Of the Head Cornerstone, Chapter 21
CHAP. 21.
1 HItherto we hauehave the Story set downe, both in the word of God, and by the way of History, so farre forth at the least, or in such particulars, as it pleased God to deliuer vntounto vsus: but hence-forward wee hauehave it not set downe in the word of GOD but onelyonly by the way of Prophecie; and the same very breefely too. The effect whereof is, that thay shoulde neuer bee but in hard estate, vntill the comming of theyr Messias: and that some-times they should bee very much afflicted; and yet then bee holpen, but with some Dan. 11: 34.little helpe neyther. As touching which hard estate of theyrs, to the end that we may the better perceiue it, it shall be good, that first wee consider some-thing of it generally: and that then we come to the more speciall consideration of it. That which we are to consider thereof generally, is first within what bounds our matter lieth: then what is the matter it selfe. The bounds of our matter are, partly in the time, and partly in the parties thereunto appertaining. The compasse of time that now we speake of, is some part of it while those yet stood vnderunder whome as yet they were: the rest, vnderunder others. Those vnderunder whom as yet they were, were the Persians, whose state is noted to hauehave stood somewhat better than two hundred yeares in all: but, about one hundred thirty and fiue of those being now spent already since their returne, it remaineth, that wee hauehave no moe of that state of theirs but onelyonly about threescore and twelue. All which though Nehemiah be thought to hauehave out-liued, …. in an. 3633.or very neare thereunto: yet those stories that we had of him before do all appertaine to the former time of the Persian state, and not vntounto this that now wee are entring into. Those others vnderunder whome they afterward were, were the Graecians first: and the Romanes after. VnderUnder the Graecians they were soone after that that state got vp: and it stood about two hundred threescore and seauen yeares. VnderUnder the Romanes they were likewise soon after that they came to their heigth; and much longer than that part of their story that now wee are in, doeth reach vntounto: but after that these got vp, it was about threescore yeares, before that the story of Christ beginneth. So may we note, that the compasse of time that this our story lyeth in, is almost foure hundred yeares. The parties hereunto appertaining are the people of God: and those that were so grieuous vntounto them. As touching the people of God, we are to note, that now they all go vnderunder the name of Iewes, though of the other tribes besides there were diuers mingled with them; and not vnlikely, but that some of the Canaanites did so likewise: but, of whatsoeuer people or Nation any of them were, it seemeth they were all of one profession, and so were accounted all one people. Wherein it is not amisse to note, that whereas in Salomons time when the Temple was to bee builded (and that beeing the time, when that state of theirs was at the highest) there were found to be in the Land one hundred fifty and 2. chr. 2: 17, 18 1 kin. 5: 15, 16three thousand strangers (which seeme to bee all, or the most part of them, Canaanites, the auncient inhabitants of the Land) and now we hauehave no mention of any of them; but that the peculiar people of God were now the inhabitants of that land: yet neuerthelesse, as the people of God together with those Canaanites before, had according to the Prophecy and curse of Noah beene seruaunts to the posteritie of Sem; so the people of God onelyonly nowe, inhabiting that land, were vnderunder that part of the curse to others of the posterity of Sem at this present, and afterward againe to two other states of Iaphets progenie. And seeing they offended so much as they did, lesse maruaile it is, that they inhabiting that Land nowe, hauehave part of the curse that was giuen foorth against their predecessours before: as also it may seeme, by that which followeth after, that that part of the curse was so farre laid on the Land it selfe (for the others were in no such subiection yet to any of the posterity of Iaphet) as that it might be of force against those inhabitants also. Those that were so grieuous vntounto them, were, first the latter of these two states or Monarchies, that were in the East part of the worlde, of the posterity of Sem: then these other two that were in this North-west part of the world (which wee inhabit) both of them being of the posterity of Iaphet; the other part of the knowne world, beeing peopled most by the posterity of Cham, hauing none of those foure Monarchies in it, but so farre pertaking (in effect) with that curse aforesaide, though by name it were layd on Canaan onelyonly, no ancestours of theirs, but onelyonly hauing one and the selfe same auncestor common to them both. The latter of those two States or Monarchies that were in the East-part of the world, and of the posteritie of Sem, was that of the Persians, vnderunder which they were yet: and the estate of the people of God vnderunder these is no more in effect (some