Of Stades or Furlongs,

THis word Stadium in Latine, in English a Furlong, is a mea­sure of ground, whereof there be three sorts, Italicum, Olympi­cum, Pythicum. That of Italy contained 625 feet, which is 125 pa­ces, halfe a quarter of an Italian mile. The second sort was of the hill Olympus in Greece, where was a game or prise kept by the Princes and Cities of Greece euery fifth yeare, in the honour of Hercules, who first began it. This measure of ground Stadium O­lympicum contained 600 feet, that is, 120 paces. The third kind of stade or furlong contained 1000 feet, which is 200 paces; wher­of haply arose the difference of Pliny and Diodorus Siculus in de­scribing Sicily.

Fifteen Dutch miles make a Degree,What a Fur­long is. and a Degree of the hea­uens answereth to 480 furlongs vpon earth; whereby it is mani­fest that 32 furlongs is a German or common Dutch mile.

[Page 2]One minute equalleth eight Furlongs, which make an Italian or Wallon mile, the fourth part of a Dutch mile. Two minutes of the heauens or sixteen furlongs make a Dutch mile. Four half of a Dutch mile. Three minutes equall 24 stades or Furlongs, which make three quarters of a Dutch mile. Four minutes equal 32 furlongs, that is to say, a German or Dutch mile.

The holy Evangelists, S. Luke, ca. 24. ver. 13. and S. Iohn, ca. 11. ver. 8. reckon the way by Furlongs. S. Luke saith the Towne E­maus was distant from Ierusalem sixty Furlongs: and Saint Iohn saith Bethania was 15 Furlongs distant from Ierusalem. Whence it appeareth, that Emaus was distant from Ierusalem almost two Dutch miles, seuen Wallon miles and a halfe; and Bethania al­most halfe a Dutch mile, which is a mile, a half, & half a quarter.

Iosephus writeth, That Mount Olivet was distant from Ierusa­lem fiue Furlongs, that is a little more than halfe a quarter of a Dutch mile, which is half an Italian mile and half a quarter. The same Iosephus saith, That the circuit of the city of Ierusalem was 33 Furlongs, a Dutch mile and halfe a quarter. Others say it was foure miles in compasse, which beeing vnderstood of Italian or Walloon miles, make little or no difference, seeing it is but the halfe of a halfe quarter of a Dutch mile.

Strabo writeth, That the city of Babylon was 380 Furlongs in circuit, that is twelue Dutch miles. The circuit of Samaria was twenty furlongs, that is halfe a Dutch and halfe a quarter, which is two Italian miles and a halfe.

How the Romans measured their miles.

THe Romans measured their miles by paces, which they call Passus, and that kind of measuring is done after this maner; Foure barley cornes laid long-waies one by the other make the bredth of a finger, foure fingers broad make the bredth of an hand, foure hands broad make the length of a foot, which mea­sure is now extant; fiue feet make a Geometricall or great pace; one hundred twenty fiue such paces are a Furlong; eight Fur­longs are one thousand paces or Wallon mile; two thousand pa­ces are a French mile.

Four thousand paces are a Dutch mile, I mean a common Dutch mile, whereof fifteen are reckoned to a degree of the heauens; for the Switfer miles are commonly a quarter of a Dutch mile lon­ger than common Dutch miles. But through this book by miles we vnderstand common Dutch miles, whereof four thousand pa­ces make a mile.

Whosoeuer will vnderstand S. Ierom wel, de locis Haebraicis, must mark whether he reckons by miles or by stones: the miles speci­fied by him are Wallon miles, whereof four make a Dutch mile as aforesaid: the stone whereof he writeth (wherby also they did measure and diuide the way) are reckoned six to a Dutch mile.

To the end that all men that haue any little vnderstanding in Geometry and Cosmography may make the Tables, and cast them, and at their pleasure inlarge or diminish them; I haue here for their direction set downe the longitude and latitude of the most principal towns: the former number shew the degrees and minutes of the longitude, the later numbers declare the degrees and minutes of the latitude.

How the Citie Ierusalem is scituate, and standeth distant from Germany.

THe Towne of Neurenberch is scituate in the middle of Ger­manie, or neere thereabouts, and Ierusalem is distant from Neurenberch fiue hundredWhich make 2000 miles English. miles: but if you will trauell to Ve­nice, and from thence to Ierusalem, it is fiue hundred and fiftieWhich make 2200 miles. miles.

The scituation of Ierusalem.

IErusalem was foure square,Of the scitua­tion of the Mountaines whereon Ieru­salem stood. and scituated vpon foure moun­taines, viz. Mount Sion, Mount Moriah, Mount Acra, and Moun Bezetha.

Mount Sion was the highest of all, and lay within the citie of Ierusalem towards the South, whereon stood King Dauids house or the castle of Sion, and the vppermost towne.

Mount Moriah, whereon the Temple stood, with other excel­lent buildings and Towers, was on the East side of the city, with­in the Walls.

Mount Acra, whereon the lower towne was built, stood West­ward in the citie, where Annas, Caiphas, Pilot, Herod Agrippa, Ber­nice, Helena, and other Kings and great Princes dwelt.

The holy Citie of Ierusalem may in this manner be briefely described.

THe most holy and beautifull Citie of Ierusalem (if any would consider the three principall parts of the World,The descripti­on of Ierusa­lem. Europe, Asia, and Affrica) stood in the middest of the World, [Page 8] vpon most high mountaines and rockes, like an earthly Paradise, a liuely figure of the euerlasting Citie of God. This Citie, being the metropolitan or principallest Citie of the Iewes, stood in the Tribe of Benjamin; at the first it was called Salem, that is, Peace­able: when Melchisedech, the Priest of God, raigned therein, which hee also built after the Deluge (as Iosephus and Egisippus write.) But at that time, it was not very great; for it stood onely vpon Mount Sion. Mount Moriah, where Abraham would haue offered his sonne Isaac, stood without the Citie, and after that they tooke it into the Citie, as when time serueth it shall be de­clared.

After the death of Melchisedech, vnto whom Abraham payd the Tythes of all his goods, the Iebusites dwelt in the Citie of Ie­rusalem, and had the dominion of it, and all the land thereabouts in their subjection, called the City Iebus, after their name; which name was held a long time, as we reade in Iosuah the 10. Iud. 10. & 2. Samuel, 1. But at the last Ioab, King Dauids Generall of his Ar­mie, woon it, & draue the Iebusites out of it, and called it Ierusa­lem, that is, a sight or vision of Peace. It hath also other names in the holy Scripture, for in Esay 29. it is called Ariel, that is, Gods Lyon, and mount Libanus.Because it was made of the Ceder trees which came [...]ut of Mount Libanus. The Prophet Ezechiel 23. calleth it Ahaliba, my fixed Pauillion or Tent, that is, a Citie wherein God had placed his owne habitation.

The circuit and bignesse of the City Ierusalem.

THe City of Ierusalem was foure square, and in circumference three and thirtieWhich make foure English miles and one furlong. furlongs, as Iosephus writeth, which three and thirty Furlongs make somewhat more than a Dutch mile. Some write that it was foure miles compasse about, yet these were not Dutch miles, but Wallon or Italian miles: for foure such Italian miles are a Dutch mile.

Of mount Sion the higher Citie.

MOunt Syon stood Northwards in the Citie Ierusalem, and was much higher than all the other Hills that were therein, [Page 9] therefore it was called Sion, that is, a watch Tower▪ because from thence one might see the Holy land, and all the countries there­about: vpon this Hill, the vpper Citie was built, which in the Scripture is called the City of Dauid, because Dauid wan it from the Iebusites, and beautified it with many goodly houses, & faire and costly buildings: but especially with his house of Cedar wood, which hee termed the castle of Sion, which stood West­wards at the corner of the Hill, looking into Bethlehem South­wards. In that house Dauid dwelt, and therein committed adul­terie with Berseba the wife of Vriah the Hittite; whose house also with the place of diuers priuie Councellers and officers, stood vpon the said Hill, not farre from the Kings Pallace, as Iosephus writeth.

Beneath King Dauids house, vpon Mount Sion, within a Rocke, there was to be seene the sepulchre or vault wherein King Dauid, Solomon his son, and other succeeding Kings of Iuda, were entombed and buried.

Vpon mount Syon also (towards the East) King Herod had a Garden of pleasure, not farre from the Fountaine called Silo, Ne­miah 3. and there also stood the Tower of Silo, whereof Luke in the 13 chapter maketh mention.

Iosephus (in the warres of the Iewes, his first book, and sixteenth chapter) saith, That King Herod vnder whom Christ Iesus was borne, had two faire and strong houses or Towers, which hee set and made in the vpper part of the City Ierusalem, vpon mount Syon, which were in a manner comparable with the Temple for beautifulnesse, which he called after the name of his friends; the one Caesarea, for Caesar the Emperors sake; and the other Agrippa, according to the name of the noble Roman Marcus Agrippa, that married the daughter of Augustus Caesar.

This may suffice to declare the scituation of the vpper Citie, which stood vpon mount Sion, and conteyned in circuit fifteene furlongs, which is about halfe a mile. This vppermost Citie, in the sacred Scripture is called the Citie of Dauid, it was also cal-Millo, that is, fulnesse or plenty, for in it there was no want, but aboundance of all things.

Of the steps which descended downe from the citie of Dauid vnto the lower Citie.

MOunt Sion, whereon the vpper citie of Ierusalem did stand, was such a high hard hill, and so steepe, that no man could climbe or ascend vnto it by any way or meanes but only one, that is, by steps; for in the middle thereof there was a great paire of staires made, which descended from Dauids Citie vnto the lower Citie,That is, 26 yards in height. into the valley or dale of gates, called Thyroreion, which staires were 780 foot * high, as Iohannes Heydonius writeth; and beneath in the valley of Thyroreion, ouer against the valley of Ce­dron, at the foot of the staires stood a gate, which was called the gate of Sion; and they which went vp to mount Sion must passe through that gate, and so vp those staires: but it is thought neuer­thelesse, that in some other part of the hill there was some win­ding or other oblique way made, by which, horses and chariots by little and little might ascend.

Allegoricall or Spirituall significations of mount Sion.

SIon in Hebrew signifieth a sure hold or goodly aspect; for that from the top thereof a man might haue seen all the land lying thereabouts; and was a type of the highest heauens, or habitati­on of Almighty God, from whence he beholdeth all things vp­on earth; from which throne and heauenly habitation he descen­ded into this lower Ierusalem, and became our Redeemer & Sa­uiour, that so we being purged by his bloud, from all our sinnes and imperfections, he might bring vs into that heauenly Ierusa­lem which is eternall glorie.

Of Mount Moriah on which the Temple stood.

MOunt Moriah stood Eastward within Ierusalem, which was a most hard stony hill, from whence towards the rising of the Sunne, men by staires might easily descend; but round about on the other three sides it was steepe and vnapprochable, like a [Page 1] stone wall: yet it was not so high as Mount Sion, howbeit it was exceeding high, extending and reaching 600 foot in height: and on the top thereof was a very faire plaine, like vnto that of Mount Sion, whereon in times past Abraham builded an Altar, and would haue offered his sonne Isaac for a Sacrifice, Gen. 22.

At which time, when Abraham obeyed the commandement of God, intending to haue offered his sonne Isaac vpon the Hill, and thereon had made an Altar, then the said Hill lay without the Citie: but long time after, about the space of 850 yeres, when King Dauid had conquered Ierusalem, and driuen thence the Ie­busites; to enlarge the Citie, he compassed in Mount Moriah and Mount Acra with a wall, vpon which there stood many goodly buildings. And amongst other things worthy obseruation, vpon this Mount stood the Barne or Threshing floore ofOr Arauna. Arafna the Iebusite, wherein King Dauid built an Altar, offered burnt Offe­rings, & besought the Lord that the Angell of God (whose hand was stretched ouer Ierusalem, holding a bloodie sword, and had smitten the Citie with the pestilence) might cease from puni­shing the same, and the plague ceased. On the same place where the Barne of Arafna the Iebusite stood, King Solomon also did build the Temple, 1. Paral. 23. 24. Ioseph. Antiq. Iud. lib. 23. 24.

An Allegoricall or Spirituall interpretation of Mount Moriah.

MOriah is as much to say, as The Lords Mirrhe, and signifi­eth our Lord Iesus Christ, which is the true Mirrhe & sweet smelling Sacrifice vnto God; a stedfast Rocke, an immoueable Foundation, whereon Gods Church and the members thereof are built, Esay 28. Matt. 16. Vpon this Rocke will I build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it. Moriah is also ex­pounded to be Cultus & timor Domini, the worship and feare of God; and that in the same place the figuratiue seruice of God should begin and continue vntill the comming of Christ.

The description of the Temple of Ierusalem.

THe Temple stood vpon Mount Moriah, was fairely built, & artificially contriued, of white Marble stones, which were [Page 12] so well conjoyned or closed together, that a man could not see or perceiue the junctures or crests of them: and the inner Walls of it were made all of Cedar wood, carued with the similitude of Angels, Cherubins, roots of Palme trees, and with floures of di­uers kindes, gilt all ouer with pure gold, and set with pretious stones; insomuch that all parts of the vpper roofe within the Temple, did shine with the lustre of it. The pauement thereof also was plated all ouer with fine Gold; so that all the Temple within, both aboue, vnder foot, and on euery side and corner thereof, was gilt cleane ouer: but without it was of smooth po­lisht white marble stone, excellently beautifull, and faire to the eye,That is, a hun­dred cubits, which make fiftie yards English; so that the Tem­ple was fiftie yards long, fif­tie broad, and sixtie high. much resembling the colour of any Pearle, Vnit or Marga­ret. It was in length a hundred ells, in breadth a hundred ells, and in height a hundred and twenty ells, as Iosephus writeth in the old acts and warres of the Iewes, in his fifteenth booke and four­teenth chapter.

The roofe thereof was made of thin planks of Oliue wood, all couered ouer with plates of gold: it was adorned with sharp and plaine spikes of gold, lest birds should defile it with their doung. When any man trauelled to Ierusalem, and saw the temple farre off when the Sunne shined thereon, the white marble stones and the golden roofe therof; did cast such a light and reflexing bright­nesse from them, that it did make the beholders eyes darke and blind with looking vpon it.

Within the Temple there was the most sacred Quire, which stood at the West end therof, the which Quire was formed foure square, that is, twenty ells broad, long, and high. This Quire was called the Holy of Holiest, wherein it was lawfull for no man to en­ter, but the high Priest, and he also but once in a yeare, which was on the Feast day of the Propitiatory Sacrifice, to appease Gods wrath. In the middle part of the Quire there stood two Cheru­bins, made of Oliue wood, couered all ouer with fine gold, whose Faces and Formes were like vnto young Children; the height of them was ten ells; each of them had two wings, which were fiue els broad; they stood one right against the other, so that with the innermost wings they touched together, and the vttermost sides of the wings touched the sides of the Quire: their faces loo­ked [Page 13] wards the East: in the middle vnder the wings of the Cherubins was placed the Arke of the Couenant; but after the Babylonian captiuity the Ark of the Couenant stood no more there; for then the Holy of holiest was empty, and nothing seene in the second Temple but the two Cherubims, as is aforesaid. The wall of this Quire was of pure gold, excellent faire and curiously grauen: In this wal of the most holy quire there was a gate made all of gold which had two leaues or little dores that opened & shut, very cu­riously embossed; through which dores men went into the most holy Quire, where the Lord did answer by Vrim and Thummim; there the Cherubims stood, and before that gate there did hang a rich Vaile or Curtain which was made of fine silke, wouen very artificially, wherein there was wrought the picture of the Cheru­bims, with Needle-worke of diuers colours. This was the same Vaile which at the passion of Christ did rent in sunder from the top to the bottom; to shew that then Aarons Leuiticall Sacrifi­ces were abolished, and now euery man may freely approch (tho­row the mercy of his dearly beloued Sonne) vnto the presence of Gods heauenly Throne.

Before the most sacred Quire there was builded towards the East a place within the Temple containing forty Ells in length, twenty in bredth and thirty in height, closed vp on both sides with golden walls, which was called the Holy place or Sanctua­rie of the Temple, wherein no man might enter but onely the Priest, when hee offered Incense, and prayed vnto God. In the middle of that Holy place there stood an Altar, couered with plates of gold; neere vnto which the Angel Gabriel appeared vn­to Zacharias, and brought him the glad tydings, That Elizabeth his wife should beare him sonne whose name should be Iohn, who should prepare the way of Christ. At the South end of this Al­tar vpon the one side stood the holy Candlestickes, and at the o­ther end on the other side stood a golden Table whereupon the Shew bread was set. And in this holy place there stood ten Ta­bles more for the meat Offerings, and ten golden Candlestickes more, which were beautified with Lamps, Lillies, and other faire floures. The opening doores whereby men went into the Holy place were also very rich and costly, made of gold, with carued [Page 14] Cherubims, Palm trees, and broad flours thereupon. And before those dores also there were hanging vailes or curtaines, very curi­ously wrought. On both sides of the Temple there were certain Walks or Galleries, which were three stories high one aboue an other, and on the right side there stood a paire of turning staires, by the which men went vp to the Chamber of the Temple, and there all the small Vessels and other things belonging to the Temple were kept. The roofes of these Galleries were all plated ouer with gold, but that part was somewhat lower than the prin­cipall part of the Temple. The Windowes of the Temple were wide within and narrow without. The gates of the Temple were made of pure gold, fiue and twenty Ells high, and sixteene Ells broad; but especially the gate that stood Eastward in the Tem­ple was exceeding high, which in the second Booke of Kings, cap. 25. is called the High gate: and as Iosephus saith, the sayd gate was 90 Ells high, the doores whereof were forty Ells long and twenty Ells broad, gilt all ouer, and richly embossed, beauti­fied with Cherubims and pretious stones. The wall before this gate towards the East was pure gold, embost and curiously ingra­uen in maner of Vines, with great golden leaues as big as the sta­ture of a man, whereon there did hang the picture and forme of grapes, which were made of fine Crystall. Within that high gate also there did hang a Vaile or Curtaine as long and broad as the gate within: This Vaile was made of a piece of Babylonian Ta­pistry, wonderfully wrought, and made of Silke, beautified with diuers colours, of Scarlet, Purple, and Velvet; and as Iosephus wri­teth, the Sphere of the heauens was wrought therein, but the twelue Signes were not, and when the winde blew, the Vaile did moue like a Vane.

Of the Porches or open Courts of the Temple.

BEfore the high gate of the Temple towards the East there were three Porches or Courts open without roofes, which were made all of polisht stone with fair marble pillars, beau­tified with all kind of colours, in which Porches men praised and serued God.

[Page 15]The first was called the vpper Porch, where none but the priest might enter when he offered and serued God; which porch stood next vnto the high Quire. The second was called Solomons Hall or Porch; there the people vsed to pray, and in that court our Sa­uior Christ preached, Iohn 10. The third porch King Herod built, adding that therto for the heathen people which also came vnto Ierusalem to pray.

These three porches went foure square round about the Tem­ple, as the Temple it selfe was, and betweene these porches there were also spaces left, supported with pillars of marble, and close aboue the head for men to walke vnder when it rained, which were all made of Cedar and Cypresse wood, and of marble stone beautified with gold. But towards the East, right ouer against the high Quire of the Temple, there the Porches were broadest and greatest.

Here gentle Reader you must note, that as often as in the De­scription of the Temple I speake of certain Ells, you must not vn­derstand such Ells as we vse here in our Countrey, but only of the Geometrical ells or elbowes, which are called Cubits, being the length of one foot and a halfe or six hands in bredth, and two such Ells or Cubits doe containe three foot, which make a yard of our measure.

The first Temple, which King Solomon built, had but two Por­ches, as also the second Temple which Zorobabel & Ioshuah or Iesu the son of Iozedeck made after the captiuitie in Babylon; but that was twenty cubits lower, and inclosed about with two porches al­so. But King Herod Ascalonita the great King of the Iewes, son of Antipater Idumaeus, 16 yeares before the birth of Christ pulled down that Temple, and built a new Temple vp from the ground, which was like to Solomons Temple, but that it had three porches: for Herod built the third Porch to the intent that the heathen people might pray therein, as a sanctuarie for pilgrims and stran­gers, as Iosephus writeth, Antiq. Iud lib. 21, ca. 14. & de Bello Iudaeo, lib. 6. ca. 6. Item Egesippus, lib. 1. cap. 35, 36. But some do thinke, which is more likely, that the said Herod did but repaire and add buildings to the second Temple.

And where Iosephus, lib. 2. contra Appionem, writeth of four Por­ches, [Page 16] whereas principally there were but three; it is to be vnder­stood that Solomons Portch was made with a wall in the middle thereof, wherein on the North side the Iewish women that were vnspotted or vndefiled vsed to pray; and on the other side (being South) the Iewish women who also according to the Law were vnspotted, prayed; as Iosephus saith, lib. 6. cap. 6. de Bello Iudaeo.

A particular description of the three seuerall Porches or Courts belonging to the Temple.

IN the vpper Porch which stood right ouer against the high Quire in the Temple, there was an Altar of brrasse proportio­ned foure square, consisting of twenty cubits in length, & twen­ty cubits in bredth, extending to ten cubits in height, beautified with golden hornes, whereon they vsed to offer burnt sacrifices of Oxen, Sheepe, Turtle Doues, Calues, and other things. Also in times past there stood the great molten Sea made by King Solo­mon, and the two brasen Pillars which were made with knobbes, Pomegranats, and Lillies, very costly and most artificially done; and ten Kettles vpon Treuets; but those kettles and pillars with knobs and pomegranats, and the great molten Sea made by King Solomon, were carried away by Nabuchadnezzar King of Babylon, and broken in pieces; after which captiuity they were neuer seen more in the Temple, for there were no more made. But the Altar of Brasse with the great hornes, whereon they offered oxen, sheep and Doues, was made againe and stood there, as I said before, by which there stood diuers Tables whereon they killed their Offe­rings. In this Court also there was a goodly Fountaine, with the Water whereof they vsed to wash the bloud of the beasts out of the Temple. For there were certaine holes and gutters between the marble stones, whereby the water ranne vnder the earth, and through the earth was conueyed in a pipe into the Lake Kidron. In this Court Zacharias the sonne of Barrachias was killed, be­tweene the Temple and the Altar, Mat. 23. And Zacharias the high priest the sonne of Ioiadah was stoned to death, 2 Chron. 24. It was compassed about with a great wall made of Marble stone of diuers colours, wherein there were diuers doores to goe out [Page 17] out and in, decked with lofty towers and pleasant walks made of Cedar wood, resembling our antient Cloisters. But principally toward the East it had a great gate of seuenty Ells or cubits high and twenty fiue broad, all couered ouer with gold (as Iosephus writeth) standing alwayes open, without any doores to shut, that euery man might looke into it when the Priest serued God. If any man offered any thing, he brought it to the Priest before the gate, but might not go in himselfe. Ieremy, Chap. 26 and 36, cal­leth it the New gate. Here also was the Chappel of Gemaria the sonne of Saphan, in which Chappell Baruch read the booke of the Prophet Ieremy to the people, Ieremy 36. And when the Sunne was in Capricorne it shone right in at that gate, and through the high Quire of the Temple to the Holy of Holiest (as Iosephus writeth.

Of the second or middle Court called Solomons Porch.

THis Court was something lower than the other, for from it to the vppermost they went by certaine steps, and in the tenth of Iohn is called Solomons Porch; which (as Iosephus writeth) was parted in the middle with a Wall, wherein on the North side the Iewish women that were clean and vndefiled vsed to pray, and on the South the men, according to the LawMasculi enim ab austria mu­liere a septen­trione dominū innocarunt.: But no vnclean person, or stranger, or heathen, might enter therein; for on the East side thereof, before the steps whereon men ascended into the said porch, there stood a portall curiously made of mar­ble stone, and between it stood pillars of marble, whereon was in­grauen in Hebrew, Greeke, Latine, and Idumaean Tongues, this sentence, Omnis alienigena accidens ad habitaculum Domini moriatur; That is, If any stranger go into the house of God he shall surely die. And Herod also caused to be hanged ouer the Easterne gate by which they came into this Court, a golden Sword, with this Inscription, Peregrinus si fuerit ingressus moriatur; That is, If a Stranger be so bold to enter, let him die. So as no Stranger or Heathen might goe into Solomons Porch vpon danger of his life. Here Simeon tooke the childe Iesus in his armes and sayd, Lord let now thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes [Page 18] haue seen thy saluation, &c. At the same time also the Prophetesse Anna the daughter of Phaneul, of the tribe of Ashur, made a nota­ble prophesie of the child Iesus to all the people of Israel, Luk. 2. and after Iesus was baptised, in this place he taught, wrought mi­racles, and did many worthy and memorable actions. The Apo­stles also commonly met together in this court, & here the holy-Ghost descended vpon them. Here stood the Treasury which He­liodorus thought to haue robbed, but was preuented by the Angel of God, 2 Mac. 3. This was the same Treasury wherein the poore widow cast the two mites, whom Christ commended for the same as appeares Mark 12. Vpon which S. Ambrose saith, Deny not to cast two mites into this Treasury, that is, Faith and Grace, sith by them thou shalt be made capable of a celestial kingdom; neither flatter thy self with thy riches, because thou canst giue more than the poore, for God respects not how much, but with what deuo­tion thou giuest thy reward, Amb. li. de Viduo, & Epist. li. 9. Ep. 76. And here Christ absolued the Adulteresse that was accused to him, being sory for her offence; saying, I came not to condemne, but to saue sinners that repent. Vpon which S. Chrysostom saith, Although thou art a publican, yet thou maist be made an Evangelist; though a persecuter of the Church, yet an Apostle; though a theef, yet of the city of Paradise; though a Magitian, yet thou mayst worship God: for there is no sin so dangerous but repentance may obtain pardon. Not far from this Treasury there stood certain galleries curiously adorned with marble pillars, the root whereof was plai­ted with siluer and gold, and was close aboue the head, that when it rained, men might walke vnder them dry, and indeed did much resemble our antient Monasteries. The dores of these walks were couered ouer with gold and siluer; so also was that high gate whereby men went Eastward into Solomons porch, and was 50 cu­bits high, and the dores forty, as Iosephus writeth.

Of the third Court or porch, wherein the heathens vsed to pray, com­monly called the Hall of the Gentiles, or outward Court.

THis court was not built by the kings of Israel, but by Herod, when the rest of the Temple was re-edified, some sixteene [Page 19] yeares before the birth of Christ, and about six and forty before he began to preach, Iohn 4. It was so spatious and sumptuously built that it amased the beholders, containing an hundred cubits in bredth, and seuen hundred and twenty cubits in length, lying Eastward towards the brooke Kidron: the pauement was of mar­ble of diuers colours, like the other Courts, the walls with the marble pillars were fiue and twenty cubits high, and the Walkes about it very curiously made were thirty cubits broad. This was called Vestabulum Gentium, where the heathens as well as the Iews might enter and pray. Out of this place Christ draue the Buyers and Sellers, ouerthrew the tables of the Money changers, and the seats of those that sold Doues, Io. 2. Mat. 21. And it stood some­thing lower than Solomons Porch.

All these three Courts were inclosed within high walls and walks, resembling our Cloisters, where round about the Temple, at euery corner of which stood very high Towers, whereon when the Sabbath day came, one of the Priests ouer might went and sounded a Trumpet, to signifie that the next day was the Sab­bath (for then there were no bells.) The wall of this vttermost Court (as Iosephus writeth) was in height (reckoning from the bottom to the Valley of Kidron) foure hundred cubits, and ador­ned with goodly Towers, vpon the Pinnacles of which were built Summer houses and faire Walkes, from whence men might see into the Temple, and cleane ouer the Towne. These were called the Pinnacles of the Temple, and were so high, that when one looked down from them into the valley, their eies dazled in such maner that they could not see, as Iosep. writeth, li. Antiq. 15. ca. 14. Vpon one of these Pinnacles the Diuel caried our Sauior Christ saying, If thou be the Sonne of God cast thy selfe downe, &c. Mat. 4. And Iames the sonne of Alphaeus, by the commandement of An­nas the high Priest, was from thence thrown into the vally of Ce­dron, and falling vpon a Fullers instrument died, Ios. Ant. 20, ca. 8. &c. The gate towards the East was thirty cubits high, and had dores opening two wayes, 15 cubits broad (as Ios. writeth) made of pure brasse that shone like gold & siluer, artificially made, and cunningly imbossed, insomuch as it was called the beautiful gate of the temple: as Pet. & Io. was going into the temple by this gate [Page 20] they healed a man that had beene borne lame from his mothers wombe, Acts 3.

When a man went Eastward the Gates were one higher than another. The first gate or the gate of the Heathens Court was thirty Cubits high. The second that entred into Solomons Porch was 50 cubits: the third which went into the highest & last court was 70 cubits: and the great high gate of the temple was ninety Cubits high, so that euery gate of the Temple was twenty Cubits one higher than another: And in these gates there were benches made for men to sit on. There were many other Gates and doores on both sides, some sixty, some twenty Cubits broad, all almost made of pure gold, and of such weightinesse, that (as Iosephus writeth in his second booke to Appius) two hundred men could scarce open and shut them. Egisippus writeth, That Vespasian comming before the Temple to assault it, commanded his Souldiors to burne one of the golden Gates (which then was shut) that so he might ouercome the same, and with strong hand carry away a most glorious Victorie. For it was wonderfully for­tified both by Nature and Art; it had deepe Ditches, loftie Towers like vnto Castles of defence; and moreouer, compassed about with Bulwarkes and strong walls, insomuch that it was not possible to be won but with extreme difficultie and great labour. When the Gate was fired, the gold that ran from it was in great aboundance: and by this meanes the Conquest was made easie.

This shall suffice to haue spoken of the Buildings of the Tem­ple.

The Allegoricall or Spirituall meaning of the Temple.

THe terrestriall Temple built by Solomon was partly a Figure of our Sauiour Christ, and partly of his Church. For when the Sonne of God suffered the Temple of his holy body to be destroyed, and was risen again from the dead, Iohn 2. Then hee raised vp to vs the Christian Church, which is the true spirituall house and Temple wherein God dwelleth, 1 Cor. 6.

The mysterie of the white Marble.

CHrist is the right white Marble stone which is without spot, And there is no deceit found in his mouth, Esay 53. Ioh. 8. this stone the Builders refused, but God chose it out as most pretious, and made it the head of the corner, that wee like liuing stones might bee built vpon it, Esay 21.8. 1 Pet. 2.

The mysterie of the Gold.

THe Gold and pretious stones in the Temple signified the Deity of Christ; for in him dwelt the fulnesse of the Deity [...], wholly and absolutely; and in him was contained the Fountaine and treasure of all wisedome and knowledge, Col. 2.

The mysterie of the Cedar wood.

AS the Cedar, Cypres, and Olive wood was neither subiect to putrifaction, nor possible to be deuoured with wormes; so the humane nature of Christ was subiect to no corruption, no putrifaction, Psal. 16.

The mysterie of the Cherubims.

THe Temple also is a figure of the heauenly glory, & of euer­lasting life to come, where the Angels and Cherubims bee­ing ingrauen and pictured to the image of man, do represent the congregation of the blessed Angels and Saints, who in presence of the Lord sing a continuall Te Deum laudamus, Apoc. 4. The two Cherubims placed vpon the Mercy seat in the holy Quire, signi­fie the old and new Testament, which containes the Doctrine of Christ: and as their wings touched one another, so the old & new Testament were ioined together, the end of the one, the begin­ning of the other: the one continued to the end of the first world, the other shall continue to the end of the second; both had rela­tion to Christ, to whom the ministerie of God was committed.

The mysterie of the golden Dore of the Temple.

CHrist is the dore of life by which we must enter into eternall happines, Ioh. 10.14. the two dores signifie a twofold know­ledge before we can enter into this gate; that is, of his Person and Office.

What the Vaile of the Temple signified.

THe Son of God our Lord Iesus Christ hanging vpon the al­tar of the Crosse, is the true Vaile that is put betweene God and vs, shadowing with his wounds and pretious bloud the mul­titude of our offences, that so we may be made acceptable to his Father, Heb. 10.

The mysterie of the Arke of the Couenant.

THe Arke of God made of Sittim wood, wherin was kept the pot of Manna, Aarons Rod, and the Tables of the Comman­dements, Exod. 25. Heb. 9. represent as well our Sauior Christ, as the hearts of the Faithfull: for as in Christs breast was contained the doctrine both of the Law and Gospell, so likewise is it in the Faithfull, though not in that measure. Hee was the true Manna that descended from heauen to giue light vnto the world, Iohn 6. The Tables of the Law moue vs to mutuall loue and new obedi­ence. Aarons Rod flourishing with blossomes signifies the sweet­nesse of the Gospel, and the glory of our high Priest Iesus Christ of whom Aaron was a Type.

The mysterie of the golden Altar.

THe sacrificing altar in the Sanctuarie of the Temple, wher­on were foure golden hornes, beeing made partly of Sittim wood, and partly of Gold, compassed about with a Crowne of gold, represent the vnitie of the Humanitie and Deity in our Sa­uiour. For as the wood, naturally incorruptible, was beautified with refulgent gold; so the Humanity of Christ, not capable of any putrifaction, Psalme 16. being adorned with Celestial glorie of the Deity, personally vnited to the Diuine Nature, ascended vp into the Heauens, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Fa­ther, [Page 23] crowned with a crown of majesty in eternal happines, Psa. 8.

The mysterie of the golden Candlesticks.

THe golden Candlestick with six branches and seuen lights, signifies Christ and the Ministers of the church. Christ the foundation is the chiefe Priest and Light of the world, illumina­ting vs to eternal life, Ioh. 1. The Doctors and Teachers of the church are the branches by whom Christ inlightneth his church with the sound and vncorruptible doctrine of the Gospel, Apoc. 1. Neither ought they to be separated from Christ, but by the light of their doctrine and sincere conuersation be a lanthorn vnto our feet, Psal. 119. that so their works may return to his glory and the good of his church. And as all the branches were vnited into the body of the Candlestick, so euery Minister and faithfull child of God ought to be vnited into the body of Christ, without any schismaticall dissention or separation. The floures and lillies de­note the ornaments and graces of the holy Spirit, which Christ hath bountifully bestowed vpon his Ministers. The Lights and lamps do admonish all godly Ministers to a diligent care, lest the light of Gods diuine word should either by mens traditions, or carnal and philosophical opinions, be either diminished, or by little and little abolished: but as often as such things happen, with the sincere doctrine of the Gospel to be purged and preser­ued.

The mysterie of the golden Table.

