3 While these men liued in the world , there was but one Tongue , that in which Adam spake , and was fit to argue his Angel-like witte ; which the same , the holy Spirit vsed in all the Bookes of the old Testament , and hath not left it in any other Writer extant ; but hath ended it with the old Testament . Their Language so wittie and so sanctified , should be knowen of all their ( not bastardly ) race , what worthinesse it hath , In some generalitie .

4 That Adams Tongue was the same which Moses vsed , the Notations doe shew in Adams wordes : Hee calleth her which was taken out of his side , Isha ; ( in the morning presently vpon her creation ) because she was taken from Ish . That Language helde vnto * Malachy : Ish for Man , Isha for Owman , or Of man.

5 The same appeareth in the name which he giueth to the woman in the euening of the same day , vpon the promise of Life ; Eua or Ch-Eua , Life : from a tearme of lyuing , Chaya , flowing out of the same spring .

6 Eua declareth the same Tongue to be her Tongue : For she nameth her first sonne Kain , Possession ; from the verbe Kanah to possesse : shewing that to be the reason of his name , because she possest a Sonne by the Eternall .

7 The other names , Adam , Earthie , of Adama Earth . Habel , Vanitie , are plaine of them selues , and often touched in glaunces ; as Col Habel , Col Adam ; the whole that commeth of Adam , is wholly Vanitie . Psa . 39. 6. And all Adam , Man is Habel . Psal . 39. 11. And , truely the sonnes of Adam are Vanitie . Psal . 6. 2. 11. Adam is like to Habel , Man to Vanitie . Wee may not thinke it a small matter , when the matter is so often handled by the spirit of all Wisedome perfect , that hath nothing superfluous . Thus we may finde the ●●●guage of our first Parents , what it was ● and moreouer how it was most fit for perfect Wisedome ; and how the first persons conteine all mans estate . Adam the earthy man , what possession ( Kynian ) soeuer he gate ; all is ( Habel ) vanitie . The Man ( Chaya ) liueth by the promise in CHRIST .

The words of Rabbi Bochai touching Kain and Habel , are in mine opinion worthy citing : and the enemies owne testimonie for a trueth , should be not the worst . Thus Bochai sayth . In a wittie sense Kain & Habel conteyne in their names aduertisementes , & close glaunses for matter of true continuance , and corruption ▪ Kain , betokeneth Possession in this world : & Habel betokeneth one humbled in minde , and holding such possession vayne . Such was his offering , Sheepe kinde ; the gentlest of all lyuing beastes : and therefore the fauour of God folowed him . And the offering of Kain was of the fruict of the Earth , as he loued the possession of this worlde , and the seruice of the body ( which yet can haue no continuance ) and followed after body lustes : Therfore the blessed God fauoured him not . This the Rabbin speaketh , glauncing at their names . Diuiner matter from their persones & doing , we are taught : That Kain was of the Serpent , and hated his brother , because of good workes . Also iust Habels slaughter , the first that dyed , was an effectuall proofe , that for beng iust , the best should die : as our Lord telleth the Iewes how Habels blood shou●● be required at them , murhterers of him . And the faythles Hebrew Docters are at their wits ende , as touching what Gods counsell was , in that good Habel should so be kilde . The Apostles compare them with Cain ; Habel with Christ , suffering for goodnes . But my degression , drawing vnto the ten Fathers to collateral men , may not be long ; I will go to the right lyne .

1 Seth commeteh Adams heyre . His name in Adam tongue and ours , falleth a like ; Set , or setled sure . Eue named him Seth , because God hath Set mee an other-gates Seede in stead of Habel , for Kain slue him , and prooued his dayes to be Habel , Vanuie . Gen. 3. 25. Adam approoued the same name , as knowing that hee should be the sure-setled , when all other Familyes should ende by the Flood .

2 Therefore Balaam speaketh , that all the Sonnes of Seth , that is , all Nations ( all come of him ) sh●lbe vnwalled by Christ ; and taught by doctrine or experience , that all their strength is nothing Num. 24.

