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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>D E U T E R O N O M Y</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. V.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have the second edition of the ten commandments.
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I. The general intent of them; they were in the nature of a covenant
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between God and Israel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. The particular precepts are repeated
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:6-21">ver. 6-21</A>),
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with the double delivery of them, both by word and writing,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:22">ver. 22</A>.
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III. The settling of the correspondence thenceforward between God and
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Israel, by the mediation and ministry of Moses.
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1. It was Israel's humble petition that it might be so,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:23-27">ver. 23-27</A>.
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2. It was God's gracious grant that it should be so,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:28-31">ver. 28-31</A>.
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And hence he infers the obligation they were under to obedience,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:32,33">ver. 32, 33</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="De5_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Decalogue Repeated.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1451.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O
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Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears
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this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
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2 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
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3 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> made not this covenant with our fathers, but with
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us, <I>even</I> us, who <I>are</I> all of us here alive this day.
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4 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> talked with you face to face in the mount out of the
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midst of the fire,
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5 (I stood between the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> and you at that time, to show you
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the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire,
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and went not up into the mount;) saying,
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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1. Moses summons the assembly. He <I>called all Israel;</I> not only
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the elders, but, it is likely, as many of the people as could come
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within hearing,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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The greatest of them were not above God's command, nor the meanest of
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them below his cognizance; but they were all bound to do.
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2. He demands attention: "<I>Hear, O Israel;</I> hear and heed, hear
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and remember, hear, that you may learn, and keep, and do; else your
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hearing is to no purpose." When we hear the word of God we must set
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ourselves to learn it, that we may have it ready to us upon all
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occasions, and what we have learned we must put in practice, for that
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is the end of hearing and learning; not to fill our heads with notions,
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or our mouths with talk, but to rectify and direct our affections and
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conversations.
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3. He refers them to the covenant made with them in Horeb, as that
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which they must govern themselves by. See the wonderful condescension
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of divine grace in turning the command into a covenant, that we might
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be the more strongly bound to obedience by our own consent and the more
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encouraged in it by the divine promise, both which are supposed in the
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covenant. The promises and threatenings annexed to some of the
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precepts, as to the second, third, and fifth, make them amount to a
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covenant. Observe,
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(1.) The parties to this covenant. God made it, <I>not with our
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fathers,</I> not with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; to them God gave the
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<I>covenant of circumcision</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+7:8">Acts vii. 8</A>),
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but not that of the ten commandments. The light of divine revelation
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shone gradually, and the children were made to know more of God's mind
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than their fathers had done. "The covenant was made with us, or our
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immediate parents that represented us, before Mount Sinai, and
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transacted for us."
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(2.) The publication of this covenant. God himself did, as it were,
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read the articles to them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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He <I>talked with you face to face; word to word,</I> so the Chaldee.
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Not in dark visions, as of old he spoke to the fathers
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+4:12,13">Job iv. 12, 13</A>),
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but openly and clearly, and so that all the thousands of Israel might
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hear and understand. He spoke to them, and then received the answer
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they returned to him: thus was it transacted <I>face to face.</I>
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(3.) The mediator of the covenant: <I>Moses stood between God and
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them,</I> at the foot of the mount
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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and carried messages between them both for the settling of the
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preliminaries
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+19:1-25">Exod. xix.</A>)
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and for the changing of the ratifications,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:1-8">Exod. xxiv.</A>
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Herein Moses was a type of Christ, who <I>stands between God and man,
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to show us the word of the Lord,</I> a blessed days-man, that has laid
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his hand upon us both, so that we may both hear from God and speak to
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him without trembling.</P>
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<A NAME="De5_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_22"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 I <I>am</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God, which brought thee out of the land
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of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
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7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
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8 Thou shalt not make thee <I>any</I> graven image, <I>or</I> any
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likeness <I>of any thing</I> that <I>is</I> in heaven above, or that <I>is</I>
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in the earth beneath, or that <I>is</I> in the waters beneath the
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earth:
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9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them:
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for I the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God <I>am</I> a jealous God, visiting the iniquity
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of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth
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<I>generation</I> of them that hate me,
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10 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and
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keep my commandments.
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11 Thou shalt not take the name of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God in vain:
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for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will not hold <I>him</I> guiltless that taketh his name
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in vain.
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12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God
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hath commanded thee.
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13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:
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14 But the seventh day <I>is</I> the sabbath of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God:
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<I>in it</I> thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
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daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox,
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nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that <I>is</I>
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within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may
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rest as well as thou.
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15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt,
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and <I>that</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God brought thee out thence through a
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mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy
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God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
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16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God hath
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commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may
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go well with thee, in the land which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God giveth
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thee.
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17 Thou shalt not kill.
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18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
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19 Neither shalt thou steal.
