An Advertisement of Corruption in our Handling of Religion, Part 19 – Part 37
Of the distance from Xerxes flight, to the taking of Athens by Lyſander, to be 65. yeares: and thence but ten to Philip Macedon.
WHen the Athenians dealt moſt manfully againſt the Perſianes, they had the ſuperioritie of Grecia commē ded vntounto them. That, they helde till Lacedemon vnwalled their towne: after 27. yeares warre. That ſpace of rule is in Lyſias in Epitaph. and in Iſocrates Panygyrico 65. yeares. And both they being Athenians, ſhould know their owne ſtate: being aliue in that very time. Then began the Lacedemonians ſuperioritie over Grecia. Leuctra field ended Laced mons ſuperioritie. Strabo noteth that plainly. Then Epaminondas the famous Theban, brought vp with Philip Macedon, and equall in yeares, wan the field, yong and vnmaried about 27. yeares old. And at the ſame time did Philip Macedone reigne. For he reigned at 27 yeares. So the Lacedemonians loſſe of governement being knowen how long it continued, telleth how to ſettle the time of Leustra field. Now Iſocrates in his epiſtle to K. Philip, ſayth: The Lacedemonians ruled but tenne yeares ouer Grecia: that is, after Lyſander vnwalled Athens. Therefore tenne yeares thence reacheth to Philip Macedones reigne. So Suidas for Euripides life, is ſtrengthened by men of that age: in plain wordes. Many profes herein I ſhewed of old: which I neede not now to repeat. Philip Macedon reigned 20. yeares by Atheneus: and Alexander his ſonne, ſix before his Monarchie. So by Greekes yeares from Alexan. the great vntounto Xerxes warre: and his brothers reigne at home, are not mo thē 100. And the time thence to Cyrus, by moſt ſtrong proofes of ſcripture, and by all the millions of the Iewes over the earth, which all folow the Thalmud, yeares are not aboue 30. And even by the perpetuall conſent of Grecians skilfully read, the ſame is proved. So the Perſians overrule Iuda, but 130 yeares: and M. Liuely ſhould better hauehave marked firſt the authoritie, next the meaning of Greeke authours for antiquities. The Medes in Agathias hauehave after the fall of Aſſur, 300. yeare dominion. That is by Scripture trueth, not one day. For Nabucodreſor overthrew Aſſur: not the Medes. And King Manaſſes was caried to Babel, by the commaundement of the King of Aſſur: not long before the captivitie of Babel. And the Perſians extinguiſh all Babels empire. Only Nabycadnezar was a… Hercules to goe as farre as Spain, in Stra. 15. but in the Eaſt the Perſians ruled: & chalendge al that time to themſelues which Iuda ſpent in Babel: and reckon with the largeſt to augment their yeres: all yeares from yonge Princehood: as yeares of Empire. So Cyrus hath 30. where after Babels fall our men, as M. Scaliger giuegive him but 3. Cambyſes hath nyneteene in Clem. Alexan. 1. ſtrom. For 7. by M. Liuely: from Herodot, for bare foure of ſoule governement, by true examination. Darius Histaſpis hath in Herod 36. for bare ſixtene in truth▪ and in Cteſias 31 from twelue yeares of age: ſo from eight he might hauehave about 36. For vnderunder the mighty Perſianes many Kinges & their ſonnes Princes lived at once. And the Greekes could find no certenty of them: not ſo much as for their names. Aeſchylus in his Perſis, where he vttered all that Graecia knew, ſheweth that: ſpeaking of times late: and differing much from later writers. So Mast. Liuely might hauehave ſpared vexing of all the Bible: citing auncientes reiected moſt ſtrongly by both teſtamentes, true old Greekes, and all Churches now. And Learned Chriſtians ſhould bend to finde a concent, not a diſſent in holy ſcriptures: to ſhew light, not lightnes: order, and not diſorder: ioyance, not anoyance: right paſſing rumors, not might of conceited humors, about matters of ſalvation.
How the first chapter of Saint Mathew is diſgraced by Maister Liuely.
