the Sonnes and Daughters of faithfull Abraham and Sara may beholde cleerely as in a christall glasse of how wonderfull great vertue and force godlynes is it being able to procure a blessing at Gods hands not onely to the godly man himselfe but vnto others also euen vnto such as the godly man either prayeth for or yet reapeth any benefite by Thus God blessed and prospered Laban for Iacobs sake Gen. 30.37 39.2.3.4.5.6 so long as he soiourned with him in his house And thus he blessed Putiphar the Egiptian for Iosephs sake and made his blessing to rest vpon all that he had in the house and in the field And thus no doubt but he will blesse all such as the followers of Abrahams saith Iam. 2.21.22.23 and the workers of his workes for these two God hath conioyned together and therefore man must not seuer them shall recommend vnto God in their prayers The golden Legend of ISACK and REBECCA ISack the Sonne and heire of faithfull Abraham and Sara Gen. 17.15.16 17 18. 18.10.11.12.13 14. 21.1.2.3 25 5 26.25 as he was consecrated to the Lord in his verie childe-hood so was his whole life nothing els but a reall and an actuall sacrificing of himselfe vnto the Lords seruice he walked in the wayes and foot-steps of his father and followed the trace of his faith pietie charitie equitie and vertuous liuing He succeeded aswell to his goodnes as to his goods to his godlines no lesse then to his golde wheresoeuer he spread his Tent there did he not faile to erect an Alter vnto the Lord and to call vpon his name Wheresoeuer he had his chamber there God had his Church yea his Tent was a verie Tabernacle his bed-chamber was as a chappel dedicated to the seruice of the God of his father Instruction 22 Abraham VVhereby all the children of Isack according to the promise are taught to worship God not onely publikly in the Church but also priuately in their secret chambers Both which duties the sweete singer of Israel doth ioyntly mention in the fourth Psalme and recommendeth them to our practise The priuate deuotion in these wordes Psal 4.4.5 Examine your owne heart vpon your bed and be still and the publick in these offer the sacrifices of righteousnes and trust in the Lord. VVhereby he giueth vs to vnderstand that no place whether priuate or publicke is to be thought vnfit for the practising of holy duties for Gods worship as it should be publickly performed in the Church according to that of the Psalmist Psal 22.22 25. 111.1 In the midst of the congregation wil I praise thee so must it not be neglected priuatly in the chamber according to which it is written of the Prophet Daniel that he went into his house Dan. 6.10 and hauing opened the window of his chamber that looked toward Ierusalem he kneeled vpon his knees three times a day and prayed and praised his God These two priuate deuotion publicke adoration God hath conioyned and therefore man must not seuer them They are as the two hands of our christian profession the publicke is as the right hand the priuate as the left the want of either maketh a maimed christian And as no place is vnfit for Gods seruice so likewise no time whether morning or euening night or day It is a good thing to praise the Lord Psal 92.1 2. and to sing vnto thy name O most high to declare thy louing kindnes in the morning and thy truth in the night saith deuout Dauid Psal 119.62 and againe at midnight will Irise to giue thankes vnto thee because of thy righteous iudgements Heare my voice in the morning Psal 5.3 O Lord for in the morning will I direct me vnto thee and I will waite And to the same purpose Siracides saith Eccle. 2.28 39.5 that we ought to preuent the sunne rising to giue thankes and to salute the Lord before the day spring The wise man saith he will giue his heart to resort early vnto the Lord that made him and to pray before the most high for his sinnes Psal 55.17 Euening and morning and at noone will I pray saith godly Dauid and he will heare my voyce Isack waited on God Gen 26.1.2.3.4.5 inuoked him and walked with him And therefore God was with him and prouided for him in the time of famine which was in the land he honoured the Lord and the Lord honoured him with his presence and appearance For he appeared vnto him and bid him dwell in the land of Gerer and promised to blesse him and not him onely but also in his seede all the nations of the earth As he was religious and godly farre aboue all other so was God with him and blessed him farre aboue all other He both preserued him in the time of famine increased his substance and store So that when as he sowed in that land he found in the same yeare an hundreth folde by estimation He waxed mightie and still increased till he was exceeding great Gen. 26.12 13 14. As he was great in faith and in godlines grew daily so did he encrease from day to day in his familie and goods For he had flockes of sheepe and heards of cattell and a mighty housholde Gen 26.14 15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22 And though that the Philistims among whome he liued did enuie him and vex him by stopping of his welles and in end draue him away after much strife yet the Lord was alwayes on his side The Philistims were his foes but the God of Israel was his friend and the man that hath God for his friend is strong enough to withstand all his foes be they neuer so furious Isack when as he was resisted by men was assisted of God Gen. 26.23.24 for when as he was thus afflicted by the faithles Philistims God who is faithfull and true and who loued faithful Abraham and his seede appeared vnto Isack the same night in Beersheba and said vnto him thus I am the God of Abraham thy father feare not for I am with thee and will blesse thee and multiply thy seede for my seruant Instruction 23 Abrahams sake Happie is the man who with Isack hath the Lord with him and blessed is he whom the Lord blesseth for he needeth not to be affrayed neither of famine nor infection nor yet of foes Who so dwelleth in the secret of the most high saith the Psalmist shal abide in the shadow of the almighty Psal 91.