EXODVS 146 yeares.

FRom the death of Ioseph, to the birth of Mo­ses B were 65 yeares. From the birth of Moses, Moses. to the time that God sent him to parlie & treate with Pharaoh, for the deliuerance of his people out of bondage, were 80 yeares, Exod. 7. 7.

The very next yeare after this, Israel depar­ted out of Egypt; euen on the 14. day of the Departure [...]ut of E­gypt. first moneth, Exod. chap. 12. and chap. 13. And in the third moneth of the same yeare, the Lord did publish his Lawe from heauen, descending vpō mount Sinai, Exo. 19. 1. &c. 11. &c. and ch. 20. Giuing of [...]he law. The Ta­ [...]ernable [...]rected.

And in the very beginning of the next yeare after this, the Tabernacle of God was reared vp, Exod. chap. 40. 17. 18.

Thus farre reacheth the second booke of Mo­ses called Exodus: All the yeares wherof recke­ned together; that is to say, 65 from the death [Page 7] of Ioseph to the birth of Moses: 80 to his am­bassage from God to Pharaoh: 1 to the giuing of the Law, and vntill the rearing of the Taber­nacle: they grow to the number of 146.

But it may here be demaunded, what proofe we haue, that betweene the death of Ioseph, & the birth of Moses, were iust 65 yeares. We ga­ther that it must needs be so, because that other­wise there could not be 430 yeares from the promise of the Gospell made first to Abraham; vnto the giuing of the law. Of which interme­diant space of time, we haue vndoudted testi­monie, Exod. 12. 40. 41. and Gal. 3. 17. And therefore the warrantise of this is a sure confir­mation of that.

LEVITICVS, only one moneth.

COnferre that which we reade, Exod. chap. C 40. verse 17. The Tabernacle was reared vp the first day of the first moneth in the second yeare: with that which Moses writeth in the first verse of the first chapter of Numbers, in these words, The Lord spake againe vnto Moses in the wildernesse of Sinai, in the Tabernacle of the con­gregation, the first day of the second moneth, in the se­cond yeare after that they were come out of the land of Egypt. &c. Here therfore is the storie of neuer a whole yeare, but only of one moneth.

NVMBERS, 38 yeares, and 9 moneths.

COmpare that beginning of this booke of D Numbers, with the third verse of the first chapter of Deuteronomie where thus we read: And it came to passe in the first day of the eleuenth moneth in the fortith yeare that Moses spake to the children of Israell, &c. Of these fortie yeares, yeeld one for the giuing of the law, to the rea­ring of the Tabernacle, vnto Exodus; and one moneth to Leuiticus; so there shall remaine to Numbers 38 yeares and 9 moneths.

DEVTERONOMIE, two moneths at the least, which make vp the 39. yeare of the booke of Numbers, and rea­cheth to the end of the fortith yeare that Mo­ses spake to Israell.

THis is euident, in that (as was mentioned E before out of Exod. chap. 7. vers. 7.) Moses was 80 yeares old when he led Israell out of E­gypt; but he died not til he had liued 120 yeres, as we read, Deut. 34. 7. Moses was one hundreth and twentie yeares old when he died: his eye was not dimme, nor his naturall force abated, &c. So the [...] Deuteronomie maketh vp the 39. yeare of Numbers: whereunto ad one yeare borrowed from Exodus, and we haue the whole fortie years that Moses spake to the children of Israel.

[Page 9] Note here that the fortie yeares wandering of Israell in the wildernesse is to be reckened from their first entrance into it, Exod. 16. 35. Nehem. 9. 21. Reade also Psalme 95. For euen three dayes after their deliuerance they begin to murmure, Exod. 15. 22. Neuerthelesse it is not pronounced for a curse vnto them till Num­bers, 14. 34. This curse ended with the death of Moses.

IOSHVAH, 17 yeares.

THis is prooued, in that there being 480 F yeares betwixt the departure of the Israe­lites out of Egypt, to the time wherein king Sa­lomon Ioshua. layd the foundation of the Temple of Ie­rusalem, which was in the fourth yeare of his reigne, 1. King. chap 6. verses 1. and 37: there are of this summe of 480, euery yeare recorded in the holy Scriptures (except from the begin­ning of Ioshuah his gouernment, to the time of his death) to the number of 463 yeares, as will be manifest by the acc [...]unt following. For (as hath bene already declared) from the time that Moses began to speake to Israel, to the time of his death, was 40 yeares. The time of the Iud­ges (as will more clearely appeare anone) was 299 yeares: of Eli 40: of Samuel and Saule 40: of Dauid 40: of Salomon 4, to the time where­in he began to build the Temple. Wherefore onely 17 yeares are wanting to fufilll that num­ber [Page 10] of 480. And the same must needes be the yeares wherein Ioshua gouerned and gui­ded Israell after the death of Moses, to the time of his owne death, Iosh. 1. 1. where thus we read: Nowe after the death of Moses the seruant of the Lord, the Lord spake vnto Ioshua the sonne of Nun, Moses minister, saying, Moses my seruant is dead: now therefore arise thou, go ouer this Iorden thou & all this people vnto the land which I giue thē. &c. And cha. 24. 29. And after these things Ioshua the sonne of Nun the seruāt of the Lord died being 110 yeares old.

IVDGES, 299 yeares.

THis was the space of time, wherin the thir­teene Iudges, chronicled and renowmed in the booke of Iudges, did as heroicall & most G valiant Captaines of the Lord, iudge, auenge & deliuer the people of Israell out of the hands of their enemies; as the rehearsall of the seuerall distance of yeares, from Iudge to Iudge, will hence forth shew and confirme to be true.

For from the death of Ioshua to the death of God stir­red vp 13 mightie Iudges for the deliue­rance of Is­rael, after the death of Ioshuah. [...]. Othniel. Othniel the first of these Iudges, were 40 yeares Iudg. 1. 1. &c. After that Ioshua was dead, the children of Israell asked the Lord, saying: Who shal go vp for vs against the Caananites, to fight first against them. And ch. 3. ver. 9. 10. 11. When the children of Israell cried vnto the Lord, the Lord stirred vp a Sauior to the childrē of Israel, [Page 11] and he saued them; euen Othniel the sonne of Kenaz, Calebs younger brother, &c. So the land had rest to the fortith yeare, when Othniel the sonne of Kenaz died.

From the death of this Othniel, to the times 2. Ehud. 3. Shāgar. wherein Ehud the second Iudge, and Shamgar the third, had iudged Israell; there were 80 yeeres chap. 3. 30. 31. For in that account the time of Shamgar must be reckened with the time of Ehud, or else comprehended in the for­mer part of the 40 yeares next following; be­cause otherwise, the time wherein he executed the iudgement of God, should be altogether o­mited. It is likely that his time was but short. From those 80 yeares, to the end of the gouern­ment of Deborah, who was the fourth Iudge, though a woman; there passed 40 yeares, chap. 4. Deborah 5. 31. Frō this yeare, to the end of Gideons iudg­ment, 5. Gideon. who was the fift Iudge; were also 40 yeares, chap. 8. 28. After Gideon was Abime­lech, 6. Abime­lech. the sixt Iudge, who iudged Israell 3 yeeres chap. 9. 22. Next Abimelech, arose Tolah the 7. Tolah. seuenth Iudge, who iudged Israell 23 yeares, chap. 10. 1. 2. Then Iaire the eight Iudge, hee 8. Iaire. 9. Iphtah. iudged 22 yeares, chap. 10. 3. Iphtah the ninth, iudged 6 yeares, chap. 12. 7. And after Iphtah, 10. Ibsan. Ipsan, who was the tenth Iudge: he iudged 7 yeares, chap. 12. 9. Next Ibsan, rose Elon the e­leuenth, 11. Elon. he iudged 10 yeares, chap. 12. 11. And in the same chapter, verse 14. Abdon hath the 12. Abdon. place of the twelfth Iudge, by the space of 8 [Page 12] yeares. And last of all, Samson the thirteenth, 13. Samson who mightily iudged & auenged Israell whole 20 yeares, cha. 16. 31. All these particular num­bers, 40 to the death of Othniel: 80 to the death of Shamgar: 40 to the end of Deborahs gouern­ment: 40 to the death of Gideon: 3 of Abi­melech: 23 of Tolah: 22 of Iaire: 6 of Iphtah: 7 of Ibsan: 10 of Elon: 8 of Abdon: 20 of Sam­son: they make vp one whole summe of 299 yeares. And so farre extendeth the booke of the Iudges. As for that which is written in the be­ginning of the thirteenth chapter of this booke, concerning that 40 years of Israels oppression, vnder the hands of the Philistims; as though it had bin betwixt the time of Abdon & Samson, it is not so to be vnderstood: but we must reckē those yeares beginning so as they must end ei­ther at or with the gouernment of Samson. In the which time of fortie yeares though Israell had Iudges, yet we are thereby giuen to vnder­stand, that they were sundry times greatly mo­lested by their aduersaries, within the compasse of the same.

And concerning all that which followeth in the rest of the booke of the Iudges, from the 17. chapter, to the end of the booke: as also touch­ing that historie recorded in the booke of Ruth: though the matters therein contained, be pla­ced after the time already accounted; yet doe they belong to some of the former seasons. And of the historie of Ruth, it is expresly afirmed in [Page 13] the beginning therof, that it fell out in the time that the Iudges ruled: at such time as there was a dearth in the land of Israell, &c.

1. Booke of SAMVEL, 80 yeares.

THis space of 80 years, was partly the time H of Elies gouernement, which continued 40 yeares, 1. Sam. chap. 4. vers. 18. And partly, it Eli. Samuel. Saule. was the time both of Samuels gouernment, and also of the reigne of Saul; the which reckened together, were likewise 40 yeers. So is that to be vnderstood, which we reade Act. 13. 20. 21. God gaue to Israell Iudges about 450 yeares, vnto the time of Samuel the Prophet. The Apostle in that number reckening the time of Elie his go­uernment among the Iudges, and also vulgarly reckeneth the times as they are dated, as well for the oppressions of Israell by their aduersa­ries (such as were Chusan, by the space of eight yeares, Eglon 18. Sisera 20. The Madianites 7 The Amonites 18. The Philistims 40) as for their deliuerances by their Iudges and Sauiours 299, besides the 40. yeares of Elie. And then it followeth in the former place of the Acts. So af­ter that, they desired a King: & God gaue vnto them Saul, the sonne of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benia­min, by the space of forty yeares. The Apostle here also reckoning the gouerument of Samuell with the reigne of Saule; vnder the couert [Page 14] whereof, it is as it were shadowed or concea­led.

2. Booke of SAMVEL, 40 yeares.

THe reigne of king Dauid, was also the space of 40 yeares: 2. Sam. 5. 4. 5. In He­bron I (saith the Text) he reigned 7 yeares and sixe Dauid. moneths ouer Iuda: and in Ierusalem he reigned 33 yeares ouer all Israell and Iuda. Thus with the end of king Dauids reigne, which was at the end of his life; this second booke of Samuel endeth.

1. Booke of KINGS, 117 yeares.

THis 117 yeares is the time of the raigne of fiue Kings of Iuda.

First of Salomon, who raigned 40 yeares 1. K King. chap. 11. 42. The first [...]ooke of Kings con­ [...]aineth the [...]istory of 5 [...]ings of [...]uda. [...]. Salomō. [...]. Rehobo­ [...]am. [...]. Abiiam.

