Of the Head Cornerstone, Chapter 5 (3 of 3)
10 The Story that doeth properly appertaine to the time of Iacob, after that Isaac is now departed, is altogether in a manner, about their going downe into Aegypt: but yet, some few other things enterlaced withall. About their going downe into Aegypt, wee hauehave deliuered vntounto vsus, first howe God prouided for them there; then, how he brought them down vntounto it. The prouision that God made for them there, was by the meanes of Ioseph the youngest Sonne of Iacob but one, whome to that end he sent thither before: very much humbling him first; but then exalting him a great deale more. In the Story of his humiliation, wee hauehave first set downe the occasion of it, then, the thing it selfe. The occasion of it was diuers: partly of God; partly of Men. Of God it was, that hee had two such dreames, as did plainely▪ insinuate, Gen. 37, 7 6.that some way or other hee was to be aduanced aboue them all: one, that gathering together sheaues of Corne in the field, his sheafe stoode vpright, and all their sheaues came round about it, and did all bow themselues vntounto it: the other, that the Sunne and the Moone, and eleauen Starres, did all bow them themselues vntounto him. So farre as it was of Men, it partly came by Iacob, and Ioseph himselfe: but chiefly; by those brethren of Ioseph. It came partly by Iacob, because hee loued Ioseph more than the rest: partly also by Ioseph himselfe, because he was wont to tell his …ather of Ibid 3. 4.such disorders as were noted in them; and himselfe did tell them how hee had dreamed. But it came chiefly of them for that their owne loosenes made them so much Ibid. 2, 5, 6, 10. Ibid. 2. 4, 5, 8, 11.to mislike his telling of them: and because they had in their hearts such enuy against him, that neither could they like, that their Father did then beare more affection to him, than to the rest (insomuch that they could not speake peaceably vntounto him: an Ibid. 4.ordinary fruite, of that naughty roote) nor to heare of those dreames, that seemed to boad such aduancement to him. In the thing it selfe wee are to note, what opportunity they had vntounto it: then, how themselues did worke thereon. The opportunity that they had vntounto it, was, that Iacob sent him vntounto them where they were Ibid, 12-17.tending their Cattell and Sheepe, very farre from the place where then he lay, to see how they and their Cattle did, and to bring him word thereof. In their woorking on this opportunity wee are to note, that first they intended great mischiefe against him: but then perfourmed it, not altogether with such rigor as first they conceaued. Ibid. 18. 20.As touching that great mischiefe that at the first they intended against him, it is noted, that so soone as they saw him a good way off, they consulted among themselues of killing him out-right: so to see what his dreames would come vntounto. That they did not performe this euill meaning of theirs against him, altogether with that rigor that first they conceiued, it was by the better aduice of some of themselues: but yet notwithstanding, they afterward perfourmed it badly enough. That better aduice that was giuen by some of themselues, was giuen by Ruben first: then, by Iudah. Ruben was the eldest of them, who before had committed very foule incest; as Iudah Gen. 35, 22, 45, 7.also did a while after sinne very fouly: but now they saued the life of him, who afterward saued the liues of them all; besides, that of Iudah, Christ also himselfe did afterward come. A good caueat to vsus that follow, that no way immoderately we altogether abandon the woorst men of all: not knowing what good in time to come, it may please God to bring forth of them to our vse. So Ruben first, perceiuing them to be so deadly bent against him, diswaded them from that cruell fact; and admised them rather to put him into a dry pit there by: hoping by this meanes to deliuer him Ge 37. 21. 22.out of their handes, and to bring him safe to his Father againe; which aduice of his was by and by followed. For so soone as hee was come vntounto them, they stript him of his vpper-most garment, and put him into that dry pit that was by them, there to ende his woefull dayes: themselues neuerthelesse so little touched with any feeling Ibid. 23-25.thereof, that they presently after sat downe to their meat, as if there were nothing therein to grieue them. Being so set (little regarding the anguish of their Brother now in the pit; or rather, for ought that hee knew to the contrary, or they did meane him, euen in his graue) they espy a sort of Merchaunts comming towardes them, as Ibid. 25. 