Genesis — Chapter 42

fterilitie that had chanced in the dayes of Abraham , Ifaac went to Abimelech King of the Paleftines into Gerara, 2. And our Lord appeared to him, and faid : (4) Goe not downe into Egypt, but reft in the land which I fhal tel thee. 3. And {eiourne in it , and I wil be with thee, and wil bleffe thee : for to thee and to thy feed I wil giue al thefe countries, accomplifhing the oath which I {ware to Abraham thy father, 4, And I wil multiplie thy feed as the ftarres of heauen : and1 wil giue toth pofteritie al thefe countrics : and inthy feed SHAL BE BLESSED AL li, 16,¢,

contrition, Without which,though iniuries be remittcd by men, yet the offenders are not abfolued before God. Therfore he louing them and hating their finne , by affliction brought them to vnderftanding, Whe being at laft truly penitent , he acknowledged and moft lo» uingly embraced them , and pronided for them in their necetlitie. 5. mg. for. 82. de temp. And this example S. Griegorie ( ho.2:. in Ezech.) applicth to the initruction of Paftowrs of foules: that they procure true repentance before ab- folution of finnes: Ne fiinord:nate culpa dimistuny, ts oui eff cu'p bilis, inrveatu grasint oftringatur : Left , iftte fauls be diforderiy remitced , hethas ss faultie be more Zriewoufly intangled in guilt of conjcicnce : therfore with much difcretion feucricie in fhew , and clemencie in mind are required.

After the manner of cxaminers calling fufpedcted perfons , as they may fceme to be ; therby to trie whatthey would anfwer. Al for their holfome penance, and withal to procure mem afterwards morc compatlion among the AEgyptians. S. Aug. q. 139. fuper en, 1s. By the healsh of Pharao. Lofeph in fwearing by Pharaos health , honoured God, the giuer and conferuer of health, life , power, dignrtre, and al that was in Pharao.Wherby we (ce that this manner of {wearing was lawful. As now like- Wife Chriftians lawfully fweare uot only by God., but alfo by his creatures, faying : As God thal help them, and his holie Ghofpels : fo ir be with due circum- i flances and requifite conditions , namely with thofe which the Prophet His- remie mentioncth , in truth , in indgement , and in iuflice: not falfe ,rath , nor of an voiutt thing : nor infrequent and common talke (a iroft bad cuftome ) for fo thou muft neither fweare by God hinvfelf , nor ( as our Sautour teacheth by hea- uen, nor by the earth , nor by Hierufalem , nor by thy head , ner anie thin els : fignifying that in fome cate, and due manner we may fe care by any of thefe, And in this particular Iofephdid rather nainc Pharao in his oath -hen Ged , as wel to conceale himfelf as yet from his orethren , as to ftrike more terrour in their harts by naming his Mafter the King , in whom he had merc intereft then they.

, 21. and they talked one to an other : Worthily doe we fuffer thefe things , becaufe we haue finned againft our brother , feeing the diftreffe of his foule whileit he befought vs , and we heard not : ther- fore is this tribulation come vpon vs, 22. Among whom Ruben one of them, faid: Why, did not I fay to you : Sinae not again{t the boy ; and you heard me not : Loe his bloud is required. 23. And they knew not that Iofeph vnderftood : becaufe he fpake to them by an interpreter,

For this phratc, of bringing un o lel, and defeendirg mio hel , viually fpoken in the old Teftament, of al forts of foules both iuftand wicked, fignineth tharal went tharrimerohel, that is, toa low place, farre diftane from heauen : Bur fometoreit , and fome to paine, Wherupon $, Hicrome faith : Hel is a place ‘herin foules are included, either in reit, or in paines , according to the qua- Lieof their deferts, CHAP. 1C entrition ne- ceflarie for the temilion of finnes, Diforderlie remiffion is hurtful, Tofeph calleck his brothers (pics for their good, Te is lav ful to fweare by crcaturcs. (n fome cafe more conue+ nient tben ro name God ex- prefly, Diners man§- ons in hel. (4) Guilt of finne is a grea- ter bond then the life of Ru- bens fonnes , which he offe- red, and Iacob ycalded not therto ;& yet granted to this offtr of Tudas GENESIS. lofeph,