THe golden Table wheron the Shew bread stood, being com­passed about with a pretious crown, signifies the ministerie of the Gospell. For the bread that is set before vs is Christ that Bread of Life which descended out of heauen, Iohn 6. and hee by the ministry of the twelve Apostles is mystically offered vnto vs in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, that whosoeuer eateth thereof as they ought might haue eternal life. The Frankincense that stood by the bread admonisheth vs, that earnest prayers and godly actions are to be vsed in the time of the administring of the Lords supper. For as Macarius saith, If the diuel was as strong [Page 24] as mountaines, yet at the prayers of the Saints he melteth as wax before the fire. And S. Cyril saith, That Christ is the Table vpon which the bread of life is set, whereby all the Faithfull are nouri­shed vnto eternall life. And the Crowne about this Table is the goodnesse and mercy of God, wherby we are crowned & brought to eternal happinesse. S. Ierom saith, That this Table was a figure of the table and the supper in the kingdome of God, Luk. 2. The Shew-bread vpon the table is the Son of God, which giueth life vnto the world, Iohn 6.

The mysterie of the golden Vine and the Crystall grapes.

THe Vine in the East part of the temple made of shining gold, fitly resembles our Sauiour Christ, who compared himselfe vnto a Vine, and the Faithfull vnto the branches, saying, I am the true Vine, and whosoeuer is ingraffed into me shal haue eternall life, Io. 15. The Crystall grapes do denote the doctrine of the Gospell, and the works of the Faithfull, which are faith, loue, hope, charity, pa­tience, prayer, and workes of grace, all which do inhere vnto such as beleeue.

The mysterie of Oblations and Sacrifices.

ALl the Oblations and Sacrifices of the old Testament were Types and figures of our Sauiour, That as they were slaine for the performance of the ceremonial law; so Christ for the sal­uation of man was slain and made a free-will Offering; by whose bloud and mediation the sin of man is pardoned, and he made ca­pable of eternall life, Esay 53. Iohn 10. Heb. 9, &c.

The mysterie of the vpper Court.

THe vpper Court was a figure of the spirituall Priesthood of Iesus Christ, who hath made vs all Priests and Kings, and hath beautified vs with his guiltlesse death, 1 Pet. 2

The mysterie of the Fountaine and molten Sea standing vpon twelue Oxen in the vppermost Court.

THe molten Sea and Fountain was a figure of Baptisme and that liuing water issuing from the wounds of Christ, where­by we are washed from all our sinnes; the Lavor of regeneration, whereby we are made capable of eternall life; that Well of wa­ter, whereof if we drinke we shall neuer thirst. The twelue Oxen represent the twelue Apostles, whose voice haue gon through the world (according to that in the Corinthians) and haue carried the sea of Grace through all the parts of the earth. Of which Water (saith S. Augustine) if thou drinkest but one drop, it is more effe­ctuall to quench the thirst of worldly and insatiable desires, than an Ocean of earthly waters.

The mysterie of the middle Court.

SOlomons Court, wherein Christ taught, and in which the Iewes vsed commonly to pray, was a figure of that Church which should be gathered from amongst the Iewes. For from thence he indeauoured first to assemble and gather together a Christian congregation, according to that which he spake to the Canaani­tish woman, Mat. 15. I am sent only to the lost Sheep of the house of Is­rael.

Of the outward Court of the Gentiles.

THis Court signified, That the Gentiles also should partake of the sheepfold and congregation of Christ, and be mem­bers of his holy Church; according to that of Iohn 10. I haue yet other Sheepe which I must also bring hither, that so there might be one sheepfold, one Pastor, &c.

Of the rest of the memorable Buildings standing vpon mount Moriah.

HAuing thus described the temple, together with the seueral courts & ornaments, al which did typically represent Christ & his church, I wil now proceed to the rest of the buildings stan­ding vpon mount Moriah. The first and most memorable was [Page 26] the house of Solomon, which stood iust against the Temple vpon the South: it shined so with gold and siluer, & was so stately and sumptuously built, that when queene Saba came to Ierusalem she stood amased to see it. There belonged to it diuers Courts and Walkes, in one of which the Prophet Ieremy was prisoner, Ier. 37. Ouer against this he made the Iudgement hall, in which hee pla­ced the Ivory Chaire spoken of 1 Kin. 10. He built by that ano­ther house for his Queen, she that was daughter of Pharaoh, 1 Kin. 7. But when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Ierusalem, all these to­gether with the Temple were burnt and vtterly defaced.

Of the Poole of Bethesda.

VPon the North lay that sheepfold o [...] sequestred place called Bethesda, Ioh. 5. which hath fiue porches or Xenodochius, as some would haue it: here Cattell came to drinke, and the Priests vsed to wash their Sacrifices; because no vncleane beast might come within the Temple, nor any thing that was foule or spotted be offered vpon the Altar. The water was of reddish colour, and ran into that place in great aboundance, and therefore it was cal­led the house of effusion or pouring out. This was the place into which the Angel of God sometimes descended and troubled the water, after which whosoeuer stepped in was presently cured: and heere our Sauiour Christ healed the man that had beene diseased 38 years, Ioh. 5. This place was made by King Hezekiah, who cau­sed the water of the vppermost poole, which was called Gihon, not far from mount Calvary, to be conueied by pipes & passages through the earth, into the lower city called Acra, and so fel into this place, for which cause it was called the lower poole. The Al­legorie or mysterie hereof is, That euery one of Christs Sheepe ought to be washed in the poole of his bloud, before they can be made fit sacrifices to enter into his Temple or church, 1 Io. 1.

Of the tower or castle called Antonia.

THis castle, as Iosep. hath it, lib. 6. de Bell. cap. 6. stood betweene two Courts of the Temple at the North-West corner; at first built by the Machabees, and called by the name of Baris: [Page 27] but after, King Herod taking affection to that place, bestowed great cost vpon it, walled it about, built vp sumptuous towers, & made it very strong; then gaue it the name of Antonia, in fauor of Antonius that noble Roman; which Augustus a long time sustained after their decease.

Of the Hall called Coenaculum Anguli.

THis house stood vpon an angle or cantle of the hill, and was therefore called Coenaculum Anguli: it was very large & spa­tious, and within had a great hall, whereof Nehem. cap. 3. maketh mention: and here, as some thinke, our Sauior Christ ate the Pas­chal Lambe with his Disciples; but I rather thinke it was in the suburbs.

Of the Tower Ophel or the darke Tower.

NEere to the valley of Cedron toward the East, not farre from the Temple, and neere the castle Antonia, there was builded a lofty and strong tower or palace called Ophel, that is, a place of darknesse: it was a very sumptuous thing.

Of Hamea, or the Tower of the Centurions.

IN the town wall betweene the sheepe gate and the dung gate, stood this castle Hamea or Centurion, taking the name à Cen­tenario numero, i. the number of an hundred, and was vpon the East side of the city, neere to the sheepfold or poole Bethesda, Neh. 3.12. Here the Centurions commonly kept watch.

Of Mount Acra and the buildings vpon it.

MOunt Acra (as is aforesaid) stood vpon the West side of Ie­rusalem; it was a very high mountain, and tooke that name from the Greeke word Acra, a sharpe or high hill. It was much higher than mount Moriah in times past, till Simon, Iudas Ma­chabeus brother, caused it to be cut lower, to make it equall in height with mount Moriah. Between these two hils lay the vally Cedron, which was in profunditie 400 cubits. Vpon this Moun­tain another part of the city was builded, beeing strongly fortifi­ed and richly adorned with sumptuous houses, of which Dauid [Page 28] and Solomon were the principal founders; and was called the lower city, or the daughter of Sion. It was so beautiful, that some hold (of which number are Egesippus and Eusebius) that it exceeded the rest of the city. Here stood the house of Helena Queen of the A­diabenors, neer about the midst of it, as Iosep. obserueth, Li. Bell. 7. cap. 13. which Queene beeing conuerted to the Iewish Religion, built her an house in this City, that shee might pray in the Tem­ple. Here stood the houses of her sonnes Monobazius and Grapta: here stood the houses of the high priests Annas and Caiaphas, not far from the valley Tyropae; King Herod also that wicked man, who caused the innocent Children to be put to death, built him an house heere, neere about the place where the Machabees in times past had a Castle; (for they built two, one in mount Mo­riah, another in this Mount.) That in mount Moriah was after called the Castle of Antonia, and stood right against the Tem­ple, as is aforesaid. And this being very sumptuously built, and a Royall seat, was after the death of this Herod a Palace for his Successors Archilaus and Herod Agrippa. Not farre off he cau­sed two faire Theatres to be also built; the one in honour of the Emperour Augustus; and this on the one side joined to a tower called Acropolis (which was built by Antigonus Epiphanes, on a purpose to place a Garrison in, to keepe the Iewes in bondage; which Iudas Machabeus afterwards made leuel with the ground) and on the other side towards his owne Pallace. It resembled a semi-Circle, made all of white Marble fairely polished, the buil­ding somewhat low; within full of high bankes one rising aboue another like Scaffolds, so that the whole multitude might easily heare or see whatsoeuer was said or done. It was curiously beau­tified with gold, siluer, and many goodly pictures; but amongst the rest, the battailes which the Emperour Augustus had woon a­gainst his people were liuely pourtrayed. To this place as well Iews as Gentiles resorted to see Interludes and Playes acted. The other was an Amphitheatre, and stood vpon the South side of the house: it was built round in a whole circle, compassed about with high walls large and spatious. Here they vsed to fence and to fight both on horse-backe and in Waggons. And in the fifth yere, in honor of Augustus, the circensian games, according to the [Page 29] Rites of the Gentiles, were very sumptuously performed. On the South side of this Amphitheater, stood queen Bernice house, Si­ster to Agrippa junior: it was a very faire and sumptuous Building little inferiour to King Herods. This stood in the market place, and so all along were very sumptuous and stately Pillars. Heere Agrippa himselfe had also an house, and ouer against that vpon the North stood the Iudgement hall, where the Sanhedrim or the Councell of the seuenty Elders vsed to meet, to heare and deter­mine of mens causes. To this place Christ was brought when they asked him if he was Christ, Luke 22. Here were the Apostles whipt, Acts 5. and close by this stood the house of Pilat the Pre­tor, fairely glistering with gold, in which house all the Romane Pretors and Presidents for the most part had their residence: and here our Sauiour Christ was whipt, crowned with Thornes, and spit vpon. Not far off from this Pretors house stood the Chan­cerie, or rather as we terme it the Treasury, a stately and magnifi­cent house, curiously built, and appointed onely to lay Records and common Chronologies in. Heere also the Officers of the towne gaue in their accounts, and Creditors entred their debts. This was vtterly destroyed by Vespasian. Thus much for the Buil­dings on this Mount.

Next, the market place was a thing very memorable, and was so large and spatious, that in the time of the Warres many great battels were fought there, as Iosephus saith. In this market place, close by Pilats house stood a high seat or Tribunal made of faire stone curiously wrought, and for the eminence of it called in the Chaldaean tongue Gabatha; and because it was built of stone the Grecians called it [...]: the Latines, Lapidanium; and with vs it might be termed an heape of stones * (for so the word signifi­eth) Here Pilat taking water washed his hands before the people,Or a well wrought stone and said, I am innocent of this mans bloud: At which they cried, His bloud be vpon vs and our children. And after by Gods appointment, according to their own wish fel vpon them; for in the same place and close by the same Seat it hapned that Herod wanting money, demanded of the Iewes so much out of their Treasurie (which they called Corban) as would pay for the making of a Water­course (for he assayed to bring water into the City from a Foun­taine, [Page 30] some two hundred furlongs off it) but the Iewes supposing it a needlesse worke, not onely denied him, but gaue many outra­gious and spitefull speeches, tumultuously flocked about him, and with great clamors prest vpon him euen as he was in his seat: wherfore perceiuing the danger, and to preuent mischief, he sent to his souldiers to apparell themselues like Citisens, and vnder their gownes to bring with them a dagger or ponyard, and min­gle themselues among the multitude; which they did, obseruing who they were that made the greatest vprore; and when Herod gaue the signe, fel vpon them with their ponyards, killing a great multitude. The rest seeing this massacre, suspecting treason a­mongst themselues, fell one vpon another; and many for feare of losse, or to auoid future danger, killed themselues. In this very place also, Florus Generall of the common souldiers, within few yeares after, vpon a small occasion, made another cruell massacre and much more barbarous than the former: for hee spared none, the best of them he caused to be whipt to death, or else crucified and put to the sword; and for the Vulgar spared neither woman nor childe. So that within the compasse of one day there died of this obstinate and wicked Nation aboue seuen hundred and thirty. This outrage was so cruell, that all strangers which inha­bited within the town pitied their misery; but especially Queen Bernice, who being partly frighted with their shreeks, partly mo­ued to commiseration through the extremitie of their affliction, indangered her life to present her selfe before Florus, and vpon her knees besought him to take some mercy and pitty of them, and withdraw his hand of vengeance from the bloud of the guilt­lesse. But the fury of the Roman souldiers was so fierce, and the resolution of Florus so vnremoueable, that neither her teares nor the present calamities could persuade him. But as in such Vp­rores it commonly happeneth, she with the rest was in danger of her safety, and was constrained the next night, for the preseruati­on of her estate to keep a strong watch, lest the Roman souldiers should haue done her some violence. Thus we may see a iust re­uenge of a periured and stif necked people, and that in the place where the offence was committed, though at least eight and thir­t [...] yeares after.

[Page 31]In this market place Agrippa had built a Gallery all of marble, from his own house to the Iudgment hall; it was couered aboue, and made with diuers and sundry roomes for men to walke in, all burnished with gold, and called by the name of Xiston, as Iosephus hath it. Here Agrippa after this cruell massacre made an Orati­on to the people (Queene Bernice standing by him) to this effect; That they should forbear to raise any more commotions against the Romans, and to banish the Seditious out of the city, for that they saw their cruelty; Iosep. lib. de Bell. 2. Egesip. lib. 2. cap. 8. To this Gallery there ioyned a bridge which past ouer the valley of Cedron to the Temple. And amongst many other faire and sumptuous Buildings that were vpon this place, there were the Colledges of the Pharisees, Sadduces, and the Synagogues and Schooles for the instruction of Youth, which were dispersed here and there among other stately buildings; and this was called the lower Towne.

Of the Valley of Cedron.

BEtweene ths lower City and the Temple there was a deepe Valley, extending it selfe from the gate of Benjamin through the middle of the City, to the gate of Sion. From this Valley they ascended into either mountaines, (that is, Mount Acra, and Mount Moriah) by certaine steppes or staires. These two hills (as is before said) were ioyned together with a bridge; and this Valley passing betweene them, was called by Zephaniah, cap. 1. Machten. In which place aboue all the rest of the Cities dwelt Merchants, and such as vsed commerce and trade, as appeareth in the eleuenth verse of his prophecie; Howle yee Inhabitants of the low place, for the company of the Merchants is destroyed: all they that ex­change for siluer are cut off. Vpon which place of Scripture the Chaldaean Paraphrase reades it thus Howle yee inhabitants of the valley Cedron. Iosephus, in tit. Bell. 6. cap. 6. & libr. 6. cap. 7 calleth this valley by two names; one Machten, from the profunditie; the other Cedron, from the obscurity: for so the name signifieth; and whosoeuer looked downe into it from the Temple, fogs and [Page 32] mists seemed to lie in the bottome of it, like a cloud of darknesse, such was the depth of it. There was another valley which lay be­tweene mount Sion and these mountaines, called by the name of Tyrexdon.

Of the Mountaine Bezetha.

THis place lay Northward in Ierusalem, and betweene it and the former hils were deep ditches cast; it had two Townes standing vpon it, diuided with two walls, and was common­ly called the Suburbs; the name of the one, which lay neerest to mount Moriah, was called the second city; the other that lay vp­on the North, was called Neapolis or the new towne. In the se­cond dwelt Hulda the Prophetesse, and Zacharias the father of S. Iohn Baptist, 2 Kin. 22.2. 2 Chr. 34. Nehem. 3. Ioseph. li. 10. c. 5. It was adorned with many faire and sumptuous buldings, among which was that princely house of Herod Ascalonites that great and mighty King of the Iewes, in whose time our Sauior Christ was born. This house was sumptuously built, supported and adorned with pillars of polisht marble, and so spatious, that in one room thereof there might stand a hundred tables. The hall also was ve­ry great, and richly gilded with refined gold intermixt with sil­uer: about it were many pleasant and delectable walls, goodly gardens and fountains for pleasure: it was compast with a wal of polisht marble 30 cubits high. And (as Valerius writeth) in that house Herod caused Christ to be mocked, put a long white gar­ment vpon him in contempt, and so sent him to Pilat. Here also was a prison, in which Peter was kept when the Angel of the Lord deliuered him, Acts 12.

Of the towne Neapolis, or the New City.

THis lay without the wals of the city, and became inhabited by reason of the great concourse of people that flocked thi­ther (for in times past there were no inhabitants) and stood vpon the North side of the hil. Here dwelt the Christians and o­ther laborers & strangers: and by all likelihood it seems that the house of Mary the mother of Iohn syrnamed Marke stood here, which because of the continuall resort of the Apostles thither, was called the house of the Church. Hither Peter resorted when [Page 33] he was deliuered from the hands of Herod, by the Angell: for thus saith the Text, Acts 12.9. That when Peter had past the first and second watch he came to the Iron gate which led into the Citie, and loe it opened of it selfe. And from thence he went to the house of Mary the mother of Iohn, surnamed Marke. Here also (in my opinion) Christ celebrated the last Paschall Lambe, because after supper hee went into the mount of Oliues, for this lying vnwalled, lay open for them to goe and come at their pleasure. But afterward in Herod Agrippa's time, it was begunne to be compassed in with a wall, and before it could be fully finished, the Angell of the Lord strucke him, and he died miserably. Here also stood the Monu­ments of Iohn Hircanus the high Priest, and of Alexander, King of the Iewes, as it appeareth in Iosephus, libr. de Bello, 6. cap. 6. The tops of the houses in the Citie of Ierusalem were flat, and coue­red with faire and plaine roofes, compassed about with battle­ments; vpon which they vsed to leape, dance and banquet, and such recreations as they obserued vpon their festiuall daies were there celebrated. And thus much shall serue to haue spoken of the mountaines or hills whereon Ierusalem stood.

Of the Walls that compassed the Citie.

THis Citie of Ierusalem was so strongly fortified by nature on euery side, except the North, (for it stood vpon high rockes and cliffes) that it seemed to be inuincible. And that that side might be the better strengthened, they compassed it in with three walls, and these so strong, that when Vespasian the Emperor and his armie inuaded the citie they had much adoe to conquer them. The first of these walls was that which Agrippa built, and it compassed in Neapolis, otherwise called the new towne. At the Northwest end of which Wall, was built an exceeding high Tower of very faire Marble stone; so high, that standing on the top thereof, a man might see from thence to the Sea, and into Arabia, and the vttermost bounds of Iudaea. This Tower was called Psephina.

The second wall was that which diuided the two Suburbes, wherein there stood 14 towers and gates. This King Hez [...]kiah [Page 34] built, 2. Chr. 32. in a corner of which, betweene the West gate and the Valley gate, there stood a high Tower, wherein all the night great fire was made, which cast a light a great way off round a­bout; so that trauellers passing towards Ierusalem, where guided by it in their way. Of this light we reade in Nehem. cap. 3.

The third wall compassed in the Temple and all the lower ci­tie; in it was sixtie Towers, but the chiefe of them stood in the East Angle, betweene the dung gate and the gate of the valley, which was called Hananiel, and signifieth, The grace and gift of God. This is much spoken of in the Scripture: vpon this wall King Herod the Ascalonite built three faire Towers; one betweene the Garden gate and the old gate, which hee called Hippicum, in ho­nour of his father Hippicus; the other Phaselum, in honour of his brother Phasilus; and the third Mariamne, after his wiues name, who notwithstanding hee caused innocently to be put to death. These three gates were built of polisht Marble. Pliny and Strabo saith, That this was the fairest and most spacious city of the East; and for the munition and fortification almost inuincible. The wals of it were all of white polisht marble, some 25 or 30 cubits high: the stones were 20 cubits long, 20 broad, and 5 thicke, so closely joyned that the junctures could scarce be perceiued. Ma­ny of the Towers also were made of such stones; but those of the Temple exceeded the rest; for they were 25 cubits long, 12 broad, and 8 thicke, as Iosephus witnesseth, lib. Ant. 15. ca. 14. & de Bel. Iud. li. 6. ca. 6. which things being rightly considered, we may ea­sily perceiue that these walls were very difficult to be destroyed: Neither were the ditches of lesse strength that went about the Towne; for they were cut out of hard stones, at least forty cubits deepe, and two hundred and fifty cubits broad, which were vn­possible to haue beene woon, if God had not holpen and assisted the Romans, filling vp those ditches with the bodies of those that died of the plague and famine within the towne.

Of the gates of Ierusalem.

IT had twelue gates to goe out and in: Vpon the East side lay fiue, the first of which was the Fountaine gate, which was so called of the Fountaine Siloah. And this stood close by the gate [Page 35] of mount Sion. In which Fountain, the man that was borne blind washt himselfe at the commandement of our Sauiour, and had his sight restored, Ioh. 9. and at this gate Christ came riding in vp­on an Asse, when he came from Bethania, on Palme Sunday.

2 The Sheepe-gate, which was so called of the multitude of sheepe that were driuen in by it, to be offered in the Temple (for it stood hard by the temple.) Right before this gate stood mount Oliuet, some halfe an English mile and a furlong from Ierusalem, Eastward. By it stood the Garden called Gethsemane, where Christ was taken, and led into the citie through this gate; to be offered vp like an innocent sheepe, for the sinnes of the whole World.

3 The Dung-gate: this tooke the name from a dung-hill, because the raine water comming with great power through the Citie, washed nway the filth, and with great violence, carried it through this gate into the poole Cedron. Not far from this gate was the water gate, and stood a little within it.

4 The Valley-gate, which tooke the name of the valley Ieho­saphat, and lay not farre from the other gate. Hereabouts also stood the Dragon gate.

5 The Horse-gate, and stood just in the joyning of the East and North part of the Citie: it tooke the name from the Kings horses, as appeareth, Ier. 31. Neh. 3.

The gates vpon the North.

6 The corner gate which stood Northwest, 2. K. 14. 1. Ch. 26. Ier. 31. Zach. 14.

7 The Benjamin-gate, so called because men by this gate went to the borders of Benjamin: in this gate the Prophet Ieremy was prisoner, Ier. 37.

8 The Ephraim gate, by which they went to the borders of Ephraim.

The gates vpon the West.

9 The Raine-gate, so called because the raine water clensing the streets, carried away all the filth, and so past through this gate toward the West, and there thrust it out of the Citie, Neh. 12.

10 The Garden-gate, before which the garden stood where­in Christ was buried.

[Page 36]11 The old gate: before this, Mount Caluarie stood, where­on Christ was crucified.

12 The fish gate, so called because of the Sea fish that came in by it: it was also called the Bricke gate. Here the Prophet Ie­remy broke an earthen pitcher, Ieremy 19. and out of this gate they went to Bethlehem. But on the South side there were no gates, for there mount Sion stood, which was so high and steepe that no man could goe vp vpon it.

Of the gates within the Citie.

THe gate of Sion, the water gate; of which two I haue already spoken. The middle gate, whereof Ieremie speaketh, cap. 19. and it is thought it stood in the middle of the citie, in the valley Cedron, not farre from the Tower called Mariamne. The Iron gate, which opened of it selfe, when the Angell led Peter out of prison, Acts 12. this stood in the City walls, passing from one sub­urbe into another: all these gates stood within the city. And thus much shall suffice to haue spoken of the portraiture of it.

Of the Springs, Valleys, Fountaines, and other memorable places as they were scituated neere to the Citie, and how to the foure parts of the World.

IN the next place it resteth to shew what things worthy memo­rie were about, and stood neere to the City: the first of which was the brooke Cedron, which sprung out of a hill not farre from it vpon the South, and with great swiftnesse ran through the East part of the citie, and so between Ierusalem & the mount of Oliues, to the valley gate of Iehosaphat: thence passing through the cliffes of mount Oliuet, it ran directly East till it came to the dead Sea; which brooke in the Summer time was most common­ly dry. The water of it was something blacke, which colour the valley Iehosaphat (which was very fertile) gaue it; & from thence it was called Nigrescens torrens, a blackish streame. This is mystical­ly spoken of, in 2. Sam. and Psa. 100. where it is said, He (that is, our Sauiour Christ) shall drink of the brook in the way: which he fulfilled when he made satisfaction for our sinnes by his death & passion, [Page 37] as it appeareth in the 69 Psal. Saue me ô God, &c. Into this brooke ran the water of Silo, and that which came out of the temple.

Of the mount of Oliues and Bethania, which signifies a house of mourning.

THese two, the one lay vpon the East, the other Southwest, about halfe an English mile and a furlong from Ierusalem. Of Bethania you may reade in Nehemia.

Of the hill Gihon.

GIhon stood before Ierusalem on the West side, right against the fish gate and the old gate, 2. Chr. 22. Here King Solomon was crowned, 1. Kin. 1. Not farre from this stood the mount Gol­gatha, where Christ was crucified. From whence may be obser­ued, That as Solomon vpon that hill was crowned King, so Christ vpon this was crucified; our Sauiour and the true Solomon, that made euerlasting peace betweene God and vs.

From this mount Gihon sprung the Fountaine Gihon, and thereabouts also was the Fullers field, 2. King. 18. 2. Chron. 33. In which place Senacharib and other the Princes and Embassadors of the King of Assyria, spake blasphemous words against the Lord, wherefore he slew 185 thousand of them, as appeareth in the 2. King. 19.

Of the valley of the sonne of Hinnon.

THis valley lieth behind the city of Ierusalem Southward on the left hand as they went from Ierusalem to Bethelem. In this valley the Iewes set vp an Idoll of copper like a King, which they called Moloch, that is, a King of Idols. This Copper Idoll stood with the arms stretching out, and vnder it there was a great fire, whereby the Image shewed fire-redde: and besides that, the more to honour it, they made a great fire betweene two walls, which burnt for his sake: and through this fire the Idolatrous Priests cast liuing children into Molochs burning armes, which he with his armes red hot burnt to death. And in this manner the Iewes offered their owne children to the Idoll Moloch: and when they did it, they made a great noise & crie, and beat vpon a drum, that the fathers when their children were offered, should not [Page 38] here them crie, by reason of the great noise of Drums. This val­ley was called the valley of Tophet; for Tophet signifies a Drum. This was a most grosse and fearefull Idolatry, & therefore Christ likened this valley of Hinnon to hell fire; for he called it Gehenna, Mat. 5. That the Iewes should keepe themselues from this mon­strous Idolatrie, God made a law, That if any man were taken committing this kind of Idolatry, he should forthwith be stoned to death, and not suffered to liue, Leuit. 18. & 20. The valley of Gehennon is oftentimes named in the holy Scriptures, Iosh. 15. Nehem. 11.2. Paral. 28.33. Ier. 7. Ierom writeth, that here by this Idol Moloch in the valley of Hinnon, there was a Wood; for the water ran out of the Fountaine Siloah along by it, and made the valley moist.

Of the field of bloud, called Hakeldama.

THis field of bloud, which was bought for thirty siluer pence, for the which Iudas betraied our Sauiour Christ, lay not farre from the valley of Hinnon, Southward by the city of Ierusalem, as Ierom writeth.

Of the hill Hameskita, or offence and stander.

THis hill lay Southeast, not farre from Ierusalem, something wide of mount Oliuet; so that there was but one Valley be­tweene them, and was not altogether so high as it. Also vpon this hill King Solomon in his old age suffered his wiues or concubines to make Idolatrous Temples, wherein he and his wiues worship­ped Idols.

Of the destruction of this famous Citie of Ierusalem by TITVS VESPASIAN.

THus haue I briefly set forth the dignitie, scituation, & curi­osity of the buildings of Ierusalem; together with the rich­nesse of the Temple, and sumptuousnesse of the houses: now it rests to describe vnto you, the manner and meanes how this fa­mous Citie was destroyed; surely a thing worthy wonder (ac­cording to that in Ieremy) Whosoeuer shall heare of it his eares shall tingle. And that it might be the more famous, and the Christians [Page 39] within it might take notice of the neer approaching desolation, there were diuers strange accidents hapned, and visions seene. As first, about some foure yeares before, the riuer Iordan was turned out of her course, and was brought into the Citie Pella: a while after that, for a yeare together, there hung a Comet like a flaming sword ouer the City: And in the night there was seene a light in the Temple: And in the day when they were at sacrifice, a Calfe brought forth a Lambe. Then about the middle of the night, the Easterne gates of the Temple opened of their owne accord. In the skies were seene armies of men fighting, and Horses and Chariots running too and againe. And at last there was heard a terrible voice in the temple, vttering these words, Migremus hinc; that is, Let vs goe hence. And that there might be a generall Pro­clamation of this sad and cruell desolation, through the whole citie, one Ananias the sonne of Iesus, a man poore and impotent, vpon the Feast of the Tabernacles, ran through all the streets of the Citie, and crying, O, a voice from the East, and a voice from the West, a voice from the foure windes, a voice ouer Ierusalem and the Tem­ple, a voice ouer the Bridegroome and the Bride, and a voice ouer the whole multitude of this Citie. And although he was whipt, and im­prisoned, and cruelly handled, yet so long as he liued, hee would not cease to vtter these words, which by some were judg'd to fore­tel the horrible desolation which after hapned.

For Titus Caesar sonne of Flavius the Emperor, about seuentie yeares after the Natiuitie of our Lord, and about eight and thirty after his ascension, vtterly ouerthrew it euen to the ground, about the first day of the moneth of Aprill, and within a yeare after these signes. For he taking aduantage of the three factions which at this time swaied in Ierusalem: One of Eleazer the Priest the sonne of Simon; the other of Zilotus the chiefe Prince which held the Temple; and the third of Iohannes Giscalenus a cruell fellow, which had the command of the inferiour Citie; besieged it, and made this a fit opportunitie to further his enterprises, whiles the seditious and factious people, little regarding their owne safetie, gaue way by their euill and intestine warrs, to what he intended, weakning themselues much more by their continued slaughters, than the enemy by his inuasion. Insomuch as the whole citie, and [Page 40] Temple was filled with dead bodies; common insolencies, and publique rapines were ordinarily amongst them: some set fire of the City, others dispoiling the Temple, a third sort killing the Priests euen as they were at sacrifice, al places ful of dead bodies; and to this, to adde a greater measure of miserie (without any re­gard at all to their future defence) set fire of the store-house, wherein the corne lay for the sustentation of the Citie, and con­sumed that in one day which had been long a gathering: by this meanes it came to passe, that they were sorely afflicted with the pestilence through the corruption of the aire, and with famine, for want of Corne. All these things notwithstanding (such was the crueltie, obstinacie, and peruersenesse of this people) could not restraine them from violating the most sacred and holy things of the Temple: insomuch as Iohannes Giscalenus had a full determination to haue destroyed it, but that he was preuented by the Romans.

About this time was the feast of the Passeouer, and it fell vpon the fourteenth day of Aprill, being the Sabboth; to the celebra­tion whereof, there resorted to Ierusalem, about three hundred thousand Iewes. These the enemy gaue way to enter into the Ci­tie; but considering their present necessitie for want of victuals, vpon a suddain drew vp their forces, and so straightly beleagered them that all this huge multitude was (as it were) imprisoned within the wals, where partaking of the former misery, they either died by the plague or famin. Whence may be perceiued the mar­uellous prouidence of God, that euen on the same day, and in the very same place, where but eight and thirtie yeares before our Sauiour Christ suffered, the authors of such crueltie suffered a most just and seuere reuenge, Now as the army of the Romans lay vpon the North of the Citie, Titus drew out a band of six hundred horse to ride about, to behold and view the walls of the Towne: but as he was in this manner wondring at the sumptu­ousnesse of the Citie, the Iewes in great multitudes slipt out at a posterne gate, and set vpon him so fiercely, that they endangered his person, being without armour; and had he not with great dif­ficultie broke through them, and recouered the Tower of the Ro­mans, hee had beene there slaine. But presently vpon this see­ing [Page 41] the danger, hee besieged the Citie in three parts; himselfe as the Emperour of the armie, built a castle about some two fur­longs from the Citie, iust against the Tower Psephina. Thc other part of the army was intrenched right against the Tower Hip­picus not farre from the Garden of the resurrection. And the third part had their Castle in the Mount of Oliues, some fiue fur­longs or thereabouts from the Citie. Then did hee build Bul­warkes, make Engines, and wonderfull deuises, for the battering of the Walls; and combining himselfe with some of the Iewes, vpon the seuenth day of the second moneth, which answereth to the moneth of May, with great difficultie and much labour en­tred the first Wall which lay vpon the North, and woon Mount Bezitha and Neapolie. Vpon the twelfth of the same moneth (which was the Sabboth day) hee entred the second wall, which diuided the suburbs: but this was againe the same day recouered by the vertue of the Iewes, so that the Iewes were constrained to fight vpon the Sabboth day, according to the prophecie of our Sauiour Christ, Matt. 24. But after vpon the sixteenth of this moneth of May, the Romans againe recouered this wall and kept it in their owne custody.

Within a while after in the month of Iune (about this time the famine growing intollerable within the towne) Titus in the space of three daies, compassed in the whole citie of Ierusalem with a Wall, and vpon that set Towers and Castles, lest any of the Iewes should flye to saue themselues. Thus was the prophecie of our Sauiour Christ fulfilled, Thy enemies shall compasse thee about and hem thee in on euery side. Iosephus was now in the Citie, and wal­king vpon the Walls, earnestly intreated the Iewes to desist, and no longer to oppose the Romans, but this was so hatefull a speech to many, that they began to fling darts at him. And although at this time the extremitie of the famine was so sore, that many dyed for want of sustenance, yet all perswasions were in vaine; and such was the calamitie, that as well those as went out, as those that continued in the Citie, were in like danger of their liues; for they were either slaine by the enemy, or els by the pestilence and famine; common injuries, and vnmercifull outrages still atten­ding vpon warre.

[Page 42]Their misery did rather increase, then at all lesson it selfe; for the jealousie of treason, the hope of riches, and the madnes of the seditious, distracted the mindes of the Citizens with continuall feares, and filled the streets full of murther and daily spectacles of lamentable tragedies: The markets were vnfrequented with Corne, the victuals, with violence consumed and taken from the true owners. And if it chanced that some one had more than would serue his turne, though he dwelt in a faire and stately buil­ding, yet the remotest roome and most vnfrequented he made his tabernacle, and that little which was left, with great parcimonie he consumed, together with his life, till both were ended. Those that were Fathers and Senats of the people (though before ser­ued and attended with reuerenced and great state) in this consu­sion was glad of a small morsell, though with much contention. The wife was not ashamed to take away the meate from her hus­band, nor the children from their parents, nor the mothers from their infants: And if it hapned that in any house the seditious seemed to smell food, with violence they tooke it, ransackt the roomes round about, whiles the master therof was made a laugh­ing stocke and mournfull spectator of those mischiefes. But ac­cording to the condition of souldiers, whose naturall disposition is to be violent, without any regard either of sex or kindred, com­mitted daily outrages. So that here you might haue seene the mothers weeping ouer their dying infants, whiles their husbands were massacred in the streets by the seditious.

