The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

The second Section, of the ages of the world.

There be sixe ages of the world, designed by all approued an∣tiquitie. After saint Austen, the first age is from Adam to the floud, the second to Abraham, the third to Dauid, the fourth to the captiuitie, the fift to Christ, the sixt to the end of the world: which sixt and last age (saith he) cannot be measured, with anie number of generations, because the Father hath reserued in his owne power, the knowledge of the last day.

This diuision of ages which saint Austen assigneth, may wel be holden; neuertheles, because the diuision of ages into sixe be∣fore Christs first sacred aduent, bringeth greater perspicuitie to the vnderstanding of the scriptures; I will followe that course with other skilfull writers, and make a pithie briefe declaration of the same.

The varietie of writers, concerning the yeeres of the world vntil Christs holy incarnation is wonderfull; euen so many opi∣nions almost of those that I haue read (and I haue read a good many) as there be writers that handle the same.

After Eusebius Caesariensis, the duration of the world till Christ, is 5199: after the Hebrewes, 3962: after the Sep∣tuagints, 5328: after others, 4121: after others, 3929: af∣ter others, 3969: after others, more: after some, lesse. This being true (as it is most true indeede) commendable must that labor be, if any such can be found; which in such different confu∣sion, shal deliuer a plaine manifestation of the trueth.

And because the trueth ought euer to be embraced, by what mouth soeuer it be vttered; albeit I seeme to swarue both from old and later writers, yet let the gentle Reader affoord me his indifferent censure, at least so far foorth as my iust and irrefrin∣gible probations, shall euidently conuince and deserue. Marke therefore my discourse attentiuely (gentle Reader) and then I

trust this great and mighty controuersie, will be plaine and ea∣sie to thee.

The first age.

The first age from the creation of the world to the floud, con∣taineth 1656. yeeres; whereof for the Readers better satisfa∣ction, I put downe this plaine demonstration.

Adam was made of the dust of the earth, in the end of the sixt day Genes. 1. vers. 27, 31.

[ 130] Adam begate Seth, when he was 130. yeres old Gen. 5. v. 3

[ 105] Seth begat Enosh, when he was 105. yeres old Gen. 5. v. 6

[ 90] Enosh begat Kenan, when he was 90. yeres old Gen. 5. v. 9

[ 70] Kenan begat Malaleel, being 70. yeeres old, Gen. 5. ver. 12

[ 65] Malaleel begat Iared, being 65. yeeres old, Gen. 5. ver. 15

[ 162] Iared begat Henoch, being 162. yeeres old, Gen. 5. ver. 18

[ 65] Henoch begat Methusalem, being 65. yeres old Ge. 5. v. 21

[ 187] Methusalem begat Lamech, being 187. yeeres olde, Gene. 5. verse 25.

[ 182] Lamech begat Noah, being 182. yeeres old, Gen. 5. ver. 28

[ 600] Noah was 600. yeres old when the floud came Gen. 7. v. 6

The whole summe of yeeres is 1656. and six dayes.

The particular summes of the yeeres be these;

• 130
• 105
• 90
• 70
• 65
• 162
• 65
• 187
• 182
• 600

1656

Make addition, and this summe will amount to 1656, to which adde sixe dayes before Adams creation.

The second age.

The second age, from the deluge, to the birth of Abraham, containeth 353. yeres, and ten dayes; whereof this is a plaine demonstration.

The floud indured one whole yeere, and ten dayes, Gene. 8. [ 1] verse 4.13, 14.

Sem the son of Noah begate Arphaxad two yeeres after the [ 2] floud, when himselfe was 100. yeeres old, Gene. 11. verse 10.

Arphaxad begat Shale or Shelah, when he was 35. yeeres [ 35] old, Gen. 11. verse 12.

Shale begate Heber, when he was 30. yeres old Gen. 11. [ 30] verse 14.

Heber begat Peleg, being 34. yeres old, Ge. 11. verse 16. [ 34]

Peleg begat Rehu, being 30. yeres old, Gen. 11. verse 18. [ 30]

Rehu begat Sarug, when he was 32. yeeres old, Gen. 11. [ 32] verse 20.

