Page:The Holy Bible faithfvlly translated into English ovt of the authentical Latin, diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greek, & other Editions in diuers languages.pdf/64

46 In that so ample mention is made of sinne and wickednes, there is no doubt but Noe, the Preacher of iustice, admonished and exhorted sinners to Repentance: yea he Punished Cham & Chanaan, by his curse in their posteritie. And God himselfe Threatned'' to exacte the bloud of man vniustly shed. In the meane time Inflicted also some punishment vpon the builders of Babel, by confounding their tongues. And that by the ''Ministerie of Angels.

Which punishment in part, and threats of more, import a General Resurrection, and Iudgement'', where al things shal be exactly discussed and iudged. And then wil folow Eternal life to the good, and Euerlasting paine to the damned.''

Al these points of Religion (and others mentioned in the former Age, and no doubt taught by Noe & his sonnes) shew cleerly a Visible Church'', consisting of good and bad. Noe remaining the same man as before the floud, Sem & Iapheth are commended & blessed for wel doing''; Cham blamed, & cursed in his posteritie: yet neither he nor anie of his sonnes or daughters fel into heresie, or other infidelitie, for anie thing that appeareth in Scripture, or other authentical testimonie. Heber also & his familie are particularly commended by Moyses, as the right followers and the spiritual children of Sem (who had innumerable other carnal children) as those that were innocent touching the presumptuous building of others, who for the same fault lost their old tongue, which the familie of Heber kept:

''As S. Chrisostom and S. Augustine doe proue. Againe, diuers of this familie falling afterwards by litle and litle to other nations, the Familie of Thare, saith the same S. Augustin (li. 16. c. 12.) albeit not al, or not alwayes, yet euer some of them, and Abraham continually, with Sem, Heber, Phaleg, & manie others, not mentioned by Moyses in his briefe description''

(as S. Gregorie doubteth not to suppose) were iust, and kept the true faith, and vndefiled Religion.

But Nemrod Chams nephew, and sonne of Chus, described for a valiant hunter, a violent giant, and tyrant, was an Archheretike, a deuiser and teacher of false doctrine against God and true faith.

By subtletie and tyrannie he induced manie of liking or of feare to follow him, and so in schisme he maintained heresie, That men were not beholding to God, but to themselues, for temporal prosperitie.

''Wherof began a new & cruel confederacie against the Citie of God, and the second great Sect of Infidels. For Barbarisme being the first, begun by Cain and ended by the floud:'' The second mother of al Sectes beginning after the floud (as S. Epiphanius writeth) was Scythisme'': so called of the Scythians, a most cruel people. Who according to Nemrods heresie (not thinking themselues beholding to God for temporal happines, but to their owne forces) tyrannized ouer the weaker, and manie wicked banning together extreamly oppressed the more peaceable, especially the Church and true seruants of God. And this was one special cause of building Babylon, besides their ambitious desire of perpetual fame, and their bearing the simple in hand of a defence against a new floud, to make it indeed a strong hold for tyrants to offend others, and to'' Rh