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. 33. (Book 33)

The chiefe matter of this whole Chapter, is the reconciliati∣on of the two brethren, Iacob and Esau when they met. Which how it was in the discourse thereof we shall see.

* 1.1WHen hee saw his brother Esau comming and with him 400. men,* 1.2 hee diuided the children to Leah and to Rahel and to the two maides. Wherein wee see thus much, that a wise man is not so smitten out of his wits with a danger when he is in it, that hee cannot tell what hee doth, as many men are, but hee gouerneth his feare and keepeth it within limits, hee ca∣steth about in good discretion and abilitie of minde what is best to be done, he concludeth quickly, and executeth speedily his de∣termination, and so all being done that he can, for his part he com∣mitteth the whole to his gracious God, to blesse and giue successe to as his will shall be. This let vs marke in Iacob heere, and by it hereafter staie such amazements as many of vs vse to be subiect to in a distresse when it commeth.

* 1.32 Hee put the maides and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after,* 1.4 and Rahel and Ioseph last. Which if it were done in respect of securitie and safetie to one more then an other, we see then in the godly how affections haue place. To the maides he wisheth well, and to their children, but to Leah better, and to Rahel best of all. Thus are good men, men, and subiect as I say to humane affections in their measure. But if he put Rahel hindermost, because shee had but one childe, then sauoreth it of order as was said before. The former for my part I rather thinke, for we haue seen before his exceeding loue to Ra∣hel, & in y^e former Chapter this reason was giuen of diuiding the

people, That if Esau come to the one company and smite it, the other company shall escape.* 1.5 Therfore euident as I thinke what he meant to Rahel when he set her last.

3 Then hee went before them himselfe,* 1.6 and bowed to the ground seuen times vntil hee came to his brother Esau. His going before, a notable argument of his faith. For God ha∣uing said vnto him, I will bee with thee, in the assurance of this which his heart beleeueth, hee marcheth forward. His loue also appeareth to his charge that followed him. For what part they take he wil take, and that first and formost, yea hee will interpose himselfe betwixt them and the danger, that he may auert it from them if God so will. A paterne of a good shepheard, of a good pa∣rent, of a good maister, and in deede the office of a couragious Captaine. His bowing as it was a token of his submission to his brother in worldly thinges, so may it resemble the estate of the Church in this world, stooping and bowing subiect, and vnder their pompe and state in this life, who in the next shalbe most mi∣serable for euer and euer. The glory of the wicked is here, and the godly are vnder, the glory of the godly is in the next life, and then the wicked shall be vnder. Haue we patience then and tarry the time till it may appeare what we are.* 1.7

4 Then Esau ranne to meete him, and imbraced him,* 1.8 and fell on his necke and kissed him, and they wept. O the power of God to turne all hearts which way he will. Now be we iudges our selues whether it be not true that Salomon saith: The Kings heart is in the hand of God, and as the riuers of water hee turneth it whether soeuer pleaseth him,* 1.9 yea hell and destruction, are before the Lord, how much more the hearts of the sonnes of men. Where is that of Esau now, the dayes of mourning for my father will come shortly, and then will I kill Iacob? The Lord, euen the mighti•• and mercifull Lord, hath wiped it out of his mouth and heart, out of his minde and purpose, and out of his might and power. And here is a change farre fitter for a brother. Glad was Iacobs heart when hee saw this I warrant you, and glad were all his people. Blessed be God that can so cheare his children euer, and so sitteth in the hearts

of their threatners that they cannot moue, but as he will. Who will not trust in this God in all his distresses, that he shall worke for him and chaunge hearts to his best comfort euermore. Is he the God of Iacob alone, are all his promises come to an ende when Iacob is helped? No, no: we also are his, and he is ours, dearer to him then his owne life when time was, and for vs ther∣fore also shall he thus worke in the hearts of men as shalbe good for vs if we cleaue to him. What can a thundring scolding ene∣my do to you or mee more then Esau could do to Iacob. If you will thinke of nature, God is stronger then nature, and therefore can effect more. Be it vnto vs then in the Lords blessing, euer an increase of our faith this example. Something again as a means consider of Iacobs humilitie, who bowed himselfe so to his bro∣ther. Doth not God blesse it to a good effect? Sic vent os•• vincit, dum se submittit arundo, impulsu quorum robora celsa cadunt. So ouercommeth the reede the windes, by bowing to them, when the mightie Okes are ouerthrowne that bow not. Humilitie then in religion,* 1.10 as pronuntiation in Rhethoricke, the first point, the second point, the third point and all in all. Where pride is, there is shame,* 1.11 but where humilitie is, there is wisedome saith Sa∣lomon. And surely, It is better to be of an humble mind with the lowly,* 1.12 then to deuide the spoiles with the proud, &c.

