2 Maccabees, in The Douay Old Testament (1609–1610)

A second history of the Machabean struggle, opening with two letters of the Jews of Jerusalem to those in Egypt. This is 2 Maccabees as it stands in the second tome of the Douay Old Testament (Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1610), the English College of Douai’s Catholic translation from the Latin Vulgate, in its original spelling. The page gives every chapter with its printed summary, the verse text and the marginal notes and the Annotations.

THE SECOND BOOKE OF MACHABEES.

Chapter 1

CHAP. 1. The Iewes in Ieruſalem write to the Iewes in Aegypt, 7. ſignifying that they had wri⟨illegible⟩te before of manie afflictions paſt: 9. and now write againe, rendering thankes to God for their deliuerie from Antiochus: 18. exhorting their bretheren to kepe the feaſt of Scenopegia: rec⟨illegible⟩ing the miracle of water returning into fire: 24. when Nehemias prayed: 33. and that [Margin: This Appendix cōcerning tvvo epiſtles of the Ievves vvas added to the hiſtorie, of the firſt booke by him that vvritte this ſecond.] the king built a temple in memorie therof.

1 TO THE bretheren, the Iewes that are through out Aegypt, the bretheren, the Iewes that are in Ieruſalem, and that are in the countrie of Iurie, ſend health, and good peace.

2 God doe good to you, and remember his teſtament, that he ſpake to Abraham, and Iſaac, and Iacob, his faithful ſeruantes:

3 and geue he vnto you al an hart to worſhippe him, and to doe his wil with a great hart, and a willing minde.

4 Open he your hart in his law, and in his precepts, and make peace.

5 Heare he your prayers, and be he reconciled vnto you, neither forſake he you in the euil time.

6 And now here we are praying for you.

7 When Demetrius reigned, in the yeare one hundreth ſixtie nine, [::] we Iewes wrote vnto you in the tribulation, and violence, that came vpon vs in theſe yeares, ſince Iaſon reuolted from the holie land, and from the kingdom.

8 They burnt the gate, and shed innocent bloud: and we prayed to our Lord, and were heard, and we offered ſacrifice, and fine floore, and lighted the lampes, and ſerforth there breades.

9 And now celebrate ye the dayes of Scenopegia of the moneth Ceſleu.

10 In the yeare one hundreth eightie eight, the people that is at Ieruſalem, and in Iurie, and the ſenate, and [::] Iudas, to Ariſtobolus the maiſter of Ptolomee the king, who is of the ſtocke of the annointed prieſtes, and to thoſe Iewes, that are in Aegypt health, and welfare.

11 Being deliuered by God out of great dangers, we geue him thankes magnifically, as who haue fought againſt ſuch a king.

12 For he made them ſwarme out of Perſis, that haue fought againſt vs, and the holie oi⟨illegible⟩ie.

13 For when he was captaine in Perſis, & with him a very great armie, he fel in the temple of Nania, being deceiued by the counſel of Nan⟨illegible⟩a⟨illegible⟩s prieſtes.

14 For Antiochus, & his freindes came to the place as to dwel with her, & that he might receiue much money vnder the title of a dowrie.

15 And when Naneaes prieſtes had layde it forth, and he with a few was entered within the compaſſe of the temple, they shut the temple,

16 when Antiochus was entered in: & a ſecrete entrance of the temple being opened, caſting ſtones they ſtroke the duke, and them that were with him, and diuided them in peeces, and cutting of their heades they threw them forth.

17 Bleſſed be the God in al thinges, who hath deliuered vp the impious.

18 We therefore meaning to keepe the purification of the temple the fiue and twentith day of the moneth Caſleu, thought it neceſſary to ſignifie vnto you: that you alſo may kepe the day of Scenopegia, and the day of the fire, that was geuen when Nehemias, after the temple was built and the altar, offered ſacrifice.

19 For when our fathers were caryed [::] into Perſis, the prieſtes that then were the worſhippers of God, taking the fire from the altar, hid it ſecretly in a valley where there was a pitte deepe, and dry, and therin they ſaued it, ſo that the place was vnknowne to al men,

20 But when manie yeares had paſſed, and i⟨illegible⟩ pleaſed God that Nehemias should be ſent of the king of Perſis: he ſent the nephewes of thoſe prieſtes, that had hid it, to ſeeke our the fire: and as they told vs, they found not fire, but [::] thic⟨illegible⟩ke water.

21 And he bad them draw, & bring vnto him▪ and the ſacrifices, that were layd on, the prieſt Nehemias commanded to be ſprinckled with the ſame water, and the wood, and the thinges that were layde therupon.

22 And as this was done, & the time was come that the ſunne shone forth, which before was in a cloude, there [::] was kindled a great fire, ſo that al merueiled.

23 And al the prieſtes made prayer, whiles the ſacrifice was conſuming, Ionathas beginning, and the reſt anſwering.

24 And the prayer of Nehemias was in this maner: O LORD God creatour of al, dreadful, and ſtrong, iuſt▪ and mereiful, which only art the good king,

25 only giuer, only iuſt, and omnipotent, and eternal, which deliuereſt Iſrael from al euil, which madeſt the fathers elect, and didſt ſanctifie them.

26 Receiue the ſacrifice for al thy people Iſrael, and kepe thy part, and ſanctiſie it.

27 Gather together our diſperſion▪ deliuer them, that ſerue the Gentils, and regard the contemned & abhorred: that the Gentils may know that thou art our God.

28 Afflict them that oppreſſe vs, and that doe contumelie in pride.

29 Place thy people in thy holie place, as Moyſes ſayd

30 And the prieſtes ſang hymnes, til the ſacrifice was conſumed.

31 And when the ſacrifice was conſumed, of the reſt of the water Nehemias cōmanded the greater ſtones to be throughly washed.

32 Which thing as it was done, out of them [::] was kindled a flame: but [::] by light alſo, that ſhined from the altar, it was conſumed.

33 And as the thing was made manifeſt, it was told the king of the Perſians, that in the place, wherin thoſe prieſtes that were tranſported, had hid fire, there appeared water, with the which Nehemias, and they that were with him, purified the ſacrifices.

34 And the king conſidering, and diligently examining the matter, made a temple for it, that he might approue that which was done.

35 And when he had approued it, he gaue to the prieſtes manie good thinges, and diuerſe giftes, and taking them with his owne hand, he gaue to them.

36 And Nehemias called this place [::] Nephthar, which is interpreted purification. But it is called with manie Nephi.

Marginal notes to Chapter 1

• 1 e
• 7 [::] As they had vvritten before in their afflictions, ſo novv they exhorte their bretheren to be thankful to God, and amongſt other meanes to ſhevv their gratful minde by celebrating the feaſt of dedication of the nevv altar.
• 7 li 2. ⟨illegible⟩. 4. v. 7.
• 10 [::] It ſemeth that either this Iudas vvas the firſt ſonne of Iohn Hyr⟨illegible⟩amus (othervviſe called Ariſtobolus) or rather Iudas Eſſenus of vvhom, ch. 2. v. 14. and of vvhom Ioſephus vvriteth▪ li. 13. ⟨illegible⟩. 19.
• 19 [::] Chaldea being nere to Perſis, is ſometimes comprehended vnder the ſame name ſo Mamertinus, in Panager⟨illegible⟩ca ad Iulia▪ reciteth Tigris and Euphrates amongſt the riuers of Perſi. & S. Chryſoſtom. ho. 6. in Math. ſaith the Ievves vvere deliuered from captiuitie of Per⟨illegible⟩s, meaning Babylon.
• 20 [::] In this fire vvere foure miracles. Firſt it vvas not changed into ayre but into vvater. v. 20.
• 22 [::] Secondly this vvater being caſt on the hoſtes of ſacrifice vvas kindled as fire. v. 22.
• 32 [::] Thirdly, it burned alſo being caſt vpon ſtones. v. 32.
• 32 [::] Fourth, it vvas extinguiſhed by the light that came from the altar. v. 32.
• 36 [::] Nephthar, ſignifieth deliuerie, vvhich is the effect of purification, for the temple & other holie thinges being purified, were deliuered from prophane vſe.

Chapter 2

CHAP. II. Holie fire, and the booke of the law were conſerued by Ieremie the prophet, in the tranſmigration into Babylon. 4. Likewiſe the Tabernacle of Moyſes the Arke, and Altar of incenſe in a ſecrete place. 8. As Moyſes had dedicated the Tabernacle, and Salomon the Temple: 14. ſo Iudas Machabeus ⟨illegible⟩lenſing the Temple, and making a new Altar, inſtituted a feaſt of the Dedication therof. 20. The Preface of the Auctor abridging the hiſtorie of the Machabees written by Iaſon in fiue bookes.

1 AND it is found in the deſcriptions of Ieremie the prophet, that he commanded them that went in tranſmigration, to take [::] the fire, as it was ſignified, & as he commanded them that were caried away in tranſmigration.

2 And he gaue them a law that they should not forget the precepts of our Lord, and that they should not erre in their mindes, ſeing the idols of gold, and ſiluer, and the ornaments of them.

3 And ſaying other like thinges, he exhorted them that they would not remoue the law from their hart

4 And it was in the ſame writing, how the propher commanded by the diuine anſwer made to him, that [::] the tabernacle, & the arke should folow in company with him, til he came forth into the mount in which Moyſes aſcended, and ſaw the inheritance of God.

5 And Ieremie coming thither found a place of a caue: & he brought the tabernacle, and the arke, and the altar of incenſe in thither, and ſtopped the doore.

6 And there came certaine withal, that folowed, to marke the place for themſelues: and they could not finde it.

7 And as Ieremie vnderſtood it, blaming them he ſayd: that the place shal be vnknowne, til God gather together the congregation of the people, and become propicious:

8 and then our Lord wil shew theſe thinges, and the maieſtie of our Lord shal appeare, & there shal be a cloude as it was alſo mad⟨illegible⟩manifeſt to Moyſes, and as when Salomon prayed that the place might be ſanctified to the great God, he did manifeſt theſe thinges.

9 For he handled wiſedom magnifically: as hauing wiſedome, did he offer the ſacrifice of the dedication, and of the conſummation of the temple.

10 As Moyſes alſo prayed to our Lord, and as Salomon prayed, and fire came downe from heauen, and conſumed the holocauſt.

11 And Moyſes ſayd: Becauſe that which was for ſinne, was not eaten, it was conſumed.

12 In like maner Salomon alſo eight dayes celebrated the dedication.

13 And theſe ſelf ſame thinges were put in the deſcriptions, and commentaries of Nehemias: and after what ſort he making a librarie gathered together bookes of the prophetes, and of Dauid, and the epiſtles of the kinges; and concerning the donaries.

14 And in like maner [::] Iudas alſo ſuch thinges as were fallen away by the warre that happened to vs, gathered them al together, and they are with vs.

15 If therfore you deſire theſe thinges, ſend ſome that may fetch them vnto you.

16 We therfore meaning to kepe the purification haue written vnto you: You shal doe wel then, if you kepe theſe dayes.

17 And God that hath deliuered his people, and rendered the inheritance to al, the kingdom, and the prieſthoode, and the ſanctification,

18 as he promiſed in the law, we hope that he wil quickly haue mercie vpon vs, and wil gather vs together from vnder heauen into the holie place.

19 For he hath deliuered vs out of great perils, and hath purged the place. [*]

20 [::] Concerning Iudas Machabeus, and his brethren, and of the purification of the great temple, and of the dedication of the altar,

21 Yea and of the battels that perteyne to Antiochus the Noble, and his ſonne Eupator:

22 and of the apparitions, that were made from heauen to them, that did manfully for the Iewes, ſo that being few they reuenged the whole countrie, and put to flight the barbarous multitude:

23 and repayred the moſt famous temple in al the world, and deliuered the citie, and the lawes that were abolished, were reſtored, our Lord with al clemencie being made propicious vnto them.

24 Alſo the thinges which by Iaſon the Cyrenean, are compriſed in fiue bookes we haue attempted to abridge in one volume.

25 For conſidering the multitude of bookes, and [::] the difficultie to them, that wil attempt the narrations of hiſtories, becauſe of the multitude of matters:

26 we haue bene careful for them that are willing to reade, that there might be delectation of the minde: and for the ſtudious, that they may more eaſily comitte it to memorie: and that profite might enſewe to al that read it.

27 And to our owne ſelues in deede, which haue taken vpon vs this worke to make an abridgement, we haue taken in hand no eaſie labour, yea rather a buſines ful of watching and ſwet⟨illegible⟩e.

28 As they that prepare a feaſt, and ſeeke to condeſcend to other mens wil: for manie mens ſakes we doe willingly ſuſteyne the labour.

29 The [*] veritie certes concerning euery particular leauing to the auctors, and our ſelues according to the forme that is geuen, ſtudying to be briefe.

30 For as the builder of a new houſe muſt haue care of the whole building: but he that hath the care to paint, muſt ſeeke out the thinges that are apt for garnishing: ſo muſt it be eſteemed alſo in vs.

31 For to gather together the vnderſtanding, to order the ſpeach, and curiouſly to diſcuſſe euerie particular part, agreeth to the auctor of an hiſtorie▪

32 but to purſew the breuitie of ſpeach, & to auoyde the exact declarations of thinges, is to be granted to him that abridgeth.

33 From hence then wil we begine the narration: of the preface let it be ſufficient to haue ſayd thus much. for it is a foolish thing before the hiſtorie to flow ouer, and in the hiſtorie to be shorte. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 2

• 1 [::] S. Ambroſe, li 3. c. 14. Offic. vvriteth at large of this miracle.
• 3 Epiſ. Iere. Baruc. 6.
• 4 [::] Neither the tabernacle nor the arke vvere caried avvay by Nabuchodonoſor, but vvere preſerued by ſome meanes: and moſt like (beſides the auctoritie of this ſcripture) by Ieremie the propher, vvho had ſpocial fauour of the Babylonians, vvhen Ieruſalem vvas taken. Iere. 39. v. 11.
• 8 Ex⟨illegible⟩. 40. 3. R⟨illegible⟩g. 8.
• 10 ⟨illegible⟩euit. 9. 7. 24.
• 14 [::] This ſemeth to be the ſame Iudas Eſſenus vvho vvith others vvritte this epiſtle, ch. ⟨illegible⟩. v. 10.
• 19 [*] li. 2. c. 15. v. 38.
• 20 [::] After the auctor had written this Appendix to the former booke, he reſolued alſo to adde an abridgement of the vvhole hiſtorie, vvherunto he maketh this Preface, ſignifying the matter vvherof he vvil vvrite v. 20. in vvhat maner. v. 24. and why, v 25. auouching his diligence. v. 26. vvith breuitie. v. 29.
• 20 A
• 25 [::] God aſſiſting the vvti⟨illegible⟩ers of diuine hiſtories, doth not alvvayes deliuer them from labour in ſeeking to knovv the ſame of ſueh as knew particular thinges. So S Luke vvritte the Goſpel, hauing diligently attained to al thinges Luc. 1. v. 3.
• 29 [*] exact declaration.
• 33 [*] li. 1. c. 1. v. 1.

Chapter 3

CHAP. III. VVhen Ieruſalem was in peace, and good order, by the care of Onias high prieſt, and king Seleucus fauoured pious workes, 4. Simon a wicked [Margin: The firſt part The perſecution of the Church by Antiochus.] churchwarden, betrayeth the treaſure of the Sanctuarie: 7. VVher upon Heliodorus ſent by the king, and after curteous intertainment, declaring that he muſt carie al the money to the king, is reſiſted by Onias with others, deuoutly commending the cauſe to God. 23. He neuertheles attempting the ſacrilege, is terrified by a viſion, ſore beaten, and in deſperate miſerie, 31. by Onias ſacrifice and prayers, is reſtored to health: 35 and returning home confeſſeth the powre of God.

1 THEREFORE when the holie [::] citie was inhabited in [1]. al peace, [2]. the lawes alſo as yet were very wel kept, becauſe of Onias [3] the high prieſt his pietie, & minde that hated euils,

2 it came to paſſe that kinges alſo themſelues, and princes eſteemed the place worthie of high honour, and glorified the temple with verie great giftes:

3 ſo that Seleucus the king of Aſia of his reuenewes allowed al the charges perteyning to the miniſterie of the ſacrifices.

4 But :: Simon of the tribe of Beniamin, being appointed ouerſeer of the temple, ⟨illegible⟩contended, the prince of the prieſtes reſiſting him, to worke ſome wicked thing in the citie.

5 And 2. when he could not ouercome Onias, he came to Appollonius the ſonne of Tharſaeas, who at that time was gouernour of Caeleſyria, and Phaenicia:

6 and told him, that the treaſurie at Ieruſalem was ful of innumerable deale of money, and the common ſtore to be infinite, which perteyne not to the account of the ſacrifices: and that it is poſſible, al might fal into the kings powre.

7 And 3. when Appollonius had made relation to the king, concerning the money that he was told of he calling for Heliodorus, who was ouer his affayres, ſent him with commiſſion to tranſport the foreſayde money.

8 And forthwith Heliodorus began to take his iourney, in shew in dede as if he would goe viſite the cities through out Coeleſyria and Phaenicia, but in very deede to accomplish the kings purpoſe.

9 But when he was come to Ieruſalem, and was curteouſly receiued in the citie by the highprieſt, he told of the the aduertiſment geuen of the money: and opened for what cauſe he was come: and asked if theſe thinges were ſo in very deede.

10 Then the highprieſt shewed that theſe were depoſita, and the liuelihoods of widowes, and pupils:

11 but certaine of them to belong vnto Hircanus of Tobie a very noble man, among theſe thinges, which impious Simon had promoted, & the whole to be of ſiluer foure hundred talents, and of gold two hundred.

12 And that they should be deceiued which had committed it to the place, & the temple, that is honoured through out the whole world, to be a thing, for the reuerence, and holines therof altogether vnpoſſible.

13 But he by reaſon of thoſe thinges, which he had in commiſſion of the king, ſayd in any wiſe that they muſt be caried to the king.

14 And on a day appointed, Heliodorus entered in to take order concerning theſe thinges. But there was noe ſmal trembling through out the whole citie.

15 And the prieſtes caſt themſelues before the altar with their prieſtes ſtoles, and inuocated him from heauen, which made the law of depoſita, that he would kepe the thinges ſafe, from them that had depoſed them.

16 But now he that ſaw the countenance of the high prieſt, was wounded in minde: for his face and colour being changed declared the inner ſorow of the minde.

17 For there was a certaine penſiuenes powred about the man, and horrour of the bodie, wherby the ſorow of his hart was made manifeſt to them that beheld him.

18 Others alſo came flocking together out of their houſes: praying with publicke ſupplication, for that the place was to come into contempt.

19 And the wemen hauing their breaſt girded with heareclothes, came together through the ſtretes. Yea and the virgins [::] that were shut vp, came forth to Onias, and ſome to the walles, but ſome looked through the windowes:

20 and al ſtretching forth their handes vnto heauen, prayed.

21 For the expectation of the confuſe multitude, and of the grand prieſt being in an agonie, was miſerable.

22 And theſe certes inuocated almightie God, that the thinges committed to them, might be performed with al integritie for them that had committed the ſame of truſt.

23 But Heliodorus exerciſed that which he had decreed in the ſame place himſelf preſent with his gard about the treaſurie.

24 But the ſpirit of almightie God made great euidence of his appearing, ſo that al which had preſumed to obey him, falling by the vertue of God, were turned into diſſolution and feare.

25 For [::] there appeared to them a certaine horſe hauing a terrible rider, adorned with very rich harneſſe: and he with feircenes ſtroke Heliodorus with his forefoote, and he that ſate vpon him, ſeemed to haue armour of gold.

26 There appeared alſo two other yong men comely for ſtrength, excellent of glorie, and beautiful in attyre: which ſtood about him, and on both ſides whipped him, beating him with manie ſtripes without intermiſſion.

27 And Heliodorus ſodenly fel on the ground, & they tooke him being couered round about with much darkenes, and being ſet in a ſeate portatiue, they thruſt him forth.

28 And he that with manie currers, and men of his garde entered into the foreſayde treaſurie, was caried no man geuing him ſuccourſe, the manifeſt powre of God being knowne.

29 And he in deede by the powre of God lay dumbe, and depriued of al hope, and health.

30 But they bleſſed our Lord, becauſe he magnified his place: and the temple, that a little before was ful of feare and tumult, almightie God appearing, was filled with ioy and gladnes.

31 And then certaine of the freindes of Heliodorus forth with deſired Onias, that he would inuocate the higheſt to geue him life, who was at the very laſt gaſpe.

32 And the high prieſt conſidering leaſt perhaps the king might ſuſpect ſome malice on the Iewes part downe aboute Heliodorus, offered for the health of the man an healthful hoſt.

33 And when the high prieſt by prayer obteyned, the ſelfe ſame yong men, clothed with the ſame garments, ſtanding by Heliodorus, ſayd: Geue thankes to Onias the prieſt: for him hath our Lord geuen thee life.

34 But thou being ſcourged of God, declare vnto al men the great workes and the powre of God. And theſe thinges being ſayd, they appeared no more.

35 And Heliodorus hauing offered an hoſt to God, and hauing promiſed great vowes to him, that granted him to liue, and geuing thankes to Onias, taking his armie againe returned to the king.

36 And he teſtified to al men thoſe workes of the great God, which he had ſeene before his owne eyes.

37 And when the king had asked Heliodorus; who was meete to be ſent yet once more to Ieruſalem, he ſayd:

38 If thou haue anie enemie, or traytour to thy kingdome, ſend him thither, and thou shalt receiue him againe ſcourged, if yet he eſcape: becauſe there is vndoubtedly in the place a certaine powre of God.

39 For he that hath his dwelling in the heauens, is the viſiter, and helper of that place, & them that come to doe euil, he ſtriketh, and deſtroyeth.

