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. 21. (Book 21)

The generall heads of this Chapter are these three.

• The birth of Isaack from the 1. to the 14.
• The banishment of Agar from the 14. to the 22.
• The couenant betwixt the King and Abraham.

THe first particular I note is this, the per∣formance of that promise in his appoyn∣ted time that was made vnto Sarah be∣fore in the 18. Chapter verse 10. concer∣ning a Sonne.* 1.1 * 1.2 It doth assure vs thus much, that the word hath not passed Gods lips euer, which proued not true, and shall proue true to the worlds end. Truth being essentiall to him, and he neuer changeling: onely this there is, a season and time appoynted, either reuealed or otherwise, which wee must expect. Tary that and all shall be well, for so did Sara heere, and the godly elsewhere euer, and had their desires.

* 1.32 Isaac is circumcised, and called Isaac at his circumcision, so haue we now our names at baptisme.* 1.4 That Sacrament then, as this now, are sacraments and signes of our new birth. Fitly therefore by the receipt of our names at such time should we euer when we heare them be remembred, that wee haue promised to God and his Church that we will be new men.

* 1.53 Sarah reioyseth at this gift of God in her ould age and her husbands age,* 1.6 reproching therein and reprouing playnely the couldnesse and dulnesse, the blindnesse and vnkindnesse of some, that hauing children giuen, not one, but many, not in age onely, but from youth to age almost euery yeare, reioyce not, but

murmure fearing and distrusting, and farre farre from this good womans hart. She euen danceth for ioye in her minde, and sayth, who would haue thought, &c.

4 Sara giueth this her owne childe sucke, her selfe,* 1.7 till it was to be weaned.* 1.8 An ancient and good example to be folowed of all women, that haue no true inabilitie indeed to denye it. For to this end hath God prouided nourishment for it in the mothers brest, that it might be so. The earth also nourisheth the plants and hearbes which she bringeth foorth. The tree no lesse with her sap and suck, the bowes and branches that spring out of her. All other creatures do the like, be they neuer so fearce. The Tygar, the Wolfe, the Beare, and the Lion, yet gentle to their young ones, and giue them suck. Shall onely women more vnkindely then any, deny them nourishment? The mother is content, when shee cannot see it, nor handle it, but hath it in her bodye to nourish it, yea and to abide many a sharpe nip and pinche for it, eating this, and forbearing that, as shall be best for her childe she goeth with: and when it is borne, that they may see it, and h••••••le it, behould it, and ioye in it, yea when it lyeth in theyr lappes and cryeth, houl∣deth vp a paire of little handes and eyes, begging as it were, and intreating for Gods sake, to be nurssed and nourished by them, ra∣ther then any other, is it not a hard heart, that can cast it awaye, and put it to a stranger whose affection can bee but frosen in com∣parison at least for a while? Lastlye the dangers of this are not few, if they were well considered. For manye a disease and ill qualitie is drawne with the milke from a bad Nurse, beside that experience teacheth vs, that many plants will neuer prosper, ex∣cept they haue of their owne earth about them. All these things then perswade vs asmuch as may bee, to folowe Sarah heere this good Woman, and to nurse vp our little Isaacs that God dooth giue our selues. Yet necessitie hath no lawe, I knowe it true, but let not wanton vnwillingnesse, nor vnwil∣ling, wantonnesse, bee necessitie. Iudge of this thing in a god∣lye feeling according to your place, and other true circum∣stances, and I leaue it to you, I prescribe to none, neither saye anye more.

