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
for vnfalliable read vnfallible Page 19. for vnsoundly read vnsonnely Page 49. for deseased read deceased Page 68 for bended read bruised Page 90. for was read were Page 100. for opens read open Page 133. for blesseth read kisseth The golden legend of ABRAHAM and SARA ABraham as he was the father of the faithfull Gen. 17.4 5 6. Rom. 4.16 17 18. so was he more particularly of all religious and godly rich men He feared God deuoutly obeyed his voyce readily called vpon his name dilligently liued among men vprightly and followed his calling carefully Gen. 12.1.2.3.4.5.6.7 15.1.2.3.4.12.13.18 2.17.8 His obediēce to the Lords voyce was such that he left his natiue country forsook his kindred and his fathers house and trauailed towards the land of Canaan Act. 7 2.3 4.5 which the Lord promised to giue him his seed he left a certaine possession for an vncertaine only relying reposing himselfe vpon the certainty of Gods gratious promise Yea more when as God had giuen him a son one onely sonne of his wife Sara in their olde age contrary to the cōmon course ordinary ability of nature Gen. 22.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. and 26. 5. Iames 2.21 he was willing at the Lords voyce to offer him for a burnt offering So that not without great cause is the holy Patriarks obedience so highly commended by the Lords owne mouth By my selfe haue I sworne saith the Lord because thou hast done this thing and hast not spared thine onely sonne therfore will I surely blesse thee and will greatly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heauē the sand which is vpon the sea-shore thy seed shal possesse the gate of his enemies And as Abraham at the commaundement of the most high would haue sacrificed his sonne yea his young sonne and his onely sonne and the sonne of his delight and that with his owne hands without protracting of time for he rose vp early in the morning to offer vp his son so the Lord in consideration of his obedience yea his admirable memorable obedience rewarded him most amply and blessed exceedingly not onely himselfe but likewise his seed for his sake Instruction 1 Hence we may learne this lesson that whosoeuer he be that serueth the Lord hee shall finde that hee serueth not a thankeles but a most thankefull maister according to that which he said vnto Abraham Gen. 1. Feare not Abraham I am thy Buckler and thine exceeding great Instruction 2 reward In Abrahams obedience in preferring the Lords voyce and will before the loue of his Country kindred yea before the loue of his onely son Isack al his children according to the promise but chiefely rich men are taught to yeeld obedience vnto the Lords voyce and euen if the cause require it to abandon and forsake their dearest and most beloued things for the cause of God to preferre his will before al earthly and corruptible treasure Mat. 10.37 19 29. He that loueth father or mother more then me saith our Sauiour is not worthy of me and he that loueth sonne or daughter more then me is not worthy of me And whosoeuer shall forsake houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my names sake he shal receaue an hundreth fold more and shall inherit euerlasting life Well knew holy Abraham this who as he reioyced to see Christ in the flesh Iohn 8.56 so he loued him farre aboue all fleshly and corruptible things he knew well what it was to be worthy of Christ would haue rather forsaken all then to haue proued vnworthy of him that made all This great obedience in Abraham did flowe from his exceeding great faith as the Apostle to the Hebrewes lets vs to vnderstand By faith Abraham when he was called Hebr. 11 8 9 10 17 18 19. obeyed God to go out into a place which he should afterward receaue for inheritance and he went out not knowing whether he went By faith he abode in the land of promise as in strange countrie as one that dwelt in Tents with Isack and Iacob heires with him of the same promise for he looked for a Citie hauing a foundation whose builder and maker is God By faith he offered vp Isack when he was tried and he that had receiued the promises offered his onely begotten sonne To whome it was said in Isack shall thy seede be called for he considered that God was able to raise him vp euen from the dead from whence he receiued him also after a sort Gen. 15.6 and 17.11 23 24 25 26 27 Rom. 4.3.11.16 17 18 19 20 21 22. Gala. 3.6 Iam. 2.23 Abraham beleeued God saith the scripture and it was counted to him for righteousnes who aboue hope beleeued vnder hope that he should be the father of many nations Neither did he doubt of the promise of God thorough vnbelief but was strēgthened in the faith gaue glory to God being fully assured that he which had promised was also able to do it Though Abraham had not by inheritance so much as one foote breadth in the land of Canaan yet he beleeued that the Lord was both able and willing to performe his promise made to him and his seede touching the possession thereof Though he knew that Sara his wife being both barren and olde could not by the course of nature conceiue yet he was assured that God was able to giue him a Sonne euen of her Finally though he was commanded to offer vp his Sonne Isack for a burnt offering vnto the Lord yet being strengthned in the faith he considered how that God was able to raise him vp euen from the dead and was fully perswaded that Gods promise made to him touching Isack and his seede should not nor could not fall to the ground and want the owne performance in the own due time Heauen and earth shall passe away but Gods promise is as vnfaileable and vnfalliable as God himselfe Abraham if he had beene feeble in the faith would haue said what a kinde of a Commandement is this for a father to be the slayer of his owne Sonne Haue I receiued a Sonne and but one Sonne onely after so long prayer and expectation and must I and none other but I be the butcher of his body the spiller of his blood and the burner of his bones Good Lord what an hard and heauy commandement is this Is it possible O heauens that God should be the author thereof How much more like is this son-offering voice vnto the voyce of some monstrous Milcom or Molech Leuit. 18 21. the blood-sucking Idol of Ammon rather then vnto the voyce of the most gracious God of Abraham chiefly he hauing promised in Isacks seede to call and blesse all the nations of the earth and must I and none but I who was the instrument of his life now be the mortall and vnnaturall instrument
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
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
