also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay 25 the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty 26 righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their Spare the place for the fifty, &c.] Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar : and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Acts xxvii. 24. - 25 That be far from thee, &c.] Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee; yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? Wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Jer. xii. 1. That the righteous should be as the wicked, &c.] Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers. Job viii. 20. This is one thing, therefore I said it he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. Job ix. 22, 23. All things have I seen in the days of my vanity; there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. Eccles. vii. 15. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it will be well with them that fear God, which fear before him. But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he feareth not before God. Eccles. viii. 12, 13. Say ye to the -righteous, that it shall be well with him, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked, it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him. Isa. iii. 10, 11. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightIsa. lvii. 1, 2. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the - wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not. Mal. iii. 18. ness. Shall not the Judge, &c.] He is the rock his work is perfect, for all his ways are judgment; a God of truth, without iniquity; just and right is he. Deut. xxxii. 4. Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? Job viii. 3. Shall even he that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is most just? Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked, and to princes, Ye are ungodly? How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. Job xxxiv. VOL. I. 17, 18, 19. The Lord trieth the righteous, but the wicked, and him that loveth violence, his soul hateth: upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest. This shall be the portion of their cup: for the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. Ps. xi. 5, 6, 7. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. Ps. lviii. 11. Lift up thyself, thou Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud. Ps. xciv. 2. "He" (" the Lord") cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Ps. xcviii. 9. Is God unrighteous, who taketh vengeance? God forbid! for then how shall God judge the world? Rom. iii. 6. The Judge.] For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. John v. 22. 27. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Cor. v. 10. 26 If I find in Sodom, &c.] But yet in "it" ("the land")shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten; as a teil-tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves, so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. Isa. vi. 13. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. Isa. x. 22. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt, and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land. Isa. xix. 24. Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. Isa. lxv. 8. Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth, and I will pardon it. Jer. v. 1.. And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me, for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Ezek. xxii. 30. Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Matt. xxiv. 22. K 27 sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and 28 ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I 29 find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found 30 there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake. And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will 27 I have taken upon me, &c.] And "he" ("Abraham") said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once, &c. Gen. xviii. 30. 32. And (Ezra) said, O my God, I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God, for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Ezra ix. 6. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job xlii. 6. Therefore take unto "you" now ("Job's three friends") seven bullocks, and seven rams, and go to my servant Job (said God), and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for him will I accept, lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. Job xlii. 8. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Isa. vi. 5. Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Luke xviii. 1. Which am but dust and ashes, &c.] And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground. Gen. ii. 7. and com. What is man, that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Ps. viii. 4. Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him, or the son of man, that thou makest account of him? Ps. cxliv. 3. I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. Isa. vi. 5. When Simon Peter saw "it" ("the miraculous draught of fishes") he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. Luke v. 8. For in this (our earthly tabernacle) we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. 2 Cor. v. 2. 28 Wilt thou destroy all the city, &c.] And now I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken (said Moses). Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people (for their murmuring at the report of the spies), according unto the greatness of thy mercy. Numb. xiv. 17. 19. So they (the Syrians) girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel (Ahab), and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother. Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Ben-hadad! Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 1 Kings xx. 32, 33. O that I knew where I might find him (God), that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. Job xxiii. 3, 4. If I find there forty and five, &c.] See com. on verse 26. and 29. 29 Yet again.] Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints. Ephes. vi. 18. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. iv. 16. 30 Oh let not the Lord be angry, &c.] Then Judah came near unto him (his brother Joseph), and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant. Gen. xliv. 18. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once, &c. Judges vi. 39. All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king, into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of "his" (of “ Ahasuerus") to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live. Go gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me (said Esther), and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise, and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish. Esther iv. 11. 16. Behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee?! will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Job xl. 4. When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. Ps. ix. 12. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear. Ps. x. 17. God is greatly to be not do it, if I find thirty there. And he said, Behold now, I have 31 taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will 32 speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. And the Lord 33 feared in the assembly of the saints; and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Ps. lxxxix. 7. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips. Isa. vi. 5. My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isa. lv. 8, 9. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire. Heb. xii. 28, 29. 31 Behold now, &c.] See verse 27 and com. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matt. vii. 7. H. I say unto you, Though he (to whom his friend came at midnight) will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity, he will rise and give him as many (loaves) as he needeth. Luke xi. 8. Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Luke xviii. 