A briefe of the Bible drawne first into English poësy, and then illustrated by apte annotations: togither vvith some other necessary appendices. By Henoch Clapham.

TO ALL YOVNG ones in Christs Schoole, in∣crease of knowledge and san∣ctification be multiplied daily from aboue Amen.

I Haue heere for thy vse, drawn a Summe of the Sacred-writ, vsually caled BIBLE, from the greek word that in English is, BOOKE: be∣cause it is the Book of al books; with which Book, other books compared, they are but blots of mans braine, whereas this is the Sacred-writ and wisedome of ELOHIM, or, of that ONE ESSENCE IN TRI∣NITIE. That Holy-booke, before the Incarnation of the PROMISED SEED, was divi∣ded into Lavve and Prophets:

but since the CHRIST assu∣med our nature, & in the same ascended to the right hand of Majestie, from whence HE sent downe the HOLY-GHOST to fill all thinges, especially the hearts of his APOSTLES, for speaking & penning the minde of IESVS: after that time (I say) The Book of God was divided into PROPHETS and APO∣STLES, Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe Corner-stone, Ephes. 2. 20. The whole then consisteth in these Books:

These are called the fiue Bookes of Moses, or of the Lawe.

• 1 Genesis,
• 2 Exodus,
• 3 Leviticus,
• 4 Nombers,
• 5 Deuteronomie.
• 6 Iob: which for order of time might be placed next Genesis: but here for order of Books.
• 7 Ioshua.
• 8 Iudges.
• 9 Ruth.
• 10 Sam. 1.
• 11 Sam. 2.
• 12 Kings, 1.
• 13 Kings, 2.
• 14 Ch••on. 1.
• 15 Chron. 2.
• 16 Ezra,
• 17 Nehemiah.
• 18 Hester.
• 19 Psalmes.
• 20 Proverbs.
• 21 Ecclesiastes.
• 22 Song of Songs.

• ...
  These be called the 4. great Prophets.
  • 23 Isaiah.
  • 24 Icremiah.
  • 25 Ezechiel.
  • 26 Daniel.
    These 12. bee called, the small Prophets.
    • 27 Hoshea.
    • 28 Ioel.
    • 29 Amos.
    • 30 Obadiah.
    • 31 Ionah.
    • 32 Micah.
    • 33 Nahum.
    • 34 Habakkuk.
    • 35 Zephaniah.
    • 36 Haggai.
    • 37 Zechariah.
    • 38 Malachi: The last Prophet of the olde Testa∣ment, and the last book of the OLD COVE∣NANT.

Betweene this Malachi and the NEVVE TESTAMENT, haue (too inconsideratlie) bene inserted, certaine PRIVATE writings, called Apocrypha: an Humaine Breath, betwixt the Lips of the two Testamentes. Malachi (in English, Messenger or Angel) (prophecieth plainly, (Chap. 3. 1. and 4. 5.) that IE∣HOVAH will sende vnto the Iewes a Messenger, even Elijah, to prepare the way before the

MESSENGER OF COVE∣NANT, viz. CHRIST. These speaches of Malachi, (or last ANGEL of the old Covenant) are the very Face of the Newe Testament or Covenant made for Many. Matthew, he repor∣teth the ANGEL from Hea∣uen, Chapter 1. 20. bringing newes of IESVS: and Chap. 2. 1. The Messenger of Covenant is borne: and Chap. 3. IOHN BAPTIST the PREPARER of Christ his way, is introduced in that worke. Mark begin∣neth with the same: and Luke (Chap. 1.) bringeth in the AN∣GEL publishing the birth of the Messenger appointed to prepare the waye: as also pro∣claiming the birth of the AN∣GEL of the NEVVE COVE∣NANT, for whome he was to prepare the waye, calling this IOHN, ELIAS: because hee

goeth before Christ in the SPI∣RIT and POVVER of ELI∣AS, or Eliiah. The Evangelist Iohn in his 1. Chapter, bring∣eth in the saving LIGHT Ie∣sus, and the MAN SENT from GOD, viz. Iohn. Thus the last BREATH of the olde Te∣stament in Malachi, & the first BREATH of the Newe Testa∣ment in the mouthes of the E∣VANGELISTS, is all ONE BREATH CANONICALL from Heaven. They looke not with Ianus, into two contra∣ry Coastes: but Hand in hand they joyne, kissing each other, and both of them looking in∣to the EAST, from whence the Glorious DAY-STAR did visit the Earth.

Who nowe dare hinder their lips from meeting, by inserting Vn-canonicall writs, a Darke-Cloude, and Private (if not, a

stinking) Breath. The Iews that kept the Canon, received them not: As also, they were not writ¦ten in Hebers sacred tongue: a sufficient Brand, that they were no Orackles from IEHOVAH to Hebers People. Leaping thē over them Logs, we come vnto the Newe Testament, whose Books be these:

• 1 Matthewe.
• 2 Mark.
• 3 Luke.
• 4 Iohn.
• 5 Acts of the Apostles.
• 6 Paul his Epistle to the Romanes.
• 7 Corinthians▪ 1.
• 8 Corinthians, 2.
• 9 Galatians.
• 10 Ephesians.
• 11 Philippians.
• 12 Colossiaus.
• 13 Thessalonians, 1.
• 14 Thessalonians, 2.
• 15 Timothie. 1.
• 16 Timothie. 2.
• 17 Titus.
• 18 Philemon.
• 19 The Authour to the Hebrewes.
• 20 The Epistle of Iames.
• 21 Of Peter, 1.
• 22 Of Peter, 2.
• 23 Of Iohn, 1.
• 24 Of Iohn, 2.
• 25 Of Iohn, 3.
• 26 Iude.
• 27 Revel.

Exercise thy selfe in pervsing the Bible, the whole of al these several writs, and thereby thou shalt easilie (God his Spirite as∣sisting

thee) discerne the true Christ from False, the True Church from the False: True writ from False: and so conse∣quently, all holy Trueth from Falshood. And for helping thy weake Memorie, as also, for gi∣uing a taste of that large Truth, in short speach, I haue (throgh God his helpe) manifested my poore power, but riche good∣will, in this little booke. First, I haue in English Poësie (drawn according to an ancient staffe) delivered summarily the hysto∣rie of the olde and newe Testa∣ment: Secondly, vpon the most difficult points of the Poësie, I haue dilated by way of Illustra∣tion, not only for the fulfilling of the hystorie: but also for dis∣cussing sometimes, some neces∣sarie question: as also annexed hereto, such certaine computa∣tion of time, for speciall joynts

of the Story, as whereby the spirituall minded, may some∣thing bee furthered to deeper points contemplatiue. As thou shalt receiue any good hereby, so I pray thee be thankful vnto God therfore, & quickly thou shalt finde his hand vpon thee to every good work. The Lord be with thy spirit Amen.

Dedicate to shewe all duetie, chiefly to England. H. C.