Treatise of Divinity, Book 1 · Chapter 2

Treatise of Divinity · Book 1 · Chapter 2

p. 42CHAP. III.

2. The Bookes of Scripture:

FRom the Divine flowes the Canonicall authority of the Scripture. The bookes of Scripture are called Canonicall bookes (say some) from the word foreign,Tum antiqui theologi, Basilius, Chrysostomus, Augustinus; tum recentiores, celeberrimi nominis inter adversarios, Thomas Aquinas, Ferus, Andradius, aliique Scripturam Canonis nomine designant, aut designatam asserunt, tanquam intellectus & voluntatis regulam ad cuncta, seu credenda, seu agenda, perfectissimam. Rain…ldus, 1 Thess. which word is used 2 Cor. 10. 13. Phil. 3. 16. Gal. 6. 16. foreign, marke the double emphasis, this notable Canon, because they were put into the Canon by the Universall Church & acknowledged to be divinely inspired by it, and also are made a perfect Canon or rule of all doctrine concerning religion, credendorum & agendorum, of faith and manners, of all things which p. 43are to be believed or done toward salvation. But Cameron thinks it is not termed Canonicall, because it is a rule, for that booke (saith he) is called Canonicall, which is put into the Catalogue (which the ancients called a Canon) of those writings which are esteemed Divine. Becanus saith,**Scripturae dicuntur Canonicae, quia quid nos credere, & quemadmodum vivere operteat, praescribunt, ut huc fidem omnem, vitamque nostram reseramus, quemadmodum lapicida aut architectus ad amuss…m & perpeudiculum opus suum exigit. Whitakerus de Script. Controver. primae quaestione prima. Cap. 2. Libri sacrae Scripturae Canonici dicuntur: qui… fidei morum que regulam continent. Woitakerus & Scharpius de sacra Scriptura. they are called Canonicall, both because they containe a rule which we ought to follow in faith and manners, and because they are put into the Catalogue of Divine bookes.

The conditions of a Canon are these:

1. It must containe truth, or be an expresse form and image of truth, which is in the divine mind.

2. It must be commanded, sanctified and confirmed by Divine authority, that it may be a Canon to us in the Church.

These bookes were sanctified, either commonly all of both Testaments by the testimony of the Spirit and Church, and Canon it selfe, or the books of the old Testament were specially and singularly confirmed by word, signes and event, as the Pentateuch, but the Propheticall books and Hagiographa before their carrying into Babylon by extraordinary signe, the cloud and vaile in the Temple, 1 Kings 8. 10. Levit. 16. 2. and Gods answer by Ephod, Urim, and Thummim, Exod 28. 30. after their carrying away into Babylon by singular testimonies of events. The books of the new Testament are confirmed by the Sonne of God revealed in flesh, by his sayings and deeds, Heb. 1. 2. and by the powerfull ministery of the Apostles, by signes, vertues and miracles, Marke 16. 20.

There is a threefold Canon in the Church,Proprii Canonis dicti univocè due conditiones sunt inseparabiles quod veritatem divinam contineat divinitus materia & forma, & quod authoritate divins publica Ecclesia datus & sanctificatus, ut sit Canon sive regula ipsiu, atque hic verè divinus Canon. Jun. animadvers. in Bellarm. Divine, Ecclesiasticall, and False.

The Divine Canon is that which properly and by itselfe is called the word of God, immediately inspired of God into the Prophets and Apostles.

p. 44This according to the divers times of the Church is distinguished into the old and new Testament, 2 Cor. 3. 6, 14. this is a common division of the sacred Bible among Christians, as in the version of Tremelius and Junius, Testamenti veteris & novi Biblia sacra; and the Geneva gives that title to their Bible, La Bible, qui est toute la Saincte Escriture du viel & novean Testament. Austin thinkes they are better called, Vetus & novum Instrumentum. Heinsius & Grotius, vetus & novum Foedus. vide Grotii Annotat. in libros Evangelii. A Covenant is an agreement between two; a Testament is the declaration of the will of one.

It is called in regard of the forme, convention and agreement betweene God and man, a Covenant; in regard of the manner of confirming it a Testament. For 1. in a Testament or last will the Testators mind is declared, so is the will of God in his word, therefore it is called a Testimony often, Psal. 19. & 119. l 2. Here is a Testator, Christ; a Legacy, eternall life; Heires, the elect; a writing, the Scripture; Seales, the Sacraments. 3. Because it is ratified by the death of Christ, Heb. 9. 16, 17.

The Bookes of the old Testament are the holy Scriptures given by God to the Church of the Jewes,Est mater Ecclesia, & ubera ejus duo Testamenta divinarū Scripturarum. Aug. tract. 3. in Epist. Joh. shewing them what to believe, and how God would be worshipped: The new Testament containeth the bookes which treate of salvation already exhibited, and Christ already come in the flesh.

All the bookes of the old Testament were written originally **Vt veterum librorum fides, de Hebraeis vsus. luminibus examinanda est, ita novorum veritas Greci sermonis norn…am desiderat. Augustinus.in Hebrew, because they were committed unto the Hebrews, Rom. 3. 2. except what Daniel aaFrom the fourth verse of the second Chapter of Daniel to the end of the seventh Chapter; and from the eighth verse of the fourth Chapter of Esaras unto the end of the seventh, the Chaldee Dialect is used.and Ezra wrote in the Chaldee. The Jewish Church receiving them from God, kept them and delivered them to posterity. Many grave Authours hold, that the Hebrew was the first Tongue, and mother of all the rest; and it may probably be collected from the names of our first parents. It was called Hebrew (saith Erpenius) not from Heber of the posterity of Sem, as Josephus, Jerome, and others thinke, when it is manifest that he rather spake Chaldee then p. 45Hebrew, because Abraham the Patriarke which drew his originall from him was a Chaldean; but it was so called, saith Erpenius **Erpenius o… at, de ling. Ebr. dignitate. Some say the Hebrewes were so called from Abrahams passing over Euphrat…s. id. ib., (as all the Rabbines, Origen and others testifie) from the Hebrews, which people arose from Canaan. It is honoured with the title of the holy Tongue (saith the same Erpenius) because the most holy God spoke it to his Prophets, delivered his holy will written in it to the Church; and because it is very probable from the opinion of great men, that holy men shall use it with God hereafter in Heaven,aaOmnes libri Canonici v…teris Testamenti Ebraic… scripti fuerunt. Dantele & Ezra sunt quedam partes Chaldaicae, nempè quae ab iis ex publicis Annalibus & fastis regni desumptae fuerant, in quorum monarchia tum vive bant, ut obsenvavit doctissimus Iu…ius. vide Buxtorfium de Linguae Hebraeae origine, Antiquitate & Sanctitate. There are many Hebraismes also in the new Testament, many words and phrases rather used according to the manner of the Hebrews then the Greeks; by which it is mauifest that the same Spirit was the Authour of the old and new Testament. The knowledge of the Hebrew much conduceth to the learning of those famous Orientall Tongues, the Chaldee, Syriacke, Arabicke, and Aethiopicke, by reason of the great affinity which they have with their mother.

