A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 3 · Body of book · Chapter 14
Here the Map of the Land of Moriah is to be inserted.
THE LAND OF MORIAH. CHAP. 14.
§ 1. BEcause the Countrey about Ierusalem is very fruitfull of observable places,The adjacent parts to Ierusalem. it is therefore here presented in an intire Map. Nor do we meet with a fitter, and more adequate name to express the same, then to style it The land of Moriah, as it is named in Scripture: aGen. 22. 2.Herein we shall onelyonly insist on signall places of certain truth; otherwise the work would be almost infinite: for what is said of the people of Israel, bExod. 23 26.There shall not one be barren amongst them, is true of every petty place near Ierusalem, not a Hill, Hole, Stick, Stone, Cave, Grave, but is pregnant with some History, and vulgar beliefe is the Midwife to deliver it; we will therefore confine our selves to Scripture alone in our following description.
§ 2. We begin with the Brook of Kidron: The brook Kidron.which we may call the Brook of Reformation; for often the current thereof carried away the Reliques of Idolatry; once when the Idol of his grandmother Maachah was by King Asa c1 King. 15. 13 2 Chr. 30. 14.burnt by the banks thereof; Again, whend2 King. 23. 6. in Hezekiahs time the people (no doubt by his command) threw the Idolatrous Altars therein. Thirdly, when the dust of the Altars erected by King Manasses, was by Iosiah, cast into the channel of e2 King. 23. 12Kidron. I dare boldly say that the water of this brook, was no whit the less the sweet in taste, or clear in colour for washing away these monuments of superstition. However this Kidron may be ranked amongst those Rivolets whereoffJob 6. 15. Iob speaks, My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook and as a stream of brooks which passeth away; not that the water onelyonly slideth away, other succeeding in the room thereof (which is common to the greatest channels) but this very Brook it self slides away in the Summer and is dryed up, as having no fountain to feed it, but the waters running down from Mount Olivet; Thus Kidron is the too lively emblem of our …ouls, which having no naturall spring of goodness in themselves, flow no longer then they are watered from above, with the infusion of celestiall Grace.
§ 3. This Brook runs through the Valley of Iehosaphat, The valley of Iehosaphat.being a hollow dale interposed betwixt Ierusalem and Mount Olivet, but why so named I finde no satisfactory reason alledged; for I cannot agree to what generally is reported, that in this place Iehosaphat got his miraculous victory over theg2 Chr. 20. 20. Edomites, Moabites and Ammonites: because on serious perusall of the text, that battell appears fought far off in the wilderness of Tekoah. Many are of opinion, that as Mount Olivet shall be the Tribunall, erected for the Judge; so this Vale of Iehosaphat shall be the Gaol and Bar where all offenders at the last day shall be arraigned, founding their conceit partly on the words of the ProphethIoel 3. 2▪ Ioel, I will also gather all Nations, and bring them down into the valley of Iehosaphat, and will plead with them there for my people; partly on the expression of the Angels to the Disciples after Christs ascension,iAct. 1. 11. that in the same manner he should return again. But these are too low, carnall, and restrictive conceits of Gods glorious judiciall proceedings▪ it being improbable he would appoint the certain particular place, who in his wisdome hath caused the time to be concealed; yea if one day be as a thousand years with God, why may not, according to the same proportion, the whole earth be meant by the Valley of Iehosaphat? Wherefore waving curious inquiries about the circumstances belonging onelyonly to the Judge to assigne, let us carefully provide our selves for those Assises, the proper work for us to performe▪
§ 4. In this Vale of Iehosaphat, on the other side of Kidron stood the village of Gethsemane, so called in Hebrew for the plenty of Oile, that there was pressed out: But a far more precious liquor was once afforded in this place, which in the Garden hard by, fell from our Saviours face in his Agony,kLuke 22. 44. Clods of sweat like bloud: Surely the hea… of the weather had no influence on this his distemper: being the open aire, in so cold a night, that the stout servants of the high Priest, though housed in a Hall, found need of a fire to warm themselves thereat.lJoh. 18. 18. It was not then without cause that the paschall Lambe was commanded to be eaten, neither raw nor sodden with water, but rosted with fire, as Christ, the tr…th… of this Type, was at this time bathed in his own sweat. Here Christ thrice conditionally begged, that his …up might pass away, preferring three severall short prayers, before one entire continued petition; partly that in a tripled suit his importunity might be more conspicuous: partly, to get breath, and gain strength in the intervalls: and partly, in the same time to visit his Disciples, being never so busie about himself, but he was still at leasure to look how it fared with them.
