Was it no kind of servitude I pray you yea even in the fl•she,1 that Esau was compelled to beg pottage at Jacob, and for the same to sell all title of his birthright? was it no thraldom, that with crying howling, and furious roars, he was compelled to beg the benediction, which Jacob had gotten, and yet could not obtain it? Did not his heart feel subjection when he seeth his father so constant in preferring Jacob to him, that by no means he would retreat or call back one word. We do not deny but the diversity was also established betwixt the two nations: but that the heads should be secluded, that are ye never able ⟨p. 134⟩to prove. But rather the battle, which did begin in the mothers womb, was established, and confirmed by the oracle of God to continue betwixt the posterities of those two heads. Did Rebecca, and Isaac after he did see gods providence and will to be contrary to that which he had purposed (which was to give the benediction to Esau) did they, I say, understand that Jacob had no part in that promise touching his own person? The words of Isaac do witness the contrary: for he sayeth,2 I have established him lord over the &c. By the same reason which ye make I may prove that these words were not spoken of their posterities, for during longer time, then either did Jacob or Esau live, the Edomites did not serve the Israelites in the flesh: which did only begin in the latter days of David, and did continue,3 to the days of Joram (son of losaphat) when they departed from that obedience: neither yet were they ever after that, brought into subjection again. but be therefore• the oracles, and promises of God vain? Yea had they not their effect, both in the one people, and in the other, even when the one was in most miserable bondage: first in Egypt, and after in Babylon: and when the other was in greatest felicity to mans appearance? yet before God, was that sentence true: The elder shall serve the younger. For he had further respect, then the present estate, as the Apostle doeth declare, that all the faithful Patriarchs had. Jacob would not have interchanged the comfort, which he received in his first journey, from his fathers house, for all the worldly joy, Y• Esau possessed: for in se•g that scale or ladder, God fitting upon the head of it, the foot of it touching the earth, upon the which did Angels ascend and come down:
Was it no kinde of seruitude I pray you yea euen in the fl•she,1 that Esau was compelled to begge po•age at Iacob, and for the same to sell all title of his birthright? was it no thraldome, that with crying owling, ād furious rores, he was compelled to begge the benediction, which Iacob had gotten, and yet could not obtein it? Did not his heart fele subiection when he seeth his father so constant in preferring Iacob to him, that by no meanes he wold retreat or call back one worde. We do not denie but the diuersitie was also established betwext the two nations: but that the heades should be secluded, that are ye neuer able ⟨p. 134⟩to proue. But rather the battell, which did beginne in the mothers wombe, was established, and confirmed by the oracle of God to continue betwext the posterities of those two heades. Did Rebecca, and Isaak after he did se gods prouidence and will to be contrarie to that which he had purposed (which was to giue the benediction to Esau) did they, I say, vnderstand that Iacob had no parte in that promes touching his own person? The wordes of Isaak do witnes the contrarie: for he saieth,2 I haue established him lord ouer the &c. By the same reason which ye make I may proue that these wordes were not spoken of their posterities, for during longer time, then either did Iacob or Esau liue, the Edomites did not serue the Israelites in the fleshe: which did onely beginne in the latter dayes of Dauid, and did continue,3 to the daies of Ioram (son of losaphat) when they departed from that obedience: neither yet were they euer after that, broght into subiection againe. but be therefore• the oracles, and promises of God vaine? Yea had they not their effect, bothe in the one people, ād in the other, euen when the one was in moste miserable bondage: first in Egypt, and after in Babylon: and whē the other was in greatest felicitie to mannes apperance? yet before God, was that sentence true: The elder shall serue the yonger. For he had further respect, then the present estate, as the Apostle doeth declare, that all the faithfull Patriarkes had. Iacob wold not haue interchanged the comfort, which he receaued in his first iourney, f•ō his fathers house, for all the worldlie ioy, Y• Esau possessed: for in se•g that scale or ladder, God fitting vpon the head of it, the foote of it touching the earthe, vpon the which did Angelles ascēd and come downe:
- 1Esau some manner of way served Jacob in the flesh.Esaw som maner of way serued Iacob in the fleshe.
- 2Gen. 27.
- 32. Reg. 8.
