Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Part 2 · Chapter 19 · Doctrines
4. Places of Doctrine.
1. Doct. One faith, one Church of the beleeving Iewes and Gentiles.
Vers. 6. YOu shall be unto me a Kingdome of Priests. S. Peter applieth this Scripture, which is here uttered by the Lord to the people of Israel, to the faithfull and beleeving Gentiles: Ye as lively stones be made a spirituall house, and holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifices unto God, acceptable to God by Iesus Christ, 1 Pet. 2.5. Whereby we see, that there is Vna Iudaeorum & Gentium credentium fides, unus Deus, una Ecclesia: One faith of the beleeving Iewes and Gentiles, one God, one Church. Ferus.
2. Doct. The occasions and beginnings of sinne to be prevented.
Vers. 12. GOe not up to the mount, nor touch the border of it. God forbiddeth them so much as to touch the very border and bottome of the mount, that they should have no occasion to goe up. So Eve was forbidden to touch the tree, that shee should not be enticed to eat the fruit thereof, Gen. 3.3. And the Israelites were charged to have no leaven in their houses, that they might the better abstaine from the eating thereof. So our Saviour forbiddeth the wrath of the heart, and the lust of the eye, lest being tempted by such occasions, men should fall into greater sinnes: It is good therefore to cut off the occasion of sinne, and to set an hedge before, and to make markes and bounds in every action, which wee should not exceed. Oleaster.
3. Doct. The giving of the law a figure of the comming of the holy Ghost.
Vers. 16. THe third day there was thunder and lightnings. The giving of the law in mount Sinai, was a lively figure of the comming downe of the holy Ghost upon the Apostles. 1. As there the law was given the 50. day after the Passeover: so, Quinquagesimo die post passionem Domini, datus est spiritus sanctus, The fiftieth day after the passion of our Lord, who is the true Passeover, the holy Ghost was given. 2. There the law is said to be written with the finger of God, and the Lord saith of the holy Ghost, By the finger of God I cast out devils. 3. They which were with the Apostles, 120. Mosaica atatis numero constituti: were 120. according to the number of Moses yeares. Isidor. 4. Hic altitud… coenaculi, ibi cacumen montis, &c. There the upper roome, and here the top, or upper part of the hill, doe shew the height and depth of the precepts delivered. 5. Here was thunder, there was the noise of a mightie wind: here fire appeared, and there fierie cloven tongues: here the mountaine trembled, and there the place where they were gathered together, was moved: here was heard the sound of a trumpet, and there they spake with divers tongues. Beda hom. vigil. Pentecost. 6. Yet this difference there was in these two apparitions: Here together with the fire, was seene a thicke and darke cloud, but there bright shining flames of fire, like cloven tongues, shewing the cleare light of the Gospell, in respect of the cloudy darknesse of the Law. Simler. Here onelyonly Moses was suffered to goe up the hill, there all which were present received the holy Ghost: here the people tremble and are afraid, but there they were emboldened by the Spirit, to preach the wonderfull works of God.
4. Doct. By the preaching of the Word, we are joyned unto God by faith.
Vers. 17. MOses brought the people out of their tents. So Ministrorum officium est, It is the dutie of Ministers by the preaching of the Gospell, to draw men out of the tents of sin, & to joyne them unto God by faith. Lippom. As the Apostle saith, Faith is by hearing, and hearing by the Word, Rom. 10.17.
5. Doct. Distinction of offices in the Church.
Vers. 24. COme up thou, and Aaron with thee. The people stand below in the campe, but Moses and Aaron ascend up into the mount. This sheweth the distinction of offices, and callings in the Church, betweene the Ministers and the people, that none should take upon them the office of teaching, and delivering the high things of God, but they which are thereunto called: as the Apostle would have every one to abide in the same vocation wherein he was called, 1 Cor. 7.20. Marbach.