Tobit, in The Douay Old Testament (1609–1610)

The book of Tobias (Tobit): the piety of Tobias in the Assyrian captivity and the journey of his son with the angel Raphael. This is Tobit as it stands in the first tome of the Douay Old Testament (Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1609), the English College of Douai’s Catholic translation from the Latin Vulgate, in its original spelling. The page gives the matter that the edition prints at the head of this part of the Old Testament, the edition’s Argument of the book, every chapter with its printed summary, the verse text and the marginal notes and the Annotations.

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⟨illegible⟩ were accepted for canonical in the primitiue Church. But in deede the chiefe cauſe is, [Margin: 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 [Margin: 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 [Margin: 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 [Margin: 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 [Margin: 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 [Margin: Bookes doubted of beiore the Churches definition are not doubtful after.] were; but ſince the Churches declaration no Catholique doubteth. So S. Ierom [Margin: 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 [Margin: De viris illuſtrib. verbo. ⟨illegible⟩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.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF TOBIE.

BESIDES the teſtimonies of Councels and Fathers before mentioned, S. [Margin: 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, ⟨illegible⟩. 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. [Margin: chap. 1⟨illegible⟩ ▪] 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 [Margin: Toma 4. ⟨illegible⟩ in ⟨illegible⟩. Reg. 10.] this whole booke myſtically, as he doth other holy Scriptures. S. Ierom tranſlated [Margin: It was written in Chaldee.] it out of the Chaldee language, wherein it was written, iudging it more ⟨illegible⟩e⟨illegible⟩e to diſpleaſe the Phari⟨illegible⟩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 [Margin: The cōtentes.] contentes at large. And S. Auguſtin (li. queſt. ex v⟨illegible⟩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. [Margin: 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.

THE BOOKE OF TOBIAS.

Chapter 1

CHAP. I. Tobias of the tribe of Nephthali, neuer communicateth in Ierobams ſciſme. 9. [Margin: 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⟨illegible⟩. Is perſecuted and ſpoyled. 24. Shorty the king being ſlaine, he recouereth libertie and his goodes. [Margin: The firſt part. Tobias his holie maner of life.]

1 TOBIAS of the tribe, and cirie of Nepthali (which is in the vpper partes of Galilee aboue Naaſlon, beyond the way, that leadeth to the weaſt, hauing on the right hand the citie Sephet)

2 when he was captiue in the daies of Salmanaſar the king of the Aſlyrians, yet being in captiuitie, he forſooke not the way of truth,

3 ſo that he imparted al things that he could make, dayly to his brethren captiues with him, which were of his kinred.

4 And whereas he was yonger then al the tribe of Nephthali, yet did he no childiſh thing in his worke.

5 Finally when [::] al went to the golden calues, which Ieroboam the king of Iſrael had made, he alone fled the companies of al,

6 and went into Ieruſalem to the temple of our Lord, and there adored our Lord God of Iſrael, offering faithfully al his firſt fruites, and his tithes,

7 ſo that in the third yeare he miniſtred al the tithing to the proſelytes, and ſtrangers.

8 Theſe thinges and the like to theſe did he obſerue being a childe according to the law of God.

9 But when he was a man, he tooke to wife Anna of his owne tribe, and he begat a ſonne of her, geuing him his owne name,

10 whom from his infancie he taught to feare God, and to abſtayne from al ſinne.

11 Therfore when by the captiuitie he was come with his wife and ſonne into the citie of Niniue, with al his tribe, (

12 when al did eate of the meates of the Gentiles) he kept his ſoule, and neuer was contaminated in their meates.

13 And becauſe he was mindful of our Lord in al his hart, God gaue him grace in the ſight of Salmanaſar the king,

14 and he gaue him leaue to goe whitherſoeuer he would, hauing libertie to doe what thinges ſoeuer he would.

15 He therfore went to al that were in the captiuitie, and gaue them holeſome admonitions.

16 And when he was come into Rages a citie of the Medes, and had ten talentes of ſiluer of theſe wherwith he had beene honoured of the king:

17 and 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.

18 But after much time, Salmanaſar the king being dead, when Sennacherib his ſonne reigned for him, and eſtemed the children of Iſrael odious in his ſight:

19 Tobias dayly went through al his kinred, and conforted them, and diuided to euerie one, as he was able, of his goods:

20 the hungrie he nouriſhed, and to the naked he gaue clothes, and the dead, and them that were ſlayne, he buryed carefully.

21 Finally when king Sennacherib was returned 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.

22 But when it was told the king, he commanded him to be ſlayne, and tooke al his ſubſtance.

23 But Tobias fleing with his ſonne and with his wife, nakedly lay hid, becauſe manie loued him.

24 But after fourtie fiue dayes the king was ſlayne of his owne ſonnes,

25 and Tobias returned into his houſe, and al his ſubſtance was reſtored to him.

Marginal notes to Chapter 1

• 5 [::] Not abſolutly al, but very manie: for ſome of the ſame tribe and kinred did alſo feare God. c. ⟨illegible⟩. v. 2.

Chapter 2

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.

1 BVT after theſe thinges, when there was a feſtiual day of our Lord, and a good dinner was made in Tobias houſe,

2 he ſayd to his ſonne: Goe, and bring ſome of our tribe, [::] that feare God, to make merie with vs.

