of his death O my beloued Sonne Isack would God thou hadst neuer beene borne and thou my sweete wife Sara would God thou hadst alwaies beene barren rather then to haue borne a son in thine old age after so long barrennes whome thy husband and his father must now in so vnfatherly a fashion bereaue of his naturall being and breath But Abraham was farre from all such infirmitie and imperfection of faith and therefore beleeuing that Gods promise should not misse of performance but that he was euen able to raise Isack againe out of his owne ashes he delayed not to doe that which the Lord had enioyned him concerning his son Gen. 22.1 to 13. But when as he was in heauing vp his hand to giue him the mortall blowe with the knife behold the Angell of the Lord from heauen forbid him to lay his hand vpon the childe For now I knowe quoth he that thou fearest God seeing that for my sake thou hast not spared thine onely sonne And thus Abrahams will to offer his onely sonne for a burnt offering vnto the Lord was accepted for the deede Abrahams obedience then was correspoÌ„dent to his faith whence it did flowe his faith was great and therefore great was his obedience Io. 8.56 he saw Christ but a farre off and he was glad he saw by faith and that a great faith and therefore great was his sight his gladnes and his ioy And as he had a great faith in his heart so made he a great demonstration thereof in the actions of his hands Gen. 12.7.8 13.4.18 For Abraham wheresoeuer he soiourned erected an Alter vnto God and called vpon his name As he forsooke the Idols of his fathers euen their Gods Iosh 24.2.3 which were no Gods so he acknowledged and worshiped entierly the onely true God Gen. 14 18 19.20 Heb. 7.4.8 Also he payed Tithes vnto Melchisedeck the high Priest of the most high Giuing therby an exaÌ„ple to al his Instruction 3 children Iam. 2.18 of shewing their faith by their workes and namely vnto the richer sort of consecrating a part of their substance to the building repairing of Churches for the seruice of God and of making his ministers partakers of their goods according as the Apostles exhortation doth beare saying Galat. 6.6 Let him that is taught in the word make him that hath taught him partaker of all his goods And not onely was Abraham religious and godly in himselfe but he was also carefull for all such as were vnder his charge Gen. 17.23.24.25.26.27 Deut. 10.16 30.6 Ierem 4.4 6.10 Act. 7 51 Gen 18.19 to wit for his children and seruants that they should liue before God as men no lesse circumcised in their hearts then in their flesh I know said the Lord that Abraham will command his Sonnes and his housholde after him that they keepe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnes and iudgement Whereby the Instruction 4 children of Abraham after the promise and chiefly all fathers and maisters of families are taught to giue diligence that their children and seruants be instructed in the knowledge of the true God Tit. 2.12 and of godlines that they may liue godlily soberly and iustly in this present world And the effect of this his christian care for his familie may appeare both in his Sonne Isack and in his seruant Eliezer of Damascus the steward of his house as for his sonne as he was consecrated to the Lord in his very child-hoode Gen. 22.2.10.11.12 26.25 25.5 so was the whole time of his life spent in a spirituall and reasonable sacrificing of himselfe to the Lords seruice Neuer was there a sonne begotten of man more father like then was godly Isack who followed the foote-steps of his fathers faith pietie charitie equitie and vertuous liuing and succeeded both to his goodnes and his goods to his godlines no lesse then to his gold And as for Abrahams chiefe seruant Eliezer his pietie and fidelity are both of them mentioned in the scripture to his praise His piety towards God doth appeare in this that being sent by Abraham to take a wife for his sonne Isack in his owne kinred Gen. 15.2.3 24.1.2.10.11.12.42 he no sooner receiued his masters commaund but as soone he commended his way and affaires to Gods prouidence and blessing by prayer The which thing he did likewise when he was arriued to the Citie of Nahor O Lord of my maister Abraham quoth he I beseech thee send me good speede this day and shew mercie vnto my maister Abraham Such as the maister was such was the man a religious maister and Instruction 5 a religious man whose pietie towards God may serue for a lesson to all maisters and men to begin alwaies their important affaires at God by in calling of his name for except God blesse man certainly shall misse and miscarrie in his designes Likewise Eliezer when as he had receiued the signe which he had asked of the Lord to know thereby the prosperous successe of his iourney being ariued to the Citie of Nahor Gen. 24.48.50 51.52 where Bethuel dwelt he bowed himselfe and worshiped the Lord and said Blessed be the Lord God of my maister Abraham which hath not withdrawen his mercy and his truth from my maister for when I was in the way the Lord brought me to my maisters brethrens house The like was his religious and Godly demeanour when as his errand had taken the desired effect and that he had betrothed Rekekath