A compleat history and mystery of the Old and New Testament logically discust and theologically improved : in four volumes ... the like undertaking (in such a manner and method) being never by any author attempted before : yet this is now approved and commended by grave divines, &c. / by Christopher Ness ...

Apocrypha CHAP. II. Luke III.

AS the first Means (better than the doubtful Books of the Apocrypha) for demonstra∣ting the State of the Jewish Church in that Interval, betwixt Nehemiah and the Messiah, was Daniel's Prophetick History of Divine Infallible Inspiration: As before, all along in Chapter the first out of the Old Testament: So this second Chapter produceth the like infallible Evidences, concerning the same Subject out of the New Testament, equally of Divine Authority with the Old. Namely, out of the Genealogy of Christ Recorded in Luke Chap. 3. yet with this difference betwixt Daniel and Luke, the Pro∣phet relateth the Things that befel the Jews without the naming of their Persons, but this Evangelist Names only the Persons that succeeded from Time to Time, without any Narrative of the things that befel them.

Remark the First, 'Tis the concurrent Judgment of Learned Men, that Daniel doth not only Prophetically declare the things, which occurred the Jewish Church, until the first coming of Christ, though they did not fall out (as some say) until three hundred Years after Daniel's Day, but also the things that would occurr the Christian Church in the last Days, how she should be mostly afflicted by Antichrist (as the Jewish had been by Antiochus) yet shall she be fully delivered by Christ's second coming. Thus Cyprian was wont to Comfort his Christian Friends in his Day, with these Words [Veniet An∣tichristus, fed superveniet Christus] Antichrist will come, but then Christ will come after him, and overcome him: Thus he Interprets, Dan. 12.1, 2, &c. [At that Time] that is, in the last Days, and toward the end of the World, shall Michael stand up, &c. N.B. Antichrist was not revealed in Cyprian's Time, which Helvicus computeth the second Century, betwixt two hundred and forty and two hundred and fifty Years after Christ, which was long before that Revelation of the Man of Sin: Now when Michael or Christ had made this double discovery unto Daniel, both concerning the Malady and Remedy of the Jewish and of the Christian Church, then giveth He Daniel (to his great Com∣fort) a fair and favourable Dismission out of this Life, before the former of those two Confusions come upon God's Church, Dan. 12.13. telling him, Thou shalt Dye, not only without fearing or feeling those troubles, but also in a firm Faith, both of the Church's glorious Deliverance, and of his own blessed Resurrection out of the Dust of Death to an Ever∣lasting

Life [after thy Soul hath rested in Abraham's Bosom, and thy Body hath got its sweet sleep in the Grave as in a Bed of Down, then thou and all the Just shall have full joys, beginning here (some say) for 1000 Years, but compleated in Heaven eternally.]

Remark the Second; The Interspace betwixt the Second Temple and the Birth of Christ, (containing about 500 Years) is filled up with Three Dynasties, saith Dr. Prideaux; the First is, The Dukes or Chieftains, in number 14, all Recorded by the Evangelist Luke under the Infallible Conduct of the Holy Spirit's Inspiration, Luke 3.23, 24, 25, 26, 27. This he doth by Ascent from the Mother of our Lord the Virgin Mary up to Ze∣rubbabel the Builder of the Second Temple. N. B. Matthew's Genealogy of Christ, Matth. 1.1, 2, &c. is made by Descent from Abraham, and so from David, &c. that Joseph (tho' not Christ's Natural but only his Legal Father, as being Marry'd to the Virgin Mary) might appear to be of David's Line, of whom the Messiah was to come for the Jews Con∣viction, tho' he was but his supposed Father: But Luke runs up Christ's Genealogy by his Mothers side, even as high as Adam and God, Luke 3.38. to shew that he was the Wo∣mans Seed which (as God promis'd to Adam) should break the Serpent's Head, Gen. 3.15. not only for saving the Jews that descended from Abraham, according to Matthew's Genealogy, but also for saving the Gentiles that descended from Adam, according to Luke's Genealogy, and therefore Luke relates, how Christ did break the Power of Satan by the word of Truth (who had corrupted Adam, and in him all Mankind by his words of falshood) immediately after he had shewed Christ's Descent from Adam, Luke 3.38. he shews, Luke 4.1. how the Tempter is Master'd by Christ in three Temptations.

