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A47325 A commentary on the five books of Moses with a dissertation concerning the author or writer of the said books, and a general argument of each of them / by Richard, Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells ; in two volumes. Kidder, Richard, 1633-1703. 1694 (1694) Wing K399; ESTC R17408 662,667 2,385

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from that it being one of the most difficult and obscure Passages of the whole Pentateuch But still here is nothing proved That Moses wrote this Book called The Wars of the Lord appears not And granting it to be true it is nothing to the purpose For why might not Moses cite a Book of his own Writing as well as another and later Author And what if Moses did write the Wars of Amalek must he therefore write that of the Amorites Warring against the Moabites before he was concerned with them also These kind of pretences may amuse some that are not given to Thinking they can never prevail with them that consider duly Obj. X. 'T is pretended that the Pentateuch was not written by Moses but rather of him And that because Moses is generally mentioned by the Writer as a third Person And besides that we find Moses is commended in the Pentateuch Numb 12.6 8. Deut. 34.10 And if we take him for the Writer of those Books we must suppose him also to have commended himself which will hardly be granted in a Man of so great Humility and Wisdom as Moses was I answer 1. As to the Pretence that Moses is not the Author because he speaks of himself as of a third Person then it follows That whoever does in his History or Work m●ntion himself as Moses in these Books is supposed to do he cannot be the Author of that Book or Relation This wou'd be to conclude too much And yet if this Proposition be not true t●●● Objection hath so far as it goes no manner of force in it That he cannot be the Author of a Book that mentions himself as a third Person may be affirm'd indeed easily but can never be proved If this were admitted we must discharge several Authors of the Books of the Holy Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament also and then we must not believe that Julius Caesar wrote the Commentaries that go under his name or Josephus that part of his reputed Works where he speaks of himself as of a Third Person 'T is hardly credible that the Objectors can believe the Consequence of this Objection and I think there is no fear if they should that any indifferent Person shou'd believe with them 2. As to the second Part of the Objection That we cannot suppose that Moses wou'd commend himself nor consequently that he shou'd write the Pentateuch where he is commended I answer That this Objection whatever may be inferr'd from it does not conclude that Moses was not the Author of these Books For 't is not impossible for a Man to write an Encomium of himself But let us consider the Matter more closely 'T is said indeed that the Man Moses was very meek above all the Men which were upon the face of the Earth Numb 12.3 This is said upon occasion of what was said against him by Miriam and Aaron They spake against him very sharply Upon which 't is said And the Lord heard it Moses is not said to take notice of it himself He was not like to give any just offence nor apt to fall into anger when others reproach'd him It follows Now the man Moses was very meek c. I do not see what there is in these words unbecoming Moses Here 's no boasting or pride no shadow or foot-steps of it He had a just occasion to mention that he had neither provoked these angry persons nor did he highly resent the reproaches they followed him with He might say this well enough and ascribe due honour to God who had wrought this Temper in him The best Man in the World may well be allowed to defend his own Innocence and to own the great Things which God hath done for him The Objection will lie against Job against the Psalmist against St. Paul as well as against Moses if a good Man may not lawfully upon any occasion speak well of himself For what follows in v. 6 7 8. where Moses is preferr'd to any other Prophet 't is certain that they are the Words not of Moses but of God himself And well might he write what God himself said upon this occasion especially when it tended so much to justifie his Divine Mission upon the credit whereof the success of all his Ministry intirely depended The Sin of Moses is related Numb 20.12 and the Punishment inflicted on him on that account The relating of this is as strong an Objection against another Person 's writing these Books as what is nam'd above is against Moses For supposing another Person had been the Writer that Writer must be suppos'd not onely to relate what we read Numb 20. but to repeat it frequently also Obj. XI It is pretended that Moses cannot be supposed to be the Author of those words Exod. 6. These are that Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies These are they which spake to Pharaoh King of Egypt to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt These are that Moses and Aaron v. 26 27. 