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.10 The Lord will deliuer him from the snare of the hunter and from the noysome pestilence he shall not be affraid of the feare of the night nor of the arrow that flyeth by day There shall none euill come vnto him neither shall any plague come neere his tabernacle If God be on our side what matter is it who be against vs For what better is their oposition then a blowe with a bended
set at the right hand of the throne of God Hence it is that we also reioyce in tribulations Rom. 5.3.4.5 knowing that tribulation bringeth forth patience and patience experience and experience hope 2. Tim. 2.12 hope maketh not ashamed for if we suffer with Christ we shall also raigne with him If we beare the Crosse heere with him on earth we shall also weare a crowne hereafter with him in heauen Iacob lying vpon the stones found notwithstanding rest to his Body and if we repose our selues wholy vpon the Rock 1. Cor. 10.4 Gen. 49.24 Dan. 2.34.41 Christ Iesus whome Iacob calleth the stone of Israel and Daniel the the stone cut without hands we shall not faile to finde rest to our soules And Christ shall be vnto Instruction 47 vs not onely a Rock to rest vpon and a stone to stay vpon but likewise a Ladder to climbe vpon wherby we may ascend from this earth wherein is all hardnes vnto the kingdome of heauen where is all happines Iacob being come vnto his Vncle Labans house entered into seruice with Laban in which his seruice he was so exceedingly blessed of God Gen. 30.27.43 that he became very rich got many flocks maidseruants and men seruants Camels and Asses Moreouer Laban confessed that the Lord had blessed and enriched him likwise for Iacobs sake Whereby the children of Iacob Instruction 48 are taught not to liue Idlely and without some lawfull calling or trade and rather to embrace the condition of seruice then to spend their time in sluggishnes idlenes and sinne And therefore we read that Iacob brought vp his owne children in the occupation of sheepe-heardes Gen. 46.34 47.3 And Saul was taken from seeking of his fathers Asses 1. Sam. 9.3 16.11.12.19 and Dauid from keeping of his fathers sheepe to feede and rule the people of Israel and the Apostle Saint Paul as he wrought with his owne hands 2. Thes 3.7 8.9.10 11 Act. 20.34 so he commandeth that the man that will not worke should not eate And therefore he exhorteth idle men to worke with quietnes and to eate their owne bread and withall recommendeth vnto them his owne example for imitation how that he tooke not bread of any man for nought but wrought with labour and trauaile night and day because he would not be chargeable to any of them Pro. 5.15 12.11 14 14.23 20.4 21.17 Drinke the water of thy Cisterne and of the riuers out of the midst of thine owne well saith Salomon insinuating thereby how that men ought to liue of their owne laboures He that tilleth his land shal be satisfied with bread but he that followeth the idle is destitute of vnderstanding the recompence of a mans hâ—â—as shall God giue vnto him and in all labour there is aboundance The slothfull will not plowgh because of winter therefore shall he begge in summer but haue nothing he that loueth pastime shall he a poore man and he that loueth Wine and Oyle shall not be rich Iacob then who was so exceeding rich was no doubt verie free from the vices of idlenes superfluitie and excesse And yet it was Instruction 49 not so much his labour as the blessing of the Lord that made him rich Psal 1 27.1.2 Except the Lord builde the house saith the Psalmist they labour in vaine that build it except the Lord keepe the Citie the keeper watcheth in vaine It is vaine for you to rise early to lie down late to eate the bread of sorrow but he will surely giue rest to his beloued As if he should say it is in vaine for a man to toyle and moyle day and night except the Lord blesse his busines as he did Iacobs Labans likewise for Iacobs sake and as he did Iosephes affaires and his three maisters for Iosephes sake first in Potiphars house Gen 39. 40. 41 then in the prison lastly in the Princes Pallace Iacob serued twise seuen yeeres his Vncle Laban for his daughter Rahel For it is said that he loued her and euen so earnestly and feruently Gen. 20.18 28.30 that so many yeeres did seeme vnto him but a fewe dayes Wherby such as are about Instruction 50 mariag are taught to make choise onely of such parties as they can most entierly loue Gen. 25.23 25.26.27.28 As Iacob being the yonger of Isacks two sonnes was more beloued of God and of his mother Rebecca then the elder sonne Esau So of Labans two daughters being Iacobs two wiues the younger was more loued of Iacob then the elder Gen. 29.16 17.18.19.20 euen faire Rahel more then tender-eyed Leah As of the two brethren the Lord made choyse of the younger Mat. 1.2 Rom 9.13 Iacob haue I loued so of the two sisters Iacob made choise of the younger for Rahel he loued serued twice seauen yeares for her It is said of Rahel that she was beautifull and faire the same is said of Sara and of Rebecca 1. Sam. 25.3 and likewise of Abigail who was both beautifull and singularly wise