Prototypes, or, The primary precedent presidents out of the book of Genesis showing, the…Prototypes, or, The primarie precedent presidents out of the booke of Genesis shewing, the…

This is the first place that I remember in which these Idols are mentioned, but Rachel had so drunk in the opinion of their being sacred, that she could not lay it aside. It is no easy matter to leave such falsehoods in points of religion, as have prevailed in the places, and among the persons with whom ones self was trained up. We should bless God that hath granted us education in the true religion.

This is the first place that I remember in which these Idols are mentioned, but Rachel had so drunke in the opinion of their being sacred, that she could not lay it aside. It is no easie matter to leave such falshoods in points of religion, as have prevailed in the places, and among the persons with whom ones selfe was trained up. Wee should blesse God that hath granted us education in the true religion.

And secondly, we must even pity them, that have been superstitiously educated. They may have some good thing in them, though they cannot shake off those misconceits, but hanker too much after their Images. I would be loath to say, and I think so would any of you that Rachel had no true piety in her, because she stood so affected to the Idols of her Father. But let us rather think that Jacob had brought her to some knowledge of the true God, though the old smell of that falsehood wherewith she was first seasoned, would not forsake the vessel: and let us strive to bring our children rather into a detestation of such graven Images, for sure the Lord can speak of nothing more contemptibly. And Images made now to represent the true God, must needs be as loathsome as Aaron's and Jeroboam's Calves, which were intended to represent the true God, and not a false. But she used dissembling, and cozenage to cover her fact, as the Story tells, hiding them in the Camels litter, and then sitting upon them, and craving pardon of her Father for not rising up to him, pretending, that the custom of women was upon her; whether this were true or not, yet she dissembled, for that was not the cause of her not rising, but alone the care she had to keep the Idols secret, else she would have risen well enough. You see that committing of evil draws men on to more sin, to hide and conceal that which they have already committed, as it did Jacob, and David, and others, because fear of shame or danger disturbeth the mind, and turneth away the thoughts from considering the mischief of sinning. Therefore let us all take heed of entering into the path of evil, for if we be once in, no man can tell what lying, dissembling, and other evils the devil will draw us into by means of that sin. He entangles himself as a sheep in the briers, that run into any gross or shameful