'T is suppos'd that Moses wou'd not write thus of himself I answer 1. That he may well be suppos'd to write as a Third Person as hath been shewed before And then 2. Allowing him to write for the sake of Posterity and not onely for the Persons of that present Age of which there can be no doubt He may well be granted to be the Writer of these words concerning himself and Aaron who were both greatly concerned in the Matters related afterwards Obj. XII The Author of the Book call'd Tractatus Theologico politicus mentions some other Books written by Moses and wou'd thence inferr by a way of reasoning peculiar to himself that Moses was not the Author of the Pentateuch He mentions the Book of the Covenant Exod. 24. This Book he says contains very little viz. Those Precepts onely which are found from Exod. 20.24 to chap. 24. And he allows that Moses wrote the Book of the Law of God Deut. 31.9 which Joshua afterwards enlarged viz. with the Relation of the Covenant which the People enter'd into in his Time Josh 24.25 26. And because we have no Book that contains at once the Covenant of Moses and that of Joshua he concludes that this Book of the Law is lost He grants that Moses wrote a Book of the Law and gave it to the Priests with a Command that it shou'd be at a certain time read unto the People which cou'd not therefore be the Pentateuch that being too great a Volume to be read at one Solemnity He grants also that Moses wrote the Song mentioned Deut. 32. And this Book of the Law containing part of the Deuteronomy and this Song is all that he will allow him to have written and left to Posterity I answer 1. I am willing to grant that the Book of the Covenant might not contain more than three or four Chapters of Laws And let it
and on that consideration were obliged in Gratitude to Obedience so not being yet possessed of Canaan they were now obliged by th●●r Interest which generally takes the fastest 〈◊〉 of Mankind not to forfeit their hopes of it by their disobedience to the Law of God If we consider the Law it self we shall find it like the Author very good The Ten Commandments are laid before us ch 20. where ●●so we are acquainted with the Consternation of the People at the solemn delivery of these laws To which is subjoined a most needfull prohibition whereby the People are warned 〈◊〉 to make WITH God Gods of Silver or Gold v. 23. and also some directions about the Altar they were to build for the service of the God of Israel v. 24 25 26. The following Precepts ch 21 22 23. God commands Moses to set before them and they are called Judgments and were political Precepts or Laws of the Country they were to govern themselves by Such are the Laws concerning Servants Man-slaughter smiting or ●●●sing of Parents Man-stealing Damage Theft ●●d Restitution Falsewitness Bribery c. where we find great Equity commended and Charity as well as Justice And many of those laws are but the several Branches of the Ten Commandments and fairly reducible as such to those Precepts After which God promiseth to send an Angel before them and requires their Obedience to him and exhorts them thereunto After this we have an account of the calling of Moses up into the Mountain of his writing of this Law of God called afterwards The Book of the Covenant of his building an Altar and causing Sacrifices to be slain and solemnly entring the People into a Covenant to obey this Law which had been made known to them Upon which Moses is called up into the Mountain promised Tables of Stone and continued in the Mount forty Days and forty Nights ch 24. Thus did things stand between God and the Israelites He had given his Law a great and peculiar favour this was and they had not only promised Obedience but had solemnly entred into Covenant to make their promise good In such an happy case were this People now whose God was the Lord. For the farther assurance of the Israelites that he would dwell among them and direct them in their Religious Worship of Himself he lets Moses know that it was his pleasure that a Sanctuary should be built and that the People should freely offer Materials for this Work the pattern whereof he would shew him in the Mount And accordingly he receives directions concerning this Sanctuary and its Instruments He is directed as to the Ark the Mercy-seat and Cherubims the Table of Shew-bread the Candlestick the several Curtains Covering Boards of the Tabernacle the Altar and Courts c. thereunto belonging ch 25 26 27. Aaron and his Sons are also set apart for the Priest's Office The Holy Garments are prescribed and the Ceremonies of their Consecration appointed and God promiseth to dwell among that People and to be their God ch 29.45 Care is also taken about the Altar of Incense and of the ransom-Money of the brazen Laver the anointing Oyl and Perfume Bezaleel and Aholiab are appointed for the Work of the Tabernacle and Moses receives the two Tables of Stone written with the Finger of God ch 31. Whiles Moses continues in the Mount when God had done such great things for Israel and was designing for them farther pledges of his Favour the People fell into a great sin God had expressly forbidden the Worship of any Image or the making WITH Him any Gods of Silver or Gold Exod. 20. They not regarding this Law prevailed with Aaron in the absence of Moses to make them Gods as they worded it to go before them Upon which Aaron makes them a Golden Calf which the People worshipped WITH God For 't is not credible that they had intirely renounced the true God which had done such Wonders for them Upon this is God greatly displeased with the People and Moses casts down the Tables of Stone and breaks them many of the People were destroyed and God lets them know his great displeasure for their grievous fault ch 32. For hereupon God refuseth to go with thi● People as he had promised upon condition of their Obedience ch 23.22 and Moses removes his Tent out of the Camp and the Pillar of Cloud followed him But Moses intercedes for the People and begs God's Presence and that he would shew him his Way and his Glory which Intercession and Request of Moses God favourably accepts ch 33. Upon this Moses is commanded to hew two Tables of Stone and God promises to write on them as he had on the former Moses is called into the Mount whither he goes with