WHen Daniel was taught how many yeares ſhould be from the tyme of his prayer vntounto our Lord his confirming of the covenant for many: and how long hee ſhould teach: even half a ſeaven: and knew from Moſes Law, Num. 4. for the Levites to begin their office at thirty, that our Lord was to doe ſo to: and by Ezekiel 39. that the legges of the Image in Egypt and Babel, muſt be broken by the yeare of our Lord his coming into the world, and by his owne ſeaventh chapter, where the fourth beaſt is caſt into the fire before the ſon of man cometh in the clouds: and ſo could and did teach Darius and Cyrus all his booke, and ſumme of both Teſtaments, he perſwades kinges to graunt authority for all Iſrael to returne and reſtore Ieruſalem: and moved his nation therevnto. then was Zorababel of Salathiel of Nathan of King David the Patriark and Father to the ſonne of God after the fleſh, governour of the People. His familie will teach vsus to meaſure the time, ſpecially marking the time from Davids death to that yeare 480.If 23. generatiōs draw but 480. ye. eleuen Mat. 1. ſhould not hauehave aboue 490. wont warrant frō God. Nor yet ſo many 590. would make a Iew reiect the N. Teſtament. iuſt ſo many they were. Now from Nathan ſonne to David, to Salathiel be 23. generations. This being conſidered, we muſt flee to a miracle of Gods power, to make vp from Zorobabels governement vntounto our Lord his 32.6. monethes 490. Or to his birth 437. without conſideration of Gods counſell none would beleeue the number were ſo great in the yeares. For, the Generations betwixt our L. & Zorobabel, are but tenne: to draw mo yeares then 20. aboue did. So we hauehave much adoe to perſwade that 490. yeares were betwixt the fall of Balthaſar the Tyrant, for Satan over the Church: and the fall of Satan by the obedience of our Lord vponupon the Croſſe: in anguiſh of his ſoule more then ever all ſoules felt in this world. And M. Liuely ſhould hauehave ſpent his time to fortifie Saint Mathew againſt all the millions of the Iewes: who make the time ninety yeares ſhorter then the Angell meant. And the exceſſe is by M. Liuely in Ezra his life time almoſt all. Where Iewes make him die at 100. yet he lived 150. at the leaſt: and about 250. as M. Liuely ruleth the ſunne in Phaetons place. So Saint Mathew vexed for lengthning liues 80. aboue ordinary, is vexed by M. Liuely for 100. in an other extremitie: as not able to make them vp. And if that ſumme of 490. be vnlikely but for Gods authoritie: and ſhorter by the Thalmud by 90. who would bring without Gods auctority, 100. more: and differ from Iewes 180. and almoſt all in the life of one mā? Iewes that catch an Ebrew profeſſour ſo ſimple, would little eſteeme of Chriſtian skill.
The whole ſpeach of the Angell: with expoſitions ancient vponupon it.
THe matter wilbe clearer by laying downe the Angels oration: Thus the holy Gabriel ſpeaketh to gracious Daniel, chap. 9. ver. 22. I am now come foorth to teach thee knowledge. At the beginning of thy prayers came foorth the woord, and I am come to ſhew it vntounto thee. For thou art greatly beloued. Perceaue therefore the word and conceaue the Viſion.
SEAVENTIE SEAVENS (of yeares) are cut out, for thy people, & for thy holy Citie: to conſume wickednes, and to *I folow ye margent Ebrew. The text is: to Seale, & the 70. folow that & our Biſhopps. And ſafely▪ The text is true: And ye margent▪ An expoſition, for playnnes.aboliſh ſinnes, and to make reconciliation for iniquitie, and to bring righteouſnes everlaſting, and to ſeale Viſion and Prophet, and to ſhew CHRIST the HOLY of HOLY. Know then and marke: from the outgoing of the Worde, to reſtore and to buylde Ieruſalem, vntounto CHRIST the governour, ſhalbe ſeaven ſeavens (of yeres) and ſixtie and two ſeavens: In t'hother it ſhalbe reſtored & builded, Sreete and Wall: and troublous ſhall theſe times be. In that after the ſixtie and two ſeauens CHRIST ſhal be killed: and not for him ſelfe: therevpon the Citie and holy place ſhall he deſtroy, the GOVERNOVRS owne people to come: and their ende ſhalbe with a Flood: and at the ende of warre, it ſhall hauehave a finall iudgement to deſolation. But he ſhall confirme the Teſtament for many the laſt Seaven: when in HALFE THAT SEAVEN he ſhal ende the Sacrifice and Oblation. Afterwardes by an Armie abominable, he ſhall make a deſolation: even till vtter deſtruction and finall iudgement §or come: by the 7…. & the Goſpell.flow vpō the deſolate.
