A10338:117
The prophecy of Obadiah opened and applied in sundry learned and gracious sermons preached…The prophecie of Obadiah opened and applyed in sundry learned and gracious sermons preached…
The prophecy of Obadiah opened and applied in sundry learned and gracious sermons preached at All-Hallows and St Mary's in Oxford by that famous and judicious divine John Rainolds D. of Divinity and late president of Corp. Chr. Coll. Published for the honour and use of that famous University, and for the benefit of the churches of Christ abroad in the country, by W.H.The prophecie of Obadiah opened and applyed in sundry learned and gracious sermons preached at All-Hallowes and St Maries in Oxford by that famous and iudicious divine Iohn Rainolds D. of Divinity and late president of Corp. Chr. Coll. Published for the honour and vse of that famous Vniversity, and for the benefit of the churches of Christ abroad in the country, by W.H.
Oxford: printed by Joseph Barnes, 1613
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Which as it is great, by whomsoever it be committed, so is it of necessity much more, if it be committed by him, that is brother to Jacob. Wherefore the Prophet saith, for thy cruelty to thy brother: the indignity whereof is amplified in the words following, where speaking of them, that spoiled and ransacked their city and slew them, he saith, and thou also wast as one of them. For although we be bound to abstain from all inhumanity, yet are we more bound to refrain from it, towards such as are of the same country, city, society, kindred, &c: and though we be to love all men, yet are we not to love all men alike. For our Saviour himself, though he loved all those, whom the Father had given him: yet certain it is, that he loved John more entirely then any of the rest, so that he is noted by that title the Disciple 1whom Jesus loved. So that here by the name of brother, added by our Prophet we may gather the sin of Edom to be the greater, because he dealt thus with him, that was his kinsman according to the flesh. For the bonds of Nature remain still, notwithstanding religion which cometh by grace. The heathen entreating of the duties which men owe one to another, maketh the first degree to contain all men because they be men. The 2next such as are of one people, language, city, kindred, ⟨p. 82⟩the nearest of all, man, and wife, children, &c: which doctrine is a remnant of that light, wherewith Adam in his perfect knowledge was endowed. For even so GOD requireth greater courtesies to be showed by the Israelites, to the Idumeans, then to other strangers, and Moses giveth the reason, because he is thy brother: and yet greater of the Jews one to another; greater also of such as are of the same kindred, as S. Paul teacheth, If any have Nephews or kinsmen, &c. Whereby he showeth, that he is first to provide for them, & again, if there be any man that provideth not for his own, and namely for them of his household, he denieth the faith, and is 3worse then an Infidel. He hath denied the faith, for faith dissolveth not these duties, which children owe to their parents, parents to their children, &c: He is worse then an infidel, because amongst them the fathers cast not of their children, the children do their best to help their parents in their need.