1. § Phil. xviii. 17. Chron. 1. Momb. xxii. 14. &xxix. 5. Momb. xxix. 17. Jer. xxi. 17. Exch. 4. 11. § Phil. 16. 7. &xxii. 8. &Momb. xx. 8. Jud. xvi. 17. Luke 1. 19. Iss. xlii. 4. Chap. 6. 7. Prov. xxii. 19. Deut. xxiii. 18. Jud. xix. 16. 11. Sam. 8. Deut. xxxi. 15. Judg. xviii. 7. Heb. An know feaser. Phil. xxi. 16d. 15a. xxv. 9. Deut. xxxi. 15. Christ. 14. Job. xx. 15. Deut. xxxi. 15. When Christ who wait for God's salvation, shall never be disappointed: they will by faith, enjoy it in time, and be put in full possession of it in eternity. 5. God was often, by his situation, exposed to the inroads of his neighbours, the Moabites and Ammonites, but in the reign of David, they were wholly subdued. Note, Let us not despair, though the troops of our corruptions sometimes overcome us, we shall be more than conquerors in the end. 6. After is a tribe of plenty; not only fulness of bread, but abundance of dainties. Note, Dainties are God's gifts, and therefore not to be refused: a king, or a great man, may as lawfully enjoy the delicacies of food, as the poor eat bread. 7. Naphtali's lot is rich in pasture, and the tempers of the people, sweet and affable. Note, There are a variety of natural dispositions, and these, like the several parts of the body, compute a more beautiful figure. Let every man improve his own gift, and neither envy nor despair those who differ from him. a Hich. Daughters. a Job. xxii. xx. f Wid. xxxii. g Wid. lxx. h Ills. xxviii. 11. i Chap. xxviii. 12. &xxx. 12. h Chap. xxii. 6. i Deut. xxiii. 17. m Deut. xxxii. 12. Hah. iii. 6. n Deut. xxxii. 12. n Judg. i. 8. p Numb. xviii. 64. Exch. xxiv. xx. 1, 7. a Chap. xx. 11. &xxx. 9. a Chap. xliii. 20. a Chap. 1. 13. a Chap. xxiii. 18. a Chap. xxii. 19. &xxx. a Chap. xxiv. 30. 22. ¶ Joseph is a fruitful bough; even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall. 23. The archers have forely grieved him, and that at him, and hated him. 24. But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob: from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel. 25. Even by the God of the father, who shall help thee, and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the words. 26. The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors, unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. 27. ¶ Benjamin shall raven as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. Joseph being the beloved child, comes in for a peculiar blessing. His sons are these branches of the spreading tree. Though some afflictions had been his law, severely treated by his brethren, and more severely tempted by his mistress; (what they darts so sharp!) yet firm he stood, unmoved, unflaken; not in it strange, when the everlasting arms are under him. Note, If Christ strengthen us, none shall pluck us out of his hands. Joseph is Jacob's shepherd, to feed him in the time of dearth, and the support of his sinking family, and his reward shall be accordingly. God, his father's God, shall make his seed victorious, the best of blessings shall defend upon him, and greater than those of his progenitors, in the immedium with increase of his potteries, and all those blessings should be enduring as the mountains. Thus, though separated from and hated of his brethren, a crown of excellence is bestowed upon him. Note, On the spiritual seed of Jesus, the hated of his brethren, shall be these blessings of heaven above. They shall be fed with breath of present consolation, and have their mansion on those mountains which are truly everlasting, separated from the world which lieth in wickedness, and blest with the transcendently glorious favour of Jacob's God. My soul, may this blessing be thine, and then every present trial will be light, every suffering joyous. 2. Benjamin shall be a warlike tribe; and eminently it was fulfilled in him. He ravened among his foes, and once among his friends, Jud. xx. 14. till they rose up as one man against him, almost to his utter extirpation. 28. ¶ All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. 29. And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers, in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite. 30. In the cave that is in the field of Machepah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite, for a possession of a burying-place. 31. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah. 32. The purchase of the field, and of the cave that is therein, was from the children of Heth. 33. And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghoft, and was gathered unto his people. Thus the prophetic blessings end: each has something: those who are corrected, are not cast off. Note, Though we are rebuked for our sins, we must not despair under them; there is yet hope. And now he hath but one word to speak, and die. 1. He charges them where he will be buried, as he had exacted an oath of Joseph before, both in faith of the promise, and to remind them of it. Note, It is good with our dying lips, to really the sure truth of our souls. 2. His death. He gathered up his feet from his sitting pofture, into the bed; with a peaceful resignation yielded up his soul to God, and went to that blessed assembly of his people, the souls of the faithful, who, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity. May my last end be like unto his! We have an account in this chapter of another interviews between God and Abraham, probably within a few days after the former, in a reward of his cheerful obedience to the laws of circumcision. Here is (1.) The kind wife which God made him, and the kind entertainment he gave to that wife, ver. 1-8. (2.) The matters discussed of between them. 1. The purposes of God's true concerning Sarah, ver. 9-15. 