parts of man, (which yet the Scripture calleth also uncircumcised, Exod. 6. 30. Ier. 6. 10.) but on the privy member, to teach the regeneration of nature, even of the whole man, who is borne in sin, Psal. 51. 7. and the derivation of his covenant, to the seed of the faithful, who are thereby holy, Ezr. 9. 2. 1 Cor. 7. 14. and to signifie, that the true circumci∣sion is inward, and secret, Rom. 2. 28. 29. This which in the eyes of man, seemeth a thing unpro∣fitable, foolish, and ignominious, doth God chuse to make a signe of the covenant of his grace in Christ, who is also himselfe a scandall and foolish∣nesse to the world: but the foolishnesse of God, is wiser then (the wisedome of) men, 1 Cor. 1. 23. 25. And that member of the body which man thought to be lesse honourable, on it God put on more abun∣dant honour, (as 1 Cor. 12. 23.) that it should beare the marke of the heavenly covenant.
Vers. 14. that soule] that is, as the Chaldee ex∣poundeth [unspec 14] it, that man: see Gen. 12. 5. cut off] The Greeke and Chaldee translate it, destroyed, and consumed. This word is used before, in Gen. 9. 11. and after often in the law, Exod. 12. 15. 19. and 31. 14. Lev. 7. 20. 21. 25. 27 &c. It is sometime spo∣ken of God, cutting off men by death for their sinnes, Lev. 17. 10. and 20. 3. 5. 6. and so the He∣brewes understand it here, and in all other like places: that for willing transgression in secret, God will cut them off by untimely death: and if there be witnesses of it, the Magistrate is to punish or kill them: but for ignorant transgression, they were to bring the appointed sacrifices. Vnder this also, eternall damnation is implyed. Maimony in treat. of Repentance, chap. 8. S. 1. speaking of eternall death, saith, And this is the Cutting off written of in the Law, as it is said (in Num. 15. 31.) that soule shall bee cut-off he shall be cut off. Which we have heard expounded thus, cut off in this world, and cut off in the world to come. Of this sanction here they say, If the father or master doe transgresse, and circumcise not, they break a commandement, but are not guilty of cutting-off: for cutting-off belongs but to the uncircumcised person him-selfe: Maimony treat. of Circumcis. c. 1. S. 1. Howbe∣it, Moses the father had almost beene killed, for not circumcising his sonne, Exod. 4. 24. &c. broken] or, made frustrate, broken downe: this word is opposed to the former stablishing, or making firm, in vers. 7. The Hebrewes have a canon, who so breaketh the covenant of Abraham our father, and lea∣veth his superfluous-foreskin, or gathereth it over again; although he have in him the law and good workes, hee hath no portion in the world to come. Maimony treat. of Circumcis. chap. 3. S. 8. Which rule is true according to the Apostles interpretation, applying circumci∣sion to the heart, spirit, and faith in Christ, Rom. 2. 29. and 4. 11. Col. 2. 11.
Vers. 15. Sarah] in Greeke Sarrha. The letter j [unspec 15] changed into h, signified the multiplication of her children, as before in Abrams name, vers. 5. And the Greeke having no h at the end of words, dou∣bleth therefore the letter r, with an aspiration Sar∣rha, and so the Apostles also write it, Rom. 9. 9. 1 Pet. 3. 6. Sarai the Chaldean name, is made He∣brew Sarah: which is by interpretation a Princesse. The Apostle calleth her a Freewoman, and maketh her a figure of the new Testament and heavenly Ierusalem, Gal. 4. 22. 24. 26. and the example of Abraham and Sarah, thus called, blessed, and in∣creased, is set forth for their children the Church to consider, and comfort themselves withall, Esay 51. 1. 2. 3.
Vers. 16. shall be to nations] that is, shall become [unspec 16] nations, and bee a mother of them, both in the flesh, and in the Lord. For all godly women are called her children, 1 Pet. 3. 6. and Ierusalem her answerable type, is the mother of us all, Galat. 4. 26. Psal. 87. 5. 6.
Vers. 17. laughed] that is, as the Chaldee transla∣teth [unspec 17] it, rejoyced: and so the word after importeth, Gen. 21. 6. though sometime it implyeth also a doubting, as in Gen. 18. 12. 13. but the praise of Abrahams faith, who was not weake, nor staggering, but gave glory to God, Rom. 4. 19. 20. seemeth to free him from this imputation. Thargum Ierusa∣lemy expoundeth it, he marvelled. Of this word laughed, in Hebrew jsaak, the child promised was called Isaak: in whom Abraham saw the day of Christ, and rejoyced. old] Hebr. sonne of 100 yeeres, that is, going in his hundred yeere. So Sarah was daughter of ninety yeeres. See Gen. 5. 32. At these yeeres, both their bodies were now dead, unapt for generation, Rom. 4. 19. Heb. 11. 12.
Vers. 19. shall beare] or beareth: speaking as of a [unspec 19] thing present: for God calleth the things which bee not, as though they were, Rom. 4. 17. Isaak] Heb. Iitschak; the same word used before in vers. 17. and signifieth laughing or joy: for besides his father and mother, all that heare, have occasion to laugh and rejoice for his birth, Gen. 21. 6. in whom both Christ the joy of the whole earth was represented, and all the children of promise, Iohn 8. 56. Rom. 9. 7. 8. Gal. 4. 28. seed] the Greeke version ad∣deth, to be a God to him and to his seed; as before in verse 7.
Vers. 20. heard] the Chaldee explaineth it, I have [unspec 20] accepted thy prayer. twelve Princes] So of Iakob, Isaaks sonne, came twelve Patriarchs, Act. 7. 8. These Princes are after named, in Gen. 25. 12.—16.
Vers. 21. covenant] This is the thirteenth time [unspec 21] that the covenant is named in this Chapter; and hereby is meant the promise of Christ, and salvati∣on in him, as the Apostle sheweth in Rom. 9. 5. 7. 8. and by this it appeareth, that Gods covenant with Abraham, was of spirituall and heavenly things in Christ, as is also confirmed by Luke 1. 55. 72. 73. 74. Gal. 3. 29. wherein Isaak was preferred be∣fore Ismael.
Vers. 22. God went up] to weet, into heaven, and [unspec 22] appeared no longer: so in other like visions of An∣gels, they are said to goe into heaven, Luke 2. 25. For God, the Chaldee saith, the glory of the Lord, meaning the vision which had now appeared: which phrase the holy text sometime useth, as in Ezekiel 1. 29. and 3. 23. and 8. 4. So after, in Gen. 35. 13.
Vers. 23. Abraham tooke] herein hee shewed a [unspec 23] rare example of obedience to Gods word, not re∣garding the affliction, danger, shame, scandall, and