3 It is a good meditation to thinke of Adam , Habel , and Seth ; how the Scripture conferreth all three with our Lordes cases : Adam the earthy , with the heauenly : Habels blood , with our Sauiours : and Seths families , with his conquestes .

4 Adam and Eue both agreeing for the name Seth , gaue a doble witnessed warning to the world , that as Kain was cursed , so other families ioyning with his , should feele in the Flood , the curse of all the earth , that they should better regard Seths right line .

5 The Scripture telleth in Seth onely in plaine sort , that after Adams image and likenesse he was borne , because hee was the fittest to shew what all Adams ●ace was , beeing the first in the line continued still : and as hee was , so must all be .

6 The Iewes commonly * peruert the meaning of the tearmes : The Image and likenes of Adam . Thus Abrabbaneel expoundeth it . pag. 39. Because Adam was excellent in his likenesse and Image intellectiue , God like ; Seth came foorth like vnto him in that image and likenesse which God made in him : For he was a wise sonne , & in his wisedome and vnderstanding , hee was like his Father ; which was wiser then all men , being the frame of the handes of God. And hereupon it is sayd ; And hee beg●t according to his owne likenesse , according to his owne image : That is , hee begot a Sonne which should issue in the likenesse and wi●te of Adam : the wit●e , and of knowledge ; and therefore his name was called Seth , by a tearme of stablishment and setling : because he saw by his Wisedome , that his seede should be setled in the world . And therefore it was not spoken so of Kain or Habel , because they were not after the likenesse of Adam , and should not haue continuance in the World , but their end should faile . This doctrine is badde . Euery man is borne the Foale of a wild Asse , and conceaued in sinne , and dead in sinne , and a child of wrath naturally . Kain , Habel , and Seth , were all three borne after the image of the earthly : Kain continued therein ; Habel and Seth were borne againe . The mention of naturall corruption , or Adams image and likenesse in Kain or Habel , had not touched vs so much as in our owne Father : So the name of Seth is frowardly applyed by him to Adam likenesse ; for all Adams , is all Habel : His continuance and setled state was by Gods fauour , not by his witte or wisedome . His other Families prooued that .

7 Against the Iewes * common errour , our Lord teacheth Nicode●●s , that the Sonnes of Seth , and all of Adam , must be borne from abone , or they enter not into the kingdome of Heauen : and so much● ●oses meant , to tell of Adams corrupt image in Seths birth ; not of that which he first had , and lost .

8 Enosh is next Seth , his Sonne , much to be considered . The letters of his name in the appellatiue , signifie Sorrowfull , Grieuous , and the like ; and that very often in Scripture . Moses giueth closely a reason of Seths counsell at the naming of him so , saying : Azhuchal , Then sprang Corruption , touching the calling vpon the name of God.

9 Men not acquainted very much with Scripture , would maruell why any would cite the Text so , seeing it is commonly translated thus ; Then men began to call vpon the name of the Lord. So Moses may be translated ; AZ huchal , Then was a Beginning . The Greeke draweth neare vnto that . The Latine translation called S. Ieromes , followeth that , and many others .