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20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
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21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither
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shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his
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manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any
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<I>thing</I> that <I>is</I> thy neighbour's.
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22 These words the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto all your assembly in the
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mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the
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thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he
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wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is the repetition of the ten commandments, in which observe,
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1. Though they had been spoken before, and written, yet they are again
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rehearsed; for precept must be upon precept, and line upon line, and
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all little enough to keep the word of God in our minds and to preserve
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and renew the impressions of it. We have need to have the same things
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often inculcated upon us. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+3:1">Phil. iii. 1</A>.
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2. There is some variation here from that record
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+20:1-26">Exod. xx.</A>),
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as there is between the Lord's prayer as it is in
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+6:9-13">Matt. vi.</A>
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and as it is
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+11:2-4">Luke xi.</A>
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In both it is more necessary that we tie ourselves to the things than
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to the words unalterably.
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3. The most considerable variation is in the fourth commandment. In
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+20:8-11">Exod. xx.</A>
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the reason annexed is taken from the creation of the world; here it is
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taken from their deliverance out of Egypt, because that was typical of
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our redemption by Jesus Christ, in remembrance of which the Christian
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sabbath was to be observed: <I>Remember that thou wast a servant, and
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God brought thee out,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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And Therefore,
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(1.) "It is fit that thy servants should be favoured by the
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sabbath-rest; for thou knowest the heart of a servant, and how welcome
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one day's ease will be after six days' labour."
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(2.) "It is fit that thy God should be honoured by the sabbath-work,
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and the religious services of the day, in consideration of the great
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things he has done for thee." In the resurrection of Christ we were
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brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God, <I>with a
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mighty hand and an outstretched arm;</I> therefore, by the
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gospel-edition of the law, we are directed to observe the first day of
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the week, in remembrance of that glorious work of power and grace.
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4. It is added in the fifth commandment, <I>That it may go well with
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thee,</I> which addition the apostle quotes, and puts first
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+6:3">Eph. vi. 3</A>),
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<I>that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long.</I>
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If there be instances of some that have been very dutiful to their
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parents, and yet have not lived long upon earth, we may reconcile it to
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the promise by this explication of it, Whether they live long or no, it
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shall go well with them, either in this world or in a better. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+8:12">Eccl. viii. 12</A>.
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5. The last five commandments are connected or coupled together, which
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they are not in Exodus: <I>Neither shalt thou commit adultery, neither
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shalt thou steal, &c.,</I> which intimate that God's commands are all
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of a piece: the same authority that obliges us to one obliges us to
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another; and we must not be partial in the law, but have respect to all
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God's commandments, for he that <I>offends in one point is guilty of
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all,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+2:10,11">Jam. ii. 10, 11</A>.
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6. That these commandments were given with a great deal of awful
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solemnity,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
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(1.) They were spoken with <I>a great voice out of the fire, and thick
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darkness.</I> That was a dispensation of terror, designed to make the
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gospel of grace the more welcome, and to be a specimen of the terrors
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of the judgment-day,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:3,4">Ps. l. 3, 4</A>.
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(2.) <I>He added no more.</I> What other laws he gave them were sent by
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Moses, but no more were spoken in the same manner that the ten
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commandments were. <I>He added no more,</I> therefore we must not add:
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the law of the Lord is perfect.
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(3.) <I>He wrote them in two tables of stone,</I> that they might be
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preserved from corruption, and might be transmitted pure and entire to
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posterity, for whose use they were intended, as well as for the present
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generation. These being the heads of the covenant, the chest in which
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the written tables were deposited was called the <I>ark of the
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covenant.</I> See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+11:19">Rev. xi. 19</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="De5_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_32"> </A>
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<A NAME="De5_33"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>23 And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the
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midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,)
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that ye came near unto me, <I>even</I> all the heads of your tribes,
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and your elders;
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24 And ye said, Behold, the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God hath showed us his
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glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the
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midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with
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man, and he liveth.
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25 Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will
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consume us: if we hear the voice of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God any more,
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then we shall die.
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26 For who <I>is there of</I> all flesh, that hath heard the voice
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of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we
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<I>have,</I> and lived?
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27 Go thou near, and hear all that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God shall say:
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and speak thou unto us all that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God shall speak unto
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thee; and we will hear <I>it,</I> and do <I>it.</I>
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28 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> heard the voice of your words, when ye spake
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unto me; and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto me, I have heard the voice of the
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words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have
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well said all that they have spoken.
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29 O that there were such a heart in them, that they would
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fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be
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well with them, and with their children for ever!
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30 Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.
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31 But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak
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unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the
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judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do <I>them</I>
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in the land which I give them to possess it.
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32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> your God hath
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commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to
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the left.