40 Therefore concerning Heliodorus, and the keping of the treaſurie ſo the matter ſtandeth.

Marginal notes to Chapter 3

• 1 [::] Three thinges make a cōmonwealth to be in good ſtate.
• 1 C
• 1 [1] Good agreement of principal men amongſt themſelues, & with the commonaltie.
• 1 [2] Exact obſeruation of good lavves:
• 1 [3] And eminent vertue of the ſupreme gouernour vvith exerciſe of pietie and hate of ſinnes.
• 7 :: Other three thinges do truble the ſtate: Obſtinacie in offenders, not content to be corrected. 2 Inueterate malice ſeking reuenge againſt iuſt Superiors. 3. and auarice of princes, to robbe the holie or common treaſure.
• 19 [::] Theſe virgins remained in places nere to the temple, brought vp in exerciſes of pietie, faſting and praying, til they were deſpouſed. 1. Reg. 2. v. 22. S. Amb. li. 1. de virgine. S. Greg. Niſſen: Orat. de Chriſt Natiuit. S. Damaſ. li. 4. c. 13.
• 25 [::] 4. Reg. 2. v. 11. A firie chariotte and firie horſes caried Elias from Elizeus. 4. Reg. 6. v. 17. And the mountaine appeared ful of horſes, and of firie chariots round about Elizeus, no leſſe ſtrange then this viſion. See S. Ambroſe li. 2. c 29. offic. diſcourſing vpon this hiſtorie.

Chapter 4

CHAP. IIII. Onias defamed & moleſted by Simon, repayreth to the king to procure peace. 7. Seleucus dying, & Antiochus reigning, laſon by promiſing money to the king, getteth the office of highprieſt from his brother Onias: 10. and peruerteth religion: 12. ſetteth vp a wicked ſchoole, wherby manie are corrupted: 8. ſendeth money for ſacrifice to be offered to Hercules, which is imployed in making gallees. 21. Antiochus is receiued with great pompe into Ieruſalem. 23. Menelaus by promiſe of more money getteth the high prieſthood from Iaſon. 29. He alſo is depoſed, and his brother Liſimachus put in the place. 32. Andronicus trayterouſly murdereth Onias. 36. and for the ſame is ſlaine by the kings commandment: 39. and Lyſimachus by the people. 43. Menelaus iuſtly accuſed eſcapeth by bribing, and the innocent are ſlaine.

1 BVR Simon the foreſayde betrayer of the money, and of his countrie, [::] ſpake il of Onias, as though he had ſtirred vp Heliodorus to theſe thinges, and had bene the mouer of the euils:

2 and the prouider for the citie, and defender of his nation, and the emulatour of the law of God, he preſumed to cala ſecret betrayer of the kingdom.

3 But when the emnities proceeded ſo far, that murders alſo were committed by certaine of Simons familiars:

4 Onias conſidering the peril of the contention, and that Appollonius being gouernour of Caeleſyria, and Phaenicia, was outragious, which encreaſed the malice of Simon, :: went to the king,

5 not as an accuſer of the citizens, but conſidering with himſelf the common profite of the whole multitude.

6 For he ſaw that without the kings prouidence it was vnpoſſible that peace should be made in thoſe matters, & that Simon would not ceaſe from his follie. [*]

7 But after Seleucus departure out of life, when Antiochus that was called the Noble, had taken the kingdom vpon him, Iaſon the brother of Onias ambiciouſly ſought the highpricſthood:

8 going to the king, promiſing him three hundred three ſcore talents of ſiluer, and of other reuenewes foure ſcore talents,

9 aboue this he promiſed alſo an hundred fiftie more, if leaue might be granted him to make a ſchole, and a place for youth, and to intitle them, that were at Ieruſalem, Antiochians.

10 Which when the king had granted, and he had obteyned the princedom, forth with he began to tranſport his countrie men to the heathen rite.

11 And theſe thinges being taken away, which of fauoure had bene decreed by kinges vnto the Iewes, and through Iohn the father of the Eupolemus, who was embaſſadour with the Romans concerning amitie and ſocietie, he diſanulling the lawful rites of the citizens, made wicked ordinances.

12 For he preſumed vnder the verie caſtle to ſet vp a ſchoole, and to put al the goodlieſt youthes in brothel houſes.

13 And this was not the beginning, but a certaine increaſe, and going forward of the heathen and ſtrange conuerſation, through the abhominable neuer heard before, of Iaſon the impious and not a prieſt.

14 So that the prieſtes were not now occupied about the offices of the altar, but [::] the temple being contemned, & the ſacrifices neglected, they haſtened to be pertakers of the gamme of wraſtling, and of the vniuſt maintenance therof, and in the exerciſe of the coyte.

15 And ſetting nought by the honours of their fathers, they eſteemed the Greeke glories for the beſt:

16 by reaſon wherof they had dangerous contention, and they had emulation toward their ordinances, and in al thinges they coueted to be like to them, whom they had enemies and murderers.

17 For to doe impiouſly againſt the lawes of God eſcapeth not vnpunished, but this the time folowing wil declare.

18 And when the gamme vſed euerie fifth yeare was kept at Tyre, and the king was preſent,

19 the wicked Iaſon ſent from Ieruſalem ſinful men, carying three hundred didrachmaes of ſiluer for the ſacrifice of Hercules, which they that caryed it, requeſted that it might not be beſtowed on the ſacrifices, becauſe it ought not, but that it might be deputed for other charges.

20 And theſe were offered in dede by him that ſent them, vnto the ſacrifice of Hercules: but becauſe of them that were preſent they were geuen to the making of gallees. [*]

21 And Apollonius the ſonne of Mneſtheus being ſent into Aegypt becauſe of the nobles of Ptolomee Philometor the king, [::] when Antiochus vnderſtood that himſelf was made an alien from the affaires of the kingdom, prouiding for his owne commodities, departing thence he came to Ioppe, and from thence to Ieruſalem.

22 And being magnifically receiued of Iaſon, and the citie, entered in with torch lights, and with prayſes: and from thence he turned his armie into Phaenicia.

23 And after the time of three yeares Iaſon ſent Menelaus brother of the foreſaide Simon, carying money to the king, and to bring anſwers of neceſſarie affayres.

24 But he being commended to the king, when he had magnified the preſence of his power, wreſted the high prieſthood vpon him ſelf, ouer bidding Iaſon three hundred talents of ſiluer.

25 And hauing receiued commiſſion from the king, he came, hauing in deede nothing worthie of the prieſthood: but bearing the mind of a cruel tyrant, and the wrath of a wilde beaſt.

26 And Iaſon indeede who had circumuented his owne brother, being himſelf deceiued was driuen out a fugitiue into the countrie of the Ammanites.

27 And [::] Menelaus obteyned the princedom: but concerning the money promiſed to the king he did nothing, wheras Soſtratus that was gouernour of the caſtel exacted it.

28 For to him perteyned the exacting of the tributes: for which cauſe they were both called out to the king.

29 And Menelaus was remoued from the prieſthood, Lyſimachus his brother ſucceeding: and Soſtratus was made gouernour of the Cyprians.

30 And when theſe things were a doing, it chanced the Tha⟨illegible⟩ſians, and the Mallotians to moue ſedition, becauſe they were geuen for a gift to king Antiochus concubine.

31 The king therfore came in haſt to pacifie them, one of his companions Adronicus being lefte ſubſtitute.

32 But Menelaus ſuppoſing that he had taken a conuenient time, ſtealing certaine veſſels of gold out of the temple, gaue them to Adronicus, and others he had ſould at Tyre, & in their neere cities:

33 Which thing when Onias vnderſtood moſt certainly, he rebuked him, keeping himſelf in a ſafe place at Antioche beſide Daphne.

34 Wherupon Menelaus coming to Andronicus, deſired him to kil Onias. Who when he was come to Onias, and right handes being geuen with an oath (although he was ſuſpected of him) had perſwaded him to come out of the ſanctuarie, immediatly he ſlew him, not reuerencing iuſtice.

35 For which cauſe not only the Iewes, but alſo other nations likewiſe were offended, and tooke it greuouſly for the vniuſt murder of ſo great a man.

36 But when the king was returned out of the places of Cilicia, the Iewes went vnto him at Antioch, and alſo [::] the Greekes: complayning of the vniuſt murder of Onias.

37 Antiochus therefore was ſorie in his minde for Onias, and being inclined to pitie, he shed teares, remembring the ſobrietie and modeſtie of the deceaſed.

38 And his hart being incenſed, he commanded Andronicus being ſpoiled of the purple, to be led about al the citie: and that in the ſame place, wherin he had committed the impiety vpon Onias, the ſacrilegious perſon should be depriued of his life, our Lord repaying him worthie punishment.

39 And manie ſacrilegies being committed of Lyſimachus in the temple by the counſel of Menelaus, and the rumour being bruited abrode, the multitude gathered together againſt Lyſimachus, much gold being now caryed out.

40 But the multitudes making inſurrection, and their mindes replenished with anger, Lyſimachus arming almoſt three thouſand began to vſe vniuſt handes, a certaine tyrant being captaine farre growne in age, and alſo in madnes.

41 But as they vnderſtood the endeuour of Lyſimachus, ſome tooke ſtones, ſome ſtrong clubbles: and certaine threw ashes.

42 And manie in deede were wounded, & certaine alſo throwne to the ground, but al were put to flight: the ſacrilegious perſon alſo himſelf they ſlew beſide the treaſurie.

43 Concerning theſe thinges therefore iudgement began to be commenced againſt Menelaus.

44 And when the king was come to Tyre, three men ſent from the ancients, put vp the matter vnto him.

45 And when Menelaus was ouercome, he promiſed P⟨illegible⟩olomee. to geue much money to perſwade the king.

46 P⟨illegible⟩olomee therfore went to the king being in a certaine courte, as it were to coole himſelf, and brought him from his purpoſe:

47 and Menelaus certes being guiltie of al the euil was quitted of the crimes: and the poore wretches, who if they had pleaded the cauſe euen before Scythians should be iudged innocent, them he commanded to death.

48 Quickly then did they vniuſtly ſuffer, which proſecuted the cauſe for the citie, & the people, and the ſacred veſſels.

49 For the which thing the Tyrians alſo being offended, were very liberal towards the burial of them.

50 But Menelaus becauſe of their auarice that were in power, continewed in authoritie, increaſing in malice to the betraying of the citizens.

Marginal notes to Chapter 4

• 1 [::] It is the common practiſe of al traytors to calumniate and defame good gouerners. And the beſt remedie a gainſt ſuch ſeducers is by auctoritie of Superior povvre, not by the people, vvho are commonly more prone to fauour faction then iuſtice.
• 6 [*] li. 1. c. 1. v. 11.
• 7 E
• 14 [::] VVhere true Religion is aboliſhed, moſt men neglect al ſhew of religion, and rather applie themſelues to vanities, or woiſe ſinnes.
• 20 [*] li. 1. c. 1. v. 17.
• 21 G
• 21 [::] This king falſly pretended to reſtore his kinſman (his ſiſters, ſonne) to the kingdom being depriued by his younger brother (Liuius li. 44) but the true cauſe of his ſending Apolonius into Aegypt, was to ſubdue that kingdom to himſelf. 1. Mach. 1. v. 17.
• 27 [::] Menelaus brother of Simon (v. 23) of the tribe of Beniamin (ch. 3. v. 4.) vvas not by the law capable of the prieſthood, which only perteined to the progenie of Aaron of the tribe of Leui So in this trubleſome time the right ſucceſſion of high prieſtes was intermitted, and reſtored in Mathathias. li. 1. c. 2.
• 36 [::] True and ſolide vertue moued the common people to compaſſion, the King himſelf to teares, the Tyrians to honour the bodies of the innocent with coſtlie burial. v. 49.

Chapter 5

CHAP. V. Viſions of armies fighting in the ayre appeare in Ieruſalem fourtie dayes. 5. Iaſon with a thouſand men ſurpriſeth the citie, killeth, manie citizens, but is expulſed and dyeth myſerably. 11. Antiochus perſecuteth the Iewes, 15. ſpoyleth the temple, and prophaneth holie thinges. 27. Iudas with others flee into the deſert.

1 AT the ſame time Antiochus prepared a ſecond iourney into Aegypt.

2 And it came to paſſe: that through out the whole citie of Ieruſalem were ſenne for fourtie dayes in the ayre horſemen running hither & thither, hauing golden ſtoles, and ſpeares, as it were companies armed,

3 and courſing of horſes ſet in orders by rankes, and that there were encounterings together neere hand, and shakings of sheildes, and a multitude of men in helmets with ſwordes drawen, and throwing of darts, and the glittering of golden armour, and of al kind of harnes.

4 Wherefore al prayed that the wonders might be turned to good.

5 But when there was a falſe rumour gone forth, as though Antiochus had bene parted this life, Iaſon taking vnto him no leſſe then a thouſand men, ſuddenly ſet vpon the citie: and the citizens flying together to the wal, at the laſt the citie being taken, Menelaus fled into the caſtel.

6 But Iaſon ſpared not his citizens in murder, nor conſidered, that proſperitie againſt kinſmen is a verie great euil, ſuppoſing that he should take the victorious ſpoiles of the enemies, and not of his citizens.

7 And the princedome verily he obteyned not, but receiued confuſion, the end of his treacherie, and went againe a fugitiue into the countrie of the Ammanites.

8 At the laſt to his owne deſtruction being incloſed of Aretas the tyrant of the Arabians, flying from citie to citie, odious to al men, as an apoſtata from the lawes, and execrable, as an enemie of his countrie and citizens, he was thruſt out into Egypt:

9 and he that had expelled manie out of their countrie, perished in a ſtrange place, going to the Lacedemonians, as being like [::] for kindred ſake to haue refuge there:

10 but he that caſt away manie vnburyed, himſelf both vnlamented, and vnburyed is caſt forth, neither enioying forrein buryal, nor partaker of the ſepulcher of his fathers [*]

11 Theſe thinges therefore being done, the king ſuſpected that the Iewes would forſake the ſocietie: and for this departing out of Aegypt with a furious mind, he tooke the citie by armes.

12 And he bad the ſouldiars kil, and not ſpare them that came in their way, to murder them that went vp into the houſes.

13 Slaughters therfore were made of youngmen & old, and deſtructions of wemen and children, and murders of virgins and litle ones.

14 And there were in the whole three dayes foure ſcore thouſand ſlaine, fourtie thouſand priſoners, and no leſſe ſold.

15 But neither do theſe thinges ſuffice, he preſumed alſo to enter into the temple, in al the earth the moſt holie, Menelaus being his leader, who was betrayer of the lawes, and his countrie.

16 And with wicked handes taking the holie veſſels, which by other kinges and cities were ſet for the ornament and the glorie of the place, he vnworthily handled and contaminated them.

17 So Antiochus being alienated in minde, conſidered not, that for the ſinnes of them that inhabit the citie, God had bene angrie a litle: for the which alſo hapned the contempte about the place:

18 otherwiſe vnles it had chanced them to haue bene wrapped in manie ſinnes, as Heliodorus, who was ſent of Seleucus the king to ſpoile the treaſurie, this man alſo immediately as he came had bene ſcourged, and repelled verily from his boldnes.

19 But [::] not the nation for the place, but the place for the nation hath God choſen.

20 And therefore the place alſo it ſelf is made partaker of the peoples euils: but afterward it shal be partaker of the good thinges, and it that was forſaken in the wrath of almightie God, shal be exalted againe with great glorie in the reconciliation of the great Lord.

21 Therefore Antiochus hauing taken away out of the temple a thouſand and eight hundred talents, ſpedily went backe to Antioch, thinking through pride, that he might bring the land to ſayle vpon, & the ſea to goe vpon, through haughtines of minde.

22 And he left alſo rulers to afflict the nation: at Ieruſalem, Philip a Phrygian borne, more cruel of maners then he himſelf by whom he was appointed:

23 and in Garizim Andronicus and Menelaus, who lay more greiuouſly vpon the citizens then the reſt.

24 And wheras he was ſet againſt the Iewes, he ſent the odious prince Apollonius with an armie of two & twentie thouſand, commanding him to kil al of perfect age, to ſel the wemen and the young ones.

25 Who when he was come to Ieruſalem, feyning peace, reſted vntil the holie day of the Sabbath: and then the Iewes keping holie day, he commanded his men to take weapons.

26 And he murdered al that were gone forth to behold the gammes: & running through the citie with armed men he ſlew a very greate multitude.

27 But Iudas Machabeus, who was [::] the tenth, was retyred into a deſert place, and there amongſt wilde beaſtes he led his life in the mountaines with his companie: and they abode eating meate of graſſe, that they might not be partakers of the contamination.

Marginal notes to Chapter 5

• 9 [::] Strange thinges aboue the ordinarie courſe of nature doe euer ſignifie Gods vvrath, for mens tranſgreſſion, and are admonitions to turne from ſinne, vvith ſpede that vve may eſcape the heauie hand of Gods iuſtice. So the Emperour Charles the Great interpreted the apparition of a great Comete as vvitneſſeth. Faſciculus temporum.
• 10 :: Lacedemonians othervviſe called Spartians, deſcended from the ſtocke of Abraham li. 1. c. 12. v. 2.
• 10 [*] li. 1. c. 1. v. 21.
• 11 I
• 18 ch. 3. v. 23. 27.
• 19 [::] Al rites of religion vvith temples and other holie thinges are ordayned to the Seruice of God, and for mens ſpiritual good and therfore vvhen men ceaſe to ſerue God, as holie thinges are deſtroyed, or taken avvay.
• 27 [::] Iudas vvas the tenth lawful highprieſt from the Monarchie of the Grecians.

Chapter 6

CHAP. VI. The law of God is abolished, the temple prophaned, and named of Iupiter Olympius. 7. The feaſt of Bacchus is kept. 10. wemen with their circumciſed children are ſlaine. 11. others for celebrating the ſabbath (12. an admonition to the reader) 18. old Eleazarus conſtantly obſeruing the law ſuffereth glorious death.

1 BVT not long after the king ſent a certaine ancient man of Antioch, that should compel the Iewes to remoue them ſelues from the lawes of their fathers and of God:

2 to contaminate alſo the temple that was in Ieruſalem, and to cal it by the name of Iupiter Olympius: and in [::] Garizim, according as they were that inhabited the place, of Iupiter Hoſpitalis.

3 And the inuaſion of the euiles was ſore and grieucus to al:

4 for the temple was ful of the lecherie and glottonie of the Gentiles: & of them that played the harlots with whoores. And wemen thruſting themſelues of their owne accord into the ſacred houſes, bringing in thouſe thinges which were not lawful.

5 The altar alſo was ful of vnlawful thinges, which were forbidden by the lawes.

6 And neither were the Sabbaths kept, not the ſoleme dayes of the fathers obſerued neither plainely did anie man confeſſe him ſelfe to be a Iewe.

7 But they were led with bitter neceſſitie in the kings birth day to ſacrifices: and when the feaſt of Bacchus was kept, they were compelled to goe about crowned with Iuie vnto Bacchus.

8 And there went forth a decree into the next cities of the Gentiles, the Ptolomeans geuing the aduiſe, that they alſo in like manner should doe againſt the Iewes, that they ſacrifice:

9 and them that would not paſte to the ordinances of the heathen, [::] they should kil. A man then might ſee the miſerie.

10 For [1]. two wemen were accuſed to haue circuncided their children: whom, the infantes hanging at their breaſts, when they had openly led them about through the citie, they threwe downe headlong by the walles.

11 And others coming together to the next caues, & ſecretely 2. keping the day of the Sabbath, when they were diſcouered to Philip, were burnt with fyre, becauſe they feared for religion and obſeruance, to helpe themſelues with their hand.[2]

12 But I beſeech them that shal read this booke, [::] that they abhorre not for the aduerſities, but that they account thoſe thinges, which haue happened, not to be for the deſtruction, but for the chaſtening of our ſtocke.

13 For not to ſuffer ſinners a long time to doe as they wil, but forthwith to punish, is a token of a great benefite.

14 For, not as in other nations our Lord patiently expecteth, that when the day of iudgement shal come, he may punish them in the fulnes of ſinnes:

15 ſo alſo doth he determine in vs, that our ſinnes being come to the end, ſo at length he may punish vs.

16 For which cauſe he neuer certes remoueth away his mercie from vs: but chaſtening his people by aduerſitie, he forſaketh them not.

17 But let theſe thinges be ſayd of vs in few wordes for an admonition of the readers. And now we muſt come to the ſtorie.

18 Therfore [3] Eleazarus one [::] of the chief of the Scribes, a man ſtriken in age, and comely of countenance, with open mouth gaping was compelled to eate ſwines flesh.

19 But he embracing rather a moſt glorious death then an hateful life, went before voluntarily to the punishment.

20 And conſidering how he ought to come patiently ſuſteyning, he determined not to committe vnalwful thinges for loue of life.

21 But they that ſtood by, moued with vnlawful pitie, for the old frendshipe of the man, taking him in ſecrete, deſired that flesh might be brought, which it was lawful for him to eate, that he [::] might feyne to haue eaten, as the king had commanded, of the flesh of the ſacrifice:

22 that by this fact he might be deliuered from death: and for the old freindshipe of the man, they did him this courteſie.

23 But he begane to thinke vpon the worthie preeminence of his age and ancientnes, and the houre heares of natural nobilitie, & his doinges from a childe of very good conuerſation, and according to the ordinances, and the holie law made of God, he anſwered quickly, ſaying: that he would rather [::] be ſent vnto hel.

24 For it is not meete, quoth he, for our [::] age to feyne: that manie young men thinking, that Eleazarus of foure ſcore yeare & tenne is paſſed to the life of Aliens:

25 they alſo through my diſſimulation, and for a litle time of corruptible life, may be deceiued, and hereby I may purchaſe a ſtayne, and a curſe to mine old age.

26 For although at this preſent time I be deliuered from the punishments of men, yet neither aliue nor dead shal I eſcape the hand of the Almightie.

27 Wherfore in departing manfully out of this life, I shal appeare worthie of mine old age:

28 and to yong men I shal leaue a conſtant example, if with readie mind and ſtoutly I ſuffer an honeſt death, for the moſt graue and moſt holie lawes. Theſe thinges being ſpoken, forthwith he was drawen to execution.

29 And they that led him, and had bene a litle before more milde, were turned into wrath for the wordes ſpoken of him, which they thought were vttered through arrogancie.

30 But when he was now in killing with the ſtrokes, he groned, and ſayd: O Lord, which haſt the holie knowlege, thou knoweſt manifeſtly that wheras I might be deliuered from death, I doe ſuſteyne ſore paines of the bodie: but according to the ſoule, for thy feare I doe willingly ſuffer theſe thinges.