The heades of the Angel Gabriel his ſpeach.
DAniel is taught how long Sion ſhalbe holy for ſacrificing: how long Circumciſion, Sabbates, the Paſcha of Lamb or kid, and all ſacrifices ſhal continue at Ieruſalem: how many yeares, even to the houre of the day from his prayer, are vntounto the death of our Lord for our eternall life: to confirme the Teſtament for many: and to end all Moſes lawes, that Iewes and Gentiles may be one body. All this the booke called, A true Chronicle, commended by I.C. dedestroyeth: whoſe wordes with the folio ſhalbe ſhewed.
A deniall of the main vſe of the prophecie, fol 170.
M. Lively pitieth vsus for beleving that our L. his death is prefixed to an exact yere, by an Angel.It is a great pitie that the meſſage of the holy Angel, conteyning a most excellent Prophecie from Gods owne mouth, ſhould be ſo perverted and depraved as it hath bene by thoſe whiche pick out this ſenſe, as though he ſayd, there ſhould be from the outgoing of the commaundement to Meſsias, 69. weekes (483. yeares) in all· A ſtrange interpretation, and ſuch (I dare boldly ſay it) as by the Ebrew text can never be vpheld.
Reply, for Meſsias,
HEre M. Lively ſheweth as litle learning as euer did any that profeſſed Ebrew: & as little Chriſtianity as euer any of faith, and as litle modeſtie, as any can ſhewe: that one man ſhould check all Churches.Meſsias denyed to bee Chriſt. By I. C his vſu… ded auctority againſt ye oth of Q.E. to the Goſpell. The Hebrician denyeth Meſſias to be CHRIST our redeemeer: & would make it an adiectiue. Therein firſt his Hebrew cometh into queſtion. Either Meſſias is neuer a propre name, of here it is a propre name, and here twiſe. In all other places a pronowne is affixed, or a ſubſtantiue in the genetive caſe. As myne annointed, thy annointed, his annointed, the annointed of God, the Prieſt which is annointed. Here Dan. 9. twiſe there is no pronown, and here it muſt be a propre name Meſſias or Chriſt: And it is neuer vſed for an adiectiue, being ſet before the ſubſtantiue: as here Meſsias Nagid Meſsias the King. And hence Saint Iohn tooke the name.*A very Iewe taketh Meſsias Dā. 9. yet by I. C. England denyeth all theyr owne faith: and ſold in Pauls their denial. And hence all the Talmudikes in all their commentaries: though cōmenting vponupon this place they directly do it not. Yet Rabbi Iuda commenting vponupon Daniel, here ſaith: Meſsias Nagid is Meſsias the hope of Iſrael Nagid, forgoer & cōmander of the natiōs, Eſ. 55. The very Iew cōfeſſeth this much. And the Zohar vponupon Geneſis talking of the ſerpent, ſaith, By the ſerpent Meſsias ſhalbe kild, and many of Iſrael with him. And al the churches in Chriſtendome hold Meſsias here to be the ſon of God our Redeemer: and our England helde that the laſt ſeaven of 70. had our Lordes preaching. Our Church, Scotland, Fraunce, Spaine, Heydelberg, Geneva ſo doth. M. Liuely ſhould liue in more modeſty then ſo to pitie vsus for holding the rock of ſalvation as the Angel taught this. ſaying, In the end of Seaventie ſeavens from Daniels prayer, CHRIST, or MESSIAS ſhalbe ſlaine, & not for him ſelfe: but conſecrating him ſelf for the redeemed: or anointing, or ſhewing him ſelf the ſonne of God. For that doeth the terme annointing ſhew in that place. M. Liuely dareth deſpiſe all Chriſtendome where he is moſt vnlearned and ſenſeles, & borowed the oth of Q.E. by I.C. to his iudaiſme
Of a bad tranſlation, and fooliſher ſenſe, fol. 156.
