The sacrifice of thankfulness A sermon preached at Pauls Cross, the third of December,…The sacrifice of thankefulnesse A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse, the third of December,…

What hath secure Esau lost, if having sold the Birthright, he may reserve the Blessing? Behold, of this he assureth himself: his Father hath sent him for venison,¹ that his soul might bless him. To hunting he is gone in haste; meaning to recover that again by his own venison, which he had lost by his brothers pottage. Isaac being now blind in his eyes, ⟨p. 11⟩but yet blinder in his affections; forgetting what decree and sentence God had formerly passed of his two sons for some temporal regard doth favour Esau, and intends to bequeath unto him, that spiritual and happy legacy of the Blessing. God had said, that the elder shall serve the younger; yet forgetful Isaac purposeth to bless his first borne Esau. How easy is it even for a Saint, to be transported with natural affections! he could not but remember, that himself (though the younger) was preferred to his elder brother Ishmael: he knew that Gods command prevailed with his Father Abraham above nature, when he bound him for a sacrifice: he saw Esau lewdly matched with the daughters of Heathens: yet he will now think on nothing, but Esau is my first borne; and if it be possible, he will pour the benediction upon a wrong head.

WHat hath secure Esau lost, if hauing solde the Birthright, he may reserue the Blessing? Behold, of this hee assureth himselfe: his Father hath sent him for venison,¹ that his soule might blesse him. To hunting hee is gone in haste; meaning to recouer that againe by his owne venison, which hee had lost by his brothers pottage. Isaac being now blinde in his eyes, ⟨p. 11⟩but yet blinder in his affections; forgetting what decree and sentence God had formerly passed of his two sonnes for some temporall regard doth fauour Esaeu, and intends to bequeath vnto him, that spirituall and happy legacie of the Blessing. God had said, that the elder shall serue the younger; yet forgetfull Isaac purposeth to blesse his first borne Esau. How easie is it euen for a Saint, to be transported with naturall affections! hee could not but remember, that himselfe (though the yoonger) was preferred to his elder brother Ishmael: hee knew that Gods commaund preuailed with his Father Abraham aboue nature, when hee bound him for a sacrifice: he saw Esau lewdly matched with the daughters of Heathens: yet hee will now thinke on nothing, but Esau is my first borne; and if it bee possible, hee will poure the benediction vpon a wrong head.