Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 5 · Chapter 30
CHAP. XXX.
Verſ. 1. THe bleſſing and the curſe] When thou haſt made trial of both, and haſt bought thy wit: as feeling by woful experience, what an evil and a bitter thing ſin i… ▪ and how eaſily thou mighteſt have redeemed thine own ſorrowes, by better obedience.
Verſ. 2. And ſhalt return to the Lord] By ſin, we run away from God; by repentance, we return to him.
Verſ. 3. That then the Lord thy God] Converſie Judaeorum magniſicè hic promittitur, ſaith One. Here's a ſtately promiſe of the converſion of the Jews; concerning which, ſee the Notes on Rom. 11.25, &c.
Verſ. 4. If any of thine be driven] The Jews have been for this 1600 years and upward, a diſjected and deſpiſed people, hated and caſt out, by a common conſent of all nations, for their unexpiable guilt, in murthering the Meſſiah; which they now begin to be ſomewhat ſenſible of, and will be ſo more and more. See the Note on Chap. 28.28.
Verſ. 6. And the Lord thy God] See Chap. 10.16.
Verſ. 7. Will put all theſe curſes upon thine enemies] God will recompence tribulation to them that have troubled you, 2 Theſſ. 1.6. he will ſpoyl the ſpoylers, Eſay 33.1. deliver the juſt out of trouble, and the wicked ſhall come in his ſtead, Prov. 11.8. Iſa. 65.13, 14. It ſeemeth to the Churches enemies, an incredible paradox, and a news by far more admirable then acceptable, that there ſhould be ſuch a tranſmutation of conditions on both ſides, to contraries; but ſo it will be, as ſure as the coat is on their backs, or the heart in their bodies. See Lam. 4.21.
Verſ. 9. And in the fruit of thy land, for good] God will provide, that thou ſhalt not be the worſe for thine outward abundance; that fulneſs ſhall not breed forgetfulneſs. It is as hard to bear proſperity, as to drink much wine, and not be giddy; or as to drink ſtrong waters, and not weaken the brain thereby. The parable of the Sun and Wind is well known. Some of thoſe, in Queen Maries dayes, who kept their garments cloſe about them, wore them afterwards more looſely, when they came to proſperity, and preferment. It is a marvellous great mercy to have outward comforts and contentments, for good. Bonus Deus Conſtantinum Magnum tantis terrenis implevit muneribus, De civ. dei, lib. 5. cap. 25.quanta optare nullus auderet, ſaith Auguſtine, God of his goodneſs, heaped all good things upon Conſtantine.
Verſ. 11. For this commandement] This word of faith, Rom. 10.8. that teacheth the righteouſneſs of faith, verſ. 6. and ſpeaketh on this wiſe; the doctrine of ſalvation by faith, that works by love: this is cleerly enough revealed in both teſtaments; ſo that none can reaſonably plead ignorance, and think to be excuſed by it.
Verſ. 12. Who ſhall go up for us to heaven] And yet to know heavenly things, is to aſcend into heaven, Prov. 30.4.
Verſ. 13. Neither is it beyond the ſea] Beyong the ſea it was to us, till bleſſed Luthers books were brought hither, together with Tindals tranſlation, and other good mens writings. Some Papiſts jeare us, and ſay, that Turkies, hops, and hereſy, came into this kingdom in one bottom. Howbeit, long before this, the Lady Anne, wife to King Richard the ſecond, ſiller to Wenceſlaus King of Bohemia, by living here, was made acquainted with the Goſpell: whence alſo many Bohemians comming hither, convey'd Wickliffes books into Bohemia, whereby a good foundation was laid for the enſuing reformation, Anno 1417, by the help of another good Queen there, called Sophia. The writings alſo of Iohn Huſſe brought thence, wrought much good in this kingdome, a hundred years before Luthers time.
Verſ. 19. Therefore chuſe life] Which yet man (of himſelf,) can as little do, as a dead carcaſe can fly aloft. It was therefore an unſound and unſavory ſpeech of him that ſaid, quod vivamus, dei munus eſt; quod benè vivamus, noſtrum: That we live, it is of God; but that we live well, it is of our ſelves. See the contrary, Iſai. 26.12. Hoſ. 14.8. Ioh. 15.5.