Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 5 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Verſ. 1. LIke unto the firſt] Which Moſes had broken: to ſhew, how we in our nature, had broken the law, and could not be ſaved by the keeping of it. This, Chriſt our true Moſes, repaires again: writing the law, not in tables of ſtone, but in the heart of unbelievers; and enabling them, in ſome good meaſure to keep it, Iob. 1.17. walking (as Luther phraſeth it,) in the heaven of the promiſe, but in the earth of the law; that, in reſpect of believing, this of obeying.
Verſ. 2. Which thou breakeſt] See the Note on Exod. 34.1.
Verſ. 3. And I made an Ark] In its uſe, far beyond that Perſian casket imbroydered with gold and pearle; which Alexander reſerved for Homers I…ads.
Verſ. 4. Out of the midſt of the fire] The law was given in fire; it is a law of fire, Deut. 33.2. given by God, who is a conſuming fire, Heb. 12.29. and hath a tribunall of fire, Ezek. 1.27. and ſhall plead with tranſgreſſours in flames of fire, Iſai. 66.15, 16. the triall of our works ſhall be by fire, 1 Cor. 3, 13. Let us therefore have grace, whereby we may ſerve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. It is the Apoſtles uſe, Heb. 12.28.
Verſ. 5. And put the tables in the Ark] Which was thenceforth called, the Ark of the Teſtimony.
Verſ. 6. And the children of Iſrael] Here are ſome ſeeming contradictions, betwixt this place, and that, Num. 33.31, 32. But, though they ſeem to be, as the accuſers of Chriſt, never a one ſpeaking like the other; yet if we well obſerve the text, and conſult with interpreters, we ſhall finde them like Nathan and Bathſheba, both ſpeaking the ſame things.
Verſ. 7. A land of rivers of water] A rare thing in a dry deſart. Lyſimachus ſold his crown for a leſs matter.
Verſ. 8. At that time] viz. Whiles they were yet at mount Sinai; for the two former verſes are inſerted by a parentheſis.
The Lord ſeperated the tribe of Levi] This ſetting up of the Miniſtery amongſt them, is reckoned as a ſign of Gods ſingular love to them. And ſo it is to us, no doubt, albeit a late pamphleter, makes that ſacred and tremend function of the Miniſtery, The Compaſ. Samaritan.to be as meer an impoſture, as very a myſtery of iniquity, as arrant a juggle, as the papacy it ſelf. Now the Lord rebuke thee Satan. [To ſtand before the Lord] As alſo the Angels do, Luk. 1.19.
Verſ. 12. What doth the Lord thy God require of thee] Beneficium poſtulat officium: Mercy calls for duty.
But to fear the Lord] This is the totum hominis, Eccleſ. 12.13. the bonum hominis, Mic. 6.8. the unum neceſſarium, Luk. 10.42. the primum quarendum, Mat. 6.33.
Verſ. 14. Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens] Not the ayre and sky only, the viſible heaven, but the third heaven, whereof no naturall knowledg can be had, nor any help by humane arts, Geometry, Opticks, &c. For it is neither aſpectable, nor moveable. [The earth alſo] So that there was no neceſſity of pitching upon thee, for his peculiar; fith he had choyce enough before him.
Verſ. 15. To love them] Becauſe he loved them, as Chap. 7.7, 8. See the Note there.
Verſ. 16. Circumciſe therefore] Deus jubendo juvat. Set about this work in Gods ſtrength, and pray, that the heaven may anſwer the earth, Hoſ. 2.21. For it is a work that muſt be done without hands, Col. 2.11. Beg of God to thruſt his holy hand into our boſome, Aug. in Exod. quaeſt. 55.and to pull off that filthy foreskin; urge him with his promiſe, Deut. 30.6. doubt not of his power, lex jubet, gratia juvat, &c.
Verſ. 17. Is God of Gods] And will be ſerved like himſelf.
Verſ. 19. Love ye therefore the ſtranger] And ſo ſhew your ſelves the friends of God. Cicero.For idem velle & idem nolle, ea demum vera amicitia eſt. Friends are like-minded.
Verſ. 21. He is thy praiſe] Thy praiſed one, Pſal. 18.3. or, thy praiſe-worthy one. He is alſo thy chief glory, and praiſe amongſt all nations; who ſhall admire thy happineſs in ſuch a God!