Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · Intertestamental history (7 of 7)
After this, the Germans rebelling again, Drusus was sent thither, and when he had mightily overthrown and pursued them as far as Suevia, and returned to the River of Rhene, he was by a great woman, appearing to him and speaking in Latine, forbidden to goe farther, for the time of his life was short. Hereupon he stayed, and by a bruise which he had by his horse falling with him, he dyed within 30 dayes, being then Consul, and but 30 years old: his death was much lamented, especially by Augustus, whose son he was thought to be by Livia, before hee marryed her, as also Tiberius, although having taken her from her husband and marryed her, he could never more have sonne by her, but one abortive. Livia bearing children in adultery, could have none after. Funerall Orations.At his buriall, Augustus made one funerall Oration, and Taberius another, then his corps being burnt in the field Martius, his ashes were layd up in Augustus his Sepulcher. After Drusus, Tiberius his brother was sent into Germany, who having perfected the subduing of it, had the title of Emperour. The same yeare being 36, Augustus had the Empire renewed to him for ten years more, and Mecaenas to his great griefe dyed, who had always been a faithfull friend to him, and a lover of learning, he first invented short wrighting by characters and left all his goods to Augustus. Tiberius after his victories in Germany, held two Stenography invented.Triumphs at Rome, and was had in high honour amongst all men, next to Augustus. But Caius and Lucius, the two sonnes of Agrippa, whom Augustus had long agoe adopted, being now grown up, (for Caius was 16 years old) they desired to be made Consuls, but because their age would not permit it, they were for the present denyed by Augustus, yet he taking the Consulship the 12th. time upon him, brought them in to the Court, and Caius being three years older then Lucius had the Vi…ilis toga put upon him, and it was decreed that he should be Consul five years after, and in the mean season Prince of the youth, which was 2 great honour. But lest Tiberius should seem to be neglected, he was made Tribune for five years, which the youths seeing were offended at, and he to avoyd this, left the City and went to Rhodes to the great admiration of all men.
Anno 42 of Augustus Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our Redeemer, was Anno mundi, 3963. Euseb. Chron. Enodius.born of the blessed Virgin Mary, who, as Enodius sayth, was brought up in the Temple, being committed to the care of the Priests 11 yeares, and then was by them delivered to Joseph, and to him contracted foure moneths before her conception by the Holy Ghost, and this birth was anno 36 of Herods reign, though some say, anno 34. some 35, &c. and about the time of the year, there be no lesse difference, but this is the common received opinion. But for Herod after the seeking of his destruction, and so cruelly murthering the Infants in Bethelem, vengeance suffered him not to live above a year, but he dyed most miserably, as hath been before shewed. Yea, Eusebius and some others consent, that hee lived not above three monets after. And this was the 21 yeare of Simon the High-priest, so that the conjecture, that Zachary, the father of John Baptist was now High-priest, falls to the ground although both Augustine and Ambrose be for it, and indeed how could he, seeing he offered incense by course, as others of the 24 courses did, Aug. tract. in Iohan. Ambro. in Luc. cap. 1.whereas the High-priest executed his office always alone, and had no fellows to take their turns before or after him. And in this year was that tax layd upon Syria, which is spoken of Luke 2, and as Eusebius sayth, by the decree of the Senate, and this sayth Luke, was, when Cynnus was President of Syria, that is, together with Caius the adopted son of Augustus, as his Governour, he being very young, and it is probable, that this tax was imposed for the Parthian War, but of it altum silentium amongst other Writers, because Livy wrote now no more, and Dio hath nothing for ten years together, in the midst of which Christ was born, and Suetonius began not his History, till after these things. Augustus also now entred upon the Consulship the 13th. time, wherein he brought forth Lucius, as he had done his brother Caius, and honoured him in like manner. But he had much shame and grief by his daughter, formerly the Wife of Agrippa, now of Tiberius for her common and base whordoms, whom hee therefore sent into banishment, and sent a bill of divorce in Tiberius his name after her, and set keepers to look to her. Then Caius was sent into the East to govern there, and as he went, he turned for honours sake to visit Tiberius at Rhodes, as other Roman Nobles used to doe, where he found Tiberius living privatly, and departing thence he went to Armenia to fight against Phraates, King of the Parthians, who had newly taken up arms, but being terrified at his comming he sought peace, and so their warre was turned into feasting. And this time of peace had continued 12 years, since the shutting up of the Temple of Janus, as sayth Orosius, so that the time of Christs Orisius.birth was a time of longer continued peace, then ever was before, since the building of the City, from which time were now 751 years, as will appear to him that readeth the foregoing History. And here it is noted of Caius, that as he passed by Jerusalem he contemned to goe to worship at the Temple there, which was then very famous, and herein he was applauded by Augustus, but he joyed not long after, In devotion in Caius.but dyed and a few years after a great plague came upon Rome. To conclude, this most happy year of Christ's comming into the World for our redemption, it hath not been the least part of the reason, why I have hitherto drawne downe the Orosius.History so far beyond the sacred History▪ viz. 424 years, that some light might be atteined into the prophesie of Jaacob. The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a law giver from between his feet, till Shiloh comes, and into the 70 weeks of Daniel Gen 49. v. 10. Dan. 9. 24.to the Messiah.
For the former, it will appear to the diligent Reader, that although the Iews were many years without a King of their own to sway the scepter amongst them, yet no stranger had ever this title of King of the Iews, till Herod the Great, through the great favour, in which he was with the Romans, and till a stranger set up for King, the scepter was only suspended or intermitted, but not departed. Now, how long it should be departed, that is, how many years of this strangers reign, it is not sayd, but only that it should not depart, till this blessed birth, implying, that he should be born in the time of his swaying the scepter, to set up a Kingdome over all true Jews, that should destroy all others, and never be it selfe destroyed, but abide for ever, and it is excellent to consider how it presently began to do so, indeed in that Kingdom. Herod could continue King but very little time after, and then was taken away being long and grievously tormented, and after him, no regall scepter could be there atteined more by any of his posterity. For Archilaus his son taking the Kingdom upon him after his fathers decease, as hee had appointed through the permission of Augustus, also was not permitted to enjoy the title of King, but of a Toparoh, as shall afterwards be shewed. Again, the scepter cannot be sayd to have departed from Judah in the time of the captivity, because there was a seed of David still preserved, which after the interruption of those 70 years came again, and one Prince succeeded another, till that Antiochns raging so greatly, and they comming to an end, Mattathias began, being High-priest, to execute the office both of Priest and Prince, and his posterity after him for 200 years, some of them atteining again to Kingly glory, and so continuing, till that Aristobulus contending for the Kingdom with his elder brother Hircanus was cut off by Pompey, and so a way was made for Herod to get the Kingdome. If it be sayd, but what was this to Judah, seeing Mattathias and all the Assamonean family were Levits? I answer, hee took to Wife a daughter of the house of David, and so his posterity was of the tribe of Iudah by the mothers side, although of Levi by the fathers.