32.their way did lye to goe into Aegypt, there doeth Iudah now come forth with his aduice also: namely, that it would be no benefit to them, thus to destroy their brother, though they kept their doings therein so close as they could. His aduice therefore was, to take him foorth of the pit againe, and to sell him to those Merchants: as also they did, (but Ruben not beeing priuie vntounto it, and much sorrowing for him) for twenty Siccles of siluer (about two shillings and sixe-pence a peece, after the rate of Coyne with vsus) nowe to bee a boud-slaue for euer; and there-withall dipping that vpper garment of his in blood, they sent it to their Father as a token that his Son was like to be slain with some wild beast. Whereupon Iacob being so perswaded, did take it very heauily, & could not be comforted: as also his Father Isaac, grand-father to Ioseph, is noted to hauehave done; this bad part of those his Nephews Ibid …3-35.being cōmitted against their brother about a dozen years before Isaaks death Trewel. Iun.A special …aine vntounto them all, that seeing their Father, and their Grand-father too, … those great yeares of theirs to take it so heauily: yet notwithstanding none of them all would at any time be & … the truth was in deede, so to yeelde them that miserable comfort that yet was last them. In the story of his exaltation we d…e find, that it was not presently done, but in good processe of time: God … giuing him some comfort in that hard estate, that now his Bretheren had cast …; then, after that, exalting him also. His hard estate consisted in two principall branches: one, his seruitude; the other, his imprisonment. To make his seruitude more easie vntounto him, God so prospered him in the seruice of him to Ibid. 3…, 39. 1-6.whom he was soul…, that his Maister liked very well of him, & committed all that he had into his hands As touching his imprisonment we hauehave noted vntounto vsus, first how it came: then, how God did helpe him therein also. It came by the false accusation of his Lady, or Mistris: who beeing her selfe desirous to hauehave beene …-29.naught with him, but refused by him, cryed out vponupon him, and charged him to hauehave offered that villany vntounto her; and so, by the fond credulity of her husband withall, got him to be cast into prison for it. Wherein the likelier it had beene, that by growing so great with his Mistris, he might soone hauehave attained not onelyonly …. 20.to his liberty, but also to great preferment besides: the better example hath he left vntounto all (and shortly after notably rewarded) euer to auoyd al such bad compendious wayes whatsoeuer. The helpe that God vouchsafed him heere, was not onelyonly, as before, the Iailers fauour: but also, that he endowed him with a speciall gift besides, whereby at length he was deliuered. The fauour of the Iailer was such towardes him (for that he saw the Lord to be with him) that hee also committed Ibid. 21-23.the whole charge vntounto him. That speciall guift besides wherewith it pleased God to endew him, was the interpretation of Dreames: and it pleased God at length to worke his deliuerance thereby, first by making it knowne to the King of Egypt that he had such a guift; then, by affoording the vse or benefite of it to him also, not onelyonly to his full contenment, but euen to admiration withall. It was made knowne to the King of Egypt, that such a guift was in Ioseph, by the relation of one of his principall Officers that did attend him namely, that both he and another Gen. 40, 1-…3. 41, 9-13.fellow of his being then in prison, and each of them dreaming, so as themselues were troubled with it, he presently opened the same vntounto them; and that so it fel-out with them both, as he before had tould them it should. VntoUnto the King himselfe, was the vse and benefite thereof affoorded likewise, not onelyonly, as I said, to his full contentment, but euen to admiration also, when as about two yeares after (all which time the Officer aforesaid had Ioseph in very vnthākfull obliuion: belike, that he might be beholding to God alone) it pleased God by a couple of Dreames to trouble the heart of Pharaoh also. Now therefore the time being come that he was to be exalted, wee are to note, what was the occasion of it: and how it pleased God thereby to doe it. The occasion was, first those two dreames themselues that now Pharaoh had: then also, that himselfe was disquieted with Ge. 41, 1-8.them; and could get none that could shew him the meaning of them. This occasion being giuen, now it pleased God so to worke thereon, that Ioseph was sent for, his prison-garments taken from him and others put-on, and so set before Pharaoh, to expound those his Dreames vntounto him. VntoUnto whom when hee had expounded Ibid. 14-32.them, namely, that those seauen faier and wel-liking Kine, and those seauen eares of corne that were large and full, which first appeared, did betoken seauen yeares very fruitfull, which immediately after the Land should enioy, and that those other seauen leane Kine that deuoured the fat, and that those other seauen eares that were so thinne, and likewise deuoured the better, and yet neyther of them both were (to see too) the better for it, did signifie other seauen yeares of dearth to follow the former, which should consume all the ouerplus of the others, and yet be little the beter for it, also that the same should certainely and presently be done; Ibid. 33-36. Ibid, 37-46.and therewithall aduised him what to doe: the King by and by, conceiuing well of his interpretation, and aduise withall, and not thinking to finde any other so meete as Ioseph himselfe to preforme that charge, made him chiefe next vnderunder him in all his Kingdom, changed his name, and bestowed an honourable marriage on him, when hee was now full thirty yeares old. Ioseph likewise, according to Ibid. 46. 