1. See verse 29 and com. (Having boldness) by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say his flesh. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb. x. 20. 22. 32 Ok let not the Lord be angry, &c.] See verse 30 and com. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Prov. xv. 8. I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee and give "thee" (" the Messiah") for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. Isa. xlii. 6, 7. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much: Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. James v. 16, 17. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 1 John v. 15, 16. He said, I will not destroy, &c.] And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and behold it is a stiff-necked people: now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them. And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. Exod. xxxii. 9, 10. 14. Now there fore I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way (said Moses), that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight; and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. Exod. xxxiii. 13, 14. And the Lord passed by before him (Moses), and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. And he (Moses) said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us (for it is a stiff-necked people), and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance. And he (the Lord) said, Behold I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation, and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee. Exod. xxxiv. 9, 10. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word. Numb. xiv. 11. 20. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness, then he (God) is gracious unto him, and he will be favourable unto him. Job xxxiii. 23, 24. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham; and Abraham returned unto his place. CHAPTER XIX. 1 AND there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them, rose up to meet them; and 2 he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will 3 abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did that call upon thee. Ps. lxxxvi. 5. Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it; so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. Isa. lxv. 8. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. Micah vii. 18. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matt. vii. 7. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory, &c. Ephes. iii. 20. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James v. 16. 33 The Lord went his way, &c.] And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. Gen. xviii. 16. 22. And Abraham returned, &c.] And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned to his place. Gen. xxxi. 55. Levite who was in search of his concubine wife) said unto him, "We" are ("himself and servant") passing from Bethlehem-Judah, toward the side of Mount Ephraim; from thence anl. So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink. Judges xix. 17. 21. And they (the two disciples going to Emmaus) drew nigh unto the village whither they went, and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. Luke xxiv. 28, 29. And when she (Lydia) was baptised, she besought us, saying, Come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. Acts xvi. 15. 3 Pressed upon them, &c.] And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. 2 Kings iv. 8. Though he (whose friend came to him at midnight) will not rise and give "him" ("the friend") because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many (loaves of bread) as he needeth. Luke xi. 8. Go out (said the man who made a great supper), into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke xiv. 23. See Luke xxiv. 28, 29, preced. com. For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. 2 Cor. v. 14. CHAP. I.- Rose up to meet them, &c.] Chap. xviii. 1. The stranger did not lodge in the street, but I opened my doors to the traveller. Job xxxi. 32. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Heb. xiii. 2. Bowed himself, &c.] See chap. xviii. 2. day that Isaac was weaned. Gen. xxi. 8. And and com. 2 Turn in, I pray.] See com. verse 1. Wash your feet.] See com. chap. xviii. 4. Nay; but we will abide in the street, &c.] And when he (the old man of Gibeah) had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest tbou? And he (the A feast.] See chap. xviii. 6. 8. and com. And Abraham made a great feast the same Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company. Luke v. 29. There (at Bethany) they made "him" (“Jesus") a supper, and Martha served. John xii. 2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers. Heb. xiii. 2. Unleavened bread.] See chap. xviii. 6. and com. eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men 4 of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said 5 unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bread. Even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened. Exod. xii. 15. 39. And Gideon went in and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour. Judges vi. 19. And the woman (who provided food for Saul) had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof. 1 Sam. xxviii. 24. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven; neither with the leaven of malice, and wickedness: but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. v. 8. 4 Before they lay down, &c.] They sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. Prov. iv. 16. (The Lord hateth) an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief. Prov. vi. 18. That they (the wicked) may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous "desire: so they wrap it up. Micah vii. 3. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Rom. iii. 15. All the people, &c.] See chap. xiii. 13, and com.; and xviii. 20. And the whole congre'gation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. Exod. xvi. 2. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil. Exod. xxiii. 2. Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth, and I will pardon it. Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities; every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? Jer. v. 1. 6. 31. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be upon us and on our children. Matt. xxvii. 20. 25. 5 Where are the men, &c.] See chap. iv. 1, and com. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Levit. xviii. 29. If a man also lie with mankind, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. Levit. xx. 13. Now as they were making their hearts merry (the old man of Gibeah and the Levite), behold the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. Judges xix. 22. Except the Lord of Hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Isa. i. 9. Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou (Judah) hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed. Jer. iii. 3. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not ashamed, neither could they blush; therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them, they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. Jer. vi. 15. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness, was in her, and her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy (Jerusalem's) sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations, which thou hast done. Ezek. xvi. 49. 51. (The Gentiles) changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things, wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affectionis, for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. And likewise also the men, working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Rom. i. 23-27. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, &c. &c. shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. vi. 9. The law is not made for a righteous man, but for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, &c. 1 Tim. i. 10. But evil men and seducers shall wax |