The bookes of the old Testament may be divided severall waies; in respect of the stile, some were written in prose, some in verse: in respect of time, some were written before their being taken captives into Babylon, as Samuel, Esay, H…sea, and many others; some in the CaptivitybbAs Ezechiel; Daniel. Jerome hath followed this division of the Hebrewes., and some after, as Haggai, Zachary, Malachy. The Hebrewes divide the Bible (ex instituto Esdrae) into three speciall parts: 1. The Law, the five Bookes of Moses. 2. The Prophets. 1. The former, Joshua, Judges, two bookes of Samuel. and two of the Kings. 2. The latter. 1. Greater, three. 2. Lesser, twelve.

3. The Hagiographa, for want of a more speciall name, by which title all the rest are understood, and they are eleven**Both the Chronicles, the Psalmes, Proverbs, Job, Ruth, Daniel, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, Lamentations, Hester, Ezra, and Nehemiah, counted for one booke.. Our Saviour himselfe mentions this most ancient distinction, Luke 24. 44. calling all the rest of the bookes (besides the Law and Prophets,) Psalmes. All the Scriptures of the old Testament (in other places) are comprised in the Law and Prophets Matth. 5. 17. & 7. 12. & 11. 13. & 20. 40. Acts 13. 15. & 24. 14. & 26. 22. & 28. 23. Rom. 3. 21. or Moses and the Prophets, Luke 24. 27. & 16. 29. or in the Scriptures of the Prophets, Rom. p. 4616. 26. or the Prophets alone, Luke 1. 70. & 24. 25, 27. Rom. 1. 2. Heb. 1. 1. the name Prophet being taken as it is given to every holy writer.

The Jewes, and the Ancient reckon 22**Joseph. contra Appion l. 1. Euseb. l. 3. c. 10. Some of the Jewes reckon 24. See Sextus Senensis his Biblieth l. 1. sect. 2. Some 27. Bookes in the old Testament, according to the number of the Letters of the Alphabet, for memory sake, Ruth being joyned with the Booke of Judges, and the Lamentations, being annexed to Jeremy their Author. Hebraeis sunt initiales & medianae literae 22, finales quinque. Quamobrem V. T. modo in 22. modo in 27. libros partiuntur.

All the bookes of both Testaments are 66. 39 of the old, and 27 of the new Testament. Some would have Hugo Cardinall to be the first Authour of that division of the Bible into Chapters,Waliherus in efficina Biblioa p 237. which we now follow. No man put the verses in the Latine Bibles before Robert Stephen; As the Massorites reckoned all the words and letters, so some Christians all the verses of the Bible.and for the new Testament, he performed that first, beingaaHenric: Steph. Lect. in Cancordant. Graec. N. T. Grotius de Iure Belli. l. 1. c. 2. Rive…us, Isag. ad Script. sac. c. 29. holpen by no Booke, Greeke or Latine. Vide Croii observat. in novum Testam. c. 7.

This arithmeticall distinction of Chapters which we have in our Bibles was not from the first authours. Of which that is an evident token, that in all the quotations which are read in the new Testament out of the old; there is not found any mention of the Chapter, which would not have been altogether omitted, if all the Bibles had then been distinguished by Chapters, as ours,bbWe are not too superstitiously to adhere to our late division. See Heinsius prolegom. ad exercit. Dr. Rainolds his Letter for the study of Divinity. distinguishing of the Bible into Chapters and Verses, much helpes the reader, but it sometimes obscures the sense. Dr Raynolds gives this counsell to young Students in the study of Divinity, that they first take their greatest travell with the helpe of some learned interpreter in understanding S^t Johns Gospell, and the Epistle to the Romans, the sum of the new Testament, Esay the Prophet and the Psalmes of David, the summe of the old, and in the rest they shall doe well also, if in harder places they use the judgement of some godly writer, as Calvin and Peter Martyr who have written best on the most part of the old Testament.

The Bookes of the old Testament are: 1. Legall. 2. Historicall. 3. Poeticall. 4. Propheticall.

1. Legall (which the Hebrews call from the chiefe part Torah p. 47Deut. 31. 9. & 33. 4. the Grecians from the number Pentateuch) the five Bookes of Moses: Pentatenchum … quinque volumin…bus dicitur: foreign …nim Graecis quinque foreign volumen vocatur, Ifid. l. 6.Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; all written by Moses, (as it is commonly agreed) except the last Chapter in the end of Deuteronomy, concerning his death, written by Joshua. In which five Bookes are described the things done in the Church from the beginning of the world to the death of Moses. In Judaica Ecclesia, …tsi summa fuerit omnium librorum veteris Testamenti, dignitas & autoritas, maxima tamen su…t quinque librorum Mosis. Rivetus.The Sadduces (as some say) received no other Scripture but these five Bookes of Moses; therefore Christ, Matth. 23. 32. proves the resurrection of the dead, which they denied, out of the second Booke of Moses; but Scultetus saith, that they rejected not the Prophets, l. 1. exercit. evang. c. 22.

