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PROEMIAL ANNOTATIONS, and sent the Holy-Ghost, to teach al truth. For if any thing more then others, assuredly one chief and most necessary point is, to know and declare which Books are Gods holy word, being of most singular importance.

as it is distinguished from the new.

Otwithstanding the subiect, and general argument of both Testaments is one and the same in substance, as is already said, yet they differ in time, in manner of vttering of Mysteries, in variety of precepts and promises, also in meanes to obserue the things exacted, & to attaine to the end proposed. In regard whereof S. Hierom saith: ''Lex Moysi & omne vetus instrumentum elementa mundi intelliguntur, quibus quasi elementis & Religionis exordiis Deum diseimus. The law of Moyses and al the old Testament are vnderstood the elements of the world, by which, as by first rudiments and beginnings, we learne to know God. For that in it we haue first the law of nature, and afterwards a law written, with promises of temporal rewards; as long life, and land flowing with milke and hony, and the like; but it brought nothing to perfection, as S. Paul saith, when guifts and hostes were offered, which could not according to conscience make the obseruer perfect. For the helps of that time were but infirma & egena elementa: weake & poore elements.  Likewise in general, touching the punishements that sometimes happened to the people of the old Testament, when they transgressed, the same Apostle affirmeth, that al the same chanced to them in figure, and are written for our correption, vpon whom the ends of the world are come. So that the old Testament or'' Law, was but our pedagogue in Christ. Yet it setteth forth to vs the whole course of Gods Church, for the space of foure thousand yeares, that is, from the beginning of the world vntil Christ our redeemer, which Diuines diuide into six Ages, wherein was variety and change of her state, three vnder the Law of nature, and three others vnder the written Law. The seuenth and last Age being this time of grace (wherein we now are) from Christ, to the day of general Iudgement: as the world was made in six days, and in the seuenth God is said to haue rested, and therefore sanctified it, in other sort then the former six. The eight wil be after the Resurrection, during for al eternity.

Which six Ages of the ancient Church and old Testament, are thus distributed. ''The first from the Creation to Noes floud, conteined the space of 1656. yeares. ''The second from the floud to the going of Abraham out of his country, 368. or counting Cainan (Gen. 11. iuxta 72. and Luc. 3) 398. yeares. The third from Abraham his going forth of his country, to the parting of the children of Israel out of Ægypt. Which some count to haue continued 720. yeares, others (whom we folow) but 430. And thus farre in the law of nature before the ten