For the prophesie of Daniel, it is a work of far greater difficulty to shew, how those 70 Weeks ended at the death of Christ by reason of the divers times of beginning their account, eyther at the time of Cyrus his decree going out, or as Funcius singularly hath it, at the time of Ezra his being sent by Artaxerxes, anno 7 of his reign to supply the Temple with more vessels, & to set up government, and to order all things for the good of the Common-wealth, or at the time of Nehemiah his being sent to build the walls of Ierus: for some there are that stand for every of these beginnings, to say nothing of other so groundlesse opinions beginning this time either at the beginning of the Babylonish captivity, or 50 years after: the words of Daniel being wel considered, will be the truest direction about the beginning & end, one being hereby found all others will fall of themselves. Now the words are these, From the going out of the decree to restore and to build Ierusalem to the Messiah shall be seven weeks and 62 weeks, and the street and wall shall be built again in a troublesome time. At what time then such a decree went out, these weeks must begin, and that was not at Cyrus his entring upon his Monarchy, for then liberty was given only to build the Temple and to return and to sacrifice and worship God there, as appears, Ezra 1, and if we should begin them here, because not only building, but restoring also is spoken of by the Angell to Daniel, which may imply the refurnishing of that City with inhabitants and a Temple, we must be forced from this beginning again, when we find not the end answerable, but to come out long before the Messiah his comming. Again, although such a decree went out in favour of Nehemiah, anno 20 of Artaxerxes Longimanus, yet Nehem. 2.if counting from thence to the end of these Weeks they go out after Christs passion, this beginning is to be rejected also. And therefore they cannot be begun at any other time; but when Ezra obteined a decree, anno 7 of Artaxerxes, to go with all such, …s would willingly accompany him to replenish the City, to provide Ezra 7.for sacrificing fully, as by the law is required, and to do whatsoever else he should think would conduce for the good thereof, for which the King gave most liberally un…o him both money and other things. Because if wee compute the time of these Weeks from hence, wee shall find them to end, as Funccius sayth, both for year, monethmonth and day at the time of Christs passion, or as others hold, at his inauguration to his office by the voyce, that came from heaven at the time of his baptizing, he being then 30 years old, if we respect the first numbers of Weeks, seven and 62. And then in the midst of the Week remayning he caused sacrificing to ceasse by offering of himself, the only true and al-sufficient sacrifice presigured by all the sacrifices before going, the other half of the Week being spent in confirming the Covenant or New Testament by his Apostles with signes and wonders, which he had before confirmed during the half Week of his preaching before his death. To set therefore upon this computation to prove what hath been sayd. This may be done by the Olympiads of the Greeks, or the yeares from the building of the City of Rome most certainly, seeing so great difference is amongst Chronologers in setting forth the times of the Kings Reignes, or of High-priests continuing, but about the Olympiads and years of the City of Romes building, there is good agreement with, but a little difference especially about the Olympiad and year thereof, which was coincident with Artaxerxes his 7th. yeare, and the yeare of Rome built and it, and likewise about the 15 yeare of Tiberius Caesar, when Christ began to preach, and the yeare of the Olympiad then, and of that City. For the 7th. year of Artaxerxes, fell in the first of the 80 Olympiad, and the yeare of Christs Baptisme, he being then 30 years old in the 4th. year of the 201 Olympiad. betwixt which counting to each Olympiad 4 yeares, were 488. Touching the beginning and cause of these Olympiads, Iphitus the sonne of Hercules instituted, or rather renewed them being first instituted by his father long before in the honour of his mothers grandfather Pelops, but faln again, so that, till their renewing by Iphitus, King of the Elaeans, no account was kept by them, but now by the Olympiads beganne the most certaine way of reckoning throughout many ages. For there was a solemne play of trying masteryes held amongst the Graecians every fourth yeare, at what time the Victour had his reward, and his name written in brasse, always to remain. Before the Olympiads, the reckonings of all Heathen Writers were very uncertain, but the reckonings of Gods people the Jews, most certain, for the Olympiads began Anno 52 of Uzziah King of Judah, before which all times were reckoned by the Fathers that lived before the Floud, and after unto Abraham, and from Abraham unto Moses by the Patriarks, from Moses to Saul by the Judges, and from Saul to the captivity by the Kings, from whence the reckoning goes on by the 70 years captivity, and thence forward so far as the holy History of the Old Testament extends by the Persian Kings, yet uncertainly, so that help now is to be fetched from the Olympiads of the Greeks, and the years Urb: conditae of the Romans. For the first, by that which hath been sayd, it appears that there is a difference but of two years, and if we reckon by the other, of three for Artaxerxes, seven was anno 293, Urb: conditae, and anno 15 of Tiberius, when Jesus was baptized. Urb: conditae 780, which time if it be computed, amounts to 487, which difference might easily happen in so long a time, and if not, the Messiah came to be manifested but seven or eight years after the time of 69 weeks set, and it is most probable, that there was not this difference neyther, but that we cannot by any means come to the certain knowledge of the concurrence of the very yeare, because although the account by the Olympiads be certain, yet the account of the Persian Kings times may be not rightly layd hereunto, through the diversity of Writers, and so the seven of Artaxerxes reckoned to be anno 1 of Olympius, 80 might be anno 2 Olympius 78, or if we reckon by the High-priests according to Josephus and Herod the King, the result will be much alike, for when Ezra obteined a Decree of Artaxerxes, Joachim had been High-priest 15 years, and his whole time was 28. Reckon we then to
| Ioachim | 13 |
| Eleazir | 41 |
| Ioiada | 25 |
| Ionathan | 24 |
| Iaddua | 27 |
| Onias | 27 |
| Simon Priscus | 13 |
| Eleazar Sim: frat. | 20 |
| Manasses | 27 |
| Simon Iustus | 28 |
| Onias fil. Sim. | 39 |
| Iason | 3 |
| Menelaus | 12 |
| Alcimus | 4 |
| Vacantia | 5 |
| Ionathan | 10 |
| Simon | 8 |
| Iohannes Hircanus | 31 |
| Aristobulus | …1 |
| Alexander | 27 |
| Hircanus | 35 |
| Antigonus | 5 |
| Herod | 34 |
| Christus | 30 |
sum 489, which disagreeth not from the prophesie, if wee take the 70 Weeks, which are 490 years for the whole time to the Messiah, after which he was slain. However, it is manifest, if by these Weeks, so many seven years are meant, that about that time when Jesus shewed himself, was the undoubted time of the Messiah, and of his suffering death for our sins, so that the time of expecting him is long ago passed & not yet to come, as the Jews fondly imagine. Now the ground of reckoning seven years to a week by the consent of the Rabbins themselves is the ordinance, Levit. 25. of counting seven Weeks of years to the Jubilee. But to hinder themselves and others, as much as they can from seeing by the direction of this prophesie Jesus to be the Messias, some against all sense will have Cyrus to be meant by the Messiah, when as he was dead long before this decreed some Herod, but as much against sense, seeing no remission of sins and everlasting righteousnes comes in by him, to say nothing, that he was not slain. Lastly, some by the Messiah understand the anointed Temple, which should be destroyed within the compasse of this time, in the first seven Weeks, that is 49 years, 24 being built in Darius his Reign, and then the wall of the City in the Reign of Artaxerxes by Nehemiah, and falling again by the Romans. But neyther can the Temple be understood by the Messiah, because it is never so called elswhere and if it were, yet it is sayd to the Messiah, the Prince shall be seven Weeks and 62 Weeks, so that if the Temple were meant, it must not have been built, till 480 years after the decree, and then in three years and an half more have perished again, to say nothing, that the destruction of the Temple cannot possibly be fitted to the time here described, because the Temple perished not, till anno 36 after the passion of our Saviour Christ. And this is a thing remarkable in all the chief Rabbins, who composed the Talmud, that they determine the time of the comming of the Messiah to be the time of the destruction of the Temple, and so by consequence, that in Daniels prophesie his comming is pointed at, and the time thereof shewed: as Rabbi Moses, R. Osia, R. Joshua, R. Barnahaman, R. Barachias, R. David, &c. And if that were the time they erre most grosly, that expect his comming still after 1600 years more. But what marvell, that they erre so, seeing a Jew having been convinced by this place hath annexed, that if it were made as cleare as the noon days light, that Jesus is the Christ, hee would not yet believe it. But to us that are Christians, and to all, that are appointed to like it is so cleere from hence and other undenyable arguments, that we resolve most confidently upon it, and by this faith hope to be saved, and that all of what Country or Nation soever that would be saved, must do likewise. To conclude then, here is a dividing of the time unto the Messiah into two parts, seven Weeks, that is 49 years, and 62, that is, 434: because from the going out of the decree, which Ezra carryed, things succeeded well unto the Jews so long, although they met with trouble and opposition, till Nehemiah had finisht the Wall. For from the going out of that decree to Nehemiah, were 13 yeares, he having tarryed 12 years returned to the King, and eight years after went to Jerusalem again, where hee lived, as some write till hee Ioseph. l. 11. c. 5.was very aged, and there dyed, and had his monument, but in what yeare of his age, is not recorded, if he lived but 16 years after his second comming to Ierusalem, we have the 49 from Ezra to his death, in which time it went well with the Iews, but afterwards they went through divers miseries in the times of other Persian Kings, and afterwards of the Syrians, and specially of Antiochus Epiphanes, for which those 434 are disjoyned from the 49, and so 69 weeks of yeares passed to the Messiah baptized. For the 70th. which is the last weeke, that also is divided by the Prophet to shew the time of his age, when he suffered death, viz. three yeares and an halfe, and the time of the Apostles confirming the Gospel by Miracles, after which revenge was taken upon Ierusalem for his death by the Romans, when the people and City were swept away as it were with a floud, and so hath remained desolate unto this day, and shall to the consummation of the World, Dan. 9. 27. not that this confirmation by the Apostles was continued no longer then three years and an halfe, but in that time principally, they from thence forward dispersing themselves into other parts of the World.