§ 5. Hither into this Garden Ch…ist betrayed in this garden.repaired Iudas in the night timemIoh. 18. 3. with Lanthornes and Torches, (no more light then needed in such a deed of darkness, otherwise it had been superfluous to seek the Sun it self with a Lanthorn) to betray our Saviour; bringing with him a band of souldiers (too many to attach Christ as meer man, too few to encounter him as God) from the high Priest, gown-men, sword-men, young, old, Iew, Gentile, all contriving his death, as all sorts and conditions of people were afterward to reap benefit thereby: at the first allnIoh. 18. 6. Luk. 22. 52. fell flat down at the sound of his voice, demanding of them, whom seek yee? If the report of a bare question gave such a blow, ô had his mouth been charged with a curse against them, what execution would it have done! Here Peters wild love almost had done our Saviour that harm, which the malice of his enemies might despaire to effect, by making him guilty not onelyonly o… the breach of peace, but of a plain Riot, by that dangerous wound he gave unto Malchus▪ whereby no doubt he had invited many swords about his own ears, had not the miracle of Christs oLuk. 22. 51.quick cure restrained them▪ This was that Peter now so forward to draw his weapon, from whom afterward a word could not be drawn in acknowledgement of his Master; so unequally bea…s the pulse of blind zeal, either too fast, or not at all.
§ 6. From this Garden Kidron runs south-ward, and seems loth toThe Rock of offence. behold on his western bank the hill before Ierusalem whereon Solomon befooled in his old age with his wives, built high places for Chemosh and Molech, the Idols of Moab p1 Kin. 11. 7. 5.and Ammon; Could not Idolatry be content to whisper in a hole, but she must hollow on a hill, and with a brazen brow out face the Temple, yea in a manner challenge, and defie it, to try which of them had the truest worship therein?qExod. 20. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me, or, in my sight, is the first commandment. Now, though all places are in the sight of an omniscient Deity, yet this Idolatry was done in the presence, of the presence of God, who more immediately and particularly is said to dwell in his Temple: Alass! what an eye-fore were these high places to all the Godly in Ierusalem? It spoiled the east and best prospect of all the windowes in the City, for none could see the rising of the Sun, but withall must behold the rising of Idolatry. Adrichomius tells us that the hill whereupon these Idols stood, was commonly called therRom. 9. 33▪ Rock of offence, which name the Scripture gives to our Saviour himself, but in different consideration: Christ was a Rock of Gods laying; this of mans making: He a Rock of offence unjustly taken at him by the wicked; this too justly given by it to the godly.
§ 7. Kidron continueth his course south-ward by the Vale of Saveh, Absaloms pillar in the Kings dale.or King Vale: haply so called from twosGen. 14. 17. Kings meeting of Abraham in this place, namely Melchisedec, and the King of Sodome; the former with a blessing, the latter with a request in his mouth: yea let Abraham at this royall enterview pass for the third King, seeing it is more honourable to make, then to be a King, who so freely here restored the subjects to the King of Sodome. Many hundred years after in this vale Absalom then issueless (as being before their birth, or rather after the untimely death of. his children) erected at2 Sam. 18. 16. Pillar to perpetuate his memory. Pilgrims at this very day passing by the place use every man to cast a stone upon it: and my request to the Reader is, if he should ever goe thither, that when he hath first served himself, and satisfied his own revenge▪ he would then be pleased to cast one stone more upon that heap, in my name, to express my detestation of so damnable a Rebellion.