The increase of daies were the increase of torments, and the daily want of such as were in power being vnaccustomed to such euils, caused them to inuent new meanes to satisfie their desire, and practise vnusuall torments, for no other purpose but to finde out sustenance: yea, such was their insatiable thirst of bloud, that they spared not him whom but now gaue them all hee had, and least he should liue to cumber the city, either hang him vp by the heeles till he died, or else pulled out his entrailes with a sharpe yron. Those that went out in the night time when the Romans were asleepe, to gather herbes, the seditious would meet and with violence take what they had got from them: and though with teares and lamentations, and prayers vpon their knees, they [Page 43] intreated but for one part, a small moitie of that which a little be­fore they had got with danger of their liues, yet they would not giue it them, and scap't fairely if they went away with life. These insolencies were committed by the common souldiers, vpon such as were of the meaner sort of people. But for the rest that were either honorable or rich, they became a prey to the Captains and Commanders, some accused as traitors, and that they would haue betraied the Citie to the Romans; others as fugitiues, that they would forsake the Citie; most vnder pretence of one crime or other, dispoiled of that they had. And they whom Iohn had thus oppressed, were entertained of Simon, and whom Simon had inju­ried, they were entertained by Iohn; both drunke the bloud of the miserable Citizens like water: So that the desire of rule was the cause of their dissention, the concord of their euill and cruell actions.

There was an infinite number that perished in this citie by fa­mine, insomuch as houses were filled with the bodies of infants and children. The Angle gate was thrust full of dead corpes. The young men that remained, walked vp and downe the Citie like Images of death. The old men were destroyed by the pesti­lence, the contagion of which disease taking away their senses, they became madde. And of such as died among the seditious, their wiues or kindred had not roome nor time to bury them, but as they were putting them into the graue they also dyed. Yet for all this, amongst this miserable societie, there was no weeping, no complaining, no deploring of their necessities, for the violence of the famin hauing dried vp their radical moisture, the feare of griefe was taken from them: and such as had most cause to lament, and were most pricked with the sting of sorrow, before they could vtter their griefe died, the beholders not shed­ding a tear: so that through the whole city there was a still silence, and a thicke mist of death, and destruction did fully possesse the same.

But the seditious were much more cruell than these were op­pressed with calamitie and sorrow; for some opened the graues of the dead, and taking out their bodies thrust them thorow with their swords. Others to trie the sharpenesse of the edge of their [Page 44] weapons would fall vpon those that were yet aliue, and when they had slaine them, goe away laughing at their pleasure. So that as Iosephus saith, there was scarce any mischiefe vnder the Sunne, but was both practised and tollerated in this Citie. To conclude, by sedition the Romans conquered the Citie, and sedition con­quered the Romans.

All loue and modestie, through this extreme and intollerable famine, became vtterly extinct, and the deerest friends would kill one another for a crust of bread; the fairest Lady commit open adultery for a little sustinance. Their food was extraordinary, and such as men did loath and hate: Some would feed vpon snailes and wormes, others of old hay chopt small; many ate corne ei­ther vnground or made into bread: some pluckt the meat from the spit raw, others with their teeth gnaud off the leather off their shields: And that very mouth which cried, Crucifie him, crucifie him, let his bloud be vpon vs and our children, was constrained to feed vpon three sorts of dung, that is to say, Doues dung, Oxens dung, and Mans dung. Moreouer, many were constrained for meere necessitie, to feed vpon the dead bodies of such, as a little before dyed, partly by famine, partly by the pestilence. And to conclude, for very madnesse eat vp their gold: for some of them being taken as they were flying for their safety by the Romans, in their excrement was found gold, of which the souldiers hearing, and supposing that all the Iewes had beene full of gold, thorow couetousnesse of that gaine, in one night killed 2000 of them, and ript vp their bellies; And had not Titus Caesar by a seuere Edict, forbidden these cruell and vnheard of slaughters, there had beene many more slaine.

To make an end of this vnheard of famine, I will repeat one memorable example our of Iosephus, of an outrage which a mo­ther committed euen vpon her owne sonne. There was a woman of the inhabitants beyond Iordan, whose name was Marie, of the stocke of Eliazer, and of the Towne Bethezor, which signifies the house of Hissop; shee was of a noble and rich family, and a­mongst others, went to Ierusalem in hope of safety, where she was likewise oppressed with the miserie of this siege; for as soone as she had brought all her riches and substance into the City, which [Page 45] she had before beyond Iordan, this famine growing greater and greater vpon the inhabitants. The seditious perceiuing that this woman was well furnished both with riches and sustinance, on a suddain set vpon her house, dispoiled her of her substance, tooke away her sustinance, and vtterly depriued her of all meanes to liue. Shee beeing pricked with the misery and calamitie of the times, saw it little preuailed to striue, wherefore with teares, vpon her knees she intreated that shee might haue but some small part of that they had taken from her, to maintain her selfe and her son with life; but the seditious gaue little eare to her intreaties: wher­fore being mooued to extreme anger she daily cursed with con­tumelious words those barbarous villains, that had thus rob'd her of all her means: but when shee saw that neither anger nor intrea­tie could procure mercie, and through the Towne not one mor­sell of food was to be found, partly prest with an extreame neces­sitie, partly with a furious rage, beyond all nature and compassi­on, laid violent hands vpon her owne sonne, and accounted an vn­timely death more honourable, than that he should liue to bee a prey to the seditious, or a slaue to the Romans.

The body of this infant shee rosted and eat: the soldiers of the Towne beeing prest with hunger, smelling the meat, supposing that as in former times, they should haue found plenty, with vio­lence broke in vpon her, and looke what she had prouided greedi­ly consumed, and compelled her to fetch the rest; which shee did, and when they were well satisfied, she shewed them the head and feet of her sonne: which they perceiuing, loathing the inhumani­tie of the fact, with dejected countenance departed. This famine was so extreame, that one measure of graine was worth a talent, that is, 600 crownes. But the Romans all this while did abound with plenty of all things, and to vex the Iewes they shewed them the great aboundance of their store, for the neighboring prouin­ces sent them supplies.

After this famine, there followed an extreme plague, procured partly through the stanch of the bodies that lay vnburied, partly by the multitude of the massacres that daily hapned, that (as Egi­sippus writeth) within the compasse of eleuen weekes, there were carried out by one gate of the Citie, 111000 dead bodies; yet [Page 46] could they not emptie the Citie, but that they were constrained either to bury them at the publike charge, or else cast them ouer the wals into the ditches of the citie: which when Titus saw, and that the putrifaction of the bodies swam vpon the brim of the ditch (for it was full with dead carkasses) fetching a deepe sigh, and lifting vp his hands to heauen, he said, God is my witnes, this is not my fault, but the punishment of God vpon them.

The city being thus pestired with sedition, famine, pestilence, and warre, was made now a ready prey to the Enemy: and that they might make a finall end of their miseries, Titus caused the engines of batterie to be brought against the walls; and vpon the first day of the fourth month (whicn answers to our Iune) he took the third wall which lay vpon the North. Vpon the fourth of Iune after, though with great labour, he tooke the Tower of An­tonia, and in it placed a Garrison. Vpon the seuenteenth day of the fourth moneth, which was a fast to the Iewes, Iosephus going vp to the top of that Tower, made an Oration to Giscalinus and the rest, to disswade them from their rebellion, & cease to oppose the Romans, but this little preuailed. Vpon the twentieth day of Iuly, the Iewes burnt a part of the Porch of the Temple towards the North, not far from the Tower of Antonia, lest that the Ro­mans hauing got that Hold, should with the greater facilitie haue conquered the Temple also. Two daies after, the Romans de­stroyed the whole Porch with fire, and the Iewes helpt to pull it downe with their hands: this was none of the three Porches but a bulwarke of the Temple. Vpon the 25 day of Iuly the Iewes filled the Porch toward the West with pitch and betume, and then made as though they meant to fly and leaue the citie, which some of the Romans perceiuing, without any command of their Captaines, put scaling ladders to the Tower, and began to assault it, but when they were most busie, the Iewes of a sudden put fire to the pitch, and burnt them most miserably; insomuch as Titus pittied them to see their extremitie, although they were such as did contrary to his command. Vpon the last day of this moneth they tooke the North gate, which lay towards the rising of the Sunne, and close by the brooke Cedron; rhis they burnt downe with fire. Vpon the third of August, Titus commanded to fire the [Page 47] gate of the Temple, that was all couered ouer with gold & siluer, by this gate the Romans made a breach into the Temple, which ere this had beene prophaned by the Iewes: whiles this gate was a burning, the Iewes stood astonished, and not one of them resisted the Romans. Caesar and all his army labored three daies to quench this fire, after which hee called a councell to determine what he should do with the temple, it was so rich and sumptuous, that he would faine haue left it as an ornament for the Roman Empire. But the Iewes hauing got a little breathing, made new incursions vpon the Romans, by which meanes they could not determine thereof. The 6 of August, the souldiers of Titus, without com­mand of their Captaines, fired the Temple, just vpon that day which Nebuchadnezzar before time had destroyed it, as Iosephus witnesseth, li. de Bell. 6. c. 26.27. Caesar would faine haue saued this Temple for the sumptuousnesse of it, and beckoned to his soul­diers to haue quencht the fire, but they, partly prest on with a de­sire of wealth, partly being prickt on with a fury and madnesse, gaue no eare to his speeches, but committed most cruell massa­cres, without either regard of age or sex: So that the cries of the slaughterd, the sound of the Roman trumpets, the fierce resistance of the seditious, and the fire furiously burning, represented a most horrible spectacle: The ground below was couered with dead bodies, many in desperation threw themselues into the fire, 6000 were burnt in the same gate, whither they fled for refuge, and the priests most cruelly massacred as they were in the Temple. This was the end of the Temple of Ierusalem, the mirror of the world, being consumed and spoiled with fire and sword.

After these things, vpon the bridge that passeth from the tem­ple ouer the valley into the lower towne, Titus made a speech by an interpreter, to the two seditious Captaines, gently intrea­ting them to leaue off their rebellion, and he would spare the Ci­tie and commit no more outrages, and such further requests as they desired should according to reason be granted them; but if they would not embrace mercy and cease their violent resistance, they must expect no manner of compassion, but the very law of Armes. This they contemned and made but a mocke of Caesar for all his offers; whereupon in a great rage hee gaue the signall [Page 48] to his souldiers, and they went through all the City and set it on fire. The next day they woon the lower Citie, and with fire and sword consumed the place where the records lay, the Court and all the Princely buildings, vntill they came to that stately house of Helena, which stood in the midst of Acra, all the houses neere being filled with the bodies of the dead, and the streets horribly defiled with the bloud of those that were slaine. Within a short while after, Iohannes Giscalinus was taken aliue and committed to prison.

The inferiour Citie being thus taken and destroyed, about the 16 day of August, Caesar began to build his engines, and batter the walls of the vpper citie, which within the space of 18 daies after with extreme labour and skill, hee laid flat with the ground, (as Iosephus saith.) And vpon the 7 of September, with great facilitie hee conquered the citie, the Iewes of their owne accord descen­ding from the Towers: and the Romanes set vpon the walls their ensignes, with a great acclamation, and wasted all the citie with fire and sword, sparing neither men, women, nor children.

The 8 day of the moneth of September, the whole Citie was destroyed, and not a stone left vpon a stone but laid leuell with the ground, onely the three Towers that were built by Herod, which were of shining Marble (viz. Hippicus, Phaselus, and Ma­riamne) that future ages seeing the excellencie of those buildings they might iudge of the statelines of the rest. But these also were after destroyed by Adrianus Caesar.

There died by the famine and pestilence an innumerable num­ber, by fire and sword ten hundred thousand: 2000 were found that either killed themselues, or one killed another, 7900 were taken captiues; of these, all the seditious theeues that accused one another, were slaine by Frontonius Caesar, Titus freed many, 7000 were sent into Aegypt, with extreme labour to consume and die, the properest and most able were reserued for triumph, many were distributed through the prouinces, some were slaine by the sword, and by beasts for publike spectacles, and those that were 16 yeares of age and vnder, together with many other, Caesar sold vnder the crowne, at thirty for a siluer penny; that as Christ was sold for thirty pence, so thirty of them should be sold for a penny, [Page 49] With the riches of this towne Caesar triumphed, rode into Rome with two golden Chariots, built the Temple of Peace, and there put all the plate which he found in the temple of Ierusalem. Af­ter all this, for a full determination of those euils, the two sediti­ous captaines Iohannes Giscalenus and Simon the son of Giora, were put to most cruell deaths. Thus may we see the grieuous punish­ment of the obstinat and ambitious, which God permitted to fall vpon them for their vnthankfulnesse and cruell tyranny.

How the city of Ierusalem after this destruction by Titus Vespas. was vtterly beaten downe and defaced by Aelius Adr. Caesar, which he re-edifying, called it after his own name Aelia.

THe city of Ierusalem being thus laid leuel with the ground, for the space of sixty yeares lay desolate, a receptacle for theeues and murtherers, a fit place for Wolues and wilde beasts, which resorted thither to feed vpon the dead bodies. And now time consuming their flesh, left their bones and skuls to lye vpon the earth as in a Charnell house. Thus it continued vntill one Benchochab (which signifies the Son of the Stars) born in the towne of Bethcoron not farre from Emaus, professed himselfe to be the Messiah or Christ. The Iewes supposing this to be true, because of that saying of Numb. 24. There shall a Starre rise vp out of Iacob) assembled themselues to the number of many thousands and followed him, with great tyranny and crueltie spoyling the Holy Land, and through all the countrey of Iudaea committing many outrages and massacres. Thus they continued for the space of eighteene yeares, at the end of which time Adrianus Ae­lianus the Emperor hearing of those insolencies, leuied an Army and sent them into Iudea, vnder the gouernment of Iulius Seuerus, who in a pitcht field neere to Bethcoron and not far from Emaus conquered this Benchochab or Pseudo-Messiah, and with him slew fiue hundred thousand Iewes that were deceiued by his per­suasion. Now when they went to seeke for the body of this De­ceiuer amongst the Dead (as saith Talmudista) hee was found lying with an horrible Serpent about his necke; intimating how [Page 50] God reiected him that would seem to imitate his Son; for euen as the Serpent deceiued our first Parents, so this Benchochab de­ceiued the Iews, and for this cause they called him Bencozba, that is, The Son of Lying. The number of the Iewes which in the time of this war were slaine amounted to 500000 men, besides many others that perished by pestilence and famin. This warre hapned 64 yeares after the destruction of Ierusalem.

After this second desolation of the Iewes, at the command of the Emperor (that there might be a final extirpation of the anti­ent city of Ierusalem, and that the words of our Sauior might be fulfilled, Lo, there shall not be a stone left vpon a stone, Mat. 24) the ru­ines and foundations thereof were digged vp, the stones broken in pieces, the ground left desolate, and the mountains are now be­come barren and ouergrown with brambles: And that the name thereof might vtterly be forgotten, and as it were rooted out of the earth, hee set vp a new towne not far from the hill Gihon and Golgotha where Christ was crucified; which after he had ador­ned with many goodly buildings, he called it by his owne name, Aelia. In the place of the Temple he set vp a Church in the ho­nour of Iupiter and Venus. Iust in the place where the holy Altar stood, he erected his own image vpon a marble pillar, which con­tinued vntill Saint Hieroms time. At Bethlehem he erected the Image of Adonis, and to that he consecrated at Church. Vpon the gates of the City he cut Hogs in marble, in contempt of the Iewes. Then did hee abiure them, That they should not come within the walls of the City, nor set foot vpon the ground neere Ierusalem. This being done, (as Dion saith) he dedicated it to the honour of Iupiter Capitolinus; and only made it free for Chri­stians and such like to be in it. This town at this day we call Ie­rusalem, although it be scituated in another place, and called by another name.

Future Ages calling the actions of precedent times into que­stion, puld a great contempt vpon this Towne, and so much the rather, because Infidelitie and other heathenish prophanesse was cherisht within this city. So that that which a little before was set vp in honour of the Emperour Aelianus, is now growne into contempt. Wherfore Helena the mother of Constantine the Great [Page 51] hauing command of that Empire, to giue some satisfaction to the vniuersalitie, caused those prophane Temples and Idols to be abolished, and in their places erected others. Vpon mount Gol­gotha the church called Golgothanus; vpon the mount of Olives one in the place of the ascention of Christ: and Constantine her son richly adorned the Sepulchre, and ouer it built a stately Temple all of polisht marble, richly gilt with gold, so that to this day it remaines as the chiefe ornament of the town. In this mans time the Iewes with great boldnesse indeauoured to rebuild the Tem­ple iust in the place where it stood before: but at the commande­ment of the Emperour they were repelled, and in recompence of their presumption had their eares cut off and their noses slit, be­cause they had eares and would not heare, neither obey the com­mandement of our Sauior.

But as the Emperor was religious, and endeauored to support Christianitie, so his successor Iulianus was as full of impietie and prophanenesse; who that he might frustrat the prophecie of our Sauior, That Ierusalem should neuer be built again, in contempt caused the Iewes to assemble together, and with all expedition restore it to its former glory, giuing the vttermost of his helpe to their endeauours. But as they were seriously labouring in this work, of a sudden there came a great earthquake, and looke what they had built was by that quite ouerturned; then fire came out of the earth and from heauen, which destroied both the matter and the Workemen. And that the Iewes nor any Philosophers might impute it to a natural cause, there was seen in the heauens a bloudy crosse, and vpon their cloathes crosses shining like stars, which the Iewes could by no means wipe off. Yet this little pre­uailed: a second time they attempted, & as before, a second earth­quake hapned, with a storme of winde, which came with such ex­treme violence, that all the stuffe which they had heaped toge­ther for this purpose was vtterly blown away and destroyed. So that of force they were constrained to leaue off, & acknowledge, That Christ, whom their Forefathers had crucified, was the true Messiah. Greg. Nazianzen and Hierome report, That neuerthelesse the Iewes euen to this day, although it cost them much money, come yearely to the place where Ierusalem stood, and vpon the [Page 52] day of the destruction thereof weep ouer it. Such was their affe­ction vnto this City.

But these euils were purged with a sudden inuasion (for no crying iniuries nor prophane insolencies against God passe vn­punished, but that then or soone after a iust reuenge falls vpon them) for Cosroës Emperor of the Persians, whose impudencie and impietie was so great that hee would be worshipped as a god, a­bout the yeare of our Lord 615, besieged this town, tooke it, and put to death 90000. Christians, carried the Patriarch thereof, to­gether with many others away captiue. But Heraclius the Empe­ror to punish him for his pride and crueltie set vpon Persia, and with fire and sword destroied the country not far from Nineueh, conquered his chiefe captain Razetis in a set battell, won the city of Nineueh, and went away with an honorable victorie. Seroës al­so, the only begotten sonne of Cosroës, but a little before inuading the kingdom, kild his father in prison, restored the Patriarch and the rest of the Captiues which his father had taken, to Heraclius: and about the seuenth yeare after hee had warred vpon Persia, hee returned to Aelia with great pompe.

Not long after, in the yeare 637, Haumar the chiefe Prince of the Saracens, which was the third from Mahomet, with a great Ar­my afflicted Syria and Iudaea, conquered these Countries, and in his victories vsed great tyrannie and crueltie. Within two yeares after, he won Aelia, which had maintained a long and sharp siege; neither would Zacharias the Patriarch giue it vp, til he was com­pelled thereto by extreme famin, and soon after died with griefe.

Thus this towne continued for the space of 450 yeares in the hands of the Saracens. Then in the yere 1012, Caliphas Sultan of Egypt won it, beat downe the walls, destroied the Temple which the Emperor Constantine had built, and made havock of al things. Presently vpon this, the Turkes that came out of Scythia by the Caspian mountains, won the city, & draue thence the Saracens. Thus we may see that the Saracens and Turks, though they were both of one religion, yet for the country of the Iewes fought one against another, and compelled the Christians to pay them Tri­bute for the fourth part of the city, wherein the Sepulchre of our Lord stood, being againe restored by the Emperor Constantine af­ter the destruction of Caliphas.

[Page 53]The Christians being weary of this tribute, and of the oppres­sion of the Infidels, became sutors to Pope Vrban the second of that name, for their deliuery; who in the yeare 1094 assembled a Councel at Clearemont in France, and by the instigation of one Peter the hermit, stirred vp the hearts of diuers Christian princes and great Lords to make a croysado; so that 10000 braue & well mounted souldiers went into the Holy land, and for a token of their war bore red crosses vpon their armes.

In the same yeare there was a great blasing starre seene in the West, and after that followed a great plague for the space of two yeares through the world: this neuerthelesse hindred them not in their designes, but that they went their intended journy, won the City of Aelia from the Saracens, deliuered the Christians from their bondage and tax, and chose Godfrey of Lorrain Earle of Bul­lion King thereof, whom they anointed in the Temple of the ho­ly Sepulchre; but hee refused to be crowned with a Crowne of gold, saying, That it ill beseemed him to be called King of Ieru­salem, (the true King whereof was Christ) or to sit crowned with gold, in the place where he was crowned with thorns that was the Son of the euer-liuing God: and then chose Arnolphus of Rhodes Patriarch.

In the moneth of October the same yeare, a blasing Starre of maruellous bignesse appeared towards the South: it seemed to be like a wauing sword, foreshewing no doubt the destruction of all those that went about to re-establish this earthly Ierusalem. Immediatly after the Feast of the Natiuitie of Christ, all the Christians of the East countries vpon Candlemas day came out of Syria, but especially out of Antiochia, to Ierusalem, & in the Temple of the holy Sepulchre consecrated their Bishops and Chorasters, and with one consent sung Illuminare Ierusalem. They tooke also all the Cities, Castles, and Villages, and ouer them set Bishops; created foure Principalities, one at Ierusalem, another at Antiochia, a third at Edissa, a fourth at Tripoly. Also certain Earledomes and Baronies, as at Brito, Zidon, Caesarea, Galilee, Ioppa, and Ascalon. All these were appointed to pay tribute to the King of Ierusalem. All this was done in the yere of our Lord, 1099.

[Page 54]No sooner were these newes published to the world, but there was an vniuersall croysado through all Christendom, for the con­quering and winning of the rest of the holy land, but before they could get thither, they were either slaine by the Grecians and other nations, or els died through famin & thirst: so that in them was fulfilled the prophecie of Zacharias, cap. 12.3. where it is said, It shall happen that I will make Ierusalem an heauy stone for all people all they that lift it vp shal be torn, though all the people of the earth be gathe­red together against it. And verse 9, And in that day I will seeke to de­stroy all the nations that come against Ierusalem.

This yeare 1100 died Godfrey King of Ierusalem, of a feuer, vp­on the [...]8 day of Iuly, when he had reigned scarce a yere, and was buried in the temple of mount Calvarie.

After him succeeded his brother Baldovin the first of that name, & second King of Ierusalem. This man reigned 18 years in Ierusalem, and being ouercome by Caliphas Sultan of Egypt, af­ter the losse of thirteene thousand Christians, he had much adoe to escape with life. Within a short time after hee died without issue.

Baldwin the second succeeded his vncle, and was the third king of Ierusalem. He began his reign Anno 1118. This man ouercame the Turks: and the King of Damascus had issue only one daugh­ter, named Milesent, whom he maried to the Earle of Angiers, and gaue with her the kingdom of Ierusalem, and died without heire male, in the yeare 1131.

Fulco in right of his wife succeeded his father in law, & was the fourth King of Ierusalem. This Fulco was brother to the King of England, he reigned 13 years, fought many worthy battels against the Turkes, put 3000 of their men to the sword, tooke many of them prisoners and caried them to Ierusalem. After that, as hee was hunting the Hare by Acon, riding speedily, hee fell from his horse and was sorely brused, whereof he died, and left two sonnes called Baldwin and Almerick.

Baldwin the third was the fifth King of Ierusalem, and succee­ded his father. He won the city of Ascalon, he rebuilt the towne of Boza, (which had beene destroyed) placed there certaine Knights Templers, he lost the City of Edissa to the Saracens, [Page 55] where many Christians were cruelly slain. And hauing reigned 19 yeares he died without issue.

After him succeeded his brother Almerick, as was the sixt king of Ierusalem. In the time of this king the Sultan of Egypt gaue a great ouerthrow to the Knights Templers; which he seeking to reuenge, inuaded Egypt with a great army, besieged the great ci­ty of Alcaire, but to small purpose; wherefore returning back to Ierusalem, he shortly after died, when he had reigned 12 years: he left behinde him three children, a sonne called Baldwin, and two daughters, Sibilla and Isabella.

Baldwin the fourth succeeded his father, and was the seuenth king of Ierusalem; who abusing his gouernment was struck with leprosie, with the contagion of which disease he died miserably, in the 25 yere of his age, hauing reigned 13 years. Baldwin the fift of that name, the onely begotten son of his sister Sibil, by his con­sent was chosen his successor, a youth of 9 yeares old, his fathers name was William Mountferrat, earle of March, who dying, his mo­ther married one Guy Earle of Lusignan, to whom Baldwin com­mitted the protection of the kingdome and of his yong kinsman till he came to mans estate. But this yong man within 7 years af­ter the death of his vncle, died sitting at his table, not without su­spition of poison. Guy his protector, by the persuasion of his wife, and at the instigation of the Ierosolimits, took vpon him the go­uernment: but Raimond Earle of Tripoli was his great aduersa­ry, for that Baldwin 4. for his exceeding pride, at the instigation of that Guy had displaced him of all his Offices and titles in the commonwealth. These two striuing for the kingdom, it hapned that Guy was charged with his kinsmans death, vnder which pre­tence Raimond made war against him. During these troubles, Sa­ladine Sultan of Egypt taking aduantage of this opportunitie, made war vpon them both, and with great facility conquered the kingdome and destroied Ierusalem.

In this yeare 1187, there happened so great an Eclipse of the Sunne, that at noone day the Starres were plainely to bee seene. Soone after this, Raimond and Guy were both taken prisoners, and thirty thousand Christians cruelly put to the sword. After this, the Saracens sacked the Towne, threw the Bells out of the Stee­ples, [Page 56] made stables of the Churches; only the Temple on Mount Golgotha stood vntoucht: for the Turkes and Saracens honour Christ as a great Prophet.

And thus the new kingdome of the Christians in Ierusalem ended, which was vpon the second day of October, in the yeare 1187, after it had continued in their possession 88 yeares. Du­ring the continuance of this kingdome there were many horrible visions and strange Signes and Wonders seene both in Heauen, on earth, and in the ayre; foreshewing (no doubt) that God was not well pleased with their actions which sought to restore that kingdom of Ierusalem. For, My kingdome (saith Christ) is not of this world.

And although after that, there were many Kings that by all possible means endeauored to recouer and restore the same, and for that purpose haue leauied many great Armies, and vnderta­ken many tedious journies; yet all their counsels and determina­tions came to nothing, for that God so often as they vndertooke any such expedition, either stayed their Armies, oppressed them with war, or else plagued them with famine, in such an extreame measure, that with very hunger they haue bin constrained to eat their Horses.

Frederick Barbarossus may be an example of these calamities; who with a great army making an expedition to Ierusalem, as he was trauelling through Asia minor, his horse started and flung him into the riuer, where he died miserably ere he could be saued. Ma­ny other Princes, besides in the like enterprise came to the like ends; for they were either destroied by the Barbarians, with the losse of thousands of their men cruelly slain, or vtterly destroied with vnnatural diseases or vntimely deaths.

Now when the Emperour Fredericke the second of that name had beseeged and brought to great miserie the Sultan of Egypt, and the Knights Templers had done the like to Damieta; Corderio the Sultans son beat downe the walls of Ierusalem, and had it not bin for the great lamentations and ernest entreaties of the Chri­stians, he would haue destroied the city; but for their sakes he left standing Solomons Temple, and the Temple of the holy Sepul­chre; for at this time Christians inhabit in them.

[Page 57]Within a while after, about the yeare 1228, Fredericke the se­cond of that name, Emperor of Rome, went to the holy land with a great army, and came to Ptolomais, otherwise called Acon, where staying a while, he made a league with the Sultan of Egipt for ten years, regained Ierusalem without drawing sword, & was there crowned in the yeare 1229, keeping at that time in Ierusa­lem a royal Easter. This man fortified the Christians with a gar­rison, rebuilt Nazareth and Ioppa, and so returned into Italy.

In the yeare 1246, Cassanus King of the Tartars being persua­ded by the Sultan, with a great army inuaded Iudaea, won Ieru­salem, caused the Christians to be cruelly slaine, beat downe the holy Sepulchre euen to small pieces, and left but little standing. It was after this destroyed by Tamerlaine King of the Tartars, and by Mahomet the second of that name, Emperour of the Turkes. But the Monkes had leaue to build vp the holy Sepulcre againe, for the which they payed to the Sultan or his Deputy a yearely tribute.

In the yeare of our Lord 1516, Selymus Emperor of the Turks, about the twenty fourth day of August, neere to Damascus ouer­came Campson Gaurus Sultan of Egypt in a cruell Warre, and put to death many thousands of his men; and the Sultan himselfe seeking to saue his life by flight was miserably slaine. This Se­lymus conquered the Holy Land, Syria, Damascus, and all the Countries thereabouts; and as he went through Iudaea, leauing his Army at Gaza, with a few of his Souldiers he went to Ieru­salem, that he might see with his eyes that place which was made so famous by the antient Writers, and was so often mentioned in the Old and New Testament. But when he came he found no­thing but a ruinate and waste place, barren and rude to looke vp­on, inhabited by a few poore Christians, and they also held in great contempt and bondage, paying a great tribute to the Sul­tan of Egypt, for their liberty and the holy Sepulchre, as P. Iouius writeth. But after that Selymus in that place had done his Offe­rings and Sacrifices to his god Mahomet, seeing the Priests and Christians prest with extreme pouertie, out of his singular mercy and compassion gaue them a large and sumptuous gift, when hee had stayed but one day and one night in the Towne. The next [Page 58] morning before day he went with all expedition to his Army at Gaza, & from thence into Egypt, where he besieged the great and famous city Alcaire, and in the yeare 1517 took it, conquered all the country, vtterly extirpated the Sultan, and went away with an honorable victory and rich booty. From this yeare euen till now, the towne of Aelia or Ierusalem is vnder the jurisdiction of the Turks. Thus may we see how often, and with what miserable ca­lamities this city hath bin afflicted, euen since the first destructi­on by Vespasian; which makes euident the great iudgment of God not only vpon the Iews, but also vpon the earth where they inha­bited, for their infidelitie and vnmercifull cruelty.

The description of Ierusalem and the scituation thereof as it is now in these times.

THe former incursions and common desolations leauing this town ruined and spoiled for want of inhabitants, it became a desart and forsaken place; onely some few Christians, ei­ther out of the zeale of religion, or for vulgar ostentation, to shew that there had bin a town, dwelt there: and thus it continued vn­till the yeare 1542. at which time Solyman the great Turk, either in respect of the strength of the place, or in hope of profit, or else to get himselfe a name, with great cost and labor re-edified it, set vp many stately buildings and sumptuous houses, beautified it with two costly Temples, the one the Temple of Solomon, and the other the holy Sepulchre; inlarged the extent thereof, and seated it vpon high hils. After all this, compast it about with a spatious and thicke wall, and vpon that placed many strong and stately towers, wherein there stands eight gates, viz. the fish gate, the Old gate, S. Stephens gate (so called because they say S. Ste­phen went out by that gate when hee was stoned) the Angle gate, the Dung gate, the Sheep gate, the Golden and Fountaine gates. Thus the antient city, and that which the Emperor Adrian built, being both destroied, in another place is set vp again. So that be­tween both, this new city standeth, and the first city begins to be again inhabited.

Of the Temple of the holy Sepulchre.

THis Temple lieth vpon the West within this new towne, at first fairely built by the Emperor Constantine, but destroyed by Caliphas Sultan of Egypt: then by the Emperours of Con­stantinople rebuilt, which continueth to this day. It is round in the proportion, adorned with 79 pillars 30 foot long; the wide­nes by the Diameter (besides the pillars) is 73 feet, leaded aboue, and vpon the top of the roofe standeth a Lanthorn, by which the light commeth in: this Lanthorne is very curiously glased. In the middle standeth the holy Sepulchre. To this ioyneth the Church in mount Golgotha, and serueth in stead of a Quire. It standeth something lower, but all vnder one roofe. The place where the holy Sepulchre standeth is four square, eight foot long and eight broad, hewne out of a rocke, and couered with marble; there is a little doore in the East part of it, very low, by which men go into it, and within that the Sepulchre it self standeth vp­on the North side, made of gray marble, three handfuls high, and eight foot long. There are no windowes for light to come to it, but ouer there hangeth continually nine lamps burning, wherby it receiueth light. The vault of this Sepulchre is diuided with a wall; the outward is both of the same proportion and length as the inward, but that which is without seemeth to be an entrie to the inner caue where Christ was buried: and there (as some say) euen to this day is found a piece of the stone which the Angell rolled from the graue before the resurrection; the other part of the stone (howsoeuer it came there) lyes vpon mount Sion. But some thinke that the Armenians carried it thither, because vpon it they haue built an Altar. In this inner caue there hangs nine lamps to giue light vnto them that enter in by the East; so that in the inner and outer Vault there standeth eighteene Lamps. The Mount whereon Christ was crucified seemeth to stand vpon a rocke of stone, whitish and somthing blushing. It is distant from the holy Sepulcre 130 foot. The place where the Crosse stood was an hard rocke, eighteene steps in the ascent, and answereth to nine and twenty feet. The hole where the Crosse stood is about [Page 60] the roundnesse of a mans head in latitude; and if a man might beleeue the Monkes thereabouts, they say also that in that place is to be seene the colour of our Sauiours bloud euen to this day. Vpon the left hand of this there stands an Altar made of marble, and ouer that a sumptuous Chappel paued and couered with po­lisht marble, gilt and adorned with refulgent gold, the wals wher­of are very curiously wrought and gilded. In the Church vpon mount Golgotha they also shew part of a pillar naturally blacke, spect with red spots, where they say Christ was whipt, and make the Vulgar beleeue that these specks are the drops of bloud that fell from him. The other part of this Colume was caried to Con­stantinople, as it was thought. In this church Godfrey first Christi­an King of Ierusalem, and the rest of his successors lie buried.

Of the Temple of Solomon as it is at this day.

