An abridgement of Sir Walter Raleigh's History of the world in five books ... : wherein the particular chapters and paragraphs are succinctly abrig'd according to his own method in the larger volume : to which is added his Premonition to princes.

THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. BOOK II. Part I. FROM Abraham's Birth, to the Destruction of Solomon's Temple, which was, 1525 Years.

CHAP. I. Of the time of Abraham's Birth, and Order of the Assyrian Empire.

NINEAS, or Zameis, succeeded Semiramis in the Empire; altogether Effeminate and unlike to Conquer Bactria, as Berosus re∣ports, contrary to Diodorus, Iustinus, Orosius, and all others. He changed Governours Yearly out of Jealou∣sie of them.

Arrius succeeded, whom Suidas calls T••uras: He only reduced the Revolted Bactrians. Aralius suc∣ceeded, sumptuous in Jewels, and the Inventer of some Warlike Engines. Baleus Xerxes succeeded. The Date and Term of these Assyrian Kings Reigns, are best found out by the times of Abraham, and his Posterity, set down by Scriptures, which are only void of Errors, whereto all other Writings are subject: No marvel then, if in the Ancient Affairs, History want assurance, said Plutarch.

Abraham's Birth Year is therefore forc't to be as∣certained; all agree it was in the 43d of Ninus; but the Disagreement between Chronologers is about the Year after the Flood, in which he was Born. Ar∣chilochus de Temporibus in Annius, maketh but 250 Years from the Flood to Ninus, whereto add 43, which make 293 Years at Abraham's Birth: Others do accompt 352 from the Flood to Abraham. In this Labyrinth and unresolved Question, I chuse rather the scandal of Novelty, than sluggishly to proceed in that easie way of Ancient mistaking, seeing to be Learned in many Errours, or to be ignorant in all things, hath little advantage of each other.

§. 2. Arguments for the First Date of 293. §. First, they Argue from Scripture. Secondly, from Authority of Iosephus, Augustine, Beda, Isidore, and others. First, The Scripture is Gen. 11.26. when Abra∣ham is first Named the Worthiest, and Son of the Promise; therefore First-born. Secondly, Moses respect∣ed, the History of Abraham, not Nahor. Thirdly, If Abraham were not the First-born, his Birth is uncer∣tain. Fourthly, Unprobable; Terah had a Child at 130 Years of Age.

§. 3. Answer to the Objections. §. Leaving what Divines have Answered; to scan this Question, we are to consider, whether Abraham made two Jour∣nies from Charran unto Canaan; the former before; the latter after his Fathers Death, as some conceive

upon what is said, Heb. 11.3. Against this fancy. Martyr Stephen Witnesseth, that God brought him into the Land after his Father was Dead. This can be no other than that of which Moses writ, Gen. 12. as Beza proveth on Act. 7.2. &c. For as Stephen had none of whom to Learn the Story of Abraham's Life, but Moses; so he would not give so great a scandal to the Iews, therein to disagree with Moses.

Secondly, Consider the Journey from Charran to Canaan, distant Three Hundred English Miles, un∣known to him, and tedious, over Mountains and De∣sarts, which he must pass three times in two Journies, and so make Nine Hundred Miles; besides his Travel from Vr to Charran, as much more. And consider the Train Abraham had with him, Gen. 12.5. which shew no inclinations of returning to Dwell at Charran, till his Fathers Death, as 'tis plain, Act. 7.4. when also by their account, Abraham must be about 135 Years Old, and Isaac also must be about 35: When he might well have Married him, and not send 5 Years after thereabout on such a Journey: Nei∣ther can this Opinion agree with that which Abra∣ham's Servant Reported to Laban, touching his Ma∣ster, which he could not be ignorant of, if he had been so lately there; Moses hath carefully set down all Abraham's Journies, most of them of less impor∣tance than this; neither can any reason be given, why Abraham did return this second time to Charran, but only to support their Opinions.

§. 4. To the Objection of Terah's Age un••it for a Child, as Abraham was at One Hundred, Gen. 18 11. it is hardly worth answering; but if they consider Sa∣rah's, the wonder was in her own disability, not Abraham's, who had divers Sons 37 Years after; yea many Ages after, that Boaz, Obed, and Iesse, Begat Sons at 200 Years, or there about.

§. 5. To the Objection of making Abraham's Age uncertain, and so the succeeding Times: I Answer, A∣braham's

Age is as certain as any other from his Father's death, as if his Birth had been dated. For as St. Ste∣phen tells us, his departure followed his Father's death, so Moses recordeth his Age to be 75 Years, and his Father's 205 at his Death. To the Objection, that Moses respected not Nahor and Haran, to set out their Age, as he did Abraham's; I Answer, There were great Reasons to respect them also, consider∣ing the Church of God was to spring out of them by Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob's Marrying with them. And though they had Worshipped strange God's, as Terah himself, Ios. 24. Yet after Abraham's being called, their willing departure with him from their Country and ordinary reverend Speeches of Iehova, prove they were no Infidels, and without Faith, Gen. 24.31, 50. I dare not therefore pronounce them out of the Church, who, I am sure were in the Faith.

§. 6. Abraham's being first named, proveth him not the Eldest: §. If in Scripture it appear not that God made especial choice of the First-born, as it is in Seth, Isaac, Iacob, Iuda, David, &c. the being first named can prove no Birth-right. Shem is first na∣med among the Sons of Noah, whereof, said Augu∣stine, Order of Nativity is not here respected, but signification of future Dignities, in Gen. 25. And he rather judged Abraham the Youngest of the Three. Piety, saith he, or rather Divine Election, which draw∣eth with it Piety and the Fear of God, gave precedence to Shem among the Sons of Noah, and to Abraham a∣mong the Sons of Terah.

Again, Moses testifies Abraham was 75 Years old when he left Charran: Stephen saith it was after Te∣rah's death; at 83, he rescued Lot; at 86, Ismael was born; and Isaac at 100, and all in Canaan. But if he begat Abraham at 70, Abraham must be 135 Years old when he entred Canaan, &c. Moreover, by this Accompt, Isaac must be 35 years Old, and

Ismael 49. at Terah's death, and Born in Mesopota∣mia, contrary to Scripture. Thirdly, by this rec∣koning, Terah should be but 145 Years Old at his Death, when Abraham was 75. Fourthly, Sarah be∣ing within Ten Years of Abraham her Unkle, Ha∣ran her Father being his younger Brother, must be∣get her at Nine Years Old, which Reason Lyra useth. The like Reason is taken from the Age of Lot, the Son of Haran, called an Old Man at Abra∣hams's Eighty third year.

§. 7. The Conclusion, noting the Authors on both sides. §. It agreeth with Scripture, Nature, Time, and Reason, that Haran was Terah's Eldest Son. Augu∣stin was herein uncertain, and what he saith in his City of God, lib. 16.15. is answered in his 52d Que∣stion on Gen. And as he follow'd Iosephus, so Isidore and Beda follow him. The Hebrews, and generally the Romanists following the first Opinion, allow but 292 Years from the Flood to Abraham. But Theodo∣ret and divers later, Beroald, Codornan, Beucer, Cal∣vin, Beza, Iunius, &c. hold Abraham begotten in the 130th. Year of Terah. Scaliger, Seth, Calvisius, &c. to the contrary, call it Heresy in Chronolo∣gy; Bucholcreus, Chitreus, Functius, and others, fol∣low them; yet Torniellus in his Annals confutes them. But if we advisedly consider the state of the World in Abraham's days, we shall rather increase the time from the Flood to Abraham, as the Septuagint did to 1072; than shorten it to 292: For such paring of Time to the quick, draws the Blood of the Sto∣ry, if Scripture's Testimony were not supreme. Seeing then we know the World was so peopled, and Kingdoms so furnished with Cities of State and Strength, more time is required for it than ma∣ny imagine, &c.

§. 8. The Assyrians Times order'd by Abraham's History. §. Thus Abraham's Birth being 352 Years after the Flood, and so the 2009th Year of the

World, bringeth Ninus's 43 to the same date of the 352 Years, we must consider what probably was spent before the coming to Shinar, admitting Chus were born the Year after the Flood. His youngest Son Nimrod, Founder of the Empire, born after Dedan Son of Raamah, the fourth Son of Chus, could not, according to the ordinary course of those Times, be esteemed Born, 'till 65 Years after Chus, allowing 30 Years to Chus, before his first Son, and 30 Years to Raama, Father of Dedan, born before Nimrod, and 5 Years for his five Elder Brethren. Allow 60 Years after for two Generati∣ons before their setting forth before Shinar, and six Years for their Travail with Wives, Children, and Cattel out of the East, through over-grown Coun∣tries and Mountains. Thus 131 Years are spent be∣fore Babel is taken in hand; the 221 Years which re∣main of 352, are divided, to Ninus 42 before Abra∣ham's Birth, 65 to Belus, and 114 to Nimrod, yet this maketh Nimrod in all, not above 180 Years old, which was not much for that Generation, Gen. 11.3. in which they lived; yea, 400 Years. Ninus li∣ved 9 Years after, and Semiramis suceeded 42 Years, when Abraham was 52 Years old. Ninias, or Za∣meis succeeded 38; in whose 23d Year, Abraham at 75 years old, came to Canaan; and 10 years after, Abraham over-threw Amraphel King of Shinar, which may seem to have been Ninias, in whose 33d year it happen'd; though the Reasons to the contrary are not easily answer'd.

§. 9. Amraphel, King of Shinar, probably, was Ni∣nias. §. Ninias was King of Babylon at that time, in the 85th year of Abraham. It is objected, that Chedorlaomer was greater now than Amraphel, who therefore was not like to be Ninias. To this it may be answered, under Ninias, the Babylonian Command was fallen, and the Persian his Neighbour King of Elam was enlarged.

§. 10. Arioch King of Ellassar. §. This Country can neither be Pontus nor Hellespontus, as some think; being so far out of the way to be drawn by the Per∣sian; who little needed to seek such aid against such petty Kings, which had not in all, so much ground as Middlesex; of which sort Canaan had 33 destroy∣ed by Ioshua. And the whole Country these four Kings subdued, was no more than the two little Provinces of Traconitis or Basan; and the Region of the Moabites. Stephanus, a Grecian Cosmographer de Vrbibus, findeth Ellas in the Border of Coelosyria; and Hierom calls it the City of Arioch. This City was also in the Borders of Arabia, of which Arioch indeed was King, and Confederate with the Assyrian Kings, as in Ninus's Life, &c.

§. 11. Tidal King of Nations. §. There were di∣vers petty Kingdoms adjoining to Phoenicia and Pale∣stine, as Palmirenia, Batanea, Laodicene, Apamena, Chalcidice, Cassiotis, Chalibonitis, having Mesopotamia on the North, and Arabia on the East. It is pro∣bable these were joined together under Tidal.

§. 12. Chedorlaomer the chief of the Four. §. He was not King of Assur, and the other three Vice-Roys, as Pererius judgeth; for Moses never useth Elam for Assyria or Babylon. Neither do I believe the Assyrian or Babylonian Kingdoms were very large at this time. 1. From Example; Things hastily set up with violence, last not, as Alexander's Con∣quests, and Tamberlain's, whose Empires dyed with them; neither had they time to review what they had done, God adjoining short life to asswage Fu∣ry; and Nature cares least for what she doth in hast. Ninus persued boundless Dominion with Violence; Semiramis exceeded him, &c. 2. Ninias having changed Nature and Condition with his Mother, preferring Pleasure and Ease before Honour and Greatness; as he indured his Mother's Reign, so wanted he Spirit to maintain what she left him, a∣gainst

Neighbouring Princes, whose Wounds and Wrongs from his Parents, put them in mind to cure the one, and revenge the other. 2 And it was God's will, when he would impose that long and tedious Journey upon Abraham, that the Countreys should be in Peace, through which he wandred; to which end those Millions of Warriours and Engins perished with Semiramis, to make the Recovery of lost Liberty the more easy. Lastly, Histories report, that Arrius, who succeeded Ninias, recovered Ba∣ctria, and Caspia, and Baleus or Xerxes reduced the rest, even to Egypt; which argueth their former Revolt.

§. 13. Consent of Writers almost forceth us to think as I have delivered, touching the Four Kings; yet if we take them rather for Four petty Kings, which in that sluggish Reign of Ninias had gathered Colonies out of those Four Countries, and Planted themselves elsewhere, we shall remove some diffi∣culties. For if Chedorlaomer were King of Persia it self beyond Babylon, what a Journey were it to come so far and gather such Forces which must pass so great Countries as Assyria, Chaldea, Mesopotamia, Syria, and part of Arabia, to Conquer five small Cities, and leave all the rest of Canaan; yea, to come in Person, and that the second time. But the Scrip∣ture maketh this Invasion no great matter, but as matching four Kings to five, as if the five were not so unequally matched, though petty Kings, as of ne∣cessity they had been, if these four had been abso∣lute Kings of the Kingdoms, whose Names they bear. If then the former Conjectures cannot agree to the Text, to the Authority whereof, all Human Rea∣son must subscribe, let the received Opinion stand, that Amraphel was Ninias, who was become infe∣riour to Chedorlaomer of Persia. From the Assyrian, the History of Abraham, leadeth us to the E∣gyptian Kingdom, then also flourishing.

CHAP. II. Of the Kings of Egypt, from Cham to the Delivery of the Israelites.

THE Kings of Egypt, 'till Israel's Deliverance; and the causes of the uncertainty of the History. §. Cham, after Babel's Confusion, having known Egypt's Fertility, Planted it Anno 191 after the Flood. Osiris succeeded Anno 352. Typhon, or Hercules, Anno 603. Orus, 620. Sesostris the Great, 735. Se∣sostris the Blind, 786. Busiris, or Oris 2d. Anno 782. Acenchere, or Thermutis, or Meris, 820. Rathoris 832. Chenchrese 841, drowned. Augustin, a dili∣gent searcher of Antiquities, omitted the Successi∣on of Egyptian Kings, finding no certainty of them, through the Ambition of their Priests, who, to mag∣nify the Antiquities, which they only kept, filled the Records with Romances and Names of Kings, which never Reigned. Other good Authors were over∣credulous of what they found so Recorded, Pub∣lished the same in their own Names. Of these, An∣nius finding some Fragments, and adding what he would, is no farther to be Credited, than where approved Writers Confirm his Assertion. Herein the Old Christian Writers follow Eusebius; but the Modern, Annius and Prophane Authors; follow Diodorus, Herodotus, &c.

§. 2. Cham began his Reign in Egypt, after the Flood, Anno 191. §. This is gathered from the Dyanasties of Egypt, whose 16th began in the 43d. year of Ninus: The 12 first under their 12 great Gods, lasted 84 Years, seven a-piece; the 13 indu∣red 14 years; the 14 lasted 26; the fifteen was 37, which three last were under three younger Gods: All the 75 added together, make 161 years; which

being deducted out of 352, the remainder is 191, the beginning of Government there, after Cham's ar∣rival. The same also is probable from their com∣ing to Babel, which being after the Flood, Anno 131, and Forty years, according to Glicas, spent in Build∣ing, we can allow no less than Twenty years, for the slow passing such a Company through such a dif∣ficult long way; which Sums being added, make up 191 years, when the first Dynasty began; for to begin them sooner, were either to plant Egypt as soon as Babel, or with Mercator, to make them be∣fore the Flood; which their number, exceeding the number of those long-liv'd Fathers, will not admit.

§. 3. The Dynasties of Egypt were not absolute Kings, but Vice-Roys under Kings. §. The probability of this will appear by the custom of Kings governing by Great Men, as of old, the Kings of France, by the Master of the Palace; the Turk by a Grand Visier; the Philistin Kings which came out of Egypt, had a Captain, as Abimelek had Phicol; the Kings of Israel, as Saul had Abner; David had Ioab. And Cham's lend disposition to follow Pleasure, might breed the Cu∣stom, which continued even to the days of Ioseph, ad∣vanced to the place by Pharaoh; from which Ex∣ample, William Arch Bishop of Tyre affirms the same Form of Government continued in Egypt in his days, when the Sultans govern'd under the Calif, as Lieutenants under a King. How these Dynasties suc∣ceeded, and how long they continued, is uncertain.

§. 4. Cham. and Mizraim or Oris. §. Of Cham the Scripture calls that Country the Land of Ham, not for being Peopled by his Sons, for so were other Countries, which yet are never so called, but for that himself planted it. Osiris called himself the Eldest Son of Saturn, as in Diodorus, lib. 1. which Saturn of Egypt, was Grand-father of Ninus; as in his Monu∣ment. Of Cham came the Temple of Hammon near Egypt: And in Ierom's days the Egyptians called

their Country Ham; so Ortelius saith out of Plu∣tarch, that Egypt was called Chemia. That Cham reigned 161 years, is not improbable, considering Sem his Brother lived 600 years. Mizraim or Osi∣ris, according to Diodor, succeeded, of whom the Land also took its Name, and by the Natives, is yet called Mezre, as Reineccius sheweth. How long he Reigned, is hard to determine; but that he be∣gan at Abraham's Birth is probable, when the Dy∣nastie of the Thebaei, began according to Eusebius.

§. 5. Osiris Reign is guessed at by his Son Leba∣bim, or Hercules Lybeus his Warring with Typhon, and the Giants, his Associates in Revenging his Fa∣thers Death. His Egyptian Wars he ended, and be∣gun his Italian, in the 41 Year of Baleus King of As∣syria, according to Berosus, when he left the King∣dom to his Brother Orus. To this Egyptian, and many other Wars before his Italian, Krentzhemius alloweth but 6 Years, which draweth Osiris Death to the 34th Year of Belus, and so makes him Reign 297 Years, and so should end 7 Years after Israel came into E∣gypt. This cannot be, for the King under whom Israel came, out-lived Iacob, and had Reigned from before Ioseph's standing before Pharaoh; yea, we may give 13 Years more of Ioseph's Bondage to him. This King then could not be Osiris, who lived not so long as Iacob; nor Typhon, nor Hercules; but Orus, Son of Osiris, advanced by Hercules.

§. 6. Typhon, and Hercules, their Reigns are not distinctly defined; only Orus, is placed 7 Years after Osiris by Krentzhemius, and whose Reign seemeth to last 115 Years, and from whose Death, to the Israe∣lites Departure are 122 Years.

Sesostris, or Sesonchosis, succeeded according to Scholiast. Apollonii: He was a great Conquerour in Asia, even into India, and Europe: Whom Iustin erroniously maketh Vexoris, saith Reineccius, some A∣ges after Ninus. This Sesostris, some think is Besak,

but it is not so, as divers differences in setting out their Wars do manifest. Whereas after Orus, Menas is Reported by Herodotus and Diodorus. Reineccius no∣teth that Osiris was so called by way of Dignity. Krentzhemius probably gathers that Menas was Mer∣curius, Ter-maximus, Conquerour, Philosopher, and Benefactor to Mankind, giving good Laws, and teach∣ing profitable Arts to his Conquered People. After 33 Years he fell Blind, as did Pherones his Son, whom 14 Years after Orus, the Second, or Busiris succeeded 75 Years before Israel's Departure out of Egypt.

§. 7. Busiris, or Orus the Second, whom Reineccius judgeth to have been a new Family, (though accor∣ding to all Mens computation) he began 5 Years af∣ter Moses's Birth; yet might he be first Author of the Israelites Misery, Ruling as Vice-Roy under the blind King, whom he might easily draw to that Op∣pression of Strangers, so to ease the Subjects, and to win their Favour, to promote his Off-spring to the Crown which he attained, and held 30 Years, accor∣ding to Eusebius. After him Thermutis, Pharaob's Daughter, which took Moses out of the Water, suc∣ceeded. Eusebius calls her Acencris, but placeth Ameno∣phis next before Busiris. Herodotus, and Diodorus, call Sesostris Son Pheron; so it may be she was his Daugh∣ter, who Marrying Busiris, Reigned after him 12 Years.

§. 8. Rathoris, or Athoris, succeeded his Sister 9 Years; and after him, Chencris, who perished in the Red Sea; and Achencris succeeded 8 Years, and Cher∣res 15, in whose 15 Years, Epaphus, Son of Teligonus, Rathoris Brother Reigneth, in the lower Egypt, and Built Memphis. Epaphus had Lybia, which had Age∣nor, Belus, and Busiris. Belus had Ameus, or Danae∣us, who Reigned 4 Years after Cherres, and then by Egyptus, or Ramesses, his Brother expelled, who

Reigning 68 Years; he had Fifty Sons; Danaeus had Fifty Daughters: He began the Kingdom of Ar∣gos in Greece.

CHAP. III. Of Israels Delivery out of Egypt.

§. 1. OF Israel's Captivty, and Moses Birth. §. L. Vives, on Augustin, cites divers Opinions of Moses Birth; but to me it is most Probable, that he was Born while Saphrus, called Spherus, and I∣pberus Govern'd Assyria, Orthopolis Cicyonia, and Criasus the Argives, and Sesostris 2d. the Egyptians. For according to Augustin, he led Israel out of Egypt about the end of Cecrops, King of the Athenians; which falls about the 9th Year of Ascatades of Assyria, who Ruled 41. Sparetus, his Predecessor, 40. Mamelus, before him, 30. And Saphrus, 20 before: So that from the 19th of Saphrus, to the 9th of Ascatades, which was the 46th of Cecrops, are 80 Years, which was Mo∣ses Age when he brought Israel out of Egypt. There being then 64 Years between Iosephs' Death and Moses's Birth, the Israelites Oppression seemeth to begin some 8 or 9 Years before Ioseph Dyed, Anno Mundi 2370. Moses 80th Year of Age was 2514.

§. 2. Of the Cities of Egypt mentioned in Scripture. §. Zoan, Num. 13.23. called Taphnus, Ier. 2.43. &c. Ezek. 30. The Septuagint calls it Tanis, &c. This was near Gosen, and chief City of the lower Egypt. On, or Heliopolis, in the South of the lower Egypt, Gen. 41.45. after Iunius: Here Onias Built a Temple for the Jews under Ptolomy Philopa∣ter, which stood till Vespasian's time. Noph the Ci∣ty, Esa. 19.13. Hos. 9.6. is called Mopb, or Memphis; by the Septuagint, Pelusium, which the

Septuagint calls Sois. Montanus Lebna, Iunius Sin. Belbeis after, now the Septuagint calls Diospolis, and was afterwards called Alexandrina, by Ierom.

Moses's Preservation and Education. §. Pharao•• having by Oppression discontented the Israelites, and then doubting what a Poor Oppressed Multitude might be provoked to, by suggestion of the Devil, resolved the Slaughter of the Male Children in their Birth, giving Order to all their Midwives, by Two of the Chief of them. But being by their Piety dis∣appointed, he Commanded all his People to per∣form his Bloody Decree, which yet his Beloved Daughter finding Moses in an Ark of Reeds in Ni∣lus, was so far from Executing, that she took him out of the Water, and gave him Princely Educa∣tion, as her own: Whose Excellent Learning te∣stified by P••ilo and Iosephus, Martyr Stephen Con∣firmeth.

Leaving Iosephus's Fancy of Moses Besieging Saba of Ethiopia, which he won by the means of the Kings Daughter, whom he Married, &c. Moses in Re∣scuing an Israelite, having slain an Egyptian, fled in∣to Arabia Petrea, in whose Mountainous Desarts, apart from the Glory of the World, the Glory of God covered him over, being from an Honourable, Adopted Son of a Kings Daughter, turned into the Condition of an humbe Shepherd. In this Coun∣try, lying between Iudea and Egypt, he lived 40 Years skilful in the ways of the Wilderness, through which he was to lead Israel; and by exercise in a Pastoral Life, he was prepared to Principality, and perfected his Learning gotten in Egypt, by Medi∣tation in the Wilderness. From Government of gentle Cattel, Kings are called Shepherds, to teach them to rule Men. Moses being called back into E∣gypt, is Taught a Name, by which he Describes God to the Hebrews, setting out his ever only Being; there being nothing, •• that hath being of it self

but that Eternal One, of whose being all other things are but shadows. Of all the Ten Plagues, the last only brought that Tyrant Pharaoh, to an absolute submission, when he began to fear his own Life. The Paschal Lamb was a Sacrament of our spotless Saviour.

§. 3. Pharaoh seeing the Israelites departure, with the Spoil also of the Egyptians, bethought himself, and pursuing them with all his Power, Exod. 14.7. over-took them after Three Days March. And though Moses knew he went out with the mighty Hand of God, yet he neglected nothing, becoming a Wise Man and a Valiant Conductor. So he remo∣ved from Ramases in Goshen, whither the dispersed Hebrews were gathered as to their Rendezvous, and Marched Eastward toward Etham, and Encamped at Succoth, the Fifteenth Day of Abib, which thenceforth was accounted the first Month of their Year, for Religious Occasions, leaving another for Politick, which they distinguish from Sacred, in Recording things Transacted.

§. 4. Israel passing from Succoth, kept Mountain∣ous, rough Ground on his left-hand to Etham, that Pharaoh's Chariots should not compass him. From Etham, the next day he Marched South Eight Miles, and on the Third day he came to Pihachoroth, be∣tween the Mountains of Etham, on the North, and Baalzephon on the South, and Encamped upon the wash of the Sea.

§. 5. Moses, who feared nothing but God him∣self, comforting the fearful Multitude, Exod. 14.13. called on God; and putting in practice his Direction, safely passed over the Foord which the Lord had made, and left their stupified Enemies to the merci∣less Waves, which returned upon them. This Sea, called Chencrese, in which Pharaoh Perished the 16th Year of his Reign, is commonly called the Red Sea, though of the Colour of other Waters. It

seemeth to me, that Name grew from the Clifts, Sands, Islands, and much of the Bordering Conti∣nent, which being Red, by reflection makes the Wa∣ter seem Red also. The Greeks call it the Erythrean Sea, of King Erythreus; and for that Erythros signifies Red, some think it was so called. The Portugals Report that store of red Stones are found in it, on which, store of Red Coral groweth. At Pihachoroth, which is from Ramases, not above Thirty Miles, the Sea is about Four Miles broad to Arabia, where Moses passed over, and not at Elana: For that part of Egypt which is opposite to Elana, is from Ramases Eighty Miles, which Moses with his Multitude, un∣fit for such Marches, could not pass in three days.

§. 6. This Passage proved Miraculous; and not an Ebb, as the Egyptians, and other Heathens object; for had it been an Ebb, all that part from Sues at the end of the Sea, unto the place of Moses's passage, and further, which exceeded Ten Miles, must have been dry, and so have served Pharaoh, and his Men to have fled from the flowing of the Water. Nei∣ther could an East Wind make an extraordinary Ebb, seeing that Sea lyeth North, and South. And why should Moses, whom they Honoured as a great Cap∣tain against the Ethiopians; leave this passage over the Mountains, and venture a Foord upon an Ebb, which he knew not whether Pharoah would prevent him of? And who will think, that the Egyptians were so ignorant of their own Sea and Havens, as to be overtaken in the Ebbing and flowing thereof? Lastly, If the ordinary flowing had drowned the E∣gyptians, their Carcases had been carried up to Sues, and cast upon the Arabian Shore, where the Hebrews then lay.

CHAP. IV. The Israelites Iourney from the Red Sea to Sinai.