Anciently it was not the custome of holy writers to adde Titles to what they had written, but either left their workes altogether without Titles, or the first words were Titles, the Titles now in use, as Genesis, Exodus, were prefixed according to the arbitrement of men; and the like is to be thought of those before the historicall bookes of the new Testament, as Matthew, Marke Luke, John.

With the Hebrews the Titles of bookes are taken sometimes from the subject matter or argument,Spanhem Dub. Evangel. parte tertia Dab. 1. as in the bookes of Judges, Ruth, Kings, Proverbs, and others of that kinde; sometimes from the Authors or amanuenses rather, as in the bookes of Joshua and the Prophets; sometimes from the initiall words with which the bookes begin, which Jerome followes. The Bookes of Moses are denominated from the initiall words.

foreign 1. in principie. i. e.**Nomina h… rum quinque librorum ab Hebraeis sumuntur de primis verbis librorum, Graeci & Latini denominant hos libros à materia dequa agitur in principl… librl. Bellarminus. Genesis.

foreign 2. Haec nomina. h. e. Exodus.

foreign 3. & vocavit. h. e. Leviticus.

foreign 4. in deserto. i. e. Numeri.

foreign 5. verba. sive Deuteronomium.

These are subdivided againe intoaaSee my Epistle to my Hebrew Critica sacra, and Thorndike of Religious Assemblies, Chap. 6. p. 175, 176. 54 Sections, that the reading of them may be finished in so many Sabbaths, which is signified Acts 15. 12.

Junius, Ainsworth, and Amama, with Calvin, Cornelius a p. 48Lapide, and Piscator have done well on the Pentateuch.

1. Genesis) in Hebrew Bereshith, the first word of the book, by the Septuagint it is called foreign, which appellation the Latine Church retained, because it sets forth the first generation of things, Ch. 2. v. 4. and of Adam, or mankind, Gen. 5. 1. It consists of 50 Chapters,2308 saith Sixtus Senensis. and containes a History of 2368 yeeres from the creation of the world, to the death of Joseph.

The best Expositors of this booke are Mercer, River, Pareus, Caelvin, Peter Martyr on 40 Chapters, Willet, Ainsworth.

Origen upon the Canticles, and Jerome **Hieron. in prologo in Ezech. & Epist. jam. l. 1. Epist. 32. Eustocbio. Mercer. praefat, in Gen. & Cantic. Vossius in Thesibus de creatione. Vide Estium ad Ezech. 40. v. 46.Ezek 40:46upon Ezekiel say, that the Hebrewes forbad those that had not attained to the age of the Priesthood, and judgement, viz. 30 yeeres, to reade in three bookes, for their profundity and difficulty; that is, the beginning of the world, which is contained in the three first Chapters of Genesis, the beginning and end of Ezekiel, since that treats of the Cherubins, and the Divine Majesty, this of the structure of the third Temple, and the Song of Songs, in which those things which ought to be understood of the Divine Authour, are easily through youthfull affection elsewhere drawne and wrested.

This booke of Genesis is not onelyonly profitable, but very necessary for doctrine; as Moses is the Prince, and as it were, Parent of Divines: so Genesis is the foundation and excellent compendium of all Divinity, propounding evidently the chiefe parts of it.

2 Exodus) The second booke of Moses is called in Hebrew Shemoth, in Greeke foreign, which word the Latines have retained. It consists of 40 Chapters, and containes a History (say Junius and Tremelius) of 142 yeeres,146 saith Senensis. viz. from the death of Joseph even to the building of the Tabernacle.

The best Expositors of it are Rivet, Willet, Calvin, Ainsworth.

3 Leviticus) in Hebrew Vaiicra, Barbara Turcarum gens h… die Mosis doctrinam foreign comprehensam, non aliter quam divinam veneratur, adeo ut etiam chartarum lacinias, quibus aliquid ejus foriè inscriptum sit, deosculetur. Pareus praefat. de libris Mosis. Evangelistae & Apostoli in nove Testamento, centies quinquagies & amplius in narrationibus & cencionibus suis Mosaic… Cononis authoritatem adducunt, ut suum cum Mose & Prophetis consensum comprobent. Id ib.in Greeke and Latine Leviticus, from the matter which it handleth, because it treats p. 49especially of the Leviticall Priesthood, and the Leviticall or Ceremoniall Lawes in it. It consists of 27 Chapters, and containes a History of one MonethMonth, viz. of the first, in the second yeere after their going out of Egypt.

The best Expositors of it are Calvin, Ainswarth, and Willet.

4 Numbers) in Hebrew Vaie dabber, in Greeke foreign, in Latine Numeri, in English Numbers, because it begins with declaring the number of the people, and because many numberings are reckoned up in this booke. It containes a History of 38 yeeres, and consists of 36 Chapters.

The best Expositors of it are Calvin, Attersoll, Ainsworth.

5 Deuteronomy) in Hebrew Haddebarim, from the first words, in Greeke foreign, which the Latine retaines, because it containes a second repetition of many necessary points of the Law. It consists of 34 Chapters, and containes a history of the two last moneths of the yeere. Some say concerning the 34 Ch. 10. that part of it was written by Ezra contemporary with Malachy.

The best Expositors of it are Calvin, Ainsworth, Wolphius Cornelius a Lapide.

2 Historicall.The Hebrewes divide the bookes into 4 Classes. The first is called Thorah that is, the law, containing the five Bookes of Moses. The second Nebii…n R…shonim, the Books of the former P…phets, as Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings. The third Nebiius Acharouim, later Prophets, Esay, Jeremy, Ezekiel. And the lesser being 12. but one booke. A Sepher Ketubim the Hagiographall bookes.

1. Before the Captivity, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings.

2 After the Captivity, both the Chronicles Ezra, Nehemiah.

The sixth Booke in the old Testament is called Joshua, because it containes a History of things done by Joshua the servant of Moses, which he by the will of God put in writing, it being all written by him, except some of the last Chapter, where mention is made of his death, and thought to be written by Samuel. It consists of 24 Chapters and containes a History of 18 yeeres, viz. from the death of Moses even to the death of Joshua.