To returne now to Archelaus the son of Herod, whom he appoynted to reigne after him, (for Herod dyed the same yeare in which Christ was borne, viz. about the Pasch, after that he had so cruelly caused the infants of Bethlem to be slain, so that it may well be noted as a just judgement of God comming swiftly upon him, the diversity of miseries under which he was pressed) the sayd Archelaus his father being dead, first kept a mourning for him seven dayes, and then feasted the chiefe of the Jews according to the Countrey manner. He was then commonly congratulated as King but he would not take that title upon him till he had been at Rome for Augustus his consent. But before he could doe this, a great tumult arose amongst the Jews, exclaiming upon Herod for his murthering of their Doctors and holy men, for breaking down the Eagle before spoken of, and crying out for Herods principall friends to bee delivered unto them, who had been agents in this murther. Archelaus sought by good speeches to pacifie them. but could not doe it, till that bringing his forces upon them, hee Iosep. l. 17. c. 11.had slain 3000 of them. Then immediately he prepared to goe to Rome, and with him his mother and Nicolas, and Ptolomee, and Salome with her children, hee leaving the Kingdom in the interim to be governed by his brother. Philip. Antipas also goeth by the instigation of Salome, to get the Kingdom from him, taking Ptolomee the son of Nicolas with him. This company being all come, and Archelaus having shewed to Augustus his father Herods Will, and a booke of accounts of his goods and revenues. He calling his Councell about him gave them audience first, who came against Archelaus, then Antipater, the son of Salome, began, and accused Archelaus as an unnaturall son to Herod; weeping and mourning indeed in the day time for him, and feasting and rejoycing with musick in the night. 2, For taking the Kingdom upon him, and doing Regall acts, and killing and slaying so many about the Temple at a most holy time, before any authority by Caesar given unto him. 3, He pleaded that Herod in a former will. when his senses were more perfect, had made Antipas King, who was another and better son of his, and not Archelaus, but in a later Will, when he was tormented and crazed with sicknesses. To all these Nicolas answered for Archelaus, so as that Augustus tooke up Archelaus being fallen at his feete with all courtesie, saying, that he would goe according to the last will of his father, and so for that time dismissed the Assembly. But whilst these things were thus in agitation, news came from Varus President of Syria, that great tumults were raised again in Judaea, when the people came together to the Feast of Pentecost, but the occasion Cap. 12.was, the covetousnesse of Sabinus Caesars Procuratour there, who would have taken the treasures of the King, but was by the people resisted, whereupon great slaughters followed, and burning of the Kings Palace, and divers tooke upon them to be Kings, amongst whom, Judas the son of a great robber, whom Herod had quelled, was one. But by the comming of Varus upon them they were subdued, and 2000 of the chief instigators executed: then an embassage of 50 Jews wth a train of 8000 went over to Rome, and made a great complaint against the government by Kings, laying open their miseries by means of Herod, and how greatly the chiefe of them had bin impoverished, & whatrapes & outrages had bin by him cōmitted, and that Archelaus to give them a taste of his cruell disposition, like his father, had committed the outrage before spoken of, and therefore their desire was, that they might not live under a King any more, but under the President of Syra, and so it should appear whether they were so tumultuous or peaceable. To this, though Nicolas made some answer, yet Caesar upon consultation would not make Ios…. l. 17. c. 13. Anno Dom 4.Archelaus King, but an Ethnarch, giving him only halfe of his fathers Kingdom, and to Antipas one part of the other halfe, and to Philip the other, making them Tetrarchs. So Archelaus had Judaea, Idumaea and Samaria his revenue being 600 talents yearly, and was promised by Caesar when he deserved it, that he should be a King. Antipas had Galilee, and his revenue was 200 Talents. And Philip had Batanaea and Trachonitis and Auranitis, and his revenue 100 talents. But Archelaus injoyed not his Principality above ten years, for being Cap. 15.both cruell, and carryed by lust to marry his brothers wife, the Jews hated him, Wickedness in a Prince punisht severely.therefore, and complained of him to Caesar, who thereupon sent for him and bauished him to Vienna in France where he spent the rest of his time in misery, and then Quirinus a Consular man was sent to raise a taxe in Syria and to sell the house of Archelaus, and to joyne Judaea to the Province of Syria. This Archelaus in the beginning of his Principality, removed Joazarus from being High-priest and set up Eleazarus his brother, but within a short time he put him down also, and set up Iesus the son of Sias for High-priest. But these and other his wicked doings went not long upunished, as hath been before sayd. Whilst these things were in doing amongst the Jews, Lucius the adopted son of Caesar, dyed at Massilia in Spain of a languishing disease, and within lesse then two years after Caius his brother dyed also of a wound received by treachery in Armenia. And then Tiberius, who almost all the time that these young men were in such high honour, lived in exile at Rhodes, was adoptedby Caesar as heire to the Empire. And then he was sent away into Germany to govern there, Caesar in the mean season doing a strange act of clemencie towards Cinna, a son of the daughter of Pompey the Great, for he being detected to conspire the death of Caesar, he by the perswasion of Livia his wife Seneca.sent for him, and causing all men to depart out of the room, he made him sit down upon a seat neere unto him. And then having told him how beneficiall he had bin unto him, he asked why contrariwise he plotted his destruction. At this Cinna crying out, as abhorring from it, he commanded him silence, and layd then open the whole plot, the time and the persons, reproving him two houres together for his ingratitude, and in fine forgave him, and exhorted him to firme friendship with him, and so had him ever after a most firme friend, and he advanced him to the Of clemency a rare exampleConsulship to the admiration of all men. Tiberius being in Germany subdued all that rebelled, and although hee had one Warre after another to attend upon, yet hee could not keepe long away from Rome for feare of some other to be preferred by Augustus before him. But whereas there was a third brother to Caius and Lucius, called Agrippa, by whom he might have been indangered, he was so addicted to fishing, that Augustus tooke an utter dislike of him, and because hee had no Noble qualities in him, that hee banished him into an Island neere Corsica, from whence hee never returned again. Tiberius then followed the German and Palmatian Warres again, and when much time was spent and little done, Germanicus was sent thither with an Army also, and prevailed, whereof there was great joy, but this was again soone dampt, by news comming of Varus his overthrow. who was also sent out with three Legious, and in one fight, wherein the enemy came upon him unawares, they were all overthrown through his security and want of providence. This so much affected Augustus with griefe, that herefused all delights, and bear his head somtimes against the wall, crying out unto Varus to restore his Legions, he also rent his clothes, and neglected the cutting of his haire. But the next yeare Tiberius going again with a great Army into Germany, overthrew all Anno Dom. 9.where he came, neyther were any able to resist him. About this time Augustus made an Oration to commend marriage, and to inveigh against fornication wherein hee did notably set forth the praise of the one, and the basenesse of the other, because some, though incontinent, would not marry. Yet the Vestall Marriage preferred.Virgins who kept themselves pure he greatly commended and rewarded, but for such as refrained from marriage to avoyd the trouble and charge, yet following their fleshly lusts, he greatly condemned. Whilst these things were doing at Rome, or soone after, Iudas Gaulonites rose up, who is otherwise called Iudas of Anno Dom. 12.Galilee, of whom mentionis made, Acts 5. and taught the people that this taxe imposed upon them was nothin… else but a bringing of them into servitude to men, whereas indeed they ought to be servants to none but only to God. By this means another Sect arose amongst the Jews, which because it was chiefly amongst the Galileans made them very hatefull, and consequently the Disciples of Christ. And to wipe away this blot, both Paul. Rom. 13. taught obedience to the higher powers, and paying taxes, and Peter, Chap. 2. and Christ before saying, Give to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God. When the people stirred up by Judas, gathered together to make a rebellion, they were pacified by Joazarus the High-priest, sayth Josephus, whereby it should seeme that he was restored to the High-priesthood again, from which he had been put down by Archelaus, yet Quirinus the Roman Consul, suffered him not to sit long, but Ioseph. l. 18. c. 3.removed him again, and set up Ananus the son of Seth, so unstable and wavering was the High-priesthood in those dayes, when the true Priest, Christ Jesus, after the order of Melchisedeck, was come into the world. But chiefly when Valerius Gratus another President of Syria was sent by Tiberius at his comming on to the Empire, for being the fift from Quirinus, he put down Ananus from being High-priest, and set up Ishmael the son of Fabius, and little after Eleazar the son of Ananus was set up, he being put down, and within a year after he being put down, he made Simon the son of Camithus High-priest, and within a year more, Josephus sirnamed Caiaphas. After this, Valerius Gratus returned to Rome, and Pontius Pilatus came to be governour there, which serves to give no little light into the sacred History, as where Caiaphas is sayd to be High-priest that year, and where Paul sayth, I know him not to be the high-priest, because there were so often changes in those dayes.
