The Institution of Christian Religion

Now when he came to old age, he saw the thing which is the most unpleasant and bitter that that age hath, himself punished with having no children, till beside all hope he begat Ismael, whose birth yet he payed dear for, when he was wearied with the brawling of Sarah, as if he in maintaining the stubbornness of his bondwoman were himself the cause of the trouble of his household. At length Isaac was borne, but with this condition that his first begotten Ismael must, as forsaken, be cruelly caste out of doors. When only Isaac was left, in whom the wearied age of the silly good man might rest, within a little after he was commanded to kill him. What can mans wit devise more miserable, than the father to be made the butcher of his own son? If Isaac had dyed of any sickness, who would not have thought the old man most miserable, that had ⟨image 151⟩a son given him in mockage, for whom his grief of want of children should be doubled? If he had ben slain by some stranger, the unhappiness of the thing would have much increased his misery. But this passeth all examples of misery, to have him slain with his fathers one hand. Finally, he was in all the whole course of his life so tossed and vexed, as if a man would in a table paint out an example of a miserable life, he could find none more fit, than this of Abraham. And let no man object that he was not altogether unhappy, for that he at length prosperously escaped from so many and so great tempests. For we can not say that he liveth a blessed life, which for a long space together painfully weareth out of infinite troubles, but him that without feeling of evils, quietly enjoyeth present good things.

Now when he came to old age, he saw the thing which is the most vnpleasant and bitter that that age hath, himselfe punished with hauing no children, till beside all hope he begate Ismaell, whose birth yet he payed dere for, whē he was weried with the brawlyng of Sara, as yf he in maynteinyng the stubbornnesse of his bondwoman were himselfe the cause of the trouble of his household. At length Isaac was borne, but with this condition that his firste begotten Ismaell must, as forsaken, be cruelly caste out of dores. When only Isaac was left, in whome the weryed age of the silly good man might rest, within a litle after he was commaunded to kil him. What can mans wit deuise more miserable, than the father to be made the butcher of his owne sonne? If Isaac had dyed of any sickenesse, whoe woulde not haue thought the olde manne moste miserable, that had