Abigail is asmuch by interpretation as fathers ioy and such a one was Rahel euen the ioy of her father Laban and likewise of Iacob her louing husband Pro. 10.1 Eccles 26.1.2.13 for as a wise daughter is the ioy of her father so is a wise wife the ioy of her husband saith the wise man And Rahel Labans daughter and Iacobs wife Abigail like was both The greatest glorie of a daughter is to be called her fathers or her mothers ioy And the greatest glorie of a wife is to be accounted the ioy of her husband And heere all daughters Instruction 51 and wiues are taught to endeuour by all meanes to be such as Rahel and Abigail were Iacob loued Rahel for her beautie but yet more for her bountie and gracious behauiour For fauour is deceitfull Pro. 31.30 and beauty is euanishings but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised saith Salomon such a one was Rahel who was not so faire in body as she was in minde therefore worthie to be loued of her husband and landed of men The beautie of a woman cheereth the face saith Siracides and a man loueth nothing better Eccles 36.22.23.24 if there be in her tongue gentlenes meeknes and wholsome talke then is not her husband like other men Instruction 52 The beautie of a woman indeede cheereth the face but the bounty of a woman cheereth the minde more and is the sweetest solace of the soule The eye of man loueth nothing better then beautie and the heart of man loueth nothing better then bountie the beautie of a wel-behaued woman is in the house Eccles 26.16 17 18. as the candle light in the Temple Eccles 22.4 36.24 or the Sunne-light in the heauen saith Siracides But the wisdome of a woman is the heritage and heartes-case of her husband The beautie of a
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
many nations dignified him with the title and stile to be called the father of the faithfull the freind of God Rom. 4.17 Iam. 2.23 Abraham was a great father of many people saith Ecclesiasticus in glory was there none like vnto him Ecclus 45 19.20.21 He kept the law of the most high and was in couenant with him he set the couenant in his flesh and in tentation he was found faithfull Therefore he assured him by an oath that he would blesse the nations in his seed and that he would multiplie him as the dust of the earth and exalt his seede as the stars and cause them to inherite from sea to sea from the riuer vnto the end of the world 1. Sam. 2.30 Them that honour mee I will honour saith the Lord. Abraham honoured and Instruction 12 magnified the God of Israel and therefore God honoured him and made him the father of the most honorable on earth Abraham blessed the Lord deuoutly at all times acknowledging all blessednes to flowe from him and God crowned him with aboundance both of spirituall and temporall blessings Among other he blessed him with a vertuous and godly wife whose faith towards God and obedience towards her husband are both of them highly extolled in holy scripture Heb. 11.12 Through faith saith the Apostle Sara also receiued strength to conceiue seede and was deliuered of a child when as she was past age because she iudged him faithfull which had promised The tenure of which promise is set down in these words Gen 17.19 18.10.11 12 13.14 and 21.1.2.3 Sara thy wife shall beare thee a sonne and thou shalt call his name Isack and I will establish my couenant with him for an euerlasting couenant and with his seede after him And as the Lord promised her a sonne so he performed his promise and after long barrennes Instruction 13 made her to beare euen in her olde age To teach the sonnes and daughters of faithfull Abraham and Sara not to tie God vnto the strict order of nature nor to measure his power according to the ordinarie ability of naturall causes For God as he is the Lord of Nature she his hand-maide so can he worke both without her and with her aswell without meanes and contrary to meanes as with or according to meanes Gen. 16.1.2.3.4 Sara was despised in the eyes of her hand-maide Hagar for her barrennes But the Lord at last comforted and cheered vp sorrowfull Sarai and turned her sadnes into gladnes and her mourning into mirth he euen changed her name Gen. 17.15.16.19.21 and the inability of her nature both at once Sarai thy wife said the Lord to Abraham thou shalt not call Sarai which is asmuch as my mistrisse or dame but Sarah shall he her name which signifieth a Princesse or mistris of many and I will blesse her and will also giue thee a sonne of her yea I will blesse her and she shall be them other of Nations Kings also of people shall come of her Sara I say was barren and despised for her barrennes euen at the hands of Hagar her owne hand-maide But the Lord remembred her in end and remedied both these euills he made her the mother of Isack euen the happie mother of a most happie sonne for with him the Lord did establish his couenant and so tooke away her barrennes and reproch yea more he made her the honorable Grand-mother of Kings and of Queenes and so not onely tooke away her despisement but also heaped much honour vpon her head and the insolent hand-maide Hagar who before had despised her daine was turned out a doores with her mocking sonne Ismael Gen. 16.4.5 21.9.10.11.12 13.14 Instruction 14 Hence we learne two notable lessons one is that such as God hath imparted any excellent quallitie vnto or bestowed vpon any abilitie of nature or of grace that they beware of despising such as God hath not dealt so liberally with Pro. 3.34 1. Pet. 5.5 Iam. 4.6 For God who resisteth the proude and giueth grace vnto the humble will despise the