Ver. 25. from the going forth of the word, to build againe Ieruſalem vntounto Meſsias the governour ſhalbe ſeaven weekes:M. L. dreameth that 13…. yeares after the returne Ieruſalem was …built and it continued but … yeres … hee dreameth. He …. (he meaneth ſeaven ſeavens of yeares, but loveth darknes) & three ſcore & two weekes it ſhalbe builded againe ſtreet and wall. Thus he tranſlateth. And having differed extreemely from all Christendome, and all reaſon, thus he would overcome by boldnes.
Maister Livelies boldnes. fol. 171.
THat interpretatiō which I hauehave made, leauing §…a ſtay or rest at ſeuen weekes: as the halfe ſentence being paſt, and continuing the 62. weekes with the other part of the ſentence following to the end of the verſe, & not referred to the former, as part of one whole number with them, by the Hebrew text is most ſure and vndoubted and iustifiable against all the world: contayning that which God himſelf in his owne words hath vttered, neither more nor leſſe, but the verſe ſame which Gods Angell deliuered to Daniel by word, and Daniel to the Church by writing in the holie tongue, and this once againe it is; From the going forth of the word, to b…ld againe Ieruſalem vntounto *…Meſsias the gouernour ſhallbe ſeauen weekes,*… that Ieru…alem was in trouble euer ſince it was builded by the returned and threeſcore & two weekes it ſhallbe builded againe ſtreet and wall, and in troubleſome times. Marke the words, conſider their order, and weigh well the reſts. As I finde in the Hebrew ſo I hauehave Engliſhed, that is, the trueth of interpretation, *A bold aſſertion of a 30. yeares profeſſour: againſt all learned Ebrewe ſpeach and Chriſtianitie. Yet by boldnes hee hath deceaved, where lerning was 30. yeares to ſeeke.bee it vnderſtood as it may.
Reply.
MAiſter Liuely ſetteth ſuch a face vponupon errour, as never was heard in Chriſtendome, to diſturbe the graunted rule of ſalvation. And it is great pitie that ſome tooke him not in hand, that know bitternes of ſtyle, and are eloquent in that kinde. His outfacing of the trueth and Chriſtianity drew Iohn Cant: to ſubſcribe vntounto him. He might with as good learning hauehave ſubſcribed to the Alkoram. Machmad bragged that Gabriel taught him: And chalenged Daniels name Chamudoth: whiche the Angel Gabriel gaue him. Machmad and Chamudoth in Ebrew bee all one. The falſe prophet had ſome other name. Or by ſome cloſe iudgement of God his parents gaue a name helping to deceipt: As for my poore skill in reprehending the deceaued extreemly, I hartely confeſſe that I want due vehemency, & will borow Ovid as Non mihi ſi linguae certū ſint ora que centum.Vergil, tranſlating Homer to confeſſe how I come ſhort of abilitie to blame the ſubſcribing to M. Liuelies Ebrew, Divinitie, Hiſtorie.
Non mihi ſi centum Deus ora ſonantia linguis,
Ingenium que capax, totum que Helicona dediſſet,
Omnia proſequerer.
Si vox infragilis, pectus ſi firmius eſſet:
(Both poëtes, both the beſt tranſlate Homer iliad 2.)
Could I tell how to ſhew how much I. C. his ſubſcription to M. Liuely hath iniuried Chriſtianitie: and particularly the Church of England. Poſitions of old graunted: & new doctrine from Maister Liuely ſubſcribed by I. C. ſhalbe laid downe.
