The holy state by Thomas Fuller ...

CHAP. 4. The Life of ABRAHAM.

I Intend not to range over all his life as he stands threesquare in relation, Husband, Father, Master. We will onely survey and measure his conjugall side, which respecteth his wife.

We reade not that ever he upbraided her for her barrennesse, as knowing that naturall defects are not the creatures fault, but the Creatours pleasure: all which time his love was loyall to her alone. As for his going in to Hagar, it was done not onely with the consent but by the advice of Sarah, who was so ambi∣tious of children she would be made a mother by a proxie. He was not jealous of her (though a grand beauty) in what company soever he came. Indeed he feared the Egyptians, because the Egyptians feared not God; suspecting rather them of force, then her of falsenesse, and beleeving that sooner they might kill him, then corrupt her.

Yet (as well as he loved her) he expected she should do work fit for her calling. Make ready quickly three measures of meal and knead it. Well may Sarah be cook, where Abraham was caterer, yea where God was guest. The print of her fingers still remain in the meal, and of crumbling dow she hath made a lasting monument of her good houswifry.

Being falsely indited by his wife, he never travers'd the bill, but compounded with her on her own terms. The case this. Hagar being with child by Abraham, her pride sweld with her belly, and despiseth her mistresse: Sarah, laying her action wrong, sues Abraham for her maids fault, and appeals to God. I see the Plaintiff hath not alwayes the best cause; nor are they most guilty which are most blamed. However Abraham passes by her peevishnesse, and remits his maid to

stand or fall to her own mistresse. Though he had a great part in Hagar, he would have none in Hagars re••bellion. Masters which protect their faulty servants hinder the proceeding of justice in a family.

He did denie himself to grant his wives will in a matter of great consequence. Sarah desired, Cast out this bondwoman and her sonne. Oh hard word! She might as well have said, Cast out of thy self nature and na∣turall affection. See how Abraham struggles with A∣braham, the Father in him striving with the Husband in him, till God moderated with his casting-voyce, and Abraham was contented to hearken to the coun∣sel of his wife.

Being to sacrifice Isaac, we find not that he made Sarah privie to his project. To tell her, had been to torture her, fearing her affections might be too strong for her faith. Some secrets are to be kept from the weaker sex; not alwayes out of a distrust, lest they hurt the counsel by telling it, but lest the counsel hurt them by keeping it.

The dearest Husband cannot bail his wife when death arrests her. Sarah dies, and Abraham weeps. Tears are a tribute due to the dead. 'Tis fitting that the body when it's sown in corruption should be watered by those that plant it in the earth. The Hit∣tites make him a fair offer, In the chiefest of our sepulchres bury thy dead: But he thinks the best of them too bad for his Sarah. Her chast ashes did love to lie alone; he provides her a virgin tombe in the cave of Machpe∣lah, where her corps sweetly sleep till he himself came to bed to her, and was buried in the same grave.