the two Tables The Name of God is there proclaimed being full of Mercy and Benignity upon which Moses intercedes for the People and God Covenants with them and puts them in mind of their duty in several instances Moses stays in the Mount forty Days and forty Nights fasting comes down with the two Tables with his Face shining and commands the People to obey God in keeping the Sabbath ch 34 and 35. v. 2. After this Interruption occasioned by the worshipping of the Golden Calf and what followed thereupon Moses gives order to the People to bring in Materials according to their Free-will towards the building of the Tabernacle Upon which the People brought in their Free-offerings which were delivered to those who were to be imployed in that Work And this they did with that alacrity and in such plenty that it was thought convenient to restrain them they having brought in Materials more than enough ch 35 36. And now the Workmen apply themselves to the building the Tabernacle and making all the Instruments thereof according to the Pattern delivered to Moses in the Mount And we have a very particular account hereof ch 36 37 and 38. The Clothes of service and the Priests Vestments are also made and all these are brought to Moses who approved of them and blessed the People ch 39. The Tabernacle being finished Moses receives a command to set it up and to set it a-part by ●●ointing it as also to cloath Aaron and his Sons and to anoint them for the Office of the Priesthood which was accordingly done Upon which a Cloud covered the Tent of the Congregation and the Glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle ch 40. This is a short account of the subject matter of this Book of Moses called Exodus and as it gives a sufficient account why the Book is so called so it does abundantly commend the Book it self to the Reader 's greatest care and diligence And indeed this Holy Book well ●●serves our very serious perusal and will make us a sufficient recompence for our pains therein For First Here is great variety of Argument to ●●tertain us with If History will entertain us here is a most remarkable one Here we have the History of
Moses reared up the tabernacle and fastened his sockets and set up the boards thereof and put in the bars thereof and reared up his pillars 19. And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent above upon it as the LORD commanded Moses 20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark and set the staves on the ark and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark 21. And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the covering and covered the ark of the testimony as the LORD commanded Moses 22. And he put the table in the tent of the congregation upon the side of the tabernacle north-ward without the veil 23. And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD as the LORD had commanded Moses 24. And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation over against the table on the side of the tabernacle south-ward 25. And he lighted the lamps before the LORD as the LORD commanded Moses 26. And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the veil 27. And he burnt sweet incense thereon as the LORD commanded Moses 28. And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle 29. And he put the altar of burnt-offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation and offered upon it the burnt-offering and the meat-offering as the LORD commanded Moses 30. And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar and put water there to wash withall 31. And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat 32. When they went into the tent of the congregation and when they came near unto the altar they washed as the LORD commanded Moses 33. And he reared up the court-round about the tabernacle and the altar and set up the hanging of the court-gate so Moses finished the work 34. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle 35. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation because the cloud abode thereon and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle 36. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys 37. But if the cloud were not taken up then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up 38. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day and fire was on it by night in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys 3. 2514. 1490. The ark of the testimony So called because the Tables of the Law which is sometime called the Testimony v. 20. were put into it ch 25.16 4. Thou shalt bring in c. Ch. 26.35 The things that are to be set in order upon it Heb. The order thereof 10. Most holy Heb. Holiness of holinesses in that it hallowed the Sacrifice Exod. 29.37 11. Sanctifie it i. e. Separate it to a peculiar and holy use 15. An everlasting priesthood i. e. The Successors of the ordinary Priests shall not need to be anointed for the future as the High Priests were The High Priests were elected and therefore it was fit they should be anointed But the Priesthood belonged to the other Priests as their Birth-right 17. Tabernacle Num. 7.1 21. Set Ch. 35.12 29. LORD Ch. 30.9 34. Then a cloud Num. 9.15 1 King 8.10 36. Went onward Heb. Journeyed FINIS Imprimatur Octob. 24. 