2. The purposes of God's words concerning Sodom. 1. The discovery God made to Abraham of his design to destroy Sodom, ver. 16-22. 2. The interception Abraham made for Sodom, ver. 23-33. 1. AND the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent-door in the heat of the day. 2. And he left up his eyes and looked, and lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent-door, and bowed himself toward the ground. 3. And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant. 4. Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and walk your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5. And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that you shall pass on: for therefore I are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do as thou hast said. 6. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, I Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. 7. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetch a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hastened to dress it. 8. And he took butter and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. 9. 1-8. We have here Abraham's hospitality to three unknown strangers, though afterwards found to be celestial visitants in human forms. 1. His Babes, Chord (1) 1. His affectionate invitation of them. He sat in the ten-door, to welcome in the weary traveller; and when no man were yet in use, such pleasure of love became the father of the faithful. Note, A Christian's heart is generous and hospitable. No sooner does the opportunity offer, than with profound respect, and urgent intercity, he brings these guests into his tent. Note, (1.) Religion never teaches rudeness, but civility. (2.) A good man thinks it a favour done him, that he hath it in his power to relieve the delirium. 2. The hearty welcome given them. Luxury of diet yet unknown, (and how much better still unknown!) and pride of equipage, make no part of Abraham's entertainment. Himself and Sarah not too great to serve, and one plain dish, beneath a tree, compleats the banquet. Happy simplicity! where friendship unflagged made hypocritical compliments oblivit, and plain abundance supplied those wants of hunger, which pampered appetite never knew. Note, 1. True faith produces fervent charity. No fruits like those which grow on this tree. 2. True nobility and greatness is ever most condescending. 9. And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. 10. And he said, 'I will certainly return unto thee,' according to the time of life; and lo, 'Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent-door, which was behind him. 11. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age: and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, 'After I am waxed old, shall I have pleasure,' my lord being old also? 13. And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I of a furety bear a child, which am old? 14. 'Is any thing too hard for the LORD? 'At the time appointed will I return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 15. Then Sarah denied, saying, 'I laughed not: for she was afraid. And he said, 'Nay, but thou didst laugh.' 9. 9—19. Now Abraham begins to find he hath left nothing by his guests. He invited but men; he finds among them his Lord. Note, They who do good to the leaf of Christ's little ones, doth it unto him. Observe. 1. Their enquiries after Sarah. The women, according to the eastern custom, sat not down with them to meat. But they chewed by their enquiring, that they were no strangers to his family. Civil enquiries are kind. 2. Abraham's answer. She is where she should be, in the tent. The duty of a wife is to be a keeper at home; and when we are in the way of duty, we may expect to find a blessing. 3. The promise made to Sarah. Now the Lord begins to appear. He speaks more than man, that can say, 'I will, Thou hast. Blessed be his name; not only all his promises, but his commands run thus: he makes us what he wills us to be.' 4. Sarah's unbelief. Though out of sight, not out of hearing: she laughed at an event to improbable. Note, 1. Reason is a bad guide in matters of faith. 2. The same appearance may arise from different causes: a smile may be found, a contemptuous unbelief, or satisfied confidence. 3. If Sarah called her husband Lord, let her daughters remember and imitate her respect. 5. The rebuke given her. Why did Sarah laugh? Is any thing too hard for God? Note, 1. Suspicions of God's power or grace, or both, are very displeasing to him. 2. Rebuke is the kindest instance of friendship, and best return for favours received. Let the righteous smile me friendly. 3. Unwillingness to give, and backwardness to receive reproof, is a sure sign of a perverse or cold heart. 6. Sarah's denial. To conceal one fault, she makes two. One for seldom goes alone. Nothing leads us into a lye sooner than fear. Fools that we are, not to place that fear on the proper object. Can man's rebuke be equal to those God hath appointed for lying lips? Oh that we feared him more, and men less. Yet this rebuke wrought good effects; though unbelief prevailed before, such triumphs now: he that knew her heart, could give the son. Note, When we might expect chastisement for our sin, God oftentimes humbles us with mansion. 