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…

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…