Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 5 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Verſ. 1. HEar, O Iſrael] It was all their buſineſs, at preſent, to hear; and yet he excites them ſo to do, by an Oyez, as it were. He knew their dulneſs, and the din that corruption maketh in the beſt hearts; how ſoon ſated men are with divine diſcourſes, and how little heed they give to the moſt wholſome exhortations. Let a child be never ſo buſie about his leſſon, if but a bird flie by, he muſt needs look where he lights; ſo, &c.
Verſ. 2. The children of Anak] Hence ſeems to come the Greek word, foreign, for a King; for theſe great men were lookt upon, as ſo many little Kings. See the Note on Gen. 6 4.
Verſ. 3. As a conſuming fire] The force whereof is violent, and irreſiſtible: Who is able to ſtand before this holy Lord God? Wo unto us; who ſhall deliver us, &c? ſaid thoſe creſt-faln Philiſtims, at the ſight of the Ark, 1 Sam. 4.8. So, The ſinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulneſſe hath ſurprized the hypocrites; Who among us (ſay they) ſhall dwell with this devouring fire? (meaning God) who amongſt us ſhall dwell with everlaſting burnings? Eſay 33.14.
Verſ. 4. For my righteouſneſſe] We are all apt to weave a web of righteouſneſs of our own, to ſpin a threed of our own, to climbe up to heaven by; to ſet a price upon our ſelves above the market, to think great thoughts of our ſelves, and to ſeek great things for our ſelves. Coelum gratis non accipiam, ſaith One Merit-monger, I will not have heaven for nothing; and Redde mihi aeternam vitam quam debes, ſaith Another; Give me heaven, for thou oweſt it me. How blaſphemous is that direction of the Papiſts to dying men, Conjunge, Domine, obſequium meum, cum omnibus quae Chriſtus paſſus eſt pro me; Joyn, Lord, my righteouſneſs with Chriſts righteouſneſs? How much better was it with thoſe ancient Papiſts here in England; to whom, upon their death-beds, the ordinary inſtruction appointed to be given was, that they ſhould look to come to glory, not by their own merits, but alone by the vertue and merit of the paſſion of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: D. Vſhier ſerm. on Eph. 4.13.that they ſhould place their whole confidence in his death only, and in no other thing, &c. Thoſe Juſticiaries, that ſeek to be ſaved by their works, Luther fitly calls the devils Martys; they ſuffer much, and take much pains to go to hell; and by their much boaſting, haec ego feci, haec ego feci, they become no better then Faecès, ſaith he wittily. It is a good obſervation of a reverend Divine, Mr. Cotton on Cantic. p. 217.that the Church in the Canticles is no where deſcribed, by the beauty of her hands or fingers: Chriſt concealeth the mention of her hands, that is of her works. 1. Becauſe he had rather his Church ſhould abound in good works in ſilence, then boaſt of them (eſpecially when they are wanting,) as Rome doth. 2. Becauſe it is he alone, that worketh all our works for us, Iſai. 26.12. Hoſ. 14.8.
Verſ. 6. Ʋnderſtand therefore] We are wondrous apt to wind our ſelves into the fooles-paradice of a ſublime dotage, upon our own worth and righteouſneſs; otherwiſe, what need▪ ſo many words here, to one and the ſame purpoſe. The Scripture doth not uſe to kill flies with beetles, to cleave ſtraws with wedges of iron, to ſpend many words where's no need.
Verſ. 7. Ye have been rebellious againſt the Lord] Nothing is ſo hard, as to be humbled; for man is a proud croſs creature, that would be ſomething at home, whatever he is abroad; and comes not down, without a great deal of difficulty. Hence it is, that Moſes ſo ſets it on here, and with one knock after another, drives this naile home to the head, that he might cripple their iron ſinewes, bring their ſtiffe necks to the yoke of Gods obedience, and make them know that he was Iehovah, when he had wrought with them for his Name ſake; not according to their wicked wayes, nor according to their corrupt doings, Ezek. 20.43, 44, and 36.31, 32.
Verſ. 8. The Lord was angry] God is ſaid to be angry, when he doth as an angry man uſeth to do; viz. 1. Chide. 2. Smite: revenge being the next effect of anger.
Verſ. 9. When I was gone up into the Mount] Sins are much aggravated by the circumſtances: and every ſin ſhould ſwell as a toad in our eyes; we ſhould bring them out, as they took the veſſels of the Temple, Ezra 8.34. by number, and by weight. See Lev. 16.21. all their tranſgreſſions in all their ſins.
Verſ. 10. See the Note on Exod. 31.18.
Verſ. 12. Ariſe] From off thy knees, the petitioners poſture: Saint Iames, they ſay, had knees as hard as cammels knees, with continuall kneeling: Euſeb. Hieron. Act. & Mon. fol. 1579.and Hilarion was found dead in his Oratory, with knees bent, eyes and hands lift up. Father Latimer, during his impriſonment, was ſo conſtant and inſtant in prayer, that oft-times he was not able to ariſe without help.
Verſ. 14. Let me alone] See the Note on Exod. 32.10.
Verſ. 15. So I returned] Yet not till he had firſt prayed, and prevailed, Exod. 32.1, 14.
Verſ. 16. Ye had turned aſide quickly] Levitate prorſus deſultoria: Apoſtates have religionem ephemeram; being conſtant in nothing, but in their inconſtancy.
Verſ. 17. And caſt them] See the Note on Exod. 32.19.
Verſ. 19. For I was afraid] Moſes was more troubled for the people, then the people were for themſelves: ſo was Dauiel for Nebuchadnezzar, Chap. 4.19. and Nahum for the Caldeans, Chap. 3.16.
Verſ. 22. And at Taberah] Catalogues ſhould be kept of our ſins, and oft peruſed; yea though they be pardoned; that we may renew our repentance, and keep our ſouls humble, ſupple, and ſoluble.
Verſ. 24. You have been rebellious] Here he repeats the former charge, verſ. 7. which now he had ſufficiently proved againſt them: We muſt object no more againſt any man, then we are able to make good. If Eraſmus had lived to theſe dayes, Eraſmus. epiſt. ad Bilib…ld.very ſhame would have cram'd thoſe words of his, down his throat; Ʋbicunqu eregnat Lutherus, ibi literarum eſt interitus: duo tantum quaerunt, cenſum, & vxorem; Whereſoever Luthers doctrine takes place, learning is little ſet by: all the care is for a wife, and for wealth. Os durum.
Verſ. 25. Thus I fell down] The three former verſes, come in by a parentheſis. Here he returns again to the hiſtory of his interceding for them, the ſecond time.
Verſ. 26. I prayed] And he had a hard tug of it: but prayer is the beſt lever at a dead lift.