To returne to Augustus, hee with Tiberins, whom hee made Tribune, tooke again the number of the people in the field of Mars, where an Eagle having flown somtimes about, a strange thing happened, a Thunder being at the same time, the name Caesar, was therewith stricken so, that C the first letter was blotted out, hereupon, the Augurs sayd, that hee should live but an hundred dayes, and then be a God, as the rest of the name Aesar in the Hetruscan tongue signified. And accordingly hee dyed, being 77 yeares old, Anno Dom. 15.anno 57 of his Empire, and his adopted sonne Tiberius succeeded him, being aged then 55 yeares, but of the 57 of Augustus his reigne, 14 were spent in the time whilst hee ruled together with Anthony, as Josephus sayth. Augustus being dead, hee was burnt according to the manner, and his ashes buryed, and one there was a Pretour, who to flatter with Livia his wife, sware that hee saw her likenesse, when hee was in the flames, ascending up to heaven, for which shee gave him a great reward. Tiberius although hee were Emperour afterhim, yet did somtime hold the people in suspence, whether he would bee or no, calling the Empire a great Beast and a miserable and burthensome servitude, but at length hee being importuned about it, accepted A Kingdome what.of it. The forces in Germany hearing of the death of Augustus began to tumultuate, as if they would goe against their Countrey, and bring both the new Emperour and Senate under their girdle. But Drusus the sonne of Tiberius being maturely by him sent by the assistance of Junius Blesus, Delobella and of Tiberius his Letters wisely soone appeased this tumult again. Germanicus then, who had hitherto warred in Germany was by Tiberius made Consul, and called to Rome to triumph, indeed, because hee seared, that hee being great amongst the Souldiers, might attempt new stirs, if hee continued there still, and Drusus abode there to mannage the affairs of that Countrey. The Triumph held by Germanicus was great, hee being the grandchilde of Augustus the sonne of Agrippa Germanicus, and the son-in-law, and adopted sonne now of Tiberius. But whatsoever honour Tiberius did him, hee secretly harboured jealousies and feares of him, wherefore there being occasion by reason of great stirs in the East, he caused him by the Decree of the Senate to be sent away thither, for great tumults were then in Parthia, and Armema by competitours for those Kingdoms which Germanicus comming quieted, and as great power was given him over all parts East ward beyond the sea, as ever Pompey had. But withall Tiberius sent out Piso to be President of Syria, that he might Ioseph. l. 18. c. 3.be an instrument secretly to bring him to his end, wherefore hee was alwayes most crosse to Germanicus, and often quarrelled with him, and at length, as was thought, found means to poyson him, whereof he, after long sicknesse, dyed. This being heard at Rome, the people were mad with Piso, and the Senate Murther animated by an Emperour punisht.condemned him to die. Neither was this murther long unrevenged to Tiberius, for God suffered not his son Drusus to live to attein to the Empire, but the son of Germanicus had it, as shall afterwards beshewed.
But to return to the Jewish affairs, Archilaus being banished, as hath been sayd, his two brethren, Antipas, called also Herod, and Philip, provided better for themselves by insinuating into Caesar, by all the means that they could. For Herod built a City, or rather strengthened it, and changed the name from Betaramphtha to Julias, after the name of Caesars wife, and Philip doing the like to Paneas by Jordan, named it Caesarea. And Tiberius being Emperour, Herod built a new City, and called it Tiberias, to his honour, giving great immunities thereunto, whereby he came to be numbred amongst his friends. Pontius Pilate being sent, as was sayd before to govern over Judaea, he gave occasion of a great tumult in Judaea, because he brought into Jerusalem the Imperiall Banner with Ioseph. l. 18. c. 4.Eagles, and set it up there. For this the Jews tooke heinoufly, and in great multitudes came about him to desire the removing thereof, and although he rejected their request, yet they ceased not to importune him in the same thing from day to day: wherefore one day he appoynted his Souldiers to be ready in secret, and the Zeal against Images.Jews comming again to importune him, he drew them to the place where they lay, and then he giving a signe, his men rose up, and Pilate commanded them quietly to depart to their own houses, or else they should be slain all, but they shewing no feare of death, fell down, and offered their throats to be cut, rather then their law should be broken, this Pilate seeing, removed his Ensignes from Jorusalem to Caesarea, and so the people were quieted again. About this time both the Egyptians and Jews were expelled out of Rome upon these occasions. The Egyptians because Panlina a noble woman, addicted to the worship of their god Isis or Anubis was fraudulently corrupted by means of his Priests. She was a very faire woman, and marryed to a Noble man in Rome, but extreamly beloved by another Noble man called Mundus, who sought by all means to have his pleasure of her, but could not prevail, though he offered her 200000 drachmnes A knack of knavery.for once. Iden a bond-woman of his, seeing her master much troubled, and resolving by macerating his body upon this occasion to dye, offered if he would give unto her 50000 drams, she would help him to his desire with Paulina. He glad of the motion, payeth her the money, and she hastens to the Priests of Isis, offering them this great reward to perswade Paulina, that Anubis their god desired to enjoy her company one night, through the great love that he bare unto her. The chiefe of them therefore went, and prevailed so that shee came at night, and there in a darke place, Mundus lying hid, had his pleasure of her all night. And afterwards meeting her, derided her for her former coinesse, and cold her what he had done. Hereupon shee was so moved, that shee incited her husband to complaine to the Emperour, who did so, and then the Priests and Iden were hanged, and their Countreymen all banished from Rome, and so was Mundus also.
The Jews were expelled because a certain Jew taking upon him to be an interpreter of the Law of Moses, but a wicked fellow who had fled fron his own Countrey for feare of punishment for his wickednesse done there, taking to him three others like unto himselfe, perswaded Fulvia a noble woman of Rome, being addicted to the Jewish Religion, to send gold and purple to the Temple at Jerusalem, but they receiving it, converted it to their own use. This being complained of to Tiberius, all the Jews weretherefore bauished from Rome, 4000 of the ablest bodies being taken into service for the Warres in Sardinia, against the robbers there.
Touching the death of Piso President of Syria, by whose means and his Wives Germanicus was poysoned, he after this returning to Rome, where he thought to come into greater grace for this his bloudy fact, when hee saw, how hatefull hee was both to the Senate and people, slue himself, and two years after Drusus the Tacitus.son of Tiberius, who should have reigned after him, was poysoned by Sejanus, a man advanced by Tiberius, who through his pride aspired to the Empire. So he, Sin punisht in the kind.through whose instigation Germanicus had been unworthily poysoned by a man set in office for that purpose in Syria by him, had his own son poysoned by a man, whom he preferred, thinking, that hee should be an help unto him. But Drusus was by his father made Consul, together with himself before he dyed, whereupon it was foretold, that hee should dye a violent death, because so Germanicus, being Consul with Tiberius did before, and Piso also, and whosoever else was joyned Consul with him. The year before Drusus his death, Lutetius Priscus a Roman Squire having written verses in commendation of Germanicus, as a funerall Elegy, was by Tiberius well rewarded therefore, but being hereby animated, when Officiousnesse turned to destruction.Drusus was sick, he wrote again upon him the like verses, thinking he should have a greater reward, but they being contrariwise taken, as a prediction of his death at hand (his Epitaph being, as it were, all ready written) and hee that wrote it, one that rejoyced at it, he was put to death therefore. For the manner of Sejanus his poysoning of Drusus, it was by Drusus his own wife Lenilla, with whom he A wife against her husband.had committed adultery before, & drew her now to give poyson to her husband by the promise of marriage, and hopes of thus making her Empresse, for he thought, that after Tiberius, if Drusus were dead, none could atteine to the Empire but himself. And this he conceived because Tiberius favoured him so greatly and most highly preferred him: and to make way to this marriage, hee put away his own wife after that he had three children by her. But Drusus being dead, Tiberius came to the Senate and commended unto them Nero and Drusus, the two sons of Germanicus for his successours, for which they all rejoyced, and Sejanus was vexed. And now he studyed, how to make away these two and their mother Agrippina, and to this end first he procured the death of two principall men, their friends, under a colour of treason against Caesars Majesty, and afterwards sought to make them odious to Tiberius, by laying to their charge speeches against the Emperour, to which he was also prone enough as repenting him, that he had declared them his successours. In those dayes divers were cruelly put to death by Tiberius, whereby he shewed the tyranny of his minde, one amongst the rest Asinins Gallus comming to him in an Embassage hee feasted and used kindly, but when hee went from him to the Senate, hee wrote to the Senate to condemne him to death, and yet would not suffer him to be put to death a long time, but caused him to be kept with poore fare to make him weary of his life, neyther was any man permitted to speak with him, so that at length he counted it a favour to be executed. And this was because he sometime spake too freely against the Emperour, and his Tranquillus.unjust comming to that dignity. Sabinus likewise for speeches was condemned and imprisoned, and then killed and cast into the river, after whom his dog, that Tacitus. A dogs love.kept in prison with him leapt into the water and was drowned also. Besides his great tyranny, Tiberius was also greatly given to fleshly pleasure, and sensuall living in his old days, spending sometime two days and nights together in drinking. Also he once caused a certain friend of his to be put in bonds, and being demanded, when he should be put to death, he answered, not yet, because he was not yet reconciled Examples of cruelty.unto him, as counting it a favour to put such as had offended him to