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33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> your God hath
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|
commanded you, that ye may live, and <I>that it may be</I> well with
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you, and <I>that</I> ye may prolong <I>your</I> days in the land which ye
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shall possess.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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|
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Here,
|
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I. Moses reminds them of the agreement of both the parties that were
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now treating, in the mediation of Moses.</P>
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|
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<P>
|
|
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|
1. Here is the consternation that the people were put into by that
|
|
extreme terror with which the law was given. They owned that they could
|
|
not bear it any more: "<I>This great fire will consume us;</I> this
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|
dreadful voice will be fatal to us; we shall certainly die if we hear
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|
it any more,"
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
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They wondered that they were not already struck
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|
dead with it, and took it for an extraordinary instance of the divine
|
|
power and goodness, not only that they were thus spoken to, but that
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|
they were enabled to bear it. For <I>who ever heard the voice of the
|
|
living God, as we have, and lived?</I> God's appearances have always
|
|
been terrible to man, ever since the fall: but Christ, having taken
|
|
away sin, invites us to come boldly to the throne of grace.</P>
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|
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<P>
|
|
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|
2. Their earnest request that God would henceforth speak to them by
|
|
Moses, with a promise that they would hear what he said as from God
|
|
himself, and do it,
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|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
It seems by this,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That they expected to receive further commands from God and were
|
|
willing to hear more from him.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That they thought Moses able to bear those discoveries of the
|
|
divine glory which they by reason of guilt were sensible of their
|
|
inability to stand up under. They believed him to be a favourite of
|
|
Heaven, and also one that would be faithful to them; yet at other times
|
|
they murmured at him, and but a little before this were ready to stone
|
|
him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+17:4">Exod. xvii. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
See how men's convictions correct their passions.
|
|
|
|
(3.) That now they were in a good mind, under the strong convictions of
|
|
the word they heard. Many have their consciences startled by the law
|
|
that have them not purified; fair promises are extorted from them, but
|
|
no good principles fixed and rooted in them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. God's approbation of their request.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He commends what they said,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
They spoke it to Moses, but God took notice of it; for there is not a
|
|
word in our tongue but he knows it. He acknowledges, <I>They have well
|
|
said.</I> Their owning the necessity of a mediator to deal between them
|
|
and God was well said. Their desire to receive further directions from
|
|
God by Moses, and their promise to observe what directions should be
|
|
given them, were well said. And what is well said shall have its praise
|
|
with God, and should have with us. What is good, as far as it goes, let
|
|
it be commended.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He wishes they were but sincere in it: <I>O that there were such a
|
|
heart in them!</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
[1.] Such a heart as they should have, a heart to fear God, and keep
|
|
his commandments for ever. Note, The God of heaven is truly and
|
|
earnestly desirous of the welfare and salvation of poor sinners. He has
|
|
given abundant proof that he is so: he gives us time and space to
|
|
repent, by his mercies invites us to repentance, and waits to be
|
|
gracious; he has sent his Son to redeem us, published a general offer
|
|
of pardon and life, promised his Spirit to those that pray for him, and
|
|
has said and sworn that he has no pleasure in the ruin of sinners.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Such a heart as they now had, or one would think they had. Note,
|
|
It would be well with many if there were always such a heart in them as
|
|
there seems to be sometimes, when they are under conviction of sin, or
|
|
the rebukes of Providence, or when they come to look death in the face:
|
|
<I>How gracious will they be when these pangs come upon them!</I> O
|
|
that there were always such a heart in them!
|
|
|
|
(3.) He appoints Moses to be his messenger to them, to receive the law
|
|
from his mouth and to communicate it to them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here the matter was settled by consent of both parties that God should
|
|
hence-forward speak to us by men like ourselves, by Moses and the
|
|
prophets, by the apostles and the evangelists, and, if we believe not
|
|
these, neither should we be persuaded though God should speak to us as
|
|
he did to Israel at Mount Sinai, or send expresses from heaven or
|
|
hell.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Hence he infers a charge to them to observe and do all that God had
|
|
commanded them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+5:32,33"><I>v.</I> 32, 33</A>.
|
|
|
|
Seeing God had shown himself so tender of them, and so willing to
|
|
consider their frame and gratify them in what they desired, and withal
|
|
so ready to make the best of them,--seeing they themselves had desired
|
|
to have Moses for their teacher, who was now teaching them,--and seeing
|
|
they had promised so solemnly, and under the influence of so many good
|
|
causes and considerations, that they would hear and do, he charges them
|
|
to <I>walk in all the ways that God had commanded them,</I> assuring
|
|
them that it would be highly for their advantage to do so. The only way
|
|
to be happy is to be holy. <I>Say to the righteous, It shall be well
|
|
with them.</I></P>
|
|
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|
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