Sarug begat Nahor, being 30. yeres old, Ge. 11. ver. 22. [ 30]

Nahor begat Thare or Terah, at 29. yeres, Ge. 11. v. 24. [ 29]

Thare begat Abraham, when he was 130. yeres old, Gen. [ 130] 11. verse 26. though it seemeth by the text, that he was but 70. yeeres old. This difficultie shalbe solued by and by.

The whole summe of yeeres is 315.

The particular summes of the yeeres be these;

• 1
• 2
• 35
• 30
• 34
• 30
• 32
• 30
• 29
• 130

353

Make addition, and this wil be the summe 353.

A graue obiection against the supputation last rehearsed.

It is written Genes. 11. verse 26. that Thare begat Abra∣ham, when he was but 70. yeeres olde: therefore three score yeeres must be substracted from the number abouesaide; that is, from the 130. yeeres assigned to Thare, before he begat Abra∣ham: which three score yeres, the greater part, euen of the best Chronographers haue hitherto omitted.

The answere.

I say first, that we ought not to consider so much what others [ 1] haue doone, as what they should haue doone. For as a prouerb saith; aliquando bonus dormit Homerus: to which this other is consonant; Bernardus non vidit omnia.

[ 2] I say secondly, that as well the old Chronographers, as o∣ther ancient Fathers, haue shewed themselues to be men in ma∣ny things.

[ 3] I say thirdly, that where I dissent from others, I desire no more credit to be giuen to my words, then manifest reason shall conuince.

[ 4] I say fourthly, that Thare was 130. yeres old when he be∣gat Abraham: and I prooue it, because Abraham was but 75 yeeres olde at the death of his father Terah or Thare, at which time he departed out of Haran Genes. 12. verse 4. and yet was Thare 205. yeres old when he died in Haran Gene. 11. v. 32: so then, if Thare had begotten Abraham when he was 70. yeres old, as the obiection would haue it; it would follow of necessitie, that Abraham was at his fathers death 135. yeres old; and not onely 75. yeres old, which yet the text (as I haue proued) doth auouch. See the 17. chapter following, in the fourth difficul∣tie of the fift Section.

The replie.

The text saith plainely Gen. 11. verse 26. that Terah was but 70. yeres old when he begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

The answer.

I answer with saint Austen, that the scripture only auouch∣eth Thare to haue bin 70. yeeres olde before he begat his chil∣dren, Abram, Nahor, and Haran: and that Abram was not first borne, although he be first named. For as saint Austen conside∣red grauely, he is the first named, by reason of his excellencie and prerogatiue aboue the rest; euen as Iacob was named be∣fore Esau, and Iudah before his brethren, though indeede hee were but the fourth in number. This answer I make good by sundry reasons; first, because these are the wordes of the text; Terah liued 70. yeres and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Now it is manifest, that he begate them not all three in the 70. yeere of his age, as saint Austen well obserued; and consequent∣ly, that he begate some of them in his riper yeres. Abram ther∣fore was not borne, till Terah was 130. yeres olde. For Te∣rah was 205. yeeres old at his death in Charran Gen. 11. ve. 32. at which time Abraham was 75. yeeres of age Genes. 12. verse 4. which thing saint Steuen confirmeth in these wordes; then came hee out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran, and after that his father was dead, God brought him from thence into this land, wherein ye now dwell. Lo, by the te∣stimonie of Moses in the booke of Genesis, Abraham was but 75. yeeres old when he went out of Charran; and by the report of saint Steuen in the acts of the apostles, he came not out of Charran vntil his fathers death. So then hee could not be more then 75. yeres old when his father was 205. yeres of age; and consequently he was not the eldest sonne of Terah, begotten in the 70. yeere of his age; but his yonger sonne, borne when hee was 130. yeres old, and so we must haue 60. yeres more in this second age then the Chronographers commonly do allow. But the truth must preuaile, howsoeuer mans reason deeme.

A difficultie of the word Haran.

Since the name of Abrahams brother was Haran, as wel as the place where he dwelt, how shal we discerne the one from the other? I answer to this, that if wee will obserue the strict and precise maner of pronunciation, we must call the brother Haran, and the place Charran. For in the originall, the Hebrue tongue, the brothers name is written with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and the place of Abra∣hams abode with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: so as Abrahams brothers name ought to be termed Haran, and the place where Abraham dwelt, Char∣ran; which varietie of writing, some translations haue well ob∣serued. See the 17. chapter following, in the third difficultie of the fift section.