31 And this man certes in this maner departed this life, leauing not only to yong men, but alſo to the whole nation the memorie of his death for an example of vertue and fortitude.

Marginal notes to Chapter 6

• 2 [::] Sanaballat in the time of Alexander the great procured a temple to be built in Garizim like to that in Ieruſalem. An other was built in Aegypt by Ananias in in the time of Ptolomee Philometor both ſchiſmatical. Ioſephus. l. 11. c. S. & li. 13. c. 6.
• 9 [::] Beſides former great maſaker. c 5. foure moſt notorious martyrdomes are here related.
• 10 [1] Vvemen with their circumciſed children.
• 11 [2] Other people for keeping the ſabbath.
• 12 [::] A neceſſaire admonition to the weake in time of perſecucion.
• 18 [3] Eleazarus nintie yeares old cruelly ſlaine.
• 18 [::] He vvas excellently lerned in holie Scriptures and in al diuine and humane knovvlege.
• 21 [::] To feyne or make outvvard ſhevv of conſent to falſe religion, is neuer lavvful.
• 23 [::] In the old reſtament none could enter into heauen, but the moſt iuſt went to Limbus when they died.
• 24 [::] Old age (ſaith S. Ambroſe. li. 2. c. 10. de Iacob patri.) ought to be the hauen, not the ſhipvvrake of thy former life.

Chapter 7

CHAP. VII. The noble Martyrdome of ſeuen refuſing to eate ſwines flesh: and boldly admonishing king Antiochus of his damnable ſtate. 41. Laſtly the mother (hauing encoreged her ſonnes) likewiſe dyeth gloriouſly.

1 AND it came to paſſe, [4] that ſeuen brethren together with their mother being apprehended, to be compelled by the king to eate againſt the law ſwines flesh, were tormented with whippes and ſcourges.

2 But one of them which was the firſt, ſayd thus: What ſeekeſt thou, and what wilt thou lerne of vs? we are readie to dye rather then to tranſgreſſe the lawes of God, coming from our fathers.

3 The king therfore being wrath commanded frying pannes, and braſen pottes to be heated:

4 the which forth with being heated, he commanded his tongue, that had ſpoken firſt, to be cut out: and the skinne of his head being drawen of, the endes alſo of his handes and feete to be chopped of, the reſt of his bretheren, and his mother looking on.

5 And when he was now made in al partes vnprofitable, he commanded fire to be put vnto him, and that breathing as yet he should be fried in the frying panne: wherin when he was long tormented, the reſt together with the mother exhorted one an other to dye manfully,

6 ſaying: Our Lord God wil behold the truth, and wil take pleaſure in vs, as Moyſes declared in the profeſſion of the Canticle: And in his ſeruants he wil take pleaſure.

7 That firſt therfore being dead in this maner, they brought the next to make him a mocking ſtocke: & the skinne of his head with the heares being drawen of, they asked if he would eare, before that he were punished throughout the whole bodie in euerie member.

8 But he anſwering in his countrie ſpeach, ſaid: I wil not doe it. Wherfore this alſo in the next place, receiued the torments of the firſt:

9 and being at the verie laſt gaſpe, thus he ſaid: Thou in dede ô moſt wicked man in this preſent life deſtroyeſt vs: but the king of the world wil raiſe vs vp which dye for his lawes, in the reſurrection of eternal life.

10 After him the third is had in deriſion, and being demanded his tongue, he quickly put it forth, and conſtantly ſtretched out his handes:

11 and with confidence he ſaid: From heauen doe I poſſeſſe theſe, but for the lawes of God now doe I contemne theſe ſelfe ſame, becauſe I hope that I shal receiue them againe of him.

12 So that the king, and they that were with him merueled at the yong mans courege, becauſe he eſtemed the torments as nothing.

13 And this being thus dead, the fourth they vexed in like maner tormenting him.

14 And when he was now euen to dye, thus he ſaid: It is better for them that are put to death by men to exſpect hope of God, that they shal be rayſed vp againe by him. For to thee there shal not be reſurrection vnto life.

15 And when they had brought the fifth, they tormented him. But he looking vpon him,

16 ſayd: Thou hauing power among men, wheras thou art corruptible doeſt what thou wilt: but thinke not that our ſtock is forſaken of God.

17 And doe thou patiently abide, and thou shalt ſee his great power, in what ſort he wil torment thee, and thy ſeede.

18 After him they brought the ſixth, and he beginning to dye, ſayd thus: Be not deceiued vainely: for we ſuffer this for our owne ſakes, ſinning againſt our God, and thinges worthie of admiration are done in vs:

19 but doe not thinke that thou shalt eſcape vnpunished, for that thou haſt attempted to fight againſt God.

20 But the mother aboue meaſure meruelous, and worthie of good mens memorie, which beholding her ſeuen ſonnes perishing in one dayes ſpace, bare it with a good hart, for the hope that she had in God:

21 exhorted euerie one of them in their countrie language manfully, being replenished with wiſedome: and ioyning a mans hart to a womans cogitation,

22 she ſayd to them: I know not how you appeared in my wombe: for neither did I geue you ſpirit and ſoule and life, and the members of euerie one I my ſelfe framed not.

23 But in deede the Creator of the world, that hath formed the natiuitie of man, and that inuented the origine of al, & he wil reſtore againe with mercie vnto you ſpirit and life, as now you deſpiſe your ſelues for his lawes.

24 But Antiochus thinking himſelfe contemned, and withal deſpiſing the voice of the vpbrayder, when the yonger was yet aliue, he did not only exhort with wordes, but alſo with oth he affirmed that he would make him rich & happie, and being turned from the lawes of his fathers, he would account him a freind, and geue him thinges neceſſarie.

25 But when the yong man was not inclined to theſe thinges, the king called the mother, and counſelled her to deale with the yong man to ſaue his life.

26 And when he had exhorted her in manie wordes, [::] she promiſed that she would counſel her ſonne.

27 Therfore bending towards him, [::] mocking the cruel tyrant, she ſayd in her countrie language: My ſonne haue pitie on me, which haue borne thee in my wombe nine moneths, and gaue thee milke for three yeares, and nourished thee, and brought thee vnto this age.

28 I beſeech thee my ſonne, that thou looke to heauen and earth, and to al thinges that are in them: and vnderſtand that God of nothing made them and mankinde:

29 ſo shal it come to paſſe, that thou wilt not feare this tormenter but being made a worthie partaker with thy bretheren, take thou death, that in that mercie I may receiue thee againe with thy bretheren.

30 When she as yet was ſaying theſe thinges, the yong man ſayd: For whom ſtay you? I obey not the commandement of the king, but the commandement of the law, which was geuen vs by Moyſes.

31 But thou that art become the inuenter of al malice againſt the Hebrewes, shal not eſcape the hand of God.

32 For we for our ſinnes doe ſuffer theſe thinges.

33 And if the Lord our God hath bene angrie with vs a litle for rebuke & correction: yet he wil be reconciled againe to his ſeruants.

34 But thou ô wicked, and of al men moſt flagicious, be not in vaine extolled with vaine hopes, inflamed againſt his ſeruantes.

35 For thou haſt not yet eſcaped the iudgement of the almightie God, and him that beholdeth al thinges.

36 For my bretheren hauing now ſuſteyned short payne, are become vnder the teſtament of eternal life: but thou by the iudgement of God shalt receiue iuſt punishment for thy pride.

37 And I as alſo my brethren doe yeld my life and my bodie for the lawes of our fathets: inuocating God to be propicious to our nation quickly, and that thou with torments and ſtripes maiſt confeſſe that he onlie is God.

38 But in me and in my brethren shal the wrath of the Almightie ceaſe, which hath iuſtly bene brought vpon al our ſtocke.

39 Then the king incenſed with anger, raged againſt him more cruelly aboue al the reſt, taking it grieuouſly that he was mocked.

40 And this ſame therfore died vnſpotted, wholy truſting in our Lord.

41 And laſt of al after the ſonnes the mother alſo was conſumed.

42 Therfore of the ſacrifices, and of the exceeding cruelties there is ynough ſayd. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 7

• 1 [4] The fourth Martyrdom vvas of ſeuen bretheren and their mother. ⟨illegible⟩ VVhoſoeuer pleaſe to read more of theſe glorious Martyres, may ſec the large diſcourſes of Flanius Ioſephus in his booke de Machabeis, And of ſundrie ancient Fathers: S. Cyprian. li: 4. Epiſt. ep. 6. S. Chryſoſtom, homilia de natiuitate ſeptem Machabaeorum. S. Ambroſe li. 1. Offic. c. 40. &c li. 11. de Iacob. c. 9. S. Auguſtin, de origine animae. Tract, 8. in Epiſt 1. Ioan, & Ser. 110. de diuerſis. S. Proſper: li de praedict. par 2. c. 40. S. Prudentius. hymno de Romano Martyre. S. Leo. Ser de Nat ſeptem fratrum. Machab. S. Gaudentius. Brixanus Tractatu de Machabeis. S. Ephrem. Ser. de morte. S. Victorinus Aſer. Carmine de ſeptem Machabeis.
• 6 Deut. 32. v. 43.
• 26 [::] A promiſe is properly of a good thing, & bindeth the promiſer to do that vvhich is in dede good. In ſo much that whoſoeuer promiſeth, ſvveareth, or vovveth to do euil, is bond not to do it. And to do it, is a diſtinct ſinne beſides the former.
• 27 [::] In that this godlie woman deceiued the tyrant, ſhe did vvel, lavvfully vſing aequiuoeation.
• 42 [*] li. 1. c. 2. v. 1.

Chapter 8

CHAP. VIII. Iudas Machabeus with ſix thouſand men, commendîng their cauſe to God, [Margin: The ſecond part of the hiſtorie. The vvarres of the Machab⟨illegible⟩e⟨illegible⟩ begune by Mathathias. li 1. c. 2 and proſecuted by Iudas] 6. proſpereth in battel. 8. Philippe ſoliciting for more helpe, Nicanor and Gorgias are ſent with twentie thouſand men against Iudas. 12. whoſe men beginning to feare, and ſome flying he encoregeth the reſt, 19. reciting manie examples of Gods aſſiſtance: 22. diſpoſeth his armie, and pr⟨illegible⟩uayleth. 30. killing manie of Timothees and Bacchide⟨illegible⟩ men. 34. The principal hardly eſcaping by flight, acknowlege that God protecteth the lewes.

1 BVT Iudas Machabeus and they that were with him, went in ſecretely into the townes: and calling together their kinſemen and taking vnto them thoſe that continewed in Iudaiſme, they brought out to them ſix thouſand men.

2 And [::] they inuocated our Lord, that he would haue reſpect vnto his people that was troden of al, and would haue mercie on the temple, that was cotaminated of the impious:

3 he would haue pitie alſo vpon the deſtruction of the citie, which was forth with to be made flat with the ground, and would heare the voice of the bloud crying to him:

4 he would remember alſo the moſt vniuſt deathes of innocent children, and the blaſphemies done to his name, and would take indignation for them.

5 But Machabeus▪ hauing gathered a multitude, became intolerable to the heathen: for the wrath of our Lord was turned into mercie.

6 And coming vpon the caſtels, and cities vnlooked for, he burnt them: & taking commodious places, he made not few ſlaughters of the enemies.

7 and eſpecially in the nightes he was caried to ſuch excurſions, and the fame of his manlines was ſpred abrode euerie where. [*]

8 But [::] Philip ſeing the man to come forward by litle and litle, and that thinges for the more part ſucceeded with him proſperouſly, wrote to Ptolomee the gouernour of Coeleſyria and Phoenicia, to geue ayde to the kinges affaires.

9 And he with ſpede ſent Nicanor the ſonne of Patroclus, of the principals of his freindes, geuing him of the nations mingled together, no leſſe then twentie thouſand armed men, to deſtroy vtterly al the ſtocke of the Iewes, adioyning alſo vnto him Gorgias a man of warre, and in martial affayres of very great experience.

10 And Nicanor appointed, that he would ſupplie vnto the king the tribute that was to be geuen to the Romanes, two thouſand talents out of the captiuitie of the Iewes:

11 and forthwith he ſent to the cities by the ſea ſide, calling men together to the buying of the Iewiſh ſlaues, promiſing that he would ſel ninetie ſlaues for a talent, not looking to the vengeance, which was to folow him from the Almightie.

12 But Iudas when he vnderſtood it, shewed to thoſe Iewes that were with him, the coming of Nicanor.

13 Of whom certaine fearing, and not crediting the iuſtice of God, fled away:

14 and others if they had any thing left, ſold it, & withal be ſought our Lord, that he would deliuer them from the impious Nicanor, who had ſold them before he came neere them:

15 and if not for them, yet [::] for the teſtament that was with their fathers, and for the inuocation of his holie & magnifical name vpon them.

16 But Machabeus calling together ſeuen thouſand, that were with him, deſired that they would not be reconciled to the enemies, nor feare the multitude of the enemies coming againſt them vniuſtly, but would fight manfully:

17 hauing before their eyes the contume lie, that was vniuſtly done by them to the holie place, and moreouer the iniurie alſo of the citie being made a laughing ſtocke, beſides alſo the ordinances of the anceſters broken.

18 For they in dede truſt to their weapons, ſayd he, and to their boldnes alſo: but we truſt in the Almightie Lord, who can vtterly deſtroy both them coming againſt vs, and the whole world with one becke.

19 And he admonished them alſo of the aydes of God, that were geuen to their fathers: and that vnder Sennacherib an hundred foure ſcore fiue thouſand perished.

20 And of the battel, that they had againſt the Galatians in Babylonia, how al they, when it came to the point, the Macedonians their felowes ſtaggering, being only ſix thouſand ſlewe an hundred twentie thouſand, by reaſon of the ayde geuen them from heauen, and for theſe thinges obteyned verie manie benefites.

21 With theſe wordes they were made conſtant, and readie to dye for the lawes, and their countrie.

22 He appointed therfore his brethren captains ouer both orders, Simon, and Ioſeph, and Ionathas, vnder euerie one putting a thouſand and fiue hundreth.

23 Beſide this alſo the holie booke being read vnto them by Eſdras,

24 and a ſigne of Gods helpe being geuen, in the foreward the duke himſelf ioyned battel with Nicanor. And the Almightie being made their helper, they ſlew aboue nine thouſand men: and the greater part of Nicanors armie being made weake with woundes, they forced to flee.

25 And taking away their money that came to buy them, they purſued them on euerie hand,

26 but they returned being taken short with the time: for it was the day before the Sabbath: for the which cauſe they continewed not purſewing them.

27 But gathering together the armour and ſpoiles of them, they kept the Sabbath: bleſſing our Lord that deliuered them this day, diſtilling the beginning of mercie vpon them.

28 But after the ſabbath they diuided the ſpoyles to the feeble and to orphans, and to widowes: & the reſt themſelues had with their felowes.

29 Theſe thinges therfore being done, and obſecration being made in common of al, they deſired our merciful Lord, that he would be reconciled to his ſeruants vnto the end.

30 And of them that were with Timothee and Bacchides fighting againſt them, they ſlew aboue twentie thouſand, & wanne the high holdes: and they diuided manie prayes, making equal portion to the feeble, pupils, and widowes, yea and to the elder men.

31 And when they had diligently gathered together their armour, they layd al together in conuenient places, and the reſidue of the ſpoiles they caried to Ieruſalem:

32 and Philarches that was with Timothee, they ſlewe, a wicked man, which in manie thinges had afflicted the Iewes.

33 And when they kept the feaſt of victorie in Ieruſalem, him that had burnt the holie gates, that is, Calliſthenes, when he was fled into a certaine houſe, they burnt, a worthie reward being repayed him for his impieties:

34 But the moſt impious Nicanor, who had brought a thouſand merchants to the ſale of the Iewes,

35 being humbled through the helpe of our Lord by them, whom he eſteemed no bodie, laying aſide his garment of glorie, fleeing by the midland, came alone to Antioch, hauing gotten great infelicitie by the deſtruction of his armie.

36 And he that had promiſed that he would render tribute to the Romanes of the captiuitie of Ieruſalem, now profeſſed that the Iewes had God their protectour, & that for him they could not be wounded, becauſe they folowed the lawes appointed by him. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 8

• 1 I.
• 2 [::] In al good attemptes deuout prayer is the firſt preparation. And no vvhere more neceſſary then in battel. As vvel for good ſucceſſe (ſuppoſing alwayes a good cauſe) as alſo that euerie one pray for his ovvne ſoule, that it be in ſtate of grace.
• 7 [*] li. 1. c. 3. v. 10.
• 8 [::] This Philip a Phrygian was left in Ieruſalem by Antiochus to afflict the Ievves, ch. 5. v. 22.
• 8 N
• 15 [::] A iuſt and religious cauſe is the very beſt helpe, that can be in vvarres.
• 19 4 Reg. 19.
• 20 :: Of this battel vvith the calatians there is no other mention in holy ſcripture but it ſemeth to be that, vvherin they aſſiſted Antiochus the firſt called Soter, vvhen he repelled the Galatians inuading Aſia: vvherof Appianus vvriteth in bellis Syriacis. And Ioſephus teſtifieth. l. 12, c 3. that Antiochus Magnus (ſonne of Soter) much fauored the Ievves, for their explottes donne in his fathers dayes.
• 36 [*] li. 1. c. 4. v. 28.

Chapter 9

CHAP. IX. Antiochus repulſed from Perſepolis, 3. and hearing that his armie is ouerthrowne in lurie: 9. wormes iſſuing from his bodie, intolerably ſtincking: 11. acknowlegeth his wicked deſertes: 14. promiſeth amendment, 18. writeth to the Iewes, praying them to obey him, and his ſonne, 28. and dyeth miſerably.

1 AT that time Antiochus returned out of Perſis dishonourably.

2 For he had entered into the citie which is called [::] Perſipolis, and he attempted to ſpoile the temple, and to oppreſſe the citie: but the multitude running together to armes, they were put to flight: and ſo it chanced that Antiochus after his flight returned with dishonour.

3 And when he was come about Ecbatana, he vnderſtood the thinges that were done to Nicanor and Timothee.

4 And ſwelling in anger, he thought that he might wreake the iniurie of them, that had put him to flight, vpon the Iewes. And therfore he commanded his chariorte to be driuen, iorneing without intermiſſion, the heauenlie iudgement vrging him forward, becauſe he ſpoke ſo proudly, that he would come to Ieruſalem, & make it an heape of the ſepulcher of the Iewes.

5 But he that ſeeth al thinges our Lord the God of Iſrael, ſtroke him with an vncurable and inuiſible plague. For as he ended this verie ſpeach, a cruel plague of the bowels tooke him, and bitter torments of the inner parts:

6 and in dede very iuſtly, as who had tormented the bowels of others with manie and new torments, albeit he by no meanes ceaſed from his malice.

7 And beſide this replenished with pride, breathing fire in his minde againſt the Iewes, and commanding the matter to be haſtened, it chanced him going with violence to fal from the chariot, and his limmes to be vexed with a greeuous bruiſing of the bodie.

8 And he that ſeemed to himſelf to rule euen ouer the waues of the ſea, replenished with pride aboue the meaſure of man, and to weye the heights of mountaines in a balance, now being humbled to the ground was caried in a portatiue ſeate, teſtifying the manifeſt power of God in himſelf:

9 ſo that out of the bodie of the impious man, wormes crawled abundantly, and his liue flesh fel of for paynes, with his ſmel alſo & ſtinke the armie was anoyed.

10 And he that a litle before thought to touch the ſtarres of heauen, him no man could carie for the intolerable ſtinke.

11 Hereby therfore he begane, being brought from his great pride, to come to the knowlege of him ſelf, admonished by the plague of God, his paines increaſing euerie moment.

12 And when neither himſelf now could abide his owne ſtinke, thus he ſayd: It is reaſon to be ſubiect to God, & a mortal man not to thinke of himſelf equally with God.

13 And this wicked man prayed to our Lord, [::] of whom he was not to obteyne mercie.

14 And the citie to the which he came in haſt to haue brought it to the ground, & to haue made it a ſepulchre of bodies heaped together, now wisheth to make it free:

15 And the Iewes whom he ſayd he would not vouchſafe worthie, no not of burial, but would geue them to birds & wilde beaſtes to be ſpoiled, & deſtroy them with the litle ones, now he promiſeth to make them equal with the Athenians.

16 The holie temple alſo, which before he had ſpoiled, he would adorne with goodlie donaries, and would multiplie the holie veſſels, and of his reuenewes would allow the charges perteyning to the ſacrifices.

17 Beſides theſe thinges, that he would be a Iew alſo, & would walke through euerie place of the earth, and would declare the power of God.

18 But the paines ceaſing not (for the iuſt iudgement of God was come vpon him) deſpayring he wrote to the Iewes by the maner of a ſupplication an epiſtle conteyning theſe words:

19 To HIS VERY GOOD SVBIECTES the Iewes the king & prince Antiochus, much health, & welfare, and to be happie.

20 If you and your children farewel, & if thinges be with you to your mind, we geue very great thankes.

21 And I being in infirmitie, and mindeful of you benignely, being returned out of the places of Perſis, & taken with a grieuous infirmitie, haue thought it neceſſarie to haue a care for the common profite:

22 not deſpayring of myſelf, but hauing great hope to eſcape the ſicknes.

23 But conſidering that my father alſo, at what times he led his armie in the higher places, he shewed who should take the princedome after him:

24 that if any mishappe should chance, or hard tydings be told, they that were in the countries, knowing to whom the whole gouernement was committed, might not be trubled.

25 Beſides this, conſidering that al the poteſtates, and bordering neighboures wayte for times, and expect the euent, I haue appointed my ſonne Antiochus king, whom, I hauing recourſe oftentimes to the higher kingdoms did commend to manie of you: & I haue writen to him that which is ſet downe here beneath.

26 I pray you therfore, and deſire you mindful of the benefits both publike and priuate, that euerie one keepe his fidelitie to me, and to my ſonne.