despisers and exalt the despised he will scorne the scornfull and curse such as sit in the seate of the scornfull With the froward Psal 18.26 the Lord will shew himselfe froward Prou. 3.34 saith holy Dauid and with the scornefull he scorneth or will shew himselfe scornefull saith wise Salomon his sonne He that dwelleth in the heauen shall laugh Psal 2.4 the Lord shall haue them in derision As despising Hagar together with her mocking sonne Ismael were cast out of Abrahams house So shall all proud despising Hagars all insolent mocking Ismaels be debarred from Abrahams bosome Wherefore seeing that as the Apostle speaketh we are not Children of the seruant but of the free woman Gal. 4.28.29.30.31 children of the promise after the manner of Isack and not children of the bond woman after the manner of Ismael let vs shew our selues not offerers of despisement and mockage with Hagar and Ismael but rather sufferers with Sara and Isack that we may be partakers of the inheritance with him Instruction 15 The other lesson we learne hence is this that the sonnes and daughters of faithfull Abraham and Sara are taught to commit their cause to commend their afflicted and vilipended estate vnto God who is alwaies wont to be nearest then when as his seruants by reason of the greatnes of their anguish and griefe thinke him farthest off Dauid was so farre despised by his enemies that he calleth him selfe a worme and not a man Psal 22.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.22.23.24 a shame of men and the contempt of the people and one that was had in derision of all and his recourse was vnto God who drew him out of the wombe and gaue him hope euen at his mothers breasts Euen he deliuered his soule from the dogges and bulles of Bashan which had inclosed him about wherupon the holy man resolued to praise the Lord in the mids of the congregation to exhort encourage others to doe the like for he doth not despise nor abhor the affliction of the poore neither hideth he his face from him but when he calleth vnto him he heareth In one word Psal 15.3 such as hope in him shal not be ashamed Wherefore it is good for all afflicted persons to draw neere vnto God It is God as the holy woman Anna singeth in her song that maketh both the barren to beare 1. Sam. 2 5 6.7.8 and the mother of many children to be weake he maketh poore and maketh rich bringeth lowe and exhalteth he raiseth vp the poore out of the dust lifteth vp the begger from the dunghill to set them among Princes and to make them inherite the seate of glory Thus sang Anna when as she had receiued a sonne from the Lord 1. Sam. 6. being before for her barrennes despised in the eyes of fruitfull Peninnah the other of
wife is the ornament of her house but the bountie and wisdome of a wife buildeth the house Prou. 14.1 for a wise woman saith the wise man buildeth the house but the foolish destroyeth it with her owne hands Prou. 31.10.16.26 And king Lemuels vertuous woman as she openeth her mouth with wisdome hath the law of grace in her tongue so she considereth a field and getteth it and with the fruite of her hands she planteth a vinyard Likewise it is recorded of Rahel and Leah that they twaine builded the house of Israel Ruth 4.11 Rahel then did not eate the bread of idlenes neither when she was maried nor yet when she was a maide she was not like those careles women described by the Prophet Isay Isai 32.9.10.11.12 13.14 Pro. 31.10 to 31. but rather like the vertuous woman described by Salomon Being maried she did take paines in ouerseeing the worke of her seruants and disdained not to worke cheerfully with her hands and being a maid she was employed in keeping of her fathers sheepe leauing an example Instruction 53 to all matrons and maides to flie idlenes As her calling was to keepe sheepe so her name signifieth a sheepe so that her verie name serued to put her in remembrance of her calling But chiefly to shew her how that she should endeuour to be like vnto the Instruction 54 sheepe in innocencie and harmles simplicitie and therefore our Sauiour Christ doth compare often his followers to sheepe Vnto his Disciples he saith Mat. 10.16 beholde I send you as Sheepe in the midst of Wolues be ye therefore wise as Serpents and innocent as Doues Ioh 10.1.2.3.4 11 14.15 And of al his elect children he saith that his sheepe heare his voice and that he calleth them by their name and leadeth them out and goeth before them and that they follow him and know his voice and that he himselfe is the good shepheard that giueth his life for his sheep Rahel and Leah Iacobs two wiues were barren for a time but it is said that in end God remembred and heard them God may seeme for a time to forget his children and not to heare them but in end they may be sure to be both remembred and heard Not that God doth at any time forget his Instruction 55 children indeede and not heare their requests but that somtimes he doth carie himselfe to our apprehension and feeling as one that is subiect to forgetfulnes and not willing to heare what we say or sue for at his hands and that he doth euen for our good for so it pleaseth him to exercise vs and to stirre vs vp to greater feruencie and earnestnes in prayer Likewise the delay of a benifite sweetneth the same when it is obtained That good thing which hath beene gotten with great difficultie with much adoe and after long delay is by many degrees more deare vnto vs then if it had beene gotten with ease and at an instant Gen. 29.31.32 30.17.22 The Lord at last remembred heard Rahel Leah which did both of them begge children at his hands