5 Then Esau asked him of the women and children, to whom Iacob answered,* 1.13 They were his children whom God of his grace had giuen him.* 1.14 Therein acknowledging children to bee not onely the gift of God, but the gift of his grace to as many as haue them, which is a great comfort if it be well marked to all fa∣thers and mothers of children. Againe before a bad man, yet he speaketh religiously, and Esau maketh no iest at it as bad as hee was. Wee frame our selues too much to company and prophane spirits in our daies, scoffe at any thing that sauoureth of religion.

6 Next hee asketh him of the droues which he met: not that he was ignorant,* 1.15 for the seruants that carried them had told him, but y^t he wold take occasion to thank Iacob for them after some shew of refusall. Iacobs suing for fauour by them hath been tou∣ched

before and shewed to be lawfull. Esau his speech that hee had inough, sheweth the pride of rich mens hearts,* 1.16 bragging stil of their plentie. Iacobs faire praying, the policie of the holy Ghost to staie anger. Mollis responsio frangit iram. A soft answere brea∣keth wrath, it hath been oft noted. When he saith He hath seene his face as the face of God. His meaning was,* 1.17 that in that chaunge of countenance from that which he feared, hee saw eui∣dently Gods face, that is his worke, prouidence and mercie, and therefore his heart ioyed in it. His terming of his present to be a blessing, hath this reason, because gifts were giuen of the god∣ly that gaue them willingly,* 1.18 with blessings and praiers and wi∣shes of all prosperitie with them.* 1.19 Contrary to the course of many in our daies, whose presents and gifts by the same reason may bee called cursings, because with them (hand and hart going not togi∣ther) they wish euill, as the diuel choake him, or such like.

7 Thus Esau is appeased, and his wrath departed,* 1.20 meanes haue preuailed, and hee is not obstinate. We haue men and wo∣men within compasse of our knowledge, whose wrath can neuer be appeased by any meanes that either the parties themselues or any friends for them can make. No subiection, no submission, no wordes, no deedes, can stirre them a iote. And yet they would be loth to be called Esaus, much more impatient, if a man should say farre worse then Esau. But they see themselues whether in∣deed it be not so: when Esau is intreated and they cannot, to that which God and grace and the perill of damnation perswadeth vn∣to. God is loue, and without loue, without God, and consequent∣ly, cast away for euer.

8 Iacobs care of the cattell to driue as their pase will in∣dure,* 1.21 * 1.22 most fitly showeth the duetie of a carefull and good Mini∣ster, euer to haue an eye to the weake ones in his flocke, that can∣not indure what the stronger can, and so to regard all as he ouer∣driue not any. Better it is that the able go more softly, then the weake and feeble ouer fast: for the one hath daunger the other none. Let hastie spirites consider this, that neuer knew what bo∣wels in deed a true Pastor hath to the whole,* 1.23 and not to some few

singled out in a partiall affection, and for some shew of that which indeed is not in them. They are all the Pastors care, and he must in conscience driue as the weakest may indure, not hurling & ha∣sting to the abilitie of some, & vtterly ouerthrowing the greater part. A good Phisition of the body doth not desire to cure hastily, but surely and soundly: and why must the Phisition of the soule his praise, consist in haste? You may conceiue a fault though I paint it not. Ne sut or vltra crepidam. Let the shoomaker go no further then his shooe. Tractent fabrilia fabri, And let Carpen∣ters meddle with Carpenters worke. The Pastors office is a∣boue their reach, if they loued not to haue an oare in other mens boats: and he that hath called him to it, counted him faithfull and put him in his seruice, hath indued him with discretion, and as∣sisteth him with a conscience to cōsider his charge, who be strong, and who be weake, what might be done, and what is conuenient and profitable to bee done, with the discharge in singlenes be∣fore his eyes, that is the shepheard of shepheards, and chiefe Bi∣shop of our soules,* 1.24 Who art thou that iudgest an other mans seruant, he standeth or falleth to his owne maister. Thou art not the Pastor, and therefore hast neither his bowels, nor know∣ledge. His course and reasons thereof haue an other iudge. Ia∣cob may not haue more care of bruit beasts, then Ministers must haue of Gods people, but he wil not ouerdriue the very weakest, no more must the Minister if he meane to saue and not kill. Haste hath made waste, that I can tell, and more leisure would haue been better speed. Remember Iacob here.