Firſt, The Church of England beleeved that the Angell Gabriel told Daniel of a Decree paſt in Gods word and to enſue by Cyrus preſently to reſtore and builde Ieruſalem. And that, from this Decree & from Daniels prayer, ſhould be 70. ſeavens of yeares vntounto our L. his death. Whether he ſhould die in the middeſt of the laſt ſeaven: or laſt yeare: that doth not ſhew much difference. This much 46. yeres England held: that in the laſt ſeauen our Lord ſhould die.
M. Livelies difference.
BY M. Liuely yeres 137. paſſe before the decree of building Ieruſalem doth come forth: ſo that Gabriel could not be vnderſtood of Daniel, nor of any Angel in Heauen, when the accompt began. The preſent age, and §M Liuely breaketh of ye holy Chronicle▪ and ſo diſturbeth all the olde Teſtam. all, everie whit, and the ioyning of it to the N. T. & I. C. by publique auctority confirmeth this.Nestors two, the later begotten in his fathers laſt had bene dead before the time ſhould begin. And the thirty yeares profeſſour neuer heard of a company of men to liue ſo long: ſince Iſrael beleeved the 10. ſpies to miſbeleeue Gods promiſe for the land of Chanaan: when 600000. at once caſt of God. Then mans ordinary old age was brought to 70. by Moſes Pſal. 90. So M. Liuely contemneth our Church: befooleth the Angel as ſpeaking paſt all capacity: and befooleth Daniel, as ſeeming to know that which his wordes cary otherwiſe.
Secondly,*Neſtor lived thre… ages 30▪ …0.30. actiue▪ double more doe the returned liue actiue by M. Lively. Chriſtendome holdeth Meſsias to be the Redeemer of the world, and Nagid or Governour his attribute from Eſay 55. which Aben Ezra the very Iew citeth vponupon the ſame text.
But thus M. Liuely writeth. IN The times before the destruction of Ieruſalem by the Romanes there were two rulers of the citie, one of their owne people a Iew by profeſsion or birth after their mā ner anointed to the governemnt of the cōmon wealth amongſt them here named in the verſe going before Meſſias Nagid, the annointed Prince, the other a ſtranger appointed Deputy by the Roman Emperour called Nagid Habba, a ruler not borne in the countrey, or one of the ſame nation, but a ſtranger come from an other place.
Thus writeth M. Liuely: TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD his very honorable good Lord my Lord the Archbiſhop of CANTERBVRIE his grace.
And Dux gregis ipſe capex de errauerat, to lend Q.Chriſtianitie denied in England, by publyque auctority. Elizabeths oth to the Goſpell, and auctoritie, to extinguiſh the name Meſsias where only it ſtandeth propre in Ebrew, and to referre it to a common Iew officer. And his G. could not ſee, that ſo the realme denyeth their own chriſtianitie. Beſides the Iewes had not alwayes ſince the return, one their own, an other, a ſtranger to gouerne them. Againe M. Liuely feigneth from his owne head, newe matter againſt all Ebrews. He ſayth the civill officer was annointed in Iuda. None of Ebrews ever heard that Zorobabel was anointed or Nehemias. And of Dauids houſe we read of none that bare ſtroke, beſides them. For heathen ruled till the Machabees of Levi vſurped an vnl…full & ill government. And thus by M. Liuely the Angel ſhould talke of idle matter: in ſteed of Meſsias, Chriſt our Lord. And Maymoni, the beſt of al about the Talmud, noteth that, Halacoth Melachim Perek 1. That no King but the firſt of the family was annointed: as Saul, as David: or vponupon ſtrife: As Salomon, for Adonias: Ioas for Athalia: Ioachaz, for his elder brother Ioakim: But Ioſua, the firſt King next Moſes, was not anointed. So M. Liuely wilbe farre to ſeeke in Rabbines.
Of the word Ba: To come: ill meant, A STRANGER.
THe Ebrew word BA vſed by the Angel, Dan. 9. is, To come: & never vſed for a ſtranger: but in men: the age †or coming in company, Gen. 4….folowing. And ſo the Angel meant: that Chriſt in the age folowing would deſtroy the Iewes, his owne kindred, the vnbeleeving. Tremelius might hauehave wiſed M. Liuely.