death. One being by him tormented, when he found him guiltlesse, he caused forth with to be slain, because, sayd he, his sufferings had been so great, that it was not fit for him to live. Another, a Rhodian being likewise by him tormented, and found to be without fault he slue also, lest living he should exclaime against him, and divers did he cause to be cast down before his eyes from an high rock upon ships, being so broken in pieces. But all this while Sejanus was more and more honoured by him, for it was decreed that his birth day should be publikely kept as the Emperours, and many Statues were set up unto him, and to his Statue they sacrificed as well as to Tiberius his, and to him were Embassadours sent, and by him and Tiberius they sware, and somtime they were both set forth in one picture. When Tiberius saw this, hee was much troubled at it, fearing his direct aspiring to the Empire. But by plain force to goe about to suppresse him, hee thought it dangerous, he having the Pretorian souldiers at his command, and so many Senatours on his side. Wherefore hee wrought another way, making him his fellow Consul; by which he was yet puffed up more, and accounted himself Emperour, and Tiberius only Ruler of the Island Capraea, in which for his pleasure he then lived. Wherefore through his pride, as Tiberius soon rejected the Consulship, so did he, and others were chosen. Then Tiberius used this art, Nero the son of Germanicus being dead, and Drusus his other son out of favour, through the means of Sejanus, he one day declared to the Senate, that aCaius Caligul. was son to his brother Germanicus, but Tiberius had a grand child called Tiberius being son to his son Drusus. being doubtfull, whether of these two should succeed him, he consulted with the oracle, and it being answered, he that came first to him in the morning, Caius Caligula came, and though against his mind declared Emperour, being called Caligula from the place where he lived, Naucler. Ioseph. 18. 8.Caius Caligula should be his successour, and made him High-priest, whereat finding, that they rejoyced, hee wrote sometimes to them praysing Sejanus, and sometime blaming him, and sometime that hee was even ready to dye, and sometime that hee would come amongst them, and sometime shewed favour to Sejanus his friends, and to others of them enmity. Hee lastly wrote to them by Macro, whom hee secretly made Pretour, giving him instructions, to put Sejanus in prison, and his two chiefe friends amongst the Senatours, whom he named. At the hearing of this all men were amazed, but one of the Consuls immediatly took him and carryed him away, and then the people offered many indignities to him, as he went and brake down all his Statues, and the next day hee was condemned by the Senate, and executed, and his dead body cast upon the banks of Tyber. His bAmbitions end.sons also were slain and his daughter, a Virgin strangled, and many more of his chief friends through the rage of the people then perished, he being herein made an example, as Haman. Thus vengeance suffered not him to live, who had been the death of cOn murtherers vengeance.Drusus, and she that had been the instrument now confessing it murthered herself. Many more of Sejanus his friends were afterwards slaine, both men and women, and their dead bodyes cast into the River Tyber, at Tiberius his command, who used this policy to finde them out. Hee pretended to be pacified towards him, and to forget all things past, so that now whoso would might mourn for him. But such as were hereby found out to love him, were cruelly slaine, and a mother dCruelty unparalleld.but mourning for her son slain amongst the rest was put to death also. Insomuch as some of high rank and quality abhorring these doings, denyed food to their own bodyes, till they dyed. Agrippina also the Wife of Germanicus and her son Drusus were slaine, that were of a faction contrary to Sejanus. A certaine Nobleman also his familiar friend, because hee having a fair daughter conveyed her away for feare of him being so lecherous was accused for incest with her, and presently both father and daughter were executed, and all his goods seized upon by this bloudy Tyrant.
To return to the affairs of Judaea again, Herod Antipas most wickedly rejecting the daughter of K. Aretas his Wife, took Herodias the Wife of his brother Philip, Anno Dom. 30.who like a vile adultresse forsaking her own husband came unto him. For this John the Baptist afterwards reproved him, and was beheaded, but King Aretas Herods incestuous marriage.for this made War against Herod, and overthrew his army, through Gods just judgment, as it was generally thought amongst the Iews, for his taking away of the life of so holy a man. For as he taught Christ, so did he justice and righteousnesse and repentance, for which he was much reverenced of the people. The time of Johns beginning to preach is noted, Luke 3. 2. to have been when Annas and Caiphas were High-priests. Caiaphas, as hath been already sayd, was High-priest and so continued certain years more after this, being, as is reckoned the 12th year of his Pontificality. Annas whom Josephus calls Ananus, had been High-priest, but was removed long before, as hath been already shewed, by Valerius Gocatus, President of Syria, and three others one after another preferred between him and Caiaphas. Annas therefore is only sayd to be High-priest also, because he had once been & living still, and being father-in-law to Caiaphas, he did him most probably that honour to entitle him High-priest also, seeing there was never any more then one High-priest at a time, who executed that office, see a place somwhat like this 2 Sam. 8. 16, 17. where Zadok and Ahimelech are sayd to be Priests, meaning chiefe Priests, but Ahimelech then alone was High-priest, so Zadok was but the chiefe of another family, and to be High-priest when Ahimelech, otherwise called Abiathar should be put down, as hee was in Solemons time. Pontius Pilate had now been Procuratour of Judaea about five years, and Tiberius Caesar in the 15th. yeare of his Empire. And now Jesus came and was baptized, of John, as is thought January the sixth, and from thence was led of the Spirit into the Wildernesse to bee tempted, but returning to John again sometimes, hee shewed him to bee the Lambe of God, taking away the sinnes of the World, and then Disciples began to follow him, and hee wrought that miracle Iohn 2.of turning water into wine, after which he went about doing many more, in healing the sick, clensing Lepers, casting our Devils, raysing the dead, &c. so that many were hereby moved to believe, that hee was the Christ, and in particular Nicodemus, and Abagarus King of Edessa, who wrote unto him being drawn by Abagarus King of Edessa.the fame of his miracles to desire him to come unto him, and heal him, and dwell and enjoy his City together with him, because he heard, that the Jews amongst whom hee was, carryed themselves spightfully towards him. But Jesus answered, Naucler. ex clemente.that for his believing he was blessed, for he wrote, that by his miracles hee gathered, that eyther he was God or the Son of God. And for comming to him, hee sayd, that he must fulfill all things for which he was sent, there and then to be taken up again to him, that sent him, but after his taking up hee would send one of his Disciples to heal him, and to give life to him and his, which he did, for Thaddaus was sent unto him and converted his Countrey soone after Christs decease. Ioseph. l. 18. c. 4.Josephus also giveth him this testimony, that he was a wise man, if it be lawfull to call him a man: for he wrought many wonders, and had many followers both of the Iews and Gentiles. This was Christ, whom by the instigation of the chiefe of the Iews Pilate crucified, but hee shewed himself alive again the third day, and foretold many things, and from him the whole stock of Christians have their name. The time of his suffering death by the consent of all Writers was, anno 34 Anno Dom. 34.of his age, after that since his beginning to shew himself at his Baptisme hee had kept three Passeovers, & to prepare for his death had kept a fourth instituting the Sacrament of his Supper, the night before, anno 35, Iames, Peter, Iohn, according to Clement, being the chiefe of the Apostles, as to whom the Lord imparted all knowledge, did not yet take any principality over the rest upon them, but made Iames Bishop of Ierusalem, where he sate thirty years. Immediatly the first perfection began, wherein Steven was stoned. And Pilate wrote to Tiberius, the Naucler.news of Christs miracles, death and signes, for which many believed him to be a God. Tiberius then being moved hereat, would have had the Senate to put him into the number of God: but they affirming it to be contrary to their Law to make any a God, but such as should first be propounded by the Senate, refused to doe it, whereat Tiberius was angry, and found means to cut off Sejanus, who was chief in withstanding it, and almost 20 Senatours more. Yet the Senate made an Edict to expell all Christians out of Rome, but Tiberius contrariwise made it death to accuse any man hoc nomine, that hee was a Christian. So that God made Gods providence in propagating the Gospel.him although a cruell Tyrant, a means to propagate the Gospel, when as through his favour Disciples were in all Countryes dispersed to preach Christ Jesus. Tiberius lived after the passion of Christ to the third yeare, being then aged 78, and having first appoynted Caius Caligula the son of Germanicus his successour, as was before sayd, and then dying of a Feaver, too good an end for one so wicked and tyrannicall, but for his good will declared towards Christ Jesus, haply this Anno Dom. 39.favour was shewed unto him, contrary to that which hath been usuall to others so exccedingly wicked. A little before his death Pontius Pilate was accused by the Jews for many crimes unto him, whereupon he was sent for to Rome to answer them, when he had been now Procuratour of Iudaea 10 yeares, but before he came at Rome Tiberius dyed. Yet his wickednesses wherewith he was charged dyed not, viz. his unjust putting of some to death, and causing tumults amongst the Jews by putting Caesars Image in the Temple, and polluting their sacrifices, and Euseb. 7. Cap. 7. Pilates death, Anno Dom. 41. Ioseph. 18. c. 6.imploying publike moneyes to his private use: For Vitellius President of Syria being complained to hereof caused him to goe to Rome to answer it, and Tiherius dyed at that instant. But in the time of Caius Caligula his successour, he was banished to Lyens in France, and there in trouble of minde slue himselfe. Caiaphas also the High-priest was now put down by Vitellius, and Ionathan the sonne of Caiphas his punishment.Ananus set up in his stead, but he also was soone after put down by the same Vitellius, and another set up in his stead.