The third age.

The third age from the birth of Abraham till the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt, containeth 505. yeeres: whereof behold this plaine demonstration.

[ 100] Abraham begate Isaac when he was an hundred yeeres old, Genes. 21. vers. 5. Genes. 17. vers. 17.

[ 60] Isaac or Izhak begat Iacob when he was threescore yeeres of age, Gene. 25. verse 20, and 26.

[ 130] Iacob went into Egypt when he was 130. yeres old, Gen. 47. verse 9.

[ 215] The Iacobites or Israelites abode in Egypt 215. yeeres. So write Eusebius Caesariensis, and Marianus Scotus: yea, many later writers come short of that supputation by 5. yeeres. The trueth of this important difficultie, shall (by the power of God) be decided shortly.

The whole summe of yeeres is 505.

The particular summes of the yeeres be these;

• 100
• 60
• 130
• 215

505

Make addition, and this summe will appeare 505.

An important obiection.

We reade in Genesis cha. 15. ver. 13. and in the Acts cha. 7. ver. 6 that the Israelites were in Egypt 400. yeres, and Mo∣ses in Exod. cha. 12. ver. 40. auoucheth constantly, that they were there 430. yeres: so then, to affirme their abode there to be no more but 215. yeres, is farre different from the trueth.

The answere.

[ 1] I say first, that the varietie of supputation set downe in holy Writ, may easily be accorded; if we duely consider the varietie of time, from which the same supputation is deriued. For the 400. yeres must be reckoned from the birth of Isaac, vntil the departure out of Egypt; and the 430. yeeres from Abrahams going out of his countrie, for the seede of Abraham was so long afflicted in a land not their owne.

[ 2] I say secondly, that it is not possible to proue out of the scrip∣tures, by particular and precise supputation; that the Iaco∣bites abode in Egypt, either 400. yeeres, as saint Steuen re∣porteth, or 430. yeeres, as saint Moses telleth vs: and there∣fore we must reckon and begin the said supputations, as is alre∣dy said. I proue this mine assertion in this maner:

Iacob was 130. yeeres old when he went into Egypt, Ge. 47. verse 9. and he died at the age of 147. yeres, so as he liued in Egypt no more but 17. yeres, Gen. 47. verse 28.

Iacobs third sonne Leui of his first wife Leah, Gen. 29. ve. [ 137] 32. liued but 137. yeres, Exodus 6. verse 16.

Rohath or Caath the sonne of Leui liued but 133. yeeres [ 133] Exodus 6. verse 18.

Amram the son of Rohath liued but 137. yeres Exo. 6. v. 20 [ 137]

Moses the sonne of Amram was but 80. yeeres old when he [ 80] brought the Israelites out of Egypt Exodus 7. verse 7.

Now for perspicuous conceiuing of this so intricate a doubt, [ 1] I note first, that Leui could not be aboue 95. yeres in Egypt. I prooue it, because Ioseph Iacobs yongest sonne was 40. yeeres olde, before Iacob with Leui and the rest of his family came into Egypt. This age of Ioseph is thus made manifest; he was 17. yeres of age when he was sold, Gen. 37. verse 2. he was 30. yeeres olde when hee became gouernour of Egypt, Genes. 41. vers. 40, 41, 46. to which adde the seuen yeeres of plentie, and three yeeres of famine Genes. 41.42, and 45. at which time Leui came into Egypt with his father, and the num∣ber of 40. yeeres will be compleate.

I note secondly, that if we graunt Leui to haue beene 100. [ 2] yeeres olde before hee begate Caath, and affirme the same of Caath and Amram; (which thing surpasseth the course of na∣ture, Ge. 17. v. 17. and therefore neede it not be granted;) we must for al that come short, and neither find the abode of the Is∣raelites in Egypt to be 430. neither yet 400. yeeres in all.

I note thirdly, that if we grant Caath, Amram, and Moses, [ 3] to haue beene begotten in a competent age; we shall easily finde the number of 215. yeres, which Eusebius and Marianus Sco∣tus haue put downe.

