into her house, which Salomon had built her: then did he build Mello. † Salomon also offered 25 three tymes euerie yeare holocaustes, and pacifique victimes vpon the altar, which he had built to our Lord, and he burnt incense before our Lord: and the temple was perfected. † King Salomon also made a monument. a name in Asiongaber, which is 26 beside Ailath in the shore of the Readsea in the Land of Idumea. † And Hiram sent in that nauie his men, that were mariners 27 & skilful of the sea, with the seruantes of Salomon. † Who 28 when they were come into Ophir, the gold taken thence of foure hundred and twentie talentes, they brought to king Salomon.

CHAP. X. The quene of Saba coming to king Salomon, admireth his vvisdom, magnificence, and order of gouernment 10. She geueth and receiueth giftes. 14. Salomon receiueth much gold diuers vvayes: 16. maketh golden targ [...]tes. [...]8. a magnificent throne. 21. and much golden vessel. 25. Manie bring him presentes. 26. He hath manie chariottes, horsemen. 27. abundance of siluer 28. Marchantes of diuers kingdomes sel him horses.

BVT the Queene of Part of Arabia is called Saba, nere to Iurie. but this Saba is beyond Arabia, as S. Hierom testifieth in Esaiae. 60 li. 17 it semeth to be in Aethiopia, for our Sauiour saith Mat. 12. The quene of the South came frō the endes of the earth, to heare the vvisdom of Salomon. Saba also hauing heard the fame 1 of Salomon, in the name of our Lord came to proue him, in hard propositions. † And entring into Ierusalem with a 2 great trayne, and riches, and camels carying spices, and gold exceding infinite, and pretious stones, she came to king Salomon, and spake to him al thinges that she had in her hart. † And Salomon interpreted to her al the wordes, that she 3 proposed: there was not a word, that the king could be ignorant of, and could not answer her. † And the queene 4 of Saba a seing al the wisedom of Salomon, and the house, which he had built, † and the meates of his table, and the 5 habitations of his seruantes, and the orders of them that serued, and their garmentes, cupbearers, and the holocaustes [Page 728] which he offered in the house of our Lord As this quene had no spirite, when she saw Salomons wisdom, so the Church gathered of gentiles knowing Christs grace, & finding the masters of Euangelical doctrin, casting away the spirite of pride, and laying of al hautinesse of mind, lerned to distrust in her self, and to trust in the great mercie of her king. S. Greg in Psal 7. pa [...]ten. to 2. she had no longer spirit, † and she said to the king: The report is true, which 6 I haue heard in my countrie, † concerning thy wordes, and 7 concerning thy wisedom. and I did not beleue them that told me, til my selfe came, and sawe with myne eies, and haue proued that the half not been told me: greater is thy wisdom, and thy workes, then the rumour, which I haue heard. † Blessed are thy men, and blessed are thy seruantes, which 8 stand before thee alwaies, and heare thy wisedom. † Be the 9 Lord thy God blessed, whom thou hast pleased, and that hath serte thee vpon the throne of Israel, for that the Lord hath loued Israel for euer, and hath appointed thee king, to do iudgement and iustice. † She therfore gaue to the king an hundred 10 and twentie talentes of gold, and spices exceding much, and pretious stones: There was no more brought so much spice, as that which the Quene of Saba gaue to king Salomon. † (But the naue also of Hiram, which caried gold our 11 of Ophir, brought from Ophir thyine trees exceding manie, and pretious stones. † And the king made of the thyine trees 12 the porches of the house of our Lord, and of the kinges house and harpes & vials for the singers: there were not such thyine A wonderful thing, that a Quene vpon fame of a mans wisdom traueled so farre to heare him speake, and to see his gouernment. but it was Gods inspiration, to signifie by this figure, that the Church of Christ should be gathered of the Gentiles in al nations. Kiges, Quenes & no [...] potent Princes also submitting themselues to Christ. Isaae. c. 49. trees brought, nor seen vntil this present daye.) † And king 13 Salomon gaue to the queene of Saba al that she would, and asked of him: beside those thinges, which of him selfe he offered her for a royal gift. Who returned, and went into her countrie with her seruantes. † And the weight of the gold, 14 that was brought to Salomon euerie yeare, was of six hundred sixtie six talentes of gold: † beside that, which the men 15 brought, that were ouer the tributes, and merchantes, and al that sold light wares, and al the kinges of Arabia, and the dukes of the land. † Salomon also made two hundred 16 shieldes of most pure gold, six hundred sicles of gold did he allow for the plates of one shield. † And three hundred tergattes 17 of tried gold: and three hundred poundes of gold garnished one terget: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Libanus. † King Salomon also made a great throne 18 of yuorie: and couered it with gold exceding yellow, † which 19 had sixe steppes: and the toppe of the throne was round in the hinder part: and the two handes on either side holding the seate: and two lyons stood at euery hand. † And twelue 20 litle lyons standing vpon the sixe steppes on either side: there [Page 729] was not such a worke made in al kingdomes. † Yea and al 21 the vessels, out of the which the king Salomon drunke, were of gold: and al the furniture of the house of the forest of Libanus of most pure gold: there was no siluer, neither was it thought of any price in the daies of Salomon, † because the 22 kinges nauie, once in three yeares, went with the nauie of Hiram on the sea into Tharsis, bringing thence gold, and siluer, and the teeth of elephantes, and apes, and pecockes. † King Salomon therfore was magnified aboue al the kinges 23 of the earth in riches, and wisedom. † And al the earth desired 24 to see Salomons face, that they might heare his wisedom, which God had geuen in his hart. † And euerie one presented 25 him giftes, vessel of siluer and gold, garmentes and instrumentes for warre, spices also, and horses and mules euerie yeare. † And Salomon gathered together the chariotes and 26 horsemen, and there amounted to him a thousand foure hundred chariotes, and twelue thousand horsemen: and he disposed them in fensed cities, and with the king in Ierusalem. † And he made that there was as great abundance of siluer 27 In Ierusalem, as of stones: and of ceder trees he caused such a multitude, as if it were sycomore trees, which grow in the playnes. † And there were horses brought for Salomon out 28 of Aegypt, and Coa, for the kinges merchantes brought them out of Coa, and brought them at a sette price. † And a chariote 29 of foure horses came out of Aegypt, for sixe hundred sicles of siluer, and one horse for an hundred and fiftie. And after this maner did al the kinges of the Hetheites, and of Syria sel horses.

CHAP. XI. Salomon louing and marying manie wemen of diuers nations, is drawen by them to idolatrie. 9. God therfore offended suffereth Adad an Idumean, 23. Razon king of Damascus, 26. and Hieroboam his owne seruant to make warre against him. 29. Ahias the prophet fortelleth Hieroboam, that he shal reigne ouer tenne tribes, leauing but tvvo to Salomons heyres, 38. VVith promise to prosper, if he serue God. 42. Salomon dieth.

AND king Salomon loued manie wemen strangers, the 1 daughter also of Pharao, and Moabites, and Ammonites, Idumeians, and Sidonians, and Hetheians: † of the 2 nations, wherof our Lord sayd to the children of Israel: You shal not goe in vnto them, neither shal anie of them come in [Page 730] vnto yours: for they wil most certainly turne away your hartes to folow their goddes. To these therfore was Salomon copled in most seruent loue. † And he had wiues as it were queenes 3 Though pluralitie of wiues was then alowed, yet it was forbid to multiplie manie. Deut. seuen hundred, and concubines three hundred: and the wemen turned away his hart. † And when he was now old, 4 his hart was depraued by wemen, that he folowed strange goddes: neither was his hart perfect with our Lord his God, as the hart of Dauid his father. † But Salomon worshipped 5 Astarthee the goddesse of the Sidonians, and Moloch the idol of the Ammonites. † And Salomon did that which was not 6 liked before our Lord, and he accomplished not to folow our Lord, as Dauid his father. † Then built Salomon a temple to 7 Camos the idol of Moab, in the mount that is agaynst Ierusalem, and to Moloch the idol of the children of Ammon. † And in this maner did he to al his wiues that were strangers, 8 which burnt frankencense, and immolated to their goddes. † Therfore our Lord was wrath with Salomon, because 9 his minde was turned away from our Lord the God of Israel, who had appeared vnto him the second tyme, † and 10 had commanded him concerning this word, that he should not folow strange goddes, & he kept not the thinges which our Lord commanded him. † Our Lord therfore sayd to Salomon: 11 Because thou hast done this, and hast not kept my couenant, and my preceptes, which I haue commanded thee, breaking I wil rent asunder thy kingdom, and wil geue it to thy seruant. † Neuerthelesse in thy dayes I wil not doe it, because 12 of Dauid thy father: out of the hand of thy sonne I wil rent it, † neither wil I take away the whole kingdom, but 13 The tribe of Iuda. one tribe I wil geue to thy sonne for Dauid my seruant, and By Ierusalem is vnderstood the tribe of Beniamin, wherin it stood. so there remained two tribes to Salomons heyres. Ierusalem. Which I haue chosen. † And our Lord raysed 14 vp an aduersarie to Salomon, Adad an Idumeite of the kinges seede, who was in Edom. † For when Dauid was in Idumea, 15 and Ioab the general of the warfare was gone vp to burie 2. Reg. [...]. them that were slayne, and had slayne al malekind in Idumea, († for Ioab taried there six monethes and al Israel, til he slew 16 al malekind in Idumea,) † Adad him self fled, and men of 17 Idumea of his fathers seruantes with him, to goe into Aegypt: and Adad was a litle boy. † And when they rose out of Madian, 18 they came into Pharan, and they tooke with them men of Pharan, and entered into Aegypt to Pharao the king of Aegypt: who gaue him a house, and appoynted him meates, and [Page 731] assigued him land. † And Adad found grace before Pharao 29 excedingly, in so much that he gaue him to wife, the germane sister of his wife Taphnes the queene. † And the sister of 20 Taphnes bare him a sonne Genubath, and Taphnes brought him vp in the house of Pharao: and Genubath was dwelling at Pharaoes house with his children. † And when Adad in 21 Aegypt had heard, that Dauid slept with his fathers, and that Ioab the general of the warefare was dead, he sayd to Pharao: Dismisse me, that I may goe into my countrie. † And 22 Pharao sayd to him: For what lackest thou with me, that thou seekest to goe into thyne owne countrie? But he answered: Nothing: yet I besech thee that thou dismisse me. † God also raysed vp to him an aduersarie, Razon the sonne 23 of Eliada, who had fled Adarezer the king of Soba his lord: [...]. Reg. 10. † and he gathered men agaynst him, and he became the 24 captayne of theues, when Dauid killed them: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt there, and they made him king in Damascus, † and he was an aduersarie to Israel From the time that Salomon fel to idolatrie, he was more impugned by three perpetual aduersaries, Adad, Razon, and Hieroboam; mystically signifying the flesh, the world, and the diuel. al the dayes 25 of Salomon: and this is the euil of Adad, and hatred agaynst Israel, and he reigned in Syria. † Ieroboam also the sonne of 26 Nabath, an Ephratheite of Sareda, the seruant of Salomon, whose mother was called Serua, a woman widow lifted vp his hand agaynst the king. † And this is the cause of his rebellion 27 agaynst him, because Salomon built Mello, and filled vp the breache of the citie of Dauid his father. † And Ieroboam 28 was a strong man and mightie: and Salomon seing the youngman of a good witte & industrious, had made him chief ouer the tributes of al the house of Ioseph. † It came to passe 29 therfore at that tyme, that Ieroboam went out of Ierusalem, and the prophete Ahias the Silonite found him in the way, couered with a new cloke: and they two onlie were in the field. † And Ahias taking his new cloke, wherwith he was 30 couered, This fact cō firmed his wordes. that he spoke seriously & fained not. cut it into twelue partes. † And he sayd to Ieroboam: 31 Take vnto thee ten pieces: for thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel: Behold I wil rent the kingdom out of the hand of Salomon, and wil geue thee ten tribes. † But one 32 tribe shal remayne to him for my seruant Dauid, and Ierusalem the citie, which I haue chosen of al the tribes of Israel: † because he hath forsaken me, and hath adored Astarthee 33 the goddesse of the Sidonians, & Chamos the god of Moab, and Moloch the god of the children of Ammon: and hath [Page 732] not walked in my waies, to doe iustice before me, and my preceptes, and iudgementes as Dauid his father. † Neither wil 34 I take away al the kingdom out of his hand, but I wil make him prince al the daies of his life, for Dauid my seruant, whom I chose, who kept my commandmentes and my preceptes. † But I wil take away the kingdom out of his sonnes 35 hand, and wil geue thee ten tribes: † and to his sonne I wil 36 geue one tribe, that there may remayne a lampe to Dauid my seruant at al times before me in Ierusalem, the citie which I haue chosen, that my name might be there. † And thee wil 37 I take, and thou shalt reigne ouer al thinges, that thy soule desireth, and thou shalt be king ouer Israel. † If therfore 38 thou wilt heare al thinges, that I shal command thee, and wilt walke in my waies, and doe that which is right before me, keeping my commandmentes and my preceptes, as Dauid my seruant did: I wil be with thee, and wil build thee a faythful house, as I built a house to Dauid, and I wil deliuer Israel to thee: † and I wil afflict the seede of Dauid vpon this, 39 but yet not alwaies. † Salomon therfore would haue killed 40 Ieroboam: who arose, and fled into Aegypt to Sesac the king of Aegypt, and was in Aegypt vntil the death of Salomon. † And the rest of the wordes of Salomon, and al that he did, 41 and his wisedom: behold they are al written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of Salomon. † And the daies, that Salomon 42 reigned in Ierusalem ouer al Israel, are fourtie yeares. † And Salomon VVhether he repented and was saued or no, is vncertaine. slept with his fathers, and was buried 43 in the citie of Dauid his father, and Roboam his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XII. Roboam folowing youngmens counsel, 16. Ieroboam possesseth ten tribes of his Kingdom. 21. VVhich he endouoring to recouer by warre, is admonished by The third part. The diuision of the Kingdom. Seueral reigues of certaine kinges: and preaching of special prophetes. a prophet to cease. 26. Hieroboam setteth vp golden calues to be adored, making temples, altares, and priestes fitte for his purpose.

AND Roboam came into Sichem: for thither was al 1 Israel gathered together to make him king. † But Ieroboam 2 the sonne of Nabat, when he was yet in Aegypt fugitiue from the face of king Salomon, hearing of his death, returned out of Aegypt. † And they sent and called him: Ierobo [...]m 3 therfore came, and al the multitude of Israel, and they spake to Roboam, saying. † Thy father layd a most hard 4 [Page 733] yoke vpon vs: thou therfore diminish now a litle of thy fathers most hard empire, and of the most heauie yoke, that he layd vpon vs, and we wil serue thee. † Who sayd to them: 5 Goe vntil the third day, and returne to me. And when the people was gone, † king Roboam tooke counsel with the 6 ancientes, that assisted before Salomon his father, whiles he yet liued, and he sayd: What counsel doe you geue me, that I may answer this people? † Who sayd to him: If this 7 day thou wilt yeld to this people, and condescend to them, and graunt to their petition, and wilt speake to them gentle wordes, they wil be thy seruantes alwaies. † Who leaft the 8 counself of the ancientes, which they had geuen him, and admitted yongmen, that had bene brought vp with him, and wayted on him, † and he sayd to them: What counsel geue 9 you me, that I may answer this people, which haue sayd to me: Make the yoke lighter which thy father hath put vpon vs? † And the yongmen, that had bene brought vp with him, 10 sayd: Thus speake to this people, which haue spoken to thee, saying: Thy father aggrauated our yoke, doe thou ease it. Thus shalt thou speake to them: My least finger is grosser then the backe of my father. † And now my father layd 11 vpon you a heauie yoke, but I wil adde vpon your yoke: my father bette you with scourges, but I wil beate you with scorpions. † Ieroboam therfore came, and al the people to Roboam 12 the third day, as the king had spoken, saying: Returne to me the third day. † And the king answered the people 13 rough wordes, leauing the counsel of the ancientes, which they had geuen him, † and he spake to them according to the counsel of the youngmen, saying: My father made your 14 yoke heauie, but I wil adde to your yoke: my father bette you with whippes, but I wil beate you with scorpions. † And the king condescended not to the people: because 15 our Lord was turned away from him, This pharaise noteth the sequel, not the final cause. As chap. 14. [...]. [...]. that he might rayse vp his word, which he had spoken in the hand of Ahias the Silonite, to Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat. † The people therfore 16 seing that the king would not heare them, answered him, saying: What part haue we in Dauid? or what inheritance in the sonne of Isai? Goe into thy tabernacles Israel, now see to thy house Dauid. And Israel went into their tabernacles. † But ouer the children of Israel, whosoeuer 17 dwelt in the cities of Iuda, Roboam reigned. † King Roboam 18 [Page 734] therfore sent Aduram, who was ouer the tributes: and al Israel stoned him, and he died, moreouer King Roboam in hast went vp into his chariote, and fled into Ierusalem: † and 19 Israel reuolted from the house of Dauid, vntil this present day. † And it came to passe when al Israel had heard, that 20 Ieroboam was returned, they sent, and called him, an assemblie being gathered, and they made him king ouer al Israel, neither did any man folow the house of Dauid beside the tribe of Iuda onlie. † And Roboam came to Ierusalem, and gathered 21 together al the house of Iuda, and the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred fourescore thousand chosen men warriers, to fight agaynst the house of Israel, and to reduce the kingdom to Roboam the sonne of Salomon. † But the word of our 22 Lord came to Semeias the man of God, saying: † Speake to 23 Roboam the sonne of Salomon, the king of Iuda, and to al the house of Iuda, and Beniamin, and the rest of the people, saying: † Thus sayth our Lord: You shal not goe vp, neither 24 shal you fight agaynst your brethren the children of Israel: let euerie man returne into his house, for this word is done by me. They heard the word of our Lord, and returned from their iourney as our Lord had commanded them. † And Ieroboam 25 built Siehem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt there: and departing thence he built Phanuel. † And Ieroboam 26 sayd in his hart: Now wil the kingdom returne to the house of Dauid, † if this people shal goe vp to make sacrifices in 27 the house of our Lord into Ierusalem: and the hart of this people wil be turned to their lord Roboam the king of Iuda, and they wil kil me, and returne to him. † And finding out 28 A diuelish policie to make a religion conformable to the temperal state. a deuise he made two golden calues, and sayd to them: Goe vp no more into Ierusalem: Behold thy goddes Israel, which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt. † And he put one in 29 Bethel, and the other in Dan: † and this thing was an occasion 30 of sinne: for the people went to adore the calfe, as farre as Dan. † And he made temples in the excelses, and priestes 31 For such a religion such priestes were fittest. of the abiectes of the people, which were not of the children of Leui. † And he appoynted a solemne day in the eight 32 moneth, the fiftenth day of the moneth, after the similitude of the solemnitie, that was celebrated in Iuda. And going vp he made in like maner an altar in Bethel, to immolate to the calues, which he had framed: and he ordayned in Bethel priestes of the Places on hilles, where they sacrificed calues, and other thinges to the images of calues. excelses, which he had made. † And he 33 [Page 735] went vpon the altar, which he had built in Bethel, the fiftenth day of the eight moneth, which he had [...]orged out of his owne hart: and he made a solemnitie to the children of Israel, and went vp vpon the altar, to burne incense.

CHAP. XIII. A prophet sent from Iuda to Bethel fortelleth the birth of Iosias, and destruction of Ieroboams altar, 4. whose hand being sudenly withered, 6. is restored by the prophets prayer. 11. The same prophet is deceiued by an other prophet, and slame by a lion. 33. Hieroboam proceedeth in impictie.

AND behold a man of God came out of Iuda, in the word 1 of our Lord into Bethel, Ieroboam :: standing vpon the altar, and censing. † And he cried out against the altar 2 in the word of our Lord, and sayd: Altar, altar, thus saith our Lord: Behold a child shal be borne to the house of Dauid, named This foreshewing long before the name of a childe that should be borne, importeth that he should do great thinges. See. 4. Reg. 2 [...]. Iosias, and he shal immolate vpon thee priestes of the excelses, which now doe burne frankencense on thee, and he shal burne mens bones vpon thee. † And he gaue a signe 3 in that day, saying: This shal be the signe, that our Lord hath spoken: Behold the altar shal be clouen, and the ashes shal be powred out in it. † And when the king had heard the 4 word of the man of God, which he cried out against the altar in Bethel, he stretched forth his hand from the altar, saying: Take him. And his hand withered, which he stretched forth agaynst him: neither was he able to draw it backe vnto him. † The altar also was clouen, and the ashes were powred out 5 of the altar, according to the signe which the man of God had told before in the word of our Lord. † And the king said 6 to the man of God: Besech the face of our Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me. And the man of God besought the face of our Lord, and the kinges hand was restored to him, and it became as it was before. † And the king spake to the man of God: Come home 7 with me, that thou mayst dyne, and I wil geue the giftes. † And the man of God answered the king: If thou wouldest 8 geue me the halfe part of thy house, I wil not come with thee, nor eate bread, nor drinke water in this place: † for so was it enioyned in the word of our Lord cōmanding: 9 Thou shalt not eate bread nor drinke water, nor returne by the way that thou camest. † He departed therfore by an other 10 way, and returned not by the way, that the came into Bethel. [Page 736] † And a certaine prophete being old dwelt in Bethel, to 11 whom his sonnes came and told him al the workes, that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: and the wordes which he had spoken to the king, they told their father. † And their father sayd to them: What way went he? His 12 sonnes she wed him the way, by which the man of God was gone, which came out of Iuda. † And he said to his sonnes: 13 Sadle me and asse. Who when they had sadled it, he got vp, † and went after the man of God, and found him sitting 14 vnder a rerebinth: and he said to him: Art thou the man of God that camest out of Iuda? He answered: I am he. † And 15 he sayd to him: Come home with me, that thou mayst eate bread. † Who sayd: I can not returue, nor come with thee, 16 neither will eate bread, nor drinke water in this place: † because our Lord spake to me in the word of our Lord, 17 saying: Thou shalt not eate bread, and thou shalt not drinke water there, nor returne by the way thou wentest. † Who 18 sayd to him: I also am a prophet like to thee: and This man of Bethel was indeede a prophet of God, but in this lied wickedly, and so deceiuing the other prophet, made him to breake Gods commandment, for which he was slaine VVhervpon Hieroboam swhom the wiked prophet sought to please) was lesse afeard to procede in idolatrie. an Angel hath spoken to me in the word of our Lord, saying: Bring him backe with thee into thy house, that he may eate bread, and drinke water. He deceiued him, † and brought him 19 backe with him: he did eate therfore bread in his house, and drunke water. † And when they sate at the table, the word, 20 of our Lord came to the prophete, that brought him backe. † And he cried out to the man of God, which came out of 21 Iuda, saying: Thus sayth our Lord: Because thou hast not beene obedient to the mouth of our Lord, and hast not kept the commandment, which our Lord thy God commanded thee, † and hast returned, and eaten bread, & drunke water in 22 the place wherin he commanded thee that thou shouldest not eate bread, nor drinke water, thy dead bodie shal not be brought into the sepulchre of thy fathers. † And when he 23 had eaten & drunke, he sadled his asse for the prophet, whom he brought backe. † Who when he was gone, a lion found 24 him in the way, and Not only the deceiuer, but also he that is deceiued, is guiltie and punishable for breakīg Gods cōmandment. killed him, and his bodie was cast forth in the way: and the asse stood by him, and the lion stood by the dead bodie. † And behold, men passing by saw the dead 25 bodie cast in the way, and the lion standing beside the bodie. And they came and diuulged it in the citie, wherein that old prophet dwelt. † Which when that prophet heard, which 26 had brought him backe out of the way, he sayd: It is the [Page 737] man of God, that was disobedient to the mouth of our Lord, and our Lord hath deliuered him to the lion, & he hath torne him, and killed him according to the word of our Lord, that he spake to him. † And he sayd to hie sonnes: Sadle me an 27 asse. Who when they had sadled, † and he was gone, he 28 found his dead bodie cast forth in the way, and the asse and the lion standing by the corse: the lion By this it appeareth to be Gods worke and punishment. did not eate of the dead bodie, nor hurt the asse. † The prophet therfore tooke 29 the corse of the man of God, and layd it vpon the asse, and returning brought it into the citie of the old prophete, that they might mourne for him. † And he layd his corse in his 30 owne sepulchre: and they mourned for him: Alas, alas my brother. † And when they had mourned for him, he savd to 31 his sonnes: When I shal be dead, burie me in the sepulchre, wherein the man of Ged is buried: beside his bones lay my bones. † For assuredly the word shal come to passe, which 32 he hath foretold in the word of our Lord agaynst the altar that is in Bethel: and agaynst al the temples of the excelses, that are in the cities of Samaria. † After these wordes Ieroboam 33 returned not from his wicked way: but on the contrarie part he made of the most abiect of the people priestes of the excelses: Whosoeuer would, he filled his hand, and he was made a priest of the excelses. † And for this cause did 34 the house of Ieroboam sinne, and was ouerthrowen, and destroyed from the face of the earth.

CHAP. XIIII. Ahias the prophet forsheweth the ruine of Hieroboams famili: 12. namely the death of his sonne, for whom being sick, the mother consulteth the prophet. 20. Hieroboam dieth, and his sonne Nadab reigneth. 21. Some also of the people of Iuda, committing idolatrie and other sinnes, 25. the King of Aegypt inuadeth and sacketh Hierusalem. 31. Roboam dieth and his sonne Abias reigneth.

AT that time Abia the sonne of Ieroboam was sicke. 1 † And Ieroboam sayd to his wife: Arise, and change 2 thy habite, that thou be not knowen to be the wife of Ieroboam, and goe into Silo, where Ahias the prophete is, which spake to me, that I should reigne ouer this people. † Take 3 also in thy hand ten loaues, and crackneles, and a vessel of honic, and goe to him: for he wil shew thee what shal happen to this childe. † The wife of Ieroboam did as he had 4 [Page 738] spoken: and rising vp went into Silo, and came into the house of Ahias: but he could not see, because his eies were dimme for age. † And our Lord sayd to Ahias: Behold the wife of 5 Ieroboam cometh in, to consult thee concerning her sonne that is sicke: thus and thus shalt thou speake to her. When she therfore entered in, and dissembled to be that she was, † Ahias heard the sound of her feete entring in at the doore, 6 and sayd: Come in Ieroboams wife: Why doest thou fayne thy self to be an other woman? But I am sent to thee a heauie messenger. † Goe, and tel Ieroboam: Thus sayth our Lord 7 the God of Israel: Because I haue exalted thee out of the middes of the people, and made thee prince ouer my people Israel: † and haue rent the kingdom of the house of Dauid, 8 and geuen it to thee, and thou haft not beene as my seruant Dauid, who kept my commandementes, and folowed me in al his hatt, doing that which was wel liked in my sight: † but 9 hast wrought euil aboue al, that haue beene before thee, and hast made thee strange and molten goddes, Ieroboam did not wittingly and of purpose set vp false goddes, to the end he might prouoke God to anger: for his intention only was to kepe the people frō going to Ierusalem, left by that occasion they should returne to Roboam their Lord▪ king of Iuda. ch. 12. v. 27. But by settīg vp idols he did prouoke God consequently to anger. So here and in other places this phrase: that he might prouoke: that it might be fulfilled, and the like, signifieth not the final cause, but the sequele of other factes, without direct intention: that thou mightest prouoke me to anger, and hast reiected me behind thy backe: † therfore behold I wil bring in euils vpon the house 10 of Ieroboam, and wil strike of Ieroboam him that pysseth to the wal, and the inclosed, and the vilest in Israel: and I wil cleanse the remaynes of the house of Ieroboam, as dung is wont to be cleansed til al be pure. † They that shal die of 11 Ieroboam in the citie, them the dogges shal eate: and they that shal die in the field, them the foules of the ayre shal deuoure: because our Lord hath spoken. † Thou therfore arise, and 12 goe into thy house: and in the verie entrance of thy feete into the citie, the childe shal die, † and al Israel shal mourne 13 for him, and shal burie him: for this onlie of Ieroboam shal be brought into the sepulchre, because vpon him hath beene found a good word from our Lord the God of Israel, in the house of Ieroboam. † And our Lord wil appoynt to him self 14 a king ouer Israel, that shal strike the house of Ieroboam in this day, and in this time: † and our Lord the God of Israel shal 15 strike it, as a reede is went to be moued in the water: and he shal plucke out Israel from this good countrie, which he gaue to their fathers, and shal scatter them ouer the Riuer: because they haue made to them selues groues, to prouoke our Lord. † And our Lord shal deliuer Israel for the sinnes of Ieroboam, 16 who hath sinned, & made Israel to sinne. † The wi [...]e therfore 17 [Page 739] of Ieroboam arose, and departed, and came into Thersa: and when she entered the threshold of the house, the childe died, † and they buried him. And al Israel mourned for him according 18 to the word of our Lord, which he spake in the hand of his seruant Ahias the prophete. † But the rest of the wordes 19 of Ieroboam, how he fought, and how he reigned, behold they are written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel. † And the daies, that Ieroboam reigned, 20 are two and twentie yeares: and he slept with his fathers: and Nadab his sonne reigned for him. † Moreouer Roboam the 21 sonne of Salomon reigned in Iuda: one and fourtie yeares old was Roboam when he began to reigne: seuentene yeares reigned he in Ierusalem the citie, which our Lord chose to put his name there, of al the tribes of Israel. And his mothers name was Naama an Ammonite. † And Iudas did euil before 22 our Lord, and prouoked him aboue al thinges, that their fathers had done, in their sinnes which they sinned. † For they 23 also built them altars, and statues, and groues vpon euerie high hil, and vnder euerie tree ful of grene leaues: † yea and 24 effeminates were in the land, and they did al the abominations of the gentiles, which our Lord destroyed before the face of the children of Israel. † And in the fifth yeare of the reigne 25 of Roboam, Sesac the king of Aegypt came vp into Ierusalem, † and tooke the treasures of the house of our Lord, and the 26 kinges treasures, and al thinges he spoyled: the shieldes also of gold, which Salomon had made: † for the which Roboam 27 made brasen shieldes, & deliuered them into the hand of the captaynes of shield bearers, and of them that kept watch before the doore of the kinges house. † And when the king 28 went into the house of our Lord, they that had the office to goe before, caried them: and afterward they recaried them to the armourie of the shield bearers. † And the rest of the 29 wordes of Roboam, & al that he did, behold they are written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda. † And there was warre betwen Roboam and Ieroboam alwaies. 30 † And Roboam slept with his fathers, and was buried 31 with them in the citie of Dauid: and his mothers name was Naama an Ammonite: and Abias his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XV. Abias reigneth wickedly in Iuda three yeares. 8. After him his sonne Asa succeding destroyeth idolatrie, reigning fourtie one yeares. 16. VVho hauing [Page 740] w [...]rres with the king of Israel, maketh league with the king of Syria, 24. As [...] dying Iosaphat succedeth. 25. Nadab reigneth wickedly two yeares in Israel, is then slaine by Baasa of the tribe of Issachar, 29. and his whole familie is destroyed. 33. Baasa also reigneth wickedly twentie foure yeares.

THERFORE in the eightenth yeare of king Ieroboam 1 the sonne of Nabat, Abias reigned ouer Iuda. † Three 2 yeares reigned he in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Maacha the daughter of Abessalom. † And he walked in al 3 the sinnes of his father, which he had done before him: neither was his hart perfect with our Lord his God, as the hart of Dauid his father. † But for Dauids sake our Lord his God 4 gaue him a lampe in Ierusalem, that he might rayse vp his sonne after him, and establish Ierusalem: † Dauids postetitie conserued for his sake. because Dauid 5 had done right in the eies of our Lord, and had not declined from al thinges, which he commanded him, al the daies of his life, except the matter of Vrias the Hetheite. † But there 6 was warre betwen Roboam and Ieroboam al the time of his life. † And the rest of the wordes of Abias, and al that he 7 did, are they not written in the Booke of the wordes of the kinges of Iuda? And there was warre betwen Abias and Ieroboam. † And Abias slept with his fathers, and they buried 8 him in the citie of Dauid: and Asa his sonne reigned for him. † In the twenteth yeare therfore of Ieroboam the king of 9 Israel reigned Asa the king of Iuda. † And he reigned one 10 & fourtie yeares in Ierusalem. His mothers name was Maaca, the daughter of Abessalom. † And Asa did right before the 11 sight of our Lord, as Dauid his father: † and he tooke away 12 the effemmare out of the land, and he purged al the filth of the idols, which his fathers had made. † Moreouer he remoued 13 also Maaca his mother, that she should not be princesse in the sacrifices of Priapus, and in the groue which she had consecrated: and he destroyed her denne, and brake the most filthie idol, and burnt it in the torrent cedron: † but Those altares which Salomon had made for his wiues, that were idolaters Asa destroved not▪ but al which Roboā and Abias had made, or suffered to be made for their owne people he pulled downe. Iosias afterward destroyed also those which Salomon had made 2. [...]l. 34. the 14 excelses he did not take away. Otherwise the hart of Asa was parfect with our Lord al his daies: † and he caried in those 15 thinges, which his father had sanctified, and vowed into the house of our Lord, siluer and gold, and vessels. † And there 16 was warre betwen Asa, and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies. † Baasa also the king of Israel went vp into Iuda, and 17 built Rama, that no man might go out or come in of Asaes [Page 741] side the king of Iuda. † Asa therfore taking al the siluer, and 18 gold that remained in the treasures of the house of our Lord, and in the treasures of the kinges house, gaue it into the handes of his seruantes: and he sent to Benadad the sonne of Tabremon the sonne of Hezion, the king of Syria, which dwelt in Damascus, saying: † There is a league betwen me 19 and thee, & betwixt my father and thy father: therfore I haue sent thee giftes, siluer and gold: and I desire thee that thou come, and make void the league, that thou hast with Baasa the king of Israel, and he may retire from me. † Benadad agreing 20 to king Asa, sent the princes of his armie into the citiees of Israel, and they stroke Ahion, and Dan, and Abeldomum of Maacha, and al Cenneroth, to witte, al the Land of Nephthali. † Which when Baasa had heard, he intermitted to build 21 Rama, and returned into Thersa. † But king Asa sent word 22 into al Iuda, saying▪ Let no man be excused▪ and they tooke stones from Rama, and the timber therof, wherwith Baasa had built, and Asa of it built Gabaa Beniamin, and Maspha. † But the rest of al the wordes of Asa, and al his forces, and 23 al that he did, & the cities that he built, are not these written in the Booke of the words of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda? How beit in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feete. † And he slept with his fathers, & was buried with them 24 in the citie of Dauid his father. And Iosaphat his sonne reigned for him. † But Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam reigned 25 ouer Israel the second yeare of Asa the king of Iuda: and he reigned ouer Israel two yeares. † And he did that which is 26 euil in the sight of our Lord, and walked in the waies of his father, and in his sinnes, wherwith he made Israel to sinne. † And Baasa the sonne of Ahias of the house of Issachar, lay 27 in wayte against him, and stroke him in Gebbethon, which is a citie of the Philistimes: for Nadab and al Israel besieged Gebbethon. † Baasa therfore slew him in the third yeare of 28 Asa the king of Iuda, and reigned for him. † And when he 29 reigned, he stroke The a [...]ou [...] of schisme punished in his posteritie. al the house of Ieroboam: he leaft not so much as one soule of his seede, til he destroied him according to the word of our Lord, which he had spoken in the hand of Ahias the Silonite, † for the sinnes of Ieroboam, which he 30 had sinned, and wherwith he had caused Israel to sinne, and for the offence, wherwith he prouoked our Lord the God of Israel. † But the rest of the wordes of Nadab, and al 31 [Page 742] that he wrought, are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel? † And there 32 was warre betwen Asa and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies. † In the third yeare of Asa the king of Iuda, reigned 33 Baasa the sonne of Ahias, ouer al Israel in Thersa foure and twentie yeares. † And he did euil before our Lord, & walked 34 in the waies of Ieroboam, and in his sinnes, wherwith he made Israel to sinne.

CHAP. XVI. Iehu for prophecying the destruction of Baasa and his house, 7. is slaine. 8. yet his sonne Ela reigneth tvvo yeares. 9. Then Zambri rebelleth, killeth Ela, and reigneth. 16. Part of the people choosing Amri (prince of the armie) their king, 18. Zambri desperatly burneth himselfe and the kings palace, 21. an other part folow Thebni as king til his death. 23. Amri reigneth tvvelue yeares vvickedly. 29. His sonne Achab succedeth, marieth Iezabel, and serueth Baal. 34. In the meane time Hiel repairer [...] Iericho.

AND the word of our Lord came to Iehu the sonne of 1 Hanani agaynst Baasa, saying: † For so much as I haue 2 exalted thee out of the dust, & sette thee duke ouer my people Israel, but thou hast walked in the way of Ieroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sinne, that thou mightest anger me with their sinnes: † behold, I wil cut downe the posteritie 3 of Baasa, and the posteritie of his house, and I wil make thy house as the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat. † Whosoeuer 4 of Baasa shal die in the citie, him shal the dogges eate: and whosoeuer of his shal die in the countrie, him shal the fowles of the ayre deuoure. † But the rest of the wordes of 5 Baasa, and whatsoeuer he did, and his battels, are not these things written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel? † Baasa therfore slept with his fathers, and 6 was buried in Thersa: and Ela his sonne reigned for him. † And when the word of our Lord came in the hand of Iehu 7 the sonne of Hanani the prophete agaynst Baasa, and agaynst his house, and agaynst al the euil, that he had done before our Lord, to anger him in the workes of his handes, that it should be made as the house of Ieroboam: for this cause he slew him, that is to say, Iehu the sonne of Hanani, the prophete. † In 8 the sixe and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda, reigned Ela the sonne of Baasa ouer Israel in Thersa two yeares. † And 9 his seruant Zambri rebelled agaynst him, the captayne of the [Page 743] halfe part of the horsemen: and Ela was in Thersa drinking, and dronken in the house of Arsa the gouernour of Thersa. † Zambri therfore rushing in, stroke and slew him in the seuen 10 and twenteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda, & he reigned for him. † And when he teigned, and sate vpon his throne, 11 he stroke al the house of Baasa, and he leaft not of it one that could pysse agaynst a wal, & his kinsfolke and frendes. † And 12 Zambri destroyed al the house of Baasa, according to the word of our Lord, that he had spoken to Baasa in the hand of Iehu the prophet, † for al the sinnes of Baasa, and the sinnes 13 of Ela his sonne, who sinned, and made Israel to sinne, prouoking our Lord the God of Israel in their vanities. † But 14 the rest of the wordes of Ela, and al that he did, are not these writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel? † In the seuen and twenteth yeare of Asa the king 15 of Iuda, reigned Zambri seuen daies in Thersa: moreouer the armie besieged Gebbethon a citie of the Philisthines. † And 16 when they heard that Zambri had rebelled, and slayne the king, Al those that were in the campe chose their general to be their king and preuailed therin: though an other half of Israel chose and folowed an other for a time. al Israel made Amri their king, who was General of the warfare ouer Israel that day, in the campe. † Amri therfore 17 went vp, and al Israel with him from Gebbethon, and they besieged Thersa. † And Zambri seing that the citie should 18 be taken, he went into the palace, and burnt him self with the kinges house: and he died † in his sinnes, which he had 19 sinned doing euil before our Lord, and walking in the way of Ieroboam, and in his sinne; wherwith he made Israel to sinne. † But the rest of the wordes of Zambri, and of his treason, 20 and tyrannie, are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel? † Then was 21 the people of Israel diuided into two partes: the halfe part of the people folowed Thebni the sonne of Gineth, to make him king: and the halfe part Amri. † But the people that 22 was with Amri, preuayled ouer the people that folowed Thebni the sonne of Gineth: and Thebni died, and Amri reigned. † In Thebni being then dead he reigned peaceably▪ for he began his reigne the 27. yeare of Asa. [...]. 15. & 16. and reigned in al 12. yeares. the one and thirteth yeare of Asa the king of 23 Iuda Amri reigned ouer Israel, twelue yeares: in Thersa he reigned six yeares. † And he bought the mount of Samaria 24 of Somer for two talentes of siluer: and he built it, and he called the citie which he had built, by the name of Semer the lord of the mount of Samaria. † And Amri did euil in the 25 sight of our Lord, and wrought wickedly aboue al, that were [Page 744] before him. † And he walked in al the way of Ieroboam the 26 sonne of Nabat, and in his sinnes wherwith he made Israel to sinne: that they might anger our Lord the God of Israel in their vanities. † But the rest of the wordes of Amri, and the 27 battels he made, are not these thinges writen in the Booke, of the battels that he made are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel? † And Amri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria 28 and Achab his sonne reigned for him. † But Achab the sonne 29 of Amri reigned ouer Israel the eight and thirteth yeare of Asa the king of Iuda. And Achab the sonne of Amri reigned ouer Israel in Samiaria two and twentie yeares. † And Achab 30 the sonne of Amri did euil in the sight of our Lord aboue al, that were before him. † Neither did it suffice him that he 31 walked in the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat: besides he tooke to wife Iezabel the daughter of Ethbaul the king of the Sidonians. And he went, and serued Baal, and adored him. † And he sette an altar to Baal in the temple of 32 Baal, which he had built in Samaria, † and he planted a groue: 33 and Achab added in his worke, prouoking our Lord the God of Israel aboue al the kinges of Israel, that were before him. † In his daies Hiel of Bethel built Iericho: VVhen Hiel began to build Iericho, his eldest sonne died▪ so the rest successiuely, that the last died when he finished the building: because God by the mouth of Iosue had forbid the building therof. in Abiram 34 his first borne he founded it, and in Segub his last he sette vp the gates therof: according to the word of our Lord, which he spake in the hand of Iosue the sonne of Nun. Iosue. [...].

CHAP. XVII. Elias by his prayer [...]hutteth the heauen from raining. 2. Is fed by a crovv. 8 and by a vvidovv of Sareptha. 13. vvhose potte of meale, and barrel of oyle diminisheth not. 17. Her sonne dieth, and is raysed to life.

AND Elias the Thesbite of the inhabiters of Galaad said 1 to Achab: Our Lord liueth the God of Israel, in whose sight I stand, if there shal be these yearer dew and rayne, but according to the wordes of my mouth. † And the word of 2 our Lord came to him, saying: † Depart from hence, and goe 3 agaynst the East, and be hidde in the Torrent carith, which is agaynst Iordan, † and there thou shalt drinke of the torrent: 4 and I haue commanded the rauens that they feede thee there † He therfore went, and did according to the word of our 5 Lord: and when he was gone, he sate in the Torrent carith, which is against Iordan. † The rauens also brought him bread 6 [Page 745] and flesh in the morning, in like maner bread and flesh in the euening, and he dranke of the torrent. † But after certayne 7 daies the torrent was dried: for it bad not rayned vpon the The Epistle [...] Teusday in the 2. weke of Lent. earth. † Therfore the word of our Lord came to him, saying: 8 † Arise, and goe into Sareptha of the Sidonians, and thou 9 shalt tarie there: for I haue commanded a wydow woman there to feede thee. † He arose, and went into Sareptha. And 10 when he was come to the gate of the citie, the wydow woman appeared to him gathering stickes, and he called her, and sayd to her: Geue me a litle water in a vessel, that I may drinke. † And when she went to fetch it, he cried after her saying: 11 Bring me also, I beseche thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand, † Who answered: Our Lord thy God liueth, I haue no bread, 12 but so much meale in a potte as a hand can hold, and a litle oile in a vessel: behold I gather two stickes, that I may goe in, and The epistle [...] Friday in the 4. weke of Lent. dresse it for me and my sonne, that we may eate, and die. † To whom Elias sayd: feare not, but goe, and doe as thou 13 hast sayd: but first make for me of the same meale a litle harth cake, and bring it to me: and for thy self and thy sonne thou shalt make afterward. † For thus sayth our Lord the God of 14 Israel: The potte of meale shal not fayle, nor the vessel of :: To this question (sayth S. Augustin) the prophet answered in spirite: No. For God killed not this childe to afflict so good a mother, but to confirme her in true religion & comforte her by raysing him from death. So Lazarus died not to remaine dead, but to be raysed to life, for Gods more glorie: Ioan. 11. v. 4. S. Aug li. 2. q. 5. ad Simplicia. oile be diminished vntil the day, wherin our Lord wil geue rayne vpon the face of the earth. † Who went and did according 15 to the word of Elias: and he did eate, and she, and her house: and from that day † the pot of meale fayled not, and 16 the vessel of oyle was not diminished, according to the word of our Lord, which he spake in the hand of Elias. † And it 17 came to passe after these thinges, the sonne of the woman, the goodwife of the house, fel sicke, and the sickenesse was verie vehement so that there remayned no breath in him. † She 18 therfore sayd to Elias: What is to me and thee thou man of God? comest thou vnto me, that myne iniquities might be remembred, and thou mightest kil my sonne? † And Elias sayd 19 to her: Geue me thy sonne. And he tooke him from her bosome, and caried him into the vpper chamber where him self abode, and layd him vpon his bed. † And he cried to our 20 Lord, and sayd: O Lord my God, :: what, the widow also with whom I am after a sort susteyned, hast thou afflicted, that thou wouldest kil her sonne? † And he stretched forth, & measured 21 him selfe vpon the childe three tymes, & he cried to our Lord, and sayd: O. Lord my God, let the soule of this childe, I beseche [Page 746] thee, returne into his bodie. † And our Lord heard the voice 22 of Elias: and the soule of the child returned into him, and he reuiued. † And Elias tooke the childe, and brought him 23 downe from the vpper chamber into the lower house, and deliuered him to his mother, and sayd to her: Behold thy sonne liueth. † And the woman sayd to Elias: Now, in this 24 I haue knowen that thou art a man of God, and the word of our Lord in the mouth is true.

CHAP. XVIII. The third yeare of famine, Elias meeting the chief gouernour of Achabs house, hardly perswadeth him totel Achab, that he is present. 17. Achab blameth Elias; but Elias freely auoucheth that not he, but Achab trubleth Israel. 19. By a miracle foure hundred and fiftie falsprophetes are conuinced, 40▪ and are slaine. 41. Elias prayeth and it rayneth.

AFTER manie daies the word of our Lord came to Elias, 1 the third yeare, saying: Goe, and shew thy self to Achab, that I may geue rayne vpon the face of the earth. † Elias therfore 2 went to shew himself to Achab: and there was sore famine in Samaria. † And Achab called Abdias the gouernour 3 of his house: Abdias did feare our Lord very much. † For 4 when Iezabel killed the prophetes of our Lord, he tooke an hundred prohetes, and hid them by fiftie and fiftie in caues, and fed them with bread and water. † Achab therfore sayd 5 to Abdias: Goe into the land to al the fountaynes of waters, and into al valleys, if perhaps we may finde grasse, and saue the horses and mules, and the beastes may not vtterly perish. † And they diuided the countries betwen them, that they 6 might goe circuite about them: Achab went one way, and Abdias an other way seuerally. † And when Abdias was in 7 the way, Elias mette him: who when he knew him, Abdias adored Elias as the prophete of God, and a holie man not with ciuil honour, for in the world Abdias was the greater person nor with diuine honour, for that had benne idolatrie. It was therfore religious honour, called dulia, due to spiritual excellencie of Gods seruantes. fel on his face, and sayd: My lord, art not thou Elias? † To whom 8 he answered: I am. Goe, and tel thy lord: Elias is here. † And 9 he sayd: What haue I sinned, that thou deliuerest me thy seruant into the hand of Achab, that he may kil me? † Our 10 Lord thy God liueth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seeke thee: and al answering: He is not here: he adiured al kingdomes and nations, for that thou wast not found. † And now thou sayest to me: Goe, and tel 11 thy lord, Elias is here. † And when I am departed from thee, 12 the Spirit of our Lord wil carie thee into a place, that I know [Page 747] not: and I entering in shal tel Achab, and not finding thee, he wil kil me: and thy seruant feareth our Lord from his infancie. † Hath it not beene told thee my lord, what I did 13 when Iezabel killed the prophetes of our Lord, that I hid of the prophetes of our Lord an hundred men, by fiftie and fiftie in caues, and fed them with bread and water? † And now 14 thou sayst: Goe, and tel thy lord: Elias is here: that he may kil me? † And Elias sayd: The Lord of hostes liueth, before 15 whose face I stand, this day wil I appeare to him. † Abdias 16 therfore went to meete Achab, and told him: and Achab came to meete Elias. † And when he had seene him, he sayd: 17 Art thou he that doest truble Israel? † And he sayd: not I 18 haue trubled Israel, but thou, and the house of thy father, who haue forsaken the commandmentes of our Lord, and haue folowed Baalim. † Neuerthelesse send now, and gather 19 vnto me al Israel in the mount of Carmel, and the prophetes of Baal foure hundred fiftie, and the prophetes of the groues foure hundred, which eate of Iezabels table. † Achab sent 20 to al the children of Israel, and gathered together the prophetes in the mount of Carmel. † And Elias coming to al 21 the people, sayd: Such zelous expostulation is necessarie to al Nentrals in religion who are neither hoto nor cold, but luke vva [...]me. such as Angels detest Apoc. 3. How long halt you on two sides? If our Lord be God, folow him: but if Baal, folow him. And the people did not answer him a word. † And Elias sayd agayne 22 to the people: I onlie remayne a prophete of our Lord: and the prophetes of Baal are foure hundred and fiftie men. † Let 23 two oxen be geuen vs, and let them choose to them selues one oxe, and cutting it into peeces let them lay it vpon wood, but put no fyre vnder: and I wil dresse the other oxe, and wil lay it vpon wood, and put no fire vnder. † Inuocate ye the 24 names of your goddes, & I wil inuocate the name of my Lord: and the God that shal heare by fyre, let the same be God. And al the people answering sayd: A very good proposition. † Elias 25 therfore sayd to the prophetes of Baal: Choose you one oxe, and make it first, because you are manie: & inuocate the names of your goddes, and put no fire vnder. † Who when they had 26 taken the oxe, which he gaue them, they dressed it: and they inuocated the name of Baal from morning vntil midday, saying: Baal heare vs. And there was no voice, nor any that answered: and they leaped ouer the altar, that they had made. † And when it was now midday. Elias iested at them, saying: 27 Crie with a lowder voice: for he is God, and perhaps he speaketh, [Page 748] or is in his inne, or in the way, or at the least he slepeth, that he must be waked. † They cried therfore with a lowd 28 voice, and cut them selues after their rite with kniues and lancers, til they were al embrewed with bloud. † And after 29 the midday was past, and whiles they prophecied, the time was come, when they vsed to offer sacrifice, neither voice was heard, nor any did answer, nor attend them praying: † Elias 30 sayd to al the people: Come vnto me. And the people coming to him, he repayred the altar of our Lord, that was destroyed. † And he tooke twelue stones according to the number of 31 the tribes of the children of Iacob, to whom the word of our Lord came, saying: Israel shal be thy name. † And he 32 built of the stones an altar in the name of our Lord: and he made a water gutter, as it were by two furrowes round about the altar, † and he layed the wood in order, and diuided the 33 oxe in iointes, and layd it vpon the wood, † and said: Fil 34 foure buckettes with water, and powre vpon the holocauste, and vpon the wood. And againe he sayd: Doe it also the second time. Who hauing donne it the second time, he said: The third time also doe the same. And they did so the third time, † and the warers ranne about the altar, and the trough of the 35 conduite was filled. † And when it was now time that the holocauste 36 should be offered, Elias the prophete coming said: Lord God of Abraham, and Isaac, & Israel, shew this day that thou art the God of Israel, and I thy seruant, & that according to thy commandment I haue done al these thinges. † Heare me 37 Lord, heare me: VVhen miracles are attempted for trial of the truth, the diuels powre is restrayned, & only the truth is testified: Our Lord vvorking [...]thal, & confirming the doctrin vvith sig [...] folovving. [...]. vlt. that this people may learne, that thou art our Lord God, & thou hast conuerted their hart againe. † And the 38 [...]ire of our Lord fel, & deuoured the holocauste, & the wood, and the stones, licking also the dust, and the water, that was in the water gutter. † Which when al the people had seene, 39 they fel on their face, and said: Our Lord he is God, our Lord he is God. † And Elias said to them: Apprehend the prophetes 40 of Baal, and let not one escape of them. Whom when they had taken, Elias brought them to the Torrent cison, and killed them there. † And Elias sayd to Achab: Goe vp, eate, and 41 drinke: because there is sound of much raine. † Achab went 42 vp to eate and drinke: and Elias went vp into the toppe of Carmel, and flatte on the earth put his face betwen his knees, † and he said to his seruant: Goe vp, and looke toward the 43 sea. Who when he was gone vp, and had looked, he said: There [Page 749] is nothing. And againe he said to him: Returne seuen tymes. † And in the seuenth time: Behold a litle cloud as it were a 44 mans foote, came vp from the sea. Who said: Goe vp and say to Achab: Yoke thy chariote and goe downe, lest the raine preuent thee. † And when he turned him felfe hither and thither, 45 behold the heauens were darkened, and cloudes, and winde, and there fel great raine. Achab therfore going vp went into Iezrahel: † and the hand of our Lord was made 46 vpon Elias, and his loynes girded he ranne before Achab, vntil he came into Iezrahel.

CHAP. XIX. Elias fleing Iezabel, in the desert eateth a harth cake and drinketh water, brought by an Angel, and so goeth fourtie dayes and nightes vnto mount Horeb. 9. Lamenting that he alone is leist of the prophetes of God. 15. God commandeth him to returne to Damascus, and anoint Hazael king of Syria, Iehu king of Israel, and Eliseus a prophet: 18. and telleth him, there remaine seuen thousand in Israel, which haue not bowed to Baal.

AND Achab told Iezabel al thinges that Elias had done, 1 and how he had killed al the prophetes with the sword. † And Iezabel sent a messenger to Elias, saying: These thinges 2 do the goddes to me, and these adde they, if this houre to morow I make not thy soule as the soule of one of them. 3 † Elias therfore was afraid, & rysing he went whither soeuer his wil caried him: and he came into Bersabee of Iuda, and leaft his seruant there, † and went forward into the desert, 4 one dayes iourney. And when he was come, and sate vnder a iuniper tree, he desired for his soule to die, and sayd: It sufficeth me Lord, take my soul: for I am not better then my fathers. † And he cast him self downe, and slept in the shadow 5 of the iuniper tree: and behold an Angel of our Lord touched him, and sayd to him: Arise, and eate. † He looked, 6 and behold at his head harthbaked bread, and a vessel of water: he therfore did eate, and drinke, and he slept againe. † And the Angel of our Lord returned the second time, and 7 touched him, and said to him: Arise, eate: for thou hast yet a great way to goe. † Who when he was risen: did eate and 8 drinke, & walked in the strength of that meate fourtie daies, and fourtie nightes, vnto the mount of God, Horeb. † And 9 when he was come thither, he taried in a caue: and behold the word of our Lord vnto him, & he said to him: What doest thou here Elias? † But he answered: With zele haue I beene zelous 10 [Page 750] for our Lord the God of hostes▪ because the children of Israel haue forsaken thy couenant: thy altars haue they destroyed, & thy prophetes they haue slaine with the sword, & Elias knew no other at that instant in the tenne tribes, that were not partakers in idolatrie; but there were in deede seuen thousand ( v. 18) that bowed not their knees to Baal. And the whole kingdom of Iuda obserued true religion, where Asa then reigned, and after him Iosaphat: both good kinges, chap. 15. v. 11. 22 v. 43. 2. Par. 15. & ▪ 17. I alone am leaft, & they seeke my life to take it away. † And he said 11 to him: Come forth, and stand in the mount before our Lord: and behold our Lord passeth, and a great winde, and strong ouerthrowing mountaynes and breaking rockes before our Lord: not in the winde is our Lord, and after the winde an earth quake: not in the earth quake is our Lord, † and 12 after the earth quake fire: not in the fire is our Lord, and after the fire a wistling of a gentle winde. † Which when 13 Elias had heard, he couered his face with his mantel, and coming forth stood in the doore of the caue, and behold a voyce vnto him, saying: What doest thou here Elias? † And 14 he answered: With zele haue I beene zelous for our Lord the God of hostes: because the children of Israel haue forsaken thy couenant: thyn altars they haue destroyed, and thy prophetes they haue slaine with the sword, and I alone am leaft, and they seeke my life to take it away. † And our Lord sayd 15 to him: Goe, and returne into thy way by the desert of Damiascus: and when thou art come thither thou Elias prophecied that these two should be kinges, and cast his cloke ouer Elizeus. v. 19. Elizeus declared to Hazael that he should be king. 4. Reg. 8. an other prophet annointed Iehu. 4. Reg. 9. shalt anoint Hazael king ouer Syria, † and Iehu the sonne of Namsi thou 16 shalt anoynt king ouer Israel: and Eliseus the sonne of Saphat, which is of Abelmeula, thou shalt anoynt prophet for thee. † And it shal be, whosoeuer shal escape the sword of 17 Hazael, him Iehu shal kil: and whosouer shal escape the sword of Iehu, him shal Eliseus kil. † And I wil leaue me 18 in Israel seuen thousand men, whose knees haue not beene bowed before Baal, and euerie mouth, that hath not adored him kyssing his handes. † Elias therfore departing thence, 19 found Eliseus the sonne of Saphat, ploughing with twelue yoke of oxen, and he was one of them that ploughed with twelue yoke of oxen: and when Elias came to him, he cast his mantel vpon him. † Who forth with leauing the oxen 20 ranne after Elias, and said: Let me kisse, I pray thee, my father, and my mother, and so I wil folow thee. And he sayd to him: Goe, and returne: for that which was my part, I haue donne to thee. † And returning from him, he tooke a yoke 21 of oxen, and killed them, and sod the flesh with the plough of the oxen, and gaue to the people, and they did eate: and rysing vp he departed, and folowed Elias, & ministred to him.

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CHAP. XX. The Syrians threatning and besieging Samaria, 13. God signifieth by a prophet to Achab, that he shal haue the victorie. 20. which he obtaineth. 23. Also the second yeare fighting in the champaine. 31. [...]ut sauing the king of Syrians life, and making league with him, 35. one of the children of the prophetes being slaine, for not stryking when he was so commanded, 37. an other denounceth reuenge to Achab, for not killing the Syrian King.

MOREOVER Benadad the king of Syria, gathered together 1 al his host, & two & thirtie kinges with him, & horses, and chariotes: and going vp fought agaynst Samaria, and besieged it. † And sending messengers to Achab the king 2 of Israal into the citie, † he said: Thus saith Benadad: Thy 3 siluer, and thy gold is mine: and thy wiues, and thy principal children be mine. † And the king of Israel answered: According 4 to thy word my lord king, I am thine, and al that is mine. † And the messengers returning, said: Thus saith Benadad, 5 which sent vs vnto thee: Thy siluer, and thy gold, and thy wiues, and thy children thou shalt geue me. † To morow 6 therfore this verie honre I wil send my seruantes to thee, and they shal search thy house, and the house of thy seruantes: and al that pleaseth them, they shal put in their handes, and take away. † And the king of Israel called al the ancientes of 7 the land, and said: Marke, and see that he seeketh to intrappe vs. for he sent to me for my wiues, and children, and for the siluer and gold: and I said not nay. † And al the ancientes, 8 and al the people said to him: Heare not, neither agree vnto him. † He therfore answered the messengers of Benadad: Tel 9 my Lord the king: Al thinges for the which thou didst send to me thy seruant in the beginning I wil doe: but this thing I can not doe. † And the messengers returning made report 10 vnto him, who sent againe, and sayd: These thinges doe the goddes to me, and these adde they, if the dust of Samaria shal suffice for the hanfulles of al the people, that foloweth me. † And the king of Israel answering, sayd: Tel him, :: let not 11 :: Those that are girded, & strongly armed do not wisely in trusting their owne strength, and contemning their aduersaries: for by so doing they are often ouerthrowne. And those that distrusting them selues trust in God, one way or other alwaies preuaile A necessarie lesson, both in temporal and spiritual warfayre. the girded glorie as the vngirded. † And it came to passe, 12 when Benaded had heard this word, himself and the kinges dranke in pauilions, and he sayd to his seruantes: Besette the citie, and they did besette it. † And behold a prophete coming 13 to Achab the king of Israel, said to him: Thus sayth our Lord, Hast thou in dede sene al this exceding great multitude? [Page 752] behold, I wil deliuer them into thy hand this day: that thou mayst know, that I am the Lord. † And Achab said: By whom? 14 And he said to him: Thus saith our Lord: By the seruantes of the princes of the prouinces. And he said: Who shal begin to fight? And he said: Thou. † He therfore mustered the seruantes 15 of the princes of the prouinces, and he found the number of two hundred thirtie two: and he mustered after them the people, al the children of Israel, seuen thousand. † And 16 they went forth at noone. But Benadad dranke al dronken in his tent, and two and thirtie kinges with him, which were come to ayde him. † The seruantes therfore of the princes 17 of the prouinces issued forth in the forefront. Benadad therfore sent. Who told him, saying: Men are come forth out of Samarìa. † And he said: Whether they come for peace, take 18 them aliue: or els to fight, aliue take ye them. † The seruantes 19 therfore of the princes of the prouinces issued forth, and the rest of the armie folowed: † and euerie one stroke the man, 20 that came against him: and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them▪ Benadad also the king of Syria fled on horsebacke with his horsemen. † Moreouer the king of Israel issuing 21 forth stroke the horses and chariotes, and he stroke Syria with a great slaughter. † And a prophet coming to the king 22 of Israel, said to him: Goe, and take courage, and know, and see what thou doest: for the yeare folowing the king of Syria wil come vp against thee.) † But the seruantes of the king of 23 Syria said to him: The goddes of the mountaynes be their goddes, therfore haue they ouercome vs: but it is better that we fight against them in the champaine, & we shal ouercome them. † Thou therfore do this word: Remoue al the kinges 24 from thine armie, and put captaines for them: † and repaire 25 the number of souldiars, that are slaine of thine, and horses according to the old horses, & chariotes according to the chariotes, which thou hadst before: and we wil fight against them in the champaine, and thou shalt see that we shal ouercome them. He beleued their counsel, and did so. † Therfore after 26 a yeare was passed, Benadad mustered the Syrians, and went vp into Aphec, to fight against Israel. † Moreouer the children 27 of Israel were mustered, and taking victuals they went forth on the contrarie side, and camped against them, as it were two litle flockes of goates: but the Syrians filled the land. († And a man of God coming, said to the king of Israel: 28 [Page 753] Thus saith our Lord: Because the Syrians haue said: The Lord is God of the mountaines, and is not God of the Valleis: I wil geue al this great multitude into thy hand, and Manie victories and other benefites were besi [...]wed vpon Achab, to make him knowe God: but he cōtemning them al remained in his impietie, and finally was slaine. ch. 22, v. 38. you shal know that I am the Lord.) † And seuen dayes did these, and 29 they direct their armies one against the other, and in the seuenth day was the battel fought: and the children of Israel stroke of the Syrians an hundred thousand footemen in one day. † And they that remained in Aphec, fled into the citie: 30 and the wal fel vpon seuen and twentie thousand men, that were leaft. Moreouer Benadad fleing entered the citie, into a chamber that was within a chamber, † and his seruantes 31 said to him: Behold, we haue heard that the kinges of the house of Israel are merciful: Let vs therfore put sackeclothes on our loynes, and cordes on our heades, and goe forth to the king of Israel: perhaps he wil saue our liues. † They girded 32 their loines with sackclothes, and put cordes on their heades, and came to the king of Israel, and said to him: Thy seruant saith: Let my soule liue, I besech thee. And he said: If he be yet aliue he is my brother. † Which the men tooke 33 for good lucke: and in hast caught the word of his mouth, and said: Thy brother Benadad. And he said to them: Goe and bring him to me. Benadad therfore came out to him, and he lifted him vp into his chariote. † Who said to him: The cities 34 which my father tooke from thy father, I wil render: doe thou make thee stretes in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria, and I confederate wil depart from thee. He therfore made a league, and dimissed him. † Then a certaine man of 35 the children of the prophetes sayd to his felow in the word of our Lord: Strike me. But he would not strike. † To 36 whom he said: Because thou wouldest not heare the word of our Lord, behold thou shalt depart from me, and a lion shal strike thee. And when he was departed a litle from him, a lyon found him, and slew him. † But finding also an other 37 man, he said to him: Strike me. Who stroke him, and wounded him. † The prophete therfore went, and metre the king 38 in the way, and with sprinkling of dust changed his face and his eies. † And when the king passed by, he cried to the king, 39 and said: Thy seruant went forth to fight hand strokes: and when a certaine man was fled, one brought him to me, and said: Keepe this man: who if he shal slippe away, thy life shal be for his life, or thou shalt pay a talent of siluer. † And 40 [Page 754] whiles I being trubled turned hither and thither, sodenly he appeared not. And the king of Israel sayd to him: This is thy iudgement, which thy self hast decreed. † But he forthwith 41 wyped of the dust from his face, and the king of Israel knew him, that he was of the prophetes. † Who sayd to him: Thus 42 sayth our Lord: Foolish pittie in sparing a dangerous & common enimie is offensi [...]e to God, & seuerely punished by his iustice. Because thou hast let goe out of thy hand a man worthie to die, thy life shal be for his life, and thy people for his people. † The king of Israel therfore returned into 43 his house, contemning to heare, & raging came into Samaria.

CHAP. XXI. Naboth for denying his vineyard to King Achab, is by quene Iezabels commandment, falsly accused, and stoned to death. 10. Achab hastening to possesse the vineyard, Elias the prophet threatneth him manie euiles. 23. and no lesse to Iezabel▪ both being obstinate in sinne. 27. Yet Achab for feare of punishment, doth external workes of penance, and therby escapeth part of the temporal plagues.

AND after these wordes, at that tyme Naboth the Iezrahelite 1 had a vineyard, which was in Iezrahel, beside the palace of Achab the king of Samaria. † Achab therfore 2 spake to Naboth, saying: Geue me thy vineyard, that I may make me a garden of herbes, because it is nigh, and ioyning to my house, and If no subiect were lord of anie land, but only at the kings pleasure & kinges were proper lordes of al the landes in their kingdomes, then Achab might haue taken Naboths vinyard; especially geuing him a better, or money for it. Neither was it a vaine scruple in Naboth, to conserue his ancesters inheritance. For both his denial is here iustified, and Achabs extortion co [...]mned. S. Ambrose li. 3. offic. c. 9. counteth Naboth a Martyr. See Annot. 1. Reg. 8. I wil geue thee for it a better vineyard: or if thou thinke it more commodious for thee, the price of siluer, so much as it is worth. † To whom Naboth answered: 3 Our Lord be merciful to me, that I geue not the inheritance of my fathers to thee. † Achab therfore came into his house 4 with indignation, and fretting vpon the word, that Naboth the Iezrahelite had spoken to him, saying: I wil not geue thee the inheritance of my fathers. And casting him self vpon his bed, he turned away his face to the wal, and did not eate bread. † And Iezabel his wife went in vnto him, and sayd 5 to him: What is this matter, whereupon thy soule is greued? and why eatest thou not bread? † Who answered her: I 6 spake to Naboth the Iezrahelite, and sayd to him: Geue me thy vineyard, taking money for it: or if it please thee, I wil geue thee a better vineyard for it. And he sayd: I wil not geue thee my vineyard. † Iezabel therfore his wife sayd to 7 him: Thou art of great authoritie, and doest wel gouerne the kingdome of Israel: Arise, and eate bread, and be of good cheere, I wil geue thee the vineyard of Naboth the Iezrahelite. [Page 755] † She therfore wrote letters in the name of Achab, and 8 signed them with his ring, and sent to the ancientes, and the chiefe men that were in his citie, and dwelt with Naboth. † And this was the tenor of the letters: Proclame a fast, and 9 make Naboth sitte among the chiefe of the people, † and 10 suborne two men the children of Belial agaynst him, and let them beare false testimony: that he hath To auoide horrore of blasphemie holie scripture often vseth the terme blessing for cursing. blessed God and the king: and bring him forth, and stone him, and so let him die. † His citizens therfore the ancientes and chiefe men, 11 that dwelt with him in the citie, did as Iezabel had commanded them, and as it was written in the letters which she sent to them: † they proclamed a fast, and made Naboth 12 sitte among the chiefe of the people. † And two men the 13 children of the diuel being brought forth, they made them sitte agaynst him: but they, as deuelish men, gaue testimonie agaynst him before the multitude: Naboth hath blessed God and the king: for the which thing they brought him forth without the citie, and killed him with stones. † And they 14 sent to Iezabel, saying: Naboth is stoned, and is dead. † And 15 it came to passe, when Iezabel had heard that Naboth was stoned, and dead, she spake to Achab: Arise, and possesse the vineyard of Naboth the Iezrahelite, who would not agree vnto thee, and geue it taking money: for Naboth liueth not, but is dead. † Which when Achab had heard, to witte, that 16 Naboth was dead, he arose, & went downe into the vineyard of Naboth the Iezrahelite, to possesse it. † The word of our 17 Lord therfore came to Elias the Thesbite, saying: † Arise, 18 and goe downe to meete Achab the king of Israel, who is in Samaria: behold he goeth downe to the vineyard of Naboth, to possesse it: † and thou shalt speake to him, saying: Thus 19 sayth our Lord: Thou hast slayne, moreouer also thou hast possest. And after these wordes thou shalt adde: Thus sayth our Lord: In this place, wherein the dogges haue licked the bloud of Naboth, they chap. 22. v. 38. shal licke thy bloud also. † And 20 Achab sayd to Elias: Hast thou found me thyne enemie? Who sayd: I haue found thee, for that thou art sold, to doe euil in the sight of our Lord. † Behold I wil bring euil vpon thee, 21 and wil cut downe thy posteritie, and wil kil of Achab him that pisseth agaynst the wal, and the inclosed, and the last in Israel. † And I wil make thy house, as the house of Ieroboam 22 the sonne of Nabat, and as the house of Baasa the sonne of [Page 756] Ahias: because thou hast done, to prouoke me to anger, and hast made Israel to sinne. † But of Iezabel also our Lord spake, 23 saying: The dogges shal eate Iezabel in the field of Iezrahel. † If Achab die in the citie, the dogges shal eate him: but if 24 he die in the field, the foules of the ayre shal eate him. † Therfore 25 there was not such an other as Achab, who So addicted to wickednes, as if he had solde him selfe to the diuel for some temporal profite or pleasure. In your iniquities you are solde. Isaiae. 50. S. Aug. q. 102. ex vtro. test S. Greg. [...]. 10. in Ezech. was sold to doe euil in the sight of our Lord: for his wife Iezabel sette him on, † and he became abominable, in so much that he 26 folowed the idols, which the Amorrheites had made, whom our Lord consumed before the face of the children of Israel. † Therfore when Achab had heard these wordes, he rent 27 his garmentes, and couered his flesh with haercloth, and fasted and slept in sackcloth, and walked casting downe his head. † And the word of our Lord came to Elias the Thesbite, 28 saying: † Hast thou not seene Achab humbled before me? 29 therfore, because he hath humbled him self for my sake, I wil not bring in the euil in his dayes, but in his sonnes daies wil I bring the euil vpon his house.

CHAP. XXII. Achab King of Israel consulting and beleuing false prophetes rather then Micheas a true prophet, accompanied with Iosaphat king of Iuda, resolueth to fight against the Syrians for Ramoth Galaad. 26. Committeth Micheas to prison, 29. procedeth to the warre, 34. is slaine, and Ochozias saccedeth. 41. Iosaphat refuseth to traffike longer with Ochozias; dieth, and his sonne Ioram reigneth. 52. Ochozias foloweth the euil steppes of his parents.

THERE passed therfore three yeares without warre 1 betwen Syria aud Israel. † And in the third yeare, Iosaphat 2 the king of Iuda went downe to the king of Israel. († And the king of Israel sayd to his seruantes: are you ignorant 3 that Ramoth Galaad is ours, and we neglect to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?) † And he sayd to Iosaphat: 4 Wilt thou come with me to sight into Ramoth Galaad? † And Iosaphat sayd to the king of Israel: As I am, so thou also: 5 my people and thy people are one: and my horsemen thy horsmen. And Iosaphat sayd to the king of Israal: Aske, I besech thee, this day the word of our Lord. † The king of Israel 6 therfore assembled the prophetes, about foure hundred men, and he sayd to them: Shal I goe into Ramoth Galaad to fight, or sitte stil? Who answered: Goe vp, and our Lord wil geue it into the kinges hand. † And Iosaphat sayd: The godlie King Iosaphat iustly suspecting the schismatical s [...]e prophetes, aduised the other King to cōsult a true prophet of God. Is there not 7 [Page 757] here some prophete of our Lord, that we may aske by him? † And the king of Israel sayd to Iosaphat: There is one man 8 leaft, by whom we may aske our Lord: but I hate him, because he doeth not prophecie vnto me good, but euil, Micheas the sonne of Iemla. To whom Iosaphat sayd: Speake not so ô king. † The king of Israel therfore called a certaine 9 eunuch, and sayd to him: Make hast, and bring hither Micheas the sonne of Iemla. † And the king of Israel, and Iosaphat 10 the king of Iuda sate eche in his throne clothed with royal attyre, in a court beside the doore of the gate of Samaria, and al the prophetes prophecied before them. † Sedecias the 11 sonne of Chanaana made him self Fals prophetes imitate true prophetes in some exterior thinges, to make their prophecies seme more authentical. Such hornes appeared in a prophetical vision to Zacharie the prophet. Zach. 1. v 18. hornes of yron, and sayd: Thus sayth our Lord: With these shalt thou strike Syria, til thou destroy it. † And al the prophetes in like maner prophecied, 12 saying: Ascend into Ramoth Galaad, and goe prosperousely, & our Lord wil deliuer it into the Kinges handes. † But the messenger, that went to cal Micheas, spake to him, 13 saying: Behold the wordes of the prophetes with one mouth preach good thinges to the king: let thy word therfore be like to theirs, and speake good thinges. † To whom Micheas 14 sayd: Our Lord liueth, whatsoeuer our Lord shal tel me, that wil I speake. † He therfore came to the king, and the king 15 sayd to him: Micheas, shal we goe into Ramoth Galaad to sight, or sitte stil? To whom he answered: The prophet geueth not this for a resolute answer, but seing the king wil goe, he prayeth he may go prosperously. And the king conceiueth no otherwise of his answer, and therfore vrgeth him to answer resolutly in the next wordes. I adiure thee &c. Ascend, and goe prosperousely, and our Lord wil deliuer it into the kinges handes. † But the king sayd to him: I adiure thee agayne and 16 agayne, that thou speake not to me but that which is true in the name of our Lord. † And he sayd: I saw al Israel dispersed 17 in the mountaynes, as sheepe not hauing a shepeheard, and our Lord sayd: These haue no maister: let euerie man returne into his house in peace. († Therfore the king of Israel sayd 17 to Iosaphat: Did I not tel thee, that he doeth not prophecie me good, but alwaies euil?) † But he adding, sayd: Therfore 19 heare the word of our Lord: I saw our Lord sitting vpon his throne, and al the hoste of heauen assisting him on the right hand and on the left: † and our Lord sayd: Who shal 20 deceiue Achab the king of Israel, that he may goe vp, and fal in Ramoth Galaad? And one sayd these maner of wordes, and an other otherwise. † And there came forth a spirit, 21 and stood before our Lord, and sayd: I wil deceiue him. To whom our Lord spake: Wherein? † And he sayd: I 22 [Page 758] wil goe forth, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of al his prophetes. And our Lord sayd: Thou shalt deceiue, and shalt preuayle: The coherence of the text sheweth that God only permitted, but commanded not the diuel to deceiue Achab. So S. Augustin. li. 2. q. vlt. ad Simplic. S. Greg. li. 2. c. 21. Moral, and other fathers explicate this & like places. :: VVhen this false prophet heard that the kīg was slaine he hidde him selfe, fearing the kings sonnes, that they would kil him. Iosephus li. 8. c. 14▪ Antiq. goe forth, and doe so. † Now therfore 23 behold our Lord hath geuen the spirite of lying in the mouth of al thy prophetes, that are here, and our Lord hath spoken euil agaynst thee. † And Sedecias the sonne of Chananna 24 came, and smote Micheas on the cheeke, and sayd: Hath the Spirit of our Lord leaft me, and hath it spoken to thee? † And Micheas sayd: Thou shalt see in that day, when 25 thou shalt enter into thy chamber, :: within the chamber to be hid. † And the king of Israel sayd: Take Micheas, and let 26 him tarie with Amon the gouernour of the citie, and with Ioab the sonne of Amelech, † and tel them: Thus sayth the 27 king: Cast this man into prison, and feede him with bread of tribulation, and water of distresse, til I returne in peace. † And Micheas sayd: If thou returne in peace, our Lord hath 28 not spoken in me. And he sayd: Heare al ye peoples. † Therfore 29 the king of Israel went vp, and Iosaphat the king of Iuda into Ramoth Galaad. † The king of Israel therfore sayd 30 to Iosaphat: Take armour, and goe into the battel, and put on thyne owne garmentes. Moreouer the king of Israel changed his habite, and went into the battel. † And the 31 king of Syria had commanded the princes of his chariotes thirtie and two, saying: You shal not fight agaynst any lesser, or greater, but agaynst the king of Israel onlie. † When therfore 32 the princes of the chariotes had seene Iosaphat, they suspected that he was the king of Israel, and making a violent assault they fought agaynst him: & Iosaphat cried out. † And 33 the princes of the chariotes perceiued that he was not the king of Israel, and they ceased from him. † And a certaine 34 man bent his bow, directing the arrow at al aduenture, and It happened by chance in respect of the archers intentiō, but otherwise by Gods prouidence directing his hand. So Achabs craftic perswading Iosaphat to put on his kinglie attyre. ( v. 30.) him self fighting in vulgar armour, saued him not from iust reuenge. by chance he stroke the king of Israel betwen the lunges and the stomacke. But he sayd to his cochere: Turne thy hand, and carrie me out of the armie, because I am greuousely wounded. † The battel therfore was fought that day, and 35 the king of Israel stood in his chariote agaynst the Syrians, and he died in the euening: & the bloud of the wound ranne into the middes of the chariote, † and the herauld sounded 36 in al the armie before the sunne sette, saying: Euerie man returne into his citie, and into his countrie. † And the king 37 died, and was carried into Samaria: and they buried the king [Page 759] in Samaria, † and washed his chariote in the poole of Samaria, 38 and the dogges licked his bloud, and they washed the raynes of the bridle, according to the word of our Lord which he had spoken. † But the rest of the wordes of Achab, 39 and al that he did, and the house of yuorie, that he built, and of al the cities that he built, are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel? † Achab therfore slept▪ with his fathers, and Ochozias his 40 sonne reigned for him. † But Iosaphat the sonne of Asa began 41 to reigne ouer Iuda the fourth yeare of Achab the king of Israel. † Fiue and thirtie yeares old was he when he began 42 to reigne, and fiue and twentie yeares he reigned in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Azuba the daughter of Salai. † And he walked in al the way of Asa his father, and he 43 declined not from it: and he did that which was right in the sight of our Lord. † But yet he tooke not away the excelses: 44 for as yet the people did sacrifice, and burnt incense in the excelses. † And Iosaphat had peace with the king of Israel. 45 † But the rest of the wordes of Iosaphat, and his workes, 46 which he did, and his battels, are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda? † Yea and the remnant of the effeminate, which remayned 47 in the daies of Asa his father, he tooke out of the land. † Neither 48 was there then a king appoynted in Edom. † But king 49 Iosaphat had made nauies 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 50 Achab to Iosaphat: Let my seruantes goe with thy seruantes in the shippes. And Iosaphat would not. † And Iosaphat slept 51 with his fathers, and was buried with them in the Citie of Dauid his father: and Ioram his sonne reigned for him. † And 52 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 53 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 54 him, and prouoked our Lord the God of Israel, according to al thinges which his father had done.

[Page 760]

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, The kingdom of Iuda conserued in Dauids seede. 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 Many royal families begūne and destroyed in the kingdom of Israel. 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 This booke diuided into two partes. 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 1 The first part. Of thinges donne in both kingdomes, with the declination and [...]ine of Israel. [...]chab was dead. † And Ochozias fel through the 2 [...]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 3 [Page 761] 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 4 which thou art ascended, thou shalt not goe downe, but dying thou shalt die. And Elias went away. † And the messengers 5 returned to Ochozias. Who said to them: Why are you returned? † But they answered him: A man mette vs: 6 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 7 man, which mette you, and spake these wordes? † But they 8 said: A hearie man, and girded about his raines with a girdle of lether: Who said: Elias was knowen by his much hayre, and distinct habite, from ordinary men. It is Elias the Thesbite. † And he 9 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 10 of fiftie men: If I be a man of God, In zele of iustice Elias procured fire from heauen to burne these proud capitaines and their men, as he procured fire to burne the holocaust, and then [...]lew the falsprophetes. 3. Reg. 18. apud. Aug. li. 2. c. 20. de mirabil. [...]. Script. 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 11 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 12 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 13 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 14 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 15 downe with him, feare not. He therfore arose, and went [Page 762] downe with him to the king, † and spake to him: Thus saith 16 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 17 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, 18 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 1 Elias by a hurle winde into ayre or lovver heauen. heauen, Elias and Eliseus went from Galgal. † And Elias sayd to Eliseus: Sitte here, 2 because our Lord hath sent me as far as Bethel. To whom Eliseus sayd: Our Lord liueth, and thy soule liueth, I wil not :: VVhither Elias was carried being taken vp into the ayre, is vncertain: but certaine that he yet liueth, and must dye As S. Augustin teacheth. li. 9. c. 6. de Gen. ad lit. See Annot. in Gen. 6 & Apocalip. 11. leaue thee. And when he was come downe to Bethel, † the 3 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 4 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 5 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 6 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 7 [Page 763] folowed them, who also stood ouer agaynst them, farre of: but they two stood vpon Iordan. † And Elias tooke his mantel, 8 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 9 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 He desired not duble spirite to his master, but the duble spirite of prophecying, and of working miracles, which Elias had. v. [...]5. thy duble spirit. † who answered: Thou hast asked a 10 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 11 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 12 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 13 vp the mantel of Elias, that was fallen to him: and returning he stood vpon the banke of Iordan, † and with the mantel of 14 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 15 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, They adored him for his ho lines, and because God had geuen him the spirit of so great a prophete, not for wordlie, but spiritual excel lencie, & therfore not with ciuil but religious honour. adored him flatte to the ground, † and they sayd to him: Behold, there are with thy 16 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, 17 and sayd: Send. And they sent fiftie men Who when they had sought three daies, found not. † And they returned 18 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 19 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, 20 and put salt into it. Which when they had brought, † going 21 out to the fountayne of the waters, he cast salt into it, and sayd: Thus sayth our Lord: I haue amended these waters, and [Page 764] death shal no more be in them, nor barrennesse. † The waters 22 therfore were amended vntil this day, according to the word of Eliseus, which he spake. † And from thence he went 23 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 24 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 25 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 1 Samaria :: the eightenth yeare of Iosaphat the king of Iuda. And he reigned twelue yeares. † And he did euil before 2 our Lord, but not as his father and mother: for he tooke away the statues of Baal, which his father had made. † Neuertheles 3 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 4 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, 5 which he had made with the king of Israel. † Therfore king 6 Ioram went forth that day out of Samaria, and mustered al Israel. † And he sent to Iosaphat the king of Iuda, saying: 7 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 8 desert of Idumea. † Therfore the king of Israel, and the king 9 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 10 said: Alas alas alas, our Lord hath gathered vs three kinges [Page 765] together, that he might deliuer vs into the handes of Moab. † And Iosaphat said: Is there not here a prophet of our Lord, 11 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 12 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 13 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 might deliuer them into the handes of Moab? † And Eliseus said to him: The Lord of hostes liueth, in 14 whose sight I stand, If I did not reuerence the face of Iosaphat the king of Iuda, I would not certes haue harkened to thee, nor looked on thee. † But now bring me hither a plaier 15 on instrumentes. And when the player sang, the hand of our Lord came vpon him, and he said: † Thus saith our Lord: 16 Make the chanel of this torrent diches and diches. † For thus 17 saith our Lord: You shal not see winde, nor raine: and this chanel shal be filled with waters, & you shal drinke, and your families, & your beastes. † And this is a smal thing in the sight 18 of our Lord: moreouer he wil deliuer also Moab into your handes. † And you shal strike euerie fensed citie, and euerie 19 principal citie, and It was forbi [...] ▪ Deut. 20. to cut downe fruict trees in the land of Chanaan, which the Israelite should possesse, but the land of Moab perteyned not to them and [...]o [...] was [...]ot prohibited to an [...]y that countrie vpon iust offence. shal cut downe al fruiteful trees, and shal stoppe vp al fountaines of waters, and euerie goodlie field you shal couer with stones. † It came to passe therfore 20 in the morning, when they vsed to offer the sacrifice, and behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the ground was filled with waters. † But al the Moabites hearing that the 21 kinges were come vp to fight against them, they called together al that were girded with a belt vpon them, and they stoode in the borders. † And rysing early in the morning, 22 and the sunne being now risen ouer against the waters, the Moabites saw the waters ouer against them red, as it were bloud, † and said: It is the bloud of the sword: the kinges 23 haue fought among them selues, and are slaine one of an other: now goe on forward to the pray, Moab. † And they 24 went forward into the campe of Israel: Moreouer Israel rysing vp, stroke Moab: but they fled before them. They therfore that had ouercome, came and stroke Moab, † and 25 [Page 766] destroyed the cities: & euerie principal field they filled euerie man casting stones: and they stopt vp al the fountaines of waters: and cut downe al trees that bare fruite, so that there remained onlie brike walles: and the citie was besette of the slingers, and for a great part therof was strooken. † Which 26 when the king of Moab had seene, to witte, that the enemies had preuayled, he tooke with him seuen hundred men that drew sword, to breake in vpon the king of Edom: and they could not. † And taking his first begotten sonne, that should 27 haue reigned for him, he offered him an holocaust vpon the wal: and there was great indignation in Israel, and forthwith they retyred from him, and returned into their countrie.

CHAP. IIII. Eliseus so multiplieth a poore widowes oyle, that she payeth her debtes, and liueth of the rest. 8. By his prayers a Sunamite Woman hath a sonne. 18. which dying he rayseth to life. 38. He taketh away the bitternes of coloquintida, which by chance was put in the potte, 42. and feedeth manie with few loaues.

AND a certayne woman of the wiues of the prophetes 1 cried to Eliseus, saying: Thy seruant my husband is dead, The Epistle on Teusday in the third weke of Lent. and thou knowest that thy seruant was one that feared God, & behold the creditour is come to take away my two sonnes to serue him. † To whom Eliseus sayd: What wilt thou that 2 I doe for thee? Tel me, what hast thou in thy house? But she answered: I thy handmaid haue nothing in my house, but a litle oyle, to anoynt me withal. † To whom he sayd: Goe, 3 borrow of al thy neighbours emptie vessels not a few. † And 4 goe in, and shut thy doore, when thou art within, thou and thy sonnes: and powre therof into al these vessels: and when they shal be ful, thou shalt take them away. † The woman 5 therfore went, and shut the doore vpon her, and vpon her sonnes: they brought her vessels, and she powred in. † And 6 when the vessels were ful, she sayd to her sonne: Bring me yet a vessel. And he answered: I haue none. And the oile stood. † And she came, and told the man of God. And he sayde, 7 Goe, sel the oyle, and pay thy creditour: and thou and thy sonnes liue of the rest: † And there came a certayne day, 8 and Eliseus passed by Sunam: and there was there a great woman, which held him to eate bread: and when he passed often that way, he turned in to her to eate bread. † Who 9 [Page 767] sayd to her husband: I perceiue that this is a holie man of God, which passeth by vs often. † bet vs therfore make him 10 a litle chamber, and sette him a litle bed in it, and a table, and a stoole, and a candlesticke, that when he cometh to vs he may tarie there. † There came therfore a certayne day, and coming 11 he turned in to the chamber, and rested there. † And he sayd 12 to Giezi his seruant: Call this Sunamite. Who when he had called her, and she stoode before him, † he sayd to his seruant: 13 Speake to her: Behold thou hast diligently ministred to vs in al thinges, what wilt thou that I doe for thee? hast thou any busines, and wilt thou that I speake to the king, or the general of the warrefare? Who answered: I dwel in the middes of myne owne people. † And he sayd: What wil she 14 then that I doe for her? And Giezi sayd: Aske not: for she hath no sonne, and her husband is old. † He therfore cōmanded 15 him to cal her: who when she was called, and stoode before the doore, † he sayd to her: At this tyme, this self same 16 houre, if life accompanie, thou shalt haue a sonne in thy wombe. But she answered: Doe not I besech thee my lord, man of God, doe not lie to thy handmayd. † And the woman 17 conceiued, and brought forth a sonne in that time, and in the self same houre, that Eliseus had sayd. † And 18 the childe grewe. And vpon a certaine day, when going forth he went to his father, vnto the reapers, † he sayd 19 to his father: My head aketh, my head aketh. But he said to his seruant, take him, and bring him to his mother, † who 20 when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, she sette him vpon her knees vntil noone, and he dyed. † And 21 she went vp, and laid him vpon the bed of the man of God, and shut the doore: and going forth † called her husband, 22 and sayd: Send with me, I besech thee, one of the seruantes, and an asse, that I may runne to the man of God, and returne. † Who sayd to her: For what cause doest thou goe to him? 23 The Calendes be not to day, nor the Sabbath. Who answered: I wil goe. † And she sadled the asse, and commanded her 24 seruant: driue, and make hast, make no stay in going. And doe The Epistle on Thursday in the 4. weke of Lent. that which I command thee. † She therfore went forward, 25 and came to the man of God into mount Carmel: and when the man of God saw her ouer against him, he said to Giezi his seruant: Behold that Sunamite. † Goe therfore to meete her, 26 and say to her: Is al wel about thee, and about thy husband, [Page 768] and about thy sonne? Who answered: Wel. † And when she 27 was come to the man of God into the mount, she caught his feet: and Giezi came to remoue her. And the man of God said: Let her alone, for her soule is in anguish, and our Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. † Who said to him: 28 Did I aske a sonne of my Lord? Did I not say to thee: Mocke me not? † And he said to Giezi: Girde thy loynes, and take 29 my staffe in thy hand, & goe. If a man meete thee, salute him not: and if any man salute thee, answer him not: and thou shalt put my staffe vpon the face of the childe. † Moreouer 30 the mother of the childe said: Our Lord liueth, and thy soul liueth, I wil not leaue thee. He arose therfore, and folowed her. † But Giezi was gone before them, and had put the staffe 31 vpon the face of the childe, & there was not voice, nor sense: and he returned to meete him, and told him, saying: God sent his law by his seruant, and it auailed not to mankinde dead in sinnes. But he coming & accommodating himself to our infirmitie, participating our death we are quicned So S Augusting mystically applieth this figuratiue miracle to Christ and his Church li. 1 [...]. c. [...]5. cont. Fast. Manich and manielike thinges of the old Testament he sheweth to be figures of the new. The childe is not risen. † Eliseus therfore went into the house, and behold the childe lay dead on his bed: † and going in he shut 33 the doore vpon him, & vpon the childe & prayed to our Lord. † And he went vp, and lay vpon the childe: and he put his 34 mouth vpon his mouth, & his eies vpon his eies & his handes vpon his handes: and he bowed him self ouer him, and the childes flesh was warmed † But he returning, walked vp and 35 downe in the house, once hither & thither: & he went vp and lay vpon him: and the childe gaped seuen tymes, and opened his eies. † And he called Gierzi, & said to him: Call this Sunamite. 36 Who being called, went in vnto him: Who said: Take thy sonne. † She came, and fel at his feete, and adored vpon 37 the ground: and tooke her sonne, and went out, † and Eliseus 38 returned into Galgal And there was a famine in the land, and the children of the prophetes dwelt before him; and he sayd to one of his seruantes: Sette on a greate potte, and seeth broth for the children of the prophetes. † And one went 39 out into the field to gather wilde herbes: and he found as it were a wilde vine, and gathered of it the colocynthides of the field, and filled his mantel, and returning cut it into the potte of broth, for he knew not what it was. † They therfore 40 powred it to their felowes, to eate: and when they had tasted of the broth, they cried, saying: Death is in the potte, man of God. And they could not eate. † But he sayd: Bring meale, 41 and when they had brought it, he cast it into the potte, and said: powere in for the multitude, that they may eate. And [Page 769] there was no more anie bitternesse in the potte. † And a certaine 42 man came from Baa [...]sah [...]a bringing to the man of God loaues of the first fruites, twentie barley loaues, and new wheate in his scrippe. But he said: Geue to the people, that they may eate. † And his seruant answered him: How much 43 is this, that I should sette it before an hundred men? Agayne he said: Geue to the people, that they may eate: for thus saith our Lord: They shal eate, and there shal be leaft. † He 44 therfore sette it before them: who did eate, and there was leaft according to the word of our Lord.

CHAP. V. Naaman the general captaine of Syria is clensed of deprosie, by washing him self as Eliseus appointeth him seuen times in [...]oraan. 15. professeth his bel of in one God promising to serue him. 20. Giezi taketh giftes of Naaman, 25. and is stricken with leprosie.

NAAMAN the General of the warfare of the king of 1 The Epistle on Munday in the 3▪ weke of Lent. Syria, was a great man with his lord, and honorable: for by him our Lord gaue health to Syria: and he was a valiant man and rich, but a leper. † Moreouer out of Syria there 2 were come forth robbers, and had led away captiue out of the Land of Israel a litle girle, which wayted vpon the wife of Naaman. † Who said to her maistresse: I would my lord had 3 bene with the prophete, that is in Samaria: surely he would haue cured him from the leprosie, which he hath † Naaman 4 therfore went into his lord, and told him saying: Thus and thus hath the wench of the Land of Israel spoken. † And the 5 king of Syria sayd to him: Goe, & I wil send letters to the king of Israel Who when he was sette forward, and had taken with him ten talentes of siluer, and six thousand peces of gold, and ten change of rayment, † he brought the letters to the king 6 of Israel, in these wordes: when thou shalt receiue this letter, know that I haue sent to thee Naaman my seruant, that thou mayest cure him of his leprosie. † And when the king of Israel 7 had read the letters, he rent his garmentes, and said: Am I God, that I can kil, and geue life, because this man hath sent to me, that I should cure a man of his leprosie? marke, and see that he seeketh occasions against me. † Which when Eliseus 8 the man of God had heard, to witte, that the king of Israel had rent his garmentes, he sent to him, saying: Why hast thou rent thy garmentes? let him come to me and let him [Page 770] know that there is a prophet in Israel. † Naaman therfore 9 came with horses and chariotes, and stood at the doore of the house of Eliseus: † and Eliseus sent a messenger to him, saying: 10 Goe and be washed seuen times in Iordan, and thy flesh shal receiue health, and thou shalt be cleane. † Naaman being 11 angrie departed, saying: I thought he would come out to me, and standing would inuocate the name of the Lord his God, and touch with his hand the place of the leprosie, and cure me. † What are not Abana, and Pharphar the riuers of Damascus, 12 better then al the waters of Israel, that I may be washed in them, and be made cleane? Therfore when he had turned him self, and went away with indignation, † his seruantes came 13 vnto him, & spake to him: Father, & if the prophet had sayd a great thing to thee, certes, thou shouldest haue done it: how much more wheras now he sayd vnto thee: Be washed, and thou shalt be cleane? † He went downe, & washed in Iordan 14 seuen times according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored, as the flesh of a litle childe, & he was made 15 cleane. † And returning to the man of God with al his trayne, he came, and stood before him, & sayd: In very deede I know that there is no other God in al the earth, but only in Israel. I besech the therfore to take a benediction of thy seruant. † But 16 he answered: Our Lord liueth, before whom I stand, I wil not take it. And when he would haue forced him, he did in nowise agree. † And Naaman sayd: As thou wilt, but I besech 17 thee: graunt vnto me thy seruant, that I may take of In respect of Gods special electing and sāctifying the land of Chanaan, by his true religion, Naaman rightly estemed that earth fitter for an altar then the earth of his owne countrie. the earth the burden of two mules: for thy seruant wil no more make holocaust, or victimes to strange goddes, but to the Lord. † But this onlie is it, for which thou shalt besech the 18 Lord for thy seruant, when my maister shal goe into the temple of Remmon, to adore: and he leaning vpon my hand, if I shal adore in the temple of Remmon, he adoring in the same place, that the Lord pardon me thy seruant for this thing. † Who sayd to him: “ Goe in peace. He therfore went from 19 him in the spring time of the earth. † And Giezi prefigured Iudas the false Apostle of Christ▪ and al those that buy or sel spiritual thinges for money who by their auarice lose Gods grace, and gaine infamie in this world, and eternal damnation in the next. S. Aug. ser. 208. de tempore. Giezi the seruant 20 of the man of God sayd: My maister hath spared Naaman this Syrian, that he tooke not of him the things which he brought: Our Lord liueth, I wil runne after him, and wil take some thing of him. † And Giezi folowed at the backe of Naaman: 21 whom when he saw running toward him, he lept downe from his chariote to mete him, and said: Are al thinges wel? † And 22 [Page 771] he said: Wel. my maister hath sent me to thee, saying: Euen now there are come to me two yong men from mount Ephraim, of the children of the prophetes: geue them a talent of siluer, and two change of rayment. † And Naaman sayd: It is better 23 that thou take two talentes. And he forced him, & bound the two talentes of siluer in two bagges, and the duble rayment, & layd it vpon two of his seruantes, who also caried it before him. † And when he was come now in the euening, he tooke 24 it out of their hand, & layd it vp in the house, & dismissed the men, and they departed. † And himself going in, stood before 25 his maister. And Eliseus said: From whence comest thou Giezi? Who answered: Thy seruant hath not gone any whither. † But he sayd: Was not my hart present, when the man returned 26 out of his chariote to meete thee? Now therfore thou hast receiued siluer, and taken rayment, to bye oliuetes, and vineyardes, and sheepe, and oxen, and seruantes, and handmaides. † But the leprosie also of Naaman shal cleaue to thee, 27 and to thy seede, for euer. And he went out from him a leper as it were snow.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. V.

19 Goe in peace.] Shcismatiques, as they are commonly (but improperly) now called in England, which being in mind and iudgement Catholiques, goe The case of going to heretical seruice, and Naamans going to the temple of an idol differ in diuers respectes. Difference of times. sometimes to Protestantes common prayers, or [...]mons, draw an excuse of their fact, from this warrant of the Prophet, permitting a Nobleman of Syria to goe and serue his king in the temple, when he adored an Idol. But whosoeuer wil duly consider this example, shal find great difference in respect of the times, places, persons, and of the very doubtes proposed, betwen this mans case and ours. For before Christs Gospel was promulgate, neither al Articles of faith were so expresly taught, nor the external profession therof so strictly commanded, as now they are in time of more grace, which geueth more ayde to mans weaknes, wherin also more perfection is required, and therfore our Sauiour exacteth of al to confesse him, and his Religion, before men: els he vvil denie them before his Father. Likewise in the place▪ where this Nobleman dwelt, his Mat. 10. presence in the temple, and seruice to the king, could not be accounted a reuolt from true religion, which was neuer professed there, nor be scandalous to anie Of places. man being al Infidels: but in a christian countrie; where al beare the name of Christians, especially where men are at controuersie about the true Christian religion, al that frequent, or repaire to the same assemblies, for publique seruice of God, are reputed to be of the same religion; or els dissemblers, as it were to haue no care of religion, knowing God, and not glorifying him as God. Rom. 1. 2. Pet. 1. and reuolting from the truth which they had lerned. The difference also of persons Of persons. is great. For this Nobleman hauing before his conuersion serued his king, in the office of sustayning him, when he bowed to the Idol, if he should haue refused to do the same, it would rather haue bene supposed, that he disdained [Page 772] his Maister, or shewed disloyaltie, then thought, that he refrayned for religion: wheras in our case, verie few do such temporal seruice, about the king in the church: and such as doe carrie the sword, scepter, or the like, are accounted of that religion, which is there practised; except they manifest the contrarie, as this man did, and our men commonly do not. Yea if anie do say they are Catholiques, and yet goe to the Protestantes church, they are counted of that rank, S. Paul speaketh of, which confesse they knovv God, but denie him in their deedes. Tit. [...]. And those which refuse such an office, can not be iudged disloyal, because it The thinges demanded differ much. is sufficiently knowne, that Catholiques refuse of mere conscience. An other most especial difference is in the thinges demanded. This Syrian promising expresly before the Prophet, and his owne great trayne, that he would neuer againe serue false goddes, and that he would serue the onlie true God, and for that purpose caried earth with him, to make an Altar for Sacrifice, and returning home preached the miracle wrought in himself, desired not to doe anie thing, wherby he might seme to serue an Idol: but that when the king leaning vpon D. [...]istous Motiuo. 23. him, should adore Remmon, he might bow with his maister, not adoring the Idol, for he resolued and promised the contrarie, but adoring God Almightie, in whom now he beleued. And this the Prophet approued, in that time, place, and person to be lawful. But those that now in England goe to Protestants Personal presence at heretical seruice in England, a distinctiue signe of conformity to heresie. seruice, or sermons, do neither publikly renounce al heresies, not professe to frequent Masse, the true Sacrifice of the Christian Church, nor auouch the erecting of an Altar, but goe to church, to shew them selues obedient to the Parlament law, which abandoned the true Diuine Seruice, and in place therof appointed & commanded al to be present, at a new forme of common prayer, thereby making it a distinctiue signe of conformitie, and participation in that religion, which these dissemblers in their consciences know to be false.

This example therfore doth in no sorte warrant their going to the heretical church: but contrariwise admonisheth al to take resolution in our case (as Naaman did in his) of our Eliseus, or spiritual Superior, and if he should say: Goe in peace, then might they pleade an excuse, but he sayth: None can goe without incurring greuous sinne, and eternal damnation The case being so much different from Naamans. It is in deede more like to that of Eleazatus, and other Machabees, who were commanded by eating svvines flesh, to depart from the lavv of A case very like to ours 2. Machab. [...]. 7. God, and their fathers. VVhich by no meanes was lawful to doe, nor to make shew of doing it, but rather to dye, as they did most gloriously.

CHAP. VI. Eliseus maketh iron to swimme vpon the water: 8. leadeth the king of Syria his men (sent to apprehend him) blindly into Samaria. 20. vvhere their eyes being opened, they are curtously intertained, and freely dismissed. 24. The Syrians besiege Samaria. 26. For extreme famine a mother eateth her child. 31. And the king commandeth to kil Eliseus.

AND the children of the prophetes sayd to Eliseus: Behold 1 the place, wherin we dwel before thee is streite for vs. † Let vs goe as far as Iotdan, and take out of the wood 2 euerie man some timber, that we may build there a place to dwel in. Who said: Goe. † And one of them sayd: Come 3 therfore thou also with thy seruantes. He answered: I wil [Page 773] come. † And he went with them. And when they were 4 come to Iordan they cut wood. † And it chanced, that when 5 one had cut downe timber, the head of the axe fel into the water: and he cried out, and said: Alas alas alas my lord, this same also I His grief was g [...] it, because he ha [...] not meanes to recompence the losse to the owne [...]. did borow. † And the man of God sayd: where 6 [...]el it? and he shewed him the place: he therfore cut of a pece of wood, and cast it thither: and the yron did swimme, † and 7 he said: Take it vp. Who stretched forth his hand, and tooke it. † And the king of Syria fought against Israel, and tooke 8 counsel with his seruantes, saying: In that and that place let vs lay embushementes. † Therfore the man of God sent to 9 the king of Israel, saying: Beware thou passe not into such a place: because the Syrians are there in embushementes. † The 10 king of Israel therfore sent to the place, which the man of God had told him, and preuented him, and looked wel to himself there not once or twise. † And the hart of the king of 11 Syria was trubled for this thing. And calling together his seruantes, he sayd: Why doe you not tel me who is the betraier of me to the king of Israel? † And one of his seruantes sayd: 12 Not so my lord king, but Eliseus the prophet, which is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel al wordes, whatsoeuer thou shalt speake in thy priuy chamber. † And he sayd to them: 13 Goe, and see where he is: that I may send, and take him. And they told him, saying: Behold in Dothan. † He therfore sent 14 thither horses and chariotes, and the force of his armie: who when they were come in the night, they besette the citie. † And the seruant of the man of God rising early, 15 went out, and saw an armie round about the citie, and horses and chariotes: and he told him, saying: Alas alas alas my lord, what shal we doe. † But he answered: Feare not: for there are 16 more with vs then with them. † And when Eliseus had 17 prayed, he sayd: Lord open the eies of this man, that he may see. And our Lord opened the eies of the seruant, and A husband▪ man, in yorkshire called Ketle had the gift to see euil spirites, wherby he often detected & [...]red their [...]ad purposes. [...]. brig. li. [...]. c. [...] ▪ Rer. Anglic. he behold: and loe the mountaine ful of horses, and of firie chariotes round about Eliseus. † But the enemies went downe 18 to him: moreouer Eliseus prayed to our Lord, saying: Strike, I besech thee, this people with blindenesse. And our Lord smote them, that they saw not, according to the word of Eliseus. † And Eliseus sayd to them: This is not the way neither is 19 this the citie: folow me, & I wil shew you the man, whom you seeke. He therfore led them into Samaria: † and when they 20 [Page 774] were entered into Samaria, Eliseus said: Lord open the eies of these men, that they may see. And our Lord opened their eies, and they saw them selues to be in the middes of Samaria. † And the king of Israel said to Eliseus, when he had sene 21 them: Shal I strike them, my father? † And he said: Thou 22 shalt not strike them: for thou didst not take them with thy sword, and thy bow, that thou mayst strike them: but By bread and water is vnderstood ordinarie meate and drinck. v. 2 [...]. set bread and water before them, that they may eate and drinke, and goe to their maister. † And a great preparation of meates 23 was sette before them, and they did eate and drinke, and he dismissed them, and they went away to their maister, and the robbers of Syria came no more into the Land▪ of Israel. † And it came to passe after these thinges, Benadad the king 24 of Syria gathered together al his armie, and went vp, and besieged Samaria. † And there was a great famine in Samaria: 25 and so long it was besieged, til the head of an asse was sold for foure score siluer peeces, & the fourth part of a cabe of pigeons dung, for fiue siluer peeces. † And when the king 26 of Israel passed by the wall, a certayne woman cried out to him, saying: Saue me my lord king. † Who sayd: No, our 27 Lord saue thee: how can I saue thee? of the floore, or of the presse? And the king sayd to her: What ayleth thee? Who answered: † This woman sayd to me: Geue thy sonne, that 28 we may eate him to day, & my sonne we wil eate to morrow. † We therfore boyled my sonne, and did eate him. And I sayd 29 to her the next day: Geue thy sonne, that we may eate him. Who hath hid her sonne. † Which when the king had 30 heard, he rent his garmentes, and passed by the wal. And al the people saw the hearecloth, which he ware next vpon his flesh. † And the king sayd: These thinges doe God to 31 me, and these adde he, if the head of Eliseus the sonne of Saphat shal stand vpon him this day. † But Eliseus sate in 32 his house, and the ancientes sate with him. He therfore sent a man before: and before that messenger came, he sayd to the ancientes: Doe you know that this murderers sonne hath sent to cut of my head? See therfore, when the messenger shal come, shut the doore, and suffer him not to enter in: for behold the sound of his maisters feete is behinde him. † Whiles he was yet speaking to them, the messenger appeared, 33 which came to him. And he sayd: Behold, this so great euil is of our Lord: what shal I looke for more of our Lord?

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CHAP. VII. Eliseus prophecieth plentie of corne the next day, and death to a chief man that wil not beleue it. 3. Foure Lepers going to yeld themselues to the Syrians, 6. who by Gods prouidence are frighted and fled away, 9. bring newes therof to Samaria, 12. which by trial is found true, 16. And so there is plentie of corne, and the incredulous nobleman is trod to death, with presse of multitude in the gate, as the prophet fortold.

AND Eliseus sayd: Heare ye the word of our Lord: Thus 1 sayth our Lord: At this time to morow a bushel of floure shal be at one stater, and two bushels of barley at one stater, in the gate of Samaria. † One of the Dukes, vpon 2 whose hand the king leaned, answearing the man of God, sayd: If our Lord shal make fludgates in heauen, Discourse of mans reason can not reach to the powre of God, who can do al that he wil, and wil doe al that he saith: therfore the incredulous are iustly punished. v. 20. can that possibly be which thou speakest? Who sayd: Thou shalt see it with thine eies, and shalt not eate therof. † There were 3 therfore▪ foure men lepers, beside the entrance of the gate: who sayd one to an other: What meane we to be here til we die? † Whether we enter into the citie, we shal die for famine: 4 or whether we tarie here, die we must: come therfore, and let vs runne away to the campe of Syria. If they spare vs, we shal liue: but if they wil kil vs, we shal die neuerthelesse. † They arose therfore in the euening, to come to the campe 5 of Syria. And when they were come to the beginning of the campe of Syria, they found no man there. † For our Lord 6 had made them in the campe of Syria to heare the sound of chariotes, and horses, and of a verie great armie: and they sayd one to an other: Behold the king of Israel hath for wages hyred agaynst vs the kinges of the Hetheites, and of the Aegyptians, and they are come vpon vs. † They arose therfore, and 7 fled in the darke, and leaft their tentes, and their horses and asses in the campe, and fled desirous to saue their liues only. † Therfore when these lepers were come to the beginning 8 of the campe, they entered into one tabernacle, and did eate and drinke: and they tooke thence siluer, and gold, and rayment, and went, and hid it: againe they returned to an other tabernacle, and from thence likewise taking away they hid it. † And they said one to an other: We doe not wel: for 9 this is a day of good tydinges. If we shal hold our peace, and wil not tel vntil morning, we shal be blamed of a heinous offence: Come, let vs goe, and make report in the kinges [Page 776] court. † And when they were come to the gate of the citie, 10 they told them saying: We went to the campe of Syria, and found no man there, but horses, and asses tyed, and the tentes pitched. † The porters therfore went, and told it to the king 11 within his palace. † Who arose in the night, & sayd to his seruants: 12 I tel you what the Syrians haue done to vs: They know that we suffer great famine, and therfore they are gone out of the campe and lie hid in the fieldes, saying: When they shal come forth out of the citie, we wil take them aliue, and then we may enter into the citie. † But one of his seruantes 13 answered: Let vs take fiue horses that are remaining in the citie (because they onlie are in the whole multitude of Israel for the other are consumed) and sending, we may trie. † They 14 brought therfore two horses, and the king sent into the campe of the Syrians, saying, Goe ye, and see. † Who went 15 after them as far as Iordan: and behold al the way was ful of rayment, and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away, when they were amased, and the messengers returning told the king. † And the people going forth spoyled the campe of 16 Syria: and a bushel of floure became at one stater, and two bushels of barley at one stater, according to the word of our Lord. † Moreouer the king appoynted that duke 17 on whose hand he leaned, to stand at the gate: whom the multitude trode in the entrance of the gate, & he died, according as the man of God had spoken, when the king came downe to him † And it came to passe according to the word of 18 the man of God, which he spake to the king, when he sayd: Two bushels of barley shal be at one stater, and a bushel of floure at one stater, this verie tyme to morow it the gate of Samaria: † when that duke answered the man of God, and 19 sayd: Although our Lord would make fludgates in the heauen, can this be done which thou speakest? And he said to him: Thou shalt see with thine eies, and shal not eate therof. † It 20 chanced therfore to him as it was foretold, and the people trode him in the gate, and he died.

CHAP. VIII. After seuen yeares famine fortold by Eliseus, the Sumanite Woman returning home, recouereth her landes and reuenewes. 7. Eliseus forsheweth the death of Benadad king of Syria, and cruel reigne of Hazael. 16. Ioram reigning in Iuda, the Idumeans reuolt from him. also Lobna. 23. He dieth, and his sonne Ochozias succeedeth.

[Page 777]AND Eliseus spake to the woman, whose sonne he restored 1 to life, saying: Arise, goe thou and thy house, and soiourne whersoeuer thou shalt finde: for our Lord hath called a famine, and it shal come vpon the land seuen yeares. † Who arose, & did according to the word of the man of God: 2 & going with her houshould, she soiourned in the land of the Philistijms many dayes. † And when the seuen yeares were ended, 3 the woman returned out of the Land of the Philisthijms: and she went forth to speake to the king for her house, and for her landes. † And the king spake with Giezi the seruant of 4 the man of God, saying: Tel me al the meruelous thinges that Eliseus hath done. † And when he had told the king how he 5 had raysed a dead man, the woman appeared, whose sonne he had reuiued, crying to the king for her house, and her landes. And Giezi sayd: My lord king, this is the woman, and this is her sonne, whom Eliseus raysed. † And the king asked the 6 woman: who told him. And the king gaue her an eunuch, saying: Restore her al thinges that are hers, and al the reuenewes of the landes, from the day, that she leaft the land vntil this present. † Eliseus also came to Damascus, and Benadad 7 the king of Syria was sicke: and they told him, saying: The man of God cometh hither. † And the king sayd to Hazael: 8 Take with thee presentes, and goe to meete the man of God, and consult the Lord by him, saying: Can I escape of this myne infirmitie? † Hazael therfore went to meete him, hauing 9 with him presentes, and al good thinges of Damascus, the lodes of fourtie camels. And when he stood before him, he sayd: Thy sonne Benadad the king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying: Can I recouer of this mine infirmitie? † And 10 Eliseus sayd to him: Goe, tel him: This was true in some sense, sicknes ending when death came. Thou shalt be healed: but our Lord hath shewed me that dying he shal die. † And 11 he stood with him, and was trubled so far that he blushed: and the man of God wept. † To whom Hazael sayd: Why 12 doeth my lord weepe? But he sayd: Because I know what euils thou wilt doe to the children of Israel. Their fensed cities thou wilt burne with fyre, and their yongmen thou wilt kil with the sword, and their litle ones thou wilt dash in peeces, and wemen with childe thou wilt diuide. † And Hazael 13 sayd: What am I thy seruant a dog, that I should doe this great thing? And Eliseus sayd: Our Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king of Syria. † Who when he was departed 14 [Page 778] from Eliseus, came to his maister, who sayd to him: What sayd Eliseus to thee? But he answered: He told me: Thou shalt recouer health. † And when the next day was come, he tooke 15 a couerlette, and powred water theron, and spred it vpon his face: who being dead, Hazael reigned for him. † In the fifth 16 yeare of Ioram the sonne of Achab the king of Israel, and of Iosaphat the king of Iuda, reigned Ioram the sonne of Iosaphat the king of Iuda. † He was two and thirtie yeares old 17 when he began to reigne, and he reigned eight yeares in Ierusalem. † And he walked in the waies of the kinges of Israel, 18 as the house of Achab had walked: for Athalia v. 26. is called the daughter of Amri. VVherfore it semeth that either she was the adopted daughter of her brother Achab, or is there called the daughter of her grandfather. the daughter of Achab was his wife: and he did that which is euil in the sight of our Lord. † But our Lord would not destroy Iuda, 19 for Dauid his seruant, as he had promised him, to geue him a lampe to him, and to his children alwaies. † In his daies reuolted 20 Edom, from being vnder Iuda, and made to it self a king. † And Ioram came to Seira, and al the chariotes with 21 him: and he arose in the night, and stroke the Idumeans, that had beset him, and the captaynes of the chariotes, and the people fled into their tabernacles. † Edom therfore reuolted 22 from being vnder Iuda, vntil this day. Then Lobna also reuolted at that time. † But the rest of the wordes of Ioram, and 23 al that he did, are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the kinges of Iuda? † And Ioram slept with 24 his fathers, and was buried with them in the Citie of Dauid, and Ochozias his sonne reigned for him. † In the twelfth 25 yeare of Ioram the sonne of Achab the king of Israel, reigned Ochozias the sonne of Ioram the king of Iuda. † Two and 26 twentie yeares old was Ochozias when he began to reigne, and he reigned one yeare in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Athalia the daughter of Amri the king of Israel: † And he walked in the waies of the house of Achab: and 27 he did that which is euil before our Lord, as the house of Achab: for he was the sonne in lawe of the house of Achab. † He went also with Ioram the sonne of Achab, to fight agaynst 28 Hazael the king of Syria in Ramoth Galaad, and the Syrians wounded Ioram: † Who returned to be cured, in 29 Iezrahel: because the Syrians wounded him in Ramoth fighting agaynst Hazael the king of Syria. Moreouer Ochozias the sonne of Ioram the king of Iuda, went downe to visite Ioram the sonne of Achab into Iezrahel, because he was sicke there.

[Page 779]

CHAP. IX. Iehu is anointed king of Israel, 7. to destroy the house of Athab and Iezabel. 14. He presently killeth Ioram king of Israel, 27. Likewise Ochozias king of Iuda. 30. also Iezabel, who is eaten by dogges.

AND Eliseus the prophete called one of the children of 1 the prophetes, and sayd to him: Girde thy loynes, and take this litle boxe of oyle in thy hand, and goe into Ramoth Galaad. † And when thou shalt come thither, thou shalt see 2 Iehu the sonne of Iosaphat the sonne of Namsi: and going in thou shalt rayse him out of the middes of his brethren, and shalt bring him into an innter chamber. † And holding the 3 litle boxe of oyle, thou shalt powre vpon his head, and shalt say: Thus sayth our Lord: I haue anoynted thee king ouer Israel. And thou shalt open the doore, and flee, and shalt not stay there. † The yongman therfore the childe of a prophete 4 went into Ramoth Galaad, † and entered in thither: and behold 5 the captaynes of the armie sate, and he sayd: I haue a word to thee o prince: And Iehu sayd: to whom of vs al? But he sayd: To thee o prince. † And he arose, and went into the 6 chamber: but he powred oyle vpon his head, and sayd: Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel: I haue anoynted thee king ouer the people of the Lord of Israel, † and thou shalt strike 7 the house of Achab thy maister, and I wil reuenge the bloud of my seruantes the prophetes, and the bloud of al the seruantes of the Lord of the hand of Iezabel † And I wil destroy 8 al the house of Achab, and wil kil of Achab him that pisseth agaynst a wal, and the shut vp, and the meanest in Israel. † And I wil make the house of Achab, as the house of 9 Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, and as the house of Baasa the sonne of Ahias. † Iezabel also the dogges shal eate in the 10 field of Iezrahel, neither shal there be anie to burie her. And he opened the doore, and fled. † And Iehu went forth to his 11 maisters seruantes. Who said to him: Are al thinges wel? Why came this madde man to thee? Who sayd to them: You know the man, and what he spake. † But they answered: It is false, 12 but rather doe thou tel vs. Who sayd to them: Thus and thus he spake to me: and he sayd: Thus sayth our Lord, I haue anoynted thee king ouer Israel. † They therfore made hast, 13 and euerie man taking his mantel layd it vnder his feete, after the similitude of a iudgement seate, & they sounded the [Page 780] trumpet, and sayd: Iehu hath the kingdom. † Iehu therfore 14 the sonne of Iosaphat the sonne of Namsi conspired agaynst Ioram: Moreouer Ioram had besieged Ramoth Galaad, he, and al Israel agaynst Hazael the king of Syria: † and was returned to be cuted in Iezrael of the woundes, 15 for the Syrians had wounded him, fighting against Hazael the king of Syria. And Iehu sayd: If it please you, let no man goe forth fugitiue out of the citie, le [...]t he goe, and tel in Iezrahel. † And he mounted, and went into Iezrahel: for Ioram was 16 sicke there, and Ochozias the king of Iuda was come downe to visite Ioram. † The watchman therfore, that stood vpon 17 the toure of Iezrahel, saw the troupe of Iehu coming, & said: I see a troupe. And Ioram said: Take a Chariote, and send to meete them, and let him that goeth say: Are al thinges wel? † He went therfore, that was gotten vp into the chariote, to 18 meete him, and sayd: Thus saith the king: Are al thinges peaceable? And Iehu sayd: What hast thou to doe with peace? passe, and folow me. The watchman also told, saying: The messenger came to them, & returneth not. † He sent also the 19 second chariote of horses: and he came to them, and said: Thus sayth the king: Is there peace? And Iehu sayd: What hast thou to doe with peace? passe, and folow me. † And the 20 watchman told, saying: He is come as far as they, & returneth not: and it is the pace as it were the pace of Iehu the sonne of Namsi, for he goeth amayne. † And Ioram sayd: Make readie 21 the chariote. And they made readie his chariote, and Ioram the king of Israel went forth, and Ochozias the king of Iuda, ech in their chariotes, and they went forth to meete Iehu, and found him in the field of Naboth the Iezrahelite. † And 22 when Ioram had seene Iehu, he sayd: Is there peace Iehu? But he answered: What peace? The fornications of Iezabel thy mother, and her manie sorceries are in their vigour. † And 23 Ioram turned his hand, and fleing sayd to Ochozias: Treason Ochozias. † Moreouer Iehu bent his bow with his hand, 24 and stroke Ioram betwen the shoulders: and the arrow went out through his hart, and immediatly he fel in his chariote. † And Iehu sayd to captaine Badacer: Take him, throwe 25 him forth in the field of Naboth the Iezrahelite: for I remember when I and thou sitting in a chariote did folow Achab this mans father, that our Lord lifted vp this burden vpon him, saying: † If not for the bloud of Naboth, and VVhen Naboth was falsly accused & vniustly stoned to death, as if he had bla [...]phe med God, and cursed the king, for his pretended crimes, his sonnes were also slaine, and his landes and goodes con [...] [...]ate: which appea [...]eth by the kings present going to posie [...]e the vinyard. 3. Reg [...] 21. for 26 [Page 781] the bloud of his children, which I saw yesterday, sayth our Lord, I requi [...]e thee not in this field sayth our Lord. Now therfore take him, and throw him into the field according to 27 the word of our Lord▪ † But Ochozias the king of Iuda seing this, fled by the way of the house of the garden: and Iehu pursewed him, and said: This man also strike ye in his chariote. And they stroke him in the going vp of Ganer, which is beside Ieblaam: who fled into Mageddo, and died 28 there. † And his seruantes layd him vpon his chariote, and caried him into Ierusalem: and they buried him there in his 29 sepu [...]chre with his fathers in the Citie of Dauid. † In the eleuenth yeare of Ioram the sonne of Achab, reigned Ochozias 30 ouer Iuda, † and Iehu came into Iezrahel. Moreouer Iezabel hearing of his entrance, paynted her face with stibicke stone, and decked her head, and beheld through the 31 window † Iehu coming at the gate, and sayd: Can there be 32 peace to Zambri, that killed his maister? † And Iehu lifted vp his face to the window, and sayd: What is she? And two 33 or three eunuches bowed them selues to him. † But he sayd to them: Cast her downe headlong, & they threw her downe and the wal was sprinkled with the bloud, and the hoofes of 34 the horses trode her. † And when he was entered in, to eate, and to drinke, he sayd: Goe, and see that cursed woman, and 35 burie her: because she is a kinges daughter. † And when they went to burie her, they found nothing but the skul, and the 36 feete, and the extreme partes of the handes. † And returning they told him. And Iehu sayd: It is the word of our Lord, which he spake by his seruant Elias the Thesbite, saying: In the field of Iezrahel shal the dogges eate the flesh of Iezabel, 37 † and the flesh of Iezabel shal be as dung vpon the face of the earth in the field of Iezrahel, so that they which passe by shal say: Is this that same Iezabel?

CHAP. X. The Samaritanes fearing the force of Iehu, choose no other king, but offer him their seruice: 6. and by his commandment kil the late kings seuentie sonnes. 12. Fourtie two brothers of Ochazias late king of Iuda are slaine. 15. Iehu making league with Ionadab, vtterly destroyeth Achabs house. 18. by a stratagem killeth al the worshippers of Baal, 26. burneth his statua, & turneth his temple into a iakes: 28. but maintaineth Ieroboams golden calues. 32, The Asyrians afflict Israel. 34. Ieh [...] dieth, and his sonne Ioachaz reigneth▪

[Page 782]AND Achab had seuentie sonnes in Samaria: Iehu therfore 1 wrote letters, and sent into Samaria to the chiefe of the citie, and to the ancientes, and to them that brought vp Achabs children, saying: † As sowne as you shal receiue 2 these letters, ye that haue your maisters sonnes, and chariotes, and horses, and fensed cities, and armou [...], † choose the better, 3 and him that shal please you of your maisters sonnes, and set him vpon his fathers throne, and fight for the house of your lord. † They were sore afrayd, and sayd: Behold two kinges 4 could not stand before him, and how shal we be able to resist? † The ouerseers therfore of the house, and the rulers of the 5 citie, and the ancientes, and the tutors sent to Iehu, saying: We are thy seruantes, whatsoeuer thou shalt command we wil doe, neither wil we make vs a king: Doe thou whatsoeuer pleaseth thee. † And he wrote letters to them agayne, the second 6 tyme, saying: If you be mine, and obey me, take the heades of your maisters sonnes, and come to me this verie houre to morow into Iezrahel. Moreouer the kinges sonnes, seuentie men were brought vp with the chiefe of the citie. † And when the letters were come to them, they tooke the 7 kinges sonnes, and slew seuentie men, and put their heades in baskets, and sent them to him into Iezrahel. † And a messenger 8 came▪ & told him, saying: They haue brought the heades of the kinges sonnes. Who answered: Lay them in two heapes by the entrance of the gate vntil morning. † And when it 9 was light, he went forth, and standing sayd to al the people: You are iust: If I haue conspired agaynst my maister, and haue [...]ayne him, who hath strooken al these? † See therfore now 10 there hath not fallen of the wordes of our Lord on the ground, which our Lord spake vpon the house of Achab, and our Lord hath done that which he spake in the hand of his seruant Elias. † Iehu therfore smote al that were leaft of the 11 house of Achab in Iezrahel, and al his nobles, and familiars, and priestes, til there remayned no reliques of him. † And he 12 arose, and came into Samaria: and when he was come to the cabbin of the [...]hepeheardes in the way, † he found the brethren 13 of Ochozias the king of Iuda, and he sayd to them: What are you? Who answered: We are the brethren of Ochozias, and are come downe to salute the kinges sonnes, and the queenessonnes. † Who sayd: Take them aliue. Whom 14 when they had taken aliue, they killed them in a cesterne beside [Page 783] the cabbin, two and fourtie men, and he leaft not any of 15 them. † And when he was gone thence, he found This Ionadab instituted a peculiar rule of religious abstinence: which his posterity duly ob▪ serued. I [...]m. 35. Ionadab the sonne of Rechab coming to meete him, and he blessed him. And he sayd to him: Is thy hart right as my hart with thy hart? And Ionadab sayd: It is. If it be so, quoth he, g [...]ue me thy hand. Who gaue him his hand. But he lifted him vp to 16 him into the chariote, † and sayd to him: Come with me, and see my zele for our Lord. And being sette in his chariote, 17 † he brought him into Samaria. And he stroke al that were leaft of Achab in Samaria, til there was not one, according 18 to the word of our Lord, which he spake by Elias. † Iehu therfore assembled al the people, and sayd to them: Achab worshipped Baal a litle, but Iehu sinned in feaning, and causing others to sacrifice to Baal, his zele wanting both diseretion and equitie for euil must not be done that good may come therof. Rom. 3. I wil worshipe him more. 19 † Now therfore cal to me al the prophetes of Baal, and al his seruantes, and al his priestes: let there be none but that he come, for I haue a great sacrifice to Baal: He that shal be wanting shal not liue. Moreouer Iehu did this craftely, that 20 he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. † And he sayd: 21 Sanctifie a solemne day to Baal. And he called † and sent into al the borders of Israel, and al the seruantes of Baal came: there was leaft not one that came not. And they entered into the remple of Baal: and the house of Baal was filled, from one end to the other. † And he sayd to them that were ouer 22 the garmentes: Bring forth garmentes for al the seruantes of 23 Baal. And they brought them forth garmentes. † And Iehu going in, and Ionadab the sonne of Rechab into the temple of Baal, sayd to the worshippers of Baal: Search, and see le [...]t perhaps there be any with you of the seruantes of the Lord, 24 but that there be the seruantes of Baal onlie. † They therfore went in to make victimes and holocaustes: but Iehu had prepared him without fourescore men, and sayd to them: Whosoeuer shal escape of these men, whom I wil bring into your 25 handes, his life shal be for the life of him. † And it came to passe, when the holo causte was ended, Iehu commanded his souldiars and captaynes: Goe in, and strike them, let none escape. And the souldiars and captaynes stroke them in the edge of the sword, and cast them forth: and they went into 26 the citie of the temple of Baal, † and brought forth the statue 27 out of Baals temple, and burnt it, † and brake it in peeces. They destroyed also the temple of Baal, and made a iakes for 28 it vntil this day. † Iehu therfore destroyed Baal out of Israel: [Page 784] † but yet from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, 29 who made Israel to sinne, he departed not, neither forsooke he the golden calues, that were in Bethel, and Dan. † And 30 our Lord sayd to Iehu: [...]oral good vvorkes done in state of mortal sinne not meriting eternal life, a [...]e often rewarded temporally. S. Aug. cont. [...]en [...]. c. 2. Because thou hast diligently done that which was right, and that pleased in mine eies, and hast done al thinges that were in my hart, against the house of Achab: thy children shal sitte vpon the throne of Israel to the fourth generation. † Moreouer Iehu obserued not to walke 31 in the law of our Lord the God of Israel in al his hart: for he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam, who had made Israel to sinne. † In those daies our Lord began to be wearie 32 of Israel: and Hazael smote them in al the costes of Israel, † from Iordan agaynst the East quarter, al the land of Galaad, 33 and Gad, and Ruben, and Manasses, from Aroer, which is vpon the Torrent Arnon, and Galaad, and Basan. † But the 34 rest of the wordes of Iehu, & al that he did, and his strength, are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel? † And Iehu slept with his 35 fathers, and they buried him in Samaria: and Ioachaz his sonne reigned for him. † And the dayes which Iehu reigned 36 ouer Israel, be eight and twentie yeares in Samaria.

CHAP. XI. Athalia killing al the kinges progenie (except loas, who is saued by his aunt) vsurpeth the kingdome. 4. But the seuenth yeare Ioiada the high priest crowneth loas king. 13. causeth Athalia to be slaine, 17. and maketh couenant betwen God, the king, and the people.

BVT Athalia the mother of Ochozias seing her sonne 1 dead, arose, and Ambition cause of much crueltie. slew al the kinges seede. † But Iosaba 2 king Iorams daughter, the sister of Ochozias, taking Ioas the sonne of Ochozias, stole him out of the middes of the kinges children, that were slaine, and his nurce out of the bedchamber: and hid him from the face of Athalia, that he should not be slaine. † And he was with her sixe yeares 3 secretly in the house of our Lord. Moreouer Athalia reigned ouer the land. † And in the seuenth yeare Our Sauiour calleth this high priest, Zacharias; which signifieth blessed of our Lord, for the iustice which he did towards Athalia and Ioas. S. [...]rom. li. 4. in Math. c. 23. Ioiada sent and 4 taking the centurions, and the souldiars brought them in to him into the temple of our Lord, and made a couenant with them: and adiuring them in the house of our Lord, shewed them the kinges sonne: † and commanded them, saying: 5 This is the thing, which you must doe. † Let the third part 6 [Page 785] of you goe in on the Sabbath, and keepe the watch of the kinges house. And let a third part be at the gate Sur: & let a third part be at the gate behind the dwelling of the shildebearers: and you shal keepe the watch of the house of Messa. † But let two partes of you al that goe forth on the Sabbath, 7 keepe the watch of the house of our Lord about the king. † And you shal gard him round about, hauing weapons in 8 your hands: & if anie man shal enter the precinct of the temple, let him be slaine: and you shal be with the king coming in & going out. † And the centurions did according to al thinges, 9 that Ioiada the priest had commanded them: & euerie one taking their men, that went in on the Sabbath, with them that went out in the Sabbath, came to Ioiada the priest. † Who 10 gaue them the speares, & the weapons of king Dauid; which were in the house of our Lord. † And they stood euerie one 11 hauing their weapons in their hand, on the right side of the temple, vnto the leaft side of the altar, & of the temple, about the king. † And he brought forth the kinges sonne, and put 12 vpon him the diademe, and the couenant: and they made him king, and anoynted him: and clapping with the hand, sayd: God saue the king. † And Athalia heard the voice of people 13 running: and she going in to the multitudes into the temple of our Lord, † saw the king standing vpon the tribunal seate 14 according to the maner, and the singers, and trumpettes nere him, and al the people of the land reioysing, and sounding the trumpettes: and she rent her garmentes, and cried: A conspiracie, a conspiracie. † But Ioiada commanded the centurions, 15 that were ouer the armie, and sayd to them: Lead her forth without the precinct of the temple, and whosoeuer shal folow her, let him be striken with the sword. For the priest had sayd: Let her Great respect is to be had of holie places. VVherof cometh the priuilege of Sanctuaries. not be slaine in the temple of our Lord. † And 16 they layd handes on her: and threw her by the way of the entrance of the horses, beside the palace, and she was slaine there. † Ioiada therfore made a couenant betwen our Lord, 17 and the king, and betwen the people, that it should be the people of our Lord, and betwen the king and the people. † And al the people of the land entered into the temple of 18 Baal, and destroyed his altars, and his images they brake in peces stoutly: Mathan also the priest of Baal they slew before the altar. And the priest sette gardes in the house of our Lord. † And he tooke the centurious, and the legions of Cerethi 19 [Page 786] and Phelethi, and al the people of the land, and they brought the king from the house of our Lord: and they came by the way of the gate of the shildebearers into the palace, and he sate vpon the throne of the kinges. † And al the people of 20 the land reioysed, and the citie was quiet: but Athalia was slaine with the sword in the kinges house. † And Ioas was 21 seuen yeares old, when he began to reigne.

CHAP. XII. Ioas vvilleth the priestes to repaire vvhat needeth in the temple, receiuing al the money offered there. 6. vvhich they not performing, the high priest prouideth that al is amended, 16. the priestes receiuing only the money due to themselues. 17. Hazael king of Syria taking Geth, and threitning Ierusalem is pacified vvith money. 19. Ioas is traitarously slaine by his seruantes, and his sonne Amasias reigneth.

IN the seuenth yeare of Iehu reigned Ioas: and he reigned 1 fourtie yeares in Ierusalem. The name of his mother was Sebia of Bersabee. † And Ioas did right before our Lord al 2 the daies, that Ioiada the priest taught him. † But yet the excelses 3 he tooke not away: for the people immolated & burnt incense in the excelses. † And Ioas sayd to the priestes: Al 4 the money of the sanctified thinges, which is brought into the temple of our Lord by the passengers, which is offered for the That is, the ordinarie ob lation for ech particular person. Exod. 30. price of a soule, and which of their owne accord, and of their owne free hart they bring into the temple of our Lord: † let the priestes take it according to their order, and maynteine 5 reparations of the house, if they shal see any thing that needeth reparation. † Therfore vntil the three and twenteth 6 yeare of king Ioas, the priestes did not make reparations of the temple. † And king Ioas called Ioiada the high priest and 7 the priestes, saying to them: Why make you not the reparations of the temple? Take you therfore money no more according to your order, but render it to the reparation of the temple. † And the priestes were prohibited to take money 8 anie more of the people, and to make the reparations of the temple. † And Ioiada the high priest tooke a chest or alm [...]s box [...]. a treasurie, and 9 opened a hole in the toppe, and sette it by the altar at the right hand of them that goe into the house of our Lord, and the priestes that kept the doores, did cast into it al the money, that was brought to the temple of our Lord. † And when 10 they saw that there was very much money in the treasurie, the [Page 787] kinges scribe, and the high priest went vp, and powred it out, and counted the money, that was found in the house of our Lord: † and they gaue it according to number and measure 11 into their hand, which did ouersee the masons of the house of our Lord: who bestowed it on carpenters, and on masons, such as wrought in the house of our Lord, † and made reparations: 12 and on them that hewed stones, and that they should bye trees, and stones, that were hewed, so that the reparation of the house of our Lord was accomplished in al thinges, which had neede of cost to vphold the house. † But yet there 13 were not made of the same money the watter pottes of the temple of our Lord, and the fleshhookes, and censars, and trumpets, and euerie vessel of gold and siluer, of the money, that was brought into the temple of our Lord. † For it was 14 geuen them that did the worke, that the temple of our Lord might be repayred: † and there was no account made with 15 those men, that receiued the money to distribute it to the craftes men, but vpon their fidelitie they bestowed it. † But 16 the money for offence, & the money for sinnes, they brought not into the temple of our Lord, because it was the priestes. † Then Hazael the king of Syria went vp, and fought agaynst 17 Geth, and tooke it: and directed his face to goe vp to Ierusalem. † For which cause Ioas the king of Iuda tooke al the 18 sanctified thinges, which Iosaphat, and Ioram, and Ochozias his fathers the kinges of Iuda had Dedicated to helie vse. consecrated, and which him self had offered: and al the siluer, that could be found in the treasures of the temple of our Lord, and in the kinges palace: and sent it to Hazael the king of Syria, and he retyred from Ierusalem. † But the rest of the wordes of Ioas, and al 19 that he did, are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda? † And his seruantes 20 arose, and conspired among them selues, and stroke Ioas in the house of Mello in the descent of Sella. † For Iosachar the 21 sonne of Semaath, and Iozabad the sonne of Somer his seruantes, stroke him, and he died: and they buried him with his fathers in He was buried in the citie but not in the sepulcher of the kinges. 2 Paral. 24. for his impietie in the latter part of his life. the citie of Dauid, and Amasias his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XIII. Ioachaz King of Israel is afflicted by the Syrians, 4. and deliuered. 6. Yet destroyeth not idolatrie. 8. dieth, and his sonne Ioas foloweth his euil steppes. [...]4. Eliseus being sicke willeth the king to shoote, 18. and to strike the [Page 788] earth, who striking thrise, is told that he shal thrise strike the Syrians. 20. Eliseus dieth, and a dead men is reuiued touching his bones. 22. Ioas recouereth that which the Syrians [...]ad taken from Israel.

IN the three and twenteth yeare of Ioas the sonne of Ochozias 1 the king of Iuda, reigned Ioachaz the sonne of Iehu ouer Israel in Samaria, seuentene yeares. † And he did 2 euil before our Lord, and folowed the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, who made Israel to sinne, and declined not from them. † And the furie of our Lord was wrath agaynst 3 Israel, and he deliuered them into the hand of Hazael the king of Syria, and into the hand of Benadad the sonne of Hazael, alwaies. † But Ioachaz besought the face of our Lord, 4 and our Lord heard him▪ for he saw the distresse of Israel, that the king of Syria had broken them: † and our Lord gaue a 5 sauiour to Israel, and they were deliuered out of the hand of the king of Syria: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tabernacles as yesterday and the day before. † But yet they departed 6 not from the sinnes of Ieroboam who made Israel to sinne, but they walked in them: for the grone also remayned in Samaria. † And there were leaft to Ioachaz of the people 7 but fiftie horsemen, and ten chariotes, and ten thousand footmen: for the king of Syria had slaine them, and had brought them as dust by threshing in the barne floore. † But the rest 8 of the wordes of Ioachaz, and al that he did, and his strength, are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel? † And Ioachaz slept with 9 his fathers, & they buried him in Samaria: and Ioas his sonne reigned for him. † In the seuen and thirteth yeare of Ioas the 10 king of Iuda reigned Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz ouer Israel in Samaria sixtene yeares, † and he did that which is euil in the 11 sight of our Lord, he declined not from al the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, who made Israel to sinne, but he walked in them. † But the rest of the wordes of Ioas, and 12 al that he did, and his strength, how he fought agaynst Amasias the king of Iuda, are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel? † And Ioas slept with his fathers: but Ieroboam sate vpon 13 his throne. Moreouer Ioas, was buried in Samaria with the kinges of Israel. † And Eliseus was sicke of an infirmitie, 14 wherof also he died: and Ioas the king of Israel went downe [Page 789] to him, and wept before him, and sayd: My father, my father, the chariote of Israel and the garder therof. † And Eliseus 15 sayd to him: fetch a bow and arrowes. And when he had brought him a bow, and arrowes, † he sayd to the king of 16 Israel: Put thy hand vpon the bow. And when he had put his hand, Eliseus put his handes ouer the kinges handes, † and 17 sayd: Open the east window. And when he had opened it, Eliseus sayd: Shote an arrow. And he shot. And Eliseus sayd: The arrow of the saluation of our Lord, and the arrow of saluation agaynst Syria: and thou shalt strike Syria in Aphec, til thou consume it. † And he sayd: Take vp the arrowes. 18 Who when he had taken them agayne, he sayd to him: Strike the earth with a iauelin. And when he had striken three times, and stood stil, † the man of God was angrie with him, 19 & sayd: It was reueiled to the prophet that so often as the king should strike the earth, so often he should haue victories against the Syrians, but not how often he would strike on the▪ earth. If thou hadst striken fiue or six or seuen times, thou hadst striken Syria euen to destruction: but now three times shalt thou strike it. † Eliseus therfore died, and they buried 20 him. And the rouers of Moab came into the land the same yeare. † And certayne persons burying a man, saw the rouers, 21 and threw the bodie in the sepulchre of Eliseus. Which when it had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man reuiued, and stood vpon his feete. † Hazael therfore the king of Syria 22 afflicted Israel al the daies of Ioachaz: † and our Lord had 23 mercie on them, and returned to them for his couenant, which he had with Abraham, and Isaac, and Iacob: and he would not destroy them, nor vtterly cast them away, vntil this present time. † And Hazael the king of Syria died, and 24 Benadad his sonne reigned for him. † Moreouer Ioas the 25 sonne of Ioachaz, tooke the cities out of the hand of Benadad the sonne of Hazael, which he had taken out of the hand of Ioachaz his father by the right of warre, three times did Ioas strike him, and he deliuered the cities to Israel.

CHAP. XIIII. Amasias king of Iudakilleth those that had slaine his father; 7. and striketh Edom. 8. Prouoking Ioas king of Israel to warre, receiueth a contemtible answer: 11. prouoking againe is beaten in battle, and Ierusalem is ransact. 15. Ioas dieth and his sonne Ieroboam foloweth the bad steppes of the first Ieroboam; yet recouereth manie places lost before▪ and dying his sonne Zacharias reigneth.

[Page 790]IN the second yeare of Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the king 1 of Israel reigned Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda. † Fiue and twentie yeares old was he when he began 2 to reigne: and nine and twentie yeares he reigned in Ierusalem, the name of his mother was Ioadan of Ierusalem. † And 3 he did right before our Lord, but yet not as Dauid his father. He did according to al thinges, which Ioas his father did: † but this onlie that he tooke not away the excelses: for yet 4 the people immolated, and burnt incense in the excelses. † And when he obtayned the kingdom, he smote his seruantes, 5 which had slaine the king his father: † but their children 6 that killed him, he did not put to death, according to that which is written in the booke of the law of Moyses, as our Lord commanded, saying: The fathers shal not die for the Deut. [...] ▪ children, neither shal the children die for the fathers: but euerie one shal die in his owne sinne. † He smote Edom in 7 the Vail of Salt pittes ten thousand, and tooke the rocke in battel, and called the name therof, Iectehel vntil this present daye. † Then Amasias sent messengers to Ioas the sonne of 8 Ioachaz, the sonne of Iehu the king of Israel, saying: Come, Amongst kinges being at variance, Seing one an other importeth, as much as to fight a battle. let vs see one an other. † And Ioas the king of Israel sent 9 agayne to Amasias the king of Iuda saying: A thistle of Libanus sent to a cedar tree, which is in Libanus, saying: Geue thy daughter to my sonne to wife. And the beastes of the forest, that are in Libanus▪ passed and trode the thistle. † Thou 10 striking hast preuayled ouer Edom, and thy hart hath puffed thee vp: be content with the glorie, and sit in thy house: Why prouokest thou euil, that thou mayst fal and Iuda with thee. † And Amasias agreed not. And Ioas the king of Israel went 11 vp, and they saw eche other, he and Amasias the king of Iuda in Bethsames a towne of Iuda. † And Iuda was strooken before 12 Israel, and euerie man fled into their tabernacles. † But 13 Ioas the king of Israel did take Amasias the king of Iuda the sonne of Ioas, the sonne of Ochozias, in Bethsames, and brought him into Ierusalem: and he brake downe the wal of Ierusalem, from the gate of Ephraim vnto the gate of the corner, fowre hundred cubites. † And he tooke al the gold, 14 and siluer, and al the vessel, that were found in the house of our Lord, and in the kinges treasures, and hostages, and returned into Samaria. † But the rest of the wordes of Ioas 15 which he did, and his strength, wherwith he fought against [Page 791] Amasias the king of Iuda, are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel? † And 16 Ioas slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kinges of Israel: & Ieroboam his sonne reigned for him. † And 17 Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda liued, after that Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the king of Israel was dead, fifetene yeares. † But the rest of the wordes of Amasias, are not 18 these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda? † And there was a conspiracie made 19 against him in Ierusalem: but he fled into Lachis. And they sent after him into Lachis, and killed him there. † And they 20 caried him away vpon horses, and he was buried in Ierusalem with his fathers in the Citie of Dauid. † And al the people of 21 Iuda tooke Azarias sixtene yeares old, and made him king for his father Amasias. † He built Aelath, and restored it to Iuda, 22 after that the king slept with his fathers. † In the fiftenth 23 yeare of Amasias the sonne of Ioas the king of Iuda, reigned Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas the king of Israel in Samaria, one and fourtie yeares: † and he did that which is euil before 24 our Lord. He departed not from al the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, who made Israel to sinne. † He restored 25 the borders of Israel from the entrance of Emath, vnto the Sea of the wildernesse, according to the word of our Lord the God of Israel, which he spake by his seruāt Ionas the sonne of [...]. 1. Amathi, the prophete▪ who was of Geth, which is in Opher. † For our Lord saw the afliction of Israel exceding bitter, 26 and that they were consumed vnto the imprisoned & meanest persons, and that there was none to helpe Israel. † Neither 27 did our Lord determine that he would destroy the name of Israel from vnder heauen, but he s [...]ued them in the hand of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas. † But the rest of the wordes of 28 Ieroboam, and al that he did, and his strength, wherwith he fought, and how he restored Damascus, and Emath to Iuda in Israel, are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel? † And Ieroboam slept 29 with his fathers the kinges of Israel, and Zacharias his sonne, reigned for him.

CHAP. XV. Azarias beginneth wel, 4. afterward (for offering incense on the altar▪ 2▪ Paralip. 26.) is strooken with leprosie, cast out of the temple, and from conuersation weth the people, his sonne Ioathan ruling the kingdom. 8. Sellum [Page 792] killeth Zacharias king of Israel and reigneth in his place. 14. After one moneth Manahem killeth Sellum & reigneth also Wickedly. 19. Maketh league With the Syrians. 22. dieth and his sonne Phaceia reigneth. 25. Phacee killeth him, and reigneth. 29. The Assyrians spoyle the countrie, and carie away manie captiues. 30. Osee killeth Phacee and reigneth. 32. In the meane time Ioathan regning in Iuda is infested With enemies. 38. dieth, and his sonne Achaz reigneth.

IN the seuen and twenteth yeare of Ieroboam the king 1 of Israel reigned Otherwise called Ozias. 2. Paral. 26. Mat. 1. Azarias the sonne of Amasias the king of Iuda. † He was sixtene yeares old, when he began to 2 reigne, and two and fiftie yeares he reigned in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Iechelia of Ierusalem, † And he 3 did that which was liked before our Lord, according to al thinges that his father Amasias did. † But the excelses he destroyed 4 not: as yet the people sacrificed, and burnt incense in the excelses. † And our Lord stroke the king, and he was This punishment was inflicted vpon him, for his presumption to offer incēse on the altar. 2. Paralip. 26. a 5 leper vntil the day of his death, and he dwelt in a free house a part: but Ioathan the kinges sonne gouerned the palace, and iudged the people of the land. † But the rest of the 6 wordes of Azarias, and al that he did, are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda? † And Azarias slept with his fathers: and they 7 buried him with his ancetors He was buried honorably in the citie of Dauid, that is, nere to the walles, but in the filde, because he was a leper euen to his death. 2. Paral. 26. in the citie of Dauid, and Ioathan his sonne reigned for him. † In the eight and thirteth 8 yeare of Azarias the king of Iuda, reigned Zacharias the sonne of Ieroboam ouer Israel in Samaria sixe monethes: † and he did that which is euil before our Lord, as his fathers 9 had done: he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, who made Israel to sinne. † And Sellum 10 the sonne of Iabes conspired against him: and smote him openly, killed him, and reigned for him. † But the rest of 11 the wordes of Zacharias, are not these writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel? † This is 12 the word of our Lord, which he spake to Iehu, saying: Thy children shal sit vnto the fourth generation vpon the throne of Israel. And so it came to passe. † Sellum the sone of Iabes 13 reigned the nine and thirteth yeare of Azarias the king of Iuda: and reigned one moneth in Samaria. † And Manahem 14 the sonne of Gadi went vp from Thersa: and he came into Samaria, and smote Sellum the sonne of Iabes in Samaria, [Page 793] and slew him, & reigned for him. † But the rest of the wordes 15 of Sellum, & his conspiracie, wherwith he wrought treason, are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Israel? † Then Manahem stroke 16 Thapsa and al that were in it and the borders therof from Thersa, for they would not open vn [...]o him: and he slew al wemen therof that were withchilde, and ripped them. † In 17 the nine and thirteth yeare of Azarias the king of Iuda, reigned Manahem the sonne of Gadi ouer Israel ten yeares in Samaria. † And he did that which was euil before our Lord: he 18 departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, who made Israel to sinne al his dayes. † Phul also the king 19 of the Assyrians came into the land, and Manahem gaue to Phul a thousand ralentes of siluer, that he should ayde him, & establish his kingdom. † And Manahem put a taxe of siluer 20 vpon Israel, on them that were mightie and riche to geue the king of the Assyrians, fiftie sicles of siluer euerie man: and the king of the Assyrians returned, and taried not in the land. † But the rest of the wordes of Manahem, and al that he did, 21 are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel? † And Manahem slept with 22 his fathers: and Phaceia his sonne reigned for him. † In the 23 fifteth yeare of Azarias the king of Inda reigned Phaceia the sonne of Manahem ouer Israel in Samria two yeares: † and 24 he did that which was euil before our Lord: he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, who made Israel to sinne. † And Phacee the sonne of Romelia, his captaine 25 conspired against him, and stoke him in Samaria, in the towre of the kinges house beside, Argob and beside Arie, and with him fiftie men of the children of the Galaadites, and he slewe him, and reigned for him. † But the rest of the 26 wordes of Phaceia & al that he did, are not these things written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kings of Israel. † In the two and fifteth yeares of Azarias the king 27 of Iuda reigned Phacee the sonne Romelia ouer Israel in Samaria twentie yeares. † And he did that which was euil before 28 our Lord: he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, who made Israel to sinne. † In the daies 29 of Phacee the king of Israel came Theglath phalasar the king of Assur, & Some men of Ruben, Gad, Manasses, and Nepthali, were caried captiues into Assyria. tooke Aion, and Abel the house of Maachat and Ianoe, and Cedes, and Asor, and Galaad, and Galilee, and al [Page 794] the land of Nepthali: and transported them vnto the Assyrians. † And Osee the sonne of Ela conspired, and lay in 30 wayte against Phacee the sonne of Romelia, and stroke him, and slew him: and he reigned for him the twentith yeare of Ioatham the sonne of Otherwise called Azarias. [...]. 1. Ozias. † But the rest of the wordes of 31 Phacee, and al that he did, are not these things written in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kings of Israel? † In the second yeare of Phacee the sonne of Romelia the 32 king of Israel, reigned Ioatham the sonne of Ozias the king of Iuda. † Fiue and twentie yeares old was he when he began 33 to reigne, and sixtene yeares he reigned in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Ierusa, the daughter of Sadoc. † And he did that which was liked before our Lord: according 34 to al things, which Ozias his father had done, did he worke. † Howbeit the excelses he tooke not away: as yet 35 the people immolated, and burnt incense in the excelses, he built the highest gate of the house of our Lord. † But the rest 36 of the wordes of Ioatham, and al that he did, are not these things written in the Booke of the words of the dayes of the kings of Iuda? † In those dayes our Lord began to send into 37 Iuda Rasin the king of Syria, and Phacee the sonne of Romelia. † And Ioatham slept with his fathers, and was buried 39 with them in the citie of Dauid his father, and Achaz his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XVI. Achaz king of Iuda besides other idolatrie, sacrificeth his owne sonne to idoles. 5 The kinges of Israel and Syria besiegeing Ierusalem, the Assyrians are hyred to releue it. 10. Achaz causeth Vrias to make an altar like to one in Damascus, 14. in place of Gods altar: 17. remoueth diuers other things perteyning to diuine seruice, 19. dieth, and his sonne Ezechias reigneth.

IN the seuenteth yeare of Phacee the sonne of Romelia 1 reigned Achaz the sonne of Ioatham king of Iuda. † Twentie yeares old was Achaz when he began to reigne, 2 and he reigned sixtene yeares in Ierusalem: he did not that which was pleasing in the sight of our Lord his God, as Dauid his father. † But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel: 3 moreouer also he consecrated his sonne, making him passe through fire according to the idols of the Gentils: which our Lord destroyed before the children of Israel. † He immolated 4 [Page 795] also victimes, and burnt incense in the excelses, and on the hilles, and vnder euery tree full of greene leaues. † Then 5 went vp Rasin the king of Syria, and Phacee the sonne of Romelia the king of Israel into Ierusalem to fight: & when they besieged Achaz, they were not able to ouercome him. † At that time Rasin the king of Syria restored Aila to Syria, 6 and threw out the Iewes out of Aila: and the Idumeians came into Aila, and dwelt there vnto this day. † And Achaz sent 7 messengers to Theglathphalasar the king of the Assyrians, saying: I am thy seruant, and thy sonne: come vp, and saue me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and from the hand of the king of Israel, which are risen together against me. † And when he had gathered together the siluer and gold, 8 that could be founde in the house of our Lord, and in the kings treasures, he sent giftes to the king of the Assyrians. † Who also agreed to his wil: for the king of the Assyrians 9 went vp into Damascus, and wasted it: and he transferred the inhabitants therof to Cyrene, but Rasin he slew. † And 10 king Achaz went forth to meete Theglathphalasar the king of the Assyrians into Damascus, and when he had seene the altar of Damascus, king Achaz sent to Vrias the priest a paterne of it, and a similitude according to al the worke therof. † And Vrias the priest built an altar, according to al things, 11 which king Achaz had commanded, from Damascus, so did the priest Vrias, whilest king Achaz came from Damascus. † And when the king was come from Damascus, he saw the 12 altar and worshipped it: and went vp and immolated holocaustes, and his sacrifice, † and offered libamentes, and 13 powred the bloud of the pacifiques, which he had offered vpon the altar. † Moreouer the altar of brasse that was before 14 our lord, he remoued from the face of the temple, and from the place of the altar, and from the place of the temple of our Lord: and he sett it at the side of the altar toward the North. † King Achaz also comanded Vrias the priest, saying: 15 Vpon the greater altar offer the morning holocaust, and the euening sacrifice, and the kings holocaust, and his sacrifice, and the holocaust of the whole people of the land, and their sacrifices, and their libamentes: and al the bloud of the holocaust, and al the bloud of the victime thou shalt powre out vpon it: but the altar of brasse shalbe prepared readie at my pleasure † Vrias therfore the priest did according to al 16 [Page 796] things, which king Achaz had commanded him. † And king 17 Achaz tooke the engrauen feete, and the lauatorie that was vpon them: and he tooke downe the the great vessel. sea from the oxen of brasse, that held it vp, and put it vpon the pauement paued with stone. † The the place vvhere the king offered. Musach also of the Sabbath, which he 18 had built in the temple: and the entrie of the king outward he turned into the temple of our Lord because of the king of the Assyrians. † But the rest of the wordes of Achaz, which 19 he did, are not these writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda? † And Achaz slept with his fathers, 20 and was buried with them in the citie of Dauid, and Ezechias his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XVII. Salmanazar king of Assyrians maketh Osee king of Israel tributarie, and perceuing his endeuour to be deliuered therof, imprisoneth him; after three yeares siege taketh Samaria, and carieth the people captiue into Assiria. 7. Al which God permitteth for diuers great sinnes here recited. 25. The new inhabitantes of the countrie not knowing God, are deuoured by lions. VVherupon a true priest is sent to instruct them. 29. but they lerning the rites of true religion do mixt the same with idolatrie.

IN the twelfth yeare of Achaz king of Iuda, reigned Osee 1 the sonne of Ela in Samaria ouer Israel nine yeares. † And 2 he did euil before our Lord: but not as the kinges of Israel, that had bene before him. † Against him came vp Salmanasar 3 king of the Assyrians, and Osee was made seruant to him, and payd him tributes. † And when the king of the Assyrians had 4 found, that Osee endeuoring to rebel had sent messengers to Sua the king of Aegypt, that he might not pay tributes to the king of the Assyrians, as euery yeare he was accustomed, he besieged him, and cast him blound into prison. † And he ranged 5 through al the land: and going vp to Samaria, he besieged it three yeares. † And in the ninth yeare of Osee, the king 6 of Assyrians tooke Samaria, and transferred Israel vnto the Assyrians: and he put them in Hala, and in Habor beside the riuer of Gozan, in the cities of the Medes. † For it came to 7 passe, when the children of Israel had sinned to our Lord their God, which brought them out of the land of Aegypt, and out of the hand of Pharao the king of Aegypt, they worshipped strange goddes. † And they walked according to the rite of the Gentiles, which our Lord had consumed in the sight of [Page 797] the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel: because they had done in like maner. † And the children of Israel offended 9 our Lord their God with wordes not right: & built them excelses in al their cities from the Towre of watchmen vnto the fensed citie. † And they made them statues & groues on euerie 10 high hil, and vnder euerie thicke woddie tree: † and burnt 11 there incense vpon the altars after the maner of the Gentiles, which our Lord remoued from their face: and they did wicked things, prouoking our Lord. † And they worshipped 12 the filthes, wherof our Lord commanded them that thou should not doe this thing. † And our Lord testified in Israel 13 and in Iuda by the hand of al the Prophetes and Seers, saying: Returne from your most wicked wayes, and keepe my precepts, and ceremonies according to al the law, which I commanded your fathers: and as I haue sent to you in the hand of my seruantes the Prophetes. † Who heard not, but hardened 14 their necke according to the necke of their fathers, who would not obey our Lord their God. † And they cast away 15 his ordinances, and the couenant that he made with their fathers, and the testifications, wherwith he contested them: and they folowed vanities, and did vaynly: and they folowed the Gentiles, that were round about them, concerning which our Lord had commanded them, that they should not doe as they did. † And they forsooke al the preceptes of our Lord 16 their God: and made to them selues two molten calues, and groues, and adored al the hoste of heauen: and they serued Baal, † and consecrated their sonnes, and their daughters 17 through fyre: and they gaue themselues to deuinations, and soothsayings: and they deliuered vp themselues to doe euil before our Lord, That is, consequently they did prouoke him▪ as 3. R [...]g▪ 14. v. 9. that they might prouoke him. † And our 18 Lord was wrath with Israel vehemently, and tooke them away from his sight, and there remayned but the tribe of Iuda onlie. † But neither Iuda it self kept the commandementes 19 of our Lord their God: but walked in the errours of Israel, which it had wrought. † And our Lord reiected al the seede 20 of Israel, and afflicted them, & deliuered them into the hand of the spoylers, til he threwe them away from his face: † euen 21 now from that time, when Israel was rent from the house of Dauid, and made Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat their king: for Ieroboam seperated Israel from our Lord, and made them sinne a great sinne. † And the children of Israel walked in 22 [Page 798] al the sinnes of Ieroboam, which he had done: and they departed not from them, † vntil our Lord tooke away Israel 23 from his face, as he had spoken in the hand of al his seruantes the Prophetes: and Israel was transported out of their land vnto the Assyrians, vntil this day. † And the king of the Assyrians 24 brought from Babylon, and from Cutha, and from Auah, and from Emath, and from Sepharuaim: and placed them in the cities of Samaria for the children of Israel: who possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities therof. † And 25 when they began to dwel there, they feared not our Lord: and our Lord sent lions vpon them, which killed them. † And it 26 was told the king of the Assyrians, and sayd. The nations, which thou hast transferred, and made to dwel in the cities of Samaria, know not the ordinances of the God of the land: and the Lord hath sent lions vpon them: and behold they kil them, for that they know not the rite of the God of the land. † And the king of the Assyrians commanded, saying: 27 Bring thither one of the priestes, which you brought thence captiue, and let him goe, and dwel with them: and let him teach them the ordinances of the God of the land. † Therfore 28 when one of those priests, which were led captiue from Samaria, was come, he dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should worship our Lord. † And euerie Nation framed 29 their owne god, and put them in the highe temples, which the Samaritanes had made, Nation and Nation in their cities, where they dwelt. † For the men of Babylon made 30 Socoth benoth: and the Cutheites made Nergel: and the men of Emath made Asima. † Moreouer the Heueites made Nebahaz 31 & Tharthac. And they that were of Sepharuaim burnt their children in fyre, to Adramelech, and Anamelech the goddes of Sepharuaim. † and neuetheles they Not truly worshipped but made shew to worshippe. For true worship of God admitteth not worship of anie false god. [...] ▪ 34. worshipped 32 our Lord. And they made to themselues of the vilest persones priestes of the excelses, and they placed them in the highe temples. † And when they worshipped our Lord, they serued 33 also their owne goddes according to the custome of the Nations out of the which they were transported to Samaria: † vntil this present day they folow the old maner: they feare 34 not our Lord, neither keepe they his ceremonies, and iudgements, and law, and the commandemet, which our Lord commanded the children of Iacob, whom he surnamed Israel: † and he had made a couenant with them, & had commanded 35 [Page 799] them, saying: Feare not strange goddes, and adore them not, neither worship them, and immolate not to them. † But the 36 Lord your God, which brought you out of the Land of Aegypt in great strength, and a stretched out arme, him feare ye, and him adore, and to him doe ye immolate. † The ceremonies 37 also, and iudgementes, and law, and the commandment, that he wrote you, kepe ye, that you may doe them alwaies: and feare not strange goddes. † And the couenant, that he made 38 with you, forget not: neither doe ye worship strange goddes, 39 † but feare our Lord your God, and he wil deliuer you out of the hand of al your enemies. † But they heard not, but did 40 according to their old custome. † These Nations therfore 41 were fearing of our Lord but neuerthelesse seruing their idols also: for both their children and nephewes, as their fathers did, soe doe they vntil this present day.

CHAP. XVIII. Ezechias destroyeth al places of idolatrie in Iuda, breaking also the brasen serpent, made by Moyses, because the people offered incense to it. 9. The captiuitie of the ten tribes is repeted. 13. Ezechias not able to resist the Assyrians payeth much money to them. 17. They neuertheles send forces against Ierusalem, reproch the king, blaspheme God, and terrifie the people.

IN the third yeare of Osee the sonne of Ela king of Israel, The second part. Actes of other kinges til the captiuitie of Iuda. 1 reigned Ezechias the sonne of Achaz king of Iuda. † Fiue 2 and twentie yeares old was he when he began to reigne: and he reigned nine and twentie yeares in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Abi the daughter of Zacharias. † And 3 he did that which was good before our Lord, according to al thinges which Dauid his father had done. † He destroyed 4 the excelses, and brake the statuees in peeces, and cut downe the groues, and brake the brasen serpent, which Moyses had made: for vntil that time the children of Israel This image of a serpent not only when it wrought miraculous health, but also long after was worthely reserued in memorie of the benefite: but when the people offered sacrifice vnto it, which is proper to God only, good Ezechias did laudably breake it And to shew that there was no deitie in it: called it Nohestan, that is, a peece of brasse. And so in the Catholique Church when anie holie Relique or Image is abused, it is taken away, or theerrour otherwise corrected. See. S. Aug. li. 10. [...]. 8. ciuit. Ser. 4 de verb. Apost. & 101. de temp. burnt incense to it: and he called the name therof a peece of brasse. Nohestan. † He trusted in our Lord the God of Israel: therfore 5 after him there was not the like to him in al the kings of Iuda, yea neither among them that were before him: † and he cleaued to our Lord, and departed not from his 6 steppes, and he did his commandmentes, which our Lord commanded Moyses. † Wherfore our Lord also was with 7 him, and in al things, to the which he proceded, he behaued himselfe wisely. He rebelled also agaynst the king of the [Page 800] Assyrians, and serued him not. † He stroke the Philisthians 8 as farre as Gaza, & al the borders, from the Towre of watchmen vnto the fensed citie. † In the fourth yeare of king 9 Ezechias, which was the seuenth yeare of Osee the sonne of Ela the king of Israel, came vp Salmanasar the king of the Assyrians into Samaria, and assaulted it, † and tooke it. For 10 after three yeares, in the sixt yeare of Ezechias, that is, the ninth yeare of Osee the king of Israel, Samaria was taken: † and the king of the Assyrians transported Israel vnto the 11 Assyrians, and placed them in Hala, and in Habor riuers of Gozan in the cities of the Medes: † because they heard not 12 the voice of our Lord their God, but transgressed his couenant: al things, that Moyses the seruant of our Lord commanded, they heard not, neither did they it. † In the fourtenth 13 yeare of king Ezechias, came vp Sennacherib the king of Assyrians to al the fensed cities of Iuda: and tooke them. † Then 14 sent Ezechias the king of Iuda messengers to the king of the Assyrians into Lachis, saying: I haue sinned, retyre from me: and al that thou shalt put vpon me, I will beare. Therfore the king of the Assyrians put a taxe vpon Ezechias the king of Iuda, three hundred talents of siluer, and thirtie talents of gold. † And Ezechias gaue al the siluer that was found in 15 the house of our Lord, and in the kinges treasures. † At that 16 time Ezechias brake the doores of the temple of our Lord, and the plates of gold, which he had fastened on them, and gaue them to the king of the Assyrians. † But the king of 17 the Assyrias sent Tharthan, and Rabsaris, and Rabsaces from Lachis to king Ezechias with a strong powre to Ierusalem: who when they were come vp they came to Ierusalem, and stoode beside the conduite of the vpper poole, which is in the way of the fullers field. † And they called the king: and there 18 went out to them Eliacim the sonne of Helcias gouernour of the house and Sobna the Scribe and Ioahe the sonne of Asaph, the or recorder. register, † And Rabsaces sayd to them: Speake 19 to Ezechias: Thus sayth the great king, the king of Assyrians: What is this confidence, that thou doest stay vpon? † Perhaps thou hast taken counsel, to prepare thy selfe 20 to battle. Wherin hast thou confidence, that thou darest to rebel? † Dost thou hope in Aegypt a staffe of reede and 21 broken, vpon which if a man leane, broken into splinters it wil enter into his hand, and pearce it? so is Pharao the king [Page 801] of Aegypt, to al that haue confidence in him. † But, if you 22 wil say to me: We haue confidence in our Lord God: is not this he, whose excelses and altars Ezechias hath taken away: and he commanded Iuda and Ierusalem: Before this altar shal you adore in Ierusalem? † Now therfore passe to my 23 lord the king of the Assyrians, and I wil geue you two thousand horses, and see whether you be able to haue ryders for them. † And how can you resiste before one prince of the 24 least seruantes of my lord? Hast thou confidence in Aegypt for the chariotes and horsemen? † Why am I come vp without 25 the wil of the Lord to destroy it? The Lord sayd to me: Goe vp to this land, He sasly addeth of his owne that he should destroy it. For Isaias prophecied the contrarie, that the Assyrians campe should be destroyed▪ Isa [...]e. 37. and so it came to passe. ch. 19. v. 35. 2. Pharal 32. and destroy it. † And Eliacim the sonne 26 of Helcias, and Sobna, and Ioahe sayd to Rabsaces: We pray thee that thou speake to vs thy seruantes in Syryake: for we vnderstand this tongue: and speake not to vs in the Iewes language, the people hearing it, which is vpon the wal. † And Rabsaces answered them, saying: What did my 27 lord send me to thee, that I should speake these wordes, and not rather to the men that sit vpon the wal, that they may eate their owne dung, and drinke their v [...]ine with you? † Rabsaces therfore stood, and cryed out with a lowd voyce 28 in the Iewes language, and sayd: Hea [...]e ye the wordes of the great king, the king of the Assyrians. † Thus sayth the king: 29 Let not Ezechias seduce you: for he shal not be able to deliuer you out my hand. † Neither let him geue you confidence 30 vpon the Lord, saying: Our Lord deliuering wil deliuer vs, and this citie shal not be geuen into the hand of the king of the Assyrians. † Doe not heare Ezechias. For thus sayth the 31 king of the Assyrians: Doe with me that which is profitable for you, and come forth to me: and euery man shal eate of his vineyard, and of his figge tree: and you shal drinke waters of your owne cesternes, † til I come, and transporte you 32 into a land, that is like to your land, into a fruiteful land, and plentiful of wyne, a land of bread and of vineyardes, a land of oliuetes, and of oyle and honie, and you shal liue, and shal not die. Heare not Ezechias, who deceiueth you, saying: Our Lord wil deliuer vs. † Paganes and Heretikes are foolish & impudent to compare their false goddes and phancies with God almightie and Cathelique Religion. Did the goddes of Nations deliuer 33 their land from the hand of the king of Assyrians? † Where 34 is the God of Emath & Arphad? Where is the God of Sepharuaim, of Ana, and Aua? did they deliuer Samaria out of my hand? † What are they among al the goddes of nations, which 35 [Page 802] haue deliuered their countrey out of my hand, that the Lord can deliuer Ierusalem out of my hand? † The people therfore 36 held their peace, and did not answer him any thing: for they had receiued the kings commandement that they should not 37 answer him. † And Eliacim the sonne of Helcias, gouernour of the house, and Sobna the scribe, and Ioahe the sonne of Asaph register came to Ezeehias, their garments rent, and told him the wordes of Rabsaces.

