A15013:564
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 for his good deeds, when Abraham called him and would have him put his hand under his thigh (a gesture used to the godly Patriarchs by such as bound themselves to them by an oath, perhaps to signify their subjection to them, and faith in the promised seed which was to come out of their loins) he would not hastily and hand over-head take that oath which was ministered unto him, but with due caution and wariness, that he might not thrust himself into the danger of forswearing himself by rashness, but might have a quiet conscience by seeing clearly how far his oath bound him and to what, that so he might know himself able to perform his oath and might accordingly fulfil it.
First for his good deeds, when Abraham called him and would have him put his hand under his thigh (a gesture used to the godly Patriarkes by such as bound themselves to them by an oath, perhaps to signifie their subjection to them, and faith in the promised seed which was to come out of their loynes) he would not hastily and handover-head take that oath which was ministred unto him, but with due caution and warinesse, that he might not thrust himselfe into the danger of forswearing himselfe by rashnesse, but might have a quiet conscience by seeing clearely how farre his oath bound him and to what, that so he might know himselfe able to performe his oath and might accordingly fulfill it.
In him therefore we learn to be wary in swearing and to swear in judgement, that is, advisedly and with good consideration, informing our selves fully of the thing sworn too, that it might not be either impossible or unlawful to the entangling of our souls in the peril of falling into that heinous offence of perjury.1 No man must proceed to an oath hastily and inconsiderately, but must ponder upon the thing sworn too, that he may have a full resolution to accomplish the same. Look to your selves that you show the like religious respect to the great name of God. An oath is a strong bond in which a man lays his soul as it were in pawn to God, so that the breach of his oath is a forfeiture of his precious soul to the hands of Gods judgement, so great a bond must not be taken upon us without great cautelousnesse. They therefore that have sworn on a sudden not deliberating seriously of it, must know that they have even offered contempt to God, because though perhaps the thing was just and possible,