Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full [of years]; and was gathered to his people.
Ver. 8. Gave up the ghost.] Deficit; leniter, expiravit. Describit Moses placidam et optatam, quasi, ευθανασιαν; which in Abraham, God's friend, is no wonder. But how could that apostate, Julian, say, in truth, Vitam reposcenti naturae, tanquam debitor bonae fidei, rediturus, exulto? Sure it was but a copy of his countenance, but not of his dying countenance; for no wicked man alive can look death in the face with blood in his cheeks.
Died in a good old age.] Or, with a good hoar head, after a hundred years' troublesome pilgrimage in the Promised Land. We, if for one year we suffer hardship, think it a great business. Non quia dura, sed quia molles patimur, saith Seneca.
An old man, and full of years.] The godly have oft a satiety of life: as willing they are to leave the world, as men are wont to be to rise from the board when they have eaten their fill,
“ Cur non ut plenus vitae conviva recedis? ”
said the heathen poet: and they feign that when Tithonus might have been made immortal, he would not, because of the miseries of life. This made Plotinus the Platonist account mortality a mercy, a and Cato protest, that if any god would grant him, of old to be made young again, he would seriously refuse it. b As for me, said Queen Elizabeth, in a certain speech, I see no such great cause why I should be fond to live, or afraid to die. c And again, while I call to mind things past, behold things present, and expect things to come, I hold him happiest that goeth hence soonest.
a Aug., De Civ. Dei., lib. iv. cap. 10.
b Siquis Deus mihi largiatur, ut ex hac aetate repuerascam, et in cunis vagiam, valde recusem. - Cato ap. Cic., De Senect.
c Card. Elisabeth, fol. 325.