§. 1. MOSES having recovered the Arabian Banks, proceeded to the Desart of A∣rabia Petraea, called Sur: And from thence for want of Water came to Merah in Etham Desart, which is also called Sur, Exod. 15.22. from the Sea Twen∣ty Five Miles; where he made the bitter Waters sweet, by casting Branches of a Tree therein: A plain Type of our Saviour, who upon the Cross changed the Bitterness of everlasting Death, into the sweetness of Eternal Life. From thence he remov∣ed to Elim; which by all probability, was a City, it being so well watered; of whose Ruins William Tyre Reports, In Bello Sacro. From thence he returned to the Sea, and so to the Desart of Zin; then to Daphca, and next to Alus, and so to Raphidim.

§. 2. Of the Amalekites, Midianites, and Kenites, and of Jethro. §. The Amalekites at Raphidim, set∣ting upon the Israelites, were overthrown by the Ef∣ficacy of Moses's Prayers, which were more prevalent than all the resistance of the Bodies of Men. Here Iethro, Moses Father in Law, came to him, with his Wise, and Sons. He was a Kenite, Iudg. 4.11, 17. which was a Nation of the Midianites, which came of Midian, a Son of Abraham, by Keturah, 1 Sam. 15. with Gen. 25. There were others also which bare the same Names, like to spring from Chus. Gen. 15.19. As for the Midianites which came from Midian, the Son of Abraham, they were divided in∣to Five Families, Gen. 25.4. of which some were Planted near the Red Sea, with whom Moses match∣ed himself, as not corrupted with Idolatry: Others corrupted with the Idolatry of the Canaanites, joined

with them, and lived near the River Zered, tributa∣ry to the Amorites, and after their overthrow joyn∣ed with Moab, and were destroyed by Moses for their Practices against Israel, Num. 22.31. Ios. 13.21.

§. 3. When the Law was given. §. The Twelve Tribes of Israel were in the Wilderness of Sinai, near the Mountain of Sinai, or Horeb, which are the same, Exod. 3.1. and 24.16. though parted in the top in two, of which Sinai is highest; but Horeb sendeth a fair Spring into the Valley, where now stand two Monasteries, furnished with pleasant Gardens of Fruits and Wine. It was like to be so in Moses's days, who continued thereabout al∣most a Year, where he had Water, Exod. 32.20. Hi∣ther being arrived about the Forty Fifth Day, the First Year, he received the Law the Fifthieth Day, and removed the Twentieth Day of the Second Month of the Second Year.

CHAP. V. The Story from Receiving the Law, to the Death of Moses.

§. 1. MOSES having Received and Published the Law, and finished the Tabernacle of the Ark, he Mustered the Tribes, to see what number of Men were therein, from 20 Years Old and upward; over whom, by the Lords direction, he placed Leaders, the most Eminent Men in every Tribe. The whole Army was 603550 able Men for War, &c. and was divided into 4 Battalions, of which each contained Three Tribes. The first containing 186400, consisted of Three Regiments. Iuda, 746000, Issachar, 54400, Zabulo••, 574••0, all under the Standard of Iuda,

who held the Vaungard, Marched first, and Quarter∣ed at the general Incamping on the East side of the Army, as in the chief place. The Second, contain∣ing 151450, consisted of Reuben the Leader, and Si∣meon and Gad. The Third, containing 108100 un∣der Ephriam, whom Manasse and Benjamin follow∣ed. The Fourth containing 157600, Led by Dan, and followed by Naphtali, and Asher.

Besides the Twelve Princes of the Twelve Tribes, they had Captains over Thousands, over Hundreds, over Fifties, and over Tens, as appears by the Insurrection against Moses.

In the midst of these Four Armies, was the Ta∣bernacle, or Portable Temple, carried, surrounded by the Levites; to the service whereof Twenty Two Thousand Persons were Dedicated, of which Eight Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty had pecu∣liar Charge. All these Incamped within the gene∣ral Armies, next the Tabernacle in Four Quarters. Moses Reverend care about the least part of the Ta∣bernacle, did Witness his inward humble Zeal to God. The industry in Framing, curiosity in Work∣ing, charge in Provision, observance in Preserving, Solemnity in removing, &c. all Ages have in some sort imitated; yet our Age hath bred up many Fa∣milists, Anabaptists, Brownists, and other Sectaries, which esteem all Cost bestowed upon the Church wherein God is Worshipped, to be a kind of Po∣pery, &c.

§. 2. The Offering of the Twelve Princes, the Passo∣ver, and Jethro's Departure. §. The Twelve Princes Offered Six covered Chariots, and Twelve Oxen for carrying the Tabernacle, which were delivered to the Sons of Gershom, and Merari: As for the Sanctu∣ary, the Koathites bare it on their Shoulders, when it was taken down: Each of the Princes also offered a a Charger, and a Bowl of Silver, and an Incense Cup of Gold; the weight was after the Shekel of the

Sanctuary, which contained Twenty Gerahs, every Gerah worth Three-half-pence, Sterling; after which rate all the Plate came to Four Hundred and Twenty Pound Sterling. The common Shekel was but Ten Gerahs. This done, the Passover was Celebrated the Fourteenth of the Second Year, and upon the Twenti∣eth, the Host removed from Sinai to Paran, Marching in their prescribed Order. At this time, Iethro the Father in Law to Moses, called also Hobab, left Mo∣ses and returned to Midian; but it seemeth either he, after setting his Country in Order, or his Children, returned and became incorporate with Israel.

§. 3. Israel's Iourney from Horeb to Kades. §. In this Journey they murmured for Flesh, and were fed with Quails, even to a Surfeit, of which great num∣bers Dyed. Then after the First Month, they came to H••zaroth, where Miriam was smitten with Le∣prosie; and so to Rithma, near Kades Barnea, whence the Spies were sent; upon whose Return they muti∣ned the Tenth time, which being more Rebellious than all the rest, God punished it accordingly, extin∣guishing every one of those Seditions, even the whole Multitude that came out of Egypt, Two only Excepted▪ And though the mildest of all Men was earnest with God for their Pardon, yet not one escaped. He spared them Forty Years, till their Children were grown up and Multiplyed; that in them he might perform his Promise, which was never frustrated.

§. 4▪ Of their Return, and unwillingness thereto, &c. §. Moses having related the Commandment of God, touching their Return back toward the Red Sea, they bewailed their Folly too late; and as it is with Men whom God leaveth to themselves, they wou'd needs amend their former Passionate Murmuring, with a second desperate Contempt. For now, when God forbids with Threats, they will desperately venture their own Destruction, and were repelled, and with Slaughter forced to take their way back to the Sea,

as God Commanded, and came to Remmoparez, &c. Their Twenty Fourth Mansion was at Pharez, where began the dangerous Insurrection of ••orah; for which Offence, and Contempt of God, and his Ministers, as 14700 Perished suddenly by Pestilence, and 250 by Fire; so those Lay-Men, who would Usurp Ec∣clesiastical Authority, were suddenly swallowed up alive of the Earth. Form thence the 30th Mansion was at Ietabata, where Adrichomius maketh a River which runneth into the Sea, between Midian and Aziongaber. Now though it be Probable there was store of Fresh-water at Aziongaber, where Solomon furnished his Fleets for East-India: And though He∣rodotus mention a great River in Arabia the Stony, which he calls Corys; yet is Adrichom deceived in this, as in many other things. For it was at Punon that those Springs are spoken of, which in Deut. 10.7. is also called Ietabata, a Land of running Waters, which by probability falls into the River Zared, next adjoyning; whereas that way is very long to Azion∣gaber. Besides, Belonius reports of divers Torrents of Fresh-waters, in those Sandy parts of Arabia, which running a few Miles, are drunk up in the Sands. From Ietabata, they came to Hebrona, and after A∣ziongaber, called Beronice by Iosephus, and Essia by Ie∣rom, which as yet, was not in the command of Edom, as after in Solomon's days.

§. 5. From Aziongaber they removed to Zin, Ka∣des or Beeroth, where Miriam dyed. Then they came to Mount Hor, where they murmured for Wa∣ter, and where Aaron dyed, and Eleazer his Son suc∣ceeded.

§. 6. Israel leaving the way by Edom, after they had compassed the South, they turned to the North, toward the Wilderness of Moab, leaving E•••• o••▪ the West. When Arad, King of the S••••th-C••••••••¦anites, thinking they would come by him while 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lay at Hor; having had his Forces ready upon h∣••

Borders, made out into the Desart, before Israel was removed, and set upon such part of the Army as lay for his Advantage, and took some Prisoners. It is probable, that either this Arad, or his Predecessor, had joined before with Amalek, and worsting those Mutineers, were thereupon incouraged to this Attempt. As for the Overthrow which is re∣ported, Num. 21. to be given them by Israel, it is rather to be understood of what was done after by Iosua, than now by Moses. For had Moses given them this Overthrow and destroyed their Cities, he would never have left the South of Canaan, once en∣tred by him, to wander about Edom and Moab, and to seek a new Passage: Neither could Israel have cause to Murmur the next day for Bread: Or been weary of the Way, if they had so lately taken the Spoil of Arad's Cities. Yea, they would rather have mutined against Moses, for leaving such an Entrance into the intended Conquest; and to lead them back into the Desarts, which had consumed them. They murmured presently upon their leaving Hor, when they came to Phunon, crossing the way to Aziongaber through Moab to Coelosyria; and here the Brazen Serpent was erected. From thence they proceeded, as in the Holy Story, and so came to Diblathaim; Whence Moses sent to Sehon King of the Amorites, to desire a Passage through his Country, which he denyed.

§. 7. Of the Book of the Lord's Battels, and other lost Books. §. Iunius understanding thereby, no special Book; and Vatablus doubts. Siracides refers it to Ioshua, who fought the Lord's Battles, cap. 46. But it seem∣eth probable there was such a Book lost, as many others, whereto reference is often made, as Ios. 10.13. and 2 Sam. 1.18. and 2 Chron. 33.18. and 2 Chron. 9.29. and 12.15. and 20.34. 1 Kings 4.32, 33. E∣noch's Books, &c.

§. 8. Of Moses sparing Lot's Issue. §. Moab at

this time inhabited the South of Arnon, having lost the better side, which the Amorites won from Va∣tablus the Predecessor of Balac. What therefore Moses found in the Possession of Moab, as also of Am∣mon, he might not attempt; but what the Amorites had taken from them. The Emims and Zamzum∣mims, Giantly Nations, had formerly dwelt there, as the Anakims in Canaan; but Moab and Ammon de∣stroyed them. Sihon proud of his Conquest against Moab, presumed against Israel, and lost All. Og King of Basan, or Traconitis, an Amorite, was also destroyed, and his Sixty Walled Towns taken by Iaer, a Son of Manasses.

§. 9. The Midianites with the Moabites practise a∣gainst Israel, and draw them to Idolatry; for which God destroyed 24000 with the Pestilence. The third time of numbring of the People, who are found to be 601730, of which 12000 are sent against the Mi∣dianites, who slew there Five petty Kings, and destroy∣ed their Cities; after this, Moses having divided his Conquest, and blessed the Twelve Tribes, dyed.

§. 10. Observations out of Moses's Story, touching God's Providence, working his own purposes ordi∣narily by Mens affections. Pharaoh's Fears bred his ungodly Policies and salvage Cruelties; by this Mo∣ses is cast upon the Compassion of Pharaoh's Daugh∣ter, and so provided of Princely Education. Mens Affections cast him into Exile, procured him a Wife, and so a long stay to know the Wilderness, to wean him from Ambition, and so fit him to know God, and to Govern. Thus what Men think most casual, God ordereth to the Effecting his own purpo∣ses many Years after.

CHAP. VI. Of the Bordering Nations: Of other Renowned Men; and of Joshua's Acts.

§. 1. HOW the Bordering Nations were prepared to be Enemies to Israel. §. Though the Is∣maelites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, descended from Abraham and Isaac, as did the Israelites, and were not molested by them, and therefore they should not have hinder'd their Conquest of Canaan; yet God's all-disposing Providence, had order'd to the contrary, by ordinary means. For first, these Nations having setled there from the beginning, and match∣ed with Canaanites, and fallen to their Idolatry; and having had neighbourly Commerce with them, it could not be, but they should affect them, being al∣so the ancient Inhabitants. Secondly, the Israelites by long abode in Egypt, were become strangers to them, and the less affected for differences in Religi∣on, and feared, for being a Potent, United People; whereas the Canaanites were divided, and therefore not feared of them so much. Thirdly, both Isma∣lites and Edomites being Carnal People, might resent the Actions of Israel for their old Quarrels between their first Parents; yet none of these directly oppo∣sed them in defence of the Canaanites. Only the Ama∣lekites (which are commonly taken to be a Tribe of Edom) offered them violence, which was never for∣given.

§. 2. Of the Kings of the Canaanites and Moabites. §. Speaking of the Canaanites, we understand the seven Nations descended from Cham by Canaan; whose proper Habitation was bounded by Iordan on the East, the Mediterranean Sea on the West. Of these, the first we read of, is Hamor the Hittitish Lord in

Iacob's days, of the Hittites. Arad is the Second, who is named King of the Canaanites, in the South of Canaan, bordering on Edom and the Red Sea. Sihon King of Heshon, and Og King of Bashan were next; who had driven out the Moabites, and Ammonites out of all the Valley East of Iordan. Adonizedek is the Fifth, with whom Ioshua nameth Four other Kings, all Amorites. Iabin King of Hazor, or which afore-time was head of those Kingdoms, and Iobab King of Madon; then Adonibezek, that Tyrant of Bezek, and Iabin the Second, King of Hazor, Iudg. 4. overthrown by Baras.

The Midianites descended from Abraham, by Mi∣dian the Son of Ketura: Some of them dwelt by the Red Sea, where Ragvell, or Revell, called also Iethro and Kenis, was King and Priest; others of them were mixed with the Moabites, and dwelt in Nabothea, on the South-East of the Dead Sea, whose Five Princes are named. There are four o∣thers named, slain by the Ephramites and Gideon: Oreb and Zeb, Zeba and Salmunna.

§. 3. Of the Amalekites and Ismaelites. Of Amalek's Original. §. Of them and of the Israelites few Kings are named, and though the Ismaelites were more in number, yet in Moses's days, Amalek was more renowned than the rest of the Ismaeliets, as after in the days of Saul, when they were increased so far, that he pursued them from Sur to Havila. It seemeth the Israelites had left the barren Desarts of Arabia Petraea, called Sur, Paran, and Sin, to the Posterity of Ketura, which joined with them, and planted themselves in the better parts thereabout. Nabaioth the Eldest of the Twelve Princes, enjoy'd that fruitful part of Arabia Petraea, which borders on Iudaea on the East; they also peopled a Pro∣vince of Arabia Felix. Kedar the Second, gave name to the East part of Basan, or Batanea, called Kedarens, or Cedrens. Abbiel the Third,

gave Name to Adubenes, near the Mountains, and divid∣eth Arabia Felix from the Desart. The Raabens were of Moshma; which joyns to the Orchen near the Arabian Gulf; by Zagmais Duma, of whom came the Dumeans between the two former, where was the City Dumeth. Massa bred the Massams. Hadar, or Chadar the Athrites in Arabia Felix by the Napatheans. Thema be∣gat the Theminians among the Mountains, where is the City Thema. Ietur, Father of Itureans, or Cha∣mathens, whose King was Tohu, in Davids days. Naphish bred the Nubeans in Syria Zoba, under King Adadezer in David's Days. Cadma, of whom came the Cadmonaeans, or Asitae, Worshipping the Fire, as did the Babylonians. The Amalekites opposed Is∣rael from their coming out of Egypt, joyning with all their Enemies, as with the Canaanites, Moabites, Mi∣dianites, and Edumaeans.

§. 4. Prometheus, Atlas, and Pelasgus, flourished in Moses Days. §. Pelasgus was now chosen King of Arcadia, for teaching the Inhabitants to Erect Cotta∣ges, and to make Food and Bread of Acorns, who before lived on Roots and Herbs. So long was it before Agriculture and Civilty came into Europe, out of Egypt, and the East. Prometheus, also flou∣rished in this Age of the World: Of whom it was Reported, he formed Men out of Clay, for his fram∣ing Men unto Wisdom. His stealing Fire from Iupiter, was his skill in the Stars, which with great Study, he got on Caucasus, which occasion'd the Fable of his being bound there, &c. Africanus makes him within 44 Years of Ogyges; Porphyry puts him with Inachus. Atlas, his Brother now flourish∣ed, both Sons of Iapetus, who according to Aescu∣••us had two others, Oceanus, and Hesperus, Famous in the West. There were others of the same Name, but Mount Atlas, South of Marocco, came from him; and both these, of Cepheus, and his Wife. Cicero saith, their Divine Knowledge occasioned those Fa∣bles.

Atlas skill in Astronomy, produced the Plei∣ades, and Hyades, from his Daughters. Some ascribe the finding out the Course of the Moon to him, but others to Archas, of whom Arcadia took Name, who boast they are more Ancient than the Moon, that is, before her Motion and Influence was observed. But Isacius Tzetzes, a curious searcher of Antiquity, ascribes it to Atlas of Lybia, of Incomparable Gifts and Strength, of whom Thalis Mirtius had his first Rudiments.

Ducalion, King of Thessaly, was the Son of Prome∣theus, says Herodotus Apollonius, Hesiod, and Strabo. In his time fell that great Inundation of Thessaly, in which, so few escaped the Vengeance which their exceeding Wickedness had drawn upon them: Only Ducalion and Pyrrha excelling in Virtue, escaped up∣on his Fathers fore-warning. Phaetons Confiagration happened in Ethiopia, and in Istria, and the Mountain Vesuvius.

§. 6. Mercurius Ter-Mximus, called Hermes of the Greeks, now flourished, excelling all the Heathens in Wisdom. Plato ascribes all invention of Letters to him, whom Philo Biblius calls Tauntus, Egyptians T••oyth, Alexandrians Thot. As for the Conjecture, that a Grecian Mercury carried Letters into Egypt, is improbable, seeing all profane Antiquity acknow∣ledge that Greece had Learning out of Egypt, and Phoenicia: And that Cadmus brought Letters out of Egypt into Greece, which was while Minos was King of Crete. Lyncius, the King of the Argives, who suc∣ceeded Danaus, who had Reigned 50 Years, and Stenelus, 10 Years before him, and Crotopus before him, in whose 10 Years Moses Dyed: So much dif∣ference of time is between Hermes and Cadmus, his coming into Boetia. Neither did the Two Mercu∣ries of Egypt, mentioned by Augustine, come out of Greece; but Epolemus, and Artapances, ascribe that invention to Moses, who taught it the Hebrews, of

whom the Phoenicians had it, and Cadmus from them. Ficinus is deceived, thinking that Mercury, upon whose Book he Commenteth, was Four Descents af∣ter Moses: So Ludovicus Vives thinks the Author of those Books, was Grand-child to Mercury Ter∣Maximus. His long life of 300 Years, might give oc∣sion to some, to find him at one time, to others at another; and they which Collected the grounds of Egyptian Philosophy, make him more Ancient than Moses, being Author of the Egyptian Wisdom, wherein Moses was Learned. True it is, that Her∣mes Divinity is contrary to Moses, in many things; especially, in approving Linages: But the advised, rather may perceive those Books have been corrupt∣ed by the Egyptian Priests; and were they in all things like themselves, it were not unsafe with Eupo∣lemus to say, Hermes was Moses; And that the E∣gyptian Theology was devised by the more Ancient Hermes, which others judge to be Ioseph. But these are over-curious Opinions: Whoever he was, God knoweth; and Lactantius testifieth this of him. He Writ many Books of Divine things, touching the Majesty of the most High, and one God, calling him by the Name of one God, and Father, as we do, &c. And his acknowledgments of God, are so contrary to Egyptian and Grecian Fictions, that what is found in his Book inclining thereto, was by corruption in∣serted: For thus he speaketh, God is the Lord and Father of all things; the Fountain, Life, Power, Light, Mind and Spirit, and all things are in, and under him. For his Word which out of himself proceedeth, being most Perfect, Generative, and Operative, made Nature Fruit∣ful and producing. And saith Suidas, he was called Ter-Maximus, for affirming there was one God in Trinity. He fore-saw, saith Ficinus, the Ruin of the Old (or superstitious) Religion, the Birth of the New Faith, the coming of Christ, future Judgment, Resurrection, Glory of the Blessed, and the Punish∣ment

of sinners. Lastly, Calcidius the Platonist, and Suidas cited by Volaterius, Report this his Speech, Hitherto, O my Son, being driven out of my Country, I have lived a Stranger and Banished Man; but now I am repairing homeward again in safety: And when after a while being loosed from the Bonds of the Body, I shall de∣part from you, see you do not bewail me as Dead: For I I do return to that best and Blessed City, whereto all her Citizens by the Condition of Death are come. For there is the only God, the most High and Chief Prince, who replenishing his Citizens with wonderful Sweetness, in re∣gard whereof this, which many call Life, is rather to be called Death. I therefore adjure thee, O Heaven! Thou Wise work of the great God, and thee, O Voice of the Fa∣ther, which he first uttered when he framed the whole World; I adjure by his only begotten Word and Spirit, comprehending all things, have Mercy upon me.

§. 7. Aesculapius also flourished in this Age, and became the God of Physitians; he was Brother of Hermes, as Vives on Augustin Judged. Iamnes, and Iambres, those notorious Sorcerers that opposed Mo∣ses, now lived and made such a Figure, as if Moses and they had used the same Art, as the beholders of common Capacity judged. Though Moses charge them not with familiarity with the Devil, and the Greeks call them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Workers by Drugs; yet did they excel in the impious Art, as in dazling Eyes, whom we call Prestigiators in natural Magicks, which is a knowledge to use the Creatures qualities beyond common Judgment, which discern not the best Virtues, that God hath indued them with: This the Cabalist calls the Wisdom of Nature, u∣sed by Iacob in the Pied Lambs, as Moses did; that which they call the Wisdom of Divinity in his Mira∣cles. Hereby God made him excell all that ever were; when he shewed himself so often to him, and imployed him in such Services. Moses, is re∣membred by Profane Authors, Clearchus, Magastenes,

and Numenius. The Patriarchs long lives are re∣membred by Estius, Hyeronimus, Egyptius, Heasteus, Elanicus, Acusilaus, Ephorus and Alexander, the Historian. The deluge by Berosus, Nicen, Dama∣scenus. The Confusion at Babel, by Abidemus, Estie∣us, Sybil. Abraham was Honoured by Berosus; writ∣ten of by Hecolaeus; and his Journey into Canaan by Damascen: Eupolemon writ of him, beginning from Babel's Building, to his calling out of Canaan, or Ur in Chaldea. Eusebius collects many which confirm the Books of Moses. Lastly, Worthy is the Testi∣mony of Strabo, saying, Moses taught the Egyptians were mistaken in Attributing to God, the Image of Beasts; and the Africans, and Greeks, Erred greatly, giving their Gods the shape of Men; whereas, that on∣ly is God indeed which contains both us, Earth, Sea, the Heaven, the World, and the Nature of all things; whose Image doubtless, no Man will dare to Form to the likeness of any thing. Their rejecting all Images, that worthy Temple and Place of Prayer was to be Erected to him for his Worship without Images.

§. 8. Of Josua, and so to Othoniel, and his Con∣temporary. §. Iosua entred upon the Government in the First Month, Nisan, or March, the 14th Year of their Egression, in the Reign of Aminias, the Eigh∣teenth King of Assyria. Corax, the Sixteenth. Sicio∣na, Danus of Argives, and Ericthonius of Athens, saith Augustin, de civ. Iosua appointeth Reuben, Gad, and the half Tribe of Manasses unto the Vanguard, to lead the Host till the Land was Conquered, as Iuda had in the Wilderness: So upon the Tenth Day he led them over Iordan, which gave way to them, and Incamped in Gilgal, and Circumcised them; and on the Fourteenth, they Celebrated the Passover the Third time, when the Manna ceased. The Wars and Victories of Iosua, the Miraculous assistance of God, and the Division of the Land are particularly at large set down in God's Book▪ In the whole

Story I observed in those Petty Kings, First, want of Wisdom (as it is with Governours forsaken of God) to Unite themselves against a strong and common Enemy, before he had broken divers of them. Se∣condly, Iosua, though sure of Divine assistance, yet used the uttermost skill of a Wise Leader; As, sometime by Ambuscades, Stratagems, and shew of flying; So by Surprize, and Night-Marches, and by pursu∣ing his Victory. Thirdly, In the Passage between Iosua and the Gibeonites, the Doctrine of keeping Faith, is excellently taught, taking away all perfidious cunning of Equivocating, or crafty distinctions. It is not possible to have a Case affording better Pre∣tence to go off; they were Hivites, of whose De∣struction God had given Express Commandment; they Counterfeited in Word and Deed deliberately, to deceive, and lye in the very Point, touching the Persons to be Covenanted with; they were detesta∣ble Idolaters; and as long as they lived, were the Memory of Israels Errour, and Iosua's oversight to be so overtaken, and to be a scandal to Israel. Io∣sua might say, he Covenanted not with the Gibeonites, but with Strangers, and had no Commission, but a former Express Law to the contrary; yea, and the People Mutined about it, &c. All notwithstanding, Iosua durst use no Evasion to start from the Oath of the Lord, wherein he was bound, not to Man so much as to God. It were a great sin to call God to Wit∣ness a Lye, and so make him a Deceiver; but we call him to be our Surety: Yea, we call him to Judge, and so make him false in Witnessing, in undertaking our Faith, and corrupt in Judgment, the least of which Offences were heinous to a King; how odious then is it to God, to make him break Promises, to Deceive, to pervert Judgment? Four Hundred Years after, Saul's breaking this Oath of his Fore-Fa∣thers, brought evil on all Israel, which manifested that God had not forgotten, that his Name had se∣cured

secured that Poor People, and he did them Justice on Saul's House. And certainly if Equivocating may delude another, the strength of the Objection is bro∣ken, and Truth in all Tryals is driven away, and honest Men are Inthralled to Villanies: No League between Kings, nor Truce between Armies, but the Sword must still be held unsheathed. Yet can it not do oftentimes, what the Powerful Name of God in an Oath can do, in making of Peace, and procuring Passage; for Men held no security like an Oath, no Witness, Surety, or Judge like God; neither durst Men which feared him, call him forth to their occa∣sions, but with Religious Truth. Almarick, the Fifth King of the Christians in Palestine, breaks Faith with Elbadech, Caliph of Egypt, who thereupon called the Turk to aid; who after he had made War, beat the Christians out of Pal••stine; neither could the Wooden Cross, brought into the Field, as the last Refuge, Save them, having for-sworn by him which was Cru∣cified on it. So when Eugemenes Commanded the King of Hungary, after a great Victory, to break the Oath with Amurath, he lost himself, and Thirty Thousand Christians. Lastly, Observe how it plea∣sed God, that the unconquered Cities became Thorns in their Eyes, &c. See Iosh. 1. & 2. & 11. & 13. Ioshua Governed 18 Years; others hold more, or less; but the Necessity of 480 Years, from their Delivering, to Solomon's Temple, admits no more, nor any space between him and Othoniel. E∣ricthonius King of Athens, Lynceus of Argive, Phoe∣nix, and Cadmus flourished now.

CHAP. VII. Of the Phoenician Kingdom, and of the Invention of Letters.