27 For I truſt that he wil deale modeſtly & gently, and folowing my purpoſe, and that he wil be common vnto you.

28 Therfore [::] the murderer, and blaſphemer being very ſore ſtrooken, and as himſelf had handled others, in a ſtrange countrie among the mountaynes, with a miſerable death departed this life.

29 But Philip his foſter brother remoued his bodie: who fearing the ſonne of Antiochus, went to Ptolomee Philometor into Aegypt. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 9

• 1 R
• 2 [::] A chief citie of Perſis, called Elymais. li. 1. c. 6. v. 1.
• 13 [::] Antiochus vvas in dede really and ſeriouſly greued, and truly acknovvledged that his affliction vvas for his ſinnes, li. 1. c. 6. v. 11. but he vvas not truly penitent for the offence committed againſt God & his neighbour but only for his ovvne calamitie & miſerie: & therfore could not obreyne mercie to remiſſion of his ſinnes, nor releaſe of the puniſhment. So alſo the damned in hel, knovv & confeſſe that they are puniſhed for their ſinnes, but haue not true repentance, for their offence againſt God.
• 28 [::] Of this tyrant S. Cyprian geueth this cenſure: li. de exhort. Martyrij King Antiochus an inueterate enimie to al the good, Nay, in Antiochus Antichriſt is expreſſed.
• 29 [*] li. 1. c. 6. v. 17.

Chapter 10

CHAP. X. Iudas Machabeus clenſeth the temple, and inſtitueth the feaſt of dedication. 10. Young Antiochus Eupator reigning Ptolomeus of diſguſt killeth himſelf with poyſon. 14. Iudas reſiſteth great forces of Gorgias, taketh certaine holdnes from the Idumeans, punisheth traytors, and killeth manie enimies. 24. In his battel againſt Timothee is miraculouſly aſſisted from heauen: 37. and finally killeth him.

1 BVT Machabeus, and they that were with him, our Lord protecting them, [::] recouered the temple & the citie againe:

2 but the altars, which the aliens had ſet vp through the ſtreets, and alſo the temples he threw downe.

3 And hauing purged the temple, they made an other altar: and out of fyred ſtones taking fire they offered ſacrifices after two yeares, and ſet incenſe, and lampes, and the breads of propoſition.

4 Which thinges being done, they beſought our Lord proſtrate on the ground, that they might no more fal into ſuch euils: but and if they had ſometime ſinned, that they might be chaſtened of him more mildly, & not be deliuered to barbarous, & blaſphemous men.

5 And what day the temple had bene polluted of the aliens, it happened that on the ſame day was made the purification, the fiue and twentith of the moneth, which was Caſleu.

6 And with ioy eight dayes they kept in maner of tabernacles, remembring that a litle before they had kept the ſolemne day of Tabernacles in the mountaynes, and in dennes after the maner of beaſts.

7 For the which cauſe they bare before them ſtalkes of herbs, and greene boughes, and palmes to him, that gaue ſucceſſe to clenſe his place.

8 And they decreed by common precept, and decree to al the nation of the Iewes euerie yeare to keepe theſe dayes.

9 And Antiochus that was called the Noble, his departure out of life was after this ſort. [*]

10 But now of Eupator the ſonne of Antiochus the impious, we wil tel the thinges that haue bene done, abbridging the euils that were done in the warres.

11 For he hauing taken vpon him the kingdom, appointed ouer the affaires of the king one Lyſias general of the hoſt of Phaenicia and Syria.

12 For Ptolomee who was called Macer, determined to be a keeper of iuſtice toward the Iewes, and eſpecially for the iniquitie, that was done againſt them, and to deale peaceably with them.

13 But being accuſed for this of his freinds to Eupator, when he was called oftentimes traytour, becauſe he had left Cypres commited vnto him by Philometor, and remouing to Antiochus the Noble, had reuolted alſo from him, he [::] made an end of his life with poyſon.

14 But [::] Gorgias being captayne of the places, taking vnto him ſtrangers often warred againſt the Iewes.

15 And the Idumeans that kept the commodious holdes, receiued them that were chaſed from Ieruſalem, and attempted to make battel.

16 And they that were with Machabeus, beſeeching our Lord by prayers that he would be their helper, made an aſſault vpon the holdes of the Idumeans:

17 and ſticking to it with great force, they wanne the places, killed them that came in the way, & ſlewe altogether no leſſe then twentie thouſand.

18 And wheras certaine were fled into two towres very ſtrong, hauing al prouiſion to make reſiſtance,

19 Machabeus for the expugning of them, leauing Simon and Ioſeph, and alſo Zachaeus, and ſuch as were with them very manie, himſelf turned to thoſe battels which forced more.

20 But they that were with Simon, being led with couetouſnes, were perſwaded with money by certaine that were in the towres: and taking ſeuentie thouſand didrachmaes, they let certayne eſcape.

21 But when it was told Machabaeus what was done, aſſembling the princes of the people he accuſed them, that they had ſold their bretheren for money, their aduerſaries being let goe.

22 Theſe therfore being become traytours he ſlewe, and forth with he tooke the two towres.

23 And with weapons and handes doing al thinges proſperouſly, in the two holdes he ſlewe more then twentie thouſand.

24 And [::] Timothee, who before had bene ouercome of the Iewes, hauing called together an armie of foren multitude, and gathering horſemen of Aſia, came as to take Iurie by armes.

25 But Machabeus and they that were with him, when he approched, beſought our Lord, ſprinkling their head with earth, and being girded about the loynes with heareclothes,

26 lying flatte at the brimme of the altar, that he would be propicious to them, and an enemie to their enemies, and an aduerſarie to their aduerſaries, as the law ſaith.

27 And ſo after prayer taking weapons, going forth ſomewhat far out of the citie, and being come very neere the enemies they pitched.

28 And at the very firſt riſing of the ſunne both ioyned battel: theſe in deede hauing our Lord the ſuretie of victorie, and proſperitie with vertue: but they had courege for the captayne of the battel.

29 But when there was a ſore fight, there appeared to the aduerſaries from heauen fiue men vpon horſes, comelie with golden bridles, conducting the Iewes:

30 of whom two hauing Machabeus betwen them, compaſſing him round about with their armour, kept him ſafe: and againſt the aduerſaries they threw darts, & fire balles, wherby both confounded with blindnes, and filled with perturbation they fel.

31 And there were ſlaine twentie thouſand fiue hundred, and horſemen ſix hundred.

32 But Timothee fled into Gazara a ſtrong hold, wherof Chaereas was the captaine.

33 And Machabeus, and they that were with him ioyfully beſieged the hold foure dayes.

34 But they that were within, truſting to the place, blaſphemed aboue meaſure, & caſt forth abominable wordes.

35 But when the fifth day appeared, [::] twentie yong men of them that were with Machabeus, incenſed in their mindes becauſe of the blaſphemie, went manfully to the wal, and with fierce conrege going on, they ſcaled to the top:

36 Yea and the others alſo mounting vp, attempted to ſet the towres and the gates on fire, and to burne the blaſphemers themſelues aliue.

37 And the hold being ſacked for two dayes together, they ſlewe Timothee that was found hyding himſelf in a certaine place: and his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes they killed.

38 Which thinges being done, they bleſſed our Lord in hymnes and confeſſions, who did great thinges in Iſrael, and gaue them the victorie.

Marginal notes to Chapter 10

• 1 P
• 1 [::] This recouering and clenſing of the temple vvas after the fourth battel of Iudas, vvhich vvas againſt Lyſias one of Antiochus chiefe captaines, as appeareth. li. ⟨illegible⟩. c. 4 and ſo was before the death of Antiochus, vvritten here. ch. 9.
• 4 li. 1. c. 4. v. 5.
• 9 [*] li. 1. c. 5. v. 1.
• 10 T
• 13 [::] It is neuer an act of fortitude but of extreme puſillanimity when one in temporal miſerie killeth himſelfe to be ridde therof. But is a moſt heroical act to dye willingly for Gods glorie.
• 14 [::] Againſt this Gorgias Iudas had a victorie before in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. li. 1. c. 4.
• 24 [::] Timothee the ſecond captaine general of Antiochus vvith Bacchides was once before ouerthrowne. li. 1. c 8. v. 30.
• 35 [::] Ioſephus Gorion. li. 3. c. 13. ſaith theſe tvventie zelous young men vvere of the Aſsidians, who profeſſed a certaine religious forme of life: of vvhom mention is made before. li. 1. ch. 2 v 42. &c. 7. v. 13.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. X.

[Margin: Proteſtantes confeſſe that Iudas inſtituted this feaſt.]

8. They decreed.] Beza in his Annotations (in Ioan. 10. v. 22.) ſet forth in Engliſh in the yeare. 1603. confeſſeth that the feaſt vvhich our Sauiour obſerued, vvas inſtituted by Iudas Machabius, and his bretheren, after the reſtoring of Gods true religion by eaſting out Antiochus his garriſon It is alſo cleare that this feaſt vvas [Margin: It is diſtinct from other feaſtes.] in vvinter, ibidem, agreable to the text, in the moneth of Caſleu, which is Nouember, [Margin: v. 5.] vvheras the feaſt of tabernacles vvas in September, before vvinter; and the feaſt of reſtauration of the temple after the captiuitie of Babylon, vvas in Adar (1. Eſd. 6.) vvhich is Februarie, betwen vvhich time and middes of March, vvas not competent ſpace for thoſe thinges vvhich Chriſt did after this feaſt, before his Paſſion. And therfore it is very ſtrange that Beza, or other Proteſtantes vvil denie theſe bookes to be Canonical: vvhich haue ſo excellent a teſtimonie by the Euangeliſt of our Sauiours ovvne fact.

Chapter 11

CHAP. XI. Lyſias ſuppoſing with his armie of foureſcore thouſand footemen, & a great band of horſemen to ſubdue Ieruſalem: 6. Iudas with his few praying God, and going to fight, an Angel, in forme of an horſemen, goeth before them: 10. ſo they ſetting vpon the enemies kil manie, & the reſt flee. 13. Lyſias perceiuing Gods powre, offereth to procure peace. 22. Wherto the king, agreeth, writting to him, 27. and to the Iewes. 34. The Romanes alſo write to the Iewes.

1 BVT a litle after [::] Lyſias the kings procuratour, and coſin, and chiefe ouer the affayers, being greatly offended with theſe thinges, that had hapened,

2 hauing gathered foure ſcore thouſand, and al the horſemen, came againſt the Iewes, thincking that taking the citie, he should make it an habitation for the Gentiles:

3 and he should haue the temple to make gayne of money, as the reſt of the temples of the Gentiles, and euerie yeare the prieſthood to be ſold:

4 neuer recounting the powre of God, but furious in minde, he truſted in the multitude of foote men, and thouſandes of horſemen, and in foure ſcore elephants.

5 And he entred into Iurie, and approching to Bethſura, which was in a narrow place from Ieruſalem the ſpace of fiue furlongs, he expugned that hold.

6 But as Machabeus, and they that were with him, vnderſtood that the holdes were ex pugned, they beſought our Lord with weeping and teares, and al the multitude together, [::] that he would ſend a good Angel to the ſauing of Iſrael.

7 And Machabeus him ſelf firſt taking weapons, exhorted the reſt together with him, to aduenture, and to geue ayde to their bretheren.

8 And when they went forth together with prompt corege, at Ieruſalem there appeared going before them an horſeman in white clothing, with armour of gold, shaking a ſpeare.

9 Then al they together bleſſed our merciful Lord, and tooke great corege: being readie to penetrate not only men, but alſo moſt fierce beaſtes, and walles of yron.

10 They went therfore promptly, hauing an helper from heauen, and our Lord hauing pitie vpon them.

11 And like lyons running violently vpon the enimies, they ouerthrew of them eleuen thouſand footmen, and of horſemen a thouſand ſix hundred:

12 and they put to flight al, & very many of them being wounded ſcaped a way naked. Yea and Lyſias him ſelfe shamefully fleeing eſcaped.

13 And becauſe he was not ſenſeleſſe recounting with him ſelfe, the diminution made on his ſide, and vnderſtanding the Hebrewes to be inuincible, becauſe they reſted vpon the help of the almightie God, he ſent vnto them:

14 and promiſed that he would conſent to al thinges, that are iuſt, and that he would force the king to be their freind.

15 And Machabeus granted to Lyſias requeſtes, in al things hauing reſpect to the commonwealth and whatſoeuer Machabeus wrote to Lyſias, concerning the Iewes, the king granted it.

16 For there were epiſtles written to the Iewes from Lyſias, conteyning this tenure: LYSIAS to the people of the Iewes health.

17 Iohn and Abſalom that were ſent from you, deliuering the wrytings, requeſted that I would accomplishe thoſe thinges which by them were ſignified.

18 Therfore whatſoeuer might be brought to the king I declared vnto him: and that which the matters permitted I granted.

19 If therfore you kepe fideletie in the affayres & hence forward, alſo wil endeuour to be a cauſe of doing you good.

20 And concerning the reſt, word for word I haue geuen commandement both to theiſe, and to them that are ſent of me, to commune with you.

21 Fare ye wel. In the yeare an hundred fourtie eight, of the moneth Dioſcorus the foure & twenteth day.

22 But the kings epiſtle conteyned theſe thinges: King Antiochus to Lyſias [::] his brother, health.

23 Our father being tranſlated amongſt the goddes, we being willing that they that are in our kingdome should liue without truble, and employ diligence to their owne matters,

24 we haue heard that the Iewes conſented not to my father to turne to the rite of the Greekes, but that they would keepe their owne inſtitution, and therfore that they requeſt vs their rites to be granted them.

25 Being therfore deſirouſe that this nation alſo be quiet, oradyning we haue decreed, that the temple be reſtored vnto them, that they might doe according to the cuſtome of their anceſtours.

26 Thou shalt do wel therfore if thou ſend to them, & geue the right hand, that our pleaſure being knowen they may be of good cheere, & looke to their owne commodities.

27 But to the Iewes the kings epiſtle was in this manner: KING Antiochus to the ſenate of the Iewes, and to the reſt of the Iewes health.

28 If you fare wel, you are ſo as we would: yea our ſelues alſo fare wel.

29 Menelaus came to vs, ſaying that you would come downe to your countrie men, that are with vs.

30 To them therfore that come and goe, vntil the thirtith day of the month Xanthicus, we geue the right handes of ſecuritie,

31 that the Iewes may vſe their owne meates, and their owne lawes, as alſo before: and that none of them by any meanes ſuffer moleſtation for theſe thinges, which haue bene done by ignorance.

32 And we haue ſent alſo Menelaus to ſpeake to you.

33 Fare ye wel. In the yeare an hundred fortie eight, of the moneth Xanthicus the fiftenth day.

34 And the Romans alſo ſent an epiſtle, which is thus: QVINTVS Memmius, and Titus Manilius legats of the Romans, to the people of the Iewes health.

35 Concerning theſe thinges which Lyſias the kings coſin hath granted you, we alſo haue granted.

36 But touching the thinges which he thought good to be referred to the king, ſend ye forthwith ſome bodie, conferring diligently among your ſelues, that we may decree as is conuenient for you: for we goe to Antioch.

37 And therfore make haſt to write agayne, that we alſo may know of what minde you are.

38 Fate ye wel. In the yeare an hundred fourtie eight the fiftenth day of the moneth Xanthicus.

Marginal notes to Chapter 11

• 1 [::] This Lyſias alſo bad bene vanquiſhed before, li. 1. c. 4. v. 28.
• 6 [::] Knovving that the Patriarches Abraham, Iſaac, Iacob, likevviſe Moyſes Ioſue and manie others vvere ſingularly aſſiſted by Angelles, theſe Machabees in their good cauſe prayed for Angelical helpe, and had it: but ioyntly vvith their ovvne endeuour, although ſome times God geueth ſuch victories vvithout cooperation of men. Exo. 14. 4. Reg. 19.
• 22 [::] Lyſias vvas in dede the kings conſin. v. ⟨illegible⟩5 but he calleth him brother for honour ſake.

Chapter 12

CHAP. XII. VVhiles the Iewes haue peace with the king, others ſtil perſecute them. 5. which Iudas reuengeth. 13. and in Casp⟨illegible⟩n maketh great ſlaughter, and repoſeth in Chara⟨illegible⟩a. 19. Tenne thouſand of Timothees men are ſlayne. 20. whom Iudas purſuing killeth manie in Carnion: 34. taketh him, but releaſeth him againe: 27. the like in Ephron. 32. Some Iewes are ſlaine in battel againſt Gorgias. 38. Iudas and his men are purified, and gathering the dead bodies, finde that ſome had taken vnlawful ſpoiles. 42. For whoſe ſoules he prayeth, and cauſeth ſacrifice to be offered.

1 THESE couenants being made, Lyſias went foreward to the king, and the Iewes gaue themſelues to husbandrie.

2 But they that ſtayed there, [::] Timothie & [::] Appollonius the ſonne of Gennaius, & alſo Ierom, & Demophon, beſides theſe alſo Nicanor the gouerner of Cyprus, did not ſuffer them to liue in reſt and quietnes.

3 And the Ioppites committed a certaine flagicious fact, which was this: They deſired the Iewes with whom they dwelt, to goe into the botes, which they had prepared, with their wiues & children, as though no ſecret emnities were between them.

4 Therefore according to the common decree of the citie, & they agreeing therto, & becauſe of the peace ſuſpecting nothing: when they were gone forward, into the depth, they drowned no leſſe then two hundred.

5 Which crueltie Iudas as he vnderſtood to be done vpon the men of his nation, commanded the men that were with him: and inuocating God the iuſt iudge,

6 he came againſt the murderers of his brethren, & the hauen he ſet on fire in the night, the botes he burnt, & them that were fled from the fire, he flew with the ſword.

7 And when he had thus done theſe thinges, he departed as to returne againe, and to roote out al the Ioppites.

8 But when he vnderſtood that they alſo, which were at Iamnia, would doe in like maner to the Iewes dwelling with them,

9 he came vpon the Iamnites alſo by night, and ſet the hauen on fyre with the shippes, ſo that the light of the fire appeared at Ieruſalem[::] two hundred fourtie furlongs of.

10 When they were now departed thence nine furlongs, and made their iourney towards Timothee, the Arabians fiue thouſand men, and fiue hundred horſemen ioyned battel with them.

11 And when there was a mightie battel, and by the helpe of God it had ſucceded proſperouſly, the reſt of the Arabians that were ouercome, beſought Iudas that the right hand might be geuen them, promiſing that they would geue paſtures, and profite them, in other thinges.

12 And Iudas thinking in very deede that they might be profitable in manie thinges, promiſed peace, and right handes being taken, they departed to their tabernacles.

13 And he ſet alſo vpon a certaine citie ſtrong with bridges, and enuironed with walles, which was inhabited with multitudes of heathen of al ſortes, the name wherof is Caſpin.

14 But they that were within, truſting in the firmenes of the walles, & the prouiſion of victuals, dealt the more ſtackly, with reuiling wordes prouoking Iudas, and blaſpheming, and ſpeaking ſuch thinges as is not lawful to ſpeake.

15 But Machabeus inuocating the great prince of the world, who without rammes and engines in Ieſus time threwe downe Ierico, fiercely aſſaulted the walles.

16 And the citie being taken by the wil of our Lord he made innumerable ſlaughters, ſo that the poole adioyning of two furlongs in bredth, ſemed to runne died with bloud.

17 From thence they departed ſeuen hundred fiftie furlongs, and they came to Characa to thoſe Iewes, that are called [::] Tubianeians:

18 and in thoſe places they tooke not Timothee, and nothing being done he went backe, hauing left in a certaine place a very ſtrong garriſon.

19 But Doſitheus, and Soſipater, who were captayns with Machabeus, ſlewe them that were left of Timothee in the hold, ten thouſand men.

20 And Machabeus ordayning about him ſix thouſand, and placing them by bandes, went forth againſt Timothee, who had with him an hundred twenty thouſand footemen, & of horſemen two thouſand fiue hundred.

21 And the coming of Iudas being knowen, Timothee ſent the wemen and children, and the other baggage before into the fortreſſe, that is called Catnion: for it was inuincible, and hard to come by, by reaſon of the ſtraites of the places.

22 And when the firſt band of Iudas had appeared, ſeare was ſtroken into the enemies, by the preſence of God, who ſeeth al thinges, and they were put to flight one of an other, ſo that they were rather ouerthrowen of their owne companie, and were weakened with the ſtrokes of their owne ſwordes.

23 But Iudas was exceding earneſt punishnig the prophane men, and he ouerthrewe of them thirtie thouſand men.

24 And Timothee him ſelfe fel into the handes of Doſitheus and Siſipaters partes, and with manie prayers he beſought that he might be let go aliue, becauſe he had parents & brethren of manie of the Iewes, whom it might happen by his death to be deceiued.

25 And when he had geuen his faith that he would reſtore them according to the appointmēt they let him goe without harme, for the ſafetie of their brethren.

26 And Iudas came backe from Carnion, hauing ſlayne twentie fiue thouſand.

27 After the flight and ſlaughter of theſe, he moued his armie to Ephron a ſtrong citie, wherin a multitude dwelt of diuerſe nations: & ſtrong young men ſtanding before the walles reſiſted manfully, & in this were manie engins, and prouiſion of dartes.

28 But when they had inuocated the Almightie, who with his power breaketh the forces of the enemies, they tooke the citie: and of them that were within they ouerthrew twentie fiue thouſand.

29 From thence they departed to a citie of the Scythians, which was diſtant from Ieruſalem ſix hundred furlongs.

30 But thoſe Iewes that were with the Scythopolitans teſtifying that they were vſed curteouſly of them, euen in the times of miſerie that they dealt modeſtly with them:

31 geuing them thankes, and exhorting them alſo thence forward to be fauourable toward their ſtock, they came to Ieruſalem the ſolemne day of the weekes approching.

32 And after Pentecoſt they went againſt [::] Gorgias the gouernour of Idumea.

33 And he went forth with footemen three thouſand, and horſemen foure hundred.

34 Who buckling together, it chanced few of the Iewes to be ſlayne.

35 But Doſitheus one of the Bacenors an horſeman, a valiant man, held Gorgias: and wheras he would haue taken him aliue, a certayne horſeman of the Thracians came vpon him, and cut of his ſhoulder: and ſo Gorgias eſcaped into Mareſa.

