Of Iacobs changing of his hands from the heads of Iosephs sonnes, when he blessed them. CHAP. 42.
BVt as Esau and Iacob, Isaacs two sonnes, prefigured the two peoples of Iewes and Christians (although that in the flesh the Idumaeans, and not the Iewes came of Esau, nor the Christians of Iacob, but rather the Iewes, for thus must the words, The elder shall serue the yonger, be vnderstood) euen so was it in Iosephs two sonnes, the elder prefiguring the Iewes, and the yonger the Christians. Which two, Iacob in blessing laide his right hand vpon the yonger, who was on his left side, and his left vpon the elder, who was on his right side. This displeased their father, who told his father of it, to get him to reforme the supposed mistaking, and shewed him which was the elder. But Iacob would not change his hands, but said, I know sonne, I know very well: hee shall bee a great people also: but his yonger brother shall be greater then hee, and his seede shall fill the nations. Here is two pro∣mises now, a people to the one, and a fulnesse of nations to the other. What grea∣ter proofe need wee then this, to confirme, that the Israelites, and all the world be∣sides, are contained in Abrahams seed: the first in the flesh, and the later in the spirit.