The holie Bible faithfully translated into English, out of the authentical Latin. Diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greeke, and other editions in diuers languages. With arguments of the bookes, and chapters: annotations. tables: and other helpes ... By the English College of Doway

CHAP. XII. VVhiles the Iewes haue peace with the king, others stil persecute them. 5. which Iudas reuengeth. 13. and in Casp••n maketh great slaughter, and reposeth in Chara••a. 19. Tenne thousand of Timothees men are slayne. 20. whom Iudas pursuing killeth manie in Carnion: 34. taketh him, but releaseth him againe: 27. the like in Ephron. 32. Some Iewes are slaine in battel against Gorgias. 38. Iudas and his men are purified, and gathering the dead bodies, finde that some had taken vnlawful spoiles. 42. For whose soules he prayeth, and causeth sacrifice to be offered.

THESE couenants being made, Lysias went foreward to [ 1] the king, and the Iewes gaue themselues to husbandrie. † But they that stayed there, :: Timothie & :: Appollonius the [ 2] sonne of Gennaius, & also Ierom, & Demophon, besides these also Nicanor the gouerner of Cyprus, did not suffer them to liue in rest and quietnes. † And the Ioppites committed a cer∣taine [ 3] flagicious fact, which was this: They desired the Iewes with whom they dwelt, to goe into the botes, which they had

prepared, with their wiues & children, as though no secret em∣nities were between them. † Therefore according to the com∣mon [ 4] decree of the citie, & they agreeing therto, & because of the peace suspecting nothing: when they were gone forward, [ 5] into the depth, they drowned no lesse then two hundred. † Which crueltie Iudas as he vnderstood to be done vpon the men of his nation, commanded the men that were with him: and inuocating God the iust iudge, † he came against the mur∣derers [ 6] of his brethren, & the hauen he set on fire in the night, the botes he burnt, & them that were fled from the fire, he flew with the sword. † And when he had thus done these thinges, he [ 7] departed as to returne againe, and to roote out al the Ioppites. † But when he vnderstood that they also, which were at Iamnia, [ 8] would doe in like maner to the Iewes dwelling with them, † he came vpon the Iamnites also by night, and set the hauen [ 9] on fyre with the shippes, so that the light of the fire appeared at Ierusalem:: two hundred fourtie furlongs of. † When they [ 10] were now departed thence nine furlongs, and made their iourney towards Timothee, the Arabians fiue thousand men, and fiue hundred horsemen ioyned battel with them. † And [ 11] when there was a mightie battel, and by the helpe of God it had succeded prosperously, the rest of the Arabians that were ouercome, besought Iudas that the right hand might be geuen them, promising that they would geue pastures, and profite them, in other thinges. † And Iudas thinking in very deede [ 12] that they might be profitable in manie thinges, promised peace, and right handes being taken, they departed to their ta∣bernacles. † And he set also vpon a certaine citie strong with [ 13] bridges, and enuironed with walles, which was inhabited with multitudes of heathen of al sortes, the name wherof is Caspin. † But they that were within, trusting in the firmenes of the [ 14] walles, & the prouision of victuals, dealt the more stackly, with reuiling wordes prouoking Iudas, and blaspheming, and spea∣king such thinges as is not lawful to speake. † But Machabeus [ 15] inuocating the great prince of the world, who without rammes and engines in Iesus time threwe downe Ierico, fiercely assaul∣ted the walles. † And the citie being taken by the wil of our [ 16] Lord he made innumerable slaughters, so that the poole adioy∣ning of two furlongs in bredth, semed to runne died with bloud. † From thence they departed seuen hundred fiftie fur∣longs, [ 17] and they came to Characa to those Iewes, that are called

