8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;

GENESIS, IX.

CHAP. 8.-B. C. 2349.

LORD, and returned,
and came to their house
to Ramah: and Elkanah
knew Hannah his wife;
and the LORD remem-

knew Hannah his wife;
bered her. 1 Sam. 1. 19.

For he remembered his
holy promise, and Abra-
ham his servant. Psalm
105, 42. Who remem-

bered us in our low
endureth for ever. Ps.

estate: for his mercy

136, 23.

wearieth
cloud; he scattereth his
bright cloud, and it is
turned round about by

his counsels; that they
commandeth themupon

may do whatsoever he

the face of the world in
the earth. He causeth
or for his

land, or for mercy. Job,
37.11-13. Who can num

it to come, whether for

ber the clouds in wis-
dom? or who can stay
the bottles of heaven?

1 in going and return

Job, 38, 37.
ing

e And the waters pre-
vailed upon the earth an
Genesis, 7, 24.

hundred and fifty days.
were in going and

decreasing.

f A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in

9 But the dove h found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. 10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; 11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated the raven his food? when from off the earth.

12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

a

cubit shalt thou finish

it above; and the door
of the ark shalt thou set
in the side thereof; with
stories shalt thou make
it. Genesis, 6, 16.
Who provideth for
his young ones cry unto
God, they wander for
lack of meat. Job, 38, 41.

lower, second, and third

And it shall be, that
brook; and I have com-

thou shalt drink of the

manded the ravens to
feed thee there. 1 Kings,
17, 4.

3

returning.

in going forth and And among these nnsole of thy foot have rest. ease, neither shall the Deut. 2d 5.1

tions shalt thou find no

4 caused her to come.

13 ¶ And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of CHAP. VIII. CHRIST OUR ARK.-There is much of our gospel-duty and privilege to be seen in Noah's preservation in the ark. The apostle makes it a type of our baptism, that is, our Christianity, 1 Pet. 3, 20, 21. Observe, then, 1. It is our great duty, in obedience to the gospel-call, by a lively faith in Christ, to come into that way of salvation which God has provided for poor sinners. When Noah came into the ark, he quitted his own house and lands; so must we quit our own righteousness and our worldly possessions, whenever they come into competition with Christ. Noah must, for a while, submit to the confinements and inconveniences of the ark, in order to his preservation for a new world; so, those that come into Christ, to be saved by him, must deny themselves, both in sufferings and services. 2. Those that come into the ark themselves, should bring as many as they can in with them, by good instructions, by persuasions, and by a good example: What knowest thou, O man, but thou mayest thus save thy wife, (1 Cor. 7, 16,) as Noah did his. There is room enough in Christ for all comers. 3. Those that by faith come into Christ, the Ark, shall by the power of God be shut in, and kept as in a strong hold by the power of God, 1 Pet. 1, 5. God put Adam into paradise, but he did not shut him in, and so he threw himself out; but, when he put Noah into the ark, he shut him in, and so, when he brings a soul to Christ, he insures the salvation; it is not in our own keeping, but in the Mediator's hand. 4. The door of mercy will shortly be shut against those that now make light of it. Now, knock, and it shall be opened; but the time will come, when it shall not, Luke 13, 25.-H. THE DOVE.-Noah sent forth the dove the second time, seven days after the first time, and the third time was after seven days too; and, probably, the first sending of her out was seven days after the sending forth of the raven, which intimates that it was done on the Sabbath-day, which, it should seem, Noah religiously observed in the ark. Having kept the Sabbath in a solemn assembly of his little church, he then expected special blessings from heaven, and inquired concerning them. Having directed his prayer, he looked up, Ps. 5, 3. The dove is an emblem of a gracious soul, which, finding no rest for its foot, no solid peace or satisfaction in this world, this deluged, defiling world, returns to Christ as to its Ark, as to its Noah. The carnal heart, like the raven, takes up with the world, and feeds on the carrions it finds there; but return thou to thy rest, O my soul, to thy Noah, so the word is, Ps. 116, 7. Oh that I had wings like a dove, to flee to him! Ps. 55, 6. And as Noah put forth his hand, and took the dove, and pulled her in to him, into the ark, so Christ will graciously preserve, and help, and welcome, those that fly to him for rest. The olive-branch, which was an emblem of peace, was brought not by the raven, a bird of prey, nor by a gay and proud peacock, but by a mild, patient, humble, dove. It is a dove-like disposition that brings into the soul earnests of rest and joy. Some make these things an allegory, The law was first sent forth like the raven, but brought no tidings of the assuaging of the waters of God's wrath, with which the world of mankind was deluged; therefore, in the fulness of time, God sent forth his gospel, as the dove, in the likeness of which the Holy Spirit descended, and this presents us with an olive-branch, and brings in a better hope.-H.