For it is the Lord that openeth the windowes of heauen being shut to giue raine 1. King 18 1.41.45 to make the earth fruitfull and it is likewise the Lord that openeth the barren womans wombe to make her the ioyfull mother of many children 1. Sam. 2.5 Psal 113.9 128.3 so that she is made as the fruitfull vine on the house sides and her children stand like Oliue plants round about the Table And as it is said that God remembred Rahel and Leah when he deliuered them from barrennes so is it also said that he remembred Noah Gen. 8.1 when as he made the waters to cease vpon the earth he remembred Abraham when as he deliuered Lot at Abrahams request Gen. 19.29 from the destruction of Sodome and he remembred Ismael Gen. 21.17 when as he deliuered him from extremitie of indigence and nourished him in the wildernes being cast out together with his mother Hagar out of Abrahams house And he remembred Iacob being in tribulation Gen. 35.3 by reason of his brother Esau and deliuered him from his hostilitie and feare Lastly thus he remembred Anna when he deliuered her from barrennes 1. Sam 1 11.19 Iob 14.13 42.10.11.12 and made her to beare So we see that the Lords remembrance is alwayes conioyned with deliuerance from some Instruction 56 euill Yea not only doth God when he remembreth deliuer from some euill but he also bestoweth some good as may appeare by these foresaid examples and by the example of Iob. So that whosoeuer he be that serueth God and sueth vnto him he may assure himselfe at first or last to be heard and not to begotten for euer Princes may sometimes forget their seruants and suiters but God neuer forgeteth his Psalm 22. 25. 27.2.8.9.10.11 28 6.7 30.10 11 31.12.14.16.21.22.23.24 32.6.7.10 11 33.18 19.20 21. 3â— 4.5.6.15.17.18.19 37.6.7.34 40.1.2.16 17. onely it behooueth vs with godly Dauid to waite patiently vpon the Lord and to hope in him though for a time we seeme to be forgotten with Dauid as a dead man out of minde yet we shall finde by experience with Dauid that the eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eares open vnto their crye That he is neere vnto them that are of a contrite heart and will saue such as be afflicted in spirite And that though he hide his face from vs for a while so that we say in our hast loe we are cast out of his sight yet ere it be long he will turne our mourning into ioy Loose our sacke and gird vs with gladnes heare the voice of our petition and shew vs his maruailous kindenes deliuer vs from our troubles and compasse vs with his mercie establish our hearts Iob. 8.21 and fill them with his good things Psal 27.10 with gladnes and ioy For though our fathers and our mothers should forsake vs and forget vs yet the Lord will gather vs vp saith the Psalmist O how much better is it then to trust in the Lord rather then in Princes or yet in our naturall Parents Let eche one say then with Dauid Psal 130.5.6.7.8 I haue waited on the Lord my soule hath waited and I haue trusted in his word my soule waitch on the Lord more then the morning watch watcheth for the morning Let Israel waite on the Lord for with the Lord is mercie and with him is great redemption Psal 118.8 9. As it is better to trust in God then in Princes so is it better to waite on God then on Princes For want who will Gods waiter shall be sure not to want his rewardes Psal 37.34 Waite thou on the Lord and keepe his way and he shall exalt thee and thou shalt inherite the land saith that good waiter on God godly Dauid
Psal 78.70 71.72 who waited so well on God that of a fillie shepheard he was made a mighty monarch and a glorious king So that he had good cause to say it is good for me to drawe neere to God to trust in him Psal 33.20 40.1 73.28 and to waite patiently on him A king is able to make his waiter of a meane man a mightie man of a Lad he is able to make him a Lord but God can easily if he please make his waiter of a contemptible cast-away Psal 113.7.8 Eccles 11.1 a puissant Prince a crowned king It is he that raiseth the needie out of the dust and lifteth vp the poore out of the dung That he may set him with the Princes euen with the Princes of his people Yea not onely setteth he such as waite on him with the princes but also sometimes setteth a crowne vpon their heads Iob. 36 7. and maketh them Princes not onely doth he place the righteous with kings in the throne but also maketh them sometimes kings Eccle. 4.14 and as Salomon speaketh bringeth them out of the verie prison to raigne And therefore godly Dauid acknowledgeth that God did preuent him with liberal blessings Psal 21.3 and that he set a crowne of pure gold vpon his head So then as I said before be forgotten who will the man that feareth God and waiteth on him shall not be forgotten but shall be b th remembred and remunerated with an ample reward greater then any mortall king can giue Rahel and Leah as in their barrennes they prayd vnto God for to giue them the abilitie to beare children so hauing receaued at Gods hands the thing they did aske they praised him for the same Now will I praise the Lord Gen. 29.33 35 said Leah when she had borne Iudah Rahel hauing borne Ioseph reioycingly praised the Lord for taking away her rebuke Gen. 30.23 1. Sam. 2.1 to 11. So the holy woman Anna hauing receiued a son of the Lord praised him in a song The like did religious Zacharie hauing receiued a Sonne by his wife Elizabeth in her barren olde age Luk. 1.68 to 80. Whereby both women and men Instruction 57 are taught to pray vnto God for all good things they stand in need of hauing receiued that which they did aske to proue thankfull by