36 But they that were with Eſdrin, fighting long, and being wearied, Iudas inuocated our Lord to be their helper, and captayne of the battel:

37 beginning in his countrey language, and with hymmes raiſing a crie, draue Gorgias ſouldiars into flight.

38 And Iudas hauing gathered an armie came into the citie Odollam: & when the ſeuenth day came on, being purifyed according to the cuſtome, they kept the Sabbath in the ſame place.

39 And the day folowing Iudas came with his companie, to take away the bodies of them that were ouerthrowen, and with their kinſmen to lay them in the ſepulchers of their fathers.

40 And they found vnder the coates of the ſlayne ſome [::] of the donaryes of the idols, that were in Iamnia, from which the lawe forbiddeth the Iewes: therfore it was made playne to al, that for that cauſe they were ſlayne.

41 Al therfore bleſſed the iuſt iudgement of our Lord, who had made manifeſt the hidden thinges.

42 And ſo turning to prayers, they beſought him, that the ſame offence, which was committed, might be forgotten. But the moſt valient Iudas exhorted the people to keepe themſelues without ſinne, ſeing before their eyes what was done, becauſe of the ſinnes of them that were ouerthrowen.

43 And [::] making a gathering, he ſent twelue thouſand drachmes of ſiluer to Ieruſalem for ſacrifice to be offered for ſinne, wel and religiouſly thinking of the reſurrection. (

44 for vnles he hoped that they that were ſlaine, should riſe againe, it should ſeeme ſuperfluous, and vaine to pray for the dead)

45 And becauſe he conſidered that they, which had taken their ſleepe [::] with godlines, had very good grace layd vp for them.

46 “ It is therfore :: a holie, and healthful cogitation to pray for the dead, that they may be looſed from ſinnes. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 12

• 2 [::] An other Timothee was ſlaine. ch. 10. v 37.
• 2 [::] Alſo an other Apollonius vvas ſlaine before. li. 1. c. 3. v. 11.
• 9 [::] A furlong is about the eight part of a myle, ſo this fire vvas ſene thirty miles of others count a furlong to conteyne a thouſand foote, the fifth part of a myle ſo it vvas ſene 48. myles diſtant.
• 15 Ioſue. 6.
• 17 [::] Tubianci, or Tubieni, ſignifie religiouſly good, it is pro bable that theſe vvere the Aſsideans. li 1. c. 2. v. 42. c: 7. v. 13.
• 32 [::] Iudas had the victorie twiſe before againſt this Gorgias. li 1. c. 4. v. 1. li. 2. c. 10. v. 14.
• 40 [::] It was commanded. Deut. 7. v▪ 25. not to couet nor take aniething perteyning to idols, but to deſtroy al▪ See this ſinne puniſhed. Ioſue. 7. 1. Reg. 15. &c.
• 43 [::] Vnles it had bene the doctrine & practiſe of the Church to pray for the dead, Iudas could neuer haue thought of anie ſuch matter.
• 45 [::] It is only profitable for thoſe that dye penitent.
• 46 [*] li. 1. c. 6. v. 18.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XII.

[Margin: This text is clere for praying for the dead.]

46▪ It is a holie and healthful cogitation to pray for the dead.] The Catholique beleefe, doctrine, and practiſe of praying for the dead, is ſo euidently confirmed by this place, that our aduerſaries haue no better ſhift to auoide the ſame, then by denying theſe bookes to be Canonical Scripture. VVhich being authentically [Margin: in the argument. pa. 890.] proued, it may here ſuffice to adde that albeit the Greke text (as in other [Margin: Likevviſe the Greke.] innumerable places) differeth from the Latin, yet it is no leſſe clere for this doctrin. VVhich in Engliſh is thus: v 45. Regarding (or conſidering) that grace is layde vp for them that ſleepe (or dye) in pietie: tovvitte in true faith and repentance; in the next verſe (46.) inferreth thus: VVherupon he (Iudas Machabeus▪) [Margin: S. Auguſtin. ep. 61. ad Dulcit. l. 1. c. 23. de morib, li. de cura pro mort. c. 1. & Enchir. c. 110.] made reconciliation (or expiation) for the dead, that they might be deliuered (or looſed) from their ſinne, that is, from puniſhment for ſinne.

Omitting therfore multitude of other proofes, vve vvil here only cite tvvo great Doctors, who with others teach that the denial of this particular point of [Margin: Denial of this doctrine is hereſie.] religion is a condemned hereſie. S. Auguſtin li. de Haereſib. haer. 53. noteth this for a ſpecial hereſie, ſaying: Aerians are named of one Aerius, vvho being a prieſt, and taking it greuouſly that he could not be ordained a Biſhop, falling into the hereſie of the Arrians, added ſome proper doctrines of his ovvne, ſaying: that vve ought not to pray, nor offer ſacrifice for the dead. Likevviſe S. Bernard, Ser. 66 in Cantica: in plaine termes ſaith they are heretikes, vvhich beleue not that there is purgatorie fire after death, but that the ſoule departing from the bodie, goeth forthvvith either to reſt or to damnation. Let them then (ſaith he) aske of him vvho ſaide: There is ſome ſinne that ſhal not be forgeuen, neither in this vvorld, nor in the future: why he ſayd this, if there remaine no remiſſion, and purgation of [Margin: Mat. 12.] ſinne in the future vvorld? He therfore aduiſeth al to bevvare of ſuch ſeducers, ſaying: See the detracters, ſee the dogges. They deride vs, becauſe vve baptize infantes: for that vve pray for the dead.

It is alſo moſt vvorthie of conſideration, that Iudas Machabeus, (vvho did [Margin: Iudas vvas high prieſt when he cauſed prayers and ſacrifice to be offered for the dead. It was the general practiſe of ⟨illegible⟩he Church. And is yet obſerued by the Iewes.] this charitable act for his ſouldiars slaine in the holie vvarres) vvas the High prieſt, or chief Biſhop of the Church at that time, and defender of true faith and Religion. Finally vve may alſo obſerue that he did not anie nevv thing, but practiſed the vſual cuſtome of the vvhole Church. For ſo it appeareth by their ſette forme of Office for the dead, called HASCHABAH, that is, Reſt, or prayer for reſt, in their booke MAHZOR, tranſlated and ſet forth by Biſhop Genebrard, in the yeare of our Lord. 1569. VVhere are theſe expreſſe ſupplications. Requieſcat anima ipſius in cubili ſuo: iaceat in pace: dormiat in pace. His (or her) ſoule reſt in his bed: lye, and ſlepe in peace. Againe, Ye Angels of peace come forth to mete him▪ &c. And that the Ievves this day vſe to pray for the dead, is a clere thing, and confeſſed by Proteſtantes, namely Munſterus, and Fagius in their Annotations vpon the 14. of Deut. and M. VVhitaker, in his firſt booke againſt F. Dureus▪ fol▪ 81.

Chapter 13

CHAP. XIII. Menelaus a fugitiue Iewe is put to death. 9. Antiochus with his great armie is defeated twiſe, with loſſe of manie men. 23. Philippe rebelling, peace is renewed. 24. And Iudas is made Lord of Ptolemais.

1 IN the yeare an hundred fourtie nine Iudas vnderſtood, that Antiochus Eupator came with a multitude agaynſt Iurie,

2 and with him Lyſias the procuratour, and cheefe ouer the affayres hauing with him of footemen [::] an hundred tenne thouſand, & of horſemen fiue thouſand, & elephants twentie two, chariots with hookes three hundred.

3 And Menelaus alſo ioyned him ſelfe with them: and with much deceite beſought Antiochus, not for the weale of his contrie, but hoping that he should be appoynted to the principalitie.

4 But the king of kinges ſtirred vp Antiochus mind againſt the ſinner, & Lyſias ſuggeſting that he was the cauſe of al the euils, he commanded (as the cuſtome is with them) that being apprehended he should be killed in the ſame place.

5 And there was in the ſame place a tower of fiftie cubites, hauing an heape of ashes on euerie ſide: this had a proſpect ſteepe downe.

6 From thence he commanded the ſacrilegious perſon to be throwne downe into the ashes, al thruſting him forward to death.

7 And by ſuch law it chanced the tranſgreſſour of the law to dye: & Menelaus not to be put into the earth.

8 And in deede very iuſtly, becauſe he committed manie offences toward the altar of God, the fyre and ashes wherof was holie: himſelf was condemned into the death of ashes.

9 But the king furiouſe in mind, came to shew himſelf▪ worſe to the Iewes then his father.

10 Which thinges when Iudas vnderſtood, he cōmanded the people that day and night they should inuocate our Lord, that as alwayes now alſo he would helpe them:

11 as who were afrayed to be depriued of the law, & their countrie, & the holie temple: and that he would not ſuffer the people that had of late taken breath a litle while, to be againe ſubdued to the blaſphemous nations.

12 Al therfore doing it together, and crauing mercie of our Lord with weeping & faſtinges, being proſtrate for three dayes continually, Iudas exhorted them to prepare them ſelues.

13 But he with the ancients conſulted, before the king should bring his armie to Iurie, and winne the citie, to goe out, and to committe the euent of the thing to the iudgement of our Lord.

14 Committing therfore the power and charge of al to God, the creatour of the world, and hauing exhorted his companie to fight manfully, and to ſtand euen to death for the lawes, the temple, the citie, their countrie, and citizens: he placed his armie about Modin.

15 And hauing geuen a ſigne to his companie of [::] the victorie of God, with moſt valient yong men piked out, by night ſetting vpon the kings court, in the campe he ſlew foure thouſand men, and the greateſt of the elephants, with them that had bene placed thereupon,

16 and he filled the campe of the enemies with exceeding feare and perturbation, and the thinges being proſperouſly atcheiued, they departed.

17 And this was done when the day appeared, the protection of our Lord helping him.

18 But the king hauing taken a taſte of the hardines of the Iewes, attempted the difficultie of the places by policie:

19 and he moued his campe to Bethſura, which was a ſtrong hold of the Iewes: but he was put to flight, he fel, he was diminished.

20 And to them that were within Iudas ſent neceſſaries.

21 But one Rhodocus of the Iewes armie vttered the ſecretes to the enemies, who being ſought for was apprehended, and shut vp.

22 Againe the king had talke with them that were in Bethſura: he gaue the right hand: he tooke it: he went away.

23 He ioyned battel with Iudas, he was ouercome. And as he vnderſtood that Phillippe rebelled at Antioch, who was left ouer the affayres, diſmayed in mynde intreating the Iewes, and yelding vnto them, he ſweareth concerning al thinges that ſeemed reaſon, & being reconciled he offered ſacrifice, honoured the temple, and gaue hoſts.

24 He embraced Machabeus, & made him gouernor & prince from Ptolemais euen to the Gerrenians.

25 But after, as he came to Ptolemais the Ptolemaians tooke greuouſly the couenant of amitie, being offended leſt perhaps they would breake their league.

26 Then Lyſias went vp to the iudgement ſeate, and declared the reaſon, and appeaſed the people, and returned to Antioch: and in this maner the kinges iorney and returne proceded. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 13

• 1 W
• 2 [::] In the firſt booke, ch▪ 6 v. 30▪ the number of this armie differeth from the number here recorded, the cauſe is for that ſometimes thoſe only are counted vvhich vvere permanent, ſometimes others are alſo counted vvhich came vncertainly. The like difficulties of differences occurre often in the bookes of kinges and Paralipomenon.
• 15 [::] The vvatch word this night was: The victorie of God.
• 26 [*] li. 1. c. 7. v. 1.

Chapter 14

CHAP. XIIII. Demetrius hauing taken certaine holdes from Antiochus, 3. Alcimus lately depoſed from the office of high prieſt, 6. accuſeth good men of diſloyaltie, 11. others alſo incenſe Demetrius. 12. Wherupon Nicanor being ſent into Iurie, maketh Alcimus againe highprieſt: 18. hath peace with Iudas, conuerſing with him moſt familiarly. 26. But by Alcimus ſuggeſtion, ſeeketh to deliuer him into the king ⟨illegible⟩andes: 30. otherwiſe threatneth to prophane the temple. 34. The prieſtes pray God to protect them. 37. Razias being accuſed, and purſued, 41. in extreme distreſſe killeth himſelf with meruelous corege of ſpirite.

1 BVT after the ſpace of three yeares Iudas vnderſtood, and they that were with him, that Demetrius the ſonne of Seleucus with a ſtrong multitude, and with shippes was come vp by the port of Tripolis to commodious places,

2 and held the countries againſt Antiochus, and his gouernor Lyſias.

3 And one [::] Alcimus that had bene highprieſt, but voluntarily was contaminated in the time of the confuſion, conſidering that there was ſaftie for him by no means, nor acceſſe to the altar,

4 came to king Demetrius in the yeare an hundred fiftie, offering him a crowne of gold, & a palme, & beſides theſe, [*] Talloes, which ſeemed to be of the temple. And that ſame day in deede he held his peace.

5 But hauing gotten a commodious time for his madnes, being called of Demetrius to counſel, and asked on what thing and counſels the Iewes reſted, he anſwered:

6 They of the Iewes that are called [::] Aſſidians, of whom Iudas Machabeus is captaine, nourish battels, and moue ſeditions, neither doe they ſuffer the realme to be quiet.

7 For I alſo being defrawded of my anceſtours glorie (I meane of the high prieſthood) am come hither:

8 principally in deede keping fidelitie to the kings commodities, but ſecondly alſo prouiding for my citizens, forby their naughtines al our ſtocke is not a little vexed.

9 But al theſe thinges being knowen, ô king, prouide I pray thee, both for the countrie, & for our ſtocke according to thy humanitie published to al men.

10 For as long as Iudas is aliue, it is vnpoſſible that there be peace to the affayres.

11 And ſuch thinges being ſayed of him, the other freinds alſo behauing themſelues as enemies againſt Iudas, incenſed Demetrius. [*]

12 Who forthwith ſent Nicanor, chiefe ouer the elephants captaine into Iurie:

13 geuing him commiſſion, that he should take Iudas himſelfe: but them that were with him, he should diſperſe, & make Alcimus the high prieſt of the greateſt temple.

14 Then the nations, which had fled from Iudas out of Iurie, ioyned them ſelues by troupes with Nicanor, [::] eſteming the miſeries, and calamities of the Iewes the proſperities of their owne affayres.

15 The Iewes therfore hauing heard of Nicanors coming, & the aſſemblie of the nations, being ſprinkled with earth beſought him, that ordayned his people to kepe them for euer, and that protecteth his portion by euident ſignes.

16 And the captaine commanding forthwith they remoued from thence, and they came together to the caſtel of Deſſau.

17 And Simon the brother of Iudas had ioyned battel with Nicanor: but he was made afrayd with the ſodaine coming of the aduerſaries.

18 Neuertheles Nicanor hearing the manlines of Iudas companions, and greatnes of courege, that they had for the conflicts of their countrie, was afrayde to make tryall by bloud.

19 Wherfore he ſent Poſidonius, and Theodotius, & Mathias before to geue and take the right handes.

20 And when there was long conſultation of theſe thinges, and the captaine himſelf had moued it to the multitude, there was one ſentence of them al to accord vnto amitie.

21 Therfore they appointed a day, wherin they might ſecretly deale among them ſelues, and ſeates were brought forth and ſette for euery one.

22 But Iudas commanded armed men to be in places conuenient, leſt perhaps ſome miſchefe might ſodainly ariſe from the enemies: & they made agreable communication.

23 Nicanor abode at Ieruſalem, and did nothing vniuſtly, and the flockes of the multitudes, that had bene gathered together he diminished.

24 And he eſteemed Iudas alwayes deare from the hart, and he was inclined to the man.

25 And he deſired him to marrie a wife, and to beget children. He made a marriage, he liued quietly, and they liued in common.

26 But Alcimus ſeeing their charitie one towardes an other, and the couenantes, came to Demetrius, and ſayd that Nicanor aſſented to forraine matters, and that he ment to make Iudas being a traytour to the kingdom, his ſucceſſour.

27 Therfore the king being exaſperated with this mans moſt wicked criminations, wrote to Nicanor, ſaying, that he in deede was greatly diſpleaſed for the couenant of their amitie: neuertheles that he commanded him to ſend Machabeus quickly priſoner to Antioch.

28 Which thinges being knowen Nicanor was amaſed, and tooke it greuouſly, if he should vndoe thoſe thinges which they had couenanted, being nothing hurt of the man.

29 But [::] becauſe he could not reſiſt the king, he obſerued oportunitie wherby to accomplish the commandement.

30 But Machabeus ſeeing that Nicanor dealt with him more auſterely, and that he exhibited his accuſtomed meeting more ſternely, vnderſtanding this auſteritie not to be of good, a few of his companie gathered together, he hid him ſelf from Nicanor.

31 Which when he vnderſtood that he was ſtoutly preuented of the man, he came to the moſt great & moſt holie temple: and the prieſtes offering the accuſtomed hoſtes, he commanded the man to be deliuered vnto him.

32 Who [::] ſaying with an oath, that they knew not where he was, that was demanded, ſtretching out his hand to the temple,

33 he ſware, ſaying: Vnles you wil deliuer Iudas priſoner vnto me, I wil beate downe this temple of God to the flat ground, and wil digge downe the altar, and this temple I wil conſecrate to [::] Liber pater.

34 And when he had ſayd theſe thinges, he departed. But the prieſtes ſtretching forth their hands vnto heauen, inuocated him that was alwayes the defender of their nation, ſaying thus:

35 Thou ô Lord of al, which lackeſt nothing, wouldeſt a temple of thy habitation to be made amongſt vs.

36 And now ô Lord holie of al holies, preſerue for euer this houſe impolluted, which of late hath bene clenſed.

37 And Razias one of the ancients of Ieruſalem, was accuſed to Nicanor, a man that was a louer of the citie, and wel reported of, who for his affection was called father of the Iewes.

38 This man long time kept the purpoſe of continencie in Iudaiſme, and content to geue his bodie and life for perſeuerance.

39 But Nicanor willing to manifeſt the hatred that he had againſt the Iewes, ſent fiue hundred ſouldiars to take him.

40 for he thought if he had intrapped him, that he should doe the Iewes verie great hurt.

41 But the multitudes coueting to rush into his houſe, and to breake open the gate, & to ſet fyre therto, when he was in taking, [::] he ſtrooke himſelfe with a ſword:

42 chooſing to dye nobly rather then to be made ſubiect to ſinners, and againſt his noble birth to ſuffer vnworthie iniuries.

43 But wheras for haſt he had not made the wound with a ſure ſtroke, and the multitudes brake in within the dores, running backe boldly to the wal, he threwe downe him ſelfe manfully headlong vnto the multitudes:

44 who quickly geuing place to his fal he fel vpon his necke.

45 And when he had breathed, incenſed in minde he aroſe: and when his blood ranne with a great ſtreame, & he was wounded with moſt greuous wounds, running he paſſed through the multitude:

46 and ſtanding vpon a certaine ſteepe rocke, & now being become without bloud, gryping his bowels, with both handes he caſt them vpon multitudes, inuocating the dominatour of life and ſpirit, that he would reſtore theſe to him againe: & ſo he departed this life. [*]

Marginal notes to Chapter 14

• 1 Y
• 3 [::] Alcimus was of Aarons ſtock. li. 1. c 7. v. 14. but for this apoſtaſie here mentioned was vncapable of high prieſthood, & ſo Matthathias vvas ordayned being of the ſame progenie and moſt ſincere in religion.
• 4 [*] a golden bough.
• 6 [::] This deſcription of the Aſſideans made by their malicious enimie in calumnious and odious termes, ſheweth vvel their ſingular zele, & ſinceritie in promoting Gods ſeruice▪ And ſo their aduerſaries malignant accuſations more againſt them then al others, is a plaine teſtimonie of their more rate and more ſingular vertues.
• 11 [*] li. 1. ⟨illegible⟩. 7. v. 26.
• 13 a
• 14 [::] Apoſtates and politikes make their gayne by ſpoyling the faithful.
• 29 [::] Nicanor a right worldlie politike, a figure of Pilate and of ſuch temporizing Iudges, counſellers, and courtiers, as lacke zele in religion.
• 32 [::] They knevv not preciſely vvhere Iudas vvas, neither vvould they ſearch for him to deliuer him to the perſecutor.
• 33 [::] Bacchus called alſo Liber, and by manie other names, feaned by infidels to be auctor and god of wine. And therfore drunkards dedicate feaſtes & temples to him.
• 41 [::] S. Auguſtin epiſt 61. ad Dul⟨illegible⟩itium & l. 2. c. 23. ad epiſt. 2. Gaud▪ diſcuſſing th⟨illegible⟩ fact; ſaith the helie ſcripture dot⟨illegible⟩ tel it, not praiſe it. As to be admired not to be imitated, & that either it vvas not vvel done by him, or at leaſt is not conuenient in this time of grace.
• 46 [*] li. 1. c. 7. v. 39.

Chapter 15

CHAP. XV. Nicanor intending to aſſault Iudas on the ſabbath day, 5. blaſphemeth moſt proudly. 7. Iudas with al confidence in God encorregeth his men. 11. confirming them with the relation of a viſion in ſlepe. 21. So he with feruent prayer, the enemie truſting his owne streingth, ioyneth battel. 27. and killeth thirtie fiue thouſand, and Nicanor amongſt the reſt. whoſe head, and hand cut of with the shoulder are hanged vp in Ieruſalem: 33. his tongue geuen to the birdes, and a feſtiual day obſerued. 38. And herewith the Auctor (of this ſecond booke) concludeth the whole hiſtorie.

1 BVT Nichanor as he vnderſtood that Iudas was in the places of Samaria, he purpoſed with al violence to ioyne batel [::] the day of the Sabbath.

2 But the Iewes that of neceſſitie folowed him, ſaying do not ſo fearcely and barbarouſely, but geue honour to the day of the ſanctification, and honour him that beholdeth al thinges:

3 that vnhappie man asked, if there were a powre in heauen, that commanded the ſabbath day to be kept.

4 And they anſwering: There is the liuing Lord himſelf in heauen, the potent, that commanded the ſeuenth day to be kept.

5 But he ſayd: And [::] I am potent vpon the earth, that commanded armes to be taken, and the kings affayres to be accomplished. Neuertheles he obteyned not to accomplish his counſel.

