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§. 52. Of Sara, and her name.
Through saith also Sara her self received strength to conceive Seed, and was delivered of a Child when she was past age, because she judged him faithfull who had promised.
THE first instance produced for the proof of the vigour faith, is Sara. It is the second instance after the Flood, and the first of the female sex.
Though our English vary the first word, & put through instead of by, yet a 1.1 in the Greek it is set down as all the other instances were; and the Anaphora, that is, the same word, in the beginning of every instance, is here continued.
The faith here attributed to Sara, is the same that was attributed to Abra∣ham, and others before him: and therefore this copulative b 1.2 also, is added: as if he had said, Sara also had such a faith, though she were a Woman, as the other Worthyes, which were Men, had.
There is also a pronoun of emphasis added, thus, c 1.3 her self. As if he had said, not her Husband onely, by whose faith she might receive the blessing, but, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 self also, even by her own faith, received strength, &c.
d 1.4 Sara was the name that was give to the Woman here spoken of: but it was afterward changed by God himself.
In Hebrew, her first name was e 1.5 Sarai, Gen 11. 29. The last letter of that name in Hebrew, which is f 1.6 I, is a limitation, and restraineth the meaning of the name. The g 1.7 root whence that name cometh, signifieth to obtain, or exercise Principality, Hest. 1. 22. Thence h 1.8 a noun which sig∣nifieth* 1.9 a Prince, in the masculine gender, Deut. 15. 1. and i 1.10 Princess in the seminine, 1 King. 11. 3. The name k 1.11 Sarai, signifieth, my Princess: whereby her dignity was restrained to a Family that might so call her.
But God turned the name Sarai, to l 1.12 Sarah, Gen. 17. 15. m 1.13 The* 1.14 same letter, N, thus is added in the midst of Abraham's name, is put in the end of Sarah.* 1.15
Sarah hath all the radical letters in it, and indefinitely, without any limi∣tation, signifieth a Princess. Hereby the Lord would shew, that she should be a Mother of many People and Nations. Gods own interpretations of this name, giveth proof hereto; for it is thus said, She shall be a Mother of Nations, Gen. 17. 16. So Abraham signified a Father of many Nations, Gen. 17. 5.
There was the same end of changing Sarai her name, as there was of Abram his name: for hereby God would support the faith of the one, and of the other, in that great promise concerning a numerous Seed: and that the rather, because the one was old, and the other was old and barren. Thus God himself helps his Children in regard of their weakness, and affords means to strengthen them and their graces, especially their faith in unlikely promises.