An other probation of this difficultie.

Iochebed was the owne daughter of Leui, and the naturall mother of Moses, for so we reade in the 26. chapter of the booke of Numbers, and in the sixt chapter of the booke of Exodus: and yet if we grant Leui to haue bin 120. yeres old when he begat Iochebed; and Iochebed to haue bin 100. yeres old at the birth

of Moses, (both which are impossible by the course of nature,) and if we adde thereunto eightie yeares, the full age of Moses, at the departure out of Egypt, yet will all this be no more but bare 300. yeres: so then, we are short of the supputation menti∣oned in Genesis by one ful hundred yeres; and of the reckoning specified in Exodus, by an hundred and thirtie yeares. There∣fore the vndoubted meaning of those scriptures must needes be as I haue already shewed.

The corollarie.

First therefore, since Moses brought the Israelites out of E∣gypt: secondly, since he was the sonne of Iochebed: thirdly, since Iochebed was the daughter of Leui: fourthly, since Leui was with Iacob at his going into Egypt, we must perforce de∣duce the time of their abode, from Leui, Iochebed, and Moses. Let vs therefore assigne 85. yeeres, to Leui, when hee begate Iochebed; 50. yeeres to Iochebed when she bare Moses; and 80. yeres to Moses when he brought them out of Egypt (which is as much as can be granted by the course of nature) and wee shall find the iust number of 215. yeeres: and so the supputati∣on of this third age is consonant.

The obiection.

Eusebius and Marianus Scotus say plainely, that the Israe∣lites abode in Egypt no more but 144 yeeres.

The answer.

I grant, that some otherwise very learned haue so written: but I thinke their meaning is, according to the wordes of the authors plainely vttered. For albeit they both say, that they a∣bode but 144. yeres there; yet do they affirme alitle after that, that their whole abode was 215. yeeres. So then, when they terme their abode but 144. yeres, they meane of their greuous seruitude after the death of Ioseph: for Eusebius (whom Scotus doth imitate) hath these expresse words; Postcuias interritum, Hebraei Aegyptijs seruierunt annis 144. fiunt autem omnes an∣ni quos Hebraei in Aegypto fecerunt 215. qui ab eodem tempore

computantur, quo Iacob cum filijs suis descendit in Aegyptum. After the death of Ioseph, the Hebrewes or Israelites were in bondage to the Egyptians 144. yeeres: but all the yeeres that the Hebrewes were in Egypt make 215. which we must rec∣kon from that time, when Iacob with his children went into Egypt.

The fourth age.

The fourth age, from the comming out of Egypt, vntil king Salomon beganne to build the temple, containeth 480. yeres, hereof this is an euident demonstration.

Moses gouerned the Israelites in the wildernesse, the space [ 40] of 40. yeeres after they came out of Egypt Deute. 1. verse 3. and Deut. 29. verse 5.

Iosue and Othoniel iudged Israel 40. yeres Iud. 3. v. 11: [ 40] for Iosue was ouer them 32. yeeres, and Othoniel 8. some giue but 18. yeres to Ioshua, and the rest to Othoniel; but that skilleth not much, because it is certaine, that from the death of Moses till the death of Othoniel, were 40. yeeres compleate, which no writer doth or can deny, for holy writ hath so reuealed.

Ehud or Shamgar the son of Anath iudged the Israelites [ 80] fourescore yeres Iud. 3. verse 30, 31. but of these 80. we must ascribe 18. to the inter-raigne, in which time Israel was in bondage to Eglon king of Moab Iud. 3. verse 14.