Noah goeth forth of the ark.

CHAP. 8-B. C. 2349. the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of highest, and on earth the ground was dry.

i Glory to God in the

peace, good will toward
men. Luke, 2, 14.

j In the selfsame day

entered Noah, and

Shem, and Ham, and
Japheth, the sons of
Noah, and Noah's wife,
and the three wives
of his sons with them,
into the ark. Genesis,

13. The LORD shall

preserve thy going out,
and thy coming in, from
this time forth, and

even for evermore. Ps.

121, 8

14 And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. 15 ¶ And God spake unto Noah, saying, 16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee.

17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that 28 with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, And God blessed and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon ful, and multiply, and the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the sens, and let fowl multi-earth, and be fruitful, and multiplyuponthe earth. 18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and

See Leviticus,chap.11. his wife, and his sons' wives with him: 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their 5 kinds, went forth out of the ark. 20 ¶ And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean 'beast, and of every clean of have worn that fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the LORD smelled a 6 sweet savour; and the ground any more for man's sake; 7 for the sworn that I would not the LORD said in his heart, I will not again "curse imagination" of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

the waters of Noah
should no more go over
the earth; so have I

be wike the is,

wroth with thee, nor

7 Or, though.

and every

man

the wickedness of that
was great in the earth,
his heart was only evil
Shpen in iniquity; and

tion of the thoughts of

continually. Genesis,
6, 5. Behold, I

was

in sin did my mother
conceive me. Psalm
51, 5. The heart is de-
ceitful above all things
and desperately wicked:
who can know it? Jer.
17, 9.

o See chapter 9, 15.
8 As yet all the days
of the earth.

CHAP. 9.-B. C. 2348.
a And God blessed
them, and God said
unto them, Be fruitful,
and multiply, and re-
plenish the earth, and
subdue it; and have
dominion over the fish

ND "God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply,

of the sea, and over the and replenish the earth.

fowl of the air, and
over every living thing
that moveth upon the
earth. Genesis, 1, 28.
b For every kind of
beasts, and of

things in the sea, is
and of serpents, and of
tamed of mankind.

tamed, and hath been
James, 3, 7.

2 And 'the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon into your hand are they delivered.

and the word rendered burnt-offerings here first occurs: yet Abel's offering seems to have been of the same nature, and laid on some kind of altar. By these burntofferings, Noah, in faith, ascribed his preservation to the mercy of God through the promised Saviour; he rendered to him a tribute of fervent gratitude and adoration; he devoted himself and family to his service; and he sought further protection and blessing amidst the desolations which surrounded him.-The smell of burning flesh could in itself be no more pleasing to God, than "the blood of bulls or of goats:" but as it typified the sacrifice of Christ, and expressed Noah's obedient faith and grateful love, the Lord graciously accepted it, and promised that he would no more curse the earth; that is, after the manner of the flood: for the original curse was not removed, nor is it clear that it was mitigated. He added, "for," or though, "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." The flood washed away that generation of wicked men, but it did not remove depravity from man's nature; who, being conceived and born in sin, thinks, devises, and loves wickedness, even from his youth; and that as much since the flood as before. Other methods indeed would be used to repress wickedness, but an universal deluge should no more be employed for that purpose; nor should any other year, like the past, occur to the end of the world, in which there was neither sowing nor reaping; and scarcely any distinction of seasons, or difference between day and night.-Partial failures of seed-time and harvest, or other irregularities, are not inconsistent with this gracious assurance; according to which the heavenly bodies have ever since preserved their courses, the seasons their successions, and the earth hath produced its increase for the use of man, notwithstanding his ingratitude. And on this word we depend, that thus it shall be "till the mystery of God is finished."

