A15013:463
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.
First, his wife Sarah a good woman and dear to him, was twice taken away from him, once by the King of Egypt, and after by the King of Gerar, and he could not but be grieved at it so much the more, because it came to pass by his own default and sin, and because she was so taken away, as that it was likely every day, that she should have been married to another man, or at least have been made a minister to serve his lust. What an anguish was this think you? How did this gall his heart? when he abode alone in his Tent, and Sarah was not in hers, when he lay alone at home and Sarah bare him not company, yea when she was perhaps in the bosom of another man, to whom he had betrayed her by his cowardly fears and dissembling, it scarce befalleth any of us to meet with such a cross in his wife.
First, his wife Sarah a good woman and deare to him, was twice taken away from him, once by the King of Egypt, and after by the King of Gerar, and he could not but be grieved at it so much the more, because it came to passe by his owne default and sinne, and because shee was so taken away, as that it was likely every day, that shee should have beene married to another man, or at least have beene made a minister to serve his lust. What an anguish was this thinke you? How did this gaule his heart? when he abode alone in his Tent, and Sarah was not in hers, when he lay alone at home and Sarah bare him not company, yea when shee was perhaps in the bosome of another man, to whom he had betrayed her by his cowardly feares and dissembling, it scarce befalleth any of us to meete with such a crosse in his wife.
1But secondly, Sarah his wife was barren, she had no children, fruitfulness and she were parted, as the Holy Ghost noteth. This affliction hath befallen many good women, and it was so much the more bitter to Abraham, because he did not intend to take any other woman, but that at last Sarah when her self was now by means of age past all hope, did earnestly persuade him unto it. To be childless is a cross wherewith some are exercised, but to Abraham it was a worse cross then ordinary, because the want of a child was to him the want of salvation too, for himself and all Nations were to be blessed in his seed: So that if he had had no son, he could have had no Heaven, and nothing stood as a stronger objection against his being saved, then his being childless. Barrenness with this aggravation comes not to any of us, and if God had not eased this burden to Abraham, by often renewing the promise of a child unto him, doubtless it would have afflicted him sore.