General they never disputed his Orders but gave themselves up entirely to his Service and Command They were Catechis'd in his Family to an awful sence of their Duty and Allegiance to him which was ever performed with that happy Ingredience of Love and Cordial Affection towards him as made it disputable Whether the Servants were the happier in such a Master or the Master in such Servants Nor was his Interest confined within the Limits of his own Family and Houshold tho' Numerous but by the Magnetick Charms of his Vertue and sweet Disposition he had further Attracted the Affections of the Contiguous Princes and firmly joynted their Powers into the Body of his own by the strong Obligation of a solemn Confederacy and Alliance Leagues among Princes have been ever held sacred and inviolable as their Persons And thô sometimes upon weighty Reasons of State they chance to be dissolv'd and broken yet have they ever been found to be so necessary Props for the support of the Honour and Security of Government that even the mightiest Empires of the Earth have been established by them It being the peculiar Priviledge of the King of Kings to build his Vniversal Dominion upon absolute and independant Foundations without sending forth from Himself to call in the Aids of others See here to what degree of Majesty God had already promoted his Abraham that the great Lords of Canaan thought themselves bless'd and secure in his Friendship and hereafter we shall find Kings themselves Courting him for the same Honour Aner Eshcol and Mamre his endeared Friends and Confederates and whom some think he had happily Converted to the true Religion and Service of his God hearing the ill Tydings of the sacking of the Cities and of Abraham's Nephew being led away Prisoner think it their Duty to make tender of their Service having heard of his Resolutions to attempt a Redemption They get ready therefore their Auxiliary Forces and proud of the Employment present themselves and these to his absolute Order and Government Yet will not his Posterity allow them the least share in the Honour of the Victory but tell us that he appointed them only to guard the Ammunition while himself with his Domesticks only gave the Charge Abraham intends to make no tedious Work of it and therefore he lightly Arms his Three Hundred and with them three Thousand more whom his Faith summons from Heaven to fight invisibly for him and leads them into the Field Even the meekest Moses can be Angry and the gentle Abraham whose Nature was made up all of candour and sweetness now hath his Neck cloath'd with Thunder and his Eyes sparkling out flames of Revenge Love and Mercy are the natural Properties of God himself in the acting of these is all his delight but Justice and Execution are his strange Work and he never doth it but when the Abuse and Contempt of his Goodness and Mercy provokes him out of himself into Indignation and Wrath. Stratagems of War are so far from being unlawful that God himself hath often directed and taught them Abraham knew that though â—he Rules of Martial Discipline are very severe â—nd the Cords that bind it straitned to a great â—egree of Stiffness yet on occasion they are â—requently slackned and never yet were poor â—ouldiers after hard Service and Victory gotâ—en denyed the Liberty of Drinking their Geâ—eral's Health in a chirping Bole. The Joy of â—uccess had blown up their Spirits to that â—eighth that they were already half Drunk with â—e excessive Conceit of their Conquest and more than peradventure he might find them taking such Draughts as would leave them little capable of using their Arms towards Midnight On these hopes he projects to charge them in the Dark and to render his little Army the more formidable he divides his Men into Parties who have Orders to make the Assault all at once in several sides of the Enemies Camp striking them into great Consternation by the conjectur'd probability of a greater Force than indeed there was The Confederates he leaves at a distance to come in if need be as a fresh supply If Humane Brains thus wittily work in the pitching those Trayls of Ruine in which the Feet of their Enemies fail not to stumble and dye let a God alone in the Weaving those Nets of Destruction in which the Adversaries of himself and his Church shall be inevitably entangled with that certainty that all the counter-workings of their own shallow Policies shall never serve them to make an escape Never dispute what Hell is or in what manner its Flames can feed on spiritual Bodies since if there were no gnâ—wing Worm nor devouring Fire there he can command New Armies of Tormenâ—â— to start up which as fresh supplies shall be successively pouâ—ed on the Vessels of Wrath who in the short Day of their Life in the World neglected the Invitations of his Grace David observes that God often blows upon thâ—â— Councils of the Wicked and bringeth their Devices 〈◊〉 none Effect But Abraham was too dear to be left to himself or frustrated in any of his Honourable Designs Yea himself had dictated theâ— into his Head and now cannot fail him in their putting in due Execution Marching on therefore and hearing where the Enemy lay he so orders his Motion as not to be discovered till he might Shroud himself in the Mantle of the Night which he knew well would add a Terror to the fury of his Charge And thus when they little dreamt of an Enemy pursuing them they are unexpectedly Alarm'd by his Army that encompassed them The Disordered Kings who had no Eyes to see their Enemies and as little Hearts to oppose them are surprized into perfect Confusion While Abraham's Sword is dipt in Gore and his Souldiers glutted with the Blood of their Enemies Happy was He that could Fight out his way and So they could escape with their Lives they value not the Booty but contentedly leave the plunder of the Field to the Assailants who were satisfied too with the Execution they had done and had no further Orders to pursue after those few that were fled The poor Sodomites are in Astonishment to find themselves rescued by friends unknown and are yet uncertain what Usage they may expect from them Or whether they had only Exchanged their Keepers Till anon the kind General gives Orders for the finding out Lot who after search is brought with Joy enough into the welcome presence of his Vnkle And sure after all these blusters in the World where we have been kept so long under fears and bondage the coming of a Redeemer will be Joyful to us when he shall appear in Glory to knock off all our Shackles and present us with the Happiness of an Eternal Liberty E're we pass further take a measure of the Stature of Abraham's Faith and how well he is flush'd into Spiritual Confidence and Greatness of Mind who not many years since was discountenanced at the Power of one
that others dispens'd not with themselves in Practices as Vitious as theirs in Sodom God grant they be not found in our own Streets and the Daughters of England as Idly passing away their precious Time and Souls together as those that so long ago were sent into Torment for the same Sin. What were the Incentives that enkindled the Flames upon our own Houses and reduced them all into Ashes Would Men think there is a Sin lurking in their own Bosoms which far exceedeth the Sin of Sodom and which will one day meet with Judgment more Scorching and Intolerable 't is but believing the Oracle of Truth who hath convincingly forewarned us of the dangerous Consequences of that Fatal Contempt of his Person and Gospel that every where Reigns and whose Plagues are legible enough in Capernaum's Woe that are sentenc'd by the Judge himself to an hotter place in Torments than the Sodomites and surely very deservedly too it being nothing less than the Trampling under foot the Blood of a God and doing despite to the Spirit of Grace This is That Condemnation which will double Their Sorrows upon our Own Heads And our Vnbelief shall not make the Word of God of none effect Let us Repent and prepare for his second Coming who once for ever hath cautioned us by Them not to be surprized in the like Security Since in the very day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained Fire and Brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all Heaven showers down