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,…

3. Some take from it all imputation of ally, and directly justify it. Augustine thinks Jacob spoke mystically, and that it is to be referred to Jacobs body, not to Jacobs person; to the Christian Church that should take away the Birthright from the elder. But we may better receive, that Jacob fell into an infirmity, then the colour of an allegory. Neither doth the success justify the means. As some Philosophers have delivered, that Prosperum, scelus vocatur virtus; lucky wickedness merits the name of goodness. But Jacobs one act of falsehood, shall not disparage wholly that simplicity the Scripture gives him; He was a plain man. To be unjust condemns a man, not the doing of one singular act unjustly: therefore God casts not off Jacob for this one infirmity: but makes use of this infirmity to serve his own purpose. If Esau's and Jacobs works be weighed together in a balance; one would think the more solid virtue to be in Esau's.

3. Some take from it all imputation of alie, and directly iustifie it. Augustine thinkes Iacob spoke mystically, and that it is to bee referred to Iacobs bodie, not to Iacobs person; to the Christian Church that should take away the Birthright from the elder. But wee may better receiue, that Iacob fell into an infirmitie, then the colour of an allegorie. Neyther doth the successe iustifie the meanes. As some Philosophers haue deliuered, that Prosperum, scelus vocatur virtus; luckie wickednesse merites the name of goodnesse. But Iacobs one act of falshoode, shall not disparage wholly that simplicitie the Scripture giues him; Hee was a plaine man. To bee vniust condemnes a man, not the dooing of one singular act vniustly: therefore God casts not off Iacob for this one infirmitie: but makes vse of this infirmity to serue his owne purpose. If Esaus and Iacobs workes bee weighed together in a ballance; one would thinke the more solide vertue to bee in Esau's.

Esau obeyeth his fathers will, painfully hunts venison, carefully prepares it: here is nothing but praiseworthy. Jacob dissembles, offers kids flesh for venison, counterfeits Esau, beguiles his father: here is all blameworthy. I will not hereon speak as a Poet: Committunt eadem diverso crimina fato, Ille crucem sceleris pretium tu•it, hic diadem.