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 fift Section. Of the abode of the Israelites in Egypt.

There is a great controuersie and varietie not to be dissem∣bled,* 1.1 amongst Historiographers and learned writers, concerning the time that the Israelites were in Egypt. For Moses saith that the Israelites were in Egypt 430. yeares. In Genesis it is said, that they were there only 400. yeares. S. Stephen saith that Abrahams seed should be a soiourner 400. yeares in a strange land. And yet it is very certaine by authenticall sup∣putation of the Scriptures, that they were in Egypt only 215. yeares; so that we want two hundreth yeares and odde, of the

accompt made in Genesis, Exodus, and the Actes. S. Hie∣rome confessed freely, that he knew not howe to reconcile these places of the holy scripture. S. Chrysostome reconcileth the places thus: to wit, that God appointed the Israelites to a∣bide 400. yeares in Egypt: yet for the heynous sinnes of the Egyptians, he shortened the time, euen as he abridged the 120 yeares, which he graunted before the floud vnto men,* 1.2 that they might repent, and brought them to one hundreth. Neither was Niniuie destroied after 40. daies.* 1.3 Neither died Ezechias as God had said. I answere therefore with Saint Austen and o∣ther learned writers, that the 400. yeares mentioned in Gene∣sis, and in the Acts, must be reckoned from the birth of Isaach,* 1.4 vntill the departure out of Egypt: and the 430. from Abra∣hams going out of his countrie. For the seed of Abraham was so long afflicted in a land not their owne, as the scripture spea∣beth. Partly in Palestine, partly in Mesopotamia,* 1.5 and partly in Egypt. This answere is confirmed by the testimonie of S. Paul, in his Epistle to the Galathians, where he saith that the law was giuen 430. yeres, after y^• the promise was made to A∣braham.* 1.6 For the law was giuen when the Iewes came out of Egypt, as all writers agree with vniforme consent,* 1.7 and the promise was made to Abraham, in his sonne Isaac.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 12. ve. 40. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 15. ver. 13. ••ctes. 7. verse. 6.
• * 1.2

  Gen. cap. 5.32. cap. 6.3. c. 7.6.
• * 1.3

  This appeareth to be so.
• * 1.4

  Ionas. 3.10. Is. 38.5.
• * 1.5

  Gen. 15. ver. 13.
• * 1.6

  Gal. 3. ve. 16.17.
• * 1.7

  Gen. 17. ver. 19.