THis Temple lieth towards the East, and was built by the Christians iust in the same place where the former Temple stood at the time when this City was rebuilt and inlarged. The body thereof is very high and spatious, and built of polisht mar­ble, adorned with most exquisit and curious workemanship, very artificiall and glorious both within and without, insomuch that the polished stones cast a singular beautifull and resplendant lu­stre. Aboue it is couered with lead, and was built vp at the cost and labor of the Grecians; in the roofe whereof the Turks place an halfe moone, as they vsually doe in all such churches wherein they come and haue authority. The Turkes and Saracens haue this Temple in great reuerence and deuotion, they adorne it (ac­cording to their custome) with diuers artificial pictures and em­blems. They will suffer no Christians to enter into it, nor any Iewes vpon paine of death. And if it happens that at any time they go into it, they first wash themselues with water very clean, then put off their hose and shoos, and so go bare foot. This Tem­ple they call the holy Rocke, and in the body thereof there han­geth 700 lamps which burne night and day. In the midst hereof there standeth a certaine little rocke euery where indented with yron, neere to which not any of the Saracens or Infidels dare to approach or touch, although there come many very farre to vi­sit [Page 61] it: for they beleeue that there were many memorable & wor­thy things done in that rock: they think that Melchisedeck the first Priest of the great God offered bread and wine vpon it, Genes. 14. and that here the Patriarch Iacob saw the Ladder which reached from heauen to earth, Gen. 28. which indeed hapned not in Ieru­salem, but in Bethel, as the Scriptures witnesse. Further they be­leeue, that vpon this stone Dauid saw the Angel of the Lord stan­ding with a shaken sword when he strook the city with the pesti­lence, 2 Sam. 24. and that the Priests of the old Testament offe­red vpon this stone their sacrifices to the Lord, which were de­uoured with fire from heauen. All which things do vtterly differ from holy Scripture.

The Iewes also are of opinion, That the prophet Ieremy about the time of the captiuity of Babylon, in this stone hid the Ark of the Couenant, vntill such time as the Lord brought the people backe again from the captiuitie. Which is contrarie also to the books of the holy Scripture; for, 2 Mach. 2. it is said, it was hid in the mount Nebo, where Moses stood when he saw the whole land of Canaan. Also the Turkes say that Christ sate vpon this stone when Simeon tooke him in his armes and blessed him. Here also he sate in the midst of the Doctors when he was but twelue yeares of age, Luk. 2. which also differeth from the Scripture; for this was not the body of the Temple, but in the middle court or Solomons porch, which sometimes was taken for the Temple, be­cause it ioyned to it. And diuers circumstances of the Scripture do seeme to make this euident, because heere Christ taught, and here the people vsually met together, as appeareth, Iosh. 10. and Psal. 72.

About the Temple of Ierusalem there is a fair Plain much re­sembling our Church yards, all paued with marble stone. To this there is adioyning a faire Church couered with lead, & was som­times called Solomons porch; but after the Christians had woon Ierusalem they gaue it the name of S. Maries. The Turke keepes burning in this daily 800 lamps, and it is much greater than that of Solomons Temple. The Sultan of Egypt also about an hundred yeares before, built a little Church or Moscho close by Solomons Temple, wherein are continually burning 88 Lampes. There [Page 62] is a vault vnder the Temple of the blessed Virgin Mary, of such an extraordinary greatnesse that 600 horse may easily be placed in it. And thus we may see the Temple of Solomon and city of Ie­rusalem not only to be in the power of the Turkes, but also pro­phaned with the blasphemous doctrine of Mahomet. And also we may here behold the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place where somtime was the Ark of the Couenant, Dan. 9. Mat. 24. and the prophecie of Ieremy is fully finished, ca. 19. This place shall be vnclean like vnto the place of Tophet, where they did sacri­fice to the Host of heauen, and vnto other strange gods.

Of other buildings within the city of Aelia, which is now called Ierusalem.

MOunt Sion is placed toward the South of Ierusalem, where euen at this day the Monks vndertake to shew the ruines of Dauids Tower, the sepulchres of the Kings of Israel, and many o­ther holy places. But P. Orosius and other Historians write, How in the time of Adrian Caesar there happened a great earthquake in such a terrible maner, that the mountain of Sion with the sepul­chre of Dauid fel down and were vtterly defaced. Further all true Historians do write, That Adrian the Emperour did so much de­face the City, that hee left not a stone standing vpon a stone, nay not a whole stone, but all were broken into small pieces; and yet notwithstanding pilgrims are so mad and blind, that they go thi­ther with great pains to seeke those holy places, where when they come, with the expence of a great deale of time, in recompence of their pains are made a laughing stocke to the Kings of Ierusa­lem, and find nothing but feigned and supposed holy places and buildings: since the words of our Sauior manifest, That there shall not be a stone left vpon a stone which shall not be broken to pieces. And Borchardus the Monk saith, That the Romans caused the Temple and other princely buildings, together with the mountains, to be thrown downe and cast into the vallies, with which being filled, there remaineth not so much as an Emblem of the old Citie. From whence may euidently appeare, That those places which are now shewen to Pilgrims by the Monkes of Ierusalem, are [Page 63] meerly suborned and feigned, on purpose to deceiue them & get their mony. They are very simple therefore that go to Ierusalem seeke their saluation in such places. And as for the Sepulchre (as is aforesaid) the Tartars beat it all in pieces; so that this monu­ment of our Lord is not to be found vpon the earth. Wherefore our Sauiour Christ is no more to be sought among the dead, but in the sacred monument of his holy word, for there he hath pro­mised to make euident his divine presence, &c.

Of the Sects that are in and about the Temple of the holy Sepulchre.

IN and about the church which is built ouer the holy sepulcre vpon mount Calvarie, there are at this day many of diuers nations and countries which inhabit, of diuers opinions and Reli­gions. And although they differ in material points of their faith, yet would they be al Christians: of which number there are some Latines, Greekes, Abissines, Armenians, Gregorians, Nestorians, Surians, and Iacobins.

The Latines for the most part are such as wee call Franciscan Monks, Obseruants, or Friers.Latines. These haue the keeping of the holy Sepulchre, and looke to it very diligently; where somtimes they make a certain number of Knights of the noble Order of S. Iohns Templers, with many ceremonies and great solemnities. These Knights are girt with a sword all gilt, hanging in a red velvet gir­dle; a chain of gold is put vpon them worth about 100 Hunga­rian duckets, at the end whereof there hangs a Ierusalem Crosse of gold. This kind of crosse also they are permitted to weare vp­on their armes and clothes; then haue they a paire of gilt spurres with velvet tyings. But before they are admitted into this order, they must sweare vpon the holy Sepulchre to maintain & defend the doctrine of the Pope.

The Grecians that are there be also Monkes,Grecians. and doe inhabit within the Temple of the holy Sepulchre; but they haue the kee­ping of the place where our Sauior Christ was crucified, and dif­fer from the Romanists. For they beleeue first, That the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and not the Sonne. Secondly, [Page 64] they giue the Sacraments in both kinds; thirdly, they hold not the Pope to be head of the Church; fourthly, they deny Purga­tory and prayer for the dead; fiftly, they sing Masse in their own language that euery man may vnderstand it, but they obserue se­uen Sacraments as the Romanists do. They teach men to pray to and call vpon Saints, they yearly obserue two strict fasting daies, and eat no flesh vpon Saturdaies.

The rest of the Grecians that are through the East parts leaue mariage free, as well for the Clergy as Laity, and condemne the Latine Priests because they marry not. They allow no grauen images in their Churches, but in some places of their Churches they haue faire painted pictures hanging. They approue not the Pope, but haue a Patriarch for their high Bishop, which Patriark is greatly reuerenced, and much honored in Constantinople.

Abissines.The Abissins be such as are of Prester Iohns gouernment: their complexion is browne, their habitation is in the Temple vpon mount Calvary, on the East side of the Church dore: They also approue not the Pope, but allow Priests to mary, and giue the sa­crament in both kinds; yet there are many sects and opinions a­mong them, forbearing those meats forbidden in the old Testa­ment: they circumcise both male and female, which the Iews do not; they obserue our Saturday for their Sabbath; they baptise their children with fire, of which I will speake more hereafter, in the description of the towne of Saba.

Armenians.The Armenians are Christians, and come out of Armenia; their dwelling is in a Chappell vpon mount Sion neere to Saint Iames his church; they deny the Pope to be head of the Church: they minister the Sacraments in both kinds; their Priests marry; they forbeare the meats forbidden in the old Testament. They haue a kinde of custome, to whine and cry by the graues of the dead; vpon Twelfth day they keep a great feast, and the next day begins their Lent, which they keep strictly, and eat neither eggs nor fish, nor any liuing thing during that time: They obserue Wednesdayes and Fridayes; they preach, sing and say their Ser­uice in their own tongue; they deny prayer for the dead, and Pur­gatory; they all weare hats with blew hat-bands.

Gregorians.The Gregorians are Christians that dwell by the great city of [Page 65] Trapezunta vpon the Euxinian Sea. Their Priests marrie, but if their wiues die they must not marrie againe. They dwell in Ieru­salem, in the Church vpon mount Caluarie, where Christ after his resurrection shewed himselfe like a Gardner vnto Marie Magdalen.

The Nestorian heretickes,Nestorians. who now are found in great num­bers in Niniuie, which at this day is called Mossell, and in other places thereabout; doe yet hold the heresie of Nestorias there master, and teach, That Christ had two natures, and that he hath two persons, and that Marie was not the mother of God, but that she bare Christ who was man onely: about their Hats they were flesh coloured hatbands. Some of their Priests are found to dwell in the Temple of mount Caluarie.

The Surians follow the Graecian Christians,Surians. touching the most of their opinions; they respect not much their religion; for in re­gard of their pouertie they are forced to worke for day wages vn­der the Turks. Some of them also dwell in Ierusalem in a church called S. Marks, which standeth in the place of the house where Iohn Marke dwelt, where the Apostle Peter knockt when the An­gell led him out of prison.

The Sect of the Iacobins are resident in a Chappell which stan­deth behind the Sepulchre.Iacobins. They take that name of Iacob the He­reticke, who was a Disciple of the Patriarch of Alexandria; they are wauering and vnconstant among themselues, and are here and there found in Iudaea, Aegypt, and Barbarie, diuided into many Sects; for some of them hold with Eutichus and Macharus, who ascribe one nature to Christ, which is the Godhead, and denie the manhood. Some of them circumcise their children, some baptise them with fire, and make a crosse vpon their faces. Of this fierie baptisme you shall reade more hereafter in the description of the Citie of Saba.

Hereby you may note, how the temple of the holy Sepulchre in Ierusalem is filled with many Sects, who altogether giue and pay tribute to the Emperour of the Turkes; whereby you may see that Christ will be no more sought in the holy Sepulchre, but rather in the holy Euangelists, where he suffereth himselfe to be found by all those that seeke him with a pure heart.

Of the Sects of the Iewes.

IN these our times the Iewes do inhabite in Ierusalem, and are diuided into many sects, that is to say, Pharises, Saduces, Essaes, Genisteis, Morboneis, and Meristeis. The Pharises tooke that name from the interpretation of the law, and is deriued from the Hebrew word Parasch, which signifies to expound: so that Phara­sei is as much to say as Doctor or expounder of the law: they ap­proue of Moses and the Prophets; they hold the immortalitie of the soule: but of Christ and the principall parts of his Doctrine, of the law, of sinne, and of ceremonies, they haue many vngodly opinions and expositions. They faine that the law was institu­ted by God for outward discipline; that sinne is onely outward transgression & the violating of mens traditions: they hold there is no originall sinne, but that men may performe the Law, and merit euerlasting life; besides many other things, as washings, fa­stings, offering gifts in the Temple, and such like ceremonies; of which there is no commandement extant in the Scripture. Reade Mat. 3.59.12.5. &c. Mar. 2.3.7. &c. Ioh. 3.7.8. &c. Acts 15.23. &c.

The Saduces giue themselues an honorable title, being deriued from Zedukim or Zeddikim, calling themselues just, from the word Zadok, He was just, and by Amphetresim is not vnproperly deriued from Dicaioo, or Dicaios, signifying justus: and by Prothesin in La­tine, Iudex a Iudge. So that Zaddik or Zadducaeus signifies a just Iudge, which would judge all others, but they themselues were without offence: Thus the worst men got the best names. They onely allow the fiue bookes of Moses; they dreame the Messias should be an earthly king; they beleeue the soules of men to bee mortall, and to perish with their bodies; they doe not beleeue the resurrection, nor that there are either Angels, Spirits, or Diuels.

The Essaes had rather be called Studients, taking their name from Asa, vnder which title they would seeme to reprehend, and amongst other things auoid the profane liberty of the Saduces and approue not the arrogant dissimulation of the Pharises; but that they teach more diuine and profitable precepts. These liue [...] Monastical life, vnmarried; their goods are common; for the most part they practise physicke: in their assemblies, the ancientest o [...] them read some part of Moses law, or some of the Prophets; all [Page 67] of them both yong and old at certaine times of the day, say pray­ers. They haue no new kinde of doctrine, but imbrace the Priest­hood of Moses: They dwell in the desarts and vtmost parts of Iu­daea neere to the lake Asphaltites, and in the garden of Balm neer Iericho, where the antient Prophets Elias and Eliseus had their schools, whose disciples were called the children of the prophets. These three sects began in Iudas Macchabeus time Ioseph. l. 3. c. 18.

The Genisteis are said to be those that do certainly affirm, that they are of the posteritie of Abraham, although they haue lost their genealogies, & cannot proue it. These call themselues great and noble, and are of the stocke of those that in the captiuitie of Babylon married the wiues of other nations: of which you may reade in Nehem. So that they are halfe Gentiles, halfe Iewes, and account themselues to be of the Nobilitie.

The Morboneis very solemnly obserue the Saboth, which ma­ny others that are flatterers of the Turkes and Saracens doe not: there are a great company of these; for almost all the Iewes doe very superstitiously celebrate the Saboth: and therfore they take their name partly from a Multitude, and parly from Vsurie; for Merebech in Hebrew signifies a multitude, and Tarebah Vsurie.

Meristeis are those Iewes that diuide the Scripture, and say the Prophets spoke not all with one spirit; and what they list they make Scripture, and what they list they leaue out: and therefore the Grecians call them Meristein, which signifies to diuide.

There are also others in these our times that are Iewes too, but they are called Samaritanes, which onely approue of the Mosai­call law, and reject the rest of the Scriptures and Prophets. These are so called from Keeping: for this word Schamar properly sig­nifies to preserue or keepe a speech in heart, and hath therefore a certaine congruitie and consonance with the Latine word Sermo: so that Schamar in Hebrew, and Sermo in Latine, are much what of one signification.

But all the Iewes, except the Saduces haue one faith; they thinke they may fulfill the commandements, and by their owne workes be iustified and purchase eternall life. They deny the Tri­nitie and Christ, and do beleeue that their Messias is yet to come, and shall bring them backe againe into the land of Promise.

Of the Saracens and Turkes which inhabit in Ierusalem: of their faith and religion.

THe Saracens are a people of Arabia the stony; of the poste­ritie of Ishmael the son of Abraham, which he begat of Ha­gar. From whence they are rightly called Agarins, notwithstan­ding they had rather bee called Saracens. Others call them Saracens, à Saraca, which is a part of Arabia the stony. It seemeth therefore that these people tooke their name from a principality; for Sarar in Hebrew is the same that Principatum gessit is in La­tine, or if you will, Principatum obtinuit, which signifies (to obtaine Principalitie.) And therefore the Saracens, or Sarazens, may be said Princes or Captaines, whose Principalitie extends it selfe far and neere: but Agarins signifies Peregrinators; for Gor or Gar is as much to say as a Pilgrim.

These people combined themselues with Mahomet that false Prophet, borne of obscure parentage: his fathers name was Abdiminech, of his wife that was of the family of Ishmael, or of the Saracens, borne in Arabia the stony, (and as it is exprest in their Alcaron) vpon the xxj. day of September, according to our ac­count, about the yeare of Christ 570. he tooke his name from a tumultuous confusion: for hamah signifies tumultuatus est, he hath beene tumultuous; And Hamam, tumultuando disturbauit, He diui­ded by contention. From hence Maimo signifies tumultuor, A contender, and Maiomai, concitor, a rebell. From whence may be gathered, That Mahomet is an ominous & seditious name. Whiles he was in his infancie hee liued with his father; after, being of a prompt wit, he serued one Abdomoneplis a Merchant, in whose ser­uice conuersing with Christians and Iewes, he got a smattering knowledge of the old and new Testament, and many acquain­tance; amongst which was one Sergius an Arian Monke, a man very well affected of this Abdomoneplis. Abdomoneplis died, and by the persuasion of this Monke, Mahomet married Cadican his wife, although she was fiftie yeares of age, and by her had great riches: shee soone after also died, and left Mahomet all that shee had. He on a sudden, being lift vp to this height of substance, grew very ambitious (for he was naturally proud, wrathfull, a theefe, a whoremaster, a most impudent adulterer, and whersoeuer he came [Page 69] made hauocke of all things. (This man by the helpe of the Sara­zens and others, affected the kingdome of Arabia, which within short time after he obtained, entring Mecha the chiefe city ther­of, vpon Thursday the fifteenth of Iuly, Anno Dom. 622. and by the helpe of two Iewes and this Sergius, wrote that blasphemous Law of the Alcoron, falsly professing himselfe to be a Prophet, and began cruelly to oppose himselfe against all neighbouring nations and cities.

The Alcaron taketh the name from Splendor or Brightnesse; for Al in the Arabicke, is as much as Karan in the Hebrew, and that signifies to shine or cast forth a brightnesse. This Alcaron containes a blasphemous and detestable law, written in the Arabian tongue without any order or colour of knowledge, teaching manifest lyes, and execrable blasphemies against God; and for the most part, the pleasures and delights of this world: for he doth deny that there is one eternall essence of the Deitie, and the holy Tri­nitie; our Sauiour Christ they one while call the Sonne of God, and another while, the Soule or Spirit of God. They deny his Deitie, but say, that he was a holy man, borne without a father, of the chast and incorruptible Virgin Marie. And although he was before all beginning, yet they beleeue that he was not begotten, but created before all other essentiall creatures, by the eternall God. Also they say hee was not crucified, but some other in his place; and therefore the saluation of man not to consist in the merits of Christ, but in our owne proper workes. And that the Iewes might embrace the Alcaron, they retaine Circumcision, which is commonly done when the children are thirteene yeares of age; about which time, Ishmael was circumcised. They forbeare the meates forbidden in the Law; they haue many wiues at one time; they tollerate a bil of Diuorce, and affirme that after the re­surrection men may haue many wiues, and with them banquet, surfet, and vse pleasant recreations, with diuers such errours and vaine trifles, which for breuities sake I omit.

That hee might the better perswade men to embrace and be­leeue these his lies, and blasphemous doctrines, he very cunning­ly seemed to confirme them with many false and fained miracles: [Page 70] and amongst the rest this was one: Hauing taught a white Doue to fetch corne in his eare, whiles he was preaching to the people, it chanced she came and sat vpon his shoulder, and putting her bill into his eare according to her accustomed manner, he persua­ded the people that it was the spirit of God, which deliuered him the words of the Law. A Bull also, taught after the same manner, at his voice came before him, and kneeling downe did him reue­rence, with the Alcaron tied vpon his hornes; which he affirmed was come from heauen and brought that new Law. Then did hee make diuers hornes of gold and siluer, and filling them full of milke hid them in the earth: after which, in a great assembly he caused the same places to be opened, and told the people that these signified plenty and abundance, to all such as kept and ob­serued that Law: But the violaters thereof should be punished with death. Together with many other such like idle and foolish miracles, (which would be too tedious to recite) that he might make the people beleeue that it came from God. And being afflicted with the falling sickenesse, gaue it out, that then the An­gell Gabriel told him the Law, making this likewife a meanes to further his designes: but after, viz. vpon the eighth of Iune, Anno Dom. 632. and in the sixtie one yeare of his age, he died miserably of this disease, after he had raigned in Mecha ten yeres; and En­bubizer or Abubachar his father in law succeeded him in the go­uernement, who built in his honour a Church, and in that put his sepulchre, both stately and sumptuous.

The Turkes also embrace this doctrine, and joyned their forces with the Saracens: They extended their Empire vnder Mahomet the third, into Asia, Europe, and Affrica. They deriue their name (as I suppose) from Crueltie; for Turca signifieth A cruell destroyer, or an armed enemie, being deriued from the He­brew word Tarach, that is, to effect his purpose. From whence they are not improperly called of the Graecians [...] to vex and make wearie; or else from the Hebrew word Tachaera, which sig­nifies a shield; and from the Greeke word [...] and [...], to put on a shield, and to arme themselues: for the Turkes are armed enemies, and destroyers of the whole world: And by Ezechiel are [Page 71] called Gog and Magog, cap. 38. & 39. of Magog which was the son of Iaphet, Gen. 10. and as some thinke inhabited the North parts of the world. Pliny places them in Bospherus, Cimmerius, Scy­thia, &c. which lieth toward the East. But indeed they haue of­ten changed their residence, and haue come into Persia, Armenia, Syria, Palestina, Arabia, & cruelly destroyed them, vntil they had conquered Constantinople, and got a great part of Europe; and haue infected the mindes of al the inhabitants in those parts with their manners, slaughters, and rapines, according to that blasphe­mous Law of the Alcaron. They first afflicted those parts about the yeare of our Lord 760. Constantius Copronius, being then the Emperour of Rome; since which time they haue conquered a great part of the World.

And first of the first man, ADAM.

ADAM the first man, tooke his name from A­damah, which signifies redde earth, because he was made of the redde slime of the earth. Therefore the Latines deriue Homo from Hu­mo; also the Graecians from [...], which sig­nifies the earth. But when man was layed open to all calamities, miseries, yea & death, the Hebrews called him Enosh, which signifies, a mortall and mise­rable man: for this attribute to man agreeth with the word Nosch, which signifies to be sicke of a deadly disease. There are some that thinke that man was made in Syria neere to Damascus, because there is found much redde earth. Others say neere to Hebron a citie in the Tribe of Iuda, and there also lies buried; for in a caue neere that place, lies much redde earth, which the inhabitants e­uen to this day shew vnto Pilgrims: but this is nothing to the pur­pose, since we know that man was first created, and then brought into Paradise, Gen. 1. and 2.

Of Paradise.

PAradise, which in Greeke is [...], and in Hebrew Pardes, signifies a pleasant Garden plentifully furnished with fruit­full trees, but principally Myrtle trees, which beareth a kinde of berrie of a very delectable taste: for this Hebrew word seemeth to [Page 73] be a compound, that is, of Parah, which signifies to fructifie, and Hadas, a mirtle; of the fruit of which tree, there is made a certaine wine called mirtle or mulberrie wine: the mysterie hereof is, that Christ is that tree of life, that fruitful and pleasant mirtle, wherby we are raised vp vnto eternall life, Gen. 2. Apoc. 22. Mat. 11. Luther calleth Paradise in his discourse of Germany, a pleasant Garden, Eccl. 2. Munster, an Orchard: and in the Bible it is called Eden, a place plentifully furnished with al things necessary for the pro­curing of pleasure & delight. The Grecians call it Hedone, which signifies an extraordinary delectable and pleasant place; for in it there was great aboundance of all things, as well of trees, fruits, herbes, and sweet smelling floures, as of beasts and fowles of the heauen. Into this place God put man, to dresse it and keep it: But where it stood, and whether it be now vpon the earth, there are diuers opinions: the Romanists hold, that it is placed in the East without the Tropicks: others would haue it vnder the Aequator, because it is a very temperate region: but experience tells vs, that there it is very hot and scorching: others think it stands vpon the top of a high mountain, free from all the violent motions and im­pressions of the ayre, in which place they hold Aenoch and Eliah are yet liuing: there are others that assigne the whole East part to be Paradise, and that there were some peculiar places most fruit­full, of which they thinke was Syria, Damascus, Arabia Foelix, E­gipt and Iudaea, in which part man was put. They also say, that the tree of Knowledge stood vpon Mount Caluary, neere about that place where Christ was crucified, so that he made satisfaction for sinne in the same place where sinne was first committed. And this I hold to be the better opinion; and that it remained till the de­luge, kept in the custody of Angells, at Gods appointment, and by the floud, together with other creatures, was abolished.

And for that saying of our Sauior to the theefe vpon the crosse, This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise, is not to be vnderstood of the earthly Paradise, but of the heauenly, the place of the blessed angels and saints, where God with his diuine majesty filleth them with the light of righteousnesse, and quickneth them with eter­nall life. This place Paul cals the third heauen, and that heauenly Paradise of which the earthly Paradise is a type, 2. Cor. 12.

Of the foure Riuers that watered Paradise.

THe foure Flouds of Paradise, were, Pison, Gihon, Hidekel, and Euphrates, Gen. 2. There was but one Fountaine of all these floods, and this was in Paradise it selfe, which in those times was diuided into foure streames. But as by the Flood all the face of the earth was changed, so likewise were these riuers, and their Fountains and Channells altered from the places where at first they were; notwithstanding, in memory of them, there remaines some reliques, though perhaps not in the same place, nor spring­ing out of one and the same Fountaine, as they did before. And as the Mediterranean sea, the gulph of Arabia, and many other Meeres and Lakes, before the Flood, were not, but (by the gene­rall consent of all learned men) hapned by that huge inundation; the same may be said of these Riuers.

The head, or beginning of the Riuer Pischon or Pison, is 4800 miles Eastward from Ierusalem, and is like vnto an arme of the Sea, some 12 or 16 miles ouer, and for that cause it taketh the name from Posch, that is, increasing, or, of an extraordinary greatnes: from hence the Grecians cal it Phuson, because it diuides it selfe into diuers Riuolets or Streames. It compasseth in Hauilah, it di­uideth that part of the world which wee call India, into the out­ward and inward: and there is called Ganges, taking that name from an Aethiopian King called Gange, as Swydas saith. Some say it is vnknowne where it first riseth: others say it riseth in Scythia, and watereth all the neighbour countries as it passeth along, as Nylus doth, and so being dispersed into 30 channels, diuideth India with one of them: the narrowest place of Ganges is 8 miles ouer, and the shallowest 100 foot deepe, it bringeth forth Dol­phins, Crocodiles, and diuers other creatures.

Solinus and Strabo saith, That the Riuer Tygris riseth in Armenia, a very faire and cleare Fountaine; it is distant from Ierusalem six hundred miles towards the North: it runneth with such an exceeding swiftnesse, that fishes cannot swimme a­gainst it, and passeth through the lake of Arthusia, without once mingling it selfe with the water: and for this cause it is called [Page 75] Tigris, which signifies, a dart, and a beast of extraordinary swift­nesse and cruelty. This Riuer running from towards the North and the rising of the Sunne, it compasseth in Mesopotamia, and passeth by the borders of Media and Assiria, and after that of Chaldaea and Arabia, it there receiueth in the Riuer Hydaspis, and so joyning with Euphrates, falls into the lake of Persia. The Hebrews called this Riuer Chidikill from Chadad, which signifies acute, and Kalal, light, for it is a swift running streame: from hence the Graecians call it [...]; the Latines, Celer; the Germans, Ein Zelter, which signifies with vs, a horse swiftly running; for it passeth away swifter than an arrow out of a bow. Going towards the East, some 36 miles from the ancient Babylon, it runneth through a towne called Bagedeth, bordering vpon Turkie and Persia, and from thence towards the latitude, to a towne called Argentaratus, where it changeth the name to Tigris; in that place it runneth so extreme swift, that it will make a mans head dizzie to looke vpon it.

Strabo saith, the Riuer Euphrates riseth out of a mountaine in Armenia, called Nipha, some 300 miles from the Citie of Ieru­salem towards the North, watering Mesopotamia and Chaldaea, and passing through the midst of that flourishing Citie Baby­lon, diuides it into two parts; and after passing through, and fru­ctifying Arabia, it joyneth with the Flood Tigris, and falls into the Persian gulfe. Semiramis Queene of the Assyrians and of Babylon, built a bridge ouer the narrowest place of this Riuer, be­ing some three quarters of a mile ouer. The Hebrewes call this Riuer, Parah, because it fructifieth; and from thence the Grecians call it [...], or [...], to beare fruit; the Germans, Fruchter, which in English is, fruitfull or pleasant: And therefore Saint Ambrose saith, it is deriued from Euphranein, that is, from rejoycing; For that ouerflowing the Fields, it causeth them the next yeare to flourish with all kinde of fruit and pleasant floures. The water of this riuer is very foule and dirty, so that it is vnfit to drinke: according to that of Ieremy, cap. 2. What auaileth it thee to goe into Assyria, that thou mightest drinke of the water of Euphrates? If a man takes this water in a vessel, & let it stand but two houres, the dirt and sand will lie at the bottom therof two inches thicke. [Page 76] Therefore the inhabitants neere about it, are wont to take a great pot that holdeth a good quantity, whereinto putting water, they let it stand till all the filth be sunke to the bottome, and so they cleare water to drinke.

Nilus taketh the beginning from a certaine mountain in Mau­ritania the lower, not far from the Ocean, and issues from a Lake which they call Nidiles, and partly from other Lakes, and is in­creased with the snow waters falling from the mountaines of the Moone in Affrica, 3200 miles from Ierusalem towards the South. Some thinke it tooke the name from Nileus a certaine King therabouts. Others, from the soile which it yerely brought downe in the streame, whereby all Aegypt is made fruitfull; from whence some thinke it was called Seruious Nilus, for that it bringeth downe new mud with it. The Hebrewes call it Gihon, because it breaketh out of the earth with great violence. This Riuer comes through the desarts of Aethiopia, and so with great violence comes into Aegypt, where it is diuided into seuen streames, and in times past had seuen gates, the names of which were, Canopicus, or Heraclioticus, Bolbitinus, Sebiniticus, Pharmiticus, Mendesius, Taniticus, and Palusinus. The two out­ward gates of which, viz. Canopicus, and Palusiacus, were 160 miles a sunder. Appianus saith, There are two other gates called Tineptimicus, and Diolcus: This ninth gate is diuided at a citie and place called Delta, taking the name from the likenesse that it hath to the Greeke letter so called. So that Nilus is diuided into nine gates, by which nine gates it falls into the Mediterranean Sea. There are many that thinke, that Paradise was only in Ae­gypt, and that then it had onely but foure streams, and that at the Floud it was confused into nine, and they would seeme to proue their opinion out of the 31 chapter of Ezekiel, where hee calleth Egypt a garden of pleasure. But this differeth from the descrip­tion of Moses, for it is not scituate in the East, but rather the South from Ierusalem, and farre distant from the two Easterne Riuers, Euphrates and Hiddikel, by which the holy Scriptures do prin­cipally denote Paradise. Wherefore it may be concluded, that Aegypt was onely a part of Paradise, not Paradise it selfe: And that this Riuer was one of the Riuers, not all, the streames of [Page 77] which Riuer at some times of the yeare, viz. in the Summer Sol­stice, when the Sunne is neere the Dogge-starre, begins to swell and ouerflow the bankes, by reason of the melting of the snow which lies vpon the mountaines of the Moone, and so drowne all the places neere vnto it, through the land of Aegypt, leauing behind it certaine slime and mudde, by which it comes to passe, that the Countrey is very fruitfull, and serues them in steed of raine, at which time of the yeare (for this happens once euery yeare) the people and inhabitants of the Countrey retire them­selues to their Towns, Cities, and Castles, scituated vpon Rocks, Mountains, and high grounds, from whence it hapneth, that they sustaine very little discommoditie or losse, by any such inundati­on. They also keepe little boates, whereby they passe from one place to another, because all their passages and foot paths are then drowned with waters. There are many pretty obseruations which the people of Aegypt were wont to take notice of in the rising of this water, for they had certain staues wherby they mea­sured the deapth of it, if it rose but to twelue cubits (which is six yards in height, they then stood in feare of great famine, so also if it was but thirteene, for then the water was not deepe enough to make the ground fertill: but if it rose to fourteene or fifteene, then they were in great hope, and did not doubt of a fruitfull yeare: and if to sixteene, they then greatly rejoyced at their prosperity, and kept banquets and feasts, and were assured that the succeeding yeare would be very plentifull: but if it rose aboue, they laid a side all signes of joy, and liued very sparingly, and with great sorrow; this great inundation of waters foreshew­ing scarcitie, and want, and famine, and pestilence, and death. And thus Nilus yearely, euery yeare is to them in stead of raine, for Aegypt is without raine.

In Autumne, at such time as the Sunne going out of the last face of Libra, entreth into Scorpio, the waters of Nilus by little and little retire themselues into their bankes, and the earth be­comes quite vncouered of water: about which time, the Coun­try being exceeding hot, the earth is presently made drie in all those places, so that in the moneth of October, they may both till and sow their Land. In this riuer the Crocodile and the [Page 78] Ichneumo breed, of the nature of which two, you may sufficient­ly reade in Gesner. There also breeds the Pellican, of which Saint Ierom saith, there are two kinds, one that liues vpon the water, an other that liues vpon the land: these birds as some affirme; kill their young ones vpon their beake, and then leaue them lying in their neast for three daies; at the end of which time, the female grieuously wounds her selfe vpon the breast, and pouring her bloud vpon her young ones, reuiues them againe. This bird may very well be a type and figure of our blessed Sauiour, who shed­ding his pretious bloud vpon the crosse for our sinnes, after the third day rose againe, and that he might restore vs to life that be dead in sinne, poureth out his bloud vpon vs, whereby we are made capable of eternall life.

Of the place where Adam and Eua dwelt after the breaking of the commandement, Gen. 3.

ADam and Eua, being driuen out of Paradise, dwelt at Damas­cus, 160 miles from Ierusalem, as Munster and others write: the Townes-men of Damascus, at this day shew the place where Cain slew his brother Abel, and it is well to be beleeued that this Citie receiues her name thereby, for Damascus signifies bloud-shedding or a place which hath drunke vp bloud.

Of the place where Cain dwelt.

CAin after he had slaine his brother Abel, dwelt in the land of Nod, a land of feare and disquiet, in the Towne of Hanoch, and as some thinke, it was the same place where Babylon (after Noes Floud) was built, being foure hundred and eightie miles from Ierusalem Eastward.

Of the place where Noah dwelt.

NOah signifying quiet and rest, dwelt in Armenia, six hundred miles from Ierusalem Northward, hard by Mount Ararat, vpon which Mount, the Arke, (after the Floud) staied it selfe, [Page 79] Gen. 8. Ptolomeus nameth These high Hills in Armenia Gordes, which are alwaies couered with snow, and no man may get vpon them.

Sem.

SEm who in the holy Scriptures is called Melchisedeck, that is, a King of righteousnesse, dwelt in the Citie of Ierusalem, which as then was called Salem, that is, a Citie of peace.

Nimroth.

NImroth was the first Prince and regent vpon earth, and built Babylon, which is six hundred and eighty miles from Ieru­salem Eastward. Strabo writeth, That in Babylon there was an old foure square Tower built of bricke, foure hundred and sixteene ells highThat is, 200 yards high., and each side thereof foure hundred and sixteene ells broad: This without doubt was a piece of the Tower of Ba­bylon, the toppe whereof should haue reached vp to Heauen, Gen. 22.

Babel or Babylon signifieth a confusion, because in that place God confounded the workemens tongues, when they built the Tower of Babylon.

The Trauels of Abraham.