CHAP. XIX. Ezechias in affliction requesteth the prayers of Isaias the prophet. 6. who assureth him of Gods helpe. 8. The king of the Assyrians stil threatneth and blasphemeth. 15. Ezechias praieth, 20. and God hearing the prayers of the one, and blasphemies of the other, 28. promiseth to protect Ierusalem. 35. An Angel in one night killeth an hundred fourscore and fiue thousand of the Assyrians campe, their king returneth to Niniue, is there slaine by two of his owne sonnes, and an other sonne reigneth in his place.

VVHICH thinges when Ezechias the king had heard, 1 he rent his garmentes, and was couered with sackcloth, and entered into the house of our Lord. † And he sent 2 Eliacim the gouernour of the house, and Sobna the scribe, and the ancientes of the priestes couered with sackclothes, to Isaias the prophete the sonne of Amos. † Who sayd to 3 him: Thus saith Ezechias: This day is a day of tribulation, and rebuke, and of blasphemie: the children are come to the birth, and the woman in trauel hath not strength. † If perhaps 4 our Lord thy God wil heare al the wordes of Rabsaces, whom the king of the Assyrians his maister hath sent to vpbrayd the liuing God, and reproue with wordes, which our Lord thy God hath heard: and make thou prayer for the remnantes that are found. † The seruantes therfore of king 5 Ezechias came to Isaie. † And Isaie sayd to them: Thus shal 6 you say to your maister: Thus sayth our Lord: Feare not for the wordes, which thou hast heard, with which the seruantes of the king of the Assyrians haue blasphemed me. † Behold I wil send into him a spirit, and he shal here a message, 7 and shal returne into his country, and I wil ouerthrow him with the sword in his country. † Rabsaces therfore 8 returned, and found the king of Assyrians expugning Lobna: for he heard that he was departed from Lachis. † And when 9 he had heard of Tharaca the king of Aethiopia, saying: [Page 803] Behold, he is come forth to fight agaynst thee: and went agaynst him, he sent messengers to Ezechias, saying: † Say 10 this to Ezechias the king of Iuda: Let not thy God seduce thee, in whom thou hast confidence: neither say thou: Ierusalem shal not be deliuered into the handes of the king of the Assyrians. † For thou thy self hast heard what the kinges of 11 the Assyrians haue done to al the countries, how they haue spoyled them: canst thou therfore onlie be deliuered? † Why 12 haue the goddes of the Nations deliuered al those, whom my fathers haue destroyed, to witte, Gozan, & Haran, and Reseph, and the children of Eden, which were in Thelassar? † Where is the king of Emath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of 13 the citie of Sepharuaim, of Ana and Aua? † Therfore when 14 Ezechias had receiued the letters of the hand of messengers, & had read them, he went vp into the house of our Lord, & layd them open Before the Arke & Propitiatorie being the special place of prayer. before our Lord, † & prayd in his sight, saying: 15 Lord God of Israel, which sittest vpon the cherubins, thou art the only God of al the kinges of the earth: thou madest heauen and earth: † Incline thine eare, and heare: open Lord thine 16 eies, and see: and heare al the wordes of Sennacherib, who hath sent to vpbrayd vnto vs the liuing God. † In verie deede 17 Lord, the kinges of the Assyrians haue destroyed Nations, and the countries of al. † And they haue cast their goddes 18 into fire: for they were not goddes, but the workes of mens handes of wood and stone, and they destroyed them. † Now 19 therfore O Lord our God, saue vs from his hand, that al the kingdomes of the earth may know, that thou art the Lord the onlie God. † And Isaie the sonne of Amos sent to Ezechias, 20 saying: Thus saith our Lord the God of Israel: That which thou hast besought me concerning Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians, I haue heard. † This is the word, that 21 our Lord hath spoken of him: The Though manie in the kingdom of Iuda sel to ido lattie, yet in respect of the rest publikly professing true faith and religion the Church is stil called a virgin and despiceth and idolaters blasphemers, and false goddes. virgine daughter of Sion hath dispised thee, and scorned thee: Behinde thy backe hath the daughter of Ierusalem wagged her head. † Whom hast 22 thou vpbrayded, and whom hast thou blasphemed? against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted vp thine eies in high? against the holie one of Israel. † By the hand of thy 23 seruantes thou hast vpbrayded our Lord, and hast sayd: In the multitude of my chariotes haue I climed the height of mouutaynes, in the toppe of Libanus, and haue cut downe high cedars therof, and the chosen [...]irretrees of it. And I haue [Page 804] entered into the borders therof, & the forrest of the A pleasant hill in the forrest. carmel therof † haue I cut downe. And I haue drunke strange waters, 24 and haue dried vp with the steppes of my feete al the waters in closed. † Why, hast thou not heard what I haue 25 done from the begining? From ancient daies I haue made that thing, and now I haue brought it to effect: and fensed cities shal be into ruine of litle hilles bickering together. † And they that sitte in them, weake of hand, they haue 26 trembled and are confounded, they became as the grasse of the field, and the greene herbe of the roofes of houses, which withered before it came to ripenesse. † Thy habitation, and 27 thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy waye I haue knowen before, & thy surie against me. † Thou hast bene madde 28 against me, & thy pride hath ascended into myn eares: I therfore wil put a ring in thy nostrels, and a bitte in thy lippes, and wil bring thee back into the way, by the which thou camest. † And to thee Ezechias this shal be a signe: Eate this 29 yeare what thou shalt finde: & in the second yeare, the things that growe of themselues: moreouer in the third yeare sawe ye and reape▪ plant ye vineyardes, and eate the fruite of them. † And whatsoeuer shal be leaft of the house of Iuda, shal take 30 roote downeward, and beare fruit vpward. † For out of Ierusalem 31 there shal remmantes goe forth, and that which is to be saued from the mounte of Sion: the zeale of the Lord of hostes shal doe this † Wherfore thus sayth our Lord of the 32 king of the Assyrians: He shal not enter into this citie, nor shoote arrowe into it, neither shal shield occupie it, nor munition compasse it. † By the way, that he came, he shal returne: 33 and into this citie he shal nos enter, sayth our Lord † And 34 I wil protect this citie, and wil saue it for my self, and for Dauid my seruant. † It came to passe therfore in that night, an 35 Angel of our Lord came, and stroke in the campe of the Assyrians an hundred eightie fiue thousand. And when he was risen early, he sawe al the bodies of the dead, † and Sennacherib 36 the king of the Assyrians departing went away, and taried in Niniue. † And when he adored in the temple of 37 Nesroch his god, Adramelech and Sarasar his sonnes stroke him with the sword, and they fled into the land of the Armenians, and Asarhaddon his sonne reigned for him.

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CHAP. XX. Ezechias being sick is told by Isaias that he shal die: but praying to God obtayneth fiftenne yeares longer life, 8. and in confirmation therof receiueth a signe in Achaz dial, returning back tenne lines. 12. To the A [...]yrians bringing him presents, he sheweth al his treasures. 16. which Isaias reprouing prophecieth the captiuitie of Iuda. 20. Ezechias dieth, and his sonne Manasses reigneth.

IN those dayes Ezechias was sick euen to death: and Isaie 1 the sonne of Amos the prophete, came and sayd to him: Thus sayth our Lord God: Take order with thy house, for thou shalt die, and shalt not liue. † Who turned his face to the 2 wal, and prayed our Lord, saying: † I besech thee Lord, remember 3 I pray thee how I haue walked before thee in truth, and in a perfect hart, and haue done that which is liked before thee. Ezechias therfore wept with great weeping. † And 4 before Isaie was gone out of the middes of the court, the word of our Lord came to him, saying: † Returne, and tel 5 Ezechias the prince of my people: Thus sayth our Lord the God of Dauid thy father: I haue heard thy prayer, and seene thy teares: and behold I haue healed thee, the third day thou shalt goe vp to the temple of the Lord. † And I wil adde to 6 thy daies fiftene yeares: yea & out of the hand of the king of Assyrians I wil deliuer thee, and this citie, & I wil protect this citie for my sake, and for Dauid my seruant. † And Isaie said: 7 Fetch me a bunch of figges. Which when they had brought, and had layd it vpon his sore, he was cured. † And Ezechias 8 had sayd to Isaie: What signe shal there be, that our Lord wil heale me, and that I shal goe vp the third day to the temple of our Lord? † To whom Isaie sayd: This shal be the signe 9 from our Lord, that our lord wil doe the word, which he hath spoken: Wilt thou that the shadow goe forward ten lines, or that it goe backe soe many degrees. † And Ezechias sayd: 10 It is an easie matter for the shadow to goe forward ten lines, neither wil I that this be done, but that it returne back ten degrees. † Isaie therfore the prophet inuocated our Lord, 11 and brought backe the shadow by If these tenne lines importe so manie houses, then the dial going forwardes againe, by like degrees, this day was increased by twentie houres, and soe was longer then that in which Iosue procured stay of the sunne the space of one day, to witte of twelue houres. Iosue. 10. as S. Dyonise thinketh. Epist: ad Pol [...] carp: See Glossa erd: in Iosue. the lines, by the which it was now gone downe in the dial of Achaz, backward ten degrees. † In that time Berodach Baladan, the sonne of 12 Baladan, the king of the Babilonians sent letters and giftes to Ezechias: for he had heard that Ezechias had bene sicke. [Page 806] † And Ezechias reioysed in their coming, and he shewed 13 them the house of aromatical spices, and gold and siluer, and diuerse precious, odours, oyntementes also, and the house of his vessels, and al that he had in his treasures. There was not any thing which Ezechias shewed them not in his house, and in al his powere. † And Isaie the prophete came 14 to king Ezechias, and sayd to him: What sayd these men? or from whence came they to thee? To whom Ezechias said: From a far countrie they came to me out of Babylon. † But he answered: What saw they in thy house? Ezechias 15 sayd: They saw al things whatsoeuer are in my house: there is nothing that I haue not shewed them in my treasures. † Isaie 16 therfore said to Ezechias, heare the word of our Lord: † Behold 17 the daies shal come, & al things shal be taken away, that are in thy house, and that thy fathers haue layd vp vntil this day, into Babylon: there shal not anie thing remayne, sayth our Lord. † Yea of the children also that come forth of thee, 18 whom thou shalt beget shalbe taken away, and they shal be eunuches in the palace of the king of Babylon. † Ezechias said 19 to Isaie: The word of our Lord which thou hast spoken is good: be there peace and truth in my daies. † But the rest 20 of the wordes of Ezechias, and al his strength, and how he made a poole, and a conduite, and brought waters in to the citie, are not these things writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda? † And Ezechias slept with 21 his fathers, and Manasses his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XXI. For the enormious impietie of Manasses, 10. God threatneth destruction of the kingdom. 16. He spilleth innocent bloud, 18. dieth, and his senne Amon reigneth also wickedly: 23. is slaine by his seruantes, and his sonne Iosias reigneth.

TWELVE yeares old was Manasses, when he began to 1 reigne, & he reigned fiue and fiftie yeares in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was haphsiba. † And he did euil in 2 the sight of our Lord, acording to the idols of the Nations, which our Lord destroyed from the face of the children of Israel. † And he was turned, and built the excelses, which 3 Ezechias his father had destroyed: and he sette vp altars to Baal, and made groues, as Achab the king of Israel had done: and he adored al the host of heauen, and worshipped it. [Page 807] † And he built altars in the house of our Lord, of the which 4 our Lord sayd: In Ierusalem I wil put my name. † And he 5 built altars to al the host of heauen in the two courtes of the temple of our Lord. † And he made his sonne pas [...]e through 6 fyre: and he vsed sooth saying, and obserued diuinations, and made pithones, and multiplied inchanters, to doe euil before our Lord, and to prouoke him. † He sette also the idol of the 7 groue, which he had made in the temple of our Lord: concerning the which our Lord spake to Dauid, and to Salomon his sonne: In this temple, and in Ierusalem, which I haue chosen out of al the tribes of Israel, I wil put my name for euer. † And I wil noe more make the foote of Israel to be 8 moued out of the land, which I gaue to their fathers: yet so if in worke they shal keepe al things, that I haue commanded them, al the law which my seruantes Moyses commanded them. † But they heard not: but were seduced by Manasses, 9 to doe euil the Iewes sinned more greuously reuolting from the Law of God and contemning the admonitions of holie prophetes, then the nations that had neither law nor prophetes to instruct them. aboue the Nations, which our Lord destroyed before the face of the children of Israel. † And our Lord 10 spake in the hand of his seruantes the prophetes, saying: † Because Manasses the king of Iuda hath done these most 11 wicked abominations, passing al thinges that the Amorrheites did before him, and hath made Iuda also to sinne in his filthes: † therfore thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel: 12 Behold I wil bring in euils vpon Ierusalem and Iuda: that whosoeuer shal heare it, both his eares shal tingle. † And 13 I wil stretch out vpon Ierusalem the corde of Samaria, and the weight of the house of Achab: and I wil wipe out Ierusalem, as tables are wont to be wiped out, and wyping out I wil turne it, and draw often the pencil vpon the face therof. † God stil preserued some in true religion, though they also suffered tribulations with the wicked for the general sinnes of the king and people. Ps [...]l. 88. v. 35. Yea this king Manasses in captiuitie became vertuous and recouered his kingdom. 2, Pacalip. 33. But I wil leaue remnantes of mine inheritance, and wil 14 deliuer them into the handes of their enemies: and they shalbe vnto waste, and vnto spoile to al their aduersaries: † because 15 they haue done euil before me, and haue continewed prouoking me, from the day that their fathers came out of Aegypt, vntil this day. † Moreouer Manasses shed also innocent 16 bloud exceding much til he filled Ierusalem euen to the mouth: beside his sinnes, wherin he made Iuda to sinne, to doe euil before our Lord. † But the rest of the wordes of 17 Manasses, and al that he did, and his sinne, which he sinned, are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda? † And Manasses slept with 18 [Page 808] his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Oza: and Amon his sonne reigned for him. † Two and twentie yeares old was Amon when he began 19 to reigne: two yeares also he reigned in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Messalemeth the daughter of Ieteba. † And he did euil in the sight of our Lord, as Manasses 20 his father had done. † And he walked in al the way, by the 21 which his father had walked: and he serued the filthes, which his father had serued, and he adored them, † and forsooke 22 our Lord the God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of our Lord. † And his seruantes lay in wayte agaynst 23 him, and slewe the king in his house. † But the people of 24 the land stroke al them, that had conspired agaynst king Amon: and made Iosias his sonne their king for him. † But 25 the rest of the wordes of Amon which he did, are not these writen in the Booke of the wordes of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda? † And they buried him in his sepulchre, in the 26 garden of Oza: and Iosias his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XXII. Iosias repayreth the temple, and Diuine seruice. 8. The booke of law is found 11. wherupon they consult our Lord, 15. and are foretold that much euil shal fal vpon them, 18. but the good king shal dye in peace.

EIGHT yeares old was Iosias when he began to reigne, he reigned one and thirtie yeares in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Idida, the daughter of Hadaia of Besecath. † And he did that which was liked before our Lord, and 2 walked in al the waies of Dauid his father: he declined not to the right hand, or to the lefte. † And in the eightenth yeare 3 of king Iosias, the king sent Saphan the sonne of Aslia, the sonne of Messulam, the scribe of the temple of our Lord, saying to him: † Goe to Helcias the high priest, that the 4 money may be gathered into a summe, which hath beene brought into the temple of our Lord, which the porters of the temple haue gathered of the people, † and let it be geuen 5 to the workemen by the ouerseers of the house of our Lord: who also shal destribute it to them that worke in the temple of our Lord, to make the reparations of the temple: † that 6 is, to the carpenters and masons, and to them that mend broken places: and that timber may be bought, and stones out of the quarries to repayre the temple of our Lord. † Yet let not 7 [Page 809] the money which they receiue be accounted to them, but let them haue it in their powre, and vpon their fidelitie. † And 8 Helcias the highe priest sayd to Saphan the scribe: I haue found the Booke of the law in the house of our Lord: and Helcias gaue the volume to Saphan, who also did reade it. † Saphan also the scribe came to the king, and reported vnto 9 him that which he had commanded, and sayd: Thy seruantes haue gathered into a summe the money, which is found in the house of our Lord: and they haue geuen it to be destributed to the workemen, by the ouerseers of the workes of the temple of our Lord. † Saphan also the scribe told the king, 10 saying: Helcias the priest hath geuen me a Booke. Which when Saphan had read before the king, † and the king had 11 heard the wordes of the law of our Lord, he rent his garmentes. † And he willed Helcias the priest, and Ahicam 12 the sonne of Saphan, and Achobor the sonne of Micha, and Saphan the Scribe, and Asaia the kinges seruant, saying: † Goe and consult our Lord for me, and for the people, and 13 for al Iuda, concerning the wordes of this volume, which is found: for the great wrath of our Lord is kindled agaynst vs: because our fathers haue not heard the wordes of this Booke, to doe al that is writen for vs. † Helcias therfore the priest, 14 and Ahicam, and Achabor, and Saphan, and Asaia went to Holda a prophetesse the wife of Sellum the sonne of Thecua, the sonne of Araas keeper of the garmentes, who dwelt in Ierusalem in the VVithin the second wall the citie hauing three wals. 3. Reg. 3. second: and they spake to her. † And she 15 answered them: Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel: Tel the man, that sent you to me: † Thus sayth our Lord: Behold, 16 I wil bring euils vpon this place, and vpon the inhabitantes therof, al the wordes of the law which the king of Iuda hath read: † because they haue forsaken me, and haue 17 sacrificed to strange goddes, prouoking me in al the workes of their handes: and my indignation shal be kindled in this place, and shal not be quenched. † But to the king of Iuda, 18 that sent you to consult our lord, thus you shal say: Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel: For that thou hast heard the wordes of the volume, † and thy hart is striken with 19 feare, and thou art humbled before the Lord, hearing the wordes agaynst this place, and the inhabitantes therof, to witte that they should become a wonder and a curse: and hast rent thy garmentes, and wept before me, and I haue [Page 810] heard it, sayth our Lord: † therfore I wil gather thee to thy 20 fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy sepulchre in peace, that thy eies may not see al the euils, which I wil bring in vpon this place.

CHAP. XXIII. Iosias reading the law before the people, they al promise to serue God. 4. Al thinges belonging to Idolatrie are cast forth of the temple, 8. and other places of Iuda. 15. He also destroyeth the altar in Bethel (not remouing the bones of a prophet) 19. and other altares in Samaria: killeth the false priestes. 21. And maketh a notorious great Pasch. 26. Yet God threatneth the captiuitie of Iuda for their sinnes. 29. Iosias is slaine in battle by the king of Aegypt: and his sonne Ioachaz reigneth. VVho after three monethes is deposed by the king of Aegypt, and his brother Eliacim, henceforth called Ioakim, made king.

AND they reported to the king that which she had sayd. 1 Who sent: and al the ancientes of Iuda and Ierusalem were assembled to him. † And the king went vp to the temple 2 of our Lord, and al the men of Iuda, and al that dwelt in Ierusalem with him priestes and prophetes, and al the people from litle to great: and in hearing of al he read al the wordes of the Booke of the couenant, which was found in the house of our Lord. † And the king stood vpon the steppe: and made a couenant 3 with our Lord, to walke after our Lord, & kepe his preceptes, and testimonies and ceremonies, with al their hart, and with al their soule, and to performe the wordes of this couenant, which were writen in that booke: & the people agreed to the couenant: † And the king willed Helcias the high 4 priest, & the priestes of the second order, & al the porters, that they should cast out of the temple of our Lord al the vessels, that had bene made to Baal, and in the groue, and to al the host of heauen: & he burnt them without Ierusalem in the Valley cedron, and caried the dust of them into Bethel. † And he 5 destroyed the Southsayers, which the kinges of Iuda had appointed to sacrifice in the excelses in the cities of Iuda, and round about Ierusalem: and them that burnt incense to Baal, and to the Sunne, and to the Moone, and to the twelue signes, and to al the host of heauen. † And he caused the groue to 6 be caried forth out of the house of our Lord without Ierusalem in the Valley cedron, & he burnt it there, and brought it into dust, and threw it vpon the sepulchres of the common people. † He destroyed also the litle houses of the effeminates, 7 [Page 811] which were in the house of our Lord, for the which the wemen woue as it were litle houses of the groue. † And he 8 gathered together al the priestes of the cities of Iuda: and he contaminated the excelses, where the priestes did sacrifice from Gabaa vnto Bersabee: and he destroyed the altars of the gates in the entrance of the doore of Iosue chief of the citie, which was on the left hand of the gate of the citie. † Howbeit the priestes Because they had offered sacrific to false goddes and in vnlawful places they were suspended from offering anie more sacrifice at al. of the excelses went not vp to the 9 altar of our Lord in Ierusalem: but only they did eate azimes in the middes of their brethren. † He contaminated also 10 Topheth, which is in the Valley of the sonne of Ennom: that no man should consecrate his sonne or daughter by fyre to Moloch. † He tooke away also the horses, which the 11 kinges of Iuda had geuen to the Sunne, in the entrance of the temple of our Lord, beside the chamber of Nathanmelech the eunuch, who was in Pharurim: and the chariotes of the Sunne he burnt with fire. † The altars also that were 12 vpon the roofes of the vpper chamber of Achaz, which the kinges of Iuda had made, and the altars which Manasses had made in the two courtes of the temple of our Lord, the king destroyed: and he ranne from thence, and sprinkled the ashes of them into the Torrent cedron. † The excelses also 13 that were in Ierusalem on the right side of the Mount of offence, which Salomon the king of Israel had built to Astaroth [...] ▪ Reg. [...]. the idol of the Sidonians, and to Chamos the scandal of Moab, and to Melchom the abomination of the children of Ammon, the king destroyed. † And he brake in peces the 14 statues, and cut downe the groues: and he filled their places with the bones of dead men. † Moreouer the altar also, that 15 was in Bethel, and the excelse, which Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat had made, who made Israel to sinne: and that altar, and excelse he destroyed, and burnt, and brake into powder, and the groue also he burnt. † And Iosias turning, 16 saw there sepulchres, that were in the mount: and he sent and tooke the bones out of the sepulchres, and burnt them vpon the altar, and polluted it according to the word of our 3. Reg: 13. Lord, which the man of God spake, who had foretold these thinges. † And he sayd: What title is that, which I see? And the 17 citizens of that citie answered: It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Iuda, and foretold these thinges which thou hast done vpon the altar of Bethel. † And he sayd: 18 [Page 812] Let him alone, let no man moue his bones. And his bones remayned vntouched with the bones of the prophet, that came out of Samaria. † Moreouer al the temples of the excelses, 19 which were in the cities of Samaria, which the kinges of Israel had made to prouoke our Lord, Iosias tooke away: and he did to them according to al the workes, which he had done in Bethel. † And he slew▪ al the priestes of the excelses, 20 that were there vpon the altars: and he burnt mens bones vpon them: & turned into Ierusalem. † And he commanded 21 al the people, saying: Make a Phase to our Lord your God, according as it is writen in the booke of this couenant. † For 22 Iosephus writeth that this godlie king gaue thirtie thousand lambes and kiddes to the poore people for their Pasch & three thousand oxen for Holocaustes. The priestes also & Leuites added more of their owne. li. 10. Antiq. c. 5. there was not such a Phase made from the daies of the Iudges, which iudged Israel, and of al the daies of the kinges of Israel, and of the kinges of Iuda, † as in the eightenth 23 yeare of king Iosias this Phase was made to our Lord in Ierusalem. † Yea▪ and the Pythones, and Southsayers, and the 24 images of idols, and the filthes, and the abominations, that had bene in the land of Iuda and Ierusalem, Iosias tooke away: that he might establish the wordes of the law, that were writen in the Booke, which Helcias the priest found in the temple of our Lord. † There was no king before him like to 25 him, that returned to our Lord in al his hart, & in al his soule, and in al his powre according to al the law of Moyses: neither after him did there arise the like to him. † But yet our Lord 26 was not auerted from the wrath of his great furie, wherwith his furie was wrath agaynst Iuda: for the prouocations, wherwith Albeit Manasses repented, and was restored to Gods fauour, & to his kingdome. 2. Paral. 3. Yet his sinnes were temporally punished, both in himself, and his posteritie. Manasses had prouoked him. † Our Lord therfore 27 sayd Iuda also▪ wil I take away from my face, as I haue taken away Israel: and I wil reiect this citie, which I chose Ierusalem, and the house, wherof I sayd: My name shal be there. † But the rest of the wordes of Iosias, and al that he did, are 28 not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Iuda? † In his dayes came vp Pharao 29 Nechao the king of Aegypt, agaynst the king of Assyrians to the riuer Euphrates: and Iosias the king went to meete him: and was slaine in Mageddo, when he had seene him. † And 30 his seruantes caried him dead from Mageddo: & they brought him into Ierusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre. And the people of the land tooke Ioachaz the sonne of Iosias: and they anoynted him, and made him king for his father. † Three and 31 twentie yeares old was Ioachaz when he began to reigne, and [Page 813] he reigned three [...] in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was A [...] ▪ the daughter of Ieremie of Lobna. † And 32 he did euil before our Lord, according to al thinges which his fathers had done. † And Pharao Nechao bound him in 33 Rebla, which is in the land Emath, that he should not reigne in Ierusalem: and he lette a penaltie vpon the land, an hundred talentes of siluer, and a talent of gold. † And Pharao 34 Nechao made Eliacim king the sonne of Iosias, for Iosias his father: and turned his name Ioakim. Moreouer he tooke Ioachaz and brought him into Aegypt, and he died there. † And Ioakim gaue the siluer and the gold to Pharao, when 35 he had taxed the land vpon euerie man, that it might be payd according to the precept of Pharao: and he exacted of euerie man according to his abilitie, as wel siluer as gold of the people of the land: to geue vnto Pharao Nechao. † Fiue and 36 twentie yeares old was Ioakim, when he began to reigne: and he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was zebida the daughter of Phadaia of Ruma. † And 37 he did euil before our Lord according to al thinges, which his fathers had done.

CHAP. XXIIII. Ioakim serueth the king of Babylon three yeares. 2. Manie rouers infest his countrie. 5. He dieth, and his sonne Ioachim reigneth 10. The king of Babylon carieth king Ioachim, and al the chief persones, and treasures into Babylon, 17. appointing Matthanias, whom he nameth Sedecias, king of Iuda. 20. VVho reuol [...]eth from the king of Babylon.

IN his daies came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, 1 and Ioakim was made his seruant three yeares: and he rebelled agaynst him againe. † And our Lord senr in vpon 2 him the rouers of the Chaldees, and the rouers of Syria, and the rouers of Moab, & the rouers of the children of Ammon: and he sent them into Iuda, to destroy it, according to the word of our Lord, which he had spoken by his seruantes the prophetes. † And this by the word of our Lord was done 3 against Iuda, to take it away before him for al the sinnes of Manasses which he did, † and for the innocent bloud, that 4 he had shed, & filled Ierusalem with the bloud of innocentes: & for this thing God would not be made propitious. † But the 5 rest of the wordes of Ioakim, and al that he did, are not these thinges writen in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of [Page 814] the kinges of Iuda? And Ioakim Not dying in peace, for he was slaine by Nabuchodonosor, Iosephus li. 10. c. 8. Ant. And his bodie was cast out of the citie, according as Ieremie prophecied c. 22. vvith the burial of an asse shal he be buried▪ &c. slept with his fathers: † and 6 Ioachin his sonne reigned for him. † And the king of Aegypt 7 added no more to come out of his countrie: for the king of Babylon had taken al that had beene the kinges of Aegypt, from the riuer of Aegypt, vnto the riuer Euphrates. † Eightene 8 yeares old was Ioachin when he began to reigne, and he reigned three monethes in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Nohesta the daughter of Elnathan of Ierusalem. † And 9 he did euil before our Lord, according to al thinges which his father had done. † At that time came vp the seruantes of Nabuchodonosor 10 the king of Babylon into Ierusalem, and the citie was compassed with fortes. † And Nabuchodonosor 11 the king of Babylon came to the citie with his seruantes to assault it. † And Ioachin the king of Iuda went forth to the 12 king of Babylon, he and his mother, and his seruantes, and his nobles, and his eunuches: and the king of Babylon receiued him the eight yeare of his reigne. † And he brought forth 13 from thence al the treasures of the house of our Lord, and the treasures of the kinges house: and he cut in peces al the golden vessel, which Salomon the king of Israel had made in the temple of our Lord, according to the word of our Lord. † And he transported al Ierusalem, and al the princes, and al 14 the strong men of the armie, ten thousand into captiuitie: and euerie artificer and incloser: and nothing was left, sauing the poore sorte of the people of the land. † He transported 15 also Ioachin into Babylon, and the kinges mother, and the kinges wiues, and his eunuches: and the iudges of the land he led into captiuitie from Ierusalem into Babylon. † And al the 16 strong men, seuen thousand, and the artificers, and inclosers a thousand, al valiant men and warries: and the king of Babylon led them captiues into Babylon. † And he appointed 17 Matthanias his vncle for him: and called his name Sedecias. † One and twentie yeares old was Sedecias when he began 18 to reigne, and he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Amital, the daughter of Ieremie of Lobna, † And he did euil before our Lord, according to al 19 thinges which Ioakim had done. † For our Lord was wrath 20 against Ierusalem and against Iuda, til he cast them away from his sace: and Sedecias In this he greuosly offended hauing sworne to serue him And therfore Ezechiel c. 1 [...]. fortelleth the miserie that wil fal vpon him. shal he that broke couenant escape? &c. reuolted from the king of Babylon.

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CHAP. XXV. Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon beseiging Ierusalem two yeares, the souldiars pressed with famine flee away. King Sedecias also fleeth, 5. is taken and brought before Nabuchodonosor. 7. Al his sonnes are slaine in his sight: his eyes are put out, and he is caried into Babylon: the Temple, the kinges palace, and other houses burned; the walles destroyed, the people caried captiue 12. except poore husbandmen. 13. Al vessel of brasse, siluer, and gold broken and transported. 18. Saraias high priest, and other principal men are slaine▪ 22. Godolias made gouernernour, 25. is slaine by Ismael. 27. Ioachin is deliuered from prison, and exalted by a new king of Babylon.

AND it came to passe in the ninthe yeare of his reigne, 1 the tenth moneth, the tenth day of the moneth, came Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, himselfe and al his armie vnto Ierusalem, and they besette it: and built rampires rond about it. † And the citie was shut vp & trenched about 2 vntil the eleuenth yeare of king Sedecias, † the ninth day of 3 the moneth: and there was a sore famine in the citie, neither was there bread for the people of the land. † And a breach 4 was made into the citie: and al the men of warre fled in the night by the way of the gate, which is betwen the duble wal toward the kinges garden (moreouer the Chaldees besieged the citie round about) Sedecias therfore fled by the way, that leadeth to the champayne of the wildernes. † And the armie 5 of the Chaldees pursewed the king, and ouertooke him in the plaine of Iericho: and al the warriers, that were with him, were dispersed, and forsooke him. † They therfore hauing 6 taken the king, brought him to the king of Babylon into Reblatha, who spake iudgement with him. † And he slewe 7 the sonnes of Sedecias before his face, and he Certaine falsprophetes perswaded the king and the people not to beleue the prophetes, which forwarned them of these calamites, because (sayd they) they contradicte one an other, Ieremie saying ( [...]h▪ 32. & 34.) the eyes of Sedecias should see the eyes of Nabuchodonosor, and should be led into Babylon: and Ezechiel saying ( c. 12. v. 13.) that he should not see Babylon. put out his eies, and bound him with cheynes, and Both saying most truly: for he was caried thither after his eyes were put out. Iosephus. li. 10. Antiq. c. 10. brought him into Babylon. † The fifth moneth, the seuenth day of the moneth, 8 that is, the ninetenth yeare of the king of Babylon, came Nabuzardan the General of the armie, the seruant of the king of Babylon into Ierusalem. † And he burnt the house, of our 9 Lord, the kings house, and the houses of Ierusalem, & euerie house he burnt with fyre. † And al the armie of the Chaldees, 10 which was with the General of the souldiars, destroyed the walles of Ierusalem round about. † And Nabuzardan the General 11 of the armie, transported the remnant of the people that remained in the citie, and the fugitiues, that were fled to the [Page 816] king of Babylon, and the rest of the comon people. † And of 12 the poore of the land he leift dressers of vineyardes and husbandmen. † And the brasen pillers, that were in the temple of 13 our Lord, and the feete, and the sea of brasse, which was in the house of our Lord, the Chaldees brake, and transported al the brasse into Babylon. † The pottes also of brasse, and masars, 14 and forkes with three teeth, and cuppes, and litle mortars, and al the vessel of brasse, in the which they ministred, they tooke away. † Moreouer also the censars, and phials: those 15 that were of gold: and that were of siluer the General of the warfare tooke, † that is, two pillers, one sea, and the 16 feete which Salomon had made in the temple of our Lord: there was There was so exceding much, that they wel could not, or did not weigh it. no weight of the brasse of al the vessels. † One piller 17 had eightene cubites in height: and the litle head of brasse vpon it was three cubites in height: and the nette, and the pomegranates vpon the litle head of the piller, al of brasse: the second also had the like adorning. † Also the general of the 18 armie tooke Saraias the chiefe priest, and Sophonias the second priest, and three porters. † And of the citie one Eunuch, 19 which was captayne ouer the men of warre: and fiue men of them, that wayted before the king, whom he found in the citie, and Sopher the captaine of the armie who proued the yong souldiars of the people of the land: and threescore men of the common people, which were found in the citie. † Whom Nabuzardan the General of the armie taking, 20 brought them to the king of Babylon into Reblatha. † And 21 the king of Babylon stroke them, and [...]lew them in Reblatha in the land of Emath: and Iuda was transported out of their land. † And he made Godolias the sonne of Ahicam the 22 sonne of Saphan Gouernour ouer the people, that was leift in the land of Iuda, which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had leift. † Which when al the captaynes of the souldiars 23 had heard, they and the men that were with them, to witte, that the king of Babylon had appoynted Godolias, there came to Godolias into Masp a [...] the sonne of Mathanias, and Iohanan the sonne of C [...]ée▪ and the Saraia the sonne of Thanehumeth a Netophathi [...]e, and Iezonias the sonne of Maachathi, they and their felowes. † And Godolias 24 sware to them and to their companions, saying: Be not afrayd to serue the Caldees: tarie in the countrie, and serue the king of Babylon, and it shal be wel with you † But 25 [Page 817] it came to passe in the seuenth moneth, there came Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias, the sonne of Elisama of the kinges seede, and ten men with him: and stroke Godolias, who also died: yea the Iewes also & the Chaldees, that were with him in Maspha. † And al the people rysing vp from litle to great, 62 & the captaynes of the souldiars, came into Aegypt fearing the Caldees. † But it came to passe in the seuen and thirteth yeare 72 of the Transmigration of Ioachin the king of Iuda, in the twelfth moneth, the seuen and twenteth day of the moneth: Euilmerodach the king of Babylon, in the yeare, that he began to reigne, By Gods special prouidence king Ioachin (other wise called Iechonias. 2. Par. 3. & Mat. 1.) is exalted, and set ouer al the Iewes; vnto whom others succede in like authoritie. and so is fulfilled the prophecie of Iacob. Gen. 49. The scepter shal not be taken from Iuda, nor a duke of his thiegh til he come that is to be sent. lifted vp the head of Ioachin the king of Iuda out of prison. † And he spake vnto him courteously: 28 and he sette his throne aboue the throne of the kinges, that were with him in Babylon. † And he changed his garmentes, 29 which he had in the prison, and he did eate bread alwayes in his sight, al the dayes of his life. † A certayne prouision also 30 he appointed for him without intermission, which was also geuen him of the king day by day, al the daies of his life.

THE ARGVMENT OF PARALIPOMENON.

PARALIPOMENON, that is, A supplement of thinges ommitted, called by the Hebrewes Dibre haiamim, The wordes of the The signification of the name; and the contents of this booke. dayes, or Chronicle, is an Abridgement briefly shewing, besides diuers other genealogies, from the beginning of the world, the faith and religion both of the progenitors, and ofspiring of the Patriarch Iacob, whose progenie God chose and made his peculiar people; and in that nation more particularly recounting the Actes of king Dauid, and other kinges of his line, til they were led captiue into Babylon. A booke of such and so great importance (sayeth S. Hierom.) as whosoeuer without it arrogateth the knowledge Epist. ad Paulin. of Scriptures, may mocke himselfe. The author is vncertaine, but probably it semeth to be gathered by Esdras, out of other bookes and traditions, for the perfecting of the old Testament: and is vndoubtedly canonical Scripture. In hebrew it is al one booke, but being large, is with the Diuided into two bookes. Greekes and Latines parted into two. And the first booke may be diuided into three principal partes. The first nine chapters conteyne diuers genealogies; first by the only right line from Adam to Noe, then by diuers lines of Noes The first booke into three partes▪ progenie, but most specially of Iacobs twelue sonnes. In the tenth chapter the reiection, and death of king Saul is repeted. The other ninetene chapters are al of Dauid; to wit, of his election to be king, and inunction, his vertues, his faultes also, and his special actes, concerning Gods seruice, gouernment of the people; and prouision made for building Gods Temple.

[Page 818]

THE FIRST BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON. IN HEBREW, DIBRE HAIAMIM.

CHAP. I. The genealogie of Adam in the right line to Noe, and his three sonnes, Sem, The first part. Genealogies partly of other progenies of Adam, but specially of Iacobs issue. Cham, and Iaphet. 5. The generations of Iaphet, 8. of Cham, 17. and of Sem. 24. The right line of Sem to Abraham. 26. Abrahams generations by the line of Ismael, 32. by the sonnes of Cetura, 34. and by the line of Isaac; and his sonne Esau; 43. with their kinges, 51. and dukes.

ADAM, Adam had two other sonnes before Seth, but Cains race was vtterly extinguished by the flood, and Abel had no children. Seth, Enos, † Cainan, Malaleel, 1 2 lared, † Henoch, Mathusale, Lamech, † Noe, 3 4 Sem; Cham, and Iapheth. † The sonnes of 5 Iapheth: Gomer, and Magog, & Madai, and Iauan, Thubal, Mosoch, Thrias. † Moreouer 6 the sonnes of Gomer: Ascenez, and Riphath, and Thogorma. † And the sonnes of Iauan: Elisa and Tharsis, 7 Cethim and Dodanim. † The sonnes of Cham: Chus, and 8 Mesraim, and Phut, & Chanaan. † And the sonnes of Chus: 9 Saba, and Heuila, Sabatha, & Regma, and Sabathaca. Moreouer the sonnes of Regma: Saba, and Dadan. † And Chus 10 begat Nemrod: this begane to be mightie in the earth. † But 11 Mesraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Laabim, & Nephtuim, † Phetrusim also, and Casluim: from whom came Philisthijm, 12 & Caphthorim. † But Chanaan begat Sidon his firstborne, 13 the Hetheite also, † and the Iebuseite, and the Amorrheite, 14 & the Gergeseite, † & the Heueite, and the Araceite, 15 and the Sineite. † The Aradium also, and the Samareite, and 16 the Hamatheite. † The sonnes of Sem: Aelam, and Assur, and 17 Arphaxad, & Lud, and Aram, and Hus, and Hul, and Gether, and Mosoch. † And Arphaxad begat Sale, who also begat 18 Heber. † Moreouer to Heber were borne two sonnes, the 19 name of one was Phaleg, because in his daies the earth was diuided; and the name of his brother Iectan. † And Iectan 20 begat Elmodad, and Saleph, & Asarmoth, and Iare, † Adoram 21 [Page 819] also, and Vsal, and Decla, † Hebal also, and Abimael, and 22 Saba, moreouer † also Ophir, and Heuila, and Iobab. Al these 23 are the sonnes of Iactan: † As before the right line of Adam to Noe so here from his sonne Sem to Abram. Sem, Arphaxad, Sale, † Heber 24 Phaleg, Ragau, † Serug, Nachor, Thare, † Abram, this is 25 For mysterie sake God changed his name to Abraham. Gen. 17. Abraham. † And the sonnes of Abraham, Isaac & Ismael. 26 † And these are the generations of them. The firstbegoten 27 of Ismael, Nabaioth, and Cedar, and Adbeel, and Mabsam, 28 † and Masma, and Duma, Massa, Hadad, and Thema, † Ietur, 29 Naphis, Cedma. these are the sonnes of Ismahel. † And the 30 sonnes of Cetura Abrahams concubine, which she bare: Zamran, 31 Iecsan, Madan, Madian, Iesboc, and Sue. Moreouer the 32 sonnes of Iecsan: Saba, and Dadan. And the sonnes of Dadan: Assurim, and Latussim, and Laomim. † And the sonnes of 33 Madian: Epha, and Epher and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaa. Al these the sonnes of Cetura. † And Abraham begat Isaac: 34 whose sonnes were Esau, & Israel. † The sonnes of Esau: Eliphaz, 35 Rahuel, Iehus, Ihelom, and Core. † The sonnes of Eliphaz: 36 Theman, Omar, Sephi, Gathan, Cenez, Thamna, Amalec. † The sonnes of Rahuel: Nahath, Zara, Samma, Meza. 37 † The sonnes of Seir: Lotan, Sobal, Sebeon, Ana, Dison, Eser, 38 Disan. † The sonnes of Lotan: Hori, Homam. And the sister 39 of Lotan was Thamna. † The sonnes of Sobal: Alian, and 40 Manahath, and Ebal, Sephi, & Onam. The sonnes of Sebeon: Ais & Ana. The sonnes of Ana: Dison. † The sonnes of Dison: 41 Hamram, and Eseban, and Iethran, and Charan. † The sonnes 42 of Eser: Balaan, and Zauan, and Iacan. The sonnes of Disan: Hus and Aran. † These be the kinges, that reigned in the 43 Land of Edom, before there was a king ouer the chidren of Israel: Bale the sonne of Beor: and the name of his citie, Deneba. † And Bale died, and Iobab the sonne of Zare of 44 Bosra, reigned for him. † And when Iobab also was dead, 45 Husam of the Land of the Themanes reigned for him. † And 46 Husam also died, and Adad the sonne of Badad reigned for him, who stroke Madian in the Land of Moab: and the name 47 of his citie was Auith. † And when Adad also was dead, Semla of Masreca reigned for him. † But Semla also died, and there 48 reigned for him Saul of Rohoboth, which is situate besides the riuer. † Saul also being dead, Balanan, the sonne of Achobor 49 reigned for him. † But this also died, and Adad reigned 50 for him: whose cities name was Phau, and his wife was called Meetabel the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezaab. [Page 820] † And Adad being dead, there began to be dukes in Edom 51 for kinges: duke Thamna, duke Alua, duke Ietheth, † duke 52 Oolibama, duke Ela, duke Phinon, † duke Cenez, duke 53 Theman, duke Mabsar, † duke Magdiel, duke Hiram. these 54 be the dukes of Edom.

ANNOTATIONS.

BECAVSE in diuers holie Scriptures, and especialy in these bookes of Paralipomenon, manie difficulties occurre concerning diuers persons, and places; as also Differences of names, numbers, & times, found in holie scriptures, make them hard to be vnderstood. differences of numbers, and times; in reconciling wherof the holie Fathers and Doctors haue much laboured, making sometimes large commentaries to satisfie them selues, and other diligent searchers of the truth, & to remoue the obloquies of detractors from the authoritie of holie Scripture, whose learned explications of such obscurities if we should cite, it would be ouer long, and contratie to our purpose of brief Annotations; here once for often, we wil present to the vulgar reader, certaine cleare and ordinarie rules, by which the learned Diuines do reconcile such apparent contradictions.

First, it is euident by sundrie examples, that manie persons, places, and some Diuers meanes to reconcile seming contradictions in holie scriptures. other thinges had diuers names, & so are sometimes called by one name, sometimes by an other. Secondly (which is more common) manie were called by the same names, and so must be distinguished by the differences of times, places, qualities, or other circumstances. Thirdly, in genealogies and other histories, children are not alwaies called the sonnes, or daughters of their natural 1. parentes, but sometimes of legal fathers; and sometimes also of those that 2. Luc. 3. adopted them for their children; and sometimes of their grandfathers, or 3. former progenitors. Fourthly, sometime for mysterie sake, an other number 4. is expressed, being true in the mystical sense, differing from the precise number according to the historie. As in the genealogie of Christ the Euangelist Mat. [...]. counteth thrise fourtene generations from Abraham to our Sauiour, differing from the historie of the old Testament. Fiftly; euen in the historie it 5. self, sometimes holie Scripture counteth only the greater numbers, ommitting 6. the lesser, and in some other addeth also the odde numbers▪ Sixtly, the Scriptures speake often by ▪tropes, as mentioning part for the whole, or the whole for the part; so by the figure Synechdoche, Christ is said to haue bene three dayes dead, that is, one whole day and part of other two. And some king liuing or reigning so manie yeares and part of an other, and his successour reigning the other part, ech part is countend to each of them for a whole yeare, and so a yeare is added, more then is in the precise number. Seuenthly, sometimes the 7 sonnes reigned together with their fathers, as Ioathan reigned his father Ozias yet liuing. 4. Reg. 15. & so both their reignes are sometimes counted, sometimes their seueral yeares, as euerie one reigned alone. Eightly. the times of vacances, 8. in the gouernment of the Iudges, reignes of kinges, and the like, are sometimes omitted in calculation, sometimes adioyned to the predecessor, or successor. Ninthly, sometimes the holy Scripture mentioneth the only time that 9. one liued or reigned wel. as it were blotting out the rest with obliuion. So Saul is sayd to haue reigned two yeares (1. Reg 13.) VVho wel and euil reigned much longer. Tenthly, by error in writing, wordes, names, and especially numbers 10. may easely▪ be changed, and can not easely be corrected. By these or other like meanes, al the holie Scriptures may be defended, though none ought to presume [Page 821] by his priuate spirit, to vnderstand and expound al Sciptures; which are Not priuate but publique spirit of the Church expounder of holie Scripture. hard not only by reason of their profound sense, surpassing mans natural capacitie, but also for that in outward apparence, sometimes there seeme to be contradictions, but in dede neither are, nor can be vttered by the Holie Ghost, the Spirit of truth, Inditer of the whole sacred Bible. And therfore we must relie 2. Pet. 1. v. 20. vpon Gods Spirit, speaking in his spouse the Church, commended vnto vs by those Scriptures, wherof we are sufficiently assured.

CHAP II. The names of Israels twelue sonnes. 3. The geneologie of Iuda, first in the right line to Dauid, the seuenth sonne of Isai: 16. then other genealogies of the same Iuda.

AND the chidren of This patriarch first called Iacob signifying supp [...]ater was afterward called Israel, that is, S [...]ng God, or valient vvith God. Gen 35. Israel: Ruben, Simeon, Leui, Iuda, 1 Issachar, and Zabulon, † Dan, Ioseph, Beniamin, Nephthali, 2 Gad, and Aser. † The sonnes of Iuda: Her, Onan, and 3 Sela. these three were borne to him of the Chananite the daughter of Sue. And Her the firstbegotten of Iuda, was euil before our Lord, and he slewe him. † And Thamar his daughter 4 in law bare him Phares and Zara. † Therfore al the 5 sonnes of Iuda, were fiue. † And the sonnes of Phares, Hesron and Hamul. † The sonnes also of Zara: Zamri, and Ethan, 6 and Eman, Chalcal also, and Dara, together fiue. † And 7 the sonnes of Charmi: Either this man had two names, or there is error in the last letter, here, or Iosue. 7. Achar, who trubled Israel, & sinned in the theft of the anathema. † The sonnes of Ethan: Azarias. 8 † And the sonnes of Hesron that were borne to him: Ierameel, 9 and Ram, and Calubi. † Moreouer Ram begat Aminadab, 10 and Aminadab, begat Nahasson, the prince of the children of Iuda. † Nahasson also begat Salma, of whom 11 was borne Booz. † But Booz begat Obed, who also begat 12 Isai. † And Isai. begat the firstbegotten Eliab, the second 13 Abinadab, the third Simmaa, † the fourth, Nathanael, the 14 fifth Raddai, † the sixt Asom, the seuenth Dauid. † Whose 15 sisters were Saruia, and Abigail. The sonnes of Saruia: Abisai, 16 Ioab, and Asael, three. † And Abigail beare Amasa, whose 17 father was Iether the Ismaelite. † But Otherwise called Cal [...]bi. v. 9. Caleb the sonne of 18 Hesron tooke a wife named Azuba, of whom he begat Ierioth: and her sonnes were Iaser, and Sobab, and Ardon. † And when Azuba was dead, Caleb tooke to wife Ephratha▪ 19 who bare him Hur. † Moreouer Hur begat Vri: and Vri begat 20 Bezeleel. † After these thinges Hesron went in to the daughter 21 of Machir the father of Galaad, and tooke her, when he was three score yeares old: who bare him Segub. † But Segub also 22 [Page 822] begat Iair, & possessed three and twentie cities in the Land of Galaad. † And he tooke Gessur, and Aram the townes of 23 Iair, and Canath, and the villages therof, threescore cities, al these are By sonnes as often elsewhere, are vnstood nephewes and other of spring. the sonnes of Machir the father of Galaad. † And when Hesron was dead: Caleb went in to Ephrata. 24 Hesron also had to wife Abia who bare him Ashur the father of Thecua. † And there were borne sonnes to Ierameel 25 the firstbegotten Hesron, Ram his firstborne, and Buna, and Aram, and Asom, and Achia. † Ierameel maried also an 26 other wife, named Atara, which was the mother of Onam. † But the sonnes also of Ram the firstbegotten of Ierameel, 27 were Moos, Iamin, and Acar. And Onam had sonnes Semei, 28 and Iada. And the sonnes of Semei: Nadab, and Abisur. † But 29 the name of Abisurs wife, was Abihail, who bare him Ahobban, and Molid. † And the sonne of Nadab were Saled, & Apphaim. 30 And Saled died without children. † But the sonne of 31 Apphaim, Iesi: which Iesi begat Sesan. Moreouer Sesan begat Oholai. † And the sonnes of Iada the brother of Semei: Iether, 32 and Ionathan. But Iether also died without children. † Moreouer Ionathan begat Phaleth, and Ziza. These were 33 the sonnes of Ierameel. † And Sesan had noe sonnes, but 34 daughters: and a seruant an Aegyptian, named Ieraa. † And 35 he gaue him his daughter to wife: who bare him Ethei. † And 36 Ethei begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad, † Zabad also 37 begat Ophlal, & Ophlal begat Obed, † Obed begat Iehu, Iehu 38 begat Azarias, † Azarias begat Helles, and Helles begat Elasa, 39 † Ealasa begat Sisamoi, Sisamoi begat Sellum, † Sellum begat 40 Icamiam, and Icamia begat Elisama. † And the sonnes 41 of Caleb the brother of Ierameel: Mesa his firstbegotten, 42 he is the father of Ziph: and the sonnes of Maresa the father of Hebron. † Moreouer the sonnes of Hebron, Core, and 43 Thaphua, and Recem, and Samma. † And Samma begat 44 Raham, the father of Iercaam, and Recem begat Sammai. † The sonne of Sammai, Maon: and Maon the father of 45 Bethsur. † And Epha the concubine of Caleb bare Haran, 46 and Mosa, and Gezez. Moreouer Haran begat Gezez. † And 47 the sonnes of Iahaddai, Regom, and Ioathan, and Gesan, and Phalet, and Epha, and Saaph. † The concubine of Caleb 48 Maacha bare Saber, and Tharana. † And Saaph the father of 49 Madmena begat Sue the father of Machbena, and the father of Gabaa. But the daughter of Caleb, was Achsa. † These 50 [Page 823] were the sonnes of Caleb, the sonne of Hur the firstbegotten of Ephrata, Sobal the father of Cariathiarim. † Salma the 51 father of Bethlehem, Hariph the father of Bethgader. † And 52 there were sonnes of Sobal the father of Chariathiarim, he that saw the halfe of the dvvellings, or resting places. restinges. † and of the kinred of 53 Cariatharim, the Iethreites, and Aphutheites, and Sematheites, and Maseretes. Out of these issued the Saraites, and Esthaolites. † The sonnes of Salma, Bethlehem, and Netophathi, 54 the Valient men by whose help Ioab got victories and triumphant crownes. Crownes of the house of Ioab, and the Halfe of the resting of Sarai, † The kinredes also of the scribes 55 dwelling in Iabes, singing and sounding, and abyding in tabernacles. These are the Cineites, which came from heate of the father of the house of Rechab.

CHAP. III. The sonnes of King Dauid. 10. The line of the Kinges of Iuda from Salomon to Iosias. 15. with diuers generations of the same Iosias.

BVT Dauid had these sonnes, which were borne to him 1 in Hebron: the firstbegotten Ammon of Achinoam the Iesraelite, the second Daniel of Abigail the Carmelite, † the 2 third Absolom the sonne of Maacha the daughier of Tolmui the king of Gessur, the fourth Adonias the sonne of Aggith, † the fift Saphatias of Abital, the sixth Iethraham of Egla 3 his wife. † Six sonnes therfore were borne to him in Hebron, 4 where he reigned seuen yeares and six monethes. And in Ierusalem he reiged three and thirtie yeares. † Moreouer in 5 Ierusalem sonnes were borne to him, Simmaa, and Sobab, and Nathan, & Salomon, foure of Bethsabea the daughter of 6 Ammiel, † Iebaar also and Elisama, † and Eliphaleth, and 7 Noge, and Nepheg, and Iaphia, † moreouer Elisanna, and 8 Eliada, and Elipheleth, nine: † al these the sonnes of Dauid, 9 beside the sonnes of his concubines: and they had a sister Thamar. † And the sonne of Salomon, Roboam: whose 10 sonne Abia begat Asa. Of this also was borne Iosaphat, † the 11 father of Ioram: which Ioram begat Ochozias, of whom rose Ioas: † and his sonne Amasias begat Azarias. Moreouer 12 Azarias the sonne of Ioathan † begat Achaz, the father of Ezechias, 13 of whom was borne Manasses. † But Manasses also 14 begat Amon the father of Iosias. † And the sonnes of Iosias 15 were, the firstbegotten Iohanam, the second S. Matthew omitteth this Ioakim, and counteth Iechonias as the sonne of Iosias. The same Ieconias was also otherwise called Ioachin. 4 Reg. 24. v. 6. & 25. v. 27. S. Hierom. li. 1. in Matth. Ioakim, the third Sedecias, the fourth Sellum. † Of Ioakim was borne 16 [Page 824] Iechonias, and Sedecias. † The sonnes of Iechonias were Asir, 17 Salathiel, † Melchiram, Phadaia, Senneser & Iecemia, Sam [...], 18 and Nadabia. † Of Phadaia were borne Zorobabel and Semei. 19 Zorobabel begat Mosollom, Hananias, and Salomith their sister: † Hasaba also, and Ohol, and Barachias, and Hasadias, 20 Iasabhesed, fiue. † And the sonne of Hananias, Phaltias the 21 father of Ieseias, whose sonne was Raphaia. This mans sonne also Arnan, of whom was borne Obdia, whose sonne was Sechenias. † The sonne of Sechenias: Semeia, whose sonnes were 22 Hattus, and Iegaal, and Baria, and Naaria, and Saphat, Semeia with his fiue sonnes are counted six sonnes of Sechenias, though Semeia only was his proper sonne, the other his nephewes. See annotation. ch. 1. num. 3. six in number. † The sonnes of Naaria, Elioenai, & Ezechias, and 23 Ezricam, three. † The sonnes of Elioenai, Oduia, and Eliasub, 24 and Pheleia, and Accub, and Iohanan, and Dalaia, and Anani, seuen.

CHAP. IIII. Other genealogies of Iuda: 24. and of Simeon, 29. by whom the progenie of Cham, 42. and reliques of Amelacites are subdued.

THE sonnes of Iuda: Phares, Hesron, and Charmi, and 1 Hur, and Sobal. † But Raia the sonne of Sobal begat 2 Iahath, of whom were borne Ahumai, and Laad. these be the kinredes of Sarathi. † This allo is the stocke of Etam: 3 Iezrahel, and Iesema, and Iedebos. And the name of their sister Asalelphuni. † And Phanuel the father of Gedor, and 4 Ezar the father of Hosa, these are the sonnes of Hur the first begotten of Ephratha the father of Bethlehem. † But Assur 5 the father of Thecua had two wiues, Halaa, & Naara. † And 6 Naara bare him Oozam, and Hepher, and Themani, and Ahasthari. these are the sonnes of Naara. † Moreouer the 7 sonnes of Halaa, Sereth, Isaar, and Ethnan. † And Cos begat 8 Anob, and Soboba, and the kindred of Aharchel the sonne of Arum. † And Iabes was honorable aboue his brethren, 9 and his mother called his name Iabes, saynig: Because I bare him in sorow. † But In ioyning a vow to his prayer he imitated holie Iacob. Gen. 28. And they both desired temporal thinges for the better seruing of God, & aduancing his glorie; especially that they might be assisted with grace not to ye [...]d to tentatious, nor sinne of malice. Iabes inuocated the God of Israel, 10 saying: If blessing thou wilt blesse me, and wilt enlarge my borders, and thy hand be with me, and thou wilt make that I be not oppressed by malice. And God granted the thinges that he prayed for. † And Caleb the brother of Sua 11 begat Mahir, who was the father of Esthon. † Moreouer 12 Esthon begat Bethrapha, and Phesse, and Tehinna the father of the citie of Naas: these are the men of Recha. † And the 13 sonnes of Cenez, Othoniel, and Saraia. Moreouer the sonnes [Page 825] of Othoniel, Hathath, and Maonathi, † Maonathi begat 14 Ophra, & Saraia begat Ioab Chieflo [...]d of the va [...]y; where the [...] dwelt that ma [...]e the Temple. the father of the Vale of Artificers: for there were artificers. † And the sonnes of Caleb 15 the sonne of Iephone, Hir, and Ela, and Naham. The sonnes also of Ela: Cenez. † The sonnes also Ialeleel: Ziph, and 16 Zipha, Thiria, and Asrael. † And the sonnes of Esra, Iether, 17 and Mered, and Epher, and Ialon, and he begat Mariam, and and Sammai, and Iesba the father of Esthamo. † Also his 18 wife Iudaia, bare Iared the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Icu [...]hiel the father of Zanoe. and these are the sonnes of Bethia the daughter of Pharao, whom Mered tooke. † And the sonnes of the wise of Odaia the 19 sister of Naham the father of Ceila, Garmi, and Esthamo, which was of Macathi. † The sonnes also Simon, Amnon, 20 and Rinna the sonne of Hanan, and Thilon. And the sonnes of Iesi, Zoheth, and Benzoheth. † The sonnes of Sela the 21 sonne of Iuda: Her the father of Lecha, and Laada the father of Maresa, and the kinredes of their house that worke silke in the House of oath. † And he that made the Sunne to stand, 21 and the men of Lying, and Secure, and Burning, which were princes in Moab, and which returned into Lahem. and these are old wordes. † These are potters, dwelling in Plantinges, 23 and in Hedges, with the king in his workes, and they abode there. † The sonnes of Simeon: Namuel, and Iamin, Iarib, 24 Zara, Saul: † Sellum his sonne, Mapsam his sonne, Masma 25 his sonne. † The sonnes of Masma: Hamuel his sonne, Zachur 26 his sonne, Semei his sonne. † The sonnes of Semei sixtene, 27 and six daughters: but his brethren had not manie sonnes, and the whole kinred could not reach to the summe of the children of Iuda. † And they dwelt in Bersabee, and Molada, 28 and Hasarsuhal, † and in Bala, and in Asom, and in Tholad, 29 † and in Bathuel, and in Hormi, and in Siceleg, † and in Bethmarcaboth, 30 and in Hasarsusim, and in Bethberai, and in 31 Saarim. these were their cities vntil king Dauid. † Their townes also: Etam, and Aen, Rhemmon, and Thochen, and Asan, fiue cities. † And al their villages round about these 33 cities vnto Baal. this is their habitation, and the distribution of their dwellinges. † Mosabab also and Iemlech, and Iosa 34 the sonne of Amasias, † and Ioel, and Iehu the sonne of Iosabia 35 the sonne of Saraia, the sonne of A [...]iel, † and Elioenai, and 36 Iacoba, and Isuhaia, and Asaia, and Adiel, and Ismiel, and [Page 826] Banaia, † Ziza also the sonne of Zephei the sonne of Allon 37 the sonne of Idaia the sonne of Semri the sonne of Samaia. † These renowmed princes in their kinredes, & in the house 38 of their affinities they were multiplied excedingly. † And 39 they went forth to enter into Gador as far as the East side of the valley, and to seeke pastures for their flockes. † And they 40 found fatte pastures, and very good, and a countrie very large and quiet and fruiteful, in the which before had dwelt the stocke of Cham. † These therfore, whom before we described 41 by name, came in the dayes of Ezechias the king of Iuda: and they stroke their tabernacles, and the inhabitantes that were found there, & cleane destroyed them vntil this present day: and they dwelt for them, because they found there most fatte pastures. † Also of the children of Simeon there went 42 into mount Seir fiue hundred men, hauing their princes Phaltias and Naaria and Raphaia and Oziel the sonnes of Iesi: † and they stroke the remnant of the Amalecites, which were 43 able to escape, and they dwelt there for them vntil this day.

CHAP. V. Genealogies of Ruben, whose birthright, concerning duble portion, is translated to Ioseph, the principalitie to Iuda, with their special actes. 11. Also of Gad. 18. who with Ruben, and half tribe of Manasses, subdue the Agarenes: 25. but for their sinnes are led captiue into Assyria.

ALSO the sonnes of Ruben the first begotten of Israel 1 (for he was his first begotten: See annotations; Gen. 49. nu. 4. but when he had violated his fathers bed, his firstbirthright was giuen to the sonnes of Ioseph the sonne of Israel, and he was not reputed for the firstbegotten. † Moreouer Iudas, which was the strongest 2 among his brethren, of his stocke sprang the princes: but the firstbirthright was reputed to Ioseph.) † The sonnes 3 then of Ruben the firstbegotten of Israel: Enoch, & Phallu, Esron, and Charmi. † The sonnes of Ioel: Samia his sonne, 4 Gog his sonne, Semei his sonne, † Micha his sonne, Reia his 5 sonne, Baal his sonne, † Beera his sonne, whom Theglathphalnasar 6 the king of the Assyrians led away captiue, and he was prince in the tribe of Ruben. † And his brethren, and 7 al his kinred, when they were numbred by their families, had these princes Iehiel, and Zacharias. † Moreouer Bala the 8 sonne of Azaz, the sonne of Samma, the sonne of Ioel, he dwelt in Aroer as far as Nebo, and Beelmeon. † Agaynst the 9 [Page 827] east quarter also he dwelt vnto the entrance of the desert, and the riuer Euphrates. For they possessed a great number of cattel in the land of Galaad. † And in the daies of Saul 10 they fought agaynst the Agarenes, and slewe them, and dwelt for them in their tabernacles, in al the quarter, that looketh to the East of Galaad. † But the children of Gad dwelt ouer 11 agaynst them in the land of Basan, as far as Selcha: † Iohel 12 the head, and Sapham the second: and Ianai, and Saphat in Basan. † And their brethren according to the houses of their 13 kinredes, Michael, and Mosollam, and Sebe, and Iorai, and Iacan, and Zi [...], and Heber, seuen. † These are the sonnes of 14 Abihail, the sonnes of Huri, the sonne of Iara, the sonne of Galaad, the sonne of Michael, the sonne of Iesesi, the sonne of Ieddo, the sonne of Buz. † Also the brethren of the sonne 15 of Abdiel, the sonne of Guni, prince of the house in their families. † And they dwelt in Galaad, and in Basan, and in the 16 townes therof, and in al the suburbes of Saron, vnto the borders. † Al these were numbred in the daies of Ioatham 17 the king of Iuda, and in the daies of Ieroboam the king of Israel. † The children of Ruben, and of Gad, and of the halfe 18 tribe of Manasses, men of warre, carying sheildes, & swordes, and bending the bow, and taught to battels, foure and fourtie thousand, and seuen hundred threescore going forth to fight. † They fought agaynst the Agarenes: but the Itureians, and 19 Naphis, and Nodab † gaue them ayde. And the Agarenes 20 were deliuered into their handes, and al that were with them, because they called vpon God when they fought: and he heard them, Of these and the like, S Paul sayth. By saith they ouer came kingdomes, Heb; 11. because they beleued in him. † And they 21 tooke al that they possessed, Camels fiftie thousand, and sheepe two hundred fiftie thousand, and asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand soules. † And manie fel 22 downe wounded: for it was the battel of our Lord. And they dwelt for them vntil the transmigration. † Also the children 23 of the halfe tribe of Manasses possessed the land, from the costes of Basan vnto Baal, Hermon, and Sanir, and mount Hermon, for the number was great. † And these were the 24 princes of the house of their kinred, Epher, and Iesi, and Eliel, and Esriel, and Ieremia, and Odoia, and Iediel, most valiant men and mightie, and renowned princes in their families. † But they forsooke the God of their fathers, and 25 fornicated after the goddes of the peoples of the land, whom [Page 828] God tooke away before them. † And the God of Israel raysed 26 vp the spirit of Phul king of the Assyrians, and the spirit of Thelgathphalnasar king of Assur: and he transported Ruben, and Gad, and the halfe tribe of Manasses, and brought them into Lahela, and into Habor, and to Ara, and to the riuer of Gozan, vntil this day.

CHAP. VI. The genealogies of Leui, 4. with the right line of Aaron by Eleazar to Iosadech, high priest in the captiuitie of Babylon, 16. other progenies of his three sonnes; Gerson, Caath, and Merari, 31. with their offices in the temple: 49. only Aarons sounes admitted to priesthood. 54. Particular possessions of the Leuites dwelling amongst the other tribes.

THE sonnes of Leui: Gerson, Caath, and Merari. † The 1 2 sonnes of Caath: Amram, Isaar, Hebron, and Oziel. † The children of Amram: Aaron, Moyses, and Maria. The 3 sonnes of Aaron: Nadab and Abiu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. † The lineal succession of Hiegh priestes from Aaron to the captiuitie in Babylon. Nicephorus counteth some others among these. li. 2. c. 4. Iosephus also differeth from this cata. logue. li. 10. c. 11. Eleazar begat Phinees, and Phinees begat Abisue, † and 4 5 Abisue begat Bocci, & Bocci begat Ozi. † Ozi begat Zaraias, 6 and Zaraias begat Maraioth. † Moreouer Meraioth begat 7 aMARIAS, and Amarias begat Achitob. † Achitob begat Sadoc, 8 and Sadoc begat Achimaas, † Achimaas begat Azarias, Azarias 9 begat Iohanan, † Iohanan begat Azarias. the same is he 10 that executed the priestlie office in the house, which Salomon 2. Paral. 26. built in Ierusalem. † And Azarias begat Amarias, and 11 Amarias begat Achitob, † and Achitob begat Sadoc, and 12 Sadoc begat Sellum, † Sellum begat Helcias, and Helcias 13 begat Azarias, † Azarias begat Saraias, and Saraias begat Iosedec. 14 † Moreouer Iosedec went forth, when our Lord transported 15 Iuda, and Ierusalem by the handes of Nabuchodonosor. 16 † The sonne then of Leui: Gerson, Caath, and Merari. 17 † And these be the names of the sonnes of Gerson: Lobni and 18 Semei. † The sonnes of Caath: Amram, and Isaar, and Hebron, 19 and Oziel. † The sonnes of Merari: Moholi and Musi. And 20 these are the kinredes of Leui according to their families. † Gerson, Lobni his sonne, Iahath his sonne, Zamma his sonne, † Ioah his sonne, Addo his sonne, Zara his sonne, Iethrai 21 his sonne. † The sonnes of Caath, Aminadab his sonne, Core 22 his sonne, Asir his sonne, † Elcana his sonne, Abiasaph his 23 sonne, Asir his sonne. † Thahath his sonne, Vriel his sonne, 24 Ozias his sonne, Saul his sonne. † The sonnes of Elcana: 25 [Page 829] Amasai, and Achimoth, † and Elcana: The sonnes of Elcana: 26 Sophai his sonne, Nahath his sonne, † Eliab his sonne, Ieroham 27 his sonne, Elcana his sonne. † The sonnes of Samuel: 28 the first begotten Vasteni, and Abia. † And the sonnes of 29 Merari, Moholi: Lobni his sonne, Semei his sonne, Oza his sonne, † Sammaa his sonne, Haggia his sonne, Asaia his 30 sonne. † These are they, whom Dauid appointed ouer the 31 singing men of the house of our Lord, since the Arke was placed: † and they ministred before the tabernacle of testimonie, 32 singing vntil Salomon built the house of our Lord in Ierusalem: and they stood according to their order in the ministerie. † And these are they, which aslisted with their 33 sonnes, of the sonnes of Caath, Hemam singing man, the sonne of Ioel, the sonne of Samuel, † the sonne of Elcana, 34 the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne of Eliel, the sonne of Thohu, † the sonne of Suph, the sonne of Elcana, the sonne of Mahath, 35 the sonne of Amasai, † the sonne of Elcana, the sonne 36 of Iohel, the sonne of Azaries, the sonne of Sophonias, † the 37 sonne of Thahath, the sonne of Asir, the sonne of Abiasaph, the sonne of C'ore, † the sonne of Isaar, the sonne of Caath, 38 the sonne of Leui, the sonne of Israel. † And his brother 39 Asaph, who stood on his right hand, Asaph the sonne of Barachias, the sonne of Samaa, † the sonne of Michael, the 40 sonne of Basaia, the sonne of Melchia, † the sonne of Athanai, 41 the sonne of Zara, the sonne of Adaia, † the sonne of Ethan, 42 the sonne of Zamma, the sonne of Semei. † the sonne of Ieth, 43 the sonne of Gerson, the sonne of Leui. † And the children 44 of Merari their brethren, on the left hand, Ethan the sonne of Cusi, the sonne of Abdi, the sonne of Maloch, † the sonne 45 of Hasabia, the sonne of Amasia, the sonne of Helcias, † the 46 sonne of Amasai, the sonne of Boni, the sonne of Somer, † the 47 sonne of Moholi, the sonne of Mosi, the sonne of Merari, the sonne of Leui † Their brethren also the Leuites, which were 48 ordained for al the ministerie of the tabernacle of the house of our Lord. † But Aaron, and his sonnes burnt incense vpon 49 the altar of holocaust, and vpon the altar of incense, for euerie worke of Sancta Sanctorum: and to pray for Israel according to al thinges, which Moyses the seruant of God had commanded. † And these are the sonnes of Aaron: Eleazar his sonne, 50 Phinees his sonne, Abisue his sonne † Bocci his sonne, Ozi 51 his sonne, Zarahia his sonne, † Meraioth his sonne, Amarias 52 [Page 830] his sonne, Achitob his sonne, † In Sadoc (3. Reg 2.) the high priesthood was reduced to the line of Eleazar which by Gods ordinance was translated to Heli of Ithamars line but stil continued in the line of Aaron. The rest of Sadochs line by Achimaas &c. to Iosedech in the captiuitie appeareth before. v. 9. ad 15. Sadoc his sonne, Achimaas 53 his sonne. † And these are their habitations by the townes and 54 confines, to witte, of the sonnes of Aaron, according to the kinredes of the Caathites: for they were fallen to them by lotte. † They gaue therfore to them Hebron in the Land of 55 Iuda, and the suburbes therof round about: † but the fieldes 56 of the citie, and the townes to Caleb the sonne of Iephone. † Moreouer to the sonnes of Aaron they gaue cities, to flee 57 vnto, Hebron, and Lobna, and the suburbes therof, † Iether 58 also and Esthemo with the suburbes therof, yea & Helon, and Dabir with their suburbes: † Asan also & Bethsemes, & their 59 suburbes. † And of the tribe of Beniamin: Gabee and the suburbes 60 therof, Almath with the suburbes therof, Anothoth also with the suburbes therof. al the cities, thirtene, by their kinredes. † And to the children of Caath the residue of their kinred 61 they gaue of the halfe tribe of Manasses in possession ten cities. † Moreouer to the children of Gerson by their kinredes 62 of the tribe of Issachar, & of the tribe of Aser, and of the tribe of Nephthali, and of the tribe of Manasses in Basan, thirtene cities. † And to the sonnes of Merari by their kinredes of the 63 tribe of Ruben, and of the tribe of Gad, and of the tribe of Zabulon, they gaue by lot twelue cities. † Also the children of 64 Israel gaue to the Leuites cities, and their suburbes: † and they 65 gaue by lot, of the tribe of the children of Iuda, & of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and of the tribe of the children of Beniamin, these cities, which they called by their names, † and 66 to them, that were of the kinred of the sonnes of Caath, and the cities in their borders were of the tribe of Ephraim. † They therfore gaue them cities, to flee vnto, Sichem with 67 the suburbes therof in mount Ephraim, and Gazer with the suburbes therof, † Iecmaan also with the suburbes therof, 68 and Bethhoron in like maner, † moreouer Helon also with 69 the suburbes therof, and Gethremmon in like maner. † Moreouer 70 of the halfe tribe of Manasses, Aner & the suburbes therof, Balaam and the suburbes therof: to witte, to them, which were leaft of the kinred of the sonnes of Caath. † And to the 71 sonnes of Gersom of the kinred of the halfe tribe of Manasses, Gaulon in Basan, and the suburbes therof, and Astaroth with the suburbes therof. † Of the tribe of Issachar, Cedes 72 and the suburbes therof, and Dabereth with the suburbes therof, † Ramoth also and the suburbes therof, and Anem 73 [Page 831] with the suburbes therof. † And of the tribe of Aser: Masal 74 with the suburbes therof, & Abdon in like mamer, † Hucac 75 also and the suburbes therof, and Rohob with the suburbes therof. † Moreouer of the tribe of Nephthali, Cedes in Galilee 76 and the suburbes therof, Hamon with the suburbes therof, and Cariathaim, and the suburbes therof. † And to the 77 rest of the sonnes of Merari: of the tribe of Zabulon, Remmono and the suburbes therof, and Thabor with the suburbes therof: † beyond Iordan also ouer agaynst Iericho, agaynst 78 the East of Iordan, of the tribe of Ruben, Bosor in the wildernesse with the suburbes therof, and Iassa with the suburbes therof, † Cademoth also and the suburbes therof, and Mephaath 79 with the suburbes thereof. † Moreouer also of the 80 tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Galaad and the suburbes therof, and Manaim with the suburbes therof, † yea and Hesebon with 81 the suburbes therof, and Iezer with the suburbes therof.

CHAP. VII. Genealogies of Issachar, 6. Beniamin, 13. Nephthali, 44 Manasses, 20. Ephraim, 30. and Aser.

MOREOVER the sonnes of Issachar: Thola, and Phua, 1 Iasub and Simeron, foure. † The sonnes of Thola: 2 Ozi and Raphaia, and Ieriel, and Iemai, and Iebsem, and Samuel, princes by the houses of their kinredes. Of the stocke of Thola were numbred most valiant men in the daies of Dauid, two and twentie thousand six hundred. † The 3 sonnes of Ozi: Izrahia, of whom were borne Michael, and Obadia, and Ioel, and Iesia, fiue, al princes. † And with them 4 by their families and peoples, readie girded to battel, most valiant men, six and thirtie thousand: for they had many wiues, and children. † Their brethren also through al the 5 kinred of Issachar, most strong to fight, were numbred foure score and seuen thousand. † The sonnes of Beniamin: Bela, 6 and Bechor, & Gen. 46. this third sonne is called As bel: & seuen more are there recited. And so in the rest is much difference: but al may be reconciled by such rules as are noted. chap. 1. Iadihel, three. † The sonnes of Bela: Esbon, 7 and Ozi, and Oziel, and Ierimoth, and Vrai, fiue princes of their families, and most strong to fight, and their number was twentie two thousand and thirtie foure. † Moreouer 8 the sonnes of Bechor: Zamira, and Ioas, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Amri, and Ierimoth, and Abia, and Anathoth, and Almath al these: the sonnes of Bechor. † And there were 9 numbred by their families princes of their kinredes most [Page 832] valiant vnto battel, twentie thousand and two hundred. † Moreouer the sonnes of Iadihel: Balon. And the sonnes 10 of Balan: Iehus, and Beniamin, and Aod, and Chanana, and Zethan, and Tharsis, Ahisahar. † al these the sonnes of Iadihel, 11 princes of their kinredes, most valiant men, seuentene thousand, and two hundred going forth to battel. † Sepham 12 also, and Hapham the sonnes of Hir: and Hasim the sonnes of Aher. † And the sonnes of Nephthali: Iasiel, and Guni, 13 and lezer, and Sellum, the sonnes of Bala. † Moreouer the 14 sonne of Manasses, Ezriel: and his concubine the Syrian bare Machit the father of Galaad. † And Machir tooke wiues for 15 his sonnes Happhim, and Saphan: and he had a sister named Maacha: the name of the second Salphaad, and to Salphaad were borne daughters. † And Maacha the wife of Machir 16 bare a sonne, and she called his name Phares: moreouer the name of his brother, was Sares: and his sonnes, Vlam, and Recen. † And the sonne of Vlam, Badan. These are the children 17 of Galaad, the soone of Machir, the sonne of Manasses. † And 18 his sister [...]cheth: Regiaa Queene. Queene bare Ishod, V [...]ram decorum. that is, A comelic personable or goodlie maa. So we leaue the hebrew [...] in this place because [...]. serom, and the whole Church doth so in the latin text which we translate. Goodlieman, and Abiezer, and Mohola. † And the sonnes of Semida were, Ahin, and Sechem, 19 and Leci, and Anion. † And the sonnes of Ephraim: Suthala, 20 Bared his sonne, Thahath his sonne, Elada his sonne, Thahath his sonne, and this mans sonne Zabad, † and this mans 21 sonne Suthala, and this mans sonne Ezer, and Elad: and the men of Geth borne in the land slewe them, because they came downe to inuade their possessions. † Eghraim therfore 22 their father mourned many daies, and his brethern came to comfort him. † And he went in vnto his wife: who conceiued 23 and bare a sonne, and he called his name Beria, for that he was borne in the euils of his house: † and his daughter was 24 Sara, who built Bethhoron, the nether and the vpper, and Ozensara. † Moreouer his sonne Rapha, and Reseph, and 25 Thale, of whom was borne Thaan, † who begat Laadan: this 26 mans sonne also was Ammiud, who begat Elisama, † of 27 whom was borne Nun, who had Iosue his sonne. † And their 28 possession and habitation, was Bethel with her daughters, and agaynst the east of Noran, and on the west quarter of Gazer and her daughters, Sichem also with her daughters, as farre as Asa with her daughters. † Also neere the children of 29 Manasses Bethsan and her daughters, Thanach & her daughters, Mageddo and her daughters: Dor and her daughters: in [Page 833] these dwelt the children of Ioseph, the sonne of Israel. † The 30 children of Aser: Iemna, and Iesua, and Iessui, and Baria, and Sara their sister. † And the sonnes of Baria: Heber, and Melchiel: 31 he is the father of Barsaith. † And Heber begat I [...]phlat, 32 and Somer, and Hotham, and Suaa their sister. † The 33 sonnes of Iephlat: Phosech, and Chamaal, and Asoth: these be the sonnes of Iephlat. † Moreouer the sonnes of Somer: 34 Ahi, and Roaga, and Haba, and Aram. † And the sonnes of 35 H [...]lem his brother: Supha, and Iemna, and Selles, and Amal. † The sonnes of Supha: Sue Harnapher, and Sual, and Be [...]i, 36 and Iamra, † Bosor, and hod, and Sanuma, and Salusa, and 37 Iethran, and Bera. † The sonnes of Iether: Iephone, and 38 Phaspha, and Ara. † And the sonnes of Olla: Aree, and hanicl 39 and Resia. † Al these be the sonnes of Aser, princes of their 40 kinredes, the chosen and most valiant dukes of dukes: and their number of the age that was fitte for battel, was six and twentie thousand.

CHAP. VIII. The progenie of Beniamin is further recited vnto Saul: 33. and his Issue.

AND Beniamin begat Bale his first begotten, Asbel the 1 second, Ahara the third, † Nohaa the fourth, and 2 Rapha the fifth. † And the sonnes of Bale were: Addar, and 3 Gera, and Abiud, † Abisue also, and Naaman, and Ahoe, 4 † and also Gera, and Sephuphan, and Huram. † These a [...]e 5 6 the sonnes of Ahod, princes of their kinredes that dwelt in Gabaa, which were transported into Manahath. † And Naaman, 7 and Achia, and Gera he transported them, and begat Oza, and Ahiud. † Moreouer he begat Saharaim in the countrie 8 of Moab, after he dismissed Husim and Bara his wiues. † And of Hodes his wife he begat Iobab, and Sebia, and 9 Mosa, and Molchom, † Iehus also, and Sechia, and Marma. 10 these are his sonnes princes in their families. † And Mehusim 11 begat Abitob, and Elphaal. † Moreouer the sonnes of Elphaal 12 Heber, and Misaam, and Samad: this man built Ono, and Lod, and her daughters. † And Baria, and Sama princes of their 13 kinredes that dweltin Aialon: these droue away the inhabitantes 14 of Geth. † And Ahio, and Sesac, and Ierimoth, † and 15 Sabadia, and Arod, and Heder, † Michael also, and Iespha, 16 and Ioha the sonnes of Baria. † And Zabadia, and Mosollam, 17 and Hezeci, and Heber, † and Iesamari, and Iezlia, and Iobab 18 [Page 834] sonnes of Elphaal, † and Iacim, and Zechri, and Zabdi, 19 † and Elioenai, and Selethai, and Eliel, † and Adaia, and 20 Baraia, and Samarath the sonnes of Semei. † And Iespham, 21 and Heber, and Eliel, † and Abdon, and Zechri, and Hanan, 22 † and Hanania, and Aelam, and Anathothia, † and Iephdaia, 23 and Phanuel the sonnes of Sesac. † and Samsari, and Sohoria 24 and Otholia, † and Iersia, and Elia, and Zechri, the sonnes 25 of Ieroham. † these be the patriaches, and princes of their 26 kinredes, which dwelt in Ierusalem. † And in Gabaon dwelt 27 Abigabaon, and the name of his wife Maacha: † And his first 28 begotten sonne Abdon, and Sur, and Cis, and Baal, and 29 Nadab. † Gedor also, and Ahio, and Zacher, and Macelloth: 30 † and Macelloth begat Samaa: and they dwelt ouer agaynst 31 their brethren in Ierusalem with their brethren. † And Ner 32 begat Cis, and Cis begat Saul. Moreouer Saul begat Ionathas, 33 and Melchisua, and Abinadab, and Esbaal. † And the sonne of 34 Ionathas, Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begat Micha. † The 35 sonnes of Micha, Phithon, and Melech, & Tharaa, and Ahaz. † And Ahaz begat Ioada: and Ioada begat Alamath, and Azmoth, 36 and Zamri: moreouer Zamri begat Mosa, † and Mosa 37 begat Banaa, whose sonne was Rapha, of whom was borne Elasa, who begat Asel. † Moreouer Asel had six sonnes of 38 these names, Ezricam, Bochru, Ismahel, Saria, Obdia, and Hanan. al these the sonnes of Asel. † And the sonnes of Esec 39 his brother, Vlam the first begotten, and Iehus the second, and Eliphalet the third. † And the sonnes of Vlam were most 40 strong men, and archers of great force: and hauing many sonnes and nephewes, vnto an hundred fiftie. Al these the children of Beniamin.

CHAP. IX. VVho of Israel (after the captiuitie) first inhabited Ierusalem. 10. VVho exercised the offices of Priestes, 14. and Leuites, 35. with repetition of part of Sauls progenie.

AL Israel therfore The genealogies of al Israel being hitherto recited before their captiuitie, others are now added which first returned to Ierusalem after their release. was numbred: and the summe of 1 them was written in the Booke of the kinges of Israel, and Iuda: and they were transported into Babylon for their sinne. † And they that dwelt first in their possessions and in 2 their cities: Israel, and the Priestes, and the Leuites, and the Nathineans. † There dwelt in Ierusalem of the children of 3 Iuda, and of the children of Beniamin, also of the children of [Page 835] Ephraim, and Manasses. † Othei the sonne of Ammiud, the 4 sonne of Amri, the sonne of Omrai, the sonne of Bonni, of the sonnes of Phares the sonne of Iuda. † And of Siloni: Asaia the 5 first begotten, and his sonnes. † And of the sonnes of Zara: 6 Iehuel, and their brethren, six hundred ninetie. † Moreouer of the sonnes of Beniamin: Salo the sonne of Mosollam, the 7 sonne of Odiua the sonne of Asana: † and Iobania the sonne 8 of Ieroham: and Ela the sonne of Ozi, the sonne of Mochori: and Mosollam the sonne of Saphatias, the sonne of Rahuel, the sonne of Iebania, † and their brethren by their families, 9 nine hundred fiftie six. Al these princes of their kinredes by the houses of their fathers. † And of the priestes: Iedaia, 10 Ioiarib, and Iachin: † Azarias also the sonne of Helcias, 11 the sonne of Mosollam, the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Maraioth, the sonne of Achitob, high priest of the house of God. † Moreouer Adaias the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne 12 of Phassur, the sonne of Melchias: and Maasai the sonne of Adiel, the sonne of Iezra, the sonne of Mosollam, the sonne of Mosollamith, the sonne of Emmer. † their brethren also 13 princes by their families a thousand seuen hundred three score, most able men of strength to the worke of the ministerie in the house of God. † And of the Leuites: Semeia the 14 sonne of Hassub the sonne of Ezricam, the sonne of Hasebia of the sonnes of Merari. † Bacbacar also a carpenter, and 15 Galal, and Mathania the sonne of Micha, the sonne of Zechri the sonne of Asaph: † and Obdia the sonne of Semeia, the 16 sonne of Galal, the sonne of Idithun: and Barachia the sonne of Asa, the sonne of Elcana, who dwelt in the courtes of Netophati. † And the porters: Sellum, and Accub, and Telmon, 17 and Ahimam: and their brother Sellum the prince, † vntil 18 that time, in the kinges gate toward the east, wayted by their courses of the children of Leui. † But Sellum the sonne of 19 Core the sonne of Abiasaph, the sonne of Core, with his brethren, and his fathers house, these are the Corites ouer the workes of the ministerie, keepers of the entrances of the tabernacle: and their families in course keeping the entrance of the campe of our Lord. † And Phinees the sonne of Eleasar, 20 was their prince before our Lord. † Moreouer Zacharias the 21 sonne of Mosollamia, porter of the gate of the tabernacle of testimonie. † Al these chosen men for porters, at euerie gate, 22 two hundred twelue: and appointed out in their proper [Page 836] townes: Whom Dauid and Samuel the Seer appointed, vpon their fidelitie. † as wel them as their sonnes. in the doores of 23 the house of our Lord, and in the tabernacle by their courses. † By the foure windes were the porters: that is to say, toward 24 the East, and toward the West, and toward the North, and toward the South. † And their brethren dwelt in villages, 25 and came vpon their Sabbathes from time to time. † To 26 these four Leuites was committed al the number of porters, and they were ouer the chambers, and treasures of the house of our Lord. † Also round about the temple of our Lord they 27 abode in their watches: that when it was time, they in the morning might open the doores. † Of these mens stocke 28 there were also ouer the vessels of the ministerie: for by number the vessels were both brought in and caried out. † Of 29 them also they that had the implements of the sancturie committed vnto them, did ouersee the floure, and wine, and oile, and frankincense, and spices. † And the sonnes of priestes 30 made oyntementes of the spices. † And Mathathias a Leuite 31 the firstbegotten of Sellum the Corite, was ouerseer of those thinges, which were fryed in the srying panne. † Moreouer of the children of Caath their brethren, there were 32 ouer the loaues of proposition, to prepare alwaies new euerie Sabbath. † These are the chief of the singing men by 33 the families of the Leuites, which abode in the chambers, that they might day and night continually serue in their ministerie. † The heades of the Leuites, princes in their families, 34 taried in Ierusalem. † And in Gabaon abode Iehiel the 35 father of Gabaon, and the name of his wise Maacha. † His 36 first begotten sonne Abdon, and Sur, and Cis, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab, † Gedor also, and Ahio, and Zacharias, and 37 Macelloth. † Moreouer Macelloth begat Samaan: these 38 dwelt ouer agaynst their brethren in Ierusalem, with their brethren. † And Ner bagat Cis: and Cis begat Saul: end Saul 39 begat Ionathas, and Melchisua, and Abinadab, and Esbaal. † And the sonne of Ionathas, Meribbaal: and Meribbaal 40 begat Micha. † Moreouer the sonnes of Micha, Phithon, 41 and Molech, and Tharaa, and Ahaz † And Ahaz begat Iara, 42 and Iara begat Alamath, and Azmoth, and Zamri. And Zamri begat Mosa. † And Mosa begat Banaa: whose sonne Raphaia 43 bepat Elasa: of whom was borne Asel. † Moreouer Asel had 44 six sonnes of these names, Ezricam, Bochru, Ismael, Saria, [...]bdi [...], Hanan, these are the sonnes of Asel.

[Page 837]

CHAP. X. King Saul with his three sonnes are slaine by the Philistians. 8. who spoi [...]e the armie and carie [...] ay Souls head. 11. The men of Iabes Galaad [...]rie his bodie and his sonnes, fasting for them seuen daies. And the kingdom is translated to Dauid.

AMD the Philistijms fought agaynst Israel, and the men 1 :: The second part. King Saul and al his familie ouerthrowne. of Israel fled from the Palesthines, and they fel wounded in mount Gelboe. † And when the Philisthians were 2 come nere pursewing Saul, and his sonnes, they stroke Ionathas, and Abinadab, and Melchisua the sonnes of Saul. † And 3 the battel grewc sore agaynst Saul, and the archers found him, and wounded him with arrowes. † And Saul sayd to his 4 esquyer: Draw thy swoord, and kil me: lest perhaps these vncircumcised come, and deride me. But his harnes bearer would not, being frighted with feare: Saul therfore caught his sword, and fel vpon it. † Which when his harnes bearer 5 had seene, to witte, that Saul was dead, him self also fel vpon his sword, and died. † Saul therfore died, and his three 6 sonnes, and al his house fel together. † Which when the 7 men of Israel had sene, that dwelt in the ch [...]inpayne, they fled: and Saul and his sonnes being dead, they forsooke their cities, and were dispersed hither and thither: and the Philisthijms came, and dwelt in them. † The next day therfore the 8 Philisthijms taking away the spoiles of them that were stayne, found Saul and his sonnes lying on mount Gelboe. † And when they had spoyled him, and cut of his head, and 9 stripped him of his armour, they sent into their land, that it should be caried about, and should be shewed in the temples of the Idols, and to the people: † and his armour they dedicated 10 in the temple of their god, and the head they nailed vp in the temple of Dagon. † When the men of Iabes Galaad 11 had heard this, to witte, al thinges that the Philistijms had done vpon Saul, † euerie one of the valiant men arose, and 12 tooke the bodies of Saul and of his sonnes, and brought them into Iabes, and buried their bones vnder an oke, that was in Iabes, and they fasted seuen daies. † Saul therfore died for his 13 iniquities, for that he He offered Sanctifice on an Altar withut warranto. 1. Reg. 13. And destroyed not the Amal [...] cites, as he was commanded. 1. Reg. 1 [...]. transgressed the commandement of our Lord which he had commanded, and kept it not: yea and besides also consulted the Pythonesse, † and trusted not 14 in our Lord: for the which he slewe him, and transferred his kingdome to Dauid the sonne of Isai.

[Page 838]

CHAP. XI. Dauid is elected and annointed king. 5. He ouerthroweth the Iebusites taking the towre of Sion in Ierusalem, and prospereth. 10. His valiant men, and their heroical actes are recited. 17. He desiring water from the cisterne of Bethleem, wil not drink it, but offereth it in sacrifice, because it is brought with danger of his valiant mens liues. 20. Other valiant men of the second order, are likewise recited.

AL Israel therfore was gathered together to Dauid in 1 The third part. King Dauids reigne and his special actes. Hebron, saying: We are thy bone, and thy flesh. † Yesterday 2 also, and the day before when Saul as yet reigned, thou wast he that didst leade out and leade in Israel: for to thee our Lord thy God sayd: Thou shalt feede my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince ouer it. † Al the ancientes therfore of 3 Israel came to the king into Hebron, and Dauid entred into a league with them before our Lord: and they annoynted him king ouer Israel, according to the word of our Lord, which he spake in the hand of Samuel. † Dauid also went, and al 4 Israel into Ierusalem▪ this is Iebus, where the Iebuseites were the inhabiters of the land. † And they that dwelt in Iebus, 5 sayd to Dauid: Thou shalt not come in here. Moreouer Dauid tooke the towre of Sion, which is the Citie of Dauid, † and 6 he sayd: Euerie one that shal among the first strike the Iebuseite, shal be the prince and chiefe captayne. Ioab therfore the sonne of Saruia went vp first, and was made the prince. † And Dauid dwelt in the towre, and therfore it was called 7 the Citie of Dauid. † And he built the citie round about from 8 Mello vnto a round compasse, and Ioab built the rest of the citie. † And dauid ptospered going and increasing, and the 9 Lord of hostes was with him. † These are the princes of the 10 valiant men of Dauid, which holpe him to be made king ouer al Israel according to the word of our Lord, which he spake to Israel. † And this is the number of dauids strong ones: 11 Iesbaam the sonne of Hachamoni prince among thirtie: this man lifted vp his speare vpon three hundred wounded at one time. † And after him Eleazar his vncles sonne an Ahohite, 12 who was among the three mighties. † This was with Dauid 13 in Phesdomim, when the Philisthijms were gathered to that place into battel: and the field of that countrie was ful of barley, and the people was fled from the face of the Philisthimes. † These stood in the middes of the fielde, and defended 14 [Page 839] him: and when they had striken the Philistheans, our Lord gaue great health to his people. † And there went downe 15 three of the thirtie princes to a rocke, wherin Dauid was, to the caue of Odollam, when the Philisthijms had camped in the Vale raphaim. † Moreouer dauid was in a hold, and the 16 ward of the Phelisthimes in Bethlehem. † Dauid therfore 17 desired and sayd: O that some man would giue me water of the cesterne of Bethlehem, which is in the gate. † These 18 three therfore went forward through the middes of the campe of the Philisthimes, and drewe water of the cesterne of Bethlehem, which was in the gate, and brought it to Dauid to drinke: who would not, but tather offered it to our Lord, † saying: God forbid that in the sight of my God I should 19 doe this, and should 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 20 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 21 of them: but yet vnto the three first he taught not. † Banaias 22 the sonne of Ioiada a most valiant man, of Cabseel: who had done manie factes, he stroke the Two stout men of Moab, as if they had benne lions. 2. Reg. 23. v. 20. 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 23 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 24 Banaias the sonne of Ioiada, who was among the three valiantes most renowned, † the first among thirtie, but yet the 25 three he raught not: and Dauid made him of his counsel. † Moreouer the most valiant men in the armie, Asahel the 26 brother of Ioab, and Elchanan the sonne of his vncle of Bethlehem, 27 † Sammoth an Arortie, Helles a Phalonite, † Ira the 28 the sonne of Acces a Thecaite, Abiezer an Anathothite, 29 † Sobbochai an Husathite, Ilai an Ahohite, † Maharai a Netophathite, 30 Heled the sonne of Baana a Netophathite, † Ethai 31 the sonne of Ribai of Gabaath the children of Beniamin, Banaia a Pharatonite, † Hurai of the Torrent Gaas, Abiel 32 an Arbathite, Azmoth a Bauramite, Eliaba a Salabonite. [Page 840] † The sonnes of Assem a Gezonite, Ionathan the sonne of 33 Sage an Ararite, † Ahiam the sonne of Sachar an Ararite, 34 † Eliphal the sonne of Vr, † Hepher a Mecherathi [...]e, Ahia 35 Phelonite, † Hesro a Carmelite, Naarai the sonne of Azbai, 36 † Ioel the brother of Nathan, Mibahar the sonne of Agarai. 37 † Selet an Ammonite, Naharai a Berothite the armour bearer 38 of Ioab the sonne of Saruia, † Ira a Iethreite, Gareb a Iethreite, 39 † Vrias the Hetheite, Zabad the sonne of Oholi, † Adina 40 the sonne of Sizaa Rubenite the prince of the Rubenites, & 41 with him thirtie: † Hanan the sonne of Maacha, and Iosaphat 42 a Mathanite, † Ozia an Astarothite, Samma, and Iehiel the 43 sonnes of Hotham an Arorite, † Iedihel the sonne of Zamri, 44 and Ioha his brother a Thosaite, † Eliel a Mahumite, and 45 Ieribai, and Iosaia the sonnes of Elnaim, and Iethma a Moabite, 46 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 1 fled from Saul the sonne of Cis, the which were most valiant and excellent warriers, † drawing the bowe, and 2 hurling with both handes stones in slinges, and shooting arrowes directly: of the brethren of Saul of Beniamin. † The 3 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 4 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, 5 and Saphatia an Haruphite. † Elcana, and Iesia, and Azareel, 6 and Ioezer, & Iesbaam of Carehim: † Ioela also, and Zabadia 7 the sonnes of Ieroham of Gedor. † Yea and of Gaddi also 8 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 9 the mountaynes: † Ezer the prince, Obdias the second, Eliab 10 the third, † Masmana the fourth, Ieremias the fifth, † Ethi 11 the sixth, Eliel the seuenth, † Iohanan the eight, Elzebad the 12 ninth, † Ieremias the tenth, Machbanai the eleuenth, † these 13 of the children of Gad were the princes of his armie: the 14 [Page 841] meanest was captayne ouer an hundred souldiars, and the greatest, ouer a thousand. † These are they which passed Iordan 15 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, 16 and of Iuda to the hold, wherin Dauid abode. † And Dauid 17 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 18 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 19 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 20 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 21 agaynst the rouers: for they were al most valiant men, and were made commanders in the armie. † Yea and there came euerie 21 day to Dauid to helpe him, til it became a great number, as it were An armie of [...] o [...] [...], is [...] to [...]s [...]Soan [...] [...]. the armie of God. † This also is the number of the 23 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 24 bearing shield and speare, six thousand eight hundred wel appoynted to battel. † Of the children of Simeon valient 25 men to [...]ight, seuen thousand one hundred. † Of the children 26 of Leui, foure thousand six hundred. † Ioiada also prince of 27 the stocke of Aaron, and with him three thousand seuen hundred. † Sadoc also a young man of goodlie towardenes, 28 and the house of his father, princes twentie two † And of 29 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 30 eight hundred, valiant of strength, men renowmed in [Page 842] their kinredes. † And of the halfe tribe of Manasses, eightene 31 thousand, euerie one by their names, came to make Dauid king. † Also of the children of Issachar men of vnderstanding, 32 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 33 battel, & stood in aray wel appoynted with armour of warre, there came fiftie thousand to ayde, not in a duble hart. † And 34 of Nepthali, commanders a thousand: and with them furnished with shield and speare, seuen and thirtie thousand. † Of 35 Dan also prepared to battel, twentie eight thousand six hundred. † And of Aser going forth to fight, and prouoking in 36 batttel, fourtie thousand. † And beyond Iordan of the children 37 of Ruben, and of Gad, and the halfe part of the tribe of Manasses furnished with armour of warre an hundred twentie thousand. † Al these men of warre wel appoynted to fight, 38 with perfect hart came into Hebron, to make Dauid King ouer al Israel: yea and al the rest of Israel, were of one hart, that Dauid should be made king. † And they were there with 39 Dauid three daies eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them. † Yea and they that were neere them as 40 farre as Issachar, & Zabulon, and Nephthali, brought loaues on Asses, and on camels, and on mules, and vpon oxen, to eate: meale, figges, reysens, wine oile, beeues, muttons, in al abundance, for there was ioy in Israel.

CHAP. XIII. The Arke is brought from Abinadabs house, 8. Dauid and others dancing before it. 9. Oza for touching it is strooken dead. 13. VVherupon Dauid fearing to bring it to Ierusalem, [...] remayneth three monethes in the house of Obededom.

AND Dauid tooke counsel with the tribunes, and centurions, 1 and al the commanders▪ † and he sayd to al the 2 assemblie of Israel: If it please you: and if the word which I speake procede from our Lord God, let vs send to the rest of our brethren into al the countries of Israel, & to the Priestes, and Leuires, that dwel in the suburbes of the cities, that they may be gathered together vnto vs, † and we may bring agayne 3 vnto vs the Arke of our God: for we sought it not in the daies of Saul. † And the whole multitude answered that it should 4 be soe done: for the word had pleased al the people. † Dauid 5 [Page 843] therfore assembled al Israel from Sihor of Aegypt, til thou enter into Emath, to bring the Arke of God from Caria Thiarim. † And Dauid went vp, and euerie man of Israel to the hil of 6 Caria Thiarim which is in Iuda, to fetch thence the Arke of our Lord God sitting vpon the Cherubim, where his name is inuocated. † And they layd the Arke of God vpon a new 7 wayne, out of the house of Abinadab. And Oza and his brother did driue the wayne. † Moreouer Dauid, and al Israel 8 playd before our Lord with al their might in songues, and on harpes, and psalteries, and timbrels, and cymbals, and trumpettes. † And when they were come to the Floore of Chidon. 9 Oza stretched forth his hand, to hold vp the Arke: for the oxe being wantone had made it leane a litle a side. † Our Lord 10 therfore was angrie agaynst Oza, and stroke him, for that he had touched the Arke: and he died there before our Lord. † And Dauid was strooken sad, because our Lord had diuided 11 Oza: and he called that place, the Diuision of Oza vntil this present day. † And he feared God at that time, saying: How 12 may I bring in the Arke of God vnto me? † And for this 13 cause he brought it not vnto himselfe, that is, into the citie of Dauid, but turned it away into the house of Obededom was a Leuite, ( c. 15. v. 18.) and therfore more mete to kepe the arke: Obededom the Called a Getheite because he had dwelt in the towne of Geth. Getheite. † Therfore the Arke of God remayned in 14 the house of Obededom three monethes: & our Lord blessed his house, and al thinges that he had.

CHAP. XIIII. King Dauid prouideth timber, and workmen to build his owne house. 3. marieth more wiues, and hath manie children; 8. ouerthroweth the Philistians, 13. twise,

HIRAM also the king of Tyre sent messengers to Dauid, 1 and cedar trees, and artificers for walles, and timber: to build him a house. † And Dauid knew that our Lord had 2 established him to be king ouer Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted ouer his people Israel. † Dauid also tooke other 3 wiues in Ierusalem: and he begat sonnes, and daughters. † And 4 these be their names, that were borne to him in Ierusalem: Samua, and Sobad, Nathan, and Salomon, † Iebahar, and 5 Elisua, and Eliphalet, † Noga also, and Napheg, and Iaphia, 6 † Elisama, and Baalaida, and Eliphalet. † And the Philisthijms 7 hearing that Dauid was annoynted for king ouer al Israel, 8 they went vp al to seeke him: which when Dauid had heard, [Page 844] he went out to meete them. † Moreouer the Philisthijms 9 coming, were spred abrode in the Vale Raphaim. † And 10 Dauid consulted our Lord, saying: Shal I goe vp to the Philisteans, and wilt thou deliuer them into my hand? And our Lord sayd to him: Goe vp, and I wil deliuer them into thy hand. † And when they were come vp into Baalpharasim, 11 Dauid stroke them there, and sayd: God hath diuided myn enemies by my hand, as waters are diuided: and therfore the name of that place was called Baal Pharasim. † And they 12 least there their goddes, which Dauid commanded to be burnt. † An other time also the Philisthijms invaded, and 13 were dispersed in the Vale. † And Dauid consulted God 14 agayne, and God sayd to him: Goe not vp after them, retyre from them, and thou shalt come agaynst them ouer agaynst the pearetrees. † And when thou shalt heare the sound of 15 one going in the toppe of the pearetrees, then shalt thou yssue forth to battel. For God is gone forth before thee, to strike the campe of the Philisthijms. † Dauid therfore did as 16 God had commanded him, and stroke the campe of the Philisthianes from Gabaon vnto Gazera. † And the name 17 of Dauid was bruited in al countries, and our Lord gaue the dreade of him ouer al nations.

CHAP. XV. VVith sol [...]nnitie the Arke is brought into Ierusalem, caried by the Priestes and Leuites, 16. With musick of diuers sortes, 26. Sacrifice of thankesgeuing is offered. 29. Michel derideth Dauids deuotion.

HE made also houses for him selfe in the citie of Dauid: 1 and built a place for the Arke of God, & pitcht a tabernacle for it. † Then sayd Dauid: It is vnlawful that the Arke 2 of God be caried of any man, but of the Leuites: whom our Lord chose to carie it, and to minister vnto himself for euer. † And he gathered together al Israel into Ierusalem, that the 3 Arke of God might be brought into his place, which he had prepared for it. † Moreouer also the sonnes of Aaron, and 4 the Leuites. † Of the children of Caath, Vriel was the prince, 5 and his brethren an hundred twentie. † Of the sonnes of 6 Merari, Asaia the prince: and his brethren two hundred twentie. † Of the sonnes of Gersom, Ioel the prince: and his 7 brethren an hundred thirtie. † Of the sonnes of Elisaphan, 8 Semeias the prince: and his brethren two hundred. † Of the 9 [Page 845] sonnes of Hebron; Eliel the prince: and his brethren eightie † Of the sonnes of Oziel, Aminadab the prince: and his 10 brethren and hundred twelue. † And Dauid called Sadoc, and 11 Abiathar the Priestes, and the Leuites, Vriel, Asaia, Ioel, Semeia, Eliel, and Aminadab: † and he sayd to them: You 12 that are the princes of the Leuitical families, be sanctified with your brethren, and fetch the Arke of our Lord the God of Israel to the place, which is prepared for it: † lest as from 13 the beginning, because yow were not present, our Lord strike vs: so now also it come to passe, we doing some vnlawful thing. † The Priestes therfore▪ and the Leuites were 14 sanctified, to carie the Arke of our Lord the God of Israel. † And the sonnes of Leui tooke the Arke of God, as Moyses 15 had commanded, according to the word of our Lord, vpon their shoulders, on barres. † And Dauid sayd to the princes of 16 the Leuites, that they should appoynt of their brethren singing men on musical instrumentes, to witte, on nables, & harpes, and cymbals, that the sound of ioy might resound on high. † And they appoynted Leuites: Hemam the sonne of Ioel, and 17 of his brethren Asaph the sonne of Barachias: and of the children of Merari, their brethren: Ethan the sonne of Casaia. † And with them their brethren: in the second order, Zacharias, 18 and Ben, and Iaziel, and Semiramoth, and Ia [...]iel, and Ani, Eliab, and Banaias, and Maasias, and Mathathias, and Eliphalu, and Macenias, and Obededom, and Iehiel, porters. † Moreouer them that sang, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan: 19 sounding on brasen cymbals. † And Zacharias, and Oziel, 20 and Semiramoth, and Iahiel, & Ani, and Eliab, and Maasias, and Banaias vpon nables sang mysteries. † Moreouer Mathathias, 21 and Eliphalu, and Macenias, and Obededom, and Iehiel, and Ozaziu, vpon harpes for the octaue sang a triumphant song. † And Chonenias the prince of the Leuites, was 22 chiefe ouer prophecie, to beginne the melodie: for he was verie coning. † And Barachias, and Elcana: doore keepers of 23 the Arke. † Moreouer Sebenias, and Iosaphat, and Nathanael, 24 and Amasai, and Zacharias, and Banaias, and Eliezer priestes, sounded with trumpettes, before the Arke of God▪ and Obededom, and Iehias kept the doore of the Arke. † Therfore Dauid and al the ancientes of Israel, and the tribunes, 25 went to fetch the Arke of the couenanr of our Lord, out of the house of Obededom with ioy. † And when God 26 [Page 846] had holpen the Leuites, which caried the Arke of the couenant of our Lord, there were immolated seuen oxen, & seuen rammes. † Moreouer Dauid was clothed with a robe of fine 27 linen, and al the Leuites that caried the Arke, and the singing men, and Chonenias the prince of prophecie among the singers: and Dauid also was clothed with an An other linen garment vsed by prophetes, such as Samuel did weare being a child 1. Reg. 2. Ephod of linen. † And al Israel brought the Arke of the couenant of our 28 Lord in iubiley, and sounding with the sound of shaulme, and with trumpettes, and cymbals, and nables, and harpes. † And 29 when the Arke of the couenant of our Lord was come vnto the citie of Dauid, Michol the daughter of Saul looking forth through a window, saw Dauid the king dancing and playing, and she despised him in her hart.

CHAP. XVI. The Arke is placed in a tabernacle. Sacrifice is offe [...]ed. Dauid blesseth the people, 4. disposeth the offices of Leuites. 8. and maketh a Psalme of praise to God.

THEY therfore brought the Arke of God, and set it in 1 the middes of the tabernacle, which Dauid had pitched for it: and they offered holocaustes, and pacifiques before God. † And when Dauid had finished offering holocaustes, 2 and pacifiques, he Not only king Dauid being a holie Prophet, but anie other Superior might blesse his subiectes. blessed the people in the name of our Lord. † And he duided to al through out euerie one, from 3 man vnto woman a loafe of bread, and a peece of rosted beefe, and floure fryed with oile. † And he That he also disposed certaine offices of Leuites was by special priuilege, which was no preiudice to the hiegh priests authoritie, for superior powre is proued by Gods institution, rather then by factes, either of good men, which do manie thinges by way of dispensation, o [...] of euil v [...]u [...]ing whitho [...]t warrant, that to them perteyneth [...]ot. For it is [...]ie that God instituted supreme spiritual powre in the high priest. Deut. 17. And al kinges and temporal princes are to receiue the law at the priestes hand. ibidem. v. 18. Eleazar the high priest was appointed to consult our Lord for Iosue, Nu. 27. Finally by Gods ordinance, the lavy of truth vvas in the mouth of priestes▪ Mal [...]s. 2. appoynted before 4 the Arke of our Lord of the Leuites, that should minister, and should remember his workes, & glorifie, and prayse our Lord the God of Israel: † Asaph the prince, and the second 5 after him Zacharias: moreouer Iahiel, and Semiramoth, and Iehiel, and Mathathias, and Eliab, and Banaias, & Obededom: and Iehiel ouer the instrumentes of psalterie, and the harpes: & Asaph to sound vpon the cymbals: † but Banaias, 6 and Iaziel priestes, to sound the trumpet continually before the Arke of the couenant of our Lord. † In that day Dauid 7 made Asaph, prince to confesse to our Lord and his brethren. † Confesse ye to our Lord, and inuocate his name: make 8 his inuentions knowen among the peoples. † Chaunt 9 Psal [...] 104. to him, and sing to him: and tel ye al his meruelous thinges. † Prayse ye his holie name: let the hart of them that reioyse, 10 seeke our Lord. † Seeke ye our Lord, and his powre: 11 [Page 847] seeke ye his face alwayes. † Remember his meruelous 12 thinges which he hath done: his signes, and the iudgementes of his mouth. † The seede of Israel his seruant: the 13 children of Iacob his elect. † He is the Lord our God: 4 in al the earth are his iudgementes. † Remember for 15 euer his coueuant: the word, which he commanded vnto a thousand generations. † Which he couenanted with 16 Abraham: and his othe with Isaac. † And he appoynted 17 it to Iacob for a precept: and to Israel for an euer lasting couenant: † Saying: To thee wil I geue the Land of Chanaan: 18 the corde of your inheritance. † When they were few 19 in number: smal and soiourners therof. † And they 20 passed from nation into nation: & from kingdom to an other people. † He suffered not any man to calumniate them: 21 but rebuked kinges for their sake. † Touch not my annoynted: 22 and vnto my prophetes be not malicious. † Sing 23 ye to our Lord al the earth: shew forth from day to day his Psal. 95. saluation. † Tel his glorie among the gentiles: among 24 al peoples his meruelous workes. † Because our Lord is 25 great, and laudable excedingly: and terrible ouer al goddes. † For al the goddes of the peoples, be idols: but our Lord 26 made the heauens. † Confession and magnificence before 27 him: strength and ioy in his place. † Bring to our 28 Lord ye families of peoples: bring to our Lord glorie and impire. † Geue our Lord glorie, to his name, eleuate 29 sacrifice, and come ye in his sight: and adore our Lord in holie honour. † Let al the earth be moued before his face: for 30 he founded the world vnmoueable. † Let the heauens be 31 glad, & the earth reioyse and let them say among the nations, Our Lord hath reigned. † Let the sea thunder, and the 32 fulnesse therof: let the fieldes▪ reioyse, and al thinges that are in them. † Then shal the trees of the forest prayse before 33 our Lord: because he is come to iudge the earth. † Confesse 34 Psal. [...]05. ye to our Lord, because he is good: because his mercie is for euer. † And say ye: Saue vs ô God our sauiour: and gather 35 vs together, & deliuer vs out of the nations, that we may confesse to thy holie name, and may reioyse in thy songues. † Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel from eternitie vnto 36 eternitie: and let al the people say: Amen, and hymne to God. † He therfore leaft Asaph there before the Arke of the couenant 37 of our Lord, and his brethren to minister in the presence [Page 848] of the Arke continually day by day, and in their courses. † Moreouer Obededom, and his brethren sixtie eight: and 38 Obededom the sonne of Idithun, and Hosa he appoynted for porters. † And Sadoc the priest, and his brethren 39 priestes, before the tabernacle of our Lord in the excelse, which was in Gabaon, † that they should offer holocaustes 40 to our Lord vpon the altar of holocaust continually, morning and euening, according to al thinges that are writen in the law of our Lord, which he commanded Israel. † And 41 after him Heman, and Idithun, and the rest of the chosen men, euerie one by his name to confesse vnto our Lord: Because his mercie is for euer. † Heman also and Idithun 42 sounding the trumpet, and quauering on the cymbals, and al musical instrumentes to sing vnto God: and the sonnes of Idithun he made porters. † And al the people returned into 43 their house: and Dauid, to blesse also his house.

CHAP. XVII. Dauid determining to build a Temple, 11. is admonished by Nathan the prophet, that not he, but his sonne, sbal build it; and be established in the kingdom. 16. Dauid extolleth Gods benignitie towards him, and the people.

AND when Dauid dwelt in his house, he sayd to Nathan 1 the prophete: Behold I dwel in a house of cedar: and the Arke of the couenant of our Lord is vnder skinnes. † And 2 Nathan sayd to Dauid: Al thinges, that are in thy hart doe: for God is with thee. † Therfore that night the word of God 3 came to Nathan, saying: † Goe, and speake to Dauid my 4 seruant: Thus sayth our Lord: Thou shalt not build me a house to dwel in. † For neither haue I remayned in house 5 from the time, that I brought out Israel, vntil this day: but I haue bene alwaies changing places of tabernacle, and in tent † abyding with al Israel. Did I speake to one, at the least, of al 6 the iudges of Israel, whom I commanded to feede my people, and did I say: Why haue you not built me a house of cedar? † Now therfore so shalt thou speake to my seruant Dauid: 7 Thus sayeth the Lord of hostes: I tooke thee, when in the past [...]res thou did [...]st folow the flocke, that thou shouldest be prince of my people Israel. † And I haue beene with thee 8 whither soeuer thou wentest: and I haue slayne al thine enemies before thee, and haue made thee a name as of one of the great ones, that are renowmed in the earth. † And I haue 9 [Page 849] geuen a place to my people Israel: it shal be planted, and shal dwel therin, and shal be moued no more, neither shal the children of iniquitie consume them, as from the beginning, † since the dayes that I gaue Iudges to my people Israel, and 10 humbled al thine enimies. I therfore tel thee, that our Lord wil build thee That is continew and preserue thy seede, and samilie as we see it performed et en to the B. virgin Marie, and Christ of the house of Dauid. Mat [...] ▪ Luc. 2. 3. a house. † And when thou shalt haue accomplished 11 thy daies to goe to thy fathers, I wil rayse vp thy seede after thee, which shalbe of thy children: and I wil establish his kingdom. † He shal build me a house, and I wil confirme 12 his throne for euer. † I wil be to him for a father, and he shal 13 be to me for a sonne: and my mercie I wil not take from him, as I tooke from him, that was before thee. † And I wil establish 14 him in my house, and in my kingdom for euer: and his throne shalbe most firme for euer. † According to al these 15 wordes, and according to al this vision, so spake Nathan to Dauid. † And when king Dauid came, and sate before our 16 Lord, he sayd: Who am I Lord God, and what is my house, that thou shouldest geue me such thinges? † But this also 17 hath semed little in thy sight, and therfore thou hast spoken concerning the house of thy seruant for time to come also: and hast made me renowned aboue al men Lord God. † What 18 can Dauid adde farther, wheras thou hast soe glorified thy seruant, and knowen him? † Lord for thy seruant according 19 to thy hart thou hast done al this magnificence, and would haue al thy great wonders to be knowen. † Lord, there is 20 not the like to thee: and there is none other beside thee, of al whom we haue heard with our eares. † For what other is 21 there, as thy people Israel, one nation in the earth, to the which God went, to deliuer it and make it his people, and with his greatenesse and terrours cast out the nations before the face of it, which he deliuered out of Aegypt? † And thou hast made thy people Israel to be thy people euer, 22 and thou Lord art made the God therof. † Now therfore 23 Lord, the word, which thou hast spoken to thy seruant, and concerning his house, be it confirmed for euer, and do as thou hast spoken. † And let thy name remayne and be magnified 24 for euer: and let it be sayd: The Lord of hostes is God of Israel, and the house of Dauid his seruant permanent before him. † For thou Lord my God hast reueled the eare of thy 25 seruant, to build him a house: and therfore thy seruant hath found confidence, to pray before thee. † Now therfore 26 [Page 850] Lord thou art God: and thou hast spoken to thy seruant so great benefittes. † And thou hast begunne to blesse the 27 house of thy seruant, that it be alwaies before thee: for thee ô Lord blessing it, it shal be blessed for euer.

CHAP. XVIII. King Dauid hath great victories, making manie nations tributarie, 15. his chiefe officeres are recounted.

AND it came to passe after these thinges, that Dauid 1 2. Reg. [...]. stroke the Philisthijms, and humbled them, and tooke away Geth, and her The lesser townes and villagies are commonly called the dauhgters of some great towne or citie to which they perteyne. daughters out of the hand of the Philisthijms, † and stroke Moob, and the Moabites were made 2 Dauids seruantes, offering him giftes. † At that time Dauid 3 stroke Adazezer also the king of Soba of the countrie of Hemath, when he went on to dilate his empire as farre as the riuer Euphrates. † Dauid therfore tooke a thousand chariotes 4 of his, & seuen thousand horsmen, & twentie thousand footemen, & he hoghsinewed al the chariot horses, sauing an hundred chariotes, which he reserued to himself. † And the Syrian 5 also of Damascus came moreouer, to giue ayde to Adarezer the king of Soba but Dauid stroke also of his two & twentie thousand men. † And he put souldiars in Damascus, that Syria 6 also should serue him, & bring giftes. And our Lord holpe him in al thinges, to the which he went. † Dauid also tooke the 7 golden quyuers, which the seruantes of Adarezer had, and he brought them into Ierusalem. † Moreouer of The bath, and 8 Chun the cities of Adarezer verie much brasse, of which Salomon made the brasen Sea, and pillers, and brasen vessels. 9 † Which when Tou the king of Hemath had heard, to witte, that Dauid had striken al the armie of Adarezer the king of Soba, † he sent Adoram his soune to king Dauid, to desire 10 peace of him, & to congratulate him that he had striken, and had ouerthrowen Adarezer: for Tou was aduersarie to Adarezer. † But al the vessel also of gold, and siluer, and brasse king 11 Dauid That which is dedicated to sacred vse, is consecrated to God. consecrated to our Lord, with the siluer and gold, which he had taken out of al the nations, as wel of Idumea, and Moab, & the children of Ammon, as of the Philisthijms and Amalec. † And Abisai the sonne of Saruia stroke Edom 13 in the Vale of salt pittes, eightene thousand: † and he appoynted a garryson in Edom, that Idumea should serue Dauid: and our Lord saued Dauid in al thinges, to which he went. † Dauid therfore reigned ouer al Israel, & did iudgement and 14 [Page 851] iustice to al his people. † Moreouer Ioab the sonne of Saruia 15 was ouer the armie, and Iosaphat the sonne of Ahilud commenter. † And Sadoc the sonne of Achitob, & Ahimelech the 16 sonne of Abiathar, Priestes: and Susa, Scribe. † Banaias also 17 the sonne of Ioiada ouer the legions Cerethi, and Phelethi: moreouer the sonnes of Dauid the chief at the kinges hand.

CHAP. XIX. The king of Ammon euil intreating king Dauids men, whom he had curteously sent to condole the death of his father, is ouerthrowen in battel. 16. with the Assyrians his hyred confederates.

AND it chanced that Naas the king of the children of 1 [...]. Reg. 10. Ammon died, and his sonne reigned for him. † And 2 Dauid sayd: I wil do mercie with Hanon the sonne of Naas: for his father hath done me pleasure. And Dauid sent messengers to confort him vpon the death of his father. Who when they were come into the land of the children of Ammon, to confort Hanon, † the princes of the children of Ammon 3 fayd to Hanon: Thou thinkest perhaps, that Dauid for honour sake toward thy father hath sent some that should comfort thee: neither marke [...]t thou, that his seruantes are come to thee to espie, and seeke out, and searche thy land. † Therfore 4 Hanon made the seruantes of Dauid balde, and shaued them, and cut away their cotes from the buttockes to the feete, and sent them away. † Who when they were gone, 5 and had sent word to Dauid, he sent to meete them (for they had susteyned great reproch) and commanded them to tarie in Iericho, til their beard grewe, and then they should returne. † And the children of Ammon seing, that they had 6 done iniurie to Dauid, as wel Hanon as the rest of the people, they sent a thousand talents of siluer, to hyre them chariotes and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and from Siria Maacha, and from Soba. † And they hyred two and thirtre thousand 7 chariotes, and king Maacha with his people. Who when they were come, camped ouer agaynst Medaba. The children of Ammon also being gathered together out of their cities, came to the battel. † Which when Dauid had heard, he sent Ioab, 8 and al the host of valiant men: † and the children of Ammon 9 issuing forth, put their armie in aray beside the gate of the citie: and the kinges, that were come to ayde him, stood apart in the field. † Ioab therfore vnderstanding that battel was 10 [Page 852] made agaynst him before and behind, chose the most valiant men of al Israel, and marched on against the Syrian. † And 11 the rest of the people he gaue vnder the hand of Abisai his brother: and they went forth agaynst the children of Ammon † And he sayd: If the Syrian shal ouercome me, thou 12 snalt ayde me: and if the children of Ammon shal ouercome thee, I wil ayde thee. † Take courage, and let vs play the 13 men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and our Lord wil doe that which is good in his sight. † Ioab therfore 14 matched on, and the people that were with him, agaynst the Syrian to battel: and he put them to flight. † Moreouer the 15 childen of Ammon seing that the Syrian was fled, themselues also fled from Abisai his brother, and went into the citie: and Ioab also returned into Ierusalem. † But the Syrian seing that 16 he was fallen before Israel, sent messengers, and brought the Syrian, that was beyond the riuer: and Sophach the General of Adereze [...]s warre, was their captayne. † Which when it 17 was told Dauid, he gathered together al Israel, and passed Iordan, and fel vpon them, and directed his armie agaynst him, they fighting on the contrarie part. † And the Syrian fled 18 from Israel: and Dauid slewe of the Syrians seuen thousand chariotes, and fourtie thousand footemen, and Sophach General of the armie. † And the seruantes of Adarezer seing 19 themselues to be ouercome of Israel, fled to Dauid, & serued him: and Syria would no more giue ayde to the children of Ammon.

CHAP. XX. King Dauid prospereth in Warre agaynst the Ammonites, 4. and Philisthims, 6. among Whom Ionathan Dauids nephew by his brother, killeth a monfiruous giant, Which had twelue fingers and twelue toes.

AND it came to passe after the compasse of a yeare, at 1 2. Reg. 21. such time when kinges are wont to goe forth to battel, Ioab gathered together the armie and force of warre, and spoyled the land of the children of Ammon: and went on and besieged Rabba. Moreouer Dauid taried in Ierusalem, when Ioab stroke Rabba, and destroyed it. † And Dauid 2 tooke the crowne of Melchom from his head, and found in it a talent weight of gold, and most precious pearles, and he made himself therof a diademe: he tooke also the spoiles of the citie very much. † And the people that was therin, he 3 [Page 853] brought forth: and he made harrowes, and sleddes, and chariotes shod with Iron to passe ouer them, soc that they were cut in sunder, & broken in peces: so did Dauid to al the cities of the children of Ammon: & he returned with al his people into Ierusalem. † After these thinges there was warre begunne 4 in Gazer agaynst the Philisthians: in which Sobachai the Husathite stroke Saphai of the kinred of Raphaim, & humbled them. † An other battel also was fought agaynst the Philistheans, 5 wherein Adeodatus the sonne of Saltus a Bethlehemite stroke the brother of Goliath the Getheite, the staffe of whose speare was as it were a weauers beame. † But an other 6 battel also happened in Geth, wherin there was a verie long man, hauing fingers and toes by six and six, that is, together foure and twentie: who also was borne of the stocke of Rapha. † This man blasphemed Israel: and Ionathan the 7 sonne of Samaa the brother of Dauid stroke him. These be the children of Rapha in Geth, which fel by the hand of Dauid and of his seruantes.

CHAP. XXI. Dauid sinneth in numbring his people, 8. repenteth, and prayeth, yet is punished, many dying of the plague, 15. til God shewing mercie spareth the rest. 16. Dauid accusing himselfe and excusing the people is commanded by the Angel to offer sacrifice, which he (22▪ bying ground for an altar) 26. performeth.

BVT By Gods permission Dauid was tempted and ouercome▪ 2. Reg. 24. Satan rose agaynst Israel: and moued Dauid to number 1 2. Reg. 24. Israel. † And Dauid sayd to Ioab, and to the princes 2 of the people: Goe, and number Israel from Bersabee vnto Dan, and bring me the number that I may know. † And Ioab, 3 answered▪ Our Lord increase his people an hundred fold more then they are: are they not my lord king al thy seruantes? why doth my lord seeke this, which may be reputed for a sinne to Israel? † But the kinges word preuailed more: and Ioab went 4 forth, and went about al Israel: and returned to Ierusalem. † And he gaue Dauid the number of them, whom he had 5 surueyed: and al the number of Israel was found a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and of Iuda foure hundred seuentie thousand men of warre. † For Leui and Beniamin he numbred not: because Ioab 6 vnwillingly executed the kings commandement. † And 7 that which was commanded displeased God: and he stroke [Page 854] Israel. † And Dauid sayd to God: I haue sinned excedingly 8 in that I would doe this: I besech thee take away King Dauid was not without faith, nor hope, and yet was contaminate with iniquitie, from which he prayed to be deliuered. the iniquitie of thy seruant, because I haue done foolishly. † And our Lord spake to Gad the Seer of Dauid, saying: † Goe, 9 and speake to Dauid, and tel him: Thus sayth our Lord: 10 I geue thee the choyse of three thinges, choose one which thou wilt, and I wil doe it to thee. † And when Gad was 11 come to Dauid, he sayd to him: Thus sayth our Lord: Choose which thou wilt: † either three yeares famine: or three 12 monethes to flee from thine enemies, and not to be able to escape their sword: or three dayes the sword of our Lord, and pestilence to be in the land, and the Angel of our Lord to kil in al the costes of Israel: now therfore see what I shal answer him, that sent me. † And Dauid sayd to Gad: I am on euerie side 13 in great distresse: but it is better, that I fal into the handes of our Lord, because his mercies be manie, then into the handes of men. † Our Lord therfore sent the pestilence in Israel▪ and 14 there fel of Israel seuentie thousand men. † He sent also an 15 Angel into Ierusalem, to strike it: and when it was striken, our Lord saw, and had compassion vpon the greatenesse of the euil: and commanded the Angel, that smote: It is sufficient, now let thy hand cease. Moreouer the Angel of our Lord stoode beside the floore of Ornan the Iebuseite. † And 16 Dauid lifting vp his eies, saw the Angel of our Lord standing betwen heauen and earth, and a sword drawen in his hand, turned agaynst Ierusalem: & they fel as wel he as the ancientes clothed in heare clothes, flatte on the earth. † And Dauid 17 sayd to God: Am not I he, that commanded the people to be mumbred? It is I that haue sinned: it is I that haue done the euil: this flocke what hath it deserued? Lord my God let thy hand be turned I besech thee vpon me, and vpon my fathers house: and let not thy people be striken † And the Angel of 18 our Lord commanded Gad to tel Dauid, that he should goe vp, and build an altar to our Lord God in the floore of Ornan the Iebuseite. † Dauid therfore went vp according to the 19 word of Gad, which he had spoken to him in the name of our Lord. † Moreouer Ornan when he had looked vp, and sene 20 the Angel, and his foure sonnes with him, they hid themselues: for at that time he threshed wheat in the floore. † Therfore 21 when Dauid came to Ornan, Ornan beheld him, & went forth to mete him out of the floore, and adored him flatte on the [Page 855] ground. † And Dauid sayd to him: Geue me the place of thy 22 floore, that I may build therein an altar to our Lord: so that thou take as much siluer as it is worth, and the plague may cease from the people. † And Ornan sayd to Dauid: Take it, 23 and let my lord the king doe whatsoeuer pleaseth him: yea the oxen also I geue for holocaust, and liitle cartes. the dreyes for wood, and wheat for sacrifice: I wil giue al thinges willingly. † And 24 king Dauid sayd to him: It shal not be so, but I wil geue thee siluer as much as it is worth: for I may not take it from thee, and so offer to our Lord holocaustes geuen gratis. † Dauid 25 therfore gaue Ornan for the place, six hundred sicles of gold of most iust weight. † And he built there an altar to our Lord: 26 and he offered holocaustes, and pacifiques, and he inuocated our Lord, & he heard him God shewed by sending fire miraculously to burne the sacrifice, that he had heard Dauids prayer. in fyre from heauen vpon the altar of holocauste. † And our Lord commanded the Angel: and 27 he turned his sword into the scabbard. † Dauid therfore forthwith, 28 seing that our Lord had heard him in the floore of Ornan the Iebuseite, immolated victimes there. † But the 29 tabernacle of our Lord. which Moyses made in the desert, and the altar of holocaustes, was at that time in the excelse of Gabaon. † And Dauid could not goe to the altar to pray God 30 there: for he had bene frighted with exceding feare, seing the sword of the Angel of our Lord.

CHAP. XXII. VVorkemen and al necessaries being prepared, 6. Dauid commandeth Salomon to build the Temple, for so God hath appoynted▪ 13. exhorteth him to serue God. 17. and other principal men to assist him.

AND Dauid sayd: This is the house of God, and this is an 1 altar for holocauste to Israel. † And he commanded that 2 1. Reg. 7. 3: Reg: 5. the proselytes of the land of Israel should be gathered to gether, and he appoynted of them masons to hewe stones and polish them, that the house of God might be built. † Dauid 3 prepared also verie much yron for the nayles of the gates, and for the ioyninges and ioynctures: and of brasse an inmumerable weight. † The cedar trees also could not be estemed, 4 which the Sidonians, and Tyrians brought downe to Dauid. † And Dauid sayd: Salomon my sonne is yet a litle child 5 and delicate, and the house which I would haue to be builded to our Lord, must be such as may be renowned in al countries: I therfore wil prepare him necessaries. And for this cause before his death he prepared al the expenses. † And he 6 [Page 856] called Salomon his sonne: and commanded him that he should build a house to our Lord the God of Israel. † And 7 Dauid sayd to Salomon: My sonne, it was my wil to haue built a house to the name of our Lord my God. † But the 8 word of our Lord was made to me, saying: Thou hast shed much bloud, and fought verie manie battels, thou canst not build a house to my name, so much bloud being shed before me: † the sonne, which shal be borne to thee, shal be a most 9 quiet man: for I wil make him rest from al his enemies round about: and for this cause, he shal be called Salomon sig nifieth Peaceable. and therin, as in manie other thinges, prefigured Christ who amongst other names is called, Prince of peace. Isai. 9. Peaceable: and I wil geue peace and quietnesse in Israel al his dayes. † He 10 shal build a house to my name, & he shal be to me for a sonne, and I wil be to him for a father: and I wil establih the throne of his kingdom ouer Israel for euer. † Now therfore my 11 sonne, Our Lord be with thee, and doe thou prosper, and build the house to our Lord thy God, as he hath spoken of thee. † Our Lord also giue thee wisdome and vnderstanding, 12 that thou mayst be able to rule Israel, and to kepe the law of our Lord thy God † For then thou shalt be able to prosper, if 13 thou shalt keepe the commandementes, and iudgementes, which our Lord commanded Moyses to teach Israel: take courage and play the man, feare not, neither be dismayde. † Behold I in my pouertie haue prepared the charges of the 14 house of our Lord, of gold an hundred thousand talentes, and of siluer a thousand thousand talentes: but of brasse, and of yron there is noe weight, for the number is surpassed with the greatnesse: timber and stones I haue prepared to al the charges. † Thou hast also verie manie artificers, hewers of 15 stones, and masons, & carpenters, and of al occapations most skilful to make worke, † in gold and siluer and brasse and 16 yron, wherof there is no number. Ryse therfore, and do it, and our Lord wil be with thee. † Dauid also commanded 17 al the princes of Israel, that they should help Salomon his sonne. † You see, quoth he, that our Lord your God is with 18 you, and hath geuen you rest round about, and hath deliuered al your enemies into your handes, and the land is subdewed before our Lord, and before his people. † Geue therfore your 19 hart and your soules, to seeke our Lord your God: and arise, and build a sanctuarie to our Lord God, that the Arke of the couenant of our Lord, and the vessels consecrated to our Lord, may be brought into the house, which is built to the name of our Lord.

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CHAP. XXIII. King Dauid being old constituteth Salomon king. 3. disposeth the offices of Leuites. 7. to wit, the families of Gerson, 12. of Caath, 21. and of Merari: (26. ceassing to carrie the tabernacle.) 27. to serue in the temple.

DAVID therfore being old & ful of daies, made Salomon 1 his sonne king ouer Israel. † And he gathered al the 2 princes of Israel, and the Priestes and Leuites. † And the Leuites 3 were numbred from thirtie yeares, & vpward: and there were found thirtie eight thousand men. † Of these were 4 chosen, and distributed into the ministerie of the house of our Lord foure and twentie thousand: and of the ouerseers and iudges, six thousand. † Moreouer foute thousand porters: 5 and as manie singing to our Lord on instrumentes, which he had made to sing on † And Aarons sonnes being consecrated Pricstes according to Gods ordinance. Leuit. 8 & the Le uites to do other offices about the tabernacle. Num. 3. &. 4 king Dauid (with Sadoc the high priest, and other chief men. ch. 24. [...]. 6.) disposed them by lottes which should serue by courses, to sing and play on instrumentes, as wel in the tabernacle now resting in Ierusalem, v. 26. as in the Temple when it should be built. Dauid distributed them by the 6 courses of the children of Leui, to witte, of Gerson, and Caath, and Merari. † The sonnes of Gerson: Leedan, and 7 Semei. † The sonnes of Leedan: the prince Iahiel, & Zethan, 8 and Ioel, three. † The sonnes of Semei: Salomith, and Hosiel, 9 and Aram, three: these be the princes of the familes of Leedan. † Moreouer the sonnes of Semei: Leheth, and Ziza, and 10 Iaus, and Baria: these be the sonnes of Semei, foure. † And 11 Leheth was the first, Ziza the second: moreouer Iaus and Baria had not manie children, and therfore they were counted in one familie, and in one house. † The children of Caath: 12 Amram, and Isaar, Hebron, and Oziel, foure. † The sonnes 13 of Amram, Aaron, and Moyses. And Aaron was seperated to minister in Sanctasanctorum, he and his sonnes for euer, and to burne incense to our Lord according to his rite, and to blesse his name for euer. † The sonnes of Moyses 14 also the man of God were numbred in the tribe of Leui. † The sonnes of Moyses: Gersom and Eliezari: the sonnes 15 of Gersom: Subuel the first. † And the sonnes of Eliezer 16 were: Rohobia the first: and Eleezer had noe moe sonnes. 17 Moreouer the children of Rohobia were multiplied excedingly. † The sonnes of Isaar: Salomith the first. † The 18 sonnes of Hebron: Ieriau the first, Amarias the second, 19 Iahaziel the third, Iecmaan the fourth. † The son̄nes of 20 Oziel: Micha the first, Iesia the second. † The sonnes of 21 Merari: Moholi, & Musi. The sonnes of Moholi: Eleazar and Cis. † And Eleazar died, and had no sonnes but daughters. 22 [Page 858] and the sonnes of Cis their brethren tooke them. † The 23 sonnes of Musi: Moholi, and Eder, and Ierimoth, three. † These be the children of Leui in their kinredes and families, 24 princes by courses, and number of euerie head, that did the workes of ministerie of the house of our Lord from twentie yeares, and vpward. † For Dauid sayd: Our Lord the God of 25 Israel hath geuen rest to his people, and the habitation of Ierusalem for euer. † Neither shal it be the office of the Leuites 26 to carie any more the tabernacle, and al the vessels therof to minister. † According to the last preceptes also of Dauid the 27 number of the children of Leui shalbe numbred from twentie yeares and vpward. † And they shal be vnder the hand of the 28 sonnes of Aaron for the seruice of the house of our Lord, in the entrances, and in the chambers, and in the place of purification, and in the Sanctuarie, and in al the workes of the ministerie of the temple of our Lord. † And the Priestes, ouer 29 the loaues of proposition, and for the sacrifice of floure, and for cakes and azimes, and the frying panne, and to rost, and ouer al weight and measure. † But the Leuites to stand in the 30 morning to confesse, and sing to our Lord: and in like maner at euening, † as wel in the oblation of the holocaustes of our 31 Lord, as in the Sabbathes and Calendes, and the rest of the solemnities, according to the number, and ceremonies of euerie thing, continually before our Lord. † And let them 32 keepe the obseruations of the tabernacle of couenant, and the rite of the Sanctuarie, and the obseruance of the children of Aaron their brethren, that they minister in the house of our Lord.

CHAP. XXIIII. King Dauid disposeth sixtene families of Eleazar, and eight of Ithamar, 7. by lottes, 19. to serue in the Temple, according to their priestlie function, 20. likwise principal Leuites in their offices.

MOREOVER to the sonnes of Aaron these were the 1 partions: The sonnes of Aaron: Nadab, and Abiu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar. † But Nadab and Abiu died before 2 their father without children: and Eleazar and Ithamar did the function of priesthood. † And Dauid diuided them, that is, 3 Sadoo of the sonnes of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sonnes of Ithamar, according to their courses and ministerie. † And 4 there were found manie more children of Eleazar among the [Page 859] principal men, then children of Ithamar. And he diuided to them, that is, to the children of Eleazar princes by their families sixtene: and to the children of Ithamar by their families and houses eight. † Moreouer he diuided both families 5 betwen themselues by lottes: for there were They were called princes of the Sanctuarie in respect of Sacrifices, & other sacred functions. princes of the Sanctuarie, and princes And princes of God in [...]eguard of their spiritual iurisdiction in the Church, or house of God. of God, as wel of the children of Eleazar, as of the children of Ithamar. † And Semeias 6 wrote them, the sonne of Nathanael the Scribe a Leuite, before the king and princes, and Sadoc the Priest, and Ahimelech the sonne of Abiathar, the princes also of the Priestlie and Leuitical families: one house, which was ouer the rest, Eleazars: and an other house, which had the rest vnder it, 7 Ithamars. † And the first lot came forth to Ioiarib, the second 8 to Iedei, † the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, † the 9 fifth to Melchia, the sixt to Maiman, † the seuenth to 10 Accos, the eight to Abia, † the ninth to Iesua, the tenth to 11 Sechenia, † the eleuenth to Eliasib, the twelfth to Iaeim, 12 † the thirtenth to Hoppha, the fourtenth to Isbaab, † the 13 fiftenth to Belga; the sixtenth to Emmer, † the seuententh to 14 Hezir, the eightenth to Aphses, † the ninetenth to Pheteia, 15 the twenteth to Hezechiel, † the one and twenteth to Iachin, 16 the two and twenteth to Gamul, † the three and twenteth 17 to Dalaiau, the foure and twenteth to Maaziau. † These be 18 their courses according to their ministeries, to enter into 19 the house of our Lord, and according to their rite vnder the hand of Aaron their father: as our Lord the God of Israel had commanded. † Moreouer of the children of Leui, which 20 were remayning, there was Subael of the children of Amram: and of the children of Subael, Iehedeia. † Also of the children 21 of Rohobia the prince of Iesias. † And the sonne of 22 Isaari Salemoth, and the sonne of Salemoth Iahath: † and 23 his sonne Ieriau the first, Amarias the second, Iahaziel the third, Iecmaan the fourth. † The sonne of Oziel, Micha: 24 the sonne of Micha, Samir. † The brother of Micha, Iesia: 25 and the sonne of Iesia, Zacharias. † The sonnes of Merari: 26 Moholi and Musi. The sonne of Oziau: Benno. † The sonne 27 also of Merari: Oziau, and Soam, and Zacchur, and Hebri. † Moreouer the sonne of Moholi: Eleazar, who had no children. 28 † And the sonne of Cis, Ieramael. † The sonnes of 29 Musi: Moholi, Eder, and Ierimoth. These be the sonnes of 30 of Leui according to the houses of their families. † And they 31 [Page 860] also did cast lottes agaynst their brethren the sonnes of Aaron before Dauid the king and Sadoc, and Ahimelech, and the princes of the Priestlie and Leuitical families, as wel the elder as the yonger. Lotte diuided al equally.

CHAP. XXV. Foure sonnes of Asaph, six of Idithun, and fourtene of Heman, chiefe musicians, 7. with their brethren in [...]l [...]wo hundred and fourscore, 8. are distributed by Lottes, in foure and twentie companies, to serue in the temple.

THERFORE Dauid, and the officers of the hoste seperated 1 for the ministerie the sonnes of Asaph, and Heman, and Otherwise called Ethan. ch. 6. v 44. c. 15. v. 19. Idithun: which should They played o [...] instrumentes, Psalmes and Canticles made by Prophetes. prophecie on harpes, & psalteries, & cymbals according to their number seruing the office dedicated to them. † Of the sonnes of Asaph: Zacchur, and 2 Ioseph, and Nathania, & Asarela, the sonnes of Asaph: vnder the hand of Asaph prophecying neere the king. † Moreouer 3 Idithun: the sonnes of Idithun, Godolias, Sori, Ieseias, and Hasabias, and Mathathias, six, vnder the hand of their father Idithun, who prophecied on harpe ouer them that confessed and praysed our Lord. † Of Heman also: the sonnes of Heman 4 Bocciau, Mathania [...], Oziel, Subuel, and Ierimoth, Hananias, Hanani, Eliatha, Geddelthi, and Romemthiezer, and Iesbacassa, Mellothi, Othir, Mahazioth: † al these the sonnes of 5 Heman the Seer of the king in the wordes of God, that he might exalt the horne: & God gaue to Heman fourtene sonnes and three daughters. † Al vnder their fathers were distributed 6 to sing in the temple of our Lord, on cymbals, and psalteries and harpes, for the ministeries of the house of our Lord neere the king: to witte, Asaph, and Idithun, and Heman. † And the 7 number of them with their brethren, that taught the songue of our Lord, al the teachers two hundred eightie eight. † And 8 they did cast lottes by their courses, equally as wel the elder as the yonger, the learned and the vnlearned together. † And 9 the first lotte came forth to Ioseph, which was of Asaph. The second to Godolias, to him and his sonnes, and his brethren twelue. † The third to Zachur, to his sonnes and his brethren 10 twelue. † The fourth to Isari, to his sonnes and his brethren 11 twelue. † The fifth to Nathanias, to his sonnes & his brethren 12 twelue. † The sixth to Bocciau, to his sonnes and his brethren 13 twelue. † The seueth to Isreela, to his sonnes and his brethren 14 twelue. † The eight to Iesaia, to his sonnes and his brethren 15 [Page 861] twelue. † The ninth to Mathanias, to his sonnes and his brethren 16 twelue. † The tenth to Semeias, to his sonnes and his 17 brethren twelue. † The eleuenth to Azareel, to his sonnes 18 and his brethren twelue. † The twelfth to Hasabia, to his 19 sonnes and his brethren twelue. † The thirtenth to Subacl, to 20 his sonnes and his brethren twelue. † The fourtenth to Mathathias, 21 to his sonnes and his brethren twelue. † The fiftenth 22 to Ierimoth, to his sonnes and his brethren twelue. † The 23 sixtenth to Hananias, to his sonnes and his brethren twelue. † The seuententh to Iesbacassa, to his sonnes and his brethren 24 twelue. † The eightenth to Hanani, to his sonnes and his 25 brethren twelue. † The ninetenth to Mellothi, to his sonnes 26 and his brethren twelue. † The twenteth to Eliatha, to his 27 sonnes and his brethren twelue. † The one and twenteth to 28 Othir, to his sonnes and his brethren twelue. † The two and 29 twenteth to Geddelthi, to his sonnes and his brethren twelue. † The three and twenteth to Mahazioth, to his sonnes and 30 his brethren twelue. † The foure and twenteth to Romemthiezer, 31 to his sonnes and his brethren twelue.

CHAP. XXVI Porters are designed by lottes to watch at foure gates of the temple. 20. others made kepers of the holie treasure, and vissel, 30. Officers also appointed in the two tribes and half ouer Iordan, for Gods seruice, and the kinges.

AND the diuisions of the porters: of the Corites Meselemia, 1 the sonnes of Core, of the sonnes of Asaph. † The 2 sonnes of Meselemia: Zacharias the first begotten, ladihel the second, Zabadias the third, Iathanael the fourth, † Aelam 3 the fifth, Iohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seuenth. † And 4 the sonnes of Obededom Semeias the first begotten, Iozabad the second, Ioaha the third, Sachar the fourth, Nathanael the fiifth, † Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seuenth, Phollathi 5 the eight: because our Lord blessed him. † And to 6 Semias his sonne were borne sonnes, the chiefe of their families: for they were most valiant men. † the sonnes then 7 of Semeias: O [...]hni, and Raphael, and Obed, Elizabad, and his brethren most valiant men: Eliu also, and Samachias. † Al 8 these of the sonnes of Obededom: they, and their sonnes, and their brethren most able to minister, sixtie two of Obededom. † Moreouer the sonnes of Meselemia, and their brethren 9 most strong▪ eightene. † And of Hosa, that is, of the 10 [Page 862] sonnes of Merari: Semri the prince ( Either his first sonne was dead, or was not fitte to be chief ouer the rest. for he had not a firstbegotten, and therfore his father made him chief) † Helcias 11 the second, Tabelias the third Zacharias, the fourth: al these the sonnes, and brethren to Hosa, thirtene. † These were 12 diuided into porters, that the princes also of the watches, euen as their brethren, might minister in the house of our Lord. † Lottes therfore were cast equally, both to litle, and great, by 13 their families for euerie one of the gates. † The lotte then of 14 the East fel to Selemia. Moreouer to Zacharias his sonne, a most wise man, and skilful, the North quarter chanced by lot † But to Obededom and his sonnes, toward the South: in 15 which part of the house was the councel of the ancientes. † Sephim, and Hosa toward the West, by the gate, which 16 leadeth to the way of ascent: watch against watch. † And toward 17 the East six Leuites: and toward the North foure a day: and toward the South likewise in a day foure: and where the councel was two and two. † In the celles also of the porters 18 toward the West foure in the way: and two at euerie celle. 19 † These be the diuisions of the porters of the sonnes of Core, and of Merari. † Moreouer Achias was ouer the treasures of 20 the house of God, and the vessels of the holie places. † The 21 sonnes also of Ledan, the sonnes of Gersonni: of Ledan princes of the families, Ledan, and Gersonni, Iehieli. † The 22 sonnes of Iehieli: Zathan, and Ioel his brethren ouer the treasures of the house of our Lord, † to the Amramites, and Isaarites, 23 and Hebronites, and Ozielites. † And Subael the sonne 24 of Gersom, the sonne of Moyses, chiefe ouer the treasures. † His brethren also Eliezer, whose sonne Rahabia, and his 25 sonne Isaias, and his sonne Ioram, his sonne also Zechri, and his sonne Selemith. † Selemith himself, and his bretbren ouer 26 the treasures of the sanctified holie thinges, which Dauid the king Thinges are sanctified by designation to holie vse. sanctified, and the princes of families, and the centurions, and the captaynes of the host † of the warres, and 27 of the spoyles of the battels, which they had consecrated to the maynteynance and furniture of the temple of our Lord. † And al these thinges did Samuel the Seer sanctifie, and Saul 28 the sonne of Cis, and Abner the sonne of Ner, and Ioab the sonne of Saruia: and al that had sanctified them by the hand of Selemith, and of his brethren. † But the chiefe ouer the 29 Isaarites was Chonenias▪ and his sonnes to the workes abrode ouer Israel to teach and iudge them. † Moreouer the Hebronites 30 [Page 863] Hasabias, and his brethren most able men, a thousand seuen hundred were chiefe ouer Israel beyond Iordan agaynst the West, in al the workes our Lord, and for the ministerie of the king. † And the prince of the Hebronites was Ieria according 31 to their families and kinredes. In the fourteth yeare of king Dauid they were numbred, and there were found most valiant men in Iazer Galaad, † and his brethren of stronger 32 age, two thousand seuen hundred princes of families. And Dauid the king made them ouerseers ouer the Rubenites and the Gaddites, and the halfe tribe of Manasses, for al the ministerie of God, and the king.

CHAP. XXVII. Twelue militarie tribunes, with foure and twentie thousand vnder euerie one, by course of monethes serue about the king. 16. Other twelue tribunes of the people gouerne in seueral tribes. 25. Prefectes also are made ouer the kinges treasures, cattles, and other commodities in the court, campe, and countrie.

AND the children of Israel according to their number, 1 the princes of families, tribune, and centurions, and ouerseers, that ministred to the king according to their companies, coming in and going out euerie moneth in the yeare, euerie one was chiefe ouer foure and twentie thousand. † Ouer the first companie the first moneth Iesboam was 2 chiefe the sonne of Zabdicl, and vnder him foure and twentie thousand. † Of the sonnes of Phares, the prince of al the 3 princes in the hoste the first moneth. † The companie of 4 the second moneth had Dudia an Ahohite, and after him an other named Macelloth, which gouerned part of foure and twentie thousand. † Captayne also of the third companie in 5 the third moneth, was Banaias the sonne of Ioiada the Priest: and in his diuision foure and twentie thousand. † The same 6 is Banaias the most valiant among thirtie, and aboue the thirtie. & ouer his companie Amizabad his sonne was chiefe. † The fourth, in the fourth moneth, Asahel the brother of 7 Ioab, and Zabadias his sonne after him: and in his companie foure and twentie thousand. † The fifth, in the fifth moneth, 8 prince Samaoth a Iezerite: and his companie foure and twentie thousand. † The sixth, in the sixth moneth, Hira the sonne 9 of Acces a Thecuite: and in his companie foure and twentie thousand. † The seuenth, in the seuenth moneth, Helles a 10 Phallonite of the children of Ephraim: and in his companie [Page 864] foure and twentie thousand. † The eight, in the eight moneth, 11 Sobochai an Husathite of the stocke of Sarahi: and in his companie foure and twentie thousand. † The ninth, in the 12 ninth moneth, Abiezer an Anathothite of the children of Iemini: and in his companie foure and twentie thousand. † The tenth, in the tenth moneth, Marai, and he a Netophathite 13 of the stocke of Zarahi: and in his companie foure and twentie thousand. † The eleuenth, in the eleuenth moneth, 14 Banaias, a Pharathonite of the children of Ephraim: and in his companie foure and twentie thousand. † The twelfth, 15 in the twelfth moneth, Holdai a Netophathite, of the stocke of Gothoniel: and in his companie foure and twentie thousand. † Furthermore there were chiefe ouer the tribes of 16 Israel, ouer the Rubenites, Duke Eliezer the sonne of Zechri: ouer the Simeonites, Duke Saphatias the sonne of Maacha: † ouer the Leuites, Hasabias the sonne of Camuel: ouer the 17 Aaronites, Sadoc: † ouer Iuda, Eliu the brother of Dauid: 18 ouer Issachar, Amri the sonne of Michael: † ouer the Zabulonites, 19 Iesmaias the sonne of Abdias: ouer the Nepthalites, Ierimoth thesonne of Ozriel: † ouer the children of Ephraim, 20 Osee the sonne of Ozaziu: ouer the halfe tribe of manasses, Ioel the sonne of Phadaia: † and ouer the halfe tribe of Manasses 21 in Galaad, Iaddo the sonne of Zacharias: and our Beniamin, Iasiel the sonne of Abner. † But ouer Dan, Ezrihel 22 the sonne of Ieroham: these be the princes of the children of Israel. † And Dauid King Dauid hauing hereto fore offended in commanding to number the whole people. 2. Reg. 24. would not now attempt to number al, (which were in deede innumerable) but only those that were to be disposed of in specialseruices. would not number them from twentie 23 yeares downeward: because our Lord had sayd that he would multiplie Israel“ as the starres of heauen. † Ioab the sonne of 24 Saruia beganne to number, and finished not: because vpon this there fel wrath vpon Israel: and therfore the number of them that were numbered, was not regestred in the chronicles of king Dauid. † And ouer the kinges treasures was 25 Azmoth the sonne of Adiel, and ouer those treasures, which were in the cities, and in the townes, and in the towers, Ionathan the sonne of Ozias was president. † And ouer husbandrie, 26 and the husbandmen, which tilled the ground, Ezri the sonne of Chelub was ouerseer: † and ouer the dressers of 27 vineyardes, Semeias a Romathite: and ouer the wine cellars, Zabdias an Aphonite. † For ouer the Oliuetes and the 28 figgegroues, which were in the champayne, was Balanam a Gederite: and ouer the oile cellars, Ioas. † Furthermore ouer 29 [Page 865] the heardes that fed in Saron, the ouerseer was Se [...]rai a Saronite: and ouer the oxen in the valleis Saphat the sonne of Adli: † but ouer the camels, Vbil an Ismaelite: and ouer the 30 asses, Iadias a Meronathite: † ouer the sheepe also Iazizan 31 Agatene. al these, princes of the substance of king Dauid. † And Ionathan Dauids vncle, a counseler, a man wise and 32 learned: He and Iahiel the sonne of Hachamoni were with the kinges sonnes. † Achitophel also the kinges counseler, 33 and Chusai an Arachite the kinges freinde. † After Achitophel 34 was Ioiada the sonne of Banaias, and Abiathar. And the prince of the kinges armie was Ioab.

CHAP. XXVIII. Agayne king Dauid calling al his states together, with commemoration of Gods singular fauour in electing him, and Salomon, 8. exhorteth them al, and namely his sonne to serue God sincerly: 10. and to build the temple, describing in what forme to make it.

DAVID therfore called together al the princes of Israel, 1 3. Reg. 1. the dukes of the tribes, and the heades of the compaynies, which ministred to the king: the tribunes also and the centurions, and them that were chiefe ouer the fubstance and possessions of the king, and his sonnes with the ennuches, and the mightie, and al the most viliant in the host of Ierusalem. † And when the king had risen vp, and stoode, he 2 sayd: Heare me my brethren, and my people: I meant to haue built a house, wherein the Arke of our Lord might rest, and the foote stoole of the feete of our God: and to build it I prepared al thinges. † But God sayd to me: Thou shalt not 3 build a house to my name: because thou art a man of warre, 2. Reg. 7. and hast shed bloud. † Howbeit our Lord the God of Israel 4 chose me of al the house of my father, to be king ouer Israel for euer: for So Iacob prophecied, that the royal scepter should come to the tribe of Iuda, and therein remaine til Christ. Gen. 49. of Iuda he chose the princes: moreouer of the house of Iuda, my fathers house: and of the sonnes of my father, it pleased him to choose me king ouer al Israel. † Yea 5 and of my sonnes (for our Lord hath geuen me manie sonnes) he hath chosen Salomon my sonne, to sitte in the throne of the kingdome of our Lord ouer Israel, † and he sayd to me: 6 Salomon thy sonne shal build my house, and my courtes: for him haue I chosen to me for a sonne, and I wil be to him for a father. † And I wil confirme his kingdome for euer, if he 7 shal perseuere to doe my preceptes, and my iudgementes, [Page 866] as It is here euident, that Salomon was some time the true seruant and childe of God, keeping his preceptes and as certaine, that he fel into great sinnes▪ and lost Gods grace, and finally it is doubtful in what state he died 3. Reg. 11. wherby is conuinced their vaine phancie that thinck, he who is once the child of God can neuer fal, nor become a wicked man. at this day. † Now then before al the assemblie of Israel in 8 the hearing of our God, keepe ye, & search al the commandmentes of our Lord God: that you may possesse the good land, and may leaue it to your children after you for euer. † And 9 thou Salomon, my sonne, know the God of thy father, and serue him with a persect hart, and a voluntarie minde: for our Lord searcheth al hartes, and vnderstandeth al cogitations of mindes. If thou seeke him, thou shalt finde: but if thou forsake him he wil reiect thee for euer. † Now therfore because 10 our Lord hath chosen thee to build the house of the Sanctuarie, take courage, and perfitte it. † And Dauid gaue to Salomon 11 his sonne a description of the porch, and of the temple, and of the cellars, and of the vpper loft, and of the chambers in the inner roomes, and of the house of the propitiation, † moreouer also of al the courtes, which he had thought 12 vpon, and of the chambers round about, for the treasures of the house of our Lord, and for the treasures of the holie thinges, † and of the diuisions of the Priestes and the Leuites, 13 for al the workes of the house of our Lord, and for al the vessels of the ministerie of the temple of our Lord. † Gold in 14 weight for euerie vessel of the ministerie. A weight of siluer also according to the diuersitie of the vessels and workes. † And for golden candlestickes also, and their lampes, gold 15 according to the measure of euerie candlesticke, and of the lampes. In like maner also for the siluer candlestickes, and for their lampes, according to the diuersitie of the measure, he deliuered a weight of siluer. † He gaue also gold for tables of 16 proposition, according to the diuersitie of the tables: in like maner also siluer for other siluer tables. † For flesh hookes 17 also, and phials, and censars of most pure gold, and for little lions of gold, according to the qualitie of the measure he distributed a weight, for lyon and lyon. In like maner also for lyons of siluer he seperated a diuerse weight of siluer. † And 18 for the Altar whereupon incense is burnt, he gaue most pure gold: that of it might be made a similitude of the chariote of the Cherubs spredding their winges, and couering the Arke of the couenant of our Lord. † Al thinges, quoth he, came 19 writen with the hand of our Lord vnto me: that I might vnderstand al the workes of the paterne. † Dauid also sayd 20 to Salomon his sonne: Deale mansully, and take courage, and doe it: feare not, and be not dismayed: for our Lord my God [Page 867] wil be with thee, and wil not leaue thee, nor forsake thee, til thou perfite al the worke of the ministerie of the house of our Lord. † Behold the diuisions of the Priestes and the 21 Leuites, for euerie ministerie of the house of our Lord, assist thee, and are readie, and as wel the princes know, as the people, to doe al thy preceptes.

CHAP. XXIX. King Dauid once more by word, and example of his owne bountisulnes, inuiteth others to assist in building the temple, 6. wherto the princes and people contribute much. 10. So after praises, 18. prayeres, 21. and sacrifices offered to God, 22. Salomon is annointed king. 26. And king Dauid dieth blessedly, hauing reigned fourtie yeares.

AND Dauid the king spake to al the assemblie: Salomon 1 my sonne alone hath God chosen, as yet a child and a litle tender one: for the worke is great, neither is the habitation prepared for man, but for God. † And I with al my 2 abilitie haue prepared the expenses of the house of my God. Gold for vessels of gold, and siluer for them of siluer, brasse for them of brasse, yron for them of yron, wood for them of wood: and onyx stones, and as it were a kind of sinne white stone. stibians, & of diuerse colours, and euerie precious stone, and marble of Paros most abundantly: † and aboue these thinges, which I haue offered 3 into the house of my God, I geue That which he had already vowed and prepared he counted not his owne, and now goueth more to the building and [...]thing of the Temple. of myne owne peculiar goods, gold and siluer vnto the temple of my God, beside those thinges, which I haue prepared for the holie house. † Three thousand talentes of gold of the gold of Ophir: and 4 seuen thousand talentes of most approued siluer, to guilte the walles of the temple. † And, wheresoeuer there needeth 5 gold, of gold: and whersoeuer there needeth siluer, of siluer: let the workes be made by the handes of the artificers: and if any man offer voluntarily, let him fil his hand to day, and offer what he wil to our Lord. † The princes therfore of the 6 families promised, and the nobles of the tribes of Israel, the tribunes also and the centurions, and the princes of the kinges possessions. † And they gaue vnto the workes 7 of the house of our Lord, of gold, fiue thousand talentes, and ten thousand solidos: of siluer ten thousand talentes, and of brasse eightene thousand talentes: of yron also an hundred thousand talentes. † And with whomsoeuer were 8 found stones, they gaue them into the treasures of the house [Page 868] of our Lord, by the hand of Iahiel the Gersonite. † And the 9 people reioysed, when they promised vowes of their owne accord: because they did offer them to our Lord with al their hart: yea and Dauid the king reioysed with great ioy. † And 10 he blessed our Lord before al the multitude, and he sayd: Blessed art thou ô Lord the God of Israel our father from eternitie vnto eternitie. † Thine ô Lord is the magnificence, and 11 might, and glorie, and victorie: & to thee is the prayse: for al thinges that be in heauen, and in the earth, are thine: thine ô Lord is the kingdom, and thou art ouer al princes. † Thine are 12 riches and thine is glorie: thou hast dominion ouer al, in thy hand is power & might: in thy hand greatenesse, and the empire of al thinges. † Now therfore our God we confesse to 13 thee, and we prayse thy glorious name. † Who am I, and what 14 is my people, that we can promisse thee al these thinges? al are thine: and thinges that we receiued of thy hand, we haue geuen thee. † For we are pilgrimes before thee, and strangers, 15 As Abraham Isaac Iacob and others were strāgers in respect of Chanaan: so both they and also Dauid Salomon and al men in this world are pilgrimes in respect of heauen. Heb. 13. as al our fathers. Our daies are as a shadow vpon the earth, and there is noe abyding. † Lord our God, al this plentie, 16 which we haue prepared that a house might be built to thy holie name, is of thy hand, and al thinges are thine. † I know 17 my God that thou prouest the hartes, and louest simplicitie, wherfore I also in the simplicitie of my hart, gladly haue offered al these thinges: and thy people, which is here found, I haue sene with great ioy offer thee donaries. † Lord God of 18 Abraham, and Isaac, and Israel our fathers, keepe for euer this wil of their hart, and let this mind reinayne al waies to the honour of thee. † To Salomon also my sonne geue a 19 perfect hart, that he keepe thy commandementes, thy testimonies, and thy ceremonies, and doe al thinges: and build the house, the expenses whereof I haue prepared. † And 20 Dauid commanded the whole assemblie: Blesse ye our Lord God. And al the assemblie blessed our Lord the God of their fathers: and they Albeit they did the same exterior act of honour to God and the king: yet in their mind & intention they gaue diuine honour to God, and ciuil to the king. See Exod. 20. bowed themselues, and adored God, and then the king. † And they immolated victime to our Lord: 21 and they offered holocaustes the day folowing, oxen a thousand, rammes a thousand, lambes a thousand with their libamentes, & with al rite most abundantly for al Israel. † And 22 [...]. Reg. 1. v. 34. they did eate, and drinke before our Lord in that day with great ioy. And they anoynted the second time Salomon the sonne of Dauid. And they anoynted him to our Lord for the [Page 869] prince, and Sadoc for the high priest. † And Salomon sate 23 vpon the throne of our Lord as king for Dauid his father, and he pleased al: & al Israel obeyed him. † Yea and al the princes, 24 and men of might, and al the sonnes of king Dauid gaue their hand, and were subiect to Salomon the king. † Our Lord 25 therfore magnified Salomon ouer al Israel: and gaue him the glorie of akingdom, such as no king of Israel had before him. † Dauid therfore the sonne of Isai reigned ouer al Israel. 26 † And the daies, that he reigned ouer Israel, were fourtie 27 yeares: in Hebron he reigned seuen yeares, and in Ierusalem three and thirtie yeares. † And he died in a good age, ful of 28 daies, and riches, and glorie. And Salomon his sonne reigned for him. † But the actes of king Dauid the first and the last 29 are writen in the Booke of Samuel the Seer, & in the Booke of Either Nathan and Gad writ the later part of the first booke, and the second booke of kinges, or els their bookes are not now extant. Nathan the prophete, & in the Volume of Gad the Seer: † and of al his kingdom, and strength, and of the times, that 30 passed vnder him, either in Israel, or in al the kingdomes of the earth.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON.

AS the former booke sheweth, how after manie generations from the 1. Par. 1. The connexion of this booke with the former. beginning of the world, God selecting one special nation for his peculiar people, and the same being afterwardes made a kingdome, the Scepter therof, both by Gods and the peoples election, came to Dauid, and his sonne Salomon: 11. 28. See this booke declareth that first Salomon reigned peaccably ouer the whole kingdom. in the nine first chapters. Then, in the other twentie The contentes diuided into two partes. seuen chapters, relateth how the same kingdom was diuided, tenne tribes being taken away (the historie wherof is but here briefly touched) and two only, with the title of the kingdom of Iuda, were possessed, by succession of ninetenne kinges, al of Dauids and Salomons issue, in royal estate til the captiuitie in Babylon.

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THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON. IN HEBREW, DIBRE HAIAMIM.

CHAP. I. Salomon establi [...]hed in the throne, offereth a thousand hostes of sacrifice, 7. asking wisdome, 12. it is geuen him; with richesse, and temporal glorie, which he asked not. 14. He prouideth manie chariottes and horsemen.

SALOMON therfore the sonne of Dauid was 1 strengthened in his kingdom, and our Lord The first part. Salomons reigne in the whole kingdome. was with him, and magnified him on high. † And Salomon commanded al Israel, the 2 tribunes, and the centurious, and the dukes, and iudges of al Israel, and the princes of the families: † and he went with al the multitude into the 3 Excelse of Gabaon, where was the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord, which Moyses the seruant of God made, in the wildernesse. † For Dauid had brought the Arke of God from 4 Cariathiarim into the place, which he had prepared for it, 1. Pala [...]. 13. and where he had pitcht a tabernacle for it, that is, in Ierusalem. † The altar also of brasse, which Beseleel the sonne 5 of Vri the sonne of Hur had made was there before the tabernacle of our Lord: which also Salomon sought, and al the assemblie. † And Salomon went vp to the altar of brasse, before 6 the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord, and offered on it a thousand hostes † And behold in that verie night God 7 appeared to him, saying: Aske what thou wilt that I may geue it thee. † And Salomon sayd to God: Thou hast done 8 great mercie with my father Dauid: and hast made me king for him. † Now therfore Lord God be thy word fulfilled, 9 which thou hast promised to Dauid my father: for thou hast made me king ouer thy people great in number, which is so innumerable as the dust of the earth. † Geue me wisdom and 10 intelligence, that I may come in & goe out before thy people: for who can worthely iudge this thy people, which is so great? † And God sayd to Salomon: Because this rather hath pleased 11 thy hart, and thou hast not asked riches, and substance, and glorie, nor their liues that hate thee, no nor manie dayes of life: [Page 871] but hast desired wisdom and knowledge, that thou mayst be able to iudge my people, ouer which I haue made thee king. † Wisdom and knowledge are geuen thee: and riches, and 12 substance and glorie I wil geue thee, soe that none among the kinges neither before thee, nor after thee shal be like thee. † Salomon therfore came from the Excelse of Gabaon into 13 Ierusalem before the tabernacle of couenant, & reigned ouer Israel. † And he gathered to him chariotes and horsemen, 14 and there amounted to him a thousand foure hundred chariotes, and twelue thousand horsemen: and he caused them to be in the cities of the chariotes, and with the king in Ierusalem. † And the king gaue siluer and gold in Ierusalem It is the maner of holie scripture to expresse thinges exceding vulgar capacitie by the figure Hyperbole. as 15 stones, & cedartrees as sycomores, which grow in the champayne in great multitude. † And there were horses brought 16 him from Aegypt, and from Coa by the kinges merchantes, which went, and brought by a price, † a chariote of foure 17 horses for six hundred peces of siluer, and an horse for an hundred fiftie: in like maner of al the kingdomes of Hetheites, and of the kinges of Syria market was made.