Lastly to shew together the punishments of all the greatones, who persecuted Jesus. Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, who had eluded him with his men of warre, being moved by the importunate instigation of his wife Herodias went with her to Rome to desire, that he of a Tetrarch might be made a King, as Agrippa Tetrarch of Trachonitis, after Philip had lately been at Rome; by the singular favour of Caius Caligula. But when he came thither, Caius understanding Ioseph. l. 18. c. 9 Herods punishment.by letters, which Agrippa wrote purposely to him against Herod, although his sisters husband, that he had prepared 70000 armes to joyne with the Parthian King Artabanus, and that he had before conspired with Sejanus against Tiberius, he gave his Tetrarchy to Agrippa and all his treasures, and then banished him into France, whether Herodias, who was offered more favour for her brother Agrippaes sake, accompanyed him, so partaking of his misery. Before this time Herod, as his father Herod formerly, had sought with great cost and bounty in entertaining Caius and Artabanus together upon a peace concluded between them, to insinuate into his favour, but the just judgement of God would not suffer him to enjoy it, but thus to be rejected and contemned, as he had contemned our Lord Jesus. Philip his brother, whose wife Herodias had marryed, as hee lived alwayes in peace, so hee dyed, when he had continued 37 years Tetrarch of Trachonitis, &c. and was honourably buried. Hee used to goe in progresse with a few men, having a chaire alwayes carryed after him and if any man upon Ioseph. l. 18 c. 6.the way came to him to complain, he stayed, and there his chaire being set, heard the cause and judged it, he dyed, Anno Domini 37.A Pattern for Princes.
Touching Agrippa, to whom his Tetrarchy was given and that of Trachonitis also, Funccius called Herod Agrippa. Hee was sonne to Bernice, neere to Herod the Great, for shee was his sister Salome her daughter, and bare Agrippa to Aristobulus. He living at Rome after his mothers decease, in the time of Tiberius was so prodigall in his expences to get favour with Drusus the Emperours sonne, that hee soon brought himselfe to poverty. Then Drusus dying, as hath been sayd, and all his friends forbidden to come at the Emperours Court, because, he thought, that the sight of any of them would renew his griefe for his sonnes death. Agrippa was necessarily inforced somtime to live poorly, but his wife making meanes to Herodias, shee moved her husband Herod, and so he was made Governour of Tiberias, and had maintenance given him. But when hee saw that Herod did this for him with much pride, casting in his teeth this his beneficence, he left Tiberius to goe to Rome again, borrowing much money to inable him so to doe, and comming neere the Island Capreas, where Tiberius lived, leave being first obtained, hee came, and was welcome to him. But within a few dayes hearing that hee came from Judaea, greatly indebted to elude his creditours, hee was angry, and about to put him from him. He therefore borrowing money of Antonia, mother to Germanicus, and grandmother to Caius, payd his debts, and so the Emperour was pacified towards him. And into such favour he grew, that he made him tutour to Caius, whereby he came to be greatly beloved by him also. But Eutychus servant to Agyippa, and his Coachman hearing him once say, I would that the old man were dead, that thou ô Caius, who art more worthy mightest come to the Empire, purposed to tell this to the Emperour, but going to the Court and declaring his end, viz. to discover somwhat to the Emperour, hee was taken and imprisoned long before hee could be heard, for this was Tiberius his manner towards such, as came to complain of any thing to him. At length Agrippa not suspecting, that hee would say any thing against him, procured liberty unto him, by the great importunity of Antonia, that he might be heard. But so soon as he was heard, Agrippa was sent bound to prison, and there continued five or six moneths, and then Tiberius dying, Caius soon delivered him, and honoured him with a Crown of gold, and made him Tetrarch of that Tetrachy which belonged to Philip, who dying without issue, it was committed to a Roman Governour, but now given to Agrippa, and the Tetrarchy of Abilene, which Lisarias had, who was now dead also, and he made him a King, and when Herodias, the Wife of Herod Antipas envying him for this sought to have her husband equally advanced, his Tetrarchy of Galiles being taken from him, as hath bin shewed; that was also given unto Agrippa. Touching Caius Caligula, the son of Germanicus, he came to the Empire with the liking and good will of all the people, by reason of his fathers vertues, which made him to be in high estimation: for they hoped that he would be like unto him. But when he was Emperour, although he were well disposed before he was so changed, as if he had never been that man. For he was most intemperate day and night, not sleeping above three houres in a night, but following the pot, most libidinous defiling his own three sisters, and then banishing them, and most crucil and proud, insomuch that he would have his Image set up in every Countrey, and worshiped as a god. Josephus sayth, that he ruled well a yeare and more, but then fell thus sowly. He first shewed his cruelty against Tiberius his brother, grandchild to old Tiberius, in murthering him, whom the dying Emperour, who out of meere grace adopted him, most earnestly commended to his brotherly love, desiring that only thing of him, to use him lovingly as a brother. Then he sent his Image to be set up in the Temple at Jerusalem, and the Jews withstanding it, he sent Petronius to be President there, and with his Army to slay all the Jews, who made resistance. The Jews hearing this lay down before him, offering their throats to be cut, and would none of them doe any husbandry worke for 40 dayes together, although then it were sowing time. Whereat Petronius was so moved with compassion, that he wrote to Caius, though to the hazard of his own life to beseech him to revoke his Decree, and so willed Iews to goe about their husbandry businesse, and promised to doe nothing about the Image setting up, till he heard answer from Caius. Now it was noted, as a signe of Gods good liking of this, that there fell immediately a gracious rain to make the ground fitter for tillage. And when Petronius his letters came to Caius, Agrippa was feasting him in such sumptuous manner, that he offered to grant him whatsoever he would aske, and when he through modesty refused to aske any thing, because he was so much bound to him, for his bounty already extended towards him, he would not cease pressing him to aske somthing, vowing to performe it, whatsoever it should be, till that he asked the reversing of the Decree of setting up his Image in the Temple at Jerusalem: Caius hearing him aske that, was much troubled, but because he had sworne, he granted it, yet within a short time hearing by some that came from Jerusalem, how stiff and stout the Iews were, he was inraged against Petronius, and wrote to him to kill himselfe, but before that letter came to his hands Caius dyed, and the news thereof came unto him, whereby that mischiefe was prevented. Iosephus lib. 18. de Bel. c. 11.Caius dyed by the hands of Cheroeus and Sabinus by the counsell of the Senat, as he came from the Circean playes, when he had reigned three years, ten moneths, and eight dayes, and because it was feared, that if his wife and daughter should live still, they would be revenged for his death, they were forthwith slain also. Then Nauclerius.the Senat consulted to have no more Emperours, but Consuls to govern again as of old, but the Souldiers loving the liberality of the Emperonrs, set up Claudius, the Uncle of Caius, an honest and quiet man, for Emperour. And now Agrippa dealt politickly to raise himselfe yet higher, for talking with the Senatours he offered to goe in their names to Claudius, to pray him quietly to lay down the Empire, A cunning Politician.for feare of further danger, and this by their consent he did, but when he spake thus openly to him, he whispered in his eare by and by, that he should not Iosephus tels this story in a different manner, lib. 2. c. 10.lay it down, telling him, that most of the Senatours were for him, whereby Claudius being animated, refused to lay it down, and Agrippa returning to the Senate told them how strong he was by reason of the Souldiers, and therefore to avoyd further danger, perswaded them to establish him Emperour. Hereupon they consented, and so Claudius was Emperour by consent of all, who a little before, fearing lest all the race of Tiberius Coesar should be cut off, hid himselfe in an Anno 43.old brick wall, but was drawn forth by the Souldiers and thus advanced, And to Agrippa for a reward he gave the Tetrarchy of Judoea, so that now he was King of all foure. And at the beginning of his Empire, saving that hee cut off some Senatours, which had conspired the death of Caius, hee carryed himselfe graciously towards all men, releasing out of prison such as Caius had imprisoned, and remitting Tributes to the Trojans, and reducing exiles home who had been by Caius banished.
