ERRATA.  
PAg 1. read Rhapsody for Ropsody. p 1. r. Schismatical for shismatical. p. 1. r. which for with are etc. p. 4. r. dilemma for dilemma. p. 4. r. peculiar for perculiar. p. 17. r. reference for reverence. p. 19 r. evil for ewil. p. 20. r. genu for genus. p. 20. r. flectitur for flectiter. p. 21. r. concilii for conilii p. 21. r. Emmanuel for Emmavel. p. 21, r. and for and. p. 26. r. literally for literally. p. 28. r. ut ei coelestia for coelestia etc. p. 39 r. reference for reverence. p. 53. r. interpreters for interpreter. p. 54. r. come for ome. p. 59 humility for humity. p. 62. r. poplite for polite p. 65. r. Orosius for Orotius p. 73. r. must not for must not. p. 80. termino for termino.  
Certain others 〈…〉 hath admonished me, which I correct thus 〈…〉 Doctor willet's Cent 〈…〉 6. Read Calvin at the 〈…〉 but not at the 10. p.16.  
seeing that he is 〈…〉 in mine eye. When he hath 〈…〉 of his own eye, 〈…〉 6. texts of scri 〈…〉 appears by my   

A MEDITATION UPON THE XXIIth Chapter of GENESIS.  By H. W. 
IN this wonderful Piece of Sacred Story, Behold the Father of the Believers, at extreme Age surprised (as it should seem by the Circumstances of the Text) in his Bed by a Commandment from God, to sacrifice his only Son; In which case All the Powers of his Mind being suddenly shaken with an infinite combat between Faith and Nature; we may upon the whole matter conceive Him to have broken forth into some such Discourse with Himself, as followeth.  
WHat? Could this possibly be the voice of God which I heard? Or have not rather some strange Impressions of the Night deluded my Fancy? Yea, Thy voice It was (My God) It was Thy voice. How can Thy humble Servant deny it? with whom seven times before descending from the Throne of Thy Glory, Thou hast vouchsafed even to commune in this Vale of Tears.  
When Thou didst first call me out of the darkness of my Father's House into Thy saving Light; When Thou didst often cherish and encourage me in the Steps of my Pilgrimage; When Thou didst furnish me with Plenty, and Crown me with victory in a strange Land; When lastly Thou didst even overlade my feeble Age with joy in a rightful Heir of mine own Body; was I forward at all these times to acknowledge Thee the God of my Support and Comfort? And shall I now question Thy Uoice, when Thou demandest but a part of thine own Benefits? No, (My dear Isaac) although the Heavens know how much I love Thee: yet, if Thou wert, or couldst be Millions of times more precious in the eyes of Thy trembling Father: I would summon together all the Strength of mine aged Lymnes to render Thee unto that gracious God from whom I had Thee. Alas (poor Boy) how sweetly Thou slumberest, And in Thy harmless Bed dost little think what change is towards Thee. But I must disturb Thy Rest. Isaac arise, and call up my Servants; Bid them prepare for a journey which we are to make unto the Mount Moriah, And let some Wood be carried for the burning of a Sacrifice. Mean while I will walk out a little by myself to contemplate the declining Stars, and approach of the Morning.  
O ye Ornaments of the Sky, who when all the World is silent obey your Maker in the determinat Order of your Motions. Can Man behold his own duty in a fairer Volume? Why then stand I gazing here, and do not rather go my Self to hasten my Servants, that I may execute his will? But stay: His Will? Why? Is His Will contrary to the Example of his own justice? Did He not heavily punish Cain even at the beginning of the first World for killing but a Brother? And can I slay my Child and imbrue my hands in mine own Bowels without offence of His Immortal Majesty? Yes? Why not. The Act of Cain was the Act of his own sinful malice: But I have received an immediate Command from God himself. A Command? Why? Is his Command against his Law? Shall the Fountain of all Truth be served with Contradictions? Did not the same God straight after the universal Deluge (as our Fathers have told us) denounce this judgement; That Who so sheddeth Man's Blood, His Blood shall be shed? How then can I herein obey my God, But I must withal disobey Him?  
O my week Soul; what poor Arguments dost thou search to cover thine own rebellious Affections. Is there any Warrant higher than His Will? Or any better Interpreter of His Will then Himself? If the Princes of the Earth (who are but mortal Types of His invisible Glory) can alter their Edicts at pleasure; Shall not the Lord of the whole (whom Angels and Men adore) have leave to dispense with His own Prohibitions? Yes surely: But then how shall the Blessing that my Good God hath determined upon my Seed, and even upon this very Child be accomplished, if I destroy the Root? O Lord, was not Thy Divine Goodness pleased in the depth of Thy Mercy to accept my Belief for Righteousness? And shall I now frustrate Thy Promises with my Obedience? But what? Am I fallen again into a new Reluctation? Have I before contested with Thy justice? And shall I now dispute Thy Power? Didst Thou not create the Light before the Sun? And the Effect before the Cause? And shall I bind Thee to the Passions of a natural Agent? Didst Thou not make this All of Nothing even by Thy word (which was Thy Wisdom) And foment All that Thou hast made, by Thy Spirit (which is Thy Love?) And shall I doubt but Thou canst raise innumerable Nations out of the very Ashes of my poor Isaac? Nay, Did I not even at first receive Him in a manner from a dead Womb? And art not Thou still the same Almighty and everliving God? Merciful Father, full of all tenderness and compassion, That seest from Heaven whereof we are made; Pardon my Discourses, and forget my Delays. I am now going to perform Thy good Pleasure. And yet there is remaining one humble Suit: which refuse not (O my God) though it proceed from the weakness of Thine unworthy Creature. Take my Child, and All that is Mine. I have resigned Him with my whole Heart unto Thy William. He is already Thine, and Mine no longer; And I glory that He shall Die upon Thy Holy Altar. But yet I fear withal, That these my shaking Hands and fainting Limbs will be seized with Horror. Be not therefore (Dear Lord) displeased, if I use my Servants in the Execution. How now (My Soul) Dost Thou shrink in the last Act of Thy Loyalty? Can I yet walk up and down about vile and ordinary Functions? And when my God is to be served, do my joints and Members fail me? Have I humbled my desires to his Will? And shall I deny Him the choice of His own Instrument? Or if His indulgent Mercy would permit it, shall I suffer another to anticipate the cheerfulness of my Obedience? O Thou great God of Life and Death! Who mightest have made Me an insensible Plant, A Dead Stone, Or a Poisonous Serpent And yet even in That likewise I should have conduced to the variety of Thy glorious Wisdom: But hast vouchsafed to endue us with the form of Man, and to breath into our first Parent that spark of Thy Divine Light which we call Reason, to comprehend and acknowledge therewith Thy High and indisputable Sovereignty over all Nature, Thou then (Eternal Maker and Mover, whose Will is the First of Causes, and whose Glory is the Last of Ends) direct my Feet to the Place which Thou hast appointed, Strengthen there these poor Hands to accomplish Thy Pleasure, And let Heaven and Earth obey Thee.   

LONDON, Printed by A. M. for George Baker, 1631.