The best Expositors of it are Masius and Serarius for Papists, Drusius and Lavater of Protestants.

p. 50The seventh booke is called Shophetim, It was written, as tis likely, by divers Prophets, Matth. 2 ult. Vide Bezam Bucer. & Calvin. in loc.Matt 2Judges, because it containes things done under the government of the 12 Judges. There is nothing certaine of the authour of this Booke, though some would have Samuel: but he rather collected and compiled into one Volume what was written by many. It describes the state of the government of Israel from the death of Joshua even to the Priesthood of**Petrus Martyr in praefat. com. in lib. Judic. scribit, alios putare unumquenque judicem suorum temporum res gestas conscripsisse, quae postea Samuel (eorum monimenta cum difiecta essent) in unum quoddam corpus seu volumen cocgerit. Eli. It consists of 21 …hapters, and containes a History of 299 yeeres, say some; of 300 at least, saith Spanhemius.

The best Expositors of it are Peter Martyr, Drusius, Lavater, Serrarius.

The eighth is Ruth, the authour of which booke is unknowne; many thinke it was written by Samuel, who added this as a part or conclusion of the booke of Judges. It consists of foure Chapters, and is an History concerning the marriage and posterity of Ruth.

The best Expositors of it are Deusius, Wolphius, Lavater, Topsell.

The ninth in order are the two bookes of Samuel, **The Authors of these Books of Samuel, are thought to be Samuel, Nathan, and Gad 1 Samuel of the first Booke to the 25 Chapter, where his death is reheased, Nathan and Gad continued it. 1▪ Chron. 29. 29.1 Chr 29:29which containe in them an History of 120 y…eres. The first beginning an History of 80 yeeres, of 40 under Eli, 1 Sam. 4. 18. and of 40 under Samuel and Saul, Acts. 13. 21. and consists of 31 Chapters. The second Booke is a History of 40 yeeres, even from the death of Saul to the end of Davids Kingdome, and consists of 24 Chapters. These two Bookes in the Originall have two severall Titles:aaThey are called the first and second of Kings by the Greeks and Latines. They containe a large History of things done by Kings, the History of Samuel being praeposed. The ordinary glosse saith, he wrote a good part of the first Booke. Scriptor h… rum librorum quatuor Hebraeorum eruditissimis creditur esse Jeremias. Sermonis forma non discrepat, Eum credibile est usum commentariis illis Nathanis & Gadis Prophetarum, quorum mentio 1 Paral. 29. 29. Grotius.1 Chr 29:29 The one is the first and second of Kings. the other the first and second of Samuel. The former Title it hath received as it stands in relation to the two next Bookes, and in opposition to that of Judges; for as p. 51in that Story the Regiment of Judges was described in one Booke, so in this Story, of which these two are but one part, the Regiment of Kings is described: this is the reason of the first Title. The other likewise of the first and second of Samuel is given unto it, 1. Because there is very frequent mention made of Samuel therein, he being a principall subject of the first part thereof. 2. Because it continueth the narration so farre, till the infallible truth of Samuels principall Prophesie (which seemed to remaine in great doubtfulnesse, at least when he ended his daies) was fully accomplished in establishing the Kingdome upon the person and family of David the sonne of Jesse.

The best Expositors of both the Samuels, are Peter Martyr, Drusius; Willet also hath expounded them, but not so well as he hath other Bookes of Scripture.

The tenth is the two Bookes of the Kings, in Hebrew Melachim, Because they reckon the first and second of Samuel also among those of the Kings. Esdras and Jeremiah are thought to be the authors of the Kings.is Greeke and Latine the third and fourth of the Kings, from the subject matter of them, because they relate the Acts of the Kings of Israel and Judah. This History was written by divers Prophets; but who digested it into one Volume is uncertaine; many ascribe it unto Esdras. The first Booke consists of 22 Chapters, and containes a History of 118 yeeres. The second Booke consists of 25 Chapters, and containes a History of 320 yeeres.

The best Expositors of both the Kings are Peter Martyr, and Gaspar Sanctius.

The eleventh Booke is the two Bookes of Chronicles, which is called Dibrei Hajamim, Munster rendred it, the bookes of Annals, Libri praeteritorum appellantur ab Hieronymo▪ Ab E…dra scriptos hos duos libros constans semper fuit apud Hebrae…s fama: qui bos libros vocant verba dierum: id est, excerpta ex regum diurnis. Grotius.verba dierum, because in them the deeds of the Kings of Israel are particularly described. The Greekes and Latines divide it into two; with the Greekes it is called liber foreign q. d. praetermissorum, because he summarily explaines somethings either omitted, or not fully described in the Pentateuch, the bookes of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and the Kings. Of the Latines liber Chronicorum, q. d. Chronologicum; which appellation Luther retaines in the Dutch p. 52version of the Bible. There is nothing certaine of the authour of these Bookes, though Esdras be thought to be the authour. The first Booke consists of 29 Chapters, and containes a History of 2985 yeeres, viz. from the creation of the world even to the Kingdome of Salomon. The second consists of 32 Chapters, and describes a History from the beginning of the Kingdome of Salomon, even to the returne out of the captivity of Babylon.

The best Expositor on both the Chronicles is Lavater.

Twelfthly,Ezra signifieth an helper, Nehemiah a comforter. the two Bookes of Ezra, they are counted for one Volume with the Hebrewes; the Greekes and Latines devide them into two Bookes, and assigne the first to Ezra, the second to Nehemiah.

Ezra was so called from the Authour, which was a Scribe, most skild in the law of God, as appeares in the 7 Chap. 1, 6, & 11, verses.

The best Expositors of it are Junius and Wolphius. Nehemiah) It is called by the Latines the second Booke of Ezra, Nehemiah in English is a Comfort sent from God, to comfort his people in those troublesome times.because the History begun by Ezra is continued in it; but usually Nehemiah because it was written by him, and also because it containes the re-edifying of the City of Jerusalem, caused by Nehemiah. It consists of 13 Chapters, and containes a Hi…tory of 55 yeeres, viz. from the 20 yeere of Artaxerxes to the Kingdome of the last Darius.

