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. 23. (Book 23)

Two things in this Chapter especially.

• The death of Sara, verse 1. and 2.
• Her buryall 3. to the end.

IN mencioning so precisely the age and death of Sara, we may note the singular accompt that the Lord made of her,* 1.1 and if we marke it well, wee shall see it a prerogatiue aboue all other wo∣men.

So would y^e Lord by all meanes incourage vs to serue him.

2 In that a woman who by nature is not strong,* 1.2 in such troubles and griefes many times as she had, such remoues and trauels through forren countreys should liue so long, how noteth it the power of God greater then any weakenes, and how should it comfort vs against any infirmitie of body whatsoeuer.

3 When it is sayd that Sarah died, though she liued so long,* 1.3 remember euer the tale that shall be told of all flesh first or last, he is dead, she is dead. Thus you hard in the fift of this booke of a great sort that euer they dyed were their yeares neuer so many. Againe it teacheth vs that there is both a better life and a worse death then heere is in this world, otherwise what preheminēce had Gods children ouer the wicked, since they dye aswell as they?

4 But where dyed she? the text nameth the place,* 1.4 in Kiriah-Arba in the land of Canaan. Thus did the Lord place and set downe in that countrey certayne pledges and pawnes, to assure the rest that he would in time giue that land vnto them as he had promised, and they should possesse it. So may wee now be assured of the kingdome of heauen, that forsomuch as many of our bre∣thren and sisters are already there placed, and haue taken posses∣sion before vs, surely wee also shall folow, and hee will giue that land, euen that heauenly Canaan and new Ierusalem for euer and euer.

5 Abraham lamenteth his dead, but not the estate of his dead. So did Christ our mayster sorow for his friend Lazarus. So are we permitted by the Apostle keping a measure as men and wo∣men that are not without hope.* 1.5 So doth the wise Syrach coun∣sell vs, and so hath all laudable custome euer alowed. This mo∣deration appeared in Abraham, for in the very next verse it is sayd, Abraham arose, &c.

6 He talked with the sonnes of Heth.* 1.6 Where wee see and learne, that so wee should giue place to sorow, that in the meane while we regard also things necessary, as y^e buriall of our frends & such like: otherwise, our passions be impatiences, and as 〈…〉〈…〉 the Lord greatly, so all wise men will mislike vs worthely.

7 Hee telleth them hee is a stranger, &c. a great token of his rare humilitie and lowlinesse of minde, though he were in ma∣ny respects a very great man. Then he seeketh nothing amongst them, but for his money, as good a testimony that way agayne of a contented minde, though he possessed nothing amongst them.

8 Nay say the Hittites, my Lord thou art a prince of God amongst vs,* 1.7 take therefore our chiefest places and bury thy dead in, a very great kindnesse and curtesye on their partes a∣gayne. And let vs marke in it that humanitie and bountie beare a most glorious shew euen in heathens. O how can such vertues then disgrace Gods seruants and professors of a better doctrine then euer heathen knew?

9 Abraham bowed himselfe vnto them, and yet they were heathens,* 1.8 * 1.9 to shewe, that he well esteemed both them and their kindnesse. But wee haue not so much good nature many of vs to our owne brethren that are of the househould of faith with vs, what loue soeuer they shewe vnto vs. Pride and disdayne and scorne are the flowers of our garland, and yet none so good Chri∣stians as we, if we might be our owne iudges.

* 1.1010 Diuers offers are made him in great good will without any money,* 1.11 but Abraham would not so accept of them. He will buy for his money, but not take it of gift. And why so? happely because he would not receyue at mans hands as beholden to him for it, what God had so often and so assuredly promised to giue him. He would not preuent Gods gift in any part.

Lastly, you haue heere the name of currant giuen to money, to note the vse of it, not to be hoorded vp and lye in a corner, but to passe from man vnto man according to his name.* 1.12 We reade that money was first leather,* 1.13 then brasse, then siluer, then golde: but what sayth one? I pray you note it. Quibus gradibus creuit pecuniae materia, iisdem decreuit antiqua mundi simplicitas, pro∣bitas, & integritas. Looke how money increased from baser to better, by the very same steps did the world decrease from good to

worser: for the world was first golden, then siluer, then brasse, now leather or lead, or worse if any worse thing you thinke good to name. Money is better and men worse, the chest stored with better substance, and the soule filled with worse sinnes, yea euen with all sinnes that so sinfull a world can bring foorth and infect withall.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse. 1.
• * 1.2

  GOD strong, though wee bee weake.
• * 1.3

  The tale that shall bee tould vpon all.
• * 1.4

  Verse. ••.
• * 1.5

  Ioh. 11▪ 1. Th•••••• ••▪ Syrach ••
• * 1.6

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.7

  Verse. 6.
• * 1.8

  Verse. 7.
• * 1.9

  Pride and disdayne.
• * 1.10

  Verse. 11.
• * 1.11

  Why A∣braham would buy and not take of gift. Reade 2. Sam. 24. verse 24.
• * 1.12

  Verse. 16.
• * 1.13

  Money why called currant.