thereby that Christs Priesthood is greatter then the Leuitical. Moreouer this paying of tithes by Abraham sheweth the antiquitie of this tradition, being practised in Abrahams time, that the spiritual Superiours receiued tithes of their inferiours.
CHAP. XV.
WHEN these things therfore were done, the word of our Lord was made to Abram by a vision saying: Feare not Abram, I am thy Protectour, and thy reward exceeding great. 2And Abram said: Lord God, what wilt thou giue me? I shal goe without children: and the sonne of the steward of my house is this Damascus Eliezer. 3And Abram added: But to me thou hast not giuen seed: and loe my seruant borne in my house shal be mine heire. 4And immediately the word of our Lord came to him saying: He shal not be thine heire: but he that shal come out of thy womb him shalt thou haue thine heire. 5And he brought him forth abroad, and said to him: Looke vp to heauen, and number the starres, if thou canst. And he said to him: So shal thy seed be. Ro. 4.
Gal. 3.
Iac. 2.6Abram ″ belieued God, and it was reputed to him vnto iustice. 7And he said to him: I am the Lord that brought thee out from Vr of the Chaldees for to giue thee this land, and that thou mightest possesse it. 8But he said: Lord God, how may I know that I shal possesse it? 9And our Lord answered, and said: [1] Take me a cow of three yeares old, and a she goat of three yeares, and a ramme of three yeares, a turtle also, and a pigeon. 10Who taking al these, diuided them by the middes, and laid each two pieces arow one against the other: but the birds he diuided not. 11And the foules lighted vpon the carcasses, and Abram droue them away. 12And when the sunne was setting, a deep sleep fel vpon Abram, and a great and darkesome horrour inuaded him. Act. 17.13And it was said vnto him: Know and foreknow that a pilgrime shal thy seed be in a land not their owne (and they shal bring them vnder bondage, and afflict them) [2] foure hundred yeares. Exod. 12.14But the Nation, whom they shal serue, I wil iudge: and after this they shal goe forth with great substance. 15And thou shalt goe to thy fathers in peace, buried in a good old age. 16But in the fourth generation they shal returne hither: for [3] as yet the iniquities of the Amorrheans are not at the ful vntil this present time.
- ↑ These three kinds of beasts & two of birds signifie that the Israelites should be three generations in a strange land, the fourth in the desert, the fifth in possession of Chanaan. Theod. q. 65 in Gen.
- ↑ Abraham & his seed were in a strange land 400. and odde yeares, but in seruitude & affliction about 140.
- ↑ God deferreth to punish, either that the wicked may amend, or the good be exercised by them. S. Aug. Psal. 54. or because the iniquity is not come to that great measure which his wisdome forseeth, and wil punish in the end, to his owne more glorie, & more good of others. S. Greg. ho. 11. in 3. Ezech.
