16 Providing for it, lest it should fall,ter grief, made to himself the image of his knowing that it is unable to help itself: for son who was quickly taken away: and him it is an image, and hath need of help. who then had died as a man, he began now

17 And then maketh prayer to it, inqui-to worship as a god, and appointed him ring concerning his substance, and his chil rites and sacrifices among his servants. dren, or his marriage. And he is not 16 Then in process of time, wicked cusashamed to speak to that which hath no life:tom prevailing, this error was kept as a law; 18 And for health he maketh supplica-and statues were worshipped by the comtion to the weak; and for life prayeth to mandment of tyrants.

that which is dead; and for help calleth 17 And those whom men could not houpon that which is unprofitable:

19 And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things, he asketh him that is unable to do any thing.

nour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an express image of the king whom they had a mind to honour: that by this their diligence, they might bonour as present, him that was absent. 18 And to the worshipping of these, the The beginning of worshipping idals; and singular diligence also of the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.

CHAP. XIV.

the effects thereof.

AGAIN, another designing to sail and 19 For he being willing to please him

beginning to make his voyage through that employed him, laboured with all his the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of art to make the resemblance in the best wood, more frail than the wood that carri-manner.

eth him.

20 And the multitude of men, carried

2 For this the desire of gain devised; away by the beauty of the work, took him and the workman built it by his skill. now for a god, that a little before was but

3 But thy providence, O Father, govern-honoured as a man.

:

eth it for thou hast made a way even in the 21 And this was the occasion of deceivsea, and a most sure path among the waves, ing human life: for men serving either their 4 Shewing that thou art able to save out affection, or their kings, gave the incommuof all things, yea though a man went to sea nicable name to stones and wood.

without art.

22 And it was not enough for them to

5 But that the works of thy wisdom err about the knowledge of God; but might not be idle therefore men also whereas they live in a great war of ignotrust their lives even to a little wood, and rance, they call so many and so great evils passing over the sea by ship are saved.

peace.

6 And from the beginning also when the 23 For either they sacrifice their own proud giants perished, the hope of the world children or use hidden sacrifices, or keep fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by watches full of madness: thy hand, left to the world seed of genera- 24 So that now they neither keep life, tion. nor marriage undefiled: but one killeth 7 For blessed is the wood, by which jus-another through envy, or grieveth him by tice cometh.

8 But the idol that is made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he, because he made it; and it, because being frail, it is called a god.

9 But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.

adultery:

25 And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft, and dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury, disquieting of the good,

26 Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness.

10 For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall suffer torments. 11 Therefore there shall be no respect 27 For the worship of abominable idols had even to the idols of the gentiles: be-is the cause, and the beginning and end of cause the creatures of God are turned to an all evil.

abomination, and a temptation to the souls 28 For either they are mad when they of men, and a snare to the feet of the un-are merry or they prophesy lies; or they wise. live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves. 29 For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.

12 For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and the invention of them is the corruption of life.

13 For neither were they from the beginning neither shall they be for ever.

:

14 For by the vanity of men they came into the world and therefore they shall be found to come shortly to an end.

30 But for two things they shall be justly punished, because they have thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and have sworn unjustly, in guile despising justice.

31 For it is not the power of them, by 15 For a father being afflicted with bit-whom they swear; but the just vengeance

of sinners always punisheth the trangres-of hands to handle, and as for their feet, sion of the unjust. they are slow to walk. CHAP. XV. 16 For man made them: and he that borThe servants of God praise him who hath de-roweth his own breath, fashioned them. livered them from idolatry; condemning For no man can make a god like to himself. both the makers and the worshippers of 17 For being mortal himself, he formeth idols. a dead thing with his wicked hands. For he OUT thou, our God, art gracious and is better than they whom he worshippeth; true, patient, and ordering all things in because he indeed hath lived, though he were mortal, but they never.

BUT

mercy.