Of accentes whereby M. Liuely bringeth a bad tranſlation, and farre a worſe ſenſe.
THe holy Ebrew hath kingly accētent 19. and ſervants eleven. The kings ſtay vponupon the chief woord in argument: the ſervantes haſten, being on leſſer in force of argument. Any king for the moſt, will make a full ſenſe: as we expreſſe them in other tongues: and ſome times not ſo much as a comma. Athnah is in Gen. 1. ver. 1. and hath not the force of a comma: And Rebiang, Ezr. 4.8. hath a pauſe. VponUpon new ſuppoſed force of theſe two accentes, M. Liuely would †one accent turned to marr all the Bible.pervert all the Angels oratiō. to make by the later aboliſhed from ſtay: this ſenſe. Dan. 9. ver. 25. vntounto Meſsias the governour there ſhalbe ſeaven ſeavens: and 62. ſeavens the city ſhalbe builded againe. That is, (by him) it ſhall cō tinue builded. And he ſetteth 137. yeares afore the ſeaven ſeavens: as though 137. and 49. that is 186. it were not built. To be ſhort, the Angel ſpoke matter of ſalvation, plain and fortified by all ſcripture, by learned expoſitions receaved in our Church, But by M. Liuely, Iudaique trifling and falſe matter. The Church ſhalbe iudge. The Angell continueth the Chronicle. M. Liuely doth break it of 137. yeares: to be gathered by Heathen. The Angel telleth of our L. his paſſion: M. Liuely denyeth that. The Angell nameth the Redeemer of the world, Meſsias. M. Liuely doth vtterly deny that. The Angel ſaith Meſſias ſhall confirme the covenant for many: that is, for all nations: as in Dan. 12. Many ſhall ariſe: that is, All. And Rom. 5. In Adam many died: that is, All. And our L. in the ſupper, for his blood, ſhed for the Iewes & many, that is al nations, expreſly toucheth the Angels phraſe. By M. Liuely he tolde a tale of a ſure covenant betwixt the faithles Romanes and faithles Iewes. The Angel preſcribed for our Lord his preaching three yeares and an halfe. And that is the cōpaſſe of Saint Markes Goſpell. And Saint Iohn hath bene noted by the Greeke Church: as Euſebius noteth: calling back his errour, which M. Liuely would quicken: that by four Paſchata: after our Lord his baptiſme, and manifeſting him ſelfe to much glory, he ſhewed the half ſeaven applyed vntounto his function. And Venerabilis Beda noteth the ſame: and telleth that in the Apocalyps alſo the ſame is taught. And Carthuſianus foloweth Beda vponupon Apoc. 11.12.13. All this M. Liuely diſgraceth. The Angell taught how long Ieruſalem ſhould be an holy Citie, for vſe of Sacrifice: that God ſhould be ſought there: and how long from the day of Daniels prayer. M. Liuely telleth, how long the ſtones ſhall ſtand in building vndiſturbed: after his gueſhed 137. yeres: as though the Citie were not reſtored and builded by the decree of Cyrus. And to be ſhort: he, by ſtrong cōſequents denyeth that our Lord his death, did end ſacrifice and offringe.
An open denyall of the New Testament.
