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?

That he condemn not the innocent, nor justify the wicked; Solomon acquaints us that both of these are an abomination to him (Proverbs 17:15). And if he hates these things in others, we may be sure that he will not do them himself; nor is he indeed worthy to be acknowledged a jud…

Q. 1. What does God require of us in our dependance on him, that he may be glorified by us, and we accepted with him? Answ. That we (a) worship him (b) in and by the ways of his own appointment. (a) Matthew 4:10. Revelation 14:7. Deuteronomy 6:13. chap. 10:20. (b) Leviticus 10:1…

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;…

In his incarnation, he came down from heaven, assuming a nature upon the earth, the highest condescension of God. And whereas the actings of his power on the earth is often called his coming down from heaven (Genesis 18:21; Isaiah 64:1), how much more may this infinite condescen…

Parents bless their children in the name of the Lord, several ways. (1.) By instruction; the discharge whereof was the glory and honor of Abraham in the sight of God himself (Genesis 18:17, 18, 19). For whereas the knowledge and fear of God, is the greatest blessing that any one…

Gods dealings with barren Apostates being principally in spiritual judgements, the issue whereof is the total removal of the Gospel from them, he will not do it at once, because others may be yet mixed among them to whom he will have the means of grace continued. This Abraham la…

Arg. 1. Children were under Patriarchal and Mosaical discipline of old, &c. Reply. The Text alledged (namely, Genesis 18:19 & 21:9, 10, 12. and Galatians 5:3.) do not prove the Antecedent, namely, That children were under Patriarchal and Mosaical discipline, p. 10. Ans. And yet…

The Levites are commended for assisting Moses in the execution of those that worshipped the Calf (Exodus 32:26, 27, 28). Abraham was to command his Children (Genesis 18:29). Asa commanded Judah to worship God, and the thing was right in the eyes of the Lord (2 Kings 14:23, 24).

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…

And all those revelations ended in his people's advantage; indeed, he does not only reveal, but, as it were, consult with him in his affairs. God does as it were unbosom himself to Abraham, as one friend to another, as it were, advises with him concerning his intention on Sodom…

They were exposed by God's definite counsel to various afflictions and persecutions — exercised by them more than broken or crushed — and in all their straits and dangers they obtained unspeakable testimonies of divine favor and care. It is recorded in the Scriptures that Abraha…

Here is forbidden to walk according to our own judgement and wisdom (Numbers 15:39; Genesis 11:4); also a distrustful care (Matthew 6:25; Luke 12:26). To this, last of all is adjoined humility, when emptying ourselves of all, we give God the whole glory of all good things, which…

The duties of instruction are, that by a familiar and most plain manner of teaching, they may grow in the knowledge of that truth which is according to godliness. [Genesis 18:19. When as I have known him, should I not reveal it for this cause, that he may command his children an…

And thanksgiving for a benefit received, does greatly confirm our faith in requests, as Jacob's example does show (Genesis 32:10, 11, &c.). The form of requests, is set down in a copulative axiom, which numbers up six several petitions, where the bond or couple of the axiom is l…

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…

The State also of Servants and Handmaids such as was then, and is still in use, followed on the entrance of sin, though meerly to serve, be no part of the Curse (1 Corinthians 7:20, 21), as having its foundation in that subordination which is natural. And the Government of Serva…

But the Law and Ordinances hereof they say he received on peculiar Favor, and by especial Revelation. But be it so; it was the great Commendation of Abraham, and that given him by God himself, that he would command his Children and Household after him to keep the Way of the Lord…

This in such cases was peculiarly incumbent on the people of old; namely that they should instruct their children and their families in the nature of the ordinances whereby they worshipped God. This is that which God so commended in Abraham (Genesis 18:19). I know, says he, Abra…