few particulars only excepted) but that so long as these did yet stand (which we heard, was but about threescore and twelue yeares more) they were in subiection vntounto them; but yet both had a Gouernour of their owne people, and were allowed the freedome of their owne profession. The particulers wee speake of, are but two; and both of them such as much respected the whole estate of the people: one of them, of a taxe or fine imposed on them; the other, of a great stumbling blocke in Religion reared vp among them. That taxe or fine that was imposed on them, was by occasion of a foule murther committed by Iohn the High-Priest himselfe, on IESVS his owne brother, and that euen in the Temple too: the occasion beeing for that hee which was slayne, did set Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 11. cap. 7. Fanct. Chronol. in an. 3598.but light of his Brother the High-Priest, on an hope that hee had to get that office from his brother vntounto himselfe by the fauour of Bag…ses a Persian Gouernour; and so in contentious altercation prouoked him much to hys owne death. That Gouernour therefore both polluted their Temple, and imposed a fine vppon them for seauen yeares together. That stumbling blocke in cause of Religion that was reared vp among them, was neare vppon the end of the Persian State: done also by a brother of the High-Priest that then was, a bad man; and the very same, it seemeth, that Nehemiah for his profane marriage chased away from him. The matter Neh. 13: 28 Ant. li. 11. ca. 8was, that Manasses beeing Priest also himselfe, and hauing before administred the Office and dignitie of Priest-hood with Iaddus his brother, but afterward beeing in great disgrace at Ierusalem for that his bad marriage, by the helpe of Sanballet his Father in lawe the Lord of Samaria, hee erected another Temple in Mount Garizin neere to Samaria, like to that which was at Ierusalem, and himselfe was High-Priest there: many of the Priestes such as had polluted themselues with such vnlawful marriages, & others of the people such as eyther had so married, or otherwise for some bad parts of theirs were called to reckoning at Hierusalem, and finding readie entertainment there, leauing Hierusalem and the true woorshippe of God behind them, and ioyning themselues to this vp-start profanation, arising out of the proud heart of that grand sectarie the High-Priests brother.
2 Of those two others that were of the posteritie of Iaphet, the former of them was that of the Graecians: the other, that of the Romaines that followed. That of the Graecians, for a while, was one entire State: but soone after, much deuided among themselues. It was one entire state but onelyonly for the time of Alexander himselfe, who raigned in all but about twelue yeares: part thereof, but in Macedonia and Greece whence hee came; the residue in Asia, where hee ouer-threw the Persian State, and set vp his owne. In whose story, or in the compasse of whose time wee hauehave no more to consider, that dooth properly appertaine to our present purpose, but onelyonly in what estate the people of GOD were vnderunder him: but seeing he was at the first so notable a Prince, and for his conquests was set on by God himselfe, it shall not bee amisse, first to consider of some fewe other stories of him going before; and then of the estate of the Iewes vnderunder him. Those other stories that now I speake of, are two: one, while yet he was in Macedonie; the other, so soon as he was ariued in Asia. While yet he was in Macedonie, being then purposed to go to warfare in Asia, he either took short, while he was there, or tooke away with him when hee went thence, all such as hee doubted to bee aspiring, and might hazzard him of his kingdome at home, while he was abroad: a good example for all the seruaunts of GOD, the Souldiours of Christ, first to take short all their inordinate affections of flesh and bloud, or to keep a strong hand on them, when we go forth to the warfare of a Christian life. In Asia as soone as hee ariued, and considered on the goodnesse and largenesse of that part of the world, making no doubt but to win it and make it his owne; hee thereuppon then parted and freely gaue Macedonie his former kingdome to his Captaines and friends, as hauing enough and enough in Asia for him: another faire example for the Childeren of GOD, after that by the knowledge of Christ, they vnderstand how good things are laid vp for them in the world to come, more easily to part with these earthly things heere, to goe and gain others vntounto that other fellowship with them; at least to take heede, that in the louelove of these earthly felicities they doe not moow-vp or burie themselues. The estate of the Iewes vnderunder him was good, for that although hee came towardes them with great displeasure, for that (on alleagiance to their former Lords) they sent him no aide to the winning of Tyre, as he had required them to doe: yet after perceauing it was the God whome they professed, who had set him a-worke, and had prospered him so farre therein, he was very gracious vntounto them, and bestowed great immunities on them.