Then Rehoboam, the sonne of Salomon 17 yeares, chap. 14. 21.

The third Abijam, whose reigne was three yeares, chap. 15. 2. but not compleate; so that the third yeare of Abijam was also the first of A­sa. For Ieroboam beginning his reigne ouer Is­rael, when Rehoboam began to reigne ouer Iu­da; it is expresly sayd, that Abijam beganne his reigne in the eighteenth yeare of Ieroboam, [Page 15] chap. 15. 1. And it is likewise said, that Asa be­gan his reigne, in the twentith yeare of the same Ieroboam. We haue therefore, only two whole yeares, betwixt Rehoboam and Asa.

This Asa, the fourth king of Iuda; to wit, of 4. Asa. those mentioned in this first booke of Kings: he reigned 41 yeares, as we reade further in the 15. verse of the same 15. chap.

In the fift place, the reigne of Iehoshaphat, is 5 Ichosha­phat. numbred to be 25 yeares: and his death is chro­nicled in this booke. Neuerthelesse, the storie of this first booke of the Kings, reacheth but to the 17 yeare of his reigne, chap. 22. ver. 51. 52. So that the historie of this booke is but 117 yeares. For so many and no more are the particular summes; 40 of Salomon: 17 of Rehoboam: 2 of Abijam: 41 of Asa: 17 of Iehoshaphat, if we number them altogether.

2. Booke of KINGS, 345 yeares.

IN this second Booke of the Kings, the holie L Storie is continued from the 18. yeare of Ie­hoshaphat, The secōd booke of Kings con­taineth the historie or 15. kings of Iuda, be­side queen Athaliah, chap. 3. 1. to the last; that is to say, vnto the 25. yeare of his reigne. Yet so, as the storie runneth vnder the name of Iehoram his sonne; because from the former seuenteenth yeare of Iehoshaphat, Iehoram ruled as Vice­roy in stead of his father, chap. 1. 17. And again [Page 16] who ma­keth vp the number of 16. 1. Iehoram 2. Ahaziah Athaliah. 3. Iehoash. 4. Amazia. 5. Azariah or Vzziah 6. Iotham. 7. Ahaz. 8 Hezekiah 9. Manas­ses. 10. Amon. 11. Iosiah 12. Iehoa­haz. 13. Iehoia­kim. 14. Iehoia­chin. 15. Zede­kiah. yet more specially, from the 22 yeare of his fa­thers reigne, chap. 8. 16. For Ioram the sonne of Ahab, beginning his reigne in the eighteenth yeare of Iehoshapat; the fift yeare of this Ioram must be the 22. yeare of Iehoshaphat. And from this time, that is, from the fift yeare of Ioram, doth Iehoram the sonne of Iehoshaphat (euen foure yeares before the death of his father) be­gin his reigne of that 8 yeares, which is menti­oned in the 17. verse of the eight chapter last al­leadged. For otherwise, how should Iehoram the sonne of Iehoshaphat, reigne to the twelfth yeare of Ioram the sonne of Ahab, whose first yeare was the eighteenth of Iehoshaphat, & the second of Iehorams viceroyship, as hath bene noted before? So then, we haue, beside the rem­nant of Iehoshaphats reigne (which was foure years from the end of his 17. while Iehoram his sonne was first viceroy) we haue, I say, in the entrance of this second booke of Kings, Ieho­rams more full reigne, for the space of 8 yeares, beginning at the 22. yeare of Iehoshaphat; that is to say, the first foure yeares by speciall com­mission, and thence forth other foure in his sole regencie; to wit, so long as he suruiued his fa­ther.

And after this, we haue in the rest of this book the reigne of 14 kings of Iuda; beside Queene Athaliah, who maketh vp the number of 16, as is noted before.

Of the which kings, Ahaziah the first, reigned [Page 17] one yeare, chap. 8. 26.

Next after him, Athalia, a woman vsurper, by the space of sixe yeares, chap. 11. 3.

And after her, Iehoash the second king, who reigned 40 yeares, chap. 12. 1. Yet so, as from his 38. yeare, Amaziah his sonne rule as Viceroy in his roome; as may appeare by this, that Ioash king of Israell, beginning his reigne ouer Israel, at the 37. yeare of Ioash king of Iuda, cha. 13. 10. Amaziah is afterward said to haue begunne his reigne, in the second yeare of the same Ioash, chap. 14. 1. which must be the 38. yeare of Ioash, king of Iuda. And the same also, two yeares be­fore Iehoahaz, the father of Ioash king of Israel died; in so much as the seuenteenth yeare, which was the last of Iehoahaz, touched the last yeare of the reigne of Ioash king of Iuda; seeing he began his reigne in the 23. yeare of the same Ioash of Iuda, and reigned 17 yeares in Israell, chap. 13. 1. So then, the sonne of Iehoahaz was viceroy in Israel, as Amaziah was in Iudah. Three yeares therefore are to be abated, either of the 40 yeares of Iehoash, or of the 29 yeares of Amaziah; vnlesse we could see sufficient rea­son to say, that Amaziah reigned 29 yeares, be­side that time wherein he was viceroy.

Next vnto Amaziah, was Azariah, other­wise called Vzziah 2. Chron. chap. 26. whose reigne continued 52 yeeres. But the beginning of Azariahes reigne is not to be reckoned, till the twelfth yeere after the death of his father; [Page 18] because Amaziah (as the Storie testifieth) liued but 15. yeeres after the death of Iehoash king of Israel, ch. 14. verse 17. The which his 15 yeeres, could reach but to the 15. yeere of the reigne of Ieroboam, who began not his raigne, till the 15. yeere of Amaziah, as we reade in the same 14. ch. the 23. verse. And hereunto adde, that it is further expreslie set downe, ch. 15. 1. (as hath beene alleadged before) that Azariah began not his reigne, till the 27. yeere of Ieroboam, which was 11 yeeres after the death of Amaziah. We are therfore in this place (for the perfecting of our computation) to in­terpose eleuen yeeres betwixt the death of Amaziah, and the beginning of the reigne of Azariah, who was but foure yeere olde when his father Amaziah dyed. Neither did he begin his reigne, till he was 16 yeeres of age, as it followeth in the 2. verse of the same 15. chapter. Whence also, it will fall out, that as Iuda was eleuen yeeres without a king, by reason of the nonage of Azariah, or for what other cause soeuer: so was Israel, fifteene yeeres after that vacancie or interregnum of Iuda, for the space of 22 yeeres likewise without a king. That is to say, from the end of Ieroboams reigne, which was at the 15. yeere of the reigne of Azariah. So that Zachariah the next king which succee­ded Ieroboam, and was the fourth from Iehu, 2. King. chap. 10. 30. he began not his reigne, till the 38. yeere of Azariah, as we reade ch. 15. 8. [Page 19] 12. Some, in their Chronologie admit not these yeers of vacācie, either in Iuda or in Israel, and therefore begin the reigne of Azariah 15 yeeres before the death of his father: yea, and for the same cause also, doo make Zachariah immediately to succeede Ieroboam in Israel, without anie interruption of the royall gouern­ment. But the former account is to be followed; the rather, because without the former addition, wee shall not finde that number of Ezekiels 390 yeeres, figured by so manie daies, from the time that Israel fell to idolatrie vnder Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, to the desolation of Ierusalem at the burning of the Temple. Read Ezek. ch. 4. verses 4. 5. 6. &c. But let vs hast for­ward.

Ater Azariah, Iotham reigned 16 yeares, 2. King. 15. 32. 33.

Next to Iotham, was Ahaz, who likewise reig­ned 16 yeares, chap. 16. 1. 2.

After Ahaz, reigned Hezekiah 29 yeares, chap. 18. 1. 2.

Manasses succeeded Hezekiah, and reigned 55 yeares, ch. 21. 1. The longest reigne of anie king either in Iuda or Israel.

Then Amon reigned two yeares, cha. 21. 19.

And after Amon, Iosiah; whose reigne was 31 yeares, chap. 22. 1.

Next to Iosiah was Iehoahaz; but he reigned onely three moneths, chap. 23. 31.

After Iehoahaz, Iehoiakim reigned eleuen [Page] yeeres, chap. 23. 36.

Then Iehoiachin, whose reigne was but three moneths and ten dayes. For so soone after he began to reigne, did the king of Babylon subdue him, and carie him away captiue to Ba­bel, 2. King. chap. 24. 8. &c. and 2. Chron. chap. 36. 9. &c.

Instead of this Iehoiachin, the same king of Babylon placed Zedekiah, who reigned eleuen yeares, 2. King. 24. 18.

Finally, from thence, to the time that Euil­merodach the next king of Babylon, succee­ding Nebuchadnezzar, restored Iehoiachin to a princely dignitie; there passed 26 yeares. For he was aduanced in the 37. yeare after that he was caried away captiue, 2. King. chap. 25. vers. 27. From the which if we subtract those 11 yeares of Zedekiah, the remainder is 26. So all the years of the Story of this second book of Kings, containing these seuerall numbers: 4 of Ieho­shaphat: 8 of Iehoram: 1 of Ahaziah: 6 of A­thaliah: 40 of Iehoash or Ioash: 26 of Ama­ziah, abating the three yeeres of his viceroy­ship: 11 yeers of the vacancie: 52 of Azariah: 16 of Iothā: 16 of Ahaz: 29 of Hezekiah: 55 of Manasses: 2 of Amon: 31 of Iosiah: 11 of Iehoia­kim: 11 of Zedekiah: and from thence 26 to the aduancement of Iehoiachin in Babell: they are in the totall summe 345.

[Page] THis captiuity of Iuda began in the fourth M yeare of Iehoiakim, Ier. 25. 1. For Nebu­chadnezzer The Cap­tiuitie of Iuda be­ginneth. laying siege against Ierusalem, in the third yeare of Iehoiakim, Dan. chap. 1. 1. he subdued the same Iehoiakim, and caried him a­way captiue the next yeare, 2. King. 24. 1. and 2. Chron. 36. 5. 6. 7. At the which time also, Da­niel and some other of the children of the No­bles, and such as were of the bloud royall of Iu­da were led into captiuity, as is euident in the same first chapter of Daniel. And that the capti­uitie of Iuda began at this time, (though it was increased twise after, 2. King. 24. 10, &c. and chap. 25. 1. &c.) Reade Matth. chap. 1. verse 11. compared with 2. Chron. 36. 9. Where see the note of Tremelius and Iunius, for the ope­ning of that place, by another like place, 2. Kin. chap. 16. 2. and also how that which is written 2. Chron. 36. 9. agreeth with 2. King. 24. 8. For by this conference of places, it is manifest, that Iehoiachin was eight yeares old, not when he himselfe, but when Iehoiakim began to reigne. Neare vpon which time, the Euangelist Matthew, in the place before cited, beginneth the captiuitie, writing thus: Iacim (he meaneth Iehoiakim) begate Iechonias (that is Iehoiachin) and his brethren, about the time they were caried a­way to Babylon.

