Of Saraes barrennesse, which God turned into fruitfulnesse. CHAP. 3.
FOr Sara was barren and despaired of hauing any child: and desiring to haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 childe, though it were from her slaue, gaue her to Abraham to bring him •…•…en, seeing shee could bring him none her selfe. Thus exacted she her (a) due 〈◊〉〈◊〉 husband, although it were by the wombe of another: so was Ismael borne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 begotten by the vsuall commixtion of both sexes in the law of nature: and •…•…-vpon said to be borne after the flesh: not that such births are not Gods be∣•…•… or workes, (for his working wisdome as the scripture saith, reacheth from * 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to end mightily, and disposeth all things in comely order:) but in that, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the signification of that free grace that God meant to giue vnto man, such a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should be borne, as the lawes and order of nature did not require: for na∣•…•… denieth children vnto all such copulations as Abrahams and Saras were, (b) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and barrennesse both swaying in her then: whereas she could haue no childe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yonger daies, when her age seemed not to want fruitfulnesse, though fruit∣•…•…esse wanted in that youthfull age. Therefore in that her nature being thus af∣•…•…d could not exact the birth of a sonne, is signified this, that mans nature be∣•…•… corrupted and consequently condemned for sinne, had no claime afterward 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any part of felicity. But Isaac beeing borne by promise, is a true type of the •…•…s of grace, of those free cittizens, of those dwellers in eternall peace, where 〈◊〉〈◊〉 priuate or selfe-loue shall be predominant, but all shall ioy in that vniuersall 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and (c) many hearts shall meete in one, composing a perfect modell of •…•…y and obedience.
L. VIVES.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 (a) due] by law of mariage. (b) Age and] For she was both aged, and naturally bar∣•…•…. So some both men and women as Aristotle saith, are borne so. (c) Many hearts] that * 1.2 •…•…e concord of the Apostles, of whom it is said: The multitude of the beleeuers were of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Acts. 4. 32.