Genesis

Like a young gallant who at one throw loses a fair lordship. Adam had a fair lordship, he was lord of the world (Genesis 1:28). Have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves. But he lost all at one throw.

Question 8. The next question is, What is the work of creation? Answer. It is God's making all things of nothing by the word of his power, etc. (Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The creation is glorious to behold; it is a pleasant and fruitful…

Like a sick patient that has no part sound, his liver swelled, his lungs perished, his feet gangrened; such infected, gangrened souls have we, till Christ (who has made a medicine of his blood) does cure us, 1. Original sin has depraved the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the intelle…

1. That Adam being made upright, sinned against God, and all mankind, all his posterity in him. (Genesis 1:27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them. (Genesis 3:11) And he said, who told you that you were naked?

But let the Word beginning, be restrained to the subject matter treated of which is the Creation of all things, and the praeexistence of Christ in his divine nature to the Creation of all things is plainly revealed and inevitably asserted. And indeed, not only the Word, but the…

Q. Though there be but one God, yet is there not more persons, or subsistences in the Godhead than one? A. Yes; the Scriptures do apparently witness that in the unity of the divine essence, there is a plurality of the divine persons (Genesis 1:26 & 3:22 & 11:7; Isaiah 6:8 & 41:2…

Q. Who was it that created the world? A. God that is without beginning, and has his being of himself, he it was who gave beginning, and being to the world (Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:24; Isaiah 40:28; Isaiah 44:24). Q. Whether was this the work of the Father, or of the Son, or of the…

Q. Wherein did his chief excellency consist? A. In that he was made in the likeness and image of God (Genesis 1:26, 27). Q. What was that image of God?

2. Also an innate darkness in our spirits as we are sinful creatures: since the fall, our hearts of themselves are nothing but darkness, and therefore no wonder if, when God draws but the curtains and shuts up the light from us, our hearts should engender and conceive such horri…

God made the worlds or ages by Christ. By this word then he means these two things: First, times and seasons, which are ordinary creatures of God, as well as other: for amongst other creatures (Genesis 1) are recorded also times and seasons to be God's creatures. Secondly, he un…

But some have no children, who in all natural reason might conceive. For, as God gave the Law, and thereby a gift and power to increase and multiply, Genesis 1:22. So, he reserved the execution of it to himself, and power to alter or dispense, to add, or diminish as it pleaseth…

And in their overshadowing of the mercy-seat with their wings, they declared how this mystery in the fullness of it was hid from the eyes of all men (see Ephesians 3:8, 9, 10, 11, 12). The ground was originally blessed of God, to bring forth food for man, for the preservation of…

These being effectually wrought upon by the power of God in the new creation, our Apostle compares to the Earth in the old creation, when it was first made by God and blessed of him. Then in the first place it brought forth [in non-Latin alphabet], that is, [in non-Latin alphabe…

And again it is said, that God by his son made the world (Hebrews 1:2). As for the Holy Ghost, the work of creation is also ascribed to him: and therefore Moses says, The spirit moved upon the waters (Genesis 1:2): and Job says, His spirit has garnished the heavens ([reconstruct…

For the better understanding of this, let us consider how the Lord himself has from the beginning kept in his own hands, as a master in his own house, the disposition of his creatures for the use of man, that man might depend on him and his word for temporal blessings. In the fi…

1. Man is a special object of providence. God provides for all creatures, even those that are the works of his hands, much more for man, who is more peculiarly the work of his head, in whose creation he took counsel (Genesis 1:26): let us make man in our image, after our likenes…

But with respect to exercise, and actual obedience, and speaking formally, it was distinct from it. 6. Since therefore God made man upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29), in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27), which consists in wisdom, justice, and holiness (Colossians 1:10, Ephesians 4:23-2…

Maimonides traces the beginning of all idolatry from this point, at the beginning of his book on the Worship of the Stars, saying: "In the days of Enosh the children of men fell into great error, and the wise men of that generation were stupefied; even Enosh himself was among th…

The Hebrew letters tav-vav-tav and tav-vav-tav-he are Thoth and Theoth (from which also the Greek Theos), and Bau. The Hebrew word for "darkness" (ereb) is Erebus; and from that order of words found in Genesis 1 — "and there was evening and there was morning" — many peoples have…

But before God produces grace, so knotty and so rocky are we, and so contrary to grace, that he must fall upon a new and second creation (Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 2:10; Psalms 51:10). The same word that is used for creating heaven and earth (Genesis 1:[illegible]) is here used…

To prove this let us look into the first Creation and Institution of the Heavenly Bodies: and there it is most likely we shall find the true Ends and Uses of them. And these are no less than five, according to the Authentic and Canonical Account which is given of them in (Genesi…

Againe, there is a fourefold kind of obseruation of daies; one naturall, the other ciuill, the third Ecclesiasticall, the fourth superstitious. Naturall is, when daies are obserued according to the course of the sunne & moone, Gen 1:14. thus day follows night, and night followes…

These works he calls things of nothing. In the next place he proves it more plainly, in calling them wind, and Chaos: that is to say, confusion: for so I expound the word Tohu, it being so taken in Genesis 1:2, where Moses shows that the earth was at the first without form, and…

For he which had a beginning, is not of himself, neither can he hold under his dominion, nor govern the things which he created not. When the Lord therefore calls himself the eternal, it is to show that the world was made by his hand, and that this goodly order of nature fell no…

Seeing then without exception he forbids them, it clearly shows they contain nothing but mere illusions, and therefore that all his people should esteem them as abominations. But those that plead for this vanity, allege, that the Lord has given the planets and stars for signs (G…

Fools are wont to inquire at their Idols, as if the world were by them ruled and governed. But God on the contrary calls us to himself, telling us that it is he only who has created heaven and earth, and has placed man upon it, and that he has spread out the heavens, etc. (Genes…

But if we accept of this exposition, the word together, which is added, seems not to suit well with the history of the creation mentioned by Moses. Objection: For the heavens and the earth were not created and adorned in an instant (Genesis 1:2). Things were first intermingled a…

From this we are to gather that the authority of Isaiah was confirmed, to the end he might not only be held for a Prophet, but the chief among the Prophets. Who shall go for us?] I am of opinion indeed that this place notes out the three persons in the Deity, as elsewhere also,…

His meaning is, that all things shall be set in their perfect order, when Christ shall reign; and as it seems here is a close opposition between Adam and Christ. For we know that all the miseries of this life present, have flowed into us from the sin of the first man: for then w…

Beyond all doubt, they have been stupefied by a righteous judgment of God, that all might laugh at the gross ignorance of those who have not scrupled to adulterate "and, change the truth of God into a lie," (Romans 1:25.) The first inquiry here is: Was this star one of those whi…

Sect. 7 Again; These words are used for any thing that cannot be seen or touched, be it in it self Material and Corporeal, or absolutely Spiritual and Immaterial; So the Vital Breath which we and other Living Creatures Breath is called. Every thing wherein was [[original in non-…

All things in their first production had Darkness and Death upon them. For the Earth was Void and without Form, and Darkness was upon the Face of the Deep, Gen. 1. 2. Neither was there any thing that had either Life in it, or Principle of Life, or any Disposition thereunto.

Lastly, on a precise supposition that the observation of such a day is necessary upon divine precept or institution, yet there is a controversy remaining, about fixing its proper bounds as to its beginning and ending. For some would have this day of rest measured by the first co…

For it consists in the satisfaction and complacency that he took in his works, as effects of his goodness, power and wisdom, disposed in the order, and to the ends mentioned. Hence as it is said, that upon the finishing of them, he looked on every thing that he had made, and beh…

5. The original and rise of this inheritance of Christ will give us its true extent, which must therefore more especially be considered. Upon the creation of man God gave to him a dominion over all things in this lower world (Genesis 1:28, 29). He made him his heir, vice-gerent…

The Tenth Family concerns Women and Matrimony, in twelve Precepts. 1. That § 15 marriage be entered into by all (Genesis 1:28). 2. That a Contract, or betrothing precede marriage (Deuteronomy 24:1).

Besides the testimony of God himself in his Word, we have a concurrent suffrage § 2 from the whole creation, that man in the beginning was formed, as in the image, so in the favor of God, and to his glory. And as he was not liable to any evil which is the effect of God's displea…

You shall hear them pride themselves, that they have no children, or but few; this they conceive sets them off in the opinion of the world for the richer men, whereas one child is more riches than all the things that are in the world. And we know it is an ordinary thing (though…

Besides it disturbed the Government of God in and over the whole creation. God had made all things in number, weight, and measure, in order and beauty: pronouncing himself concerning his whole work that it was exceeding beautiful and good, Genesis 1:31. Much of this beauty lay i…

Touching this similitude: first, obserue in generall from the ground of this comparison, that our Savior Christ here makes two kind of trees: a good tree, and an evil tree: by an evil tree meaning that which in regard of any fruit is as a rotten tree, as is the briar, the thorne…

Borders of Gold, and studs of Silver (it's like) have been some special ornaments in these days, and that which is here pointed at by them, in general seems to be an addition to what formerly the Bride possessed, he would add to her beauty, and gloriously complete it: And certai…

We may then warrantably read, and expound this Song; it being Scripture, it must be edifying, and ought to be made use of. It's true, this, and some other Scriptures, were of old restrained by the Jews, from the younger sort, that none should read them, but these who were at thi…

By him, and of him are all things; and for his will and pleasure's sake they are, and were created. Secondly, this great and absolute Lord has granted to man a large charter of the world; and when he had taken an exact inventory of those goods with which he had furnished this gr…

This lower world before the fall enjoyed noon-day light; the light of the knowledge of God, the light of his glory, and the light of his favor. But when man fell, all this light was at once extinguished, and the world reduced back again to total darkness; a worse darkness than t…

And God now, on occasion of this sacrifice that Noah offered to God, gives him and his posterity a new grant of the earth; a new power of dominion over the creatures, as founded on that sacrifice, and so founded on the covenant of grace. And so it is to be looked upon as a diver…

Ibid. 5. Genesis 1. Moses in describing the work of creation, attributes speech to God: God said, Let there be light; let there be a firmament, etc. It was not only the intent of Moses to signify the infinite greatness of God's power, by the easiness of his accomplishing such ef…

Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. He that walks in darkness, and has no light; let that be your case, that every thing is desperate, you see not a jot of light, nor spark of hope, yet trust in the name of Jehovah, he can make light, when there is none…

For although the whole creation in its first framing, and in its perfection, was and is by an emanation of power and goodness from the divine nature in the person of the Father, as he is the fountain of the Trinity, from where he is said peculiarly to be the Creator of all thing…

For all being and goodness being, as was said, in him alone, it was necessary that the first outward work and effect of the divine nature must be the communication of being and goodness into other things. Therefore as when he had given to every thing its being out of nothing by…

As if I would draw the picture of a man, I would not draw it for to resemble flesh meerly, that a beast has as well as man, but as near as can be, the very countenance, and life of man; I will not draw the back parts of a man, but his face, and countenance to life; so the image…

But the Apostle says, sin ushered death into the world: By sin came death. Certainly had not Adam eaten of the tree of knowledge, he had not died (Genesis 2:17). In the day you eat, you shall surely die, implying, if Adam had not eaten he should not have died.

They rest from their labors. As God when he had finished the work of creation rested from his labors (Genesis 2:2), so when the saints have finished the work of sanctification, they rest from their labors. Where should there be rest but in the heavenly center?

Without labor the pillars of a commonwealth will dissolve, and the earth will be like the sluggard's field, over-run with briars (Proverbs 24:31). Adam in innocency, though he was the monarch of the world, yet God would not have him idle, but he must dress and till the ground (G…

The soul is a glass, in which some rays of divine glory shine: it has in it some faint idea and resemblance of a deity: it is a celestial spark lighted by the breath of God. The body was made out of the dust, but the soul is of a more noble extract and origin (Genesis 2:7). God…

Marriage is honorable, and the bed undefiled (Hebrews 13:4). God did institute marriage in Paradise; he brought the woman to the man (Genesis 2:22). He did as it were give them in marriage.

Answer. When God created man he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge, upon pain of death. For this, consult with (Genesis 2:16-17). And the Lord commanded the man, saying, of every tree of t…

The work of God's Providence (John 5:17): My Father works until now, and I work. The great God has rested from the works of creation, he does not create any new species of things (Genesis 2:7). He rested from all his works, and therefore the Scripture must needs be meant of God'…

Fifthly, that God has also engaged his veracity and faithfulness in the sanction of the law not to leave sin unpunished. (Genesis 2:17) In the day you eat thereof you shall surely die. (Deuteronomy 27:26) Cursed be he that confirms not all the words of this law to do them.

It is one thing to say what God might have done by virtue of his absolute Lordship, and unconfined prerogative, if he had not voluntarily obliged himself in the threatening annexed to his own Command; and [illegible] in positively threatened man with death if he should disobey i…

And (3) By their celebration is he glorified in the world: And therefore, (4) As he has made blessed promises to his people, to grant them his presence and to bless them in their use: So (5) Being the tokens of the marriage relation that is between him and them, with respect to…

But God has altered and changed them at sundry reasons, according to the counsel of his own will, so as he saw necessary for his own glory, and the edification of his Church. See (Genesis 2:16, 17; Genesis 17:10, 11; Exodus 12:3, 4, 5; Exodus 20; chapter 25:9; Hebrews 1:1; Hebre…

Q. What is that covenant of works? A. That whereby God promises all life and happiness, upon condition of perfect obedience to the law in a man's own person, with a threatening of everlasting death and cursedness for the least transgression (Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:10; Genesis…

Q. What are the things that are created? A. All things without exception, that have a being, except God only who did create them (Acts 4:24; Acts 17:24; Acts 14:15; Genesis 2:1; Revelation 4:11). Q. Do you mean that the third heaven was also created by God?

Q Did not the place where man was then put, something set forth his happiness in that estate? A. Yes; for he was placed in Paradise which was an excellent garden planted by God himself, and abounding with all delight, and pleasures (Genesis 2:8, 9, 10, 15). Q But seeing man was…

But that it should actually have invaded our nature to its dissolution, without the intervention of its meritorious cause in sin, is contrary to the original state of our relation to God, the nature of the covenant whereby we were obliged to obedience, the reward promised therei…

Blessing I will bless you; I will do so without fail, I will do so greatly without measure, and eternally without end. And this kind of asseveration is common in the Hebrew (Genesis 2:17): [in non-Latin alphabet] In the day you eat thereof dying you shall die; you shall assuredl…

This is that whereby alone the Earth otherwise dry and barren is impregnated and made fruitful. For there is therein a communication of moisture absolutely requisite to apply the nourishing virtue of the Earth to the radical principles of all fruits whatever, and therefore befor…

3. He knew the wisdom and will of his creator touching the particular creatures: for after Adam was created, the Lord brought every creature to him, presenting them to him as being lord and king over them, that he might give names to them. Whereby it appears that Adam in his inn…

Because Satan had an aim to make them look for the sudden coming of Christ, which not happening accordingly to make them fall a questioning all the truths of God. So Genesis 3:2, You shall not eat nor touch lest you die; that was Satan's repetition; whereas God had said (Genesis…

That every man out of Christ is in a state of death or a dead man; that is, all men however they are born living, yet they are still dead men: without the living Spirit the root is dead. Hence are these places of Scripture (Genesis 2:17): The day that you eat thereof you shall d…

This new Jerusalem is called in this Book the Paradise of God; and therefore is represented as having the Tree of Life growing in it (Chap. 2:7 and 22:2.) And it being described, as though a River ran through the Midst of it, there seems to be some Allusion to the ancient Paradi…

That the first work may better be wrought, the Law has two properties (Deuteronomy 28:3, 15). Curse or punishment, which is the first, which punishes the least offence with the wrath of God, to be felt for ever in soul and body; called death (Galatians 3:10; Romans 6:23; Romans…

Secondly, if Adam being in his soundness, because his mind not being infinite, could not do his work, and praise God, pray to him, meditate in his creatures, of his wisdom, mercy, &c. had need for that purpose, wholly to give himself over more fully, than he did by times in othe…

Marriage is that joining of one man and one woman together by the covenant of God, that they may be one flesh until they end their life. [Gen. 2:24. Therefore shall man leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh. Leviticus 18:18. Take no…

Your turning of things upside-down shall be reputed as the clay [illegible] of the potter (Isaiah 29:16): from the root [illegible] to think, desire; to form a thing of clay as the potter does. From this is the potter named [illegible] (Zechariah 11:13; Genesis 2:7; Deuteronomy…

Christ cured every disease (Matthew 4:23). "You shall eat of every tree of the garden" (Genesis 2:16). [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩] all his master's goods are in his hand [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩] (Genesis 24:10).

And verse 18, judgment is said to come by that one man's offense upon all men to condemnation. Now in Genesis 2:17 the threatening was spoken only to Adam as but one man: 'In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die'; and Genesis 3:19 that sentence seems only to pass upon…

It is beyond the power of the creature to keep alive his own soul, no not so much as natural life (Psalm 49:7-9). No man can give a ransom for the soul of his brother; no man is able to ransom, or redeem his own life or another's; indeed (which is much) Adam in innocence, was ta…

It is a yoke three waies: first, because it did bind the Church of the olde testament to the obseruation of many and that very costly ceremonies, for the maintenance of the altar at Hierusalem was a matter of great charges. Secondly, it is a yoke because it binds euery offendour…

Neither does God barely threaten this, but he does it in deede; in handling sinners in their kind. Gen 2:17. Because you have eaten of the tree, cursed is the earth for your sake, in sorrow shalt you eate of it all the daies of your life.

Now he speaks of a secret inspiration. What marvel is it then, if all beasts assemble themselves together at God's first beckon; as we see it came to pass in the deluge; indeed even in the creation of the world; when Moses testifies, that at God's commandment all beasts came imm…

If the faithful then at any time have desired that their faith might be confirmed by signs, we must not by and by follow them therein; because it was a thing very rare: as to Gideon, who being taken from the flail to govern the people, he gave two signs which he asked, to the en…

And it was necessary indeed that she should be [reconstructed: wasted] and deformed even to the utmost, before she could rightly taste the help whereof he here speaks. Whereas it follows, that her desert shall be as a place of pleasure, the Prophet has respect to that place of M…

This order we know is observed in the articles of our Creed. For having confessed that we believe in Jesus Christ, who suffered and was crucified for us, we add, I believe the Church; which has issued as it were out of his side (Genesis 2:1, 22-23). And therefore after Isaiah ha…

The word does not mean doctrine, but the purpose which God has made known, with regard to preserving the order of nature and the lives of his creatures. Having created men, he does not cease to care for them: but, as "he breathed into their nostrils the breath of life," (Genesis…

Under the Law, the touch of a leper was infectious; but as Christ possesses such purity as to repel all filth and defilement, he does not, by touching, either pollute himself with leprosy, or become a transgressor of the law. When he took upon him our flesh, he did not only deig…

And from hence, or the Subsistence of the Holy Spirit in an eternal Emanation from the Father and Son as the Breath of God, did our Saviour signifie his Communication of his Gifts to his Disciples by breathing on them, John 20. 22. [[original in non-Latin script]]. And because i…

Psal. 104. 30. And (2.) that peculiar vital Life which we have by the union of the rational Soul with the Body is from God also, and that in an especial manner, Gen. 2. 7. Job 10. 12.

By vertue hereof, we are enabled to all vital Acts, whether Natural and Necessary, or Voluntary according to the Constitution of our Beings, which is Intellectual. God breathed into man the Breath of Life, and he became a living Soul, Gen. 2. 7. giving him a Principle of Life, h…

All these are mercies additional to that great mercy CHRIST, Matth. 6:33 they are given with him, as in Romans 8:32 this is the Tenure by which we hold them, 1 Corinthians 3. 21, 22, 23. Look, what we lost in Adam, is restored again with Advantage in Christ: immediately upon the…

Hence it is, that probabilities are so often dashed; and things remote and utterly improbable are brought about, in very strange and unaccountable methods of Providence. (2.) There is much of Providence seen in the harmony and agreeableness of tempers and dispositions; from when…

But this alone does not confirm nor indeed come near the purpose or argument of the Apostle. For he is to speak of such a rest of God, as men might enter into, as was a foundation of rest to them, or otherwise his discourse was not concerned in it; whereupon by citation of the w…

(8) Principles and rules proposed for the right investigation of the truth in this matter. (9) Names of a Sacred Day of Rest. [in non-Latin alphabet]. (Genesis 2:3. Hebrews 4:4.) (10) [in non-Latin alphabet]. (Genesis 2:3. Exodus 16:23. Chap. 35. 2. Lamentations 1:7.) Saturn cal…

But there was also Work required of man, or labor in the Earth, with reference to his natural life and subsistence in this world, in the state of Innocency. For it is said expresly, that God put man into the Garden, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] (Genesis 2:15), to labor in it; and…

(7) That of its Original from the Foundation of the World, asserted. The first Testimony given to it, Genesis 2:2. Vindicated.

§. 9 And first it must be observed, that wherever there is mention of a sabbatical rest, as enjoined to men for their observation, there is still respect to a rest of God that preceded it, and was the cause and foundation of it. In its first mention, God's rest is given as the r…

All sinners are subject to death, as it is poenal. The first sentence reacheth them all (Genesis 2:17). And from there are they said by nature to be children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), obnoxious to death to be inflicted in a way of wrath and revenge for sin.

The original promise of life upon obedience, and the curse on its transgression were inseparably annexed to it; yes, were essential parts of it, as it contained the Covenant between God and Man. See (Genesis 2; Deuteronomy 27:26; Romans 6:23; Romans 4:4; Romans 10:5; Romans 11:6…

Death was in the commination given to deter him from his transgression. Dying you shall die (Genesis 2:17). Neither can it be reasonably pretended to be singly Death to his own person which is intended in that expression.

That was the proper name of the first man, and it became the common name for all men since. So man was called from the matter of which he was made, Adam, from Adamah, because (as the reason is given, Genesis 2:7) God made man dust out of the earth, or (as we translate) of the du…

My life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing. It was a curse (Genesis 3:16): in sorrow you shall bring forth. Many things occasion sorrow; sickness, law-suits, treachery of friends, disappointment of hopes, loss of estate (Ruth 1:20).

Quest. 11. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created? Resp. The sin was their eating of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6). — She took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also to her husband. Here is implied, 1. That our firs…

Question. Why Christ was born of a woman? Response. 1. That God might fulfill that promise (Genesis 3:15). The seed of the woman shall break the Serpent's head. 2. Christ was born of a woman, that he might roll away that reproach from the woman which she had contracted, by being…

My son, give, I pray you, glory to God, and make confession to him. A humble confession exalts God; how is God's free grace magnified in crowning those who deserve to be condemned; as the excusing and mincing of sin does cast a reproach upon God, Adam denies not he did taste the…

Sin has brought vanity and vexation into the world, indeed, a curse. God cursed the ground for man's sake (Genesis 3). There were several fruits of the curse:

The liar is near a kin to the devil; and the devil will shortly claim kindred with him (John 8:44): "The devil is a liar and the father of it." He seduced our first parents by a lie (Genesis 3:4). How does this sin incense God? — he struck Ananias dead for telling a lie (Acts 5:…

There is no danger in tasting this tree of knowledge. There was a penalty laid at first, that we might not taste of the tree of knowledge (Genesis 3:17): In the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die. But there is no danger of plucking this tree of holy Scripture; if we d…

2. Wherein we should be like the serpent, and that is in prudence and wisdom: Be wise as serpents. The serpent is a most prudent creature, therefore the Devil made use of the serpent to deceive our first parents, because it was such a subtle creature (Genesis 3:1): The serpent w…

3. In the kingdom of heaven we shall be freed from the toilsome labors of this life. God enacted a law in Paradise, In the sweat of your brows you shall eat bread (Genesis 3:9). There is the labor of the hand in manufacture, and the labor of the mind in study (Ecclesiastes 1:8).…

And shall not man much more inure himself to labor? That law in paradise was never yet repealed: In the sweat of your brows shall you eat bread (Genesis 3:19). Such professors are to be disliked, who talk of living by faith, but live out of a calling.

A wanton amorous eye may usher in sin. Eve first saw the tree of knowledge, and then she took (Genesis 3:6). First she looked, and then she loved; [illegible].

Better want the Devil's honey, than be so stung with the wrath of God. The garden of Eden, (which signifies pleasure) had a flaming sword placed at the east end of it (Genesis 3:24). The garden of carnal and sinful delight is surrounded with the flaming sword of God's wrath.