CHAP. II. Other workemen being prouided to build the Temple, 7. Salomon procureth a cunning artificer from the king of Tyre, and special timber, 16. to be cutte, and sent from thence.

AND Salomon determined to build a house to the name 1 of our Lord, and a palace for himself. † And he numbred 2 seuentie thousand men that caried on their shoulders, [...]. Reg. 5. and eightie thousand that should hew stones in the mountaynes, and ouerseers of them three thousand six hundred. † He sent also to Hiram the king of Tyre, saying: As thou 3 didst with Dauid my father, and didst send him cedar trees, to build him a house, wherin also he dwelt: † so doe with me 4 that I may build a house to the name of our Lord my God, that I may consecrate it to burne incense before him, and to perfume with aromatical spices, and to the euerlasting proposition of loaues, and for holocaustes, morning and euening, on the sabbathes also, and the newmoones, and the solemnities of our Lord God for euer, which are commanded Israel. † For 5 the house which I desire to build, is great: for our God is great aboue al goddes. † Who then can be able, to build him a 6 worthie house? if heauen, and the heauens of heauens can not conteyne him: how great am I, that I may build him a [Page 872] house? but to this end only, that incense may be burnt before him. † Send me therfore a cunning man, that hath skil to 7 worke in gold, and siluer, brasse, and yron, purple, scarlet, and hyacinth, and that knoweth to make engraued workes with these artificers, which I haue with me in Iewrie, and Ierusalem, whom Dauid my father prepared. † But send me 8 also cedar trees, firretrees, and pintrees from Libanus: for I know that thy seruantes haue skil to hew the timber of Libanus, and my seruantes shal be with thy seruantes, † that 9 manie trees may be prepared for me. For the house which I desire to build, is exceding great, and glorious. † Moreouer 10 to the workemen, that shal hew the trees, thy seruantes, I wil geue for victuals of wheat twentie thousand cores, and of barley as manie cores, and of wine twentie thousand, oyle also twentie thousand sates † And Hiram the king 11 of Tyre by letters, which he sent to Salomon, sayd: Because the Lord loued his people, therfore hath he made thee to reigne ouer it. † And he added, saying: Blessed be the Lord 12 the God of Israel, that made heauen and earth, who hath geuen to Dauid the king a sonne wise and learned, and of vnderstanding, and prudent, to build a house to the Lord, and a palace for himself. † I therfore haue sent thee a man wise 13 and most skilful Hiram, It is probable, that this man had instructed the king of Tyre in true religion of one God whom he confesseth. v. 11. 12. and that therfore the king called him his father. my father, † the sonne of a woman 14 of the daughters of Dan, whose father was a Tyrian, who knoweth to worke in gold, and siluer, brasse, and yron, and marble, and in timber, in purple also, and hiacinth, and silke and scarlet: and that knoweth to graue al engrauing, and to deuise wisely whatsoeuer in the worke is necessarie with thy artificers, and with the artificers of my lord Dauid thy father. † The wheate therfore, and barley, and oile, and wine, which 15 thou my lord hast promised, send to thy seruantes. † And we 16 wil cut downe the trees out of Libanus, as manie as shal be necessarie for thee, and wil conuey them in boates by the sea vnto Ioppe: and it shal be thy part to transport them into Ierusalem. † Salomon therfore numbred al the men, that were 17 proselytes in the land of Israel, after the numbering which Dauid his father numbered, and they were found an hundred fiftie three thousand and six hundred. † And he made of them 18 seuentie thousand, that should carie burdens on their shoulders, and eightie thousand, that should cut stones out of the mountaynes: and three thousand and six hundred ouerseers of the worke of the people.

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CHAP. III. The Temple is begunne to be built in mount Moria, the fourth yeare of Salomons reigne. 3. the forme wherof is described, and the precious matter, 8. especially of Sancta sanctorum. 14. with a costlie veile, 15. and two excellent pillers before the gate.

AND Salomon began to build the house of our Lord in 1 Ierusalem, in mount This mount Moria, signifying vision, was so named by Abraham, who was there readie to sacrifice his sonne Isaac Gen. 22. Moria, which had bene shewed to Dauid his father, in the place, which And Dauid, by the appointment of an Angel, offered there sacrifice. [...]. Reg. 24. [...]. Par. 21. Dauid had prepared 2 Reg. 24 3. Reg. 6. in the floore of Ornan the Iebuseite. † And he began to 2 build in the second moneth, in the fourth yeare of his kingdom. † And these be the fundations, which Salomon layd, 3 to build the house of God, of length in the first measure sixtie cubites, of bredth twentie cubites. † But the porch 4 before the front, which was extended in length according to the measure of the bredth of the house, of twentie cubites: moreouer the height was of an hundred twentie cubites: and he did guilt it on the inside with most pure gold. † Also 5 the greater house he couered with wodden bordes of firretree, and he fastened on plates of fine gold throughout: and he graued in it palme trees, and as it were litle chaines embracing one an other. † He paued also the floore of the 6 Temple with most precious marble, in much beautie. † Moreouer 7 it was most tried gold, of the plates wherof he couered the house, and the beames therof, and the postes, and the walles, and the doores: and he graued cherubs in the walles. † He made also the house of Sanctum sanctorum: the length 8 according to the bredth of the house, of twentie cubites: and the bredth likewise of it twentie cubites: and he couered it with plates of gold, as it were six hundred talentes. † Yea 9 and he made nailes of gold, so that euerie naile weighed fiftie sicles a peece: the vpper chambers also he couered with gold. † He made also in the house of Sanctum sanctorum 10 two Cherubs of statuarie worke: and he couered them with gold. † The winges of the cherubs were extended twentie 11 cubites, so that one wing had fiue cubites, and touched the wal of the house: and the other hauing fiue cubites, touched the wing of the other cherub. † In like maner the wing of 12 the other cherub, had fiue cubites, and touched the wal: and his other wing of fiue cubites, touched the wing of the other Cherub. † Therfore the winges of both the cherubs 13 [Page 874] were spred forth, and were extended twentie cubites: and they stoode vpright on their feete, and their faces were turned to the vtter house. † He made also a vele of hyacinth, purple, 14 scarlet, and silke: & woue in it cherubs. † Before the doores 15 also of the temple two pillers, which had fiue and thirtie cubites in height: moreouer their heades, of fiue cubites. † Moreouer 16 also as it were litle chaynes in the oracle, & he put them to the heades of the pillers: pomegranates also an hundred, which he put betwen the litle chaynes. † The pillers also them 17 selues he put in the entrance of the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left: that, which was on the right 3. Reg. 7. hand, he called Iachin: and that on the left hand, Boz.

CHAP. IIII. The formes of the brasen altar, 2. of the lauatorie (or Sea) with figures of twelue oxen, 6. of other tenne smal lauatories, 7. tenne candlestickes, 8. tenne tables, and an hundred bassens, a great hal for the Priestes, 10. and other vessel, and ornamentes of the Temple are described.

HE made also an altar of brasse As wel the Temple as the Altars, and other appertinances were made after the forme of Moyses Tabernacle altares of sacrifice & incense, and the rest: but greater in quantitie, of more precious matter, and more excellent workmanship. of twentie cubites in 1 length, and of twentie cubites in bredth, and of ten cubites in height. † A great brasen vessel, and some other thinges that were not before. A Sea also cast, ten cubites from brimme 2 to brimme, round in compasse: it had fiue cubites in height, 3. Reg. 7. and a corde of thirtie cubires did compasse it round about. † There was also vnder it the similitude of oxen, and certaine 3 engrauinges of ten cubites on the outside compassed the bealie of the Sea, as it were with two rewes. † And the oxen 4 were cast: and the Sea it self was sette vpon the twelue oxen, of the which three looked toward the North, and other three to the West: moreouer other three to the South, and the three that remayned, to the East, hauing the Sea put vpon them: and the hinder partes of the oxen were inward vnder the sea. † Moreouer the thicknesse therof had the measure 5 of a palme, and the brimme therof was as it were the brimme of a chalice, or of a crisped lilie: and it held three thousand metretes. † He made also ten lauatories: and set fiue on the 6 right hand, and fiue on the left, that they might wash in them al thinges, that they would offer for holocaust: moreouer in the Sea the priestes were washed. † And he made also 7 Also a greatter number of candlestickes, and other the like. ten golden candlestickes, according to the fashion which they were commanded to be made by: and he set them in the temple, fiue on the right hand, & fiue on the left. † Moreouer 8 also ten tables: and he set them in the temple, fiue on [Page 875] the right hand, and fiue on the left. Phials also of gold an hundred. † He made also the court of the priestes, and a great 9 hal: and doores in the hal, which he couered with brasse. † Moreouer he set the Sea on the right side agaynst the East 10 toward the South. † And Hiram made cauldrons, and flesh 11 hookes, and phials: and accomplished al the kinges worke in the house of God: † that is to say, two pillers, and the or pommels. chapiters, 12 and the heades, and asit were certayne litle nettes, which should couer the heades ouer the chapiters. † Pomegranates 13 also foure hundred, and two litle nettes, soe that two rewes of the pomegranates were ioyned to ech litle nette, which couered the pommels, and the heades of the pillers. † He made feete also, and lauatories, which he put 14 vpon the feete: † one sea, also twelue oxen vnder the sea. 15 † And the cauldrons, and flesh hookes, and phials. Al the 16 vessels did Hiram his father make for Salomon in the house of our Lord of most pure brasse. † In the countrie of Iordan 17 did the king cast them, in a clay ground bewen Socot and Saredatha. † And the multitude of vessels was innumerable, so 18 that the weight of the brasse was not knowen. † And Salomon 19 made al the vessels of the house of God, and the golden altar, and the tables, & vpon them the loaues of proposition, † the candlestickes also with their lampes to giue light before 20 the oracle, according to the rite, of most pure gold: † and 21 certayne florishing thinges, and lampes, and golden tonges al were made of most fine gold. † The vessels also of persume 22 and censars, and phials, and litle mortars, of most pure gold. And he graued the doores of the inner temple, that is, in Sancta sanctorum: and the doores of the temple without of gold. And so al the worke was finishd which Salomon made in the house of our Lord.

CHAP. V. Manie giftes are offered. 4. The Arke is brought with great solennitie into the Temple. 6. Innumerable hostes are offered, 11. with excellent musick, & the Temple is replenished with the glorie of God.

SALOMON therfore brought in al the thinges, that Dauid 1 his father had vowed, the siluer, and gold, and al the vessels he put in the treasures of the house of God. † After which 2 thinges he gathered together al the ancientes of Israel, and 3. Reg. 7. al the princes of the tribes, and the heades of families, of the [Page 876] children of Israel into Ierusalem, to bring An other Arke was not made, because that was most holie & most excellent, which Moyses made. Likewise other holie thinges of the tabernacle were brought into the Temple with great solemnitie. the Arke of the couenant of our Lord from the Citie of Dauid, which is Sion. † There came therfore vnto the king al the men of Israel in 3 the solemne day of the seuenth moneth. † And when al the 4 ancientes of Israel were come, the Leuites caried the Arke, † and brought it in, and al the furniture of the tabernacle. 5 Moreouer the Priestes, with the Leuites did carrie the vessels of the Sanctuarie, which were in the tabernacle. † And king 6 Salomon, and al the assemblie of Israel, and al that were gathered before the Arke, immolated rammes, and oxen without anie number: for so great was the multitude of victimes. † And the priestes brought in the Arke of the couenant 7 of our Lord into his place, that is, to the oracle of the temple, into Sancta sanctorum vnder the winges of the cherubs: † so that the cherubs spred their winges ouer the 8 place, wherin the Arke was set, and couered the Arke it selfe with his barres. † And the heades of the barres, wherwith 9 the Arke was caried, because they were a litle longer, appeared before the oracle: but if a man had beene a litle outward, he could not see them. The Arke therfore was there vntil this present day. † And there was nothing in the Arke, but 10 the two tables, which Moyses had put in Horeb, when our Lord gaue the law to the children of Israel coming out of Aegypt. † And the Priestes being gone out of the Sanctuarie 11 (for al the priestes that could be found there, were sanctified, neither as yet at that time were the courses, and the order of the ministeries deuided among them)▪ † as wel the Leuites 12 as the singing men, that is, both they which were vnder Asaph, and they which were vnder Heman, and they which were vnder Idithun, their sonnes, & brethren reuested with finne linnen clothes, sounded on cymbals, and psalteries, and harpes, standing at the East side of the Altar, and with them Priestes an hundred twentie, founding with trumpettes. † Therfore al sounding together, both with trumpettes, and 13 voyce, and cymbals, and organes, and with diuerse kind of musical instrumentes, and lifteng vp their voice on high: the sound was heard far of, so that when they began to prayse our Lord, and to say: Confesse to our Lord because he is good, because his mercie is for euer: the house of God was filled with a cloud, † that the Priestes could not stand and minister 14 for the darkenesse. For the glorie of our Lord had filled the house of God.

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CHAP. VI. Salomon blesseth the people. 4. prayeth to God, geuing thankes for benefites receiued, 16. and requesting continual protection, and that God wil heare the prayers of the people, 32. yea also of strangers that pray in the Temple.

THEN Salomon sayd: Our Lord promised that he would 1 dwel God shewed his presence by the darke cloud which replenished the Temple. in darkenesse: † and I haue built a house to his 2 name, that he might dwel there for euer. † And the king 3 turned his face, and blessed al the multitude of Israel (for al the multitude stood attent) and sayd: † Blessed be our Lord 4 the God of Israel, who in worke hath accomplished that, which he spake to Dauid my father, saying: † From the day, 5 that I brought my people out of the Land of Aegypt, I chose not a citie of al the tribes of Israel, that a house might be built in it to my name: neither did I choose anie other man, to be Duke in my people Israel. † but I chose Ierusalem, that my, 6 name may be in it: and I chose Dauid, that I might appoynt him ouer my people Israel. † And wheras Dauid my father 7 had meant to build a house to the name of our Lord the God of Israel, † our Lord sayd to him: Because thy wil was this, 8 that thou wouldest build a house to my name, thou hast done wel certes to haue such a wil: † howbeit thou shalt not build 9 the house, but thy sonne, which shal come out of thy loynes, he shal build a house to my name. † Our Lord therfore hath 10 accomplished his word, which he spake: and I am risen for Dauid my father, and sit vpon the throne of Israel, as our Lord hath spoken: and haue built a house to the name of our Lord the God of Israel. † And I haue put in it the Arke, 11 wherin is the couenant of our Lord, which he made with the children of Israel: † He therfore stoode before the Altar 12 of our Lord, ouer agaynst al the multitude of Israel, and stretched forth his handes. † For Salomon had made an eminent 13 place of brasse, and had put it in the middes of the Basilicae. Temple, hauing fiue cubites of length, & bredth, & three of height: & he stoode vpon it: & afterward Kneeling, kn̄eeling ouer agaynst al the multitude of Israel, and Lifting vp handes, stretching forth armes, and the like external gestures do much helpe internal attention in prayer, and also sturre vp others to godlie imitation▪ and therfore hath bene much practised by deuout persons both in the old and new Testament. his handes lifted vp toward heauen, † he sayd: Lord God of Israel, there is not the like God to thee 14 in heauen and in earth: which keepest couenant and mercie with thy seruantes, that walke before thee in al their hart: † which hast performed to thy seruant Dauid my father what 15 thinges soeuer thou hadst spoken to him: and the thinges that [Page 878] by mouth thou hadst promised, in worke thou hast accomplished, as also the present time proueth. † Now therfore Lord 16 God of Israel, fulfil to thy seruant my father Dauid, what soeuer thou didst speake to him, saying: There shal not fayle of thee a man before me, to sitte vpon the throne of Israel: yet so if thy children keepe their waies, and walke in my law, as thou also hast walked before me. † And now Lord God of 17 Israel, be thy word confirmed, which thou hast spoken to thy seruant Dauid. † Is it credible then that God should 18 dwel with men vpon the earth? If heauen and the heauens of heauens doe not take thee, how much more this house, which I haue built? † But to this end only it is made, that 19 thou shouldest respect the prayer of thy seruant, and his supplication Lord my God: and mayst heare the prayers, which thy seruant powreth out before thee: † that thou open thine 20 eies vpon this house daies & nightes, vpon the place, wherein thou hast promised that thy name should be inuocated, † and 21 wouldest heare the prayer, which thy seruant prayeth in it: and mayst heare the prayers of thy seruant, and of thy people Israel. Whosoeuer shal pray in this place, heare out of thy habitation, that is from the heauens, and be propitious. † If 22 anie man shal sinne agaynst his neighbour, and come readie to sweare agaynst him, and binde himself with a curse before the altar in this house: † thou shalt heare from heauen, and 23 shalt doe the iudgement of thy seruantes, so that thou render to the vniust his way vpon his owne head, and reuenge the iust, rewarding him according to his iustice. † If thy people 24 Israel shal be ouercome of their enemies, (for they wil sinne to thee) and conuerted shal doe penance, and besech thy name, and pray in this place, † thou shalt heare from heauen, 25 and be thou propetious to the sinne of thy people Israel, and reduce them into the land, which thou gauest them, and their fathers. † If the heauen being shut, there fal no rayne for the 26 sinnes of the people, and they shal besech thee in this place, and shal confesse to thy name, and shal be conuerted from their sinnes, when thou shalt afflict them, † heare from 27 heauen ô Lord, and forgeue the sinnes of thy seruantes and of thy people Israel, and teach them the good way, by the which they may goe: and geue rayne to thy land, which thou hast geuen thy people to possesse. † If famine shal arise in the land, 28 and pestilence, rust, and blast, and locust, and bruche, and the [Page 879] enemies, wasting the countries, shal besiege the gates of the citie, and al plague and infirmitie shal presse them: † if any of 29 thy people Israel shal pray; knowing their plague and infirmitie, and shal spred forth their handes in In this chapter and often els where it is euident, that places dedicated to Gods seruice are more acceptable to him, then other places. this house, † thou 30 shalt heare from heauen, to wit, out of thy high habitation, and be thou propitious, and render to euerie one according to his wayes, which thou knowest him to haue in his hart: (for thou onlie knowest the hartes of the children of men:) † that 31 they may feare thee, and walke in thy waies al the daies, that they liue vpon the face of the land, which thou hast geuen to our fathers. † The Forener also, which is not of thy people Israel, 32 if he come from a far countrie, for thy strong hand, & thy streched out arme, and adore in this place: † thou shalt heare 33 from heauen thy most firme habitation, & shalt do al thinges, for the which that pilgrime shal inuocate thee: that al the peoples of the earth may know thy name, and may feare thee, as thy people Israel, and may know, that thy name is inuocated vpon this house, which I haue built. † If thy people shal 34 goe forth to warre agaynst their aduersaries, by the way, that thou shalt send them, shal adore thee agaynst the way, wherein is this citie, which thou hast chosen, and the house, which I haue built to thy name: † thou shalt from heauen heare their 35 prayers, and petition, and doe thou reuenge. † And if they shal 36 sinne to thee (for there is no man that sinneth not) and thou be angrie with them, and deliuer them to the enemies, and they leade them captiue into a farre countrie, or which is neere at the least, † and being conuerted in their hart in the 37 land, to the which they were led captiue, shal doe penance, and shal besech thee in the land of their captiuitie, sayng: We haue sinned, we haue done wickedly, we haue delt vniustly: † and shal returne to thee in al their hart, and in al their soule, 38 in the land of their captiuitie, to the which they were led, shal adore thee agaynst the way of their land, which thou gauest their fathers, and of the citie, which thou hast chosen, and of the house, which I haue built to thy name: † thou 39 shalt heare from heauen, that is, from thy firme habitation their prayers, and doe thou iudgement, and forgeue thy people, although sinneful: † for thou art my God: let thine 40 eies, I besech thee, be opened, and let thine eares be attent, to the prayer, that is made in this place. † Now therfore arise 41 Lord God in thy rest, thou and the Arke of thy strength: Let [Page] thy Priestes Lord God put on saluation, & thy Saintes reioyse in good thinges. † Lord God turne not away from the face 42 of my Christ: remember the mercies of Dauid thy seruant.

CHAP. VII. Fire from heauen deuoureth the holocaustes, and glorie replenisheth the Temple. 5. More sacrifices are offered, 8. and the Temple is dedicated, with seven daies solemnitie, the eight day collection is made. 12. God signifieth that he hath heard Salomons prayer. 17. conditionally (as it was made) if they serue him, 19. otherwise he wil punish them.

AND when Salomon had finished to poure out his 1 prayers, fyre descended from heauen, and deuoured the holocaustes and victimes: and the maiestie of our Lord filled the house. † Neither could the Priestes enter into the 2 Temple of our Lord, because the maiestie of our Lord had filled the temple of our Lord. † Yea and al the children of 3 Israel sawe the fyre descending, and the glorie of our Lord vpon the house: and falling flat on the earth vpon the pauement paued with stone, they adored, and praysed our Lord: Because he is good, because his mercie is for euer. † And 4 the king and al the people immolated victimes before our Lord. †. King Salomon therfore killed hostes, of oxen 5 twentie two thousand, of rammes an hundred twentie thousand: and the king and al the people dedicated the house of God. † And the Priestes stood in their offices: and the Leuites 6 with the instrumentes of the songues of our Lord, which Dauid the king made to prayse our Lord: Because his mercie is for euer, singing As the Temple was the special place of prayer, chosen by God: v. 12 so special Hymm [...]s Psalmes and other set formes of blessing are more gratful to God, and more effectual to his seruantes. the hymnes of Dauid by their handes: moreouer the Priestes sounded with trumpettes before them, and al Israel stood. † Salomon also sanctified 7 the middes of the court before the temple of our Lord: for he had offered there the holocaustes, and the fatte of the pacifiques: because the brasen altar, which he had made, could not susteyne the holocaustes and the sacrifices and the fatte. † Salomon therfore made a solemnitie at that time seuen 8 daies, and al Israel with him, an assemblie verie great, from the entrance of Emath to the Torrent of Aegypt. † And he 9 made in the eight day an assemblie, because he had dedicated the altar seuen daies, and had celebrated the solemnitie seuen daies. † Therfore in the three and twenteth day of the seuenth 10 moneth, he dismist the people to their tabernacles, [Page 881] reioysing and being glad for the good, that our Lord had done to Dauid, and Salomon, and Israel his people. † And 11 Salomon accomplished the house of our Lord, and the house of the king, and al that he had disposed in his hart to do, in the house of our Lord, and in his owne house, and he prospered. † And our Lord appeared to him by night, and sayd: 12 I haue heard thy prayer, and haue chosen this place to me for a house of sacrifice. † If I shal shut heauen, and rayne fal 13 not, and shal bid and command the locust to deuoure the land, and shal send pestilence into my people: † and my 14 people being conuerted, vpon whom my name is inuocated, shal besech me, and seeke out my face, and shal doe penance from their most wicked waies: I also wil heare from heauen, and wil be propitious to their sinnes, and wil saue their land. † Mine eies also shal be opened, and mine eares 15 erected to his prayer, that shal pray in this place. † For I 16 haue chosen, and haue sanctified this place, that my name may be there for euer, and mine eies and my hart may remaine there al daies. † Thou also if thou walke before me, as Dauid 17 thy father walked, and shalt doe according to al thinges, which I haue commanded thee, and shalt keepe my iustices and iudgementes: † I wil rayse vp the throne of thy kingdom, 18 as I promised to Dauid thy father, saying: There shal not be taken away of thy stocke a man, that shal be prince in Israel. † But if you shal be turned away, and shal forsake my 19 iustices, and my preceptes, which I haue proposed to you, and going shal serue strange goddes, and adore them, † I 20 wil plucke you out of my land, which I haue geuen you: and this house, which I haue sanctified to my name, I wil cast away from my face, and wil deliuer it for a parable, and an exemple to al peoples. † And this house shal be for a prouerbe 21 to al passengers, and they shal say being astonyshed: Why hath the Lord done so to this land, and to this house? † And 22 they shal answer: Because they forsooke the Lord the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the Land of Aegypt, and tooke hold of strange goddes, and adored them, and worshipped them: therfore are al these euils come vpon them.

CHAP. VIII. Salomon buildeth diuers cities, 7. maketh the residue of the Chananites tributarie. 12. offereth the ordinarie hostes of sacrifices in the solemne feastes. [Page 882] 14. disposeth the Priestes and Leuites in their offices, as Dauid had ordained: 17. and sendeth shippes to fetch gold from Ophir.

AND twentie yeares being complete after that Salomon 1 built the house of our Lord and his owne house: † he 2 built the cities, which Hiram had geuen to Salomon, and made the children of Israel dwel there. † He went also into 3 Emath Suba, and obteyned it. † And he built Palmira in the 4 desert, and he built other cities very wel fensed in Emath. † And he built Beth horon the vpper, and Beth horon the 5 nether, walled cities hauing gates and barrigates and lockes. † Balaath also and al the strongest cities that were Salomons, 6 and al the cities of the chariotes, and the cities of the horsemen. Al thinges whatsoeuer Salomon would, & disposed, he built in Ierusalem and in Libanus, and in al the land of his dominion. † Al the people that was leaft of the Hetheites, and 7 Amorrheites, and Pherezeites, and Heueites, and Iebuseites, which were not of the stocke of Israel, † of their children: 8 and of the posteritie, which the children of Israel had not slaine, Salomon subdewed to be tributaries, vntil this day. † Moreouer of the children of Israel he sette not to serue the 9 kinges workes: for they were men of warre, and the chiefe captaines, and princes of his chariotes and horsemen. † And 10 al the princes of king Salomons armie were two hundred fiftie, which taught the people. † But the daughter of 11 Pharao he remoued from the citie of Dauid, into the house, which he had built for her. For the king sayd: My wife shal not dwel in the house of Dauid the king of Israel, Salomon was yet so farre from communicating with Infidels, that he suffered not his wife (an infidel) to be present where the Arke of God had bene placed. 1. Par. 15. because it is sanctified: because the Arke of our Lord is entered into it. † Then Salomon offered holocaustes to our Lord vpon 12 the altar of our Lord, which he had built before the porch, † that euerie day there might be offering on it▪ according to 13 the precept of Moyses, in the Sabbathes, and in the Calendes, and in the festiual daies thrise a yere, that is to say, in the Solemnitie of Azymes, and in the Solemnitie of weekes, and in the Solemnitie of tabernacles. † And he appoynted according 14 to the disposition of Dauid his father the offices of the Priestes in their ministeries: & the Leuites in their order that they should prayse, and minister before the Priestes according to the rite of euerie day: & the porters in their diuisions by gate and gate: (for so Dauid the man of God had [Page 883] commanded. † Neither did they trangresse of the kinges 15 commandementes as wel the Priestes as the Leuites, touching al thinges, that he had commanded, and in the custodies of the treasures. † Salomon had al expenses prepared, from the 16 day that he founded the house of our Lord, vntil the day wherein he perfitted it. † Then went Salomon into Asiongaber, 17 and into Ailath to the coast of the Red sea, which is in the Land of Edom. † And Hiram sent vnto him by the 18 handes of his seruantes, shippes, and cunning mariners, and they went with Salomons seruantes into Ophir, and they tooke from thence foure hundred fiftie talentes of gold, and brought it to king Salomon.

CHAP. IX. The Queene of Saba admireth Salomons wisdom, 9. giueth, and receiueth presents. 13. Of the great store of treasure which is yearely brought in, 13. king Salomon maketh pretious armour, 17. a throne, 20. and plate. 24. Other kinges send him giftes, so he abundeth in glorie, and riches. 29. After fourtie yeares reigne he dieth, and his sonne Roboam succedeth.

THE queene of Saba also, when she had heard the fame 1 3. [...]. 10 of Salomon, came to proue him in hard propositions in Ierusalem, with great riches, and camels, which caried spices, and very much gold, and pretious stones. And when she was come to Salomon, she spake to him what thinges soeuer were in her hart. † And Salomon expounded to her 2 al thinges that she propounded: neither was there anie thing, that he made not playne vnto her. † Who after she 3 saw, to witte, the wisedom of Salomon, and the house which he had built, † moreouer also the meates of his table, 4 and the habitations of his seruantes, and the offices of his ministers, and their garmentes, the cupbearers also, and their garmentes, and the victimes, which he immolated in the house of our Lord: there was no spirit in her anie longer, she was soe astonied. † And she sayd to the king: The word is 5 true, which I heard in my countrie of thy vertues and wisdom. † I did not beleue them that told it, vntil my self was 6 come, and mine eies had seene, and I had proued scarce the half part of thy wisedom to haue beene told me: thou hast passed the fame with thy vertues. † Blessed are thy men, and 7 blessed are thy seruantes, which assist before thee at al time, and heare thy wisedom. † Be the Lord thy God blessed, who 8 [Page 884] would ordayne thee ouer his throne, king They are called kinges, of God▪ which reigne by his grace and according to his wil. VVherevpon they vse this stile By the grace of God, K. of England Ierusalem. &c. of the Lord thy God. Because God loueth Israel, and wil preserue it for euer: therfore hath he sette thee king ouer it, to doe iudgementes and iustice. † And she gaue to the king an hundred 9 twentie talentes of gold, and spices exceding much, and most pretious stones: there were not such spices, as these, which the Queene of Saba gaue to King Salomon. † But 10 the seruantes of Hiram also with the seruantes of Salomon brought gold from Ophir, and Thymtrees, and most pretious stones: † wherof the king made, to witte, of the 11 Thymtrees, stayers in the house of our Lord, and in the kinges house, harpes also and psalteries for the singing men: neuer were there seene such trees in the Land of Iuda. † And 12 king Salomon gaue to the Queene of Saba al thinges that she would, and that she asked, and manie moe thinges then she brought to him: who returning, went into her countrie with her seruantes. † And the weight of the gold, that was 13 brought to Salomon euerie yeare was six hundred sixtie six talentes of gold: † beside that summe, which the legates of 14 diuers nations, and the merchantes were accustomed to bring, and al the kinges of Arabia, and the Dukes of the landes, which brought gold and siluer to Salomon. † King 15 Salomon therfore made two hundred golden speares, of the summe of six hundred peces of gold, which were spent in euerie speare: † also three hundred golden shieldes of three 16 hundred peces of gold, with which euerie shield was couered: and the king put them in the armarie, which was besette with a wood. † The king also made a great throne of 17 i [...]orie, and couered it with most fyne gold. † Six steppes 18 also, wherwith the going vp was to the throne, and a foote stoole of gold, and two litle armes on either side, and two lions standing by the litle armes, † yea and other twelue litle 19 lions standing vpon the steppes on both sides: there was not such a throne in al kingdomes. † Al the vessels also of the 20 kinges table were of gold, and the vessels of the house of the forest of Libanus of most pure gold. For siluer in those daies was reputed for nothing. † For the kinges shippes went into 21 Tharsis with the seruantes of H [...]ram, once in three yeares: and they brought from thence gold and siluer, and yuorie, and apes, and pecockes. † Salomon therfore was magnified 22 aboue al the kinges of the earth for riches and glorie. [Page 885] † And al the kinges of the earth desired to see Salomons 23 face, that they might heare the wisedom, which God had geuen in his hart. † And they brought him giftes, vessels of 24 siluer, and gold, and garmentes, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, euerie yeare. † Salomon also had fourtie 25 thousand horses in the stables, and of chariotes, and horsemen twelue thousand, and he placed them in the cities of the chariotes, and where the king was in Ierusalem. † He 26 exercised also authoritie ouer al the kinges from the riuer Euphrates vnto the land of the Philisthines, and vnto the borders of Aegypt. † And he made so great plentie of siluer 27 in Ierusalem as it were of stones: and of cedres so great a multitude as of sicomores, which grow in the champayne. † And horses were brought him out of Aegypt, and al countries. 28 † But the rest of of the workes of Salomon the first 29 and the last are writen in the wordes of Nathan the Prophet, and in the bookes of Ahias the Silonite, in the Vision also of Addo the Seer, agayast Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat. † And Salomon reigned in Ierusalem ouer al Israel fourtie 30 yeares. † And he His fall to luxurie and idolatrie is recorded. 3. Reg. 11. slept with his fathers: and they buried 31 him in the citie of Dauid: and Roboam his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. X. Roboam requested by Ieroboam and the people to lighten their yoke of seruice, 6. leauing the counsel of the ancient, and folowing young counsellers, threatneth to presse the people. 16. Wherupen manie reuolt from him.

AND Roboam went forth into Sichem: for thither al 1 3. Reg. 12. The second part. Diuision of the kingdom. Dauids issue reigning only in two tribes, which also are caried captiue into Babylon. Israel was assembled, to make him king. † Which when 2 Ieraboam the sonne of Nabat had heard, who was in Aegypt (for he was fled thither from Salomon) forthwith he returned. † And they called him, & he came with al Israel & spake 3 to Roboam, saying: † Thy father pressed vs with a most 4 hard yoke, do thou command lighter thinges then thy father, who layd vpon vs a heauie seruitude, and ease thou a litle of the burden, that we may serue thee. † Who sayd: 5 After three daies returne ye to me. And when the people was gone, † he tooke counsel with the Ancientes, which stoode 6 before his father Salomon, whiles he yet liued, saying: What counsel geue you, that I may answer the people? † Who sayd 7 to him: If thou wilt please this people, and pacific them with [Page 886] wordes of clemencie, they wil serue thee at al times. † But 8 he forsooke the counsel of the Ancientes, and began to treat with yongmen, that had beene brought vp with him, and were in his trayne. † And he sayd to them: What semeth to 9 you? or what shal I answer this people, which hath sayd to me: Ease the yoke which thy father layd vpon vs? † But they 10 answered as yongmen, and brought vp with him in delicanesse, and sayd: Thus shalt thou speake to the people, that sayd to thee: Thy father aggrauated our yoke, doe thou ease it: and thus shalt thou answer them: My least finger is thicker then the loynes of my father. † My father layd vpon yow an 11 heauie yoke, and I wil adde a greater weight: my father bette you with scourges, but I wil beate you with scorpions. † Ieroboam 12 therfore came, and al the people to Roboam the third day, as he had commanded them. † And the king answered 13 rough wordes, leauing the counsel of the Ancientes: † and 14 he spake according to the yongmens wil: My father layd vpon you a heauie yoke, which I wil make heauier: my father bette you with scourges, but I wil beate you with scorpions. † And he condescended not to the peoples requestes: for it 15 was the wil of God, that his word should be accomplished, which he had spoken by the hand of Ahias the Silonite to Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat. † And al the people when the 16 king spake rough wordes, sayd thus vnto him: We haue no part in Dauid, nor inheritance in the sonne of Isai. Returne into thy tabernacles ô Israel, and do thou feede thy house Dauid. And Israel went into their tabernacles. † But ouer the 17 children of Israel▪ that dwelt in the cities of Iuda, Roboam reigned. † And king Roboam sent Aduram, who was ouer 18 the tributes, and the children of Israel stoned him, and he died: moreouer king Roboam made hast to get vp into his chariote, and fled into Ierusalem. † And Israel reuolted from 19 the house of Dauid vntil this day.

CHAP. XI. Roboam intending by force to reduce [...]l Israel to his subiection, is Warned by a Prophet to cease from that enterprise. 5. He maketh Walles about diuers cities, 11. [...]urnisheth them With Victuals, and munition, 13. Priestes, Leuites, and manie others repaire to Ierusalem, because Ieroboam maketh a new religion, and new priestes 18. Roboam taket [...] manie Wiues, and concubines. 22. preferreth A [...]ias aboue al his other sonnes.

[Page 887]AND Roboam came into Ierusalem, and called together 1 al the house of Iuda and Beniamin, an hundred fourescore thousand chosen men and warriers, to fight agaynst Israel, and to conuert his kingdom vnto him. † And the word 2 of our Lord came to Semeias the man of God, saying: † Speake 3 to Roboam the sonne of Salomon the king of Iuda, and to al Israel, that is in Iuda and Beniamin: † Thus sayth our Lord: 4 You shal not goe vp, neither shal you fight agaynst your brethren: let euerie man returne into his house, because this thing is done by my wil. Who when they had heard the word of our Lord, returned, neither went they forward agaynst Ieroboam. † And Roboam dwelt in Ierusalem, and built 5 walled cities in Iuda. † And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, 6 and Thecue, † Bethsur also, and Socho, & Odollam, † moreouer 7 also Geth, and Maresa, and Ziph, † yea and Aduram, and 8 Lachis, and Azeca, † Saraa also, and Aialon, and Hebron, 9 which were in Iuda and Beniamin, most fensed cities. † And 10 when he had inclosed them with walles, he put in them 11 princes, and store houses of victuals, that is, of oile and wine. † Yea and in euerie citie he made armories of shieldes and 12 speares, and he strengthened them with great diligence, and reigned ouer Iuda and Beniamin. † And the Priestes and 13 Leuites, that were in al Israel, came to him out of al their seates, † A worthie example to suffer temporal damage rather then to conforme them selues to the practise of false religion. leauing their suburbes, and their possessious, and 14 passing to Iuda, and Ierusalem, because Ieroboam had cast them of, and their posteritie: that they should not execute the priesthood of our Lord. † Who made vnto him selfe 15 priestes of the excelses, and of diuels, and of the calues which he had made. † Yea and of al the tribes of Israel, whosoeuer 16 had geuen their hart to seeke our Lord the God of Israel, came into Ierusalem to immolate their victims before our Lord the God of their fathers. † And they strenghened the kingdom 17 of Iuda, and established Roboam the sonne of Salomon for three yeares: for they walked in the waies of Dauid and Salomon, onlie three yeares. † And Roboam tooke to wife Mahalath, 18 the daughter of Ierimoth the sonne of Dauid: Abi [...]ail also the daughter of Eliab the sonne of Isai, † who bare him 19 sonnes Iehus, and Somorias, and Zoom. † After this woman 20 also he tooke Maacha the daughter of Absalom, who bare him Abia, and Ethai, and Ziza, and Salomith. † And Roboam 21 loued Maacha the daughter of Absalom aboue al his wiues, [Page 888] and concubines: for he had maried eightene wiues, and threescore concubines: and he begat eight and twentie sonnes, and threescore daughters. † But he appoynted for head Abias the 22 sonne of Maacha duke ouer al his brethren: for he meant to make him king, † because he was wiser, and mightier aboue 23 al his sonnes, and in al the costes of Iuda, and of Beniamin, and in al the walled cities: and he gaue them much meate, and he disired manie wiues.

CHAP. XII. For the sinnes of Roboam, and the people manie strong cities, also Ierusalem; are taken and spoyled by the king of Aegypt. 8. They repent, and the Aegyptians depart, 9. but carie away the treasures. 13. Roboam dieth, and his sonne Abias reigneth.

AND when the kingdom of Roboam was strengthened 1 and fortified, he forsooke the law of our Lord, and al Israel with him. † And in the fifth yeare of the kingdom of 2 Roboam, came vp Sesac the king of Aegypt into Ierusalem (because they had sinned to our Lord) † with a thousand 3 two hundred chariotes, and threescore thousand horsemen: neither was anie number of the common people, that came with him out of Aegypt, to witte, Lybians, and Troglodytes, and Aethiopians. † And he tooke the most fensed cities in 4 Iuda, and came ouer vnto Ierusalem. † And Semeias the prophete 5 went to Roboam, and to the princes of Iuda, that were gathered togetherin Ierusalem, fleing from Sasac, and he sayd to them: Thus sayth our Lord: You haue leaft me, and I haue leaft you in the hand of Sesac. † And the princes of Israel, 6 and the king, being astonied, sayd: Our Lord is iust. † And 7 when our Lord had seene that they were humbled, the word of our Lord came to Semeias, saying: Because they are humbled, I wil not destroy them, and I wil geue them a litle ayde, and my furie shal not droppe vpon Ierusalem by the hand of Sesac. † But yet they shal serue him, that they may know 8 the distance of my seruice, and of the seruice of the kingdom of the earth. † Therfore Sesac the king of Aepypt retyred 9 from Ierusalem, taking away the treasures of the house of our Lord, and of the kinges house, and he tooke al thinges with him, and the golden shieldes that Salomon had made, † for the which the king made brasen ones, and deliuered 10 them to the princes of the shieldbearers, which kept the [Page 889] entrance of the palace. † And when the king entred into the 11 house of our Lord, the shieldbearers came, and tooke them, & brought them backe agayne to their armorie. † But yet because 12 they were humbled, the wrath of our Lord was turned away from them, neither were they vtterly destroyed: for in Iuda there were found good workes. † King Roboam therfore 13 was strengthened in Ierusalem, & reigned: one and fourtie yeares old was he when he beganne to reigne, and he reigned seuentene yeares in Ierusalem, the citie, which our Lord chose, to confirme his name there, out of al the tribes of Israel: and the name of his mother was Naama an Ammonite. † And 14 he did euil, and prepared not his hart to seke our Lord. † But 15 the workes of Roboam the first and the last are writen in the Bookes of Semeias the Prophete, and of Addo the Seer, and diligently expounded: and Roboam and Ietoboam fought one agaynst the other al their daies. † And Roboam slept 16 with his fathers, and was buried in the citie of Dauid. And Abias his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XIII. Abias maketh warre agaynst Ieroboam. 4. exhorteth the people of Israel for iustice, and religions sake to returne to him. 13. In the meane time Ieroboam inuironeth him with forces, but by Gods assistance Abias preuaileth. 21. and reigneth securely.

IN the eightenth yeare of king Ieroboam, reigned Abias 1 3. Reg. 15 ouer Iuda. † Three yeares reigned he in Ierusalem, and 2 his mothers name was Michaia, the daughter of Vriel of Gabaa: there was warre betwen Abias and Ieroboam. † And 3 when Abias had begun battel, and had most warlike men, & of chosen ones four hundreth thousand: Ieroboam put his armie in aray on the contrarie side, eight hundreth thousand men, who them selues also were chosen men, and most valiant to battels. † Abias therfore stood vpon mount Semeron, 4 which was in Ephraim, and sayd: Heare Ieroboam, and al Israel: † Are you ignorant that our Lord the God of Israel gaue 5 the kingdom to Dauid ouer Israel for euer, to him and his children as a A firme and perpetual couenant. Num. 18. v. 19. couenant of salt? † And there rose vp Ieroboam 6 the sonne of Nabat, the seruant of Salomon the sonne of Dauid: and rebelled agaynst his lord. † And there were 7 gathered to him al the most vayne men, and the children of Belial: and they preuayled agaynst Roboam the sonne of [Page 890] Salomon: moreouer Roboam was rude, and of a fearful hart, and could not resist them. † Now therfore you say that you 8 are able to resist the kingdom of our Lord, which he possesseth by the children of Dauid, and you haue a great multitude of people, and golden calues, which Ieroboam hath made you for goddes. † And you haue cast out the Priestes of 9 of our Lord, the children of Aaron, and the Leuites: and you haue made you priestes, as al the peoples of the earth: who soeuer shal come & consecrate his hand in a bullock of oxen, and in seuen rammes, is made the priest of them that are not goddes, † But our Lord is God, whom we forsake not, and 10 the Priestes do minister to our Lord of the children of Aaron, and the Leuites are in their order. † Holocaustes also they do 11 offer to our Lord, euerie day morning and euening, and incense made according to the preceptes of the law, and the loaues are set forth on a most cleane table, and there is with vs the golden condlesticke, and the lampes therof, that they may be lighted alwaies at euening: for we keepe the preceptes of the Lord our God, whom you haue forsaken. † Therfore 12 in our host God is the prince, and his Priestes, which sound with trumpettes, and resound agaynst you: children of Israel sight not agaynst our Lord the God of your fathers, because it is not expedient for you. † He speaking these thinges, Ieroboam 13 endeuoured to entrappe him behind. And when he stood ouer agaynst the enemies, he compassed Iuda vnwitting with his armie. † And Iudas looking backe, saw the battel at 14 hand before and behind, and cryed to our Lord: and the Priestes begane to sound with trumpettes. † And al the men 15 of Iuda made a shout: and behold they crying, God terrified Ieroboam, and al Israel that stood agaynst Abias and Iuda. † And the children of Israel sled from Iuda, and our Lord deliuered 16 them into their hand. † Abias therfore and his people 17 stroke them with a great slaughter, and there fel wounded of Israel fiue hundreth thousand valiant men. † And the children 18 of Israel were humbled, at that time, and the children of Iuda excedingly encouraged because they had trusted in our Lord the God of their fathers. † And Abias pursewed Ieroboam 19 [...]ieing, and he tooke his cities, Bethel and her daughters, and Iesana with her daughters, Ephron also and her daughters. † Neither was Ieroboam able to resist anie more, 20 in the daies of Abias: whom our Lord stroke, and he died. [Page 891] † Therfore Abias, his empite being strengthened, tooke 21 fourtene wiues: and he begat two and twentie sonnes, and sixtene daughters. † But the rest of the wordes of Abias, and 22 of his waies and wordes, are writen diligently in the Booke of Addo the Prophete.

CHAP. XIIII. Abias dieth, and his sonne Asa reigneth, destroyeth idolataie, 6. for [...]i [...]eth his cities, 9. and ouercometh, by Gods special helpe, the Aethtopians armie of a million of men.

AND Abias slept with his fathers, and they buried him 1 in the Citie of Dauid: and Asa his sonne reigned for him, in whose daies the land was quiet tenne yeares. † And 2 Asa did that which was good and pleasing in the sight of his God, and he ouerthrew the altars of It perteyned properly to the king to destroy the exterior practise of idolatrie, but to the Priestes, & prophetes to informe the interior mind, & consciences of euerie one. strange seruice, and the excelses, † and brake the statues, and cut downe the 3 groues. † And he commanded Iuda that they should seeke 4 our Lord the God of their fathers, and should doe the law, and al the commandementes. † And he tooke away out of al 5 the cities of Iuda the altars, and temples, & reigned in peace. † He built also fensed cities in Iuda, because he was quiet, and 6 there had no battels risen in his time, our Lord geuing peace. † And he sayd to Iuda: Let vs build these cities, and compasse 7 them with walles, and strengthen them with towers, and gates, and lockes, whiles thinges are quiet from battels, because we haue sought out Lord the God of our fathers, and he hath geuen vs peace round about. They therfore did build, and there was no impediment in building. † And Asa had in 8 his armie of them that caried shieldes and speares, of Iuda three hundred thousand: and of Beniamin shieldbearers and archers, two hundred eightie thousand, al these were most valiant men. † And Zara the Ethiopian with his armie islued 9 forth agaynst them, tenne hundred thousand, and with three hundred chariotes: and he came as far as Maresa. † Moreouer 10 Asa went on to meete him, and set his armie in aray to battel in the vale Sephata, which is neere Maresa. † And 11 he inuocated our Lord God, and sayd: Lord there is no difference with thee, whether thou helpe in few, or in manie: helpe vs ô Lord our God: for hauing confidence in thee, and in thy name we are come agaynst this multitude. Lord, thou art our God, let not man preuaile agaynst thee. † Our Lord 12 [Page 892] therfore terrified the Aethiopians before Asa and Iuda: and the Aethiopians fled. † And Asa pursewed them, and the 13 people that was with him, vnto Gerara: and the Aethiopians fel to vtter destruction, because our Lord killing them, and his armie fighting they were destroyed. They tooke therfore manie spoiles, † and they stroke al the cities round about 14 Gerara: for great terrour had inuaded al men: and they spoyled the cities, and caried away much praye. † Yea and destroying 15 the sheepecotes of sheepe, they tooke an infinite multitude of cattel, and of camels: and returned into Ierusalem.

CHAP. XV. Azarias prophecieth that Israel shal lack the true God, Priestes, and the law, a long time. 8. which king Asa hearing most serioufly destroyeth idolatrie. 12. maketh couenant and oath to serue God. 16. And deposeth his mother for offering sacrifice to Priapus.

AND Azarias the sonne of Oded, the Spirit of God coming vpon him, † went out to meete Asa, and sayd to 2 him: Heare ye me Asa, and al Iuda and Beniamin: Our Lord is with you, Cooperation with Gods grace meri [...]eth increase of grace. because you haue beene with him. If you wil seeke him, you shal finde: but if you forsake him, he wil forsake you. † And manie daies shal passe in Israel without the 3 true God, and without Priest a teacher, and without the Law. † And when they shal returne in their distresse to our Lord 4 the God of Ifrael, and shal seeke him, they shal finde him. † At that time there shal not be peace to him that goeth out 5 and cometh in, but terrours on euerie side in the inhabiters of the earth. † for nation shal fight agaynst nation, and citie 6 agaynst citie, because our Lord wil truble them with al distresse. † You therfore take courage, and let not your handes 7 be dissolued: for there shal be reward to your worke. † Which 8 when Asa had heard, to witte, the wordes, and the prophecie of Azarias the sonne of Oded the prophete, he tooke courage, and tooke away the Idols out of al the land of Iuda, and out of Beniamin, and out of the cities, which he had taken, of mount Ephraim, and he dedicated the altar of our Lord, which was before the porche of our Lord. † And he gathered 9 together al Iuda and Beniamin, and the strangers with them of Ephraim, and of Manasses, and of Simeon: for manie were fled to him of Israel, seing that our Lord his God was with him. † And when they were come into Ierusalem the third 10 [Page 893] moneth, in the fiftenth yeare of the reigne of Asa, † they 11 immolated to our Lord in that day of the spoiles, & the praie, that they had brought, oxen seuen hundred, and rammes seuen thousand. † And he went in after the maner to establish 12 the couenant, that they should seeke our Lord the God of their fathers in al their hart, and in al their soul. † And if anie 13 man, quoth he, shal not seeke our Lord the God of Israel, let him die, from the least to the greatest, from man vnto woman. † And they sware to our Lord with a lowd voyce in 14 iubilation, and in noyse of trumpet, and sound of shaulmes, † al that were in Iuda with execration: for in al their hart did 15 they sweare, and with al their wil did they seeke him, and found him, & our Lord gaue them rest round about, † Yea and 16 Maacha the mother of king Asa he deposed from the royal empyre, because she had made in a groue the idol of Priapus: which he wholy destroyed, and breaking into peeces, burnt it in the Torrent cedron. † But the King Asa destroyed the places where Idoles were serued, chap. 14. v. 2. but tollerated the places where some offered sacrifice to God beside the proper altar in Ierusalem, because this was dispensable and not the other. Excelses were leaft in 17 Israel: neuerthelesse the hart of Asa was perfect al his daies. 18 † And those thinges which his father had vowed, and him self, he brought into the house of our Lord, gold and siluer, and of vessels diuers furniture. † And there was no warre 19 vnto the fiue and thirteth yeare of the reigne of Asa.

CHAP. XVI. Agaynst the king of Israel, king Asa procureth helpe of the Assyrians, 7. which a prophet reprouing is put in fetters. 11. Asa dieth, with disease of his feete, and is buried with pompe.

AND in the six and thirteth yeare of his reigne, came vp 1 3. Reg. 15. Baasa the king of Israel into Iuda, and with a wall compassed Rama, that none could safely goe out and come in of the kingdom of Asa. † Asa therfore brought forth siluer 2 and gold, out of the treasures house of our Lord, and of the kinges treasures, and he sent to Benadad the king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying: † There is league betwen 3 me & thee, my father also and thy father had concord, wherfore I haue sent thee siluer and gold, that breaking the league, which thou hast with Baasa the king of Israel, thou make him retire from me. † Which being knowen, Benadad sent 4 the princes of his hostes to the cities of Israel: who stroke Ahion, and Dan, and Ablemaim, and al the walled cities of Nephthali. † which when Baasa had heard, he ceased to build 5 [Page 894] Rama, and intermitted his worke. † Moreouer Asa the king 6 tooke al Iuda, and caried away the stones out of Rama, and the timber that Baasa had prepared for the building: and he built of them Gabaa, & Maspha. † At that time came Hanani 7 the prophete to Asa the king of Iuda, and sayd to him: Because thou hast had confidence in the king of Syria, and not in our Lord thy God, therfore hath the armie of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand. † Were not the Aethiopians, 8 and Libyians manie moe in chariotes, and horsemen, and a :: Iust punishment with paine of his feete, for iniuriously putting Gods prophet in fetters v. 10. So God punished him temporally, for that and other passionate sinnes: and he died in good state, for. his hart was perfect al his dayes, ( Chap 15. v, 17.) that is, most part of his life, especially in his last dayes. multitude exceding great: whom, when thou didst beleue in our Lord, he deliuered into thy hand? † For the eies of our 9 Lord behold al the earth, and geue strength to them, that with perfect hart beleue in him. Thou therfore hast done foolyshly, & for this cause from this present time shal battels arise agaynst thee. † And Asa being angrie agaynst the Seer, 10 commanded him to be cast into fetters: for he tooke indignation excedingly vpon this thing: and he slewe of the people at that time verie manie. † But the workes of Asa the 11 first & the lasl are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel. † Asa also fel sicke in the nine and thirteth yeare 12 of his reigne, of a most vehement payne of his feete, and neither in his infirmitie did he seeke our Lord, but rather trusted in the arte of Phisitians. † And he slept with his 13 fathers: and he died the one and fou [...]teth yeare of his reigne. † And they buried him in his sepulchre, which he had digged 14 for himsels in the Citie of Dauid: and they layd him vpon his bed ful of spices and odori [...]erous oyntementes, which were made by the arte of apothecaries, and they burnt it ouer him with exceding ambition.

CHAP. XVII. Iosaphat succeding in the kingdom preuaileth in battel agaynst the king of Israel. 6. destroyeth Idolaters, and sendeth Priestes and Leuites to instruct the people. 11. The Philistians and Arabians send presentes to king Iosaphat. 13. the leaders of the armie and souldiars are numbred.

AND Iosaphat his sonne reigned for him, & grew strong 1 agaynst Israel. † And he appoynted numbers of souldiars 2 in al the cities of Iuda, that were compassed with walles. And he placed garrisons in the land of Iuda, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. † And our 3 Lord was with Iosaphat, because he walked in the first waies [Page 895] of Dauid his father: and he trusted not in Baalim, † but in 4 the God of his father, and went forward in his preceptes, and not according to the sinnes of Israel. † And our Lord 5 confirmed the kingdom in his hand, and al Iuda gaue giftes to Iosaphat: and there grew to him infinite riches, and much glorie. † And when his hart had taken courage Good, workes approued by new benefices from God, as a reward, ther of do geue more hope & confidence to procede from vertue to vertue. 5. Tho. li. deregimin [...] Reg [...]m [...]i. for the 6 waies of our Lord, he tooke away also the Excelses and groues out of Iuda. † And in the third yeare of his kingdom, 7 he sent of his princes Benhail, and Abdias, and Zacharias, and Nathanael, and Micheas, that they should teach in the cities of Iuda: † and with them Leuites, Semeias, and Nathanias, 8 and Zabadias, Asael also, and Semiramoth, and Ionathan, and Adonias and Tobias, and Thobadonias Leuites, and with them Elisama, and Ioram Priestes. † And they 9 taught the people in Iuda, hauing the booke of the law of our Lord: and they went about al the cities of Iuda, and instructed the people. † Therfore the dread of our Lord came 10 vpon al the kingdomes of the landes, that were round about Iuda, neither durst they make battel agaynst Iosaphat. † Yea 11 and the Philistians brought giftes to Iosaphat, and tribute of siluer, the Arabians also brought cattel, of rammes seuen thousand seuen hundred, and buckegoates as manie. † Iosaphat 12 therfore grewe, and was magnified on high: and he built in Iuda houses like to toures, and walled cities. † And 13 he prepared manie workes in the cities of Iuda: there were also men of warre, and valiant in Ierusalem, † of whom this 14 is the number by the houses and families of euerie one: In Iuda princes of the armie, Ednas duke, and with him most valiant men three hundred thousand. † After him Iohanan 15 the prince, and with him two hundred eightie thousand. † After him also Amasias the sonne of Zechri, consecrated 16 to our Lord, and with him two hundred thousand of valiant men. † Him followed Eliada valiant to battels, and with 17 him of them that held bow & shield two hundred thousand. † After this man also Iozabad, and with him an hundred 18 eightie thousand readie souldiars. † Al these were at the hand 19 of the king, beside others, whom he had put in walled cities, in al Iuda.

CHAP. XVIII. Iosaphat ioyned in affiniti [...] with wicked Achab king of Israel, goeth with him against Ramoth Galaad, four hundred false prophetes promising victorie. [Page 896] 14. Micheas prophecying the contrarie, 25. is put in prison. 28. Achab (notwithstanding he changeth his attire, and leaueth Iosaphat in danger) 33. is slaine.

IOSAPHAT therfore was rich and verie glorious, and 1 was ioyned in affinitie to Achab. † And he went downe 2 to him after certaine yeares into Samaria: at whose coming Achab killed muttons, and oxen very manie for him and the people that came with him: and he perswaded him to goe vp into Ramoth Galaad. † And Achab the king of Israel sayd 3 to Iosaphat the king of Iuda: Come with me into Ramoth Galaad. To whom he answered: As I am thou also: as thy people; so my people also: and For this he was iustly reprehended, but his simple intention diminished his fault, and so he was more easily pardoned, & for his good workes otherwise donne in Gods seruice. ch. 19. 3. we wil be with thee in battel. † Iosaphat sayd to the king of Israel: Consult I besech thee 4 presently the word of our Lord. † Therfore the king of 5 Israel gathered together of the prophetes four hundred men, and sayd to them: Shal we goe into Ramoth Galaad to fight, or sitte stil? But they sayd: Goe vp, say they, and God wil deliuer it into thy hand. † And Iosaphat sayd: Is there not here 6 a prophete of our Lord, that we may enquire also of him? † And the king of Israel sayd to Iosaphat: There is one man, 7 of whom we may aske wil of our Lord: but I hate him, because he doth not prophecie me good, but euil at al times: and it is Micheas the sonne of Iemla. And Iosaphat sayd: Speake not in this maner ô king. † The king of Israel therfore 8 called one of the Eunuches, and sayd to him: Cal quickly Micheas the sonne of Iemla. † Moreouer the king of Israel, 9 and Iosaphat the king of Iuda, sate in their thrones, clothed with kinglie attyre, and they sate in the court beside the gate of Samaria, and al the prophetes before them. † But Sedecias the sonne of Chanaana made him hornes 10 of yron, and sayd: Thus sayth our Lord: With these shal [...] thou strike Syria, til thou destroy it. † And al the prophetes 11 in like manner prophecied, and sayd: Goe vp into Ramoth Galaad, and thou shalt prosper, and our Lord wil deliuer them into the kinges hand. † And the messenger that went 12 to cal Micheas, sayd to him: Behold the wordes of al the prophetes with one mouth tel the king good thinges: I besech thee therfore that thy word also dissent not from them, and that thou speake prosperous thinges. † To whom Micheas 13 answered: Our Lord liueth, whatsoeuer my God shal say to [Page 897] me, that wil I speake. † He therfore came to the king. To 14 whom the king sayd: Micheas, shal we goe into Ramoth Galaad to fight, or sit stil? To whom he answered See Annotation. 3. Reg. [...]. v. 15. Goe ye vp: for al thinges shal fal out prosperous, and the enemies shal be deliuered into your handes. † And the king sayd: Agayne, 15 and agayne I adiure thee, that thou speake not to me, but that which is true in the name of our Lord. † But he sayd: I 16 saw al Israel disperst in the mountaynes, as sheepe without a shepheard: and our Lord sayd: These haue no maisters: let euerie man returne into his house in peace. † And the 17 king of Israel sayd to Iosaphat: did I not tel thee that this man did not prophecie me anie good, but these thinges that be euil? † But he sayd: Heare ye therfore the word of our 18 Lord: I saw our Lord sitting in his throne, and al the host of heauen assisting him on the right hand on the left. † And 19 our Lord sayd: who shal deceiue Achab the king of Israel, that he may goe vp and fal in Ramoth Galaad. And when one sayd in this maner, and an other otherwise: † there came forth 20 a spirit, and stood before our Lord, and sayd: I wil deceiue him. To whom our Lord sayd: wherin wilt thou deceiue him. † But he answered: I wil goe forth, and wil be a lying 21 spirit in the mouth of al his prophetes. And our Lord sayd: Thou shalt deceiue, and shalt preuaile: goe forth, and doe so, † Now therfore, behold our Lord hath geuen the spirit 22 of lying in the mouth of al thy prophetes, and our Lord hath spoken of thee euil thinges. † And Sedecias the sonne of 23 Chanaana came, and stroke the cheeke of Micheas, and sayd: which way passed the spirit of our Lord from me, that it should speake to thee. † And Micheas sayd: Thou thy self 24 shalt see in that day, when thou shalt enter into chamber out of chamber, to be hid. † And the king of Israel commanded, 25 saying: Take Micheas, and lead him to Amon the gouernour of the citie, and to Ioab the sonne of Amelech. † And you 26 shal say: Thus sayth the king: Cast this felow into prison, and giue him a litle bread, and a litle water, til I returne in peace. † And Micheas sayd: If thou returne in peace, our 27 Lord hath not spoken in me, & he sayd: Heare al ye peoples. † Therfore the king of Israel, and Iosaphat the king of Iuda 28 went vp into Ramoth Galaad. † And the king of Israel sayd 29 to Iosaphat: I wil change my habite, and so I wil goe to the fight, but be thou clothed with thine owne garmentes. And [Page 898] the king of Israel changing his habit came to the battel. † And the king of Syria had commanded the captaynes of 30 his horsemen saying: Fight not agaynst the least, or agaynst the greatest, but agaynst the king of Israel only. † Therfore 31 when the princes of the horsemen saw Iosaphat, they sayd: This is the king of Israel. And they compassed him fighting: but he cried to our Lord, and he holpe him, and turned them away from him. † For when the captaynes of the horsemen 32 saw, that is was not the king of Israel, they lea [...]t him. † And 33 it chanced that one of the people shot an arrow at aduenture, and stroke the king of Israel betwen the necke and the shoulders, and he sayd to his cocher: Turne thy hand, and carie me out of the battel, because I am wounded. † And the 34 fight was ended in that day: moreouer the king of Israel stood in his chariote agaynst the Syrians vntil euening, and died at the sunne sette.

CHAP. XIX. Iosaphat being reproued by a prophet for yelding help to Achab, 5. appoynteth Iudges in seueral cities, admonishing them to doe iustice. 8. exhorteth Priestes and Leuites to execute their sunctious carefully. 11. Amarias High Priest directing and ruling in thinges belonging to God, Zabedias general captayne gouerneth the kinges affayres.

AND Iosaphat the king of Iuda returned into his house 1 peaceably, into Ierusalem. † Whom Iehu the sonne of 2 Hanani the Seer mette, and sayd to him: Precisian Do [...]a [...]stes holding it vn [...]ful to conuerse with sinners amongst other Scriptures alleaged [...] reprehention of Iosa [...] for his societie with Achab. To whom S. Augustin answereth, that he was not blamed for other conuersation with Achab, but for ayding him, and, ioyning with him in the act of sinne, when he contemning Micheas the true prophete of God, and beleuing false prophetes went to battel wherin both kinges offended, but with difference; so one was sa [...]e though he semed to be secure, the other was saued in great danger. and repenting was pardoned li. 2. c. 1 [...]. [...]. opist Parme [...]. To the impious man thou geuest ayde, and to them that hate our Lord thou art ioyned in frendship, and therfore thou didst deserue in deed the wrath of our Lord: † but good workes are found in 3 thee, for that thou hast taken away the groues out of the land of Iuda, and hast prepared thy hart to seeke our Lord the God of thy fathers. † Iosaphat therfore dwelt in Ierusalem: 4 and he went forth to the people agayne from Bersabee vnto mount Ephraim, and recalled them to our Lord the God of their fathers. † And he appoynted iudges of the land in al the 5 fensed cities of Iuda, in euerie place, † and commanding the 6 iudges, he sayd: Take heede what you doe: for you exercise not the iudgement of man, but of our Lord: and whatsoeuer you shal iudge, it shal redound to you. † Let the feare of our 7 Lord be with you, and with diligence doe al thinges: for there is no iniquitie with the Lord our God, nor acception [Page 899] of personnes, nor desyre of giftes. † In Ierusalem also Iosaphat 8 appoynted Leuites, and Priestes, and princes of families of Israel, that they should iudge the iudgement and cause of our Lord to the inhabitantes therof. † And he commanded them, 9 saying: Thus shal you doe in the feare of our Lord faithfully, and with a perfect hart. † Euerie cause, that shal come to 10 you of your brethren, that dwel in their cities, betwen kinred and kinred, whersoeuer there is question of the law, of the commandement, of ceremonies, of iustifications: shew it them, that they sinne not agaynst our Lord, and lest there come wrath vpon you and your brethren: so doing therfore you shal not sinne. † And A most plame distinction of spiritual and temporal authoritie and offices, not instituted by Iosaphat, nor anie other king, but by God himself. Deut. 17. Num. 27. Amarias the priest and your 11 Bishop shal be chiefe in these thinges, which pertayn to God: moreouer Zabadias the sonne of Ismahel, who is the prince in the house of Iuda, shal be ouer those workes, which pertayne to the kinges office: and you haue maisters the Leuites before you, take courage, and doe diligently, and our Lord wil be with the good.

CHAP. XX. The Ammonites, Moabites, and Syrians ioynning forces agaynst Iosaphat, 3. he seeketh Gods helpe by publique prayer and fasting. 14. A Prophet fortelleth that God wil fight for them: 20. so they singing praises to God, the enemies kil ech other. 24. Iosaphat with his men gather verie great spoiles. 30. reigneth in peace, 35. but his nauie perisheth, for his societee with wicked Ochozias.

AFTER these thinges were the children of Moab gathered 1 together, and the children of Ammon, and with them of the Ammonites, to fight agaynst Iosaphat † And 2 there came messengers, and told Iosaphat, saying: There cometh agaynst thee a great multitude from those places, which are beyond the sea, and out of Syria, and behold they stay in Asasonthamar, which is Engaddi. † And Iosaphar being 3 frighted with feare, he tooke him wholy to besech ou [...] Lord, and he They fasted not only to sub due the flesh to the spirite but also for other necessities. proclamed a fast to al Iuda. † And Iudas was gathered 4 together to pray to our Lord: yea and al Example of pilgremage to holie places, because it pleaseth God to heare the prayers of good people rather in one place then in an other. ch. 6. 7. &c. came out of their cities to besech him. † And when Iosaphat stood in the 5 middes of the assemblie of Iuda, and Ierusalem in the house of our Lord before the new court, † he sayd: Lord God of our 6 fathers, thou art God in heauen, and rulest ouer al the kingdomes of Nations, in thy hand is strength and might, neither [Page 900] can anie man resist thee. † Didst not thou our God kil al the 7 inhabitantes of this land before thy people Israel, and gauest it to the seed of Abraham thy frend for euer? † And they 8 dwelt in it, & built in it a Sanctuarie to thy name, saying: † If 9 euils fal vpon vs, the sword of iudgement, pestilence, & famine, we wil stand before this house in thy sight, wherein thy name is inuocated: & we wil crie to thee in our tribulations, and thou shalt heare, and saue vs. † Now therfore behold 10 the children of Ammon, and mount Seir, by whom thou didst not grant Israel to passe, when they came out of Aegypt, but they declined from them, & slew them not: † doe the contrarie, 11 and endeuoure to cast vs out of the possession, which thou hast deliuired to vs. † Our God, wilt not thou therfore iudge 12 them? In vs in deed there is not so great strength, that we can resist this multitude, which cometh violently vpon vs. But whereas we are ignorant what we ought to doe, this onlie we haue leaft, that we direct our eies to thee. † And al Iuda 13 stood before our Lord with their litle ones, and wiues, and their children. † And there was Iahaziel the sonne of Zacharias, 14 the sonne of Banaias, the sonne of Iehiel, the sonne of Mathanias, a Leuite of the children of Asaph, vpon whom the spirit of our Lord came in the middes of the multitude, † and he sayd: Attend ye al Iuda, and you that dwel in Ierusalem, 15 and thou king Iosaphat: thus sayth our Lord to you: Feare not, neither dread ye this multitude: for it is not your battel, but Gods. † To morrow you shal goe downe agaynst 16 them: for they wil come vp by the steepe named Sis, and you shal find them in the vtmost part of the torrent, which is agaynst the wildernesse of Ieruel. † It shal not be you that 17 shal fight, but onlie stand confidently, and you shal see the helpe of our Lord ouer you, ô Iuda, and Ierusalem: feare not, neither dreade ye: to morrow you shal goe out agaynst them, and our Lord wil be with you. † Iosaphat therfore, and Iuda, 18 and al the inhabitantes of Ierusalem fel flat on the earth before our Lord, and adored him. † Moreouer the Leuites of 19 the children of Caath, and of the children of Core praysed our Lord the God of Israel with a lowd voice, on high. † And 20 when they had risen earely in the morning, they went forth by the desert of Thecua: and they being gone forth, Iosaphat standing in the middes of them, sayd: Heare me ye men of Iuda, and al the inhabiters of Ierusalem: Faith is the fundation of al good workes. Heb. 11. but not sufficient to saluation without other vertues, and therefore they not only beleued but also fasted and prayed, and where nede required fought with weapons, though at this time it pleased God to fight for them. See Iosue 23. beleue in the Lord [Page 901] your God, and you shal be secure: beleue his prophetes, and al thinges shal fal out prosperous. † He gaue counsel also to 21 the people, and appoynted the singing men of our Lord, that they should prayse him in their companies, and should goe before the host, and with agreable voice should say: Confesse Psal. 135. to our Lord, because his mercie is foreuer. † And when they 22 began to sing prayses, our Lord turned their embushementes vpon themselues, to witte, of the children of Ammon, and of Moab, and of mount Seir, who were gone forth to fight agaynst Iuda, and were striken. † For the children of Ammon, 23 and of Moab, rose together agaynst the inhabitantes of mount Seir, to kil and destroy them: and when they had in worke atcheued this, being turned also agaynst themselues, they fel wounded one of an other. † Moreouer Iuda when they 24 were come to the watch place, that looketh to the desert, saw a far of al the countrie abrode ful of dead bodies, and that none remayned aliue that could escape death. † Iosaphat 25 therfore came, and al the people with him to take away the spoiles of the dead, and they found among the dead bodies, diuerse stuffe, garments also, and most pretious vessels: and they spoiled it, soe that they could not carie al thinges, nor in three dayes take a Way the spoiles for the greatnesse of the praye. † And in the fourth day they were assembled in the 26 Vale of blessing: for because there they had blessed our Lord, they called that place the Vale of blessing vntil this present day. † And euerie man of Iuda returned, and the inhabitantes 27 of Ierusalem, and Iosaphat before them into Ierusalem with great ioy, because our Lord had geuen them ioy of their enemies. † And they entered into Ierusalem with psalteries, and 28 harpes, and trumpettes into the house of our Lord. † And 29 the dread of our Lord fel vpon al the kingdomes of the landes when they heard that our Lord had fought agaynst the enemies of Israel. † And the kidgdom of Iosaphat was quiet and 30 God gaue him peace round about. † Iosaphat therfore reigned 31 ouer Iuda, and he was fiue and thirtie yeares old when he begane to reigne: and he reigned fiue and twentie yeares in Ierusalem: and the name of his mother was Azuba the daughter of Selahi. † And he walked in the way of his father Asa, 32 neither declined he from it, doing the thinges that were pleasing before our Lord. † But He destroyed the places where sacrifice was offered to idoles. ch. 17. v. 6. but tolerated other places where the people offered to God our Lord without the temple, not being able to reduce al to perfection. yet the excelses he tooke 33 not away, and as yet the people had not directed their hart to [Page 902] our Lord the God of their fathers. † But the rest of the actes 34 of Iosaphat, the first and the last are writen in the wordes of Iehu the sonne of Hanani, which he disposed into the Bookes of the kinges of Israel. † After these thinges Iosaphat the 35 king of Iuda entered frendshipe with Ochozias the king of Israel, whose workes were most impious. † And he was partaker 36 to make shippes, which should goe into Tharsis: and they made a nauie in Asiongaber. † And Eliezer the sonne of 37 Dodau of Maresa prophecied to Iosaphat, saying: Because thou hast had a league with Ochozias, our Lord hath strooken thy workes, and the shippes are broken, neither could they goe into Tharsis.

CHAP: XXI. Iosaphat dieth, and Ioram succeding killeth his owne brethren, and some other chiefe men. 6. reigneth wickedly. 8. Edom, and Lobua reuolt from him. 12. Elias by letters forwarneth him of plagues, 16. which falling vpon him, he dieth after two yeares languishing, and horrible disease.

AND Iosaphat slept with his fathers, & was buried with 1 4. Reg. 8. them in the Citie of Dauid: and Ioram his sonne reigned for him. † Who had brethren the sonnes of Iosaphat, Azarias, 2 and Iahiel, and Zacharias, and Azarias, and Michael, and Saphatias. al these were the sonnes of Iosaphat the king of Iuda. † And their father gaue them manie giftes of siluer, 3 and of gold, and pensions, with the most fensed cities in Iuda: but the kingdom he deliuered to Ioram, because he was the first begotten. † And Ioram rose ouer the kingdom of his 4 father: and when he had established himself, he slew al his brethren with the sword, and certain of the princes of Israel. † Two and thirtie yeare old was Ioram when he began to 5 reigne: and he reigned eight yeares in Ierusalem. † And he 6 walked in the waies of the kinges of Israel, as the house of Achab had done: for Achabs daughter was his wife, and he did euil in the sight of our Lord. † But our Lord would not 7 destroy the house of Dauid for the couenant, which he had made with him: and because he had promised that he would geue him a lampe, and to his sonnes for euer. † In those daies 8 Edom rebelled, from being subiect to Iuda, and made them selues a king. † And when Ioram had passed with his princes, 9 and al the horsemen, that were with him, he rose in the night, [Page 903] and stroke Edom, which had compassed him, and al the captaynes of his horsemen. † But yet Edom rebelled, from being 10 vnder the dominion of Iuda vntil this day: at that time Lobna also reuolted, from being vnder his hand. For he had forsaken our Lord the God of their fathers: † moreouer he built 11 also excelses in the cities of Iuda, and he made the inhabitantes of Ierusalem to fornicate, and Iuda to transgresse. † And there were letters brought him Elias was assumpted from ordinarie conuersation with mortal men the eighttenth yeare of king Iosaphat 4. Reg. 2. 3. who reigned twentie fiue yeares 3. Reg. 22. v. 42. So he shewed this special care of Ioram and his kingdom, after his assumption seuen yeares. from Elias the prophete, 12 in which was Writen: Thus sayth our Lord the God of Dauid thy father: Because thou hast not walked in the waies of Iosaphat thy father, & in the waies of Asa the king of Iuda, † but hast gone by the waies of the kinges of Israel, 13 and hast made Iuda to fornicate, and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem, hauing imitated the fornication of the house of Achab, moreouer also hast killed thy brethren, the house of thy father, better men then thou: † behold our Lord wil 14 strike thee with a great plague with al thy people, and children, and thy wiues, and al thy substance. † And thou shalt be 15 sicke of a very sore disease of thy bealie, til thy vital partes come forth by litle and litle euerie day. † Our Lord therfore 16 raised vp agaynst Ioram the spirit of the Philisthianes, and of the Arabians, which are borderers to the Aethiopians. † and 17 they went vp into the Land of Iuda, and wasted it, and they spoyled al the substance, that was found in the kinges house, moreouer also his sonnes, and wiues: neither was there a sonne left him but Ioachaz, who was the yongest. † And 18 beside al these thinges our Lord stroke him with an incurable disease of the bealie. † And when day succeded day, and 19 the spaces of times passed about, the circuite of two yeares was complete: and soe being wasted with a long comsumption, soe that he voyded euen his very bowels, he was ridde of the disease, and of his life together. And he died in an exceding vile infirmitie, & the people made him not exequies according to the maner of burning, as they had done to his anceters. † He was two and thirtie yeares old, when he 20 began to reigne, and he reigned eight yeares in Ierusalem. And he walked not rightly, and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid: but yet not in the sepulchre of the kinges.

CHAP. XXII. Ochozias reigning one yeare, 3. is slaine together with Ioram king of Israel, by king Iehu. 10. Athalia killeth the kinges children (onlie Ioas being saued by his aunt) and vsurpeth the kingdom six yeares.

[Page 904]AND the inhabitantes of Ierusalem made Ochozias his 1 4. Reg. 8. v. 25. ch. 9. least sonne, king for him: for al the elders, that had bene before him, the rouers of the Arabians had slayne, which inuaded the campe: and Ochozias the sonne of Ioram the king of Iuda reigned. † Two and To wit when he beganne to reigne alone: for he reigned together with his father at the age of 22. 4. Reg. 8. v. 26. And after his fathers death but one yeare. fourtie yeares old was Ocohzias 2 when he began to reigne, and he reigned one yeare in Ierusalem, and the name of his mother was Athalia the daughter of See 4. Reg. 8. v. 18. Amri. † But he also went by the waies of the house of 3 Achab: for his mother forced him to doe impiously. † He 4 therfore did euil in the sight of our Lord, as the house of Achab: for they were his counselers after the death of his father, to his destruction. † And he walked in their counfels. 5 And he went forth with Ioram the sonne of Achab king of Israel, into battel agaynst Hazael king of Syria, into Ramoth Galaad: and the Syrians wounded Ioram. † Who returned to 6 be cured into Iezrael: for he had taken manie woundes in the foresayd battel. Therfore Ochozias the sonne of Ioram king of Iuda, went downe te visit Ioram the sonne of Achab in Iezrael being sicke. † For it was the wil of God agaynst 7 Ochozias, that he should come to Ioram: and when he was come he should goe out also against Iehu the sonne of Namsi, whom our Lord anoynted to destroy the house of Achab. † When Iehu therfore ouerthrew the house of Achab, he 8 found the princes of Iuda, and the sonne of the brethren of Ochozias, which serued him, and he slewe them. † Searching 9 also for Ochozias himself, he tooke him lying hid in Samatia: and being brought vnto him, he killed him, and they buried him: because he was the sonne of Iosaphat, who had sought our Lord in al his hart Human hope failed, but Gods prouidence vsed meanes to conserue some of Dauids issue to sitte in his throne, yea to continue the succession [...] Christ. Mat. 1. neither was there anie more hope that anie should reigne of the stocke of Ochozias. † For Athalia his mother, seing that her sonne was dead, 10 arose, and s [...]eu al the kinges stocke of the house of Ioram. † Sauing that Iosabeth the kinges daughter tooke Ioas the 11 sonne of Ochozias, and stole him out of the middes of the kinges sonnes, when they were slayne▪ and she hid thim with his nource in the bedde chamber: and Iosabeth that hid him, was the daughter of king Ioram, the wife of Ioiada the high priest, the sister of Ochozias, and therfore Athalia did not kil him▪ † He therfore was with them in the house of God six 12 yeares, in the which Athalia reigned ouer the Land.

[Page 905]

CHAP. XXIII. Ioiada the Hiegh priest annoynteth and crowneth Ioas king. 12. causeth Athalia to be slaine, 16. idolatrie to be destroyed. 18. and Gods seruice aduanced.

AND in the seuenth yeare Ioiada taking courage, tooke 1 4. Reg. 11. the centurions, to witte, Azarias the sonne of Ieroham, and Ismahel the sonne of Iohanan, Azarias also the sonne of Obed, and Maasias the sonne of Adaias, and Elisaphat the sonne of Zechri: and made a couenant with them. † Who 2 going about Iuda, gathered together the Leuites out of al the cities of Iuda, and the princes of the families of Israel, and they came into Ierusalem. † Therfore al the multitude made 3 a couenant with the king in the house of God: and Ioiada sayd to them: Behold the kinges sonne shal reigne, as our Lord hath spoken, vpon the sonnes of Dauid. † This Gods promise being absolute and certayne, yet humane meanes were neuertheles required. therfore 4 is the thing which you shal doe. † The third part of you 5 that come to the the vve [...]eli [...] vvatch. Sabbath of the Priestes, and of Leuites, and of porters shal be in the gates: and a third part at the kinges house: and a third at the gate, which is called of the Fundation: but let al the rest of the common people be in the courtes of the house of our Lord. † Neither let anie other 6 enter into the house of our Lord, but the Priestes, and they that minister of the Leuites: let them onlie goe in, because they are sanctified and let al the rest of the multitude obserue the watches of our Lord. † And let the Leuites enuiron the 7 king, hauing euerie one their weapons: (and if anie other shal enter into the temple, let him be slayne) and let them be with the king both coming in, and going out. † The Leuites 8 therfore, & al Iuda did according to al thinges, which In case of right and necessitie we see here what the high Priest could do and did by his authoritie: who otherwise intermedled not in the kings affayres. ch. 19▪ v 11. Ioiada the high Priest had commanded; and they tooke euerie one the men that were vnder them, and came by the order of the Sabbath, with them that had fulfilled the Sabbath, and were to goe forth. For Ioiada the high Priest permitted not the companies to depart, which were accustomed to succede one an other euerie weeke. † And Ioiada the Priest gaue to the 9 centurions the speares, and the shieldes, and targattes of king Dauid, which he had consecrated in the house of our Lord. † And he appoynted al the people of them that held weapons 10 on the right side of the temple, vnto the left syde of the temple, before the altar, and the temple, round about the [Page 906] king. † And they brought forth the kinges sonne, and put the 11 crowne vpon him, and the testimonie, and gaue the law to be in his hand, & they made him king: Ioiada also the high Priest, and his sonnes annoynted him: and they wished him wel, and said: God saue the king. † Which thing when Athalia had 12 heard, to witte, the voice of them that ranne and praysed the king, she went in vnto the people, into the temple of our Lord. † And when she had seene the king standing vpon the 13 steppe in the entrance, and the princes, and the companies about him, and al the people of the land reioysing, and sounding with trumpettes, and playing on instrumentes of diuerse kind, and the voice of them that praysed, she rent her garmentes, and sayd: Treason, treason. † And Ioiada the high 14 Priest going forth to the centurions, and captaines of the armie, sayd to them: Bring her forth without the precinct of the temple, and let her be killed with the sword without. And the Priest commanded that she should not be killed in the house of our Lord. † And they layd handes vpon her necke: 15 and when she was entred within the gate of the horses of the kinges house, they killed her there. † And Ioiada made a 16 couenant betwen himself, and al the people, and the king, that they would be the people of our Lord. † Al the people therfore 17 entred into the house of Baal, and destroyed it: and they brake his altars and They are wilfully blind that wil not see difference betwen images of Baal & of Christ or of Sainctes. his simul [...] [...]ra. images: Mathan also the priest of Baal they slewe before the altars. † And Ioiada appoynted 18 ouerseers in the house of our Lord, vnder the handes of the Priestes, & the Leuites, which Dauid distributed in the house of our Lord: that they should offer holocaustes to our Lord, as it is writen in the law of Moyses, in ioy and songes, according to the disposition of Dauid. † He appoynted also porters 19 in the gates of the house of our Lord, that the vncleane in aniething [...]hould not enter in. † And he tooke the centurions, 20 and the most valiant men and princes of the people, and al the common people of the land, and they made the king to goe downe from the house of our Lord, & to enter by the middes of the vpper gate into the kinges house, and placed him in the royal throne. † And al the people of the land reioysed, & the 21 citie was quiet: moreouer Athalia was slayne with the sword.

CHAP. XXIIII. Ioas reigning piously, so long as Ioiada liueth, causeth the Temple to be repayred, 14. and new sa [...]red vessels to be made. 15. Ioiada an hundred thirtie [Page 907] yeares old dieth. 17. Ioas falleth to idolatrie: 20. causeth Zacharias to be slayne in the court of the Temple. 23. A few Syrians kil the chief men about the king, and carie away great prayes. 25. Ioas is slayne by his owne men, and his sonne Amasias reigneth.

SEVEN yeares old was Ioas when he began to reigne: and 1 he reigned fourty yeares in Ierusalem, the name of his mother was Sebia of Bersabee. † And he did that which is good 2 before our Lord al the dayes of Ioiada the Priest. † And Ioiada 3 tooke for him two wiues, of whom he begat sonnes & daughters. † After which thinges it pleased Ioas to repayre the 4 house of our Lord. And he assembled the Priestes, and the 5 Leuites, and sayd to them: Goe ye forth to the cities of Iuda, and gather of al Israel money for the reparation of the temple of your God, yeare by yeare, and doe this in hast: moreouer the Leuites did negligently. † And the king called Ioiada the 6 prince, and sayd to him: why hast thou had no care to constrayne the Leuites to bring in out of Iuda and Ierusalem the money, that was By the law euerie one payed yearly halfe a sicle, towards the repayring of the tabernacle and so afterwardes of the temple. Ex. 30. appointed of Moyses the seruant of our Lord, that al the multitude of Israel should bring it in into the tabernacle of testimonie? † For the most impious Athalia, 7 and her children haue destroyed the house of God, and of al thinges that had bene sanctified in the temple of our Lord, they adorned the temple of Baalim. † The king therfore commanded 8 and they made a chest: and set it by the gate of our Lord on the out side. † And it was proclaymed in Iuda and 9 Ierusalem, that euery man should bring the price to our Lord, which Moyses the seruant of God appoynted ouer al Israel, in the desert. † And al the princes reioysed, and al the people: 10 and going in they contributed into the chest of our Lord, and cast in so that it was filled. † And when it was time that they 11 should bring the chest before the king by the handes of Leuites (for they saw much money) the kinges Scribe went in, and he whom the high priest had appoynted: & they powred out the money that was in the chest, & recaried it to his place: and so did they from day to day, and there was gathered infinite money. † Which the king and Ioiada gaue to them, 12 that ouersaw the workes of the house of our Lord: but they hired with it hewers of stones, and artificers of al workes, to repayre the house of our Lord: smithes also of yron and brasse, that that which began to fal, might be vpholden. † And 13 [Page 908] they that wrought did industriously, and the breach of the walles was closed by their handes, and they raysed the house of our Lord into the old state, and made it stand firmely. † And when they had accomplished al the workes, they 14 brought the rest of the money before the king and Ioiada: of the which were made vessels of the temple to the ministerie, and for holocaustes, phials also, and other vessels of gold and siluer: and holocaustes were offered in the house of our Lord continually al the daies of Ioiada. † But Ioiada became old 15 being ful of dayes, and died when he was an hundred and thirtie yeares old. † And they buried him in the citie of Dauid 16 with the kinges, because he had done good with Israel, and with his house. † And after that Ioiada was dead, the princes 17 of Iuda went in, and adored the king, who being altered by their seruiceablenesse, agreed to them. † And they forsooke 18 the temple of our Lord the God of their fathers, and serued groues, and sculptilles, and there came wrath agaynst Iuda, and Ierusalem for this sinne. † And he sent them prophetes, 19 that they should returne to our Lord, whom protesting they would not heare. † The spirit of God therfore inuested Zacharias 20 the sonne of Ioiada the Priest, & he stood in the sight of the people, and sayd to them: Thus sayth our Lord God: Why transgresse you the precept of our Lord, which thing shal not profit you, & haue forsaken our Lord, that he should forsake you? † Who being gathered agaynst him, they threw 21 stones according to the kinges commandement, in the court Ma [...]. [...] ▪ of the house of our Lord. † And Ioas the king did not remember 22 the mercie, that Ioiada his father had done with him, but he killed his sonne. Who when he died, sayd: Our Lord see, and require it. † And when a yeare was come about, the 23 armie of Syria came vp against him: & it came into Iuda & Ierusalem, & slewe al the princes of the people, and al the pray they sent to the king into Damascus. † And wheras there was 24 come a very smal number of the Syrians, our Lord deliuered into their handes an infinit multitude, for that they had forsaken our Lord the God of their fathers: on Ioas also they exercised ignomious iudgementes. † And departing they left 25 him in great diseases: and his seruantes rose agaynst him, He that killed his spiritual father was slaine by his owne seruantes. for reuenge of the bloud of the sonne of Ioiada the priest, & they slewe him in his bed, & he dyed: and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid, but not in the kinges sepulchres. † And 26 [Page 909] there conspired against him Zabad the sonne of Semmaath an Ammonitesse, & Iozabad the sonne of Semarith a Moabitesse. † Moreouer his children, and the summe of money, 27 which was gathered vnder him, & the repayring of the house of God are writen more diligently in the Booke of kinges: and Amasias his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XXV. Amasias killeth those that slew his father. 5. Besides his owne people, hyreth souldiars of Israel, but by aduise of a Prophete dismisseth them, 11. and with his owne owerthroweth the Idumeans, whose idols taken in battel (13. the dismissed souldiars in the meane time spoyling his countrie) he adoreth. 15. Contemning admonition, 17. and prouoking the king of Israel to warre, 22. is taken in battel and spoyled. 27. Fearing treason in Ierusalem fleeth, and is slaine in Lachis.

FIVE and twentie yeares old was Amasias when he began 1 4. Reg. 14. to reigne, and he reigned nine and twentie yeares in Ierusalem, the name of his mother was Ioaden of Ierusalem. † And he did good in the sight of our Lord: but yet not 2 in a perfect hart. † And when he saw his kingdom strengthned, 3 he put to death the seruantes, that had slayne the king his father, † but their children he slew not, as it is writen in 4 the Booke of the law of Moyses, where our Lord commanded, saying. The fathers shal not be slayne for the children, D [...]t. 24 nor the children for their fathers, but euerie one shal die in his owne sinne. † Amasias therfore gathered together Iuda, 5 and appoynted them by families, and tribunes, and centurions in al Iuda, and Beniamin: and he numbred from twentie yeares vpward, and found three hundred thousand of yong men that went forth to battel, and held speare and shielde. † He hyred also for wages of Israel an hundred thousand 6 strong men, for an hundred talentes of siluer. † But a man of 7 God came to him, and sayd: O king, let not the host of Israel goe forth with thee, for our Lord is not with Israel, and al the children of Ephraim: † and if thou thinke that battels 8 consist in the force of an armie, God wil make thee to be ouercome of the enemies: for it perteyneth to God both to helpe, and to put to flight. † And Amasias sayd to the man 9 of God: What shal become then of the hundred talentes, which I haue geuen the souldiars of Israel? And the man of God answered him: Our Lord hath wherby he is able to [Page 910] geue thee much more then this. † Amasias therfore seperated 10 the host, that came to him out of Ephraim, that they should returne into their place: but they being wrath excedingly agaynst Iuda, returned into their countrie. † Moreouer 11 Amasias brought forth his people confidently, and went into the Vale of salt pittes, and stroke the children of Seir, ten thousand. † And other ten thousand men did the children 12 of Iuda take, and bring to the steepe of a certaine rocke, and cast them down headlong from the toppe, who burst in sunder euerie one. † But that armie which Amasias had sent 13 backe, from going with him to battel, was spred in the cities of Iuda, from Samaria vnto Bethhoron, & killing three thousand tooke away a great praye. † But Amasias after the 14 slaughter of the Idumeans, sette vp the goddes of the children of Seir, which he had brought thence, for his goddes, and adored them, and burnt incense to them. † For which 15 thing our Lord being angrie against Amasias, sent a prophete vnto him, which should say to him: Why hast thou adored goddes, that haue not deliuered their owne people out of thy hand? † And when he spake these thinges, he answered him: 16 4. Reg. 8. Art thou the kinges counseler? be quiet, lest I kil thee. And the prophet departing, sayd: I know that God is minded to kil thee, because thou hast done this euil, and besides hast not agreed to my counsel. † Therfore Amasias the king of 17 Iuda taking verie il counsel, sent to Ioas the sonne of Ioachaz the sonne of Iehu, the king of Israel, saying: Come, let vs see one an other. † But he sent backe the messengers, saying: A 18 thistle that is in Libanus sent to a cedar of Libanus, saying: Geue thy daughter to my sonne to wife: & behold the beastes that were in the wood of Libanus passed, and trode downe the thistle. † Thou hast sayd: I haue stroken Edom, and therfore 19 thy hart is extolled into pryde, sitte in thy house▪ why dost thou prouoke euil against thee, that both thou mayest fal, and Iuda with thee. † Amasias would not heare, because 20 it was our Lordes wil, that he should be deliuered into the handes of the enemies Obduration of hart for former sinne. for the goddes of Edom. † Ioas therfore 21 the king of Israel went vp, and they gaue themselues one the sight of the other: and Amasias the king of Iuda was in Bethsames of Iuda: † and Iuda fel before Israel, and fled 22 into their tabernacles. † Moreouer Amasias the king of 23 Iuda, the sonne of Ioas, the sonne of Ioachaz, did take Ioas [Page 911] the king of Israel in Bethsames, & brought him into Ierusalem: and destroyed the wal therof from the gate of Ephraim, to the gate of the corner, foure hundred cubites. † Al the gold 24 also, and siluer, and al the vessels, that he found in the house of God, and with Obededom in the treasures also of the kinges house, moreouer he brought backe the sonnes of the hostages into Samaria. † And Amasias the sonne of 25 Ioas the king of Iuda liued, after that Ioas died the sonne of Ioachaz the king of Israel, fiftene yeares. † But the rest of 26 the wordes of Amasias the first and the last are Writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel. † Who after he reuolted 27 from our Lord, they lay in waite agaynst him in Ierusalem. And when he had fled into Lachis, they sent, and slew him there. † And carying him backe vpon horses, buried 28 him with his fathers in the Citie of Dauid.

CHAP. XXVI. Ozias seruing God, 6. preuaileth in battel against the Philistians, Arabians, and Ammonites. 9. prospereth in honour and wealth. 16. Then w [...]ixing proud offereth incense on the altar, is striken with leprosie, expelled out of the Temple, and citie. 20. and his sonne Ioathan ruleth the kingdom.

AND al the people of Iuda made his sonne Ozias sixtene 1 yeares old, king for Amasias his father. † He built 2 Ailath, and restored it to the dominion of Iuda, after that the king slept with his fathers. † Sixtene yeares old was Ozias 3 when he began to reigne, and he reigned two and fiftie yeares in Ierusalem, the name of his mother was Iechelia of Ierusalem. † And he did that which was right in the eies of our 4 Lord, according to al thinges, which Amasias his father had done. † And he sought our Lord in the daies of Zacharias 5 that vnderstood and saw God: and when he sought our Lord, So long as this king obserued the ordinance of God to be directed by the high priest N [...]. 27. v 2 [...]. he prospered in his affayres. he directed him in al thinges. † Moreouer he went forth, 6 and fought against the Philisthijms, and destroyed the wal of Geth, and the wal of Iabinia, and the wal of Azotus: he built also townes in Azotus, and among the Philisthijms. † And 7 God did helpe him against the Philisthijms, and against the Arabians, that dwelt in Garbaal, and against the Ammonites. † And the Ammonites gaue giftes to Ozias: and his name 8 was renowmed vnto the entrance of Aegypt for his often victories. † And Ozias built towers in Ierusalem ouer the 9 gate of the corner, and ouer the gate of the valley, and the [Page 912] rest, in the same side of the wal, and strengthened them. † He built towers also in the wildernesse, and digged manie 10 cesternes, because he had much cattel as wel in the champaine, as in the vastitie of the desert: he had also vineyardes & dressers of vines in the mountaynes, and in Carmel: for he was a man geuen to husbandrie. † And the host of his warriers, 11 which went forth to battels, was vnder the band of Iehiel the scribe, & Maasias the doctor, and vnder the hand of Hananias, who was of the kinges dukes. † And al the number 12 of the princes by families of valiant men, was two thousand six hundred. † And vnder them al the host of three hundred 13 & seuen thousand fiue hundred: which were apt to battels, and fought for the king against the aduersaries † Ozias also 14 prepared for them, that is to say, for al the armie, shildes, and speares, and helmettes, and coates of mayle, and bowes, and slinges to cast stones. † And he made in Ierusalem engines 15 of diuerse kind, which he placed in the towers, and in the corners of the walles, to shoote arrowes, and great stones: and his name went forth farre, for that our Lord did ayde him, and had strengthned him. † But when he was strengthned, 16 his hart was eleuated to his destruction, and he neglected our Lord his God: and entering into the temple of our Lord: he would burne For vsurping spiritual authority which pertayned not to him, the high priest with his assistantes opposed themselues against the king: and God confirmed their sentence, by striking the same king with leprosie. And so he was not only cast out of the temple, but also out of his kingdom, and common conuersation with other men, & forced to dwel in a separet house without the citie according to the law. Leuit. 13. v. 46. incense vpon the altar of incense. † And incontinent Azarias the Priest going in after him, & 17 with him the Priestes of our Lord eightie, most valiant men, † they resisted the king, and sayd: It is not thy office Ozias, 18 to burne incense to our Lord, but of the Priestes, that is, of the children of Aaron, which are consecrated to this kind of ministerie: goe out of the Sanctuarie, contemne not: because this thing shal not be reputed to thee for glorie of our Lord God. † And Ozias being angrie, and holding in his hand the 19 censar to burne incense, threatned the Priestes. And forthwith there rose a leprosie in his forehead before the Priestes, in the house of our Lord vpon the altar of incense. † And 20 when Azarias the high Priest had beheld him, and al the rest of the Priestes, they saw the leprosie in his forehead, and in hast they thrust him out. Yea and him self being sore afrayd, made hast to goe out, because he felt by and by the plague of our Lord. † Ozias therfore the king was a leper vntil the day 21 of his death, and he dwelt in a house apart ful of the leprosie, for the which he had bene cast out of the house of our Lord. [Page 913] Moreouer Ioathan his sonne gouerned the kinges house, and iudged the people of the land. † But the rest of the wordes 22 of Ozias the first and the last wrote Isaias the sonne of Amos, the prophet. † And Ozias slept with his fathers, and they 23 buried him in the Neither could he be buried in the propet sepulchres of the kinges. kings sepulchres field, because he was a leper: and Ioathan his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XXVII. Ioathan a godlie king, 5. preuaileth in battel against the Ammonites. 7. dieth, and his sonne Achaz succedeth.

FIVE and twentie yeares old was Ioathan when he began 1 4. Reg. 15. [...]o reigne, and he reigned sixtene yeares in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Ierusa the daugter of Sadoc. † And 2 he did that which was right before our Lord, according to al thinges, which Ozias his father had done, sauing that he entered not into the temple of our Lord, and as yet the people did sinne. † He built the high gate of the house of our Lord, 3 and in the wal of Ophel he built manie thinges. † Cities also 4 he built in the mountaynes of Iuda, and castelles and towres in the forrestes. † He fought agaynst the king of the 5 children of Ammon, and ouercame them, and the children of Ammon gaue him at that time an hundred talentes of siluer, and tenne thousand cores of wheate, and as manie cores of barley: the children of Ammon gaue him these thinges in the second and third yeare. † And Ioathan was strengthened, 6 because he had directed his waies before our Lord his God. † But the rest of the wordes of Ioathan, and al his battels, 7 and workes, are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Israel and Iuda. † He was fiue and twentie yeares old when he began 8 to reigne, and he reigned sixtene yeares in Ierusalem. † And Ioathan slept with his fathers, and they buried him 9 in the Citie of Dauid: and Achaz his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XXVIII. For his great wickednes Achaz is taken in battel, his countrie spoyled, and manie [...]yne by the kinges of Syria, and Israel. 9. yet God suffereth not the kingdom to be subdued. 16. Then requiring helpe of the Assyrians. 17 is spoyled by the Idumeans, Philisthians, and Assyrians. 22. After al which pl [...]nes he committeth more idolatrie. 26. dieth, and his sonne Ezechias reigneth.

[Page 914]TWENTIE yeares old was Achaz when he began to reigne, 1 & he reigned sixtene yeares in Ierusalem: he did 4. Reg. 16. not right in the sight of our Lord as Dauid his father. † but 2 walked in the wayes of the kinges of Israel, moreouer also he did cast statues to Baalim. † He it is that burnt incense to the 3 Valebenennom, and he consecrated his sonnes in fire according to the rite of the nations, which our Lord slewe in the coming of the children of Israel. † He sacrified also, & burnt 4 incense in the excelses, & on hilles, and vnder euerie tree ful of grene leaues. † And our Lord his God deliuered him into 5 the handes of the king of Syria, who stroke him, and tooke a great praye out of his kingdom, & brought into Damascus: to the handes also of the king of Israel was he deliuered, and striken with a great plague. † And Phacee the sonne of Romelia 6 slewe of Iuda an hundred twentie thousand in one day, al men of warre: for that they had forsaken our Lord the God of their fathers. † At that time Zechri a mightie man of 7 Ephraim, slewe Maasias the kinges sonne, and Ezricam the gouernour of his house, Elcana also second from the king. † And the children of Israel tooke of their brethren 8 two hundred thousand of wemen, of boyes, and of wenches, and an infinite praye: and they brought it into Samaria. † At that time there was a Prophete of our Lord, named 9 Oded: who going forth to meete the armie coming into Samaria, sayd to them: Behold our Lord the God of your fathers being angrie against Iuda, hath deliuered them into your handes, and you haue slayne them cruelly, so that your crueltie did reach to heauen. † Moreouer the children of 10 Iuda and Ierusalem you wil subdue vnto you for bondmen and bondwemen, which nedeth not to be done: for you haue sinned hereupon to our Lord your God. † But heare ye my 11 counsel, and carie backe the captiues, that you haue brought of your brethren, because the great furie of our Lord hangeth ouer you. † There stood therfore princes of the children of 12 Ephraim, Azarias the sonne of Iohanan, Barachias the sonne of Mosollomoth, Ezechias the sonne of Sellum, and Amasa the sonne of Hadali, against them that came out of the battel, † and they sayd to them: You shal not bring in the captiues 13 hither, lest we sinne to our Lord. Why wil you adde vpon our sinnes, and heape vp old offences? for it is a great sinne, and the anger of the furie of our Lord hangeth ouer Israel. [Page 915] † And the men of warre dismist the pray, & al the thinges that 14 they had taken, before the princes and al the multitude. † And 15 the men, whom we mentioned aboue, stood and taking the captiues, and al that were naked they clothed and shod them, with the spoyles: and when they had clothed and refreshed them with meate and drinke, and annoynted them because of their labour, and had looked carefully to them: as manie as could not walke, and were of a weake bodie, they set on beastes, and brought them to Iericho the Citie of palme trees to their brethren, and themselues returned into Samaria. † At that time king Achaz sent to the king of the Assyrians 16 asking helpe. And the Idumeans came and stroke manie of 17 Iuda, and tooke a great praye. † The Philisthijms also were 18 spred abroad by the cities of the champayne, and toward the South of Iuda: and they tooke Bethsames, & Aialon, and Gaderoth, Socho also, & Thamnan, and Gamzo, with their villages, and dwelt in them. † For our Lord had humbled Iuda 19 because of Achaz the king of Iuda, for that he had made it naked of helpe, and had contemned our Lord. † And he 20 brought agaynst him Theglathphalnasar the king of the Assyrians, who also afflicted him, and spoyled him no man resisting. † Therfore Achaz spoyling the house of our Lord, and 21 the house of the kinges, and of the princes gaue giftes to the king of the Assyrians, and yet it did nothing profite him. † Moreouer also in the time of his distresse he increased contempte 22 agaynst our Lord, king Achaz himself by himself, † immolated victimes to the goddes of Damascus that stroke 23 him, and sayd: The goddes of the kinges of Syria doe helpe them, whom I wil pacifie with hostes, and they wil ayde me, ::VVicked policie auaileth nothing, but hurteth much. wheras on the contrarie part they were his ruine, and al Israels. † Achaz therfore hauing spoyled al the vessels of the 24 house of God, and broken them shut the gates of the temple of God, and made him altars in al the corners of Ierusalem. † In al the cities also of Iuda he built altars to burne frankincense, 25 and he prouoked to wrath our Lord the God of his fathers. † But the rest of his wordes, al his workes the first and 26 the last are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel. † And Achaz slept with his fathers, and they buried 27 him in the Citie of Ierusalem: for they receiued him not into the sepulchres of the kinges of Israel. And Ezechias his sonne reigned for him.

[Page 916]

CHAP. XXIX. Ezechias repayreth the Temple, and diuine seruiee▪ 5. zelously exhorteth offenders to repentance. 12. the Temple is purified in sixtene daies. 18. the king and nobles offer hostes, which the Priestes immolate. 25. with solemne musick (ordained by king Dauid) and great ioy of al the people.

THERFORE Ezechias began to reigne, when he was fiue 1 4. Reg. 18. and twentie yeares old, and he reigned nine and twentie yeares in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Abia, the daughter of Zacharias. † And he did that which was 2 pleasing in the sight of our Lord, according to al thinges that Dauid his father had done. † He in the first yeare and moneth 3 of his reigne opened the doores of the house of our Lord, and repayred them. † And he brought the Priestes and the Leuites, 4 and assembled them in the East streate. † And he sayd to 5 them: Heare me ye Leuites, and be sanctified, cleanse the house of our Lord the God of your fathers, and take away al vncleannes out of the Sanctuarie, † Our fathers haue sinned 6 and done euil in the sight of our Lord God, forsaking him: they haue turned away their faces from the tabernacle of our Lord, and geuen the backe. † They haue shut 7 the doores, that were in the porch, and put out the lampes, and haue not burnt incense, and haue not offered holocaustes in the Sanctuarie of the God of Israel. † Therfore was the 8 furie of our Lord stirred vp vpon Iuda and Ierusalem, and he hath deliuered them into commotion, and into destruction, & to be hissed at, as your selues see with your eyes. † Behold, 9 our fathers haue fallen by the swordes, our sonnes, and our daughters, and wiues are led captiue for this wickednesse. † Now therfore it pleaseth me that we make a couenant 10 with our Lord the God of Israel, and he wil turne away the furie of his wrath from vs. † My children be not negligent: 11 our Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, and to minister to him, and to worshipe him, and to burne incense to him. † The Leuites therfore arose: Mahath the sonne of 12 Amasai, and Ioel the sonne of Azarias, of the children of Caath: moreouer the children of Merari, Cis the sonne of Abdi, and Azarias the sonne of Ialaleel. And of the children of Gerson, Ioah the sonne of Zemma, and Eden the sonne of Ioah. † But of the children of Elisaphan, Samri, and Iahiel. 13 Also of the children of Asaph, Zacharias, and Mathanias. [Page 917] † Moreouer also of the children of Heman, Iahiel, & Semei: 14 yea and of the children of Idithun, Semeias, and Oziel. † And they gathered together their btethren, and were sanctified, 15 and went in according to the commandment of the king, and the precept of our Lord, to purge the house of God. † The Priestes also going into the Temple of our Lord 16 to sanctifie it, brought out al vncleannes, which they sound within the entrance of the house of our Lord, which the Leuites tooke, and caried to the Torrent cedron without. † And they began to clense it the first day of the first moneth, 17 and in the eight day of the same moneth they entred into the porche of the temple of our Lord, and they purged the temple in eight dayes, and in the sixtenth day of the same moneth, they accomplished that which they began. † They 18 entered in also to Ezechias the king, and sayd to him: We haue sanctified al the house of our Lord, and the altar of holocaust, and the vessels therof, moreouer also the table of proposition with al the vessels therof, † and al the furniture 19 of the temple, which king Achaz in his reigne had polluted, after that he transgressed; and behold al thinges are set forth before the altat of our Lord. † and Ezechias the king 20 rising early, assembled al the princes of the citie, and went vp into the house of our Lord: † and they offered together 21 seuen oxen, and seuen rammes, seuen lambes, and seuen buckgoates for sinne, for the kingdom, for the sanctuarie, for Iuda, and he sayd to the Priestes the children of Aaron, that they should offer them vpon the altar of our Lord. † They killed therfore the oxen, and the Priestes tooke the 22 bloud, and powred it vpon the altar, they killed also the rammes, and their bloud they powred also vpon the altar, and they immolated the lambes, and powred the bloud vpon the altar. † They brought the buckgoates for sinne before the 23 king, and the whole multitude, and they put their handes vpon them: † and the Priestes immolated them, and sprinkled 24 their bloud on the altar for an expiation of al Israel: for the king had commanded for al Israel, that holocaust should be made, and for sinne. † He appoynted also the Leuites in 25 the house of our Lord with cymbals, and psalteries, and harpes according to the disposition of Dauid the king, and of Gad the Seer, and of Nathan the Prophete: for it was the precept of our Lord by the hand of his prophetes. † And the 26 [Page 918] Leuites stoode, holding the instrumentes of Dauid, and the Priestes trumpettes. † And Ezechias commanded that they 27 should offer holocaustes vpon the altar: and when holocaustes were offered, they began to sing prayses to our Lord, and to sound with trumpettes, and on diuerse instrumentes, which Dauid the king of Israel had prepared for to sound. † And al the multitude adoring, the singing men, and they 28 that held the trumpettes, were in their office, whiles the holocaust was accomplished. † And when the oblation was 29 ended, the king bowed, and al that were with him, and adored. † And Ezechias, and the princes commanded the Leuites, 30 that they should prayse our Lord in the wordes of Dauid, and Asaph the Seer: who praysed him with great ioy, and bowing the knee adored. † But Ezechias added these wordes 31 also: You haue filled your handes to our Lord, come, and offer victimes, and prayses in the house of our Lord. Al the multitude therfore offered hostes, and prayses, and holocaustes with a deuout minde. † Moreouer the number of 32 the holocaustes, which the multitude offered, was thls, oxen seuentie, rammes an hundred, lambes two hundred. † And 33 they sanctified to our Lord oxen six hunered, & sheepe three thousand. † But the Priestes were few, neither could they 34 suffise to draw of the skinnes of the holocaustes: wherfore the Leuites also their brethren holpe them, til the worke was accomplished, and the Priestes were sanctified, for the Leuites are sanctified with an easier rite, then the Priestes. † There were holocaustes therfore verie many, the fatte of 35 pacifiques, and the libamentes of the holocaustes: and the seruice of the house of our Lord was accomplished. † And 36 Ezechias reioysed, and al the people, because the ministerie of our Lord was accomplished. For it pleased them that the thing should be done of a soden.

CHAP. XXX. Ezechias by messengers and letters exhorteth the people both of Iuda and Israel, to make Paesch in Ierusalem. 11. which some of Israel, and al Iuda performe, 18. the fourtenth day of the second moneth, though al could not be purified according to the law. 23. they make an other feast of Azimes seuen dayes more, the king aend princes geuing hostes to the people.

EZECHIAS also sent to al Israel and Iuda: and he wrote 1 letters to Ephraim and Manasses, that they should come [Page 919] to the house of our Lord in Ierusalem, and should make a Phase to our Lord the God of Israel. † Counsel therfore 2 being taken of the king and the princes, and of al the assemblie of Ierusalem, they decreed to make the Phase the second moneth. † For they could not make it in his time because 3 the Priestes that might suffise, had not bene sanctified, and the people had not as yet bene gathered into Ierusalem. † And 4 the word pleased the king, and al the multitude. † And they 5 decreed to send messengers into al Israel from Bersabee vnto dan, that they should come, and make the Phase to our Lord the God of Israel in Ierusalem: for manie had not made it as is prescribed by the law. † And the postes went forth with 6 letters of commandement from the king, and his princes, into al Israel and Iuda, according to that, which the king had commanded, proclaming: Children of Israel returne ye to our Lord the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Israel: and he wil returne to the remnant, that hath escaped the hand of the king of the Assyrians. † Become not as your fathers▪ and 7 brethren, which haue reuolted from our Lord the God of their fathers, who hath deliuered them into destruction, as your selues see. † Harden not your neckes, as your fathers: 8 geue handes to our Lord, and come to his Sanctuarie, which he hath sanctified for ouer: serue our Lord the God of your fathers, and the wrath of his furie shal be turned away from you. † For if you shal returne to our Lord: your brethren, 9 and children shal haue mercie before their Lordes, that haue led them captiue, and they shal returne into this land: for our Lord your God is merciful, and wil not turne away his face from you, if you shal returne to him. † Therfore the 10 postes went forward spedely from citie to citie, through the land of Ephraim, and of Manasses, as farre as Zabulon, they mocking and skorning them. † Neuerthelesse certayne men 11 of Aser, and Manasses, and Zabulon, condescending to the counsel, came to Ierusalem. † But the hand of God was in 12 Iuda, to geue them one hart to doe the word of our Lord, according to the precept of the king and of the princes. † And much people was gathered into Ierusalem to make 13 the solemnitie of Azimes in the second moneth: † And 14 rising they destroyed the altars that were in Ierusalem, and ouerthrowing al thinges wherin incense was burnt to idols, they threw it into the Torrent cedron. † And they immolated 15 [Page 920] the Phase the fourtenth day of the second moneth. The Priestes also and the Leuites at length being sanctified offered holocaustes in the house of our Lord. And they stoode in their order according to the disposition, & law of Moyses the man of God: but the Priestes receiued the bloud to be powred out of the handes of the Leuites, † because a great 17 multitude Was not sanctified: & therfore the Leuites immolated the Phase for them, that came not in time to be sanctified to our Lord. † For a great part of the people of Ephraim, 18 and Manasses, and Issachar, and Zabulon, that had not bene sanctified, did eate the Phase, not according to that which is writen: and Ezechias prayed for them, saying: Our good Lord wil be merciful, † to al them, Being penitēt in ha [...]t for their sinnes, Gods dispensation might be sapp [...]sed fo [...] legal purification i [...] case of [...]ce [...]ine, which otherwise was st [...]ly comma [...] L [...]t. 5. [...]. Deut. 27. &c. that in al their hart 19 secke our Lord the God of their fathers: and wil not impute it to them that they are not sanctified. † Whom our Lord 20 heard, and was pacified to the people. † And the children of 21 Israel, that were found in Ierusalem, made the solemnitie of Azimes seuen daies in great ioy, praysing our Lord euerie day. The Leuites also and the Priestes by instrumentes, that agreed to their office. † And Ezechias spake to the hart of 22 al the Leuites, that had good vnderstanding concerning our Lord: and they did eate during the seuen daies of the solemnitie, immolating victimes of pacifiques, and praysing our Lord the God of their fathers. † And it pleased the whole multitude 23 to celebrate it Voluntarie workes of superetogation, more then was commanded. other seuen daies: which also they did with great ioy. † For Ezechias the king of Iuda had 24 geuen the multitude a thousand oxen, and seuen thousand sheepe: but the princes had geuen the people oxen a thousand, & sheepe ten thousand: there was sanctified therfore a verie great multitude of Priestes. † And al the multitude of 25 Iuda was ful of mirth, as wel of the Priestes and Leuites, as of al the assemblie, that came out of Israel; of the proselites also of the land of Israel, and them that dwelt in Iuda. † And 26 there was made a great solemnitie in Ierusalem, such as had not bene in that citie from the dayes of Salomon the sonne of Dauid the king of Israel. † And the Priestes & the Leuites 27 rose vp blessing the people: & their voice was heard: and their prayer came into the holie habitation of heauen.

CHAP. XXXI. Idoles being destroyed in al Iuda and part of Israel, Priestes and Leuites freely execute their functions. 4 Tithes and first fruictes are payed in such abundance, 15. that they are put in store houses, and distributed by officers.

[Page 921]AND when these thinges had bene ritely celebrated, al 1 Israel that was found in the cities of Iuda, went forth, and they brake the idols, and cut downe the groucs, ouerthrew the excelses, and destroyed the altars, not onlie out of al Iuda and Beniamin, but out of Ephraim also and Manasses, til they vtterly destroyed them: and al the children of Israel returned into their possessions and cities. † And 2 Ezechias appoynted companies of Priestes, and of Leuites, by their diuisions, euerie man in his owne office, to witte, as wel of the Priestes, as of the Leuites, for the holocaustes, and pacifiques, that they should minister, and Besides consession of sinnes there is also cōfession of Gods excellencie & goodnes confesse, and sing in the gates of the campe of our Lord. † And the kinges 3 part was, that of his proper substance holocaust should be offered, morning alwaies and euening, in the Sabbathes also, and the Calendes and in other solennites, as it is writen in the law of Moyses. † He commanded also the people that 4 dwelt in Ierusaiem, to geue portions to the Priestes, and the Leuites, that they might attend the law of our Lord. † Which 5 when it was noysed in the eares of the multitude, the children of Israel offered very manie first fruites of corne, of wine, and of oyle, of honie also: and of al thinges, which the ground bringeth forth, they offered tithes. † Yea and the 6 children of Israel and Iuda, that dwelt in the cities of Iuda, offered tithes of oxen, and sheepe, and tithes of sanctified thinges, which they had vowed to our Lord their God: and carying them al, made manie heapes. † The third moneth 7 they began to lay the fundations of the heapes, and in the seuenth moneth they finished them. † And when Ezechias, 8 and his princes came in, they saw the heapes, and blessed our Lord, and the people of Israel. † And Ezechias asked the 9 Priestes and the Leuites, why the heapes lay so: † Azarias 10 the high Priest of the stocke of Sadoc answered him, saying: Since first fruites began to be offered in the house of our Lord, we haue eaten, and haue bene ful, and very much hath remayned, because our Lord hath blessed his people: and of the remaynes this is the abundance, which thou seest. † Fzechias therfore commanded that storehouses should be 11 prepared in the house of our Lord. Which when they had done, † they brought in as wel the first fruites, as the tithes, 12 and watsoeuer they had vowed, faythfully. And the ouerseer of them was Chonenias a Leuite, and Semeihis brother [Page 920] [...] [Page 921] [...] [Page 922] the second, † after whom Iahiel, and Azarias, and Nahath, 13 and Asael, and Ierimoth, Iosabad also, and Eliel, and Iesmachias, and Mahath, and Banaias, ouerseers vnder the hand of Chonenias, and Semei his brother, by the commandment of Ezechias the king, and Azarias the high Priest of the house of God, to whom al thinges apperteyned. † But Core the 14 sonne of Iemna a Leuite, and porter of the east gate, was ouerseer of those thinges, which were voluntarily offered to our Lord, and of the first fruites and the thinges consecrated for Sancta sanctorum. † And vnder his charge Eden, and 15 Beniamin, Iesue, and Semeias, Amarias also, and Sechenias, in the cities of the Priestes, that they should faithfully distribute to their brethren portions, to the lesser and greater: † sauing the men children from three yeares and aboue, to 16 al that entered into the temple of our Lord, and whatsoeuer day by day was profitable in the ministerie, and the obseruances according to their diuisions, † to the Priestes by families, 17 and to the Leuites from the twentith yeare and vpward, by the orders and companies, † and to al the multitude, as wel 18 their wiues, as their children of both sex, mea [...]es were geuen faithfully of these thinges, that had bene sanctified. † Yea 19 and of the children of Aaron by the fildes and the suburbes of euerie citie, there were men ordayned, that should distribute portions, to al the male sexe, of the Priestes and the Leuites. † Ezechias therfore did al thinges which we haue 20 sayd in al Iuda: and wrought good and right, and truth before our Lord his God, † in al the seruice of the ministerie of the 21 house of our Lord, according to the law and the ceremonies, willing to seeke his God in al his hart, and he did it and prospered.

CHAP. XXXII. Sennacherib king of Assyria inuading Iuda, king Ezechias encorageth the people, and prouideth to defend the countrie. 9. the Assyrians threaten the people, and blaspheme God. 20. Ezechias and Isaias pray. 21. An Angel destroyeth the Assyrians armie, so their king retiring home, is slayne in his idols temple, by his owne sonnes. 22. Ezechias reigneth in peace, 24. falleth into deadlie sicknes, but miraculously recouereth, offendeth in pryde, and repenteth. 27. is exceding rich, which he imprudently sheweth to strangers: 32. dieth, and Manasses succedeth.

AFTER which thinges, and :: this maner of truth, came 4. R [...]g. 18. Isaie 36. 1 Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians, and entering [Page 923] into Iuda, besieged the fensed cities, desirous to take them. † Which when Ezechias had sene, to witte, that Sennacherib 2 was come, and the whole force of the battel to be turned agaynst Ierusalem, † taking counsel with the princes, and 3 the most valiant men, to stoppe vp the heades of the fountaynes, that were without the citie: and the sentence of them al decreing this, † he gathered a very great multitude, & they 4 stopped vp al the fountaynes, and the riuer, that ranne in the middes of the land, saying: Lest the kinges of the Assyrians come, and finde abundance of waters. † He built also 5 doing industriously euerie wall that had bene destroyed, and built towers vpon them, and an other wall without: and he repayred Mello in the citie of Dauid, and made armour and shildes of al sortes: † And he appointed princes of warryers 6 in the armie: and he called them al together in the streate of the gate of the citie, and spake to their hart, saying: † Doe 7 manfully, and take courage: feare not, neither dread ye the king of the Assyrians, and al the multitude, that is with him: for there are manie moe with vs, then with him. † For with 8 him is an arme of flesh: with vs the Lord our God, which is our helper, and fighteth for vs. And the people was encouraged with these maner of wordes of Ezechias the king of Iuda. † Which thinges after they were done, Sennacherib 9 the king of the Assyrians sent his seruantes to Ierusalem (for himself with al his armie beseiged Lachis) to Ezechias the king of Iuda, & to al the people, that was in the citie, saying: † Thus sayth Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians: In 10 whom hauing affiance, doe you sitte besieged in Ierusalem? † Hath Ezechias deceiued you, to deliuer you to death in 11 hunger and thirst, affirming that the Lord your God can deliuer you from the hand of the king of the Assyrians? † Why, 12 is not this Ezechias, that hath destroyed his excelses, and altars, and hath commanded Iuda & Ierusalem, saying: Before one altar you shal adore, and on it you shal burne incense? † Are you ignorant what thinges I haue done, and my fathers 13 to al the peoples of the landes? haue the goddes of nations, and of al landes bene able to deliuer their countrie out of my hand? † Who is there of al the goddes of the nations, which 14 my fathers wasted, that could deliuer his people out of my hand, that your God also can deliuer you out of this hand? † Let not therfore Ezechias deceiue you, nor delude you 15 [Page 924] with vayne persuasion, neither beleue ye him. For if no god o [...] al nations and kingdomes, could deliuer his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers, consequently neither shal your God be able to deliuer you out of my hand. † Yea and manie other thinges did his seruantes speake, 16 agaynst our Lord God, and agaynst Ezechias his seruant. † Letters also he wrote ful of blasphemie against our Lord the 17 God of Israel, and he spake agaynst him: as the goddes of their nations could not deliuer their people out of my hand, so the God also of Ezechias can not deliuer his people out of this hand. † Moreouer also with a lowd crie, in the Iewes 18 tongue, he sounded against the people, that sate on the walles of Ierusalem, that he might terrifie them, and take the citie. † And he spake agaynst the God of Ierusalem, as agaynst the 19 goddes of the peoples of the earth, the workes of mens handes. † Ezechias therfore the king, and Isaias the prophet the 20 sonne of Amos, prayed agaynst this blasphemie, and cried out euen to heauen. † And our Lord sent an Angel, which stroke 21 euerie strong man, and warryer, and prince of the armie of the king of the Assyrians: and he returned with ignominie into his countrie. And when he was entered into the house of his God, his sonnes that were come forth of his wombe, slewe him with the sword. † And our Lord saued Ezechias 22 and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem, out of the hand of Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians, and out of the hand of al, & gaue them rest round about. † Manie also brought hostes, 23 and sacrifices to our Lord into Ierusalem, and giftes to Ezechias the king of Iuda: who was exalted after these thinges before al nations. † In those daies Ezechias was sick euen 24 to death, and he prayed our Lord: and he heard him, and gaue him a signe. † But not according to the benefites, which he 25 receiued, did he recompense, [...]ore danger of p [...]e in prosperitie, then in aduersitie. because his hart was eleuated: and wrath came agaynst him, and agaynst Iuda and Ierusalem. † And he was humbled afterward, because his hart had 26 bene exalted, both he and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem: and therfore the wrath of our Lord came not vpon them in the daies of Ezechias. † And Ezechias was rich, and glorious excedingly 27 and gathered to himself great treasures of siluer and of gold, and of pretious stone, of spices, and of armour of al kinde, and of vessels of great price. † Storehouses also of 28 corne, of wyne, and of oyle, and stalles of al beastes, and [Page 925] foldes of cattel, † and six cities he built to him self: for he had 29 flockes of sheepe, and of heardes innumerable, because our Lord had geuen him substance exceding much. † The same 30 is Ezechias, that stopped the vpper fountaine of the waters of Gihon, and turned them away vnderneth toward the West of the Citie of Dauid: in al his workes he did prosperously what he would. † But yet in the embassie of the princes of 31 Babylon, that were sent to him, to aske of the wonder, that had chanced vpon the earth, God leift him that he might be tempted, and al thinges might be made knowen, that were in his hart. † But the rest of the wordes of Ezechias, and of his 32 mercies are writen in the vision of Isaias the sonne of Amos the prophete, and in the booke of the kinges of Iuda & Israel. † And Ezechias slept with his fathers, and they buried him in 33 the chiefe sepulchres of the children of Dauid: and al Iuda celebrated his funeralles, & al the inhabitantes of Ierusalem: and Manasses his sonne reigned for him.

CHAP. XXXIII. Manasses for his manifold wickednes is led captiue into Babylon. 12. repenteth in prison, is restored to his kingdom, and destroyeth idolatrie: 18. dieth, 21. & Amon succeding, 24. is slayne by his seruantes, and Iosias reigneth.

TWELVE yeares old was Manasses when he began to 4. Reg. 21. 1 reigne, and he reigned fiftie fiue yeares in Ierusalem. † And he did euil before our Lord, according to al the abominations 2 of the nations, which our Lord ouerthrew before the children of Israel: † and being turned, he reedified the 3 excelses which Ezechias his father had destroyed: and he built altars to Baalim, and made groues, and he adored al the host of heauen, and worshipped it. † He built also altars in 4 the house of our Lord, wherof our Lord had sayd: In Ierusalem shal my name be for euer. † And he built them to al the 5 host of heauen in the two courtes of the house of our Lord. † And he made his sonnes to passe through fyre, to the Valebenennom: 6 he obserued dreames, folowed southsayings, gaue him self to magike artes, he had with him magicians, & inchaunters: and he wrought manie euils before our Lord, to prouoke him. † Also a grauen, and a molten signe he put in 7 the house of God, wherof our Lord spake to Dauid, and to Salomon his sonne, saying: In this house, and in Ierusalem, which I haue chosen al the tribes of Israel, Wil I put my [Page 926] name for euer, † And I wil not make the foote of Israel to 8 moue out of the land, which I haue deliuered to their fathers: yet so if they shal obserue to doe that I haue commanded them, and al the law, and the ceremonies, and iudgementes by the hand of Moyses. † Manasses therfore seduced Iuda, 9 and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem, that they did euil aboue al the nations, which our Lord had ouerthrowen before the face of the children of Israel. † And our Lord spake to him, 10 and to his people, and they would not attend. † Therfore he 11 brought vpon them the princes of the host of the king of the Assyrians: and they tooke Manasses, & led him bound with chaynes, and fetters into Babylon. † Who after that he was 12 in distresse, prayed our Lord his God: and did penance excedingly before the God of his fathers. † And he desired him, 13 and besought him earnestly: A pregnant example of the effect of harty repentance. and he heard his prayer, and brought him agayne to Ierusalem into his kingdom, and Manasses knew that our Lord he was God. † After these thinges 14 he built a wal without the citie of Dauid, on the west of Gihon in the valley, from the entrance of the fish gate round about vnto Ophel, and raysed it excedingly: and he appoynted princes of the host in al the fensed cities of Iuda: † and 15 he tooke away strange goddes, and the idol out of the house of our Lord: the altars also which he had made in the mount of the house of our Lord, and in Ierusalem, and he threw al without the citie. † Moreouer he reedified the altar of our 16 Lord, and immolated vpon it victimes, and pacifiques, and prayse: and he commanded Iuda to serue our Lord the God of Israel. † Neuerthelesse as yet the people immolated in the 17 excelses to our Lord their God. † But the rest of the actes of 18 Manasses: and his obsecration to his God: the wordes also of the Seers, that spake to him in the name of our Lord the God of Israel, are conteyned in the wordes of the kinges of Israel. † His This prayer is not extant in the Hebrew but in Greke & Latin. as yet neither receiued for canonical, by the Church no [...] refused. prayer also, and his obtayning, and al his sinnes, 19 and contempt, the places also wherein he built excelses, and made groues, and statues before he did penance, are writen in the wordes of Hozai. † Manasses therfore slept with his 20 fathers, and they buried him in his house: & his sonne Amon reigned for him. † Ammon was two and twentie yeares old 21 when he began to reigne, and he reigned two yeares in Ierusalem. † And he did euil in the fight of our Lord, as Manasses 22 his father had done: and he immolated to al the idols, which [Page 927] Manasses his father had made, and serued them. † And he 23 did not reuerence the face our Lord, as Manasses his father did reuerence it, and he committed farre greater sinnes. † And when his seruantes had conspired agaynst him, they 24 slewe him in his owne house. † Moreouer the rest of the 25 multitude of the people, hauing slaine them that stroke Amon, made Iosias his sonne king for him.

CHAP. XXXIIII. Iosias destroyeth idolatrie. 8. repaireth the Temple. 14. The booke of the law found in the Temple is redde before him. 19. wherby vnderstanding the sinnes of the people, 23. a prophete foresheweth their punishment, 26. but not in his daies. 29. He reneweth the couenant betwen God and the people.

EIGHT yeares old was Iosias when he began to reigne, & 4. Reg. 22. 1 he reigned thirtie and one yeares in Ierusalem. † And he 2 did that which was right in the sight of our Lord, and walked in the waies of Dauid his father: he declined not neither to the right hand, nor to the left. † And in the eight 3 yeare of his reigne, when he was yet a child, he began to seeke the God of his father Dauid: and the twelfth yeare after he began to reigne, he cleansed Iuda and Ierusalem from excelses, and groues, and idols, & sculptils. † And they destroyed 4 before him the altars of Baalim, and the idols, that had bene set vpon them, they destroyed: the groues also and sculptils he cut downe and brake in peeces: and ouer their tombes, that were accustomed to immolate vnto them, he strawed the fragmentes. † Moreouer the bones of the Priestes he [...]. Reg. 12. 5 burnt on the altars of the idols, and he clensed Iuda and Ierusalem. † Yea and in the cities of Manasses, and of Ephraim, 6 and of Simeon, vnto Nepthali he ouerthrew al. † And when 7 he had destroyed the altars, and the groues, and had broken the idols into peces, and had ouerthrowen al profane temples out of al the land of Israel, he returned into Ierusalem. † Therfore in the eightenth yeare of his reigne, the land 8 now clensed, and the temple of our Lord, he sent Saphan the sonne of Eselias, and Maasias the gouernour of the citie, and Ioha the sonne of Ioachaz Commenter, that they should repayre the house of our Lord his God. † Who came to Helcias 9 the high priest: and taking of him the money, which had bene brought into the house of our Lord, and which the Leuites and porters had gathered together of Manasses, and [Page 928] Ephraim, and of al the remnant of Israel, of al Iuda also, and Beniamin, and the inhabiters of Ierusalem, † they deliuered 10 in their handes, that ouersaw the workemen in the house of our Lord, that they should repayre the temple, and mend al weake partes. † But they gaue it to the artificers, and to the 11 masons, that they should bye stones out of the quarries, and timber for the ioyntures of the building, and for making the roofe of the house, which the kinges of Iuda had destroyed. † Who did al thinges faithfully. And the ouerseers of the 12 workemen were Iahath & Abdias of the children of Merari, Zacharias and Mosollam of the children of Caath, which vrged the worke: al Leuites skilful to sing on instrumentes. † But ouer them, that caried burdens to diuerse vses, were 13 scribes, and masters of the Leuites, and porters. † And when 14 they caried forth the money, that had bene brought into the temple of our Lord, Helcias the Priest found the Booke of the law of our Lord, Geuen by the hand of Moyses. by the hand of Moyses. † And he sayd 15 to Saphan the Scribe: I haue found the booke of the law in the house of our Lord: and deliuered it to him. † But he 16 brought in the volume to the king, and told him, saying: Al thinges, which thou gauest into the hand of thy seruantes, loe are accomplished. † The siluer that was found in the 17 house of our Lord, they haue gathered into a masse: and it was geuen to the ouerseers of the artificers, and of them that make diuerse workes. † Moreouer Helcias the Priest deliuered 18 me this booke. Which when he had read in the kinges presence, † and he had heard the wordes of the law, he rent 19 his garmentes: † and he commanded Helcias, and Ahicam 20 the sonne of Saphan, and Abdon the sonne of Micha, Saphan also the scribe, and Asaa the kinges seruant, saying: † Goe, 21 and pray our Lord for me, and for the remnant of Israel, and Iuda, concerning al the wordes of this Booke, which is found: for the great furie of our Lord hath distilled vpon vs, for that our fathers haue not kept the wordes of our Lord, to doe al thinges, that are writen in this volume. † Helcias 22 therfore went, and they that were sent together by the king, to Olda a prophetesse, the wife of Sellum the sonne of Thecuath, the sonne of Hasra keeper of the garmentes: who dwelt in Ierusalem in the second part: and they spake to her the wordes, which we haue aboue mentioned. † But she 23 answered them: Thus sayth out Lord the God of Israel: Tel [Page 929] the man, that sent you to me: † Thus sayth our Lord: Behold 24 I wil bring euils vpon this place, and vpon the inhabitantes therof, and al the curses, that are writen in this Booke, which they redde before the king of Iuda. † Because they 25 haue forsaken me, and haue sacrificed to strange goddes, that they might prouoke me to wrath in al the workes of their handes, therfore shal my furie droppe vpon this place, & shal not be extinguished. † But to the king of Iuda that sent you 26 to beseche our Lord, thus speake ye: Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel: Because thou hast heard the wordes of this volume, † and thy hart is mollified, and thou art humbled 27 in the sight of our Lord for these thinges, which are spoken against this place, and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem, and reuerencing my face, hast rent thy garmentes, and wept before me: I also haue heard thee, sayth our Lord. † It is a benefite to be taken out of this world, before genera [...] mise [...]e come vpon the people. For now 28 wil I gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be brought into thy graue in peace: neither shal thyne eies see al the euil that I wil bring in vpon this place, and vpon the inhabitantes therof. They therfore reported to the king al thinges that she had sayd. † But he calling together al the ancientes of 29 Iuda and Ierusalem, † went vp into the house of our Lord, 30 and al the men of Iuda, and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem, Priestes and Leuites, and al the people from the least to the greatest. In whose hearing in the house of our Lord, the king read al the wordes of the volume. † And standing on 31 his tribunal seate, he made a couenant before our Lord, that he would walke after him, and keepe his preceptes, and testimonies, and iustifications in al his hart, and in al his soule, and would do the thinges that were writen in that volume, which he had read. † He adiured also vpon this al that were 32 found in Ierusalem, and Beniamin: and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem did according to the couenant, of our Lord the God of their fathers. † Iosias therfore tooke away al abominations 33 of al the countries of the children of Israel: and made al, that were left in Israel, to serue our Lord their God. Al his daies they reuolted not from our Lord the God of their fathers.

CHAP. XXXV. Iosias celebrateth a most Solemne Pasch. 20. Is slaine by the king of Aegypt, al Iudalamenting him, 25. most specially Ieremias.

[Page 930]AND Iosias made in Ierusalem This Phase, o [...]h made by Io [...]as is fanious, partly for that this feast had bene omitted some yeares, but specially for the great and extraordinarie solemnitie made at this um [...]. a Phase to our Lord, 1 which was immolated the fourtenth day of the first 4. Reg. 16. moneth. † And he appoynted the Priestes in their offices, 2 and exhorted them that they would minister in the house of our Lord. † To the Leuites also, at whose instruction al Israel 3 was sanctified to our Lord, he spake: Put the Arke in the Sanctuarie of the temple, which Salomon built the sonne of Dauid the king of Israel, for you shal carie it no more: but now minister to our Lord your God, and to his people Israel. † And prepare your selues by your houses, and kinredes in 4 the diuisions of euerie one, as Dauid the king of Israel commanded, and Salomon his sonne described. † And minister 5 ye in the Sanctuarie by families and Leuitical companies, † and being sanctified immolate the Phase, prepare also your 6 brethren, that they may doe according to the wordes, which our Lord spake in the hand of Moyses. † Moreouer Iosias 7 gaue to al the people, that was found there in the solemnitie of the Phase, lambes and kiddes of the flockes, and of the rest of the cattel thirtie thousand, of oxen also three thousand, al these thinges of the kinges substance. † His 8 dukes also voluntarily offered that which they vowed, as wel to the people, as to the Priestes and the Leuites. Moreouer Helcias, and Zacharias, and Iahiel princes of the house of our Lord, gaue to the Priestes to make the Phase cattel one with an other two thousand six hundred, and oxen three hundred. † And Chonenias, and Semeias, also Nathanael, his brethren, 9 moreouer Hasabias, and Iehiel, and Iozabad princes of the Leuites, gaue to the rest of the Leuites to celebrate the Phase fiue thousand sheepe, and oxen fiue hundred. † And 10 the ministerie was prepared, and the Priestes stood in their office: the Leuites also in companies, according to the kinges commandement. † And the Phase was immolated: and 11 Priestes sprinkled the blood with their hand, and the Leuites drew of the skinnes of the holocaustes: † and they seperated 12 them to geue them by the houses and families of euerie one, and to be offered to our Lord, as it is writen in the Booke of Moyses, of oxen also they did in like maner. † And they rosted the Phase vpon fyre, according to that 13 which is writen in the law: but the pacifique hostes they b [...]vled in caudrons, and kettles, and pottes, and in hast they distributed it to al the people. † And for themselues, and for 14 [Page 931] the Priestes they prepared afterward: for in oblation of holocaustes and of fatte the Priestes were occupied vntil night: wherfore the Leuites prepared for themselues, and for the Priestes the children of Aaron last. † Moreouer the 15 singing men the children of Asaph stood in their order, according to the precept of Dauid, and Asaph, and Heman, and Idithun the prophetes of the king: and the porters watched at euerie gate, so that they departed not a moment from the ministerie: for the which cause also their brethren the Leuites prepared meates for them. † Therfore al the seruice of 16 our Lord was ritely accomplished that day, so that they made the Phase, and offered holocaustes vpon the altar of our Lord, according to the precept of king Iosias. † And the children 17 of Israel that were found there, made the Phase at that time, and the solemnitie of Azymes seuen daies. † There was not 18 a Phase like to this in Israel, from the daies of Samuel the prophete: neither did anie of al the kinges of Israel make a Phase as Iosias, to the Priestes, and the Leuites, and to al Iuda, and Israel that was found, and to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem. † In the eightenth yeare of the kingdom of Iosias was 19 this Phase celebrated. † After that Iosias had repayred the 20 temple, came vp Nechao the king of Aegypt to fight in Charcamis beside Euphrates: and Iosias went forth to meete him. † But he sending messengers vnto him, sayd: What haue I to 21 doe with thee king of Iuda? I come not agaynst thee this day, but I fight agaynst an other house, to the which God hath commanded me to goe in hast: leaue to doe agaynst God, who is with me, lest he kil thee. † Iosias thought that the king of Aegypt intended to inuade his kingdome. And it was Gods wil he should be slaine, and not see the euiles that should happen to the people. Iosias would not returne, but 22 prepared battel agaynst him, neither did he agree to the wordes of Nechao from the mouth of God, but went forward to fight in the fielde of Mageddo. † And there being wounded 23 of the Archers, he sayd to his seruantes: Carie me out of the battel, because I am sore wounded. † Who remoued him 24 from one chariote into an other chariote, that folowed him after the maner of kinges, and they caried him away into Ierusalem, & he died, and was buried in the monument of his fathers, and al Iuda and Ierusalem Solemne exequies with lamentations and musike. mourned for him. † Ieremie 25 most of al: whose lamentations al the singing men and singing wemen repeate vntil this present day vpon Iosias, and it is growen as it were a law in Israel: Behold it is sayd to be writen in the lamentations. † But the rest of the wordes 26 [Page 932] des of Iosias & of his mercies: which are commanded by the law of our Lord: † his workes also the first and the last, are 27 writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel.

CHAP. XXXVI. Ioachaz reigneth three monethes. 4. His brother Eliakim (named loakim) eleuen yeares, 9. his sonne Ioachin three monethes, 11. his vncle Sedecias eleuen yeares. 14. Most Priestes, and people contemning the admonitions of Prophetes, 17. manie are slaine by the Chaldees, the Temple and Ierusalem spo led and burnt. 20. The sayd kinges successiuely, and people are caryed captiue into Babylon. 22. After seuentie yeares Cyrus king of Persia, releaseth the captiuitie, and geueth leaue to reedifie the Temple.

THE people therfore of the land tooke Ioachaz the 1 sonne of Iosias, and made him king for his father in Ierusalem † Taree and twentie yeares old was Ioachaz, when 2 he began to reigne, and he reigned three monethes in Ierusalem. † And the king of Aegypt when he came into Ierusalem, 3 deposed him, and condemned the land in an hundred talentes of siluer, and a talent of gold. † And he made Eliakim 4 Hitherto from K. Danids death the sonne had euer succeded to his father. his brother king for him, ouer Iuda and Ierusalem: and he turned his name Ioakim: but he tooke Ioachaz himself with him, and caried him away into Aegypt. † Fiue and 5 twentie yeares old was Ioakim when he began to reigne, and he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem: and he did euil before our Lord his God. † Agaynst him came vp Nabuchodonosor 6 the king of the Chaldees, and brought him bound in chaynes into Babylon. † Whither he transported also the vessels of 7 our Lord, and put them in his temple. † But the rest of the 8 wordes of Ioakim, and of his abominations, which he wrought, and the thinges that were found in him, are contayned in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel. And Ioachin his sonne reigned for him. † Eight yeares old was Ioachin 9 when he began to reigne, and he reigned three monethes and ten dayes in Ierusalem, and he did euil in the sight of our Lord. † And when the compasse of a yeare was come 10 about, Nabuchodonosor the king sent some, that brought him in to Babylon, the most precious vessels of the house of our Lord being caried away withal: But he made Sedecias his vncle king ouer Iuda and Ierusalem. † One & twentie 11 yeares old was Sedecias when he began to reigne: & he reigned eleuen yeares in Ierusalem. † And he did euil in the eies 12 [Page 933] of our Lord his God, neither did he reuerence the face of Ieremie the prophet speaking to him from the mouth of our Lord 13 † He reuolted also from king Nabuchodonosor, who had adiured him by God: & he hardened his necke & his hart, that he would not returne to our Lord the God of Israel. † Yea & 14 al the chiefe of the Priestes, and the people transgresled vnlawfully according to al the abominations of the Gentiles: and they polluted the house of our Lord, which he had sanctified to him in Ierusalem. † And our Lord the God of their 15 fathers sent to them, by the hand of his messengers, rysing by night, and daily admonishing them: for that he spared his people and his habitation. † But they mocked the messengers 16 of God, and litle estemed his wordes, and scorned the prophetes, vntil the furie of our Lord ascended vpon his people, and there was no amendment. † For he brought 17 vpon them the king of the Chaldees, and slewe their yong men with the sword in the house of his sanctuarie, he pitied not yong man, and virgin, and old man, no neither him that stouped for age, but he deliuered al into his handes. † And al 18 the vessels of the house of our Lord, as wel greater as lesser, and the treasures of the temple, and of the king, and the princes he transported into Babylon. † The enemies set fyre on 19 the house of God, and destroyed the wal of Ierusalem, al the towres they burnt, and what soeuer was pretious, they destroyed. † If anie man escaped the sword, being led into Babylon 20 he serued the king and his sonnes, til the king of the Persians reigned. † That the word of our Lord by the mouth 21 of Ieremie might be accomplished, and the land might celebrate [...]re. 25. their Sabbathes: for al the daies of the desolation she kept a Sabbath, til the seuentie yeares were expyred. 22 † But in It is like that Esdras added this cōclusion when he restored the holie Scriptures that were lost▪ for he beginneth his owne booke with the same wordes. The end of the fifth age. the first yeare of Cyrus king of Persians, to fulfil the word of our Lord, which he had spoken by the mouth of Ieremie, our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians: who commanded to be proclaymed in al his kingdom, yea by writing, saying: † Thus sayth Cyrus king of the 23 Persians: Al kingdomes of the earth hath the Lord the God of heauen geuen me, and he hath commanded me that I should build him a house in Ierusalem, which is in Iewrie: who of you is there in al his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him goe vp.

[Page 934]

THE CONTINVANCE OF THE CHVRCH AND RELIGION, IN THE FIFTH AGE. From the fundation of the Temple, to the captiuitie in Babylon. The space of 430. yeares.

ALBEIT there were greater Schismes, Heresies, and more reuoltes from Gods law and seruice in this fifth age, then in the former: Yet the true The Church stil visible, and the same faith as before. Church and Religion continued stil, and were no lesse conspicuous then before. VVhich being clere and euident, touching manie principal Articles, we wil here only remitte the reader to some special places, for confirmation therof: neither wil we be prolixe, in declaring other pointes denied, or called into controuersie at this time, by the impugners of Catholique Religion.

Beleefe in one God appeareth plainly in building, adorning, & dedicating One God. the Temple with so great solemnitie of the Priestes, Leuites, and al the Tribes, and particularly by king Salomons prayer. 3. Reg. 7. & 8. 2. Paral. 2. &c. Also Prouerb. 8. Eccle. 12. Isaie. 41. 44. 45. The Mysterie of the B. Trinitie, Three Persons Christ. Prouer. 12. Isaiae. 6. 48. 49. Ose. 11. Ioel. 2. Of Christ our Redemer. Isaie. 7. 8. 9. 11. 28. 53. Ierem. 23. 30. 33. Ezech. 17. 34. 37. Dan. 7. 9. Osee. 6. 11. Sacrifices Sacramentes to be changed by Christ. 14. Ioel. 2. Sophon. 2. Aggoei. 2. Zachar. 2. &c. Sacrifices, Sacramentes, & other Rites the same as before. But more frequent Prophecies, that they should be changed into better, and perfecter by Christ. Prou. 9. Isai. 12. 52. 55. 61. In the meane time for more signification of the singular vertue of Christs Sacramentes, the effect of penitential workes is often recorded. For example, wicked Achab by hairecloth, fasting, and other humiliation escaped part of his deserued punishment. Fruict of penance. 3. Reg. 21. Manasses recouered Gods fauoure, and his temporal kingdom. 2. Par. 33. VVho yet was punished in his posteritie. 4. Reg. 23. And the Niniuites by such penance auoided destruction. Ione. 3. Yea nothing is more frequent in the Prophetes then preaching of penance. Isa. 1. 2. 3. 30. Iere. 3. 18. &c. and others, al ascribing the cause of plagues, and afflictions to the want of repentance. And false Prophetes condemned of errour and false doctrine, for promising the people peace, and securitie in their sinnes. Ierem. 14. Lamen. 2. Besides abstinence from diuers sortes Abstinence. of meates, counted vncleane (Isaiae 66.) and ordinarie fastes, according to Fastes. the law, other fastes were appointed sometimes, vpon occasions requiring, not only to subdue, and mortifie the flesh, but also to obtaine mercie at Gods handes in special distresses. 2. Par. 20. Ioel. 1. 2. Ione 3. Elias fasting fourtie dayes, 3. Reg. 19. prefigured Christs fast. VVhich the Church imitateth in Lent of fourtie daies, according to humane habilitie, for the fastes Lent. of Christ, Elias, and Moyses were miraculous.

To the Feastes instituted before, was added the Dedication of the Feastes. [Page 935] Temple. 3. Reg. 7. 2, Par. 3. Which was built in Mount Moria, 2. Par. 3. the special place designed long before for this purpose, when Abraham Place of the Temple designed long before. was directed thither by God, & was there readie to sacrifice his sonne Isaac. Gen. 22. where Dauid also offered sacrifice. 2. Reg. 24. 1. Par. 21.

This being the onlie ordinarie place for Sacrifice, there were for other vses of daylie prayer reading, preaching, and hearing the word of God other Synagogues built (as it were Parish churches) in great number: in Synagogues. Ierusalem it self foure hundred and foure score, and manie more in the whole kingdom, as the Hebrew Traditions testifie. Of al which places, especially of Sanctuarie. the Temple, there was venerable respect had. For which cause when Ioiada the High Priest gaue order to kil Athalia, he suffered it not to be donne in the Temple, but commanded first to draw her forth. 4. Reg. 11. 2. Par. 23. And as peculiar places, so special Psalmes, and Hymnes were appointed Sette forme of prayers. for diuers purposes and occasions. 2. Par. 20.

The ministerie of Angeles was very vsual in this time. One was sent Ministerie of Angeles. to comforte and direct Elias the prophet in his afflictions. 3. Reg. 19. 4. Reg. 1. An Angel stroke the Assyrians whole campe, 4. Reg. 19. 2. Par. 32. Also the Intercession of Angels is so euident, Tobiae 12. Raphael offering Tobias prayer to God, that Protestants haue no other refuge to auoide this point of faith, but by denying the Booke to be Canonical Scripture.

Honour of other Sainctes, and their Intercession is proued a Maiori. Honour and Intercession of Sainctes. For so much as honour was religiously exhibited to spiritual power and excellencie, in men yet liuing in this world. So a Noble man adored Elias the Prophet, being farre greater then he is ciuil, and worldlie respectes. 3. Reg. 18. Eliseus also was adored by his disciples, not for anie worldlie authoritie or eminence, but for his spiritual power and superioritie amongst them. 4. Reg. 2. Likewise al Prophetes, and Priestes were religiously honored for their holie and spiritual functions. 3. Reg. 13. Much more Sainctes are rightly honored being immortal, and in eternal glorie. It appeareth also that Elias, seuen yeares after that he was translated from humane conuersation (when Eliseus was chiefe Prophet. 4. Reg. 3. which was in or before the eightenth yeare of Iosaphat, who reigned fiue and twentie. 3. Reg. 22.) had care of Ioram, and his kingdom, admonishing him by letters of Gods wrath, against him and his people for their sinnes. 2. Par. 21. And the scripture saieth often, that God spared and protected Ierusalem, and the kingdom of Iuda for Dauids sake. 3. Reg. 11. 15. 4. Reg. 8. 19. 20. 2. Par. 6. 21. Isa. 37. we haue also example of Sainctes Reliques Reliques. in the cloke of Elias. 4. Reg. 2. in Eliseus bones, 4. Reg. 13. and in an other Prophetes bodie buried in Bethel. VVhich Iosias would not suffer to be touched. 4. Reg. 23. Images were conserued in the Temple, Images. 3. Reg. 7. as before in the Tabernacle: when idolartie was most destroyed. [Page 936] 3. Reg. 15. 4. Reg. 23. yea an abuse rising of the brasen serpēt, for which Ezechias destroyed it 4. Reg. 18. yet he touched not the Images of Cherubins in the Temple. VVhich none but Infideles sought to destroy. And Osee the Prophet (ch. 3.) bewayleth the want of Theraphim or Images, amongst other sacred thinges, Sacrifice, Altar, and Ephod. VVherby the ancient Rabbins proue very wel, that Images of Angels ( and the same of other Sainctes) are not contrarie to the Decalogue, but the images of Idoles. Good workes were rewarded, and bad punished, 3. Reg. 9. and the Good workes me [...]itorions. whole historie of this age testifieth the same. VVhere by the way may be obserued, that some inst men fel from their iustice, as Salomon. 1. Par. 28. 3. Reg. 11. Ioas, 4. Reg. 12. 2. Par. 24. Ozias, 2. Paral. 26. Others from wickednes returned to pietie. as Manasses 4. Reg. 23. 2. Par. 33. the Euangelical counselles pre figured. multitude of the people very often much folowing the disposition of their kinges. Special State of life not commanded by the law, was voluntarily professed, and obserued by some Prophetes, and their disciples, called the children of Prophetes. Keping particular Rules, and wearing distinct Chastitie of clergie men, & religious orders. habite. 4. Reg. 1. 2. 4. The orders of Nazarites, and Rechabites instituted before, continued stil. Amos. 2. Ierem. 35. stil which were very examplar Mat. 19▪ 1 Cor. 7. Act. 5. 1. Tim. 5. figures of Religious State, and Orders in the new Testament, and perpetual chastitie of clergie men embraced by such, as folow Euangelical counsailes. proposed, and not commanded by our Sauiour. To which S. Paul likewise exhorteth, though there be no precept therof to anie, before they bind themselues.

Exequies for the dead were continually kept, as the sacred historie witnesseth, Solemne Exequies for the dead. recording where and with what solennitie the kinges were buried. which would be ouerlong, & nedeles to recite: the like is also writen of some Prophetes. 3. Reg. 13. 4. Reg. 23. Holie Tobias by example, and fatherlie admonition exhorted his sonne, to do workes of mercie, not only to the liuing, but also to the dead. Put thy bread, and thy wine vpon the sepulture of the iust. c. 4. Isaias, ch. 57. as the Iewes both vnderstood and Gen. 5. practised, prayed, that peace be geuen to the iust, in his couch, or resting place after his death. Of the general Resurrection, Elias translation Resurrection. is a figure, who yet liuing sheweth, that God can and wil restore al men to life againe in their bodies, after death, as he conserueth him, and Enoch in their mortal bodies without corruption. Ezechiel also prophecieth of the Resurrection of the dead, applying it mystically to spiritual resurrection, and restauration of Israel to former state. ch. 37. Of the last Iudgment, and Iudgement. eternal glorie to the good, and euerlasting paine to the wicked, Salomon agreably to the doctrin of other Prophetes, discourseth▪ in his booke of Ecclesiastes, Eternal glorie or paine. namely ch. 3. 11. and in the last concludeth thus. Let vs al together heare the end of speaking: Feare God, and obserue his commandmentes: [Page 937] for this is euerie man ( or, to this end man is created) and God wil bring, into Iudgement al thinges, that are done, for euerie errour ( or obscure thing) whether it be good or euil.

Neither were these and other pointes of Faith and Religion interrupted, Church without interruption. but stil beleued and professed in the Church alwaies visible and incontaminate, notwithstanding some boughes an [...] branches became vnstructsul, and rotten: others brake of and were separated from this vine. For when Salomon falling to luxurie, multiplying manie wiues and concubines, was by them seduced and brought to spiritual fornication, and idolatrie, making altars, & offering sacrifices to Idoles, the Priestes, Prophetes, and people generally perseuered in Gods law & seruice. 3. Reg. 11. After whose death Ieroboam his seruant, of the tribe of Ephraim, Ieraboams wicked policie possessing Tenne Tribes (called the kingdom of Israel) to maintaine his new state, fearing that if the people resorted to Ierusalem, for religions sake, they would depart from him, and returne to the right heyres of Dauid and Salomon, made an egregious Schisme; setting vp two golden calues in Bethel, and Dan. 3. Reg. 12. made temples, altares, and priestes to s [...]rue them, al opposite to Gods ordinance. But not only the other Two Tribes, called the kingdom of Iuda, but also the greatest part of Israel, especially Priestes, Leuites, and deuoutest people, repayred stil to Ierusalem, not yelding to that schisme and idolairie. 2. Par. 11. Moreouer God raised vp and sent special Prophetes, to confirme the weake and recal the seduced.

For Ieroboam had no sowner sette vp his new altar in Bethel, and begunne Prophets inspired by God to resist Schisme and Heresie. to offer incense vpon it, but a Prophet came out of Iuda, in the word of our Lord: and cried against that altar, foretelling that wheras for that present, they burnt frankine [...]nse vpon it, the time should come, when the false 4. Reg. 23. priestes should be burned there, confirming by present miracles that which he auerred in wordes, the kings hand suddanly withering, & restored The often change of Kinges, and euil successe in the kingdō of Israel. againe by the prophets prayer, and the new altar cleuing in sunder, that the ashes fel out. 3. Reg. 13. Further an other Prophet called Ahias foreshewed the destruction and vtter extirpation of Ieroboams familie, for his enormious wickednes, and namely (which is most often inculcate) for making Israel to sinne, by deuising and setting abroch a new religious. 3. Reg. 14. which ruine happened very shortly. For himself reigning twentie two yeares The first familie reigned but 24. yeares (3. Reg. 14.) one of his sonnes died presently according to the Prophets word. v. 18. An other called Nadab succeding to his father, reigned only two yeares, and vvas slaine together with their whole race and kindred, The second newe familie 26. by Baasa of the tribe of Issachar. 3. Reg. 15. Likewise Baasa folowing the bad steppes of Ieroboam was forewarned by Iehu a Prophet, that his house should also be destroyed. And accordingly when he had reigned foure and [Page 938] twentie yeares, his sonne Ela reigning but two yeares, was slaine by his seruant The third but 7. daies. The fourth▪ 48. yeares. Zambri, and al his kinred destroyed. VVhish Zambri reigned but seuen dayes. For being forthwith besieged by Amri, of the tribe of Beniamin, he desperatly burned him self together with the kinges palace. Neither did Amri then possesse the kingdome with peace. For he being chosen king by the armie only, whereof he was general, an other part of the people chose & folowed Thebni. Wherof arose ciuil Warre betwen the Antikinges, continuing three yeares: til [...]hebni died, and so Amri reigned alone, but wickedly as his predecessors, twelue yeares in al. Then succeeded his sonne Achab most wicked. Who maried Iezabel a Sydonian, & by her was perswaded to worshippe Baal. 3. Reg. 16. To him not withstanding God sent manie admonitions by sundrie Prophetes, and bestovved great benefites vpon him, wherupon he did some notorious penitential workes; but not perseuering in anie good thing, returned to his wickednes. 3. Reg. 20. And finally beleuing false prophetes, and persecuting Micheas for prophecying the truth, was slaine in battel when he thought himself most secure. 3. Reg. 22. hauing reigned twentie two yeares. 3. Reg. 16. His sonne Ochozias reigning but two yeares fel through a window, and died of the hurt. 4. Reg. 1. His other sonne Ioram; after twelue yeares was slaine by Iehu of another familie: who then dispatched Iezabel, The fifth. 103. and leauing her in the streete, the dogges did e [...]te her carcasse. He also caused seuentie sonnes of Ioram to be slaine, and vtterly destroyed al Achabs house. 4. Reg. 10. For which seruice he was established in the kingdome, for foure generations, v. 30. So himselfe reigning twentie eight yeares, [...]. Reg. 10. after hi [...] reigned successiuely his sonne Ioachaz seuenetene yeares, his sonne Ioas, sixtene yeares. 4. Reg. 13. his sonne Ieroboam one and fourtie yeares. Last lie his sonne Zacharias, vvhom his seruant Sellum of an other race, killed The sixth, one moneth. The seuenth, 12. yeares. The eight 20. yeares. when he had reigned but six monethes. 4. Reg. 15. And after one mon [...]th Sellum vvas slaine by Manahen of another progenie. VVho reigned tenn [...] yeares. Then his sonne Phaceia reigning two yeares, was slaine by Phacee of another generation. He reigning twentie yeares, manie of his people were carried captiue into Assiria, and himselfe was slaine by Osee of another kindred. 4. Reg. 15. Finallie the Assirians taking Samaria by three yeares The ninthnine yeares. Then ouerthrowen and the kingdom neuer restored siege, in the ninth yeare of Osee possessed the kingdome of Israel, and led al the principal persons captiues into Ass [...]ria: about two hundred fourtie two yeares after that Ieroboam first reigned ouer the Ten Tribes. Th [...] there were in al ninetene kinges. Besides Thebni, who onlie reigned in part against another. Of which the first Ieroboam, and Iehu were aduanced by Gods ordinance, for punishment of others. Amri was chosen by the armie, the rest of the people chosing Thebni: Six inuaded by mere force, killing their predecessors. The rest succeeded▪ by such titles as their fathers had. And though some were better some worse then others▪ al were wicked, and at la [...] ouerth [...]w [...].

[Page 939] Contrariwise in the kingdome of Iuda standing after the seperation of The kingdom of Iuda for Dauids sake conserued in his sede. tenne tribes about foure hundred yeares, though some kinges were wicked, yet some were good; and in them al God preserued Dauids seede, by the line of Salomon, in this direct succession: Roboam, Abias, Asa, Iosaphat, Ioram, Ochozias, Ioas ( in whose infancie, his grandmother Athalia vsurped the kingdome six yeares) Amasias, Ozias, Ioathan, Achaz, Ezechias, Manasses, Amon, Iosias, Ioachaz ( hitherto the sonne euer succeeding his father) then Ioakim (brother of Ioachaz) Ioachin otherwise called Iechonias, sonne of Ioachaz. And finallie his Vncle Sedecias; who was carried captiue into babilon. But Iechonias by Gods special prouidence, was fauored and exalted by a new king of Babilon. whether he was led captiue before. In whose line Dauids of spring continued though not with title of kinges, yet in eminent state, and estimation. As resteth to be noted in the sixth age of the world.

The progenie also of Aaron continued in their office and function of Succession of Priestes continued. Priesthood, with succession of High Priestes; as before from Aaron to Sadoc, partly in the line of Eleazar, partlie of Ithamar, both Aarons sonnes; so from Sadoc, by the like succession of both families. For of Eleazar is recorded this Genealogie 1. Parol. 6. Sadoc, Achimaas, Azarias, Iohanan, Azarias, Amarias, Achitob, Sadoc, Sellum, Helcias, Azarias, Zaraias, and Iosedech. vvho vvas High Priest in the captiuitie. (v. 15.) being caried into Babilon in the first transmigration vvith king Iechonias, before the general captiuitie of al, as it seemeth 4. Reg. 24. his father Zaraias yet liuing, vvho vvas slaine nine yeares after by Nabuchadonosor, 4. Reg. 25. And amongst these there vvere some High Priests of Ithamars line. Towitte, Ioram, Ioiada (4. Reg. 11. 2. Par. 23.) Ioathan, Vrias, (4. Reg. 16.) and some others; or els some of the aboue mentioned, had other names. recited by Iosephus. lib. 10. cap. 11. Antiq. and Nicephorus lib. 2. cap. 4. Hist. Eccles.

Moreouer besides this ordinarie succession of Priestes, there vvas an extraordinarie Extraordinary mission of Prophetes. mission of Prophetes: to supply more fullie the office of preaching the truth, and admonishing offenders. And these God inspired and sent, most especiallie when and where errors sprong, and sinnes most abounded: geuing them extraordinarie grace and most excellent vertues, to conterpoise the enormities of vvicked men. Such vvere in the times of Achab and Iezabel, in the kingdome of Israel, besides manie others, the two famous Great effectes of their preaching and miracles. great Prophets Elias, & Eliseus. vvhose admirable liues and holie conuersation vvere a mirrour to the vvorld, and great terrour to the vvicked, VVhose vvorkes and miracles meruelouslie confirmed the vvel disposed, encouraged the w [...]ake, conuerted manie transgressors, confounded false Prophets, Elias his miracles. iustified their ovvne preaching, and much glorified God. Elias 1. shutte the [Page 940] heauen, that it rayned not in three yeares. 2. was fedde by rauens. 3. Multiplied a poore vvidovves meale & oile. 4. Raised her dead sonne to life (3. Reg. 17.) 5. Brought fire from heauen, to burne his sacrifice: thereby confounding foure hundred and fifty false prophets of Baal. 6. By prayer procured rayne. (3. - Reg. 18.) 7. Fasted vvithout eating or drincking fourtie daies and nightes together. (3. Reg. 19.) 8. Procured fire from heauen, which deuoured two insolent captaines, and their hundred men (4. Reg. 1.) 9. Diuided the riuer of Iordan vvith his cloke, that himselfe and Elisens passed ouer the drie chanel. 10. VV as assumpted in a firie chariote into some place, vvhere he yet liueth. And parting a vvay Obtained of God, the like duble spirit ( of prophecie and miracles) to Eliseus. In like maner Eliseus. 1. diuided Iordan againe by Elias cloke, and so Eliseus his miracles. returned to his disciples. 2. Amended the bitternes of certaine waters, by casting in salte. 3. Boies being cursed by him, for deriding him, were forth vvith torne by beares (4. Reg. 2.) 4. He procured water without rayne, for three kinges in the campe (4. Reg. 3.) 5. Multiplied a poore vvidovves Oile. 6. By his prayers barren woman became frutefull. 7. He raised her sonne from death. 8. Made the bitter broth of his disciples sweete. 9. Fedde maine with few loaues (4. Reg. 4.) 10. Cured Naaman of leprosie. 11. Stroke Giezi with the same (4. Reg. 5.) 12. Naaman of leprosie. 11. Stroke Giezi with the same (4. Reg. 5.) 12. Made yron to swimme. 13. Knewe the secret counsels of the Syrian king. 14. Made one see horsemen, and firie chariotes, which to others were inuisible. 15. Made the Syrianes blinde, that vvere sent to apprehend him, and so ledde them into samaria. 16. For shewed vnexpected plentie of corne the next day, VVith the death of a great man, that would not beleue it. (4. Reg. 7.) 17. And after his death an other mans dead bodie, touching his bones reuiued. 4. Reg. 13.

Other Prophets vvrought also miracles, but these for example may suffice to she vve, that God preserued religion also in the kingdome of Israel. Religion not wholly destroyed in the kingdom of Israel. VVhich himselfe further testified, euen in most desolate times, vvhen Elias lamented that he vvas leift alone (3. Reg. 19.) For God ansvvered, that seuen thousand ( meaning therby a great multitude) had not bowed their knees to Baal, not so much as in out vvard she vve conformed themselues to infidelitie, or idolatrie. Iehu in his time, destroyed all the worshippers of Baal. (4. Reg. 10.) But none at anie time could wholy destroy true Israelites. For God would not suffer it. 4. Reg. 14. v. 27.

Yea not vvithstanding diuers notorious heresies vvere preached, & folovved Heresies in the kingdom of Israel. in that kingdome of the Tenne tribes, yet ab did not fall, nor embrace them. Iecoboam not onlie made and set vp golden calues, but also taught, that they vvere Gods, saying: Behold thy goddes, O Israel, which Ieroboamites brought thee out of the land of Aegypt. 3. Reg. 12. making temples, [Page 941] altars, and imaginarie priestes, which were not of the children of Leui. Also a feast the fiftenth day of the moneth, after the similitude of the solemnitie, that was celebrated in Iuda. Al which the holie Scripture saith: He fourged of his owne hart. The very propertie of Archeretickes. But the true Priestes, Leuites, and manic others, that Manie constant in true religion. had geuen their hart to seke our Lord, went into Ierusalem, to immolate theire victimes before our Lord the God of their fathers. 2 Par. 11. Yea Naaman a stranger of Syria, and a Neophite in religion, taught by his example, that none may yeld conformitie, nor otherwise communicate with Infideles, then Gods Priests, or Prophetes approue for lawful. 4. Reg. 5.

Vnto this heresie of leroboam Achab, by Iezabels perswasion, added Iezabelites. the worshipping of Baal, as God. 3. Reg. 16. making both temple and altar to him in Samaria. Ieroboams priests seruing fitly this purpose. Though al the former heretikes no more agreed to this new heresie, then Iutherans now admitte of Caluinisme. For Iehua Ieroboamite destroyed al Iezabilits that he could by a stratageme gette together. 4. Reg. 10. v. 28. 29. Muchlesse did al Israel serue Baal.

Againe after that Salmanazar king of Assyria had taken Samaria, and Samaritanite [...]. diuided into manie Sectes. placed there a new people, 4. Reg. 17. they learning the rites of the Israelits religion, mixed their Paganisme there with, and made a new heresie, or rather manie new heresies. For being diuers nations they had in seueral conuentieles, their particular goddes, and so manie diuers Sects. The Babylonians, Cutheites, Emathites, Heueites, and Sapharuaimites. 4. Reg. 17. But as the Priestes, which taught them rites of true religion, allowed not of this mixture, so doubtles some people harkened to their admonitions, and kept religion simply and sincerely. And at this very time of the Tenne tribes captiuitie, holie Tobias who was carried captiue with the Tobias neues yelded to Schisme. rest, neither before nor after the captiuitie, leift the law of God. But went to Ierusalem ( when others serued leroboams golden calues) to the Temple of our Lord, and there adored the Lord God of Israel. And in captiuitie bestowed himselfe in workes of mercie, towardes the liuing and dead of his nation. Tob. 1.

As for the kingdom of Iuda, it was more free from heresies. For The Kingdom of Iuda more free from herefie. very few or none of those kinges that fell to other grosse enormities, yea to manifest idolatrie, became heretikes, as is probablie collected by that Isaias the Prophet being sent to Achaz, admonished him, conuersed and dealt with him, as with one that beleued wholly and solely true religion: assuring him that God would protect Ierusalem, bidding him not to feare the two smoking King Achaz. firebrandes, in the wrath of Rasin king of Syria, and of Phacce king of Israel. Isa. 7. Further bidding him aske a singe of God, he answered, [Page 942] though frovvardli [...], yet not as an infidel: I wil not aske: and I wil not tempt our Lord. Yea though Vrias the High Priest by commandment Vrias high priest. of the same king (4▪ Reg. 16.) made a new altar in place of Gods Altar, yet he erred not in faith, nor in doctrine, as teaching in Moyses chayre, but in fact onclie, and of frailtie for feare of the king, a [...] the king offended in his externall act, to slatter the king of Syria. And in this case God sent Isai [...] to admonish the king, which Vrias neglected, or durst not do. Likwise Ioram King Ioram. and others committing idolatrie in fact, manie others stil professed true Religion. (4. Reg. 8 2. Par. 21.) Ochozias (2. Par. 22.) Ioas in the latter part of his life, 2. Par. 24. Manasses in the former part of his reigne (4. Reg. 2. 2. Par 33.) and sowe other kinges of Iuda committing idolatrie, and making others to fall with them, either were not wholie peruerted, or at least drew not al with them, For not onlie Prophets, in whose hand ( or ministerie) God spake, and reproued these sinnes, but manie others kept their Zele of true religion. as appeared in their promptnes to serue God, when by good kinges Asa, Iosaphat, Ezechias, Iosias and others, they were exhorted, or admitted so to do. 4. Reg. 18. 23. 2. Par. 15. 17. 29. 30. 31. 33. 34. &c.

