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Gen_15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Ver. 5. And he brought him forth abroad.] Abram having prayed a good part of the day within, is now drawn forth at night to receive the promise. Pray that ye may joy, saith Christ: {Joh_16:24} and, if ye will "rejoice evermore," "Pray without ceasing," saith the apostle. {1Th_5:16-17}
If thou be able to number them.] Then mayest thou number thy posterity; and they, their privileges. It is God only that "telleth the number of the stars, and calleth them all by their names". {Psa_147:4} No man can number them. {Jer_33:22} And yet Aratus and Eudoxus vainly vaunted, saith St Augustine, {a} that they had cast up the stars, and could call them all by their names.
{a} Aug. De Civ. Dei., lib. xvi.