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.-The Lord "knoweth how to reserve the wicked unto the day of judgment, to be punished," however numerous, powerful, and haughty they may be; and also "to deliver the godly out of temptation" in the best time and manner, though few, despised, and helpless. (2 Pet. 2, 9.) For a season he seems to forget his afflicted children, and they are prone to judge according to appearances; but in due season he will manifest his kind and careful remembrance of them.-The devoted servant of God will make haste to keep his commandments; and patiently wait his time for deliverance and promised blessings.-The faithfulness of God is the best security; and it is given to all them that trust in him: for, his glory is engaged for their salvation, as much as for Noah's preservation.-Alas! how many are there in the visible church, who resemble the raven more than the dove! who retain a relish for worldly things under a religious appearance; and who, "in time of temptation fall away!" But the true Christian, partaking of the Spirit of Christ, may indeed, through temptation, for a season, quit the ark, and go to the world; but like the dove, he can find no rest till he returns to the Lord. They, who are saved from destruction, must on earth witness the desolations which sin makes, with aching hearts and weeping eyes; and in many things share in them. But the consolations of God will counterbalance these sorrows: and in heaven all tears shall be wiped away; so that even the de

THE FIRST ALTAR, -Ver, 20-22, This is the first time that an altar is mentioned; || struction of the wicked will in nowise abate the perfect felicity of the righteous.-S.

21 And he drank of the wine, and "was drunken; things, and sure: for and he was uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

this is all my salvation,
and all my desire.
Sam. 23, 5.

And the sons of Ham;
Phut,

2

Canaan.

Cush, and Mizraim, and
and
Genesis, 10, 6.

1 Chenaan.

p See Genesis, 10, 32.
7 In the sweat of thy
face shalt thou eat
bread, till thou return
unto the ground; for
out of it wast thou

taken: for dust thouart;

Ex. thou return. Genesis,
3, 19.

Moreover ye shall

take no satisfaction for
the life of a murderer,
which is guilty of death;

but he shall be surely

put to death. Numbers,

And hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth,and hath determined the times before appointed,

and the bounds of their

habitation. Acts, 17,

26.

man, so that he die,

h He that smiteth a shall be surely put to death. But if a man come presumptuously

upon his neighbour, to
thou shine altar, that
he may die. Exodus,

slay him with guile;
shalt take him

21, 12, 14. And he that
killeth any man shall
surely be put to death.

Leviticus, 24, 17. Then
into his place: for all
they that take the sword
shall perish with the
sword. Matthew, 26,
He that leadeth

said Jesus unto him,
Put up again thy sword

into captivity shall go
killeth with the sword
must be killed with the
sword. Rev. 13, 10.

into captivity; he that

So God created man
the image of God creat-
female created he them.

in his own image, in
ed he him; male and
Genesis, 1, 27.

The LORD is good to
all: and his tender mer-
works. Psalm 145, 9.

cies are over all his For this they willing. by the word of God the the earth standing out water. 2 Peter, 3, 5.

ly are ignorant of, that

heavens were of old, and

of the water and in the

1 See Matthew, 26, 26

m For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah

CHAP. IX. THE FIRST MAGNA CHARTA.—The grants of this charter are kind and gracious to men. Here is,

Wine is a mocker,

strong drink is raging;
and whosoever is de-
ceived thereby is not

wise. Proverbs, 20, 1.

8 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long

upon the land which

the LORD thy God giv-
eth thee. Exodus, 20,
12 Brethren, if a man
be overtaken in a fault,

ye

which are spiritual

restore such an one in

8

23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.

24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25 And he said, 'Cursed be Canaan; a servant of " servants shall he be unto his brethren.

26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be 2 his servant.

27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall

the spirit of meckness; be his servant.

considering thyself, lest
thou also be tempted.
Galatians, 6, 1.

Cursed be he that

setteth light by his
father or his mother.
And all the people shall

say, Amen. Deut. 7.

