Notes Critical and Practical, on the Book of Genesis. By George Bush [pp. 271-301]

Bush on Genesis.
assertion by the very Scripture before us. If the version advocated by ourauthor, convey indeed thelegitimate and full sense
of the passage, how does it subserve the design of the Apostle?
Would Paul have quoted it in that connection, and especially would he have assigned to Abraham's example so great
a prominence, were not the exercise of faith here recorded
of him, properly and truly justifyitng in its nature? It would
have gained him not the least for his reasoning. The mere
testimony that this act of faitl} was judged commnendable,
approved by God, and recorded to the patriarch's honour as
such, would by no means have established the position that
Abraham was gratuitously justified. It would have made
directly for the opposite conclusion. It would have conveyed
the idea (remotest from the true design), that in faith so strong
-overcoming so many obstacles-believing agoainst all natural
grounds of belief, there was involved something mneritorious; and further, that such an act, in itself considered,
might now, in the case of the sinner, secure the acceptance of
God. Pointing out, as the Apostle confessedly is, the method
of jtstification, the inference from a quotation so understood, would surely be, that the sinner might have something
whereof to glory. And accordingly, in his subsequent appeal
to David, we should expect to be referred to his testimony
concerning l'hineas (Ps. evi. 31), as perfectly accordant. But
what do we find? "Even as David also describeth"showing the harmony of his evidences —" Blessed is the
man," whose act o j'faith is credited as highly commendable? No; but "to whom the Lord will not impute
sin." The zealous act of Phineas was "reNwardable," and
when we are told that it was" counted to him for righteousness," we may doubtless understand that it was approved by
God according to its nature, and " recorded to the credit of
the performer to all generations." But how utterly incongruous would have been the presentation of this case in
furtherance of the Apostle's reasoning, none can fail to perceive. And if the Scripture quoted concerning Abraham is
to be understood as our author would have it, Paul will, for
the first time, be chargeable with a blunder in logic. But
the same Divine Spirit, who dictated the sentiment before
us, guided also the Apostle in his construction of the phraseology, and in his natural, legitimate application of it to his
important end. And indeed, as though to leave no room for
misconception, suggests the design of the record, (verses 23,
24,) expressly stating that it was written, to furnish all who
VOL. XI. NO. 2. 38
291