Finally wheras diuers good princes disposed, thinges belonging to Diuine seruice in the temple, correcting faultes, and punishing oftenders in that behalfe, (3. Reg. 15. 4. Reg. 18. 23.) they did the same without preiudice of the High Priestes suprem [...]cie in spirituall causes, and their godlie actes make nothing for the English Paradox of Laiheadshippe. Authoritie depending vpon diuine ordinance, is not changed by factes or practise. For superior authoritie, and ordinarie povvre is not proued by factes good or euil, but rather by Gods ordinance and institution. For as the factes of vsurpers make no lawfull prescription; so neither the factes of good men, do change Gods general ordinance and law: But are done either by waie of execution, or sometimes by dispensation. Often also by commission and special inspiration of God. As king Dauid by dispensation did eate the holie bread, Good kinges defended and promoted religion not as chiefe in spiritual causes, but by way of execution, dispensation, o [...] cōmission. Mat. 1 [...]. which was ordained for Priests onlie. 1. Reg 21. He disposed of Priestes and Leuites offices about the Arke of God. Par. 15. 19. by way of execution according to the law. And of the like offices in the Temple (when it should be built) 1. Par. 23. 24. 25. 26. by diuine inspiration. And Salomon by commission from God deposed Abiathar the High Priest, from his office and put Sadoc in his place. 3. Reg. 2. VVherefore albeit good kinges did excellentlie well in calling together the Priestes, and disposing them in their offices, for execution of Gods seruice, yea in commanding what they should do 4. Reg. 18. 19. 22. and in punishing Priestes (4. Reg. 23.) yet they did such thinges as Gods Commissioners, not as ordinarie Superiors in spiritual causes, and still the ordinarie subordination made by the law, Deut. 17. Num. 27. stood firme and inuiolable, the High Priest supreme Iudge of all doubtes in faith, causes, and quarels in religion, when other subordinate inferior Iudges varied in their iudgmentes. Of which offices Malachias the Propher (cap. 2.) [Page 943] admonished Priestes in his time, that whereas they were negligent, not performing Priestes by their negligēce do sinne but lose not their authoritie. their dutie, their sinne was the greater, for that their authoritie stil remained, and the perpetual Rule of the lavv, that the lippes of the Priest shal kepe knowlege, and they ( other men generally) shal require the law of his mouth, because he is the Angel of the Lord of hostes. And al Princes & others were to receiue the law at the priestes hād of Deut. 17. v. [...]. the Leuitical Tribe. This vvas the vvarrant of stabilitie in truth of the Synagogue The Church of the old Testament conserued in truth. Much more the Church of Christ. in the old Testament. Much more the Church and Spouse of Christ, vvhose excellencie and singular priuileges Salomon describeth in his canticle of canticles, hath such vvarrant. Of this spouse al the Prophets write, & that more pla [...]nlie then of Christ himselfe, forseing more aduersaries [...] Psal. 30. conc. [...]. li. 3. [...]. 32. de doctrin christ. [...]. Tim. 3 4. Reg. 19. bending their forces against her, as S. Augustine obserueth, then against Christ her head. And the same holie father in manie places teacheth, that she neither perisheth, nor loseth her beutie, for the mixture of euil members, in respect of whom she is blacke, but fayre in respect of the good, Canti [...]. 1. Notwithstanding therfore sinners remaining within the Church, schismatikes and heretickes breaking from the Church, stil she remaineth the pillar and firmament of truth; the virgin daughter of Sion.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKES OF ESDRAS.

ESDRAS a holie Priest and Scribe; of the stocke of Aaron, by the line [...]. Es [...]r. 7▪ The two bookes of Esdras and Nehemias are but one in the Hebrew. The third and fourth are not canonical. of Eleazar, vvriteth the historie of Gods people, in, and presently after their captiuitie in Babilon: vvhich Nehemias an other godlie Priest prosecuteth, vvhose booke is also called the second of Esdras, because in the Hebrevv and Greke they are but one booke, relating the acts of them both. The other two books called the third and fourth of Esdras, touching the same matter, are not in the Hebrew, nor receiued into the Canon of holie Scripture, though the Greke Church hold the third booke as Canonicall, and pla [...]eth it first, because it conteyneth thinges donne before the other.

In the two here folowing, vvhich are vndoubtedly holie Scripture S. Ierom Epist. ad Paulin. This historie hath also a spiritual sense sayth, that Esdras and Nehemias (to witte the Helper, and Comforter from God) restored the Temple, and built the walles of the citie; adding that al the troope of the people returning into their countrie, also the description of Priestes, Leuites, Israelites, Proselites, and the workes of walles and to wres diuided by seueral families, aliud in cortice praeferunt, aliud in medulla▪ retinent, shew one thing in the barke, kepe an other thing in the marrow: signifying that this historie hath both a literal, and a mystical sense. According to the First booke diuided into two partes. letter, this first booke shevveth the reduction of Gods people from Babylon; In the first six chapters. In the other soure, their instruction by Esdras after their returne.

[Page 944]

THE FIRST BOOKE OF ESDRAS.

CHAP. I. Cyrus king of Persia moued by divine inspiration, releaseth Gods people from captiuitie, with license to returne and build the Temple in Ierusalem: 7. restoring the holie vessel, which Nabuchodonesor had taken from thence.

IN THE first yeare of Cyrus king of the Persians, 1 The first part. The returne of gods people from Babylon. Isaiae 44. 45▪ Ierem. 25. 29. that the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie might be accomplishd, our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Cyrus king of Persians: and he made proclamation in al his kingdom, yea by wryting, saying: † Thus sayth Cyrus king of the Persians: 2 Al the kingdomes of the earth hath the Lord the God of heauen geuen me, & he hath commanded me that I should build him a house in Ierusalem, which is in Iewrie. † Who is 3 there among you of al his people? His God be with him. Let him goe vp into Ierusalem, which is in Iewrie, and build the house of the Lord the God of Israel, he is the God that is in Ierusalem. † And let al the rest in al places whersoeuer they 4 dwel, let euery man of his place helpe him, with siluer and gold, and substance, and cattel, besides that which they offer voluntarily to the temple of God, which is in Ierusalem. † And there rose vp the princes of the fathers of Iuda and 5 Beniamin, & the Priestes, and Leuites, and euerie one, whose spirit God raysed vp, to goe vp to build the temple of our Lord, which was in Ierusalem. † And al that were round 6 about, Liberally gaue such thinges into their handes. did helpe their handes in vessels of siluer, and of gold, in substance, and beastes, in furniture, besides those thinges which they had offered voluntarily. † King Cyrus 7 also brought forth the vessels of the temple of our Lord, which Nabuchodonosor had taken of Ierusalem, and had put them in the temple of his God. † But Cyrus the king of Persians 8 brought them forth by the hand of Mithridates the sonne of Gazabar, & numbred them to Sassabasar the prince of Iuda. † And this is the number of them; Phials of gold 9 thirtie, phials of siluer a thousand, kniues twentie nine, goblettes [Page 945] of gold thirtie, † goblettes of siluer of the second order, 10 foure hundred tenne: other vessels a thousand. † Al 11 the vessels of gold and siluer, fiue thousand foure hundred: Sassabasar tooke al with them, that went vp from the transmigration of Babylon into Ierusalem.

CHAP. II. The names and number of special men, which returned vnder the conduct of Zorobabel into lerusalem. 66. their substance of cattel, 68. and their oblations for the reedifying of the Temple.

AND This enumeration of the Israelites, which aseended into Ierusalem, signifieth the Elect which ascend from the militant Chuch to the triumphant. these are the children of the prouince, that went 1 vp from the captiuitie, which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had transported into Babylon, and returned into Ierusalem and Iuda, euerie man into his citie. † They 2 that came with Zorobabel, Iosue, Nehemia, Saraia, Rahelaia, Mardochai, Belsan, Mesphar, Beguai, Rehum, Baana: The number of the men of the people of Israel: † The children 3 of Pharos two thousand an hundred seuentie two. † The 4 children of Sephatia, three hundred seuentie two. † The 5 children of Area, seuen hundred seuentie fiue. † The children 6 of Phahath Moab, of the children of Iosue: Iohab, two 7 thousand eight hundred twelue. † The children of Aelam. a 8 thousand two hundred fiftie foure. † The children of Zethua, 9 nine hundred fourtie fiue. † The children of Zachai, 10 seuen hundred sixtie. † The children of Bani six hundred 11 fourtie two. † The children of Bebai, six hundred twentie 12 three. † The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred 13 twentie two. † The children of Adonicam, six hundred sixtie 14 six. † The children of Beguai, two thousand fiftie six. 15 † The children of Adin, foure hundred fiftie foure. † The 16 children of Ather, which were of Ezechias, ninetie eight. 17 † The children of Besai, three hundred and twentie three. 18 † The children of Iora, an hundred twelue. † The childre 19 of Hasum, two hundred twentie three. † The children of 20 Gebbar, ninetie fiue. † The children of Bethlehem, an hundred 21 twentie three. † The men of Nerupha, fiftie six. † The 22 men of Anathoth an hundred twentie eight. † The children 23 of Azmaueth, fourtie two. † The children of Cariathiarim, 24 Cephira, and Beroth, seuen hundred fourtie three. 25 † The children of Rama and Gabaa, six hundred twentie 26 one. † The men of Machmas, an hundred twentie two. 27 [Page 946] † The men of Bethel and Hai, two hundred twentie three. 28 † The children of Nebo, fiftie two. † The children of 29 Megbis, an hundred fiftie six. † The children of an other 30 Aelam, a thousand two hundred fiftie foure. † The children of 31 Harim, three hundred twentie. † The children of Lod Hadid 32 and Ono, seuen hundred twentie fiue. † The children of Iericho, 33 three hundred fourtie fiue. † The children of Senaa, 34 three thousand [...]x hundred thirtie. † The Priestes: The children 35 of Iadaia in the house of Iosue, nine hundred seuentie 36 three. † The children of Emmer, a thousand fiftie two. † The 37 children of Pheshur, a thousand two hundred fourtie seuen. 38 † The children of Harim, a thousand and seuentie. † The 39 Leuites: The children of Iosue and Cedmiel, the children of 40 Odouia, seuentie foure. † The singing men: The children of 41 Asaph, an hundred twentie eight. † The children of the Porters: 42 the children of Sellum, the children of Ater, the children of T [...]lmon, the children of Accub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobai: al an hundred thirtie nine. † The 43 Natheneites: The children of Siha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, † the children of Ceros, the children 44 of Siaa, the children of Phadon, † The children of Lebana, 45 the children of Hagaba, the children of Accub, † The 46 children of Hagab, the children of Semlai, the children of Hanan, † The children of Gaddel, the children of Gaher, 47 the children of Raaia, † The children of Rasin, the children 48 of Necoda, the children of Gazam, † The children of Aza, 49 the children of Phasea, the children of Besee, † The children 50 of Asena, the children of Mun [...]m, the children Nephusim, † The children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, 51 the children of Harhur, † The children of Besluth, 52 the children of Mahida, the children of Harsa, † The children 53 of Bercos, the children of Sisara, the children of Thema, 54 † The children of Nasia, the children of Hatipha, † The 55 children of the seruants of Salomon, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Pharuda, † The 56 children of Iala, the children of D [...]rcon, the childrē of Geddel, † The children of Saphatia, the children of Hatil, the 57 children of Phochereth, which were of Asebaim, the children of Ami. † Al the Nathineites, and the children of the 58 seruantes of Salomon, three hundred ninetie two. † And 59 these are they that came vp from Thelmela, Thelharsa, Cherub, [Page 947] and Adon, and Emer. And they could not shew the house of their fathers and their seede, whether they were of Israel. † The children of Dalaia, the children of Tobia, the 60 children of Necoda, six hundred fiftie two. † And of the 61 children of the Priestes: The children of Hobia, the children of Accos, the children of Berzellai, who tooke a wife of the daughters of Berzellai the Galaadite, and was called by their name: † these sought the writing of their genealogie, and 62 Such as say they are priestes and can not shew their vocatiō, must not exercise, that functon... Al aboue numbred of the tribes of Iuda, Beniamin, & Leui, do not amoūt to 30. thousand three hundred. So in this general number are contained aboue twelue thousand of other tribes, not recited among the rest. as Rabbi Salomoa explicateth the difficultie. found it not, and they were cast out of the Priesthood. † And Athersatha said to them, that they should not eate of 63 the Holie of holies, til there rose a priest learned and perfect. Al the multitude as it were one man, :: fourtie two thousand 64 three hundred sixtie: † beside their men seruantes, & wemen seruantes, which were seuen thousand three hundred thirtie 65 seuen: and among them singing men, and singing wemen two hundred. † Their horses seuen hundred thirtie six, their mules 66 two hundred fourtie fiue, † their cameles, foure hundred 67 thirtie fiue, their asses six thousand seuen hundred twentie. † And of the princes of the fathers, when they entred into the 68 temple of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem, they offered voluntarily vnto the house of our Lord to build it in his place. † According to their abilities, they gaue the expenses of the 69 worke, of gold sixtie one thousand soldes, of siluer fiue thousand poundes, & garmentes for the priestes an hundred. † The 70 Priestes therfore & the Leuites, and they of the people, and the singing men, and the potters, and the Nathinaites dwelt in their cities, and al Israel in their cities.

CHAP. III. An Altar is built for sacrifice, 4 The feast of Tabernacles solemnly celebrated 8. And in the second yeare (a [...]ter their returne) the Temple is founded with great ioy of the people, and mourning of some.

AND now the seuenth moneth was come, and the children 1 of Israel were in their cities: the people therfore was gathered together as it were one man into Ierusalem. 2 † And Iosue the sonne of Iosedec rose vp, and his brethren the Priestes, and Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and his brethren, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, that they might offer on it holocaustes, as it is writen in the law of Moyses the man of God. † And they placed the altar of God 3 vpon his feete, the people of the lands round about putting [Page 948] them Notwithstanding the terrour of infideles, Gods seruantes too [...] corage to offer sacrifice. in feare, & they offered vpon it holocaust to our Lord morning and euening. † And they made the solemnitie of tabernacles, 4 as it is writen, and holocaust euery day by order according to the praecept, the worke of the day in his day. † And after these thinges the continual holocaust, as wel in 5 the Calendes, as in al the solemnities of our Lord, that were consecrated, and in al wherein there was offered voluntarily a gift to our Lord. † From the first day of the seuenth moneth 6 they began to offer holocaust to our Lord: moreouer the temple of God was not yet founded. † And they gaue money 7 to hewers of s [...]ones and to masons: meate also and drinke, and oyle to the Sidonians and Tyrians, that they should bring ceder trees from Libanus to the sea vnto Ioppe, according to that which Cyrus the king of the Persians had commanded them. † And in the second yeare of their coming to the 8 temple of God in Ierusalem, the second moneth, began Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iosue the sonne of Iosedec, and the rest of their brethren the Priestes, and the Leuites, and al that were come from the captiuitie into Ierusalem, and they appoynted Leuites from twentie yeares and vpward, that they should hasten forward the worke of our Lord. † And 9 Iosue stood and his sonnes, and his brethren, Cedmihel, and his sonnes, and the children of Iuda, as it were one man, that they might be instant vpon them, that did the worke in the temple of God: the sonnes of Henadad, and their sonnes, and their brethren Leuites. † The temple therfore of our Lord 10 being founded by the masons, the Priestes stood in their attyro with trumpettes: and the Leuites the children of Asaph in cymbals, to prayse God By the ordinance of Dauid. 1. Pa [...] 25 by the handes of Dauid the king of Israel † And they sang together in hymnes, and confession 11 to our Lord: Because he is good, because his mercie is for euer vpon Israel. Al the people also made a shoute with a lowde crie in praysing our Lord, because the temple of our Lord was founded. † Verie manie also of the Priestes and the Leuires, 12 and the princes of the fathers, & the ancients, that had seene the former temple; when they saw this temple founded, By their weping they testified that the new temple was not so excellent as the former. And therfore Agg [...]u▪ prophetie (c. 2.) can not be vnderstood of this temple, but of the Church of Christ. [...] Aug li. 18. ci [...]it. [...]. 45. they wept with a lowd voyce: and manie shouting in ioy, lifted vp their voyce. † Neither could anie man discerne 13 the voice of the crie of them that reioyced, and the voice of the weeping of the people: for one with an other the people [...]howted with alowd crie, and the voice was heard far of.

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CHAP. IIII. The schismatical Samaritanes, because they are not admitted to communicate With the lewes, endeuour to hinder the building of the Temple. 5. Which neuertheles procedeth, al the dayes of king Cyrus. 7. but is hundered by Artaxerxes, til the second yeare of Darius.

BVT the enemies of Iuda and Beniamin heard that the 1 children of the captiuitie built a temple to our Lord the God of Israel. † And coming to Zorobabel, and the princes 2 of the fathers, they sayd to them. Let vs build with you, because Schismatikes and Here-tikes may not be admitte [...] to communicate in sacrifice with Catholiques. euen as you, so do we seeke your God: Behold we haue immolated victimes from the dayes of Asor Haddan the king of Assur, which brought vs hither. † And Zorobabel sayd to 3 them, and Iosue, and the rest of the princes of the fathers of Israel: It is not for you and vs to build a house to our God, but we our selues alone wil build to the Lord our God, as Cyrus the king of the Persians hath cōmanded vs. † It came 4 to passe therfore that the people of the land hindred the handes of the people of Iuda, and trubled them in building. † And they hyred counselers agaynst them, to destroy theyr 5 counsel al the dayes of Cyrus the king of the Persians, & vntil the reigne of Darius theking of the Persians▪ † And in the 6 reigne of Assuerus in the begining of his reigne, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitantes of Iuda and Ierusalem. 7 † And in the dayes of Artaxerxes B [...]selam, Mitridates, & ▪ Thabeel, & the rest that were in theyr counsel writ to Artaxcrxes king of the Persians: and the epistle of the accusation was writen in Syriake, and was read in the Sirian language. † Reum Beelreem, and Samsai scribe wrote one epistle from 8 Ierusalem to Artaxerxes the king, of this tenure: † Reum Beelteem, and Samsai scribe, and the rest of their counselers, the Dineites, and the Apharsathaceites, the Terphaleites, the the Apharsei [...]es, the Erchueites, the Babylonians, the Susanecheites, the Dieuites, and the Aelamites, † and the rest 10 of the Gentiles, which Asenaphar the great and glorious transported: and made them dwel in the cities of Samaria, and in the rest of the countries beyond the Riuer in peace: († this is the copie of the epistle, which they sent to him) 11 To Artaxerxes the king, thy seruantes, the men that are beyond the Riuer, send greeting. † Be it knowen to the king, 12 that the lewes, which came vp from thee to vs, are come into [Page 950] Ierusalem a rebellious and naughtie citie, which they build making the rampyres thereof, and repayring the walles. † Now therfore be it knowen to the king, that if that citie 13 shal be built, and the walles therof repayred, they will not geue tribute, and tolle, & yearly rentes, and this damage wil come euen to the kinges. † But we mindful of the salt that 14 we haue eaten in the palace, and because we count it heynous to see the kings harmes, therfore we haue sent and certified the king, † that thou recount in the bookes of the histories 15 of thy fathers, and thou shalt finde writen in the commentaries: and shalt know that that citie is a rebellious citie, and hurtful to the kinges, and prouinces, and battels are raysed in it of old time: for the which cause also the citie it selfe was destroyed. † We certifie the king, that if that citie shal be 16 built, and the walles therof repayred, thou shalt haue no possession beyond the Riuer. † The king sent word to Reum 17 Beelteem, and Samsai scribe, and to the rest that were in their counsel inhabitantes of Samaria, and to the rest beyond the Riuer, sending greeting and peace. † The accusation, which 18 you haue sent to vs, was openly read before me. † and I gaue 19 commandment: and they recounted, and haue found, that that citie of old time rebelleth agaynst the kinges, and seditions and battels are raysed in it. † For there haue beene also 20 most valiant kinges in Ierusalem, which also had dominion ouer al the countrie, that is beyond the Riuer. They tooke also tribute, and rolle, and rentes. † Now therfore heare the 21 sentence: Prohibite ye those men, that that citie be not built, til it perhaps shal be commanded by me. † See that 22 you doe not negligently accomplish this thing, and by litle there grow euil agaynst the kinges. † Therfore the copie of 23 the edict of Attaxerxes the king was read before Reum Beelteem, and Samsai the scribe, and their counselers: and they went in hast into Ierusalem to the Iewes, & prohibited them with arme and strength. † Then was the worke of the house 24 of our Lord in Ierusalem intermitted, and was not done vntil the second yeare of the reigne of Darius the king of the Persians.

CHAP. V. By the exhortation of Aggaeus, and Zacharias, the people procede in building the semple. 3. VVhich their enimies striuing to hinder, 5. for decision of the cause, both parties write to king Darius.

[Page 951]AND there prophecied Aggeus the Prophete, & Zacharias 1 the sonne of Addo, prophecying to the Iewes, that were in Iewrie and Ierusalem, in the name of the God of Israel. † Then rose vp Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and 2 Iosue the sonne of Iosedec, and began to build the temple of God in Ierusalem, and with them the prophetes of God helping them. † But at the same time there came to them Thathanai, 3 who was prince beyond the Riuer, and Stharbuzanai, and their counselers: and sayd thus to them: Who hath geuen you counsel to build this house, and to repayre the walles? † Wherto we answered them, what the names were 4 of the men that were authors of that building. † And God geuing corege to his seruantes, stricke their enemies with terrour, and so made them cease from hinderuig his worke as they before intended. the 5 eye of theyr God was set vpon the ancientes of the Iewes, and they could not inhibite them. And it pleased them that the matter should be reserred to Darius, and then they would satisfie agaynst that accusation. † The copie of the 6 epistle, which Thathanai prince of the countrie beyond the Riuer sent, and Stharbuzanai, and his counselers the Arphasacheites, which were beyond the Riuer, to Darius the king. † The word, which they sent him, was writen thus: To Darius 7 the king al peace. † Be it knowen to the king, that we 8 went to Iurie, the prouince, to the house of the great God, which is in building with stone vnpolished, and timber is put in the walles: and that worke is in building diligently, and groweth in their handes. † We therfore demanded of 9 those ancientes, and thus we sayd to them: Who hath geuen you authoritie to build this house, & to repaire these walles? † Yea and their names we asked of them, that we might 10 certifie thee: and we writte the names of those men, that are the chiefe amongst them. † And they answered vs these 11 wordes, sayng: We are the seruantes of the God of heauen & earth, and we do build a temple, that was built these manie yeares before, and which a great king of Israel built and set vp. † But after that our fathers prouoked the God of heauen 12 to wrath, he deliuered them into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon the Chaldee: this house also he destroyed, and his people he transported into Babylon. † But in the first yeare of Cyrus the king of Babylon, Cyrus 13 the king put forth an edict, that this house of God should be built. † For the vesseles also of the temple of God, of gold 14 and of siluer, which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of [Page 952] the temple, that was in Ierusale [...]m, and had caried them into the temple of Babylon, Cyrus the king brought forth out of the temple of Babylon, and they were geuen to Sassabasar so called, whom also he appointed the chiefe, † and sayd 15 to him: Take these vessels, and goe, and put them in the temple, that is in Ierusalem, and let the house of God be built in his place. † Then therfore came this Sassabasar, and layd 16 the foundations of the temple of God in Ierusalem, and from that time vntil now it is in building, and is not yet finished. † Now therfore if it seeme good to the king, let him search 17 in the kings librarie, which is in Babylon, whether it hath beene commanded by Cyrus the king, that the house of God in Ierusalem should be built, and let him send the kings pleasure concerning this thing vnto vs.

CHAP. VI. Darius finding in the register, that Cyrus gaue licence to build the Temple, commandeth that none binder it. 8. geueth also money towardes the charges, and hostes for sacrifice.

Then Darius the king commanded, and they searched in 1 the librarie of the bookes, that were layd vp in Babylon, † and there was found in Ecbatanis, which is a castle in the 2 prouince Medena, one volume, and there was such a cōmentarie writen therein: † In the first yeare of Cyrus the king: 3 Cyrus the king decreed, that the house of God should be built, which is in Ierusalem, in the place where they immolate hostes, and that they lay the foundations supporting the height of threescore cubites, & the bredth of threescore cubites, † three rewes of stones vnpolished, & so rewes of new 4 timber: and the costes shal be geuen out of the kings house. † Yea & the vessels of the temple of God, of gold & of siluer 5 which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the Temple of Ierusalem, and had brought them into Babylon, let them be restored, & brought ba [...]ke into the temple of Ierusalem vnto their place, which also were put in the temple of God. † Now therfore Thathanai prince of the countrie, that is 6 beyond the Riuer, Stharubazanai, and your counselers the Apharsacheites, which are beyond the Riuer, depart farre from them, † and suffer that temple of God to be made of 7 the duke of the Iewes, and of their ancientes, that they may build that house of God in his place. † Also there is cōmandment 8 [Page 953] geuen from me what must be done of those ancientes of the Iewes, that the house of God may be built, to witre, that of the kings coffer, that is, of the tributes, that are geuen out of the countrie beyond the Riuer, the charges be diligently geuen to those men, lest the worke be hindred. † And 9 if it shal be necessarie, calues also, and lambes, and kiddes, for holocaust to the God of heauen, wheate, salt, wyne, and oyle, according to the rite of the Priestes▪ that are in Ierusalem, let there be geuen them day dy day, that there be no complaynte in any thing. † And let them offer oblations 10 to the God of heauen, and pray for the life of the king, and of his children. † By me therfore there is a decree made; 11 That euerie man, which shal alter this commandement, there be a beame taken of his house, and set vp, and he be fast hanged vpon it, and his house be confiscate. † And the God, 12 that hath made his name to dwel there, destroy alkingdomes, and the people that shal extend theyr hand to resist, & to destroy the house of God, that is in Ierusalē. [...] Darius haue made the decree, which I wil to be diligently accōplished. † Therfore 13 Thathanai the prince of the countrie beyond the Riuer, and Stharbuzani, and his counselers, according to that which Darius the king had commanded, so did execute it diligently. † And the ancientes of the Iewes built, and prospered according 14 to the prophecie of Aggeus the prophet, and of Zacharias the sonne of Addo: and they built and set vp, the God of Israel commanding, and The hart of the king is in the hand of our Lord. Prouerb. 21. Cyrus commanding, and Darius, and Artaxerxes the kings of the Persians. † And they were 15 finishing this house of God, vntil the third day of the moneth of Adar, which is the sixth yeare of Darius the king. † And the children of Israel, the Priestes and the Leuites, 16 and the rest of the transmigration, made the dedication of the house of God in ioy. † And they offered in the dedication 17 of the house of God, calues an hundred, rammes two hundred, lambes foure hundred, buckgoates for the sinne of al Israel twelue, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. † And they set the Priestes in theyr orders, and the 18 Leuites in theyr courses ouer the workes of God in Ierusalem, as it is writen in the booke of Moyses. † And the children 19 of Israel of the transmigration made the Phase, the fourtenth day of the first moneth. † For al the Priestes and 20 the Leuites were purified as it were one man: al cleane to [Page 954] immolate the Phase for al the children of the transmigration, and for theyr brethren the Priestes, and them selues. † And 21 the children of Israel that were returned from the transmigration, did eate, and al that had separated them selues from the coinquination of the Gentiles of the earth vnto them, to seeke our Lord the God of Israel. † And they made the 22 solemnitie of Azymes seuen dayes in ioy, because our Lord had made them ioyful, and had turned the hart of the king of Assur to them, that he should helpe theyr handes in the worke of the house of our Lord the God of Israel.

CHAP. VII. Esdras, with manie other Priestes and Leuites, ascendeth to [...]erusalem to teach, and assist the people. 11. bringing Artaxerxes Edict, declareth it to the people, 27. and geueth thankes to God.

AND after these thinges in the reigne of Artaxerxes The second part▪ Esdras instructeth the people. king of Persians, Esdras the sonne of Saraias, the sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Helcias, † the sonne of Sellum, the 2 sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Achitob, † the sonne of Amarias, 3 the sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Maraioth▪ † the sonne 4 of Zarahias, the sonne of Ozi, the sonne of Bocci, † the 5 sonne of Abisue, the sonne of Phinees, the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron the Priest from the begynning. † The 6 same Esdras Esdras came with the f [...] from Babylon [...]. [...]sd▪ 12▪ [...]ut returned thither and now ascended the second time [...]o Ierusalem. came vp from Babylon, and he was a quicke scribe in the law of Moyses, which our Lord God gaue to Israel: and the king gaue him according to the hand of our Lord his God vpon him al his petition. † And there came vp 7 of the children of Israel, and of the children of the Priestes, and of the children of the Leuites, and of the singing men, and of the porters, and of the Nathineites into Ierusalem in the seuenth▪ yeare of Artaxerxes the king. † And they came 8 into Ierusalem the fifth moneth, that is the seuenth yeare of the king † For in the first day of the first moneth he began to 9 goe vp from Babylon, and in the first day of the fifth moneth▪ he came into Ierusalem according to the good hand of his God vpon him. † For Esdras prepared his hart to search the 10 law of our Lord▪ and to doe and to teach in Israel preceptes and iudgement. † And this is the copie of the epistle of the 11 edict, which king Artaxerxes gaue to Esdras the Priest, the learned scribe, in the wordes and preceptes of our Lord, and his ceremonies in Israel. † Artaxerxes the king of kings to 12 [Page 955] Esdras the Priest, the most learned scribe of the law of God of heauē, greeting. † It is decreed by me that whōsoeuer it shal 13 please in my kingdom of the people of Israel, and of the Priestes and Leuites, to goe into Ierusalē, let him goe with thee. 14 † For thou art sent from the face of the king, and of his seuen counselers, that thou mayst visite Iewrie and Ierusalem in the law of thy God, which is in thy hand. † And that thou maist 15 carie the siluer & gold, which the king & his counselers haue voluntarily offered to the God of Israel, whose tabernacle is in Ierusalem. † And al the siluer and gold whatsoeuer thou 16 shalt finde in al the prouince of Babylon, and the people wil offer, and of the Priestes that shal voluntarely offer to the house of theyr God, which is in Ierusalem, † take freely, and 17 bye diligently of this money calues, rammes, lambes, and the sacrifices and libamentes of them, and offer them vpon the altar of the temple of your God, that is in Ierusalem † Yea 18 and if it shal please thee, and thy brethren to doe any thing with the rest of the siluer and gold, doe ye according to the wil of your God. † The v [...]els also, which are geuen thee for 19 the ministerie of the house of thy God, deliuer thou in the sight of God in Ierusalem. † Yea and other thinges wherof 20 neede shal be for the house of thy God, how much soeuer is necessarie for thee to spend, thou shalt geue it out of the treasure, and excheker of the king, and from me. † I Artaxerxes 21 the king haue appointed and decreed to al the keepers of the common coffer, that are beyond the Riuer, that whatsoeuer Esdras the Priest, the scribe of the law of God of heauen, shal aske of you, you geue it without delay, † vnto 22 an hundred talentes of siluer, and vnto an hundred cores of wheat, and vnto an hundred bates of wyne, and vnto an hundred bates of oyle, but salt without measure. † Al that 23 pertayneth to the rite of the God of heauen, let it be geuen diligently in the house of the God of heauen: lest perhaps he be angrie agaynst the kingdom of the king, and of his sonnes. † We doe you also to vnderstand concerning al the 24 Priestes, and Leuites, and the singers, and the porters, the Nathineites, and ministers of the house of this God, that you haue no authoritie to put tolle and [...]ribute, and yearlie rentes vpon them. † And thou Esdras according to the wisedom of 25 thy God, which is in thy hand, appoy [...]t iu [...]ges and presidentes, that they may iudge for al the people▪ that is beyond the [Page 956] Riuer, that is for them which know the law of thy God, yea and the ignorant teach ye frely. † And euerie one that shal 26 not doe the law of thy God, and the law of thy king diligently, there shal be iudgement of him, either vnto death, or into banishment, or to the confiscation of his substance, or at the least into prison. † Blessed be our Lord, the God of our fathers, 27 which hath put this in the kinges hart, that he would glorifie the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem, † and hath inclined 28 his mercie toward me before the king and his counselers, and al the mightie princes of the king: and Itaking courage by the hand of our Lord my God, which was on me, gathered together out of Israel princes that should goe vp with me.

CHAP. VIII. Esdras reciteth those that came with him from Babylon. 21. the fast which [...]e appointed. 33. and how they brought the holie vessel into the Temple.

THESE therfore are the princes of the families, and the 1 genealogie of them, that came vp with me in the reigne of Artaxerxes the king This great number which by Esdras perswasion came from Babylon, signified the greatfiuict of soules conuerted from sinne by the exhortation of holie preachers. S. Beaa. li. 2. in Esara. c. 10. out of Babylon. † Of the children 2 of Phinees, Gersom. Of the children of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the children of Dauid, Hattus. † Of the children of 3 Sechenias, the children of Pharos, Zacharias: and with him were numbered an hundred fiftie men. † Of the children 4 of Phahath Moab, Eleoenai the sonne of Zareha, and with him two hundred men. † Of the children of Sechenias, 5 the sonne of Ezechiel, and with him three hundred men. † Of the children of Adan, Abed the sonne of Ionathan, 6 and with him fiftie men. † Of the children of Alam, 7 Isaias the sonne of Athalia, and with him seuentie men. † Of 8 the children of Saphatia, Zebedia the sonne of Michael, and with him eightie men. † Of the children of Ioab, Obedia 9 the sonne of Iahiel, and with him two hundred and eightene men. † Of the children of Selomith, the sonne of Iosphia, 10 and with him an hundred sixtie men. † Of the children of 11 Bebai, Zacharias the sonne of Bebai: and with him twentie eight men. † Of the children of Azgad, Ioanan the sonne of 12 Eccetan, and with him an hundred and ten men. † Of the 13 children of Adonicam, which were the last: and these are theyr names: Elipheleth, and Iehiel, and Samaias, and with them sixtie men. † Of the children of Begui, Vthai and Zachu [...], 14 and with them seuentie men. † And I gathered them to 15 [Page 957] the riuer, which runneth downe to Ahaua, and we taried there three daies: and I sought among the people and among the Priestes for the children of Leui, and found none there. † Therfore I sent Eliezer, and Ariel, and Semeias, and Elnathan, 16 and Iarib, and other Elnathan, and Nathan, and Zacharias, and Mosollam princes: and Ioiarib, and Elnathan wise men. † And I sent them to Eddo, which is chiefe in the place 17 of Chasphia, and I did put in theyr mouth the wordes that they should speake to Eddo, and his brethren the Nathineites in the place of Chasphia, that they should bring vs ministers of the house of our God. † And they brought vs by 18 the good hand of our God vpon vs a most learned man of the children of Mocholi the sonne of Leui the sonne of Israel, and Sarabias and his sonnes, and his brethren eightene, † and 19 Hasabias, and with him Isaias of the children of Merari, and his brethren, and his sonnes twentie. † And al the Nathineites, 20 which Dauid gaue, and the princes for the ministeries of the Leuites, Natineites two hundred twentie: al these were called by theyr names. † And I proclaymed there It suffice not to part from Babylon (that is, from sinne) but we must also doe workes of satisfaction, and therfore Esdras here proclamed an extraordinarie fast to those that were come from captiuitie. a fast 21 beside the Riuer of Ahaua, that we might be afflicted before the Lord our God, and might desire of him a right way for vs and our children, and al our substance. † For I was ashamed 22 to aske the king ayde and horsemen, that might defend vs from the enemie in the way: because we had sayd to the king: The hand of our God is vpon al them, that seeke him in goodnesse: and his empire and strength, and furie vpon al them that forsake him. † And we fasted, and besought our 23 God hereby: and it fel out prosperousely vnto vs. † And I 24 separated twelue of the chief Priestes, Sarabias, and Hasabias, and with them ten of theyr brethren. † And I weved vnto 25 them the siluer and gold, and the consecrated vessels of the house of our God, which the king had offered and his counselers, and his princes, and al Israel of them, that were found: † and I weyed in theyr handes of siluer six hundred fiftie 26 talentes, and vessels of siluer an hundred, of gold an hundred talentes: † and cuppes of gold twentie, which had a thousand 27 solides, and two vessels of the best shyning brasse, fayre, as gold. † And I sayd to them: You are the holie of our Lord, 28 and the vessels are holie, and the siluer and gold, that is voluntarely offered to our Lord the God of our fathers: † Watch 29 & keepe it, vntil you deliuer it by weight before the princes [Page 958] of the Priestes, and of the Leuites, and the princes of the families of Israel in Ierusalem, into the treasure of the house of our Lord. † And the Priestes and the Leuites receiued 30 the weight of the siluer and gold, and of the vessels, to carie it to Ierusalem into the house of our God. † We therfore 31 did sette forward from the riuer of Ahaua the twelfth day of the first moneth to goe on to Ierusalem: and the hand of our God was vpon vs, and deliuered vs from the hand of the enemie, and the lyer in wayte by the way. † And we came 32 to Ierusalem, and we taried there three dayes. † And in the 33 fourth day the siluer was weyed, and the gold, and the vessels in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the sonne of Vrias the Priest, and with him Eleazar the sonne of Phi [...]ees, and with them Iozabed the sonne of Iosue, and Noadaia the sonne of Bema [...] Leuites, † according to the number and 34 weight of al: and al the weight was described at that tyme. † Yea and the children of the transmigration that were come 35 from the captiuitie, offered holocaustes to the God of Israel, calues twelue for al the people of Israel, rammes nyntie six, lambes seuentie seuen, buckegoates for sinne twelue: al for holocaust to our Lord. † And they gaue the kings edictes to 36 the princes, that were ouerseers for the king, and the dukes beyond the Riuer, and they aduanced the people and the house of God.

CHAP. IX. For mariages and other association which the Iewes had with Gentiles, Esdr [...]s lamenteth, 5. and confessing the peoples iniquitie, prayeth God to conserue them from vtter destruction.

AND after these thinges were accomplished, the princes 1 came to me, saying: The people of Israel, and the Priests and Leuites Malachias the Prophet complaineth also of this fault c. 2. v. 11. threatning Gods punishment both to superiors and subiectes for not correcting it. [...] ▪ [...]. are not seperated from the people of the landes, and from the abhominations of them, to witte, of the Chananeite, and Hetheite, and Pherezeite, and Iebuseite, and of the Ammonites, and Moabites, and the Aegyptians, and Amorrheites. † For they haue taken of their daughters 2 to them and to their sonnes, and haue mingled the holie seede with the people of the landes. The hand also of the princes and magistrates hath bene first in this transgression. † And when I had heard this word, I rent my cloke and my 3 coate, and plucked of the heares of my head and bearde, and [Page 959] sate mourning. † And there assembled to me al that feared 4 the God of Israel, for the trangression of them, that were come from the captiuitie, and I sate sorowful, vntil the euening sacrifice. † And at the euening sacrifice I rose out of my 5 affliction, and my cloke and coate being rent I fell vpon my knees, and spred forth my hands to our Lord my God, † And 6 said: My God I am confounded and ashamed to lifte vp my face to thee: because our iniquities are multiplied ouer our head, and our sinnes haue growen euen vnto heauen, † from 7 the dayes of our fathers: yea and we our selues also haue sinned greuously vnto this day, and in our iniquities haue we bene deliuered our solues, and our Kinges, and our Priestes into the hand of the kinges of the landes, and into the sword, and into captuitie, and into spoyle, and into confusion of countenance, as also at this day. † And now as it were a litle, 8 and for a moment was our prayer made before the Lord our God, that a remnant might be left vs, and In respect o [...] their greatiniquities Esdias presumeth not to aske the conseruation of the whole people, but some reliques or [...]rā lest part, as it were a little post or a naile of a whole house towards the reedifying therof. a nayle might be geuen vs in his holie place, and that our God would illuminate our eies, and would geue vs a litle life in our bondage. † Because we are bondmen, and in our bondage our God [...]id 9 not forsake vs, & he inclined mercie vpon vs before the king of the Persians, to geue vs life, and to aduance the house of our God, and to build the desolations therof and to geue vs▪ a hedge in Iuda and Ierusalem. † And now what shal we fay, 10 ô our God, after these thinges? because we haue forsaken thy cōmandmēts, † which thou hast cōmanded in the hand of thy 11 seruantes the prophetes, saying: The land, to the which you enter to possesse it, is an vncleane land, according to the vncleannesse of peoples, and of other landes, by the abhominations of them that haue filled it from mouth vnto mouth in theier coinquination. † Now therfore geue not your 12 daughters to their sonnes, and their daughters take not for your sonnes, and doe ye not seeke their peace, and their prosperity for euer: that you may be strengthned, and may eate the goodes that are of the land, and may haue your children heyres for euer. † And after al thinges that come vpon vs in 13 our most wicked workes, and our most great sinne, because thou our God hast deliuered vs from our iniquitie, and hast geuen vs health as it is at this day [...] † that we shal not turne 14 away, and make frustrate thy commandementes, neither should ioyne matrimonies with the peoples of these abominations▪ [Page 960] Why art thou angrie with vs vnto vtter destruction, not to leaue vs a remnant vnto saluation? † Lord God of Israel 15 thou artiust: because we are leift, which should be saued as at this day. Behold we are before thee in our sinne, for there can be no standing before thee vpon this.

CHAP. X Esdras calling the people together commandeth them to dismisse the strange Wemen, which they haue married: 14 appointing officers to see it executed: 18 and reciteth those Which had married such wemen.

ESDRAS therfore thus praying, and beseeching, and weeping, 1 and lying before the temple of God, there was gathered to him of Israel an exceeding great companie of men and wemen and children, and the people wept with much lamentation. † And Sechenias the sonne of Iehiel of the children 2 of Aelam answered, and said to Esdras: We haue transgressed against our God, and haue taken to wiues strange wemen of the peoples of the land: and now if there be penance in Israel vpon this, † let vs make a couenant with the Lord 3 our God, to put away al the wiues, and them that are borne of them, according to the wil of our Lord, and of them that feare the precept of the Lord our God: be it done according to the law. † Arise, it is thy part to discerne, and we wil be 4 with thee: take courage, and doe it. † Esdras therefore rose 5 [...]Esdras being extraordinarily sent by God, to correct the people, repayreth to the high Priests sonne, by his authoritie calleth the people together and so procedeth to make reformation. [...]o S. Paus conferred with other Apostles. Gal. 2 vp, and adiured the Princes of the Priestes and of the Leuites, and al Israel, that they should doe according to this word, and they sware. † And Esdras rose vp before the house 6 of God, and went to the chamber of :: Iohanan the sonne of Eliasib, and entered into it, he did eate no bread, and dranke no water: for he mourned for the transgression of them, that were come out of the captiuitie. † And there was a proclamation 7 sent in Iuda and Ierusalem to al the children of the transmigration, that they should assemble together into Ierusalem. † And euerie one that shal not come within three dayes, 8 according to the counsel of the princes and ancientes, al his substance shal be taken away, and him selfe shal be cast out of the companie of the transmigration. † There assembled 9 therfore al the men of Iuda, and Beniamin into Ierufalem within three dayes, that is the ninth moneth, the twenteth day of the moneth: and al the people sate in the streate of the house of God, trembling for the sinne, and Their [...]inne was punished by ouer much rayne. v. 13. And so affliction gaue them more feeling of their faultes. the rayne. † And 10 [Page 961] Esdas the Priest arose, and sayd to them: You haue transgressed, and taken strange wemen to wife, to adde vpon the sinne of Israel. † And now geue confession to our Lord the 11 God of your fathers, and doe his pleasure, and be separated from the peoples of the land, and from your wiues the strangers. † And al the multitude answered, and sayd with a lowde 12 voyce: According to thy word vnto vs, so be it done. † Neuerthelesse 13 because there is much people, and a tyme of rayne, and we can not abyde to stand without, and it is not a worke of one day or two (for we haue excedingly sinned in this thing) † let there be princes appoynted in al the multitude: 14 and let al in our cities that haue taken strangers to wife, come at sette tymes, and with them the ancientes by citie and citie, and the iudges therof, vntil the wrath of our God be turned away from vs for this sinne. † Therfore Ionathan the sonne 15 of Azahel, and Iaazia the sonne of Thecua were appoynted ouer this, and Mesollam and Sebethai Leuites did helpe them: † and the children of the transmigration did so. And 16 Esdras the Priest, and the men, princes of the families went into the houses of theyr fathers, and al by theyr names, and they sate in the first day of the tenth moneth to search out the matter. † And al the men were fully counted that had 17 taken strangers to wife, vnto the first day of the first mos neth. † And there were found of the sonnes of the Priestes 18 that had taken strangers to wife. Of the children of Iosue the sonne of Iosedec, and his brethren, Maasia, and Eliezer, and Iarib, and Godolia. † And they gaue theyr handes to put 19 away theyr wiues, and to offer for theyr offence a ramme of the flocke. † And of the children of Emmer, Hanani, and 20 Zebedia. † And of the children of Harim, Maasia, and Elia, 21 and Semeia, and Iehiel, and Ozias. † And of the children of 22 Pheshur, Elionai, Maasia, Ismael, Nathanael, Iozabed, and Elasa. † And of the children of the Leuites, Iozabed, and 23 Semei, and Celaia, the same is Calita, Phataia, Iuda, and Eliezer. † And of the singing men Eliasib: and of the porters, 24 Sellum, and Thelem, and Vri. † And of Israel, of the children 25 of Pharos, Remeia, and Iezia, and Melchia, and Miamin, and Eliezer, and Melchia, and Banea. † And of the children 26 of Aelam, Mathania, Zacharias, and Iehiel, and Abdi, and Ierimoth, and Elia. † And of the children of Zethua, 27 Elioenai, Eliasib, Mathania, Ierimuth, and Zabad, and Aziza. [Page 962] † And of the children of Bebai, Iohanan, Hanamia, Zabbai, 28 Athalai: † And of the children of Bani, Mosollam, and Melluch, 29 and Adaia, Iasub, and Saal, and Ramoth. † And of the 30 children of Phahath Moab, Edna and Chalal, Bananias, and Maasias, Mathanias, Beseleel, Bennui, and Manasse. † And 31 of the children of Herem, Eliezer, Iosue, Melchias, Semeias, Simeon, † Beniamin, Maloch, Samarias. † And of the children 32 33 of Hasom, Mathanai, Mathatha, Zabad, Eliphelet, Iermai, Manasse, Semei. † Of the children of Bani, Maaddi, Amram, 34 and Vel, † Baneas, and Badaias, Chelia [...], † Vania, Marimuth, 35 36 and Eliasib, † Mathanias, Mathanai, and Iasi, † and 37 38 Bani, and Bennui, Semei, † and Salmias, and Nathan, and 39 Adaias, † and Mechnedebai, Sisai, Sarai, † Ezrel, and Selemiau, 40 41 Semeria, † Sellum, Amaria, Ioseph † Of the children 42 43 of Nebo, Iehiel, Mathathias, Zabad, Zabina, Ieddu, and Ioel. and Banaia. † Al these had taken strangers to wife, and there 44 were of them that had borne Amongst other inconueniences of vnlawful mariages one is that children are borne illegitimate. children.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF NEHEMIAS.

THIS booke beareth Title both of the author Nehemias, who writ Duble title of this booke. it, and of the second booke of Esdras, who in the former writ the historie of the Israelites after theyr relaxation from captiuitie, to the building againe of the Temple, with other thinges done the same time. VVhereunto The cōtentes. Nehemias ioyneth thinges succeding, especially the new erection S. Ierom. Epist. ad Paulin. of walles and towers about the citie of Ierusalem. And it may be diuided into three partes. In the two first chapters, he sheweth his compassion Diuided into three partes. of his countries misserie: and his cōming to assist them. In the tenne folowing, he reciteth the good effectes in repayring, and strengthning the citie with wall [...]s and people. In the last chapter, the correction of errors & euil maners, which he found amongst them.

[Page 963]

THE BOOKE OF NEHEMIAS. which also is called: THE SECOND OF ESDRAS.

CHAP. I. Nehemias hearing the miserable state of his countrie men in Iurie, 4. lamenteth, The first part▪ Nehemias his cōmiseration of his countrie. fasteth, and prayeth God for their relief.

THE wordes of Nehemias by his legacie, being sent from a king▪ by his name which signifieth comforter from our Lord; and by his building againe the walles of Ierusalem; prefigured our Sauiour, who was sent from God the Father, himselfe being the comforter of mankind, and the send [...] of an other comforter the Holie Ghost, to remaine with his Church. S. Beda. prolog in Nehemiam. Nehemias the sonne of Helchias. And 1 it came to passe in the moneth of Casleu, the twenteth yeare, and I was in Susis the castel. † And Hanani one of my 2 brethren came, him selse and men of Iuda, and I asked them of the Iewes, that remayned, and were left aliue of the captiuitie, and of Ierusalem. † And they sayd to me. They that 3 remayned, and are left of the captiuitie there in the prouince, are in great affliction, and in reproche: and the wal of Ierusalem is broken downe, and the gates therof are burnt with fire. † And when I had heard these maner of wordes, I 4 sate, and wept, and mourned many dayes: and fasted, and prayed before the face of the God of heauen. † And I sayd: 5 I besech thee Lord God of heauen, strong, great, and terrible, which keepest couenant & mercie with them that loue thee, and keepe thy cōmandmentes: † let thine eares be harkning, 6 and thine eyes open, to heare the prayer of thy seruant, which I pray before thee this day, night & day for the children of Israel thy seruantes: and I confesse for the sinnes of the children of Israel, in which they haue sinned to thee: I & my fathers house haue sinned, † we haue bene seduced with 7 vanitie, and haue not kept thy commandments, and cerimonies and iudgement, which thou hast commanded to Moyses thy seruant. † Remember the word, that thou didst command 8 vnto Moyses thy seruant, saying: When you shal transgresse, I will depresse you into peoples: † and if you returne 9 to me, and keepe my precepts, and doe them, although you shal be led away to the vttermost partes of heauen, thence wil I gather you, and bring you backe into the place, which I haue chosen that my name should dwel there. † And they 10 are thy seruantes, and thy people: whom thou hast redemed in thy great strength, and in thy mighty hand. † I besech thee 11 Lord, let thine eare be attent to the prayer of thy seruant, and [Page 964] to the prayer of thy seruants, which will feare thy name: and direct thy seruant this day, and giue him mercy before this man. for I was the kings cupbearer

CHAP. II. Nehemias obtaining commission from king Artaxerxes cometh to Ierusalem: 11. secretty vieweth the broken walles, and ruines of the citie, 17. and exhorteth al the Iewes to the reedifying therof.

AND it came to passe in the moneth of Nisan, the twentith 1 yeare of Artaxerxes the king: and there was wine before him, and I lifted vp the wine, and gaue to the king: and I was as it were languishing before his face. † And the 2 king sayd to me: Why is thy countenance sad, whereas I doe not see thee sicke? this is not without cause, but some euil I know not what, is in thy hart. And I was very much and excedingly afrayd: † and I sayd to the king: O king for euer 3 mayst thou liue: why should not my countenance be heauie, because the citie of the house of the sepulchres of my fathers is desolate, and the gates therof are burnt with fire? † And the 4 king sayd to me: For what thing makest thou request? And I prayed the God of heauen, † and I sayd to the king: If it 5 seme good to the king, and if thy seruant do please before thy face, thou send me into Iewrie to the citie of the sepulchre of my father, and I wil build it. † And the king sayd to me, 6 and the Queene that [...]ate by him: Vnto what time wil thy iourney be, and when wilt thou returne? And it pleased before the king, and he sent me: and I appoynted him a time. † And I sayd to the king: If it seme good to the king, let him 7 geue me letters to the gouernours of the country beyond the Riuer, that they conduct me, til I come into Iewrie: † and a 8 letter to Asaph the keeper of the kings forest, to geue me timber that I may couer the gates of the towre of the house, and the walles of the citie, and the house that I shal enter into. And the king gaue according to the good hand of my God with me. † And I came to the dukes of the countrie 9 beyond the Riuer, and gaue them the kings letters. And the king had sent with me captaynes of soldiers, and horsemen. † And Sanaballat an Horonite, and Tobias a seruant an 10 Ammonite heard it, and Infideles & Heretikes are greued, that others endeuoure to repayre the ruines of the Church in any countrie. were greiued with great affliction, that a man was come, which sought the prosperitie of the children of Israel. † And I came to Ierusalem and was there 11 [Page 965] three dayes. † and I arose in the night, I and a few men with 12 me, and I told not anie man what God had put in my hart to doe in Ierusalem, and there was no beast with me, but the beast wheron I sate. † And I went out by the gate of the 13 valley by night, and before the fountayne of the dragon, and to the gate of the dung, and I viewed the wal of Ierusalem broken downe, and the gates therof consumed with fire. † And I passed to the gate of the fountayne, and to the kinges 14 conduite, and there was no place for the beast where on I sat, to passe. † And I went vp by the torrent in the night, and 15 viewed the wal, and going backe I came to the gate of the valley, and returned. † But the magistrastes knew not whither 16 I went, or what I did: yea and to the Iewes, and the Priestes, and the nobles, and the magistrates, and the rest that did the worke vntil then I had shewed nothing. † And 17 I sayd to them: You know the affliction wherin we are, because Ierusalem is made desolate, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire: Come, and let vs build the walles of Ierusalem, and let vs be no longer a reproch. † And I shewed 18 them Gods hand was clearly shewed in the effect of obtaining the kings fauourable letters. the hand of my God, that it was good with me, and the kings wordes, which he had spoken to me, and I sayd: Let vs rise, and let vs build. And their handes were incouraged in good. † But Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobias 19 the seruant an Ammanite, and Gosem an Arabian heard of it, and they scorned vs, and despysed vs, and sayd: What is this thing, that you doe? Why do you rebel against the king? † And I answered them, and sayd to them: The God of heauen 20 he helpeth vs, and we are his seruants: let vs rise and build: but you haue no part, nor iustice, nor memorie in Ierusalem.

CHAP. III. The High Priest and others beginne to repaire Ierusalem streingthning it with The second part. How the citie was repayred with walles & people. an vttermost, 19. middle, 28. and innermost wall with towres and gates.

AND Eliasib the high Priest arose, and his bretheren the 1 Priestes: and they built the gate of the flocke: they sanctified it, and set the doores therof, and vnto the towre of an hundred cubites they Finishing the gate they dedicated it to Gods seruice, being for defence of his holie citie and so sanctified it sanctified it, vnto the towre of Hananeel. † And besides him did the men of Iericho build, 2 and besides him built Zachur the sonne of Amri. † But the 3 fishgate the children of Asnaa did builde: they couered it, [Page 966] and set vp the doores therof, and the lockes, and barres. And besides them built Marimuth the sonne of Vrias the sonne of Accas. † And besides him built Mosollam the sonne of 4 Bazachias, the sonne of Merezebel, and besides them built Sadoc the sonne of Baana. † And beside them builded 5 the Thecuenes: but their great men did not put vnder their neckes in the worke of their Lord. † And Ioiada the sonne 6 of Phasea, and Mosollam the sonne of Besodia built the oldgate couered it, and set vp the doores therof, and the lockes, and barres. † And beside them built Meltias a Gabaonite, and 7 Iadon a Meronathite, men of Gabaon and Maspha, for the duke that was in the country beyond the Riuer. † And beside 8 him built Ezrel the sonne of Araia a goldsmith: and beside him built Ananias the sonne of a Pigmentarie: and they leift Ierusalem vnto the wal of the broder streate. † And beside 9 him built Raphaia the sonne of Hur, prince of the streate of Ierusalem. † And beside them Iedaia the sonne of Haromaph 10 against his house: and beside him built Hattus the sonne of Hasebomia. † The halfe part of the streate built Melchias the 11 sonne of Herem, and Hasub the sonne of Phahath Moab, and the towre of the fornaces. † And beside him built Sellum 12 the sonne of Alohes prince of the halfe part of the streate of Ierusalem, he and his daughters. † And the gate of the valley 13 built Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoe: they built it, and sette vp the dores therof, and the lockes, and barres, and a thousand cubires in the wal vnto the gate of the dunghil. † And the gate of the dunghil built Melchias the sonne of 14 Rechab, the prince of the streate of Bethacaram: he built it, and sette vp the dores therof, and the lockes, and barres. † And the gate of the fountayne Sellum builded the sonne 15 of Colhoza, prince of the village of Maspha: he built it, and couered it, and set vp the doores therof, & the lockes, & barres, and the walles of the poole of Siloe vnto the kings gardē, and vnto the steppes that goe downe from the citie of Dauid. † After him built Nehemias the sonne of Azboc prince of 16 the halfe part of the streate of Bethsur, as far as ouer against the sepulchre of Dauid, and vnto the poole, that is built with great worke, and vnto the house of the valiants. † After him 17 the Leuites builded, Rehum the sonne of Benni. After him built Hasebias prince of the halfe part of the streate of Ceila in his streate. † After him built their bretheren Bauai the 18 [Page 967] sonne of Enadad, prince of the halfe part of Ceila. † And 19 beside him built Azer the sonne of Iosue, the prince of Maspha the second measure, against the visiting of the most sure corner. † After him in the mount built Baruch the sonne of 20 Zachai the second measure, from the corner vnto the gate of the house of Eliasib the high Priest. † After him built Merimuth 21 the sonne of Vrias the sonne of Haccus, the secōd measure, from the gate of the house of Eliasib, as far as the house of Eliasib extended. † And after him built the Priests, men of 22 the champayne of Iordan. † After him built Beniamin & Hasub 23 against their house: & after him built Azarias the sonne of Masias the sonne of Ananias against his house. † After him 24 built Bennui the sonne of Hanadad the second measure, from the house of Azarias vnto the bending, and vnto the corner † Phalel the sonne of Ozi against the bending and 25 the towre, which appeareth from out of the kings high house, that is, in the court of the prison: after him Phadaia the sonne of Pharos. † And the Nathineites dwelt in Ophel, as 26 far as ouer against the gate of waters toward the East, and the towre that stoode out. † After him the Thecuenes builded 27 the second measure ouer against, from the great and eminent towre vnto the wall of the temple. † And vpward to the 28 gate of horses the Priestes built, euery man against his house. † After them built Sadoc the sonne of Emmer against his 29 house. And after him built Semaia the sonne of Sechenias, keeper of the East gate. † After him built Hanania the sonne 30 of Selemia, and Hanun the sonne of Seleph the sixth, the second measure: after him built Mosollam the sonne of Barachias, against his treasurie. After him Melchias a goldsmith sonne vnto the house of the Natheneites, and of them that sold old stuffe against the iudgement gate, and vnto the vpper chamber of the corner. † And within the vpper chamber 31 of the corner in the gate of the flocke, the goldsmithes and marchants builded.

CHAP. IIII. Notwithstanding the enimies rage and oppose against the building of walles, 4. the Iewes build with one hand, and hold their swordes in the other. Nehemias encorageth them, and the worke proceedeth.

AND it came to passe, when Sanaballat had heard that 1 we builded the wal, he was very angrie: and being [Page 968] moued excedingly he scorned the Iewes. † and sayd before his 2 bretheren, and the multitude of the Samaritanes: What doe It was Gods prouidence that the enemies mocking at the reparation of Ierusalem did not so furiously resist, til the worke was performed: so sometimes heretikes scoffe at the ende [...] of poore priestes laboring to restore Catholique religion: but whether they scoffe or rage, Gods holie worke procedeth and prospereth. the sillie Iewes? Wil the gentiles let them alone? Shal they sacrifice and accomplish in one day? Why, are they able to build vp the stones out of the heapes of dust, that are burnt? † Yea Tobias also the Ammanite his neighbour sayd: Let 3 them build: if a fox come vp, he shal leape ouer their stone wal. † Heare our God, because we are had in dispise: turne 4 the reproch vpon their head, and giue them into dispite in a Land of captiuitie. † Couer not their iniquitie, and let not 5 their sinne be put out before thy face, because they haue mocked thy builders. † Therfore we built the wal, and ioyned 6 together the whole vnto the halfe part: and the hart of the people was prouoked to worke. † And it came to passe, when 7 Sanaballat had heard, and Tobias, and the Arabians, and the Ammanites, and the Azotians, that the breach of the wal of Ierusalem was closed vp, and the gates began to be stopped, they were wrath excedingly. † And they were al assembled 8 together, to come, and to fight against Ierusalem, and to prepare embushments. † And we prayed our God, and set 9 watchmen vpon the wal day and night against them. † And 10 Iudas sayd: The strength of him that carrieth is weakened, & the morter is very much, and we shal not be able to build the wal. † And our enimies sayd: Let them not know, and let 11 them be ignorant, til we come into the midest of them, and kil them, and make their worke to cease. † And it came to 12 passe, the Iewes that dwelt beside them, coming and telling vs ten times, out of al places from whence they came to vs, † I sette the people in a place behind the wal round about in 13 order, with their swordes, and speares, and bowes. † And 14 I looked and rose vp: & I sayd to the princes and magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: Be not afrayd at their face: Remember our Lord great and terrible, and fight for your bretheren, your sonnes, and your daughters, and your wiues, and your houses. † And it came to passe, when our 15 enimies had heard that it was told vs, God defeted their counsel. And we returned al to the walles, euery man to his worke. † And it came to passe from that day, the halfe part 16 of their yongmen did the worke, and halfe was ready to battel, and speares, & sheilds, and bowes, and cotes of mayle, and the princes behind them in al the house of Iuda † of 17 [Page 969] them that built in the wal, and that carried burdens, and that laded them: with one of his hands he did the worke, & with the other he held a sword: † for euery one of the builders 18 was girded with a sword about his reynes. And they builded, and sounded with the trumpet nere me. † And I sayd to the 19 princes, and to the magistrates, & to the rest of the common people: The worke is great and broad, and we are seperated in the wal one far from an other: † in what place soeuer 20 you shal heare the sound of the trumpet, thither runne together vnto vs: our God wil fight for vs. † And let vs our selues 21 doe the worke: and let the halfe part of vs hold speares from the rysing of the morning, til the starres appeare. † At that 22 time also I sayd to the people: Let euery man with his seruant tarry in the middes of Ierusalem, and let there be courses among vs by day and night to worke. † And I and my bretheren, 23 and my seruants, and the watchmen, that were behinde me, did not put of our clothes: euery man was made bare only to washing.

CHAP. V. Nehemias blameth couetous richmen, for oppressing the poore. 14. himselfe geueth largely of his owne to the needie.

AND there was S Beda in his time lamented that some spiritual Superiors neglected to feede their flock, either spiritually or temporally, and yet exacted temporal reuenewes, and oppressed the poore people, li 3. c. 21. in [...]sd. How much more may we with him, wish an other Nehemias, that is a comforter from our Lord to correct this fault, & to releeue poore Catholiques distressed? a great crie of the people, and of their 1 wiues against their brethren the Iewes. † And there 2 were that said. Our sonnes and our daughters are verie manie: let vs take corne for the price of them, and let vs eate, and liue. † And there were that sayd: Let vs pledge our fieldes, 3 and vineyardes, and our houses, and let vs take corne in famine. † And others sayd: Let vs borow money for the kings 4 tributes, and let vs giue our fields and vineyardes, † and now 5 as the flesh of our bretheren, so is our flesh: and as their children so also our children. behold we subdew our sonnes, and our daughters into bondage, and our daughters there are bond we men▪ neither haue we where with they may be redemed, and our fieldes and our vineyardes other men doe possesse. † And I was exceding angrie, when I had heard their crie 6 according to these wordes. † And my hart thought with my 7 selfe: and I rebuked the princes and magistrates, and sayd to them: Do you euery one exact vsuries of your brethen? and I gathered against them a great assemblie, † and I sayd to 8 them: We as you know, haue redemed our bretheren the [Page 970] Iewes, that were sold to the gentiles, according to our abilitie: and wil you therfore sel your bretheren, and shal we redeme them? And they held their peace, neither did they find what to answer. † And I sayd to them: The thing is not good, 9 which you doe: why walke you not in the feare of our God, lest we be vpbrayded with al the gentiles our enimies? † I also 10 :: A right propertie of a true pastor, to do that good which he preacheth to others▪ S. Beda ibidem. and my bretheren, and my seruantes, haue lent money and corne to very manie: let vs not aske this againe in common, let vs remitte them the debt, that is dewe to vs. † Restore ye 11 to them their fieldes this day, and their vineyards, and their oliuets, and their houses: yea the hundreth part also of money, corne, wine and oyle, which you were wont to exact of them, giue it rather for them. † And they sayd: We wil restore, and 12 we wil seeke nothing of them: and we wil do so as thou speakest. And I called the Priestes, and adiured them, to do according to that which I had sayd. † Moreouer I shooke 13 my bosome, and sayd: God so shake euery man, that shal not accomplish this word, out of his house, and out of his labours, so be he shaken out, and made emptie. And al the multitude sayd: Amen. And they praysed God. And the people did as it was sayd. † And from that day, wherin the king commended 14 me to the duke in the land of Iuda, from the twenteth yeare til the two & thirteth yeare of Artaxerxes the king for twelue yearees, I and my bretheren did not eate the yearly allowance, that was dewe to the dukes. † But the former 15 dukes, that had bene before me, burdened the people, and tooke of them in bread, and wine, and money euery day fourtie sicles: yea and their officers oppressed the people. But I did not so for the feare of God. † Yea I builded rather in 16 the worke of the wal, and field I bought not, and al my seruantes were gathered together to the worke. † Tke Iewes 17 also and the magistrates an hundred fiftie men, and they that came to vs out of the nations, that were round about vs were at the table. † And there was prepared for me day by day one 18 oxe, six chosen rammes, beside foules, and within ten dayes diuers wines, & many other things did I giue. Moreouer also the yearly allowance of my dukedome I sought not, for the people was very much empouerished. † A good conscience hath great confidence in God and iustly hopeth for reward. Remember me my 19 God to good, according to al things, which I haue done to this people

[Page 971]

CHAP. VI. The enemies guilfully offer to make league with the Iewes 3. but Nehemias procedeth in building the walles: 16. and al bordering nations feare them.

AND it came to passe, when Sanaballat had heard, and 1 Tobias, and Gossem the Arabian, and the rest of our enimies, that I did build the wal, and there was no breach remayning in it (how beit at that time I had not put the doores in the gates) † Sanaballat and Gossem sent to me, saying: 2 Come, and VVhen heretikes & other aduersaries of the Church finde them selues not able to suppresse Catholiques, they offer conditions of peace, and libertie to al▪ so when protestātes beganne & where they are weake, they would haue none persecuted for anie opinions in religion; but where they are strōg they hardly grant toleration to Catholiques, let vs make a league together in the villages, in the field of Ono: But they thought to doe me euil. † I sent 3 therfore messengers to them, saying: I am doing a great worke, and I can not goe downe, lest perhaps it be neglected when I shal come, and descend to you. † But they sent to me 4 according to this word, foure times: and I answered them according to the former word. † And Sanaballat sent his 5 seruant to me the fifth time according to the former word, and he had a letter in his hand written in this maner: Among the Gentiles it is heard, and Gossem hath sayd, that thou and the Iewes meane to rebel, and therfore thou buildest the wal, and wil aduance thy selfe king ouer them: for which cause † thou hast sette vp prophettes also, which should 7 preach of thee in Ierusalem, saying: There is a king in Iurie: The king wil heare of these thinges: therfore come now, that we may take counsel together. † And I sent to them, saying: 8 It is not done according to these words, which thou speakest: for thou framest these things of thine owne hart. † For al 9 these terrified vs, thinking that our hands would cease from the worke, and we would leaue of. For which cause I did the more strengthen my hands: † and I entred into the 10 house of Samaia the sonne of Dalaia the sonne of Metabeel secretly▪ who sayd: Let vs consult with our selues in the house of God in the middes of the temple: and Let vs shutte the doores of the temple because they wil come to kil thee, and in the night they wil come to slea thee. † And I sayd: 11 Doth any man that is like vnto me flee? and who being as I am, wil goe into the temple, and liue? I wil not goe in. † And I vnderstood that God had not sent him, but as it 12 were prophicying he had spoken to me, and Tobias, and Sanaballat had hyred him. † For he had taken a price, that I 13 being terrified should do it, and sinne, and they might haue [Page 972] some euil to vpbraid me withal. † Remember me Lord for 14 Tobias and Sanaballat, according to such their workes. Yea and Noadias the prophete, and the rest of the prophetes that terrified me † But the wal was finished the fiue and twenteth 15 day of the moneth of Elul, in two and fiftie dayes. † It came 16 topasse therfore when al our enimies had heard it, that al nations which were round about vs, feared, & were dismayed within them selues, and knew that this worke was done of God. † But in those dayes also many letters of the principal 17 Iewes were sent to Tobias, and from Tobias there came tothem. † For there were many in Iurie sworne vnto him, because 18 he was the sonne in law of Sechenias the sonne of Area, and Iohanan his sonne had taken the daughter of Mosollam the sonne of Barachias. † Yea and they praysed him before 19 me, and they reported my words vnto him: and Tobias sent letters to terrifie me.

CHAP. VII. Nehemias appointeth watchmen in Ierusalem, 5. and calling the people together reciteth the number of those, which came first from Babylon. 68. likewise of their cattel, 70. and the giftes of certaine chiefe men towards the reparations.

AND after the wal was built, & I had put on the doores, 1 and numbred the porters, and singing men▪ and Leuites: † I commanded Hanani my brother, and Hananias prince of 2 the house of Ierusalem (for the semed as it were a true man, and one that feared God aboue the rest) † and I sayd to them: 3 Let not the gates of Ierusalem be opened vntil the heate of the sunne. And when they yet stood by, the gates were shut, and barred: and I sette Three special defences of a citie, are the strength of walles, shut [...]ing and opening the gates in due time, & diligēt watchmen: so to the custodie of faithful soules three thinges are necessarie; the grace of God, due regard of the outward [...]enses, and continual watch against out inuisible enemies. watchmen of the inhabitants of Ierusalem, euery one by their courses, and euery man against his house. † And the citie was exceding large and great, and 4 the people few in the middes therof, & there were no houses built. † But God gaue me in my hart, and I assembled the 5 princes and magistrates, and common people, that I might number them: and I found a booke of the number of them, that came vp first, and there was found written in it: † These are the children of the prouince, which came vp 6 from the captiuirie of them that were transported, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had transported, and returned into lurie, euery one into his owne citie. † They 7 [Page 973] that came with Zorobabel, Iosue, Nehemias, Azarias, Rahamias, Nahamani, Mardochaeus, Belsam, Mespharath, Begoai, Nahum, Baana. The number of the men of the people of Israel. † The children of Pharos, two thousand an 8 hundred seuenty two. † The children of Saphatia, three hundred 9 seuentie two. † The children of Area, six hundred fiftie 10 two. † The children of Phahathmoab of the children of Iosue 11 and Ioab, two thousand eight hundred eightene. † The children 12 of Aelam, a thousand two hundred fiftie foure▪ † The 13 children Zethua, eight hundred fourtie fiue. † The childeren 14 of Zachai, seuen hundred sixtie. † The childeren of Bannui, 15 six hundred fourtie eight. † The children of Bebai, six hundred 16 twentie eight. † The children of Azgad, two thousand 17 three hundred twentie two. † The childeren of Adonicam, six 18 hundred sixtie seuen. † The children of Beguai, two thousand 19 sixtie seuen. † The childeren of Adin, six hundred fiftie 20 fiue. † The childeren of Ater, childeren of Hezecias ninetie 21 eight. † The childeren of Hasem, three hundred twentie 22 eight. † The children of Besai, three hundred twentie foure. 23 † The children of Hareph, an hundred twelue † The children 24 25 of Gabaon, nyntie fiue. † The childeren of Betlehem, 26 and Netupha, an hundred eightie eight. † The men of Anathoth, 27 an hundred twentie eight: † The men of Bethazmoth, 28 fourtie two. † The men of Cariathiarim, Cephira, and Beroth 29 seuen hundred fourtie three. † The men of Rama and Geba, 30 six hundred twentie one. † The men of Machmas, an hundred 31 twentie two. † The men of Bethel and Hai, an hundred 32 twentie three. † The men of an other Nebo, fiftie two. 32 † The men of an other Aelam, a thousand, two hundred fiftie 34 foure. † The childeren of Harem, three hundred twentie. 35 The childeren of Iericho, three hundred fourtie fiue. † The 36 childeren of Lod Hadid and Ono, seuen hundred twentie 37 one. † The childeren of Senaa, three thousand nine hundred 38 thirtitie. † The Priests: The children of Idaia in the 39 house of Iosue, nine hundred three. † The childeren of 40 Emmer, a thousand fiftie two. † The childeren of Phashur, a 41 thousand two hundred fourtie seuen. † The children of 42 Arem, a thousand seuentene. The Leuites: † The children 43 of Iosue & Cedmiel, the children † of Cenia, seuentie foure: 44 The singing men: † the childeren of Asaph, an hundred 45 fourtie eight. † The porters: The childeren of Sellum, the 46 [Page 974] childeren of Ater, the childeren of Telmon, the childeren of Accub, the childeren of Hatita, the childeren of Sobai: an hundred thirtie eight. † The Nathineites: The childeren of 47 Soha, the childeren of Hasupha, the childeren of Tebbaath, † the childeren of Ceros, the childeren of Siaa, the childeren 48 of Phadon, the childeren of Lebana, the childeren of Haguba, the childeren of Seimai, † the childeren of Hanan, the 49 childeren of Geddel, the childeren of Gaher, † the childeren 50 of Raaia, the childeren of Rasin, the childeren of Necoda, † the childeren of Gesem, the childeren of Aza, the childeren 51 of Phasea, † the childeren of Besai, the childeren of Munim, 52 the childeren of Nephussim, † the childeren of Bacbuc, the 53 childeren of Hacupha, the childeren of Harur, † the childeren 54 of Besloth, the childeren of Mahida, the childeren of Harsa, † the childeren of Bercos, the childeren of Sisara, the 55 childeren of Thema, † the childeren of Nasia, the childeren 56 of Hatipha, † the childeren of the seruantes of Salomon, the 57 childeren of Sotai, the childeren of Sophereth, the childeren of Pharida, † the childeren of Iahala, the childeren of Darcon, 58 the childeren of Ieddel, † the childeren of Saphia, the 59 childeren of Hatil, the chideren of Phohereth, who was borne vnto Sabaim, the sonne of Amon. † Al Natheneites, 60 and the childeren of the seruantes of Salomon, three hundred nyntie two. † But these be they which came vp from Thelmela, 61 Thelharsa, Cherub, Addon, and Emmer: and could not shew the house of their fathers, and their seed, whether they were of Israel. † The children of Dalaia, the childeren of Tobia, 62 the childeren of Necoda, six hundred fourtie two. † And 63 of the Priests, the childeren of Habia, the childeren of Accos, the childeren of Berzellai, who tooke a wife of the daughters of Berzellai a Galeadite, and he was called by their name. † These sought their writing in the register, and found 64 it not: & they were cast out of the Priesthood. † And Athersatha 65 said to them, that they should not eate of the Holies of holies, vntil there stood vp a Priest learned and cunning. † Al 66 the multitude as it were one man fourtie two thousand three hundred sixtie, † beside their men seruants and wemen seruantes, 67 which were seuen thousand three hundred thirtie seuen: and among them singing men, & singing wemen, two hundred fourtie fiue. † Their horses, two hundred fourtie six 68 their mules two hundred fourtie fiue, † their camels, foure 69 [Page 975] hundred thirtie fiue, asses six thousand seuē hundred twentie.

Hitherto is reported what was written in the Register. From this place forward goeth on in order the historie of Nehemias.

S. Ierom here noteth whēce he receiued eech part of this booke, which is al Canonical Scripture being al alike so declared by the Church.

† And certaine of the princes of families gaue vnto the 70 worke. Athersatha gaue into the treasure of gold a thousand drachmas, phials fiftie, tunikes for Priestes fiue hundred thirtie. † And of the princes of families there gaue into the 71 treasure of the worke of gold, twentie thousand drachmas, and of siluer two thousand two hundred pound. † And that 72 which the rest of the people gaue, of gold twentie thousand drachmas, and of siluer two thousand pound, and tunikes for Priestes sixtie seuen. † And the Priestes, and Leuites, and 73 porters, and singing men, and the rest of the common people, and the Nathineites, and al Israel dwelt in their cities. And the seuenth moneth was come: and the childeren of Israel were in their cities.

CHAP. VIII Esdras readeth the law before the people. 9. Nehemias conforteth them. 13. They celebrate the feast of tabernacles seuen dayes: 13. & of collection the eight day.

AND al the people was gathered togethor as it were 1 one man to the streate, which is before the water and they sayd to Esdras the scribe, that he should bring the booke of the law of Moyses, which our Lord had commanded Israel. † Esdras therfore the priest The people requested Esdras, to bring the booke of the law, and he brought it, neither is there anie mention that he writte the whole law out of his memorie or by miracle: which maketh it probable that al copies were not burned or lost, but some reserued by Ieremias, Eze chiel, Daniel, Aggeus. Zacha rias, or by him selfe or others out of which he collected one intire volume correcting faultes committed by scribes, & adding some thinges for explication sake & supplement of the histories: and that either by tradition o [...] reuelation. brought the law before the 2 multitude of men and wemen, and al that could vnderstand, in the first day of the seuenth moneth. † And he read it 3 playnly in the streate that was before the water gate, from morning vntil midday, in the presence of the men, and wemen, and of these that vnderstood: and the eares of al the people were attent to the booke. † And Esdaas the scribe 4 stood vpon a steppe of wood, which he made to speake vpon: and there stood by him Mathathias, and Semeia, and Ania, and Vria, and Helcia, and Maasia, on his right hand: and on the left: Phadaia, Misael, and Melchia, and Hasum, and Hasbadana, Zacharia, and Mosollam. † And Esdras opened 5 the booke before al the people: for he appeared aboue al the people: and when he had opened it, al the people stood. † And Esdras blessed our Lord the great God: and al 6 the people answred: Amen, amen: lifting vp their handes, and they bowed, and adored God flatte on the earth. † Moerouer 7 Iosue, & Bani, and Serebia, Iamin, Accub, Septhai, O [...]ia, [Page 976] Maasia, Celita, Azarias, Iozabed, Hanan, Phalaia: Leuites made silence in the people to heare the law: and the people stoode in their degree. † And they read in the booke of the 8 law of God distinctly and playnly, for to vnderstand: and they vnderstood when it was read. † And Nehemias said 9 (the same is Athersatha priu [...]eg [...], by reason of his fauour with king Artaxerxes. Chap. 2. Athersatha) and Esdras the Priest and scribe, and the Leuites interpreting to al the people: It is a day sanctified to the Lord our God, mourne ye not, and weepe not. For 1. Esd. 2. al the people wept, when they heard the wordes of the law. † And he said to them: Goe, eate fat thinges, and drinck the 10 sweete wine, and send portions to them, that haue not prepared for themselues: because it is the holie day of our Lord, and be not sadde: for the ioy of our Lord is our strength. † And the Leuites made silence in al the people, saying: Hold 11 your peace, because the day is holie, and be not sorowful. † Therefore al the people went to eate and drinck, and to 12 send portions, and to make great ioy: because they vnderstood the wordes, that he had taught them. † And in the second 13 day were gathered the princes of the families of al the people, the Priests and Leuites to Esdras the scribe, that he should interpret vnto them the wordes of the law. † And they found 14 written in the law, that our Lord commanded in the hand of Moyses, that the children of Israel should dwel in tabernacles, on the solemne day, the seuenth moneth: † and that 15 they should proclame and publish a voice in al their cities, and in Ierusalem, saying: Goe ye forth into the mount, and fetch branches of the oliue tree, and branches of the most fayre tree, branches of the mirtle tree, and boughes of the palme trees, and branches of the thicke leaued tree, that tabernacles may be made, as it is written. † And the people 16 went forth, and brought. And they made themselues tabernacles euery man in his house toppe, and in his courtes, and in the courtes of the house of God, and in the streate of the water gate, and in the streate of the gate of Ephraim. † Therefore 17 al the church of them, that were returned from the captiuitie, made tabernacles, and dwelt in tabernacles. For from the daies of Iosue the sonne of Nun the children of Israel had not done it in such sort, vntil that day: and there was exceeding great ioy. † And he reade in the booke of the 18 law of God day by day, from the first day til the last, and they made the solemnitie seuen dayes, & in the eight day a collect according to the rite.

[Page 977]

CHAP. IX. The people repenting in fasting and sakcloth, put away their wiues of strange nations. 5. Esdras confesseth Gods benefites, and the peoples ingratitude. 32. prayeth for them, and maketh league with God.

AND in the foure and twenteth day of the moneth the children of Israel came together in fasting and sackeclothes, 1 and carth vpon them. † And the seede of the children 2 of Israel was True repentance requireth w [...]kes of penance, & especially the ren [...]ou [...]g of occasions of sinne: as seperation from euil con panie abandoning of euil cogitations, and of much wordly pleasure. seperated from euerie strange childe: and they stood, and confessed their sinnes, and the iniquities of their fathers. † And they rose vp to stand: and they read in 3 the volume of the law of our Lord their God, foure times in a day, and four times they confessed, and adored our Lord their God. † And there arose vpon the steppe of the Leuites 4 Iosue, and Bani, Cedminel, Sabania, Bonni, Sarebias, Bani, and Chanani: and they cried with a lowde voice to our Lord their God. † And the Leuites Iosue and Cedmihel, Bonni, Hasebnia, 5 Serebia, Odaia, Sebnia, and Phathahia, said: Arise, Blesse our Lord your God from eternitie to eternitie: and let them blesse the high name of thy glorie in al blessing & praise. † Thou the 6 same o Lord, alone thou hast made heauen, & al the host therof: the earth & al thinges that are in it: the seas and al thinges that are therin: and thou dost giue life to al these thinges, and the host of heauē adoreth thee. † Thou the same o Lord God, 7 which didst choose Abram, & broughtest him out of the fire of the Chaldees, and gauest him the Changing of names importeth [...]ome beneficial mysterie. Gen. [...]7. name Abraham. † And 8 thou didst finde his hart faithful before thee: and thou madest a couenante with him, that thou wouldest geue him the land of the Chananite, of the Hetheite, and of the Amorrheite, and of the Pherezeire, and of the Iebuseite, & of the Gergeseite, to geue vnto his seede: and thou hast fulfilled thy wordes, because thou art iust. † And thou sawest the afflicton of our fathers 9 in Aegypt: & their crie thou didst hear [...] vpon the Read sea. † And thou gauest signes & wonders in Pharao, and in al 10 his seruants, and in al the people of his land: for thou didst know that they had done proudly against them: and thou madest thyself a name, as also at this day. † And thou didst diuide 11 the sea before them, and they passed througth the midst of the sea in drie land: but their persecutors thou threwest into the depth, as a stone into the rough waters. † And in a piller of 12 a cloude thou wast their leader by day, and in a piller of fire [Page 978] by night, that the way might appeare to them, by the which they went. † To mount Sinai also thou didst descend, and 13 spakest with them from heauen, and thou gauest them right iudgements, and the law of truth, ceremonies, and good preceptes. † Thy sanctified Sabbath thou didst shew them, and 14 the commandements, and ceremonies, and the law thou didst command them in the hand of Moyses thy seruant. † Bread also from heauen thou gauest them in their hunger, 15 and water out of the rocke thou didst bring forth to them thirsting, and thou saidest to them that they should enter in, and possesse the land, vpon which thou didst lift vp thy hand to diliuer it them. † But they and our fathers did proudly, 16 and hardned their neckes and heard not thy cōmandements. † And they Free wil in sinners. would not heare, and they remembred not thy 17 merueylous workes which thou hast done to them. And they hardned their neckes, and gaue the head to returne to their Num 14. seruitude, as it were by contention. But thou a propitious God, and gratious, and merciful, long suffering and of much compassion, didst not forsake them. † Yea and when they 18 had made to them selues a molten calfe, and had said: This is thy God, which brought thee out of Aegypt: and they did great blasphemies. † But thou in thy manie mercies didst not leaue 19 them in the desert: the piller of the cloude departed not from them by day to lead them into the way, and the piller of fire by night to shew them the way by which they should goe. † And thou gauest them thy good spirite, which should teach 20 them, and thy Manna thou didst not withhold from their mouth, and thou gauest them water in thirst. † Fourtie yeares 21 didst thou feede them in the desert, and nothing was wanting to them, their garmentes waxed not old, and their feete not worne. † And thou gauest them kingdomes, and peoples, 22 and didst part lottes vnto them: and they possessed the land of Sehon, and the land of the king Hesebon, and the land of Og the king of Basan. † And thou didst multiplie their children 23 as the starres of heauen, & brought them to the land wherof thou hadst said to their fathers, that they should enter and possesse it. † And the children came, and possessed the land, 24 and thou didst humble before them the inhabiters of the land, the Chanan [...]ites, and gauest them into their hand, and their kinges, and the peoples of the land, that they might doe to them as it pleased them. † They therfore tooke the 25 [Page 979] fensed cities and fatte ground, and possessed houses ful of al goodes: cesternes made by others, vineyardes, and oliuetes, & manie trees that bare fruite: and they did eate, and were filled, and became fatte, and abounded with delicious thinges in thy great goodnes. † But they prouoked thee to wrath, & 26 departed from thee, and threw thy law behind their backes: & they killed thy prophetes, which admonished them ernestly 27 to returne to thee: and they did great blasphemies. † And thou gauest them into the handes of their enemies, and they afflicted them. And in the time of their tribulation they cried to thee, & thou from heauen didst heare, and according to thy manie cōpassions gauest them sauiours, that should saue them from the hand of their enemies. † And when they had rested, 28 they returned to do euil in thysight: & thou didst leaue them in the hand of their enemies, and they possessed them. And they returned, & cried to thee: & thou heardest from heauen, and deliueredst thē in thy mercies, manie times. † And thou 29 didst admonish them that they should returne to thy law. But they did proudly, & heard not thy cōmandmentes, and sinned in thy iudgementes, which a man should do, and shal liue in them, and they gaue the reuolting shoulder, and hardned their necke, neither did they heare. † And thou didst prolong 30 manie yeares ouer them, and didst testefie to charge them in thy spirit by the hand of thy Prophetes: and they heard not, and thou didst deliuer them into the hand of the peoples of the nations. † But in thy very many mercies thou 31 madest them not consumption, neither didst thou forsake them: because a God of compassions and gratious art thou. † Now therfore O our God, great, strong, and terrible, 32 keeping couenant and mercie, turne not away from thy face al the labour, which hath found vs, our Kinges, and our Princes, and our Priests, and our Prophetes, and our fathers, and al the people from the daies of the king of A [...]ur, vntil this day. † And thou art iust in al thinges, that haue come 33 vpon vs: because thou hast done truth, but we haue done wickedly. † Our Kinges, our Princes, our Priestes, and our 34 fathers haue not done thy law, and haue not attended thy commandmentes, and thy testimonies which thou hast testified among them. † And they in their reignes, and in 35 thy manifold goodnes, which thou gauest them, and in the land most large and fatte, which thou didst deliuer in their [Page 980] sight, serued not thee, nor returned from their most wicked deuises. † Behold we our selues this day are bondmen: and 36 the land, which thou gauest our fathers, that they should eate the bread therof, and the good thinges that are therof, and our selues are seruantes in it. † And the fruites therof are 37 multiplied to the kinges, whom thon hast sette ouer vs for our sinnes, and they haue dominion ouer our bodies, and ouer our beastes, according to their wil, and we are in great tribulation. † Therfore vpon al these thinges we our selues 38 make a couenant, and write, and our Princes, our Leuites, and our Priestes signe it.

CHAP X. M [...]nie, in name of al, subscribe to the couenant made with God. 30. Namely not to marrie with strangers, 31. to keepe the Sabbath day, and the seuenth yeare. 32. To pay oblations, 35. First fruites, 38. and Tithes.

AND the subscribers were Nehemias, Athersatha the 1 sonne of Hachelai, and Sedecias, † Saraias, Azarias, Ieremias, 2 † Pheshur, Amarias, Melchias, † Hattus, Sebenia, 3. 4. Melluch, † Harem, Merimuth, Obdias, † Daniel, Genthon, 5. 6. Baruch, † Mosollam, Abia, Miamin, † Maazia, Belgai, 7. 8. Semeia: these were Priestes. † Moreouer Leuites, Iosue the 9 sonne of Azanias, Bennui of the children of Henadad, 10 Cedmihel, † And their bretheren, Sebenia, Odaia, Celita, 11 Phalaia, Hanan, † Micha, Rohob, Hasebia, † Zachur, 12 Serebia, Sabania, † Odaia, Bani, Baninu. † The heades of 13 the people, Pharos, Phahathmoab, Aelam, Zethu, Bani, 14 † Bonni, Azgad, Bebai. † Adonia, Begoai, Adin, † Ater, 15 16 Hezecia, Azur, † Odaia, Hasum, Besai, † Hareph, Anathoth, 17 18 Nebai. † Megphias, Mosollam, Hazir, † Mezsibel, Sadoc▪ 19 20 Iedua. † Pheltia, Hanan, Anai † Osee, Hanania, Hasub, 21 † Alohes, Phalea, Sobec, † Rehum, Hasebna, Maasia, 22. 23 † Echaia, Hanan, Anan, † Melluch, Haran, Baana: 24. 25. † And the rest of the people, Priestes, Leuites, Porteres, 26. 27. and singing men, Nathineites, and al that seperated 28 themselues from the peoples of the landes to the law of God, their wiues, their sonnes, and their daughters. † Al that 29 could vnderstand promising for their bretheren, their princes, and they that came to promise, and sweare that they would walke in the law of God, which he gaue in the hand of Moyses the seruant of God, that they would do & kepe al the [Page 981] cōmandments of the Lord our God, and his iudgementes and his ceremonies. † And that we would not geue In al leagues & couenantes of peace those articles are specially mentioned wherin breach hath bene made in former times. our daughters 30 to the people of the land, and their daughters we would not take to our sōnes. † The peoples of the land, which bring 31 in things to sel, & al thinges to be vsed, to sel them on the Sabbath day, we wil not take it of them in the Sabbath, and in the sanctified day. And we wil let passe the seuenth yeare, and the exaction of euerie hand. † And we wil ordayne preceptes 32 vpon ourselues, to giue the third part of a sicle euerie yeare to the worke of the house of our God, † to the loaues of proposition, 33 and to the continual sacrifice, and for a continual holocaust in the Sabbathes, in the Calendes, in the Solemnities, and in the sanctified, and for sinne: that propitiation may be made for Israel, and vnto al vse of the house of our God. † We therfore did cast lotes concerning the oblation of 34 wood betwen the Priestes, and the Leuites, and the people, that it should be brought into the house of our God by the houses of our fathers at set times, from yeare to yeare: that it might burne vpon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law of Moyses: † And that we would bring the 35 first borne of our land, and the first fruites of al the fruite of euerie tree, from yeare to yeare, in the house of our Lord. † and the first fruites of our sonnes, and of our cattel, as it is 36 written in the law, and the first fruites of our oxen, and of our sheepe, that they might be offered in the house of our God, to the Priestes which minister in the house of our God. † And the first fruites of our meates, and of our libamentes, 37 and the fruites of euerie tree, of vintage also and of oyle we wil bring to the Priestes, vnto the treasurie of our God, and the tenth part of our land to the Leuites. The Leuites themselues shal receiue the tithes out of al the cities of our works. † And the Priest the sonne of Aaron shalbe with the Leuites 38 in the tythes of the Leuites, and the Leuites shal offer the tenth part of their tythe in the house of our God, to the treasurie in the treasure house. † For the children of Israel and 39 the children of Leui shal carie to the treasurie the first fruites of corne, of wine, and of oyle: and the sanctified vessels shal be there, and the Priestes, and singing men, and porters, and ministers, and we wil not leaue the house of our God.

CHAP. XI. New inhabitantes of Ierusalem are recited. 20. likwise who dwelt in other cities of Iuda.

[Page 982]AND the princes of the people dwelt in Ierusalem: but 1 the rest of the people cast lottes, to take Because Ierusalem was most impugned by enimies fewe were willing to dwel there, one part of ten that should dwel in Ierusalem the holie citie, and nine partes in the cities. † And the people blessed al the men that 2 had yet many valient men of the tribes of Iuda Beniamin and Leui offered them selues: of other tribes the tenth part were chosen by lottes. wherby is gathered that many of the tenne tribes returned also into Chanaan, though the holie Scripture doth not so expresly record what became of them as of the other tenne tribes, because Ierusalem pertained to the lote of Beniamin, Iuda was the Kinglie tribe, and Leui the Priestlie. S. Beda. lib. 3. cap. 31▪ in Esdr. voluntarily offered them selues to dwel in Ierusalem. † These therfore are the princes of the prouince, which 3 dwelt in Ierusalem, and in the cities of Iuda. And euerie one dwelt in his possession, in their cities, Israel, the Priestes, the Leuites, the Nathineites, and the children of the seruants of Salomon. † And in Ierusalem there dwelt of the children of 4 Iuda, and of the children of Beniamin: of the children of Iuda, Athaias the sonne of Aziam, the sonne of Zacharias, the sonne of Amarias, the sonne of Saphatias, the sonne of Malaleel: of the children of Phares, † Maasia the sonne of 5 Baruch, the sonne of Cholhoza, the sonne of Hazia, the sonne of Adaia, the sonne of Ioiarib, the sonne of Zacharias, the sonne of a Silonite. † Al these the childeren of Phares, 6 which dwelt in Ierusalem, foure hundred sixtie eight, valiant men. † And these are the childeren of Beniamin: Sellum the 7 sonne of Mosollam, the sonne of Ioed, the sonne of Phadaia, the sonne of Colaia, the sonne of Masia, the sonne of Etheel, the sonne of Isaia, † and after him Gebbai, Sellai, nine hundred 8 twentie eight, † and Ioel the sonne of Zechri the ouerseer 9 of them, and Iudas the sonne of Senua second ouer the citie. † And of the Priestes, Idaia the sonne of Ioarib, Iachim, 10 † Saraia the sonne of Helcias, the sonne of Mosollam, the 11 sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Meraioth, the sonne of Achitob the prince of the house of God, † and their bretheren that 12 doe the workes of the temple: eight hundred twentie two. And Adaia the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne of Phelelia, the sonne of Amsi, the sonne of Zacharias, the sonne of Pheshur, the sonne of Melchias, † and his bretheren the princes of the 13 fathers: two hundred fourtie two. And Amassai the sonne of Azreel, the sonne of Ahazi, the sonne of Mosolamoth, the sonne of Emmer, † and their bretheren exceding mightie: an 14 hundred twentie eight, and their ouerseer Zabdiel sonne of the mightie ones. † And of the Leuites Semeia the sonne of 15 Hasub, the sonne of Azaricam, the sonne of Hasabia, the sonne of Boni, † and Sabathai and Iozabed, ouer al the workes, 16 that were without the house of God, of the princes of the Leuites. † And Mathania the sonne of Micha, the sonne of 17 [Page 983] Zebedei, the sonne of Asaph prince to prayse, and to confesse in prayer, and Becbecia second of his bretheren, and Abda the sonne of Samua, the sonne of Galal, the sonne of Idithum. † Al the Leuites in the holie citie two hundred eightie 18 foure. † And the porters, Accub, Telmon, and their bretheren, 19 which kept the dores: an hundred seuentie two. † And the rest of Israel the Priestes and the Leuites in al the 20 cities of Iuda, euerie man in his possession. † And the Nathineites, 21 that dwelt in Ophel, and Siaha, and Gaspha of the Nathineites. † And the ouerseer of the Leuites in Ierusalem, 22 Azzi the sonne of Bani, the sonne of Hasabia, the sonne of Mathania, the sonne of Micha. Of the childeren of Asaph, the singing men in the ministerie of the house of God. † For the 23 kings commandment was vpon them, and an order among the singing men day by day. † And Phathahia the sonne of 24 Mesezebel of the childeren of Zara the sonne of Iuda in the hand of the king, according to euerie word of the people, † and in the houses through al their countries. Of the children 25 of Iuda there dwelt in Cariatharbe, & in her daughters: and in Dibon, and in her daughters, and in Cabseel, and in the villages thereof, † and in Iesue, and in Molada, and in Bethphaleth, 26 † and in Hasersual, and in Bersabee, & in her daughters. 27 † and in Siceleg, and in Mochona, and in her daughters, 28 † and in Remmon, and in Saraa, and in Ierimuth, † Zanoa, 2930 Odollam, and in their townes, Lachis and in her countries, Azeca, and in her daughters. And they abode in Bersabee vnto the vale of Ennom. † And the childeren of Beniamin, 31 of Geba, Mecmas, and Hai, and Bethhel, and her daughters, † in Anathoth, Nob, Anania, † Asor, Rama, Gethaim, 32 33 † Hadid, Seboim, and Neballac, Lod, † and Ono the valley 34 35 of artificers. † And of the Leuites were portions of Iuda 36 and Beniamin.

CHAP. XII The names and offices of Priestes, and Leuites, which came with Zorobabel and Iosue to Ierusalem 27. with great solemnitie of thanksgeuing▪ 31 watchmen are oppoynted on the new walles. 45. and K [...]peres of the holy treasure.

AND these are the Priestes and Leuites, that came vp 1 Esdras went againe to babylon, and obtayning a fauorable commission of the King brought manie with him into Ierusalem. [...]. [...]a [...]. 7. with Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iosue: Saraia, Ieremias, :: Esdras, † Amaria, Melluch, Hattus. † Sebenias, 2. 3 [Page 984] Rheum, Merimuth, † Addo Genthon, Abia, † Miamin, 4. 5. Madia, Belga, † Semeia, and Ioiarib, Idaia, Sellum, Amoc, 6 Helcias, † Idaia. These are the Princes of the Priestes, and 7 their bretheren in the daies of Iosue. † Moreouer the Leuites, 8 Iesua, Bennui, Cedmihel, Sarebia, Iuda, Mathanias, ouer the 9 hymnes they & their bretheren: † And Becbecia, and Hannia 10 and their bretheren euerie one in his office. † And The genealogie o [...] [...]gn P [...]s [...] Iosue to leddoa otherwise called Iaddus. Iosue begatte Ioacim, and Ioacim begate Eilasib, and Eliasib begate Ioiada, † and Ioiada begate Ionathan, and Ionathan begate 11 Ieddoa. † And in the daies of Ioacim the Priestes and Princes 12 of the families were. Of Saraia, Maraia: Of Ieremias, Hanania: † Of Esdras, Mosellam: and of Amaria, Iohanan: † Of 13 14 Milicho, Ionathan: o Sebenia, Ioseph: † Of Haram, Edna▪ Of 15 Maraioth, Helci: † Of Adaia, Zacharia: Of Genthon, Mosollam, 16 † Of Abia, Zechri: Of Miamin and Moadia, Phelti: † Of 17 18 Belga, Sammua: of Semaia, Ionathan: † Of Ioiarib, Mathanai: 19 20 of Iodaia, Azzi: † Of Sellai, Sellai: Of Amoc, Heber: † Of 21 Helcias, Hasebia: Of Idaia, Nathanael. † The Leuites in the 22 daies of Eliasib, and Ioaiada, and Iohanan, and Ieddoa, written Princes of the families, and the Priestes in the reigne of Darius the Persian. † The children of Leui, Princes of the 23 families, written in the booke of Cronicles of daies, and vnto the daies of Ionathan the sonne of Eilasib. † And the 24 Princes of the Leuites, Hasebia, Serebia, and Iosue the sonne of Cedmihel: & their bretheren by their courses, to praise and confesse according to the precept of Dauid the man of God, and to waite equally in order. † Mathania, and Becbecia, Obedia, 25 and Mosollam, Telmon, Accub, keepers of the gates and of the entrances before the gates. † These were in the 26 daies of Ioacim the sonne of Iosue, the sonne Iosedec, and in the daies of Nehemias the duke, and of Esdras the Priest, and Scribe. † And in the dedication of the wal of Ierusalem 27 they sought Leuites out of al other places, to bring them into Ierusalem, and to make the dedication and ioy in geuing of thankes, and songue, and in cimbales, psalteries and harpes. † And the children of the singing men were gathered together 28 out of the champaine about Ierusalem, and out of the townes Nethuphati, † and from the house of Galgal, and 29 from the countries of Geba and Azmaueth: because the singing men did build them selues villages round about Ierusalem. † And the Priestes and Leuites were cleansed, and 30 [Page 985] they cleansed the people, and the gates, and the wall. † And 31 I made the Princes of Iuda, goe vp vpon the wal, and I sette two great quyers of them that should praise. And they went on the right hand vpon the wal to the gate of the dunghil. † And after them went Osaias, and the halfe part of the princes 32 of Iuda, † and Azarias, Esdras, and Mosollam, Iudas, and 33 Beiamin, and Semeia, and Ieremias. † And of the childeren 34 of the Priestes with trumpetes, Zacharias the sonne of Ionathan, the sonne of Semeia, the sonne of Nathania, the sonne of michaia, the sonne Zechur, the sonne Asaph, † and his 35 bretheren Semeia, and Azareel, Malalai, Galalai, Maai, Nathanael, and Iudas, and Hanani, with the instrumentes of the songe of Dauid the man of God: and Esdras the scribe before them in the gate of the fountayne. † And against them 36 there went vp in the stayers of the citie of Dauid, in the rising of the wal aboue the house of Dauid, and vnto the gate of waters to ward the East. † And the second quyer of thankes 37 geuers went on the contrarie side, and I after it, and the halfe part of the people vpon the wal, and aboue the tower of the fornaces, & vnto the brodest wal, † and aboue the gate of 38 Ephraim, and aboue the old gate, and aboue the gate of fishes and the towre of Hananeel, aud the towre of Emath, and vnto the gate of the flocke: and they stood in the gate of the watch, † and there stood two quyers of them that praysed in 39 the house of God, and I, and the halfe part of the magistrates with me. † And the Priestes, Eliachim, Maasia, Miamin, Michea, 40 Elioenai, Zacharia, Hanania with trumpettes, † & Maasia, 41 and Semeia, and Eleazar, and Azzi, and Iohanan, and Melchia, and Aelam, and Ezer. And the singing men sang alowd, and Iezraia the ouerseer: † and they immolated in that day 42 great victimes, and reioyced: for God had made them ioyful with great ioy: yea their wiues also and childeren reioyced, and the ioy of Ierusalem was heard far of. † They numbered 43 also in that day, men ouer the storehouses of the treasure, for the libamentes, and for the first fruites, and for the tythes. that the princes of the citie might bring in by them in the honour of thankesgiuing, Priestes and Leuites: because Iuda was made ioyful, in the Priestes & Leuites standing by. † And they kept the watch of their God, and the obseruance of 44 expiation, and the singing men, and the porters, according to the precept of Dauid, and of Salomon his sonne, † because in 45 [Page 986] the daies of Dauid, and Asaph from the beginning there were princes appoynted of the singing men in song praysing, and confessing to God. † And al Israel, in the daies of Zorobabel, 46 and in the daies of Nehemias gaue portions to the singing men, and to the porters day by day, and they As others gaue tithes to the Leuites: so they gaue to Priestes. Num. 18. [...]. 21. 28. sanctified the Leuites, and the Leuites sanctified the children of Aaron.

CHAP. XIII. The law is read, 3. strange wemen are dismissed. 5. Faultes in distribution of the treasure are amended, 10. and due portions gueen to the Leuites. 15. Breakers of the Sabbath are corrected, 23. and those which maried wemen of strange nations.

AND in that day there was read in the volume of Moyses 1 The third part Correction of faultes. the people hearing it: and there was found written Deut. 23. in it, that the Ammonites and the Moabires should not enter into the Church of God for euer: † for that they mette not 2 the children of Israel with bread and water: and they hyred Num. 22. against them Balaam, to curse them: and our God turned the cursing into blessing. † And it came to passe, when they had 3 heard the law, they seperated euerie stranger from Israel. † And ouer this thing was Eliasib the Priest, who had bene 4 made ouerseer in the treasurie of the house of our God, and neere akinne to This Tobias was an Ammo nite & a persecuter, c. 14. to whom Eliasib being akine (by reason of vnlawful mariages) ioyned felowshipe with him for wicked lucre which therfore Nehemias corrected, prefiguring therin ou [...] Sauiours zele, who threw byers and sellers out of the temple Mat. 21. And these persecuters prefigured heretikes in their wordes and actes, as venerable Beda expoundeth. li, [...] Esd. c. 19. Tobias. † He therfore made to himselfe a 5 great treasurie, and they were there before him laying vp giftes, and frankincense, and vesseles, and the tythe of corne, of wine, and of oyle, the portions of the Leuites, and of the singing men, and of the porters, and the first fruites of the Priestes. † But in al these things I was not in Ierusalem, because 6 in the two and thirteth yeare of Artaxerxes the king of Babylon I came to the king, and in the end of certaine dayes I desired the king. † And I came to Ierusalem, and I 7 vnderstood the euil, that Eliasib had done to Tobias, to make him a treasure in the entrances of the house of God. † And it 8 semed to me exceding euil. And I threw forth the vessels of the house of Tobias out of the treasurie: † and I commanded 9 and they clensed the treasurie: and I brought thither againe the vessels of the house of God, the sacrifice, and the frankincense. † And I knew that the portion of the Leuites 10 had not bene geuen: and that euerie man was fled into his countrie of the Leuites, and the singing men, and of them that ministred: † and I pleaded the matter against the magistrates, 11 [Page 987] and said: Why haue we forsaken the heuse of God? And I assembled them, and I made them to stand in their standings. † And al Iuda caried the tythe of the corne, wine, and 12 oyle into the store houses. † And we appoynted ouer the storehouses 13 Selermas Priest, and Sadoc scribe, and Phadaia of the Leuites, and next to them Hanan the sonne of Zachur, the sonne of Mathania: because they were approued faithful, and to them were committed the portions of t [...]e bretheren. † Remember 14 me my God for this thing, and wipe not out my mercies, which I haue done in the house of my God, and in his ceremonies. † In those daies I saw them in Iuda treading the 15 presses on the Sabbath, carying heapes, and loding vpon asses wine, and grapes, and figges, and al maner of burthen, and bringing it into Ierusalem on the Sabbath day. And I charged them, that they should sel on a day that it was lawful to s [...]lin. † And the Tyrians owelt in it, bringing fishes, and 16 al thinges to sel: and they sold on the Sabbathes to the children of Iuda in Ierusalem. † And I rebuked the Princes of 17 Iuda, and said to them: What is this euil thing, that you doe, and prophane the day of the Sabbath? † Why did not our 18 fathers these thinges, and our God brought vpon vs al this euil, and vpon this citie? And you adde wrath vpon Israel in violating the Sabbath. † And it came to passe, when the 19 gates of Ierusalem had rested on the Sabbath day, I spake: and they shut the gates, and I commanded them that they should not open them til after the Sabbath: and of my seruantes I appoynted ouer the gates, that none should bring in burdens in the Sabbath day. † And the merchantes, and 20 they that sold al merchandise, taried without Ierusalem once and againe. † And I charged them, and I said to them: Why 21 tarie you ouer against the wal? if you shal doe so the second time, I wil lay my hand vpon you. Therfore from that time they came not on the Sabbath. † I spake also to the Leuites 22 that they should be cleansed, and should come to keepe the gates, and to sanctifie the day of the Sabbath: therfore for this also remember me my God, & spare me according to the multitude of thy mercies. † But in those daies also I saw the 23 Iewes marying wiues wemen of Azotus, and of Ammon, and of Moab. † And their children spake, the halfe part the 24 Azotian tongue, and they could not speake the Iewes language, and they spake according to the language of the people [Page 988] and people. † And I rebuked them, and cursed them. And I 25 beate of them some men, and shaued them bald, and adiured them by God, that they should not geue their daughters to their sonnes, nor take their daughters for their sonnes, & for themselues, saying: † Did not Salomon the king of Israel 26 sinne in this kind of thing? and surely in manie nations, there was not a king like to him, & he was beloued of his God, and God sette him king ouer al Israel: him therfore also foren wemen brought to sinne. † And shal we also being disobedient 27 persons doe al this great euil, to transgresse against our God, and to marie foren wemen? † And Sanaballat the Horonite 28 was sonne in law to one of the sonnes of Ioiada, the sonne of Eliasib the high Priest, whom I draue from me. † Remember 29 o Lord my God against them, that pollute the Priesthood, and the right of Priestes and Leuites. † Therfore I sepatared from 30 them al strangers, and I appoynted the courses of the Priestes and Leuites, euerie man in his ministerie: † and in the oblation 31 of woode at times appoynted, and in the first fruites: A iust man that hath merited by good workes may pray with great confidence for reward. Remember me my God vnto good. Amen. ¹

[Page 989]

ANNOTATIONS. Concerning the bookes of TOBIAS, IVDITH, WISDOM, ECCLESIASTICVS, and MACHABEES.

PROTESTANTES and other Sectaries of this time denie these bookes to be diuine Scripture, because they are not in the Iewes Canon, no [...] were accepted for canonical in the primitiue Church. But in deede the chiefe cause is, Heretikes denie some scriptures because they cōuince their errors. for that some thinges in these bookes, are so manifest against their opinions, that they haue no other answere, but to reiect their authoritie. An old shift Lib. de Praedest. Sanct. c. 14. noted and refuted by S Augustin touching, the Booke of VVisdome, which some refused, pretending that it was not canonical, but in deede because it conuinced their errors. For otherwise who seeth not, that the Canon of the Church of Christ is of more authority with al true Christians, then the Canon The Churches canon of more authority thē the Iewes. of the Iewes? And that the Church of Christ numbreth these Bookes amongst others of diuine and infallible authoritie, is euident by the testimonie and diffinition, not only of later general Councels; of Trent, Sess. 4. and Florence Instructione Armenorum, of Pope Innocentius, Epist ad Exuperium, and Gelasius, Decreto delibris sacris; but also the Councel of Carthage. An. Dom. 419. S. Augustin lib. 2. Doct. Christ. cap. 8. Isidorus lib. 6. Etymol. cap. 1. Cassidorus lib. 1. Diuinarum Lectionum. Rabanus, lib. 2 de Institutione Clericorum, and others testifie the same, as we shal further note seuerally of euerie booke, in their particular places. And for so much as our aduersaries acknowlege these Bookes to be Holie, and worthie to be read in the Church, but not sufficient to proue, and confirme pointes of faith: the studious reader may consider that the Councel of Carthage calleth them Canonical, and Diuine, which sheweth that they are of infallible authoritie. For a Canon is an assured rule and warrant of direction, whereby (sayth S. Augustin lib. 11. contra Faustum. cap. 5. et lib. 2. contra A canon is an infallible rule of direction. Cresconium. cap. 32.) the infirmitie of our defect in knowlege is guided, and by which rule other bookes are likewise knowne to be Gods word. His reason is, because we haue no other assurance that the bookes of Moyses, the foure The Gospel is knowne by the Church. Gospels, and other bookes are the true word of God, but by the Canon of the Church. VVherevpon the same great Doctor vttered that famous saying: that he vvould not beleue the Gospel, except the authoritie of the Catholique Church moued him thervnto. contra. Epist. Fundamenti. ca. 5.

True it is that some Catholique Doctors doubted whether these bookes were Canonical or no, because the Church had not then declared that they Bookes doubted of beiore the Churches definition are not doubtful after. were; but since the Churches declaration no Catholique doubteth. So S. Ierom Praefat. in Iudith. testifieth, that the Booke of Iudith (among the rest) semed to him not canonical, til the Councel of Nice declared it to be. Likewise the Epistle to the Hebrewes, the Epistle of S. Iames, the second of S. Peter, the second and third of S. Iohn, S. Iudes Epistle, and the Apocalyps were sometimes doubted of, yet were afterwardes declared to be Canonical. And most Protestantes, namely English admitte them al, as the assured word of God, though they were not alwaies De viris illustrib. verbo. [...]acobus. so reputed by al, but as S. Ierome affirmeth of S. Iames Epistle, Paulatim tempore procedente meruit authoritatem. By litle and litle in processe of time merited authoritie.

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THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF TOBIE.

BESIDES the testimonies of Councels and Fathers before mentioned, S. Other testimonies, that this Booke is canonical. Cyprian, de Oratione Dominica alleaging this booke (cap. 12.) saith: Diuine Scripture instructeth vs, that prayer is good with fasting and almes. S. Ambrose (li de Tobia, [...]. 1.) calleth this booke by the common name of Scripture, saying: he wil briefly gather the vertues of Tobie, which the Scripture in historical maner layeth forth at large. VVhere he also calleth this historie Prophetical, and Tobie a Prophet. And lib. 3. offic. cap. 14. alleageth this booke as he doth other holie Scriptures, to proue that the vertues of Gods seruants farre excel the Moral Philosophers. chap. 1 [...] ▪ S. Chrysostom ho. 15. ad Heb alleageth Tobias, as Scripture denouncing curse to contemners. S. Augustin made a special sermon of Tobias, as he did of Iob, which is the 226. sermon de tempore S. Gregorie parte. 3. pastor. curae admon. 21. alleageth it as holie Scripture. And vene able Beda expoundeth Toma 4. [...] in [...]. Reg. 10. this whole booke mystically, as he doth other holy Scriptures. S. Ierom translated It was written in Chaldee. it out of the Chaldee language, wherein it was written, iudging it more [...]e [...]e to displease the Phari [...]aical Iewes, who reiect it, then not to satisfie the wil of holie Bishops, vrging to haue it. Epist. ad Chromat. & Heliodorum. to. 3.

The author is vncertaine: but S. Athanasius (in Synopsi) reporteth the The cōtentes. contentes at large. And S. Augustin (li. quest. ex v [...]roque testamento q. 119.) deliuereth both the contentes, and cause of writing it, briefly thus. The seruant of God, holie Tobias is geuen to vs after the law, for an example, that we might know how to practise the thinges, which we reade. And if tentations come vpon vs, not to depart from the feare of God, nor expect helpe from anie other then from him. Diuided into three partes. It may be diuided into three partes. The first foure chapeers shew the holie and sincere maner of life of old Tobias. The eight folowing relate the iorney, and affayres of yong Tobias, accompained and directed by the Angel Raphael. In the two last chapters, they praise God. And old Tobias prophecieth better state of the commonwealth.

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THE BOOKE OF TOBIAS.

CHAP. I. Tobias of the tribe of Nephthali, neuer communicateth in Ierobams scisme. 9. This booke is read at Mattins the third weke of September. teacheth his sonne to feare God, and flee sinne. 11. Being in captiuitie cateth not forbidden meates, as others do. 13 Amongst other workes of mercie, he lendeth tenne talentes of siluer to Gabelus. 2 [...]. Is persecuted and spoyled. 24. Shorty the king being slaine, he recouereth libertie and his goodes. The first part. Tobias his holie maner of life.

TOBIAS of the tribe, and cirie of Nepthali (which is in 1 the vpper partes of Galilee aboue Naaslon, beyond the way, that leadeth to the weast, hauing on the right hand the citie Sephet) † when he was captiue in the daies of Salmanasar 2 the king of the Aslyrians, yet being in captiuitie, he forsooke not the way of truth, † so that he imparted al things 3 that he could make, dayly to his brethren captiues with him, which were of his kinred. † And whereas he was yonger then 4 al the tribe of Nephthali, yet did he no childish thing in his worke. † Finally when Not absolutly al, but very manie: for some of the same tribe and kinred did also feare God. c. [...]. v. 2. al went to the golden calues, which 5 Ieroboam the king of Israel had made, he alone fled the companies of al, † and went into Ierusalem to the temple of our 6 Lord, and there adored our Lord God of Israel, offering faithfully al his first fruites, and his tithes, † so that in the third 7 yeare he ministred al the tithing to the proselytes, and strangers. † These thinges and the like to these did he obserue 8 being a childe according to the law of God. † But when he 9 was a man, he tooke to wife Anna of his owne tribe, and he begat a sonne of her, geuing him his owne name, † whom 10 from his infancie he taught to feare God, and to abstayne from al sinne. † Therfore when by the captiuitie he was 11 come with his wife and sonne into the citie of Niniue, with al his tribe, (†when al did eate of the meates of the Gentiles) 12 he kept his soule, and neuer was contaminated in their meates. † And because he was mindful of our Lord in al his hart, 13 God gaue him grace in the sight of Salmanasar the king, † and he gaue him leaue to goe whithersoeuer he would, 14 hauing libertie to doe what thinges soeuer he would. † He 15 therfore went to al that were in the captiuitie, and gaue them holesome admonitions. † And when he was come into 16 Rages a citie of the Medes, and had ten talentes of siluer of these wherwith he had beene honoured of the king: † and 17 [Page 992] when in a great multitude of his kinred, he saw Gabelus stand in nede, who was of his tribe, vnder a bil of his hand he gaue him the sayd weight of siluer. † But after much time, Salmanasar 18 the king being dead, when Sennacherib his sonne reigned for him, and estemed the children of Israel odious in his sight: † Tobias dayly went through al his kinred, and 19 conforted them, and diuided to euerie one, as he was able, of his goods: † the hungrie he nourished, and to the naked 20 he gaue clothes, and the dead, and them that were slayne, he buryed carefully. † Finally when king Sennacherib was returned 21 fleing from Iewrie the shaughter, that God had made about him for his blasphemie, and being angrie slewe manie of the children of Israel, Tobias buryed their bodies. † But 22 when it was told the king, he commanded him to be slayne, and tooke al his substance. † But Tobias fleing with his sonne 23 and with his wife, nakedly lay hid, because manie loued him. † But after fourtie fiue dayes the king was slayne of his 24 owne sonnes, † and Tobias returned into his house, and al 25 his substance was restored to him.

CHAP. II. Tobias to burie an Israelite that is slaine in the streete, leaueth his dinner and ghestes. 10. Is made blind by Gods permission, for manifestation of his patience. 19. His Wife getteth her liuing by worke, 22. and for a scrupulous Word, reprocheth his sinceritie.

BVT after these thinges, when there was a festiual day of 1 our Lord, and a good dinner was made in Tobias house, † he sayd to his sonne: Goe, and bring some of our tribe, 2 Al the people of the tenne tribes did not serue Ieroboams golden calues, but some feared God & consequently refrayned from euil. Prou. 3. at least from idolatrie that feare God, to make merie with vs. † And when he had 3 gone, returning he tolde him, that one of the children of Israel lay slayne in the streate. And he forth with leaping vp from his place at the table, leauing his dinner, came fasting to the bodie: † and taking it vp caried it to his house secretely, 4 that when the sunne should be downe, he might warely burie him. † And whē he had hid the bodie, he eate bread with mourning 5 and trēbling, † remembring that word, which our Lord 6 sayd by Amos the Prophet: Your festiual dayes shal be turned Amos. 8. v. 10. into lamentation and mourning. † But when the sunne 7 was downe, he went, and buried him. † And al his neighbours 8 rebuked him, saying: Euen now thou wast commanded to be slayne because of this matter, and thou didest scarce [Page 993] escape the commandment of death, and True zele is not hindred from workes of mercie by feare of death: because perfect charitie casteth out feare. I, Ioan 4. doest thou burie the dead agayne? † But Tobias more fearing God, then the king, 9 in hast tooke the bodies of them that were slayne, and hid them in his house, and at midnight buried them. † And it 10 happened that on a certayne day, being wearied with burying, coming into his house he had cast himself downe by the wal, and slept, † and as he was sleeping, hote dung out of the 11 swallowes nest fel vpon his eyes, and he was made blinde. † And this tentation therfore our Lord permitted to chance 12 vnto him, that an example might be geuen to posteritie of his patience, also of holie Iob. † For whereas he feated God alwaies 13 from his infancie, and kept his commandmentes, he grudged not agaynst God for that the plague of blindnes had chanced to him, † but continewed immoueable in the feare 14 of God, geuing thankes to God al the dayes of his life. † For 15 as the kinges insulted against blessed Iob: so his Both elder and yonger sorte of his kinred derided him, not his proper parentes, for he was depriued of father and mother when he was a child, as it semeth. c. 1. v. 4. parentes and cosins derided his life, saying. † Where is thy hope, for 16 the which thou didest bestowe almes and burials? † But Tobias 17 rebuked them, saying: Speake not so: † because we are 18 the children of holie ones, and looke for that life, which God wil geue to them, that neuer change their faith from him. † But Anna his wife went dayly to weauing worke, and she 19 brought the gaines of her handie labour, which she could get. † Whereby it came to passe, that she receiuing a kid 20 of goates had brought it home: † the voice whereof bleating 21 when her husband had heard, he sayd: Take heed, lest perhaps it be stollen, restore ye it to his owners, because it is not lawful for vs either to eate anie thing of theft or to touch it. † To these wordes his wife being angrie answered: Thy 22 hope is become vayne manifestly, and thine almes now haue appeared. † And with these, and other such like wordes she 23 vpbrayded him.

CHAP. III. The prayer of Tobias, 7. and Sara, in their seueral afflictions, 24. are heard by God, and the Angel Raphael is sent to releeue them.

THEN Tobias lamented, and began to pray with teares, 1 † saying: Thou art iust ô Lord, & al thy iudgementes are 2 iust, and al thy waies, mercie, & truth, and iudgement. † And 3 now Lord be mindful of me, and take not reuenge of my sinnes, neither remember the sinnes of me, or of my parentes. [Page 994] † Because we haue not obeyed thy commandmentes, therfore 4 we are deliuered in spoile, and captiuitie, and death, and into a fable, and into reproch to al nations, in which thou hast dispersed vs. † And now Lord great are thy iudgementes, 5 because we haue not done according to thy preceptes, & haue not walked sincerely before thee: † and now Lord according 6 to thy wil do with me, & command my spirite to be receiued in peace: for it is expedient for me to die, rather then to liue. † The verie same day therfore it chanced that Sara the daughter 7 of Raguel in In a prouince of the Medes wherof Rages was the head citie, for when they came where Raguel dwelt, Tobias stayed there, and the Angel went to the citie of Rages where Gabelus dwelt. c. 9. As one may say: such a one dwelleth in Rome, that dwelleth in anie part of Romania: in Yorck, Lincolne, or Mum moth, that dwelleth in one of those shires. Rages a citie of the Medes, she also heard reproch of one of her fathers handmaydes, † because she had 8 beene deliuered to seuen husbandes, & the diuel named Asmod [...]os, signifying Destroyer is a captaine or king of those diuels which specially destroy soules by the sinnes of the flesh, & afterward tormenteth both soules and bodies for the same sinnes. Asmodeus had killed them, forth with as they were entred in vnto her. † Therfore when she rebuked the wench for her 9 fault, she answered her, saying: Let vs no more see sonne of thee, or daughter vpon the earth, thou murderer of thy husbandes. † What wilt thou kil me also, as thou hast now killed 10 seuen husbandes? At this voice she went into an higher chamber of her house: and three dayes, and three nightes did not eate, nor drinke: † but continewing in prayer with teares 11 besought God, that he would deliuer her from this reproch. † And it came to passe the third day, whiles she accomplished 12 her prayer, blessing our Lord, † she sayd: Blessed is thy name 13 ô God of our fathers: who when thou hast bene angrie, wilt doe mercie, & in the time of tribulation forgeuest them their sinnes, that inuocate thee. † To thee ô Lord I turne my face, 14 to thee I direct myne eyes. † I desire Lord that thou loose me 15 from the bond of this reproch, or els take me away from the earth. † Thou knowest Lord that I neuer coueted a husband, 16 and haue kept my soule cleane from al concupiscence. † Neuer haue I companied my self with sporters: neither 17 haue I made my selfe partaker with them that walke in lightnesse. † But a husband I consented to take, with thy feare, 18 not with my lust. † And either I was vnworthie of them, or 19 they perhaps were not worthie for me: because perhaps thou hast kept me for an other man. † For thy counsel is not in 20 mans power. † But this hath euerie one for certayne, that 21 worshippeth thee, that his life, if it be in probation, shal be crowned: and if it be in tribulation, it shal be deliuered: and if it be in correction, it shal be lawful to come to thy mercie. † For thou art not delighted in our perditions: because after 22 [Page 995] a tempest thou makest a calme, and after teares and weeping thou powrest in ioyfulnesse. † Be thy name God of Israel 23 blessed foreuer. † At that time the prayers of both were heard 24 in the sight of the glorie of the high God: † and the holie Angel 25 of our Lord Raphael was sent, to cure them both, whose prayers at one time were Act. 10. An Angel shewed Cornelius that his prayers were heard Apoc. 5. prayers of the faithful are offered to God by Angels. & other Sainctes. recited in the sight of our Lord.

CHAP. IIII. Tobias thincking he shal dye, geueth his sonne godlie admonitions. 7. especially exhorteth him to geue almes diligently. 13. to flee al fornication, pride, and fraude. 21. And telleth him of money lent to a friend.

THERFORE when Tobias thought his prayer to be 1 heard that he might haue died, he called to him Tobias his sonne, † and sayd to him: As Moyses to the people Deut. 33. and Dauid to Salomon. 3. Reg. 2. So Tobias gaue holie admonitions to his sonne: in al fourtene. noted in the inner margin. Heare my sonne the wordes 2 of my mouth, & lay them as a foundation in thy hart. † When 3 God shal take my soule, * burie my bodie: and thou shalt doe 1 *honour to thy mother al the dayes of her life: † for thou must 4 2 be mindful what perils, and how great she suffered for thee in her wombe. † And when she also shal haue accomplished 5 the time of her life, burie her beside me. † And al the dayes 6 of thy life * haue God in thy mind: and beware thou consent 3 not to sinne at anie time, and pretermitte the preceptes of our Lord God. † * Of thy substance The same doctrine of good workes, and reward, is taught▪ Daniel. 4. v. 24. geue almes, and turne not 7 4 away thy face from anie poore person: for so it shal come to passe that neither the face of our Lord shal be turned from thee. † As thou shalt be able; so be merciful. † If thou haue 8 much, geue aboundantly: if thou haue litle, studie to impert 9 also a litle willingly. † For thou dost treasure vp to thy self a 10 good reward in the day of necessitie. † because almes deliuereth 11 from al sinne, and from death, & wil not suffer the soule to goe into darkenesse. † Great confidence before God most 12 high shal almes be to al them that doe it. † * Take heed to thy 13 5 self my sonne of al fornication, & beside thy wife neuer abide to know crime. †* Neuer permitte pryde to rule in thy word: 14 6 for in it al perdition tooke his beginning. †* Whosoeuer hath 15 7 wrought anie thing for thee, pay him his hyre immediatly, and let not the hyre of thy hyred seruant remayne with thee at al. †* That A notable rule, agreable to the law of nature. which thou hatest to be done to thee by an other, see 16 8 thou doe it not to an other at anie time. † Eate thy bread with 17 the hungrie & needie, and of thy garmentes couer the naked. †* Set thy bread, and thy wine vpon VVorkes of mercie extēd also to the dead. the burial of a iust man, 18 9 [Page 996] and doe not eate and drinke therof with sinners. † Seeke 19 10. 11 counsel alwaies of a wiseman. † At al time blesse God: and 20 12 desire of him, that he direct thy waies, and that al thy counsels remayne in him. † I tel thee also my sonne It perteyneth to good men amongst other thinges, to geue notice and to dispose of their temporal goodes by their last wil. that I gaue 21 13 tenne talentes of siluer, whiles thou wast yet a child, to Gabelus, in Rages a citie of the Medes, and I haue a bil of his hand with me: † and therfore enquire how thou maist come 22 to him, and receiue of him the foresayd weight of siluer, and restore him the bil of his hand. † Feare not my sonne: we 23 14 leade in dede a poore life, but we shal haue many good thinges if we feare God, and depart from al sinne, and doe wel.

CHAP. V. Yong Tobias seeking a guide for his iourney, Raphael the Angel in shape of a The second part. The iourney and affayres of yong Tobias assisted by the Angel Raphael. man presenteth himself, and vndertaketh this office. 23. The mother lamenteth the abscence, and danger of her sonne.

THEN Tobias answered his father, and sayd: I wil doe 1 al things, father, whatsoeuer thou hast commanded me. † But how I shal require this money, I can nor tel, he knoweth 2 not me, and I know not him: what token shal I geue him? Yea neither the way which leadeth thither, did I euer know. † Then his father answered him, and sayd: I haue the 3 bil of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him he wil forth with restore it. † But goe now, and seeke thee out 4 some faythful man, that may goe with thee being sure of his hyre: that thou mayst receiue it, whiles I yet liue. † Then Tobias 5 going forth, found a The Angel Raphael appearing in forme of a man prefigured our Sauiour who indede became a verie man. S. Beda. goodlie yongman, standing girded, and as it were readie to walke. † And not knowing that 6 it was an Angel of God, he saluted him, and sayd: From whence haue we thee, good yongman? † But he answered: 7 Of the children of Israel. And Tobias sayd to him: Knowest thou the way, that leadeth vnto the countrie of the Medes? † To whom he answered: I know it: and al the wayes therof 8 I haue often walked, and I haue taried with Gabelus our brother, who abydeth in Rages a citie of the Medes, which is situate in the Mount Ecbatanis. † To whom Tobias sayd: 9 Stay for me I beseech thee, til I tel these same things to my father. † Then Tobias going in told al these things to his father. 10 Whereupon his father marueiling, requested that he would come in vnto him. † Going in therfore he saluted him, 11 and sayd: Ioy be to thee alwaies. † And Tobias sayd: What 12 [Page 997] maner of ioy shal be to me, which sitte in darkenes, and see not the light of heauen? † To whom the yong man sayd: Be 13 of good cheere, it is very neere that thou mayst be cured of God. † Tobias therfore sayd to him: Canst thou bring my 14 sonne to Gabelus into Rages a citie of the Medes? and when thou shalt returne, I wil pay thee thy hyre. † And the Angel 15 sayd to him: I wil conduct him, & bring him to thee againe. † To whom Tobias answered: I pray thee, tel me, of what 16 house, or what tribe a [...]t thou? † To whom Raphael signifying med [...] [...]in [...] of God. [...]. Greg. ho. 34▪ calleth himselfe Azarias, whose shape and vi [...]a [...]e he tooke vpon him, which name also signifieth the helpe of God. Raphael the 17 Angel sayd: Seekest thou the kinred of an hyred seruant, or an hyred seruant himselfe, that may goe with thy sonne? † But 18 lest perhaps I make thee careful, I am Azarias the sonne of Ananias the great. † And Tobias answered: Thou art of a 19 great kinred. But I pray the be not angrie that I would know thy kinred. † And the Angel sayd to him: I wil lead thy sonne 20 safe, and bring him to thee agayne safe. † And Tobias answering, 21 sayd: Wel may you walke, a [...] God be in your iourney, and his Angel accompanie you. † Then al things being 22 readie, that were to be caried in the way, Tobias bid his father and his mother, fare wel, and they walked both together. † And when they were departed, his mother began to 23 weepe, & to say: Thou hast taken the staffe of our old age, and sent him away from vs. † I would the money had neuer bene, 24 for the which thou hast sent him. † For our pouertie sufficed 25 vs, that we might account this thing riches, that we saw our sonne. † And Tobias sayd to her: Weepe not, our sonne shal 26 come thither safe, and shal returne safe to vs, and thyne eies shal see him. † For I beleue that :: the good Angel of 27 God doth accompanie him, & doth wel dispose al things, that are done about him, so that he shal returne to vs with ioy. † At this voyce his mother left weeping, and held her peace. 28

CHAP. VI. By the Angels aduise yong Tobias apprehendeth a fish, that ass [...]ulteth him. 5. reserueth the hart, gal, and liuer for meaicines. 10. They lodge at the house of Raguel, whose daughter Sara Tobias is to marie, 14. A diuel hath heretofore slaine her seuen husbandes, 16. but shal not hurt him.

AND Tobias went forward, & a dogge folowed him, and 1 he made his first abode by the riuer of Tigris. † And he 2 went out to wash his feete, and behold an huge fish came forth to deuoure him. † Of whom Tobias being afrayd, cryed 3 [Page 998] out with a loud voice, saying: Sir, he inuadeth me. † And the 4 Angel said to him: Take him by the gille, & draw him to thee. Which when he had done, he drew him on the drie land, and he began to strugle before his feete. † Then sayd the Angel 5 to him: Take out the entralles of this fishe, and his hart, and gal, and liuer, keepe to thee: for these are necessarie and profitable for medecines. † Which when he had done, he rosted 6 the S. Paul also calleth flesh of fish 1. Cor. 15. and Plinie lib. 9. c. 15. flesh therof, and they tooke it with them in the way: the rest they salted which might suffise them, til they came to Rages the citie of Medes. † Then Tobias asked the 7 Angel, and sayd to him: I besech thee brother Azarias, tel me what remedies shal these things haue, which thou hast bid me keepe of the fish? † And the Angel answering, sayd to him: 8 If thou put a litle peece of his and liuer. v. 19. hart vpon coales, the Diuels who exalted them selues as equal with God, a [...]e iustly made subiect to corporal creatures. God cōcurring with natural causes, whose good pleasure is sometimes to vse instrumēts naturally vnapt, as when Christ gaue sight to the blinde by putting clay on his eyes. Ioan. 9. sometimes more apt, as when he fed manie with few loaues. Ioan. 6. So the Angel by Gods appointment vsed this meanes to expel the diuel. smoke therof driueth out al kinde of diuels, either from man or from woman, so that it cometh no more vnto them. † And the 9 gall is auailable to annoynt the eies, in which there shal be white blemish, and they shal be healed. † And Tobias sayd 10 to him: Where wilt thou that we tarie? † And the Angel answering, 11 sayd: Here is one named Raguel, a nerekinsman of thy tribe, and he hath a daughter named Sara, and he hath neither man child, nor anie woman child beside her. † Al his 12 substance is dewe to thee, and thou mayst take her to wife. † Aske her therfore of her father, and he wil giue her thee 13 to wife. † Then Tobias answered, and sayd: I heare that she 14 hath beene deliuered to seuen husbandes, and they are dead: yea and I haue heard, that a diuel killed them. † I am afrayd therfore, lest these things may happen to me also: & whereas 15 I am the onlie childe of my parentes, I may bring downe their old age with sorow vnto Into the place where good soules rested, none then hauing accesse into heauen. See Annotations. [...]en. 37. hel. † Then the Angel Raphael sayd 16 to him: Heare me, and I wil shewe thee who they are, on whom the diuel can preuaile. † For they that so receiue 17 matrimonie, that they exclude God from them selues, and from their mind, and so geue them selues to their lust, as horse and mule, which haue not vnderstanding, ouer them the diuel hath power. † But thou when thou shalt take 18 her, entring into the chamber, for three daies be continent from her, and thou shalt geue thy self to nothing els but to prayers with her. † And the same night, the and hart v. 8. liuer of the fish 19 sette on the fyre, the diuel shal be driuen away. † But the 20 The second night he asked and obtayned this grace; for he knew not his wife vntil the fourth night. v. 22. second night thou shalt be admitted in the copulation of [Page 999] the holie Patriarches. † And the third night thou shalt obteyne 21 a blessing that sound children may be procreated of you. † And when the third night is past, thou shalt take the 22 virgin with the feare of our Lord, moued rather for loue of childeren then for lust, that in the feede of Abraham thou mayst obteyne blessing in children.

CHAP. VII. They are kindly entertained by Raguel. 10 Tobias demandeth Sara to wife, which Raguel, encoredged by the Angel, granteth. 15. and the mariage is made.

AND they went to Raguel, and Raguel receiued them 1 with ioy. † And Raguel beholding Tobias, sayd to 2 Anna his wife: How like is this yongman to my sisters sonne! † And when he had spoken these wordes, he sayd: Whence 3 are you ye yongmen our brethren? † But they sayd: We are 4 of the tribe of Nephthali, of the captiuitie of Niniue. † And 5 Raguel sayd to them: Know you Tobias my brother? Who sayd: We know him. † And when he spake much good of 6 him, the Angel sayd to Raguel: Tobias, of whom thou askest is this mans father. † And Raguel put forth him selfe, and 7 with teares kissed him, and weeping vpon his necke, sayd: Blessing haue thou my sonne, because thou art the sonne of a good and most vertuous man. † And Anna his wife, and 8 Sara theyr daughter wept. † And after they had talked, Raguel 9 commanded a wether to be killed, and a banket to be prepared. And when he desired them to sitte downe to dinner, † Tobias said: I wil not eate nor drinke here this day, vnlesse 10 thou first assure my petition, and promise to geue me Sara thy daughter. † Which word Raguel hearing, was sore afrayd, 11 knowing what had chanced to those seuen husbands, which went in vnto her: and he began to feare lest perhaps it might chance to him also in like maner: and when he doubted, and A iust man (sayth S. Ambrose. lib 3. Off. c. 14.) feared other mens harmes, and would rather his daughter should not be maried then others should be in danger, preferring honestie before profite. gaue no answer to him demanding, † the Angel sayd to 12 him: Feare not to geue her to this man, for to him fearing God is thy daughter dewe to be his wife: therfore an other could not haue her. † Then sayd Raguel: I doubt not but 13 God hath admitted my prayers and teares in his sight. † And 14 I beleue that therfore he hath made you come to me, that this mayde might be ioyned to her kinred, according to the law of Moyses: and now haue no doubt but I wil deliuer her [Page 1000] to thee. † And taking his daughter by the right hand, gaue it 15 into the right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob be with you, and he ioyne you together, and fulfil his blessing in you. † And 16 taking paper they made a writing of the mariage. † And after 17 these things they made merie, blessing God. † And Raguel called 18 to him Anna his wife, and commanded her to prepare an 19 other chamber. † And she brought Sara her daughter in thither, and she wept. † And she sayd to her: Be of good cheere 20 my daughter, our Lord of heauen geue thee ioy for the tediousnesse which thou hast suffered.

CHAP. VIII. Tobias bruling part of the fishes liuer, Raphael bindeth the diuel. 4. Tobias and Sara pray. 11. Raguel fearing that Tobias is dead, maketh a graue for him, but vnderstanding that he is wel, filleth it vp againe, 21. prepareth a feast, geueth the half of his goodes presently for Saraes dawrie, the other halfe after her parents death.

AND after they had supped, they brought in the yong 1 man to her. † Tobias therfore remembring the Angels 2 word, brought forth out of his bag, part of See chap. 6. v. [...]. Mystically it signified Christs passion whereby the diuel was expelled out of mens hartes. S. Aug ser. 28. de Sanctis. Prosper, li. de promiss. p. 2. c. 39. the liuer, and layd it vpon liue coales. † Then Raphael the Angel tooke the 3 diuel, and bound him in the desert of higher Aegypt. † Then 4 Tobias exhorted the virgin, & sayd to her: Sara arise, and let vs pray to God to day, and to morow, and the next morow: because these three nights we are ioyned to God: and when the third night is past, we wil be in our wedlocke. † For we are 5 the children of holie men, & we may not be ioyned together as gentiles, that know not God. † And they rising together, 6 prayed both together that health might be geuen them. † And 7 Tobias sayd: Lord God of our fathers, the heauens & the earth, and the sea & fountaynes, and riuers, and al thy creatures that are in them, blesse thee. † Thou madest Adam of the slime of 8 the earth, & gauest him Eue an helper. † And now Lord thou 9 knowest, that not for fleshlie lust doe I take my sister to wife, but only for the loue of posteritie, in the which thy name may be blessed for euer & euer. † Sara also sayd: Haue mercie on vs 10 Lord, haue mercie vpon vs and let vs grow old both together in health. † And it came to passe about the cock crowing, Raguel 11 bad his seruantes to be called for, & they went with him together to digge a graue. † For he sayd: Lest perhaps it may 12 [Page 1001] chance to him, as also to the other seuen husbandes, that went in vnto her. † And when they had prepared the pitte, 13 Raguel returning to his wife, sayd to her: † Send one of thy 14 handmaydes, and let her see if he be dead, that I may burie him before it be day. † But she sent one of her handmaydes, 15 who going into the chamber, found them safe and sound, sleeping both together. † And returning she brought good 16 tydings: and they blessed our Lord, to witte, Raguel & Anna his wife, † and sayd: We blesse thee Lord God of Israel, because 17 it hath not chanced as we thought. † For thou hast done 18 thy metcie with vs, & hast excluded from vs the enemie, that persecuted vs. † And thou hast taken pitie vpon two the In the one familie there were no more children but one sonne, in the other one onlie daughter. only 19 children. Make them Lord blesse thee more fully: and to offer vp to thee a sacrifice of thy prayse, and of their health, that al nations may know, that thou art God onlie in al the earth. † And forth with Raguel commanded his seruantes, that they 20 should fil vp the pitte, which they had made, before it were day. † And he bad his wife make readie a feast, and prepare 21 al thinges, that for victuals were necessarie to them that goe a iourney. † He caused also two fatte kyne, and foure wethers 22 to be killed, and great chere to be prepared for al his neighbours, and al his freindes. † And Raguel adiured Tobias, that 23 he should abide with him two weekes. † And of al thinges 24 which Raguel possessed, he gaue the halfe part to Tobias, and made this writing, that the halfe part, which was remayning after their decease, should come to the dominion of Tobias.

CHAP. IX. The Angel Raphael goeth to Gabelus, receiueth the money, and bringeth him to the mariage. 8. They salute ech other, and Gabelus wisheth al prosperitie to yong Tobias, and his spouse.

THEN Tobias called the Angel to him, whom he thought 1 to be a man, and he sayd to him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee harken to my wordes: † If I should deliuer my self to 2 be thy seruant I shal not deserue thy prouidence. † Howbeit 3 I besech thee, that thou take vnto thee beastes and seruantes, and goe to Gabelus into The Angel went to the citie i [...] selfe called Rages, Tobias remaining in the ter [...]i [...]orie or prouince therof, w [...] Ra [...]e [...], which place is also called Rages. c. v 7. Rages the citie of Medes: & render him his handwriting, and receiue of him the money, and desire him to come to my mariage. † For thyself knowest that 4 my father numbreth the dayes: and if I slacke one day more, his soule is made sorowful † And surely thou s [...]est how 5 [Page 1002] Raguel hath adiured me, whose adiuring I can not dispise. † Then Raphael taking foure of Raguels seruantes, & two camels, 6 went into Rages the citie of Medes: & finding Gabelus gaue him his hand writing, and receiued of him al the money. † And he told him of Tobias the sonne of Tobias, al thinges 7 that were done: and made him come with him to the mariage. † And when he was entered into Raguels house, he 8 found Tobias sitting at the table: and he leaping vp, they kissed ech other: and Gabelus wept, and blessed God, † and 9 sayd: The God of Israel blesse thee, because thou art the sonne of a verie good man, and iust, and that feareth God, and doth almes deedes: † and blessing be geuen vpon thy wife, and 10 vpon your parentes: † & that you may see your children, and 11 your childrens children, vnto the third & fourth generation: and your seede be blessed of the God of Israel, who reigneth fereuer and euer. † And when al had sayd, Amen; they went 12 to the feast: but with the feare of our Lord also did they celebrate the feast of the mariage.

CHAP. X. The parentes lament the long absence of their sonne Tobias. 8▪ whom when Raguel can not perswade to stay longer, 11. he wisheth much good vnto him, and his wife, admonishing her to be dutiful in al thinges.

BVT when Tobias taried long “ because of the mariage, 1 Tobias his father was careful, saying: Why thinkest thou doth my sonne tarie, or why is he held there? † Is Gabelus 2 dead thinkest thou, and no man wil restore him the money? † And he began to be sorowful exceedingly him selfe, and 3 Anna his wife with him: and Such of the Iewes as beleue in Christ, hartely lament that he [...]a [...]eth so lōg from their nation. Some more assuredly with old Tobias, others more doubtfully with his wife, expect his returne. S. Beda [...]n Tobiam Euen so the remnant of Catholiques in countries fallen to heresie haue great sadnes and continual sorovv in their hart (Rom. 9.) vvishing (with what temporal losse soeuer) the saluation of their brethren, kinsmen, and countriemen: some hoping more confidently and comforting others, that Christ wil againe illuminate our whole nation, as sight was restored to old Tobias. they began both to weepe together: because their sonne did not returne to them the day appointed. † His mother therfore wept with discomfortable 4 teares, and sayd: Woe, woe is me, my sonne, why sent we thee to goe to a strange countrie, the light of our eies, the staffe of our old age, the comforte of our life, the hope of our posteritie? † We hauing al things together in thee onlie, 5 ought not to haue let thee goe from vs. † To whom Tobias 6 said: Hold thy peace, and be not trubled, our sonne is safe, that man with whom we sent him is faithful ynough. † Howbeit 7 she could by no meanes be comforted, but dayly running out looked about, and went about al waies by which there seemed hope he would returne, that she might see him a far [Page 1003] of, if it were possible, coming. † But Raguel sayd to his sonne 8 in law: Tarie here, and I wil send a messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health. † To whom Tobias sayd: I 9 know that my father & my mother do now count the dayes, and their spirite is tormented in them. † And when Raguel 10 desired Tobias in manie wordes, and [...]e by no meanes would heare him, he deliuered Sara vnto him, and the halfe part of al his substance in men seruantes, & wemen seruantes, in cattel, in camels, and in kine, and in much money and dismist him safe and ioyful from him, † saying: The holie Angel of our 11 Lord be in your iourney, and bring you through safe, and that you may finde al thinges wel about your parentes, and myn eies may see your children before I die. † And the parentes 12 taking their daughter, kissed her, and let her goe: † admonishing her to honour her father and mother in law, 13 to loue her husband, to rule the houshold, to gouerne the house, and to shewe her selfe irreprehensible.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X.

1. Taried long because of the Mariage.] Out of this example of a holie Mariage betwen yong Tobias and Sara, described in the fiue precedent chapters, some Instructions to maried persons out of the example of Tobias and Saras Mariage special good lessons may be briefly gathered, for the instruction & consolation of such as are to marie, or be already maried. Not that either al, or onlie the same obseruations perteyne now to christian Mariage, but that al Christianes may see, how orderly godlie persons proceded in making, and performing this holie contract in the old Testament, and therby lerne, that more perfection is required in Christian Matrimonie, being now (as then it is was not) a holie Ephes. 5. Mat. 19. Sacrament, signifying the Vnion betwen Christ & his Church: and geuing peculiar True Mariage alwayes a holie contract. Now a Sacrament. Proper instructions for man and wife. Grace to the parties (if themselues hinder it not) to beare more easily the incident burdens, and rightly to fulfil the proper duties of man and wife, according to the godlie instruction of the Roman Catechisme. Al that we shal part. 2 de Matrim. q. 22. 23. here note, may be reduced to two heades, or principal partes. For in this Mariage there were certaine necessarie, and as it were essential pointes, without which it had not benne a lawful nor right contract: Other accessarie ceremonies, and Rites were also very conuenient, for the more solemnitie and better performance therof. As the like of both sortes are now, but more perfect in Christian Mariages. In the former kind, first of al, the end of Mariage was proposed by the Angel, and desired by the parties. chap. 6. v. 22. c. 8. v. 9. not for pleasure but for children, and posteritie, by vvhich God might be blessed and serued: Secondly Mariage must be betvven lavvful personnes, For the seruantes of God could not Three necessarie pointes in Matrimonie. lawfully match, neither with Infideles, nor with ouer nere kinred, but in conuenient Exod. 34. Deu. 7. Leuit. 18. Nu. 36. v. 7. degrees, and that ordinarily in the same Tribe. ch. 6. v. 11. ch. 7. v 14. as the law of Moyses prescribed. Thirdly, the parties must geue, and expresse their mutual consent, and the good wil of parentes was also requisite. ch. 7. v. 10. 15. 20. These principal pointes premised; for the due solemnization other Rites were [Page 1004] also adioyned. First Raguel, the maides father, gaue his daughter taking her by the Tenne godly Rites obserued in the Mariage of Tobias and Sara. right hand, and so deliuered her into the right hand of Tobias. ch. 7. v 15. as with vs the father, or nere freind of the woman, geueth her to be maried to such a man. Secondly her father prayed that it might wel succede, ibidem. and so do al freindes now, especially the Priest by the publique prayers of the Church. The third rite, the couenantes of Mariage were made, with assigment of dawrie, 1. 2. 35 4. 5. also vvritten, ch. 7. v. 16 & sealed, as the Apud. Munst [...] rum. Gen. 29. v. 27. Iudic. 14. v. 17. Hebrew and Greke text witnesse. The fourth, Inuitation of freindes to the Mariage. ch. 8. v. 2. ch 9. v 3. The fifth▪ They made a feast, which commonly dured seuen dayes, but here fourtene▪ ch 8: v. 23. for the duble ioy of the mariage, and expulsion of the diuel. But though the feast continued long, yet was it most moderate and sober, vvith feare of our Lord they celebrated the feast of the Mariage ch. 9. v 1 [...]. Plato a heathen Philosopher, li. 6▪ de le [...]ibus, prescribeth what temperance in meate & drinke, and what modestie of behauiour, are required in mariage feastes. VVhose eccellent sentence, F. Serarius in Tob. 10. reciteth The sixth rite, the bringing of the bride to her chamber, 6. chap 7 v 19▪ the Catholique Church hath a particular forme of blessing the bridal chamber. The seuenth, Tobias & Sara obserued three dayes continencie 7. after the Mariage ch 6. v. 18. ch 8. v. 4. which now is commended by way of counsel, not of precept. The eight, Tobias obserued that which the Angel 8. aduised him, in burning the liuer of the fish vpon coales in their chamber. ch 6. v. 19. ch 8 v. 2. So deuout persons commonly obserue that which spiritual men exhort them vnto, though it be not a commandment. The ninth, Priuate 9. 10. prayer of the new maried persons, ch. 6. v 18. c. 8. v. 4. The tenth, the sending away of the spouse to her husbands house, or dwelling place, with good wishes, due payment of the promised dawrie, and godlie admonitions by her parentes. ch. 10. v. 10. 11. 12. 13.

CHAP. XI. [...]eauing Sara with the rest of the companie, and the flocke to folow, the Angel Raphael and Tobias goe before, 5. are ioyfully receiued, 8. Tobias annointeth his fathers eyes with the fishes gal, and he seeth. 18. Sara arriueth seuen dayes after with her familie and cattle.

AND when they returned they came to Charan, which 1 is in the middeway agaynst Niniue, the eleuenth day. † And the Angel said▪ Brother Tobias thou knowest how 2 thou didest leaue thy farher. † If it please thee therfore, let 3 vs goe be ore, and let the families folow softly after vs, together with thy wife, and with the beastes. † And when this 4 pleased him that they should goe, Raphael said to Tobias: Take with thee of the gal of the fish: for it shal be necessarie. Tobias therfore tooke of that gal and they departed. † But 5 Anna sate beside the way dayly, in the toppe of a hil, from whence she might see afar of. † And whiles she watched his 6 coming out of that place, she saw afar of, and by and by perceiued her sonne coming: and running she told her husband saying: Behold thy sonne cometh. † And Raphael 7 [Page 1005] said to Tobias▪ But when thou art entred into thy house forthwith adore our Lord thy God: and geuing thankes to him goe to thy father, and kisse him. † And immediatly annointe 8 vpon his eies of this gal of the fish, which thou cariest with thee. For know thou that forthwith his eies shal be opened, and thy father shal see the light of heauen, and shal reioice in the sight of thee. † Then ranne It nothing disgraceth the sacred historie that a smal matter being also true is recorded with the rest. As not one letter nor one title of the lavv may be omitted, Mat. 5 S. Be [...] also expoundeth it mystically of Gods preachers. S. Ierom. doth the like, in. Isaiae. 56 and S Augustin li 22. c 56. c [...]t. Faustum. Manich. the dogge before, which 9 had beene with them in the way, and coming as it were a messenger with the fawning of his tayle reioysed. † And his father 10 that was blind rysing vp, began to runne stumbling with his feete: and geuing a seruant his hand, went to meete his sonne. † And receiuing him kissed him, with his wife, and 11 they began both to weepe for ioy. † And when they had adored 12 God, and geuen thankes, they sate downe together. † Then Tobias taking of the gal of the fish, annoynted his 13 fathers eies. † And he stayed as it were almost halfe an houre: 14 & the white ble [...]h began to come out of his eies, as it were the skine of an egge. † Which Tobias taking drewe from his 15 eies, and immediatly God vsed this gal of a fish in curing Tobias eyes, in like sorte as the liuer in driuing away the diuel. c. 6. v. 8. he receiued sight. † And they glorified 16 God, to wit, himselfe and his wife, and al that knewe him. † And Tobias said: I blesse thee Lord God of Israel, because 17 thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saued me: and behold I see Tobias my sonne. † After seuen dayes also came in Sara 18 his sonnes wife, and al the familie safe, and cattel, and the camels, and much money of his wiues: and that money also, which he had receiued of Gabelus: † and he told his parentes 19 al the benefites of God, which he had done to him by the man, that conducted him. † And Achior and Nabath 20 Tobias sisters sonnes came, reioysing at Tobias, and congratulating him for al good thinges, that God had shewed towards him. † And for seuen daies making good chere, they 21 reioysed al with great ioy.

CHAP XII. Old Tobias and his sonne offer the half of al the goodes which they had newly receiued to Raphael, for his wages. 6. VVho then declareth to them that he was sent from God to helpe them, 15. and that he is an Angel, [...]0. He parteth [...] way, and they render thankes to God.

THEN Tobias called to him his sonne, and sayd to him: 1 What may we geue to this holie man, that is come with thee. † Tobias answering, sayd to his father: Father what 2 reward shal we geue him? or what can be worthie of his benefittes▪ [Page 1006] † He hath 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7 led me and brought me agayne safe, he 3 receiued the money of Gabelus, he 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7 caused me to haue my wife, and the 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7 euil spirit he chased from her, he 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7 made ioy vnto her parentes, my self he 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7 deliuered from being deuoured of the fish, 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7 thee also he hath made to see the light of heauen, and we are replenished with Gratful Tobias recounteth seuen benefites receiued by the companion of his iourney, & that they haue receiued (not manie but) al good things by him. al good things by him. What can we geue him worthie for these things? † But I beseech 4 thee my father, that thou desire him, if perhaps he wil voutsafe to take vnto him the one halfe of al thinges, which are brought. † And they calling him, to wit the father and the 5 sonne, tooke him aside: & began to desire him that he would voutsafe to accept the halfe part of al thinges, that they had brought. † Then he sayd to them secretely: Blesse ye the 6 God of heauen, and before al that liue confesse to him, because he hath done mercie with you. † For to hide the secrete 7 of a king is good: but to reueale & confesse the workes of God is an honorable thing. † Fasting and almes are as two wingues with which prayer flyeth into heauen. Prayer is good with fasting 8 and almes, rather then to lay vp treasures of gold: † because 9 almes deliuereth from death, and that is it which purgeth sinnes, and maketh to finde mercie and life euerlasting. † But 10 they that committe sinne and iniquitie, are enemies to their owne soule. † I open therfore vnto you the truth, and I wil 11 not hide from you the secrete word. † When thou didst pray 12 with teares, and didst burie the dead and leaft thy dinner, and didest hide the dead by day in thy house, and by night didst burie them, “I O how swete (or excellent) a thing is it (saith S. Augustin ser. 3. de Natiuit.) when Angeles guardianes of our life offer our vowes (or resolution to flee vices and embrace vertues) before the sight of Gods Maiesty? offered thy prayer to our Lord. † And because thou wast acceptable to God, it was necessarie 13 that tentation should proue thee. † And now our Lord sent 14 me to cure thee, and to deliuer Sara thy sonnes wife from the diuel. † For I am Raphael an Angel, one of the seuen, which 15 assist before our Lord. † And when they had heard these 16 thinges, they were trubled, & trembling fel vpon the ground on their face. † And the Angel sayd to them: Peace be to you, 17 feare not. † For when I was with you, by the wil of God I was 18 so: blesse ye him, and sing to him. † I seemed indeede to eate 19 with you, and to drinke: but I vse an inuisible meate and drinke, which can not be seene of men. † It is time therfore 20 that I returne to him, that sent me: but blesse ye God, and tel al his maruelous workes. † And when he had sayd 21 these things, he was taken from their sight, and they could see him no more. † Then prostrate for three houres vpon 22 their face, they blessed God: and rysing vp they told al his maruelous workes.

[Page 1007]

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XII.

12. I offered thy prayer to our Lord.] Here the Angel Raphael reporteth certaine good offices, which he had done for Tobias. He did other like for his Offices of Angels towardes men. sonne, and for Raguel, and his daughter, which are likewise recorded in this booke. And the whole world, especially Gods seruantos, receiue continual great benefites by holie Angeles, as partly may be gathered in this holie historie, and more els where. For first the office of Angeles is, to assist, or be alwayes Readic to helpe al. readie, as most diligent seruitoures of God, expecting what his diuine goodnes wil appoint them, whither to goe, and what to doe for the benefite of men: as holie Raphael was sent, when yong Tobias wanted a guide. Secondly, Angels Offer mens prayers and good workes. Ayde the godlie. offer the prayers of the faithful, or as the Greke text [...]eadeth, v. 15 Angels present the prayers of Sainctes, that is, of godlie men and wemen to God: so Raphael testifieth here him self, that he offered Tobias prayers to our Lord. Thirdly, Angeles ayde and assist those that loue puritie of life, sincere seruice of God, hate vice, embrace vertue, & do workes of mercie; so Raphael assisted Tobias, when he traueled to butie the dead, fleing from the kings furie, and hiding himself, ch [...]. v. 21. 23. Fourthly Angels exhort to good workes, as in this 12. Exhort to good. Instruct. chapter. v. 6 8 9 10 18 Fiftly they s [...]gest [...]d instruct what to do, ch 6. v. 4. 5. Raph [...] [...]ght yong Tobias to [...]ake the fi [...]h, v [...]b wel him, reserue partes therof, [...] [...] a [...]ised him to lodge at Raguels house, to demand S [...]ra to wife, and v. 16. 17. i [...]structed him, against whom diuels haue powre. Sixthly, they Expel euil spirites. Deliuer from euils and dangers. Procure temporal commodities for the soules good. expel diuels from persons, and places, ch. 8. v. 3. Raphael tooke and bound the diuel Asmodeus in the desert of hiegher Egypt. Seuenthly, they deliuer men from dangers and euiles, c. 6. v. 3 as when the great fish assaulted Tobias, and Sara from molestation, and slaunder, and old Tobias from blindnes. chap. 3▪ v. 10. ch. 11. v. 8. ch. 12. v. 14. Eightly. VVhen it redoundeth to the honour and more seruice of God, and good of the soule, Angeles procure riches, and worldly commodities, ch. 12. v. 3. Yong Tobias gratfully confessed the great benefites receiued by his guide, concluding generally, by him vve are replenished (sayth he) vvith al good thinges. Ninthly, Good Angels also proue men, for their more merite, so the Angel witnesseth ch. 12. v. 13. Because thou vvast acceptable to God, it vvas necessarie, that tentation should proue thee. Tenthly, and finally (for we Proue the good by trib [...] lations. remite the reader to larger documentes of others) after proofe of patience, fortitude, and other vertues, holie Angeles comforte good men; so Raphael encoraged old Tobias, saying, ch. 5. v. 13. his blindenes should shortly be cured, ch. 12. v. 12. shewed him how gratful his prayers with teares and woorkes of mercie were in Gods fight. He comforted Raguel and his familie by bringing Comforte the patient and a [...] vertuous. yong Tobias to their house, ch. 7. v. [...]. Much more, ch. 8. v. 16. both them and al Tobias his familie, by driuing away the diuel; and lastly by reuealing himselfe vnto them. So holie Angeles, especially the proper gardian patrones of euerie one, are alwayes readie to helpe men; guard them, exhort them to good, do instruct them, do expel euil spirites, and deliuer men from many euils Angeles guardians haue special care of soules committed to their charge. & dangers, do procure them temporal commodities, proue their vertues, offer their prayers and good workes, assist them al their liues, and at their deathes, then also bring their soules to the Iudgement seate, and (if they die in good state) to eternal ioy and glorie, wherof the ancient fathers writinges are ful. S. Gregorie the great in his Dialogue, li. 4. c. 58▪ S. Athanasius li. de communi essentia. S. Chrisostom. ho. 3. in Epist. ad Colloss. li. 6. de Sacerdotio. Gregorius Turonen. [Page 1008] li. de gloria Martyrum, & Confessorum. S. Augustin Epist. ad probam. c. 9. Epist. 68. ad fratres in eremo. li. 11. c. 31. ciuit. & octoginta trium. qq. q. 79. Our Sauiour himself testifieth that Angels reioyce at the conuersion of a sinner. Luc. 15. and therfore, they know and haue care of mens states in this life, and finally Angeles caried the soule of poore Lazarus into Abrahams bosome. Luc. 16.

CHAP. XIII. Tobias the father prayseth God, exhorting al Israel to do the same, 11. prophecieth The third part. Old Tobias prayseth God, prophecieth better state of Gods people. the restauration and better state of Ierusalem.

AND Tobias the elder opening his mouth, blessed our 1 Lord, and sayd: Thou art great Lord for euer, and thy kingdom world without end: † because thou scourgest, and 2 sauest: leadest downe to hel, and bringest backe agayne: and there is none that may escape thy hand. † Cōfesse to our Lord 3 ye children of Israel, and in the sight of the Gentiles prayse him: † because he hath therfore dispersed you among the 4 gentiles, which know not him, that you may declare his maruelous workes, and Temporal affliction for the spiritual good of others. make them know, that there is no other God omnipotent besides him. † He hath chastised vs 5 for our iniquities: and he wil saue vs for his mercie. † Behold 6 therfore what he hath done with vs, and with feare and trembling confesse ye to him: and extol the king of the worldes in your workes. † And I His bodie being in captiuitie, yet his spirit was free to praise and thank God. S. [...]pr. li. de mortaluate. in the land of my captiuitie wil 7 confesse to him: because he hath shewed his maiestie toward a sinful nation. † Conuert therfore ye sinners, & do iustice 8 before God, beleuing that he wil doe his mercie with you. † And I, and my soule wil reioyce in him. † Blesse ye our 9 Lord al his elect, celebrate daies of gladnes, and confesse to 10 him. † Ierusalem the citie of God, our Lord hath chastised 11 thee in the workes of thy handes. † Confesse to our Lord in 12 thy good thinges, and blesse the God of the worldes, that he may He prophecieth the reedifying of the temple, and citie of [...]e [...]usalem. reedefie his tabernacle in thee, and may cal backe al the captiues to thee, & thou mayst reioyce for euer and euer. † Thou shalt shine with a glorious light: and al the coastes 13 of the earth shal adore thee. † Nations from far shal come 14 to thee: and bringing giftes, they shal adore our Lord in thee, and shal esteeme thy land for sanctification. † For they shal 15 inuocate the great name in thee. † Cursed shal they be that 16 shal contemne thee: and damned shal they be that shal blaspheme thee: and blessed shal they be that shal build thee. † And thou shalt reioyce in thy children, because they shal 17 [Page 1009] al be blessed, & shal be gathered together to our Lord. † Blessed 18 are al that loue thee, and that reioyce vpon thy peace. † My 19 soule, blesse thou our Lord, because he hath deliuered Ierusalem his citie Onlie celestial Ierusalem shal be free from al tribulations. from al her tribulations, the Lord our God. † Blessed shal I be if there shal remayne of my seede, to see the 20 glorie of Ierusalem. † The gates of Ierusalem shal be built of 21 Saphire and the Emerauld: and al the compasse of the walles therof of pretious stone. † With white and cleane stone shal 22 al the streates therof be paued: and in the streates therof No Christian in ignorant ( sayth S. Augustin Epist. 86.) that Alleluia is a voice of praise. In English it is. Praise ye the Lord vvith ioy. Alleluia shal be song. † Blessed be our Lord, which hath 23 exalted it, and his kingdom be for euer and euer ouer it Amen.

CHAP. XIIII. Old Tobias dieth at the age of an hundred and two yeares, 5. exhorteth his sonne and nephewes to pietie, forshewing that Niniue shal be destroyed, and Ierusal [...]m reedified. 14. yonger Tobias returneth with his familie to Raguel, and dieth happely as he had liued.

AND the wordes of Tobias were ended. And after that 1 Tobias was restored to his sight, he liued two and fourtie yeares, and saw the children of his nephewes. † Therfore 2 an hundred and two yeares being accomplished, he was buried honorably in Niniue. † For being six and fiftie yeares old 3 he lost the sight of his eies, and being threescore he receiued it agayne. † And the rest of his life was in ioy, and with great 4 increase of the feare of God he went forward in peace. † And at the houre of his death he called vnto him Tobias 5 his sonne, and his seuen yong sonnes, his nephewes, and sayd to them: † The destruction of Niniue is neere: for the word 6 of our Lord fayleth not: and our brethren, which are dispersed from the land of Israel, shal returne to it. † And al the 7 desert land therof shal be replenished, and the house of God which is burnt in it, shal agayne be reedefied: and thither shal al returne that feare God, † and the Gentiles shal forsake 8 their idols, and shal come into Ierusalem, and shal inhabite in it, † and This can not be vnderstood of the citie of Ierusalem but of the Church of Christ. al the kings of the earth shal reioyce in it, adoring 9 the king of Israel. † Heare ye therfore my children your 10 father: serue our Lord in truth, and Gods seruantes must not only expect what shal be commanded, but also seeke to know what they ought to do. seeke to doe the thinges that please him: † and command your children that they 11 doe iustices and almes deedes, that they be mindeful of God, and blesse him at al time in truth, and in al their power. [Page 1010] † Now therfore children heare me, and doe not tarie here: 12 but what day soeuer you shal burie your mother by me in one sepulchre, from thenceforth directe your steppes to depart hence: † for I see that the iniquitie therof wil giue it an end. 13 † And it came to passe after the death of his mother, Tobias 14 departed out of Niniue with his wife, and children, and childrens children, and returned to his father and mother in law. † And he found them in health in good old age: and he tooke 15 care of them, and he closed their eies: and al the inheritance of Raguels house he receiued: & he saw the fifth generation, his childrens children. † And nintie nine yeares being accomplished 16 in the feare of our Lord, with ioy they buried him. † And A notable cōmendation of Tobias familie and posteritie. And a plaine testimonie that true Religion neuer failed wholy in the tenne tribes, much lesse in the kingdom of Iuda, least of al in the Church of Christ, & new Testament. al his kinred, and al his generation continewed in 17 good life, and in holie conuersation, so that they were acceptable both to God, and to men, and to al the inhabitantes in in the land.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF IVDITH.

S. Ierom sometime supposed this booke, not to be canonical, but after warde S. Ierom for the authoritie of the councel of Nice, held this booke to be canonical, which before he did not. Epist. 111 115. Prefat. in Iudith. finding that the Councel of Nice accounted it in the number of holie Scriptures, he so estemed it; and therupon not only translated it into Latin, out of the Chaldeetongue, wherin it was first written, but also as occasion required, alleaged the same as diuine Scripture, and sufficient to conuince matters of faith in controuersie. For otherwise his opposing the authoritie of the Nicen Councel, should proue nothing at al against the Iewes, seing they also acknowledge this booke amongst Agiographa (or holie writtes) but lesse fitte (say they) to streingthen those thinges which come into contention. wherby is clere that S. Ierom thenceforth held it for diuine Scripture. As further appeareth in his commentaries in Isai 14. more expresly Epist. ad Principiam, he counted it in ranke with other Scriptures, wherof none doubteth, saying: Ruth, Esther, Iudith were of so great renoume, that they gaue the names to sacred volumes. And in this Preface doubted not to say: that the rewarder of Iudithes chastitie (God himself) gaue her for imitation not only to wemen, but also to men: gaue her such vertue that she ouerthrew him, whom none could ouercome, and conquered the inuincible. Also Before the Others Doctors both before and after the councel of Nice accounted this booke canonical. Councel, Origen in c. 14. Iudith. Tertullian de Monogamia. c. vlt. And [Page 1011] diuers whom S. Hilarie citeth, and dissenteth not from them, Prologo in Psalmos, held this booke for Canonical. Manie more writes likwise about the time of the same Councel, and after so account it. Prudentius in Phychomachia prudicitiae & libidinis: Chromatius in c. 6. Mat. Paulinus. in Natali. 10. S. Chrysostom hom. 10. in Math. S. Ambrose. li. 3. Offic. c. 13. Epist. 82. et li. de viduis. S. Augustin (or some other good author) written two sermons of Iudith, 228. 229. Cassiodorus diuini lect. c. 6. Fulgentius Epist 2. de statu viduarum. Ferrandus Carthaginensis ad Regiū de re militati. Iumi [...]us Africanus li. 1. de partibus diuine l [...]gis. Sulpitius in hisstori [...]. S. Beda de sex aetatibus. Alredus writing the life of S. Edward our king. More are not necessarie to reasonabl [...]men. Con [...]erning the time, and author, it s [...]m [...]th most probable tha [...] these thinges happened when VVhen this his [...]orie happened An [...] by whom it was written Manasses king of Iuda was e [...]t er in prison in Babylon, or newly restored to 2. Para. 33. his kingdom, who as it semeth permitted the gouerment to the high Priest Eliachim (Chap 4) otherwise called [...]oachim (ch. 15) [...] also writte this booke, as [...]hilos Chronologie, li. 2. reporteth. From which time they had no war [...]es [...]ilth. reigne of Ioachoz, about 80▪ yeares, conformable to the long pea [...] mentioned, chap. 6. v 30. In summe we haue her, not a poetical Comedie (as Martin Luther shameth [...]ot to cal it, in Simpos [...]ac [...]s, c. 29 and in his German The cōtentes. Preface of Iudith, but a sacred Historie (as al [...]for [...]mentione estemed it, and the Iewes confesse) of a most valiant Matrons fact, deliuering the people of God from persecution of a cruel Tyranne. The first three chapters shew the occasion Diuided into foure partes. of this danger: the next foure describe the dif [...]culties & distresses therof: other seuen with part of the 15. how Iudith deliuered them from it. In the rest Iudith is much praysed, and she with the whole people praise God. This booke is read at Mattins the fourth weeke of September. The first part. The occasion of the Iewes persecution at this time.