10 This poynt cannot be well weighed , without iudgement of a rule generall through Moses and the Prophets , and the later Iewes their translaters from Adams tongue into Greeke , how all these hide their minde , when matters come to be spoken of , which to prophane men would seeme strange . Moses neuer nameth life eternall in the plaine and vsuall phrase , but by strong consequentes ; as how the Lord is the God of Abraham , Isaak , & Iacob ; and not of the dead , but of the liuing : whereby they must be holden to liue . So Life in his Law , signifieth often Life eternall : and Death , Death eternall . So by this place , Deut. 32. 39. I kill , and I make aliue ; Aben Ezra noteth , that Death , and life after it , is closely taught . And this reason is rendred of many Rabbines , why Moses neuer nameth Life eternall , though all his doctrine tendeth thyther ; euen because the world then all prophane , which skant heard of one God , and hardly beleeued the Creation , was to be allured by open and plaine thinges , first vnto the worship of the one God : and that being done for Earthly blessinges , they might afterwardes be drawen easily vnto the Eternall : Vnto which , if directly they were called , the strangenesse would make them reiect all . So , Moses hideth his minde in the Paradox of Adams present fall , with manifold turnings of the Narration : and likewise of the ages of Iapheth and Sem , Haran and Abraham : and with doubtfull tearmes for the Peregrination of the Children of Israel , as though they had been 430. yeares in Egypt : But he had relation to Abrahams Peregrination and Promise of Christ : which the estranged could not conceiue . From disputing whereof , he minded to bridle men vnskilfull , by doubtfull speaches ; yet giueth rules thyther , to vnderstand him * rightly . So heere , the tearme Huchal may be taken for a Beginnig , or for Corruption : But the matter telleth , that God was called vpon long before that , in the first Sabbath ; and therefore , Beginning could not be then : wherefore , Corruption must be meant there , by Huchal . So Dauid Kymchi the King of Grammarians , doth take it in his Rootes , for Corruption . So in Breshith Rabba , the fallinges away from God , are reckoned in the dayes of Enosh , of the Deluge , and of Babel . The Zoar , and others , the most of Iudahs name , hold the same : Arias Montanus hath both . The Greek-Hebrewes knowing why Moses hid his minde , they turned it fit for Heathen , Then men hoped to call vpon Gods name . All who incline that way , haue great defence by Grammer , and much authority ; some of Hebrewes , more of others . But the matter will require Corruption ; not a Beginning of Religion , to be meant there : As in the speach continuing the Narration ( after the Catalogue of the Fathers ) it is manifest ; how the Sonnes of God , saw the Daughters of Adams Sonnes , and so chose Wiues of a strange God : Otherwise , Moses telleth not when apostacie from Religion should fall .

11 If at Enosh birth , men began to call vpon God ; Seth vpon that occasion , would not euer haue named his sonne Sorrowfull Enosh ; nor Moses haue ioyned presently thereupon ( after naming the Fathers ) the falling away . The Prophets likewise name Life . My digression would be too long , if I tooke examples of the like concealing the minde , from the Prophets , and from the Greeke translaters . I will now proceed vnto the next .

12 Kenan is hee : Konen , To Lament , might be the roote , for his name . Twise speaking of one thing is vsuall , for vehemencie ; as in Dan. 5. Mene , Mene : So these two names , Sorrow , and Lamentation , teach , that they lamented the sorrowes of their Workes , and of the Earth , which God hath cursed .

13 Ma-hahal-El , a prayser of God ; teacheth what comfort ought to be in sorrow ; the seeking of Gods prayse , and glory for the world to come . An other Notation , Mahal-Le-El , God bringeth a Confusion ( by water , ) is well agreeable to the Argument . So , thy Wine , is Mahul , Confused ( with water . ) That is fittest for the continuall threatning of the Flood ; to shew the curse vpon the Flood . So that this name comprehendeth the drift of all the Scripture .

14 Iared , is in the playnnesse ( casting away no letter ) Descending : as betokening a downefall in the behauiour of men , without hope of goodnesse to any bettering . Such as deriue this name from Radah , to Rule , go twise further then they neede : The Argument calleth for no such matter ; and , that Etymologie should first be admitted , which hath best agreement in the Letters , when nothing for the matter disagreeth ; and not any farre off sought out , when one at home is fit onely .

15 Enoch signifieth , Dedicated , Appoynted vnto . If Kain had called him so , the name had been of no praise ; but as in one appoynted for the wicked world ; now it is the best as in one Consecrated vnto God. Hee is in number , the seuenth ( as any may reckon ) from Adam : and also , as the Holy ghost noteth , for an higher purpose . The prouidence of God may be sweetly considered , in continuall calling of vs to consider the Sabbath , by his disposing of great matter gracious most often by seauens . So Moses was from Abraham , the seuenth . The time of his life is wonderfull , matching in yeares the dayes of the Sunnes yere . 365. A matter most pleasaut to teach , what recompence commeth by walking with God. If his assumption had not been recorded ; yet the number of his yeares would haue caused celestiall admiration , what kind of man he should be . Hee walking with God , was doublesse a most zealous Preacher of righteousnesse , and told of the Flood to come . S. Iude eloquently frameth an Oration for him , by the matter , as Oratours may lawfully doe : thus it standeth , Iude 14. Behold , the Lord commeth with his holy thousandes , to execute iudgement against all men , and to reproue all the wicked of them , for all their workes which they haue committed ; and for all their hard words which wicked sinners spake against him . This is a most sweete Oration , framed from Moses , for this our holy Father . In the Flood God shewed iudgement : and as on Sinai hee came with thousandes of his Holy-ones ; so doubtlesse at the Deluge , against men that cast oft , and scorned trueth of Religion , and holy Patriarchs admonitions , and liued wallowing in all badnesse . Also , the tearme Behold , may haue a close glaunce at the notation of Methuselah : Then first , Enoch walked with God , as a Prophet and holy Teacher .