§ 8. Hence the River Kidron turneth his channell full east to finde out his way to the dead sea,The stone of Zoheleth. and leaveth at some distance on his northern side the stoneu1 King. 1. 9. Zoheleth, whereon Adonijah, who advanced himself to the kingdome, offered sacrifices, while the people cryed out, God save King Adonijah; but this echo was quickly checkt and countermanded with a lowder and greater, show…ed fourth from Mount Gihon, God save King Solomon. Wonder not that this latter noise was heard hither, at six miles distance, much befriended in the far and speedy conveyance thereof with a hollow Vale of Iehosaphat, reverberated with Mount Olivet, and improved in the sound thereof by the advantage of the waters of Kidron; besides it was mainly lowd in it self, so that (though much of Hyperbole must be allowed in the expression) the earthw1 King. 1. 40. rent with the sound of it; worse was Adonijahs heart rent at the hearing thereof, who now exchangeth his hopes of a Crown, for desire of Life, which he requested and obtained by his submission to Solomon. So ended the short government of Adonijah never sleeping in his reign, which began after the rising, and ended before the setting of the Sun.
§ 9. Thus taking our farewell of Kidron in this Map,Three tops on Mount Olivet. we pass over the current thereof to Mount Olivet, on the eastern side, so famous in Scripture, consisting of three eminent Tops.
1 The most Northern, hereon the Cell of Saint Pelagia was built, leading there a solitary life some hundred years after Christ: no doubt a devout woman, especially if her heart was as holy as her house was high.
2 The middlemost, from which Christ made his ascension to heaven, and after ages erected a fair Chappell in memoriall thereof.
3 The most Southern, whereon the villages of Bethany and Bethphage, the house of Simon the Leper, the grave of beloved Lazarus, with the barren figtree which Christ cursed.
All three over-spread with Olive trees, (whence it hath its name) and plenty of Palmes, of so quick growth, that those who cut down theirxMat. 21. 8. branches, when our Saviour on an Asses Colt (which with her Colt was tyed hard by in the meeting of two ways) rode to Ierusalem, did no considerable trespass to the owners of those trees, so speedily they sprouted again.
§ 10. Over the southern part of Mount Olivet David fled from Absalom, David flying from Absalom.for perceiving that his son by State-felony had stolne away his peoples hearts, he politickly resolved not to be pent in Ierusalem (where the landflood of a popular mutiny, might presently drown him) but to retire to the uttermost bounds of his kingdome, mean time giving his subjects leasure and liberty to review what they had done, dislike what they reviewed, revoke what they disliked; that so on second debates they might seriously undoe, what on first thoughts they had furiously attempted: knowing full well that Rebellion though running so at hand is quickly tyred, as having rotten lungs, whilest well breathed Loyalty is best at a long course. As David was flying this way, the Priests proffered their service to carry they2 Sam. 15. 24. Arke along with them; Indeed how could it well stay behinde, and what should the Arke and Absalom, Religion and Rebellion do together? Was it not fit, that as once it was joifully brought into Ierusalem with Davids z2 Sam. 6. 14dancing: so now it should dolefully depart hence with Davids weeping? Howsoever he accepted their good will, and on bettera2 Sam. 15. 25. reason declined their attendance. Coming b2 Sam. 15 30. & 16. ….a little past the top of the hill, Ziba meets him with a couple of Asses, loaden with bread, Raisons, summer fruits and wine for the refection of David and his company. But, ô the Bran in that Bread, rottenness in those Raisons, dregs in that wine he brought, joining with them a false accusation of his Master Mephibosheth to be a Traitour; whilest, alass! all the disloyalty that good man was guilty of, was onelyonly his lame legs, his lying servant; and his over credulous Soveraign David did rashly believe this information.