THE BOOKE OF IVDITH.

CHAP. I. Nabuchodonosor king of Assyrians ouercometh Arphaxad king of the Medes: 7. summoneth manie other nations to submitte themselues to his Empyre: 11. which they refusing he threatneth reuenge.

ARPHAXAD The author being resolued to write this historie, ioyneth his narration to his internal purpose, saying: Arphaxad therfore &c. S. Greg. ho. 2. in Ezech. therfore king of the Medes had 1 subdued manie nations to his empire, & he built a most mightie citie, which he called Ecbatanis, † Of stone squared and hewed: he made walles 2 therof in height seuentie cubites, and in breadth thirtie cubites, and the towers therof he made in height an hundred cubites. † But each side of them was in foure square 3 twentie foote long, and he made the gates therof according [Page 1012] to the height of the towers: † and he Thou foole this night they shal take thy life from thee, & these things whose shal they be? Luc. 12. [...]. [...]. gloried as mightie in 4 the force of his armie, and in the glorie of his chariotes. † In 5 the twelfth yeare of his reigne: Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians, who reigned in Niniue the greate citie, fought against Arphaxad, and ouer came him † in the great 6 field, which is called Ragan, about Euphrates, and Tigris, and Iadason in the field of Erioch the king of the Elicians. † Then was the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor exalted, and 7 his hart was eleuated: and he sent to al, that dwelt in Cilicia and Damascus, and Libanus, † and to the nations, that are 8 in Carmelus, and Cedar, and the inhabitantes of Galilee in the great field of Esdrelon, † and to al that were in Samaria, 9 and beyond the riuer Iordan euen to Ierusalem, and al the land of [...]esse til you come to the borders of Aethiophia. † To 10 al these Nabuchodosor king of the Assyrians sent messengers: † Who al with one minde said nay, & sent them backe 11 emptie, and reiected them without honour. † Then Nabuchodonosor 12 the king taking indignation against al that land, swore by his throne and kingdom that he would defenderet se. reuenge him selfe of al those countries.

CHAP. II. Nabuchodonosor sendeth Holofernes his General to Waist al countries of the West. 7. With a great armie, and aboundant munition. 11. They subdue manie places, and others are strooken With great feare.

IN the thirtenth yeare of king Nabuchodonosor, the two 1 and twenteth day of the first moneth, the word was geuen out in the house of Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians, that he would reuenge him selfe. † And he called al 2 the ancientes, and al the captaynes, and his men of warre, and communicated with them the secrete of his counsel: † and 3 he said that his cogitation was vpon that, to subdew al the earth to his empire. † which saying when it had pleased them 4 al, Nabuchodonosor the king called Holofernes the General of his warres, † and said to him: Goe forth against euerie 5 kingdom of the west, & against them especially, that contemned my commandment. † This cruel cōmandment was as cruelly put in execution by Holofernes, ch. 3. [...]. 11. Thyne eie shal spare no kingdom, 6 and euerie [...]ensed citie thou shalt [...]ubdew to me. † Then 7 Holofernes called the captaynes, & magistrates of the powre of the Assyrians: and he mustered men for the expedition, as the king commanded him, an hundred twentie thousand fighting [Page 1013] men on foote, and twelue thousand archers horsemen. † And he made al his expedition to goe before in a multitude 8 of inumerable camels, with those thinges that might suffice the armies abundantly, heardes of oxen also, and flockes of sheepe, which had no number. † He appoynted corne to be 9 prepared out of al Syria in his passage. † But gold and siluer 10 he tooke out of the kings house exceding much. † And he 11 went forth and al the armie with the chariotes, & horsemen, and the archers, which couered the face of the earth, as locustes. † And when he had passed through the coastes of the 12 Assyrians, he came to the great mountaines of Ange, which are on the left hand of Cilicia: and he went vp into al theit casteles, and wonne euerie fortresse. † And he brake downe 13 the renowmed citie of Melothus, and spoyled al the children of Thersis, and the children of Ismael, which wete against the face of the desert, and on the south of the land of Cellon. † And he passed ouer Euphrates, and came into Mesopotamia: 14 and he brake al the high cities, that were there, from the torrent of Membre, til ye come to the sea: † and he tooke 15 the borders therof, from Cilicia vnto the coastes of Iapheth, which are toward the south. † And he caried away al the 16 children of Madian, and spoyled al their riches, and al that resisted him he slew in the edge of the sword. † And after 17 these thinges he went downe into the fieldes of Damascus in the daies of haruest, and he set al the corne on fire, and he made al the trees and vineyardes to be cut downe; † and the 18 feare of him fel vpon al the inhabitantes of the land.

CHAP. III. Manie kinges and other princes submitte them selues to Holofernes. 8. He receiueth them, and taketh of their chief men to reinforce his armie, 11. neuertheles destroyeth their cities, and their goddes, that Nabuchodonosor only might be called God.

THEN the kinges and princes of al cities and prouinces▪ 1 namely of Syria and Mesopotamia, and Syria Sobal, and Libya, and Cilicia sent their embassadours, which coming to Holofernes, said: † Let thy indignation towarde vs cease: 2 For it is better that liuing we feare Nabuchodonosor the great king, and be subiect to thee, then dying, we should with our destruction suffer the damages of our seruitude. † Euerie citie of ours, and al our possession, al mountaynes, 3 [Page 1014] and hilles, and fieldes, and heardes of oxen, and flockes of sheepe, and goates, and of horses, and camels, and al our goodes, and families are in thy sight: † let al our thinges be 4 vnder thy law. † We also, and our children are thy seruantes. 5 † Come to vs a peaceable Lord, and vse our seruice, as it shal 6 please thee. † Then went he downe from the mountaynes 7 with horsemen in a great powre, and tooke euerie citie, and euerie inhabiter of the land. † And of al the cities he tooke 8 to helpe him valiant men, and chosen for battel. † And so 9 great feare lay vpon al those prouinces, that the inhabitantes of al cities, princes and honorable persons, together with the people went out to meete him coming, † receyuing him with 10 garlandes, and torches, dauncing with timbrels, & shaulmes. † Neither doing these thinges, could they for al that mitigate 11 the fi [...]cenesse of his stomacke: † for he did both destroy 12 their cities, and cut downe their groues. † For Nabuchodonosor 13 the king had commanded him, that he should destroy al the goddes of the earth, that An expresse figure of Antichrist 2. Thes. 2. for whom al heretikes make way as precursers, for the singular man of sinne wil confesse no God but himself. he only might be called God of those nations, which could be subdewed with the might of Holofernes. † And passing through al Syria Sobal, 14 and al Apamea, & al Mesopotamia he came to the Idumeians into the land of Gabaa, † and tooke their cities, and sate 15 there for thirtie dayes, in which daies he commanded al the armie of his powre to be vnited.

CHAP. IIII. The children of Israel excedingly fearing Holofernes forces. 3. prouide to resist him, by the exhortation of the High Priest, vsing both humaine, 8. and diuine meanes.

THEN the children of Israel, which dwelt in the Land 1 The second part. Gods people are in great feare and distresse. of Iuda, hearing these thinges, were sore asrayd of his presence. † Trembling also, and horrour inuaded their senses, 2 lest he would doe that to Ierusalem and to the temple of our Lord, which he had done to other cities, and their temples. † And they sent into al Samaria round about, as for as Iericho, 3 and preoccupated al the toppes of mountaynes: † and they 4 compassed their townes with walles, and gathered together corne for prouision of battel. † Eliachim The high priest managed also the temporal afsayres of the cōmon welth, at this time, by consent & commission of king Manasses, as is most probable these thinges happening shortly after his repentāce. 2. Paral. 33. the priest wrote 5 to al, that were against Esdrelon, which is against the face of the great fielde beside Dothain, and to al, by whom there might be passage of way, that they should take the ascentes [Page 1015] of the mountaynes, by which there might be way to Ierusalem, and should keepe watch, where the way was narrow betwen the mountaynes. † And the children of Israel did according 7 as the Priest of our Lord, Eliachim had appointed them. † And al the people cried to our Lord with great instance, 8 and they humbled their soules in fastings, and prayers they & their wiues. † And the Priestes put on heareclothes, 9 and they laide the infantes prostrate against the face of the temple of our Lord, and the altar of our Lord they couered with hearecloth: † and they cried to our Lord the God of 10 Israel With one accord, that their infantes might not be geuē into praye, & their wiues into spoile, and their cities into destruction, and their holie thinges into pollution, and they be made a reproch to the Gentiles. † Then Eliachim the high 11 Priest of our Lord went about al Israel and spake to them, † saying: Know ye, that our Lord wil heare your prayers, if 12 continewing you continew in fastinges and prayers in the sight of our Lord. † Be mindful of Moyses the seruant of our 13 Lord, who ouerthrew Amalec trusting in his power, and in Exo. 17. his might, and in his armie, & in his shieldes, & in his chariotes, & in his horsemen, not by fighting, but with holie prayers: † so shal al the enemies of Israel be; if you perseuere in 14 this worke, which you haue begunne. † They therfore at 15 this exhortation of his, beseching our Lord, continewed in the sight of our Lord, † so that they also, which offered the 16 holocaustes to our Lod, did offer the sacrifices to our Lord girded with heareclothes, and there were ashes vpon their head. † And they al prayed God with al their hart, that he 17 would visite his people Israel.

CHAP. V. Holofernes hearing that the Israelites prepare to resist him, in great rage demandeth diuers particulars concerning that people, 5. Achior an Ammonite telleth the meruelous workes of God towards them. 22. aduiseth him not to fight against them. 26 the chief capitanies are offended, & threaten Achior.

AND it was told Holofernes the General of the warres 1 of the Assyrians, that the children of Israel prepared them selues to resist, and had shut vp the wayes of the mountaynes, † and with exceding furie he chafed in great anger, 2 and called al the princes of Noab and dukes of Ammon, † and 3 he sayd to them: Tel me Holofernes could not be altogether ignorant of so famous a people as the Iewes, but in his rage marueling at their attempt demādeth more particularly of their habilitie to resist him. See▪ v. 27. what is this people which besetteth [Page 1016] the mountaynes: or what, and of what sorte, and how great their cities are: also what their power is, or what is their multitude: or who is the king of their warfare: † and why aboue 4 al that dwel in the East, haue these contemned vs, and haue not come forth to meete vs, that they might receiue vs with peace? † Then Achior captaine of al the children of Ammon 5 answering, said: If thou wou [...]safe my Lord to heare, I wil tel the truth in thy sight of this people, which dwelleth in the mountaynes, and there shal not a false word come forth of my mouth. † This people is of the progenie of the 6 Chaldees. † The same dwelt first in Mesopotamia, because they 7 Gen. 11. would not folow the goddes of their fathets, which were in the land of the Chaldees. † Forsaking therfore the ceremonies 8 of their fathers, which were in multitude of goddes, † they worshipped one God of heauen, who also commanded 9 them that they should depart from thence, and should dwel in Charan. And when there was famine ouer al the land, Gen. 12. they went downe into Aegypt, and there for foure hundred yeares were so multiplied, that the host of them could not be numbred. † And when the king of Aegypt oppressed 10 Exod. 1. them, and in the buildinges of his cities had subdewed them in brick and claye, they cried to their Lord, and he stroke the whole Land of Aegypt with diuers plagues. † And when the 11 Exo. 7. &c. Aegyptians had cast them out from them, and the plague had ceased from them, and they would take them againe, 12 and cal them backe to their seruice, † these fleeing away, the God of heauen opened the sea, so that the waters were made solide or firme. Exo. 14. consolidated as a wal, on either side, and they walking through the botome of the sea passed drie foote. † In which place whiles an innumerable armie of the Aegyptians 23 pursewed them, they were so ouerwhelmed with the waters, that there was not one remayning, to tel the fact to posteritie. † Also being past the read sea, they possessed the 14 desertes of Mount Sinai, in which neuer man could dwel, or sonne of man rested. † There bitter fountaynes were made 15 Exod. 1 [...]. 16. 17. sweete for them to drinke, and for fourtie yeares they receiued meate from heauen. † Wheresoeuer they entered without 16 bow and arrow, and without shielde and sword, their God fought for them, and ouercame. † And there was not 17 Iudie. 2. 3. 4. & [...]. that did insult against this people, but when they departed from the worship of the Lord their God. † But as often as 18 [Page 1017] beside their owne God, they worshiped an other, they were geuen to praye, and into the sword, and to reproch. † And as 19 often as they were penitent for that they reuolted from the worship of their God, the God of heauen gaue them power to resist. † Finally the king of the Chananeites, and of Iebuseites, 20 and of the Pherezeites, and of the Hetheite [...], and of Nu. 21. the Heueites, and of the Amorrheites, and al the mightie in Hesebon they ouerthrew, and they possessed their landes, & I [...]s. 12. their cities: † and as long as they sinned not in the sight of 21 their God, it was wel with them, for their God hateth iniquitie. † For He semeth to speake of the captiuitie of king Manasees. Paral [...] 33. See the argument of this booke pag. 1011. these yeares also past when they had reuolted 22 from the way, which God had geuen them, that they should 4. Reg. 21. walke in it, they were destroyed in battels by manie nations, and verie manie of them were led captiue into a strange land. † But of late returning to the Lord their God, from the dispersion 23 wherein they were dispersed, they are vnited & are come vp into al these mountaynes, and possesse Ierusalem againe where their Holies are. † Now therfore my Lord, search 24 if there be any iniquitie of theirs in the sight of their God: and let vs goe vp to them, because their God deliuering wil deliuer them to thee, and they shal be subdewed vnder the yoke of thy power: † but if there be no offence of this people 25 before their God, we can not resist them, because their God wil defend them: and we shal be a reproche to the whole earth. † And it came to passe, when Achior had ceased to 26 speake these wordes, al the great men of Holofernes were angrie, and they thought to kil him, saying to each other: † As Holofernes v. 3. demanded that which he in great part knew, so his men (knowing Achior wel ynough) in rage demand, vvho he is that dare say such thinges▪ who is this, that sayth the children of Israel can resist king 27 Nabuchodonosor, and his armies, men vnarmed, and without force, and without skil of the feates of warre? † That 28 Achior therfore may know that he deceiueth vs, let vs goe vp into the mountaynes: and when their mightie ones shal be taken, then shal he with them be strooken through with the sword: † that euerie nation may know that Nabuchodonosor 29 is God of the earth, and besides him there is none other.

CHAP. VI. Holofernes in great rage sendeth Achior to Bethulia, that he may there be slaine with the Israelites. 8. He is leift bound to a tree, 10. from whence the Israelites taking him, he telleth them the cause. 14. They entertaine him courteously and earnestly pray to God for helpe.

[Page 1018]AND it came to passe when they had ceased to speake, 1 Holofernes being sore offended, said to Achior: † Because 2 thou hast prophecied vnto vs saying, that the nation of Israel is defended of their God, that I may sheu thee Nabucodonosors vassals would haue no other God but him. And God almightie is also ielous and wil haue no God but him selfe. that there is no God, but Nabuchodonosor: † when we shal haue 3 strookē them al as one man, then thy self with them shalt die by the sword of the Assyrians, and al Israel with thee shal perish by destruction: † and thou shalt proue that Nabuchodonosor 4 is lord of the whole earth: and then the sword of my warfare shal passe through thy sides, & pearsed thou shalt fal among the wounded of Israel, and thou shalt no more fetch breath, til thou be destroyed with them. † But if thou thinke 5 thy prophecie true, let not thy countenance quaile, and the palenesse that is in thy face, let it depart from thee, if thou thinke these my wordes can not be accomplished. † And 6 that thou mayst know that thou shalt proue these thinges together with them, behold from this houre thou shalt be associate to their people, that whiles they shal receiue worthie punishment of my sword, thou withal may be subiect to the vengeance. † Then Holofernes commanded his seruantes 7 that they should take Achior, and lead him into Bethula, and should deliuer him into the handes of the children of Israel. † And the seruantes of Holofernes taking him, 8 went through the champaine▪ but when they came neere the mountaynes, the slingers came forth against them. † And 9 they turning out of the way by the side of the mountayne, tyed Achior to a tree hand and foote, and so left him bound with withes, and returned to their lord. † Moreouer the 10 children of Israel descending from Bethulia, came to him▪ Whom loosnig they brought to Bethulia, and setting him in the middes of the people, demanded what was the matter, that the Assyrians had left him bound. † In those dayes the 11 princes there, were Ozias the sonne of Micha of the tribe of Simeon, and Charmi, who also is Gothoniel. † In the middes 12 therefore of the ancientes, and in the sight of al, Achior told al thinges that he had spoken being asked of Holofernes: and how the people of Holofernes would haue killed him for this word, † and how Holofernes him selfe being angrie cōmanded 13 him to be deliuered for this cause to the Israelites: that when he should ouercome the children of Israel, then he might command Achior also himself to die by diuerse tormentes, [Page 1019] for this that he had said: The God of heauen is their defender. † And when Achior had declared al these 14 thinges, al the people fel on their face, adoring our Lord, and with common lamentation and weeping they powred out their prayers with one accord to our Lord, † saying: Lord 15 God of heauen and earth, behold God regardeth the pride of sinners; their pride, and haue regard to the humiliation of penitentes, our humilitie, and attend the sanctitie of his Church in general, as wel holie persons, as holie thinges. the face of thy sainctes, and shew that and true cōfidence in him, without presumīg of mens poure thou forsakest not them that presumeof thee and, that thow humblest them that presume of them selues, and glorie of their power. † Their weeping therfore being 16 ended, & the peoples prayer by the whole day being finished, they comforted Achior, † saying: The God of our fathers, 17 whose power thou hast set forth, he wil geue thee this recompence, that thou rather shalt see their destruction. † And 18 when the Lord out God shal geue this libertie to his seruantes, be God with thee also in the middes of vs: that as it shal please thee, so thou with al thine mayst conuerse with vs. † Then Ozias, the counsel being ended, receiued him into 19 his house, and made him a greate supper. † And al the ancientes 20 being called, they refreshed them selues together after the fasting was ended. † But afterwarde al the people was 21 called together, and al the night long within the church, they prayed desiring helpe of the God of Israel.

CHAP. VII. Holofernes besiegeth Bethulia, 6. cutteth their conduite of water, 9. kepeth their fountaines. 12. the people murmure, and mutenie, 18. yet they pray to God, 23. and the high priest determineth, if aide come not within fiue dayes, to deliuer the citie to the Assyrians.

BVT Holofernes the next day commanded his armies, that 1 they should goe vp against Bethulia. † And there were 2 of warre foote men an hundred twentie thousand, and horse men two and twentie thousand, besides the preparations of those men, whom the captiuitie had taken, and had beene led away out of the prouinces and cities, of al youth. † Al 3 prepared them selues together to the fight agaynst the children of Israel, and they came by the hil side vnto the toppe, which looketh toward Dothaim, from the place which is called Belma vnto Chelmon, which is against Esdrelon. † But 4 Gods seruantes first of al before they fight, do workes of penāce, cōmend their cause to God, then take wea pons in hand, & expect opportunitie to encounter with the enimies. the children of Israel, as they saw the multitude of them, laid them selues prostrate vpon the earth, casting ashes vpon [Page 1020] their heades, praying with one accord, that the God of Israel would shew his mercie vpon his people. † And taking their 5 weapons of warre, they sate at the places, which by a narrow path way lead directly betwen the mountaynes, and they were keping them al day and night. † Moreouer Holofernes, 6 whiles he compasseth round about, found that the foūtayne, which ranne in, went directly to their conduite on the south side without the citie: and he commanded their conduite to be cut asunder. † Neuerthelesse there were fountaynes 7 not far from the walles, out of which secretly they semed to draw water to refresh them selues, rather then to drinke. † But the children of Ammon, & Moab came to Holofernes, 8 saying: The children of Israel trust not in speare, nor in arrow, but the mountaynes defend them, & the hilles standing meruelous stipe gard them. † Therfore that thou 9 mayst ouercome them without ioyning battel, set kepers of the fountaynes, that they may not draw water of them, and without sword thou shalt kil them, or at the least being wearied they wil yeld their citie, which they thinck being set in the mountaynes, can not be ouercome. † And these wordes 10 pleased Holofernes, and his souldiars, and he placed round about an hundred men at euerie fountayne. † And when 11 that watch had beene fully kept for twentie dayes, the cesternes fayled, and the collections of waters to al the inhabitantes of Bethulia, so that there was not within the citie, wherof they might be satisfied no not for one day, because water was dayly geuen to the people by measure. † Then al the men, 12 and wemen, yong men, and children, being gathered together to A common frailtie of people in distresse to impute error to their Superiour: though in deede Ozias erred rather in yelding at last to their suggestion v. 2 [...]. then in withstanding thus long. Ozias, al together with one voice, † said: God iudge 13 betwen vs and thee, because thou hast done euil agaynst vs, in that thou wouldest not speake peaceably with the Assyrians, and for this cause God hath sold vs into their handes. † And there is none to helpe, wheras we lye prostrate before 14 their eies in thirst, & great destruction. † And now assemble 15 ye al, that are in the citie, that we may of our owne accord yeld vs al to the people of Holofernes. † For it is better, that 16 captiues we blesse our Lord liuing, then we should die, and be a reproch to al flesh, when we shal see our wiues, and our infantes die before our eies. † We cal to witnes this day heauen 17 and earth, and the God of our fathers, which taketh vengeance of vs according to our sinnes, that now you deliuer [Page 1021] the cirie into the hand of Holofernes armie, that our end may be short in the edge of the sword, which is made longer in the drught of thirst. † And when they had said these thinges, 18 there was made great weeping and howling of al in the assemble, and for manie houres with one voice they cried to God, saying: † We haue sinned with our fathers, we haue 19 done vniustly, we haue committed iniquitie. † Thou because 20 thou art gracious, haue mercie vpon vs, or in thy scourge reuenge our iniquities, and deliuer not them that trust in thee to a people, that knoweth not thee, † that they say not among 21 the Gentiles. Where is their God? † And when they wearied 22 with these cries, and tyred with these weepings, had held their peace, † Ozias rysing vp embrued with teares, said: Be 23 of good chere bretheren, and these fiue daies let vs expect mercie of our Lord. † For peraduenture he wil cut of his indignation, 24 and wil geue glorie to his name. † But if after fiue 25 dates be past there come no aide, we wil doe these wordes, which you haue spoken.

CHAP. VIII. Iudith a most veriuous, rich, fayre, & renowmed widow. 9. rebuketh the high priest and ancientes, for their determination to deliuer the citie, if ayde The third pare Iudith delinereth her whole nation from persecution. come not in fiue dayes, 14. exhorteth al to penance. 28. They al agree to her godlie aduise, 30. praying for good sucesse of her intention, which they yet know not.

AND it came to passe, when Iudith a widow had heard 1 these wordes, which was the daughter of Merari, the sonne of Idox, the sonne of Ioseph, the sonne of Ozias, the sonne of Elai, the sonne of Iamnor, the sonne of Gedeon, the sonne of Raphaim, the sonne of Achitob, the sonne of Melchias, the sonne of Enan, the sonne of Nathanias, the sonne of Salathiel, the sonne of Simeon, the sonne of Israel: † and 2 her husband was Manasses, who died in the daies of barley haruest: † for he was occupied with them that bound sheues 3 in the field, and the heate came vpon his head, and he died in Bethulia his citie, and was buried there with his father. † And 4 Iudith was leaft his widow now three yeares and six monethes. † And in the higher partes of her house she made her 5 self In three special obseruances this holie widow led a most religions life :: In much priuate prayer :: in wearing hearecloth; :: and in much fasting: as it were a perpetual lent, aldayes but Sabbathes, & feastes excepted. a secrete chamber, in which she abode shut vp with her maides, † and hauing :: cloth of heare vpon her loynes, she 6 :: fasted al the daies of her life, but Sabbathes, and the first day of the moneth. newmoones, [Page 1022] and the feastes of the house of Israel. † And she was 7 of an exceding beautiful countenance, to whom her husband had leaft much richesse, and a great familie, and possessions ful of heardes of oxen, and flockes of sheepe. † And she was 8 among al most famous, because she feared our Lord very much, neither was there that spake an il word of her. † When 9 she therfore had heard that Ozias had promised, that after the fifth day were past he would yeld the citie, she sent to the ancientes Chabri and Charmi. † And they came to her, 10 and she said to them: What is this word, wherein Ozias hath consented, to yeld the citie to the Assyrians, if within fiue daies there come no ayde to vs? † And what are you, that 11 tempt our Lord? † This is no word that may prouoke mercie, 12 but rather that may rayse vp wrath, and inflame furie. † You 13 In this especially they offended, that they prefixed a ti [...], meaning then to yeld the citie, for they shold rather haue fought against the enemie, then deliuer Gods people to a tyranne, holie thinges into prophane handes, & by their example put Ierusalem and the temple in like danger. Rabanus. haue set a time for the mercie of our Lord, and according to your pleasure, you haue appointed him a day. † But because 14 our Lord is patient, let vs be penitent for this same thing, and sheding teares let vs desire his pardon: † for not as man, 15 so wil God threaten, neither as the sonne of man wil he be inflamed to anger. † And therfore let vs humble our soules 16 to him, and being setled in an humble spirit, seruing him: † let 17 vs say weeping to our Lord, that according to his wil so he doe his mercie with vs: that as our hart is trubled in their pride, so also we may glorie in our humilitie: † because we 18 haue not folowed the sinnes of our fathers, which forsooke their God, and adored strange goddes, † for which abomination 19 they were geuen into the sword, and into confusion to their enemies: but we know no other God but him. † Let 20 vs humbly expect his consolation, and he wil require our bloud of the afflictions of our enemies, and he wil humble al Nations, what soeuer shal rise vp against vs, and the Lord our God wil make them without honour. † And now bretheren, 21 because you are ancientes in the people of God, and their soules depende of you: by your speach comforte their hartes, that they be mindful, that our fathers were tempted to be proued, whether they did worshippe their God truly. † They must be mindful how our father Abraham was tempted, 22 and by many tribulations proued, was made the freind of God. † So Isaac, so Iacob, so Moyses, & al that haue pleased 23 God, through manie tribulations haue passed faithful. † But they that did not receiue the tentations with the feare 24 [Page 1023] of our Lord, and vttered their impatience and reproch of their murmuring against our Lord, † were destroyed of S. Paul 1. Cor. 10. v. 10. alleaging that happened to the people of Israel in the desert, addeth this word destroyer, which is only in this place, and not Num 11. nor 14 nor els in the old Testamēt. which is an other argumēt that this boke is Canonical. the 25 destroyer, and perished by serpents. † And we therfore let 26 vs not reuenge ourselues for these thinges, which we suffer, † but reputing these verie punishments to be the scourges 27 of our Lord lesse then our sinnes, wherwith as seruantes we are chastised, let vs thinke them to haue chanced to our amendement, and not to our destruction. † And Ozias and 28 the ancientes sayd to her: Al thinges which thou hast spoken, be true, and there is no reprehension in thy wordes. † Now 29 therfore pray for vs, because thou art a holie woman, and fearing God. † And Iudith said to them: As you know, that 30 which I could speake to be of God: † so that which I haue 31 disposed to doe, proue if it be of God, and pray that God establish my counsel. † You shal stand at the gate this night, and 32 I wil goe out with myne Some thinke Abra was a proper name, but whether it was or no, it signifieth an handmaide of more honour as we speake: A maide of honour. abra: and pray ye, that as you haue said, in fiue dayes our Lord respect his people Israel. † But I 33 wil not that you search my doing, and til I bring you word, let nothing els be done, but pray for me to our Lord God. † And Ozias the prince of Iuda said to her: Goe in peace, and 34 our Lord be with thee to the reuenge of our enemies. And returning they departed.

CHAP. IX. Iudith in hearecloth & ashes prayeth for the deliuerie of the people, remembering like benefites of God. 12. craueth powre to ouerthrow Holofernes.

VVHO going away, Iudith Of such priuate oratories as this our Sauiour semeth to speake Mat. 6. saying: F [...]ter into thy chamber &c. Of like oratories among Christians read Card Baronius An. D 293. S. Cyp. ep. 56. went into her oratorie: 1 and clothing her self with hearecloth, put ashes vpon her head: and falling prostrate to our Lord, she cried to our Lord, saying: † Lord God of may father Simeon, who 2 gauest him a sword for defenee against strangers, which were rauishers in their coinquination, and discouered the virgine vnto confusion: † and gauest their wemen into praye, and 3 their daughters into captiuitie: and al the praye to be diuided to thy seruantes, which were zelous in The zele of Simeon and Leui was commendable, but for diuers' euil circumstances the fact was re proued by Iacob. Gen. 34. & 49. thy zele: helpe I bebesech thee ō lord God me a widow. † For thou hast done 4 the thinges heretofore, and hast purposed one thing after an other: and that hath bene done which thou wouldest. † For 5 al thy wayes are readie, and thy iudgementes thou hast put in thy prouidence. † Looke vpon the campe of the Assyrians 6 now, as thou didst voutsafe to see the campe of the Aegyptians, [Page 1024] when they ran armed after thy seruantes, trusting in chariotes, and in their horsemen, and in a multitude of men Ixo. 14. of warre. † But thou didst looke ouer their campe. and darke. 7 nesse wearied them. † The depth held their feete, and the 8 waters ouerwhelmed them. † So let these also be made ô 9 Lord, which trust in their multitude, and in their chariotes, and in pikes, and in shieldes, and in their arrowes, and glorie in their speares, † and know not thy self art our God, which 10 destroyest warres from the beginning, and Lord is thy name. † Lift vp thyne arme as from the beginning, and dash their 11 power in thy power: let their power fal in thy wrath, which promise that they wil violate thy holie thinges, and pollute the tabernacle of thy holie name, & with their sword throw downe the horne of thyne altar. † Bring to passe Lord, that 12 his pride be cut of with his owne sword, † She prayed, that Holofernes should be moued with her beautie, & swete speach: which he might be and not sinne, but he by his free wil sinning God turned his sinne to the good of others. See Annot. Exod. 7. pag. 173. S. Aug. Ser. 228. let him be caught 13 with the snares of his eies in me, and thou shalt strike him from the lippes of my charitie. † Geue me constancie in mind, 14 that I may contemne him: and powre that I may ouerthrow him. † For this shal be a memorial of thy name, when the 15 hand of a woman shal ouerthrow him. † For not in multitude 16 is thy power ô Lord, neither in strength of horses is thy wil, neither haue the proud pleased thee from the beginninge: but the prayer of the humble and meeke hath alwayes pleased thee. † God of the heauens, creatour of the waters, and Lord 17 of euerie creature, heare me wretch, praying and presuming of thy mercie. † Remember Lord thy testament, and geue a 18 word in my mouth, and strengthen counsel in my hart, that thy house may continew in thy sanctification: † and al Nations 19 may acknowledge, that thou art God, and there is no other besides thee.

CHAP. X. Iudith excellently adorned, and very beautiful goeth with her handmaide towards the campe, 11. is taken by the watch, 16. and brought to Holofernes.

AND it came to passe, when she had ceased to crie to our 1 Lord, she rose from the place, wherein she lay prostrate to our Lord. † And she called her See ch. 8. [...]. 32. abra, and going downe 2 into her house she tooke from her the hearecloth, and put of the garmentes of her widowhood, † and washed her bodie, 3 and anoynted her self with ointement, and plaited the heare of her head, and put a crowne vpon her head, and clothed her [Page 1025] self with the garmentes of her ioyfulnes, and put [...]nd [...] [...] ▪ panto [...]es on her feete, and tooke braceletes, and Lilies, and [...]arele [...]es, and ringes, and with al her ornamentes she adorned her self. † To whom also God by this testifie [...] her holie intention in adorning herselfe. our Lord gaue beautie: because al this 4 trimming did not depend of sensualitie, but of vertue: & ther fore our Lord amplified this beautie on her, that she might appeare to al mens eies of incomparable comlines. † She therfore 5 layd vpon her abra Not only certaine meates were forbid by the law Leuis. 11. but in maner al the meates of the Gentiles were vnlawful being offered to idoles, for which cause Daniel and the three children would not eate of the kings meates in Babylon. Dan 1. a bottel of wyne, and a vēssel of oyle, and Stiped barley. polent, and drie figges, and bread, and cheese, and went foreward. † And when they were come to the gate of 6 the citie, they found Ozias expecting, and the ancientes of the citie. † Who when they saw her, being astonished maruailed 7 at her beautie exceedingly, † Yet asking her no question, 8 they let her passe, saying: The God of our fathers geue thee grace, and strengthen al the counsel of thy hart, with his powre, that Ierusalem may glorie vpon thee, and thy name may be in the number of the holie and iust. † And they that 9 were there said, al with one voyce: So be it, so be it. † But 10 Iudith praying our Lord, passed through the gates she and her Abra. † And it came to passe, when she went downe the 11 hil, about breake of day the watchmen of the Assyrians mette her, and held her, saying: whence comest thou? or whither goest thou? † Who answered, I am a daughter of the Hebrews, 12 therfore am I fled from their face, She told manie thing [...] cuidently true, other things conditionally, as it was like to come to passe, if God sent not better meane [...]. because I knew it should come to passe, that they should be geuen you vnto spoyle, because that contemning you, they would not of their owne accord yeld themselues, that they might find mercie in your sight. † For this cause I thought with my self, saying: I wil 13 goe to the presence of the prince Holofernes, that I may tel him their secretes, and shew him by what entrance he may winne them, so that there shal not fal one man of his armie. † And when those men had heard her wordes, they considered 14 her face, and she was a wonder in their eies, for they marueiled at her beautie excedingly. † And they said to her: 15 Thou hast saued thy life, in that thou hast found such counsel, that thou wouldest come downe to our lord. † And this 16 know thou, that when thou shalt stand in his sight, he wil deale wel with thee, and thou shalt be most gratious in his hart. And they brought her to the tabernacle of Holofernes, telling him of her. † And when she was entered before his 17 face, forth with Holofernes was caught in his eies. † And his 18 [Page 1026] guard said to him: who can contemne the people of the Hebrewes, which haue S. [...]ulgentius probably iudgeth that Iudith was now about fourtie yeares old. Epist. 2. cap. 6. so beautiful wemē, that we should not worthely fight against them for these? † Iudith therfore seeing 19 Holofernes sitting in a canopie, which was wouen of purple, and gold, and emerauld, and pretious stones: † and 20 when she had looked in his face, she adored him, falling prostrate vpon the ground. And the seruantes of Holofernes lifted her vp, their lord commanding it.

CHAP. XI. Holofernes demanding Iudith the cause of her coming: 4, she deceiueth him with a probable narration.

THEN Holofernes said to her: Be of good chere, and 1 feare not in thy hart: because I haue neuer hurt man, that would serue Nabuchodonosor the king. † And thy people, 2 if they had not contemned me, I would neuer haue lifted vp my speare ouer them. † But now tel me, for what cause hast 3 thou departed from them, and it hath pleased thee to come to vs? † And Iudith said to him: Al that Iudith sayth is true in her sense as she meant it, but not in the vnderstanding of Holofernes and his souldiars, yet was no lesse lawful then that Iosue did in de [...]euing the citezenes of Hay. Iosue 8. S. Aug. q. 10. in Iosue. Take the wordes of thy handmayde, 4 for if thou wilt folow the wordes of thy handmayde, our Lord wil do with thee a perfect thing. † For Nabuchodonosor 5 the king of the earth liueth, and his power liueth which is in thee to the chastising of al straying soules: that not onlie men serue him by thee, but also the beastes of the field obey him. † For the industrie of thy mind is reported to 6 al nations, and it is declared to al the world, that thou onlie art good, and mightie in al his kingdom, and thy discipline is bruted to al prouinces. † Neither is that vnknowne, which 7 Achior spake, neither are we ignorant of that thou hast commanded to come vpon him. † For it is certaine that our God 8 is so offended with sinnes, that he hath sent word by his prophetes to the people, that he wil deliuer them for their sinnes. † And because the children of Israel know they offended 9 their God, thy dread is vpon them. † Moreouer also famine 10 hath inuaded them, and for drought of water they are now estemed among the dead. † Finally they ordayne this, to 11 kil their cattel, and to drinke the bloud of them, † and the 12 holie thinges of our Lord their God which God commanded not to be touched, in corne, wine, and oile, these haue they purposed to bestow, and they wil consume the thinges which they ought not to touch with their handes: therfore because [Page 1027] they do these thinges, it is sure that they shal be geuen into perdition. † Which I thy handmayde knowing, am 13 fled from them, and our Lord hath sent me to tel thee these verie thinges. † For I thy handmayde worshippe God, euen 14 now being with thee, and thy handmayde wil goe forth, and I wil pray God, † and he wil tel me when he wil repay them 15 their sinnes, and I coming wil tel thee, so that I may bring thee through the middes of Ierusalem, and thou shalt haue al the people of Israel, as sheepe, that haue no pastor, and there shal not so much as one dog barke against thee: † because 16 these thinges are told me by the prouidence of God. † And 17 because God is angrie with them, I am sent to tel these vetie thinges to thee. † And al these wordes pleased Holofernes, 18 and his seruantes, and they maruailed at her wisedom, and one said to an other: † There is not such a woman vpon the 19 earth in looke, in beautie, and in sense of wordes. † And Holofernes 20 sayd to her: God hath done wel, which sent thee before the people, that thou mightest geue them into our handes: † and because thy promise is good, if thy God shal doe 21 this for me, he shal also be my God, and thou shalt be great in the house of Nabuchodonosor, and thy name shal be renowmed in al the earth.

CHAP. XII. Iudith is brought into Holofernes treasurehouse, 2. hath leaue to abstaine from the Gentils meates, 5. and to goe forth in the night to pray. 10. The fourth day she cometh to Holofernes banket; 16, he is taken with concuspiscence, and drinketh very much wine.

THEN he bad her goe in where his treasures were layd 1 vp, and bad her tarie there, and he appoynted what should be geuen her of his owne banket. † To whom Iudith 2 answered, and said: Now See chap. 10▪ v. 5. I can not eate of these thinges, which thou commandest to be geuen me, lest there come displeasure vpon me: but I wil eate of these thinges, which I haue brought. † To whom Holofernes said: If these thinges 3 which thou hast brought with thee shal fayle thee, what shal we doe to thee. † And Iudith said: Thy soule liueth my 4 lord, that thy handmayde shal not spend al these thinges, til God doe by my hand these thinges, which I haue purposed. And his seruantes brought her into the tabernacle, which he had commanded. † And whiles she went in, she desired that 5 [Page 1028] she might haue licence to goe forth, in the night and before day to prayer, and to besech our Lord. † And he commanded 6 his chamberlaynes, that as it pleased her, she should goe out & come in to adore her God for three dayes. † And she went 7 forth in the nightes into the vale of Bethulia, and washed her self in a fountaine of water. † And as she came vp, she prayed 8 our Lord the God of Israel, that he would direct her way to the deliuerie of his people. † And going in, she remayned 9 This puritie confisted in abstaining from meates forbid by the Law, or offered to Idoles. pure in the tabernacle, vntil she tooke her owne meate in the euening. † And it came to passe in the fourth day, Holofernes 10 made a supper to his seruantes, and sayd to Vagao his eunuch: Goe, and perswade that Hebrew woman, that she consent of her owne accord to dwel with me. † For it is a 11 foule thing with the Assyrians, if a woman mocke a man in doing, that she passe free from him. † Then Vagao went in to 12 Iudith, & said: Let not the good P [...]ell [...]. yong maide feare to goe in to my Lord, that she may be honoured before his face, that she may eate with him and drinke wine in ioyfulnes. † To 13 whom Iudith answered: Who am I, that I should gaynesay my lord? † Al that shal be good and best before his eies, wil I doe. 14 And whatsoeuer shal please him, that shal be best to me al the dayes of my life. † And she arose, and decked herself with 15 her garmentes, and going in she stood before his face. † And 16 the hart of Holofernes was strooken: for he burnt in the concupiscence of her. † And Holofernes said to her: Drinke now, 17 and sit downe in ioyfulnes, because thou hast found grace before me. † And Iudith said: I wil drinke my lord, because my 18 soule is magnified this day aboue al my dayes. † And she 19 tooke, and did eate, and dranke before him those thinges, which her handmayde had prepared her. † And Holofernes 20 was made pleasant toward her, and dranke wine exceeding much, so much as he had neuer drunke in his life?

CHAP. XIII. Holofernes lying in a druncken sleepe, Iudith cutleth of his head, 12. so returneth with her m [...]de through the gard, as it were to pray, cometh to Bethulia, 16. exhorteth al to thinke God, and sheweth them the head. 22. She is blessed of al. 27. Achior also praiseth God and Iudith.

AND when it was waxen late, his seruantes made hast to 1 their lodgings, and Vagao shut the chamber doores, and went his way. † And they were al ouerladen with wine. 2 [Page 1029] † And Iudith was alone in the chamber. † Moreouer Holofernes 4 lay in his bed, fast a slepe with very much The s [...]s [...]ing of one woman ouer [...]h [...]ew an innumerable host of dr [...] ka [...]d [...], [...] Amb. li. [...] [...] & El [...]. c. 9. drunkennes. † And Iudith said to her mayd that she should stand without 5 before the chamber, and watch. † And Iudith stood 6 before the bed, praying with teares, and with mouing of her lippes in silence, † saying: Confirme me o Lord God of Israel, 7 and in this houre haue respect to the workes of my handes, that as thou hast promised, thou mayst aduance If Bethulia had benne taken Ierusalem also had b [...]u [...] in extreme danger: sor [...] wherof God had made more special promise to Dauid and others. Isa [...]. 37 38. &c Ierusalem thy citie: and I may bring to passe that which I beleuing that it may be done by thee, haue purposed. † And when she had 8 sayd these thinges, she went to the piller, that was at his beds head, and his sword that hong tyed on it, she loosed. † And 9 when she had drawen it out, she tooke him by the heare of his head, and sayd: Confirme me ô Lord God in this houre, † and 10 she stroke twise vpon his necke, and cut of his head, and tooke his canopie from the pillers, and rolled aside his bodie a truncke. † And after a while she went out, and deliuered 11 the head of Holofernes to her mayde, and bad her put it into her wallet. † And they two went forth, according to their 12 custome, as it were to prayer, and they passed the campe, and compassing the valley, they came to the gate of the citie. † And Iudith a far of said to the keepers of the walles: Open 13 the gates, because God is with vs, which hath wrought power in Israel. † And it came to passe, when the men had heard her 14 voyce, they called the ancientes of the citie. † And they ran 15 al to meete her, from the least to the greatest: because they hoped not that now she would come. † And they lighting 16 lightes gathered round about her euerie one: and she going vp into a higher place, commanded silence to be made. And when al had held their peace, † Iudith said: Prayse yee the 17 Lord our God, who hath not forsaken them that hope in him: † and in me his handmayde he hath sulfilled his mercie, 18 which he promised to the house of Israel: and he hath killed by my hand the enemie of his people this night. † And bringing 19 forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet, she shewed it them, saying: Loe the head of Holofernes the general of the armie of the Assyrians, and behold his canopie, wherein he lay in his drunkennes, where the Lord our God stroke him by the hand of a woman. † But the same our Lord 20 liueth, that his Iudiths [...]ope [...] Aug [...] defended her, as Iacob [...] [...] gel deliuered him from all euiles▪ [...]. 48. Angel hath kept me, both going hence, and abyding there, and from thence returning hither: and our [Page 1030] Lord hath not suffered me his handmayde to be defyled, but without pollution of sinne he hath called me backe to you, reioysing in this victorie, in my escape, and in your deliuerie. † Confesse ye al to him, because he is good, because his mercie 21 is for euer. † And they al adoring our Lord, said to her: 22 Our Lord hath blessed thee in his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies to nothing. † Moreouer Ozias the 23 prince of the people of Israel, said to her: Blessed art thou daughter of our Lord the high God aboue al wemen vpon the earth. † Blessed be our Lord, which made heauen and 24 earth, which hath directed thee vnto the woundes of the head of the prince of our enemies. † Because this day he hath 25 so magnified thy name, that they prayse shal not depart out of the mouth of men, which shal be mindeful of the power of our Lord for euer, for that thou hast thy life for the distresses and tribulation of thy kinred, but hast holpen the ruine before the presence of our God. † And al the people 26 sayd: So be it, so be it. † Moreouer Achior being called came, 27 and Iudith said to him: The God of Israel, to whom thou gauest testimonie, that he reuengeth him self of his enemies, he hath cut of the head of al the vnfaithful this night by my hand. † And that thou mayst proue that it is so, loe the head 28 of Holofernes, who in the contempt of his pride contemned the God of Israel: and threatened thee death, saying: When the people of Israel shal be taken, I wil command thy sides to be pearsed with a sword. † But Achior seing the head of 29 Holofernes, being in anguish for feare, fel on his face vpon the earth, and his soule was sore trubled. † But after taking 30 spirit agayne he was refreshed, & fel downe at her feete, and adored her, and sayd: † Blessed art thou of thy God in euerie 31 tabernacle of Iacob, because in euerie nation, which shal heare thy name, the God of Israel shal be magnified in thee.

CHAP. XIIII. Holofernes head is hanged on the wall. 6. Achior is circumcised, 7. The Israeelites assault the Assyrians, 8. who going to awake their General, 14. finde him slaine, 17, and are al confounded with feare.

AND Iudith said to al the people: Heare me brethren, 1 hang ye this head vpon our walles: † and it shal be, 2 when the sunne shal rise, let euerie man take his armour, and yssue ye forth with violence, not that you goe downe [Page 1031] beneath, but as it were inuading violently. † Then the watchmen 3 must of necessitie runne to rayse vp their prince to battel. † And when the captaynces of them shal runne to the tabernacle 4 of Holofernes, and shal finde him headles rowled in bloud, feare wil fal vpon them. † And when you shal know 5 that they flee, goe after them securely, because our Lord wil destroy them vnder your feete. † Then Achior an Ammonite. ( ch. 5. v. 5.) being truly conuerted and beleeuing in God, was admitted into the Church, notwithstanding that Ammonites and Moabites were excluded by name, Deut. 23. v. 3. which is therfore ment only of those that persist impenitent and obstinate. Achior seeing the 6 power, that God of Israel wrought, forsaking the rite of gentilitie, beleued God, and circuncided the flesh of his prepuce, and was ioyned to the people of Israel, and al the succession of his kinred vntil this present day. † And immediatly 7 as day brake, they hong the head of Holofernes vpon the walles, and euerie man tooke his armour, and they went forth with great noyse and shouting. † Which the watchmen 8 seing, ranne to the tabernacle of Holofernes. † Moreouer 9 they that were in the tabernacle, coming, and before the dore of the tabernacle making a noyse, to rayse him, they endeuored by art to disquiet him, that Holofernes might awake not by them raysing him, but by them making a noyse. † For no man durst by knocking, or entring, to open the 10 chamber of the chiefe of the Assyrians. † But when his dukes 11 and tribunes were come, and al the chiefe of the armie of the king of the Assyrians, they said to the chamberlayns: † Goe 12 in, and awake him, becaufe the mice yssuing out of their holes, haue presumed to prouoke vs to battel. † Then Vagao 13 entring into his chamber, stoode before the cortine, and made a clapping with his handes: for he thought that he slept with Iudith. † But when with the sense of his eares he percieued 14 no motion of person lying, he came neere to the cortine, and lifting it vp, and seing the bodie without the head of Holofernes weltred in his bloud lye vpon the ground, cried out in a lowd voyce with weeping, and rent his garmentes. † And going into the tabernacle of Iudith, he found 15 her not, and he lept forth to the people, † and sayd: One Hebrewe 16 woman hath made confusion in the house of king Nabuchodonosor: for behold Holofernes lyeth vpon the ground, and his head is not vpon him. † Which when the 17 princes of the power of the Assyrians had heard, they al rent their garmentes, and intollerable feare and dread fel vpon them, and theit mindes were trubled excedingly. † And 18 there was made an incomparable crie in the middes of their campe.

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CHAP. XV. The Assyrians flee for feare, 3. the Hebrewes pursue them, 7. and are enriched by the spoyles. 9. The high priest with others come from Ierusalem and prayse Iudith. 14. The goodes of Holofernes are genen so her.

AND when al the armie heard that Holofernes was beheaded, 1 courage and counsel fel from them, and being shaken with trembling onlie and feare, they helpe them selues by flight, † so that none spake with his neighbour, but hanging 2 the head, al thinges leaft behind, they made hast to escape the Hebrewes, whom they heard to come armed vpon them, fleing by the waies of the fieldes, and the pathes of the hilles. † The children of Israel therfore seing them fleing, 3 folowed them. And they went downe sounding with trumpettes, and shouting after them. † And because the Assyrians 4 were not vnited together, they went headlong into flight: but the children of Israel pursewing in one companie, discomfited al that they could find. † Ozias therfore sent messengers 5 through al the cities and countries of Israel. † Euerie 6 countrie therfore, and euerie citie sent chosen youth armed after them, and they pursewed them in the edge of the sword, vntil they came to the extremetie of their borders. † And the rest that were in Bethulia, entered into the campe 7 of the Assyrians, and tooke away the praye, which the Assyrians fleing had leaft, and were loden excedingly. † But they 8 that were returned conquerers to Bethulia, tooke away with them al thinges that were theirs, so that there was no number in cattel, and beastes, and al their moueables, that from the leaft vnto the greatest al were made rich of their prayes. † And Ioachim the high Priest came from Ierusalem into 9 The fourt part The prayses of Iudith, who with al the people praise God. Bethulia with al his ancientes to see Iudith. † Who when 10 she was come out to him, they al blessed her with one voyce, saying: Iudith was a special figure of the B. Virgine Marie, to whom these praises perteyne in more eminent sorte, then to anic other creature. S. [...] ▪ bert [...]s Carnete [...]sis. Thou art the glorie of Ierusalem, thou the ioy of Israel, thou the honour of our people: † because thou hast 11 done manfully, and thy hart was strengthened, for that thou hast loued chastirie, and after thy husband not knowne any other: therfore also the hand of our Lord hath strengthened thee, and therfore shalt thou be blessed for euer. † And al the 12 people sayd: So be it, so be it. † And for thirtie daies, scarse 13 were the spoyles of the Assyrians gathered of the people of Israel. † Moreouer al thinges, that were proued to be the peculiar 14 [Page 1033] goodes of Holofernes, they gaue to Iudith in gold, and siluer, and garmentes, and pretious stones, and al stuffe, and al the thinges were deliuered her of the people. † And al 15 the people reioysed with wemen, and virgins, and yongmen, on instrumentes and harpes.

CHAP. XVI. Iudith singeth a canticle of thanks geuing to our Lord. 22. The people goe to Ierusalem and offer sacrifices. 25. She in great honour liueth a widow til her death in good old age. 30. the people haue long peace, and a fea [...]ual day is instituted in perpetual memorie of her fact.

THEN sang Iudith this song to our Lord, saying: † Beginne 1 ye to our Lord in timbrels, sing ye to our Lord in 2 cymbals, tune to him a new psalme, reioyse, and inuocate his name. † S. Ephre [...] ser. de 2. A [...] [...]ontu, citeth this place as holie scripture so testifying this booke to be canonica [...]. Our Lord confoundeth battels, Lord is his 3 name. † Who hath set his campe in the middes of his people, 4 that he might deliuer vs from the hand of al our enemies. † Assur came out of the mountaynes from the North in the 5 multitude of his strength: whose multitude stopped vp the torrentes, and their horses couered the valles. † He said that 6 he would set my borders on fyre, and kil my yongmen with the sword, to geue my infantes into praye, and virgins into captiuitie. † But our Lord omnipotent hath hurt him, 7 and hath deliuered him into the hands of a woman, and hath pearsed him. † For, not by yongmen is their mightie one 8 fallen, neither haue the sonnes of Such giantes as were before Noes floud, Gen. 6. Titan strooken him, neither did the high Nor such as were after, Num. 1 [...]. Deut. [...] giantes set them selues vpon him, but Iudith the daughter of Merari in the beautie of her face dissolued him. † For she put from her the garmentes of widowhood, 9 and put on her the garmentes of ioy, in the reioysing of the children of Israel. † She anoynted her face with oyntment, 10 and tyed together her lockes with a crowne, she tooke a new stole to deceiue him. † Her sandals rauished his 11 eies, her beautie made his soule captiue, she with a sword cut of his head. † The Persians did quake at her constancie, and 12 the Medes at her boldnesse. † Then did the campe of the 13 Assyrians howle, when my humble ones appeared, withering in thirst. † The sonnes of yongwemen haue pearsed them, 14 and they haue killed them as boyes fleing away: they haue perished in battel before the face of the Lord my God. † Let 15 vs sing an hymne to our Lord, let vs sing a new hymne to our [Page 1034] God. † Adonai ô Lord great art thou, and noble in thy power, 16 and whom no man can ouercome. † Let euerie creature of 17 thyne serue thee: because thou saydst, and they were made: thou didst send thy spirit, and they were created, and there is none that can resist thy voyce. † The mountaynes with the 18 waters shal be moued with the foundations: the rockes shal melt as waxe before thy face. † But they that feare thee, shal 19 be great with thee in al thinges. † Wo be to the nation, that 20 ryseth vp vpon my kinred: for our Lord omnipotent wil be reuenged on them, in the day of iudgement he wil visite them. † For he wil geue Euerlasting torments of fire & wormes perteyne to the damned bodies. S. Aug. li. 21. c. 4. ets. [...]uit. and greater paines to the damned soules, especially the losse of Gods vision fyre, and wormes into their flesh, 21 that they may be burnt, and may feele for euer. † And it came 22 to passe after these thinges, al the people after the victorie came into Ierusalem to adore our Lord: and forthwith as they were purified, they al offered holocaustes, and vowes, and their promises. † Moreouer Iudith offered for an anathema 23 of obliuion al the instrumentes of warre of Holofernes, which the people gaue her, and the canopie that her self had taken away out of his chamber. † And the people was pleasant 24 according to the face of sainctes, and for three monethes the ioy of this victorie was celebrated with Iudith. † And after 25 those daies euerie man returned into his house, and Iudith was made great in Bethulia, and she was more glorious to al the land of Israel. † There was also chastitie ioyned to her 26 vertue, In the Greke [...] 11. Manie de [...]red her to mariage. so that she knew not man al the daies of her life, “after that Manasses her husband was dead. † And on festiual 27 daies she came forth with great glorie. † And she abode in 28 her husbands house, Liuing in al 105. yeares she was widow about sixtie nine▪ for when she slew Holofernes she was about fourtie yeares old ch. 10. v. 18 and her husband was then dead three yeares and a halfe before. [...]h. 8. v. 4. an hundred fiue yeares, and dismist her abra free, and she died and was buried with her husband in Bethulia. † And al the people mourned for her seuen dayes. 29 † And in al the space of her life there was not that trubled 30 Israel, and after her death manie yeares. † But the day of the 31 festiuitie of this victorie is receiued of the Hebrewes in the number of holie daies, and is worshiped of the Iewes from that time vntil this present day.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVI.

26. After that her husband vvas dead [As yong Toblas and Sara were notable patterns to maried persons▪ so Iudith is a like good example to deuout Iudith an example of holie widowhood. widowes, excelling most partin manie respectes. For first she professed this holie state of life in the old Testament, when it was most rare, the law prouiding [Page 1035] that the brother, or next kinsman, should marie the widow of him, that Manie incitementes concurring to the contrarie made her widowhood more excellent. died without children, as it semeth she had none, the Greke text affirming that Deu. 25. v 5. Ruth. 3. v. 12. she gaue al her goodes before her death to other kinred. ch. 16. v. 24. Secondly▪ she was only once maried, ch. 15. v. 13. ch. 16. v. 26. wheras, it is also commendable after twise or oftenner mariage at last to abstaine. Thirdly, she was yong, about 36. yeares: for three yeares and a half after that her husband was dead, she was called a yong maide, ch. 12. v. 12. Fourtly, she was of excellent beautie, ch. 8 v. 7. Fiftly exceeding rich. ibidem. Sixtly, very noble, especially after the deliuerie of the people from such distresse. ch. 15. v. 10. Seuently, for this renowmed fact, and for her other great vertue ( ch. 8. v. 8) manie principal men desired to marie her, ch. 16. v. 22 Eightly, al the people wished much issue of so noble a stock. ch. 16. v. 25. Nintly, she liued long in the state of widowhood, about threescore and nine yeares, from. 36. to 105, ch. 16. v. 28. Tently, there was great and long peace in al Israel, after that she had releeued Bethulia. ch. 16. v. 30. Al which might easely haue inuited an other to haue maried: but her great deuotion, and feruent desire to serue God in a retired widowhood an Euangelical counsell. austere life, fasting. & praying, ch. 8. v. 6. cutte of al incitements to mariage, and made her before the Gospel, to embrace Euangelical counsel, not commanded, but for better attaining to perfecton counseled by our Sauior and S. Paul. Mat. 19. 1. Cor. 7.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF ESTHER.

OF the authoritie of this booke only two or three ancient writers, Melite S. Atha. S. Greg. Nazian. Origen apud Euseb. lib 6. c. 25. hist. This whole booke is canonical. doubted, before the councels of Laodicea, and Carthage declared it to be Canonical, Al the rest did euer esteme it as diuine Scripture. For albeit S. Ierom in his time found not certaine partes therof in the Hebrew, and therfore transposed the same to the end of the booke, as now we haue them: yet in the Greeke he found al these sixtenne chapters conteyned in tenne. And it is not vnprobable, that these parcels were sometimes in the Hebrew, as were diuers whole bookes which are now lost. But whether they were at anie time in the Hebrew or no, the Church of Christ accounteth the whole Booke of infallible authoritie, reading as wel these partes, as the rest in her publique office. And the councel of Trent (sess. 4.) For more expresse declaration defiueth that al the bookes recited in the same Decree (amongst which is Esther) with al the partes therof, as they are accustomed to be read in the Catholique Church, and be conteyned in the old vulgare latin Edition, are sacred and Canonical Scripture.

It conteyneth a particular great danger of the people of Israel, hapening (as The contentes is probable) shortly after their general relaxation, & returne of some from the captiuitie of Babylon; and their deliuere from it, through the godlie Zele and other vertues of Quene Esther, directed herein by Mardocheus, who being also VVritten by Mardocheus in imminent danger was deliuered & aduanced. and finally writ the historie. [Page 1036] which may be diuided into foure partes, not by order of the chapters: as hey are here transposed: but in order of time, first the author reporteth some Diuided into [...]ure partes. thinges going before the peoples danger, in the 11. 1. 2. 12. chapters, and part of the 3. Secondly their danger and distresse, in the rest of the 3. and part of 13. chapters. Thirdly their deliuerie: from the 4. chapter to the middes of the. 9. and rest of the 13. and in the 14. 15. and 16. Fourtly, the thinges that ensued hereupon, in the other half of the ninth chapter, the 10. chapter, and first verse of the eleuenth.

VVho soeuer vvil please to read this historie, in order of the time as the thinges happened, adioyning the latter chapters, vvhich are in the Greke, and not in the Hebrevv, may folovve the letters of the Alphabet, as here vve haue placed them in the margent, beginning at the second verse of the 11. chapter, vvhere he findeth the letter A. and vvhen he cometh to B. returne vvhere the same letter is noted. ch. 1. And so in the rest folovv the same direction.

THE BOOKE OF ESTHER This booke is read at mattins the last weeke of September.

CHAP. I. King Assuerus celebrateth a great banket to shew his glorie, 10. calleth quene Vasthi therto. who refusing to come, is by aduise of his counsel deposed.

IN the daies of Assuerus, who reigned from India 1 The first part beginneth in the 11. ch. A B vnto Aethiopia ouer an hundred twentie seuen prouinces: † when he sate in the throne of his kingdō, 2 the citie Susá was in the begynning of his kingdom. † In the third yeare therfore of his empyre he made a great 3 feast to al the princes, and to his seruantes, to the most valiant of the Persians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the rulers of the prouinces in his sight, † that he might shew the riches of 4 the glorie of his kingdom, and the greatnes, & vaunting of his might, a great time, to witte, an hundred & foure score dayes. 5 † And when the daies of the feast were accomplished, he inuited al people, that was found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and commanded seuen daies a feast to be prepared in the entrance of the garden, and of the wood, which was planted with royal garnishing and with hand. † And there 6 hong on euerie side hangings of skie colour, and grene, and hyacinthine colour, held vp with cordes of silke, and of purple, which were put into rings of yuorie, and were held vp [Page 1037] with marble pillers. Beddes also of gold and siluer, were placed in order vpon the floore paued with the emerauld, and the touch stone: which paynting adorned with meruelous varietie. † And they that were inuited, dranke in golden cuppes, 7 and the meates were brought in change of vessels. Wine also plenteous and the best was set downe, as was worthie of a kings magnificence. † Modestie and temperance amongst heathen people condemneth Christianes that vrge men to drinke immoderatly, and so cause them to be drunke. S. Au. Ser. 231. [...]32▪ de tempore. Neither was there that compelled 8 them to drinke that would not, but as the king had appointed, making ech of his princes ouerseer of euerie table, that euerie man might take what he would. † Vasthi also 9 the queene made a feast for the wemen in the palace, where king Assuerus had accustomed to remayne. † Therfore the 10 seuenth day, when the king was merier, and after very much drinking was wel warmed with wine, he commanded M [...]umam, and Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and Charchas, the seuen eunuches, that ministred in his sight, † that they should bring in queene Vasthi before 11 the king, the crowne set vpon her head, that he might shew her beautie to al the peoples and princes: for she was exceding beautiful. † Who refused, and contemned to come at the 12 kings commandment, which he had commanded by the eunuches. Wherupon the king being wrath, and chaffed with :: exceding furie, († asked the wisemen, which after the manner 13 The end of immoderate feasting is commonly browling. Here the king became furious, and the queene was diuorsed from him. of a king were alwayes present with him, and he did al thinges by their counsel, which knew the lawes, and rightes of the elders: † (and the chiefe and nearest him were, Charsena, 14 and Sethar, and Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Mamuchan, seuen dukes of the Persians, and of the Medes, which saw the face of the king, and were wont to sitt first after him) † to what sentence Vasthi the queene 15 should be subiect, that would not do Assuerus the kings commandment, which he had commanded by [...]he eunuches. † And Mamuchan answered, the king hearing, and the princes: 16 Brentius approueth the sentence of this parasice, but Iosephus. li. 11 c 6. Macrobius. li 7. c. 1. Saturn. S. Ierom ad Rustic. and S. Ambrose. l. de. [...]h [...] c. 14 iudge the queenes refusal lawful, and agreable to the Persians lawes, which prohibited maried we [...] to come in sight of other men in great assemblies: neither had the king iust cause to break that law, for pleasing his phansie in his drunken humour. v. 10. Luther also wresteth this example in fanoure of adulterie, par. 2. de diuortio. folio 177. Editionis [...]itenber. [...]. 1553. Queene Vasthi hath not only hurt the king, but also al peoples, and princes, that are in al the prouinces of king Assuerus. † For the word of the queene wil goe forth to al 17 wemen, that they wil contemne their husbands, and wil say: King Assuerus commanded that the queene Vasthi should come in to him, and she would not. † And by this example al 18 the wiues of the princes of the Persians and the Medes, wil little esteeme the commandmentes of their husbandes: [Page 1038] wherfore the kings indignation is iust. † If it please thee, let 19 an edict goe forth from thy face, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and of Medes, which is not lawful to be transgressed, that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but an other, that is better then she, take her kingdome. † And let this be published into al the empire of thy 20 prouinces (which is most large) and let al the wiues, as wel of the greater as of the lesser geue honour to their husbandes. † His counsel pleased the king, and the princes: and the king 21 did according to the counsel of Mamuchan, † and he sent 22 letters to al the prouinces of his kingdome, as euerie nation could heare and reade, in diuers languages and characters, that the husbandes should be princes and maisters in their houses: and that this should be published through al peoples.

CHAP. II. Inquirie being made of the best and fairest virgines, (5. Esther the vnknowe neece of Mardocheus a [...]ew) is preferred, 18. and made Queene in place of Vasthi; a mariage feast made, and presentes geuen. 21) Mardocheus detecteth traitors, and his seruice is recorded in the regester.

THESE thinges so done, after the indignation of king 1 Assuerus was asswaged, he remembred Vasthi, and what she had done, or what she had suffered: † and the kings seruantes 2 and his ministers said: Let there be maydens sought for the king, virgins and beautiful, † and let there be sent 3 that may viewe through al prouinces beautiful maydens and virgins: and let them bring them to the citie of Susan, and deliuer them into the house of wemen vnder the hand of Egeus the eunuch, who is ouerseer of the kings wemen: and let them receiue wemens ornamentes, and other things necessarie to be vsed. † And which so euer among al shal please 4 the kings eies, let her reigne for Vasthi. The word pleased the king: and so as they had suggested, he commanded to be done. † There was a man in the citie of Susan a Iew, named 5 Mardocheus, the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Semei, the sonne of Cis, of the stocke of Iemini, † who had beene transported 6 from Ierusalem the same time, that Nabucodonosor the king 4▪ Reg. 24. of Babylon transported Iechonias the king of Iuda, † who 7 was the foster father of his brothers daughter Edissa, which by an other name was called Esther: and she had lost both her parentes: exceeding beautiful, and of comely face. And her [Page 1039] father and mother being dead, Mardocheus adopted her for his daughter. † And when the kings commandment was 8 bruited abrode, and according to his commandement many fayre virgins were brought to Susan, and were deliuered to Fgeus the eunuch: Deut. [...]. v. 3. Israelites are forbid to marie with Gentiles, yet when there was no danger to be peruerted, and great hope of good, Esther by Mardocheus counsel consented to marie king Assuerus, though otherwise she detested the bed of the incircumcised, and of euerie stranger, [...]h 14. v. 15. K. Dauid also maried the kings daughter of Gessu [...]. 2. Reg. 3. v. 3. Esther also among the rest of the maydens was deliuered to him, that she might be kept in the number of the wemen. † Who pleased him, and found grace in his 9 sight. And he commanded the eunuch, that he should hasten the wemens ornamentes, and should deliuer▪ her, her partes, & seuen the most beautiful maydens of the kings house, and should adorne and decke both her and her wayting maydes. † Who would not tel him her people and countrie. For Mardocheus 10 had commanded her, that of this thing she should altogether keepe silence: † who walked daily before the entrance 11 of the house, wherin the chosen virgins were kept, taking care of Esthers welfare, and desirous to know what should chance vnto her. † And when the time of euerie virgin 12 in order was come, that they should goe in to the king, al things accomplished that perteyned to wemens ornamentes, it was the twelfth moneth: yet so, that for six monethes they were anoynted with oyle of myrtle, and other six monethes they vsed certayne payntings and sweete spices. † And going 13 in to the king, what soeuer they asked that perteyned to adorning they receiued: and being trimmed, as it pleased them, they passed from the chamber of the wemen to the kings chamber. † And she that went in at euening, came out 14 in the morning, and from thence she was brought to the second house, that was vnder the hand of Susagazus the cunuch, who was chiefe ouer the kings concubines: neither had she power to returne any more to the king, vnlesse the king had willed, and had commanded her to come by name▪ † And the time by order coming about, the day was at hand, 15 that Esther the daughter of Abihail the brother of Mardocheus, whom he had adopted for his daughter, should goe in to the king. Who sought not wemens ornamentes, but whatsoeuer Egeus the eunuch the keper of the virgins would, those things he gaue her to her adorning. For she was exceding fayre, and of incredible beautie, she semed to al mens eies gratious and amiable. † She therfore was brought to the 16 chamber of king Assuerus the tenth moneth, which is called Tebeth, in the seuenth yeare of his reigne▪ † And the 17 [Page 1040] king loued her more then al the wemen, and she had grace and mercie before him aboue al the wemen, and he put the crowne of the kingdom on her head, and made her reigne in steede of Vasthi. † And he commanded a verie magnifical 18 feast to be prepared to al the princes, and to his seruantes, for the coniunction, and mariage of Esther. And he gaue rest to al the prouinces, and bestowed giftes according to princely magnificence. † And when virgins were sought the second 19 time and gathered together, Mardocheus taried at the kings gate, † neither had Esther as yet vttered her countrie, & people, 20 according to his cōmandment. For what soeuer he commanded, Esther obserued: and she did al thinges so as she was wont at that time, when he nourished her a litle one. † At 21 that time therfore, when Mardocheus abode at the kings gate, Bagathan, and Thares were angrie, two of the kings eunuches, that were porters, and were chiefe in the first entrie of the palace: and they would make insurrection against the king, and kil him. † Wherof Mardocheus Mardocheus hearing suspicious wordes and obseruing their actions sawe that they intended euel and informed the King, wherby their [...]eson was disouered. Rab. [...]alom. & Iosep. gotte 22 notice, and immediatly he told it to queene Esther: and she to the king in the name of Mardocheus, who had reported the thing vnto her. † It was examined, and found: and they were 23 both hanged on a gibbet. And it was put in the histories, and registred in the cronicles before the king. C ch. 12. v. 1.

CHAP. III. Aman aduanced by the king, is much offended that Mardocheus doth not adore him. 6. and therfore procureth the kings decree, to destroy the whole nation of Iewes.

AFTER these things king Assuerus aduanced Aman the 1 D sonne of Amadathi, which was of the stocke of Agag: & he put his throne aboue al the princes which he had. † And 2 al the kings seruantes, that were in the doores of his pallace, bowed their knees, and adored Aman: for so the emperour had commanded them, Aman exacted such honour as heathen people gaue to their lesse goddes, which was also idolatrie. for Mardocheus was willing to giue him ciui [...] honour, euen to kisse the steppes of his feete, but feared (and refused) [...]o geue Godlie honour to him. ch 13. v. 13. 14. S. Th [...]. 2. 2. q. 84. a. 1. onlie Mardocheus did not bowe his knee, nor adore him. † To whom the kings seruantes, that 3 were chiefe at the doores of the pallace, said: Why doest thou aboue the rest not obserue the kings commandment. † And 4 when they said this often, and he would not heare, they told Aman, desirous to know whether he would perseuere in his sentence: for he had told them that he was a Iew. † Which 5 when Aman had heard, and had proued by experience that [Page 1041] Mardocheus bowed not his knee vnto him, nor adored him, he was angrie excedingly. † And he counted it a matter of nothing 6 to lay his handes vpon Mardocheus alone: for he had heard that he was of the nation of the Iewes, and he would rather destroy al the nation of the Iewes, that were in the kingdom of Assuerus. † The first moneth (which is called 7 Nisan) in the twelfth yeare of the reigne of Assuerus, the lot was cast into a potte which in Hebrew is called Phur, before Aman, Such is the preposterous [...]nrie of rancour, to appoint the day of executing his malice, before he had got the kings decree. in what day and what moneth the nation of the Iewes should be slayne: and there came forth the twelfth moneth, which is called Adar. † And Aman said to king Assuerus: 8 There is a people dispersed through al the prouinces of thy kingdom, and separated one from an other, vsing new lawes and ceremonies, moreouer also contemning the kings ordinances: And thou knowest very wel that it is not expedient for thy kingdom that they waxe insolent by libertie. † If it please thee, decree that they may perish, and I wil pay 9 ten thousand talentes to the cofferers of thy treasure. † The 10 The second part. The Iewes danger to be massacred. king therfore tooke the ring that he vsed, from his hand, and gaue it to Aman the sonne of Amadathi of the progenie of Agag, the enemie of the Iewes, † and he said to him: The 11 siluer which thou doest promise, be it thine: but concerning the people doe that which pleaseth thee. † And the kings 12 scribes were called in the first moneth, Nisan, the thirtenth day of the same moneth: and there was written, as Aman had commanded, to al the kings lieuftenantes, and iudges of the prouinces, and of diuers nations, as euerie nation could read, and heare according to the varietie of languages, in the name of king Assuerus: and the letters signed with his ring, † were 13 sent by the kings postes to al prouinces, that they should kil and destroy al the Iewes, from boy vnto old man, children, and wemen, in one day, that is, in the thirtenth of the twelth monerh, which is called Adar, and should spoyle them of their goodes. 14 E ch. 13. v. 1.

15 † And The letter at large is in the seuen first verses of the 13 ch. of which this is the summe. the content of the letters was this, that al prouinces F might know, & prepare them selues against the day aforesayd. † The postes that were sent, made hast to fulfil the kings cō mandment. And immediatly the edict hong in Susan, the king and Aman feasting, and al the Iewes that were in the citie, weeping.

[Page 1042]

CHAP. IIII. Al the Iewes lament their imminent danger. 5. Mardocheus willeth Esther to intreate the king for their [...]afiie. 11. She fearing to goe to the king contrarie to his law vncalled, 15. yet they al fasting and praying for her, she The third part The deliuerie of the Iewes from danger. doth it.

VVHICH things when Mardocheus had heard, he 2 rent his garmentes, and was clothed with sackcloth, sprinkling ashes on his head: and in the streat of the middes of the citie he cried with a lowed voyce, shewing the anguish of his mind, † and with this wayling going euen to 2 the doores of the pallace: for it was not lawful for one clothed with sackcloth to enter the kings court. † In al prouinces 3 also, townes, and places, to which the kings cruel decree was come, there was The first and best remedie in distresse is to do workes of penance for sinnes cōmitted. 1. Cor. 11. [...]. great mourning with the Iewes, fasting, howling, and weeping, manie vsing sackcloth and ashes for their couch. † And Esthers maides and the eunuches went in, 4 and told her. Which she hearing was astonyed: and she sent a garment, that the sackcloth being taken away, they should put it on him: which he would not take. † And calling for 5 Athach the eunuch, whom the king had geuen her for a seruant to Mardocheus, commanded him to goe and to learne of him, why he did this. † And Athach going forth went to 6 Mardocheus standing in the streate of the citie, before the palace doore: † who told him al thinges that had chanced, 7 how Aman had promised, that he would bring siluer into the kings treasures for the slaughter of the Iewes. † He gaue him 8 also a copie of the edict which hong in Susan, that he should shew it to the queene, and should admonish her to enter in to the king, and to intreate him for her people. † Athach returning 9 told Ester al things, that Mardocheus had sayd. † Who 10 answered him, and bad that he should say to Mardocheus: † Al the kings seruantes, and al the prouinces that are vnder 11 his dominion, know, that whether man, or woman, not called, shal enter in to the kings inner court, he must immediatly be slayne without al delay: vulesse perhaps the king stretch forth a golden rod vnto him, for a signe of clemencie, and so he may liue. I therfore how can I enter in to the king, which now these thirtie daies haue not bene called vnto him? † Which when Mardocheus had heard, † he sent word 12 to Esther agayne, saying: Thincke not that thou mayst deliuer 13 [Page 1043] thy owne life only, because thou art in the kings house, aboue al the Iewes: † for if thou wilt now hold thy peace, Great confidence in Gods helpe when mans helpe fayleth: and in dede this meanes by mouing the kings ha [...]t to grant Esthers petition was Gods special worke. the 14 Iewes shal be deliuered by an other occasion: and thou, and thy fathers house shal perish. And who knoweth whether thou camest to the kingdom therfore, that in such a time thou mightst be readie? † And agayne Esther sent to Mardocheus 15 in these wordes: † Goe, and gather together al the Iewes, 16 whom thou shalt find in Susan, and pray ye for me. Eate ye not, and drinke not in three dayes, and three nightes: and I with my handmaydes in like maner wil fast, and then wil I goe in to the king, doing agaynst the law, not called, and deliuering my self to death and to peril. † Mardocheus therfore 17 went, and did al things that Esther had commmanded him. G ch. 1. v. 1.

CHAP. V. Esther standing in the kings sight he calleth her, 4. she requesteth that he and Aman wil dine with her. 7. Againe she inuiteth them. 9. Aman is more incensed against Mardocheus, prepareth high gallowes to hang him on.

AND the third day Esther put on royal garmentes, and 1 H stood in the court of the kings house, which was the inner agaynst the kings hal: but he sate vpon his throne in the consistorie of the palace, against the doore of the house. I ch. 15. v. 4. † And when he had seene Esther the queene standing, she 2 pleased his eies, and he put forth toward her the golden rod, K which he held in his hand: who going neere, kissed the top of his rod. † And the king said to her: What wilt thou queene 3 Esther? what is thy request? yea if thou wilt aske the halfe part of the kingdom, it shal be geuen thee. † But she answered: 4 If it please the king, I beseech thee that thou come to me this day, and Aman with thee to a banket, which I haue prepared. † And the king forthwith, cal ye Aman, quoth he, 5 quickly, that he may obey Esthers wil. The king therfore and Aman came to the banket, which the queene had prepared for them. † And the king said to her, after that he had drunke 6 wine aboundantly. What doest thou desire to be geuen thee? and for what thing askest thou? although thou aske the half part of my ▪ kingdom, thou shalt obteyne. † To whom 7 Esther answered: This prudence in delaying to propose her petition, increased the kings desire to know it, moued him to promise more assuredly, & so bond him the more to accomplish it. My petition, and requestes are these: † If 8 I haue found grace in the kings sight, and if it please the king to geue that which I aske, and to fulfil my petition: let the [Page 1044] king and Aman come to the banket, which I haue prepared them, and to morrow I wil open my wil to the king. † Aman 9 therfore went forth that day ioyful and merie. And when he had seene Mardocheus sitting before the doores of the palace, and not onlie not to haue risen vp to him, but not so much as to haue moued from the place where he sate, he was wrath excedingly: † and dissembling his anger, and returning into 10 his house, he called together vnto him his freindes, and Zares his wife: † and he declared to them the greatnesse of his 11 riches, and the multitude of his children, and with how great glorie the king had aduanced him aboue al his princes and seruantes. † And after these things he said. Queene Esther also 12 hath called none other to the banket with the king, but me: with whom to morow also I shal dine with the king. † And 13 wheras I haue al these things, I thinke I haue nothing▪ so long as I shal see Mardocheus the Iew sitting before the kings doores. † And Zares his wife, & the rest of his frendes answered 14 him: Cōmand a great beame to be prepared, hauing fiftie cubites in height, and speake in the morning to the king, that Mardocheus may be hanged vpon it, and so thou shalt goe ioyful with the king to the banket. The counsel pleased him, and he commanded an high gallowes to be prepared.

CHAP. VI. The king hearing the good seruice of Mardocheus in detecting traitors, read in the chronicle (for which he had yet no rewarde) 4. commandeth Aman to honour him next to the king, 11. which he performeth.

THAT night the king Gods eye which neuer slepeth saw whath Aman intended: and for execution of his owne diuiue iustice, vsed this meanes b [...]y subtracting slepe that time from the king and inspiring his mind to heare the histories read, and to reward good seruice, donne. Ioseph. passed without sleepe, and he 1 commanded the histories and chronicles of former times to be brought him. Which when they were read in his presence, † they came to that place where it was written, how 2 Mardocheus had vttered the treason of Bagathan, and Thares the eunuches, coueting to kil king Assuerus. † Which when 3 the king had heard, he sayd: What honour and reward hath Mardocheus receiued for this fidelitie? His seruantes and ministers said to him: He hath receiued no reward at al. † And 4 the king by and by, who is, quoth he, in the court? For Aman had entered the inner court of the kings house, that he might suggest to the king, and he might command Mardocheus to be hanged fast on the gibbet, which was prepared for him. † The seruantes answered: Aman standeth in the 5 [Page 1045] court. And the king said: Let him come in. † And when he 6 was come in, he said to him: What ought to be done to the man, whom the king is desirous to honour? But Aman Ambicious men are most b [...]nde in conceite of their owne deserts, and fortunes. thinking in his hart, and supposing that the king would honour no other, but him self, † answered: The man, whom the 7 king desireth to honour, † ought to be clothed with the 8 kings garmentes, and to be set vpon the horse, that is for the kings saddle, and to take the kings crowne vpon his head, † and let the chiefe of the kings princes and nobles hold his 9 horse, and going throuh the streat of the citie, crie, and say: So shal he be honoured, whomsoeuer the king wil honour. † And the king said to him: Make hast, and taking a robe and 10 a horse, do that thou hast spoken, to Mardocheus the Iewe, which sitteth before the doores of the palace: Beware thou pretermitte nothing of those things, which thou hast spoken. † Aman therfore tooke a robe and a horse, and putting it on 11 Mardocheus, and setting him on the horse, in the streat of the citie went before him, and cried: This honour is he worthie of, whom soeuer the king is willing to honour. † And Mardocheus 12 returned to the palace gate: and Aman made hast to goe into his house, mourning and his head couered: † and 13 he told Zares his wife, and his frendes al things, that had chaunced him. To whom the wise men whom he had in counsel, and his wife answered: Either they had read Gods promise to the Iewes. Gen 13▪ 15. &c. or coniectured this by humaine prudence. If Mardocheus be of the Iewes seede, before whom thou hast begune to fal, thou canst not resist him, but thou shalt fal in his sight. † As they were 14 yet speaking, the kings eunuches came, and compelled him to goe quickly to the banket, which the queene had prepared.

CHAP. VII. Esther entertayning the king and Aman againe at a feast, is promised to obtaine, whatsoeuer she wil aske. 3. she demandeth saftie for her self, and al the people, against Amans crueltie, 6. and Aman is hanged on the gallowes, which he had prepared for Mardocheus.

THE king therfore and Aman went in, to drinke with 1 the queene. † And the king said to her also the second 2 day, after he was warme with wine: What is thy petition Esther▪ that it may be geuen thee? and what wilt thou haue done? although thou shalt aske the half part of my kingdome, thou shalt obteyne. † To whom she answered, After threedayes fast of al the Iewes with prayers and other workes of penance, Esther asked and obtained the saftie of the whole people more precious to her then halfe of the kingdom. If 3 I haue found grace in thyne eies ô king, and if it please thee, [Page 1046] geue me my life for the which I make request, and my people for the which I besech. † For we are deliuered I and my people, 4 to be destroyed, murdered, and to perish. And would God we were sold for bondmen and bondwemen: it were a tolerable euil, and mourning I would hold my peace: but now it is our enemie, whose crueltie redoundeth vpon the king. † And king Assuetus answering, said: Who is this, and 5 of what might, that he dare doe these things? † And Esther 6 said: It is this Aman out aduersarie and most wicked enemie. Which he hearing Horrour of a guiltie conscience is commonly the first torment of a sinner. S. Chrissocons. 4. de Lagaro. forthwith was astonished, not enduring to beare the countenance of the king and of the queene. † But the king being wrath rose vp, and from the place of the 7 banket went into the garden set with trees. Aman also rose vp, to intreate Esther the queene for his life, for he vnderstood that there was euil prepared him of the king. † Who when he 8 was returned out of the garden set with trees, and had entered into the place of the banket, he found Aman to haue fallen vpon the bed, wherin Esther lay, and he said: The queene also he wil force in my presence, in my house. Neither was the word yet passed from the kings mouth, and immediatly they couered his face. † And Harbona, VVhat litle trust in false freindshipe, when bad men once fal into disgrace. one of the eunuches 9 which stood wayting on the king, sayd: Behold the gibbet, which he had prepared for Mardocheus, that spake for the king, standeth in Amans house, hauing in height fiftie cubites. To whom the king said: Hang him vpon it. † Aman therfore 10 was hanged on the gibbet, which he had prepared for Mardocheus: and the kings wrath ceased.

CHAP. VIII. Esther informeth the king that Mardocheus is her vncle, he is aduanced in authoritie, 3. and contrarie letters are sent that the Iewes be saued, 11. and their enemies slayne. 15. Mardocheus is in high honour, and his whole nation is estemed and feared by other people.

THAT day king Assuerus gaue vnto Esther the queene 1 the house of Aman the Iewes aduersarie, and Mardocheus went in before the kings presence. For Esther confessed to him that he was her vncle. † And the king tooke the 2 ring, which he had commanded to be taken agayne from Aman, and deliuered it to Mardocheus. And Esther appointed Mardocheus also ouer her house. † Neither content 3 with these things, she Such honour is due to kinges, yea though they be Infideles, because they haue terrestrial maiestie and authoritie from God. And the contrarie opinion and behauiour of heretikes, vvhich despice Dominion and blaspheme Maiestie, is condemned by S. Iude, in his Epistle. v. 8. fel downe at the kings feete, and she [Page 1047] wept and speaking to him prayed him, that he would command that the malice of Aman the Agagite, and his most wicked deuises, which he had inuented agaynst the Iewes, should be of none effect. † But he after the maner put forth 4 the golden scepter with his hand, by the which the signe of clemencie was shewed: and she rysing vp stood before him, † and said: If it please the king, and if I haue found grace in 5 his eies, and my request seme not contrarie to him, I besech thee, that the old letters of Aman the traytour and enemie of the Iewes, wherein he commanded that in al the kings prouinces they should perish, may by new letters be corrected. † For how can I abide the murder and slaughter of my people? 6 † And king Assuerus answered Esther the queene, and Mardocheus the Iewe: Amans house I haue geuen to Esther, 7 and him self I haue commanded to be hanged on the gallowes, because he durst lay handes on the Iewes. † Write ye 8 therfore to the Iewes, as pleaseth you, in the kings name, signing the letters with my ring. For this was the custome, that no man durst speake against the lettes, which were sent in the kings name, and were signed with his ring. † And the 9 kings scribes and secretaries being cald for (and it was the time of the third moneth, which is called Siban) the three and twenteth day therof letters were written, as Mardocheus would, to the Iewes, and to the princes, and the lieuftenantes and iudges, which were rulers ouer the hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces, from India euen to Aethiopia: to prouince and prouince, to people and people, according to their languages and characters, and to the Iewes, according as they could read, and heare. † And the said letters, which 10 were sent in the kings name, were signed with his ring, and sent by ryding postes: which running through al the prouinces, should preuent the old letters with the new messages. † To whom the king gaue commandment, that they should 11 speake to the Iewes in euerie citie, and should command them to be gathered together in one, that they might stand for their liues, and might kil and destroy al their enemies with their wiues and children and al their houses, and to take the spoyle of them. † And there was appointed through al the 12 prouinces one day of reuenge, that is, the thirtenth of the twelfth moneth Adar. † And this was the content of the 13 letter, that in al landes and peoples, which were subiect to [Page 1048] the empire of king Assuerus, it should be notified, 'the Iewes to be readie to be reuenged of their enemies. † And there 14 went forth swift postes cariyng the massages, and the kinges edict hong in Susan. † But Mardocheus going forth out of 15 the palace, and from the kinges presence, shining in royal garmentes, to wit, hyathinthine and skie colour, bearing a golden crowne on his head, and clothed with a silke and purple cloke. And the citie reioysed, and was glad. † But to the 16 Iewes there semed a new light to rise, ioye, honour, and dauncing. † With al peoples, cities, and prouinces, whither 17 soeuer the kinges commandmentes came, meruelous reioysing, feastes and banketes, and holie day: in so much that manie of the other nation and sect, were ioyned to their religion and ceremonies. For great terrour of the name of the Iewes had inuaded them al. Lch. 16. v. 1.

CHAP. IX. The Iewes kil their enemies which would haue killed them. 6. namely the tenne sonns of Aman are hanged on gallowes, 13. more slaine the next day. 17. the day folowing is made holie, and so to be kept euerie yeare.

THERFORE in the thirtenth day of the twelth moneth, 1 M which we haue said now before to be called Adar, when slaughter was prepared for al the Iewes, and their enemies gaped after their bloud, “ the case being changed to the contrarie, the Iewes began to be superiours, and VVhere no more danger remaineth remission of iniuries is more commendable then reuenge, but where malice continueth, and new danger may probably ensue, iustice is necessarie, and afterwards peace may be made more securely S. Bernad, ser. 2. d [...] verb. Apost. to reuenge them selues of their aduersaries. † And they were gathered 2 together in euerie citie, and towne, and place, to extend their hand against their enemies, and their persecutors. And none durst resist, because the feare of their greatnes did penetrate al peoples. † For both the iudges of the prouinces, 3 and captaynes, and lieutenantes, and euerie dignitie, that was chiefe ouer euerie place and worke, extolled the Iewes for feare of Mardocheus: † whom they knew to be prince of the 4 palace, and to be able to doe very much: the fame also of his name increased dayly, and flew abroad through al mens mouthes. † Therfore the Iewes stroke their enemies with a great 5 slaughter, and slew them, repaying them that which they had prepared to doe to them: † in so much that in Susan also 6 they killed fiue hundred men, besides the tenne sonnes of Aman the Agagite the enemie of the Iewes: whose names be 7 these: † Pharsandatha, and Delphon, and Esphatha, † and 8 [Page 1049] Phoratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha. † and Phormesta, and 9 Arisai, and Aridai, and Iezatha. † Whom when they had 10 slaine, they would not take prayes of their goodes. † And by 11 and by the number of them that were killed in Susan, was brought to the king. † Who said to the queene: In the citie of 12 Susan the Iewes haue killed fiue hundred men, besides the In the [...]i [...]a slaughter Amans tenne sonnes were slayne and afterwards also hanged. v. 14. ten sonnes of Aman: how great a slaughter thinkest thou doe they make in al the prouinces? what askest thou more, & what wilt thou that I cōmand to be done? † To whom she 13 answered: If it please the king, let there authoritie be geuen to the Iewes, that as they haue done to day in Susan, so also they may doe to morow, and that the tenne sonnes of Aman be hanged on gibbettes. † And the king commanded that it 14 should be so done. And forth with the edict hong in Susan, and the tenne sonnes of Aman were hanged. † The fourthtenth 15 day of the moneth Adar the Iewes being gathered together, there were killed in Susan three hundred men: neither was their substance spoyled by them. † Yea and through 16 al prouinces, which were subiect to the kings dominion, the Iewes stood for their liues, their enemies and persecutors being slayne: in so much that there was fully seuentie fiue thousand of them that were killed, and no man tooke any of their goodes.

† And the thirtenth day of the moneth Adar was the first day 17 The fourth parth. Other thinges folowing their deliuerie from danger. with them al of the slaughter, & the fourtenth day they ceased to kil. Which they ordayned to be solemne, so that in it at al times afterward they gaue them selues to good chere, mirth & bankets. † But they that made the slaughter in the citie of 18 Susan, were occupied in the slaughter the thirtenth and fourtenth day of the same moneth: and in the fiftenth day they ceased to kil. And therfore they ordayned the same a solemne day of good cheere and ioyfulnes. † But those Iewes, that 19 abode in townes not walled and villages, ordayned the fourtenth day of the moneth Adar for bankettes and ioy, so that they reioyse in it, and send one an other portions of bankets and meates. † Mardocheus therfore wrote al these things, 20 and being comprised in letters sent them to the Iewes, that abode in al the kings prouinees, as wel those that lay neere, as far of, † that they should take The Iewes in Susan kept the fiftenth day holie. v. 18, those that dwelt in other places kept the fourtenth day. the fourtenth and fiftenth 21 day of the moneth Adar for feastes, and the yeare alwayes returning should celebrate them with solemne honour: † because 22 [Page 1050] in the same dayes the Iewes reuenged them selues of their enemies, and mourning and sorrow were turned into mirth and ioy, and that these should be dayes of good cheere and gladnesse, and they should send one to an other portions of meates, and should geue giftes to the poore. † And the 23 Iewes receiued into a solemne rite al things, which they had begune to doe at that time, and which Mardocheus by letters had commanded to be done. † For Aman, the sonne of 24 Amadathi of the stocke of Agag, the enemie and aduersarie of the Iewes, purposed euil against them, to kil them and destroy them: and he cast Phur, which in our language is turned, a lot. † And afterward Esther went in to the king, beseching that 25 his endeuours might by the kings letters be made voyde: & the euil that he had intended against the Iewes, might returne vpon his owne head. Finally they hong both him and his sonnes vpon the gallowes, † and since that time these dayes are 26 called Phurim, that is, of Lottes: because Phur, that is, a lot, was cast into the pot. And al things, that were done, are contayned in the volume of this epistle, that is, of this booke: † and the thinges that they susteyned, and that were afterward 27 changed, the Iewes A feast instituted by Mardocheus was accepted and obserued by al the Iewes, as a constitution agreable and not contratie to the law Deut. 4. v. 2, & 12. v. 32. tooke vpon them selues and their seede, and vpon al, that would be ioyned to theyr religion, that it should be lawful for none to passe without solemnitie these dayes: which the writing testifieth, and certaine times require, as yeares continually succede one an other. † These 28 are daies, which no obliuion shal euer put out: and al prouinces in al the world shal celebrate through out al generations: neither is there any citie, wherein the daies of Phurim, that is, of lottes, must not be obserued of the Iewes, and of their progenie, which is bound to these ceremonies. † And Esther the 29 queene the daughter of Abihail, and Mardocheus the Iew wrote also the second epistle, that with al diligence this day should be established solemne for the time to come. † and 30 they sent to al the Iewes, that were in the hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces of king Assuerus, that they should haue peace, and receiue truth, † obseruing the Daies of lottes, 31 and in their time should celebrate them with ioy: as Mardocheus and Esther had appoynted, and they tooke vpon them to be obserued of them selues, and of their seede, fastes, and cries, and the daies of Lottes, † and al thinges, which are conteyned 32 in the historie of this booke, which is called Esther.

[Page 1051]

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. IX.

1. The case being changed.] In this whole historie (as in manie other passages Psal. 76. Great, and maruelous changes by the power of God. of holie scripture) we see the meruelous change of the right hand of the highest. First in the verie instant of extreme danger, the kinges face with burning eyes shewing the furie of his breast ch. 15. v. 10. was turned into mildnes towardes Esther v. 11. Secondly proud Aman being aduanced in honour & office, aboue al princes of the kinges court, ch. 3. v. 1. was sodainly forced publikely to lead Mardocheus his horse, whom he most hated: ch. 6 v. 10. Thirdly, he was constrayned with loud voice to proclame his honour, whom he most despised and threatned. Fourtly, the same Aman, before called the father (as it were the onlie gouernour) of the king, ch. 1 [...] v. 6 ch. 16. v. 11. was forthwith condemned for a traitor. ch. 7. v. 8. ch. 16. v. 18. Fifthly, He that could not abide to see Mardocheus, ch. 5. v. 13. afterward durst not looke vpon the king, not could endure his countenance. ch, 7 v 6. Sixtly, He was hanged on the same gallowes, which he had prepared for Mardocheus. ch. 7. v. 9. Seuently, VVheras he was not content with the death of Mardocheus alone, but procu [...]ed the kings decree to destroy the whole nation. ch. 3. v 6 and so feasted with the king, when the Iewes mourned, v 15. shortly after the king sent new letters for the Iewes saftie, geuing them leaue to kil whom soeuer they would of their enemies. ch. 8. v. [...]. 11 Eightly, the same day which was designed for destruction, was made the day of ioy and exultation to the children of God. ch. 9. v. 1. 17 ch. 16. v. 21. &c. By which literal sense Gods meruelous prouidence is manifestly shewed, neuer suffering his church to perish. It hath moreouer D. Tho. prologo in Epist. Canonic. two special mystical senses. First, as saftie of temporal life was procured to Esther a figure of our B ladie, one nation by Esthers intercession to king Assuerus, so general saluation is procured to al mankind by mediation of the blessed virgin Marie, crushing the serpents head; and the sentence of death is changed by new letters, granting And of the Church. euerlasting life, and glorie to al Gods true seruantes. Esther also, as likewise Iudith, in figure of the Church (saith S. Ierom, Prologo in Sophon) killed the aduersaries, and deliuered Israel from danger of perishing.

CHAP. X. Assuerus subdueth manie countries. 4. Mardocheus vnderstandeth, and declareth his dreame. 9. God separateth his people from other nations by a better lotte.

BVT king Assuerus made al the earth, and al the ilandes 1 of the sea tributaries. † Whose strength and empire, and 2 the dignitie and highnesse, wherewith he exalted Mardocheus, are written in the bookes of the Medes, and of the Persians: † and how Mardocheus of the Iewes kinred was 3 second after king Assuerus: and great with the Iewes, and acceptable to the people of his bretheren, seking good to his people, and speaking those things, which pertayned to the good of his seede.

[Page 1052]

That

S. Ierome here aduertiseth the reader that he found al hitherto in the Hebrew. And the parcels which folow only in the Septuaginta Greke Edition which either they translated out of the Hebrew, or added by inspiration of the Holie Ghost.

which is in the Hebrew I haue expressed most faithfully. And these things that folow, I found written in

The Greke of the 72. Interpreters.

the common edition,which are conteyned in the greeke tongue and leetters: and in the meane time this chapter was extant after the end of the booke: which according to our custome, we haue marked with an Obelus before it, that is to say, a broch.

† And Mardocheus said: These things are done of God. 4 † I remember the dreame that I saw, signifying these verie 5 things: neither was any of them frustrate. † The litle fountayne 6 which grew into a riuer, and was turned into light, and into the sunne, and abounded into manie waters, is Esther, whom the king tooke to wife, and made her to be queene. † But the two dragons: I am, and Aman. † The nations, that 7 were assembled: are they that endeuoured to destroy the name 8 of the Iewes. † And my nation: is Israel, which cried to our 9 Lord, and our Lord hath saued his people: and he hath deliuered vs from al euils, and hath done great signes and wonders among the nations: † and he commanded that there 10 should be two lottes, one of the people of God, and the other of al Nations. † And both lottes are come to the day appointed 11 euen now from that time before God to al nations: † and 12 our Lord hath remembred his people, and hath had mercie on his inheritance. † And these daies shal be obserued in the moneth 13 of Adar the fourtenth, and fistenth day of the same moneth, with al diligence, and ioy of the people gathered into one assemblie, through out al the generations hereafter of the people of Israel.

CHAP. XI. An Appendix and conclusion of this historie. 2. The dreame of Mardocheus.

1 IN the fourth yeare when Ptolomee and Cleopatra reigned, Dositheus, which named himself a Priest, and of the Leuitical kinred, and Ptolomee his sonne brought this epistle of Phurim, which they sayd Lysimachus the sonne of Ptolomee did interprete in Ierusalem.

This beginning was in the common edition, which is neither extant

in Hebrew, nor with any of

Except the 72.

the interpreters.

† In the second yeare, when Artaxerxes the greatest reigned, 2 The first part. The presage, and occasion of Esthers aduancement and Amans persecuting the Iewes. in the first day of the moneth Nisan, Mardocheus the sonne of Iairi, the sonne of Semei, the sonne of Cis, of the tribe of Beniamin. † A Iew which dwelt in the citie of Susan, a great 3 [Page 1053] man and among the first of the kings court, Mardocheus had this dreame before Amans aduancement or his owne and the peoples danger. saw a dreame. † And he was of that number of captiues, whom Nabuchodonosor 4 4. Reg. 24. the king of Babylon had transported from Ierusalem with Ieconias the king of Iuda: † and this was his dreame: 5 The [...]e appeared voices, and tumultes, and thunders and earth quakes, and pertuibation vpon the earth: † and behold 6 Mardocheus was a good dragon, and Aman a bad one. two great dragons, prepared one against an other into battel. † At whose crie al nations were raysed vppe, to fight against 7 the nation of the iust. † And that was a day of darkenesse and 8 danger, of tribulation and distresse, and great feare vpon the earth. † And the nation of the iust fearing their euils, was 9 trubled, and prepared to death. † And they cried to God: and 10 they crying, Esther by her fountaine of teares and humble supplication, quenched a great flame of Gentiles against the Iewes. ch. 10. a litle fountayne grew into a verie great riuer, and abounded into verie manie waters. † Light and sunne 11 arose, and the humble were exalted, and they deuoured the glorious. † Which when Mardocheus had seene, and risen 12 out of his bed, he mused what God would doe: and he had it fixed in his mind, desirous to know what the dreame should signifie? B chap. 1. v. 1.

CHAP. XII. The conspiracie of two eunuches, detected by Mardocheus, is repeted, 6. and Amans malice against him for the same.

AND he abode that time in the kings court with Bagatha 1 and Thara the kings eunuches, which were porters C of the palace. † And when he vnderstood their cogitations, 2 and had throughly seene their cares he learned that they went about to lay hands on king Artaxerxes, and he told the king therof. † Who hauing them both in examination, when 3 they had confesssd he commanded them to be led to death. † But the king wrote that which was done, in the comentaries: 4 and Mardocheus also committed the memorie of the thing to wriring. † And the king commanded him, that he 5 should abide in the court of the palace, geuing him giftes for the delation. † But Aman the sonne of Amadathi the Bugeite 7 was most glorious before the king, and would hurt Mardocheus, and his people, Here it appeareth that Aman was a fauourer of traitors of perhaps of the same conspiracie. for the two eunuches of the king, which were put to death. D ch. 3. v. [...].

Hitherto the proeme. That which foloweth was set in that place, where it is written in the volum:

ch. 3. v. 3.

And should spoyle their goodes. VVhich we found in the common edition only.

[Page 1054]

CHAP. XIII. Acopie of the epistle which Aman sent to al prouinces to destroy the Iew [...] 8. And Mardocheus his prayer for the people.

AND this was the copie of the letter. The most great 1 E king Artaxerxes from India vnto Aethiopia, to the princes of an hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces, and to the captaynes, that are subiect to his empire, greeting. † Wheras I reigned ouer manie nations, and had subdewed 2 al the world to my dominion, I would no [...] abuse the greatnes of my might, but with clemencie and lenitie gouerne my subiectes, that passing their life quietly without any terrour, they might enioy peace wished of al men. † But when I demanded 3 of my counselers how this might be accomplished, Great hurt to a king, that is ruled much by one counseler. Salomon teacheth, that VVhere are manie counsellers, cogitations are confirmed. [...]ron. 15. v. 22. one that excelled the rest in wisedom and fidelitie, and was second after the king, Aman by name, † told me that there 4 was a people dispersed through the whole world, which vsed new lawes, and doing against the customes of al Nations, contemned the cōmandmentes of kings, and brake the concord of al nations by their dissention. † Which when we had 5 learned, seing one nation rebellious against al kind of men to vse peruerse lawes, and to goe against our commandmentes, and to disturbe the peace and concord of the prouinces subiect to vs, † we haue commanded that whomsoeuer Aman 6 shal shew, who is chiefe ouer al the prouinces, and second after the king, and whom we honour in steed of a father, they with their wiues and children be destroyed of their enemies, and that none haue pitie on them the fourtenth day of the twelfth moneth Adar of this present yeare: † that the wicked 7 men going downe to hel in one day, may restore the peace to our empire, which they had disturbed. F ch. 3. v. 14.

Hitherto the copie of the letter. That which foloweth I found written after that place, where it is read,

ch. 4. v. 17.

And Mardocheus going forth, did al thinges, that Esther had commanded him. yet it is neither in the Hebrew, nor extant with any of

Excep [...] the 72.

the interpreters.

† But Mardocheus besought our Lord, mindeful of al his 8 G workes, † and said: Lord Lord king omnipotent, for in thy 9 The Epistle on wenesday in the 1. weke of [...]n [...]. And in a votiue Masse against Paganes. dominion are al thinges set, and there is none that can resist thy wil, if thou determine to saue Israel. † Thou madst heauen 10 and earth, and whatsoeuer is conteyned in the compasse of [Page 1055] heauen. † Thou art Lord of al, neither is there that can resist 11 thy maiestie. † Thou vnderstandest al things, and knowest 12 that I haue not done this for pride and contumelie, and any desire of glorie, that I adored not the proud Aman, † (for 13 gladly would I be readie for the saluation of Israel to kisse euen the steppes of his feete,) † but I feared lest I should 14 transferre the honour of my God to a man, and lest I should adore any except my God. † And now ô Lord king, the God 15 of Abraham haue mercie vpon thy poople, because our enemies wil destroy vs, and extinguish thyne inheritance. † Despise 16 not thy portion, which thou hast redemed to thyself out of Aegypt. † Heare my prayer, and be propitious to thy 17 lot and corde, and turne our mourning into ioy, that liuing we may prayse thy name ô Lord, and doe not shut the mouthes of them that sing to thee. † Al Israel also with like mind 18 and supplication cried to our Lord, because certayne death did hang ouer them.

CHAP. XIIII. Esther prayeth in humilitie of spirite, that God wil deliuer the people from the crueltie of Aman.

ESTHER also the queene fled to our Lord, fearing the 1 peril that was at hand. † And when she had laid of her 2 royal garmentes, she tooke clothes meete for weeping and mourning, and for diuers oyntmentes, filled her head with ashes and dung, and her bodie she humbled with fastes: and al the places, in which before she was accustomed to reioyse, she filled with tearing of her heares. † And she besought our 3 Lord the God of Israel, saying: My Lord, which onlie art our king, helpe me solitarie woman, and which haue no other helper beside thee. † My peril is in my handes. † I haue heard 4 of my father that thou Lord didst take Israel out from al Gentiles, 5 and our fathers out of al their predecessours before, that thou mightst possesse an euerlasting inheritance, and thou hast done to them as thou hast spoken. † We haue sinned in 6 thy sight, and therfore thou hast deliuered vs into the handes of our enemies: † for we haue worshiped their goddes. Thou 7 art iust ô Lord. † And now it suffiseth them not, that they 8 oppresse vs with most hard seruitude, but imputing the force of their handes to the might of their idols, † they wil change 9 thy promisses, and destroy thine inheritance, and shut the [Page 1056] mouthes of them that prayse thee, and extinguish the glorie of thy temple and altar, † that they may open the mouthes of 10 Gentiles, and prayse the strength of idols, and magnifie a carnal king for euer. † Deliuer not ô Lord thy scepter to them 11 Idoles are nothing in the vvorld. 1. Cor. 8. but ba [...]e imaginations of men. that are not, lest they laugh at our ruine: but turne their counsel vpon them, and destroy him, that hath begune to do cruelly against vs. † Remember ô Lord: and shew thy self to 12 vs in the time of our tribulation, and geue me confidence Lord king of goddes, and of al power: † geue me speach wel 13 framed in my mouth in the presence of the lion, and turne his hart into the hatred of our enemie, that both him self may perish, and the rest that consent vnto him. † But deliuer vs in 14 thy hand, and helpe me, hauing no other helpe, but thee ô Lord which hast the knowlege of al things, † and knowest 15 that I hate the glorie of the wicked, and The Church vseth this prayer in the offertorie▪ the 22. sunday after Pentecost: as a parcel of holie Scripture. detest the bed of the vncircumcised, and of euerie stranger. † Thou knowest 16 my necessitie, that I abhorre the signe of my pride and glorie, which is vpon my head in the daies of my ostentation, and detest it as the cloth of a woman in her monthlie floores, and :: Of herselfe, nor for wordlie glorie she desired not to marie a heathen king but for the cōmon good she maried him, God dispensing with the law in this behalf. See ch. 2. weare it not in the daies of my silence, † and that I haue not 17 eaten at Amans table, neither the kings banket hath pleased me, and that I haue not drunke the wine of libamentes: † and 18 that thy handmayde did neuer reioyse, since I was transported hither vnto this day, but in thee ô Lord the God of Abraham. † O God strong aboue al, heare the voyce of them, that haue 19 no other hope, and deliuer vs from the hand of the wicked, and deliuer me from my feare.

CHAP. XV. Mardocheus causeth Esther to goe to the king and intreate for the people. 10. She is terrified by this countenance, but God turneth his hart, and he calleth her curteously to him.

This also I found added in the common edition.

AND he commanded her ( no doubt but Mardocheus commanded 1 G Esther) that she should goe vnto the king, and make petition for her people and for her countrie. † Remember 2 (quoth he) the daies of thy humilitie, how thou wast brought vp in my hand, because Aman the second after the king hath spoken against vs vnto death: † and doe thou inuocate our 3 Lord, and speake to the king for vs, & deliuer vs from death. H ch 13. v. 8.

Moreouer this also which foloweth I found in the common Greke. [Page 1057] † And in the third day she layd away Ves [...]im [...]nta oratus, not orn [...]s, her playing w [...]ede. the garmentes which 4 she ware, & was clothed in her glorie. † And when she glistered 5 in royal apparel, and had inuocated God the ruler and sauiour of al, she tooke two wayting maydes, † and vpon the 6 one in deede she leaned, as it were for dilicatnes and verie much tendernes not able to beare vp her bodie: † but the other of the maydes folowed her ladie, bearing vp her garmentes trayling on the ground. † But her self in al her countenance 8 of colour like the rose, also with gratious and shining eies A notable example for Noble wemen, how to kepe their state, & remaine neuer theles humble in hart. hid her mind ful of sorow, and exceding feare. † She 9 therfore entring through al the doores in order, stood before the king, where he sate vpon the throne of his kingdom, clothed with royal garmentes, and glittering in gold, and pretious stones, and he was terrible to behold. † And when 10 he had lifted vp his face, and with burning eies had shewed the furie of his breast, the Queene fel downe, and her colour being changed into palenes, she rested her wearie head vpon her handmayde. † And God turned the kings spirit in to mildnes, 11 and in hast and fearing he lept out of the throne, and holding her vp in his armes, til she came to her self, spake her fayre with these wordes: † What ayleth thee Esther? I am thy 12 brother, feare not. † Thou shalt not die: for this law is not 13 made for thee, but for the common sorte. † Come neere therfore, 14 and touch the scepter. † And when she held her peace, 15 he tooke the golden rod, & put it vpon her necke, and kissed her, and sayd: Why speakest thou not to me? † Who answered: 16 I saw thee, my Lord, By this comparison of angels she ment that the king excelled al or most part of men. as an angel of God, and my hart was trubled for the feare of thy glorie. † For thou, my lord, art 17 exceding maruelous, and thy face is ful of graces. † And 18 when she spake, she fel downe agayne, and was almost in a sowne. † But the king was trubled, and al his seruantes did 19 comfort her. K ch. 5. v. [...].

CHAP. XVI. Acopie of king Artaxerxes letters, which he sent for the saftie of the [...]ewes, 10. declaring the insolencie of Aman, and dutiful seruice of Mardocheus and Esther, 20. commanding al his princes to assist the Iewes, and with them to celebrate the day which is changed from sorow to ioy.
The copie of king Artaxerxes letter, which he sent for the Iewes to al the prouinces of his kingdom: the which also is not found in the Hebrew volume.

[Page 1058]THE great king Artaxerxes, from India to Aethiopia to 1 L the dukes and princes of an hundred twentie seuen prouinces, which obey our commandment, sendeth greeting. † Manie haue abused vnto pride the goodnes of princes, and 2 the honour, that hath beene bestowed vpon them: † and they 3 do not only endeuour to oppresse the kings subiectes, but not bearing the glorie that is geuen them, they worke treason against them that gaue it. † Neither are they content not to 4 geue thankes for the benefittes, and to violate in them selues the lawes of humanitie, but they thincke they can escape the sentence of God also who seeth al things. † And they haue 5 burst forth into so great madnes, that such as obserue diligently the offices committed vnto them, and do al thinges so that they are worthie of al mens prayse, them they endeuour to ouerthrow by subtil meanes of lies, † whiles with craftie 6 fraude they deceiue the simple eares of princes, and esteming others b [...] their owne nature. † Which thing is proued both 7 out of old histories, and by these thinges, which are done daily, how At last this king saw his owne errour in beleuing one false counseller ouer much. ch. 1 [...]. v. [...]. the enterprises of kinges are depraued by the euil suggestions of certaine men † Wherfore we must prouide for 8 the peace of al prouinces. † Neither must you thincke▪ if we 9 command diuers things, that it cometh of the lightnesse of our mind, but that we geue sentence according to the qualitie & necessitie of times, as the profite of the common wealth requireth. † And that you may more plainly vnderstand, that 10 which we say, Aman the sonne of Amadathi, both in mind and countrie a Macedonian, and an aliene from the Persians bloud, and with his crueltie stayning our pietie, was receiued of vs a stranger: † and found our humanitie so great towardes 11 [...]. 1 [...]. v. 6. him, that he was called :: our father, and was adored of al second after the king: † who was puft vp with so great swelling 12 of arrogancie, that he went about to depriue vs of kingdom and life. † For by certaine new deuises and not heard of before 13 he hath sought to kil Mardocheus, by whose fidelitie and benefittes we liue, and Esther the felow of our kingdom with al their nation: † thincking this that they being slayne, 14 he might worke treason to our solitarines, and might transferre the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians † But 15 we haue found the Iewes, which were by that most wicked of men oppoynted to be slayne, in no fault at al, but con [...]rariwise vsing iust lawes, † and the children of the highest and 16 [Page 1059] the greatest, and alwayes louing God, by whose benefite the kingdom was geuen both to our fathers and to vs, and is kept vnto this day. † Wherfore know ye those letters, which he 17 directed in our name, to be of none effect. † For the which 18 heinous fact, before the gates of this citie, that is, of Susan, both him self that deuised it, and al his kinred hang on gibbettes: not we, but God repaying him that which he hath deserued. † But this edict, which we now send, let it be set 19 forth in al cities, that it be lawful for the Iewes to vse their owne lawes. † Whom you must helpe, that those, which had 20 prepared them selues to their slaughter, they may kil the thirtenth day of the twelfth moneth, which is called Adar. † For 21 God omnipotent hath turned this day of sadnes and mourning into ioy to them. † Wherfore As Mardocheus suggested, th [...]. king confirmed the obseruation of a feast in memorie of Gods benefice▪ and so both Iewes and Gen [...]les kept it. count you also this day 22 among other festiual daies, and celebrate it with al ioy, that hereafter also it may be knowne, † that al, which faythfully 23 obey the Persians, receiue worthie reward for their fidelitie: and they that lie in wayte against their kingdom, perish for their wicked fact. † And euerie prouince and citie, that wil 24 not be partaker of this solemnitie, let it perish by sword and fyre, and let it so be destroyed, that not onlie men, but also beastes haue no accesse therto for euer, for an example of contempt, and disobedience. M chap. 9. v. [...] ▪

THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF IOB.

HOlie Iob otherwise called Iobab (Gen. 36.) as S. Augustin, S. Chrisostom, [...] 18. c. 47. ciuit. conc. 2. de Lazar Rom. 9. Praesat [...] Iob. Iob of the race of Esau. S. Ambrose, S. Gregorie, and other fathers teach, the sonne of Zara, the sonne of Rahuel, the sonne of Esau, was king (or absolute prince) of the land of Hus. who being perfect in religion, sincere in life, VVhy God suffered him to be so afflicted. The contentes according to the historie▪ rich in wealth, and blessed with children, for an admirable example of patience, and to shew that a mortal man through Gods grace, may resist al the diuels tentations, by Gods permission, sudainly lost al his goodes and children, was striken with horrible sores in al his bodie, reuiled by his wife, and in steed of comforth which his special freindes pretemted towards him, was iniuriously charged by them, with impatience, arrogancie, blasphemie, and other crimes, for which they falsly supposed he was so afflicted, affirming, and by diuers sophistical argumentes, grounded as they pretended vpon Gods iustice, wisdome, powre, mercie, and goodnes, would proue that God suffereth none but wicked men to be so afflicted. But Iob constantly defendeth his owne iust [...]cencie, and that worldlie calamities, and prosperitie happen indifferently [Page 1060] to good and had in this lif [...], and that the tru [...]r▪ ward of the iust, and punishment of the wicked, is to be expected in the other world. At last God, with due reprehension of Iob for some imperfections, sharply rebuketh the errors, and insolencie of his aduerse freinde [...]; geueth sentence on Iobs side; pardoneth [...]m at his intercession; and restoreth al thinges to him duble, to that he had before.

B [...]i [...]e [...] the literal sense Iob in al his actions, sufferinges, and whole life, was Iob an especial figure of Christ. a special figure of Christ, shewing (sayth S. Gregorie) by those Praf [...] ▪ thinges which he did and susteyned, what our Redemer should do and suffer yea more particularly th [...]n most part of the Patriarches, which S. Ierome (epist. ad Paulin.) also admireth and testifieth, saying: what mysteries of Christ doth not this booke comprehend? Euerie word is ful of sense. Moreouer this historie is replenished with moral documents, Moral documentes in this booke. how to embrace vertue, and eschew vice: proposing the life of a right godlie man, neither insolent in prosperitie, not desparing in aduersitie, alwayes resolute in Gods seruice, as wel in his prosperous kingdom as in the miserable dunghil. Here also we haue the true maner of arguing, according to the rules of Logike, with detection of sophistrie, Iob prouing True logike & Philosophie. and disprouing assertions by proposition, assumption, and conclusion, as S. Ierom obserueth, with profound knovvlege of natural thinges and causes, as appeareth in very manie places. Al which varietie and abundance Hard and ea [...]ic thinges to be vnderstood are both profitable. of matter, comprised in smal rowme, make manie thinges hard and obscure, yet are the same so tempered with other thinges plaine and easie, that here is verified S. Augustins ob [...]ruation (li. 2. c. 6. doct. Christ) certaine places of holie Scriptures serue as delectable meate to them that hunger and thirst diuine knowlege, and the obscure take away tediousnes from them, that loath vsual plaine doctrin.

It is most probable that Iob himself, inspired by the Holie Ghost, by whose grace he excelled al in right simplicitie (c. 1.) writte his owne historie; the VVritten by Iob himself most part in verse. most part in verse, only the two first chapters and the last in prose, in the Arabian tongue; which Moyses translated into Hebrew, for the consolation of the Israelites afflicted in Aegypt.

And it may be diuided into three general partes. First the change of Iobs state from prosperitie into affliction, with his lamentation for the same▪ are Diuided into three partes. recorded in the three first chapters. In foure and thirtie chapters folowing are sundrie disputations, conflictes, and discourses betwen him and his freindes, touching the cause of his so vehement affliction. In the fiue last chapters God discusseth the quarel, geueth sentence for Iob against his aduersaries, pardonteh them, and rewardeth him.

[Page 1061]

THE BOOKE OF IOB.

CHAP. I. This booke is read the two f [...]r [...] wekes of September. Holie Iob offereth sacrifice for euerie one of his children, 6. whose good estate Satan enuying, by Gods permission spoyle h [...]m of al his goodes, and children, 20. for which he being pensiue offendeth not, but thanketh God for al.

THERE was a man in the Land of Hus, named 1 The first pa [...] ▪ The change of Iobs prosperous s [...]a [...] into affliction. Iob, & that man was “ simple, & right, and fearing God, and departing from euil. † And there were borne to him seuen sonnes 2 and three daughters. † And his possession 3 was seuen thousand sheepe, and three thousand camels, also fiue hundred yoke of oxen and fiue hundred she asses, and a familie exceding great: and that man was great among al them of the East. † And his sonnes went, and made 4 a feast by houses, euerie one in his day. And sending they called their three sisters, to eate and drinke with them. † And 5 when the dayes of feasting had passed about in course, Iob sent to them, and sanctified them: and rising vp early “ offered holocaustes for euerie one. For he sayd: Lest perhaps my [...] sonnes haue sinned, and haue blessed God in their hartes. So did Iob al the dayes. † But on a certaine day when the sonnes 6 of God were come to assist before our Lord▪ Diuels appeare not in Gods sight, but sometime in presence of Angels which represent God S. Athan q. 8. ad Anti [...]c [...]. Satan also was present amongst them † To whom our Lord sayd: From 7 whence comest thou? Who answering, sayd: I haue gone round about the earth, and walked through it. † And our 8 Lord sayd to him: Hast thou considered my seruant Iob, that there is not the like to him in the earth, a man simple, and right and fearing God, and departing from euil.? † To whom 9 Satan answering, said: Why, doth Iob feare God in vayne? † hast not thou fensed him, and his house, and al his substance 10 round about, blessed the workes of his handes, and his possession hath increased on the earth? † But stretch forth thy 11 hand a little, and touch al thinges that he possesseth, vnlesse he blessethee in the face † Our Lord therfore sayd to Satan: 12 God doth not directly send euils b [...]t permitteth them to happen to his seruantes. behold, al things that he hath, are in thy hand, onlie vpon him extend not thy hand. And Satan went forth from the [Page 1062] face of our Lord. † And when vpon a certeine day his 13 sonnes and daughters did eate, and drinke wyne in the house of their eldest brother, † there came a messenger to Iob, which 14 sayd: The oxen plowghed, and the she asses fed beside them, † and the Sabeians came in violently, & haue taken al things, 15 and haue stroken the seruantes with the sword, and I onlie haue escaped to tel thee. † And when he yet spake, an other 16 came, and sayd: The fire of God fel from heauen, and striking the sheepe and the seruantes hath consumed them, and I only haue escaped to tel thee. † But whiles he also was yet speaking, 17 there came an other and said: The Chaldees made three [...]roupes, and haue inuaded the camels, and taken them, moreouer the seruantes also they haue strooken with the sword, and I alone am fled to tel thee. † He yet spake, and behold an 18 other came in, and said: Thy sonnes and daughters eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, † sodenly 19 a vehement winde came violently from the countrie of the desert, and shooke the foure corners of the house, which falling oppressed thy children and they are dead, and I alone haue escaped to tel thee. † Then Iob rose vp, and rent his garmentes, 20 and with powled head falling on the ground, adored, † and said By this holie example ancient fathers condeme the sen [...]es Stoikes who are neuer moued, S. Aug. li. 1. c. 9. ciuit. S. Paul also reproueth men vvithout affection. Rom. 1. v. 31. Naked came I out of my mothers wombe, and 21 naked shal I returne thither: Our Lord gaue, and our Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased our Lord, so is it done: the name of our Lord be blessed. † In al these thinges Iob sinned 22 not with his lippes, neither spake he anie foolish thing against God.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. I.

1. Simple, right, and fearing God.] Moyses, Samuel, Esdras, & other Prophetes Aswal Iob as other prophetes writ their owne actes and prayses. Good workes are both Gods workes and mens workes. writ ther owne actes among others, also their owne prayses, speaking of themselues in the third person: & so did holie Iob, humbly, truly, and simply, without vayne glorie, or arrogancie, as S. Gregorie noteth, saying. Blessed Iob, inspired Praef [...] in Iob. with the Holie Ghost, might wel write his owne actes, which were the giftes of supernal inspiration. God being the principal cause efficient of al good mens workes, and men the secondarie cause of the same.

Moreouer Iobs singular patience and other vertues are likewise commended in other holie Scriptures & by ancient Doctores, Tobiae. 2. God permitted tentation to happen vnto Tobias, that example might be geuen to his folowers of his patience, as of holie Iob, S. Iames (c. 5.) exhorting to patience, sayth: You Iobs patience inuincible in [...]l sortes of [...]liction. haue heard the suffering of Iob, and you haue sene the end of our Lord. Tertullian ( li. de patientia) admiring Iobs patience exclameth thus: ô most happie man whom neither the driuing away of his flockes of catle, nor consuming of the rest with [Page 1063] [...]ire, nor the losse of his children, nor terments of his b [...]di [...] ▪ could drive [...]m patience but he stood immoueable in the seruice of God, for example to vs, that we fall not for anie wordlie damage, losse of dearest friendes or corporal afflictions. & blessed be God, by whose blessing we may now y [...]ô happie English Catholiques, English Catholiques lose their goodes and children, and are afflicted in bodie. that patiently suffer the very same kindes of tribulation, (though not in so great a degree) in our time▪ S Cyprian ( li deb [...]no patientie) Iob examined & proued by the vertue of patience was aduanced to the very height of prayse, a rich lord in possession, & a more rich father in children, sudainly was neither lord, nor father: was also most greuously afflicted in his flesh: and that no tentation might be wanting the diuel armed his wife against him, yet was he not moued, but by victorious patience thanked God for al In like sorre other holie fathers, for encoregement and consolation of the afflicted, write much of holie Iobs inuincible patience. Aboue al S. Gregorie, our Apostle, dilateth most excellently Great commendation to be good amongst the bad. in thirtie and fine whole bookes, describing & proposing his so great vertues to be imitated by al Christianes, first of al (li. 1. c 5.) obseruing how great a prayse it is to be good in such a place, in the middes of a croo [...]ed and peruerse Philip. 2. Apoc. 2. [...]ntie. nation, shining as a light in the vvorld, dwelling in the gentiles, vvhere vvas the seate of Satan, a lillie amongst thornes.

5▪ Offered holocaustes for euerie one.] Albeit the vertue of Sacrifice as wel of Holocaust Sacrifice being of infinite vertue, yet the valure in application is limited. in the old Testament, as especially of Christs Sacrifice in the New, is of infinite valure in it selfe, yet the application therof to particular persons, and purposes is limited, and therfore holie Iob offered not only once for al his children, but manie times, seuerally for euerie one. VVherof see Cardinal Allan li. 2▪ de Eucharist. Sacrific. c. 35.

CHAP. II. Satan by Gods permission, 7. striketh Iob with s [...]res from the sole of his foote to the toppe of his head. 9. His wife also insulteth against him, but he sinneth not. 11. Three freindes coming to visite and conforte him, sitte si [...]n [...] by him seuen dayes.

AND it came to passe when on a certaine day the sonnes 1 of God were come, and stood before our Lord, and Satan came among them, and stood in his sight, † that our 2 Lord sayd to Satan: From whence comest thou? who answering sayd: I haue gone round about the earth, and walked through it. † And our Lord sayd to Satan: Hast thou considered 3 my seruant Iob, that there is not the like to him in the earth, a man A man of pl [...]ine [...] true dealing mixed with meek [...] with out al guile is called a simple right man S. Greg. li. 1. Moral. [...]. 2 & [...] simple, and right, and fearing God, and departing from euil, and yet reteyning innocencie? But thou hast moued me against him, that I should afflict him in vaine. † To 4 whom Satan answering, said: Skinne for skinne, & al thinges that a man hath, he wil geue for his life: † otherwise put thy 5 hand, and touch his bone and flesh, and then shalt thou see that he wil blesse thee in the [...]ace. † Our Lord therfore sayd 6 to Satan: Behold he is in thy hand, but yet saue his life. † Satan 7 [Page 1064] therfore going out from the face of our Lord, stroke Iob with a verie sore boile, from the sole of the foote euen to the toppe of his head: † who with a shel scraped the corruption, sitting 8 on a dunghil. † And His wife perswading him to desperation and blasphemie, signified carnal cogitions which corrupt the soule inwardly, as afflictions do affault the flesh outwardly. S. Greg. li. 3. c. 24. his wife sayd to him: Doest thou yet 9 continue in thy simplicitie? blesse God and die. † Who sayd to 10 her: Thou hast spoken like one of the foolish wemen, if we haue receiued good things of the hand of God, euil thinges why should we not receiue? In al these things Iob sinned not with his lippes. † Therfore“ Iobs three frendes hearing al 11 the euil, that had changed to him, came euerie one out of their place, Elephaz a Themanite, and Baldad a Suhite, and Sophar a Naamathite. For they had appointed, that coming together they would visite him, and confort him. † And when 12 they had lifted vp their eies a far of, they knew him not, and crying out they wept, and renting their clothes sprinkled dust ouer their head toward heauen. † And they sate with him on 13 the ground Seuen dayes together euerie day and night some good part. seuen daies and seuen nightes, and no man spake to him a word: for they saw the payne to be vehement.

ANNNOTATIONS. CHAP. II.

11. Iobs three freindes.] For better intelligence of these conflictes betwen These visiters of Iob were in dede his freindes, and professed true religion. They erred in Iobs particular case. holie Iob and his freindes, it may here be obserued, that they were in dede his freindes, as the text simply calleth them: that they beleued rightly in God Almightie, and were not idolaters: that they came of freindly good affection to comforth him▪ though they fel into vvordes of reprouing him, (as S. Gregorie teacheth) li. 3. [...]. 24. they alleaged also manie excellent diuine sentences very truly, which therfore Iob reproued not. But they erred in their illations against Iob: and that of ignorance rather then of sette malice, concluding that Iob was guiltie of some enormious sinnes, because they saw him so greuously punished, and heard him complaine therof; his owne conscience knowen to him and hid to them (wherof they rashly iudged) testifying that he was innocent, in respect of so great crimes. And in this their particular error, though they were not heretikes, being not obstinate after that the truth was sufficiently reueled And prefigured heretikes. vnto them, yet they prefigured heretikes, endeuouring by one truth to destroy an other, and by arrogating knowlege which they had not: promising also li. 5. [...] ▪ 18. [...]evv thinges & vnheard of, rather to drovv others to admire them, then to edification.

CHAP. III. Iob lamenteth, describing his owne, and the general calamities of man, 13. and shearing ho [...] the [...] escape manie miseries which either are neuer bornt or dye presently after their birth.

AFTER these things Iob opened his mouth, and After so long [...]le [...]ce at last [...]b expresseth hi [...]Spand [...] so [...] des [...] great [...] [...]the [...] [...]ly [...] [...]ud [...]o [...] [...] by God bu [...] to m [...] bein [...] [...]nne▪ euen from his conception and [...] wishing that whatsoeuer concurred to his longer afflictions in this life, and h [...]d [...]r [...] his more spedie deliuerie from dangers and calamities had not bene, for so he had benne sowner at [...]est as Gods goodnes should dispose of him Al which was a lawful desire and no sinne at al. See 1. Pineda. in c. 2. Iob. cursed 1 his day, † and spake. † Perish may the day wherin I was 2. 3 [Page 1065] borne, and the night wherin it was sayd: A man is conc [...]ed. † Be that day turned into darkenesse, God require it not from 4 aboue, and let it not be lightened with light. † Let darkenes, 5 and the shadow of death obscure it, let a mist possesse it, and be it wrapped in bitternesse. † A darkesome hurle wind possesse 6 that night, be it not counted in the da [...]es of the yeare, not numbred in the monethes. † Be that night [...], not 7 prayse worthie. † Let them curse it which cu [...]e the day, 8 which are readie to raise vp Leuiathan. † Let the [...]a [...]res be 9 darkened with the mist therof: let it expect light and let it not see, neither the rysing of the appearing morning. † Because 10 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 11 matrice, perished not forthwith being come forth of the wombe? † Why receiued vpon the knees? why nurced with 12 the breastes▪ † For now sleping I should be quiet, and should 13 rest in my sleepe: † With kinges and co [...]les of the earth, 14 which build themselues solitarie places: † Or with princes, 15 that possesse gold, and replenish their [...]es with siluer: † Or 16 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 17 impious haue ceased from tumult. & there the wearied with strength haue [...]ested. † And they sometime bound together 18 without griefe, haue not heard the voyce of the exactor. † Litle and great are there, and the seruant free from his master. 19 † Why is there light geuen to a miserable man, and life 20 to them, that are in bitternesse of soule? † That expect death, 21 and it cometh not, as they that dig vp treasure. † And they 22 reioyce excedingly when they haue found the graue. † To 23 a man whose life is hid, and God hath compassed him with darkenes? † Before I eate I sigh: and as it were ouerflowing 24 waters so my roaring: † Because the feare which I feared, 25 hath chanced to me: and that which I was afrayd of, hath happened. † haue I not dissembled▪ haue I not kept silence? 26 haue I not beene at ease? and indignation is come vpon me.

CHAP. IIII. The second part. Diuers discourses and disputes about the cause of Iobs afflictions. 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.

[Page 1066]BVT Eliphaz the Themanite answering, sayd: † If we 1 2 The first constrct, betwen Eliphaz and Iob. shal begin to speake to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it greuously, but the word conceiued who can hold? † Behold 3 thou hast taught manie, & wearie handes thou hast strengthned: † Them that wauered thy wordes haue confirmed, 4 and trembling knees thou hast strengthened: † But now a 5 plague is come vpon thee, and thou hast faynred: hath touched thee, and art trubled. † Where is thy feare, thy strength, thy 6 patience, and the perfection of thy wayes? † Remember I 7 besech thee, who euer being innocent hath No innocent euer perished eternally: but innocent Abel was slaine temporaly, and innumerable others suffer calamities for their greater merite. perished? or when haue the iust bene destroyed? † Yea rather I haue sene 8 them, that worke iniquitie, and sow sorrowes, & reape them, † to haue perished by the blast of God, and with the spirit 9 of his wrath to haue bene consumed. † The roaring of the 10 lion, and the voice of the lionesse, & the teeth of the whelpes of lions are bruised: † The tigre hath perished, because he 11 had no praye, and the lions whelpes are destroyed: † Moreouer 12 Heretikes pretend such obscure visions more to gette credite then to edifie others. S. Greg. li. 5. c. 18. 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 13 sleepe is wont to hold men, † feare held me, and trembling, 14 and al my bones were made sore afrayd: † And when the 15 spirit passed in my presence, the heares of my flesh stood vpright. † There stood one, whose countenance I knew not, 16 an image before mine eies, and I heard the voyce as it were of a gentle winde. † What, Iob easely granteth that man may not compare not contend with God ch. 9. v. 1. Yet men may be innocent & free from greuous sinnes. shal man be iustified in comparison 17 of God, or shal a man be more pure then his maker? † Behold they that serue him, are not stable, and in his Angels 18 he found wickednes: † How much more they that inhabite 19 houses of clay, which haue an earthly foundation, shal be consumed as it were of the moth? † From morning vntil euening 20 they shal be cut downe: and because none vnderstandeth, they shal perish foreuer. † And they that shal be leaft, 21 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 This disputer hauing pretended an imaginarie vision from God [...] Iob, now he supposeth that neither God no [...] Angel no [...] other holie person wil patr [...]age his cause, nor iudge of his case as he doth, but that al wil condemne him of impatience, follie, enuie, and other sinnes. if there be that wil answer thee, & “ turne 1 to some of the sainctes. † Anger in deede killeth the 2 [Page 1067] foolish, and enuie slea [...]th the litle one. † I haue seene a foole 3 with firme roote, and I cursed his beautie by and by. † His 4 children shalbe made far from saluation, and shal be destroyed in the gate, and there shalbe none to deliuer. † Whose haruest 5 the hungrie shal eate, & the armed shal take him by violence, and the thirstie shal drinke his riches. † Nothing in the [...]a [...]th 6 is done without a cause, and out of the ground sorrow shal nor rise. † This proueth unporteth that a man must not thincke to passe his life without trauel, but must get his bread vvith svveat of his brovves, or suffer other calamities. Man is borne to labour, and the bird to flight. 7 † For the which thing I wil besech our Lord, and toward 8 God I wil set my speach: † Who doeth great and vnsearchable 9 and meruelous things without number: † Who geueth raine 10 vpon the face of the earth, and watereth al thinges with waters: † W [...]o setteth the humble on high, and them that are in 11 heauinesse he conforteth with health: † Who disspateth the 12 cogitations of the malignant, that their handes can not accompli [...]h that which they b [...]gan: † Who apprehendeth the 13 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 14 the night, so shal they grope at noone daies. † Moreouer he 15 shal saue the need [...] from the sword of their mouth, and the poore from the hand of the violent. † And to the needie there 16 shal be hope, but iniquitie shal draw together her mouth. † Blessed is the man that is corrected of God: refuse not therfore 17 the chastising of our Lord: † Because he woundeth, and 18 cureth: striketh, and his hands shal beale. † In Gods goodnes deliuereth his seruantes the space of this laborious life, six tribulations 19 he shal deliuer thee, and in the And most especially in the houre of death. S. Org. li. 6. c. 18. seuenth euil shal not touch thee. † In famine he shal deliuer thee from death; and 20 in battel, from the hand of the sword. † From the scourge of 21 the tongue thou shalt be hid; & thou shalt not feare calamitie when it cometh. † In waste and famine thou shalt laugh; and 22 the beastes of the earth thou shalt not feare. † But with the 23 stones of the landes thy couenant, and the beastes of the earth shal be peaceable to thee. † And thou shalt know that thy 24 tabernacle hath peace, and visiting thy beautie, thou shalt not sinne. † Thou shalt know also that thy seed shal be manifold, 25 and thy progenie as the grasse of the earth. † Thou shalt enter 26 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: 27 which thou hauing heard reuolue in thy mind.

[Page 1068]

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. V.

1. Turne to some of the Sainctes] Eliphaz prouoking Iob to produce some of his opinion, or to seeke the helpe and patronage of some Sainct in his cause, [...]nuocation of Sainctes, especially Angels in Iobs time. plainly sheweth the common faith and practise of inuocating Sainctes in that time. Els it had benne a frin [...]lous speach, which is not to be imputed to a sensible wise man as he was. For it appeareth by the drift of his reasoning, that he supposed some of Gods special seruantes would maintaine a good cause, but that Iobs cause was such as neither God, nor holie Angel, nor good man would defend, and therfore boldly prouoked him to this trial, presuming that he should finde no such patron. Neither did he wil Iob in these wordes to cal vpon God only, for he could not erre so grosly, as to cal God some of the Sainctes: but must meane some other holie person. And it is clere by the Septuaginta Interpreters, that Eliphaz willed Iob to inuocate the Angels. saying: Inuocate if anie vvil ansvver thee, or if thou canst behold anie of the holie Angeles. S. Gregorie li. 5. c. 30. expoundeth it to the same sense, that Sainctes were to be inuocated in a good cause, but, that Eliphaz here▪ dispicing and deriding holie Iob, sayd to him: Thou canst not find Sainctes thy helpers in affliction, vvhom thou vvouldest not haue thy felovves in prosperitie.

CHAP. VI. Iob answereth the obiections of Eliphaz, shewing that in deede the calamitie which he suffereth is much greatter then his sinnes deserue; and therfore his lamentation is excusable. 8. wisheth (if it so please God) that he may dye. 13. complaneth that his freindes are become his aduerseries, 16▪ grauely expostulateth that they reprehend him, 12. and helpe him not.

BVT Iob answering, sayd: † A man of sincere conscience confesseth the sinnes wherof he is guiltie, yet acknowledgeth not al wherwith others may vniustly charge him. Would God my sinnes were 1 2 weyed, wherby I haue deserued wrath, and the calamitie, which I suffer in a balance. †“ As the sand of the sea this 3 would appeare heauier, wherfore my wordes also are ful of sorrow: † Because the arrowes of our Lord be in me, the 4 indignation whereof drinketh vp my spirit, and the terrours of our Lord warre agaynst me. † Wil the wilde asse roare 5 when he hath grasse? or the oxe loweth when he shal stand before the ful manger. † Or can an vnsauerie thing be eaten, 6 that is not seasoned with salt? or can a man tast that which being tasted bringeth death? † The thinges which before 7 my foule would not touch, now for anguish are my meates. † Who wil graunt that my petition may come: and that 8 God would geue me that which I expect? † And he that hath 9 begune, the same would loose his hand, and cut me of? † And 10 this might be my comfort, that afflicting me with sorrow, he [Page 1069] spare not, not I gayne say the wordes of the Holie one. † For 11 What is my strength, that I can susteyne it? or what is mine end, that I should doe patiently. † Neither is my strength 12 the strength of stones, neither is my [...]est of brasse. † Behold 13 there is no help for me in my self, and my familiar freindes also are departed from me. † He that taketh away mercie 14 from his frend, forsaketh the feare of our Lord. † My brethren 15 haue passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys. † They that feare the hoare frost, snow shal fal vpon 16 them. † At the time, when they shal be dissipated they shal 17 perish: and after they waxe hote they shal be dissolued out of their place. † The pathes of their steppes are intangled: they 18 shal walke in vayne, and shal perish. † Cosider ye the pathes 19 S [...]nd [...]e wayes without water. of Thema, the wayes of Saba, & expect a litle while. † They 20 are confounded, because I haue hoped: they are come also euen vnto me, and are couered with shame. † Now you 21 are come: and euen now seing my plague you are afrayd. † haue I sayd: Bring ye to me, and of your substance geue to 22 me? † Or deliuer me from the hand of the enemie, and out 23 of the hand of the strong deliuer me? † Iobs aduersa [...]ies pre [...] med to teach him, but because they erred in their applying of true assertions in his case, which himself vnderstood and not they, he acconted not their discourses for good doctrin. Teach ye me, and I 24 wil hold my peace: and if I perhaps haue beene ignorant in anie thing, instruct ye me. † Why haue you detracted from 25 the wordes of truth, whereas there is none of you that can controwle me? † To rebuke only you frame speaches, and 26 you vtter wordes in the wind. † You rush in vpon a pupil, and 27 you endeuoure to ouerthrow your frend. † Notwithstanding 28 accomplish that which you haue begune: geue eare, and see whether I lie. † Answer I besech you without contention: 29 and speaking that which is iust, iudge ye. † And you shal not 30 finde iniquitie in my tongue, neither shal folie sound in my iawes.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VI.

3. As the sand of the sea] Scarse anie figure is more common in holie S [...]ipture The vse of Hyperbole in holie Scripture. then Hyperbole. wherby ou [...] vnderstanding is drawne to cōceiue the greatnes of thinges that otherwise surpasse vulgar capacitie. So Iob signifieth here that his calamitie being vveighed vvith his sinnes in balance, vvould appeare heauier, not precisely in proportion of the number of sandes in the sea, but exceding much in true comparison. Of which superabundance of paines patiently suffered Treasure of satisfactorie workes in the Church. by holie Iob, and other Sainctes, more then their sinnes deserued, especially of our B. Sauiour, who could not sinne, and of our B. Ladie, who neuer sinned, remayneth an infinitie treasure of satisfactorie workes, appliable by the [Page 1070] supreme stuard of Gods Church, Christs Vicar in earth, for satisfaction of others which haue nede, and are in the communion of Sainctes, and performe the conditions appointed. And so this high stuard may in due maner by his Pardons do applie the suffering of some for the satisfaction of others. authoritie, geue limited, or plenarie pardones to penitentes, of the paines which otherwise they should suffer in this life, or in purgaritie, for their sinnes first remitted. Other Bishops can also geue or dispence so much as the Supreme Bishop allo [...]teth to their powre, al to edification and necessitie of Gods seruantes, as dispencers, not dissipators of so holie treasure.

CHAP. VII. Iob explicateth diuers calamities of mans life, and namely of his owne▪ 6. Suposing it not likelie that he shal returne to former prosperous state, 15. desireth to dye.

THE life of man vpon earth is a A souldiar must be alwayes readie to indure trauel, to be promptly obedient, content to be beaten by his superior with out al resistance, vpon paine of his life, he is alwayes subiect to cares, and to danger of death, and therfore must euer be readie to dye. warfare, & his daies, as 1 the daies of an hyred man. † As a seruant desireth the 2 shadow, & as the hired man taryeth for the end of his worke: † So I also haue had vayne monethes, and haue numbred to 3 my self laborious nightes. † If I sleepe, I shal say: When shal 4 I arise? and agayne I shal expect the euening, and shal be replenished with sorowes euen vntil darkenens. † My flesh is 5 clothed with rottenesse and filth of dust, my skinne is withered, & drawen together. † My daies haue passed more swiftly, 6 then the webbe is cut of the weauer, and are consumed without anie hope. † Remember that my life is a winde, 7 and myne eie shal not returne to see good thinges. † Neither 8 shal the sight of man behold me: thine eies vpon me, and I shal not stand. † As a clowde is consumed, and passeth away: 9 so he that shal descend to Seol. hel shal not ascend. † Neither shal 10 he returne anie more into his house, neither shal his place know him anie more. † Wherfore I also wil not spare my 11 mouth, I wil speake in the tribulation of my spirit: I wil talke with the bitternesse of my soule. † Why, am I a sea, or 12 a whale, that thou hast compassed me with a prison. † If I 13 sa [...]: My litle bed shal confort me, and I shal be releeued speaking with myself in my couch: † Thou wilt terrefie me by 14 dreames, and by visions shake me with horrour. † For the 15 which thing my soule hath chosen hanging, and my bones death. † I haue despayred. I shal now liue no longer: Iust Iob supposing he was at the point of death, prayed God to spare or cease to punish him more, and to accept of that affliction which he had already suffered. So the Church in behalf of soules departed in state of grace prayeth God to spare and cease from further punishing them, and to geue them eternal rest. Spare 16 me, for my daies are nothing. † What is man that thou magnifiest 17 him? or why settest thou thy hart toward him? † Thou 18 doest visite him early, and sodenly thou prouest him: † How 19 long doest thou not spare me, nor suffer me that I swallow my spitle? † I haue sinned, what shal I doe to thee ô keeper 20 [Page 1071] of men? why hast thou sette me contrarie to thee, and I am become burdenous to my self? † Why doest thou not take 21 away my sinne, and why doest thou not take away mine iniquitie? Behold now I shal sleepe in the dust: and if thou seeke me in the morning, I shal not be.

CHAP. VIII. Baldad chargeth Iob to haue spoken, vniustly exhorting him to turne to God, and so he shal prosper better then heretofore. 13. sh [...]wing that hypocrites shal not prosper, 20. inferreth (falfly) that God afflicteth not the sincere, nor helpeth the malignant.

BVT Baldad the Suhite answering, sayd: † The second confflict. How long wilt 12 thou speake such thinges, and shal the spirit of the word :: This second disputer charged Iob to be ob [...]ate who in ded [...] was constant [...] a true setled iudgement. of thy mouth be multiplied? † Why doth God supplant iugement? 3 or doth the Omnipotent subuert that which is iust? † Although thy children haue sinned to him, and he hath 4 leaft them in the hand of their iniquitie: † Yet if thou wilt 5 arise early to God, and wilt besech the Omnipotent: † If 6 thou wilt walke cleane & vpright, he wil [...]orthwith awake vnto thee, and wil make the habitation of thy iustice peaceable: † In so much, that if thy former thinges haue bene litle, 7 thy later thinges may be multipled excedingly. † For aske the 8 old generation, and search diligently the memorie of the fathers. († For we are but as yesterday, and are ignorant Euen thus heretikes imagine Catholikes to the ignorant, and therfore fil their mouthes and bookes with thinges that are not denied, and yet inserre much falshood sophistically applying one truth against an other being them selues ignorāt how to reconcile difficulties. that 9 our daies vpon the earth are as a shadow.) † And they shal 10 teach the [...]: they shal speake to thee, and from their hart shal vtter wordes. † Can the rush be greene without moysture? or 11 a seggie place grow without water? † When it is yet in his 12 flowre, and is not plucked with the hand, it witereth before al h [...]atbes: † Euen so the waies of al, that forget God, and 13 the hope of the hypocrite shal perish: † His folie shal not 14 please him, and his confidence as the spiders webbe. † He shal 15 leane vpon his house, and it shal not stand: he shal stay it vp, and it shal not rise: † He semeth moystened before the sunne 16 come, and in his rising his blossome shal goe forth. † Vpon a 17 heape of rockes his rootes shal be thicke, and among stones he shal abide. † If he swallow him vp out of his place, he wil 18 denie him, & wil say: I know thee not. † For this is the ioy of 19 of his way, that others may spring againe of the earth. † God wil not reiect the simple, nor reach his hand to the 20 malignant. † Vntil thy mouth be filled with laughter, and 21 [Page 1072] thylippes with iubilation. † They that hate thee, shal be clothed 22 with confusion: and the tabernacle of the impious shal not stand.

CHAP. IX. Iob approueth that no man auouching his owne iustice before God is iustified. 22. Teacheth that affliction of the innocent standeth wel with Gods iustice, wisdom, and powre.

AND Iob answering, said: † Iob here granteth that which was truly said by his aduersarie, & sheweth how he did wrong apli [...] [...]rue doctrin against him, and so stil defendeth his owne in nocencie, and iust quarel In deede I know it is so, & 1 that man can not be iustified compared with God. † If 2 he wil contend with him, he can not answer him one for a 3 thousand. † He is wise of hart, and strong of force: who 4 hath resisted him, & hath had peace? † He that transported 5 mountaynes, and they whom he subuerted in his surie, knew not. † He that remoueth the earth out of her place, and the 6 pillers therof are shaken. † He that commandeth the sunne, & 7 it riseth not: and shutteth vp the staires as it were vnder a seale: † He that alone spreadeth the heauens, and goeth vpon 8 the waues of the sea. † He that maketh Arcturus, and Orion, 9 and Hyades, and the inner partes of the sout [...]. † He that 10 doth great thinges, and incomprehensible, and meruelous of the which there is no number. † If he come to me, I s [...]al not 11 see him: if he depart, I shal not vnderstand. † If sodenly he 12 aske, who shal answer him? or who can say: Why doest thou so? † God whose wrath no man can resist, and vnder whom 13 they stoope that Angeles moue the spheres of heauen. carie the world. † How great am I then, 14 that I may answer him, and speake in my wordes with him? † Who although I haue anie iust thing, wil not answer, Euen so S. Paul, though he was not guiltie in conscience of anie crime, yet he would not therin iustifie himself. 1. Cor. 4. but 15 wil besech my iudge † And when he shal heare me inuocating, 16 I doe not beleue that he hath heard my voice † For in 17 a hurlewinde shal he breake me, and shal multiplie my woundes yea without cause. † He graunteth not my spirit to 18 rest, and he filleth me with bitternesse. † If strength be demaunded, 19 he is most strong: if equitie of iudgement, not man dare geue testimonie for me. † If I wil iustifie my self, 20 mine owne mouth shal condemne me, if I wil shew my self innocent, he shal proue me wicked. † Although I shal be 21 simple, the self same shal my soul be ignorant of, and I shal be wearie of my life. † This is an assured true assertion, that God afflicteth both good & euil nn this life. One thing there is that I haue spoken, 22 both the innocent and the impious he consumeth. † If 23 he scourge, let him kil at once, and not laugh at the paynes [Page 1073] of innocentes. † This earth is geuen into the handes of the 24 impious, he couereth the face of the iudges therof: and if it be not he, who is it then? † My dayes haue bene swifter then 25 a poste: they haue fled and haue not sene good. † They haue 26 passed by as shippes carying fruites, as an eagle flying to meate, † When I shal say: I wil not speake so, I change my 27 face, and am tormented with sorow. † I Feare on mans pa [...]t, and hope in God, do wel consist together. So both presumption and desperation are auoided. feared al my workes, 28 knowing that thou didst not spare the offender. † But 29 if so also I am impious, why haue I laboured in vayne? † If I 30 be washed as it were with snow waters, and my handes shal shine as most cleane: † Yet shal thou dippe me in filth, and my 31 garmentes shal abhorre me. † For neither I wil answer a man 32 that is like my self: nor that may be heard with me equally in iudgement. † There is none that may be able to reproue 33 both, and to put his hand betwen both. † Let him take his 34 rod from me, and let not his dread terrifie me. † I wil speake, 35 and wil not feare him▪ for I can not answer fearing.

CHAP. X. [...]ob scarse able to speake yet sheweth that there is no iniustice nor ignorance in God, neither is his sinne the cause of so great afflictions. 9. Acknowledgeth Gods loue and benefites towards himself. 15. and dreadeth his strict iudgement.

MY soule is wearie of my life, I wil let my speach passe 1 agaynst my self. I wil speake in the bitternes of my soule. † I wil say to God: Condemne me not: tel me why thou 2 iudgest me so. † Doth it seeme good to thee, if thou Holie Iob knowing it to be vnpossible that God calumniateth anie man, inquireth what is the cause why his goodnes afflicteth the iust? calumniate 3 me, and oppresse me the worke of thy handes, and helpe the counsel of the impious? † Hast thou eies of flesh: or as 4 a man seeth, shalt thou also see? † Are thy daies as the daies 5 of man, and are thy yeares as the times of men: † That thou 6 sekest my iniquitie, and searchest my sinne? † And thou 7 mayst knowe that I haue done no impious thing, whereas there is no man that can deliuer out of thy hand. † In that I am thy creature thou maist iustly destroy me: but in deede because I am thy creature thou [...] spare me through thy m [...]c [...], [...] me thy grace which if I vse wel thou wilt also geue me eternal rest. Thy 8 handes haue made me, and framed me wholly round about, and dost thou so sodenlie cast me downe headlong? † Remember I besech thee that as clay thou madest me, and 9 into dust thou wilt bring me agayne. † Hast thou not as milke 10 milked me, and curded me as cheese? † With skinne and 11 flesh thou hast clothed me: with bones & sinowes thou hast compacted me. † Life and mercie thou hast geuen to me, and 12 [Page 1074] thy visitation hath kept my spirit. † Although thou conceale 13 these thinges in thy hart, yet I know that thou remembrest al thinges. † If I haue sinned and thou hast spared me for an 14 houre: why doest thou not suffer me to be cleane from mine iniquttie? † And if I shal be impious, woe is to me: and if iust, 15 I shal not lift vp my head, filled with affliction and miserie. † And for pride as a lionesse thou wilt take me, and returning 16 thou doest meruelously torment me. † Thou renewest thy 17 witnesses agaynst me, and multipliest thy wrath toward me, and paynes doe warre vpon me. † Why didst thou bring me 18 forth out of the matrice? Who would God, I had beene consumed that eye might not see me. † I had beene as if I were 19 not, caried from the wombe to the graue. † Shal not the 20 fewnes of my daies be ended shortly? suffer me Repentance is alwayes necessarie, but most especially at the houre of death. therfore, that I may a litle lament my sorow: † Before I goe, and returne 21 not, vnto the darke land, that is couered with the mist of death: † A land of miserie and darkenesse, where is the shadow of death, and no order, but euerlasting horrour inhabiteth.

CHAP. XI. Sophar imputeth [...]obs discourse, about the cause of his so great afflictions, to insolencie of mind, and loquasitie of tongu, perswading him to acknowlege The third conflict greuous sinnes, that so he may haue the reward of a iust man.

BVt sophar the Naamathite answering, said: † Why, shal 12 he that speaketh manie thinges, not heare also? or Sophar might haue applied the vice of much speaking to himself, and his felowes, alleaging manie thinges, which proued not their opinion, wheras Iobs allegations proued directly that which he affirmed. shal a man ful of wordes be iustified? † To thee onlie shal men hold 3 their peace? and when thou hast mocked others, shalt thou be confuted of none? † For thou hast sayd: My word is pure, 4 and I am cleane in thy sight. † And I would wish that God 5 would speake with thee, and would open his lippes to thee, † That he might shew thee the secretes of wisdom, and that 6 his law is manisold, and thou mightest vnderstand that thou art exacted much lesser thinges of him, Iobs owne conscience affirmed the contrarie▪ c. 6. v. 3. then thy iniquitie deserueth. † Peraduenture thou wilt comprehend the steppes 7 of God, and wil find out the Omnipotent perfectly? † He is 8 higher then heauen, and what wilt thou doe: deeper then hel, and how wilt thou know? † The measure of him is longer 9 then the earth, and broder then the sea. † If he shal ouerthrow 10 al things, or shal strayten them into one, who shal say against him? † For he knoweth the vanitie of men, & seing iniquitie 11 [Page 1075] doth he not cōsider? † A vaine man is extolled into pride, 12 and thinketh him self borne free as a wilde asses colt. † But 13 thou hast confirmed thy hart, & hast spred thy handes to him. † If thou shalt take away from thee the iniquitie He could not iustly confesse iniqeitie which he had not cōmitted. that is in 14 thy hand, and iniustice remaine not in thy tabernacle: † Then 15 mayst thou lift vp thy face wthout spotte, and thou shalt, be stable, and shalt not feare. † Thou shalt also forget miserie, 16 and shalt remember it as waters that are passed. † And 17 the brightnes as it were of noone daies, shal arise to thee at euening: and when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as the day starre. † And thou shalt haue confidence, 18 hope being set before thee, and buried thou shalt sleepe secure. † Thou shalt rest, and there shal be none to terrifie 19 thee: and verie manie shal besech thy face. † But the eies of 20 the impious shal decay, and escape shal faile them, and their hope the abomination of the soule.

CHAP. XII. Iob sheweth the knowlege, which his freinds much boast of, to be the common knowne doctrin of Gods seruantes. He more truly, and more profoundly discourseth of Gods powre and wisdome, stil defending his owne innocencie in respect of great sinnes.

BV [...] Iob answering, sayd: † Are you then men alone, & shal 12 wisedome die with you? † I also haue a hart euen as you, 3 neither am I inferiour to you: for who is ignorāt of these thinges, which you know? † He that is mocked of his frend as I, 4 shal inuocate God & he wil heare him: for the God suffereth his simple true meaning seruantes to be scorned for the time, but afterward the wicked shal be forced to confesse, that those whom they derided are worthily in honour before God. Sap. 5. [...]. 3. simplicitie of the iust man is scorned. † The lampe contemned in the cogitations 5 of the riche, is prepared to the time appointed. † The 6 tabernacles of robbers abound, & they prouoke God bouldly, wheras he hath geuen al thinges into their handes. † For aske 7 the beastes, and they shal teach thee: and the foules of the ayre, and they shal tel thee. † Speake to the earth, and it shal 8 answer thee, and the fishes of the sea shal tel. † Who is ignorant 9 that the hand of our Lord hath made al these things? † In 10 whose hand is the soule of euerie liuing thing, and the spirit of al the flesh of man. † Doth not the eare discerne wordes, 11 and the iawes of him that eateth, the tast? † In the ancientes 12 is wisedom, and in long time prudence. † With him is wisedom 13 and strength, he hath counsel and vnderstanding. † If he 14 shal destroy, there is no man that can build: if he shut vp a [Page 1076] man, there is none that can open. † If he hold in the waters, 15 al things shal be dried: and if he send them forth, they shal ouerthrow the earth. † With him is strength and wisedom: 16 he knoweth both the deceiuer, & him that is deceiued. † He 17 bringeth Craftie plotters of deuises at last by Gods iust punishement commit so great absurdites, that the meanest may see their fo [...]lie. counselers to a folish end, and iudges to astonishment. † He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their 18 reines with a corde. † He leadeth away Priestes without glorie, 19 and supplanteth the great men. † Changing the lippe of 20 the true, and taking away the doctrine of the ancientes. † He 21 powreth out contempt vpon princes, releeuing them that had bene oppressed. † Who reueleth profound things out of 22 darkenesse, and bringeth forth the shadow of death into light. † Who multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and 23 restoreth the destroyed whole agayne. † Who changeth the 24 hart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiueth them, that they may goe in vayne where is no passage. † They 25 shal grope as in the darke, and not in the light, and he shal make them goe amis as druncken men.

CHAP. XIII. Of their owne wordes Iob confuteth his aduersaries, that they haue spoken that which they know not. 13. defendeth his owne innocencie. 22. desiring of God, if he be afflicted for secrete sinnes, that he may know them.

BEHOLD mine eie hath seene al these thinges, and mine 1 eare hath heard, & I haue vnderstood euerie thing. † According 2 to your knowledge I also do know: neither am I inferiour to you. † But yet I wil speake to the Omnipotent, 3 and I couet to dispute with God. † First shewing you to 4 be forgers of lying, and mainteyners of peruerse opinions. † And would God ye would hold your peace, that you 5 might be thought to be wise men. † Heare ye therfore 6 my correptions, and attend the iudgement of my lippes. † Hath God neede of your lye, that for him you speake guiles. 7 † Doe you take his person, and doe you endeuour Iobs state of sinne or innocencie was best knowen to God, next to his owne conscience, not at al to his aduersaries, that presumed to iudge therof. to iudge 8 for God? † Or shal it please him from whom nothing can be 9 concealed, or shal he be deceiued as a man, with your fraudulent dealings? † He shal reproue you, because in secrete you 10 take his person. † Forth with as he shal moue himself, he shal 11 truble you: and his terrour shal come violently vpon you. † Your memorie shal be compared to ashes, and your neckes 12 shal be brought into clay. † Hold your peace a litle while, 13 [Page 1077] that I may speake, what soeuer my minde shal prompt me. † :: Why doe I teare my flesh with my teeth, & carie my soule 14 in my handes? † Although he shal kil me, I wil It semed to his aduersaries that of desperation he would tea [...] his flesh, and so kil himself, and to be so nere death as if one held his soule in his hand readie to bet it s [...]l from him. trust in 15 him: but yet I wil reproue my waies in his sight. † And he shal 16 be my sauiour: for no hypocrite shal come in his sight. † Heare ye my word, and receiue the obscure sayings with 17 your eares. † If I shal be iudged, He was in extreme anguish, but stil trusted in God. I know that I shal be 18 found iust. † What is he that wil be iudged with me? let him 19 come: why am I consumed holding my peace? † Two things 20 only do not to me, and then shal I not be hid from thy face: † Make thy hand far from me, and let not thy feare terrifie 21 me. † Cal me, and I wil answer thee: or els I wil speake, and 22 doe thou answer me. † How great iniquites and sinnes I haue, 23 my wicked deedes and my offences He denieth that he is guiltie in conscience but desireth to know of God, if he haue anie hi [...] sinnes which himself knoweth not. shewe thou me. † Why 24 hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thine enemy? † Against 25 the leafe, that is violently taken with the wind, thou shewest thy might, and persecutest drie stuble. † For thou writest 26 bitternes against me, and wilt consume me with the sinnes of my youth. † Thou hast put my feete in the stockes, and 27 hast obserued al my pathes, and hast considered the steppes of my feete. † Who as rottenes am to be consumed, and as a 28 garment, that is eaten of the moth.

CHAP. XIIII. Againe Iob describeth the miseries of mans life. 3. Neuertheles Gods great prouidence towards him. 7. professeth his beleefe of the Resurrection.

MAN borne of Al children taking their s [...]bstance from the mother, and hauing only a temporal life, continually tending to death, can not but be subie [...]t to [...]anie [...] [...]s: [...] itselfe though it may some long is a limited thin [...] [...] is very [...], yea [...] proportion, in respect of eternitie, which is infinite. yet God hath care to bring this weake creature to life eternal. woman, liuing a short time, is replenished 1 with many mseiries. † Who as a flowre cometh 2 forth and is destroyed, & fleeth as a shadow, & neuer abideth in the same state. † And doest thou counte it a worthy thing 3 to open thine eies vpon such an one, and to bring him with thee into iudgement? † Who can make cleane him that is 4 conceiued of vncleane seede? is it not thou which onlie art? † The daies of man are short, & the number of his monethes 5 is with thee, thou hast appointed his limittes :: which can not be passed. † Depart a litle from him, that he may rest, 6 vntil his day wished for, come, euen as the hyred man. † A tree hath hope: if it be cut, it waxeth greene ag [...]i [...]e, and 7 the boughes thereof spring. † If his roote be old in the earth, 8 and the truncke therof be dead in the dust. † At the sent of 9 water it shal spring, and bring forth leaues, as when it was [Page 1078] first planted. † But when man shal be dead, and naked and 10 consumed, where is he I pray? † As if the waters should deparr 11 out of the sea, and a riuer made emptie should be dried vp. † So man when he is a sleepe shal not rise agayne, til heauen 12 perish, he shal not awake, nor rise vp out of his sleepe. † Who wil grant me this, that in hel thou protect me, and 13 hide me, til thy furie passe, and appoynt me a time, wherin thou wilt remember me? † Shal man that is dead, thinkest 14 thou, liue agayne? al the daies, in which I am now in warfare, I expect vntil my change do come. † Thou shalt cal me, and 15 I shal answer thee: to the worke of thy handes thou shalt reach thy right hand. † Thou in dede hast numbred my steppes: 16 but thou wilt spare my sinnes. † Thou hast sealed my 17 offences as it were in a bag, but hast cured mine iniquitie. † A 18 mountaine falling slideth downe, and a rock is remoued out of his place. † Waters make stones holow, and with inundation 19 the earth by litle and litle is consumed: and men therfore thou shalt destroy in like maner. † Thou hast strengthened 20 him a litle that he might passe away foreuer: thou shalt chāge his face, and shalt send him forth. † Whether his children 21 shal be noble, or vnnoble, he The parentes after death are not afflicted with the state of their children, as they be in this life. shal not vnderstand † But yet 22 his flesh whiles he shal liue shal haue sorow, & his soule shal mourne vpon himself.

CHAP XV. Eliphaz againe chargeth Iob to haue spoken presumptuously, & blasphemously. 14. auoucheth that no man is innocent nor iust. 20. describing the malediction of impious and hypochrites. The fourt conflict,

BVT Eliphaz the Themanite answering, sayd: † Wil a wise 1 man answer as it were speaking into the wind, and fil his 2 stomacke with burning? † Thou Eliphaz not able to answer Iobs solide reasons, raileth against him, as if he were iniurious to God, or taught others to cast away feare. reprouest him in wordes, 3 that is not equal to thee, and speakest that which is not expedient for thee. † As much as is in thee, thou hast euacuated 4 feare, and hast taken away prayers before God. † For thine 5 iniquitie hath taught thy mouth, and thou doest imitate the tongue of blasphemers. † Thine owne mouth shal condemne 6 thee, and not I: and thy lippes shal answer thee. † Wast thou 7 the first man borne, and formed before the litle hilles? † Hast 8 thou heard Gods counsel, and shal his wisedome be inferiour to thee? † What doest thou know, that we are ignorant of? 9 what doest thou vnderstand that we know not? † There are 10 [Page 1079] both oldmen and ancientes among vs, much elder then thy fathers. † Is it a great matter that God should comforth thee: 11 but thy naughtie wordes hinder it. † Why doth thy hart eleuate 12 thee, and as thinking great thinges, hast thou estonied eies. † Why doeth thy spirit swel agaynst God, to vtter such 13 wordes out of thy mouth. † What is man, that he should be 14 It is a very rare priuilege to be without spot. without spot, and that the borne of a woman should appeare But spot of venial sinnes may be in a iust man. iust? † Behold among his sainctes none is immutable, 15 and the heauens are not cleane in his sight. † How much 16 more is man abominable, and vnprofitable, who drinketh iniquitie as it were water? † I wil shew thee, heare me: that 17 which I haue seene I wil tel thee. † Wisemen confesse and 18 hide not their fathers. † To whom onlie the earth was geuen, 19 and stranger hath not passed by them. † The impious is 20 proud al his daies, and Al these miseries are incident to the wicked, but are falsly applied to holie Iob, who [...]ndede was iust. the number of the yeares of his tyrannie is vncertaine. † The sound of terrour is alwaies in his 21 eares: and when there is peace, he alwaies suspecteth treason. † He beleueth not that he may returne from darkenesse 22 to light, looking round about for the sword on euerie side. † When he shal moue himself to seeke bread, he knoweth 23 that the day of darkenesse is prepared in his hand. † Tribulation 24 shal terrifie him, and distresse shal compasse him, as a king that is prepared to battel. † For he hath stretched his hand 25 against God, and is strengthened against the Omnipotent. † He hath runne against him with necke set vp right, and is 26 armed with a fatte necke. † Fatnesse hath couered his face, 27 and from his sides there hangeth tallow. † He hath dwelt in 28 desolate cities, and in desert houses, that are brought into hillockes. † He shal not be enriched, neither shal his substance 29 continew, neither shal he put his roote in the earth. † He shal not depart out of darkenes, the flame shal drie his 31 boughes, and he shal be taken away with the spirit of his owne mouth. † He shal not beleeue vainely deceiued with 31 errour, that he may be redemed with anie price. † Before his 32 daies be accomplished, he shal perish: and his handes shal wither. † His cluster in the first flower shal be hurt as a vine, 33 and as the oliue tree casting his flower. † For the congregation 34 of the hypocrite is barren, and fire shal deuoure their tabernacles, which gladly take giftes. † He conceiued sorow, 35 and hath brought forth iniquitie, and his wombe preprareth guiles.

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CHAP. XVI. Iob moued by his importune freindes, 4. expostulateth their seueritie, 12. further describeth his afflictions, and appealeth to Gods iudgement, that he suffereth more then his sinnes deserue.

BVT Iob answering sayd: † I haue heard often times such 1 2 things, True and freindlie comforters ought to heare the afflicted with patience, and not vnmercifully charge him with crimes which they neither know, nor his conscience is guiltie of. heauie conforters you are al. † Shal wordes ful 3 of winde haue an end? or is anie thing trublesome to thee, if thou speake? † I also could speake thinges like to you: and 4 would God your soule were for my soule. † I also would confort 5 you with wordes, and would wag my head vpon you. † I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would moue 6 my lippes, as sparing you. † But what shal I doe? If I speake, 7 my paine wil not rest: and if I hold my peace, it wil not depart from me. † But now my sorow hath oppressed me, and al my 8 limmes are brought to nothing. † My wrinkles giue testimonie 9 against me, and A great affliction, when one ful of paine and distres is also forced to defend his owne innocencie against calumniators. a false speaker is raysed vp against my face contradicting me. † He hath gathered his furie vpon me, 10 and threatening me hath gna [...]hed against me with his teeth, mine enemy hath beheld me with terrible eies. † They haue 11 opened their mouthes vpon me, and exprobating haue strooken my cheke, they are filled with my paines. † God hath 12 shut me vp with the wicked man, and hath deliuered me to the hands of the impious. † I sometime that welthie one sodenly 13 am broken: he hath held my necke, broken me, and set me to himself as it were a marke. † He hath compassed me 14 with his speares, he hath wounded my loynes, he hath not spared, and hath powred out on the earth my bowels. † He 15 hath cut me with wound vpon wound, he hath come violently vpon me as it were a giant. † I haue sowed sackcloth 16 vpon my skinne, and haue couered my flesh with ashes. † My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyeliddes are 17 dimme. † These thinges haue I suffred As the aduersaries stil obiect great iniquitie to him so he yeldeth them the same true answer. without the iniquitie 18 of my hand, wheras I had cleane prayers to God. † Earth 19 couer not my bloud, neither let my crie find place in thee to be hid. † For behold my witnesse is in heauen, and he that 20 knoweth my conscience on high. † My freindes ful of wordes: 21 mine eie distilleth vnto God. † And would God a man 22 might so be iudged with God, as the sonne of man is iudged with his companion. † For behold the short yeares passe away, 23 and I walke the path, by the which I shal not returne.

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CHAP. XVII. For the greuousnes of his paine Iob expecteth speedie death, 4. chargeth his freindes with folie for holding only remuneration in this life. 6. himself hopeth happie rest in the other World.