the daughter of Bethuel to his maisters sonne Isack to be his wife Thus godly Eliezer as he began his busines in praying vnto God for good successe so he ended it in praysing God for the good successe already gotteÌ„ The which pietie of Eliezer is to be practised of all good seruants yea and of all maisters too To the end that God who is the Alpha and the Omega Reuel 1.8 that is to say the beginning the ending of all things may be likewise the Alpha and the Omega of all our actions Whether ye eate or drinke saith the Apostle or what soeuer ye doe 1. Cor. 10.31 Col. 3.17 do all to the glory of God and in the name of the Lord Iesus giuing thankes to God euen the father by him And as this good Eliezer was pious towards God so was he no lesse officious and faithfull towards his maister the father of the faithfull For both he would not so much as eate a crumme of bread in Bethuels house till he had said his message Gen. 24.33 37 54.5â—.59.61.63 64. and done according to his oath and when as he had done the errand which he came for and had obtained Rekekah for Isack he would not soiourne any longer in Bethuels house but departed the next morning bringing home with him the vertuo us Rekekah to godly Isack who as he went out to pray in the fielde toward the euening met her comming home
feare saith Siracides is a gift of the Lord Eccles 26.1.14 and there is nothing so much worth as a woman that is well instructed and blessed is the man that hath a vertuous wife saith the same wise man The golden Legend of IACOB and RAHEL IACOB whome the Lord loued eueÌ„ before he was borne Malach. 1.2 Rom 9.13 Gen. 25.21 22.23.28 and of whome he had foretolde that his elder brother should serue him was borne of Rebekah after that God at the request of her husband Isack had taken away her barrennesse As God loued him before he was borne so his mother loued him more then her elder sonne Esau wheÌ„ he was borne So that by Gods prouidence who loued him and the counsaile of his mother who tendred him he obteyned of his father the blessing which by the law of birth was due vnto Esau as being the elder God giue thee of the dewe of Heauen and the fatnes of the earth and plentie of wheate and wine Gen. 27 6.7.8.9.23.28.29.3â—.37 said Isack in blessing of his sonne let people be thy seruants and nations bow vnto thee cursed be he that curseth thee and blessed be he that blesseth thee So that when as Esau did complainningly expostulate in the presence of his father against his brother Isacks answere was I haue blessed thy brother therfore he shall be blessed behold I haue made him thy Lord and Instruction 39 all his brethren haue I made his seruants Wherein we may learne first whosoeuer is beloued and blessed of God as Iacob was shall also be beloued and blessed of all godly men and women such as Isack and Rebekah were And next that such as honour the Lord and serue him as Iacob did the Lord will honour them with Iacob Instruction 40 and euen make others to serue them as he made Esau to serue his younger brother Iaccob according to that saying vttered by the Lords owne mouth 1. Sam. 2.30 Them that honour me will I honour and them that despise me shall be despised Iacob got his fathers blessing in his elder brothers clothes Gen. 27.15 16. and we christians which be Iacobs children Instruction 41 according to the promise must get our heauenly fathers blessing in our elder brothers coate that is to say being cloathed with the wedding garment of Christs righteousnes Mat. 22.11 Gen. 25.27 Iacob was a plaine man that is he was harmles Instruction 42 and innocent And christians are enioyned to be harmeles as Lambes Mat. 10.16 and innocent as Doues Iacob to shunne and eshew the furie and fiercenesse of his brother Esau fled from his fathers house in Beersheba Gen. 27.43.44.45 28.10 to Haran to his Vncle Laban the brother of Rebecca Instruction 43 And our Sauiour Christ enioyneth his Apostles and in their persons all christians to flee from the furie of their persecuters When they persecute you in this Citie Mat. 10.16.23 saith he then flee into another Christians must carrie themselues towards their persecuters as sheep in the midst of Wolues their surest defence standeth in flight for nothing becommeth christians better then patience and suffrance of wronges And it is the most essentiall propertie of a true christian not to offer but to suffer iniuries Iacob being in his iourney came vnto a certaine place Gen 28.11.12 and taried there all night and tooke of the stones of the place and layed vnder his head and slept Young Iacob had but a verie vneasie lying when as he layed his head vpon the hard stones Gen. 28.20.21.22 32.10 He went out onely with a poore staffe in his hand and begged of God but bread to eate and cloathes to put on together with preseruation and safetie in his iourney going and returning home againe Whereby christians are taught Instruction 44 to commend their voyages and wayes vnto Gods prouidence to be content with such things as are necessarie for the conseruation of life as also to avoid luxurie voluptuousnes and superfluitie and to inure themselues to endure indigence scarcitie and penurie till at what time God opens his hand in a more