1693. Jo. Cant. A COMMENTARY ON THE Five Books of MOSES WITH A DISSERTATION Concerning the Author or Writer of the said Books AND A General Argument to each of them BY RICHARD Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells Vol. II. LONDON Printed by J. Heptinstall for William Rogers at the Sun against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet MDCXCIV THE Third Book of Moses CALLED LEVITICUS THE General Argument OF THE Third Book of MOSES CALLED LEVITICUS LEVI was the third Son of Jacob From him his Posterity had the name of Levites Aaron who with his Sons was called to the Priesthood was from him called a Levite Exod. 4.14 And that Priesthood that was setled in that Family is called Levitical Heb. 7.11 The Law relating to the discharge of the Priest's Office is properly called the Levitical Law and upon that account that Book of Moses which more especially treats of the Holy Rites and Services in which these Priests were by their Office imployed is very fitly from the Subject-matter of it called Leviticus And this is the main Subject of this very excellent Book as will more clearly appear afterwards And because a great part of the Priest's Office was taken up in attendance upon the Altar and he was nearly concerned in the Sacrifices and holy Oblations which were presented by the People and because this Book treats largely of those Sacrifices and the Rites thereunto belonging and that in the very beginning of it I know not how to let the Reader into the Book it self any better way than by premising something concerning the Sacrifices themselves which are here treated of And to that purpose I shall First Consider the matter of these Sacrifices or what things they were which were required or allowed to be offered at the Altar Secondly I shall consider the several sorts or kinds of these Sacrifices with the particular Laws annexed unto them and shall in this matter offer nothing but what the Text of the Law gives me ground for Thirdly I shall in very few words shew how very usefull it is to understand this matter I. I shall consider the matter of these Sacrifices or what things they were which were required or allowed to be offered at the Altar And these Oblations being either of living creatures or of things that were inanimate I shall First Consider what living Creatures were admitted for Sacrifices where these Sacrifices were bloudy And they were Five onely viz. Out of the Herd the Bullock onely Out of the Flock the Sheep and the Goat From among the Fowls the Turtle-Dove and the less or younger Pigeon More than these were not allowed by the Law For the Birds rendred Sparrows in the Marginal reaching Levit. 14. they belong not at all to this matter For I am speaking here of bloudy Sacrifices For those Birds one of them was not killed and neither of them had any relation to God's Altar These living Creatures admitted for Sacrifices were such as were common and easy to be procured Besides they were tame and gentle very innocent and usefull and harmless No ravenous Beasts are admitted no Birds of prey What more usefull than a Bullock more profitable than a Sheep and Goat more simple and harmless than a Dove or Pigeon And if the Observation of Philo be true That the Offerer was to be like his Oblation then are innocence and industry usefulness and simplicity recommended here to the Worshipper
Imprimatur Octob. 24. 1693. Jo. Cant. A COMMENTARY ON THE Five Books of MOSES WITH A DISSERTATION Concerning the Author or Writer of the said Books AND A General Argument to each of them BY RICHARD Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells In Two Volumes LONDON Printed by J. Heptinstall for William Rogers at the Sun against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet MDCXCIV THE PREFACE IT is fit I should acquaint the Reader in the first place with the occasion of the following Notes And I am the more inclined so to do that it may appear that I have not been forward to make them publick and ambitious of appearing in Print Many years are now passed since a considerable number of the Clergy of London met together and agreed to publish some short Notes upon the whole Bible for the Use of Families and of all those well-disposed Persons that desired to read the Holy Scriptures to their greatest advantage At that Meeting they agreed upon this worthy design and took their several shares and assigned some part to them who were absent I was not present at that Meeting but I was soon informed that they had assigned to me the Pentateuch I was very sensible how great a Task this would prove and was sufficiently conscious of my own defects Yet was I willing to undertake it because I did always hope that by yielding to it I might incourage the Labours of those who would exceed what-ever I was able to do Upon this consideration I did set about this Work and did often declare and with great sincerity that this was the Motive which did induce me The Work was begun with common consent and we did frequently meet and what was done was communicated from time to time to those met together and that were concerned The Methods of proceeding had been adjusted and agreed to A Specimen was printed and an agreement was made when it should be put to the Press and I finished my Part in order thereunto But so it fell out that soon after all this the Clouds began to gather a-pace and there was great ground to fear that the Popish Party was attempting to ruin the Church of England and that there was a severe Storm from that Quarter lighting upon us We were alarm'd with their Plots and Conspiracies and sometime after saw that Party encouraged by the Higher Powers Those of that Party preached and printed and had their separate Meetings and drew away some of our People and more were in danger of being seduced Hence it came to pass that the thoughts of pursuing the above-mentioned design were at present laid aside and those that were concerned in it were now obliged to turn their Studies and Pens against that dangerous Enemy And what was done at that time and upon that occasion by those concerned in this Work of