16. And the men rose up from thence, and looked towards Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17. And the LORD said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18. Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth I shall be blessed in him? 19. For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. 20. And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21. 'I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. 22. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went towards Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. 9. 16—22. The visit over, the strangers depart. But Abraham had talked so much of the sweets of their company, he will not leave them thus, but brings them on their way. Note, We are both to part with those, with whom we have enjoyed much of the presence of the Lord. And now Abraham's kindness is still more abundantly repaid: while two of his guests are sent before, the third stays. His Lord not only gives him his company, but reveals to him his secret. Observe. 1. God's renown for informing Abraham of his design. (1.) He will not hide his counsel from him; for he is a friend, for whom he had done much, and would do more. Note, 1. It is a reason with God to give more, where he hath given much. 2. God discovers more of his secret counsels to his servants, than other men. An enlightened mind, thoroughly varied as God's word, attains a knowledge next to prophecy. (2.) He will instruct his children and household. Whatever knowledge he hath will be made useful to others as well as himself. Ye matters of families, behold in Abraham's practice your example and duty. 3. To make it your care and business to instruct your children and servants in the way of the Lord. Remember, the lowest under your roof hath an immortal soul, and it is entrusted to your care. 4. Be yourself the example of what you teach. 5. Be constant with them at a throne of grace, both to shew them the way thither, and to obtain a blessing on your labours among them. 2. His discovery of the design of his visit to Sodom. Their sins, that called for vengeance; and he is come to enquire into it: not that he wanted to be informed, but that he may appear both patient and just in all his judgments. Learn, 1. Crying sins are heard in heaven, however unnoticed on earth. And Note, Those sins were pride, luxury, and ultimate. What need not hearken, whether some such cry goes up from him. 2. Sinners say, God shall not see; but they are unfully mistaken. 3. God never punishes by report; many are belied, whom God will acquit; but where he condemns, his judgment is ever according to truth. 23. And Abraham drew near, and said, 'Will thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24. 'Per- and venture there be fifty righteous within the city: with thou also destroy, and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25. That he far from thee to do after this manner, to say the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that he far from thee: 'Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 26. And the LORD said, 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their lakes. 9. 23—26. Abraham no sooner hears the secret, than strain his heart begins to plead, if yet there may be hope. We have here. 1. Abraham's prayer. And a most ardent, humble, believing, loving prayer it is. 1. His approach: filled with the sense of the greatness and goodness of his dear Lord, he dares approach with reverence and hope, drawn by that fervent charity, which would snatch the brand from the burning. 2. His request for Sodom. See how he pleads, (1.) For the righteous. Some he charitably hoped might be found. Let, no doubt, and perhaps he had converts. Confident they should be spared, he pleads God's glorious perfections; his mercy and righteousness embodies his address. Note, 1. It is a strong support in prayer to plead God's perfections, as a ground to speak before him. 2. We must be confident, the Judge of all will do right; nor shall any man have cause to find fault with his determination. 3. The righteous shall not be destroyed with the wicked. Though they be involved with them, they shall not be like them. They shall escape out of their trial, or their suffering shall be sanctified unto them. (2.) For the wicked. Though we hate sin, we must pray and pray for the future. The word must not be forgotten: whilst there is life, there is hope. Note, 1. To be spared to repent is a great mercy. 2. If any reprieve be hoped for, it is for the righteous false. 2. God's answer. Free and gracious. Thus doth prayer prevail. How ready be to hear, how willing to pardon: if fifty be found righteous, Sodom is spared. How should it encourage our applications to him? 27. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, which am but doth and after. 28. Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: will thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. 29. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for far less fake. 30. And he said unto him, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. 31. And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenties fake. 32. And he said, 'Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for tens fake. 33. And the LORD went his way, affixed as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. Whilst other givers expect we should be satisfied, when God gives, he expects and is pleased that we ask for more, Behold, 1. Abraham's renewal of his requests. 