6 And Nicanor in dede puffed vp with exceeding pride, had thought to haue ſet vp a common victorious memorie of Iudas.

7 But Machabeus alwayes truſted with al hope that there would come ayde from God to them.

8 And exhorted his companie, that they should not feare at the coming of the nations, but should haue in minde the aydes geuen vnto them from heauen, and now should hope that they should haue the victorie from the Almightie.

9 And ſpeaking vnto them out of the law, and the Prophetes, admonishing them alſo of the conflictes, that they had made before, he made them the more prompt:

10 and ſo their hartes being encoreged, withal he shewed the fraude of the Gentils, and their breaking of oathes.

11 And he armed euerie one of them, not with ſenſe of buckler and ſpeare, but with very good words, & exhortations, [::] declaring a dreame worthy to be credited, wherby he reioyced them al.

12 And the viſion was in this maner: Onias who had bene the highprieſt, a good and benigne man, reuerent to behold, modeſt of maners, and comelie of ſpeach, and who from a childe was exerciſed in vertues, that he ſtretching forth the handes “prayed for al the people of the Iewes.

13 After this that there appeared alſo an other man meruelous for age, and glorie, and for the port of great dignitie about him.

14 And that Onias anſwering ſayd: This is a louer of his bretheren, & of the people of Iſrael: this is he that“ prayeth much for the people, & for the whole citie, Ieremie the Prophete of God.

15–16 And that Ieremie put forth his righthand, and [::] gaue vnto Iudas a ſword of gold, ſaying: Take the holie ſword a gift from God, wherwith thou shalt ouerthrow the aduerſaries of my people Iſrael.

17 Being exhorted therefore with the wordes of Iudas exceding good, by which the coreges might be ſtured vp, and the hartes of the young men ſtreingthned, they reſolued to fight, and to encounter manfully: that manhood might decide the matter, becauſe the holie citie, and the temple were in danger.

18 [::] For there was leſſe care for their wiues, and children, and alſo for their bretheren, and kinſemen: but the greateſt and principal feare was for the holines of the temple.

19 And they alſo that were in the citie, tooke no litle care for them that were to ioyne battel.

20 And when they did al hope that iudgement would be geuen, and the enimies were preſent, and the armie was ſet in aray, the beaſtes & horſemen diſpoſed in conuenient place,

21 Machabeus conſidering the coming of the multitude, and the varietie of the prouiſion of armour, and the fiercenes of the beaſtes, ſtretching forth his handes vnto heauen, he inuocated our Lord, that worketh wonders, who not according to the might of armes, but according as it pleaſeth him, geueth victorie to the worthie.

22 And he ſayd inuocating in this maner: Thou Lord which didſt ſend thyne Angel in the time of Ezechias king of Iuda, and didſt kil an hundred eightie fiue thouſand of the campe of Sennacharib:

23 & now ô Dominatour of the heauens ſend thy good Angel before vs, in feare and trembling of the greatnes of thyne arme,

24 that they may be afrayde, which with blaſphemie come againſt thyne holie people. And he in dede ended his prayer thus.

25 But Nicanor, and they that were with him, with trumpets & ſongues came nere.

26 But Iudas, and they that were with him, inuocating God by prayers ioyned battel:

27 with the hand in dede fighting, but in their hartes praying to our Lord, they ouerthrew no leſſe then fiue and thirtie thouſand, being greatly delighted with the preſence of God.

28 And when they had ceaſed, and returned with ioy, they vnderſtood that Nicanor was ſlaine, for al his armour.

29 A shout therfore being made, and a great crie, they bleſſed the Almightie Lord in their countrie language.

30 And Iudas, who by al meanes was in bodie and mind readie to dye for his citizens, commanded that Nicanors head, and hand with the shoulder being cut of, should be caried to Ieruſalem.

31 Whither when he was come, hauing called his countrimen, and the Prieſtes to the altar, he ſent alſo for them that were in the caſtel,

32 And shewing them the head of Nicanor, & the wicked hand, which he ſtretching forth againſt holie houſe of almightie God, had mightely bragged.

33 The tongue alſo of impious Nicanor being cut out, he commanded to be geuen pecemeale to the birdes: and the hand of the furious man to be hanged vp againſt the temple.

34 Al therfore bleſſed the Lord of heauen, ſaying: Bleſſed be he, that hath kept his place vndefiled.

35 And he hung vp Nicanors head in the toppe of the caſtel, that it might be an euident, & manifeſt ſigne of the helpe of God.

36 Therfore al by common counſel decreed, by no meanes to let paſſe this day without ſolemnitie:

37–38 but to kepe the ſolemnitie the thirtenth day of the moneth Adar, which is called in the Syrian language, the day before Mardocheus day. * Theſe thinges therefore being done concerning Nicanor, & [::] from that time the citie being poſſeſſed of the Hebrewes, I alſo in theſe wil make an end of ſpeaking.

39 And if wel, and as is competent for a ſtorie that myſelf alſo would: but “ if not ſo worthely it reſteth to be pardoned me.

40 For as to drinke alwayes wine, or alwayes water is hurtful, but to vſe now one now an other is delectable: ſo to the readers, if the ſpeach be alwayes exact, it wil not be gratful. Here therefore it shal be ended.

Marginal notes to Chapter 15

• 1 c
• 1 [::] P⟨illegible⟩ophane men make their aduantage of religious mens good conſcience, but Iudas rightly inſtructed in this caſe defended his iuſt cauſe alſo in the ſabbath. li. 1. c. 3. v. 40.
• 5 [::] O Luciferian blaſphemie▪
• 11 [::] This dreame was from God as the effect ſhevved. And Iudas knevv alſo that it ſo was by internal inſpiration, as Ioſeph. Mat. 1. v 20. vvas aſſured of his dreames.
• 15–16 [::] Ieremie (ch. 38. v. 17.) perſvvaded the king of Iuda to yeld himſelf vvith the citie and people to the Chaldees, and not to reſiſt. But novv he deliuereth a ſvvord to Iudas, exhorting him to fight: according to Gods vvil in diuers caſes, and times, for there is a time of vvare, and a time of peace. Eccle 3. v 8.
• 18 [::] Gods honour, & holie thinges are firſt and principally to be reſpected, before vvordlie freindes, though they alſo muſt be regarded in due order and place.
• 22 4. Reg. 19.
• 37–38 li. ⟨illegible⟩. c 8. v. 1. &c.
• 37–38 f
• 37–38 [::] More being vvritten in the firſt booke, this auctor maketh one concluſion of al, becauſe other perſecuters being alſo ouercome the land was againe caulme after ſtormes.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XV.

12. Onias prayed for al the people. And. v. 14. Ieremie prayeth for the people.] [Margin: Prayer of Sainctes is euidently proued by this place.] As againſt prayer of the faithful for the dead: Ch 12. ſo againſt prayer of Saincts for the militant Church. Proteſtants haue no better euaſion, vvhen they are preſſed with theſe examples, then by denying the auctoritie of the Bookes. For ſeing the Prophet Ieremie, and the Highprieſt Onias, being in Limbo patrum (no holie ſoules aſcending into heauen before Chriſt) did pray for the vvhole people of the Ievves, it is alſo certaine that they, and other Sainctes in glorie, do of their excellent charitie pray for thoſe that are in this mortallife. Yet neither do vve Catholiques vrge this place, as though vve had no other to alleage, for vve shevv the ſame doctrine, by other holie Scriptures, [Margin: It is alſo proued by manie other holie Scriptures.] Gen. 48. Exo 32. Iere. 15. Luc. 16. 2 Petri 1. Apoc. 5. 6 8. and others: neither muſt vve omite theſe bookes, becauſe our aduerſaries denie them, ſeing the lerned Doctores, and holie Fathers confirme the ſame doctrine by thoſe Scriptures. Among others ancient Origen. tomo 18 in Ioan. ſayth, it appeareth that Sainctes departed from this life haue care of the people, as it is written (ſayth he) in the [Margin: Neither is this place to be omitted.] Actes of the Machabees, manie yeares after the death of Ieremie: this is Ieremie the prophet of God, vvo prayeth much for the people. Likervviſe S. Bernard. Ser. 3. vigil. Natiuit. Domini. & Ser. 11. againe Ser. 76. in Cantica, admoniſheth that a good religious man is like to this Onias: who prayeth to God for al the people.

39. If not ſe vvorthely.] He demandeth not pardon, as though he ſuſpected [Margin: The auctor of this booke asketh pardon for his ſtile, not for the doctrine nor hiſtorie. But the auctors of theſe Annotations crane pardon for al defectes.] any error in his doctrine or in the hiſtory, but of his vnpoliſhed ſtile in writing. As S Paul ſayth that himſelf vvas rude in ſpeach, yet not in knovvlege 2. Cor. 11. v. 6.

But we, who by Gods great goodnes haue paſſed now to the end of this Engliſh old Teſtament iuſtly fearing, that we haue not worthely diſcharged ſo great a worke: and in no wiſe preſuming that we haue auoided al errors, as wel of doctrine as hiſtorie: much more we acknowlege that our ſtile is rude and vnpolished. And therfore we neceſſarily, and vvith al humilitie craue pardon of God, and al his glorious Sainctes. Likevviſe of the Chruch militant, and particularly of you right vvelbeloued English readers; to vvhom as at the beginning vve directed and dedicated theſe our endeuoures: ſo to you vve offer the reſt of our laboures, euen to the end of our liues: in our B. Sauiour IESVS Chriſt, to vvhom be al praiſe and glorie.

Amen.

THE CONTINVANCE OF THE CHVRCH, AND RELIGION IN THE SIXTH AGE: from the captiuitie in Babylon to the coming of our Sauiour, nere the ſpace of 640. yeares.

SVCH is the prouidence of Almightie God, that not obſcurely, or at [Margin: Gods true Seruice hath alvvayes continued in the viſible Church.] ſometimes only, but manifeſtly, and without intermiſſion his Diuine Maieſtie is acknowleged, his name glorified, his Religion profeſſed, and his preceptes obſerued by a viſible knowne Church, from the beginning of the world to the end therof, as we haue already shewed in the other fiue ages; and shal no leſſe clerly declare the ſame in this ſixth. For albeit the peculiar people of God were for their ſinnes caried forth of their countrie, and held captiues in Babylon ſeuentie yeares, and after their reduction were ſubiect to ſtrangers ruling ouer them, and ſometimes extremely afflicted with perſecution, yet they stil perſeuered in the ſame fayth and religion, had ſucceſſion of Prieſtes, and of one Highprieſt, with conſeruation alſo of the royal line of Dauid, euen to Chriſt our eternal King and Prieſt.

Firſt therfore concerning Articles of fayth and religion, the beleefe in [Margin: Faith in one God is the ground of al religion.] one God was ſo generally confeſſed by the whole Iewish nation, that their Prieſtes and Prophetes did vſe it for a principle, in confirmation of other pointes, as wel doctrinal as moral. So Malachie teaching that our neighbour is to be beloued, God to be ſerued, and his lawes to be kept: Is there not one Father of vs al (ſayth he. ch. 2. v. 10.) Hath not one God created vs? Why then doth euerie one of vs deſpiſe his brother, violating the couenant of our fathers? More expreſly Ieremie in his Epiſtle (Baruc. 6.) sheweth the vanitie and abſurditie of manie goddes: exhorting the people to ſerue the one omnipotent God, ſaying to him ſincerely in their bartes; (v. 5.) Thou oughteſt to be adored ô Lord. Likewiſe, when the Magicians of Chaldea aſcribed the knowlege of dreames to falſe goddes, Daniel with the other three children (ch. 2. v. 18) prayed the God of heauen: and the myſtetie was reueled to Daniel. and he declared and expounded the kings dreame. Who therupon confeſſed to Daniel (v. 47.) In very dede your God is the God of goddes, and Lord of kinges. The ſame three children (Daniel. 3.) were caſt into the burning furnace, and Daniel into the lions denne (ch. 6. & 14.) readie to dye for their fayth in one God. For this fayth alſo Mardocheus, as is written in the booke of Eſther, was perſecuted, and he with al the people were in extreme danger. And the auctor of the booke of wiſdome teacheth that one God is knowen by conſideration of his creatures: Al men are vaine (ſayth he. ch. 13. v. 1.) that by thinges ſene, vnderſtand not him that is: neither attending to the workes agniſe who was the workman. So the auctor of Eccleſiaſticus ch. 1. v. 8. profeſseth: There is one moſt high Creator omnipotent, and mightie king, and to be feared excedingly, ſitting vpon the throne, the God of Dominion.

As for the high Myſterie of three Diuine Perſons in one God not ſo [Margin: The B. Trinitie reueled to ſome and vttered obſcurely in the old teſtament.] commonly reueled in the old testament, yet was it knowen and in ſome ſorte vttered: As Aggeus 2. v. 5. & 6. I am with you, fayth the Lord of hoſtes, the word that I did couenant with you: when you came out of the land of Aegypt: and my Spirite shal be in the middes of yoa. VVhere, by the Lord of hoſts, u commonly vnderſtood God the Father; by his ſpirite, God the Holie Ghoſt, and the word may ſignifie God the Sonne: of whoſe Incarnation the Prophete playnly ſpeaketh in the next verſes. For in this conſisteth the couenant betwen God and his people, that they should kepe his word of precepts and commandments expreſſed in the law: and he would ſend them the word, his onlie Sonne the Second Diuine Perſon to redeme mankind. Againe the ſame three Perſons ſeme to [Margin: Diſtinction of Perſons in one God.] be diſtinguished in diuers places, God the Father is deſcribed according to mans ſmal capacitie, Daniel. 7. v. 9. thus: Thrones were ſette, and THE ANCIENT OF DAYES ſate: his veſture white as ſnow, [Margin: The Father.] and the heares of his head as cleane wool, his throne flames of fire, his wheeles fire kindled. He is called Ancient of dayes, not only becauſe he is eternal, for ſo are the other two Diuine Perſons, but this terme is attributed to the Father, becauſe in order he is the beginning, from whom the other two Perſons proceede [The Sonne by generation, the Holie Ghoſt from the Father and the Sonne by proceſſion.] To God the ſonne the ſame Prophet [Margin: The Sonne.] Daniel prayeth: ch. 9. v. 17. ſaying: Now therfore heare ô our God, the petition of thy ſeruant, and his prayers: and shew thy face vpon thy Sanctuarie which is deſert, for thyne owne ſake: that is, for thyne owne merites: which can only be vnderſtood of that Diuine Perſon, which is incarnate. Zacharie, 12. v. 10. God ſpeaking by the prophet ſayth: I wil powre out vpon the houſe of Dauid, and vpon the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem the ſpirite of grace and of prayers, which may eaſily be vnderſtood to be the promiſe of the B. Trinitie: but that which immediatly foloweth: and they shal looke towards me, whom they pearced, can only be ſpoken by the Second Diuine Perſon, who only is incarnate, and was pearced in his Paſſion. In the booke of wiſdome is much written of wiſdom increated, a terme appropriated to God the Sonne. eſpecially ch. 2. 7. 8. 9. and 10. The like in Eccleſiaſticus, ch. 1. 4. 24. And ch. 51. v. 14. is diſtinct mention of the Father & the Sonne, I haue inuocated (ſayth the auctor, or anie faythful ſoule) our Lord, the Father of my Lord. There is likewiſe particular mention of the Holie Ghoſt in ſome places. As [Margin: The Holie Ghoſt.] 2. Eſd. 9. v. 20. Thou gaueſt them the good Spirite, which should teach them. for the office of internal teaching is appropriated to the Holie Ghoſt. Ioan. 14. v. 17. and 16. v. 13. The Spirite of truth, and he shal teach you al truth. Ezec. 36. v. 27. I wil put my Spirite in the middes of you, and wil make that you walke in my precepts. Zach. 7. v. 12. The wordes which the Lord ſent in HIS SPIRITE, by the hand of the former Prophetes. Sapient. 1. v. 5. The Holie Ghoſt of diſcipline wil flye from him that feaneth. Eccleſiaſticus 1. v. 9. He created her in the Holie Ghoſt. 24. v. 29. They that eate ME, shal yet hunger, and they that drinke ME, shal yet thirſt. Where God calleth the Holie Ghoſt (which is receiued by grace) himſelſef. Becauſe al three [Margin: Other places proue pluralitie of Perſons in God.] Diuine Perſons are one God. And that there be manie Dinine Perſons in God, who is one in ſubſtance, is ſufficiently ſignified by al thoſe holie Scriptures, where God is called by the name Elohim, in the plural number; especially ſeing this name hath alſo the ſingular number, Eloha. As Iob. 12. v. 4. & 36. v. 2. Daniel. 2. v. 28. Habacuc. 1. v. 11. & 3. v. 3. which laſt place ſemeth moſt painly to ſpeake of the Sonne of God, ELOHA MITHEMAN IAVO. God wil come from Theman, or from the South. And therfore where this word Elohim is vſed in the plural number (as in moſt places it is) it ſignifieth pluralitie of Perſons in God.

Christs Incarnation is more clerly foreshewed by Prophetes, who aboue [Margin: The myſterie of Chriſts Incarnation is more frequent & more plaine in the holie Scriptures eſpecially in the Prophetes. Ieremie.] other conſolations, moſt especially comforted the people by their prophecies of Chriſt our Sauiour. Ieremie 23. v. 5. I wil rayſe vp to Dauid a iuſt branch, and he shal reigne a king, and shal be wiſe, and he shal doe iudgement and iuſtice in the earth. Ch. 31. v. 23. A woman shal compaſſe a man. Chriſt though in bodie a litle infant, yet in powre and wiſedom was moſt perfect of al men, euen when he was in his mothers wombe. Ch. 33. v. 14. Behold the dayes wil come, ſayth our Lord, and I wil rayſe vp the good word. v. 15. I wil make the ſpring of iuſtice to bud forth vnto Dauid, & he shal do iudgement and iuſtice in the earth. Ieremies Lamentations are in greateſt part of Chriſt and his Church. And ſome part can hardly be applied to anie other. ch. 3. v. 30. He shal geue the cheke to him that ſtriketh him, he shal be filled with reproches, ch. 4. v. 20. Chriſt our Lord is taken in our ſinnes. Baruch. 2. v. 35. God promiſing [Margin: Baruch.] to reduce the people from Babylon, addeth: And I wil eſtablish vnto them an other teſtament euerlaſting (by Chriſt, whoſe kingdom is for euer) that I be their God, and they shal be my people. Ch. 3. v. 36. This is our God, and there shal none other be eſteemed againſt him. v. 38. After theſe thinges he was ſene vpon the earth, and was conue⟨illegible⟩ſant [Margin: Ezechiel.] with men. Ezechiel peculiarly called by an Angel the ſonne of man, was therin a special figure of our Sauiour, who ſo calleth him ſelf. And the ſame prophet hath in plaine termes foreshewed the office of Chriſt, the true Paſtor of al paſtors. eh. 34. v. 25. I wil (ſayth God by this prophet) rayſe vp ouer them one Paſtor, who shal feede them, my ſeruant Dauid. that is, Christ prefigured by Dauid. His admirable viſions in the three firſt chapters, and nine laſt perteyne properly and principally to the new Teſtament of Christ, and his Church, shewing the abundance of grace and glorie geuen by him to the elect. Daniel. 7. v. 13. With the cloudes of [Margin: Daniel.] heauen there came in as it were the Sonne of man, and he came euen to the ancient of dayes, and in his ſight they offered him. He came euen to the ancient of dayes, becauſe in his Diuinitie he is equal to the Father: and in his humanitie he is offered to God in Sacrifice. v. 14 His powre is eternal: and his kingdom shal not be corrupted. ch. 9. v. 24. Seuentie wekes (of yeares) are abridged, that ſinnes may be forgeuen, grace be infuſed, prophecies be fulfilled, and the Holie one of holies be annointed. Al which belong only to Christ. v. 26. After ſixtie two wekes Chriſt shal be ſlaine. Aggeus 2. v. 8. The deſired of al nations [Margin: Aggeus.] shal come. Zach. 3. v. 8. I wil bring my ſeruant the Orient. ch. [Margin: Zacharias.] 13. v. 7. Strike the Paſtour, and the shepe shal be diſperſed, fulfilled in Chriſts Paſſion Mat. 26. v. 21. Mala⟨illegible⟩h. 3. v. 2. Forthwith shal come to [Margin: Malachias.] his temple the Dominator, whom you ſeke, & the Angel of the teſtament, [Margin: Alſo the bookes of wiſdom.] whom ye deſire. The booke of wiſdom. ch. 2. v. 12. deſcribeth the malice of the wicked againſt Chriſt. Let vs (ſay they) circumuent the iuſt, becauſe he is vnprofitable to vs: and he is contrarie to our workes, and reprochfully obiecteth to vs the ſinnes of the law. v. 13. He boaſteth that he hath the knowlege of God, and nameth him ſelf the Sonne of God. Eccleſiaſticus 24. v. 34. God appointed to [Margin: Eccleſiaſticus.] Dauid his ſeruant, to raiſe vp a king of him, moſt ſtrong and ſitting in the throne of honour for euer. Which eternal king proceeding from Dauid can be none but Chriſt our Sauiour. And al the praiſes of Pa⟨illegible⟩riarches, and Prophetes (in the laſt eight chapters) conſiſt in their fayth, and expectation of Chriſt. Likewiſe the Prieſtes and people. 1. Mach. 14. v. 28. 35. [Margin: & Machabees.] and 49. shewed their fayth of Chriſt to come, when they eſtablished Simon, and his progenie in the gouernment and highprieſthood, for euer til there riſe the faithful Prophet, to witte the Prophet of whom al the prophetes did speake (Luc. 24 v. 27.)

Amongst the reſt Ieremie, ch. 31. v. 23. and Ezechiel ch. 44. v. 2. make [Margin: Prophecies & figures of the B virgin mother of God.] alſo especial mention of ſome ſingular priuileges of the moſt excellent virgin Mother of God. Of whom alſo Iudith, and Eſther were apparent figures, who receiued ſpecial graces for the benefite of their nation, and ſo did this ſingular Virgin receiue of God moſt eminent giftes, aboue al other mere creatures, for the benefite of the whole Church.

