1 Machabees — Chapter 15

cuil time. 6. And now here we are praying foryou. 7.Wac Demetrinsreizned , in the yeare one hundreth fixtie nine , (4) we lewes wrote vnto you 10 the tribulation, trom . : * hh obs dviolewce , thar came vpon vs in thefe yeares , fice lafon reuolted ? ** \V,7 OF MACHABEES, 894 from the holie land, and from the Kingdom. 8. They burnt the gate? and hed innocent bloud : and we prayed to our Lord,& were heard, & we offered facrifice, and fine floore,and lighted the lamps, and fer forth p there breads. 9. And nowcelebrate ye the dayes of Scenopegia of the month Caffeu. 10. In the yeare one hundreth eightie eight , the people that is at lerufalem, and in lurte, and the fenare, and (b) ludas ,to Ari- {tobolus the maifter of Prolomee the King , who is of the {tock of the annointed Priefts , and to thofe lewes that are in Agypt, health and welfare, t1, Being deliuered by God ont of great dangers , we giue him thankes magnifically,as who haue foughragainft fuch aKing-12.For he madethé fwarme out of Perfis, that haue fought againft vs, & the holie citte.13.For whé he wascaptaine in Perfis,& with him a very great ar- mie, he felin the temple of Nania,being deceiued by the counfel of Na- neaes Priefts.14. For Antiochus , and histreinds canseto the place as to dwel with her, & rhathe might receiue much morey vider the title of a dowrie.15.And when Naneaes Priefts had layde it torth,and he witha few wasentred witnia the cpaffe of the temple,they dhur the tépie,16, when Antiochus was entred in; & afecreteentrace of the temple betag ope..ed,caftirg {tones they ftruck the duke and thein that were wich ‘him, and diuided them in pieces,ard cutting of their heads they threw them forth, 17. Bleffed be the God in al things , who hath deliuered v ‘the impious, i8, We therfore meaning to keep the purification of the ‘temple the fiue and tweatith day of rhe month Vafleu , thought it necef- fary to tignifie vnto you : that you alfo may keep the day of Scenopegia, and the day of the fre that was ziuen, Wacn Nehemies, atter the tem- ple was butle & the altar,offered facrifice.r,.For when our tatherswere caryed/.)into Perfis,the Priefts thatthei-were the worfhippers ot God, taking the fire from the altar, hid iz fecretly in a valley ivhere there ws a pitte deep, & dry, &therin they faued it,fot hat the place was va- ksowne to al men, 20. But when manie yeares had pafled,and it peafed God that Nehemias fhould be fent of the King ot Perfis : he fent the nephewes of thofe Priefts, that had hid it, to fecke out the fire : and as they told vs , they found not fire , but (d) thicke water, 21. And he bad them draw, and bring vnto him : and the facrifices , that were Jayd on, bn ter ,andche wood , and the things that were layde therupon. 22. And as this was done , and the tiine was come that the funne tine forth, which before was in 9 cloude, there (¢)was kindled a great fire , fo that al merueilec, 23. Ardal the l’tiedts mace prayer , whiles the facrifice was confuming, lonathas be.inning , and the reit anfwering, 24. Aad the prayer of Nehemias was in this manner : O L ORL God crea- tour ct al,creadtul,& ftrong mit, & mercitul,w hich only art the goud King,2s. only giner,ouly iuft, and omnipotent,and eternal: waich deli- urren rach from aleuil, which madef: the tathers elect , and didft fan. étihe them, 26, Receiue the facrifice for al thy people I{rael, & keeptiy Terr 3 _ part, the Prieft Nehemias commanded to be fprinkled with the fame wa- (b ) It feemeth nat eicher this Ludas was the irft fonne of [ohn Hyrca- nus ( other- wife calied A- riftobolus } or rather Iudas Effenus, of w hon: ch.z v.14g.and of whom lofe- phus writerh, 18,13,6.19, ¢,Chaldea be Ing ncre to Pertis, is fume- times compre- hended wnder the fame name fo Mamecti- nus , in Pana- Zerica ad Iulia. reciteth 7 ifris anal upurates amongft the rivers of Per- fia, &S Chry- fultoin, bo. 6. im Math. faith the lewes were delinered from captsussie of 1 er- firs meaning Bablyon, \¢d)In this fre iwere foure mi- ‘ tracles Firftit iw as not cha:- iged into ayre ibur into water, ly,ao, e) Secondly this water be- ing caft on the hoftes of facrj- fice was kind- led asfhre v.22. \Tairdly sit burned ilf> being cat vpon ftones v.32, (g)Fourthly,it Was €xtin- lightrhar caine }from the altar. Vise b) Nephthar,fig- nifieth deliserse, ' which is the effet of puri- fication, for the temple & other holie things being purified , were :delinered from lprophane vic, qj ane 4. be. li.3.