[Page 22] FOr from the beginning of the fourth yeare of N Iehoiakim, recken the rest of his reigne, Yeeres 45 from the beginning of the cap­tiuity, to the end of the second booke of Kings. which was 8 yeares, 2. King. chap. 23. 36. & ch. 24. 12. (in so much as the 8. yeare of the reigne of the king of Babell was the eleuenth yeare of Iehoiakim) and adde moreouer, to these eight yeares of Iehoiakim, those 37 which followed from the carying away of Iehoiachin the sonne of Iehoiakim to Babell, vntill Iehoiachin was there aduaunced, as we sawe before (with the which aduancement of Iehoiachin, the second booke of Kings is concluded:) and so we haue the storie continued till 45 yeares after that the captiuitie of Iuda began.

1. Booke of CHRONICLES.

THe first booke of Chronicles, so called in Greeke, after the Hebrue inscriptiō; which is, the first Booke of dayes or times; it is onely O an abridgement of the whole historie of the ho­ly Bible, from the beginning of the world, to the end of king Dauids reigne, sauing that the genealogies of Israell are described more at large, chap. 2. &c.

2. Booke of CHRONICLES, continueth the Storie 25 yeares longer then 2. Kings.

THis second booke of Chronicles, begin­ning at king Salomōs reigne, carieth forth [Page 23] the storie of the second booke of Kings, no fur­ther then to the first yeare of Cyrus king of Per­sia; that is, only 25 yeares beyond the extent of that second booke of Kings. For the captiuitie The capti­uity of Iu­da endeth. beginning at the first yeare of Nebuchadnez­zar, and continuing all the time of his reigne; yea & also vnder the reigne of Euil-merodach, as was alleaged before; and yet further, vnto the death of Belshazzar, Dan. chap. 5. and chap. 7. 1. and chap. 8. 1. and Ier. 25. 26. (where the Prophet prophesieth against this drunken king vnder the name of Sheshach, which word in the Babylonian tongue, noteth the solemnizing of some feast, as it were to Bacchus. See the note of Tremelius & Iunius vpon that place of Ieri­miah) The captiuity (I say) thus beginning at the first yeare of Nebuchadnezzar, and conti­nuing to the first yeare of Cyrus, whereat the se­cond booke of Chronicles endeth: it is the space onely of 70 yeares. Reade 2. Chron. 36. 21. 22. and Ezra 1. 1. &c. and Dan. 9. 1. &c. So then, to out former summe of 345 yeares, contained in the Storie of the second booke of Kings; that is, to the 45. yeare of the captiuitie of Iuda: we haue in this second booke of Chronicles, onely the addition of 25 yeares, to make vp the num­ber of 70: which was the end of the same cap­tiuitie.

EZRA, NEHEMIAH, and DANIEL, 490 yeares.

IN the dayes of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel, many thousands of the Iewes, being by the P The return of Iuda out of their [...]aptiuity. conduct of Zerubbabel and other Princes, and namely of Sheshbazzar, that Tirshatha or Com­missioner, whom king Cyrus had appointed chiefe Prince of Iuda, to put them in possession of their land by his authoritie, Ezra ch. 2. 1. 2. & verse 36. and chap. 5. 14. 15. 16. (Whether Ze­rubbabel, or rather one properly named Shesh­bazzar, were that Tirshatha or Commissioner as afterward it is recorded that Nehemia was for his time Tirshatha or the kings Commissio­ner, Nehem. chap. 8. verse 9. and chap. 10. 1.) the Iewes (I say) being thus by thousands returned to their owne land, whereunto God of his most gratious goodnesse had restored them; they do earnestly indeuour to reedifie the holy citie and temple of Ierusalem, which Nebuchadnezzer had burnt in the 19. yeare of his raigne, 2. King. 25. 8. 9. 10. they were through the same most gratious goodnesse of God, setled to remaine and abide therein, from the time of that their re­turne, to the death of our Sauiour Christ; that is, by the space of 490 yeeres, Dan. 9. 24. &c. In the which space also, they enioyed the grati­ous and comfortable protection of God, vnder the reigne of the kings of the Medes & Persians, for the first 100 of those yeares & more. But let [Page 25] vs consider of this portion of the holy history more particularly. And first concerning the booke of Ezra.

EZRA.

THe booke of Ezra, continuing the holy Ezra. historie from the returne of Iuda out of their captiuitie, vnto the time that the Temple and citie of Ierusalem was built, which was the space of 49 yeares; (to wit, from the first yeare of Cyrus to the twentith yeare of Darius the son of Ahashuerosh, whom it is thought Queen Ester bare vnto him: concerning which space of time vnto the building of the Temple fini­shed, read Daniel chap. 9. 25. where the Angel informed Daniel that it should be performed in the first seuen times seuen yeares, that is in 49 yeares) it reporteth the Storie in this order. Cy­rus King of Persia, proclaimed liberty to the Iewes to returne to their land; yea he gaue thē his princely incouragement and furtherance, towards the building of the Temple and citie of Ierusalem, for the worship of the true God of Israell, Ezra, chap. 1. And this no doubt he did with the consent of Darius, who was of the seed of the Medes, and was made King of the Chal­deans. These two kings and their kingdomes being confederate together in one monarchie, Dan. chap. 5. ver. 28. 31. and chap. 6. 1. 2. 3. 8. [Page 26] &c. and chap. 9. 1. 2. likewise Ester 1. 3. 19. So thē the Iewes in the second yeare of their com­ming, laid the foundation of the Temple, chap. 3. 8. Neuerthelesse shortly after they had done so, they were forthwith hindred from procee­ding in the worke of the Lord, by diuerse mali­cious aduersaries who laboured their hindrance to the vttermost of that they could any way pro­cure. The worke therfore stayed, euen from the third yeare of Cyrus, that it could not prospe­rously goe forward, vntill the second yeare of Darius the sonne of Ahashuerosh, of whom mention was made a litle before, Ezra chap. 4. vers. 5. 24. and Zacharie, chap. 1. 1. This second yeare of Darius, was the 32. yeare after the Iewes returne, as may easily be perceiued, in so much as the 19. year of the same Darius (which was the yeare before Nehemiah came in com­mission, for the finishing of the walles and gates of Ierusalem, Nehem. 1. 1.) it was the 49. after their returne; according to the speech of the Angell Gabriell to Daniel, alleadged before.

The reason of the hinderance of the Lords building, euen so soone after the gratious com­mission of Cyrus king of Persia, and Darius of the Medes, it seemeth to haue bene this; that Darius of the Medes dying shortly after, and Cyrus following his warres abroad; Artashasht the sonne of Cyrus (called of Greeke writers Cambyses) being king or Viceroy in peace at home, was willing to hearken to the accusation [Page 27] of the Iewes aduersaries: and so was Ahashue­rosh also after him. Ezra. ch. 4. 5. 6. 7. And this seemeth to be the cause of Daniels great griefe, ch. 10. 1. 2. 3. Moreouer the Iewes were too ea­sily discouraged, & of themselues ouer slothfull, as may appeare by the earnest reproofes which the Lord giueth thē by his holy Prophets. Hag. chap. 1. 1. 2. &c. and Zach. ch. 1. 1. 2. &c. Neuer­thelesse, so soone as they resumed the worke, and at the instigation of the Prophets, earnest­ly set vpon it; according to that we reade fur­ther, Ezra, chap. 5. 1. 2. by the singular mercie of God, they finde so gratious furtherance at the hands of Darius then king of Persia, euen in the second yeare of his reigne, and their labour so prospered, that the house of God was finished in the sixt yeare of his reigne, Ezra, chap. 6. 1. &c. verse. 15. And in the 7. yeare of the same Darius (called also Artashasht, king of Persia) Ezra commeth from him, furnished a fresh, as it were with a new supply; yea with a most large augmentation of the kings fauour and bountie, toward the people and house of God, Ezra 7. vers. 8. 9. &c. to the end of the chapter.

NEHEMIAH.

IN the twentith yeare of his reigne, the same Darius or Artashasht king of Persia, granteth Nehemi [...] Nehemiah a newe commission (for he is now [Page 28] Tirshatha or Commissioner from the king, cha. 8. 9. and chap. 10. 1. as was mentioned before) for the perfecting of the whole building of the Lord; whatsoeuer was wanting, concerning a­ny appurtenances to the Temple, or touching the walles and gates of the whole citie, Nehem. chap. 1. 1, &c. and chap. 2. 1. &c. The which ser­uice of perfecting & finishing the whole worke he did through the blessing of God, performe with all faithfulnesse, and singular expedition; that is, i [...] the space of 52 dayes, by the willing and industrious diligence of the thousands of Iuda. Thus wonderfully did the Lord from time to time, prosper his worke in the hands of his seruants, when they did earnestly set vpon it, contrarie to all the malignant indeuours of the wicked. Reade Nehem. 2. 17. & chap. 3. 1. &c. & chap. 6. 1. &c. 15. 16. And thus was the whole building of Ierusalem perfected at the end of the first seuen weekes of yeares, as was obser­ued before in Ezra.

Nehemiah hauing brought the outward buildings to this perfection, he remaineth still among the Iewes, a gratious Gouernour and foster-father of Gods Church and people, by the space of 12 yeares: that is, from the twen­tith yeare of Darius king of Persia, to the 32. yeare of his reigne. This Darius was the most bounteous benefactor which the Iewes euer had, amōg all the heathen Princes, vnder whose subiection they were. We may not altogether [Page 29] vnfitly, call him for honours sake, the Iewes Constantine. Reade Nehem. ch. 5. 14. From the time (saith Nehemiah) that the King gaue me charge to be Gouernour in the land of Iuda, from the twentith yeare euen to the 32. yeare of King Artashasht, that is twelue yeares: I and my brethren haue not eaten the bread of the Gouernour, &c. But rather I fortified a portion of the worke, &c. More­ouer there were at my table a hundreth and fiftie of the Iewes and rulers, which came vnto vs from a­mong the heathen, &c. Yea and though at the 32. yeare of Darius, Nehemiah left the Iewes, and returned to the king, who was then by a newe stile written king of Babell, Nehem. chap. 13. 6. yet so tender was his care ouer the people of God, and so zealous was he of Gods glorie; that he intreated leaue of the king to go to them againe. Which request also he obtained of him. How long this was after that he had left them, it is not expressed; neither yet how lōg he remai­ned with them, after he was come to them. On­ly this is specified, that hee renewed a worthie seruice among the people of God, to the great honour and glorie of God, and to the singular benefite of his people, in reforming the abuses, both of the house and Offices, and also of the Sabbath of the Lord. Read chap. 13. 7. &c.

And thus the Iewes the people of God, were in prosperous estate, and gratiously protected and blessed of God, vnder the reigne of the Per­sian kings, as these books of Ezra & Nehemiah [Page 30] do declare, for the better half of those hundreth and thirtie yearés, while their Monarchie (com­bined with the Medes) did continue. As tou­ching the latter part of their reigne, it may pro­bably be conceiued of vs, that the kings of Per­sia which succeeded, were no enemies to the people and true worship of God, which their predecessors had so gratiously fauoured & pri­uiledged: and the rather because of the troubles which arose vnto them from the Grecians, Dan. chap. 11. 2. 3. &c.

ESTER.

