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.

(a) They come to take him with Clubs & glaues, that ne∣ver vsed to resist with wea¦pons. Thus nowe a daies they hale his mem∣bers, as though they had to deale with swash-buck∣lers, when alas, they haue learned and taught not to smite with the sword, lest they should in Iustice perish with the sword.

(b) Though there should by the Law, haue bene onely One High Priest at one time, yet now so cor∣rupt they were, as there were two high Priests: the one having purchased his rome by Simonie, Symon Magus his oyntment.

(c) This Pilate, as Iosephus Ben-Matthias writeth, Lib. 2. de Bello IVD. Cap. 8. was sent from Rome to Ierusalem, by Tiberius Cesar: who on a night, get∣teth convayd into Ierusalem, Cesars Images: by rea∣son whereof, a great tumult within three daies, a∣rose. For the Iewes held it vtterlie vnlawefull to place any such Image in the Citie To the Citizens

other people without repaire to the house Cesarea, where Pilate lodged. They request that the Ima∣ges might be had away. Hee denieth. They conti∣nue vnmoueable 5. daies and so many nights. Af∣ter, Pilate commaunding his Souldiers to prepare their swords for slaughtering them Iewes, the Iews willinglie hold downe their necks, as willing to lose life, ere they admitted them prophane Images. Pi∣late wondring thereat, without more adoe, packe the Images out of the Citie. Flavius Iosephus, re∣members this, but will not once remember Iesus and his People. Hee writing against Appion, the Mock-Iewe, doth say, that for envy: others in their antiquities woulde not remember the Iewes, and their glorious Acts: so of him (I may say) that such a Mock-Christ, disdaineth to remember Iesus and his most woorthie Actes, though liuing within and after Iesus his time. Yet farefall, Iosephus Ben-go∣rion, for hee not onely remembreth IESVS for a Man: but afterwardes by Correction addeth: If it be lawfull to call him a Man: affirming withall, That his People put that IESVS to death, not vnderstan∣ding the Prophets: as also, That his Disciples great∣ly grewe and multiplied.

Before this Pilate was Iesus brought; Pilate in∣deede (after examination) being much vnwilling to condemne IESVS: but loving the praise of men more than the praise that is of God, he finally con∣demned him.

(d) The rascall rout, coveting rather that Bar∣rabas the Murderer should haue life: yea, they cry∣ed, out, Let his bloode be vpon vs and our Children. That his blood fell notablie vpon them, hath bene apparant notablie in this, That the Lord hath made them slaues to all Nations, and their Name odious to every People.

(e) The deth on the Crosse or Tree, was the most notable, infamous, and cursed maner of death was then. Necessary it was, that not onely he should dy the death, but most shamefull death: that so death and shame might bee consecrated to his suffering Members.

(f) Both these Theues blaspheming Iesus at first, Mat. 27. 44. soone after, one of them hath his heart and tongue converted, Luke 23 40. His vnfeigned repentance hee testified, first in reproving his fel∣lowes continued blasphemie: Secondly, in acknow∣ledging God his hand iust against them both, be∣cause of former ill: Thirdly, by defending the cause of Iesus for Innocent: when neither his Mother, nor any of his Disciples durst speake.

That his Repentance was liuely, and sprong of Faith, appeareth first, by his believing that Iesus was the King of Heaven: Secondly, by the guift of holv praier, bursting then from his beleeving heart, in these words, Lord remember me, when thou comest in thy Kingdome: to whome Iesus replied. This daye shall thou be with me in Paradise. Mark that the se∣cond Adam breakes open the doore into Paradise, from whence olde Adam caused vs to be barred.

Betwixt these two Theeues (the one a sheep, the other a Goat, a figure of the latter Iudgment) Iesus our brazen Serpent was lift vp. The murmuring Is∣raelites being stinged in the Wildemes, there was (at the Lords commaund) a brazen Serpent set vp, on which, who so looked, they were cured. That fi∣gured our Iesus, on whome, no person by the eye of faith can look, but loe, they are cured of Satan and sinnes sting: let the repentant Theefe witnes that who entred Paradise heavenly the sixt day, as Olde Adam the same daye (and like ynough the same houre) was driven out of the Earthly.

In Matthewe 10. we are willed to be as Serpents:

that is, to bee like them in something, not in every thing. Though we be wise as Serpents, yet let vs be without sting, as was Iesus and the Serpent his fi∣gure. Nay let vs labour to heal others that are stin∣ged: and not sting and bite others, lest we be bitten and consumed of others.

(g) After many mocks, revilings (the adversaries giving him bitternes to drink) he gaue vp the ghost, saying: It is finished. And here was the perimplish∣ment of Daniels halfe week of yeares: for now the Vaile of the Temple rent in two, so that the com∣mon people might steppe out of the Temples Cour•• into the Holy-place, and be their owne Priests, in of∣fering vppe a rent heart: for nowe Iesus (our high Priest) entred into the Most holy of the Heavens, there to make continuall intercession for vs.

At the renting of the Temples Vaile, the Iewes might haue learned, that then there was an end of Levies ministerie, the Priest according to Melchi∣sedeks order, having made a newe and liuing way vnto the Father throgh the vaile of his flesh: a way for every man, that commeth vnto the Father by him: for not in the Name (or power) of any other than Iesus, is Salvation to bee accomplished: for through Iesus (even as wee are members knit vnto him) we are made, not onely Kings over Satan, sin, death; but also Priestes, for lifting vp pure handes, (without wrath and doubting) in all places where∣soever. Much of the Epistle vnto the Hebrewes is spent in perswading this: neither yet knowe they Christ rightly, that knowe not this.