Deborah and Barak iudged Israel 40. yeres Iud. 5. v. 31 [ 40]

Gedeon iudged the Israelites 40. yeres Iud. 8. ve. 28. but [ 40] in this time the Midianites oppressed them 7. yeres Iud. 6. v. 1 for feare of which ennemies, the Israelites made them dennes in the mountains and caues, & strong holds Iud. 6. ve. 2. This Gedeon is termed also Ierubbal Iud. 7. vers. 1. Iud. 8. ve. 35

Abimelek iudged 3. yeeres Iud. 9. verse 22. [ 3]

Thola the sonne of Puah iudged 23. yeres Iud. 10. verse 2 [ 23]

Iair iudged 22. yeres Iud. 10. verse 3. from this time the [ 22] Israelites were afflicted with the Ammonites and the Phili∣stines for the space of 18. yeres together Iud. 10. verse 7, 8. [ 18]

Iephtee iudged sixe yeeres Iud. 12. verse 7. [ 6]

Abesan or Ibzan iudged 7. yeeres Iud. 12. verse 8, 9. [ 7]

Elon iudged Israel 10. yeeres Iud. 12. verse 11. [ 10]

[ 8] Abdon iudged the Hebrewes 8. yeres iudg. 12. vers. 13, 14

[ 20] Samson iudged 20. yeres Iudg. 16. ver. 31. his wife De∣lilah betrayed him, and deliuered him into the hands of the Phi∣listines, who put out his eies, bound him with fetters, and made him to grinde in the prison house: but in the end, when they cal∣led him out to make them pastime, and to be a laughing stocke to them; he pulled downe the two pillers of the house, and so with the fall of the house, killed more Philistines at his death, then he had slaine in all his life before Iudg. 16. ve. 18, 21, 29, 30, 31.

[ 40] Eli the priest iudged Israel fortie yeares 1. Sam. 4. ve. 18.

[ 40] Samuel and Saul reigned fortie yeeres Act. 13. verse 21.

[ 40] Dauid raigned ouer Israel fortie yeeres 1. King. 2. ve. 11.

The whole summe of yeeres is 477.

The partiall summes of the yeeres be these;

• 40
• 40
• 80
• 40
• 40
• 3
• 23
• 22
• 18
• 6
• 7
• 10
• 8
• 20
• 40
• 40
• 40

477

Make addition, and this will be the summe 477.

To these we must adde three yeares of king Salomon, be∣cause in the fourth yeere of his raigne hee beganne to build the temple, and so the whole number will be 480. to which must be added one moneth and one day. This summe is confirmed by the testimonie of holy Writ, in thefe expresse termes; in the 480. yeere (after the children of Israel were come out of the

land of Egypt) and in the fourth yeere of the raigne of Salomon ouer Israel, he built the house of the Lord 1. King. 6. ve. 1. A∣gaine, it is thus written; so Salomon began to build the house of the Lord in Ierusalem, in the second moneth, and the second day, in the fourth yeere of his reigne, 2. Para. 3. verse 1. and 2.

The fift age.

The fift age, from the building of the temple to the captiui∣tie of the Iewes in Babylon, containeth 432. yeres, whereof this is the demonstration.

King Salomon raigned after that hee beganne to builde the [ 37] temple 37. yeeres, 1. King. 11. verse 42.2. Para. 9. verse 30. but hereof we must abate one moneth and one day, because hee beganne to build the temple in the second day of the second mo∣neth of the fourth yeere, as is already prooued.

Roboam or Rehoboam reigned 17. yeres 2. Par. 12. v. 13. [ 17]

Abias raigned 3. yeeres 1. King. 15. verse 2. [ 3]

Asa raigned 41. yeeres 1. King. 15. verse 9 and 10. this Asa [ 41] was a vertuous and zealous prince; he sought the Lord with a perfect heart; he deposed Maachah his mother from her regen∣cie, because she had made an idoll in a groue: hee brake downe the idoll and stamped it, and burned it at the brooke Kidron. He gathered all Iudah and Beniamin, and the strangers, and made them sweare vnto true religion vnder the paine of death 2. Par. 15. per totum.

Iehosaphat or Iosaphat raigned 25. yeres 2. Par. 20. ve. 31 [ 25]

Iehoram raigned 8. yeres, 2. Par. 21. v. 5. 2. Kin. 8. ve. 26 [ 8]

Ochozias or Ahaziah raigned 1. yeere, 2. Kin. 8. verse 26. [ 1]

Athaliah the mother of Ochozias raigned 7. yeeres 2. King. [ 7] 11. verse 1. and 21. for king Ioas or Iehoash was 7. yeres old when he beganne to raigne. This Athaliah destroyed the kings blood, and was sister to wicked Achab.