I made a covenant with my eyes. Much sin comes in by the eye: when Eve saw the tree was good for food, and pleasant to the eyes, then she took (Genesis 3:6). First she looked and then she lusted; the eye by beholding an impure object sets the heart on fire; the Devil often creep…

(2.) To quarrel with God's providence, and be unsubmissive to his will is sinful in the spring and cause; it arises from pride. It was Satan's temptation, 'You shall be as Gods' (Genesis 3:5). A proud person makes a God of himself, he disdains to have his will crossed; he thinks…

(Genesis 1:27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them. (Genesis 3:11) And he said, who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree whereof I commanded you that you should not eat?

Q. Did the Lord work the deliverance of man, because man did importunately seek and sue to him for the same? A. Man did not seek and sue to God at all, but fled from him (Genesis 3:8; Romans 3:11). And if he had sought to God for help, God was not bound to afford it; and how muc…

Q. Was the covenant of grace revealed and dispensed in the times before Christ's Incarnation, or only since his coming in the flesh? A. There has been the same covenant of grace for substance, in all times and ages of the Church, since the fall of man till this day (Genesis 3:15…

Q. How did he entice man to it? A. By abusing the serpent to seduce the woman, and the help of the woman to seduce the man (Genesis 3:1, 6). Q. What are the effects and fruits of his fall?

For they had no Scripture, it was penned many years after: namely, by Moses first of all. I answer; When their Parents Adam and Eve had fallen, God gave them (of his infinite goodness) a covenant of grace, that the seed of the woman should break the serpent's head: Genesis 3:15.…

But this doctrine is new, it is not ancient, nor gray-headed. The doctrines of the Covenant of free grace are ever new; because they are the doctrines of the new Covenant, which can never wax old: should it once wax old, it would soon vanish away (Hebrews 8, from verse 8 to 13),…

First, the cause of remission, the sacrificed body of Christ on the cross, or accursed tree; (Hebrews 10:4) by one offering, he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Secondly, the ground is a free promise tendered to us from God; as to Adam, The seed of the woman shal…

But the bond of Love being dissolved, mutual enmity succeeded in the room thereof. And the first act of angelical obedience we read of, was their keeping man from a return into Eden, and eating of the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:24), and men could look on them only as flaming swords…

God enacted it as an everlasting law concerning Adam and all his posterity, that they should die; and that once, as they were once taken out of the dust. But in the words of God before mentioned, there are two things: (1) a penal law enacted (Genesis 3:17), (2) a judicial senten…

(3.) By the cloud of incense that covered both Ark and Mercy-seat, testifying that God received from there a savour of rest (Leviticus 16:13). 8. The Cherubims, or Angels under that denomination, were the ministers of God in executing the curse and punishment on man when after h…

1. This promise of sending Jesus Christ was the first express engagement that God ever made of his faithfulness and veracity to any creatures. He is essentially faithful and true; but he had not engaged himself to act according to those properties in his dealing with us in a way…

And that which Satan deluded our first parents by, was in persuading them that there was not sincerity in what God had said, but that he had reserved to himself, that it should be otherwise. The Serpent said to the woman [illegible] dying you shall not die (Genesis 3:4). But thi…

To evidence this we may consider, 1. That the first entrance of sin into the world, was by a disbelief of the truth of God; yes that very sin formally consisted in an apprehension, that God in his promises and threatenings had a mind to deceive us (Genesis 3:4, 5, 6). And as sin…

And the Death of Christ could not be the means of its procurement; for he himself and all that he was to do for us, was the substance of that Promise wherein this Declaration of God's Grace and Purpose was made, or of this Covenant of Grace which was introduced and established i…

This includes both senses of the word; in the Head, in the Beginning of the Roll, namely of that part of the Scripture, which was written when David penned this Psalm. Now this can be no other but the first promise, which was recorded (Genesis 3:15). Then it was first declared,…

All these the Apostle compares to the Earth when the Covenant of God with the creation was broken by the sin of man and it was put under the curse. Hereof it is said [in non-Latin alphabet] (Genesis 3:18), [in non-Latin alphabet], as the Lxx renders it, the very words here used…

And the principal reason why they are here compared to thorns and briars, is with respect to the curse that came on the earth by sin. Cursed be the ground, thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to you (Genesis 3:17, 18), whereunto barrenness or unaptness for better fruits is…

Which is nothing else but a compact made between God and man touching reconciliation and life everlasting by Christ. This covenant was first of all revealed and delivered to our first parents in the garden of Eden, immediately after their fall by God himself, in these words, The…

In other preferments there needs nothing but leave, for there men are forward enough; but here guilt makes us shy of God, and God is forced to call and hollow after us. By nature we are not only exiles, but fugitives: Before God banished Adam, he first ran away from him, he ran…

You are the keeper and governor of the world, why did you not hinder me from killing my brother? It is certain the first man did so (Genesis 3:12): the woman you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree; your gift is the cause of my sin and ruin. It is as certain David laid t…

Farther, men prize nothing so much as life; this experience sheweth, and Satan himselfe could tell, that skinne for skinne, and all that a man has, he will give for his life (Job 1). Beyond experience, God himselfe threatens death to Adam, as the greatest evill; The day that you…

2 The meaning. Bread] By this one means of sustaining our bodies, and temporary lives, all other means are understood: as meat, drink, clothing, health, liberty, peace, etc. (Genesis 3:19) You shall eat your bread, namely, get your living, in the sweat of your brows. Out of this…

With what confidence may we go before God, and pray for that, of which we have so many exceeding precious and glorious promises to plead! The very first promise of God to fallen man, even that in Genesis 3:15 — It shall bruise your head, is a promise that is to have its chief fu…

Theology corrupted by degrees, restored by degrees — Theology in the abstract, divine doctrine — The degrees of revelations — The origin of supernatural theology — The first degree in the promise of the seed of the woman — In that promise a new covenant given, entered into, and…

Watchfulness is a continual care with ourselves, that we be readily prepared as we ought, to practice good, and resist evil, which is set forth (Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Mark 13:35). In this is forbidden no continuance, no care, too little, to…

Use 2: It gives a great commendation to the grace of God in Christ Jesus; it makes grace wonderfully glorious, that takes the sinner at this nick, and in this pinch. We shall not dispute here; nor is it needful, nor edifying, whether God might have forgiven sin freely, without a…

5. The temptation works under the color of good. The first Printing iron and Master sampler of tempting, has this character of apparent good (Genesis 3:6). The Woman saw that the fruit was good.

Some who have hardened their heart, are called men, but something more, reprobate (Jeremiah 6:28, 30). Seed of the Serpent (Genesis 3:15). Children of Belial (Deuteronomy 1:3).

And verse 18, judgment is said to come by that one man's offense upon all men to condemnation. Now in Genesis 2:17 the threatening was spoken only to Adam as but one man: 'In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die'; and Genesis 3:19 that sentence seems only to pass upon…

1. The persons combating, Jesus and the Devil, the Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent. It was designed long before (Genesis 3:15). I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed: it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his hee…

Thus he dealt with our first parents, he seeks to weaken the reputation of God's love and kindness to man, and to breed in the woman's mind a good opinion of himself. That his suggestions might make the greater impression upon her, he manages all his discourse with her, that all…

There is nothing so soon led away as the eye, it is the broker between the heart and the object; the eye gazes and the heart lusts; this is the window by which Satan has crept in, and all manner of taint has been conveyed into the soul. In the first sin, Eve was corrupted this w…

In other cases there need strong arguments and considerations, that the temptation may not stick, when the tempter is gone; as the smutch remains of a candle stuck against a stone wall. When Eve speaks faintly and coldly, the devil renews the assault with the more violence (Gene…

Where? First in the promises themselves as touching Christ, as Genesis 3:15: The seed of the woman shall break the head of the serpent. And Genesis 22: In your seed, etc.

Of this blessing (as I have said) do the Prophets preach in every place, who did not so coldly consider those promises made to the fathers as the wicked Jews did, and as the popish Schoolmen and Sectaries do at this day, but did read them and weigh them with great diligence, and…

Outward nakednes is, when the bodie being vncouered, is full of deformitie and shame. Now that inward nakednes of heart is noted as a speciall euill, Gen 3:7. Exod 32:25.

Adam was a public person, and all his posterity were involved and wrapped up in him, and he sinning, did at once destroy all his posterity, if free grace did not interpose. If Abel's blood did cry so loud in God's ears (Genesis 4:10): "The voice of your brother's blood cries to…

3. We please God when we dedicate our heart to give him the best of every thing. Abel gave God the fat of the offering (Genesis 4:4). Domitian would not have his image carved in Wood or Iron, but in gold.

Object. But is it not said, Cain went out from the presence of the Lord (Genesis 4:16). Resp.

My soul thirsts for you, to see your glory so as I have seen you in the sanctuary. Such as disregard ordinances are not God's children, because they care not to be in God's presence (Genesis 4:17). Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.

Why should any murmur, or be discontented at their condition? Does God owe them anything? Or, can they deserve anything at his hands? Oh, how uncomely is it to murmur at providence! It is fittest for a Cain to be wroth with God (Genesis 4:6). 1. Murmuring proceeds from unbelief.…

Question: Why is not humiliation grace? Wherein does it come short? Answer: 1. Tears in the wicked do not spring from love to God, but are forced by affliction (Genesis 4:13), as water that drops from the still is forced by the fire. The tears of sinners are forced by God's fier…

Envy is a sin that breaks both the tables at once. It begins in discontent against God, and ends in injury against man, as we see in Cain (Genesis 4:6, 8). Envious Cain, first discontented with God, there he broke the first table; and then he fell out with his brother and slew h…

Thus the angels in Heaven do God's will, they serve him in the best manner, they give him their seraphic high-strung praises; he who loves God gives him the cream of his obedience; God challenged the fat of all the sacrifice as his due (Leviticus 3:16). Hypocrites care not what…

And (3) By their celebration is he glorified in the world: And therefore, (4) As he has made blessed promises to his people, to grant them his presence and to bless them in their use: So (5) Being the tokens of the marriage relation that is between him and them, with respect to…

And whereas ever since the entrance of sin into the world, God had always respect to the promise of the Lord Christ, and his mediation, in whom alone he will be glorified, and faith in whom he aimed to begin and increase in all his worship, he has suited his institutions of the…

Q. How else may the justice of the Lord in his decrees appear? A. Because whatever be the Lord's decree, there is no man actually condemned till he be first defiled with sin (Romans 3:9, 19; 2:6, 9; Genesis 4:7). Q. Whether is the decree of God certain and immutable, or such as…

For this Church was in the household of Adam, when there was no more but it in the world: for sacrifice to God is a sign of the Church: yea, and beside the sacrifice, they had a place appointed where Adam and his family came together to worship God. For, so much Cain intimates,…

Not so. For there were Cities built even before the flood, Gen. 4.17. Cain built a City: no marvel therefore if there were many after, as Sodom and all her sisters.

In Pharaoh and his host we may see their end, which is usually destruction: that is their reward for persecuting God's Church. Cain slays Abel that notable servant of GOD: but his reward was this, he was cast forth of God's Church, Genesis 4.11, 13. and stricken in God's just ju…

The sin of man had brought all things into a condition of vanity and bondage, which they groan to be delivered from (Romans 8:20, 21, 22). And the Earth the common mother of them all, as it were to revenge itself on men, brings forth nothing but thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18…

This [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] or Judgement is said to be [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] is the eleventh fundamental article of the Jewish present creed. Two of the Targums as a supplement of that speech which they suppose defective, [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] (Genesis 4:8), and Cain…

(1) His approbation and gracious acceptance of them. So it is said that he had respect to Abel and his offering (Genesis 4:4). He graciously accepted both of his person and of his sacrifice, owning and approving of him, when Cain and his were rejected.

And the principal reason why they are here compared to thorns and briars, is with respect to the curse that came on the earth by sin. Cursed be the ground, thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to you (Genesis 3:17, 18), whereunto barrenness or unaptness for better fruits is…

But Gildas the Briton in some books, (as Deuteronomy, Isaiah and Jeremy, for example) uses to follow the Vulgar Latin translated out of the Hebrew; in others (as the books of Chronicles, Job, Proverbs, Ezekiel, and the small Prophets) the elder Latin translated out of the Greek,…

Jude mentioneth his name, but Paul does not, or whoever was the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. 3. That godly men and wicked may both be called by the same name: so Judas the Apostle, and Judas the Apostate: there was Enoch Cain's son (Genesis 4:17), and Enoch Seth's son o…

'The righteous is bold as a lion' (Proverbs 28:1). It was guilt in Cain's conscience that made him cry, 'Everyone that meets me will kill me' (Genesis 4:14). A guilty conscience is more terrified with imagined dangers than a pure conscience is with real ones.

God forbids the greatest sin in the first place: it is a crying sin. The Lord said to Cain, The voice of your brother's blood cryeth to me from the ground (Genesis 4:10). In the original, the word is in the plural number, the voice of your brother's bloods.

10. In charging our sins and miscarriages by them, upon providence, in this we contemn it. Some think Cain does so (Genesis 4:9): am I my brother's keeper? You are the keeper and governor of the world, why did you not hinder me from killing my brother?

Those remnants, aroused and directed by faith, sufficed for that end. And many examples of obedience rendered according to this law before the Flood are extant (Genesis 4:4, 6, 7; 6:1, 2). The matter of the seven precepts, which some affirm were delivered to Adam, and others to…

The institution of the church according to the rule of post-lapsarian theology — Adam's diligence and duty in building it up — How long it remained pure — The defection in Cain the apostate — The nature, degrees, and manner of that defection — Jehovah's regard for Abel and his o…

The second reformation of the antediluvian church, Genesis 4, last verse — the etymological notes of certain persons — Enoshian idolatry, the opinion of Maimonides, Selden, Cyril — the total apostasy of the reformed church — the beginning, occasion, and manner of this apostasy,…

We also showed that Cain, cursed by God, entirely abandoned His solemn worship. It is indeed probable that he, and the citizens of Enoch over whom he presided (Genesis 4), repudiated that worship — namely, of sacrifices — from which he had drawn the first stain of evil, and usur…

The first sacrifices offered to idols consisted not of animals and blood, but of the fruits of the earth. It is most certain that the first sacrifice pleasing to God was a blood sacrifice (Genesis 4:4); and also after the flood (Genesis 8:20). Nor is there any doubt that, as lon…

For he built an altar to the Lord between Bethel and Ai, "and called upon the name of the Lord" (Genesis 12:8). Those words — to call upon the name of the Lord — are the same as those used in the account of the reformation of the church of Enosh and the restoration of divine wor…

63. So he asked for writing tables, and wrote, saying: His name is John: and they marveled all. Genesis 4:25. And after Adam knew his wife, which brought forth a son, and called his name Sheth: For said she: God has laid up for me another seed for Abel, whom Cain slew. Genesis 1…

His Sacraments (Matthew 5:6). Also true prayer is the honoring of his name, and evil the profaning of the same (Genesis 4:26; Malachi 1:11-12). Therefore here he comprehends all these, and forbids to use vainly; that is, irreverently, rashly, falsely, or hypocritically, lightly…

1. As for this word iniquity, by it is meant sometimes 1. sin formally taken as it has a disconformity to the Law of God, and supposes a spot and defect, and so it is commonly taken when we pray for pardon of sin; and when David says (Psalm 51), "My sin is ever before me"; and (…

Then as there be two sorts of punishments, one temporary, and another the eternal wrath to come; so there are in Scripture two sorts of remissions, one from the temporary, another from eternal punishment. Therefore sin is put for punishment, (Genesis 4:13). My iniquity (says Cai…

He makes Christ's very blood an Advocate to speak for us, though Christ himself were silent; as he says in another case, Abel, though dead, yet speaks, Hebrews 11:4 Many other things are said to cry to Scripture, (and I might show how the cry of all other things do meet in this)…

As was the case of Ahab, he comes sadly and mourning from Elijah's sharp reproof (1 Kings 21, two last verses), but he could not be well at ease, till he had cast it all off, with putting Naboth to death, and put it off with calling a Council about going to War, and so damped al…

Use 1. But for further use, let us learn from here not to neglect the falls of our brethren, and think it is good for us, neither to meddle nor make with them — let that be far from us. That was the spirit of Cain (Genesis 4:6): "Am I my brother's keeper?" as if he would neither…

Implying, that God is a Prince, and if a Prince, then where is his princely service, if you will serve him, serve him of the best of that you have: God looks for no more but what you have; but when you come and offer him a lame and peremptory sacrifice, and be loath to come off…

When they call I will answer, and when they cry he shall say, Here I am. This has been the course of God's dealing with the prayer makers all along; Abel (Genesis 4:4) God had respect to; it is [reconstructed: in the original], set his offering on fire. Daniel prays, and he says…

I answer: he is said to accept persons, that deales vnequally with men, being bound to deale equally: now God is not thus bound: because he is a soueraigne, and absolute Lord ouer all his creatures, and may doe with his own what he will, Math. 20. 16. Secondly, it may be obiecte…

Ans. It does sometime, but not alwaies: for Eue says of Ss, God has given me an other seede, Gen 4:25. that is, an other sonne. Lastly, it is said, that this one particular seede of Abraham is Christ Jesus.

Here Raca, signifies all signs and gestures that express contempt, as snuffing, scoffing, jeering, sneering, etc. Cain is rebuked of God, even for the casting down of his countenance (Genesis 4:6). Again, the mocking wherewith Ishmael mocked Isaac, proceeded from a contempt and…

The first is, bondage under Satan, who keeps unrepentant sinners in his snare according to his own will (2 Timothy 2:26), he rules in their hearts like a God (2 Corinthians 4:4), and has power to blind them, and to harden their hearts, till he have brought them to eternal death…

Deut 29:2.) but that shee should be tormented, twise as much as shee had tormented others. Againe, these phrases and formes of speech, of rewarding double, or seuen fold, signifie, that God will pay wicked men whome to the full (a definite number being put for an indefinite) as…

For having a long time abused the patience of God, in showing themselves obstinate and rebellious, they shall be constrained in the end to take knowledge of his judgments. Thus although Cain, Esau, and the like (who repented their sins too late) fled from God's presence, yet in…

For this cause the Scripture mentions this exercise of prayer, when it notes out the marks of God's worship. For Moses, meaning to show that the same was again restored, says, that then men began to call upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26). I take the particle Ci in the sec…

From the blood of Abel. Though Abel (Genesis 4:8) was not slain by the Jews, yet the murder of Abel is imputed to them by Christ, because there is an affinity of wickedness between them and Cain; otherwise there would have been no propriety in saying that righteous blood had bee…

For of Her it is said expresly in Prophesie. [[original in non-Latin script]], Isa. 7. 14. A Virgin shall Conceive; the same Word that is used to express the Conception of any other Woman, Gen. 4. 1. Hence She is termed by the Ancients [[original in non-Latin script]], and Dei g…

Isa. 33. 14. Gen. 4. 13. Sect. 50 Moreover this Darkness fills the Mind with Enmity against all the Ways of God.

But that which is wrought in us by the especial Grace of the Holy Ghost in the way mentioned, is supernatural, as being not educed out of the Powers of our natural Faculties, but an immediate Effect of the Almighty supernatural Efficacy of the Grace of God. And therefore the sol…

That others should have enjoyments above them, beyond them, this envious men cannot bear. God accepts Abel, not Cain; presently Cain is wroth and his countenance falls (Genesis 4:8). Jacob gets the blessing, and this fills the heart of Esau, with murderous revenge (Genesis 27:41…

Heaven is his throne, there he sits, the earth is his footstool, there he stands. He is everywhere present, therefore we may come to walk with God: Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:21). If God were confined to heaven, a trembling soul might think how can I converse with God, how…

The Greek word signifies our commerce, or traffic, or citizenship is in heaven. Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:24). His affections were sublimated; he did take a turn in heaven every day.

Q. How is this sinne propagated? A. It is conveyed from parents to children not by imitation but by generation (Genesis 5:3; Psalms 51:5; Job 14:4; John 3:6). Q. What do you understand by actual sins?

2. The order of dignity, when as those are put in the first place, not which are the eldest, but which are best and most in GOD'S favor. This order the Holy Ghost uses in naming Noah's sons, Genesis 5 verse 31: saying, Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth; when as Japheth was eldes…

But it may be objected against Sarah's age, that in the old time they had children, till they were of great age. Eve had her son Seth at 130 years old (Genesis 5:3). For, Adam and Eve must needs be both of one age: and after that, Eve bore many sons and daughters.

Jude mentioneth his name, but Paul does not, or whoever was the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. 3. That godly men and wicked may both be called by the same name: so Judas the Apostle, and Judas the Apostate: there was Enoch Cain's son (Genesis 4:17), and Enoch Seth's son o…

Surely there is a way of enjoying God even in our worldly employments — God would never have put us upon them to our loss. Enoch walked with God and begat sons and daughters — Genesis 5:19. He walked with God but did not retire and separate himself from the things of this life.

You lately made yourselves sure of that creature comfort which has forsaken you. Perhaps you said of your child who is now gone, as Lamech said of his son Noah in Genesis 5:29: This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands — meaning that his son should not…

But he insists much upon the generation of the godly. Seth's posterity are written in a larger scroll and more legible hand, with the number of the years which they lived (Genesis 5:6-9, etc.); which in Cain's posterity there is no notice taken of. His whole respect, his heart,…

This is called walking with God; which is to be in his presence, to go his way, and to maintain communion with him: this is when as men do, audire et reddere voces: when there is natural delight: when as they are in presence one with another; and therefore walking with God, and…

With many Additions in every Page, marked with the letter A. Five Books of Mr Jer. Burroughs lately published: As also the Texts of Scripture upon which they are grounded, namely: - 1. The rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, on Philippians 4:11. Wherein is shewed: 1 What Conten…

For it is probable that in the year immediately following the death of Abel, Eve bore Seth. That was the one hundred and thirtieth year of Adam's life (Genesis 5:8). During that space of time, the human race had without doubt grown in number and multitude; and so the church itse…

VIII. By the power of this reformation, pure theology flourished, and the church visibly separated from the world, for about a thousand years. In the course of that time, God set forth a notable example of obedience, a specimen of true theology, and a pledge of eternal life, in…

The root word properly means "to recount" or "to number"; "to write" only incidentally. Thus in Genesis 5:1, the phrase means "This is the narration" — namely, "of the generations of Adam" — and it is maintained that nothing written in a book is being asserted, but something tol…

Here is forbidden first, the want of these, and the contrary, as to waver or doubt (Psalm 13:1, 3; Psalm 88:15); to leave our hope (Hebrews 10:39); to despair (Genesis 8:13); impatience (Jeremiah 20:14, 18); to have trust in ordinary means, and to make flesh our arm, is forbidde…

When Adam fell the root was corrupted, and the branches cannot be fresh; the fountain was defiled, and the streams cannot be clean and clear. Hence when Adam begot Seth, an elect in whom the Church was continued, it is said that he begat a son after his own likeness (Genesis 5);…

For if he had sworn falsely, God would have taken revenge upon him, and his writings, before this: which he has not done. Whereas Paul says, Before God I speak it: he teaches us after his own example to bring ourselves into the presence of God, to walk before him as Enoch did (G…

The first: we must bring ourselves into the presence of the invisible God: yes, we must set our thoughts, wills, affections, and all we do in his sight and presence: and we must evermore remember whatever we do, that we have to deal with God himself. In this regard Enoch is said…

After this sort did this Patriarch Enoch preach and publish the Word of the Lord: which (undoubtedly) he had learned of his Father Adam, by influence from the Holy Ghost. For it is recorded of him in the Scriptures (Genesis 5) that he led an upright and godly life, and therefore…

The name which they principally magnifie is [in non-Latin alphabet], Metatron. Ben Vzziel in his Targum on Genesis 5 ascribes this name to Enoch when he was translated, he ascended into Heaven in the word of the Lord, [in non-Latin alphabet], and his name was called Mitatron the…

And this Angel of whom we have spoken, was he whom the Talmudists call § 23 [in non-Latin alphabet], Metatron. Ben Vzziel in his Targum on Genesis 5 ascribes this name to Enoch. He ascended, says he, into heaven by the Word of the Lord, [in non-Latin alphabet]; and his name was…

For as of old they gave significant names to their children, so therein they had respect to their present condition, or some prospect they had given them by the Spirit of God of things future, wherein they or theirs should be concerned. So have we the reasons given us of the nam…

Then had I been at rest.] We usually say when a man goes to sleep, he goes to rest: yet rest is more than sleep, for sometimes a man sleeps when he does not rest, his very sleep being troubled, and he troubled in his sleep: but when rest is joined with sleep it is perfect sleep.…

And for us who have in this matter to do with God, what is our continuance unto that of the world? a moment as it were in comparison of the whole. When mens lives were of old prolonged beyond the date & continuance of Empires or kingdoms now, yet this was the winding up of all;…

This lesson God taught Abraham, Gen. 17. 1. Walke before me and be vpright: and this Enoch had learned long before, Gen. 5. 24. and therefore was reported of that he had pleased God, Heb. 11. 5. now where this perswasion taks place, [illegible] will strike the heart with a reuer…

8. The next remarkable thing towards carrying on this work, we have an account of in scripture, is the translation of Enoch into heaven. The account we have of it is in Genesis 5:24. "And Enoch walked with God, and he was not; for God took him."

