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. 22. (Book 22)

Generall heads in this chapter, these cheefely.

• The commaundement of God to haue Isaac sacrificed.
• The obedience of Abraham.
• The deliuerance yet that God gaue at the pinche.

1 OF particulars this first, that it is sayde af∣ter these things,* 1.1 God did prooue A∣braham, &c. That is,* 1.2 after so many try∣als now already passed and spoken of, yet God tryed him againe, and harder then euer before, namely in the sacrificing of his owne and onely sonne. What should wee learne by it, but this, that there is no time limited, no age freed, no person exempted, no not Abra∣ham in his oulde age, but whilst life lasteth, so long shall Gods exercises be incident vnto vs. And euen still the later the greater peraduenture, if so God thinke it good, yet all for the best, for eyther they make our faith and vertue appeare, and so God is glorified for his graces giuen vnto vs, and others are helped by our example, or els our infirmitie showeth it selfe to the greater humbling of vs, and driuing vs to prayer, for greater strength, Remember also the great honour that Abimilech the King had shewed him presentlye before, and nowe marke what followeth the death of his Sonne, for any thing hee knoweth. Thus is the lyfe of Gods Children, a mixture of sweete and sowre, and a continuall interchange of sorrowe and comforte, comforte and sorrowe.

2 Let vs obserue the degrees or amplification of this crosse of Abraham, by some circumstances that are layde downe,* 1.3

as first, that Abraham must take him and sacrifice him his owne selfe, and with his owne handes, a great matter, and far more then if he had giuen him ouer to an other. Secondly of the person to be taken, who was he, thy sonne sayth the Text, and not thy seruant. Thirdly thy Sonne, and not thy wiues Sonne alone, as some sonnes be. Fourthly, vnicum thy onely Sonne Isaac. Fiftlye, whome thou louest, all circumstances of great moment, and greatly to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of vs, that wee may knowe in what sorte God, God will be bould with vs his creatures, and workeman∣ship, when it pleaseth him. Wee must not thinke it strange, to be exercised euen in those things that are deere vnto vs. But what∣soeuer they are, stil to remember, that he which loueth any thing more then God,* 1.4 is not worthie of him. Sixtlye that hee must goe with him three dayes iourney ere he offred him. For the olde saying is acerbissimae mora quae trahit paenam, & misericordiae ge∣nus est cito occidere morti destinatum. Bitter is the delay, when punishment must followe, and it is a kinde of mercy to kill quick∣lye, who appointed once is to bee killed. Certainely, the griping thoughts and twitching passions, that Abraham felt in his minde during these three dayes, made this tryall of his farre greater, then it had beene, if presentlye hee should haue smit that blowe. Lastlye, that hee must offer him for a burnte offring: O depth of tryall, able to haue swallowed vs vp, a thousand of vs: bothe to laye his handes vpon his deere Sonne, and then to burne him to ashes, when hee had doone, his owne selfe making and tending the fire, till all was doone, and putting peece after pe••ce into the flame, when any was without, and with his owne eyes to see all this, and to looke vpon it. Heere is a tryall, to tell vs what God may doe, if it please him. This hee did to one farre better then anye of vs, and yet wee must bee nice, and tender, and dayntie, and if GOD touche vs but with the ache of a finger, or a toe, wee straight thinke hee dealeth hardelye with vs, and hee hath forgotten his loue. But O learne, learne, and see this.

The second part.

THen Abraham rose vp, sayth the Text, &c.* 1.5 Heere wee see the most woonderfull obedyence that euer wee read of,* 1.6 ioy∣ned, or rather flowing from a notable faith and both of them held ••ppe with the ordinarye proppes, no doubte of Gods truthe and omnipotencie. The nature of which, is eyther to vphoulde other. For his truthe vphouldeth his omnipotencie, and hys omnipotencie his truth. And this his obedience is set out euen from the beginning, to the lifting vp of the very knife.

