But do not many now adays seem zealously to mislike sin in strangers, who can wink at the same fault in their kindred, in their wives, in their children, in their parents? as if the diversity of persons could change the nature of the sin. This blind zeal God ⟨p. 93⟩hath punished, and doth punish his children. Isaac did carnally love his son Esau for meat, & for a piece of venison. 1David was too much affected to Absalom and to Adoniah for their comely personage, so as his zeal was hindered in discerning sin aright in them. Now Jacob was not so dear to Isaac, and Solomon was more hardly set to school, and made to take pains: but behold, God loving Jacob, and refusing Esau, (howsoever Isaac loved Esau better then Jacob) made Esau more troublesome, and Jacob more comfortable unto him. Absalom and Adoniah, brought up like Cockneys, became corrosives to Davids heart: Solomon more restrained and better instructed, was his joy, his crown, his successor in his kingdom. This disease is so hereditary to many parents, loving their children in the flesh, rather then in the spirit, that the holy Ghost is fain to call upon them more vehemently, to teach, to instruct, and to correct, as knowing how easily nature would cool zeal in this kind of duty. Indeed many will set by their wives, children, and kinsfolks, if they be thrifty, like to become good husbands, witty and politic, or if they be such as for their gifts can bring some revenue to their stock, or afford some profit unto them; how deep sinners soever they be against God, that maketh no matter, it little grieveth them: whereby they bewray their great corruption, that they are neither zealous in truth of Gods glory, nor lovers aright of their children, because they can be sharp enough in reprehension if they fail but a little in thriftiness, and yet are too too cold in admonition, if they fail never so much in godliness.
But doe not manie now adayes seeme zealouslie to mislike sinne in strangers, who can winke at the same fault in their kindred, in their wiues, in their children, in their parents? as if the diuersitie of persons could change the nature of the sinne. This blind zeale God ⟨p. 93⟩hath punished, and doth punish his children. Isaac did carnally loue his sonne Esau for meat, & for a peece of venison. 1Dauid was too much affected to Absalon and to Adoniah for their comely personage, so as his zeale was hindered in discerning sinne aright in them. Now Iacob was not so deare to Isaac, and Salomon was more hardly set to schoole, and made to take paines: but behold, God louing Iacob, and refusing Esau, (howsoeuer Isaac loued Esau better then Iacob) made Esau more troublesome, and Iacob more comfortable vnto him. Absalon and Adoniah, brought vp like Cocknies, became corasiues to Dauids heart: Salomon more restrained and better instructed, was his ioy, his crowne, his successor in his kingdome. This disease is so hereditary to many parents, louing their children in the flesh, rather then in the spirit, that the holy Ghost is faine to cal vpon them more vehemently, to teach, to instruct, and to correct, as knowing how easily nature would coole zeale in this kinde of dutie. Indeed many will set by their wiues, children, and kinsfolkes, if they be thriftie, like to become good husbands, wittie and politicke, or if they be such as for their gifts can bring some reuenue to their stocke, or affoord some profit vnto them; how deepe sinners soeuer they be against God, that maketh no matter, it little grieueth them: whereby they bewray their great corruption, that they are neither zealous in truth of Gods glory, nor louers aright of their children, because they can be sharpe enough in reprehension if they faile but a little in thriftinesse, and yet are too too cold in admonition, if they faile neuer so much in godlinesse.
- 1Gen. 15.28.