§ 11. A little farther east-ward was Bahurim, Bahurim where Shimei rayled on David.where Shimei (Lord of that place) cursed David, casting stones and dust at him. What meant the mad man thus to raile being within the reach of Davids Armies, except he intended to vent out his venome, and life together? But causeless curses rebound on their Authors, and Ziba's gifts did David more harm then Shimei's curses; for those betrayed him to anc2 Sam. 16. 45, act of injustice, whilest these improved his patience. Indeed his railing gave an Alarum to the martiall spirit of Abishai, whod2 Sam. 16. 9. desired a Commission to take off the head of this dead dog (blood so let out in the neck vein is the soonest and speediest cure of such a traiterous Phrensie.) But David who desired not that Shimei should be killed for his words, but rather that his own heart should be mortified by them, by heavenly Logick à majore ad minus, argued his own soul intoe2 Sam. 16. 11. humility; that seeing his Son had conspired against him, the ill words of an open Enemy ought patiently to be indured. Well! Let Shimei know though he pass unpaid for the present, yet either David himself, or his Executors, Administrators or Assignes, shall one day see this debt duly discharged.
§ 12. To this place of Bahurim Phaltiel the son of Laish followed Michal, Sples at Bahurim concealed▪his (or rather Davids) wife,f2 Sam. 3. 16. weeping, when David demanded the restitution of her, as unjustly detained from him. Wherefore all Phaltie… tears move no pity of mine; Caveat raptor, let him beware, who violently takes another mans wife; seeing shame and sorrow are the issue of such ungodly marriages. Here in a mansg2 Sam. 17. 18. Court at Bahurim, Ionathan and Ahimaaz Davids Intelligencers were concealed in this manner; an equivocating covering was spread on the ground, pretending nothing but ground Corn laid upon it, but having under it the reservation of a dry wel, into which the messengers were put, and by it a woman to manage the fallacy with the less suspicion: she tells the pursuers after themh2 Sam. 17. 20. that they were gone over the river, which nigh Enrogell falls into Kidron; ô that I could in the same instant commend her Loyalty, and condemn her Lying; which being impossible, we must be contented, successively first to praise her charity, and then to protest against her falshood.
§ 13. Come we now to survey the south parts of the Land of Moriah, Rachel bur…ed nigh Bethlehem.where we meet some seven miles from Ierusalem with the famous City of Bethlehem-Ephrath: The first mention of this Place we finde, was when Iacob near to it buried his beloved wifeiGen. 35. 14. & 48. 7. Rachel, dying in child-bed. This was that Rachel who said in herkGen. 30. 1. fury, Give me children or else I dye (as if she would have had them begotten, conceived, bred, and born all in an instant) and now she had not onelyonly her fill, but a surfet of her own wish, had children and dyed. It seems, dying in child-bed her corps required speedy interment: otherwise (no doubt) Iacob would have conveyed them to the Cave of Macpelah the solemn sepulcher of his family. She was buried by the high way, the ancient custome both of Iews, and Heathen, partly to minde passengers of their mortality, and partly to preserve the memory of the dead the longer, by so making their monument the more publick and visible. Heathen used in like manner to interre their dead in high-ways: yea their sepulchers served to measure the distances of places.
lVirgil. Eclo. 9.Hinc adeò media est nobis via: nam que sepulchrum
Incipit apparere Bianoris.—
Hence ev'n mid way it is for us: for near
Bianors Tomb beginneth to appear.
Nor is it amiss to observe that the self same place where Benjamin was born, and his mother buried, fell afterwards to the lot of them1 Sam. 10. 2. Benjamites, as if Rachels body all the while had but kept possession for her posterity.
§ 14. Bethlehem in Hebrew is the house of bread; Ruths gleaning in Bethlehem.principally so called in reference to Christ, the bread of life, who in fulness of time was here to be born: otherwise time was, when in this house of bread, little bread was to be had, namely when God brake the staffe thereof in Israel, by anRuth 1. 4. 6. ten years famine. This caused Elimelech with his wife Naomi and her sons to remove into Moab, whence after ten years stay she returned home to Bethlehem with Ruth her daughter-in-law, who here became an extraordinaryoRuth 2. 8. Gleaner on the field of Boaz. Here harvest being ended, Ruth by the advice of Naomi, went afterwards to glean a husband for her self, and came in the night to thepRuth. 3. 6. threshing floor of Boaz, to challenge in him the right of the next kinsman; some herein will censure her carriage, to come at so unseasonable a time, to surprize a man for her husband: so that, se defendendo, to vindicate his credit, he must be forced to marry her. But let these dainty dames, which condemn Ruth herein, first follow her faithfulness in attending, then imitate her industry in maintaining her mother-in-law, and this done, they will have less wanton thoughts in themselves, and more charitable opinions of Ruth. Besides, in the innocence and simplicity of those days, some passages might be harmelesly performed, which in our age (grown ripe in wit, and ri…e in wickedness) carry with them more then the appearances of evill. She brought forth here Obed, the father of Iesse, and grandfather of David.
