37. Also this is an excellent emphatical figure how Abraham (when God would punish Abimelech) did pray unto God for Abimelech, and made reconciliation, that God did bless Abimelech. And this whole history stands in the figure of Christ, and holds forth how Adam and Christ are together; how Christ is come into the self-assumed kingly ownhood or selfness of man, and terrifies sin and death; and how the poor corrupt nature does turn itself in the horror and acknowledgment of sin, to God, as here Abimelech turned unto Abraham; and how it then gives the kingdom of nature for a possession unto Christ. And the inward figure in the spirit of Moses (who was the type and figure of Christ, who yet points, out of the father's property, upon the Son, in the flesh, viz. in the humanity) can be understood no otherwise, than even thus: It is the true ground.
The Forty-Seventh Chapter
Of the Covenant of Abimelech and Abraham, showing what the same is, in the spiritual figure; and what the Spirit in Moses, under his veil, does here point at
A VERY PRECIOUS AND EXCELLENT GATE
TO THE CHILDREN OF GOD IN BEER-SHEBA
1. COURTEOUS and friendly Reader, know, that if a man should write many hundred books of the history of Abraham, yet he could not sufficiently express the abundant richness which lies hid under this figure. But we will afford a little service to the children of God in their weakness, and somewhat unveil this figure, seeing otherwise it is not to be understood by the natural man; and yet the Lord does thus lead us in grace [to the understanding thereof]. Therefore I shall here lend and give him the hand thereto. Observe it well: there is couched under it a peerless matchless pearl, which shall here stand open, and yet also continue hidden, which cannot be purchased with the goods of the whole world. It is hidden unto reason.
The outward figure in the Text of Moses stands thus:
2. And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech, and Phichol the chief captain of his host spoke unto Abraham, saying, God is with you in all that you do: Now therefore swear unto me here by God that you will not deal unfaithfully [falsely] with me, nor with my children, nor grand- children: but according to the kindness which I have done unto you, you shall also do unto me, and to the land wherein you art a stranger. And Abraham said, I will swear. And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. And Abimelech answered, I know not who has done this thing: neither did you tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to-day. And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant together. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which you have set apart by themselves? And he answered, Seven lambs you shall take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well. Whereupon he called that place Beer-sheba; because they there sware both of them. And thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol
37. Also this is an excellent emphatical figure how Abraham (when God would punish Abimelech) did pray unto God for Abimelech, and made reconciliation, that God did bless Abimelech. And this whole history stands in the figure of Christ, and holds forth how Adam and Christ are together; how Christ is come into the self-assumed kingly ownhood or selfness of man, and terrifies sin and death; and how the poor corrupt nature does turn itself in the horror and acknowledgment of sin, to God, as here Abimelech turned unto Abraham; and how it then gives the kingdom of nature for a possession unto Christ. And the inward figure in the spirit of Moses (who was the type and figure of Christ, who yet points, out of the father's property, upon the Son, in the flesh, viz. in the humanity) can be understood no otherwise, than even thus: It is the true ground.
The Forty-Seventh Chapter
Of the Covenant of Abimelech and Abraham, showing what the same is, in the spiritual figure; and what the Spirit in Moses, under his veil, does here point at
A VERY PRECIOUS AND EXCELLENT GATE
TO THE CHILDREN OF GOD IN BEER-SHEBA
1. COURTEOUS and friendly Reader, know, that if a man should write many hundred books of the history of Abraham, yet he could not sufficiently express the abundant richness which lies hid under this figure. But we will afford a little service to the children of God in their weakness, and somewhat unveil this figure, seeing otherwise it is not to be understood by the natural man; and yet the Lord does thus lead us in grace [to the understanding thereof]. Therefore I shall here lend and give him the hand thereto. Observe it well: there is couched under it a peerless matchless pearl, which shall here stand open, and yet also continue hidden, which cannot be purchased with the goods of the whole world. It is hidden unto reason.
The outward figure in the Text of Moses stands thus:
2. And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech, and Phichol the chief captain of his host spoke unto Abraham, saying, God is with you in all that you do: Now therefore swear unto me here by God that you will not deal unfaithfully [falsely] with me, nor with my children, nor grand- children: but according to the kindness which I have done unto you, you shall also do unto me, and to the land wherein you are a stranger. And Abraham said, I will swear. And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. And Abimelech answered, I know not who has done this thing: neither did you tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to-day. And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant together. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which you have set apart by themselves? And he answered, Seven lambs you shall take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well. Whereupon he called that place Beer-sheba; because they there sware both of them. And thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol
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