Of Angels the celeſtial ſpirites, is frequent mention in the holie Scriptures [Margin: Angeles excel corporal creatures in multitude.] of this age. Their multitude is innumerable, and therfore are inſinuated to men by general termes. Daniel. 7. v. 10. Thouſandes of thouſandes miniſtered to him, and tenne thouſand hundred thouſandes aſſiſted him. And their powre is moſt great, and to men moſt profitable. An Angel [Margin: And in powre.] defended the three children in the fornace, walking with them in the fire. Daniel. 3. v. 49 95. Another defended Daniel from the lions. ch. 6. v. 22. The ſame or an other caried Habacuc from Iurie into Babylon. Dan. 14. v. [Margin: They helpe men and are lavvfully inuocated by men.] 35. and reſtored him in his place againe. v. 38. The Archangel Gabriel inſtructed Daniel, ch. 8. v. 16. 17. ch. 9. v. 21. And ch. 10. v. 13. & 20. Other Angels the Patrones or Guardians of the Perſians and Grecians, prayed for thoſe countries; and S. Michael, v. 21. for the Iewes. An Angle ſpake in Zacharie, ch. 1. v. 9. An other Angel went to mete him. ch. 2. v. 3. And in reſpect of Angelical offices, both S. Iohn Baptiſt, and our Sauiour himſelf are figuratiuely called Angeles. Malach. 3. v. 1 No meruel therfore that Iudas Machabeus and his armie, 2. Machab. 11. v 6. prayed for the aſſiſtance of a good Angel, which was granted them. v. 8. And ſo they went promptly, hauing an helper from heauen. v. 10. Their like prayer had the ſame effect in an other battel. 2. Machab. 15 v. 27.

Contrarie to theſe glorious Angeles are other ſpirites, at firſt created in [Margin: Diuels hating God, and al mankind neuer ceaſe to tempt men to ſinne.] grace, which falling into pride, and most obſtinate malice are perpetual enimies to God their Creator, and to al mankind, continually calumniating the workes of God, and of al his ſeruantes, wherof they are called Diuels, or calumniators. They neuer ceaſe tempting al they can to euil, ſo to bring men to eternal death: For by the enuie of the diuel (Sap. 2. v. 7.) death (both of ſoule & bodie) came into this world. The iuſt ſtipend of ſinne. Al ſinnes offend God and pleaſe the diuels. But more particularly they deſire to be honored as God with Sacrifice. Which therfore they require to themſelues [Margin: They ſeke to be honored vvith ſacrifice.] and their idols. And for this ſinne of Idolatrie, aboue al others, God is moſt prouoked to wrath: & for the ſame moſt eſpecially punished his people: as the Prophet Baruch (chap. 4. v. 6.) ſignifieth to the people, ſaying: You are ſold to the Gentils. &c. You are deliuered to their aduerſaries: and geuing the reaſon why, he addeth: v. 7. For you haue exaſperated him that made you, the eternal God immolating to diuels. And not to God.

The ſame al the Prophetes teach, and withal that Sacrifice is the ſouereigne [Margin: Sacrifice is the proper ſeruice of God.] ſeruice due to God only, and not to any creature, how excellent ſoeuer. But of Sacrifice there is ſo much written, that it were ouer long and nedeles to recite the places. It importeth more to obſerue the predictions of the moſt excellent, and perfect Sacrifice of the new Teſtament Malachie. 1. [Margin: Sacrifice of the new teſtament, in al places.] v. 11. From the riſing of the ſunne (ſayth God by this Prophet) euen to the going downe, there is ſacrificing, and there is offered in my name a cleane oblation. In the old teſtament they offered cattel, & birdes, by powring out their bloud about the altar, and drawing forth their bowels. For purging and clenſing wherof there was much waſhing and labour: but now in the Church of Chriſt, is the cleane Sacrifice of our Lords bodie [Margin: More pure and excellent then the old▪] and bloud, in formes of bread and wine. It is alſo in itſelf ſo pure, that it can not be polluted (as the old ſacricrifices were, v. 12.) by vnworthie Prieſtes, but is alwayes auaylable to ſome or other, ex opere operato. According to that the ſame Prophet teſtifieth, ch. 3. v. 4. The Sacrifice of Iuda and Ieruſalem shal pleaſe our Lord. which is neceſſarily vnderſtood of the Chriſtian, ſacrifice: for els this place were contrarie to that which God ſayd to the Iewish prieſtes, ch. 1. v. 10. I haue no wil in you, and I wil not receiue gift at your hand. Daniel alſo prophecieth, ch. 9⟨illegible⟩ v. 27. that in the half of the weke the hoſte and the ſacrifice shal fayle. Ch. 12. v. 11. [Margin: The old ceaſed and the new ſucceded.] The continual ſacrifice shal be taken away, therby ſignifying that not only after the figure, the Sacrifice prefigured should ſuccede (for els there should be no daylie Sacrifice at al in the new Teſtament, which Malachie ſ⟨illegible⟩yth plainly there shal be, not in one, or in fewe places, but from the riſing of the ſunne, euen to the going downe, &c.) but alſo that both the old and new ſacrifices should be taken away in their ſeueral times. For ſo [Margin: which ſhad alſo be abandoned by Antichriſt.] our Sauiour (Mat. 24. v. 15.) applieth the next wordes of this prophecie, and abomination of deſolation shal be ſet vp, not only as a ſigne before the destruction of Ieruſalem, but alſo of the end of the world. Verified in part as in the figure, when the temple was destroyed, & diuers prophanations made in the ſame place: but more eſpecially shal be fulfilled by Antichriſt, abolishing the holie Sacrifice of Chriſts bodie and bloud, ſo much as he shal be ſuffered: as S. Hyppolitus writeth, lib. de Antichriſto. & in oratione de conſummatione mundi. Agreable to S. Ireneus. li. 4. c. 32. & li. 5. in ⟨illegible⟩ine S. Ierom. in Dan. 12. Theodoretus in eund⟨illegible⟩m locum, and S. Chriſoſtom in opere imperfecto. Yea ſome Hebrew Rabbins acknowlege Tranſſubſtantion, [Margin: Tranſſubſtantiation confeſſed by Rabbins.] in the Eucharist. as R. Dauid Kimhi witneſſeth vpon theſe wordes of Oſee. 1⟨illegible⟩. v. 8. They shal liue with wheate, and shal ſpring as a vine: Manie of our Doctores (ſayth he) expound this, that there shal be mutation of nature in wheate, in the times of our Redemer Chriſt.

This Rabbi Dauid alſo, and the Chaldee Paraphraſis expound Ezechiels prophecie, ch. 36. v. 25. I wil powre out vpon you cleane water, of the remiſſion of ſinne, though they ſignifie not by what particular meanes. Which [Margin: Baptiſme.] Christian Doctors vndoubtedly explicate of the Sacrament of Baptiſme. And like wiſe his other prophecie, ch. 47. v. 1. waters iſſued forth vnder the threſhold of the houſe towards the Eaſt, can not be vnderſtood of anie other waters then of Baptiſme.

The purifications, oblations, and other workes of penance practiſed by the people, after their returne from captiuitie, written. 2. Eſd. 9. 10. 13. [Margin: Penane.] teſtifie their obſeruation of the law in this point, by which the Sacrament of penance in the new teſtament was prefigured.

In like ſorte the continuance of Prieſthood, and prieſtlie functions [Margin: Holie orders.] is manifeſt in the bookes of Eſdras, and of other Prophetes, which prefigured the Sacrament of holie Orders, in the Church of Chriſt.

In theſe times alſo the feaſtes inſtituted by the law, were obſerued with [Margin: Feaſtes.] more or leſse ſolemnitie, as time, place, and other opportunities ſerued. As Eſdras teſtifieth. li. 1. c. 3. v. 2. Ioſue (the highprieſt) and Zorobabel (the duke) after their returne from captiuitie, built an altar (notwithſtanding the threates of infidels) and offered vpon it holocauſt to our Lord morning and euening. And they made the ſolemnitie of tabernacles, and other feaſtes, as wel in the Calendes, as in al the ſolemnities of our Lord, though the temple was not yet built againe (v. 6.) And afterwards upon new occaſion, Iudas Machabeus, 1. Mach. 4. & 2. Mach. 10. inſtituted a new feaſt, which our sauiour obſerued. Ioan. 10. v. 12.

The like obſeruation was kept of faſtes. For amongst the feaſtes which [Margin: Faſtes ordinarie.] were al duly performed (1. Eſd. 3. v. 5.) one was of Expiation which conſisted in faſting from euen to euen. Leuit. 23. Num. 29. And beſides [Margin: And extraordinarie.] the ordinarie, Eſdras appointed a peculiar faſt for ſpecial purpoſes, 1. Eſd 8. v. 21. And I proclamed (ſayth he) a faſt, beſide the riuer Ahaua, that we might be afflicted before the Lord our God: and might deſire of him a right way for vs, and our children. And (v. 23.) we faſted and beſought our God hereby: and it fel our proſperouſly vnto vs. Againe, 2. Eſd. 9. v. 1. The children of Iſrael came together in faſting, and ſackclothes, and earth vpon them. see more of faſting Iudith. 4. & 9. Eſther 5. & 14. Zachar. 8. And of abſtinence from certayne [Margin: Abſtinence.] meates according to the la⟨illegible⟩, Daniel ⟨illegible⟩. & 9. Iudith. 10. & 12.2. Mach. 6. & 7.

More generally the whole forme of good life is excellently preſcribed [Margin: Forme of good life preſcribed in the ſapiential bookes.] in the bookes of wiſdom and Eccleſiaſticus. Where vnder the general vertues of wiſdom and Iuſtice, al are admonished to ſeeke diligently to know God, and to ſerue him. As much as to ſay, to haue fayth and good workes: the two feete, and legges, on which the godlie walke vnto life euerlaſting. Let one shorte ſentence here ſerue for example (wishing al men to reade more in the bookes themſelues) Sap. 6. v. 18. 19. & 20. is this gradation. The beginning of wiſdom is the true deſire of diſcipline; the care of [Margin: The aſcending by ſteppes ⟨illegible⟩ from earth to heauen.] diſcipline is loue; & loue is the keeping of her lawes: and the keping of the lawes is the conſummation of incorruption: & incorruption maketh to be next to God. Theſe are the ſteppes from earth to heauen, from this vale of miſeries to eternal happines. firſt A true and ſincere deſire of diſcipline, or of Gods true ſeruice: 2. This deſire or care of diſcipline bredeth loue of God: 3. loue is the keping of lawes, the commandments of God: for he that ſayth he ⟨illegible⟩oueth God, and kepeth not his commandments [Margin: ⟨illegible⟩. Ioan. 2.] is a liar: 4. keping the lawes is the conſummation of incorruption: making the ſoule perfect in vertues, and free from corruption of ſinnes: 5. and this incorruption maketh to be next to God, ioyning man with God, which is the perfect beatitude of eternal life. And ſo he concludeth, v. 22. Therfore (from first to laſt by degrees) deſire of wiſdom leadeth to the euerlaſting kingdom. Yet muſt we vnderſtand that neither [Margin: VVithout Gods grace preuenting, no man can thinke or do anie thing meritorious.] the firſt ſteppe of good deſire, nor anie of the reſt is in a mans owne powre as of himſelf, ſo much as to thinke a good thought, but Gods grace preuenteth [Margin: 2. Cor. 3.] ſturreth men vp, and continually aſſiſteth, in al good beginninges progreſſe, and perſeuerance, as the ſame diuine auctor teacheth a litle before, v. 14. wiſdom preuenteth them that couete her, that she firſt may shew herſelf vnto them. Then to admitte, or refuſe is in their powre, that haue good motions. And therfore ſinne is rightly imputed, and damnation iustly inflicted vpon the wicked, becauſe as Nehemias (2. Eſd. 9. v. 17.) teſtifieth of the vngratful people, they would not heare. And they hardened their neckes, and gaue the head to returne to their ſeruitude, as it were by contention, or ſtriuing against God, through their owne free wil; which appeareth here to remaine in ſinners. On the other ſide the ſame [Margin: Confidence of good vvorkes done in grace.] Nehemias in confidence of reward for good workes, and of his voluntarie cooperating with Gods grace, feared not to pray (2. Eſd. 5. v. 19) in theſe wordes: Remember me my God to good, according to al thinges which I haue done to this people.

Some men moreouer beſides the commandments of the law, voluntarily [Margin: Voluntarie vovves like to Euangelical connſels.] profeſsed a peculiar ſtate of holie life, a plaine figure, or rather an example of Euangelical counſels. As in the former ages the Nazerites, whoſe rule is preſcribed Numeri 6. practiſed by Sampſon (Iudic. 13.) and Samuel (1. Reg. 1.) and the Rechabites (Iere. 35.) ſo in this last age next before Chriſt the Aſſideans, or Eſſeni. 1. Mach. 2. v. 42. of whom Iudas Machabeus in his time was head or captaine. 2. Mach. 14. v. 6. Ieremie the prophet (ch. 16. v. 2.) by Gods ordinance liued ſingle vnmaried al the time of the captiuitie. [Margin: Perpetual virginitie.] Thou shalt not take a wife, and thou shalt not haue ſonnes and daughters in this place: to witte, in Ieruſalem. Neither did he marie when he was afterwardes in Aegypt. But of his owne accord remayned a virgin al his life, as S. Ierom writeth, li 1. aduerſ. Iouinianum.

Prayers of Sainctes after they are departed from this world is wanifeſtly [Margin: Prayers of Sainctes.] deduced of the ſacred text, lere. 15. v. 1. of Moyſes and Samuel, not to be heard if they should pray for the people, whom God had decreed to punish, were conſequently to be heard in ſome other caſe. And more expreſly. 2. Mach. 15. v. 12. & 14. is recorded that Onias, and Ieremie did pray for al the people, and for al the holie citie. Reuerent eſtimation of Reliques, [Margin: Reliques.] and other holie thinges is manifeſt by the fact of the ſame Prophet Ieremie, who by Gods ordinance (2. Mach. 2. v. 1. & 5.) hid the holie fire, and the Tabernacle, and the Arke, & the Altar of incenſe in a caue. that they should not be prophaned by infidels ranſaking Ieruſalem, and the [Margin: Holie veſſeles.] temple: Other holie ornaments alſo, and veſſeles were reſtored by the fauorable king Cyrus, 1. Eſd. 1. v. 7. & ch. 8. v. 30. In figure alſo of the holie [Margin: Signe of the Croſſe.] Croſſe on which Chriſt was to redeme mankind, thoſe that mourned for the abominations in Ieruſalem (Ezec. 9.) vvere ſigned in their foreheades vvith the letter Thau, or. T. and ſo were ſaued from the common ſlaughter of the vnſigned.

Prayer and Sacrifice for the dead is likewiſe clere, 2. Mach. 12. v. 43. [Margin: Prayer for the dead.] &c. if either the text may be admitted for Canonical, ſaying (v. 46.) It is a holie and healthful cogitation to pray for the dead; or for good teſtimonie of Iudas fact; being Highprieſt, and doing that which the whole Church practiſed, and which the Iewes yet obſerue to this day.

Of the General Reſurrection, is good teſtimnie in the ſame place v. [Margin: Reſurrection.] 43. and 44. as the ground of Iudas his pietie towardos the dead, wel and religiouſly thincking of the Reſurrection. For vnles he hoped that they which were ſlaine should riſe againe, it should ſeme ſuperfluous, and vaine to pray for the dead. But ſeing he did beleue the Reſurrection, he did right wel and piouſly. And ſeing the beleefe of reſurrection is true, it foloweth, as this auctor inferreth, that it is a holie thing to pray for the dead.

Malachie the laſt of the Prophetes, in the laſt chapter foresheweth, and [Margin: Iudgement.] deſcribeth the General iudgement, in the end of this world: wherin the wicked▪ hal be condemned, and the iuſt eternally rewarded. Which day shal come (ſayth he) kindled as a ſurnace. Al that do impietie (dying in [Margin: Euerlaſting puniſhment. and eternal reward.] that ſtate) shal be ſtubble, and that day shal in flame them. And there shal riſe to you that feare my name, the Sunne of iuſtice, and health in his winges, or glorious beames, healing and curing al body lie infirmities, [Margin: The coming of Elias, & conuerſion of the Iewes.] and defectes. Before which day he foretelleth of two ſignes, v. 5. The coming of Elias the Prophet. and. v. 6. & the conuerſion of the Iewes to Chriſt. And thus much may here ſuffice, for particular pointes of religion in this age.

It reſteth to view the ſtate and gouernment of the Church in this time. [Margin: The ſtate of the Church in the times of heathen Monarchies, in general.] Which may be conſidered according to the foure Monarchies of heathen nations: the Chaldees, the Medes & Perſians; the Grecians; and the Romanes: Vnder the Chaldees, whoſe Emperial citie was Babylon, they were in captiuitie ſeuentie yeares. By the Medes and Perſians (for that Monarchie conſiſted of thoſe two nations) they were releaſed from captiuitie with manie fauoures, yet ſometimes afflicted. Vnder the Monarchie of the Grecians, they were partly in extreme perſecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, and of other Grecian kinges and princes, partly in warres for defence of Gods lawes. Before and after which perſecution and warres, as wel vnder the Grecians, as the Romans til Chriſts Paſſion the Church was for most part in peace, yet ſome times afflicted. But omitting manie intricate diffi⟨illegible⟩uliies about the times and reignes of ſundrie heathen kinges, it wil ſuffice our purpoſe to shew the general ſtate of the Iewish nation, with their owne particular gouerners ſpiritual and temporal, with more or leſse fauour of forreine Princes.

Firſt therfore concerning their eſtate in their captiuitie in Babylon, we may [Margin: Their ſtate in the captiuitie.] here obſerue Gods prouidence, in that before the citie and temple of Ieruſalem were deſtroyed, and the whole nation made captiue, Ioachin (otherwiſe called Iechonias) the ſonne of Ioachaz (who was alſo called Iechonias) king [Margin: King Iechonias ⟨illegible⟩n⟨illegible⟩ ⟨illegible⟩ ▪ ſede⟨illegible⟩h Highprieſt vvere in Babylon before the vvhole nation vvas captiue.] of Iuda was tranſported into Babylon, and his mother, and manie other principal perſons. 4. Reg. 24. v. 15. Likewiſe Ioſedech ſonne of Saraias highprieſt (1. Paral. 6. v. 15.) was caried into Babylon. And in the meane time Sedecias (vncle to Ioachin) reigned in Iuda, who in the eleuenth yeare, was taken and caried captiue into Babylon, and there died, Ioachin yet liuing in priſon. And Saraias the Highprieſt with others, was ſlayne in Rebla, when Ieruſalem was deſtroyed. 4. Reg. 25. v. 18. & 21. To whom Ioſedech ſucceded in the highprieſthood. So that both the iſsue of Dauid, in the right line of our Sauiours genealogie, and the Highprieſt of Aarons ſtocke, were in Babylon before the whole bodie of the nation was brought thither. This Iechonias (or Ioachin) remained in priſon, til the death of Nabuchodonoſor, the ſpace of thirtie ſeuen yeares, and was then deliuered by Euilmerodach, and by him entertayned courteouſly as a prince, 4. Reg. [Margin: Iechonias intertayned in captiuitie as a prince.] 25. v. 27. He maried there and had iſsue Salathiel; and Salathiel h⟨illegible⟩d Zorobabel. Who together with Ioſue ſonne of Ioſedech highprieſt, & Eſdras, Nehemias, & others recited 1. Eſd. 2. conducted the children of Iſrael from Babylon into their countrie. There were alſo in a former tranſmigration [Margin: Daniel vvith other three children were caried before ⟨illegible⟩ni⟨illegible⟩ of the kinges into Baoylon.] Daniel, and the other three children Ananias, Miſael, & Azarias, (of the royal or principal bloud) in the third yeare of Ioakim (otherwiſe called Eliacim ſonne of Ioſias. 4. Reg. 23. v. 34) king of Iuda. Dan. 1. v. 1. 6. Theſe with others were caried ⟨illegible⟩s hoſtages into Babylon, and brought vp more liberally. Where ſeruing God ſincerely, abſtayning from vnlawful meates, were protected by God, much alſo eſtemed and promoted in that place. For Daniel about the age of twelue yeares, conuinced the two wicked Iudges, [Margin: They vvere ſingularly eſteemed.] and deliuered Suſanna from their cruel handes. Dan. 13. And afterwardes for declaring and interpreting the kings dreame (Dan. 2.) and excellent wiſdom, and gift of prophecie was admired by al, aduanced by the king: but maligned by certaine enuious ſorcerers, and great men. Wherby he was ſometimes [Margin: Sometimes in danger. But preſerued by God.] in great danger, but stil deliuered by Gods powre protecting him. Dan. 6. & 14. The other three children were likewiſe aduanced. Dan. 2. v. 49. and therfore by diuers enuied, and for refuſing to adore an idol ſet vp by Nabuchodonoſor were caſt into a hote burning furnace, and there preſerued. Dan. 3.

Ieremie, who before this time begane to prophecie whiles he was a childe, [Margin: Ieremie prophecied in Ieruſalem and in Aegypt.] (Iere. 1.) continued in the time of captiuitie, in Ieruſalem and Iurie, with much affliction, and ſtil prophecying finally dyed in Aegypt. Baruch his ſcribe, and alſo a Prophete, went ſometimes into Babylon, and returned into Iurie (Baruch. 1.) inſtructing and exhorting the people.

Ezechiel was caried with king Iechonias, and Ioſedech into Babylon, and [Margin: Ezechiel and Daniel in Babylon.] there prophecied (ch. 1. v. 2.) part of the ſame time with Daniel, in great part the ſame thinges with Ieremie. And during the captiuitie, king Iechonias, Ioſedech the highprieſt, Ieremie, Baruch, Ezechiel prophetes, & innumerable others (ſome Martyres, and manie Confeſſors) parted from this world. But Daniel yet liued. And in place of Ioſedech Highprieſt Ioſue ſucceded, and the progenie of king Iechonias continuing in Salathiel, and Zorobabel, the nation ⟨illegible⟩ad them and other eminent men, with temporal dependence vpon forreine princes in the next Monarchie of the Medes and Perſians.

