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Dauids Kingdome: his merit, his sonne Salomon. Prophecies of Christ in Salomons bookes: and in bookes that are annexed vnto them. CHAP. 20.
DAuid, the sonne of the celestiall Ierusalem, reigned in the earthly one, & was much commended in the scriptures, his piety and true humility so conque∣red his imperfections, that he was one of whom we might say, with him: Blessed are th•…•…se whose iniquity is forgiuen and whose sinnes are couered. After him, his sonne Sa∣•…•… * 1.1 reigned in all his Kingdome, beginning to reigne (as we said) in his fathers 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (a) He beganne well but he ended badly: prosperity, the moath of wisdome, did him more hurt, then his famous and memorable wisdome it selfe, profited him. He was a prophet, as his workes, (b) namely the Prouerbs, the Canticles, and Ecclesiastes, doe proue: all which are canonicall. But Ecclesiasticus and the booke of wisdome, were onely called his, for some similitude betweene his stile, and theirs. But all the learned affirme them none of his, yet the churches of the West holds them of great authoritie, and hath done long: and in the booke of (c) Wisdome is a plaine prophecie of Christs passion: for his wicked murderers 〈◊〉〈◊〉 brought in, saying, Let vs cercumuent the iust, for he displeaseth vs, and is contra∣ry vnto our doings, checking vs for offending thee law, and shaming vs for our breach * 1.2 of discipline. Hee boasteth himselfe of the knowledge of GOD, and calleth himselfe the •…•…ne of the LORD: Hee is made to reprooue our thoughts, it •…•…reeueth vs to looke vpon him, for his life is not like other mens: his waies are of another fashion. He 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vs triflers, and avoideth our waies, as vncleannesse: he commendeth the ends of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 iust, and boasteth that GOD is his father. Let vs see then if he say true: let •…•…ue what end he shall haue: If this iust man, be GODS Sonne, he will helpe him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 deliuer him from the hands of his enemies: let vs examine him with rebukes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ments, to know his meekenesse, and to prooue his pacience. Let vs condemne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to a shamefull death, for he saith he shalbe preserued. Thus they imagine, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ay, for their malice hath blinded them. In (d) Ecclesiasticus also is the fu∣•…•… •…•…th of the Gentiles prophecied, in these words. Haue mercy vpon vs, O * 1.3 〈◊〉〈◊〉 GOD of all, and send thy feare amongst the Nations: lift vppe thine hand 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Nations that they may see thy power: and as thou art sanctified in vs be∣•…•… •…•…em so be thou magnified in them before vs: that they may know thee as wee know 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that there is no God but onely thou O LORD. This propheticall praier we see 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Iesus Christ. But the scriptures that are not in the Iewes Canon, are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…d proofes against our aduersaries. But it would be a tedious dispute, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 farre beyond our ayme, if I should heere stand to referre all the prophe∣•…•… Salomons three true bookes that are in the Hebrew Canon, vnto the truth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ and his church. Although that that of the Prouerbs, in the persons of the wicked: Let vs lay waite for the iust without a cause, and swallow them vppe * 1.4 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they that goe downe into the pit, let vs raze his memory from earth, and take 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his ritch possession, this may easily and in few wordes bee reduced vnto CHRIST, and his church: for such a saying haue the wicked husbandmen in his euangelicall Parable: This is the heire, come let vs kill him, and take his •…•…tance. In the same booke likewise, that which wee touched at before * 1.5 •…•…g of the barren that brought forth seauen) cannot bee meant but of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 church of CHRIST, and himselfe, as those doe easilie apprehend 〈◊〉〈◊〉 snow CHRIST to bee called the wisdome of his father; the wordes are.