Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Book 2 · Chapter 12 · Moral observations
6. Places of morall use.
1. Observ. To cut off the occasion of sinne.
Vers. 16. IN any case yee shall put away leaven the first day out of your houses. As they were straightly charged not to eat unleavened bread, so they must also avoid the very occasion, le…t they might trespasse unawares. So wee must not only flee from manifest sinnes, but beware of every occasion, as our Saviour bid his Apostles take heed of the leaven of the Pharisies. There is another kind of leaven of corrupt manners, as the Apostle sheweth, 1. Cor. 5.7. Both these kindes of leavens, we must not only forbeare to eat our selves, but we must cast them out of our houses: wee must both abhorre them in our selves, and remove all occasions which any might stumble at: Simler. and so, as the Apostle saith, abstaine from all appearance of evill, 1. Thess. 5.22.
2. Observ. Favour in the lender toward the borrower commeth of God.
Vers. 36. ANd the Lord gave the people favour. As the Egyptians affections were inclined by the Lord to lend, or rather to give unto the Israelites what they asked: so when a man is driven to borrow of his neighbour, if he finde favour in his eyes, he is to acknowledge it as a merciemercy from God: if the Lord doe shut up his affection toward him, he must thinke, that some sinne of his hath made a barre and stopped the way: Pellican. Thus was the heart of righteous Iob wrought toward the poore: If I restrained the poore of their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to faile, Iob. 31.27.
3. Observ. God can turne mens affections to hatred, or favour, as it pleaseth him.
AGaine, as it is said in the Psalm. 105.25. He turned their heart, so that they hated his people: like as the Lord so worketh, that the patience of his servants is tried by the disfavour and hatred of men: so he can turne their affections to love and favour. This teacheth us, that wee should depend upon God, and when we see the countenance of any to be estranged from us, that wee pray unto God, who hath the ruling of all mens hearts, to incline their heart toward us: as Iacob prayeth for his sonnes, God almighty give you grace in the sight of the man, Gen. 43.14. Calvin.
4. Observ. We must be as pilgrims and dwellers in tents in this world.
Vers. 37. THey tooke their journey from Ramesis to Succoth: Succoth signifieth tabernacles: So they that goe out of the Egypt of this world to the heavenly Canaan, must dwell in tabernacles here. Pellican. We must be as pilgrimes and strangers in this world, 1. Pet. 2.11. and the Apostle saith▪ that here we have no abiding City, Heb. 13.14.
5. Observ. No unbeleevers to be admitted to the Sacraments.
Vers. 43. NO stranger shall eat thereof. That is, no uncircumcised person, that is a stranger from the faith of Israel: so neither are the mysteries or Sacraments of religion to be given unto Infidels, or prophane persons. Calvin. As our Saviour will not have us to cast holy things unto dogs, or pearles among swine, Matth. 7.2.
6. Observ. The Gospell is to be professed not for lucre or honour sake, but for love to the truth.
Vers. 45. AN hired servant shall not eat thereof. As they which served the Israelites only for their hire and wages, were not true members of Israel, and therefore not fit to bee partakers of their mysteries, for they joyned themselves unto them, rather for a reward, than for love of their religion: So neither are they true professors of the Gospell, which doe professe the same for any love of lucre or preferment, rather than of conscience, and good will to the truth. Pellican. Likewise, it sheweth, that neither is God to be served onelyonly for hope of reward, but for love and true filiall affection: for as they which obey for feare, are servants, and not children; so they which doe all for hope of reward, are hirelings and mercenaries, rather than domesticall: God therefore is to be served and loved for his owne sake, without any other respect.