David a man after his own heart. Enoch walked with him (Genesis 5:24). All enjoying this communion and fellowship for the substance of it: but the way into the holiest was not yet made manifest, while the first tabernacle was standing (Hebrews 9:8).

Eve perhaps supposed that the promised seed had been born in her firstborn, when she said, I have gotten a man from the Lord, so most properly denoting the fourth case; and this was the matter of her joy (Genesis 4:1). Lamech having Noah given to him as a type of Christ, and sal…

Man's Paradise-like life was easy and pleasant, but now it is labor and pain, such as makes him sweat (indeed, Ecclesiastes 2:1-2, his recreations fall little short of his labor for pain and sweat). The old world was very sensible of this, as may be gathered from Genesis 5:29: H…

The Devil who is made up of pride, infused that poison into Adam's heart. When once the Serpent of hell had bitten him, his heart was swollen with pride: and Adam did propagate that poison to his children: he was in the day that God created him in the likeness of God; but when o…

As it is with the sons of the first Adam, in the work of their generation naturally, and the perverting and turning aside their souls from the Lord: so it is with the sons of the second Adam in their spiritual regeneration and conversion. But in the [reconstructed: former], the…

1 By the way we walk in; it is a private retired way, wherein only some few holy ones walk: therefore it is called a Path-way, to distinguish it from the common road, Proverbs 12. 28. In the path-way thereof is no death. 2 If we walk with God, then we walk in the fear of God, Ge…

Here then happily some, feeling the want of this so necessary a grace, will inquire concerning the means to attain thereto. The first means is for a man always to possess his heart with the apprehension of God's presence, and so to keep it in his fear continually, to walk as Eno…

First, by the Types that were before the Law, Enoch was translated and taken up bodily into Heaven, where now he is. Genesis 5:24. And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him, this is confirmed by the Apostle, Heb. 11. 5.

This however the scripture supposes to be consistent with a state of misery, expressed by wailing and gnashing of teeth. Genesis 5:24, "Enoch walked with God, and was not, for God took him." In this instance, though the scripture says, Enoch was not, which more directly expresse…

These propositions — that it is God's mind and will that such a person by name, should arise at such a time, and go from such a place to such a place, and that there he should meet with discoveries — are entirely new propositions, wholly different from the propositions contained…

(3) Because the virtue of Christ's sacrifice did no less extend itself to believers under the Old Testament than to believers under the New (Revelation 13:8). (4) From the example of Enoch, and of Moses and Elijah, which two before the passion of Christ were seen upon the mount…

Is the guilt of the sin of our first parents imputed, and the same death in sin, and corrupted nature, conveyed to all their posterity, descending from them by ordinary generation? Yes. (Romans 5:12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22, 45, 49; Psalm 51:5; Genesis 5:3; J…

Q. 3. Are we able of ourselves to perform it? A. No, in no wise, the Law is spiritual, but we are carnal (1 Kings 8:46; Genesis 5:6; John 15:5; Romans 7:11; Romans 8:7; 1 John 1:8). Q. 4. Did then God give a Law which could not be kept?

Q. 3. Are we able of ourselves to perform it? A. No, in no wise, the law is spiritual, but we are carnal (1 Kings 8:46; Genesis 5:6; John 15:5; Romans 7:11 and 8:7; 1 John 1:8). Q. 4. Did then God give a law which could not be kept?

He is born in sin (Psalm 51:5; Job 15:16) — he drinks iniquity as water. All the imagination of his thoughts are evil, and only evil (Genesis 6:5). Now the least evil thought is [illegible], a breach of the royal law: and if there be defection, there cannot be perfection.

2. That by this sin of our first parents, all men are brought into an estate of sin, and apostacy from God, and of an enmity to him. (Genesis 6:5) God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart, was only evil co…

Concerning this Ark, much might be spoken out of the book of Genesis: but it is not to our purpose: which is no more in this Chapter, but to show the obedience and practice of faith, and therein the excellency of it. Now the point here to be spoken of, is not the matter, nor the…

It therefore became not the wisdom of God to enter anew into covenant with mankind, without security that the terms of the covenant should be accepted, and the grace of it made effectual. This we could not give; indeed, we gave all evidences possible to the contrary, in that God…

In the Hebrew it is called Capporeth or Cipporeth; from Caphar. The verb in Kal, signifies to cover, to pitch over and thereby to cover (Genesis 6:14). From there is Capporeth a covering.

Hence among the Jews [illegible] He is a Name of God, expressing his immutable self-subsistence. But it will be said that there are in the Scriptures many declarations of God's altering his purpose and counsels, and repenting him of what he had before determined, being grieved a…

Cursed be the ground, thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to you (Genesis 3:17, 18), whereunto barrenness or unaptness for better fruits is added (Genesis 4:12). From this curse the earth of itself and untilled, would bring forth nothing but thorns and briars, at least they…

And so God who created man, still preserves him, and uses all means to make him conformable to his will, before he casts him off. The Lord did long strive with men in the old world, to turn them from their wickedness: but when nothing would serve them, it is said, It repented th…

It is called the house of God (Ephesians 2:19). They that believe are said to be of the household of God: secondly, the parts of the Catholic church are noted, namely, the saints in heaven departed, and saints living on earth: thirdly, it is said to be named of the father of Chr…

3. I think 'tis to distinguish him from Enoch the son of Cain, who was the third from Adam, as Enoch the son of Seth was the seventh, see (Genesis 4:17). [Prophesied] that Enoch was a Prophet is clear here, and may be gathered from (Genesis 5:24), where he is said to walk with G…

Matthew 5:48: Be you perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Genesis 6:9: Noah was a just and perfect man in his time, and walked with God. Genesis 17:1: Walk before me and be perfect.

How severely has the great God declared his wrath from heaven against heart-wickedness! The great crime for which the old world stands indicted (Genesis 6:5-7) is heart-wickedness: God saw that every imagination of their heart was only evil and that continually, for which he sen…

Pride and covetousness, and sensuality may reign and rage in the mind, by corrupt imaginations, when their outward exercise is shut up by circumstances of life. The first way whereby sin acts itself, or coins its motions and inclinations into acts, is by the imagination (Genesis…

And this may be added further, that this place seems not only to be meant of the private or personal conversion of this or that particular Christian, but also further, of the open and joint calling of a company, because it is said, they shall come, the children of Israel and the…

Secondly, the parts of the Catholic Church are noted, namely, the Saints in heaven departed, and saints living on earth. Thirdly, it is said to be named of the Father of Christ, because as the Father of Christ, is the Father of this family; so also this family is called by him (…

We showed previously that all true theology rests upon some divine covenant. Now, although the Hebrew word sometimes signifies a bare promise, and is used in that sense first in the Scriptures (Genesis 6:18, Exodus 34:10, Isaiah 59:21), yet, since a promise of this kind exhibits…

The second reformation of the antediluvian church, Genesis 4, last verse — the etymological notes of certain persons — Enoshian idolatry, the opinion of Maimonides, Selden, Cyril — the total apostasy of the reformed church — the beginning, occasion, and manner of this apostasy,…

IV. It is established, from the manifold testimony of the Holy Spirit, that Noah himself, of whom we are speaking, was a just man, pleasing and acceptable to God. Genesis 6:8, 9: "Noah was a just man, blameless in his generations, and he walked continually according to God"; and…

IV. Whoever he was, no one can doubt that he gave a notable specimen of defection from the principles of evangelical theology. Now from this impious mixture — which was the source and origin of the ecclesiastical defection that occurred first after the entrance of sin (Genesis 6…

2. Which is mostly aimed at here, there is in every one a sinful nature, a sinfulness or sinning sin, an inclination to sin; every one has a straying humor; so that although the similitude of sheep does not agree to them in that sense as sheep are innocent creatures, yet it agre…

They turned vain, foggy, reasonless, and stark nothing in their finer discourses and reasonings, in weighing and poising things. The frame of the heart of man is only evil (Genesis 6:5). [illegible] (Genesis 8:21) signifies a potter's vessel.

The Lord looked down from heaven, to see if any of them did good, but they are altogether become unprofitable, not one does good, no not one (Romans 3:12). And he speaks of all men in an estate of nature without Christ, not one does any good, no not one; all the thoughts and ima…

The Lord saw all to be good, in the beginning and working not to be repented of: this was God's rest and Sabbath, to take delight in his works. When he looked on it altogether, behold it was exceeding good; but afterwards man, the ungrateful part of the creation, though the mast…

II. Noah is saide to be just and perfect, Gen. 6. and God commands Abraham to walke before him, and to be perfect, Gen 17:1. Paul says, Let as many as be perfect, be thus minded, Phil 3:15.

In a word, as he had described repentance by the signs, so he now sets forth their inward obstinacy and hardness of heart, by the outward testimonies of it. For even as we witness our sorrow for sin by abstinence and other exercises; so by our dissolutions and superfluities, we…

Because God's chastisements which had begun to seize upon them, and were afterward to be finished in their captivity, were very grievous, therefore the Prophet sets forth the vehemence of them by these similitudes. For he says, that the Lord will pour out his wrath: as if some t…

If it be objected, that it is absurd to suppose the existence of two wills in God, I reply, we fully believe that his will is simple and one; but as our minds do not fathom the deep abyss of secret election, in accommodation to the capacity of our weakness, the will of God is ex…

This word flesh signifies not only the body, consisting of flesh and blood, skin and bones: but whatever comes from Adam. So says God in Genesis 6: My Spirit shall not always strive with man, because he is but flesh. And Isaiah likewise, Chapter 40: All flesh shall see the savin…

But when this holy man had so long time in vain continued his preaching to the men of that age, and they never a bit repenting their lewd life, but still contemning the word of God, and growing worse and worse: God said at length, after that he saw their obstinate perseverance i…

And therefore although the skill and wisdom mentioned differed not in the kind of it from that which others attained by industry; yet he received it by an immediate Afflatus or Inspiration of the Holy Ghost, as to that degree at least, which he was made Partaker of. Sect. 27 Las…

And in actings of this Nature a vain Mind abounds; it multiplies vain Imaginations, like the Sand on the Sea-shore. These are called the Figments of the Hearts of Men, Gen. 6. 5. which are found to be only evil continually. These it feigns and frames, abundantly bringing them fo…

In particular the Corruption that ensued on our Minds, Wills and Affections upon the loss of the Image of God, I have before declared and vindicated. And (2) in reference to the first Actings of all these Faculties in things Moral and Spiritual, the Scripture addes that all the…

There will be a last time of any special offer of salvation to impenitent sinners. God's Spirit shall not always strive with man (Genesis 6:3). God sometimes continues long knocking at the doors of wicked men's hearts; but there are the last knocks, and the last calls, that ever…

Let your moderation be known unto all men, the Lord is at hand. EXercise heavenly mindedness, and keep yourhearts upon things eternal, under all the Providences with which the Lord exercises you in this world, Genesis 6:9 Noah walked with God, yet met with as sad Providences in…

But God has so given out our callings here in the world, that he has made and ordained them to be subordinate to our general and effectual calling, to the great business of God's glory and our own salvation. It is said of Noah, that he walked with God, and was perfect in his gen…

Now the name designed, is the Son of God; You are my Son; not absolutely, but with that exegetical adjunct of his generation, this day have I begotten you. Chrysostom, Homily 22 on Genesis 6, positively denies that the angels in Scripture are any where called the sons of God. He…

Some would put another sense on that expression of the Targumists, as though it intended nothing but God himself; and instances of the use of it in that sense have been observed. As (Ecclesiastes 8:17), If a wise man say [in non-Latin alphabet] in his word, that is, say in himse…

(2.) Suppose yet the word to denote many, a people, and not one single person, will it not unavoidably follow, that here is a mention interserted occasionally of some other persons, besides him who is the principal subject of the Prophecy; and so the sense can be no other, but t…

For an evil concupiscence in the heart of man from his very conception they generally acknowledge. The name they give to it, is [in non-Latin alphabet] figmentum malum; the evil figment of the heart; properly enough, from Genesis 6:5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was g…

So that if any especial sort of men are intended in this expression, it is not Israel, but other men. And indeed this word is commonly used to denote mankind in general; as Genesis 6:3, chapter 9:6, Exodus 8:18, chapter 9:10, chapter 13:2, and universally, where ever it is used,…

Some are such jugglers, that you can see little of their spirits in their lives, you can learn but little of their minds by their words; Jacob was a plain man and so was Job; some translate it a sound man. It is the same expression that is given of Noah, he was [Tamim] in his ge…

Some few instances of the many that are left on record, wherein this truth is exemplified may be mentioned. Genesis 6:9. Noah was a just man, perfect in his Generation, and Noah walked with God.

That there is a common Abuse of this patience of God visible in the world in all Generations. So it was of old; God saw it to be so, and complained of it, Genesis 6:5, 6. All the evil, sin, wickedness, that has been in the world, which no heart can conceive, no tongue can expres…

For the occasion: To looke upon a woman, is not sinne, but may bee done lawfully; yea, thereby a man or woman may glorifie God, as the Queene of Sheba, by beholdingSalomons person, and hearing his wisdom, did take occasion to glorifie God: but here is meant the abuse of the sigh…

Now in this that has beene said, we may note two things: first, the long suffering and great patience of God, that will not have a sinner living in the Church condemned, till he have brought him through all the meanes of his conuersion, and till he be past hope. Thus he dealt wi…

This power, or veil, women were to wear because of the angels. Not as Tertullian did grossly conceive from that mistaken text (Genesis 6:2), to hide their beauty from the sight and inspection of angels (for what veil could do that, or how can angels be affected with corporal bea…

First, there is the Motus primò primi, the first film and shadow of an evil thought, the imperfect embryo of a sin before it is well shaped in us, or has received any lineaments and features. And these the Scripture calls the imaginations of the thoughts of men's hearts (Genesis…

Therefore it is better for us in this state of weakness, that God speaks to us by ministers, men of like passions and infirmities with ourselves, whom we may be able to bear, and whose words notwithstanding our weakness, we may be able to hear. 2. God does now also speak to men…

5. The soul is by nature filled with an evil treasure: the heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart is only and continually evil (Genesis 6:5). The mind, will and affections are stuffed with a world of blindness, hardness and…

And all those that were then in being when Seth was born, must be supposed then to stand in equal capacity of multiplying their posterity with him; and therefore, as I said before, Seth's posterity were but a small part of the inhabitants of the world. But after the days of Enos…

- 2. Hereby he condemned the world. The first end which both God had in commanding, and Noah in making the Ark, was the saving of his household: that is, himself, and all that belonged to him; which were his wife, his three sons, and their wives, Genesis 7:7. But first of all, i…

For the number of forty days, curiosity may make itself work enough; but it is dangerous to make conclusions where no certainty appears. However this is not amiss, that forty days were the usual time allotted for repentance: as to the Ninevites (Jonah 3:4), so the prophet Ezekie…

And therefore Saint Peter here brings in by way of comparison, the similitude of the Ark of Noah: whereby he briefly and in few words, and yet with a certain pleasure, sets down a sure lesson to confirm faith. And that which he here sets down, to have come to pass when Noah made…

For their civil year, as to contracts, debts and liberties, continued still to begin in September, with their Jubilees (Leviticus 25:8, 9, 10). And from that beginning of the year, most probably, are the months to be reckoned that are mentioned in the continuance and ending of t…

Yet it must be confessed that we find the word often used promiscuously, applied as well to the death of the wicked as of the godly; To Ishmael (Genesis 25:8) as well as Abraham, to Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:10). Indeed it is applied to the death of any or all living things (…

Thus it is that the saints are in Scripture termed righteous. So Noah is called righteous (Genesis 7:1). And Abraham pleads with God for the righteous in Sodom (Genesis 18:23-24).

But God never did, and never will speak so terribly by a deluge of water, as by the great deluge in the days of Noah, when the whole world was drowned thereby, excepting Noah, and those which were with him in the Ark. And because the judgment was so dreadful, and the history so…

The Sea in Scripture is called, The Deep, Job 38. 30. The Great Deep, Genesis 7:11. The gathering together of the Waters into one place, Genesis 1:9. If the vastest Mountain were cast into it, it would appear no more than the head of a Pin in a Tun of Water. APPLICATION.

Here there are many wants and vacuities to be filled up; but in your presence there is fullness of joy, and at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11). Look, as when the flood was poured out upon the world, you read, that the windows of heaven were opened…

1. Man's nature cannot endure reproach, especially a scornful reproach, every man thinks himself worthy of some regard. 2. Religion increases the sense of it, as the flood increased when the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of Heaven were opened, (Gene…

1. It is the great pull-back, and constant preservative of the soul against sin. As the beasts are contained in their subjection and obedience to man by the fear that is upon them (Genesis 7:2), "The dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, that they shall not hurt y…

Let me tell you, expressions for outward losses may sometimes be great: First, because all causes concur to make a man's expression of grief for outward things very great. When you see the windows of heaven open, and the fountains of the great deep broken up from beneath, there…

What hand guided that poor vessel from the rocks, and gave it a resting place on the mountains? Certainly, the very reading of that story (Genesis 7), having for confirmation, the catholic tradition of all mankind, were enough to startle the stubborn heart of an Atheist. The wor…

He graciously accepted both of his person and of his sacrifice, owning and approving of him, when Cain and his were rejected. So he smelt a savour of rest from the sacrifice of Noah (Genesis 8:21). And to testify his being well pleased therewith, he from there took occasion to r…

And this one example God will have to be a sufficient warning to all ungodly sinners, of the certainty and severity of his future judgement, so that no men have just reason to be secure in their sin (2 Peter 3:5, 6, 7). And therefore he has engaged himself by promise, that he wi…

The first is the want of that original righteousness, which was in man by creation: the second is, a proneness and inclination to that which is evil, and to nothing that is truly good. This appears (Genesis 8:21): The frame of man's heart (says the Lord) is evil even from his ch…

And which is more wonderful, the multitude of the very cattle is brought among others as a reason of a people's preservation from destruction (Jonah 4:11): the multitude of the cattle are joined with the multitude of the infants, as an argument to spare Nineveh. He remembers Noa…

The first sacrifices offered to idols consisted not of animals and blood, but of the fruits of the earth. It is most certain that the first sacrifice pleasing to God was a blood sacrifice (Genesis 4:4); and also after the flood (Genesis 8:20). Nor is there any doubt that, as lon…

From hence cometh it, that we fear not in greatest dangers (2 Kings 6:16; Psalm 3:7; Psalm 27:3); that in the time of affliction, we are patient (Proverbs 20:22; Hebrews 10:33); without all murmuring to hold our peace (Psalm 39:10); receiving them as from a father (Job 1:21; Psa…

The frame of the heart of man is only evil (Genesis 6:5). [illegible] (Genesis 8:21) signifies a potter's vessel. Your turning of things upside-down shall be reputed as the clay [illegible] of the potter (Isaiah 29:16): from the root [illegible] to think, desire; to form a thing…

The latter meaning, I admit, arises out of the former, but we must attend to the design of Christ. Perceiving that this was exceedingly adapted to support their weakness, he intended to assure them that, if any one would receive them in a friendly manner, and do them kind office…

In general, [[original in non-Latin script]] and [[original in non-Latin script]] signifie a Wind or Spirit, that is, any thing which moves and is not seen. So the Air in a violent agitation, is called [[original in non-Latin script]], Gen. 8. 1. [[original in non-Latin script]]…

(2.) These were the things which rendred his Offering of himself, to be a Sacrifice of a sweet sm[•]lling Savour to God, Ephes. 5. 2. God was so absolutely delighted and pleased with these high and glorious Acts of Grace and Obedience in Jesus Christ, that he smelt as it were a…

So the Romans, as appears by the fragments of their old kalendars, had their Nundinae which were days of vacation from labor, on the eighth, or as some think the ninth days recurring, but yet still made use of the stated weekly period. It is of some consideration in this cause,…

The first of these was made to Adam in the promise of the seed, which was the principle of faith and obedience to the Fathers before the Flood; and to this were subservient all the consequent particular revelations made to Seth, Enosh, Enoch, Lamech, and others before the Flood.…

Our Apostle calls it his [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], his gift, that is, his [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], or free-will-offering, as all were before the Law; and his [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] (Hebrews 11:4), the sacrifice that he slew to the Lord. But the name is first expresse…

§ 11 The Talmudists have expressed the same thoughts about this inbred and indwelling sin; and to set forth their conceptions about it, they have given it several names not unsuited to those descriptions of it, which are given us by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament. First, Th…

As if he should say, Do you think that the offering up of your sheep in sacrifice has been pleasing to God? Certainly if the fire of those sacrifices had delighted God, if he had smelled a savor of rest in them (as he is said to have done, when Noah offered sacrifice after the f…

But that was broken; and so God after a while, destroyed the earth, when the wickedness of man was great. But after the flood, on Noah's offering a sacrifice that represented the sacrifice of Christ, God, in smelling a sweet savor, or accepting that sacrifice, as it was a repres…

Husbandmen know there is a change, and vicissitude of seasons and weather; though it be pleasant Summer weather now, yet Winter will tread upon the heel of Summer; frosts, snows, and great falls of rain must be expected. This alternate course of seasons in nature is settled by a…

3. The very sinful habit and power is reproved in the Word, even the power as it is contra-distinguished from the sinful act; Psalm 14:1, The habitual fool has said in his heart there is not a God. The habitual blindness and hardness of heart that may be in sleeping men, the sta…

1. Because the places which speak of our natural inability prove the contrary. Now if the natural man cannot know nor discern the things of God, but judges them foolishness (1 Corinthians 2:13, 14), if his wisdom be enmity against God, and is neither subject to the Law of God, n…

Whether is it a Covenant of works (do this and live) or a Covenant of grace (believe this, and you have the reward of the Gospel preached, to wit, the restored image of God) and where is this in Scripture? 4. A remedying Law must bring a remedy to men: the remedy is either real;…

Suppose that the Creator of eyes has once given the faculty of seeing, and that he is not obliged to restore it ever when the man casts it away; and that the man a thousand times winks, and shuts his eyes, and hates to be anointed; and you shall see there is no ground to quarrel…

The fourth particular is the subject or seat of burning, and it's the heart; did not our hearts burn within us? The heart is the only seat of heavenly burnings; not simply, as the heart of man, which is evil, and only evil by nature in all its out-goings (Genesis 6:6; Genesis 8:…

Among such foolish creatures as we are, it must needs be, that offenses will come; and why should not I have my share of those offenses? The God of heaven gives this as a reason of his patience towards a provoking world, that it is in their nature to be provoking (Genesis 8:21):…

This comeliness and courage; the spouse describing Christ as a beautiful, desirable personage, to show that spiritually he is so, calls his cheeks; so to make up his parts, and proportion. And to them does she ascribe a sweet savor, order, and eminency a sweet savor; as God is s…

As God smelled a sweet savor from the blood of his atonement (Ephesians 5:2), so from the graces wherewith for them he is anointed, his saints receive a refreshing cherishing savor (Song of Songs 1:2). A sweet savor expresses that which is acceptable and delightful (Genesis 8:21…

Positive, in regard of the good that may be gained thereby. 1. Many are the evils which children by nature are prone to, even as rank ground is subject to bring forth many weeds: for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth: and foolishness is bound in the heart of…

It is the heart that has forgotten God, and is roving after vanity — this causes all the errors of men's words, and actions, a wandering heart, makes wandering eyes and feet, and tongue. It is the leading wanderer that misleads all the rest, and as we are here called straying sh…

Therefore we are more prone to complain, than to give thanks. Partly from self-love, when our turn is served, we neglect God: as the raven returned to Noah no more, when there was floating carrion for it to feed upon (Genesis 8:7). Wants try us more than blessings (Hosea 5, last…

It is not any one faculty only that sin has defiled, but like a strong poison, it soaks and eats through all; that whereas all was holy, and holiness to the Lord, it is now evil, and evil against the Lord (Genesis 6:5). Every imagination (figment or creature) of the heart is onl…

The Lord knows the thoughts of man that they are vanity. The thoughts of young men in a peculiar manner are very vain (Genesis 8:21). The imaginations of man's heart is evil from his youth.