3. When the Graecian State was diuided (Alexanders Captaines, after his death, he hauing no issue, parting the same among themselues) though they were moe at the first, and afterward the chiefe of them, foure: yet were they but two (themselues, and their successours) who had such dealing with the Iewes, as that we neede to repaire to their storie, to finde out in what estate the Iewes then were. And those two were, such as had, one sort of them, Egipt on the South; the other, Syria on the North of the people of God: not, that either of them had no moe Countries besides vnderunder their gouernment; but that those were the chiefe to either of them, besides such others as they had withall, sometimes moe, sometimes fewer. Of these Dan. 11: 5-9 11, 13-15. 25, 40.two (whome the Angell in Daniell calleth, the one, the King of the South; the other, the King of the North) it was the King of the South, or that Southern part of the Graecian Monarchy that had dealing with the Iewes first; but that other Northern part soone after: and so I hold it best that we consider of either of them seuerally. So beginning first with that part of the Graecian Monarchy which lay towards the South, there may we note, that sometimes the Princes thereof did make head against the Iewes to doe them some hurt: and that once the Iewes themselues did so prouoke them, as that they were in great daunger thereby. Those Princes made head against the people of God to their hurt, twice: the hurt that both times they made, being requited, as it were, with some speciall fauour towards them soon after. The former of those hurts was, that Ptolomaus Lagi, the first of those Princes Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 12, cap. 1that enioyed that State, comming to Ierusalem as in peaceable manner, to offer Sacrifice, and on a Saboth day, surprised the Citty, and both dealt hardly with them there, and tooke away many of them captiues also: a matter that was by Agatharchides an other Author of those dayes reproachfully laid to the charge of the Iewes, as thogh they had of superstitious cleauing to their own ease that day, suffered him so to possesse himselfe of their Citty; and so had dearely bought that little ease of theirs then, by taking vponupon their shoulders so vneasie and heauy a Lord, as hee was afterward like to prooue vntounto them. The fauour wherewith this was, as it were soone after requited vntounto them, was partly by himselfe: but more by him that next succeeded. Himselfe conceauing by the answere they gaue to Alexander before, (when hee sent vntounto them to come into his aid, they refusing so to doe, on the oath they had made to their former Princes) that they had good regard to their oaths, put many of them in so speciall trust with his holds, and did so much enfranchize them besides in the head Citty of all his kingdome, that many others of the Iewes besides, on this good dealing of his with their brethren, of their own accord, came and yeelded themselues to dwell vnderunder his alleageance. The fauor they found in him that next succeeded Ptolomaus Pliladelphus, was such, as that I can hardly think that any in these dayes of the Gospell that wisheth well to the aduancement thereof, can reade it, without a sound and speciall shame of these our dayes. Being a Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 2.Prince that was giuen to the louelove of learning, and hauing then already gotten two hundred thousand Bookes to his Library, and beeing in the way soone after to get fiue hundred thousand moe vntounto them, or at least to make them vp so many in all; and yet not so content, but farther desiring to get vntounto him besides all the bookes of the Law of God by the helpe of the Iewes, and to hauehave them translated into the tongue that was then most common to all: to obtaine his desire therein (of which notwithstanding as yet he had but heard by report of others, nothing answerable to the woorth of the thinges