2 For if we sin, we are thine, knowing 18 Moreover, they worship also the vilest thy greatness and if we sin not, we know creatures: but things without sense comthat we are counted with thee. pared to these, are worse than they. 19 Yea, neither by sight can any man see

3 For to know thee, is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and thy power, is good of these beasts. But they have fled the root of immortality. from the praise of God, and from his bless

4 For the invention of mischievous men ing. hath not deceived us, nor the shadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure God's with divers colours,

5 The sight whereof enticeth the fool to lust after it: and he loveth the lifeless figure of a dead image.

6 The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them, and they that worship them.

CHAP. XVI.

different dealings with the Egyptians, and with his own people.

to these, they were worthily punished, NOR these things, and by the like things

and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts. 2 Instead of which punishment, dealing well with thy people, thou gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing for them quails for their meat : 7 The potter also tempering soft earth, 3 To the end that they indeed desiring with labour fashioneth every vessel for our food, by means of those things that were service and of the same clay he maketh shewn and sent among them, might loath both vessels that are for clean uses, and like-even that which was necessary to satisfy wise such as serve to the contrary: but what their desire. But these,† after suffering want is the use of these vessels, the potter is the for a short time, tasted a new meat. judge. 4 For it was requisite that inevitable de

8 And of the same clay by a vain labour struction should come upon them that exerhe maketh a god: he who a little before cised tyranny: but to these it should only was made of earth himself, and a little after be shewn how their enemies were destroyreturneth to the same out of which he wased.

taken, when his life which was lent him 5 For when the fierce rage of beasts shall be called for again. came upon these, they were destroyed with

9 But his care is, not that he shall labour, the bitings of crooked serpents. nor that his life is short; but he striveth 6 But thy wrath endured not for ever; with the goldsmiths and silversmiths and but they were troubled for a short time for he endeavoureth to do like the workers in their correction, having a sign of salvation brass; and counteth it a glory to make vain to put them in remembrance of the comthings. mandment of thy law.

10 For his heart is ashes, and his hope 7 For he that turned to it, was not healvain earth, and his life more base than clayed by that which he saw, but by thee the 11 Forasmuch as he knew not his maker, Saviour of all.

and him that inspired into him the soul that 8 And in this thou didst shew to our eneworketh, and that breathed into him a liv-mies, that thou art he who deliverest from ing spirit. all evil.

12 Yea, and they have counted our life a pastime, and the business of life to be gain, and that we must be getting every way, even out of evil.

13 For that man knoweth that he offendeth above all others, who of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels, and graven gods.

9 For the bitings of locusts, and of flies killed them: and there was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be destroyed by such things.

10 But not even the teeth of venomous

* They indeed desiring food, &c. He means 14 But all the enemies of thy people that the Egyptians: who were restrained even hold them in subjection, are foolish, and un-from that food which was necessary, by the happy, and proud beyond measure: frogs and the flies that were sent amongst them, and spoiled all their meats.

15 For they have esteemed all the idols of the heathens for gods, which neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, nor ears to hear, nor fingerslan

But these, viz. The Israelites. Sign of salvation. The brazen serpent, emblem of Christ our Saviour.

serpents overcame thy children: for thy thou lovedst, might know that it is not the mercy came, and healed them. growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but 11 For they were examined for the re-thy word preserveth them that believe in membrance of thy words, and were quickly thee.

healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, 27 For that which could not be destroyed they might not be able to use thy help. by fire, being warmed with a little sun-beam 12 For it was neither herb, nor mollify-presently melted away:

ing plaster that healed them, but thy word, 28 That it might be known to all, that we O Lord, which healeth all things. ought to prevent the sun to bless thee, and

13 For it is thou, O Lord, that hast pow-adore thee at the dawning of the light. er of life and death, and leadest down to 29 For the hope of the unthankful shall the gates of death, and bringest back again: melt away as the winter's ice, and shall run 14 A man indeed killeth through malice off as unprofitable water. and when the spirit is gone forth, it shall|| not return; neither shall he call back the soul that is received:

CHAP. XVII.

The Egyptian darkness.

15 But it is impossible to escape thy FOR thy judgments, O Lord, are great:

and thy words cannot be expressed:

hand. 16 For the wicked that denied to know therefore undisciplined souls have erred. thee, were scourged by the strength of thy 2 For while the wicked thought to be arm, being persecuted by strange waters, able to have dominion over the holy nation, and hail, and rain, and consumed by fire. they themselves being fettered with the bonds 17 And which was wonderful, in water, of darkness, and a long night, shut up in which extinguisheth all things, the fire had their houses, lay there exiled from the etermore force for the world fighteth for the nal providence. just. 3 And while they thought to lie hid in 18 For at one time, the fire was miti-their obscure sins, they were scattered ungated, that the beasts which were sent der a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horagainst the wicked might not be burnt, but ribly afraid, and troubled with exceeding that they might see and perceive that they great astonishment.

were persecuted by the judgment of God. 4 For neither did the den that held them, 19 And at another time the fire, above keep them from fear for noises coming its own power, burnt in the the midst of down troubled them and sad visions apwater, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land. pearing to them, affrighted them.

