A15013:684
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.
1Another benefit we must observe, the Lord by his providence kept him from committing that sin which else he would have committed, but indeed of mere ignorance, for his heart was upright with God so far that if he had known it he would not have committed it. So the Lord tells him, therefore I kept thee that thou shouldst not come near her, meaning Sarah. It is a great favour of God to preserve a man from sinning by his providence, I mean, to order things so, that he hath not opportunity or freedom to do such things, as else he would commit, because he doth not know them to be sins. And this is one of the graces that God doth show to those whose hearts he finds upright with him. O strive to get sincerity of soul, that he which searcheth the heart, may vouchsafe you the same goodness, but if you be hollow and guileful, the Lord may and will justly punish you by giving you over to great offences. And if any man find, that God hath restrained him from doing some wickedness which he did not know and therefore should have done much more which he did know and would have done, he must bless the name of God for it with heartiest prayers. He that was in likelihood afore he knew of it to have fallen into ⟨p. 205⟩some great pit, or other like danger, travelling in the night, and findeth in the morning how near he came to mischief, and yet escaped the fame, is either very blockish and profane, or else he must needs lift up his heart and eyes, and hands to Heaven, and magnify the name of God that caused him to scape, so much more must we do, if when we were in a forwardness to run into grievous offences, the Lord hath used some or other means which our selves did not provide to restrain us from that evil. Spiritual preservation deserveth serious and thankful acknowledgement as well as natural.
1Another benefit wee must observe, the Lord by his providence kept him from committing that sinne which else hee would have committed, but indeed of meere ignorance, for his heart was upright with God so farre that if hee had knowne it hee would not have committed it. So the Lord tels him, therefore I kept thee that thou shouldst not come neere her, meaning Sarah. It is a great favour of God to preserve a man from sinning by his providence, I meane, to order things so, that hee hath not opportunity or freedome to doe such things, as else hee would commit, because hee doth not know them to bee sinnes. And this is one of the graces that God doth shew to those whose hearts hee findes upright with him. O strive to get sincerity of soule, that hee which searcheth the heart, may vouchsafe you the same goodnesse, but if you bee hollow and guilefull, the Lord may and will justly punish you by giving you over to great offences. And if any man finde, that God hath restrained him from doing some wickednesse which hee did not know and therefore should have done much more which hee did know and would have done, he must blesse the name of God for it with heartiest prayers. Hee that was in likeliehood afore hee knew of it to have falne into