reede or their violence then a blast of winde Feare ye not them saith our Sauiour which kill the body but are not able to kill the soule Mat. 10.28 But rather feare him which is able to destroy both body and soule And the Lord as he was ready and present to comfort cheere vp Isack in his affliction so was he not onely his friend himselfe But also he framed the heart of king Abimelech to fauour him Gen. 26.26.27.28.29 For the heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord Pro. 21.1 he turneth whether soeuer it pleaseth him saith Salomon Abimelech of a foe was made a friend to Isack before he vexed him but afterwardes he went vnto him to visit him and to make an alliance and couenant with him For we saw quoth the king that certainly the Lord was with thee as if he should haue said we saw God to be with thee and therefore it was not fit that we should be against thee we saw God was thy friend so that it was but a follie for vs to be any longer thy foes Instruction 24 Whereby all faithfull folkes are taught that Gods helpe is most present when as mans ayde is most absent as also that if we haue our refuge vnto him in our affliction with Isack God will also comfort and cheere vs vp with Isack Rom. 8.31 So that if God be with vs we shall not neede to feare who be against vs. For either God will turne the hearts of our foes and make them our friends as he did heere with Isacks enemies or els they shall not be able to doe vs any notable harme Gen. 26.30.31 And as Abimelech together with his Philistims and friends came to treat of peace alliance and amitie with Isack So did he on the other part shew his peaceable disposition and gentle nature in entertaining them for he made them a feast and in accepting of the offer made by the king for they sware one to another And truly if we desire to shew our selues the children of Abraham and of Isack we must behaue our Instruction 25 selues semblably in the behalfe of our neighbours by the meanes of a courteous gentle kinde and quiet cariage In one word the Apostles exhortation to all christians is to haue peace and amitie Ro. 12.18 if it be possible with all men That we may be the children not onely of Abraham and Isack but euen of the most high Mat. 5.9 the father of vs all which is in heauen And as God blessed Abraham amongst many other blessings with a vertuous wife so did he likewise his Sonne Isack For a prudent wife coÌ„meth of the Lord Pro. 19.14 saith Salomon and a godly woman is giuen to him that feareth the Lord Eccles 16.14 saith Siracides Of Sara it is said that she was verie faire and of Rebecca that she was beautifull to the eye Gen. 12.14 24 16. 26.7 and verie faire to looke vpon But this is not all the externall beautie of her body was accompanied with the internall beautie of her minde and in both she proued the true daughter of Sara whose beautie and bountie are both of them recorded in scripture to her praise Eccles 36.22.23.24 The beautie of a woman saith Siracides cheereth the face and a man loueth nothing better if there be in her tongue gentlenes meeknes and wholsome talke then is not her husband like other men As Naomi said vnto Ruth all the Citie of my people doth know that thou art a vertuous woman Ruth 3.11 So all the Citie of Nahor knew that Rebecca liuing as yet in her fathers house was a vertuous and a modest maide and after she was married to Isack all the land of Canaan and of Gerar knew that she was a wise and a well quallified wife Eccles 25.8 26.14 Well is him saith Siracides that dwelleth with a wife of vnderstanding and well was Isack to haue found such a wife as wise Rebecca For there is nothing saith the wise man of so much worth as a woman well instructed And thus in the person Instruction 26 of Rebecca are all matrons and maides taught to ioyne bountie to beautie and mildenes meekenes and modestie of minde to the welfauourednes of face and the outward feature as I said aboue in the Legend of Sara Besides her bodily chastitie and virginall puritie whereof the holy scripture beareth witnes saying that she was a Virgin and vnknowne of man her industrie and diligence is also set downe to her praise for she led not an idle or lasie kinde of life as many maides now a dayes doe but she was employed in the dayly seruice of her fathers house Gen. 24.16.17.18 19.20 for Abrahams seruant found her drawing water at the well for her fathers cattell Whereby young women and Instruction 27 maides are taught to inure themselues euen from their verie tender yeeres to vertuous and profitable employments and not to be ashamed to take paines about their parents houshold affaires considering how that there is nothing more contrary to chastitie then idlenes and lazines which is the roote of all euill and the mother of all mischiefe Ezech. 