3 And when he had 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:

4 and taking it vp caried it to his houſe ſecretely, that when the ſunne should be downe, he might warely burie him.

5 And whē he had hid the bodie, he eate bread with mourning and trēbling,

6 remembring that word, which our Lord ſayd by Amos the Prophet: Your feſtiual dayes shal be turned into lamentation and mourning.

7 But when the ſunne was downe, he went, and buried him.

8 And al his neighbours rebuked him, ſaying: Euen now thou waſt commanded to be ſlayne becauſe of this matter, and thou dideſt ſcarce eſcape the commandment of death, and [::] doeſt thou burie the dead agayne?

9 But Tobias more fearing God, then the king, in haſt tooke the bodies of them that were ſlayne, and hid them in his houſe, and at midnight buried them.

10 And it happened that on a certayne day, being wearied with burying, coming into his houſe he had caſt himſelf downe by the wal, and ſlept,

11 and as he was ſleeping, hote dung out of the ſwallowes neſt fel vpon his eyes, and he was made blinde.

12 And this tentation therfore our Lord permitted to chance vnto him, that an example might be geuen to poſteritie of his patience, alſo of holie Iob.

13 For whereas he feated God alwaies from his infancie, and kept his commandmentes, he grudged not agaynſt God for that the plague of blindnes had chanced to him,

14 but continewed immoueable in the feare of God, geuing thankes to God al the dayes of his life.

15 For as the kinges inſulted againſt bleſſed Iob: ſo his [::] parentes and coſins derided his life, ſaying.

16 Where is thy hope, for the which thou dideſt beſtowe almes and burials?

17 But Tobias rebuked them, ſaying: Speake not ſo:

18 becauſe we are the children of holie ones, and looke for that life, which God wil geue to them, that neuer change their faith from him.

19 But Anna his wife went dayly to weauing worke, and she brought the gaines of her handie labour, which ſhe could get.

20 Whereby it came to paſſe, that she receiuing a kid of goates had brought it home:

21 the voice whereof bleating 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.

22 To theſe wordes his wife being angrie anſwered: Thy hope is become vayne manifeſtly, and thine almes now haue appeared.

23 And with theſe, and other ſuch like wordes she vpbrayded him.

Marginal notes to Chapter 2

• 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
• 6 Amos. 8. v. 10.
• 8 [::] True zele is not hindred from workes of mercie by feare of death: becauſe perfect charitie caſteth out feare. I, Ioan 4.
• 15 [::] 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.

Chapter 3

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.

1 THEN Tobias lamented, and began to pray with teares,

2 ſaying: Thou art iuſt ô Lord, & al thy iudgementes are iuſt, and al thy waies, mercie, & truth, and iudgement.

3 And now Lord be mindful of me, and take not reuenge of my ſinnes, neither remember the ſinnes of me, or of my parentes.

4 Becauſe we haue not obeyed thy commandmentes, therfore 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.

5 And now Lord great are thy iudgementes, becauſe we haue not done according to thy preceptes, & haue not walked ſincerely before thee:

6 and now Lord according 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.

7 The verie ſame day therfore it chanced that Sara the daughter of Raguel in [::] Rages a citie of the Medes, ſhe alſo heard reproch of one of her fathers handmaydes,

8 becauſe ſhe had beene deliuered to ſeuen huſbandes, & the diuel named [::] Aſmodeus had killed them, forth with as they were entred in vnto her.

9 Therfore when she rebuked the wench for her fault, she anſwered her, ſaying: Let vs no more ſee ſonne of thee, or daughter vpon the earth, thou murderer of thy huſbandes.

10 What wilt thou kil me alſo, as thou haſt now killed 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:

11 but continewing in prayer with teares beſought God, that he would deliuer her from this reproch.

12 And it came to paſſe the third day, whiles ſhe accomplished her prayer, bleſſing our Lord,

13 ſhe ſayd: Bleſſed is thy name 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.

14 To thee ô Lord I turne my face, to thee I direct myne eyes.

15 I deſire Lord that thou looſe me from the bond of this reproch, or els take me away from the earth.

16 Thou knoweſt Lord that I neuer coueted a huſband, and haue kept my ſoule cleane from al concupiſcence.

17 Neuer haue I companied my ſelf with ſporters: neither haue I made my ſelfe partaker with them that walke in lightneſſe.

18 But a husband I conſented to take, with thy feare, not with my luſt.

19 And either I was vnworthie of them, or they perhaps were not worthie for me: becauſe perhaps thou haſt kept me for an other man.

20 For thy counſel is not in mans power.

21 But this hath euerie one for certayne, that 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.

22 For thou art not delighted in our perditions: becauſe after a tempeſt thou makeſt a calme, and after teares and weeping thou powreſt in ioyfulneſſe.

23 Be thy name God of Iſrael bleſſed foreuer.

24 At that time the prayers of both were heard in the ſight of the glorie of the high God:

25 and the holie Angel of our Lord Raphael was ſent, to cure them both, whoſe prayers at one time were [::] recited in the ſight of our Lord.

Marginal notes to Chapter 3

• 7 [::] 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.
• 8 [::] Aſmod⟨illegible⟩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.
• 25 [::] 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.

Chapter 4

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.

1 THERFORE when Tobias thought his prayer to be heard that he might haue died, he called to him Tobias his ſonne,

2 and ſayd to him: [::] Heare my ſonne the wordes of my mouth, & lay them as a foundation in thy hart.