Remark the Third; This First Line after the Captivity of fourteen Generations,) for which there is no Record elsewhere in the Canonical Scripture) 'tis taken for granted (saith Dr. Lightfoot) that both Matthew and Luke took from some Records then extant among the Nations, and were look'd upon as Authentick, as appeareth by the Septu∣agint Bible, which was commonly currant in the time of the Evangelists, and which certainly Luke doth generally follow in his Quotations out of the Old Testament, and the Septuagint hath this Genealogy just as Luke here hath it. As the Jews were ever in their worst of Times very careful to keep their Books of all their Genealogies, Ezra 2.62, &c. so more especially they could not but be most careful of keeping the Re∣cords of the Royal Line of the Family of David, because they had raised Expectations 0536 of the Messiah from it; for the Jews generally received these two Remarkable Maxims; 1. That there was to be no King for Israel but of the House of David, whose Son their Messiah must be by Descent: And 2. That the Family of a Mother is not called a Fami∣ly: Hereupon hath Matthew most pertinently brought Christ's Pedigree through the House of David and Solomon, and ended it in Joseph a Male, whom the Jews look'd upon as the Father of Jesus, Mar. 6.3, &c. to shew him the Son God promis'd to David, as Luke shews him the Seed of the Woman God promis'd to Adam.

Remark the Fourth: Tho' we meet with some stronge Stories both in Josephus and in the Maccabees Books concerning some of those first fourteen Generations after Zerubbabel of David's Line, the Truth whereof is doubted by some Learned Men: Yet so far as such Successors are expresly named by the Holy Evangelists, it must be believed they were so, because the whole word of God is infallibly true, John 17.17. 2 Tim. 3.16. and not one jor or tittle thereof in matter of Substance hath passed away, or ever shall un∣til all be fulfilled, Matth. 5.18. Luke 16.17. And tho' those two Genealogies of Mat∣thew and Luke seem hard to be Reconciled, yet the Apostle hath caution'd us against giving too much heed to endless Genealogies, which administer Questions rather than Godly edifying in the Faith, 1 Tim. 1.4. and Tit. 3.9. And seeing many Men in Scripture had two Names, (as Esau was call'd Edom, Gen. 25.30. and 36.1, 8. Jethro call'd Raguel; Gideon Jerubbaal; Ʋzziah Azariah, &c. so Simon call'd Peter, John 1.42. Joses Barsa∣bas and Justus, Acts 1.23, &c.) Some do suppose that those Men of this first Dynasty had two Names, one of those Evangelists reciteth one, and the other another of these Names, and so might well accord in their Record of the same Person.

Remark the Fifth: Tho' all those Pagan Kings of that time were inveterate Adver∣saries to the Jewish Church, and kept the Jews in grievous Subjection, more especially to suppress (as much as might be) the Posterity of David's Family, and at least to hold them in a low Condition, because it was a certain and received Truth among that People, that Messiah the Prince (Dan. 9.26) should shortly come out of that Family; therefore those Persons named by the Evangelists might mostly be private Persons (as Jo∣seph and Mary were, when Christ came into the World: Wherefore Dr. Prideaux doth well make it one of his Inquiries, Whether those fourteen Chieftains (whom Dan. Paraeus calls Dukes or Captains) all of the Line of David, had any Authority of Magistrates a∣mong

their Countrymen? This is the more doubtful because they all lived in those Calamitous Times of the Jewish Church after the Captivity.

Remark the Sixth: 'Tis therefore not improbable but some of the•••• might be only private Persons, and not be betrusted by their Oppressors with any publick Authority, yet by the consent of their own People they might be Law-givers to them as Principal Men a∣mongst them; and this is the more probable, because the Patriarch Jacob Prophesy'd that the Scepter shall not depart from Judah until Shilo come, Gen. 49.10. N.B. How∣ever, this Genealogy (Recorded by two Evangelists, and both by Divine Inspiration) may well serve to shew forth the shining Truth of God's Promise, compleatly Accomplish'd in the Incarnation of Christ; and is likewise no less a Demonstration of God's special Providence over his Church to preserve her in the worst of Times; therein declaring in what Line (to wit, the Line of David) the Church was preserved; the Evangelists Recorded it, that we may believe it and ever live, John 20.31.

