Genesis 20

The greatest sign of God's anger is to give men up to their sins (Psalm 81:12): So I gave them up to their own hearts' lusts; let them sin themselves to hell. But God has laid the bridle of restraining grace upon us: As God said to Abimelech (Genesis 20:6), I withheld you from s…

Secondly, they are blessings by their prayers. Abraham prayed for Abimelech, Genesis 20:17-18, and, God healed him and his family of barrenness. At Moses' prayer, God's judgments were taken from Egypt: Exodus 7:12, 13, 30, and his wrath appeased toward his people, Exodus 32:11,…

Seeing it is apparent in the Story, he dwelt in Egypt, Genesis 12.10. and in Gerar. Genesis 20.1. I answer: The meaning is not, that he stayed there every day of his life; but that he lived and died there, and made it the place of his residence and ordinary habitation, whereunto…

And those who were wise and sober among them thought it sufficient to brand a person as impious and wicked, to deny an unseen judgement of men's actions out of this world, wherewith Cato reproached Caesar in the business of Catiline. This sense being that which keeps mankind wit…

We miserable men for the most part have not grace to consider that we are always before God; and to quake and tremble at the consideration of his presence: and this makes us so often to offend God in our lives as we do. Abraham coming before Abimelech, shifting for himself, said…

Again, you may know it, because it does not destroy sin, but only prohibit the exercise of it. Abimelech's lust was not quenched, yet God withheld him from sinning against Sarah (Genesis 20:6). The heart is not renewed, though the action be checked; as Israel had an adulterous h…

This bridle is religion, and when you see these horses in humane shape, run furiously away, breaking through all hedges of restraints, venturing upon precipices, prancing in the midst of highest dangers, it is an evidence that the horse has cast his bridle or his rider. This was…

For that God gave those promises to Abraham without any regard to any preceding obedience is more fully acknowledged than to need proofs. Regarding this origin of the name of the Hebrews, those among the Jews who agree with us are: Josephus, Antiq., lib. i. cap. vi.; the Threefo…

And she took a veil, and covered herself. Genesis 20:16. And to Sarah he said: Behold, I have given a thousand shekels of silver to your brother: behold, he is to you a covering of the eyes among all that are with you. 1 Peter 3:6. As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whos…

Thirdly, we must be the glory of Christ, as the wife is to her husband (1 Corinthians 11:7), and that is by subjecting ourselves to Christ, and his laws. Again, if we betroth ourselves to Christ indeed, we may assure ourselves that Christ is our Christ, and that he has given him…

First, that all our actions (specially in the worship and service of God) be grounded upon the will and word of God; and not upon will-worship, or human inventions: otherwise it will be said, Who required these things at your hands? Secondly, that we perform all our actions sinc…

And thus with this buckler, he repulses all the difficulties which easily arise, as often as the promises of God do surmount our reach. I grant he sometimes threatens with condition, as he threatened Abimelec (Genesis 12:17), and Pharaoh (Genesis 20:3), and the Ninevites (Jonah…

Therefore in this denunciation there must be a condition supplied; for otherwise Hezekiah could never have moved the Lord, nor annulled his irrevocable decree neither by his prayers nor tears. But the Lord threatened him as he did Abimelech king of Gerar for taking Sarah, Abram'…

For when the woman comes into the family of the husband, she takes his name, and loses her own: inasmuch as the husband is her head: and therefore her veil is a sign of her subjection. As Abimelech said to Sara, Abraham your husband shall be the covering of your head: (Genesis 2…

A man's natural temper may sometimes be free from gross sins, and yet he not an elect person for all this. And then thirdly, a man may be free from gross sins as proceeding from the power of restraining grace (Genesis 20:6): I also withheld Abimelech from sinning against me. He…

And how was this done in and by Abraham? In his own person he conversed but with few of them, to some whereof through their own sins he was an occasion of punishment; as to the Egyptians (Genesis 12:17), and to the Philistins (Genesis 20:4-7). Some he destroyed with the sword (G…

The first is this, when God lays that affliction of barrenness upon the woman, he according to the phrase of Scripture, is said to shut up the womb; and when he sends the blessing of fruitfulness, he is said to open the womb. We have both (Genesis 20:18): when Abimelech had take…

Oh that this thought did run in our minds in the time of temptation, then by Gods grace we should feare to sinne, and endeavor to walke before God in all holy obedience, as his servants have done. Many are shamelesse in sinning, which comes from the want of this perswasion of Go…

Where no fear of God is, there will be no good submission to man. Abraham thought that the men of Gerar would have no respect for him or his wife, nor make conscience of common honesty, nor abstain from innocent blood, because he saw no fear of God in that place (Genesis 20:11):…

2. Though they were heathen, yet they showed what subjection is required of wives to their husbands by the very light of nature, whereby this sin is aggravated. 3. Abimelech was but a heathen man, yet his sentence concerning a woman's subjection in these words, he is to you a co…

When the trial comes, we quickly see, whence is our preservation by standing, or falling. So was it in the case of Abimelech (Genesis 20:6): I withheld you. 2. In a way of renewing grace.