3 When God ſhal take my ſoule, * burie my bodie: and thou ſhalt doe *honour to thy mother al the dayes of her life:

4 for thou muſt be mindful what perils, and how great ſhe ſuffered for thee in her wombe.

5 And when ſhe alſo ſhal haue accomplished the time of her life, burie her beſide me.

6 And al the dayes of thy life * haue God in thy mind: and beware thou conſent not to ſinne at anie time, and pretermitte the preceptes of our Lord God.

7 * Of thy ſubſtance [::] geue almes, and turne not 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.

8 As thou shalt be able; ſo be merciful.

9 If thou haue much, geue aboundantly: if thou haue litle, ſtudie to impert alſo a litle willingly.

10 For thou doſt treaſure vp to thy ſelf a good reward in the day of neceſſitie.

11 becauſe almes deliuereth from al ſinne, and from death, & wil not ſuffer the ſoule to goe into darkeneſſe.

12 Great confidence before God moſt high shal almes be to al them that doe it.

13 * Take heed to thy ſelf my ſonne of al fornication, & beſide thy wife neuer abide to know crime.

14 * Neuer permitte pryde to rule in thy word: for in it al perdition tooke his beginning.

15 * Whoſoeuer hath wrought anie thing for thee, pay him his hyre immediatly, and let not the hyre of thy hyred ſeruant remayne with thee at al.

16 * That [::] which thou hateſt to be done to thee by an other, ſee thou doe it not to an other at anie time.

17 Eate thy bread with the hungrie & needie, and of thy garmentes couer the naked.

18 * Set thy bread, and thy wine vpon [::] the burial of a iuſt man, and doe not eate and drinke therof with ſinners.

19 Seeke counſel alwaies of a wiſeman.

20 At al time bleſſe God: and deſire of him, that he direct thy waies, and that al thy counſels remayne in him.

21 I tel thee alſo my ſonne [::] that I gaue 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:

22 and therfore enquire how thou maiſt come to him, and receiue of him the foreſayd weight of ſiluer, and reſtore him the bil of his hand.

23 Feare not my ſonne: we 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.

Marginal notes to Chapter 4

• 2 [::] 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.
• 3 1
• 4 2
• 6 3
• 7 [::] The ſame doctrine of good workes, and reward, is taught▪ Daniel. 4. v. 24.
• 7 4
• 13 5
• 14 6
• 15 7
• 16 [::] A notable rule, agreable to the law of nature.
• 16 8
• 18 [::] VVorkes of mercie extēd alſo to the dead.
• 18 9
• 19 10. 11
• 20 12
• 21 [::] It perteyneth to good men amongſt other thinges, to geue notice and to diſpoſe of their temporal goodes by their laſt wil.
• 21 13
• 23 14

Chapter 5

CHAP. V. Yong Tobias ſeeking a guide for his iourney, Raphael the Angel in shape of a [Margin: 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.

1 THEN Tobias anſwered his father, and ſayd: I wil doe al things, father, whatſoeuer thou haſt commanded me.

2 But how I shal require this money, I can nor tel, he knoweth not me, and I know not him: what token shal I geue him? Yea neither the way which leadeth thither, did I euer know.

3 Then his father anſwered him, and ſayd: I haue the bil of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him he wil forth with reſtore it.

4 But goe now, and ſeeke thee out ſome faythful man, that may goe with thee being ſure of his hyre: that thou mayſt receiue it, whiles I yet liue.

5 Then Tobias going forth, found a [::] goodlie yongman, ſtanding girded, and as it were readie to walke.

6 And not knowing that it was an Angel of God, he ſaluted him, and ſayd: From whence haue we thee, good yongman?

7 But he anſwered: Of the children of Iſrael. And Tobias ſayd to him: Knoweſt thou the way, that leadeth vnto the countrie of the Medes?

8 To whom he anſwered: I know it: and al the wayes therof 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.

9 To whom Tobias ſayd: Stay for me I beſeech thee, til I tel theſe ſame things to my father.

10 Then Tobias going in told al theſe things to his father. Whereupon his father marueiling, requeſted that he would come in vnto him.

11 Going in therfore he ſaluted him, and ſayd: Ioy be to thee alwaies.

12 And Tobias ſayd: What maner of ioy ſhal be to me, which ſitte in darkenes, and ſee not the light of heauen?

13 To whom the yong man ſayd: Be of good cheere, it is very neere that thou mayſt be cured of God.

14 Tobias therfore ſayd to him: Canſt thou bring my ſonne to Gabelus into Rages a citie of the Medes? and when thou ſhalt returne, I wil pay thee thy hyre.

15 And the Angel ſayd to him: I wil conduct him, & bring him to thee againe.

16 To whom Tobias anſwered: I pray thee, tel me, of what houſe, or what tribe a⟨illegible⟩t thou?

17 To whom [::] Raphael the Angel ſayd: Seekeſt thou the kinred of an hyred ſeruant, or an hyred ſeruant himſelfe, that may goe with thy ſonne?

18 But leſt perhaps I make thee careful, I am Azarias the ſonne of Ananias the great.

19 And Tobias anſwered: Thou art of a great kinred. But I pray the be not angrie that I would know thy kinred.

20 And the Angel ſayd to him: I wil lead thy ſonne ſafe, and bring him to thee agayne ſafe.

21 And Tobias anſwering, ſayd: Wel may you walke, a⟨illegible⟩ God be in your iourney, and his Angel accompanie you.

22 Then al things being readie, that were to be caried in the way, Tobias bid his father and his mother, fare wel, and they walked both together.