HEre, let vs in a few words note by the way, Ester. cōcerning the book of Ester, that though it be placed in order after the booke of Nehe­miah, yet the notable and verie memorable hi­storie of the Iewes wonderful deliuerance from the intended massacre of Haman described therein, was by most likelihood fulfilled in the time of the reigne of Ahashuerosh mentioned before in the second chap. of Ezra verse 6. (This Ahashuerosh in the booke of Ester and that A­hashuerosh in the booke of Ezra being all one) And the deliuerāce was wrought in the twelfth or thirteenth yeare of the kings reigne, as we read Ester chap. 3. verses 7. 13. In which history, note these speciall things: first. that God would by the great danger which fell vpon the Iewes, [Page 31] correct the slacknesse of them in returning to their owne land, out of those prophane nations: Secondly, that Gods mercie was wonderfull, in sparing of their liues. And last of all, the slack­nesse of the people that were already returned to Ierusalem, may hence be discouered, in that notwithstanding Mordecay after their deliue­rance was in high fauor with the king, and ve­ry carefull for his part, to procure the wealth of his people, Ester chap. 10. 2. 3. they did for all that, greatly foreslowe the building of the house of God, as we haue seene before. Thus much concerning the booke of Ester, without inter­ruptiō of the former course of the historie. Now let vs go forward to the rest of the 490 yeares, recorded before out of the prophesie of Daniel.

DANIEL.

VVE haue seene already from the books Q of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Ester, what Daniel. was the state of the Iewes for the former part of these 490 yeares of Daniel: and it may also be discerned frō Daniel himselfe. Wherein, though they had their troubles, yet it was rather prospe­rous, then aduerse and trouble some. But as tou­ching the middle part of the same 490 yeares; that is, from the time that Alexander of Mace­donia had subdued the Persians vnder the Gre­cians: the Iewes more & more corrupting their [Page 32] wayes, and the worship of God (as it is euident by the prophesie of Malachie the last of the pro­phets, whom God sent much about that time, or not long before, vehemently to reproue their most grieuous and enormious sinnes) they are through the iust iudgement of God, because of the hardnesse and impenitencie of their hearts, heauily afflicted, oppressed, and spoyled by sun­drie and diuerse heathen kings; specially, by the deuided successors of Alexander, compared to ten hornes, Dan. ch. 7. 24. whom also, in respect of the situation of Iuda, he partly calleth Sou­therne kings (namely those fiue Ptolomies, who successiuely ruled in Egypt) and partly he cal­leth them Northerne kings: of the which, three bare the name of Seleuchus, and foure were cal­led by the name of Antiochus, with some diffe­rence of Sir-names, who ruled in Syria, accor­ding to that which we reade Dan. ch. 8. and ch. 10. and chap. 11. The fulfilling of which prophe­sie, is plainely and plentifully testified by the re­cords of verie manie heathen Historio graphers, for the space of 149 yeares (whose writings are extant among vs) that is, from the beginning of the Grecian monarchy by Alexāder, to the end of the reigne of that most vile & barbarous per­secutor Antiochus Epiphanes; with whom Da­niel endeth his prophesie, touching the speciall afflictions of Iuda, chap. 11. verse 21. &c. to the end of the chapter. Reade also the first booke of Machabees, chap. 1. vers. 1. &c. After that Ale­xander [Page 33] the Macedonian, the son of Philip, went forth of the land of Chittim, and slewe Darius king of the Persians and Medes, and reigned for him, as he had before in Grecia, he tooke great warres in hand, &c. and verses 8. 9. 10. 11. So Ale­xander had reigned 12 yeares when he died. And his seruāts reigned euery one in his roome. And they all caused themselues to be crowned after his death, and so did their children after them manie yeares, and much wickednesse in­creased in the world. For out of these came the wicked roote, euen Antiochus Epiphanes the son of K. Antiochus, which had bene an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the 137. yeare of the kingdome of the Greekes. And chap. 6. 16. King Antiochus died in the 149. yeare.

Now concerning the last part of the 490 yeares of Daniel; that is to say, frō the miserable end of Antiochus in his reigne, to the death of our Sauiour Christ, which was the space of 211 yeares; the greater part was spent in the weak­ning and wasting of the Greeke monarchie, partly by the ill successe of their warres against Iuda, and partly by their wars among thēselues, according to the prophesie of Daniel, chap. 2. 41. 42. 43. 44. but chiefly by the Romanes, who altogether subdued them, according as Ezekiel prophesied that they should. Reade ch. 38. and chap. 39. These prophesies were fulfilled about threescore yeares before the seuentie seuens of Daniel were expired. For so many yeares passed [Page 34] from the vtter suppressing of the Grecians bro­ken Monarchie, and the end of those yeares. Now therefore, albeit Iuda (strengthened of God) did frō the end of vile Antiochus his reign, recouer their kingdome and gouernment, and obtained the free possession of the citie of God, by the mighty valour of Iudas Machabaeus (read 1. Machab. chap. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. &c. In his acts hee was like a Lion, &c. and ch. 6. vers. 58. 59. The heathen finding themselues to decrease dayly, they consent that the Iewes should liue after their law as they did afore, and they agree of peace. Read also 2. Machab. chap. 10. 1. 2. 3. &c. Machabaeus and his company through the help of the Lord wanne the Temple and the citie a­gaine, &c. and chap. 15. 38. Thus farre concer­ning Nicanors matters, and from that time the Hebrewes had the citie in possession.) And al­though the Romanes after they had gotten the souereigntie, did nothing against the religion of the Iewes; yet their estate, euen at the best, was full of miserie, by reason of the manifold corrup­tions of Gods worship among themselues, and because of their great wickednes in the course of their life, specially among their high Priests, leaders and guides. For they were of diuers sects both Pharisies and Sadduces, as we reade in the Gospell, yea and Essaei also, as other stories make mention. Wherunto the Prophet Zacharie hath respect, chap. 11. 8. where the Lord threateneth before hand, that he would cut off three Shep­heards [Page 35] in one moneth, in so much as his soule lothed them, &c. Which also came to passe, after they had shewed themselues obstinate and in­corrigible, euen to the reiecting of our Sauiour Christ. For hereby they prouoked God in the highest degree; and therefore he sent the Ro­mane armie in his wrath, to take their nation vt­terly away; as we are herafter further to obserue, concerning the proper time & season thereof.

And thus we are come to the end of the 490 yeares, comprended in the seuenty seuene of Daniel, chap. 9. 24. &c. Of the which, the first seuen times seuen years; that is, 49 yeares, were spent in the building of the Tēple; three yeares being reckened till the foundation was layd, & the other 46 before it could be finished: by rea­son of the great and often hinderances which the Iewes had, as hath bene declared before. Reade also Iohn 2. 20. Fortie & sixe yeares was this Temple a building. From thence were 67 seuens, that is, 434 yeares. And last of all, the Prophet reckeneth one seuen more; of the The appea­ring & ma­nifestation of Christ, as also the time of his death. which the latter halfe, that is, three yeares and a halfe, were appointed by God, to be the time from the Baptisme of our Sauiour Christ, which was at the thirtith year of his age, vnto his death, which was at the 4. Passouer, following after his baptisme. For so we reade, Luke chap. 3. verses 21. 22. 23. At his Baptisme (saith the Euange­list) he began to be about thirtie yeares of age. But [Page 36] concerning the Passcouers, in the times wher­of, our Sauiour Christ went vp to Ierusalem to the celebration of them; we haue only three ex­presly and by name mentioned, the first and third, only by the Euangelist Iohn, chap. 2. 13. The Iewes Passeouer was at hand, therefore Iesus went vp to Ierusalem. And againe, chap. 6. 4. Now the Passeouer a feast of the Iewes was neare. Neuerthelesse, the second Passeouer is mentio­ned by the same Euangelist, chap. 5. 1. After that there was a feast of the Iewes (saith S. Iohn) and Iesus went vp to Ierusalem, &c. This feast, as may be shewed by good reason, is most likely (if not altogether certaine) to be the second Passe­ouer. Consider of that which our Sauiour Christ spake in the fourth chap. verse 35. There are yet foure moneths, and then commeth haruest. Now at the Passe-ouer began the Iewes barley haruest: reade Exod. 9. 31. Leuit. 23. 6. 10. 11. 15. 16. and Deut. 16. 8. 9. And it seemeth to bee the same feast, mentioned Luke ch. 6. 1. Where­fore, seeing these words of our Sauiour Christ, Foure moneths, and then commeth haruest, were spoken after the first Passeouer, Iohn 2. yea at such time as our Sauiour Christ in his returning from Iudea into Galile, was now come to Sa­maria. Iohn chap. 4. 3. 4. 5. &c. And seeing there is no feast commanded in the law, whereunto our Sauiour should go vp to Ierusalem, within the space of foure moneths before haruest, vntil the Passe-ouer it selfe should come about; it sec­meth [Page 37] to followe by good reason, that the feast mentioned Iohn 5. 1. whereunto our Sauiour Christ went at the celebration thereof in Ierusa­lem, should be the Passeouer at [...] and no o­ther feast. And if the Passeouer [...] also it is the second, placed before that cha [...] [...] must be the thi [...]. Reade this point, [...] [...]ed and disputed by Chemnitius, i [...] [...] chap­ter of his Prolegomena before [...] of the Gospell. And as touching the last Passe­ouer, whereunto our Sa [...] Christ went vp at Ierusalem, all the Eua [...]gelists make expresse mention of it, [...]. Marke 14. 1. Luke. 22. 1. Iohn. chap. [...]. 55. & ch. 12. 1. & chap. 13. 1.

From the Creation of man to the death of our Sauiour [...] yeares 3966 by the former account.

FOr all the former numbers layd together; that is to say, 2368 yeare, which is the ex­tent R of the historie of Genesis: 146 of Exodus: 39 of Leuiticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomie: 17 of I oshua: 299 of the Iudges: 80 of the first booke of Samuell: 40 of the second booke of Samuel: 117 of the first booke of Kings: 345 of the second booke of Kings: 25 yeares of the second booke of Chronicles: 490 of Ezra, Ne­hemiah: and Daniell, to the death of our Sauior Christ: they all doe amount to this one generall summe, 3966.

From the birth of our Sauiour Christ to this present yeare of the same our Lord Iesus Christ his reigne, are 1600 yeares.

