Abrahams Humble Intercession for Sodom, Commentary on Genesis 18 · Verse 30
Verſe 30. —Peradventure there ſhall thirty be found there: And he ſaid, I will not do it if I finde thirty there.
Doct. XXII. THat what requeſts Believers put up to the Lord, wherein they deſire to get more from him, he will give in to them, they ſhall have more ſtill granted to them.
Abraham, that had obtained for forty, now findes that if there were but thirty found in Sodom, God would not deſtroy it for their ſakes.
Reaſons. 1. From the Lord. 2. From Believers. 3. From the Requeſts they put up.
Firſt, From the Lord. 1. He is Abundant in goodneſs, Exod. 34.6. and ſcatters plentifully to thoſe that deſire to ſhare in his bounty; as Boaz did to Ruth that came to glean in his field, Ruth 2.15, 16. So doth the Lord, when we deſire to gain of him, and get ſomething more of him then formerly; he is ſo abundant in goodneſs, that he will let handfulls fall on purpoſe for us: if we deſire more we ſhall have more from him.
2. As he is abundant in goodneſs, ſo he does not grudge to give more to us, when we deſire it of him. Men ſometimes will grudge to give to them that they have been bountiful to before, if they ſhould ask more; but the Lord is ſo free, that though we ask more, he will not grudge to give it in to us: He that would have us in our bounty to do it without grudging, 1 Pet. 4.9. will much more do it himſelf.
3. He loves a chearful giver, 2 Cor. 9.7. in our bounty he likes it, that it ſhould not be grudgingly, or of neceſſity, when we can do no otherwiſe for very ſhame, but that we ſhould come off with it with delight, chearfully and gladly: Oh how chearfully will he then come off to us in his bounty? if we deſire more, we ſhall have more of him.
4. He abhors a covetous ſpirit in men, Pſal. 10.3. and if ſo, he muſt needs give liberally himſelf; ſo that if we will have more, we ſhall have more.
5. He hath given the greateſt gift to us, that ever he gave to the Sons of men, and therefore he will not ſtick at other requeſts, Rom. 8.32.
6. He is never weary of doing good to his ſervants that ſue to him: we may weary men this way, becauſe they either cannot ſpare what we deſire, or have not a will to it; but we cannot weary him, becauſe he is both able and willing to give in more to us, according to our deſires.
Secondly, From the Believers. 1. They are ſuch as pleaſe him, and what may not they have of him? 1 Joh. 3.22. they may have more at their deſire.
2. They are his friends, (as I ſaid before) Jam. 4.23. and they may have more given in to them at their deſire from men, much more from the Lord.
3. They are his precious ones. Faith is a precious grace, 2 Pet. 1.1. and they are precious ones that partake in it; and therefore he will not ſtick at giving them more at their deſire.
4. They are they to whom all things are poſſible, Mark 9.23. and therefore he will not deny them any thing; if they deſire more, they ſhall have more.
5. They are they that do glorifie God, Rom. 4.20. and he will not deny to give more to them that give glory to him.
6. They are ſuch as he hath promiſed to give all things to, Mat. 21.22. Joh. 15.7.
Thirdly, From the Requeſts they put up: 1. They are fervent, and (Jam. 5.16.) that availeth much.
2. They are humble, and (Pſal. 10.16.) God hears ſuch.
3. They are hearty, Pſal. 25.1. and ſuch requeſts ever ſpeed.
4. They are ſincere, Pſal. 17.1. and ſuch requeſts never miſcarry.
5. They are put up in Chriſts Name, Joh. 16.23. and ſuch requeſts he will grant.
6. They are without ceaſing, 1 Theſſ. 5.17. Luke 18.1. and ſuch requeſts are ever heard.
Ʋſe 1. for Information. 1. We ſee that we go to a God that is a bountiful giver, for in every requeſt that we put up to him, we ſhall have more given in to us then we received before.
2. We ſee what encouragement we have to pray in faith, for never a time that we come to ſue, but we ſhall get ſomething more then we had before.
3. We ſee that Faith is highly prized of the Lord, it makes an addition to what God hath formerly granted to us.
4. We ſee that the richer we are in faith, the more rich we ſhall be in what we deſire of God; he will adde ſomething more to what we have had of him.
5. We ſee that they that are moſt fervent in offering up Prayer to God, are ſure to have moſt granted to them.
6. We ſee what high eſteem we ſhould have of true Believers, they never go to God but they get more of him.
7. We ſee what loads we ſhall have when we come to heaven.
8. We ſee how loathſome to God they be, that will give nothing to him of what he hath given to them, Prov. 3.
9. We ſee that they that are penurious and niggardly in upholding his Ordinances, are unlike God, who gives like himſelf.
10. We ſee what praiſe is due to him from every believing Suppliant.
Ʋſe 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers, they ſhall get nothing, Jam. 1.6.
Ʋſe 3. for Humiliation, for our want of faith, and weakneſs of it when we pray.
Ʋſe 4. for Exhortation: 1. To pray in faith, Jam. 1.5. 2. To expect ſomething more when we pray. 3. To honour him for his Bounty. 4. To love this liberal one. 5. To be liberal our ſelves to him and his. 6. To abhor a niggardly ſpirit. 7. To long to be with him.