Grace perfumes our duties (Psalm 141:2): let my prayer be set forth before you as incense. Noah's sacrifice was a perfume (Genesis 8:21): the Lord smelled a sweet savor. The sighs of a wicked man are an unsavory breath; his solemn sacrifice is dung (Malachi 2:3); there is such a…

But it is sure the Lord had not intended to commit heaven and hell any more to a sanctified will, but mutable and slippery in Adam, but to commit all to Christ, to a better covenant, better promises, to a way of free grace not of nature. Yet these men commit the salvation and da…

The first thing that Abraham did, when he came from Ur of the Chaldeans, to the land of Canaan, which God gave him to possess, was the building of an altar for the worship of God, his sacrificing thereon, and calling upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 12:8). The same did Noah be…

It says also, that, “every imagination of the heart of man is only evil, and that continually.” (Genesis 6:5; Romans 3). And again, “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” (Genesis 8:21). Now, then, when we think thus of ourselves, having sense thereof, then are…

To the reasons of this point before produced we may add, that God suffers our sins to dwell in us, first to magnify the glory of his mercy, that notwithstanding he be provoked every day, yet he does still spare us. It is said in one place, that when God saw that every imaginatio…

But how should that be? Thus it is: man, corrupt with sin, has much evil love and desire to all sins, as the scripture says (Genesis 8): all the thought of man's heart is given to evil at all times — that is, to pride, disobedience, wrath, hate, covetousness, uncleanness. And to…

The Scriptures they insisted on were all of them gathered together in the Epistle of Pope Hadrian, which was solemnly assented to by the whole Council. And they were these: God made man of the dust of the Earth after his own image (Genesis 1); Abel by his own choice offered a sa…

The life is the most precious thing, and God has set this commandment as a fence about it to preserve it: You shall not kill. God made a statute which was never to this day repealed (Genesis 9:6): Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. In the Old Law, had a m…

Q. Is there not mention in Scripture of some other covenant of God to man, besides this covenant of grace in Christ? A. Yes, there is that general covenant with mankind, that the world should not be drowned any more with water, and that the succession of day and night, and other…

All holy men in those days, lived in tents. Genesis 9:21, It is clear that Noah dwelt in tents, though then he was king of all the world. And so did Lot also, as long as he lived with Abraham: Genesis 13:5, Lot had sheep, and cattle, and tents.

Secondly, an extraordinary kind of blessing is, when an extraordinary Prophet, or servant of God, does set down and pronounce a blessing unto any, and foretells their estate from God. Thus did Noah bless his two sons, Shem and Japhet, (Genesis 9:25, 26, 27) and pronounced a curs…

First, for the Propagation and multiplication of the world after the flood. If any object, Noah and his wife might have served for that end: I answer, they were old; for he was 600 years old, when the flood came: and though he lived 300 years after the flood (Genesis 9:28); Yet…

My conjecture is, that he was a person of the posterity of Japhet, who was principally to be regarded as the father of the Gentiles that were to be called. Noah had prophesied, that God should enlarge the heart of Japhet, or persuade him so, as that he should return to dwell in…

Such is God's Covenant with day and night (Jeremiah 33:20, 25). And so he says, that he made his Covenant not to destroy the world by water any more with every living creature (Genesis 9:10, 11). Nothing therefore can be argued for the necessity of conditions to belong to this C…

1. That every covenant between God and man, must be founded on, and resolved into promises. Hence essentially a promise and a covenant are all one, and God calls an absolute promise founded on an absolute decree, his covenant (Genesis 9:11). And his purpose for the continuation…

The name of a Covenant is indeed sometimes applied to the promises of grace before or under the Old Testament. But [〈in non-Latin alphabet〉] the word used in all those places, denoteth only a free, gratuitous promise (Genesis 9:9, Chap. 17:4). But they were none of them, nor all…

But this also proved to its confirmation. For after the Flood God established it to Noah, accompanied it with a covenant and gave a visible pledge of his faithfulness therein to abide for ever (Genesis 9:11, 12). For although that covenant in the first place respected temporal t…

The souls of men are substances: but the souls of other creatures seem not to be substances; because they have no being out of the bodies in which they are: but rather they are certain peculiar qualities arising of the matter of the body, and vanishing with it. And it may be for…

Reas. II. Because man is made in the image of God. This reason is mentioned (Genesis 9:6): "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man" — that is, by some man in authority, proceeding in an orderly way of judicature, as the Hebrew expositors do rightly interpret the words — "shall his bl…

Though the ends of the workers, namely God and wicked men are different, yet the end of the work is but one, which is ordered by God's sovereign pleasure. It was promised in the promise of the Gospel to the Gentiles (Genesis 9:27): God shall enlarge Japhet, and he shall dwell in…

See Voss. de Idololatria, lib. 1. cap. xix. and xxv. Thus the true God and Noah (Genesis 9:20) were confounded. Bacchus also is perhaps the Hebrew "son of Cush" — so it pleases Bochart, Geog. lib. i. cap. ii; this is Nimrod.

2 Pet. 3:5-7, The new heaven and new earth — What the old world was — The new world, (Isaiah 51:15, 16; 65:17; 66:22) — The age to come — The future world — Noah a just man — The antediluvian had faith — Theology restored and enlarged in his family after the flood — The first ex…

Oratory cannot make the taste feel the sweetness of honey. There is a light that comes from heaven, above the sun and moon; indeed, above the gospel; and is not extracted, or drawn out of the power of either the soul, no, nor of the gospel, (I conceive,) that brings forth, in ac…

3. The searching of the Scriptures is life eternal, the only way to find Christ (John 5:39; Acts 10:43; Romans 3:21; Isaiah 8:20). 4. God shall persuade Japheth (by the Scriptures preached) and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem (Genesis 9:27). God's opening of the heart, and L…

If a man be fallen under his burden, or under his beast, and he is not able himself to help him up, he must then call them that are of strength, and may be of use to help a man in such a case, so that if in this case, if a man's integrity of heart tells him, that he aims at no m…

These are divine signs only; but now I am speaking of such as are natural signs and causes, that is, produced in a natural way wholly or partly, and are physical causes of such and such effects, and yet are divine signs likewise: for it may be worth your observing, that the same…

Againe, the life of a plant is but the vigour in the iuice, and the life of a beast is but the vigour in the blood. Gen 9:4. but the life of man is a spirit and spirituall substance. Thirdly, man is of the same flesh with man, and so is neither plant, nor beast.

Thus Ahab calls Benhadad his brother, that is, his friend (1 Kings 20:32-33); thus Simeon and Levi are called brethren in wickedness, that is, confederate in evil. Thus all men are called brethren one to another, by reason of the bond of nature (Genesis 9:5), at the hand of a ma…

If the faithful then at any time have desired that their faith might be confirmed by signs, we must not by and by follow them therein; because it was a thing very rare: as to Gideon, who being taken from the flail to govern the people, he gave two signs which he asked, to the en…

In the old time when God drowned the whole world in the general flood, the waters in most abundance gushed out of the clouds above, spouted out of the bowels of the earth below, and on every side such streams increased, that nothing was now to be seen but waters: the earth accor…

The image of God in which mankind was created gave us a preeminence above all other creatures, and hence dominion over them ensued — not being content to be like God in holiness and righteousness, we would be as God in wisdom and sovereignty, and not attaining what we aimed at,…

It is man's honor to be God's servant, and God thinks himself honored by the service of man. It was once a curse, and it is a great curse still to be the servant of servants, as it is said of Ham (Genesis 9); but it is an honor, the great honor of the creature to be a servant to…

But we know what befell this holy person. He that shall read the story that is recorded of him, Genesis 9:21. will easily grant, that he was brought into inextricable distress on the account of sin. His own drunkenness, verse 21. with the consequent of it, gives scandal unto, an…

Tim. 4. 4. Where, by the word is meant; first, the word of creation, whereby God in the beginning fitted the creature for mans use, and gaue him power and soueraigntie ouer it: secondly, the word of restitution, whereby after the fall and after the flood he graunted unto man the…

For, as the Apostle speaks (Hebrews 12:10), they oftentimes chasten as after their own pleasure; and yet we are to give them reverence; we ought to bear with their infirmities, whether they be natural, or vicious, and endeavor to hide and cover them from others. And therefore we…

Possibly indeed, unmercifulness even toward them, and a cruel tormenting of them not to satisfy our occasions and necessities but our unreasonable passions, may be reducible as a sin against this Commandment (for all acts of cruelty are so), but simply to kill them for our neces…

"And thou shalt eat of the herb of the field." The first grant that he had to eat flesh as his common food was after the flood: Genesis 9:3. "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things."

Therefore it comes to pass now, that though the wickedness of man has dreadfully raged, and the earth been filled with violence and wickedness thousands of times, and one age after another, and much more dreadful and aggravated wickedness than the world was guilty of before the…

The last argument is taken from the soul of man, the fashion of it, and the immortality of it. First, God is said to have made man after his own image; he does not mean his body, for that is not made after the image of God; neither is it only that holiness which was created in u…

As afterwards in the final destruction of that Church and nation, God punished in them the guilt of all bloody persecutions from the beginning of the world (Luke 11:50, 51). So Canaan was cursed for the sin of his father (Genesis 9:25). Saul's seven sons were put to death for th…

In regard of their good who reprove, it is said, To them that rebuke shall be delight (that is, much comfort and matter of rejoicing, so as they shall not need to repent what they have done) and a blessing of good shall come upon them (Proverbs 24:25), that is, either a blessing…

So he comes with blandishments, and comfortable words; (Hosea 2:14) I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her. So, (Genesis 9:27) The Lord shall persuade Japhet, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem. By fair and kindly words, he draws…

And to be thus freed from the jurisdictive power and tyranny of sin is no small blessing. A Wicked man is at the command of sin, as the Asse is at the command of the driver: the curse of Cham is upon him, Genesis 9:25. A Servant of Servants shall he be.

There are two ways which God uses; by the word, and by his Spirit; by persuasion, and by power; they shall be taught of God, and they are drawn of God (John 6:44). The Lord will allure Japheth: so he works by persuasion (Genesis 9:27), and then by power (Ezekiel 36:26-27). I wil…

The beasts were made to serve men, and how are they held in subjection and obedience to man? ("The dread of you," says God, "shall be upon every beast of the earth" (Genesis 9).) So we are made for the service of God.

(1 Peter 1:17): Pass the time of your sojourning in fear; our whole course must be carried on under the conduct of this grace. Look, as the fear of man is a bridle upon the beasts to keep them from hurting man (Genesis 9:2): The fear and dread of you shall be upon every beast of…

The whole creation (or every creature) is subject to vanity, and under the bondage of corruption, which makes it groan, and puts it to pain, as a woman in labor; as if it cried out, Oh sinful sin! I was free born, and though under dominion, yet not under bondage; I did once serv…

The Scripture is called the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 24:7; 2 Kings 23:4; 2 Chronicles 34:30, 21). The question is easily determined — it can be the Book of no Covenant, but of that made with Abraham, the oath to Jacob (1 Chronicles 16:16, 17; Psalm 105:9; Jeremiah 11:5; Dani…

1. Because the Lord so threatened Adam, as he remained free and absolute either to inflict the punishment, or to provide an Evangelical remedy, even as Solomon, (1 Kings 2:37) says to Shimei (in the day you pass over the brook Kidron, you shall surely die) that is, you shall be…

It is God then that is here called the Savior of all by deliverance and protection in danger of which the Apostle treats, and that by his providence, which is peculiar towards believers; and what this makes for a universal mediation I know not. Now the very context in this place…

As afterwards in the final destruction of that church and nation, God punished in them the guilt of all bloody persecutions from the beginning of the world (Luke 11:50–51). So Canaan was cursed for the sin of his father (Genesis 9:25). Saul's seven sons were put to death for the…

5th Commandment: Honor your father, etc. He breaks this commandment: who mocks or reviles or beats his superiors (Genesis 9:22); who disobeys their lawful commandments (Romans [reconstructed: 13]:30); who is unthankful to parents and will not [reconstructed: relieve] them if nee…

The Porter: What is your name? Christian: My name is now Christian, but my name at the first was Graceless: I came of the race of Japheth, whom God will persuade to dwell in the tents of Shem. (Genesis 9:27.) The Porter: But how does it happen that you come so late?

Secondly, and these very men, fell not into their great sins at the beginning of their profession, when they had had but little experience of the goodness of God, of the sweetness and pleasantness of obedience, of the power and craft of sin, of its impulsions, solicitations and…

Secondly, but besides a spirit of bondage, it may please God to set it on by a spirit of grace, as it is in the text, and that will open a heart in such a case to see that he has not only pierced his brother, but the Lord Jesus Christ, and that will make him to mourn bitterly, a…

Touching this difference; Before the flood, the Patriarchs (in all likelihood) were not allowed flesh, but only herbs, and the fruit of the ground (Genesis 1:29). After the flood, flesh was permitted, but blood forbidden (Genesis 9:3, 4). From that time there was commanded a dis…

By what reasons are they confuted? (1) From those places of Scripture, where the righteousness of the law is described (Leviticus 18:5; Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:12; Ezekiel 20:11, 13): whoever, therefore, keeps my statutes and judgments, says the Lord, shall live in them. And to…

Bacchus also is perhaps the Hebrew "son of Cush" — so it pleases Bochart, Geog. lib. i. cap. ii; this is Nimrod. Hence he was called Zagreus, that is, "the mighty hunter," (Genesis 10:9); and Nebrod, as all the Greeks call Nimrod. But Sanfordius shows by very many examples that…

From that day until the coming of the promised Messiah, God permitted the greater part of the human race to walk in their own ways. Noah — The myth of Saturn and Rhea arising from this — Janus — A herald of justice — The fictitious Sibylline Oracles — Authors of the Sibylline po…

British idolatry — The most ancient inhabitants of the island are unknown; and from where Britain was so called — The origins of peoples and nations are obscure — The causes of that obscurity — How great is the ignorance in tracing them — The ignorance and bad faith of the Greek…

But that Abraham was called a Hebrew from this, and the holy Hebrew language the language of sojourners — that is, him a transitory person, and this the language of those passing through — is altogether incredible. Moses says "that Shem was the father of all the sons of Heber,"…

Peleg was born in the one hundred and first year after the flood. That name was given to him, as (Genesis 10:25) states, "because in his days the earth was divided." And the verb is used elsewhere in the same sense, in (Psalms 55:10), "Divide their tongue."

For the first, these two nations, Cushan and Midian, were the neighboring people to the Israelites, being in the wilderness when God did such great things for them. First Cushan, that is the tent-dwelling Arabians on the south side towards Ethiopia, being as the Ethiopians of th…

For as of old they gave significant names to their children, so therein they had respect to their present condition, or some prospect they had given them by the Spirit of God of things future, wherein they or theirs should be concerned. So have we the reasons given us of the nam…

1. For the name, let it be taken from Uz, the name of a man. And there were three called by that name in Scripture, (Genesis 10:23, Genesis 22:21, Genesis 36:28) from either of these Job's country might derive its name, but from which of these, would be (I think) a nice debate;…

It is supposed by learned men, that he was a king of the Assyrian empire at that day, which had been before begun by Nimrod at Babel. As it was the honor of kings in those days to build new cities to be made the seat of their empire, as appears by Genesis 10:10-12, so it is conj…

Cain built a City: no marvel therefore if there were many after, as Sodom and all her sisters. And though it appears not they dug into the earth for natural stone, yet had they Brick, which they made themselves, Genesis, 11.3: and surely, the world which built the huge tower of…

III. Holy Scripture clearly indicates that Noah himself, and all the pious, abstained from that mad enterprise of the apostates. Those who undertook that deed were the "sons of men," (Genesis 11:5) — that is, "sons of men." These are set in opposition to the "sons of God" — that…

For after the designation of heresies had begun to be made arbitrarily, there was scarcely anything said or written by anyone, however entirely true, that was not by some placed in that category. But Scripture shows, in (Genesis 11:8), that the sons of men occupied their new sea…

IV. But in order to lend some color to this vain and opinionated boasting, they invented a most foul fable concerning Ur of the Chaldeans — from which place the sacred page attests that God called Abraham. The Targum attributed to Jonathan Ben Uzziel, on Genesis 11:28, narrates…

Out of this confidence, farther proceedeth a continual carefulness, that in all our ways, that is, thoughts, words, and deeds, etc. we seek his will, and approve it, and so for that cause look for his blessing and direction (Proverbs 3:6; Proverbs 16:3; Genesis 5:22; Genesis 17:…

Pliny says it was a city of Arabia: but it is commonly placed in Mesopotamia. Which is confirmed by Abraham's voyage, who came from there with his father, when he departed out of Chaldea (Genesis 11:31; Acts 7:4). The profane historians call it Charras in the plural number, and…

The Egyptians, Arcadians, and others, brag of their antiquity. As touching Abraham, he came out of Mesopotamia, while the Chaldeans flourished (Genesis 11:31): and lived solitarily in his house, as if the memory of his name should have been buried in oblivion, when the neighbor…

the proud in the thought of their heart "La ou nous avons rendu, Il a dissipe, le mot Grec signifie proprement, Il a escarte ou espars." This expression is worthy of notice: for as their pride and ambition are outrageous, as their covetousness is insatiable, they pile up their d…

End and use of it. Time of the Israelites sojourning in Egypt, Genesis 11:13, Exodus 12:40, 41, Acts 7:6, Galatians 3:17, reconciled. The beginning and ending of the 430 years.

So again, Acts 17:23, 24, 25, 26, 27. Whom you ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you, God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is the Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in Temples made with hands, neither is worshipped with mens hands, as though he…

First, we must have recourse to the cause of our judgment: for if the cause be insufficient, then our judgment is rash and unlawful. Before the Lord brought upon the world the confusion of languages, he is saide to goe downe among them, to see their fact, Gen. 11. 6. & before he…

Justice first poised the cause, and then anger poured out the vials. Thus (Genesis 11:5) the Lord came down to see the pride of the Babel-builders, before he scattered them, and (Genesis 18:21) he came down to see the wickedness of Sodom, before he overthrew it, though both were…

Now that this Pentateuch which was never as such committed to the Church of God, that had its rise no man knows by whom, and that hath been preserved no man knows how, known by few, used by none of the ancient Christians, that hath been voluntarily corrupted by men of corrupt mi…

This his infinite Spirit being everywhere — yet it is said here by it he went and preached, signifying the remarkable clearness of his administration that way. As when he appears eminently in any work of his own, or taking notice of our works, God is said to come down — so to th…

I say, when we hunt after respect from men, and make that the chief scope of our actions, God's glory will certainly lie in the dust; when we are to suffer ignominy and abasement for his sake, the care of God's glory will be laid aside. The great sin of the old world was this (G…

I say the frame of the whole man, to the words of the Text, and interpretation of them, each plotting of the Mind, each affecting of the Will, the [illegible] current of the carriage of the inward man; and [illegible] is not only unable to follow the direction of the Law and of…

Where then is this workman employed that makes all this noise in the world? Even there where men cry, Go to, let us build a City and a Tower whose top may reach to Heaven (Genesis 11:4), among those who would build a Babel, a tower of their own to get to Heaven by. The Lord come…

Between both these, end and means, there is this relation, that (though in sundry kinds) they are mutually causes one of another: section 2, the end is the first principal moving cause of the whole: it is that, for whose sake the whole work is, no Agent applies itself to action…

Hereof also we have sundry instances. Thus was the case with the Builders of Babel (Genesis 11). Whatever it were in particular that they aimed at, it was in the pursuit of a design of apostasy from God.

The Scriptures they insisted on were all of them gathered together in the Epistle of Pope Hadrian, which was solemnly assented to by the whole Council. And they were these: God made man of the dust of the Earth after his own image (Genesis 1); Abel by his own choice offered a sa…

5. That sin which does most trouble one, and fly in his face in an hour of sickness and distress, that is the beloved sin. When Joseph's brothers were distressed, their sin came to remembrance in selling their brother (Genesis 12:21). So when a man is upon his sick-bed, and cons…

Now, of these two ways, God called Abraham immediately by himself from heaven. Genesis 12:1. Secondly, for the estates of life whereunto God calls men, they are three: General, Particular, Personal.

Question. How do Christians bring blessings to places where they live? Answer. First, by their presence: for, as God said to Abraham the Father of the faithful, Thou shalt be a blessing, Genesis 12:3, so is it with all believers. Laban confesses that he perceived that the Lord h…

Which Country Abraham knew not by name, when he left his own, nor till he came thither: but then God told him, This is the Land I will give thee and thy seed. Genesis 12.7. In this Land thus promised, Abraham dwelt and remained, the rest of his life, which was a hundred years.

He led the Israelites in the deserts of Arabia forty years; whereas a man may travel from Rameses in Egypt to any part of Canaan in forty days: and this God did to humble them, and try them, and to know what was in their heart (Deuteronomy 8.2.) God promised Abraham a son, in wh…

He does therefore so express his blessing: "In blessing I will bless you" (Genesis 22:17), do it assuredly and effectually as having all the subject-matter of blessings in my hand. And therefore he says to Abraham, "I will bless them that bless you, and curse them that curse you…

In general they are express declarations of the grace, goodness, pleasure, and purpose of God towards men for their good and advantage. That here intended was that for the substance of it God made to Abraham (Genesis 12:2, 3): I will bless you and make your name great, and you s…

But it may yet be said, that Abraham had not received the promises then when he was blessed of Melchisedec, so that it was no argument of his preeminence at that time. But (1.) He had before received the same promise for the substance of it, which was afterwards more solemnly co…

And we must remember, that when men shall curse us for doing our duty, even then the blessing of God shall be upon us; and the curse causeless shall not hurt. And God says to Abraham, he will curse them that curses him (Genesis 12:3). Thirdly, we learn that no witchcraft, nor so…

She saves him out of charity, and God out of a wise design; she by his education in the Egyptian learning, fits him for the court, and God for the deliverance of his Church. Egypt had corn to relieve first Abraham, afterward Jacob in a time of famine (Genesis 12:10); the family…

But that this migration so greatly pleased God that for this reason he received the promises — that his posterity would possess by hereditary right the land into which he would journey, and that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed — as some affirm, is false and…

So great and so illustrious an exposition of the divine will and of the mysteries of grace was produced by that explanation of post-lapsarian theology, that the dispensation of a single revelation scarcely obtained a richer yield, until He should come to whom all things were res…

Sure the latter comprehends all Adam's sons, without exception, even including infants; the former cannot bear so wide a sense. So (Genesis 12:3) In you shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 22:18) If the meaning be that, without any figure or exception, all a…

Moreover, if the nations be blessed, that is to say, if they be accounted righteous before God, it follows that they are free from sin and death, and are made partakers of righteousness, salvation, and everlasting life, not for their works, but for their faith in Christ. Therefo…

We must first try what is the will of God, and then absolutely put it in execution, leaving the issue to God. Abram is called of God to forsake his country and kindred (Genesis 12); he directly then gives attendance to the commandment, and goes as it were blindfold — he knows no…

Thirdly, we must bless all, do good to all, and hurt none: for, we are heirs of blessings (1 Peter 3:8). Lastly, we must here mark our comfort: if we truly turn to God, and believe in the holy seed of Abraham, all things shall go well with us: God shall bless them that bless us,…

It was the thing that comforted David being cursed of his enemies, in that though they did curse, yet God would bless (Psalm 109:28). And let us comfort ourselves in this, that he will curse them that curse his people (Genesis 12:3). Again, if peace and mercy shall be upon them…

For when the Lord sent Jonah to the Ninevites, he manifests not that which he had decreed in his secret counsel, but meant to touch their hearts, and to bring them to [reconstructed: repentance] by the preaching of the Prophet, that he might show them mercy (Jonah 1:2 and 3:10).…

If so be then they gloried in that they were the children of Abraham, they were also with that to think from what place the Lord did first deliver him, to wit, from the service of idols which he and his father worshipped (Joshua 24:2). But he redeemed him often besides that; to…

And thus with this buckler, he repulses all the difficulties which easily arise, as often as the promises of God do surmount our reach. I grant he sometimes threatens with condition, as he threatened Abimelec (Genesis 12:17), and Pharaoh (Genesis 20:3), and the Ninevites (Jonah…

Has God then showed so rare an example of his power and goodness? why should we not wait for the same still? As touching that which follows, to come after him: some expound it, as if Abraham had called upon the name of the Lord wherever he came: for he no sooner set his foot in…

For this ἐπιγραφή, or title, does not extend to the whole book of Matthew: but the word βίβλος, book, is put for catalogue: as if he had said, "Here follows the catalogue of the generation of Christ." It is with reference to the promise, that Christ is called the son of David, t…

In the Scripture, we Christians are called a blessed people, blessed even by God himself. For God said to Abraham (Genesis 12): In your seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed. Seeing therefore that God has so bountifully poured this blessing upon us, that he might take a…

The oaths of the Tribes, that is the oaths made to them: the word he stood engaged to them in. The promise God made by oath to Abraham, that he would give him the Land of Canaan, for an inheritance, even to him, and his posterity (Genesis 12:7, 13, 14, 15), is here intimated. Th…

God having from the foundation of the world promised to bring forth the seed of the woman to work out the redemption of his Elect in the conquest of Satan, did in the separation of Abraham from the rest of the world begin to make provision of a peculiar stock from where it shoul…

The first promise of him concerned mankind in general, without the least particular respect, to any one peculiar people (Genesis 3:15). The next solemn renovation of it to Abraham extends the blessing wherewith it was to be attended to all the kindreds of the earth (Genesis 12:3…

By faith Abraham, when he was called, to go out into a place which he should afterwards receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whither he went (Genesis 11:4). By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles…

Promise of a Deliverer, the Foundation of all Religion in the World. The Promise renewed to Abraham (Genesis 12:1, 2, 3). Nature of it as given to him.

