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,…

But God is often better to us then we would; and with his preventing grace stops the precipitation of erring nature. So sweet is the ordination of the Divine providence, that we shall not do what we would, but what we ought; and by deceiving us, turns our purposed evil into eventual good. We are made to do that good, which we not intended. God hath ordained the superiority to the younger; he will therefore contrive for him the Blessing. Whatsoever Isaac affected, this God will have effected.

But God is often better to vs then wee would; and with his preuenting grace stoppes the precipitation of erring nature. So sweete is the ordination of the Diuine prouidence, that we shall not doe what we would, but what wee ought; and by deceiuing vs, turnes our purposed euill into euentuall good. We are made to do that good, which wee not intended. God hath ordained the superioritie to the yonger; hee will therefore contriue for him the Blessing. Whatsoeuer Isaac affected, this God will haue effected.

To bring the Lords will to pass there never wanted means. Sinful man may have his hand in this: the just de•ree of God stands untouched. He determined the death of his Son, without favour to their guilt that murdered him. The affections of Parents are here divided: Isaac loves Esau, and Rebeca Jacob: this difference shall make way to the fulfilling of the Promise. Neither parent neglected either son: but Rebekah remembered the Lords purpose better then Isaac. Neither ⟨p. 12⟩is it enough what Ambrose hereon saith,¹ Mater affectum, pater judicium indicat: matter circa minorem tenera pictate propendit, pater circa seniorem naturae honorificentiam seruat. The mother shows affection, the father judgement: she tenderly loves the younger, he gives the honour of nature to the elder. Nay rather, the mother shows judgement, and the father affection. For what was Jacob to Rebecca more then Esau? or why should she not rather love her first borne? It is God that inclines the mothers love to the younger against nature, because the father affects the elder against the promise. Hereupon she will rather deceive her own husband, then he shall deceive his own chosen son of the decreed blessing. The wife will be subtle, when the husband is partial: her honest fraud shall answer his forgetful indulgence. Isaac would turn Esau into Jacob: Rebecca doth turn Jacob into Esau.