¢. 14. Offic. wrateth at Jarge of this Ymiracle. 6) Neither the tabernacle nor the arke were carzed away by Nabuchodos- iefor , but were oreterued by fone meanes: wid moft like befides the guifhed by the : med. 73, And asthe thing was made maniteft , st was told the Kinz of ra) S.Ambrofe.j. 904 FIRST BOOK part, and {anctine it.27. Gather together our difperfion , deliuer them, thatferue the Gentils , and regard the contemned & abhorred: that the Gentils may know thatthou art our God. 28. Afflict them that oppreffe vs, and that doe contumelie in pride. 29. Place thy peopleinthy holie place ,as Moyfes fayd, 30. Andthe Prie{ts fang hymnes,til the facrifice was confuined.31.And when the facrifice was confumed , of the reft of the water Nehemias commanded the greater ftones to be throughly wathed, 32. Which thing as it wasdone , out of them ( f )was kindled aflame: but (g) by light alfo , that fhined fromthe altar , ic was confu- i the Perfians, tharinthe place, wherin thofe Priefts that were tran{fpor- ted, had.hid fire, there appeared water, with the which Nehemias, and they that were with him, purified the facrifices. 34. And the King con- fider:ng, and diligently examining the matter, made a templeffor it, that he might approue. that which was done.35.And when he had approued it, he gaue to the Priefts manie good things, and diuerfe guirts, and. taking then with his owne hand, he gauetothem, 36. And Nehemias called this place (b) Nephthar , whichis interpreted purincation, Bur itis calied.with manie Nephi.

For this faysh alfo Mardo- chens, as is written in she booke of Efther, was perfecuted, and he with al the pea- ple were in extreme danger. Aind she authour of the booke of wifdome reachetl phat one God 1s knowen by confideration of bis -creatures : -Al men.aré vaine (fash Aaaaaa Soa CH isthe promdente of Almightie God,that not obfeurely , or at fome and after thesr reduttion were fubsect to firangers ruling ouer them,.and fometimes Gods true Ser- uice hath al- wayes conti- nued in the vil fible Church. Faith in one God isthe ground of al Religion:.- The B. Trini- tic reucaled tofome aud erered obfcu- rely int™ - old teftamen:, Diftin&tion of Perfons in jone God, The Father The Sonne. The Holie Ghof. 940 (faye) be,e.13.y.1.) that by things feen,vnderftand nor him that is:neither attcnting to the workes agnife who was the workiuan. So the aut! our of Ecclejiafticus 69.1. VB. profefferh : There is one moft high Creatour omni- potent, and mightie King, and tobe fearedexceedingly, titting yponthe throne,the God of Dominion, A: for the bigh Myfterie of thzee Divine Perfons inone God not fo com- monly reuealed in the old teftament, yet was it knowen and in /ome forte vttered: As Aggens 2.¥.5.¢7%6.1 am with you,faych the Lord of holts,the word that I did couenant with you when you came out of the land of Agypr: and my Spirit fal be inthe middes of you. Where, by the Lord of holts,# comonly “ynderftood God the Father; by his {pirit, God the Holie Ghoft,and the word may fignifie God the Sonne: of whoje Incarnation the Prophete plainly freaketh in the next verfes. For in thy confilteth the couenant between God and his people, that they should heepe his word of precepts and comandrsents expreffed inthe law : and be would fend them the word, his onlie Sonne the Second Diuine Perfon to redeeme mankind. Againe the fame three Perjons feeme to be dsffinguished in diners places.God the Father u defcribed according to mans {mal capacitie, Daniel 7.V.