23 And when they were departed, his mother began to weepe, & to ſay: Thou haſt taken the ſtaffe of our old age, and ſent him away from vs.

24 I would the money had neuer bene, for the which thou haſt ſent him.

25 For our pouertie ſufficed vs, that we might account this thing riches, that we ſaw our ſonne.

26 And Tobias ſayd to her: Weepe not, our ſonne ſhal come thither ſafe, and ſhal returne ſafe to vs, and thyne eies ſhal ſee him.

27 For I beleue that :: the good Angel of God doth accompanie him, & doth wel diſpoſe al things, that are done about him, ſo that he ſhal returne to vs with ioy.

28 At this voyce his mother left weeping, and held her peace.

Marginal notes to Chapter 5

• 5 [::] The Angel Raphael appearing in forme of a man prefigured our Sauiour who indede became a verie man. S. Beda.
• 17 [::] Raphael ſignifying med⟨illegible⟩⟨illegible⟩in⟨illegible⟩ of God. ⟨illegible⟩. Greg. ho. 34▪ calleth himſelfe Azarias, whoſe ſhape and vi⟨illegible⟩a ⟨illegible⟩e he tooke vpon him, which name alſo ſignifieth the helpe of God.

Chapter 6

CHAP. VI. By the Angels aduiſe yong Tobias apprehendeth a fish, that aſs⟨illegible⟩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.

1 AND Tobias went forward, & a dogge folowed him, and he made his firſt abode by the riuer of Tigris.

2 And he went out to waſh his feete, and behold an huge fiſh came forth to deuoure him.

3 Of whom Tobias being afrayd, cryed out with a loud voice, ſaying: Sir, he inuadeth me.

4 And the 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.

5 Then ſayd the Angel 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.

6 Which when he had done, he roſted the [::] 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.

7 Then Tobias asked the 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?

8 And the Angel anſwering, ſayd to him: If thou put a litle peece of his [*] hart vpon coales, the [::] ſmoke therof driueth out al kinde of diuels, either from man or from woman, ſo that it cometh no more vnto them.

9 And the gall is auailable to annoynt the eies, in which there ſhal be white blemiſh, and they ſhal be healed.

10 And Tobias ſayd to him: Where wilt thou that we tarie?

11 And the Angel anſwering, 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.

12 Al his ſubſtance is dewe to thee, and thou mayſt take her to wife.

13 Aske her therfore of her father, and he wil giue her thee to wife.

14 Then Tobias anſwered, and ſayd: I heare that she hath beene deliuered to ſeuen husbandes, and they are dead: yea and I haue heard, that a diuel killed them.

15 I am afrayd therfore, leſt theſe things may happen to me alſo: & whereas I am the onlie childe of my parentes, I may bring downe their old age with ſorow vnto [::] hel.

16 Then the Angel Raphael ſayd to him: Heare me, and I wil shewe thee who they are, on whom the diuel can preuaile.

17 For they that ſo receiue 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.

18 But thou when thou shalt take 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.

19 And the ſame night, the [*] liuer of the fish ſette on the fyre, the diuel shal be driuen away.

20 But the [::] ſecond night thou shalt be admitted in the copulation of the holie Patriarches.

21 And the third night thou shalt obteyne a bleſſing that ſound children may be procreated of you.

22 And when the third night is paſt, thou shalt take the 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.

Marginal notes to Chapter 6

• 6 [::] S. Paul alſo calleth fleſh of fiſh 1. Cor. 15. and Plinie lib. 9. c. 15.
• 8 [*] and liuer. v. 19.
• 8 [::] Diuels who exalted them ſelues as equal with God, a⟨illegible⟩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.
• 15 [::] Into the place where good ſoules reſted, none then hauing acceſſe into heauen. See Annotations. ⟨illegible⟩en. 37.
• 19 [*] and hart v. 8.
• 20 [::] The ſecond night he asked and obtayned this grace; for he knew not his wife vntil the fourth night. v. 22.

Chapter 7

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.

1 AND they went to Raguel, and Raguel receiued them with ioy.

2 And Raguel beholding Tobias, ſayd to Anna his wife: How like is this yongman to my ſiſters ſonne!

3 And when he had ſpoken theſe wordes, he ſayd: Whence are you ye yongmen our brethren?

4 But they ſayd: We are of the tribe of Nephthali, of the captiuitie of Niniue.

5 And Raguel ſayd to them: Know you Tobias my brother? Who ſayd: We know him.

6 And when he ſpake much good of him, the Angel ſayd to Raguel: Tobias, of whom thou askeſt is this mans father.

7 And Raguel put forth him ſelfe, and 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.

8 And Anna his wife, and Sara theyr daughter wept.

9 And after they had talked, Raguel commanded a wether to be killed, and a banket to be prepared. And when he deſired them to ſitte downe to dinner,

10 Tobias ſaid: I wil not eate nor drinke here this day, vnleſſe thou firſt aſſure my petition, and promiſe to geue me Sara thy daughter.

11 Which word Raguel hearing, was ſore afrayd, 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 [::] gaue no anſwer to him demanding,

12 the Angel ſayd to 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.