16 Meth , He dying , V , then Shelah , He ( God ) sendeth : ; what ? the matter spoken of , iudgement vpon the wicked . The Scripture is full of close glaunses : And well might Enoch name his Sonne so , as Iared gaue him a name fitted to his euent . While Methuselah liued , the Flood came not ; few dayes after his death it came , when he had skant begun his last yeare of 969. For memory of the phrase , the Iewes say , that he lay vpon the Arke : For , being iust , he perished not ; onely eight were in the Arke ; and he could not haue his full yeares 187. to Lameches birth , & 182. thence to Noahs , & his 600. compleat , but as vpon the Arke . This is the meaning of their fable , the shewing how his age reached into the Flood . And I thinke that the mockers which S. Peter speaketh of , skoffed the prophecie conteined vnder his name , when they said , Where is the appearance of his comming ? For since the Fathers dyed , the world continueth in the same state . Now the Fathers all , and his Sonne , dyed before the Flood : and for the sadnesse of that , hee gaue to his Sonne the name Lamech .

17 La-Mech , of Mach , Striking . Tubalcayns father , that would kill a man in his wounde , had the same name , as a Striker : but this man was stroken with all calamities : Hee saw Adam turned to dust , Seth set in his rest , Enosh taken with sorrowes of death , Kenan lamented by mourners in the streete , Mahalaleel depart thyther where Angels prayse God , Iared descend to the low partes of the earth , Enoch taken vp ; and knew that he should die before his Father , when he named Noah , the Comforter . Whereas seeing his Father liued vnto the Flood , without propheticall knowledge , that he should die before his Father , hee , not Noah , should haue been thought the Comforter . And the saddest Oration that could proceed from a broken heart , is that which hee maketh at Noahs birth , saying : This is hee that shall comfort vs , concerning our workes , and concerning the sorrowes of our handes , and concerning the earth which GOD hath cursed . So Lamech giueth sadnesse ; as his Sonne , a remedie to sorrow .

18 Noah , the tenth , hath his name arguing that Lamech spake Hebrew ; as Moses in the Notation , Noah and Naham . Great matters are to be considered in him : Hee was long a single man. When hee was 480. the spirit of Christ , not recorded euer since the first day of man , to haue spoken to any ( sauing to the cursed Kain , ) neuer to any for effectuall Saluation , speaketh to Noah . Therefore S. Peter talking of Christ his Diuinitie , had not an auncienter open record since the speach to Adam , to talke of , for Christ his open full speach speaking vnto men , though the other nine were illuminated with propheticall knowledge . Noah is 500. before he was a Father , or maried ; as we may gather : That argueth his great feare of Gods iudgementes ; farre vnlike his sonnes now adayes , giuen as Horses , to all voluptuousnesse , and not caring for their owne most certaine destruction . Twentie yeares before hee was maried , hee had a warrant , that his house should not perish . His breathren and sisters yet would not take that warning , for all that Lamech and Methuselah both could doe , beholders of the Arke , and witnesses doubtlesse of the wtath no come . Lamech lyued not out the whole to 120. yeares , as Methuselah ; but dying before his Father , gaue a further warning , that he spake as a Prophet , touching the Flood . The three witnesses , were a full condemnation of the wicked world . The further Stories of Noah , may better be fetched from the fountaine of Genesis , then abridged by any mans wit. This much I thought good to speake seuerally of these ten Fathers : some thinges common to them all , may well heere be ioyned ; as their Religion , & long life : and neare the same , commeth the comparision of their ages togeather .