16.49 This may be seene in the Sodomites who were full of idlenes and also of vnnaturall lust also in Dina Iacobs daughter Gen. 34.1.2 who by her idle gadding abroad lost her virginitie Likewise in Dauid who being idle 1. Sam. 11.1.2.3.4 committed adulterie with the beautious Bathsheba Vriahs Instruction 28 wife Moreouer in the person of Rebecca women are taught to shew all humanity curtesie towards strangers and wayfaring folkes especially those of their owne sexe For Rebccca disdained not to draw water for Abrahams seruant being a stranger to her and not onely for him but also for his Camels wherein likewise her great humilitie lowlines is descried She disdained not to serue Abrahams seruant God in requitall of this her lowly and humble behauiour aduanced her to be the mistresse of the man to whome she had formerly behaued her selfe as a seruaÌ„t Sâ—e humbled her selfe and the Lord honoured her she debased her selfe the Lord lift her vp Iam. 5.5 And therefore the holy Apostle exhorteth all persons but chiefely the yonger sort to humility saying Decke your selues inwardly in lowlines of minde for God resisteth the proud Iob. 5.11 22.29 40.6.7 and giueth grace to the humble he abaseth and bringeth lowe the arrogant and proud and lifteth vp the lowly Gen. 24.49.50.51 52.57.58 Abrahams seruant hauing asked Rebecca of her parents to be Isacks wife she was graunted vnto him accordingly and sent away home with him to Isack with her owne consent and without all delay Instruction 29 Wherein we may learne how that the Lord blesseth and prospereth the affaires of such as feare him and commend their errands as this Godly seruant did vnto Gods fatherly care 1. Pet 5.7 Cast all
Elcanas wiues Thus as the holy woman Anna after long barrennes and much despisement reproch 1. Sam 1.20 3.4 7.15.16 17 Iudg. 13. ◠4.5.7.24 brought forth her Samuel to be a Priest before the Lord a Iudge of his people and Manoahs barren wife her Sampson to be the Lords champion against the Philistims holy Elizabeth her Iohn to be the conuerter of the children of Israel Luk. 1.5.6.7.13.14.15.16.17.57.60.63.76 the Prophet of the most high and the fore-runner of the Messias Iesus the sonne of Marie the blessed Virgine So godly and vertuous Sara after long barrennes and much reproch bare in her olde age with Elizabeth her Isack to be the heire of Abraham the seeds-man of all the blessed nations of the earth and the figure and forefather of the Messiah according to the flesh Thus wee see how that faith Instruction 16 which transcendeth nature Ephes 2.8 and is not of nature but of grace not of man but Gods gift made Sara to beare when as by nature she was barren As without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 so without faith it was impossible for Sara to conceiue and beare a Son in her olde age And God that doth vnto euery man according to his faith Mat 9.29 wrought with vertuous Sara according to her faith As Abraham aboue hope beleeued vnder hope that he should be the father of many nations Rom. 4.18.19.21 being strengthened in the faith and not considering the deadnes of his owne body So his wife Sara being strengthened in the same faith and not considering the deadnes of her wombe aboue hope beleeued vnder hope that she should be the mother of many Nations Both of them beleeued him that had promised to be both faithfull in his promise and powerfull to performe it Hence we may learne of how great vertue efficacie and force faith is By faith a man is counted Instruction 17 righteous before God for Abraham beleeued in the Lord saith the scripture and it was counted vnto him for righteousnes Gen. 15.6 Rom. 4.3 9. By faith a man hath peace towards God and pleaseth him Rom. 5.1.10 Heb. 11.6 and so commeth neere vnto him and without faith it is impossible to please God saith the Apostle Act. 26.18 By faith we are raised vp from sin and receiue forgiuenes thereof inheritance among the Saints Act. 15.9 by faith our hearts are purified and clensed and Blessed be the pure in heart Mat. 5.8 saith our Sauiour for they shall see God By faith we are strenthened in Gods grace we resist the deuil 1. Pet. 1.2.5.9 5.9 the world and the flesh yea we ouercome them Ephes 3.12 Galat 3.14 26. Ephes 2.8 9. 2. Tim. 3.15 2. King 6.14.15 16.17 we haue free accesse vnto God we receiue his blessing we are made his sonnes and in end we acquire the saluation of our soules Elisha was so strong in faith that he feared not the troupes of the King of Siria that he sent out to apprehend him Feare not quoth the Prophet to his seruant being affrayed of the mighty host of their enemies for they that be with vs are more then they that be with them The Citie of Dothan was compassed with Horses and charets sent by the King of Syria to offend Elisha and to apprehend him But loe the mountaine was full of horses and Charets of fire round about Elisha sent by the King of Kings to defend his seruant and to confound his foes The Angel of the Lord saith the Prophet pitcheth round about them that feare him Psal 34.7 deliuereth them 1 Sam. 6. to 24. Ionathan accompanied with his armour-bearer discōfited the Philistims through the great faith he had in God For it is not hard for the Lord to saue with many or with few quoth Ionathan to his man 1. Sam. 17.26.32 to 37. 