The best Expositors of it are Wolphius and Pilkinton.

The next Booke is Esther, called in Hebrew the Volume of Esther. Nomen huic libro est à potiore persona. Martinius.Many of the Jewes thinke this Booke was written by Mordechai, which those words in the 9 Chap. v. 20. & 23. seem to favour.LXX huic historiae somnium quoddam Mardochaei praemittunt quod non est in Hebraeo. Grotius. Drusius Animad. l. 2. c. 34. Isidore saith, Esdras is thought to have written Esther, but some say it was composed after by another; Moses Camius saith it was written by the men of the great Synagogue. Philo Judaeus saith, Joachim a Priest of the Hebrewes, sonne of the hight Priest, was the composer of it, and that he did it at the intreaty of Mordecai the Jew. It consists of ten Chapters, and containes a History of 10, or (as others will) of 20**Martinius. yeeres, concerning the preservation of the Church of the Jewes in Persia by Hester.

p. 53Drusius, Serrarius and Merlin have done well on this Booke.

3. Poeticall.

Job, Psalmes, Grotius reckons the Lamentations among the Poeticall bookes.Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles; to which some adde the Lamentations. Those parts of Scripture wich set forth strongest affections, are composed in verse: as those holy flames of Spirituall love betweene Christ and his Spouse in the Canticles of Salomon. The triumphant joy of Deborah, after deliverance from Sisera's Army:Mr. Caryll on Job 3. v. 2. p. 334.Job 3:2 of Moses and Miriam after the destruction of Pharaoh: the afflicting sorrowes of Hezekiah in his sicknesse; and the Lamentations of Jeremy for the captivity of the Jewes: The Booke of Psalmes is as it were a throng of all affections, Love, joy, sorrow, feare, hope, anger, zeale, every passion acting a part, and wound up in the highest st…ines by the Spirit of God, breathing Poeticall eloquence i…to the heavenly Prophet. So the Booke of I b, whose subj…ct is sorrow, hath a composure answerable to the matter. Pa…lion hath most scope in Verse, and is freest when tied up in numbers.

Job) There is great varieiy of judgement about the Authour and Penman of this Booke;Singula in eo verba plena sunt sensibus. H…eron. some say it was one of the Prophets, but they know not who; some ascribe it to Salomon, some to Elihu, Quis libri scriptor fuit incertum est, nec nisi levissim… conjecturis nititur, quiequid. de ea dici potest B…za vid Grotium.many to Moses; Hugo Cardinall, Suidas, and Pineda conceive that Job himselfe was the authour of this book, and it is thus proved, because when any Booke is inscribed by the name of any person, and there appeares no urgent reason, wherefor it could not be written by him, such a person is to be thought the authour, and not the matter of the Booke, as is manifest in the Booke of Joshua and those of the greater and lesser Prophets▪ Waltherus in Offiecina Biblica & Ludov. de Tena Isag. ad totam Sac. Script. The Ap…stle, 1 Cor. 3. 19. proves it to be of divine authority.1 Cor 3:19The Arabicall speeches with which it abounds, note that it was written by some man living neere Arabia, as Job did Neither doth it hinder, that Job **Ch. 1. v. 1…. A…te legem datomsto u…sse sa…s inde videtur constare, quod vir …b justitiam atque pietatem incomparabil …, victimas, fi iorum nomine, toties obtulerit. Seldenus de jure naturali. Vide plura ibid. opud Clarissim…m, Selderum de jure naturali & Gentium l. 2. c. 7 Est li…er iste Jobi omnium Sacrorum librerum …, ut qui n…n m…do Theologum, verum ettam Hebraeae, Chaldai…aeque linguae, Poetices, Dialectices, Rhetorices, Astr…omiae, Physices, denique bene peritum interpretem requirat, Beza in epist, ad exposit. Merc.speakes p. 54of himselfe in the third person, for Canonicall writers are wont to doe this out of modesty, Num. 12. 3. John 21. 24.

It is conceived to be the first piece of Scripture that was written, if Moses wrote it, it is probable that he wrote it before the deliverance of the people of Israel out of Aegypt, while he was in Midian. The maine and principall subject of this booke is contained in 34 Psal 19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of all. We may divide the Booke into three parts, and so it sets forth:

1. Jobs happy condition, both in regard of externals, and internals, in the first five verses.

2. Jobs fall, his calamity, from that to the seventh verse of the 42 Chapter.

3. Jobs restitution, or restoring, from thence to the end.

Beza, Mercer, and Pineda, have well expounded it.

The Psalmes are called in the Hebrew Sepher Tehillim, Liber Psalmorum complectitur quicquid utile est in omnibus Scripturis: haec sacra poesis est elegantissima Legis Prophetarumque Epitome sola brevitate & numero à reliquis discrepans, cum commune promtuarium earum omnium est, quae nobis necessaria sunt. Tremel & lun.a booke of divine praises, in Greeke foreign, so called from a Mu… call instrument, which name the Latines have retained. It containes sacred Songs to be fitted for every condition both of the Church and members. It is called in the new Testament, the Booke of Psalmes, Luke 20. 42. & 24 44. Acts 1. 20. No bookes in the old Testament are oftner cited in the new, then Esay and the Psalmes; that 60 times, this 64.

They are in all 150, in Greeke 151. Austin and Chrysostome ascribe them all to David as the Authour, so doe Theophylact, Ludo vicus de Tena. Some thinke that after the Captivity Esdras collected these Psalmes, dispersed here and there, into one Volume. There are ten Authors whose names are put in the Titles of the Psalmes, viz. David, Salomon, Moses, Asaph, Etham, Eman, Jeduthun, and the three sonnes of Corah. Odae istae Davidis dicuntur, quod is multas veteres collegerit, multas ipse Psallendi sciens, Opus omni laude majus, & universae sapientiae divinae atque, humanae exiguum quidem, sed eo etiam nobilius, atque admirabilius compendium: ea sermonis elegantia, numerorum & harmoniae suavitate, sententiarum erudition… & gravitate, ut nihil majus dici possit. E…penius or at deling. Ebr. dignitate.addiderit, aut per homines idoneos addi fecerit. Grotius.

