And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
Ver. 3. Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begat.] This was a great trial to his faith, to wait so long for a better issue, when the Cainites spread abroad, erected cities, and perhaps meditated monarchies.
After his own image.] Corruptus corruptum. For "who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?" says Job. Job 14:4 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh," Joh 3:6 saith our Saviour, and we can say no better of it. This is hard to persuade men to; for each one is apt to think his own penny as good silver: and a dead woman will have four to carry her forth, as the proverb has it. The Pharisee, bad enough though he be, yet is very braggardly of his good estate to Godward: And Novatus cries out, Non habeo, Domine, quod mihi ignoscas. How much better St Augustine, Ego admisi, Domine, unde tu damnare potes me; sed non amisisti, unde tu salvare potes me. One has destroyed me, but from you is my help - my safety here, and salvation hereafter. Lord I am hell, but you are heaven, as that martyr a once said, &c. “One depth called upon another”; Psa 42:7 the depth of my misery, the depth of thy mercy. Heaven denies me; earth groans under me; hell gapes for me: help, Lord, or your servant perishes. "Wash me throughly from my iniquity, and purge me from my sin"; Psa 51:2 whether that imputed to me, inherent in me, or issuing from me.
a Bp. Hooper.