By faith Sarah also, &c.] Vers. 11 To the end women may know and understand that this doctrine is no less common unto them than unto men, he brings in the example of Sarah, 1the whom he notes out before all others, because she is the mother of all the faithful. But it is wonderful that her faith is commē dead, seeing she is manifestly convicted of infidelity; for she laughed at the word of the Angel, Objection. as if it had been a fable, Gen. 18.12. Her laughing was not by way of admiration: for if it had, she should not have been so sharply reproved of the Angel. It must be confessed, Answers. that her faith was mingled with infidelity: 2but because she corrected her distrust after she was admonished, she is notwithstanding that, allowed of God, and her faith commended. Whereas then at the first she rejected this message of the Angel, as a thing incredible, yet as soon as she understood that it proceeded from the mouth of God, she received it in obedience. And from hence we gather a very profitable doctrine, that howsoever our faith do somewhat waver and halt, yet it ceaseth not for all that to be approved of God; 3provided that we let not loose the reins to distrust. Now the sum is, that the miracle which God did when Isaac was begotten, was the fruit of the faith of Abraham and his wife, by which they apprehended and felt the power of God
By faith Sara also, &c.] Vers. 11 To the end women may know and vnderstand that this doctrine is no lesse common vnto them than vnto men, he brings in the example of Sara, 1the whom he notes out before all others, because shee is the mother of all the faithfull. But it is wonderfull that her faith is commē ded, seeing shee is manifestly conuicted of infidelitie; for shee laughed at the word of the Angel, Obiection. as if it had beene a fable, Gen. 18.12. Her laughing was not by way of admiration: for if it had, shee should not haue beene so sharpely reprooued of the Angel. It must bee confessed, Answers. that her faith was mingled with infidelitie: 2but because shee corrected her distrust after shee was admonished, shee is notwithstanding that, allowed of God, and her faith commended. Whereas then at the first shee reiected this message of the Angel, as a thing incredible, yet as soone as shee vnderstood that it proceeded from the mouth of God, shee receiued it in obedience. And from hence we gather a very profitable doctrine, that howsoeuer our faith doe somewhat wauer and halt, yet it ceaseth not for all that to be approoued of God; 3prouided that we let not loose the raines to distrust. Now the summe is, that the miracle which God did when Isaack was begotten, was the fruite of the faith of Abraham and his wife, by which they apprehended and felt the power of God
- 1Sarah. Women have interest in the matter of eternal life, as well as men.Sara. VVomen haue interest in the matter of eternall life, as well as men.
- 2Faith commē dead, though it were mingled with distrust.Faith commē ded, though it were mingled with distrust.
- 3Distrust must not be nourished.