1. His preface: deeply humbled, he confesses himself doth and after, yea, and sinful doth and after too, unworthy to speak before God. Let us remember this ever, when we appear before God. The best of men are no better. 2. His prayers and answers. He said would speed, and therefore less often the number. God grants it. Once more he dares to speak. Importantly he asks for pardon in this boldness. Oh what a God have we, never weary of granting, never tired with importunity, and, glorious as he is, is not angry to be thus besieged with ceaseless cries. Again he speeds. Again he cannot be silent; again is answered graciously. Yet once, and but once more, will he presume to speak: reduced to ten his last request. And sure, if five cities produce not ten righteous men, ruin must be near. Even hereunto God confesses to content. Note, (1.) How good is it to pray and never faint. (2.) There are sins unto death, for which prayer cannot avail. (3.) When we have been disappointed of success, we shall not lose the blessing; if the mercy be not vouchsafed to others, it will return upon ourselves. 3. Their parting. God leaves him, but not till he hath done asking; and Abraham returned to wait the issue, sure, however, not to be disappointed concerning God's promise, and looking if yet there may be hope. Note. We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. In this chapter we have the history of Sodom's ruin, and Lot's reason from that ruin; the result of the enquiry, Chap. xviii. 21. ii. 1. That Lot was very good, ver. 1, 2, 3. 2. That the Sodomists were very misled, and with, ver. 4-11. 3. Special care was therefore taken for the securing of Lot, and his family, in a place of safety, ver. 12-23. 4. Mercy having rejected therein, by this shorn itself in the ruin of Sodom, and of Lot's wife, ver. 24-26. with a general repetition of the story, ver. 27-29. 5. A foul to that Lot was guilty of, in committing itself with his own daughters, ver. 30, ad finem. 1. AND there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them, rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 2. And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servants house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, 'Nay, but we will abide in the street all night. 3. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house: and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. We have, here, the angels arrival at Sodom, and Lot's kind reception of them. 1. The two angels came to Sodom at even. The Lord sends his excusations of vengeance, and who shall stand before these ministers of flame? 2. Lot meets and presses them into his house. Singular in his party, he is selected from the general ruin. He is earned to solicit their company, and happy to entertain them liberally. He had seen no such visitants at Sodom of a long time. Note, God men deserve a hearty welcome. We cannot be too pressing on such to favour us with their company. 3. The angels at first seem courteously to excuse themselves, but at last yield to his solicitations. Note, 1. Every invitation which is given us must not be hastily complied with, lest we should seem to run, where we should wait to be drawn. 2. Those who are hearty solicitors, however they may fall with men, shall prevail with God. 4. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compelled the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter. 5. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. v. 4, 5. They who came to see, were soon convinced of the wickedness of Sodom. Observe, 1. The universal corruption, old and young from every quarter. Note, That must needs be a wicked place, where the old set the example, and are ringleaders in iniquity. 2. Their crime. The most mouldrous and unnatural; shocking to think of, and infamous to mention; yet they dared know it, and add impudence to their vile affections. Note, 1. No sin in the sight of God is more abominable than unnatural lusts. 2. When men have lost shame, they are on the brink of ruin. 6. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7. And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 8. Behold now, I have two daughters, which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto shee men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 9. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and 'he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee than with them. And they pressed fore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. 10. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 11. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. We have here, 1. Lot's interposition. Observe, (1.) His advice; an humble intreaty. A wise reprover will ever cloak rebuke with the garment of love. (2.) His hasty proposal, v. 8. We must not commit sin to avert sin, nor do evil that good may come. (3.) His earnest pleading of the laws of hospitality. When we treat with men, we should endeavour to convince them by argument. 2. Their insolent rejection of his advice, with intimidating threats against himself, v. 9. Note, 1. Ill language in the common lot of those who set their faces against men's sins. 2. Friendly admonition is often thus rejected as insolent intrusion. 3. They who would rebuke wicked men, must put their life in their hand. 4. The last effort to save is then finished, when sinners thrash out from them the preaching of the gospel. 