2 Wee maye heere obserue,* 1.7 what maketh the commaunde∣ments of God seeme so hard vnto men. Surely not so much the nature of the commaundements, as theyr nature to whome they are giuen, which being crooked and corrupt, maruelouslie fighteth and rebelleth against the same stronglye. For saye to an angrye, furious, and hote bludded man, thou must forgiue, and loue thy neighbour, blesse him, when hee cursseth thee, doo good to him, when hee dooth hurte to thee, &c. Out hee cryeth, it is impossible, howe can a man obey such a lawe? But saye to an Abraham, that is, to one that is borne againe, and regenerated by the Spi∣rite of God, in such sorte as Abraham was, who hath now God reigning in him, in steede of oulde corruption, offer thy onelye Sonne, beeloued and deere to thee, euen with thyne owne handes, and burne him when thou hast doone, for a burnte offering, and you see heere, hee will doe it without grud∣ging, or gaynesaying. So sure is it, that if the Lorde haue altered our nature, His yoake is easie,* 1.8 and his burthen is light.

Well therefore, maye wee saye it is with vs sinfull men, as it is with sicke folkes, who woonder at the stomackes, myrthe, and cheere, of the whole, and thinke it a verye harde matter to doe so. But where is the hardnesse? Is it in the thing, or in the weakenesse of the sycke?

So I saye is it, when wee thinke anye parte of Gods lawe

so harde and harde, as manye doe.

3 In that it is mentioned, hee rose early, to accomplish this busines, therein hath the Holyghost made manifest, not onely his great obedience, but his woonderfull alacritie and forwardnesse in the same, a strange example in so harde a matter. But what can not Gods spirite effect, if it bee powrefull in Man or woman.

* 1.94 He maketh not his Wife priuie for anye thing wee can see in the Text, and as we may coniecture, for feare she should hinder him by any womanly weakenesse or motherlye teares, from his bounden and purposed obedience. Which if it were so, fitly dooth it admonish vs to doe the like, when we iustly can thinke, that our freends affections will anye waye tempt vs or totter vs agaynst the Lords commaundements.

5 Abraham tooke the wood of the burnte offring, and layde it vpon Isaac his sonne,* 1.10 to goe towardes the place of death that God had appoynted.* 1.11 Behould a liuely figure of Iesus Christ, bearing his owne crosse towards the place of execution, euen as yong Isaac dooth heere the wood to burne himselfe withall, though as yet he knewe not so much, and in the end God preuented it.

* 1.126 Behoulde the fire, and the wood, saith Isaac to his fa∣ther,* 1.13 but where is the Lambe for the burnt offring. O pricke and wounde to the Fathers heart no doubte, when the Childe thus spake. But hee was resolued, God, not naturall affections must now bee obeyed. Therefore hee taketh courage to him in a godly determination, and conceyling all still from the Childe, an∣swereth him, My sonne God will prouide him a Lambe for a burnt offring, and so wente on with the Childe still. In which answer of his beeing of Gods prouidence, in a case hidden and se∣cret, as yet, wee are notablye taught in all distresses, what to hope, and what to saye: Surelye euen as Abraham did to hys Chylde in this place, Dominus parabit, The Lorde

shall prouide. If the wife saye with Tobias wife, what shall we doe, we are poore, where shall wee haue bread for our Chil∣dren, where this, and where that. O be content, The Lorde shall prouide, is a good answer, a fit answer, and the answer of father Abraham in this place to his sonne. Lord giue vs faith, and thou neuer prouidest more notably a Lambe to saue young Isaac heere, then thou wilt also prouide necessaryes for vs to saue our liues, till the time appoynted of thee.

7 But now the matter can be no longer hidden: for they are come to the place, and the deed must be doone,* 1.14 Abraham there∣fore buildeth an Altar there, and couched the wood, and bound Isaac his Sonne, and layde him vpon the Altar vpon the wood. Though the Texte speake nothing of any speeche of Abraham to his sonne, yet like it is, that ere hee bound him, hee shewed him Gods commaundement, where vnto his sonne readi∣lye submitted himselfe.* 1.15 Iosephus taketh vpon him to tell vs more, and supposing so strange a thing could neuer bee done with∣out some dialogue betwixt the Father and the Sonne, hee sayth it was in this sort.