49.the authority and trust to him committed, did very carefully gather together, and laid vp in the Citties of Aegypt, whatsoeuer might bee spared of those plentifull years to hauehave it in a readinesse, against the time that neede should require to bring it forth. But in those his doings, two thinges there are of speciall note: one, in what sort by this occasion hee dealt withall the Land of Aegypt; the other, howe fauourable he was to certaine of them. Dealing so as he did with the whole land Ibid. 47. 13-21of Aegipt; first, getting vp all their Money, then their Cattle, thirdly their landes and themselues too, to bee the proper goods of Pharaoh the King, and vtterly to extinguish all opinion of propriety in any thing they had, translating them al from one Citty to another, and then ordaining the fift part of their increase to be a perpetuall rent or tribute vntounto the King for such lands as they had returned to them againe; though, whether for the wisedome or equity of the deuise, or for the dignity of his person, it bee fauourably interpreted of many: yet for my part, I cannot see, but that hee inclined too much to the benefite of the King, and regarded the people too little; though yet notwithstanding the deciding of it might best be performed, by such as hauehave the best in-sight into the whole. How fauourable he was to certaine of them, appeareth in this, that of all others their Landes were spared, and themselues specially respected by such order as the King had taken. But who these were, is a question with some now: the generall opinion of Ibid. 22.most men beeing, that they were the Priestes; some others of late, that they were Tremel. and Iunius.certaine Officers or Deputies of the Kings. The word indeede doth signify both: but not onelyonly the Aegiptians especially, but all other Heathen peoples also, much after the same manner did make speciall reckoning of their Priest-hoodes, and vouchsafed them great immunities aboue others; and not vnlikely, but that the Kings speciall Officers were otherwaies prouided for by the King himselfe. Again, such Officers were euer lightly but personall, and went not as Lands did, from the Father vntounto the Childe; but to such as were thought the meetest for them: and then could there be no landes of such so like to be priuiledged as the Landes of the Priestes; vnlesse for such also there were a perpetuall or standing maintenance set forth (which is not so likely) as for the Priest-hoode was wont to bee. The onelyonly obiection is, that it is not likely, that Ioseph would be so carefull for that Idolatrous Priest-hood of theirs. But that perswasion of his knowledge and zeale on that behalfe is but presumed, without any warrant in the word for the same: and, if the Aegiptians had that speciall regard to their Priest-hood, as the Stories doe witnesse they had, he could not be in that authority and credite with them, vnlesse hee also did in all such speciall matters hold-on the selfe-same course with them. So that it seemeth as the iudgement of the most part of the learned is, that they were the Priestes, and not other Officers that so were spared: and to me besides, that whereas Iunius ioyned with Tremellius in that translation, that note should seeme rather to come from Iunius, who diuers times sheweth himselfe to bee some-what out of temper in such matters; then from Tremellius, whom I doe not otherwise find, but to bee of the better iudgement. But as the word dooth signifie both, so if they would hauehave taken in these as well as the others, wee would not much sticke with them then: but if they will needes so vnkindly exclude them altogether, then they giuegive vsus occasion to examine their iudgement; and as not able to abide the tryall, to returne it to them againe. In his bringing of them downe to this prouision that before hee made for them, wee are to consider: first, howe they were occasioned vntounto it: then, how they were themselues brought downe. Occasioned they were; first, by strict necessity, to seeke to that Countrey for helpe: then, by it and other motiues besides, much better then it, themselues to goe thither, there to inhabite. Of strickt necessity, they were occasioned to seeke to that Countrey for helpe, twice: first, onelyonly for victuals; then, not onelyonly for them again, but now also to redeeme one of their Bretheren that lay in prison. In theyr first iourney when they went downe for victuals onelyonly, we are to note the occasion of it: and what successe it was they had there. The occasion of it was, that there was so great a famine in all those Countries adioyning: and that they heard Gen. 41, 57, 42: 1, 2.withall, that there was Corne to bee had in Aegypt. The successe that they had there, was part of it good: but some part of it hard likewise. Good it was, that there they got Corne to relieue their family withall: and had all their money that Ibid. 3-36.they had payde for it, giuen them into their