praising him for the same for the man that is not thankfull for good things already receiued is not worthy to receiue any more good at Gods hand And therefore the Apostle exhorteth christians to giue thankes alwaies for all Eccles 5.4.20 things vnto God euen the father in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ And the Prophet Moses warneth the people that they doe not forget to blesse the Lord for their habitation and foode Dent. 8.10 11.12.13 14.15.16.17.18 for the increase of their flockes and of their siluer and golde Remember the Lord your God saith he for it is he which giueth you power to get substance And therfore let euerie one that hath receiued any good thing at the Lords hand or yet looketh to receiue more say with holy Dauid What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benifites to me Psal 116.12.13.14 I will take the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord euen now in the presence of all his people Psal 103.1 2.3.4.5 My soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefites Which forgiueth all thine iniquitie and healeth all thine infirmities which redeemeth thy life from the graue and crowneth thee with mercie and compassion which satisfieth thy youth with good things and thy youth is renued like the Eagles But to returne from Iacobs wiues vnto himselfe Iacob was enuied of his owne Cousins Labans children which did murmure mightily against him for his great wealth Yea Labans owne countenance began to be changed so that he was lesse kinde vnto him then he had beene before It was no doubt an affliction and that a bitter one too for him to be enuied of his owne neere Cousins and allies yea of his own Vncle and father in lawe Laban and that his good long seruices were not better considered vpon by him and his children and how that the Lord had for his sake prospered them all But though his nearest kins-men and allies were thus changed in their affection towards Iacob yet in the mean time God who is vnchangeable in his loue for whom he loueth Ierim 31.3 Ioh. 13.1 he loueth with an euerlasting loue did neuer alter his countenance and affection in his behalfe When Iacob was most crossed of men then did God shew himselfe most kinde And the frowardnes of his friends was not of so great force to cast him downe as the present fauour of God was to holde him vp Instruction 58 Whereby we are taught to haue alwayes our greatest affiance in Gods fauour for though our fathers and our mothers let alone our kins-men or allies should faile vs and forsake vs Psal 27.10 125.1 146.3 yet the Lord will gather vs vp They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion which cannot be remoued but remaineth for euer Put not your trust in Princes saith that godly Prince nor in the sonne of man Ierem. 17.5.6.7.8 for there is no helpe in him Cursed be the man saith the Lord that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and withdraweth his heart from the Lord for he shall be like the heath in the Wildernes and shall not see when any good commeth but shall inhabit the parched places in the Wildernes in a salt land not inhabited But blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord whose hope the Lord is for he shall be as a tree planted by the water which spreadeth out her rootes by the riuer and shall not feele when the heate commeth but her leafe shall be greene and shall not care for the yeere of drought neither shall cease from yeelding fruit Such a well rooted greene and faire branched tree was Iacob who trusted in the Lord and not in man and therefore when as man frowned on him God fauoured him Gen 31.3.13.17.18 24. bid him leaue his Vncle Laban and returne into his own land Where he prōised to establish him his seede to make them in number as the dust of the earth and as the stars of the heauen And such was the care of the Lord for his seruant Iacob that when as after his departure he was pursued by his father in lawe Laban God did admonish him by a dreame that he should Instruction 59 not speake vnto Iacob so much as one euill word Wherin all faithfull folkes are instructed to commit and commend their wayes and estate vnto the gracious prouidence of God who will both
his whole houshold And therfore the Lord not onely honoured him with his presence in appearing vnto him Gen. 35.9.13.15.22 blessing him but he also blessed his seede for his sake I am God all sufficient saith the Lord vnto his seruant grow and multiply a nation and a multitude of nations shall spring of thee and kings shall come out of thy loynes Also I will giue thee the land which I gaue to Abraham and Isack euen vnto thee and thy seed after thee The Lord blessed him likewise with a great issue and gaue him twelue Sonnes for whose vertuous education he was exceeding carefull For he tooke order that they should not spend their young yeeres in idlenes but should be occupied about cattel euen from their child-hood And as he did with great diligence incourage them to vertue so did he not faile to correct them and sharply reproue them when as they did offend or fall into any vice as he did Reuben for his vncleannes Gen. 34.1.7.25.26.27.28.29.30.31 35.22 49.4.5.6.7 Simeon and Leui with the rest of their brethren for their reuenge wrought vpon the Shechemites for Shechems deflowring of their sister Dinah And heerein are all fathers and mothers taught to be verie watchfull and carefull for the vertuous education and honest conuersation of their children Thus we read how that Abraham commanded his children to keepe the way of the Lord. Gen. 18.19 And how that Moses did