:: Tubianeians: † and in those places they tooke not Timo∣thee, [ 18] and nothing being done he went backe, hauing left in a certaine place a very strong garrison. † But Dositheus, and [ 19] Sosipater, who were captayns with Machabeus, slewe them that were left of Timothee in the hold, ten thousand men. † And Machabeus ordayning about him six thousand, and pla∣cing [ 20] them by bandes, went forth against Timothee, who had with him an hundred twenty thousand footemen, & of horse∣men two thousand fiue hundred. † And the coming of Iudas [ 21] being knowen, Timothee sent the wemen and children, and the other baggage before into the fortresse, that is called Cat¦nion: for it was inuincible, and hard to come by, by reason of the straites of the places. † And when the first band of Iudas [ 22] had appeared, seare was stroken into the enemies, by the pre∣sence of God, who seeth al thinges, and they were put to flight one of an other, so that they were rather ouerthrowen of their owne companie, and were weakened with the strokes of their owne swordes. † But Iudas was exceding earnest pu∣nishnig [ 23] the prophane men, and he ouerthrewe of them thirtie thousand men. † And Timothee him selfe fel into the handes [ 24] of Dositheus and Sisipaters partes, and with manie prayers he besought that he might be let go aliue, because he had parents & brethren of manie of the Iewes, whom it might happen by his death to be deceiued. † And when he had geuen his faith [ 25] that he would restore them according to the appointmēt they let him goe without harme, for the safetie of their brethren. [ 26] † And Iudas came backe from Carnion, hauing slayne twentie fiue thousand. † After the flight and slaughter of these, he mo∣ued [ 27] his armie to Ephron a strong citie, wherin a multitude dwelt of diuerse nations: & strong young men standing before the walles resisted manfully, & in this were manie engins, and prouision of dartes. † But when they had inuocated the Al∣mightie, [ 28] who with his power breaketh the forces of the ene∣mies, they tooke the citie: and of them that were within they ouerthrew twentie fiue thousand. † From thence they de∣parted [ 29] to a citie of the Scythians, which was distant from Ie∣rusalem six hundred furlongs. † But those Iewes that were [ 30] with the Scythopolitans testifying that they were vsed cur∣teously of them, euen in the times of miserie that they dealt modestly with them: † geuing them thankes, and exhorting [ 31] them also thence forward to be fauourable toward their stock,

they came to Ierusalem the solemne day of the weekes appro∣ching. † And after Pentecost they went against :: Gorgias the [ 32] gouernour of Idumea. † And he went forth with footemen [ 33] three thousand, and horsemen foure hundred. † Who buck∣ling [ 34] together, it chanced few of the Iewes to be slayne. † But [ 35] Dositheus one of the Bacenors an horseman, a valiant man, held Gorgias: and wheras he would haue taken him aliue, a certayne horseman of the Thracians came vpon him, and cut of his shoulder: and so Gorgias escaped into Maresa. † But [ 36] they that were with Esdrin, fighting long, and being wearied, Iudas inuocated our Lord to be their helper, and captayne of the battel: † beginning in his countrey language, and with [ 37] hymmes raising a crie, draue Gorgias souldiars into flight. † And Iudas hauing gathered an armie came into the citie [ 38] Odollam: & when the seuenth day came on, being purifyed according to the custome, they kept the Sabbath in the same place. † And the day folowing Iudas came with his companie, [ 39] to take away the bodies of them that were ouerthrowen, and with their kinsmen to lay them in the sepulchers of their fa∣thers. † And they found vnder the coates of the slayne some [ 40] :: of the donaryes of the idols, that were in Iamnia, from which the lawe forbiddeth the Iewes: therfore it was made playne to al, that for that cause they were slayne. † Al therfore blessed [ 41] the iust iudgement of our Lord, who had made manifest the hidden thinges. † And so turning to prayers, they besought [ 42] him, that the same offence, which was committed, might be forgotten. But the most valient Iudas exhorted the people to keepe themselues without sinne, seing before their eyes what was done, because of the sinnes of them that were ouer∣throwen. † And :: making a gathering, he sent twelue thou∣sand [ 43] drachmes of siluer to Ierusalem for sacrifice to be offered for sinne, wel and religiously thinking of the resurrection. († for vnles he hoped that they that were slaine, should rise [ 44] againe, it should seeme superfluous, and vaine to pray for the dead) † And because he considered that they, which had taken [ 45] their sleepe :: with godlines, had very good grace layd vp for them. † “ It is therfore :: a holie, and healthful cogitation to [ 46] pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sinnes.

ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XII.

46▪ It is a holie and healthful cogitation to pray for the dead.] The Catholique be∣leefe, doctrine, and practise of praying for the dead, is so euidently confirmed

by this place, that our aduersaries haue no better shift to auoide the same, then by denying these bookes to be Canonical Scripture. VVhich being authenti∣cally proued, it may here suffice to adde that albeit the Greke text (as in o∣ther innumerable places) differeth from the Latin, yet it is no lesse clere for this doctrin. VVhich in English is thus: v 45. Regarding (or considering) that grace is layde vp for them that sleepe (or dye) in pietie: tovvitte in true faith and repen∣tance; in the next verse (46.) inferreth thus: VVherupon he (Iudas Machabeus▪) made reconciliation (or expiation) for the dead, that they might be deliuered (or loosed) from their sinne, that is, from punishment for sinne.

