Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, To the reader 1 – Title page 3
¶ CERTAINE DIRECTIONS TO THE READER TO BE OBserved in the reading of this Booke.
CHristian Reader, seeing God hath called us the Ministers of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ, not to stand idlely in the market place, but to labour in his vineyard, some in one worke, some in another, I thinke no labour better bestowed, than in setting forth the word of God, both by preaching and writing: as S. Peter toucheth both: of the first he saith, I think it meet, as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stirre you up by putting you in remembrance: of the second:2. Peter ….13.… I will endevour therefore alwayes, that ye also may be able to have remembrance of these things after my departure. That time therefore, which others spend, some in following their pleasures, some in ambitious suit of preferment, some in attending their profit, I find most comfort to imploy after this manner: for if that heathen Orator did professe: that he did bestow as much time in humane studies as others took in following their businesse, quis mihi jure succenseat, si quantum caeteris ad res suas obeundas, quantum ad festos dies Iudorum celebrandos, quantum ad alias voluptates conceditur temporis; quantum alij tribuunt in tempestivis conviviis, quantum denique aleae, quantum pilae, tantum egomet mihi ad haec studia recolenda sumpsero. Tull. orat. pro Archi. poeta.some in celebrating festival dayes▪ some in pleasure, some in feasts and bankets, some in playes & games. Much more should we preferre the divine study of the Scriptures, before all worldly pleasures and commodities whatsoever.
I know that these labours of mine shal find many hard Censors, as my other travailes before; some have not forborn in publike assēblies to tax me & my writings, some in private corners have spoken their pleasures: of such I say with the Apostle: I would know, not foreign, the speech, of them which are puffed up, but foreign, the power: 1. Cor. 4. …as the same Apostle else-where saith, they understand not, that they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves. But as Hierome saith: he which carpeth other mens writings: when hee commeth to write himselfe,2 Cor. 10.… and setteth foot to foot, then will he sweat, and tug, and find great difference between publike writing, and private carping. si ad libros venerit & pedem pedi contulerit, tunc haerebit, tunc sudabit, tunc intelliget aliam viam fori esse, aliam triclinij Hieron. ad Domin.
In this worke I have abridged the learned commentaries of Mercerus and Pererius, and of others, that have written upon Genesis, taking the best and leaving the worst: Pererius hath taken great pains in this argument, though he have many slips in history and not a few errors for doctrine: I have served him, as Hierome did …rigen, I have caused that our country men should know his best things, and be ignorant … his worst. It seemeth that he spent above ten yeares in compiling that work, the first tome was set forth, 1589. the fourth and last, ann. 1598. he was as long a time about it, as Isocrates was in penning his panegyrikes: and I confesse, that I almost have at spare times beene as many yeares occupied in preparing this worke, as the Elephant is in bringing forth her young: I have also collected divers things out of Mercerus: of whole learned expositions upon Genesis, I may as Isocrates did of his panegiricke orations: foreign, &c. that both they which had handled that argument before, being ashamed of that they had said, did rase out all their orations, and they who seemed some body, mistrusting their wits, gave over.
In the reading of this booke, I would premonish the Reader to take these directions, that he would first with his pen mend the faults, which are very many, escaped in my absence, through the over-sight of the Printer▪ In the divers readings S. standeth for the Septuagints translation. H. for the latine thought to bee Hieroms: C. for the Chalde: P. for Pagnius, A for Arias Montanus: B. for the great English Bible. G. the Geneva translation. T. Tremellius: he. for the Hebrew. text: caet. for caeteri, the rest.
In the marginall figure: ad. signifieth, addeth. differ. ver. difference of words. diver. accep. divers takings. app. f. pr. appellative for proper: plu▪ f. sing. plurall number for the singular: de, detract or take away: cor corrupt: diu. sig. divers significations: negat f. affir. negative for affirm. invert. inverting of the order: al. alt. altring of the text. differ. pron. difference of pronunciation: mut pers. change of the person: differ. temp. difference of the tense: simil. voc. likenesse of the words: interp▪ interpret, when the sense is kept, and not the words: transp. transposing of words: mut. temp. change of the tense: mut. voc. change of the voice, as when the active is put for the passive, or contrariwise. r. standeth for right. c. for corrupt. These my labours and travels I commend to the favourable acceptance, and Christian use of the carefull reader, thinking my selfe happy, if by my small talent, I can any wayes profit the Church of God. Th… I end, craving the hearty and unfained prayers of all, that shall finde themselves furthered by this worke, for me, and all other our fellow labourers: that as the Apostle saith, utterance may bee given us, to open our mouthes boldly, that we may publish the secrets of the Gospel ▪ and as the Prophet David saith,Eph. 6.19. Psal. 12…. Pray for the peace of Hierusalem.
THE FIRST TOME OF THIS COMMENTARIE VPONUPON GENESIS: CONTAINING THE NOTABLE HISTORY OF THE THREE GREAT PATRIARKES, Adam before the floud, Noah in the floud, Abraham after the floud.
TOGETHER WITH SVCH MEMORABLE THINGS, AS FELL OVT In their times, during the space of two thousand, one Hundred, and eight yeares, from the beginning of the World, to the birth of Isaack:
As they are set forth by Moses that great Prophet, and holy Historiographer, in the 24. first Chapters of Genesis.
HEB. 11.7, 8.
By faith Noe being warned of God of the things which were as yet not seene, moved with reverence, prepared the Arke, to the saving of his houshold, &c.
By faith Abraham when he was called, obeyed God, &c.
AMBROS. lib. 1. officior. c. 27.
Noe quam sapiens, qui tantum fabricavit arcam, quam justus qui ad semen omnium reservatus, quam fortis ut diluvium vinceret, quam temperans, ut diluvium toleraret.
Noah was wise in making so great an Arke; just, in being reserved to be the seed of the world; strong in overcomming the …loud; temperate in induring it.
Fuit sapientiae in Abraham Deo credere, fuit justitiae filium acceptum reddere: fuit fortirudinis appetitum cohibere, …it temperantiae modum pietatis tenere.
It was wisdome in Abraham to beleeve God; justice to render his sonne, whom hee had received; fortitude, to subdue his naturall affection: temperance, in keeping a measure in his devotion.