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…

Brethren, profaneness is a fearful sin, I mean to have so little esteem of the outward means of salvation, as to part with them for a song as we say. But yet an higher degree of profaneness. He went his way and despised his birth-right, he never considered of his folly afterwards to repent heartily of it, and so to seek pardon, and (though not the recovering of his birth-right, yet) to be still admitted as a member of Isaacs family, and so to enjoy the privileges that were promised to him and his seed, but even despiseth it, he cares not a pin for it, it never grieves nor troubles him that he had sold it, let it go, as if it had been scarce so much worth as he paid for it. So the sin is grievous, to despise and contemn as vain and useless those things that tend to bring unto us spiritual graces, and eternal life.

Brethren, prophannesse is a fearfull sin, I meane to have so little esteem of the outward meanes of salvation, as to part with them for a song as we say. But yet an higher degree of prophannesse. He went his way and despised his birth-right, he never considered of his folly afterwards to repent heartily of it, and so to seek pardon, and (though not the recovering of his birth-right, yet) to bee still admitted as a member of Isaacs family, and so to enjoy the priviledges that were promised to him and his seed, but even despiseth it, he cares not a pin for it, it never grieves nor troubles him that he had sold it, let it go, as if it had been scarce so much worth as he paid for it. So the sin is grievous, to despise and contemne as vain and uselesse those things that tend to bring unto us spirituall graces, and eternall life.

Now brethren, be not many of you such, that set light and despise the means of grace, you care not for the word of God, for the Sacraments, for praying, &c. The least outward benefit will make you part with these helps to life eternal, you think them not worth any thing, ⟨p. 26⟩you can be persuaded to part with them for any little gain, or the like. Nay, do not some of you despise them? count it a folly to make so much ado about them, and would not care a rush, if you should never come at Word, or Sacrament more, never use prayer any more. If any be so disposed, as the lives of many show they be, let them consider that they shall in vain dream of having the blessing, even the spiritual blessing of Gods favour, and life eternal: Esau could not prevail by any tears and entreaties to have his Father give him a spiritual blessing, God by fear strengthened Isaacs heart against all his entreaties. It may seem he would fain have had the blessing of Abraham, which carries with it a spiritual blessing, some confused notion it is like he had of heaven, that must be given to Abraham's children, and that must go along in the family of Abraham, and Isaac, and their seed, this he would fain have had, and in a fit weeps hard, and did much desire to make his Father repent of his being deceived, and blessing Jacob, but he could not prevail. If himself had sought at Gods hand to give him repentance for his profaneness and other sins, he should not have been rejected; but that was not the thing he sought alone, he would have had his Father to have changed his mind, and given him assurance of heaven. Such a confused desire of heaven may be found in the heart of a profane man, but when in this manner they would inherit the blessing, they shall not. They that care not for the birth-right, shall miss of the blessing; they that regard not the outward signs & means of life eternal, shall never attain life eternal. A profane man, a contemner of religion & religious services of God, shall never go to heaven without amendment; O if any of you be such, now let Esau's example stir you up to repentance, & reformation, and be no more profane, as was Esau. But 2. stir up your selves to be truly devout, make great account of Gods Ordinances, to which he hath annexed the promise of life. Make high account of the Sacraments, Word, Prayer.