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[1]Moyses beloued of God & men, whose remembraunce is in hie prayse:
[2]Hym that the Lorde made like in the glorie of the sainctes, & magnified him, so that the enemies stoode in awe of him.
[3]Through his wordes he did great wonders: he made hym glorious in the sight of kinges, gaue him commaundement before his people, and shewed him glorious power.
[4]He stablished hym with faythfulnesse and mekenesse, and chose him out of all men.
[5]For he hearde his voyce, and he led hym in the darke cloude, and there he gaue him the commaundementes, yea the law of life and wysdome: that he might teach Iacob the couenaunt and Israel his lawes.
[6]He chose Aaron his brother also out of the tribe of Leui, exalted him, and made hym such like.
[7]An euerlasting couenaunt made he with him, and gaue hym the priesthod in the people: He made him glorious in beautifull aray, and clothed him with the garment of honour.
[8]He put perfect ioy vpon him, and girded hym with strength, he deckt hym with side clothes and a tunicle, with an ouerbody coate also, and a girdle.
[9]Round about made he hym belles of golde, and that many: that when he went int, he sounde might be heard, that they might make a noyse in the sanctuarie, and geue the people warning.
[10]The holy garment was wrought and bordered with golde, yelow silke, and purple: and in the brestlappe there was a goodly worke, wherin was fastened light and perfectnesse.
[11]Upon the same also there was a worke fastened and set with costly precious stones all bound with golde, and this he brought in his ministration: The stones were fastened for a remembraunce, after the number of the twelue tribes of Israel.
[12]Upon his miter there was a plate of pure gold, a grauen image of holinesse, a famous and noble worke, garnished, and pleasaunt to loke vpon.
[13]Before hym were there seene no such faire ornamentes, & these it behoued him alway to vse: There might none other put them on, but onely his children, and his childers children perpetually.
[14]Dayly perfourmed he his burnt offeringes two times.
[15]Moyses filled his handes, & annoynted him with holy oyle: This was now confirmed him with an euerlasting couenaunt, and to his seede as the dayes of heauen: namely, that his children should alway minister before him, & perfourme the office of the priesthood, and wyshe the people good in his name.
[16]Before al men lyuing chose he him, that he shoulde offer incense before the Lord, and make odours for a sweete sauour and remembraunce, that he should reconcile the people of the Lord with hym agayne.
[17]He gaue him auctoritie also in his commaundementes and in the couenaunt, that he should teach Iacob the statutes and testimonies, and to enfourme Israel in the lawe.
[18]Therfore there stoode vp certayne against him, and had enuie at him in the wildernesse: namely they that were of Dathan and Abirons side, and the furious congregation of Core.
[19]This the Lorde saw, and it displeased hym, and in his wrathfull indignation were they consumed: A great wonder did he vpon them, and consumed them with the fire.
[20]Besides this, he made Aaron yet more honorable and glorious, he gaue hym an heritage, & parted the first fruites vnto him: Unto him specially he appoynted the bread of sustenaunce,
[21]For the priestes dyd eate of the offeringes of the Lorde: this gaue he vnto him and his seede.
[22]Els had he no heritage nor portion in the land & with the people: for the Lord him selfe is his portion & inheritaunce.
[23]The thirde noble and excellent man, is Phinehes the sonne of Eleazer, which pleased the God of Israel, because he had the zeale and feare of the Lord: For when the people were turned backe, he put him selfe foorth right soone, and that with a good will, to pacifie the wrath of the Lord towarde Israel.
[24]Therfore was there a couenaunt of peace made with him, that he should be the principall among the righteous in the people, that he and his posteritie shoulde haue the office of the priesthood for euer.
[25]Like as there was made a couenaunt with Dauid of the tribe of Iuda, that from among his sonnes only there shoulde be a king: and that Aaron also and his seede should be an heritage, to geue vs wysdome in our heart, to iudge his people in righteousnesse, that his goodes shoulde not come into forgetfulnesse, and that their honour might endure for euer.
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