§. 1. I Have gathered a Brief of those Kings, of whom Time hath left any Record to Poste∣rity▪ The Limits of this Kingdom of Phoenicia in the South, are uncertain: Strabo extends it to Pelusium the first Port of Egypt: Corvinus, and Budaeus, to Gaza: Pliny takes but Ioppa. Ptolomy, who seldom failed in his Art, stayeth at Chorseus, which seemeth to be the River at Megiddo: He also begins it in the North at Elutherius, which falls into the Sea at A∣radus, North of Orthosia. Thus it comprehends these Maritime Cities, Aradus, Orthosia, Tripolis, Botris, Biblus, Beritus, Sidon, Tyrus, Acon, Dora, and Caesarea of Palestine; so that it Commanded the Trade of the Mediterranean for all the East. Zidon was the Re∣gal Seat, and so continued till Ioshua; and all the People were called Zidonians, as Procopius confirm∣eth in his Vandal Wars. That Zidon, the First Son of Canaan was the Founder, we doubt not, and yet it was in his Posterities command in Moses Days: As for Agenor, whether he was an Egyptian of Thebes, or a Native of this Country bred up there, it may be that in Ioshua's days, he and his Four Sons, Cadmus, Phoenix, Cyrus, and Cilix, might come out of E∣gypt, with such Force as the Egyptians could spare, to the succo••r of the Coast, and so to Fortifie the Sea Towns, having the benefit of such Ships as were then in use. And when Cadmus his Eldest, pursu∣ing Taurus King of Crete, who had stoln away his Sister Europe in the Surprize of Tyre, was drawn in∣to Greece, he seated himself there. Agenor commit∣ing this Country to his Two Sons, called it by his

Name; when also North Tyrus was Built, and Zidon Fortified, whereof it was that Agenor was reputed the Founder, from whose time Phoenicia became more Famous. Belus, whether Grandfather, or Father to Agenor, as some judge, it is no matter; but it seem∣eth he was Ancienter to the Phoenicians, who Honour∣ed that Name; great was the strength of these Phoenici∣ans Cities, which held out against the Iews, but put Nebuchadonosor, and Alexander, to great difficulties.

Touching the mention of Letters, the Ethiopians claim it; and that Atlas, Orion, Orpheus, Linus, Her∣cules, Prometheus, Cadmus, had the first light from them, and that Pythagoras was instructed by the Ly∣bians. The Phoenicians boast of it, and indeed they were very Ancient, and had Famous Records used by Iosephus. Lastly, Some ascribe it to Moses, with∣out all probability, seeing Learning then flourished in Egypt, and Assyria; but true it is, the Excellent Spirits of the First Age found it, either Seth, Enos, &c. And God every where present, hath given this Invention to Nations, which never had Commerce with others. As in Mexico, were found Books like Egyptian Hieroglyphicks: The Americans have an Heraldry.

§. 2. Of the Phoenician Kings, especially of Tyrus. §. Agenor living with Ioshua, Phoenix succeeded, af∣ter whom, till the Siege of Troy, when Phasis Go∣verned, we find not who succeeded. In Ieremy's time we find Zidon and Tyre had petty Kings; and in Xerxes time, Tetrannestus Ruled that part of Phoenicia at the Persians Command, and afterwards subdued by Nebuchadonosor. Alexander also, cast out Strabo King of Zidon, and put in Balonimus, a Poor Gardner, of the decayed Royal Blood, prefer∣red by another Citizen, to whom Hephestion offered it by Alexander's gift; more we find not of Zidon.

Tyrus, sometime a Daughter of Zidon, outlived her▪ Mother, and had her own Kings, of which

Twenty in Descent are found in Iosephus, and Theo∣philus Antiochius, though they differ in the time of their Reigns, and other particulars. Abibalus the First, whom Suron succeeded, and paid Tribute to David and Solomon. Others, Named by Iosephus, and Theophilus, Fellow to Ithabalus, called in Scripture E••hbaal, Father to Iezabel, who is there called King of the Zidonians, and by Iosephus King also of the Ty∣rians. The Third from him, they Name Pigmalion, whose Sister Elisa Married Sycheus, whom Pigmalion slew for his Wealth, but was prevented by Elisa, who Conveyed it to a Ship, and fled into Africa, where she Built Carthage 143 Years, 8 after Solomon's Temple, and as long before Rome, and 289 after Troy's Destru∣ction. Eluleus succeeded, who overthrew Salmanassers Fleet in the Port of Tyrus. Ethobales succeeded, in whose time Nebuchodonoser, after 13 Years Siege, won Tyrus. Baal succeeded Ethobales, and after Baal 'twas govern'd by Iudges successively.

§. 3. Bozius believes that the Tyrians proceeded from the Edumaeans, &c. But is confuted by Scripture, by which it appears, that Eliphas, which came from The∣man to Iob, was no Edomite, nor was that Theman in Edumaea, but in Arabia, East from Iob, whereas Edom was South. Ismael had a Son called Theman, who by all likelihood gave Name to Theman in the East. From ••hom Eliphaz, Iobs Friend descended. Suhe also a Son of Kethura, and Midian his Brother, of whom came Bildad, the Shuite; and the Midianites, at their first setling were sent by Abraham into the East, which from Canaan, was Arabia the Desart, not Seer which was South. So in the History of the Judges, the Midianites and Amalekites are said to be of the East: Yet were there of them Dwelling in the South; they were grown so many, that the East could not hold them.

§. 4. Kings of the Ten Tribes from Jeroboam to A∣chab. §. Ieroboam flying from Salomon into Aegypt, to

Shisha•• (whom Eusebius calls Osochores) whose Daugh∣ter he Marryed, as Adad the Edumenian, had his pre∣decessor's Wive's Sister, and were prepar'd by Shi∣shak, to shake the Kingdom of Iudea, that he might pillage it, as he accordingly did in the fifth year of Rehoboam. This Man was exalted to be King of the Ten Tribes, preferring the Policies of the World be∣fore God's Service and Honour. To prevent the ••eo∣ples falling from him by resorting to Ierusalem, he erected the two Calves, &c. Ieroboam reigned at Si∣chem Twenty two years. Nadab his Son succeeded two years, and was slain by Baasha, who rooted o•••• all Ieroboam's Seed, and reigned twenty four Years at Thersa, and Ela his Son succeeded two years, and was slain in his Cups by Zimri, who succeeded seven days; but Homri, in revenge of Ela, besieged him, and made him burn himself, and succeeded; trans∣ferring the Regal Seat to Samaria, and reigned twelve years.

§. 5. Ahab suceeded his Father, married the Daughter of the King of Zidon, and embraced her Religion, as Ieroboam had his Egyptian Wives: A∣hab was slain after twenty two years. Ocharius suc∣ceeded his Father, and dyed of a Fall, in his second year, and his Brother Ioram succeeded 12 years; who, with Aid of Iuda and Edom, could not sub∣due Moab, who sacrificed Edom's Son taken in an ••∣ruption which he made out of the City; whereupon the Siege was broken up through Edom's displeasure against Israel, for refusing to make Peace with Mo∣ab, to save his Son, Amos 2.1. Iehu slew Ioram, and succeeded twenty eight Years; whose Son Ieho••∣haz succeeded seventeen years, and was molested by Aza▪ Ioas succeeded his Father sixteen years; reco∣ver'd from Aram what his Father lost, and sacked Ierusalem.

Ieroboam succeeded his Father forty one years; r••••over'd all from Ham••th to the dead Sea, and

Zacharias his Son succeeded Six Months, and was slain by Shallum, who succeeded two Months, and Me∣nahen slew him and succeeded ten years, with much Cruelty. Pekahia his Son succeeded two years, and Peka slew him, and succeeded twenty years. In his time Tyglath Pileser, King of Assyria, Invaded Isra∣el, and carried many Captives into Assyria: He was drawn in by Achas King of Iuda, whom Peka of Israel, and Rezin of Damascus wasted; and first he surprized the Monarchs of Syria and Damascus, and then Israel prepared the way to Iuda. Hosea slew Peka, and succeeded nine years, in whose time Tig∣lath Pileser carried the rest of the Ten Tribes Cap∣tives, and re-peopled the Country with Cuthites out of Arabia Deserta; the Persians with Calaneans, bordering on Syria, and Sepharims out of Mesopota∣mia, with the Avims, of old inhabited the Phili∣stins Land, but now Inhabited Deserta, and called Havaei.

CHAP. VIII. The History of the Syrians bordering their Tribes on the East of Jordan.

DAmascus in this Border, most famous for Anti∣quity, Beauty, Riches, is called the City of Joy, and House of Pleasure. The Hebrews think it built by Hus Son of Abraham; others, as Ierom ascribe it to Damascus, Son of Eleasar, Abraham's Steward; but was before Eleasar; David subdued it in the o∣verthrow of Adadezar; but Rezin, Servant to A∣dadezer, escaped with the broken Forces, recovered it, and was made King▪ Adadezer returned out of Egypt, and forced out Rezin, and became King of Syria for Nine Descents.

§. 2. Of the first Kings of Damascus, and their grow∣ing up. §. That Damascus was of Note in Abraham's days, his Steward is an Argument; what the Go∣vernment was then, and long after, the Reason of Moses's Story led him not to handle. The first oc∣casion was in David's Reign, who seeking to Esta∣blish the command of Israel unto Euphrates, as God had promised, Invaded Adadezer, who was then of the greatest Force in Syria, strictly taken, contain∣ing Damascus, Saba, Camath or Ituraea, and Geshur. Adadezer King of Saba, called to his assistance the Damascenes, who are not ranked under a King, but after the overthrow. Reson a Commander under Ha∣dadesar, gathered the broken Forces, surprised Da∣mascus, where David had put a Garrison, and was made King there, as it seemeth after David's death. So that as Rehob and his Son Adadezer are the first Kings of Syria; Saba and Toi the first Kings of Camath; so Rezon is the first King of Da∣mascus, which before was commanded by the Kings of Saba, whose Power became formidable to the King of Camath. The next King is Adad of Edom, who coming out of Egypt, whether he fled from David, and finding his Forces too weak to recover Edom, it seemeth he surprised Damascus, and be∣came King of Aram. The next King of Aram was Hezion, whom his Sons Tabremmon succeeded, the Father of Benhadad, who assisted Asa King of Iuda against Baasha King of Israel. Almost Fifty years after Benhadad was taken Prisoner by Achab, and promised to restore what his Father had taken from Israel: This was a Second Benhadad, who slew Achab, and Besieged Samaria the second time, and was smothered by Hazael; who succeeded him, and did much mischief to Lud, but brought Israel to a low Ebb, 2 Kings 13.7.

§. 3. Of the later Kings was Benhadad, two or

rather three, who lost what Hazael had gotten; three other succeeded of the same Name, in one of whose times Ieroboam 2d. recovered Damascus it self, and Chamath to Israel, which by David's Con∣quest had belonged to Iuda. Rezin the 10th, after Adad 1st, molesting Achas, and was taking Elath, is, by Achas's Procurement, taken, and Slain by Tig∣lath Pileser, and the Kingdom of Damascus dis∣solved.

§. 4. Of lesser Kingdoms in Syria, Gessur, where Talmai reigned after Ammihur, Sophena, or Syria Sa∣ba, or Coelosyria, had Rehob and Adadezer after him; whose Kingdom translated to Damascus by Rezin, ended with the Kingdom of Israel, not long after Ninus's Race in Sardanapalus had been ended by Phul∣Belechus, Father of this Tiglath, whose Son Salma∣nassar led Israel Captive, as his Father had Damas∣cus; Senacharib, Son of Salmanasser, attempted Ierusalem in vain; but 132 years after Israel's Cap∣tivity, it also went to Babylon.

§. 5. Hierusalem, in Ioshua's days, had Adonize∣dek for King, and was not inferiour to Hozar the chief of all Canaanites. This City of old, called Iebus, Inhabited of by Iebusites, and therefore likeliest to be Builded by Iebusaeus, the Son of Canaan, and not by Melchisedek; for it could not be in Abraham's way returning from his Victories; but rather that Salem by Iordan, of which we spake in Manasses. Though Ioshua slew their King, yet they held out 400 Years till David won it. Solomon so perfected the Strength, Beauty, and Riches of it, (besides the renowned Tem∣ple) that the World had not the like: That Ditch hewn out of the Rock, Sixty Foot deep, and Two Hundred and Fifty broad, with Walls, Gates, and Palla∣ces, defended One Hundred Fifty Thousand Men, be∣sides. Women and Children. It endured many changes: Shishak of Egypt Sackt it; so did Ioas of Israel; but Nebuchadonozor fulfilled all Gods Judgments, threat∣ned,

and made way to Seventy Years Desolation, and Captivity of City and People. After the restoring by Cyrus, Bagòses Lieutenant, and Artaxeres spoiled it; and after Alexanders Empire was divided, Pto∣lomy the First, pretending to Offer Sacrifice; then Antiochus Epiphanes, and Apollonius his Lieutenant after him spoiled it; and Pompey long after took it. But after all Repairs, that wicked Herod did so Re∣edifie, and Adorn both Temples, and Cities, that it far exceeded what Solomon did; continuing in this state, about Forty Years after our Saviour's Death. Titus invested it till it was taken, and Demolished it, in which by Famine, Pestilence, Sedition, and Ene∣mies Sword, 1100000 were consumed, 65 Years after being in part repaired. Elius Adrian, for a new Revolt Overthrew all, and Built another, which he called Elia Capitolia; and Decreed that never Iew should dare after to enter, or from high place look to behold it. Yet after the Christian Religion flourished in Palestine, it was Inhabited after by Christians 500▪ Years; and then it was taken by Egyptian Sarazens, and held 400 Years; and then regained by Godfrey Bouil∣lon, and so continued 88 Years, when the Souldan of Egypt won it; but lastly, Selim the Turk took it, and called it Cusunbaris.

§. 6. Malicious Reports of the Heathen, as Quin∣tilian, Diodor, Strabo, Iustin, Tacitus touching the Iews Original, answered by Iosephus, against Appion, and Tertullian, in his Apologet.

CHAP. IX. Memorable things from Joshua, to Jeptha, and the Destruction of Troy.

§. 1. IVDA, by Gods Directions took the Mana∣gement of the War, after Ioshua was Dead. Caleb with Phineas, and the assistance of Seventy Elders were in Ioshua's time, Commanding in Chief. Their Achievements we read, Iudg. 1. as also of the other Tribes, which sought to establish their own Territories. What befel them after, upon their making Peace with the Canaanites, and their afflicti∣on 8 Years, and how Othniel, the Son of Cenas, Youn∣ger Brother to Caleb, delivered them from Chushan a King of Mesopotamia, who Oppressed them, we read in Scripture. How long it was between the Death of Ioshua and Othniel, is uncertain; though it could not be a short time, considering what Wars fol∣lowed; and the Surprize of Laish by the Danites, and their Warring with Benjamin are thought to be in this interim; which War so weakened them, that they could not so strongly resist their Bordering Enemies.

§. 2. Othniel Governed 40 Years, in whose 20th year Pandarius, Fifth King of Athens entred, and Reign∣ed 40 Years, Father of Erictheus, and Progne and Philomela in the Fables. Cadmus, about this time ob∣tained Thebes, which Amphion, and Zethus Govern∣ed after. Triptol••mus is placed first by Augustine; of whom, and the rest▪ Authors so disagree, that I desire to be excused, if I Err with better Judg∣ments, whereto I submit. For if the first Authors had but a borrowed uncertain light from other Con∣jectures, all our labour in Example to uncover the Sun, is for ought I see a more over-shading.

§. 3. Ehud was next, who Delivered Israel from Eglon, King of Moab, after 18 Years Misery. Sam∣gar his Successor, freed them from the Philistins; so from Othoniel's Death 8 Years expired: Elimelek, went to Moab in Ehud's days, and Ruth's Story is re∣ferred hither. Adoius, King of the Molosseans in Epi∣rus, had by Ceres his Wife, a Fair Daughter called Proserpina (a common Name of such) whom Perithe∣us intending to steal, drew Theseus into the attempt, which being discovered, Aidonius surprized them, cast Peritheus to Cesarus his Mastive, and kept Theseus Pri∣soner, till Hercules delivered him by a strong hand. Pindus's Mountains in Epirus, of which Oeta is Chief, whence Acheron springeth. Erictheus, was King of A∣thens, whose Daughter Orythia, Boreas King of Thrace Forced. Tereus, King of Phocis in Greece, Inhabited by Thracians, Married Progne, the Daughter of Pan∣darius, and Ravished her Sister Philomela, and cut out her Tongue, for which Progne killed his Son Itys; and made Meat of him for Tyrus, and fled to Athens. Tros began to Reign in Pardania, the 47th Year of E∣hud, about which time Tantalus was King of Lydia, not Phrygia; whose study of Wisdom made him neg∣lect the Pleasure of Riches, of which he had great Plenty: Others said his covetous Mind made him miserable, whereof grew that Fable, &c. Here the Author is out, Taxing the unfolding of Secrets to Vul∣gars, perverting Mar. 4.11. Cecrops 2d. & 7th. King of Athens, and Arrisius, Thirteenth King of the Argives now Reigned the first 40 Years; the other 31, to∣ward the end of the 8 Years Pelops lived, of whom Peloponesus took Name: Titius Tyrant of Panopea, in Phocis, slain by Apollo; Admetus, King of Thessaly, Perseus of Peloponesus, and Medusa slain by Perseus Souldiers, of whose Blood sprang Pegasus, Belero∣phon's Horse, with which he slew Chimera, a Pyrat of of the Lycians. Ion, of whom the Athenians are called Iones, or rather of Iovan, &c.

§. 4. The former 80 Years of Peace and Plenty, having bred security, it brought forth neglect of Gods Commandments, and their ripe Sins called for God's Judgment, who raised Iabin King of Hazor, who laid an heavy yoke on Israel 20 Years, keeping his chief holds, even in Naphtalim, and reduced them to such a weakness, as among Forty Thousand a Weapon was not seen. But as Volumes may be ga∣thered of Examples, proving all Power is the Lords, how impotent soever his means be; so now the Lord set it out in delivering Israel; two Women, Deborah and Iael, striking the chief stroke. Thus Forty Years were expired under Iabin, Deborah, and Barac.

Argos's Kingdom, which had continued 544 Years, was Translated to Micenae, Built by Perseus Son of Da∣nae, Daughter of Acrisius King of Argos. The King of Argos. The King of Argives, we find Inachus, whose Daughter Io, was the Egyptian Isis, Phoronius, Apis, Argus, Pirasus, Phorbas, Triops, Crotopus, Sthe∣lenus, Donaus, Lynieus, Abas, Acrosius, Pelops. After the Translation to Micenae, Perseus, Sthenelus, Eu∣rystheus, Atreus, Son of Pelops, Agamemon. Egyp∣thus, Orestes, Tisamenus, Penthilus, and Cometes. Mi∣das, now King of Phrygia, and Ilus who Built Ilium, Contemporaries with Debora.

§. 5. Barac was no sooner dead, but Israel return∣ed to their impious Idolatry, and God raised up the Midianites, assisted with the Amalekites to infest them; yet his Compassions, which never fail, raised them up a Deliverer, Gideon the Son of Ioash, whose sto∣ry is largely set down in Holy Scripture. His se∣verities in the revenge upon Succoth and Penuel, his own Sons found shortly after his death: For the debts of Cruelty and Mercy, were left unsatisfied. And because he Converted the Gold into an Ephod, a Garment proper to the High-Priest, and set it up in his City Ophra; as it drew Israel to Idolatry, so

was it the destruction of his own House. Aegeus Son of Pandeon now reigned in Athens: Euristheus in Micenae, whom Atreus succeeded, who killed Thy∣estes his Brother's Children, and feasted their Father therewith, which Cruelty was revenged on him, and Agamemnon his Son▪ and all his Linage, by a natural Son of Thyestes. Minos was now King of Crete; whose Wife Pasiphae inamoured of Taurus her Husband's Secretary, Dedalus being her Pander, had a Child by him, and another at the same Birth by Minos, of which grew the Tale of the Minotaurs. Dedalus up∣on discovery, fled with Icarus in two Boats with Sails, unto Cocalus King of Sicily: In the flight, Ica∣rus was drowned, and Minos was slain in persuing Dedalus, whom Cocalus defended. Sphinx a Wo∣man Robber by Sea and Land, upon the Borders of Corinth, was overcome by Oedipus, Commander of the Corinthian Forces; her Swiftness and Cruelty bred the Tale of her Wings, and Body of a Lyon. Anteus the strong and cunning Wrestler near He∣spendes in Mauritania, lived about this time.

§. 6. The Argonauts Expedition fell out about Gi∣deon's Eleventh Year. Many Fabulous Discourses have been hereof written, and mystical Expositions made, but Dercilus's Opinion is most probable. That Iason with the Harvest-men of Greece, went by Ship to rob Colchos, enriched by certain steep falling Tor∣rents, not far from Caucasus, which wash down many Grains of Gold, which the Inhabitants get by setting many Fleeces of Wool in those Water-falls. The many Rocks, Straights, Sands, and other dif∣ficulties in the Passage between Greece and Pontus, are Poetically converted into fierce Bulls, Armed Men rising out of the Ground, Syrens, a Dragon cast asleep, &c. by Orpheus, one of them.

§. 7. Abimelech, Gideon's natural Son, Ambiti∣ously Fought, and got what his Father had refused as unlawful, without special direction, a Ruler over

God's peculiar People; and for his Establishment in his Usurped Power, he slew Seventy Brethren up∣on one Stone; Iotham the youngest, only escaped this unheard of Inhumanity. Such is Human Ambition; a Monster which neither feareth God, nor respecteth Nature, and forgetteth the All-powerful Hand, whose Revenge is without date. All other Passions and Af∣fections which torment the Souls of Men, are by Contraries oft-times qualified; but this darling of Sathan, and first-born Sin that ever the World knew; more Antient than Human Nature, looketh only toward the end, which it self sets down; forget∣ting nothing how Inhuman soever, that may conduce thereto, and remembers nothing that Pity or Religi∣on can offer to the contrary. As for the deplo∣rable effects that such attempts have had, it ascribes to the Errors or weakness of the Undertakers, and rather praiseth the Adventure, than fears the like Success. The Sechemits in a vain Glory to have a King of their own, readily condescended to his Am∣bitious motion, imbrue themselves, with him, in the Blood of Innocents, and fit themselves to partake with him in the Vengeance fore-told by Iotham▪

The Tapithae and Centaurus made War about this time against the Thebanes; these were the first in those parts which learned to ride on Horses; so that coming from the Mountains of Pindus on Horse∣back, they were thought compounded Creatures.

Thola, of Issachar, govern'd after Abimelek 23 Years, and Iair 22 years after him. Priamus, af∣ter that sacking of Ilium by Hercules, being Ran∣somed, began to Reign, having rebuilt Troy, and in∣larged the Dominion almost over all the lesser Asia. Of Fifty Sons, he had Seventeen by Cuba, Daughter of Gisseus King of Thrace: Paris, one of them, at∣tempting to recover his Aunt Hesione, carried in∣to Greece by Hercules, took Helena the Wife of Me∣nelaus, &c.

Theseus, the Tenth King of Athens, in his Father Ae∣geus's Reign he put himself among the Seven young Men, which the Athenians sent for Tribute yearly to Minos King of Crete, who gaining Ariadne the King's Daughter's Affection, received of her a Bottom of Thread, by which to conduct himself out of the Labyrinth after he had slain the Minotaur, ••hat is, the Son of Taurus, begotten of Pasip••ae, to whom those Youths were committed, &c. He took Hip∣polita the Amazon Queen, Prisoner, and by her had a Son Hyppolitus, whom he after sought to kill upon his Step-mother Phaedra's false Accusation, whose in∣cestuous Caresses he had rejected: In his Escape, he had received many dangerous Wounds, of which be∣ing Cured, the Tale of Esculapius grew, &c. After much good done to the ungrateful multitude, they banish'd him. They say he stole Helen from Aphid∣na, in the First Year of Iair, according to Eusebius, which is not probable, seeing she should prove Fifty Years old at the fall of Troy.

Under the two former Judges in Assyria, reigned Mitreus and Tautanes after, and in Egypt, Ameno∣phis Son of Ramses, and Anemenes after him. In Sicyo∣nia reigned Thyaestus the Twenty second King, Eight years; Adrastus succeeded Four years; then Polyphi∣des the Thirteenth. Mueschea succeeded Theseus King of Athens.

§. 8. The Theban War, the most antient that ever the Grecian Writers handled, hapned in this Age, wherein Greece continued but salvage, holding and getting all by strong hand, Robbing by Sea and Land, little using Merchandise, and not acquainted with Money; and having few walled, and but small Towns. As some latter idle Chroniclers wanting good Matter, fill their Books with Reports of Feasts, dry Summers, &c. So they which write of Greece then, tell us of great Floods▪ Metamorpho∣s•••• of Men-killing Mo••••ters; Adulteries of their

Gods begetting Mighty Men, &c. This Theban War, (the first Grecian Story of Note,) arose upon the disagreement between Eteocles, and Polynices, Sons of Oedipus, Son of Laius King of Thebes. These Brethren having Covenanted to Rule by Course; Eteocles beginning, was unwilling to lay down a Scepter once taken into hand, which forced Polynices to fly to Adrastus King of the Argives, who gave him a Wife, and raised Forces to re-establish him in Thebes. Eteocles withstands the Force, and both Armies, after great loss, desire the Brethren to end the Quarrel by a single Combat, in which both lost the day, with their Lives; and yet another Battel was fought, in which the Argives were discomfited and fled, and of the Commanders, only Adrastus came to Athens. At his request, the Argives sent Forces under Theseus against Creon, Governour of Thebes, for denying Burial to the slain Argives, who took the City and buried the slain. But this con∣tented not the Sons of the Noble Argives, who Ten years after, levied new Forces, and forc'd Laoda∣mas, Son of Eteocles, to fly, and some says he was slain; the Town was destroyed, but repaired by Thirsander, Son of Polynices, who reigned after, and led the Thebans to the War of Troy shortly after.

§. 9. Iephtha judged Israel Six years, and relieved them from the Oppression of the Ammonites, which lay heavy upon the Tribes on the East of Iordan, along Gilead. He defended the Israelites Right a∣gainst the Ammonites Claim, both by Reason and the force of Arms; and drove them, not only out of all those Plains, but also over the Mountains of A∣rabia, to Minneth, and Abel of the Vine-yard: As for his Vow, the Opinion that he did not Sacrifice his Daughter, is more probable. The Ephramit••s quar∣rell'd with Iephtha, who slew in that Encounter 42000, which so weakened the Land, that way was thereby made to their future Calamities, and most grievous

slavery under the Philistins, that ever they indured. Ib∣zan succeeded, and judged Seven years. Elon after him, Ten. The Seventy, and Eusebius hath him not.

CHAP. X. Of the War of Troy.

