A15013:164
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…
Prototypes, or, The primary precedent presidents out of the book of Genesis showing, the [brace] good and bad things [brace] they did and had practically applied to our information and reformation / by that faithful and painful preacher of Gods word William Whately ... ; together with Mr. Whately's life and death ; published by Mr. Edward Leigh and Mr. Henry Scudder, who were appointed by the author to peruse his manuscripts, and printed by his own copy.Prototypes, or, The primarie precedent presidents out of the booke of Genesis shewing, the [brace] good and bad things [brace] they did and had practically applied to our information and reformation / by that faithfull and painefull preacher of Gods word William Whately ... ; together with Mr. Whatelyes life and death ; published by Mr. Edward Leigh and Mr. Henry Scudder, who were appointed by the authour to peruse his manuscripts, and printed by his owne coppy.
London: printed by G.M. for Edward Langham book-seller, 1640London: printed by G.M. for Edvvard Langham booke-seller, 1640
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.
But secondly, he was religious and devout,1 he brought of the fruit of his flocks, yea of the firstlings and of the fat thereof. He did bring to God one of the best and fattest of his Rams, or Ewes, for Weathers were not for Sacrifice, and no maimed thing was to be offered on Gods Altar. It is not observed of Cain, that he brought of the first fruits and best of his corn or other grain: It is likely that the Holy Ghost would have done this office of a faithful Historian, and have given Cain his due by telling the quality as well as the matter of his offering, if it had been as well qualified in this respect as his Brothers. Wherefore when he commends Abel's offering, because it was of the choice and fattest of his flock, it may be well thought in forbearing to say any thing in like commendation of Cain's, that he took no great care, whether it were of the best or not, and therefore we may well conceive that one cause of Gods rejecting Cain's Sacrifice was, because he did not bring of the best of his fruits, as one cause of his accepting Abel's was because he did bring of the choicest of his flock, not that God looketh to these outward things, but to the mind of the doer, which for the most part (if necessity hinder not) doth show it self in the value and worth of the gift. He that loves God will bring him as full a Sacrifice as he can, he that loves him not will give him as lean a Sacrifice as it may stand with his credit to give. A man whose heart is not upright with God will be at as little cost with him as is possible. A man that is upright with him will enlarge his bounty towards him, you shall see in Mal. 1.13. that God refuseth the Sacrifices, because they were halt and blind, the worst and refuge of all, and he curseth the deceiver that ⟨p. 32⟩hath in his flock a male, and voweth and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing, and verse 8. he saith, Offer it now to thy governor will he be pleased with thee and accept thy person saith the Lord? The Lord knows that niggardliness towards him shows want of love and faith, but freeness and bounty shows truth of love and of faith, and because he looketh to the heart, therefore he liketh that gift which comes from a loving and faithful heart, and hates that which comes from a contrary heart.
But secondly, hee was religious and devout,