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…

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.

¹His good deeds are here set downe, he was painefull in the calling of a Shepheard, for so it is said, Hee was feeding a flocke, meaning not alone that hee had undertaken this vocation, but that he did also painefully discharge it. The Shepheards calling is now a necessary calling as well as the Husbandmans, though not equally necessary: but wee finde in experience, that it is a calling subordinate to Husbandrie, for that the profitable sheepe is not alone beneficiall for her flesh and skinne, but also for her soyle, and that in such degree profitable, as in many places they could scarce have any corne growing by their art and paines in Husbandry, if the sheepes 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 harmelesse creature might not be changed into a most ravenous and devouring creature, thorough the rapine and avarice of those men which thinke 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 Towne-ship or a Church. Now the world is turned quite upside downe, in this time Caine killed Abel, spake to him, and having him in the field rose up against him and slew him; but now Abel killeth Caine, speaks to him roughly or fairely, I cannot tell, but drives him quite out of the places where he did once inhabit. I meane the Shepheard doth eate out the Husbandman. But you see that as well Abel as Caine was painefull in his calling, and was brought up in some externall and worldly businesse, wherein he might serve God, advantage the world, and exercise and profit himselfe.