1 ABraham went out of his owne Countrey of Vhr in Chaldaea, to the Citie of Haran in Mesopotamia, which is 376 miles.

2 Erom Haran, by Gods commandement hee went to Si­chem, which is foure hundred miles.

3 From Sichem he went to the Plaine and wood of Mamre to the Hill betweene Bethel and Hay, which is 28 miles.

4 From thence he went into Aegypt, trauelling Southward 240 miles.

5 Out of Aegypt he went againe into Canaan, to the hill that lyeth betweene Bethel and Hay, which is 240 miles, Gen. 13.

[Page 80]6 From thence hee went to the Plaine of Mamre neere He­bron, 32 miles.

7 From the plaine of Mamre, hee went to Dan, which is 124 miles and there ouerthrew the foure Kings which had taken Lot prisoner, Gen. 14.

8 Then he pursued the enemie for the space of 80 miles to Hobam in Phoenicia, which lyeth in the left side of Damasco, Gen. 14.

9 From Phoenicia, hee went to Sodom, wnere Melchisedech met him, which are 160 miles, Gen. 14.

10 From Sodom, he went backe again to the plaine of Mam­re, which are 40 miles.

11 From the Plaine of Mamre, he went to Gerer, which is six miles, where his sonne Isaac was borne, Gen. 20.21.

12 From Gerar, he went to Beersaba, which is 12 miles, where he tooke an oath of King Abimilech.

13 From Beersaba, he went to mount Moriah, which is 40 miles, where he would haue offered his sonne Isaac, Gen. 22.

14 From mount Moriah, hee returned againe to Beersaba, which is 40 miles.

15 From Beersaba, he and his wife went to the plaine of Mamre by Hebron, which is 16 miles, and there they died and were buried, Gen. 23. and 25.

So that all the Trauels of the Patriarch Abraham, were 1794 miles.

Now followeth the description of the Townes and places.

THe Towne of Vhr in Chaldaea, where Abraham was borne at this day is called Orchae, (as Petrus Appianus writeth) and is distant from Ierusalem 624 miles Eastward. It seemeth, it ei­ther tooke that name from light or fire, or else from diuine wor­ship, for there they vsed to offer many burnt offerings, but at that time they committed idolatry, for which cause Abraham went from thence, perceiuing that the Chaldeans tooke the fire for their god, because fire came downe from Heauen and consumed their offerings. Learned men therefore are of opinion, that the Chaldaeans in the town of Vhr, worshipped the fire for their god.

Haran or Charan, that is, Wrath.

HAran is the chiefe city in Mesopotamia, where Abraham for a time dwelt with his father Thara. There the rich Ro­man Crassus with his army was ouerthrowne by the Parthians, and is distant from Ierusalem 440 miles North-Eastward, taking its name from the water Charan which runneth through it. But at this day the city is called Ophra, lying eleuen daies journy from Mossel or Nineueh, as D. Leonard Ronwolfe writeth, who in Anno 1575, vpon the thirtieth of Ianuary was in that towne. Ophra or Haran is a faire city well inhabited, and indifferent great, com­passed about with walls and towers, richly furnished with mer­chandise, but especially with faire couerlets of diuers colors, that are made therein.

There is likewise great trade and trafique for diuers kindes of wares brought thither by Caravans, which are great numbers of camels, horses, & other beasts, that cary great burdens, with many men to conduct them, which traffique and trauell from one city to another.

This city in times past belonged to the Parthians, euen then when Crassus the rich Roman, fifty three years before the birth of Christ, robbed the temple of Ierusalem, and of those holy relicks bare away to the value of six tuns of gold. For which God puni­shed him openly; for vpon the sixt of Iune after, hee was by the Parthians ouerthrown hard by Haran in Mesopotamia, and there taken and slaine. The Parthians pouring molten gold into his mouth, said, Drinke now thy sill (thou greedy Wretch) of that which thou so long hast thirsted after, for with this thou mayst fill thy greedy throat.

In this ouerthrow were slaine thirty thousand Romans, and by that meanes the city of Haran returned againe vnder the Parthi­ans.

After that, the Persians took it; but now it is vnder the Turk.

In this city of Haran at this day there is to be seene a Well of very cleare water, at which Rebecca gaue drinke to Eleazer Abra­hams seruant, and to his Camels, Genes. 24.19. This Well by the [Page 82] townsmen is called Abrahams wel: there also Rachel, Labans daugh­ter, first spake with the holy Patriark Iacob, who turning the stone off from the Wel, gaue her sheep of the water to drinke.

This water hath a very pleasant taste, and is a notable Type of holy Baptisme; for like as the holy Fathers tooke their wiues by this wel, so Christ receiueth his holy congregation by the Well of Baptisme, in his Word and holy Sacrament. This is the right Wel of Israel, which floweth into euerlasting life.

The city of Haran (now called Ophra) lieth from Nineueh 232 miles Westward.

Sichem, a Shoulder.

SIchem is a town in Samaria on the borders of Ephraim, lying on mount Garizim, 36 miles from Ierusalem Northward. It takes the name (as Phil. Melancthon writeth) from the place wher­on it standeth, like a shoulder; for Sichem signifies a shoulder.

Of this town I will speak more at large in the new Testament, for that by it Christ spake with the Samaritan woman, Ioh. 4.

In this town Dina Iacobs daughter was rauished, Gen. 34. and there the bones of the Patriarch Ioseph were buried, Ios. 24.

Abimelech for spight & vpon no occasion vtterly destroied the town, and hauing razed it to the ground, sowed it with salt, Iudg. 9 But Ieroboam King of Ierusalem built it vp again and dwelt ther­in, 1 Kin. 12.

It was a free town, whither a man-slayer might resort that had killed any man by chance, and saue himselfe, Ios. 20.

Mount Garizim, wheron the town of Sichem stood, was a piece of mount Ephraim.

Tanis, in Hebrew Zoan; an Inne or house of Harbor.

TAnis or Zoan was the chiefe city in Egypt, where Pharaoh in Abrahams time kept his court, as we reade in the thir­teenth Chapter and fourth book of Moses, and Psal. 58. and lyeth 232, miles from Ierusalem Southeastward: four miles from Tanis stood the kingly towne of Memphis, which was likewise built [Page 83] before Abrahams time; but at that time it was not so famous as Tanis, for there is not one word spoken of Memphis in the books of Moses. But when time serues I will speake more of these two places.

Of the Mount between Bethel and Hay.

THis hil is 4 miles from Ierusalem vpon the North, lying be­tween the 2 towns of Bethel & Hay, and is called mount E­phraim; wher Abraham at his return out of Egipt the second time set vp his Tabernacle, of purpose to be conuersant with Melchise­deck who dwelt in Ierusalem; and with him gaue thanks to God for the singular fauors that he had shewed toward him, in deliue­ring his wife Sara from the hands of Abimelech King of Egypt, who would haue rauished her, & as he feared, indangered his life. In this place Lot separated himselfe from Abraham, and went to dwell in Sodom.

Of the Plaine or Oke of Mamre.

THe Plain of Mamre stood a mile from Hebron towards the East, and distant from Ierusalem 22 miles South-eastward. In this yally there was a faire and pleasant wood, where a certain yong man called Mamre dwelt. This man was brother to Escal and Aner, mentioned by Moses, Genes. 14. who according to the custome of gentlemen with vs in these times, built vp his house neere to a pleasant Wood or bottome, which as some thinke was called after his name Mamre. Others, (of which opinion is Ierom) of Aelon, which signifies a valley or tree (an Oke tree, saith hee.) But Ioseph & Aegesippus call it a Terebinth tree, which both sum­mer and winter beareth greene leaues like a Palme tree, the sap or juice whereof is very good for medicine. Abraham dwelling neere to this tree, beeing entertained by the three Brothers as a stranger, grew into such fauour and familiaritie with them, that hee conuerted them from Paganisme, and taught them to know the true and euer-liuing God. To gratifie which great fauor, they aided him in his Warre against the foure Kings that had taken [Page 84] Lot prisoner, and gaue him free libertie to inhabit in, and vse the Plain thereabouts for his cattel: before whose dore (as some Authors affirm) this Terebinth or oke tree stood, and so continu­ed from the beginning of the world, till the time of Constantine the Great, it being lawfull for none to cut a bough of it, or touch it with a hatchet, because it was in those daies accounted a holy tree, and visited by diuers strangers: and then Helena caused a fair church to be built in that place; and so much the rather, for that Abraham sitting vnder that tree, the three Angels appeared vnto him in the similitude or likenesse of men, Gen. 8.1, 2. And some are of opinion, That because of this, the Iewes offered Incense to their gods, and committed idolatry vpon high mountaines and vnder green trees, Ezek. 16. There was also a double Caue made of white marble, which as Iosephus saith, was very faire and beau­tifull to the eye, and curiously wrought and polished; wherein A­braham, Isaac, and Iacob, with their Wiues Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah were buried: and as some thinke was that caue which he purcha­sed of the Hittites, Gen. 23.34. But that Adam and Evah lie bu­ried in the same place, seeing there is no warrant for it in the ho­ly Scriptures, I let it passe; because whatsoeuer hath not authori­tie of Scripture to proue it, may as easily be contemned as allow­ed. But Abrahams sepulchre in Ieroms time was to be seen, being old and decayed.

Of Hebron.

THis City was not onely a Kings Seat, but a Priests also, be­ing built not long after the Floud, and some seuen years be­fore that City of the Egyptians called Zoan or Tanis, Numb. 13. and was placed vpon a goodly high mountaine very pleasant and delectable. It taketh the name from Chabar, which signifieth to accompany; and from thence, Chebron, or Hebron, A pleasant and delectable society. It was a metropolitan city in the tribe of Iuda, and after called Kiriatharba, as it appeareth in Ioshuah, 14. taking that name from Arba the chiefe Gouernour of that Citie. This man was one of the Anakims, and a very mighty Prince. [Page 85] Others there are that say, the city being diuided into foure parts was thereof called [...]: for Arba signifies a quaternion, from the Rote Raba foure square. It was first built by Heth, the sonne of that cursed Canaan, whose posterity (the Hittites) inhabited in it; and such was their hospitalitie, that they entertained Abraham, being a stranger and traueller. These people dweltHere also dwelt Sisai, Abiman, and Thalmas the sons of Anak. there vntill Ioshuahs time; and then one Hoham was King thereof, who with other Kings opposing the Children of Israell, was by them slain, and had their country wasted and destroyed. This town was after made a towne of refuge, and belonged to the inheritance of Caleb, and was together with Mamre in the tribe of Iuda, Ios. 20. Heere Dauid was first anointed King, and reigned therein for the space of 7 yeares, 2 Sam. 5. But this town by the iniury of time and op­pression of the enemy is now become desolate, only some few old reliques are to be seen, to shew there had bin a town there. Neuer­thelesse there is a town not far from it which retaineth the name, placed in a very fruitfull valley called Mamre to this day. Heere while it was vnder the jurisdiction of the Christians, stood a Ca­thedral church, and a Bishops See; but the Turks haue turned it into a Mosko, or one of their churches. Into this place they wil not suffer any Christian to enter. The inhabitants take vpon them to shew vnto strangers many things, as the vault or caue wherein Abraham was buried, the place where Cain killed Abel, the Well where Adam and Eva wept seuen years for the death of their son; with many such like fables which are to no purpose, seeing they are not warrantable by Scripture.

Some bows shoot Eastward from this place is the field of Da­mascus, where the red earth lieth whereof they feigne man to be made. It is naturally tough, & may be wrought like wax or pitch. There is also that is white of the same kind, and this is conueyed to many places by the Saracens, and sold at deare rates. They vse it either for the teering of Sepulchres, or to mingle with salves and vnguents.

Of Gerar.

GErar is the vttermost towne in the land of Canaan, and lieth between the desarts of Sur and Cades, Gen. 20. Here King Abimelech kept his court at such time as Abraham came thither; & here Isaac was born, Gen. 21. It takes the name from Gor, which signifies a Pilgrim or Traueller, and did well agree with the con­dition of the antient patriarchs that somtime liued there, because for the most part they were like Pilgrimes and wayfaring men, Gen. 47. It lay six miles from Hebron Southwest, and from Ieru­salem 30, vpon the territories of the tribe of Iuda.

Of Beerazaba.

BEerazaba is a towne scituated vpon the vtmost bounds of the Holy land, forty miles from Ierusalem Southwestward, and is deriued from Berr and Shebuah, and signifieth the Wel of coue­nant: for Abraham hauing digged a Wel neere to this place, Abi­melech King of Gerar entred into league with him, and his poste­ritie Isaac also renued this league in this place, as appears, Gen. 21. It is now called Gallim or Giblin by the Iewes. In S. Hieromes time it was a great towne.

Of Moriah.

VPon this Mount Abraham would haue offered his son Isaac, and stood not far from Salem or mount Sion, where Melchi­sedech dwelt. They were so neere, that Melchisedech vpon the tower of Sion might easily see the Angell that spake with Abraham, when he renewed the couenant with him concerning his seed and posteritie: and is deriued from Mor or Marar, which signifies bit­ter Myrrh, because, as Gregorius saith, the Church is euer subiect to affliction, For all they that will serue God and liue religiously must suffer persecution, Mat. 16. 2 Tim. 3. and Iarr, which signi­fies to feare.

How Abraham may be typically apprehended.

ABraham signifies The father of a multitude, from Ab, pater, a Father; Ram, excelsus, Mighty; and Hamon, multitudinis, Of a multitude. Not in regard of the Iewes only, but all those that in succeeding times shall be ingraffed into the Church, and partake of euerlasting life through the mediation of Christ Iesus the promised seed, Gal. 3. Ephes. 1. Acts 3. and is a Type and figure of God the Father; for as that Abraham was the father of many, yet had but only one son; so although God be the father of all nati­ons, yet had but one only son, Iesus Christ, begotten of his owne essence from before the beginning of the world. And as Abraham so loued God, that for his sake he would not haue spared his only son; so God so loued Abraham and the World, that hee gaue his only begotten son to die for the saluation of their soules.

The Trauels of Lot.

LOt trauelled with Abraham from Vr in Chaldaea, to Haran in Mesopotamia, which is 336 miles, Gen. 12.

2 From Haran they trauelled to Sichem in the land of Canaan, being 400 miles.

3 From Sichem they trauelled through Morae, to the hil ly­ing between Bethel and Hay, which is 24 miles.

4 From the hill between Bethel and Hay, they went into E­gypt, which is 240 miles, Gen. 13.

5 From Egypt they went into the land of Canaan, to the hil lying between Bethel and Hay, where Abraham had dwelt before, which is 240 miles, Gen. 13.

6 From the hil between Bethel and Hay Lot separated him­selfe from Abraham, and went to the towne of Sodom Eastward, which is 28 miles, Gen. 13.

7 In the town of Sodom Lot was taken prisoner, hee and all his houshold, and led away to the town of Dan, which is 32 miles Gen. 14.

[Page 88]8 And when Abraham had deliuered him out of the hands of his enemies, & pursued them, he returned with him from Dan to Hobam in Phoenicia, lying on the left side of Damascus, be­ing 80 miles.

9 From Phoenicia Abraham came again with Lot to Sodom, which is 160 miles.

10 Lastly, when the Lord had determined to raine fire and brimstone on Sodom, Lot according to his commandement went thence to Zoar a little town neere adioyning, where being drunk with Wine hee committed incest with both his daughters; but after comming to the knowledge of his offence, he was so sore af­flicted in his conscience, that with extreme grief he died. Luther saith that Abraham tooke him to Hebron with him to comfort him, and that there he died. Hebron is 36 miles from Sodom.

So all the trauels of the Patriarch Lot were 1652 miles.

The Description of the Townes and places where he trauelled. And first of Sodom.

THe cities that were destroyed with fire and brimstone from heauen were foure in number, that is, Sodom, Gomorah, Adama, and Zeboim, lying 24 miles from Ierusalem South-east­ward, where now the dead sea runs. The fift was the city Bela, cal­led also Zoar, which was spared for Lots sake, & distant from So­dom two miles. This, Lot accounted but a little City; but there are that say it was a very spatious and princely place, neere to which his wife for her disobedience was turned into a pillar of salt, and not far off he committed incest with his two daughters. And although Luther be of opinion, that that also within a while after was burnt, yet this cannot bee certainly prooued, especially because it remaineth euen to this day, scituated both in the anti­ent place, and called by the antient name; vnlesse some new City hath beene lately built in the same place, and is now called after that name, which I cannot thinke to be true. Sodamah signifieth a Mysterie; Gomorah, a Faggot of Thornes; Adamah, Red earth; Zeboim, Fertile and Pleasant; Zoar, The burning of Baela; for [Page 89] in antient times it was called Baela. It is the receiued opinion, that the country wherein these fiue rich and opulent cities stood was called Pentapolis.

Of the Lake or dead Sea, called Asphaltides.

IN the very same place where these Cities were burnt and de­stroyed, there is at this day to be seene a Lake about 36 miles long, and in some places six, in others eight and 12 miles ouer. It boileth with pitch and brimstone, and in some places passeth by the name of the salt sea, and in others, the dead sea, because of the noisome and venomous aire that riseth out of it, insomuch as the very birds that fly ouer it fall down dead, and if a beast doe but drink of it mixt with water, it makes him incurably sick. It is of a wonderfull nature, for whatsoeuer heauy thing you fling into it will not sinke, but swim vpon the top, be it either iron, lead, cop­per, or any other weighty matter. Of which Vespasian the emperor hauing notice, to make experience of what he had heard, made a journy of purpose to see it, and with him tooke certain condem­ned men who for their offences had deserued death; these he ma­nacled, and where he thought it to be deepest caused them to bee thrown in; but they rose vp againe with such violence as if some storm or tempest had sent them vp. The water thereof changeth three times a day, and shineth against the sun with diuers colors, casting out fire and great cakes of pitch much resembling Bulls without heads, and of that quantity. This pitch is good for diuers things, as to calk ships, to lay vpon cables, and to vse in medicins; wherefore such as come to this sea and know the nature of it, haue certain Skifs and instruments wherewith they draw these cakes of pitch to their ships, to which it cleaueth so fast, it being natu­rally tough, that being brought to land they cannot get it off a­gain but by the help of vrine. Vpon the banks thereof grow trees that beare fruit of diuers kinds, as apples and such like; which are faire and pleasant to the eie, but if you either touch or open them you shall finde nothing but dust.

[Page 90] Brittenbacchus saith, In this place the Serpent Tyrus (whereof they vse to make treacle) is found. It is a little serpent about half a cubit long, and a finger thick, being of diuers colours, and is so venomous, that where it biteth there is no remedy, vnlesse by cut­ting off the member. The head of it is rough and hairy, and there seemeth to lie vpon the tongue of it, if it be angry, a fiery flame. The same Author saith, That a little from Zoar, betweene this Lake and the mountaines of Engedi, the pillar whereinto Lots wife was turned, is yet to be seen shining like salt. The furthest part of this sea Northward lies 14 miles from Ierusalem: toward the East the riuer Iordan runneth into it.

The trauell of the two Angels that led Lot out of Sodom.

THese two Angels hauing spoken with Abraham in the valley of Mamre neere Hebron, forthwith went to Sodom some 40 miles distant from that place, where Lot hauing entertained them into his house, by their helpe was deliuered, together with his wife and two daughters, from that miserable desolation of the Sodomits.

Of Lots two Daughters.

LOt escaping this desolation, and seeing a president of Gods iudgement fallen vpon his wife for her disobedience, fearing that he should not continue safe in Zoar, left that & turned aside into the wildernesse, and continued there among the mountains, although the Lord had promised him safety in this town: wher­fore continuing in a Caue in the Wildernesse, the eldest of his daughters losing her husband in this destruction, supposing that all men had beene destroyed from off the earth, counselled her sister to commit incest with her father. Lot being now oppressed with care, by reason of the former calamities, gaue himself at the inticement of his daughters, to drinke Wine, insomuch as with the excesse he became drunke: at which time not being himselfe he begat by his two daughters two sonnes: the eldest had a sonne whom shee called Moab, which signifies The begotten of his Fa­ther; whereby the impudencie of this woman is laid open to the World, in that she was not ashamed of her sinne. Of him came [Page 91] the Moabites, and dwelt vpon the North side of the lake Asphal­tides, some 32 miles from Ierusalem. The yongest daughter had a son, which she called Ben-ammy, that is, The son of my people; for although she bare him with great shame, yet she dwelt among the people of God. Of him came the Ammonites that dwelt be­yond mount Gilead, threescore miles from Ierusalem Northeast­ward.

Of the foure Kings that tooke LOT prisoner.

THe first of them was called Amraphel King of Shinear or Ba­bylon, the son of Ninus and Semiramis, as some thinke, and is called somtime by the name of Berosus, sometime Ninus. He kept his court at Babylon in Chaldea, which is 680 miles from Ieru­salem Eastward. This Ninus is called Amraphel, because of the no­table victories that he won, and the number of countries and pro­uinces he conquered.

The second was Arioch or Arius his sonne. He was thus called because of his courage and crueltie in war; for Arioch signifies A mighty roaring Lion; Arius, Mars. This man during the life of his father was created king of Lassir, that is, Assiria, for so it is cal­led in the Chaldaean tongue; the chiefe city whereof is Nineueh, and lies from Ierusalem Northeastward six hundred eighty foure miles.

The third was Keder-laomer King of the Elamites in Persia, 1200 miles from Ierusalem toward the East. This Prince had a great command in that country. Keder signifies an Ornament or Crowne; Laomer, Well deseruing.

The fourth was Thideall King of the Nations. Hee kept his court in Damascus, the Metropolis of Assyria, some 160 miles from Ierusalem Northward. Thideal signifieth An exalted Lord; of Alah, that is, To be lifted vp.

These foure kings were confederats, and bent their expedition principally against Astaroth and Kiriathaim, which they tooke, and spoyled all the Countrey round about with fire and sword: and their Armies being retyred from the spoyle, met in the vally of Siddim (where now the dead Sea runneth) and there pitched [Page 92] their tents. In this place after a cruel and sharp war, they conque­red the fiue Kings of that beautifull and pleasant soile of Pen­tapolis, (for so it was called because of those fiue cities that were in it) where among others they tooke Lot captiue with all his sub­stance.

Of Astoroth.

AStoroth seemes to be the city of Venus, because the citisens thereof worshipped her: for Astoroth is a goddesse of the Si­donians, and is compounded of Ash, which signifies a company of stars, and Tor, placed in order. The Syrians call Venus Ashtoroth. This towne lay in the land of Gilead, and belonged to the halfe tribe of Manasse beyond Iordan, 56 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward. In this city the foure Kings of the East conquered the gyants of Karnaim, that were mighty princes and commanders there, when they made war against that and Kiriathaim. Not far from hence also in the land of Ham there dwelt certaine Gyants called Zusim, of Zus and Hamah, which signifies to stir vp commo­tion. These were very great strong and stately people, and had the command of all the Countries thereabouts, which they held in great feare, and were conquered by the foure Kings.

Of Kiriathaim.

KIriathaim was a City in the tribe of Reubin beyond Iorden, Ios. 13. 22 miles from Ierusalem toward the East, and so cal­led because it was diuided into many parts and diuisions. The heathens corruptly cal it Carthage. The Hebrews deriue it from Kiriath, which signifies a city, and Emah, Terror. Here dwelt the Emims, a graue and fearfull people; for so their name signifies.

Of Hazezon Thamar.

THis Citie tooke the name from a Palme tree, or a Palme banke. Of this kinde of wood the Israelites made their ar­rowes, and therefore deriue it from Charar, which signifieth to shoot; and Thamar, a Palme Tree. This City standeth vpon the banke of the dead sea, twenty miles from Ierusalem North-East, [Page 93] vpon a very fruitfull soile, where was found plenty of Palm trees and pretious balsam: and by some called Engedi, or the Lambes Well; being deriued from Ein and Gedi, which signifieth Fontem haeduli lactantis, that is, The Wel of a sucking lambe or goat. Not far from hence stood the Caue where Dauid cut off the outward lap of King Sauls garment, 1 Sam. 24.

Of the plentifull valley Siddim.

THis valley stood there where now the dead sea runneth, and took that name from the fertilitie of the soile, and seems to haue some affinity with the Hebrew word Sadel, which signifies a field, partly arable, partly pasture and medow, furnished with trees, herbs, and orchards. In this place stood diuers Wels of Bi­tume, from whence the inhabitants fetcht caement to build their houses with; but after for their wickednes (which was so great, as it appeareth in Gen. 18. that the cry thereof ascended into heauen) the Lord did grieuously punish them, first with war, by which the in­habitants were destroied: and after that, with fire and brimstone from heauen; so that (as is aforesaid) this goodly vally is nothing but a stinking lake.

The Trauels of the Egyptian maid Hagar.

AFter Sara had preferred Hagar to that high grace as to make her equal with her selfe, shee growing proud thereof, con­temned her Mistresse, and in recompence of that fauour carried her selfe very presumptuously towards her; which Sarah seeking to restraine, offered to her sonne hard measure; which Abraham (vpon her complaint) winked at: Whereupon Hagar, partly op­prest with griefe, partly with enuy, priuily stole away from her mistresse, and went from the valley of Mamre neer Hebron, to the Well of life sixteene miles Southward, Genesis 16. and it is to be thought that her journey tended towards Egypt, which was her natiue countrey. For this Well lay directly in the way as they went downe into Egypt. This flight of Hagar without doubt did greatly trouble Abrahams house, and put him and his wife into a [Page 94] great sorrow and feare, lest she should destroy her self and the in­fant, or fall into some other danger. Wherefore that God might make euident the exceeding care he had of them, he sent an angel vnto Hagar, and willed her to returne vnto her master: which An­gel some think was the son of God, for he was called by the name of Iehovah, Gen. 16. which name was not communicated to any created Angell. Whereupon Hagar, according to his commade­ment, went backe againe to her mistresse Sarah into the valley of Mamre, 16 miles, Gen. 16.

From Hebron Hagar went with her mistresse to that kingly ci­ty Gerar, 6 miles, Gen. 20.

At Gerar she and her sonne Ismael were put out of her masters house, and going in the way that leadeth into Egypt, they lost themselues in the wildernes of Beersaba, after they had trauelled 12 miles from Gerar: where opprest with want both of water and other necessaries, she feinted and her son also; wherefore she layd him vnder a tree, and about a bowes shoot off sate down and wept, expecting nothing but death. As shee was in this miserie, God heard the voice of the childe, and sent an Angell vnto her saying, Feare not, for I will make of thy childe a great Nation. And God opened her eies, and lo, close by her there was a Well, so she went and filled her bot­tle, and gaue her boy drinke. At this time Ismael was 15 yeres of age; So God blessed the child, and he became an Archer, and liued in the wildernesse.

From thence she and her son went into the wildernes of Pha­ran, 80 miles, where Ismael maried an Egyptian, Gen. 21. So all the trauels of Hagar the Egyptian maid were 132 miles.

Of the Fountaine of Hagar, which is also called the Well of Life.

THis Wel lieth betweene Bared and Kades-Bernea, 10 miles from Ierusalem towards the South. Some call it the Well of the Liuing and Seeing, because God did there look merciful­ly vpon Hagar when shee fled from her mistresse. Here Isaac dwelt and had his two sonnes Esau and Iacob, Genesis 26. Afterwards it was called the Well of the liuing God, and seemeth mystically [Page 95] to represent Baptisme, the lavor of grace and regeneration by the operation and special working of the Spirit: for the Church (like Hagar with her son Ismael) trauelling through the wildernesse of this world, is prest with a multitude of sins; and seeing her owne miserie, finds no remedie but by faith in Christ Iesus, to be deli­uered from so heauy a burthen: wherefore they ioyning together in praier, craue the mercifull audience and gratious assistance of God, That it would please him of his goodnesse to refresh them with the water of life, the doctrine of grace, that so they may bee made capable of eternal glory. For Hagar signifies a Pilgrim, and Ismael, a godly and good man whom the Lord heareth: Who tra­uelling together with his mother the Church in this world, figh­teth against the enemies thereof, and shooteth the arrows of faith against all infernal and cruell beasts. For Schamah signifies, Hee hath heard; and El, The almighty God, who mercifully heareth the feruent prayers and petitions of the Iust; according to that of S. Iames, cap. 5.15.

Ismael was born An. mundi 2035. Abraham being then 86 years of age. He was circumcised at 13, he went from his father at 15; he was at Abrahams funeral being 89 yeares of age: he died when he was 137 yeares of age, fifty yeares after the death of Abraham, and left behinde him twelue sonnes as Iacob did, which were the Princes of their families, as was his. Of which the Apostle Paul hath an excellent Allegorie; Abraham had two sons, one by the bond-woman, another by the free-woman: he that was of the bond woman was according to the flesh, but he that was of the free wo­man was by promise. By which things another thing is meant; for the one, which is Agar of mount Sinai, gendereth vnto bon­dage: for Agar or Sinai is a mountaine in Arabia, and answereth to Ierusalem that now is; and shee is in bondage with her Chil­dren: but Ierusalem which is aboue is free, for it is written, Re­ioyce thou Barren, &c. Wherefore we are no more of the bond wo­man (which is the Law) but of the Free, not by our owne works or righteousnesse, but by fairh in Christ, who maketh vs heirs of that heauenly Ierusalem.

Where Ishmael dwelt.

PAran a city of Arabia the Stony, stood 104 miles from Ieru­salem Southward, and taketh the name from fertilitie; for Pu­rah with the Hebrews signifies a fruitfull root. From this Metro­politan towne, the desart of Arabia the stony neere Cades taketh name: of which mention is made, Num. 13 & 14. Deut. 1. Gen. 14.21. Abac. 3. and is called the desart of Pharan. Here Ishmael that excellent Archer and hunter dwelt, after with great power and strength he had conquered all the neighboring princes and peo­ple thereabout. His posteritie also inhabited these parts, and af­ter his name were called Ismaelites, some eighty miles from Ie­rusalem toward the South. These people were excellent soldiers, and of noble courage; their principal delight was shooting, and therein they exceeded others; liuing for the most part by hun­ting and pillage, and so they continue to this day. The Saracens who likewise had their abiding in those parts were deriued from that family, though they had rather take their name from Sara, and from thence Saracens: These are of the opinion of the Turks.

The Trauels of Eleazer the seruant of Abraham.

AFter Eleazer had sworne to his master to take a wife for his son Isaac of the generation of his fathers, he went from the valley of Mamre neere Hebron, to Haran a City of Meso­potamia, 468 miles off, and there made a Contract with Rebecc [...] the daughter of Bethuel, and sister of Laban, whom he tooke along with him and returned to his master. So that his journey to and againe was 944 miles. These things hapned in the yeare of the world 2089, and before Christ 1879, Isaac then being forty yeres of age.

This Eleazer was Steward of Abrahams house, and borne at Damascus the chiefe City of Syria. Hee was so called, because God was his helpe: Eleazer being a compound word of El and [Page 97] Ezaer, which signifies Almighty God the helper. From whence we may perceiue that God is the keeper of the poore, and a ready helper in time of tribulation; according to that in the Psalmes, All they that know thee trust in thee; because thou, O Lord, hearest their prayers, and bringest them out of trouble.

Rebeccha, as it should seeme, tooke her name from the expecta­tion of Eternall life▪ for Rebechan in Hebrew doth denote such a woman, which expecteth a free deliuerie frrom all calamitie, and an in­heritance of eternall life. Therefore Rebeccha is a notable type of the Church of God, which is the Spouse of Christ, shadowed in Isaac; as shall hereafter be more plainely manifested.

The Trauels of the Patriarch Isaac.

ISaac being young, went with his father Abra­ham from Berzeba to mount Moriah, where his father would haue offered him vnto God, as the Lord commanded him, which is fortie miles, Gens. 22.

2 From thence with his father hee returned againe to Berzeba, which is forty miles.

3 From Berzeba he trauelled with his father to Hebron, by the plaine of Mamre, which is 16 miles.

4 From the plaine of Mamre Isaac trauelled Southward, to the fountain of life, which is 16 miles, & there he dwelt, Gen. 24.

5 From thence he returned backe again to his fathers burial, who was laid in that double caue in Mamre, which is 16 miles.

6 From thence he returned backe againe to the Well of life, where he dwelt; 16 miles.

7 From the Fountaine of life, hee went to Gerar, which is 8 miles; where Abimelech seeing the beauty of his wife Rebeccha, would haue rauisht her, and for feare she told him that she was his sister, Gen. 26.

8 From Gerar Isaac went Westward to the valley of Gerar which is 8 miles, and there he caused the Well to be digged vp [Page 98] againe, which the inhabitants had stopped vp, Gen. 26.

9 From thence he went to Beersaba, which is foure miles; where the same night the Lord appeared vnto him, and said, I am the God of thy father Abraham, feare not, for I am with thee and will blesse and multiply thy seed for my seruant Abrahams sake, Gen. 26.

10 From Beersaba he returned againe to Hebron by the plain of Mamre, which is 16 miles: here Abraham, Sarah, and Rebeccha, died, and were buried, Gen. 35. So all the trauels of the Patriarch Isaac, were one hundred forty eight miles.

The typicall signification of Isaac.

THe name of Isaac is deriued from laughter: for Zakah in Hebrew is as much as quod risit is in Latine, which signifi­eth that he laughed; and from hence Zechock signifies a Laughter, and Isaac, mirth, or one that reioyceth with mirth. This name was giuen to him by God before his natiuitie, Gen. 17.18. There were seuen that were named by God before their natiuitie, viz. Ishmael Gen. 16. Isaac, Gen. 17. Cores or Cyrus King of the Persians, Esa 44. Sampson, Iudg. 13. Iosia King of Iuda, 1. Kings 13. Iohn Baptist, and Iesus Christ the sonne of God, Luke 1. of whom Isaae was a nota­ble type. For Christ is our true rejoicing, the laughter, mirth, and delight of the whole Church of God. Abraham vpon the day of the natiuitie of Isaac made a great feast, to which, no doubt, he cal­led many godly men, and perhaps some of the Patriarchs: for there was then liuing Sarag, Arphaxad, Salah, Heber, Thamar, and Sem, the sonne of Noah, who also had a certaine knowledge of Gods promise to Abraham, and that of the seed of Isaac should come the Sauiour of the world.

And as Abraham when hee would haue offered his sonne vnto the Lord, carried the fire and the sword; but Isaac the wood vp­on which he should be slaine and burned (O miserable sight, espe­cially to a father, to see his onely sonne and heire, which was mi­raculously begotten, euen then when he was without hope of issue, burnt to ashes before his face? this was on mount Moria [...] a little from Salem or Ierusalem) euen so our Sauiour Christ, fo [...] the sinnes that man commits and carries about him, bore vpon his shoulders the woodden crosse whereupon he was offered an [...] [Page 99] acceptable sacrifice to his father, that so by his mediation and sa­tisfaction we might receiue pardon for them: And this was like­wise done vpon mount Caluarie, a little from Ierusalem. And as the Lord prouided another sacrifice for Abraham, that so hee might saue his sonne, which was, a Ramme tied and intangled in thornes: so God prouided a sacrifice for the saluation of the world euen Iesus Christ our mediatour, who is that immaculate and pretious Lambe of God; whose head being crowned with thornes, and hanging vpon the crosse, by his precious death ope­ned vnto vs the doore of eternall life, and made vs capable of e­uerlasting happinesse, Iohn 19. 1 Peter 1. Such was the loue of A­braham, a father vnto God; such the loue of God, a father vnto man: that they spared not their only sonnes, the one typically to represent the other. The other, that is, the only begotten sonne of God, to dye effectually for Abraham, Isaac, and all mankinde, Ioh. 3. Gen. 22.