§. 1. HAbdon Succeeded and Judged Israel 8 Years. The Philistines 40 Years Ty∣ranny cannot be from the 9th of Iair, to the end of Abdon, as some would have it; for then Ephraim's strength had been so diminish'd, as not to have quar∣rel'd with Iephtha; or being able to bring 24000 Men into the Field, they would not have neglected a common Oppressor, to fight against a Brother; those 40 Years must therefore be supplied else∣where, as from the death of Abdon, 'till after Samp∣son. Troys Destruction seemeth to fall upon the 3d Year of Abdon, after 10 Years Siege, began about the 3d of Elon. The Original and Continuance of the Ancient Kings are uncertain; but it is common∣ly held that Teucer and Dardanus were the first Foun∣ders of that Kingdom, of which, Teucer the first, according to Virgil, Reigned before Dardanus built Troy, and came out of Crete; though Reineccius following Diodorus, think him a Phrygian, and Son of Scamander. Dardanus, Son of Electra, Daughter of Atlas, and Wife of Iupiter, had for his second Wife Boetia, Daughter or Niece of Teucer. As for this Atlas, I take him rather for an Italian, than A∣frican, and Iupiter to be more ancient than he, whose Children liv'd about the Trojan W••r. Touch∣ing

the Destruction of Troy, Diodorus maketh it to be 780 Years before the 94th Olympiad, which is 408 before the first. Dionysius Halicarnassus agrees hereto, placing Rome's Foundation in the first of the seventh Olympiad, which is 432 after the fall of Troy. Solinus also makes the Institution of the Olympiads by Iphitus, 480 years later than Troy's Destruction; the Destruction then being 408 Years before the Olympiads. Eusebius leadeth us from Dardanus, through 4 Kings Reigns, by the space of 225 Years. For Laomedon's time he takes it upon trust, from Annius, out of Menetho.

§. 2. Helen's Rape by Paris Son of Priamus, all agree to be the Cause of the Greeks taking Arms; but what mov'd him to that Undertaking is doubted. Herodotus's far-fetched Cause hath no probability, as have they which say he enterpris'd this Rape to procure the Re-delivery of Hesione, King Priamus's Sister, taken away by Hercules, and given to Tela∣mon; yet I do not think this was the ground of Pa∣ris's attempt, but rather his Lust, which was an usual incitement in those days, as Thucydides sheweth; whereupon none durst dwell near the Sea-Coast. Tyndarus also, the Father of Helen, remembring that Thoseus had Ravished her, caused all her Wooers, which were most of the principal Greeks, to Swear, that when she had chosen an Husband, they should joyn in seeking her recovery, if she were taken a∣way; which Oath taken, she chose Menelaus. Thus the Grecian Princes, partly upon the Oath, and up∣on the Reputation of Agamemnon and Menelaus; were drawn into this business of the Trojan War. The Fleet was 1200 Sail of small Ships, meet for Robbing, the greatest carrying but 120 Men; so that the Army might be 100000. which argueth the Trojan Power able to hold out against such Forces so many Years. But their aids out of Phrygia, Lycia, Misia, Amazonia, Thrace, yea Assyria, were great.

§. 3. The Greeks being prepared, sent Menelaus and Vlysses Embassadors to Troy, to demand Helen; and as Herodotus, from report of an Egyptian Priest makes it probable, were answer'd, that Paris in re∣turn being driven by storm into Egypt, Helen was taken from him; which Report, Herodotus seeketh by Reason to confirm. But whatsoever the Answer was, the Greeks incensed, set forward to Troy, not∣withstanding Chalchas the Soothsayer objected great difficulties, &c. Their Names under the Command of Agamemnon, were Menelaus, Achilles, Patro∣clus, &c.

§. 4. After their Landing, in the first encounter, Patroclus was slain by Hector, and others; but want of Victuals soon distressed the Greeks, who were for∣ced to imploy a great part of their Men to and fro in seeking relief for the Camp, by Sea and Land. And Herodotus Report is credible, that after the first Year, 'till the tenth, the Greeks lay little before Troy, but rowed up and down by Sea and Land for Booties and Victuals, wasting the Country round a∣bout. But being all returned to the Camp, the tenth Year a Pestilence fell among them, and a Dis∣sention about dividing their Captive Virgins, which made Achilles refuse to Fight, because Agamemnon had taken away his Concubine. But after his Friend Patroclus, to whom he had lent his Armour, was slain by Hector, and pillag'd of his Armour, as the manner was, Achilles desirous of Revenge, was con∣tent to be reconcil'd, upon Agamemnon's seeking to give satisfaction by Gifts and Restitution of his Con∣cubine Briseis. After this, in the next Battel, Achilles slew Hector (though Homer's Narration of his flying about the City thrice be unprobable) and drew him at his Chariot about the Field, and then sold his Body to Priamus at a great rate. Not long after, Paris reveng'd that Cruelty, and slew Achilles, though Authors differ in the manner.

§. 5. Troy at length was taken, either by the Treachery of Aeneas and Antenor opening the Scaean Gate, whereon was an Image of an Horse, or that the Greeks by an Artificial Engine, like to an Horse, batter'd the Walls as Romans did with a Ram, or scal'd the Walls at that Gate suddenly, while the Trojans slept securely, upon the departure of the Greek's Fleet to Tenedos the day before, &c. The Wooden∣Horse fill'd with Armed Captains is unprobable. The numbers slain on both sides, 600000 Trojans, and 800000 Greeks is Fabulous; so is the report of many Nations in those parts, striving for a descent from the remainders of Trojan Princes; though it be probable the Albans, and from them the Romans came from Aeneas, and first Padanus from Ante∣nor.

§. 6. The Greeks after their Victories, tasted no less Miseries than the Trojans, by division of Princes, separating in return; Invasion of Borderers, and Usurpation of Domesticks in their absence; and Tempests at Sea; so that few returned home; and of them, few joyned their own. The rest driven on strange Coasts, gladly planted where they could, some in Africk, some in Italy, Apulia, Cyprus, &c.

CHAP. XI. Of Sampson, Eli, and Samuel.

§. 1. OF Sampson, read Iudges 13, 14, 15, and 16. In whose Story observe, 1. His Mother is forbidden all strong Drink, and unclean Meat, as that which weakneth the Child conceived. 2. The Angel refused Divine Worship, which pro∣veth, the Diviners Angels which accept Sacrifices, are Devils. 3. Whom no Force could overthrow,

Voluptuousness did. 4. Though he often revenged Israel, yet he delivered them not, Chap. 15.11. Lastly, his Patience was more provok'd by Contu∣mely, than Pain, or Loss.

§. 2. Of Eli, see the First Book of Samuel. He was the first of the stock of Ithamar, that obtained that High-Priesthood, which continued in his stock, until Solomon cast out Ab••athar, and put in Z••dok, descended from Eleazer, 1 Kings 2.26, 35. In his time, for the Sins of the Priests and People, the Lord gave his Ark, the Sacrament of his Presence, into the hands of the Philistins, as he did his Temple, to be destroyed by the Chaldeans, and after by the Romans, because they put more Confidence therein, than in the Lord himself, whose Law they would not observe. Whereas, after the Captivity, and in the time of the Machabees, while they feared the Lord, they were Victorious without an Ark, more than they were when they guarded themselves with the Sign, void of substance. David also knew the Ark was not made for an Ensign in the Field. The Trojans believed, that while the Paladium, or Image of Minerva was in the City, it should ne∣ver be overthrown. The Christians also carried into the Field, in the last Fatal Battel against Sala∣dine, the very Cross (as they were made to believe) whereon Christ died, and yet lost themselves, and the Wood. But Chrysostom said well upon St. Matthew, (if that be his work) of them which wore part of St. Iohn's Gospel about their Necks, for an Amulet, or Preservative, If the words profit thee n••t in thine Ears, how can they about thy Neck? For it was neither the Wood of the Ark, or of the Cross, but the Reverence of the Father that gave them, for a memory of his Covenant, and the Faith of his Son, which shed his Blood on the other, for Redemption, that could or can profit them, or

us, either in this Life, or after it. The Holy story telleth us, how after this Victory of the Philistins, the Ark of God was in Captivity; yet they overthrew the Philistin's Dagon, and brake off both Head and Hands, to shew he had neither Wisdom nor Power in God's Presence; and that God and the Devil can∣not inhabit in one House, or one Heart. If this Idol then could not endure the representation of the true God, what Marvel is it, that when it pleased him to Cloath his only Begotten with Flesh, and sent him into the World, that all the Oracles wherein the Devil derided and betray'd Mortal Men, lost Power, Speech, and Operation at that instant? For when the true Light, which ne∣ver had any beginning of Brightness, brake through the Clouds of a Virgins Womb, shining upon the Earth, long obscured by Idolatry, all these stinking Vapours vanished. Plutarch rehearseth, a Memora∣ble History of that Age, of the death of their great God Pan, but could not find the true cause there∣of, &c. God also plagued the Philistims, as well as their God, and forced them to return his Ark, and to give him Glory, after they had tried all their wit to the contrary. See the Story. Thus God is acknowledged of his Enemies, as he had been of Pharaoh, and was after of Nebuchodonezer, Da∣rius, &c.

§. 3. Of Samuel's Government, 1 Sam. 7. He descended of Korah, 1 Chron. 6.22. for his Father Elcana, a Levite of Mount Ephraim, came of Ko∣rah, the Son of Izaar, Son of Cheath, Son of Levi. His Mother, after long Barreness, obtained him by earnest Prayer, to avoid the reproach of Barren∣ness, as it was esteemed, considering it was God's Promise, Deut. 7. and Blessing to Adam, and A∣braham, &c. Under his Government, the Lord freed Israel from the Philistins, who at his Prayers,

were miraculously overthrown; as were the Ama∣lekites, at the Prayer of Moses. He Ministred Ju∣stice at three fit places: Of which, see Cap. 12. §. 1.

CHAP. XII. Of Saul, the First King of Israel.

§. 1. THE deliberation to change the Govern∣ment into a Kingdom, arose upon Sa∣muel's being grown unable to sustain the Burthen of so careful a Government, which he put over his Sons; who failing of their Father's Care and Uprightness, and relishing nothing but Gain, sold Law and Ju∣stice to the best Chap-men. The Elders observing this, and that the Old Man, though a Prophet, yet as a natural Father, discerned not his Sons Errors; and remembring the lamentable success of Eli's Sons Rule, saw no other way to put them off, than by desiring a King. This Motion displeased Sa∣muel, who seeking Counsel from God, as in a Cause of so great consequence; he was order'd to hear the Voice of the People; yet so as God ac∣counted it a Wrong to himself, rather than to Sa∣muel, and therefore commanded him to declare un∣to them, the Inconveniencies and Miseries which shall befall them under that Government. All which are not intolerable, but as have been, and are still born by Subjects free Consent. But the Op∣pressions threatned, verse 14, &c. give an occasion ••o the Question, Whether a King fearing God, or

one which will Rule by his own discretion, and playeth the Tyrant, be here set out, as some judge; or that the Text only teacheth, what they ought, with pa∣tience, to bear at their Sovereigns hand, as others judge. The first ground themselves upon Deut. 17.14. &c. and on the words of the Text, which do not say, he may, but he will do so and so, shewing, what Power, severed from Piety, will do, as in A∣chab's Example, contrary to the Law, Deut. 16.18. The Arguments on the other side are largely handled in that Discourse of free Monarchies, which I shall not take upon me here to Insert.

This change of Government God fore-told, Gen. 15. and 17. and 49. and provided for the direction of it by Laws, Deut. 17. But whether the Reasons which move most Nations, moved them to choose a Monarch, or thereby to be cleared from the Sons of Samuel, doth not so plainly appear; for nei∣ther Perswasions nor Threats could draw them from their desire of a King.

§. 2. Saul's Election. §. Samuel by God's directi∣on, having yielded to the People, returned to his City Rama, expecting the Lord's direction, touch∣ing the King to be chosen, which the Lord accord∣inly performed, giving him warning the day before▪ Samuel hereupon, prepared to entertain whom God should send; and Saul intending nothing less than a Kingdom, found it, and was Anointed, and Con∣firmed by signs given him by Samuel, and returned home. Thus God oft by meanest occasions, order∣eth the greatest things, and in Moses and David's Calling from feeding Sheep, Iames and Iohn from Fishing, &c. Among the Signs given to Saul, one was of the Company of the Prophets; not such as by divine Revelation fore-told things to come, as Moses, Ioshua, Samuel, &c. but such as were exer∣cised in Expounding Scriptures, as were those,

1 Cor. 14. at which time God changed his Heart from a Vulgar condition to a Kingly. After this, another Assembly at Mispezh, Saul was Published, and designed King by God, and accepted of the People, and saluted King.

§. 3. Saul's Establishment after his Victory against the Ammonites, 1 Sam. 11. The Ammonites attend∣ing the Advantage of Times, for recovery of their Territories taken from them by the Amorites, having in vain attempted it in Iephtha's days, finding Isra∣els weakness by long oppression of the Philistins, who had disarmed them, had also slain 34000 of them, and that 50000 perished about Bethshemes, and their King was not yet so acceptable to all his Subjects, who were encouraged to begin with Iabesh Gilead, so near unto them. Saul to shew himself King, being pro∣probably descended of one of the Four Hundred Vir∣gins taken from the Gileadits, undertook the relief of Iabesh, assembling 330000 Men, and Defeated the Am∣monites. Hence Samuel drew them all to Gilgal, where Saul was again Confirmed King; where also Samu∣el exhorted them to fear the Lord, and rehearsed his own Justice. After a Years Reign, Saul chose him a strong Guard of Three Thousand, 1 Sam. 13.2.

§. 4. Saul's Disobedience and Rejection. §. Iona∣than with his Regiment of 1000, surprised a Garri∣son of the Philistins, which some judge was in Ca∣reatjearim, where was the Ark; but Iunius taketh it to be Gebah in Benjamin, near Gibha, where Iona∣than stayed with his Thousand; so that though the Philistins were much broken under Samuel, yet they held some strong places in Israel, of which this was one, whose Surprise so enraged them, that they gathered together the greatest Forces, mention'd 1 Sam. 12. while Saul was at Gilgal, expecting Sa∣muel, as he had been required, 1 Sam. 10.8. But because Samuel came not so soon as Saul expected,

he haste••ed to Sacrifice, taking the Office of a Priest on him, as some think; or, as others judge, he in diffidence, and distraction upon the Philistins Power, and his Peoples deserting him, attended not the Prophet's coming to direct him, and pray for him. For Samuel had sharply reproved and threat∣ned him with great Indecency, had he not had extra∣ordinary warrant from the Lord. So they departed each from other. Saul being come to Gibeah, his own City, being of strength; his Forces were but 600 between him and Ionathan, and of these not one had Sword or Spear, of which the Reason is rendred in the Text. The like Policy Nebuchado∣nozer us'd in the Conquest of Iudaea, and Dyonisius in Sicily. It may be, the other Israelits had some, though these Six hundred had not, for they might gain some at the overthrow of the Philistins, and Am∣monites. As for the Weapons the Israelites used in these Wars, they were Clubs, Bows, and Slings, wherein they were expert, 1 Chr. 12.2. and their Victories were rather extraordinary, as by Thunder or Astonishments sent from God, as in this next Overthrow by the hand of Ionathan and his Armour∣bearer, wherein God set them at dissention, cap. 14.10. So that the Israelites needed no Swords, when every Philistin's Sword supplyed the want. After this Victory, Saul undertook by turns, all the bor∣dering Enemies, and by special Commandment, the Amalekites in Arabia Petraea and the Desart, ra∣vaging from Havila to Shur. But for presuming contrary to God's express Charge, to spare Agag, &c. he was utterly rejected of the Lord, for all his pretence of Sacrifice; and Samuel never after visited Saul.

§. 5. Samuel fearing to Anoint another King, as God willed him, is directed how to do it safely. So that by cautious care to avoid danger, he did no way derogate from God's Providence; seeing the Lord

himself, tho' All-sufficient, instructed, Samuel to a∣void Saul's Fury, by the accustomed cautions ways of the World; and therefore Men neglecting of Pray∣er to God, and exercise of that Wisdom he hath in∣dued the Mind of Man with, for his preservation, are stupified with the Opinion of Fate, &c. Iesse having presented all his Sons, but David, to Samuel, he only whom the Father neglected, is chosen of God, and anointed by Samuel. The Philistins in the mean time considering how Saul's Power increa∣sed, while they sat still, and doubting least Israel might become able to revenge themselves, if they were suffer'd thus to encrease, thought it good to offer a new Check, presuming of their own Abili∣ties and former Successes; as for late Disasters, they might suppose the one was by a casual Tem∣pest, and the last by a mistaken Alarum, which wrought needless fear, and put the Army to Rout. Having therefore taken the Field, Encamping near Saul's Army, and both keeping their ground of ad∣vantage, they maintained some Skirmishes, not join∣ing in gross; which the Philistins had cause to fear, considering their late Success, and thereupon per∣haps, provoked to single Combat with their Giant, upon Condition of a general subjection of the van∣quished Nation, in their Champion. This gave oc∣casion to David, now to make a famous entrance in∣to the publick notice of the People, with the suc∣cess Recorded in Scripture. By this Victory, David fell under the heavy displeasure of Saul, by reason of his great Merits; whereupon he became a Convert Tyrant, faithless to Men, and irreligious to God, as the History sheweth, which brought him to the end we read of.

§. 6. Of such as lived with Samuel and Saul. §. Ae∣neas Sylvius began to Reign over the Latins in Alba, about the 11th year of Samuel, and Reigned Thirty one years. The same year Dorcillus began in Assyria,

being the Thirty first King, and Reigned Forty years. The Dores which came with Heraclides, ob∣tained Peloponnesus in this Age. Here follows the Account of the First Planters of Greece, from Iopetus, Father of Prometheus, Father of Deucalion and Pyr∣rha, King and Queen of Thessaly, of whom came Helen. Father of Xuthus, Dorus, and Aeolus. Xuthus fled to Erictheus of Athens, of whose Daughter came Achaeus and Ion. Achaeus for a slaughter, fled to La∣conia in Peloponnesus, and gave it his Name, and after, recovered Thessaly. Ion was made Governour of Attica, which he brought into a civil Course, and Planted Syciona, then called Aegiolio, and Mar∣ried Helice the Kings Daughter, of whom also the Land took Name. Dorus second Son of Helen, Planted about Parnassus and Lacedemon; but when the Heraclides, Nephews of Hercules, Invaded Pelo∣ponnesus, the Dores assisting, they expelled the Achaeans in Laconia, who seeking Habitation, drove out the Ionians, who failed into Asia, on whose West Coast they Built Twelve Cities. Hercules, Ancestor of the Heraclides, and his Twelve Labours of Fabulous Poets rehearsed. Sure it is Greece, was oblig'd to him for freeing it from many Tyrants and Thieves, which oppressed the Land in the Reign of Euristhe∣us, who employed him therein, being Jealous of him for his Virtue and Descent from Perseus. His Children after his Death, fled to the Athenians, who assisted them against Euristheus, whom they slew; but upon the death of Hillus, Son of Hercules, slain in Combat by Echenus King of Tegeates in Arcadia, who assisted Atreus, Successor of Euristheus, they were to leave the Country for one Hundred years, now expired, when they returned under Aristodemus, when Tisamenus was King of Achaea.

§. 7. Homer the Poet seemed to live about this time; but the diversity of Mens Opinions, and cu∣riosity about this Age is so Ridiculous, that I would

not offend the Reader therewith: But to shew the uncertainty of Historians, as well in this, as other Questions of Time, &c. Eusebius in his Evan. prae∣par. out of Tatian, nameth many Greek Writers more Antient than Homer. Hesiodus's Age is also questi∣oned; some hold him Elder, some Younger than he: But Varro leaves it uncertain, finding that both the Fathers lived some Years together. Senyes, or Senemyres seemed to have Ruled Egypt at this time: For Tenefersobris, his Successor, preceded Vaphres Father-in-Law to Solomon. About the end of Saul, the Amazons and Cymmerians Invaded Asia. After the Fall of Troy, Six Kingdoms grew up, as the La∣tins in Italy; Lacedemon, Corint••, and Achaia in Greece; Syria, Soba, and Damascus, under the Adads in Arabia, of which were Ten Kings, which be∣gan and ended, in effect, with the Kings of Is∣rael, which now changed their form of Govern∣ment into a Monarchy.

CHAP. XIII. Of David; First of his Estate under Saul.

§. 1. DAvid's hazards after he was designed King, were many; first, with Golia••, which won him Fame with all; Love with Ionathan, like that he bare to his own Soul; and a ground of deadly Hatred in Saul, though it brake not out 'till he had entertained him to play on his Harp, and had made him his Son-in-Law; when in a raving Fit, he threw his Spear at him. Censorinus speak∣eth of Esculapius a Physician, and Seneca of Pytha∣goras's Curing Frenzie by Musick; but Saul's Mad∣ness arose from the Cause of Causes, and therefore in∣curable; and the ease he had, God ordained for the

Musician's good, more than the King's. Saul after this, fearing to trust David about his Person, im∣ploy'd him against the Philistins, hoping of his Fall by them: And being disappointed therein, he mo∣ved Ionathan and his Servants to kill him; but in vain. From many other desperate Perils the Lord delivered him at home and abroad, yea in a Mutiny of his own, &c. as the History of this part of his Life witnesseth. Saul being slain, the Philistins Vi∣ctory was! such, as some Towns, even beyond Ior∣dan, were abandon'd, and left to their Oppression, without resistance. It is therefore to be wonder'd at, that they being Warlike and Ambitious, did not follow the Victory, to make the Conquest entire. But it may be, that the Civil Wars between David and the House of Saul immediately breaking out, gave them hope of an easie Victory over both; whereas their farther Pursuit might inforce an At∣tonement against a common Enemy.

§. 2. David's beginning of his Reign was opposed by Abner, who sought to advance Ishbosheth the Son of Saul, yet without right, while Mephibosheth the Son of Ionathan lived. The first War was defen∣sive in David, when Abner fought it upon a Chal∣lenge of twelve Combatants on either side, which slew each other; like the Combate between 300 Lacedemonians, and as many Argives, wherein three survived; and between the Horatii, and the Curatii, for the Romans, and the Latins. The Text Chap. 3.1. makes it probable. The Wars between David and Ishbosheth lasted longer than two years; so that those two Years mentioned, Chap. 2.13. some Ra∣bins refer to the time when this was written.

§. 3. Abner being reconciled to David, was mur∣thered by Ioah, in revenge of Asael, and in jea∣lousie of his Place and Dignity, which admitted of no Companion, much less a Superiour, as he doubt∣ed Abner would prove, being General of Ten

Tribes. Upon like jealousie, he also murdered his own Kinsman Amasa. The death of Abner might greatly have endanger'd David's Condition, if any thing could withstand God's Ordinance; therefore he wisely bewailed it so openly, complaining of Ioab's Greatness; which makes Princes oft put up Wrongs at their hands; yet he publickly Cursed him, &c.

§. 4. David's Reign over all Israel after Ishbosheth's death being confirmed, his first Enterprize was a∣gainst Ierusalem, the Center of the Kingdom, held by the Iebusites, from Ioshua to that day; whose strength was such, that in derision they Manned the Wall with Blind and Lame Men, but lost it. The P••ilistins hearing of David's Anointing, thought it good to try him before he was warm in his Seat; but were overthrown twice. David after this, brought the Ark to the City of David; after which he intended to Build a Temple, but was forbidden, because he was a Man of War. The Wars which he had made were just, yet God refused to have the Foundation of his Temple to be layed by his hands; whereby the damnable Pride of Princes appeareth, who by terrours of Wars think to grow to Greatness like the Almighty; not caring to imi∣tate his Mercy and Goodness, or to seek the blessed Promise by our Saviour to Peace-Makers; yet God so accepted his Religious intent, that his Kingdom was confirmed to him, and his; and a Promise is made of that Everlasting Throne to be Established in his Seed.

§. 5. David after this overthrew the Philistins, and demolished their strong City of Gath, which was their Frontier Town, at the entrance into Iu∣dah, and Ephraim; from whence they made their incursions, and thither retreated; and was there∣fore called in the Text, the Bridle of Amgar. After this he gave them 4 Overthrows; of which see 2 Sam. 21.17. But the Conquest of Moah, and

the Arabian Wars came between. Of Moab he slew two parts, and saved a third to till the ground; yet the occasion is uncertain; only Moses for bad them to seek their peace. From thence to Syria Zoba, against Hadadezer.

§. 6. David overthrew Hadadezer, going to in∣large his Borders to Euphrates; which purpose for Euphrates cannot be understood of David, who upon this Victory, and winning of Damascus upon it, had a fair way and help of Chariots and Horses now won, sit for such a Journey, if he had intend∣ed it; all which, notwithstanding he returned to Ierusalem: This purpose is better referred to Ha∣dadezer. Next hereto, followed the Victory against the Ammonites, and their Confederates, with the se∣vere Revenge David took for the Affront Hanun shewed his Ambassadors. But before Rabba, after∣wards called Philadelphia, was Besieged, David gain'd another great Victory over the Aramites, brought to Helam by Adadezer out of Mesopotamia; from whence yet David proceeded not to Euphrates.

§. 7. David's Troubles in his Reign. §. As Victo∣ries beget Security, and Prosperity, Forgetfulness of former Misery, and many times of God himself, the giver of all Goodness; so it fell out with this good King. For being free from dangerous and apparent Enemies, he began to indulge Human Affections, as we see in his Carriage towards V∣riah and his Wife; forgetting the zealous care which formerly he had to please God, in the pre∣cise keeping of his Commandments. After this he fell by degrees from the highest Happiness, and his Days were filled with inter-changeable Joys and Woes, and the Sword never departed from his House. Then followed the death of the Adulte∣rous Child, Incestuous Rape of Thamar, Murder of Amnon, Insurrection, Usurpation, Incest, and Death of Absalom, the Treachery of Ziba, the Af∣front

front of Shimei, the Insolence of Ioab, the Rebel∣lion of Sheba, the Murder of Amasa, &c. The Land also indured three Years Famine for Saul's wrong to the Gibeonites, which was relieved by the death of Seven of Saul's Issue, of which Five were the Sons of Micho••'s Sister, as by an Elipsis the Hebrew will bear, as in the like, ver. 19. As the Lord by this Execution secured David's House from Competi∣tors, so was the Nation strengthened by the va∣lour of many brave Commanders, of which, Six Colonels under the General, had Thirty Captains of Thousands, among whom the difference of place and Honour, grew by meer consideration of Vir∣tue, as we see Abishai, Brother of Ioab, and the King's Kinsman, short in Honour of the first Three. David thus Established, in ostentation of his Pow∣er, provoked the Lord to punish his People with Pestilence, for his numbring of them, and slew Se∣venty Thousand.

§. 8. David's last Acts. §. Abishag in his impo∣tence, keepeth him Warm▪ &c. Adonijah aspireth, which causeth David publickly to declare Solomon his Successor, and to set him in his Throne; where∣upon Adonijah and his Associates were scattered. After this, David having two especial Cares re∣maining, of which he desired to discharge his Thoughts, one concerning Solomon's peaceable hold∣ing his Crown, the other about building the Temple; he called a Parliament of all the Princes, &c. In this Assembly, he signifieth his purpose, and the ap∣probation of God; chargeth all, and Solomon by Name, v. 9. and produceth the pattern of the Work, according to the Form which God himself had appointed, laying down his own preparation; whereto the Princes and others added their free∣will offering. This being done, David made a so∣lemn Feast, at which time Solomon was again anoint∣ed King, and received Fealty of the Princes, Peo∣ple,

and the King's Sons. After all this, David, as upon his Death-Bed, again with powerful words, giveth Solomon the Charge of the Lord his God; and then adviseth him concerning Ioab, who otherwise tho' of exceeding desert, yet for his intolerable Inso∣lence, came to such an end by Justice, when time served, as many worthy Men had done for acts of the like presumption. David, after Forty Years Reign, died, being Seventy Years old, having been a Man of small Stature, exceeding Strength; and for internal Gifts and Graces, passing all others; and putting his Human Frailty apart, commended by God himself, to be according to his own Heart. Being a Prophet as well as a King, he fore-told Christ more lightsomly and lively than all the rest, and writ many Psalms; but whether all the Book, is dispu∣ted, though Chrysostom and Augustin hold it. Christ and his Apostles cite him.