The Second Dynasty or Government over the Jews (according to Paraeus, Prideaux, Al∣sted, &c.) was that of the Asmoneites or Maccabees, Men extraordinarily raised up by God to Defend the True Religion. These were call'd Asmonei from the first of that Rank, Mattathias Asmoneus, and Maccabees from the four first Hebrew Letters in that Sentence [Lord, who is like unto thee? &c.] which Initial Letters put together make up the word Maccabee, &c. Exod. 15.11. And Judas Maccabeus (the Second of this sort of Governors) carry'd these four Capital Letters, [M. C. B. J.] in his Standard, the whole words ru••∣ning thus, [Mi Chimka Beelohim Jehovah?] Who among the Gods is like unto thee, Jehovah?

N. B. I shall in this Discourse still stick so close to the Scripture of Truth as the nature of the Subject will admit; leaving the large Stories of those Maccabees to the various Ecclesiastical Writers upon them; as the Apocrypha, Josephus, Paraeus, Prideaux, Clark, &c.

Remark the First: Mattathias Asmoneus (the Father of those Maccabean Governors) was but of the Order of the Priesthood, and so of the Posterity of Levi and not of J••∣dah, which seems to sound some prejudice to God's Promise and to Jacob's Prophecy, [That the Scepter shall not depart from Judah, &c.] Gen. 49.10. But it must be consi∣der'd, that 1. The Tribe of Levi and of Benjamin were now (in the failure and falling away of the Ten Tribes) Incorporated into this of Judah, from whence the whole Country was called Judea, and the whole People (of whatever Tribe they were) generally now were called Jews. 2ly. Notwithstanding the many Vicissitudes that attended the Jews after their Return from Babylon, wherein they had various Governors, some Constituted by the Kings of Persia (as well as of Babylon during the Seventy Years Captivity) and some chosen their Captain-Generals by the People as those Maccabees; yet the Chief Government was principally Seated in their Sanhedrim (commonly so call'd) or Synedrium, or Senate, (as Josephus and other Jewish Writers testifie) in which tho' some of the Tribe of Levi, &c. were mixed with the Tribe of Judah, yet that Council had their whole power to Sit and Act from Judah's Tribe, and so the Scepter did not depart from it, but still remain'd in it.

Remark the Second: Learned Diodate saith, That seeing this Name Asmoneus (which was Mattathias's Name) signifies [Baron or Great Lord] in Hebrew; therefore 'tis probable, He and those Maccabees his Sons might look upon it as some sign of a modest Honour and Domination, tho' through Corruption it grew up to the height of Sove∣raignty in Simon (one of the Sons) in his Time, and afterwards to Absolute Royalty, joined with the High Priesthood in Aristobulus and his Successors, but more of that in its proper Place. Paraeus tells us, that this Mattathias was but a Priest and a private Person, yet when he saw all the Villanies acted by Antiochus in the Holy City, he was stirred up to take up just Arms against him, and was the first Man that gave a stop to his overflowing Fury in defence of his Country's Laws, and when dying in a good Old Age, he left and laid God's Charge upon his five Sons to prosecute with their utmost vigour the good Work he had begun; but Prideaux makes it an Inquiry, Whether Mattathias might himself execute an Apostate Jew by the Altar out of his zeal, seeing he was no Magi∣strate? N.B. No doubt but he did better in informing the Jews that they might lawfully de∣fend themselves upon the Sabbath-day, after many of them had been Murther'd by the neglect of it when Assaulted by the Enemy.

Remark the Third; His Son Judas (call'd Maccabeus) succeeded him, from whence sprang the Maccabean Principality (saith Paraeus) Annexed to the High-Priesthood, which lasted unto Herod's Time. This Priest's Son (that began the Principality of the Macca∣bees) was compared to a Lion for Strength, to a Giant for Fight, and to a Devouring

Flame for driving all down before him, and who always went to Praying before he began any one Battel, and by the power of Prayer annexed to his Spirit of Courage, He dis∣comfited many vast Armies of his Adversaries: As 1. Apollonius; 2. Seron; 3. Ptolomy; 4. Nicanor; 5. Gorgias; and 6. Lysias, 2 Macc. 4.57. and 6.46, &c. Then having ob∣tain'd all these wonderful Victories, without the loss of one Man on his side, or even to a Miracle (saith Paraeus) not so much as one of his Soldiers Wounded, he purgeth the Temple of that Idol Jupiter Olympius and all other Abominations that Antiochus had polluted it with; then having purified it according to the Law, in Memory there∣of he appointed the Feast of Dedication, which our blessed Saviour (saith Dr. Prideaux) did afterward honour with his Presence, John 10.22. N.B. As Christ did so then, when the Temple was purged from the Pollutions of Antiochus, (that little Antichrist) Oh how Glorious will Christ's Presence be in his Temple when it shall be throughly purged from all the Abominations of the grand Antichrist, &c.