It is certain that both these names of God Elshaddai and Jehovah, were known among his people before. In the first mention we have of Abrahams addressing himself unto the worship of God, he makes use of the name Jehovah, Genesis 12:7. He built an Altar unto Jehovah; and so after…

God was much in the promises of this to Abraham. The first promise was when he first called him, Genesis 12:2. "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great; and thou shall be a blessing."

2. He was then married, and so of another house. 3. He had an express particular charge of God to leave his father's house, even as he had to sacrifice his son (Genesis 12:1). Except the like charge can be shown, his example makes nothing to the purpose.

That still voice within persuades more than all the loud crying without, as he that is within the house, though he speak low, is better heard and understood than he that shouts without doors. When the Lord himself speaks by this his Spirit to a man, selecting and calling him out…

If God's covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3) and that of Genesis 17:2-3 were (as you say) pure Gospel covenants of grace, and yet in both some things are required as duties on Abraham's part, to make him partaker of the benefits of the promises; then the covenant of grace is…

Yet this absoluteness of the covenant (as you improperly call it) is by you asserted, page 229, 230. There is (say you) no condition at all, 'tis wholly free and absolute, as the covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 17:2-3). Thank you, Sir, for making them so; for by c…

See page 229. It is observable (say you) that as the covenants mentioned Genesis 2, Exodus 20, etc. were all conditional, and therefore legal covenants, requiring strict and perfect obedience, as the condition propounded, in order to the enjoyment of the mercies contained in the…

Or let it be considered absolutely, as that which contained relief in itself, for the penitent Israelites that should live towards the end of the world, after they should be gathered from all their dispersions and captivities as you there speak, and more fully explicate in your…

Why this is the reason: here is something required on their part as a condition, and a condition quite alters the nature of the Covenant. Very well, but tell me then, why you say, Page 223, and in many other places, that the Covenant made with Abraham in Genesis 12 was a Gospel-…

In a word: You reject all those covenants as legal, that have any conditions in them, or respect to any thing that is to be done by us, and allow Genesis 12 and Genesis 22 to be pure gospel-covenants of grace; and yet in the first Abraham is bound to walk before God and be perfe…

First, it may be a mans strength may increase more afterwards, then i was at the first, then the same burden is not the same, when there is a disproportion of strength and enabling to bear it. As Abraham, Gen. 12. you shall find that he was another manner of man, then he was, Ge…

That is reason enough, and instead of all reasons to a believer, to awe and charge his heart, that we may not shift and distinguish ourselves out of our duty; that we may shake off sloth and negligence, much more deceits, and fraudulency, and corrupt affection. Many shifts will…

Why did you not tell me she was your wife? So I might have taken her to be my wife," etc. a severe expostulation and an upbraid (Genesis 12). And yet in (Genesis 20) Abraham is at it again, and meets with a more plain and home rebuke, and is charged with no less than sin by Abim…

Paul indeed is called a young man (Acts 7:58), yet his bringing up at the feet of Gamaliel, the largeness and depth of his learning and knowledge in arts and tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18), together with the commission he was entrusted by the High Priest, for the persecuting of t…

'Tis the soul is the child rather than the body: and therefore in Scripture put for the whole man. Abraham and Lot went forth with all the souls they had gotton in Haran, Gen. 12. so All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, that is, all the persons. The body is but the she…

Bally the Jesuit, whom Rivet encounters, to the question between the orthodox and the Papists, namely, whether the infants of believers are holy before baptism, answers roundly for them: No (Rivet, Cathol. Orthod. Tract. 3. qu. 3). And touching that famous place controverted bet…

3. He who prayed for them, blessed them, laid his hands upon them, invited them to bring Infants to him (of all which Infants were as incapable, as of the use and ends of Baptism and of actual confession of sin and of believing) judged they ought be Baptized. 4. It's never to be…

And if James be speaking of the nature and causes of the same Justification before God only, with Paul and not of the effects thereof, it were false that James says (with reverence to the holy Lord) that we are not justified by faith 〈in non-Latin alphabet〉 without works, for Pa…

Which difference is much to be observed between the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace: and for that cause the Covenant of Works is, first, more independent, and requires more of man's strength and less grace than the other. Second, it stands more by precepts, less by p…

For could the heart of Christ be cold and indifferent to undergo suretyship for the sons of men: Who warmed and kindled a fire of Redeemer's love in his heart from everlasting? Or was his consent to the Covenant, but as late and young as since Adam fell, or Abraham was called to…

A duty which has been performed by the servants of God in ancient times. The first thing that Abraham did, when he came from Ur of the Chaldeans, to the land of Canaan, which God gave him to possess, was the building of an altar for the worship of God, his sacrificing thereon, a…

I cannot then be persuaded that God has made a covenant of grace with all — especially with those who never heard a word of covenant, grace, or its condition — much less received grace for fulfilling the condition, without which the whole would be altogether unprofitable and use…

God's will is guided by wisdom; should God sometimes let us have our will, we would undo ourselves; did he let us carve for ourselves, we should choose the worst piece. Lot chose Sodom because it was well watered, and was as the garden of the Lord (Genesis 13:10), but God rained…

Secondly, that he would give him a child in his old age: Genesis 17.16. Thirdly, that unto him and his seed, he would give the Land of Canaan for ever: Genesis 13.15. Fourthly, that in Isaac he would bless all the Nations of the earth. Genesis 21.12.

That Abraham did thus, appears in the Stories written of him. He came to Bethel, and there pitched his tent, Gen. 12.8: and Gen. 13.18. he removed his tent: and 18.1. God appeared unto him, as he sat in his tent door: and 18.9. being asked where Sarah was, answered, she is withi…

You will go on with your work and put your selves in God's hand for your eternal happiness, because he is merciful, faithful: see also Romans 2:7. Meditate on it often, meditation is a temperate ecstasy, a survey of the land of promise, God bids Abraham take a view of Canaan (Ge…

This has always been one of the many ill qualities that are in wicked men, that they have an aching tooth at religion, and religious men, a great proneness to seek and spy faults in them. When there was a strife between the Herdsmen of Abram's Cattle, and the Herdsmen of Lot's C…

Fourthly, he is willing to deny himself of his own right, even upon equal easy terms, to prevent an offense that may grow, and he stands upon equal terms, lest an offense should arise — he yields and denies himself (1 Thessalonians 2:6-7). So Abraham yielded to Lot, though he ha…

The second thing is, how James should be the Lord's brother? Answer: In Scripture, children of the same womb, are brethren: men of the same blood, are brethren; as Abram and Lot (Genesis 13:8). Men of the same country are brethren, thus Saul's countrymen are called his brethren…

Abraham chose rather to lose his right, then to offend Lot. Gen. 13. and so did Christ. Matth. 17. 27.

And it meets with the sin of many, who having received great gifts and graces of the Spirit, are so far from restoring those that sin against them, that they scorn and disdain to speak to them: for if they be at variance with any, the common saying is, I am as good a man as he,…

For my own part I rather think it is a proper name to point out as it were the true and obedient Israelites, for he utters a vehement speech in turning himself to the patriarch; and God in speaking to him that was dead testifies to the living, that that which he had long ago pro…

Has God then showed so rare an example of his power and goodness? why should we not wait for the same still? As touching that which follows, to come after him: some expound it, as if Abraham had called upon the name of the Lord wherever he came: for he no sooner set his foot in…

But this had no reference, except to the tribe of Judah. Others think more correctly that the multiplication of the holy people was happy and blessed, as was said to Abraham, "I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth," (Genesis 13:16;) and again, "Tell the stars, if thou be…

Ezekiel also in his chapter 16, speaking hereof in the person of God, and applying his words by way of upbraiding to Jerusalem, says: This was the [reconstructed: iniquity] of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness, both in her and in her daughter…

We find frequent mention in those ancient times, of the riches of the Patriarchs and others in gold and silver. It is expressed concerning Abraham (Genesis 13:2), that Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold. And Abraham's servant (Genesis 24:35) says of him, The…

"And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great; and thou shall be a blessing." Again the same promise was renewed after he came into the land of Canaan, Genesis 13:14 etc. The covenant was again renewed after Abraham and returned from the…

Contention will as soon clothe a man with rags as slothfulness; that therefore which keeps the peace does not a little befriend the plenty. It was Abraham's meek management of his quarrel with Lot, that secured both his own and his kinsman's possessions, which otherwise would ha…

He that was famous for faith, was famous for meekness; for the more we have of faith towards God, the more we shall have of meekness towards all men. How meek was Abraham, when there happened a strife between his herdsmen and Lot's, which, had it proceeded, might have been of il…

The King of Egypt is called a Dragon in the waters: and the chief horses that Solomon had, in 2 Chron. 9. they came out of Egypt; and the Whore in the Proverbs, had her fine linen out of Egypt. Egypt was a very fruitful Country, Gen. 13:9 The fruitfulness of that place to which…

Let us therefore raise up our hearts to consider of this. And as we read in Gen. 13. 14, 15. where God showed to Abraham the Land of Canaan, says God, look Northward, and Southward, and Eastward, and Westward; for all the land which you seest, to you will I give it, and to your…

His word is satisfaction enough to a gracious heart; if they have his word they can praise him beforehand, for the grounds of hope before they have enjoyment. As Abraham when he had not a foot in the land of Canaan, yet built an altar, and offered sacrifices of thanksgiving, bec…

O how happy were England if it had more peacemakers! Abraham was a peacemaker (Genesis 13:8); Moses was a peacemaker (Exodus 2:13). And that ever-to-be-honored Emperor Constantine, when he called the bishops together at the first Council of Nicaea to end church controversies, an…

What seed? The visible seed: And the Levites that minister to me, will I multiply: He alludes to the promise made to Abraham, of multiplying his seed (Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:5; [reconstructed: Genesis 22:17]). And this promise made to Abraham (says Calvin) belongs to them all…

Christian: It is a thing to be wondered at, and it argues that their hearts are grown desperate in the case; and I cannot tell who to compare them to so fitly, as to them that pick pockets in the presence of the judge, or that will cut purses under the gallows. It is said of the…

Answ. One cause thereof may be, because his faith was now more confirmed, he having lately been in some pang of grief through want of children (verse 2, 3), as the disciples of Christ are often said to believe upon some new confirmation of their faith, though they were believers…

The first, is the condition of him, with whom we are angry, namely that he is a brother. Let there be no strife between me and you, for we are brethren (Genesis 13:8). Again, he is created in the image of God; we must not therefore seek to hurt or destroy that image.

4. We hallow and sanctify God's name when we never make mention of his name but with the highest reverence; God's name is sacred, and it must not be spoken of but with veneration. The Scripture, when it speaks of God, gives him his titles of honor (Genesis 14:20): Blessed be the…

2. This shows sin is gotten to a great height, that because a man is low in the world, therefore he will Acheronta movere, go to the devil for a livelihood. Abraham would not have it said, that the king of Sodom had made him rich (Genesis 14:23). O let it never be said, that the…

As Christ, after he was tempted, the angels came and ministered to him (Matthew 4:11). As when Abraham had been warring, Melchizedek brought him bread and wine to revive his spirits (Genesis 14:18), so after the saints have been warring with Satan, God sends His Spirit to comfor…

In the latter way, as it respects men or sinners, it constantly denotes the bearing of the punishment of sin, and gives that sense to [in non-Latin alphabet], with respect to the guilt of sin as its cause. And hence ariseth the ambiguity of those words of Cain (Genesis 14:13), […

The meaning is: he esteemed it a strange Country to him, and accounted himself a stranger in it. Against which, it may be objected, that he was familiarly acquainted with Mamre, Aner, and Eshcol, three great and mighty men of that Country: then he and they were confederates toge…

2. This is the person spoken of; and the first thing in the description of him is his office, that he was a king. So he is reported in the first mention of him (Genesis 14:18): Melchisedec King of Salem. Now whereas this does not belong to that wherein he was principally to be a…

At first it was the portion that was taken out of the whole, and afterwards the whole itself was signified by it. Now although Abraham had reserved nothing to himself of what belonged to the King of Sodom and his companions, yet the army and king which he had newly slain and des…

Therefore these words here and there, do express the several different states under consideration. Here, is in the case of the Levitical Priesthood; and There respects the case of Melchisedec, as stated (Genesis 14). Secondly, the foundation of the comparison, that wherein both…

If we had nothing else to answer for, but an island of blessings, how poorly have we discharged this trust? 2. Take notice of their late deliverance, four kings made war upon them, by whom they were carried captive, and rescued by Abraham (Genesis 14:15, 16). Deliverances from w…

Objection 1. Genesis 14:18: When Abraham was coming from the slaughter of the kings, Melchizedek met him and brought forth bread and wine, and he was a priest of the most high God. Now this bread and wine (say they) he brought forth to offer as a sacrifice, because it is said he…

Cyrus and Darius are mentioned as their friends; Nebuchadnezzar and Sennacherib and others, as God's instruments in scourging them. Chedorlaomer and the other kings with him as they were the subjects of Abraham's valor and triumph (Genesis 14:9-10). He takes no notice of the nam…

First, so is Sacrament, Trinity, &c. and yet those terms may be lawfully used, because the thing meant thereby is found. Secondly, but seeing the covenant is between the Lord and his Church, as the two parties that are confederate, it is all one whether it be called the Lord's C…

VIII. It is gratuitously said — indeed, falsely presumed — by some in this matter that Abraham was first called a Hebrew by the Canaanites, as though they wished to denote his crossing over, which they had almost, as they say, seen with their own eyes, by that name. For he was f…

Why, I ask, would one call him a prince when one had just called him a king, since kohen never denotes a prince except one who is lesser and inferior to a king? Furthermore, it was the role of the priest, not the prince, to bless others in the name of God — which Melchizedek is…

The duties of instruction are, that by a familiar and most plain manner of teaching, they may grow in the knowledge of that truth which is according to godliness. [Genesis 18:19. When as I have known him, should I not reveal it for this cause, that he may command his children an…

When we use the name of God in an oath; according to the excellency of this duty, we must be diligently prepared by earnest and sufficient consideration of the person of the Lord, to whose judgment we must commit ourselves, of the cause, and matter whereabout we swear, with all…

5. Mortify therefore your members, that are on earth, fornication, uncleanness, etc. Beza, Piscator, and others think it probable that Christ uttered this prayer to his Father, in the Syriac tongue, because the Evangelist uses the word [illegible], to be lifted up from the earth…

The rainbow signifies the Covenant between God and man, and therefore is styled the token of the Covenant (Genesis 9:13), but withal it is a meteor that has a natural production, and the cause of it is made out by philosophy. Fire and brimstone from heaven burnt up the lewd sinn…

2. for those that are of affinity. Thus the kinsmen of Christ, are called his brethren: which the Helvidians not observing, thought they had been his natural brethren, by the virgin Mary: thus Abraham and Lot are called brethren (Genesis 13:8, 14), though Lot was but his brother…

It may be also that the Dumeans molested God's people, while their neighbors assailed them on all sides. Of Seir.] It was a mountain of Idumea, as it appears (Genesis 14:6). And under the name of this mountain, he comprehends the whole kingdom.

But he redeemed him often besides that; to wit, when he was in danger in Egypt and in Gerar (Genesis 12:17; 20:14). Also when he discomfited the kings (Genesis 14:16). Lastly, when God granted him issue even at the time when he was past power to beget any (Genesis 21:2).

Drew near.] By this, some understand, that the unbelievers took a narrow view of God's works. For we use to draw near when we would be more certainly informed of any new thing: others refer it to the King of Sodom, who met Abraham (Genesis 14:17), but these things, as I think, s…

But while He is the only Author of all blessing, yet that men might obtain a familiar view of his grace, he chose that at first the priests should bless in his name as mediators. Thus Melchizedek blessed Abraham, (Genesis 14:19,) and in Numbers 6:23-27, a perpetual law is laid d…

The first of these was made to Adam in the promise of the seed, which was the principle of faith and obedience to the Fathers before the Flood; and to this were subservient all the consequent particular revelations made to Seth, Enosh, Enoch, Lamech, and others before the Flood.…

In his own person he conversed but with few of them, to some whereof through their own sins he was an occasion of punishment; as to the Egyptians (Genesis 12:17), and to the Philistins (Genesis 20:4-7). Some he destroyed with the sword (Genesis 14:15), and was not in any thing s…

Secondly, this is a perfect platforme of prayer, and therefore must containe petition for temporall blessings, els it were not perfect: now we cannot comprehend our requests for temporall blessings under any other petition but this onely, and therefore Christ here propounds them…

So that as Abraham had a seal of the covenant in circumcision that was equivalent to baptism, so now he had a seal of it equivalent to the Lord's supper. Melchizedek's coming to meet him with such a seal of the covenant of grace, on the occasion of this victory of his over the k…

Though God has communicated these things to the children of men, yet he has reserved the dominion in his own hands: So (Haggai 2:8), The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Hosts. He never disposed anything so into the creature's hands, but still he has reserv…

Indeed in so doing he should crosse himself in his own grand design, which is the glory of God, and the happiness of his own soul in enjoying of him; upon these very termes the servants of God have refused to be rich and great in the world, when either of these lay at stake; Mos…

1. Real, the Great River Euphrates, the strength and fullness of whose streams does yet rage so high, that there is no passage for the Kings of the East to come over; therefore this must be dried up as other waters were for their forefathers in days of old (Revelation 16:12). Do…

Families, Families. These kind of ingeminations do not always signify every family, but sometimes sundry and many families, sometimes universality, and sometimes multitude, as Hebrew grammarians say; as to show you some instances, (Genesis 14:10) the valley was full of slime pit…

Secondly, this is God's law (Exodus 22:2): If a thief be found breaking up a house, and be smitten that he die, no blood shall be shed for him. Abraham was a stranger in the land of Sodom, and yet he rescued his brother Lot, and recovered all his substance that he had lost, by f…

We have a remarkable instance in Abraham, of God's rewarding deeds of charity with sweet discoveries of himself, when he had been remarkably charitable to his brother Lot, and the people that he had redeemed out of captivity with him, by exposing his life to rescue them, and had…

3. A man in the dark is in danger every step he goes; so a man in the state of nature is in danger every step, of falling into hell. Thus it is before Christ teaches us; indeed, the darkness in which a sinner is, while in an unregenerate state, is worse than natural darkness; fo…

Will God speak peace to us when our minds are wandering, and our thoughts are traveling to the ends of the earth (Proverbs 17:24)? If ever you would hear the Word with attention, do as Abraham, he drove away the fowls from the sacrifice (Genesis 15:11). So when we find these exc…

Give attention to the Word as to a matter of life and death: and to that purpose, have a care, (1.) To banish vain impertinent thoughts, which will distract you, and take you off from the work in hand. These fowls will be coming to the sacrifice (Genesis 15:11), therefore we mus…

O be ambitious of pardoning grace. When God had made Abraham great and large promises, Abraham replies, Lord what is all, seeing I go childless? (Genesis 15:2). So when God has given you riches, and all your heart can wish, say to him, Lord, what is all this, seeing I want forgi…

But that which nextly and most properly gives us the advantage and encouragement to believe in Christ, is that special revelation which God has been pleased to make of him, in which revelation he gives us to understand, that as he is a complete and all sufficient Savior, so he i…

Qu. 8. How many we sanctify the name of God in the use of Gospel institutions? Answ. 1. By a holy reverence of his sovereign authority appointing of them. 2. A holy regard to his special presence in them. 3. Faith in his promises annexed to them. 4. Delight in his will, wisdom,…

Thirdly, darkness is exceedingly terrible and full of horror. When children are in the dark, they think they see fearful sights; it is therefore called 'the horror of darkness' (Genesis 15:12). So his soul here may be filled with fears and terrors from God's wrath, and of God be…

Secondly, Abraham inherited Canaan in his posterity. For though God promised it to himself, when he was 75 years old, Genesis 12:4, and to him and to his seed, Genesis 15:7: Yet neither he nor his immediate seed enjoyed it, but his posterity the Israelites, 430 years after the p…

Here we may observe a most notable work of faith: it makes a man to keep in memory the merciful promises which God has made unto him. This is it which commends Josephs faith for a lively faith, That being about to die, he remembers this merciful promise of God, made to his foref…

Not but that other things also are of as great number; as, the drops of water, dust of the earth, and hairs of men's heads, etc.: but these two are most common, and proverbial phrases, whereby to express a multitude. And again, the stars of the sky are rather named than any othe…

For neither we nor our works are capable of an eternal reward by the way of merit, that is, that the reward should be reckoned to us not of grace but of debt (Romans 4:4). And that which utterly overthrows such an apprehension is, that God himself is our eternal reward (Genesis…

From there also were faedus percutere, and faedus ferire. See (Genesis 15:9, 10, 18). [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] or [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] that is cum, which is joined in construction with it (Genesis 15:18; Deuteronomy 5:2).

That God should so declare himself in his covenant, was absolutely necessary to direct and encourage the obedience of the covenanters. And he did so accordingly (Genesis 17:1; Genesis 15:1). Hereby he reserves the glory of the whole to himself.

God has put this declaration hereof into the foundation of all our obedience in the Covenant. I am your exceeding great reward (Genesis 15:1). And at the close of it, the Lord Jesus does not think it enough to declare that he will come himself, but also that his reward is with h…

And the means of ingenerating this Faith in them was the Promise itself. By this Faith were they justified and saved (Genesis 15:6). But it may be enquired how this Faith could be proposed to us for an example, seeing it respected the future Exhibition of Christ, and we are to r…

And the faith which he had in hope was against hope (Romans 4:18, 19). Hence he complained that after all his long and wearisome pilgrimage he went childless (Genesis 15:2), and fell into no small mistakes in the matter of Hagar and Ishmael. Yet after all, the Promise made its w…

How many, and how punctually were the prophesies, concerning our Redemption by Christ? How plain was that, concerning the type thereof, namely, Israel's deliverance from Egyptian slavery (Genesis 15:13, 14), and yet how wonderfully fulfilled, many hundreds of years after they we…

What is a city, but an aggregation and heap of houses and inhabitants? Multitudes had died before Abraham, and gone to heaven, from Adam, Abel, Seth, downwards; and God promises him peace at his death, and a being gathered to those fathers (Genesis 15:15). There was then a city…

And so the proof of this fourth particular, will add further strength and confirmation to that we presented in the former. Now that his being our God (which is the substance of the Covenant of Grace) does engage him to provide glory for separate souls, that one instance of Abrah…

I might here observe that we have other instances of God's shortening the days of his Church's captivity and bondage, either at the beginning or end, very parallel with what has been now supposed in the case of the Witnesses. Thus the proper time of the bondage of the posterity…

Or to make profit to men, either ourselves, or others, to be more moved with the feeling, of the mercy, justice, power, authority of the Lord, in any weighty matter, to be strengthened among us. Here is forbidden the use of the name of God, when we have no such end, as we do com…

It is the procurement of the mediator that it pleads upon, and in this sense, the imputed righteousness of Christ, and the righteousness of faith are one and the same, because faith takes hold of the righteousness without us, which can be no other but the righteousness of Christ…

Second, that they were to trust to the merit of their own works, or seek righteousness in themselves, more than we? Third, or that they believed not, or that their faith was not counted to them for righteousness, as it is with us (Genesis 15:5-6; Romans 4:3-8; Psalm 32:1-2)? Fou…

It is true, the word, the works of God, are not the principal object of faith, nor objectum quod; faith rests only on God, and the Lord Jesus (John 14:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:8). Your faith toward God (1 Peter 1:21; Deuteronomy 1:32; John 3:12; Genesis 15:6; Daniel 6:23; Romans 4:3…

(Revelation 1:17) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. Abraham was cast into great horror (Genesis 15:12) when God appeared solemnly to enter into covenant with him. So (Isaiah 6:5) Then I said, woe is me, for I am undone.

