Genesis 18

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?

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;…

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…

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…

Every thing that is of him, is noted in his book, though not in ours. He took notice that when Sarah was acting unbelief towards him, yet that she shewed respect and regard to her Husband, calling him Lord, Genesis 18:12. 1 Peter 3:6.

I intend that at present which is called Justitia Regiminis, his righteousness in rule or Government. This is remembred by Abraham, Genesis 18:25. Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?

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 destroied Sodom and Gomorra with fire & brimstone, he is saide to come downe from heaven to see whether they had done according to t…

4. It's not a commendable shamefastness, but must needs be a very sinful modesty, that keeps one from duty: It was indeed more shameful to lie still, than to rise. Her second ground is of the same nature, I have washed my feet: washing the feet, fitted and prepared for rest; men…

So Noah is called righteous (Genesis 7:1). And Abraham pleads with God for the righteous in Sodom (Genesis 18:23-24). And Zachary and Elizabeth have this testimony, that they were both righteous, walking in all the commandments of God blameless (Luke 1:6).

And so (Deuteronomy 4:9): "Forget not the things which your eyes have seen, but teach them your sons, and your sons' sons." We find that God gives an honorable testimony concerning Abraham, and confides in him upon this account (Genesis 18:19): "I know Abraham, that he will comm…

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…

Even revilers, persecutors, and evil speakers have been overcome by the constant holy walking of believers, and when their day of visitation has come, have glorified God on that account, 1 Peter 3:1-2. It serves the benefit of all — partly by keeping judgments from the rest of m…

A third particular instance of a wife's readiness to yield to her husband's commandment is to perform whatever business he requires of her. When of a sudden there came three men to Abram, and he was desirous to entertain them, he bid his wife make ready quickly three measures of…

2. The execution of a master's commanding power consists in those things which God has enjoined as bounden duties. These a master by virtue of his authority must command his servants to do: as to worship God, to sanctify his Sabbath, to be diligent and conscientious in his calli…

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as one God, are the Judge of all the earth, to whom they must be accountable for the offense. (Genesis 18:25) Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? But in the mystery of redemption, the Father, as first in order of the persons, is represente…

Few with reverence, and managed with that gravity, awfulness, and seriousness, as would become an address to God. As Abraham, (Genesis 18:31), had been reasoning with God before, therefore he says, Let not God be angry, if I speak to him this once, when he renewed the suit. Thus…

This is urged by the Holy Ghost, (Ecclesiastes 5:2) You are upon earth, and God is in Heaven; therefore let your words be few. [reconstructed: Genesis 18:27] Who am I that I should take upon me to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes? We are poor crawling worms, and ther…

This is a duty God reckons upon, that you will not omit such a necessary piece of service. (Genesis 18:19) I know Abraham, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. God promises himself, that from Abraham and his fami…

At first hearing? No, Sarah laughed when God promised her a son: (for it was the Son of God that was in company with the angels (Genesis 18)) but afterward when she considered of it, she judged him faithful. Thus we must follow God from ordinance to ordinance.