For when Darius king of Medes had ſlaine Ba⟨illegible⟩azar king of the Chaldees, [Margin: The Monarchie of Medes and Perſians.] and ſo poſseſsed Babylon, with the whole countrie he brought the Monarchie to the Medes & Perſians. Dan. 5. v. 31. and within the ſpace of one yeare he dyed; and Cyrus ſucceding granted leaue to al the Iewes to [Margin: Cyruslicenſed the Ievves to returne and build vp their temple. Prophecie of Chriſt: after ſeuentie vveekes.] returne into Iurie; and there to build vp their temple, and citie of Ieruſalem, which Nabuchodonoſor had deſtroyed. At which time Daniel had his viſion, that Chriſt our Sauiour should come into the world, within ſeuentie weekes (of ſeuen yeares to the weke, that is, in foure hundred ninetie yeares) after the perfect finishing of the temple▪ and citie. Dan. 9. v. 24. & 25. But when they were ſo built againe, that the wekes beganne to be counted, is very obſcure: as it was the wil of God, that the prophecie, being certayne in itſelf, should not be ouer clere to euerie mans vnderſtanding, but as likewiſe manie other prophecies, shut and ſealed. Dan. 12. v. 6. 9. 13.

In this time of the Medes and Perſians Monarchie, Mardocheus remayning in Chaldea, after the relaxation had that viſion in a dreame, [Margin: Mardocheus.] Eſther. 11. after which folowed the historie of him, & Quene Eſther, and [Margin: Eſther.] wicked Aman; with the danger and deliuerie of al the Iewes in thoſe partes. [Margin: Aman.] Some thinke it likewiſe probable, that the hiſtorie of Iudith happened after the captiuitie; though others ſuppoſe that it was in the time of Manaſses king [Margin: Iudith.] of Iuda. which not being our purpoſe to diſcuſſe and decide, we wil paſſe to thinges more certayne.

The prophetes Aggeus & Zachatias nere twentie yeares after the relaxation, [Margin: Aggeus and Zachatias.] earneſtly exhorted the princes & people to build vp the temple which had bene begunne, and now was neglected vpon vaine feare, thincking, the time was not yet come of building the houſe of our Lord. Aggeus. 1. v. 2. Wherupon the prophet reproueth them, expoſtulating thus: Why, is it time for you to dwel in embowed houſes, and this houſe (of our Lord) deſert? And aſsureth them. v. 10. that their ground should remaine barren, and ch. 2. v. 15. their ſacrifices vngratful, til they should build the temple: promiſing moreouer that this new temple should be more glorious by Chriſts perſonal preſence therin, then the former temple built by Salomon. But eſpecially the Church of Chriſt preſigured by the temple, [Margin: The ⟨illegible⟩ more glorious in the nevv teſtament.] should farre excel the Synagoge of the old teſtament. ch. 2. v. 10. Great shal be the glorie of this laſt houſe more then of the firſt. Which Zacharie confirmeth inuiting the Gentiles to come, and the Iewes to returne into Chriſts Church: ch. 2. v. 6. O flee out of the land of the North, ſayth our Lord, becauſe into the foure windes of heauen, haue I diſperſed you. v. 7. O Sion flee thou that dwelleſt with the daughter of Babylon. And by diuers other viſions and prophecies they forshew the conuerſion of the Gentiles, and reiection of the Iewes for their obduration, but in the end they alſo shal be conuerted.

Malachie prophecied after the finishing of the temple, exhorting al to offer [Margin: Malachie.] their ſacrifices with puritie of hart, reprehending both prieſtes and people for not ſo doing. ch. 1. He alſo foresheweth the reiection of the Iewes, & calling of the Gentiles, with the change of the old ſacrifices, and inſtitution of a new farre more excellent, and more effectual, to be offered euerie where (v. 10. & 11.) He concludeth his prophecie ch. 4. foretelling the terrible day of Iudgement, and life or death euerlaſting.

Theſe later prophetes yet liuing, as Ioſephus, Euſehius, Theodoretus and [Margin: The Grecian Monarchie.] others teſtifie in their hiſtories, the Grecians obtained ſo great a Monarchie by king Alexander the Great of Macedo, that being parted after his death amongst manie, yet al were great kingdomes, ſome longer ſome shorter time. [Margin: King Alexander honored Iaddus the Highprieſt.] In the beginning wherof when king Alexander came to Ieruſalem, as Ioſephus writeth. li. 11. c. 8. Antiquit. Iaddus the highprieſt going forth in his pontifical attyre to mete him, the ſame king ſtraightwayes fel downe at his feete with al reuerence. And being demanded by his freindes, the princes of his armie, why he ſo much honored the highpriest, he anſwered, that he honored no⟨illegible⟩ the man for himſelf, but for his office, and God in him, who had appeared to him in ſlepe in that very habite, and ornaments, when he in Macedonia diſcourſed in his minde of making battel againſt the Perſians, promiſing him aſſured victorie. Shortly after this it happened, that Manaſſes an [Margin: The ſchiſmatical temple in ⟨illegible⟩atizim.] Apoſtata highprieſt, by interceſſion of Sanaballar, whoſe daughter he had vnlawfully maried, obtayned licence to build a temple in Garizim, which the Samaritanes afterwards pretended to be more ancient then the temple of Ieruſalem, against which our Sauiour gaue ſentence. loan. 4. v. 22. It was alſo decided by king Ptolomeus in Alexandria (as Ioſephus witneſseth. li. 13 c. 6.) by way of arbitrament, finding that the temple of Ieruſalem, and the Highprieſtes therof had a perpetual ſucceſſion from Salomons time, and that their pretence of Iacobs adoring in Garizim was not to the purpoſe, ſeing there was no ſucceſſion, that temple being lately built. Neuertheles the ſame Ptolomeus to gratifie Onias an other Apoſtata, ſonne of good Onias Highprieſt [Margin: An other ſchiſmatical temple in Aegypt.] and Martyr▪ (2. Macab. 4. v. 34.) gaue leaue to build an other temple in Aegypt, which ſtood likewiſe in ſchiſme againſt the true temple of Ieruſalem, wreſting to their purpoſe the prophecie of Iſaie. ch. 19. v. 19. In that day there shal be an altar of our Lord in the middes of Aegypt. Which [Margin: The Seuentie tvvo Interpreters.] S. Ierom sheweth to be vnderſtood of the Church of Christ. Before this last ſchiſmatical temple, and after the former were the Seuentie two Interpreters, or Tranſlators of the Hebrew Bible into Greke. of whom S. Ierom and al ancient Fathers ſpeake much, & eſteme of very great & Canonical auctoritie.

In the time of the Grecians Monarchie, prophane lerning florished more [Margin: Prophane lerning floriſhed amongſt the Crecians, but they erred excedingly in matters of Religion.] then before, and Philoſophers abunded. but differed excedingly amongst themſelues, and al erred in the principles both of Natural & Moral knowledge. For wheras in dede God omnipotent was the only maker of the whole world, and al thinges therein, al theſe Philoſophers ſuppoſed and taught, that ſome material thing was coeternal with God: and ſo they put the ſame thing to haue bene the beginning of al other thinges. Which ſome ſay was the water, ſome the Ayre, ſome the Earth, ſome the Fyre, ſome al theſe foure Elements, [Margin: Primum principium.] ſome the Atomos, or indiuiſible ſmal bodies, ſome one thing ſome an other. Wherof S. Epiphanius writeth in compendio contra h⟨illegible⟩reſes. And the like abſurde conceiptes they had of the chiefe Good, or Summum bonum. Which [Margin: Sammum ⟨illegible⟩o⟨illegible⟩um. Pithagorians.] the Pithagorians thought to be nothing els but a certayne immortalitie of the ſoule, and ſo, as it may ſtil be in a bodie. And therfore ſeing both men and beaſtes do dye, they held opinion, that when a ſoule parteth out of one bodie, it goeth into an other. Yea and maketh tranſmigration from one ſpecies or kind to an other. As from a mans bodie into the bodie of a horſe, or an oxe; and contrariwiſe from a brute beaſt into a man againe, and from one beaſt into an other. The Stoikes put the chiefe good in [Margin: Stoikes.] vertues, but could reach no further then to a certayne contentment of ioy in their minde, not knowing the reward of vertues to conſist in ſeeing God. [Margin: Achademikes.] Platonikes, or Achademikes conceiued more of God, and pure ſpirites, but thought both corporal and ſpiritual creatures were coeternal with God. [Margin: Peripatetikes] The Peripatetikes placed the chiefe good▪ or felicitie in the aggregation of beſt ſpiritual, corporal, and worldlie thinges together. The [Margin: Epicures.] Epicures eſteemed carnal and bodilie pleaſures aboue al. And al theſe and their folowers iudged ſo diuerſly of the right true felicitie, contradicting and [Margin: The aſſured fayth of the Church, the citie of God.] condemning ech others opinions, that they were multiplied into innumerable Sectes. As S. Auguſtin declareth out of Marcus Varro: and oppoſeth againſt them al, the one aſſured fayth and iudgement of Gods Church, in his 19. booke de ciuit. Dei. c. 4. And concludeth with the Royal Prophet, and S. [Margin: Pſal. 93 1. Cor. 3.] Paul, that their cogitations are vaine, which wil haue happines to be in anie other thing but in ſeing God; or to be obtained by anie other meanes, without Gods grace And not only before & ſince, but alſo in the ſame times the auctors of The Bookes of wiſdom & Eccleſiaſticus taught right doctrine againſt thoſe erronious Philoſophers.

For profeſſion alſo of true fayth and religion the Machabees both ſuffered, [Margin: The Machabees profeſſed the ſame. Antiochus his Edict.] and labored moſt notably, When king Antiochus Epiphanes (1. Mach. 1. v. 43.) wrote to al his kingdom, that al the people should be one, and euerie one should leaue his owne law. And whoſoeuer should not doe according to the word of Antiochus they should dye. Againſt which moſt wicked decree, and cruel execution therof, Gods grace ſo abunded that (v. 65.) manie of the people of Iſrael, determined with themſelues, that they would not eate the vncleane thinges: and they choſe rather to dye, then to be defiled with vncleane meates: and that they would not breake the holy law of God, & ſo were murthered: As is more particularly recorded, 2. Mach. 5. v. 14. [Margin: Martyres for this fayth.] how there were in the ſpace of three dayes foureſcore thouſand ſlayne, fourtie thouſand in priſoned, & no leſſe ſold. After this with more pretence of iuſtice, but with more malice, endeuoring to terrifie others, & to draw them to yelde, or make shew of conformitie to wicked lawes, ch. 6. v. 10. Two wemen were accuſed to haue circumciſed their ſonnes, [Margin: For circumciſion.] whom when they had led about through the citie, with the infants hanging at their breaſtes, they threw downe headlong by the walles. And v. 11. other people were burnt with fire, for ſecretly [Margin: For keeping the Sabbath] keping the day of the Sabbath. Thirdly. v. 18. Eleazarus being vrged to eate ſwines flesh, and intreated by his familiar freindes, to make shew of conformitie, would neither eate, nor feyne to ⟨illegible⟩a⟨illegible⟩e it, but dyed moſt conſtantly, [Margin: For abſtayning from ſvvines flesſh.] leauing an example of vertue & fortitude. Fourthly ſeuen bretheren and their mother (2 Mach. 7.) yelded alſo their liues in moſt glorious Martyrdom, becauſe they would not yelde conformitie to wicked lawes.

After which heroical conſtancie in ſuffering, it was alſo Gods prouidence, [Margin: Holie vvarres for the Church and religion.] that others should shew their fortitude, in deliuering his Church from theſe calamities and dangers. For Matthathias of the tribe of Leui, and stocke of Aaron Priest, and (after the apoſtaſie of Iaſon. li. 2. c. 4. v. 10.) Highprieſt, [Margin: Matthathias.] lamenting the pitiful ſtate of Gods people, with reſolute mind, and inuinoible corege reſiſting wicked Antiochus (1. Mach. 2.) of iust zele with his owne handes ſlew one, who for feare of death was readie to offer ſacrifice to idols, & withal killed the kings commiſſioner, who came to compel men to committe idolatrie: and then gathered troupes to defend ſo hohie a cauſe. Against whom the enimies fighting on the ſabbath dayes killed manie, which of ſcruple would not reſiſt. But vpon further conſideration, the reſt reſolued to defend themſelues alſo on the ſabbath day, if they were aſſaulted.

Next to him ſucceded his ſonne Iudas Machabeus in both the offices of [Margin: Iudas Machabeus.] Highprieſt & General captaine: who (as good order required (first purſued the wicked (towitte amongſt his owne ſubiectes) inquiring them out, and ſuch as trubled his people, them he burned with fire. 1. Mach. 3. v. 5. and his enimies were repelled for feare of him: al the workers of iniquitie were trubled: and ſaluation was directed in his hand. For he and his folowers 2. Mach. 8. v. 2. inuocated our Lord, [Margin: A religious prayer.] that he would haue reſpect to his owne people; the temple; the citie; heare the voice of bloud crying vnto him, remember the moſt vniuſt deathes of innocentes, and the blaſphemies done to his name. So he with a few (hauing made this preparation by prayer) ouerthrew the armies of Antiochus, with their foure principal captaines Apollonius (1. Mach. 3. v. 11.) and (v. 23.) Seron, (ch. 4.) Gorgias, and Lyſias. Then clenſing the temple (v. 36. & li. 2. ch. 10.) renewed [Margin: The temple clenſed.] the holie veſſels, which were deſtroyed by Antiochus, and dedicated a new altar. v. 47. & 56.

And whiles Iudas with his bretheren deliuered the people from al bordering [Margin: Antiochus dyed miſerably.] enimies. 1. Mach. 5. & li. 2. ch. 10. & 11. Antiochus Epiphanes li. 1. c. 6. & li. 2. ch. 9. dyed moſt miſerably. And his young ſonne Antiochus Eupator reigned. Againſt whoſe captaines Iudas had stil more victories. li. 2. ch. 12. & 13. Then folowed the laſt battel of Nicanor ſent [Margin: Ni⟨illegible⟩or ⟨illegible⟩laine.] by king Demetrius, where he was ſlaine by Iudas forces, in the middes of his armie. li. 1. ch. 7. & li. 2. ch. 15. wherof Demetrius hearing ſent new forces with Bacchides and Alcimus, and more then two partes of Iudas ſmal campe fleying away, he with only eight hundred. li. 1. ch. 9. ſetting vpon the enemies defeated the ſtrongest part of their armie: but an other part coming at his backe, great ſlaughter was made on both ſides, and Iudas after manie heroical actes was now ſlaine in battel, dying with moſt renowmed glorie. v. 18. [Margin: Iudas dyed gloriously.] al good men lamenting his death.

After him Ionathas his brother ſucceded Highprieſt, and general [Margin: Ionathas.] captaine, ch. 9. v. 28. who managing the common affayres with great wiſdom, pietie, and coreg⟨illegible⟩, the wicked vſurper Alcimus, who not long before ſwearing that he would not hurt the Aſſideans, preſently killed threeſcore of [Margin: Altimus dyed miſerably.] them in one day. li. 1. ch. 7. v. 15. and beginning to deface the temple, was ſodenly strooken with a palſie, and dyed miſerably, li. 1. ch. 9. v. 54. Ionathas proſpering againſt the enimies confirmed league with the Romanes and Lacedemonians, ch. 12. At last was deceiued, and both he and his ſonnes were trecherouſly ſlaine by Tryphon, ch. 13. So Simon his brother was made [Margin: Simon.] Highprieſt, and captaine general by publique conſent. ch. 14 who after manie noble actes, ch. 15. was alſo vilanouſly ſlaine with two of his ſonnes, by his ſonne in law Ptolomee. And his other ſonne Ioannes Hyrcanus [Margin: Ioannes Hyrcanus.] ſucceded, ch. 16. In his dayes the Iewes in Ieruſalem writte to their bretheren in Aegypt, exhorting them not to frequent the ſchiſmatical temple in Aegypt, but to kepe the feaſtes which were inſtituted in Ieruſalem. Thus much of the trubleſome ſtate of the Church, reduced to peace by the Machabees.

Shortly after which time, the Romane kingdom hauing bene often increaſed [Margin: The Romane Monarchic.] in the ſpace of nere ſeuen hundred yeares from the building of Rome, was by Pompeius the great, ſubduing the Eaſt countries, extended ſo farre, that as Plinie writeth. li. 7. c. 26. Aſia Minor was now as it were the middle part, which before was the vttermoſt borders of their dominions. And the ſame Pompeius, amongst the reſt, taking Ieruſalem, brought the Iewes vnder the Romane Empyre, nere foureſcore yeares before Chriſt. vnder whom they enioyed ſome liberties, til Herod Aſcalonita a ſtranger borne (his [Margin: Hered the firſt ſtrange king of the Iewes.] father an Idumean, his mother an Arabique) was firſt made gouernour of Galelee, then Tetrach of Iudea, and afterwards king therof▪ who being aduanced by the Romanes to royal dignitie, endeuouring by ſundrie benefites to get the peoples fauoure, amongst other thinges enlarged and adorned their [Margin: He enlarged the temple. But ſold the office of Highprieſt.] Temple, making it as it were a new edifice, in compariſon of that which was built after the captiuitie: yea more excellent as ſome thinke, then that which Salomon built. But this new king made ſaile of ſpiritual offices. Namely he ſold the office of the Highprieſt for money, and that from yeare to yeare, or for shorte and limited time. In him was fulfilled the prophecie of the Patriarch Iacob, Gen 49. geuing it for a ſigne that Chriſt our Redemer should preſently [Margin: This king was a ſigne of Chriſts coming.] come into this world, ſaying: The ſcepter shal not be taken away from Iudas, and a duke out of his thigh, til he do come that is to be ſent, and the ſame shal be the expectation of the Gentiles. And therfore Herod hearing by the Sages, that the true king of Iewes was borne, in extreme furie murdered the innocent Infantes. Mat. ⟨illegible⟩. And ſo both Iewes and Gentiles were admonished that the Meſſias was borne of the ſe⟨illegible⟩de, and right line of King Dauid. Whoſe Genealogie before the captiuitie we noted in the fifth age of the world to Ioachaz ſonne of Ioſias. Now therfore to proſecute [Margin: The genealogie of Chriſt from the captiuitie.] [Margin: pag. 939▪] the ſame, we must obſerue, that wheras S. Mathew ſayth: Ioſias begate Iechonias, by this Iechonias he meaneth Ioachaz, otherwiſe called Iechonias; or els he aſcribeth the nephew to the grandfather as his ſonne. For Ioſias was ſlaine at least eleuen yeares before Iechonias the father of Salathiel was borne. And this later Iechonias was alſo called Ioachin, the firſt of the third Teſſaradechad, ſo the ſecond Salathiel. the 3. Zorobabel: 4. Abiud, 5. Eliachim, 6. Azor. 7. Sadoc. 8. Achim, 9. Eliud, 10. Eleazar, 11. Mathan, 12. Iacob, 13. Ioſeph. the huſband of Marie, of whom was borne the fouretenth, IESVS CHRIST. And this knowen by tradition, not written before S. Matthewes Goſpel.

The ſucceſſion alſo of the Highpriestes, declared in our former Recapitulations [Margin: Succeſſion of Highprieſtes.] [Margin: pag. 713. 939.] of the fourth and fifth ages, from Aaron to Ioſedech, who was Highprieſt in the captiuitie, after that his father Saraias was ſlaine, 4. Reg. 25. v. 18. continued, as partly by holie ſcriptures, the reſt by other auctors appeareth in this order: After the ſame Ioſedech, his ſonne Ioſue, then Ioachim, Eliachim, Eliaſib, Ioiada, Ionathan, Iaddus, in the time of king Alexander: Onias the firſt, Simon Priſcus, Eleazarus, by whom the Seuentie two Interpreters were ſent to king Prolomeus Philodelphus. Manaſſes, who became an Apoſtata, Onias the ſecond, Simon the ſecond, of whom is worthie mention, Eccli. 50. Onias the third, whoſe brother Iaſon obtayned the office of the king by ſymonie, and became an Apostata, ſo was neuer lawful, neither thoſe th⟨illegible⟩f lowed him. Menelaus of the tribe of Beniamin. Liſimachus his brother, & vicar. Alcimus though of Aarons ſtocke, yet for his Apoſtaſie vnlawful. Al which time the true Highprieſtes were of the Machabees, Matthathias & his ſonnes Iudas, Ionathas, and Simon, his ſonne Ioannes Hyrcanus. Then Ariſtobulus, Alexander, an other Hyrcanus, in whoſe time Pompeius [Margin: The true ſueceſſion continued alſo in the times of vſurpers.] tooke Ieruſalem, Antigonus, after whom Herod put Anaelus in the office for money. And ſo the reſt or moſt of them that folowed were ſymoniacal. Ariſtobulus, Ioſue, Simon, Mathias, Ioſephus, Iozarus, Eleazarus, Ioſue, Anna, Iſmael, Eleazarus, Simon, and Caiphas. vvho in councel (Ioan. 11. v 49.) gaue ſentence (which himſelfe vnderſtood not) that it was expedient, that one man dye for the people, and the whole nation perish not. vvhich the holie Euangeliſt aſcribeth to his office, being highprieſt of that yeare, he prophecied that IESVS should dye for the nation: and not only for the nation, but togather into one the children of God, that were diſperſed.

IESVS REDEMER, correct in vs our errors, gather the diſperſed, conſerue them that are and shalbe gathered, make al one flocke in one fould [Margin: A petition to IESVS CHRIST.] vnder one Paſtour, thy ſelfe IESVS CHRIST. To whom with the Father, and the Holie Ghost be al thankes, praiſe, honour, and glorie, now and for euer and euer.

AMEN.

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 second tome (Psalms to 2 Machabees, with the Prayer of Manasses and the third and fourth books of Esdras), Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1610 (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⟩ (79 on this page); none has been filled in by conjecture.

In 2 places on this page the transcription has no verse cross between two numbered verses; there both numbers head a single paragraph (for example “12–13”) rather than cutting the text by guesswork.

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