Scribes and Pharisees have their reward from men, from men they expect it: Saints expect their reward from God, and God gives it them: Men reward them evil for their good will, and they expect no better: If better come from men, they own it as a gratuity sent from their Father:…

Now he adds the example of Abraham, and rehearses the testimony of the scripture. The first is out of Genesis (Genesis 15:6): Abraham believed God, etc. This place the Apostle here mightily prosecutes, as also he does in his epistle to the Romans (Romans 4:2-3).

The first is, the occasion, which was on this manner. After the conquest of the heathen kings, Abraham was still in some fear: in this regard the Lord comforts him (Genesis 15:1). I am your buckler, and your exceeding great reward.

Lastly, it crosses the wicked conceit and imagination of those men, that sing a requiem to their souls, in promising to themselves an impunity from sin, and an immunity from all the judgments of God, notwithstanding they go on in their bad practices; and all because God does not…

He now prevents an objection which might be made against this doctrine, to wit, it seems strange that the Lord should call those nations to him which were far off before: as if they should say, Has God then chosen the posterity of Abraham in vain? Shall his promises so often rep…

Others supposed that Cyrus did but dally with them, only permitting them to go, that having gauged and sounded the depth of their affections, he might take occasion thereby to oppress them and deal the more severely with them, not considering that those things which the Lord had…

He therefore brings them to their original; to teach them that however they were but a small handful now, yet God was able to increase and multiply them. Then he commands them to look to their father Abraham, who being but one man, yet grew into a great number, and God gave him…

He calls them mercies of David, because this covenant which was now so solemnly confirmed, was made in David's hand. True it is that the Lord made the covenant first with Abraham (Genesis 15:5 and 17:7), and afterwards confirmed it by Moses (Exodus 3:15), and lastly he establish…

Under the word Eunuch, by the figure Synecdoche, he comprehends all those that bore any note of infamy upon them, which might be an occasion to separate them from God's people. For it seemed that the eunuchs, and such as had no children, were rejected of God, and excluded out of…

Others think more correctly that the multiplication of the holy people was happy and blessed, as was said to Abraham, "I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth," (Genesis 13:16;) and again, "Tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: so shall thy seed be," (Genesis 15:…

The Greek word μετοικεσία, which the old translator renders transmigration, and Erasmus renders exile, literally signifies a change of habitation. The meaning is, that the Jews were compelled to leave their country, and to dwell as "strangers in a land that was not theirs," (Gen…

And two things are contained herein; (1.) That we do all things to his Glory. This is the proper End of all the Acts and Actings of this Life, Rom. 14. 7, 8. (2.) That we design in and by it, to come to the eternal enjoyment of him, as our Blessedness and Reward, Gen. 15. 1. (5.…

(1.) What a mercy was it to us, to have Parents that prayed for us before they had us, as well as in our Infancy, when we could not pray for our selves? Thus did Abraham, Genesis 15:2 and Hannah, 1 Samuel 1. 10, 11. and some here likely are the fruits and returns of their Parent…

The wickedness of the wicked shall come to an end. There is a time when the iniquity of the Amorites comes to the full (Genesis 15:16), it comes up to the brim in the appointed day of slaughter. When their wickedness has filled the Ephah, a Talent of Lead is laid upon the mouth…

Haeredis nomen latiore significatione possessorem & fidei Commissarium & Legatarium comprehendit; it comprehends a Possessor, a Trustee and a Legatary; so Spigelius. This sense of the word takes off the Catachresis which must be supposed in the application of it to the Son, if i…

Besides that, this is indeed no tolerable argument, namely, that learned men cannot agree in the exact computation of any time appointed to such an end, to prove that it was not designed to that end, is evident from other instances in the Scripture to the same purpose. Thus God…

First, For the family, stock, or lineage whereof he was to come; there was a threefold restitution of it, after the promise had for a long time run in general, that he should be of the seed of the woman, or take his nature from among mankind. The first was to the seed of Abraham…

Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised (Genesis 17:19; chap. 21. v. 2). Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, as the stars of…

And (Genesis 22:18): And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. And when he doubted of the accomplishment of this Promise, because he was childless, and said, Behold to me you have given no seed, as knowing that therein lay the Promise (Genesis 15:3), God te…

Ra. Saadias Gaon, on Daniel 7:13. whose words are reported by Solomon Jarchi on Genesis 35:8. Ra. Arama on Genesis 15. as he is at large cited by Munster on this Psalm. Moses Haddarshan on Genesis 18:1.

Christ Jesus the Son of God, the head of the church, had all Afflictions gathered into an head in him; and yet the father alwaies loved him, and was alwaies well pleased with him. When God solemnly renewed his covenant with Abraham, and he had prepared the sacrifice whereby it w…

The true treasure then (to let the other passe) is in a word, the trueGod, that one only eternal essence in three persons, who made all things and gouernes all things; in him alone is all goodnesse and happines to be found. Gen. 15. 1. I am your buckler, and yours exceeding grea…

And then the great condition of the covenant of grace, which is faith, was now more fully made known. Genesis 15:5, 6 "And he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."

The land that God had often promised to their fathers, included all the countries from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates. These were the bounds of the land promised to Abraham, Genesis 15:18. "In that same day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham, saying, Unto thy seed…

The wicked also have their ripening time for hell, and judgment; God does with much long-suffering endure the vessels of wrath, prepared for destruction. Of their ripeness for judgment the Scripture often speaks (Genesis 15:16): The sin of the Amorites is not yet full. And of Ba…

Secondly, this power of true faith in man's heart must teach us, not to content ourselves with a general faith and knowledge in religion, but to go further, and to get a sound faith that may purify the heart, at least in some true measure; for, saving faith will cleanse a man in…

Besides, though one be not past age, yet if she be barren (as some by secret reasons in nature are) it is not to be expected, she should conceive. Now, both these lay in Sarah's way; for, here it is said, she was past age: and another place (namely, Genesis 16:1-2) says, she was…

He sees, and knows all the evil and malice that is in their sin and the circumstances of it. He is the God that lives and sees (Genesis 16:14). And as he sees, so he judges, because he is the Living God, which also is the ground of holy trust in him (1 Timothy 4:10).

The Answer is, That it is very unusual that children at thirteen years of age should be fit for full communion. And as for Ishmael, there is no such thing testified of him in the Scripture; but on the contrary, when the Lord says, He should be a wilde man, and his hand against e…

The same thing is meant by his appearing, When he appeareth, says our translation: When he shall be revealed, says the Chaldee: others read, When he shall be seen, or in seeing of him. The original word I find used to express more remarkable, divine, and glorious sights, as (Gen…

From hence cometh it, that we fear not in greatest dangers (2 Kings 6:16; Psalm 3:7; Psalm 27:3); that in the time of affliction, we are patient (Proverbs 20:22; Hebrews 10:33); without all murmuring to hold our peace (Psalm 39:10); receiving them as from a father (Job 1:21; Psa…

If you find that God has helped, melted, and graciously manifested himself to your souls, take special notice of it, record that for time to come, slight not the least appearances of God, own him in, praise him for these sweet manifestations of his love. Learn this lesson even o…

Notwithstanding she suffers not her husband to marry another wife out of his house, but she gives to him in marriage her servant, to the end that she might be built by her. For so says the history (Genesis 16): Now Sarah Abraham's wife bore him no children, and she had a maid an…

Thus Mordecai and Hester took all care to perpetuate the memory of that signal deliverance from the plot of Haman, by ordaining the feast of Purim, as an Anniversary throughout every generation, every family, every Province, and every Ciy, that those days of Purim should not fai…

Sometime the word is translated directly to despise: I will give you two texts for that. Genesis 16:4: When Hagar saw she had conceived, her Mistress was despised in her eyes — it is the same word with that used here for cursing — the meaning is, she did lightly esteem her Mistr…

But the angry man is unfit to be so, that takes fire at every provocation; fitter to be abandoned to the lions' dens, and the mountains of the leopards, than to go forth by the footsteps of the flock. He that has his hand against every man, cannot but have (with Ishmael's charac…

And when the expedient, pitched upon for the prevention of strife, was their parting from each other, though Lot was the junior, yet Abraham, for peace's sake quitted his right, and gave Lot the choice (verse 9), and the gracious visit which God gave him thereupon (verse 14) was…

From which I gather, that her husband observing her to be a godly, wise, faithful, and industrious woman, gave her power and liberty to do in the household affairs, what she thought good, (he being a public magistrate, for he was known in the gates, sitting among the Elders of t…

§. 16. Of husbands' ready yielding to their wives' humble suits. Again, it being a token of reverence in a wife humbly to make known her desire to her husband, he ought to show so much courtesy as readily to grant her desire: this courtesy the forenamed Ahasuerus afforded to Est…

As if he had said; Hereby you show that you fear me not as a master, because you despise me. This sin of despising masters is expressly forbidden (1 Timothy 6:2): and for it was Hagar dealt harshly withal (Genesis 16:6). When masters are poor, mean, weak, aged, or otherwise impo…

The godly have evil natures as well as others, which cannot be beaten down, but by afflictions. We are froward in our relations; Hagar was proud in Abraham's house (Genesis 16:4): her mistress was despised in her eyes; but very humble in the desert (Genesis 21:16). David's heart…

The Angels are so holy, that they cannot endure the least reflection should be cast on God, or least duty neglected towards God, though they might be worshipped. 5 Their testimony against sin appears thus, that where they find it, though in God's own people, they rebuke it, and…

For all the works of God, especially those that are rare and strange, have a voice whereby he speaks to us. The first thing suggested to a spiritual Mind in such seasons, will be, God is in this place, he is present that livs and ses, as Hagar confessed on the like occasion, Gen…

The sixth allegation, is out of (Genesis 21:9), where Ishmael is said to mock at Isaac when he was weaned, at which time Ishmael was fifteen years of age at the least. For he was born when Abraham was 86 years old (Genesis 16), and Isaac was born, when Abraham was about a hundre…

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God, endure grief, suffering wrongfully (1 Peter 2:19). The practice of this we may see in Hagar, the handmaid of Sara, who is commanded by the Angel, to return again to her dame, and humble herself under her hands, though…

And therefore unnaturalness of affection is reckoned up by the Apostle among the foulest of sins, when like Ishmael the nature of men grows wild and brutish, as the philosopher calls such men [in non-Latin alphabet], men of savage and fierce dispositions. And therefore in the Sc…

He is strong; the superlative degree is intended here, namely, He is most strong. He is called Elshaddai, God Almighty (Genesis 17:1). His almightiness lies in this, he can do whatever is feasible.

I will establish my covenant with you. When the Lord told Abraham that he would enter into covenant with him, Abraham fell upon his face (Genesis 17:2), as being amazed that the God of glory should bestow such a favor upon him. 2. God makes a covenant with us to tie us fast to h…

The Covenant was made with them. Genesis 17:7. I will establish my Covenant between me and you, and your seed after you, for an everlasting Covenant, to be a God to you and your seed after you. And Acts 2:39. The Promise is to you and to your children.

Whether we are alone or in company God sees us; he is [illegible], the heart-searcher; the belief of this would make us live always as under God's eye (Psalm 16:8): "I have set the Lord always before me." The belief of a deity would be a bridle to sin, a spur to duty; it would a…

Qu. 10. How do we in and by them build up our selves in our most holy faith? Answ. By the exercise of that communion with God in Christ Jesus, which in their due observation he graciously invites and admits us to, for the increase of his grace in us, and the testification of his…

And (3) By their celebration is he glorified in the world: And therefore, (4) As he has made blessed promises to his people, to grant them his presence and to bless them in their use: So (5) Being the tokens of the marriage relation that is between him and them, with respect to…

Answ. Professing believers, if not baptized in their infancy, and their infant seed. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 39; Acts 16:33; 1 Corinthians 1:16; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Colossians 2:12, 13; with Genesis 17:10, 11, 12. Quest. 39. Where, and to whom, is the ordinance of the Lord's S…

But God has altered and changed them at sundry reasons, according to the counsel of his own will, so as he saw necessary for his own glory, and the edification of his Church. See (Genesis 2:16, 17; Genesis 17:10, 11; Exodus 12:3, 4, 5; Exodus 20; chapter 25:9; Hebrews 1:1; Hebre…

What is the general nature of sacraments? They are divine instructions annexed to the word, for the teaching of spiritual things (Genesis 17; Exodus 12; Matthew 26). Who is the author of sacraments?

For the covenant of grace has these two main promises in it. First, that God himself — who is the God of comfort — will be an abundant reward (Genesis 17:1-2). By faith we take him to be so and are divorced from all other comforts in comparison with him. Second, that Jesus Chris…

Now it is said that he received (not one promise) but the Promises plurally; for these causes; first, because God having made one main promise unto him touching Christ, did repeat and renew the same diverse times. Secondly, because GOD had made diverse particular promises unto h…

In opposition to all these gods, and renunciation of them, Melchisedec professed himself the priest of the most High God; as Paul preached at Athens the unknown God in opposition to all their known [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], or idols whom they supposed themselves acquainted with…

Here lies the eternal spring of the infinite treasures of the supplies of the Church here and for ever. Whatever God is in himself, whatever these properties of his Nature extend to, in it all God has promised to be our God (Genesis 17:1). I am God Almighty, walk before me.

That God should so declare himself in his covenant, was absolutely necessary to direct and encourage the obedience of the covenanters. And he did so accordingly (Genesis 17:1; Genesis 15:1). Hereby he reserves the glory of the whole to himself.

He was originally called Abram; [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Pater excelsus, an high or exalted Father. God changed his Name upon the most signal Renovation of the Covenant with him into [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Abraham (Genesis 17:5). The reason and added signification whereo…

And the want of faith herein, is the first and most proper part of unbelief. Therefore as God engages his omnipotency or all-sufficiency as the foundation of all his covenant actings towards us (Genesis 17:1), so he often pleads the same power to assure us of the accomplishment…

The Conclusion in the former arguing, the Reverend Author we are confident will not own; and therefore the Conclusion in the latter, being so like to it, one answer may serve for both the Arguments; which is this, That the major Propositions in both do not universally and absolu…

And as eternity is here noted by ages, so on the contrary we read, that eternity is taken for a certain and distinct time. Genesis 17:8. God promised Abraham to give him the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession: that is, for a long season. For else Abraham's seed should…

2. God's power is excellent. He is El Shaddai, Almighty (Genesis 17:1). What cannot he do that can create?

In this change there is nothing but what is wonderful — both the sweetness and the power of that grace by which it is wrought. The sweetness of grace — when God came to offer Abraham the grace of the Covenant, he fell upon his face (Genesis 17:3), in a humble adoration and rever…

Genesis 6:9: Noah was a just and perfect man in his time, and walked with God. Genesis 17:1: Walk before me and be perfect. And sundry kings of Judah are said to walk uprightly before God with a perfect heart, as David, Josiah, Hezekiah, and others.

Why, he tells you in Job 31:4: 'Does he not see my ways and count all my steps?' 'Walk before me,' said God to Abraham, 'and be perfect' (Genesis 17:1). Even as parents use to set their children in the congregation before them, knowing that otherwise they will be toying and play…

Nor can I think but he bestowed as many and as frequent prayers for his children; and particularly for his Ishmael, as any of you. We find one, and that a very pathetic one recorded (Genesis 17:18), O that Ishmael might live before you: and yet you know how he proved, a son that…

But sometimes Covenant is taken more strictly and properly, for an agreement which God does make with men, when he promises some blessing to men, and binds them to perform some duty back again to him. Taken thus it has two parts: first, a promise or stipulation of some blessing…

And as eternity is here noted by ages: so on the contrary we read, that eternity is taken for a certain and distinct time. God promises Abraham (Genesis 17:8) to give him the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession: that is, for a long season. For else Abraham's seed shoul…

Next, second, to this explanation of the promise there was added a fuller declaration of the covenant of grace, consisting in promise and stipulation. For God not only introduces an express mention of the covenant where He treats with Abraham concerning obedience, as had previou…

Here is forbidden first, the want of these, and the contrary, as to waver or doubt (Psalm 13:1, 3; Psalm 88:15); to leave our hope (Hebrews 10:39); to despair (Genesis 8:13); impatience (Jeremiah 20:14, 18); to have trust in ordinary means, and to make flesh our arm, is forbidde…

Indeed, the law was a severer teacher to awe the saints, in regard of the outward dispensation of ceremonies and legal strictness, keeping men as criminals in close prison until Christ should come. But imputation of Christ's righteousness, and blessedness in the pardon of sin, a…

And that it is the efficacy of Christ's death to kill all activity in his members, that he might act all in all; indeed, and that there is not any command in the Gospel, all is but promises, Christ is obliged to do all in us, and if he suffer us to sin, let him see to his own ho…

Any of us that have made a covenant with God by sacrifice; no man has him unless by way of covenant, for all these ways, though diverse in explication, yet all coincident to this having of Christ. And such as have made a covenant with God by sacrifice, they are his people; of th…

Fifthly, there is no way to defeat Satan's temptations, but by a sound belief of God's all-sufficiency, and the nothingness of the creature. 1. A sound belief of, and a dependence on God's all-sufficiency (Genesis 17:1): I am the Almighty God, walk before me and be you perfect.…

2. The sufficiency and stability of God's promises. 1. Sufficiency (Genesis 17:1): "I am the almighty God, walk before me and be you perfect." (1 Timothy 4:8): "Godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come": of…

Oh for a spirit suitable to such a majesty whom I come to worship! Lord, draw out my affections, unite my heart, excite my graces that my whole soul may be carried after God: Thus commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts shall be established: when you are setting your fa…

For he says, that not only the false apostles, but all the nation of the Jews which were circumcised keep not the law, but rather that they which were circumcised, in fulfilling the law fulfill it not. This is against Moses, who says that, to be circumcised is to keep the law: a…

For no mother knows whether she shall have a child or no, or if she perceive herself to be with child, yet she cannot tell whether it shall be a son or a daughter. But Isaac was expressly named (Genesis 17): Sarah your wife (says the angel to Abraham) shall bear you a son, and y…

Therefore when God saw that we could not fulfill the law, he provided for this long before the law, and promised the blessing to Abraham, saying: In you shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. And so has he testified that all the nations should be blessed, not by the law,…

For if he had sworn falsely, God would have taken revenge upon him, and his writings, before this: which he has not done. Whereas Paul says, Before God I speak it: he teaches us after his own example to bring ourselves into the presence of God, to walk before him as Enoch did (G…

In this regard Enoch is said to walk with God (Genesis 5:24). Abraham and Isaac before God (Genesis 17:1; Genesis 48:15). And David (Psalm 116:9; Psalm 139 throughout).

It may be said, how could Abraham be justified by such a faith? Answer: The promise of the multiplication of his seed, was a dependent of a more principal promise, I am your God all-sufficient (Genesis 17:1): and, I am your exceeding great reward (Genesis 15:1). In this carnal s…

One is, that gouernours of families must vrge and compell all under them to admit, (at the least outwardly,) the practise of religion in the exercisesof faith, repentance, new obedience. Thus did Abraham, Gen. 17. and Iosua, c. 24. They that doe not first of all consent in Chris…

This repetition does again take away the means from these proud contemners of God wherein they flattered themselves. For it was a thing almost incredible that the Jews should perish as it were in a moment, who had so many promises made them, and with whom God had contracted a pe…

True it is they had deserved no such favor, but yet must the covenant of the Lord remain sure and inviolable, so as the testimony thereof appears in this remnant, although the people for their parts had abolished it wholly as much as lay in them. Which we ought diligently to obs…

Let this place come to our remembrance as often as we are exposed to the scoffs and taunts of the wicked: for although we are forlorn, and there be no eye to pity us, nor any to plead our cause, in regard of the enemies' rage which is more and more inflamed against us, yet our G…

The end also of our election is, that such as were the bondslaves of Satan before, should now submit and give themselves to God in absolute obedience. In the third place he adds, the seed of Abraham, to teach us, that election depends upon the free promise of God: not that the p…

He now prevents an objection which might be made against this doctrine, to wit, it seems strange that the Lord should call those nations to him which were far off before: as if they should say, Has God then chosen the posterity of Abraham in vain? Shall his promises so often rep…

For we have here a manifest and an excellent example thereof in this blessing, whereby we see how the Lord in Abraham's old age, weakness, yes and out of death itself multiplied his offspring. Which promise pertains not only to the Jews, but to other nations: and therefore his n…

It is a wonder that the Prophet says the people possessed the land but for a very little space, seeing 863 years were expired since they began to possess it, and 1400 years and more since Abraham entered into the land of Canaan. But the promise must be considered, in which it wa…

Abraham was the father of one nation, and yet all that descended from him after the flesh, were not reputed his children: for the Ishmaelites and the Idumeans were rejected. He was then a father of many nations (Genesis 17:5) when God adopted and joined to him by covenant the Ge…

This does not appear in the words; and therefore the knowledge of it must be left to God, whose eyes pierce the depths of the heart. Thus God distinguishes between Sarah’s laugh (Genesis 18:12) and Abraham’s, (Genesis 17:17,) though the one apparently does not differ from the ot…

33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob As salvation was promised, in a peculiar manner, to the Jews, (the covenant having been made with their father Abraham, Genesis 17:7,) and Christ, as Paul informs us, "was a minister of the circumcision," (Romans 15:8,) the angel pr…

So this minister preaches against drunkenness, yet he will be drunk, he preaches against swearing, yet he will swear; this reproaches God, and makes the offering of the Lord to be abhorred. 3. Masters of families, do you glorify God, season your children and servants with the kn…

Men often judge the person, and not the cause, which is not justice, but malice. God judges the cause, (Genesis 18:21) I will go down and see if they have done according to the cry which is come up to me. When the Lord is upon a punitive act, he weighs things in the balance, he…

I, but do you believe the power of God; the strong God can conquer your strong corruption; though sin be too hard for you, yet not for him; he can soften hard hearts, quicken the dead. Is any thing too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14). Set God's power to work.

Answer: When we murmur at his providences, as if he had dealt hardly with us. Murmuring is the accusing of God's justice (Genesis 18:25). Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?

Object. But is it not said (Genesis 18:21), I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry which is come up to me, and I will know? Response.

(1.) Oppression (Psalm 12:5). (2.) Sodomy (Genesis 18:21). (3.) Blood-shed.

The Stoic philosophers held, that all sins were equal. But this Scripture clearly holds forth, that there is a gradual difference in sin: Some are greater than others: Some are mighty sins (Amos 5:12), and crying sins (Genesis 18:21). Every sin has a voice to speak, but some sin…

Evil men enjoy all the good, and good men endure all the evil. But seeing there is a God, he will deal righteously with men (Genesis 18:25): "Shall not the Judge of all the world do right?" Offenders must come to punishment.

Lot chose Sodom because it was well watered, and was as the garden of the Lord (Genesis 13:10), but God rained fire upon it out of heaven (Genesis 19:24). (3.) God's will is a just will (Genesis 18:25). Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?

That he condemn not the innocent, nor justify the wicked; Solomon acquaints us that both of these are an abomination to him (Proverbs 17:15). And if he hates these things in others, we may be sure that he will not do them himself; nor is he indeed worthy to be acknowledged a jud…

Q. 1. What does God require of us in our dependance on him, that he may be glorified by us, and we accepted with him? Answ. That we (a) worship him (b) in and by the ways of his own appointment. (a) Matthew 4:10. Revelation 14:7. Deuteronomy 6:13. chap. 10:20. (b) Leviticus 10:1…

Here observe a notable practice of Abraham, as a good direction how we ought to judge of all those that live in the Church, submitting themselves outwardly to the ministry, and regiment thereof. Abraham here hath two sons, Isaac, and Ishmael; he circumcises them both, and instru…

While Lot was in Sodom, the Angel could not destroy it. Genesis 19:22. And if there had been ten believers in Sodom, the Lord would have spared all for ten's sake, Genesis 18:32. Now, bringing good things, and keeping back God's judgments by their presence, they are thereby bles…

He came to Bethel, and there pitched his tent, Gen. 12.8: and Gen. 13.18. he removed his tent: and 18.1. God appeared unto him, as he sat in his tent door: and 18.9. being asked where Sarah was, answered, she is within in the tent: and these tents are called his place, Gen. 18.3…

First, whereas God maketh choice of Noah, to reveal unto him his counsel, and his judgements to come; we learn that this is a prerogative which God bestoweth on such as fear him, he revealeth his counsels to them in a special manner, whether they be purposes of Judgements upon h…

She was the wife of Abraham, the grand Patriarch of the Age between the Flood, and the giving of the Law. And of her we read this story, amongst others, Genesis 18:13; God by his Angel appearing to her husband and her, made a promise, that within the year they should have a son;…

In his incarnation, he came down from heaven, assuming a nature upon the earth, the highest condescension of God. And whereas the actings of his power on the earth is often called his coming down from heaven (Genesis 18:21; Isaiah 64:1), how much more may this infinite condescen…

Parents bless their children in the name of the Lord, several ways. (1.) By instruction; the discharge whereof was the glory and honor of Abraham in the sight of God himself (Genesis 18:17, 18, 19). For whereas the knowledge and fear of God, is the greatest blessing that any one…

Gods dealings with barren Apostates being principally in spiritual judgements, the issue whereof is the total removal of the Gospel from them, he will not do it at once, because others may be yet mixed among them to whom he will have the means of grace continued. This Abraham la…

Arg. 1. Children were under Patriarchal and Mosaical discipline of old, &c. Reply. The Text alledged (namely, Genesis 18:19 & 21:9, 10, 12. and Galatians 5:3.) do not prove the Antecedent, namely, That children were under Patriarchal and Mosaical discipline, p. 10. Ans. And yet…

The Levites are commended for assisting Moses in the execution of those that worshipped the Calf (Exodus 32:26, 27, 28). Abraham was to command his Children (Genesis 18:29). Asa commanded Judah to worship God, and the thing was right in the eyes of the Lord (2 Kings 14:23, 24).