Ioas or Iehoash raigned 40. yeeres 2. King. 12. verse 1. [ 40]

Amaziah raigned 29. yeeres 2. King. 14. verse 2 [ 29]

Azariah or Ozias raigned 52. yeeres 2. King. 15. verse 2. [ 52]

Ioatham or Iotham raigned 16. yeeres 2. King. 15. ver. 33 [ 16]

Achas or Ahaz raigned 16. yeeres, 2. King. 16. verse 2. [ 16]

[ 29] Ezechias reigned 29. yeeres 2. King. 18. verse 2.

[ 55] Manasses reigned 55. yeeres 2. King. 21. verse 1.

[ 2] Amon raigned two yeeres 2. King. 21. verse 19.

[ 31] Iosias reigned 31. yeeres 2. King. 22. verse 1.

Ioachaz or Iehoahaz reigned three months, 2. Ki. 23. v. 31.

[ 11] Ioachim or Iehoiachim, or Eliachim reigned 11. yeeres 2. King. 23. verse 36. This Eliachim was a very wicked man: he was made king by Pharao Nechoh, who turned his name to Eliachim 2. Ki. 23. verse 34. and 37. in the dayes of this Ioa∣chim, beganne the first captiuitie of the three: whereof see more at large in the seuenth chapter next following.

Iehoiachim, or Iechonias, or Coniah the sonne of Iehoia∣chim raigned three moneths and tenne dayes 2. Par. 36. verse 9. 2. King. 24. verse 8. Ierem. 37. verse 1. In the time of this Iechonias beganne the second captiuitie, which 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 hath simply the name of captiuitie, and therefore do I followe the same, in this my supputation of the first age. See the second booke and first chapter, in the fourth section.

[ 11] Sedechias or Zedechias reigned 11. yeeres 2. King. 24. ve. 18. he rebelled against the king of Babel ibid. ver. 20. wher∣fore after the siege of two yeeres, Nebuchad-nezar carried him captiue to Babel: in the eleuenth yeare of his reigne his owne eies were put out, his sonnes were first slaine in his sight, and then hee was bound in chaines, and so led away to captiuity, 2. King. 25. ve. 1, 2, 7. he was vncle to Iechonias, and his name was Mattanias, but the king of Babel changed it to Sedechi∣as 2. Kin. 25. verse 17.

The first addition.

We must first adde to this supputation, for the complement of the first age, eleuen yeeres of the inter-reigne, which are found wanting betweene the death of Amaziah, and the reigne of Azariah; for so long was the kingdome of Iuda voide, as holy Writ heareth record. I proue it thus: Amaziah reigned 29. yeares, 2. King. 14. verse 2. and he beganne his reigne in the second yeare of Ioash king of Israel, and liued 15. yeares after him, 2. King. 14. verse. 1. and 17. Ieroboam the sonne of

Ioash was made king ouer Israel in the fifteenth yere of Ama∣ziah, and he reigned 41. yeres, 2. Kin. 14. verse 23. Let vs ad∣ioyne hereunto, that Azariah beganne his raigne in the seauen and twentieth yeare of Ieroboam, 2. Ki. 15. verse 1. and then perforce shall we finde 11 yeres wanting, from the death of A∣maziah, til the first yere of the raigne of Azariah. These things I grant be very intricate; yet if my wordes he well marked, the Reader may conceiue the matter with al facilitie: the cause of the inter-reigne, was the traiterous conspiracie against A∣maziah, 2. King. 14. verse 19.

The second addition.

Although Iechonias (in whome I beginne my supputation of the captiuitie) be said in some place of the scripture to haue reigned but three moneths and ten dayes, yet do I ascribe one whole yeare to his reigne: my reason is this; because he was not carried away to Babel, vntill the whole yeere was expired, 2. Par. 36. verse 10. these are the wordes: and when the yeere was out, king Nebuchad-nezzar sent and brought him to Ba∣bel with the pretious vessels of the house of the Lorde, and hee made Zedechiah king ouer Iudah and Ierusalem.

The first obiection.

The scripture saith in one place, that Iechonias reigned but three moneths, 2. King. 24. verse 8. in an other place, that hee reigned three moneths and tenne dayes, 2. Par. 36. verse 9. in another place, that he was eighteene yeeres old when he began to reigne, 2. King. 24.8. in an other place, that he beganne to raigne in the eight yeare of his age, 2. Par. 36. ve. 9. all which can neither agree with three moneths, nor yet with one onelie yeare.