themselues) it may stand for one of the chiefe miracles of the world, to see how that heathen Prince behaued himselfe therein, how graciously and liberally hee first dealt with those Iewes that then were in bondage in those his dominions, redeeming out of his owne treasure aboue an hundered and twenty thousands of them; howe great and rich gifts hee sent first likewise to the Temple at Ierusalem: what Interpreters, and how many he sought to hauehave thence; in how good manner hee sought to hauehave them; how welcome they were vntounto him when they were come; how honourably and howe carefully to that purpose, they were entertained when they where there; how liberally they were rewarded; and how graciously dismissed when they had done. Wee hauehave better knowledge in these dayes of ours (or more shame for vsus) of the Gospell of Christ; we need not open our owne treasuries, of that which is (by vndoubted right) clearely our owne; we need but restore that which (no doubt) many of vsus doe, in our own consciences vniustly with-hold; they are no forreine people to vsus, but our our owne bretheren, that need to be by vsus redeemed; their bondage is incomparably much greater, and more to bee pittied, than was that of those others: and yet how vntoward wee are herein; how little desire we hauehave of any such help; and how little we esteem of those by whome we might hauehave it, and by whome we hauehave whatsoeuer of that kinde it is that we hauehave, no man can be of mind to deliuer, but that presently hee findeth himselfe ouer-whelmed with it. The latter of those hurts was about an hundred yeares after the former, or somewhat better; this latter of them, by the course of the story Tremel. Iun.being at it were confined to about the fourth yeare of the raigne of Antiochus the great, King of Syria (for this Story it selfe is without any so speciall date) which fourth yeare of his is noted to bee, the yeare of the world, three thousand seauen hundered fory and fiue; the former of them beeing set so neare to the beginning of Funct. in an 3745. Funct. Ibid. 3 Mac. Chap. 1. 7.his raigne that first began this Egiptian state, that it falleth not to be about the yeere of the world three thousand sixe hundered fortie and two. The thing it selfe was, that this King Ptolomaus Philopater comming peaceably to Ierusalem, and orderly offering his sacrifices there, seeing the Temple so beautiful a building as it was, and thereupon offering to go into it, and euen into the inmost place it selfe, because he was first but diswaded by those that were present, but then forcibly stayed by the strong and strange hand of God himselfe, he grew so greatly discontented therby, & so deeply displeased with the Iewes, as that thence-forward shee resolued vtterly to destroy them all, within his dominions, and that with a cruell and a strange kind of death. Which being twice attempted, was as often in easie manner by the prouidence of God defeated: first the king himselfe ouer-sleeping his owne appointed time; then, by a strong and strange obliuion, of that which he had before determined. When the third time notwithstanding he would yet set in hand with it again, and more eagerly than before, he was then not only by outward forcible meanes defeated: Ioseph. Antiq. lib, 12. cap. 4.but inwardly in his former purpose, altered cleane. The fauor that after this did follow vponupon them, was, not onelyonly that he remitted and vtterly abandoned all that his displeasure against them: but also vouchsafed them diuers speciall fauors. When the Iewes themselues did so prouoke them, as that they were in great danger thereby, it was in the daies of this king also: Onias the High-Priest, the Iewes chiefe gouernour then vnderunder him, being so strongly giuen to his owne priuate, that very much hee had wronged the publique cause; had not another in his roome stoode vp in the gap (Iosephus a Nephew of his, of speciall good parts) against that danger.