55. Dauid being armed with an inuincible faith in God went out against the mighty Goliah and smote him first in the fore-head with a stone so that he fell groueling to the ground afterwards smote off his head with his owne sword The Lord that deliuered me quoth Dauid to King Saul out of the paw of the Lion and out of the paw of the beare he will deliuer mee out of the hands of this Philistim No the Lord not onely deliuered Dauid out of his hands but also deliuered the vncircumcised Philistim into the hands of his champion Dauid The three children by their faith in God were preserued in the middes of the firie fornace Dan. 3.16.17.27.28 Behold said they to the King our God whome we serue is able to deliuer vs from the hot fierie fornace and he will deliuer vs out of thine hand O King And according to their saith so it fell out for the fire had no power ouer their bodies no not so much as an haire of their head was burnt neither were their coates changed no not so much as any smoakie smell of fire came vpon them They were casten bound into the mids of the hote fierie fornace but loe the king seeth them loose walking in the mids of the fire as if it had beene amids a glorious and a fresh florishing garden together with one in their companie like the Sonne of God Their faith in God made the fierie fornace vnto them as a fresh medow when as the flame thereof consumed the Idolatrous and faithles officers that threw them in a wonderfull worke that the fire should forbeare to burne the smallest haire of the head of such as were cast into the mids of it and in the meane while destroy and slay such as were without it The seruants of God were safe in the fire because of their faith in God but the kings seruants though being without the fire were not yet safe because they were without faith in God whervpon Nebuchadnezzer the king was constrained to praise God saying Blessed be the God of Shadrach Meshach and abednago who hath sent his Angell and deliuered his seruants that put their trust in him And not onely did he blesse God for them but also decreed that whosoeuer should speake any blasphemie against him that he should be drawne in peeces and his house made a Iakes And withall as he honored and magnified the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednago acknowledging that there is no God that can deliuer after this sort and commanding all his subiects to doe the same so did he promote these men that thus did honour God to greate honour in the prouince of Babell Wherein we finde that saying of the Lord verified Them that honour me 1. Sam. 2 30. I will honour The like was the efficacie of Daniels faith Dan. 6.11.12.16.22.23.24.26.27 the strength whereof did surmount the strength of the strongest beastes euen of Darius his Lyons He was cast into the Lyons denne for making his supplication vnto God yet no
manner of hurt was found on him because he beleeued in God Daniels faith made him safe in the mids of the den amongst a company of hugry deuouring beasts wheras they brake all the bones of their accusers which wanted faith in God or euer they came at the ground of the den Whervpon king Darius made a decree that within all his dominions men should tremble and feare before the God of Daniel for he is the liuing God and remaineth for euer said the king and his kingdome shall not perish and his dominion shall be euerlasting He rescueth and deliuereth and he worketh signes and wonders in heauen and in earth who hath deliuered Daniel from the power of the Lyons The Apostle to the Hebrewes painteth out at large the efficacie of the faith of the men of God of olde Heb. 11. Faith opened the heauens to Enoch and freed him from seeing of death Faith preserued Noe and his houshold from the flood Faith made the people of God vnder the conduction of Moses the man of God to passe through the red sea as by drie land which when the Egiptians had assayed to doe they were drowned for they both wanted faith in God themselues and they persecuted such as had faith and beleeued in God Likewise by faith the walles of Iericho fell downe after they were compassed about seuen dayes Thus we see faith is stronger then walled townes for it maketh them to fall stronger then Lyons and Beares for it tieth their pawes and shutteth vp their iawes stronger then the raging Sea and the most ouer-flowing floods for it turneth them into drie land and stronger then the consuming fire for it maketh it colde as water and as refreshing as a faire flowery field The men of God saith the holy Apostle through faith subdued kingdomes wrought righteousnesse obtained the promises stopped the mouthes of Lyons quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword of weake were made strong waxed valiant in battell turned to flight the armies of the aliants finally by faith the women receiued their dead children raised to life So that faith is not onely stronger then walled townes then armed men then roaring Lyons then the raging sea then the flaming fire but also stronger then death it selfe Yea 1. Pet. 5.8.9 Ephes 6.16 1. Ioh. 5.4 it is stronger then the diuell for it quencheth all his fierie dartes and maketh him to flie from vs with the winges of the winde though his strength far exceede the strength of millions of roaring and deuouring Lyons And as the Epistle to the Hebrewes setteth before our face the force of faith in the holy men of olde So doth the holy Gospell afford vs diuers notable testimonies of the wonderfull effects thereof in diuers persons Mat 8.2.3.5.6.8.10.13.14.15 The leaper that