FRō this time; that is, since our Sauior Christ S came into the world; and chiefly from the The time of the ca­sting off of the Iewes. time of his most cleare manifesting of himselfe: the Iewes more & more corrupting their wayes and hardening their hearts to the vttermost a­gainst God, euen vnto the deniall & crucifying of the son of God: they haue for the same their extreme contempt & obstinacy, bin most iustly reiected and cast off, from being a people to the Lord. And for the same cause also, haue the citie and Temple of Ierusalem bene vtterly sub­uerted, and layd altogether waste by the Ro­manes; that is, by the furious armies of the Em­perour Titus, and Vespasian his sonne. This was about fortie yeares after the death of our Sauior Christ, agreeable to the prophesie of Daniell, ci­ted before, chap. 9. 26. 27. Read also Zacharie, chap. 14. 1. 2 And according as our Sauior him­selfe (he being yet among the Iewes) did fore­warne that it should come to passe, Matth. chap. 24. verses 15. 16. &c. 34. and Luke chap. 19. 43. 44. and chap. 21. 5. 6. 20. &c. 32. 33. And yet further also, according to their own feare, wher­of we reade Iohn 11. 48. The Romanes (say the Iewes) will come and take away both our place [Page 39] and the nation. The accomplishment hereof is plentifully recorded in the historie of Iosephus; howsoeuer, as we reade Act. ch. 6. 14. the Iewes could not abide to heare that it should fall out so. Neuerthelesse since the ascention of our Sa­uiour The time of the cal­ling of the Gentiles. Christ, which was fortie dayes after his re­surrection. Act. 1. vers. 1. 2. 3. And from Pente­cost, which was ten dayes after the same ascen­tion; euen immediately after that the extra­ordinary giftes of the holy Ghost were poured downe vpon the Apostles, Act. ch. 2. 1. 2, &c. the Gospell of Christes euerlasting kingdome and righteousnesse began to be preached, and did thenceforth spread it selfe more and more, from Ierusalem vnto all the nations of the earth, and Christ Iesus was beleeued on in the world, ac­cording to his owne appointment and promise. Act. 1. 4. 8. Thus the Lord destroying the ma­teriall Temple of Ierusalem, because of the sin and apostasie of the Iewes, who had profaned and polluted the same; he therewithall began forthwith to magnifie his rich mercie toward the Gentiles, in the erection of his spirituall Ie­rusalem among them, Ephes. 2. 13. &c. & 1. Pet. 2. 4. &c. according to the former prophesies of Dauid, Psal. 110. and Isai chap. 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. & Mi­cah, chap. 4. 1. 2. 3. Yet the Gospell was not so re­ceiued and beleeued among the Gentiles, but that it found great resistance, from the hand and power of the Romane Emperours, by the space of 300 yeares, vnder the reigne wel neare of 40 [Page 40] of them, (a very few excepted) euen from bloo­dy Nero, who raised the first cruell persecution [...]rch [...]ng [...]. against Christians, to the Emperours Maxentius & Licinius, with whom the tenth of those grie­uous and outragious persecutions of the primi­tiue Church, so famous in Ecclesiastic all stories, ended. These persecutions our Sauiour Christ himself partly foretold to all his Apostles before his death, Matt. chap. 10. ver. 16. 17. 18. and cha. 24. 9. and Luke ch. 21. 12. 13. But he reuealed the same more fully to his Apostle Iohn, after his ascention vp into heauen, in the time of the reigne of the Emperour Domitian, who raised the second persecution against Christians. In the which persecution, the Apostle Iohn himselfe was banished into the Ile Patmos; where hee had the same Reuelation shewed vnto him, for his owne comfort, and for the comfort of all the Churches of Asia in their afflictions. Reade the first foure chapters of the Reuelation. Read also chap. 6. and chap. 13. 1. 2. &c. 10. These hote per­secutions of the Christians (wherein the Gospel of Christ hath bene witnessed by the manifolde torments and deaths of many thousands of bles­sed martyrs) they continued vntill the time, that it pleased God to turne the hart of Constantine first, and then of some other of the Emperours after him, to beleeue and imbrace the Gospell of Christ: and so to become foster-fathers vnto his Church, according to the prophesie of Isaiah more then six hundreth years before it came to [Page 41] passe: as we read, chap. 49. the 23. verse.

And yet againe, euen in those times, wherein The peace of the church mi­xed with sundry af­flictions. Christian Emperours fauored the Gospell, the Churches were by another maner of affliction greatly molested; that is to say, by certaine verie dangerous heretikes & their bold sectaries, the Arrians, and diuers other: whereunto the Apo­stle had respect, in that he spake to the Elders of Ephesus, &c. Act. 20 30. Moreouer (saith Paule) of your owne selues shall men arise; speaking peruerse things to draw disciples after them. And 1. Cor. 11. 19. There must be heresies euen among you. &c.

And here withal also, Antichrist arose; that is to The rising of Anti­christ. say, a succession of ambitious wackedmen, affe­ct [...]ng superiority, yea aspiring after a souereigne rule and dominion in the Church, whom our Sa­uiour Mat. 24. 24. Luk. 21. 8. calleth false Chrisis (euen the same which began in the Apostles time, 2. Thes. 2. 7. The mystery of iniquity doth already w [...]rke. and 1. Ioh. 2. 18. & 3. op. ver. 9. 10.) This Antichrist; that is, this wicked sort of proud men, frō time to time abusing all that peace & prosperitie which God gaue to the Church by the fauour of the Chri­stian Emperours; it did growe apace: and now hath attained long since, to the height of that most abominable pride and presumption wher­unto it cunningly climed. So that thenceforth, (that is, from the time that Pope Boniface gate the supremacy, by the traiterous conspiracie of Phocas the murtherer, & so forth from the time of Gregorie the third, that stout maintainer of [Page 42] images against Leo the Greeke Emperour, yea against the expresse commandement of God himselfe) they haue sacrilegiously vsurped, and to this day for many hundreths of yeares, haue and do wretchedly abuse, both the seate of iu­stice, and also the chaire of religion; against all Christian kings and princes, and against all the people of God, yea against the verie throne of God himselfe, according as the Apostle Paule foretold that they would, 2. Thes. 2. vers. 3. 4. And the holy Angel to the Apostle Iohn, Reuel. chap. 17. and in other chapters before that, and namely chapter 13. from the 11. verse. So that the wicked Popes, as they haue bene more in number then the persecuting Emperours be­fore them, so haue they bene more cruell and noisome to all true Christians then they were, e­uer since the time they haue intruded thēselues into their seates, and chalenged a souereign [...]ie aboue them.

But blessed be God, who hath not only long ago foretold this rising, [...]ea swelling of Anti­christ. The fall of Antichrist. as it were from the bottomlesse pit, and likewise his fall: but also of his infinite mercie, le [...]eth vs now liuing, vnderstand of the begin­nings [...], yea and see with our eyes some gratious proceedings of the s [...] his fall, by the faithfull preaching of the Gospell: by the which he shall su [...]ly come to vtter ruine for euer, from the al­mighty and most glorious arme of the Lord, as it were from the highest heauen: according to [Page 43] that which we read, 2. Thes. chap. 2. 8. & Reu [...]. chapters 17. 18. 19. 20. For our Sauiour Christ The last iudgemēt. shall to the same end at the last day, appeare the second time from heauen, in his diuine glorie & maiestie to iudge the whole world.

Neuerthelesse, so will the Lord proceede in the wasting and ouerthrowing of Antichrist, & of the spirituall mysterie of iniquitie, that all true Christians must still, euen to the end of the world, prepare & arme themselues to manifold afflictions and trials: which will continually be incident to the Church of God, partly by the importunitie of subtile and contentious [...]re­tikes, the spitefull broode and frie of Antichrist, and partly by the crueltie of malicious and vio­lent aduersaries. For as there haue bene in the Church false Prophets in former times, so there will be false teachers still, who will priuily bring in damnable here [...]es, 2. Pet. 2. 1. &c. And the Apostle Paule telleth vs, that in the last dayes there shall come perillous times, 2. Tim. 3. 1. 2. 3. And our Sauiour himselfe affirmeth, that it must of necessity be, that many offences and stumbling blockes will be cast before vs, by the diuell and his instruments, to the end we might be hindred from making straight steppes in the way of the kingdome of God, so long as the world shall continue, Matth. 18. 7. and Iohn 14. 27. and Chap. 15. 18. &c. and ch. 16. 1. 2. 3. 33. But blessed is he (saith the same our blessed Saui­our) that shall not be offended in me. Luke 7. 23. [Page 44] Let vs therefore in the name of our good God, arme our selues with patience, that we may en­dure all afflictions necessarie, and [...]uerstride all needlesse offences, after the example of all good and wise seruants of God; and so constantly hold out without offence, vnto the day of Christ Iesus, who assureth vs in truth, that he will come quickly, Reuel. chap. 22. 20. Read also Matt. 24. 42. 44. and Luke chap. 12. 40. and 1. Thes. 5. 2. &c. Heb. 10. 37. and 2. Pet. 3. 8. 9. 10. and Reuel. 3. 3. and chap. 16. 15. Wherefore let vs pray in comfortable hope, and from a liuely faith, with the holy Apostle, Euen so, come quickely, Amen. Come Lord Iesus in thy due time.

Prophetes, such as were Patri­arches, or chiefe Fathers of the people of God, since the flood to the time of the Iudges, which was the space of more then 700 yeares.

ABraham was in his time a Prophet of the The secōd classis or cōpanie of Prophets. Lord; for so God himself testifieth of him, Gen. 20. 7. where he speaketh thus to Abime­lech king of Gerar: Deliuer the man his wise a­gaine, for he is a Prophet, and he shall pray for thee, &c.

Isaak prophesied that Esau, though he was his eldest sonne, should serue Iaakob the yoon­ger brother: to the end it might appeare, that the interest and right of the spirituall blessing and inheritance, commeth not by nature, but of free mercie and grace, Gen. chap. 27. 40. com­pared with Rom. 9. vers. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

Iaakob prophesied of the seuerall blessings, which he knew that God would a long time af­ter his death, bestowe vpon the twelue tribes or kindreds, which were to be the posteritie of the twelue Patriarches, his children. He prophesied also, that the Messiah should come of the tribe of Iudah. Gen. 49.

Ioseph foretold the dearth of seuen yeares, which God would send vppon the world, after seuen former yeares of plenty immediatly fore­running: and therefore he may well stand a­mong the Prophetes, as one in that number [Page 50] whereof the Lord speaketh, saying: Touch not mine annointed, and doe my Prophetes no harme. Psal. 105. 15.

Moses was a Prophet, most famous & migh­tie both in word and in deed, all the time of his ministerie and seruice to God, touching the de­liuerance of his people out of the bondage of Egypt; and also in respect of his gouernement afterward, Deut. ch. 18. vers. 18. and chap. 34. 10, 11, 12. and Act. 7. 22. Read also for a proofe of the excellent spirit of prophesie which was in him, the holy Songs and Psalmes which he hath left in writing, Exod. chap. 15. and Deut. 31. 22 and ch. 32. and Psal. 90. which according to the title thereof, is a Psalme which Moses the man of God did indite.

Miriam also the sister of Moses, was a Pro­phetesse in the same time that Moses liued. Exo. 15. 20.

Moreouer, in his dayes, God gaue the spirit of prophesie for a certaine season, to seuenty An­cients of Israel, al at one time: of the which num­ber Eldad and Medad had the same their extra­ordinary gift continued longer vnto them then had the rest, Numb. chap. 11. ver. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.

Balaam (though otherwise of a wicked mind, euen such a one as loued the wages of vnrighte­ousnesse, according to that marke, whereby the Apostle Peter brandeth him, 2. ep. 2. 15.) yet he was guided by the Spirit of God, to vtter a [Page 51] true and holy prophesie, concerning the hap­pie estate of Israel aboue all other people, vn­der the most gratious protection and blessing of God; and namely for that the Messiah, as it were a most bright starre, should arise from a­mong them, &c. Numb. chap. 23. and chap. 24. Wherefore, (albeit he was a wicked man) yet in so much as God vsed him as his instru­ment, inlightned for the time, to giue forth this so holy a prophesie; we may not altogether vn­fitly, rehearse him in this respect among the ho­ly Prophets of God.