Hell on Guilty Wights Vile as were those Infernal Sp'rits Flaming in Lusts unnatural Ripe for Destruction down they fall To their own Places Scorched there In Everlasting Heats when here The dreaful Judgment Awes us not Ah me the Tragedies of Sin forgot Nor Waves nor Fires of Vengeance can Melt the Hard and Obdurate Man Yet what nor Flames can do nor Flood May easily be wrought by Blood. Come Lord the Work 's thine own and save A perishing World from the Grave FINIS ERRATA in the Life of Abraham PAg. 31. l. 11. r. Lustre p. 35. l. 1. r. rigour p. 66. l. 6. for other Sacrifices r. their Sacrifice p. 78. l. 7. for their r. thine p. 86. l. 4. r. charges p. 215. l. 26. r. she was p. 183. l. ult r. refreshed into p. 192. l. 22. dele that before possibly p. 221. l. 5. Chap. 12. Contents after Marriage add and Abraham's Death p. 232. l. ult r. inoffensive Ceremonies p. 70. l. 7. for Now r. No. Remarques ON THE LIFE Of the GREAT Abraham THE FATHER of the Faithful AND THE FRIEND of GOD. By S. JAY Rector of Chinner in the County of Oxon. Isaiah 51. v. 2. Look unto Abraham your Father LONDON Printed for Iohn Dunton at the Black Raven in the Poultrey over against the Compter 1689. TO THE Right Reverend Father in GOD GILBERT Lord Bishop of SARVM My Lord THat I presume to devote these Papers to your great Name when so perfect a Stranger to your Person may savour a little of Rudeness and Irreverence Yet your Lordship very well knows that a more refined Acquaintance is attainable with Spirits at a distance where the divine Idea's of the great Soul have Drawn themselves out to the very Life in the visible Characters of their own Excellency which have not fail'd to dragg after them as into an easie and pleasing Captivity the entire Affections and absolute Obedience of others as the natural Fruit of their Victory Thus we pay Homage to the very Saints in Heaven and to all Meritorious and Eminent Persons on Earth dignifying our selves by frequent and familiar Converses with them though perhaps exalted into mighty Stations far above the low Sphere of our meanness and humble Estate 'T is this Prospect My Lord made into the sublimer Forms of your spiritual Part that hath fix'd me your perfect Captive and given birth to this bold Intrusion But if sometimes the inferiouâ— Dependants on the Court Ensure themselves of a gracious Reception when thâ—â— come charg'd but with a Message from the Sovereign to you I am certain you will not shut your Gates against me when I come laden with Expresses from Heaven and recommended too by the Father of the Faithful and the very Friend of God. And thô it be little to your Lordship to hear of any New Pretender yet 't is Complacency enough to me when I make the World know how much I honour you for your Self and with what Pleasure and Satisfaction I received the good News of the Presidency of that Church to be lodged in your Lordship where my Ancestors with my unworthy self for four Generations successively paid the Tribute of Reverence to its Mitre now Priding â—t self in so rich an Head as yours unâ—ess perchance it be deprived of that Feâ—icity by the Ambition of another which â—ay emulate its Honour and think it no â—obbery to succeed in the same Happiâ—ess May your Lordship long live the true Heir of Abraham's eximious Faith and Piety the pleasing Object of your Princes Favour the Peoples Love and the Desire of all the Churches so Prays Your Lordships Most Obsequious Servant Steph. Jay REMARQUES ON THE LIFE Of the GREAT Abraham CHAP. I. Abraham's first Call from Idolatry to the Knowledge of the true God. The Encouragements God gives him to follow him His Obedience to the Call in leaving his Countrey He takes his Father and Family with him Their Arrival and Stay in Haran Their Business there Terah his Father dyes in Haran I Shall not reflect on this great Prince as a rough Stone lying unhewn in the Quarry of the Earth but as a sparkling Diamond polish'd by the Divine hand and made fit to be set in the Bosom of a God. The Chaldeans if any were famous and expert in Astrology Abraham's ambition aspired no higher than to get an acquaintance with the Heavens whose Power and Influences he thought had a great hand in governing the World he terminates his desires in the Zenith of these pleasing Studies being yet a perfect Stranger (a) (a) (a) Writers differ about Abraham's Idolatry some averring that he was never guilty though God seems to humble his Children with the consideration that their first Father had sinned which A Lapide confesseth to be meant not of Adam only but Abraham And that of Joshua can hardly be answered Cap. 24. v. 3. Philo positively concludes him so before the Divine Call. Neque eos audire possum qui cum magno conatu Abrahamum ab â—oc scelere vindicare nescio quibus argutiis student quasi non tanâ—â— illustrior sit Dei Gratia quâ illum est complexus quanto ipse suit sceleratior Masius In juventute Idololatra erat Tyrinus to the Omnipotent Power that had fixed those Luminaries in their several Orbs. Though the Book of the Creature discovers an infinite treasure of Wisdom and Power and clearly convince of a God yet is not the Eye so kind a Tutor to the Heart as to impose
its speculations with so great Authority or Success to work any powerful Impression upon it but rather taking up with the senses by the way it finds so pleasing Entertainment there that Man minds nothing more than what he sees and the glory of the invisible God becomes perfectly lost in the dazle and crowd of his visible Creatures The Mind of this Great Man was wholly immers'd in them he admires no Deity but that of his Countrey 'till by a Miracle of Mercy the Clouds of his Natural Darkness are dispell'd by an extraordinary light of Divine Revelation that makes Day in his Soul. Illumination from the Father of lights is so bright and influential upon the Faculties as fully secure from the danger of Delusion There is not only light but Assurance attending all the manifestations of God to the Mind Abraham was no Fanatick to be led by false Fires from his dearest Interests From this time the flames of VR burn darkly in his Eye he loaths to sacrifice any longer to the Fire when himself is enkindled by a diviner Spark Tradition tells us how true I know not that being now turned from their Religion his Countrey-men in rage threw him into the Fire for refusing to own their god but by miraculous escape he baffled the impotent Deity and discovered to its Votaries a greater that had bridled up his natural fury from singeing one Hair of his Head. This poor Element had the good fortune to be promoted to Honour from the gross mistake of some who had either heard or seen it fall from Heaven to consume the Sacrifices of the true Church these pass home and Vote it into (b) (b) (b) Chaldaei Persae cum vidissent Olim igne caelitùs delapso Patriarcharum sacrificia consumi putarunt esse Deum Godship perhaps on less improbable Errour than others since who contrary to all reason have promoted Meal to the same Worship and Deifie Bread instead of a Saviour Indeed the true God hath since fallen from Heaven in immaterial Fire on those holy Tapers who being first illuminated themselves were to pass over all the World to enkindle others baptizing them into Refinedness and Purity These Flames feed on nothing but Corruption and Ignorance they burn invisibly and this was the holy Fire which now God himself had kindled on the Alter of Abraham's Heart See from what mighty grounds of Reason and Truth our kind Mother the Church hath faithfully instructed us into the Necessity of God's preventing Grace which puts an effectual stop to the course of Sin even while with Saul we are posting on in a full career towards Death and Ruine Artic. 