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. 5. (Book 5)

This whole Chapter, handleth the Genealogie of the Fa∣thers before the Flud, and hath also particulars di∣uerse worthy marking.

* 1.11 AGaine it is sayde, God created Adam after his likenesse, which what it was, you hearde in the first Chapter, referring you to the Apostle,* 1.2 who expoundeth it by righteousnesse and true ho∣linesse, meaning by those two wordes, all goodnesse, as wise∣dome, truth, innocencie, power, and such like, incident to mans nature vnspotted by sinne.

* 1.32 He called them both Adam, saith the Texte, both the man and the Woman:* 1.4 by that one name noting vnto vs, that insepe∣rable, holy, and misticall vnion, that is made by marriage of two persons to become but one fleshe: the like in some sorte remai∣neth still in vse amongst vs,* 1.5 in that the wife is called by her hus∣bands name, her owne name ceasing, and being vsed no more, as if it should be sayd, nowe that you are maried, though before you were two, yee are become one, and therefore fitte that one name should se••ue you both, to note so much bothe to your selues and others. The man is the worthier person, and therefore by his name shall you both bee called, and the womans name shall cease to be as it was, since now shee is changed, and become one fleshe with him, whose name she inioyeth.

3 Adam is sayde to haue begot a sonne after his likenesse,* 1.6 which is to bee vnderstood thus,* 1.7 a man as hee was and corrupt as he was. Like him in sex and nature, and like him in corruption, impure of impure.

4 From the 4. verse to the 22: two things cheefely are no∣ted. The long life of these Fathers, and their assured death▪* 1.8 many yeares they continued, yea many hundreds, but at last they dyed. Death long ere it came, but at last it came. And touching their long life▪ some questions are mooued: First why it was so long▪ Secondly whence or howe it came to bee so:* 1.9 of the first, two causes are aledged, one for the propagation of man∣kinde, so much the faster and more speedely: the other for conti∣nuance of remembrance of matters, and deducing of them to po∣steritie the better. To the second, answer is made,* 1.10 that as al mens liues at this day are from God and of God, as the fountaine, so was also that long life of theyrs, and by him onely it was produ∣ced to and for such terme as it was. Neuerthelesse, if we speake of causes in nature (by which also God worketh when it pleaseth him) diuers and sundry there were then, now to be remembred if we will, wherefore their life might passe ours as it did, and bee so long. The indifferent mixture, equall temperature;* 1.11 and good disposition of the cheefe and first qualities, heat, colde, moysture, drynesse, is in nature the ground of life, and by all probabilitie in that beginning this was so, more then now. Their dyet better and temperance more from surfetting and fleshlye pleasures, then is now. The region they dwelte in hote in a strength to drye vp and consume superfluitie of humors, when anye were corrupt and rotten:* 1.12 Theyr mindes quieter from eating and gnawing cares, the shortners of mans life: since iniquitie then being not so strong manye woes and vexations were vnfounde. And lastly the fruites of the earth, in their puritie, strength, and vertue, not corrupted as after the Flud, and euer since still more and more might be to them a true cause and a most forcible cause of good health, greater strength, and longer life, then euer since by nature could bee.

5 Their certaine death is noted,* 1.13 to showe the truth of Gods

worde euer infallible and vnmooueable. The Lorde sayd, if they did eate they should dye: they did eate, then death must folow, or God be vntrue, warning vs faire if wee will bee warned, neuer to mince and qualifie what the Lorde pronounceth perempto∣rilye and flatlye, for hee wil be true doe what we can, and we shall fi••de it so. Adam liued nine hundred yeares and thirtie, but hee dyed. Sheth nine hundred and twelue, and he dyed. Methuse∣lah nine hundred 69, and yet he dyed: dyed, dyed is the end of all, that God might bee true, how long soeuer they liued. The ••ame word of the Lorde is no falser nowe then then, but the same for e∣uer: and therefore for this eaten Aple against commaundement, dye we must still, and whilst the world indureth: would God this repetition of death, death, to all these Fathers, might make vs as dulye to remember it, as wee are sure truely to finde it. To finde it I saye, and God knoweth, not wee, how soone. To daye I,* 1.14 to morrowe thou, saith the Wise man. His conceipte was not vnprofitable, that imagined mans life to be as a Tree at the roote: whereof two Mise lye gnawing and nibling with∣out ceasing, a white Mouse, and a blacke. The white Mouse hee conceiued to bee the daye, and the blacke Mouse the night: by which daye and night mans life as a tree by continuall gnawing at last is ended. Who can nowe tell howe farre these two Mise haue eaten vpon him.* 1.15 Happely the Tree that seemeth yet strong, ere night may shake, and ere daye againe fall flat downe. O let vs thinke of this vncertaintie, and that is all I wishe by this speeche. Adams coate of Skins might fitlye remember him of this. And what weare wee still in our most ruffe, which apper∣tayned not sometime in some sorte, to a liuing creature, by whose death we being clad, may fitlye thinke of our owne deaths that are so sure. But you see the Snowe howe blinde it makes a man,* 1.16 by his great whitenesse: so dooth this worlde by his mani∣folde pleasures, baytes and allurement, dazell our eyes, and blinde vs so, that wee forget to dye, wee dreame of life, when there is no hope, and wee cannot heare of it to goe awaye. O death how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man, that liueth at rest in his possessions,* 1.17 vnto the man that hath no∣thing to vexe him, and that hath prosperitie in all thinges,

yea vnto him that yet is able to receiue meate.

