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. 29. (Book 29)

There are layde downe vnto vs in this Chapter generally and chiefely these heads.

• The cōming of Iacob to Haram, with the circumstances.
• His seruice there with Laban.
• His mariages.
• His children by Leah.

FOr particulars, it is sayd, after God had talked with Iacob as we saw before,* 1.1 that Iacob lift vp his feete,* 1.2 and came into the East countrey, whiche seemeth to note some alacritie in him to goe forward after he had had so comfortable a promise of the Lords company with him, and gui∣ding grace ouer him in all his wayes. If it were so (as sure there was good cause it should be so) we may profit by it in this sort. He had a promise, and we haue a promise, he was cheered, and so should we be with the same, he to goe into a strange countrey, we much more to goe into our owne,* 1.3 hee to serue many paynefull houres by day and night, wee to rule and reigne in vnspeakeable ioyes with Father Sonne and holy Ghost for euer and euer. Go wee then forwarde with the feete of our affections cheerefully lifted vp towards the place we seeke as Iacob did heere, and wee shall finde rest, not for body alone, but for body and soule eternally.

2 And as he loked about, behould a Well in a seeld. The letter is playne, & we see in it the prouidēce of God,* 1.4 who directed him, & brought him to Labans house. But mystically some haue vnderstood by the feeld y^e Church,* 1.5 & by the well the word of God in the same, which is opened by the chiefe shepherd Iesus Christ,

that his sheepe may drinke, and his flocks be watered. O that we would go to this water to drinke euer, then should wee be sure to finde him ready that sayth, Come vnto mee all yee that thirst, &c. But when wee leaue this sweete well of Gods word, and runne vnto mans traditions,* 1.6 what maruell if wee finde no true comfort, to coole our heate withall.

* 1.73 The dialogue that you see betwixt Iacob & the shepheards of that place,* 1.8 noteth the curtesy of those dayes, and of that people to strangers, euer a good thing as hath bin noted before in Abra∣ham and Lot and others. Doggednes and currishnes graceth neyther countrey nor people.

4 When they say, wee may not water till all come toge∣ther,* 1.9 &c. We see in them more regard and care to obserue the law of shepherds, then I feare me we can finde in our selues to ob∣serue the law of the highest. For who being willed to ryot and sur∣fet, to quaffe and exceede, to sweare and blaspheme, to commit fornication and whoredome, answereth in earnest as these shepe∣heards did, we may not, the lawe is contrary, &c. Looser there∣fore I say I feare are we to our woe one day in a greater matter, then these shepheards were in a lesser. Would God we regarded but Princes lawes and ciuill constitutions as these men did their pastorall orders, then would not many do as they do, but answere to all allurers, we may not &c.

* 1.105 When Iacob saw Rachell and his vncles flocks, he row∣led away the stone off the well, he watered the flocks, he kis∣sed Rachell, tould her who he was, and lift vp his voyce & wept. See the affections of flesh vnto flesh I meane vnto our carnall kindred, how dull are we that we cannot thus hartely be moued with the sight and presence of brethren in faith. Consider our cold∣nesse, and as we know the band is better, so dayly let vs striue to thinke better of it.

6 Rachel runneth & telleth her father, Laban he coms run∣ning to meet him.* 1.11 Where we compare & resemble vnto Laban

this present worlde, which at the first meeteth men as Laban did Iacob, and seeming very ioyfull for them, intertaineth them well, but afterward churlishly altereth vpon them as he did. Flattring world, how many hast thou deceyued, that felt nothing but honye for a time. I say no more: I wis there be mo Labans in the world then haue to name Laban as hee had, hoate at first, colde at last, friendly in the beginning, froward in the ende, bee Iacob neuer so worthie of continued loue vnto him.

7 Laban will not suffer Iacob to serue for nothing,* 1.12 but he will needes giue him hyre, at least hee maketh showe so, saying, Though thou beest my brother,* 1.13 yet shouldest thou serue me for nothing? wherby we may learne, that if a brother of a brother be to bee rewarded, and one kinsman of an other (for so meaneth Laban) if he take paines in truth and industrie for him: then may we not see strangers, that are no waye bounde to vs in nature, as the other be, go without their wages,* 1.14 neyther may we let them go to bed without their hire. And what strangers? Surely our Ministers, that faithfully and truly teach vs, we may not defraud, our seruants we may not rob of theyr due, neither anye labourer that worketh with vs, for this were more iniustice then the other, and yet the other, such as Laban maketh shewe to bee asha∣med of·

8 Iacob is content, all other wages set a side, to serue him 7. yeares for Rachell his yongest daughter. Wherein wee see,* 1.15 how Iacob vseth lawfull meanes to come by his Wife,* 1.16 and not vnlawfull, and at the seauen yeares end also, asketh her, and doth not take her by force. Compare it with the damnable libertie of our dayes, wherein gayning our purpose,* 1.17 is thought both obe∣dience to God, and loue to our neighbour sufficient, though wee would be loth our selues to haue such measure, and both God and man abhorre vs for it. That the time seemed so short, sheweth the force of affection when it is set.