First the Father spake to his Childe and sayde: O my sonne, deare and beloued,* 1.16 with great care and diligence haue I hetherto brought thee vp, whome with a thousand desires I wished before I had thee. Thinking nothing more happye a comfort for mee, then if I might liue to see thee a man, and leaue thee in my place, the possessor of all that I haue when I goe. But behould, it see∣meth good to him nowe, that gaue thee to mee, to take thee from me againe, and that I should loose thee. Which since it is so: O my gratious Childe, indure this sacrifice: for I yeeld to God for my owne parte, who seeketh this seruice of vs, for his continuall fauoure towardes vs, bothe in peace and warre. Thou art borne by nature to dye a death at sometime, and now thy death must not be common, but of thyne owne Father, to the Father of all fleshe thou must bee offred in Sacrifice. As it seemeth, his mercie dee∣ming thee vnworthy to dye, eyther by sicknesse, or warre, or anye other calamitie. But taking thy soule from thee in the middest of prayers and holye seruice to his Maiestie, hee will place thee

with himselfe: where as one mindefull of the ende wherefore I haue brought thee vp, thou shalt vnderproppe mine age, and bee my comfort, not of thy selfe and by thy selfe, but thou shalt leaue vnto me God my defence and comforte in thy place. Then an∣swered Isaac the worthie Childe of so good a Father, and sayde vnto him.

O my Father, I am content vnworthy euer to haue been borne, if striuing against the will both of God and thee my Father, I should not willinglye indure that determined by you both, which if none but thy selfe would haue my deere father, I would not de∣nye thee.

Thus (sayth Iosephus) spake they each to others, and then all things being readye, vp went the knife to giue the blowe, had not God of his infinite goodnesse stayed the hande. But O mercie memorable for euer and euer in the Lorde, who will not the parting of such a father and such a childe as yet, but staying the matter, altereth the greefe into all ioye, and deliuering the father his childe againe, sendeth them both home together with as cheerefull hearts as euer had anye cupple, no question in this worlde after anye danger.* 1.17 What two examples bee these for vs to marke? The father showing vs what it is to bee vsed to the yoake from a mans youth as hee was, surelye it maketh harde thinges easie, and euen the verye greatest things to bee better performed then euer they woulde, if such exercises often had not beene. The Sonne teaching vs what grace is effected by such gratious education as no doubte this Childe had. And bothe of them laying before our eyes, such a patterne of obedyence to Al∣mightie God, euen to the losse of lyfe, as neuer wee should forget, but beseeche God with daylye prayers, that wee may come as neere vnto, as anye case of ours towardes his Maiestie, shall require euer.

The third part.

* 1.18IN that God forbiddeth nowe at this pinche, this sacrifice of Isaac to be made by his Father. Wee may well consider howe

carefull the Lorde is, least by anye example of anye commanded thing by him, others should take occasion to doe the like, with∣out like warrant from him. Which happilye in this case would haue beene doone, if hee had not stayed Abrahams hand, but suf∣fred the matter to bee accomplished and effected. Men would per∣aduenture haue rashlye iudged such sacrifices to haue pleased the Lord greatly, and so haue often doone wickedly.

2 Let vs marke heere, when the Lorde came to deliuer heere.* 1.19 Not till the Knife was vp, and euen readye to strike.* 1.20 It tea∣cheth vs for our selues, euen then especially, to looke for his helpe, when in mans eyes we are but gone. Yet must we trust no further to his helpe, then we make our attempts by his warrant. For wee see he did not the like to Ieptha.

3 The Angell calleth, and forbiddeth,* 1.21 when as God could haue stayed him by a secret power if hee would.* 1.22 And whye was this? Surely to instruct Isaac further, that what his Father did, was by Gods commaundement. Secondly to showe him what singular care and fauour God had ouer him, and towarde him, who so notablye would deliuer him by an open Angell from Heauen. And thirdlye, that all the worlde might learne by it, that they must haue verye good warrante, eyther to be∣ginne, or leaue of, anye thing belonging and doone to honour God by.

