Exodus 1

But God is described with seven eyes (Zechariah 3:9), to show that he sees all the plots and stratagems of the enemies, and when they deal proudly, he can be above them. Come, says Pharaoh, let us deal wisely (Exodus 1:10), and he never played the fool more, than when he thought…

The showers of blood have made her more fruitful. Julian. (Exodus 1:10): Come let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply. And that way they took to suppress them, made them multiply (Verse 12).

He raises his Church by bringing it low. The blood of the martyrs has watered the Church, and made it more fruitful (Exodus 1:12). The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied: The Church is like that plant Gregory Nazianzen speaks of, [illegible], it lives by dying, a…

In general, Their hiding of the child was this: They kept him close, and unknown to the Egyptians for three months space; because the King had given commandment and charge to all his people, that they should drown every man-child born among the Hebrews. Exodus 1.22. In this acti…

1. In the increase of it within its own bounds. When the Israelites were most oppressed in Egypt, the more they multiplied (Exodus 1:20). When the dragon's fury did most swell against the woman, she brought forth a man-child (Revelation 12:1, 3, 4).

For that God gave those promises to Abraham without any regard to any preceding obedience is more fully acknowledged than to need proofs. Regarding this origin of the name of the Hebrews, those among the Jews who agree with us are: Josephus, Antiq., lib. i. cap. vi.; the Threefo…

We shall first open the words a little, and then speak to some doctrines from them, reserving the uses to the close of all. 1. Where it is said, He was oppressed, the word signifies to exact; and we find it three ways applied in Scripture: 1. To the exacting of tribute, as (2 Ki…

For in speaking, there should be a conformity, and consent, between the tongue, and the mind; which is not, when any lie is uttered. Secondly, it is objected, that the Egyptian Midwives, saved the male children of the Israelites: and Rahab the spies, by lying (Exodus 1:19; Joshu…

Others, by a new commandment, understand another diverse or different commandment; for Christ in the beginning of the chapter, had given them a commandment to flee pride, to be humble, to live at peace, and concord one with another: and then he says, But I give you a new command…

1. How clear is it to every mans observation, that the kindnesses and benefits any have done to the Lords people, have been rewarded with full measure into their bosoms? The Egyptian Midwives ressed to obey Pharaoh's inhumane command, and saved the Male Children of Israel: for t…

Their eye is evill, because God is good. Israel's increase is Pharaoh's trouble (Exodus 1:10). When Nehemiah comes to build the walls of Jerusalem, it grieved the enemy exceedingly, that one was come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel (Nehemiah 4:10).

The word which we translate increased, signifies not an ordinary increase, but such an increase as breaks the bounds; it signifies so to increase in such abundance, as that the former place where those things were, cannot contain nor hold them, but they must seek some new place,…

It is also a fault in this kind, to put servants to such toiling works as are fitter for beasts than men: or to oppress them with too much work, as the Egyptians oppressed the Israelites. Let God's hearing the cry of those servants so oppressed, and revenging their oppressors fo…

I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians. 5. If the Lord of Hosts be on our side, he can make the Churches affliction a means of her Augmentation, Exodus 1:12. The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied.

9. He who Fears God had rather displease man than God. Exodus 1:17. The Midwives Feared God, and did not as the King commanded, but saved the Men-children alive.

There is their agreement to put Christ to death. In the Old Testament Pharaoh and his nobles (Exodus 1:10): Come on, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that when there falls out any war, they join also to our enemi…

2. The officious lie, for the help and relief of others. Many instances of this we have in Scripture: Thus Rebekah teaches Jacob to lie that he might gain the blessing (Genesis 27), and the Egyptian Midwives saved the male children of the Israelites, by feigning they were delive…

Nehemiah did not convert the public treasures to his private use (Nehemiah 5:15), "so did not I, for I fear God." This grace, when it is hazardous to be faithful to men, makes us to slight the danger (Exodus 1:17), "The Midwives feared God, and did not as the King of Egypt comma…

Surely the wisdom, counsel and understanding of the creature can do nothing without him, nothing against him; not without him, for it is dependent: whatever the creature has, it comes from him; otherwise our understanding is but ignorance, our counsel rashness, our wisdom folly.…

9. Wisdom lies in a diligent endeavor to improve grace by temptation. As the Israelites were multiplied by being oppressed; it is said, The more they were afflicted, the more they grew; so a true Israelite, the more he is tempted, the more is his grace increased; as trees are th…

He ceases not until he sees his desire upon his [reconstructed: enemies], until he has his will of him. And if we view the expression of the Scripture, we shall see how hatred vents itself against such as be enemies, whose destruction it intends, partly by [reconstructed: force]…

No small portion of that fixed hatred, and hostility of the old Serpent, has ever since been discovered against the young ones of Christ's little flock. The multiplication of the Children of Israel, is the occasion why Pharaoh deals so wisely as we read; endeavouring first by th…

Not so much as our tears but they are bottled. Men may forget us, as Pharaoh did Joseph (Exodus 1), and the Shechemites Gideon (Judges 9:17), but God will not; our reward is sure, though not so speedy, as we desire; God here assures us of reward: the time he determines not. 3. D…

Christ's service is freedom; therefore the Apostle calls it a law of liberty (James 1:25). To serve God, to love God, to enjoy God, is the sweetest liberty in the world; Christ does not, as Pharaoh make his people serve with rigor (Exodus 1:13), but he lays upon them the constra…

Then the judge called to the jury, (who all this while stood by to hear and observe,) Gentlemen of the jury, you see this man about whom so great an uproar has been made in this town; you have also heard what these worthy gentlemen have witnessed against him; also, you have hear…

First, by force: and secondly, by fraud and deceit. So when the Egyptians became enemies to the children of Israel, and managed an enmity against them (Exodus 1:10), Pharaoh says, Let us deal wisely, or rather cunningly and subtly with this people; for so Stephen with respect to…

Steven tells us, that the King of Egypt dealt subtly or deceitfully with their kindred (Acts 7:19). How he did it we may see (Exodus 1); he did not at first fall to killing and slaying of them, but says, verse 10, Come, let us deal wisely; beginning to oppress them. This brings…

How many poor creatures, that think themselves wiser than Charchan, and Dedan, and all the children of the East, do spend and consume their days and time, in such ways as this, laboring night and day to set up, what God will pull down, and what he has said shall fall. Come on, l…