liberall manner for our reliefe Iacobs greatest desire vnto the Lord was that he would be with him and so he was according to his wish And euen the same night that he did lye so lowe and so hard the Lord with his holy Angells came as it were to see his seruant lying on the ground Gen. 28.12.13.14 15. with his head vpon the hard stones Iacob saw in his sleepe a ladder standing vpon the earth and the top of it reaching vp to heauen And loe the Angels of God went vp downe by it the Lord stood aboue it and promised to giue him the land vpon the which he then lay euen to him and to his seede the which should be as the dust of the ground and be spread abroade euen to the foure corners of the earth Moreouer that he would be with him and keepe him whether soeuer he should goe yea bring him againe into that land and neuer forsake him vntill his whole promises were performed Whereby we are taught that Instruction 45 alwayes at the greatest pinch of Gods childreÌ„ God is most present And when they are as it were forsaken and abandoned of all that euen then the Lord is most neere vnto them to minister vnto them comfort assistance and aide Gen 21.16 Iacob being awake out of his dreame said Surely the Lord is in this place and I was not aware And so the godly man may say when as in his greatest exigents and extremities he findeth and feeleth Gods prouidence for his good surely the Lord hath beene with me though not in a visible manner Iacob had vnder his head hard stones but aboue his head was God standing and the Angels walking vp and downe by a Ladder Whereby we are let to vnderstand Instruction 46 that if with Iacob we ouercome aduersitie and the hardnes harshnes of affliction heere below by the meanes of a christian courage that in end we shall be rewarded with the societie of God his Angels aboue Take my brethren saith S. Iames the Prophets for an ensmple of suffering aduersitie Iam. 5.10.11 and of long patience which haue spoken in the name of the Lord Beholde we count them blessed which endure It is thankes worthie saith S. Peter if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe 1. Pet. 2.19 â—0 21 4.13 suffering wrongfully for Christ also suffered for vs leaning vs an ensample that we should follow his steps wherefore reioyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christs suffrings that when his glorie shall appeare ye may be glad and reioyce Heb. 12.1.2 Let vs run with patience saith S. Paul the race that is set before vs looking vnto Iesus the authour and finisher of our faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the Crosse and despised the shame and is
And heere againe in this good seruant Instruction 6 Eliezer are all seruants taught to doe all diligence and to vse all fidelity and consionable carefulnes in doing of their maisters affaires But to returne from the man to the maister as Abrahams faith was not a dead or idle faith in the behalfe of God for we see it wrought by obedience Iam. 2.21.22 Galat. 5.6 and pious liuing in Gods behalfe so likewise was it not dead or idle in the regard of man but wrought by charitie Gen. 18.1.2.3 4.19.3 equitie and loue This appeareth by his hospitality for he was wont to sit at the doore of his Tent to inuite strangers and to bid the poore into his house So that on a time he receiued Angels for his guests at vnwares And the like did his brothers son Lot Whereupon the Apostle to the Ebrewes Heb. 13.2 giueth out this exhortation Be not forgetfull to lodge strangers for thereby some haue receiued Angels into their houses vnawares Instruction 7 If then the father of the faithfull had this godly custome to sit at his doore to bid the stranger and the poore into his house how vnseemely and vnsoundly a thing is it for the sons and daughters of such a father to be so farre from bidding or bringing them into our houses as not to receiue or entertaine them when they come but euen to chase them away from our doors The world is now adaies grown so Keycolde in charitie that if the verie Angels themselues should come downe from heauē into our houses as of olde it seemeth we would be more ready to bid them to be gone then to harbour them with Abraham and Lot But heare what our Sauiour saith If ye were Abrahams children ye Ioh. 8.39 would doe the workes of Abraham Abraham was likewise full of tender hartednes pittie and compassion toward the miserable and afflicted whence it came to passe that he not onely deliuered Lot from captiuitie Gen. 14.12 16 18.23 being taken and spoiled by Chedar Laomer in the ouerthrow of Sodome and restored him againe to his owne but he also prayed very earnestly vnto Instruction 8 God for the sinfull people of Sodome Whereby the children of Abraham are taught to comfort the comfortles to pittie the oppressed to deliuer the distressed to aide the weake to ransome and redeeme the captiue and to pray for the conuersion saluation of all men be they neuer so wicked Yea Abraham prayed also euen for such men as had don him wrong Gen. 20.3.7.17.18 as for king Abimelech and his houshold when as the Lord had plagued them for taking away Abrahams wife from him Giuing Instruction 9 vs therein an example of praying euen for our ill-willers and enemies