3. The angel's interposition to save Lot, and chastise these sinners against the Lord. Note, (1.) God has a hand to pull us in at the door of safety, when our case seems almost desperate. (2.) Those who can trust him with their life, are sure of a safe retreat at last, where the wicked cease from troubling. (3.) Whom God will destroy, he usually infatuates. Demonted goes with perverse. (4.) No judgment will turn the heart. Though sinners of God, as the men of Sodom, still they are fully set to do evil. They say, We will pursue it yet again. 12. And the men said unto Lot, Hath thou here any besides? Son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place. 13. For we will destroy this place: because the cry of them is warers great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. 14. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get ye out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city: but he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. Lot is here warned of the approaching catastrophe of Sodom, and, as permitted, dies to warn his relations to escape. Observe, 1. The Before Christ Chap. 11. Judg. vi. 35. See Judges pp. 34. 1 Will. vi. 1 Chap. xviii. 20. Bellech Clay. 1. The command given him, to bring out all he could persuade of his relations from the ruin. Note, Those who are themselves awakened to a fense of their danger, must use their utmost efforts to persuade others to fly with themselves from the wrath to come. 2. Lot's hail to inform his kindness, his sins in law, and their families. Up, get you out. Abrupt and urgent; be- Speaking his solicitude, their danger, and the necessity of immediate compliance. Note, (1.) Ministers cannot be too warm and urgent in their address to sinners consciences. (2.) They who are in jeopardy every hour, have not a moment to strike with. 3. Their reception of him. They thought him mad or melancholy, and laughed at his fears. Note, 1. Many now laugh at hell, who will shortly wait there eternally. 2. To mock at God's warnings, is the way to hailen his judgments. Such mockers still are found. 3. It is no uncommon thing for despises of the gospel to treat the ministers of it as enthralled or melancholic. 15. ¶ And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters which are here; left thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he laid, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain: escape to the mountain, left thou be consumed. 18. And Lot did unto them, Oh not so, my Lord. 19. Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life: and I cannot escape to the mountain, left some evil take me, and I die. 20. Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22. Hail there, escape thither: for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither: therefore the name of the city was called Zour. We have here, Lot's flight and rescue from the burnings of Sodom. Though ten righteous were not found to save the whole, one righteous man is found, and he shall save himself and family. Observe, 1. Lot's lingering in Sodom. How loth to part from his house, his goods, his sons, his daughters; but go he must, or perish in the flames. Note, (1.) Worldly things are a great snare to the heart. (2.) Their cause may an awakened soul to linger, through fear of loss, or hope of gain, instead of coming out of the world, and being separate. (3.) It is owing to God's sovereign grace, that we are with a holy violence forced away, and saved from the effects of our sinful lingerings. 2. The angels hail to get him away; they laid hold on him, and his daughters, and brought them out, and then urge their flight to the mountain, without so much as stopping by the way, or calling a look on the devoted cities. Note, (1.) They who would fly from sin to Christ Jesus, must never think of seeking rest any where but in him. (2.) To look back with regret on the pleasures of sin, is the way to be again entangled thereby. (3.) Till death, we must hasten our flight faster and faster from the world which loth in wickedness. 3. Lot's request. A mixture of unbelief. Why could not he who called him out, help him on his way? How often does unbelief assault the faithful soul? A mixture of charity. If Bela was his refuge, his safety would be theirs also. It was a little city; perhaps less wicked therefore. God mingles his mercy in the midst of judgment. 4. It is granted. Though there might be much infirmity in Lot's pretending to clothe the place of his safety, the more mercy is manifested in God's yielding to his request. Effectual fervent prayer available much. Note, 1. A righteous man loved the city; how valuable such men? yet usually they are thought the troubling. 2. God's hands seem bound till he is late; those who have everlasting promises for their bups, need not fear to perish: God cannot deny himself. 23. ¶ The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zour. 24. Then * the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven. 25. And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. Bright was the sun which rose upon devoted Sodom. Safe in their foolish confidence, Lot's flight afforded matter of fresh ridicule, and now they can welcome the returning day. But see when sinners are in the heights of their security, how destruction overtakes them. The sun is covered, the storm arises, the lightnings glare, the heavens are on fire, the flames descend, the smoking cities fend up their dying cries. Too late to call for mercy, it is the time of judgment. Mark the end of sinners vain confidence. Learn, 1. If judgments are on the earth, it is the Lord's work. The Lord Jesus is not only the Saviour of those who believe in him, like Lot, but he is the judge and destroyer of those who, like Sodom, reject his situation. 