The answer.

I answere, that hee beganne to reigne when hee was eight yeares old, and reigned tenne yeares with his father: and after

the death of his father he raigned three moneths and ten daies, which was in the nineteenth yeare of his age, and so euery text of holy Writ is cleare.

This my answer is confirmed by the expresse wordes of holie scripture, 2. King. 25. verse 8. where it is saide, that Nebuzar∣adan chiefe steward to the king of Babel came in the nineteenth yeare of the kings raigne, to make hauocke of the citie, and to carry Sedechias into captiuitie: for Iechonias was carried a∣way in the eight yeere of the king of Babel, 2. King. 24. verse 12. and Sedechias reigned eleuen yeeres, 2. King. 24.18. this case is so euident, as euery childe may perceiue the same.

The replie.

The scripture telleth vs, that the king of Babel caried Ieho∣iachim into captiuitie in the third yeere of his raigne; and yet do you ascribe eleuen yeeres to his raigne.

The answer.

I answer, that Iehoiakim was carried away in the eleuenth yere, if we reckon from the time in which Pharao Necho made him king: but in the third yeare, if we reckon from that time, in which he became seruant to the king of Babel, 2. King. 23. verse 34, and 36. 2. King. 24. verse 1.

The second obiection.

The scripture calleth Sedechias the brother of Iechonias, therefore it is not consonant to the trueth, to say hee was his vncle.

The answer.

I answer with saint Austen and saint Hierome, that the cu∣stome of the scripture is, to terme kinsemen by the name of bro∣thers, and therefore Sedechias is indifferently called vncle, 2. King. 24. verse 17. or brother, 2. Par. 36. verse 10.

The particular summes of the yeeres be these;

• 37
• 17
• 3
• 41
• 25
• 8
• 1
• 7
• 40
• 29
• 52
• 16
• 16
• 29
• 55
• 2
• 31
• 11
• 11
• 11
• 1

443

Make addition, and the summe will be found 443. To the which adde three monethes for the raigne of Io••∣chas.

The sixt age.

The sixt age from the beginning of the captiuitie till the sa∣cred passion of Christ Iesus, conteineth 660. yeares, whereof let this be the demonstration.

The captiuitie (in which are inuolued the eleuen yeares of Sedechias) continued the space of 70. yeeres. Ierem. 25. vers. 11. and 29. Daniel 9. vers. 2. Esdr. 1. verse 1. 2. Paralip. 36, verse 22.

This is confirmed by the raigne of the Monarchs; for Ne∣buchad-nezzer (from the beginning of whose eight yeare, the second and chiefe captiuitie beganne) reigned 45. yeeres.

Euilmerodach his sonne reigned 30. yeres. And Balthazar reigned 3. yeares. Al which put together, make the 70. yeeres of the Iewish captiuitie. For in the first yeare of king Cyrus (who succeeded Balthazar,) the Iewes were set at libertie, Esdr. 1 verse 1. S. Clement, Eusebius, and all approoued writers do constantly affirme the same.

The seuentie weekes in Daniel make iust 490. yeares, as al writers do affirme. Concerning which weeks (because there is verie great varietie amongest historiographers) I will here suppose that, which (by Gods grace) I shal proue effectually, when I come to the fourth chapter of the third booke of this first part: whither I referre the Reader, for his full resolution in this intricate and important controuersie. In the meane sea∣son, remember that the 490. yeares are but 475. yeares after [ 475] the course of the Moone.

From the ende of the captiuitie vntill the twentieth yeare of Artaxerxes Longimanus inclusiuè (where I hold that the 70. weekes doe beginne) are iust 115. yeares and two moneths: [ 115] all which put together do make iust 660. yeres. For the weeks make no more but 475. yeares after the course of the sunne: which must be marked attentiuely, and which shall be prooued hereafter accordingly.

The particular summes be these;

• 70
• 475
• 115

in al 660

Thus wee haue it perspicuously prooued, euen by the testi∣monie of holy Writ, that from the beginning of the world, vn∣til the time that Christ suffered on the crosse for our sinnes, be iust ••ure thousand, foure score and seuenteene yeares, three moneth•• and sixteene dayes.