4. Comming to that Northern part of this Graecian Monarky, which, soon after the other began, had likewise dealing with these, & afterward much more than the other, we do not find to the cōtrary, but that the Iewes were in reasonable good case vnderunder these also for a time: but that afterward these were very grieuous …nto them. What time they were in reasonable case vnderunder them, it is notwithstanding noted, both that the Samaritans (a people of those parts, and neere to the Iewes) Ioseph, Antiq. lib. 12. cap, 1. Ibid. cap, 3.were very troublesome vntounto them; and that when these two states warred the one on the other, the Iewes were then much afflicted by them, euen as a ship tossed betwixt mighty and contrary waues, and especially by the Samaritans at that time also: but then it is noted withall, that two special Princes of that state were very fauorable vntounto them; one of them the same, that first after the diuision beganne that State, the other, who gouerned it a good while after. He that first after the diuision began that State, Selencus Nican…r building certaine Citties in his Territories, Ibid. cap, 3.is noted to hauehave allowed the Iewes their liberty and priuiledges there; euen in the Head-Citty it selfe: and that so hee did, for their good and faithfull seruice done vntounto him. He that a good while after succeeded Antioc… the great, was a Ibid.Prince of speciall note, and hauing variable successe at the first, notwithstanding in the end he much praeuailed against Ptol…s Epiph…es, his opposite Southerne Prince, in the clearing of those Territories that to him of former time appertained, bet since had beene by the other surprized. At which time the Iewes, fiding themselues more specially to him, were vouchsafed speciall fauours (and those by good record) both at home and abroad. When afterward the Princes or Gouernours of this Northerne State were grieuous vntounto them, first it was, but, as it were, a push for the time: but afterward it sate neerer vntounto them. While it was but a storme of small continuance, and soone after blowne ouer againe, it was no more 2 Mac 3: 4-40but that one Simon, a treacherous person from among themselues, was, by Apollonius, the occasion, that a speciall attempt was made by Heliodorus, sent frō Selercus Soter, and so euen by the higher power it self to hauehave made a spoile of the Temples treasure: which notwithstanding is noted to be so very strongly and strangely resisted, not by the people themselues, but by a strange extaordinary protection, that such as came for it, went away without it, and were glad too they had so escaped. When it sate neerer vntounto them, and had longer continuance among them, theyr dealing then grew to be so grieuous and so intolerable, that it made an alteration of the State it selfe: and so are we therein to consider, first of that dealing of theirs against them; then, what alteration in the State it was, that came in thereby. Their dealing against them, though exceeding bad in it selfe; yet may it seeme to be iustly occasioned: and so are we first to note how it was occasioned; then, what it selfe was. Iustly occasioned we may account it to be, for that in those dayes 2 Mac. 1: 12-16. 2 Mac. 4: 1-17 Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 6mingling with the Heathen, many of them nowe gaue vp their former profession of the Lawe of God, and betooke themselues to the waies of the Heathen: and that mnny of the Priestes themselues did now make no reckoning of the Temple, nor of the seruice of God that was there to be vsed; and were besides fouly giuen to much disorder. What the dealing it selfe was, whereof they had experience now, that we may in few wordes the better see, wee are to know, first that it was whatsoeuer mighty and grieuous enemies are in such case wont to doo: then, that there was much more euill inflicted on them, than such dealing of the Enemies dooth (for the most part) reach vntounto. That which was but such as in such case grieuous enemies are woont to doe, was, that they did exceedingly spoyle, euen the Temple it selfe, both of the treasure and ornamentes of it: and that they did 1 Mac. 1: 21-24, 20-42. 2 Mac. 5: 11-16, 21-26. Ioseph. Antiq. lib 12. c. 7. 1 Mac. 1: 43-67. 2 Mac. 6, & 7. Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 2. cap. 7. et 8put both the Citty and the people to Fire and Sword in very cruell and barbarous manner. That which was more, was, that both they forced them from the Law of God; and destroyed, both so many of the Books thereof as they could get, and so many of the people (without respect of age or sex) as would not yeeld: and both aduanced most detestable Idolatry; and strongly vrged (nay, violently rather) the people vntounto it.