MY spirit shal be extenuated, my daies shal be shortened, 1 and the graue only remaineth for me. † I haue 2 Not hauing committed such sinnes as he was charged withal, in this duble bitternes of corporal paine and calumniation, his eye was stil vpon God, expecting to be deliuered. not sinned, and mine eie abideth in bitternesse. † Deliuer 3 me, and set me beside thee, and let anie mans hand fight against me. † Thou hast made their hart far from discipline, 4 and therfore they shal not be exalted. † He promiseth a praye 5 to his felowes, and the eies of his children shal faile. † He 6 hath set me as it were for a prouerbe of the comon people, and I am an example before them. † Mine eie is dimne for 7 indignation, and my members are brought as it were to nothing. † The iust shal be astonied vpon this, and the innocent 8 shal be raised vp against the hypocrite. † And the iust shal 9 hold his way, and with cleane handes shal adde strength. † Be al you therfore conuerted, and come, and I shal not 10 finde among you anie wiseman. † My daies haue passed, my 11 cogitations are dissipated, tormenting my hart: † Night they 12 haue turned into day, and againe after darkenesse I hope for light. † If I shal expect▪ Se [...]l [...] Infernus. This tex [...] sheweth euidently that there was a place of rest called hel. hel is my house, and in darkenesse 13 I haue made my bed. † I haue sayd to rottenes: Thou art my 14 father, my mother, and my sister, to wormes. † Where is 15 now then my expectation, and my patience who considereth. † Al my thinges shal descend into most deepe hel: there 16 at the least, shal I haue rest thinkest thou?

CHAP. XVIII. Baldad setteth vpon Iob againe, chargeing him with present impatience, and former impietie, 6. and that therfore he suffereth worthie punishment. The fifth conflict.

BVT Baldad the Suhite answering, sayd: † How long wil 1 Baldad perceiuing Iob to speake confidently as the common doctrin of manie opposeth him self neuertheles against him and al that thincke as he doth, and so speaketh as to manie in the plural number, vvil ye speake and of himselfe & his felowes: are vve reputed. &c. So holie Iob a figure of the Church defended the common cause, his aduersaries a figure of here t [...]kes speaking some truthes mixed false thinges therwith S. Greg. li. 14. c. 1. ye speake vaunting wordes? vnderstand ye first, and so 2 let vs speake. † Why are we reputed as beastes, and accounted 3 vile before you? † Which destroyest thy soule in thy furie, 4 shal the earth be forsaken for thee, and shal rockes be transported out of their place? † Shal not the light of the impious 5 be extinguished, and the flame of his fire not shine? † The 6 light shal be darke in his tabernacle, and the candel that is [Page 1082] ouer him, shal be extinguished. † The steppes of his power 7 shal be straytened, and his owne counsel shal cast him downe headlong. † For he hath thrust his feere into a nette, and wal. 8 keth in the mashes therof. † The sole of his foote shal be held 9 in a snare, and thirst shal burne against him. † His ginne is hid 10 in the earth, and his spring vpon the path. † Feares shal terrifie 11 him on euerie side, and his feete shal entangle him. † Let 12 his strength be extenuated with famine, and let hung erinuade his ribbes. † Let it deuoure the beautie of his skinne, let death 13 the firstborne consume his armes. † Let his considence be 14 plucked away out of his tabernacle, and let destruction as a king tread vpon him. † Let the companious of him, that is not, 15 dwel in his tabernacle, let brinston be sprinkled in his tent. † Let his rootes be dried downward, and his haruest destroyed 16 vpward. † Let the memorie of him perish from the earth, 17 and let not his name be renowmed in the streates. † He shal 18 expel him out of light into darkenesse, and shal transport him out of the world. † His seed shal not be, nor his progenie in 19 his people, nor anie remnantes in his countries. † In his daie 20 the last shal be astonied, and horrour shal inuade the first. † These are then the tabernacles of the wicked man, and this 21 is the place of him that knoweth not God.

CHAP. XIX. Iob lamenteth of his freindes crueltie, 6▪ affirmeth that his so great affliction is not for his sinnes. 25. and comforteth himself with his vndoubted belief [...] of the Resurrection.

BVT Iob answering, sayd: † How long doe you afflict my 1 2 soule, and weare me with wordes? † Behold, ten times 3 you counfound me, and are not ashamed oppressing me. † For 4 although I haue beene ignorant, mine ignorance shal be with me. † But you are set vp against me, and reproue me with my 5 reproches. † At the least now vnderstand ye, that God hath 6 afflicted me Blessed Iob (saith S. Gregorie li. 14. c. 16. 17▪) looking sincerly on his owne life, saw that his affliction was greater then his sinnes deserued, and in that respect was not equal: yet it was iust, for God, being iust geueth a iust reward: a crowne of iustice as S. Paul speaketh of himself (2. Tim. 4▪) not with equal iudgement, and hath compassed me with his scourges. † Behold I shal crie suffering violence, 7 and no man wil heare: I shal crie out, and there is none to iudge. † He hath hedged my path round about, and I can not 8 passe, and in my way hath put darkenesse. † He hath spoiled 9 me of my glorie, and hath taken the crowne from my head. † He hath destroved me on euerie side, and I perish, and as it 10 were from a tree plucked hath he taken away my hope. † His 11 [Page 1083] furie is wrath against me, and he hath so accounted me as his enemie. † His serian [...]es haue come together, and haue 12 made them selues a way by me, and haue besieged my tabernacle round about. † He hath made my brethren far from me, 13 and my acquaintance as strangers haue departed from me. † My kinfemen haue forsaken me, and they that knew me 14 haue forgotten me. † The ghestes of my house, and my maydseruantes 15 haue counted me an aliene, and I haue bene as it were a stranger in their eies. † I called my seruant, and he did 16 not answer me, with mine owne mouth I besought him. † My wife hath abhorred my breath, and I prayed the children 17 of my wombe. † Fooles also despised me, and when I 18 was departed from them, they backbited me. † My counselers 19 sometime haue abhorred me: and he Al refused holie Iob in his affliction euen those whom he had loued most: who therfore ought most to haue loued him againe. whom I loued most hath turned against me. † The flesh being consumed my 20 bone hath cleaued to my skinne, and there are left onlie lippes about my teeth. † Haue mercie vpon me, haue mercie 21 vpon me, at the least you my frendes, because the hand of our Lord hath touched me. † Why doe you as God persecute me, 22 and are filled with my flesh. † Who wil grant me that my 23 wordes may be writen? who wil geue me that they may be drawen in a booke, † with yron penne, and in plate of leade, 24 or els with stile might be grauen in flintstone? † For An expresse profession of his faith of the Resurrection. I know 25 that my Redemer liueth, and in the last day I shal rise out of the earth. † And I shal be compassed agayne with my skinne, 26 and in my flesh I shal see God. † Whom I my self shal see, and 27 mine eies shal behold, and VVe shal rise againe, not as one tree riseth in place of an other, but the self same persones, changed in qualities not in substance▪ none other: this my hope is layd vp in my bosome. † Why then doe you say now: Let vs persecute 28 him, and let vs finde roote of word agaynst him? † Flee 29 therfore from the face of the sword, because the sword is the reuenger of iniquities: and know ye that there is iudgement.

CHAP. XX. Sophar auoucheth that some wicked men florish for a time, but are afterwards iustly plaged. 29. therupon condemneth Iob as an hypocrite.

BVT Sophar the Naamathite answering, sayd: † Therfore 1 2 The sixth conflict, my diuerse cogitations▪ succede one an other, and my minde is rapt into sundrie things. † The doctrine, wherwith 3 thou reprouest me, I wil heare, and the spi [...]it of my vnderstanding shal answer me. † This I know from the beginning, 4 [Page 1084] since man was placed vpon the earth, † That the praise of the 5 impions is Al mans life is short and as a moment in comparison of eternitie; but it is not alwayes true that thewiked are shortly punished in respect of this life, as this disputer applieth it to proue Iob to impious. Therfore Iob answereth in the next chapter. [...]. 13. That ordinarily the wicked, lead their dayes (to witt their whole life) in vvealth and (then) in a moment goe downe to hel. So the rest of these mens assertions are for most part true in some sense but il applied. short, and the ioy of the hypocrite as it were for a moment: † If his pride rise vp euen to the heauen, and his 6 head touch the cloudes: † As a dunghil in the end he shal be 7 destroyed, and they that had sene him, shal say: Where is he? † As a dreame thar fleeth away he shal not qe found, he shal 8 passe as a vision by night: † The eie that had sene him, shal 9 not see him, neither shal his place behold him anie more. † His children shal come to naught with pou [...]rtie, and his 10 handes shal render him his sorow. † His bones shal be filled 11 with the vices of his youth, and they shal sleepe with him in the dust. † For when euil shal be sweete in his mouth, he wil 12 hide it vnder his tongue. † He wil spare it, and not leaue it, 13 and wil hide it in his throte. † His bread in his belly shal be 14 turned into the gaule of * a [...]p [...]s within him. † The riches, 15 which he hath deuoured, he shal vomite out, and God shal draw them forth out of his belly. † He shal sucke the head of 16 aspes, and the vipers tongue shal kil him. († Let him not see 17 the streames of the riuer, the to [...]n [...]es of home, & of butter.) † He shal be punished for al thinges that he did, & yet not be 18 cōsumed: according to the multitude of his inuentions so also shal he suffer. † Because breaking in he hath made the poore 19 naked: he hath violently taken house, & built it not. † Neither 20 is his bellie filled: and when he shal haue the thinges he coueted, he can not possesse them. † There remayned not of 21 his meate, & therfore nothing shal continewe of his goodes: † When he shal be filled, he shal be straytened, he shal burne, 22 and al sorow shal fal vpon him. † Would God his belly were 23 filled, that he may send forth the wrath of his furie vpon him, and rayne his battel vpon him, † He shal flee wepons of yron, 24 and shal fal vpon a bowe of brasse. † The sword plucked out, 25 and coming forth of his scabbard, and glistering in his bitternesse: the horrible shal goe and come vpon him. † Al darkenesse 26 is hid in his secretes: fyre that is not kindled shal deuoure him, he shal be afflicted leaft in his tabernacle. † The 27 heauens shal reuele his iniquitie, and the earth shal rise against him. † The blossome of his house shal be opened, [...]e shal be 28 plucked downe in the day of Gods furie. † This the portion 29 of an impions man from God, & the inheritance of his wordes from our Lord.

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CHAP. XXI. Iob requiring his freindes to heare him, 7. discourseth of the cause, why some euil men prosper al this life.

BVT Iob answering, sayd: † Heare I besech you my wordes, 1 2 and doe penance. † Beare with me, that I also may 3 speake, and after my wordes, if it shal seme good, laugh ye. † Is my disputation Though he disputed with three men, yet it was concerning diuine thinges not humaine but of Gods prouidence, and iustice, of the resurrection of eternal life and punishment. agaynst man, that I ought not worthely 4 to be sorie? † Harken to me, and be astonied, and put 5 the finger vpon your mouth. † And I when I shal remember, 6 am afrayd, and trembling shaketh my flesh. † Why then doe 7 the impious liue, are they aduanced, and strengthened with riches? † Their seede contineweth before them, a multitude 8 of kinsemen, and of nephewes in their sight † Their houses 9 be secure and peaceable, & the rod of God is not vpon them. † Their bullock hath conceiued, and hath not made abortion: 10 their cow hath calued, and is not depriued of her calfe. † Their litle ones goe forth as flockes, and their infantes reioyse 11 with pastimes. † They hold the timbrel, & the harpe, & 12 reioyse at the sound of the organe. † They See ch. 20. v 5. lead their daies in 13 wealth, and in a moment they goe downe to The same word is in Hebrew Greke and Latin for hel as in the 7 and 17. chap. & other places, which sheweth that besides hel of the dāned the resting place also of holie fathers in the old Testament was called by the general name of hel. hel. † Who 14 sayd to God: depart from vs, we wil not the knowlege of thy waies. † Who is the Omnipotent, that we should serue him? 15 and what doth it profite vs if we shal pray him? † But ye [...] 16 because their good things are not in their hand, be the counsel of the impious far from me. † How often shal the candel 17 of the impious be extinguished, and inundation come vpon them, and shal he deuide the sorowes of his furie? † They 18 shal be as chaffe before the face of the winde, and as ashes, which the whirlewinde scattereth. † God shal reserue the sorow 19 of the father to his children: and when he shal haue rendred it, then shal he know. † His eies shal see his owne slaughter, 20 and he shal drincke the surie of the Omnipotent. † For 21 what doeth it pertayne to him concerning his house after him: although the number of his monethes be diminished the halfe? † Shal anie man teach God knowledge, who iudgeth 22 the high ones. † This man dieth strong and in health, 23 rich and happie. † His vowels be ful of fatte, and his bones 24 be embrewed with marrow. † But an other dieth in bitternesse 25 of soule without anie riches: † And yet they shal sleepe 26 together in the dust, and wormes shal couer them. † Surely 27 [Page 1086] I know your cogitations, and vniust sentences agaynst me. † For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where 28 are the tabernacles of the impious? † Aske anie of the wayfaring 29 men, and you shal vnderstand that he knoweth these self same thinges. † Because the euil man is kept vnto the day of 30 perdition, and he shal be led to the day of furie. † Who shal 31 reproue his way before him? and who shal repay him the thinges that he hath done? † He shal be brought to the graues, 32 and shal watch in the heade of the dead. † He hath beene 33 sweete to the grauel of a riuer of hel. Cocytus, & after him he shal drawe euerie man, and before him innumerable. † How therfore 34 doe ye comforth me in vayne, whereas your answer is shewed to be repugnant to the truth?

CHAP. XXII. Eliphaz contendeth that God is not pleased with a iust mans afflictions. 5. falsly imputeth enormious crimes to holie Iob, 12. and grosse errors. 21. wisheth him therfore to repent, that so he may prosper.

BVT Eliphaz the Themanite answering, sayd: † Can man 1 2 The seuenth conflict be compared with God, yea though he be of perfect knowlege. † What doth it In dede whē a iust man hath donne his dutie he is vnprofitable to God; but he is profitable to himself, which greatly pleaseth God, who desireth mans good, and it redoundeth to Gods glorie that he hath such seruantes. [...]at 5. v. 17. profite God if thou be iust? or 3 what doest thou aduantage him if thy way be vnspotted. † Shal he be afrayde to reproue thee, and come with thee into 4 iudgement: † And not for thy very great malice, and thine infinite 5 iniquities? † For thou hast taken away the pledge of thy 6 brethren without cause, and the naked thou hast spoyled of clothes. † Water to the wearie thou hast not geuen, and from 7 the hungrie thou hast withdrawen bread. † In the strength of 8 thine arme thou didst possesse the earth, and being the mightiest thou didst obteyne it. † Widowes thou hast sent away 9 emptie, and the armes of pupilles thou hast broken in peeces. † Therfore art thou compassed with snares, and soden feare 10 trubleth thee. † And thoughtest thou that thou shouldest not 11 see darkenes, and that thou shouldest not be oppressed with the violence of ouerflowing waters? † Doest thou not thinke 12 that God is higher then heauen, & is exalted aboue the toppe of the starres? † And thou sayest: For what knoweth God? 13 and he iudgeth as it were by a mist. † The cloudes are his 14 couert, After imputation of false crimes, this [...] chargeth [...] also with [...] a [...] error of the Aegyptians, that God hath no prouidence of men in this world Aristotel. li. d [...] mundo. textu. 84. So some heretikes in their phrensic accuse Catholiques of condemned heresies. neither doth he consider our thinges, and he walketh about the poles of heauen † Doest thou couet ro keepe 15 the path of worldes, which wicked men haue troden? † Who 16 [Page 1087] were taken away before their time, and a floud hath euerthrowen their foundation: † Who sayd to God: Depart from 17 vs: and as though the Omnipotent could do nothing, they estemed him: † Whereas he had filled their houses with good 18 things, whose sentence be far from me. † The iust shal see, 19 and shal reioyse, and the innocent man shal skorne them † Is 20 not their exaltation cut downe, and hath not fire de [...]oured the remnantes of them? † Agree thou therfore to him, and 21 haue peace: and by these thinges thou shalt haue the best fruites. † Receiue the law of his mouth, and put his wordes 22 in thy hart. † If thou wilt returne to the Omnipotent, thou 23 shalt be builded vp, and shalt make iniquitie far from thy tabernacle. † He shal geue for earth flint, and for flint torrentes 24 of gold. † And the Omnipotent shal be agaynst thine 25 enemies, & siluer shal be heaped together vnto thee. † Then 26 shalt thou a bound in delightes vpon the Omnipoten, and shalt lift vp thy face to God. † Thou shalt aske him, and he 27 wil heare thee, and thou shal pay thy vowes. † Thou shalt 28 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: 29 and he that wil bow downe his eies, he shal be saued. † The 30 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: † VVhiles he expected some comforth of his freindes, they stil afflicted him more and more, chargeing him with fal [...] crimes and so aggrauating his grief both of bodie and mind Now also my talke is in 1 2 bitternesse, and the hand of my plague is aggrauated vpon m [...] mourning. † Who wil grant me that I may know 3 and find him, and come euen to Therfore he appealeth to Gods iudgement seate for sentence. his throne? † I wil set iudgement 4 before him, and wil fil my mouth with accusations. † That I may know the wordes, that he wil answer me, and 5 vnderstand what he wil speake to me. † I wil not that he 6 contend with me with much strength, nor that he oppresse me with the weight of his greatnes. † Let him propose equitie 7 against me, and my iudgement shal come to victorie. † If I 8 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 9 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 10 [Page 1088] me as gold that passeth through the fyre: † My foote hath folowed 11 his steppes, I haue kept his way, & haue not declined out if it. † From the commandementes of his lippes I haue 12 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 13 cogitation: and whatsoeuer his soule would, that hath he done. † And when he shal haue fulfilled his wil in me, manie 14 other things also are at hand wit him. † And therfore I am 15 trubled at his face, and considering, him I am made pensife withfeare. † God hath mollified my hart, and the Omnipotent 16 hath trubled me. † For I haue not perished because of 17 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 Gods seruantes know that he wil punish wickednes, but know not when▪ the wicked presume that he wil neuer punish them. that 1 know him, know not his daies. † Some haue transferred 2 boundes, spoiled flockes, & fed them. † They haue driuen away 3 theasse of pupilles, & haue taken away the widowes oxe for a pledge. † They haue subuerted the way of the poore, and 4 haue oppressed together the meeke of the earth. † Others as 5 wilde asses in the deserte goe forth to their worke: watching to the praye, doe prepare bread for their children. † They 6 reape the filde that is not theirs, and gather the grapes of his vineyard, whom by violence they haue oppressed. † They 7 send men away naked, taking away their clothes, which haue no couering in the cold. † Whom the showers of the mountaynes 8 doe wash, and not hauing a couert, they embrace stones. † They did violence spoyling the pupilles, and the 9 common poore people they spoyled. † From the naked and 10 them that goe without clothing, and the hungrie they haue taken away the eares of corne. † They haue rested the noonetide 11 among their heapes, which hauing troden the wine presses are a thirst. † Out of the cities they haue made men to 12 mourne, and the soule of the wounded hath cryed, and God doth not suffer it to passe vnreuenged: † They haue bene Heretikes doing and teaching against their owne knowledge, are afterward striken with blindnes▪ that they can not see the truth. S. Greg. li. 16. c. 26. rebellious 13 to the light, they haue not knowen his wayes, neither did they returne by his pathes. † At the verie breake of 14 day the murderer ryseth, he killeth the needie, and the poore [Page 1089] man: but by night he wil be as a theefe. † The eie of the aduouterer 15 obserueth darkenesse, saying▪ Eie shal not see me: and he wil couer his face. † He diggeth through houses in 16 the darke, as in the day they had oppoynted with them selues, and they haue not knowen the light. † If sodenly the morning 17 shal appeare, they thinke it the shadow of death: and they walke so in darkenesse as it were in light. † He is light 18 aboue the face of the water: cursed be his portion in the earth, neither walke he by the way of the vineyardes. † Let 19 him passe Sinners running into both extremes of defect and excesse, are likewise punished with contrarie tormentes. from snowe waters to exceding heate, and his sinne euen vnto hel. † Let mercie forget him: wormes his 20 sweetnes: be he not in remembrance, but be he broken in peeces as an vnfruitful tree. † For he hath fedd the barren, 21 and her that bareth not, and to the widow he hath not done good. † He hath pulled downe the strong in his strength, and 22 when he shal stand, he wil not credit his life. † God hath 23 geuen him place for penance, and he Man by powre of free wil oftē presumeth to spend the time in sinning which God granteth him to do penance, for former sinnes. Rom. 2. abuseth it vnto pride: but his eies be vpon his waies. † They are eleuated for a litle, 24 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 25 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 12 The eight conflict. is with him, that maketh concord in his high ones. † Is there anie number of his souldiars? and vpon whom shal 3 not his light arise, † Iob answered before. ch. 9. yet blind and obstinate disputers stil repete the same obiections. can man be iustified compared with 4 God, or the borne of a woman appeare cleane? † Behold the 5 moone also doth not shine, and the starres are not cleane in his sight. † How much more man rottennes, & the some of man 6 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: † Iob sheweth that neither God nedeth mans helpe: whose helper art thou? his 1 that is weake? and doest thou hold vp the arme of him, 2 that is not strong? † To whom hast thou geuen counsel? 3 [Page 1094] perhaps to him, that hath not wisdom, and Neither is Baldads prudence able to helpe if there were nede: thy prudence hast thou shewed very great. † Whom wouldest thou teach? 4 not him that made breath? † Behold the Giantes were not able to wade in Noes floud, but were drowned with the rest. gyantes grone vnder 5 the waters, and they that dwel with them. † Hel is naked 6 before him, and there is no couert to perdition. † Who stretcheth 7 out the northwind ouer the vacant, and hangeth the earth vpon nothing. † Who bindeth the waters in his cloudes, 8 that they breake not forth together downeward. † Who 9 holdeth the countenance of his throne, and spreddeth his clowde ouet it. † He hath made a limite about the waters, til 10 light & darkenes be ended. † The pillers of heauen tremble, 11 and dread at his beck. † In his strength sodenly the seas are 12 gathered together, and with his wisdom he stroke the proud man. † His spirite hath adorned the heauens, and his hand 13 being the midwife, the Not only great thinges before recited but also the very least are made by God, and depend vpon his prouidence. winding serpent is brought forth. † Loe, these things are sayd in part of his waies: and where as 14 we haue heard scarce a litle droppe of his word, who shal be able to behold the thunder of his greatnes?

CHAP. XXVII. More and more [...]ob confirmeth his innocencie, auouching that God not presently iudging, 11. wil in time condemne the wicked.

IOB also added, taking his parable, and sayd: † God liueth, 1 2 who hath God would not as yet haue Iobs cause iudged, but reserued the sentence, for his greater trial in patience. taken away my iudgement, and the Omnipotent, which hath brought my soule to bitternesse. † That as 3 long as breath remaineth in me, and the spirit of God in my nosthrels, † My lippes shal not speake iniquitie, neither shal 4 my tongue meditate It were a lie to acknowlege such sinnes as he had not committed. lying. † God forbid that I should iudge you to be iust: til I faile, I wil not departe from mine innocencie. † My iustification which I haue begune to hold, I wil 6 not forsake: for my hart doth not reprehend me in al my life. † Let mine enemie be as the impions, and mine aduersarie 7 as the wicked one. † For what is the hypocrites hope if 8 couetousely he take by violence, and God deliuer not his soule? † Wil God heare his crie, when distresse shal come 9 vpon him? † Or can he be delighted in the Omnipotent, and 10 inuocate God at al time? † I wil teach you by the hand of God, 11 what the Omnipotent hath, neither wil I hide it. † Loe, you 12 doe al knowe, and why speake you vaine thinges without cause. † This is the portion of an impions man with God, and 13 inheritance of the violent, which they shal receiue of the [Page 1091] Omnipotent. † If his children be multiplied, they shal be in 14 the sword, & nephewes shal not be filled with bread. † They 15 that shal be leaft of him, shal be buried in death, and his widowes shal not weepe. † If he shal heape together siluer as 16 earth, and as clay shal prepare garmentes: † He shal prepare 17 in deede, but the iust man shal be clothed with them: and the innocent shal diuide the siluer. † He hath built his house as 18 a moth, and as a keeper hath he made a bowre. † The rich 19 man Some part of Gods iudgement falleth on the wicked in this life, but especially at their death. Psal. 75. when he shal sleepe shal take away nothing with him: he shal oppen his eies, & finde nothing. † Pouertie as water 20 shal apprehend him, in the night a tempest shal oppresse him▪ † The burning wind shal take him vp, and cary him away, 21 and as a whirle winde shal pul him violently out of his place. † And he shal cast vpon him, and shal not spare: out of his 22 hand fleing he shal flee. † He shal claspe his handes vpon him, 23 and shal hisse vpon him, beholding his place.

CHAP. XXVIII. The maru [...]lous workes of God, the author of nature, shew his powre and wisdome, 12. and that true riches consist not in temporal creatures, but in wisdome, 28. and feare of God.

SILVER hath 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. beginnings of her vaines, and gold hath 1 a place, where in it is molten. † Yron is taken out of the 2 earth, and stone resolued with heate, is turned into brasse. † He hath set a time for darkenesse, and the end of al thinges 3 he considereth, the stone also of darkenesse, and the shadow of death. † The Sudaine headie waters bursting out do change the wayes and passages of men. torrent diuideth from the pilgrime people, them whom the foote of the needie man hath forgotten, and to whom there is no way. † The land, out of which bread 5 grew in his place, is destroyed with fire. † The place of the 6 sapphire the stones thereof, and the cloddes of it gold. † The 7 bird hath not knowen the path, neither hath the eie of the vulter beheld it. † The children of merchantes haue not troden 8 it, neither hath the lionesse passed by it. † He hath stretched 9 forth his hand to the flint, he hath ouerthrowen mountaines from the rootes. † In the rockes he hath cut out riuers, 10 and his eie hath seene euerie pretious thing. † The depthes 11 also of riuers he hath searched, & hid things he hath brought 11 forth to light: † But where is wisdome to be found, and 12 what is the place of vnderstanding? † Man knoweth not 13 the price therof, True wisdom is not in natural thinges, but in supernatural vertues. neither is it found in the land of them [Page 1092] that liue pleasently. † The depth sayth: It is not in me: and 14 the sea speaketh: It is not with me. † The finest gold shal not 15 be geuen for it, neither shal siluer be weyed in the change therof. † It shal not be compared with the died colours of 16 India, nor with Sardonyx the most pretious stone, or with the Sapphire. † Gold or glasse shal not be equal to it, neither 17 shal vessels of gold be changed for it. † High and eminent 18 thinges shal not be mentioned in comparison of it: and wisedom is drawen out of secrete places. † The topazius of Aethiopia 19 shal not be equal to it, neither shal it be compared to the cleanest diyng. † From whence then cometh wisedom? 20 and what is the place of vnderstanding? † It is hid from the 21 eies of alliuing, the foules of the ayre also know it not. † Perdition 22 and death haue sayd: With our eares we haue heard the fame therof. †God vnderstandeth the way of it, and he knoweth 23 the place therof. † For he beholdeth the endes of the 24 world: & looketh on al thinges that are vnder heauen. † Who 25 made a poise to the windes, and weyed the waters in a measure. † When he gaue a lawe to the raynes, and a way to the 26 sounding stormes. † Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared 27 and searched it. † And he sayd to man: Behold VVhen man hath considered Gods workes, his dutie is to feare God the feare 28 of our Lord, that is wisedom: and to Then to depart from euil and do good. depart from euil vnderstanding.

CHAP. XXIX. Againe Iob recounteth Gods former benefites, as Wel his grace, wherby he did good workes, 5. as temporal prosperitie. 9. and wisdome aboue other princes.

IOB also added, taking Parables are not only similitudes of thinges but also pithie and profound sentences such as Iob, Salomon, and other wisest men vttered. his parable, and sayd: † Who wil 12 grant me, that I may be according to the former monethes, according to the daies in which God kept me? † When his 3 lampe shined ouer my head, & I walked by his light in darknes? † As I was in the daies of my youth, when God was secretly 4 in my tabernacle? † When the Omnipotent was with 5 me: and my seruantes round about me? † When I washed my 6 feete with butter, and the rocke powred me riuets of oile? † When I went forth to the gatte of the citie, and in the 7 streate they prepared me a chaire? † Yong men sawe me, and 8 hid them selues: and old men rising vp stoode. † The princes 9 ceased to speake, and did put the finger vpon their mouth. † Dukes held in their voice, and their tongue cleaued to their 10 [Page 1093] throte. † The eare hearing counted me blessed, and the eie 11 seing gaue testimonie to me: † For that I had deliuered the 12 poore man crying out, and the pupil, that had no helper. † The blessing of him that was readie to perish came vpon 13 me, and I conforted the hart of the widow. † I was clothed 14 with iustice: and I reuested me with my iudgement, as with a garment and crowne. † I was an eie to the blind, and a foote 15 to the lame. † I was the father of the poore: and the cause 16 which I knew not, I searched most diligently. † I brake the 17 iawes of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I tooke away the praye. † And I said: I wil die in my litle nest, & as a palmetree 18 wil multiplie daies. † My roote is opened beside the waters, 19 and dewe shal continue in my haruest. † My glorie shal 20 alwaies be renewed, and my bow in my hand shal be repayred. † They that heard me, expected sentence, and attent 21 held their peace at my counsel. † To my wordes they durst 22 adde nothing, and my speach distilled vpon them. † They 23 expected me as rayne, and they opened their mouth as it were to a lateward shower. † If at anie time I laughed on them, 24 they beleued not, and the light of my countenance fel not on the earth. † If I would haue gone to them, I sate first, and when I sate 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. as a king, with his armie standing about him, yet was I a conforter of them that mourned.

CHAP. XXX. Holie Iob sheweth the great change of his temporal estate, from welfare into great calamitie.

BVT now they of yonger time scorne me, whose fathers 1 I vouchsafed not to put Men scarse fitte to haue care of dogges derided Iob in his affliction so he was contemned of the most contemptible. with the dogs of my flocke: † The force of whose handes was to me as nothing, and they 2 were thought vnworthie of life it self. † Barren with pouertie 3 and famine, who gnawed in the wildernes, il fauoured by calamitie and miserie. † And they did eate grasse, and the barkes 4 of trees, and the roote of iunipers was their meat. † Who 5 taking these thinges violently out of the valles, when they had found euerie thing, they ranne to them with a crie. † They dwelt in the deserts of torrentes, and in caues of the 6 earth, or vpon grauel. † Who reioysed among these kind 7 of thinges, and counted it delicacies to be vnder the briars. † The children of foolish and base men, and in the earth 8 not appearing at al. † Now am I turned into their song, and 9 [Page 1090] become a prouerb with them. † They abhorre me, and flee 10 far from me, and are not a frayd Our Sauiour also sustered this reproch. Mat. 26. to spit in my face. † For he 11 hath opened his quiuer, and hath afflicted me, and In the Hebrew haue put, in the plural number, importing pluralitie of Diuine Persons. hath put a bridle into my mouth. † At the right hand of me rising, my 12 calamities forthwith arose: they haue ouerthrowen my feete, and as with waues haue oppressed with their pathes. † They 13 haue dissipated my waies, they haue lyen in wayte against me, and they haue preuailed, and there was not that would helpe. † As when a wal is broken, and the gate opened, they haue 14 broken violently vpon me, and are come trambling downe to my miseries. † I brought to nothing as a wind he hath taken 15 away my desire mand my prosperitie hath passed away as a clowde. † And now my soule withereth in my self, and the 16 daies of affliction possesse me. † In the night my bone is pearsed 17 with sorrowes: and they that eate me, sleepe not. † In the 18 multitude of them my garment is consumed, and they haue girded me about, as it were with the coler of a wate. † I am 19 compared to durt, and am resembled to imbers and ashes. † I crie to thee, and thou hearest me not: I stand, and thou 20 doest not respect me. † Thou art changed to be cruel toward 21 me, and in the hardenesse of thy hand thou art against me. † Thou didst lift me vp, and setting me as it were vpon the 22 wind thou hast mightely dashed me. † I know Death is a comforth to a iust man in tribulation. that thou 23 wilt deliuer me to death, where a house is appointed for euery one that liueth. † But yet not to my consumption doest thou 24 send forth thy hand: and if they shal fal, thou wilt saue. † I wept sometime vpon him that was afflicted, and my soul 25 had compassion on the poore. † I expect good thinges, and 26 euils are come vpon me: I taried for light, and darknesse brake forth. † My inner partes haue boyled without anie rest, 27 the dayes of affliction haue preuented me. † I went mourning 28 without furie, rising vp, I cried in the multitude. † I was 29 the Like to such beastes as seke solitary places to lament in. brother of dragons, and felow of Ostriches. † My 30 skinne is made blacke vpon me, and my bones are dried with heate. † My harpe is turned into mourning, and my instrument 31 into the voice of weepers.

CHAP. XXXI. Holie Iob reciteth sincerly his owne vertues, shewing therby that he is not punished so gricuously for his sinnes, but by Gods prouidence for some other cause.

[Page 1085]I HA [...] 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. made a couenant with mine eyes, that I would 1 [...] as By which meanes, he was also safe from carnal cogitations. S. Greg. li. 21. e. 2. thinke of a virgin. † For what part should 2 G [...] [...] haue in me, & inheritance the Omnipotent from on hig [...] † Is there not perdition to the wicked man, 3 and alienation to them that worke iniustice? † Doth not 4 he consider my waies, and number al my steppes? † If I haue 5 walked in vanitie, and my foote hath hastened in guile: † Let 6 him wey me in a iust balance, and let God know my simplicitie. † If my steppe haue declined out of the way, and if mine 7 eie hath folowed my hart, and if sporte hath cleaued to my handes: † Let me sawe, and let an other eate it: and let my 8 progenie be plucked vp by the rootes. † If my hart hath bene 9 deceiued vpon a woman, and if I haue lyene in waite at my freinds doore: † Let my wife be the harlot of an other man, 10 and let other men lye with her. † For this is a hainous 11 thing, and most great iniquitie. † It is a fire deuoring euen 12 to perdition, and rooting vp al thinges that spring. † If I 13 hane contemned to abide iudgement with my man seruant, and my mayd seruant, when they had anie controuersie against me. † For what shal I doe when God shal rise to 14 iudge? and when he shal aske, what shal I answer him? † Did not he make me in the wombe that made him also: 15 and did not one forme me in the matrice? † If I haue denied 16 to the poore, that which they would, and haue made the eyes of the widow to expect: † If I haue eaten my morsel 17 alone, and the pulpil hath not eaten therof with me. († Because 18 from mine infancie mercy hath growen with me: and from my mothers wombe it came forth with me.) † If I 19 haue dispised him that perisheth, for that he had not clothing, and the poore man without wherwithal to couer him: † If his sides haue not blessed me, & he was not warmed with 20 the flises of my sheepe: † If I haue lifted vp my hand ouer 21 the pupil, yea when I saw my self in the ga [...]e the superior: † Let my shoulder fal from his iuncture, and let my arme 22 with his bones be broken. † For I haue alwaies feared God 23 as waues swelling vpon me, and his weight I could not beare. † If I haue thought gold my strength, and haue said to fine 24 gold: My confidence. † If I haue reioysed vpon my great 25 riches, and because my hand found manie thinges. † If I saw 26 the sunne when it shined, and the moone going cleerly: † And 27 my hart in secret reioysed, and I kissed my hand with my [Page 1096] mouth. † Which is 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, most great iniquitie, and a denial against 28 God the most high? † If I haue beene glad of his fal, 29 that hated me, & haue reioysed that euil had found him. † For 30 I haue not geuen my throte to sinne, that cursing I wished his soule. † If the men of my tabernacle haue not sayd: Who 31 wil giue of his flesh that we may be filled? † The stranger 32 taried not without, my doore was open to the wayfaring man † If as man I haue hid my sinne, and haue concealed my iniquitie 33 in my bosome. † If I haue bene afrayd at a verie great 34 multitude, & the contempt of kin [...]men hath terrified me: and I haue not rather held my peace, & not gone out of the doore. † Who wil grant me an hearer, that the Omnipotent would 35 heare my desire: and that himself that iudgeth would write a booke. † That I may carie it on my shoulder, and put it about 36 me as a crowne? † At euerie steppe of mine I wil pronounce 37 it, and as to the prince I wil offer it. † If my Land cry against 38 me, and with it the furrowes therof lament: † If I haue 39 eaten the fruites therof without money, and haue afflicted the soule of the tillers therof. † For wheate let the bryar grow 40 to me, and for batlie the thorne.

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 wordes of Iob are ended.

CHAP. XXXII. Eliu a young man being angrie that Iob persisted in his opinion, and that his three freindes could not conuince him, S. taketh vpon him to confute Iob which they could not do.

BVT these three men omitted to answer Iob, for that he 1 The ninth conflict. seemed iust to himself. † And This youngman 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. Eliu the sonne of Barachel 2 a Buzite, of the kinred of Ram, was angrie and tooke indignation: and he was angrie against Iob, for that he sayd himself to be iust before God. † Moreouer against his freindes 3 he had indignation, for that they had not found a reasonable answer, but onlie had condemned Iob. † Therfore Eliu 4 expected Iob speaking, because they were his elders that spake. † But when he saw that the three were not able to answer, 5 he was wrath excedingly. † And Eliu the sonne of Barachel 6 a Buzite answering, sayd: I am yonger in time, and you more ancient, therfore casting downe my head, I was afrayd to shewe you my sentence. † For I hoped that longer age 7 would speake, and that a multitude of yeares would teach wisdom. † But as I see, there is a Spirite in men, and the 8 [Page 1097] inspiration of the Omnipotent geueth vnderstanding. † They 9 of many yeares are not the wise men, neither doe the ancientes vnderstand iudgement. † Therfore wil I speake: Heare 10 ye me, I also wil shew you my wisedom. † For I haue expected 11 your wordes, I haue heard your wisdom, as long as you contended in wordes. † And as long as I thought you said 12 somewhat, I considered: but as I see, A notorious arrogancie to hold himselfe wiser then any man, either of his owne sect, or of his aduersaries. here is none of you that can reproue Iob, and answer to his wordes. † Lest perhaps 13 you may say: We haue found wisedom, God hath reiected, him 14 not man. † He hath spoken nothing 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. to me, and I wil not answer him according to your wordes. † They were afrayd, 15 and answered no more, & they haue taken away talke from 16 themselues. † Therfore because I haue expected, and they spake not: they stoode, & answered no more: † I also wil answer 17 my part, and wil shew my knowledge. † For I am ful of 18 wordes, and the spirit of my bellie streyneth me. † Behold, 19 my bellie is as new wine without a▪ vent, which breaketh 20 new vessels. † I wil speake, and take breath a litle: I wil open my lippes, and wil answer. † I wil not accept the person of 21 a man, and I wil not make God equal to man. † For I know 22 not how long I shal continewe, and whether after a while my maker wil take me away.

CHAP. XXXIII. Eliu endeuoreth to proue by Iobs speach that he is vniust: 13. arguing that God (by afflicting him) hath alreadly so iudged. 23. but if by an Angels admonition he repent, al shal be remitted.

HEERE therfore Iob my sayings, and harken to al my 1 wordes. † Behold I haue opened my mouth, let my 2 tongue speake within my iawes. † My wordes are of my simple 3 hart, and my lippes shal speake a pure sentence. † The 4 Spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Omnipotent gaue me life. † If thou canst, answer me, and stand against my 5 face. † Behold God hath made me also euen as thee, and of 6 the same clay I also was formed. † But yet let not my 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. miracle 7 terrifie thee, and let not my eloquence be burdenous to thee. † Thou therfore hast sayd in my eares, and I haue heard 8 the voice of thy wordes; † I am cleane, and without sinne: 9 vnspotted, and there is no iniquitie in me. † Because he hath 10 found quarrels in me, therfore hath he thought me his enemy † He hath put my feete in the stockes, he hath obserued al my 11 [Page 1098] waies. † This therfore is it, wherein thou art not iustified: I 12 wil answer thee, that God is greater then man. † Doest thou 13 contend against him because he hath not answered thee to al wordes? † God 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. speaketh once, & repeateth not the self same 14 the second time. † By a dreame in a vision by night, when 15 heauie sleepe falleth vpon men, and they sleepe in their bed. † Thē doth he open the eares of men, & teaching instructeth 16 them with discipline, † That he may turne a man from these 17 things, which he doth, & may deliuer him from pride: † Deliuering 18 his soule from corruption: and his life, that it passe not vnto the sword. † He rebuketh also by sorow in the bed, 19 and he maketh al his bones to wither. † Bread is become abominable 20 to him in his life, and to his soule the meate before desired. † His flesh shal consume, and the bones that had 21 beene couered, shal be made naked. † His soule hath approched 22 to corruption, and his life to things causing death. † If 23 there shal be an Angel speaking for him, one of thousandes, to declare mans equirie. † He shal haue mercie on him, and 24 shal say: deliuer him, that he descend not into corruption: I haue found wherein I may be propitious to him. † His flesh 25 is consumed with punishments, let it returne to the daies of his youth. † He shal beseche God, and he wil be pacified towards 26 him: and he shal see his face in iubilation, and he wil render to a man his iustice. † He shal behold men, and shal 27 say: I haue sinned, and in deede I haue oftended, and, as I was worthie, I haue not receiued. † He hath deliuered his soule 28 that it should not goe into death, but liuing should see the light. † Behold, al these things doth God worke three times 29 in euerie one. † That he may reclame their soules from corruption, 30 and illuminate them with the light of the liuing. † Attend Iob, and heare me: and hold thy peace, whiles I 31 speake. † But if thou hast what to speake, answer me, speake: 32 for I would thee to appeare iust † And if thou haue not, heare 33 me: hold thy peace, and I wil teach thee wisedom.

CHAP. XXXIIII. Againe Eliu chargeth Iob with blasphemie, and other crimes, 10. sheweth the equitie of Gods iudgement: 20. and that al thinges are subiect to Gods powre and knowlege.

ELIV therfore pronouncing, spake these wordes also. 1 † Heare ye wise men my wordes, and ye learned harken 2 [Page 1099] to me: † For the eare proueth wordes, and the throate discerneth 3 meates by the ras [...]. † Let vs choose vs iudgement, and 4 among vs let vs see what is the better. † Because Iob sayd: 5 I am iust, and God hath 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. subuerted my iudgement. † For in 6 iudging me there is a lie: mine arrow is violent without anie sinne. † What man is there as is Iob, that drinketh skorning 7 as it were water? † That goeth with them that worke iniquitie, 8 and walketh with impious men? † For he hath sayd: Man 9 shal not please God 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. although he runne with him † Therfore 10 ye discrete men heare me, far from God be impietie, and iniquitie from the Omnipotent. † For he wil render a man 11 his worke, and according to the waies of euerie one he wil recompence them. † For in verie deed God wil not condemne 12 without cause, neither wil the Omnipotent subuert iudgement. † What other hath he appointed ouer the earth? or 13 whom hath he sette ouer the world, which he made? † If he 14 direct his hart to him, he shal drawe his spirit and breath vnto him. † Al flesh shal faile together, and man shal returne 15 into ashes. † If then thou haue vnderstanding, heare that 16 is sayd, and harken to the voice of my speach. † Can he that 17 loueth not iudgement, be healed? and how doest thou so far condemne him, that is iust? † That sayth to the king, Apostata: 18 that calleth dukes impious: † Who accepteth not the persones 19 of princes: nor hath knowen the tyrant, when he contended against the poore man: for al are the worke of his handes. † They shal sodenly die, and at midnight peoples shal be 20 trubled, and shal passe, and take away the violent without hand. † For his eies are vpon the waies of men, and he considereth 21 al their steppes. † There is not darkenesse, and there 22 is not shadow of death, that they may be hid there which worke iniquitie. † For it is no more in mans powre, to come 23 to God into iudgement. † He shal destroy manie, & innumerable, 24 & shal make other to stand for them † For he knoweth 25 their workes: and therfore he shal bring night, and they shal be destroyed. † As impious men he hath stroken 26 them in the place of them that see. † Who as it were of purpose 27 haue reuolted from him, and would not vnderstand al his waies: † That they caused the crie of the needie man to come 28 to him, and he heard the voice of the poore. † For he granting 29 peace, who is there that can condemne? After he shal hide his countenance, who is there that may behole him, [Page 1100] both vpon nations, and vpon al men? † Who maketh a man 30 that is 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. an hypocrite reigne for the sinnes of the people. † Therfore because I haue spoken to God, thee also I wil not 31 prohibite. † If I haue erred, teach thou me: if I haue spoken 32 iniquitie, I wil adde no more. † Doth God require it of thee, 33 because it hath displeased thee? for thou beganst to speake, and not I: but if thou know anie better thing, speake. † Let 34 men of vnderstanding speake to me, and let a wiseman heare me. † But Iob hath spoken folishly, and his wordes sound not 35 discipline. † O my father, let Iob be proued euen to the end: 36 cease not from the man of iniquity. † Who addeth blasphemie 37 vpon his sinnes, let him be restrayned in the meane time among vs: and then let him prouoke God to iudgement with his speaches.

CHAP. XXXV. Eliu pretending that Iob had sayde God to be vniusts, she weth that mans pietie nor impietie neither profiteth nor disprofiteth God: 13 and that he iudgeth al thinges rightly.

THERFORE Eliu againe spake these wordes: † Doth 1 thy cogitation seme iust to thee, that thou sadyst: 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. I am 2 iuster then God? † For thou saydst: That which is right doth 3 not please thee: or what wil it profite thee if I sinne? † Therfore 4 wil I answer to thy wordes, & to thy frendes with thee. † These are strong sentences (saith S. Gregorie) but they agree not (or [...]e [...]lapphed, to the blessed person of Iob. li. 26. c. 7. Looke vp to heauen and see, and behold the skie, that it is 5 higher then thou. † If thou sinne, what shalt thou hurt him? 6 and if thine iniquiries be multiplied, what shalt thou doe against him? † Moreouer if thou doe iustly, what shalt thou 7 geue him, or what shal he receiue of thy hand? † Man that is 8 like to thee, thy impietie shal hurt: and thy iustice shal helpe the sonne of man † Because of the multitude of calumniatours 9 they shal cry: and shal waile for the force of the arme of tyrantes. † And he hath not sayd: Where is God, that made 10 me, that hath geuen songs in the night? † Who teacheth vs 11 aboue the beastes of the earth, and instructeth vs aboue the foules of the ayre. † There shal they crie, and he wil not heare, 12 because of the pride of the euil. † God therfore wil not heare 13 without cause, and the Omnipotent wil behold the causes of euerie one. † Yea when thou shalt say: He considereth not: 14 be iudged before him, & expect him. † For he doth not now 15 inferre his furie, neither doth he reuenge wickednesse excedingly. [Page 1101] † Therfore Iob in vaine openeth his mouth, and 16 without knowledge multiplieth wordes.

CHAP. XXXVI. Yet further Eliu sheweth, that God by his powre and wisdome geueth to euerie one that is iust. 16. inferring (falsly) that al Iobs affliction is for his sinnes. 22. discoursing stil of Gods poure, wisdom, and prouidence.

ELIV also adding speake these wordes: † Beare with me 1 a litle, and I wil shew to thee: for as yet I haue what to 2 speake for God. † I wil repete my knowledge from the beginning, 3 and I wil proue my maker iust. † For in deede my 4 wordes are No orator is so vaine but he promiseth al truth, & speaketh some to get credite with his auditorie. without lye, and perfect knowledge shal be proued to thee. † God doth not cast away the mightie, wheras 5 as himself also is mightie. † But he saueth not the impious, 6 and he giueth iudgement to the poore. † He shal not take 7 away his eyes from the iust man, and he placeth kinges in the throne If kinges reigne wel their praise remaineth for euer. v. 11. for euer, and there they are extolled. † And if they 8 shal be in cheines, and be bound with the ropes of pouertic. † He shal shew them their workes, and their wicked deedes, 9 because they haue bene violent. † He also shal reuele their 10 eare, to chastise them: and shal speake, that they may returne from iniquitie: † If they shal heare and obserue, they shal 11 accomplish their daies in good, and their years in glorie. † But if they heare not they shal passe by the sworde, and 12 shal be consumed in folie. † Dissemblers and crastie men prouoke 13 the wrath of God, neither shal they crie when they are bound. † Their soule shal dye in tempest, & their life among 14 the effeminates. † He shal deliuer the poore out of his distresse, 15 and shal reuele his eare in tribulation. † Therfore he 16 shal saue thee most largely out of the narrow mouth, and not hauing foundation vnder it: and the quietnesse of thy table shal be ful of fatnesse. † Thy cause is iudged as an impious 17 mans, cause and iudgement thou shalt receiue. † Let not 18 therfore anger ouercome thee, that thou oppresse anie man: neither let multitude of gifres in cline thee. † Lay downe thy 19 greatnes without tribulation, and al the puissant of strength. † The night is drawne long, when tentations are not spedely resisted Protract not the night, that wherby ful worse and worse cogitations succede in place of the first. S. Greg. li 26. [...]. 38. peoples may come vp for 20 them. † Beware thou decline not to iniquitie: for thou hast 21 begunne to folow it after miserie. † Behold, God is high in 22 his strength, and none is like to him 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 among the lawgeuers. † Who can search his waies? or who can say to him: Thou 23 [Page 1102] hast wrought iniquitie? † Remember that thou knowest not 24 his worke, wherof men haue song. † Al men see him, euerie 25 one beholdeth far of. † Behold, God is great surmounting 26 our knowledge: the number of his yeares is inestimable. † Who taketh away the droppes of raine, and powreth out 27 showers as it were gulfes of water. † Which flow out from 28 the clowdes, that couer al thinges from aboue. † If he wil 29 stretch forth clowdes as his tent. † And lighten with his light 30 from aboue, he shal couer also the endes of the sea. † For by 31 these he iudgeth peoples, and geueth victuals to manie mortal men. † In his handes Christ wil geue the glorious light of heauen which now is hidden to men that lost terrestrial paradise. ibidē. c. 12. he bideth the light, and commandeth 32 it that it come agayne. † He sheweth his freind therof, that 33 it is his possession, and that he may ascend to it.

CHAP. XXXVII. Eliu continueth his discourse, shewing Gods wisdom, powre, and iustice, by his meruelous workes of Meteors, 14▪ and vse therof to mans commoditie. 18. which the wisest m [...]n sufficiently vnderstand not, much lesse may presume (as he vniustly chargeth Iob) to contend with God.

VPON 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. this my hart is sore afrayd, and is moued out of 1 his place. † Heare ye his speach in the terrour of his 2 voice, and the sound proceding out of his mouth. † Vnder 3 al the heauens he considereth, and his light is vpon the endes of the earth. † After him shal sounding roare, he shal thunder 4 with the voice of his greatnes, & shal not be found out, when his voice shal be heard. † God shal thunder in his voice meruelously, 5 he that doeth great & vnsearcheable thinges. † He 6 that commandeth the snow to descend vpon the earth, and the winter raines, and the shower of his strength. † He that 7 signeth in the hand of al men, that euerie one may know his workes. † The beast shal enter into his couert, and shal abide 8 in his denne. † From the inner partes shal tempest come forth, 9 and cold from North wind. or north pole. Arcturus. † When God bloweth frost congeleth, 10 and againe waters are powred most largely. † Corne 11 desireth clowdes, and the clowdes spred their light. † Which 12 goe round about, whither soeuer the wil of God directeth the [...]loudes in the ayre as a master mariner gouerneth a shippe. the gouerner shal lead them, to al that he shal cōmand them vpon the face of he whole earth † Whether in one tribe or in his land, or in 13 what place so euer of his mercy he shal command them to be found † Harken to these things Iob: stand, and consider the 14 maruels of God. † Doest thou know when God commanded 15 [Page 1103] the raines, that they shew the light of his clowdes? † Knowest 16 thou the great pathes of the clowdes, and the perfect knowledges? † Are not thy garments hote, when the earth shal 17 be blowen with the South winde? † Thou perhaps madst 18 the heauens with him, which are most sound, cast as it were of brasse. † Shew vs what we may say to him: for we are wrapped 19 in darkenes. † Who shal tel him the things that I speake? yea 20 if man shal speake, he shal be deuoured. † But now they see 21 not the light: sodenly the ayre shal be thickned into clowdes, and the wind passing by shal driue them away. † From the 22 North gold cometh, & toward God Man not able to praise God sufficiently, p [...]ayseth him with fea [...]e. fearful praysing. † We 23 can not find him worthely▪ great of strength, and iudgement, and iustice, and he can not be vttered. † Therfore shal men 24 feare him, and al that seme to themselues to be wise, shal not dare to behold him. Iob coruinced the former three with sound answers this last and most arrogant with silence.

CHAP. XXXVIII. God after terrour of a whirlewind, by way of examining his client Iob of diuers creatures about their nature, sheweth that no man hath perfect knowlege of them, much lesse of Gods immensitie.

BVT our Lord answering Iob out of a whirlewind, sayd: 1 The third part. For the tenth and last dispute God discusseth the controuer sie, and geueth sentence for Iob. † Who is this that wrappeth in sentences with vnskilful 2 wordes? † Gird thy loynes as a man: I wil aske thee, and Onlie the Creator hath absolute and perfect knowlege of al creatures. As may appear [...] by induction, or example: answer 3 thou me. † Where wast thou when I layd Of the creation of the earth. the foundations 4 of the earth? tel me if thou hast vnderstanding. † Who 5 set the measures therof, if thou know? or who stretched out the line vpon it? † Vpon what are the foundations therof 6 grounded? or who let downe the corner stone therof, † when 7 the morning starres praised me together, and al the sonnes of God made iubilation? † Who shut in the Of the sea. sea with doores 8 when it brake forth proceding as it were out of a matrice: † When I made a clowde the garment therof, and wrapped it 9 in darkenes as in cloutes of infancie. † I compassed it with 10 my boundes, and put barre and doores. † And I sayd: Hitherto 11 thou shalt come, and shalt not procede farder, & here thou shalt breake thy swelling waues. † Didst thou after thy birth 12 command Distinction of lightes. the morning, and shew the dawning his place. † And didst thou hold the extremities of the earth shaking 13 them, and h [...]st thou shaken the impious out of it? † The seale 14 shal be restored as clay, and shal stand as a garment: † From 15 the impious their light shal be taken away, and the high a [...]me [Page 1104] shal be broken. † Hast thou entered into The depth of the sea. the depthes of the 16 sea, and walked in the lowest partes of the great depth? † Haue 17 the gates of death bene open to thee, and hast thou sene the darkesome doores? † Hast thou considered the bredth of the 18 earth? tel, me if thou know al things, † In what way the light 19 dwelleth, and what is the place of darkenesse. † That thou 20 canst bring euerie thing to his borders, and vnderstand the pathes of the house therof. † Mans owne natiuitie, and what shal happen after his death Didst thou know then that thou 21 shouldest be borne? and didst thou know the number of thy dayes? † Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow, or 22 hast thou beheld treasures of haile? † Which I haue prepared 23 for the time of the enemie, for the day of fight and battel? † What way is the The sunnes light and heate. light spred, is heate diuided vpon the 24 earth? † Who Diuers Meteors. gaue course to the most vehement shower, 25 and the way of the sounding thunder: † That it should rayne 26 vpon the earth, without man in the desert, where no mortal man abideth: † That it should fil the desert & desolate ground, 27 and should bring forth grene grasse? † Who is the father of 28 rayne? or who begot the droppes of dewe? † Out of whose 29 wombe came forth yse? & frost from heauen who ingendred? † Waters are hardened like stone, and the face of the depth 30 is congealed? † Shalt thou be able to ioyne together the 31 shining Starres, and planetes. starres Pleiades, or canst thou dissipate the circuite of Acturus? † Doest thou bring forth the day starre in his 32 time, and make Euening starre to rise vpon the children of the earth? † Doest thou know the order of heauen, and shalt 33 thou Put downe the reason therof on the earth? † Shalt thou 34 eleuate the voice in the clowde, & the violence of the waters couer thee. † Shalt thou send lightenings, and wil they goe, 35 and returning shal they say to thee: Here we are? † Who put 36 Man hath his knowlege from God. wisedom in the hart of man? or who gaue the And the cock hath skil, which man wanteth. cocke vnderstanding? † Who shal declare the maner of the heauens, 37 and the harmonie of heauen who shal make to or rest from motion. sleepe. † When was the dust powred on the earth, and the cloddes 38 compact together? † 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. Shalt thou take a praye for the liones 1 and fil the appetite of her whelpes. † When they lie in the 2 dennes, and in holes sit in wayte? † Who prepareth for the 3 rauen her meate, when her yong ones crie to God, wandring about, because they haue not meate?

[Page 1105]

CHAP. XXXIX. God Almightie prosecuteth his discourse, shewing his admirable powre and prouidence in liuing creatures. 34. Wherupon Iob acknowlegeth his owne ouersight in some light wordes.

HAST 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. thou knowen the time when the VVild goates. wild goates 4 bring forth yong among the rockes, or hast thou obserued the Hyndes. hyndes when they fawne? † Hast thou numbred the 5 monethes of their conceiuing, and knowen the time of their bearing? † They bowe downe themselues to bring forth yong, 6 and they cast them, and make roarings. † Their yong are seperated, 7 and goe to feed: they goe forth, and returne not to them. † Who hath dismist the VVild asses. wilde asse free, and who hath 8 loosed his bondes? † To whom I haue geuen a house in the 9 wildernes, and his tabernacles in the land of saltnesse. † He 10 contemneth the multitude of the citie, the crie of the exactour he heareth not. † He looketh about the mountaines of 11 his pasture, and seeketh out al greene places. † Wil the Vnicornes. Rhinoceres 12 serue thee, and wil he tarie at thy stal? † Shal thou tie 13 the Rhinoceres with thy coller to plough, or wil he breake the cloddes of the valleys after thee? † Shalt thou haue confidence 14 in his great strength, and leaue thy labours vnto him? † Wilt thou credit him that he wil render thee the seede, and 15 gather together thy barne floore? † The wing of the Ostriches, Ostrich 16 is like to the winges of the Falcons, or Ierfalcons, & other haukes. Herodius, and of the hawke. † When she leaueth her egges on the earth, thou perhaps wilt 17 heate them in the dust. † She forgeteth that foote may treade 18 vpon them, or beast of the fild breake them. † She is hardened 19 toward her yong, as though they were not hers, she hath laboured in vaine no feare compelling her. † For God hath depriued 20 her of wisedom neither hath he geuen her vnderstanding. † When time shal be, she setteth vp the winges on high: 21 she skorneth the horse & his rider. † Shalt thou geue strentgh 22 to the Horses are of singular great corege. horse, or put neying about his necke? † Shalt thou 23 raise him vp as Locustes? the glorie of his nosthrels is terrour. † He diggeth the earth with his hou [...]e, he prawnseth boldly, 24 he goeth forward to meete the armed men. † He contemneth 25 feare, neither yealdeth he to the sword. † Vpon him shal the 26 quiuer sound, the speare shal glister and the shilde. † Feruent 27 and foming he suppeth the earth, neither doth he make account when the noyse of the trumpet soundeth. † When he 28 [Page 1106] shal heare the trumpet he sayth: Vah, he smelleth battel far of, the exhortation of the captaines, and the crie of the armie. † Doth the Haukes wherof Aristotel saith there be ten kindes: pli [...]e sixtene. hawke waxe fethered by thy wisedom, spreding 29 her winges to the South? † Shal the Eagles, of most strong sight. eagle mount at thy commandment, 30 and put her nest in high places? † She abideth in 31 rockes, and ta [...]ieth among cragged slintes, and stonie hilles where is no accesse. † Thence she beholdeth the praye, and 32 her eies see a far of, † Her yong ones shal licke bloud: & whersoeuer 33 the carcasse shal be, she is present by and by, † And our 34 Lord added, and spake to Iob: † He that contendeth with God 35 is he quieted so easily? Verely he that reproueth God, ought to answer him. † But Iob answering our Lord, sayd: † I that 37 haue spoken If we discusse al Iobs wordes ( saith S. Gregorie, we shal find nothing wickedly spoken, but only smale spe [...]ce of pride in speaking too much of his owne afflictiō and too litle of Gods goodnes towards him li. 23. c. 1. lightly what can I answer? I wil put my hand 36 vpon my mouth. † One thing I haue spoken, which I would 38 I had not sayd: and an other, to the which thinges. I wil adde no more.

CHAP. XL. Our Lord further sheweth that mans powre, nor iustice, is not comparable to Gods. 10. as appeareth in ouercoming Behemoth, 20. and Leuiathan.

AND our Lord answering Iob out of the whirlewinde, 1 sayd: † Gird thy Ioynes as a man: I wil aske thee, and 2 doe thou tel me. † Shalt thou make my Though Iob had truly auouched that his sinnes deserued not so great afflictions, yet he ought to haue acknowleged that God afflicted him iustly, for some other cause knowne to God, but vnknowē to him, which he not confessing semed to make Gods iudgement vniust: or, of none effect. S. Greg. li. 32. c. 3. iudgement of none 3 effect: and condemne me, that thou mayst be iustified? † And 4 hast thou an arme as God, and dost thou thunder with like voice. † Put beautie about thee, and set vp thy selfe aloft, 5 and be glorious, and put on goodlie garmentes. † Disperse the 6 prowde in thy furie, and beholding euerie arrogant man, humble him. † Behold al the prowde, and confound them, and 7 destroy the impious in their place. † Hide them in the dust 8 together, and plunge their faces in the pit. † And I wil confesse, 9 that thy right hand is able to saue thee. † Behold, An Elephant the greatest of al beastes, of long life, strong, meke, t [...]n perate, chaist, ouercome by the Vnicorne, or Dragon. or taken by the nose & ledde away. How much more doth Gods prouidence geue man powre to ouercome the diuel? Behemoth 10 whom I made with thee, shal eate hay as it were an oxe. † His strength is in his loynes, and his powre in the 11 nauil of his bellie. † He gathereth together his taile as the 12 ceder tree, the sinewes of his stones are perplexe. † His bones 13 are as pipes of brasse, his gristle as it were plates of iron. † He 14 is the beginning of the wayes of God, which made him, he shal applie his sword. † To him the mountaines beare grasse: 15 al the beastes of the filde shal play there. † He sleepeth vnder 16 the shadow, in the secrete of the reede, and in moyst places. † Shadowes [Page 1107] doe protect his shadow, the willowes of the torrent 17 shal compasse him. † Loe, he shal sup vp the riuer, and 18 shal not meruaile: and he hath confidence that Iordan may runne into his mouth. † In his eies as with a hooke he shal take 19 him, and with stakes he shal boare through his nosthrels. † Canst thou drawe out the An huge great fish. perhaps, the whale, exceding mans powre to be managed, yet is subiect (as also the diuel signified therby) to Gods powre, and prouidence. Leuiathan with a hooke, and 20 with a rope shalt thou tye his tongue? † Shalt thou put a ring 21 in his nosthrels, or bore through his iaw with a buckle? † Wil 22 he multiplie prayers to thee, or speake to thee gentle wordes? † Wil he make a couenant with thee, and shalt thou take him 23 to be a seruant for euer? † Shalt shou delude him as a birde, 24 or tye him for thy handmaydes? † Shal freindes cut him, merchantes 25 diuide him? † Shalt thou fil nettes with his skinne, 26 and the cabbin of fishes with his heade. † Lay thy hand vpon 27 him: remember battel, and adde to speake no more. † Behold 28 his hope shal frustrate him, and in the sight of al he shal be cast downe headlong.

CHAP. XLI. Leuiathan is further described by the peculiar partes of his bodie, and terrible composition of al his members.

NOT as God ruleth al his creatures, not with crueltie as a tyranne, but with iustice, ease, and powre. cruel wil I raise him: for who can resist my contenance? 1 † Who hath geuen me before, that I may render 2 vnto him? Al thinges that are vnder heauen be myne. † I 3 wil not spare him, and his mightie wordes, and framed to beseech. † Who shal reuele the ▪face of his garment: and who 4 shal enter into the middes of his mouth: † Who shal open the 5 gate of his countenance? dreade is round about his teeth. † His bodie as shildes that are cast, compact with skales fast 6 cleauing together. † One is ioyned to an other, and not so 7 much as anie ayre entereth betwen them: † One shal sticke 8 to an other, & holding eche other, they shal not be seperated. † His sneesing is as the shining of fire, & his eies as the twinklings 9 of the morning. † Out of his mouth procede lampes, 10 as it were torches of lighted fire. † Out of his nosthrels procedeth 11 smoke, as it were of a pot heated and boyling † His 12 breath maketh coales to burne, & a flame cometh fotth out of his mouth. † In his necke shal strength abide, & needines 13 goeth before his face. † The members of his flesh cleaue together 14 one to an other: God at last destroyeth him whom man can not ouercome. he shal send lightnings against him, and he shal not be caried to an other place. † His hart shal be 15 [Page 1108] hardened as a stone, and shal be stifly compact as the smithes stithie. † When he shal be taken away, the Angels with reuerent feare doe honour Gods powre. And valient mariners and other soldiars are terrified when they see this so huge a fish. Mystically, Gods preachers and perfectest seruantes shal naturally feare the terrour of Gods iudgement. Angels shal feare, 15 and being feared shal be purged. † When the sword shal apprehend 17 him, neither speare, nor brestplate shal be able to abide. † For he shal esteme yron as chaffe, and brasse, as rotten 18 wood. † The bowman shal not put him to flight, the 19 stones of the sling, to him are turned into stubble. † As stubble 20 wil he esteme the hammer, and he wil laugh him to skorne that shaketh the speare. † The beames of the sunne shal be 21 vnder him, and he shal straw gold vnder him as durt. † He shal 22 make the deepe sea to boyle as a pot, and shal put it as when ointmentes boyle. † A path shal shine after him, he shal esteme 23 the depth as waxing old. † There is no power vpon the earth, 24 that may be compared with him, who is made to feare no man. † He seeth euerie high thing, he is And the diuel reigneth ouer proude men. S. Greg. li. 34. c 4. & 17. king ouer al the children 25 of pryde.

CHAP. XLII. Holie Iob instructed & comforted by Gods discourse, acknowlegeth his fault, and craueth pardon for his ouersight in speach, or cogitation. 7. God iustifieth his cause against his freindes. 9. They offer sacrifice for their offence. 10. Al thinges prosper with Iob, duble to that he had before. 16. and he dieth happely.

AND Iob answering our Lord, sayd: † I know that thou 12 canst doe al thinges, and no cogitation is hid from thee. † Who is this, that concealeth counsel without knowledge? 3 Therfore haue I spoken Iob here simply ackowledged his error in speaking so much in defence of his owne innocencie, and so litle of Gods prouidence in afflicting him, for his more merite, and Gods more glorie. vnwisely, and the thinges that did excede my knowledge beyond mesure. † Heare (I besech thee) 4 and I wil speake: I wil aske thee, and do thou tel me. † With 5 the hearing of the eare I haue heard thee, but now my eye seeth thee. † Therfore Before he defended a truth against his opposite freindes, now with more resignation he contented himself with his affliction. I reprehend myself, and I do penance 6 in imbers and ashes. † And after our Lord spake these wordes 7 to Iob, he sayd to Eliphaz the Themanite: My furie is wrath against thee, and against thy two frendes, because“ you haue not spoken right before me, as my seruant Iob. † Take therfore 8 vnto you“ seuen oxen, and seuen rammes, and goe to my seruant Iob, and offer holocauste for your selues: and my seruant “Iob shal pray for you: his face I wil receiue, that the follie be not imputed to you: for you haue not spoken right thinges before me, as my seruant Iob. † Eliphaz therfore 9 the Themanite, and Baldad the Suhite, and Sophar the Naamathite [Page 1109] went, and did as our Lord had spoken to them, and our Lord receiued the face of Iob. † Our Lord also was turned 10 at the Iob did penance both for himself and others. penance of Iob, when he prayed for his freindes. And our Lord added al thinges whatsoeuer had bene Iobes, duble. † And al his brethren came to him, and al his sisters, 11 and al that knew him before, and they did eate bread with him in his house: and wagged the head vpon him, and comforted him vpon al the euil that God had brought in vpon him. And euerie man gaue him one ewe, and one earelet of gold. † And our Lord blessed the last daies of Iob more then 12 his beginning. And he had fourtene thousand sheepe, and six thousand camels, & a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. † And he had In that he had al other thinges duble, and children in the same number as before, it is a signe that the former perished not but died in good state. seuen sonnes, and three daughters. 13 † And he called the name of one Dies, and the name of 14 the second Cassia, & the name of the third Cornustibij. † And 15 there were not found in al the earth wemen so beautiful as the daughters of Iob: and their father gaue them inheritance among their brethren. † And Iob liued after these thinges, an 16 hundred fourtie yeares, and he saw his children, and his childrens children, vnto the fourth generation, and he died an old man, and ful of daies.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLII.

7. You haue not spoken right, as my seruant Iob] Holie Iob being throughly tried God by his sentence condemned the error of Iobs freindes, and iustified his assertion. in the fornace of tribulation, and by diuine instruction confirmed in perfect patience, and other vertues, God at last gaue sentence, condemning the guiltie, and iustifying the innocent: in plaine termes prononcing that Eliphaz, Baldad, and Sophar had not spoken right before him, as his seruant Iob. And so these three being conuinced, that notwithstanding their former pretence of defending Gods cause, they had erred, and Iob had maintained the truth, they submitted themselues as faultie, and humbly did penance, bringing their oblations for sacrifice to Iob, as they were commanded. v. 8. &. 9

As for Eliu the last disputer, persisting more vehemēt in his errour when others ceassed from contention, he was sufficiently condemned in his felowes. And the rather for that true point of his owne doctrine (ch. 33. v. 14) that God speaketh once, and repeteth not the same, the second time. For it was euer a general rule, Errors ought not to beholden stil, being once condemned. Much lesse raised againe being hertofore buried. that when God once reueiled anie thing by publique fact, or vnto competent witnesses, it sufficed for euer, to al reasonable men, and so Eliu might applie the sentence to himselfe, which God had denounced to his three freindes, in the same cause. Much lesse are Protestantes excusable, which not only persist S. Aug. deside & oper S. Cyprian. li. 4. ep. 2. in errors cōdemned in their owne felowes, as in Luther, Caluin, Beza & others, but also in other old heresies: as their doctrine of iustification by only faith condemned in the Apostles time: their denying the cerimonies of Baptisme, & the Sacraments of Confirmation: & of Penance, condemned in the Nouatians: [Page 1110] or that patient sustaining of worldlie losses, and other afflictions, such as Iob Apud Euseb. li. 6. c. 35. Gen. 2. 4 7 Exod. 23. Deut. 15. suffered, are not satisfactorie, or meritorious workes.

8. Take seuen oxen, and seuen rammes.] In the number of seuen is a mysterie Numbers mystical. of perfection and fulnes, often vsed in holie scripture. For God creating the world and al thinges therin, in six dayes, rested the seuenth. Seuenfold punishment was required for Cain. Seuen payres of cleane beastes were conserued in Great or manie sacrifices for great offences. Deuotion of him that offereth sacrifice increaseth the effect. Prayers of holie men or Sainstes derogate not from Christ. in Noes arke. And in the law the ground rested from tillage the seuenth yeare. with innumerable the like. As S. Gregorie in this place, and other Fathers note in their workes. Also twise seuen victimes offered in sacrifice, import the greatnes of these mens offence in accusing Iob, and in auouching their false opinion.

8. Iob shal pray for you. Neither had so manie sacrifices sufficed, as S. Chrisostom obserueth, Orat. 5. in Iudaeos, vnles Iob also had prayed for the offenders. VVhere we see that both Sacrifice, & the deuotion of him that offereth it, haue their effectes: whereof commeth the distinction vsed in Scholes, of Opusoperatum, and Opus operantis. As it is manifest likewise, that mediation of one man for an other, did not derogate from Gods benigne mercie, in the law of nature, wherein these men liued. Nor now from Christes mediation, in the law of Grace. 2. Cor. 1. v. 11.

A BRIEF RECAPITVLATION of this strange and sacred historie.

FOr auoiding prolixitie (this volume growing great) we haue for most VVhy we haue made few annotations in this booke. part contracted our Annotations into the margen, making very few others in this booke, which otherwise offered much more occasion, as wel for explicating hard places, as of other doctrinal and moral instructions. Neither in dede can ordinarie Annotations wel suffice for vnderstanding of this, and other hard bookes. But rather large Comentaries are required, such as S. Gregorie, and other ancient Fathers: as also F. Iohn de Pineda, and others haue lately written. wherto we therfore remitte the lerned readers. And for the benefite of others of our nation, we shal here briefly recapitulate the summe, The argument of this historie. and principal pointes of this holie and admirable historie, consisting in a singular holie mans conflictes, and glorious victorie, against inuisible and visible aduersaries, both in prosperous and aduerse fortune.

First this holie man Iob in al abundance of wealth and riches, blessed Iob in prosperitie was tempted inuisibly more then ordinary men of lower state, or lesse perfection. with manie children (ch. 1.) sitting in a princelie throne, and royal dignitie (ch. 29.) in the land of Hus, was not only assaulted with common tentations of the enuious enimie, as al are that liue piously in God, but so much 2. Tim. 3. the more, as he was more godlie, sincerer and perfecter then other men, yet he neuer set his hart vpon worldlie or temporal thinges, but with al due feare so serued God, and parted from euil, that Satan himself (the calumniator of mankind) could not charge him with anie sinne at al. Though he would not for al that confesse him to be iust, or perfect but for further trial Much more by losse of al his goodes and children in one day. Most of al by bodilie affliction. And reuiling of his wife. of him, demanded and obtained licence of God to touch at his posssesions, and so bereued him of al his goodes, & children in one day. And when he [Page 1111] perseuering constant in vertue, thanking God for al, not sinning in his lippes, neither speaking anie foolish thing against God, the diuel getting more ample permission to touch his bones and flesh (chap. 2) susudenly stroock him with most grieuous botch (or boyle) from the sole of the foote to the toppe of the head: who sitting on a dunghil, and scraping the corruption of his sores with a shel in extreme paine, his owne wife, by the diuels suggestion, reuiled him for his sinceritie, and prouoked him to blaspheme God: but he seuerely reprehended her follie, stil keeping necessarie patience.

Then came three special freindes, noble wisemen (or litle kinges) to visite, and comforte him, who in seuen dayes not speaking one word of consolation, nor entering into anie discourse with him, at last Iob himself (chap. Holie Iob lamented his affliction, and the general miseries of man. 3.) broke this long silence (but not his patience) lamentably bewayling the extremitie of his paines, imputing al to the miseries of mans estate, corrupted by sinne, discoursed of certaine penal euiles, or malades ensuing therupon, wishing for his owne part (if it had so bene Gods pleasure, for he sincerly feared God) that either he had not bene borne, or bene shortly taken out of his world, cursing sinne and the proper effectes therof remaining in man, wishing also to haue wanted the ordinarie VVhere Iob expected comforth in tribulation, the diuel procured him more affliction. benefites of education in his infancie, and al his former prosperitie, so that he might haue escaped the calamities, wherwith he was now afflicted. Al which he vttering in way of contemning al worldlie thinges, and supposing his freindes there present, would haue so vnderstood him, and had compassion with him: they contrariwise (by art of the diuel, God so permitting) fel into indignation, & in stead of comforting their most afflicted freind, sharply reprehended him, rashly iudged his conscience, and falsly condemned him, not only of impatient speach, as offensiue to God, and his Angels, and to al good men; but also of other enormious sinnes: as pride, Iob sore afflicted in bodie had nine seueral confflictes about the cause therof before it was decided. tyrannie, presumption, hypochrisie, and blasphemie, because heretofore he semed to the world as iust and holie, and now (as they imagined) in his deserued punishment, charged God with iniustice. wherupon grew diuers long disputes betwen Iob and his three freindes; a fourth also intruding himselfe, when the others ceassed. So that Iob indured nine conflictes, and in the tenth God iudged him the victour, which shal yet better appeare, if we repete the summe of their argumentes, & his answers, with Gods decision of the controuersie.

In the first conflict Eliphaz the chiefest of Iobs freindes (in the. 4. and 5. The first conflict. chapters) accused Iob of great impatience, and insolencie against God, also both him and his familie of tyrannie, like to a cruel lion, and lions whelpes, alleaging for proofe the prosperitie of good men, punishment of the wicked, and a particular vision. Adiured him therfore to acknowlege [Page 1112] and repent the same. But Iob (in other two chapters) auoched that in deede his afflictions were greater then his sinnes deserued, The maine point of the controuersie. relying vpon his innocencie knowen to his owne conscience. Described also the manifold calamities of mans life, desired to die, and so to end his worldlie miseries.

Then Baldad the second opposite freind (in the 8. chap.) pretending to The second conflict. free Gods iudgement from al shew or resemblance of iniustice, charged Iob and his children with former wickednes, and him as iniurious to God in his speaches, of which if he would repent, he should be healed, and prosper as before: Arguing in general, that God neuer afflicteth the The ground of these mens error. innocent, nor assisteth the malignant. Insinuating therby, that Iob was an hypocrite. wherto Iob answered (chap. 9. & 10) that in dede no man may compare, nor iustifie himselse before God. Neuertheles it standeth wel with Gods iustice, powre, & wisdome, that innocentes be sometimes exercised with tribulations, more then their offences deserue.

Thirdly Sophar (the third disputer) assaulted Iob (ch. 11.) imputing his The third conflict. speach, and defence of himself to loquacitie, and audacious temeritie, in that he desired to know the causes of Gods prouidence, in so grieuously afflicting him. Of which faultes holie Iob purged himself (in the three next chapters) stil maintayning his innocencie, according to his owne conscience better knowen to himself then to them, desiring God to instruct him, if he had anie vnknowen sinnes. Discoursed also much more profoundly of Gods powre, wisdome, iustice, and prouidence, as we [...] in general, as towards himself in particular: and professed his faith, and great confidence of the Resurrection. Againe Eliphaz (ch. 15.) more bitterly then before, condemned Iob The fourth conflict. of presumption, and blasphemie, discoursed of mans corruptnes and prones to sinne, describing the maners of hypochrites, and other impious men, with their miserable endes, and argued Iob for such a one. VVho (in the next two chapters) expostulated with these his freinds, that they coming with pretence to comforth him, did so violently afflict him, by charging him with false and heynous crimes, his owne conscience better knowing, and testifying his former life, and state of his soule, then that their imaginations could alter his iudgement. And so with contempt of this world, & desire of death and rest, appealed to Gods iudgement against his three freindes, touching the matter in controuersie. In the meane time comforted himself with meditation of the next world.

Baldad likewise replied (ch. 18.) with hote contention, accusing Iob The fifth conflict. of insolent impatience, inculcating the greuous punishmentes both of him, and others for their impietie. In answer wherto he lamented againe the wan [...] of expected comforth, especially by such freindes. Stil comforted himself with assured faith of the Resurrection.

[Page 2113] Sophar also (ch. 20.) attempted againe to cōuince Iob of impietie, The sixth conflict. and hypochrisie, by the miserable, and speedie fal of wicked men after prosperitie: for so he imagined Iob to be fallen into irrecouerable miserie. But Iob shewed the contrarie, that some wicked men prosper long, yea al their life, and the same long, and then in a moment goe downe to hel, and so the argument of present affliction proued not their opinion against him.

Eliphaz disputed the third time (ch. 22.) contending that the causes The seuenth conflict. of affliction, are not to be attributed to Gods secrete prouidence, but to assured sinnes of the wicked. Vpon whom only he supposed, that afflictions fal: inferring that Iob was guiltie of enormious crimes, & grosse errors. Vrged him therfore to returne to God, that he might be restored to former prosperitie. Iob againe appealed to Gods sentence, not in his terrour, nor rigour of his iustice, but against his aduersaries in this quarel, describing Gods powre, and wisdome, by which he permitteth the innocent to be afflicted, & the wicked to prosper: no man knowing how soone, or how late, al shal receiue as they deserue.

Moreouer Baldad disputed the third time, very briefly (ch. 25.) endeuouring The eight conflict. to terrifie Iob from further answering, and especially from appealing to Gods iudgement. But Iob very largely (in six ensuing chapters) discoursed diuinely of Gods souereigne Maieste, Powre, Wisdom, exact Iustice, and infinite Mercie. Also of wicked mens destruction; of his owne former prosperitie, and present calamitie, together with his good workes, and innocencie, which he stil anouched in respect of great iniquities.

After that Iob and his three freindes ceassed, nothing being agreed vpon in The ninth conflict. the point of controuersie, the diuel yet ceassed not, but sturred vp a yongman, called Eliu, proud and arrogant, but not vnlerned, who abruptly condemned them al; to witte, Iob of pertinacie, the others of insufficiencie. And therfore tooke vpon him to conuince Iob, though the others could not. Newest Sectaries hold themselues the wisest. Very like to late-rising Protestantes, or Puritaines bragging that by new argumentes, and proofes neuer heard of, they wil ouerthrow the Papistes, or Catholique Romaine Church, and doctrin, which al former enimies, Iewes, Pagaines, Turkes, and Heretikes, nor Hel gates, could not ouercome. This yong Eliu therfore, with his Priuate spirite, Especially these of our dayes, that relie ech one vpon his owne priuate spirite. wiser in his owne conceipt then al that went before him, assaulted constant Iob (ch. 32. and fiue more ensuing) with manie wordes, and bragges, often chalenging & prouoking, but not extorting anie answer, from so graue a man to his friuolous and idle argumentes, largely discoursing of thinges either not denied, or so manifest false, that euerie meane seruant of God, could easely conuince them▪ and neuer approching to the maine controuersie, only railed against holie Iob, charging him more furiously then anie had donne before, [Page 1114] with impietie, impatience, ignorance, pride, blasphemie, and obstinacie, vices farre from Iobs sanctitie, dilating also of Gods iustice, mercie, wisdome, powre, and prouidence; and that no man ought to contend, nor expostulate with God, that afflictions must be borne patiently, and that God is iust, and maruelous in his workes, wherof no wiseman euer doubted; and so Iob conuinced him with silence.

But God himself for decision of al (from ch. 38. to the end of the Booke) In the tenth place God decided the controuersie. first by way of examining instructed Iob more particularly, reciting manie maruelous workes of nature, shewing therby his Diuine Maiestie, Powre, and wisdome, exercising Iob in more patience, and withal perfecting him in humilitie. So that with al reuerent feare and subiection, he offered and submitted him selfe to Gods onlie good pleasure. Then finally God gaue sentence that Iob had defended the truth, & his three freindes had Penitentes pardoned. Iob rewarded. erred. VVhom after Sacrifice, and Iobs prayer for them, he pardoned; restored Iob to health, and to duble prosperitie, of al he had lost before, geuing him also long life, and a happie end.

In this historie besides the literal sense, shewing that Iob was iust and sincere, The literal sense of this historie. Aliegorical. and not for his sinnes (as his freindes falsly supposed) but for his more mere [...]e was most extremly afflicted, and afterwards restored to health and wealth: we haue also h [...]re in the Allegorical sense, an especial figure of Christ. who as he was absolutly most innocent, & most perfect: so was he without cōparison most afflicted of al mankind. Likewise Iobs restauration to better state then before, signified in the Anagogical sense, the Resurrection, and Anagogical. rest [...]uratiō of better, & most glorious qualities in the blessed, with fulnes of Moral. daies, in eternal glorie. Finally in the Moral sense (which S. Gregorie most especially prosecuteth) al Christians haue here a most notable example of al vertues, namely of patience, wherin Iob proceded by degrees to great perfection. For he was first tried by the losse of al his goodes & children, and was Holie Iob proceded by degrees to perfect patience. proued to be very patient. He was then most greuously tormented in bodie, & being left without comforth, albeit he lamentably bewa led so great extremitie, wishing such dayes had bene preuented: yet he neither spoke against God, nor good man, nor his owne soule, & according to truth auouched & defended his owne innocencie. And at last by Gods inspiration, and swete consolation, he re [...]re [...]e [...]ded himself, of former imperfections vttered in some wordes, and with ful resignation to Gods wil, susteyned al his losses and paynes, not only with contentment, but also with ioy.

THE END OF THE FIRST TOME.

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TO THE CVRTEOVS READER.

We haue already found some faultes escaped in printing, but fearing there be more, and the whole volume being ouerlong, to be examined agayne, we pray the curteous reader to pardon al, and amend them as they occurre.

Two Tables, one of the times of the old Testament: an other of the principal matters in the Annotations therof, shalfolow (God willing) with the other Tome: which we desire, and hope to send you shortly. In the meane time, the gentle reader may please to supplie the want therof, as he may, by the Recapitulations of the Historie, and pointes of Religion, in the fiue first ages, already conteyned in this Volume, in their proper places: in the pages. 29. 47, 196. 701. and 934.

You may please to amend the more especial errors, happened in printing, by reading thus:

Page 57. line 29.	SALEM
Pa. 305. in the margent.	much more in the Church of Christ?
Page 846: lin 39.	reioyce, that
Pege 1064: line 39: line 40.	how they escape many miseries, which are neuer borne, birth
Page 1069: line 1.	nor I gainsay

If our selues, or others shal finde more, we wil gladly correct them.

THE SECOND TOME OF T …

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THE SECOND TOME OF THE HOLIE BIBLE FAITHFVLLY TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH, OVT OF THE AVTHENTICAL LATIN.

Diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greeke, and other Editions in diuers languages.

With ARGVMENTS of the Bookes, and Chapters: ANNOTATIONS: TABLES: and other helpes, for better vnderstanding of the text: for discouerie of CORRVPTIONS in some late translations: and for clearing CONTROVERSIES in Religion.

BY THE ENGLISH COLLEGE OF DOWAY.

Spiritu Sancto inspirati, locuti sunt sancti Dei hemines. 2. Pet. 1. The holie men of God spake, inspired with the Holie Ghost.

Printed at Doway by LAVRENCE KELLAM, at the signe of the holie Lambe. M. DC. X.

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APPROBATIO.

NOs infrascripti, in alma Duacensi vniuersitate Sacrae Theologiae Doctores & Professores, hanc Anglicanam Veteris Testamenti translationem, quam tres diuersieius nationis eruditissimi Theologi, non solum fidelem, sed propter diuersa quae ei sunt adiuncta, valde vtilem fidei Catholicae propagandae ac tuendae, & bonis moribus promouendis, sunt testati: quorum testimonia ipsorum syngraphis munita vidimus; Cuius item Translationis, & Annotationum Auctores nobis de fidei integtitate, & eruditionis praestantia probè sunt noti: his rebus adducti & nixi, fructuose euulgari posse censuimus.

Duaci. 8. Nouembris. 1609.

GVILIELMVS ESTIVS Sacrae Theologiae Doctor, & in Academia Duacensi Professor.
BARTHOLOMAEVS PETRVS Sacrae Theologiae Doctor & in Vniuersitate Duacensi Professor.
GEORGIVS COLVENERIVS S. Theologiae Doctor, & eiusdem in Academia Duacena Professor.

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PROEMIAL ANNOTATIONS vpon the Booke of Psalmes.

THE authoritie of this Booke was euer authentical, This booke vndoubtedly is canonical Scripture. and certaine, as the assured word of God, and Canonical Scripture. But concerning the author, there be diuers opinions. For although it be manifest by the testimonie of Philo, and Iosephus, that in their time, Late Hebrew Doctors and some Catholiques hold diuers authors of sundry Psalmes. and alwaies before, only King Dauid was by al Hebrew Doctors holden for Author of al the Psalmes: yet after that lerned Origen, and other Christian Doctors, expounded manie Psalmes of Christ, the Iewes being pressed therwith, begane to denie that al were Dauids: alleaging for their new opinion, the titles of diuers Psalmes, and some other difficulties, ministring occasion of much needles dispute, stil acknowledging the whole booke to be Canonical. Wherupon S. Ierom, and S. Augustin, sometimes Prefat. in Psal. Epist. 134. 139. admitted those as authores of certaine Psalmes, whose names are in the titles thereof. S. Cyprian, S. Cyril, S. Athanasius, and others agree in general, that Dauid writte not al: but differ much in particular, touching other supposed authores. In so much that Melchisedech; Moyses, Asaph, Eman, Idithun, The sonnes of Core, Salomon, Ieremie, Ezechiel, Esdras, Aggaeus, and Zacharias, are al ( with more or lesse probabilitie) reputed authores of seueral Psalmes. Neuertheles It is much more probable that Dauid was author of al. it semeth that S. Ierom rather related other mens iudgement, then shewed his owne; as we shal note by and by. And S. Augustin ( li. 17. c. 14. de ciuit) maturely discussing this doubt, saith plainly, that their Iudgement semed Proued by S. Augustin, S. Chrysostom, and greatest part of Doctors. to him more credible, vvho attribute al the hundred fiftie Psalmes to Dauid alone. Further explicating that wheras some Psalmes haue Dauids owne name in their titles, some haue other mens names, some none at al, this diuersitie importeth [Page 4] not diuers authores, but signifieth other thinges, either perteyning to the same persons, or by interpretation of their names, belonging to the present matter, as our Lord inspired him. Likewise S. Chrysostome resolutely iudgeth, that only King Dauid was author of this whole Booke. Moued especially by this argument, for that Christ and the Apostles alleaging the Mat. 22. v. 16. Act. 4. v. 24. Ro. 4. v. 6. Ro 11. v. 9. Heb. 4. v. 7. Psalmes, do oftentimes name Dauid as author, and neuer anie other. Also Origen, S. Basil, S. Ambrose, S. Hilarie, The common voice of Christians & some general councels, cal it Dauids Psalter. Theodoretus, Cassiodorus, Beda, Eutimius, and most part of ancient and late writers, with the most common voice of Christians, cal this booke the Psalmes of Dauid: and the General Councels of Carthage, Florence, and Trent, in the Cathologue of Canonical Scriptures recite this booke, by the name of Dauids Psalter.

Moreouer it is clere, Act. 2. that the second Psalme, though it want his name, is Dauids. And other Scriptures Proued by other Scriptures. 2. Paral. 7. v. 6. and 1. Esd. 3. v. 10. say plainly, that Dauid made the Psalmes, 104. 105. 106. 117. 135. beginning: Confesse to our Lord, because he is good, because his mercie is for euer. VVhich he appointed the Leuites to sing, or play on instruments: 1 Paral. 15. &. 16. and yet they haue not his name in their titles. Againe, 2. Reg. 23. Dauid is only intitled the egregious, or excellent Psalmist of Israel. Neither were Asaph, Eman, and Idithun anie where called Prophetes (as are al the writers of holie Scriptures) but only masters of musike, 1. Paral. 25. And the sonnes of Core were only porters. 1. Paral. 26. Finally S. Ierom (whose iudgement the whole Church singularly estemeth, in al questions belonging to holie Scriptures) semeth as much inclined, that only the Royal Prophet Dauid was author of this whole booke, as to the contrarie. For in his Epistle to Paulinus, prefixed before the Latin Bible, comprehending the principal arguments S Ierom attributeth the summe of this booke to Dauid only. of seueral bookes, when he cometh to the Psalmes, without mention of other authors, saith: Dauid our Simonides, Pindarus, and Alceus; Flaccus also, Catullus, and Cerenus, [Page 5] soundeth out Christ, vvith harpe & tenne stringed Psalter, rising vp from hel: so attributing the summe of this whole booke to the Royal Prophet Dauid, as if he supposed no other author.

Touching therfore the argument, or contentes of this The Psalmes are a Summe of al other Scriptures. diuine Psalter, al Catholique Doctors vniformly agree that it is the abridgement, summe, and substance of al holie Scriptures, both old and new Testament. As may first be probably collected, by that Christ himselfe often comprehending al the old Testament by the termes of the Law and Prophetes, in one place ( Luc. 24. v. 44.) semeth not Mat. 5. 7. 11. 22. Lu [...]. 16. onlie to reduce al to the Lavv and Prophetes iointly, but also to the Psalmes alone, or seuerally. But whether this be our Sauiours diuine meaning or no in that place, out of this and manie other places, al the ancient Fathers teach expresly, that the Psalmes are an Epitome of al other holie Scriptures. For example, S. Denys, li de Eccles. Hierar. contemplat. 2. after brief recital of the contents of other holie Scriptures, saith: This sacred booke of diuine Canticles, doth exhibite both a general song, and exposition of diuine thinges. S. Basil calleth the Psalmodie of Dauid the common and most plentiful storehouse of al sacred doctrine: the treasure of perfect Theologie. S. Ambrose accounteth it the register of the vvhole Scripture. Origen, S. Cyprian S. Ierom, S. Chrysostom, S. Greg. in Psal. penitent. S. Gregorie, S. Beda S. Bernard, Cassiodorus, Eutimius, and others vse the same, or very like termes. S. Augustin particularly distinguishing al the Scriptures into foure sortes of bookes, sheweth that the Psalmes conteyne They cōteine the summe of Legal, Historical, Sapientiential, and Prophetical doctrine. al: The Lavv (saith he) teacheth somethinges, the Historie somethinges, the Prouerbes also and Prophetes teach somethinges: but the Booke of Psalmes teacheth al. It proposeth the lavv, recounteth thinges of old, prescribeth the due ordering of mens actions, and prophecieth thinges to come. Briefly it is a common treasure of good doctrine, aptly administring that is necessarie to euerie one. And a litle after, exemplifying in particular points: Is not here (saith [Page 6] he) al greatnes of vertue, and is not here the right square of iustice? is not the comlines of chastitie; the consummation of prudence? is not vvhatsoeuer may be called good, lerned in the Psalmes? Here is the knovvlege of God; the clere prenounciation of Christ to come in flesh; the hope of general Resurrection; feare of torments; promise of glorie; reuelation of mysteries. Euen al good thinges are here, as in a common great treasure, laide vp and heaped together.

See then and obserue here (Christian reader) the admirable Gods prouidence in sweetly drawing our consent & cooperation of freewil, which is necessarie to saluation. wisdom, and goodnes of God. The meanes of mans saluation being so disposed, that his owne free consent, and cooperation is therto necessarily required, according to that most approued doctrin of the same S. Augustin: Qui creauit te sine te; non iustificat te sine te. He that created Ser. 15. de verb. Apost. thee, vvithout thee, doth not iustifie thee vvithout thee: to helpe our weaknes, and sweetly to draw our mindes, otherwise auerse from trauel and paine, the Holie Ghost S. [...]asil. in pr [...]log. hath ordained that in smal rowme, and in pleasant maner, we may attaine necessarie knowlege of God, & our selues, easely kepe the same in memorie, and dayly put in practise our chiefest dutie, in seruing and praising God, by singing, reading, or hearing these diuine Psalmes. which one booke (as euerie one shal be able to lerne it, more or lesse perfectly) openeth and sheweth the way, to vnderstand al other Scriptures, and so to finde, & enioy the hidden treasures of Gods word: in like maner as a key openeth a lock. For the whole sacred Bible is a sealed Booke, and not rightly Apoc. 5. Holie Scriptures a sealed booke. vnderstood, til the seale, or lock be opened, by the key of Gods spirite, geuing knowlege; which the Holie Ghost, amongst other wayes, inspireth very often, by sacred Musike or Psalmodie. As S. Gregorie noteth in holie Scripture li. 4 dialogi, c. 42. The Psalter is the key of other Scriptures. (4. Reg. 3. v. 15.) where Eliseus not yet knowing Gods wil in a particular case, called for a Psalmist (or player on instruments) and vvhen the Psalmist sang, the hand of our Lord came vpon Eliseus, and presently he prescribing what should be donne, procured plentie of water without rayne, where [Page 7] was none before, and prophecied victorie against the enimies. Reason also and experience teach, that as men of cheerful hart are apt to s [...]g: so the exercise of reading, singing, or Iac. 5. playing Psalmes, is a conuenient and a special meanes, to attaine quietnes or cheerfulnes of mind.

But as this holie Psalter is the key of other Scriptures, so it selfe is most especially a sealed, and locked Booke, requiring But it self is also sealed. manie keyes. Euerie Psalme (saith S. Hilarie) hath a peculiar key, and oftentimes there be so manie lockes and keyes of one Psalme, as there be diuers persons that speake, to diuers endes and purposes. For albeit diuers mysteries are sometimes connected, But one principal key of ech Psalme. and so require sundrie keyes, yet there is but one principal, & proper key of ech Psalme: otherwise it should be diuided into manie Psalmes. Our first endeuour therfore must be, to find the proper key of euery Psalme, that is, Tenne keyes of the Psalter. to know what is principally therein conteyned. To this purpose the lerned Expositers of this booke, haue obserued tenne general pointes, or seueral matters, to which al the contents may be reduced, as it were, so manie keyes, and meanes of entrance into the sense, and true vnderstanding of al the Psalmes. And the same may likewise be called Also tenne stringes. the tenne stringes of this diuine instrument. Vpon one of which, euery Psalme principally playeth, touching the rest more or lesse, as cause requireth, for more melodious harmonie, and perfect musike.

The first key, or string, is God himself: One in Substance: 1. Key. One God the B. Trinitie. Three in Persons. Almightie, Alperfect, Powre, VVisdom, Goodnes, Maiestie, Iustice, Mercie, & other Diuine 2. Gods workes. Attributes. The second, is Gods workes of Creation, Conseruation, 3. Gods prouidence. and Gouerning of the whole world. The third, Gods Prouidence, especially towards man, in protecting 4. The Hebrew people. and rewarding the iust: in permitting, and punishing the wicked. The fourth, is the peculiar calling of the Hebrew people, their beginning in Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob: their maruelous increase in Aegypt: diuers estates, [Page 8] manie admirable and miraculous thinges donne amongst them; with their ingratitude, reiection, and reprobation. The fifth principal key, and string is Christ, the promised 5. Christ our Redemer. Redemer of mankind: prophecying his Incarnation, Natiuitic, Trauels, Sufferings, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Glorie. The sixt is the propagation of Christs 6. Conuersion of Gentiles, the Catholique Church. name and Religion, with Sacrifice and Sacramntes, in the multitude of Gentiles beleeuing in him, euen to the vttermost coastes of the earth, the Catholique Church euer visible. The seuenth is the true maner of seruing God, 7. Faith & good workes. with sincere faith, and good workes. The eight, holie Dauid interposeth manie thinges concerning himselfe. As 8. Dauids owne actes. Gods singular benefites towards him, for which he rendereth thankes, and diuine praises, recounteth his enimies, dangers, and afflictions of mind & bodie, namely by Saul, Absalon and others, humbly beseeking, and obtaining Gods protection. He also expresseth in himselfe a perfect image, and patterne of a sincere and hartie penitent: bewayling, confessing, and punishing his owne sinnes. The 9. General Resurrection, & Iudgement. ninth is the end and renouation of this world, with the general Resurrection, and Iudgement. The tenth is eternal 10. Eternal glory and paine. felicitie, and punishment, according as euerie one deserueth in this life. These are the tenne keyes of this holie Booke; and tenne stringes of this Diuine Psalter.

Moreouer to finde which of these is the proper key, and principal string of euerie Psalme, lerned Diuines vse foure Foure wayes to find the proper key of euerie psalme. especial wayes. First by the title, added by Esdras, or the Seuentie two Interpreters, for an introduction to the sense of the same Psalme. So it appeareth that the third Psalme 1. By the title. treateth literally of Dauids danger, and deliuerie from his sonne Absalon: which is the eight key. though mystically it signifieth Christs Persecution, Passion, & Resurrection, which is the fifth key. Secondly, if there be no title, or if it 2. Allegation in the new Testament. declare not sufficiently the key, or principal matter conteyned, it may some times be found by allegation and [Page 9] application of some special part thereof in the new Testament. So it is euident Act. 4. v. 25. c. 13. v. 33. Heb. 1. v. 5. &. Heb. 5. v. 5. that the second Psalme perteyneth to Christ, impugned and persecuted by diuers aduersaries. VVhich is the fiftkey. Thirdly, when greater thinges are 3. Greatnes of thinges affirmed. affirmed of anie person, or people, as of Dauid, Salomon, Iewish nation, or the like, then can be verified of them, it must necessarily be vnderstood of Christ, or his Church, in the new Testament, or in Heauen. So the conclusion of the 14. Psalme: He that doth these thinges, shal not be moued for euer, can not be verified of the tabernacle, nor temple of the Iewes; but of eternal Beatitude in heauen. VVhich is the tenth key. Though the greater part of the Psalme sheweth, that iust and true dealing towards our neighboures, is necessarie for attayning of eternal Glorie. Fourtly when, 4. Conference of places. both the title and Psalme, or part thereof seme hard and obscure, some part being more cleare, the true sense of al may be gethered, by that which is more euident. According li. 3 c. 4. de pecca. merit. to S. Augustins rule, li. 2. c. 9. & li. 3. c. 26. Doct. Christ. So the title, and former part of the fifth Psalme, being more obscure, are explaned by the last verses, shewing plainly that God wil iustly iudge al men, both iust and wicked, in the end of this world. VVhich is the ninth key. By these and like meanes the principal key being found, it wil more easily appeare, what other keyes belong to the same, and what other stringes are also touched. At least the studious may by these helpes make some entrance, and for more exact knowlege search the iudgement of ancient Fathers, and other learned Doctours.

But besides this singular great commoditie, of compendious handling much Diuine matter in smal rowme, this The stile of this booke is Poetrie. booke hath an other special excellencie, in the kind of stile, and maner of vttering, which is Meeter, and Verse, in the original Hebrew tongue. And though in Greke, Latin, and other languages, the same could not in like forme be [Page 10] exactly translated, yet the number, and distinction of verses is so obserued, that it is apt for musike, as wel voices as instruments, and to al other vses of Gods seruants. Neither Abuse derogateth not from good thinges. is musical maner of vttering Gods word and praises, lesse to be esteemed, because profane Poetes haue in this kind of stile vttered light, vaine, and false thinges. For the abuse of good thinges, doth not derogate from the goodnes therof, but rather commendeth the same, which others desire to imitate. And clere it is, that this holie Psalmodie was Dauids Psalter more ancient then any profane poetrie now extant. before anie profane poetrie now extant. For Homer the most ancient of that sorte, writte his poeme, at least two hundred and fourtie yeares after the destruction of Troy: as Apolidorus witnesseth; others, namely Solinus, Herodotus, and Cornelius Nepos say longer. VVheras kind Dauid our Diuine Psalmist, reigned within one hundred years, after the Troianes warres. There were in dede Amphion, Orpheus, and Muscus before Dauid, but their verses either were not written, or shortly perished, only a confuse memorie remaining of them, recited, altered, and corrupted by word of mouth: but before them were the sacred Historie of Iob, almost al in verse; and the two Canticles of Musike very ancient. Moyses, Exodi 15. and Deut. 32. It is moreouer recorded that Gen. 4. I [...]bal (long before Noes floud) was the father of them, that sang on harpe, and organ. Musike therfore is maruelous Sacred poetrie most excellēt. ancient. But sacred Poetrie is in manie other respectes most excellent, and most profitable. This holie Psalmodie (saith Prefat. S. Augustin) is a medecine to old spiritual sores, it bringeth present remedie to nev vvvoundes: it maketh the good to perseuere in vvel doing, it cureth at once al predominating passions, vvhich vexe mens soules. A little after: Psalmodie driueth avvay euil spirites, iuuiteth good Angels to helpe vs, it is a shield in night terrors, a refreshing of day trauels, a guard to children, an ornament to yongmen, a comforte to oldmen, a most seemlie grace to vvemen. Vnto beginners it is an introduction, an augmentation to them that goe forvvard in vertue, a stable firmament to the perfect: It conioyneth [Page 11] the vvhole Church militant in one voice, and is the spiritual eternal svvete perfume of the celestial Armies, al Sainctes and Angels in heauen.

To al this we may adde other causes, which moued the VVhy King Dauid w [...]te diuine poetrie Royal Prophete to write this diuine poetrie. First he had from his youth (by Gods special prouidence) a natural inclination to Musike; wherin he shortly so excelled, that before The first cause his natural inclination to musike. al the Musitians in Israel, he was selected to recreate king Saul, whom an euil spirite vexed. And his skil, together with his deuotion, had such effect, that vvhen he playde 1. Reg. 16. v. 23. on the harpe, Saul vvas refreshed, and vvaxed better. For the euil spirite departed from him: saith the holie text. VVherfore he made these Psalmes, that him selfe and others might by singing them, imploy this gift of God to his more honour. 2. Verse more easie & more plesant. Secondly, verse being more easie to lerne, more firmly kept in mind, and more pleasant in practise (for as wine, so musike doth recreate the hart of man) the Holie Ghost condescending Eccli. 40. to mans natural disposition, inspired Dauid to write these Psalmes in meeter, mixing the povvre of diuine doctrin, vvith delectable melodie of song, that vvhiles the eare is S. Aug. S. Basil. in Prae [...]at allured vvith svvete harmonie of musike, the hart is indued vvith heauenlie knovvlege, pleasant to the mind, and profitable to the soule. Thirdly, Dauid singularly illuminated with knowlege 3. Most special great, and memorable thinges writte in verse. of great, and most diuine Mysteries, indued also with most gracious disposition of mind, the man chosen according to Gods ovvne hart (1. Reg. 13.) would vtter the same Mysteries, with godlie instructions, and praises of God, in the most exquisite kind of stile; that is in verse. For otherwise he was also very eloquent in prose, as wel appeareth by sundrie his excellent, and effectual discourses, in the books of Kinges, and Paralipomenon. For which cause Moyses also described the passage of Israel forth of Aegypt through the read sea in a Canticle, after that he had related the same Exo. 1 [...]. whole historie, more at large in prose; that al might sing, and so render thankes with melodious voice, and musical [Page 12] instruments praising God. Likewise in an other Canticle Deut. 32. 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 Iudic 5. Iudith. 16. Prou 31. 1. Reg. 2. Isa. 38. Isa. 12. 26. Eze [...]h 38 Ia [...]. 2. Abac. 3. Dan. 3. Luc. 1. 2. 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, C [...]ticles in the new Testament. 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 4. Both diuine musike and dirtie in Gods temple. desired to haue done, yet he prouided both store of mu [...]itians (foure thousand in number, of which 288. were 1. Par [...] 23, 25. 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, & 5. The great vse of these Psalmes in the Catholique Church. 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 56. 117. 65. 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 The whole Psalter in the ordinarie office e [...] weke. 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, [Page 13] yet stil the greater part is in Psalmes. Certayne also Certaine Psalme [...] euerie day. of the same Psalmes, are without change, or intermission 4. (30. adv. 7) 53 62. 66. 90. 94. 118. 133. 148. 149 150. repeted euerie day. And such as haue obligation to the Canonical Houres, must at least read the whole Office priuatly, Many Psalmes in other Ecclesiastical offices. 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 Bishops bond to be skilful in Dauids Psalter. 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 Other Priestes to haue competent knowlege therin. ( 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 VVhy this booke is called the psalter. 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 [Page 14] 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, Other instrumentes make consorte with the Psalter. 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 vertues are referred to Gods honour. al praise to God.

Concerning interpretation of holie Scriptures.

AS Prophecie ( or other holie Scripture) was not at anie time by Scriptures are to be expounded by the cō mon spirit of the Church, not by priuate men. 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. They consist in vnderstanding. Holy Fathers do best expound them. 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 Some Mysteries are hidden. 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 They proue our humilitie. humilitie is proued, S. Greg. ho. 17. super Ezech.

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THE BOOKE OF PSALMES

PSALME I.

The Royal prophet Dauid placed this Psalme as a Preface to the rest, conteyning, The right maner of seruing God. The 7. key. 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.

1 BLESSED He is in the right way to eternal felicitie. is the man, that“ hath not continued to euil suggestions. not gone in Mat. 5. the counsel of the impious, & hath not continued in sinne. not“ stoode in the way of sinners, and hath not finally persisted in wicked life. not“ sitte in the chayre of pestilence:

2 † But He is wholly occupied & delighted in keeping Gods commandments. his“ wil is in the way of our Lord, and in his law he [...]os. [...]. wil meditate day and night.

3 † And he shal be as a tree, that is planted nigh to To him that vseth Gods grace wel, more grace is continually geuen. the streames [...]e. 17. of waters, which shal geue his fruite in his time:

4 † And Through such grace he shal perseuer. his leafe shal not fal: and al thinges worke to the good of them that loue God sincerely. al thinges whatsoeuer he shal doe, shal prosper.

5 † The impious not so: but The wicked are carried with euery light tentation. as dust, which the winde driueth from the face of the earth.

6 † Therfore the impious shal Al rysing at the last day, the wicked shal not rise with hope nor comforth, but in desolation. not rise againe in iudgement: nor sinners in the the happie congregation of the blessed. councel of the iust.

7 † For our Lord approueth & rewardeth. knoweth the way of the iust, and the way of the impious in eternal damnation. shal perish.

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ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. I.

1. Hath not gone, not stood, not sitte.] The Hebrew stile, and maner of discourse They are happie (in hope) that decline from euil. differeth here from other nations, in mentioning first the lesse euil, and the greatest last. VVhereas we would say in the contrary order: He is happie that hath not sitte, that is, hath not setled himselfe in wickednes, nor finally persisted obstinate: more happie, that hath not stood, anie notable time continued in sinne: and most happie, that hath not gone, not geuen anie consent at al to euil suggestions. Iustice consisteth in fleing euil and doing good.

2. His vvil in the vvay of our Lord.] As one part of happines consisteth in declining from euil: so the other is in doing good; the wil desiring, and diligently endeuoring to walke in the way of vertue, and law of God. VVhich is true iustice, and right forme of good life, proposed in this Psalme, for attayning eternal beatitude. Of Christ. the 5. key. Also of his Church, the 6. key.

PSALME II.

Christs glorie, the world repining therat, 4. shal be propagated in al the world. 7. His diuine powre as wel spiritual in conuerting mens hartes, as external, in seuere iustice, is prophecied.

1 VVHY did the Both gētiles. Gentiles rage, and and Iewes striue invaine against Christ. peoples meditate Act. 4. vaine things?

2 † The Pilate and Herod. kings of the earth stood vp, and the Annas and Caiphas. princes came together in one against our Lord, and against his Christ.

3 † Let The voice of wicked men, vs breake their bondes a sunder: and let vs cast away their & especially libertines striuing to shake of al discipline. yoke from vs.

4 † He that dwelleth in the heauens, shal God for al this wil turne the haries of manie. laugh at them: and our Lord shal scorne them.

5 † Then shal he speake to them in his seuerly reprehend, wrath, & in his and iustly punish the obstinate. furie he shal truble them.

6 † But Christ shal reigne in his kingdome the Church. I am appoynted king by him ouer Sion his holie hil, preaching his precept.

7 † The God the Father speaketh to Lord said to me; Thou art my God the Sonne. Sonne, I this day haue Act. 13. Heb. 1. &. 5. be gotten thee.

† Aske of me, and I wil geue Christ as man hath the Church for his inheritance. thee the Gentiles, for thyne inheritance, 8 and thy possession Spred through the whole world. the endes of the earth. [Page 17] † Thou shalt rule them “ in Gods in [...]exwi [...] & powre. a rod of yron, and “ as a potters 9 vessel thou shalt breake them in peeces. Apoc. 2. & 19.

10 † And A prophecie that kinges shal be conuerted, and submit themselues to Christs discipline. now “ ye kings vnderstand: “ take instruction you that iudge the earth.

† Serue our Lord in None is secure before death. feare: and “ reioyce to him with trembling. 11

12 † Apprehend discipline Some fal from the way of saluation. lest sometime our Lord be wrath, and you perish out of the iust way.

13 † When his wrath God wil iudge iustly in the end of this short life both the euil and good. So this Psalme concludeth with the ninth key. shal burne in short time, blessed are al, that trust in him.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. II.

2. Kinges and Princes against Christ.] VVhen Christ, and his Apostles preached Persecution cannot hinder the glorie of Christ. the Gospel, both Iewes and Gentiles, with their Princes, Kinges, and Emperors most furiously resisted, but al in vaine. For they could not hinder the wil and powre of God. But the more they persecuted, the more was increased the zele, and number of Christians.

8. The gentiles thyn inheritance.] By this promise of God to Christ, S. Augustin The Church neuer faileth. conuinced the Donatistes; & in them the Protestantes, that say, the Church in h [...]ne Psal. of Christ failed, and became smal, or inuisible; as though Christ the Sonne of God, could sometimes lose his inheritance, which is the Catholique Church, gethered of the Gentiles, and his possession extended to the endes of the earth.

9. As a potters vessel.] If a potters vessel (saith S. Ierom in hunc Psal. tom. 8.) be broken whiles it is soft, it may easily be repared, but after it is hard, it can Custome in sinne more hardly cured. not be made whole againe. So sinners are more easily restored to grace, shortly repeating, then long obdurate: yet that which is vnpossible to man, is possible to God. Mat. 10. For as clay in the potters hand, so are you in my hand, saith our Lord. Iere. 18.

10. Ye kinges vnderstand] Not onlie innumerable other people of al nations, Kinges conuerted to Christianitie. but also after a while, Kinges and Emperors beleued in Christ. And such as at first persecuted, became most Christian, Catholique, Defenders of the faith.

10. Take instruction you that iudge the earth.] Petilianus, Gaudentius, & other Donatistes inueyghing against Christian Kinges, for punishing heretikes, most Defend Catholiques and punish heretikes. Apostataes fauoure heretikes and schismatikes, because they hate al Christians. falsly auoched, that Christianitie neuer found kinges but inuious, enimies, and persecuters. To whom S. Augustin answereth in seueral bookes, that Christian Ad Petil. li. 2. c. 92. Ad Gaud li. 2. c. 26. Kinges, and Princes are not enemies to Christianitie: but are enemies to heretikes, the rebelles of Christ, and his Church. For according to this prophecie of king Dauid, Christian kinges are instructed, and know it is their dutie, [...] the seruice of God, to defend the Church against Heretikes, and other Infidelles. And it is the propertie of Apostataes to fauour heretikes. So good Constantin the great maintained Catholique vnitie; and Iulian the Apostata to make greater diuision, tooke Churches from Catholiques, and gaue them to Donatistes, [Page 18] to nourish dissention, and so to o [...]e [...]row al Christians But God stil protecteth the true Church, again [...] al such suttle, and malicious d [...]ui [...]es: because it is Christs inheritance.

11. R [...]oy [...]e vvith trembling.] Gods seruice is tempeted with two affections: Ioy and feare. with ioy, in consideration of his goodnes, mercie, & meeknes; and with feare, in respect of his [...]ustice, and [...]euere iudgement. The one is a remedie against desperation: the other against presumption.

PSALME. III. Dauid persecuted by his sonne.

King Dauid recounteth his danger, when his sonne Absalom conspired against him: 4. and thanketh God for his deliuerie. 9, acknowledging al The 8. key. helpe to be from God. Mistically, Christs persecution, Death, Burial, and Resurrection.

1 † The “Psalme of Dauid,“ when he fled from the face of Absalom his sonne. (2. Reg. 15.)

2 LORD O God let me know how greuiously I haue sinned. why are they that al Israel (1. Reg. 15. v. 13.) with al their hart foloweth Absolom. So against Christ, the Priestes, the People, & Gentiles al conspired. multiplied that truble me? manie Ioan▪ [...] rise vp against me.

3 † Many say to my life my soule: There is he can not escape no saluation for him in his God.

4 † But But I auouch that God alwaies defendeth me, thou Lord art my protectour, my geuing me victorie, glorie, & exalting & cōfirming my kingdom. my head.

5 † With my voice I haue cried to our Lord: and he hath heard me from his heauen. holie hil.

6 † “I haue I lay downe slept, and haue and rested in expectation of thy helpe. bene at rest; and haue And am deliuered. Christ dyed, was buried, & rose againe. risen vp, because our Lord hath taken me.

7 † I wil not feare thousandes of people compassing me: I know thou wilt help me, and so I besech thee to do. arise Lord, saue me my God.

8 † Because thou hast stroken al that are my aduersaries without cause: thou hast broken the The strēgth and furie. teeth of sinners.

9 † Saluation health and saftie cōmeth from God. is our Lordes: and thy Abundance of grace promised to Gods seruantes. blessing vpon thy people.

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ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. III.

1. Psalme of Dauid.] Al Interpreters agreably teach, that king Dauid made not the titles, which are before the Psalmes. Neuertheles they are authentical, Titles of the Psalmes added by [...]as and the Septuagint. as endited by the Holie Ghost. And it is most probable Esdras added those titles which are in the Hebrew: and the Seuentie interpreters writte the other, in their Greke Edition. Both which S. Ierom translated into Latin.

In these titles fiue thinges may be noted. First, the former two hauing no title at al, the general name of Psalme, common to al, is particularly appropriated to some, and other names to others. VVhich in al are twelue. to witte: Psalme [...]iue thinges to be noted [...] the titles. Inscription, Prayer, Canticle, Psalme of Canticle, Canticle of Psalme, Hymne, Testimonie, Vnderstanding, Praise of Canticle, Alleluia, & Gradual Canticle. Secondly, in the titles of some Psalmes are the names of certaine persons, which by S. Augustins iudgement, cited in the Proemial Annotations, and others, proueth not the same persons to be authores of those Psalmes, but signifieth some other thing. Thirdly, in some titles the time is signified, when the Psalme was made, or song. Fourtly, the matter conteyned in the Psalme, or vpon what occasion it was made, is expressed in some titles. Fiftly diuers other termes are often vsed. in the titles of sundrie Psalmes, as To the end. For the Octaue. For presses, Psal. 4. 6. 8. 15. 16. &c. and the like, al which we shal briefly explicate, where they first occurre. VVhy this is called the Psalme of Dauid.

First therfore this third Psalme is called the Psalme of Dauid, not because he is author therof, for he is also author of the former, where his name is not expressed, as is euident by the testimonie of al the Apostles. Act. 4. v. 25. but because it treateth particularly and literally of him.

1. VVhen he [...]ed from the face of Absalon.] Here the time is signified, when The time and occasion of making this Psalme. this Psalme was made, to wi [...]e, immediatly after the ouerthrow of his rebellious sonne Absalom, mentioned. 2. Reg. 18. before his returne to lerusalem. For al beit of humaine, natural, and fatherlie affection, he greatly lamented the death of his sonne, yet he rendered thankes and praises to God, as reason and dutie bond him.

6. I haue slept, and haue benne at rest, and haue risen vp.] King Dauid by his sleeping in persecution, and by his resting, and deliuerie from his persecuters, King Dauid prefigured Christ. prefigured Christs Death, Burial, & Resurrection. As appeareth, Ioan. 2. v. 22. VVhere the Euangelist [...]aith: that after Christs Resurrection, his disciples beleued the scripture, to witte, this and other like prophecies. For otherwise the old Testament doth not so expresly declare such Mysteries, as the Gospel doth: but one thing in the proper, and grammatical signification of he wordes, and an The same Scripture hath diuers literal senses. other thing, in shadowes and figures, and hoth literal. VVhereupon S. Gregory teacheth ( li. 20. c. 1. Moral.) that holie Scripture (amongst other incomparable excellences) surpasseth al other doctrines, in the verie maner of speaking: because by one and the same speach, it reporteth a thing donne, and proclameth a Mysterie: so relating thinges past, that with the verie same wordes, it foresheweth thinges to come.

PSALME. IIII.
Vnto “ the end, in In an instrument apt for verses. songues, the Psalme This Psalme perteyneth to the beloued, signified by the word Dauid. S. Aug. li. 17. c. 14. ciuit. S. Beda in Psal. of Dauid.

The holie prophet teacheth, by his owne example, to flee to God in al tribulation Confidence in God necessary The 7. key. 3. that other refugies are insufficient, 9. and Gods helpe most assured.

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1 WHEN VVhen Saul vniustly persecuted iust Dauid, God heard his prayers. I inuocated, the God of my iustice heard me: 2 in being straictly beseeged (1. Reg. 23. 26.) tribulation thou hast enlarged to me. Likewise helpe me when soeuer I shal nede. Haue mercie on me, and heare my prayer.

3 † Ye sonnes of men how long are you of Why do you stil harden your hartes? heauie hart? why loue you honour, and transitorie glorie, vanitie, and seeke false and deceiptful riches? lying? Ephos. 4.

4 † And know ye that our Lord hath made his Euery godly soule. holie one Rich with vertues. meruelous: Euerie iust soule hath confidence in God, that he wil heare his crie. our Lord wil heare me, when I shal crie to him.

5 † Be ye Iust anger is good & necessarie agaīst sinne. angrie, and but then is most nede to beware not to excede in passion. haue therfore a continual purpose neuer to sinne. sinne not: the thinges that you say in Euil cogitations. your hartes, in your bewaile & repent before you sleepe. chambers be ye sorie for.

6 † Sacrifice ye the “ sacrifice of Not only external but most especially internal sacrifice of iustice, and obseruation of Gods commandments is most necessarie iustice, and hope in our Lord. Manie say: The solide rewardes promised by God? Who sheweth vs good thinges?

7 † The reason and grace are freely geuen to man, wherby he may know that God wil reward the iust. Heb. II. v. 6. light of thy countenance ô Lord is signed vpon vs: thou hast geuen VVherin a iust man inwardly reioyceth. gladnesse in my hart.

8 † By the fruite of their For example and in figure of heauenlie rewardes, God gaue temporal wealth in the old testament. corne, and For example and in figure of heauenlie rewardes, God gaue temporal wealth in the old testament. wine, and For example and in figure of heauenlie rewardes, God gaue temporal wealth in the old testament. oile they are multiplied.

† In In this confidēce the iust may rest contented. peace in the selfe same I wil sleepe, and rest: 9

† Because thou Lord hast God so promiseth euerie iust person in particular. singularly setled me in hope. 10

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. IIII.

1. Vnto the end.) The Hebrew word Lamnatsea, signifieth to him that [...]uercometh. The signification of this phrase, To the end in t [...] etitles of Psalmes. And so the Hebrewes interprete, that the Psalmes, which haue this word in their titles, were directed either to him, that excelled others in skil of [Page 21] musike; or had authoritie ouer other musitians: or to him, whose office was to 1. Par. 15. sing victories and triumphes. But the Latin, according to the Greeke, hath In finem, Vnto the end. which (most commonly signifying perpetuitie, or continuance vnto the end of anie thing) in the titles of the Psalmes rather signifieth, that the matter conteyned in the Psalme, perteineth to future times, or persons; especially to the new Testament. And so S. Augustin expoūdeth it here of Christ, who is the end (or perfection) of the lavv. Not that the principal contentes belong Rom. 10. to Christ, in his owne Person, but to his mystical bodie the Church, and faithful people, whom the Prophete here teacheth to haue confidence in God, moderation in their affections, & patience in tribulation, which is the seuenth key, proposing his owne example, & prophetically Christs. The same wherto Christ exhorteth, saying: Ioan. 16. v. vlt. Haue considence, I haue ouercome the vvorld. Signifying that his seruantes, through his grace, may also ouercome it.

6. Sacrifice of Iustice.] Not only external Sacrifice of diuers kindes, were necessarie Three spiritual sacrifices necessarie. in the law of nature, and of Moyses, and one most excellent and complement of al, in the new Testament, but also spiritual sacrifice was euer, and is required, and that of three sortes. First, Sacrifice of sorow, and contrition for sinnes ( Psal 50.) An afflicted spirite is a sacrifice to God. The second is sacrifice Of penance, Iustice. Praise. of Iustice, here mentioned. The third is Sacrifice of praise (Psal 49.) Immolate to God the sacrifice of praise. Concerning the second proposed in this place: He offereth sacrifice of Iustice, that rendereth to euery one that is due. First to God as our Creator, a resignation of our selues, euen our liues, at his diuine pleasure; VVhat is due to God. as to our Master, we must render faith and beleefe, in al that he proposeth; as to our Father, hope, confidence, & reuerential seare; as to our Lord and King, payment of tribute, that is obseruation of his law and commandments; as to our Captaine, the trauel of warfare in this life; as to our Phisitian, patience and toleration, when he cureth our woundes, by chasticement for sinnes; as to our Spouse, chastity of body and mind, fleeing al carnal and spiritual fornication; as to our Freind, frequent conuersation in al actes of deuotion VVe owe to our To our selues. selues, that seing we consist of soule and bodie, we keepe due subordination, that the soule and reason command, & the bodie, and inferiour appetite obey: To our neighbour. as the seruant must obey his master, and the handmaide her mistris. VVe owe to our neighbour, loue from the hart, inctruction also from the mouth; and assistance by our helpe, according to his necessitie, and our abilitie; yea though our neighbour be our enemie. But to other enimies contrary thinges are due. To our enemies. The world. The flesh. The diuel. To the world, contempt: because the goodes of this world are smal, few, shorte, vncertaine, deceiptful, not satisfying the mind, and mixed with manie euils and dangers. To the flesh we owe chasticement, and daylie care, so to seede it, that it serue the soule, & rebel not. To the diuel we must render the shame, that cometh by sinne, acknowledging our faults, and al truthes, and so returne vpon him al vanitie and lying, wherwith he allureth & seduceth. Finally to sinne To sinne. it selfe, we owe hate, and reuenge, because it is the only euil, that hurteth vs; and due punishment with zele of iustice, because it dishonoreth God. He that thus offereth sacrifice of iustice, may instly (as it foloweth in the Psalme) hope (yet not in him selfe but) in our Lord. And lest anie should pretend ignorance, Light of reason sheweth there is a God that rewardeth. saying: vvho shevveth (or teacheth) vs good thinges? as though they lacked instruction, the Prophete preuenteth this vaine excuse, saying: The light of thy countenance o Lord (the light of reason, which is the image of God, wherto we are created like) is signed vpon vs, fixed in our vnderstanding, that we may see there is a God, that ought to be serued, and that he wil revvard his seruants. Heb. 11.

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PSALME. V.
† Vnto the end, for The faithful iust soule that ouer cōmeth. her enimies by vertue. her that obtaineth the eternal glorie. inheritance. The Psalme of Dauid.

Iust men in affliction appeale to God, the reuenger of iniuries. 5. knowing and The general iudgement. The 9. key. prosessing that God hateth iniquity. 9. therfore remitte their cause to him. 11. recite certaine enormious vices of the wicked. 13. and expect Gods final iudgement of the good and bad.

1 RECEIVE ô Lord The praier of the whole Church, or of anie faithful (euer beloued) soule. my wordes with thine eares, vnderstand 2 my crie.

† Attend to the voice of my prayer, my king and my God. 3

4 † Because I wil pray to thee: Lord in Gods helpe is presently granted of his part, though it be sometimes differred for the more good of his seruantes. the morning thou wilt heare my voice.

5 † In Before al other affayres we must pray to God. S. Ciprian. in fine orat. Dominicae. the morning I wil stand by thee and wil see: because thou art“ not a God that wilt iniquitie.

6 † Neither shal the malignant The wicked and wickednes haue noe conuersation with God. dwel neere thee: neither shal the vniust abide in the day of iudgement. before thine eies.

7 † Thou hatest al that worke iniquitie: thou wilt by final sentence of eternal dānation. destroy al that speake lie.

† The bloudie and deceitful man our Lord wil abhorre: 8

9 † But I in the multitude of Not in mans powre, but in Gods mercie must the iust man trust. thy mercy. I wil enter into thy house: I wil adore toward In the Church of God. thy holie temple in thy with reuerential feare as in Gods presence. feare.

Lord conduct me in thy iustice: because of mine enimies direct my way in thy sight.

10 † Because there is No true nor solide goodnes in the wicked. no truth in their mouth: their hart is They thinke nothing but vanitie, and mischiefe. vayne.

† Their throte is an yelding lothsome stin [...]h, bitternes, and rancor, open sepulchre, they did yet they flatter with feaned good wordes. deceitfully 11 Psal. 13. Rom. 3. with their tongues, Albeit the iust desire the conuersion of the wicked, yet if they wil not repēt, then the iust conforme their desires to Gods iust iudgement: which shal be manifested in the end of the world. iudge them o God. [Page 23] † Let them faile of their cogitations, according to the multitude 12 of their impieties expel them, because they haue prouoked thee ô Lord.

13 † And let al be glad, that hope in thee, they shal reioyce for euer: and thou shalt dwel in them. And al that loue thy name shal glorie in thee, because thou wilt The iust shal receiue sentence of eternal glorie. blesse the iust.

† Lord, as with a shield of thy good wil, thou hast crowned vs. 14

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. V.

5. Not a God that vvilt iniquitie.] Seing God vvil not iniquitie, as these wordes testifie in plaine termes, it foloweth necessarily, that he is not author, nor cause God is not author nor cause of sinne. of anie sinne For God doth nothing contrarie to his owne wil. But he hateth iniquitie, and in respect therof hateth al that vvorke iniquities, as the authours of iniquity, though he loueth them as his creatures and of his part requireth their saluation.

PSALME VI. A pathetical praier of a sinner & the first penitential P [...]alme. the 7. key.
† Vnto This Psalme perteyneth also to penitentes in the new testament. the end in songs, the Psalme of Dauid for the octaue.

Dauids earnest and hartie praier after he had grieuously sinned. 5. which being grounded in filial, not seruil feare, 9. concludeth with assured hope, and confidence in Gods mercie.

1 LORD, condemneme not eternally rebuke me not in “thy furie; nor Spare me also for part of the temporal paine, which I deserue. chastise me in 2 Psal. 37. “ thy wrath.

3 Haue mercie on me Lord, because I am weake: Geue me the medicine of grace. heale me Lord, because al My sorow hath inwardly pearced me euen to the bones. my bones be trubled.

4 † And my soule is with feare of thyiust wrath. trubled exceedingly: but thou Lord leauest thou me in this calamitie? how long?

5 Shew againe thy fauorable contenance. † Turne thee o Lord, and from this fearful affliction. deliuer my soule: saue me for Though my sinnes haue deserued the contrary yet shew thy mercy. thy mercie.

6 † Because there is not in This life is the time of repentance, after death no cenuersion. death, that is mindful of thee: and in In hel nothing but blasphemie. hel who shal confesse to thee?

† I I haue in part lamēted. haue labored in my sighing, I I wil adde more sorow & penance. wil euerie night was he 7 my bed; I wil I wil persist in my penance, til I be throughly watered with thy grace. water my couche with my teares. [Page 24] † My myn eyes are dimme with weeping, for feare of thy iust iudgement. eye is trubled for furie: I haue waxen my heares are gray with sorrow. old wherat myn enemies reioyce. among 8 al myne enemies.

9 † After due sorow the true penitent hath confidence in God, against his enimies. Depart from me al ye that worke iniquitie: because our Mat. 7. & 25. Luc. 13. Lord VVil most certainly accept of true repentance. hath heard the voice of my weeping.

10 † Our Lord hath heard my petition, our Lord hath receiued my prayer.

11 † Let al myne enemies be These are no [...] imprecations, but threatninges, that the wicked ma yamend, or els predictions if they persist in sinne. ashamed, & very sore trubled: let them be conuerted and asha med very quicly.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. VI.

1. For the octaue.] Literally it semeth that the Psalmes which haue For the The octaue signifieth the world to come. octaue, in their titles, were to be song on an instrument of eight stringes. So the Caldee paraphasis translateth. In eitheris octo chordarum: in Citherus of eight stringes. But prophetically S. Augustin, & others expound it, to perteine to the Resurrection in the end of this world. So Dauid, and al penitent sinners bewaile their sinnes, and do penance in this life, for the octaue, that is for the world to come.

1. In thy fury, nor in thy vvrath.] By furie is signified diuine iustice, irreuocably condemning the wicked to eternal damnation: by vvrath, Gods fatherlie Hel for some sinners. Purgatorie for others. chasticement correcting sinners, whom he saueth. VVherupon S. Gregorie teacheth, that the faithful soule not only feareth furie, but also wrath: because after the death of the flesh, some are deputed to eternal torments, some passe to life through in Psal. 37. 1. Cor. 3. the fire of purgation. VVhich doctrine the same holy father confirmeth, by the iudgement of S Augustin more ancient. VVho likewise affirmeth, that al those which haue not laide Christ their fundation, are rebuked in furie, because they are tormented in eternal fire: and those which vpon right fundation (of true faith in Christ) haue built vvood, hay, stubble, are chastised in wrath, because they are brought to rest of beatitude, but purged by fire. Let therfore the faithful soule (considering what she hath donne, and contemplating what she shal receiue) say: Lord rebuke me not, in thy furie: nor chastice me in thy vvrath. As if she said more plainly: This only with my whole intention of hart, I craue, this incessantly with al my desires I couete, that in the dreadful iudgement, thou neither strike me with the reprobate, nor afflict me with those, that shal be purged in barning flames. Thus S. Gregorie, in 1. Psalm penitent. v. 1.

PSALME VII.
The Psalme of Dauid which he song to our Lord, for the 1 wordes of This Chusi defeated the counsel of Achitophel. as S. Aug. S. Basil & S. Chris. expound it. Chusi the sonne of Iemini. ( 2. Reg. 16.)

Dauid in confidence of his iust cause, and vniust persecution. prayeth for Dauids prayer in tribulation. the 8. key. Gods helpe, 7. and iust reuenge of his enemies. 15. describing their malitious intention, and ruine.

2 [Page 25]† O Lord my God I haue hoped in thee: saue me from al that persecute me, and deliuer me.

3 † Lest sometime Absolom, [...]n anie other enemie, if God doe not resist and hinder him. he as a Lyon violently take my life. my soule, whiles there is none to redeme, nor to saue.

4 O Lord my God if I haue done Such euil as myne enemies fayne & obiect against me. this, if there be iniquitie in my handes;

5 If I haue rendred to them that repayd me euils, let me worthely fal Let me not haue the victorie of them. emptie from myne enemies.

6 † Let the enemie persecute my soule, and take it, and Let me dye with ignominie. treade downe my life in the earth, and bring downe my glorie into the dust.

7 † Arise Lord in thy wrath: and Shew thy powre. be exalted in the coastes of myne enemies.

And arise ô Lord my God in the Seing thou diddest command to make me king, it behoueth thee to protect me. precept which thou hast cō manded: † and a manie wil serue thee the only true God. sinagogue of peoples shal compasse thee. 8

And For this increase of faithful people. for it returne on high: † our Lord iudgeth peoples. 9

Iudge me ô Lord according to my iust cause against my particular enemies. my iustice, and according to my innocencie let fal vpon me. vpon me.

10 † The wickednesse of sinners shal be consumed, and thou 1. Par. 28. Iere. 11. 17. shalt direct the iust, which searchest the hart and raynes ô God.

11 † My iust helpe is from our Lord, who saueth those that be right of hart.

God is a iust iudge, strong, & patient: is he angrie God doth not punish al sinners presently, but often differreth. euerie day? 12

13 † expecting if they wil an [...]d Vnlesse you wil be conuerted, he shal shake his sword, he hath bent his bow, and prepared it.

14 † And in it he hath prepared the vessels of death: he hath made his arrowes for them that burne. Isa. 59. Iob. 15.

15 † Behold The iniurious persecutor purposing iniustice, conceiueth enuie, and bringeth forth iniquitie. he hath bredde with iniustice: he hath conceiued sorow, and brought forth iniquitie.

16 † He hath opened a pit, and digged it vp: and he is fallen into the diche, which he made.

17 † His Enuie, & desire to hurt others turneth to the ruine of the enuiers. sorrow shal be turned vpon his head: and his iniquitie shal descend vpon his crowne.

18 † I wil confesse to our Lord according to his iustice: and wil sing to the name of our Lord most high.

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PSALME VIII.
† Vnto Belonging to the newe Testament. the end Suffering of Christ, and of Christians. for “ presses, the Psalme of Dauid. 1

God is magnified & praised for his meruelous worke of creatures, 5. but Christs Incarnation. The 5. key. especially of mankind, singularly exalted by the Incarnation of Christ.

2 O LORD God the lord of al by creation, is our singular lord, that beleue and trust in him. our Lord, how meruelous is thy name in the whole earth! Because thy magnificence is eleuated, aboue God more excelent then the heauens, he being the creator, they a creature. the heauens.

3 † Out of the mouth of fulfilled whē Christ coming into Ierusalem, children sang Ozanna Mat. 21. infantes and sucklinges, thou hast Mat. [...]. perfected praise because of thine enemies, that thou mayest destroy the enemie and reuenger.

4 † Because I shal see thy heauens, the workes of thy fingers: the moone and the starres, which thou hast founded.

5 † What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the sonne of man, that thou visitest him?

6 † Thou hast The Sonne in assumpted humāe nature became lesse then Angels. minished him a litle lesse then Angels; with Heb. 2. But in him mans nature is exalted aboue Angels. glorie and honour thou hast crowned him:

† and hast appointed him Christ the Lord of al creatures. ouer the worke of thy handes. 7

8 † Thou hast subiected yea of Angels. Heb. 2. al thinges vnder his feete, al Not only al reasonable creatures, but al beastes, and other thinges obey him. The sea and the windes obey him. Mat. 8. sheepe and oxen: moreouer also the beastes of the field. Gen. 1. v. 27. 1. Cor. [...].

9 † The birdes of the ayre, and fishes of the sea; that walke the pathes of the sea.

20 † The same end & beginning signifie that as God was meruelous in creating man in so happie state, that if he would, he might haue auoyded both sinne & death: so he is meruelous in that he so rewardeth the blessed in the resurrestion, that they can neither sinne non dye. O Lord our Lord, how meruelous is thy name in the whole earth!

ANNOTATIONS. PASLME. VIII.

1. Presses.] Most Hebrew Doctors say the word Gittith, may either signifie the place, where this Psalme was made, or the musical instrument, on which it Presses signify Christs Passiō. was song. But most Christian Doctors expound it literally of Christs Passion, [Page 27] who was stretched on the Crosse, and al his sacred bloud pressed, and drawne out of his bodie. VVhich Metaphor Isaias also vseth, demanding of Christ: Isa. 63. VVhy is thy clothing redde, and thy garments as theirs, that tread in the vine presse? and answereth in Christs person: I haue troden the presse alone. S. Augustin also applieth it morally to the Church, where Christ is the vine, the Morally i [...] signifieth the trauels of the Church militant. Apostles are the branches, & spreaders (that is preachers) of the Ghospel, Christians are the grapes, Christian vertues are the wine. Namely patience, and fortitude in afflictions. VVherby the good are purified, and seuered from amiddes the reprobate, as wine is pressed out of the grapes, barreled, and laid vp in sellers, and * the huskes and carnels cast to hogges, or other beastes. vin [...]ci [...]. Gods prouidence in protecting the good and permitting euil. The 3. key.

PSALME. IX.
† Vnto the end, for the Christs coming in humilitie, and Christians afflictions, are hidden from the world, in Gods prouidence. secrets of the sonne, the Psalme of Dauid.

The Church prayseth God for her protection, 4. in repelling the enemies force, 8. in punishing the wicked, and rewarding the iust.

1 I WIL geue thank [...] confesse to thee ō Lord with al my hart: I wil tel 2 al thy meruelous thinges.

3 I wil be in mind. glad and and bodie. reioyce in thee: I wil sing to thy name ō most High.

4 † In God repelleth the enemie, when man is not able to resist. turning mine enemie backward: they shal be weakened, and perish before thy face.

5 Because thou hast done A iust man doth his endeuour, not of him selfe, but by Gods grace ouercometh the enemie. my iudgement and my cause: thou hast sitte vpon the throne which iudgest iustice.

6 Thou hast rebuked the Al sinners called gentils, because they were generally accounted wicked. Gentiles, and the impious hath perished: their The vaine glorious fame of sinners partly decayeth in this world but most especially in the world to come. name thou hast destroyed for euer, and for euer and euer.

7 † The swordes of the enemie haue fayled vnto the end: and their cities thou hast destroyed.

8 † Their memorie hath perished with a sound: and our Lord abideth for euer.

9 He hath prepared his throne in Iudicial seates of men are of [...]e [...] corrupted but Gods neuer. iudgement: † & he wil iudge the whole world in equitie, he wil iudge the people in iustice.

10 † And our Lord is made a refuge for the poore: an helper God doth not presently deliuer the good from afflictions▪ but when [...]ir spiritual profitie. in opportunities, in tribulation.

11 [Page 28]† And let them hope in thee that know thy name: because thou hast not forsaken them that seeke thee ô Lord.

12 † Sing to our Lord, which dwelleth in Sion: declare his His precepts which men ought chiefly to studie. studies among the Gentiles:

† Because he God reuengeth the blood of Martyrs. requiring bloud remembred them: he hath not forgotten the crie of the poore.

14 † Haue mercie on me ô Lord: See my humiliation procured by mine enemies by my enemies.

15 † Which exaltest me from the gates of death, that I may declare al thy prayses in In the publique view of the Church. the gates of the daughter of Sion.

16 † I wil reioyce in thy saluation: the Gentiles are The wicked are intangled in the snares which they lay for others. fastened in the destruction, which they made. In this snare, which they hid, is their foote taken.

17 † Our Lord shal be knowen doing iudgements: the sinner is taken in the workes of his owne handes.

† In zele of iustice not in desire of reuenge. Let sinners be turned into hel, al nations that forget God. 18

19 † Because to the end there shal not be obliuion of the poore man: the patience of the poore, shal not perish in the end.

20 † Arise Lord, let not man be strengthned: let the By Gentiles is often vnderstood al great sinners. For the Iewes despised Gentiles: as the Romans did al Barbarous nations. Gentiles be iudged in thy sight.

21 † Appoint Lord Suffer a tyrant to rule ouer them that thereby they may lerne what it is to vse others vniustly. It semeth to S. Augustine aprophecie, that such as receiue not Christ, shal beleue Antichrist. a lawgeuer ouer them: that the Gentiles may know that they be men. 2. Thes 2.

The 10. Psalme, according to The latter Hebrew Doctors. the Hebrevves.

1 † In great per secution it semeth to the weake, that God differreth his assistance very long. Why Lord hast thou departed far of, despisest in opportunities, in tribulation?

2 † Whiles the impious is proude, the poore is Extremely vexed & tormented. set on fyre: The Prophet answereth to the complaint of the iust, that in deede the wicked are caught in their owne snares. they are caught in the counsels which they deuise.

† Because the sinner is praysed in the desires of his soule: and the vniust man is blessed.

4 [Page 29]† The sinner hath exasperated our Lord, according to the multitude of his wrath he shal not seeke to recouer Gods fauour. not seeke.

5 † There is no God in his sight: his waies are defiled at al time. Thy iudgementes are taken away from his face: he shal The wicked doth dominier for a time, and thinketh he shal do so stil. rule ouer al his enemies

6 † For he hath sayd in his hart: I wil not be moued from genetion vnto generation, and neuer fal into any aduersitie but stil remaine without miserie or anie euil. without euil.

7 Whose mouth is ful of cursing, and bitternesse, and guile: Rom. 3. vnder his tongue labour and sorrow.

8 † He sitteth in waite with the rich in secrete places, to kil the innocent.

9 † His eyes looke vpon the poore: he lyeth in wayte in secret, as a lyon in his denne.

10 † He lyeth in wayte to take the poore man violently: violently to take the poore man whiles he draweth him. In his snare he wil humble him selfe, and shal fal when he shal haue dominion ouer the poore.

11 † For he hath sayed in his hart; God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face not to see for euer.

12 † The prayer of the iust in tribulation. Arise Lord God, let thy hand be axalted: forget not the poore.

13 † Wherfore hath the impious prouoked God? for he hath said in his hart; He wil not enquire.

14 † Thou seest, that thou considerest labour and sorrow: that thou mayest deliuer them into thy handes.

15 To thee is the poore left: to the orphane thou wilt be an helper † Breake the arme of the sinner and malignant: his sinne shal be sought, and shal not be found.

16 † Our Lord shal reigne for euer and for euer and euer: ye ye vilest men. Gentiles shal perish from his land.

17 † Our Lord hath heard the desire of the poore: thy eare hath heard the The iust ought alwayes to be readie prepared in hart, to suffer patiently al that shal happen vnto them. preperation of their hart,

18 To iudge As the first workes of Christ in al humility and patience were strange, and hidden to the world: (v. 1.) so his last iudgement shal be in maiesty and manifest to al in exalting the blessed and suppressing the wicked. for the pupil and the humble, that man adde no more to magnifie him selfe vpon the earth.

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ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. IX.

21. After the 21. verse the late Hebrew Doctors diuide this Psalme, beginning Some diuide this Psalme into two. Sela a note of change, or of rest in musike, or rather of attention. Al the Psalmes [...] iust 150. there the tenth, without anie new title: but only this word Sela: VVhich Epist ad Marcel the Septuagint, Theodotion, and Symmachus translate Diapsalma, that is, change of meeter, or musike, also pause or rest in singing. Aquila whom S. Iorom rather approueth, translateth semper euer. Some English Bibles omitte it, Anno. 1577. 1552. 1603. others leaue it in the text, not translating it into English. It semeth to most Interpreters to be added as a note to sturre vp attention. And it occureth often, not only in the end of Psalmes, but also in other places. For it is thrise in the third Psalme. And therefore maketh no argument, that this Psalme should be diuided. And those which diuide this into two, ioyne two in the 147. Psalme. So that al agree in the number of 150. Psalmes in the whole Psalter.

PSALME X.
Vnto S. Augustin applieth it to heretikes, perswading Catholiques to repare vnto their separate congregation, falsly calling it the montayne. the end the psalme of Dauid

Dauids freindes aduising him to flee from the persecution of Saul, he answereth, Gods prouident care of the iust. The 3. key. that his trust is in Gods protection. 2. Though the persecutor be very malitious, 4. yet God wil ouerthrow him, 5. and deliuer the iust.

1 I TRVST in our Lord: how say Ye my freindes say thus. ye to my soule: Passe ouer vnto the mountayne as a sparrow?

2 † For behold sinners Persecuters vsing al rigor and force, haue bent the bow, they haue prepared their arrowes in the quiuer, that they may shoote in falsly pretēd other causes against the innocent to destroy them. the darke, at them that be right of hart.

3 † For they haue It is the maner of persecuters, and especially of heretikes, to destroy and puldowne that others haue built. destroyed the thinges, which thou didst perfite: but the iust what hath he done?

4 † Our Lord is in his holie temple, our Lord his seate is in Abac. 2. heauen.

5 † His eies haue respect vnto the poore: his Though God seme to winke or sleepe, yet his prouidence stil watcheth, and obserueth al mens actions. eieliddes examine the sonnes of men.

6 † Our Lord Proueth by tribulations. examineth the iust, and the impious: but he that Continuāce in sinne bringeth damnation to the soule. loueth iniquity, hateth his owne soule.

7 † God sparing for the time at last must needes of iustice punish seuerely. He shal rayne snares vpon sinners: fyre and brimstone, and blast of stormes the portion of their cuppe.

8 [Page 31]† Because our Lord is iust and hath loued iustice: his countenance hath seene equitie.

PSALME. XI.
† Vnto Christs first, the end for and last comming, the octaue, the wil bring ioy to the elect. Psalme of Dauid. 1

The Prophet describeth the paucity of iust men, and abundanc of wicked, The state of the Church in the first and of Christ. The 6. key. both at Christs first coming in flesh, 6. and second in maiestie, in the end of the world.

2 SAVE Christ calleth his mystical bodie, him selfe. Act. 9. v. 4. me Lord, because the holy hath fayled False and duble dealing hinder from true faith. because verities are diminished from among the children of men.

3 † They haue spoken vaine thinges euerie one to his neighbour, deiceitful lippes, they haue spoken in hart and hart.

4 † Our Lord destroy al deceitful lippes, & the tongue that speaketh Insolent & arrogant. great thinges

5 † Which haue said: We wil magnifie our tongue, our lippes are of vs, who is our Lord?

6 † For the miserie of the needie, and mourning of the poore, now wil I arise, saith our Lord: I wil put in VVhen sinne most abunded Christ came into this world: and in like case wil come to iudge. a saluation: I wil do confidently in him.

7 † Wordes of our Lord, be chaist wordes: siluer examined by fire, tryed from the earth, purged seuen fold. [...]reuer' [...]. 3 [...].

8 † Thou Lord wilt yet stil there remaine some iust whom God preserueth. preserue vs: and keepe vs from this generation for euer.

9 † The “ impious walke round about: according to thy highnes thou hast God sometimes suffereth the wicked to do what euil they desire. multiplied the children of men.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XI.

9. The impious vval [...]e round about J S Augustin expoundeth this of worldlie Temporal desires hinder the entrance into heauen. men desiring temporal thinges, signified by the seuen dayes, wherin this whole life is turned about, as in a whele, not prouiding for the eight day, which is li. 12. c. [...]3. [...]. eternitie, after the day of Iudgement. In an other place he sheweth also, that this sentence agreeth aptly to the Platonistes, who taught, that this world neuer endeth, but passeth and returneth round about, in a reuolution of manie yeares; Platonistes error. so that al thinges should happen againe euen as they did before, contrarie to this, and manie other Scriptures, affirming that God vvil preserue the iust, and kepe them from this generation for euer. VVhereas the reprobate, who sette [Page 32] their whole mind on temporal thinges, or expect a reuolution of al, shal eternally walke without the kingdome of heauen, & neuer enter in; though some may cal with the foolish virgins, saith S. Ierom (or some other learned author) vpon this place: Lord Lord, open (the dore) to vs: but he vvil ansvver: that I knovv you not. Mat. 25.

PSALME XII. A prayer in tribulation. The 7. key.
† Vnto It more perteyneth to the new testament then to the old. the end, the Psalme of Dauid.

A general prayer of the Church, in tribulation, either temporal or spiritual.

1 HOw long [...] Lord wilt thou forget me vnto the end? How long doest thou turne away thy face from me?

2 † How long shal I put Carful and almost perplex cogitatios by reason of long persecution and mans Weaknes. counsels in my soule, sorrow in my hart Very often euerie day. by day?

† How long shal mine enemies be exalted ouer me? 3

† Regard and heare me ô Lord my God. 4

Illuminate mine eies that I sleepe not fal not into mortal sinne. in death at any time: † lest sometime mine enemie say: I haue preuailed against him. 5

6 They that truble me, wil reioyce if I be moued: † but I haue hoped in thy mercie.

My hart shal reioyce in thy saluation: I wil sing to our Lord which geueth me Patience in tribulation, and reward for victory. good thinges: and I wil sing to the name of our Lord most high.

PSALME. XIII.
† Vnto the end, the Psalme of Dauid.

After general grosse ignorance and impiety in the World, 7. Christ shal be Of Christs Incarnation. The 5. key. incarnate, the Redemer of mankind.

1 THE wicked men drowned in sinne are at last so besotted in their vnderstanding, that they thinke in their hart (though they dare not vtter it) that there is no God: that is, none that hath diuine prouidence in gouerning the world, nor that wil iudge al in the end. foole hath said in his hart: There is no God. They Psal. 52. are corrupt, and are become defiled withal sortes of sinne. abominable in their studies: there is not only the most Wicked, but also al mankind were vnable Without a Redemer to do good. not that doth good “ no not one. Rom. 5.

2 † Our Lord hath looked forth from heauen vpon the children of men, to see if there be that vnderstandeth, and seeketh after God. [Page 33] Al haue declined, they are become Without faith in Christ none had meritorious workes. vnprofitable together: there is not that doth good, no not one.

Their throte is an open sepulchre: with their tongues they did deceitfully, the poyson of aspes vnder their lippes.

Whose mouth is ful of cursing and bitternesse: their feete These three verses being not in the Hebrew, nor Greke, yet are in the English. an. 1577. and are three distinct verses in other psalmes. 5. 9 & [...]5. swift to sheed bloud.

They are wholly occupied in vexing others. Destruction and infelicitie in their waies, and the way of Isa. 52. [...]. 8. peace they haue not knowen: there is no feare of God before their eies.

4 The Prophet speaketh this in the person of God. Shal not al they know that worke iniquitie, that deuoure my people With greedines to hurt the good. as foode of bread?

5 They haue not inuocated our Lard, Not beleeuing in God, they feared Idols, that is, diuels: there haue they trembled for feare, who in dede can not hurt Gods seruants. where no feare was.

6 † Because our Lord is in Though innumerable be very wicked, yet some are iust. the iust generation, you haue mocked and derided those that trust in God. confounded the counsel of the poore man: because our Lord is his hope.

7 The Prophet wisheth, and withal prophecieth that Christ our Sauiour wilcome, who is premised to Israel. Who wil geue from Sion the saluation of Israel? when our Lord shal haue Redemed man from the captiuitie of the diuel. turned away the captiuitie of his people, those that supplant vice Iacob shal reioyce, and and contem plate God. Israel shal be glad.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XIII.

1. No not one.] S. Paul by this place, and the like ( Isaie 59. v. 7.) confirmeth VVithout Christs grace no man is nor can be iust. his doctrin (Rom. 3.) that both the Iewes and the Gentils (meaning al mankind) were in that state, that none, no not one without the grace of Christ, were iust, nor could be iustified, nor saued by the law of Nature, nor of Moyses. VVhich proueth the necessitie of faith. But neither that only faith iustifieth, nor that the iustest are stil wicked, as Caluin and Beza falsly expound these Scriptures. For the Prophets and S. Paul speake in these places of men before they be iustified, teaching that al mankind was once in sinne, and none could be iustified but by Christ. Neuerthelesse they teach also that men being iustified must, and may serue iustice vnto sanctification. And that their workes are not then The law shewed the insufficiencie of mans wil. Grace cureth the wil The wil being cured cooperateth with g [...]e. vnprofitable. For being made free from sinne (saith the same Apostle to the Romanes. c. 6.) and become seruants to God, you haue your fru [...]ct, vnto sanctification, and the end is life euerlasting. VVhich point of doctrin, how man is iustified, S. Augustin excellently, & briefly explicateth ( li. 1. de Spirituet lit. c 9.) in these wordes: The iust are iustified freely by (Christ) his grace, they are not therfore purified by the lavv: they are not iustified by their proper wil, but iustified freely by (Christ) his grace. Not that it is done without our wil, but by the law our wil is shevved [Page 30] [...] [Page 31] [...] [Page 32] [...] [Page 33] [...] [Page 34] weake, that grace might cure the wil, and the wil being cured might fulfil the law, not being vnder the law, not needing the law.

VVherto we may here adde (and so saue labour of repeting this in other Venial sinnes exclude not from heauen Good workes done in mortal sinnes auail not to saluation. places) an other document of the same Doctor, in the same booke (de spirit & lit. c 27.) that the iust do not liue without some sinnes, and yet remaine in state of saluation: the wicked do sometimes certaine good workes, & ful remaine in state of damnation. For euen as (saith he) venial sinnes without which this life it not ledde, do not exclude the iust from eternal life: so certaine good workes, without which the life of the very worst is hardly found, profite nothing the vniust man to eternal saluation, but in euerlasting damnation, some shal haue more and somelesse torment.

PSALME. XIIII.
† “The Psalme of Dauid. 1

For attayning eternal glorie in heauen, it is necessarie to flee from sinnes, Of eternal Beatitude. The 10. key. and do good workes.

LORD who shal dwel in In heaue, as appeareth by the last verse. thy tabernacle? or who shal rest in thy holie hil?

† He that walketh One requisite thing is to be free, or cleansed from sinne. without spot, and the second is to do good. d Sincerely in thought, worketh iustice. 2

3 † He that speaketh truth in his d hart, that hath not done guile in his word, and tongue. Nor hath dede: done euil to his neighbour, and hath not taken nor harkened to detraction. reproch against his neighbour,

4 The malignant is brought to nothing in his sight; but them that feare our Lord, he Glorie is the reward of good workes. glorifieth: he that sweareth to his neighbour, and deceiueth not,

5 † that hath not geuen his money to Vsurie excludeth from heauen. vsurie, and hath not taken k giftes vpon the innocent:

k Likewise doing wrong for bribes.

He that doeth “these thinges, shal“ not be moued for euer.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XIIII.

1. The Psalme of Dauid] As the appropriating of the general name of Psalme VVhy this and certaine others are called the Psalmes of Dauid. vnto some, doth not preiudice, but that the rest are also Psalmes, though they be called Prayers, Canticles, Testimonies, and the like: so the application of Dauids name to certaine Psalmes, proueth not other authores of the rest. But the name of Psalme sheweth a spiritual songue, apt for musical instrument; and the name of Dauid by interpretation signifieth, that it particularly perteyneth to the beloued.

5. He that doth these thinges] wheras this, or anie other place of holie Scripture, Both faith and good workes necessarie to saluation. attributeth saluation to certaine good workes, neither faith, nor other workes are therby excluded, but presupposed as no lesse necessarie, then those which are mentioned. Especially faith is alwayes requisite, without which it is [Page 35] impossible to please God, and other vertues either in practise, or in purpose, Heb. 1 [...]. and preparation of mind, when and where occasion requireth.

5. Shal not be mou [...]d for euer] Al states of this world are mutable, and only Only the state of glorie is immutable. eternal felicitie in heauen shal continew for euer. Therfore this Psalme can not be vnderstood of the Tabernacle, nor Temple of the old Testament, which were but figures of eternal glorie. But if so much puritie was then requisite, much more al sinceritie, and great sanctitie are necessarie for entrance into heauen.

PSALME. XV.
† The Stylographiae signifieth a thing most worthie to be noted, towitte, Christ crucified. inscription of the title and most worthie of the prophets consideration. to Dauid him self. 1

Christ, by the mouth of Dauid, declareth his future victory, and triumph Of Christs victorie. The 5. key. ouer the world, 9. and death.

PRESERVE Christ as man did often pray, as appeareth in the Gospel. me ô Lord, because I haue hoped in thee.

2 † I haue said to our Lord: Thou art my God, because thou Christs passion was not needful nor profitable to God, but to man. needest not my goods.

3 † God speaketh shewing that Christ should make his meruelous charity knowen to his Apostles, and other seruantes. To the sainctes, that are in his land, he hath made al my willes meruclous in them.

4 † Their infirmities were Men feeling their infirmities and miseries, multiplied: afterward they make hast in seeking remedies. made hast.

I wil not assemble their Sacrifices to idols shal [...] cease in Gentiles. conuenticles of bloud: neither wil I be mindful of their Their names shal be changed from heathen to be called Christians. names by my lippes.

5 † Eternal glorie cōsisteth in seing God. Our Lord “the portion of myne inheritance, and of my God is the reward of suffering paines for Christ. cuppe: thou art he, that wil restore myne inheritance vnto me.

6 † In diuision of temporal inheritance, land is measured by cordes: as Iosue 10. so portions in heauen are geuen with large measure. Cordes are fallen to me in goodly places: for Christ also receiued al nations for his inheritance. mine inheritance is goodlie vnto me.

7 † I wil blesse our Lord, who hath Wisdome to make good election of spiritual thinges rather then temporal. geuen me vnderstanding: [Page 36] moreouer also euen til Not only by day, but also by night. night, my Also my corporal paines geue me instruction. veines haue rebuked me.

8 I Christ had God continually before his eyes: cuerieman ought to thincke frequently of God. forsaw our Lord in my sight alwaies: because he is for God stil protecteth the iust. at my Act. e. v. 25. right hand, that I be not moued.

9 † For this thing my hart hath beene glad, and my tongue hath reioyced: moreouer also my flesh shal rest in hope.

10 † Because thou wilt “ not leaue my soule in in limbo patrum. hel: neither wilt geue Christs body corrupted not in the graue. thy holie one to see corruption. Act. 2. & 13

Thou hast made death and resurrection is the way to life. the waies of life knowen to me, thou shalt make me ful of ioy with Perfect glorie consisteth in seing God. thy countenance: delectations on thy right hand, euen to in eternity. the end.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XV.

5. Out lord the portion of myn inheritance] Christ whom the Iewes expected as Christ a King sometimes exercised temporal iurisdiction. an earthlie conquerour, that should aduance himself and them temporally in this world, was in dede, as the children and multitude called him, king of Israel. (Ioan 12.) At which time (as also before) he exercised temporal Iurisdiction, in correcting abuses in the Temple ( Mat. 21. Ioan. 2.) And when Pilate demanded of him, if he were a king (Ioan. 18. v. 37.) he answered: Thou saist, that I am a king▪ For this I was borne, and for this came I into the world, that I should geue testimonie to the truth. And though he answered withal, that his kingdom (to witte the possession, and vse therof) was not of this world, yet Pilate by Gods prouidence, writte the title, and would not alter it, IESVS of Nazareth King of the Iewes. But Christs chief inheritance, and reward of his God the proper inheritāce of Christ, and Christians. Clergie men professe expresly to serue God, for God him felfe not for temporal profite. merites is God himself, as here he professeth by his prophet Dauid: which is also the only true & perfect inheritance of al Christs seruates, vvherfore Clergy men more particularly professe the same, when they first enter into their spiritual state, addicting and dedicating them selues to serue God in Ecclefiastical sunct. on, not for temporal inheritance, but for a better lotte, God himself, who is al Good, and most perfect goodnes, true riches, and eternal inheritance. In which election of state to liue and serue God in, euerie Clergie man sayth: Our Lord is the portion of myn inheritance, and of my cuppe: Thou art he that vvil restore myn inheritance vnto me. Man calleth it his inheritance, because he was created to serue God, and for his feruice to inherite God: which reward though he lost by sinne, yet euerie one returning to Gods seruice, and perseuering therin, recouereth by Christ, new right and title to the same inheritance, performing their duties in their seueral vocations. Some traueling in the world, but not psal. [...]. v. 11. 2 [...] a. v. 4. louing it: others sequestered from secular affayres, duly administring sacred offices, more peculiarly called Diuine seruice.

[...] Net leaue my [...] in hel] How Caluin and Beza sometimes corrupt this [Page 37] text, alwayes pernert the sense, and most absurdly oppose them selues against Protestantes denving that Christ de [...]ended into limbus translate graue for b [...]. al ancient holie Farhets, concerning the Article of Christs descending in soule denving that into that part of hel called Limbus patr [...], is largely noted Gen. 37. Act. 2. & 1. pet 3 Only here we may not omitte to aduertise the reader, that some Protestants 1552. 1577. 1603. Bibles permitting the word hel to remaine in the text, a latter Edition for hel putteth graue, with this only note in the former place, that thus is chiesly meant of Christ by whose Resurrection al his members haue immortality. And Act. 2. they repete their new text by this paraphrasis: Thou shlat not leaue me in the graue. VV resting that which perteineth to the bodie, rising from the graue, to the soule, which was not at al in the graue, al the time the bodie lay there.

PSALME XVI.
† The “ prayer of Dauid. 1

Aiust mans prayer in tribulation, 10. describing his enemies cruelty, 13. by Gods prouidence protecting the iust. The 3. key. way of imprecation foresheweth their destruction, 15. and declareth that the iust shal be satisfied in glorie.

HEARE ô Lord my in my iust cause heare my petition. iustice: attend my petition: With thine eares heare my prayer, seing I pray sincerly, not in feaned affection. not in deceitful lippes.

2 † From Thou thats seest al thinge declare my right against mine aduersaries. thy countenanee let my iudgement procede: let thine eies see equities.

3 † Thou hast proued my intētion my hart, and visited it most secret cogitations. by night: by tribulations by fire thou hast examined me, Whose conscience is pure from greuous sinne, may pray with this confidence, otherwise repentance is first necessarie. But the whole Church may euer pray in this maner, because there be alwayes some iust and holy, in respect of whom it is truly called holy. and there is no iniquitie found in me.

4 † That my mouth speake not the workes of men: for the for thy precepts. wordes of thy lippes I haue kept the the narrow way of vertue. hard wayes.

† none can of them selues walke rightly, but by Gods helpe. Perfite my pases in thy pathes: that my steppes be not moued. 5

6 I haue cried, because thou hast heard me [...] God: incline thyne eare to me, and heare my wordes.

7 † Make thy mercies meruelous, which sauest them that hope in thee.

8 † From them that resist against thy omnipotent powre. thy right hand keepe me, as the apple of the eie.

† Vnder the shadowe of thy winges protect me: † from the 9 from their cruel and furious countenance. face of the impious, that haue afflicted me. [Page 38] Mine enemies haue compassed my soule, † they haue shut vp 10 their they haue shut out al pittie or commiseration. fatte; their mouth hath spoken pride.

11 † Casting me forth now haue they compassed me: they haue sette their eies to bend them They intend vtterly to destroy me euen to the ground. vnto the earth.

12 † They haue taken me as a lion readie to the pray: and as a lions whelpe dwelling in hid places.

† Arise Lord, Except God preuent, mās industry is not sufficiēt. preuent him, and supplant him: deliuer my 13 soule from the impious, restraine their powre, which they haue by thy permission, that they may not persecute so much as they intend. thy sword † from the enemies of 14 thy hand.

Lord from This is a prophecy, that the wicked from the elect a few out of the land diuide them, which iudgement beginneth sometimes in this life. in their life: their bellie is filled of the pleasures of this world, which God approueth not, nor acknowledgeth amongst good thinges. thy secretes.

They are filled with children: and they haue leaft their remnantes to their litle ones.

15 † But the iust shal be approued. I in iustice shal appeare to thy sight: I shal be Nothing doth satiate mans mind, but the sight of God in eternal glorie. filled when thy glorie shal appeare?

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XVI.

1. The prayer of Dauid] This Psalme of the matter conteyned is called a prayer▪ This Psalme called a Praier is both a sword & buck [...]r in afflictiō. VVhich holie Dauid so composed, as was both conuenient for himselfe, being molested with vniust afflictions by the wicked, and for anie other iust person, or the whole Church in persecution, seruing as a spiritual sword to strike the enimies, and as a shield to beare of with patience and fortitude al their forces.

PSALME XVII.
† Vnto Though literally this Psalme perteyned to Dauid, yet in figure of Christ: and of the Church, or e [...]erie iust soule. the end, The Holie Ghost inspired Dauid to render these thankes for his often deliuerie from dangers. to the seruant of our Lord Dauid, who spake to our Lord the wordes of this canticle, in the day, that our Lord deliuered him out of the hand of al his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul is specially named because he was his most potent worldlie enimie. Saul, and he said: (2. Reg. 22.)

King Dauids thankes to God for his often deliuerie from great dangers, Dauid singularly protected by God. The [...]. key. first in general, 9. then more particularly describeth Gods terrible maner of fighting for him, 18. against his cruel, and otherwise potent enimie [...] 22. attributing the same to Gods good pleasure, and iustice of his cause, 31. praiseth God, 33. his only protector. 41. and depresser of his enemies.

1 [Page 39]I wil These first wordes (as also diuers others) are added, and many changed in this and other Psalmes by the Septuagint, who often leauing the Hebrew text render the sense, and so this agreeth in substance with the same Psalme recorded. 2. Reg. 22. loue thee ô Lord by whom I am strong. my strength: † Our Lord is my 2 firmament, and my refuge, and my deliuere.

My God is my helper, and I wil hope in him. My protectour H [...]b. 2. and the high & firme saluation. horne of my saluation, and my receiuer.

4 † Praysing I wil inuocate our Lord: and I shal be saued from mine enemies.

5 † The This is aptly applied to al mankind after his fal, declaring our state in sinne, and inducing to penance, in the office of Masse on Septuagesima sunday. sorrowes of mortal flesh subiect to death. death haue compassed me: and violent incursions of tentions to sinne. torrentes of iniquitie haue trubled me.

6 The sorrowes of exceding great afflictiōs of mind, like to torments of hel, which I also feare. hel haue compassed me: the secrete tentations haue deceiued me. snares of death haue preuented me.

7 † In my tribulation I haue inuocated our Lord, and haue Earnest prayer is the best remedie in al tribulations. cried to my God:

And As it is certaine that God heard Dauids prayers; so he assuredly heareth al that sincerly flee vnto him. he hath heard my voice from his holie temple: and my crie in his sight, hath entered into his eares.

8 † The earth was shaken & trembled: the fundations of mountaines were trubled, and were moued, Gods anger against sinne maketh high and loftie thinges to shake, euen the most obstinate presumptuous sinners. because he was wrath with them.

9 † Diuine wrath is like to smoke of the nosethrles, or flaming fire, and burning coles. Smoke arose in his wrath: and fire flamed vp from his face: coles were kindled from him.

10 † He Gods punishment sometimes cometh so swiftly, as if the heauens bowed towards the earth. bowed the heauens, and descended: and Gods furie is as a darke desolate night, or horrible wist. darkenesse vnder his feete.

11 [Page 40]† And he Yet whē sinners repē. God most speedely, as fleing with winges of mercie, comforteth & protecteth them. ascended vpon the cherubs, and flew: he flew vpon the wings of windes.

12 † And he put darkenesse his God being in him selfe in cōprehensible, is also secret in his determinations, and couert in his procedinges or actes. couert, his tabernacle is round about him: darkesome water in the cloudes of the aire.

13 Because of the Gods splēdor oppressing mās sense, yet instructeth him by his meruelous vvorkes. VVhich mystically signifieth, that Christ illuminateth the vvorld by his Apostles, and other preachers denouncing his iustice, peace, and his vvil in al thinges perteyning to man. brightnesse in his sight the cloudes passed, hayle and coles of fire.

14 † And our Lord thundered from heauen, and the Highest gaue his voice: haile and coles of fire.

15 † And he shot his arrowes, and dissipated them: he multiplied lightnings, and trubled them.

16 † 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.

17 † He sent from on high, and tooke me: and he receiued me out of manie from tribulations. waters.

18 † He deliuered me From Saul, Absolō, Moabites, Ammonites, and al temporal and spiritual enemies. from my most strong enemies, and from them that hated me: because they were made strong ouer me.