sackes backe againe with them, they knew not how. It was partly hard likewise, for that they were by so great a man as Ioseph then was there, charged all to be spyes, roughly for a time handled in word and deede: and one of them besides kept in prison as pledge, for a matter that hardly might be performed. In their second iourney when they were to goe and get their Brother to be deliuered besides, we are to note, first how hardly the same was obtained of Iacob: then what successe they had therein also. In that Iacob was so loath to let Beniamin go with them, vntill by extreame want he was driuen vntounto Ibid. 36-38. & 43, 1-10.it (by which they were for all that time hindered of this other iourney) there is one thing to be noted very apparant: another also that may be doubted. That which is apparant; is, that he bare a speciall great louelove to Beniamin, when as the imprisonment of his other Sonne Simeon could not worke so effectually with him, till he was by famine also vrged vntounto it▪ an example of the great louelove that parents oft-times do beare to their children; and a good inducement to all the Children of God, to assure themselues of far greater there by many degrees. That which may be doubted, is, that it may seeme his faith towards God, was not now so strong, when as notwithstanding all those promises of God towards him, and many great proofes thereof besides, he yet doubteth such perrill in sending Beniamin with his other Bretheren. For the successe thereof we are for part of it first to begin at the land of Canaan: then to go downe into the Land of Aegypt for the rest. That part of the successe that Ibid. 11-15.we finde in the land of Canaan, was altogether good: Namely, that first they got their Father to like of it, and to yeelde his consent thereunto; then that hee sent them away in so good manner, both with a present of the best things the Countrey yeelded, and well furnished with money also, with double to that they had before to make their prouision, and with that which they found in the mouth of their sackes besides. That other part of it that wee finde in Aegypt, was first but moderate: but soone after farre exeeeding. That part of it that was moderate, did withall very comfortably encline vntounto good. For they had their brother at the first brought out of prison, and restored vntounto them againe: and had very good, honourable and Ibid. 16. 34.kinde entertainement besides. That which soone after farre exceeded, was first exceeding heauy and greeuous vntounto them: but immediately after as ioyfull also. That which so farre exceeded in heauinesse and griefe vntounto them was, that they were no sooner dismissed with their Corne out of the Citty, but that the chiefe Ruler of Iosephs house did hotly pursue them, and charged them to be very bad men, that notwithstanding their good vsage, had now stolne away with them a principal Gen. 44, 1-34peece of his Maisters plate: and finding the same with one of them to the vtter dismaying of them all (as indeede they were guiltlesse of it) brought them all back againe into the Citty, there to abide such punishment and shame, as to such a fact was due. And that worse was, it light chiefely on him, on whom it might worst of them all: namely on Beniamin his Fathers darling; and with whom hee was so loath to hauehave parted. Ioseph belike for the affection he bare him, was desirous to retaine him longer with him; & great men stick not ofttimes, without any sufficient cause to charge their inferiors as themselues think good: but true and iust dealing is euer the best; and in it we euer hauehave meanes enow, to accomplish whatsoeuer is meete to be had. And Seruants in such case are for the most part readye enough to doe as their Maisters prescribe vntounto them: as heere we may see an example in this one, boldly charging them with Theft (because his Maister had so commanded) whom him-selfe did certainly know to be cleare of it. But while they were in this heauy pickle, then commeth in that, which as farre exceeded in ioy: most of all, and first from Ioseph; but then also, in part from Pharaoh. As …bid. 45, 1-15. 21-24.touching Ioseph, he could no longer dissemble: will he, nill he, his affections now will needs breake foorth. He tolde them plainly who hee was: his teares also plentifully witnessing his Brotherly and tender affection towards them. He bad them not be dismayed, that they solde him to be a bond-man, for that is was not they but God that in his prouidence thus sent him before them, to prouide for thē against this time of famine, that so they might liue and not dye. He tolde them, that yet there were fiue years more thereof to come: willed them to hasten home to their father, to tell him of these things, and to entreat him to come ouer vntounto him, he and all his family to dwell there; that so dooing he should be placed in the best part of all Egipt: and withall loaded them home with prouision and Chariots, both for him-selfe and all his family. That which came from Pharaoh the King, was to Ibid. 16-20.the same end: him-selfe also desiring, that Iacob and all his family would come thither; and to that