came to Christ through faith in him beleeuing that he was able to make him cleane was cleansed of his leprosie with one touch of our Sauiours powerfull finger And by the same faith and finger was Peters mother in lawe cured and freed of her feuer And the Centurions seruant was healed of his palsie Speake the word onely said the Centurion to our Sauiour and my seruant shall be healed Our Sauiour marueiled at his faith and said vnto his followers Verily I haue not found so great faith euen in Israell and vnto the Centurion himselfe he said Goe thy way and as thou hast beleeued so be it vnto thee And his seruant was healed the same houre Mat 9.18.20.21.22.25.28.29.30 20.30.31.32.33.34 By faith was the woman that had beene twelue yeares sick of a bloody issue cured of her desease for she said in her selfe if I may touch but his garment onely I shall be whole Then Iesus turned him about and seeing her did say daughter be of good comfort thy faith hath made thee whole and the woman was made whole at that houre Her faith was great and therefore deliuered her from a great desease and wrought vpon her a great cure her faith was present and therefore was she presently cured without any protracting of time It was a matter of good comfort to her that she was cured of a long and lingring disease It was a matter of greater comfort to her that she was cured by the great Phisition our Sauiour Christ And it was a matter of greatest comfort of all that she being a poore patient sick in body and sinfull in soule became by the meanes of her faith to be so much dignified as to be made and called the daughter of the Sonne of God Daughter said our Sauiour vnto her be of good comfort thy faith hath made thee whole The like honour and helpe he vouchsafed vpon the sick of the palsie seing his faith Son be of good comfort thy sinnes are forgiuen thee said our Sauiour vnto the sinfull sick-man whereupon he arose freed from the sicknes of his body and the sinne of his soule both at once Iairus the ruler of the Synagogue beleeued that our Sauiour was able to cure his daughter being deseased yea to quicken her being deseased My daughter is now dead said he to our Sauiour but come and laye thine hand on her and shee shall liue And so did the issue answere vnto his faith for presently she reuiued and arose Two blinde men beleeued that our Sauiour was able to restore them to their sight and their eies were opened as soone as he had touched them and said Mat. 15.22 22. be it vnto you according to your faith And vnto the Cananitish woman whose daughter was vexed with a deuill who did sue at his hands for helpe with great importunitie and feruencie his answere was O woman great is thy faith be it to thee as thou desirest and her daughter was made whole at that houre Mat 17.14 15.18 Mat. 9 17 to 30 Likewise the lunaticke child was healed at the humble petition of his beleeuing father witout any longer delay the Ruler of capernaum his son being sick vnto the death Ioh. 4.47.50.53 was healed because of the faith of his father who beleeued the word that Iesus had spoken vnto him The holy Apostle Peter through faith walked on the water Mat. 14.28 29 as on the drie land And the holy Apostle Paul Act. 14.8 9.10 beholding a certaine impotent man which had beene a creeple from his mothers wombe and had neuer walked and perceiuing that he had faith to be healed said with a loud voice stand vpright on thy feete and he leaped vp and walked Thus we see how that faith is able to make the lame to goe the blind to see the dumbe to speake the deafe to heare the leaper to be cleane the lunaticke and mad to be in their right minde and the dead to arise No maruell then though the same faith was able to make Sara to beare in her barren olde age For as our Sauiour said vnto the man whose son was possessed Mat. 9.23
all things are possible to him that beleeueth and vnto his disciples Mat 21.22 what soeuer ye shall aske in prayer if yee beleeue ye shall receiue it It is not then without great cause that Moses exhorted the people going out to battell Deut. 30.3 to haue faith in the victorie promised 1. Sam. 12.20.21.52 that Samuel encouraged the people to trust in God and that Iehosophat enioyned the people to confide in God 2. Chron. 20.20 and to beleeue his Prophets Good cause had the holy Apostles to desire of Christ to encrease their faith Luk 17.5 and to exhort men to stand stedfast in the faith 1. Cor. 16.13 2 Cor. 13.5 and to prooue themselues whether they be in the faith or no Rom. 1.17 1. Tim. 6.12 and to grow from faith to faith Finally to fight the good fight of faith 1. Pet. 1.9 and so to lay holde on eternall life and in end to receiue the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules And as Sara is greatly commended for her faith towards God so likewise is she for her obedience towards her husband her mildnesse of spirit and modestie in attire And therefore the blessed Instruction 18 Apostle S. Peter exhorteth all women and wiues to imitate the example of her excellent vertues 1. Pet. 3.1.2.3.4.5.6 Let the wiues be subiect to their husbands that euen they which obey not the word may without the word be wonne by the conuersation of the wiues while they