16.

u Now therefore ye [the Gibeonites] are

none of you be freed

from being bondmen,

28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years:

29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died. CHAPTER X.

cursed, and there shall 1 The generations of Noah. 2 The sons of Japheth, 6 and of Ham. 8 Nimrod the first monarch. 15 The descendants of Canaan. 21 The sons of Shem.

and hewers of wood and
drawers of water for
the house of my God.
Joshua, 9, 23.

2 Or, servant to them.
3 Or, persuade.

But now in Christ
Jesus ye who some-
times were far off are
made nigh by the blood
of Christ. For he is

Now them, and Japheth: and

TOW these are the generations of the sons

a

unto them were sons born after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, hath broken down the and Tiras.

our peace, who hath

made both one, and

middle wall of partition
between us. Ephes. 2,
13, 14 That the Gen-
tiles should be fellow-
heirs, and of the same
body, and partakers of

his promise in Christ
by the Gospel. Ephes

3,

6

3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.

4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, 1 Kittim, and 2 Dodanim.

5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

6 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

But now man is allowed to feed upon flesh, as freely and safely as upon the green herb.-H.

1. A grant of lands of vast extent, and a promise of a great increase of men to THE RAINBOW.-1. This seal is affixed, with repeated assurances of the truth of occupy and enjoy them. The first blessing is here renewed, Be fruitful, and multi-that promise which it was designed to be the ratification of. I set my bow in the ply, and replenish the earth, ver. 1, and repeated, ver. 7, for the race of mankind cloud, (ver. 13,) it shall be seen in the cloud, (ver. 14,) that the eye may affect the was, as it were, to begin again. Now, (1.) God sets the whole earth before them, heart, and confirm the faith; and it shall be the token of the covenant; (ver. 12, 13,) tells them it is all their own, while it remains, to them and their heirs. Note, The and I will remember my covenant, that the waters shall no more become a flood, ver. earth God has given to the children of men, for a possession and habitation, Ps. 15. Nay, as if the Eternal Mind needed a memorandum, I will look upon it, that 115, 16. Though it is not a paradise, but a wilderness rather, yet it is better than I may remember the everlasting covenant, ver. 16. Thus here is line upon line, that we deserve. Blessed be God, it is not hell. (2) He gives them a blessing, by the we might have sure and strong consolation, who have laid hold on this hope. 2. force and virtue of which mankind should be both multiplied and perpetuated The rainbow appears then when the clouds are most disposed to wet, and returns upon earth; so that, in a little time, all the habitable parts of the earth should be after the rain; then, when we have most reason to fear the rain prevailing, God more or less inhabited; and though one generation should pass away, yet another shows this seal of the promise, that it shall not prevail. Thus God obviates our generation should come, while the world stands, so that the stream of the human fears with such encouragements as are both suitable and seasonable. 3. The race should be supplied with a constant succession, and run parallel with the cur- thicker the cloud, the brighter the bow in the cloud. Thus, as threatening afflicrent of time, till both be delivered up together into the ocean of eternity. tions abound, encouraging consolations much more abound, 2 Cor. 1, 5. 4. The 2. A grant of power over the inferior creatures, ver. 2. He grants, (1.) A title rainbow appears when one part of the sky is clear, which intimates mercy rememto them. Into your hands they are delivered, for your use and benefit. (2.) A bered in the midst of wrath; and the clouds are hemmed, as it were, with the dominion over them, without which the title would avail little. The fear of you rainbow, that it may not overspread the heavens; for the bow is coloured rain, or and the dread of you shall be upon every beast. This revives a former grant, ch. 1, 28, the edges of a cloud gilded. 5. The rainbow is the reflection of the beams of the only with this difference, that man in innocence ruled by love, fallen man rules by sun, which intimates, that all the glory and significancy of the seals of the covefear. Now this grant remains in force, and thus far we have still the benefit of nant are derived from Christ the Sun of righteousness, who is also described with it. That those creatures which are any way useful to us, are reclaimed, and we a rainbow about his throne, (Rev. 4, 3,) and a rainbow upon his head; (Rev. 10, 1,) use them either for service, or food, or both, as they are capable. Those creatures which bespeaks, not only his majesty, but his mediatorship. 6. The rainbow has that are any way hurtful to us are restrained, so that though now and then man may fiery colours in it, to signify, that, though God will not again drown the world, be hurt by some of them, yet they do not combine together to rise up in rebellion yet, when the mystery of God shall be finished, the world shall be consumed by against man; else God could by these destroy the world as effectually as he did by fire. 7. A bow bespeaks terror, but it has neither string nor arrow, as the bow a deluge; it is one of God's sore judgments, Ezek. 14, 21. ordained against the persecutors has; (Ps. 7, 12, 13;) and a bow alone will do little 3. A grant of maintenance and subsistence, ver. 3. Every moving thing that liveth, execution: it is a bow, but it is directed upward, not toward the earth; for the shall be meat for you. Hitherto, most think, man had been confined to feed only seals of the covenant were intended for comfort, not to terrify. Lastly, As God upon the products of the earth, fruits, herbs, and roots, and all sorts of corn and looks upon the bow, that he may remember the covenant, so should we, that we milk; so was the first grant, ch. 1, 29. But the flood having perhaps washed away also may be ever mindful of the covenant, with faith and thankfulness.-H. much of the virtue of the earth, and so rendered its fruits less pleasing and PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.-Ver. 1--23. The blessing of God is the real cause less nourishing; God now enlarged the grant, and allowed man to eat flesh, of prosperity, personal, relative, and national.-With what thankfulness should which perhaps man himself never thought of, till now that God directed him we receive that immense advantage, ease, and pleasure, which result from the to it, nor had any more desire to, than a sheep has to suck blood like a wolf.labour of the domestic animals, and which the flesh of so many creatures affords

Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto e Whither shall we go? our brethren have disriver Euphrates: the Kenites, and the Keniz-couraged our heart, say ing, The people zites, and the Kadmon

GENESIS, XII.

CHAP. 11.-B. C. 2247. || CHAP. 11.-B. C. 2217.
Why do the heathen Your fathers dwelt on

rage, and the people
The kings of the earth
rulers take counsel to

imagine a vain thing?

set themselves, and the

gether, against the
LORD, and against his
Anointed, saying, Let
us break their bands
their cords from us.

sunder, and cast away
He that sitteth in the
heavens shall laugh:

the LORD shall have
them in derision. Ps.

2,14

And God said, Let
ns make man in our
image. Gen. 1, 26.

And they were all
Ghost,
filled with the Holy

and began

to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit
gave them utterance.

And thereweredwelling

at Jerusalem Jews, de-
vout men, out of every
nation under heaven.
Now when this was
noised abroad, the
multitude came to-

gether, and were con

founded, because that
every man heard them
speak in his own lan-

guage. Acts, 2, 4-6.

j For, lo, thine ene-
mies, O LORD, for, lo,
thine enemies shall

berish; all the workers
scattered Psalm 92,

of iniquity shall be

9.

Judgments are prepar
ed for scorners, and
stripes for the back of

fools, Proverbs, 19, 29.

7 That is, confusion.

If therefore the

the whole church be come

the other side of the
Terah, the father of
father of Nahor: and

flood in old time, even

Abraham, and the

they served other gods.
Joshua, 24, 2.

p See chapter 19.
q And God said unto
Abraham, As for Sarai

thy wife, thou shalt not
but Sarah shall her

her name Sarai,

name be. Genesis, 17,

15.

r And it came to pass

God blesseth Abram.

25 And Nahor lived after he begat "Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

27 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat "Lot.

28 And Haran died before his father Terah in after these things, that the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. 29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the

it was told Abraham,
saying, Behold, Milcah,
she hath also born chil-

dren unto thy brother

Nahor. Genesis, 22, 20.

Now Sarai, Abram's

wife, bare him no chil

dren: and she had an

“

name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter dren: and she had an of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father whose name was Hagar. of Iscah.

handmaid,an Egyptian,

Genesis, 16, 1.

t Thou art the LORD
the God, who didst

broughtest him forth
out of Ur of the Chal

dees, and gavest him
the name of Abraham,

8

30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they called to go out into a Went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of " Canaan; and they came unto 12 Haran, and dwelt there.