end, both offering vntounto him the best of the land of Egypt to dwel in when he should come, and in the meane season commanding Ioseph to send him prouision and Chariots to fetch him. How by this famine yet enduring, and by other good motiues besides, Iacob and his company were occasioned to go downe into Egypt there to dwell, will now soone appeare: first, by relation of those his Sonnes when they returned; then by those thinges that now they brought with them. They tolde him that Ioseph his Sonne was yet aliue, and now the chiefe Ibid. 25-26.Lord in all Egypt vnderunder the King: and withall did the residue of their ioyfull message vntounto him. Himselfe also did see and behold the prouision, presents, & Chariots that to that end were sent vntounto him. Which thinges, when hee had heard Ibid. 27-28.and seene, though at the first hee was astonied, and was readie to soound for ioy that his sonne yet liued: yet soone after he came to himselfe; was a glad man that Ioseph yet liued; and presently resolued to remooue his dwelling, and now to go downe to Egypt vntounto him. Beeing thus occasioned, and thereupon resolued now to take his iourney thither, he commeth from Hebron first to Beersheba: and then into Egypt. In Beersheba, the first part of his iourney, and about twenty miles towards Adriconi in Bersabe.Egypt, there we read, that himselfe sought vntounto God: and that God did comfortably appeare vntounto him. He sought vntounto the Lord there, by offering vntounto him certaine Sacrifices: which, it may seeme, were, either of thankefulnesse, that Ioseph Gen. 46, 1,his Sonne, was yet liuing; or to obtaine the goodnesse of God towardes him and his, in this his iourney. God likewise appeared comfortably vntounto him, in that first telling him who he was, euen that mighty God the God of his father, he then bad him not to feare that his going downe into Egypt, for that there he would encrease Ibid. 2-4.him to a mighty people, and himselfe go downe and come vp with him: also that Ioseph that was supposed to be dead, should close vp his eyes at his death. Thence proceeding in his iourney towardes Egypt, we hauehave deliuered vntounto vsus, how he finished his iourney thither: and in what estate there hee afterward liued. His iourney thither may we account then to be finished, when as soone after his comming into the Countrey he had doue his dutie first to the King, and then was dismissed of him to his owne where he was to dwell. In which compasse of time we hauehave no more but these two: First, how he met with Ioseph his Sonne; then how he came to the presence of the King. For the former it is noted, that going on his iourney Ibid. 5-30.from Beersheba, he and all his company and possessions with him, threescore and sixe persons of lineall descent from him proceeding, (himselfe, Ioseph and his two sonnes that were in Egypt alreadie, making vp the number of threescore and ten) comming belike some-what towards his iourneyes end, or when hee saw the time to be meetest, sent Iudah before vntounto Ioseph, to aduertise him of his comming, and to acquaint him with his iourney. Whereuppon Ioseph addressed himselfe to come and meete his Father Israel: and when he came so neere that his Father might discerne him to be the same indeede, he then made his father a glad man of him. For his comming into the Kings presence, Ioseph would first go to aduertise the King of his comming, and belike to know his pleasure withall: but first, he aduised his brethren and all the Ibid. 31-34.company, if Pharaoh should aske them what trade of life they had vsed, plainely to acknowledge the truth indeede, that they had vsed none other but onelyonly to reare and tend Cattle; that so they might the rather hauehave the land of Goshen for them to dwell in. For besides that the land it selfe was meete to such a purpose, it lay at an out-side of Egypt, and next vntounto the land of Canaan: and so the meetest for them in those respects; especially, when as the Egyptians had withall a speciall dislike of that kinde of life, and of those that vsed the same. They being thus admonished, Ioseph tooke with him fiue of his Brethren, and went to the King, aduertising Gen. 47, 1, 6.him, that his Father and Brethren, and all their family, together with all their goodes and Cattle, were now come thither, there to soiourne: themselues also then entreating, and the King condiscending thereunto, and giuing charge that it might be effected, that they might hauehave the land of Goshen wherein to soiourne. After which, he brought his Father also before Pharaoh, who shortlie after (in respect of his age as it seemeth) dismist him againe, to repose himselfe to Ibid, 7-10.his owne best ease: being at that time, as himselfe acknowledged to Pharaoh, one hundred and thirty yeares olde. Their iourney being in this soft finished, in what estate he there afterward liued, wee hauehave set downe but generally: but withall some particulars more specially mentioned. Generally, we may conceiue, that he liued in good case there, being so welcome to the King as he was, and hauing so able and so carefull a man to prouide for him there, as