-9. thus: Thrones were ferce, and THE ANCIENT OF paAyes late: his velture white as {now , andthe haires of his head as cleane wool, his throne flames of fire, his wheeles fire kindled. He us called Ancient of .dayes, not only becaufe he eserna!, for foare the other two Diuine Perfons, but this terme is attributed to the Father,becaufe in order he i the begin- ning , from-cohom the other two Perfons proceede ( TheaSonne by generation , the Holie Ghoft from the Father and the Sonne by procesion.}To God the fonne the fame Prophet Daniel prayeth : ch. 9.°v. 17. faying : Now thertore heare o our God,the petition of chy feruant,and his prayers: and fhew thy face vpon CONTINVANCE OF THE thy Sanctuarie whichis defert,for thyne owne fake: that 1, for thyne owne merits : volich.can only be ynderftood of that Diusne Perfon, which u incarnate. Zacharie 12.V.10. God fpeaking by the Prophet fayth : 1 wilpowre out vpon the houfe of Dauid, and vpon the inhabitants of Ierufalem, the {pirit of grace and of prayers , which may eafily be vnderftood to be the promsfe of the B. Trinisiezbut that which mmediately foloweth:& they thal looke towards me, whom they pearced, can only be (poken by she Second Dinine Perfon,who only is incarnate,and was pearced in kis Pafsion. In the book of W i{dom is much written of wifdom increated, « terme appropriated to God the Sonne. efpecially ch. 2. 7.8.9.and 10. The like in Ecclefsafticus,ch.1.4.24. And ch.§1.V.14. w diftin mention of the Father eo the Sonne : 1 haue inuocated ( fayth the aushour , or ane faythful foule our Lord , the Father of my Lord, There is likewife parti- cular mention of the Holie Ghoff in-fome places. As 2.E/d.5.V.20, Thou gauett them the good Spirit, which fhould teach thé for the office of internal tea- ching ss appropriated to the HolieGhott. /oan.14.¥.17.4nd 16..13. The {pirit of truth, & he fhalteach you al truth, EX e6.36-¥.2 7.1 wil put my Spirit in the middes of you,and wil make that you walke in my precepts, Zach.7. y.12, The words whichthe Lord fent in n1s Spirit,by che hand ofthe former Prephets. Sap.1.¥.5. The Holie Ghoft of difcipline wil flye trom him CHVRCH AND RELIGION 9 . + him thatfeyneth. Evcle/ia/ficus 1.v.9. He created her in the Holie Ghoft, 24.¥.29. They that eate me,{hal yer hunger, and they that drinke me, inal yet thirft,Wiere God callezh the Holie Ghoft (which is receiued by grace) himfelf. Becaufe al three Dinine Perfons are one God. And that there be manie : D:usne Perjons in Ged who is one in (ubftance , # fufficrently fignified by a! shoe holie Scriptures, where God is called by the nanse Elohim , inthe plural number; lefpecially feeing this name Fath alfo the finguler number , Eloha. As lob. 12. V. 4. 0 36. Ve 2. Damel 2. VY. 28, Habacuc. 1. . 11. le 3.°¥. 3. Which laft place feemeth moft painly to fpeake of the Sonne ‘of God , EroHA MITHEMAN I4VoO. God -wil come ‘from Theman,or from the South. And therfore where this word Elohim (#5 Wed in the plural number ( as inmoft places itis) it fignifieth pluralitie of ‘ Perfonsin Gode Chrifts Incarnation is more cleerly foreshewed by the Prophets, who aboue other ‘confolations , moft efpectally comforted the people by their prophecies of Chriff our Sautour, leremie 23. v.5.1 wilrayfe vpto Dauid a iuft branch,and he fhal teigne a King, and fhal be wife, and he final doe iudgement and iuftice in the earth.ch.31.¥.23. A woman fal compaffe a man.chrift though sn boiie \ & litle infant, yet in power and wifdom was moft perfel of almen, euen when he ‘wae in his mothers wombe. Ch.33. v.14. Behold the dayes wil come, fayth out Lord,and I wil rayfe vp the good word. ‘¥, 13. I wil make the fpring of iuftice to bud forth vnto Dauid, & he fhal doe iudgement and iuftice inthe earth, Jerensies Lamentations are in greateft part of Chrift and bis Church, . Aind fome part can hardly be applied to ame orber,ch..3.°¥.30, He fhal give the _cheeketo him thar ftrikech him,he final be filled with reproches.c.4.v.20, _Chrift our Lordistaken in our finnes.Barac.2.¥.35, God promifing to reduce “the people from Babylon,addeth:And I wil eftablifh vnto them an other tefta- ‘ment euerlafting (by Chrift, whofe Kingdoms for eve ) that 1 be their God, and they fhalbe my people. ch, 3. ¥. 