5 When the wayning time came, Abraham made a feast, yea a great feast,* 1.9 saith the texte, and it teacheth vs the libertie of Gods children,* 1.10 according to places and times wherein they liue, touching such matters and customes as this is. We our selues haue our fashions and vses at birth, at Baptisme, at the mothers going to church to giue thankes, in hir lying in, &c. What may well bee done, and suffred and liked, let it not be peeuishly, way∣wardly, spitefully, and vniustly traduced: For this very feast and fashion of Abraham might be censured, if to finde faulte were to speake true, if malice were zeale, and a frowarde nature were a good minde by and by. Surely as the Apostle saide, To the cleane all things are cleane,* 1.11 so saye I to meeke and modest mindes, all customes that may any waye be charitably interpre∣ted are acceptable, & as he sayth againe, but vnto them that are defiled & vnbeleeuing, nothing is pure, but euen their minds & consciences are defiled, so say I vnto those that are waspish, and wayward, spitefull and froward, euery thing that they fansie not, is vncleane and vnlawfull, eyther Heathnish or Iewish, or popish, or somewaye intollerable, and their fansie is regularerum the rule of right, vnto which all mens dooings must be framed, if ther be peace. But there is a rule, that all godly mindes preferre before all such rules, to wit, euen the rule of the blessed Apostle, If any man lust to be contentious,* 1.12 we haue no such custome, neither the Churches of God.

* 1.136 Ismael mocked Isaac and Sarah spyed it. The sonne of the flesh,* 1.14 the sonne of the promise. See in a figure the condition and order of the world. The vngodly are mockers, gibers, flow∣ters and flirers, at such as the Lorde hath looked vpon in more mercy, then he hath vpon them, and it is no new thing. Patience must passe it ouer, and God will paye it home as he did this. This mocking they take to be but a small fault, if any at all, but the A¦postle saith it is bitter and cruell persecution. Peruse the place, Galat. 4.29.

* 1.15 * 1.167. That Sarah spied it, and not Abraham, the reason might eyther bee in her more vsuall beeing which the children then A∣braham

was, or in her affection, which was not so good to Is∣maell, as Abrahams was: hee being Father, and not shee mo∣ther. Nowe wee knowe it well, that mislike quicklye spyeth a faulte, when affection to the partye is somewhat darker eyed.

8 She craueth of Abraham, that both mother and Childe may for this cause be cast out,* 1.17 and though it greeued Abraham in respect of his Sonne, yet God in the end ioyned with Sarah,* 1.18 and admonished Abraham that it should be so. It noteth vnto vs how mocking and scoffing flyring and gyring, pride and vanitie, and the contempt of Gods promises, neuer scapeth Gods iudge∣ment, but is both obserued and punished some waye or other, first or last. Naye marke it more, which in deed is more, the Childes fault is the mothers smarte also,* 1.19 and she likewise must be cast out by Gods owne sentence. For happilye she sawe and heard these mockes, and rebuked them not, but cockered and dandled such wicked beginnings in hir young impe: but very sure I am in our dayes many foolish mothers doe it, and are so vainelye pleased with theyr children, that euen their faults please them also. But let them marke this example, and prouoke not God. He is as a∣ble, and let them feare it, to cast both them and their children out of his house for euer, as heere Abraham was, these two out of his.

9 The Texte sayth,* 1.20 This thing was greeuous vnto A∣braham. And wee see in it,* 1.21 what greefes faull out now and then betwixt the best couples. The one desireth and earnestlye see∣keth, what greeueth the other to the verye heart. But what then, Matrimonie ceaseth not to bee the holye ordinance of God, though these troubles in the flesh,* 1.22 as the Apostle calleth them intercurre.

The second part.

1 When God cōmandeth Abraham that he should do so,* 1.23 * 1.24 then marke how streight Abraham leaueth, and forsaketh all priuate

affection to childe or mother, and obeyeth Gods commaunde∣ment. So so must it bee with vs, if Abraham his spirit be in vs. And what an example should this bee to all Parents to gouerne theyr mindes by. Abraham was godlye, Ismael his owne fleshe, and childe, yet he executeth the Lords will vpon his owne childe, to his smart, and vpon the mother also, preferring Gods will be∣fore them both, and forsaking them, rather then Gods comman∣dement. What shall or can our doting affections answer to this example? Murders, adulteries, blasphemies, and swearings, are suffered by vs, with many mo, and no correction done. No it is to be feared, manye of vs had rather shake of all Gods commande∣ments, then once make our children smart a daye. But be wise, be wise, and regarde such good examples as this, when wee meete with them.