§ 15. David afterwards was born,Davids birth and life in Bethlehem. and keept sheep in Bethlehem (therefore called the City of David) here he made an experimentall syllogisme, and from most practicall propositions (Major a Lion, Minor a q1 Sam. 17. 54.Beare) inferred the direct Conclusion, that God would give him victory over Goliah. Hence he was fetched from following the Ewes big with young, to goe before the people of Israel; and God intending to raise David high in honourable old age, that the building might be the firmer, laid the foundation thereof very low in his laborious and religious education. Being then better imployed, when thirsting after Gods honour, then afterwards, when not far from this place, he fondly longed for ther2 Sam. 23. 15. water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate, the Philistines Army then encamping about it. But it shall not be said, that David desired, what Davids subjects durst not perform; three of his Worthies boldly marched through the midst of their enemies, quickly draw, safely beare back, humbly present to their Soveraign this Aqua vitae, the procuring whereof cost them the hazard of their lives. But though Davids fancy was above his judgement in desiring, his conscience was above his fancy in refusing to drink of that water,s2 Sam. 23. 16. but powred it out unto the Lord.
§ 16. But that that gave the greatest lustre to Bethlehm, Iesus born in Bethlehem.was that Iesus Christ tEsay 9. 6.the Prince of peace, was born herein of the blessed virgin Mary in a time of peace, to procure and establish a peace betwixt God and Man, Man and Angels, Man and Man, Man and his own Conscience, Man and other Creatures. Publick the place of his birth, an uLuk. 2. 7.Inne, (every mans house for his money) and poor the manner thereof, so defeating the Iews towring fancies of a …emporall King, who long looking to see their Messiah sitting on a throne, would rather stumble at him, then stoop to behold him lying in a manger. The first tydings of the Lambe of God, by intelligence of Angels, is told to poorwLuk. 2. 8. shepheards watching their flocks by night, whilest the Priests the pretended shepheards of Israel, were snorting on their beds of security. The place of this apparition not being far from the tower of Eder (or, the tower of …locks) wherexGen. 35. 21, 22 Iacob sometime pitched his tent, and kept cattell, and where Reuben defiled his Fathers Concubine.
§ 17. And now the wise men of the East make speed to their Saviour,The wisemen directed by a star to Bethlehem. directed unto him by a star, in its progressive motion probably pointing at Iudea, as if it had been but the bare reflexion of a brighter star which was there to be seen. These wise men, well read in the volume of heaven, perceiving this to be no hypocrite star, or blazing Comet, (usually portending not the Cradle but Coffin of some Prince) yea, no light constantly Leiger in the skies, conclude it an extraordinary Embassadour sent upon some peculiar service, and advantaged with the Prophecy of zNum. 24. 17.Baalam, current among the children of the East, haste to Ierusalem, and put it to the question,aMat. 2. 2. where the King of the Iews was to be born. Here Gentile and Iew confer their notes, and compare their intelligence together concerning Christs birth; the former collecting the time from the star; the latter concluding Bethlehem the place from thebMica. 5. 2. Ioh. 7. 42. Scripture. How much knowledge might men attain, if mutually they would lend their light one to another! To Bethlehem Herod sends the wise men to seek this new King, promising to come himself, and worship him, but secretly similing at their diligent devotion, whilest God in heaven laughed at his dissimulation.
