A15013:378
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.
I must now speak of Abraham's good carriage to his servants;1 There was one principal servant, Ruler, Steward, Over-seer of his house, his name is Eliezer of Damascus, Gen. 15.2. Him 1. He loved much. 2. Trusted much, because by good instructions and examples he had through Gods blessing made him fit and worthy to be both loved and trusted. His love to him he shows in saying to God (whereby it is manifest that he did not counterfeit, for Abraham was too godly to tell a counterfeit tale to God) one borne in mine house shall be mine heir. ⟨p. 104⟩2Lo a good servant should be very dear unto his master,3 so that he should plentifully and liberally recompense him (for to say that a servant should be made ones heir if he have no children, that I dare not, but I dare say he should be plentifully and liberally rewarded out of great love.4) The Lord commanded that an Hebrew servant should not be put out empty, but that his Master should communicate to him of his goods,5 and Solomon saith, that as he that looketh to the fig-tree shall eat of the fruit thereof, so shall a good servant that attendeth his master come to honour, his meaning is to show, that Masters should not be indebted to their servants, but should respect and prefer them. Those therefore that having good and virtuous servants, shall not show themselves liberal, and courteous, and loving, but quite contrarily, froward, and unloving, and niggardly, are much to be condemned, as men that have not wisdom to consider, how much benefit a man hath by his servants, so that neither could men get riches nor enjoy them if they wanted servants; neither could they be without them in many other respects, and if the servants be good, next to God, above all men he stands most beholding to them. His life is in their hands, his goods are in their hand, and to speak as the truth is, he is more indebted to them then they to him. A servant might more easily shift for himself without a Master, then a Master live as he doth without servants: wherefore I commend unto you all humanity, love, courtesy towards your servants that be good and faithful, such as fear God and do their duty in such sort as humane frailty will permit unto your selves.