* 1.252 It is sayd, that Agar wandred in the wildernesse of Be∣ersheba.* 1.26 A liuely example of Gods iustice vpon seruantes, that being in good place cannot be thankefull to God, and dutifull to their maisters, but will so behaue themselues, that they loose that place. Such wander many times vp and downe, to theyr great greefe and shame, and want both in back and belly those comforts which they had very easily and largely, if they could haue conside∣red it. Nay, which is more, theyr wandring and wante, many times brings heauie and dolefull ends, to their ignominie in this worlde, howsoeuer they escape in the worlde to come. Wherefore let all such as are well, and liue well, be they seruants or other, re∣member this example of Agar, thrust out from so good a place, and now desolately, and heauily, wandring with her poore childe vp and downe the wildernesse.

* 1.273 And when the water of the bottle was spent, saith this storie,* 1.28 she cast the childe vnder a tree, and went and sat ouer against him a farre of, about a bowe shoote, least shee should see the death of him. First obserue, how affliction foloweth af∣fliction, and one greefe in the necke of an other, when once God beginneth to exercise vs. Shee lost her place, shee wandreth in the wildernesse with her childe, comfortlesse and desolate, the water

of the bottle is spent, and no more to be had, when the child cryeth for drinke, and is readye to dye for it: and lastly, shee giueth her child vp to death, as she thought, getting her farre of, as vnable to heare the crye of it. The least of all which, was a bitter pange to her that tasted it. Let it schoole vs if the Lord so deale with vs, we are not priuiledged, we haue no immunitie. If the crosse come to vs, as a thing iudged fit for vs of our God, wee may not set him a stint, and say thus much will I beare, and no more: but leaue him to his owne good pleasure, expecting, and induring euen one vpon an other, as thicke, as euer it shall please him to send them. Ta∣king hould of his promise by a liuely faith, that he will neuer laye more vpon vs, then hee will make vs able to beare,* 1.29 but will giue the issue with the temptation, that wee may indure it. And praying to his Maiestie vpon that promise, that for his mercy sake he would so doe. Naye, marke more heere in this wofull Wo∣man, that her last crosse is the greatest of all, namely the casting of her Child downe vnder the tree, that it might dye for wante of drinke, and going from it to be out of the crye.* 1.30 O fathers and mothers, but mothers especially, that know what loue of children meanes, consider of it. What heart had this wofull woman thinke yee, when shee layd downe her childe out of her armes, naye when she cast it downe, as the Terte sayth, like a woman all torne in peeces, and distracted almost with the woe and wound of a payned heart? Howe did shee looke vpon it, howe did shee take her leaue from it, when the Childe cryed, lyfted vp his wa••rie eyes vppon hir, stretched out handes and armes to goe with her, and not to bee left there without her? What wringing gripes, what twit∣ching payne, when shee turned her backe vpon it to goe awaye▪ What depth of woe came her teares from, when shee set out the crye and wepte so deerely? O heauye mother, if there were euery any in this worlde. O pittifull parting betwixte a mother and her Childe. O sorrowe vpon sorrowe, and the last the grea∣test by a thousand degrees. Whose stonie heart bewayieth not, as wee heare it, this ruthfull case, of a poore Mother and her Childe?