10. Divine Wisdom knows with what Heifer Man's Heart is best plowed 't is a selfish thing and plods on little else but its own Interests God pitying his Infirmities gratifies his weakness and falls in with him upon the terms that he sees best please him He knew this would make good Musick in the Ears of Abraham I will bless thee and I will make thee great Man will not serve God for nought though he owes all that he hath and is to Him for his Being Abraham though pretty well stricken in Years was yet but a Child in Experience of spiritual Grace therefore God dandles him on the Knee and allures him with the tickling Arguments of a Great Name and Estate We arrive to the Knowledge of Him by degrees and from a taste of his Goodness in the Creatures are afterwards brought to live upon Himself in the greatest abundance or want of them He knows by what Methods to train us up to perfection Abraham was no vulgar Person he stood already under very considerable Circumstances in the World But he that had much should yet have more and he that held his Estate but by the uncertain Tenure of general Providence shall now have his Copy enlarged to hold all in Fee-simple from a special donation of Grace God will hereafter add Sauce to his Meat and sweeten all his Messes with the Honey of Canaan 'T is a small thing to be Great if we hold that Greatness from our selves and derive it not from the great God who can make even Death it self that would else unstrip us into nothing to be the Porter to convey the Robes of a finite Honour into the next World with us where himself will overlay them with the Embroideries of an Infinite Glory But Abraham lived among his own People in all the delights of Security and Peace therefore God forestalls his Objection of Danger and offers him Articles (c) (c) (c) Mira Dei benignitas quod tam familiariter paciscitur cum Abrahamo haec enim solennis est foederum inter Reges alios formula ut communes habeant Amicos Hostes Vatabl. of Alliance wherein he makes over to him the whole Militia of Heaven for a Life-guard which we shall shortly find him making use of when he charged the Camp of the four Kings as Lightning and routed them these were to be commanded by his Faith at any time and that not for himself only but his Allies too Abraham should have the Aid of a God to lend at his pleasure to his Friends I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee In what desperate Estate then are the Enemies of the Church with all their Confederates of Hell who unite together unto certain Ruine and band themselvess unto Death Thus shall it be done unto Abraham whom God delighteth to Honour Tho' Reputation Riches and Long life be all that humane Nature can well wish for that Ignorantly closes her desires in the supposed felicity of them yet Abraham whose Soul should relish a greater Sweetness in God would not think himself sufficiently happy unless to all these there be superadded a blessing of that quality which might secure to him the lasting fruition of that Spiritual pleasure We bitterly part from Creature Joys but who that is Wise would want a God Temporal things grow Thredbare in the wearing and wither as Flowers in our Hands they abate of their Fragrancy and put us to the Blush for our too great confidence in them We are obliged to others for our Honour and Melt away our Treasures to purchase the Aire of their Mouths Life wasts away its self and grows ungrateful with long keeping If Abraham will be truly happy he must have something more than these There were Princes already in the World that glittered in all the Grandeurs of State it were a poor thing if a God should put off his Favourite with the fading Flowers of a Crown No an Honour shall be contrived for him brighter than the Sun which shall display its Beams as far as He and shed his influences over all the Universe to make it a fruitful Seminary for Heaven For in thee Abraham shall all the Families of the Earth be blessed As if God had said There shall arise a Glorious Person into the World compleated
that Manna the Spirits of Angels are feasted with Can whisper Secrets into thine Ears that shall drown thy heart with Joy unspeakable and Glorious Can light up such a Taper in thy Soul that shall pierce the Clouds and give thee a Prospect of the Invisible Kingdom and bless thy Soul with Moses's Eyes When all the World is tossed on the Billows of his Wrath can lodge thee in an Ark of perfect Security and Peace Thou shalt not fear the fears of the Wicked nor be distracted with their Amazements Thy Soul shall dwell in quiet within the Tabernacle of his Presence If Heaven and Earth should fall and mix together in one Chaos of Confusion the Ruine should not concern thee at all Thy Foot is fixt on the unmoveable Rock from all the Dreads and Possibilities of falling Everlasting Arms would be underneath to preserve thee from dashing thy self against the bruising Stones When Time hath spun out the Silver Thread of thy Life on Earth God will furnish thee with a Clew that shall convey thee safely thrô all the Labyrinths of Death into the lightsome Palace of an everlasting Joy and Glory where thou shalt ever share with his Chosen in endless Felicities and wear on thy happy Head the Immortal Crown of Life God from his own most blessed Essence flowing out unto thee with inexhaustible streams of ineffable Pleasure and Love which drown all apprehensions here to conceive and must despair ever to know before thou comest to enjoy them Lo this is the Reward and Heritage of the faithful Children of that Abraham whom God made the happy Object of his own delight his Friends Joy his Enemies Envy and the Wonder of all the World. Cease then from inquiring what an exceeding Great Reward thy God will be to those that serve him with Abraham's Heart Nor ask with David What shall be done to the man that shall sight the Battels of God against the Goliah's of the World and Sin but buckle on thine Armour and with Abraham and David act Couragiously and in the Strength of thine Almighty Shield thou shalt not fail to be Victorious the little Pebble of this single Promise shot from the strong Arm of thy Faith and Confidence shall sink into the Forehead of all thine Opposers on whose Ruines thou shalt build to thy self a Pillar and Monument of Immortal Glory and Praise Thou wilt pardon me Reader this long digression from Abraham's Story while I have been labouring only to heave up thy dull heart and tired Spirits to that blessed place where himself is entred and to give thee in a smaller draught an imperfect Copy of those Glories to which his Faith and Courage have so happily preferr'd him We shall find him presently making use of his Shield and trying what mettal it is made of not against a weak Combination of Kings but against God himself Indeed the manner of his Attacque is somewhat different for there is no prevailing against God but by an humble use of his own Weapons Therefore having received the Ammunition he immediately makes his Assault and so very luckily managed it that it struck into the very Heart of God and thence fetch'd out the blood that was afterwards temper'd to make up the Son which he fought for When fury and Wrath can prevail nothing Tears and Prayers get the Victory Hast thou said thou wilt be a Great Reward to me to what purpose will all that be when I am hastening to my Grave and cannot bear with me thy Blessings into the next World and I have no Heir to enjoy them after me Lord God what wilt thou give me seeing I go Childless See how Abraham strikes while the Iron is hot and dexterously clinches the Nail of the Promise with the humble stroak of his Faith into the breast of God's Faithfulness which opens it Self to make way for it to stick in and there it abode for many years after till Isaac came to draw it out 'T is observed by the Learned that Abraham (*) (*) (*) Domine Jehovah illud patheticum est eoque tanquam singultiens usus est Abraham Sigh'd out this Request to God from the very bottom of his Heart which no wonder then had so good effect on the Heart of God. The weak Charge of the Lips do little Execution without strong Enforcement from the Breath of the Soul. Omnipotence it self falls under the Push of a melted Soul. The Wind of Affectionate Prayer and Showers of true Repentance turns the very Bowels of a God within him and puts him on Repenting too Mary's Tears at Lazarus's Grave sets Jesus on Groaning and then to Weeping as fast as She Admire not to see the Soul of her Brother discharged out of Heaven when God could keep it there no longer The Spiritual Kingdom is very well pleased to suffer under such Violence It may be Jacob afterwards learned from his Grandfather this Never-failing Art of Wrestling with Heaven for in his buckling with the Angel though himself got a small blow that put his