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 see in and after the flood how he carried himself.¹ He entered into the Ark as God bad him, and committed himself to Gods protection trusting on him for safety. Here was no mast, oar, rudder, canvass or mariners to steer and guide this vessel, a wonder it was that the billows did not cast it over and over, that they did not break the bars by their continued rage, and that it had not perished with all its burden. But in went Noah taking all the Beasts with him, assuring himself to be safe, for so God had told. Here is an excellent act of faith, even to use Gods means of attaining the good things promised, and there rest himself without any further carking and perplexity of mind. This was the act of Noah's faith all the flood time, he heard it rain as if Heaven and Earth would come together, he perceived the clouds to be in a fury with the sons of men, the waters raged and roared, and through the windows he might see how all was changed into a Sea, yet there he kept himself quiet, and made account, that himself and his household should do well enough in all this confusion of nature. He had Bears, Lions, Tigers, Wolves and all manner of devouring beasts within the Ark, he was never a whit afraid of such neighbours, but rested himself peaceably upon Gods promises. O Beloved that we could do so for our souls, for our estates, for every thing, use Gods means, and then promise our selves the wished effect, and trouble our selves with no further fear and dismayedness as S. Peter saith,² doing well and not being dismayed with any fear. O how happy would our lives be in the midst of a deluge of dangers, if we could thus enter into our closets as it were, and shut the door: I mean use Gods means and rest on him.

Now see in and after the floud how he carried himselfe.¹ Hee entred into the Arke as God bad him, and committed himselfe to Gods protection trusting on him for safety. Here was no mast, oare, rudder, canvasse or marriners to steere and guide this vessell, a wonder it was that the billowes did not cast it over and over, that they did not breake the barres by their continued rage, and that it had not perished with all its burden. But in went Noah taking all the Beasts with him, assuring himselfe to be safe, for so God had told. Here is an excellent act of faith, even to use Gods meanes of attaining the good things promised, and there rest himselfe without any further carking and perplexity of mind. This was the act of Noahs faith all the floud time, hee heard it raine as if Heaven and Earth would come together, he perceived the cloudes to be in a fury with the sonnes of men, the waters raged and roared, and through the windowes hee might see how all was changed into a Sea, yet there he kept himselfe quiet, and made account, that himselfe and his houshold should do well enough in all this confusion of nature. Hee had Beares, Lions, Tigers, Wolves and all manner of devouring beasts within the Arke, hee was never a whit afraid of such neighbours, but rested himselfe peaceably upon Gods promises. O Beloved that we could do so for our soules, for our estates, for every thing, use Gods meanes, and then promise our selves the wished effect, and trouble our selves with no further feare and dismayednesse as S. Peter saith,