20 Instead of which things thou didst|| 5 And no power of fire could give them feed thy people with the food of Angels, light: neither could the bright flames of and gavest them bread from heaven pre- the stars enlighten that horrible night. pared without labour; having in it all that 6 But there appeared to them a sudden is delicious, and the sweetness of every fire, very dreadful: and being struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen,

taste.

21 For thy sustenance shewed thy sweet- they thought the things which they saw to ness to thy children, and serving every be worse:

man's will, it was turned to what every 7 And the delusions of their magic art man liked. were put down; and their boasting of wis

22 But snow and ice endured the force dom was reproachfully rebuked. of fire, and melted not: that they might|| 8 For they who promised to drive away know that fire burning in the hail and flash-fears and troubles from a sick soul, were ing in the rain destroyed the fruits of the sick themselves of a fear worthy to be enemies. laughed at.

23 But this same again, that the just 9 For though no terrible thing disturbed might be nourished, did even forget its own them; yet being scared with the passing by strength. of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died

24 For the creature serving thee the for fear; and denying that they saw the Creator, is made fierce against the unjust air, which could by no means be avoided. for their punishment; and abateth its 10 For whereas wickedness is fearful, it strength for the benefit of them that trust beareth witness of its condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth

in thee.

25 Therefore even then it was transform-grievous things. ed into all things, and was obedient to thy 11 For fear is nothing else but a yielding grace that nourisheth all, according to the up of the succours from thought. will of them that desired it of thee:

12 And while there is less expectation

26 That thy children, O Lord, whom from within, the greater doth it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the

The fire had more force, viz. When torment. the fire and hail mingled together laid waste the land of Egypt. Exod. ix.

13 But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done, and which

came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the same sleep,

14 Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes fainted away, their soul failing them for a sudden and unlooked-for fear was come upon them.

:

6 For that night was known before by our fathers, that assuredly knowing what oaths they had trusted to, they might be of better courage.

7 So thy people received the salvation of the just, and destruction of the unjust. 8 For as thou didst punish the adversa

15 Moreover, if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in prison with-ries; so thou didst also encourage and gloout irons. rify us.

16 For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which he could not fly.

9 For the just children of good ment were offering sacrifice secretly and they unanimously ordered a law of justice; that the just should receive both good and evil alike, 17 For they were all bound together with singing now the praises of the fathers. one chain of darkness. Whether it were a 10 But on the other side there sounded whistling wind, or the melodious voice of an ill-according cry of the enemies and a birds, among the spreading branches of lamentable mourning was heard for the chiltrees, or a fall of water running down with violence,

dren that were bewailed.

11 And the servant suffered the same pu18 Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling nishment as the master; and a common man down, or the running that could not be seen suffered in like manner as the king. of beasts playing together, or the roaring 12 So all alike had innumerable dead, voice of wild beasts, or a rebounding echo with one kind of death. Neither were the from the highest mountains; these things living sufficient to bury them: for in one made them to swoon for fear. moment the noblest offsprings of them was destroyed.

19 For the whole world was enlightened with a clear light; and none were hindered in their labours.

13 For whereas they would not believe any thing before by reason of the enchant20 But over them only was spread a hea-ments, then first upon the destruction of the vy night, an image of that darkness which first-born, they acknowledged the people to was to come upon them. But they were to be of God. themselves more grievous than the dark

ness.

CHAP. XVIII.

14 For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her

course,

15 Thy almighty word leapt down from The slaughter of the first-born in Egypt: the heaven from thy royal throne, as a fierce efficacy of Aaron's intercession, in the se-conqueror into the midst of the land of dedition on occasion of Core. struction,

OUT thy saints had a very great light; 16 With a sharp sword carrying thy un

did not see their shape. And because they filled all things with death, and standing on also did not suffer the same things, they the earth reached even to heaven. glorified thee:

2 And they that before had been wronged, gave thanks, because they were not hurt now; and asked this gift, that there might be a difference.

3 Therefore they received a burning pillar of fire for a guide of the way which they knew not; and thou gavest them a harmless sun of a good entertainment.

17 Then suddenly visions of evil dreams troubled them, and fears unlooked-for came upon them.

18 And one thrown here, another there, half dead, shewed the cause of his death.

19 For the visions that troubled them foreshewed these things, lest they should perish, and not know why they suffered these evils.