Thigh out of joynt yet had he Strength enough still to hold him Prisoner till he got his Designs upon him and his Tears trickled down so fast that there was no more Heart in his Antagonist to deny him that Blessing that he so powerfully struggled for As a Prince he prevailed with God But how He wept and made Supplicacation unto him They were Jacob's Tears that melted the strength of that Blessed Prince of Angels who when he came into the World in our Nature made use himself of no other Arms. But what are Sighs and Groans and Tears were they all of Blood for how little are they regarded in the World Since they make the poor Patients but the more unpleasing Company to others who breath in the Egyptian Air where no such Showers fall where no such Winds do blow Yet Sighs for Sin differ from other Breath as the Sweet Perfumes of the Aromatick Mountains from the Fuliginous Vapours of the dead Sea or the Inspirations of Heaven from the Noisom Belchings of Brutes They are the Brisk Gales that scatter the Fogs of Guilt and securely waft us to Heaven And though they are Inarticulate and pass away from us without a Coinage into Noise and Words yet God knows their Oratory well enough and can spell them into so good Sence that he puts his own Imprimatur upon them and shall be produc'd as Records of true Repentance though there be little else to plead for Mercy and Safety in the day of Visitation but the poor Evidence of a sew Hearty Groans under the killing Tyrannies of Sin. When the Bottle of Tears shall appear at that time to plead for us then shall these Winds also pass out of their Treasury to blow some Refreshment on us Both the one and the other Washed and Sweetned with the Sacrifice of the Blood of Jesus Ezek. 9.4 God had already made to Abraham a General Promise of a Numerous Seed and now he
they may follow strong Drink that continue until Night till Wine enflame them The Master of the Feast is yet ignorant of the Quality of his Guests There is no judging of inward worth by outward Appearance Since a plain Vesture once Shrouded the King of Glory from the Eyes of Men. Who many times before the uniting of his Divinity with humane Flesh was pleased in Old Time to assume the Shape of Man and pass Visits upon his dearest Servants His delights were with the Sons of Men. He was no less Person than the Son of God for whom Abraham was preparing attended on by his Angels in the same form tho by conjecture somewhat inferiour in Appearance of Habit. What a stately Embassy was this to an Abraham He is a Mighty Prince indeed to whom the Kings Son is deputed Legate Isaac as Jesus himself hath Angels to Prophesie his Conception and now is Abraham giving Order for the Annunciation Dinner to those Guests as never had Stomack for any but have Spiritual Food of their own more proper to their holy Natures while this shall be digested all into Air Yet Nine Months hence shall Sarah find the Milk again in her own Breasts more genuinely to suckle her little Son. The Collation is taken for the greater Pleasure under a Tree which then was honoured in lending her Shade to the Sun himself by an humble Dilatation of her Branches over his Glorious Head. And Abraham waited in Person to teach us that while we do our Duty to Men at the same instant we Act it to God himself and do but honour him in shewing Respect to our fellow Creatures Nor need we fear that we forget our selves while we intend it as Glory to him So well did Abraham demean himself in this humble Service that the Holy Guest to whom he performed it disdained not an Imitation of his Father when he Took on himself the form of a Servant and came not to be ministred to but to minister The Head of Angels washing the Feet of Men. The Lower we sink in Humility the Higher shall we rebound in Glory But where is Sarah Where is she but where she should be within her own Apartment Had the Guests been of her Sex she had not fail'd to have waited on them with the same Officiousness and Duty but now is Observant enough in confining her self to her own Province giving an Example to all her Daughters of Modesty and Obedience to their own Husbands Tho' she give them not her whole Presence yet she lends them an Ear the Contiguity of her Tent to the Tree gives her advantage of overhearing their Discourse and while she attentively listens finds her self concern'd in the Conference Happy that Soul who hearkening to the blessed Words of the same Jesus while he speaketh not of us only but to us in his Ordinances and in us by his Spirit I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak Peace Thus Sarah hearkens and hears Good News yea so good that her Faith is at a loss to believe it and she imagines that these Men only Complement her Husband in Discourse which they think will be most Grateful to him and therefore she laughs at the Jest confuting its Vanity by a kind of Retortion which is often made use of to a ridiculous Argument The which how closely soever she had Compress'd within the Concave of her Breast yet could she not detain it from the Ears of a God to whom our darkest thoughts are equally discernable with the loudest Exclamations While she is weighing Omnipotence in the Scales of her own Judgment and fancying it too light to encounter with her own Weakness she renders her self justly liable to severe Censure Wherefore did Sarah laugh is any thing too hard for God The God who is able to raise up Children to Abraham of stones might surely be thought as able to do it by his own Wife how Hopeless or Uncapable soever The Reproof falling so heavy on Sarah and Abraham being ignorant of her Guilt makes him begin to suspect that his Guests were more than Men and that they carried about them Omniscient Ears Man knows no more than what he draws from the outward Organ but he that made the Ears needs none himself to convey Knowledge to him Both Abraham and Sarah laugh at the Tidings of a Son yet is Sarah's laughing an Act perfectly different from that of her Husbands He laughing in Faith and Joy she in Distrust and Vnbelief God hath Mercy on the Infirmities of his Servants Sarah is reproved but not rejected the Reproof strikes upon her Conscience and makes her afraid That Fear casts her into a further Guilt She denies that she laughed and is shamefully convinc'd of what she knew her self Conscious Yet shall not all this invalidate the Decree God will have Mercy on whom he will let Sarah Laugh and deny it too yet God will not deny himself Sarah shall have a Son. The Embassy thus happily concluded the Legates depart they have a Commission to execute of a different Nature e're they return into Heaven Abraham that he might not be defective in the least part of his Duty performs the last Act of his Hospitality and genteelly brings them on their way He had kindly invited them liberally treated them now he as Courteously dismisseth them He Ran to call them in at the first and afterwards Ran to the Herd for Provision for them He stood waiting upon them while they took it yet still hath he Feet to travel with them Thus Good Men never fail in doing their Duty they go on from Strength to Strength They shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint Abraham's vigorous Heart adds Sinews to his feeble Joynts We should never complain of tired Limbs if we had but zealous Affections Get but Abraham's Company into thine Heart thou wilt have Abraham's Heart in the same Company 't was when Christ was not with them that the three Disciples fell Asleep At the steering of their Course towards Sodom I doubt not but Abraham's Heart began to Throbb He was no Stranger to the Villanies of those Cities and the approach of such Inquisitors as these he fears will bode them little Good. A less skilful Augury may serve to foretell the Destruction of Wickedness yet is he modestly Silent and dares not enquire into the Mysteries of God. 'T is ill prying into the Estate of Others till we find some sure ground of Security to our selves But Abraham is the Friend of God and Communication of Secrets is one of the Veins that conveys Life and Strength to the whole Body of Friendship 't is not every one that is admitted into the Cabals of Princes Abraham is a Favourite and fit to be one of the Privy Council of Heaven God that had honoured him by a Revelation of the secrets of his Love to himself cannot keep from him the discovery of his Intentions of Wrath on the Wicked