then his Sonne Ioseph was: and it is plainely set downe, both that they were placed in that good and Ibid. 11, 12, 27fruitfull corner of the land; and that Iosephs care and prouiding for them was, as if, like a Mother or Nurse, he should put the meate, as if they were children euen into their mouths. Those particulars that are more specially set downe, are such things as went a little before his death: and then how long he liued there. Those things that went a little before his death, were three: one, before that yet he sickned; other two, when now he was sicke already. Before that yet hee sickned, Ibid. 19-31.he called for his Sonne Ioseph, and required him to sweare (a sufficient Token to shew, how earnestly he was bent to hauehave the same performed indeede) that when God should call him, he should not bury him in Aegypt, but where his elders were buried before: and when Ioseph had giuen his Oath, that so he would, he thereupon worshipped, as hauing obtained a speciall good fauour therein. Whereby it seemeth, that hee did both professe his faith in those promises of God that his seede should inherit that land; and stirre vp his posterity also, not to fasten their affection to Aegypt, but to hauehave the promised Land in continuall desire and expectation. When now he was sicke already, he deliuered many thinges, as in the way o… a blessing or prophetically, that should afterward be accomplished, or come to passe in those his children: and first, to Ioseph, who purposely at that time came vntounto him; then, to all the others besides, whom to that end himselfe did call for. VntoUnto Ioseph he deliuered, what God had promised concerning the Land of Canaan, Gen. 48, 1-22.to be the inheritance of his posterity; and then withall, tooke in those two Sonnes of his which then he had, into the estate and number of his owne, as if they had beene begotten by him: and when Ioseph did then bring them vntounto his Father, that his Father might to that end lay his hands vppon them, he did so also; but not in such order as Ioseph had thought that he would, but preferring Ephraim the younger, before Manasses the elder. In taking of whom into his number, it may seeme, that there was respect had (if not by Iacob, yet by God himselfe, who directed the action) vntounto those sufferings of Ioseph first; and to his good deserts after: it may be also, to the wrong done vntounto Rachell, when her Sister was preferred before her; and to make some supply, in that she was nothing …o fruitfull as her Sister was. VntoUnto all the rest of his Sonnes, he shewed what was like to bee Gen. 49, 1-7. 13-28 Ibid. 8-12.the estate of their posterity for the time ensuing: and more specially which of them it was by whom the promised Seede should be deriued; and that in his line there should be (till then) a tollerable estate and gouernment, howsoeuer that others should oft-times be plunged in great confusion. The time that hee liued there, was seauenteene yeares: and so being now one hundred forty and seauen yeares olde, he dyed. Those few thinges that are besides interlaced withall, are but Ge. 47, 27, 28 49-33.about Iudah onelyonly, and but to such as in effect came onelyonly to thi…; that he, by some occasion, dealing fraudulently with his daughter in Lawe Thamar, not yeelding …en: 38, 1-30that marriage vntounto her, which by custome & vsage of the Country then, and his own promise was due vntounto het, was so by Thamar circumuented, that at vnawares he lay with her, taking her for an Harlot, and at that time begat of her, one of the Ancestors of Iesus Christ: a Story of no small reproach vntounto Iudah, who beeing himselfe the onelyonly Sonne of Iacob, by whom the line of Christ was to be deriued, did neuerthelesse so abuse himselfe (as he thought) with an Harlot; but of some speciall comfort to vsus, that hee is like enough not to cast off such as repent them of their sinne, and seeke to his mercy, when as himselfe that could hauehave otherwise prouided, if so hee would, neuerthelesse disdained not to descend of so contaminate Ancestors, as his Holinesse had, not onelyonly of this, but of many others.
11 Ioseph was brought into this Land, as we heard before when hee was but young; and hitherto whatsoeuer Story we had of him, it all came within the time of his Father Iacob: since whose departure we hauehave little remaining of him. But that which we hauehave, we may as I take it, thus best distinguish: first, that we marke what thinges wee hauehave of him recorded; then also that wee note, that one thing there is, that we read not of him. Those that are of him recorded, do partly respect others: and partly himselfe. Those others whom part of his doings doe most respect, are, his Father deceased: and his Bretheren remaining. As touching his Father deceased, both for the time present he imbawmed him, and mourned for him, as the manner Gen. 50: 1-3.of the Countrey was: and shortly after, when that solemnity was finished, obtaining leaue first of the King, to goe and bury him in the Land of Canaan, hee very Ibid. 5-14.honourably performed the same. As touching his Bretheren remaining, whereas Ibid. 15-18.they