Remark the Fourth; Valiant and Victorious Judas (being basely Deserted by his own Men, when he with 800 gave Battel to Bacchides's with his 20000 Foot and 2000 Horse, yet had almost (saith Cluverius) won the Field, and had wholly Routed the Right Wing, &c.) was himself (without his Run-away Men) soon inclosed, over∣power'd, and slain by the Left Wing: Then his Brother Jonathan succeeds him, who with an handful of Men breaks through Bacchides's great Army, endangers the General himself in his Eruption, and slays 1000 Enemies in his passage, swam over Jordan with his Company and so quitted himself, 2 Macc. 9.18, 37. Josephus lib. 13. cap. 1. Cluverius, Paraeus, &c. but he and his Sons being slain by Treachery, his Brother Simon Priest) was struck with a Dead Palsie by an Hand from Heaven as he was Demolish∣ing the Sepulchres of God's Prophets in the Temple, and after Tryphon the Ʋsurper had cheated him of 100 Talents, and after he had Ruled in Peace by making Peace with the Romans to over-awe the Syrians, he at last was basely betray'd at a Banquet in Je∣richo by Potolomy his Son-in-law, whom he had made Governour of that City: Then the third Brother Johannes Hircanus succeeded, and Reveng'd the Murther, in whose Principality and Priesthood Antiochus besieg'd him in Jerusalem in that Sabbatical or seventh Year, wherein the Land rested from Tillage, so that there was a sore Famine in the City; but Hircanus buys off the Siege with a summ of Money wherewith he was supply'd out of David's Sepulchre, Josephus Antiq. 2 Macc. 13. and 14. and 15.16. after which he Demolished that Mock-Temple of the Samaritans upon Mount Gerezim (after it had stood 200 Years) and utterly razed Samaria for its fighting against the Jews, and in his Time (saith Paraeus) arose those three famous Sects of the Pharisees, Saddu∣ces, and Essenes: N.B. The last of which (from Asa, Hebr. to consider) were a sort of Monks, pretending all for Contemplation, &c. and had all things in common amongst them. This was that Hircanus who besieg'd Treacherous Ptolomy in the Castle of Dagon, but left the Siege at the woful sight of the Tortures of his Mother, who notwithstanding did animate him to pursue his purpose, Jos. Antiq. lib. 13. cap. 14, 15, 16.

Here follows the Third Dynasty in Judea; Hitherto the Maccabean Family the Asmonites had contented themselves with the Title of Chief Princes and of High Priests, but now they affected the Crown-Royal.

Remark the First: Aristobulus (the Eldest of Hircanus) aspir'd at his Fathers Death to be Adorned with the Royal Diadem; in order hereunto, he first slew his Innocent Brethren, at the instigation of his Ambitious Wife Salome, and then starved to death his own Mother, pretending she aimed at the Kingdom; for which unnatural Acts, (saith Cluverius) his own Conscience did so Torture and Torment him, that he soon died most miserably, after he had Usurped the Kingdom but one Year, verifying that Saying in Job, [The Triumph of the Wicked shall be short] Job 20.5. This Hypocrite was the first Priest or Levite that presumed (saith Dr. Willet) to wear a Crown, tho' never any of the Tribe of Judah Usurped the Mitre or presumed to the Priesthood, as saith the Apostle, Heb. 7.14. yet this Priest changed both the Priesthood and the Prin∣cipality into a Royal Kingdom. N.B. He made himself the next King to Zedekiah after the Captivity; no wonder if he so soon vomited out his bloody Soul, yet this Succes∣sion of Kingship continued in his Line until Herod when Christ came.