Their Religion was perfect and sinceere . They knew the Creator to be * one GOD ; and that the Sonne should bruse Satans power ; and that the Spirit was a person coequall and coeternall . All that Moses recordeth for vs , touching those times , wee may know that they knew , by the speaches vttered in Iob before the Law : Eliphaz , Zohar , Bildad , and Elthu , spake no otherwise then the Fathers : * For they spake soundly of all Religion ; whereby wee may be sure , that the first , came not short of them , in knowledge . Adam knew the natures of all thinges , the creation of the visible thinges , and the vnuisible ; the fall of Angels , and their eternall condemnation : the corruption of mankind , being the seed of the Serpent , and a generation of Vipers . And as Moses telleth , that Elohim sayd ; Let Vs make man : So hee knew that , and why Elohim was a forme plurall , for GOD. It were grosse to thinke that the Cabalistes ( which expound Elo him , El-hem , They be one God , in Bachai vpon Gen. 1. ) should know more then Adam , for names . And the Hebrews vpon Middras Tillim , bring in God talking with Adam as he gaue names , & asking ; What is my name ? To whom Adam sayd : Thou art Elohim , and Iehouah . Whether God by expressed word named himselfe Iehouah and Elohim , or gaue Adam wisedome so to doe ; we see that the names were knowen from the beginning : For the Serpent nameth Elohim to Euah , and turneth presently the forme plurall vnto Gods prophanely , saying : Yee shal be like vnto Gods , that know good and euill . Which pluralitie , Adam and Euah referred to the holy Trinitie . There the Greekes in the Serpents word Elohim , the second time translate very learnedly , Gods. And so doe the Talmudistes hold it meant , in Masseceth Sopherim , Perk. 4. And we may be sure , that Adam and Euah were not ignorant of Satans thoughts , when by experience they found him out . Now when Euah bare a Sonne , she spake voyde of all doubt , to the Vnitie , I haue possessed a Sonne by Iehouah , by the one Eternall : yet we may be sure that she remembred the speach of the Trinitie , Adam wil be like to one of VS now . The late Iews haue Satans darknesse , which will haue that tearme VS , to be spoken of Angels . The Angels were not yet spoken of in all Moses style , and therefore they could not be meant by any of his tearmes ; but as Elohim was vsed for the Creator onely , so common natiue logique would stretch it no further there : and VS the plurall , to be as Boreica , Thy Creators in Eccle. 12. 1. a misticall speach , marked and cited euen of Rabbi Bochai the Iew : a witnesse strong against his owne side .

Moreouer , as Moses knew a difference in signification betwixt Elohim the tearme of Might , and Iehouah named of Beeing simply by him selfe , and giuing a Beeing to all his workes and wordes ; and therefore neuer vseth the tearme Iehouah , before the Creation had his full beeing , Gen. 2. 4 : So wet may be sure , that Adam and Euah knew the difference betwixt Iehouah and Elohim . The Serpent nameth not Iehouah , but onely Elohim , as a name of bare Might , and the forme whereof her might peruert to Gods : Hee trembled to consider the eternall trueth , constant to giue performance of Mercie and Wrath , noted by the tearme Iehouah Now , whereas in Sems time , EL was Gods name ; it is all one as Elohim , Mightie : onely a forme singular .

And this seemeth to be the reason , that Satan had corrupted the world to vnderstand Gods by the tearme Elohim ; as in Nachors religion , Elohim is Gods in Labans wordes : Therefore Sem might vse EL , Almightie , in the frame singular .

Abraham first nameth God Adonai ; that is , My Pillers ; with a misticall note of the trinitie . Adam , who knew not vpon what Pillers the Earth could be fastened in the middest of the liquid Ayre and Water , but by Gods power , knew him to be Adonai , though occasion was not offered to vse the word , vntill God and his prouidence became vnknowen , and denied almost of all the world .