Objection 2. God appeared in the form of a man to Abraham (Genesis 18) and to Daniel, who saw the Ancient of Days sitting on a throne (Daniel 7). Now as God appeared, so may he be resembled — therefore it is lawful to resemble God in the form of a man or any like image in which…

Realize his infinite holiness — into what a serious, composed frame did the sight of God in his holiness put the spirit of the prophet (Isaiah 6:5)! Labor also to get up your heart due apprehensions of the greatness of God, such as Abraham had (Genesis 18:27): 'I, who am but dus…

The word in the original, comes from a root that signifies to embitter: this child embittered the minds of his parents by his rebellion against them, and despising their counsels. And I cannot doubt but Abraham disciplined his family as strictly as any of you, never man received…

And all those revelations ended in his people's advantage; indeed, he does not only reveal, but, as it were, consult with him in his affairs. God does as it were unbosom himself to Abraham, as one friend to another, as it were, advises with him concerning his intention on Sodom…

They were exposed by God's definite counsel to various afflictions and persecutions — exercised by them more than broken or crushed — and in all their straits and dangers they obtained unspeakable testimonies of divine favor and care. It is recorded in the Scriptures that Abraha…

Here is forbidden to walk according to our own judgement and wisdom (Numbers 15:39; Genesis 11:4); also a distrustful care (Matthew 6:25; Luke 12:26). To this, last of all is adjoined humility, when emptying ourselves of all, we give God the whole glory of all good things, which…

The duties of instruction are, that by a familiar and most plain manner of teaching, they may grow in the knowledge of that truth which is according to godliness. [Genesis 18:19. When as I have known him, should I not reveal it for this cause, that he may command his children an…

And thanksgiving for a benefit received, does greatly confirm our faith in requests, as Jacob's example does show (Genesis 32:10, 11, &c.). The form of requests, is set down in a copulative axiom, which numbers up six several petitions, where the bond or couple of the axiom is l…

First, consider that it's our duty; souls often do not mind that God has not simply bidden them pray, but commanded them to pray in the name of Christ; He has not bidden us simply approach to Him, but to approach to Him, in and by Christ; this would be remembered, else we forget…

Now this signification being applied to our use: Christ giving himself a ransom for all men, his dying for all, can be no larger than the saving of all, the believing of all flesh, and the blessing of all nations in Christ. But (Genesis 18:18) all in him — "all the nations of th…

"You are my friends if you do whatever I command you." "I know that Abraham will command his household to fear me" (Genesis 18:19), and therefore in verses 17 and 18 he says, "How shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I am about to do?" And it was concerning a secret counsel…

Good men had favor with all the people. Such respect living saints get, such angels may have, when they appear (Genesis 18:2). Abraham bowed himself towards the ground, and (Genesis 19:1) Lot rose up to meet them, and bowed himself with his face towards the ground.

This should keep his children in a holy awe. Oh how low should we lie before this great God (Genesis 18:27): Who am I that am but dust and ashes, that I should speak to God. 3. That we must not please ourselves with the performance of ordinary service to him, but we should raise…

We have several examples of patriarchs, prophets, apostles that used this duty of solitary or secret prayer. 1. Abraham, the friend of God, and father of the faithful, conversed much with his God alone; particularly in this duty of prayer (Genesis 18:22). When the men, (that is,…

Besides, Amesius says, If a man come not with an humble submission to God's will, it were not a religious prayer directed to the supreme Creator, but a kind of command by a superior to an inferior, or a familiar discourse as among equals: Therefore let us humbly plead God's will…

This divine Order Christ signifis when he says, make them disciples: and [〈…〉]as alwaies obserued of God. Before he made any couenant with Abraham, and before he sealed it by Circumcision, he says to him, Walke before me, and be vpright, Gen 17:1. and of his seede, he says, they…

Though he have some gifts and graces of God, yet is he nothing, because he is farre short of that which he ought to be. 1. Cor 8:2. upon these considerations Abraham acknowledgs himselfe to be but dust and ashes, Gen 18:27. Dauid comparing himselfe with the magnificence of Saul,…

Poor souls! God is against them (Genesis 18:20). But our Prophet names the Idumeans here, who were enemies to God's people, notwithstanding they were of affinity with them, and bore the stamp of the same religion, for they were children of Esau, and of the stock of Abraham, as w…

And this is manifest enough by diverse examples in the holy Scriptures. The Lord would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah, had there been found but ten righteous persons there (Genesis 18:32). All those which were in the ship with Saint Paul, to the number of 276 persons, were given…

This does not appear in the words; and therefore the knowledge of it must be left to God, whose eyes pierce the depths of the heart. Thus God distinguishes between Sarah’s laugh (Genesis 18:12) and Abraham’s, (Genesis 17:17,) though the one apparently does not differ from the ot…

As Christ really tasted the fish and the honeycomb, in order to show that he was a man, so we cannot doubt that by his divine power he consumed what was not needed to pass into nourishment. Thus the angels, at the table of Abraham, (Genesis 18:1,) having been clothed with real b…

As Sara obeyed Abraham and called him, Lord: As they attired themselves, so is it meet that you also deck yourselves (for so is his meaning) and to be loyal and obedient to your husbands, as Sara was to Abraham, who called him lord, as in the Scripture it appears (Genesis 18). W…

Secondly, To mind Man of his Original, that he might be kept humble and in a meet dependance on the Wisdom and Bounty of his Creator; for from there it was, and not from the Original Matter whereof he was made, that he became so excellent. Hereof Abraham makes his solemn Acknowl…

It is usually found in the experience of all the saints, that in what Ordinance or duty soever they ave any sensible communion with God, it naturally produces in their spirits a deep abasement and humiliation from the sense of divine condescensions to such vile poor Worms as we…

By this we are drawn into an unworthy suspicion and distruct of the faithfulness of God in the Promises. Sarah laught at the tydings of the Son of Promise, because reason contradicted, and told her, it was natually impossible, Genesis 18. 13, 14. Hence comes despondency of mind,…

How careful was Abraham of this duty? Genesis 18:19 and David? 1 Chron. 28:9 We have some of us had Parents, who might say to us, as the Apostle, Galatians 4:19 My little Children, of whom I travail again in birth till Christ be formed in you. As they longed for us before they h…

The State also of Servants and Handmaids such as was then, and is still in use, followed on the entrance of sin, though meerly to serve, be no part of the Curse (1 Corinthians 7:20, 21), as having its foundation in that subordination which is natural. And the Government of Serva…

But the Law and Ordinances hereof they say he received on peculiar Favor, and by especial Revelation. But be it so; it was the great Commendation of Abraham, and that given him by God himself, that he would command his Children and Household after him to keep the Way of the Lord…

This in such cases was peculiarly incumbent on the people of old; namely that they should instruct their children and their families in the nature of the ordinances whereby they worshipped God. This is that which God so commended in Abraham (Genesis 18:19). I know, says he, Abra…

But I shall pull off the paint from sin, that you may see the ugly face of it. We are apt to have slight thoughts of sin, and to say of it as Lot of Zoar (Genesis 19:20), Is it not a little one? But that you may see how great an evil sin is, consider these four things.

God's will is guided by wisdom; should God sometimes let us have our will, we would undo ourselves; did he let us carve for ourselves, we should choose the worst piece. Lot chose Sodom because it was well watered, and was as the garden of the Lord (Genesis 13:10), but God rained…

They, which thus know each other, love each other, delight in each other, must needs be distinct; and so are they represented to our faith. And for the other sort of actings the Scripture is full of the expressions of them; see Genesis 19:24; Zechariah 2:8; John 5:17; 1 Corinthi…

And Potiphar saw that Joseph was a blessing in his house: For, the Lord made all that he did to prosper, Genesis 39:2-3. While Lot was in Sodom, the Angel could not destroy it. Genesis 19:22. And if there had been ten believers in Sodom, the Lord would have spared all for ten's…

Nor can it be said, that those Cities, Sodom, Gomorrah, and the rest, were nothing but a multitude of Tents together. For, we read Genesis 19.3. that Lot dwelling in Sodom, received two Angels into his house; and in the fourth verse, that the Sodomites came and surrounded his ho…

His faith was not in vain: God rewarded it with a singular preservation. Thus dealt he always with his children; delivering Lot out of Sodom, Genesis 19. Rahab out of Jericho: Joshua 6:22.

Thus, Rahab does here to the spies of the Israelites, even with the danger of her own life. The like also we may read of Lot: for, when two Angels in the likeness of men came into his house, and the men of Sodom would have had them out; Lot besought them to let them alone, Genes…

When the Israelites abode not patiently, and constantly, with God in the wilderness, but desired to shake off the calling of God, and to return to Egypt, there to sit by the flesh-pots again; they had God's hand upon them grievously: as we may read at large, Psalm 78. Lot's wife…

This shows that the power of angels is great, in that they can move and stir the earth. Three angels destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1, 13). An angel destroyed the firstborn of Egypt in one night.

I bear up the pillars: Saint Ambrose was called the wall of Italy. Lot while in Sodom, kept off the fire (Genesis 19:22). Hasten, escape to Zoar, for I cannot do anything till you have come there.

So that nothing will serve as a fit screen to interpose between wrath and you, but only Christ. Thirdly, I observe, that in all these instances, there was some preceding mercy, more or less: the Angels had the dignity of their nature; the Israelites had the testimony of God's pr…

Then religion makes men peevish, ill-natured, imperious, and all that's hateful. An eminent instance of this we have Genesis 19, where Lot endeavors to dissuade the Sodomites from executing their intended wickedness (vers. 7, 8): "I pray you brethren do not so wickedly, behold n…

Yet the ungrateful world takes no notice of the benefits they receive from this salt of the earth, which preserves them, and to whom they are all so much beholden. Lot had been the occasion of restoring Zoar from captivity, as I mentioned before, for the inhabitants of that city…

The Saints stay Gods hand when he is going to strike. Gen. 19. 22. Haste thee (to Zoar) for I cannot do anything till thou become thither. The Saints are the excellent of the earth, Psal. 16. 3. Precious and honourable, Isa. 43. 4. and for their sakes God may yet be entreated to…

This opinion that our fathers have gone this way, and it is transmitted to us, hinders men much; men cannot endure newness. Lot is taxed for this by the Sodomites (Genesis 19:9): This fellow came in to sojourn here, and will he now be a Judge? So Acts 17, Paul preaching at Athen…

I do not know whether anyone could make more open mention of accents — which, however, no one will say were in use before the vowel points. So also on Genesis 19:38, regarding the Hebrew word there, he says, "They add a point above, as if it were incredible that anyone could lie…

8 Therefore taking butter and milk, and the calf which he had prepared, he set them before them, who did eat, he standing by them under the same tree. Gen. 19:1. And those two Angels coming to Sodom in the evening. Lot sat at the gate of Sodom: whom when Lot saw, he rising went…

David walking on the terrace or house top was ensnared by Bathsheba's beauty (2 Samuel 11:2-4). Lot that was chaste in Sodom, yet committed incest in the mountain, where there were none but his own family (Genesis 19:30-31, etc.). When we are locked in our closets we cannot shut…

Such respect living saints get, such angels may have, when they appear (Genesis 18:2). Abraham bowed himself towards the ground, and (Genesis 19:1) Lot rose up to meet them, and bowed himself with his face towards the ground. Now whether the worship be civil or religious, may be…

Jeremiah's soul weeps in secret for the pride and profaneness of Israel; and he was strangely secured in the day of Israel's dreadful destruction: It is very remarkable, what's recorded in (Genesis 19:29). God remembered Abraham; and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow: W…

Thus God punished the filthie Sodomites in their kind, in that, for their burning lust he rained upon them fire and brimstone from heauen. Gen 19:24. Nadab and Abihu censing with strange fire, were consumed with fire from heauen.

In Sodom and Gomorrah.] This example is oft alleged by the Prophets, to the end we might know that however all chastisements be not equal, yet notwithstanding inasmuch as God is impartial in his judgments, the memorable example which he showed thereof in the destruction of Sodom…

He calls that the fire of the enemies with which God consumes his adversaries; taking this word fire, for God's vengeance: for it must not be taken here for that visible fire with which things are consumed in this world; neither yet for lightning only; but by a figure it is take…

The sum then is, that he speaks of such a horrible change, as shall utterly waste the land of Edom. Moreover, he alludes to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24), which is a form of teaching much used among the Prophets: for in this ruin we have (as Saint Jude te…

Luke states also a warning, that the disciples should remember Lot’s wife; that is, that they should forget those things which are behind, (Philippians 3:13) and advance towards the end of the heavenly calling. For Lot’s wife was changed into a pillar of salt, (Genesis 19:26,) b…

And turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them and overthrew them, and made them an example to those who after should live ungodly. This third example is of the five cities, which God destroyed, as we read in Genesis 19. Ezekiel also in his chapter 16, sp…

That is, you have baffled me, as though you would make a fool of me, as if I might be easily turned off with any vain pretense, instead of the truth. So it is said that Lot, when he told his sons-in-law that God would destroy that place, he seemed as one that mocked to his sons-…

Let their Eyes be darkned that they may not see. So the Angel smote the Sodomites with blindness, Gen. 19. 11. and Paul the Sorcerer, Acts 13. 11. However the Sun shines, it is all one perpetual Night to them that are blind.

The Providence of God is the great Obex and hinderance to a world of sin, which else would break forth like an overflowing flood from our corrupt natures. It prevents abundance of sin, which else wicked men would commit, Genesis 19:11 The Sodomites were greedily pursuing their l…

An angel destroys Sennacherib's host (Isaiah 37:36), and smites Herod with worms (Acts 12:23). Heaven above sends down a hell of fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24). The stars in their courses fought against Sisera (Judges 5:20).

In the Greek both the person speaking, and the person spoken to, are expressed by the same name, [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], Lord; only the person spoken to is not absolutely called so, but with relation to the Psalmist, [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], to my Lord; David calls him…

Why is it here called the fire of God? Some conceive it is called the fire of God, because sent from God: that is ascribed to God, which comes from God, as that (Genesis 19:24) where it is said, that the Lord did rain fire and brimstone upon Sodom out of Heaven from the Lord, or…

This duty concerns us, for God has a controuersie with our Land, for the innumerable crying sinnes hereof, as blasphemie, oppression, cōtempt of Religion, adulteries, and such like: now when we see the great mortalitie of our brethren, or heare of treasons and conspiracies, and…

We have frequent example of this in the Scripture. Thus (Genesis 19:2), the angels tell Lot, that they would not come into his house; but would abide in the street all night; yet upon his importunity and earnest entreaties, they went in with him. And thus Saint Peter, with some…

God spoke terribly by fire to Sodom and Gomorrah, when he rained fire and brimstone on those cities, and consumed them. See (Genesis 19:24-29): The Lord rained fire and brimstone out of heaven, and overthrew those cities and the inhabitants together; and when Abraham looked towa…

Now the train-bands are up in arms watching at every quarter for foreign men, because of the general fears and jealousies, and rumors that fire-balls were thrown into houses by several of them, to help on and provoke the too furious flames. Now goods are hastily removed from the…

Every sin is a lion that would devour us, and if we are in the lion's den, shall we not use violence to get out? The angels used violence to Lot; they laid hold on him, and pulled him out of Sodom (Genesis 19:16). Such violence must be used to get out of the spiritual Sodom.

3. These must be strong influences, that with the anointing (Isaiah 61:1, 2) is given a power to preach the year of vengeance, to judge and trample upon the necks of all his enemies; that the man Christ shall come visibly and locally from the highest heavens, and the heavens bow…

Hence influences from God set them a work, and eat them up as zeal for the Lord's house eat up David (Psalm 69:9; Psalm 119:139) and Christ (John 2:17). Fleshly uncleanness put them of Sodom to mock and persecute Lot a preacher of righteousness (Genesis 19:9), and their not hear…

There are among those who make an outward profession of true religion, many that live in all sorts of sins. If you should deal with them about backslidings, decays, and a recovery, you will seem to them as Lot did to his sons-in-law, when he told them of the destruction of Sodom…

Meekness suffers the word of admonition, and takes it patiently and thankfully, not only from the hand of God that sends it, but from the hand of our friend that brings it. We must not be like the reprobate Sodomites (Genesis 19:9), or that pert Hebrew (Exodus 2:14), that flew i…

2. Another snare of Satan is, to tempt to sin under a plea of Necessity. Lot offered to expose his Daughters to the lusts of the Sodomites, that he might preserve his Angel-guests who were come into his house, Genesis 19:8. Did not Satan instigate him to this?

He that bends and inclines the heart by his grace, to look after better things, must also bridle the senses: it is lust that sets the eye awork, and causes a deep complacency and delight in carnal things, and that is cured only by God's grace (Mark 10:27), therefore go and beg t…

Sometimes it signifies an exposing of men to shame and dishonor: so the wise man tells us, wine is a mocker (Proverbs 20:1). Sometimes it signifies an imposing upon the credulity of others, things that seem incredible and impossible: so we read in Genesis, when Lot had declared…

When Herod was so wicked as to assume glory to himself, which of right is God's, the Angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not glory to God (Acts 12:23). When God will judge, the Angels will execute the judgment written: The Angels executed destruction from the Lord again…

4. Consider that sins cry to God against us; and the devil to be sure is a constant solicitor against us. The cry of Cain's sin went up (Genesis 4:10), the cry of Sodom's sin was great (Genesis 18:20-21; Genesis 19:13), the detaining of laborers' wages cries (James 5:4), and ind…

2. Another imagination which sinners please themselves with, is, that if what they do is a sin, yet that it is no great or dangerous sin. They say of the iniquity which they indulge themselves in, as Lot said of Zoar, Is it not a little one (Genesis 19:20). Thus Ephraim loved to…

And this is the cause why the Lord most commonly does most severely punish such a practice, because there was more heart, and so more poison in the sin, when there was less occasion to commit it. So it was in Lot's wife (Genesis 19:26): she looked back from behind him, and she b…

It is sad when men's care is not to discharge conscience but to satisfy lust. Answer 4: To regard iniquity is to give it respect and entertainment, as Lot showed respect to the angels (Genesis 19:2): he bowed himself with his face toward the ground and said, 'Behold now, my lord…

Sixth, a notion of the smallness of sin. Genesis 19:20: Is it not a little one? The devil holds the small end of the perspective glass to sinners.

The greatest sign of God's anger is to give men up to their sins (Psalm 81:12): So I gave them up to their own hearts' lusts; let them sin themselves to hell. But God has laid the bridle of restraining grace upon us: As God said to Abimelech (Genesis 20:6), I withheld you from s…

Secondly, they are blessings by their prayers. Abraham prayed for Abimelech, Genesis 20:17-18, and, God healed him and his family of barrenness. At Moses' prayer, God's judgments were taken from Egypt: Exodus 7:12, 13, 30, and his wrath appeased toward his people, Exodus 32:11,…

Seeing it is apparent in the Story, he dwelt in Egypt, Genesis 12.10. and in Gerar. Genesis 20.1. I answer: The meaning is not, that he stayed there every day of his life; but that he lived and died there, and made it the place of his residence and ordinary habitation, whereunto…

And those who were wise and sober among them thought it sufficient to brand a person as impious and wicked, to deny an unseen judgement of men's actions out of this world, wherewith Cato reproached Caesar in the business of Catiline. This sense being that which keeps mankind wit…

We miserable men for the most part have not grace to consider that we are always before God; and to quake and tremble at the consideration of his presence: and this makes us so often to offend God in our lives as we do. Abraham coming before Abimelech, shifting for himself, said…

Again, you may know it, because it does not destroy sin, but only prohibit the exercise of it. Abimelech's lust was not quenched, yet God withheld him from sinning against Sarah (Genesis 20:6). The heart is not renewed, though the action be checked; as Israel had an adulterous h…

This bridle is religion, and when you see these horses in humane shape, run furiously away, breaking through all hedges of restraints, venturing upon precipices, prancing in the midst of highest dangers, it is an evidence that the horse has cast his bridle or his rider. This was…

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…

And she took a veil, and covered herself. Genesis 20:16. And to Sarah he said: Behold, I have given a thousand shekels of silver to your brother: behold, he is to you a covering of the eyes among all that are with you. 1 Peter 3:6. As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whos…

Thirdly, we must be the glory of Christ, as the wife is to her husband (1 Corinthians 11:7), and that is by subjecting ourselves to Christ, and his laws. Again, if we betroth ourselves to Christ indeed, we may assure ourselves that Christ is our Christ, and that he has given him…

First, that all our actions (specially in the worship and service of God) be grounded upon the will and word of God; and not upon will-worship, or human inventions: otherwise it will be said, Who required these things at your hands? Secondly, that we perform all our actions sinc…

And thus with this buckler, he repulses all the difficulties which easily arise, as often as the promises of God do surmount our reach. I grant he sometimes threatens with condition, as he threatened Abimelec (Genesis 12:17), and Pharaoh (Genesis 20:3), and the Ninevites (Jonah…

Therefore in this denunciation there must be a condition supplied; for otherwise Hezekiah could never have moved the Lord, nor annulled his irrevocable decree neither by his prayers nor tears. But the Lord threatened him as he did Abimelech king of Gerar for taking Sarah, Abram'…

For when the woman comes into the family of the husband, she takes his name, and loses her own: inasmuch as the husband is her head: and therefore her veil is a sign of her subjection. As Abimelech said to Sara, Abraham your husband shall be the covering of your head: (Genesis 2…

A man's natural temper may sometimes be free from gross sins, and yet he not an elect person for all this. And then thirdly, a man may be free from gross sins as proceeding from the power of restraining grace (Genesis 20:6): I also withheld Abimelech from sinning against me. He…

And how was this done in and by Abraham? In his own person he conversed but with few of them, to some whereof through their own sins he was an occasion of punishment; as to the Egyptians (Genesis 12:17), and to the Philistins (Genesis 20:4-7). Some he destroyed with the sword (G…

The first is this, when God lays that affliction of barrenness upon the woman, he according to the phrase of Scripture, is said to shut up the womb; and when he sends the blessing of fruitfulness, he is said to open the womb. We have both (Genesis 20:18): when Abimelech had take…

Oh that this thought did run in our minds in the time of temptation, then by Gods grace we should feare to sinne, and endeavor to walke before God in all holy obedience, as his servants have done. Many are shamelesse in sinning, which comes from the want of this perswasion of Go…

Where no fear of God is, there will be no good submission to man. Abraham thought that the men of Gerar would have no respect for him or his wife, nor make conscience of common honesty, nor abstain from innocent blood, because he saw no fear of God in that place (Genesis 20:11):…

2. Though they were heathen, yet they showed what subjection is required of wives to their husbands by the very light of nature, whereby this sin is aggravated. 3. Abimelech was but a heathen man, yet his sentence concerning a woman's subjection in these words, he is to you a co…

When the trial comes, we quickly see, whence is our preservation by standing, or falling. So was it in the case of Abimelech (Genesis 20:6): I withheld you. 2. In a way of renewing grace.

Whence was this? verse 18. There is no fear of God before their eyes: Abraham surmized the men of Gerar would stick at no Sin; why so? Genesis 20:11. I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place.