2. They who go after strange flesh, may expect to be punished with strange judgments. 3. What a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Fools now make a mock of sin, but they will find it a bitter thing, when they shall feel, with Sodom, the vengeance of eternal fire, Jude, 7. 26. ¶ But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. But four came out of Sodom, and one was left by the way. Behold, and tremble. Remember Lot's wife. 1. Her sin is looking back. Disobedient to the command, and distrustful of the threatening, with unfabund affection to her worldly enjoyments, she was drawn out by violence, but her heart was behind. Note, 1. They who make prediction of religion, out of complaisance to their friends, or by mere constraint, will soon make shipwreck of it, to their shame. 2. If we think of leaving our sin, we must make no reserve, either in affection or practice: once on the way to heaven, we must persevere; to look back, is to return unto perfidious. Let us fear then, least we fall. 2. Her punishment: a pillar of salt; a lasting memorial to warn succeeding ages. Note, (1.) Many a saint of God goes to heaven, and leaves his wife, through her pervertness, on the plain. (2.) No inducement must tempt us to stay, or look back on them; if they will not go with us, we must leave them to their ruin. 27. ¶ And Abraham got up early in the morning, to the place where he stood before the LORD. 28. And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. 29. ¶ And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. Abraham spent the night, no doubt, solicitous about the issue of his prayer, and at early dawn, arises to see what God had determined. And here we have, 1. The awful sight before him; the desolate plain, and smoking ruins of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Satisfied in the vengeance, no doubt he justified God in his judgments. The saints who shall praise God in glory for his mercies to themselves, shall also when the smoke of the sinners turned ascends, cry Hallelujah, Rev. xix. 3. 2. The kind remembrance God had of Abraham, in the rescue of Lot. Note, (1.) When we are enquiring after the answer of our prayers, we shall certainly find their effect; if not in our own way, yet in such a way, as we have need be thankful for. (2.) Connexions with true believers, are great blessings; we often find the benefit of their prayers. 30. ¶ And Lot went up out of Zour, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zour: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. Lot's removal from Zour. Whether shocked at their wickedness, or frightened with the apprehensions of those waters, that now rose to make the lake of Sodom, he shun to that mountain, which before he was so unwilling to go to, and leaves the city, to dwell more securely in a cave. Note, 1. Our own choice seldom proves good, and therefore, sooner or later, God by disappointments brings us to follow his will as the best. 2. Lot's plenty, that the land could not hold, is now gone, and a hole in a mountain contains his little all. Note, Those who for secular advantage, leave God's people, will smart for it usually in grievous disappointments. 31. ¶ And the first-born said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth. 32. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 33. And they made their father drink wine, that night: and the firth-born went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firth-born said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yefternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 35. And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. 37. And the firth-born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 38. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day. How little safety is there for us from sin in any place? He who was kept in Sodom, is overcome in a cave. We have here, 1. His daughter's wicked contrivance. They had, it is to be feared, been too much tinctured with Sodom's sin, and were eye-witnesses of its punishment: now the old fore breaks out again; what they could not effect when their father was sober, they endeavour to bring about by drunkenness, and thus one crime is aggravated with another. Note, (1.) When a woman's heart is set on wickedness, it will go hard, but she succeeds. (2.) No judgments can restrain those, whom divine grace doth not change. (3.) Solitude is so far from being a cure to lewdness, that it there usually prevails: to fly away from these evil imaginations into company, is their readself cure. 2. Lot's shameful and scandalous fall. Lord, what is man, if left to himself? Drunk and ineffectual, and thus repeatedly too: let us read it with horror. Note, (1.) No man this false heaven, is false from presumptuous sins, or above praying to be kept from them. (2.) Drunkenness hath no end of evil; then every crime without horror or shame is easily committed. (3.) Let nearself relatives beware: the freedoms of their relation may degenerate into the foulest indulgence. 3. The fruit of this ineffectual commerce. Two sons, Moab and Ammon; and two nations also, a perpetual memorial of Lot's shame. Note, Though prosperity may seem to attend the most unnatural sins, the end will be misery and shame. We are here returning to the story of Abraham, yet that part of it which is here recorded, is not to his honour. While there are parts in the sun, we must not expect any thing (solely) under it. The forepaws is impartial in relating the themselves even if its most celebrated joints. We have here, 1. Abraham's sin in denying his wife, and Abimelech's sin thereupon in taking her, ver. 1, 2. 