Genesis

Moses in effect declareth the things, which are here chiefly to be considered: First, that the world and all things therein were created by God, and that man being placed in this great tabernacle of the world to behold God's wonderful works, and to praise his Name for the infinite graces, wherewith he had endued him, fell willingly from God through disobedience: who yet for his own mercy's sake restored him to life, and confirmed him in the same by his promise of Christ to come, by whom he should overcome Satan, death and hell. Secondly, that the wicked, unmindful of God's most excellent benefits, remained still in their wickedness, and so falling most horribly from sin to sin, provoked God (who by his preachers called them continually to repentance) at length to destroy the whole world. Thirdly, he assureth us by the examples of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the rest of the Patriarchs, that his mercies never fail them, whom he chooseth to be his Church, and to profess his Name in earth, but in all their afflictions and persecutions he ever assisteth them, sendeth comfort, and delivereth them. And because the beginning, increase, preservation and success thereof might be only attributed to God, Moses showeth by the examples of Cain, Ishmael, Esau and others, which were noble in man's judgment, that this Church dependeth not on the estimation and nobility of the world: and also by the fewness of them, which have at all times worshiped him purely according to his word, that it standeth not in the multitude, but in the poor and despised, in the small flock and little number, that man in his wisdom might be confounded, and the Name of God evermore praised.