The Hebrewes divide the Psames into five Bookes or parts. p. 55The first Booke hath the first 41 Psalmes; the second 31, from 42 to 73; the third 17, from 73 to 90; the fourth 17, from 90 even to 107; the fifth 43, from the 107 to 150.

Vide Genebr. in Psal. 1. v. a. 1. Tituli sunt Psalmoeum claves, the Titles are Keys as it were of the Psalmes, saith Jerome.

The best Expositors on the Psalmes are Musculus, Mollerus, Muis, Calvin.

The Scripture is the choicest booke; the Psalmes the choycest piece of Scripture, and the 119 Psalme the choicest part of the Psalmes. Among 176 verses in that Psalme there are scarce foure or five at most wherein there is not some commendation of the word.

Proverbs) The booke of Proverbs is compared to a great heape of Gold rings, rich and orient severally, and every one shining with a distinst**Mr. Bolton on Prov. 18 14. Sententiae, verba, sive dicta graviter & paueis concinnata, quae in omnium anim… haerere, & inore versari debent, denique speculum esse totius vitae & administrationis nostrae. Junius. What speciall pretogatives this Book hath above the rest of Canonicall Bookes, see M Cawdrey on Prov. 29. 8.Prov 18:14Prov 29:8 sence by it selfe: but other contexts of holy Writ, to Gold chaines, so enterwoven and linked together; that they must be illightned and receive mutuall illustration one from another.

It consists of 31 Chapters; it was written by Saomon; saith Austin, 17 Ch. of his 20 booke de oivitate Dei; and Josephus in the 8^th Booke and 2^d Chapter of his Jewish Antiquities; and it is proved, 1 Kings 432. though there indeed it is said onelyonly, he spake them, yet it is likely also he wrote them. Prov. 1. 1. they are called the Proverbs of Salomon. It is a Treatise of Christian manners, touching piety toward God, and justice toward our neighbours.

The best Expositors on it, are Mercer, Cartwright, Dod, Lavater. Graece dieitur hic liber foreign nimirum Hebraeum foreign proprie comparationem significat, & quia ex comparationibus curtatis plerumque fiebaut Proverbia, inde coepit sumi in significatione foreign. Grotius.

Ecclesiastes) in Hebrew**Quòd in eum librum collectae sunt omnes lcientiae: vet quòd sapientia Sal…nonis hic homines congreget ad ipsam audendiam. M…rtinius. The Proverb were Salomons Ethicks. Ecclesiastes his Physicks. Canticles his Met…physicks. Proverb…a Scripta sunt potissimum pro atate juvenil…, Ecclesiastes pro virili, Conticum pro sen…li. Coheleth, the feminine hath respect either to wisdome or to the soule, the nobler part.

The Authour of this booke was Salomon, who either at his p. 56Table, or in his familiar conference propounded these doctrines to his Courtiers, as may be collected out of 1 Kings 10. 8. Many of the Hebrews say, that this Booke was written by Salomon to testifie his repentance of his ill led life.

It consists of twelve Chapters. The summe and scope of the whole Booke is explained in the last Chapter, viz that all things in the world are vaine; therefore that nothing is more profitable and necessary then to feare God and keepe his Commandements. The principall parts of it are two: The first concerning the vanity of humane matters and studies in the world, the latter of the stability and profit of godlinesse and the feare of God.

The best Expositors on it are Mercer, Cartwright, M^r Pemble, Granger.

Canticles are called in Hebrew Shirha Shirim, by the Latines Cantica **Id est, summum & praestantiss… mum vide Gen. 9. 25. Est autem haec generalis totius libri inscriptio, libri argumentum scriptorem que expenens. Argumenium est epithalamium excell n…issimum sive connubiale Canticum, quo Schel…o decant…vit sacram illam augustissimam, & bea…issimam desponsationem conjunctionemque, Christi cum Ecclesia. Junius.Gen 9:25Cantieorum, The Song of Songs, that is, a most excellent Song, the Hebrews having no Superlatives. Salomon was the Authour of it, 1 Kings 4. 32. Many of the Ancients refer it to the spiritual marriage betweene Christ and the Church, or every faithfull soule. It consists of eight Chapters, and perpetuall Dialogues.

The Jewes had this Book in such reverence and account, that before thirty yeeres of age none would study it.

The best Expositors are Mercer, Brightman, Ainsworth, D^r Gouge.

This Booke which treats of that Spirituall and Heavenly fellowship the sanctified soule hath with Christ, cannot be throughly understood in the true life of it, but by those that are Sanctified.

4. Propheticall.

The

Greater Prophets 4.

Lesser Prophets 12.

Esay, Jeremy, Ezechiel, Daniel.

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah,

Micah, Nahum Habbakuk, Zephany

Haggai, Zachary Malachy.

Grotius orders them thus: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah Jona, Esay, Micha, Nahum, Habbacuc, Zephany, Daniel, Jeremy, Ezechiel, Haggai, Zachary, Malachy.

p. 57They are called Propheticall Bookes, because they were written by Prophets, by Gods Commandement; Prophets were distinguished by the Temples, some were Prophetae priores, those of the first Temple; other Posteriores, of the latter Temple.