Consider here, whether Heman and Ethan the Ezrahites, who wrote the 88. and the 89. Psalmes, were before Moses in time, as their Psalmes stand in order of number before his, in the booke of the Psalmes. Verily, if it may be affirmed, as some learned men doe iudge, and as it is very lik [...], that they were the same, of whom mention is made both 1. King. chap. 4. vers. 30. and also 1. Chron. chap. 2. vers. 6. that is to say, if they were the sonnes of Zarah, the neare posteritie of Iudah by Thamar, of whom we reade Genes. chap. 38. vers. 30. then also it is very likely, that they were before Moses; or at least his equalles in time, or short­ly after him. And so consequently their Psalmes specially that of Ethan, which is the 89. Psalme; it must needs from so ancient a time, be to be e­steemed an admirable prophesy cōcerning Da­uids annointing to the kingdom by Samuel, & [Page 52] his prosperous successe in obteining of the same 300 yeares at the least, before Dauid was born: (like as king Iosiah was by name prophesied of, as touching that which he should do, aboue 300 years before his birth, as we are afterward more exactly to obserue) & also concerning the affli­ctions of the Church bewailed therein, euen such afflictions as fell vpon it in the captiuity of Babylon, which fell out as long a time after that King Dauid was dead. But grant that they were that Heman and Ethan which are recorded, 1. Chron. 6. 33. and vers. 44. likewise chap. 25. ver. 4, 5, 6. concerning Heman, both which were yet of another tribe (that is of Leui) when those na­med, cap. 2. are of Iudah, as hath bene already shewed: but grant (I say) that they were those who liued not only in K. Dauids time, as being his Seets or Prophets (which yet is only sayd of Heman, 1. Chron. 25. 5. & that also in respect of his singing of Propheticall Psalmes such as king, Dauid indited & not because himselfe did pro­phesie.) Grant notwithstanding (I say againe) that they liued not onely in king Dauids time, but also in king Salomons dayes, yea that they suruiued him, and saw also (as some thinke) that miserable hauocke, which Shishak king of E­gypt made in the cities of Iudah, & in the house of God, the treasures whereof he caried away, &c. as we reade, 2 Chron. ch. 12. in the reigne of Rehoboam, after that Salomon was dead. Yet Ethans Psalme must needes be taken for a [Page 53] propheticall instruction touching a great part of it, as being fitted to be a monument for the direction of the Church, how to comfort it selfe and to bemone the owne calamitie, in the most doleful and distressed estate, which the Prophet by the Spirit of God foresaw, that it should after­ward fall into. So then, these two were indued with a notable gift of prophesie, although it be not granted that they were so ancient, as that they should be reckoned in this second classis or company of Prophets. Let vs proceed to the third company.

Prophetes, such as were in the time of the Iudges, and so forth to the beginning of the reigne of the Kings.

DEborah was a Prophetesse about 80 yeers The third classis or cōpany of Prophets. after the death of Ioshua. Iudges, chap. 4. 4. At that time Deborah a Prophetesse, the wife of Lapidoth iudged Israel. Reade her excellent song as it followeth in the fift chapter.

In the second chapter of the first book of Sa­muel, vers. 27. &c. A Prophet is sent to Eli to prophesie against him, his children, and poste­ritie, which was partly fulfilled, chap. 4. read also 1. Kin. chap. 2. 27.

All Israell from Dan to Beersheba knew that in the dayes of Eli, faithfull Samuel was the Lords Prophet. 1. Sam. 3. 20. He prophesied first [Page 54] against the sonnes and posterity of Eli, verses 11, 12, 13, &c. according to the prophesie of the man of God euen now mentioned, vnlesse ra­ther we vnderstand that to be written concer­ning Samuel himselfe. See Tremelius & Iunius in their annotations vpon that place. Read also Act. 3. 22.

Neither must Hannah the mother of Samu­el, be forgotten, when we speake of such wo­men, as God graced with his excellent gift of Prophesie: as her prayer and thanksgiuing gi­ueth vs to vnderstand, from the beginning of the second chapter of the first booke of Samuel. And the rather wil we iudge so, if we compare her speech with the thanksgiuing of the virgin Marie: for we shall perceiue, that Hannah was enlightened to haue a respect vnto Christ in her magnificent description of the most mighty po­wer of God, ioyned with his most rich and ten­der mercie, which also is the argument of the virgin Maries Magnificat.

In the time that Samuel annointed Saule to be [...]ing of Israell, mention is made of a compa­nie of Prophetes which prophesied: and that Saule himself a little while after he was annoin­ted, prophesied among them, 1. Sam. chap. 10. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. This prophesying no doubt, was an excellent kind of vttering the ex­cellent things of Gods spirituall kingdom, from the inlightening of the Spirit of God, according to the former groūds & principles of prophesie, [Page 55] contained in the bookes of Moses, which were read and studied among the people of God. Of this kind of prophesying, we read againe in the same first booke of Samuel, chap. 19. verses. 18, 19. &c. where it is written, that at Naioth in Ra­ [...]ah there was a companie of Prophets prophe­sying, and Samuel standing as one appointed o­uer them. And further, that the messengers which Saule sent to apprehend Dauid, were for the time, so heauenly affected with that which they hard, that they also brake forth to the mag­nifying of the name of God, for the same things which he reuealed to thē. This was done thrise by three seuerall companies of messengers, the one sent after the other. Last of all, Saule himself went to Rama, with an euil purpose against Da­uid; but the Spirit of God came vpon him also, so that he, laying aside his former mind, as well as his warlike weedes; he prophesied all that day, and all that night. Here we may see the most gratious and mightie power of the spirit of Prophesie, to affect & alter the minds of men, & to fill thē with spiritual ioy; although we cannot reckē all those for holy Prophets of God, who are thus sodainly affected with the spirit of Pro­phesie. Neuerlesse, by occasion hereof, and spe­cially because Saule for a time, was as a Pro­phet among the Prophets; let vs come to that company of true Prophets, whereof we are to make rehearsall, frō the beginning of the reigne of the kings of Iudah and Israell.

Prophetes, such as were from the beginning of the reigne of the kings of Iudah and Israel, the which we are to consider of, vnder ma­ny companies. But first concerning some of the Kings themselues.

KIng Dauid, whom the Prophete Samuel, at The fourth Classis o [...] [...]ōpany of Prophets. the commandement of God, annointed to be king ouer Israel next after Saul; he was him­selfe a most excellent Prophete of God. So it is testified of him, Act. 2. 30. &c. Seeing he was a Prophet (saith the Apostle Peter) and knew before that God had sworne, &c. he prophesied of the re­surrection of Christ, &c. yea, hee prophesied of the whole person and office of our Sauiour Christ, touching euerie degree, both of his hu­miliation, and also of his exaltation, as many of his Psalmes do plentifully declare. Read Psal. 2. Psal. 16. Psal. 22. Psal. 45. Psal. 68. Psal. 110. and many other. In K. Dauids reigne was the Pro­phet Nathan, 2. Sam. 7. 2. &c. & ch. 12. And the prophet G [...]d, who was called Dauids Seer, 2. Sam. 24. 11. and 2. Chron. 29. 25.

King Salomon was also a holy Prophete, as his bookes, the Prouerbes, Ecclesiastes, & the Song of Songs do excellently declare. In the thirtith chap. of his Prouerbes, the prophesie of Agur concerning Christ, vnder the names of Ithiel & Veal is recorded. It seemeth that his time was much about Salomons reigne. At the least his [Page 57] doctrine being of like excellencie with Salo­mons, and of like forme of teaching, it was ther­fore inserted and ioyned with his Prouerbes. And seeing the next chapter, which is the last of the Prouerbes, containeth a like notable do­ctrine, vttered by queene Bathsheba the mo­ther of King Salomon; we cannot but account it a royall monument of her Princely grace, in the rolle of Princely Prophets. And so will we go forward, to ouertake the troupes of those, which are marched band after band before vs.

Prophetes, such as God sent spe­cially to Iuda, and to the Kings thereof, after that the ten tribes were departed from them.

IN the reigne of Rehoboam, the sonne of king The fift Classis or cōpany of Prophets. Salomon, was Shemaiah the prophet, and also the prophet Iddo, mentioned 2. Chron. 12. 15. They wrote certaine bookes of publike acts & genealogies.

In the reigne of Asa, Azariah the sonne of Obed prophesied to the incouraging of king Asa, and of all Iuda and Beniamin, to continue faithfull to the Lord; he assuring them, that then the Lord would be with them, to defend them against all their enemies, 2. Chron. 15. 1. &c. 8. But chap. 16. 7. &c. Hanan [...] the prophet is sent of God, to reproue the same king Asa, for ma­king a couenant of league and truce with the [Page 58] king of Aram.

In the reigne of king Iehoshaphat, prophe­sied Iehaziel the sonne of Zechariah, to incou­rage Iehoshaphat and the people of Iuda, in hope of their victorie against those mightie ar­mies of the Ammonites and Moabites, and of mout Seir, which came out against thē, 2. Chro. chap. 20. ver. 1, 10, 14, &c. But in the end of the same twentith chap. Eliezer the sonne of Dode­uah, of Maresha, he prophesied to the reproofe of Iehoshaphat, because he had ioyned himselfe with Ahaziah, a wicked king of Israel: the pro­phet plainly telling Iehoshaphat, that the Lord would therfore surely breake his shippes, which he had made and prepared to go to Tarshish.

In the reigne of king Ioash, Zechariah the fonne of Iehoiada the priest, as also other Pro­phets of God, prophesied against the declining of the king and the people, after the death of Iehoiada; but they most outragiously stoned Zechariah to death, in the court of the Lords house, 2. Chron. 24. 19, 20, 21, 22. and Matth. chap. 23. 34. 35.

In the reigne of king Ahaz, prophesied Oded a prophete of the Lord, to the reproofe of the crueltie of Israel, at that time committed against Iuda, 2. Chron. 28. 9. &c.

The prophet Isaiah prophesied in the reigne of many kings; that is to say, in the dayes of Vz­ziah, Iotham, Ahaz, & Hezekiah, kings of Iuda, chap. 1. 1. He prophesied so plainly of Christ; [Page 59] of his Deitie, of his humanitie, that he should be borne of a virgin, &c. finally, that he should die for the sinnes of his people, & make a conquest ouer all their enemies, for their perfect deliue­rance, &c. that he may not vnfitly be called an Euangelicall Prophet. He continued prophesi­ing by the space of about threescore yeares.

About the time that Isaiah began to prophe­sie, it is supposed that Ioel vttered his prophesie, against Ierusalem and Iudah, for the same their great and grieuous sinnes, against the which I­saiah crieth out in the beginning of his Prophe­sie, Heare ô ye heauens, &c. He foretold the gifts of the holy Ghost, which our Sauiour Christ should bestow vpon his Church, chap. 2. 28, 29. The which how it hath bene fulfilled, read Act. 2. 14, 15, 16, &c. and in many other places of that booke.

The Prophet Ieremiah, prophesied in the reigne of king Iosiah, from the thirteenth yeare of his reigne, to the end of the eleuenth yeare of Zedekiah, in the fift moneth of the second captiuity, Ier. 1. 2. 3. So he prophesied at the least 41 yeares, if not something more. He prophesi­ed of our Sauiour Christ, that he should be the righteousnesse and saluation of his people. Hee foretold and constantly affirmed against manie false Prophetes, the seuentie yeares captiuitie of Iudah, vnder the king of Babel for a punishmēt of their sinnes.

