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…

His Birth is plainly set down by the authors of it,¹ Eve and Adam, for she conceived again and bare a son and called his name, &c. but the time of it as also of the elder Brothers is uncertain. We know not how long they lived without children, whether she began to be fruitful instantly upon the fall, or that God held them a little under barrenness, to make them beget a child by their prayers to God for that blessing, as well as by the faculty of generation planted in nature, I cannot affirm: but such a son she had. Concerning ⟨p. 30⟩whose life observe we, 1. His virtues and good deeds. 2. His faults. 3. His benefits and afflictions.

His Birth is plainely set downe by the authors of it,¹ Eve and Adam, for shee conceived againe and bare a sonne and called his name, &c. but the time of it as also of the elder Brothers is uncertaine. We know not how long they lived without children, whether shee began to be fruitfull instantly upon the fall, or that God held them a little under barrennesse, to make them beget a child by their prayers to God for that blessing, as well as by the faculty of generation planted in nature, I cannot affirme: but such a sonne shee had. Concerning ⟨p. 30⟩whose life observe wee, 1. His virtues and good deeds. 2. His faults. 3. His benefits and afflictions.

1. 1His Birth.

¹His good deeds are here set down, he was painful in the calling of a Shepherd, for so it is said, He was feeding a flock, meaning not alone that he had undertaken this vocation, but that he did also painfully discharge it. The Shepherds calling is now a necessary calling as well as the Husbandmans, though not equally necessary: but we find in experience, that it is a calling subordinate to Husbandry, for that the profitable sheep is not alone beneficial for her flesh and skin, but also for her soil, and that in such degree profitable, as in many places they could scarce have any corn growing by their art and pains in Husbandry, if the sheep's dung did not fat the ground. And this is I conceive one of the best uses of the sheep when she becomes attendant to the place. O that this simple and harmless creature might not be changed into a most ravenous and devouring creature, thorough the rapine and avarice of those men which think all too little for themselves, and had rather dwell alone or amongst beasts then amongst a number of Tenants, and as the members of a Town-ship or a Church. Now the world is turned quite upside down, in this time Cain killed Abel, spake to him, and having him in the field rose up against him and slew him; but now Abel killeth Cain, speaks to him roughly or fairly, I cannot tell, but drives him quite out of the places where he did once inhabit. I mean the Shepherd doth eat out the Husbandman. But you see that as well Abel as Cain was painful in his calling, and was brought up in some external and worldly business, wherein he might serve God, advantage the world, and exercise and profit himself.