Certaine plaine, briefe, and comfortable notes vpon euerie chapter of Genesis Gathered and laid downe for the good of them that are not able to vse better helpes, and yet carefull to read the worde, and right heartilie desirous to taste the sweete of it. By the Reuerend Father Geruase Babington, Bishop of Landaph.

Chap. 10. (Book 10)

THis chapter wholy consisteth in a descrip∣tion of the propagation of mankinde,* 1.1 by the posteritie of Noah,* 1.2 after they were now released from the Flud, wherein all flesh but they, was perished: which great increase in so shorte a time, noteth vnto vs the wonderfull power of God, and disco∣uereth also what most vnkinde forgetful∣nesse of the Lordes goodnesse to their fathers, but as it were ye∣sterday, was crepte so quickely into some of them.

2 With Sem and Iapheth is curssed Cham, telling vs,* 1.3 that this outward militant church hath hir blots and wrinckles in hir: not onely in respect of the godly, whose regeneration is not fini∣shed till they dye, but in respect also of the euill that are mixed and mingled with the good, betwixt Sem and Iapheth, two good men, Cham a caytife hath a place in the world.

3 Cham was yoonger, and so euer is falshood later then truth, sinne later then innocencie, and euill later then good,* 1.4 Cain was ould, but Adam was elder, nay Adam sinning was verye soone,

but yet Adam not sinning was before, first good seede is sowen, and then after Tares.

* 1.54 Nimrod a tyrant starteth vp in this Chapter. When? when he waxed mightie. Ancient therefore is oppression and crueltie, and the abuse of Gods blessings: when God hath increased a man in power and wealth, then most is hee bounde to serue him for it, but quite contrarie it is, the mightier the worse, and the richer the crueller to oppresse the weake ones. Read the 2. of Chron. 26.16. and Deutro. 6.10. verse.

5 His tyrannye is compared to Hunting, and the tyrant to a hunter.* 1.6 Hunting hath snares, nets, dogges, and diggings of deepe ditches,* 1.7 spyings, and pryings, watchings and wardings, and euer the death of the creature hunted is the game. Tyranny and op∣pression hath the like, if yee list to compare them, at least in this they ioyne full iust, the partie hunted must dye at last. But such Nimrods, such tyrants, such hunters God seeth, and such hun∣tings of the poore till they haue their bloud, God in his iustice to∣gether with the hunters, will repaye.

* 1.86 In that it is sayde Nimrod was such an one before the Lord. It noteth the nature of sinne and custome, to wit, to gather strength by continuance, and at last not to feare, euen the face of God, nor his holy eyes to looke vpon it. Custome of sinning ta∣keth away the feeling of sinne, and therefore if we stay not to doe euill before man, at last it will be sayde of vs as of Nimrod▪ that euen before God we are become hunters, that is, we are growne to an impudencie and boldnesse of sinning.

* 1.97 As Nettles then Roses be of greater increase, and bad weedes multiply apace. so spred this iniquitie further then vertue, and filled the world with such fruite dayly. To this day they fruc∣tifie in a full measure, and what towne is that almost in the world, that hath not a Nimrod one or two at the least in it. That is, a harde, a cruell, a greedy, and couetous man, that grindeth the faces of his neighbours, till both skinne and flesh being of the bare

bones, do onely remaine. I say no more, yet thinke you more of it that reade it.

8 Though we see heere diuisions of Countreys made amongst them, and some dwelling here, some there, as they liked, yet one bloud remained amongst them, as a knot euer to ioyne them, what distance of place soeuer seuered them. And is it not so still, though longer time & larger increase haue spred it further? Sure∣ly it is so, we cannot deny: and therefore this bond of bloud, stock, house, linage, and kinred in roote, though I saye the degrees bee far, should continue regarde one of an other, and loue more then is. Likewise trading and traphiking, helping and releeuing with mutuall interchange of commodities one of another, desire of tra∣ueling no lesse one to finde out and knowe an other, what distance of place soeuer doth seperate. For we be all as we see of one bloud and parent. And should a man placed in France say adewe for e∣uer, and in all respect of affeccion, care, and loue to his house in England, out of which he descended? Then might he iustly be ac∣compted vnnaturall, currish & vnkinde, aboue the course of a good man: surely euen so in the other, and thus profit by it: for men are not to be thought of, onely according to far or neere dwelling, but according to the roote from which they descended.

9 Againe when we read this chapter, remember Chams cursse by his father, in the former chapter,* 1.10 and then marke his worldly e∣state layd downe in this, and see howe the one may agree with the other. There I saye hee was curssed, and heere he seemeth more blessed then any of them: for his Children are many, the place of his dwelling most fruitfull, pleasant and fertile. Now he that hath so great a posteritie, as eleuen sonnes, so sweete a portion of the earth as he had, with all the circumstances of these two worldlye felicities, how is he curssed? surely euen as the wicked vsually are curssed, not by denyall of outwarde blessings, but by a taking from them of heauenly fauour: wherefore learne by it this secret euer, that in earth they florish with earthlye pleasures many a time, whome GOD hath marked neuer to loue, but to carrye his cursse for euermore. Feare not therefore though one be made riche, and the glorye of his house bee increased,* 1.11 for the

fauour of God consisteth not in these things, but for all them hee may be a Cham, and his fathers cursse setled vpon him, and his seede. Blessed are the people (saith the Psalme) that be in such a case, hauing relation to outward blessings named before, but then followeth after as a correction of the former: yea rather blessed are they that haue the Lorde for theyr God: noting the former to bee but blessings in respect, and the later onely the true and certaine happinesse of any flesh. See also how euen in those daies to iudge of the estate of the wicked, and godlye, they had neede to enter in∣to the Sanctuarie of God, for if they went by outwarde showe either of the one or of the other, they should be deceyued, as also nowe.

10 But why dooth Moses mention so carefully and precisely the borders or limits of Chanaan or of the Canaanites? Certain∣lye it was by the guiding of Gods holy Spirite in respect of the church and children of God,* 1.12 to whom after it should be giuen, that they might know them the better. Where marke we the depth of Gods hidden and secret prouidence, in such sorte as it peereth out and sheweth it selfe vnto vs. Do wee not see how earthly things are giuen to the wicked, which euen then when they enioy them, by a wise God are appointed in his prouidence vnto others, whome he fauoureth more, and for whome he vseth but those for a time to prouide for them, and to make them readyer to theyr handes? Adore we therefore this secret depth, and say we with the Apostle: O the deepenes of the riches, bothe of the wisedome and knowledge of God,* 1.13 howe vnsearchable are his iudgements, and his wayes past finding out? who hath knowne the minde of the Lord, or who hath beene his counseller, &c. Manye things moe might be noted in this Chapter, if the Genealogies should be stood vpon, wherein with praise many haue traueled, but I chuse rather with him that did so before mee,* 1.14 to leaue that dili∣gence to them that haue shewed it, and to content my selfe with these few notes at this time.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse. 1.
• * 1.2

  Gods pow∣er & mans forgetful∣nes.
• * 1.3

  In the Church good and bad.
• * 1.4

  Truth el∣der then falsehood.
• * 1.5

  Oppressi∣on howe ould.
• * 1.6

  Verse. 9.
• * 1.7

  Tyrannie compared to hunting
• * 1.8

  Sinne groweth by custome
• * 1.9

  In euery towne a Nimrod great or little.
• * 1.10

  Earthly glory no true token of Gods fauour.
• * 1.11

  Psal. 49.
• * 1.12

  The wick∣ed often prouiders for others that shalbe better then they.
• * 1.13

  Rom. 11.33
• * 1.14

  Caluin.