Neh, 9, 7. By faith

Abraham, when he was

place which he should

after receive for an in
he went out, not know

heritance, obeyed; and

ing whither he went.
Heb. 11, 8.

u See chapter 10, 12.
12 Or, Charan.

CHAP. 12.-B. C. 1921.
a And he said unto

32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

CHAPTER XII.

together into one place, him, I am the LORD 1 God calleth Abram, and blesseth him with a promise of Christ: 4 he departs from Haran. 6 Canaan promised.

and all speak
tongues, and there
come in those that are
or unbe-
lievers, will they not
say that ye are mad?
1 Corinthians, 14, 23.

unlearned,

four The sons of Shem;
Arphaxad, and Lud.

Elam, and Asshur,

18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat 19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons daughters.

and

9

Reu:

and

20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, begat 10 Serug:

and

two

21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.

22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

and Aram, and Uz, and
Hul, and Gether, and
Meshech.
Arphaxad,

Shem,

ber, Peleg, Reu, Shelah, Abram; the same is 1,17, 24-27.

Serug, Nahor, Terah,

Abraham. 1Chronicles,

m Which was the son

of Cainan, which was
the son of Arphaxad,

that brought thee out
of Ur of the Chaldees,
to give thee this land
to inherit it. Genesis,
15, 7.

b And thou shalt speak
and say before the

LORD thy God, A Sy

rian ready to perish
went down into Egypt,
and sojourned there
with a few, and became

was my father, and he

TOW the "LORD had said unto Abram, Get

thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and there a nation, great, I will bless thee, and make thy name great;

mighty, and populous.

Deuteronomy, 26, 5.

And the LORD hath and thou shalt be a blessing:

blessed

my master

come great: and he

greatly; and he is be- 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and din thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

hath given him flocks, which was the son of and gold, and men-ser

Sem, which was the son
of Noe, which was the
son of Lamech. Luke,

3, 36.
born two

n And unto Eber were
sons: the
name of the one was
Peleg, because in his
days the earth was
divided: and
ther's name

terme

Joktan

1 Chronicles, 1, 19,

8 Or, Phalec.

9 Or, Ragau

10 Or, Saruch.

11 Or, Thara. Luke,

23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and 3, 34, 35 begat 11 Terah:

o Joshua said unto all

the people, Thus saith
the LORD God of Israel,

and herds, and silver,

vants, and maid-ser-
vants, and camels, and
asses. Genesis, 24, 35.

d His name shall en

4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed men shall be blessed in out of Haran.

dure for ever: his name

shall be continued as

long as the sun: and

him: all nations shall
call him blessed. P8.

72, 17.

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot

e See chapter 11, 31. his brother's son, and all their substance that

f By faith Abraham,

when he was called to they had gathered, and the souls that they had

go out into a place

which should after

receive for an inheri- gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go tance, obeyed; and he into the land of Canaan; and into the land of whither he went. Heb. Canaan they came.