36. Thisis ourGod, and there 'fhal none otherbe efteemed againft him, ‘v.38. After thefe things he _ Was {een vpon the earth,and was conuerfant with men.Ezechiel peculiarly cailed by an Angel the fonne of man, was therin a fpecial figure of our Sausonr, t Ln a ee — ‘ who fo callerh bimfelf, And the fame Prophet bath in plaine termes foresbewed the . office of Chrift sherrue Paftour of al paftours. ch. 24. v.25. 1 wil ( faysh God by tats Prophet rayfe ) vp ouer them one Paftour,who thal feede therm,my feruant Dauid ; that is; Chrift prefigured by Dawid. His admirable “vijions in the three fir? chapters , and nine laft perteyne properly and principally t0 the new Teftament of Chrift,and bas.Church , shewing the aboundance of grace and lorie giuen by him to the ele. Damel 7. ¥. 13. With the clouds. of heaven there came in as it were the Sonne of man, and he cameeuentothe ancient of dayes, andin his. fight they offered him, He came enen to the ancient of dayes , becaufesnhis Diusnitie he ss equal to the Father : and in bis humanitie be 1s offered to God in Sacrifice. v.14. His power is-cternal : and his Kingdom thal not be corrupted.ch.g.v.2.4,Seuentic wekes(of yeares) are abridged , that fines may be forginen, grace be infufed, prophecies \ iof Chrifts Ia~ Carnation is imore frequent} Dan. Other places prouc plura- — litic of Per- fons in God, The myfterie & more: plaine in the holie Scriptures ef- pecially in the Prophets, leremie, Baruch. Ezech. be Aaaaaa 2 Aggeus, Zacharias. Malachiss. Alfo the books of wifdom. Ecclefiafticus. & Machabees. Prophecies & figures of the 'B. Virgin Mo- ither or God. Angels excel corporal crea- ures in multi- ude, And in power, They helpe men and are lawfully in- uocated by men, o iGod, and al i the Orient, cb.t cuer, whicheternal King proceeding from Daud can be none but Chrift our Sast- she Prophets did peake ( Luc. 24.7. 27.) il 242 CONTINVANCE OF THE be fulfilled, and the Holie one of boltes be annointed, Al which belong only to Chrift.v.26. Atter fixtie two weekes Chrift shal be flaine, tygess 2.V.8. The defired of al nationsshal come, Zach. 3, ¥. 8.1 wil bring my feruanc 3.¥.7.Strike the Paftour, and the sheep shal be difperfed, fulfilled in Chrifts Pafsion Mat.26.y. 21. Malach. 3, Vy. 2-Forthwith shal come to his temple the Dominatour, whom you fecke, ex the Angel of theteftament, whom ye defire, The booke of wifdom, ch. 2.V. 12. dejeri- beth the malice of the wicked againSt Chrift: Lets ( fay they) citcumuent the ] tuft, becaufe he isvnprofitable tovs: and he is contrarie to our workes, and reprochfully obiecteth to vs the finnes of the law. ‘v.13. He boafteth that he hath the knowledge of God , and nameth him felf the Sonne of God, Ecelefiaftiows 2.4.°.3 4.<God appointed to Dauid his feruanr, to raife vp aKingot him, moft{trong and fitting inthe throne of honour for our, And al the prasfes of Patridrches,c~ Propheses (in the laft erghe chapters) confi? in their faytb, and expettasion of Chryft. Lskev-vife the Priefts and people 4, Machi4. ¥ 28.35. 4nd 49. shev ved thew fayth of Chrift to come, when they eftablished Simon and lis progeniein the fouernment and highprieft hood, for ewer,ti] there rife the faithful Prophet, to “Vviste the Prophet of “yvbom al Among the reff leremie, ch, 31. ¥.23, and EXechiel ch. 4.4. v2. make alfo efpecal mension of fome fingular priuileges of the moft excellent irgin Mother of God. Of Vyhom alfo iudith and Efter y vere apparent figures ,-vvbo receiued fpectal graces for the benefite of sheir nation, and fo did this fongular Piegin re- cee of Ged moft eminent giufts , aboue.al other mere creatures , for the benefite of the vvhole Churcl of Angelsthe celeftial fpsrits , is frequent mension in the bolie Scriptures of this age. Their muliitude is innumerable, and therfore are infinuated to men by eneral termes. Daniel. 7. vy. 10. Thoufandes ofthoufandes miniftered to him, and tenne thoufand hundred rhoufandes affifted him, And thar po'vvre is moft great, and to men moft profitable. An Angel defended the shree children in she fornace, y valhing Vyssh shemin the fire. Daniel 3.°V.49.95- An other defended Daniel from the lions. ch. 6. v. 22. The fame or an other carted Habacuc from Iurie into Babylon, Dan. 4. Y. 35. And reftored bim in bis place againe. “y. 38. The Archangel Gabriel nfirnGed Daniel,ch. 8.V. 16+