13 Then ſayd Raguel: I doubt not but God hath admitted my prayers and teares in his ſight.

14 And 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 to thee.

15 And taking his daughter by the right hand, gaue it 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.

16 And taking paper they made a writing of the mariage.

17 And after theſe things they made merie, bleſſing God.

18 And Raguel called to him Anna his wife, and commanded her to prepare an other chamber.

19 And ſhe brought Sara her daughter in thither, and ſhe wept.

20 And ſhe ſayd to her: Be of good cheere my daughter, our Lord of heauen geue thee ioy for the tediouſneſſe which thou haſt ſuffered.

Marginal notes to Chapter 7

• 11 [::] 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.

Chapter 8

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.

1 AND after they had ſupped, they brought in the yong man to her.

2 Tobias therfore remembring the Angels word, brought forth out of his bag, part of [::] the liuer, and layd it vpon liue coales.

3 Then Raphael the Angel tooke the diuel, and bound him in the deſert of higher Aegypt.

4 Then 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.

5 For we are the children of holie men, & we may not be ioyned together as gentiles, that know not God.

6 And they riſing together, prayed both together that health might be geuen them.

7 And 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.

8 Thou madeſt Adam of the ſlime of the earth, & gaueſt him Eue an helper.

9 And now Lord thou 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.

10 Sara alſo ſayd: Haue mercie on vs Lord, haue mercie vpon vs and let vs grow old both together in health.

11 And it came to paſſe about the cock crowing, Raguel bad his ſeruantes to be called for, & they went with him together to digge a graue.

12 For he ſayd: Leſt perhaps it may chance to him, as alſo to the other ſeuen huſbandes, that went in vnto her.

13 And when they had prepared the pitte, Raguel returning to his wife, ſayd to her:

14 Send one of thy handmaydes, and let her ſee if he be dead, that I may burie him before it be day.

15 But ſhe ſent one of her handmaydes, who going into the chamber, found them ſafe and ſound, ſleeping both together.

16 And returning ſhe brought good tydings: and they bleſſed our Lord, to witte, Raguel & Anna his wife,

17 and ſayd: We bleſſe thee Lord God of Iſrael, becauſe it hath not chanced as we thought.

18 For thou haſt done thy metcie with vs, & haſt excluded from vs the enemie, that perſecuted vs.

19 And thou haſt taken pitie vpon two the [::] only 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.

20 And forth with Raguel commanded his ſeruantes, that they ſhould fil vp the pitte, which they had made, before it were day.

21 And he bad his wife make readie a feaſt, and prepare al thinges, that for victuals were neceſſarie to them that goe a iourney.

22 He cauſed alſo two fatte kyne, and foure wethers to be killed, and great chere to be prepared for al his neighbours, and al his freindes.

23 And Raguel adiured Tobias, that he should abide with him two weekes.

24 And of al thinges 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.

Marginal notes to Chapter 8

• 2 [::] See chap. 6. v. ⟨illegible⟩. 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.
• 19 [::] In the one familie there were no more children but one ſonne, in the other one onlie daughter.

Chapter 9

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.

1 THEN Tobias called the Angel to him, whom he thought to be a man, and he ſayd to him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee harken to my wordes:

2 If I should deliuer my ſelf to be thy ſeruant I shal not deſerue thy prouidence.

3 Howbeit I beſech thee, that thou take vnto thee beaſtes and ſeruantes, and goe to Gabelus into [::] Rages the citie of Medes: & render him his handwriting, and receiue of him the money, and deſire him to come to my mariage.

4 For thyſelf knoweſt that my father numbreth the dayes: and if I ſlacke one day more, his ſoule is made ſorowful

5 And ſurely thou ſ⟨illegible⟩eſt how Raguel hath adiured me, whoſe adiuring I can not diſpiſe.

6 Then Raphael taking foure of Raguels ſeruantes, & two camels, went into Rages the citie of Medes: & finding Gabelus gaue him his hand writing, and receiued of him al the money.

7 And he told him of Tobias the ſonne of Tobias, al thinges that were done: and made him come with him to the mariage.

8 And when he was entered into Raguels houſe, he found Tobias ſitting at the table: and he leaping vp, they kiſſed ech other: and Gabelus wept, and bleſſed God,

9 and 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:

10 and bleſſing be geuen vpon thy wife, and vpon your parentes:

11 & that you may ſee your children, and your childrens children, vnto the third & fourth generation: and your ſeede be bleſſed of the God of Iſrael, who reigneth fereuer and euer.

12 And when al had ſayd, Amen; they went to the feaſt: but with the feare of our Lord alſo did they celebrate the feaſt of the mariage.

Marginal notes to Chapter 9

• 3 [::] The Angel went to the citie i⟨illegible⟩ ſelfe called Rages, Tobias remaining in the ter ⟨illegible⟩i⟨illegible⟩orie or prouince therof, w⟨illegible⟩ Ra⟨illegible⟩e⟨illegible⟩, which place is alſo called Rages. c. v 7.

Chapter 10

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.

1 BVT when Tobias taried long “ becauſe of the mariage, Tobias his father was careful, ſaying: Why thinkeſt thou doth my ſonne tarie, or why is he held there?

2 Is Gabelus dead thinkeſt thou, and no man wil reſtore him the money?

3 And he began to be ſorowful exceedingly him ſelfe, and Anna his wife with him: and [::] they began both to weepe together: becauſe their ſonne did not returne to them the day appointed.

