A10338:95
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.
There be two things, whereby we purchase to our selves safety against our enemies, wisdom, & strength: wisdom in foretelling, and preventing, strength in repressing, and withstanding the attempts devised and practised against us. The Lord having showed, that he would utterly destroy and bring to confusion the Idumeans, for that the matter seemed not very likely, and the message not easy to be credited, seeing they were furnished with wisdom & strength, wherewith they were able to prevent and subdue any mischief; •e showeth how these things shall nothing let his purpose, for as much as he would deprive them of their wise men in the 8. verse, and spoil them of their strong in the 9. verse Shall not I, &c: wisdom and policy ⟨p. 63⟩bear the greatest sway in State matters; for arms abroad are of little force, unless there be sage counsel at home: and seeing things must by advise be determined, before they can well and duly be practised, therefore the Prophet declaring the course, which the Lord will take in bringing his purpose about, beginneth at the wisdom saying. Shall not I, &c: and understanding from the mount of Esau, that is mount Seir, on which Esau dwelt; and by Seir is meant the land of Idumeans, the part for the whole. Out of this land, saith he, he would destroy the wise men and understanding, and bring to nought the strength and power, and that partly by taking from them wisdom and understanding, as Jeremiah 1showeth, partly by cutting of, by slaughter, the valley ant of the mount of Esau. The time also is specified, when it is said, in that day, a day though uncertain to them, to whom it pertained not to know the times & seasons 2which GOD had hid in his own power, yet most sure & certain to him, who in his secret counsel had appointed it. Which thing is also uttered by Interrogation, to make it more effectual by sinking deep into their minds. And so first having removed their wise men, their strong men follow after, of whom he saith, & thy strong men: & to assure them of it, with piercing their hearts by conceiving it, as though it were laid before their eyes, he turneth his speech to them, when he saith thy strong men, O Teman, which was a part of that country, inhabited by a nation which came of a Nephew of Esau of that name.