The Sum of the Old Testament

THE SUM OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, as it is distinguished from the new.

Notwithstanding the subject, & general argument of both Testaments is one & the same in substance, as is already said, yet they differ in time,¹ in manner of uttering of Mysteries,² in variety of precepts,³ & promises,⁴ also in means to observe the things exacted,⁵ & to attain to the end proposed. In regard whereof S. Jerome saith:⁶ Lex Moysi & omne vetus instrumentum elementa mundi intelliguntur, quibus quasi elementis, & Religionis exordiis Deum discimus. The law of Moyses and all the old Testament are understood the elements of the world, by which, as by first rudiments & beginnings, we learn to know God. For that in it we have first the Law of nature: and afterwards a law written, with promises of temporal rewards; as long life, land flowing [print: flowiug] with milk & honey, & the like; but it brought nothing to perfection, as S. Paul saith, when gifts & hosts were offered,⁷ which could not according to conscience, make the observer perfect. For the helps of that time, were but infirma & egena elementa:⁸ Weak & poor elements. Likewise in general, touching the punishments that sometimes happened to the people of the old Testament, when they transgressed, the same Apostle affirmeth, that all the same chanced to them in figure,⁹ & are written for our correption,¹⁰ upon whom the ends of the world are come. So that the old Testament, or Law was but our pedagogue in Christ.¹¹ Yet it setteth forth to us the whole course of God's Church, for the space¹² of four thousand years, that is, from the beginning of the world until Christ our Redeemer. which Divines divide into six ages, wherein was variety & change of her state,¹³ three under the Law of nature, and three others under the written Law. The seventh & last age being this time of grace (wherein we now are) from Christ, to the day of general Judgement: as the world was made in six days, and in the seventh God is said to have rested, and therefore sanctified it, in other sort, then the former six. The eight will be after the Resurrection, during for all eternity.

Which six ages of the ancient Church,¹⁴ & old Testament, are thus distributed. The first from the Creation to Noe's flood,¹⁵ containing the space of 1656. years.¹⁶ The second from the flood to¹⁷ the going of Abraham out of his country,¹⁸ 368. or counting Cainan (Gen. 11. iuxta 72. & Luc. 3.)¹⁹²⁰ 398²¹. years. The third from Abraham his going forth of his²² country, to the parting of the children of Israel out of Egypt. Which some count to have continued 720. years, others (whom we follow) but 430. And²³ thus far in the law of nature before the written law.²⁴ The fourth age dured, 480. years,²⁵²⁶ from the delivery of the children of Israel forth of Egypt, to the foundation of the Temple in Jerusalem.²⁷ The fifth age was from the foundation of the Temple²⁸, to the captivity & transmigration of the Jews into²⁹ Babylon, about 430. years. And the sixth age dured about 640. years,³⁰ from the Captivity of Babylon to Christ. In all which times God was acknowledged and rightly³¹ served, by a continual visible Church, with true Religion; the same & no other, which now that Church holdeth, that is called and known by the [print: she] name of Catholic. As we intend, by God's assistance, to shew by brief Annotations, concerning divers particular points now in Controversy, as the holy Text giveth occasion. And especially by way of Recapitulation after every one of the six ages, when we come to those passages in the History, where the same are ended.