beholde your pure conuersation which is with feare whose apparelling let it not be outward as with broyded haire and gold put about or in putting on of apparell But let the Hid man of the heart be vncorrupt with a meeke and quiet spirit which is before God a thing much set by For euen after this manner in time past did the holy women which trusted in God ner themselues and were subiect to their husbands As Sara obeyed Abraham and called him Syr or Lord whose daughters ye are whiles ye doe well Ecclesi 26.35.27 A shamefast woman saith Siracides will reuerence her husband A woman that honoureth her husband shall be iudged wise of all But she that despiseth him shall be blazed for her pride This same subiection shamefastnes and modestie of Sara in her cariage and cloathing the Apostle S. Paul recommendeth very earnestly vnto women in his Epistle to Timothie 1. Tim. 2.9.10.11 As our Sauiour said to the Iewes that if they were Abrahams children they would doe the workes of Abraham Ioh. 8.39 So may it be said of women and wiues as many as be the daughters of Sara they will imitate the modesty Gen 12.11 14. 24.16 26.7 29.17 1. Sam. 25.3.42 meeknes shamfastnes and obedience of Sara It is recorded in scripture that Sara was a faire woman to looke vpon and very beautifull the like is said of Rebecca Isacks wife and of Rahel Iacobs wife and of the verteous and wise Abigaill Dauids wife after the death of churlish Nabal Eccles 36.22.23.24 The beautie of a woman saith Iesus the Sonne of Sirach cheereth the face and a man loueth nothing better If there be in her tongue gentlenesse meekenes and wholsome talke then is not her husband like other men he that hath gotten a vertuous woman hath begunne to get a possession she is an helpe like vnto himselfe and a piller to rest vpon As the Sunne when it ariseth in the high places of the Lord Eccles 26.16.17.18 so is the beauty of a good wife the ornament of her house as the cleare light is vpon the holy candlestick so is the beautie of the face in a ripe age and as the golden pillers are vpon the sockets of siluer so are faire feete with a constant minde The externall beautie of Saras bodie was accompanied with the internall beautie of her minde and in a faire body in her person was lodged a more faire soule Instruction 19 Thus in the example of the beautious and bounteous Sara are all matrons maides admonished to ioyne bountie meekenes and modestie of minde to the beautie of body and vertuous carriage to the well-fauourednes of their outward feature Considering how that beautie without bountie in a woman as the wise man speaketh is as a Iewell of golde in a swines nose Pro. 11.22 12.4 31.30 and that not the beautious but the vertuous woman is the crowne of her husband For fauour is deceitfull and beautie is a vanishing thing but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised House and riches may be the inheritance of the fathers Pro. 18.22 19.14 but a prudent wife commeth of the Lord and he that findeth such a wife findeth a good thing and receiueth fauour of the Lord. And doubtles Abraham who found so many good things and so great fauour at the hands of the Lord he found this fauour this cheife good thing to wit a good wife amongst many other fauours and good things Eccles 26.3.14.15.24 A vertuous woman is a good portion saith Siracides which shall be giuen for a guift vnto such as feare the Lord. Who feared the Lord more then did godly Abraham and consequently what man could there be more worthy of a vertuous wife then hee There is nothing so much worth as a woman well instructed and there is no waight to be compared vnto a shamefast womans peaceable faithfull continent minde And who could be so worthie of such a worthy pearle as the worthiest amongst men the holy Patriarke Abraham the father of the faithfull And as God blessed him with a vertuous and an vnderstanding wife which proued the ioy and crowne of her husband whose death therefore he had great cause to bewaile as he did with mourning and lamentation Gen. 23.1.2 so did he endowe him exceedingly with temporall store â—he magnified and multiplyed him Gen. 13.5.6 24. â—5 36 so that he gaue him in great aboundance men-seruants and maid-seruants siluer and golde Camells Asses Instruction 20 Sheepe and Beeues Wherein we finde that saying of the Apostle verified 1. Tim 4.8 Godlynes is profitable vnto all things which hath the promise of the life present and of that which is to come Lastly the Lord hath such an honorable regard of Abraham that according to his promise made to him Gen. 12.3 saying I will blesse them that blesse thee and curse them that curse thee He both cursed and blessed other men for Abrahams sake As he plagued Pharao king of Gerar together with their housholdes for offering to doe him wrong Gen 12.15 16.17.18 19.20 20.3.4 7.17.18 19.29 20.17 27 3.4.5 so for Abrahams sake and at his entreatie he multiplied Isack and deliuered Lot from the destruction of Sodome and healed king Abimelech and all his housholde So effectually was God with Abraham that he was also with others for Abrahams sake Wherein all
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
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