4 His mother therfore wept with diſcomfortable 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?

5 We hauing al things together in thee onlie, ought not to haue let thee goe from vs.

6 To whom Tobias ſaid: Hold thy peace, and be not trubled, our ſonne is ſafe, that man with whom we ſent him is faithful ynough.

7 Howbeit 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 of, if it were poſſible, coming.

8 But Raguel ſayd to his ſonne in law: Tarie here, and I wil ſend a meſſenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health.

9 To whom Tobias ſayd: I know that my father & my mother do now count the dayes, and their ſpirite is tormented in them.

10 And when Raguel deſired Tobias in manie wordes, and ⟨illegible⟩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,

11 ſaying: The holie Angel of our 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.

12 And the parentes taking their daughter, kiſſed her, and let her goe:

13 admoniſhing her to honour her father and mother in law, to loue her huſband, to rule the houſhold, to gouerne the houſe, and to shewe her ſelfe irreprehenſible.

Marginal notes to Chapter 10

• 3 [::] Such of the Iewes as beleue in Chriſt, hartely lament that he ⟨illegible⟩a⟨illegible⟩eth ſo lōg from their nation. Some more aſſuredly with old Tobias, others more doubtfully with his wife, expect his returne. S. Beda ⟨illegible⟩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.

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 [Margin: 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 [Margin: Epheſ. 5. Mat. 19.] Sacrament, ſignifying the Vnion betwen Chriſt & his Church: and geuing peculiar [Margin: 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 [Margin: 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 [Margin: Three neceſſarie pointes in Matrimonie.] lawfully match, neither with Infideles, nor with ouer nere kinred, but in conuenient [Margin: 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 alſo adioyned. Firſt Raguel, the maides father, gaue his daughter taking her by the [Margin: 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, [Margin: 1. 2. 35 4. 5.] alſo vvritten, ch. 7. v. 16 & ſealed, as the [Margin (*): Apud. Munst⟨illegible⟩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⟨illegible⟩. Plato a heathen Philoſopher, li. 6▪ de le⟨illegible⟩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, [Margin: 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 [Margin: 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 [Margin: 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 [Margin: 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.

Chapter 11

CHAP. XI. ⟨illegible⟩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.

1 AND when they returned they came to Charan, which is in the middeway agaynſt Niniue, the eleuenth day.

2 And the Angel ſaid▪ Brother Tobias thou knoweſt how thou dideſt leaue thy farher.

3 If it pleaſe thee therfore, let vs goe be ore, and let the families folow ſoftly after vs, together with thy wife, and with the beaſtes.

4 And when this 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.

5 But Anna ſate beſide the way dayly, in the toppe of a hil, from whence she might ſee afar of.

6 And whiles she watched his 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.

7 And Raphael 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.

8 And immediatly annointe 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.

9 Then ranne [::] the dogge before, which had beene with them in the way, and coming as it were a meſſenger with the fawning of his tayle reioyſed.

10 And his father that was blind ryſing vp, began to runne ſtumbling with his feete: and geuing a ſeruant his hand, went to meete his ſonne.

11 And receiuing him kiſſed him, with his wife, and they began both to weepe for ioy.

12 And when they had adored God, and geuen thankes, they ſate downe together.

13 Then Tobias taking of the gal of the fiſh, annoynted his fathers eies.

14 And he ſtayed as it were almoſt halfe an houre: & the white ble⟨illegible⟩h began to come out of his eies, as it were the skine of an egge.

15 Which Tobias taking drewe from his eies, and immediatly [::] he receiued ſight.

16 And they glorified God, to wit, himſelfe and his wife, and al that knewe him.

17 And Tobias ſaid: I bleſſe thee Lord God of Iſrael, becauſe thou haſt chaſtiſed me, and thou haſt ſaued me: and behold I ſee Tobias my ſonne.

18 After ſeuen dayes alſo came in Sara 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:

19 and he told his parentes al the benefites of God, which he had done to him by the man, that conducted him.

20 And Achior and Nabath Tobias ſiſters ſonnes came, reioyſing at Tobias, and congratulating him for al good thinges, that God had ſhewed towards him.

21 And for ſeuen daies making good chere, they reioyſed al with great ioy.

Marginal notes to Chapter 11

• 9 [::] 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⟨illegible⟩ alſo expoundeth it myſtically of Gods preachers. S. Ierom. doth the like, in. Iſaiae. 56 and S Auguſtin li 22. c 56. c⟨illegible⟩t. Fauſtum. Manich.
• 15 [::] 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.

Chapter 12

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, ⟨illegible⟩0. He parteth ⟨illegible⟩ way, and they render thankes to God.

1 THEN Tobias called to him his ſonne, and ſayd to him: What may we geue to this holie man, that is come with thee.

2 Tobias anſwering, ſayd to his father: Father what reward ſhal we geue him? or what can be worthie of his benefittes▪

3 He hath [*] led me and brought me agayne ſafe, he receiued the money of Gabelus, he [*] cauſed me to haue my wife, and the [*] euil ſpirit he chaſed from her, he [*] made ioy vnto her parentes, my ſelf he [*] deliuered from being deuoured of the fish, [*] thee alſo he hath made to ſee the light of heauen, and we are replenished with [::] al good things by him. What can we geue him worthie for theſe things?