About this time, viz. Anno 44, the twelve Apostles dispersed themselves into Anno 44.all parts, preaching the Gospel, and James went into Spain, but when he could doe no good there, he returned to Judoea, seeking to convert men there. But Abiathar being High-priest stirred up the people against him, and Herod Agrippa the King, to pleasure the Jews cut him off and layd hold upon Peter, thinking to doe the like to him: but hee was by the Lord prevented, Peter being miraculously Acts 12.delivered, and he suddenly smitten by the Angel of God, when he was by the people most honoured. Josephus sayth, that immediately after his Oration Iosephus Antiq. lib. 19 c. 7. the words of Agrippa. En ego vestra appellatione Deus vitamrelinquere cogor, futali necessitate coarguente verstrum mendacium, & quem immortalem salu tastis ad mortem rapior. Iosephus lib. 2. de Bel. c. 11.an Owle appeared unto him as a signe of death, whereupon he sayd, Behold, your God must dye, and being tormented five dayes, with worms eating his guts asunder, he dyed, when he had reigned seven years, almost foure in the time of Caius, and three of Claudius. His son Agrippa being very young, was not thought fit to have the Kingdom committed unto him, wherefore a Roman Governour was again set over it, called Cuspius Cadus. Yet Agrippa the son was 17 years old, and he left also three daughters, whereof Bernice was one, who was married to Herod her Uncle King of Calcides, at 16 years of age, and Drusilla another. But the same Josephus, de bel. l. 2. 10 as forgetting himselfe sayth, that Claudius reducing the Kingdom of Agrippa into a Province, made Ceslous Felix President there, which is the more probable, because of Festus, mention is made in the Booke of the Acts. After Festus, Cumanus was made President, one only Alexander comming between, and Herod of Calcide being dead, Claudius made young Agrippa King there. In Cumanus his time, Anne Domini 49, at a festivall time of the Jews, Gods judgements began to worke to the destruction of many of them thus. The Roman Souldiers standing armed in a gallery, when they saw the Jews come thick to the Temple one of them put down his breeches, turning his buttocks towards them, and speaking to them accordingly, hereupon the Jews were provoked and threw stones at the Romans, and pressing towards Cumanus would have that Souldier punished, Cumanus seeing this sent for more Souldiers, who came & then the Jews fearing, ran away, thronging one another with such violence, that 10000 of them perished by this means. And immediately after, a Jew being slain by some of Samaria, a great multitude of the Jews went against the Samaritans to be revenged. Their principall men sought to slay them, and complained to Cumanus, who neglecting to doe justice, they did many outrages, and suffered many. But at length the chief of them complained to Quadratus President of Syria, who came and did them justice, but hanged many of the Jews, and sent their ringleaders to Rome, and Cumanus to give account for himselfe, who was by Claudius banished, and Celer a Tribune was sent back to the Jews to be drawn through the City and hanged, and three of the chiefe stirrers in Samaria were punished with death at Rome. Then Felix was made President of Judoea, and Agrippa his Dominion was encreased by adding that, which Foelix governed before, unto it. The Apostle Peter, having after the passion of our Lord, founded and confirmed the Churches in Asia foure years, and sitten Bishop in Antioch seven years, came to Rome, Anno Nauclerus.4 of Claudius, to which City Simon Magus had come before and deceived the people, insomuch, that they honoured him as a god, and an Altar was set up to him there, with this inscription, Simoni sancto Deo. But when Peter came to Rome, Simon was soon by him confounded and perished, and Peter sate Bishop there 25 yeers, as many Historians write. Anno 14 of Claudius, he waxing old Anno Dom. 56.prepared for his departure by making his Will, but before it was signed, his wife Agrippina was fearing least Germanicus, whom he had by another wife, should be made Emperour, poysoned him, but concealing his death a while, she with her consorts made her son Nero Emperor: now Agrippina was sister to Caliguloe & daughter to Germanicus Claudius his brother and Nero was before this married to Octavia, daughter to Claudius by another wife. Claudius dyed being aged 64, his vices were, that hee was wonderfully given to wine and women, changing his wives often. Nero being Emperour, carryed himselfe very modestly five years, being courteous to all men very studious, remitting tribute, and so averse Suetonius.from cruelty, that when he was to signe a Warrant, for the execution of any man, hee used to say, he wished, that hee knew no letters: but afterwards hee proved A changling.a Monster for all manner of vice, exceeding his Uncle Caligula, whose sisters sonne he was. He spared neyther mother nor sister from defilement or death. He was but 17 when he began, and was ruled till he came of full age, by his mother and Seneca, a most wise and honest man his Tutor, and Burrus another of like wisdome and gravity, who together with Seneca, ordered all things, but soone after he came to rule without guides, he shewed how vile his nature was. In his second yeare, Paul the Apostle was sent by Festus to Rome, from whence he being after two years released, went forth again preaching the Gospel. The Jews in the mean season were through Gods just judgement, diversly molested and wasted, somtime by robbers divers years together, then they being suppressed by such as were called Sicarii from Sica a short sword, which they did weare under their garments, being long, and secretly killing many at noon day, and their sword being soon put again, passing away unknown. Then by a pretended Prophet, an Egyptian, who drew together 30000 of them, and going towards Ierusalem, they were soone put to flight by the President there, and dispersed. Moreover, by Ioseph. l. 2. c. 12.robbers again, and a Sect that would destroy all those Jews that obeyed the Romans, and lastly, by the Syrians and Jews fighting against one another, for a City built somtime by Herod, either part challenging it to belong to them. There was also, sayth Nauclerus, a contention about a wall built by the Jews, after that Agrippa being increased in dominion by Nero, had built a Palace neere the Temple, Nauclerus.from whence he might see into the Temple, and what was done there, for the Iews stomacking this, set up a wall so high that nothing could be seen, but by Agrippa and Festus then Governours, they were commanded to pull it down again. Of this they desired that Nero might be judge, and sending to Rome obteined that it should stand still, by means of a wise of his that favoured the Iewish Religion, called Pompeia, whom he had taken, putting away his wife Octavia. But greater miseries after this came upon the Iews, for Albinus succeeded Festus in the government of Iudaea, offered many indignities to them, wherewith they being provoked, somtimes tumultuated, and were many of them slain and spoyled of their goods and when Albinus his time was out, and Florus succeeded in the Ioseph. l. 2. de bello, c. 12, 13.government, their case yet grew worse and worse. For whereas Albinus had preyed upon particular persons, Florus impoverished whole Cities by his rapacity, so that many forsooke the Countrey, and at a festivall time Cestius Gallus, the President of Syria came to Ierusalem, they being then 300000 together, desired him to ease them of Florus, that pest of the Common-wealth, but reaped nothing but derision, their miseries still continuing. At length a great quarrel arose in Caesarea by reason of a great indignity done unto them before their Synagogue. For some of the Caesareans set a Samian vessell there, and in it sacrificed birds, whereat the Iews were much provoked, & there was a bickering betwixt them & the Caesareans, till that Iucundus comming with his men (who had bin left to keep peace when Florus went away purposely to Sebaste to give them an opportunity to tumultuate, caused the vessell to be taken away, & then there was some quiet: yet Florus had received 8 talents of the Iews gift there to shew them favour a little before in prohibiting certain buildings of taverns neer their Synagogue, but he so soon as he had the money, doing nothing for them went away to Sebaste, and this trouble arose, and although for a time Iucundus had pacified both sides, yet they of Caesarea renewed their malicious device, whereupon many of the Iews thinking their Synagogue to be polluted, hereby went away from thence, taking the Books of the Law with them to Narbata being 60 furlongs of, and some of the chief went to Sebaste to complain to Florus. But he instead of helping them, or doing them any good for the money which they had given him, reproved them for carrying away the Books of the Law, and put them in prison. When the news hereof came to Ierusalem the Iews there were mightily inraged &▪ spake disgracefully of Florus, wherefore he with his horse and foot went to Jerusalem, and when they fearing sent to pacific him, he by horsemen, whom he sent before, beat them into the City, not suffering them to come at him, and then entring the City went to take 17 Talents out of the Temple, and the people making some resistance, were slain to the number of 600 and upwards, and of their Nobles many being brought before Florus, were first whipped and then hanged, a thing, sayth Josephus, never done before, no, not in Rome, to any man that was ordinis equestris, as these were, a just reward for their whipping of our Lord, and thus much bloudshed for his bloud. And this was in the twelfth yeare of Nero, and was the beginning of Jerusalems destruction by Vespasian, which, followed within a short time after.
