WE saw yesterday how Abraham in discharge of his duty unto the king of Gerar, paid him tribute. Now Moses hereupon addeth, that so soon as he was throughly settled, he solemnly called upon the name of God. We have here then in effect to learn that Abraham willingly submitted himself unto the chief Governor of the Country: ⟨p. 220⟩not tarrying until such time as he was enforced to do the duty of a good and faithful Subject, but did it without being required thereunto: And yet for all this we contrariwise see, that it no way letted him to serve God truly. And although (as we have heretofore said) it was an odious matter to be of a Religion,1 clean contrary to the Religion of that Nation amongst whom he dwelt: yet was he not such a milk sop,2 as not to make confession of the same faith which the Lord his God had commanded him. By this we see that he so behaved himself, both towards God & man, as that he may be an excellent example unto us of true humility, thereby to show us, how we ought to submit our selves unto those to whom we are bound: and yet so to, as that we always give unto God the chief and most sovereign government. And that although men be in great authority; yet are we to learn, the same to be far inferior unto the heavenly Majesty, which darkeneth and blemisheth all whatsoever excellency is in man. And this is very certain, that if Abraham had meant to gratify his neighbours, he would have conformed himself also unto their fashions, and never once have said that he had a God by himself, whom he would worship; forsaking the Idolatries that then were used, and the superstitions wherewith ⟨p. 221⟩the land was fully polluted. But come of it whatsoever might, he fully protested that he would worship and serve God sincerely and purely: wherefore he had, as we have heard, an Altar of his own,3 upon which he solemnly sacrificed unto God, by means whereof he renounced all the sins and corruptions of his neighbours as condemning and despising them all, as if he would have said, there is but one only true service that pleaseth God, and but one only living God: and whatsoever else is beside, are but mere false and deceitful imaginations. And although he before had no certain abiding & resting place, but wandered up and down too and fro;
WE saw yesterday how Abraham in discharge of his dutie vnto the king of Gerar, paid him tribute. Now Moses heerevpon addeth, that so soone as he was throughlie setled, hee solemnlie called vpon the name of God. We haue here then in effect to learne that Abraham willinglie submitted himselfe vnto the chiefe Gouernour of the Countrie: ⟨p. 220⟩not tarrying vntill such time as hee was inforced to doo the dutie of a good and faithfull Subiect, but did it without beeing required therevnto: And yet for all this wee contrariwise see, that it no way letted him to serue God truelie. And although (as we haue heretofore said) it was an odious matter to be of a Religion,1 cleane contrarie to the Religion of that Nation amongst whom hee dwelt: yet was he not such a milke soppe,2 as not to make confession of the same faith which the Lord his God had commanded him. By this we see that he so behaued himselfe, both towards God & man, as that he may be an excellent example vnto vs of true humilitie, thereby to shewe vs, how we ought to submit our selues vnto those to whome we are bound: and yet so to, as that we alwayes giue vnto God the chiefe and most soueraigne gouernement. And that although men be in great authoritie; yet are we to learne, the same to be farre inferior vnto the heauenly Maiestie, which darkeneth and blemisheth all whatsoeuer excellencie is in man. And this is verie certaine, that if Abraham had meant to gratifie his neighbours, he would haue conformed himselfe also vnto their fashions, and neuer once haue said that he had a God by himselfe, whome he would worship; forsaking the Idolatries that then were vsed, and the superstitions wherewith ⟨p. 221⟩the lande was fully poluted. But come of it whatsoeuer might, he fully protested that hee would worship and serue God sincerely and purely: wherefore he had, as wee haue heard, an Aultar of his own,3 vpon which he solemnly sacrificed vnto God, by meanes whereof he renounced all the sinnes and corruptions of his neighbours as condemning and despising them all, as if he would haue said, there is but one onely true seruice that pleaseth God, and but one onely liuing God: and whatsoeuer else is beside, are but meere false and deceitfull imaginations. And although hee before had no certaine abyding & resting place, but wandred vp and downe too and fro;
- 1Gen. 20.
- 2We must subject our selves unto God & to our Prince as Abraham did.We must subiect our selues vnto God & to our Prince as Abraham did.
- 3Gen. 12.7. and 23.4.