Omitting therfore multitude of other proofes, vve vvil here only cite tvvo great Doctors, who with others teach that the denial of this particular point of religion is a condemned heresie. S. Augustin li. de Haeresib. haer. 53. noteth this for a special heresie, saying: Aerians are named of one Aerius, vvho being a priest, and taking it greuously that he could not be ordained a Bishop, falling into the heresie of the Arrians, added some proper doctrines of his ovvne, saying: that vve ought not to pray, nor offer sacrifice for the dead. Likevvise S. Bernard, Ser. 66 in Cantica: in plaine termes saith they are heretikes, vvhich beleue not that there is pur∣gatorie fire after death, but that the soule departing from the bodie, goeth forth∣vvith either to rest or to damnation. Let them then (saith he) aske of him vvho saide: There is some sinne that shal not be forgeuen, neither in this vvorld, nor in the future: why he sayd this, if there remaine no remission, and purgation of sinne in the future vvorld? He therfore aduiseth al to bevvare of such seducers, saying: See the detracters, see the dogges. They deride vs, because vve baptize infantes: for that vve pray for the dead.

It is also most vvorthie of consideration, that Iudas Machabeus, (vvho did this charitable act for his souldiars slaine in the holie vvarres) vvas the High priest, or chief Bishop of the Church at that time, and defender of true faith and Religion. Finally vve may also obserue that he did not anie nevv thing, but practised the vsual custome of the vvhole Church. For so it appeareth by their sette forme of Office for the dead, called HASCHABAH, that is, Rest, or prayer for rest, in their booke MAHZOR, translated and set forth by Bishop Gene∣brard, in the yeare of our Lord. 1569. VVhere are these expresse supplications. Requiescat anima ipsius in cubili suo: iaceat in pace: dormiat in pace. His (or her) soule rest in his bed: lye, and slepe in peace. Againe, Ye Angels of peace come forth to mete him▪ &c. And that the Ievves this day vse to pray for the dead, is a clere thing, and confessed by Protestantes, namely Munsterus, and Fagius in their Annotations vpon the 14. of Deut. and M. VVhitaker, in his first booke against F. Dureus▪ fol▪ 81.

Notes

• ::

  An other Timothee was slaine. ch. 10. v 37.
• ::

  Also an o∣ther Apollo∣nius vvas slaine before. li. 1. c. 3. v. 11.
• ::

  A furlong is about the eight part of a myle, so this fire vvas sene thirty miles of others count a furlong to conteyne a thousand foote, the fifth part of a myle so it vvas sene 48. myles di∣stant.
• Iosue. 6.
• ::

  Tubianci, or Tubieni, signi∣fie religiously good, it is pro bable that these vvere the Assideans. li 1. c. 2. v. 42. c: 7. v. 13.
• ::

  Iudas had the victorie twise before against this Gorgias. li 1. c. 4. v. 1. li. 2. c. 10. v. 14.
• ::

  It was com∣manded. Deut. 7. v▪ 25. not to couet nor take aniething per∣teyning to i∣dols, but to destroy al▪ See this sinne pu∣nished. Iosue. 7. 1. Reg. 15. &c.
• ::

  Vnles it had bene the do¦ctrine & pra∣ctise of the Church to pray for the dead, Iudas could neuer haue thought of anie such matter.
• ::

  It is only profitable for those that dye penitent.
• li. 1. c. 6. v. 18.
• This text is clere for pray∣ing for the dead.
• in the ar∣gument. pa. 890.
• Likevvise the Greke.
• S. Augu∣stin. ep. 61. ad Dulcit. l. 1. c. 23. de morib, li. de cura pro mort. c. 1. & Enchir. c. 110.
• Denial of this doctrine is he∣resie.
• Mat. 12.
• Iudas vvas high priest when he cau∣sed prayers and sacrifice to be offered for the dead. It was the ge∣neral practise of ••he Church. And is yet ob∣serued by the Iewes.