Whence was this? verse 18. There is no fear of God before their eyes: Abraham surmized the men of Gerar would stick at no Sin; why so? Genesis 20:11. I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place.

Joseph is an instance (Genesis 39:9), "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Abraham could promise himself little security in a place where no fear of God was (Genesis 20:11), "I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will slay me for m…

Every answer of prayer is a new proof or fresh experience of God's love and special respect to us, it is a sign that God regards us and is mindful of us, in fact it is a sign of God's favor when he will not only hear us for ourselves, but for others also. If a man come to a king…

So I might have taken her to be my wife," etc. a severe expostulation and an upbraid (Genesis 12). And yet in (Genesis 20) Abraham is at it again, and meets with a more plain and home rebuke, and is charged with no less than sin by Abimelech (verse 9). "You (even you) have broug…

Or else there would be some Ordinances of God like to humane Ceremonies, empty and beggarly. Answ. 2. Morall duties, even in Pagans, may edifie the Church, as Abimeleths reproofe of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 20; Proverbs 9:10). Answ. 3. Singing of Psalmes is accompanied and ble…

2. Sometimes more largely, for the publishing of spirituall things to the glory of God, and edification of our selves or others. And in this sence Master Perkins (in his Prophetica) maketh two parts of it, 1. Preaching of the Word. 2. Prayer; for which he quoteth (Genesis 20:7),…

Balaam publicly dispensed the counsel and word of God throughout the 23. and 24th Chapters of Numbers, to Balack and the Princes of Moab: and it was a desolating sin in Balack and the Princes of Moab, that they did not hearken to him: and it would have been a sin in the Church o…

It is in the wills and power of wicked men and devils to do harm to the people of God, but the Lord will not suffer them to act that rage and malice that is in their hearts and so not to do that hurt which otherwise they could and would. So to Abimelech the Lord whispers his dis…

O how near the suburbs of hell may a godly man go, and yet go to heaven! Sixthly, This is the furthest step of all, take this for your comfort, it is possible that the conscience of a pardoned sinner may not smite him for those very sins that a Heathen man by the light of a natu…

First, Is there a remaining ignorance of any thing of the will of God, sin will be sure to make use of it, and improve it to the uttermost. Though Abimelech were not a believer, yet he was a person that had a moral integrity with him in his ways and actions; he declares himself…

Sometimes, I confess, God secretly works the hearts of men by his own finger, without the use and means of such arguments as those insisted on, to stop the progress of sin. So he tells Abimelech (Genesis 20:6), I have with-held you from sinning against me. Now this could not be…

And thus when the old Serpent has spit this poison before them, they sup it up, and drink it in, and so thousands, in fact millions of men and women are utterly undone. The Lord Christ therefore when he comes to save a poor sinner, and raise him up out of his fall, convinces the…

Secondly, an unrenewed soul may be kept from the commission of some sin; not because there is a principle of grace within him, but because of some providential constraint without him, or upon him: for it often falls out, that when men have conceived sin and are ready to execute…

Did not Saint James exhort to this, when he says, Is any sick among you? Let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray for him (Philippians, verse 22; 2 Kings 19:4; Esther 4:16; Daniel 2:18; Genesis 20:7; Job 42:8; James 5:14). §. 145. Of motives to desire others'…

For Benjamin is called jeled, which word commonly signifies a child; but sometimes also a young man. Thus Ishmael that was 15 years old, is called jeled, a lad (Genesis 20:15). And so Genesis 4:23, Lamech says, "I will slay a man in my wound, and [jeled] or a young man in my hur…

For in the Apostle's times, and long after, magistrates were persecutors of the Church of God, and hindered the members of Christ to live in peace and godliness (1 Timothy 2:1-2). (9) Because, Moses cried to the Lord in behalf of Pharaoh (Exodus 8:12), Abraham prayed to God for…