St. Augustine, Of the citie of God vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues. Englished by I.H.

How God preserued Saras chastity in Egipt, vvhen Abraham vvould not be knowne that she vvas his vvife but his sister. CHAP. 19.

THere Abraham built an altar, and then departed and dwelt in a wildernesse, and from thence was driuen by famine, to goe into Egipt, where he called his wife his sister, and yet (a) lyed not. For she was his cousin germaine, and Lot be∣ing his brothers sonne, was called his brother. So that he did onely conceale, and not deny that she was his wife: commending the custody of hir chastitie vnto God, and auoyding mans deceits, as man: for if hee should not haue endeuoured •…•…o eschew danger as much as in him laye, hee should rather haue become a (b) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of GOD, then a truster in him, whereof wee haue disputed against 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Manichee his callumnyes. And as Abraham trusted vpon God, so came it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for Pharao the King of Egipt, seeking to haue her to wife, was sore af∣•…•…, •…•…d forced to restore her to her husband. Where (c) God forbid that wee should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her defiled by him any way: his great plagues that hee suffered would no way permit him to commit any such out-rage.

L. VIVES.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 (a) lied not] For cousin-germaines are called brethren and sisters, as wee shewed out of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. (b) A temple] God would be trusted vnto firmely, but no way tempted. Thou shalt not * 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lord thy God, saith Moyses in Deuteronomy, which saying our Sauiour Christ made 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Mat. 4. (c) God forbid] Hierome sheweth by the example Hester, that the women 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a full yeare, to be prepared fit for the Kings bed, ere hee touched them: so that Pha∣•…•… •…•…ght be plagued, and forced to returne Sara to her husband in the meane time.

Notes

• * 1.1

  God vvill not bee tempted.