4 A woman received the, &c.) We may conjecture, that before Rahab was commanded to bring them forth, the rumour was spread of their coming, so that she had some leisure given her to hide them. And verily, after she heard the Kings commandment, except she had provided all things before to deceive them, there had been no place of denial: much less durst she have been so bold, to have lied so securely. But because she had so well hidden her guests, that it was hard to find them out, she cometh forth without fear, and with a crafty answer delivereth her self. Now in this place it is demanded first, Whether this betraying of her country was excusable or no? and secondly, Whether her lye was without offence: We know that the love of our country is naturally engrafted in us, which is as it were our common mother. Wherefore, seeing Rahab knew, that the matter concerned the destruction of that city, whereof she was a Citizen and member, it seemeth to be detestable inhumanity and treason, that she should aid the espials with her counsel and help. It is a childish shift, to say, That they were not yet professed enemies, because that war was not proclaimed against them: when is is manifest, that they conspired the destruction of their fellow Citizens. Therefore that only knowledge that God put in her mind, doth discharge her from that crime, as one exempt from the common law. Her faith is praised by two Apostles, which both do testify, that the 1courtesy which she showed to the espials, was acceptable to God. No. ⟨image 14⟩marvel therefore, if GOD, when he vouchsafed to remote this strange woman unto his own people, & to graft her into the body of his Church, did separate her from the unholy and cursed nation. Wherefore, although she was bound unto her countrymen, even until that day: yet as soon as she was coupled unto the body of the Church, this her new state, was a certain manumission and deliverance, from the law of society, whereby Citizens are bound one to another. Finally, that she might pass, through faith, into a new people, it was necessary for her, to forsake her old country men. And because she gave place only to the judgement of God, there was no fault of treason in her. Concerning her lye, we must so take it: although it tended to a good end, yet was it not without offence.
4 A woman receiued the, &c.) We may coniecture, that before Rahab was commanded to bring them forth, the rumor was spread of their comming, so that she had some leasure geuen her to hide them. And verily, after she heard the Kings commaundement, except she had prouided all thinges before to deceiue them, there had bene no place of deniall: much lesse durst she haue bene so bolde, to haue lied so serurely. But because she had so well hidden her ghestes, that it was hard to find them out, she commeth forth without feare, and with a craftie answere deliuereth her selfe. Now in this place it is demanded first, Whether this betraying of her contrie was excusable or no? and secondly, Whether her lye was without offence: We knowe that the loue of our contrie is naturally ingraffed in vs, which is as it were our common mother. Wherefore, seing Rahab knewe, that the matter concerned the destruction of that citie, whereof she was a Citizen and member, it seemeth to be detestable inhumanitie and treason, that she should ayde the espialles with her counsell and helpe. It is a childish shift, to saye, That they were not yet professed enimies, because that warre was not proclamed against them: when is is manifest, that they cōspired the destructiō of their fellow Citizens. Therfore that only knowledge that God put in her mind, doth discharge her from that crime, as one exempt from the common lawe. Her faith is praised by two Apostles, which both doe testifie, that the 1••rtesie which she shewed to the espials, was acceptable to God. No. ⟨image 14⟩maruell therefore, if GOD, when he vouchsafed to remotte this straunge woman vnto his owne people, & to graffe her into the body of his Church, did separate her from the vnholy and cursed nation. Wherfore, although she was bound vnto her countriemen, euen vntill that day: yet as soone as she was coupled vnto the body of the Church, this her new state, was a certaine manumission and deliuerance, from the law of societie, whereby Citizens are bound one to another. Finally, that she might passe, through faith, into a new people, it was necessarie for her, to forsake her olde countrie men. And because she gaue place onely to the iudgement of God, there was no fault of treason in her. Concerning her lye, we must so take it: although it tended to a good end, yet was it not without offence.
- 1Heb. 11. 3• I am. 2, 25.