19 † They preuented me in the day of mine affliction: and our So in the rest of this Psalme the Prophet speaketh for most part in proper termes, vvithout Metaphores or other figures. Yet in the mystical sense of Christ, and Christians. Lord was made my protectour.

20 † And he brought me out into largenesse: he saued me, because he Of his good pleasure without my de [...]ertes. would me.

21 † And our Lord wil reward me according to my iustice, and according to the purity of my handes he wil reward me.

22 † Because I haue kept the waies of our Lord, neither haue I done impiously from my God.

23 † Because al his iudgementes are in my sight: and his iustices I haue not repelled from me.

24 † And I shal be immaculate by his grace with him; and shal keepe me from mine iniquitie.

25 † He repeteth the 21. verse, incultating that God wil render to eueric one as they deserue. And our Lord wil reward me according to my iustice: and according to the puritie of my handes in the sight of his eies.

26 † With the holie thou shalt be holie, and with the innocent man thou shalt be innocent.

27 [Page 41]† And with the elect thou shalt be elect: and with the peruerse thou shalt be peruerted.

28 † Because thou wilt saue the humble people: and the eies of the proud thou wilt humble.

29 † Because thou dost illuminate my lampe ô Lord: my God illuminate my darkenesse.

30 † Because in thee I shal be deliuered from tentation, and in my God I shal passe ouer al difficulties. goe ouer the wal.

31 † My God his Gods precepts. way is vnpolluted: the wordes of our Lord are examined by fire: he is protector of al that hope in him.

† For One only God, Creator and Sauiour of al. who is God but our Lord? or who is God but our God? 32

† God that girded me with strength: and made my way immaculate. 33

34 † That perfited my feete as it were of hartes: and setting me vpon high thinges.

35 † That teacheth my handes to battel: and hast put mine armes, Amongst other actes, Dauid killed a lion, and abeare, & Goliath. 1. Reg. 17. as a bow of brasse. 2. Re. 22.

36 † 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.

37 † Thou hast enlarged my pases vnder me: and my steppes are not weakened:

38 † I wil pursew myne enemies, and ouertake them: and wil not returne til they faile.

39 † I wil breake them, neither shal they be able to stand: they shal fal vnder my feete.

40 † And thou hast girded me with strength to battel: and hast supplanted them that rise against me vnder me.

41 † And As God geueth streingth to his seruāts; so he diminisheth the natural streingth and corage of his enemies. myne enemies thou hast geuen me their backe, and them that hate me thou hast destroyed.

42 † They cried, neither was there that would saue them, to our Lord; neither did he heare them.

43 † 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.

44 † Thou wilt deliuer me from the contradictions of the people: thou wilt appoynte me to be head of the Gentiles.

45 † A people, Conuersion of Gentiles to Christ, as the Moabites, Idumeans, and others were subdued by Dauid. 1. Par. 11. 14. 18. 19. 20. which I knew not, hath serued me: in the hearing of the eare it hath obeyed me.

46 [Page 42]† The The reuolting and reprobation of the Iewes prefigured by Absolons rebellion and others. 2. Reg. 15. 16. children being alienes haue lyed to me, the children alienes are inueterated, and haue halted from their pathes.

47 † Our Lord liueth, and blessed be my God, and the God of my saluation be exalted.

48 † O God God stil protecteth the Church of Christ, as he preserued Dauid. which geuest me reuenges, & subdewest peoples vnder me, my deliuerer from mine angrie enemies.

49 † And from them that rise vp against me thou wilt exalt me: from the vniust man thou wilt deliuer me.

50 Therfore wil I confesse to thee among nations ô Lord: and wil 2. Reg. 22. Rom. 1 [...]. say Vse of Psalmes is most frequent in the Church of Gentiles. See the proemial Annotations. page. 12. a psalme to thy name,

51 Magnifying the saluations of his king, and doing mercie to his Christ Dauid, and to his seede for euer.

PSALME. XVIII.
† Vnto perteyning to the beloued of the new Testament. the end, the psalme of Dauid.

Gods perfect goodnes and glorie is shewed by his great workes, and by his Propagation of the Catholique faith. The 6. key. 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.

1 THE The silent workes of God declare his Maiestie to them that consider therof; his preachers declare the same by wordes, to al that wil heare. heauens shew forth the glorie of God, and the 2 firmament declareth the workes of his handes.

3 † The cōstant course of times sheweth that the same was disposed by Gods powre, and dayly propagation of faith, especially of Christian doctrine sheweth Christs powre, & assured perpetuitie of his Church. Day vnto day vttereth word: and night vnto night sheweth knowledge.

4 † There are Some of euery language or natiō haue beleued in Christ, receiuing the Catholique Religion. no languages, nor speaches, whose voyces are not heard.

5 † S. Paul affirmeth that this hath bene fulfilled by the Apostles preaching in al the world. Rom. 10. Their sound hath gone forth into al the earth; and vnto the endes of the round world the wordes of them.

6 † He put his tabernacle in By the sunne a most excellent and superelemental creature, the Prophet describeth Christ, making his course through this world, illuminating, comforting and streingthning the Church his tabernacle, wherein he perpetually dwelleth. the sunne: & himself as a Christ the bridgrome, and the Church his bride are neuer diuorsed; his loue, wisdome, and powre, euer conseruing her by his immaculute law. bridgrome coming forth of his bridechamber.

7 [Page 43]He hath reioyced as againt to runne the way, † his comming forth from the toppe of heauen: And his recourse euen to Luc. 24. the toppe therof: neither is there that can hide him selfe from his heate.

† “ The law of our Lord is immaculate The old law was likewise pure i [...] it selfe and holy, but the new also maketh the obseruers immaculate. conuerting soules: the testimonie of our Lord is faithful, geuing wisedome to Mat. 27. Mar. 15. litle ones.

9 † The iustices of our Lord be right, making hartes ioyful: the precept of our Lord lightsome; illuminating the eies.

10 † The feare of our Lord is holie, permanent for euer and euer: the iudgmentes of our Lord be true, iustified in themselues.

11 † To be desired aboue gold and much pretious stone: and more sweete aboue honie and the honie combe.

12 † For thy seruant How swete the law of God is, his seruantes finde not by reading, or by hearing only, but by keping it. keepeth them, in keeping them is Conformably to this text the prophete professeth (Psal. 118. v. 12.) that he kept them for reward, in which place the heretikes translation is corrupted. much Mat. 27. Mar. 15. reward.

† Sinnes None in this life knoweth perfectly his owne estate, vvhether he be vvorthie of loue or hate, Eccle. 9 but hopeth and feareth. who vnderstandeth? from my secrete sinnes cleanse 13 me: † and from other mens spare thy seruant. 14

If If mortal sinnes haue not dominion in the soule it is iust: and shal be in time immaculate from al sinne. they shal not haue dominion ouer me, then shal I be immaculate; and shal be cleansed from the greatest sinne.

15 † And the wordes of my mouth shal be such as may please: and the meditation of my hart in thy sight alwayes.

O Lord Gods helping grace is stil necessarie to perseuer, my helper, and my as his first grace redeeming man is nessarie for our first conuersion. redemer.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XVIII.

[...]. The lavv of our lord is immaculate, conuerting soules.] Gods law in it selfe God conuerteth and iustifieth soules instructing thē by his law, and sweetly drawing their free cooperation by grace. 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 [Page 44] delectable, and desiderable aboue al vvorldlie riches or pleasures. So by these and like spiritual motiues the soule freely desiteth, accepteth, vndertaketh, endureth, and by continual assistance of grace, obserueth Gods lavv; and so meriteth the great revvard, vvhich is promised for keping it. v. 12. 2. Tim. 4. v. 6.

PSALME XIX. The subiects prayer for their superior. The 7. key.
† Vnto Though such a prayer was very fitly made for Dauid, Ezechias, or other kinges of Iuda, yet it more properly serueth for Christian Kinges and Prelates. the end, the Psalme of Dauid.

Faithful people ioyne their prayer, for their Prince or Prelate, 4. with sacrifice offered for his preseruation, and prosperous successe.

1 OVR Lord heare The king, or other superior praying for him selfe, his subiects pray with him, and for him. It may also be applied to Christ, praying whiles he vvas mortal, or novv praying for his mystical body the Church, but in both these cases, our prayers are only necessary for his seruantes not for him. thee in the day of tribulation: the name 2 of the God of Iacob protect thee.

3 † Send he ayde to thee from the holie place: and from Sion defend he thee.

4 † Be he mindeful of al thy The Hebrevv vvord MINCA signifieth sacrifice of floure, and vnbloudy, so perteyneth to the Eucharist, in forme of bread, and vvine. sacrifice: and be thy holocaust made be acceptable for him, for vvhom it is offered. fatte.

5 † Geue he vnto thee according to thy hart: and confirme he al thy counsel.

6 † We shal reioyce in the prosperous state of thee our superiour. in thy saluation: and in the name of our God we shal be magnified.

7 † Our Lord accomplish al thy petitions: now haue I knowen that our Lord hath saued his anointed king, or Priest. Mystically faithful people acknovvlege the victory of Christ our Sauiour ouer death and al enemies. his CHRIST.

He shal heare him from his holie heauen: the faluation of his righthand is, in great streingth, or heauenlie forces. in powers.

8 † These in chariotes, and these in horses: but we wil inuocate in the name of the Lord our God.

9 † men trusting in humane and worldly powre fal into captiuitie. They are bound, and haue fallen: but we haue risen and are set vpright.

10 † Lord By protection of the head the body is also conserued. saue the king, and heare vs in the day, that we shal inuocate thee.

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PSALME. XX. Christs exaltation. The 5. key.
† Vnto Perteyning to the nevv Testament, principally to Chrrist, partly to godly and victorious kinges, and generally to al the blessed, vvhich ouercome spiritual enemies. the end, the Psalme of Dauid.

Praise to God for Christs exaltation after his passion: 9. and depression of his enemies.

1 LORD in Christ our king as man ouercoming his enemies by his diuine povvre, reioyceth in victorie. thy power the king shal be glad: and vpon thy 2 saluation he shal reioyce excedingly.

3 The Christs most special desire was the saluation of his people. desire of his hart thou hast geuen him: and of the wil of his lippes thou hast not defrauded him.

4 † Because thou hast This most principally verified in Christ, is also applied to Martyres, vvhich suffer or are readie in preparation of mind to suffer death for the truth. preuented him in blessinges of sweetnesse: thou hast put on his head a crowne of pre [...]ious stone.

5 † He asked life of thee: and thou gauest him length of daies for euer, and for euer and euer.

6 † Great is his glorie in thy saluation: glorie and great beautie thou shalt put vpon him.

7 † Because thou shalt geue him Al Saincte [...] receiue blessing of glorie, but only Christ imperteth such grace to others: for in him al are blessed hat are eternally glorified [...]n. 21. Ioan. 1. to be a blessing for euer and euer: thou shalt make him ioyful in gladenesse with thy countenance.

8 Because the king hopeth in our Lord: and in the mercie of the Highest he shal not be moued.

9 † Let The iust cō forming their desires to Gods vvil, do pray that the vvicked may be punished. It is also a prophecie, that [...]o it shal come to passe. thy hand be found of al thy enemies: let thy righthand find al, that hate thee.

10 † Thou And so it folovveth i [...] the next verse: Thou shalt put them &c. shalt put them as an ouen of fyre This also can not be vnderstood of anie but of Christ, vvho in the general or particular iudgement shal geue sentence vpon the vvicked in the time of thy countenance: our Lord in his wrath And immediatly hel f [...]re shal deuoure them. shal truble them, and fyre shal deuoure them.

11 Their Al the wicked, and namely the Iewes who persecuted Christ, faile in their deuises. fruite thou shalt destroy from the land: and their seede from the children of men.

12 Because they haue turned the euils vpon thee: they haue deuised [Page 46] counsels, which they could not establish.

Because thou shalt put them backe: in thy remnantes thou [...] shalt prepare their countenance.

Be exalted Lord in thy powre: Whiles the wicked perish, the iust reioyce and praise God in songue and Psalme. we wil chaunte and sing thy powers.

PSALME XXI.
† Vnto the end “for the Redemptiō of mankind vndertakē by Christ, and performed by his death, beganne to be shewed by his Resurrection in the morning of the third day. [...]. Aug. morning enterprise, the Psalme 1 in figure of Christ the beloued of God. of Dauid.

Christ prayeth in his Passion, 7. describeth the acerbitie therof; 20. foresheweth Christs Passion & effectes therof. The [...] key. by way of prayer his Resurection: 23. more clerly the fundation and propagation of his Church (27. & 30. interposing the singular foode of the most blessed Sacrament) euen to the endes of the earth in al nations.

2 GOD God is God of al his creatures, but in more peculiar sorte God of Christ by personal vnion. my God haue respect to me: Thou neither deliuerest me frō dying: nor yeldest me such comforth, as thou voutsafelst to other Sainctes. v. 6. Mat. 27. why hast thou forsaken Mat. [...]. me? I am neither deliuered from dying, nor comforted in my passion, hauing vndertaken to dye for the sinnes of mankind, & reputed them as myn owne wordes or factes. far from my saluation are the wordes of my sinnes.

3 My God I shal crie Albeit I crie by day, by day, and by night, on the crosse and in the garden, to haue the chalice of death remoued from me, and shal not be heard, and“ thou wilt not heare: and by night, and Yet there is no follie, nor fault in this petition, which is with submission of mans wil to Gods wil. not for follie vnto me.

† But Thou from heauen wilt heare when it is conuenient. thou dwellest in the holie place, whose wisdome and goodnes the Church worthely praiseth. the prayse of Israel. 4

5 † In thee Patriarkes, Prophets, and other holy mē praying in their distresses obtained their requestes. our fathers haue hoped: they hoped, and thou didst deliuer them.

6 They cried to thee, and were VVere temporally deliuered by thy mightie hand from their persecuters. saued: they hoped in thee, and were not frustrate of their humble prayer [...] not confounded.

7 † God that comforted his seruantes in their tribulations, leif [...] Christ without his ordinarie consolation, to suffer more then euer any other did. But I am a wicked persecuters respected not Christ as a man, but contemned him, as a very worme worme and no man: a as most reprochful of al men. reproch of men and as the basest of al the people. outcast of the people.

8 [Page 47]† Almost al became Christs cruel enimies at the time of his passion, afflicting, blaspheming, and scorning him, as the Euangelistes record. Al that see me haue scorned me: they haue spoken with the lippes, and wagged the head.

9 † The Euangelistes write how al these thinges were fulfilled by wicked men speaking these blasphemies, and reproches. He hoped in the Lord, let him deliuer him: let him saue him, because he God semed to be wel pleased with Christ, as with his owne Sonne: if it be so, let him deliuer him from these afflictions, say these blasphemers. wil him.

10 † Because thou art he that diuine powre without man formed me in the wombe of my mother a virgin. hast drawen me out of the wombe: my hope from the brestes of my mother.

† Vpon thee I As I haue no father but thee O God: so without intermission from myn incarnation to this time, I haue had thee my protector: haue bene cast from the matrice: leaue me not now without comforte seing I must dye as thou hast determined, and I freely consented: yet leaue me not in death but raise me againe to life. Psal. 15. v. 9. 10. from my 11 mothers wombe thou art my God, † depart not from me. 12

Because tribulation is verie nigh: because there is Almost al are become myn enemies, and those few that would, can not helpe me. not that wil helpe.

13 † Manie Delicate lasciuious yougmen, calues haue compassed me: and the scribes Pharises and elders of the people haue al conspired against me. fatte bulles haue besieged me.

14 † They haue condemning me and perswading the people to crie: Crucifie, crucifie him. opened their mouth vpon me, as a lion rauening and roaring.

† As So weakned with paines of torments, as fluide water not able to consist. water I am powred out: and al My bones and strongest partes of my bodie are weakned, verified, when our Sauiour fel downe vnder his crosse. my bones are dispersed. 15

the part that first and last liueth is weakened as soft waxe by heat of the fire, and ready to faile. My hart is made as waxe melting in the middes of my bellie.

16 † My strength is withered as a al my powres, and radical humiditie is dried vp, as a potters vessel is baked in the furnace. pot-shard, and my tongue Through exceding great drught, which our Sauiour professed on the crosse saying: I thirst. cleaued to my iawes: and thou hast thus thou O God hast suffered me to come to the last breath of life, next to death. Yet finally ou [...] Seuiour gaue vp his spirite, before he should haue died. v. 21. brought me downe into the dust of death.

17 † Because manie Agane this royal Prophet recounteth by whom, and how our B. Sauiour should suffer, euen as clere as tho Euangelistes afterwards haue written the historie. dogges haue compassed me: the counsel of the malignant hath besieged me.

18 They “haue digged my handes and my feete: † they haue [...]. 19. [Page 48] Our Sauiours body was so racked on the crosse, that his bones might be seene and counted. numbered al my bones.

19 But themselues haue The persecuters vvittingly determined al ti [...] crueltie: beheld it vvith their eyes, and vvithout al compassion persisted in malice, reioyced, and blasphemed. considered and beheld me: † they haue the souldiars that crucified our Sauiour, taking his garments for their praye: deuided my garmentes among them, and vpon my yet in mysterie of his Church, diuided not his coate. vesture they haue cast lot.

20 † But thou Lord He prophecieth Christs speedy resurrection. prolong not thy helpe from me: looke toward my defense.

21 † Deliuer, ô God, Christs saul vvas not seperated from his bodie by force of the torments, but he preuenting death freely yelded vp his spirite. Ioan. 10. v. 9. & 10. my soule from the sword: and myne the most pure, and sanctified soule, of vvhose fulnes al other iust soules are sanctified: onlie one from that it stay not in hel, vvhich deuoured al other soules in the old Testament. the hand of the dog.

22 † Saue me out of the lions mouth: and my humilitie from the hornes of vnicornes.

23 † “I wil The propagation of the Church of Christ in al nations. declare thy name to my bretheren:“ in the middes of the Church I wil prayse thee.

24 † Ye that feare our Lord praise him: al the not the carnal but spiritual children of Iacob, Isaac, and Abraham. Rom. 9. v. 8. seede of Iacob glorifie ye him:

25 † Let al the seede of Israel feare him: because he hath not contemned, nor despised the petition of the poore. Neither hath he turned away his face from me: and when I cried to him he heard me.

26 † With thee is my praise in the Church gethered both of Ievves and Gentiles is very great and vniuersal. the great Church: I Our Sauiour promised to geue his ovvne bodie, the bread of life Ioan. 6, and performed the same at his last supper. wil render my vowes in the sight of them that feare him.

27 † “The those that be faithful, humble and poore in spirit participat the sruict of this most excellent Sacrament. poore shal eate, and shalbe filled: and they shal praise our Lord that seeke after him: their hartes The effect of this B. Sacrament is the resurrection in glorie, and life euerlasting. shal liue for euer and euer.

28 † Al the endes of the earth Gentiles which haue bene idolaters shal recollect themselues, when they heare Christ preached, and shal turne to true Religion. shal remember, and be conuerted to our Lord:

† And al the families of the Gentiles shal adore in his sight. 29

30 [Page 49]† Although men can neither deserue to be conuerted, nor to perseuere in iustice; yet Christ meriteth to haue a continual kingdom; which is the perpetual visible Catholique Church. Because the kingdome is our Lords: and he shal haue dominion ouer the Gentiles.

31 † Al the Not only the poore sorte▪ but also the mightie ones of the world shal be conuerted to Christ, participate his B. Bodie in the Sacrament: fatte ones of the earth haue eaten, and and religiously adore the same. adored: in his sight shal al fal, Al that adore God, shad adore him in this Sacraments. that descend into the earth.

32 † And Death being once ouercome, it shal haue no more powre. my soule shal liue to him: and my Againe the prophet inculcateth the continuance of the Catholique Church. seede shal serue him.

33 † The generation to come shal be shewed to our Lord: and the Apostles, and other preachers of Christ. heauens shal shew forth his iustice to the people that shal be borne, whom our Lord hath made.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XXI.

1. For the morning enterprise.] In respect of the end for which Christ suffered, Christs Resurrection. The Passion of Christ according to Dauid. this Psalme is intitled: for the morning enterprise: that is, for Christs glorious Resurrection, and other effectes of his Passion. VVhich holie Dauid by the spirite of prophecy so describeth here long before with diuers particular cicumstances as the Euangelistes haue since historically recorded, that it may not vnfitly be called, The Passion of Iesus Christ according to Dauid.

3. Thou vvilt not heare.] Our B. Sauiour seing his most terrible death imminent, prayde conditionally, if it pleased his heauenlie Father, to haue the same remoued Christs conditional prayer was not heard. from him; and was not heard, as the Psalmist here prophecieth. The principal reason was, because God of his diuine charitie had decreed, that mankind should be redemed by this death of his Sonne. Christ also him selfe of his excellent charitie, consented here vnto & therefore persisted not in his conditional prayer, but added and absolutly prayed, that not his owne wil, but his Fathers might be fulfilled. And in this he was heard, to his owne more glorie, and His absolute prayers were alwaies heard. other infinite benefites of innumerable soules, as it foloweth, v. 25. vvhen I crie [...]d to him he heard me. S. Paul also witnesseth (Heb. 5. v. 7.) that Christ offering prayers and supplications to him that could saue him from death, vvas heard for his reuerence: that is, in respect of his inestimable merite in humane nature vnited in person to God. An other cause, why Christ was not deliuered from violent Christs suffered for our example. death, as manie holie persons were, when they cried to God in distresses, as S Augustin sheweth (Epist. 120. c. 11.) was for example to Christians, whom God wil haue to suffer temporal afflictions, and death, for the glorie of life euerlasting, according to S. Peters doctrin, Christ suffered for vs, leauing an example [...]. Pet. 2. that you may folovv his steppes:

18. They haue digged.] Of obstinate malice the Iewes haue corrupted this The Hebrew text corrupted by the Iewes. place (and God knoweth how manie others) in the Hebrew text of some editions, reading caari, which signifieth as a lion, without al coherence of the sense for caaru they digged or pearced, to auoid so plaine a prophecie of nailing Christs handes and feete to the crosse.

[Page 50]23 I vvil declare thy name to my brethren.] Here it is euident that this Psalme This Psalme is of Christ. is of Christ, not of Dauid, by S. Pauls allegation ( Heb. 2. v. 11. 12.) saying: He that sanctifieth (towitt Christ) disdaned not to cal the sanctified his bretheren.

23. In the middes of the Church I vvil praise thee.] After Christs Passion and Resurrection, in the rest of this Psalme, other two principal pointes of Christian Religion are likewise prophecied: His perpetual visible Church, and the B. Sacrament of his bodie. The former is here prophecied by way of inuiting al the seede of Iacob to glorifie God (v. 24.) al the seede of Israel to feare him (v. 25.) Prophecie of the visible and vniuersal Church. towit, innumerable Christians the true Israelites, the vniuersal Church in the whole world. As for heretical partes, or parcels in the world, such as the Donatistes, which going forth from the Catholique Church say: Christ hath lost his great Church, the diuel hath taken the whole world from him, and he remaineth only in a part of Africa, they do not praise God (saith S. Augustin) in hu [...] Psal. but dishonour God and Christ, as if God were not faithful in his promise, as if Christ were dispossessed of his kingdome the Catholique Church. Lest anie should replie, that Christ is praised though the Church be decaied, or be very smal, the Holie Ghost hath preuented such arguments, saying: v. 26 His praise is in the great Church. VVhich could neither be verified in the part of Donatistes S. Agustin proueth the Church to be alwaies visible and great by this Psalme. in Afrike, nor now in the part of Protestantes since Luther in Europe. Further S. Augustin explicateth, & vrgeth the verses folowing in this Psalme, against the same blind, deafe, and obstinate Donatistes, who did not, or would not see, not heare, that al the endes of the earth shal remenber, and be conuerted to our Lord. The holie Scripture saith not, the endes of the earth, but al the endes: wel goe too (saith this great Doctor) peraduenture there is but one verse, thou thoughtest vpon some thing els, thou talkedst with thy brother, when one read this; marke, he repeteth and knocketh vpon the deaf; Al the families of the Gentiles shal adore in his sight: Yet the heretike is deaf, he heareth not, let one knocke againe: Because the kingdom is our Lords, and he shal haue dominion ouer the Gentiles. Hold these three verses bretheren. Thus and more S. Augnstin against those that thinke the true Church may faile, or become inuisible or obscure. And though it be not in like prosperous state at al times, and in al places, yet it is alwayes conspicuous, and more general then anie other congregation professing whatsoeuer pretensed religion.

27. The poore shal eate.] Seing this Psalme is of Christ, as is proued by S. Pauls The Eucharist prophecied in this place. allegation of 23 verse, and by the concordance therof with the Euangelists, it is necessarily deduced, that the vovves mentioned in the former verse, and these wordes, the poore shal eate and be filled, can not be referred to the sacrifices of the old Testament, but to the blessed Sacrifice and Sacrament of the Eucharist, which our Sauiour promised, after he had replenished the people with fiue loaues, and which he instituted at his last supper in presence of his Apostles. So S. Augustin doubteth not to vnderstand it, and to teach, as wel in his duble expositiō of this Psalme as in his 120. Epistle. c. 27. The poore, that is the humble and poore in spirite shal eate & befilled, the fatte ones, or the rich being proud, do also adore and eate, but are not filled. They also are brought to the table of Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Christ, and participate his bodie & bloud, but they adore only, are not also filled, because they do not imitate (Christs humilitie) they disdaine to be humble VVhere it is clere, this holie father by Christs bodie and bloud meaneth not bread and wine as signes of his bodie and bloud, for bread and wine can not be lawfully adored: neither doth he meane our Lords bodie as it was on the crosse, or is in heauen, for so it is not eaten, but as it is in formes of bread and wine on Christs table, the Altar.

[Page 51]

PASLME. XXII.
† The Psalme of Dauid. 1

A forme of thankesgeuing for al spiritual benefites (described vnder the Thāksgeuing for Gods protection. The 7. key. metaphor of temporal prosperitie) euen from a sinners first conuersion, to final perseuerance, and eternal beatitude.

OVR Christ the good pastor, gouerneth, protecteth, Lord ruleth me, and nothing shal be wanting to Isa. 40. Iere. 23. Ezech. 34. Ioan. 10. 1. Pet. 2. &. 5. me: † in place and feedeth his faithful flocke. of pasture there he hath placed me. 2

3 Vpon Baptisme of regeneration, the water of refection he hath brought me vp: † he hath which is the first iustification. conuerted my soule.

He hath conducted me vpon Gods precepts which the baptised must obserue. Mat. 28. v. 20. the pathes of iustice, Saluation is in the name and powre of Christ, not in mans owne merites. for his name.

4 † For, although I shal walke in in great dangers of tentations to mortal sinne, the middes of the shadow of death, I wil yet by Gods grace we may resist. not feare euils: because thou art with me.

Thy Gods direction and law is streight, rod and thy and strong. staffe: they haue comforted me.

5 † Thou hast prepared in my sight Christ hath prepared for our spiritual foode the B. Sacrament of the Eucharist. S. Cyprian. Epist. 63. Eutim. in hunc Psal. a table, against al spiritual enemies, the world, the flesh, and the diuel. against them; that truble me.

Thou Christian soules are also streingthned by the Sacraments of Confirmation, Penance, holie-Orders, Matrimonie, and Extreme Vnction. hast fatted my head with oyle: and my The B. Sacrament and Sacrifice of Christs bodie and bloud. chalice inebriating how goodlie is it!

† And thy mercie shal folow me continual and final peseuerance is by Gods special grace. al the dayes of my life: 6

And that I may dwel in the house of our Lord, in eternal life. in longitude of dayes.

PSALME. XXIII.
† The Christ rising from death the first day of the weeke, had al powre geuen him in heauen and in earth▪ Mat. 28. first of the Sabbath, the Psalme of Dauid. 1

Christ is Lord of the whole earth, being Creatour, and Redemer of man. Christ Lord of al the world. The 5. key. 3. Good life (with faith in him) is the way to heauen. 7. whither Christ ascending with triumph Angels admire him.

[Page 52]THE earth is our Lordes, and Not only the soile it selfe but al the fruict, and al that dwel therin are Gods. the fulnesse therof: the round world, and al that dwel therein.

2 Because he hath founded it vpon the seas: and vpon the riuers hath prepared it.

3 † Who Though Christ created and redeemed al, yet only the iust shal inherite heauen. shal ascend into the mount of our Lord? or who shal stand in his holie place?

4 † The innocent of handes, and of cleane hart, that hath not taken his soule not occupied himselfe in vaine and vnprofitable thinges, but in commendable workes. in vayne, nor sworne to his neighbour in guile.

5 † He shal receiue blessing of our Lord: and Gods mercy goeth before iustifications iust workes folow, and so glorie is the reward of al. mercie of God his Sauiour.

6 † This is This sorte of people thus seruing God, shal receiue euerlasting blisse. the generation of them that seeke him, of them that seeke the face of the God of Iacob.

7 † Lift vp your gates The prophet contemplating in spirite Christs Ascension, inuiteth Angels to receiue him, and (by prosopopeia) speaketh also to the gates of heauen, by which he is to enter. ye princes, and be ye lifted vp ô eternal gates: and the king of glorie shal enter in,

8 † Angels answer admiring, & demanding as in a dialogue, how Christ is become so glorious! Who is this king of glorie? Our Lord The Prophet answereth that Christ by his powre hath ouercome al enemies in battel. strong & mightie our Lord mightie in battel.

9 † Againe he willeth Angels to open the gates, and biddeth the gates to enlarge them selues. Lift vp your gates ye princes, and be ye lifted vp ô eternal gates: and the king of glorie shal enter in.

the Angels demand as before: Who is this king of glorie? the prophet answereth: that Christ is Lord also of Angels, and al heauenlie powres vnder God. The Lord of powers he is the king of glorie.

PSALME XXIIII.
† Vnto This Psalme perteyneth more properly to the new testament. And is artificially composed: the verses beginnīg with distinct letters in order of the Hebrew Alphabet, to the last verse. the end, the Psalme of Dauid.

A general prayer of the faithful against al enemies, 4. with desire to be directed in the way of godlines, 7. and to be pardoned for sinnes past. 9. A prayer of the faithful. The 7. key. acknowledging Gods meeknes, 17. our weaknes, necessitie of helpe, and hope in God: 22. concludeth with prayer for the whole Church.

1 [Page 53]TO THEE ô Lord I haue lifted vp my min [...], to be attētiue. my soule: † my 2 God in thee is my confidence, let me not be frustrate of my petition. not be ashamed:

3 † Neither let mine enemies scorne me: for al that patiently expect the time when God wil assist. that expect thee, shal not be confounded.

4 † This maner of praying is frequent in the Psalmes, signifying as a prophecie, that so it wil come to passe and the conformitie of the iust to Gods iustice. Let al be confounded that do vniust thinges in vayne. Lord shew me thy wayes: and teach me thy pathes.

5 † Direct me in true faith and religion. in thy truth, and teach me: because thou art God my Sauiour, and thee haue I expected al our life we must desire more and more knowledge of true doctrin. al the day.

6 † Remember ô Lord thy commiserations, and thy mercies: that are from the beginning of the world.

7 † The sinnes from the first vse of reason, at which time manie are careles, of my youth, and & negligent to lerne how to serue God. my ignorances doe not remember.

According to thy mercie remember thou me: for thy goodnesse ô Lord.

8 † Our Lord is As God is sweete in geuing good motions: sweete, and so he is seuere to them that resist his grace. righteous: for this cause he wil geue a law to them that sinne in the way.

9 † He wil direct the milde in iudgement: he wil teach the meeke his wayes.

10 † Al the wayes of our Lord, be God mercifully p euenteth with his grace: mercie and and iustly rewardeth good workes. truth, to them that seeke after his Gods law is his couenant with man: testament and his and testimon e of his wil. testimonies.

11 † For thy name ô Lord thou wilt be propitious to my sinne: for sinne in respect of auersien from God is great & nedeth [...]e grace. it is much.

12 † Who is the man that He that feareth God which is the beginning of wisdome receiueth fiue spiritual commodities here mentioned: feareth our Lord? he God iustructeth him by his law. appoynteth him a law in the way, that he hath chosen.

13 † His soule bestoweth al necessaries vpon him: shal abide in good things: and others shalimitate his good example. his seede shal inherite the land.

14 † Our Lord is God wil protect him: a firmament to them that feare him: &c. According to Gods couenant he shal enioy the manifest sight of God for his eternal reward. his testament that it may be made manifest to them.

15 [Page 54]† Myne eies are alwayes to our Lord: because he wil plucke my fecte out of the snare.

16 † Haue respect to me, and haue mercie on me: because I am alone and poore. [...]mans weaknes without Gods helpe.

17 † The tribulations of my hart are multiplied: deliuer me from Tribulatiōs can not be a [...]o [...]de [...], but must necessarily be suffered: therfore ô God g [...]ue vs grace to passe through them without sinne. my necessities.

18 † See my myn affliction. humiliation, and my labour: and take away the cause and affliction wil be mitigated. forgeue al my sinnes.

19 † Behold mine enemies, because they are multiplied, and with Ioan. 15. wicked men of [...]ured do end [...]our to draw others into sinne. vniust hatred hated me.

20 † Keepe my soule, and deliuer me: I shal Those that hope in God shal neuer be confounded. not be ashamed, because I hoped in thee.

21 † The innocent and righteous haue cleaued to me: because I expected thee.

† Al The letters of the Alphebet being complete in this Psalme, this last verse beginneth with Pere, Redeeme, praying God to redeme and deliuer Israel, that is, the whole Church from tribulations. Deliuer Israel ô God, out of al his tribulations. 22

PSALME. XXV.
† Vnto This Psalme is also a counenient prayer for anie Christian in tribulation. the end the Psalme of Dauid.

Dauid in banishment among the Philistimes, trusteth in the iustice of his Dauids prayer distressed in persecution. The 8. key. cause, 9. and prayeth God earnestly to deliuer him, that he may with more freedom and commodity serue him as he desireth.

1 IVDGE Be thou ô God arbiter of the cause bet [...] Saul and me, thou knowest myn innocencie in this behalfe, though I am uniustly charged by Saul, and his freindes. me ô Lord because I haue walked in my innocencie: and hoping in our Lord I shal not be weakened.

2 † Lest perhaps I be not so innocent as I desire, and as in respect of Saul I hope that I am, do thou O God proue me as thou wilt by tribulations. Proue me Lord, and tempt me: burne my reynes and my hart.

3 † Because thy mercie is before mine eies: and I am wel pleased in thy truth.

4 [Page 55]† I Dauid in confidence of a good conscience, and zele against the wicked, alleageth his sincere proceding, more then ordinarie men may do, God so inspiring him extraordinarily. haue not sitten with the councel of vanitie: and with them that doe vniust thinges. I wil not enter in

5 † I “haue hated the Church of the malignant: and with the impious I wil not sitte.

6 † I The rest of this Psalme euerie Priest reciteth in Masse, before he offer the holie Sacrifice, professing, & putting him selfe in memorie, that he must only communicate with the innocent, or of pure conscience; wil wash my handes among innocentes: and so approch to the Altar. prefigured Leuit. 16. v. 4. and wil compasse thy altar ô Lord:

7 † That I Shutting the eares of my hart from euil and vaine thoughtes I wil attend to godlie inspirations may heare the voice of praise, and and so with mental prayer, and external voice (as the holie order of this sacred office requireth) praise thee ô God in thy meruelous workes. shew forth Epi. [...]. c. 11. al thy meruelous workes.

8 † Lord I haue loued I can not but singularly loue the excellencie of this place dedicated to thy seruice: where is true faith, vnitie, and charitie of thy people, the guard of holie Angels, the administratiō of sacred mysteries, assistance of the Holie Ghost, real presence of Christ our Lord, al replenished with Diuine maiestie. the beautie of thy house, and the place of This representeth vnto me the glorious heauenlie kingdom of God and al Sainctes. the habitation of thy glorie.

9 † Suffer me not therfore to be contaminate by the wicked, nor to be deuoured with them. Destroy not ô God my soule with the impious, and my life with bloudie men.

10 † In whose They are stil readie to committe more and more iniquities. handes are iniquities: their themselues being corrupted, endeuour by giftes of wordly commodities to corrupt others. righthand is replenished with giftes.

11 † But Euerie one ought so to purge his conscience, that he may be innocent, or free from great sinne. I haue walked in mine innocencie: deliuer me from this necessitie of dwelling among the wicked. redeme me, and haue mercie on me.

12 † My I intend to walke right. foote hath stood in the direct way: in I desire [...] praise thee amongst thy true faithful seruantes. the Churches I wil blesse thee ô Lord.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XXV.

5. I haue hated the Church of the malignant.] Holie Dauid forced by reason of A singular great afflictiō to be hindered from Gods true seruice. persecution to dwel amongst Infidels the Philistians; after he had twise spared king Saules life (1 Reg 24. v. 5. et. c. 26. v. 9.) lamented (v. 19.) how great affliction it was to him, to be cast out, that he could not a vvel in the inheritance of our Lord (where God was rightly serued) and that his enemies had done so much as in them lay, to make him fal into idolatrie, by their fact, as it were saying: [...]o [...] [Page 56] serue strange goddes. Neuertheles his zele was such that (as he here professeth) Christians must abhorre, and abstaine from al conuenticles of Heretikes and other Infidels. he hated the Church of the malignant: that is, the congregations of al miscreants: & his immaculate religious puritie was so perfect, that he would not so much as in ex [...]e [...]l shew, conforme his actions to theirs, in matters of religion, nor yeld his [...] presence in their conuenticles: but said: VVith the impious I vvil not si [...] instructing vs Christians (for the word to the end, in the title sheweth that this [...] perteyneth also to vs) that we must both hate the Church or con- [...] [...] of the malignant, to witte, of Painims Iewes, Turkes, and Hererikes, and [...]t [...]i t [...]“60; nor personally be present with them in the exercise of their false pretended religions.

PSALME. XXVI.
† The Psalme of Dauid Before his second annointing, as is probable. 2. Reg. 2. before he was annoynted. 1

Dauid being in great distresse through persecution, and hauing assured confidence An other confident prayer of Dauid in tribulation. The 3. Key. in God, describeth the great securitie of Gods protection. 7. sheweth the same experienced in him self. 12. prayeth for continuance therof 13. and incorageth his owne soule, in hope of life euerlasting, to perseuer in vertue.

OVR Lord is Against ignorance God illuminateth his seruantes. my illumination, and against infirmitie he geueth streingth. my saluation, so he nedeth not to feare anic mans malice, suteltie, nor force. Luc. 21. v. 15. whom shal I feare?

Our Lord is the protectour of my life, of whom shal I be afrayd?

2 † Whiles the harmeful approch vpon me, to eate my flesh. Mine enemies that truble me, them selues are weakened and are fallen.

3 † If campes stand together against me, my hart shal not feare. If battel rise vp against me, in this wil I hope.

4 † One thing I haue asked of our Lord, this wil I seeke for, that I How special a benefite Dauid estemed it to be in the Catholique Church the only true house of God! may dwel in the house of our Lord al the dayes of my life.

That I may see the pleasentnes of our Lord, and visite his temple.

5 † Because he hath Albeit the spiritual or carnal enemie seke to ouerthrow me, yet I am secure in the Catholique Church. hid me in his tabernacle: in the day of euils he hath protected me, [...]in God either suffereth not the enemie to find his seruant. the secrete of his tabernacle.

6 † In or not to be able to hurt him spiritually a rocke he hath exalted me: and now he hath whē a martyr or confessour dieth, then he getteth the victorie against the perse [...]ntors. exalted my head ouer mine enemies. [Page 57] I Diligently recounting al thy benefites, I render thankes by sacrifice and praise. haue gone round about, and haue immolated in his tabernacle an host of iubilation: I not only in hart, but also singing with loud voice and instrument. wil sing, and say a Psalme to our Lord.

7 † Heare ô Lord my voice, wherwith I haue cried to thee: haue mercie on me, and heare me.

8 † My In my inward sincere cogitation I desire, and seeke that I may see thee, hart hath sayd to thee, my face hath sought thee out: face to face 1. Cor. 13. v. 12. thy face ô Lord I wil seeke.

9 † Turne In the meane time ô Lord, grant me thy fauour, not away thy face from me: leaue me not though thou be angrie with me. decline not in wrath from thy seruant.

Be He speaketh [in the person of orphanes. thou my helper: forsake me not, neither despise me ô God my Sauiour.

10 Because Though car nal parentes forsake the iust man in tribulation, yet God hath then most special care of him. my father and my mother haue forsaken me: but our Lord hath taken me.

11 † Geue me Establish my hart in thy law. a law ô Lord in thy way: conserue me in the right way, which thou hast already taught me, and it is the more necessarie, because myne enemies labour to peruert me. and direct me in the right path, because of mine enemies.

12 † Deliuer me not into the willes. the soules of them that truble me: because false witnesses accused Dauid, others accused Christ: Mat. 26. others do stil accuse the iust Mat▪ 5. vniust witnesses haue risen vp against me, and iniquity hath lyed the wicked please themselues in lying, but the chief hurt finally turneth vpon themselues. to it selfe.

13 † I The prophet and al iust men are comforted by God, and hope of reward in heauen. beleue to see the good things of our Lord, in the land of the liuing.

14 † The iust exhorteth his owne soule to patience Expect our Lord, doe manfully: and fortitude, let thy hart take courage, and and longanimitie. expect thou our Lord. Psal. 30.

PSALME. XXVII.
A Psalme to Dauid him selfe. 1

Dauid prayeth to be defended from the eternal destruction of the wicked, An other prayer of Dauid for deliuerie from euils The 8. key. which (by way of imprecation, or conformitie to Gods iustice) he prophecieth 6. Feeling by inspiration that his prayer is heard, rendereth thankes to God, 9. and prayeth for al the people.

TO THEE ô Lord wil crie, my God Omitte not to comfort me. keepe not silence from me: lest at any time thou hold thy peace from me, [Page 58] and I shal be like to them that goe downe into the lake.

2 † Heare ô Lord the voice of my petition whiles I pray to thee: whiles I lift vp my handes to thy holie temple.

3 † Suffer me not to be ouercome: for God tempteth none to euil. Iac 1. Draw me not together with sinners: and with them that worke iniquitie destroy me not.

Which speake peace with their neighbour, but euils in their hartes.

4 † The iust in zele of iustice pray that sinne may be punished. Geue them according to their workes, and according to the wickednesse of their inuentions.

According to the workes of their handes geue vnto them: render them their retribution.

5 † Because they haue Ignorance doth not excuse when men may and wil not vnderstand. not vnderstood the workes of our Lord, and in the workes of his handes thou shalt destroy them, and God saueth not without our cooperation with his grace. not build them vp.

6 † Blessed be our Lord: because he hath heard the voice of my petition.

7 † Our Lord is my helper, and my protectour: in him my hart hath hoped, and I was holpen.

And being comforted in spirite my bodie is as it were refreshed. my flesh florished againe: and freely and gladly. with my wil I wil confesse to him.

8 † Our Lord is the strength of his people: and he is God protecteth and prospereth the kings good endeuoures for his people. the protector of the saluations of his annoynted.

9 † Saue As Psal. 19. and often elswhere the subiectes pray for their Superior: so mutually the superior prayeth for the subiectes. thy people ô Lord, and blesse thine inheritance: and rule them, and extol them for euer.

PSALME XXVIII.

The royal prophet seing in spirite the most sacred Mysteries, brought by The Church of Christ endowed with excellent mysteries. The 6. key. Christ into this world, inuiteth al to offer their best thinges, euen themselues wholly, as sacrifice of thankes, for so excellent benefites, preached with magnificence. 5. VVherby innumerable are gethered into his Church here replenished with grace, and in heauen with glorie.

1 † The Psalme of Dauid, “ in the consummation 2. Reg. 6. v. 17. 1. Par. 16. v. 1. of the tabernacle.

[Page 59]

ANNOTATIONS.
1. In consummation of the tabernacle.] The seuentie Interpreters testifie by adding this title, that king Dauid made this Psalme (as he did also some others) [...]04. 105. &c Mysteries of the Catholique Church prophecied in this Psalme. when the Arke of God was brought into the tabernacle, which he had pitched for it in Sion. 2 Reg. 6. 1. Paral. 16. VVherin he saw by prophetical spirite, and here vttereth other farre greater mysteries, & more excellent benefites, brought into the world by Christ, and preached by him, and his Apostles, then agreed to the Arke, or the time of the old Testament; but are verified in the admirable fruite of innumerable people of al nations, and of manie great Potentates conuerted to Christianitie.

BRING Offer sacrifice of thankes for the singular benefites after recounted in this Psalme. to our Lord ye children of God: bring to our Lord Rammes were of the more principal thinges that were offered in the law of Moyses. But the sonnes of rammes importe in mystical sense better hostes then rammes. the sonnes of rammes.

2 † Bring to our Lord The first thing in sacrifice is to glorifie, honour, and adore God in sinceritie of spirite, glorie and honour, bring to our Lord glorie vnto his name: adore ye our Lord in his holie Catholique Chu [...]h. in his holie court.

3 The voice of our Lord Here is a greater matter intimated then happened in the bringing of the Arke into a tabernacle prepared in Sion, when Dauid danced, and offered hostes for sacrifice, others ioyning with him in that solemnitie. But this voice of our Lord vpon vvaters is rather verified of our Blessed Sauiours owne preaching with vpon waters, the God of maiestie maiestie hath thundering, & by his Apostles vpon thundered: Our Lord vpon manie vvaters, manie nations: manie waters.

4 † The voice of our Lord in povvre of miracles. in powre: the voice of our Lord in magnificence preaching as hauing in dede powre, not as the S [...]r [...]hes and Pharises. Mat. 7. v. 29. in magnificence.

5 † The voice of our Lord breaking cedars among innumerable others, conuerting highest Potentates breaking ceders: and our Lord shal breake the of Libanus, Emperoures, kinges and greatest Princes of the world: ceders of Libanus:

6 † And he shal breake them in peeces as a as a calfe of Libanas so meekly submitting them selues to Christs yoke, and spiritual obedience of his Church. calfe of Libanus. Al which is done by Christ our Lord the beloved of God, and the heloued as as the sonne of vnicornes, is most tenderly beloued by the parentes. the sonne of vnicornes.

The voice of our Lord This voice of our Lord diuiding the flame of fire▪ the Holie Ghost proceding from the Father and the Sonne, came vpon the Apostles, as in diuided tongues of fire. diuiding the flame of fire: 7

8 † The voice of our Lord wherwith the d [...]rt, the Gentiles of the wide and wild world, vvere shaken and moued, t the desert of Cades, some of the Iewes also compunct in hart with remorse of conscience hearing the voice of S. Peter, and other Apostles. v The same voice of our Lord preparing hartes, inspiring the mindes of men with spede, like hyndes and does, to ascend the high hilles of free and perfect life, in contemplatiue vertues. vv So our Sauiour shal discouer the thicke vvoodes, reueile the hidden Mysteries of the old Law, by preaching Christian doctrine, and vse of Christian Religion. x in his holie Temple, the Catholique Church, wherin al true Christians shal glorifie God. y making the great abundance of people, who are like the sea vvhen it ouerflovveth the land, to dwel in the same Church. z Christ our Lord sitting, & ruling king ouer al foreuer: a by his grace geuing streingth to his people, to passe through the tentations of this life; b and blesse the iust vvith eternal peace in heauen. shaking the desert; and our Lord shal moue t the desert of Cades.

9 The voice of our Lord v preparing [...]. hartes, and he shal discouer thicke woodes: and in x in his temple al shal say glorie.

10 † Our Lord maketh y to inhabite the floud: and our Lord z shal sit king for euer.

Our Lord a wil geue strength to his people: our Lord b wil blesse his people in peace.

[Page 60]

PSALME. XXIX. Dauid rendereth thankes for his establishment in his kingdome. The 8. key.
† A The general name of Psalme common to this whole booke conteyning in al 150. is more particularelie appropriated to some, which more specially were playde vpon musical instruments as on the Psalter, Harpe, &c. Others are called Canticles, which were most vsuallie songue with humaine voices. So this, called a Psalme of Canticle, signifieth that voyces begane the musike and instruments were adioyned. As contrariwise others are called Canticles of Psalmes, where instruments begane and voices folowed. Psalme of Canticle, After manie great tribulations, King Dauid prospering built an excellent house or palace. (2. Reg. 5. v. 11. Paralip. 14. v. 1.) And at his first dwelling therein, made this Psalme, beginning himselfe to sing the same with voice, other musitians ioyned with him in the praises of God and thankesgeuing for his benefites. in the dedication of Dauids house.

King Dauid by voice and instrument rendereth thankes to God for his peaceable state in the kingdom, 5. inuiteth others to reioyce in Gods benefites, teaching by his owne example that God sometimes geueth more conforth sometimes sheweth his wrath, but al for our good.

1 I WIL Though God in himselfe is most high, and neither nedeth, nor can be exalted by men, yet the royal prophet knew it vvas his dutie to sing thankes and praises to him, exalt thee ô Lord, for his deliuerie from manie trubles, and dangers. e not suffering his enemies to be delighted in his ruine. because thou hast receiued me: 2 neither hast e delighted myne enemies ouer me.

3 † O Lord my God I haue cried to thee, and thou hast conserued my bodie in health amōgst innumerable dangers. healed me.

4 † Lord thou hast Preserued my soule from greater dāgers of sinnes, and so from hel. brought forth my soule out of hel: thou hast saued me from them that goe downe into the lake.

5 † Sing to our Lord Ye that are iust and holie praise God for it, from vvhom it cometh, and not from your selues: ye his sainctes: and confesse his mere goodnes vvithout your desertes. confesse to the memorie of his holines.

6 † Because vvhen he is angrie, wrath is in his indignation: yet he meaneth vvel vnto vs. and life in his wil. [Page 61] At The state of a iust mans life is often changed from sorovv to comforte, and from comforte to sorovv. euening shal weeping abide: and in the morning gladnesse.

7 † And I said in my abundance: Though vve suppose our selues firmly established: I wil not be moued for euer.

8 † O Lord yet God of his good vvil tovvardes vs sometimes geueth strength, and corege, in thy wil, thou hast geuen strength to my beautie. Thou hast sometimes suffereth vs to our ovvne vveakenes, turned away thy face from me, and I became trubled.

† To thee ô Lord therfore we must stil crie and pray for Gods helpe, I wil crie: and I wil pray to my God. 9

† in manner here expressed of the like. What profite is in my bloud, whiles I descend into corruption? 10

Shal dust confesse to thee, or declare thy truth?

11 † Our Lord hath heard, and had mercie on me: our Lord is become my helper.

12 † † Thou hast turned my mourning into ioy vnto me: thou hast cut my sackcloth, and hast compassed me with gladnes.

† That finally in this my good state my glorie may sing to thee: and I be not compunct: Lord my God for euer I shal alvvayes confesse and praise thee. wil I confesse to thee.

PSALME. XXX.
† Vnto Perteyning to the new Testament. the end, the Psalme of Dauid, for especially to the iust trubled and almost distracted in mind in great affliction. See v. 23. excesse of minde.

A prayer of a iust man excedingly afflicted stil confident in God, 11. describing How to pray in affliction. The 7. key. his manie calamities (in respect of his enemies) vndeserued, 18. prayeth for his owne deliuerie, and their iust punishment. 20. praiseth and thanketh God for his goodnes. 24. exhorteth al others to do the same.

1 IN THEE ô Lord How greuously soeuer I am afflicted yet I trust in thee, haue I hoped, therfore I pray thus. let me not be confounded 2 for euer: in thy iustice deliuer me. [...]. 70.

3 † Incline thine eare to me, make hast to deliuer me. Be vnto me for a God protector: and for a house of refuge, that thou mayst saue me.

4 † Because thou art my strength, and my refuge: and for thy name thou wilt conduct me, and wilt nourish me.

5 † Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they haue hid for me: because thou art my protector.

6 † Into I offer and resigne my selfe to thee. thy handes I commend my spirit: thou hast The first preceptis to lerne of our elders. redeemed me ô Lord God of truth. [...]. 23.

[Page 62]† Thou hast hated them that obserue vanities, vnprofitably. 7 But I haue hoped in our Lord: † I shal reioyce and be ioyful 8 in thy mercie.

Because thou hast respected my humilitie, thou hast saued my soule out of necessities.

9 † Neither not suffered me to be shut vp. hast thou shut me vp in the handes of the enemie: thou hast set me feete in a large place.

10 † Haue mercie vpon me ô Lord because I am in tribulation: myne ei [...]is trubled for wrath, my soule, and my bellie:

11 † Because al my partes external and internal, body and mind are trubled. my life is decayed for sorrowe: and my yeares for gronings.

My strength is weakened for pouertie; and by bones are trubled.

12 † Aboue al myne enemies I am made a reproch both to my neighbours excedingly: and My freindes dare not conuerse with me, lest they incurre displeasure for my sake. a feare to my acquantance.

13 They that saw me, fled forth from me: † I am forgotten, from the hart as one dead.

14 I am made as a vessel destroyed: † because I haue heard the reprehension of manie that abide round about:

In that whiles, they assembled together against me, they consulted to take my soule.

† But I haue hoped in thee ô Lord: I sayd: Thou art my God: 15

† my lottes are in thy handes. 16

Deliuer me out of the handes of my enemies, and from them that persecute me.

17 † Make thy [...]ht so [...]hine in my soule, that I may vnderstand that is right. Illustrate thy face vpon thy seruant, and through thy mercie deliuer me from the force of myne aduersaries. saue me in thy mercie:

18 † Lord let me not be confounded, because I haue inuocated thee.

Let the impious be ashamed, and brought downe into hel: † let the deceitful lippes be made mute. 19

Which speake iniquitie against the iust, [...]ly [...]hauing themselues [...] if they had no superior, neither in earth nor in heauen, to whom they shal at last render account: in pride, and and abusing their present powre and authoritie, which they haue of God. abuse.

20 [Page 63]† How great is the multitude of thy sweetnesse ô Lord, which thou As yet in this present life the reward of the iust is hidde: hast hid for them that feare thee.

Thou hast perfited it for them that hope in thee, but shal be made manifest in sight of al men. in the sight of the children of men.

21 † Thou In the meane time the iust is in great estimation in the secrete knowledge of God. shalt hide them in the secrete of title of honoure, as we speake to a king; your maiestie: or to a noble man, your Lord [...]hippe. thy face from the disturbance of men.

Thou shalt protect them in thy tabernacle from the contradiction of tongues.

22 † Blessed be our Lord: because he hath made his mercie merueilous to me in the fensed citie.

23 But I haue said in in myn extreme affliction being almost distracted in my mind I said that in reason I would not haue sayd. Holie Iob spake some thinges in such state of affliction ch. 3. & 42. the excesse of my minde: I am cast away from the sight of thine eies.

Therfore thou hast heard the voice of my praier, whiles I cried to thee.

24 † the prophet, or other iust person exhorteth al the seruants of God Loue our Lord al ye his sainctes: because our Lord wil require truth, & wil repay them abundantly that doe proudly.

25 Do ye to constancie. manfully, and let your long animitie hart take courage, al ye that and final perseuerance to the end. hope in out Lord.

PSALME. XXXI.
† To This Psalme sheweth how Dauid was brought to vnderstand his sinnes, to confesse, bewayle, and obtaine remission of them. Dauid himselfe“ vnderstanding.

Forgeuenes of sinnes is a happie thing: 3. wherto manie are brought by The second poe [...]tential Psalme. The 7. key. affliction geuing them vnderstanding, so mouing them to confesse their sinnes, 6. pray for remission, 10, not despaire, but hope in Gods mercie, and so reioyce with sincere hart.

1 BLESSED are they, The first blessing of a sinner is the forgeuenes of his sinnes. whose iniquities are forgeuen: and [...]om. 4. [...]. P [...]. 4. “ whose sinnes by charitie, which couereth themultitude of sinnes. 1. Pet. 4. be couered.

2 † Blessed is the man, to whom Satisfaction be [...]g made. our Lord hath“ not imputed sinne,“ neither is there VVhen sinners repent sincerly without guile, then God forgeueth: without which cooperation non [...] is iustified. guile in his spirit.

3 [Page 64]† Because because I acknowledged not my greuous sinnes, I was stil sore afflicted. I held my peace, my bones are * inueterated, “ Waxed as if they vvere old. though otherwise I ceased notto pray but without any fruict or good effect. whiles I cried al the day.

4 † Because day and night thy hand is made heauie vpon me: I thy diuine prouidence reducing me, am turned in my anguish, whiles by remorse of myn owne conscience which telleth me that I deserue al this affliction. the thorne is fastened.

5 † I therfore I do no longer dissēble with men nor am silent to thee, but expresly acknowlege my sinnes. haue made my sinne knowen to thee: and my iniustice I haue not hid.

I said: I wil confesse against me my iniustice to our Lord: and thou hast forgeuen the impietie of my sinne.

6 † For this As I do now recal my selfe being stricken with Gods heauie hand; so must euerie one that wil be purged from his sinnes and sanctified pray to thee, when he is afflicted. shal euerie holie one pray to thee, in time conuenient. But yet Though calamities be meruelous great like to a diluge: in the floud of manie waters, they shal yet they shal not opresse him, that relieth vpon God. not approche to him.

7 † Thou art my refuge from tribulation, which hath compassed me: my exultation, deliuer me from them that compasse me.

8 † I God speaketh▪ promising by these tribulations to geue his seruants vnder standing, and instruction: wil geue thee vnderstanding, and wil instruct thee in the way, that thou shalt goe; I with perpetual protection. wil fasten mine eies vpon thee.

† Doe Be not therfore careles, like to brute beastes, but consideratiue of your actions. not become as horse and mule, which haue no vnderstanding.

In The Prophet or anie iust soul besecheth God to held this straict hand of discipline ouer sinners, for their conuersion. bit and bridle binde fast their cheekes, that approch not to thee.

10 † Manie Sinners deserue much punishment. are the scourges of a sinner, but but repenting, and trusting in God shal finde his mercie. him that hopeth in our Lord mercie shal compasse.

11 † Be The end of true penance is ioyto which therfore the prophet inuiteth al penitents. ioyful in our Lord and reioyse ye iust, and glorie al ye right of hart.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XXXI.

1. Vnderstanding.] VVhen Dauid had sinned and somewhile neglected to Vexation geueth vnderstanding. confesse his fault, Gods mercie by affliction made him to vnderstand his owne estate, who then repenting, confessing, and sorowing for his sinnes made this [Page 65] Psalme which is therfore intitled Vnderstanding: or, Instruction of Dauid. It geueth Sinne must be punished. vs also to vnderstand, and to know, saith S. Augustin, that we must neither trust in our owne merites, nor presume to escape punishment of sinne. Thy first vnderstanding therfore or lesson, must be, to know thy self to be a sinner The Good workes are of gra [...]e nex is, that when with faith thou beginnest to worke wel by loue, thou attribute not this to thyn owne streingth, but to the grace of God.

1. VVhose sinnes are couered. 2. not imputed.] Caluin and his complices gether in epist. ad Ro. c. 4. Protestantes expound this place contrary to many other clere places. poyson of these holie wordes, denying that sinnes are truly taken away, but only couered, and stil remayne say they in the iustest. VVhich sense would make this Scripture contrarie to other places Isaie 6. thyn iniquitie shal be taken away, and thy sinne shal be cleansed. Ioan. 1. The lambe of God which taketh away the sinne of the world. Act. 3. Be penitent and conuert, that your sinnes may be put out. 1. Cor. 6 you are washed, you are sanctified, you are iustified. & the like, which shew the true real taking away of sinnes, true sanctification, and iustification. As S. Ierom (or some other ancient authentical autor) explicateth contrarie to the exposition of ancient fathers. this place saying: Sinnes are so couered by baptisme & penance, that they are not to be reueled in the day of iudgement not imputed in him that diligently purgeth him selfe in this world, or by martyrdom. S. Augustin teacheth the same saying: Sinnes are couered, are wholly couered, are abolished. Neither must you vnderstand (saith he) that sinnes are couered, as though stil they were, and liued. VVhy then did the prophet say; sinnes are couered? they are not to be punished. More clerly, li. 1. c 13. cont. duas Epist. Pelag. The Pelagians calumniating. Catholiques, as if they taught, that sinnes are not taken away, but shauen, as heares are cut with a rasor; the rootes remaining in he flesh. vvhich (he answereth) none affirmeth but an infidel▪ Likewise S. Gregorie teacheth, that a sinner couereth his sinnes wel, when with contrarie vertues he ouerwhelmeth former vices, and with good deedes blotteth out former euil deedes. He couereth God couering or not imputing sinne doth quite take them away. them euil, when either for shame, or feare, or obstinacie, or desperation he concealeth his sinnes, omitting to confesse them. God couereth sinnes, as a phisition couereth woundes, by applying medicinal plaster, which in deede cureth them. Thus ancient, lerned holie Fathers expound this text. Further explicating, that albeit thinges couered, and only therby hidde from men, do remaine as they were before they were hid, yet whatsoeuer is hid to God, is in dede vtterly taken away, for nothing that is, can be hid from God. And the The contrarie doctrin is iniurious to God. to Christ. contrarie doctrin of Protestants is iniurious either to Gods powre, if they say he can not quite take away sinnes, or to his mercie, if he wil not, or to his iustice, if he neuer punish sinnes euer remayning, and to his truth if he repute otherwise, then in deede the thing is. It is also iniurious to Christ, to say, his bloud and death is not effectual to take away sinnes. iniurious to innumerable places of holie Scripture, which affirme plainly that sinnes by Gods grace are to holie Scriptures. to glorified S inctes. vtterly taken away Finally it is iniurious to Sainctes in heauen, arguing them as stil infected with sinnes, if in dede sinnes yet remaine in them. which is most absurde, and blasphemie to speake And yet foloweth by necessarie consequence. For if the iustest liued & died in sinne, they should remaine eternally in sinne.

2. Neither is there guile in his spirite.] In remission of sinnes the penitent necessarily Sincere repentance is a necessarie dispotion to remission of [...]e. After remissiō it is satisfactorie and meritorious. must so cooperate, that he haue no guile in his spirite, or hart, for if he haue, then he faileth of the forsaide blessednes, and his iniquities are not forgeuen, nor his sinnes couered to God, but to be imputed and punished Yet the repentance of a sinner be it neuer so sincere, hartie, and without guile doth not merite remission of sinne, but only disposeth therto. But after remission [Page 66] it is satisfactorie for the paine due for sinnes, and meritorious of glorie. According as S. Augustin here teacheth saying▪ Good (or meritorious) workes goe not before faith, and remission, but folow the same.

PSALME XXXII.
The Psalme of Dauid.

The prophet exhorteth to praise God, 4. describing his powre, prouidence, The perfectiō of Gods workes described. The 2. key. mercie, and wisdom. 16. no saluation but by him. 20. and therfore prayeth for his helpe.

1 REIOYCE ye iust not in your selues in our Lord: praise is not comelie in the mouth of a sinner. Eccli. 15. praysing becometh the righteous.

2 † Confesse ye to our Lord on in mortification offering your bodies a liuing hoste, Rom. 12. the harpe: on of this instrument this booke is called the Psalter and it signifieth the obseruation of the tenne commandments, without which no praise pleaseth God. a psalter of ten strings sing to him.

† Sing ye to him praising God for the grace of Christ in the new testament. a new song: sing wel to him in iubilation. 3

4 † Because the Gods rules and precepts are most iust and right. word of our Lord is right, and al his workes are he performeth whatsoeuer he promiseth. in faith.

5 † He loueth God euer ioyneth these vertues together. mercie and iudgement: the earth is ful of the mercie of our Lord.

6 † By Gods word i [...] omnipotent. the word of our Lord the heauens are established: and by the spirit of his mouth al the power of them.

7 † Gathering together the waters of the sea, as it were in a bottel: putting the depthes vnknowen, [...] riches hid in secrete places. in treasures.

8 † Let al the earth feare our Lord: and let al the inhabitantes of the world be moued at him.

9 † Because he said, and they were made: he commanded and they were created,

10 † Our Lord l dissipateth the counsels of nations: and he reproueth As in Babylon he confounded their tongues. the cogitations of people, and he reproueth the counsels of princes.

11 † But the counsel of our Lord abydeth for euer: the cogitations his absolute wil is alwayes fulfilled. of his hart in generation and generation.

12 † Blessed is the nation, whose God is our Lord: the people [Page 67] the people of Israel in the old testament: and Christians of al nations in the new. whom he hath chosen for his inheritance,

13 † Our Gods per petual prouidence. Lord hath looked from heauen: he hath sene al the children of men.

14 † From his prepared habitation he hath looked vpon al, that inhabite the earth.

15 † Who Gods wisdom infinite. made their hartes seuerally: who vnderstandeth al their workes.

16 † The No powre in earth is of anie force without God. king is not saued by much powre: and the gyant shal not be saued in the multitude of his strength.

17 † The horse fayleth of his master to safetie, or of him selfe. and in the abundance of his force he shal not be saued.

18 † Behold the eies of our Lord be vpon them that feare him: and on them, that hope vpon his mercie.

19 † That he may deliuer their soules from death: and nourish them in famine.

20 † Our soule expecteth our Lord: because he is our helper and protector.

21 Because in him our hart shal reioyce: and we haue trusted in his holie name.

O God which hast al perfection, shew thy mercie in protecting, and sauing al that trust in thee. Let thy mercie ô Lord be made vpon vs: as we haue hoped in thee.

PSALME. XXXIII.
To Dauid, when “ he changed his countenance before His proper name was Achis 1. Reg. 21. but al kinges of Palestina were called Abimelech, as pharao in Aegypt, N [...]huchodonosor in Babylon. Abimelech, This Psalme is also composed in order of tho Alphabet. and he dismist him, and he went away. (1. Reg. 21.)

King Dauid by his owne example being deliuered from danger, exhorteth Gods prouidence. The 3. key. al men to render thankes for Gods benefites. 12. shewing wherin iustice consisteth, 16. and Gods special prouidence towards the iust.

1 I I prayse God WIL bles [...]e our Lord at both in prosperitie and aduersitie. al time: his prayse alwayes in 2 my mouth.

3 † In our Lord when I serue our Lord, my soule shal be praised in his seruice. my soule shal be praised: let the milde heare, and reioyce.

4 † Magnifie ye our Lord with me: and let vs exalt his name for euer.

5 † I haue sought out our Lord, and he hath heard me: and from al my tribulations he hath deliuered me.

6 [Page 68]† Come ye to him, and be illuminated: and your faces shal not be confounded.

7 † This Euerie man be he how poore soeuer when he prayeth shal be heard. poore man hath cried, and our Lord hath heard him: and from al his tribulations he hath saued him.

8 † The the proper guardian Angel of euerie one. Angel of our Lord shal put in him selfe about them that feare him: and shal deliuer them.

9 † Tast ye, and see that our Lord is sweete: blessed is the man, that hopeth in him.

10 † Feare with filial feare. ye our Lord al ye his sainctes: because there is no lacke to them that feare him.

11 † The the rich of this world setting their mind vpon their wealth, are poore in spiritual giftes. rich haue wanted, and haue bene hungrie: but they that seeke after our Lord shal not be diminished of any good.

12 † Come children, heare me: I wil teach you the feare of our Lord.

13 † Who is the man Euerie one desireth to be happie, but he in dede shal be happie, that fleeth from euil, and doth good. that wil haue life: loueth to see good daies.

14 † “ Stay thy tongue from euil: and thy lippes that they speake not guile.

15 † Turne away from euil, and do good: seeke after peace, and pursewe it.

16 † The eies of our Lord vpon the iust: and his eares vnto their prayers

17 † But the God seing almens actiōs & intentions, wil render as they deserue. countenance of our Lord is vpon them that doe euil things: to destroy their memorie out of the earth.

18 † The iust haue cried, and our Lord hath heard them: and out of al their tribulations he hath deliuered them.

19 † Our Lord is nigh to them, that are of a contrite hart: and the humble of spirit he wil saue.

20 † Manie are the tribulations of the iust: and out of al these our Lord wil deliuer them.

21 Our Lord keepeth al their Though the iust some for a time to be forsaken, yet God that geueth them internal streingth, wil at last reward and crow [...] them his owne giftes. bones: there shal not one of them be broken.

22 The death of sinners is verie il: and they that hate the iust for their sinne they are suffered to fal into more sinne. shal offend.

23 [Page 69]Our Lord wil redeme the soules of his seruantes: and al that hope in him contrariwise those that accept of his grace, shal finally not offend. shal not offend.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XXXIII.

1. He changed his countenance▪] S. Augustin by holie Dauids changing of his A secret great misterie in the title of this Psalme. countenance, and by changing the king of Geth his name, who in the booke of kinges (where the historie is recorded) is called Achis, and here Abimelech, gethereth that here is an hidden, and great Mysterie. VVhich he explicateth partly by interpretation of the Hebrew names, but more especially by Dauids changing of his countenance, which prefigured Christ, eternal God becoming also man, and so making great changes in the world. For as Dauid killed Goliath, and for his good act gotte enuie, so Christ killing the diuel, and humilitie in Christs mēbers killing pride, are persecuted by the wicked. For Christ was both Iuc. 2. Some become vvorse, some better by Christ. Sacrifice and Priesthood changed. to the ruine, and Resurrection of manie. He changed Sacrifice and Priesthood. The Iewes had sacrifice according to the order of Aaron, in victims of cattle, and this was in mysterie. For there was not then the Sacrifice of the bodie and bloud of our Lord: which the faithful, and those that haue read the Gospel do know, which Sacrifice is now spread in al the round earth. A [...]litle after: the Sacrifice of Aaron is taken away, and the Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech begane to be. He therfore, I knovv not vvho, changed his countenance, Let it not be, I knovv not vvho, for our Lord Iesus Christ is knowen. He would haue our health to be in his bodie and bloud From whence did he commend God most high is become lovve his bodie and bloud? from his humilitie. For vnles he were humble, he would neither be eaten nor druncke. Behold his highnes: In the beginning was the vvord, and the vvord was with God, and God the vvord. Loe the euerlasting meate, and Angels eate it, supernal powres eate it, celestial spirites eate it, and they eate, and are fatted, and the thing remaineth whole, which satiateth and reioyceth them. How then hath the vvisdome of God fedde vs vvith He is our sacramental meate. Christ leaft the Ievves, & receiued the Gentiles. the same bread, the word was made flesh and dwelt in vs: It were too long to recite this great Doctors vvhole discourse. He further sheweth that Christ dismissed the Ievves, and vvent from them to the Gentiles. Thou seekest novv Christ (saith he) among the Ievves, and findest him not: because he hath changed his countenance. For they sticking to the sacrifice according to the order of Aaron, held not the Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech, and haue lost Christ: and the Gentiles haue begunne to haue him Againe this holie father vvilleth vs to remember the Gospel: VVhen our Lord Iesus Christ The real presence of Christ in the Sacrament. spake of his bodie, he said: Vnles you eate the flesh of the Sonne of man, and drinke his bloud, you shal not haue life in you: because he had changed his countenance, this semed as furie; and madnes vnto them, to geue his flesh to be eaten of men, & his bloud to be drunke, therfore Dauid vvas reputed madde before Achis, vvhen he said: you haue brought this madde man vnto me. Doth it not seme madnes: Eate ye my flesh, and drinke my bloud? He semed to be madde, thus S. Augustin. Neuer imagining the figuratiue interpretation of our nevv Sacramentaries: vvho say Christ gaue no more but a figure of his bodie & bloud, for then it had bene easily vnderstood by the Capharnaites, and no such contradiction, nor murmuring had happened. Yet S. Augustin saith more plainly, Catech. R [...]. p. 2. [...] [...]. q. [...]4. if more plaine may be▪ Christ caried himselfe in his ovvne handes. And hovv this can be done (bretheren) in man, vvho can vnderstand? For vvho is caried in his ovvne handes? A man may be caried in the handes of others, no man is caried [Page 70] in his ovvne handes. VVe find not hovv it can be vnderstood in Dauid, according to the letter: but in Christ vve find it. For Christ vvas caried in his ovvne handes, vvhen geuing his verie bodie, he said: This is my bodie. for he caried his bodie in his ovvne handes.

14 15. [...]tay thy tongue, &c.] Both these verses, and frequent other places in Not only faith but good vvorkes with faith iustifie. the Psalmes, shevv plainly that iustice consisteth not only in faith, but in abstayning from euil and doing good: yet requiring and presupposing true faith, vvithout which no workes are aualable to iustice, nor to euerlasting life.

PSALME XXXIIII.
To Dauid signifieth beloued desiderable, or strong of hand, that is Christ, aboue al beloued of God, desired of man, the strong conquerour of death and hel. S. Aug. in hunc locum. Dauid himself.

Dauid, in figure of Christ, prophetically by way of inuocating Gods helpe▪ forsheweth his persecution, and the iust reuenge vpon his persecutors, Christs persecution. The 5. key. 9. with praise to God. 13. his charitie towards his cruel aduersaries. 17. whom neuertheles God punisheth, 20. for pretending peace in wordes, and in fact persecuting, 23. rendering to al as they deserue.

1 IVDGE By way of imprecation heprophecieth that God wil ouerthrow the persecutors of Christ, and of Christians. ô Lord them that hurt me: ouerthrow them that impugne me.

† Take Offensiue armour and denfensiue. shield: and rise vp to helpe me. 2

3 † Bring forth the sword, and preoccupate and preuent the malice of the persecutor. shut vp against them, that perfecute me: say to my soule: I am thy saluation.

4 † Let them Such a punishment and confusion shal fal in the end vpon al the malicious, after that the iust shal haue ouercome tribulations. be counfounded & ashamed, that seeke my soule. Let them be turned backward, and be confounded that thinke euil against me

5 † Be they made as dust before the face of winde; and the angel of our Lord straictning them.

6 † Let their way be made darkenesse and slippernes: and the angel of our Lord pursewing them.

7 † Because they haue hid the destruction of their snare for me without cause: in vaine haue they vpbrayded my soule.

8 † Let the snare which he knoweth not, come on him; and the net, which he hath hid, catch him: and let him fal into the verie same snare.

9 † But In the time of truble in hope▪ my soule shal reioyce in our Lord: and shal be delighted vpon after deliuerie, in eternal saluation, his saluation.

† Al my bones shal say: Lord, who is like to thee▪ 10 [Page 71] Deliuering the needie from the hand of them that are stronger then he: the needie and poore from them that spoile him. such false witnesses did rise against Christ Mat. 26. Vniust witnesses rysing vp, asked me things that thinges that were not; for God himselfe, that knoweth althinges knoweth not that which neither was, is, nor can be. I knew 11 not.

12 † They repayed me euil things for good, they made priuation of my life, verified in Christ, not in Dauid, for he was killed by his enemies. sterilitie to my soule.

13 † But I when they were trublesome to me, Al our Sauiours life was penance for others, needing none for himselfe. did put on cloth of heare. I humbled my soule in fasting: and my prayer shal be turned into my bosome.

14 † As a Christ the good Samaritane that releeued the wounded man. Luc. 10. neighbour, as our brother, so did I please: as mourning and sorowful so was I humbled.

15 † And they al this was fulfilled according to the letter in our Sauiours passion. reioyced against me, and al this was fulfilled according to the letter in our Sauiours passion. came together: al this was fulfilled according to the letter in our Sauiours passion. scourges were gathered together vpon me, and I was Our Lord knoweth not anie iust cause, why the Iewes so persecuted him, for they had no iust cause but meere malice. ignorant.

16 † They were dissipated, and not compunct, they tempted me, they scorned me with scorning: they gnashed vpon me with their teeth.

17 † Lord as Psal. 21. and Mat. 27. God why hast thou forsaken me? not deliuered me from temporal death, nor yelded me such consolation, as thou gauest other Sainctes in their agonies? when wilt thou regard? a prophecie of Christs resurrection▪ restore thou my soule from their malignitie, myne only one from the lions.

18 † I wil confesse to thee in Prophecie of the Catholique Church. as Psal. 21. the great Church, in a graue people I wil prayse thee.

19 † Let them not reioyce ouer me that are my aduersaries vniustly: This place is applied by our Sauiour to himselfe. Ioan. 15. that hate me without cause, and twinckle with the eies.

20 † Because they spake in deede The Pharises and Herodians said: Master we know that thou art a true speaker &c. meaning to intrappe him with treason. Mat. 22. peaceably to me: and in the anger of the earth speaking they meant guiles.

21 † And they The same Pharises and Priestes iudged him woorthy of death, and procured the people to [...]rie: Crucifie him, crucifie, him. opened their mouth awide vpon me: they said; Wel, wel, our eies haue seene.

22 [Page 72]† Thou hast sene ô Lord, keepe not silence: Againe his Resurrection is prophecied. Lord depart not from me.

23 † Arise and attend to my iudgement: my God, and my Lord vnto my cause.

24 † Iudge me according to thy iustice ô Lord my God, and let them not reioyce ouer me

25 † Let them not say in their hartes: Wel, wel, to our soule: neitheir let them say: We haue deuoured him.

26 † Let At the day of iudgement the wicked shal receiue sentence of damnation. them blush and be ashamed together, that reioyce at my euils.

Let them be clothed with confusion and shame; that speake great things vpon me.

27 † Let the blessed of eternal glorie. them reioyce and be glad, that wil my iustice: and let them say alwayes: Our Lord be magnified, that wil the peace of his seruant.

28 † And my tongue shal meditate thy iustice, thy prayse al the day.

PSALME XXXV.
† More specially describing the state of men in the new testament, then in the old. Vnto the end, to instruction for Dauid not as a king, or a prophet, but as the poore seruant of God. the seruant of our Lord Dauid him selfe.

The prophet describeth the wicked malice of obstinate sinners 6. Against Gods prouidence. The 3. key. which he opposeth Gods infinite goodnes, 9. with his prouident mercie towards the worst, and iust reward of the good; 12. praying to escape the dangerous gulfe of pride.

1 THE vniust hath said within him selfe, that he wittingly and resolutely preferring wicked life before vertuous. would 2 sinne: there is no feare of God before his eies

3 † Because he hath done deceitfully in his sight: God so [...]ateth sinne committed of meere malice, that he commonly reiecteth such sinners, and more often offereth new grace to those, that sinne of frailitie, or ignorance. that his iniquitie may be found vnto hatred.

4 † The wordes of his mouth are iniquitie, and guile: he Some ignorance is inuincible whē one hath a good wil to lerne, doing his endeuour to knovv the truth in doctrin, & his dutie in manners, but can not get knowlege therof, and then he is excused before God; though he erre in opinion, or in fact: others are negligent to lerne, and their error is grosse ignorance and is a sinne, greater or lesse, according to the importance of the thing, which they ouhgt to knovv. Others are more vvilful, desiring to be ignorant; that they may sinne vvith the lesse remorse, or repining of their ovvne conscience, and this is affected ignorance, and most hainous, and odious sinne. For which God often leauing them destitute of ordinarie grace, which he geueth to others, they fal into reprobate sense, and into more horrible sinner. would not vnderstand that he might doe wel.

5 [Page 73]† He hath meditated iniquitie in his bed: he hath set himselfe on euery way not good, and malice he hath not hated.

6 Lord God doth not vtterly shut vp his mercie from the most wilful & wicked sinners, but geueth them sometimes good motions, and sufficient helpe, that they may repent, be i [...] stified & saued, if they do not wittingly harden their owne hartes, and stil wilfully repel Gods grace. thy mercie is in heauen: and For so God pomiseth (vvho is most faithful) that he vvil forgeue sinners, and receiue them into his fauoure againe, when so euer they resoluing to serue him, repent and cease to sinne. thy truth euen to the clowdes.

7 † Thy iustice as the hilles of God: thy iudgementes are great depth.

8 Men & Thou ô God that hast care of al creatures, not only of men but also of brute beastes, art euer readie of thy part to saue both moderate men, in vvhom the light of reason remaineth, and also grosse senseles persons, vvhich are become brutish like horse and mule or other beastes. beastes thou wilt saue ô Lord: † as thou For so our Lord multiplieth his mercie. hast multiplied thy mercie ô God.

But Yet with condition that sensles or brutish men, must become reasonable men, the children of men, not coltes, whelpes, pigges &c. the children of men, Sinners thus conuerted shal not only haue al necessaries in this life, as al liuing creatures haue in this world, but also shal hope of spiritual, heauenly, & eternal glorie prepared for Angels, and children of men: as in the verses folovving. shal hope in the couert of thy winges.

9 † They shal be inebriated with the plentie of thy house: and with the torrent of thy pleasure thou shalt make them drinke.

10 Because with thee is the fountaine of life: and in thy light we shal see light.

11 † Extend thy mercie to them that know thee, and thy iustice to them, that are of a right hart.

12 Let Le [...]t anie impediment hinder the obtayning and possession of eternal revvard, the iust must specially pray not to be infected vvith pride: not the foote of pride come to me: and let not nor be ouercome by the forcible tentations of other sinners, by persvvasion, not euil example. the hand of a sinner moue me.

13 † There The first sinne, tovvit of diuels, vvas pride, and mans sinne vvas by persvvasion of the diuel. haue they fallen that worke iniquitie: they were expelled, neither of which could escape punishment. neither could they stand.

PSALME. XXXVI.
† A Psalme For Dauids and euery iust mans instruction. to Dauid him self.

An exhortation not to enuie nor imitate the euil, who for most part prosper An exhortatiō to contempt of this vvorld. The 7. key. This Psalme is composed in order of the Alphabet, euerie distick beginning vvith a diuers letter, to moue the reader to diligent attention, which may serue in place of a larger cōmentarie. in this world, and are damned eternally: but to flee euil and doe good, duly considering that God diuersly permitteth and punisheth the wicked, and likewise comforteth and afflicteth the iust, al for their good.

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1 HAVE Neither be thou offended that the wicked do prosper in this world, nor imitate them that thou maist also prosper. no emulation toward the malignant: neither enuie them that doe iniquitie.

2 † Because For al this life, and consequently the prosperitie therof is shorte, and vncertaine. they shal quickely wither as grasse: and as the blossomes of herbes they shal soone fal.

3 † Put thy trust in God, liuing content in this world: Hope in our Lord and doe good: and inhabite the land, and thou & he wil geue thee that is necessarie. shalt be fed in the riches therof.

4 † Be delighted in our Lord: and he wil geue thee the petitions of thy hart.

5 † Commend al thyn affaire [...] to God. Reuele thy way to our Lord, and hope in him: and he wil doe it.

† And he wil Partly making vertue appeare to the comfort of the vertuous, and example of others in this life, but especially in the next world. bring forth thy iustice as light: and thy iudgement 6 as midday: † be subiect to our Lord, and pray him. 7

Haue no emulation in him, that prospereth in his way: in a man that doth iniustices.

8 † Cease from wrath, and leaue furie: haue not emulation that thou be malignant.

9 † Because they that are malignant, shal be cast out: but they that expect our Lord, the same shal inherite the land of the liuing. the land.

10 † And yet a litle while, and the sinner shal not be: and thou shalt seeke his place, and shal not find it.

11 † But the meeke shal inherite the land, and shal be delighted in multitude of peace.

12 † The sinner shal obserue the iust: and shal gnash vpon him with his teeth.

13 † But our Lord shal scorne him: because he foreseeth that his Mat [...] day shal come.

14 † Sinners haue drawen out the sword; they haue bent their bowe; [Page 75] That they may deceine the poore and needie: that they may murder the right of hart.

15 † Let By way of imprecation (as in manie other places) the prophet forsheweth that wicked men shal fal into the euils, which they prepare for others. their owne swordes enter into their hartes: and let their bowe be broken.

† Better is a litle to the iust, aboue much riches of sinners. 16

17 † Because the armes of sinners shal be broken in pieces: but our Lord comfirmeth the iust.

18 † Our Lord knoweth the daies of the immaculate: and their inheritance shal be for euer.

† They shal not be confounded in the euil time, and in the 19 dayes of famine they shal be filled: † because the sinners shal 20 perish.

But the enemies of our Lord forth with as they shal be honoured and exalted, vanishing shal vanish as smoke.

21 † The sinner shal borrow, and not pay: but the iust is merciful and wil geue.

22 † Because they that blesse him shal inherite the land: but they that curse him shal perish.

23 † With our Lord the steppe of man shal be directed: and he shal like wel of his way.

24 When Though the iust fal of frailtie orignorance into venial sinne, yet Gods grace shal stay him that he fal not into mortal. The iust falleth seuen times in the day, & riseth. Prou. 24. he shal fal, he shal not be brused: because our Lord putteth his hand vnder.

25 † I haue bene yong, for I am old: and I haue not sene the iust forsaken, So king Dauid obserued: and it very rarely happeneth, that the iust or their children are [...]cle. 2. destitute of necessarie sustenance in this vvorld. If it chance in some, it is to their greater merite, and is manifestly recompensed in spiritual giftes. In which sense S. Basil expoundeth, that it is alwayes verified For God euer rewardeth good workes either temporally, or spiritually, or both wayes. S. Augustin also (conc. 3. in hunc Psal.) exemplifieth in Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob with al his familie, who were forced to goe into other countries by reason of famine▪ and by Gods prouidence were there susta ned, Gen. 12. 26▪ 46 and S Paul among his other tribulations mentioneth famine and thirst. 2. Cor. 11. v. 27. Seing therfore these so iust persons sought their bread in necessitie, he expoundeth this holie Scripture in the Allegorical sense, that the Church from her beginning in Ierusalem to the end of the world, neuer wanteth the true word of God, true faith and doctrin, which is the spiritual bread vvher vvith the soule is nourished. nor his seede seeking bread.

26 † Al the day he is merciful and lendeth: and his seede shal be in blessing.

27 [Page 76]† In these tvvo prīciples, declining frō euil and doing good, true iustice consisteth. Decline from euil, and doe good: and and he that finally obserueth these tvvo pointes, mer [...]teth and shal possesse heauen. inhabite for euer and euer.

28 † Because our Lord loueth iudgement, and he wil not forsake his sainctes: they shal be preserued for euer.

The vniust shal be punished: and the seede of the impious shal perish.

29 † But the iust shal inherite the land: and shal inhabite for euer and euer vpon it.

30 † The mouth of the iust shal meditate wisedome, and his tong shal speake iudgement. Pro. 31. Isa. [...].

The law of his God in his hart: and his steppes shal not be supplanted. 31

32 † The sinner considereth the iust: and seeketh to to draw him to mortal sinne, which is death of the soule. murder him.

33 † But our Lord wil not leaue him in his handes: neither wil he condemne him, when iudgement shal be geuen of him.

34 † Expect our Lord, and keepe his way: and he wil exalt thee, that thou mayst inherite the land: when the sinners shal perish thou shalt see.

35 † I haue seene the impious highly exalted, and aduanced as the ceders of Libanus.

36 † And I passed by, and behold he was not: and I sought him, and his place was not found.

37 † Keepe innocencie, and see equitie: because there are rewardes. remaynes for the peaceable man.

38 † But the vniust shal perish together: the remaines of the impious shal perish.

39 † But the saluation of the iust is mans iustice and wel doing is not of his owne powre but of Gods grace. of our Lord: and he is their potector in the time of tribulation.

40 † And our Lord wil helpe them, and deliuer them: and he wil take them away from sinners, and saue them: because they haue hoped in him.

PSALME XXXVII.
A Psalme of Dauid, in In remembrance that by sinne [...] lost the rest and peace, which man had in the state of innocencie; secondly we lost the peace of conscience; thirdly the rest and peace of eternal felicitie. recordation of the sabbath.

King Dauid, or anie other penitent, earnestly prayeth God to remitte his The third penitential Psalme. The 7. key sinnes, and mitigate the paines which he acknowledgeth him selfe to haue deserued, 12▪ lamenting the afflictions which he suffereth by such as sometimes were his freindes, 14. whose tentations h [...] now resisteth, trusting in [Page 77] God, resigning himselfe to Gods wil, confessing his owne iniquitie, and humbly praying for Gods helpe.

1 LORD Condemne me not to eternal paine: rebuke me nor in thy furie: nor punish me in purgatorie fire; but purge me so in this life, that the purging fite be not needful. By which fire (saith S Augustin) though some shal be saued (grau [...]or tamen er [...]t ille [...]gnis, quam quicquid potest homo pa [...]n hac vita) yet that fire shal be more greuous, hen whatsoeuer a man can suffer in this [...]ife. S. Grego [...]y also expoundeth this same place, as if Dauid sayd thus: I [...]new it will co [...]e to passe, that after the end of this life, some shal be cleansed by purging flames, some shal be vnder the sente [...]ce of eternal damnation. But because I do esteme that transitorie fire more intolerable then al present tribulation, I desire not only not to be rebuked in furie of eternal damnation, but also I feare to be purged in the wr [...]th of transitorie correption. Thou therfore ó Lord whom I serue in my sp [...]i [...], whom I know to be the Sauiour of al men, rebuke me not in furie of perpetual damnation, not chatise me in wrath of purging punishment. See Annotat. Psal. 6. nor chastise me in 2 thy wrath.

3 Because Afflictions of mind and bodie sent by thy iust iudgement. thy arrowes are fast sticked in me: and thou hast thou hast strooke me with an heauie hand. fastened thy hand vpon me.

4 There is I already feele in my flesh, in al my bones, and powre [...] great affliction, no health in my flesh, at considering thy iustice, the face of thy wrath: my bones haue no peace at and my sinnes. the face of my sinnes.

5 Because mine iniquities are gone which are excedingly increased, almost ouerwhelming my spirite. ouer my head: and as a sinnes not washed away by penance by their weight carie the soule into more and more wickednes. heauie burden are become heauie vpon me.

6 † My stil corrupting those partes which were whole before, as a pestered sore that is not cured. scarres are putrified and corrupted, because of my folishnes.

7 I am become miserable, and am made not able to goe streight to do anie good worke, being guiltie of greuous sinne. crooked euen to the end: I went sorowful al the day.

8 Because concupiscence striuing in me. my loynes are filled with illusions: and there is no health in my flesh.

9 I am afflicted and am humbled excedingly: I from the sorrow of my hart, my voice hath broken out into clamour. rored for the groning of my hart.

10 [Page 78]† Lord, [...] God thou knowest my desire, to be restored to thy fauour. before thee is al my desire: and my groning is not hid from thee.

11 † My hart is trubled, my strength hath forsaken me: and the light of mine eies, and the same is not with me.

12 † My those that were my freindes and companions in sinne are become myn enemies, because I forsake them: frendes, and my neighbores haue approched, & stood against me.

13 And they that were neere me, stood far of: † and they did violence which sought my soule.

And they that sought me euils, sought by al meanes to intangle me againe. spake vanities: and meditated guiles al the day.

14 † But I as I now renoūce al sinne one deafe did not heare: and as one dumme not opening his mouth.

15 † And I became as a man not hearing: and not hauing reproofes in his mouth.

16 † Because I now relie vpon thee ô God. in thee ô Lord haue I hoped, thou wilt heare me ô Lord my God.

17 † for this cause I am returned to thee and do pray that mine enemies may not preuail against me. Because I said: Lest sometime mine enemies reioyce ouer me: and whiles my feete are moued, they speake great thinges vpon me.

18 † Because I I resigne my selfe to thee. am readie for scourges: and my sorow is in my sight alwaies:

19 † Because though thou knowest al yet with mouth consession is made to saluation. I wil declare my iniquitie: and I wil and I meditate of that which my sinne hath deserued. thinke for my sinne.

20 † But mine enemies liue, and are confirmed ouer me: and they are multiplied that hate me vniustly.

21 † They that repay euil thinges for good, one kind of detraction is in reueling secrete faultes, an other in feaning and imputing false crimes, the third (here mentioned) in calling vertue vice, as penance, hypochrisie. detracted from me: because I folowed goodnes.

22 † Graunt me Lord final perseuerāce in thy grace, and seruice. Forsake me not ô Lord my God, depart not from me. Attend vnto my help, ô Lord the God of my saluation.

PSALME. XXXVIII.
† Vnto Some expound this Psalme of the Iewes in captiuitie in Babylon, but this title, and the matter conteyned shew, that it rather peteineth to the new Testament. the end, to to be songue by Idithun and his scholars & successors, or rather by Christianes. Idithun him selfe, a canticle of Dauid. 1

A iust man in remediles persecution resolueth to suffer al with peace and silence: Gods prouidence. The 3. key. 5. praying God to take him from this world, confessing the vanitie therof. 8. and relying on Gods prouidence (11. who punisheth man for his sinnes) prayeth for release.

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2 I weake men in affliction not able to deliuer them selues, seeke reuenge, by murmuring and other euil speaches, but the perfect resolue to rule their tongues: HAVE said: I wil keepe my waies: that I offend not in my tongue. I haue set a gard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against me.

3 † I was dumme and humbled, and kept silence euen to forbeare sometimes from their owne iust defence: from good thinges: and though therby they indure more persecution. my sorrow was renewed.

4 † My sorow suppressed maketh the hart to burne with zele, and indignation. hart waxed hote within me: and in my meditation a fyre shal burne.

5 † I haue spoken in my tongue: Lord If it may please thee let me know how long I shal liue, desiring to dye; as Elias desired. 3. Reg. 19. make mine end knowne to me.

And the number of my daies what it is: that I may know what is lacking to me.

6 Behold thou hast put my daies measurable, and my my life and al that I haue is as nothing compared to thy eternitie. substance is as nothing before thee.

Doubtles al things are vanitie, euerie man liuing.

7 † Surely man passeth as as a shadow or image appearing in a glasse, which is quickly forgotte. an image; yea and he is trubled therfore there is no cause man should be trubled in mind for temporal miseries. in vayne.

He gathereth treasure; and knoweth not to whom he shal gather them.

8 † And now what is my expectation? is not our Lord? and my substance is with thee.

9 † From al mine iniquities deliuer me: Thou hast suffered me to be reproched by the foolish that prosper in this world. a reproch to the foolish thou hast geuen me.

† I was dumme, and opened not my mouth, I know my tribulation is by thy prouidence. because thou 10 didst it: † Remoue thy scourges from me. 11

12 † By the strength of thy hand I haue faynted in reprehensions: for iniquitie thou hast chastised man.

And thou hast made his my life decayeth as a spider hauing spent al her moysture. soule pyne away as a spider: but vaynly is euerie man trubled.

13 [Page 80]† Heare my prayer ô Lord, and my petition; with thyne eares receiue my teares. Keepe not silence: because I am a Almen are strangers in this life, heauen being our home. stranger with thee, and a pilgrime, as my fathers.

14 † Forgeue me, that I may that I may recouer spiritual streingth in this life: be refreshed before I depart: and after which I shal not be in state to do frceworkes of satisfaction nor merite. shal be no more.

PSALME. XXXIX.
† Vnto perteyning vnto the new Testament. the end, a Psalme to Dauid himselfe.

Christs faithful members after long expectation congratulate his coming in Christs comming and redeming of manking The 5 key. flesh. 6. He directing his speach to his Father, professeth to performe the Redemption of manking, and to denounce the same in the whole world: 12. prayeth for his seruantes, vndertaking to satisfie for their sinnes.

1 † EXPECTING the faithful of the old and new Testament reioyce in the coming of Christ. I expected our Lord, and he hath attended 2 to me.

3 † And he heard my prayers, and brought me out of the lake of miserie, and from the myre of dregges.

And hath set my feete vpon a rocke: and hath directed my steppes.

4 † And he hath put a new canticle into my mouth: a song to our God.

Manie shal see, and shal feare: and they shal hope in our Lord.

5 † Blessed is the man, whose hope is in the name of our Lord: and hath not had regard to vanities and false madnes.

6 † Thou hast done manie thy meruelous thinges [...] Lord my God: & in thy cogitations there is none that may be like to thee. I Christ by him se [...]e and by others preached the Gospel of saluation. haue declared and haue spoken: they the multiplication of Christians therb [...]. multiplied aboue number.

7 † [...] sacrifice of the old testament sufficed [...]o satisfie Gods iustice for the sinne of man. Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldest not: but Christ by the eare of obedience performed the redemption of man by his death, as was determined from eternitie. S. Paul for [eares] [...]aith [bodie] See Annotations. Heb. 10. eares thou Heb. 10. hast perfited to me.

8 Holocaust and for sinne thou didst not require: † then said I; Behold I come

9 [Page 81]In the The summe of holie Scripture is of Christs Incarnation & death for redemption of man. 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.

10 † I haue Againe Christ inculcateth the preaching and receiuing of his Gospel in the whole world. declared thy iustice in the great Church, loe I wil not stay my lippes: Lord thou hast knowen it.

11 † 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 In the greatest and wisest congregations of this world, Christ concealeth not his mercie and truth. So himselfe professed before Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, and their councels. S. Paul preached Christ at Athe [...]s, and in manie nations, and so the other Apostles. For their voice went into al the coastes of the earth. great councel.

12 † The prophet now speaketh in the name of Christs mystical bodie the Church: praying to be made partaker of mercie, and to be deliuered from eu [...]les. But thou ô Lord make not thy commiserations farre from me: thy mercie and thy truth haue alwayes receiued me.

13 † Because euils haue compassed me, which haue no number: mine iniquities haue ouertaken me, & I was the sinnes also of those which beleue in Christ are so manie, that they can not be fully sene in particular. not able to see.

They are multiplied aboue the heares of my head: and I almost faint in considering so manie and so great iniquities amongst those that professe Christ. my hart hath forsaken me.

14 † It may please thee ô Lord to deliuer The whole Church prayeth in the name of al for the infirme members. me: Lord haue respect to helpe me.

15 Let The prophet foresheweth that the reprobate for their obstinate malice, seeking to hurt others shal be confounded. 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.

16 Let them forth with receiue their confusion, that that skornfully say: wel, wel: wishing al euil to good men. say to me: Wel, wel.

17 † Let al which not only in mouth and outward profession, but also in sinceritie of hart seeke thee, may with confidence reioyce, and praise God. that seeke thee, reioyce and be glad vpon thee: and let them that loue thy saluation, say alwayes: Our Lord be magnified:

[Page 82]† But Christ speaketh in the name of sinners truly repenting, whose sinnes he vndertaketh to redeme, and wash away by his passion. I am a begger, and poore: Our Lord is careful of me. 18

Thou art The faithful of the old testament pray for Christs first coming into this world, and the faithful now pray for his second coming to purge his Church, and to reward the good. my helper, & my protector: my God be not slacke.

PSALME XL.
† Vnto Perteyning to the new testament, as appeareth by the 10. verse alleaged by our Sauiour. This Psalme is also applied by the Church in the office of the sick, whom whosoeuer assisteth in that case, may hope to haue assistance in their owne like necessitie. the end, a Psalme to Dauid him selfe. Io. 13. v. 18.

The prophet pronounceth them happie that wil beleue in Christ, coming in Christs Passion and Resurrection. The 5 key. 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.

2 BLESSED is the man that vnderstandeth concerning He is happie that is not scandalized in Christ (Luc. 7. v. 23.) coming in pouertie, and suffering extreme afflictions. the needie, and the poore: in He that trusteth in Christ, notwithstanding the contrarie motiues of his wordlie miserie, shal be deliuered by him in al distresse. the euil day our Lord wil deliuer him.

3 † Our Lord Our Lord wil geue to such seruantes more grace in this life, and glorie in the next. preserue him, and geue him life, and make him blessed in the land: and not suffer him to be ouercome in tentations. deliuer him not vnto the wil of his enemies.

4 † Our Lord helpe him when such constant seruantes are sick to death, Christ wil most especially comforte and helpe them. vpon the bed of his sorow: thou hast turned al his couche in his infirmitie.

5 † I said: Christ in the behalf of his mystical bodie confesseth their sinnes, and prayeth for them. Lord haue haue mercie on me: heale my soule, because I haue sinned to thee.

6 † Mine enemies haue spoken euils to me: When shal he die, After death suffered for mankind Christ riseth, and his name and kingdom is glorious. and his name perish?

7 † And if Those that came not of good wil, but of malice to obserue Christs deedes and wordes, carped at both, sometimes saying, he taught against the law, and against Moyses; sometymes that he [...]ast out diuels in the powre of Beelse bub. he came in to see, he spake vayne thinges: his hart hath gathered together iniquitie to him selfe.

[Page 83]He went forth. and spake together.

8 † Al mine enemies whispered against me: they did thinke euils to me.

9 They At last they resolued that he should die. haue determined an vniust word against me: But they could not so suppresse his powre, for he rose againe in glorie. Shal not he that sleepeth adde to ryse againe?

10 † For By our Sauiours application of this verse, it is certaine that the traitor Iudas is here described. Ioa. 13. v. 18. the man also of my peace, in whom I hoped: who Io. 11. Act. 1. did eate my breades, hath greatly troden me vnder foote

11 † But thou ô Lord haue mercie vpon me, and raise me vp againe: and I in the day of iudgement Christ Iudge of al wil render to euerie one as they deserue. wil repay them.

12 † In this I haue knowen that thou wouldest me: because mine enemie shal not reioyce ouer me.

13 † But me thou hast receiued As before in respect of sinners, Christ Iudge of al wil render to euerie one: so here in his owne person he auoucheth his owne innocencie, which made him apt to satisfie for others. because of innocencie: and thou hast confirmed me in thy sight for euer.

14 † Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel For this mercie of Almightie God in sauing the elect by his Sonnes death, he is to be praised for euer eternally. from the beginning of the world, and for euermore: Al the blessed agree in this, that God is eternally to be praised and therto say Amen. So be it, so be it. Some diuide the Psalmes into fiue bookes, supposing the first booke to end here with these wordes; Be it, be it: not obseruing that the last Psalme hath not this ending. S Ierom confuteth this opinion by our Sauiours, and S. Peters naming it the booke, not bookes of Psalmes. Luc. 20. v. 42. Act. 1. Moreouer if this were the end of one booke, then the Psalme folowing should not be called the 41. Psalme, but the first Psalme of the second booke. Be it, be it.

PSALME. XLI.
† Vnto the end, vnderstanding to the sonnes of The sonnes of Core repented, and departed from their fathers schisme, and so escaped miraculosly the horrible pitte of damnation, in [...]o which heir father and his complices fel. Num. 26. v. 10. By which example al seduced, and deceiued Christians are admonished, not to persist in schisme or other sinnes. And wordlie men, [...]mbicious of honour be warned to desire & seke God aboue al thinges, first of al the kingdome of heauen [...]o be liuing m [...]mbe [...]s of the Catholique Church) and the iustice therof: to seke thinges wh [...]h are aboue [...] which are vpon the earth; lest hel deuoure them, as it denoured the complices of Core Num 1 [...] v. 31. Core.

The feruent desire of the iust, 6. much afflicted in this life, 12. and assured Eternal glory, The 10. key. hope of eternal ioy.

1 EVEN as the harte A harte waxing old, and burdened with much heare, and great hornes, draweth a serpent into his nosethrels, so being infected with poyson, desireth most ardently to drinke, and afterwards casteth his hornes, and heare, and becometh as it were yong againe desireth after the fountaines of waters: 2 with such feruent desire a true penitent, feeling himselfe infected with poyson of sinnes, seeketh the water of Gods grace. so doth my soule desire after thee ô God.

3 [Page 84]† My soule hath thirsted after God God is omnipotent, and in dede the only true liuing God▪ diuels who are honored in idols, ca do no more then God permitteth, and so they can kil the soules, that consent vnto their tentation, but can not restore spirituall fe againe. the strong God is omnipotent, and in dede the only true liuing God▪ diuels who are honored in idols, ca do no more then God permitteth, and so they can kil the soules, that consent vnto their tentation, but can not restore spirituall fe againe. liuing: The soule being iustified, and stil assaulted with new tentations desireth to be with God. when shal I come and appeare before the face of God?

4 † My I haue had no other refection, but to le [...]ifie my sorow with weping. teares haue beene breades vnto me day and night: whiles it is said to me dayly: The wicked exprobate the iust, as though God would neuer helpe them, because he suffereth them to be sometimes long in tribulation. Where is thy God?

5 † These thinges haue I remembred, and haue powred out my soule in me, because I shal passe into the place King Dauid was not permitted to build the temple, much lesse did he enter into anie such meruelous tabernacle in his mortal life, but must nedes be vnderstood, to speake here of the heauenlie tabernacle, prepared by Christ for his seruants of a meruelous tabernacle, euen to the house of God.

In the yoyce of exultation, and confession: the sound of one feasting.

6 † Why The prophet conforteth him selfe, or anie iust soule, in the hope of euerlasting ioy. art thou sorowful my soule? and why dost thou truble me?

Hope in God, because yet I render thankes and praises. wil confesse to him: the saluation of my countenance, † and my God. 7

My soule is trubled toward my selfe; therfore wil I be mindful of thee from the land Al this life is like to the smal straict place betwene Iordan and a litle hil called Hermoniim, but from this straictnes the hope of the iust is, to be placed in heauen. of Iordan, and Hermoniim from the litle mountaine.

8 † Depth One tentation st [...]l succedeth an other: calleth on depth, in the voice of and the same so great, as if God opened the gates, and suffered them to ouerflow like floudes of water. thy flould-gates. Al thy high thinges, and thy waues haue passed ouer me.

9 † In But God helpeth in opportunitie, not suffering his seruantes to be tempted aboue their streingth geuing them fruit with tentations: the day our Lord hath commanded his mercie: and yea in the greatest tribulation, he geueth ordinarily most comfort, making them sing spiritually in hart, if not also in voice. in the night a song of him.

10 [Page 85]With me one special meanes to procure diuine consolation is prayer in distresse. 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?

11 † 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?

12 † Why art thou heauie ô my soule? & wh [...] dost thou truble me? Stil the iust soule taketh comforth in assured hope of saluation, the eternal vision of God. Hope in God, because yet I wil confesse to him: the saluation of my countenance, and my God.

PSALME. XLII.
† A Psalme Holie Dauid often prefiguring Christ, here representeth euerie faithful seruant of God, and particularly when they beginne a great and holie worke; as when Priestes celebrate the diuine Sacrifice, they with their assistantes recive by interchangeable verses this Psalme. of Dauid.

The iust inuocateth Gods sentence against the deceiptful, that seeke his One God th [...] B Trinitie. The 1. key. spiritual ouerthrow, 4. acknowledgeth his helpe, from almightie God the B. Trinitie, in whose vision glorie consisteth.

1 IVDGE After that we haue examined, and prepared our selues to the most holie Sacrifice and Sacrament, according to S Paules admonition (let a man proue himselfe, and so eate this bread, and drinke this chal [...]ce, 1 Cor 11) we pray God, to iudge betwen our true sincere intention, and the vniust deceipful endeuoures of our enimie: me ô God, & discerne my cause from the nation not holie, from the vniust and deceitful man and so to deliuer and protect vs from sutle malice. deliuer me.

2 † Because thou art God VVith thee I can do anie thing, without thee nothing, my strength: thou semest sometimes not to regard [...]e, why hast thou repelled me? and why goe I sorowful, whiles tentations are more sensible then thy grace. whiles the enemie afflicteth me?

3 Send forth As thou hast sent Christ the light and truth into this world, gr [...]nt vs the same now in particular. thy light and thy truth: These two giftes of God, the light of knowing our duties and truth with sincere intention to performe the same haue brought vs into thy Church, and vnto thy Altar. they haue conducted me, and haue brought me into thy holy hil, and into thy tabernacles.

4 † And Accompanied with light of truth, and sincere intention, we confidently approch to thy [...] Altar ô God, I wil goe in to the altar of God: to God, which vvho changest our old corruption into newnes of li [...]e. maketh my youth ioyful.

5 [Page 86]† I'wil confesse to thee But to this purpose we praise God on the harpe, mortisying our affections. on the harpe The former word is of the plural number in hebrevv, Eloim, the other of the singular, signifying the Blessed Trinitie, one God. ô God The former word is of the plural number in hebrevv, Eloim, the other of the singular, signifying the Blessed Trinitie, one God. my God: Thou needest not therfore my soule, be pensiue, or desolate. why art thou sorowful ô my soule? and dost thou trubel me?

6 † But trust in God, Hope in God, because yet praise him, wil I cōfesse to him: the saluation vvhom I hope to see face to face, of my countenance, and the true eternal God. my God.

PSALME. XLIII.
† Vnto Though this Psalme doth first and literally pertayne to the people of Israel, yet al thinges happening to them, vvere in figure of the Christian Catholique Church, vvhich begane vvith difficulties, aftervvards prospered, and againe suffereth much persecution the end, for the sonnes of Core signifieth caluus, bauld; also caluar [...]a a scul, or place of sculles: the name of the place vvhere our Sauiour vvas crucified, so the children of Core signifie the children of Christ. S. Aug. Core to vnderstanding.

The prophet describeth the first calling, and difficulte state of the Iewish The state of the Ievves. The 4. key. nation, 6. their prosperitie at other times. 10. Againe their afflictions in captiuitie, and persecutions.

1 O GOD we haue heard with our eares: our fathers haue 2 declared to vs.

The The particular calling of Abraham out of Chaldea, protection of him, and Isaac, and Iacob, the deliuerie of al Israel out of Aegypt, and establishing them in the promised land of Chanaan, with innumerable, great, and strange thinges donne for them. worke, that thou hast wrought in their dayes: and in the dayes of old.

3 † Thy hand destroyed the nations, and thou didst plant them: thou didst afflict the peoples, and expel them:

4 † For The Israelites conquered not by ordinarie povvre, but by the miraculous hand of God. See Iosue 2 [...]. not by their owne sword did they possesse the land, and their owne arme did not saue them:

But thy right hand, and thyne arme, and the illumination of thy countenance: because Not that this people deserued of themselues, but of Gods free election, al the vvorld being vvicked, he gaue peculiar grace to Abraham, Isaac, Iacob and some others, and then for their [...]akes protected the vvhole people, in them conseruing a visible Church. thou wast pleased in them.

5 † Thou art the same my king and my God: which commandest the saluations of Iacob.

6 † In As in former examples, so in Dauids time, not mans streingth, but Gods hand gaue them great victories. thee we shal turne out our enemies with As an oxe vvith his horne casteth a smal thing into the vvind. the horne, & in thy name we shal contemne them that ryse vp against vs.

7 [Page 87]† For I wil not hope in my bowe: and my sword wil not saue Ios. 24. [...] R [...]. 17. 2. Reg. 8. me.

8 † For thou hast saued vs from them that afflict vs: and them that hate vs thou hast confounded.

9 † In God we shal be praysed al the day: and in thy name we wil confesse for euer.

10 † But The prophet for [...]eile [...]h that after prosperitie God vvould suffer the Ievves to sa [...]e into captiuitie, & manie afflictions, which also sign fied allegorically diuers states of Christs Church. now thou hast repelled and confounded vs: and thou wilt not goe forth ô God in our hostes.

11 † Thou hast turned vs backe behind our enemies: and they that hated vs, spoyled for themselues.

12 † Thou hast geuen vs as sheepe that are to be eaten: and thou The Iewes are now meruelously dispersed, and depressed. hast dispersed vs among the nations.

13 † Thou hast sold thy people In the destruction of Ierusalem the remnant of the people were sold for smal, as it wree for no price. They had sold Christ for thirtie pence; without price: and there was and now no multitude, nor number of money at al was geuen for them, but thirtie of them were sold for one pennie, Iosephus de bello Iudaico. no multitude in the exchanges of them.

14 † Thou hast made vs a reproche to our neighbours, a scorne and mocking stocke to them, that are round about vs.

15 † Thou hast made vs for a parable to the Gentiles: a wagging of the head among the peoples.

16 † Al the day my shame is against me, and the confusion of my face hath couered me.

17 † At the voyce of the vpbrayder, and the reprocher: at the face of the enemie and persecutor.

18 † Al these thinges haue come vpon vs, Vntil Christs passion the Jewish people did not wholly fal from God, and true religion. And of them were chosen the Apostles, and manie others, that founded and propagated the Church of Christ. neither haue we forgotten thee: and we haue not done wickedly in thy testament.

19 † And our hart hath not reuolted backward: and The negatiue particle is here vnderstood by zeugma, according to the hebrew thus: our hart hath not reuolted backward, neither hast thou suffered our pathes to decline frō thy way. thou hast declined our pathes from thy way:

20 † Because thou hast humbled vs in the place of affliction, and the shadow of death hath couered vs.

21 † An other hebrew phraise, If we haue, for, we haue not. If we haue forgotten the name of our God, and if we haue spred forth our handes to a strange God:

22 [Page 78]† Wil not God enquire of these thinges? For he knoweth the secretes of the hart.

Because The Prophetes and others persecuted partly before Christ, much more the Apostles, and other Christians in the new Testament. for thee we are killed al the day: we are estemed as Rom. [...]. sheepe of slaughter.

23 † A prayer in affliction. Arise why sleepest thou ô Lord? Arise, and expel vs not to the end.

24 † Why dost thou turne away thy face, forgettest our pouertie and our tribulation?

25 † Because We are at death; dore, readie to become dust. our soule is humbled in the dust: our lying as groueling sorowing on the earth: bellie is gl [...]wed in the earth.

† til thou deliuer vs from these tribulations. Arise Lord, helpe vs: and redeme vs for thy name. 26

PSALME. XLIIII.
† Vnto Perteyning to the new Testament. the end, for them, Gentiles conuerted from paganisme to Christianitie: that shal be changed, and al others returning from schisme, or other sinnes, to the sonnes of Core, for their instruction, for vnderstanding, this Psalme is a mariage songue of the beloued bridgrome and bride: Christ and his Church. a Canticle for the beloued.

Dauid singularly moued in hart and tongue, 3. prophecieth Christs excellencie, Christ most excellently indowing his Church. The 6. key. indowing his Church with most worthie dowries. 11. by way of exhortation forshewing her internal and external beautie. 17. with perpetual succession of Pastors feeding the flock euen to the worlds end.

1 MY I haue receiued by diuine inspira [...]ion in my hart and cogitation, hart hath vttered a most high Mysterie. a good word: I tel my workes 2 To the honour therfore and glorie of this king (vvhom I secretly see in my hart) I vtter and referre al my vvorkes, and this particular Ca [...]t [...]cle. to the king.

My From the abundance of my hart, my tongue also speaketh, tongue is the penne of a scribe, that & that presently without delay writeth swiftly.

3 † Description of Christ, most excellent in al internal and external giftes. Goodly of beautie aboue the sonnes of men, grace is powred abrode in thy lippes: therfore hath God blessed thee for euer.

† Be The prophet seing in spirite the perfections which he wisheth in Christ, in maner of congratulating, describeth his fortitude, fighting against the diuel for the Church. girded with thy sword vpon thy thigh, ô most mightie. 4

5 [Page 89]† With thy beautie and fayrnesse purposing, intend, prosecuting, procede prosperousely, and and perfecting the conquest, and so establishing thy spiritual kingdome. reigne,

Because of Not vvith warlike armour of this world, but by assaulting the aduersarie with truth: truth, and defending thyse [...]fe and thy souldiers with the shield of mildnes, mildenesse, and and striking the enemie with the sword of iustice VVhich right force of spiritual fight hath meruelous good successe. iustice: and thy right hand shal conduct thee meruelously.

6 Thy Preaching of Christs Gospel, his grace mouing the hartes of the hearers, is liuelie and forcible, more pearcing then anie two edged sword. sharpe arrowes, the The example of people conuerted, shal moue the hartes of the aduersaries to come also vnto the truth. peoples vnderneth thee shal fal into the hartes of the kings enemies.

7 † “ Thy seate ô God Christs kingdom shal haue no end. Luc 1. v. 33. for euer and euer: a rod of direction the rod of thy kingdom.

8 Thou Thou defendest and rewardest the good, finally forsakest and punishest the wicked. hast loued iustice, and hast hated iniquitie: therfore God, more peculiarly the God of Christ, by hypostatical vnion. thy God, hath annoynted thee with the oile of gladnes Diuers kinges (as Dauid him selfe, Iosaphat, Ezechias, and Iosias) were as godlie as Salomon, and perseuered good to the end, which is doubted Salomon did not: but Christ incomparably was annointed, & indued with al graces aboue al kinges. aboue thy felowes.

† Mortification which conserueth from putrifying, Myr [...]he, and humilitie aswaging pride, Aloes, and being smal in the first spring grovveth great, Cassia from thy humanitie assumpted; and sanctified persons, in vvhom Christ dwelleth as in cleane, shining, odoriferous houses; garmentes, 9 from houses of yuorie; out of the which † sincere faithful soules more deare to their spouse Christ, then daughters of temporal kinges the daughter of 10 kinges haue delighted thee in thy honour.

11 The The Catholique Church, in faith purified as gold: Queene stood on thy right hand in golden rayment: compassed with vvith varietie of states▪ as Clergie, Laity and diuers sortes of religious Orders, and other professions, al vnited in the same faith, hope, and charitie. varietie.

carifully al that Christ thy spouse speaketh to thee by his Spirite Heare daughter, and diligently put the same in practise: see, and vvith al obedience and readines, and returne not to former infidelitie, no [...] to corrupt life. incline thyne eare: and forget thy people, and the house of thy father.

12 † And the king Christ loueth the Church adoined with his giftes, wil couet thy beautie: because he is the Lord thy God, and and mutually his true children loue and serue him. they shal adore him.

13 [Page 90]† And the daughters Manie of al nations submitle themselues, and al that they haue to Christ. of Tyre with giftes, al the rich of the people shal besech thy countenance.

† Al the glorie of that daughter of the king is Internal vertues are most especial ornaments: within, in 14 exterior are required to edifie others in diuers sortes of vertues. borders of gold † clothed round about with varieties. 15

By this meanes manie more are conuerted to christianitie: Virgins shal be brought to the king after her: her and one countrie inuiteth and draweth another. neighbours shal be brought to thee.

16 † They shal be brought in ioy and exultation: “they shal be brought into the temple of the king.

17 † “ For As Apostles came in place of Patriarches and Prophetes: so stil Bishops, and Priestes succede in the Church, pastors, and gouernours therof. thy fathers there are borne sonnes to thee: thou shalt make them princes ouer al the earth.

18 † They shal These pastores shal stil teach the true Christian doctrin. be mindeful of thy name in al generation and generation.

Therfore shal and stil there shal be Christian people that wil folow and professe the same. peoples confesse to thee for euer: and for euer and euer.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XLIIII.

7. Thy seate Ô God for euer and euer.] Seing S. Paul (Heb. 1. v. 8.) affirmeth expresly that these wordes are spoken of the Sonne of God, Christ our Sauiour, Caluin expoundeth this Psalme contratie to S. [...]aul. and therby proueth his excellencie aboue Angels: Iohn Caluin is wonderful bold to auouch that in the simple & proper sense, Dauid spake of his sonne Salomon, and the daughter of Pharao, as if that were the literal sense, and S. Paul only expounded it mystically. But first the solemne preface in the two first verses importeth farre greater thinges, then agree to anie terrestrial king Secondly, this excellent beautie described (v. 3.) aboue the sonnes of men, can not be verified of Salomon, for Absalom (2. Reg. 14. v 25.) and Adonias were also very beautiful. (3. Reg. 1. v. 6.) As for Salomons wisdom, or other vertues, he perseuered not therin, and so he was not blessed for euer. Thirdly, the prophet here calleth the person of whom, and to whom he speaketh, God. v. 7. & 12. Fourtly, not only the ancient Fathers, and Doctors of the Church, but also the Hebrew Rabbins, and the Chaldee paraphrasis, expound this Psalme literally of the promised Messias, and his kingdom the Church.

16. They shal be brought into the temple of the king.] The temple of the king, saith S. Augustin, is the Church, the temple of the king is in vnity, the temple of the No saluation out of the Church. king is not ruinous, not cut insunder, not diuided▪ the ioyning of liuing stones is charitie. Nothing is more euidenr. Attend now the verie temple of the king, for from thence he speaketh, because of the vnitie spread in the round earth. For those that vvould be virgins (faithful soules) vnles they be brought into the temple of the king (the Catholique Church) they can not please the bridgrome.

[Page 91]17. For thy fathers there are borne sonnes to thee.] The Apostles begotte thee (ô Christian Church) they were sent, they preached, they are the fathers. But could they be alwaies corporally with vs? Could anie of them tarie here til this time? could they tarie to the time yet to come? But vvas therfore the Church Perpetual succession of Byshops in place of the Apostles. leaft desolate by their departure? God forbid. For thy fathers, sonnes are borne to thee. VVhat is this for thy fathers, sonnes are borne to thee? The Apostles were sent fathers, in place of the Apostles sonnes are borne to thee; Byshops are appointed. For whence were the Bishops borne, that are at this day through the vvorld? the Church herselfe calleth them fathers, [...]he begate them, and appointed them in the seates of the fathers. Do not therfore thinke thy self desolate (o christian Church) because thou seest not Peter, seest not Paul: for thou seest not them by vvhom thou wast borne, but of thyne issue fatherhood is sprong to thee For thy fathers, sonnes are borne to thee, thou shalt make them princes ouer al the earth. This is the Catholique Church. Her children are made princes ouer al the earth: her sonnes are constituted for fathers. Let them acknowlege this that are cut of: let them come to the vnitie, be they brought into the temple of the king. Thus S. Augustin.

PSALME. XLV. The Church prospereth also in persecution. The 6. key.
† Vnto Belonging to the Church of Christ. the end, to the sonnes of Core, for As wel the cause, vvhy God suffereth his Church to be persecuted, at his assured protection in difficulties, are hidden secretes to the world. the secretes.

The Church in persecution acknowledgeth Gods perpetual defence, 5. making her therby more glorious, 10. sometimes granting rest (11. God himself ckecking the persecuters) and euer protecting her.

1 OVR God is a refuge. Al refuge is not secure for one man is not able alwayes to defend an other: but God is a sure and strong refuge. and strength: an euer able and in conuenient time vvilling to helpe helper in tribulations, 2 which This whole vvorld is ful of tribulations, but the Church suffered the greatest in the first persecutions, & shal suffer as great in the time of Antichrist. English Catholiques suffer most of al nations in this age, and can not be suppressed, but stil increase in number and fortitude. haue found vs excedingly.

3 † Therfore wil we Therfore al Catholiques may assuredly know, that the whole Church can not faile not feare when though very manie, as now in England, the earth shal be trubled: and and very eminent persons, as some noblemen, and some Priestes haue reuolted, yet al vvil not. mountaines transported into the hart of the sea.

4 † Their waters haue sounded, and were trubled: the mountaines were trubled in his strength.

5 † The violence of the riuer Such bad examples make the good to recollect themselues more diligently, and to rei [...]yc [...] in Gods grace, by which they stand fast. maketh the citie of God ioyful: the Highest hath sanctified his tabernacle.

6 † God is in the middes therof, it shal not be moued: God wil helpe it before the heate of persecution shal inuade al, for the elect the dayes of tribulation are shortned. in the morning early.

7 [Page 92]† Nations are trubled, and Sometimes one nation or kingdome rebelleth against the Church, but can not destroy it▪ kingdomes are inclined: he gaue by the spirite of Christ, Antichrist, and al his members shal be destroyed. his voice, the earth was moued

† The Lord of hostes is with vs: the God of Iacob is our defender. 8

† Come ye, and see the workes of our Lord, what wonders he 9 hath put vpon the earth: † The Church sometimes hath great peace, and tranquilitie. taking away warres euen vnto 10 the end of the earth.

He shal destroy bow, & breake weapons: and shields he shal burne with fire.

11 † God himselfe restrayneth the wicked, suddainly abating their furie, or cutting of their forces. Be quiet, and see that I am God: I shal be exalted among the gentiles, and I shal be exalted in the earth▪

† The Lord of hostes is with vs: the God of Iacob is our defender.

PSALME. XLVI. Vocation of Gentiles▪ The 6. key.
† Vnto the end, for For Christians that leaue the sinnes of their fathers, and reioyce in Christ crucified: See Annotation. Psal. 41. the sonnes of Core.

Gentiles are called, and inuited to praise God for his magnificence: 6. for Christs Ascension, and powre.

2 ALYE Nations True ioy of the hart sheweth it sel [...]e both in voice of exultation, and also in gesture of body, by clapping of handes, dancing (as king Dauid did before the Arke. 2▪ Reg [...] ▪) likevvise vvith instruments. clappe handes: make iubilation to God in the voyce of exultation.

3 † Because our Lord is high, To al the wicked, terrible; a great king ouer not only of one or few kingdoms, but of al the earth. al the earth.

4 † He hath made peoples subiect VVhen kinges, and countries become Christians▪ they are made subiectes to the Church▪ that vvas before, not heades and rulers therfore. to vs▪ & gentiles vnder our feete.

5 † He hath chosen his inheritance in vs: the beautie of Iacob which he loued.

6 † Christ God & man, after his Passion, rose from death and ascended: God is ascended in not leauing his Church desolate, but making her ioyful by an other comforter the Holie Ghost. iubilation▪ and our Lord in the voice of trumpet.

[Page 93]† Sing ye to our The same Christ is our God, by his Diuinitie: God, sing ye: Sing ye to our and our king by his Humanitie. king, sing ye. 7

† Because God is king of al the earth: sing ye Doe your endeuour to vnderstand vvhat you sing, read, or heare in Gods word. At least to know the principal Mysteries, and pointes of Christian doctrin, euerie one according to their capacitie and state or profession. wisely. 8

9 † God shal reigne ouer the gentiles: God sitteth vpon his holie seate.

10 † Princes of peoples are gathered together with The faithful of the old and nevv Testament are vnited in the seruice of one, and the same eternal God. the God of Abraham: because the strong In respect of the Blessed Trinitie, holie Scripture here, and in manie places vseth names of the plural number as Eloim Goddes, not diuiding Gods substance, vvhich is one, but insinuating distinction of Diuine Persons. The Father, the Sonne, and the Holie Ghost. VVhich Mysterie is more expresly mentioned in Baptisme, and professed by Christian gentils, then it was by the people of the Ievves. goddes of the earth, are excedingly aduanced.

PSALME XLVII.
A Psalme Voices beginning the musike instruments prosecuted; of Canticle to the sonnes of Core, the especially for the second day of the weke, the day after the sabbath, which is our Sunday, called Dominica, our Lords day. second of the Sabbath.

God most, and euerie where laudable, is especially praised in the Church of The Church founded and protected by God The 6. key. Christ (prefigured by Sion, and there begunne) 9. Al thinges being fulfilled in the Church, euen as they were prophecied, and promised, 12. the faithful are exhorted to consider and congratulate the same.

1 GREAT is our Lord, and to be praysed excedingly in 2 Ierusalem, and mount Sion were most obliged to praise God, for greatest benefites receiued, so the Catholique Church therby prefigured, and hauing receiued farre greatter▪ is most of al bonden to be gratful. the citie of our God, in his holie mount.

3 † Mount Sion is founded with the exultation of This can▪not be affirmed of Sion, or Ierusalem, but is only verified of the Catholique Christian Church: the whole earth, whose coastes do extend to the North, and to al quarters of the round earth. the sides of the North, the citie of the great king.

4 † God shal be knowen in The same one God▪ one Christ, one Faith, and one Religion in al particular Churches of the vvhole militant Church▪ the houses therof, And this Vniuersalitie, and Vnitie shal be, after that Christ taking mans nature shal be ascended, and shal send the Holie Ghost, to found & beginne this Church. when he shal receiue it.

5 † For behold the kings of the earth For the assured certaintie of that is foreshewed, the Prophet speaketh in the prete [...]ence▪ as if it vvere already done in his time, which he then savv in spirite. were gathered together: they assembled in one.

[Page 94]† They seing it so, were in admiration, were trubled, were 6 moued: † trembling tooke them. 7

8 Their sorowes Nothing more moueth he hart, & affecteth al the bodie and soule, then spiritual cogitations of faith and religion, and therfore it is compared to a woman traueling with child, who hath mo [...] careful and greuous paines. as a woman traueling, † In a vehement spirit In vvhich great confflict of mans spirite, God by his grace geueth force, to breake through the contrarie assaultes of our enimie, to remoue al impediments, and to ouercome the difficulties. thou shalt breake the shippes of Tharsis.

9 † This consideration that al is now done, that was of old prophecied, is a meruelous confirmation and consolation to Christians. As we haue heard, so haue we seene in the citie of the Lord of hostes, in the citie of our God: God hath founded it for euer.

10 † We haue receiued thy mercie, ô God, Grace and mercie is only granted to those that are vvithin, or come vnto the Catholique Church. in the middes of thy temple.

11 † According to thy name ô God, so also is thy prayse vnto the endes of the earth: thy right hand is ful of As God is praised for his mercie, so also for his iustice; which do neuer preiudice the one the other. iustice.

12 † Let mount Sion be glad, and the daughters of Iuda reioyce, because of thy iudgementes ô Lord

† Compasse Sion, and embrace ye her: Consider the fortresses of the Church, which are the holie Fathers, and Doctors, that watch and defend her vvalles. tel ye in her towers. 13

14 † Set your hartes So rest you assured for al matters of faith in this pillar of truth. on her strength: and obserue and marke diligently how manie particular Churches were spedely founded in the world, distribute ye her houses, that you and declare this to other generations, that they may also hold fast the same faith, or returne vnto it, if they be relapsed; or at last embrace it, if sowner they haue not. may declare it in an other generation.

15 † Because Christ God incarnate that vvorketh al this, is our very God and Sauiour, not for a few yeares, an hundred, six hundred, or a thousand, but for euer and euer. this is God, our God for euer, and for euer and euer: he he shal rule as a king, and consequently haue a kingdom his militant Church euermore, to the very end of this vvorld. As he shal like vvise haue his triumphant Church in eternitie. shal rule vs euermore.

PSALME. XLVIII.
† Vnto the end, In this and diuers other titles, both before and ye: ensuing, is said, To the sonnes, or, for the sonnes of Core, a Psalme, or Canticle, or vnderstanding & the like; but in no place, a Psalme, Canticle &c. of the sonnes of Core, vvhich no way proueth that they vvere the authores of such Psalmes, but rather the contrarie. to the sonnes of Core a Psalme. 1

The royal prophet inuiting al states and sortes of men, to heare him attentiuely, Exhortation [...]o flee from sinne for feare of hel▪ The 7. key. 6 sheweth that al ought to feare eternal damnation, that liue wickedly▪ 9. vainly and foolishly seeking (13. euen like brute beastes) carnal pleasures, which they can not long enioy, nor long escape hel. 16. confidently animating him selfe, and al good men, that trust not in this world.

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2 HEARE these thinges Al ye nations and sortes of people, al ye Gentiles: receiue with your eares al ye, that that dwel vpon the earth, lerne this lesson vvhich I wil teach you. inhabite the earth.

3 † Al ye earthly persons, and children of men: together in one the rich and the poore.

4 † My mouth shal speake wisedom, and the meditation of my hart prudence.

5 † I wil Holie Dauid harkened to God inspiring him, incline mine eare vnto a parable: I wil and declared to others that vvhich he receiued from God, open my proposition not only by his penne or tongue, but also for better instilling it into their mindes he sounded it vpon the instrument called the Psalter, vvhich had t [...]nne stringes, signifying the obseruation of the tenne commandments. on a Psalter.

6 † What especial thing is there in this life, vvhy or for vvhich I or anie haue cause to feare [...]he dreadful day of iudgement? Why shal I feare in the euil day? Marry this we must feare, iniquitie, by which any supplanteth, defraudeth, oppresseth, or anie vvay wrongeth others, for that vvil inuolue the offender in the sentence of eternal damnation. the iniquitie of my heele shal compasse me.

7 † They Such be they that trust in their present powre, riches, or other wordlie thing. that trust in their strength: and glorie in the multitude of their riches.

8 † A A mans owne brother can not helpe a sinner in that day, brother doth not redeme, much lesse anie other man; so the Hebrew phraise by zeugma, vnderstandeth an other negatiue particle. man shal redeme: he shal not geue vnto God his reconciliation.

† And the price of the redemption of his owne soule: and he 9 shal stil suffer paine, labour for euer, † and and not dye, but liue in eternal torments. shal liue yet vnto the end. 10

11 † He shal not see death, when he shal see Al both wise and foolish do dye temporally: but the wise liuing in eternal ioy, the foolish liue in eternal paine, the wise dying those that beleue not anie other life after this, the vnwise, and and those that beleuing an other life, yet liue badly in this, shal perish in eternal damnation. the foole shal perish together.

12 And they shal leaue their riches to strangers: † and their They shal neuer returne from their sepulchers, sepulchers their to enioy againe their houses and earthlie possessions. houses for euer.

Their Tabernacles in generation and generation: they haue renowmed their which vainely they labour to establish in their posteritie. names in their landes.

13 [Page 96]† And A most pithie and brief consideration, for man to thinke, how absurdly, he being endewed with reason, vnderstanding, & free wil, like vnto Angels, and capable of eternal glorie, setteth his vvhole studie, and care vpon corporal and temporal thinges, so making himselfe like vnto brute beastes. man, when he was in honour, did not vnderstand: he was compared to beasts without vnderstanding, and became like to them.

14 † This their way is This care of wordlie thinges is the stumbling block, and cause of eternal ruine: a scandal to them: and yet they shal be obstinate, and praise their owne desires, stil persisting therin. afterward in their mouth they shal take pleasure.

15 † As Amongst other creatures a sheepe can least helpe her selfe in miserie: euen so the damned in hel are altogether vnable to deliuer themselues from thence, or to get any relief, sheepe they are put in hel: death shal feede vpon them. And the iust shal rule ouer them in the general resurrection they shal be most of al in miserie, as euer dying and neuer dead: the iust vvhom they vvronged, shal be their iudges, al freindes shal faile them, after they haue passed their glorie, and pleasure in this vvorld. in the morning: and their aide shal waxe old in hel from their glorie.

16 † Neuerthelesse The confidence of the iust. God wil redeme my soule out of the hand of hel, when he shal take me.

17 † Feare not when a man shal be made rich: and when the glory of his house shal be multiplied,

18 † Because when he shal dye, he shal not take He shal leaue al worldlie thinges and take nothing with him. al thinges: neyther shal his glorie goe downe with him.

19 † Because his soule in his life shal be temporally: blessed: he wil confesse to thee so long as he enioyeth wordlie profites he wil seme gratful to God; when thou shalt do him good.

20 † He shal enter in, euen to the progenies of his fathers: and he shal but they shal not see the true light of heauen. not see light for euer.

21 † Remember and consider ô worldlie man, that God made thee an excellent creature: which thou neglecting makest thyself like to a beast. As, v. 13. Man, when he was in honour, did not vnderstand: he was compared to beasts without vnderstanding, and became like to them.

PSALME. XLIX.
† A Psalme To be songue or tuned by Asaph a maister of musike. to Asaph.

Christ in his first coming calleth al Nations. 3. in his second wil iudge the General Iudgement. the 9. Key. world. 7. In the meane time God exhorteth al men to serue him in puritie of vertue, which he much preferreth before external sacrifice of the old law. 17. reprehending such as professe or teach the right way, and liue wickedly.

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1 THE God almightie, who is greater then are al falsly supposed goddes, or holie persons, that patticipating of his goodnes are called goddes (as Kinges, Priestes, Iudges) coming into this world in mans nature, calleth al men to saluation. God of goddes our Lord hath spoken: and he 2 hath called the earth, from the rysing of the sunne euen to the going downe.

† Out The Church of Christ began in Sion. of Syon the beauty of his comelines. 2

3 † God wil come Christ that came in humilitie, and more obscurely to suffer, and to redeme vs, vvil come i [...] maiestie, and manifestly to iudge. manifestly: our God and he wil not kepe silence. Immediately before the general iudgement, fire shal burne al transitorie thinges. Fire shal burne forth in his sight: and round about him a mighty tempest.

4 † He shal Geue signes in the firmament, cal the heauen from aboue: and and in earth. the earth to discerne his people.

5 † Gather ye together his saincts vnto him: which ordaine his testament VVhich know that to keepe Gods commandments in folowing vertues, is aboue the oblation of external sacrifice. aboue sacrifices.

6 † And the heauens shal shew forth his iustice: because God is Iudge.

7 † God instructeth his people. Heare ô my people, and I wil speake: Israel, and I wil testifie to thee: God thy God am I.

8 † I wil not rebuke thee in thy sacrifices: and thy holocaustes Sacrifices are gratful to God. are in my sight alwaies.

9 † I wil but in regard that God needeth not these earthly thinges, he rather requireth a gratful mind. For otherwise man in dede can geue nothing to God: seing al that is in the whole world is Gods owne in proprietie not take calues out of thy house: nor buckegoats out of thy flockes.

10 † Because al the wilde beasts of the woods be myne, the cattle in the mountaines and oxen.

11 † I haue knowne al the foules of the ayer: and the beauty of the fielde is with me.

12 † If I shal be hungrie, I wil not tel thee: for the round earth is myne, and the fulnes therof.

13 † Wil I eate the flesh of oxen? or wil I drinke the blood of bucke goats?

14 [Page 98]† Spiritual sacrifice of prayse. Immolate to God“ the sacrifice of praise, and & due payment of voluntarie vowes made in honour of God, pay thy vowes to the Highest.

15 † And and praying to him for helpe in tribulation are most grateful. inuocate me in the day of tribulation: I wil deliuer thee, and thou shalt glorifie me.

16 † But to the sinner God hath sayde: He that wil teach others, must especially flee from sinne, & serue God sincerly. Why doest thou declare my iustices, and takest my testament by thy mouth?

† But thou hast hated discipline: & cast my words behind thee. 17

18 † If thou didst see a theefe, thou didst rune with him: and with adulterers thou didst put thy portion.

19 † Thy mouth hath abounded with malice: and thy tongue fourged guiles.

† Sitting thou spakest against thy brother, and against thy mothers 20 sonne thou didst put a scandal: † these things hast thou 21 done, and I haue held my peace.

† Thou hast thought vniustly that I wil be like thee: I wil reproue thee, and set it against thy face.

22 † Vnderstand these things you that forget God: lest sometime he take you violently and there be none to deliuer you.

23 † The“ sacrifice of prayse God is honored by mans gratitude, and other good workes. shal glorifie me: and there is the way, by which I wil shew him the saluation of God.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XLIX.

14. 23. The sacrifice of praise.] For better and more due performing of external Sacrifice of praise disposeth men to the fruit of external sacrifice. sacrifice, it is requisite, that those which offer it, or desire to participate, do bring with them necessarie internal vertues, or disposition; as sorow and repentāce for their sinnes, which is a kind of improper sacrifice (mentioned in the next Psalme) the sacrifice of iustice, which rendereth ro euerie one that is due (Psal. 4.) and sacrifise of praise, or thankes geuing, for al Gods benefites receiued or expected; which kindes of internal and improper sacrifices, do nothing preiudice, but rightly prepare men to the fruict of external sacrifice, euer vsed in the law of nature, the law of Moyses, and of Christ. This place also hath an other higher and prophetical sense, of the Sacrifice of Christs bodie in the Eucharist, which is both propitiatorie, and Sacrifise of praise and thankes geuing. So S. Augustin (orat. aduersus Iudeos. c. 6.) teacheth, that here certainly is a plaine change of the old sacrifices. The same he affirmeth Ep. 120. c. 18. God foreshewing that the old sacrifices should be changed, which were offered The Sacrifice of the Eu harist prophecied. in shadow of a sacrifice to come. I wil not take (faith God to Israel) calues nor goares at thy hand, &c. but appointeth that al Israel (al nations from the rysing of the sunne to the setting) shal immolate the sacrifice of praise, the same Christ, whom old Simeon knew an infant, whom he receiued into his handes: Likewise, li. contra aduers. legis & prophet. c. 20. The Church offereth to God in the bodie of Christ the sacrifice of praise.

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PSALME. L.
† Vnto Pertayning not only to Dauid, but also to al penitentes, especially of the new testament▪ the end, a Psalme of Dauid, †“ when Nathan the 1 Prophet came to him, after that he had sinned with Bethsabee. (2. Reg. 12.)

King Dauid in great sorow for his sinnes of adultrie and murder, most seriously prayeth God of his manifold mercies to remitte and purge al The fourth penitential Psalme. The 7. key. his offences, and paines due for them. 12. to restore vnto him the grace of the Holie Ghost, lost by his sinnes; 15. that he may teach others (as in deede his singular example may teach the whole world true penance) 19. contrition of hart, worthely to offer sacrifice, for the whole Church.

2 HAVE mercie on me ô God, My sinnes being very great, nede thy great mercie. according to thy great 3 mercie.

And according to Yea manie sortes of thy mercies: not only remission of the crimes, but also mitigation of the paines due for, the same. Thy merciful grace to be truly sorie, to make some part of satisfaction, to beware hereafter not to fal againe, to geue better example of penance, and of vertuous life, and to perseuer to the end. the multitude of thy commiserations, take away myne iniquitie.

4 †“ Wash me O God thou hast forgeuen me, and taken away my sinnes, as thy prophet hath told me (2. Reg. 12. v. 13.) but my soule so fouly polluted, nedeth yet more washing. more amply from mine iniquitie: & cleanse also the dregges that remaine, and al habites and inclinations to sinne. So our Sauiour afterwards taught. (Ioan. 13. v. 10.) He that is washed nedeth not sauing to wash his feere (il affections and reliques of former sinnes) but is cleane wholy. cleanse me from my sinne.

5 † VVhiles I did not know; not consider nor acknowledge my sinnes, I could not be forgeuen, but now I know and acknowledge them: Because I do know myne iniquitie: and my sinne is and I cease not to consider of them with sorow. before me alwaies.

6 † To thee Principally (for so this particle [only] here signifieth) the enormities of my sinnes consist, in that I haue offended thy Diuine Goodnes and Maiestie, the King of the worldes, immortal, inuisible, onlie God, to whom is due al honour and glorie for euer and euer. 1. Tim. 1. v. 17. onely haue I sinned, and haue done euil before thee: that thou mayst Thou which hast promised forgeuenes to al sinners that truly conuert, shal herein be iustified by receiuing me againe to grace: be iustified in thy words, and mayst and ouerthrow thy calumniators, that iudge wickedly of thy proceedings, as if either thy iustice or mercie were peruerted. ouercome when thou art iudged.

7 † For behold“ I I and al are burne in original sinne, the reliques wherof, concupiscence and weakenes incline vs to other sinne [...], which we haue added. In regard of which our infirmitie, thy mercie is readie to recal vs, and help vs. was conceiued in iniquities: & my mother conceiued me in sinnes.

8 [Page 100]† For behold thou Besides thou hast also geuen me knowledge of true faith, and right doctrine, which thou euer louest, and art accustomed to reduce, and direct such into the true way of penance. hast loued truth: yea thou hast moreouer shewed to me thinges vncertaine, or vnknowen to manie others, geuen me the gift and spirit of prophecie, to know hidde mysteries, and to euerie one God geueth some particular benefites, which he loueth in him, and is ready of his part to confirme and maintaine the same, that they be not lost. the vncertaine, and hidden thinges of thy wisdome thou hast made manifest to me.

9 † Thou shalt sprinkle me with Most merciful Lord thou wilt (as I see in the spirit of prophecie) sprinkle me, and al men with thy bloud, from the Crosse, where they shal geue thee vinegre about hyssoppe to drinke. (Ioan. 19.) hyssope, and I shal be clensed: thou shalt wash me, and I shal be made by which washing I shal be cleane from sinne, and become in time pure, yea whiter then snow. A figure of this hyssope was obserued in Moyses Law. Num. 19. signifying the liuelie heat of Christs infinite charitie. whiter then snow.

10 † To When myn affections shal be cleane purged, I shal take singular great delight to heare of thee, my hearing thou shalt geue ioy and gladnes, and and al my powres of mind and bodie, which are now afflicted, shal reioyce. the bones humbled shal reioyce.

† Leaue of thy cogitation of punishing, to which purpose first take away myn iniquities, [...]o [...] otherwise if they remaine, Gods iustice can not but punish them. Turne away thy face from my sinnes: and wipe away al mine iniquities.

12 † Create in me new grace, wherby my hart shal be pure. So S. Paul calleth a iust soul a new creature. Galat. 6. v. 15. Create a cleane hart in me ô God: and renew a right spirit in my u bowels. v In my invvard thoughtes.

13 † Cast me not away from thy face: and thy Holie spirit suffer me not so to fal againe, that thy grace depart from me. take not from me.

14 † Render vnto me which I had before my fal, of Christ promised of my seede, and alter not the same for my [...]n [...]es. Dauid also and other penitents pray here, that God wil restore vnto them the ioy, which they had in the state of grace, of eternal saluation promised; the ioy of thy saluation? and confirme & conserue in [...]e hereafter, a strong, constant, and willing spirite to perseuere. confirme me with the principal spirit,

15 † I No way can a penitent better shew him self gratful to God, for remission of his sinnes, the [...] by instructing, exhorting, and perswading other sinners to repentance, to leaue their former il wayes, and turne to God. Wil teach the vniust thy waies: and the impious shal be conuerted to thee.

16 † Deliuer me From the guilt and punishment of murder, causing Vrias and others with him to be slaine. Other penitents pray to be deliuered from what sinnes soeuer they haue committed, by sheding bloud, or other [...]gs and iniuries; promising to praise Gods iustice, in offering and geuing grace, accord [...] [...] promise to sinners, that they may repent. from bloudes ô God, the God of my saluation: and my tongue shal exult [ for] thy iustice.

17 [Page 101]† Lord, thou Thou [...] God first s [...]rring me vp, opening my lippes, which of my selfe I can not do, then my tongue and [...] wil praise thee. [...]lt open my lippes: & my mouth shal shew forth thy prayse.

18 † Because if thou If thou wouldest especially legal sacrifice, I would easily haue offered great store: wouldest haue had sacrifice, I had verily giuen it: with holocaustes thou wilt but the best of that kind is not sufficient: not be delighted.

19 A “ sacrifice to God is true contrition of hart pleaseth thee farre better. an afflicted spirit: a contrite, and humbled hait, ô God thou wilt not despise.

20 Deale fauorably ô Lord in thy good wil After a penitent hath remission of his owne sinnes, he must pray for the whole Church. with Sion: that the walles of Ierusalem may be built vp.

21 The Church prospering, her faithful children shal offer Then shalt thou accept sacrifice of the sacrifice of iustice, rendering to euerie one that is due; iustice, also free offeringes without obligation, k yea holocaustes, which is the chiefest, [...]ca [...]es, and like hostes vpon the altar, according to the state of the old law: but in the law of Christ, the most B. Sacrifice by him instituted. oblations, & k holocaustes: l then shal they lay calues vpon thyne altar.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. L.

2. VVhen Nathan came to Dauid.] As Nathan denouncing to Dauid that our Temporal punishment is due after remission of sinnes. Lord had (vpon his repentance and confession) taken away his sinne, added neuertheles that because he had made the enimies of God to blaspheme, his sonne should dye: so Dauid knowing that more was required then only confession, for that the bond of satisfaction remained after his sinnes were remitted, persisted in penance, praying, lamenting, and beseching God according to his great and mainfold mercies, to take away his iniquitie, albeit the prophet Nathan had now told him, that our Lord had taken away his sinne, because there yet remained temporal paine due for the same. He prayeth also v. 4. that God wil, vvash him more amply, from his iniquitie, and cleanse him from his sinne. Custome of sinne maketh more pronnes to fal againe. For albeit the guilt of mortal sinne be washed and taken away, yet besides temporal punishment that is due, the soule that was so polluted, nedeth to be washed, and cleansed from the euil habite, or pronnes to fal againe, gotten by the former custome, or delectation in sinne.

7. I VVas conceiued in iniquities.] An other reason why sinners after remission Cōcupiscence remaineth after original sinne. of al mortal sinnes, neede to be washed, and cleansed, is, because being borne in original sinne, after remission therof, there remaneth concupiscence, that [...]riueth against vertue, and inclineth to sinne, from which we must pray, and labour to be more and more washed and cleansed.

19 Sacrifice] Holie Scriptures make often comparison betwen two kindes of Spiritual sacrifice prefe [...] red before external. sacrifices, preferring internal before external, as more gratful to God. And of [Page 102] spiritual sacrifices, this of a contrite spirite is first in order, and maketh the way to the sacrifice of iustice, because iustice presupposeth repentance, and finally succedeth sacrifice of praise, and thankesgeuing.

PSALME. LI.
Vnto the end, vnderstanding to Dauid, † when Doeg Of the race of Esau, half a Ievv, but either an Infidel, or fautor of Infidels, a spie for Saul, a persecutor of Dauid, & a murderer of Innocents. 2. Reg. 22. v. 9. 18. the 1 Idumeite came and told Saul: Dauid is come into the house of High priest, slaine with 84. more Priestes and others, because they were supposed to fauour Dauid. ibidem. Achimelech. (1. Reg. 22.)

Holie Dauid inueigheth against wicked Doeg a traitor. 7. prophecieth his Dauids inuectiue against Doeg. the 8. key. ruine. 10. and his owne exaltation.

2 VVHY doest thou Thou persecutor Doeg, why art thou so malicious, to abuse thy credite with king Saul, to the murdering of innocents? glorie in malice, which art 3 mightie in iniquitie?

4 † Al the day hath thy tongue thought iniustice: as a sharp rasor thou playing the part of a spie, in betraying to Saul, that I was with Achimelech? hast done guile.

5 † Thou hast loued malice more then benignitie: Though he told a truth, yet it was iniquitie to betray innocents. iniquitie rather then to speake equitie.

6 † Thou hast loued al wordes of precipitation, a deceitful tongue.

7 † Therfore Wil God destroy thee for euer, he wil Thou shalt vtterly be destroyed. plucke thee out, & remoue thee out of thy tabernacle: & & al thy race. thy roote out of the land of the liuing.

† The iust shal see, and feare, and shal laugh at him, and they 8 shal say: Behold the man, that hath not put God for his helper. 9

But hath hoped in the multitude of his riches, and hath for a short time in this world. preualed in his vanitie.

10 † But I as Dauid prophecieth his owne exaltation, and conseruation of his seede in the kingdom of Israel. a fruitful oliue tree in the house of God, haue hoped in the mercie of God for euer: and for euer and euer.

11 † I wil Sing praise, and [...]a [...]kes to thee. confesse to thee for euer, because thou hast done it: and I wil expect thy thy Goodnes, which agreeth to thy name. name, because it is good in the sight of thy saints:

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PSALME. LII.
Vnto the end, for Weakenes, or mourning, Ma [...]leth; S. Augustin expoundeth this Psalme as an instruction to those that suffer persecution and iniuries, especially nere the end of the world. vnderstandings of Dauid.

As in the thirtenth Psalme, Christs Incarnation is prophecied, after that The general Iudgement. the 9. key sinne abunded in the world: so here is foreshewed that after general wickednes, 5. Christ wil come to iudge the bad, 7. and deliuer the good.

1 THE foole hath said in his hart: There is no God.

2 † They are corrupte, and become abominable in iniquities: there is not that doth good.

3 † God hath looked forth from heauen, vpon the children of men: to see if there be that vnderstādeth, or seeketh after God.

4 † Al haue declined, they are become vnprofitable together: there is not that doth good, no there is not one.

5 Shal they not al know that worke iniquitie, that deuoure my people as food of bread?

6 God they haue not inuocated: there haue they trembled for feare, where no feare was.

Because God hath God wil ouerthrow al the counsels, and forces dissipated the bones of them of worldlie politiques. that please men: they are confounded, because God hath despised them.

7 The true Church afflicted desireth Christs coming to deliuer the oppressed. Who wil geue out of Sion the saluation of Israel? when God shal conuert the captiuitie of his people: Iacob shal reioyce, and Israel shal be glad.

PSALME. LIII.
† Vnto Though historically this Psalme the end, was song by Dauid the author therof, shewing how he prayd in dauger, and rendered thankes for his deliuerie, in songs vnderstanding for Dauid † when 1 the Zipheites were come, and said to Saul: when vpon notice geuen that he abode in the mountaines, Saul straictly beseged him, with a great armie, but the Philistims inuading the countrie, Saul was forced to leaue Dauid, and to turne his forces against them, 1. Reg. 23 yet i [...] perceyneth also literally to al iust men in distresse, especially to the Church of Christ, praying in like dangers, and God by his like prouidence, deliuering his seruantes in extremities. Is not Dauid hid with vs? (1. Reg. 1. 23. & 26.)

Dauid in distresse crieth to God for helpe, 6. considently trusting therin, A praier in distresse. the 7. key. 8. and promising sacrifice of thankesgeuing.

2 [Page 104]O GOD saue me For the glorie of thy name in thy name: and in thy strength 3 for the iustnes of my cause defend me. iudge me.

4 † O God heare my prayer with thine eares: receiue the words of my mouth.

5 † Because Barbarous highland men haue betraide the place of myne abode to the persecuters. strāgers haue risen vp against me, & the strong haue sought my soule: and they haue not set God before their eies.

6 † For But I feare them not, because I am in Gods protection. behold God helpeth me: and our Lord is the receiuer of my soule.

7 † A iust prayer, that God wil turne intended mischief, vpon the deuisers heades, Turne away the euils to mine enimies: and in according to his promise, that he wil defend the innocent. thy truth destroy them.

8 † Offering voluntarie sacrifice, more then is commanded: I wil voluntarily sacrifice to thee, and and praise thee ô God, wil confesse to thy name ô Lord, because it is good:

9 † as I am bond Because thou hast deliuered me out of al tribulation: and I reioyce in thy iust iudgements against the wicked. mine eie hath looked downe vpon mine enimies.

PSALME LIIII.
Vnto A song as wel for king Dauid himselfe, as others of al times; the end, to sing, in songes, and consider Gods prouidence, in suffering one man to afflict an other in this life. vnderstanding to Dauid.

The prophet (as wel in his owne, as other iust mens person) describeth great Gods prouidence towards the good and bad. the 3. key. calamities suffered, 10. prayeth against the wicked, 13. lamenting especially that those which professe frendshipe, are aduersaries. 17. and declareth Gods prouidence in protecting the good, and destroying the bad.

1 HEARE my prayer ô God, despise not my petition. 2 † Attend to me; and heare me. 3

4 † I am made sorowful in my This life is awarefare, and a continual combate. exercise: and am trubled at the voice of the enimie: and at the tribulation of the sinner.

Because they haue calumniated me, wrested iniquities vpon me: & and persecuted me in great furie. in anger they were trublesome to me.

5 † My hart is trubled in me: and so inwardly afflicted, as if death were at hand. the feare of death is falne vpon me.

6 [Page 105]† Feare and trembling are come vpon me: and I haue scarse sense, or discourse of reason, being almost ouerwhelmed with trubles. darkenes hath couered me.

7 † And I said: would God I could flie, that in the simplicitie of a doue, I might spedely part away from these afflictions. Who wil geue me wings as of a doue, and I wil fly: and rest?

† I haue fled so farre as I could from trubles: Loe I haue gone far flying away: and I abode in the wildernes. 8

9 † I for the rest I remitted to Gods wil and good pleasure, expected him, that and he suffered me not to be ouerthrowne, saued me from though I am weake, pusillanimitie of spirit, and and the tentations are great. tempest.

10 † O God abate the pride of arrogant persecuters, Precipitate ô Lord, and suffer them not to agree amongst them selues. diuide their tongues: because I haue sene They are ful of al iniquitie, iniquitie, and they haue also contentions among themselues, turne the same to our good. contradiction in the citie.

11 † Day and night shal iniquitie compasse it vpon the walles therof; and VVith their continual great iniquitie, they haue their trubles, labour in the middest therof, and but leaue not their iniustice. iniustice.

12 † And there hath not ceased out of the streetes therof They are stil vsurers, and deceiptful oppressors of the poore. vsurie, and guile.

13 † For It is a greater griefe to suffer iniuries of those that seme to be freindes. if myne enimie had spoken euil to me, I would verely haue borne it.

And if he that hated me had spoken great thinges vpon me:

I would perhaps haue hid myselfe from him.

14 † But A man that was, or semed of the same mind, faith, and religion, thou a man of the same minde: my whom I so trusted, that I would haue gone, whithersoeuer he should haue ledde me. guide, and my familiar.

15 † Which diddest Thou that didst participate the same holie sacraments with me, take swete meats together with me, in the in the Catholique Church. house of God we walked with consent.

16 † Let As Core & his complices: spoken of iust zele, not of desire to reuenge: verified in those that sinne wittingly and knowing, for they descend, as it were, aliue into hel. death come vpon them: and let them goe downe quicke into hel.

Because there is wickednes in their habitations, in The whole crew of the wicked conspire in iniquitie. the middes of them.

[Page 106]† But I haue cried to God, and our Lord wil saue me. 17

18 † In The prophet alludeth to three more specially appointed houres of Diuine seruice, the daylie sacrifice at morning, and euening, and other sacrifices commonly about midday. VVhich also are the three principal times of Diuine Seruice in the Church of Christ. Martins, Euensong, and the Sacrifice of Masse. VVhich Eutyn [...]ius and other Grecians cal Lyturgiam. S. Clement also (li 7. c. 25. Apost. Instit) testifieth that the Apostles ordained three set houres of common prayer euerie day. the euening, and morning, & at midday, I wil [...]r pr [...] speake, and declare, and he wil heare my voice.

19 † He wil redeme my soule in peace from them, that approch to me: because among manie Manie enimies combined together approched vnto me, to ouerthrow me. they were with me.

20 † God wil heare, and he Eternal God. which is before the worldes wil humble them.

21 † For there is They wil neuer repent of their wickednes. no change with them, & they feared not God: he hath streached forth his hand in repaying.

22 † They haue contaminated his testament, they are They harden their hartes against his threatned wrath: diuided by the wrath of his countenance; and but Gods prouidente illuminateth others to know and teach the truth, when it is impugned, or contemned. his hart hath approched.

Gods wordes, which in them selues are meke and swete, His wordes are made softer then oile: and are hard to the incredulous, & as dartes that wound them. Christ said (Ioan. 6.) Vnles one eate my flesh, & drinke my bloud, he shal not haue life in him, which the Capharnaites not vnderstanding said one to an other: This is a hard speach, who can abide it? which S. Augustin here saith was the first heresie against our Sauiours, preaching. It was not hard to S. Peter, who in the name of the rest, answered, that Christ had the wordes of eternal life. He yet vnderstood not the secrete of our Lords speach, but he piously beleued that the wordes vvere good, vvhich he vnderstood not. the same are dartes.

23 † Therfore in al doubtes of doctrin, in al distresses of persecution, and other difficulties vvhich surpasse thy vveakenes, cast thy care vpon our Lord, and he vvil nourish thee. Cast thy care vpon our Lord: and he wil nourish thee: he wil not geue He vvil not suffer the iust to remaine alvvayes in fluctuation, that is, in doubtful, dangerous, and vvaue [...]ing thoughtes or perplexities, as vvhen a shippe is tossed in the vvaues of the sea, but vvil geue quiet repose of mind, as in a sure hauen vvithout danger of drovvning. fluctuation to the iust for euer.

24 † But thou ô God wilt bring Contrariwise, the wicked and obstinate shal fal into destruction. them downe into the pitte of destruction.

Often or for most part, bloud-suckers dye before the course of nature requireth, as Saul, Absolon, Achitophel, Achab, Iezabel, and the like. Bloudy and deceitful men shal not liue halfe their daies, but I wil hope in thee ô Lord.

[Page 107]

PSALME. LV.
Vnto This Psalme perteyneth also to future times, the end, for the vse of anie iust persons, or people, that are against their wil separated from the publike diuine Seruice of holie Church: for a people, that is made far from the Sainctes, Dauid in mo [...] worthie to be noted with tule, for perpetual memorie the inscription of the title, made by Dauid when the Philistims detected him to their king in Geth. when the foreners held him in Geth. (1. Reg. 12. v. 12.)

Dauid being in danger before Achis king of Geth, confidently implereth Dauids prayes in danger, the [...]. key. Gods helpe, against the great malice and powre of his enimies; 8. foretheweth their ruine, his owne exaltation, 12. and offereth praises and thankes.

1 HAVE mercie on me ô God, because Now one sorte of il disposed men, now another, man hath troden 2 vpon me: neuer cease to seeke my destruction. al the day impugning he hath afflicted me.

3 Myne enimies haue troden vpon me al the day: because they are Saul with his great armie, the Philistim [...]s, and other strangers, some in manifest hostilitie, others detecting and betraing me to myn aduersaries. So al that liue godly in Christ haue manie enimies visible and inuisible. manie that warre against me.

4 † From Of these most eminent great dangers I am in deede afeard, the height of the day I shal feare: but so that my trust and assured confidence is in thee ô God. but I wil trust in thee.

5 In God I wil praise Wordes and promises made to me; or the good which I speake or do by Gods grace. my wordes, in God haue I hoped: I wil not feare what flesh may do to me.

6 † Al the day did they They calumniate whatsoeuer I say, detest my wordes; against me, wresting al my wordes to euil sense. al their cogitations are vnto euil.

7 † They wil They meete together, and secretly conspire to intrappe me or catch me tripping. inhabite and keepe secret: they wil obserue my heele.

8 As they haue expected to take my life: my soule, † for this their vaine purpose to destroy me, thou wilt saue them, as they deserue, that is, for nothing shalt thou saue them: thou wilt breake them in peeces. in wrath thou wilt breake peoples.

6 O God, † I haue shewed my life to thee: thou hast set my teares in thy sight.

10 As also in thy promise: † then shal mine enemies be turned backeward.

[Page 108]In what day soeuer I shal inuocate thee: loe I haue knowne that thou art my God.

11 † In God I wil praise I wil alwayes gratfully acknowlege thy promises, and sayings, for they are assured. the word, in our Lord wil I praise thee saying, I haue hoped in God, I wil not feare what man can do to me.

12 † In me, ô God I haue purposed and vowed to offer sacrifice of praise, and by thy helpe wil performe it. are thy vowes, which I wil render, praises to thee.

13 † Because thou hast deliuered my soule from death, and my feete from falling: that I may do that pleaseth God, please before God, in in true faith and pious workes. the light of the liuing.

PSALME. LVI.
Vnto The heroical facts of Dauid are for examples to al Christians. the end, Innocent Dauid hauing opportunitie to kil his vniust persecutor, obeyed the motion of God, suggesting vnto him, not to destroy his enimie; contrarie to the counsel of his freindes: destroy not, to Dauid in a thing most worthie to be recorded for perpetual memorie, the inscription of the title, being in so great and vniust truble, as to lye in the caue of a mountaine, yet spared to kil, or hurt him, that driue him into such straictes See the historie 1. Reg. 24. when he fled from the face of Saul into the caue. 1. [...]. 22. 24.

The Prophet prayeth in tribulation, 4. testifieth Gods helpe, 6. praiseth his Dauids great patience. the 8. key. greatnes: 8. promising, and inuiting al nations to praise him.

1 HAVE mercie on me ô God, haue mercie on me: because 2 my soule hath trusted in thee.

And I wil hope in the shadow of thy winges, vntil iniquitie passe.

† I wil crie to God the highest: God that hath done me good. 3

4 † He sent Extraordinarie diuine helpe, passing mans powre. from heauen, and deliuered me: he hath geuen into It fel reprochfully to Saul, that Dauid might haue slaine him if he would, yet did neither hurt him, nor insult vpon him, but meekely and piously admonished him of his error, and iniurious persecution. reproche them that trode vpon me.

5 God hath sent his mercie, and his truth, † and hath deliuered my my life. soule out of the middes of from most mightie and rauenous persecuters. Lions whelpes: I slept trubled.

The sonnes of men, their Though they haue not lions natural teeth, yet they exercise crueltie by artificial weapons, teeth are weapons and arrowes: and their and with their cruel tongues incite their folowers to the same furie. 1. Reg. 22. v. 16. tongue a sharpe sword.

6 [Page 109]† Be exalted aboue the heauens ô God: and thy glorie vpon al the earth.

7 † They prepared a snare for my feete: and bowed downe my soule.

They Saul endeuored manie wayes to ouerthrow Dauid, amongst other meanes prouoked him to sette vpon the Philistims, thincking they should haue slaine him, 1. Reg. 18. v. 17. but the same Philistims ouerthrew Saul. 1 Reg. 31. digged a pit before my face: and they are falne into it.

8 † My hart is readie ô God, my hart is readie: I wil sing, and say Psalmes more in vse with Christian Gentils, then they were with the Iewes. See page, 12. a Psalme.

† Arise my glorie, arise psalter and harpe: I wil arise early. 9

10 † I wil confesse to thee among Gods benefites bestowed vpon Dauid, and vpon faithful Christians prefigured by him, are for euer to be praised by al peoples and nations. peoples ô Lord: and I wil say Psalmes more in vse with Christian Gentils, then they were with the Iewes. See page, 12. a Psalme to thee among Gods benefites bestowed vpon Dauid, and vpon faithful Christians prefigured by him, are for euer to be praised by al peoples and nations. the Gentiles.

11 † Because thy mercie is magnified euen to the heauens, and thy truth euen to the cloudes.

12 † Be axalted aboue the heauens ô God: and thy glorie vpon al the earth.

PSALME. LVII.
† Vnto This Psalme was made vpon the same occasion, and to the same purpose as the former, the end, to exhorte the iust and innocent to patience, destroy not, to Dauid in, by Dauids memorable example. the inscription of the title.

Holie Dauid inueigheth against dissembling wicked men. 7. describeth Gods prouidence in suffering euil. the 3. key. their manifold punishment, 11. wherin the iust shal be comforted.

1 IF Few are so wicked, but they speake and pretend iust thinges: in very dede you speake iustice: iudge right thinges 2 ye sonnes of men.

3 For in but neither thincke wel, the hart you worke iniquities: in the earth your nor do wel, but both contrarie, which feaned sanctitie is duble iniquitie. handes forge iniustice.

4 † Sinners are alienated from the matrice, they haue erred from the wombe: they haue spoken false thinges. g These wicked sinners that flatter and incite king Saul, seme to haue spent al their life from their infancie in malice.

5 † They haue furie according to the similitude of Their furie is vnquiet, til they may wound the innocent with their poisonful sting, a serpent: as of the aspe that is deafe, and stoppeth his eares. i neither wil they harken to good admonitions, but stoppe their eares like an aspe, that layeth one eare close to the ground, and stoppeth the other with his taile.

6 [Page 110]† Which wil not heare the voice of the inchanters, and of the sorcerer inchanting wisely.

7 † God shal breake their But God wil breake their cruel force, teeth in their mouth, the though it semeth most strong, and in superable. checke tooth of the lions, our Lord wil breake in peeces.

8 † They shal come to nothing as water running downe: he hath Gods iust determination of punishing the wicked stil remaineth bent and readie, though execution be some while differred. bent his bow til they be weakened.

9 † As That force and powre which is now inuincible, hard and strong like a lions strongest teeth, shal then be as impotent and soft as waxe: waxe that melteth, shal they be taken away: Gods wrath, like fire, the most forcible element, shal fil vpon them, and they shal be cast into vtter darkenes, depriued of the sunne and al comfortable light. fyre hath falne on them, and they haue not seene the sunne.

10 † Before your Before their malice can bring to effect, the great mischieffes which they plotte and purpose, God suddainly cutteth them of before they fully vnderstand of, either sicknes or death, casteth them as it were aliue into hel. thornes did vnderstand the old bryar: as liuing so in wrath he swalloweth them.

11 † The iust The iust reioyce in the punishment of the wicked for three causes, first in zele of iustice, conforming his wil and mind to Gods iudgement; secondly, for that himselfe through Gods mercie hath escaped that terrible damnation; thirdly, for that he is now deliuered from molestation, and continual tribulation. shal reioice when he shal see reuenge: he shal wash his handes in the bloud of a sinner.

12 † And man shal say: If certes there be fruite to the iust: The iust seing, or by faith knowing what punishment remaineth for the wicked, is therby assured that the good shal reape fruict for his wel doing, and that in the meane time God ruleth and iudgeth on the earth, though as yet it appeareth not so euidently. there is a God certes iudging them on the earth.

PSALME. LVIII.
Vnto the end, destroy not, to Dauid in the inscription of the title, King Saul hauing thrise attempted in vaine to kil Dauid, (1. Reg. 18 v 11. &c. 19. v. 9.) sene some of his guard to fe [...]ch him, from his owne house, that he might be slaine: but God moued the mind of Michol, to admonish him of the danger, and to helpe him away in saftie, though Saul thought she would haue bene a scandal vnto him (or cause of ruine) by the handes of the Philistians 1. Reg. 18. v. 21. Vpon which occasion Dauid made this Psalme. As he also made others, for perpetual memorie of Gods like benefites, in deliuering him in iminent dangers, VVhen Saul sent three troupes of serieants to kil him, and solowed them himselfe. 1. Reg. 19. v. 20 likevvise vvhen he vvas knovven and bevvrayed before Achis king of Geth 1. Reg. 21. also in Ceila, in the deserts of Ziph, and of Maon. c. 23, in Engaddi, c. 24. in Hachila. c. 26. and againe amongst the Philistians c. 27. and 30. when Saul sent, and watched his house to kil him. (1. Reg. 19.)

Holie Dauid (being beseeged in his owne house by m [...]n sent to kil him) An other prayer of Dauid in danger. the 8. key. confidently prayeth God to deliuer him, 6. and al faithful nations in like danger: 7. and praiseth God.

1 [Page 111]DELIVER me from mine enimies ô my God: and from 2 them that rise vp against me defend me.

3 † Deliuer me from them that worke iniquitie: and from bloudy men saue me.

4 Because loe they They haue so straictly beseged me, that it is now in their haudes, to take away my life. haue taken my soule: the strong haue falne violently vpon me.

5 † Neyther is it mine iniquitie, nor my sinne ô Lord: Of my part I haue committed no sault against myn enimies, for which they can haue a [...]ie iust cause to persecute me. without iniquitie haue I runne, and gone directly.

