Genesis 12

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

First, to use the word of God aright: as you must in all conditions that concern your soul repair to the Word, so you must consider your own uprightness, and what work of grace is in your soul, that will answer the word, and testify that the work of grace is true: be sure to tak…

Look what God promises to Israel, it is chiefly fulfilled to them that are Israelites indeed; and if they go about to offer up any acceptable sacrifice to God, in God's account, it is as if all Israel had done it. Reason 3. Hence it comes to pass, that God made that ancient cove…