5 The alteration in the States that came thereby, was great: and such as much respected, not onelyonly these their enemies; but also, euen the Iewes themselues withall. As it respected the Syrians their enemies, first it was, as the Iewes did now oppose thēselues against them: then, as they decaied euen by themselues. As the Iewes did now oppose themselues against them, they were so roundly and roughly dealt with, first by Mattathi…, an olde Priest him-selfe for a while, then by some others of his line, that, after these tooke them in hand they were able then to praeuaile no farther: but were daily beaten backe more and more, from that course that before they were in. The old Priest (a man of good reckoning among 1 Mac. 2: 1-70 Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 8.his owne people) seeing so great wrong, yea and indignity offered to the Law and people of God, and being farther prouoked besides, by … loud part of …, by one of the Iewes, and at that praesent before his eyes, so inflamed with …l … hee could not abide it, suddainely stept vp, slew that vile Apos…, and those that from the King were there imployed in that businesse, and th… by open Proclamation offered himselfe to ioyne with all such of the people, … in that case, against those their enemies, on the behalfe of the Law of God, and of their owne …st defense, would now resolue to stand on their guard: and as th… he made the… that offer, so did hee after performe it vntounto them; and many did repaire vntounto him, to take part with him therein. Of those that were of his line (who also before his death were stirred vp and encouraged by him) Iudas one of his Sonnes, commonlie called Maccabaus, by his appointment did first beginne: and then was followed by others of them. Hee so beginning, did notably for a time praeuaile against them: but a few yeares after he was ouerthrowne. He did so notably praeuaile against them while he trusted only on God; and for that time he very strangely 1 Mac. 3: 1-7: 50. 1 Mac 8: 1-25: 40. Ioseph. Antiq. li. 12. cap. 9 18 1 Mac. 8: 1-9: 18. Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 19 1 Mac. 9: 19▪ 16: 24. Ioseph Antiq. li. 13. cap. 1. 18 Chro. Cario. a. Ph…l…p. Melan… p…. 1. …. lib. … pag. 246, 247.and wonderfully praeuailed: and that so farre, that he put downe theyr Idolatry, and restored true Religion again; and afterward stood to the defense of the same, against all the force of his enemies. Ouerthrowne hee was, soone after that hee sought to hauehave the Romans confe…derate with him: leaning some-what then, as it may seeme, to an Arme of Flesh. Those others that followed him, were some of them collaterall to him, two of his Bretheren, the one of them succeeding the other in those affaires; one other descending, who was the Sonne of that his Brother who last succeeded: all which went forward in that course, and maintained that cause so long as they continued, and in many things did very well stand to the maintenance of it; but the two former of them were in the ende treacherously slaine. As the enemies decayed euen of themselues, it is noted vntounto vsus, that after they so opposed themselues against the Law of God, making the people to abandon the same, and to betake themselues to Heathenish vanity, they went backward euer after more and more: he that first began it, and most did vrge it, Antiochus Epiphanes, comming to a miserable end; & his successors after, much warring among themselues, and slaughtering one another, till the Romanes at length came and ouerthrew their State, and made that Countrey a Prouince of theirs.
As it most respected the Iewes, it was, first as touching certaine Sectes that were among them: then as touching their ciuil estate from this time forward. The cheefe Sects that were among them are noted to bee three; all growing vp among them while thus they mingled with the Heathen; and afterward hauing Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 13. cap. 9. 18. lib. 18. ca. 2 Idē de bel. In lib 1. cap. 4. et lib. 2. Cap. 7.mention of two sorts of them, but not of the third. Those two whereof afterward we hauehave mention, are the Pharasees and the Sadduces, both which were troublesome to Christ and his Apostles: both of them beeing accounted of the most carefull sort of men among them▪ in all their waies generally, and Teachers of the Law of God to the people; but the former of them strictly obseruing certaine traditions of their owne withall, the latter erring in certaine speciall pointes of doctrine. The third sort of them, of whom wee hauehave no mention after, were the Esseis, who liued more priuately a-part from others; as of purpose shunning contentions abroad, so the better to giuegive them-selues to the exercise of godlynesse at home: and one speciall part of their profession was a single life. A matter the rather to be marked, for that as Sathan had then prouided these sects, & had gotten them into great credit with the world, for opinion of learning and holinesse, a little before the comming of Christ; so to fore-stall the people before, and to make them hang off farther from him, when hee should come and labour to win them: so wee hauehave found the much like sects of our late Cloysterers, stolne in among vsus, and gotten to credit, before this more plentifull light of the Gospell was sent vntounto vsus that now we enioy; and these (no doubt) to the hinderance of many, who other-wise wee may hope would hauehave beleeued long ere this. Their ciuill estate from this time forward, so long as the race of the Maccabees stood, was hard and Iosaph. Antiq. lib. 13. cap. 1…▪ lib 14. …troublesome: and it stood till the Romanes, occasioned by their contentions and disorder, did step in among them, and appointed other Gouernours vntounto them. So that although some of that stocke had done much good to the people before; or that God (at least) had vsed them as a scourge to the proud and insolent enemie: yet, stepping vp as they did, onelyonly because of the great outrageous dealing of the enemy, and not being otherwise called vntounto it (the Scepter for that people being before giuen to the Tribe of Iudah, these being all of the Tribe of Leuie) it is lesse maruell, that now at length they were a burthen rather vntounto the people than any benefit (insomuch that now euen the people themselues were likewise weary of them) and that by these, the Romaines were first brought to be somewhat towards them, and now to ouer-maister Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 14, cap, 5.them so much as they did.
