A15013:839
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.
Now in respect of Abimelech, 1Isaac offended by lying out of fear, when the men of Gerar began to question with him about his wife, he began to suspect, that they meant no good in such inquiry, and fearing some ill usage from them if he should have professed himself her husband, helped the matter with a sudden lie, and said she was his Sister, Gen. 26.7. you see he inheriteth here his Fathers carnal fear, and carnal shift, of lying to prevent the evil feared. Here we have two plain faults, his immoderate fear, and his lying to help himself at a pinch; to be afraid of death so that there appear some likelihood that it will come upon us suddenly and violently, we suffer our selves to be drawn into sin for the escaping of it, is a sin and such a sin it is, as hath often discovered it self in good men. We noted it in Abraham twice upon the same occasion that is here mentioned; So it befell David, when he came first to Achish King of Gath, so to Peter and others. The inordinateness of the fear of death ariseth ⟨p. 260⟩from weakness of faith, both in that a man doth not so steadfastly rely upon God for defence and safeguard of life, as also for salvation of his soul after death, or because he is not so well versed in the meditations of death and Heaven, as to become sufficiently heavenly-minded. For if we did fully persuade our selves that God would stand by us in peril, that he would be our shield and buckler, then it would befall us according to that of David, The Lord is on my side, 2I will not fear what man can do unto me; but in the best this confidence is often weakened, and they are taken unprovided through the suddenness of the danger, or the like occasion, or it is likely that the soul which so feareth death, as by sin to shun the same, doth not so thoroughly assure it self of salvation, or hath not so clearly and fully apprehended the excellency of salvation; for doubtless death would be welcome to him rather then terrible, that did apprehend it as a dark entry leading to the glorious palace of glory, and had well considered of the greatness of that glory.
Now in respect of Abimelech, 1