went out, not knowing

11, 8

assigned, had not yet separated, and were unwilling to separate.-The expression, "as they journeyed from the east," may refer to some of the expeditions headed by Nimrod, who, having united the whole company under his government, perhaps led them to combine in this undertaking: (Note, x, 8--12;) though some think that Noah had settled to the east of Shinar, when he left the ark, and that his descendants were now removing towards the west.-S. CONFUSION OF TONGUES.-God, who, when he made man, taught him to speak, and put words into his mouth fit to express the conceptions of his mind by, now made those builders to forget their former language, and to speak and understand || a new one, which yet was the same to those of the same tribe or family, but not to others; those of one colony could converse together, but not with those of another. Now, 1. This was a great miracle, and a proof of the power which God has upon the minds and tongues of men, which he turns as the rivers of water. 2. This was a great judgment upon those builders; for, being thus de-ing in tents, and feeding cattle all his days: yet perhaps no mere man has been so prived of the knowledge of the ancient and holy tongue, they were become incapable of communicating with the true church, in which it was retained; and, probably, it contributed much to their loss of the knowledge of the true God. 3. We all suffer by it, to this day: in all the inconveniencies we sustain by the diversity of languages, and all the pains and trouble we are at to learn the languages we have occasion for, we smart for the rebellion of our ancestors at Babel. Nay, and those unhappy controversies, which are strifes of words, and arise from our misunderstanding of one another's language, for aught I know, are owing to this confusion of tongues. 4. The project of some to frame an universal character, in order to an universal language, how desirable soever it may seem, is yet, I think, but a vain attempt; for it is to strive against a divine sentence, by which the languages of the nations will be divided while the world stands. 5. We may here lament the loss of the universal use of the Hebrew tongue, which, from this time, was the vulgar language of the Hebrews only, and continued so till the captivity in Babylon, where, even among them, it was exchanged for the Syriac. 6. As the confounding of tongues divided the children of men, and scattered them abroad, so the gift of tongues, bestowed upon the apostles, (Acts, 2,) contributed greatly to the gathering together of the dren of God, which were scattered abroad, and the uniting of them in Christ, that with one mind and mouth they might glorify God, Rom. 15, 6.—H. CHAP. XII. CALL OF ABRAHAM.-Ver. 1--3. To prevent the universal prevalence of idolatry, and to reserve a remnant, to whom his oracles might be delivered, and among whom his ordinances might be established, till the coming of Christ; the Lord, as a Sovereign, chose Abram from among his associates in

idolatry. "Thus the God of glory appeared to him," probably by a visible mani. festation; and, having made himself known unto him, and satisfied him that this was a divine revelation, he commanded him to leave his native country.-It is not certain that idolatry was more prevalent there than in Canaan; but Abram might more easily avoid it among strangers, than among his former associates: he was therefore likewise required to leave all his kindred, who would not accompany him. "The LORD had said," etc. That is, when he was in Ur of the Chaldees: and perhaps he repeated the call after Terah's death. To engage his prompt obedience, God promised to bless him, personally, in things temporal, spiritual, and eternal, and relatively in his posterity, "to make of him a great nation."-God would also "make his name great."-Abram was not renowned, either as a conqueror, a law-giver, or an inventor of useful and ingenious arts: he was not a monarch, a genius, a philosopher, or so much as an author; but a plain man, dwellwidely and permanently honoured. The Jews, and many tribes of the Saracens and Arabians, justly own and revere him as their progenitor: many nations in the East exceedingly honour his memory at this day, and glory in their real or pretended relation to him. Throughout the visible church he has always been highly venerated; and at this day, Jews, Mahometans, and many Gentiles, vie with each other and with Christians, who should most honour this ancient patriarch! Nothing could be more improbable at the time, than this event; yet, the prediction has been fulfilling, most exactly and minutely, during the course of almost four thousand years! Need we any other proof, that the historian wrote as he was moved by the Holy Ghost?-The Lord also promised Abram that "he should be a blessing." To the latest ages important blessings would for his sake be vouchsafed to his posterity; he should be an instrument of great good, while he lived, to his relations, domestics, and neighbours; and his example would be eminently useful, till the end of time. All the true blessedness the world is now, or ever shall be, possessed of, is owing to Abram and his posterity. Through them we have a Bible, a Saviour, and a Gospel. They are the stock on which the Christian church is grafted. Their very dispersions have proved the riches of the chil-world.'-The Lord would also have the same friends and enemies with his chosen servant, rewarding the kindness, and punishing the injuries, done to him, as if done to himself. In him, and in One descended from him, all blessings centre; and through and from him they have been communicated to unnumbered millions, and shall continue to be so, till all nations shall be made happy in him, and by faith in Jesus become "Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."-S.

9 Are they not on the to do them wrong yea, the way where the sun he reproveu kings for goeth down, in the land their sakes, 1 Chron. the Canaanites, 16, 21, and Psalm 105, which dwell in the 14. champaign over against

Re Then Abimelech Gilgal, beside the plains called Abraham, and of Moreh? Deut. 11, 30. said unto him, What

was ninety years old us? and what have I and nine, the LORD ap- offended thee, that thou said unto him, I am and on my kingdom a walk before me, and be done deeds unto me done. Genesis, 20, 9.

p And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for 29, 11. away lying, speak every g If it be possible, as his live peaceably with all