2 Beyond the river, &c.) He taketh his beginning of their free ⟨image 105⟩adoption, by which GOD did so prevent them, that they could not boast of any excellency or merit. For God had bound them to him self with a straighter bond, that when they were equal with other nations, God did notwithstanding choose them unto him self for a peculiar people, for no other respect, but only of his mere good will and favour. Furthermore, that it might more clearly appear, that there was nothing wherein they could glory, he bringeth them to their first beginning, and putteth them in mind, that their fathers did so dwell in Chaldea, that they worshipped idols commonly, with other men, and differed nothing from the common people. Whereof it is gathered, that when Abraham was drowned in idolatry, he was drawn out of it as it were out of hell. The Jews indeed, that they might challenge unto them selves a counterfeit dignity of their kindred, do feign a fable, that their father Abraham, when he would not acknowledge the fire of Chaldea for a god, was driven to flee out of his country. But if we consider the purpose of Gods spirit, he is no more exempted from the crime of the public error, than Thare and Nachor. To what end doth he say, that the fathers of the people served strange gods, and that Abraham was plucked out from thence, but that the free mercy of God might shine in the very first beginnings? For if Abraham had been unlike the rest, his godliness would have made a difference of him. But this mark is purposely shot at, that he should not excel in any dignity of his own, which might blemish the glory of God, but that his posterity might acknowledge, that when he was cast away, he was raised up from death to life. But this was incredible, and like a monster, that while Noah was yet alive, idolatry was not only commonly received in the world: but also had entered into the family of Shem, in which at the least the pure religion ought to have flourished. Surely, how great the mad rage and untamed fury of men is in this behalf, hereby it may be known, that the holy Patriarch, unto whom a special blessing of God was given, was not able to bridle his posterity, but that they left the true GOD, and gave over them selves to superstition and idolatry.
2 Beyond the riuer, &c.) He taketh his beginning of their free ⟨image 105⟩adoption, by which GOD did so preuent them, that they could not boaste of any excellencie or merite. For God had bound them to him selfe with a streighter bonde, that when they were equall with other nations, God did notwithstanding choose them vnto him selfe for a peculiar people, for no other respecte, but onely of his meere good will and fauour. Furthermore, that it might more clerely appeare, that there was nothing wherein they could glorie, he bringeth them to their first beginning, and putteth them in mind, that their fathers did so dwell in Chaldea, that they worshipped idols commonly, with other men, and differed nothing from the common people. Whereof it is gathered, that when Abraham was drowned in idolatrie, he was drawne out of it as it were out of hell. The Iewes indeed, that they might challenge vnto them selues a counterfeit dignitie of their kinred, doe feigne a fable, that their father Abraham, when he would not acknowledge the fire of Chaldea for a god, was driuen to flee out of his countrie. But if we consider the purpose of Gods spirit, he is no more exempted from the crime of the publike errour, than Thare and Nachor. To what end doth he say, that the fathers of the people serued straunge gods, and that Abraham was plucked out from thence, but that the free mercie of God might shine in the verie first beginnings? For if Abraham had bene vnlike the rest, his godlinesse would haue made a difference of him. But this marke is purposely shotte at, that he should not excell in any dignitie of his own, which might blemish the glorie of God, but that his posteritie might acknowledge, that when he was cast away, he was raised vp from death to life. But this was incredible, and like a monstre, that while Noe was yet aliue, idolatrie was not onely commonly receiued in the world: but also had entered into the familie of Sem, in which at the least the pure religion ought to haue flourished. Surely, how great the madde rage and vntamed furie of men is in this behalfe, hereby it may be knowne, that the holie Patriarch, vnto whom a speciall blessing of God was geuen, was not able to bridle his posteritie, but that they lefte the true GOD, and gaue ouer them selues to superstition and idolatrie.
