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. 50. (Book 50)

The chiefe heads of this Chapter may be these.

• The honour done vnto Iacob before his buriall.
• The honour done at his buriall.
• Iosephs sweete placabilitie towards his brethren.
• Iosephs death.

THen Ioseph fell vpon his fathers face & wept vpon him and kissed him.* 1.1 * 1.2 Where wee see the force of loue loatheth not his dead face, his pale lips, his earthly hue at all, but breaketh and bur∣steth through all impedimentes, and showeth it selfe by true tokens. So loue where it was would neuer be hidden, and as yet it continueth the same nature.

2 The embalming of Iacob and others in those daies, shew∣eth vs the lawfull vse of this honour then.* 1.3 It was vnto them in those dayes, some signe of future incorruption, their faith beeing then vsually hel••••d with outwarde Symballes. To vs at this day it hath no such neede (though it may be lawfull in other re∣spectes) since the resurrection of our Sauiour and heade,* 1.4 geueth full assuraunce hee shall lykewyse chaunge oure

vile bodie,* 1.5 that it may bee fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie, according to the working whereby hee is able euen to subdue all things vnto himselfe.

3 Fortie dayes were accomplished, &c. The dayes dif∣fered as people and places differed.* 1.6 The Iewes here mourned fortie dayes in this sort.* 1.7 The Egyptians seuentie, others nine, and some one way, some an other. A time set we cannot appoint, but euer remember that our griefe be moderate, and without hy∣pocrisie.

4 When Ioseph asked leaue to goe bury his father. Pha∣roh most willingly consented vnto it and sayd, Go vp and bury thy father,* 1.8 as hee made thee sweare. Thereby giuing againe verie great testimony of his Princely fauour towardes his good seruant, and euen therein also shewing some religion, that hee would not haue a lawful oath broken, to the iust reproofe of those now that haue not so much in them. But mee thinke I heare you obiect against this, the example of our Sauiour in the Gospel: who said to his Disciple seeking leaue to goe first and bury his fa∣ther:* 1.9 follow me, and let the dead bury their dead. [Answere 1] But remember there the office that then that Disciple was chosen vnto,* 1.10 the prea∣ching of the Gospel, a worke of weight and also of speed. [Answere 2] Remem∣ber that as yet that father of his was not dead, but til that time he would haue been respited. [Answere 3] And lastly, remember that his father was not yet of the family of the faithfull, and therfore the case with this nothing like.

5 There went with Ioseph to the buriall, all the seruants of Pharaoh, both the Elders of his house, and all the Elders of the lande of Egypt. These for honour. Likewise all the house of Io∣seph and his brethren and his fathers house. These for nature and aliance. Lastly Charets and Horsemen not a fewe, and these for securitie. So the company in all was exceeding great. And as their company so was their mourning also passing great, so that both the inhabitants of the lande wondred at it, and the place re∣ceiued a name thereof, the lamention of the Egyptians. So his sonnes did vnto him according as he had commanded them.* 1.11 Which right well may admonish vs euer to bee faithfull in dead

mens wils when they are honest & lawfull. A vertue surely worth very much, yet not so honoured as it deserueth, which woorketh to some both shame and sinne.

6 When Iosephs brethren sawe that their father was dead, they said it may be that Ioseph wil hate vs, &c.* 1.12 Where see the sting and the continuall ••yting of an euil conscience: what they had deserued now they feare, and a guiltie minde wanteth euer rest. See it also how parents liues keep many things streight that either goe awry or are feared, as likely when they bee gone. Esau wil hold while his father liueth, but when once hee is gone, haue at Iacob his brother for a reuenge. Small cause there is then why children so egerly should wish their ends, since their life keepeth out much contention and euil. Their message to Ioseph was but feined, and so appeared since easily it might be thought, that if Iacob had feared any such thing, he would haue carefully spoken of it to Ioseph himselfe in his life time. But let vs learne by it, that an vntruth wilbe peering out one way or other to shame vs if we vse it, and therefore take heede. The argument they vse to moue him to mercy would bee obserued, to wit, because they were seruants of his fathers God.* 1.13 It is all one as if they should haue sayd, they which haue one God should be ioyned in most sure loue togither. To the great confusion of them that so proudly, so maliciously and so contentiously disturbe the peace and most holy vnitie that otherwise would be, and of right ought to be amongst brethren, brethren I say of one God, one faith, and one baptisme, &c, They likewise came vnto him and fel downe before him, con∣fessing themselues his seruants and at his direction.