And heere againe in this good seruant Instruction 6 Eliezer are all seruants taught to doe all diligence and to vse all fidelity and consionable carefulnes in doing of their maisters affaires But to returne from the man to the maister as Abrahams faith was not a dead or idle faith in the behalfe of God for we see it wrought by obedience Iam. 2.21.22 Galat. 5.6 and pious liuing in Gods behalfe so likewise was it not dead or idle in the regard of man but wrought by charitie Gen. 18.1.2.3 4.19.3 equitie and loue This appeareth by his hospitality for he was wont to sit at the doore of his Tent to inuite strangers and to bid the poore into his house So that on a time he receiued Angels for his guests at vnwares And the like did his brothers son Lot Whereupon the Apostle to the Ebrewes Heb. 13.2 giueth out this exhortation Be not forgetfull to lodge strangers for thereby some haue receiued Angels into their houses vnawares Instruction 7 If then the father of the faithfull had this godly custome to sit at his doore to bid the stranger and the poore into his house how vnseemely and vnsoundly a thing is it for the sons and daughters of such a father to be so farre from bidding or bringing them into our houses as not to receiue or entertaine them when they come but euen to chase them away from our doors The world is now adaies grown so Keycolde in charitie that if the verie Angels themselues should come downe from heauē into our houses as of olde it seemeth we would be more ready to bid them to be gone then to harbour them with Abraham and Lot But heare what our Sauiour saith If ye were Abrahams children ye Ioh. 8.39 would doe the workes of Abraham Abraham was likewise full of tender hartednes pittie and compassion toward the miserable and afflicted whence it came to passe that he not onely deliuered Lot from captiuitie Gen. 14.12 16 18.23 being taken and spoiled by Chedar Laomer in the ouerthrow of Sodome and restored him againe to his owne but he also prayed very earnestly vnto Instruction 8 God for the sinfull people of Sodome Whereby the children of Abraham are taught to comfort the comfortles to pittie the oppressed to deliuer the distressed to aide the weake to ransome and redeeme the captiue and to pray for the conuersion saluation of all men be they neuer so wicked Yea Abraham prayed also euen for such men as had don him wrong Gen. 20.3.7.17.18 as for king Abimelech and his houshold when as the Lord had plagued them for taking away Abrahams wife from him Giuing Instruction 9 vs therein an example of praying euen for our ill-willers and enemies according to the commandement of our Sauiour Loue your enemies blesse them that curse you Mat. 5.44.45 doe good to them that hate you and pray for them which hurt you and persecute you that ye may be the children of your father which is in heauen for he maketh his sun to arise on the euill and the good and sendeth raine on the iust and the vniust If we be the children of Abraham we will do the workes of Abraham and if we be the children of God we will doe the will of our Father which is in heauen Abrahams peaceable and milde disposition appeareth in that Gen. 13.5 to 12. when as the land was not able to beare him and his brothers sonne Lot to liue together by reason of the great increase of their store he to auoide contention and strife parted company very louingly with Lot Let there be no strife I pray thee said Abraham to Lot betweene thee and me neither betweene mine Heard-men and thine for we be brethren Yea Abraham to purchase peace resigned his owne right and bid Lot choose what part of the land he did most like Instruction 10 Teaching thereby all his children to auoyd all occasions of wrangling and contending with their kins-men neighbours friends and rather be content to loose a part of their owne then enter into quarrell with them for that which iustly is theirs To which purpose Ro. 12.18 the Apostle exhorteth all Christians to labour by all meanes to haue peace with all men The good christian then after the example of his father Abraham will shew him-selfe alwaies peaceable that is a louer a maker and a taker of peace He will cut off all occasions of contention as much as he can and he will say vnto such a one as would be at debate with him let there be no strife nor debate I pray thee betweene thee and me neither betweene any of ours for we be brethren we be Christians euen children of one father seruants of one Lord fellowes of one Baptisme followers of one faith and members of one militant Church And in so doing we shall be called not onely the children of Abraham but euen the sonnes and daughters of the most high euen of the God of Abraham Mat. 5.9 As Abraham was peaceable so was he likewise equitable and iust he would not receiue at the hands of Ephron the Hittite a field which he had offered him freely to burie his wife Sara in Gen. 23. but would needes giue him the price thereof euen foure hundred sheckles of Siluer What shall we then say Instruction 11 of violent oppressours and possessors of other folkes rights of robbers and wrongfull with-holders of that which appertaineth to other men how can such vnreasonable and vnequitable vsurpers and encroachers claime to be called or accounted the children of righteous Abraham If they were Abrahams children they would not take another mans goods for nought although being offered them by the owner much lesse would they violently bereaue a man of that which is his owne or yet with hold it from him they hauing it in their hands And if such men cannot claime to be Abrahams children how can they make claime to any part or portion in Abrahams bosome seeing the man that would repose in Abrahams bosome after this life Luk. 16.22 25. must heere in this life harbour in his heart and beare in his bosome Abrahams liuing faith which was made perfite through workes Iam. 2.21.22 wrought by obedience equitie righteousnes charitie and loue But did this godly and religious disposition of Abraham want a reward No truly I will make of thee a great nation said the Lord and I will blesse thee Gen. 12.2 3.7 15 1.2.3 4 17.1.4 18.1 and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing I will also blesse them that blesse thee and curse them that curse thee and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed feare not Abraham I am thy buckler and thine exceeding great reward The Lord honoured him often with his presence in appearing speaking vnto him he made him of Abram Abraham of a father the father euen the father of
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
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
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