4 The others indeed were worthy to be 20 But the just also were afterwards deprived of light, and imprisoned in dark-touched by an assault of death; and there ness, who kept thy children shut up, by was a disturbance of the multitude in the whom the pure light of the law was to be wilderness: but thy wrath did not long congiven to the world. tinue..

21 For a blameless man made haste to

5 And whereas they thought to kill the babes of the just; one childt being cast forth,|| and saved, to reprove them, thou tookest + Of good men, viz. of the patriarchs. away a multitude of their children, and des-Their children, the Israelites, offered in pritroyedst them altogether in a mighty water.vate the sacrifice of the Paschal lamb; and were regulating what they were to do in

* A harmless sun. A light that should not their journey, when that last and most dreadhurt or molest them; but that should be an ful plague was coming upon their enemies. agreeable guest to them. The noblest offspring. That is, the first-born.

One child, viz. Moses.

pray for the people, bringing forth the shield 9 For they fed on their food like horses; of his ministry, prayer, and by incense mak- and they skipped like lambs, praising thee, ing supplication, withstood the wrath, and O Lord, who hadst delivered them. put an end to the calamity, shewing that he 10 For they were yet mindful of those was thy servant. things which had been done in the time of their sojourning, how the ground brought forth flies instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs instead of fishes.

22 And he overcame the disturbance, not by strength of body, nor with force of arms but with a word he subdued him that punished them, alleging the oaths and covenant made with the fathers.

11 And at length they saw a new gene. 23 For when they were now fallen down ration of birds, when being led by their dead by heaps one upon another, he stood appetite they asked for delicate meats. between, and stayed the assault, and cut off|| 12 For to satisfy their desire, the quail the way to the living. came up to them from the sea: and punish

24 For in the priestly robe which he ments came upon the sinners, not without wore, was the whole world : and in the four foregoing signs by the force of thunders: rows of the stones the glory of the fathers for they suffered justly according to their was graven and thy majesty was written own wickedness. upon the diadem of his head.

CHAP. XIX.

13 For they exercised a more detestable

25 And to these the destroyer gave place, inhospitality than any: others indeed reand was afraid of them: for the proof only ceived not strangers unknown to them, but of wrath was enough. these brought their guests into bondage that had deserved well of them. 14 And not only so, but in another resWhy God shewed no mercy to to the Egyp-pect also they were worse for the others tians. His favour to the Israelites. All against their will received the strangers. creatures obey God's orders for the service 15 But these grievously afflicted them of the good, and the punishment of the whom they had received with joy, and who wicked. lived under the same laws. OUT even to end 16 But

Buthe as to the wicked, e verath without as those they were struck with blindness: mercy. For he knew before also what they would do:

just man, when they were covered with sudden darkness, and every one sought the passage of his own door.

2 For when they had given them leave to depart, and had sent them away with great 17 For while the elements are changed care, they repented and pursued after them. in themselves, as in an instrument the sound 3 For whilst they were yet mourning, and of the quality is changed, yet all keep their lamenting at the graves of the dead, they sound: which may clearly be perceived by took up another foolish device; and pursued the very sight.

them as fugitives whom they had pressed 18 For the things of the land were turned to be gone: into things of the water: and the things that

4 For a necessity, of which they were before swam in the water passed upon the worthy, brought them to this end: and they land.

lost the remembrance of those things which 19 The fire had power in water above had happened, that their punishment might its own virtue; and the water forgot its fill up what was wanting to their torments quenching nature.

5 And that thy people might wonderfully 20 On the other side, the flames wasted pass through, but they might find a new not the flesh of corruptible animals walking death. therein; neither did they melt that good 6 For every creature according to its food, which was apt to melt as ice. For kind was fashioned again as from the begin-in all things thou didst magnify thy people, ning, obeying thy commandments, that thy O Lord, and didst honour them, and didst children might be kept without hurt. not despise them, but didst assist them at all times, and in every place.

7 For a cloud overshadowed their camp; and where water was before, dry land appeared; and in the Red sea a way without * Elements are changed, &c. The meanhinderance, and out of the great deep aing is, that whatever changes God wrought springing field: in the elements by miracles in favour of his 8 Through which all the nation passed people, they still kept their harmony by which was protected with thy hand, seeing obeying his will. thy miracles and wonders. † That good food. The Manna.

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