A15013:91
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.
The Lord did not mean that natural and eternal death should instantly follow upon their eating, but obnoxiousness to both, and some degrees of both should follow instantly, and at last the consummation of both, with an implicit exception of his grace in Christ in pardoning him. Lo now Adam had from Gods own mouth an express and plain Commandment, wherein he was directly forbidden one and but one tree, with warrant for the use of all the rest, and a plain and express threat of death to begin to ensue immediately upon his eating. And this Commandment, either God himself, or else Adam had made known to Eve, for you hear that she doth both allege it and oppose it to the Serpents temptation at the first. Now this Commandment so plain, so easy, so equal, that he could not be ignorant of it, nor incur any inconvenience by yielding to it, nor pick any exception against it. This Commandment which both of them knew full well did they transgress, and that very speedily.1 How long they continued free from the sin, I know not, because I find it not revealed and will not conjecture; because the not revealing it by God makes me think it is not to much purpose to know. If the first act of eating were that of the forbidden fruit, it is a great aggravation of their sin, that they transgressed Gods Law in a manner afore they did any other thing, if they stood any while it is a great aggravation, that after much experience of Gods bounty they would be bold to offend him, and taste of the forbidden fruit after the feeling of the sweetness and goodness of other fruits: but it was not long afore they did eat, and it was likewise done upon a poor motive, the temptation of a base Worm, and it was yielded unto without much resistance, for not many words passed them before Eve had condescended. You have the Story of this sin in Gen. 3.1, &c. where is first the Tempter, a Serpent, the most *naked or subtlest of all beasts; then the temptation in the matter of it and the success.
The Lord did not meane that naturall and eternall death should instantly follow upon their eating, but obnoxiousnesse to both, and some degrees of both should follow instantly, and at last the consummation of both, with an implicite exception of his grace in Christ in pardoning him. Lo now Adam had from Gods own mouth an expresse and plaine Commandement, wherein he was directly forbidden one and but one tree, with warrant for the use of all the rest, and a plaine and expresse threat of death to begin to insue immediately upon his eating. And this Commandement, either God himselfe, or else Adam had made knowne to Evah, for you heare that shee doth both alleadge it and oppose it to the Serpents temptation at the first. Now this Commandement so plaine, so easie, so equall, that hee could not be ignorant of it, nor incurre any inconvenience by yeelding to it, nor picke any exception against it. This Commandement which both of them knew full well did they transgresse, and that very speedily.