Zephaniah also prophesied in the reigne of [Page 60] king Iosiah; but continued not so long as Iere­mia did, chap. 1. 1. He earnestly calleth for the repentance of the people, and foretelleth the calling of the Gentiles, which should come to passe in the dayes of the Gospel, chap. 3.

Moreouer, in the reigne of Iosiah, was Hul­dah that excellent Prophetesse, to whom Iosiah sent for counsell & comfort: of whom we read 2. King. 22. 14.

The Prophet Ezekiel, prophesied from the fift yeare of the first captiuitie, which began at the fourth yeare of Iehoiakim, chap. 1. vers. 1. 2. he had manie notable visions, and laboured mightily with the people, both by doctrine & example; that they might humble themselues vnder the hand of God, and profite by so great a visitation and punishment, as their captiuitie was, which most iustly fell vpon them for their grieuous sinnes. He prophesied also many nota­ble things concerning the kingdome of Christ to come.

In the reigne of Iehoiakim also prophesied Urijah, according to the words of Ieremiah: for the which cause Iehoiakim put him to death. Reade Ierem. chap. 26. 20, 21, 22, 23.

Daniel being caried into captiuity, with the first, in his young yeares, was shortly after indu­ed with a singular gift of prophesie, and prophe­sied in the captiuitie, euen to the end of the 70 yeares thereof, chap. 1. 3. 6. and chap. 9. 1, 2, &c. He interpreted the dreames and visions of Ne­buchadnezzar [Page] and Belshazzar. He himself saw manie holy visions, according to the which hee foretold the alterations of states and kingdoms, which should fall out in the world, vntill the cō ­ming of Christ in the flesh. He prophesied also of the verie time of Christ his death, and of that horrible destruction which was to come vpon Ierusalem, by the Romanes, as a iust vengeance vpon the Iewes, for abusing their power, to cru­cifie the Lord of life & glorie, which was as the filling vp of the measure of all their other sins, and rebellions against the Lord their God, Dan. chap. 2. and chap. 4. and chap. 7. &c.

Haggai and Zechariah, two very notable pro­phetes, they prophesied to the people of Iudah, after their returne out of captiuitie, to stir them vp to the building of the Temple, after that it had for too long a time, bene ouer-carelesly neglected of them; while in the meane season, they were double-diligent in the garnishing of their owne houses. Read Ezra chap. 5. 1, 2. and Hag. ch. 1. 1. &c. and Zech. chap. 1. 1. &c.

Ezra himselfe may worthily be reckened of vs, among the excellent and most holy and wise Prophets of God, as the bookes of holy Scrip­ture which he wrote, do euidently declare. And these were the Prophetes, which God of his great mercy and goodnesse, sent more specially to Iudah and the kings thereof, after that the ten tribes were departed from them.

Prophetes which the Lord sent to the tenne tribes of Israel, and to the Kinges thereof, after that they were departed from the tribe of Iudah.

VVE may not vnfitly begin this com­pany [...]he sixth [...]assis or [...]pany of [...]rophets. of holy Prophetes, with Ahijah the Shilonite, of whom we read, 1. King. chap. 11. 29. &c. He is that Prophet whom the Lord sent to prophesie vnto Ieroboam the son of Nebat, that it was the purpose of God to rend the king­dome out of the handes of Salomon; & to make him king ouer ten tribes of Israell. This was the iudgement of God against the sin of Salomon and of the people, in his latter time, for that they forsooke the Lord, and worshipped the idols of the heathen, as it followeth in the same eleuenth chapter vers. 33. The accomplishment of which prophesie, reade in the very next chapter, euen shortly after the Prophesie was vttered to Iero­boam, read chap. 12. ver. 15. &c.

In the reigne of this Ieroboam, in so much as he, contrary to the will and commandement of God, set vp idolattie to serue his owne wicked deuise and policie, for the preuenting of the pebples reuolt, which he suspitiously scared: the Lord therefore sent a Prophere out of Iu­dah, vnto Bethel in Israel, the chiefe place of his new erected idolatrie, euen at such time as he himselfe was dedicating the altar which he [Page 63] had made, chap. 12. 26. &c. 33. And the Pro­phete prophesying against his idolatrie, telleth Ieroboam, standing by his altar to offer incense, that a child should be borne to the house of Da­uid, Iosiah by name, who should breake down his altar, and destroy the Priests of his high pla­ces, ch. 13. 1. &c. The accomplishment whereof reade 2. King. ch. 23. 15, &c. 20. This Prophe­sie did the Prophet giue forth about three hun­dreth and thirtie yeares before king Iosiah was borne. This Prophet was he, who harkening to the lye of that old Prophet of Bethel, was for his transgressing of Gods commandement, in that he eat and dranke in the place, wherof God had said vnto him, Thou shalt neither eat nor drink: he was therefore killed in the way, by a Lyon which met him. Neuerthelesse, as it may seeme, for a monument of Gods mercie in forgiuing the sin of this Prophet, he restrained the Lyon from deuouring his body; as it is recorded in the same 13. chapter. Reade also 2. King. 23. 17. 18.

In the reigne of the same Ieroboam, the an­cient Prophet Ahijah of Shilo, who at the begin­ning told Ieroboam, that he shold be king ouer the ten tribes of Israel; he is now afterward, to­ward the end of his wicked & idolatrous reigne (euen then when Ahijah could not see, through the decay of his sight by reason of age) the mi­nister of God, to prophesie against Ieroboam and his posteritie, 1. King. chap. 14. 2. 4. &c. 18. [Page 64] This was fulfilled after that Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam had reigned two yeares. For Baasha conspired against Nadab, and slew him first, & thē also he smote all the house of Ieroboam, ac­cording to the word of the Lord, which he spake by his seruant Ahijah the Shilonite. So we reade chap. 15. vers. 27. 29.

In the dayes of king Baasha, who began his reigne ouer Israel, in the third yeare of Asa king of Iuda; Iehu the sonne of Hanani prophesied a­gainst Baasha, like as the former two Prophetes had prophesied against Ieroboam, 1. King. 16. 1. &c.

In the dayes of Ahab, who began his reigne ouer Israel, in the 38. yeare of Asa king of Iuda, prophesied Elijah that mightie Prophete of the Lord, against Ahab & his posteritie. 1. King. 17. &c. He reduced the people of Israel to the ac­knowledgement of the true God of Israel. He prophesied likewise, by writing against Ieho­ram the son of Iehoshaphat, who left the good waies wherin his father had walked, & followed the wicked wayes of the kings of Israel. For as the holie Storie saith, he had the daughter of A­hab to wife; and he wrought euill in the eyes of the Lord, and compelled Iudah so to do. Wher­fore the Lord by his Prophet Elijah, sent a grie­uous prophesie, threatening fearefull diseases and a horrible death against him; which also tooke effect, as we read 2. Chron. 21.

Michaiah also, the sonne of Imlah, prophesied [Page 65] against wicked king Ahab, 1. King. 22. And be­fore him, another Prophet, whose name is not expressed, chap. 20. 41, 42. But verses 13. 14 22. and verses 28, 29. God sent a Prophete to prophesie vnto him his double victorie ouer the great armie of the Aramites.

In the reigne of Iehoram the sonne of Ahab. and so forth vnto the reigne of Ioash the sonne of Iehu, prophesied Elisha the prophet, who suc­ceeded Elijah in Israel, 2. King. chap. 3. &c. and ch. 13. vers. 14. &c. But before Elisha had recei­ued of the Spirit of Elijah; the children of the Prophetes, both they of Bethel, and other which were at Iericho, prophesied that God would in extraordinarie maner take away Eli­shaes master, that is Eljiah from him. 2. King. chap. 2. 3. 5.

In the reigne of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioash prophesied Ionah the sonne of Amittai, who was of Gath Hepher, 2. King. 14. 25. This was the same Ionah, whom the Lord sent about the mid dle time of the reigne of Ieroboam, to prophe­sie against Nineueh: as we shal see further anon.

Prophetes, vvhich prophesied more iointly, both cōcerning Iuda, & also concer­ning Israel, after their separation: yea, and some of thē, euen after the captiuities of either of them. The se [...] classis o [...] cōpany Proph [...]

HOsea prophesied, in the reigne of the same kings of Iudah, when Isaiah prophesied; to [Page 66] wit, in the dayes of Vzziah, Iotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, with whom also are mentioned, the dayes of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioash king of Israell, chap. 1. 1. of his prophesie; to the end that Israel might the rather be admonished, that his Prophesie belonged to them, as [...]el as it did vnto Iudah, for the reproofe of their sinnes, & for the comfort of either of them, if they would re­pent, and lay hold of the promises of the gospel, which he by the spirit of prophesie, published, as belonging to them both.

In the reigne of the same Vzziah king of Iu­dah, and in the the reigne of Ieroboam the son of Ioash king of Israel, two yeares before the earthquake; which was not long after the be­ginning of the reigne of Vzziah; the Prophet Amos prophesied, concerning Iudah and Is­rael, though chiefly and for the most part con­cerning Israel, chap. 1. 1. &c. He prophesied particularly against Amaziah, that malignant and proud priest of Bethel, chap. 7. He pro­phesied also of the destruction of Ierusalem and of the captiuitie, and restoring of the peo­ple of Iudah and Israel. Finally, he prophesied of the calling both of the Iewes and Gen­tiles, saying: God will raise vp the tabernacle of Dauid, &c. ch. 9. 1, &c. 11. For the performance of which Prophecie, reade the testimonie of the Apostle Iames Act. chap. 15. verses 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Simeon hath declared, how God did first visite the Gentiles, to take of them a people [Page 67] to his name. And to this agree the words of the Prophete, as it is written: After this I vvill re­turne and build againe the tabernacle of Dauid, which is fallen downe, &c. that the residue of men might seeke after the Lord, and all the Gentiles vp­pon whom my name is called, saith the Lord which doth all these things. And the Apostle addeth, From the beginning of the world God knoweth all his vvorkes.

In the reigne of Iotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah kings of Iudah, prophesied the Prophet Micah, the Morashite, concerning Samaria and Ierusa­lem, chap. 1. 1. He plainely foretold the place where our Sauiour Christ should be borne, & that his kingdome shall be ouer all and for euer chap. 5. 1, 2, &c.

Malachi, the last of the Prophetes of the old testament; he prophesied after that the Temple & citie of Ierusalē were reedified by Zerubba­bel and Ieshua, and by the great helpe of Ezra and Nehemiah: and after that the people had exceedingly corrupted, both the worship of God, and also their owne liues and conuersa­tions, as the Prophesie it selfe doth declare. He foretolde the comming of our Sauiour Christ into his Temple, and of the comming of Iohn Baptist before him, vnder the name, and by the mightie Spirit of Elijah, that greate Prophete of God: who (as the Prophete Isaiah had prophesied manie yeares before, chap. 40. verse 3, &c.) was a cryer in the wildernesse [Page 68] to call forth the people to come out to him; but did not go to the Temple, as Malachie prophe­sied, that our Sauiour Christ should. Reade the third chapter of his Prophesie, verses 1, 2, 3, 4. & chap. 4. 1. &c. And that his Prophesie concer­ned not onely Iudah, but also all the rest of the scattered tribes of Israel, it may appeare both by the words of the beginning of his Prophesie, ch. 1. ver [...]. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. and chap. 2. 11. and also the same may be euiden [...] from the conclusion, ch. 4 verses 4, 5, and 6.