Remark the Second; Paraeus and Cluverius give this Account of the following Royal Successors: 1. Alexander Jannias succeeds his Brother Aristobulus in the Throne, when his Sister-in law Salome had released him out of Prison, for which he Marry'd the Wi∣dow and made himself the second King of the Jews; but the Pharisees (so call'd from their Separation, and then being a prevailing Faction with their Traditions) Reproached

him as unworthy of the Royal Diadem, because he was born of a Captive Mother; for which high Affront he slew 50000 of them and their Partakers: Notwithstanding this Revenge, he (observing how that Sect led the Vulgar by the Nose) persuades his Wife Salome to strike in with them, and to be Ruled altogether by them, and to de∣liver his Body (now seiz'd upon with an incurable quartan Ague of three Years con∣tinuance whereof he died) to them to be used at their pleasure; this being done by Salome, it so oblig'd the Pharisees whom he had so notoriously Disoblig'd, that they not only Interr'd him Honourably, but also made his Widow Queen, calling her Alexandra, under whom the Pharisees were so powerful, that they Ruled all, and put many good Men to Death for not favouring their Faction. This Queen made Hircanus (her Eldest Son) High-Priest, who drove his younger Brother Aristobulus out of all Command; but because Hircanus was look'd upon as half-witted, a Dispute arose who should be King before Pompey the Great; He determines it for Hircanus to be their (third King) marches to Jerusalem to suppress the Opposers, Sacks the Temple, and lays open the Holy of Holies, then hasting to Rome carries Aristobulus along his Prisoner; but being Releas'd there by Julius Caesar, he being more Active and Accomplish'd, a Composition was made, that he should be their fourth King, and Hircanus content with his High-Priest∣hood. This Aristobulus the Second possessed two and twenty Castles with the Kingdom, tho' Antipaeter (Herod's Father) attempted to restore Hircanus (the Elder Brother) to the Crown, yet siding with Julius Caesar in the Civil Wars against Pompey the Great, he was afterward poyson'd by the Pompeian Party, leaving his Son Alexander to Reign in his stead, who made the fifth King of the Jews, and who making many Motions in Re∣belling against the Roman Conquerours, and endeavouring to cast off the Roman Yoke, was at last Conquer'd, catch'd and beheaded by Pompey at Antioch.

N. B. 1. That Anna the Prophetess of whom we read Luke 2.36. became a Widow much about this Time, being 84 Years old, &c. ver. 37.

N. B. 2. This fifth King of the Jews Alexander had born to him by Alexandra (Hir∣canus his Uncle's Daughter) the two Paragons of that Time for Beauty, Aristobulus and Mariamne, both Murder'd by Herod afterward.

N. B. 3. The Principality and Kingdom of the Maccabees or Asmoneans of the Line of David, here ended in Alexander, after they had (out of their own Ambitious Humour) Advanced themselves from the Priesthood to the Throne, and quarrelling one with ano∣ther, they open'd a way for the Romans to Invade and Subdue them, and to set up Herod an Edomite a King over them.

Remark the Third: The sixth King of the Jews was Herod, call'd the Great, an Idu∣mean, and of a base Stock (faith Josephus) but grew up into a very great Grandeur by the benign Influence and warm Sunshine of the Roman Soveraignty upon this Mushroom, in∣somuch as he was called Herodes Magnus: Paraeus and Cluverius, &c. give this Narrative of Herod's Life; 1. That his Father was Antipater an Idumean (whom they also call an Ascalonite, from whom this grand Rascal proceeded:) However, his Original was so far out of a foreign Extract, that Josephus and the Domestick Jews look'd upon Jacob's Prophecy (of the Departing of the Scepter from Judah) to be fulfilled in Herod's Ʋsurpati∣on. 2ly. Antipater Herod's Father being a Crafty Fox, first sided with Pompey against Caesar while he seemed to be the strongest side, but afterwards he wheel'd about to assist Caesar in his Alexandrian War, and being successful, Caesar made him Governour over all Judea, who Repaired the Walls of Jerusalem that Pompey had Demolish'd, setting his Eldest Son Phaselus over Jerusalem, and Herod his Younger Son over Galilee; but Antipater being poison'd by one Malichus, and Phaselus dashing out his own Brains (saith Josephus) Herod, by the help of the Roman Senate, becomes King of Judah. 3ly. As Herod (while young) did Patrizare, being a Crafty Fox like his Father, and Marry'd Mariamne, match∣less for Beauty, and one of the Blood-Royal, to fit him for wearing the Crown-Royal, &c. so he exceeded his Father in becoming also a Cruel Tyger; for perceiving the Jews un∣easie to have a Stranger King over them, by Mark Anthony's means (whom he had well bribed) he Murders all the Blood-Royal that might question his Title to the Throne; amongst which were 1. Hircanus at 80 Years old, returning from Banishment when Herod had Marry'd Alexander's fair Daughter Mariamne: 2. Beautiful Aristobulus (his Wife's Bro∣ther, whom he invited to a Feast at Jericho, and there in Sport was Duck'd to death by his fellow-Swimmers whom Herod had Suborned for that end; and this was done without any cause, but only because Herod had made him the High-Priest, and perceiving that he became a dear Darling to the Jewish People; this was enough to make him the Object of that Crafty and Cruel King Herod's Hatred. Nor 3ly did he spare his dearest Wife Mariamne, that Paragon of Beauty, but Executed her,