writing Notes on the Bible I shall not need to tell the Reader in this place During this time also some number of those Persons concerned in the above-mentioned Work were taken away by Death And thus the Work was hindred that might else have been finished long since A Work well designed it was and would have been of unspeakable advantage And perhaps nothing could have contributed more toward the making Men wiser and better And nothing was more wanting among us than such a short Explication of the Holy Writ And I am apt to believe nothing would have been more acceptable to those that are well disposed than such a Work Some other hands have done something this way since whose Endeavours have not wanted very considerable encouragement It would also have been of great use to the Undertakers themselves as it would have engaged them in those Studies which of all others are most entertaining to all Men that are truly Spiritual The studying of the Holy Scriptures is the best imployment for the Ministers in Holy things and for the People also And they that apply themselves diligently this way will be best able to defend the Holy Writings against Gainsayers and to deal with the Enemies of the Reformed Religion And I having drawn up my Notes upon this occasion do now think my self obliged to make them publick God having now dispersed those Clouds that then hung over our heads And I do it from the same Motive that first induced me to undertake it viz. that I might draw on others to do much better in the following Books I am very willing to hope that in due time the rest will follow in the same kind of Volume that these appear in I can hardly think that a Work so well devised will fall to the ground and will do any thing in my power to revive what was so well contrived at first I cannot but say something in this place besides what I intimated before of the great Usefulness and Necessity of some short and easie Notes upon the Bible for the Use of Families Perhaps 't is that which of all other things is most wanting and most deserves the utmost care of the Governors and Instructors of the Church We are agreed that the People ought to read the Holy Scriptures and they are therefore Translated into the Vulgar Tongue They do read them and there is nothing wanting now but such an help as may enable them to understand them and gain the greatest benefit by them They must be often at a stand and may answer as the Eunuch answered Philip when he said Understandest thou what thou readest And he said How can I except some Man should guide me Act. 8.30 31. There are in the Holy Books some things hard to be understood And other things there are that are very liable to be misunderstood And sometimes a mistake is of a dangerous sometimes of a fatal Consequence There are some Men that set up for Wits that Cavil at these Holy Books and pretend to have discovered Flaws or Inconsist●ncies in them These little Wits run away with this conceit that they have just Exceptions against these Books they scatter their poison and prevail upon the profane and the ignorant All this mischief and very much more might have been prevented by laying things in their true light and informing the diligent Reader of the Holy Scriptures with the true sense and importance of the place By this means we must stop the mouths of foolish Men and prevent the falling of the weak There have been of late years great attempts to disparage and lessen the esteem of the Holy Writ and Moses himself hath not been spared on this occasion I am of opinion after all that these attempts have not done any harm to wise and stable Souls These Men think as Honourably of these Writings as they did before But yet a great number of our People have been seduced And the unstable and unlearned have wrested the ●oly Scriptures to their own destruction The Scriptures need not fear the most subtle Enemies They may be defended against the Sophistry of those that wou'd render them
of Deuteronomy therefore I have very fully consider'd it in the General Argument prefix'd to that Book and therefore I referr the Reader to that place for satisfaction as to this matter Obj. XIX 'T is also said that these Books do not report Facts in that Order in which they hapned and that Moses therefore is not the Author of so confused and distorted a Work And the Author last above-named gives one remarkable instance to this purpose from Deut. 10.6 To which I answer 1. That if the Objector mean no more than this That things are not always related in that very Order in which they hapned I do allow that this is true and that it cannot be deny'd This will be readily granted by Jews and by Christians who yet do believe Moses to be the Author of the Pentateuch Nothing is more common among the Hebrew Doctors than this Saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Non est prius posterius in Lege They allow that things are not laid before us in that order in which they hapned or came to pass Josephus when he reckons up the number of the Books of the Old Testament tells us expressly that Moses wrote the Pentateuch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. contra Apion l. 1. He tells us elsewhere that all things are written as Moses left them That they had added nothing not even for Ornament which Moses had not left But yet he adds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. That these Writings were left by him dispersed as he had occasion to consult the Divine Majesty This says he I think needfull to premise that none of our People might when they read be scandalized on this account Jos Antiq. l. 4. c. 8. 