7 As touching that other Monarchie or State of the Romaines that followed immediately after that of the Graecians, it also praeuailed against the people of God, and had them in subiection, about three score yeares before the birth of Iesus Christ: not, but that, long after that, they had them in subiection besides, euen so long as they were a people; but that then our Story must leaue them and goe on Christ, and on those that belonged to him. How for that time they came to bee in subiection to the Romaines that wee may the better perceiue, we are first to consider of that which may seeme to be the occasion: then of their subiection it selfe. That which may seeme to be the occasion, was, that they were so disorderly among themselues, that thereby themselues did open the passage to Forraigne power to step in among them: of which Forraigne power there was no other in those daies that in those parts bare any sway (to speake of) but onelyonly that of the State of Rome. The disorder that wee speake of, we finde in two of the sonnes of the last of those Maccabees that we spoke of before; and in one other that descended of the latter of them: some part of that disorder being common to them all; some other more proper to eueryevery of them a-part by themselues. Common to all it is, that henceforward they tooke Ioseph. Antiq, lib. 13. ca, 19, 20. … lib. 14. cap. 1.vponupon them the name and dignity of Kings: that kinde of dignity being of such nature as none should take vponupon them without some special calling thereunto of God, which they could not hauehave there, God hauing already bestowed the Scepter on that Tribe of Iudah, all these being but onelyonly of Leuie. When we are to consider of such disorder as was more proper to eueryevery of them apart by themselues, we are first to begin with those two bretheren: then to come to the other that descended of the latter of them. Of those two bretheren, the former of them. Aristobulus, raigning but one yeare, yet in that short time both did imprison his Mother, so to exclude her Idem. li. Antiq. 13. cap. 19.from medling in the gouernment of the Land (which authority and honour his Father notwithstanding had appointed vntounto her) and there did famish her in prison: and without any iust cause, onelyonly vponupon a bare and false suspicion, slew his owne brother, a man of great worth, whom himselfe also before so tenderly loued that he made him partaker with him in his Kingdome. The latter likewise, Alexander Ianneus, first began with the slaughter of another brother of his: and though hee were by the iust Ioseph. Antiq. li. 13. ca. 20, 21iudgement of God reasonably well requited with blood againe (leezing a field, and thirty thousand of his Army at once, to one of his neighbour Princes besides him) yet afterward also did he so exceedingly rage in shedding the blood of others, euen of his owne people too, and by those his doings hee grew into so extreame hatred with them, as that on a time, as willing to content them for whatsoeuer he had offended them before, with one consent they plainely told him, that there was no way whereby to please them, but onelyonly to make an end of himselfe. But he did so little regard, that he was fallen into so extreame hatred with them, that shortly after getting Ibid. ca. 22the aduantage of a great number of the better sort of them, hee purposely chose an higher place wherein himselfe and his Concubines might banquet together; taking order before, that in the time of their banquetting, eight hundred of those should hauehave their execution in the sight of him and his Concubines: their execution then also being, first to hauehave their wiues and children slaine before their faces; then afterward themselues to be hanged. He that descended of the latter of these called Aristobulus also, was so like to the stocke whereof he came, that whereas he was but the younger Sonne to his Father, and that his Mother, by the Kings Testament succeeding Ibid. lib. 14. cap 1, et de …l, I… lib, 1. cap, 8, 9.him in the Kingdome, had appointed the High-Priesthood (the Kingdome then being annexed vntounto it) to her elder Sonne H…rcan…, he praesently warred vponupon him about the same: & by the treachery of his Elder Brothers people praeuayling, would needes be the King, and that his elder Brother must liue a priuate life vnderunder him. But yet the contention betweene these and their partakers was so great about this matter, that it occasioned the Romanes (alwaies ready to such opportunities) Ibid. lib 14, cap 2. 8, 25, et lib. 15, cap. 9.to step in, and to take vp the matter among them, nothing at all to the aduantage of any of them, to speake of: Hierusalem it selfe being by this occasion forcibly taken, and this vsurper had away Prisoner to Rome; the elder Brother onelie getting the High-Priest-hood againe, but afterward, about the same, leezing his eares, and shutting vp his old age with a bloudy death besides.