own Experience on Subjects they had never heard or known If Forreign Affairs and Customs of Nations delight them he can lead them into Egypt and acquaint them with the Intreigues of Pharaoh's Court where himself so long had conversed among them If Military Affairs better please them he can give them the Faithfulest account of the Late War with the four Kings wherein himself had been General If they will listen to more Melancholly Matters they may hear from him the Tragedy of Sodom of whose Flames his own Eyes had been sad Witnesses If they will pass from all and attend to the Wonders of his own Family He can recommend to them the Advantage of Civility to Strangers forasmuch as himself thereby had entertained Angels and held long Conferences with God Himself 'T is a noble Design to Consecrate the Fruits of our Lips and Tables together to the Glory of God and the Profit of Men. Speech is the peculiar Faculty of Man by which the Sentiments of the Mind are communicated and made publick for the Good or Hurt of others What Care then is Incumbent on the Children of Abraham to speak as well as to Act like him My mouth shall be filled with thy praise and with thy Salvation all the day long The Tongue is the Glory of Man which should not be imployed in dishonour to God he deserves not to speak at all that speaks not the Praises of his Maker The Feast being ended and the Guests dismissed Abraham returns to make Digestion of all by taking a Walk with God in Meditation and Prayer and begs that what had passed that day in his Family might redound to the Honour of God and the everlasting Good of his Friends Not long after this there breaks out a little War in his Family His two Sons are of different Mothers and consequently have different Interests to carry on Ishmael questionless set on by Hagar is found not to bear so fraternal Affections to little Isaac as he ought He is told that he is come into the World to undermine him who stood so fair in the hopes of his Fathers Estate before his Birth Some are of the Opinion that he minded privily to kill him Others only that he loaded him with Jears and Flouts as he played with his Companions rendring him Ridiculous and Contemptible by holding out of the Finger and puting out of his Lip boasting himself to be the true Heir whatsoever it were the Fault is expounded by the Holy Ghost Himself into the Guilt of Persecution which is as well perform'd by the Sword of the Mouth as the Hand Little Isaac is an Early Martyr and the Type of Him that was sought for to be slain in his Swadling-Cloaths Herod would fain Worship and Kill him at once which afterwards was effectually done by those who first wounded him by their Lips Behold the King of the Jews and then dispatched him with their Hands The King dies on the Cross Sarah knew well enough whence all this Spight and Malice was derived the Sons Spirit was but Exasperated by the envious Mother and she finds no possibility of Peace or Security while they continued together in one Family she prudently foresaw some danger in case of Abraham's Death What knew she but Hagar by her subtil Insinuations and Carriage might form such a Party against her that she and her Isaac might be cast out Therefore to secure her Self and the Right Heir she plots betimes to prevent the danger and brings her Writ of Ejectment against her Adversary with such Passion and Resolution as she seems to command the Issue of the Suit before the Judge had considered the ground of the Quarrel Abraham is the only Arbiter in the Case and is hardly solicited to give Sentence against his own Bowels He is divided in his Affections and hath no heart to pass the Order for his own Childs Expulsion The thing was very grievous unto him because of his Son. While the matter hangs in suspence and Abraham is strugling between the Duties of an Husband and a Father and cannot so easily be brought over to forget his Nature and Natural Affections God Himself comes in to give the Casting Voice and Votes clearly for Sarah The good Man that never stuck at any thing that his God commanded be it never so grievous or opposite to his Interests now is willing to forget himself and every thing in Obedience to his Will and gives present Order for the departure of the Bond-woman and her Son. He rises early to begin the day with so difficult a Peice of Obedience having wrestled all the Night against Nature Affection and Self Neither Hagar's intreaties nor Ishmael's cryes can work any Repentance in him Though they sought it carefully with Tears He is Obstinate and Peremptory in his Obsequiousness to God whose holy Commands must be chearfully followed with a Deaf Ear and Heart hardened against every thing that oppose them We never arrive to the degree of Abraham's universal Conformity to the Divine Will till we shut out all Inclinations to the ruinous Solicitations of the Creatures But if nothing will avail and the young Gentleman must determinately be gone we hope the Son of so great a Prince shall pass off in State with a suitable Provision of Maintenance and Servants to attend him What should be the meaning that he who is Prophesied to be the Father of a Nation and of Twelve Princes should be sent away with a loaf of Bread and a Bottle of Water from so Great and Rich a Parent as Abraham The Ladies of this Age are not so cheaply untwisted from their Amorous Gallants without Honourable Settlements for Themselves and Children Abraham was Affectionate and tender-hearted What not so much as a Slave or an Ass to carry the Wallet but it must be hung on the Shoulders of Hagar whose heavy Heart was ready to Break with the Load of Sorrow and Care that already oppress'd it Is Abraham grown thus Pitiless now 'T were Blasphemy against his Piety to assert that He whose Generous Nature Appear'd in the profuse Communications of his Charity to very Strangers should be thus Penurious and Miser-like in his Fatherly Contributions to his own Child The Learned strive to clear up his Reputation by many Arguments Some I fear over-do it when they conclude That Servants and Cattel and all Accommodations for Life are included here in the Scripture Phrase of Bread and Water Others perhaps under-do it when they tell us that he gave them no more to teach them Faith and Dependance upon God whom he left to provide for them when that little was spent With the same Argument He might have given them nothing committing them altogether to the Providence of God with the cold Charity of a naked Wish Depart in Peace be ye warmed and filled These make the Father of the Faithful almost an Infidel and at best but a Solifidian Some falsely enough impute it to Sarah's Revenge and they that aimed
at All should now have Nothing surely he that was so well treated in Pharaoh's Court was not so ungrateful to a poor Handmaid of his Country to send her forth to starve Others affix it to their own Insolence who were grown too rude and turbulent in the House of Abraham The most probable conjecture that best agrees with all Circumstances is that what was now given them was to serve only for present necessity and Abraham directing them whither to go promis'd to take care to supply them further as their Necessities required which also he did 'Till Isaac's Birth the Bondwoman and her Son had quiet entertainment in Abraham's Family Now the Heir is born they agree not together but Hagar trudges out with her Bottle and Bag to wander in the Wilderness Who sees not the Old Law marching after her with all its Ceremonies in the same Bag at the bringing in of the New by Jesus Christ the true Heir of Righteousness and Salvation For ever are they departed now to return no more into the Church of God And how peaceable possession Sin doth enjoy in the Natural Heart where it rules all the Rost hath an absolute Dominion and beats down all before it till anon God in pity to the miserable Soul gives it Grace to conceive the true Heir which once Formed and growing up to some Strength takes Arms and with the Assistance of Heaven maintains the War which is happily Crown'd with thorough Conquest of all Opposition and receives its Palms in the Everlasting Kingdom Hagar