2. That it does not thence follow that Moses was not the Author 'T is strange that any Man who professeth Christianity shou'd argue at this rate Because it must be allow'd that the Evangelists themselves do not always in their Gospels relate Facts in that Order in which they came to pass and yet they do believe that these Gospels were written by those persons whose Names they bear 3. As 't is far from being an Argument that Moses was not the Author of these Books so the thing it self is of a very trifling Consideration For the Journey of Jethro to Moses whether it hapned before the giving of the Law or after is a thing of very small Consideration As long as we have the Fact related we are well enough dealt with And if it cou'd be prov'd that what is related of that matter Exod. 18. did not come to pass till after the Law was given yet will this be no Objection against Moses because that might notwithstanding be the fittest place to relate Jethro's Journey Moses being just entring upon the account of the giving the Law and then of the particular Laws that were given c. Moses does not date the Coming of Jethro and for what appears 't is related in the fittest place For Abraham's Journey with Sarah to Gerar we are not concern'd to know the precise time of it nor does Moses give it us and we have no cause to find fault with his placing the Relation where we find it We are very unreasonable in this matter The Historian was best Judge where to relate the several Facts he had to mention And we do not when we object this allow him the liberty that all other Historians are allow'd viz. To make their Relations in such places as they judge most convenient And it is to me a very evident proof that those Men have very little to say against Moses who will lay hold on such impertinent trifles as these are These are mere Cavils and speak a bad Temper 4. Nor is there much of this to pretend Moses indeed did not write his History by way of Annals nor his Laws in the exact method and form of Justinian's Institutions But this is no Objection against the Author of the Books or the Books themselves As there is not that method so there is not that confusion which is pretended The Objector needed not to have said that there are in the Pentateuch Tam multa confusa inordinata extra locum seriem posita For there is no great matter of this kind to be objected after all this noise For the Instances he gives of Jethro's Journey and Abraham's going to Gerar they are not worth his while For in truth they do not serve his purpose And though he instance in the Journey of Isaac to Gerar that will do his Cause no good I appeal to any indifferent Reader The Objector shou'd have laid these things before the Reader and shewed how they tend to his great End For here 's nothing prov'd nor is there any thing in the Instances above that do in the least bear against Moses For as I observ'd above Moses does not write Annals nor date those Facts and might therefore insert them in that place of his Book which he judged most reasonable 5. I● is true that this Author does produce one Instance that looks like an Objection And I do grant that the place hath a considerable difficulty attending it and that is what we read Deut. 10.6 But because there are some difficult passages in the Pentateuch must not Moses therefore be allow'd to be the Author At this rate we may discharge all the Writers of the Old and New Testament also But as to that difficult place it is very particularly consider'd in the following Notes on that Chapter to which therefore I referr the Reader 6. After all 't is very unfit we shou'd prescribe Laws and Methods that God's Holy Prophets are to use in revealing his Will to us 'T is great sawciness in us to prescribe God is wise when he does not use our methods Obj. XX. The same Author objects the Obscurity of these Books as an Argument that Moses was not the Author of them To which I answer 1. It is not to be wonder'd that there shou'd be some obscure places in the Pentateuch allowing it to be written by Moses for then the Book was written above 3000 years ago and that in the Eastern Country and in a Language much different from the Modern We are not acquainted with the History of that Age the Customs of those Times and Idiotisms of the Language in which it was written And therefore we are apt to mistake and many times at a loss where these Books referr to some Facts or Records or Rites and Usages then well known But then as I intimated this is no Argument that Moses was not the Author of it For this wou'd oblige us to discharge all the ancient Authors which we do not understand 2. Besides this Obscurity is very often to be imputed to a fault or defect of the Readers not to any defect or fault in the Books The Reader perhaps wants Skill and good Judgment he does not use fit means or sufficient diligence Perhaps he is
alive and greatly advanced in Egypt chap. 39 40 41 42 43 44 45. Jacob comes to Beersheba and is encouraged to go into Egypt and takes his Journey to it The Number of his Family that went with him Joseph meets his Father and instructs his Brethren what they should say to Pharaoh chap. 46. Joseph presents his Father and five of his Brethren to Pharaoh His Father and Brethren are placed in a good part of the Land The great encrease of the Famine in Egypt and what followed thereupon Jacob's Age He takes an Oath of Joseph to bury him with his Fathers Jacob blesseth Ephraim and Manasseh the two Sons of Joseph preferring the younger He fore-tells the Return of his Posterity into Canaan He blesseth his Children and predicts very particularly what shou'd befall the several Tribes in After-times and among many other things he Prophecies of the Messiah Jacob dies The Mourning for Jacob and his Burial Joseph dieth chap. 47 