exhort the people of Israell to teach their children how they ought to vnderstand and keepe Gods ordinances and because that Eli the high Priest and Iudge of Israell did not correct his sonnes more sharply then he did for their sinne Deut. 4.9 14.20 32.46 and tooke not so great paines as he ought to reclaime them from their lewde and wicked waies therefore the Lord said thus vnto Eli. 1. Sam. 22.31.32 33.34 Behould the daies come that I will cut off thine arme and the arme of thy others house that there shall not be an old man in thine house for euer And this shall be a signe vnto thee that shall come vpon thy two sonnes Hophni and Phinehas in one day they shall both die And afterward the Lord shewed Samuel what should become of Eli and his house 1. Sam. 3.11.12 13 14. I will iudge his house for euer for the iniquity which he knoweth because his sonnes ran into a slander and he staied them not And behold the issue of the Lords commination and threatning 1. Sam 4 11.17.18.19.20.21 22. In one day Elies two insolent sonnes were slaine of the Philistims in the field And old Eli hearing of his sonnes death and of the taking of the Arke of God the tidings wherof grieued him most fell from his seate backwards by the side of the gate so that his neck brake and he died Besides that which befell vnto his daughter in law who no sooner heard the report that the Arke of God was taken and that her father in law and her husband were dead but she was stricken with such a sorrow that she trauailed before her time and died when as she had named the childe Ichahod saying The glory is departed from Israell for the Arke of God is taken So great is the anger of God against Parents for their negligence in correcting and directing their children as they ought and therefore wise Salomon doth double and treble his admonitions and exhortations to Parents that they neglect not this great duty He that spareth his rodd Pro 13 24 19.18 22.15 23.13 29.15 hateth his son but he that loueth him chasteneth him betime Chasten thy sonne while there is yet hope and let not thy soule spare for his murmuring Foolishnes is bound in the heart of a childe but the rodd of correction shall driue it away from him withhould not therefore correction from the childe for if thou smite him with the rodd he shall not die The rodd and correction giue wisdome but a childe set at liberty maketh his mother ashamed The summe of all is this that the rodd hath a certaine efficacy to driue away foolishnes and fondnes out of the heads of children and to driue in wisedome and vertue into their hearts And that if the father smite his childes body with the birchen rod of temporal correctioÌ„ Sathan shall not smite his soule with the bruising yron rod of eternall destruction To the same purpose Iesus the sonne of Sirach in his wisedome exhorteth Parents not to bring vp their children delicately and wantonly nor to giue them too much liberty nor yet to withhould from them due correction Eccles 30.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10 11.12.13 He that loueth his sonne saith he causeth him oft to feele the rodd that he may haue ioy of him in the end He that chastiseth his sonne shall haue ioy in him and shall reioyce of him among his acquaintance He that teacheth his sonne grieueth the enemie and before his friends he shall reioyce of him Though his father die yet is he as though he were not dead for he hath left one behinde him that is like him In his life he saw him and had ioy in him and was not sorie in his death neither was he ashamed before his enemies He left behinde him an avenger against his enemies one that should shew fauour vnto his friends He that flattereth his sonne bindeth vp his wounds and his heart is greiued at euery crie An vntamed horse will be stubborne and a wanton childe will be wilfull If thou bring vp thy sonne delicately he shall make thee affraid and if thou play with him he shall bring thee to heauinesse Laugh not with him lest thou be sorry with him and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end Giue him not libertie in his youth and wink not at his folly Bow downe his necke while he is yong and beate him on the sides while he is a childe least he wax stubborne he disobedient vnto thee and so bring sorrow vnto thine heart chastise thy child and be diligent therein least his shame grieue thee And the same wise man in another place Eccles 7 23 24. â—5 â—â— 27.28 as he exhorteth the childe to honour his father with his whole heart and not to forget the sorrowes of his mother but to remember that he was borne of them and that he cannot recompence them the things that they haue done for him So he aduiseth parents to instruct their children and to holde their necke from their youth to keepe their daughters bodie and not to shew their face cheerefull towards them and to marry them to men of vnderstanding Finally saith the wise man if children liue honestly Eccles 22.8 9. they shall put away the shame of their parents But if children be proud with hautines and foolishnes they defile the nobility of their kindred Thus we see then the great vertue of the rod in a discreet parents hand Moses Rod lifted