9 Laban accepted the condition,* 1.18 and the yeares being expi∣red, the mariage is solemnized: of a feast at mariages,* 1.19 wee reade

here,* 1.20 and in Iohn 2. of ma••riage garments, that is cleaner or ex∣traordinarie somewhat, according to our places and abilities. Math. 25. Of Virgins going before with Lampes. Math. 25, and so forth. But I remember yet what Chrysostome noteth, when hee saith, De nuptiis Iacob legimus, de tripudis & chorets non legimus. We reade of Iacobs mariage, but of dancing we reade not.

10 When euening came, Laban deceyued Iacob, and gaue him his daughter Leah in steed of Rachell,* 1.21 * 1.22 whome hee could not by anye light then knowe, because of the V••••les which Virgins were couered with all, in token of chastitie. The simpli∣citie of those dayes appeare in it, which I leaue to your owne con∣siderations, and thinke we of the world in this place, which maye well be resembled to Laban. Because as Laban promised fayre Rachell,* 1.23 but in the end performed but bleere eyed Leah, so dooth the world promise often mountaines to men, but performe in con∣clusion little moulehils, my meaning it is: many men gape and hope vpon promises, for many matters, and in the end are serued with a iugling cast, as here Iacob was, and misse of matter they looked for. Trust not the worlde then, nor all golden promi∣ses in the same, for men are false vpon the weights, and Laban is aliue to deceiue still: Beleeue you shall haue a thing when you haue it, and not ouer hastily before you were best.

* 1.2411 But why would not Laban giue him Rachell as hee pro∣mised? we see he pretendeth custome and manner of that place, not to giue the yonger before the elder, but why then had hee not so ••ould him in the beginning?* 1.25 The truth is plaine, hee ment no truth,* 1.26 but finding Iacob such a seruant for his profit, as hee could not well spare,* 1.27 & very gladly would retaine still, he wrought this crafte to continue his seruice to him, for seauen yeares moe. Which was performed of Iacob, and that willingly, for his aff••c∣tion to Rachell. So Laban had his purpose, though by a bad meanes, and little honestie in him.

12 When the Lord saw that Leah was despised, hee made her fruitefull,* 1.28 but Rachell was barren, saith the text. First we

see the power and strength of affections,* 1.29 euen in the best men ma∣nie times. Here they were so strong in Iacob, that Leah in com∣parison of Rachell was despised: which the Lorde saw and misli∣ked, giuing vpon that a mercy to her, that he gaue not to Rachell, to be fruitefull and beare. Wherein we see againe, that children are the blessing of the Lord, and his free gift, neuer to bee had by any power but by his. Leah ioyeth in his mercy, and acknowled∣geth that it proceeded from God, who looked vpon her tribu∣lation, and therefore shee blesseth him,* 1.30 and giueth her Children names according to her feeling of that goodnesse: so should wee doe, and not so little regarde this mercy as many doe. She ho∣peth her Husband will now loue her, and keepe her company, by which wee see what should be, if it be not in all men, children are a Chayne to binde them to their wiues in all loue and affection, and this Chaine is strong with all good men. Lastly shee was conten∣ted with her number, and we also must learne to moderate our de∣sire by her. Many things els are in this Chapter, which rather pri∣uate reading then open speech should note.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse. 1.
• * 1.2

  Iacob che∣red with the pro∣m••s••, so should we.
• * 1.3

  Reade Hebr 13. v. 13. & 14.
• * 1.4

  Verse. 2.
• * 1.5

  The alle∣gorie of the Well.
• * 1.6

  Reade Ie∣rem. 2. v. 13
• * 1.7

  Ve. 4. &c.
• * 1.8

  Cu••tesy to strangers.
• * 1.9

  Mans lawe more re∣garded of∣ten then Gods.
• * 1.10

  The force of affecti∣ons.
• * 1.11

  A patterne of the world.
• * 1.12

  Laborers hyre.
• * 1.13

  Verse. 15.
• * 1.14

  Syr. 34.23. Deutro. 24.14.15.
• * 1.15

  Verse. 18.
• * 1.16

  vse of good meanes to obtaine a mariage.
• * 1.17

  Verse. 21.
• * 1.18

  Verse. 19.
• * 1.19

  Rites of mariages then.
• * 1.20

  Verse. 22.
• * 1.21

  Verse. 23.
• * 1.22

  Labans deceit.
• * 1.23

  The world like Laban
• * 1.24

  Why La∣ban brake promise.
• * 1.25

  Verse▪ 26.
• * 1.26

  Verse. ••••.
• * 1.27

  Ve. 28. &c
• * 1.28

  Verse. 31.
• * 1.29

  Whome man despi∣seth, God regardeth.
• * 1.30

  Ve. 32. &c.