Thus in particular maner:

• The first age, 1656
• The second 353
• The third 505
• The fourth 480
• The fift 428
• The sixt 660

in all 4082.

Now, because the exact knowledge of the raigne of the kings of Iudah, dependeth more then a little of the raigne of the kings of Israel; I purpose in God to adioyne hereunto a manifest declaration of the same, specially, because without the knowledge thereof; the bookes of the Kings and Chroni∣cles can neuer be rightly vnderstoode.

The Kings of Israel.

Ieroboam raigned 21. yeares, which I prooue thus: Asa king of Iudah beganne to raigne in the twentieth yeere of Ie∣roboam, [ 21] 1. King. chapter 15, verse 9. and Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam beganne to raigne ouer Israel, in the second yere of Asa, 1. King. chapter 15, verse 25: therefore Ieroboam his father whom he succeeded in the kingdome, raigned before his death 21. yeares.

Nadab raigned 2. yeares, 1. King. 15. verse 25. [ 2]

Baasha raigned 24. yeares, 1. King. 15. verse 33. [ 24]

Elah or Hela raigned 2. yeares, 1. King. 16.8. [ 2]

Zimri raigned 7. dayes, 1. King. 16. verses 15, and 16. [daye 7]

Amri or Omri raigned 12. yeares, 1. King. 16.23. [ 12]

[ 22] Achab or Ahab reigned 22. yeeres, 1. King. 16.29.

[ 2] Ochozias or Ahaziah reigned 2. yeeres, 1. King. 22.51.

[ 12] Ioram or Iehoram raigned 12. yeeres, 2. King. 3. verse 1. both these two, to wit, Ochozias and Ioram were the sonnes of Achab.

[ 28] Iehu reigned 28. yeeres, 2. King. 10. verse 36.

[ 17] Ioachas or Iehoahaz reigned 17. yeeres, 2. Kin. 13. ve. 1.

[ 16] Ioas or Iehoash reigned 16. yeeres, 2. King. 13. verse 10.

[ 41] Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas or Ioash reigned 41. yeeres, 4. King. 14. verse 23. where we must note well by the way, that the other Ieroboam was the sonne of Nebat, 1. King. 12.2.

We must heere obserue as a necessarie rule, that betweene [ 23] Ieroboam and Zachariah was an inter-reigne of 23. yeeres. I prooue it, because we reade, 2. Kin. 15.1, 8. that Azariah king of Iudah beganne his raigne in the seuen and twentieth yeere of Ieroboam; as also that Zacharias beganne his raigne in the eight and thirtieth yere of Azariah, to which we must adde, that Ieroboam raigned 41. yeeres, and so the kingdome per∣force was voide 23. yeres. For, if we make abstraction of 14. from 37. the remainder will be 23. yeres for the inter-reigne.

[moneths 6] Zachariah reigned 6. moneths, 2. King. 15.8.

[moneth 1] Sellum or Shallum reigned 1▪ moneth, 2. King. 15.13.

[yeeres 10] Menahem or Manahen reigned 10. yeeres, 2. King. 15.17.

[ 2] Pekahiah or Phaceas reigned 2. yeeres, 2. King. 15.23.

[ 20] Pekah or Phasee raigned 20. yeeres, 2. King. 15.27.

[ 9] Osee or Hosheah reigned 9. yeeres, 2. King. 17. verse 1.

In the dayes of this king, about the yeare of the worlde 3304. beganne the captiuitie.

Of the ten Tribes;

whereof see more at large in the eight chapter next following, in the sixt Section.

Notes

• Aug. de ciuit. libr. 22. cap. 30.
• The difficultie consisteth not in the ages, but in the supputat••••on of the yeare••
• Exceeding gre•••• varietie of opin••••ons.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 first age.
• second age.
• August. quaest. sup. Gen. q. 25.
• Mal. 1. verse 2, 3. ••▪ Par▪ 4. v▪ 1.
• Actes 7. verse ••.
• The third age.
• ••ee the Fift Secti∣••n of the eight ••hapter, where ••his is handled more at large.
• This point must be well noted.