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…

Now the two handmaidens, Zilpah and Bilhah.

Zilpah hath nothing said of her, but that She bare Jacob two children, Gad and Asher, So called of Leah, that would needs imitate her sisters weakness, and call them hers.

Zilpah hath nothing said of her, but that Shee bare Iacob two children, Gad and Asher, So called of Leah, that would needs imitate her sisters weaknesse, and call them hers.

Bilhah is taxed of a grievous sin, she suffered her self to be polluted with incest by Jacobs first borne. If he offered her violence, or surprised her by any device, it was his fault, not hers; but it is not likely to have been so, because God doth not report it so. For God would not wrong any in reporting their acts to the worst, but if there had been any excuse of her fault, the Lord would have done her right in rehearsing it, he should not else do the office of a good writer of a Story. O let all women take heed of adultery, and chiefly of incestuous adulteries with their husbands son in law, or brothers, or a like near of blood, where the offence is made much more heinous by that aggravation: and if any have committed any such crime, let the mentioning of it in this woman bring it to their remembrance, and provoke them to repentance, that they may not have so fearful a crime to answer for upon their sick-bed in the hour of death. Likely such gross crimes will cry out then, if they have been smothered before; but a conscience purged from them by sincere repentance performed in health, may enjoy quiet and peace in death, notwithstanding the remembrance of them. For a sin repented of shall be pardoned, and a pardoned debt cannot hurt at all, not so much as terrify, if the pardon of it be known. But something there was in it, that God saw it fit to have his Church stored with the seed of bond-women, (for two of Jacobs wives were such) because he would have us know, that he doth not much stand upon nobility, and being free borne, and the like. One third part of his people Israel were seed of bond-women. Though he would not let Hagars seed inherit, yet that was not because he did look to her condition, but that he might figuratively set forth his averseness from them, that will needs be in bondage under the Law, when the Gospel brings them liberty, and therefore now he doth equally take into the Church, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher; as well as Reuben, and Levi, Simeon, and Judah. These earthly considerations vary nothing with God, nor is the one any more acceptable with him than the other. Let not those which enjoy