4 Nowe I knowe, sayth the Lorde, &c.* 1.23 When hee knewe before verye well, what heart was in Abraham towardes his glorye. But thus would God commend vnto all the worlde, the adioyning of outwarde workes to inwarde fayth. Conso∣nant vnto which is Paull the Apostle, when hee requireth a fayth that worketh through loue,* 1.24 and telleth vs that aswell With the mouth wee confesse vnto righteousnesse, as with the heart beleeue vnto Saluation, also our Sauiour himselfe who requireth to the inwarde acknowledging of him in the heart, the outward profession of him before men.* 1.25 * 1.26 This is that

which S. Iames meaneth, when he sayth, Abraham our Fathe was iustified by workes, when he offred Isaac his sonne vpon the Altar. Seest thou not sayth he, that the faith wrought with his workes, and through the workes was the fayth made per∣fect,* 1.27 &c. That is, Abraham by this meanes was knowne and de∣clared to be iustified, and his faith being effectuall and fruitefull by workes, was thereby knowne to be a true fayth, and not a dead faith. For S. Iames speaketh not of the causes of iustification, but by what effects we may know, that a man is iustified. True is the distinction therefore euen of the Schoolemen themselues. Christ dooth iustifie a man effectiue effectually, by working his iustification, faith doth iustifie a man apprehensiue, apprehending∣lye because it taketh hould of Christ, who is our iustifier, and workes do iustifie also, but declaratiue, declaringly, because they showe that a man is iustified, as hath beene said. So Christ, faith, and workes, doo all iustifie, but diuerslye. True also is it that Bernard saith, workes are via regni, but not causa regnandi, the waye to the kingdome, but not the cause of reigning there.

* 1.285 I knowe sayth God, but what dooth hee knowe? That thou Abraham,* 1.29 saith hee, fearest God. Then behould the fountaine of all obedience, the feare of God, and the witnesse againe of the feare of God, true obedience, which being true, as it is most true, woe and bitternesse to the inhabitants of the earth, if the Lorde bee not mercifull for our obedience beeing turned into daylye, fearefull, and most carelesse rebellion, where is our feare of his Maiestie become? Surelye the Fountaine is dammed vp and stopped, and therefore no frute can flowe therfrom. Let euerye man priuatelye applye this, and saye with himselfe, I thinke I feare GOD, but if GOD giue iudgement of my feare by my obedience, as hee did heere of Abraham, how will all prooue, &c,

* 1.306 Because thou hast not spared thine onely sonne, saith God,* 1.31 and yet hee was spared. But this is the nature of our good God, to accept in mercie our wyll for our worke, and a

ready indeuour euen for the deede it selfe, if hee would not suffer vs to goe any further: but this, when the word goeth before to guide the will and not else. For those Baals priests beeing desti∣tute of the word, though they lanced themselues neuer so deepe, yet neyther in will nor worke pleased the Lord. And it is a good place also of Paule, not sparing the body, &c.* 1.32 So then with this caue at let vs gather great incouragement to serue him, who will in respect of our ready minde acknowledge that we haue not spared this or that, when in deede yet it is spared though not by vs. Can we feare or doubt of reward if wee do it when ready will is thus regarded? Or doth that doctrine of God condemne good works, which thus assureth vs good will is respected? yet euer beware to exclude Gods mercy, and to put in place of it the works merit.