Joseph is an instance (Genesis 39:9), "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Abraham could promise himself little security in a place where no fear of God was (Genesis 20:11), "I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will slay me for m…

Every answer of prayer is a new proof or fresh experience of God's love and special respect to us, it is a sign that God regards us and is mindful of us, in fact it is a sign of God's favor when he will not only hear us for ourselves, but for others also. If a man come to a king…

So I might have taken her to be my wife," etc. a severe expostulation and an upbraid (Genesis 12). And yet in (Genesis 20) Abraham is at it again, and meets with a more plain and home rebuke, and is charged with no less than sin by Abimelech (verse 9). "You (even you) have broug…

Or else there would be some Ordinances of God like to humane Ceremonies, empty and beggarly. Answ. 2. Morall duties, even in Pagans, may edifie the Church, as Abimeleths reproofe of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 20; Proverbs 9:10). Answ. 3. Singing of Psalmes is accompanied and ble…

2. Sometimes more largely, for the publishing of spirituall things to the glory of God, and edification of our selves or others. And in this sence Master Perkins (in his Prophetica) maketh two parts of it, 1. Preaching of the Word. 2. Prayer; for which he quoteth (Genesis 20:7),…

Balaam publicly dispensed the counsel and word of God throughout the 23. and 24th Chapters of Numbers, to Balack and the Princes of Moab: and it was a desolating sin in Balack and the Princes of Moab, that they did not hearken to him: and it would have been a sin in the Church o…

It is in the wills and power of wicked men and devils to do harm to the people of God, but the Lord will not suffer them to act that rage and malice that is in their hearts and so not to do that hurt which otherwise they could and would. So to Abimelech the Lord whispers his dis…

O how near the suburbs of hell may a godly man go, and yet go to heaven! Sixthly, This is the furthest step of all, take this for your comfort, it is possible that the conscience of a pardoned sinner may not smite him for those very sins that a Heathen man by the light of a natu…

First, Is there a remaining ignorance of any thing of the will of God, sin will be sure to make use of it, and improve it to the uttermost. Though Abimelech were not a believer, yet he was a person that had a moral integrity with him in his ways and actions; he declares himself…

Sometimes, I confess, God secretly works the hearts of men by his own finger, without the use and means of such arguments as those insisted on, to stop the progress of sin. So he tells Abimelech (Genesis 20:6), I have with-held you from sinning against me. Now this could not be…

And thus when the old Serpent has spit this poison before them, they sup it up, and drink it in, and so thousands, in fact millions of men and women are utterly undone. The Lord Christ therefore when he comes to save a poor sinner, and raise him up out of his fall, convinces the…

Secondly, an unrenewed soul may be kept from the commission of some sin; not because there is a principle of grace within him, but because of some providential constraint without him, or upon him: for it often falls out, that when men have conceived sin and are ready to execute…

Did not Saint James exhort to this, when he says, Is any sick among you? Let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray for him (Philippians, verse 22; 2 Kings 19:4; Esther 4:16; Daniel 2:18; Genesis 20:7; Job 42:8; James 5:14). §. 145. Of motives to desire others'…

For Benjamin is called jeled, which word commonly signifies a child; but sometimes also a young man. Thus Ishmael that was 15 years old, is called jeled, a lad (Genesis 20:15). And so Genesis 4:23, Lamech says, "I will slay a man in my wound, and [jeled] or a young man in my hur…

For in the Apostle's times, and long after, magistrates were persecutors of the Church of God, and hindered the members of Christ to live in peace and godliness (1 Timothy 2:1-2). (9) Because, Moses cried to the Lord in behalf of Pharaoh (Exodus 8:12), Abraham prayed to God for…

The deriding the grace of the Spirit comes near to slighting the Spirit of grace. Scoffing Ishmael was cast out of Abraham's house (Genesis 21:9). Such as scoff at holiness shall be cast out of heaven.

2. Deride it; these are your holy ones. To deride sanctification argues a high degree of atheism, and is a black brand of reprobation: scoffing Ishmael was cast out of Abraham's family (Genesis 21:9). Such as scoff at holiness shall be cast out of heaven.

Quest. Here it may be asked how it can be truly said, that Isaac was Abraham's only begotten son, seeing Ishmael was also his son, and was borne before Isaac, as is evident, Genesis 16? I answer two ways: first, that Ishmael by God's appointment was put out of Abraham's house, (…

Nay verily: but such are our times, too many among us, both those that give, and those which follow good examples, are as signs and wonders, as the Prophet speaks; they are made a reproach, and a by-word among men, and are foully disgraced by odious terms, Isaiah 8:18. But this…

For, though you yourself cannot bear it; yet trust undoubtedly, that Christ who bears with you, will give you strength to undergo it, unto victory. Thirdly, if the afflictions of a Christian, be the afflictions of Christ; then it is a fearful sin for any man to mock or reproach…

He led the Israelites in the deserts of Arabia forty years; whereas a man may travel from Rameses in Egypt to any part of Canaan in forty days: and this God did to humble them, and try them, and to know what was in their heart (Deuteronomy 8.2.) God promised Abraham a son, in wh…

2. In compliance herewith, holy men and such as walked with God before the giving of the Law, did solemnly swear when occasion did require it, and they were lawfully called. So Abraham swore to Abimelech (Genesis 21:15), and gave an oath to his servant (Genesis 24:3, 9). So Jaco…

There might be many children in those Families of the Patriarchs, who when they were adult, were neither cast out, as Ishmael, nor departed, as Esau; and these continuing in communion with the Church all the dayes of their life, from their being circumcised, as the Reverend Auth…

Take heed of the chair of scorners, those are dogs that are without, that bark at the splendor of God's image, that make Saints a word of disgrace. Scoffing Ishmaels that will be mocking, are sure to be cast out (Genesis 21:9). They do not belong to God: the Apostle interprets t…

Does he feed and clothe his enemies, and will he forget his children? He heard the very cry of Ishmael in distress (Genesis 21:17). O my unbelieving heart! do you yet doubt?

2. Other men's sins. That might be in Sarah but a heady passion, for hearing her son mocked by Ishmael, that made her so desirous to have the bondwoman and her first son thrust out, but God makes use of it to make a separation between Isaac the heir of the covenant, and Ishmael,…

[1 Timothy 5:10. If she have nourished her children, if she have lodged strangers, &c. Genesis 21:7. Furthermore, she said: Who would have said to Abraham, Surely Sarah shall give children suck: but I have borne a son in his old age. 8. And the babe grew and was weaned, and Abra…

No, these of whom Christ is head, these are his body, the Church, that have life from him, and are knit to him by the Spirit, and among themselves by spiritual ligatures (Ephesians 1:22-23) and Christ's fullness (Ephesians 4:16; Colossians 1:18). (Genesis 21:6) All that hear sha…

When Elijah was in distress, the Angel brought him meat (1 Kings 19:5-6). When Hagar and Ishmael were in the wilderness, and the bottle spent, then God comforted her from heaven (Genesis 21:17). When the three children were in the fiery furnace, then God sent an Angel to be thei…

This word of Sarah was very grievous to Abraham: and, no doubt, when he heard this sentence, his fatherly bowels were moved with compassion towards his son Ishmael: for he was born of his flesh. And this the Scripture plainly witnesses, Genesis 21, when it says: And this thing w…

And they which do no wrong, but are content to suffer wrong (and that for a good cause,) are in this respect blessed (Matthew 5:10). The third point, is touching the kind of persecution: and that was scorning or mocking (Genesis 21:9). It may be demanded, how mocking can be pers…

Also when he discomfited the kings (Genesis 14:16). Lastly, when God granted him issue even at the time when he was past power to beget any (Genesis 21:2). For albeit the Prophet had a special respect to God's adoption, when he commanded him to go out of his father's house: yet…

7. And they had no child By an extraordinary purpose of God it was appointed that John should be born out of the common and ordinary course of nature. The same thing happened with Isaac, (Genesis 17:17; Genesis 21:1-3,) in whom God had determined to give an uncommon and remarkab…

The Angel calls to Abraham, and shews him another Sacrifice, just when his hand was giving the atal stroke to Isaac, Genesis 22. 10, 11. A Well of water is discovered to Hagar, just when she had let the Child, as not able to see its death, Genesis 21. 16, 19. Rabshakh meets with…

So that the Lord Christ being the first-born, is but the same which we have insisted on, of his being Heir of all, which was the privilege of the first-born. And this privilege was sometimes transmitted to others that were not the first-born, although the natural course of their…

First, For the family, stock, or lineage whereof he was to come; there was a threefold restitution of it, after the promise had for a long time run in general, that he should be of the seed of the woman, or take his nature from among mankind. The first was to the seed of Abraham…

But now they desire a better, that is, an heavenly; therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he had prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham when he was tried offered up Isaac, and (or even) he that received the promises, offered up his only begotten son, of wh…

Neither is the word any where else used in the Scripture, and may as well have something foreign in it, as come from its root. So also v. 17. is no where else used for sobolescet, or pliabit, as it is here rendered; from a Son, which is but three times used in that signification…

The point here to be obserued is this, That to reuile and slaunder, yea (as Luke saith) to hate a man for a good cause, especially for religion, is persecution: which shewes how fearefull the common sinne of the age is, whereby men reuile their brethren, with base and odious tea…

They professe that they know God, but by their works they denie him. And such a one was Ismael, who for mocking Isaac the sonne of the promise, was cast out of Abrahams familie, that is, out of the Church of God, Gen. 21. 10, 11. for Abrahams familie at that time was Gods visibl…

Secondly, special; attended with peculiar love, favor, good will; special care towards them, with whom he is so present. So Abimelech observed that he was with Abraham (Genesis 21:22): God is with you in all that you do: with you, to guide you, bless you, preserve you, as we sha…

He did not answer passion with passion, that would have put all into a flame presently; but he answered passion with meekness, and so all was quiet. Another instance of Abraham's meekness, we have in the transactions between him and Abimelech his neighbor (Genesis 21:24-25). He…

And if they called our master, Beelzebub, no nicknames fastened upon his followers can seem strange (Matthew 5:25). Mocking was an old way of persecuting the covenant-seed, for thus, he that was after the flesh, betimes persecuted them that were after the Spirit; compare Genesis…

This is the preeminence of the true sons of any family. The ground on which Sarah pleaded the ejection of Ishmael was that he was the son of the bondwoman, Genesis 21:10 — not a genuine child of the family and therefore could have no right of heirship with Isaac. The apostle's a…

§. 16. Of husbands' ready yielding to their wives' humble suits. Again, it being a token of reverence in a wife humbly to make known her desire to her husband, he ought to show so much courtesy as readily to grant her desire: this courtesy the forenamed Ahasuerus afforded to Est…

Though Shechem loved Dinah, and had deflowered her, yet would he not marry her without the consent of his and her father (Genesis 34:3, etc.). Ishmael had learned as much either by the instruction he had received out of Abraham's house, or else by the light of nature; for he sto…

It is noted of Elkanah, that he suffered his wife to tarry at home while she gave suck to her son, and would not force her to go up to the tabernacle as his other wife did, but gave her all the ease and content he could, saying to her, Do what seems good to you (1 Samuel 1:23).…

For in that sense, we are to count it all joy when we fall into temptation, in the other, that we enter not into it. Again actively considered, it either denotes in the tempter, a design for the bringing about of the special end of temptation, namely a leading into evil; so it i…

The Psalmist had truths enough to support him (Psalm 73:17), yet he says, Until I went into the sanctuary of God, I was foolish and ignorant, I was as a beast before you. There is so much dullness upon the children of God that they cannot remember seasonable thoughts; as Hagar h…

Haec audiunt quasi somniantes: Luther says of the most, In seeing they see not; in hearing they hear not. There was a fountain by Hagar, but she could not see it (Genesis 21:19). God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled the bottle with water, and…

How? Because he mocked him, compare it with (Genesis 21:9): Sarah saw the son of the bondwoman mocking Isaac; and in the reddition and interpretation, the Holy Ghost calls it a persecution: so they are called cruel mockings (Hebrews 11:36). There is as much cruelty, and as deep…

2. We have but a glimmering light when we are blinded with passions, and are in some sort ignorant of what we know, cannot deduce those conclusions which are evidently contained in known and avowed principles. Hagar could not see the well before her eyes by reason of her passion…

Secondly, it is a grievous affliction; for the man of God, that was after God's own heart, he says, the reproach which I so feared. It is called persecution (Galatians 4:29) compared with (Genesis 21:9) and you shall see it was mocking and reproach. The scourge of the tongue is…

And there is an enmity between these two, and this enmity vented by reproach (Galatians 4:27). But as he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now; that persecution was by bitter mockings, so Ishmael (Genesis 21:9). Sarah saw…

5. They are set to work by Satan; thereby to keep off young beginners, and to discourage and molest the godly themselves: for bitter words pierce deep and enter into the very soul. 2. It is a grievous temptation, it is reckoned in Scripture among the persecutions (Galatians 4:29…

The godly have evil natures as well as others, which cannot be beaten down, but by afflictions. We are froward in our relations; Hagar was proud in Abraham's house (Genesis 16:4): her mistress was despised in her eyes; but very humble in the desert (Genesis 21:16). David's heart…

First, by Scripture. Genesis 21:33. Abraham called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. The gods of the nations were upstart gods, but lately found out, and soon destroyed; but he is the eternal God, who ever was, and is, and ever will be.

The natural man who remains still in the old family, has nothing to do with these promises; he may read over the promises (as one may read over another man's will or inventory) but has no right to them; the promises are like a garden of flowers, fenced in and enclosed, which no…

Abraham the Patriarch was a Magistrate, a great Prince, that had three hundred and eighteen servants armed trained men born in his house, he had not only the Covenant in his own flesh, but he made all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money to be cir…

An unbeliever has nothing to do with these privileges. Ishmael was the son of the bond-woman; he had no right to the family: cast out the bond-woman and her son, as Sarah once said to Abraham (Genesis 21:10). So the unbeliever is not adopted; he is none of the family; and God wi…

And so the stability and certainty of the decree and oath is not to make the children of David secure, but watchful in their duty: But this is not a condition without which the Messiah should not reign, but without this he should not reign to their comfort and everlasting good.…

6th Commandment: You shall not kill. He breaks this commandment: who bears malice to another (1 John 3:15); who is given to hastiness (Matthew 5:22); who uses inward fretting and grudging (James 3:14); who is froward of nature, hard to please (Romans 1:31); who is full of rancor…

There are innumerable places to this purpose which speak of the eternity of God directly, and by consequence: by consequence, those words (2 Peter 3:8), "One day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day," which words, however interpreters have troubl…

Now by proportion he that swears by false Gods, swears by God indirectly, because the false God is, in the opinion of him that swears, a true God, and so his oath binds, and is to be kept. Secondly, Abraham accepts the oath that Abimelech tenders to him in the name of a false Go…

Other doubts touching this history, of less moment, I omit, and pass to the next. The sixth allegation, is out of (Genesis 21:9), where Ishmael is said to mock at Isaac when he was weaned, at which time Ishmael was fifteen years of age at the least. For he was born when Abraham…

To obey is angelical; to pretend honor to God's name, yet not to obey is but a devout compliment. Abraham honored God by obedience; he was ready to sacrifice his son, though the son of his old age, and a son of the promise (Genesis 22:16): By myself have I sworn, says the Lord,…

God has enclosed this day for himself, therefore we are not to lay it common by doing any civil work. As Abraham when he went to sacrifice, left his servant and the ass at the bottom of the hill (Genesis 22:5), so when we are to worship God this day, we must leave all worldly bu…

God does not tempt to that which he has an antipathy against — what king will tempt his subjects to break those laws which he himself has established? Question: But is it not said God tempted Abraham? (Genesis 22:1) Answer: Tempting there was no more than trying.

It may first of all be demanded, How Abraham could offer up his son by faith, considering it is against the law of nature, and the law of God, for a man to kill his own son; which Abraham must do, if he did offer him up in sacrifice unto God. For answer hereunto, we need go no f…

Now, the matter in them contained is, that here is the performance of one of the greatest promises made to Abraham. The promise is, Genesis 22:17, I will surely bless thee, and greatly multiply thy seed, as the stars in the heaven, and as the sands by the sea shore. There is the…

Hence it is God alone that absolutely can either bless or curse, for he only has sovereign power of all good and evil. He does therefore so express his blessing: "In blessing I will bless you" (Genesis 22:17), do it assuredly and effectually as having all the subject-matter of b…

Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you. Our Apostle renders the words of Moses exactly (Genesis 22:17). Only where it is said there, I will multiply your Seed, he expresseth it by I will multiply you, which is all one, or to the same purpose; for he could…

Hereupon the words alleged are a commandment of trial not common to all, but special to him. The like commandment gave the Lord to Abraham, saying: Abraham, take your only son Isaac and offer him upon the mountain which I shall show you (Genesis 22:2). Objection 4.

The original word I find used to express more remarkable, divine, and glorious sights, as (Genesis 16:13) Have I also here looked after him that sees me? (Genesis 22:14) In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. From this word had the Prophets the name of Seers (1 Samuel 9:9),…

The very name Jerusalem some derive from Jireh Salem — God will provide in Salem. The new Jerusalem is the title given to God's Church (Revelation 1), and is still the object of his providence, and he will provide for it at a pinch (Genesis 22:14). Jehovah Jireh.

Such an ingemination or doubling of words is very common in the Hebrew language, when it is intended that a thing shall be very strongly expressed; it generally implies the superlative degree of a thing; as the Holy of Holies signifies the most holy. But it commonly denotes, not…

The duty of parents must be performed moderately of the father, with great gravity and authority. [Genesis 22:7. And Isaac speaking to Abraham his father, said: My father: which said Behold, here I am my son. Then said Isaac: Behold, here is fire and wood, but where is the small…

It is disposed in an Axiom or sentence copulative, or coupling. The first reason is, from the adjoint of relation, Our Father, which is adorned with that manner of exclamation which utters a familiar affection, as My father, my son! (Genesis 22:7). So that we must in the assured…

Indeed, the law was a severer teacher to awe the saints, in regard of the outward dispensation of ceremonies and legal strictness, keeping men as criminals in close prison until Christ should come. But imputation of Christ's righteousness, and blessedness in the pardon of sin, a…

It is true, Christ takes not from David, Abraham, prophet, apostle, or from any men or angels that are to be saved the natural created power of nilling and willing, purum [illegible] posse nolle, Christo trahente, but he takes away the moral wicked, and godless power hic & nunc,…

So (Genesis 12:3) In you shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 22:18) If the meaning be that, without any figure or exception, all and every family be blessed in Christ, then shall I infer that, all the families of the earth, without exception, are justified b…

Thus many times the children of God after solemn assurances of his love are exposed to great temptations. Of this you may see an instance in Abraham (Genesis 22:1): And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, that is after he had assured Abraham, that he…

And though they were forbidden to gather it on the Sabbath day, having on the evening before enough for two days, and it was told them they should find none on the Sabbath day, yet they must try. Where need is, there a man may commit himself to the providence of God, and rely up…

Verse 5. That we might receive the adoption of the sons. Paul sets forth and amplifies very largely this place of Genesis 22: In your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. A little before he called this blessing of the seed of Abraham, righteousness, life, the prom…

The third point, is the speach, or testimonie it selfe: In you shall all the Gentiles be blessed. In you, that is, in your seede, Christ, Gen 22:18. who is in your loynes: into whome the Gentiles are ingrafted by faith, and consequently into you. For they are the seede of Christ…

Lazarus by reason of his extreame pouertie, and the theefe by reason of the shortnes of time which he had to liue in the world, could not be plentifull in good workes, thereby to give sufficient testimonie of their unfained faith: yet God accepts a man according to that which he…

But some may ask why Christ is named in the covenant, which was ratified long before: Objection. for there were two thousand years and more past from the time that God adopted Abraham: the original of this separation then was long before the coming of Jesus Christ. I answer, Ans…

The Psalmist, you know, compares such children to arrows shot from the hand of a mighty man, and pronounces him blessed that has his quiver full of them (Psalm 127:5): that is to say; who has many such children. In mentioning of sand, it seems he had respect to the promise made…

He therefore brings them to their original; to teach them that however they were but a small handful now, yet God was able to increase and multiply them. Then he commands them to look to their father Abraham, who being but one man, yet grew into a great number, and God gave him…

For the ancient Hebrews are of opinion that these customs proceeded from an inconsiderate zeal: as if they should have said, Seeing we are descended from Abraham, we ought no more to spare our children than he did. But this good Patriarch did it in obedience to God (Genesis 22:2…

Moreover, the Prophet teaches, that the grace which was communicated to the Jews, shall be spread far and wide. According as the words of the covenant often sound, In your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed (Genesis 22:18). For the light which was proper only to…

And the Romans, who thought themselves more devout than others — yes, and the Jews also — abstained not from so horrible and execrable a crime. In fact, which is more, these men in their inconsiderate zeal defiled themselves with the murdering of many children, thinking therein…

This name, ὁ πειράζων, the tempter, is given to Satan by the Spirit for the express purpose, that believers may be more carefully on their guard against him. Hence, too, we conclude, that temptations, which solicit us to what is evil, come from him alone: for, when God is someti…

The word temptation is often used generally for any kind of trial. In this sense God is said to have tempted Abraham, (Genesis 22:1,) when he tried his faith. We are tempted both by adversity and by prosperity: because each of them is an occasion of bringing to light feelings wh…

Which Christ confirms, Matthew 7, where he says: Whatever you would that men should do to you, even so do you to them: for this is the law and the Prophets. Moreover Moses and the Prophets are witnesses of Christ being to come: so that if I at any time preach of Christ, that he…

That the Apostle speaks of works justifying only as a sign, or evidence, and in God's declarative judgment, is further confirmed by verse 21: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? Here the Apostle seems plainly to ref…

How remarkable to this purpose, was the tidings brought to Saul, that the Philistines had invaded the Land? 1 Samuel 23:27 just as he was ready to grasp the prey. The Angel calls to Abraham, and shews him another Sacrifice, just when his hand was giving the atal stroke to Isaac,…

The grant of dominion in general to the Messiah, is intimated in the first promise of him (Genesis 3:15). His victory over Satan was to be attended with rule, power and dominion (Psalm 68:18; Isaiah 53:12; Ephesians 4:8, 9; Colossians 2:15), and confirmed in the renewal of that…

Hence the things spoken of him in the Old Testament, are to carnal reason full of seeming inconsistencies. As for instance, it is promised of him that he should be the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15), of the seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18), and of the posterity of David; and ye…

And this is again expressed (Genesis 18:18): All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him. And (Genesis 22:18): And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. And when he doubted of the accomplishment of this Promise, because he was childless, and said,…

Again for the time, that which some collect to clear it, is from the genealogy of Job, there are three special opinions concerning the line of his pedigree. One that he descended from Nahor, who was brother to Abraham (Genesis 22:21). It was told Abraham, behold Milcah she has b…

Even as he promised to our fathers, Abraham and to his seed forever. Here says Mary that to Abraham and his seed was promised salvation through Christ Jesus, which thing is plainly declared in Genesis 22, where God said to Abraham: In your seed shall all nations be blessed: and…

The oath that he made with Abraham is this: I will bless those that bless you, and curse those that curse you: and in you shall all generations of the earth be blessed. And again: Your seed shall possess the gates of his enemies, and in your seed shall all nations on earth be bl…

This God has none other but himself, Because he could swear by no greater, he swear by himself. Now this God does, (1.) By express affirmation that he has so sworn by himself, which was the form of the first solemn Oath of God, Genesis 22:16. By my self have I sworn, says the Lo…

Thus did Abraham, when he was about to sacrifice his sonne; for when Isaac asked, where is the sacrifice? Abraham answered; my sonne, God will prouide, Gen. 22. 8. and so hee did, vers. 13. whereupon Abraham in memorie of this singular worke of Gods prouidence, called the name o…

It is Gods will that whosoeuer taks vpō him the profession of his name, should be tried what he is. Thus he permitted Adam presently after his creation to be tempted and tried, the smart whereof we all feele unto this day: and God gaue Abraham a commandment of triall to kill hi…

We must on this day rest from all the works of our calling. As Abraham when he went to sacrifice left his servant and donkey at the bottom of the hill (Genesis 22:5), so when we are to worship God this day, we must leave all secular business behind. And as Joseph when he would s…

After this the true religion was kept up for a while among some of the rest of Abraham's posterity, besides the family of Jacob; and also in some of the posterity of Nahor, as we have instances in Job, and his three friends, and Elihu. The land of Uz, where Job lived was a land…

But that beautiful, glorious, costly structure of the temple, that succeeded the tabernacle, and was a fixed, and not a moveable thing, seems especially to represent the church in its glorified state in heaven. This temple was built according to the pattern shown by the Holy Gho…