Prophetes, vvhich prophesied more sp [...]ially concerning forreigne nations.

IOnah was in speciall maner sent of God to [...]e eighth [...]is or [...]panie [...]. prophesie against Nineueh, that great and chiefe citie of the Assyrians; by whose Prophe­sie the citie was moued to repentance. The time when he prophesied was noted before.

The Prophet Nahum also prophesied against Nineueh; but after that time, wherein Ionah prophesied; and when they had left off to doe the workes of their former repentance.

Obadiah prophesied against Edome: yea, & generally against all nations, the enemies of Gods Church; that they should drinke of the cup of Gods wrath.

Habakk [...]k [...]rophesied against the Chaldeans, when their hearts were lifted vp, by their victo­ries [Page 69] against the Assyrians; and when their sinnes were growne vp neare to the full. But he pro­phesieth saluation to all the faithfull, whosoeuer shall beleeue in the name of Christ. For the iust (as he saith) shall liue by his faith, chap. 2. 4. Read also his propheticall prayer in the third chapter.

Prophetes of the newe Testament.

THe Prophesie of the new Testament, is in­deed, The last classis or cōpanie of Prophets. rather a most cleare, lightsome, & full interpretatiō of all former Prophesies of the old Testament, then any prediction or foretelling of things to come, except the rising and fall of Antichrist: yet because euen the things hereto­fore fore-told, are more clearly & fully reuealed by the brightnesse of the Gospel; therfore in ei­ther respect, both of interpretation, and predi­ction, the new Testament must be allowed to haue the honour of Prophetes, as wel as the old.

The Prophetes therefore in the newe Testa­ment, were first of all, those which prophesied immediately before, and at the birth of our Sa­uiour Christ. Immediatly before, first Elizabeth conceiued with Iohn the Baptist, Luk. 1. 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. And then the Virgin Marie, concei­ued with our Sauiour Christ, by the holy Ghost: in the same chapter, verses, 46, 47, &c. 55. Thus was the conception of our Sauiour honored by [Page 70] the spirit of Prophesie. And it pleased God to honour women, as it were with the first fruites of this grace of the Gospell in their hearts, like as it pleased him to vse them as his honourable instruments, to serue for the manifestation of Christ himselfe, the matter and argument of the whole mysterie of the Gospell. Thirdly Zacha­rie; whom vnbeleefe bereaued of the honour, to be the first: he prophesied both of the high of­fice of Iohn, and of the diuine person of our Sauiour Christ at the birth of Iohn, in the same chap. vers. 67, &c. to the end of the chap.

The Prophetes which prophesied at the birth of Christ (that we may omit the Angels, whom we cannot properly call Prophets, though at this time they did prophesie; that is, in most excel­lent wise lay forth the singular causes of ioy, which came to the world, by the birth of a Sa­uiour, euen Christ the Lord) let vs come to the Shepheards, to whom the Angels appeared, to certifie them of the birth of Christ, whom we may more boldly call by the name of Prophets, seeing no doubt after they had seene Christ, they were for the time indued with an excellent spirit of Prophesie, to publish abroad that which was told them of that child, euen to the wonder­ment of all that heard them. Luke chap. 2. 16, 17, 18. Such were the Prophets more immedi­ately before, and at the birth of our Sauiour Christ.

Now secondly, touching those that prophe­sied [Page 71] somewhat longer after the birth of our Sa­uiour: we will not make any great scruple to lend the name of Prophetes to the Magi or Sa­ges and wise men, which came out of the East, to worship our Sauiour, shortly after his birth: For if they had not bene inlightned by the spirit of Prophesie in some measure, they could neuer haue bene sufficiently incouraged by the starre, to haue gone so great a iorney to seeke Christ, as they did; or boldened enough, in a strange nation to inquire of him so vndoubtedly, as they did, in that they asked; Where is the king of the Iewes which is borne? For we haue seene his starre in the East, and we are come to worship him, Mat. 2. 2. And much lesse, after they had found him in poore & contemptible estate, would they haue offered their gifts or presents, as testimonies of their spirituall homage; if they had not bin con­firmed in their perswasion, by the holy spirit of God. vers. 10. 11. After these Magi, prophesied Simeon, at the presentation of our Sauior Christ in the Temple, Luke 2. 25. &c. 35. And imme­diately after Simeon, Anna, a verie ancient Prophetesse, vttered her prophesie, confessing Christ, so acknowledged of Simeon, to be in truth the Lord. verses 36, 37, 38. Thus, euen at the beginning of the appearance of our Saui­our, he was acknowledged by the Spirit of pro­phesie.

When the time came that he should be more fully manifested to all Israel, which was, when [Page 72] he was about thirtie yeares of age. Luke 3. 23: Iohn the Baptist being a Prophet, yea greater then a Prophet, Luke 7. 26. He did not onely point Christ out personally, when hee shewed himselfe; but he preached assuredly, that he should shew himselfe before he had seene him: & therefore baptized the people into his name, who should shortly shew himselfe to be the Sa­uiour, among them.

As touching our Sauiour himselfe, we know that he was the Prince of Prophets, most migh­tie in word and deed, to whom all the Prophets giue witnesse: and whom God promised to raise vp, as one, of whom Moses was but a certaine figure and type, Luke chap. 24. verse 19. and verses 25, 26. 27. Read also Deut. chap. 18. 15. Act. 3. 22. 23. 24. and chap. 10. 38. 43. He hath reuealed most clearely the secretes of the king­dome of heauen, euen from the bosome and counsell of the Father. Isai. chap. 9. 6. Iohn. 1. 18. By his Spirit all the former Prophetes prophe­sied according to that which is written concer­ning Noah. 1. Pet. 3. 18, 19, 20. He foretold the destruction of Ierusalem, which accordingly came to passe: as also, that many Antichrists should rise vp, as since they haue done, & name­ly in the succession of the Antichrist of Rome: and finally, that he will come againe at the last day, to iudge the world: which shall as certain­ly be perfourmed in due time by him, as anie thing which he hath foretold, is already accom­plished, [Page 73] in the season thereof.

Finally, after the ascension of our Sauiour Christ vp into heauen; from the which time the gifts of the holy Ghost were aboundantly pou­red downe vpon the Church: many were fur­nished with the gift of Prophesie: for so we read Ephes. 4. 11. He gaue some to be Apostles, & some Prophetes, &c. See the proofe of it, Act. chap. 11. 27, 28. In those dayes came Prophetes from Ierusa­lem to Antiochia. Of the which, one named Agabus, foretold the great famine, which came vpon all the world vnder Claudius the Emperour. The same Agabus foretold the afflictions of Paule, Act. 21. 10. 11. And in the same chapter vers. 8. 9. Saint Luke reporteth, that Philip the Euangelist had foure daughters which did prophesie. Reade a­gaine chap. 19. 6. Paule layd his hands on cer­certaine Disciples of Ephesus, and they spake with tongues and prophesied.

The Apostle Paule himselfe, by the spirite of prophesie, foretold the time of the rising of Antichrist; & that he should fall againe, 2. Thes. chap. 2. So doth the Apostle Iohn in the booke of the Reuelation, chap. 17. where also, he no­teth out the place and seat of Antichrist, by such a descrption of it, as agreeth only to Rome. Yea in that booke he describeth very liuely the af­flictions of the Church, such as should fall vpō it, euen to the end of the world. And last of all, how glorious the estate thereof shall be thence­forth, when Christ shal once haue perfected the [Page 74] mariage betwixt himselfe and it. And thus the whole Prophesie of the holy Scriptures is with that propheticall booke sealed and shut vp. Re­uel. chap. 22. 18. 19. 20. 21.

The Conclusion.

THis constant spirit of Prophesie, as it were the lode-starre or haruenger of time; and the certaine performance of all things in their proper seasons, euen as they were foretold; as well the more particular, as the more ge­nerall Prophesies, and that also concerning all forreigne and heathen nations, as wel as con­cerning Iudah and Israell: according as holy­men of God spake, not of priuate motion, but as they were moued and guided by the holy Ghost, as the Apostle Peter testifieth, 2. ep. ch. 1. 20, 21. (Inso much as we may say generally, ac­cording to that we reade, Amos 3. 7. Surely the Lord hath done nothing but he hath reuealed his se­cret to his seruants the Prophets.) And chiefly the constant foretelling & performance of al things concerning Christ Iesus our Lord, and his king­dom; concerning euery part of his humiliation, and the whole glorie which was to followe, ac­cording as the Prophetes are said to haue sear­ched into these things 1. Pet. 1. 10. 11. This con­stant and certaine spirit of Prophesie (I say) giuē to the Church, from time to time, for the clea­ring [Page 75] & confirming of that foundation of all pro­phesie, which God himselfe had layd from the beginning, as was sayd before, and which wee reade of Gen. 3. 15. &c. in that he hath by his owne voyce published, that the seed of the womā should breake the serpents head: according also to that which is written, that God is the father of Prophetes, and that his Spirit is the Spirit of pro­phesie, 1. Sam. 10. 5, 6, 10, 11, 12. and chap. 19. 20. &c. It is an infallible confirmation of the truth of our Christian religion, and of the cer­taintie of Gods determinate counsell, and most vigilant prouidence in the continuall ordering and gouerning of his Church, and all the holie affaires and ordinances giuen vnto it, from the beginning to the end; according to that which the Lord himselfe saith, Isai 46. 9. 10. Remem­ber the former things of olde: for I am God and there is no other God, and there is no king like me. Who declareth the last thing from the beginning: & from of olde, the things that were not done, saying: My counsell shall stand, and I will doe whatsoeuer I will. And as the Apostle Iames saith, as was al­leadged before, Act. 15. 18. From the beginning of the world God knoweth all his works: that is to say, he so knoweth them, that he hath a care to ac­complish and performe them, euerie one in the time and season thereof, according to his owne counsell and appointment with himselfe.

And now further, let vs diligētly obserue, that the certainty of al things already accomplished, [Page 76] according to the prophesies formerly giuē forth of them, ought to be a like vndoubted confir­mation of our faith, in the assured expectation of all things foretold, whatsoeuer the holy scrip­tures certifie vs to be yet vnfulfilled. Such as are the full consumption and abolishment of An­tichrist, by the brightnesse of the Lords com­ming 2. Thes. 2. 8. That the Lord will from time to time call home his full number, both of the lost Iewes, and also of the Gentiles to the faith and saluation of Christ, euen to the end of the world Rom. 11. 25. &c. and Matth. 24. 31. That there shal be a general resurrection of the dead; & a generall iudgement vpon all men, either to perpetuall woe and misery, or to eternall happi­nesse and glorie, Mat. 25. 31.

The vse of which our faith and perswasion, & of the whole ground & warrantise therof, ought finally, and for our full conclusion, to be this; that we being afore hand made priuie to all these holy secretes of God, & being in vndoub­ted expectation of the fulfilling of thē, & chiefly of the comming of our Sauiour Christ to iudge­ment; should according to the most holy in­struction of the Gospell, both learne and pra­ctise more and more to denie all vngodlines & worldly lusts, and to liue soberly, and iustly, and godly in this present world. Tit. 12. 1. 12. &c. God of his infinite mercie vouchsafe vs his grace so to do, euen for the same our Lord Iesus Christs sake.

Amen.