7 Consider what I shall now note vnto you, and regard it with me from your hearts. Is Abrahams willingnesse to offer his Sonne, a token of loue and great affection to the Lord? So sayth the Lord heere, and so hee taketh it, euen as a worke that was done for his sake, and which but for his sake could not haue bin obtayned at Abrahams hands for eyther golde or siluer, by all the men in the world. O harts of ours then that they could feele. O eyes of ours that they could see. What affection was it in the Lord to vs, not to lay onely his owne and onely Sonne be∣loued and innocent vpon the altar of the Crosse for vs, and to heaue vp the knife as ready to doo it, but in deede to doo it? O loue of loues, what loue was this, and what affection to vs was this? Abraham was commanded of our God who could com∣maund. Abraham should haue sinned if he had refused, so should not God. Therefore if the one shew loue in Abraham a creature, what doth the other in God the creator? Well might it be sayde with a vehemency, So God loued the world.* 1.33 So I say and so as no toong is able to speake of it, nor pen write, nor hart thinke. The Lord giue faith and thankefull feeling euermore.

8 Abraham thus stayed from sacrificing his Sonne, yet fayled not of a sacrifice in his roome, but lifting vp his eyes,* 1.34 hee

sawe a ramme caught by the hornes in a bush,* 1.35 him hee tooke and offred. Now remember wee what Abraham sayde to hys sonne before, that the Lorde shoulde prouide him a Lambe. Was it not so? Did not God prouide this ramme to supply yong Isaac his place? No question hee did, and no chance but Gods guiding hand brought him thither, and fastned him there. What should we learne then by it, but this, that if our hearts be set in deede to serue the Lorde in our place and calling, certaynly hee will neuer suffer vs to want the thing that shall be necessary and expedient for vs therevnto. A great comfort and a true.

* 1.369 Abraham taketh the ramme, and yet none of his owne: but Abraham was assured no doubt that it was Gods doing, and being so, he maketh no scruple to accept of Gods offer and proui∣dence,* 1.37 no more then Eliah made question how the rauens came by the meate which they brought him. We cannot folow Abra∣ham, except we had his warrant.

10 Abraham calleth the place, the Lord seeth, or proui∣deth,* 1.38 shewing therein his care to continue the memory of Gods mercy, not of his owne fact, though in deede it was most notable, for if he had, he would haue giuen some other title that should at least haue glaunced that way, but he doth not, and so should wee euer seeke the Lords glory, and not our owne. Surely if wee ho∣nor him, he will honor vs inough &c. Mo things might be noted in this Chapter, but let these suffice.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse 1.
• * 1.2

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.3

  The cir∣cumstāces that am∣plifie this tryall.
• * 1.4

  Luc. 14.26.
• * 1.5

  Verse. 3.
• * 1.6

  A ra••e o∣bedience.
• * 1.7

  How the comman∣dements of God seeme so harde, ••r to whome.
• * 1.8

  Math. 11.
• * 1.9

  Freends earthly affections must bee warely preuented
• * 1.10

  Verse 6.
• * 1.11

  A figure of Christ.
• * 1.12

  Verse. 7.
• * 1.13

  How to answer in things yet hidden.
• * 1.14

  Verse 9.
• * 1.15

  What A∣braham said when he bound Isaac.
• * 1.16

  Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 1 cap. 13.
• * 1.17

  Lamentat. 3.27.
• * 1.18

  Verse. 12.
• * 1.19

  Verse. 10.
• * 1.20

  Read the note vpon Genes. 21. ver. 17. I••••. 11.
• * 1.21

  Verse. 11.
• * 1.22

  Why can Angell stayeth A∣braham.
• * 1.23

  Verse 12.
• * 1.24

  Rom. 10.9.
• * 1.25

  Math 10.
• * 1.26

  Iam. 2.27.
• * 1.27

  How saith dooth iu∣stifie and how works
• * 1.28

  Verse. 12.
• * 1.29

  The foun∣taine of obedience to God.
• * 1.30

  Verse. 12.
• * 1.31

  God ac∣cepteth will for worke.
• * 1.32

  Coloss. 2. verse last.
• * 1.33

  Ihon. 3.
• * 1.34

  Verse. 13.
• * 1.35

  God will prouide for his seruice if we truly purpose it.
• * 1.36

  Vers. 13.
• * 1.37

  1. Kin. 17.4.
• * 1.38

  Vers. 14.