according to the commandement of our Sauiour Loue your enemies blesse them that curse you Mat. 5.44.45 doe good to them that hate you and pray for them which hurt you and persecute you that ye may be the children of your father which is in heauen for he maketh his sun to arise on the euill and the good and sendeth raine on the iust and the vniust If we be the children of Abraham we will do the workes of Abraham and if we be the children of God we will doe the will of our Father which is in heauen Abrahams peaceable and milde disposition appeareth in that Gen. 13.5 to 12. when as the land was not able to beare him and his brothers sonne Lot to liue together by reason of the great increase of their store he to auoide contention and strife parted company very louingly with Lot Let there be no strife I pray thee said Abraham to Lot betweene thee and me neither betweene mine Heard-men and thine for we be brethren Yea Abraham to purchase peace resigned his owne right and bid Lot choose what part of the land he did most like Instruction 10 Teaching thereby all his children to auoyd all occasions of wrangling and contending with their kins-men neighbours friends and rather be content to loose a part of their owne then enter into quarrell with them for that which iustly is theirs To which purpose Ro. 12.18 the Apostle exhorteth all Christians to labour by all meanes to haue peace with all men The good christian then after the example of his father Abraham will shew him-selfe alwaies peaceable that is a louer a maker and a taker of peace He will cut off all occasions of contention as much as he can and he will say vnto such a one as would be at debate with him let there be no strife nor debate I pray thee betweene thee and me neither betweene any of ours for we be brethren we be Christians euen children of one father seruants of one Lord fellowes of one Baptisme followers of one faith and members of one militant Church And in so doing we shall be called not onely the children of Abraham but euen the sonnes and daughters of the most high euen of the God of Abraham Mat. 5.9 As Abraham was peaceable so was he likewise equitable and iust he would not receiue at the hands of Ephron the Hittite a field which he had offered him freely to burie his wife Sara in Gen. 23. but would needes giue him the price thereof euen foure hundred sheckles of Siluer What shall we then say Instruction 11 of violent oppressours and possessors of other folkes rights of robbers and wrongfull with-holders of that which appertaineth to other men how can such vnreasonable and vnequitable vsurpers and encroachers claime to be called or accounted the children of righteous Abraham If they were Abrahams children they would not take another mans goods for nought although being offered them by the owner much lesse would they violently bereaue a man of that which is his owne or yet with hold it from him they hauing it in their hands And if such men cannot claime to be Abrahams children how can they make claime to any part or portion in Abrahams bosome seeing the man that would repose in Abrahams bosome after this life Luk. 16.22 25. must heere in this life harbour in his heart and beare in his bosome Abrahams liuing faith which was made perfite through workes Iam. 2.21.22 wrought by obedience equitie righteousnes charitie and loue But did this godly and religious disposition of Abraham want a reward No truly I will make of thee a great nation said the Lord and I will blesse thee Gen. 12.2 3.7 15 1.2.3 4 17.1.4 18.1 and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing I will also blesse them that blesse thee and curse them that curse thee and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed feare not Abraham I am thy buckler and thine exceeding great reward The Lord honoured him often with his presence in appearing speaking vnto him he made him of Abram Abraham of a father the father euen the father of
as he did as he likewise had blessed Laban for the same Iacobs sake But the pietie and religion of Iacob is notable Gen. 33.5 11 God saith he hath had mercie on me and therefore haue I all things First he acknowledgeth his children to be Gods gift they are the children quoth he to his brother whome God of his grace hath giuen thy seruant Gen 48.8.9 The like said Ioseph of his sonnes to his father Iacob Then his goods he acknowledgeth to haue them and holde them of God Gen. 32.10 I am not worthie saith this worthy man in his prayer vnto God of the least of thy mercies and all the truth which thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant For with my staffe came Iouer this Iorden and now haue I gotten two bands He acknowledgeth Gods mercie and free fauour and not his owne merite or any worthynes flowing from his nature to be the fountaine of his good Fortune and the wel-spring of all his wealth Instruction 63 In the which confession and acknowledgement all the children of God ought to imitate him For God giueth to all life and breath and all good things of his owne free grace in Christ Iesus Luk. 21.36 Reuel 3.4 Ephes 4.1 And whatsoeuer worthines there is in vs it is not of vs but of him and from him who hath called vs and translated vs