Genesis 16

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…

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…