and Ishmael are gone whose wandrings and sufferings in the Wilderness are but a farther Allegory of the present Sorrows of the miserable Posterity of Abraham who when the true Heir appeared in the World were then in possession of their Fathers House But for mocking and Persecution of the Great promised Son are dealt with as Ishmael cast out of the blessed Inheritance of both Canaans and are wandring in the Desart of damnable Error with the Wallet of an insupportable Burden on their Shoulders feeding still on the musty Bread and drinking out of the Old Bottles the stale Puddle Water of the Law in contempt of the pure Springs of the Living Water so freely offer'd them and the New Wine of the everlasting Gospel They lye with Ishmael under a Shrub not so sensible of their Penury as he forlorn and dejected with the Curse of the Blood of Jesus upon them They perish in the midst of Abundance and have no Eyes to see the Well of Life out of which the whole Church is so sweetly refreshed in Vivacity and Power O that same Good Angel would come with a Message of Comfort and Mercy to them as he did unto Hagar and taking away the Veyl that is upon their Hearts to this day they may clearly perceive the things that belong to their Eternal Peace Even so come Lord Jesus Come quickly Holiness is that Great Luminary darting its Beams so conspicuously round about the World where it shines that draws every Eye to admire it rendring its Subjects so Amiable that those who cannot shine in the same Light desire yet to sit under and enjoy its Blessed Influences Abraham scattered the Divine Rayes of his Piety and Goodness so illustriously over all the Kingdom of Gerar for which God had sent him thither that the very Court is Clarified by his Brightness and cannot think its self happy without a nearer Conjunction with this Great Planet Sarah's Beauty had Fetter'd the Affections of this King already now is his Understanding Captivated perfectly to the divine Presence of Abraham's Piety What a Glory was it to this Great Saint to see Abimelech himself with Phicol his Lord-General and all their Princely Retinue come bowing to him and making earnest Suit that he would become their Allie The King had found by experience that God had blessed his Kingdom for Abraham's sake and now Abraham must bless Abimelech for his own sake He had certainly learn'd how great things God had done by and for Abraham and therefore thought it a part of true Policy to confederate himself with so great a Favourite and to ensure the Friendship of him that was the Friend of God He grounds his Request upon Abraham's Interest and nearness to God. God is with thee in every thing that thou dost A very Glorious Testimony out of the Mouth of a King and doubtless no whit ungrateful unto Abraham himself who loved to hear the Kindnesses of his God to him acknowledged by very Heathens This gave Abraham the Honour and Abimelech the Benefit of the League If God were with Abraham how much should Abimelech advantage himself by his Friendship And the King knew well enough how far he strengthned himself by being in Covenant with him that was in Covenant with God That God who had sworn to him to be a Friend to his Friends and an Enemy to his Enemies Hence he is so zealous to perpetuate the Agreement that he moves for the durable Extension of it to his Heirs and Successors His Son and his Sons Son and will have it confirmed by the highest Obligation of a Sacred Oath which binds the Conscience under the dreadfullest penalties Well did Abimelech know that Abraham having once sworn would suffer even Death it self rather than to be false to his Covenant or incurr the Anger of his God. Piety hath a place in the Consciences thô not in the Affections of Strangers to God. Abraham would be stedfast enough when once he had fastened him with the Nail of the Sanctuary And himself should dye with greater satisfaction when he had confirm'd his Successors by linking in their Interests with his He cunningly makes him the very Guardian of the Prince whose Crown would never totter on his Head while he had so formidable a Person as Abraham to keep it on who had made Four Kings to flie before him Therefore by this Oath is Abimelech and his Heirs secured both against Abraham himself whose growing Greatness he might justly fear so against all others by his means Thus had God caused the Dread of Abraham to fall on the whole Court and Kingdom of Gerar Kings and Generals fall low before him and Devote themselves to him while he the more humbly bows to his God and under all the Courtships of Crowned Heads Remembers that his own must stoop to the Dust Abraham who had before strucken a League with Heaven was not pufft up with a vain Elation of being a Confederate with a King who ambitiously sought that Honour from him The highest Promotion on Earth cannot swell the mind that is closely united with God. All the benefit he draws from it shall advantage the Kingdom whom he blesses with his Presence and Five and twenty years Residence in it He had pitched his Tent at Beresheba where he planted a Grove and needs must the Trees thrive well that are set by so good an hand Jonathan tells us 't was an Orchard of pleasant Fruits wherein he
Comforts on Earth God had made with him an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure This is all his desire and all his Salvation although he should not make his House to grow Who can see Him rising early to whet the Sacrificing knife that must cut the Throat of his beloved Isaac and giving orders for the cleaving the Wood that must afterwards Burn his dearest Body into Ashes and hastening his Son and Servants to the Journey The Lord hath a Sacrifice to be Offered on the Mount of Moriah how is This Righteous Soul straitned untill it be fullfiled Who can see him thus busie in the Annihilation of his own Flesh without believing that his Affections were all ravished away into Heaven and that Divine Grace had absorp'd him to that degree that he seems to have little of Man or Father appearing in him As Levi he knows not his own Children but packs away the one into Banishment at the Command of God and the other into Death So wholly eaten up by divine Zeal that for three whole days together Travelling towards the fatal Mount he hath both his Eyes so intentively sixt on the holy Commandment that he doth not so much as glance on his Isaac whoâ— he Devotes unto Good and looks on him as nothing but Ashes already The Law of his God that by this Command had dispensed with the very Law of Nature was so strong upon his Heart that he becomes obediently Vnnatural and Cruel not in the least repining as Jacob against God Me hast â—hou bereaved of my Children Ishmael is not and â—ilt thou take Isaac also all these things are against me Not so much as pouring out one Prayer to revoke the dreadful Injunction Father if it be possible let this Cup pass away But totally resigning Himself with his Blessed Heir Let thy will and not mine be done O Holy Abraham how Illustriously do the Graces of Him shine forth upon thee that would be Nothing else than what he was unto God! Thou art that Righteous Man of the East that hath learned to fall down and lye thus Submissively at the Foot of God Whither shall we go in Pilgrimage to find out the least Track of thine Obedient Steps there is scarce a little Line of thy Miraculous Devotion left upon the Face of the Earth Though St. Austin and some few more are pleased to give Sarah the Honour of consenting to the Death of her Son at the Will of God yet others more generally deny it and that Abraham afraid that her Faith might be drown'd in the Flood of her Passion very prudently conceal'd the Divine Mandate from her till after the Execution and that possibly he might bring her back a Son preternaturally raised out of his own Ashes for his God was Almighty In vain should he occasion a Precipitation of her Sorrows the woful Tidings would fall too soon as a Talent of Lead to crush and break her miserable Heart 'T is Abraham alone hath that Masculine Spirit to bear up under so sinking an Affliction as this Nor doth the Appearance of the fiery Mountain upon which his Son must be Offered dismay him David piteously lamenting the Fall but of a Friend bitterly execrated the Gilboâ— that