into the kingdome of his Sonne and made vs partakers of his rich grace 2. Cor 3.5 Act. 17 25.28 For our sufficiencie is of God and in him we liue we moue and haue our being saith Saint Paul Omne bonum Dei donum Euery good giuing saith S. Iames another Iacob and euerie perfite gift is from aboue Iam. 1.17 and commeth downe from the father of lights But Iacob thought it not enough to be religious in a priuate manner but he would also make an outward demonstration of his pietie and faith in the sight of those amongst whome he liued and that both for the edifying of men and for the more celebrious glorifying of God And therefore as soone as he had bought a parcell of ground in Schechem to pitch a Tent vpon he also set vp there an Alter and called it the mightie God of Israel The same was the pious practise of his religious forefathers Isack and Abraham Iacob by the erection of this Alter and by giuing it this name Gen. 33.18.19.20 would shew to the whole world in a most publike and open manner that he did confesse and professe that all his might strength power prosperitie and hap was the meere gift of God who loued him before Instruction 64 he was borne And herein we are taught whensoeuer we do receiue at Gods hands any notable benefite and blessing spirituall or temporall as of safetie and prosperitie that we endeuour by all meanes not onely to proue thankefull therefore in a priuate manner but also to make as publike a demonstration of our thankfulnes as we possibly can as by building or repairing of Churches for the honour of God or of hospitalls and almes houses for the help and reliefe of the poore Let your light so shine saith our Sauiour before men Mat 5.16 Philip. 2.15 that they seeing your good workes may glorifie your father which is heauen And therefore we see that deuoute Dauid Psal 22.22 25 116.12 13.14.17 18.19 saith not onely that he would praise God publikely in the midst of the congregation but also that he would performe his vowes in the sight of them that feare him euen in the presence of all his people Likewise when at the Lords appointment godly Iacob went to dwell in Bethel Gen. 35.1.2.3.4.5 there he also erected an Alter vnto God that appeared vnto him when as he fled from his brother Esau and heard him in the day of his tribubulation and was with him in the way which he went And not onely this but he also commanded all those of his houshold to put away all strange Gods from them and to clense themselues and to change their garments For it doth appeare that there were some of his seruants which had beene brought vp in Idolatrie in the land of Haran where he had serued his vncle Laban Gen. 31.19.30 Who likewise him selfe was not free from that sinne as may appeare by that it is recorded how that Rahel Labans daughter and Iacobs wife stole away her fathers Idoles the Instruction 65 which Laban calleth his Gods Wherein may be espied the great madnes and blindenes of men in making vnto themselues such Gods as are not able to keepe themselues from the stealing hands of theeues Psal 115.4.5.6.7.8 Their Idoles saith the Psalmist are siluer and gold euen the worke of mens hands they are golden Gods made of gold not able to make golde made by men not able to make a man no nor yet the least worme creeping vpon the earth all which the true God doth They are dumbe Gods for though they haue a mouth they cannot speake much lesse are they able to make the dumbe to speake They are blinde Gods for though they haue eyes yet they cannot see much lesse are they able to make the blinde to see They are deafe Gods for though they haue cares yet can they not heare much lesse are they able to make the deafe to heare They are senseles dead Gods for though they haue noses yet they cannot smell though they haue hands yet can they not touch though they haue feete yet can they not walke though they haue a throte yet make they no sound and in one word though they haue the whole lineaments of a man yet haue they no sparkle of the life of man how much lesse haue they of the life of the euerliuing God They that make them are like vnto them so are all that trust in them Euen more senseles and blockish then stockes or stones Isai 44.9.10.11.12.13.14.15 16.17.18.19.20 And therefore the Lord by his Prophet promiseth to confound these shop-gods of stone and timber and these forge-gods of golde and siluer euen all these vaine hand-made Gods together with the fond and foolish Godmakers Thus in the person of Iacob are all maisters of families taught to take care that the onely true God be acknowledged and worshiped of their whole houshold For it is a verie hard thing me thinketh that the man that worshipeth a false God should proue a true seruant in his maisters behalfe It ought then to be their chiefe care to see that their seruants be such as serue God and feare him by the meanes both of a pious and christian profession and of a vertuous and honest conuersasion For if they feare God sincerely it can not be but they wil serue their maisters likewise for Gods sake and in him conscionably carefully Thus the Lord who loued Iacob before he was borne was feared loued and honoured of Iacob after he was borne and not onely of him but also of