Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Theological treatise · Chapter 28 · Doctrines
4. Places of Doctrine.
1 . Doct. None must intrude themselves into the callings of the Church.
Vers. 1. CAuse thou thy brother Aaron to come. In that Aaron intruded not himselfe into the Priests office, but was thereunto called, Procopius giveth this note: Qui temerario ansu ad se trahere sacerdotium, &c. He that will rashly draw unto himselfe the Priesthood, shall suffer punishment. So also Oleaster. So the Apostle observeth upon this very example of Aaron: No man taketh this honour to himselfe, but he that is called of God, as Aaron, Heb. 5.4.
2. Doct. The agreement which ought to be betweene the Civill and Ecclesiasticall state.
OLeaster noteth here further, in that Moses, who was the chiefe Magistrate, called Aaron to the Priesthood, the concord and amitie that ought to be betweene the Civill and Ecclesiasticall state is commended: that as Ioash prospered while hee followed the direction of Iehoiadah;2 King. 12.2▪ so both the Ecclesiasticall state should imitate Iehoiadah, to give holy counsell and direction unto the Magistrate, and the Magistrate to be like Ioash in following the same.
3. Doct. Profitable arts are the gift of God.
Vers. 3. SPeake unto all cunning men, whom I have filled with the Spirit of wisdome, &c. Gallasius hereupon thus writeth: Omnem artem & industriam, &c. Dei donum agnosco; Every art and industrie, which bringeth utilitie unto man, I acknowledge to be the gift of God: as the Prophet Isaiah saith, that God instructeth the husbandman to have discretion, Isa. 28.26. Men therefore to whom God hath given the knowledge of profitable and commendable arts, should have a care to employ them to Gods glorie, and not to abuse them to wantonnesse.
4. Doct. Whatsoever is instituted in Gods service, must proceed from his wisdome.
Vers. 3. SPeake unto all cunning men: in the Hebrew, wise in heart. Whatsoever is instituted in the service of God, à sapientia Dei proficisci debet, must proceed from the wisdome of God: no humane device must have place or bee admitted there, Simler. Sauls policie, in transgressing Gods Commandement, in saving the best things of the Amalekites, though hee thought hee did therein well and wisely, yet was displeasing unto God.
5. Doct. The sound of the Word in the Gospell, exceedeth the sound of Aarons bels under the law.
Vers. 35. HIs sound shall be heard, &c. Herein, as Lippoman well observeth, appeareth the excellencie of the Gospell beyond the Law: they heard then but the sound of Aarons bels, Nunc audimus clarum sonitum Evangelii, Now we heare the cleere sound of the Gospell, &c And as the understanding of a man exceedeth the capacitie of a childe, and the cleere day the dawning: so the cleere light of the Gospell excelleth the shadowes of the Law: God providing better things for us (as the Apostle saith) that they without us should not be perfect, Heb. 11.40.
6. Doct. There ought to be order among the Ministers of the Church.
Vers. 40. THou shalt make for Aarons sons coats. In that Aaron the high Priests coats were made more costly and glorious, than his sons the inferiour Priests: therein commendatur ordo inter Ecclesiae ministros, is commended order among the Ministers of the Church: that although Christ doe forbid bid his Disciples, Luk. 22. to exercise dominion one over another, as the Princes of the world doe, Neutiquam tamen ordinem abrogat; Yet he doth not abrogate order, seeing he hath not onelyonly distinguished them himselfe in gifts, but in offices: as the Apostle saith, Ephes. 4. He hath given some to be Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Pastors and Doctors, &c. Marbach.