1Now another thing is also commendable in Abimelech, he goeth to Isaac, ver. 26. with his friend and chief Captain, and desireth to make a covenant of peace and amity with him, giving also the true reason of his desire, and intimating an acknowledgement of the former unkindness in discharging him the country, For we have seen (saith he) that God is with thee, and thou the blessed of the Lord do it. It is a part of wisdom and goodness too, to be in covenant and peace with good men, and to observe how God doth please to bless men, ⟨p. 35⟩and to ascribe their prosperity to Gods favourable blessing, all which things you see in Abimelech. He had refused to let Isaac dwell in his Country, yet he is not so stout hearted, but that he will come to him, and seek his friendship, and that in honourable manner, acknowledging his worth and Gods blessing upon him. We must learn to do the same things, but in a better manner, he looketh to Israels prosperity, we must look to the goodness of men, and in love of their virtues, rather then in hope and fear of earthly things, be at peace with them, and live in amity towards them. It is a good thing to be friends with Gods friends, even on whatsoever considerations; for by so doing a man interests himself into that blessing which God saith that he will grant to them that bless his people. But if love of their religion and piety make us desire the friendship of any, then it is a good sign, that the same piety and virtue is found in him whom it winneth to bear good will unto the professor of it: for virtuous men are seldom loved, and never for virtues sake, but by those that have some virtue. And it giveth us some good hope, that Abimelech might be a man that acknowledged the true God whom Isaac professed, seeing he took notice of his blessing upon Isaac, and called him the Blessed of the Lord. And this is Abimelechs goodness. One thing seemeth to have been faulty in him, of which Isaac also telleth him, when he came to make a Covenant, saying, Ye hate me, 2and have driven me away from you. This is likely to be a fault, to drive a man, a good man, so from ones country house or familiarity, that he shall have cause to think it is done out of hatred. Indeed in the 16. ver. of the 26. Chapter, Abimelech would not seem to do it out of hatred, but out of policy, because of Isaacs greatness:
1Now another thing is also commendable in Abimelech, he goeth to Isaac, ver. 26. with his friend and chiefe Captaine, and desireth to make a covenant of peace and amity with him, giving also the true reason of his desire, and intimating an acknowledgement of the former unkindnesse in discharging him the country, For we have seene (saith he) that God is with thee, and thou the blessed of the Lord doe it. It is a part of wisdome and goodnesse too, to be in covenant and peace with good men, and to observe how God doth please to blesse men, ⟨p. 35⟩and to ascribe their prosperity to Gods favourable blessing, all which things you see in Abimelech. He had refused to let Isaac dwell in his Countrey, yet he is not so stout hearted, but that he will come to him, and seek his friendship, and that in honourable manner, acknowledging his worth and Gods blessing upon him. Wee must learne to do the same things, but in a better manner, he looketh to Israels prosperity, we must look to the goodnesse of men, and in love of their vertues, rather then in hope and feare of earthly things, be at peace with them, and live in amity towards them. It is a good thing to be friends with Gods friends, even on whatsoever considerations; for by so doing a man interests himselfe into that blessing which God saith that he will grant to them that blesse his people. But if love of their religion and piety make us desire the friendship of any, then it is a good signe, that the same piety and vertue is found in him whom it winneth to beare good will unto the professour of it: for vertuous men are seldome loved, and never for vertues sake, but by those that have some vertue. And it giveth us some good hope, that Abimelech might be a man that acknowledged the true God whom Isaac professed, seeing he took notice of his blessing upon Isaac, and called him the Blessed of the Lord. And this is Abimelechs goodnesse. One thing seemeth to have been faulty in him, of which Isaac also telleth him, when he came to make a Covenant, saying, Ye hate me, 2and have driven me away from you. This is likely to be a fault, to drive a man, a good man, so from ones countrey house or familiarity, that he shall have cause to thinke it is done out of hatred. Indeed in the 16. ver. of the 26. Chapter, Abimelech would not seem to do it out of hatred, but out of policie, because of Isaacs greatnesse:
- 1Ver. 26. 6. He desireth to make a covenant of peace and amity with Isaac.
- 2Ver. 27. His fault, he drives Isaac so away from him, that he had cause to think it done out of hatred.