§ 18. To Bethlehem they come to make enquiry after Christ, Return to their Countrey another way.whom none never sincerely sought, but they found him. The star by moving (probably in the low region of the aire) shews them their way; by standing still, the end of their journey: coming into the house they finde the royall Babe, and present him with gifts; Then warned by God in a dream, they return into their own Countrey another way. Say not that they were more wise then honest, in not making good their promise to goe back to Herod, seeing
1 No such promise made by them appears in Scripture, who being certainly foreiners, and probably free Princes, owed no obedience to Herods injunction.
2 Had such promise been made by them, yet being done in consideration of another from Herod, to come and and worship Christ, they were now remitted to their former liberty, his fraudulent intent being revealed unto them by divine information.
3 Suppose their promise to return bound with an oath, yet herein the breach thereof made no forfeiture, because their Recognisance was taken in Gods name, who freely delivered up the band unto them again.
Homewards they goe, whilest Herod wonders at their long delay, yet comforts himself, that the slowness of their searching, will at last be recompensed with their sureness of finding what he desired.
§ 19. Weary at last he is with waiting,The babes of Bethlehem massacred. seeing no King of the Iews was found, and they lost, which were sent to seek him: But this old Fox had two holes: fraud failing him, he betakes himself to force, and sends executioners to kill all the children of two years old and under cMat. 2. 16.in Bethlehem, and all the coasts thereof; Herods cruelty, being of greater compass, then the City of Bethlehem, took in that circuit which the walls there of left out, so cunning he was to overdoe, rather then leave any thing undone. Here no pen can express the mothers sorrows for their children, whilest one stood amazed, as if she had lost her son and senses together: another bleeds out sorrow in her eyes, to prevent festering in her heart: a third vents her passions in exclamations, and it gives her some ease, though she could not recall her dead child, to call him Tyrant that murdered it; All their mourning going severall ways, meet in one common misery, whilest the soules of these children are charitably conceived by the Primitive Church all marched to heaven, as the Infantry of the noble Army of Martyrs. Herod, the while, huggs himself, that he had fitted their new King with a short reign, being confident, that burning the Hive, he had killed the Master-Bee, though Christ was all the while safe in Egypt, where his Policy could not finde, whence his power could not fetch him.
§ 20. Bethlehem is on all sides compassed with places of eminent note. On the North stood Ramah, Ramah nigh Bethlehem.nigh which was the execution of those infants. In Ramah was a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, dMat. 2. 18.Rachel weeping for her children &c. Some will say Leah had more cause of sorrow (to make her eyes watryeGen. 29. 17. by nature, worse with her tears) Bethlehem belonging to the Tribe of Iudah▪ But let such know, that the cruelty of Herod extended to all the coasts of Bethlehem, and so also reached to Benjamin, in whose confines Bethlehem was situated. Besides it is the opinion of some learned men, that the land about Bethlehem was called Rachel, from her sepulcher so eminent in these parts. Zelzah is hard by (in Hebrew a place shadowed, and therefore we have presumed to cover it with trees) where Saul f1 Sam. 10. 2.according to Samuels prediction first heard tydings, that his Father had found his Asses, and feared the loss of his Son, who had found a kingdome.
§ 21. South-ward we finde Asahels sepulcherg2 Sam. 2. 32. buried in the grave of his Father: How so many Kings in Bezek.and south-west-ward in the way to Hebron, Geruth-Chimham, the Manor or Mansion of Chimham, son of Ba…illa…, no doubt bestowed on him by David according to his Princely promise,h2 Sam. 19. 38. to give him whatsoever he should choose or require. Many years after, Iohanan the Son of Kareah with the remnant of the poor Iews, which had escaped the Baby…lonish captivity, dwelt at Geruth-Chimham iJer. 41. 17.untill contrary to Gods express command, hence they departed into Egypt. Almost full west lay Bezek, whose King Adonibezek was punished according to his own cruelty, who having cut off the Thumbs and Toes of threescore kIudg. 1. 7.and ten Kings, caused them to gather their meat underlGen. 27. 20. his table. Now if Isaac's question to Iacob concerning his kid, was of consequence, how he came so quickly by it? The Quere here is more considerable, how came Adonibezek by so many Kings, to have them all at one time? With what Royall drag-net did he fish to catch so many together? Where got he these Kings? and where got they their kingdomes? Canaan being so small a Countrey. In answer hereunto, in the acception of the word King, we must grind the honour thereof the smaller, to make the number thereof the greater, communicating it to the Sons and Nephews of Toparchicall Princes, as honours in Germany equally descended to all in the family, and so the number is quickly made up.