IAH , an abridgement of Iehouah , vsed first in tearme by Moses , Exod. 15. substaunce could not be vnknowen to Adam , though in later times more names to expresse Gods nature were seene needfull by the eternall Spirit . The Vnitie and Trinitie being thus knowen to Adam , hee would deliuer it ouer equally to his Sonnes , to Methusela and Lamech .

Now for the Redemption : Hee confessed that hee was naked , and was afraide ; hid himselfe , as needing one to bring him into fauour : and knew that hee who should ouercome Satan , being in mans nature , was to die , as all of Adam : and must recouer himselfe from death , and must reuiue Adam , and must restore all , fallen once to corruption : and know that none but God , could doe this much : And this hee beleeued , and therevpon named the Woman Life . And for the most vnlikely part , of death , hee had Sacrifice to seale assurance of that ; and requiring an open profession of that euery Sabbath , that day being ordeyned for that vse : Whereby wee must needes know , that when that was performed , which in that day was represented , the day must be altered . And as the Skinnes of the Beastes couered his body ; so the Carkases burnt , represented whose Death should couer his Soule with Iustice , taking away the giltinesse of sinne . Moses was to speake short or these matters , that the prophane should not trouble them selues with that , which they would neuer beleeue . Doubtlesse Adam knew that the most Holy should annoynt the Humanitie , with the dwelling of the Godhead in it , and sanctifie himselfe for Adam and his faythfull Sonnes ; and must be called by the name fittest Messiah : And hee that knew the whose course of Nature , could not but know , that the liquor of Spices was the fittest to represent Deuine thinges by an Oyntment made of it . And seeing it was most needfull that hee should be a great Prophet , wee may say well with the Iewes ; that hee saw the lot of his Sonnes through all ages : And God would hide nothing good for the Vineyard ; nor would doe any thing , but hee would reueale it to his Prophets . And although hee liued not to see Henoch taken vp , hee might well know it ; and Iared might vse his counsell in giuing Heno●h the name Consecrated , or , Dedicated to God. And as Noah in his three Sonnes names conteined their Storie for Religion , in Deuine Sem : in Iapheth , that the new Testament should be written in Greeke , as the Iewes well gather in Thal. Ierusalemi , in Megilah , by the alusion Iapheth , and Iapheth will perswade : So , Hotte Countries dwelling , by Chams house , by his name Hotte . And as Noah saw their whole state ; so no doubt Adam did as well as hee : and they all beheld the dayes of Christ , and knew that hee should redeeme them on Mount Sion . And Rambam recordeth that , which no reason can denie , how the Iewes euer held by tradition , that Adam , Habel , and Kain , offered where Abraham offered Isaac , where both Temples were built : on which Mountaine our Lord taught , and on that also he died .

All that , Moses figured at large : and that the new Testament openeth in substaunee they knew . And seeing they be our Fathers , and Mirrours of Wisedome in their names , fayth , feare of God , and yeares ; wee should in our meditation bring backe the Ghospell vnto them , as they foresaw it , and forbade to say , Who can goe vp to Heauen to bring Christ downe ? or who can goe into the deepe of the Earth , to bring Christ from the dead ? But they knew ( as I touched both , in the Incarnation ) that the Sauiour in Hebrew Ioshuang , in Greeke Iesus , was God dwelling in Christ : and iust Habel shewed his death , and Henoch his ascension . And in these few poyntes , Deuinitie standeth ; in the Trinitie , and Redemption : that all iust went hence vp to ioy at Gods Throne . All this the Heathen heard of , and the Scribes held it sure : But , that God was to dwell in Christ ; and that hee should by death ouer-him that had the power of death , they despised to hold that in knowledge , bending their mindes to earthly benefites .

These meditations I hold profitable for all , who by studie will of them selues multiply them : and a Child knowing these Stories , shall passe Aristotle in sound Wisedome , to feare God , till the Body returne to the earth , and the Soule to God that gaue it : To whom with the Sonne , and Holy spirit , be all prayse , honour , & glory , both now and henceforth for euermore . Amen .

For conference of ages , I thought good to place heere , the Table printed in the Concent : where euery Patriarches yeares be set vnderneath him , at what age he is a father , or dieth ; and with how many others he liued , and how long .

Meditations herein , will bring great knowledge , comfort , and delight .