48 49 50. If what hath been said be reflected upon here is enough to be found in this excellent Book to recommend it to the Reader And it must needs be acceptable to all sorts of Readers that have a disposition to Knowledge or true Piety I. Here 's the best account of prime Antiquity Of the Original of the World and the Order in which the several Parts of it were framed Here 's the clearest account of the Destruction of the living Creatures by the Floud and of the Peopling the New World by the Sons of Noah Here we may find the most ancient Account of the several People who were the Heads of Families and Nations There 's nothing extant in the World that can vye with this Book in this respect Here we have also the most ancient Account of the true Worship of God and the first Formation of a Church and of the first Original of the Jewish Nation who were God's peculiar People and in Covenant with him II. Here we have also the best Account of our selves and are led to that knowledge of our selves wherein we are highly concerned We may learn hence whence our Bodies were framed and whence our immortal Souls came The happy condition in which Man was at first made and the great Misery into which Man plunged himself and his Posterity by his Disobedience and the Remedy which God provided for our restitution and recovery by the Promise of the Messiah under the Character of the Seed of the Woman who should break the Serpent's head The knowledge of these things is of vast moment to our Souls and tends to commend to us the necessity of a Saviour and Redeemer and leads us to him III. We have also in this Book very pregnant Proofs of God's Care and good Providence over Mankind and of his special Care of his Servants and Worshippers A firm belief of this is of great moment to us and a mighty support under the Miseries we feel and against those we fear The History of Cain and Abel does teach us this and so does the Account of the Ages and the Death of the Anti-diluvian Patriarchs We may learn it from the History of the Floud and Preservation of Righteous Noah and his Family We may learn it also from the Account we have of Abraham's Life and Peregrinations from that of Isaac and Jacob And especially from the Account we have of Joseph This History of Joseph is a mighty Proof of God's special care of his Servants and how vain those Men are who attempt to defeat the Counsel and Purpose of God who knows how to turn the Wickedness of Men to a good End and the Sufferings of his faithfull Servants to their good and advantage IV. We have also in this Book laid before us very great Examples of Piety and Vertue and these Examples are the more conspicuous as they lived before the giving of the Law where these things were required and encouraged and enforced by Rewards and Punishments The Divine Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews puts into his List among those who obtained a good report by Faith a considerable number of excellent Persons mentioned in this Book Heb. 11. I shall mention some of them and insist upon a few Abel was one of them who obtained a Divine Testimony that he was Righteous Heb. 11.4 Enoch was another who pleased God v. 5. being an example of repentance to all generations Ecclus 44.16 Noah was also a Man of singular Piety an heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith Heb. 11.7 A just Man and perfect in his Generations Gen. 6.9 A Man for his eximious Piety placed by the Prophet with Daniel and Job Ezek. 14.14 One who was taken in exchange for the World Ecclus 44.17 But not to insist upon others I add Abraham a Person most conspicuous for his Faith and Piety Hospitality and great Huma●ity and singular Justice and Meekness and care to instruct his Domesticks in the true Religio● and Worship of the great Creator of Heaven and Earth He was the Friend of God and for his Piety the Favourite of Heaven He was bred among Idolaters but he forsook his Country on God's Command Believed the Divine Promises how unlikely soever to come to pass to humane Reason He submitted to Circumcision when God commanded it how painfull soever it were to him And was ready to Sacrifice his Son the Son whom he loved and the Son of his Hopes and of his Old Age the Son of all the Promises and that was to inherit his Substance when God required him to do it Here is a Mirror of true Religion indeed one who deservedly bears the Name of the Father of the Faithfull In glory there was none like unto him and when he was proved he was found faithfull Ecclus 44.19 20. He propagated true Religion by his Example and Care It continued in his Family Isaac and Jacob are in that List of the Faithfull Heb. 11. Job is famous in the Old and New Testament and he is reckoned among his Descendants His Cousin Lot is also reckoned among the Righteous But let us consider how Exemplary his Wife and Servant were Sarah is reckoned among the Worthies Heb. 11. She is propounded as a great Pattern to married Women by St. Peter Whose daughters ye are says he as long as ye do well 1 Pet. 3.6 His Servant is a most conspicuous Example to all Servants Let Servants read Gen. 24. and they will soon see the truth of this matter He used in his Master's business all diligence shewed the greatest care and fidelity made the utmost dispatch preferred his Master's affair before his own ease and refreshment expressed his Trust in God for his success One Example more I will name and that is that of Joseph His Story is very wonderfull and his Life a great Pattern He shewed great Piety towards his Father Mercy and Forgiveness towards his Brethren He was a Man of singular Wisdom and dexterity in Business Of great Probity and inflexible Integrity