Learne wee then carefully, as I sayde before, both howe crosse followeth crosse, and how still greater and greater, and the last the

worst of all, if it please God so, and let vs harden our selues for it, in his holy feare, and not be ouer tender. Secondlye obserue wee againe the diuers passions of loue heerein, either of parents to children,* 1.31 or freend to freend. Some cannot be drawne from them eyther daye or night, when they are like to dye, and it is a great loue, and a good. But heere it is otherwise, for the mothers heart cannot abide to see the childe dye, and this also because shee loued it. So are manye where they loue intirely. Thus differ our diuers natures euen in one thing, and wee haue our diuers reasons vpon diuers circumstances. Blessed is the partie, whose affections draweth neerest the Lords alowance, and an holy patience. Lastly consider it, & that not a little how in this bitter agonie, & most hea∣uie plight,* 1.32 yet shee neither openeth her mouth against the Lorde, nor against the meanes of her woe Abraham & Sarah, no not a∣gainst Sarah, that was the first and cheefe cause indeed, to stirre vp Abraham to put her away. No curssing, no banning, no ra∣uing nor railing, is heard out of her. A very great commendati∣on of her, and a very great want in our dayes, in some, that thinke themselues no common Christians, for that thing almost hapneth not crosse to theyr mindes, but the verye ayre almost is infected with theyr bannings, bee it neuer so small, and of no accompt. Theyr soule is acquainted with bitternesse altogether, and theyr tongues cannot but take like course. What would these doe, if they were as greatlye greeued as Agar was. Naye whether would they haue sent Sarah, especiallye if they had beene in her case.

Surelye, surelye, neyther Abraham, nor Sarah, nor God I feare me, should haue escaped curses manye and great, but for Sarah, she should haue beene curssed to the deepe pit of Hell ten thousand times and further, if sin ther were any further torment to be had for her. But learne. O si••ie and furious Spirites, euen by Agar heere, an other lesson, followe it and vse it with carefull hearts, if you meane not to brue for your selues in hell, what you wishe to others.

* 1.334 But what nowe of Agar and her childe, in this depthe of di∣stresse and danger?* 1.34 O mercye and comfort, marke it if wee bee a∣liue.

When the greefe is at the top, and the case at the worste, when the worlde and all worldlye meanes are giuen ouer, then God is neerest, present, and at hande, and sendeth his Angel to succoure this comfortlesse Woman and her Childe, to his eter∣nall prayse and her greater ioye then euer tongue can tell. The Lorde heard the voyce of the Childe, saith the 17 verse, and the Angell cryed from Heauen to her. Who will dispayre of God and his helpe whilst life is in him, that heareth, and seeth, and marketh this? Shall it euer fall out, that the seede of Ia∣cob shall wante releefe, when Ismaell the mocker is not neg∣lected? Cannot God forget his promise, and let Ismaell dye, and can hee forget all his promises in Christ Iesus sealed,* 1.35 and deliuered in the bloud of his Testament? yea and amen in him, immutable and inchangeable foreuer, and cast awaye the care of vs? O farre bee it from our soules to thinke it, and our heartes to feare it. This is our warrante with many moe, when our case is worste, hee seeth and pittieth, heareth and helpeth, and will neuer forsake vs.

5 See it againe, howe warelye the Texte speaketh, saying,* 1.36 God heard, and the Angell spake. It dooth not saye the An∣gell hearde the voyce of the Childe, and so cryed. Least wee should haue left the Creator, and fled to the creatures in our di∣stresses. Call vpon mee in the daye of trouble, sayth the Psalmist, and I will heere thee, I, I,* 1.37 and neyther Angels nor Saintes. They shall helpe as GOD appoynteth them, I meane the Angels, but God heareth and pyttieth, and di∣recteth all.

6 When it is sayd, The Lorde opened her eyes,* 1.38 and shee sawe a Well of water to giue the Childe drinke of. It tea∣cheth vs all, that except God open our eyes, wee can neyther see nor vse the meanes which are yet before vs. The Childe grewe and dwelte in the wildernesse, sorrowe was turned into comforte by the Lordes mercye, and touching outward things, God caused him to prosper. His mother tooke him a wife also, in his time, to

note the authoritie of parents, and obedience of children in that matter, and those dayes.