7 Then Ioseph wept when they spake vnto him,* 1.14 and said vnto them, feare not, for am not I vnder God? When ye thought euil against me, God disposed it to good, that he might bring to passe as it is this day and saue much people a∣liue, &c. See the tendernes of a godly hart, Ioseph could not for∣beare teares when hee saw the feares of his brethren falling thus downe before him, but euen with water vpon his cheekes he most kindly speaketh to them, comforteth them, and biddeth them not

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feare. Yea he maketh arguments vnto them, and by proofes wil haue their heartes assured that they neede not doubt. Am not I vnder God saith hee: that is, doo not I feare God and therefore cannot deale hardly with you beeing my brethren, or am not I vnder God, that is, can I or may I goe about to reuenge that which God remitteth and forgiueth being vnder him, but by the successe of things, it appeareth that God hath forgiuen you, ther∣fore farre be it from me to controll the doings of his maiestie. O that I were able with word or wish, with speech or prayer, to ef∣fect in some the sequeale of this argument, wee know how many times offences grow amongst vs, and how many times some be∣ing sory for their faultes, seeke to satisfie them whom they haue grieued, with an vnfeined hart. But it wil not be taken, Reuenge, reuenge cryeth the spirit of venome, and leaue him not whilest he is woorth a groat. Would that man now beholde heere Ioseph, might he not learne, that if he feare God hee must forgiue, yea he wil forgiue? Or if you take it in the other sense, that in reuen∣ging that which God forgiueth. he professeth openly that hee ta∣keth not himselfe to be vnder God. Now what a man is sory for and willing to make amendes for, God forgiueth, if therefore man wil not, that man proudly exalteth himselfe aboue God, in controwling his doings, and in punishing that which hee remit∣teth: which if it bee horrible in dust and ashes, then let that per∣son knowe that the Lorde will awake though hee seeme to sleepe, and beat that bitter stomacke euen with yron roddes, till hee haue taught it to stoupe to both him and his. O looke we ther∣fore vpon Ioseph euer, and when sight of misdooing moueth the grieued neighbour or friend to say forgiue, then aunswere with Ioseph in holy wordes, Am not I vnder God? That is, my brother, my friend, I see by this sorrow that God hath forgiuen, and if I should keepe, I should make my selfe aboue and not vn∣der God, which farre be from mee. Therefore feare not, I for∣giue and forget, and all is wel. The verie bones of Iosephes brethren reioyced at his clemencye and kinde nature, no doubt blessed him, and blessed God for him, and so for you if you doo the lyke. Am not I vnder God? O speech of a gratious heart, I cannot make an ende to thinke of it. But I must be ruled. Let