§. 9. David and Solomon's Treasures. §. David's Treasure exceeded, as appeareth by what he gave toward the Temple, 1 Chron. 22.14. which amount∣eth to 3333•• Cart loads of Silver, or 6000 l. ster∣ling to every Cart-load; and 23 Millions and 1000 l. in Gold; a matter incredible, but for Testi∣mony of Scripture; where consider how such a Treasure could be raised by Parcimony. Euse∣bius cites Eupolemus for a Navy which he sent from Melanis, or Achanis, to the Isle Vpher, or Opher, by Ortelius; then his Husbandry, which was great, his Presents, Tributes, Taxations, Capitations, his Spoils; the Riches of the Sanctuary long increasing by large Gifts, and the Portion out of all Prizes from Enemies, even from Ioshua's days. Of Solo∣mon's Treasure, see 1 Kings 9.20. and 10.14.29. See Iosephus of the Treasure he hid in David's Sepul∣cher, out of which Hircanus took 3000 Talents, and Herod more.

§. 10. David's Contemporaries. §. Achis a Phili∣stin

King of Gath, and another in Solomon's days, Latinus Sylvius, King of Alba. Cedrus the last King of Athens, after whom they changed the Govern∣ment into a Principality for Life, without Regal Title. This change was made in honour of Codrus, voluntarily slain for their sakes in a War with the Dores, to disappoint the Oracle. Eupalus the Third King of Assyria, sate 38 Years; Ixion the se∣cond King of the Heraclids in Corinth, Son of Eury∣thenes. Agis the second King of the Heraclids in Lacedemon, he restored the Laconians, and made the Citizens of Helos Slaves, for refusing Tribute, as at length, all the Messenians were, and thereof called Helons, that is, Slaves: Slave came from Scla∣vi, which were Samaritans, now Russians, which Conquering Illyria, would be called Slaves, which with them signifieth glorious; but when the warm Clime had thawed their Northern hardness, (but not ripened their Wits) the Italians, which made many of them Bond-men, used their Name in Re∣proach, calling all Bond-men Slaves. Achetratus succeeded Agis, in whose time Androchus the Third Son of Codrus, assisted by the Iones, built Ephesus in Caria, and was slain of the Carians. He also held Erithrae, famous for Sybyls, which writ Verses of Iesus Christ, Son of God, the Saviour, report∣ed by Augustine, who saw them. Vaphres King of Egypt began to Reign, when David Besieged Rab∣ba, Magnesia, on Meander in Asia, founded now, and Capua Campania.

CHAP. XIV. Of Solomon, Anno Mundi, 2991.

§. 1. SOlomon began to Reign in the 2991st Year of the World; and was first Congratula∣ted by Hiram King of Tyre, according to the An∣cient Custom of Princes. Though his Reign were peaceable, yet his beginning was with the blood of his Brother Adonijah, without warrant either from his Father, or the Law of God. The occasion was his desire of Abyshag; but being his Elder Brother, who also had sought the Kingdom, it was enough, as a word is to the Wise; and he which seeth the Claw, knows whether it be a Lyon or no. Solomon took the motion, as a demonstration of a new Trea∣son; such was the jealousie of seeking a King's Wi∣dow, or Concubines; as Absolom's taking his Fa∣ther's Concubines, was a taking possession of a Roy∣alty, so it was applied to David by Nathan, &c. 2 Sam. 12.8. Birth-right pleaded by Adonijah, was ac∣cording to God's Law, and of Nations; but the Kings of the Iews were more Absolute, and not without Example in Iacob, for private Inheritance. As for what we read of Peoples Elections, it was but an acknowledging him whom the Lord chose, and not to frustrate the Elder's Right. Solomon also executed Ioab, deposed Abiathar, and put Shemei to death. He Married the Daughter of Vaphres (as Eusebius calls him) King of Egypt; and according to his request to God, obtained extraordinary Wis∣dom, especially for Government; as appeared in the Example purposely set down, of his judging the two Harlots; yet did he excell in all other Know∣ledge.

§. 2. Solomon's Building and Glory. §. Renewing the League with Hiram of Tyre, he had much of his Materials for his Buildings from him. Of the Glo∣rious Temple, and parts of it, many Learned Men have Written; as Salmeron, Montanus, Bibera, Bar∣radas, Azorius, Villalpandus, Pineda, &c. The Letters which passed between Solomon and Hiram, Eusebius sets down out of Eupolon, which Iosephus also Records in his Antiquities, Lib. 8. §. 2. Be∣sides the matchless Temple, he made many other Magnificent Buildings, of which Gerar on the Bor∣der of Ephraim, taught the Egyptians to visit those parts in Rehoboam's days, before they were sent for. Thadimor, Ioseph held to be Palmyra, in the Desart of Syria, to the North-East of Libanus, the utmost Border of Solomon's Dominion, which Ierom calls Thermeth; and by Adrian Rebuilt, and called Adri∣anopolis. He also Repaired and Peopled the Towns Hiram refused, and made his first and only Journey in Syria Zobah, to establish his Tributes, and then visited all the Borders of his Dominions; from Pal∣myrena in the North, to Eziongaber and Eloth in the South, upon the Red-Sea.

§. 3. Solomon from Eziongaber, sent a Fleet to Ophir, an Island of the Molucca's in East-India, from whence he received 430 Talents of Gold, all Char∣ges defrayed. Of the word Tharsis see before, lib. 1. c. 8. §. 9 & 10. Pineda dreamt Ophir was in the Cades, or Calis-Malis, his Country in Spain, of old called Turtessus, whereto the next way by the Me∣diterranean was hindred by the great Atlantick Island, exceeding all Africa, swallowed up and choaking the Streights with Mad; like his Dream of Ionas's Whale, which in 3 days swam about all Africa, into the Red-Sea, to cast him up, 12000 Miles in com∣pass. Solomon's Chariots, Horsemen, daily Pro∣vision, Wisdom, &c. See 1 Kings 4.10. with 2 Chron. 9.

§. 4. Solomon's Fall, and term of Life. §. Solo∣mon forgetting what the Lord Commanded; as he had plenty of all other things, so of Wives, even of Idolatrous Nations, 1 Kings 11.1, 2. prohibited; whereupon they turned his heart after other Gods; for which, the Lord punish'd him with Enemies in his Age, and rent his Kingdom from his Son, as he threatned, 1 Kings 11. Touching his Age, it is conjectur'd by his Father's Actions, whose Conquests were ended, before he wan Rabba, when Solomon was not Born. So that half of David's Reign being spent at the time of vanquishing the Ammonites, Solo∣mon's Birth must fall after David's 20 Years; and above a Year it could not be, seeing Rehoboam's Age at Solomon's death, compared with the many heavy things which befell David after; and that David in his Charge to Solomon, speaketh as to a Man grown; though Solomon at Nineteen Years old, speaking to the Lord about his weighty Charge, might well call himself a Charge. Some time after, Ammon forced Thamar, and two Years after was slain by Absolom, who fied to Geshur, where he abode three Years, yet saw not his Father's face for two years. How long after he brake into Rebellion is uncertain, which seemeth to be the 30th Year of David's Reign, but the 40th Year after his Anointing; as those words 2 Sam. 15.7. may well be taken. Which 40, Io∣sephus, Theodoret, and the Latin Translation read 4 Years; to wit, from Absolom's Return.

§. 5. Solomon's Writings. In his Proverbs he teacheth good Life, and correcting the contrary. In Eccles. the Vanity of Humane Nature. In the Canticles he singeth the Epithalamion of Christ and his Church. The Book of Wisdom, the best Learned make us think it none of his; and Kimchi ascribeth the 3 other to Isaiah the Prophet. Iosephus also tells us of his own Invention, rather than truly that Solomon wrote Books of Enchantments. But cer∣tainly

so strange an Example of Human Frailty was never read of; that a Man endowed with Wisdom, by God himself; in honour of whom, and for his Service he built the first and most glorious Temple of the World; was made King, not by Law, but the Love of God, and became the Wisest, Richest, and Happiest of all Kings, did in the end by perswa∣sion of weak, wretched, Idolatrous Women, for∣get and forsake the Lord of all the World, and gi∣ver of all goodness, of which he was more liberal to him than to any that ever the World had.

§. 6. Solomon's Contemporaries, were Agelaus in Corinth; Labotes in Laced••monia; Silvius Alba over the Latins; Leosthenes in Assyria; Argastus, and af∣ter Archippus in Athens; Baliastrus succeeded Hiram in Tyre; others put Bozorius between: Sesac, after Vaphres in Egypt, whom Eusebius calls Smerides; and others by other Names.

CHAP. XV. Solomon's Successors to Jehoram. The King∣dom divided.

REhoboam succeeded his Father, but was not so Wise as to resolve the People's Petition with∣out Counsel; nor yet to discern of Councils, which is the very best of Wisdom in Princes and all o∣thers; for though he consulted with grave advised Men, yet he was Transported by his Favourites, who, ignorant of the nature of Severity, which without the Temper of Clemency, is Cruelty it self, thrust him on to threaten an Increase of what was unsupportable already; ignorant also, that Severity is to be used for the Help, and not for the Hurt of Sub∣jects. These foolish Parasites could better judge of the

King's disposition, which Learning was sufficient for to enable them to the Places they held. This An∣swer of Rehoboam, set forward Ieroboam's designs, and the Prophecie of Ahijah, as the sequel shewed; for the People at once chose Ieroboam; and after the manner of all Rebels, forgetting Duty to God, and Bonds of Nature, renounced all interest in Da∣vid; the Honour of their Nation, and murder the Officers sent to appease them. After this, Rehobo∣am intended Wars upon them, but was stayed by the Prophet from God. Ieroboam fortified himself, and to prevent re-uniting by communion in Reli∣gion, impiously set up a new Worship, learn'd in Egypt, expelling the Levites. Thus by irreligious Policy, he founded that Idolatry, which rooted Is∣rael out of the Land at last; neither could he be stayed by the Prophet that foretold his Advance∣ment, nor Miracle upon his own hand. This point of Policy must be made good, though it cast off God, and the Religion of his Fathers. Whereunto an Italian Historian compares the Policy of his Na∣tion, in making good the State they have gotten, by what means soever, as if God would not op∣pose it. Upon this ground, Amos must not Prophe∣cie at Bethel, it is the King's Court. Iehu will up∣on this ground maintain the Worship of Calves; and Hen. IV of France change Religion, &c. whom yet the Protestants whom he forsook, never hurt, as the Papists did whom he followed. But of the wretched end of such Policy, all these are notable Examples.

§. 2. Rehoboam's Impiety, Punishment, End, and Contemporaries. §. Rhehoboam Fortified his Ci∣ties, as well against Egypt, as Ieroboam, and then for∣sook the Lord, 1 Kings 14. and 1 Chron. 11. But in his Fifth Year, Sesac of Egypt, who favoured Iero∣boam, taught him how weak Fortifications are, where God watcheth not the City. Sesac brought

with him the Lybeans, Cusits of Arabia, and Suc∣caeans, which were not the Troglodits spoken of by Pliny, and Ptolomy, as Iunius judgeth. These were 600 Miles from the best of Egypt, and were in the 22d degree North from the Line, too far for such an occasion. The Succaeans were rather Arabian Egyptians, as the Ichthyophagy in Ptolomy, between the Mountains Alabastrine, and the Red-Sea, when this powerful Ses••c wan Ierusalem, and other Cities of Iuda, and added to the Spoil of them the Tem∣ple, and the King's House, and the Egyptian Kings after claimed Sovereignty of Iuda. After 17 Years Reign, Rehoboam died, and Ieroboam out-lived him 4 Year. Tersippus in Athens, Doristus in Sparta, Pri∣minas in Corinth, Sylvius Alys over the Latins, Pe∣riciades in Assyria, and Abdastrartus in Tyre, whom his Foster-Brother Murdered, and Usurped 12 Year; but Astartus Son of Baleaster, recovered the King∣dom from them.

§. 3. Abia succeeded Rehoboam in his Kingdom and Vices; yet God was pleased to give him the Victory over Ieroboam, of whose Subjects he slew 500000, though he suffered his Father to be van∣quished by Sesac the Egyptian; not for want of Strength, but Wisdom and Carriage, which God giveth when and where it pleaseth him: Who by the Affinity by which Solomon thought to assure his Estate, the Lord brake it in his next Successor. And tho' then God used to shew the Causes of such Judg∣ments by his Prophets, yet is he the same just God, to raise and throw down Kings and Estates for the same Offences. And those Afflictions of Israel, and the Courses thereof, are set down for Presidents to succeeding Ages. As the Famin for Saul's Cruelty, David's Calamities for Vriah, Solomon's loss of Ten Tribes for Idolatry, Rehoboam for Idolatry and So∣domy in the Land: Ieroboam, Ioram, Ahab, Iesabel. The like Judgments are executed daily for the like

Offences, though Men, wise in the World, raise these effects no higher than to second Causes.

§. 4. Asa, after three years, succeeded Abijah, who reformed Religion, and prospered. He overthrew Zerah and his 100000 Men, &c. That Zerah was an Arabian, not an Aethiopian, was proved before . But after he fell to rely on Man, and hired Ben∣hadad against Baasha, not relying upon the Assi∣stance of God, he fell to persecute the Prophet which reproved him, and to oppress the People, for which God plagued him. There lived at the same time, Agesilaus and Bacis of Corinth, Astartus and Astarlaius Kings of Tyre; Alys and Capis, Kings of the Latins; Ophrateus in Assyria. Tersippus, and Phorbas in Athens; Chemmis in Egypt, whom Cheops succeeded, and Reigned Fifty six years, to the six∣teenth of Ioas; Baasa King of Israel began in the Third year of Asa, and Reigned Twenty four years, which was about the Twenty sixth Year of Asa; so that his Attempt against Asa, 2 Chron. 16.1. was the 26th of Asa, but the 36th of the Kingdom of Iuda called Asa's, because he there Reigned in it. Consider that Rehoboam Reigned seventeen years, A∣bijah three, and Asa Forty one, in whose Three Ba∣asan began, so the Thirty sixth year of Iuda's King∣dom, fell in the Sixteenth year of Asa.

§. 5. The Alterations in the Kingdom of Israel in the Reign of Asa, might have reduced the Ten Tribes to the House of David, if God had not deter∣mined the contrary. Ieroboam lost 500000: Nadab his Son, in two years, lost his Life and Kingdom, so that of his Fathers Worldly Wisdom, to Establish a Kingdom in his Posterity, nothing remained but the hateful Memory, that he made Israel to sin. Baasa rooting out Ieroboam's House, yet imbraced his Idolatry, which drew the same Sentence of God's Wrath upon him and his Family; and tho' he thought it Wisdom, to Fortify his Kingdom,

which he found weakened by Asa, by making League with Benhadad; yet God turned his Wisdom into Foolishness, and by the same Hand destroyed Neph∣talim. Ela Son of Baasha succeeded, and was slain by Zimri; who wanting strength to defend himself against Omri, had Courage enough to burn himself in Terza. Omri by the Peoples Division was a while opposed by Tibni, but prevailed.

§. 6. Israel thus afflicted under those unhappy Princes, it is a wonder that the People returned not to their ancient Kings, and reunited not to those Two Mighty Tribes; but they still continu∣ed in grievous oppressions of the Factious Usurpers and Competitors, and under the revenging hand of God for their defection. To say God's secret Will was such, was not reason either to the Ten Tribes not to return, nor to Abijah, after he had so weak∣ned Israel, not to perfect his Conquest; for though his Father was restrained expresly by the Lord, yet was not he. We may then boldly look into two Causes. First, Why the People bore so quietly the slaughter of Nadab, and interpretation of Ieroboam their own chosen King, and revenged the death of Ela Son of Baasa, an Usurper. It is therefore probable, that the People by defection from Reho∣boam, seeking ease of former Burthens, found Iero∣boam and his Son to retain some Kingly Preroga∣tives, which had been grievous to them under So∣lomon, which Baasa had forborn, and reduced the form of Civil Government to a more temperate Me∣thod, which much pleased them. Secondly, the same may be the Reason they returned not to the House of David, whose Scepter they found so heavy under Solomon, and were threatned by his Son with more burthen. They had seen Ioab and Shimei slain without all form of Judgment, Adonijah without Cause, as Ieroboam should have been; which lawless

Power grew more barbarous in Iehoram, Manas∣es, &c. As for the Kings of Israel, we find no such arbitrary proceeding; for even Iezabel kept the form judicial against Naboth. And well it may be, though Ieroboam had established a Law against the Prophets of God, which the Idolatrous People ap∣proved; by which Law Iezabel slew so many. This difference of Power, Arbitrary, and according to Law, made the People of Iudah less affectionate to their Princes than the Israelites, who were accustom∣ed not to kill their Kings as the Iudeans did, but revenged when they were able, such as were slain by Usurpers. The like moderation of Kingly Prero∣gatives in the Government of England, gained such affection of the People, as never any perish'd by the Fury of the People, whose heat in greatest In∣surrection was extinguished with the blood of some great Officers. Let not Monarchs fear straitning of their Absoluteness by mighty Subjects, as long as by their Wisdom they keep the hearts of the Peo∣ple, who will be sure to come in on their side: As Briarius with his hundred hands assisted Iupiter, when all the Gods conspired against him. For a good Form of Government is sufficient of it self, to retain the People, not only without assistance of a laborious Wit, but even against all devices of the shrewdest Politicians; every Sheriff and Constable being sooner able to arm the Multitude in the King's behalf, than any over-weening Rebel against him. Princes immediately assign'd by God, or getting Command by strong hand, have presumed of more Absolute Prerogatives than Kings Chosen; and the People which thought Obedience to Princes a part of Duty to God, will endure much more with pati∣ence, than others who have Kings of their own chusing.

§. 7. Iehosaphat, a Religious Happy Prince, suc∣ceeded Asa, whose Forces of Men of War

were 1160000, by which he recovered his Tributes from the Arabians and Philistins, besides his own Garisons; yet his Country did not exceed the Coun∣ty of Kent in largeness. This number may be thought strange in so small a Territory, being far greater than any Muster ever taken of that Country. Ioab had found 500000, Rehoboam 180000, Abia 408000, Asa 580000, Amazia found 300000, Uzziah 307000; and surely if Iehosophat had 1160000 Men, he would not have feared Moab and Ammon, &c. I am therefore of Opinion (submit∣ting to better Judgments) that the numbers spoken of, 2 Chron. 17. were not all at one time, but that the two first numbers under Adnah and Iehobanan, were after Mustred, and Commanded by Amasia, Eli∣ada, and Iehosabad; yet this Mighty Prince made a League with Ahab, and matched his Son Ioram with his Daughter, and assisted him at Ramoth-Gilead, for which he was reproved by Iehu the Prophet; as he was a second time by the Prophet Eliezer, for joyn∣ing with Ahab's Son in preparing a Fleet. So he joyned with Iehoram against Moab, and had perished by Famine, if Elisha had not relieved them from God, whose Goodness was ever prone to save the Evil for the sake of the Good, but never destroyed the Good for the Evil.

Ophratenes now Reigned in Assyria, Capetas and Tiberinus at Alba in Italy, Atazedes in Athens, Age∣silaus in Corinth, Archilochus in Lacedemon, Badesorus in Tyrus, Achab, Ochozias, and Iehoram in Israel.

CHAP. XVI. Of Jehoram, and Ahazia.

JEhoram, the Son of Iehosaphat, being thirty two Years old, began to Reign, and Reigned 8 Year, of which, 4 was in his Father's Life; who at his two Journeys with Ahab and Iehoram, Kings of Is∣rael, left him Viceroy 'till his return. The first was in Iehosaphat's 17th Year, when also Ahazia Son of Ahab began to Reign; whose Brother Iehoram, the 2d year after, succeeded K. of Israel in the 2d year of Ie∣horam, King of Iuda; that is, of his Reign when his Fa∣ther Iehosaphat took the sole Government again upon him, 'till the Fifth year after, when he reassumed his Son Ioram into the Government, 2 Kings 8. two years before his death, in the fifth year of Iehoram King of Israel. So that Iehosaphat Reign∣ing Twenty five years, 2 King. 22.42. it is evident, his Son Iehoram could not be King of Iuda, 'till the Eighth year of Iehoram King of Israel. The like re∣gard is to be had in accounting the Reigns of other Kings of Iuda and Israel, whose years are sometime to be taken compleat, current, or confounded with other Kings preceding, or succeeding, as the com∣paring of their Times together shall require. In this History, consider that Iehosaphat, a Religious King, is the first of Rehoboam's Issue, that entred a League both Offensive and Defensive with the Kings of Isra∣el, with whom his Predecessors had tyred them∣selves in vain with continual Wars. This Confede∣racy with one which hated the Lord, could not long prosper, not issuing from the true Root and Foun∣tain of all Wisdom; yet as a piece of sound Policy, it wanted not fair Pretences of much common good, as mutual Fortification of both Kingdoms against Uncircumcised Ancient Enemies. For confirmation

of such an apparent Good unto Posterity therefore, the Bond of Affinity was knit by Marriage of Ieho∣ram with Athalia, a Lady of a Masculine Spirit, who had learned so much of Iezabel her Brother's Wife, that she durst undertake more in Ierusalem, than the other in Samaria, as a Fire-brand ordained by God, to Consume many Nobles in Iuda, and perhaps some, whose Worldly Wisdom, regardless of God's pleasure, had brought her in. The Syrian Wars at Ramoth-Gilead, were the first Fruits of this League, undertaken upon equal Adventure, but upon the hope of Benefit only to Ahab: As godly Princes seldom thrive by matching with Idolaters, but ra∣ther serve the Turns of those false Friends, who be∣ing ill-affected towards God, cannot be well affect∣ed to his Servants. At this time also, as Ahaziah was designed King by Ahab his Father, so was Io∣ram by Iehosaphat after the others Example, with∣out Example in any of their Predecessors,

§. 2. Iehoram's Reign so diversly dated in Scrip∣ture, argueth, that Iehosaphat having taken him in∣to the Government, as Ahab had given Example, found cause after to recall that Power. Probable it is, that his Insolent Idolatrous Wife having corrupted him, was the cause that the Government, both for Religion and Justice, grew so far out of order, that Iehosaphat was forced to the Reformation we read of, and sequestred his Son from the Government, 'till it were setled again; and so after five years cal∣led him to it the second time, which bred a new Date, as did his Father's death two years after, breed a third: Many things might move Iehosaphat to Iehoram's second calling to Govern him, as to try what Wisdom his restraint had wrought, or to prevent his Brethrens Insolency against him, if Ie∣hosaphat had at his Death, left him in disgrace, which might be the cause of great Tumults; it may be also, Iehoram, by dissimulation, had won the good Opini∣on

on of his ••ather and Brethren, formerly offended, it being usual in violent fierce Natures, to be as ab∣ject and servile in their Adversity, as insolent and bloody upon Advantage. Howsoever it was, this is manifest, that his Father at his death, doubting his Affection to his Brethren, for their better Secu∣rity, besides great Riches, gave them the custody of strong Cities, and unusual means against unusual Pe∣rils.

§. 3. Jehoram's Reign alone, in which Edom and Libna Rebel. §. Iehosaphat's providence for his youn∣ger Sons availed nothing against the determination of an higher Providence; for these strong Cities were a weak defence for the young Princes against his Power, to whom the Citizens were obedient. If they came in upon the King's Summons, he had them without difficulty; if they refused, they were Tray∣tors; yet could not hold out, when all would fail them, for fear of a Potent King. However it was, all were slain, and many great Men with them, who had any way offended the Tyrant, either formerly, or in behalf of his Brethren. Iehoram, after this, made innovation in Religion, not only incouraging the People prone to Idolatry (of all other sins detest∣ed of God) but using Compulsion also, and was the first we read of, that inforced Irreligion. Edom, in the mean time, revolted, and made themselves a King, having, from David's days, been Tributaries, and govern'd by Vice-Roys. Now Isaac's Prophe∣cy began to take effect, that Esau should break the Yoke of Iacob; for after this, Edom was never sub∣ject to the Kings of Iuda: Yea, in process of time, Antipater and Herod, Elumeans, Reigned as Kings in Ierusalem. Lybna, also a City of the Levites in Iu∣da, rebelled against him, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his Fathers; In defence of whose Worship, these Levites thought themselves bound, especially against his inforcement to the contrary.

Wherein also they might take Incouragement for Iehosaphat's Charge, 2 Chron. 29.8. But as Iehoram had left Edom in their defection, so he attempted nothing against Libna; which seemeth to proceed from a doubtful Mind, whether to put Weapons in∣to the Hands of his Subjects against their Fellows, whose Cause might well be favour'd by many, who yet durst not discover themselves, being unarmed, as they might when Weapons were put into their Hands. So desperate is the Condition of Tyrants, who think it a greater Happiness to be Feared than Loved; yet are oblig'd to fear those whose Love would make them dreadful to others.

§. 4. Iehoram taking no notice of God's displea∣sure by these Afflictions, was threatned by a Pro∣phetical Writing sent to him; being such a Tyrant, as the Prophets durst not reprove him to his Face, as they had done many of his Predecessors, bad as well as good, but they writ to him, keeping them∣selves from him; Elias being Translated, might have left this Writing, or, (as some conjecture) by mi∣staking in Writing one Letter for another, Elias is put for Elisha, &c. The Accomplishment of the Prophecy, proved as terrible as the Sentence, when the Philistins, which from David's days durst never look out, brake in upon him, &c. with the Arabi∣ans, a naked People on Horse-back, of no Force, dwelling in a Barren Desert. So that the one quar∣ter of those whom Iehosaphat Mustered, had been able to repel greater Forces than both these Enemies could raise, had the Iudean People been Armed, as by their Prince's Jealousy, they were not, accord∣ing to the Policy of the Philistins in the days of Saul: The House of Iehoram, which they surprised, seem∣eth rather a Country House than in Ierusalem, con∣sidering they made no further Ravages. It is pro∣bable, all Iehoram's Children were not now slain, considering the Slaughters made after by Iehu and

Athaliah, within two years: Lastly himself, after two years Torment, voided his Guts, &c. And as the People had small cause of comfort in his Life, so they observed not the decency of pretending Sorrow for his Death; neither had he the Honour of his Ancestors Burial, though his Son Succeeded, and his Wife did all. Athaliah busie in Plotting her own Greatness, and providing trusty Counsellors for her Son, thought it unreasonable to offend the Eyes of the People with a magnificent Funeral of a Man by them detested; and chose rather to let the Blame of past Actions lie upon the Dead, than by doing him Honour, to procure an ill Opinion of her self and Children, which it now concerned her to avoid. Such is the quality of Wicked Instigators, to charge the Man whose Evil Inclination they corrupted by sinister Counsel, not only with his own Vice, but with their Faults also, when once he is gone and can profit them no longer. Thus we may clearly see, how the corrupted Affections of Men impugning the Revealed Will of God, accomplish nevertheless, his hidden Purpose; and without miraculous means, confound themselves in the seeming Wise Devices of their own Folly. All Men may likewise learn to submit their Judgments to the Ordinance of God, rather than to follow Worldly Wisdom, contrary to his Commandments.