6 In the 22. verse it is sayd, that Henoch walked with God: To walke with God sometime, signifieth to obey and serue,* 1.18 to re∣uerence and feare the liuing God, and (by the way) when it dooth so, if godly men be said to walke with God,* 1.19 I pray you with whom walke they that are vngodly? Surely with him, that if they saw him would feare them, and shame them to bee arme in arme with so foule a guest. But what the eye seeth not the heart feareth not, yet the end will finde it, when it is too late. In this place to walke with God, signifieth he was translated out of this life and world, not by death as others, but aliue as were no others then, to liue with the Lord. Which translation to him was insteed of death, that following to him by this rapt, that to others without it after death.* 1.20 The Lord did this to giue vs some signe of the resurrection to a better life prepared, and to be a testimonie of the immortalitie of soules and bodyes. As to inquire where hee became, is meere curiositie. The like wee read of Elias the Prophet, that he also was caught vp into heauen in this extraordinary manner.* 1.21 Many vaine motions about them, both by idle heads which I will not scan. Yea euen godly men haue waded further, then by any neces∣sitie they were constrained: for where God hath not an answer we should not haue a question, that is, where it pleaseth him to be silent we should not be sifters,* 1.22 for he concealeth nothing that may be profitable. Syrach is alledged, where it is said, that Henoch was translated into Paradise. But as the booke is not Canoni∣call, so in that is the Latin translation false, the Greeke hauing nothing of Paradise, but simply that he was translated. Other guesses and talkes I take as they be onely guesses, and passe them ouer. Where should they be but with others of the godly where they are: their bodies in the rapt changed, as the Apostle saith all ours shall be, when corruptible shall put on incorruption, and mortall, immortalitie,* 1.23 and as they that bee aliue at the Lo••des comming shall be changed. For wee shall not (saith he) all dye, but we shall all be changed. The Lorde shall descend him∣selfe from Heauen with a showte,* 1.24 and with the voice of the Archangell, and with the Trumpet of God, and the dead in

〈…〉〈…〉 first. Then shal we which liue and remaine, 〈…〉〈…〉 vp with them also in the cloudes, to meete the Lorde 〈…〉〈…〉▪ and so wee shall bee euer with the Lorde. So were these no question, at this time changed: That againe the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may be so caught, the Apostle showeth, when he sayth he was so▪ w••••ther in the bodye or out of the bodye, saith he, I knowe 〈…〉〈…〉 thereby that both might bee. Wee read howe Philip was caught from the Eunuch,* 1.25 and found at Azotus: but I go no further in this matter.

* 1.267 God tooke him awaye, saith the 24. verse, and it maye well remember vs of the care that the Lord hath ouer his euer to deliuer them from the woes of this worlde,* 1.27 when it shall be good He seeth and knoweth vs, and our estate: while it may bee good for vs to liue, we shall liue, and when an other place shall be bet∣ter for vs, the Lorde as he did Henoch can take vs away, yea and will if we trust in him.

8 Lastlye let vs thinke vpon this occasion, that though all of vs in bodye cannot obtaine this honour to bee thus caught vp to walke with God, yet may we in minde be partakers of this much to ascend vpwarde,* 1.28 to haue our hearts aboue, and not beneath, and to walke in spirit amongst those endlesse ioyes that are pre∣pared for vs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse. 1.
• * 1.2

  Eph. 4.24.
• * 1.3

  Verse. 2.
• * 1.4

  The vnion of mariage
• * 1.5

  Why wo∣men mari∣ed, leaue their owne names, & are called as their husband.
• * 1.6

  Vers••. 3.
• * 1.7

  A••ams likenesse what.
• * 1.8

  Long life and death at last of the olde fathers.
• * 1.9

  Their life whye so long.
• * 1.10

  Howe so long.
• * 1.11

  Causes in nature of long life.
• * 1.12

  Cura quasi cor rodens
• * 1.13

  Their cer∣tain death why still noted.
• * 1.14

  A white Mouse. A blacke Mouse.
• * 1.15

  The vn∣certaintie of mans life
• * 1.16

  Our appa∣rell maye put vs in minde of death.
• * 1.17

  Syrac. 41.1
• * 1.18

  To walke ••ith God.
• * 1.19

  Mich. 6.8.
• * 1.20

  Where Henoch and Elias are.
• * 1.21

  2. Kin. 2.11.
• * 1.22

  Syrach. 44.
• * 1.23

  1. Cor. 15.
• * 1.24

  1. Thess. 4.
• * 1.25

  Acts. 8.
• * 1.26

  Verse. 24.
• * 1.27

  The Lords care for l••fe or death.
• * 1.28

  Coloss. 3.1.2.3.