, Proteftants hauc no better euafion , when they are pref- fed with thefe examples , then by denying the auGorite of the Books. For fecing the Prophet [cremic , and the High-Pricit Onias, being in Limbe patrwm (no holic foules afcending into heauen before Chrilt, did pray forthe whole people of the lewes, iris alfo certainethat they, and other Saints in glorie, doe of their excel- lent cha itie pray forthofe that are inthis mortal life Yet ncisher doe we Cathe- likes vrge this place, as though we had no other to alleage, for we thew the fame dogrine by other holie Scriptures, Gem, 48. Exe 32. lere, 15, Luc, te.2, Vetvi. 1. cA oc. 5. 0.8. and others: neither inuft we omize thefe Hooks , becaufe our aduer- faries denie them , feeing the learned Doftours and holie Fathers confirme the fimedoérine by thofe Scriptures Among others ancient Origen seme 18. in foan. fayths, 1t appeareth chat Saints departed from this life haue carc-of the peo. ple , asat is written (fayth he , in the Acts of the Machabees , manie yeares after the death of Ieremic: sins is levemie che !-rophet of God, Whoprayesh much for she peopl. LikewifeS. Bernard Ser. 3. vigil Nate, Domuni.¢> Ser,11. againe Ser.7 6. in ( anticay, admoniiketh that.a good religious man is like to this Onies :- who prayethto God. for al the people.

C20, Other Angels the Patrones or Guardians of the Perfians and Grecians, prayed for thofe countries; and S. Ms- chael Y, 21, forthe lewes. An Aingel fpake in Lacharie, th... 9. An other Angel went to meete him. ch. 2. V.3. Andinvefped of Angelical offices , both

and thirtie thoufand, being _ place, greatly dclizh:ed with the prefence of Ged, 28, And when they had} ceaied and cecurned withioy,they vnderftood that Nicanor was fiaine, for al hisarmour. 2g, A thout therfore being made, and a great crie, they bleffed the Aimightic Lord in their countric language. 30. And Judas, who by al meanes was in bodie and mind readie to dye for his citizens,cOmanded that Nicanors head,& hand withthe fhoulder being cut off, fhould be caried to lerufalcm, 31, Whither when he was come, hnauing calied his countrimen, and the Priefts to the altar, he fentalfo for thé that were ia the caftel.32. And fhewing them the head of Nica- nor , and the wicked hand , which he ftretching forth againft the holie houfe of Almightic God, had mightily bragged. 33. The tongue alfo ot impious Nicanor being cut out,he comanded to be giuen piecemeale to the birds : and the hand of the furious man to be hanged vp again{i the 1éple. 34. Al therfore blefled the Lord of heauen,faying : Blefled be he, that hath kept his place vindefiled, 35. And he hung vp Nicanors head in the 4 938 FOVRTH BOOK “he top.of the caltel , chat icmight be an euident, and manitelt tigne ot the helpe of God. 36. Therfore al by common -counfel decreed, by no meanes to let paffe this day without folemnitic : 37. but to keep the fo- lemnitie the thictenth day of the month Adar, whica is called in th: (f)Morebeing, Syriaa language, the day before Mardocheus day.* written inthe 38. Thefe things therfore being dose concerning Nicanor,and ( f ) firft pvoce,this: S: from that rime the citie being pofleffed of the Hebrewes, La‘fo in the, audtor maker wil make anead of fpeakiag. 39. And if wel, and as is competent tor of al ,becaute a ftoric,that myfilr alfo-would . bur” it not fo worchily it reftech ro be otheir perteca- pardo-ed me, 49, For astodrinke alwayes wine, or alwayes water is ters ve..2alfo -hurtrul, bus to vfe now.one now another is delectable : fo tothe rea- oucr Ome fe lalwis azaine caone afer ftormes , Prayer of Satnts is teuidently pro- pued by this place, Tt ts alfo pro- ued by manie other holte Scripzures: Neirhe- is rhis placetobeo- naiitted, {The authour of Jhis booke asketh pardon. for lus ftile, notforthe doétrine nor hiforie, Birt the an- thours of thefe An -orations ders ,ic the fpeach be alwayes exa@, it wil not be grateful, Here ther- fore itinalbe ended, ANNOTATIONS,