had suckt in the Blood of his Jonathan devoting it to the Curse of Heaven for ever But Abraham can view the place where the Fire must consume his dearest Child and yet with Aaron hold his peace And now what his Faith assures him will be acceptable to God his Fear tells him may not be so very Grateful to Men. He prudently dismisses the Servants whose Eyes and Hearts he thinks would not serve them to view what his own unhappy Hands must Act He desires no Witnesses of so Tragical a Sacrifice 'T is enough that he who had set him on the Work and could not but See him should Sign the Certificate of his Faithful Obedience and Service While he Approves himself to God he values not the Testimony of Men He cries not as Jehu to Jonadab Come see my zeal for the Lord. Some fancy that he left them behind least when they should see him doing what he must do they might think that he had left his Wits behind him and so might hinder him of his Duty as once the Good Meaning Friends of Jesus did him on pretence of Distraction and Want of Senses It was not improbable but these young Men might have obstructed his Offering from as Ardent Zeal to their young Master as those afterwards who rescued Jonathan Sworn to Death from the Hands and Oath of his Violent Father But Abraham will not be interrupted by Men in a Duty which is commanded him by God. If he himself will cut the Cords of the Sacrifice and his Isaac's Redemption be wrought by the same Authority from Heaven that his Death was imposed most happy should he think himself but no other Hand shall take him from the Altar than the Divine one that laid him on Whence then is His Authority who pretends a Power to Dispense against the Positive and Absolute Commands of God The Servants and Beasts are disburthened while the whole Load is laid upon Isaac the Son is oppressed and the very Slaves go free yet he Murmurs not Who Sees not here those Innocent Shoulders that once bore our Griefs and carried our Sorrows The Iniquity of us all was laid upon him yet he opened not his Mouth Can we view Isaac bowing under the Wood that is design'd to devour him and not behold our dearest Saviour Fainting under the weight of his own Cross both ascending by weary Steps the very same Mount Abraham and Isaac the Holy and the Spiritual these tug with difficulties and attain to Mount Sion the City of God while the Carnal and the Brutish lag below and perish in the Valley of Darkness and Death where no Sacrifice is offered by them none is accepted for them their Iniquity is not purged by any offering for ever Nor is there any true Son of Abraham but who in this Life divides Himself the Brutish Part is left behind here below while the Aspiring Soul climbs the Hill to meet with God and doth so effectually prevail with him there that hereafter the poor Dust shall be called up too and participate of those Divine Qualities that will fit it for so Glorious a Communion The Ascent to the Mount was the most difficult part of the whole Journey and strong is the Body that bears up it Self against its Proclivity and Steepness Yet must not Isaac be pitied but instead of ease hath an heavy Burthen heaped upon him by a Father that tenderly loves him with design it may be to make him weary of the World and more willing to dye and pass out of it while the Slaves and Brutes are at ease and free from All below If the Cares of Life that are common to all are sound too light to humble the dearest Children of God and keep them low behold God
Peace and Joy While holy Paul triumphed in the Testimony of his Conscience that gave him the Assurance of his Truth and Sincerity how little did he value the censure of those that impudently branded him for a Reprobate 2 Cor. ult Let God himself draw up the Certificate of Jobs Integrity That there was none like him in all the Earth Yet will the very Devil undertake to disprove him in it and his Three Friends are all drawn in to close with him and by many Arguments labour to asperse him with the foul Imputation of Hypocrisie till that mistaken Counterfeit is accepted only to pray away the guilt of that Ignorance and then they look on him with the Eyes of God. 'T is no matter how thick these stones of Persecution â—lie upon us while with the Protomartyr the Heavens open to us and our Eyes are blessed with the glory of Jesus How little would Abraham have felt the smart of Reproaches from scandalous Mouths whose Ears had heard that blessed Encomium from God himself Now I know that thou fearest me Not but that God knew it before but Abraham must know it too that he might rejoycingly walk in the pleasant light of Gods Love and his own Integrity together He that hath not passed Abraham's tryal and given the same proof of Fidelity cannot reasonably expect to feel the same reward of Joy. Let no Man think himself free from a Temptation of the same Magnitude since under the Gospel not Isaac thy Son but thou thy Self art called on to be Sacrificed on the same Mount And he is accounted unworthy to be a Disciple that hates not his Own Life for the sake of his Master The great Saviour hath abounded in Votaries proud of the Honour of writing their Love in the Blood of their Hearts and have been reduced into Ashes with as burning Affections to his Glory and hath every where Those that hold their All at the only pleasure of his Will and who can at all times pass not only into Poverty and loss of Estate but also of Life for his Truth They loved not their lives to the Death and should they never be called to climbe the Mount and suffer the fatal stroke yet since the Sacrifice is ready and the Hand list up God doth accept the ready mind and Isaac is Sacrific'd tho' yet alive He is dead for Christ on God's account who is willing to die 't is the Heart and not the Blood that he requires If Isaac the Fruit of the Body be refused shall the Ram in the Thicket be taken Will the Lord be pleased with Rams with thousands of them Sacrifices and Burnt-offerings thou wouldest not but God himself will provide the Sacrifice and prepare the Body of another Son of Abraham yet behind he is the only Lamb of God that must take away the sins of the World him will God accept tho' Isaac be not taken In the despair of Abrahams Age must Isaac be called into Life in the despair of his Hopes must he be saved from Death When the Knife is at the throat of the whole Church and Posts are every where flying with orders to give the Blow then shall Salvation break out God is seen in the Mount still When all means of deliverance fail below and his people brought into the extreamest streights then doth enlargement come from himself that all the World may know that He is God alone and besides him there is no Saviour CHAP. XI Sarah's Death Abraham's Purchase of a Grave for Her. ABraham's Affections were not so strongly rooted as the Trees of his pleasant Grove into the Soil of Gerar but he can easily pluck them up to be transplanted from Beersheba into his Canaan again The Heart that is fixed unto God doth ever hang loose from the Earth It is he that makes all places a-like delightful to us by the Gracious Shine of his Presence Fear not Jacob to go down into Egypt for I will go with thee Abraham who not long since enjoyed God in the Mount and had the Life of a Son given him must now as contentedly pass down into the Valley of Tears and suffer the Death of a Wife Six and thirty years enjoyment had God given her of the delight of her Heart she that so long had patiently waited for him should not too hastily be hurried from him but now must she pass from her Abraham and Isaac together to the God of both The great Sarah dies Twice already had she been sent for and taken from her Husband by Kings but now never to return more she is once for all sent for to the King of Heaven who provides her a place in his Own till Abraham comes to lay her again in his Bosome The Angels she had entertained in her Tent give her welcome into Glory and furnish her Lodgings suitable to the Quality of the Great Mother of all the Faithful and Wife to the Friend of God. That all Generations may know what respect God himself bore unto Sarah she alone of all her Sex hath the peculiar Honour to have her Age registred in the Rolls of Heaven who notwithstanding all her Labour and Travel