A summarie view of the government both of the old and new testament whereby the episcopall government of Christs church is vindicated out of the rude draughts of Lancelot Andrewes, late Bishop of Winchester : whereunto is prefixed (as a preamble to the whole) a discovery of the causes of the continuance of these contentions touching church-government out of the fragments of Richard Hooker.

The forme of Government under DAVID.

ALbeit in Sauls government small regard was had to the Church: yet David found at his comming a superiority amongst them.

For besides the Priests, hee found six Princes or Rulers over six families of the Levits. (1. Chron. 15.5, 6, &c.)

• Vrielover Cohath.
• Asajahover Merari.
• Ioelover Gershon.
• Shemajahover Elizaphan.
• Elielover Hebron.
• Amminadabover Vzziel.

Likewise between the two Priests an inequality: one Abiathar, attending the Ark at Ierusalem, the higher function; the other, Zadok, the Tabernacle at Gibeon. (2. Sam. 20.25.1. Chron, 16.37, 39.)

But after the Ark was brought back; he set a most exquisite order among the Levits: and that by Sa∣muels direction; 1. Chron. 9.22. So that he is there reckoned as a new Founder.

Of them he made six orders: 1. Chron. 23.

1. Priests, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉	24000.	vers. 4.
2. Ministers of Priests
3. Iudges, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉	6000.	vers. 4.
4. Officers, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
5. Singers, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉	4000.	verse. 5.
6. Porters, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉	4000.

1. Of Priests, Zadok was the chiefe of the family of Eleazar; and Ahimelech the second, of the family of Ithamar. (1. Chron-24.3.)

Under these were XXIIII. other Courses.

Of the posteritie of

• Eleazar, XVI.
• Ithamar, VIII.

1. Chr. 24.4.

Which XXIIII. are called (in the 5. verse)

Rulers of the Sanctuary and Rulers of the House of God: and to whom the learned In∣terpreters thinke the XXIIII. Elders, Apocal. 4.4. have relation.

II. Of Levits that ministred to the Priests in their function, likewise XXIIII. Courses; out of the * 1.1 VIII. families, the Heads of whom are set downe in 1. Chron. 23.6. and 24.20.

Over all which, Jehdeiah was chiefe.

III. Of Iudges, that sate for causes aswell of God as the King, there were appointed:

• 1. On this side Iordan, upwards toward the River; Ashhabiah the Hebronite. (1. Chr. 26.30.)
• 2. On this side Iordan, downwards towards the Sea; Chenaniah the Isharite. (1. Chr. 26.29.)
• 3. Beyond Iordan, over the two Tribes and the halfe; Ierijah the chiefe of the Hebro∣nites. (1. Chron. 26.31.)

IIII. Of Officers.

• Scribes.
  • Shemaiah. (1. Chron. 24.6.)
  • Seraiaeh. (2. Sam. 8.17.)
  • Shevah. (2. Sam. 20.25.)
• Scribes of the
  • Levits. (1. Chron. 24.6.)
  • Temple. (2. King. 22.3. Ier. 36.10)
  • People. (Mat. 2.4.)
  • King. (2. King. 12.10.)

V. Of the Singers likewise he set XXIV courses: over which he placed three chiefe, out of the three

families. (1. Chron. 15.17. & 25.2, 3, 4.)

Out of

• Cohath; Heman Samuels nephew. (1. Chr. 6.33)
• Gershon; Asaph. (1. Chron. 6.39.)
• Merari; Ethan or Ieduthun. 1. Chron. 6.44.

Of these, Heman was the Chiefe. (1. Ch. 25.5) Vnder these were diverse others. (1. Chr. 15.18.

VI. Of Porters, who were divided into the

• Keepers of the watch of the Temple: (Mat. 27.65. Psal. 134.1.) who were placed on each quarter of the Tabernacle. (1. Chr. 26.13, 14, &c.) On the
  • East side VI. over whom was She∣lemiah.
  • South IIII. (for the Tabernacle II. and II. for Asuppim) over whō was Obed.
  • West IIII. over whom was Hosa.
  • North IIII. over whom was Ze∣chariah.
  Over all these it seemeth Benajah, the son of Iehoiada the Priest, was the chiefe. (1. Chron, 27.5.)
• Treasu∣rers: for the Revenues of the house of God (1. Ch. 26.20.) for Things dedicated by vow; Shelomith. 1. Chron. 26.26.) Cohath; Shebuel of Moses of∣spring. Gershon; Iehiel. Merari; Ahiah.

Over all the Porters was Chenaniah. (1. Chr. 26.29. & 15.22, 27.)

It is to be remembred that, beside Zadok the High Priest and Ahimelech (the second) we finde mention of Hashabiah the son of Kemuel chiefe of the whole Tribe of Levi. (1. Chron. 27.17.) So that there was

One over the Ark;

Zadok.

The second over the Tabernacle;

Ahimelech.

The third over the Tribe;

Hashabiah.

As over the

Levits Ministers;

Iehdeiah.

Iudges;

Chasabiah.

Officers;

Shemaiah.

Singers;

Heman.

Porters;

Chenaniah, or Benaiah.

Agreeable to this forme we read that under Iosias there were three: that is, Hilkiah, Zachariah, and Ie∣hiel: (2. Chron. 35.8.) and that the Levits had six o∣ver them. (2. Chron. 35.9.)

Againe under Zedekiah; that there were carried in∣to Captivity Seraiah [the chief Priest] and Zepha∣niah [the second Priest.] 2. King. 25.18.

Likewise under Ezekiah, at the provision for the Levits portions, there were ten of the Levits; over whom was Cononiah and Shimei: and so Kore over the voluntary offrings; and six Levits under him. (2. Chron. 31.12, 13. &c.)

Notes

• * 1.1

  IX.