§. 5. Ahaziah succeeded his Father in the Twelfth year of Iehoram King of Israel, and was guided by the same Spirits that had been his Father's Evil An∣gels. Touching his Age, 2 Chron. 22.2. a Point more difficult than important; I see not a more pro∣bable Conclusion than that of Torniellus's mentioning an Edition of the Seventy at Rome, Anno. 1588, which saith, he was Twenty years old when he succeeded; and the Annotations thereon, which cite other Co∣pies, which give him two years more, &c. He ac∣companied Iehoram King of Israel to Ramoth Gilead,

and returneth home after the Battle, and presently took a new Journey to visit Iehoram. It seems his speedy return to Ierusalem was not pleasing to A∣thaliah, as interrupting her in her Plots, who there∣fore sought to oblige him abroad, if it were but in a vain Complement, to visit one whom he had seen but yesterday. But however these things may seem accidental, yet all concurred, as disposed at this time, to fulfil the high pleasure of God; yea, Athaliah's se∣cret Plots, which intended nothing less.

§. 6. Ahaziah and that Family perished with the House of Ahab. §. Iehu is anointrd King, and made Executioner of the Sentence of God against the House of Ahab, according to the Prophecy of Elias, and is proclaimed by all the other Captains. He having this Honour upon the sudden thrown upon him, was not slow in the heat of their Affections, to put him∣self in possession, and to set on foot the Business which so nearly concerned him, and not to be re∣tarded, being no more his own than God's. Ahab's House never so flourished, having Seventy Princes of the Blood, a valiant King, honoured with the Vi∣ctory of Ramoth Gilead; so deeply Allied with Iu∣dah, and Courted by the King, and so many Prin∣ces of his Blood, that it might discourage all com∣mon Enemies, and make Rebellious Enterprises hope∣less. In this Security and Joy of the Court for the King's Recovery and Entertainment of the Princes of Iudah, the King, his Court, and Friends are sud∣dainly surprized and slain; neither could Iezebel's Painted Majesty, nor Man-like Spirit, with untimely brave Apothegms, terrify her Adversary, who, of her Servant, became her Lord; at whose Com∣mand, her base Grooms feared not to violate her affected Majesty: Ahaziah is also wounded to Death.

CHAP. XVII Of Athaliah, and Ioash, that succeeded her.

§. 1. AThaliah Vsurpeth, and upon what pretences, §. Ahaziah being dead, after one Years Reign his House was not able to retain the King∣dom, 2 Chron. 22.9. which Speech hath bred the question of Ioash's Pedigree. Athaliah having Reigned under her Sons Name, had laid the Plot to play the Queen under her own Title, if her Son fail'd; and to that end, had furnished the King, Councel, and Places of Chief Command, with Men fittest for her purposes. And though Ambition be violent, yet seldom is it so shameless as to neglect Beauty. It is not therefore improbable to think that Athaliah seeing the Royal Blood so wasted in her Husband and Son's days, had by some means drawn her Husband or Son to make her Heir if the King's Blood should be extinct; considering, that without some such order taken, when the King's Blood fail'd, the Kingdom were like to be torn in sunder by Competitors, or some Popular Seditious Man should be chosen, that would subvert all regularity, and exercise his Cru∣elty on such as they loved most, and cast aspersions on the Royal House. Pretence of Testaments to thrust out true Heirs is no new thing: Yea, what is new under the Sun? To prefer a younger before the natural Heir, hath proof in David; and for State∣Policy to slay a Brother, by example of Solomon, &c. And though these had ground of their doings, yet they which follow Examples which please them, will neglect the Reasons which please them not. Solomon slew Adonijah which had Rebelled, and was entred a new practice; Iehoram slew his Brethren better than he; David purchased the Crown, yet he

gave it by God's direction, when as Ahaziah sought to cut off David's Issue, which the Lord had ap∣pointed to Reign, 2 Chron. 23.3.

§. 2. Iehu had so much business in establishing his own Kingdom, that he could not molest Athaliah as he desired, she being of Ahab's House. Among o∣ther things about Religion, he destroyed Baal's Priests; and though never King of Israel had such a way to overthrow Ieroboam's Idolatry, seeing he needed not fear the Peoples return to David's House (in appearance) quite rooted out, and had his Call∣ing by an unexpected Favour of God; and for his Zeal against Baal, had a special promise for Four Ge∣nerations; yet he wou'd needs piece out God's Pro∣vidence with his own Circumspection. He had, no doubt, displeased many about Baal, and should offend more in taking away Ieroboam's ancient Idolatry; yet all these never thought of making him King, if God had not done it; when more difficulties ap∣peared in getting them now, than in keeping them, though with their offence whom he sought to retain by forsaking God. This Ingratitude of Iehu, drew terrible vengeance from God on Israel, executed by Hazael, according to Elisha's Prophesie, 2 Kings 8.12. with 10.32. Thus Israel succeeded under Iehu, whose carriage and success was better in mur∣thering his Master that trusted him, than in defend∣ing his People from Cruel Enemies. And thus it commonly falls out, that they which can find all difficulties in serving him, to whom nothing is dif∣ficult, instead of finding what they propound by contrary Courses, overwhelm themselves with trou∣bles they sought not; and are by God, whom they first forsook, left unto the miserable Labours of their own blind Understanding and Wisdom, wherein they reposed all their Confidence.

§. 3. Athaliah's Government, by Israel's Calami∣ties stood the safer, she having leisure to settle it. It is probable also she held Correspondence with Hazael, as King Asa had done, and had secured her self by Gifts, having robbed the House of God for Baalim, whose Idolatry she set out with Pomp, to recommend it to the People, as she sought by want of means to make the Service of the Sanctuary neg∣lected.

§. 4. Ioash's preservation was by means of Iehosha∣beth, Ahaziah's Sister, and Wife unto Iehojada the High-Priest, the upholder of God's Service in those unhappy times. By her Piety it seemeth she was not Athaliah's Daughter, yet had she access to the Court, and conveyed the young Child with her Nurse into the Temple, where he was secretly brought up, that the Tyranness could not discover it; and thought it not fit to make much ado about him, but rather let it be thought he was dispatched with the rest; lest the People hearing of his escape, should hearken after Innovation.

§. 5. Athatiah had acted as Queen above 6 Year, without molestation, when suddenly the Period of her Glory and Reward of her Wickedness met to∣gether, and the young Princes Age required no lon∣ger to be concealed, for his better Education, to fit him with Courage and Qualities proper for a King, and to prevent the over-deep rooting of Im∣piety by the longer Reign of that Cursed Woman. Iehojada wisely considered this, and combined with Five Captains, of whom he was best assured, by whom he drew over other great Men to Ierusalem. And because it was difficult to draw open Forces to∣gether, he gave order to the Levites, which waited by course in the Temple, that they should not re∣turn home 'till they knew his further pleasure. Thus admitting new Comers, and retaining the old, he secretly gathered together a competent number to

encounter the Queens Guard, and furnished them out of the Armory of the Temple which King Da∣vid had made; with which also he armed the Cap∣tains and their Followers, &c. All things being in readiness, they proceed to the Execution, and the young King is joyfully Crowned; and the Tyran∣ness Usurper coming in desperately, without Forces, ignorant of the business, ended her own Tragedy with a sudden and shameful death. Iosephus's Re∣port of her coming with her Power, which were repelled, &c. is not credible; though all the For∣ces she could bring, could not frustrate the Council of God, yet her Indiscretion made the effect more easie:

§. 6. Athaliah had no doubt considered Iehoram King of Israel's rashness, casting himself into the gaping Gulf of danger; yet her self is by the like Bait drawn into the same Trap; and as she lived like Iezebel, so was she rewarded with her.

These two Queens were in many things alike; each Daughter, Wife, and Mother to a King; each over-ruled her Husband, was an Idolater, Ambitious, Murderous; each slain by Conspiring Subjects suddenly, &c. We read not what be∣came of Athaliah's Sons, her Sacrilegious Imps which robbed the Temple, &c.

CHAP. XVIII. Of Joash, Amaziah, and their Contempora∣ries.

§. 1. JOASH about Seven Year Old began to Reign, under the protection of Iehojada during his Minority. When he came to Age, he took two Wives by Iehojada's Advice, repairing David's Family, almost worn out. The first Act he took in hand after he Ruled without a Protector, was the reparation of the Temple, which had been his Sanctuary, which he followed with much Zeal.

§. 2. Iehojada the Priest being 130 Year Old, died, before his Country could have spared him, and was buried among the Kings, as he well deser∣ved. This Honour seemeth to have come from the People, for the King had soon forgot him, as one eased of Debt, and was easily flattered by the Prin∣ces, so that he quickly forgot his old well-deserving Counsellor, yea God himself, Author of all Good∣ness. He which had 30 Years shewed Zeal to re∣store true Religion, and root out Idolatry, which had been growing some 16 Years, was easily drawn to fall away, when he perceived his Princes Inclina∣tions; and being once entred that course, he ran headlong, as one who thought Liberty the only To∣ken of a King, no longer to endure the sower Ad∣monitions of Devout Priests. Hereby it appears, he which had been so long among the Devout, as Saul among the Prophets, was not of them; but like an Actor upon the Stage, had counterfeited, to express more Zeal and lively Affection than they could do, which were truly Religious.

Iehoahaz Son of Iehu King of Israel, Reign'd 17 Years, from the 23d of Ioash King of Iudah.

§. 3. Ioash having broken loose from God, is gi∣ven over to Men not so easily shaken off; for Ha∣zael King of Aram, returning from Gath, set on to∣ward Ierusalem, which forc'd Ioash to buy his Peace with all the Treasure he could make, Holy, or Com∣mon; yet he never enjoyed Peace with Hazael, who sent a small Army after, and destroyed his Princes, and ravag'd his Country. Many might be the Motives to excite Hazael against Iudah; he had an experienc'd Army; Iudah had assisted Israel at Ramoth, and the Journey from Gath to Ierusalem short; yet it is probable that the Sons of Athaliah en∣couraged him, with hope of a great Party to be drawn by them, of such as favoured them; other∣wise it is improbable that Hazael would have awa∣ked a sleeping Enemy. However it were, it was of God, who knoweth how to prefer Motives to such as he will imploy, though they intend it not. Some confound the two Invasions of Hazael's; but they are different; the first was a compleat Army, which frighted Ioash, and had Hazael's presence; the se∣cond was small, and was encounter'd by the Iude∣ans, when the King of Aram was at Damascus. Some hold the Invasion was in Iehojada's days; but it seemeth otherwise, seeing the Service of the Tem∣ple flourished all his Days. God sometimes pre∣vents Men's Sins by affliction, before Men see cause, because it reforms them. As for the Wicked, usu∣ally their Sins get the start of their Punishment, which can do no good upon them, through hardness of heart by custom of Sin, as it was by this unhap∣py Man, whose villanous Pattern few Tyrants can endure to imitate.

§. 4. Zecharias the Son of Iehojada, after other Prophets, is moved by the Spirit of God to admo∣nish them of their Wickedness; whom though many

personal Reasons might move Ioash to respect, be∣side the Reason of Reasons, that he was a Reverend Prophet of God, yet at Ioash's Commandment they murdered him. Not unlike the Husbandmen, who killed the Heir, in whom all the hope to win any thing at their hands did rest. For it might well be expected, that this Man might be bolder, and pre∣vail more than all the rest; yet of all the rest, he succeeded least. It seems Ioash thought himself no free Prince, as long as any might be thought to have such interest in him, as to dare to deal plainly with him.

§. 5. Ioash having committed this odious Murder, as the unthankful Snake upon the Man in whose Bo∣som he had been fostered, as a wretched Tyrant be∣came hateful to his own Times, and his Memory de∣testable. Neither did the deserved Curse of the Mar∣tyr stay long; for within the Year, when the Ty∣rant thought he was now absolute King without Controul, the Aramites broke into his Country, ra∣ther for Pillage, than to perform any great Action, being so few. The King of Iudah many ways dis∣covered his Cowardise, as by drawing blood of Friends, basely buying Peace with Enemies, when he was able to draw into the Field 300000 Men, as his Son did after; and now in levying a great Ar∣my against a few Foreigners, or Bands of Rovers. Against these his Wisdom thought fit to advance a∣mong his Princes, to shew his Valour, when he pre∣sumed through incomparable odds to be free from danger. But God, that laugheth at the Folly of Wise Men, and casteth contempt upon vain-glorious Princes, intending to do more by the few Aramites than themselves merit, whether by Folly of Leaders, amazement of Souldiers, &c. this great Army fell before them, and they had the slaughtering of those Princes, which had drawn their King to Rebel a∣gainst

the King of Kings, and the beating and ran∣zoming of Ioash himself, who thereupon was forced to take his Bed, in which two of his own Servants, slew him, for the blood of Iehojada's Children.

§. 6. Contemporaries with Ioash, were Mezades and Diognetus in Athens; Eudemus and Aristodemus in Corinth; Agrippa, Sylvius and Syvius Alladius in Italy; Cephrenes the 4th from Sesac, succeeded Cheops in Egypt, the 16th of Ioash, and Ruled Fifty Years; Ocrazapes, or, Anacynderaxes succeeded Ophratanes in Assyria, Forty two years; Ioas 18th. Pigmalion King of Tyrus, in whose Seven years Dido built Car∣thage, from the Building Solomon's Temple 143 Years, as Iosephus found in the Tyrian Annals; which was 143 years before the Birth of Romulus, and 289 years after the destruction of Troy. Thus all Virgil's Tale of Dido and Aeneas, is Confuted, as Ausonius noteth in his Epigram upon her Statue. The History of Carthage is referred to the Pu∣nick Wars.

§. 7. Amaziah, Son of Ioash, succeeded, being Twenty five Years old, who having learned the Art of Dissimulation of his Father, finding the Princes dead which favoured Idolatry, and seeing the Peo∣ples dislike of his Father's Courses, by their Counte∣nancing his Murder; he framed himself to the ne∣cessity of the Times, forbore the Traytors, indured his Father's disgrace in his Burial, and Conformed to Religion. But after the Peoples out-cry against his Father, had tyred it self, and that he saw the Conspirators had neither Might, Partakers, nor A∣bettors, he put them to Death, but spared their Children; which gave Content to the People, as a point of Justice; thus by long Peace and Con∣formation to Religion and Justice, he grew strong.

Ioash, also, King of Israel, grew in Power, fol∣lowing the War against the Aramites, and pros∣pered, tho' following the Idolatry of the Calves,

which had almost consumed the Ten Tribes by Hazael and Benhadad. Yet at the Prayer of this Idolater, God had Compassion in giving him success, that he recover'd his Fathers temporal Losses; but God's Favour more worth than all, he neither sought nor got. This Man entred in the 37th year of Ioash King of Iudah, and in the Fifteenth of Iehoahaz, his Father, who lived two or three after. He receiv∣ing his Father's poor Stock of ten Chariots, Fifty Horsemen, and One Thousand Foot, his thriving with this Stock, he ascribed to the Prayers of the Holy Prophet Elisha, 2 Kings 13.14. This Pro∣phet dyed about the Third or Fourth year of Io∣ash, and for a Legacy, bestowed three Victories up∣on him, whereby he set Israel in a good way to re∣cover all their Losses.

§. 8. Amaziah, inflamed with desire to undertake some Expedition, by Example of Ioash King of Is∣rael, tho' he could furnish 300000, yet knowing they had lived without Exercise a long time, except that with the Aramites, which rather discouraged them, he therefore thought good to hire 100000 Experienced Men out of Israel, with which he would recover Edom, which revolted under Ieho∣ram. But upon a Prophet's Warning, he dismissed the Israelites, not beloved of God, and went in confidence of God's Assistance, and prospered; while his discontented hired Israelites ravag'd in their return; yet he recover'd not Edom. He took some of Edom's Idols, which might have been led in Triumph, but the wretched King which took them, was besotted by them, and made them his Gods; neither would endure the Prophet's reproof from the true God. If the costly Stuff, or the Work∣man-ship ravished his Fancy, he might have disposed them to Profit or Ornament; if the Edomites Devo∣tion to them, it should rather have moved laughter at them and their Gods, who had failed their Old

Clients. I therefore think a proud Discontentment carried him from God, whom having Obeyed in send∣ing back his Mercenary Israelites, he looked that the Lord would have subdued Edom unto him, as well as give him a Victory; forgetting that God had pro∣mised that Esau should break off the Yoke of Iacob at length; and therefore should have limited his de∣sire, and been contented with an honourable Victo∣ry. But as Men careful before the Battle, to pray to God, acknowledging him the giver of Victory; and when the Field is won, vaunt of their own Ex∣ploits, as if God used their Fore-sight and Courage therein; so Amaziah finding God did nothing ex∣traordinary, arrogated what was ordinary, to him∣self, and scorned to be checked by a Prophet, ha∣ving before lost One Hundred Talents by one of them, without any Benefit. From this proud Con∣tempt of God, and Conceit of his own Sufficiency, little Inferior to David, he challenged Ioash King of Israel, and upon occasion of the late Wrongs done by his Subjects, perhaps required Subjection of the Ten Tribes, by Right from his Ancestors David and Solomon. Had he only required Satisfaction, It may be, Ioash would not have returned such an An∣swer, as argueth an Insolent proud Challenge. Ajax's Father wished him the Victory by the Gods assistance: He answered, that Cowards got Victory so, but he would have it without them; after which proud Speech, and many valiant Acts, upon some disgrace, he fell Mad and killed himself. Amaziah's Thoughts were like Parents of like words, and he might as well have said, he had the Victory without God; which made him insolently challenge Ioash, as if he were able to encounter a valiant Leader, and People trained up in a long Victorious War, because he had defeated the weak, broken Edomites. As his first Counsel among his Parasites, to defy Ioash, was foolish, so was his proceeding, which was careless∣ness

in providing and preventing; in both which, his Adversaries took the start, and prevented A∣maziah with a brave Army in his own Country, to save him the labour of a long March. This sudden Invasion much discouraged Iudah, who ha∣ving devoured Israel in their greedy hopes, saw themselves disappointed, and their own Estates sei∣zed by the others: This Issue was, that Amaziah was taken, and was led in Triumph to Ierusalem, which, to save his Life, he basely procured to be opened to the Conqueror, who made a large breach in the Wall, at which he rid in, made what Spoil he thought fit, and departed.

§. 9. Ioash King of Israel, being in Possession of Ierusalem, it may be marvelled why he seized not upon the whole Kingdom; especially considering he might think the Kingdom was not tyed to the House of David, as appeared in Athaliah; and that the Iu∣daeans were liklier to endure his Government, being such a Conqueror, and descended of Kings, of which Iehu was Anointed from God. I need not add the Commodities growing by Union of these two King∣doms; neither read we of any special Prohibition to him; but it appears, Ioash minded not the Kingdom, for then he would not have aimed at such a Triumph and Entrance at a Breach, which is one of the great∣est Affronts to Citizens, but would have entred at a Gate with fair Intreaty of a People, rather yielding than vanquished; he would also have forborn the Spoil, especially of the Sanctuary, which the People prefer to their Lives; and in forbearing whereof, he had won the Opinion of Piety, as the Sacrilege upon the House of their God and his, branded him with a Mark of extraordinary Prophaneness, who by exe∣crable Church-Robbery, became odious, and lost the Inheritance of the whole Orchard, by stealing a few fair Apples. The Citizens provoked by these In∣dignities, after a few days, would gather Spirit,

to conceive the Enemy was of their Mould, and that themselves were not disarmed, were a great multitude, had Provision and such advance of Place as Armed Women and Children; and considering the Evils grown, and like to encrease by former Cowardize, would grow to a desperate Resolution to correct the first Errors. Upon these grounds, it is certain that great Towns entred by Capitulation, are not so easily held as entred, as Charles VIIIth of France found at Florence, which made him come to Terms, when he saw the Citizens Resolution, rather to hazard all, than to submit to his intollerable Con∣ditions, being now entred the Town. Besides, Io∣ash might consider how hardly he could make good his Possession against the Army of Iudah, rather terrified than broken; and lastly, Ioash having had the Three Victories against Aram, promised by the Prophet, he should not expect a perpetual Success against them; and therefore thought it best to re∣turn home with the best Security he could for con∣veying his rich cumbersom Booty, and to make head against the Aramites, who, in his Absence, had ta∣ken the Advantage, and given Israel such a Blow as he could never recover; taking therefore Hosta∣ges for his quiet Passage, he returned home.

§. 10. Amaziah, who threatned to work wonders, and raise again the Empire of David, was stript of his Lions Skin; and appeared nothing so terrible a Beast as he had been painted, and became an Argu∣ment of scoffing to many; as the Shame which falls on an Insolent Man, seldom fails of much Reproach. Governours are commonly blamed by the Multitude, for the Calamities which befall them, though by the Peoples default; but every Child could see the Root of all this Mischief in this Bastard, which having pro∣voked a valiant Adversary, for Fear betrayed the City, opened unto him by this base intreaty, to save his Life (which his Brutal Father would not do)

which he redeemed at so dear a rate, as the Spoil of City and Temple, which might easily have been saved by a little delay, which would have forced Io∣ash faster home than he came out, hearing of the A∣ramites; and a little Courage, in that space, recover'd, would have perswaded him to leave his Baggage be∣hind him, had not this good King given Hostages for a Convoy. That this punishment and dishonour brought him back to God, appeareth not, but the contrary, by the Reason of the Conspiracy Related by the Holy Ghost. He which tells a Man in Ad∣versity, of his sins past, shall sooner be thought to upbraid him with his present Fortune, than to seek his Reformation; which might make the Priest and Prophets little welcome to him. On the other side, his Flatterers which sought to raise up his Heart, of which themselves might always be Masters, wanted no plausible Matter; and he was not the first Noble Commander which hath been foiled, as David him∣self abandoned Ierusalem to Absalom. Sesac was sent into the City as well as Ioash; the Temples Pilla∣ging had been excused by Necessity of State; his Captivity excuseth his Command to open the City, but they which opened it were to blame, knowing he was not his own Master, when he commanded it; his Captivity was his Honour, who might have escaped by Fight, as others did, which betrayed him by running away while he fought to incourage them by his Example; yet his Mischance saved Thou∣sands, while the Enemy wisely preferred the sur∣prize of a Lyon, before the Chase of an Army of Stags which followed him. These, or the like Speech∣es might have satisfied Men, if the King had studied to please God; but as he still neglected the Fa∣vour of God, so after this, he out-living his Ho∣nour Fifteen Years, recovered no Love of his Sub∣jects by his Government, but increased their Hatred to his Ruine. He which thinketh himself less Honoured

than he deserveth in his own Opinion, will force his Authority, to be esteemed a severe Man; that by affected Sowerness, he may be thought a grave, wise Man, and that by the Fear in which the Oppressed live, he may be thought a Reverence to the Oppressed; at least it will dazel the Eyes of Underlings, keep∣ing them from prying into the weakness of their Go∣vernours. Thus the time in which, by well using it, Men might attain to be such as they ought, they do usually mispend it in seeking to appear such as they are not, so procure more Indignation than was feared, instead of the Respect that was hoped; which is of dangerous Consequence in an unable Spirit in high Authority, too passionate in Execution of an Office, and cannot be checked but by violence. If Amaziah thought by extreme rigour to uphold his Reputation; what did he but make the People think he hated them, who easily believed he did not love them? He had indeed provided for his own secu∣rity, by revenging on his Father; but who shall take Vengeance (or on whom) of a Murther in which e∣very one hath a part? Surely God himself, who hath not given Leave to the People to shed the blood of his Anointed. Yet as he was careless of God, and was carried head-long, with his own Affection; so his Subjects, by his Example, not enquiring what was their Duty, rose up against him with a precipi∣tant Fury, which yet he could not avoid by flying to Lachish, as a choice Town for Strengh and Affection, where yet he found no other Favour, but that they would not kill him with their own Hands, but abandon'd him to the Conspirators sent after him, who dispatched him with little Opposition.

§. 11. Amaziah being Slain, the Throne of Iudah was vacant Eleven Years; for as he out-lived Ioash King of Israel 15 Years, which Ieroboam held, and must dye the 15th of Ieroboam, so it is expresly said, V••ziah his Son began to Reign in the 27th of

Ieroboam, being 16 Years old, and Reigned 52 Years; which argueth 11 Years Inter-regn••m. Others to avoid this Inter-regnum, have made di∣vers Conjectures; as G. Mercator, &c. But I know not why it may not be admitted in Iudah, seeing the like necessity hath inforced it in the Kingdom of Is∣rael, as between the death of Ieroboam 2. and his Son Zecharias, and between Peka and Hosea. Such suspence of the Crown of Iudah is more probable, considering how things stood at the death of Ama∣ziah, although the computation were not so apparent. For the Publick Fury which extended so far against the King's Person, was not like to be appeased, 'till order was taken to redress the Matters which cau∣sed that eruption. We need not then wonder that they who involv'd themselves in the former Trea∣son against the Father, would stay the Crown 'till things were set in order, the Prince being so young, and to be under protection, &c. To make Ierobo∣am's Reign to begin the 11th with his Father, were the best, but only for swallowing up so much of Ioash's Reign, extending the Years of the Kings of Israel, and contracting the Years of the Princes of other Nations.

§. 12. Contemporaries with Amaziah, and Eleven Years after, were Ioash and Ieroboam in Israel; Ce∣phreras and Mycerinus in Egypt; Sylvius Alladius, and Sylvius Aventinus in Alba; Agamemnon in Co∣rinth; Diognetus, Pheredus, and Ariphron, in Athens, Thelectus in Lacedemon, when the Spartans won Towns from the Achaians.

Sardanapalus in the 21st Year of Amaziah, suc∣ceeded Acrozapes his Father in Assyria 21 Years, and was slain the Year before Azariah entred, and ended Ninus's Line after 1240 Years Empire. This un∣happy voluptuous Prince was so base, he durst let no Man see him; 'till at length Arbaces Governour of Media, got a sight of that beastly Spectacle of a Man in Woman's Attire counterfeiting an Harlot;

which moved him to such indignation, that he brake with Belosus a Chaldean, about casting off the Yoke of so unworthy a Creature. Belosus pleased him too well, to tell him he should enjoy the Kingdom, who promised him thereupon the Kingdom of Babylon. Being thus agreed, the one stirr'd up the Medes and Persians, the other the Babylonians and Arabians, and so drew together 40000 Men against Sardanapalus, who, contrary to his former course of Life, became a Man, gathered his Forces, and encounter'd the Rebels, and foil'd them in three Battles; and had not Belosus promised unexpected Succors, Arbaces had broken up the Camp. About that time an Ar∣my out of Bactria was coming to assist the King; but Arbaces encountring it, upon promise of Li∣berty, drew them to joyn with him: In the mean time, the King supposing Arbaces to be fled, Feasted his Army, Triumphing before Victory. The Re∣bels strengthned with new Supplies, came upon him by Night, forced his Camp, unprepared for resist∣ance, and made the King retire into the City Ni∣nive, leaving Salaminus, his Wives Brother, to keep the Field 'till new Succours came. Arbaces over∣threw the King's Army, slew Salaminus, and lay two whole Years before the City, in hope to win it by Famine; for force it h•• could not, the Wall be∣ing an hundred Foot high, and so thick, that three Chariots might pass in the Front upon the Rampire. But what he could not now do, the River Tygris did the third Year; for in a swelling after a Rain, it cast down 20 Furlongs, and made a fair Breach for Arbaces to enter. Sardanapalus either terrified with accomplishment of the old Oracle, that Ninive should never be taken, 'till the River became an Enemy to it; or seeing no means of resistance, he at last consumed himself and Family with fire in his Palace.