§ 22. North of Bethlehem lay the Vale of Ephraim, The vale of Rephaim.or Vale of Giants, men of vast proportions, which the ancient Ages plentifully afforded. Yea, our English AntiquarymC…md. Brit. in Northumberland. tells us, that Risingham a village in Northumberland in old Saxon, is nothing else then the dwelling place of Giants. In this vale of Rephaim, the Philistines (little less then Giants) were twice subdued; once atn2 Sam. 5. 18. 20. Baal-perazim, where God by the hand of David brake forth upon them as the breach of waters: and again, where God not onelyonly gave the success, but laid the design how the battell should be managed, namely as soon as he himself had sounded a charge out of the o2 Sam. 5. 22, 23, 24.Mulberry trees, David was to fetch a compass, and fiercely to fall on his enemies. Well is God styled a man of war, who here ordered the battell himself, and well did David confess Thou teachest my hands to war, and fingers to fight, who here received from God particular instructions, how to regulate his Army.
§ 23. Mulberry Trees (pardon a digression) were plentifull in Palestine; Mulberry trees and silke plentifull in Palestine.A tree which may pass for the emblem of prudence, slow in consultation, swift in execution; for it putteth forth its leaves the last of all trees, but then (as it is said) all in one night, as if sensible of, and ashamed for its former neglect, she endevours to overtake other trees with her double diligence. Men feed on the fruit, Silkworms on the leaves thereof: Creatures contemptible in themselves, admirable in their qualities, appearing Proteus-like in sundry shapes in the same year, eggs, wormes, flies, finishing for the most part yearly their life and work together. But we leave these mysteries to be discussed by Naturalists, and will onelyonly adde, that if the originall of silke were well considered, Gallants had small cause to be proud of gay clothes, for from wormes it came, and to wormes shall the wearers therof return.
§ 24. Store of the best silks were made and used in Palestine; Saul first made bravery frequent in Israel.amongst other favours bestowed by God on the ungratefull Iews, this was one. I have girded thee about with fine linen, and covered thee with pEzek. 1…. 10.silk. King Saul was the first, who made bravery frequent, and fashionable in Israel (little state and gallantry being used under the Iudges) when the Court and costly clothes began together, according to our SavioursqMat. 11. 18. saying, They that weare soft clothing are in Kings houses: I say in the reign of King Saul, rich rayment began generally to be worn by the Iews: r2 Sam. 1. 24.Yee daughters of Israel weep over Saul, who clothed you in Scarlet and other delights: yea by the confession of the heathen writers, best silks both for fineness and colour were in Palestine. sIn Esiacis. lib. 1.Pausani…s writes foreign foreign. The silk (saith he) of Elis in Greece gives not place in point of fineness to silk of the Hebrews, but is not like it in yellowness: whereby it appears, that the Hebrew silk-wormes were as good spinsters, and better Dyers then those in Greece, setting a better gloss and lustre on their work. So much for the silk in Iudea called Shesh in Hebrew, whence haply, that fine linen or silk is called Shashes worn at this day about the heads of eastern people.