The Trauels of the Patriarch Iacob.

FRom Beersaba Iacob went to Bethel, which is 48 miles and there hee saw a Ladder that reached downe from heauen, whereby the Angels ascended and descended Genes. 28.

2 From Bethel he went to Haran in Mesopotamia, which is 432 miles; where he married Leah and Raehel, Gen. 28.

3 From Haran in Mesopotamia hee went to mount Gilead, which is 380 miles: and when Laban pursued him (at the com­mandement of the Lord) he made a league with him, Gen. 31.

4 From mount Gilead hee went to Mahanaim, which is 16 miles, and there he met with the Angels of God, Gen. 31.

5 From Mahanaim he passed the water and went to Penuel, which is foure miles, and there wrestled with the Angel of God, Gen. 32.

6 From Penuel hee went to Succoth, where hee pitched his Tents, 2 miles, Gen. 33.

[Page 100]7 From Succoth hee passed the riuer of Iordan, and went to Sichem, not far from Salem (about eight miles) where his daugh­ter Dinah was rauished, Gen. 33.

8 From thence he went to Bethel, which is eight and twen­ty miles, Gen. 31.

9 From Bethel he went to Bethlehem Euphrata, which is twelue miles; in which way Rachel died, and was buried not farre from Bethlehem; then Iacob went forward, and set vp his Tents neere to the Tower of Eder, a mile from Bethlehem towards the South, Gen. 35.

10 From Bethlehem Euphrata and the Tower of Eder, he re­turned againe to the valley of Mamre neere Hebron, to his father Isaac, which is 20 miles, Gen. 35.

11 From Hebron hee went to Beersaba, which is 16 miles, Gen. 38.

12 From Beersaba, he went to the Towne of Ony a little off Aegypt in the land of Gossen, which is 168 miles, where Ioseph his sonne gaue him honourable entertainement, Gen. 46.

13 From Ony he went to the citieThis was the chiefe Citie of Aegypt. Zoan, which is also called Tanis, 28 miles, where he was presented to K. Pharaoh, Gen. 47.

14 From Tanis he returned to Ony, which is 28 miles, and there he dwelt and dyed in the land of Gossen, Gen. 49.

The Description of the Townes and places to which Iacob trauelled.

The typicall signification of the Patriarch Iacob.

IAcob signifies, a supplanter, and was a type of Christ, who is that supplanter of Sathan, and by his death hath broken his head in pieces. Againe, he is the type of a Christian man: For as he wrestling with the Angell, obtained a blessing; so euery good man continually striuing with perseuerance in prayer, shall at length obtaine an euerlasting blessing: for, for this cause was Iacob called Israel, that is, the Prince of God, in that he preuailed with God: so all those that beleeue in Christ, are called Princes of the kingdome of heauen: because by his mediation they haue preuailed with God, and are made partakers of eternall life.

Iacob had two wiues, Leah and Rachel; Leah signifies, wearied, and was a type of the old Mosaicall Church: for that was op­pressed and wearied with the lawes of Moses, and brought forth Priests, Leuites, Kings, and warlike Princes, by which the people of the Iewes became oppressed and wearied by extreame labors, and at length were miserably extinguished: for as it is in the 15 of the Acts of the Apostles, The law of Moses was an intollerable and troublesome burthen. But Rachel signifies a Sheepe, and is a type and signe of the Church of God in the New Testament, as Christ himselfe speaketh in the tenth of Iohn, My sheepe heare my voice and follow me, and I will giue them eternall life.

Sheepe are naturally patient and peaceable; so all such as are of Christs Church, seeke after patience and peace. Leah was nothing so faire, but much more fruitfull: Rachel was nothing so fruitfull, but a great deale fairer. Leah was the mother of Benja­min which signifieth sorrow: Rachel of Ioseph, who was a type of Christ.

Of the Trauels of Esau.

ESau trauelled from mount Sier in Mesopotamia, to the towne of Pnuell or Penuell, eightie miles to meet his brother Iacob: where the singular ciuilitie and humili­tie of Iacob towards him, is worthy obseruation. For hee first sent to meet him, then hee did him obedience to the ground seuen seuerall times, and so saluted him, saying, Loe, these are the children which God of his grace haue giuing his seruant. From whence it may be gathered, That it becommeth euery man (if it be possible) to win his enemy to peace and concord rather by humanitie and humilitie, than by force: for Esau seeing this kind of reuerence, though before he had a full determination to doe him violence, yet now he comes to meet him, embraces him, takes him about the necke, beginnes to weepe, and kisses him, yea such was their loue, that they both wept with joy, Gen. 35.

After, Esau returning, went home to Sier backe againe, eightie miles: these things hapned in the yeare of the World 2206; when both brethren were about 89 yeares of age, and in the yeare before Christ 1762.

Of mount Sier.

MOunt Sier where Esau and his posteritie dwelt, is forty miles from Ierusalem towards the South, and was so called of Sier, the King or Lord thereof, of whom came the Horrites; who being driuen thence by the fourteene sonnes of Esau, into Arabia the stony, where they continued, Gen. 36. It was called Edom of Esau, and then, Idumaea, Gen. 25. and the inhabitants thereof Edo­mites, or Idumaeans.

The typicall meaning of Esau.

ESau signifies a Factor, and was so called from rednes: The ene­mies of the church colouring themselues red with the blood of the godly: For as Rebecca had in her wombe two sonnes, that [Page 107] is, Esau and Iacob; one elected, the other reprobated: so in the Church there are found two sorts of people, good and euill; some are wicked and impious, contemners of Gods word, and persecu­ters of the Church; as after, the posterity of Esau was. But there are others that are the faithfull children of God, that hope through the mediation of our blessed Sauiour, to be made heires of euerlasting happinesse, and be crowned with him in his king­dome with the crowne of Glory. So that here the saying of our Sauiour may be verified; the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. for Esau was the eldest, yet lost his birthwrite; and Iacob was the youngest, yet got the blessing.

Of the Trauels of the Patriarch Iuda.

IVda trauelled from Sichem, where Iacob dwelt, and went to the towne of Odulla, some forty and foure miles, where he was married to the daughter of one Chananei whose name was Schuah which signi­nifies, A happy Sauiour, by her he had two children in that place, viz. Ger and Onan.

From thence hee went to Timnah to sheare his sheepe, six miles: and as hee turned aside out of the way, hee committed in­cest with his daughter in law, Thamer, when shee was about 26 yeares of age.

Afterward hee went twice with his brethren into Aegypt, to buy corne at Zoan, where Ioseph at that time was; for the famine was very great round about. So that reckoning his journey twice two and againe, it amounted to eight hundred twentie and two miles; for Zoan was 208 miles from Hebron where Iacob and his sonnes dwelt.

Lastly, he returned againe with his father and his brother into Aegypt, two hundred and eight miles. These things happened in the yeare of the world 1239. and before Christ 1729.

The description of the Townes and places to which the Patriarch Iuda trauelled.

Of the Trauels of the Patriarch Ioseph.

WHen Ioseph was sent from Hebron by his father Iacob, hee went to Sichem to seeke his brothers, 60 miles, Gen. 37.

2 From thence he went to Dothan, foure miles, where by his brothers he was throwne into a Pit, and after sold to the Ishmalites, Gen. 37.

3 From Dothan hee was carried to Tanis in Aegypt, and there sold to Potipher, Pharaohs chiefe steward, 272 miles.

4 From Tanis he went to meet his father in the land of Go­sen, which is 28 miles, Gen. 46.

5 From thence he turned backe againe to Tanis, and presen­ted his father and brethren vnto Pharaoh, Gen. 47. which is 28 miles.

6 From thence hee went backe to Ony to see his father, who now was sick vnto the death, there receiuing his blessing, he clo­sed his eies, which was 28 miles.

7 From thence he returned backe againe to Tanis, which is 28 miles.

8 From Tanis he went backe to Ony, with a great company of horses and chariots, preparing an honourable funerall for his father, Gen. 15. being 28 miles.

9 From Ony he went to Atad which lies vpon the further side of Iordan toward the East; which is 240 miles, where hee made a great lamentation for the death of his father 7 daies, Gen. 50. The reason why Ioseph went thus far about, was, because hee went with such a company towards Hebron, that the Idumaeans, through whose countrey he should haue gone, would not suffer him to passe that way, standing in feare of his power.

10 From Atad he went to Hebron the Metropolis of the tribe of Iudah, neere to which stood the double caue in the vaile of Mamre, where Iacob was buried, which was 40 miles, Gen. 50.

11 From thence to Heliopolis, a city of the Aegyptians, where [Page 110] Ioseph set vp a stately Academy for all Aegypt, which was accoun­ted 200 miles.

12 From thence he went to Tanis or Zoan, which was the chiefe defence and Metropolitan citie of all Aegypt, being ac­counted 6 miles.

So all the Trauels of the Patriarch Ioseph was 1962 miles.

A description of the places and cities through which Ioseph trauelled.

The interpretation or allegorie of the Patriarch Ioseph, and of his life.

IOseph was a type of Christ diuers waies: for as Iosephs coat be­ing of diuers colours, was dipped in the bloud of Goates, so Christ being very God, taking vpon him the humane nature, and sprinkled with the bloud of his stripes and wounds (being the lambe of God slaine for the sinnes of the world) was also made changeable and of diuers colours. Againe, as Ioseph was sent by Iacob to seeke his brethren: so Christ was sent by God his father to seeke the lost sheepe of Israel, which according to the flesh, were his brethren, Mat. 15. And as the brethren of Ioseph were so great enemies to him, that it was not possible for them to dissem­ble their hatred towards him, but that both in words and deeds, they must needs expresse their bitternesse, (enuie being the com­mon companion of vertue) so the Iewes, the brethen of Christ, to whom the knees of all things both in heauen, in hell, and in earth bow, persecuting him with taunts, mockes, and stripes, yea, vnto death, because he professed himselfe to be a good man, and the sonne of the euerliuing God.

[Page 112]And as the Ismalites and Midianites, to whom Ioseph was sold by Iudah, was of the stocke of Ioseph, the one being deriued from Ismael the sonne of Abraham by his maid Hagar, the other of Mi­dian the sonne of his second wife Keturah: So Christ was sold by Iudas his disciple, to the Iewes his kindred according to the flesh, if you respect the nation. The difference was in the price; Ioseph the type being sold but for twenty pieces of siluer, Christ the substance sold at thirtie.

The end of the booke of Genesis.

Of the Trauels of the Prophet Moses, and the chil­dren of Israel out of Aegypt.

IN the yeare of the world, 2412, and before Christ, 1554, Moses (being then about forty yeares old) fled out of Aegypt into the land of Midian, 180 miles, where he married Ziporah, the daughter of Riuel, Exod. 3.

2 From thence he went to Mount Sinai or Horeb, 64 miles, Exod. 3.7.

3 From mount Horeb, he returned to Midian to his brother, 65 miles, Ex. 4.

4 From Midian he went to Thanis in Aegypt, 180 miles Ex. 12.13.

5 From thence he went with the children of Israel to Raem­ses, 48 miles, Ex. 12.

6 From Raemses, he went to Succoth, 8 miles, Ex. 13. Num. 3 [...]

7 From Succoth he went to the wildernesse of Etham, eigh [...] miles.

8 From Etham hee came to Hahiroth, which lyeth right a­gainst Baal-zephon, 16 miles, Num. 3.

9 From Hahiroth, they passed through the middle of the red sea, and trauelled three daies through the wildernesse of Etham resting themselues at Morah, which is 40 miles: There Mose [...] threw a piece of wood into the water being bitter, and presently [Page 113] it became sweet as soone as the wood was throwne in. Exod. 15. Num. 33.

10 From Marah he went to Elim, where there stood 12 wels of water, and 70 palm trees, which is 8 miles, Ex. 16. Nu. 33.

11 From Elim they went toward the South, 6 miles, and re­sted themselues by the red sea, Num. 33.

12 From the red sea they went to the wildernes of Zin, where it rained Manna from heauen, which is 16 miles, Num. 32.

13 From the wildernesse of Zin they went to Daphca, which is 12 miles, Num. 33.

14 From Daphca they went to Alus, which is twelue miles, Num. 33-

15 From Alus they went to Raphidim, being 8 miles: there Moses strook the rock, and presently water issued forth, Ex. 27.

16 From Raphidim they went to mount Sina, which is eight miles: there God gaue the Commandements, Ex. 19 & 20.

17 From Sina they went to the Graves of Concupiscence, because there the children of Israell murmured against God for flesh, & lo it rained Quails into the camp: which is 8 miles, Nu. 11

18 From the Graues of Concupiscence they went to Haze­roth, which is 8 miles, there Miriam (Moses sister) was strook with leprosie, Num. 12.

19 From thence they went to Rithma, which is eight miles, Num. 33.

20 From Rithma they went to Rimon-Parets, which is sixe miles, Num. 33.

21 From Rimon-Parets they went to Libanon, which is sixe miles.

22 From Libanon they went to Rissa, which is 6 miles, Nu. 33

23 From Rissa they went to Kehelatha, 6 miles, Num. 33.

24 From Kehelatha they went to the hil of Sephar, which is 4 miles.

25 From the hill of Sephar they went to Harada, four miles and a halfe, Num. 33.

26 From Harada they went to Maceheloth, 4 miles, Nu. 33.

27 From Maceheloth they went to Thahath, 4 miles, Nu. 33.

28 From Thahath they went to Thara, 4 miles, Nu. 33.

[Page 114]29 From Thara they went to Mithka, 4 miles, Num. 33.

30 From Mithka they went to Casmona, 8 miles, Nu. 33.

31 From Casmona they went to Moseroth, 32 miles, Nu. 33

32 From Moseroth they went to Bneiaëcon, 24 miles.

33 From Bneiaëcon they went to mount Gidgad, twentie miles.

34 From mount Gidgad they went to Iotbatha, 24 miles, Num. 33.

35 From Iotbotha they went to Ebrona, 20 miles, Nu. 33.

36 From Ebrona they went to Eziongaber, 28 miles.

37 From Eziongaber they went to the Wildernesse of Zin-Kades, 48 miles.

38 From Zin-Kades they went to mount Hor, as God com­manded, 48 miles, where Aaron died.

39 From mount Hor they went to Salmona, 28 miles.

40 From Salmona they went to the town of Phunon, twenty miles.

41 From Phunon they went to Oboth, 24 miles.

42 From Oboth they went to Igim vpon the hill Abarim, 16 miles.

43 From Igim they went to Dibon Gad, 16 miles, there is the water Sarum, Num. 31.33.

44 From Dibon Gad they went to Almon Diblathaim, 16 miles, Num. 33.

45 From Almon Diblathaim they went to the hill Abarim, 16 miles.

46 From the hill Abarim they went downward ouer the Ri­uer Arnon, to the field of the Moabites, to the town of Iachra, 16 miles, where Moses ouercame Sehon King of the Ammorites, with all his camp. Num. 21. Deut. 2.

47 From Iacra they went to Hesbon, 4 miles, which Towne Moses won from the King of the Ammorites, Num. 21. Deut. 2.

48 From Hesbon they went to the towne of Iaëzer, which Moses won, 8 miles, Num. 21. Deut. 2.

49 From Iaëzer they went to Edrei, 12 miles: there Moses ouerthrew King Og with all his army at Basan, Num. 21. Deut. 3.

50 From Edrei they went to mount Libanus, 56 miles, which [Page 115] Moses won. Num. 21. Deut. 3.

51 From mount Libanus they returned backe againe to the field of the Moabites, 40 miles, by which field lieth the high hill Pisga, where Moses died, Deut. 34.

So all the trauels of the Patriarch Moses were 1424 miles.

The description of the townes and places by which Moses trauelled with the children of Israel.

The Trauels of the Prophet Balaam.

THere are many which thinke that this Prophet Balaam was of the posteritie of Nahor the brother of Abraham, and an in­habitant of the city of Charan in Mesopotamia, Gen. 11. Io­sephus saith he dwelt neere to Euphrates: and S. Ierom, in a Citie called Phatura, of which there is mention, Num. 22. and signifies an obscure Prophet, or oracle which interpreteth. For Pathar with the Hebrewes, is the same that He hath interpreted, is with vs.

Wherefore this Prophet trauelled from Pithora or Phatura in Mesopotamia, to Abel or the plaine of Vines, where his Asse spake, Num. 22. which is 400 miles.

From thence he went to the land of the Moabites, 40 miles; where in the mount of Peor he blessed the children of Israel.

So all the trauels of this Prophet were 440 miles.

Of the Plain of the Vines.

THere is often mention of this place in the Scripture; & for the fertilitie of the countrey, and plenty of sweet Wines, there was a beautifull city built, called Abel, of the Vines; some 56 miles from Ierusalem South-Eastward; and was placed iust in the way as they went from Mesopotamia into the country of the Moabites. Whereby it appeareth, that neere to this place the Asse spake to Balaam, Numb. 22. In S. Ieroms time there was [Page 130] found a little Village so called, where there was great plenty of Vines. Here Ieptha ouercame the Ammorites, and made a great slaughter, Iud. 11.

The Trauels of that noble Captaine IOSHVAH.

IOSHVAH and Caleb trauelled with Moses from Raemsis out of Aegypt through the Red sea, and came to Kades-Barnea, 26 miles.

From Cades-Barnea they were sent forth with other Spie [...] to the land of Canaan, Num. 13. and went out of the wilderness [...] of Zin and Paran, and came to the towne of Rechob in Galile [...] 140 miles.

From thence they went to the towne of Hamath in Syria which was after called Antiochia, 188 miles.

From Hamath or Antiochia they returned againe to Hebron 304 miles, where vpon the side of the riuer Escol they cut off [...] bunch of grapes, with the stalke, which was as much as both the [...] could beare vpon their shoulders, Num. 13.

From Hebron they returned againe to Kades-Barnea, twent [...] miles. There all the people murmured against Moses, Num. 1 [...] Heereby it is to be seene, that the Spies in forty dayes trauelle [...] 648 miles in the land of Canaan, that is, euery day 16 miles and little more.

After that, Ioshuah and Caleb trauelled with Moses and the chi [...] dren of Israel to Ezeon-Gabir, and from thence to the towne o [...] Iahza, 464 miles.

From Iahza they past through two kingdoms to mount Lib [...] nus, 80 miles.

From mount Libanus they returned againe into the Land o [...] Sittim, that lay by the hill Pisgah in the field of the Moabite [...] 80 miles.

From the land of Sittim they past through the riuer of Iord [...] [Page 131] and came to Gilgal, 6 miles, where Ioshuah pitched his Campe, Num. 21. Ios. 4.5.

From Gilgal he went to Iericho, 2 miles: there he assailed the towne with the sound of basons, and won it, Ios. 6.

From Iericho he went to Ai, being 4 miles, and took and burnt the whole towne, Ios. 7.8.

From Ai he returned to Gilgal, 4 miles, and there vpon the hil of Ebal he built an altar vnto the Lord, and there were the bles­sings and cursings pronounced, Ios. 8. Deut. 27.

From Gilgal hee went to Gibeon, twelue miles. There the Sunne stood still during the battaile against the three Kings, Io­shuah 10.

From Gibeon he went to Ajalon, 2 miles, here the Moon stood still, Ios. 10.

From Ajalon he went to Aseka, 4 miles: there it hailed vpon the enemies that fled before Israel, Ios. 10.

From Aseka Ioshuah returned againe into the Camp at Gilgal, 20 miles, Ios. 10.

From Gilgal hee went to Makeda, where hee hanged the fiue Kings, Ios. 10.

From Makeda he went to Libna, 2 miles, and tooke the towne, Ios. 10.

From Libna he went to Lachis, 8 miles.

From Lachis he went to Eglon, 8 miles.

From Eglon he went to Hebron, which is sixteene miles, Io­shuah 10.

From Hebron he went to Debir, a mile, Ios. 10.

After that, Ioshuah with one continued War won all that part of Iudaea which lay towards the South, bordering Eastward vpon the Dead Sea, Southward vpon Cades-Barnea, Westward vpon Asdod and Gaza, and Northward vpon Gibeon and Gilgal: This circuit of land containeth about one hundred fifty and sixe miles.

From Gilgal Ioshuah went out with his army about 22 miles, to the riuer of Merom, where he slew the rest of the Kings of the Canaanites in a memorable battell, Ios. 11.

[Page 132]From the riuer of Merom Ioshuah chased his enemies and fol­lowed them to Sidon, which was 612 miles, Ios. 11.

From Sidon he went again to Hazor, 32 miles, which town he burnt, Ios. 11.

After that, Ioshuah at one time won all the townes in the Holy land which lay Northward in the lands of Samaria and Galilea, from Gibeon to mount Libanus, and from the riuer of Iordan to the great sea, called Mare Mediterranean; which countries in cir­cuit contain 280 miles.

After that, Ioshuah returned again to his camp at Gilgal, which lay 72 miles from the towne of Hazor, where he made a diuision of the land amongst the children of Israel, Ios. 14, 15.

From Gilgal he went to Shilo, 12 miles, where he made an end of diuiding the land, Ios. 18.

From Shilo he went to Timnah Sera, eight miles, and there he dwelt; for the children of Israel gaue him that town for his own inheritance, Ios. 19.

From Timnah Sera, Ioshuah not long before hee died came to Sichem, forty miles. There he assembled all the tribes of Israel, Ios. 24.

From Sichem he returned againe to Timnah Sera, 40 miles, where he died and was buried, Ios. 24.

So all the trauels of Prince Ioshuah were 2392 miles.

The description of the seuerall townes and places to which Ioshuah trauelled.

The type and mysterie of IOSHVAH.

IOshuah and Iesus is all one in signification, that is, Sauour, or a Defender; and did typically represent our Sauior Christ; that as this Ioshuah brought the children of Israel through Iordan in­to the land of Canaan, so Iesus Christ the true Ioshuah and Saui­our of the world; through that Iordan of Baptisme bringeth vs in­to that place of Promise, Eternall life.

Where the one and thirty Kings dwelt, ouercome and slain by IOSHVAH, Ios. 10.

AS the Prophet Moses won all the land vpon the one side of Iordan, so Ioshuah won all the Countrey on the other, from the towne of Baalgadan, beginning at mount Libanus, not farre from Mount Hebron, till you come to the town of Caesarea Phi­lippi, and to the hill Seir, where somtime Esau dwelt: all which is 160 miles long, and 28 or 32 miles broad.

The first King that Ioshuah ouercame, dwelt in Iericho.

The second King held his court in Ai.

The third King dwelt in Ierusalem, and was called Adoni-Ze­bec, that is, a Lord of Righteousnesse. This King Ioshuah hanged at Makeda, Ios. 10.

The fourth King, called Hoham, dwelt at Hebron, and was like­wise hanged at Makeda, Ios. 10.

The fift King, called Percam, dwelt at Iarmouth in the tribe of Iuda, 20 miles from Ierusalem Westward.

The 6 King, called Iaphia, dwelt at Lachis, 2 miles from Iar­mouth Southward. He was also hanged at Makeda, Ios. 10.

The seuenth King dwelt at Eglon, called Debir, and was also hanged at Makeda.

The 8 King was called Horam, and held his princely seat in the tribe of Dan, in the town of Gezer, 16 miles from Ierusalem west­ward: whom Ioshuah slew with all his men, Ios. 10.

The ninth King dwelt at Debir.

The tenth King held his court at Gerar in the tribe of Iudah, 14 miles from Ierusalem Westward.

The 11 King dwelt at Harma in the Tribe of Iudah, which is vpon the borders of Arabia deserta not far from Ziclag, 40 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward: this town in times past was cal­led Zephal, that is, a watch-tower, because it stood vpon a hill. But when the children of Iuda had ouerthrowne the whole army of the Canaanites, they called it Haram, a Curse, Iud. 1.

The 12 King dwelt at Arat, 22 miles from Ierusalem South­ward, which was a towne of the Ammorites, and tooke the name [Page 140] from the Asses that were in great troups within the woods there­about. It lay in the tribe of Iuda.

The 13 King dwelt at Libnah in the tribe of Iuda.

The 14 King dwelt at Odullam.

The 15 King dwelt at Makeda. In this towne Ioshuah hanged fiue Kings, Ios. 10.

The 16 King dwelt at Bethel.

The 17 King dwelt at Tapnah, not far from Iordan & Iericho, 12 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward.

The 18 King dwelt at Hepher, 6 miles from Ierusalem North­ward; part of this towne was allotted to the tribe of Zabulon. Io­nas the Prophet was borne in this towne, 2 Reg. 14. and is 4 miles distant from the town of Nazareth Southward.

The 19 King dwelt at Apheck, 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward, and 2 miles from Iesreel. There also the Arke of the Lord was taken, and there also the sons of Eli the high priest were slain, 1 Sam. 4. This town was in the halfe tribe of Manasses.

The 20 King dwelt at Lazaron, 18 miles and a half from Ieru­salem Northwestward, not far from Ioppen and Lidda.

The 21 king dwelt at Nadan, 14 miles from Ierusalem North­westward.

The 22 King dwelt at Hazor.

The 23 King dwelt at Simron, which town was allotted to the tribe of Zabulon, Ioshuah 14. It lieth sixty eight miles from Ie­rusalem Northward, not farre from the town of Nazareth in Ga­lilee.

The 24 king dwelt at Achsap, 88 miles from Ierusalem North­ward; which town was allotted to the tribe of Aser.

The 25 King dwelt at Tanaach, 44 miles from Ierusalem: this town belonged to the Levits, and stood in the tribe of Manasses, 6 miles from Iesreel Southward, Ios. 21.

The 26 King dwelt at Megiddo, 44 miles from Ierusalem Northward, scarce 4 miles from Taanach. By this towne of Me­giddo Iosias King of Iuda was ouerthrown by Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt, 2 Reg. 23. In the trauels of Iosiah King of Iuda I will speake of this town more at large.

[Page 141]The 27 King dwelt at Kades, Ios. 19.21.

The 28 King dwelt at Iaknedam, 27 miles from Ierusalem Northward, being vpon the Mediterranean sea. This towne was alotted to the Tribe of Zabulon, and giuen to the Levits, Ios. 21.

The 29 King dwelt at Naphet Dor, which towne lay vpon the sea coast between the hill Carmel and the town of Cesarea Stra­tonis, 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward.

The 30 King dwelt at Gilgal, between Iericho and the Riuer Iordan, and was the first King that Iosuah ouercame and slew al his host.

The 31 King dwelt at Thirtza, in the Tribe of Manasses, 24 miles from Ierusalem. In this towne Ieroboam, and after him all the Kings of Israel kept their courts, before Samaria was built.

The Trauels of Caleb and Athniel.

CAleb and Athniel with all the Children of Iuda, went from Iuda to Beseck, 44 miles, where they tooke King Adoni-Beseck prisoner, and cut off his fingers and toes, Iudg. 1.

From Beseck they went to Ierusalem, 44 miles, which they tooke by force and burnt it, Iudg. 1.

From Ierusalem they went to Hebron, 22 miles, which they tooke, and slew the Gyants that inhabited therein, Iudg. 1.

Not far from Hebron lay the towne of Debir, which Athniel won, and therefore Caleb gaue him his daughter Achsa for his wife Iudg. 1.

From Debir they went to Zephat, 16 miles, which town they won, Iudg. 1.

From Zephat they went to Gaza, 4 miles.

[Page 142]From Gaza they went to Ascalon, 6 miles, Iudg. 1.

From Ascalon the went to Hebron, 14 miles.

From Hebron they went backe again to Debir, where Athniel dwelt, 12 miles.

So all the trauels of Caleb and Athniel were 132 miles.

The Description of the Townes and places to which they trauelled.

The typicall signification of CALEB.

CALEB signifieth An hearty man, or, A man after Gods owne heart, louing his Neighbour with all his heart. For Col is as much as Omnis, which signifies All; and Cala, Hee forgiueth all; and Leb or Lebbah signifieth an Heart, the seat and fountain of all life. So that Caleb seems to take his name from a singular heartie affection, whereby he forgiueth his neighbour. For as this man being of a noble resolution and courage, in the 29 yeare of his [Page 143] age won Hebron a strong City, and put to death the three sons of Anak, terrible Gyants: so Christ the Son of God, that so loued the world that he gaue himselfe for it, with a more than humane resolution conquered hell, and those three mighty Gyants inci­dent vnto it, the sons of Sathan, Sin, the World, and Death.

Of Athniel.

IN the yeare of the World 1503, and before Christ, 2565, Io­shuah died: after whose death, Caleb and Athniel iudged Israel; about which time the Israelites committed idolatry, and wor­shipped Baal and Asteroth: wherefore the Lord suffered them to fall into the hands of Chushan Rishathaim King of Mesopotamia. But because of their oppression they cried vnto the Lord, and hee stirred vp Othniel the yonger brother of Caleb, who in the yeare of the world 2512 conquered Chushan, deliuered the people, and go­uerned Israel 40 years, Iudg. 3. Athniel or Othniel signifies the god of time, being deriued of Aeth, that is, an Age: and is a Type of Christ, who is the God of time; and in his due time conquered the world, and Sathan the prince thereof, thereby deliuering the poore afflicted members of his Church out of his miserable ser­uitude and bondage: for which cause God hath made him judge ouer it, and giuen him fell power and authority to rule and go­uern it.

The Trauels of Ehud the third Iudge of Israel.

EHud was the sonne of Gira of the Tribe of Iuda, and dwelt in the City of Iericho or of the Palmes. Hee was a vali­ant and resolute man, lame of his right hand, Iudg. 3. and to the iudgement of man not fit to bee a Captaine, beeing so in­firme. Yet it happened that this man growing in fauor with Eg­lon King of the Moabites, who at this time kept his Court in Ie­richo (which towne he had but eighteene yeares before conque­red) tooke opportunitie by the Children of Israels comming to Gilgal (for they came thither to offer to the Idoll, and to bring [Page 144] gifts of the king) to present these presents vnto him; and because of his former familiaritie, was admitted to speake in priuat with him in his summer parlour; where as he was talking with him, he thrust him into the belly with a short knife: and locking the dore he fled back to Seirah, and told the children of Israell what he had done. From thence they presently went to Ephraim, there blew the trumpet, and set vpon the Moabits and put them to the sword, Iudg. 3.

The Trauels of Ehud.

EHud went from Iericho to Gilgal, 2 miles.

From Gilgal he went to Iericho, 2 miles.

From Iericho he went to mount Ephraim, 6 miles.

From Mount Ephraim he went to Iorden, 4 miles, where hee ouerthrew 10000 Moabites.

So all the trauels of Ehud were 14 miles.

Of Mount Ephraim.

THis mountain is about 8 miles from Ierusalem towards the South, and extends it selfe in longitude to the city neer the Mediterranean sea, called Ioppa, which is distant from Ierusalem 20 miles toward the Northwest.

The Trauels of the sonnes of Hobab the Kenite.

THe sons of Hobab the Kenite (Moses brother in law) were from Iericho to Arad a City in the tribe of Iuda, scituated in the desart toward the South, Num. 10. Iudg. 1. 44 miles.

Of Arad.

ARad is a city in the Tribe of Iuda, 22 miles from Ierusalem towards the South, taking the name of a multitude of asses that were found thereabouts in the desart, and is deriued from A­rod, which signifies a wilde Asse, a rude creature.

The Trauels of Iael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, who killed Sisera the Captaine.

FRom Arad shee and her husband went to the plaine of Zaaenaim, and dwelt there, neere to a Towne called Kades, a Towne of refuge of the Leuites, in the Tribe of Nephthali, 166 miles, there she killed Sisera. This towne lieth 92 miles from Ierusalem towards the North.

Of Deborah and Barak.

DEborah was the wife of Lapidoth, and dwelt vnder a palme tree between Bethel and Ramath, in mount Ephraim, eight miles from Ierusalem towards the North: the inhabitants thereabouts shew this tree euen to this day. Barak the sonne of Abineam a noble Captaine, liued in her time at Kades, a citie of refuge be­longing to the Leuites. She succeeded Ehud, in An. man. 2632, and before Christ, 1336, yeares.

The Trauels of Deborah and Barak.

BArak went first from Kades Naphtaly to the Palme tree, where Deborah dwelt, which are 84 miles,

From thence he went with Deborah backe againe to Kades, which are 84 miles.

From Kades with 10000 men, they went to the hill Thabor, 36 miles. Here (as Iosephus writeth, lib. antiq. 4.) there fell such a shoure of raine and haile vpon the enemies of the Israelites, that through the extreme violence thereof, they were dispersed: and Sisera their captaine constrained to leaue his chariot, and to saue himselfe by flight, neuer staying till he came to the Tabernacle of Iael, the wife of Hebar the Kenite, scituated in the valley of Za­aenaim, 36 miles from the foot of the mountaine Thabor: where being asleep, by reason of his great journey, Iael strooke a naile in­to the temple of his head, so he died.

[Page 164]From thench Barak pursued the enemies with great slaughter, to Haraseth of the Gentiles, a Citie in the vpper Galile, neere to the lake of Samachoniten, 28 miles. This citie is 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the North, Ioseph. Ant. lib. 5.

From Haraseth, he went to the plaine of Zaaenaim, where hee found Sisera slain in the tabernacle of Iael, as Deborah the prophe­tesse had told him.

From thence Barak with all his armie went to Hazor, where Iabin king of the Canaanites kept his court, and of a sudden con­quered the citie, and put to death all the inhabitants, Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 5.

Of Thabor.

THabor is a round & high hill, scituated vpon the borders of the tribes of Issacher and Zabulon, 56 miles from Ierusalem towards the North, and extendeth it selfe to the riuer Kison towards the South, and taketh the name of light or a pure aire, be­ing deriued of Bo, To goe and come; Tebuah, To bring forth fruit, and To giue light. For this mountaine Thabor, by reason of the puri­tie of the aire, is wonderfull fertile and fruitfull: There was also a towne at the foot of it called by the same name. Here the king [...] of the Midianites, Zeba and Zalmuna were slaine by Gideon.

Of Hazor.

THis is a great citie in the tribe of Nepthali, 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the North, which Ioshuah destroyed with fire and sword; so did Barak also: The ruines of this citie is to be seene to this day.

The Mistery of Deborah.