But before I speak of it, to return to Nero, after whose time that destruction hapned, he was so wicked, that he meditated, how to do mischief, amongst others, to recite only two or three. He caused secretly Rome to be set on fire at divers places at once, and standing in his Palace rejoyced to see the flames ascending. But he imputed it to the Christians, and thereupon began an hot persecution against them, in which both Peter and Paul suffered at Rome. And there being two men of greatest note, who had governed in his minority under his mother Burrus and Seneca, he found means soon to have Burrus poysoned, and Seneca a pattern of wisdom and all morall vertue, betwixt whom and Paul the Apostle had been much familiarity, he was stirred against by Pompeia his new Wife, and Tigilinus a new favourite, who came in the room of Afranius Burrus. Seneca seeing this thought to withdraw himself from employment, and so from all occasion of distaste in the Emperour, that he might be out of danger, and live the rest of his days and dye quietly. And to this end hee went to Nero thanking him first for all his favours towards him, and promoting him to that height of honour, and bestowing such large revenues upon him, then offering to restore all the lands given him to the Emperour again, and craving leave in regard of his age now to go and live upon his own privatly in Campania. To this Nero immediatly answered, that hee had done no more for him then he deserved, and that hee did him wrong to offer such restitution, whereby, if he should accept of it, he should be brought into disgrace amongst all men, who would say, that hee took from his best friend his lands and revenues. Wherefore hee encouraged him to go on to assist him with his counsell, promising that his favour should always be alike towards him, and so hee embraced and kissed him. But hee notwithstanding came little after this to the Court, but went home to his house in Campania, there living in private three years. But all this time his enemyes ceassed not to traduce him to Nero, saying, that hee might see, how little love he bare to the Emperour, by his keeping so long away from him. And then a conspiracy hapning to be against Nero by Piso, Natalis his friend was taken and put upon the Rack, who confessed Piso to be chief conspiratour, and that Seneca was one; hereupon Nero sent to examine Seneca, and then to denounce death unto him, but because he had been his Tutour, he bade him choose what kinde of death he would. Hereat his wife and friends stood all amazed and stricken with griefe, but he being undaunted, comforted them. His wife yet refused to be comforted, and would dye with him by the same kinde of death, which was by bleeding, and although he earnestly sought to disswade her, he could not, so they both were let bloud, and yet he being dead, and shee surviving, shee was content to have her wounds bound up, and so her life was saved, but within a while after she dyed. The Senate then being weary of such a Monster, decreed that Nero was an enemy to the Common-wealth, and should dye, which hee hearing fled out of the City, only foure accompanying him, and when some followed to kill him, he with his sword slue himselfe, when he had reigned 14 years, and so there was an end of the race of the Caesars and their family, no more of them Anno Dom. 70.succeeding in the Empire, and this was two years after Seneca his death, and many more cut off after him. Before this, James Bishop of Jerusalem being commanded by Ananus, the High-priest to renounce Christ Jesus, and denying so to doe, was set upon a pin of the Temple, and thence cast down, yet he still living. prayed God to forgive them, and then being stricken on the head with a Fullers club, he dyed, Anno 63, for which he being so godly a man, it was thought by the Jews themselves, that God brought that great destruction upon Jerusalem by Titus and Vespasian, anno 33. Betwixt Nero and Vespasian there were three Emperours in two yeares, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. Galba chosen by the Souldiers in Spain and France, was for his covetousnesse and sloth slain within seven moneths after by Otho, who had been a familiar friend of Nero, Otho within foure moneths was overcome by Vitellius, whom the forces in Germany made Emperour and slue himselfe. Vitellius a very bellygod continued but eight moneths, and then Vespasian being made Emperour, he was taken and drag'd through the City with his face upwards, and then slain and cast into Tyber. Vespasien taking the Empire by much intreaty upon him, for hee rather declined it as a burthen, had a sonne called Titus then in Judoea, from whence also he came to Rome to receive the Empire. For there being great tumults in Judoea, by meanes of Florus, Cestius Gallus then President of Syria, came with his Army to appease the tumults, and King Agrippa with him, but being beaten back by the seditious Jews with great slaughter on both sides, he sent to Nero to signifie this great rebellion. Then Vespasian with his sonne Titus was sent, and great forces were gathered, and many places assaulted and taken, and Jerusalem assaulted also, and the people greatly wasted by divisions within. At what time Vespasian hearing of Neroes death, pansed for a time, whilst Galba, Otho, and Vitellius had run their race. Then he being chosen Emperour went to Rome, and left his son Titus in Judoea as Generall of the Army. Now in the tumults hither to it is infinite to recount the destructions of the Jews, at Cesarea, Ptolomnis, Johannes, Galilee, &c. who so pleaseth, may reade of them in Josephus. There were also divisions in the City, Eleazarus against Jonathan, and Simon without with 40000 men against them both. But he being let in by one part, made the confusion greater, because he stood upon the magnifying of himselfe above all. Then the old men and women made great lamentation, and thought long for the comming of the Romans again, as thinking themselves now in a worse case then if the Romans should come against the City, For great murthers were daily committed, and many outrages done, so that it could not goe worse with them then if the City were full of most barbarous enemies. Titus then advanced with his Army from Coesarea, but when he was within 30 furlongs of Jerusalem, he causing his Army there to stay, went before towards Ierusalem to see, whether for fear the Jews would not how seeke to him for peace, and he went attended only with 800 horsemen. The Jews instead of comming out to parle about peace, came forth in great multitudes about him and his men to destroy them, so that Titus was in great danger, and was constrained to make his way through them with his sword, escaping the many darts that were thrown at him, more by a singular providence of God, then otherwise, for he was unarmed, and yet passed away to his Army without wound, two of his men only being slain. Then he brought up all his Army, but the divided Jews now agreeing together went out and fought furiously against the Romans, so that they made them to feare, and to begin to run away, till that Titus incouraging them, and comming to their helpe, turned again the course of the battell, killing many and putting all the rest to flight. Then the Romans fell to working, to make a wall for their defence against sudden incursions of the Jews. But the Jews came fiercely upon them again, and then Titus the second time escaped narrowly a great danger, and beatthe Jews away again. After this, Mounts were in divers places cast up about the City, and these were again by the Jews undermined, and fire being put to, burnt. Then more were erected, and the outward wall battered and won, and after that the second. But before this, Titus requiring it, Iosephus whom he had with him, being taken at Iotopata, made an Oration to the Jews to yield and save their City, but they did nothing but revile him, and many bloudy skirmishes comming between, he exhorted them again, but all in vain. Then with great difficulty the third wall was won in that part next the Temple, and Titus exhorted them to save then Temple, professing how unwilling he was to destroy it. But they fought against the Romans so fiercely from thence, that he was forced at length to put fire to part of it, and much being burnt, he caused the fire to be quenched again, being willing to save the rest, but the fight continuing, the souldiers set fire to it, and so all was burnt down. Then they fought still against the Romans in the City, till that was destroyed also, the Temple, August 10, and the City in September, anno 2 of Vespasian, for which Vespasian and Titus his son Anno Dom. 72.afterwards held a glorious triumph at Rome, Johannes and Simon the two chiefe Captains of the Jews being reserved for it. During the time of this war 1100000 of the Jews perished, sayth Josephus, and 9000 were taken and sold into divers parts, yet Titus commanded, that none should be slain, but such as were in arms when the City was taken. Thus both the bloud of Christ was revenged upon the Jews which they called for upon them and their children, and that came upon their Temple, which he foretold, not one stone being left upon another, their own obstinacy and not the Romans cruelty, through Gods just judgment bringing this upon them. And it is remarkable, how that all Christians were by divine admonition before this gone out of the City to Pella, and preserved from perishing together with them. Thus I have drawn down the History of the Church of God, interlaced with some others of the World, with whom the Iews had to doe, and without the knowledge of which, this cannot be well understood, not only to the time of the Passion of our blessed Saviour, but also to the time of their extirpation, that were his betrayers and murderers, and of their Countrey, City and posterity for the further confirmation of Christian people, in their believing, that he whom they so spitefully slue was the dearly beloved Son of God, and therefore God ceassed not ever after that to lay heavy judgements upon them from time to time, till they were thus consumed, in their own Countrey and in other Countries, wheresoever they became. For before, although they lived under the Romans, yet they were by them honourably used as confederates, and had divers favours done them. Yea, after that upon their own desire, Archelans, the sonne of Herod the Great being banisht, Indoea was made a Province. But after they were vilified, derided, and indignly used in all places, and could never recover their credit any more, and more of them in a shorter time were destroyed then ever before. And now the prophecie of Daniel touching the Messiah slain, and the judgement following thereupon, appears to be fulfilled, where he sayth, He shall destroy the City and the holy place, and the people, and the end of it shall be with a floud, that is, not of Dan. 9. 2.water, but fire burning downal things. I have also in great brevity given the Reader a taste of the State of the great Monarchy of the World then ruling, being of much avail to be known, because hereby especially God executed his wrath against the Iews, as formerly by the Monarchy of Assyria and Babylon, great varieties occurring herein, being full of delight and profit to the discreet Reader. Now to God only, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, who hath strengthened me to perfect this great Work, extending from the beginning of the World to the foresayd fatall downfall of Ierusalem, through 4034 years, be all honour, prayse and glory for ever and ever, AMEN.
FINIS.