together with her Mother Alexandra; for pretended Treason. 4ly. This Herod caused Ezekias an Highway-man, with many of his Associates, to be slain, tho' not Con∣demned by due course of Law; this so incensed the Sanhedrim, that they sent out their Warrants to bring him to Justice for medling with their Authority: But he was grown now too stiff-neck'd for such a Curb, for he came with a strong Guard to over-awe them▪ for which Old Simeon (call'd the Just) told him to his Teeth, that he deserved Death for so doing, &c. This so enraged Haughty Herod against them, that he could never be at quiet until he had kill'd all that Grand Council, ex∣cept Old Simeon, who escaped, being preserved by God's Providence to embrace Christ (that beautiful Babe of Bethlehem) and to Prophesie of his Salvation, Luke 2. 25, to 31. N. B. Herod this bloody Raskalonite, stands Stigmatiz'd upon Record in all Histories, for his being 1. a Cruel King, in killing his own Subjects of all sizes, gentle and simple: 2. A Crueler Son-in-law, for Murdering Alexandra his Mother-in-law, and Hircanus his Queen's Grand-father: And 3ly. the Gruelest Husband, in Mur∣dering Mariamne his own fair Wife and Queen. 4ly. That he might become Ʋn∣parellel'd, he steps one Degree higher than the Superlative (the highest Degree) in mur∣dering three of his own Sons by Mariamne, who was his principal Queen among his nine Wives, &c. Hereupon Augustus Caesar broke this Jest upon Herod, [Praestare Herodis Porcum esse quam filium] 'Tis better to be Herod's Hog than his Son: So he was more than the cruelest Father to his own Natural Sons.

Remark the Fourth: While Herod was thus wallowing in the blood of his own Re∣lations (saith Cluverius) and in the blood of the Jews in general, principally project∣ing to keep the Jews in Subjection, and if possible, to Suppress the Posterity of David, or at least to keep them low, forasmuch as it was a certain and believed Truth among the Jews, that Messiah the Prince, Dan. 9.26. should shortly come out of that Royal Family: Even at that time the Great God, commiserating the miserable Jews, yea and all the whole Universe of mankind, sent that bright and Morning Star his Son Christ into the World; namely, in the very Time when Herod the King was strutting about in his most Ruffling Grandeur, Matth. 2.1. Dying Red his Roy∣al Robes with the blood of his own People, and when the Scepter was departed from Judah, according to Jacob's Prophecy, Gen. 49.10. and when the Church of the Jews was at the lowest ebb, scarce four or fewer were found waiting for the Con∣solation of Israel, Luke 2.25. yea, and when among the poor Gentiles a plentiful Har∣vest of the Elect was now ready Ripe, Matth. 9.37. Luke 10.2. John 4.35. even then came the Prince of Peace into the World, when all was at peace through the World.