CHAP. XI.X Of Uzziah, and his Contemporaries in Israel, and elsewhere; of his two Successors.

§. 1. UZziah, or Aaria being Sixteen Years of Age, succeeded his Father Ama∣ziah, in the Twenty Seventh Year of Ieroboam, and Reigned Forty Two Years; he served the God of his Fathers, and prosper'd. His Victories and Atchievments were far beyond any since the time of David, and his Wealth exceeded any since Solo∣mon's days. Ieroboam also King of Israel prospered in the North, and won Damascus, and Hamath; not for his Piety, being an Idolater: It was only the Lord's compassion on Israel, so extreamly afflicted by Aram. Yet as God's goodness to Iehu his Grandfather, could not win him from Ieroboam's politick Idolatry of the Calves, no more could it make Ieroboam his Son render the Honour due to the only giver of Victory; so that the Promise made to Iehu for Four Generations, grew to an accomplishment, to be a fair warning to his Son to expect a Change, except himself or his Son would change his Idolatry. But as Ieroboam ended his days in his Idolatry, so his Son Zachary, who should have succeeded presently, was held out many years without apparent reason, but only the two Calves at Dan and Bethel; yet Secondary Causes were like not to be wanting. Probable it is, that as Ierobo∣am's Reign had bred many brave Captains, so they saw so little in Zechary to respect him for, or per∣haps found something which moved disdain, that they could not agree to submit unto him 'till some principal of them were dead; every Man of them in the mean time holding what he could, &c. This

Anarchy lasted about 23 Years, from the 11th Year of Vzziah, when Ieroboam died, unto the 38th of the same Vzziah, in the which Zechariah entred, and sate 6 Months. And though some suppose Ie∣roboam to Reign 11 Years with his Father, and to cut off so much of this Inter-regnum, yet they leave 12 Years; but I prefer the former, as best agreeing with the Reign of other Princes, and not extend Ieroboam's Reign and Life as this doth. Zechariah the Son of Ieroboam, the last of Iehu's Line, after 6 Months Reign, was by Sallum slain, fulfilling the 4 Generations following to Iehu; yet not warrant∣ing Sallum to slay him, as Iehu had been against Ie∣horam. Thus Iero••oam's Captains were grown so headstrong, that they neither indured his Son, nor one another; so that in 14 Years their Reign∣ed five Kings. Sallum after 1 Month's Reign in Samaria, was slain by Menahem. M••nahem of Tyrza Reigned 10 Years, a Cruel Persecutor of Sallum's Friends. In his time came Pull the Assyrian, whom he pacified with a Thousand Talents of Silver, and so was confirmed in his Kingdom, against such as opposed him.

Pekahiah succeeded his Father 2 Years, in the Year of Azariah King of Iudah. Peka the Son of Remaliah slew Pekahia, and Reigned 20 Years.

§. 2. Vzziah, whose Succession had been endan∣gered by the hatred to his Father, but by Holy Men brought up and advanced, as was Ioash, and had his Holy Zechariah, under whose direction he prospered, as Ioash under good Iehojada. But as Ioash after his Tutor's death, so Vzziah after his Zechariah, forget∣ting the Law of God, which had separated the Priest's Office from the King's, would needs usurp the same; for which presumption, being reprov'd by Azariah the Priest, the Lord seconded the just re∣prehension, and struck the King with Leprosie.

Thus he which presumed to draw near the Holiest, was cast from among common Men. Iosephus enlargeth this History, and reports of an Earth∣quake, which some mistake for that in Am••s, which was in Ieroboam the 2ds days, long before Vzziah.

§. 2. Contemporaries with Vzziah. Among the small Prophets, Hosea, Ioel, Amos, Obadiah, and Ionas lived with Uzziah, if Hierom's Rule hold, to range a Prophet whose time is not expressed, with the next before; then Ioel and Obadiah are of this time. Ionas seems to me the first that foretelleth Ieroboam's Victory, and Prophecied of Christ, ra∣ther by Sufferings, than Writing now extant; where∣as all the other Prophets have express Promises of the Messias. Esaiah also now prophecied, writ much, with excellency both of Stile and Argument; fore∣telleth the Birth, Miracles, and Passion of our Sa∣viour, with calling of the Gentiles; more like an History of things past, than a Prophecy of things to come, as Hierom saith. Bochoris had Reigned in Egypt 10 Years when Vzziah entred; Asychis succeed∣ed, then Anysis, whom Sabacus succeeded 50 Year; of which, the 10 first were with Vzziah.

Ariphron's 2 last Years of 20. Thespeus 27. Aga∣nestor's 20. and Aeschylus's 3 first of his 23 in A∣thens, ended with Vzziah, so did the 7 last of Syl∣vius Aventinus's 37. with 23 of Sylvius Procas, and the first of Sylvius Amulius. 22 in Alba. In Media, Arbaces began his new Kingdom with Vzziah, and held it 28. and Sosarmus his Son 30 Year.

§. 4. Arbaces having taken Ninive, utterly ruined it, to transfer the Empire to the Medes, as he had promised; he also made his Partakers Rulers of Provinces, retaining only the Sovereignty; yet with such moderation, as neither offended the Princes his Assistants, nor the generality of the People. For calling Belosus into question for Embezling the Treasure, he referred his Condemnation to the

Captains, and then pardoned him, and gave him the Province of Babylon, with the Treasure. He also ••••eed the Persians and Bactrians as he promised, and so weaken'd his Sovereignty; so that in time, the As∣syrian incroached upon some Towns of the Medes, and extended it self to Israel; but when the Assyri∣an cast off the Mede's Yoak is uncertain: As also when Babylon and Ninive became subject to one. The Opinion current 'till of late, is according to Metastenus in Annius; That ••elosus, called also Phut Belosus, and in Scripture Pul, or Phul, Reigning 42 Years in Babylon, got part of Assyria into his hand, and left it to Tigla•• Pileser his Son, and his Poste∣rity, 'till Merodach prevailed. This Tradition, though Annius's Authors be suspected, is justified by Circumstances in other Authors; as Belosus en∣joying Babylon, D••••dorus relates, and no Authors speak of any special Governour of Assyria; neither stood it with Policy to set a particular King in As∣syria; wh••n to prevent the ri••ing again thereof, Ni∣nive was ruined, and the Inhabitants transplanted. Upon the like Considerations, Ro••e destroyed Car∣thage, and Capua, being Towns Capable of Em∣pire, &c. It is not then to be thought that Ninive and the Assyrian•• could rise in three or four Years, by any o••her t••••n Be••osus, so near a Neighbour, and of so rich a Province; for H••rodotus esteemed it, for Rich••s and Pow••r, as the third part of the Per∣••i•••• Empire; who a••so joyned the Treasure found in the Palace of Nin••ve.

§. 5. The Olympian Games were restored by Iphy∣lus in the Fifty fi••st of Vzziah. The first Founder of them was Hercules, and were so called of the Ci∣ty Olympia or Pisa, near Elis a City in Peloponesus, near the River A••pheus, where Iupiter had a Temple, reputed one of the Worlds Wonders. These Games were exercised after every Four years end; which were discontin••ed lo••g, until the days of Iphitus,

when Lycurgus lived; and continued in Greece 'till the Reign of Theodosius, saith Cedrenus; or to Con∣stantine, after others. Varro held all Grecian Stories Fabulous before these; but Pliny esteemeth none true before the Fifty fifth Olympiad, when Cyrus began to Reign. Many seek to find the Years of the World when they began, but can set down no certainty; others seek it from Troy's Fall, more uncertain than they. The certainty of things following the Olympi∣ads, teacheth to find their beginning, to which use, Eratosthenes hath set down the years ensuing unto the death of Alexander from the Olympian Institu∣tion, Four Hundred fifty three years. So for pla∣cing their beginning the 51st of Vzziah, we have Cyrus's Reign to prove it, being the first of the Fifty fifth Olympiad. So Alexander's death the First year of the 144th Olympiad. So the Eclipse when Xerxes mustered at Sardis, the last of the Sixty fourth Olym∣piad, or the Two Hundred Sixty Seventh year of Nabonassar, which leads us back to Xerxes, and so to Cyrus, whence we have Seventy Years to the destru∣ction of Ierusalem, and so through the Reigns of the Kings of Iudah to Vzziah's 51st. The Solemnity was such by concourse from all the Greeks; their Ex∣ercise was all bodily Feats; and the Reward, a Gar∣land of Palm or Olive; so that the choice Orators, Po∣ets and Musicians resorted thither to shew their skill in setting out his Praise that won the Garland, with such Vanity (said Tully,) as if it had been a Con∣quest of a Province. The time of the year was the Fifteenth of Hecatobaeon, our Iune, whereto they brought the Full Moon.

§. 6. Iotham, Twenty Five years old, succeeded his Father Vzziah in his life time, and reigned 26 years; happy in all things, as he was Devout and Virtuous, 2 King. 15.33. Contemporaries, Aucome∣nus succeeded Pelesteus in Corinth, whom Annual Magisteus succeeded; contrary to Pausan.

Aesculus in Athens; Accamenes in Sparta. Tig∣lath Pileser in Assyria, Twenty five years, and Two with his Son, Twenty Seven in all. Nahum the Prophet now fore-told the destruction of Ninive, One Hundred and Fifty years beforehand. Sosarmus and Medidus succeeded Arbaces in Media, the Second and Third Kings there.

§. 7. Achas succeeded in Iudah one year, with Iotham, in the Seventeenth year of Peka; he was Twent•• years old, and Reigned Sixteen years; an ex∣ceeding Idolater, Sacrificing his Sons to Moloch, or Saturn, after the manner of the Heathens used of old, Levit. 18. Deut. 12. by many Nations, and at this day by the Americans, as Acosta witnesseth, &c. God raised ••im Enemies on all sides, so that when he saw his dead Gods failed him, yet neglecting the li∣ving God, he sought Aid of Tiglath Pileser, who embraced the Advantage to go through with what his Father entred, but had no leisure to finish it. He therefore invaded Syria, and won Damascus, all Is∣rael; made Iudah Tributary, though Achaz had hi∣red him.

Contemporaries, the Ephori in Lacedemon, 130 years after Lycurgus, opposed to Kings, as the Tribunes in Rome against Consuls. Alcamenon in Athens, the last Governour for Life; after which followed a Magistrate for Ten years. Sylvii of Aeneas's Race, ended after Three Hundred Years. Romulus now built Rome, the Eighth of Achaz, the First of the Seventh Olympiad.

CHAP. XX. Of Italy, and Rome's Foundation in A∣haz's time.

§. 1. ITALY, before the Fall of Troy, was known to the Greeks, by the names of Hesperia, Ausonia, Oenotria, of a Colony of Arcadians; and I∣taly of Italus. Reyneccius derives the Name rather from a Colony of Aetolians, which Inhabited Brun∣dusium, from whose Names, with small Change, that part was called Italia, which in time grew the com∣mon name, saith Pliny. Such change in the Aeolic Dialect is Familiar, as to call an Island Peopled by Aetholians, Aethalia. The Original of Greeks and Latins, was from Iavan, who sailing over the Ionian Sea, between Aetolia and the Western Oce∣an, planted Greece and Italy. Reyneccius makes At∣lai Italus, one which Berosus calls Cethim Italus, but is deceived, for Atlas is esteemed more Antient than Moses; and if he were Cethim or Kithim, Noah's Grand-Son, his Antiquity exceeds that of Italy; which Name, Virgil confesseth later, and from a Captain. But seeing Hercules a little before Troy's Fall, left a Colony of Eleans or Aetoleans, it may be under the command of one called Ai∣tolus, a Name famous among Aetolians: Italy might take Name of him.

§. 2. Aborigines, that is, the Natives of the place Inhabited Latium, whom Halycarnassus, Varro, and Reyneccius, think to have been Arcadians, who used to vaunt of their Antiquity, having more con∣stantly kept their Country in Peloponesus, than o∣ther Greeks yet being fruitful, sent Colonies to other Countries, as when Evander was sent into the same parts of Italy.

Pelasgi, an Antient Nation, after gave Name to all Greece, but such of them as came into Italy, lost the Name of their Tribe in a short time. Sicani, Ausones, Aurunci, Rutili, in after Ages, disturbed Latium, whi••h Sat••rn had brought to some Civility, and taught to dung the Ground.

That Latium took the name of Saturn's lurking there from Iupiter, is far fetched, and question∣less a Fable; yet many Fables were occasioned from some Antient Truths. It may be then that Saturn hiding himself, was some allusion to the old Opinion of the Wise Heathen, that the true God was an unknown God, to whom Paul found an Altar de∣dicated. It cannot be in vain, that the word Sa∣turnus should also signify hidden, coming of the Hebrew Satar to hide (as some think) &c. Reynec∣cius proceedeth in deriving Latium from the Poste∣rity of Iavan, Inhabiting a Territory in lesser Asia, called Elaitia, who after the Trojan War, went into Italy, whence might grow Elaitinus, and so Latinus, &c.

§. 3. The Latin Kings 'till Aeneas, were Saturnus, Picus, Faunus, Latinus. Whether Saturnus were he whom the Greeks called Cronos, &e. the time of the Aborigines will admit; but his Names of Stercus, or Sterculius, do argue him another; so called of the Dungs he taught them to lay upon their ground. Ezechiel often cals Id••ls, Deos Stercoreos, as Bel∣zebul is Dominus Stercoreus, &c.

§. 4. Aeneas, a Trojan of the Blood-Royal, came to Latium with some 1200 Trojans, and Married Laviana, King Latinus's Daughter. He had a Son before, by his Wife Creusa, Daughter of Priamus, called Ascanius, and Sirnamed Iulus. After Aeneas's death, Lavinia was great with Child by him, and fearing Ascanius, fled into a Wood, where being Delivered, the Child was called Sylvius Posthumus. B••t upon the Peoples disapproving of Lavinia's

flight, Ascanius called her home, used her like a Queen, and Educated her Son. Ascanius, to avoid dissention, left the City Lavinium, to Laviana; and Founded Alba-Longa, where he Reign'd about 30 Year, and left his Son Iulus; who upon contention with Sylvius, whom the People favoured, left the Kingdom, and took the Priesthood, for him, and his Posterity. Sylvius Posthumus Reigned 29. Syl∣vius Aeneas, 31. Sylvius Latinus, 10. Sylvius Al∣ba 39. Sylvius Atis 36. Sylvius Capijs 28. Sylvius Capelus 13. Sylvius Tiberinus 8. Sylvius Agrippa 41. Sylvius Alladyus 19. Sylvius Aventinus 37. Sylvius Procas 23. Sylvius Amulius 44. He expelled his Elder Brother Sylvius Numitor, slew his Son Aege∣stius, and made his Daughter Ilia a Vestal-Virgin. Numitor, who yet, either by her Uncle, or some Warlike-Man, conceived 2 Sons, Romulus, and Rei∣neccius, who in time slew Amulius, and all his Fa∣mily, and restored Numitor, in whom the Kingdom of Alba ended, and received Magistrates. Yet it con∣tended with Rome, 'till her Three Curiatij were van∣quished by the Three Horatij, Champions for Rome. After this, Metius the Alban Dictator, following Tul∣lus Hostilius in his War, upon Tullus's disadvantage, withdrew his Companies to distress Tullus; for which he was torn in pieces at two Chariots, and Alba Reigned; but the Citizens were made free Deni∣sons, and her Nobles, Patricians of Rome; among whom was a Family of Iulij, which hath since risen in Iulius Caesar, &c.

§. 5. Rome, which devoured the Alban Kingdom, and brake all the Kingdoms from Euphrates, to the We∣stern Ocean, as that Alban the IVth, a Beast with Iron-Teeth, forespoken of, cometh now to be handled, only touching her Original, which some seek to derive from Ianus, others from the Greeks. Pl••∣tarch in the Life of Romulus, remembers many F••un∣ders of the City, but Livie will have it the Work

of Romulus, &c. Of his Begetting, Birth, and E∣ducation, Plutarch saith, it is probable, that Amulius came armed to Rhea, which occasioned the Tale of Marce; as the Nursing the Children by some Har∣lot, occasioned the Tale of a Woolf; for Harlots of old were called Wolves. Halicarnassus tells us of the like Reports they have of Cyrus's Nursing by a Bitch, and Semiramis by Birds. So of his End, they say he was taken away in a storm of Thun∣der, &c. Which was probably the fury of the Se∣nators, remembred also by Livie. But as many Au∣thors speak of great Lightning and Thunder that day, so it may be he was slain by it, as was Ana∣stasius the Emperor, and Emperor Carus. Hali∣carnassus saith, they caus'd it to be remembred, nearest to Truth, which say his Citizens slew him, &c. Plutarch reports of his Conquests of a few Miles about him, not worth the speaking of, if the following Great∣ness of Rome had not caus'd it to be remembred. He Reign'd 37 Years; first alone, then with Tatius, and after his death single, 'till he was slain. Numa a Man unknown to Romulus, succeeded, more Priest∣like, &c. well resembling Rome's latter days; which falling from Emperors Command, into sub∣jection of a Prelate; swelling by degres, from a Sheep-Hook, to a Sword; wherewith Victorious, to excessive Magnificence, it fell to Luxury; and being unfortunate in defensive War, is driven again to betake himself to the Crosier-Staff.

CHAP. XXI. Of Hezechiah, and his Contemporaries.

§. 1. HEzechiah at 25 Years old succeeded, about the end of Achaz 14 Years, in the 3d of Hosea King of Israel, and Reigned 29 Years. His first Work testified his Pious Zeal in opening the Temple, shut up by his ungracious Father, and reformed Religion, &c. Comp. 2 Chron. 29, and 30. with 2 Kings 18. It is uncertain whether he did this in his Father's time, or in his sole Government, as I rather think. He invited also the Ten Tribes to the Passover, which the Generality scorned. In the fourth Year of Hezekiah, the Israelites which scorned to Celebrate their Deliverance out of Egypt, fell into a new Servitude, wherein they continued to this day. For Salmanasser, Son of Tyglath, hearing that Hosea King of Israel, practised with Soe King of Egypt, against him; came, and after Three Years Siege, won Samaria, and carried the Ten Tribes into Assyria, and Media, and pla∣ced others in the Land.

These later Assyrian and Persian Kings following, are the first we find mentioned both in Profane and Sacred Books, and therefore must serve to joyn the times of the old World with that following, see∣ing none but Prophets have written otherwise than Fabulous of former Times. True it is, that Cyrus and some Persian Kings bear the same Name in Scripture, and Profane Stories; but of others the diversity of Names have bred question of the Per∣sons, as whether Salmanasser in Scripture be Nabo∣nasser in Ptolomy, and Nebuchadnezzar be Nabopolas∣sar, both which points Bucholcerus out of good Ma∣thematick Observations, hath well proved; for by them it appears, that from N••bonasser to Chris••,

were Seven Hundred Forty six years, which agrees also to Salmanassar, which is proved; for that the space between Merdocenpadus and Nabonassar is found the same between Merodach (who was Mardocenpa∣dus) and Salmanassar. That as from the destruction of Samaria to that of Ierusalem, are 133 years, so in Ptolomy, the same time is found between Nabonassar and Nabopolassar, the Eighth year differ∣ing in Ptolomy, being before the winning of Samaria, spent in his Reign.

§. 2. Hezekiah having denyed the Tribute to Se∣nacherib, which had been Covenanted with Tiglath his Grandfather, acknowledged his Fault, and la∣boured to purchase his Peace by Three Thousand Talents of Silver, and Thirty of Gold, by Senache∣rib's intending to set down the Conditions with his Sword, sent from Lachish, where he lay and invest∣ed Ierusalem, &c. where Vengeance from Heaven destroyed so many Thousands for their Master's Blasphemy; who also drunk a Cup of the Wrath of God, from his own Sons.

§. 3. Hezechiah his Sickness, Prayer, Recovery and Sign thereof, 2 Kings 20. His Lamentation, saith Ierom, was for want of a Son, of whom the Messi∣as might spring. His entertaining the Babylonian Embassadors, and vain-glory therein, reproved. Yet, according to Humane Reason, he thought fit to en∣tertain them familiarly, coming to Congratulate his Recovery with Presents, being one which had weak∣ened the Assyrian, his greatest Enemy, by seizing upon the Kingdom of Babylon, of which he had been Lieutenant under Senacherib, whose Son weak in Understanding, and molested by his Elder Brethren, gave him opportunity to Usurp Babylon, as Belochus had dealt with Sardanapalus. Thus Belochus Forty Eight years, Tiglath Pilesar Twenty Seven, Salmanassar Ten, Senacherib Seven, Esarhaddon Ten, the Three last being Contemporaries with Hezechiah.

§. 4. Hezechiah's Contemporaries in Media, after A∣rabaces and Sosarmus, according to Eusebius, are Me∣didus Forty years, Cordiceas Fifteen Years. Then followed Deioces Fifty four, Phraortes Twenty four, Cyaxares Thirty two, Astyages Thirty Eight, and Cyaxares Two, according to Xenophon. Metasthenes in Anneus and Diodorus out of Ctesias, differ much from Eusebius, whom Mercator would fain reconcile, but in vain. In Athens, Four of the Four Ten year Governours. In Lidea Candaulus slain by Gyges, who succeeded.

CHAP. XXII. Egyptian Kings from Moses to Hezekiah.

§. 1. THE Egyptians at this time, contending with the Assyrians about Sovereignty, gi∣veth the occasion to consider the state of the Coun∣try which had flourished so long. Of Cham, Osiris, and Orus, and the rest with their Dynasties, 'till Is∣rael came out of Egypt, we have heard; and are to proceed from thence, not regarding the idle Cata∣logue of Names of Kings, set out by Herodotus and Dyodorus, from the Mouths of the Egyptian Priests, who, for the most part, were but Vice-Roys, or Stewards, like Ioseph, and such as were the Soldans in later Ages. For First, we may not believe that the number of Generations we speak of, were above Eighty, from Abraham to the Persian Empire; where∣as we know, there were but Forty two Generations to our Saviour Christ; especially, considering many of them were of about Forty years continuance; we must therefore proportion the number to that of o∣ther Countries, according to the time; and esteem the rest but Regents, who yet Ruled as Kings; of

which sort there might be many, as may be well conceived in Reading W. Arch-Bishop of Tyre, who sheweth that there was the Caleph Elhadech, su∣pream over Egypt, under whom the Soldans ruled as Kings, making War and Peace; yea, supplant∣ing one another without the Calephs privity, as fell out under Elhadech, under whom San. was Soldan, and yet chased away by Dagon, and upon his death recovered again without the great Caleph's Hand, who in the mean time only attended his state, and delights in his Pallace, which manner of Ruling by Vice-Roys, the Author judgeth to have been from the Ancient Kings of Egypt.

§. 2. It were vain to be curious about these Kings, seeing Diodorus varies from Herodotus, and Eusebius from both, neither do late Writers know whom to follow. The Kings from Chencres or Tuoris, or Pro∣teus, are agreed upon, of which according to Euse∣bius, Acherres was next, whom Reyneccius thinks to be Vchoreus in Diodore, Founder of Memphis; but then Timaus cannot be the great Osymandias as he also judgeth; for there were more than Eight Generations between them, contrary to Diodorus. Touching Osy∣mandais, Mercator, makes him the Husband of A∣cenc••eres, Daughter to Orus Second, and finds Vchoreus the Eighth from him: But I will pass over these in∣extricable doubts, &c.

§. 3. Cherres after Eight years of Acherres succeed∣ed Fifteen years; Armeus five years; Ramesses Sixty Eight years, which two last are the Danaus and E∣gyptus spoken of by the Greeks, who make Danaus expelled Egypt, become King of Argos in Greece: But Reyneccius believes not Armeus to be Danaus, though their time agree; but rather thinks he was Meris, which made the great Lake Myris, 3600 Furlongs compass, and Fifty Fadoms deep, to receive Nilus over-flowing, for store, when Water was scarce.

§. 4. Ameraphis succeeded his Father Forty years; then Sethosis Fifty years, to whom some ascribe improbably,

the famous Acts of Great Sesostris. In him began the Dynastie of the Zarths, or Generals, which Title Five only held, Ramases succeeded Sixty years, mi∣staken for Sesostris the 2d. Amenophis succeeded Forty years: Andemenes Twenty six years; T••uoris, the last Zarth, Seven years, whom some make Proteus, whose Son Remphes succeeded, but I doubt neit••er Father nor Son were Kings.

§. 5. Many other Names of the Egyptian Kings are found scattered, as Tonephersobis; Senemues or Senepos; Banchistis Thulis in Suidas, who asking Se∣raps the Divel, who was, or should be, so mighty as he, was answered, First God, and then the Word, and then the Spirit, which Three be One, and join in One all Three, whose Power is endless. Get thee hence frail Wight, the Man of Life unknown, excelling thee. Cedreus hath the same, and gives this King as great Antiquity as the Indies, citing a Book called Little Genesis, which word little, alone argues Impostor, besides the Frierly stuff he cites out of it. His List of Old Egyptian Kings here set down, are not worth writing out, nei∣ther the Kings named by others. Vaphres and Sesac will lead us into a fair way a while; the first was Solomon's Father-in-Law, according to Clemens A∣lexandrinus and Eusebius; the second, Eusebius calls Smendis, with whom he begins the Twenty First Dynastie, whose Entrance is found about the Twen∣tieth of Solomon, reckoning from Neco's death in the Fourth of Iehojakim, King of Iudah upward; as from the Fifth of Rehoboam, wherein he plunder'd the Sanctuary, but injoyed that Sacriledge, as did Ioas and Craseus, not one Year. For the Kings, from Sesac to Necho, I chose the Greek Historians, for Eusebius is out, by failing to keep the reckoning between the Kings of Iudah and Israel.

§. 6. Chemmis or Chembis succeeded Sesac Fifty years, and built the great Pyramid, whose Base was Seven Acres square, and Six high, which Diodore saw One Thousand Years after, in Augustus's days▪

C••abreus or Cheops succeeded Fifty years, and then Cephrenes Fifty six, both Builders of Pyramids for their Sepulchers: Mycerinus his Son Six years, as the Oracle had threatned for his opening the Idols Tem∣ple, which his Predecessors had shut. It may be Chemmis had learned their Vanity at Ierusalem, and thereupon shut the Temple up. Reyneccius gives him Fifty years; Bochoris, or Banchyris by Suidas, succeed Forty four years. Then Sabacus an Aethiopian. But Herodotus omits both, and hath Asychis, who de∣creed the Debtors dead Body, should be given to the will of the Creditor, 'till the Debt were payed. Anysis succeeded him, and both could be but Six years. Then came the former Aethiopian, who Reign∣ed Fifty years; Scripture calls him Zonaras, Sua, with whom Hosea, King of Israel, made a Vain League against Salmanassar. They say he left his King∣dom, and returned into Aethiopia, to avoid his God's Commandment to kill all the Priests of Egypt; such was their Zeal to their Priests.