me remember you therefore of his second argument. Why saith hee should I bee angry with you, since what you did euill the Lorde hath turned to good, and to the sauing of many liues. No no. I wil looke vpon him and not vpon you, and his mercy shall blotte out your offence. Therefore whilest that is in mine eye whiche I trust shal neuer from eye, whilest I haue an eye, feare not I may not, I cannot I wil not hurt you.* 1.15 No I will nou∣rish you and your children. And this shalbe an argument vn∣to you without all doubt, that I am your brother stil in all loue and nature of a kinde brother. Thus did hee cheare them and euen make them to liue, who were lyke dead men before him for feare. This last argument is woorthie marking, namely, that by his deedes of loue to them, hee would shewe that he had forgiuen them. Should our forgiuenes be measured by this rule, would it shewe well? God knoweth all, and the worlde seeth this, that the tongue saying we haue forgiuen, yet our hande ho••••eth in the least curtesie which may passe from vs. This was not Iosephs forgiuenes, but in token that all was faithful, I wil nourish you and your children saith hee, that is, I wil doo you all the good that I can. Sweet Ioseph then sweet are thy words, and sweet are thy deeds, true is thy loue and thy fauour faithfull,* 1.16 therefore tokens folow it, as the heat the fire, liue thou in this to our example euer, and thy honour for such arguments bee neuer forgotten.

8 So Ioseph dwelt in Egypt, hee and his fathers house,* 1.17 and Ioseph liued an hundreth and tenne yeares.* 1.18 The Lord being mercifull to his people,* 1.19 continued the life of a good Magi¦strate long vnto them. The lyke mercy is with him stil to pre∣serue vnto vs our comfort and our head gouernour, his faithfull seruant our gracious Souereigne, if wee intreat him by feruent prayer, framing our liues to his lyking more and more, and than∣king him truly for so great a good. If not, as mercy keepeth, so so iustice taketh, that the cryes maye rynge when it is too late.

9 Ioseph saw Ephraims children, euen vnto the third ge∣neration, which was a great blessing, also Manasses childrens children. So dealeth God with his chosen when he wil, and hee wil when to them it may be good. Be it therefore with vs as hee pleaseth, and that is best for vs. If we liue yet he must blesse, and if we dye, yet neither hee nor that power in him dieth to be fauou∣rable to our seede, and to blesse them in mercy when we are gone. His promise also is past alreadie, I wilbe thy God and the God of thy seede after thee: and what would we more, if our consciences tel vs we are in this couenant.

Lastly, Ioseph dieth also, and taketh an oath of his brethren, to remoue his bones when God should visite them by deliuering them out of Egypt, to carry them to the land of promise. Wher in his faith as his fathers before him did appeare, as the Apostle witnesseth to the Hebrewes. Their faithfulnesse in so doing, when they remoued we see in Exodus. Thus ended Ioseph the renow∣ned seruant of God, the faithful seruant of his Lord and maister, and the nourcing father of all his kindred, with him endes this booke, and with it my labour, which to the Lord of mercy I most humbly now commend, that it may finde a blessing with him, to the glory of his name, to the comfort of his people, and to the mo∣uing of others: whose leisure is greater, & whose gifts be better to consider what wanteth to a multitude in this land, and to relieue them according to their reaches. Praying thee also good Christi∣an reader, to whom there may be any vse of this my poore labor to goe forward with thy holy exercise of reading the scriptures, to take thy bible into thy hands anew, and euer when thou hast read a Chapter, to read these notes ouer vpon the same, and to conferre them with the text. And if thus both thy feeling and comfort in∣crease, to blesse God the authour of all mercies, and name∣ly of this, and to pray for him truly who loueth thee hartely, and shall so con∣tinue.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse 1.
• * 1.2

  Loue to the dead.
• * 1.3

  Embal∣ming.
• * 1.4

  Phil. 3.21.
• * 1.5

  Philip. 3.21.
• * 1.6

  Verse 3.
• * 1.7

  Dayes of mourning.
• * 1.8

  Verse 6.
• * 1.9

  Obiection
• * 1.10

  Mat. 8.21.
• * 1.11

  Verse 12.
• * 1.12

  Verse 15.
• * 1.13

  Verse 17.
• * 1.14

  Verse 17 18.19.2••▪
• * 1.15

  Verse 21.
• * 1.16

  Loue we must, not in lips or in tongue only, but in deed and in truth.
• * 1.17

  Ioh 3.18.
• * 1.18

  Verse 22
• * 1.19

  Good Ma∣gistrates in mercy, continued long.