4 But I beſeech 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.

5 And they calling him, to wit the father and the ſonne, tooke him aſide: & began to deſire him that he would voutſafe to accept the halfe part of al thinges, that they had brought.

6 Then he ſayd to them ſecretely: Bleſſe ye the God of heauen, and before al that liue confeſſe to him, becauſe he hath done mercie with you.

7 For to hide the ſecrete of a king is good: but to reueale & confeſſe the workes of God is an honorable thing.

8 [::] Prayer is good with faſting and almes, rather then to lay vp treaſures of gold:

9 becauſe almes deliuereth from death, and that is it which purgeth ſinnes, and maketh to finde mercie and life euerlaſting.

10 But they that committe ſinne and iniquitie, are enemies to their owne ſoule.

11 I open therfore vnto you the truth, and I wil not hide from you the ſecrete word.

12 When thou didſt pray 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 [::] offered thy prayer to our Lord.

13 And becauſe thou waſt acceptable to God, it was neceſſarie that tentation should proue thee.

14 And now our Lord ſent me to cure thee, and to deliuer Sara thy ſonnes wife from the diuel.

15 For I am Raphael an Angel, one of the ſeuen, which aſſiſt before our Lord.

16 And when they had heard theſe thinges, they were trubled, & trembling fel vpon the ground on their face.

17 And the Angel ſayd to them: Peace be to you, feare not.

18 For when I was with you, by the wil of God I was ſo: bleſſe ye him, and ſing to him.

19 I ſeemed indeede to eate with you, and to drinke: but I vſe an inuiſible meate and drinke, which can not be ſeene of men.

20 It is time therfore that I returne to him, that ſent me: but bleſſe ye God, and tel al his maruelous workes.

21 And when he had ſayd theſe things, he was taken from their ſight, and they could ſee him no more.

22 Then proſtrate for three houres vpon their face, they bleſſed God: and ryſing vp they told al his maruelous workes.

Marginal notes to Chapter 12

• 3 [*] 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7
• 3 [*] 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7
• 3 [*] 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7
• 3 [*] 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7
• 3 [*] 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7
• 3 [*] 1 2. 3 4. 5 6 7
• 3 [::] Gratful Tobias recounteth ſeuen benefites receiued by the companion of his iourney, & that they haue receiued (not manie but) al good things by him.
• 8 [::] Faſting and almes are as two wingues with which prayer flyeth into heauen.
• 12 [::] 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?

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 [Margin: 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 [Margin: 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 [Margin: Offer mens prayers and good workes. Ayde the godlie.] offer the prayers of the faithful, or as the Greke text ⟨illegible⟩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 ⟨illegible⟩. v. 21. 23. Fourthly Angels exhort to good workes, as in this 12. [Margin: Exhort to good. Inſtruct.] chapter. v. 6 8 9 10 18 Fiftly they ſ⟨illegible⟩geſt ⟨illegible⟩d inſtruct what to do, ch 6. v. 4. 5. Raph⟨illegible⟩ ⟨illegible⟩ght yong Tobias to ⟨illegible⟩ake the fi⟨illegible⟩h, v⟨illegible⟩b wel him, reſerue partes therof, ⟨illegible⟩ ⟨illegible⟩ a⟨illegible⟩iſed him to lodge at Raguels houſe, to demand S⟨illegible⟩ra to wife, and v. 16. 17. i⟨illegible⟩ſtructed him, againſt whom diuels haue powre. Sixthly, they [Margin: 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 [Margin: Proue the good by trib⟨illegible⟩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 [Margin: Comforte the patient and a⟨illegible⟩ vertuous.] yong Tobias to their houſe, ch. 7. v. ⟨illegible⟩. 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 [Margin: 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. 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.

Chapter 13

CHAP. XIII. Tobias the father prayſeth God, exhorting al Iſrael to do the ſame, 11. prophecieth [Margin: The third part. Old Tobias prayſeth God, prophecieth better ſtate of Gods people.] the reſtauration and better ſtate of Ieruſalem.

1 AND Tobias the elder opening his mouth, bleſſed our Lord, and ſayd: Thou art great Lord for euer, and thy kingdom world without end:

2 becauſe thou ſcourgeſt, and ſaueſt: leadeſt downe to hel, and bringeſt backe agayne: and there is none that may eſcape thy hand.

3 Cōfeſſe to our Lord ye children of Iſrael, and in the ſight of the Gentiles prayſe him:

4 becauſe he hath therfore diſperſed you among the gentiles, which know not him, that you may declare his maruelous workes, and [::] make them know, that there is no other God omnipotent beſides him.

5 He hath chaſtiſed vs for our iniquities: and he wil ſaue vs for his mercie.

6 Behold 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.

7 And I [::] in the land of my captiuitie wil confeſſe to him: becauſe he hath ſhewed his maieſtie toward a ſinful nation.

8 Conuert therfore ye ſinners, & do iuſtice before God, beleuing that he wil doe his mercie with you.

9 And I, and my ſoule wil reioyce in him.

10 Bleſſe ye our Lord al his elect, celebrate daies of gladnes, and confeſſe to him.

11 Ieruſalem the citie of God, our Lord hath chaſtiſed thee in the workes of thy handes.

12 Confeſſe to our Lord in thy good thinges, and bleſſe the God of the worldes, that he may [::] reedefie his tabernacle in thee, and may cal backe al the captiues to thee, & thou mayſt reioyce for euer and euer.