* 1.259 And lastly, still see the practise of faithfull men euer when God hath been mercifull to them,* 1.26 and deliuered them out of dan∣ger. Now Iacob buildeth an aultar in the true thankfulnes of his soule vnto God for this great mercy and deliuerance of him from his brother Esau. And hee calleth it the mightie God of Israel: giuing to the signe the name of the thing which it signifi∣ed, which is vsuall in the scripture. Thus would he publish Gods goodnes in his safe-being, with all his after all dangers. Would God it might kindle some heat in our hearts and consciences, to consider our selues, the daungers that we haue been in in our

dayes, the daungers of the lande wherein wee inhabite, the daungers of our deare and nurcing mother, her moste excel∣lent Maiestie for our sakes, because shee loueth vs with a true loue, not keeping the bodie onely in an earthly safetie and well being for earthly commodities, but chiefely procuring our soules comfort, and defending the same vnto vs against all malice of mightie powers. The daungers of wife, children and friendes, and now our safetie and deliuerance from all our feares, our qui∣et sitting vnder our owne Vines, without noyse of Drumme, sound of Trumpet, neying of Horses, roaring of Canon, clat∣tering of Armour, cries of the slaine by day and by night. For this hath the Lord done for vs, and whatsoeuer it is in our eyes, surely it is wonderfull euen through the world. All nations see our happines, the wicked gnash their teeth at it, the godly haue sent vs their gratulations, and they blesse GOD for vs. But where now are our Aultars? That is, where are our thankes and most gratefull songes of our deliuerance? We haue found mercie as Iacob did, yea farre more, for greater Esaus haue come against vs, then did against him, not with foure hun∣dreth men, but many thousandes, to captiuate vs for euer as their slaues when they had slaine their fill. And yet wee liue, and by God onely who hath straungely reuenged vs vpon them that would thus haue eaten vs vp. Yet with Iacob we build no Aultars. That is I say againe, wee giue not thankes for the custome of our time, as hee did after the manner of his. At the first peraduenture wee did, but it was soone at an end. Now we are fallen into a dead sleepe againe, and both God and his mercy is forgotten. Our daunger also as if it had neuer been. But in the Lord I beseech you, let vs awake againe, looke vpon Ia∣cob heere what hee doth, and euery man and woman follow his example. Build God an Aultar, not in earth with lime and stone, but in your heart of most kinde and thankfull remembrance for all his mercies to the land, to our dread soueraigne, to our selues, our soules and bodies, to our wiues and children, to our neigh∣bors and friendes, and infinite wayes that wee cannot name. Blesse his Maiestie for them, and let not the remembrance die, till you dye your selfe. A thankfull heart is all that the Lord

seeketh, and it is all that in deed we can doe to him. The childe vnborne hath cause to thanke him, and much more we that enioy his mercy at this present houre. The Lord touch our harts that they may feele, that Lord loose our tongues that they may speake, and the Lord inable both heart and tongue to continue praises vn∣to his maiestie, not for a day or tws, but whilest breath goeth through our nostrelles, and we remaine. O our God of mercie, blessed be thou, blessed to day and blessed for euer: blessed with heart, and blessed with soule: yea blessed with the soule of our soules: for we were dead & now liue, yea as sheepe appointed to the slaughter after strange tortures and torments before, so were wee: but the snare is broken and we are deliuered: we released, and our enemies crawling in the bottome of the sea. Thou hast done it O God our God, and to thee be praise for euer and euer for it. Amen, Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse 1.
• * 1.2

  In peril nor amaze∣ment, but counsell is conueni∣ent.
• * 1.3

  Verse 2.
• * 1.4

  The godly haue their affections.
• * 1.5

  Verse 8.
• * 1.6

  Iacobs go∣ing before all, shewed his faith and loue.
• * 1.7

  1. Ioh. 3.2.
• * 1.8

  Al harts in Gods hand
• * 1.9

  Pro 21.1. Pro. 15.11.
• * 1.10

  August.
• * 1.11

  Pro. 10.2.
• * 1.12

  Pro. 15.19.
• * 1.13

  Verse 6.
• * 1.14

  Children the gift of grace.
• * 1.15

  Verse 8.
• * 1.16

  Verse 9.
• * 1.17

  Verse 10.
• * 1.18

  Verse 11.
• * 1.19

  1 Sam 25. Abigael. 1. Sam. 30. Dauid.
• * 1.20

  Manye worse then Esau for anger.
• * 1.21

  Verse 13.
• * 1.22

  A patterne of a good Pastor.
• * 1.23

  Note.
• * 1.24

  Rom. 14.
• * 1.25

  Verse 20.
• * 1.26

  Iacob thankfull after deli∣uerance.