ever moving from one Nation to another from one Kingdom to another People kept up an unwearied Courage and Faith till God in Pity put an end to all her Toils and sent her a Writ of Ease in the Hundred twenty and Seventh year of her Life Holy David hath well observed that our whole Life is but as a Tale that is told and God knows the Lives of too many make up a very Inconsiderable and sad one This great Lady the very Mirrour of Women and Wives for her incomparable Piety unspotted Purity unparallel'd Patience exemplary Subjection and incessant Persâ—verance in all makes up an History and when all the Memories of the great Princesses of the World are devoured by Time and buried in Oblivion the smallest Circumstances of Her Life must survive them all and Her story exactly Chroniâ—led in the everlasting Volums Sarah may not laugh but all the World must know it she may not pay her dutiful Respect to her Husband by giving him his Title of Lord but that Obedience must be recommended to the imitation of all her Daughters above Two thousand years after with a gracious design to keep up her Honour and Memory for ever Abráham receives the tydings of her Death with lamentable Resentment and passes in a grave and solemn Procession into her Tent as the House of Mourning to pay her the just Tribute due to the merits of so incomparable a Consort There instead of a Wife he finds a Corps whose cold Cheâ—ks and wan Lips he bedews with his warmer Tears which yet give some little ease to his heavy Heart from the oppression of that Grief that is ready to break it Here the remembrance of all her Goodness and Vertues crowd in upon his Mind and Memory which while he reflects on together with his own loss of them
great a Prince as Isaac He knew that Marriages were made in Heaven Let her whom thou hast appointed c. His Prayer is no sooner made than granted Those drive on heavily where God knocks off the Wheels of Expedition but where Himself is in the Course the Chariot flees like that of Aminadab Abraham might have taken his Choice of all the Princesses of Canaan for his Son but behold here a Woman with a Pitcher on her Shoulder is ordained to make his Daughter Hath not God chosen the Poor of this World Rich in Faith to make a Spouse for his own Son We Note not the Meanness of Rebekahs Family the same with Abraham's but the Simplicity and Innocency of those early Times in the plain Education of their Children when Pride and Idleness ruines our own Eliezer is so far from liking her the worse that her Humility was the only Virtue that recommended her to him and the Woman that could be so courteous and lowly to draw Water for himself and his Camels is a concurrent Evidence from Heaven to his own judgment of the best Wife for his Young Master While the Dainty Fingers of our Ladies muff up themselves from Rebekahs Pitcher and Rachel's Crook God thinks them unworthy to be promoted into the Beds of Isaac and Israel in the Family of Abraham 'T is the humble Mary that in the rejection of all the Proud Princesses of the World is called to the everlasting Honour of drawing out her Breasts to a God. Eliâ—zer makes the first Attack upon Rebekahs Heart by a Charge of Jewels and Manacles her Arms and Affections together Now is the House and all in it too little for him into which she runs as his Prisoner with the Chains on little yet thinking that within a day or two she should be drawn out of it by the Man whom she calls her Brother to lead in The diligent Servant will receive no Entertainment till he knew whether his Message may not be as welcome as his Person 'T is not enough that he comes from Abraham unless he may go away with Rebekah He politickly takes the course of the World and first presents them with an Inventory of his Great Masters Estate He thinks that the Argument of Riches will prevail more than that of Consanguinity and he Doubles it to them when he truly tells them that all was given him of God. His Gold would wear like Iron without the Canker of a Curse upon it And to all he adds this That the Excellent Person he woes for is the Sole Heir of all And in conclusion intreats the result of their Thoughts and that they might come to some speedy Resolution So good a Motion as this requires no long time for Consideration unless they purpose to deliberate to their own disadvantage They could not mend themselves any where in all the World and therefore they think it Prudence to come off Frankly and yield up a ready Consent They plainly perceive a Divine Providence in the Motion and will not oppose the Holy Will and Wisdom of God Behold Rebekah is before thee take her and go c. The Hearts of Men are in the Hands of God therefore Eliezer humbly bows in Thanksgiving to the God that had bowed them The Good Servant had learnt this holy Practice from his Old Master that was ever falling down before his Maker Not a word all this while of any Portion 't is a Wife that Abraham requires for his Son not Money Matters thus Auspiciously concluded the Presents are delivered first to the Bride and then to her Friends This was the laudable Custom of Antiquity Rebekah by these Jewels may judge before-hand what a well-furnished Closet she will find at home All Parties are satisfied Mirth and Joy refresh their Hearts while they eat and drink together in Love. Eliezer as a good Servant urges dispatch while they plead for Ten days time to take leave of their Sister The Controversie at length is referred to Rebekah her self who modestly yields her assent to the Stewards Request She is dismissed with her Nurse and Maids and a Thousand Prayers to attend them While we leave them a little on the Journey let us take notice how happy she is like to be in an Husband Isaac's Holy Mind was not so vainly carried away with the pleasing Conceits of Marriage that should cause him to neglect the Remembrance of his Duty to God Piety is the sure Ground of every Blessing He builds aright indeed that layes his foundation in Heaven The World is but a tottering Basis that hath buried the Greatest Families in Ruine Blessed is the Heart that is first Married to Christ and from the Crowd of Distractions here below makes very frequent Retreats to keep up a daily Converse with the Spiritual Husband who is not so Strange or Unkind but will give it a Meeting at any time and manifest Himself to it Thou Lord meetest him that rejoyceth in thee We are assured he will not fail drawing near to those that draw near to him This was the Heavenly Practice of Isaac the Holy Son of so Blessed a Father whose Soul was ever filled with God. What a lovely Draught of his Devotion hath the Divine Pencil presented to our Eye Isaac went out to meditate in the Fields in the Evening Meditation is the Souls pitching on some Branch of the Tree of Life where it sits viewing its own Happiness and chirping out Praises to God the Author of it Next to Abraham no Man living had a more pleasant Prospect of sweeter Objects than Isaac to contemplate Heaven and Earth was but one Field for his unlimited Soul to walk in From the lower Terraces here in the World without the help of his Sons Ladder might he mount up to the the Turrets above and Feast his Eyes with the Glories of Paradise He was equally Heir of both Canaan's confirm'd to him by the very Oath of God. Could he want Subject then for holy Meditation or Praise or Comfortable Matter for his busie Thoughts to work on Thoughts are the Issues of the Mind that Prolifick Parent whose Children are all of one Nature with it self and never differ in Quality from it If that be Terrestrial so are They but if Holy they cannot be unclean and should they prove so they are with Ishmael cast out There is no lodging for them in Abraham's House Behold Isaac's Pious Exercise like an Antiquated Custom grown quite out of Use The Defection of the Old World come upon us All the Imaginations of the Heart for the greatest part of Men evil and only evil and that continually God is not in all their thoughts He by whom we have the Power and Faculty of Thinking quite forgotten The very Cream of our Souls leaking out in full Streams after Vanity and nothing left for God Ephraim feedeth on Wind. But hath the Christian no better fare to Feast on Hath God spread all the Treasures of his unsearchable Grace and