A15013:767
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
Example 14: THE FOURTEENTH EXAMPLE.Example 14: THE FOVRTEENTH EXAMPLE.
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.
The reason is, first, this is a flat disobedience to most express plain and frequent Commandments. There is scarce a duty of the second Table which God hath more plainly laid down, more often repeated, more earnestly pressed then this of giving to the poor. He therefore that liveth in perpetual negligence of this duty, and either will not acknowledge it or will not practise it, lives in a wilful and constant rebellion against God. Think not my Brethren, that it sufficeth to prove a man upright if he do not live in a sin of commission, that is, in the continuance and allowed doing of something forbidden by God. Nay if he live in a sin of omission, i. e. in the continual and allowed neglect of a duty commanded, this is not to obey God in all things, this shows ones heart is not universally subject to God. This proveth that some vice hath dominion in him and that he loveth and respecteth something more then God, which cannot stand with uprightness, yea beloved this hypocrisy which is so much over-awed as it were by clearness of knowledge, that it scarce dares discover it self by taking boldness to commit sins of commission, but knows how to hold in with sins of omission and to give them allowance enough, is so much the more dangerous by how much it is less discernible. For he seemeth to himself to have much to say for himself, why this duty should not at this and this time bind him, because no affirmative precept binds to all times, and so he will shift it from himself in such manner, as not to take notice that he offendeth, whence groweth the greatest peril of all. Therefore know you that this unmercifulness to the poor, as proving that obedience is ⟨p. 237⟩but partial, and so that the heart is not upright is sure a very great sin.
The reason is, first, this is a flat disobedience to most expresse plaine and frequent Commandements. There is scarce a duty of the second Table which God hath more plainely laid downe, more often repeated, more earnestly pressed then this of giving to the poore. He therefore that liveth in perpetuall negligence of this dutie, and either will not acknowledge it or will not practise it, lives in a wilfull and constant rebellion against God. Thinke not my Brethren, that it sufficeth to proove a man upright if hee doe not live in a sinne of commission, that is, in the continuance and allowed doing of something forbidden by God. Nay if he live in a sinne of omission, i. e. in the continuall and allowed neglect of a duty commanded, this is not to obey God in all things, this shewes ones heart is not universally subject to God. This prooveth that some vice hath dominion in him and that he loveth and respecteth something more then God, which cannot stand with uprightnesse, yea beloved this hypocrisie which is so much over-awed as it were by cleerenesse of knowledge, that it scarce dares discover it selfe by taking boldnesse to commit sinnes of commission, but knowes how to hold in with sinnes of omission and to give them allowance enough, is so much the more dangerous by how much it is lesse discernable. For hee seemeth to himselfe to have much to say for himselfe, why this duty should not at this and this time binde him, because no affirmative precept bindes to all times, and so hee will shift it from himselfe in such manner, as not to take notice that hee offendeth, whence groweth the greatest perill of all. Therefore know you that this unmercifullnesse to the poore, as prooving that obedience is