An Expojiti1n, with Notes Verf~ 1). Lik.fwife alfo WM not Rahab tke Harlot juftifted by Work!, when foe had received the Me§en,gers, and hadfent !hem out another way? Here he bringeth another infl:ance : But why doth he mention Rabab? I. Becaufe this atl: of hers is made an effect of faith; Heb. 1 I ·3 I. By faith Rahab<the Harlot peri(bcd not with thtm that be- \ litve:l not,when /he had received the Spies in pcPZce. 'Twas indeed a great act of faith,for one that had lived among Heathens to be per"' fwaded of the Power of the God ofIfrael, of the right they had eo thatLand; which faith was wrought in her by divine infimtl:, upon the reporc which was made of God,and his Works. 2. Becaufe this infiance cloth well to be annexed to the former: They might objetl:, 'That every one could not go as high as Abraham,thegreat Idea and Pattern of all Beleevers ;I)but the lowefi faith mufi produce works, as well<~ s the highefi ; and therefore he bringeth Rahab for an in– fiance of the weakefi faith. - 1. For her perfon ; (he was a V.1o1rMn~ an Harlot, an Heathen, when God wrought upon her; there being fo many difadvantages, 'cis to be prefumed this was as low an infiance as can be broughr. 2. For the atl: it fdf, it was accompa– nied with We'aknefs, with a lye, which indeed is fuppreft, or not mentioned, left i.t thould deface the glory of her faith. 3· Becaufe there migh~ be fome doubt of this infiance : They might objeCl, That bare pro'dlion was accounted fairh in Rahab,and fhe atJ Har– lot : He replyeth, That in Rahab the doctrine might be made good: for her faith, how weak foever, yielded fome felf- denying aet or fruit. But you will fay, How is this pertinent to the purpofe,toprove, that pretence or profeflion offaith without works is not enough to acquit us of Hypocrilie? I anfwer, You mufi conceive it thus; if llie had only fa id umo.thefe MeiJengers, I bolie1:1e the God of H ea– 'lJen and Earth hath given you this whole Landfor a poj[effion, _yet I dar.e nO'/i /hewyou. any kJndnefs in thi.r City, it had been but fuch a dead barren faith as he here treateth of; but this belief prevailed fo far with het, that lhe performed a grateful office to rhem, .though · the incurred prefent danger, and the tort.ures- whkh the rage of her Citizens would mfliCl upon her for harboring Spies. I come now to the words. Likpvife
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