Remark the Fifth; The fulfilling of Jacob's Prophecy, Gen. 49.10. at this Time doth confirm our Christian Faith that Christ is come 1600 Years ago; and it doth confute the Cavils of the Jews, pretending still to have Princes of David's Line; but these Pretences are meer Impostures, seeing their Genealogies are perished, their Tribes confounded, and themselves holding no Scepter-like Sway in any Land where they lay scat∣ter'd as Slaves, in a manner Hated of all Mankind ever since their City and Temple was Destroy'd by Titus Vespasian, which was an infallible Evidence that Christ was come; and because they had Crucify'd him, therefore an utter Desolation came upon them. N. B. These are plain Truths; 1. That Jacob foretold, when once the Scepter came to Judah (prevailing over his Brethren, 1 Chron. 5.2) it should not depart from it till Shilo came, as it had done from Levi in Moses, from Benjamin in Saul, and before that from other Tribes in the Judges, &c. 2. That David (of Judah's Tribe) began not to Reign till 656 Years after Jacob's Day, but when once begun, it should continue in David's Line till Christ came, David's Son and the Lion of that Tribe, Rev. 5.5. 3ly. Tho' in this Interval there was some Interruption of the Succession, as in the 70 Years Captivity (which was rather a Sleep than a Death of that Go∣vernment) yet after this Interregnum it awak'd and was Reviv'd in Zerubbabel of that Line, as it had (before him) some Revivings in Jehoakin, 2 Kings 25.27. and in Daniel of David's Seed, Dan. 1.3. and 2.25. and 5.13. and in Nehemiah, whom Eusebius affirms to be of Judah's Tribe. 4ly. From Zerubbabel it continued in Judah 270 Years, until the Maccabees (of Levi) took upon them the Government as High-Priests, and at last as Kings, who might be (saith Bouldac) of Judah by their Mo∣thers, &c. 5ly. These Reigned till the Roman Senate thrust in Herod the Askalonite, whom Menochius calls not a King but a Tyrant. 6ly. The Sanhedrim (consisting chiefly of Judah lasted long after Herod, retaining some Power till the Temple, &c. were Destroyed, as appeareth from Matth. 23.34. John 18.31. and 19.7. Acts 5.17. and 7.59. and 9.1, 2. and 23.5. See River, Mede, Helvicus, &c.

Remark the Sixth, Concerning this bloody Butcher (Herod the Great) Paraeus, Cla∣verius, &c. give this Narrative of his Tragical Catastrophe; tho' this Tyger-like Ty∣rant was Magnificent in Buildings, especially in Enlarging the Court of the Gentiles belonging to the Temple: The Outward Work was eight Years in building, 100 Cubits Long and 120 High, with large Porches and Marble Pillars; and the Inward Work was a Year and five Months more in Adorning it with Stately Ornaments within, finishing it in the 28th. Year of his Reign, and nine Years before Christ Assumed the Temple of his Body in the Virgins Womb, John 2.19, 21. This shew of Piety the Hypocrite Herod made in the midst of his Matchless Impieties, designing his good Deeds might expiate and outweigh his bad ones; yet Divine Vengeance pursu'd him like a Blood-hound, and at last did seize upon him, Stigmatizing him with a black Brand of a most miserable Death, the end of his most monstrous and matchless Life in all manner of Villanies: For after he had been the Butcher of Hircanus his Father-in-law, of Alexandra his Mother-in-law, of Mariamne his own Wife, as above, and of his two Sons Aristobulus and Alexander, being falsly Accused by Salome his Sister, and Antipater their Brother, whom within five Days before his Death he Strangl'd for preparing Poison for his own Father: And while Herod was thus raging against his own Bowels, he hears of Christ's Birth, which did so disturb him, that in a Rage he mercilesly Butcher'd the Infants of Bethlehem, &c. this fill'd up his Ephah: Tho' before he had escaped many Conspiracies, yet now the heavy Hand of God smote him with a Ph••enzy and with an horrible and loathsome Disease, even of a compli∣cation of Maladies: As 1. An Intolerable burning within his Breast, that nothing could quench, so that he was in Hell-fire before hand. 2. A Dog-like Appetite, which no Food could suffice. 3. A most grievous Griping of the Guts. 4. His Privy Parts so putrify'd, that abundance of Worms were engendred and came crawling-forth from the lower part of his rotten Belly. 5. Beside, a most grievous Tormenting Flux at his Fundament. 6. A most Violent Cramp over all the parts of his Body, intolerable to Humane Nature. 7. A short and stinking Breath, loathsome to all about him: He sent for Physicians from all Parts, who prescrib'd Hot Baths of Calliroe for his Cure, but finding no Ease thereby, he sought to lay violent hands upon himself (as he had done at that time upon his Wicked Son An∣tipater) feeling his Torments still encreasing, but at last his Rotten Body after a long Torture, breathed out his bloody Soul in insufferable Extreamity, leaving his Kingdom to his Son Archelaus, Matth. 2.20, 22. who shortly after was Accused by the Jews to Augustus for his Tyranny and misplacing the Mitre of the Pontificate upon worthless Priests, for which he was Banish'd to Vienna. Sic exit Tyrannus & Tyranni filius, & six incipt Chri∣stus Dei Omnipotentis filius; Herod goes off the Stage in a Stink, and the sweet Saviour of the World comes upon it, whose most Illustrious Life follows next to be Related in the New Testament Times. Here End the Times of the Old Testament.

Laus soli Deo.

FINIS.