THus M. Liuely writeth for a l…full continuance of ſacrifice, after our Lord his death:Fol. 219. When Veſpaſian was come into Iudea and wasted the countrey: then the vnruly rebels aboliſhed the lawfull custome of ſacrificing, &c. And ſoone after, fol. 220. Not without cauſe in my iudgement, may thoſe wordes of Daniel, touching the ſacrificse ceaſing in the middest of the last weeke bee referred vntounto theſe times of this warre: wherin by meanes therof the ſacrifices of the Lords houſe were *Our Lord his ſupper is our oth that we beleeue his death to hauehave ended all ſacrifice & oblation. And M. Lively with his commē der teacheth apoſtaſie frō that faith.hindered ſo many wayes: ſome were quite aboliſhed, and others done either not by thoſe to whom they perteyned, or not ſo ſafely and freely as they ought. Iulian the Apoſtata only, or one no better, and no true Chriſtian, would ſubſcribe to this. And this denyall of the N. T. might ſtirre all Chriſtendome to reiect the Biſhops of England, as Iewiſh. For when this doctrine was commended by publike auctoritie, ſtrangers thinke all Biſhops that openly confute not this, to be of the ſame minde. M Liuely muſt recant: otherwiſe he will breede blame to all the Biſhops: of whom, I hope, none now aliue, gaue conſent to his worke. And this much for M. Liuely: laboring to diſturbe all concent of Scripture.
Of our enemies testimonie, evill cited to disturbe the trueth: where even they ſpeake for it.
ABen Ezra expoundeth Meſsias Nagid from Ier. 23. Behold a King ſhall reigne, &c. whiche is doubtles ſpoken of Chriſt. And to the ſame he referreth theſe wordes: He ſhall build me a Temple, 2. Sam. 7. But referreth all this to Nehemias. Wherein M. Liuely ſhould hauehave taken all that he ſpeaketh well: and as trueth forced him: and not to follow him where he is moſt ridiculous. This dealinge is a great corruption in our handling of Religion. This much Aben Ezra is forced to confeſſe: That the 490. yeares are from Daniels prayer vntounto the ſealing of the Meſſias. And this is all that we neede to deſire. And the ordinarie phraſe to annoinct he learnedly expoundeth to ſeale: and he ſaith Meſſias is the Holy of Holy: euen as the Angel meant & ſpake. So Aben Ezra ſhewed that 490 yeres are frō Daniels prayer vntounto the time when Meſsias ſhalbe ſealed, that is, manifeſted (as to the Centurion) that hee was the ſon of God. Although the faithles Iew ſayd in his hart: Who can climbe to Heauen to bring Christ downe: Or who can goe into the deepe, (as Ionas to the Whales belly) to bring Christ from the dead? And did not beleeue that God was in Chriſt reconciling the world vntounto him ſelfe: and that when hee was made dead in the fleſh, he was the third day made aliue hy the Eternall ſpirit, which preached by Noe: (who firſt of all the fathers is ſpoken too ſince Adams firſt day, or the day of his fall) although the Iew beleeued not this: yet his wordes fall vponupon the maine trueth: by the ſtrenght of the Angels ſpeach. And when Iewes ſpeak for Chriſtianitie then we ſhould cite them: & not cite our enemies againſt our ſelfe. There is neither Chriſtianitie nor wit in that dealing. Though I. C. borowed Arch. auctoritie to commend the fighters againſt our owne faith.
But belike ſome Chapleyn who made ſmall conſcience of the Goſpell, deceyued him: whom iuſtice ſhould reward for teaching to deny our owne Chriſtianitie. All that doe not their beſt to pay him, that may fitly mooue your M. are to blame.
Of further grauntes by ſpeaches of Iewes profitable for the Goſpell.
ABen Ezra ſayth of the tenth part of Gabriels yeres that is 49. of 490. thus: Behold the expoſition of: marke & vnderſtand: from the going forth of the word to reſtore and to build Ieruſalem vntounto Meſsias the governer, be ſeauen ſeauens of yeares: The ſeauen ſeauens are vntounto the coming of Nehemias to Ieruſalem in the twentie of Artaxasta. This agreeth with the trueth: and ſuch citations ſtrengthen our cauſe And for the three yeares and an halfe: This is written in Midras Tillin: Pſ. 10. and cited by Galatinus. R. Iohn ſayth, Three yeres and an halfe was the Maiestie of God ſtanding vponupon mount Olivet and preaching: Seeke the Lord while he may be found▪ But they did not regard him. This teſtimonie is not plain hiſtoricall: Yet to no better ſence then to our Lord his preaching can it be applyed: as Chriſtians hauehave vſed it: who referre the 49. yeres to workes about Ieruſalem: and one part of ſeauen ſcore, to the preaching of our Lord. Whome all to diſgrace Master Lively, hath written a whole worke: called a true CHRONICLE. And the Hebrician differeth in Religion from all Chriſtianes: in Hiſtory for the Ebrews Temple from al Ebrewes vniverſally. And in Greeke from all Grecianes that liued in the ages whereof doubt is moued. And your M. muſt compell him & his commender to recant:*Both works printers ſoone deſcended to HELL. God called quickly for both Printers to anſwere for the work: and for the commendation.