13 Thou shalt shine with a glorious light: and al the coaſtes of the earth shal adore thee.

14 Nations from far shal come to thee: and bringing giftes, they shal adore our Lord in thee, and shal eſteeme thy land for ſanctification.

15 For they shal inuocate the great name in thee.

16 Curſed shal they be that shal contemne thee: and damned shal they be that shal blaſpheme thee: and bleſſed shal they be that shal build thee.

17 And thou shalt reioyce in thy children, becauſe they shal al be bleſſed, & ſhal be gathered together to our Lord.

18 Bleſſed are al that loue thee, and that reioyce vpon thy peace.

19 My ſoule, bleſſe thou our Lord, becauſe he hath deliuered Ieruſalem his citie [::] from al her tribulations, the Lord our God.

20 Bleſſed ſhal I be if there ſhal remayne of my ſeede, to ſee the glorie of Ieruſalem.

21 The gates of Ieruſalem ſhal be built of Saphire and the Emerauld: and al the compaſſe of the walles therof of pretious ſtone.

22 With white and cleane ſtone ſhal al the ſtreates therof be paued: and in the ſtreates therof [::] Alleluia ſhal be ſong.

23 Bleſſed be our Lord, which hath exalted it, and his kingdom be for euer and euer ouer it Amen.

Marginal notes to Chapter 13

• 4 [::] Temporal affliction for the ſpiritual good of others.
• 7 [::] His bodie being in captiuitie, yet his ſpirit was free to praiſe and thank God. S. ⟨illegible⟩pr. li. de mortaluate.
• 12 [::] He prophecieth the reedifying of the temple, and citie of ⟨illegible⟩e⟨illegible⟩uſalem.
• 19 [::] Onlie celeſtial Ieruſalem ſhal be free from al tribulations.
• 22 [::] 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.

Chapter 14

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⟨illegible⟩m reedified. 14. yonger Tobias returneth with his familie to Raguel, and dieth happely as he had liued.

1 AND the wordes of Tobias were ended. And after that Tobias was reſtored to his ſight, he liued two and fourtie yeares, and ſaw the children of his nephewes.

2 Therfore an hundred and two yeares being accompliſhed, he was buried honorably in Niniue.

3 For being ſix and fiftie yeares old he loſt the ſight of his eies, and being threeſcore he receiued it agayne.

4 And the reſt of his life was in ioy, and with great increaſe of the feare of God he went forward in peace.

5 And at the houre of his death he called vnto him Tobias his ſonne, and his ſeuen yong ſonnes, his nephewes, and ſayd to them:

6 The deſtruction of Niniue is neere: for the word of our Lord fayleth not: and our brethren, which are diſperſed from the land of Iſrael, ſhal returne to it.

7 And al the 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,

8 and the Gentiles shal forſake their idols, and shal come into Ieruſalem, and shal inhabite in it,

9 and [::] al the kings of the earth shal reioyce in it, adoring the king of Iſrael.

10 Heare ye therfore my children your father: ſerue our Lord in truth, and [::] ſeeke to doe the thinges that pleaſe him:

11 and command your children that they doe iuſtices and almes deedes, that they be mindeful of God, and bleſſe him at al time in truth, and in al their power.

12 Now therfore children heare me, and doe not tarie here: but what day ſoeuer you shal burie your mother by me in one ſepulchre, from thenceforth directe your ſteppes to depart hence:

13 for I ſee that the iniquitie therof wil giue it an end.

14 And it came to paſſe after the death of his mother, Tobias departed out of Niniue with his wife, and children, and childrens children, and returned to his father and mother in law.

15 And he found them in health in good old age: and he tooke 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.

16 And nintie nine yeares being accomplished in the feare of our Lord, with ioy they buried him.

17 And [::] al his kinred, and al his generation continewed in 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.

Marginal notes to Chapter 14

• 9 [::] This can not be vnderſtood of the citie of Ieruſalem but of the Church of Chriſt.
• 10 [::] Gods ſeruantes muſt not only expect what ſhal be commanded, but alſo ſeeke to know what they ought to do.
• 17 [::] 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.

Colophon

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. The first tome (Genesis to Job), Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1609 (STC 2207). Copy: Henry E. Huntington Library, as reproduced in Early English Books Online (image set 2087).

Transcription: Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP), Phase I text A11777 (2007), released under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal public-domain dedication.

This is an archival transcription, not a Good Works Translation: the English is the Douay translators’ own, kept in the original spelling, with long s (ſ), u and v, i and j as printed. The Good Works Library converted the TCP text to this page, removing only markup, page breaks and line-end hyphens. In the print a cross (†) opens each verse and the verse number stands in the margin; here each verse is its own paragraph headed by that number. Marginal notes are gathered after each chapter under the number of the verse beside which they stand; where the print sets a reference mark in the text (a letter, four pricks ::, or a star *), the mark is kept at its place in square brackets. In prose sections the marginal notes stand at their places in square brackets. Marks that the transcription records in the text are kept as they stand: ▪ is the transcribers’ sign for a printed mark they could not set, which this edition’s key to its marks uses to point to an Annotation after the chapter, and “ is another such printed mark. Words the transcribers could not read are marked ⟨illegible⟩ (66 on this page); none has been filled in by conjecture.

🌲