§ 25. But to return to our description,…maus where Christ appeared to the two Disciples. north-west from the vale of Giants lay the City of Emaus, afterwards called Nicopolis. Hither the two Disciples were a travelling, being about sixty furlongs from Ierusalem, whē Christ after his resurrection unknown joined himself to their cōpany. They tax him for not knowing the news in Ier…salem, he reproves them for being ignorant of the sense of the Scriptures, which he began to declare unto them. O excellent expositor! Christ Commenting on his own prophecies, all which he first inspired, afterwards fulfilled, and now interpreted. As he put light into their heads; so also heat into their hearts, whichtLuk. 24. 13. burned all the while he communed with them: onelyonly their eyes were held that they knew him not. Day, and their journey drew both to an end, when Christ makes as if he would goe uLuk. 24. 28.farther; Truth cannot lye, but did simulate, onelyonly to try how welcome his company was to them. They constrain him to stay, (such civill violences prevaile on heaven it self) and in breaking wVers. 30.of Bread, he brake himself unto them: their eyes being opened, he left them full of joy and amazement. Nor have I ought else to observe of Emaus but that many years before, Iudas Macca…eus in that place got an eminent conquest, and defeated the voluminous Armyx1 Mac. 4. of Lysias.
§ 26. Hard by Emaus even at this day are showen the ruines of Zachariah his house,Zachariah his house. where Iohn the Baptist was born, being the voice of a yMat. 3.cryer, begot of a dumb Father. This was that Zachariah who would not beleeve God without giving him a sign, and was punished that men could not understand him, without making of signes. To this place (then in a City in the Hill-country of Iudea) the blessed virgin Mary came with hast to congratulate the pregnancy of Elizabeth her Cousen; at the musick of whose salutation, the babe danced for …oy, and leaped in zLuk. 1. 41.the womb of Elizabeth.
§ 27. Hard by is the City Gebah belonging to theaIosh. 21. 17. Priests;Gebah a City of the Levites. afterwards made ab1 Sam. 13. 3. garrison of the Philistines, who therein were smote by Ionathan. King Asa afterwards built, that is, repaired and enlarged this City, as also Mizpah, with the remainder of those materials, which King Baasha had provided for the fortifying of Ramah: Cities so neer in situation, that after the captivity, their inhabitants are counted together in onecNehem. 7. 30. sum, the men of Ramah and Gebah six hundred twenty and one, which returned from Babylon.
§ 28. We have hardly recovered into this map,David dancing before the Arke. the house of Obed-Edom, whence David in a most solemn procession brought the Ark to Ierusalem, dancing himself before it in a linen Ephod, which was not so white, but that Michal found spots therein, or rather cast dirt thereon, censuring David d2 Sam. 6. 20.a fool for his indiscretion. But, when holy zeal is arraigned at the bar of profaneness, and condemned either for folly, oreAct. 26. 24. madness, it may appeal from that sentence, and challenge its right to be tried by its Peers; carnall eyes being incompetent judges of spirituall actions. Yea, God himself here took the matter in hand, so ordering it, that for the future, Michal's daughter should never mock her husband on the like occasion, punishing her with perpetuall barrenness.
§ 29. Look on the prospect of this map,Store of Storks in Palestin. especially the eastern parts thereof, and behold it overspread with trees of all sorts, Olive, Pine, Mulberry, Firre &c. Of the last saith the Psalmist,fPsal. 104. 17. and the fir-trees are a refuge for the Storkes, breeding here in the greater abundance, because forbidden by thegLevit. 11. 19. Leviticall law to be fed upon. A speckled bird (therefore foreign in Greek from foreign niger, & foreign albus, black and white) and is remarkable for their love to their parents, feeding them in their old age. Hence called Chesida in Hebrew, that is, the mercifull bird; and in Dutch Oudevaer, that is, the carrier of the old one, because every Stork is an Aeneas bearing his Anchises on his back, carrying his Parent, when for age it cannot fly of it self. Some have confidently reported, that Storks will not live, save in a Republick; who may with as much truth affirm, that an Eagle, the Soveraign of birds, will not breed in a Commonwealth. Not to say, that Storks were named in the Monarchy of Adam, preserved in the Arke in the Monarchy of Noah. Ieremy, who lived in the kingdome of Iudah, upbraided the ignorance of the people therein, Yea the hIer. 8. 7.Stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times. Which birds had they known their times, and the Iews not known the birds, as frequent, and familiar with them, both the Prophets illustration had beed obscure, and exprobration improper for his present purpose.
Finis Libri secundi.