Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 5 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Verſ. 1. ANd keep, and do them] The difference between Divinity and other Sciences, is, that it is not enough to learn, but we muſt keep and do it; as leſſons of Muſick muſt be practiſed; and a copy not read only, but acted. Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour, untill the evening, Pſal. 104.23. He muſt ariſe from the bed of ſin, and go forth out of himſelf, as out of his houſe, to his work, and to his labour; working out his ſalvation with fear and trembling, until the evening, till the Sun of his life be ſet.
Verſ. 2. God made a Covenant with us] We alſo have the Covenant, the ſeals, Miniſters, &c. But (alaſs) are not theſe bleſſings, amongſt us, as the Ark was among the Philiſtims, rather as priſoners, then as priviledges, rather in teſtimonium & ruinam, quàm ſalutem?
Verſ. 3. With our fathers] i. e. With our fathers only. Or; if it be underſtood of all the foregoing Patriarches, then it is to be expounded by Gal. 3.17.
Verſ. 4. Face to face] i. e. Openly, and immediately, by himſelf, and not by a meſſenger, or mediatour. Proſper's conceit was, that the Iſraelites were called Judaei, becauſe they received jus Dei.
Verſ. 5. I ſtood between the Lord] Sc. after the decalogue delivered by God himſelf out of the fire. For of that, he might ſay, as once Joſeph did to his brethren; Behold, your eyes ſee that it is my mouth that ſpeaketh unto you, Gen. 45.12. And as Paul did to Philemon, verſ. 19. I Paul, &c. ſo, I the Lord have written it with mine hand, I will require it.
Verſ. 6. I am the Lord, &c.] See the Notes on Exod. 20. It is well obſerved by a Reverend Writer, Mr. Ley his Pattern of Piety.that the two tables of the Law are in their object, anſwerable to the two natures of Chriſt. For God is the object of the one; man of the other: And as they meet together in the perſon of Chriſt, ſo muſt they be united in the affections of a Chriſtian.
Verſ. 12. Keep the Sabbath-day] In this repetition of the law, ſome things are tranſpoſed, and ſome words changed: Happly, to confute that ſuperſtitious opinion of the Iewes, who were ready to dreame of miraculous myſteries in every letter.
Verſ. 15. And remember that thou] It being a figure of our redemption by Chriſt; and ſo a fit ſubject for Sabbath-meditations.
Verſ. 18. Neither ſhalt thou commit] Or, And thou ſhalt not commit, &c. and ſo in the following laws; to teach us, that the law is but one copulative, as the Schooles ſpeak. Lex tota eſt un… copulatioa.For the ſanction indeed, it is disjunctive; but for the injunction, it is copulative. The ſanction is, either do this, or dye: but the injunction is not, either do this or that, but do this and that too. See Mat. 23.2.3. Ezek. 18.10, 11, 13. Iam. 2.10. Do every thing, as well as any thing: to leave one ſin and not another, is (with Benhadad) to recover of one diſeaſe, and to dye of another.
Verſ. 22. Theſe words the Lord ſpake] If humane laws are foreign, the invention of the gods, as Demoſthenes calls them, how much rather this perfect law of God, that needs no alteration or addition?
Verſ. 23. Even all the heads of your tribes] Theſe are called all Iſrael, verſ. 1. as being their repreſentatives.
Verſ. 25. Why ſhould we dye?] But why ſhould they fear to dye, ſith they had ſeen that day, that God doth talk with man, and he liveth? It is anſwered, that they looked upon their preſent ſafety, as a wonder; but feared what would follow, upon ſuch an interview, if continued. And indeed it is ſtill the work of the law, to ſcare men and to drive them to ſeek for a Mediatour.
Verſ. 27. We will hear it and do it] This is well ſaid, if as well done. Many can think of nothing, but working themſelves to life; ſpinning a thread of their own, to climb up to heaven by. But that will never be.