were now afraide, that their Father being gone, he would some way remember the wrong they had done him; and thereupon came to him in the name of their Father (as he hauing willed them so to doe, while yet he liued) humbly desiring him to pardon all that bad dealing of theirs towardes him: he on the other side, spake very comfortably vntounto them, both shewing them to howe great good purpose God had Ibid. 19. ….done it; and promising on his part, to hauehave that care of them and theirs, that therein they might see, that he retained no displeasure towards them. Himselfe it concerned, first that during his time among them, as himself had promised, so it seemeth by that which followed immediatly after, for that they encreased so fast as they did, that Exod. 1: 7.for his time he had a speciall regard to them indeede: then that when he waxed old, and saw that now he must shortly dye, he also made the chiefe of his Family or Kindred to sweare, that when God in time to come, should visit them, and hauehave them Ge. 50: 24, 25thence vntounto the Countrey, that hee had promised their Fathers to giuegive them, then should they take his bones with them also. And so hauing long dwelt in good estate in the Land, hauing also seene his Childrens Children, and being nowe of the age of one hundred and ten yeares, he also dyed: and as the manner of the Countrey Ibid. 22, 23, 26was, his body was imbawmed; and yet not buryed, but chested onelyonly. That one thing that I thought was good to note, that it is not mentioned of him, is, that now before his death, he did not offer to blesse any of the people according to their Tribes, as his Father had done before: nor so much as his owne Children neyther. Abraham had certaine speciall blessings to bee deriued to some part of his posterity; such I meane as shold descend from Isaac: and of those some of them belonged to all that company; and one, but vntounto one portion of them. Those that belonged to all that company, were two: one, that they should bee his peculiar people; the other, that they should inhabite the Land of Canaan. That which belonged but to one portion of them onelie, was, that of them should come the promised Seede. All which had Isaac likewise, to such as shoulde descend from him by Iacob. Iacob had no such limitation, for the two former of them, from any of all his Sonnes descending of him; and therefore, though hee had twelue in all, yet from that reckoning doth hee exclude not one of them all: but for the other he had, and therefore did he as it were appropriate that (as by God he was directed) vntounto the Tribe of Iudah onelyonly. Abraham therefore, being made acquainted with Gods purpose therein, though we read not, that hee vsed any set forme of confirming or establishing those blessings to Isaac (which notwithstanding he might if he would:) yet he took such a course as tended thereunto, when hee sent away Ismael first, and afterward his other Children also with their portions; and left vntounto Isaac onelyonly, both all his substance to speake of; and there to soiourne. But Isaac was desirous (as well hee might) to vse some set manner to confirme those blessings to one of his Sonnes: but therein so fast bound with the Bias of the most vsuall or ordinary course, that therein he had gone cleane wrong, had not God preuented him of his meaning therein, turning it aright to him that should heue it, though himselfe did neuer meane it vntounto him. Iacob also hauing many, & finding the two former to belong to thē all, seemeth secure of that matter: and therefore purposing, in some set manner also to bestowe some blessing on them all, he doth no more but giuegive them such admoniton or comfort, as in the Spirite of Prophecy (wherewith then he was endewed) he thought to be most meetest for them. But then comming to the other, that doth he leaue vntounto the Tribe of Iudah onelyonly. After which time we doe not read, that eyther Ioseph or Iudah (which notwithstanding were principall Men; and then much lesse is any such thing to be looked for of others that followed) did vse any such set form of blessing: or directed their children to look for any such thing at their hands. Sauing that Moses, but not as their Father (for he was but one person of one of those twelue Tribes himselfe) but as endewed with a principall Spirite, vttereth much like to the most of them, as Iacob had done before to them all. But afterward God directed the ministery Num. 6: 22-27that he then ordained, how in some set manner to blesse the people. Nowe if the case so were, that they had any such custome among them, to direct their children to aske them blessing, whether the example of the former, or prescript of the latter had beene more auaileable, would then belike hauehave beene examined, and so for that matter hauehave left vsus better light, then many of vsus (it seemeth) hauehave light on as yet: whereby then also might better bee seene, whether those many Christian Churches, that vse it not, should not draw vntounto them that which doth vse it; or that one, that onelyonly doth vse it, doth therein lead the way any better, then those that do not.