6 † Ryse vp to meete me, and see: and thou ô Lord the God of powres, God of Israel attend to visite The prophet soreseing in spirite, that the Catholique Church shal be vniustly persecuted, prayeth, and teacheth others to pray, that God wil mercifully visite his faithful people of al nations: al nations: haue and not spare obstinate persecuters. no mercie on al that worke iniquitie.

7 † They wil returne Persecuters laboring how much, or how long soeuer, shal at night, that is, in the end of al their wicked endeuoures be vnsatisfied in their desires, at euening: and they shal suffer famine as hungrie dogges that runne hunting al the day, & night also, stil seeking & not finding wherwith to fil their rauenous mouthes and deuouring bellies. as dogges, and shal compasse the citie.

8 † Behold they They threaten and determine to vse al crueltie, wil speake in their mouth, and a sworde in their lippes: as if there were no God, that heareth, and wil punish it. because who hath heard?

9 † And thou ô Lord wilt scorne them: thou wilt bring to naught al the nations.

† I wil keepe my strength to thee: Through Gods grace the Church is stil strong and the vertuous do perseuere. because thou art my 10 receiuer: † my God, thy mercie shal preuent. 11

12 † God wil shew vnto me concerning mine enimies, kil them not God suffereth afflictions to fal vpon his seruants to kepe them exercised, lest in prosperitie they forgete their duties to him. lest sometime my peoples forgete.

Disperse them in thy strength: and Depriue them of powre, that they may not do so much euil as they desire. depose them my protector ô Lord.

13 † The sinne of their mouth, the word of their lippes: and let them be taken in their pride.

14 [Page 112]And for After that their iniquitie is complete cursing and lying they shal be they shal be accused and punished for their blasphemies and lies. talked of † in consummation: in wrath of comsummation and they shal not be.

And they shal know that God wil rule ouer Iacob: and ouer the ends of the earth.

15 † They As. v. 7. shal be turned at euening, and shal suffer famine as dogges: and shal compasse the citie.

16 † They shal be They shal in vaine seeke oyle for their lampes with the foolish virgins, repent with Iudas, and finding no helpe, dispersed to eate: and if they be not filled, they shal continually blaspheme in hel. wil murmur also.

17 † But I wil sing thy strength: and wil exalt thy mercie in In the resurrection. the morning.

Because thou art become my receiuer, and my refuge, in the day of my tribulation.

My helper, I wil sing to thee, because thou art God my receiuer: my God, my mercie.

PSALME. LIX.
† Vnto the end, for them, The change of state from aduersitie to prosperitie in the people of Israel, was a figure of the like change in the Church of Christ, that shal be changed, in worthie to be remembred, the inscription 1 of the title for the instruction, to Dauid him selfe, of Gods beloued, for doctrine, † as the same are more largely recorded in the bookes of kinges. when he set fire on Mesopotamia of Syria, and in Sobal, and Ioab returned, and stroke Idumaea in the valley of saltpittes twelue thousand. (2. Reg. 8. & 10. & 1. Paral. 18.

King Dauid after his owne and the peoples manie tribulations, 8. rendereth King Dauids thankes for victories. the 8. key. thankes for their renowmed victories, 11. atchiued by Gods only powre.

2 O GOD thou God suffereth his people to be afflicted, as wel for their sinnes, as for exercise in vertue, hast repelled vs, & hast destroyed vs: thou 3 wast angrie after sheweth his mercie in pardoning, and fauour in aduancing them. and hast had mercie on vs.

4 † Thou hast moued the earth, and hast trubled it: heale the breaches thereof, because it is moued.

5 † Thou hast shewed vnto thy people by punishīg sinners. hard thinges: thou hast made vs drinke the wine of compunction.

6 † Thou hast VVarning them to amēd. geuen a signification to them that feare thee: they flee from the face of the bow.

7 That thy beloued and then restoreth them to former good state. may be deliuered, saue me with thy right hand; and heare me.

8 [Page 113]† God hath spoken in God also as he hath promised by his holie oracle, his holie: I shal reioyce, and hath aduanced king Dauid, in his temporal kingdom, and doth much more aduance him, and other elect in euerlasting life, shal diuide Sichem: and shal mesure the valley of tabernacles.

9 † Galaad is mine, and Manasses is mine: and Ephraim the strength of my heade.

† Iuda my king: Moab As a vessel for meaner vses. the pot of my hope. 10

Into Edom wil I Bring it vnder my dominion. stretch out my shoe: the foreners are subiect to me.

11 Who shal conduct me into a fensed citie? who shal conduct me euen into Idumea?

12 † Shal not thou ô God, As God doth sometimes punish: that hast expelled vs: and so he also rewardeth. wilt not thou ô God goe forth in our hostes?

13 † Giue vs aide from tribulation: because mans saluation is vaine.

14 † In God we shal doe strongly▪ with fortitude. strength: and he shal bring to nothing them that afflict vs.

PSALME. LX.
Vnto the end, In songues of praise and thankes to God. in hyms to Dauid.

Faithful people of the whole earth pray, and acknowlege that God mercifully A confident prayer for Christs Incarnation. the 5. k. [...]y. heareth their prayer. 6. expect the eternal kingdom of Christ, in which they shal praise him for euermore.

1 HEARE ô God my petition [...] attend to my praier. 2

3 † From From al coastes of the earth faithful people pray to God, the ends of the earth I haue cried to thee: whiles my hart was in anguish, thou the Church builded vpon an assured fundation, is exalted to great powre and dignitie. didst exalt me on a rocke

4 † Thou hast God conducteth, defendeth, and deliuereth those that confidently trust in him. conducted me, because thou art made my hope: a toure of strength from the face of the enimie.

5 † I shal inhabite in in the Church, a place of assured protection. thy tabernacle for euer: I shal be protected in the couert of thy winges.

6 † Because thou my God hast heard my prayer: thou hast giuen inheritance to those that feare thy name.

7 † Thou wilt adde Christ [...] kingdome the Church perpetual to the end of this world, and eternal after the general Resurrection. dayes vpon the dayes of the king: his years euen vnto the day of generation and generation.

8 [Page 114]† He is permanent for euer in the sight of God: his Who is able to vnderstand, or explicate how great Christs mercie is in redeming vs, mercie and and his truth in performing his promised rewardes? truth who shal require?

9 † So For so imestimable benefites, I wil alwayes praise thee with Psalmes, Canticles, or other thankes in this life: wil I say a Psalme to thy name for euer and euer: that I may render my vowes and eternally in the life to come. from day to day.

PSALME. LXI.
Vnto the end, for Directed to Idithun, one of the masters of musike, to sing it, or to make tune for it. Iduthun a Psalme of Dauid.

A iust man encoregeth his owne soule to serue God in sincere humilitie, 9. Exhortation to good life, in respect of reward, or punishment. the 7. key. exhorteth also al others to trust in God, not in false and worldlie pollicie, or wealth, because Gods powre and mercie wil render to euerie one as they deserue.

1 Shal The wicked threating to ruinate others, Dauid, or anie iust man, feareth them not, because his soule is subiect to God. not my soule be subiect to God? for of him is my saluation. 2

3 † For he is my God, and my sauiour: my receiuer Therfore I firmely purpose neuer to be moued from God. I shal be moued no more.

4 † In vaine do you myn aduersaries stil assault me, How long set you violently vpon a man: though ye be al confederate to kil me, you al doe kil: as it were vpon supposing me to be like a ruinous, or shaken wal, that is easily throwne downe. a wal, that is leaning, and a wal shaken.

5 † But They thinck stil to depriue me of my reward, the price of my laboures and merites, yet they thought to repel my price, but I runne so much more diligently, as thirsting after righteousnes in this life, and glorie in the next, to finish my course. I ranne in thirst: they A most dangerous tentation, when after threates and crueltie, persecutors endeuour by swete wordes, and promises to perswaed the iust to fal into sinne. blessed with their mouth, and cursed with their hart.

6 † But yet my soule be thou subiect to God: because my patience is from him.

7 † Because he is my God, and my sauiour: my helper I resolutly purpose not to yeld to anie tentations. I shal not remoue.

8 † In God is my saluation, and my glorie: the God of my helpe, and my hope is in God.

9 † Hope in him Gods faithful seruantes are not only constant themselues, but also exhorte and perswade al others, as much as in them lieth, to serue God and trust in him. al ye the congregation of people: powre out your harts before him, God is our helper for euer.

10 [Page 115]† But yet the children of men are vaine, the children of men are Vsing false weightes they defraud one an other. liers in balances: that they may deceiue by vanitie together.

11 † Hope not in iniquitie, and couete not robberies: if riches abound set not your hart vpon them.

† God hauing nce spoken it is most assured. Once hath God spoken, these Two especial attributes of God. two things haue I heard: 12

13 † That God is Omnipotent, so that he can both reward, and punish infinitly; powre is Gods, and and Merciful, that he is readie to receiue al sinners into his fauour, if they wil repent and turne vnto him. mercie ô Lord is to thee: because Mat. 16. Rom. 2. 1. Cor. 3. Gal. 6. thou wilt render to euery one according to his workes.

PSALME. LXII.
A Psalme Holie Dauid made this deuout meditation when he was in the forest of Haret, or desert of Ziph 1. Reg. 22. & 23. and could not come to the tabernacle of God, nor to Ierusalem, where he especially desired to be, in the inheritance of our Lord, which was to him a great affliction. As the like is now to Catholiques, when they are put in close prison for their faith, or otherwise hindered, that they can not be present at the most holie and daylie Sacrifice. In which ease we must supplie as we may, this great losse, and comfort ourselues with this, or like Psalme, or prayer, saying: O God my God, to thee I watch. of Dauid when he was in the desert of Iuda (1. Reg. 22.)

Dauid in banishment with great affection desireth to vnite himselfe with Dauids deuotion in banishment. the 8. key. God in meditation, 4. purposing and promising euer to praise him: 10. prophicieth the vaine endeuoures, and condemnation of his enimies; and his owne aduancement.

1 O GOD my God to thee I watch, Euen from the first downing of the morning, from the morning 2 light. my soule thirsteth after thee, My soule hath thirsted to thee, yea also my very flesh, and whole bodie feeleth great paines, by this affliction of mind, and desireth releefe and rest. my flesh to thee very manie wayes.

3 † In a desert land, and inaccessible, and without water, Being now in case that I can not serue thee, ô God, as I would, yet I exhibite myselfe present in spirite, before thy holie place, so in the holie haue I appeared to thee, meditating thy powre, and thy glorie. that I might see thy strength, and thy glorie.

4 † Because This consolation in banishment from thy diuine Seruice, is sweeter to me then manie temporal liues, or anie worldlie prosperitie. thy mercie is better then liues, my lippes shal prayse thee.

5 † For as the Passions of Christ abound in vs (saith S. Paul 2. Cor. 1.) so also by Christ our comfort aboundeth. So wil I blesse thee in my life: and in thy name I wil lifte vp my hands.

6 [Page 116]† As with Replenish my soul ô God, with the aboundance of thy grace, marrow and fatnes let my soule be filled: so shal I be more able to praise thee. and my mouth shal praise with lippes of exultation.

† Seing in the night, also in my bed I meditate of thee; If I haue bene mindful of thee vpon my bedde, I wil more diligently do the same in the morning. in the 7 morning I Wil meditate on thee: † because thou hast bene 8 my helper.

9 † And in the couert of thy winges I wil reioice, my soule hath cleaued after thee: thy right hand hath receiued me.

10 † But My temporal and spiritual enimies: they in vaine haue sought my soule, and they shal be damned for their sinnes. they shal enter into the inferiour partes of the earth.

11 † They It happened l [...]terally to Saul, that he was slaine in battle, which he made against his enimies▪ shal be deliuered into the handes of the sworde, they shal be and his dead bodie was hung on a wall (1. Reg. 31.) exposed to wilde beastes, or birdes, though it was after wards bu nt and buried. the portions of foxes.

12 † But Dauid was presently after Sauls death exalted to the kingdome, in figure of Christ, whose name and glorie was exalted, after the destruction of the Iewes by Pagane Emperours. the king shal reioice in God, al shal be praised that sweare by him: because the mouth is stopped of those that speake wicked thinges.

PSALME. LXIII.
Vnto the end, a Psalme of Dauid.

A prayer of the iust reposing their whole trust in God: 7. and reioycing A confident prayer in trih [...]lation. the 7. key. that the enimies machinations are frustrate.

1 HEARE ô God my prayer when I make petition: from the 2 feare of my enimie deliuer my soule.

3 † Thou By example of thy former protection, hast protected me from the from the conspiracie of wicked men, I trust most assuredly in thy helpe. assemblie of the malignant: from the multitude of them that worke iniquitie.

† Because they haue sharpned their tongues as a sworde: they 4 haue bent the bow a bitter thing, † that they may shoote in 5 secretes at the immaculate.

6 † Sodanely they wil shoote at him, and wil not feare: they They are resolued to intrappe me, haue confirmed to themselues a wicked worde.

They haue talked to hide snares: they haue saide, who shal see them?

7 [Page 117]† They haue search [...] they But as they haue failed: so [...], and be ouerreached in their bad counsels, as Achitophel. 2. Reg. 17. haue failed searching with scrutani [...]

† Man shal come to a [...]: and God shal be exalted. 8

9 God hath chosen the weake of this world [...]o confound the strong. Childrens arrowes are made their woundes: † and their tongues are weakned against them.

Al that saw them much merueled, seing the wicked so punished. were trubled: † and euerie man feared. 10

And they shewed forth the workes of God: and they vnderstood his doinges.

11 † The iust shal reioice in our Lord, and shal hope in him, and al the right of hart The iust shal be praised, for rightly seruing God. shal be praised.

PSALME. LXIIII.
To the end, a Psalme of Dauid, The seuentie interpreters seing Dauid here prophecie of the peoples returne from Babylou, added the names of Ieremie and Ezechiel, who being in that captiuitie, prophecied the same more largely. As likewise these and other Prophetes, foresavv in spirite, and more especially prophecied the going forth of al nations from Babylon, that is, forsaking Idolatrie, and embracing true Religion [...]n the Church of Christ, so S. Augustin, Eutymius, and others. the Canticle of Ieremie, and 1 Ezechiel, to the people of the transmigration, when they begane to goe forth.

God is rightly praised in Sion and I erusalem (in his Church only) for his Conuersion o [...] Gentiles▪ the 6. key. benefites bestowed and promised. 8. Vnto which also in the time of grace, al nations shal be called.

2 AN hymne ô God becometh thee Not in Babylon, nor els vvhere, but only in the Church, praises and vovves are gratful to God. in Sion: & a vow shal be rendered to thee in Ierusalem.

† Heare my prayer: Alnations shal know thee. al flesh shal come to thee. 3

4 The wordes of the wicked The wicked are insolent in threatning, haue preuailed vpon vs: and thou wilt be but thou mercifully pardoning our sinnes, they shal not hurt vs. propitious to our impieties.

5 They are happie to whom thou hast prepared grace, and glorie. Blessed is he, whom thou hast chosen, and taken: he shal dwel in thy courtes.

6 † The voice of the faithful, reioycing in the hope of eternal glorie. Rom. 5 We shal be replenished in the goods of thy house: holie is thy temple, nothing polluted shal enter into heauen. Apo. 21. meruelous in equitie.

[Page 118]† Heare vs ô God our sauiour, the hope of al the ends of the earth; and in the sea farre.

† Preparing Thou which art al powreful, as appeareth by the huge montaines, mountanes in thy strength, girded with might: 7 which trublest seas, and other thy workc [...]. the depths of the sea, the sound of the waues 8 therof.

9 † The Gentiles shal Thou wilt by thy omnipotent powre moue the hartes of obdurate men, and so conuert innumerable of al nations to thee. be trubled, and they that inhabite the borders shal be affraide of thy signes: Thou wilt draw manie to thee, with ioy and gladnes, from the vttermost coastes of the east and weast. the outegoinges of the morning and euening thou shalt delight.

10 † Thou hast visited the earth, and hast inebriated it: thou hast multiplied to inrich it.

The God wrought diuers miracles in waters (Gen. 7. Exo. 7. 14. 15. Iosue. 3. 4. Reg. 5. 6. &c.) riuer of God is replenished with waters, thou hast prepared their likewise in prouiding meate for his people. (Exo. 16. 3. Reg. 17. 4. Reg. 4. 7. &c.) which were figures of Baptisme, Eucharist, and other Sacraments of Christ, washing from, sinnes, and augmenting grace, meat: because so replenishing the Chureh with most sacred Mysteries. so is the preparation therof.

11 † Inebriate Endewing the Apostles and other preachers with spiritual grace and lerning, her riuers, continuing the succession of pastores to watter and feede the faithful people. multiplie her fruites: in her dropps she shal reioyce springing.

12 † Thou“ wilt God blesseth the whole course, or circle of time, of the Church militant in this world, blesse the crowne of the yeare of thy goodnes: and the crowne, or happie end of euerie iust persons life. and thy fildes shal be replenished with plentie.

13 † The u beautiful places of the desert shal be fat: and the those vvhich are more eminent shal particularly reioyce in their ovvne, and others spiritual progresse in vertue. litle hilles shal be girded aboute with exultation. v Euen those which before had only a shew of beautie, but in dede vvere barren, shal yelde abundant fruict.

14 The The principal pastores shal in proportion reioyce aboue the rest, for the grace and glorie of al their flocke. rammes of the shepe are clothed, and the subiectes also and inferior people shal be satiate vvith their happie lotte. the valleis shal abounde with corne: Al together, prelates and people, higher and lovver shal vvith vn. forme voice sing praises to God, and perpetual hymnes. they wil crie, yea they wil say an hyme.

[Page 119]

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. LXIIII.

12. God vvil blesse the crovvne] Vnder the Allegorie of the land of Iurie, Perpetuitie of the Church. vvherunto the people of God vvere to be restored, after their captiuitie in Babylon, the Psalmist here prophecieth greater thinges, then can be verified S. Aug. Eutym. of the temporal state of the Iewes, that the militant Church shal stil be blessed from the beginning to the end, yelding expected fruict; and al the iust, that perseuere to the end of their liues, shal receiue most happie and glorious Reward of the iust. revvardes of their laboures. As S. Paul after his meritorious trauels confidently expected his glorious revvard, vvhen he saide (2. Tim. 4.) I haue fought a good fight, I haue consummate my course, I haue kept my faith: Concerning the rest, there is layde vp for me, a Crovvne of iustice, vvhich our Lord vvil render to me Sainctes crownes are of Gods benignitie. in that day, a iust Iudge. And not only to me, but to them also that loue his coming. And this is called the crovvne of the yeare of Gods benignitie, because God of his ovvne benignitie, vvithout mans former desert geueth grace, and in the end for merite folovving, geueth a crovvne of glorie. So our Blessed Sauiour according to his fulnes of grace, vvhich vvas in his soule, and infinite merite, receiued a crovvne of glorie, in the consummation of his temporal life, after the space of thirtie three yeares. And our Blessed Ladie the mother The Corones of our Lord, and our Ladie. of God, receiued an ansvverable crovvne to her excellent grace and merites, in the consummation of her life, at the end of sixtie three yeares. In memorie of vvhich numbers of yeares, deuout men haue piously instituted certaine formes of prayers, called the Crovvnes, or Corones of our Sauiour, and of our Ladie.

PSALME. LXV.
Vnto the end, a Canticle Mystical resurrection, Gentiles succeding in place of the Iewes. of resurrection.

The prophet inuiteth al men to praise God for his meruelous workes, and Gentils succede the Iewes. the 6. key. benefites donne to the Iewes. 7. Who being vngratful, 8. Gentiles are called, 16. and bring forth better fruict.

1 MAke ye Shew your internal ioy by external wordes and deedes. iubilation to God al the earth, † say a psalme 2 to his name: geue glorie to his praise.

3 † Say ye to God: In drovvning the vvorld, in confounding the tongues in Babel, in burning Sodom and Gomorrha with brimston, in plaging the Aegyptians, in drovvning Pharao and his vvhole armie in the read sea; in destroying the Chananites and other infideles, in punishing the tenne tribes, and aftervvards the other tvvo by captiuitie, and innumerable other punishments, al for sinnes, How terrible are thy workes ô Lord! in the multitude of thy strength thine enimies for vvhich euen the vvicked, though not sincerly conuerted, yet of seruile feare, feaned and falsly promised to amend, but performed it not: as Pharao afflicted vvith plagues, vvas forced to promise libertie to the children of Israel, vvhich he aftervvards denied. shal lie to thee.

4 † Let al the earth adore thee, and sing to thee: let it sing a psalme to thy name.

5 † Come ye, and see the workes of God: terrible in counsels ouer the chidren of men.

6 [Page 120]† Who turneth The read sea, the sea into drie land, in when Iosue brought the people ouer Iordan, the riuer they shal passe on foote, in remembring and reciting these singular benefites. there we shal reioyce in him.

7 † Who ruleth in his strength for euer his eyes looke vpon the gentiles: Gods chosen people the Iewes did often exasperate God by their ingratitude, murmuring, and other sinnes: whom the prophet therfore admonisheth, they that exasperate him let them not to be proud, lest they be subdued, and brought lowe. not be exalted in themselues.

8 † Ye By way of inuitation the Psalmist prophecieth the conuersion of Gentiles. Gentiles blesse our God: and make the voice of his prayse hearde.

9 † Who hath put The voice of the whole Church: confessing Gods prouidence and protection, that she neuer faileth; for the Iewes falling from Christ the Gentiles beleued in him; and some nations, or countries falling from Religion, others are conuerted. my soule in life: and hath not geuen my feete to be moued.

10 † Because thou God suffereth his Church to be persecuted with al kindes of tribulation, as some are here recited. hast proued vs ô God: by fire thou hast tried vs, as siluer is tried.

11 † Thou hast brought vs into a snare, thou hast laide tribulations on our backe: thou hast set men vpon our heades.

12 † But through Gods assistance his seruants passe through, and ouercome al tentations. We haue passed through fire and water: and thou hast brought vs out into refreshing.

† I wil goe into thy house with Sacrifice of thankes, holocaustes: I wil render 13 thee and voluntarie vowes, my vowes: † which my lippes haue distinguished. 14 And that which anie promiseth to God in tribulation, they must performe accordingly. my mouth hath spoken in my tribulation.

15 † Th [...]se were the best external sacrifices of the old law. Holocaustes with marrow wil I offer to thee, with incense of rammes: I wil offer to thee oxen with bucke goates.

16 † But both then and now the internal sacrifices of contrite hart, of iustice, and of diuine praise best please God Come ye, heare, and I wil tel al ye that feare God, what great things he hath done for my soule.

17 † To him haue I cried with my mouth, and haue exulted from the hart, which is vnder the tongue, and directeth the tongue what to speake. vnder my tongue.

18 † VVhosoeuer wil be heard in prayer, must repent of his sinnes. If I haue beheld iniquitie in my hart, our Lord wil not heare.

19 [Page 121]† Therfore hath God heard, and hath attended to the voice of my petition.

20 † Blessed be God who hath not remoued my prayer, and his mercie from me.

PSALME LXVI. Propagation of the Church the 6. key.
Vnto the end, in hymes, a Psalme This Psalme beginning to be songue by voices, instruments were adioyned. of Canticle to Dauid.

The prophet prayeth for (and withal foreshoweth) the propagation of the Church of Christ.

1 GOd God first remitte our sinnes: haue mercie vpon vs, and then geue vs thy manifold graces, blesse vs: grant faith and repentance, illuminate 2 his countenance vpon vs, and and so forgeuenes of sinnes. haue mercie on vs.

3 † That we may know thy way vpon earth: in al nations thy saluation.

4 † Let peoples ô God, confesse to thee: Al nations shal be conuerted. let al peoples confesse to thee.

5 † Let nations be glad & reioice: because thou iudgest peoples in equitie, and the nations in earth thou doest direct.

† Let peoples ô God confesse to thee, let al peoples confesse 6 to thee: † the earth hath yelded her fruite. 7

8 God the Fater, God, God the Sonne, our God blesse vs, † God the Holie Ghost, saue the peoples of al nations, by Euangelical preaching of thee, the most Blessed Trinitie.. God blesse vs: and let al the endes of the earth feare him.

PSALME LXVII.
Vnto the end, a Psalme of Canticle, to Dauid himself.

Notwithstanding great persecutions the Church prospereth. 10. Especially The Church stil conserued. The 6. key. in the new testament, by Apostolical function, 18. ministerie of Angels, Christs Ascension, coming of the Holie Ghost, 31. confirming the faithful, repressing the insolent, and conuerting manie. 35. For al which the prophet inuiteth al men to praise God.

1 LEt In maner of praying that God wil vouchsafe to defend the Church, the Psalmist prophecieth that God wil arise, God arise, and let his enimies be dispersed, and let 2 them that hate him and the enimies shal flee away, not daring to abide the combate. flee from his face.

3 † As smoke vanisheth, let them vanish away: as waxe melteth at the presence of fire, so let sinners perish at the presence of God.

4 † And As God is terrible to the wicked: so he is comfortable to the iust. let the iust make merrie, and reioyce in the sight of God: and let them be delighted in mirth.

5 [Page 122]† Sing to God, say a Psalme to his name: Resist not Gods inspiration, but receiue it with ioy and thankes. make way to him, who who triumpheth ouer death mounteth vpon the west, God is Lord, not only of these or those nations, countries or other creatures, but absolutly and vniuersally of al. Lord is his name.

Reioyce ye in his syght, they shal be trubled at the presence of him: † the father of orphanes, and iudge of widowes. 6 God in his That is the true holie Church, which hath holie place: † God that maketh men to inhabite 7 vnitie in doctrin, touching faith and ma [...]ers. of one manner in a house.

That bringeth forth them, That be bond in sinne that be bound, in strengh, S. Cypr. ep. 76. likewise them, that euen rebellious willes are altered by Gods mercie, and freely embrace his law exasperate, that dwel also the dead and drie hartes that cared not for spiritual thinges, are softened, and quickned with new grace. in sepulchers.

8 † O God The benefites bestowed on the Israelites, are written in the bookes of Moyses, Iosue, and Iudges. when thou wentest forth in the sight of thy people, when thou didst passe through the desert.

9 † The earth was moued, and the heauens also distilled, at the presence of the God of Sina, at the face of the God of Israel.

10 † Not mans deseruing, but Gods mere good wil, and free grace caused Christ to come, and by himselfe and his Apostles to preach the Euangelical doctrin, which watereth the whole world, Voluntarie rayne shalt thou seperat ô God to thine inheritance: and it was God chose the weake, but made them strong. weakned, but thou hast persited it.

11 † Thy Those whom thou hast chosen, and so made thyn owne peculiar people, shal enioy this grace. liuing creatures shal dwel in it: thou hast prepared Thou gauest Manna in the desert, the B Sacrament in the new testament. in thy swetnes for the poore, ô God.

12 † Our Lord shal geue God geueth to the preacher what to speake, the word to them that euanglize, and to some he geueth also powre to worke miracles, in confirmation of their doctrin. Mar. 16. with great powre.

13 † The Some potent king, or (as it is in the Hebrew) kinges being beloued, of the beloued of God, the only Sonne of God, shal yeld themselues to the same beloued Sonne of God: king of hoastes the beloued of the beloued: and which shal redound to the glorie and beautie of his Church, gayning such spiritual prayes from the diuel. to the beautie of the house, to diuide the spoyles.

14 † If ye If you be in such danger, that the aduersaries cast dice, o [...] lottes for your persons, and goodes, yet you shal be deliuered, as if a doue, with her glistering fethers, like siluer and gold, flie away into a secure place, without losse or diminution, but rather with increase of vertues. sleepe among the middest of the lottes, the winges of a doue layde ouer with siluer, and the hinder parts of her backe in the palenes of gold.

15 [Page 123]† Whiles VVhen the heauenlie king determineth thus of earthlie kinges, the heauenlie discerneth kings ouer her, they shal be purged from their sinnes, and made white like snow, that falleth in mount Selmon, which is a shadowed hil, thicke with trees, in mount Ephraim nere to Iordan. with snow they shal be made white in Selmon.

† “ The The Church of God is visible, and durable like to a mountane. mountane of God a fat mountane. 16

17 A mountane Combined, or ioyned together, as when milke is turned into curde, and so into cheese. crudded as cheese, a fructful, enriched by spiritual giftes of the Holie Ghost▪ fatte mountane: † “ why ye that are not of this Church, do in vaine and erroniously imagine, that anie other mountaines are vnited. suppose you crudded mountanes?

A mountane, in which it hath wel pleased God to dwel therin: for in dede our Lord wil dwel euen to the end.

18 † The Innumerable Angels ministers of Gods wil, do continually attend vpon his Diuine Maiestie, as if he (who otherwise nedeth no seruice) were caried by them, as in a chariotte of infinite magnificence. Dan 7. chariote of God is ten thousand folde, thousands of them that reioyce, our Lord in them, So God appeared in Maiestie, when he gaue his law in mount Sinai. in Sina in the holie place.

19 † Thou art Christ ascended with innumerable Angels attending vpon him, ascended on hygh, thou caried with him the fathers of the old testament, that had benne captiue, hast taken captiuitie: Ephes. 4. thou as man he receiued giftes of God, in and for men, his faithful seruantes, hast receiued gifts in men: for euen those yea also he receiued for his merite, that innumerable, which before were incredulous, were conuerted, and God dwelt in their soules. that do not beleue, our Lord God to inhabite.

20 † Blessed be our Lord day by day: the God of our saluations wil make vs a prosperous iourney.

21 † Our God is the God of sauing: and Our Lord, I say, our Lord, and none but he could ouercome death by dying. the issues of death are of our Lord, our Lord.

22 † But yet God Though Christ died to deliuer al men from death yet he wil geue capital sentence of eternal death to al that obstinatly remaine his enimies, and multiplie sinnes vpon sinnes, to the end of their temporal life. stil breake the heads of his enimies: the hearie croune of them, that walke in their sinnes.

23 Our Lord Said: Out Euen of the iudest barbarous nations, manie shal be conuerted to Christiantie of Basan I wil conuert, I wil conuert namely Gods grace is extended into the Ilandes of the Ocean, and other seas. into the depth of the sea.

24 † That thy foote But such seuere slaughter shal fal vpon the obstinate contemners of this grace, that mens feete shal be defiled in their bloud, and dogges shal lappe it. may be dipped in bloude: the tongue of thy Exi [...]i [...] ab [...]. dogges [ made redde] with * the same [ bloud] of the enimies.

25 [Page 124]† They Manie haue sene, or knowen in general, but the faithful more exactly know how Christ came into this world, his conuersation therin, and his going forth: haue seene thy entringes in ô God, the entrings of my God: of my King Who is his reigning now in heauen our Mediatour, by whom al other intercessors haue accesse to God. in the holie place.

26 † The Apostles sowing the first seede of Euangelical doctrin, Princes came before with whom other Apostolical men, ioyned with them that sang, in the middes and other soules of al nations conuerted by their preaching, most ioyfully sing together in hart, voice, and instruments: especially in good workes, shew their gratful affections to our Redeemer. of young wemen plaing on tymbrels.

27 † In And al this in the particular Churches of diuers Kingdomes, and partes of the world; churches blesse ye God our Lord, of beginning with the Israelites in Ierusalem, and so proceding into al furie, and Samaria, and to the vt most of the earth. Act. 1. the fountains of Israel.

† There S. Paul of Iacobs yongest sonne Beniamin, last called to Apostleship, was chiefly sent to the Gentiles. Beniamin a youngman, in excesse of minde. 28

Other Apostles of diuers tribes sent first to the Iewes, secondarily to Gentiles. The Princes of Iuda: their leaders: the Princes of Zabulon, the Princes of Nephthali.

29 † Command thy strength ô God: As the Church begane by the omnipotent powre of God; so by the same only powre it is conserued. confirme this ô God, which thou hast wrought in vs.

30 † From thy temple in Ierusalem, kinges shal offer giftes to thee.

31 † Rebuke Chastice therfore ô God, al persecuters of thy Church, who are but as weake wauering reedes, in comparison of thy powre: the wilde beasts of the reede, the congregation no better then bulles, with kyne, that is, captaines and popular people, of bulles in the kine of thy peoples: endeuoring to alienate the constant proued confessors from their faith. that they may exclude them, which are tried with siluer.

32 Dissipate the nations that wil warres: † Legates shal come A prophecie that manie should be conuerted to Christ in Aegypt, and Aethiopia: as appeareth by the innumerable multitude of religious Monkes, & Nunnes in those countries, shortly after the Apostles dayes. out of Aegypt: Aethiopia shal prevent his handes to God.

† Ye kingdomes The like afterwards in al other nations, whom therfore the prophet inuiteth to praise God, for so inestimable benefites in the whole world. of the earth sing to God: sing to our Lord: 33

34 † Sing ye to God, that mounteth vpon the heauen of heauen, to the East.

35 [Page 125]Behold he wil giue to his voice Christ wil come to iudge, in terrour of voice, and vvith magnificence, accompanied vvith holie Angels and other Sainctes. the voice of strength, † giue you glorie to God vpon Israel, his magnificence, and his powre in the cloudes.

36 † God is meruelous in his saintes, the God of Israel he wil giue powre, and strength to his people, God be blessed.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. LXVII.

16. The mountaine of God.] For better discerning the true Church from other Markes of the Church: Visibilitie. Sanctitie. congregations, the Prophet here describeth certaine proprieties therof, for he calleth it a mountane, because it is most visible to al men Secondly a fatte mountane, that is, replenished vvith al vertues, and giftes of the Holie Ghost; vvherof it is called Holie. Thirdly it is crudded, or consolidated in vnitie of Vnitie. faith and Religion, vvhich conioyne the vvhole bodie, making it solide and firme, as the ruen turneth liquide milke into curde, and so into cheese. Fourtly, Perpetuitie. Assured veritie. it is the Congregation, vvherin God alvvayes remaneth, euen to the end, for euer; vvhich shevveth tvvo other proprieties; that the Church neuer faileth; nor erreth in doctrin: God stil dvvelling therin, and consequently conserueth it from error in doctrin.

17. VVhy suppose you crudded montaines] As for other congregations, it is certaine No other pretended Church hath the marke of vnitie or the rest. and euident, that they are not the Church of God, because they are not crudded, that is, not vnited, in the same pointes of faith, but only in negatiue pointes, and in general opposition against the Catholique Church, and among themselues notoriously disagreing and diuided. As they also vvant the other markes of the true Church.

PSALME. LXVIII.
Vnto Perteyning to the nevv Testament, the end, for gentiles conuerted to Christianitie, and from vice to vertue, for them that shal be changed, prefigured in Dauid. to Dauid.

Christ in middes of afflictions (as one in dangerous waters) 5. describing the Christs afflictions and victorie, the 5. key. malice of persecutors, and his owne true zele, 14. prayeth his heauenlie Father for helpe. 23. By way of iust imprecation, forsheweth the seuere punishment of his aduersaries, 30. his owne glorious Resurrection, and prosperous building of his Church. For which he inuiteth al creatures to praise God.

1 SAVE me ô God: because Vehement afflictions inuir on my hart. waters are entered into my 2 soule.

3 † I I am as one intangled vvith quickesand, or quadmyre in the bottom of a great vva [...]. sticke fast in the myre of the depth: and there is no sure standing.

[Page 126]I am come into the depth of the sea: and a tempest hath ouerwhelmed me.

4 † I haue Our Lord svveat bloud for anguish in his prayer, and vvas not deliuered from his Passion, neither are his seruantes presently deliuered from tribulations, but as is most to Gods honour and their ovvne good. labored crying, my iawes are made hoarse: my eies haue failed, whiles I hope in my God.

5 † They are multiplied aboue the heares of my head, that hate Ioan. 15. me without cause.

Mine enimies are made strong, that haue persecuted me vniustly: Our Sauiour who had no sinne, pay de the ransom for al sinnes. then did I pay the thinges that I tooke not.

6 † O God thou knowest my O God thou knovvest, that this vvhich semeth follie to vvorldlie men, is true vvisdom; foolishnes: and and though men charge me vvith offences, thou knovvest that I am innocent. mine offences are not hide from thee.

7 † Suffer not the weake to be scandalized in my passions. Let them not be ashamed vpon me, which expect thee ô Lord, Lord of hostes.

Let them not be confounded vpon me that seeke thee, ô God of Israel.

8 † Because for thee haue I sustained reproch, confusion hath couered my face.

9 † I am become a forener to my brethren, and a stranger to the sonnes of my mother.

10 † Because The zele of seeking God honour, in propagaring and aduancing his Church, is the cause of persecution. As vve see those are lesse persecuted, vvhich haue lesse godlie zele. the zele of thy house hath eaten me: and the Ioan. 2. Rom. 15. reproches of them that reproched thee, fel vpon me.

11 † And I couered my soule in fasting: and it The vvicked do reproch those that mortifie themselues. was made a reproch to me.

And I put heare cloth my garment, & I became a parable to them. 12

13 † They spake aganst me The great men and iudges, also the drunkards and rascalitie of the people. that sat in the gate; and they soong aganst me that dranke wine.

14 † But I, But I direct my prayer to thee. my prayer to thee ô Lord: a time of thy good pleasure ô God.

Expecting the time of thy good pleasure. In the multitude of thy mercie heare me, in the truth of thy saluation:

15 † Deliuer me out of the myre, that I stick not fast: deliuer me from them that hate me, and from the depthes of [...]ribulations. waters.

16 [Page 127]† Let not the tempest of water drowne me, nor the depth swallowe me: Though Christ died and vvas buried, and in soule descended into hel, yet he could not be holden in his sepulchre, nor in limbo, but rose againe. neyther let the pit shut his mouth vpon me.

17 † Heare me ô Lord because thy mercie is benigne: according to the multitude of thy commiserations haue respect to me.

18 † And turne not away thy face from thy seruant: because I am in tribulation, heare me speedily.

19 † Attend to my soule and, deliuer it: That they may either be conuerted, or confounded, and so do no more hurt. because of mine enimies deliuer me.

† Thou knowest my reproch, & my confusion, & my shame. 20

21 † In thy sight are al they that afflict me, my hart hath looked for reproch and miserie.

And I expected some bodie that would be sorie together with me, and there Not anie that could mitigate our Sauiours affliction, vvould shevv compassion tovvards him. [...]at. 27. was none: and that would confort me, and I founde not.

22 † And they gaue But contrativvise vvhen he complained of thirst, they gaue him gal and vinegre to drinke. gal for my meate: & in my thirst they gaue [...]an. 19. me vinegre to drinke.

23 † A prophecie of the destruction of the Ievves, at the time of Pasch, vvhen they should think [...] to eate their paschal lamb vvith ioy. Let their table be made a snare before them, & for retributions, [...]om. 11. and for a scandal.

24 † Let They are also blinde in hart, that they vvil not see the truth of Christs doctrine: Their eies be darkned that they see not: and make but bovv themselues to earthlie thinges, and vvorldlie gaines euen to this day. their backe crooked alwaies.

25 Poure out thy wrath vpon them: and let the furie of thy wrath ouertake them.

26 Let their habitation be made desert: and in their tabernacles let there be none to dwel. [...]. 1.

27 Because Christ, vvhom God of this mercie designed to suffer death, for redemption of mankind, the Ievves of mere enuie and malice persecuted to death. whom thou hast striken, they haue persecuted: and vpon the sorrow of my wounds they haue added.

28 † Adde thou A prophecie that God would suffer them, to fal from one iniquitie to an other. iniquitie vpon their iniquitie: and let them not enter into thy iustice.

29 [Page 128]† In the end of their liues, they shal not be found in the booke of life, vvhere they suppose themseelues to be vvritten. Let them be put out of the booke of the liuing: and with the iust let them not be written.

30 The voice of Christ, humbling himselfe to death, euen to death of the Crosse: I am poore and sorowful: from which he rose againe. thy saluation ô God hath receiued me.

31 † I wil praise the name of God with canticle: and wil magnifie him in prayse.

32 † And Deuout praise and thankesgeuing please God more then sacrifices of the most tender calues, which vvere othervvise also gratful sacrifices. it shal please God more then a young calfe: that bringeth forth hornes and hoofes.

33 † Let the poore see and reioyce: seeke ye God, and your soule shal liue.

34 † Because our Lord hath heard the poore: and he hath not despised God doth assuredly comfort al such, as are imprisoned for professing the truth. his prisoners.

35 † Let Al the creatures of God. the heauens and earth praise him, the sea, and al the creeping beastes in them.

36 † God wil alvvayes establish and protect the Catholique Church: Because God wil saue Sion: and and particular Churches, members of the vniuersal shal also prosper. the cities of Iuda shal be built vp.

And they shal inhabite there, & by inheritance they shal get it.

37 † And Perpetu [...]l succession of the Catholique Church. the seede of his seruants shal possesse it, and they that loue his name shal dwel in it.

PSALME. LXIX.
Vnto An apt prayer also for the afflicted in the nevvv Testament, the end, a Psalme of Dauid, in remembrance, that our from the danger of Absolom. (2. Reg. 18.) or from anie persecutor. Lord saued him.

An other prayer of Dauid, when he was persecuted by Absolom: made in Dauids prayer in persecutiō. the 8. key. a Psalme after his deliuerie.

1 O God Al men at al times nede Gods helpe: intend vnto my helpe: Lord but most present nede, in present dangers. The rest of this Psalme is conteyned in the 39. Psalme, from the 15. verse. but there the whole Church prayeth for helpe, the world being almost drowned in sinnes; here Dauid, or other particular persons, or peoples pray in their seueral distresses, make hast to helpe 2 me.

3 [Page 129]† Let them be confounded, and be ashamed, that seeke my Psal. 39. soule.

4 † Let them be turned away backeward, and be ashamed that wil me euils.

Let them be turned away forthwith ashamed, that say to me: Wel, wel.

5 † Let al that seeke thee reioyce, and be glad in thee, and let them say alwayes: Our Lord be magnified: which loue thy saluation.

6 † But I am needie and poore: ô God helpe me thou art my helper, and deliuerer: ô Lord be not slacke.

PSALME. LXX.
A Psalme Though this Psalme (as also diuers others) is intitled to, or for Dauid, it proueth not that some other was the author therof, but the Seuentie Interpreters in sinuate hereby, that it perteyneth in more particular sorte to Dauid, growing old; for Dauid, they adde also the sonnes of Ionadab a most holie familie, of the sonnes of Ionadab, and who for their singular pietie, were suffered to remaine in Ierusalem, in the first captiuitie. Ierem. 35. the former captiues.

King Dauid, or anie other iust person, prayeth God to continew his grace, A prayer for perseuerance in vertue. the 7. key. and protection against the malice of the enimie. 5. Recounteth Gods mercie in deliuering him from falling into tentations. 6. prayeth for the same in old age, or weakenes of bodie and spirite, 20. and promiseth perpetual gratitude and praises.

1 IN thee ô Lord The wordes of Dauid, or anie faithful iust person. I haue hoped, let me not be confounded 2 for euer: † in God of his iustice reuengeth the iniuries Psal. 30. done to his seruantes. thy iustice deliuer me, and receiue me.

Incline thine eare to me, and saue me.

3 † Be vnto me for a God protector, and for a fensed place: that thou maist saue me:

Because thou art my firmament, and my refuge.

4 † My God deliuer me out of the hand of the sinner, and ou [...] of the hand of him that doth aganst the law, and of the vniust.

5 Because thou art Through thy grace I haue patience to expect thy pleasure, when I shal be releeued. my patience ô Lord my hope from my youth.

6 [Page 130]† Vpon thee haue I bene confirmed from the wombe: from my mothers bellie thou art my protector.

7 In thee is my singing alwaies: † I was made to manie as It semeth strange to most men, why the iust haue more trubles then the wicked. a wonder: and thou art a strong helper.

8 † Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing thy glorie: A necessarie prayer for perseuerance, which none can haue without special and continual helpe of grace. al the day thy greatnes.

9 † Reiect me not in the time of olde age: Against this special danger, and last assaultes of the enimie, Christ hath instituted the Sacrament of Extreme Vnction. when my strength shal [...]aile, forsake me not.

10 † Because mine enimies haue said to me: and they that watched my soule, consulted together,

11 † Saying: God hath forsaken him, pursew, and take him: because there is none to deliuer.

12 † O God be not farre from me: my God haue respect to mine ayde.

13 † Let them be confounded, and fayle that detract from my soule: let them be couered with confusion, and shame, that seeke euils to me.

† But I wil alwaies hope: and The best meanes to conserue vertue, is to exercise the same, adding good workes towards our neighboures, and praises to God. wil adde vpon al thy praise. 14

† My mouth shal shew forth thy iustice: al the day thy 15 saluation. Because I professe not exact knowlege of natural thinges; I haue not knowne lerning, but I consider and contemplate the infinite powre of God, which appeareth in his workes, I wil enter into the and his iust iudgements; as partly haue appeared in punishing, and rewarding some in this life, but especially wil be manifest in the end of this world. powres of our Lord: † ô Lord I wil be mindful of 16 thy iustice onely.

17 † O God thou hast taught me from my youth: and vntil now I wil pronounce thy meruelous workes.

18 † And vnto ancient age, and olde age: ô God forsake me not? Vntil I shew forth thy arme to al the, generation, that is to come.

19 Thy might, † and thy iustice ô God euen to the highest, great meruailes which thou hast done: ô God who may be like to thee?

20 [Page 131]† How great tribulations hast thou shewed me, manie and euil: and turning thou After tribulations recreated me. hast quickened me: and from the depthes of the earth thou hast brought me backe againe.

21 † Thou hast multiplied thy magnificence: and being turned thou hast comforted me.

22 † For I also wil confesse to thee in the instruments of Psalme thy truth: ô God I wil sing to thee on the harpe, holie one of Israel.

23 † My I wil praise thee with mouth and hart. lippes shal reioyce when I shal sing to thee; and my soule, which thou hast redemed.

24 † Yea and my tongue al the day shal meditate thy iustice: when they shal be confounded and ashamed that seeke euils to me.

PSALME. LXXI.
This Psalme is of Christ, perfigured by Salomon, whose kingdom was most glorious of al the kinges of Gods people; for of king Salomon himselfe manie thinges in this Psalme can not be truly vnderstood. S. Aug. Concerning Salomon.

By way of prayer the Psalmist prophecieth Christs coming, our King and Christ our king & Iudge. the 5. key. Iudge: 4. the deliuerer of mankind from the thraldom of the diuel. [...]. the greatnes of his spiritual kingdom in the Gentiles. 16. and his continual glorie and praise.

1 O God giue thy iudgement to O God most blessed Trinitie, geue powre and authoritie, to the Sonne of Man, God incarnate, King of al kinges, the king: and thy iustice 2 to the Sonne of king Dauid, to iudge for mankind against the diuel. the sonne of the king.

To iudge thy people in Christ paying ransom for al mankind, and so man renouncing the diuel, and seruing God is iustly, not iniuriously deliuered from captiuitie of sion [...], and of the diuel. iustice, and thy poore in iudgement.

3 † Let A prophecie of the Apostles receiuing powre to preach Christs Gospel, of peace and reconciliation of men to God by penance; the mountains receiue peace for the people: and and of other Apostolical men that folow the [...] steppes. the litle hilles iustice.

4 † He Salomon in figure of Christ was for a time a iust and good king. shal iudge the poore of the people, and shal saue the children of the poore: and he shal humble the calumniator.

5 [Page 132]† And he shal But only Christ, not Salomon, nor anie other king of that people, contineweth, or reigneth for euer. continew with the sunne, and before the moone in generation and generation.

6 † He The maner of Christs Incarnation most silent, swete, and gratful. shal descend as rayne vpon a fleece: and as droppes distilling vpon the earth.

7 † There shal rise in his dayes iustice, and aboundance of peace, Agane the prophet inculcateth that Christs kingdom, his Church, shal continew for euer. vntil the moone be taken away.

8 † And he shal rule The Church is not only vniuersal in al times, but also in places. from sea vnto sea: and from the riuer euen to the ends of the round world.

9 † Before him shal the Aethiopians fal downe: and his enimies Isaiae 6 [...] ▪ shal lick the earth.

10 † The The three Sages or Kinges, which adored our Sauiour, and offered gold, frankencense, and myrrh, were the first that fulfilled this prophecie: and afterwards Constantin the great, and other Emperors, Kinges, and Princes. kinges of Tharsis, and Amongst other Ilandes great Bryttannie (the greatest of Europe) was conuerted to Christ, according to this prophecie: first some few in the Apostles time (Metaphrastes apud Surium, Theodoret, epist. ad Timoth. Sophronius, Ser. de Nat. Apost, & alij.) More in the time of Eleutherius. Lastly our Englisc nation by S. Augustin and others sent by S. Gregorie. the Ilands shal offer presentes: Mat. [...]. the kings of the Arabians, and of Saba shal bring giftes.

11 † And al kinges of the earth shal adore him: al nations shal serue him.

12 † Because he shal deliuer the poore from the mightie: and the poore which had no helper.

13 † He shal spare the poore and needy: and he shal saue the soules of the poore.

14 † From vsuries and iniquitie he shal redeme their soules: and their name shal be honorable before him.

15 † And How is this prophecie verified▪ except the Church be alwayes visible? he shal liue, and there shal be giuen him of the gold of Arabia, and they shal adore it alwaies: al the day they shal blesse him.

16 † And there shal be a firmament in the earth, in the toppes of mountanes, the fruite therof shal be extolled farre aboue Libanus: and they shal florish of the citie, as the grasse of the earth.

17 † Be his name blessed for euer: before the sunne his name is permanent.

And al the tribes of the earth shal be blessed in him: al nations shal magnifie him.

18 [Page 133]† Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel, No miracles can be donne but by Gods powre. who only doth meruelous thinges.

19 † And blessed be the name of his maiestie for euer: and al the earth shal be filled with his maiestie. Aboue al other desires the holie prophet wished Gods glorie, and praises in al the earth, as it is in heauen. Be it, be it.

† It semeth by this appendix added by Esdras, that this Psalme was last composed, though not put in the last place, but as it came to his handes. The praises of Dauid, Dauid the natural sonne of Iesse, made no more Hymnes, that is, no more musical praises of God after this Psalme, but the prefigured Dauid Christ our Sauiour, the Sonne of God, in his bodie the Church, singeth ful new praises S. Aug▪ in enarrat. Psal. sequentis. 72. the sonne of Iesse are ended. 20

PSALME. LXXII.
A Psalme To be songue by Asaph the master of musike, and his companie. to Asaph.

The royal prophet, first professing the vnspeakable goodnes of God, 2. in Affliction in this world is recompensed in the end. the▪ 9. key. the person of the weake complaineth, that the wicked prosper, and the iust are afflicted. 15. reprehendeth the murmuration, for though we can not comprehend the secrete iudgements of God. 18. yet they are most iust. 25. So with desire to rest in God, he promiseth euer to praise him.

1 HOW God is so excellent good, as no tongue can expresse, no hart can conceiue. good is God to Israel, to them, that are of a right hart! Psal. 39.

2 † But The peace and prosperitie of the wicked tempted me, to leaue the right narrow way, and to goe the brode easie way with them. my feete were almost moued, my steppes almost slipped.

3 † Because I haue had zele vpon the wicked, seing the peace of sinners.

† Because there is They neuer thincke of death; no respect to their death: and and if they suffer some affliction, they quickly remoue it from them. stabilitie in ther plague.

5 † In They trauel not so much as good men do, neither are they so often punished. the labours of men they are not, and with men they shal not be scourged.

6 † Therfore Which maketh them proud, and so they runne into al sortes of iniquitie. hath pride helde them, they are couered with their iniquitie and impietie.

7 [Page 134]† Their iniquitie hath proceded as it were of fatte: they haue passed into Whatsoeuer mischief came in their mind, they feared not to committe it in fact. the affection of the hart.

8 † They haue thought, and haue spoken wickednes they haue spoken iniquitie boldly extolling their owne wordes and workes, and despising others. on high.

9 † They haue sette their mouth vnto heauen: ad their tongue hath passed in the earth.

10 † Therfore wil my people For this prosperitie of the wicked, some of Gods people wil fall from the right way, returne here: and and their dayes wil abound with calamities. ful daies shal be found in them.

11 † And they haue saide: The voice of the weake, inclining to diffidence, and doubt of Gods knowlege, and prouidence. How doth God know, and is there knowledge in the highest?

12 † Loe the sinners them selues, and they that abounde in the world, haue obtained riches.

13 † And I saide: Then haue I iustified my hart without cause, and haue washed my handes amongst innocentes:

14 † And haue bene scourged al the day, and my chastising in the morninges.

15 † If I saide: I wil speake this: behold The prophet in his owne person answereth, that if he should say such thinges, he should reproue Gods children, as faultie, vnworthie of his protection, and to be neglected; wheras it is Gods prouidence to chastice his children whom he loueth. I reproued the nation of thy children.

† I In this life we can not know the particular causes, why the iust are afflicted, and manie wicked prosper in this world. thought to know this thing, it is labour before me: 16

17 † Vntil I may enter into the sanctuarie of God: and may vnderstand concerning their latter endes.

18 † But yet But only in general we are taught, that euils are prepared for the guiles, or deceptes, for guiles thou hast put it to them: thou hast cast them downe whiles they pride, and other sinnes of the wicked. were eleuated.

19 † How are they brought into desolation, they haue failed sodanely: they haue perished for their iniquitie.

20 † As the dreame of them that rise ô Lord, in thy citie thou shalt bring their Not real but imaginarie felicitie. image to nothing.

[Page 135]† Because my hart is Almost burned vp with afflictions. inflamed, and my reynes are changed: 21

And I am brought to nothing, and knew not. 22

23 † As Charged with heauie burdens, without knowlege how long, or to what end, a beast am I become with thee: and I yet not destitute of thy protection. alwaies with thee.

24 † Thou hast helde my right hand: and in thy wil thou hast conducted me, and with glorie thou hast receiued me.

25 † For what is to me Nothing to be desired in heauen, nor in earth but God. in heauen? and besides thee what would I vpon the earth?

26 † My In bodie and mind I thirst after thee, my true inheritance. flesh hath fainted, and my hart: God of my hart, and God my portion for euer.

27 For behold, they Men by their freewil make themselues enimies to God. that make them selues faire from thee, shal perish: thou determined their damnation, forseing their final sinnes. hast destroyed al, that fornicate from thee.

28 † But it is good for me to cleaue to God: to put my hope in our Lord God:

That I may shew forth al thy prayses, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

PSALME. LXXIII.
Vnderstanding Instruction for the congregation of the faithful in distresse, not to seeke temporal towardes and prosperitie, but to expect spiritual and eternal. S. Aug. to Asaph.

Faithful people pressed with persecution lamentably complayning, besecheth A prayer in long affliction. the 7. key. God to respect his owne inheritance, cruelly afflicted; [...]. and leift long without helpe, 12. wheras heretofore he releeued his people in like distresses. 18. And therfore confidently hopeth he wil renenge the blasphemers of his name,

1 VVHY hast thou ô God In long persecution the weake beginne to feare, or suspect, that God hath vtterly abandoned them. repelled for euer: is thy furie wrath vpon the sheepe of thy pasture?

2 Be But the stronger pray with confidence, mindful of thy congregation, being assured that God who hath conserued his Church hitherto, from the beginning of the world, wil conserue it st [...] the end. which thou hast possessed from the beginning.

[Page 136]Thou hast An other reason why God wil conserue his Church is, because he hath deliuered it often a strong arme; as from bondage in Aegypt, from persecution and oppression in the time of Iudges, and kinges, and lastly redemed it from the tyrannie of the diuel by Christs death. redemed the rod of thine inheritan [...]e: mount Sion, in which thou hast dwelt.

3 † Lift vp thy handes vpon Thirdly the pride of the enimies moueth God to reuenge their wickednes, and so to deliuer his owne people. their prides for euer: how great thinges hath the enimie done malignantly in the holy place▪

4 † And they that hate thee haue gloried: in the middes of They pretend to kepe solemne feastes like to thyne. thy solemnitie.

5 They haue sette They set vp altars against thyn altares, or some new deuised external shew, against the holie Rites of the Church: their signes, for signes: † and haue not knowne, and that in publike places, in the endes of high wayes, or po [...]es, and pinnacles. as in the issue on high.

6 As The prophet describeth the maner how persecutors destroy temples, and al sacred thinges. in a wood of trees they haue with axes † cut out the gates therof together: in hatchet, and chippeaxe they haue cast it downe. 4. Reg [...]

7 † They haue burnt thy sanctuarie with fire: they haue polluted the tabernacle of thy name in the earth.

8 † Their The whole crew, or band of persecutors. kinred together haue saide in their hart: Let vs make al the festiual daies of God to cease from the earth.

9 † Our The weake complaine that God sheweth not w [...]ted signes, nor sendeth succourse to his people, by raising some prophet▪ or other meanes to helpe them. signes we haue not seene, there is now no prophet: and he wil know vs no more.

10 † How long ô God shal the enimie vpbraide: the aduersarie prouoke thy name for euer?

11 † Why doest thou turne away thy hand, and thy right hand, out of the middes of thy bosome for euer? Luc. 1▪ 70.

12 † But The perfect do answer, that God both hath, and wil releeue his people. God our king before the worldes: he hath wrought saluation in the middes of the earth.

13 † Thou in thy strength hast confirmed Made the redde sea like waues▪ the sea: thou hast drowned Pharao and his hoste. crushed the head of Dragons in the waters.

14 [Page 137]† Thou hast broken the heads of the dragon: thou hast giuen him for meate to the peoples of blacke diuels. of the Aethiopians.

15 † Thou hast geuen water out of rockes, broken vp fountanes, and torrentes: thou hast dried the riuers made passage ouer Iordan. of Ethan.

16 † The day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast made the morning and the sunne.

17 † Thou hast made al the coasts of the earth: the summer and the spring thou hast formed them.

18 † Be mindeful of this, the enimie hath vpbraided our Lord: and a foolish people hath prouoked thy name.

19 † Deliuer not to beasts the soules that confesse to thee: and the soules of thy poore forget not for euer.

20 † Haue respect vnto thy testament: because they that are Ignorant, blind, and barbarous infidels, lodge al kindes of iniquitie in their consciences. obscure of the earth, are filled with houses of iniquities.

21 † and therfore it is vnmeete, that faithful people should be in bondage vnder th [...]. Let not the humble be turned away being confounded: the poore and needy shal praise thy name.

22 † Arise God, iudge thy cause: be mindful of those thy reproches, that are These foolish audacious men do continually blaspheme al holie thinges. from the foolish man al the day.

23 † Omite not to punish them, Forget not the voices of thine enimies: the seing they are obstinate and obdurate in pride, and [...] hatred. pride of them that hate thee, hath ascended alwaies.

PSALME LXXIIII.
Vnto the end, Either this was the beginning of a songue, to the tune wherof this Psalme was song; as some Hebrew Rabbins testifie; or, as S. Augustin and other fathers explicate, the Septuagint do admonish vs, by occasion of this Psalme, not to fa [...]le in our hope, for that God wil in no case violate his promise no [...] purpose, but wil render to euerie one in the day of Iudgement, as they deserue. Corrupt not, a Psalme of Canticle to Asaph.

Christ (with his Assessors) wil iudge the whole world, at the last day: in General iudgement. the 9. key. the meane time exhorteth sinners to amend their life; 7. for none shal escape iust iudgement. 1 [...]. The wicked shal be punished, and the good rewarded.

1 [Page 138]VVE Christ with his Apostles, and other assessorie iudges, wil praise and thanke God, for his admirable good prouidence, and gouernement of this world. wil confesse to thee ô God: This duplication of the same word, confirmeth vs of the assured performance of that, which is here prophecied. we wil confesse, 2 and wil inuocate thy name.

3 We wil tel thy meruelouse workes: † when Christ our singular, principal, and proper Iudge only, and no mere creature, knoweth the determinate time of general iudgement. I shal take a time, I wil iudge iustices.

4 † The earth at that time shal be purged with flaming fire: The earth is melted, and al that dwel in it: yet shal not be destroyed, but changed in qualities. I haue confirmed the pillers thereof.

5 † I said to the wicked: An epitome, or briefe summe of Christs doctrine, to f [...]ee from sinne. doe not wickedly: and to them that offend: be not proud, abuse not the powre you haue, to do what you please. Exalt not the horne.

6 † Exalt not your horne on high: speake not iniquitie aganst God.

† For neither from the East, nor from the West, nor from the 7 desert mountanes: † VVhen other Iudges sitte on tribunales, some may be absent, or escape from their sentences▪ but al without exception shal be brought in persons, when Christ God and Man shal iudge. because God is Iudge. 8

9 Some shal haue sentence of eternal paine in hel; some of eternal reward in glorie, This man he humbleth, and him he exalteth, † though (partly in this world, partly in particular iudgement of euerie soule) God hath alreardy, and wil before the last day punish sinners, yet there resteth more punishment, and no impenitent sinners shal escape, but al shal drinke of the bitter cuppe of eternal damnation. because there is a cuppe in the hand of our Lord strong wine not delayde with water, but mingled with bitter sharpe thinges, as gal, vinegre, brimstone &c. and so powred into festered woundes, so they shal suffer vntolerable endles paine, mixed with the worme of conscience, losse of glorie, rancor of hart, and eternal desperation▪ of mere wine ful of mixture.

And he hath powred it out Varietie of hellish torments, from one extreme to an other: as from snow waters to exceding heate. Iob. 24. of this into that, but yet the dregges therof are not emptied: al the sinners of the earth shal drinke.

† But I wil shewforth for euer: I wil sing to the God of Iacob. 10

11 † And I wil breake al the hornes of sinners: and The iust for wel vsing their powre of free wil, and of al powre geuen them in this life, are rewarded in heauen. the hornes of the iust shal be exalted.

[Page 139]

PSALME. LXXV.
Vnto the end, in prayses, a Psalme For the congregation of faithful and godlie people to Asaph, a Canticle to Amongst others, one notorious example of Gods prouidence is recorded of an hundred fourescore & fiue thousand Assirians, slame in one night by an Angel. 4. Reg. 19. the Assirians.

The royal prophet singeth Gods praises, for his particular prouidence Gods prouidence towards his people the 3. key. towards the Iewes: 10. further to be extended to al the meeke of the whole earth.

1 God is knowne God was not only knowen in general, as to pagane Philosophers, and some others, but more particularly to the Iewes, the issue of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, by his special benefites towards them. in Iewrie: in Israel his name is 2 great.

3 † And God suffering al other nations to erre for their sinnes, in their fond phantesies of false goddes, reserued the Israelites for his Church, his place is made in peace: and establishing the principalitie therof in Sion. his habitation in Sion.

4 † For obtaining and conseruing of Sion from wicked Infidels, God ouerthrewe al sortes of contrarie forces. There he brake the powres of bowes, the shilde, the sword, and the battle.

† Thou God not only gaue his people temporal victories ouer their enimies, but also illuminated their mindes with knowlege of true religion: doest illuminate meruelousely from the eternal 5 mountaynes: † al the foolish of hart others are often trubled in mind, hearing the truth, but are not conuerted through their obstinate follie. were trubled. 6

† They VVorldlie men in supine carlesnes as in a sleepe, passe ouer this life, and afterwards find themselues excluded from heauen, for lacke of merites, and good workes, with the foolish virgins. slept their sleepe: and al the men of riches found nothing in their handes.

7 † At God vndertaking the defence of his people, and threatning the aduerse part, thy reprehension ô God of Iacob, they they failed in courage, as men ouercome with drowsines of sleepe. haue al slumbered that mounted on horses.

8 † Thou art terrible, and who shal resist thee? Euen from the first notice of thy wil, the aduersaries were deiected, fearing thy po [...]e [...] wrath. from that time thy wrath.

9 [Page 140]† From Terrible signes from the firmament appearing before the day of iudgement, heauen thou The Prophetes [...] often speake in the pretertence, for the assurance of the thinges to come. hast made thy iudgement hearde: persecuters and others being terrified shal be astonied and silent. the earth trembled and was quiet.

10 When God arose vnto iudgement, God vvil come to iudge the vvorld, more especially for the iusts sake. that he might saue al the meeke of the earth.

11 † Because Men that shal seriously thinke and meditate vpon these thinges, vvil praise and thanke God for them: the cogitation of man shal confesse to thee: and and the effect, and svvere repast of such meditation, shal make as it vvere a great festiual day, in the deuout soule spiritually ioyned vvith God. the remanes of the cogitation shal keepe festiual day to thee.

12 † The soule thus inflamed with Gods loue, is then apt of gratitude, for his goodnes tovvardes man, to make vovves of thinges vvherto vve are not obliged, Vowe ye, and but most necessarie it is to be maturely aduised, and not rashly, nor lightly to vovv; for being once vovved, vve are strictly bound to vvhatsoeuer vve haue lavvfully promised. And it is great sinne to v [...]vv vndiscretly. render to our Lord your God: al ye that round about him bring giftes.

13 To Remembring that for vovves, and al other vvorkes vve must ansvver to God, vvho is a terrible iudge, readie to punish in bodie and soule., sparing none for their greatnes, not princes, nor kinges, nor vulgar sorte, for al are to him alike. the terrible, † and him that taketh away the spirite of princes, terrible to the kinges of the earth.

PSALME. LXXVI.
Vnto the end, for For Idithun to sing, or to make tune for it. Idithun, a psalme For the faithful congregation to consider Gods benefites. to Asaph.

Anie faithful deuout person meditating Gods benefites, 7. examineth his Gods special protection of the Ievves. the. 4. key. 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.

1 † VVith Hauing heretofore prayed, my voice I haue cried to our Lord: with my 2 Psal. 14 [...]. voice to God I haue obtayned. and he attended to me.

3 † In the day of my tribulation I sought God, with my handes Especially being in tribulation, and praying vvith hart and handes lifted vp, as vvel in the night as day: in the night before him: and I I vvas not frustrate of my prayer. was not deceiued.

4 [Page 141]My I vvas sometimes in such anguish that nothing semed comfortable, soule refused to be comforted, † I but I [...]d vpon God so firmly, was mindeful of God, and was delighted, and was exercised: and that my spirite came in [...]o an ex [...]asie, o [...]aunce. my spirite fainted.

5 Myne eies I arose early before the ordinarie time of avvay king, preuented the watches: I was my hart being attentiue invvardly, I vttered nothing vvith my tongue trubled, & spake not.

6 † I thought vpon old daies: and the eternal yeares I had in minde.

7 † And I meditated in the night with my hart, and I was exercised, and I I diligently examined my conscience. swept my spirite.

8 Why, Assuredly God vvil not reiect for euer, but he vvil be pleased with his Church. wil God reiect for euer: or wil he not adde to be better pleased as yet?

9 † Or wil he cutte of his mercie for euer, from generation vnto generation?

10 † Or wil God forget to haue mercie? or wil he in his wrath keepe in his mercies?

11 And I sayde: VVhiles I thus thought, I erred greatly, novv I see and confesse that God suffereth al calamities for the good of his seruantes: Now haue I begune: and this I knevv not by my selfe, but by the inspiration of God, making this change in me by his gracious hand. this is the change of the right hand of the Highest.

12 † I haue bene mindful of the workes of our Lord: because I wil be mindful, from the beginning of thy meruelous workes.

13 † 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 14 God? † thou art the God that doest meruelous thinges. 15

16 Thou hast made thy powre knowne among peoples: † thou hast with thine arme redemed thy people, the children of The progenie of Iacob, receiued and nourished in Aegypt for Iosephs sake, as his adopted children. Iacob, and Ioseph.

17 † The waters The read sea, and Iordan felt thy diuine powre, and obeyed thy wil. saw thee ô God, the waters saw thee: and they were afrayd, and the depthes were trubled.

18 [Page 142]† A Noise of vvaters meeting after the Israelites vvere passed, thunders and lightninges also hapened, to the terror of the persecutors, though not mentioned in Exodus. multitude of the sounding of waters: the cloudes gaue a voice.

19 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.

20 † Thy way in the sea, and thy pathes in many waters: and thy steppes shal not be knowne. Ex [...]. 14

21 † Thou hast conducted thy people as sheepe: By the ministerie of Moyses and Aaron. in the hand of moyses and Aaron.

PSALME. LXXVII.
Vnderstanding Commended to Asaph a▪ chiefe musitian, that the people might vnderstand and consider Gods benefites. to Asaph.

The royal prophet exhorting the people to attend, 5. reciteth manie great Gods great Benefites bestovved vpon the levves, and their ingratitude. the 4 key. 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.

1 MY people attend ye to Neither the lavv, not the people vvas Dauids, but presenting Gods perso n, he speaketh in his name or authoritie, vvith vvhose inspitation he vvas replenished. S. Greg. Prefat: in Iob. c. 2. my law: incline your eare vnto the wordes of my mouth. Mat. [...] 5. 35.

2 † I wil open my mouth in Albeit the prophet reciteth historically thinges donne, yet the same vvere parables, similitudes, and figures of other thinges: parables: I wil speake yea of secret hidden Mysteries, obscurly signified in the old Testament, and reueled in the nevv. propositions from the beginning.

3 † How great thinges haue we heard and which partly we know by written holie Sriptures: haue knowne them, and partly by Traditions. our fathers haue told vs.

[Page 143]† They were not hid from their children, in an other generation. 4

Telling the prayses of our Lord, and his powers, and his meruelous workes which he hath done.

5 † And he God of his mercie without precedent merite, raised vp a peculiar people of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, raised vp a testimonie in Iacob: and and gaue them a particular law, first of Circuncision, & more largely by Moyses. made a law in Israel.

6 How great thinges he commanded our fathers, So Abraham instructed his children and his house after him, Gen. 18. to make the same knowne to their children: † that in like sorte others taught their children. an other generation may know.

The children that shal be borne, and shal rise vp, and shal tel their children.

7 † That they may For three causes God gaue his law, that his people may haue confidence in him, he shewing his care to instruct and gouerne them; put their hope in God, and may that they remember his benefites; not forget the workes of God: and may and kepe his commandmentes. seeke after his commandmentes.

8 † That they become not as their fathers: The Iewish nation very often, and in great numbers murmured, rebelled, and committed other great sinnes, and therfore Dauid exhorted the people of his time, not to do the like. And this exhortation perteyneth more especially to Charistianes. as S. Paul teacheth. 1. Cor. 10. a peruerse generation and exasperating.

A generation, that hath not directed their hart, their spirit hath not bene faithful towards God.

9 † The They first (trusting in their owne strength) without Gods commandment (Num. 14.) went forth to batle and were ouerthrowne. 1. Par 7 v.21. children of Ephrem bending, and shooting with [...]. Par. 7. [...]. bow: were turned in the day of battel.

10 † They kept not the testament of God: and in his law they would not walke.

11 † And they forgate his benefites, and his meruelous workes, which he shewed them.

12 † Before their fathers he did meruelous thinges in the land of Aegypt, in the filde Tanis the principal citie in Aegypt nere the riuer Nilus, where Moyses wrought his great miracles. of Tanis.

13 † He diuided the sea & brought them through: and he made [...]. 14. the waters to stand as in a bottle.

14 [Page 144]† And he This cloude shadowed them from the heate of the sunne in the day, and the fire shined in the night, al the time that they were in the desert. conducted them in a cloude by day: and al the night by light of fire.

15 † He stroke the rocke in In mount Horeb: and there was continual water in al the campe, which occupied nere foure miles in length and breadth. the desert: and gaue them water to drinke as in a great depth.

16 † And he broughtforth water out of the rocke: and made waters runne downe as riuers.

17 † And they added as yet to sinne vnto him: they prouoked the Highest to wrath in the place Which naturally wanted water: but by miracle had abundance. without water.

18 † And they tempted God in their hartes: so that they asked Not content with Manna, they demanded to haue flesh. meats for their liues.

19 † And they spake euil of God: they saide: Stil incredulous, not beleuing Gods omnipotencie, they thought that, albeit he had geuen them manna, and water, yet he could not geue them flesh. Can God prepare a table in the desert?

20 † Because he stroke the rocke and waters ranne, & torrentes flowed:

Can he also giue By bread in general is vnderstood al competent meate vsual for a table. bread, or prepare a table for his people?

21 † Therfore our Lord heard, and For this incredulitie, murmuring, and other sinnes God kept the children of Israel fourtie yares in the desert, t [...]l al hat were of age, when they came from Aegypt, were dead, except only Iosue and Caleb. made delay: and In the meane time amongst other punishments, manie mutmurers wo [...]c burn [...]o death with strange fire. Num. 11. fire was kindled in Iacob, and wrath ascended vpon Israel.

† Because they beleued not in God, nor hoped in his saluation. 22

23 † And he commanded the cloudes from aboue, and opened the gates of heauen.

24 † And he rayned them Manna to eate, and bread of heauen he gaue to them.

25 † Bread Manna made by Angels. of Angels did man eate: he sent them victuals in abundance.

26 † He God so changed the wind, that it brought abundance of quailes and other birdes, into their campe. Exo. 16. Nu. 11. transported the Southwinde from heauen: and in his powre he brought in the Southwestwinde.

27 [Page 145]† 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. 28

29 † And they did eate and were filled excedingly, and their desire he brought to them:

† They were not defrauded of their desire. 30

Immediately after a moneth (for so long they had abundance of these birdes ibid. v. 20.) they were striken with a plague, and manie died, for their concupiscence. As yet their meats were in their mouth:

31 † And the wrath of God ascended vpon them. And he killed their fat ones, and The most fresh strong men died, and so were hindered from possessing the promised land of Chana an the chosen of Israel he hindered.

32 † 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 fourtie yeares aboue six hundred thousand died. in hast. 33

34 † When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned, and They offered morning sacrifice. early they came to him.

35 † And they remembred that God is their helper: and the high God is their redemer.

36 † And they loued him But were not sincere in their hartes. with their mouth, and with theirtongue they did lie to him.

37 † But their hart was not right with him: neither were they counted faithful in his testament.

38 † Howsoeuer multitudes of people committe great sinnes, and are seuerely punished, yet Gods mercie preferueth some by his effectual grace, and neuer suffereth the whole Church to faile, nor to be destroyed. But he is merciful, and wil be propicious to their sinnes: and he wil not destroy them.

And he abunded to turne away his wrath: and he kindled not al his wrath.

39 † And he remembred that they are flesh: Mans life is like the winde, that stil passeth, and the same returneth not. As Aristotel teacheth. Here the Hebrewes note the middes of the Psalter, in 1263. verses. and so manie in the rest. spirit going, and not returning.

40 † “ How The people of Israel murmured so often in the desert, that it was not easie to tel how often See the Annotation. often haue they exasperated him in the desert: prouoked him to wrath in the place without water.

41 [Page 146]† And For ef [...]soones repenting they offended God againe and againe. they returned, and tempted God: and the holie one of Israel they exasperaed.

42 † They did not remember his hand: in the day that he redemed them from the hand of the afflicter.

43 † As he put The first signe was in turning a rodde into a serpent, which was a miracle, but no plague, the other signes were also plagnes to the Aegyptians. his signes in Aegypt, and his wonders in the filde of Tanis.

44 † And he turned The first plague. their riuers into bloude, & their Pooles, lakes, and al sortes of water, yea showers, or raine water▪ which seldome happeneth in Aegypt. showers that they might not drinke.

45 † He sent vpon them The fourth plague, in order as they are recited in Exodus. a C [...] my [...]am. swarme of flies, and it eate them: and The second plague. the frogge, and it destroyed them.

46 † And he gaue their fruites to This was a lesse plague, not mentioned in with the greater. the blast, and their labors to The eight plague. the locuste. Exodus.

47 † And he killed their vineyeardes with The seuenth plague. haile: and their mulberie trees with This also is omitted in. horefrost. Exodus.

48 † And he deliuered Not only al trees, and plantes, but also beastes were subiect to the haile. their beast to haile: and their possession and to firie leghtnings. to fire.

49 † He sent vpon them In these general termes, of wrath, indignation, and tribulation, the Prophet comprehendeth al the other plagues, to witte, the third of scinies, the fifth of pestilence, the sixt of boyles in men and beastes, the ninth of darknes three dayes together. the wrath of his indignation: indignation, & wrath, and tribulation: immissions Al which God sent by the ministerie of diuels, euil angels. by euil angels.

50 † He made a way to the path of his wrath, he spared not their liues from death: and their cattel he shut vp in death.

51 † And The tenth and greatest plague, 11. v. 5. &. c. 12. v. 29. he stroke al the first borne in the land of Aegypt: the first fruites of al their labors in the tabernacles Egyptians also descended from cham, by his sonne Mesraim. Gen. 10. v. 6. of Cham. Exod.

52 † And he After that Aegypt was thus plagued, God brought Israel out of their seruitude, as a shepheard leddeth his sheepe, and defendeth them. tooke away his people as sheepe: and led them as a flock in the desert.

53 [Page 147]† And he brought them forth in hope, and they feared not: and the sea couered their enemies.

54 † And he brought them into Iudea a hillie countrie. the mount of his Into that countrie which God chose, and endewed with manie blessinges. sanctification, the mount, which his right hand purchased.

And he cast As is written in Iosue. out the gentiles from their face: and by lot he diuided the land of them in a corde of distribution:

† And he made the tribes of Israel to dwel in their tabernacles. 55

56 † And After the conquest and quiet possession, the Israelites often fel into grosse sinnes, especially in the time of Iudges. they tempted, and exasperated God the highest, and they kept not his testimonies.

57 † And they turned away themselues, & kept not the couenant: euen as their fathers, they were turned as a A croked bow deceiueth the archer, so this people failed to serue God, and deceiued them selues. crooked bow.

58 † They incensed him to wrath in their In their altares erected in hilles to Idoles. hilles: and in their Scuptilibus. grauens they prouoked him By grauen imagies of Idoles, they prouoked God to indignation. to emulation.

56 † God heard, and contemned: and he brought Israel to nothing Not absolutely to nothing, but punished them exceedingly, til they repented; and then spared and deliuered them from tribulation, as appeareth in the booke of Iudges. excedingly.

60 † And he reiected the tabernacle The Arke of God sometime kept in Silo, Iosue 18. in the tribe of Ephraim, was taken by the Philistims. 1. Keg. 4. and neuer returned thither agane. of Silo, his tabernacle, but whersoeuer the Arke was, there God more especially heard their petitions, and gaue answers. where he dwelt among men.

61 † And he deliuered For their sinnes God suffered the Arke to be taken. their force into captiuitie: and their beautie into the hands of the enemie.

62 † And he And the Israelites to be sore afflicted by their enimies. shut vp his people in the sword: and he dispised his inheritance.

63 The zele, and iust wrath of God suffered these calamities to happen. Fyre deuoured their young men▪ and their virgins were not lamented.

64 † Their Ophni and Phinees the sonnes of Heli slaine and Heli himselfe hearing that the Arke was taken fel from his stoole and broke his neck. 1. Reg 4. Priestes fel by the sworde: and their widowes were not wept for.

65 [Page 148]† And Neuertheles God plagued the infidels, and conserued his Church. 1. Reg. 5. our Lord was raised vp as one that sleepeth: [...] as a mightie man hauing surfited of wine.

66 † And he stroke his enimies on the hinder partes: an euerlasting reproch he gaue to them.

67 † And he reiected the tabernacle As before. v. 60. of Ioseph: and the tribe of Ephraim he chose not.

68 † But he chose the tribe After a time the Arke was brought into the tribe of Iuda. of Iuda, mount Sion which he loued.

69 † And he built The Church was firme, and euer preserued in the old testament til Christ, and from Christs time to the end of the world. his sanctuarie as of vnicornes in the land, which he hath founded for euer.

70 † And Gods particular grace in choosing, and exalting Dauid, was a special benefite to the Israelites. he chose Dauid his seruant, and tooke him from the flockes of sheepe: from after the ewes with yong he tooke him.

To To rule and gouerne the people of Israel. feede Iacob his seruant, and Israel his inheritance. 71

72 † And he fedde them in the innocencie of his hart: and in the vnderstandings of Prudently vsing his powre and authoritie. his hands he conducted them.

ANNOTATIONS PSALME: LXXVII.

40. How often haue they exasperated?] Moyses (Deu. 9. v. 7.) repeting what had The people of Israel often murmured in the desert. passed in the desert, chargeth the people that they had stil prouoked our lord to wrath, from the day, that they came out of Egypt, and alwayes contended aganst him. And our lord himself expostulating their ingratitude, & often murmuring saith (Num. 14. v. 22.) in the beginning of the second yeare, that Tenne times more notori ously. they had then tempted him tenne times; either by this certaine number signifying an vncertaine, or els chiefly tenne times: for so often we find recorded that they tempted him, and murmured within that smal time more notorionly. First nere, vnto the redde sea (Exod. 14. v. 11.) where seing the Egyptians 1. pursuing them, they murmured against Moyses, for bringing them out of Egypt, saying: It had benne much better to haue serued the Egyptians, then to 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. die in the wildernes. Secondly, for want of swete water. Exod. 15. v. 24. Thirdly. for lack of meate, Exod. 16. v. 3. Fourtly, keeping Manna for the next day, contrarie to Gods commandment. ibid. v. 20. Fiftly, going on the Sabbath day, also contrarie to Gods commandment, together Manna. Ibid. v. 27. Sixtly, for want of water in Raphidim. Exod. 17. v. 2 Num. 26. v. 2 Seuently in Horeb, adoring a calfe & the image therof Exod. 32 Eightly, repyning for their trauels in the wildernes Nu, 11. v. 1. Nintly, loathing Manna, and burning [Page 149] with desire to eate flesh. Ibid. v. 4. 5 6. Tently desparing to possesse the promised land of Chanaan, after that the discouerers had reported the difficulties, with the force of the people, and of the cities against which they must fight. Nu. 14. v. 1. Al which and the rest, saith S. Paul, happened to them in figure of vs: and are written for our correption (or admonition) that we murmur not as they did. 1. Cor. 10.

PSALME. LXXVIII.
A Psalme to be sungue by Asaph and his companie, in the behalfe of people vnited in faith. to Asaph. 1

The Prophet, in person of the Church, lamenteth the crueltie of persecutors The Church suffereth verie great persecutions. the 6. key. (both in the old and new testament) 5. prayeth for release, with iust reuenge against Gods enimies, that blaspheme his name, 3. and promiseth to be gratful in diuine praises.

O God Cruel infidels haue inuaded those thinges, which perteyne to thy Church. the Gentiles are come into thine inheritance, they euen possessed and prophaned the holie temple of the Iewes, and Churches of Catholique Christians. Fulfilled by Antiochus, in Ierusalem; by the Vandals in Afrike, by Protestants, and Puritanes, in diuers partes of Europe, and wil be more vniuersally by Antichrist in al Christendom. haue polluted thy holie temple: they haue made Ierusalem Insteed of great and fare Churches, Gods seruantes are fane to vse meane houses, yea poore cotages. as a watch toure of fruits.

2 † They haue made Some persecutors suffer not Martyrs bodies to be buried, but hang them on polles, and pinnacles, where birdes may eate them. the carcases of thy seruants, meats for the foules of the aire: the flesh of thy sainctes for the beastes of the land.

3 † They haue poured out their bloude as water round about Ierusalem: and there was none to burie them.

4 † We are Christianes Gallileans, Catholiques Homousians, and now Papistes, in spite and reproch. become a reproch to our neighboures: a scorne and mocke to them that are round about vs.

5 † How long ô Lord wilt thou Sinnes prouoking Gods wrath, are one cause why he suffereth his people to be persecuted. be angrie for euer: shal thy zele be kindled as a fire?

6 † Poure out thy wrath vpon the Gentiles, Though the faithful committe some sinnes, yet in respect that they beleue righly, haue zele in Gods cause, and denie not God, they are nerer to grace and fauour. that haue not knowne thee: & vpon the kingdomes, that haue not inuocated thy name.

7 [Page 150]† Because they haue deuoured Iacob: and his place they haue made desolate.

8 † Especially when they repent, and confesse their sinnes, then those that neither know not wil know God; but obstinatly impugne and resist the truth. Remember not our old iniquities, let thy mercies quickly preuent vs: because we are become exceding so much afflicted, and despised, that none wil regard the truth which we professe. poore.

9 † Help vs ô God our sauiour: and for the glorie of thy name ô Lord deliuer vs: and be propicious to our sinnes for thy names sake.

10 † Lest they say perhaps amongst the Gentiles: Albeit ô Lord, thou suffer vs to be punished, yet suffer not thyn enimies to insult, as though thou were not our God; and consequently thou haddest no people at al in the world. where is their God? and Therfore we pray, that the reuenge of thy seruantes bloud may be so notified, that it can not be denied, nor doubted of. Which is also here prophecied, that it wil so come to passe in the end. be notified in the nations before our eies.

The reuenge of the bloud of thy seruants, which hath benne shed: † let the groning of thefettered enter in thy sight. 11

According to the greatnes of thine arme, possesse thou Preserue also, ô God, the reliques of thy seruantes, the successors of thy Martyrs. the children of them that are put to death.

12 † And This also is a prophecie, that God wil most seuerely reuenge the blasphemie of persecutors. render to our neighboures seuenfold in their bosome: their reproch where with they haue reproched thee ô Lord.

13 † But Gods people deliuered from persecution, and perpetually conserued, wil alwayes praise God for the same. we thy people, and the sheepe of thy pasture, wil confesse to thee for euer:

Vnto generation and generation we wil shew forth thy praise.

PSALME LXXIX.
† Vnto Perteyning to the new Testament, the end, for especially to Gentiles, that shal be conuerted to Christ. them, that shal be changed, testimonie to for perpetual memorie to the congregation of faithful. Asaph, a Psalme.

The Prophet prayeth for the release of Israel in great tribulation. 15. forsheweth Christ our Redemer from sinne and captiuitie. the. 5. key. the coming of Christ to redeme man from sinne, and from thraldome of the diuel.

1 [Page 151]† Thou that rulest Israel, attend: that By Ioseph the prophet vnderstandeth al Israel; because the first birthright being taken from Ruben wa [...] geuen to him, to witte duble portion of enheritance, two tribes of twelue. conductest Ioseph 2 as a sheepe.

3 Which sittest vpon the cherubs, Appeare, and shew thy mightie hand before thy people: be manifest † before wherof Ephraim, Beniamin, and Manasses folowing the Arke, when they marched or camped, should most directly see what appeared therin, the other nine tribes being placed before it, and on both sides. Num. 2. Ephraim, Beniamin, and Manasses.

Raise vp Thou which alwayes can helpe vs, now vse thy powre in deliuering vs from this temporal miserie. thy might, and come, to saue vs.

† O God Set vs in a better state conuert vs: and shew Shew thy benigne countenance and fauoure, Mystically, send the promised Messias, Christ, the essential Image of God. 2. Cor. 4. v. 4. Collos. 1 v. 15. thy face, & we shal be saued. 4

5 † O Lord the God of hostes, how long wilt thou be angrie How long wilt thou differre to heare our prayer? vpon the prayer of thy seruant?

6 † Thou wilt feede vs with the bread of teares: and giue vs drinke with teares Thou dost iustly punish vs, but thou temperest the same with measure, that it exceede not to our ruine. in mesure.

7 † Thou hast made vs to be a contradiction to our neigh: boures and our enimies haue scorned vs.

8 † O God of hosts God first preuenting vvith his grace, conuert vs: and shew thy face, and we man may cooperate therwith to his iustification, and saluation. shal be saued.

9 † Thou didst transport Thy Church and people, the vineyeard out of Aegypt: thou didst cast out the Chananites. the Gentiles, and plantedst it.

10 † Thou wast the guide of the way The cloude, and piller of fire were visible guides. in the sight therof: thou didst plant the rootes therof, and it and it multiplied mightely. filled the earth.

11 † Hyperbolical speach to signifie the great multiplication of the Israelites. The shadow of it couered the mountanes: and the bowghes of it the ceders of God.

12 † It extended her branches euen to from the mediterranean sea of Palestin, the sea; and her boughes vnto to the riuer Euphrates. Exo. 23. v. 31. Beut, 11. v. 24. the riuer.

13 † Why hast thou destroyed the hedge therof: and al that passe by the way doe plucke it.

14 [Page 152]† The eruel enimies more like to most cruel beastes then to men. boare of the wood hath destroyed it: and yea so cruel, as none els in the world are like vnto them. the singular wilde beest hath eaten it.

15 † O God of hoasts returne: regard The Prophet now prayeth for the coming of Christ, which he saw in spirite. from heauen, and see, and visite this vineyeard.

16 † And The Church of the old testament, in her best state, wanted the perfection, which the Church of Christ hath. perfite it, which thy right hand hath planted: and vpon Christ our Messias most commonly calleth by this title: The Sonne of man. the sonne of man whom thou hast confirmed to thee.

17 † So thy vinyard can not indure if it be stil afflicted, and trodden downe. Thinges burnt with fyre, and digged doune at the increpation of thy countenance shal perish.

18 † Let Christ working by Gods powre redresseth almiseries. thy hand be vpon the man of thy right hand: and vpon the sonne of man, whom thou hast confirmed to thee.

19 † And we depart not from thee, thou wilt quicken, vs: and we wil inuocate thy name.

20 † The same is the 8. and the 15. verse (with litle alteration) and here repeted the third time, In which we also pray for three thinges first to be purged, and conuerted from sinne, second to be illuminated by Christ, the Image of God, Thirdly to be sanctified, and saued in eternal glorie to haue the fruition of the most blessed Trinitie. O Lord the God of hoastes conuert vs: and shew thy face, and we shal be saued.

PSALME. LXXX.
† Vnto This Psalme perteyneth not only to the old testament, but also to the new, the end, for Gods seruants oppressed with tribulations, wine presses, a Psalme to to be songue by Asaph a chief master of musike. Asaph him self.

Al men are inuited to celebrate festiual dayes, 6. which were instituted Inuitation to celebrate festiual dayes deuoutly. the 7. key. in memorie of benefites receiued. 9. the deuent shal be protected, and the negligent leift in distresse.

1 † REioice to God our helper: make Iubilation to the God 2 of Iacob.

3 † Take ye Psalme, and Make readie al these musical instruments. giue timbrel: pleasant Psalter with the harpe.

4 [Page 153]† Sound ye with trumpet in In the Calendes, or first day of euerie moneth, in remembrance of Gods prouidence, and perpetual gouernment of al creatures: the The feast of Neomenia. new moone, in and most especial solemnitie in the first day of the seuenth moneth, in memorie of Isaac conserued from death, in whom God promised Abraham, to multiplie his seede, and to blesle al nations. Gen. 17 v. 21. c 21. v 12. c 22. v. 18. the Feast of trumpetes. notable day of your solemnitie.

5 † Because it is a precept in Israel, and iudgement to the God of Iacob.

6 † He put it for a testimonie in The people of Israel signified by Ioseph, as. Psal. 79. v. 2. Ioseph, when he came out of the Land of Aegypt: he heard a tongue which he knew not.

7 He In memorie of this benefite Pasch was instituted. turned away his backe God deliuered the same people from their vntolerable bondage of carying burdens in baskettes, from geathering straw, making brickes, and other seruitude. Exo 1. v. 14 c. 5. v. 7. from burdens: his handes serued in baskettes.

8 † In The admonition of God to the people: tribulation thou didest inuocate me, and I heard thee: I heard thee in the secret of the tempest: I yet after so great benefites thou didst murmure, and contradict me. Exo. 17. Num. 20. proued thee at the water of contradiction.

9 † Heare ô my people: and I Seriously admonish thee. wil contest thee: Israel Man by free wil may choose whether he wil obey or no. if thou wilt heare me.

10 † The feast of Pentecost in memorie of the lawe. There shal be This was an other great benefite, to geue an expresse law, for their instruction. no new God in thee, neither shalt thou adore a strange God.

11 † For I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Aegypt: Obseruing my commandments, aske what thou wilt, and I wil geue it thee. dilate thy mouth and I wil fil it.

12 † And my People heard not my voice: and Israel attended not to me.

13 † And I let them alone, according to the desires of their hart, Pom. 1. they shal goe in their owne inuentions. [...]. 24.

14 † If my people had heard me: if Israel had walked in my wayes:

15 † I had Very easely. for nothing, of my freewil and liberalitie, without necessitie or obligation. perhaps humbled their enimies: and had laide my hand vpon those that afflict them.

16 [Page 154]† The enimies of our Lord haue lied to him: and The wicked that promise to serue God, and do it not shal be in eternal torments: their time shal be for euer.

17 † And / he fedde them of the fatte of corne: and out of the rocke, with honie he filled them. In the meane time God bestowed these benefites vpon them, for the iusts sake.

PSALME LXXXI.
† A Psalme to Asaph.

The Prophet declareth, 2. that God reprehendeth vniust Iudges and Magistrates: Admonition to Magistrates. the. 7. key. premonisheth them of his seuere & eternal punishment: 8. wherto the prophet conforming his wil prayeth for the same.

1 GOd stood in the assemblie The wordes of the prophet, admonishing al magistrates, that when they sitte in iudgement, or determine anie cause, God who is there, and euerie where present, of goddes, and in the middes he attendeth their processe: and therfore it behoneth them to be aduised what they doe: euen as if they heard God speaking as here foloweth: iudgeth goddes.

2 † The wordes of God, though not vttered sensibly, yet in effect intimated by his law, according wherto he wil procede in iudgement against vniust Iudges. How long iudge ye iniquitie: and accept ye the persons of sinners.

3 † Iudge ye for the needie and the pupil: iustifie ye the humble, and the poore.

4 † Take away the poore: and deliuer the needie from the hand of the sinner.

5 † They Such iudges procede in grosse ignorance, not caring to vnderstand, but content to walke in darknes. knew not, neither did they vnderstand, they walke in darkenesse: Ye are so euil disposed, that you would turne al vpside downe, instifying the wicked, and condemning the iust. al the fundations of the earth shal be moued.

† I saide: Yow are For your office which you participate of me, you are certaine goddes vpon earth: goddes, and the sonnes of the highest al. 6

7 † But when you die you shal find that you are men, subiect to Gods iudgement. But you shal die as men: and fal yea your punishment wil be greuous, and importable: for the mightie shal mightely suffer torments. as one of the princes. Sap. [...]

† Againe the wordes of the prophet praying God, Arise ô God, iudge the earth: that eing he is Lord of al he wil iudge al. because thou shalt inherite in al the Gentiles.

[Page 155]

PSALME LXXXII.
† A Canticle of Psalme to Asaph.

The Church impugned by al sortes of enimies 10. prayeth God to confound Persecuters of the Church confounded. or conuerted the 6 key. them, as the hath donne diuers the like, 17. wherby some shal be conuerted.

1 O God Seing none is like to thee ô God, who shal be like to thee? shew thy powre and maiestie, hold not thy peace, 2 be not silent. neither be thou appeased ô God:

3 † For behold The cruel persecuters are most insolent, thine enimies haue made a sound: they that hate thee, and proud. haue lifted vp the head.

4 † They haue taken malignant counsel vpon thy people: and they haue deuised against thy saincts.

5 † They haue saide: Come, and let vs destroy them out of That there be no more anie faithful people, the nation: and let anie Catholiques leift aliue. the name of Israel be remembred no more.

6 † Because they haue deuised with one consent: they haue together made a couenant against thee.

7 † The tabernacles of The progenie of Esau, the Idumeians, and the seede of Ismael. the Ismahelites descending from the elder sonne of Lot. Moab, and the issue of Abraham by Agar, who falsly cal them selues Sarascens, as if they were of Sara. the Agarens.

8 † People of Gebal a citie of Syria, Gebal, and of the other sonne of Lot. Ammon, and those that first oppugned the Israelites, after they were parted from Aegypt. Exo. 17. Amalec: The Philistians, the for eners, with and Tyrians, al nere neighboures, and some of them nere akine to the Israelites, were their great enimies. the inhabitantes of Tyre.

9 † Yea and Others also coming further of, ioyned against Gods people, in figure that al heretikes, and other infidels conspire together against Catholiques. Assur also is come with them: they are made an aide to the children of Lot.

10 † Doe to them as The Psalmist therfore prayeth (and withal prophecieth) that God wil at last destroy them, as he did Madian. Num 31. Iudic. 6. & 7. to Madian, and Sisara captaine general, Sisara: as to for Iabin king of Asor nere Cisson. Iudic. 4. v. 7. & 23. Iabin in the torrent Cisson.

11 † They perished Within the territorie of Manasses (Ios. 17.) which they inuaded. in Endor: they were made as slaine and not buried. the dung of the earth.

12 [Page 156]† Put their princes as These foure princes of the Madianites were slaine by Gedeons forces Iudic. 7. & 8. Oreb, and Zeb, and Zebee, and Salmana.

13 Al their princes: † which haue saide: Let vs possesse the Sanctuarie of God for an inheritance.

14 † My God put them By foure similitudes the prophet describeth the punishment that shal fal vpon persecuters. as By foure similitudes the prophet describeth the punishment that shal fal vpon persecuters. a wheele: and as stubble before 1. 2. the face of the winde.

15 † Euen as fire that burneth a wood: & as a flame that burneth 3. 4. the mountaines:

16 † So shalt thou pursew them in thy tempest: and in thy wrath thou shalt truble them.

17 † Fil their faces with ignominie: and God by punishing seeketh the conuersion of sinners, not their eternal death. they wil seeke thy name, ô Lord.

18 † Let But such as be stil obstinate, and finally impenitent do perish for euer. them be ashamed, and trubled for euer and euer: and let them be confounded, and perish.

19 † And let them know that God only the creator of heauen and earth is properly called LORD: VVhose essential, and incommunicable name is VVHICH IS. Exo. 3. v. 14. &. 6. v. 3. Lord is thy name, thou onlie the Highest in al the earth▪

PSALME LXXXIII.
† Vnto the end, For men afflicted in this vale of miserie. for wine presses, t By the children of Core not being musitians (but porters in the temple, 1. Par. 26.) S. Augustin here and in other titles of Psalmes, vnderstandeth the faithful children of Christ. the children of Core, a Psalme.

Deuout persons feruently desire eternal glorie, 6. accounting it, in the meane Eternal glorie. the 10. key. time, a happie state to be in the militant Church, 12. where God first geuing grace, wil geue glorie in the triumphant.

1 HOW beloued are The glorious mansions in heauen, which God hath prepared for the iust: thy tabernacles ô Lord of hoastes▪ 2 † my soule coueteth, and Vehement desires do sometimes depriue vs of external sense. fainteth vnto the courtes 3 of our Lord.

My hart, and The mind reioycing in hope, the bodie is also recreated, releeued, and reuiued, which before was dulle and heauie. my flesh haue reioyced toward the liuing God.

4 [Page 157]† For As sparowes by natural instinct seeking habitations, finde houses to dwel in, the sparow also hath found her an house: and and turtles haue nestes, wherin to lay their young ones: so faithful soules seeke to dwel in heauen, and in the meane time to lay vp good workes within the Catholique Church; out of which (sayth S. Augustin in this place) how good soeuer workes do seme (as when paganes, and heretikes feede the hungrie, cloth the naked, receiue strangers into their houses, visite the sicke, comforte prisoners) being not laid in the nest, conculcabuntur, & conterentur: non seruabuntur, non custodientur: they shal be trodde vnder foote, they shal be bruised in peeces: they shal not be conserued, they shal not be kept: but (that such workes may be profitable and be conserued) they must be donne in true faith, in the Catholique faith, in societie of the vnitie of the Church. the turtledoue a nest for her selfe, where she may lay her young ones.

Thine VVorkes are good, and rightly laide vp when they are donne in vnitie, and participation of Gods Altares, the most proper places of Diuine Seruice, of external Sacrifice in this life, and spiritual sacrifice of per [...]ect praises in eternal glorie; whereal Sainctes without ceasing sing: Holie, holie, holie, Lord God of hoastes. Isaiae 6. Apoc. 4. altars ô Lord of hoastes: my King, and my God.

5 † Blessed are they, that dwel in The Catholique Church. thy house ô Lord: for euer and euer they shal praise thee.

† Blessed is the man, whose helpe is from thee: he The iust by Gods grace and helpe, may resolue to ascend by steppes and degrees, from vertue to vertue (v. 8.) euen to heauen, hath 6 disposed ascension in his hart, † in though he be now in this vaile of teares, by reason of mans sinne, who otherwise was before sinne in paradise, a place of delight: the vaile of teares, in 7 the place, which he hath appointed.

8 † For Christ our lawgeuer; the lawgeuer shal geue geueth abundance of graces, blessing, they shal goe with continual increase. from vertue into vertue: but our only omnipotent God, is to be senne by this effect of his grace, in the Church and not elswhere▪ the God of goddes shal be seene in Sion.

9 † Lord God of hoastes heare my prayer: receiue with thine eare ô God of Iacob.

10 † Behold ô God our protectour: and Agreably to this the Church maketh al her petitions, concluding al prayers, By Christ our Lord. looke vpon the face of thy Christ.

† Because In respect of the future retribution, which euerie one shal receiue according to their desertes, one day in Gods Church is better then thousands out of it. better is one day in thy courtes, aboue thousands. 11

I haue chosen to be And better to be in the poorest state of Catholique Christians, t then in greatest palaces or hieghest dignities amongst sinners. an abiect in the house of my God: rather then to dwel t in the tabernacles of sinners.

12 [Page 158]† Because God The Diuine wisdom so vseth mercie, and veritie, that neither may preiudice the other: loueth mercie and truth: our Lord wil geue and so geueth grace in this life, grace, and glorie in the [...]ext. and glorie.

13 † He wil not depriue them of good thinges, that Besides innocencie conserued without sinne, there is also innocencie after remission of sinne, of which the prophet here speaketh. walke in innocencie: ô Lord of hoastes blessed is the man, that hopeth in thee.

PSALME. LXXXIIII.
Vnto the end, to the children of Core, a Psalme.

With commemoration of Gods former benefites, 5. Christs Incarnation is Incarnation of Christ. the 5. key. prophecied, 9. bringing peace and saluation, 11. mercie and iustice concurring together.

1 O Lord thou God bestowed manie great benefites vpon the people of Israel: hast blessed thy land: thou he brought them out of the bondage of Aegypt. hast turned 2 away the captiuitie of Iacob.

3 † Thou Remitted their manifold sinnes: hast forgeuen the iniquitie of thy people: thou pardoned also a great part of due punishment. hast couered al their sinnes.

4 † Thou hast mitigated al thy wrath: thou hast turned away from the wrath of thine indignation.

5 † As thou hast soared thy peculiar people, so we besech thee ô God creator and general Sauiour of al mankind, Conuert vs ô God our sauiour: and mitigate thy wrath towards vs al auert thy wrath from vs.

6 † Wilt thou be wrath with vs for euer? or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation vnto generation?

7 † O God thou Til God first shew his mercie, sinners lye dead in guilt of sinne, but by his grace they are sturred vp, and quickned: being turned shalt quicken vs: and thy people and ioyfully returne to God. shal reioyce in thee.

† Shew vs ô Lord thy mercie and giue vs thy saluation. 8

9 † I wil The wordes of the prophet, heare what our Lord God wil speake in me: signifying that God had reueled vnto him the redemption of mankind. because he wil speake peace vpon his people.

And vpon Not al men are iustified, and saued, but those that are hartely and sincerely conuerted. his saincts: and vpon them, that are conuerted to the hart.

10 [Page 159]† But yet his saluation is nigh to them that Though al be not saued (because manie wil not cooperate to Gods grace) yet very manie hauing the feare of God, which is the beginning of godlie wisdom, freely accept of Gods mercie, and so [...]he Church is gloriously propagated. feare him: that glorie may inhabite in our land.

11 † VVheras Gods mercie would saue al, and his truth, or iustice requireth that sinnes be duly punished, by Christs Passion and death, sufficient satisfaction is offered for al sinnes, and tho [...]e that wil be partakers by penance, and conformitie to Gods law, may haue remission, Mercie and truth haue met each other: and so iustice is obserued, and peace made betwen God and his subiects. iustice and peace haue kissed.

12 † Integritie of conscience reigneth in good men, Truth is risen out of the earth: God sending iust meanes from heauen to saue them. and iustice hath looked downe from heauen.

13 † For God geueth grace, our Lord certes wil geue benignitie: and and so men yeld fruict. our land shal giue her fruite.

14 † Yea they walke in iustice, and right path of Gods law. Iustice shal walke before him: and shal set his steppes in the way.

PSALME. LXXXV.
† A praier A forme of prayer for king Dauid, and for anie faithful person. to Dauid him selfe.

In consideration of his owne imperfections, the royal prophet, or other faithful A prayer for continual grace. the 7. key person prayeth God, 5. according to his mercie and goodnes, 9. shewed in conuerting Gentiles, 13. and in deliuering the supplicant him self from the state of damnation, 16. that he wil stil direct and defend him against al enimies.

1 Incline thine eare ô Lord, and There be sundrie iust causes which moue God to heare our prayers: heare me: first our necessitie requireth Gods helpe because I am needie and poore.

2 † Keepe my soule, because Secondly because we professe, and promise to lead a holie life. I am holie: saue thy seruant my God, that Thirdly, because we trust and hope in God. hopeth in thee.

† Haue mercie on me ô Lord, because I haue cried to thee Fourtly, because we perseuere in prayer. al 3 the day: † make ioyful the soule of thy seruant, because to 4 thee ô Lord haue I Fiftly, if we pray with attention of mind. lifted vp my soule.

5 [Page 160]† Because thou ô Lord art Sixtly because God of his owne nature is benigne, readie to bestow benefites. swete, and Seuently, he is meeke to remitte offences, milde: and Eightly, he is merciful to mitigate the punishment, to those that make recourse vnto him. of much mercie to al that inuocate thee. For these causes we pray as foloweth..

6 † Receiue ô Lord my praier with thine ears: and attend to the voice of my petition.

7 † In the day of my tribulation I haue called to thee: because thou hast heard me.

8 † There is not the like to thee amongst goddes ò Lord: and there is not according to thy workes.

9 † Vocation of Gentiles. Al nations what soeuer thou hast made, shal They shal come by faith. come, and shal adore before thee ô Lord: and they shal and glorifie God by good workes. Mat. 5. v. 17. glorifie thy name.

10 † Because thou art great and doing meruelous thinges: thou onlie art God.

11 † Conduct me ô Lord in thy way, and I wil walke in thy truth: let my hart reioyce that it may feare thy name.

12 † I wil Cofession of praise. confesse to thee ô Lord my God with al my hart, and wil glorifie thy name for euer:

13 † Because thy mercie is great vpon me: and thou hast deliuered my soule out of From the state of eternal damnation. the lower hel.

14 † O God the wicked are risen vp vpon me, and the synagogue of the mightie haue sought my soule: and they haue not set thee in their sight.

15 † And thou ô Lord the God of compassion and merciful, patient, and of much mercie, and In performing al promises. true.

16 † Haue respect to me, and haue mercie on me, A digression (vsual to prophetes) of Christs Empyre and Kingdom the Church, geuen to him, being the sonne of an immaculate virgin, the handmaide of God. giue thine empire to thy seruant: and saue the sonne of thy handmaide.

17 † Make with me The chief and principal signe of Christs, and his Churches glorie, is his Resurrection, praefigured in Ionas a signe vnto God, that they may see which hate me, and may be confounded: VVherby al enimies are confounded, either to their conuersion, or to eternal damnation. See 6. Augustin. because thou ô Lord hast holpen me.

PSALME LXXXVI.
To the children of Core, a Psalme of Canticle.

The Church of Christ beginning in Ierusalem, 3. is extended to al Nations The Catholique Church glorious. the 6. key. 5. glorious, 6. and permanent, 7. in holie ioy.

[Page 161]

1 THE fundations thereof in the holie Christs Church was first founded in Ierusalem on whitsunday, Act. 2. in mount Sion, which hath two toppes, in one of which the Temple stood, in the other Dauids towre o [...] palace. mountaynes: † our Lord loueth the gates of Sion, aboue al the tabernacles 2 of Iacob.

† Glorious thinges are saide of thee, ô cittie of God. 3

† The Prophet in the person of Christ, saith he wil commend vnto his Apostles, and other Apostolical men, that they conuert al nations (as our Sauiour gaue expresse commission and commandment. Math. 28. Luc. 24. v. 47. Act. 1. v. 8.) I wil be mindeful of naming here Raab (which is Aegypt) and Babylon: Raab, and Babylon knowing me. 4

Behold The Philistims, Tyrians, Aethiopians, the foreners, and Tyre, & the people of the Aethiopians, these & the rest, shal be regenerate in this Church, which for the assured certaintie therof (after the prophets maner of speaking) is affirmed in the pretertence, as if it were then donne. were there.

5 † Shal it not be said of Sion It shal be reported, or one shal say to an other: Loe this and that man, al these and al these men are regenerate by Baptisme in the Church of Christ. Man and man, is borne in her; and God himselfe, Christ God and Man, founded this Church. the Highest himselfe founded her?

6 † Our Lord wil declare The multitude of the elect is so great, that only God knoweth the number, in scriptures of peoples, and and the qualities of al sortes, of Princes, Prelates, and Peoples. of princes: of those that haue bene in her.

† The Great spiritual ioy with peace of conscience, is in true Christian Catholiques in the militant Church; but the blessed haue the most absolute & secure ioy of al, in the Church triumphant. habitation in thee, is as it were of al reioycing. 7

PSALME LXXXVII.
A Canticle of a Psalme, to the children of Core, vnto the end, for An instrument of musike apt for lamentable songues Not expressed in the title of anie other Psalme. Perhaps because this Psalme mixteth not anie consolation with mourning, as other Psalmes do, which are also prayers in affliction. As the 30. 53. 63. 73. Maheleth Neither is this word in anie other title. It is added here to admonish vs, that as this Psalme, and some others were songue by two quires, one answering the other, so we must in answer and imitation of Christ, suffer long and great afflictions with patience, seing he in his passion was leift without ordinarie cōsolation. to answer, By some interpreted [his bretheren] For Christ (saith S. Augustin) voutchsaffeth to make them his bretheren, which vnderstand the mysterie of his Crosse, and not only are not ashamed therof, but also faithfully glorie therin. of vnderstanding to Eman the Ezrahite.

A faithful person sore and long afflicted, lamentably complaineth, praying A prayer in long affliction the 7. key. God, 15. not stil to repel him, being leift desolate, 19. without al consolation of freindes.

1 [Page 162]O † Lord the God of my saluation: I haue cried to thee very often both by day, and by night. in the day haue I 2 cried, and in the night before thee.

3 † Let my prayer enter in thy sight: incline thine eare to my petition.

4 † Because my soule is replenished with euils: and I am almost dead. my life hath approched to hel.

† I Accounted as dead, and readie to be buried. am accounted with them that descend into the lake. 5

6 I am become as a man without helpe, † If I were dead, I should be free from these afflictions. Especially it agreeth to Christ, who was free, yea of infinite powre amongst the dead. free among the dead, as the wounded sleeping in the sepulchres, of whom thou art mindeful no more: and they are cast of from thy hand.

7 † They haue put me in Myn enimies haue endeuored not only to beleue me of temporal life, wherby I should goe into limbus, but also to kil my soule spiritually, wherby I should descend into the lower hel of the damned. the lower lake: in the darke places, and in the shadowe of death.

8 † Thy Thy iust wrath also ô God hath excedingly afflicted me. furie is confirmed vpon me: and al thy waues thou hast brought in vpon me.

9 † Thou hast made my familiars far from me: they haue put me abomination to themselues.

10 I was deliuered and came not forth: † myne eies languished for pouertie.

I cried to thee ô Lord al the day: I stretched out my handes to thee.

11 † Wilt thou O God deliuer me whiles I am yet liuing, for I may not looke for extraordinarie, and miraculous helpe, as to be raised againe after death. doe meruels to the dead: or shal phisicians raise to life, and they confesse to thee?

12 † Shal any When I shal be dead & buried, I can not denounce thy praises as now I can to mortal men. in the sepulchre declare thy mercie, and thy truth in perdition?

13 † Shal thy meruelous workes be knowne Much lesse shal the damned praise thee in eternal perdition. in darkenes: and thy iustice in the land of obliuion.

14 † And I ô Lord haue cried to thee: and in the morning shal my praier preuent thee.

15 [Page 163]† Why doest thou o Lord reiect my prayer: turnest away thy face from me?

16 † I am poore, and in labours As wel young, from my youth: and being as waxing elder I haue bene stil afflicted. exalted, humbled and troubled.

17 † Thy wrathes haue passed vpon me: and thy terrours haue trubled me.

18 † They haue compassed me as water al the day: they compassed me together.

19 † Thou My miserable estate hath alienated al freindes, neighboures, & acquantances from me. hast made frend, and neighboure far from me: and my familiars because of miserie.

PSALME LXXXVIII.
Of vnderstanding Otherwise called Idithun. 1. Paral. 25. or rather Ethan, who was very wise, mentioned with others, to whom Salomon is preferred for wisdom. 3. Reg. 4. v. 31, and signifieth strong, applied here to those that are strong in assured hope of Christs promises, notwithstanding it semeth sometimes to the weake, that his promises are not performed. to Ethan the Ezrahite. 1

Gods mercie and truth, with his great promises to Dauid, 6. his powre in The Church of Christ neuer faileth. the 6. key. the whole world, and iust iudgements, are the true ioy of his seruantes. 20. Christs kingdom shal remaine for euer: 31. yea manie offending yet al shal not perish, 39. but after great affliction, 47. God wil respect mans infirmitie, 50. his owne promise, and the enimies reproching his seruantes and himselfe: 53. who is blessed for euer.

2 THe mercies of our Lord I wil sing for euer. In generation In al generations. and generation I wil shewe forth thy truth, in my mouth.

3 † Because thou saidst: Mercie shal be built vp for euer The heauens shal rather fal, then Gods truth fa [...]le. Mystically, in the Apostles, and by their preaching, the Church of Christ is built for euer. in the heauens: thy truth shal be prepared in them.

† I haue ordained a testament with mine elect, I haue sworne 4 to Dauid my seruant: † Dauids seede conserued til Christ was borne of his virgin mother: and in his spiritual seede, his kingdom the Church is for euer conserued. Otherwise not verified of Dauids temporal kingdom, which decayed in the captiuitie of Babylon, and is now wholly destroyed. for ever wil I prepare thy seede. 5

And I wil build thy seat vnto generation and generation.

6 † The heauens shal confesse thy meruelous workes ô Lord: yea and thy truth in the church of saintes.

7 [Page 164]† For who in the cloudes shal be equal to our Lord: shal be like to God among The Angels. the sonnes of God?

8 † God, who is glorified in the counsel of saintes: great and terrible ouer al that are round about him.

9 † O Lord God of hoastes who is like to thee? thou art mightie ô Lord, and thy truth round about thee.

10 † Thou rulest ouer the powre of the sea: and the mouing of the waues therof thou doest mitigate.

11 † Thou The prophet aludeth to the plagues and miracles in Aegypt, and in other enimies. humbledst the proud one, as one wounded: in the arme of thy strength thou hast dispersed thine enimies.

† The heauens are thine, and the earth is thine, the round 12 earth, and the fulnes therof thou hast founded: † the north, 13 and the sea thou hast created.

14 Conuersion of Gentiles. Thabor and Hermon shal reioice in thy name: † thy arme is with might.

Let VVhether God punish, as with the left hand, thy hand be confirmed, and thy or bestow benefites, as with the right hand, al is to his glorie, and according to mercie, and truth. righthand exalted: † iustice and iudgement is the preparation of thy seat. 15

16 Mercie and truth shal goe before thy face: † They are spiritually happie, that do thus consider of Gods meruelous procedings, praise the same, and reioyce therin. blessed is the people that knoweth iubilation.

17 Lord they shal walke in the light of thy countinance, † and in thy name they shal reioyce al the day: and in thy iustice they shal be exalted.

18 † Because thou art the glorie of their streingth: and in thy good pleasure shal our powre, and kingdom. horne be exalted.

19 † Because our protection is of our Lord: and of the holie one of Israel our king.

20 † Then didst thou speake in vision to thy saintes, and saidst Thus God promised to establish the kingdom of the Iewes in Dauid and his familie 1 Reg. 16. 2. Reg. 5. and other places. which was performed a [...] in a figure but more fully in Christ. Act. 13. v. 22. I haue put helpe on the mightie one: and haue exalted an elect one of my people.

21 † I haue found Dauid my seruant: with myne holie oyle haue I anointed him.

22 † For mine hand shal helpe him: and myne arme shal strengthen him.

23 † The enimie shal nothing preuale in him: and the sonne of iniquitie shal not adde to hurt him.

24 † And I wil cut downe his enimies before his face: and them that hate him I wil put to flight.

25 [Page 165]† And my truth, and my mercie with him: and in my name shal his horne be exalted.

26 † And I wil put his hand in the sea: and his righthand in the riuers.

27 † He shal inuocate me: Thou art my Father: my God, and the protector of my saluation.

28 † And I wil put him the firstbegotten, high aboue the kings of the earth.

29 † I Wil kepe my mercie vnto him for euer: and my testament faithful to him.

30 † I wil put his seed for euer and euer: and his throne as the daies of heauen.

31 † But if his children shal forsake my lawe: and wil not walke in my Iudgementes:

† If they shal profane my iustices: and not kepe my commandmentes: 32

33 † I wil visite their iniquities with a rod: and their sinnes with stripes:

34 † But“ my mercie I wil not take away from him: neither wil I hurt in my truth:

35 † Neither wil I profane my testament: and the words that procede from my mouth I wil not make frustrate.

† Once I haue sworne in my holie, I vvil not lie. if I lie to Dauid: 36

† his seede shal continewe for euer. 37

38 † And Christian iust soules as the sunne, his throne as the Sunne in my sight, and as the Moone perfect for euer: and a faithful witnesse in heauen. n and as the perfect, or full moone. See the first Tome. page 716. S. Augustin also expoundeth this verse in the Anagogical sense, of the iust after the Resurrection in glorie, where the soule shal be like the sunne, and the bodie, which now is mutable, shal be like the moone, not as now alwayes changing, but as the ful moone, alwayes perfect.

39 †“ But God hauing promised al the aforsaide the prophet in the person of the weake, lamenteth that the contrarie shal happen as wel in the temporal kingdom oppressed by the Assirians Babylonians, Persians, Grecians, and Romanes: as in the Church impugned by innumerable sortes of Heretikes and other Infidels. thou hast repelled and dispised: thou Amongst manie pensiue thinges, this one word doth comforte vs, thy promise remaineth, thou hast not denied to send Christ, but differred him, hast differred thy Christ.

40 † Thou hast ouerthrowne the testament of thy seruant: thou hast profaned his sanctuarie on the earth.

41 † Thou hast destroyed al the hedges therof: thou hast made the firmament therof feare.

42 † Al that passe by the way haue spoiled him: he is become a reproch to his neighbours.

43 [Page 166]† Thou hast exalted the righthand of them that oppresse him: thou hast made al his enimies ioyful.

44 † Thou hast turned away the helpe of his sword: and hast not holpen him in battel.

45 † Thou hast destroied him from From the use of Sacrifice and Sacraments, wherby sinners were wount to be cleansed. emundation: and his seat thou hast broken downe to the ground.

46 † Thou hast lessened the daies of his time: thou hast ouerwhelmed him with consusion.

47 † The Psalmist prayeth and prophecieth that God wil respect the weaknes of man, maintaine his Church in mante natiōs, & saue manie soules. How long ô Lord doest thou turne away for euer: shal thy wrath burne as a fire?

48 † Remember what my substance is: for hast thou made al the children of men in vaine?

49 † who is the man that shalliue, and shal not see death: shal deliuer his soule from the hand of hel?

50 † Where are thyne old mercies ô Lord, as thou swarest to Dauid in thy truth?

51 † Be mindeful ô Lord of the acproch of thy seruantes (which I haue held in my bosome) of manie nations.

52 † Which thine enimies haue reproched ô Lord, which they haue reproched As though Christivere changed and turned from vs. the commutation of thy Christ.

† Blessed be our Lord for euer: So we wish and pray that al may blesse and praise thee. Amen. Be it, be it. 53

ANNOTIONS, PSALME LXXXVIII.

34 My mercie I vvil not take avvay from him.] Although, Christians signified by the Though Christians do sinne yet Christ loseth not his Church. childrē or successors of Dauid, sinne most grieuously, yea suppose they wil sinne with desperation (saith S. Augustin) and obstinatly persist in sinne, that they offend the eyes of their Father, & deserue to be disenherited: &c. Yet for these Christ shal not remaine without inheritance, the corne shal not also perish for the chafe, some fishes shal be geathered out of the nette into vessels, notwithstanding the euil fishes are cast away. And a litle after, the same Doctor discoursing of eternal glorie both in bodie and soule, of those that dye in Gods fauour, sayth; These thinges are promised concerning Christ, very certaine, very firme, very plaine, and vndoubted. For albeit some thinges are couered in Hard places explicated by the cleare. mysteries, yet some thinges are so manifest, that by them the obscure thinges may most easily be cleared.

39. But thou hast repelled &c.] Againe S. Augustin, addeth vpon the next verses folowing: God performed not these promises in Dauid, that when thou seest Gods Promises to Dauid were not fulfilled in Salomon, but in Christ. they were not fulfilled in Dauid, which necessarily must be fulfilled, thou maist seke an other, in whom it may be shewed that they were fulfilled. God promised some thing (a kingdom) for euer of Dauids seede: and Salomon was borne: and became of so great wisdom, and so great prudence, that Gods [Page 167] promise concerning Dauids [...]eede, seemed to be fulfilled in him But Salomon fell, and gaue place of expecting Christ; that because God neither can be deceiued, nor deceive, he put not his promise in him, whom he knew would fall, but thou shouldest relie vpon God, and exact his promise. A litle after Defectes in the lewes supplied in the Gentiles. Thou seekest the kingdom of the lewes, it is not: thou seekest the altar of the Iewes, it is not: thou seekest the sacrifice of the Iewes, it is not: thou seckest the priesthood of the [...]evves, it is not. VVherupon he concludeth: Al these defectes came to the [...]evves: yet vvas not Christ taken from them, but differred. Some [...]evves beleued in him, and manie Gentiles. As the Psalmist prophecieth from the 47. verse to the end of this Psalme.

PSALME LXXXIX.
† A prayer Some Expositors thincke Moyses was the author of this Psalme, and of the tenne next folowing. But others hold that Dauid vvas author of al, and that Moyses his name is here put in the title by Esdras, because this Psalme is like to the prayer of Moyses, vvhen the people prouoked Gods vvrath by their sinnes in the desert. And because mans creation, fal, punishmēt, and Gods mercie to vvards him, are here described: which Moyles first vvritte, as going before the vvritten lavv. And that Moyses made not this Pialme is probably gethered by the 10. verse, where the ordinarie age of men is described to be (in streingth and vigore) senentie yeares, or of some fourscore: and the greater part (of the one or the other) is in labour and sorovv. And it is euident (Deut. 34.) that Moyses liued in al an hundred and tvventie yeares, and his eye was not dimme, neither vvere his reeth moued. So Aaron, Iosue, and others commonly liued longer then is here mentioned. But Dauid vvas old and impotent at seuentie yeares. 3. Reg. 1. S. H [...]larion, liuing neere seuentie yeares in his heremitage, S Remigius gouerning the Church of Rhemes, seuentie yeares, and the like are accounted to haue bene ful of dayes, and such as liued longer are reputed extraord narie. Agane it is more euidenly proued that Moyses vvas not author of the 94. and 95. Psalmes. of Moyses the man of God.

Under the forme of prayer, the psalmist describeth the shortnes of mans life Man rightly created fel by sinne into miseries. the 2. key. and other calamites. 7. Gods strict iudgement. 13. but first his comfortable mercie: 16. and perpetual regard of his owne worke.

1 Lord, thou art made a refuge for vs: Alwayes from the beginning of the world to the end. from generation vnto generation.

2 † Before The Prophet sheweth that the world was created in and with time, not eternal. the mountaines were made, or the earth and the world formed: And that only God is eternal. from euerlasting euen vnto euerlasting thou art God.

3 † Turne not away man into humiliation: thou saidst: Be conuerted ye children of men. e God hath often saide, that he vvould not the death of sinners, but rather that they be connerted and liue for euer.

4 [Page 168]† Because Though some liued long (none for al that did reach to a thousand yeares) yet it is nothing before God, and in respect of eternitie. a thousand years before thine eies, are as yesterday, that is past.

5 And as a watch in the night, † thinges that are counted nothing shal their years be.

6 † In The youth of man quickly passeth: the morning as an herbe he shal passe, in the morning he shal florish, and passe: in old age can not last long: vvherof cometh our English prouerb: A young man may dye sovvne, an old man can not liue long. the euening he shal fal, be hardened, and withered.

7 † Because we haue faynted in thy wrath, and in thy furie we are trubled.

8 † Thou hast put Sinne the cause of shortnes of mans life. our iniquities in thy sight: our Seculum. age in the light of thy countinance.

9 † Because al our daies haue failed: and in thy wrath we haue failed.

10 Our yeares shal be considered Mans life as brickle as a spiders vveb: or mans life vvasteth continually, as a spider vvasteth her self by spinning, and consuming her ovvne substance. as a spyder: † the daies of our yeares in them, are These numbers literarly shew the shortnes of the longer sorte of mens liues. Mystically, seuen signifie the rest after laboures of this vvorld, and perteyn to the old testament: eight signifie the revvard in the resurrection, perteyning to the nevv testament. VVhich multiplied by tenne, a perfect number, make seuentie and eightie. VVhich ioyned together make an hundred and fiftie. The number of al these Psalmes. seuentie yeares.

And if in strong ones These numbers literarly shew the shortnes of the longer sorte of mens liues. Mystically, seuen signifie the rest after laboures of this vvorld, and perteyn to the old testament: eight signifie the revvard in the resurrection, perteyning to the nevv testament. VVhich multiplied by tenne, a perfect number, make seuentie and eightie. VVhich ioyned together make an hundred and fiftie. The number of al these Psalmes. eightie years: and the more of them, labour and sorrow.

Because It is of Gods milde prouidence, that mans life is short, for that manie if they vvere sure, or had probabilitie to liue long, vvould presume to sinne more. mildnes is come vpon vs: and we shal be chastised.

† Seing God of his iustice punished al mankind, for one sinne of our first parente, his vvrath must nedes be very great to euerie sinner, for his ovvne proper sinnes. Who knoweth the powre of thy wrath: and for feare 11 † to number thy wrath? 12

So make thy righthand knowne: and men learned in hart, in wisedome.

13 † Turne ô Lord, how long? and be intreated for thy seruants.

14 † The hope of glorious resurrection turneth our calamities into spiritual ioy. We are replenished in the morning with thy mercie: and we haue reioyced, and are delighted al our daies.

15 [Page 169]† Yea the more we suffer in this life for the truth, the greater is our comforth in hope of reward. We haue reioyced for the daies wherin thou hast humbled vs: the yeares, wherin we haue seene euils.

16 † :: Looke vpon Not only in that we are thy creatures, but also in that we are thy seruants, we are thy proper worke, therfore in both these respectes, ô God looke vpon vs with clemencie. thy seruants, and vpon thy workes: and lead also our posteritie into the right way, and make them thy seruantes. direct their children.

17 † And O God illuminate our vnderstanding, let the brightnes of our Lord God be vpon vs, and make our actions by thy grace profitable to vs. direct thou the workes of our handes ouer vs: and and make perfect in vs the worke of charitie. In which one worke, al good workes are included and to which al other are directed. For then workes are right (sayth S. Angustin) when they are directed to this one end. the worke of our handes doe thou direct.

PSALME XC.
Praise of Gods prouidence, with thankes, Prayse of a Which Dauid songue with voice. Canticle to Dauid.

Whosoeuer faithfully and firmly trusteth in Gods prouidence, is secure from Gods prouidence the 3. key. al dangers of secrete, sutle, and open enimies. 7. his aduersaries shal come to ruine. 11. Angels shal defend him 13. no kind of serpent, nor beast shal hurt him. 14. God himself assureth him of his protection, and of eternal saluation.

1 HE He that firmely relieth and resteth vpon Gods prouidence, is assuredly protected by him. that dwelleth in the helpe of the Highest, shal abide in the protection of the God of heauen.

2 † He shal say to our Lord: Thou art my protectour, and my refuge: my God I wil hope in him.

3 † Because he hath deliuered me from Al secret and sutle machinations: the snare of the hunters, and from and from al crueltie of tyrants. the sharpe word.

4 † With his shoulders shal he ouershadowe thee: and vnder his winges thou shalt hope.

5 † With shilde shal his truth compasse thee: “ thou shalt not be afrayed Terrors obscurly suggested by euil men or spirites, with erronions conceipte that men are not bond in time of temporal dangers, to confesse the truth. of the feare in the night.

6 † Of Open persecution threatning present death, except men denie the truth which they know. the arrow flying in the day, circumuention of craftie enimies by sutle arguing, and drawing men into error, and so to decline from Catholique Religion, of busines walking in darkenes: long torments, euen to death, except Gods seruants wil relent, and denie the truth, which they assuredly beleue, and know in their conscience, that they are bond to professe it. of inuasion, and the midday diuel.

7 [Page 170]† A On thy left side, in aduersitie manie fal from God, thousand shal fal on thy syde, & & on thy right side, in prosperitie manie more forgete, and forsake God. ten thousand: on thy righthand: but to thee it shal not approch.

8 † But thou shalt consider with thine eies: and shalt see the retribution of sinners.

9 † Because In sincerely sayng thou art my hope: thou makest God thy refuge. thou ô Lord art my hope: thou hast made the Highest thy refuge.

10 † There shal no euil come to thee: and scourge shal not approch to thy tabernacle.

11 † Because he hath geuen Angels haue protection of men by Gods ordinance. his Angels charge of thee: The diuel corruptly alleageth this scripture ( Mat. 4) omitting the latter part of this verse: which sheweth when Angels protect iust men, towitte, when they walke in a right path, obseruing ordinarie course in their actions, not in geuing themselues headlong into needles danger, as the same diuel proposed to our Sauiour, to cast himself downe from the pinnacle of the temple. Such falling is not the way of the iust, but of Lucifer, that fel from heauen. So S. Bernard noteth. Ser. 15. in hunc Psal. that they keepe thee in al thy waies.

12 † In their handes they shal beare thee: lest perhaps thou knocke thy foote against a stone.

13 † Vpon the aspe, and the basiliscus thou shalt walke: & thou shalt tread vpon the lion, and the dragon.

14 † God speaketh the rest that foloweth in this Psalme. Because he hath hoped in me, I wil deliuer him: I wil protect him, because he hath knowne my name.

15 † He shal crie to me, and I wil heare him: with him I am in tribulation: I wil deliuer him, and In eternal saluation. wil glorifie him.

16 † With length of daies I wil replenish him: and I wil shew him my saluation.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME XC.

5. Thou shalt not be afraid] S. Augustin here obserueth foure maners of tempting Foure sortes of persecution for the Catholique faith. the faithful to fal from true Religion. Sometimes with tentation that is but light and obscure, which the Prophet here calleth feare in the night: when ignorant men are tempted by suggestion, or apprehension of temporal afflictions, not knowing that they fal into eternal damnation, by fleing from 1. worldlie, or bodilie calamities. Sometimes the tentation threatneth present 2. death to them that are wel instructed in the truth, and knovv that they must confesse it euen to death, which the Prophet calleth an arrovv flying in the day: vvhen the faithful clerly seeth vvhat danger hangeth ouer him, tovvit, [Page 170] present death if he stand constant, and damnation if he denie his faith Sometimes the tentation is n ore vchement, but yet obscure, which he calleth, 3 busines vvalking in darknes: vvhen by sutle endeuoures, framing arguments in excuse of sinne, men are persvvaded that they may lavvfully take some oath, or do some other thing, vvhich in dede is not lavvful: and so by earnest, and sutle persvvasions they ignorantly decline from Catholique Religion, or committe other greuous sinnes. But the greatest and manifest tentation is called inuasion 4 & midday diuel: when persecuters seing neither more easie persvvasions can deceiue Gods seruants, nor present death force them to denie the truth, they then assault them more vehemently, and more dangerously vvith long, and continual afflictions, not remitting their crueltie til the afflicted either yeld to their vvil, or dye in long torments. And by these tvvo latter kindes of persecution manie are ouerthrovvne, vvhich vvere constant in the former. For vvhiles tyrants proposed dangers to simple people, and deceiued some, yet threatning present death to others, that were better instructed, and confirmed in Religion, innumerable perseuered, & gloriously died in confession of Christian Catholique faith. But by sutle arguing of hard pointes of christian doctrin or practise; and by long torments manie haue bene seduced, blindly falling into errors, and manie wittingly haue denied the truth, which they clerly beleued in their hartes, to auoide this midday diuel, the extremitie of long manifest, and greuous afflictions. Neuertheles in al these tentations God protecteth God leaueth none but those that first leaue him. them that firmly trust in him. Those (saith this holie Father) haue failed, which presumed of themselues, which dwelt not in the helpe of the Highest, and in protection of the God of heauen: which said not to our Lord: Thou art my Protector, and my refuge, which trusted not vnder the shadow of his winges, but relied, or attributed much to their owne streingth.

PSALME XCI.
† A Psalme Voices beginning instrumentes prosecute this song: of Canticle, when we rest from worke then especially vve ought to thincke vpon Gods vvorkes, praise and thanke him for the same. in the sabbath day.

God is by al maner of voices and instruments to be praised his admirable The vvorkes of God admirable. the 2. key. workes. 7. which the foolish not doing are punished; 11. and the wise are rewarded.

1 IT is good To geue thankes. to confesse to our Lord; and to sing to thy 2 name ô Highest.

3 † To shewforth thy mercie in In prosperitie, the morning: and thy truth in in aduersitie. the night.

4 † In On euerie instrument of tenne stringes, signifying the obseruation of the tenne commandments: the instrument of tenstrings, in namely on the Psalter. Psalter: with Canticle, on also on the harpe, which signifieth mortification. the Harpe.

5 † Because thou hast delighted me ô Lord in thy workemanship: and in the workes of thy handes I wil reioyce.

6 [Page 172]† How are thy workes magnified ô Lord! thy cogitations are made very profounde.

7 † The Carnal and sensual man, vnwise man wil not know; and the he that thinketh only of present thinges, not of future. foule wil not vnderstand these thinges.

8 † When sinners shal spring vp as grasse: and al that worke iniquitie shal appeare.

9 That they may perish for euer: † but thou the Highest foreuer ô Lord.

10 † Because loe thine enimies ô Lord, because loe thine enimies shal perish: and al that worke iniquitie shal be dispersed.

11 † And The iust in confidence of a good conscience, expect exaltation of their powre: my horne shal be exalted, as the vnicorns: and great consolation in the end of their life. and my old age in plentiful mercie.

12 † And Then shal the iust see their enimies depressed: and themselues florish, like the palme, and ceder trees as folovveth. mine eie hath looked vpon mine enimies: and the malignant rysing vp against me, mine ears shal heare.

13 † The iust, shal florish as a palme tree: as the ceder of Libanus shal he be multiplied.

14 † They that are planted in Militant Church: the house of our Lord, shal florish in triumphant. the courtes of the house of our God.

† As yet shal they be multiplied in plentiful old age: and they 15 shal be wel affected, † that they Publikly professe Gods praeises, as in the wordes folowing: may shewforth: 16

That the Lord our God is righteous, and there is no iniquitie in him.

PSALME XCII.
Prayse Praise to be songue vvith voice of Canticle composed by Dauid: to Dauid himselfe, in the sixth day of the weeke, vvhich is our friday, the day before the sabbath, in vvhich day the Church of Christ vvas founded, by his bloud shed on the crosse. when the earth was founded.

Christ reigneth for euer in his Church: 3. notwith standing manie and Perpetuitie of the Church. the 6. key. great persecution against the faithful.

1 OVR Lord e hath reigned, he gloriously escending in soule into limbus, and in bodie to his graue: hath put on beutie: our Lord hath he then put on al armour of strength strength to reforme the world, and to inlarge his kingdom, according to his owne prediction where he saide: If I be exalted from the earth, I wil draw al thinges vnto myselfe. Ioan. 12. v. 31. put on strength, and hath girded him selfe. Our Sauiour founding his Church by his death begane then to reigne therin:

[Page 173]For he hath established Not only in Iurie and Samaria, but the whole earth: the round world, which and the same Church shal not be destroyed. shal not be moued.

† Thy seat is prepared from that time: thou Christ being eternal, hath an euerlasting Church. art from euerlasting. 2

3 † The Al sortes of persecuters, the High priestes (who sometimes vvatered the spiritual land, like riuers) vvith Scribes, Pharises, and other incredulous Ievves, also Paganes, Turkes, and Heretikes haue oppugned the Church. riuers ô Lord haue lifted vp: the riuers haue lifted vp their voice.

4 The riuers haue lifted vp their waues, † With more force then anie persecutions in the old Testament. aboue the voices of manie waters.

The surges of the sea are meruelous; but though al these assaultes be great, and meruelous, yet Christ in protecting his Church, is more meruelous. meruelous is our Lord on high.

5 † Thy testimonies are made Articles of faith are not euidently apparent to knovvlege, but euident to credibilitie, to those that are disposed by Gods grace, illuminating their vnderstanding, and mouing their free vvil, to geue consent of beleefe if they vvil credible exceedingly: It behoueth therfore al members of the Church to conuerse piously, and religiously in this life, seing she hath so excellent a spouse, protector, and instructor, holines becometh thy house ô Lord euen to the end of the vvorld. for length of daies.

PSALME. XCIII.
To The Hebrevv letter Lamed, vvhich ordinarily is prefixed to the datiue case, or signifieth to, being set before proper names, is a signe of the genetiue case. Yet the Septuagint, expresse it by the datiue, and so doth the latin, ipsi Dauid, and consequently our English hath, to Dauid himselfe, to shevv a difference betvven sacred and profane vvriters. For in humane bookes the vvriter and auctor is al one; but in diuine, the Holie Ghost is the proper auctor, and a man is the vvriter. To signifie therfore the principal auctor, Dauid is sometimes named as the instrumental cause, to vvhom the Holie Ghost inspired this, and other Psalmes, and by vvhom they vvere vvritten. And vvhen the titles expresse othervvise: A Psalme of Dauid, yet it is so to be vnderstood, that the Holie Ghost is alvvayes the principal auctor, and Dauid the instrumental, ministerial, or secondarie auctor. But vvhen other names are expressed, either in the genetiue or datiue case, or hovvsoeuer, it proueth not that those men vvere the vvriters of the same Psalmes, but importeth some other thing, as by S. Augustins iudgement, vve noted in the proemial Annotations page. 3. &. 4. vvherby is proued that this Psalme vvas not written, nor composed by Moyses, as Hebrevv Rabbins suppose, but by the Royal Psalmist Dauid. Dauid himselfe, in Made and ordinarily songue in the sourth day of the vveke, our vvenesday, in vvhich day Iudas the traitor sold our Sauiour Christ to his enimies. The reuenge of vvhich vvickednes, and of al other sinnes, is here prophecied. the fourth of the sabbath.

The faithful seruant of God assuredly professeth, that al the pride, 5. crueltie, Eternal saluation, and damnation. the 10. key. 7. foolish imaginations, and secret thoughts of the wicked are manifest to God. 12. acknowlegeth himself happie, that he is better instructed of God: wheras he had otherwise bene damned. 20. sharply reprehendeth those that consider not of Gods iudgements: concluding that the iust shal be glorified, and the wicked damned.

1 [Page 204]OVR Lord God God more commonly called the God of mercie (vvhich vertue in him is aboue al his vvorkes, Psal. 144) is also the God of reuenges, according to his iustice. of reuenges: the God of reuenges hath done He procedeth in iudgement resolutly, not depending, nor fearing, not respecting anie person, povvre, dignitie, vvisdome or other like qualitie, but their iust merites. freely.

2 † Be A prayer of iust zele. exalted thou that iudgest the earth: render retribution to the ptoude.

3 † How long shal sinners ô Lord: how long shal sinners glorie?

4 † Shal they vtter, and speake iniquitie? shal al they speake, Shal most wicked men stil be suffered to speake so insolently? that worke iniustice?

5 † A description of heathnish and heretical crueltie. Thy people ô Lord they haue humbled: and thine inheritance they haue vexed.

6 † The widow, and the stranger they haue slaine: and the pupilles they haue killed.

7 † And Scarse anie Atheistes are so blind, as thus to thinke but manie sinners so behaue them selues, as if God saw not, knew not, or at least cared not vvhat they do. they haue saide: The Lord shal not see, neither shal the God of Iacob vnderstand.

8 † Vnderstand ye foolish in the people: and ye fooles be wise at sometime.

9 † He that planted the eare, shal he not heare? Or he that made the eie doth he not consider?

10 † He that chastiseth nations, shal he not rebuke: he that teacheth man knowledge?

11 † Our Lord knoweth So vnpossible is it that God should be ignorant, or careles vvhat men do, that he also knovveth and obserueth most secret thoughtes. the cogitations of men: that they be vaine.

12 † Blessed is the man, whom thou shalt instruct ô Lord: and shalt [...]each out of thy lawe.

13 † That thou maist Mitigate and temper his afflictions, that by patience and fortitude, the iust may perseuere, and not be ouerwhelmed. geue him quietnes from the euil daies: til a pitte be digged for the sinner.

14 [Page 175]† Because our Lord The whole Church shal neuer be reiected, nor forsaken. wil not reiect his people: and his inheritance he wil not forsake.

15 † Vntil iustice Iustice is conuerted into iudgement, vvhen iust meaning is put in vvorke and practise, that it may appeare in iudgement. Also God vvho doth & suffereth al iustly, vvil conserue his inheritance the Church, euen vnto the day of iudgement. be turned into iudgement: and The sense is easie by transposing the vvordes: al that are right of hart, are nere it, that is, shal like and approue Gods iustice, vvhen the vvicked shal repine, and blaspheme it. they who are neere it, are al that are right of hart.

16 † Who shal rise for me against the malignant? or who shal stand with me against them that worke iniquitie?

17 † But that our Lord hath holpen me: within very litle my soule had dwelt in hel.

† If I said: when I felt, and complained that I was in danger, thou didst assist me. My foote is moued: thy mercie ô Lord did help me 18

19 † According to the multitude of my sorrowes in my hart: thy consolations haue made my soule ioyful.

20 † Doth the seat of iniquitie cleaue to thee: which makest Onlie faith sufficeth not, but careful laboure, in keping Gods commandmnts is required. labour in precept?

21 † They wil hunt after the soule of the iust: and wil condemne innocent bloud.

22 And our Lord became my refuge: and my God the helpe The iust do hope for eternal saluation, to which God wil bring them. of my hope.

23 † And he And God, the reuenger of wronges, wil at last cast the wicked into eternal torments. wil repay them their iniquitie: and in their malice he wil destroy them: the Lord our God wil destroy them.

PSALMES. XCIIII.
Praise Praise songue with voices: of Canticle, inspired to Dauid, & written by him. to Dauid him selfe. This Inuitation is most fitly ordayned by the Church for the proeme or beginning of Mattins.

An inuitation to serue and adore Christ our Lord and Messias, 3. aswel Christ our Lord and king. the 5. key. for the benefites of creating al thinges, 7. as for his Incarnation, and not to harden our hartes as the Iewes did.

1 COME, let vs VVith great and solemne exultation: reioyce to our Lord: let vs make iubilation to God God our Creator, is also our Protector & Sauiour. our sauiour.

2 [Page 176]† Let vs Let vs be more diligent, and preuent our accustomed time. For no man can preuent Gods grace with anie good worke, who first preuenteth vs; els we can neither doe, nor thincke anie good thing. preuent his face in confession: and not only in singing his praise with voice, but also with musical instruments. in Psalmes let vs make iubilation to him.

3 † Because our Lord is a great God: and a great King aboue al goddes.

4 † Because in his hand are the endes of the earth: and the heightes of the mountaines be his.

5 † Because the sea is his, and he made it: and his handes formed the drie land.

6 † Come let vs adore, So also Isaias (c. 45. v. 23.) and S. Paul (Philip. 2.) teach that kneeling or bowing the knees, as an external religious ceremonie▪ is acceptable to God. and fal downe: and wepe before our Lord, that made vs.

7 † Because he is the Lord It is most iust and necessarie that we adore God, because he made vs, and al this world for vs, hath also redemed vs, and made vs his people, as shepe of his pasture, and as a Pastor feedeth and gouerneth vs. our God; and we the people of his pasture, and the shepe of his making. of his hand.

9 † Though some haue often repelled, and resisted Gods grace, yet if they receiue it being offered againe, it wil auaile them to remission of sinnes. To day if ye shal heare his voice, “harden not your hartes;

9 † As in the prouocation according to the day The Israelites in the desert tempted God, by desiring water, and flesh, of voluptuous concupiscence without necessitie. For Manna did both extinguish their thirst, and tasted vnto them, whatsoeuer they desired. Exo. 16. That also which was left vngathered when the sunne waxed hotte, melted (v. 21.) and serued their cattel for drincke. So this tentation was a figure of those, which require to communicate vnder both kindes, as if one did not conteine as much as both. of the tentation in the desert: where your fathers tempted me, proued me, and saw my workes.

10 † By this mention of the offence of fourtie yeares, as long before passed, is conuinced that Moyses writte not this Psalme, who died in the very fourtith yeare of their abode in the desert. And S Paul citing the wordes of this Psalme. (Heb. 4.) manifestly acknowlegeth Dauid the writter therof, and that it was written long after Moyses time in these wordes: (v 7) Againe he limiteth a certaine day; To day, in Dauid saying after so long time, as is aboue saide. To day if you shal heare his voice, do not obdurate your hartes. For if Iesus (that is Iosue) had geuen them rest, he would neuer speake of an other day afterward Fourtie years was I Being greatly offended, I approched nere vnto them, in punishing the offenders. offended with that generation, and said: These alwaies erre in hart.

11 † And these haue not knowne my waies: as I sware in my wrath: Those that murmured died in the desert, and entered not into the promised land, euen so those that finally offend Christ, shal not enter into euerlasting rest▪ Heb. 3. &. 4. if they shal enter into my rest.

[Page 177]

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME. XCIIII.

8. Harden not your hartes.] VVhatsoeuer God proposeth by preaching, or It is in mans freewil to resist good motions. inspiration to a sinner, it resteth stil in the powre of his freewil, to harden his harte, and to reiect al such good motions, and so he doth not only frustrate Gods grace, and hinder his owne iustification, but also increaseth his former sinnes. But by not resisting, when deliberating therupon he could resist, he disposeth Concil. Triden. Sess. 6. c. 5 himselfe and cooperateth to first iustification. And therfore the royal Prophet here admonisheth, and earnestly exhorteth al men, to do this which God hath put in our powre, not to harden our owne hartes, when we heare his voice, by resisting and reiecting his grace freely offered, without al merite of our part.

PSALME. XCV.
A Canticle Inspired to Dauid, and written by him: to Dauid * himselfe, prophecying the restauration of the temple, after the future captiuitie. And that in figure of the vniuersal redemption of mankind by Christ, from the captiuitie of the diuel. when the house was built [...] 1. Par. 16. v. 23. after the captiuitie.

Al peoples & nations are inuited to praise the blessed Trinitie, 3. for Christs Christs diuine powre. the 5. key. Incarnation, and spiritual kingdom in al the world. [...]. euen sensles creatures acknowledging his maiestie, 13. and iudicial powre.

1 SING ye to our Lord For a new benefite, farre greater then the deliuerie of Israel from Aegypt. a new song: sing to our Lord al the earth.

2 † The same wordes [Sing to our Lord] thrise repeted, signifie the Blessed Trinitie, as some Fathers note. Likewise v. 7. and 8. Bring ye to our Lord, &c. in both places concluding in the singular number, blesse his name, bring to his name, importing one God. Sing ye to our Lord, and blesse his name: shewforth his saluation from day to day.

3 † Shewforth his glorie among the Gentiles, his meruelous workes in al peoples.

4 † Because our Lord is great, and exceeding laudable: he is terrible aboue al goddes.

5 † Because al the goddes of the Gentiles are VVhat creatures soeuer spiritual or corporal, visible or inuisible the paganes serue for goddes, stil they [...]e diuels that deceiue them, and diuers wayes vsurpe diuine honour, making such idolaters to thinke, that there is diuine powre, where none is. diuels, but our Lord He only is true God, who is Creator of heauen, and of al creatures. For no creature can create anie thing at al, that is, make anie thing of nothing but only God. made the heauens.

† Confession, and beauty in his sight: holinesse, and magnificence in his sanctification.

[Page 178]† Bring to our Lord ye families of Gentiles, bring ye to our 7 Lord glorie and honour: † bring to our Lord glorie vnto his 8 name.

9 Take vp hoastes, and enter into his courtes: † adore ye our Lord in his holie court.

10 Let al the earth be moued before his face: † say ye among the Gentiles that our Lord Diuers ancient Doctors read more in this place: Our Lord hath reigned from the wood, to witte, Christ by his death on the crosse conquered the diuel, sinne, and death, and thence begane to reigne. S. Iustinus Martyr, dialogo aduers. Triphonem. Tertullian li. aduers. Iudaeos. c. 9. & 13 & aduers. Marcionem. li. 3 c. 19. &. 21. S Augustin in this place, according to the old Roman Psalter. Before him Arnobius, and after him Cassiadorus and others, wherby it is probable, that it was sometimes in the Hebrew text, and blotted out by the Iewes. hath reigned.

For he hath corrected the round world which shal not be moued: he wil iudge peoples in equitie.

† The Psalmist in abundance of spirite inuiteth al creatures to praise God, as Daniel in his Canticle. c. 3. Let the heauens be glad, and the earth reioyce, the sea be 11 moued, and the fulnesse therof: † the fieldes shal be glad, and 12 al things, that are in them.

13 Then shal the trees of the woodes reioyce † before the face of our Lord, because he cometh: because he cometh to iudge the earth.

He Christ iudgeth now in the world by his ministers discerning and deciding causes, rewarding and punishing, but especially he wil iudge al in the last day. wil iudge the round world in equitie, and peoples in his truth.

PSALME XCVI.
To In figure of Christ, this Dauid, whose bodie rose the third day after his death: to whom manie returned beleuing in him after his resurrection, which fel from him in his passion: and to whom al thinges shal be subdued, as to their true Lord, in the day of iudgement. when his land was restored agane to him.

Al the earth is inuited to reioyce in Christs kingdom, 3. with description The last iudgement, the 9. key. of the signes coming before the day of Iudgement. 7. Idolaters shal be confounded. 8. Holie Angels and iust men shal adore Christ, and reioyce.

1 OVR Lord hath reigned, let the earth reioyce: let Holie Dauid, and other Prophetes hauing great ioy to see long before in spirite only, Christs kingdom extended in the whole earth, yea to the Ilandes, we Ilanders haue great cause to be gladde, that God hath not only so blessed vs long since, but as yet conserueth seede, wherby we trust the whole Iland shal be againe restored vnto him. manie Ilands be glad.

2 [Page 179]† As in a cloud with terror God gaue his law to the Iewes: so in a cloud with greater terror and maiestie, he wil iudge the world; Cloude, and mist round about him: iustice, and iudgement not as manie corrupted seates of iudgement, in this world, but as a corrected tribunal, where iustice and right iudgement shal be practised. the correction of his seat.

3 † Fire shal goe before him, and shal inflame his enimies round about.

4 † His lightninges These thinges are denounced as if they were alredy donne, for the assured certaintie therof. shined to the round world, the earth sawe, and was moued,

5 † The mountaines melted as waxe, before the face of our Lord: before the face of our Lord al the earth.

6 † The heauens haue shewed forth his iustice: and al peoples haue seene his glorie.

7 † Let them al be confounded, that adore As wel the worshippers of grauen, or painted images of Iupiter, Mars, Bacchus and the like, as the worshippers of the same imagined false goddes shal be confounded. sculptils: and that glorie in their idoles.

Adore him al ye his Angels: † The Catholique Church. Sion heard, and was glad. 8

And And al particular Churches, members of the vniuersal. the daughters of Iuda reioyced, because of thy iudgements ô Lord.

9 † Because thou Lord most high ouer al the earth: thou art exalted excedingly aboue al goddes.

10 † You that loue our Lord, hate ye euil: our Lord keepeth the soules of his saintes, out of the hand of the sinner he wil deliuer them.

† Light is risen to the iust, and ioy to the right of hart. 11

12 † Be glad ye iust in our Lord: and confesse ye to the memorie Praise our Lord Christ who is sanctitie it selfe, and sanctifieth others. of his sanctification.

PSALME. XCVII.
A psalme Prefiguring Christ, who hath made his saluation knowen in al nations. to Dauid himselfe.

Al men are againe inuited ioyfully to celebrate the meruelous conquest of The Church in al nations. The 6. key. Christ in al nations, 4. with hart, voice, and instruments: 8. al creatures acknowledging his coming to iudge the world.

1 [Page 180]SING ye to our Lord A new benefite of grace, making men new in spirite, requireth a new songue of gratitude. a new song: because he hath done meruelous thinges.

His righthand hath wrought saluation Raised vp himselfe from death. to himselfe: and his arme is holie.

2 † Our Lord hath Made his grace effectually knowen by raising men from sinne, and deliuering them from the powre of the diuel. made knowne his saluation: in the sight of the Gentiles he hath reueled his iustice.

3 † He hath remembred his mercie, and his truth to Some of the Iewes conuerted to Christianitie. Rom. 11. the house of Israel.

Al the ends of the earth haue seene the saluation of our God.

4 † Make ye iubilation to God al the earth: In voice. chaunt, and Cantate exultate, psallite. In hart reioyce, and In instruments. sing.

† Sing to our Lord on harpe, on harpe and voice of psalme: 5 † on long drawen trumpets, and voice of cornet of horne. 6

7 Make iubilation in the sight of the king our Lord: † let the sea be moued, and the fulnes therof: the round world, and they that dwel therin:

† The riuers shal clappe with hand, the mountaynes together 8 shal reioyce † at the sight of our Lord: Christ directeth and disposeth al thinges rightly in this world. because he cometh 9 to iudge the earth.

And wil accordingly geue iust sentence in the end. He wil iudge the round earth in iustice, and the peoples in equitie.

PSALME XCVIII.
A Psalme to Dauid himselfe. 1

Christ reigneth, notwithstanding his enimies repine, is adored (5. also his Christ our Messias. the 5. key. footestoole) 6. whom ancient Prophetes did inuocate.

OVR Lord hath reigned, Though manie enimies do rage, and impugne Christ: let peoples be angrie: he that sitteth vpon the Cherubs, let though the whole earth be trubled thervvith, yet Christ vvho sitteth Lord ouer the highest Angels, Cherubins and Seraphins, obteyneth the victorie, reigneth, and doth his vvil in al the earth. the earth be moued.

† Our Lord great in Sion: and high aboue al peoples. 2

3 [Page 181]† Let them confesse to thy great name: because it is terrible, and holie.

† And the honour of the king Requireth discretion. loueth iudgement. 4

Thou hast prepared directions: thou hast done iudgement and iustice in fauour of thyn elect people. in Iacob.

5 † Exalt ye the Lord our God, and “ adore Hebrevv Doctors expound this of the Arke in the old testament, but the Doctors of the Church vnderstand Christs humanitie, in the holie Eucharist. his footstoole: because it is holie.

6 † Moyses, and Aaron in his Here it is euident (and S. Augustin sayth this place taketh avvay al doubt) that Moyses vvas a Priest, against those that for maintaining the heresie of Laiheadshippe, denie it. priestes: and Samuel among them, that inuocate his name: [...] 23. in Leuit.

7 They inuocated our Lord By example of their praying and obtaining, the Psalmist confirmeth his prophecie, that Priestes of the new Testament shal pray, and obtaine mercie of Christ for the Church. and he heard them: † in a piller of a cloud he spake to them.

They kept his testimonies, & the precept which he gaue them.

8 † O Lord our God thou heardest them: God thou wast propitious to them, and taking vengeance vpon al God reuenged the machinations made against them, punishing the rebellion of chore, Dathan and Abyron. Num. 16. their inuentions.

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore ye in his holie mount: because the Lord our God is holie.

ANNOTATIONS. PSALME XCIX.

5. Adore his footestoole] For so much as al Expositors, also the Hebrevv Rabbins, Christs humanitie is his footestoole, adored in the Eucharist. affirme that the Psalmist here prophecieth of Christ the promised Messias, that should redeme mankind; and seing the Arke of couenant perteyneth not to the seruice of Christ; but vvas only a figure of him, the footestoole of Messias here mentioned, must nedes be something perteyning to him: and therfore most ancient Fathers expound it of Christs humanitie. And because the Prophet speaketh of perpetual adoration, not only of the shorte time, he conuersed vvith men in this life, vvhen very fevv adored him, the same fathers vnderstand here the adoration of Christ in the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist. Which S Ambrose teacheth (lib. 3. de Spiritu Sancto. c. 12.) in these plaine vvordes. By

1609-1610

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APPROBATIO.

TO THE RIGHT VVELBELOVED ENGLISH READER GRACE AND GLORIE IN IESVS CHRIST EVERLASTING.

THE SVMME AND PARTI­TION OF THE HOLIE BIBLE. With a brife note of the Canonical and Apochryphal Bookes.

THE SVMME OF THE OLD TESTA­ment, as it is distinguished from the new.

OF MOYSES THE AVTHOR OF THE fiue first bookes.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF GENESIS.

The signification of the markes here vsed, for direction of the reader.

THE BOOKE OF GENESIS, IN HEBREW BERESITH.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. 1.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. II.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. III

CHAP. IIII. VVicked Cain killeth holie Abel. 9. vvhose bloud cryeth for reuenge. 11. Cain a cursed vacabond, 17. hath much issue. 25 Adam also hath Seth, and Seth Enos.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. IIII

CHAP. V. The progenie of Adam, & number of their yeares (vvith the death of the rest, & translation of Enoch) in the line of Seth, to Noe & his three sonnes.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. V.

CHAP. VI. Mans sinnes cause of the deluge. 4. Giants vvere then vpon the earth. 8. Noe being iust vvas commanded to build the Arke, 18. vvherin he vvith seuen persons more, and the seede of other liuing things vvere saued.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VI.

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.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VII.

A BRIEFE REMONSTRANCE OF THE STATE OF THE CHVRCH, AND FACE OF Religion, in the first age of the world. From the creation to Noes floud: the space of 1656. yeares.

CHAP. VIII. The waters diminishing by litle and litle, 6. Noe sendeth forth a crow, 8. The second age of the world. after him a doue, thrise: 18. lastly goeth forth with al that were with him in the arke. 20. erecteth an Altar, and offereth Sacrifice.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. VIII.

CHAP. IX. God reneweth the blessing of multiplication, 3. alloweth the eating of flesh, but not of bloud. 8. promiseth neuer againe to destroy the world by water 22. Chamsaw, and reported his fathers nakednes, which Sem and Iapheth couered. 24. For which he his cursed, and they are blessed.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. IX.

CHAP. X. The genealogie of Noes children, by whom the World was increased againe, after the floud.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. X.

CHAP. XI. God hindereth the vaine purpose of building a hiegh towre, 7. by confoun­ding The fourth part of this booke. Of the diui­sion of tōgues and nations. mens tongues. 9. wherof it is called Babel. 10. The genealogie of Sem to Abram.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XI.

THE CONTINVANCE OF THE CHVRCH AND RELIGION, IN THE SECOND AGE OF THE WORLD. From Noes floud to Abrahams going forth of his countrie. The space of 368. yeares.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XII.

CHAP. XIII. Abram & Lot returne from Aegypt into Chanaan, 6. and being rich separate themselues, 10, Lot choosing the countrie about Iordain, Abram dwel­leth in Chanaan. 14. where againe God promiseth him that land, and multiplication of his seede. 18. And he erected an other Altar to God.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XIIII.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XV.

CHAP. XVI. Sarai geueth her handmaid Agar as a wife to Abram. 4. who conceiuing despiseth her mystresse, is therfore afflicted, & flyeth away. 7. But is war­ned by an Angel to returne and humble herselfe, 15. which she doth and beareth Ismael.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVI.

CHAP. XVII. God renewing his promises to Abram, 5. changeth his name, 10. and com­mandeth Circuncision. 15. changeth also his wiues name, promiseth a sonne of her. 20. Likewise that Ismael shal prosper. 23. and the same day Abra­ham circuncised himselfe, and Ismael, and al the men of his house.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XVII.

CHAP. XVIII. Angels intertained as ghests by Abraham 10. tel when Sara shal beare a sonne, wherat she laughing, they cōfirme that they had said. 16. They also fortel the destruction of Sodom. 22. for which Abraham prayed six times.

CHAP. XX. Abraham seiorning in Geraris, his wife is taken into King Abimelechs house, but by Gods commandement is restored vntouched, 14. with great giftes, 17. and Abraham praying Abimelechs house is cured.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXI.

CHAP. XXII. The faith and obedience of Abraham is proued in his redines to sacrifice his sonne Isaac. 11. He is stayed from the act by an Angel. 16. Former promi­ses are renewed to him. 20. And his brother Nachor hath also much issue.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXII.

CHAP. XXIII. Sara dying Abraham solemnizeth her funeral. 4. byeth a field with a duble caue of Ephron, 15. for four hundreth sicles. 19. and there burieth her.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXIIII.

CHAP. XXV. Abraham hauing manie children by his wife Cetura, died at the age of 175. yeares: 12. Ismael also hauing twelue sonnes dukes, died. 19. Isaac pray­ing for his barren wife, she hath Esau and Iacob twinnes. 30. Esau selleth his first birth right to Iacob for a messe of potage.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXV.

CHAP. XXVI. Isaac by reason of famine goeth into Gerara, 3. where God reneweth to him the promises made to Abraham. 9. King Abimelech blameth him for calling his wife his sister. 15. the people enuying his Wealth, quareleth for his welles 26. At last Abimelech maketh league with Isaac.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXVI.

CHAP. XXVII. Iacob by his mothers counsail getteth his fathers blessing in place of Esau, 42. And by her is aduised (for auoiding Esaus wrath, who threatned to kil him) to flie to his vncle Laban, in Haran of Mesopotamia.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXVII.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXVIII.

CHAP. XXIX. Iacob intertained by Laban, 15. serueth him seuen yeares for Rachel, 23. but first receiuing Lia, 27. seuen dayes after receiueth also Rachel, and serueth for her seuen yeares more. 31. She remaining barren, Lia beareth foure sonnes.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXI.

CHAP. XXXII. Angels mete Iacob by the way. [...]. He sendeth messengers and giftes to pa­cifie his brother Esau. 24. wrestling with an Angel is not ouercome, in fine the Angel benummeth his thiegh, blesseth him, and for telleth that he shal be called Israel.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXII.

CHAP. XXXIII. Iacob seing Eau come with a great troupe of men, feareth harme, but is most curteously entertained by him. 10. He hardly perswadeth Esau to take giftes, 13. and to returne home. 17. So Iacob coming by Socoth to Salem, there byeth a field, pitcheth his tents, and erecteth an Altar.

CHAP. XXXIIII. For rauishing Dina, the Sichimetes (being first circumcised) are slaine by Simeon and Leui her brothers. 27. The rest of Iacobs sonnes spoile the citie. 30. Iacob blameth them, fearing harme may come by this fact.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXV.

CHAP. XXXVI. Esau with his wiues and children parteth from Iacob. 9. His genealogie is recited, with their habitations.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXVI.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXVII.

CHAP. XXXVIII. Iudas hauing three sonnes by a Chananite. 6. marieth the first, and after his death, the second to Thamar. 10. who also dying, he delayeth to match the third with her. 15. But him selfe begetteth of her (taking her for a harlote) two sonnes twinnes, Phares and Zara.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXXVIII.

CHAP. XL. Ioseph interpreteth the dreames of two Eunuches prisoners 12. that the one should be restored to his office, 16. the other be hanged, 20. The third day the euent declareth the interpretations to be true, but Ioseph is forgotten.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XL.

CHAP. XLI. Pharao dreaming of fat and leane kine▪ 5. also of ful and thinne eares of corne, 8. no other being able to interprete, 9 Ioseph is remembred 25. who in­terpreting the same▪ [...]8. is made ruler ouer al Aegypt. 50. marieth, and hath two sonnes, Manasses and Ephraim.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLI.

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XLII.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLIII.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLV.

CHAP. XLVI. Israel warranted in a vision from God, goeth into Aegypt with al his fami­mlie, The eight and last part of this booke. 8. who are here recited. 28. Ioseph meeting him in Gessen, aduiseth him to tel Pharao, that they are shepheards by their trade of life.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLVI.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLV

CHAP. XLVIII. Ioseph visiteth his father being sick. 5. Who adopteth his two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim, 13. and blesseth them, preferring the younger before the elder, contrarie to Iosephs mind. 22. And geueth a portion of land to Io­seph, aboue his brethren.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLVIII.

CHAP. XLIX. Iacob replenished with the spirite of prophecie, a litle before his death, for­telleth his sonnes manie things, that shal happen to their posteritie. Char­geth some of them with faultes past, blesseth euerie one. 29. Appointeth where to burie him. 32. and dyeth.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XLIX.

THE SVMME AND PARTITION OF THE HOLIE BIBLE.
With a brife note of the Canonical and Apochryphal Bookes.

THE SVMME OF THE OLD TESTAment, as it is distinguished from the new.

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.

CHAP. XI. God hindereth the vaine purpose of building a hiegh towre, 7. by confounding The fourth part of this booke. Of the diuision of tōgues and nations. mens tongues. 9. wherof it is called Babel. 10. The genealogie of Sem to Abram.

CHAP. XIII. Abram & Lot returne from Aegypt into Chanaan, 6. and being rich separate themselues, 10, Lot choosing the countrie about Iordain, Abram dwelleth in Chanaan. 14. where againe God promiseth him that land, and multiplication of his seede. 18. And he erected an other Altar to God.

CHAP. XVI. Sarai geueth her handmaid Agar as a wife to Abram. 4. who conceiuing despiseth her mystresse, is therfore afflicted, & flyeth away. 7. But is warned by an Angel to returne and humble herselfe, 15. which she doth and beareth Ismael.

CHAP. XVII. God renewing his promises to Abram, 5. changeth his name, 10. and commandeth Circuncision. 15. changeth also his wiues name, promiseth a sonne of her. 20. Likewise that Ismael shal prosper. 23. and the same day Abraham circuncised himselfe, and Ismael, and al the men of his house.

CHAP. XXII. The faith and obedience of Abraham is proued in his redines to sacrifice his sonne Isaac. 11. He is stayed from the act by an Angel. 16. Former promises are renewed to him. 20. And his brother Nachor hath also much issue.

CHAP. XXV. Abraham hauing manie children by his wife Cetura, died at the age of 175. yeares: 12. Ismael also hauing twelue sonnes dukes, died. 19. Isaac praying for his barren wife, she hath Esau and Iacob twinnes. 30. Esau selleth his first birth right to Iacob for a messe of potage.

CHAP. XXXII. Angels mete Iacob by the way. [...]. He sendeth messengers and giftes to pacifie his brother Esau. 24. wrestling with an Angel is not ouercome, in fine the Angel benummeth his thiegh, blesseth him, and for telleth that he shal be called Israel.

CHAP. XLI. Pharao dreaming of fat and leane kine▪ 5. also of ful and thinne eares of corne, 8. no other being able to interprete, 9 Ioseph is remembred 25. who interpreting the same▪ [...]8. is made ruler ouer al Aegypt. 50. marieth, and hath two sonnes, Manasses and Ephraim.

CHAP. XLVI. Israel warranted in a vision from God, goeth into Aegypt with al his famimlie, The eight and last part of this booke. 8. who are here recited. 28. Ioseph meeting him in Gessen, aduiseth him to tel Pharao, that they are shepheards by their trade of life.

CHAP. XLVIII. Ioseph visiteth his father being sick. 5. Who adopteth his two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim, 13. and blesseth them, preferring the younger before the elder, contrarie to Iosephs mind. 22. And geueth a portion of land to Ioseph, aboue his brethren.

CHAP. XLIX. Iacob replenished with the spirite of prophecie, a litle before his death, fortelleth his sonnes manie things, that shal happen to their posteritie. Chargeth some of them with faultes past, blesseth euerie one. 29. Appointeth where to burie him. 32. and dyeth.

CHAP. XI. God biddeth Moyses cause the people of Israel to borow siluer and gold vessels of the Aegyptians. 4. Fortelleth one other plague, the death of the first borne. 9. and that Pharao wil stil be obdurate.

CHAP. XVII. The people murmuring againe in Raphidim for want of drinck, our Lord giueth them water out of arock. 8. Amalech fighteth with them And Moyseslifting vp his hand in prayer, Israel ouercometh, otherwise Amalech pr [...]a [...]leth.

CHAP. XVIII. Iethro Moyses father in law bringeth to him his wise and childrens, 8. And hearing the great workes of God. 12. offereth Sacrifice. 13 and Wisely aduised Moyses to appoint subordinate officers to iudge lesse causes, reseruing the greater to him selfe.

CHAP. XXV. Oblations of first fruictes, and freegiftes for making the Tabernacle, and things perteyning th [...]r [...]o 10. The Arck. 17. The Propitiatorie, and Cherubims. 23. A table, and theron the Lo [...]ues ef proposition. 31. A candlestick, 37. and seuen lampes, with snuffers of gold.

CHAP. XXIX. The maner of consecrating Aaron and other Priests: vvith burnt offerings, 26. and pacifiques, wherof Aaron and his sonnes shal participate. 38. The institution of the daylie sacrifice of tvvo lambes, one in the morning, the other at euen.

CHAP. XXX. How, and of what matter, the Altar of incense shal be made: 12. VVhat money shal be gathered for the vse of the Tabernacle. 18. A brasen lauer is also to be made, 25. and holie oile of vnction.