Genesis 17

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…

3. If they have justly, that is meritoriously put themselves out of the Covenant, or so violated the Covenant on their part, as to deserve a putting out, yet still one might ask, how they come to be actually put out, seeing the Church has not proceeded, nor seen cause to proceed…

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…