§. 7. Sethom succeeded in the Twelfth of Hezekia••▪ and Fifth of Senacherib, when Assur and Egypt con∣tended which should Rule or serve. Hezekiah, though fixing special Confidence in God, held it fit to make a League with Egypt by his People, relying more on Egypt than on God. Egypt promiseth much, but on∣ly furnished him with some Treasure, sent to hire Arabians, which was intercepted: Herodotus tells us a Tale of Sethom's Praying to Vulcan his God for Aid against the Assyrians, who lay before Pelu∣sium, and he sent Mice which gnawed their Bow∣strings, and Straps of their Armour, which made them depart. His Reign Functius resolves to be 33 years, giving no Reason; yet upon search I find it within One Ye••r, by dividing the years from Rehoboam's 5th to Ieh••jakims 4th among the Kings of Egypt, giving each his set time, and the Remainder to Sethom.

CHAP. XXIII. Of Manasses, and his Contemporaries.

§. 1. MAnasses, Son of Hezekiah succeeded, be∣ing Twelve Years Old, and Reigned Fifty Five Years, of whose Idolatry, and extraordinary Wickedness, see 2 Kings 21. and 2 Chron. 33. Of his putting the Reverend Prophet Isaiah to death, with a Wooden Saw, being Eighty years old, Eusebius, Epiphanius, Isidore, and others confirm. His Cap∣tivity in Babel, his Repenting, Prayer, Reformation, and Death, see 2 Chron. 33. Merodach having lo∣ved his Father, might more easily be perswaded to restore him.

§. 2. Aegypt, after Sethom was miserably distra∣cted with Civil dissention two Years; then ill reform'd by a Government of 12 Princes, of which 11 falling out with the 12th. were by him subdued, and the Kingdom Usurped; which Anarchy Diodore put, af∣ter Sabacus, omitting Sethom, contrary to Herodotus. These Twelve, for a Monument of their Government, made a Labyrinth near the Lake Maris, which He∣roclus prefers to the Chief Pyramid, which excelled Diana's Temple. Diodorus reports it the work of Marus, or Menides, five Generations before Proteus, or the Trojan War; and Reyneccius takes him to Annemenes, as he doth Amenophis to be Amasis, and Sethom to be Actisanes. But he was deceived, for the times we are now in, shew us Amasis was Anisis, Actisanes Sobacus, and Marus one of the 12 Governours which made this Work. Where∣to serve the 12 great Halls in it, &c. Psamniticus one of the 12. cast out by the rest upon an Oracle (as Herodotus tells the Tale, which Diodore believes

not) hired Power out of Caria, and Ionia, with which he overthrew his Fellows, and Ruled a∣lone 54 Years, saith Hierom; which Mercator di∣vides; 44 alone, and 10 before, according to Eu∣sebius. And to make the reckoning fall even with the years from the 5th of Rehoboam, and the 4th of Ie∣hojakim, we must confound the last of the 15, ascri∣bed to the 12 Governours, with the first of Psamni∣tius. He first entertained Amity with the Greeks, displeasing his Souldiers, ••ith preferring his Merce∣naries to the right Wing, i•• an Expedition into Sy∣ria. So that 2000 de••erted their Country, and went to dwell in Aethiopia. He won Asotus after 29 Years Siege, by reason the Babylonians deferr'd it long. The Report of breeding up Two Infants for trial of the Original Language, is ascribed to him; and that the first word they spake was Beccus, which in the Phrygian Language is Bread. Hereof Goreus Beca∣nus is proud, because in his low Dutch, Becker is a Baker, &c.

§. 3. Manasses's time of Bondage and Enlarge∣ment is diversly disputed; and were it certain, it is like we should find the Egyptian Troubles no small occasion of both. Torniel repeats 3 Opinions, 1. of Bellarmine, who thinks him taken in his 15th Year of his Reign. 2. Great Hebrew Chronologers hold it the 27th. 3. Kimchi, after 40 years of Idolatry. Tor∣niellus rejects the two last, and defends the first; but in Affection rather than Judgment. It is more pro∣bable Manasses lived longer in his Sin than 15 years, if not 40. by two places of Scripture, 2 Kings 21.17. and 2 Kings 24.3, 4. utterly remits his Repentance. Manasses's 15th Year was Merodach's 31. his 27th was the other's 43. and his 40th. the 5 of Nabolassar, Son of Merodach; now which of these, or what other, were the Year of his Captivity, I forbear to shew my Opinion, &c. This was the first Mastery the Ba∣bylonians had over Iudah, greater than what Salma∣nassar

had of Achaz; by which the Babylonians ut∣terly alienated Manasses and his Son from Egypt, and made them joyn against it; as was seen in Io∣sias, against Necho.

§. 4. Contemporary Actions were the first and second Messenian Wars; one in the Reign of Heze∣chias, the other of Manasses▪ The occasion was slight, about private wrongs between a Messanean, and a Spartan; but sufficient to the ambitious Spartans, tho' they were the Aggressors; who could be drawn to no fair Composition, offered by the other, but the Sword must end it; such was their restless desire to the fair Country of Messena, bordering upon them. They therefore swore secretly to follow the War, 'till the Messenians were Conquer'd; they then sur∣pris'd Amphia, a Frontier, and put all to the Sword. The Messenians Army, an obstinate Force, fought without Victory, ended by dark night. After this, Friends came in on both sides, and three other Bat∣tles were fought; but in the last, the Lacedemonians were put to flight. Thus the War continued so long by the obstinacy of the Spartans, that their Wives sent them word their Cities would become dispeopled for want of Issue; whereupon they sent back their ablest young Men, promiscuously to ac∣company their young Women, whose Issue became the greatest part of the Nation, and were called Parthians. The Messenians at length, by Oracle, were order'd to Sacrifice a Virgin of the Stock of Egyptus, of the Arcadian Royal Blood. Aristodemus the King, ripped up his own Daughters Belly, to prove her a Virgin, contrary to her Lover's report; which to save her, said she was with Child; yet the Messenians prevailed not: So that the miserable Fa∣ther slew himself at the Grave, with whom the Messenians lost their Courage, and yielded after twenty years rigorous Contests. After thirty years, the young Men of the Messenians, of whom,

young Aristodemus, descended from Aegyptus, was Chief, finding their strength, and scorning such Masters; finding also the Argives and Arcadians firm, resolv'd to attempt the Lacedemonians, under the Conduct of Aristodemus, in the Fourth Year of the Twenty Third Olympiad. The Lacedemonians hast to quench the fire before it be too hot, but found their Servants their Equals; and Aristode∣mus refusing the Title of King, for his Valour be∣came their General; and in the next Battle, as∣sisted with Argives, Arcadians, and Sicyonians, put the Spartans, Corinthians, and others to flight; and after surprized a Town in Laconia, and vanquished Anaxander King of Sparta. But by a treacherons defection of Aristocratus, hired by the Enemy, the Messenians are forced, and slain, Andamia the Chief Town, and others far from Sea forsaken, and the People forc'd to Era, a strong Mountain, which held the Enemy work for Eleven Years; wherein Aristocratus with three hundred Souldiers abroad, perform'd great things; Supriz'd and Sack'd Amicta, which was thrice taken, and still he es∣caped. Of which escapes that was admirable; that being cast with Fifty more into a deep Natu∣ral Cave, he died not of the Fall as the rest, yet without hope; 'till by a little light he spied a Fox eating on a dead Carcass, and got it by the Tail, and follow'd it 'till he could no further, and then let it go, seeing light in the hole, and so wrought himself out with his Nails. The Spartans believed not them which reported he was escaped, 'till the slaughters he made of the Corinthians at Era as∣sured it. Thus Eleven Years were spent about Era, which at last was enter'd in a stormy Night, through neglect of the Watch; which was discove∣red to the Spartans by a Slave fled from his Ma∣ster into the City. So the Messenians were dis∣pers'd,

and Built Messina in Sicily, and three hundred years after returned, by Epaminondas's means.

§. 5. Ardis King of Lydia succeeded Gyges his Father Forty nine years, in the second of the twenty fifth Olympiad. He incroached upon the Ionians in Asia, took Colephon, and Priene; but the Cymmerians ex∣pell'd by the Scythians, Invaded Asia, won Sardis, and held it 'till Alyatts, this Man's Grandchild. Phra∣ortes King of the Medes, the third Year of the twenty ninth Olympiad, the last of Manasses, succeeded his Father Deioces, who had Reigned fifty three years; who Commanded more absolutely than his Predeces∣sor, and by a more State-like Severity and Cere∣monies upheld Majesty, almost fallen. He desired not to enlarge his Dominions, but to Govern well his own; and differed so much from his Predeces∣sors, that he seemed to be the first King of the Medes, as Herodotus reports. He was Founder of Ecbitane, now Tauris, and chosen by the Patrons of the Books of Iudith to be Arphaxad, and so must Ben Mero∣dach be Nebuchadnezar. But the brief decision of this Controversie is the Book of Iudith, which is not Canonical: For as Chronologers can find no time to place that Story, so Cosmographers are as much troubled to find Iapheth's Borders there set down, and Phud and Lud; so that for time and place, they are

Extra Anni Solisque Vias.

§. 6. Other Contemporaries, as Numa Pompi∣lius in Rome, who succeeded Romulus after one Year. In the second year of Manasses, he brought the rude multitude of Thieves and Out-Laws, which followed Romulus, to some good Civility; by devising Ceremonies of Superstition, as things of great importance, learned of his Nymph Ege∣ria. Which Superstitions himself Condemned, in his Books, found almost Six Hundred Years after

in his Grave, which were publickly burnt, as speaking against the Religion then in use. After forty three year, Tullus Hostilius succeeded in Ma∣nasses forty sixth, and Reigned thirty two years; for for the most part as Numa, in Peace. He made breach with the Albans, but doubting the Tus∣cans, their common Enemies, would make advan∣tage of the Dissention, they put it to a Combate of three Brethren on either side; Cousin Ger∣mans, and of equal years and strength; but the Horatij of Rome prevail'd against the Curatij and Alba, where the Latins submit to Rome, and Alba not long after was demolished. Hyppomanes had Ruled seven years in Athens, in the entrance of Ma∣nasses, and the three last Governours for ten years were in his time. In whose times •• follow Halicar∣nasseus; who professing care in matching the Gre∣cian years with the Roman Occasions, beginneth with Rome's Building, the first year of the seventh Olympiad, and the first of Cecrops in Athens. Mi∣das now Reigned in Phrygia, &c. The Scythians invaded him; Syracuse in Sicily, Founded by Archias, Miscellus, and other Corinthians. Nicomedia, for∣merly Astacus in Propontis, enlarged by Zipartus's Na∣vy of Thrace. Sybilla of Samus now lived, accord∣ing to Pausanias. Croton on the Bay of Tarentum, built by Miscellus. Gela in Sicily, Phaselis in Pam∣phylia. Chalcedon in Asia, built by the Magerenses. The Parthians expelled Lacedemon, were Condu∣cted by Phalantus into Italy, where they took Ta∣rentum.

CHAP. XXIV. Of Ammon, Josiah, and the rest, to the De∣struction of Jerusalem.

§. 1. AMMON, Twenty two years old, Suc∣ceeded two years, and was as Wicked as his Father had been; his Servants slew him. Iosiah Eight years old, succeeded Thirty one Years. He sought after the God of his Father David, and at Twelve years old made a worthy Reformation, ful∣filling the Prophecy delivered at Bethel, to Ieroboam. By which History it appears, that Bethel and some parts of the Ten Tribes were come under the Pow∣er of Iudah; either taken in by Hezechiah upon the death of Assurhaddon, while the Babylonians, who lo∣ved him, were busie in Assyria; or at Manasses's In∣largement: The Babylonians not yet fit to deal with the Egyptian so far off, to oblige Iudah to them, were content with this Inlargement as necessary against the Egyptians. This may be the Reason Manasses Forti∣fied himself after his return, which was not against the Babylonians, but the Egyptians, as appeared in Iosiah his opposing Necho with such earnestness, as argueth a firm League with the Babylonians. That Egypt's Friendship was little worth, Iudah had oft found, and payed for, by the Assyrians and Babylonians dis∣pleasure, for adhering to Egypt; yet had it been a small matter upon his earnest Request to let him pass, if Iosiah had not been obliged to the Babylo∣nians by his Ancestors Covenant, to Offend and Defend; neither had it been Wisdom to Encounter such an Army, offering no Violence. Whatever moved Iosiah, it is likely he forgot (as the best do sometimes) to ask Counsel of God, and depended on the Babylonians too much, which could not please

God. The Conclusion was, that God for the Wick∣edness of the People, took away that good King, who had stayed his Hand from Revenging himself upon them, whose Miseries presently insued his Death, so much bewailed of all.

§. 2. Neco, Son to Psamniticus, following his Fa∣thers designs, who had made entrance into Syria, being assisted by the extraordinary Valor of the Greeks, and knowing how Assyria, stood in danger by the Power of the Medes, intended with a Pow∣erful Army to visit Euphrates, and strengthen the Passages about Carchemish, or further to Invade Sy∣ria. Having therefore over-thrown Iosiah in his way, not intending to stay the Conquest of Iudah, he proceeded and took Cadytis, perhaps Carchemish, and became, in a manner, Lord of all Syria, saith Io∣sephus, particularly of the Phoenicians, whom he set to Sail from the Arabian Gulf round about Africa, by the Cape of good Hope. In his return from Eu∣phrates, he took Ieboahaz, the younger Son of Io∣siah, whom Ieremy calls Shallum, whom the People had made King, and put him in Bonds, and put E∣liakim in his place, calling him Iehojakim, and layed a Tribute on the Land, but forbore the Conquest. Iehoahaz was King but three Months; Iehojakim the Elder Son of Iosiah, Reigned Ten years, he was of the Egyptian Faction, and of the behaviour of the worst of his Ancestors, which had so Infected the Land, that the Chief Priests also were defiled therewith. Yet the Lord raised up Prophets which reproved him, among whom Vriah, flying from the Tyrant which sought his Life, is from Egypt sent back to death, contra∣ry to the Custom of Nations.

§. 3. Of the Kings of Media and Babylon. §. Me∣rodach, Son of Baladan, taking advantage of Senache∣rib's Misadventure and Death, with the Assistance of his Sons, made himself King of Babylon, but kept in Action 'till Assurhaddon's death, Eleven years,

so that he could not intend Syria, but was well re∣warded then, by a great part of Assyria, if not by all, as some less probably think. Yet his little concern with the Assyrian Affairs all his long Reign, argues him busied at Home in setling his Purchases there; and having Amity with Hezekiah. Ben. Mirodacb his Son succeeded Twenty one years, whose Go∣vernours (as I take it) captivated Manasses, in whose time Psamniticus, with his Greek Mercenaries, pre∣vailed in Syria, which might procure Manasses his release, and it may be a part of the Kingdom of Samaria, which the Babylonians could not now in∣tend.

Nabulassar his Son succeeded Thirty five years, whose works at home kept him from looking abroad; for Phraortes King of the Medes, Invaded Assyria, and Besieged Ninive, which it seems was not yet subject to Babylon; for Nabonassar repelled him not, but the Scythians Invaded Media, and forced him thence. Phraortes Son of Deioces King of Media, having in∣larged his Dominions, attempted Ninive, which yet remained of her self well enough, saith Herodo∣tus. Custom of Danger hardened the Un-war-like, whom sudden unknown Dangers amaze. Ninive had now been long exercised, so that Phraortes and his Family perished there.

Cyaxares his Son, a braver Man of War, won in Lesler Asia, all from Halis Eastward. He Besieged Ni∣nive, and took it, saith Eusebius, whom I rather be∣lieve, than Herodotus, saying, the Scythians came upon him, which is not likely, for we cannot think him so improvident; but rather hearing they were to guard Media, he left the City, which about this time was destroyed, as we read in Tobit, a Book of sufficient Credit, for the Story of those Times. And sure we are, the Prophecy of Nabum was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar; and probable it is, that Nabulassar, after Cyaxares left it in weak case,

might seize upon it easily, and put a Vice-Roy in it, which upon their Rebellion against Nebuchad∣nezzar, were utterly destroyed.

§. 4. The Scythians, about this time, made a great Expedition into Asia, of which Herodotus speaks much, and many Fabulous things ill agreeing with the time. Their first Eruption must needs be within the Reign of Psamniticus King of Egypt, who met with them in Palestine, and got them by intreaty and gifts to leave the Country. Before this they had wasted Media, and molested Assyria, Babylonia, &c. and•• are said to have Dominereed in A∣sia Twenty eight Years, within the Compass of the Reign of Ardis, Sadiatts, and Haliatts, Kings of Ly∣dia, and the Twenty eight last years of Nabulassar King of Babel. What these Nations were, is next to be considered. Herodotus tells us, the Cimme∣rians being driven out of their Country by the Scy∣thians, invaded Asia, and that the Scythians pursued them into remote parts, and by chance fell on Me∣dia and Egypt, &c. But it is no uncommon thing for the Greeks to slander them, by whom their Nation hath been Beaten, as they were by these. For the Cymmerians, or Cimbrians are well known by their Conquests of many Nations, to have been no such Cowards. These were of the Posterity of Gomer, who Peopled most of the Western World, and whose Reflux over-whelmed no small portion of Greece and Asia; of whose Original, read Goropius Becanus his Amazonica, where we find the Cimmeri∣ans, Scythians, and Sarmatians were all one Nation, distinguished by divers Names according to their Tribes, &c. Homer also spake disgracefully of them for the same cause; for they had wasted his Coun∣try, as had the Amazons. As for the expulsion they write of, it was no more than sending out of Colonies into Asia, with an Army of Scythians to help to Plant them elsewhere, their own Country

being over-charged. The Sarmatians also were their Companions, as their return by Novogrod in Russia, which was Sarmatia, sheweth. Such another Eruption they made above Five hundred years after. The Cimme∣rians being the first Company, held the way of the Eu∣xine Sea on their Right hand, passing through Colchis, en∣tred Pontus, then Paphlagonia, where fortifying the Pro∣montory, whereon the Greeks after built Synope, they there left the unserviceable men of their Train, under Guard. From thence to Lydia, Phrygia, and Ionia, the way lay open. In Lydia they Won Sardis from the King of Ardis, &c. The misery of Wars is never such, as when Men are forced to seek a State which others possess; when all is little enough for the one side, and worketh the rooting out of the other. They which Fight for Mastery, are pacifyed with Tri∣bute and Services; but in these Migrations, the As∣sailants are so unsatiable, that they need all the Defen∣dants have, even to the succeeding Infants Cradle. The merciless terms of this Controversy, arms both sides with desperate Resolution, seeing all is at the stake on both sides, to the utter Ruin of the one side. Our Britains can witness the differenc of Conquests, who lost but Liberty by the Romans, for the which they gained civil Acts, which before they never knew; but by Saxons they lost all, to the era∣dication of the Britains Race. The Danes made the like attempt on the Saxons, with such continuance as bred acquaintance between them, neither being able to subdue the other; so many Danes became peaceable Inhabitants in wasted parts, and the rest returned home. Such was (as I think) the end of the Cimmerian War in Lydia, which having continued long, made both sides willing to rest; so that upon some Victory of King Halyattes, the Cimmerians were content with what they had gotten on the East side of the River Halys; which henceforth became the Border of Lydia, on whose East side, dwelt the A∣mazons,

that is, the Cimmerians and Scythians. Here∣to serveth, that when Cyaxares of Media sought Revenge on the Scythians, Haliates assisted them, to prevent his encroaching Westward. Herodotus's Tale of this War about the Scythian Fugitives, is less probable. The Scythians and Sarmatians took to the South, as the Cimerians had to the West, passing between Caucasus and the Caspian Sea through Albania, Colthene, &c. where now are Servia and Georgia, and entred Media in the time of Phraortes, who was glad to Compound with them, while Psammi∣ticus reigned in Egypt, and in the sixth year of Na∣bulassar, from which their Twenty Eight Years Do∣minion ended in his Thirty fourth; the Medes not venturing a second Battel, thought nothing dis∣honourable to remove such troublesome Guests, and therefore submitted to a Tribute, and so got them to remove; who finding the Country more Pleasant toward the South, were easily perswaded. How Babylon, being in their way to Egypt, escaped, is uncertain; yet 'tis certain, that all those parts of Asia were Tributaries to them. Psamniticus, to prevent their entring Egypt, (as a Iealous Husband of a fair Wife) which he would not be willing they should see, met them in Syria, on the South of Palestine, and at their being at Ascalon, and he at Gaza, and with fair words and rich Gifts so perswaded 'em, that they re∣turned to visit their high Country Friends, and left Syria the more easy for him to deal with, while the Nations beyond Euphrates who had new work to en∣tertain these Strangers with, returned. The Scy∣thians flowing back, the way they came, grew an intolerable Burthen to all they light on, especially the Medes, which there over-swarm'd, being Rich and near home, in a Climate best agreeing with their Bodies. Here they fell from exacting, the agree∣ed Tribute, to take what they liked; yea All, from many; whereby the Land was unmanured. Cyaxa∣res,

to remedy this oppression, took this Course; that the Medes Feasting the better part of the Scy∣thians, made them drunk, and slew them, and reco∣vered all; like as the Danes had been used in Eng∣land. 'Tis like that this was done on the Chief Lea∣ders, which forced the Multitude upon indifferent Conditions to return home, being yet strong enough against the Encounters by the way. Others perhaps were setled in the Country before; others might go to their Countrymen in Lydia. At this time is re∣ported the Story of the returned Scythians, which vanquished their Corrival Slaves at home with Horse∣whips; according to the Custom of the Muscovian Women sending a Whip, which she Curiously Work∣eth, to the Man which shall be her Husband, in to∣ken of Subjection.

§. 5. Contemporaries, besides the Kings of Egypt, Babylon, Medes, and Lydians, of whom we spake. Tullus Hostilius Reigned in Rome 'till the twenty first year of Iosiah: Ancus Martius succeeded twenty four years. Tarquin Priscus, a Stranger, was next, who being Tutor to Ancus's Children, was so gra∣cious with the People, and so Rich, that they chose him King, the fourth year of Zedekiah, and Reigned thir∣ty eight years. Cypsilus in Corinth expelling the Ba∣cides, Reigned thirty years in Peace. Periander his Son succeeded; a Tyrant, who slew his Wife, and in Honour of her, stript all the Women stark naked, and burnt their Apparel to her Ghost. Yet the Greeks were then so Wise as to admire his Wisdom, as one of the Seven Sages. Draco the Law-Maker of Athens, punish'd every Offence with death. Solon abrogated them. Zeleucus, Law-giver to the Lo∣crians, in Italy; his Law put out the Eyes of the A∣dulterer; and to save one of his Sons offending that way, put out one of his own. He restored Wo∣mens immodest Attire, by allowing it to intice a Lover, not to go out of the House by Night, but to

play the Whore; nor to be attended with more than one Woman abroad, except they were drun∣ken; which Dispensations, Women were ashamed to claim.

§. 6. Ierusalem in the third year of Iehojakim is Be∣sieged by Nebuchadnezzar, the second year of his Reign with his Father; and, notwithstanding the assistance of Neco King of Egypt, forced Iehojakim to become his Vassal, and took Daniel and his Fel∣lows Hostages; but hasted home, not intending there to stay, Neco coming with such disadvan∣tage so far from home, in a Country which loved him not. Besides, his Father's death called him to possess his own, before he sought other Mens. But the next year, which was Nebuchadnezzar's first, and Neco's last, they fought on the Bank of Euphrates, where Neco Fought his last, and Nebuchadnezzar recover'd all Syria. Pausanius succeeded Neco, but inferiour in Va∣lour; he thought to restore Iehoahaz his Prisoner, and cast out Iehojakim, but the Lord said to the contrary. Iehojakim also rely'd on the Egyptians, 'till Nebuchad∣nezzar forced a Tribute on him; so he submitted quietly three years; in his fourth year it seemeth that Ieremiah was first Imprisoned.

Tyrus holding out against Nebuchadnezzar, was in his seventh year Besieged, and in his fourteenth year taken; for her. Captivity was limited to se∣venty years, and her Siege was thirteen. It was di∣vided from the Main by a deep broad Channel, ex∣celled in store of Ships, which Nebuchadnezzar want∣ed, and every Wind brought supply from Foreign Parts, so that it feared neither Force, nor Famine. But God, that had threatned Tyre, sent a King im∣patient of resistance, to undertake such a piece of work, to stop a vast Channel in the Sea, using there∣to the Wood of Libanus, not far off, and the Ru∣ins of old Tyre, with the toilsom labour of many thousands of Men, wherewith he prevailed at

length. But the wealthy Citizens fled by Sea to Creet, and left little Wealth for Booty; therefore the Lord promised them Egypt; see Ezek. 29.18, 19. Iehojakim, upon what occasion is uncertain, (whether Mutiny among the Souldiers, or Rumour of the Egyptians coming against Nebuchadnezzar) re∣nounced his Subjection, but was presently subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, and slain, and his Son Iehojakim or Ieconias put in his place, and after three Months, removed to Babylon, and Mattanias his Uncle esta∣blished in his stead, and called Zedekiah, who took an Oath of subjection. In his fourth year he went to Babel, about some business, wherein it seems he was not satisfied; for upon his return, he began to practice with the Neighbouring Princes of Moab, &c. what year Iohanan the False Prophet opposed Ie∣remy. Nebuchadnezzar hearing of Zedekiah's practice, came in the dead of Winter, and Besieged Ierusa∣lem; and though the year following he raised his Siege to meet Hophra, yet upon the Egyptians abandoning his Enterprize, he returned, and gave the City no rest, 'till he brake it up.

Zedekiah escaping in the Night through a Vault under the Earth, is yet overtaken, &c. and his Eyes being put out, he was carried into Babel, but saw it not, as Ezekiel foretold, Ch. 12.13. This was the eleventh year of Zedekiah, and eighteenth of Nebuchadnezzar, the year after the Temple was burnt; the four hundred thirty first year after the Building. What followed, is written 2 Kings 25. Ier. 39. & 52.

Notes

• P. Belo∣nius.
• See cap. 8. Sect. 3.
• See cap. 8. Sect. 3.
• Augustine.
• Augustine
• Natalis Comes.
• •• Iudg.
• N. Da∣mascenus Numb. 12. in success.
• See cap. 1.4. Sect. 2.
• See Ju∣nius.
• De Civ. li▪ 13.14.
• Ant. l••. 7.12.
• See Sira∣cides. 47.••3, 14. &c.
• Lib. 1. Sect. 3, 14. and c. 10.
• Diodo∣rous Sicu∣lus out of C••esias.
• Strabo, Plu∣tarch.
• So Functius.
• Apries, in Herodo∣tus.