THe word Deborah signifies, a Bee, and is a memorable type of the Church. For as a Bee in all her actions soundeth pleasantly; so the members of Gods Church in all their actions sing and sound forth the praises of God, or by continuall pray­ers implore his ayde and assistants; with the Bee sucking from the floures of the holy Scriptures, the sweet and acceptable [Page 147] doctrine of faith, by which the hope of euerlasting life is strength­ned in vs, with the sting of Gods word repulsing all vaine delusi­ons and idle imaginations, (the temptations of the Diuel) and those waspish affections of cruell and wicked men; according to that of Ecclesiasticus, The Bee is but small, yet bringeth forth most plea­sant fruit, and presenteth vnto man many memorable instructions. And as Plato saith, The King of Bees, although without a sting, yet ruleth and gouerneth his Commonwealth with great seueritie and justice. So Christ the head of the Church, though he be a delectable Saui­our of soules, and without any sting of bitternesse, yet doth hee rule and gouerne it with singular justice and sinceritie.

Of Barak.

AFter Deborah was appointed Iudge of Israel, shee ordained Barak for her chiefe Commander or Captaine. He taketh his name from Thunder and Lightning; typically representing the glory of Christ Iesus, as chiefe Captaine of the Church, who with the thunder of the Law, and the bright shining glory of the Gospell, destroyed the enemies thereof; and by the hosts of An­gels and Saints at the end of the World, will cast them downe with thunder and lightning into that bottomlesse pit, there to remaine for euer.

Of the trauels GIDEON.

DEborah being dead, Zaeba and Zalmuna (Kings of the Me­dianites) cruelly inuaded the Land of Iudaea; but the Lord taking compassion vpon his People, sent them a helper, one GIDEON the sonne of Ioas, of the family of Abiezer, who was borne at Ophra or Ephron, a Citie in the Tribe of Manasses, not far from Mahanaim on the East side of Iordan, some foure and forty miles from Ierusalem towards the North-East; and signifieth, a Rooter out; from GADA, That is, [Page 148] Hee hath rooted out. This man at the appointment of the Lord, tooke vpon him the charge of the people, and at Ophra, which signifies, Dust, he destroied the Idol Baal, pitching vp in that place an Alter to the Lord: wherefore he was after called Ieru-Baal, ta­king that name from Reuenge, because he had destroied the Idol. He began to rule in Israel in the yeare of the World, 2672, and before Christ 1296.

From Ophra Gideon went to Harad, which standeth in the halfe Tribe of Manasseth, where he blew the Trumpet. From this place he sent back 22000 of his army, because the Lord had so appoin­ted. But the Midianites hearing of this preparation, prouided a great host, and pitched in the valley of the hill Moreh: so Gideon taking onely 300 with him, went ouer Iordan, and came to the towne of Iesrael, (for Iosephus saith) 16 miles from Harod, where he gaue the Midianites a wonderfull ouerthrow, Iudg. 7. hee also tooke there two princes, Oreb and Zeb, and returned to the riuer Iordan, where he put them to death.

From thence he went to Succoth with his army in expectation to haue refreshed themselues, but the inhabitants shut him out of the towne, and gaue him many despightfull words. This towne lay close by Iordan, and here Iacob sometime pitched his Tent.

From thence he went to Penuel, which is two miles; there also they vsed him vnkindly and gaue him bad language.

From thence he went to Nobach with his army, which is two miles.

From thence he went to Iagbetha, which is 4 miles, where he conquered Zaeba and Zalmuna, Kings of the Midianites, who thin­king themselues secure, made no preparation for warre, till they were besieged. This was a memorable battell, and here the two Kings were put to death.

From thence he followed the enemy with a great slaughter to Carkor which is foure miles.

From thence he went backe to Succoth, which is 8 miles: here he put the inhabitants of this Towne to the sword, and all the El­ders and Princes he tore to pieces with thornes, because they had formerly denied him entrance into the citie.

[Page 149]From thence hee went to the Castle of Penuel, which is two miles, and vtterly destroied it, euen to the ground, and put all the inhabitants to death because of their mocks.

From thence he went to Ophra, foure miles, where gathering together all the gold which hee had taken from the Midianites, he made a rich Ephod, Iudg. 8.

From Ophra hee went to Sichem, where his sonne Abimalech was borne, which is 10 miles.

From thence he returned backe to Ophra, which is ten miles, and there he died, after he had judged Israel 10 yeares.

So all the trauels of Gedion were 82 miles.

The Description of the Townes and places to which GEDION trauelled.

The Trauels of Abimalech the sixt Iudge of Israel.

GEDION being dead, Abimalech his sonne went from Ophra to Sichem, which is ten miles, and there was chosen by the citizens to succeed his father in the go­uernment.

From thence he went backe to Ophra, which is ten miles, and there put to death his 70 brethren, all sonnes of Gedion, but by di­uers concubins; for God permitted Bigamie, but did not com­mand it.

From Ophra he went ten miles into the land of Sichem, and there was chosen King, about the yeare of the World 2712.

[Page 151]From Sichem (which was the seat of the kingdome) he went to Ophra being ten miles; there he iudged Israel three yeares.

After that, hee went the third time backe to the Sichemites, which is 10 miles; but they breaking promise with him, for very madnesse he caused the citie to be destroied, and salt to be sowne in the place, that so euer after it might become barren, accur­sed, and vnhabitable.

From Sichem hee went with his hoast to Thebets or Tebez, which is two miles, where he was mortally wounded by a woman that flang a stone vpon him at the siege of that towne, wherof he died, Iudg. 9.

So all the Trauels of Abimelech were 52 miles,

Of Thebez.

THis was distant from Sichem two miles Northward, and from Ierusalem 38, it tooke the name from Bitzah, which signifieth, a deepe pond.

Abimelech tooke his name from an hereditary kingdome, or rather because he obtained the kingdome ouer Israel, after his father; and is as much to say, as, My father is a King; because good Prin­ces differ little from good fathers: for Maelaech with the Hebrews signifieth a King; Malechah, a Queene, and Malchech, a kingdome. So that this name Abimelech properly signifieth, a King, or one that is a father of his people.

Of the flight of Iotham which was the brother of Abimelech.

IOtham signifieth, a perfect and swift man, being deriued from Ia­tham, that is, perfect and swift. This man at such time as Abimi­lech put to death the rest of his brethren, to saue his life fled to Mount Carizin, where hee propounded the riddle mentioned, Iudg. 9. And after, from thence he went to Beerah, where he hid himselfe from the fury of Abimelech. All this was, 44 miles.

Of Mount Gerizim.

GErizim or Garizim was a mountaine in the kingdome of the Samaritans, and extended it selfe in the longitude as farre as [Page 152] Iericho neere to mount Hebal. In these two mountains the bles­sings and the cursings were recited, of which more shall be said hereafter; and it taketh the name from the felling down of trees, being deriued from Garaz, which signifieth, to cut or to fel down: here Christ spoke with the Samaritan, Iohn 4.

Of Beerah.

BEerah was a Towne in the Tribe of Iudah, ten miles from Ie­rusalem Westward. Neere to this Citie Iudas Machabeus fought a memorable battell against Bacchides and others, whom he conquered. It taketh the name from a cleere Well, being deri­ued of Beer, that is, he hath made cleere.

Of Thola the seuenth Iudge of Israel.

In the 3 yeare of this mans rule, Hercules king of the Argiues, (fa­mous for his twelue labors) began to raign Macrob. lib. 1. THola takes his name from a red worme, or purple colour, which colour is proper to Princes. Hee succeeded Abimelech in the gouernment of the Iewes, and began to rule An. mun. 2715. and 1253 yeares before Christ. His fathers name was Puah of the Tribe of Issacher. He dwelt in Samir a citie of Mount Ephraim, not far from Iericho, twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the North, and there he was buried, as you may see, Iosh. 15.

Of Iair the eighth Iudge of Israel.

In the 10 yeare of this Iudge, An. mun. 2747 and before Christ 1221, Hercules died and Priamus king of Troy began his raigne, which he lost fortie yeares after. IAir succeeded Thola, & began his gouerment in the yere of the world, 2738, and 1230 yeares before Christ. He took his name from the singular worth and noble disposition that was in him. This Iair was one of the tribe of Manasseh, he was lame of both his feet, and was a man of great estimation among the Iewes, for there were thirty Castles and Townes that were called after his name, Iudg. 10. Num. 32. Deut. 3. Ios. 13. 1 Chr. 1. Hee dwelt at Kamon a towne in the Tribe of Gilead, some 48 miles from Ie­rusalem towards the North-East.

The trauels of Ieptha.

IEptha was borne at Mizpah in the Land of Giliad, and being driuen into exile by his brothers, hee fled into the Land of Tob, 48 miles from Ierusa­lem, Iudg. 11.

From thence he returned to Mizpah, 48 miles, and there was chosen Prince, and began his gouernment Anno mundi, 2760, and before Christ, 1208 yeares, Iudg. 11.

From Mizpah hee went with is army against the Ammonites to the Citie of Aroer, where he put them to flight, which is 26 miles, Iudg. 11.

From Aroer he pursued the enemies to Minneth, which is 8 miles, Iudg. 11.

From Minneth he went to the plaine of the Vines, which is 24 miles, Iudg. 11.

From Abel or the Plaine of the Vines hee went to Mizpah, where he offered his daughter for a sacrifice to rhe Lord, Iudg. 11. At that time he and the Ephramites got a memorable battell, in which were slaine 22000, Iudg. 12.

So all the Trauels of Ieptha were 322 miles.

Of the Cities and places mentioned in his Trauels.

The trauels of Sampson.

SAmpson was borne in the city of Zarea, & brought vp in the Tents of Dan and Estahol, Iud. 13. From thence hee went to Timnah, which is twelue miles; there he fell in loue with Iudah the daugh­ter of a Philistine, Iudg. 14.

From Timnah hee went backe to his father to Zarea, and reuealed his affection; which is 12 miles.

He and his father went back again to Timnah to see the maid, and by the way as he went hee killed a Lyon; which is twelue miles, Iudg. 14.

From thence he returned back again, which is 12 miles, Iud. 14.

Within a while after, Sampson and his friends went againe to Timnah, and by the way he found Hony in the Lyon that he had slaine, and gaue it to his friends to eat; and when he came to the Philistines house he propounded the Riddle, whereof you may reade, Iudg. 14. These things hapned in Anno mundi 2791, and be­fore Christ 1176, at which time he succeeded Abdon in the rule of the Iewes.

From thence he went to Ascalon a citie of the Philistines, and killed thirtie of their men, and tooke away their garments; which is 24 miles.

From thence he returned backe againe to Timnah, and deliue­red the Philistines which had vnfolded the Riddle, those change of garments, Iudg. 14.

From thence (being angry that his wife had disclosed the rid­dle) he returned to Zarea to his friends; which is 12 miles, Iud. 14.

Within a while after, when his anger was ouer, hee returned backe to his wife to Timnah, which is 12 miles, it being then wheat haruest, and carried with him a Goat, that so hee might be merrie, and be reconciled to her: but her father shut him out of doores (because he had married his wife to another man,) where­fore he tooke a company of Foxes, and tying them taile to taile, put fire-brands to their tailes, and turned them into the wheat of [Page 157] the Philistines, and they set fire of all the Wheat and Vines, and Oliues thereabout, Iudg. 15.

From thence he went to a caue in the rock Eta, and there dwelt, which is 12 miles, Iudg. 15. At the rocke Eta Sampson was bound with two new cords, by the Israelites, and from thence led to Ra­mah Lehi, which is six miles, where hee killed 1000 Philistines with the jaw bone of an Asse, that he found in the way.

From thence he went to Gaza a citie of the Philistins, which is 42 miles: here he carried away the gates of the citie.

From Gaza he carried these gates with the posts to the top of a hill neere Hebron, which is 20 miles, Iudg. 16.

From Hebron he went to the riuer Sorecke, where hee dwelt with Dalilah the Harlot, and by her was deceiued and taken of the Philistines, which are 12 miles.

Being taken of the Philistines he put out both his eies, and bound him in chains, and led him from thence to Gaza, which is 32 miles: there they brought him into the house of their god Da­gon, to make them sport; but he pulled downe the house, & a mul­titude of them were slaine, where he also died, and was buried in the Sepulchre of Manoah his father, betweene Zerea and Esthaol, 28 miles from Gaza, and almost 20 from Ierusalem towards the West. This was in the yeare of the World 1811, and before Christ, 1157.

So all the Trauels of Sampson were 240 miles.

The description of the seuerall Townes and places to which SAMPSON trauelled.

The typicall signification of SAMPSON.

HE typically representeth Christ diuers waies; first, in his per­son, hee was a mightie man; secondly, in his profession, hee was a Nazarite; thirdly, in his calling, he was a Prince and Iudge; fourthly, in his manner of liuing, for he went from place to place, to reuenge himselfe vpon the enemies of Gods people the chil­dren of Israel; and in his death: euen so our Sauiour Christ is that strong man, who being mightier than the Diuel, hath dispos­sest him of his tyrannicall jurisdiction ouer the soules of man­kinde; hath taken away those gates of death, by his mercy ope­ning vnto vs the dore of life, that so being set at liberty from that hellish imprisonment, we may be made partakers of euerlasting happinesse: he was also a Nazarite euen from his mothers womb, borne and bred there, tying himselfe to a vow of bondage, that we might be made free: he is a Prince for euer, and a Priest after the order of Melchisadeck: during the continuance of his life in this vaile of misery, his chiefest actions were to go from place to place, to teach, to doe good, and to rescue and relieue the poore distressed members of the Church, who lay miserably afflicted vnder the hands of Sathan; healing some, relieuing others, and bringing a third sort into the state of grace: so that as Sampson de­liuered the Israelites from the bondage of the Philistins; Christ our Prince and Iudge deliuereth his from the slauerie of Sathan: by his death sauing more soules, than in his life. And therby pul­ling down the strong buildings (the temptations of Sathan) hath laid them leuel with the ground, that they shall neuer be restored [Page 160] againe. And lastly, after this life ended, he shall be our Prince and Iudge, and bring vs to that place of promise prepared for vs in his euerlasting kingdome.

The trauels of the Spies of the Danites.

SHortly after the death of Sampson, the Spies of the Da­nites went from Zarea and Eastaol to mount Ephraim, to the house of Michah, which is 24 miles, Iudg. 18.

From thence they went to Lais, which is a hundred and foure miles, Iudg. 18.

From thence they returned to Zarea and Esthaol, which is 126 miles, Iudg. 18.

So all their trauels were 244 miles.

Of Lais.

LAis was a citie scituated at the foot of mount Libanus, some 104 miles from Ierusalem towards the North; and was some­times called Belenus: this, because it stood so farre from aid, was quickly conquered by the Danites, and by them vtterly destroy­ed: it signifieth, a roring or deuouring Lion. But after being re­built by the Danites, they called it Dan, and the Canaanites l [...] ­sem Dan: being deriued of Laeschaem, which signifieth, a Lion.

The trauels of the Danites.

THe army of the Danites went from Zarea and Est­haol to Kiriathiearim, and there pitched their tents, which is 16 miles, Iudg. 15.

From thence they went to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micha, and tooke his carued Image and his Leuite from him, which was eight miles, Iudges 15.

From thence they went to Lais, 104 miles.

So all the Trauels were 128 miles.

Of Kiriath-jearim.

KIriath-jearim was a city of the Levits in the tribe of Iuda, vp­on the borders of the tribe of Benjamin, about a mile from Ierusalem Westward. It somtime belonged to the Gibeonites, Ios. 9. and signifies a city of the desart or woods; beeing deriued from Kiriah, which signifies a city, and Iaar, a wood or Forrest. Here stood the arke of the Couenant, after it had bin in the land of the Philistines seuen moneths, and stood in the house of Abi­nadab, whose son Eliazer (because he was of the family of the Le­uites) by consent of the children of Israel was consecrated priest thereof to attend and keep it: here it remained 48 yeares, till Da­uid fetched it thence with great ioy, 1 Sam. 7. & 2 Sam. 6. 1 Chr. 14. Here Saul was anointed King by Samuel: here the company of the Prophets (that is, the scolers of the Wise) came downe from the more eminent places where the arke of God was, with holy songs and instruments of musick, and the Spirit of the Lord came vpon Saul, and he sung and praised God with them. They called this the Hill of God, because the Arke of the Couenant stood in it, 1 Sam, 10. Here Ionathan the sonne of Saul thrust out a garrison of the Philistimes, which held this towne in subiection, 1 Sam. 14. Neere to this place was the valley Rephaim or of the Gyants; where Dauid won a memorable battel against the Philistims, and pursued them with great slaughter euen to the plain of Perizim, 2 Sam. 15.

The Trauels of the Leuite, whose Concubine the Inhabitants of Gibeon most wickedly abused.

THis Leuite dwelt in Ramath in mount Ephraim, from whence he went to Bethlehem Iuda, which is 16 miles, to fetch back his concubine, or rather his wife; which was the daughter of a certain ci­tizen in Bethlehem; but a bond seruant not free; such they called concubines, because they had neither the honor to be mistresse of the house, neither could their [Page 162] posteritie inherit in lands or goods of their father, although be­fore God they were lawfull wiues, Iudg. 19.

From Bethlehem they returned back again on foot to Ierusa­lem, which then was called Iebus, because the Iebusits inhabited there. Which is 6 miles, Iudg. 19.

From thence they went to Gibeah, not far distant from the ci­ty Gibeon, where after Saul kept his Royall seat, 1 Sam. 22. Here the Gibeonites abused the Levits concubine. Which was almost 4 miles.

From thence he went home to his own city Ramath in Mount Ephraim, and there cut the dead body of his wife in 12 parts, and sent them throughout all the tribes of Israel. Which is 8 miles.

So all his trauels were 34 miles.

Of Ramath.

THis was a city in Mount Ephraim, some 8 miles from Ieru­salem toward the North, and signifieth a high and lofty Ci­tie; being deriued of Rom, that is, It was high. This towne Baësa King of Israel would haue fortified and repaired, after it had bin decayed; but hee was hindred by Benhadad King of the Syrians, that he could not finish what hee had begun. There were many townes and Cities of this name; as Ramoth where Ahab dwelt, 1 Reg. 22. Ramathaim Sophim, or Arimathia, where the prophet Samuel dwelt, 1 Sam. 1. and there where the Ark of God stood, not far from Gibeah, was called Ramah also, Iudg. 19. There was ano­ther Ramath in the tribe of Nepthali, Ios. 19. all of them being so called because they stood vpon very high mountains.

The Trauels of the Children of Israel when they fought against the Benjamites.

FRom Mizpah in the land of Gilead, where they appointed to meet (for in the enemies land they could not assemble them­selues) the whole army of the Israelites went to the Arke of God in Shilo, which was about 48 miles.

[Page 163]From thence they went with their army to Gibeah, where they lost 22000 of their men, which is 2 miles.

From thence they returned to Shilo, and intreated God for aid which was two miles, Iudg. 20.

From thence they went the second time to Gibeah, and entred battell againe with the enemy; but because they trusted in their own strength, therefore in this second expedition there were slain 18000 of their men. Which was two miles, Iudg. 20.

From thence the whole Army of the Israelites returned backe again, and before the Lord in Shilo lamented the ouerthrow they had twice sustained, and with earnest prayers implored his ayd, that they might obtain the victorie. Which was 2 miles, Iud. 20.

From thence they returned the third time to Gibeah, & there with great expedition renued the war; & because they trusted in God, and not to their own strength, they put to the sword 25000 of the Benjamits, and won a notable victorie, Iudg. 20. which was 2 miles.

Hauing taken and burnt the city of Gibeah with fire, they re­turned backe vnto the town of Shilo, which is two miles: & there before the Lord they began to lament the calamitie of the tribe of Benjamin, saying, Wherefore hath this thing hapned, that one of the Tribes should be rooted out before thee, Iudg. 21.

From thence they went to Iabes in Gilead, and besieged and tooke it, and destroyed it to the ground, which is 52 miles.

From thence they returned back again to Shilo, & with them brought 400 maids, which they gaue to the Benjamites to bee their wiues, Iudg. 21. Which was 52 miles.

So all the trauels of the children of Israel were 164 miles.

Of Iabes.

THis was a city in the land of Gilead, 52 miles from Ierusa­lem toward the Northeast; the inhabitants whereof buried the bones of Saul and Ionathan his son, 1 Sam. 31. it is deriued of Iabesh, which signifieth a dry city.

The trauels of ELIMELECH, and his wife NAOMI.

ELIMELECK and his wife went from Bethlehem Iuda, into the Land of the Moabites, where he died, which is 40 miles.

From thence she returned with her daughter in law Ruth, to Bethlehem Iuda, where Boez married Ruth, which was fortie miles.

So their Trauels were 80 miles.

The Trauels of HANNA, the mother of the Prophet SAMVEL.

HEr husband Elkana and she went from Ramathaim Sophim in mount Ephraim, to Shilo, the house of the Lord, which was 12 miles; where by earnest prayers she obtained of the Lord a sonne, 1 Sam. 1.

From thence shee returned backe againe to Ramathaim So­phim, and there Samuel was borne, 1 Sam. 1. which was 12 miles.

From thence she went to Shilo, to present her sonne before the Lord, and hee remained therewith Eli to serue God all his life, 1 Sam. 1. which is 12. miles.

From Shilo she returned backe againe to her house, and bare Elkana a sonne and two daughters more, which is 12 miles.

So all her trauels were 48 miles.

Of Ramathaim Sophim.

THis Citie stood in mount Ephraim not far from Lidda and Ioppa, some 16 miles distant from Ierusalem Northeastward; and was sometimes called Ramah. Here Ioseph (whose additi­on was Arimathia) dwelt, that demanded the body of our Sa­uiour [Page 165] to bury in his own sepulchre. It seemeth to be called Rama­thaim Sophim (which signifies, the high places of the prophets) because there was an Academy or publique schoole of Prophets which serued for the whole land, in this city. At this day it is cal­led by the name of Ramath, hauing some affinitie to the antient name Ramah.

How the Arke of God was borne from place to place, after it was won from the children of Israel by the Phili­stines, 1 Sam. 4.5.6.

THe two sons of Eli the Priest, Hophney and Phineas, carried the Arke of the Lord to Ebenezer, which signifies, the stone of my help; which was 42 miles, and is not far from Aphec, some 48 miles from Ierusalem Northward. Here the Arke of God was taken, and Hophney and Phineas died: old Eli also broke his necke at this time, about the 98 yeare of his age, and the fortieth of his rule; for hee ruled from the time of Sampson vntill then, 1 Sam. 4. This hapned Anno mundi 2850, and before Christ 1117. The pro­phet Samuel succeeded him in the gouernment of the church, and ruled 40 yeares.

From Aphecke the Philistines carried it to Asdod or Azotus, and set it in the temple of their god Dagon, but the Idol fel down in the night, & was broken to pieces before the Ark of the Lord, 1 Sam. 4. which was 160 miles.

From thence to the city Gath, which was 4 miles.

From Gath to the sea town Gaza, 12 miles.

From Gaza to Ekron, 32 miles.

From Ekron, they placing it vpon a new cart drawne with two new milch Kine, it was brought back again to Bethsemes, which was 12 miles.

From thence it was caried to Kiriath jearim, and placed in the house of Abinadab, where it was kept vntill Dauids time, who fet­ched it thence to Ierusalem with great joy, about the yere of the world 2900, and before Christ 1068, which was two miles.

So all the while the Arke was from Shilo, it was caried hither and thither some 276 miles.

¶ Of the Townes and places to which the Arke of the Lord was carried

The Trauels of the Prophet Samuel.

SAmuels mother brought him from Arimathia to Shilo, being 12 miles, where he was to serue the Lord God all his life.

From Shilo Samuel went to Mizpa in the land of Gilead; 48 miles. Here Samuel called a congregation, and made a solemn sacrifice vnto the Lord, of a sucking lambe; and the Lord at the same time thundred from heauen, and dispersed the army of the Philistines, so that they fled, 1 Sam. 7.

From Mizpa he went to Arimathia, 56 miles: There he dwelt, and built an altar vnto the Lord, 1 Sam. 7.

From thence he went yearely to Bethel, 16 miles, 1 Sam. 7.

From Bethel he went to Gilgal, 2 miles, 1 Sam. 7.

From Gilgal he went to Mizpa in the land of Gilead, 36 miles 1 Sam. 7.

From Mizpa he went again to Arimathia, 56 miles. Thither came vnto him the Elders of the children of Israel, desiring him to chuse them a King, 1 Sam. 8.

Therefore he went out of the towne of Arimathia, about 16 miles, to Ramath, which lieth in the land of Ziph not far from Bethlehem Euphrata, and there Samuel anointed Saul the son of Kish to be their King, 1 Sam. 10.

From Ramath he went to Gilgal, 16 miles. There he offered, and shewed Saul what he should do, 1 Sam. 10.

From Gilgal hee went to Mizpah in the land of Gilead, 36 miles: there Saul by casting of lots was chosen King, 1 Sam. 10.

From Mizpa he returned to Arimathia, 56 miles, 1 Sam. 10.

From Arimathia he went to Beseck, about 44 miles, where A­doni-Beseck [Page 168] was taken, whose fingers and toes the children of Israel cut off. There Samuel and Saul caused an army of men to issue out against the children of Ammon, 1 Sam. 11.

From Besecke, Samuel and Saul passed ouer Iordan to Iabes in Gilead, 16 miles, and there ouerthrew Nahas King of the Ammo­nites, and all his host; which done, Samuel said vnto the souldiers, Let vs now go vnto Gilgal, and there renew the Kingdome.

From Iabes in Gilead he went to Gilgal, 36 miles. There Saul was placed in his Throne royal, 1 Sam. 11.

From Gilgal Samuel went to Arimathia, which is 20 miles.

From Arimathia he went again to Gilgal, 20 miles, and there he sharply rebuked King Saul, because he had offered a Sacrifice contrary to his command, 1 Sam. 13.

From Gilgal he went to Gibeon, 12 miles, 1 Sam. 13.

From Gibeon he went to Arimathia, 12 miles.

From Arimathia he went to Gilgal, 20 miles; there rebuked king Saul, because he did not wholly destroy the Amalekites; and Samuel himselfe hewed the body of Agag King of the Amalekites in pieces, 1 Sam. 16.

From Gilgal he went to Arimathia, 20 miles.

From Arimathia he went to Bethlehem, 16 miles, and there he anointed Dauid King, 1 Sam. 16.

Then he returned again to Arimathia, 16 miles, where he died and was buried, 1 Sam. 28.

So all the trauels of the Prophet Samuel were 364 miles.

Of Arimathia, Mizpa, Ramath, and rhe rest of the townes men­tioned in his Trauels, you may reade before.

The Typicall signification of Samuel.

SAmuel is deriued of Shemuel, that is, desired of God. And was a Type of God the Father: for as Samuel anointed Dauid, so God anointed his beloued Son with the oile of Gladnesse and of the Spirit, Psal. 45. Esay 61.

The Trauels of King SAVL.

SAVL went from the town of Gibeon to mount Ephraim, four miles, to seek his fathers Asses, in An. Mundi 2870, and before Christ 1908.

From mount Ephraim he passed through the land of Salisa, to the borders of the town of Salem, 12 miles.

From Salem he went to the land of Gemini in the tribe of Ben­jamin, 16 miles.

From the land of Iemini he went to Rama, 4 miles; there by Samuel he was anointed King, 1 Sam. 10. This town lay not farre from Bethlehem, and close by it lay Rachels graue. There certaine men met with Saul in the borders of Benjamin at Zelach, and shewed him that his fathers Asses were found, which was about a mile from Ierusalem.

From thence Saul went about two miles to Zilzah; there three men met him (that trauelled to Bethel) and gaue him two loaues of bread, 1 Sam. 10.

Then he came to the mount of God, which is the town of Ki­riath-jearim; there a company of Prophets met him and prophe­cied; then the spirit of God came vpon Saul, and he began to pro­phecie: which was about six miles from Bethlehem.

From Kiriath-jearim he went again to Gibeon, which is foure miles, 1 Sam. 10.

Then he went again from Gibeon to Gilgal, and there he offe­red, and Samuel shewed him what he should do: which is 12 miles, 1 Sam. 10.

From Gilgal he went to Mizpa in the land of Gilead, 36 miles where he was chosen King.

From Mizpa he went again to Gibeon, 48 miles.

From Gibeon he went to Beseck, 40 miles; there he gathered certain soldiers and led them against Nahas King of the Ammo­nites, 1 Sam. 11.

From Beseck he went with his army to Iabes, 16 miles; there he ouerthrew Nahas with all his host.

[Page 170]From Iabes in Giliad he went to Gilgal, 36 miles. There he was placed in his princely seat, 1 Sam. 11.

From Gilgal he went to Michmas, 4 miles: there he sent 3000 men out of Israel, to his son Ionathan to Gibeon.

From Michmas hee went to Gilgal with his army, 4 miles. There he offered, for which Samuel rebuked him, 1 Sam. 13.

From Gilgal hee went to Mount Benjamin, about 12 miles, not far from Gibeon.

From Gibeon hee went to Michmas, 8 miles. There Ionathan ouercame the army of the Philistines, 1 Sam. 14.

From Michmas Saul followed the enemy to Ajalon, 12 miles. There he would haue slain his son Ionathan because he had eaten a little hony, 1 Sam. 14.

From Ajalon he went to Gibeon, 4 miles, where he kept court

From Gibeon he went to the land of the Moabites, 28 miles; which he ouercame, 1 Sam. 14.

From the land of the Moabites hee went into the countrey of Ammonites, 40 miles; which country he ouercame, and tooke in all their towns.

From the land of the Ammonits he went to Gibeon, 60 miles, 1 Sam. 15.

From Gibeon hee went into the land of Edom, or Idumaea (as it is commonly called) 40 miles, and ouercame all the countrey.

From Idumaea he returned again to Gibeon, 40 miles.

From Gibeon he went with an army about 600 miles, to Zoba in Armenia, which he ouercame, 1 Sam. 14.

From the kingdome of Zoba hee returned to Gibeon, 600 miles.

After that, he went out against the Philistines, 12 miles, and as the historie sheweth, Saul had wars with the Philistins during his life, 1 Sam. 14.

From the Philistins he returned again to Gibeon vnto his pa­lace, 12 miles.

From Gibeon he went into the wildernesse of Sur, 160 miles; there he ouercame the Amalekites, 1 Sam. 15.

Also he ouercame the whole country, from the town of Pelu­so to the red sea, which is 92 miles.

[Page 171]From thence he went again into Iury, to the town of Carmel, 140 miles, 1 Sam. 15.

And from thence he went vnto Gilgal, 32 miles. There the Prophet Samuel rebuked him, because he did not wholly destroy and consume the Amalekites: and there Samuel hewed the body of Agag King of the Amalekites into small pieces, 1 Sam. 15.

From Gilgal he went to Gibeon, 12 miles.

In the 11 yeare of Saul, An. M. 2881, and before Christ 1807, Dauid being then about 20 yeares of age, was anointed King by Samuel. Within a while after, Saul was vexed with an euill spirit: then Dauid played vnto him vpon the harpe, by which he was ea­sed. Soon after he went forth with his Army towards Socho and Asecha, which was some 8 miles distant from Gibeah. There Da­uid killed that famous champion Goliah, 1 Sam. 15.

From thence the Israelites followed the chase of the Philistins to the vally and riuer Soreck, 4 miles; and thence vnto the gates of their cities, that is, to Ekron, which is eight miles; to Ascalon, 20 miles;From the place where Dauid killed Goliah. and to Gath, which was 24 miles, all the way putting the Philistins to the sword. So that there died in this fight 30000 of them, 1 Sam. 17.

Then they returned back again, and spoiled and burnt the Phi­listines tents, where they found great riches. 24 miles.

From Socho and Aseka he returned again to Gibeon, 8 miles: there the women came out of all places in the town dancing, and with loud voices singing, Saul hath slain a thousand, but Dauid ten thousand, 1 Sam. 18.

From Gibeon he went to Arimathia, 2 miles, minding to kill Dauid; and came to Naioth in Ramoth, where Samuel and Dauid were: but the spirit of God came vpon Saul, and he prophecied, falling downe vpon the ground before Samuel and Dauid, all that day and the nightensuing, 1 Sam. 19.

From thence he returned again to Gibeon, 12 miles: there he thought to haue killed his son Ionathan with a speare, because he excused Dauid. There also he caused 85 priests to be put to death because the high priest Abimilech at Nob had giuen Dauid of the Shew bread to eat, and had deliuered him Goliahs sword, 1 Sam. 21.22.

[Page 173]From Gibeon he went to the Leviticall towne Nob, 12 miles, where he spared neither man nor woman, yong nor old, no not the innocent children, but put them all to the sword, and wholly de­stroyed the town, 1 Sam. 12.

From the town of Nob he returned to Gibeon, 12 miles.

From Gibeon he went to the wildernes of Moan Southward, 20 miles.

From the wildernesse of Moan hee returned again to Gibeon, 1 Sam. 23. which was 24 miles.

From Gibeon he went to Engedi, where Dauid in a caue cut off a piece of his garment, which was 24 miles, 1 Sam. 24.

From thence he teturned again to Gibeon, 24 miles.

From Gibeon he went to Ziph, 22 miles, and as he lay asleepe vpon the hill Hachila, Dauid came secretly into the Campe, and took his cup and his speare from his head, and would not kil him, 1 Sam. 26.

From the hill Hachila he returned vnto Gibea, 22 miles.

From thence hee went to fight with the Philistines at mount Gilboa, 40 miles.

From mount Gilboa, hauing changed his apparell, he went to Endor, which was 4 miles: There he asked counsel of a witch, and the Diuel appeared vnto him in the likenesse of Samuel, 1 Sam. 28

From thence he returned again to mount Gilboa to the camp 4 miles, and the next day he fought against the Enemy, in which battel his three sonnes were slaine, and hee himselfe put to flight, 1 Sam. 31. 1 Chr. 11.

From mount Gilboa he fled 8 miles to Bethsan, where he kild himselfe, 1 Sam. 31. 1 Chr. 11.

From thence the body of Saul was brought to Iabes in Gilead, where it was buried, 2 Sam. 31. 1 Chr. 11.

So all the trauels of Saul were 2428 miles.

The description of the townes and places to which he trauelled.

OF Gibea, Salem, Ramath, and Iabes, you may read before, be­ing memorable places to which Abraham, Ioshuah, and the children of Israel trauelled.

The typicall representation of SAVL.

SAul if it be properly taken, doth sometime signifie, a Graue or Sepulchre, and sometimes Hell; being deriued from Scheuol, which may be taken for both. As therefore Saul persecuted inno­cent Dauid, with an inueterate malice, euen vnto the death; so the sonnes of Sathan (euil and wicked men) persecute Christ and his members, with an immoueable malice, sparing neither Prophets nor Apostles, neither such as are religious, no nor Christ himself; but with cruell torments put them to lingering deaths, till they be vtterly exryrpate (as they thinke:) and then wanting objects to satisfie their sauage mindes, they follow their owne diuellish councels, till with Saul they come to desperate ends. Schaul, or Saul, if it be taken in the better part, signifieth, He hath desired, or called.

The Philistines trauels from their Campe to Michmas.

THe Philistines incamped themselues at Michmas, vpon Mount Ephraim, some ten miles from Ierusalem North­ward: and out of the Philistines campe there issued three armies to spoile the countrey.

