19 And he not weak in faith. If you had rather, one of the negatives being left out, you may declare it thus, and he not weak in faith considered his own body, but this ⟨image 70⟩maketh nothing for the sense. Now he showeth more nearly what might have hindered,1 yea, what might have utterly turned Abraham from receiving the promise. Seed was promised to him, when by nature neither he was fit for generation, nor Sarah for conception. Whatsoever he could see in him self or about himself, it was against the effect of the promise. Therefore that he might give place unto the truth of God, as though he had forgot himself, he withdraweth his mind from those things were in his sight. Yet you are not to understand it, as though he had no respect at all to his barren or dead body: Seeing the Scripture testifieth he reasoned thus with himself, shall a child be borne to a man that is an hundred year old? and shall Sarah which is ninety bear a child? But because, that consideration being laid apart, he resigned his whole sense over to the Lord: the Apostle saith he considered not. And surely it was an argument of greater constancy, to draw his cogitation from that thing which did voluntary offer it self to his eyes, then if no such thing had come into his mind. And that the body of Abraham for age was past fruit, before the blessing of the Lord, It may plainly be proved both hear, and also out of the seventeen and eighteen chapters of Genesis.2 So that the opinion of Augustine is in no wise to be admitted, who in a certain place, thinketh that the cause was only in Sarah. Neither ought the absurdity of the objection move us, which drove him unto that resolution. He thinketh it very ridiculous, that Abraham at an hundred years should be called barren, who sometime after had many children. For thereby the Lord made his power more notable, that he which before was like a withered and dry post, when through the blessing of God he flourished, he was not only sufficient for the procreation of Isaac: But as one restored unto a flourishing age, he had strength afterward to beget others. But some will say, it is not besides the order of nature, that a man should beget a child at that age. That I may grant it is not a wonder, yet it differeth little from a miracle.
19 And he not weake in faith. If you had rather, one of the negatiues being left out, you may declare it thus, and he not weake in faithe considered his owne bodie, but this ⟨image 70⟩maketh nothing for the sense. Nowe he sheweth more nearely what might haue hindered,1 yea, what might haue vtterly turned Abraham from receiuing the promise. Seede was promised to him, when by nature neither he was fit for generation, nor Sara for conception. Whatsoeuer hee coulde see in him selfe or about himselfe, it was against the effect of the promise. Therefor that he might giue place vnto the truth of God, as though hee had forgot himselfe, hee withdraweth his mind from those thinges were in his sight. Yet you are not to vnderstand it, as though hee had no respecte at all to his barraine or dead body: Seeing the Scripture testifieth he reasomed thus with himself, shall a childe be borne to a man that is an hundreth yere olde? and shall Sara which is nienetie beare a childe? But because, that consideretion being laide apart, he resigned his whole sense ouer to the Lorde: the Apostle saith he considered not. And surely it was an argument of greater constancie, to drawe his cogitation from that thing whiche did voluntarie offer it self to his eyes, then if no such thing had come into his minde. And that the body of Abraham for age was past fruite, before the blessing of the Lorde, It may plainely be proued both heare, and also out of the seuenteene and eighteene chapters of Genesis.2 So that the opinion of Augustine is in no wise to bee admitted, who in a certaine place, thinketh that the cause was onely in Sara. Neither ought the absurditie of the obiection mooue vs, which droue him vnto that resolution. He thinketh it very ridiculous, yt Abraham at an hundreth yeeres shoulde be called barraine, who sometime after had many children. For thereby the Lord made his power more notable, that hee which before was like a withered and drie poste, when through the blessing of God he floorished, he was not onely sufficient for the procreation of Isaac: But as one restored vnto a florishing age, he had strength afterward to beget others. But some will say, it is not besides the order of nature, that a man sholde beget a childe at that age. That I may graunt it is not a wonder, yet it differeth little from a myracle.
- 1What things might have hindered the faith of Abraham.What thinges might haue hindered the faith of Abraham.
- 2Gee. 17. &. 18