Esay) Is placed first, not because he is more Antient then all the rest; for some say that Jonah **Learned men conclude from 2 King. 13. 15. that Jonah prophesied first of all the 16, Prophets. Doctor Hill in a Sermon on the Lord of Hoasts.2 Kgs 13:15and Amos were before him in time, others that Hosea was before him, for Isays beginning was in the dayes of Vzziah. Now Hosea was in the dayes of Jerobeam, and Jeroboam was before Vzziah. This Master Burrouhs saith is one reason, why though he intends to goe over the whole propheticall Bookes, yet he rather pitcheth upon Hosea first, because indeed he was the first Prophet, but Isay aaJeshagneia, quasi dicas, Salua Domini vel dei, quòd prae caeteris plenus fit vivificarum consolationum. Non tam Prophe…a dicendus fit, quam Evangelista. Hieron. praesat in Isaiam. Quicquid de physicis, Ethicis, Logicis, & quioquid de sanctarum scripturarum mysteriis potest humana lingua, & martalium Sensus accipere, complexus est summaprae caeteris Prophetis venustate sermonis, & urbanae dicti…nis elegantiâ. Hieronymus.was rather set first for the Dignity of the Propheticall Oracles which he explaines, and because his prophesie is longer then all the rest. He is eloquent in his speech, being a Noble man therefore the translation can hardly expresse his elegancie. He brings so many and such evident Testimonies of the coming, incarnation, miracles, preaching, life, passion, death and resurrection of Christ, that he seemes rather to write a History of things past, then to prophesie of things to come, and one calls him the fifth Evangelist. Hence (saith Senensis) our Lord Jesus Christ made choice of this among all the Prophets, first of all to read publikely, and expound in the Synagogue of his own Country; and in the new Testament, he is oftner cited, then all the rest of the Prophets. He began to Prophesie in the yeare 3160 seven hundred yeares before Christ was borne, Vzziah the King of Judah yet reigning, and came to the last times of Hezekiah, Isay 1. 1. and 39. 3. therefore he was almost contemporary with Hosea, Ames, and Micha, and finished the course of his life under foure Kings of Judath, viz. Vzziah, Jathan, Achaz, and Hezehiab; The Hebrewes say he was of the Bloud Royall, and that he was sawed to death with a woodden Saw by Manasseth, an Idolatrous King, after he taught 60 yeares. His Prophesie consists of 66 Chapters.

The best Expositors of it are Calvin, Scultetus, Forerius, M…llerus.

p. 58Jeremie,) Lodov. de Tena. Jirmijah celsitudo, vel excel sus Domini, quo… m…gnalia dei animo magno atque forti docuerit. Or Ramah lah, the reject of the Lord, so he was in regard of his condition.This Booke was alwayes esteemed as Canonicall, and written by Jeremie. He prophesied under Josiah, Jehoahaz, Joachim, and Zedekiah. His prophesie consists of 52. Chapters.

He prophesied partly in the Land of Judea, and partly in the Land of Egypt. In the Land of Judea he prophesied 41. yeares, and afterward 4. yeares in Egypt. See Jackson on Jer. 7. 16. p. 4. 5.

The best expositors of it are Bullinger, Polanus. Lamentations; It is called in Hebrew Echa, 1. quomodo, because it begins with this word; the Septuagint translate it foreign idest, lamentationes vel fletus for the Subject or matter of it. It containes sad and mourning complaints of the State of the Common-wealth of Israel, into which it fell after the death of Josiah; it consists of five Chapters.Jer. 14. … 7. and 31. 17.Jer 14:7Jer 31:17 Jeremie is thought to be Author of it.

The best expositors of it are P. Martyr, Vdall.

Ezechiel) bbJechezkel fortitudo sive robur Dei-Stylus ejus nec satis disertus; nec admodum rust… est, sed ex utr…que temperatus Senensis.signifieth the strength of God, or one strengthened hy God. He prophesied at the same time with Jeremy. Ezechiel in the City of Babylon; Jeremy at Jerusalem. It consists of 48. Chapters.

The best expositors of it are Junius, Polanus, and Villalpandas

This Prophesie is full of Majesty, obscurity, and difficulty. Calvin spent his last breath on this Prophet.

Daniel) **Dèi judicium, adcujus exactam cognitionem necessaria est multiplex Chaldaeorum, Graecorum, & Latinorum historia. Hieronymus, Broughton on 1 Dan. 4 Danielem Hebraei Prophetis non adscribunt, non magis quam Davidem, non quòd nòn multa eximia praedixerint, sed quia vitae genus propheticum non sectabantur, sed alter rex e…rat. alter satrapa. In Graeco codice pracedunt Prophet… minores, sequuntur majores, & in his Dan…el. Grotius.Dan 4He wrote his prophesie after the Captivity, Chap. 1. 21. and 10. 1. while the visions are generall, and not dangerous to the Jewes, Daniel writeth in the Syriacke tongue generall over the East, from Chap. 1. v. 4. to the 8. Chapter.

But when the oppressors are named, Medes and the Jewes plainly described to be the people, whom God defendeth, then in the 8. Chapter, and all after he writeth in Hebrew, and hath a Commandement to keepe close to the plaine exposition in Chapter 12. 4. Some reckon Daniel among the Prophets, but the p. 59Jewes place it among the Hagiographa. It consists of 12. Chapters, the six first of which containe matters Historicall, the six last Propheticall.

The best Expositors of it are Polanus, Junius, Willet, Broughton, Huit.

The Latines give the first place to the greater Prophets, the Greekes to the lesser, because there are many among them, very Antient. Gratius.

The 12. lesser Prophets are so called, because their writings are briefer then the foure first greater; the Hebrewes have them all in one Booke; the later Prophets spake more plainly, precisely, and distinctly, touching the coming of the Messiah, then the former. Daneus, Gualter, Ribera, Tarnovius, and Drusius have done best on all the small Prophets; Mercer, and Livelie have done well on the five first of them. The Hebrewes thus place them. Hosea, Amos, Micha, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephanie, Haggai, Zecharie, Malachi.