The one marched towards Ophra, and went from Michmas to Salem, 28 miles.

From thence they went to Ophra, 4 miles.

The second went from Michmas to Bethoron, 8 miles.

The third went from Michmas to the valley of Zeboim, eight miles. So all the Trauels of the Philistines were 58 miles.

Of Zoboim.

THis valley is not farre from Ierusalem in the Tribe of Ben­jamin, Nehem. 11.

The trauels of Ionathan, Sauls sonne.

IOnathan went from Gibeah to Kiriath-jearim, which was two miles, where hee draue the Philistines out of their campe, 1 Sam. 13.

From thence he went backe againe, two miles.

From thence he went to Michmas, which is 8 miles, and there by the helpe of his Armor-bearer he gaue the Philistines a great ouerthrow, 1 Sam. 14.

From thence hee followed the enemy to Aialon, wich is 12 miles; there his father would haue put him to death because he had tasted a little hony, 1 Sam. 14.

From Aialon Saul and his sonne Ionathan returned to Gibeah his owne citie, which was two miles.

From Gibeah hee went with his father to Socho and Asecha, which was 8 miles: where after Dauid had slaine Goliah (for that singular vertue and heroicall spirit which Ionathan saw in him) he loued him as he did his owne soule, and preferred him before his owne life and honour, 1 Sam. 18.

From thence he went with his father to Gibeah, some 8 miles, where women with great mirth & joy met him, saying, Saul hath slaine his thousand, and Dauid his ten thousand: for which cause Saul out of meere enuie (for then he did not know that he had been an­nointed by Samuel) would haue slaine him and his sonne Ionathan also for excusing him, 1 Sam. 18.19.

From Gibeah Ionathan went into the desart of Ziph, some 22 miles, to comfort Dauid: there they swore a solemne oath of mu­tuall friendship, to continue as long as they liued, 1 Sam. 23.

From thence Ionathan returned, which was 22 miles, 1 Sam. 23.

At last he went to the wars with his father to mount Gilboah, 40 miles: there he, his father, his brothers Abinadab & Melchisuah were slaine. So all the trauels of Ionathan were 126 miles.

The trauels of Abiather, Abimelechs sonne.

WHen Doeg the Idumaean, at the command of Saul, had slaine the Priests of the Lord, this Abiather the son of Abimelech the high Priest, fled to the Wood Hareth, not farre from Kegilah, some 20 miles, and came and told Dauid of all that had hapned, 1. Sam. 22.23.

Of Kegilah.

THis was a Citie in the Tribe of Iuda 4 miles from Hebron towards the East, & 20 from Ierusalem toward the South­west. From which towne Dauid droue away the Philistines that had besieged it, 1 Sam. 23. You may reade of it, Iosh. 23. Ne­hem. 3. In S. Ieroms time it was but a small towne, where the inha­bitants shew to strangers the Sepulchre of Abacuck the Prophet. Not farre off toward the West lieth Hareth, that wood when Dauid was when Abiather came to him. Kegila in Hebrew signifi­eth, a Tent.

The trauels of King Dauid.

DAuid was annointed King by Samuel, when he was 20 yeres old, Anno mundi 2881, and before Christ 1807. Within a while after, he was sent by his father Isay or Iesse, to Gibea, of Saul, which was eight miles; there he played to Saul vpon the Harpe, 1 Sam. 16.

When Saul went out with his Armie against the Philistins, Da­uid returned backe to Bethlehem his owne countrey, which was about eight miles. There he fed his fathers sheep, 1 Sam. 17.

From thence he went to Socho and Asecha, and killed Goliah, which was foure miles.

From thence he carried the head of Goliah to Ierusalem, which was 8 miles.

[Page 181]From thence hee went with king Saul to Gibeah, which was 4 miles.

From Gibeah he went 12 miles into the land of the Philistins: and to perform the promise which he had made, put to the sword 200 of them.

From thence he returned and brought their forskins vnto Saul, in recompence of which noble exploit he was married to Sauls daughter, which was 12 miles.

A while after he made an incursion vpon the land of the Phi­listines, and in a sharp and cruell war got a famous victorie, and returned with glory to Gibeah, which was at the least 24 miles.

But when Dauid perceiued that Saul went about to take away his life, and that (he was so narrowly pursued) he had no way to escape, but to be let down by a cord through a window: he made hast and went from Gibeah to Arimathea, where he complained vnto Samuel of the injuries of Saul, and layd before him in what a miserable condition he was, and to what straits brought. Where­fore Samuel to comfort him brought him to Naioth; which see­meth to be so called, of the faire scituation and pleasantnesse of the place: for Mabah signifies, a laudable and comely place: this was a Colledge of such as were professors of that sacred study of diuinity. Now Saul hearing that Dauid was in this place, came with some of his seruants on purpose to make him captiue. But at the sight of Samuel he began to sing Psalmes and Hymnes after the manner of the Prophets.

From thence Dauid returned back vnto Gibeah, some 12 miles, where at the stone of Ezel (not farre from Gibeah toward the South) Ionathan went to Dauid, & counselled him to depart with all speed, for that his father meant euill towards him. So they tooke leaue either of other with teares, 1 Sam. 20. Ezel signifies an Angle, as was a stone full of angles or corners.

From thence he went to Nob, which was 12 miles.

From thence he went to Gath a citie of the Philistines, where he faigned himselfe mad, because of Achis whom hee feared, 1 Sam. 21. which was 24 miles.

From thence hee went to the caue of Odullam, which was 24 miles, and thither resorted vnto him many of his kindred, and [Page 182] such as were indebted and in danger, to the number of 40 per­sons. In this place he wrote the 57 and 142 Psalmes, as may ap­peare by their titles.

From thence he went to Mizpah, in the land of the Moabites, where at this time the King kept his court; and there he carefully commanded his friends and followers to his safe protection, till such time as the fury of Saul was asswaged, 1 Sam. 22.

From thence by the councell of the Prophet Gad he returned by the wildernesse of Hareth, to Kegila, and rescued it, 40 miles. Here Abiather the Priest came to him, 1 Sam. 23.

From thence fearing the comming of Saul, hee went into the wildernesse of Ziph, whither Ionathan came to him, 1 Sam. 22. which was 4 miles.

From thence he went to the towne of Moan, which was foure miles.

From thence he went to the hold of Engedi, which were 36 miles.

From thence hee went six miles to Carmel in Iudaea, where hee determined to haue destroyed Nabal for his churlishnesse, 1 Sam. 25.

From thence he went to Hackilah, 2 miles.

From Hackilah he went to Gath, where Achis king of the Phi­listines kept his court, which was 16 miles. This Achis was very courteous and bountifull minded, he entertained Dauid, and gaue him freely the city of Ziclag to inhabit in, 1 Sam. 27.

Wherefore Dauid went thence to the towne of Ziclag, which was 12 miles, 1 Sam. 27. and there inhabited one yeare and seuen moneths.

From thence Dauid went often towards the South, and made incursions vpon the Amalekites, wasting and destroying their land which lay in the Desart of Sur, about 80 miles distant from Ziclag, and a hundred and twenty miles from Ierusalem towards the South-west

From the Desart of Sur he returned backe againe vnto Ziclag which was 80 miles, and sent part of the prey which he had got­ten, to the King of the Philistines; of which you may reade more 1 Sam. 27.

[Page 183]From Ziclag Dauid went with the army of the Philistines to fight against Saul, 88 miles, euen to Sunem: for the Philistines pitched betweene Iezreel and Sunem, 1 Sam. 28.29.

But because the Princes of the Philistines durst not trust him, therefore by the consent of Achis their King hee returned backe to Ziclag, 88 miles, 1 Sam. 29.

Whiles Dauid was gone with the Philistines to fight against Israel, the Amalekites inuaded Ziclag, tooke it and burnt it with fire, and carried away Ahinoam and Abigal (Dauids wiues) cap­tiues. Wherefore when Dauid came to Ziclag and perceiued what had hapned, with all speed pursued the enemy; and in the way as hee went he found an Aegyptian, who a little before, the Amalekits had left there, because he was vnable to follow them. This Aegyptian guided Dauid to the tents of the Amalekits, who suspecting no such euill, were making merry with the booty that they had taken. But Dauid with the rest of his company so man­fully behaued themselues, that they gaue the Amalekites a sud­den ouerthrow: and as it often hapneth to such as are negligent and carelesse, he tooke away from them their former bootie, and put most of them to the sword. This battell was fought some 8 or 12 miles from Ziclag, as by the circumstance of the history may appeare.

From this slaughter he returned backe to Ziclag, which is 12 miles, and repaired it; to euery neighbouring citie sending a part of the prey. Here hee had certaine intelligence of the successe of the Israelites in their wars against the Philistins, and of the death of Saul and Ionathan, which hee bitterly lamented, 1 Sam. 30. 2 Sam. 1. These things hapned in the 10 yeare after Samuel had an­nointed Dauid King.

From Ziclag he went to Hebron a metropolitane Citie of the tribe of Iuda, being a towne of refuge belonging to the Leuites, which was 16 miles.

At this time Dauid was about the age of thirtie yeares, and was annointed King by the Tribe of Iudah, in the yeare of the World 2891, and before Christ 1077. Here he kept his Court seuen yeares and six moneths. From hence also he sent messen­gers to Iabes in Gilead, 44 miles, to signifie his gracious accep­tance [Page 184] of that fauour which they shewed vnto Saul, in burying of his body there, 2 Sam. 1. 1 Chr. 12.

From Hebron Dauid went to Ierusalem, 22 miles, which then was called Iebus, being possessed of the Iebusites; but he woon it with strong hand, and thrust them out of it; and in mount Sion set vp the city Millo, which was after called the city of Dauid, and signifies, A place of plenty. He began his raigne in Ierusalem in the 38 yere of his age, and 7 of his raigne. In this place also he set vp his house made of Cedar wood, of which Hyram King of Ty­rus sent him great plenty from Mount Libanus, distant from thence, 104 miles, 2 Sam. 5. 1 Chr. 12.

From thence he went to the valley of Rephaim, some 3 miles from Ierusalem in the way that leadeth to the citie of Bethlem, where he fought a memorable fight against the Philistines, and ouercame them; for which cause it was also called Baal-Peri­zim, because by the helpe and assistance of God he had conquered the army of the Philistines, 1 Sam. 5.

After he had dispersed the enemies, hee returned to Ierusalem which is 4 miles.

The Philistines came the same yeare into the valley of Repha­im againe, and pitched their tents within three miles and a halfe of Ierusalem: and the Lord gaue Dauid a signe, that when he heard a noyse in the mulberry trees, hee should set vpon the enemy; so Dauid went forth, and close by the towne of Gaeba and Kiriath-jearim, about two miles from Ierusalem Westward, he set vpon the enemie and gaue them the second ouerthrow, 2 Sam. 5. 1 Chr. 15.

From thence Dauid followed the enemy to Gaza, which was 18 miles, 2 Sam. 5. In the 10 yeare of his raigne from his first be­ginning in Hebron. Dauid assembled all the Princes, Priests, and chiefe men of Israel, to the number of 30000, which inhabited from Sechor till you come to Chaemah, a citie of Nepthalie, at the foot of mount Libanus, euen 163 miles off. These men assem­bled themselues in the citie of Ierusalem, and from thence they with Dauid went to Kiriath-jearim, which was about a mile, to fetch the Arke of the Couenant from thence into the city of Da­uid. 1 Sam. 6. 1 Chr. 14.

[Page 185]From Kiriath-jearim Dauid and all his traine returned backe again to Ierusalem, which was about a mile; and they placed the Arke of the Lord in a new cart, and caused it to be drawne with Oxen, which turned out of the way to the threshing floure of Nachon, where Vza rashly and inconsiderately touching the Arke of God, contrary to the Diuine Law, was presently slaine by the Lord in the way, and that place was called Paeri-Vza, that is, The breach of Vza. For he was not of the Tribe of Aaron, to whom it was only lawfull to touch the Arke, & therfore the Lord strooke him that he died miserably: wherefore Dauid being terrified by this example of Gods seueritie, would not that day bring the ark of the Lord into Ierusalem, but carried it to the house of a cer­taine Nobleman called Obed-Aedom a Gittite, who dwelt not far from Ierusalem; but when it was told Dauid, that the Lord bles­sed the house of Obed-Aedom and all his family, because the arke was there; Dauid went from Ierusalem with a great multitude of people, to the house of Obed-Aedom, who (as is said before) dwelt not farre from Ierusalem, (yet there are some that say he was an excellent musitian in Ierusalem, and dwelt in Mount Acra, that is in the lower citie) and from thence Dauid fetcht the Arke of the Lord into the vpper citie, which stood vpon mount Sion; but I hold the other opinion to be the more probable.

When the Arke was carried by the Priests, Dauid girt himself with a linnen Ephod, (which kinde of garment the Priests of the inferior order vsed to weare) and danced before it, singing Psalms and hymnes to the praise and glory of God, and with great state brought it to the citie of Ierusalem with the sound of Trumpets and instruments of musick, and placed it in the middle of the Ta­bernacle, which they had curiously erected in Mount Sion in the vpper citie, which was also called the citie of Dauid. This hapned in the tenth yere of his raigne; at which time, Michal, Sauls daugh­ter despised him in her heart, and laughed at him: but God gaue her a due recompence, as you may reade, 2 Sam. 6. and him a just reward; for he promised by the Prophet Nathan, That of his po­steritie and bloud, the King of Kings, and Sauiour of the world should be borne.

In the yere following, Dauid inuaded the land of the Philistins; [Page 186] and the citie of Gath, which with strong hand he woon: this was 34 miles from Ierusalem.

From thence he returned backe to Ierusalem, 34 miles.

In the twelfth yere of his raigne he afflicted the Moabits with cruel war, and destroyed two of their armies with the sword, and the rest of the multitude made tributarie; which was 24 miles, 2 Sam. 8. 1 Chr. 19.

He returned thence to Ierusalem with great triumph and joy, 24 miles.

In the 13 yeare of his raigne, Anno mundi, 2903, and before Christ, 1065, he made an expedition vnto Zoba, which Iosephus calleth Sophenam, and is in Armenia, neere to Masia or Mount Taurus, 600 miles from Ierusalem towards the North, of which you may reade before. Dauid in this place woon a memorable battell against Hadad-Ezer the King thereof, neere to the riuer Euphrates; he tooke 700 horse and 20000 foot, burnt their cha­riots, tooke 100 castles, conquered all the Townes and Countrey round about, and went away with a great bootie, as well of Gold as siluer, brasse, and other things; which brasse for the excellen­cie thereof was like vnto gold, and (as Iosephus saith) afterwards Solomon made the molten sea of it. When Gadarezer King of the Syrians (he that built that famous citie of Damascus) heard of the ouerthrow of Hadad-Ezer, hee sent a great army to his aid; which King Dauid neere to the riuer Euphrates smote with the sword, so that 20000 of them were slaine, and he carried away a glorious victorie, extending his gouernment from Ierusalem 600 miles towards the North, that is, into Armenia, and beyond the riuer Euphrates, and made these two nations tributary vnto him, 2 Sam. 8. 1 Chr. 19.

After Dauid had woon these 2 memorable victories neere Eu­phrates, he went thence with all his army towards the South, and inuaded the land of Syria; in which journey Ioram the sonne of Tohi King of Antiochia (which citie at this time was called He­math) met Dauid with gifts and presents in the name of his Fa­ther, returning him many thankes because he had destroied the common enemy Hadad-Ezer, and by strong hand subdued and quelled the furie of that mighty tyrant, who was also a trouble [Page 187] and vexation to the Kingdome of Antiochia. Dauid entertained this message kindly, & thankfully receiued his gifts, (which was of gold, siluer and fine brasse) and so gaue Ioram an acceptable di­spatch, and from thence with his army went to Damascus, the Metropolitan citie of Syria, where in the valley of salt he got a great victory, in which 18000 Syrians were slaine, and soon after the Citie of Damascus taken; in which Dauid placed a garrison, and compelled them to pay tribute, 2 Sam. 8. This was distant from the kingdome of Soba 520 miles.

From Damascus he went with his army into the land of the Ammonites, 100 miles in the way that leadeth out of Syria to Ierusalem, all which he conquered, and all the cities and townes thereabouts, and compelled them to pay tribute, 2 Sam. 8.

From thence he returned to Ierusalem, which was 60 miles, and all the bootie that he had gotten in his journey he dedicated vnto the Lord, 2 Sam. 8.

A while after, hee with his army made an incursion into the land of Idumaea, and compelled the inhabitants to pay tribute. Moreouer, he destroied the citie of Midian the Metropolitane of that countrey, of which you may reade before: it was distant from Ierusalem 160 miles towards the South. So that the extent of Dauids kingdome from the North to the South, was 800 miles, euen from the kingdome of Soba to the Red sea: and from the East to the West 120 miles; from Tyrus and Sydon reaching to Damascus. Thus by the singular blessing of God he obtained a spacious and powerfull Empire, 1 Sam. 8. 1 Reg. 11. 1 Chr. 19. He made his expedition into Idumaea about the 14 yeare of his raigne.

From Midian in Idumaea, hee returned with great glory and praise to Ierusalem, which was 160 miles.

In the 14 yere of his raigne, and in the yere of the world 2904, and before Christ 1064, Nahas King of the Ammonites died, and Haron his sonne succeeded him: this man contemptuously abu­sed the messengers of Dauid, 2 Sam. 10. and to justifie that injury he gathered an army out of Soba, Siria, and Mesopotamia, euen a mighty Host, to oppose Dauid; who in the 15 yeare of his go­uernment met him with his Armie at Helam, some twenty miles [Page 188] from Ierusalem where he obtained a notable victorie, and destroi­ed 700 chariots, and 40000 horse, 1 Chr. 20.

Dauid after this, with great applause of the people was enter­tained into Ierusalem, which was 20 miles distant, where being puft vp with prosperity, he forgat his former pietie and sanctitie, and by degrees fell into vnlawfull actions and vnjust desires: whence it hapned that soone after he committed adulterie with Bathseba: & after that, to hide his fault, caused her husband to be slaine. This was kept secret, till the Lord by Nathan sharply repre­hends him, laies before him what hee was and what his present estate is, from whence that came, and then concludes, that he is most vnthankfull, carelesse, and negligent towards God and man, in committing those insolencies; neither left he there, but told him that God would seuerely punish him for his offence, which after hapned as you may reade, 1 Sa. 11.12.14.17. Dauid being nipt in his conscience with this sharpe reprehension, fell into great lamentation, the extremitie of whose passions may very well appeare in the poenitentiall Psalmes which at this time and soone after hee wrot, and left to future ages.

After this, about the end of Summer he gathered an army, and went into the land of the Ammonites, some 64 miles, where hee took the Metropolitan citie, (which at that time was called Rab­ba, because of the multitude of citizens that were in it; but after being restored by Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt, hee cal­led it after his own, Philadelphia) & there took the crowne from the head of the king of the Ammonites, which weighed a Ta­lent ofHow much this was you may read after in the quanti­tie of weights. gold, being (as Iosephus saith) richly adorned with faire Sardonicke stones, of which you may reade in 2 Sam. 12.

From thence he returned back to Ierusalem, which is 64 miles, where hee married Bathseba, and by her had foure sonnes, Simeon, Sobab, Nathan, and Solomon, 1 Chr. 3. Soone after this, Ammon defloured his sister Thamar: not long after that, his son Absalon killed his brother Ammon, beeing then about 18 yeares of age; which Dauid tooke so hainously, that he would not suffer him to come into his sight for three yeares, 1 Sam. 13. Then Ioab by the subtiltie of the woman of Tekoa, reconciled him to the king his father: yet neuerthelesse, he came not to his court of two yeares [Page 189] after. This Absolon was a goodly man, affable, for which cause enen at that time the people began to affect him.

Afterward in the yeare of the world 2950, and before Christ 1408, Absolon being then about 25 yeares of age, moued sedi­tion against his father. A matter remarkeable, that although he had slaine his owne brother, being disgraced and absent from the Court almost fiue yeres, yet within short time after, he so strong­ly vnited the affection of the people to him, that he constrained Dauid (standing in feare of his greatnesse, all his former acts and worthy victories notwithstanding) to forsake his owne citie, and for safety to fly to the mount of Oliues, beeing three quarters of a mile from the citie.

There he staied a while to see the condition of the tumult, but necessitie constrained him to take his way to Bahuzim. And as he was going, Zimri the sonne of Gesa of the house of Saul, cursed him, euery mans enemy then making himselfe apparant when he is in aduersitie, and his best friends commonly forsake him.

From thence hee went to Iordan, 14 miles, where the Priests Ionathan and Ahinaaz brought him certaine intelligence of that wicked and peruerse councell of Achitophel, a man in those times famous for his wisdome, but perfidious in his actions, as com­monly such are that hope after honours, or seeke to benefit them­selues by innouation and change.

After he had intelligence hereof, hee went ouer Iordan with those few men that he had, & with all possible speed went to Be­thabara, some 16 miles from Ierusalem toward the North-East. At this place Ioshuah led the children of Israel through Iordan on drie ground, Ios. 3.4. and here Iohn the Baptist taught, and bap­tised Christ. Mat. 1. & Luke 3.

From thence hee went to Makanaim, which is twentie eight miles, where hee sent forth his army by bands against Absolon, who at this time had assembled a great host neere the Wood Ephra­im, not far from that place where Ioshuah woon a memorable bat­tell against the Canaanites: and that the place might bee made more famous, Dauids men, though few in number, gaue Absalon and his host as great. Thus Absalon being left in danger, to saue himself fled: but in his flight the haire of his head being long, and [Page 190] blowne with the wind, tooke hold of the branch of a tree, by which he hanged betweene heauen and earth, as vnworthy of ei­ther: and Ioab, who but a little before was his friend, in that very place with three darts put him to death, a just end for so vnjust a man. 1 Sam. 18.

Dauid notwithstanding tooke the death of Absolon maruellous heauily, till by Ioab he was recalled from that griefe; and then in the company of Barzillai, and of his sonne Chimea, of Mephibo­seth the sonne of Ionathan, and Zeba his seruant, Shimei also that before curst him, (who to leaue a memorable token of a base Si­cophant) after this victory came first downe to craue pardon for his offence, with many others, went along with him from Maka­naim to Bethabara, which was 28 miles. To this place there came a great multitude of people to meet Dauid, 2 Sam. 19. This Barzillai was one of the eighteene that held the principalitie of the citie of the Giliadites, and had a sonne called Chimea, whom Dauid tooke with him to Ierusalem, that he might make euident his thankefulnesse towards him for that courtesie which he had receiued of his father.

From Bethabara Dauid passed Iordan, and went backe to Gil­gal, which was 4 miles, 2 Sam. 19.

From thence he went to Ierusalem, which was 12 miles, in the same yeare that he was exiled by his sonne, which was about the 13 yeare of his raigne. The next yere Saba the sonne of Bicri, ta­king example of Absolon, and obseruing the mutabilitie of the peoples affections, moued a sedition against Dauid, but Ioab his captain ouercame him, 2 Sam. 20. After this, there followed three yeares of famine. About the end of the third yeare of famine, and in the 34 yeare of his raigne, Dauid went to Iabes Gilead, which was 52 miles, to fetch the bones of Saul and Ionathan, to bury them in the sepulchre of his fathers, 2 Sam. 21.

From Iabes in Gilead, Dauid brought the bones and relickes of King Saul and Ionathan his sonne, to Gibeah of Saul, which was 52 miles, and there he honourably buried them in the Sepulchre of his father Kish. 2 Sam. 21.

From thence Dauid returned to Ierusalem, which was 4 miles.

In the 35 yere of his raigne he went forth to fight against the [Page 191] Philistines, neer to the Leuiticall towne of Nob, or Nobe, which is 12 miles from Ierusalem, vpon the borders of the countries of the Philistines, in the tribe of Dan.

From thence he returned backe againe to Ierusalem, which is 12 miles.

So all the Trauels of Dauid were 3904 miles.

The Description of the places to which Dauid trauelled.

OF the cities of Socho, Asekah, Gibeon, Gibeah of Saul, Nob, Ziph, Moan, Engaedi, Arimathea, Gath, the Caue of Odul­lam, Kegila, Paran, Apheck, and Makanaim, you may reade before in the trauels of Saul, and the Iudges of Israel.

Of Dauids name.

DAuid is as much to say as, my deere, my beloued, my chosen one: be­ing deriued of Dod, which signifies, a friend, or beloued. For which cause, he was said to be a man after Gods owne heart.

How Dauid was a type of Christ.

DAuid represented Christ diuers waies, First, in his name, (he was beloued) so God testifies of Christ, This is my beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased. Secondly, in the place of his birth, he was borne at Bethlem, so was Christ. Thirdly, in his imploy­ment, [Page 193] he was a shepheard; so was Christ: I am the true Shepheard; for a good Shepheard giueth his life for his Sheepe, &c. Fourthly, in his musicke; Dauid was cunning vpon the harp, and by that comfor­ted the afflicted spirit of Saul: so Christ by the musick and har­monie of his doctrine (the glad tydings of saluation) comforteth the afflicted members of his Church. Fiftly, Dauid got his glory and preferment by the death of Goliah: so Christ was glorified by conquering Death and the Diuell. Sixtly, Dauid was persecuted by Saul, and pursued from one place to another, so that he had not where to hide his head with safety; so Christ was persecuted by his own countrymen the Iews, shut out from the society of man; and as he said, Mat. 8. The Foxes haue holes, and the Birds haue nests; but the Son of man hath not where to hide his head. Seuenthly, in the dangers that Dauid sustained, by Gods prouidence he was merci­fully deliuered: so Christ was inclosed and in danger of the Iews at Nazareth, Luke 4. in Ierusalem; in the Temple also. Ioh. 8. but he escaped them al, because then his time was not come, Io. 7.8. Eight­ly, as Absolon rebelled against Dauid, being his father; so the Iews rebelled against Christ, although hee was their Creator: accor­ding to that of Esay 61. I haue fed and brought vp children, but they haue forsaken me. Ninthly, as Dauid fled to Mount Olivet for re­fuge, being brought to a streight; so Christ vpon Mount Olivet (his heart being prest with an intollerable agonie) fled to his Fa­ther by praier, for comfort in that extremitie. Tenthly, as all the friends and familiars of Dauid forsooke him at such time as Abso­lon rebelled against him, and followed him with persecutions, mocks and taunts; so Christ at such time as Iudas betrayed him into the hands of the Iewes, was forsaken of all his followers, and many of those which a little before he had done good vnto, moc­ked and derided him as he was vpon the Crosse. Lastly, as Dauid was restored, notwithstanding the former miseries and troubles, to his antient glory and eminencie; so Christ after he had suffe­red the due punishment for sin, death, and (before that) extteame miserie; yet at length conquered both, and by his diuine power restored himselfe to his former estate, eternall glory.

The Trauels of ABNER, one of Sauls Captaines.

HEe went with King Saul from Gibeah to the Wildernes of Ziph, which was 22 miles. Here he was rebuked by Dauid for his negligence.

From thence he returned to Gibeah, 22 miles, 1 Sam. 31.

From thence he trauelled to the hill Gilboa, where Saul killed himselfe, 40 miles.

From thence he went to Machanaim, where he made Ishbosheth (Sauls son) King, who kept his court there seuen years; 16 miles. 2 Sam. 2.

From thence hee went to Gibeon, where hee slew Asahel, Ioabs brother, in battell. Which was 44 miles, 2 Sam. 2.

From thence he went ouer Iordan to Bythron, 28 miles.

From thence he went backe to Machanaim, 16 miles, 2 Sam. 2

Lastly, he went thence to Hebron to Dauid, and made a Coue­nant with him; where he was treacherously slain by Ioab: & was 68 miles.

So all the trauels of Abner were 256 miles.

Of Bithron.

BIthron or Betharan was a town beyond Iordan in the tribe of Gad, some 28 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward, lying between Dibon and Iordan. It taketh the name from a House of singing; beeing deriued of Baith, which signifieth a House; and Ron, He sung ioyfully.

The Trauels of IOAB.

IOAB Dauids Captain was the son of Zerviah, Dauids sister: for he had two, Zerviah and Abogale; Zerviah had Ioab, Abishas, and Asael. Abigal had onely Amasa, all which were great men in King Dauids time. Now when Ioab heard that Abner had brought downe his army to Gibeon, hee went from Hebron thi­ther, which was 24 miles: and there his brother Asahel was slain, 2 Sam. 2.

[Page 195]From thence he went to Bethlehem, 16 miles, where he buried his brother, 2 Sam. 2.

From thence he returned to Hebron, 20 miles. Here vnder the gates of the city he traiterously killed Abner, 2 Sam. 3.

From thence he went with Dauid to Ierusalem, where he won Sion, and draue thence the blinde and the lame, being 82 miles.

From thence he went with his Army against the Ammonites and Syrians, whom he conquered in a cruel fight, 60 miles, 1 Sam. cap. 10.

From thence he returned backe to Ierusalem, 60 miles.

From thence he went with Dauid into Idumea, 160 miles from Ierusalem Southward; there he won the towne of Midian, & con­quered the Idumaeans or Edomites, 2 Sam. 8.

From thence he returned to Ierusalem with his Army, beeing 160 miles.

From thence hee went and besieged Rabba the metropolitan city of the Ammonites, beeing 64 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward. Here Vriah was slain, 2 Sam. 11.

From thence he returned to Ierusalem with K. Dauid, 64 miles

From thence he went into the kingdom of Gesur, which lieth beyond Iordan vpon Mount Libanus, by the towne of Caesarea Philippi, some 80 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward. This countrey was called Trachonites. From this land Ioab brought Absolon again to Ierusalem, 2 Sam. 14.

From thence he returned backe againe with Absolon to Ierusa­lem, 88 miles.

From thence he went with Dauid (when he fled from his sonne Absolon) to Machanaim, being 44 miles. Not far from hence he slew Absolon, 2 Sam. 18.

From thence he came again with King Dauid to Ierusalem, 44 miles, 2 Sam. 10.

From thence he went to Gibeah, where he killed Amasa, which was 4 miles.

From thence he went to the town of Abel-Bethmaacha in the tribe of Nepthali, being about 88 miles. This town he straightly besieged.

From thence he went again to Ierusalem, 88 miles.

[Page 196]Afterward he went, as Dauid commanded him, to number the people at Aroer a towne beyond Iordan, which was 24 miles, 2 Sam. 24.

From thence he went to Iaezer, which is 16 miles.

From thence going through the land of Gilead, and passing by the territories of the lower countrey of Hadsi, hee came to the town of Dan, neere to the place where the fountains of Iordan are which is accounted 116 miles.

From thence he went to that famous mart town Sidon, which was 24 miles.

From that great towne Sidon he went to the walls of Tyre, to which place great multitudes of ships resorted; which was sixe­teene miles.

From thence he went toward the South til he came to the city Beersaba, which was the vtmost bounds of the Holy land South­westward, and was reckoned 132 miles.

From thence he returned backe to Ierusalem where he deliue­red to Dauid the number of those that were chosen souldiers, 2. Sam. 24. but the Lord strooke the country and city of Ierusalem with a great plague, because hee did contrary to his command, 2 Sam. 24.

So all the trauels of Ioab were 1348 miles.

The description of the places to which he trauelled.

MAny of those cities mentioned in the trauels of Ioab, are al­ready described and set forth; therefore I account it need­lesse in this place againe to repeat them, but only such townes as yet haue not bin mentioned.

The Trauels of Baena and Rechab.

THese two went out of the tribe of Benjamin ouer Iordan to Machanaim, 40 miles. There they murthered their master king Ishbosheth in his chamber as he lay vpon his bed, and af­ter cut off his head.

The head they brought to King Dauid to Hebron, 68 miles. But Dauid was not pleased with their treacherie, wherefore hee caused them both to be put to death.

So their trauels were 108 miles.

The Trauels of Absalon.

ABsalon was borne in Hebron, and went with his father to Ie­rusalem, 22 miles, 2 Sam. 13.

From thence he went to Baalhazor, 8 miles, where hee caused his brother Ammon to be slain.

From thence for feare of his father he fled into the land of Ge­sur, 88 miles, 2 Sam. 14.

[Page 198]From thence he came backe with Ioab to Ierusalem, which was 88 miles, 2 Sam. 14.

From thence he went to Hebron, 22 miles, and made himselfe King, and rebelled against his father.

From thence he went backe againe to Ierusalem, which is 22 miles. There he lay with his fathers Concubines, 2 Sam. 16.

From thence he pursued his father to Machanaim, 40 miles, & there was hanged by the haire in an oke tree, where Ioab put him to death, 2 Sam. 18.

So all the trauels of Absolon were 290 miles.

Of Baal-hazor.

IN this city Absolon made a great feast for his sheepe-sherers, and inuited all his brothers to it, where he caused Ammon to be slain, because he had abused his sister Thamar. It lieth in the way some 8 miles from Ierusalem toward the North-East, as you go to Iericho, neere to mount Ephraim, 2 Sam. 13. and is deriued of Baal, which signifies a Lord or husband; and Chazir, a Den or caue.

Of the name ABSOLON.

ABSOLON signifieth a Father of peace, although he was the author of all discord and sedition against his father.

The Trauels of the wise woman of Thecoa.

THis woman went from Thecoa to Ierusalem, 8 miles; and spake with King Dauid; and with her sweet words shee per­suaded him that he would recall his sonne out of exile, who then remained in Gesur, 2 Sam. 14.

Of Thecoa.

THecoa was a city in the tribe of Iuda, some 8 miles from Ie­rusalem toward the Southeast: neere this city Iosaphat by praier and the sound of Trumpets, without drawing sword, got a memorable victory; and for that cause it signifieth the sound of a [Page 199] Trumpet. In this place the prophet Amos dwelt, and there lieth buried; whose sepulchre was to be seene 400 yeares after Christ, as S. Ierom obserueth. It was from Bethlem Iuda 6 miles. Neere to Techoa was the lake Aspher, where Ionathan and Simon (Iudas Machabeus brothers) pitcht their tents, 1 Mach. 9. Of this city you may reade, Ier. 6. Am. 1. 2 Chr. 11.

Of ACHITOPHEL.

THis perfideous and wicked man was borne in the towne of Gilo, not far from Hebron and Debir in the tribe of Iudah, Ios. 15. 2 Sam. 15. 20 miles from Ierusalem Southeastward; who when his counsell would not take place, he went home to his own house, and there desperatly hanged himselfe.

The Trauels of wicked Shimei,

SHimei went from Bahurim (where he cursed King Dauid) to Bathabara vpon the riuer Iordan, which was 18 miles; where he got pardon of Dauid, 2 Sam. 19.

From thence he went backe with King Dauid to Gilgall, foure miles, 2 Sam. 19.

From thence he went with King Dauid to Ierusalem, 12 miles, 2 Sam. 19.

From thence he went to Bahurim, 3 miles.

From Bahurim King Solomon sent for him again to Ierusalem, 3 miles. There he was constrained to build him an house, and not to depart thence vpon pain of death, 1 Reg. 2.