A15013:682
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.
Consider now what benefits God bestowed upon him. First,1 he made him a King.2 In those days it is evident that Kings were not rulers over so large dominions as now they be; of old the chiefest ruler over one or two Cities and the territories about it was a King, as in the land of Canaan there were 31 Kings, and the five Cities of the plain of Sodom and the rest had each of them several Kings, and yet there were some Kings that reigned over whole Countries as the King of Egypt, but in it self considered, it is a favour of God to prefer a man unto the honour of a King, as the Scripture proveth in saying,3 a diligent servant shall stand before Kings and not before those of the meaner sort; If to be in favour and account with a King, be a thing fit to be promised as a reward of diligence, much more the enjoying of a Kingdom, therefore God upbraids both Saul and David, when he would sharply reprove their sins, that he had made them Kings over his people Israel; for Kings have likely, riches, honour, and authority, by the two former of which they may partake of much comfort themselves, and communicate much also to their friends and kindred, by the latter they may bring much honour to God, and much good also to men in establishing true religion and justice: Now God hath not pleased to make any of you Kings, but he hath made some of you richer and greater then ⟨p. 204⟩others, as I may say little petty Kings in your places. Beware you pervert not this goodness of God, by making your wealth and power a means of swelling your hearts with pride, and emboldening you to wrong and oppress others, and furnishing you with instruments to serve your own lusts, for the such abuse of these benefits will turn them into poison, as it were to your souls, and cause that they shall serve at length for the same purpose which S.4 James saith, the rust of the rich mans treasure shall do, even to consume your flesh like fire, and to bring upon you greater damnation in another world, to be preferred before this more then an inheritance is before the lease of one alone year, none shall suffer so much torment and unhappiness as those that have played the untrusty subjects to God, and made their high places a weapon to bear out their sins.