A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

Secondly, It may be enquired when God did thus swear: [Greek or Hebrew]; ¹promising he sware. He did not first promise, and afterwards confirm it with his Oath. He gave his Promise and Oath together; or gave his Promise in the way of an Oath. Yet are they distinctly considered, nor is it the mere vehemency of the Promise that is intended. For in the next Verse the Apostle calls the Promise and the Oath two things, that is, distinct from one another; [Greek or Hebrew], two Acts of God. But although he hath respect principally unto that especial Promise which was given with an Oath, yet by the same Oath were all the Promises of this kind given before unto Abraham equally confirmed; whence it may be applied unto all the Promises of God as it is in the following verses. That which is directly intended is that whereof the story is expressed, Gen. 22. ver. 15, 16, 17, 18. upon his Obedience in offering up his Son. And this was the last time that God immediately and solemnly made Promise unto him after he had gone through all sorts of Trials and Temptations (whereof the Jews give ten particular Instances) and had acquitted himself by Faith and Obedience in them all. Thus did God in his infinite Goodness and Wisdom see good to give him the utmost assurance of the Accomplishment of the Promise, whereof in this Life he was capable; And although it was an Act of Sovereign Grace, yet had it also the nature of a reward, whence it is so expressed, Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not with-held thy Son, thine only Son. Of the same nature are all those assurances of Divine Love and Grace, with the peace and joy that accompany them, which Believers do receive in and upon the course of their Obedience.

Secondly, It may be enquired when God did thus swear: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; ¹promising he sware. He did not first promise, and afterwards confirm it with his Oath. He gave his Promise and Oath together; or gave his Promise in the way of an Oath. Yet are they distinctly considered, nor is it the meer vehemency of the Promise that is intended. For in the next Verse the Apostle calls the Promise and the Oath two things, that is, distinct from one another; 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, two Acts of God. But although he hath respect principally unto that especial Promise which was given with an Oath, yet by the same Oath were all the Promises of this kind given before unto Abraham equally confirmed; whence it may be applied unto all the Promises of God as it is in the following verses. That which is directly intended is that whereof the story is expressed,