His resisting the importunity of his Mistress is an Example of Vertue never to be forgotten He was then a Servant in a strange Country He was tempted by an imperious Woman If he complied he wou'd be sure of Concealment and of Rewards he wou'd be sure to enjoy his Place and be advanced If he resisted he wou'd however be sure to be accused and treated as a Criminal and must expect to be deprived of his Place of his Liberty of his Fame and perhaps of his Life too Yet all this prevails not He will rather submit to Chains to Ignominy to Death than be guilty of so foul a Crime and Sin against God V. We have also in this Book the severest Examples of God's displeasure and wrath against the Wickedness of Men. And two instances we have that are very awakening that of the Floud which over-whelmed an ungodly World and the over-throw of Sodom and Gomorrha for their Wickedness There 's nothing wanting in this Book to recommend it to the study and care of the well-disposed Reader It serves greatly to advance Piety and true Wisdom It gives the best account of the Origin of the World and of the Primitive Condition of Mankind It shews how we fell from God and shews us the way of our Recovery by the Messiah 'T is stored with conspicuous Examples of Piety and Vertue and gives us an occasion to adore the Power the Wisdom the Justice and Goodness and Providence of the great Creator of Heaven and of Earth NOTES ON THE Book of GENESIS CHAP. I. The ARGUMENT This Chapter gives an account of the Creation of the World and the several parts of it as also of the order in which they were made and distinguished with the use and intention of them Here is also a particular account of the Creation of Man in the Image of God and of the food which his Creator appointed him 1. 4004. 1. IN the beginning God created the heaven and the earth 2. And the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters 3. And God said Let there be light and there was light 4. And God saw the light that it was good and God divided the light from the darkness 5. And God called the light Day and the darkness he called Night and the evening and the morning were the first day 6. And God said Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters and let it divide the waters from the waters 7. And God made the firmament and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament and it was so 8. And God called the firmament Heaven and the evening and the morning were the second day 9. And God said Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place and let the dry land appear and it was so 10. And God called the dry land Earth and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas and God saw that it was good 11. And God said Let the earth bring forth grass the herb yielding seed and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after his kind whose seed is in it self upon the earth and it was so 12. And the earth brought forth grass and herb yielding seed after his kind and the tree yielding fruit whose seed was in it self after his kind and God saw that it was good 13. And the evening and the morning were the third day 14. And God said Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years 15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth and it was so 16. And God made two great lights the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night he made the stars also 17. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth 18. And to rule over the day and over the night and to divide the light from the darkness and God saw that it was good 19. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day 20. And God said Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven 21. And God created great whales and every living creature that moveth which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind and every winged fowl after his kind and God saw that it was good 22. And God blessed them saying Be fruitfull and multiply and fill the waters in the seas and let fowl multiply in the earth 23. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day 24. And God said Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind cattel and creeping thing and beast of the earth after his kind and it was so 25. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind and cattel after their kind and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind and God saw that it was good 26. And God said Let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattel and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth 27. So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him male and female created he them 28. And God blessed them and God said unto them Be fruitfull and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth 29. And God said Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth and every tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed to you it shall be for meat 30. And to every beast of the earth and to every fowl of the air and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth wherein there is life I have given every green herb for meat and it was so 31. And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good And the evening and the morning were the sixth day 1. IN the beginning 1. 4004. That is in the beginning of time Heb. 1.10 Created That is made out of nothing Heb. 11.3 or gave a being to things which had no such being before The Heaven and the Earth or the World In the Scripture-phrase the Heaven and Earth are used to express what is otherwise called the World or Universe God that made the World and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth dwelleth not in Temples made with hands Act. 17.24 See