8 The Romanes hauing now by this occasion gotten that people in subiection to them, for a while deale more easily with them: but soone after, much more roughly. They dealt more easily with them, when, notwithstanding they got the City by force, yet did make it but tributary vntounto them: leauing vntounto them Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 14 cap, 8.the liberty of their Religion and Laws; and restoring the High-Priesthood (and so the chiefe Gouernment of the whole in effect, vnderunder them) to Hyrcanus, one of their owne that had it before, and to whom they all generally did wish it againe. And though soone after there was some farther order taken for the readier determining Ibid. cap, 10.of their matters, yet was that in very good manner also for them. Of their rougher dealing with them, some part thereof is not to be laid to the charge of the whole State of them but onelyonly to one of their principall Gouernours: but some part againe is to bee laide to the charge of the whole. That which was but the fault of one of their Gouernours, who at that time was Crassus, is, that hee comming Ibid. cap. 12into those partes, and going to warfare against another people, himselfe being Generall then of those forces of the Romanes, vnderstanding great treasure to be in the Temple at Ierusalem, and comming to get it into his hands, notwithstanding Eleazar he who had the charge of the Treasury, dealt so liberally with him, as that thereby he got him to sweare, that he would rest himselfe contented with that which he should bestow vponupon him, and might well so hauehave done, for that it was a beame of Golde of very great value, which the Treasurer so did, that hee might thereby redeeme the other Ornamentes and Treasure of the Temple: yet hee, contrary to all sense of Religion, and contrary to his owne Oath too, tooke not onelyonly it but the residue also. But seeing therein he was, and needes would be, so great a Church-Robber, it was not amisse, that he and his Army did so miscarry as they Ibid et de Bel. Iud. li, 1 cap. 6 Ibid. de Bel, Iud lib, 1. cap, 8, et 12. et Antiq li. 14. ca. 17. et 26 et lib, 15, ca, 10 Ibid. l…b, 15, cap 3. 9, 11, et lib. 16, ca, 17, et lib 17, cap. 8. et Chro. Cor. Parte … lib, 2. …, pag. 332.did: so to teach, not onelyonly Church-Robbers howe much they offend; but others also, how they deale with them, or commit any charge of State vntounto them. That hard dealing of theirs, that is to be laide to the charge of the whole, is, when (for some seruice that they had doone) they appointed Forrainers (Antipater, and his Issue) to bee their Gouernours: and of such a people too (the Edomites) as were auncient Enemies to the people of God. Which act of theirs was so much the more grieuous to that people of God, for that Herod, one of them, to establish the Kingdome to his owne line, and to roote out those that had better right than he vntounto it, did many grieuous and execrable thinges among them. A faire warning, if it can be taken, to reward such as hauehave deserued well, but onelyonly with such thinges as are meete for them: and not with any place at all in the Church of God, if themselues be but profane or carelesse of that, which of such as hauehave charge of it, is chiefely required.