2. God's discovery with Abimelech is a dream, wherein he shows him his error, ver. 3. Accepts of his plea, ver. 4, 5, 6. and directs him to make reformation, ver. 7. 3. Abimelech's reprint of Abraham, ver. 8, 9, 10. Abraham's excuse, ver. 11, 12, 13. 4. The good idea of the story, in which Abimelech restores Abraham the wife, ver. 14, 15, 16. and Abraham, by power, prevails with God for the removal of the judgment Abimelech was under, ver. 17, 18. Chap. vii. 1. AND Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Sadeh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. v. 1, 2. Abraham's removal is here mentioned, and his sojourning among the Philistines. Note, Wherever we are in this world, we must remember we are but sojourners, as all our fathers were. We have here, 1. A repetition of his former equivocation, and probably on the same account. Though Sarah was now in years, she was yet beautiful. Note, It is a sad thing to be overtaken with sin, it is worse to relapse into it, but still the backslider may return. Let none presume they cannot fall; let none follow, link into despair. 2. The danger to which Sarah is again exposed. When unbelieving fear comes upon us, the evils we should otherwise avoid overtake us. Phil. ex. 14. 3. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold thou art but a dead man, Vol. I. for the woman which thou hast taken: for she is a man's wife. 4. But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, LORD, wilt thou say also a righteous nation? 5. Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, he is my brother: in the integrity of my heart, and innocence of my hands have I done this. 6. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou shalt this in the integrity of thy heart: for I also with-held thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. 7. Now therefore restore the man his wife, for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou, that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. God again interposes to save Sarah from her imminent danger. We have, 1. His appearance to Abimelech, to warn him of his danger in a dream. Why may not dreams sometimes be still transitory? He informs him he is a dead man if he touch her. Note, Every sin hath this wages. The sinner is already dead in the eye of God's law. 2. Abimelech's plea, ignorance, and in this case innocence. It is a blessed plea to have the testimony of a good conscience. God will not say the righteous. 3. God's acceptance of it, and injunction. He, who knew his heart, was satisfied of his integrity. Note, God's approbation is a counterbalance against every unjust suspicion of the world. And God it was, who had with-held him. Note, God's restraining grace we are all wonderfully indebted to: How much worse else had we been than we are? But he must send her back, or die, for she is a prophet's wife, whose prayers should be accepted for him. Learn (1.) God's prophets have his peculiar care. (2.) The king upon the throne is as much exposed to the divine wrath by sin, as the meanest. Let kings remember, they have the same law to be judged by, as their subjects. 8. Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were fore afraid. 9. Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hath thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. 10. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawseth thou, that thou hast done this thing? 11. And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will say me for my wife's sake. 12. And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother: and she became my wife. 13. And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my fathers house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; At every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother. We have here, 1. Abimelech's care and haste to get rid of Sarah: he warns his servants, and trembles himself. When sin is in the case, we cannot be too solicitous to be rid of it. 2. His serious reproof of Abraham, v. 9. A great sin, that would have involved his kingdom in ruin, without any provocation, brought on him by Abraham's suspicions: they and false disillusion. Note, (1.) Adultery is among the greatest of sins. (2.) Kings shall rue for it. (3.) Their people are often involved in their punishment. (4.) The greatest injury any man can do us, is to lead us into sin. (5.) Uncharitable suspicions are very evil to ourselves, and oftentimes the cause of greater evil to others. 3. Abraham's weak and sorry excuse. His fears of the place bespoke his censoriousness; his fears for his wife, his unbelief. Note, (1.) We are too hastily apt to conclude they have no religion, who are not exactly in our way of thinking: but we are often mistaken to our shame; their practice reproves us. (2.) All equivocations generally lead us into scrapes. Truth will never shame its author. 14. And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and men, servants, and women-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. 15. And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. 16. And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other; thus she was K reprov- Before Chalk 1815. Surrendered Heh, Married to an behold. Or singlicity, or lostress.