The third part.

* 1.39COncerning the couenant betwixt Abimeleck and Abra∣ham,* 1.40 which is the third generall head in this Chapter, you see the occasion of it in the 22, verse. Namely because they saw God to be with Abraham in all that he did. See we by it, how the godly are feared, euen of men farre greater then themselues, for theyr holy walking before the Lord, and his gratious countenance to them againe.* 1.41 So we read of Herod, that he feared Iohn, and reuerenced him, because he was a iust man and holy, not for any worldly pompe or outward strength that he was able to make, to hurt him by, for his coate was heary, his girdle of a skin: and yet stracke the vertue of his life, & maiestie of his calling through the golden Robes of Herod to his very hart, and made him afraid of him. Great is the power then of true vertue, and would God we would marke it, as also the dignitie of the calling of the mini∣sterie, if it be maintained.

2 The kings request being honest, note also how easilye A∣braham yeeldeth his consent vnto it. Euer a vertue in good men to be gentle and courteous, and easie to bee intreated, for lawfull things. The contrary, a fowle vice, wheresoeuer it is morositie and frowardnesse euen in euery thing.

* 1.42Lastly that Abraham giueth sheepe and beenes, &c. learne we not onely, howe lawfull, but howe wise a thing it is, and com∣mendable, both to get and maintaine peace with our cost some∣times, and that it is not euer by and by well spared, that pinching∣ly and peltingly is spared. But it is euen verified in that manye and many a time, penny wise and pound foolish. Thus this chap∣ter endeth, and we may end also with Dauids remembrance con∣cerning wisedom, that the feare of God is the beginning of it, a good vnderstanding haue all they that doe thereafter,* 1.43 and the praise of it endureth for euer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse. 1.
• * 1.2

  God euer perfor∣meth pro∣mise, but in his time not in ours.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 3.4.
• * 1.4

  Our names remember vs to bee new men.
• * 1.5

  Verse. 6.
• * 1.6

  Children shoulde cause ioy, and not distrust.
• * 1.7

  Verse 7.
• * 1.8

  That mo∣thers should nurse their owne chil∣dren.
• * 1.9

  Verse 8.
• * 1.10

  Customes ought not peeuishly to be car∣ped at.
• * 1.11

  Tit. 1.15.
• * 1.12

  1. Cor. 11.16.
• * 1.13

  Verse 9.
• * 1.14

  Mocking and moc∣kers bee odious.
• * 1.15

  Verse. 8.
• * 1.16

  Dislyke soone spyeth a fault.
• * 1.17

  Verse. 10.
• * 1.18

  Mocking punished.
• * 1.19

  Childs fault mo∣thers wo also.
• * 1.20

  Verse. 11.
• * 1.21

  Griefe be∣twixt the best cup∣ples.
• * 1.22

  1. Cor. 7.
• * 1.23

  Ve. 12. &c
• * 1.24

  A notable glasse for parents.
• * 1.25

  Verse 14.
• * 1.26

  As nota∣ble an ex∣ample for seruants well pla∣ced.
• * 1.27

  Verse. 15.
• * 1.28

  Affliction foloweth afflict on when God will, and euer grea∣ter and greater, & the last, worst.
• * 1.29

  1. C••••. 10.
• * 1.30

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.31

  Diuers ef∣fects of loue in friends.
• * 1.32

  Agar ray∣leth not as some do.
• * 1.33

  Verse. 17.
• * 1.34

  When gre••fe is at ••till then God is at hand. O sweete comfort.
• * 1.35

  2. Cor. 1.
• * 1.36

  Verse. 17.
• * 1.37

  Psal. 5••.
• * 1.38

  Verse 19.
• * 1.39

  Verse. 22.
• * 1.40

  True piety purcha∣seth true reuerence.
• * 1.41

  Mark. 6.20.
• * 1.42

  Cost is not euer well spared.
• * 1.43

  Psa. 111.10