vp Exo 14 10 21.22 deuided the waters made dry ground to appeare in the mides of the Sea to giue the children of Israel passage to the land of Canaan And the fathers or mothers rod being lifted vpon their children will be a meanes to deuide the waters of the waywardnes wantonnes of their yong yeares to calme the raging sea of their vnruly passions and fleshly afflictions Whereby their soule may walke as it were on drie ground securely and safely without any impediment towardes the land of the heauenly Canaan Exod. 17.5 And as Moses rod brought forth water out of the hard Rocke being smitten therewith so shall the parents rod not onely bring forth of the rockie nature of their children the teares of Lamentation but also turne the stonie hardnes and obstinatenes of their stubborne inclination into the streamie softnes of a docible disposition The Rod or tree which Moses did cast into the waters of Marah Exod 15.23.24.25 made the bitter water sweete And the rod of Correction will turne the bitternes of the childes nature into the sweetnes of a dutifull behauiour Finally as Aarons rod budded Num. 17.8 brought forth blossomes and beare ripe Almonds So the teaching Rod for Aaron signifieth a teacher of fathers mothers and Schoolmaisters will make children to bring forth the buddes and blossoms of an hopefull behauiour in their yong yeeres and to beare the ripe Almonds of honest and religious actions in their riper yeeres Let not Parents then spare the rod for the rod vsed with discretion is a meanes to bring children vnto God I say with discretion because Parents and preceptors must not kill children with cruelry but correct thē with lenity they must not ouercharge them rudely with the blowes of indignation but chasten them ruthfully with the stripes of compassion In one word corrections must not serue for the destruction of the body but for the instruction of the Soule And if it chance that a child be of so gentle generous a disposition that he may be reclaimed or wonne with faire perswasions and gentle enducements and allurements then were it but meere madnes to vse any roughnes or austere sharpnes in his behalfe And therfore as children must harken diligently vnto the exhortation of the Apostle Children obey your parents in the Lord Ephes 6.1.2.3.4 For this is right honour thy father and thy mother which is the first commandement with promise that it may be well with thee and that thou maist liue long on the earth So must parents listen vnto the admonition of the same Apostle thus and yee fathers prouoke not your children to wrath but bring them vp in instruction and information of the Lord. Neither must they faile to bring them vp in some lawfull calling and rather in some mechanicall trade and manuall occupation then that they should liue idle for so did Iacob bring vp his Sons So that when as Pharao said vnto them What is your trade they answered the king Gen 47.3 Thy seruants are sheep-heards both we and our fathers Prouer. 27.23.24.25 26.27 Be diligent to know the state of thy flocke saith Salomon and take heede to the heardes for riches remaine not alwayes nor the crowne from generation to generation The hay discouereth it selfe and the grasse appeareth and the hearbes of the mountaines are gathered The Lambes are for thy cloathing and the Goates are the price of the field And let the milke of the Goates be sufficient for thy foode for the foode of thy familie and for the sustenance of thy maides Hate not laborious worke saith Iesus the Sonne of Sirach neither the husbandrie which the most high hath created Eccles 7.15 22. And if thou haue cattell looke well to them Neither let a man be ashamed of a mechanicall trade for we see that Ioseph the husband of Marie Mat. 13.55 Mar. 6.3 Luk. 2.51 Mat. 4.18.19.20.21 8.23.24 Luk. 4.4.5 Act. 18.1.2.3 Exod. 28.3 31.2.3.4.5.6 35.30.31.32 33.34.35 and Iesus the Sonne of Marie yea the Sonne of God disdained not to play the Carpenter And the Apostles were fisher-men and St. Paul was a maker of Tents And it is recorded of Bezaleel and Aholeab two Trades-men that God gaue them much knowledge in mechanicall things euen filled them with an excellent spirit of wisdome vnderstanding and knowledge in all work-manship to worke curiously in gold siluer brasse in grauing and setting of stones in hewing and caruing of wood in working of broydred and needle worke in blue Silke in Purple in Scarlet and in fine linnen finally in weauing and working of all manner of curious work man-ship Let no man I say then be ashamed of a mechanicall Trade or craft seeing it is a gift of Gods spirit and that as Siracides saith in the hands of the crafts-man shall the workes be commended Eccles 9.19 Moreouer Gen 36.7 the Lord blessed Iacob with abundance of substance and store with cattell Sheepe Beeues Camels and Asses in great number as he had done his father Abraham and Isack before Gen. 41. 45. 46. 47. And in the time of the great and long famine of seauen yeeres that was throughout the world God prouided for Iacob and his houshould by the hand of Ioseph his sonne whome the Lord vnwitting his father brethren had preferred to be ruler ouer all Egipt next vnder the King Thus the holy man as he was blessed of God for his godly liuing and spent his daies in blessing of God So he ended them in blessing of God and in blessing of his children in the Instruction 68 name of God Teaching by his example all fathers and mothers liuing and dying to doe the like in the behalfe of their children and that they teach them to know and acknowledge that all blessednes both spirituall and temporall is the fruite and effect of Gods blessing of them and that therefore the praise of our whole happines must be ascribed vnto God Eccle. 44.23.24 euen vnto him who as Iesus the Sonne of Sirach speaketh in Iacobs praise caused the blessing of all men to rest vpon the head of Iacob and made himselfe knowen by his blessings and gaue him an heritage and deuided his portions and parted them amongst the twelue tribes