A further hinderance concerning the time when the Redeemer of Iſraell ſhould come into the world.
THe Lord ſhewed full many times in the Prophet Daniel that vponupon the fall of the Macedonians, which ruled in Egypt & Syria, the redeemer would come into the world. And ancient Graecians▪ long hid from vsus, whom I printed at Baſil, ſo vnderſtood the legges of the Image and the fourth beaſt: and expreſlely the Buck, Dan. 8. is named the end of wrath. And Chryſostom moſt learnedlie ſheweth that Daniels laſt Chapter ſpeaketh of Antiochus Epiphanes: and the Iewes vniverſallie hold, that the Sainctes of the moſt high, from whome the heathen in Dan. 7. take away the Kingdome, are Iacobs houſe: & Salathiel his houſe, heirs to the Kingdom: whoſe Kings by right be the laſt 14. Math. 1. and next, Rheſa with the reſt to Ely. Yet of a longe time we hauehave made the Romanes the Images legges: wherby the Iewes hold yet, that the true Redeemer is not yet come: and dayly pray for his coming in Cether Malcuth, and all their comon prayers: in our expected tranſlation we muſt be wiſer.
Of the time when our Lord ſhould be borne.
SEeing that all Chriſtendom holdeth that our Lord was borne in Winter, the altering of the day would breede great diſturbance. But ſpeaking an vntrueth before God will breede anger. The Feaſtes in Moſes foretold his times. The Paſſeover, his death: Pentecoſt when the Fier*Deut. 33. of the Law was given, the ſending of the Spirit in fier:Act. 2. And September had moſt dayes of meditating Gods dwelling in the Cloud: and then the firſt Adam was made: and then was the Feaſt of Tabernacles: the memory of Gods dwelling among Iſraell. And our Lord at Eeaſter had an odd half yeare in his age: for euen beginning thirty he began his three yeres and an halfe.
Of the harme that cometh by the errour.
WHeras a modeſt & a learned Iew of Constantinopole, R. Abraham Rubenholden to be the beſt learned Iewe in the world, hath ſought chriſtian inſtitution from England: and your Maieſties higheſt preferd are higheſt bound to performe ſuch weighty matters: they muſt be warned that by errour herein they diſgrace not all the Goſpell. Where God omitteth no help to faith. A Iewe would not ſoone beleeue that a wiſe Emperour, as Augustus was, would command poore men to come in winter to their owne townes. And the eternall ſonne would not require his mother after the fleſh, to take more toyle then need was: neither was it the fit time for ſheepheardes to be all night in the fields. And as baptiſme was according to his birth monethmonth: It was not holſome for men to goe vp to the head in water, in midwinter: And by theſe our vnlikelyhoods, we hauehave cauſed the Goſpell to be miſbeleeued, over, almoſt all the world.
Of the erroneous ground that cast amiſſe our L. his birth.
AN old Greek Oration fathered vpō Iohn Chryſostome, citeth Ioſephus the Iew, for a work foūd once at Rome, but neuer ſhewed to any againe: wherein he writeth that Zacharie miniſtred in the ſeuenth monethmonth: and then was ſpoken to by the Angell Gabriel: and ſoone went home: and his wife conceaued, and bare Iohn, ſix moneths elder then our Lord, after the fleſh. This auctoritie though it were true, were nothing. Scripture ſhould be our ground. And ſeeing God telleth not the day, we ſhould not ſay, that according to our feaſtes, the trueth of ſtories fell. And if we relyed vponupon Ioſephus, we ſhould hauehave kept his workes.