Hosea) **In the order of the 12. Prophets all give the chiefe place to Hosea, he Hebrewes make Joel the next to it, Amos the third Ob…di. the 4th Jonah the 5th Michab the 6th Nahum the 7th Hab. the 8th Zeph. the 9th Hag. the 10th Zach. the 11th Mal. the 12th But the Septuag. Interpreters make Amos the next to Hoseah, Michah, the third, Joel the fourth, Obadiah the fifth, Jonah the sixth, the seventh Nahum, the eighth Habacuc, the ninth Zephany, the tenth, Hag. the eleventh, Zach. the 12. Malachi, Drus. observ. S…c. 1. 5. c. 24.Is the first among them, whose Prophesie although it consist of more Chapters then Daniel, yet the other is more prolixe. Hosheang noteth Salvator Saviour, he is therefore so called, because he published Salvation to the house of Judah, and spake of the Saviour of the world, and was a Type of Christ our Saviour; He Prophesied before the Babylonish Captivity; in the time of King Jeroboam, under foure Kings of Judah, Vzziah, Iothan, Achaz, and Hezekiah, and was contemporary (as some say) with Jonah▪ 2 King. 14. 26. Isay Is. 1. 1. Amos 1. 1. and Micha. 1. 1. all which prophesied destruction to the Kingdome of Israel: It consists of 14 Chapters. The best Expositors of it are Zanchius, Tremelius, Pareus, Rivet, & Livelie. Diu vixi Osee, & Prophetam egit, …ut volunt Hebraei, per annos 90 ita multos habuit Prophetas foreign, ut Isaiam Ioelem, Amosum, Abdiam, Iouam, Michaeam, ut notat Hieronymus. Joel, he prophesied in the time of Hezeohia. it consists of three Chapters, which containe partly exhortation p. 60to repentance; and partly comfort to the penitent. Daneus, Pareus, Gnamosonus, because he is a vehement Prophet which denounceth a hard burden, that it, most grievous punishment to the people for their impiety.Drusius, and Livelie are the best Expositors of it.

Amos) Of a Shepheard he was made a Prophet, 1 Chap. 1. v. and 7. 14. He was contemporary to Isay, and Hosea. He prophesied to the Kingdome of Israel or the ten Tribes, 1. 1. and 3. 1. and 4. 1. and 5. 1. He utters a few things concerning the Kingdome of Judah, 2. 4. and 6. 1. It consists of nine Chapters, Daneus, Pareus, Livelie, and Drusius are the best Interpreters of it; Doctor Benfield hath done well on two Chapters.

Obadiah **Gnabadeiah servus dei, a Minister of God. Jeremie 49 Chapter and Ezek 25. tooke many things out of this prophesie.Jer 49Ezek 25) He was almost contemporary to Jeremy. It is but one Chapter. Doctor Rainolds hath well expounded this prophesie. The destruction of the Enemies of the Church is handled in the 16. first verses, the Salvation thereof by the Ministery of Pastors in the five last.

Jonah aaColumba, quomodo dictus videtur a mansuetudine & facilitate morum. Jonas ordine quintus numeratur inter duodecim prophetas qui minores vocantur; tempore veò illis omnibus prior & antiquior fuit. ld 2. Regum. 14. 25. liquet, ex eo quod de pace & salute Israelitarum sub Jeroboamo fueuram vaticin…tus est, antequam calamitosam eorum captivitatem denunciasset Oseas & Amos, cum Esaia. Itaque temporis ratione eum primo loco collocari oportuit. Livelius in Annorat. in Jon.2 Kgs 14:25He prophesied in the time of Jeroboam, 2 King. 14. 25. Jerome proves by the authority of the Hebrewes that he was contemporary with Hosea and Amos. It consists of foure Chapters. Abbots, and King have both commented well in English on this prophesie.

Micah) Humiliatus sic dictus Propheta ab insigni & miranda humilitate. He prophesied in the times of Iotham, Achaz, and Hezechiah Kings of Judah, as appeares by the inscription, Ch. 1. v. 1. and was almost contemporary with Isay, with whom he agreeth in many things. He exceeds all the Prophets in this one thing, that he determines the place of Christs Birth 5. Chap. 2. v.

It consists of 7. Chapters. Daneus and Chythrae…s have done well on it.

p. 61Nahum bbNomen Hebraeum Nacum significat & paenitentiae Doctorem & consolatorem, quo utroque mu…ere is desu…stus est, illo erga Ninevitas hoc …rga ludaeos. walther…s in officira a Biblica.) It is probable that he lived before the Babylonish captivity, and was contemporary to Micha, but 90 yeares after Jonah. It consists of three Chapters, which containe both a prediction of the destruction of the Assyrians, Ch. 1. and also an Explication of the causes of it Chap. 2. and 3.

Daneus is the best Expositor of this Book: The Hebrews think that both Nahum, and Hibacuc wrote in the times of Manasseth. Both the order in which these bookes were Anciently placed, and the things themselves which are contained in their writings doe intimate as much. Grotius.

Habacue, Luctator.

It is probable that he lived about Jeremies time, or a little before. It consists of three Chapters. Grineus and Daneus, have done well on him.

Zephanie **Tsphaneiah, Secretarius vel Speculator Domini.) He prophesied in the times of Josiah King of Judah, and was contemporary to Jeremy. He prophesieth especially of the overthrow of the Kingdome of Judah. It consists of three Chapters. Daneus hath done well on this prophesie.

HaggaiaaHe excites and earnestly exhor…s the people to the restoring of the Temple.) Chag signifieth a Feast in Hebrew, his name signifieth Festivus & laetus, aut festum celebrans vel diligens, quòd templi Hierosolymitani aedificationem post Captivitatem maximè urserit.

He began to prophesie after the Babylonish captivity in the second yeare of Darius, King of Persia, Esd. 5. 1. Hag. 1. 1. Grineus and Daneus have done well on this.

Zacharie **Zechareiah memoria Domini, fortassis quia pe…ipsum Deus sui memoriam populo suo refricare volaerit, & testarise ipsum quoque meminisse ejusdem, aut quia & ipse Domino charus extitit, & quasi in recen…i memoria.) He prophesied after the Babylonish captivity, and followed Haggai within two moneths; he handleth the same subject; it consists of 14. Chapters. His Booke is more large, and obscure then any of the 12. Prophets; Daneus hath done well on the whole and Master Pemble. on 9. Chapters.

Malachie) Nuncius seu Angelus meus Mal. 4. 4. 5. He was the last Prophet of the old Testament. See Grotius of him. p. 62Tertull. cals him the limit & land-marke of both Testaments, limes inter vetus & novum Testamentum. It consists of foure Chapters, Daneus, and Polanus, and Stocke have commented well on this Book.

So much concerning the severall Books of the old Testament