A15013:681
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.
It is a good thing to observe the goodness of God so his people, thereupon to think well of them and to desire to live in amity and peace ⟨p. 203⟩with them. Why should not we have our eyes open to see Gods blessing going along with men? and when we see it, why should we not rather love them and wish their friendship, then bear an evil eye towards them and malign them. It is a sign of some goodness to acknowledge, that God is the Author of all good success to mens affairs, herein we give him the honour of being the ruler of the world. And it is a sign of some good will to men, when their prosperous estate makes us rather like them and join friendship with them, then stirreth up grudging and repining at them. Surely Abimelechs carriage giveth us some probable grounds to conceive, that himself was a holy man, in that he shows some knowledge of God, and good affection to so good a servant of God. Let us go a little further, and strive to interest our selves into Gods blessing on the godly, by following them in godliness. But let his willing restitution of the Well which his servants had taken away by violence, teach us also not to bear out the servants or people that are under our government in any unjust carriage of theirs; yea rather, so soon as we come to the knowledge of their naughty carriage, let us cause them to amend and to repair the wrongs that they have done. A mans servants faults must not be imputed to him, till it be known whether he be privy to them or not, but if when he is informed of them, he be careless to see them amended, now is himself as guilty of the sin as his servants were before. Thus you have the faults and virtues of Abimelech so far as I could note them out of holy Writ.
It is a good thing to observe the goodnesse of God so his people, thereupon to think well of them and to desire to live in amity and peace ⟨p. 203⟩with them. Why should not wee have our eyes open to see Gods blessing going along with men? and when wee see it, why should wee not rather love them and wish their friendship, then beare an evill eye towards them and maligne them. It is a signe of some goodnesse to acknowledge, that God is the Author of all good successe to mens affaires, herein wee give him the honour of being the ruler of the world. And it is a signe of some good will to men, when their prosperous estate makes us rather like them and joyne friendship with them, then stirreth up grudging and repining at them. Surely Abimelechs carriage giveth us some probable grounds to conceive, that himselfe was a holy man, in that hee shewes some knowledge of God, and good affection to so good a servant of God. Let us goe a little further, and strive to interest our selves into Gods blessing on the godly, by following them in godlinesse. But let his willing restitution of the Well which his servants had taken away by violence, teach us also not to beare out the servants or people that are under our government in any unjust carriage of theirs; yea rather, so soone as wee come to the knowledge of their naughty carriage, let us cause them to amend and to repaire the wrongs that they have done. A mans servants faults must not bee imputed to him, till it bee knowne whether hee be privie to them or not, but if when hee is informed of them, he be carelesse to see them amended, now is himselfe as guilty of the sinne as his servants were before. Thus you have the faults and vertues of Abimelech so farre as I could note them out of holy Writ.