upon every occasion 6. This darknesse did shew the spirituall darknesse of their soules and was a forerunner of the everlasting darknesse of hell which waited for them Ferus For the mysticall application of this Egyptian darknesse 1. Origen doth expound it of the unsearchable and impenetrable depth of the divine providence Augustine doth accommodate and applie it to the tenth Commandement Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife for such he saith are palpably blinded even as the Egyptians were 2. But more fitly doth the same Origen applie it to signifie the blindnesse of the Egyptians and the darknesse of their superstitious minde that were ignorant of the true knowledge and worship of God giving themselves to most filthie Idolatrie and it betokeneth also the grosse darknesse wherein the Gentiles were buried before they were called to the knowledge of the Messiah all the world was then in darknesse onely in Israel was light and the knowledge of God But contrariwise in the passion of Christ it was darke among the Jewes and light elsewhere which signified that light was sprung up to the Gentiles and blindnesse fallen upon the Jewes 4. Places of doctrine 1. Doct. The law is to be preached to the obstinate Vers. 4. IF thou refuse to let them goe behold to morrow I will bring Locusts Moses to Pharaoh being an obstinate and impenitent man preacheth nothing but the law and judgement the Gospell is not to bee preached to such but onely to the broken hearted as Christ saith That the spirit of God was upon him to preach the Gospell to the poore Luk. 4.18 This was a signe betweene the true Prophets and false that these alwayes cried to the people peace peace but the other told the people of their sinnes Ferus 2. Doct. The difference betweene the children of God and the children of the world Vers. 23. ALl the children of Israel had light where they dwelt In this difference betweene the children of Israel and the Egyptians is shadowed forth the divers estate betweene the children of God and the children of this world the one are lightned with the knowledge of grace the other sit downe in the region of darknesse and shadow of death as the Apostle saith Yee are all the children of the light and the children of the day we are not of the night nor of darknesse 1 Thess. 5.5 Borrh. 5. Places of confutation 1. Conf. That children are the members of the Church against the Anabaptists Vers. 9. WE will goe with our young and with our old with our sonnes and with our daughters Both young and old belonged unto Israel and to the Church of God which maketh against the Anabaptists that count infants no members of the Church and therefore denie them to be baptised But the Psalmist exhorteth not onely the ancient to praise God but the young also Young men and maidens old men and children Psalm 48.12 Ferus 2. Conf. Ignorance and darknesse not to be found in the Church of Christ but among the Egyptians Vers. 23. BVt all the children of Israel had light where they dwelt This externall light betokeneth the spirituall light of knowledge that the true Israel hath the light and knowledge of God It hath beene held as a principle among the Romanists and their practice sheweth them to bee of the same mind still that ignorance is the mother of devotion And great hath beene the ignorance and darknesse which reigned many yeeres under the Kingdome of Antichrist Borrh. And out of the darke smoke of the bottomlesse pit this mistie darknesse have come forth all those swarmes of Locusts Monkes Friers Masse Priests Seminaries whose endevour is to sow â—rror among the people and to settle them in ignorance of the truth to which purpose they forbid the Scriptures to be read or prayers to be said but in the Latin tongue they permit them not to read any books which may instruct them in the truth to sing Psalmes to conferre or reason of their faith All this sheweth that they would still keepe theirs in the Egyptian darknesse But thanks be unto God that hath caused the light of the Gospell of his Sonne to shine upon his Israel in this land that now that prophesie may be verified againe of this land which is also by the way of the Sea The people that sate in darknesse have seene great light and to them that sate in the region and shadow of death light is raised up Matth. 4.15 16. 6. Places of morall use 1. Mor. Of the necessity of good education Vers. 3. THat thou mayst declare in the eares of thy sonne Hence appeareth the necessitie of the good education of children that they should be instructed in the feare of the Lord in their youth and so will they not forget it when they are old Ferus This is the Apostles counsell that the fathers should bring up their children in the instruction and information of the Lord Ephes. 6.3 The want of good instruction in the youth is the cause of the licentiousnesse and unthriftinesse of the young men of this age 2. Mor. The departure of the Ministers of God dangerous Vers. 6. SO he turned him and went out from Pharaoh This sudden departure of Moses from Pharaoh and with indignation did foreshew the fearefull condition of Pharaoh whom the Ministers and Prophets of God forsake It was an evident argument of destruction at hand So their case is hard that are left destitute of the Ministers of Gods word Worldly men consider not this nay they many times wish in their hearts that there were not a Minister to speake unto them But like as the Jewes state was desperate when the Apostles left them and shooke off the dust of their feet against them Act. 13.51 so it fareth with those that are deprived of the presence of Gods Ministers Ferus 3. Mor. The office and part of good counsellers Vers. 7. THen Pharaohs servants said unto him It is the part of good counsellers to perswade Kings and Princes to deale well with the servants of God and to move them to the good of the Church and common-wealth Piscator Not to flatter the Prince to make themselves great or to deale unfaithfully and onely to seeke themselves as Shebna did Isai. 22. but to be like the faithfull Eliakâ—â— and as Ebedmelech that obtained favour for Ieremie 4. Mor. Not one jot of Gods word to be omitted Vers. 26. THere shall not be an hoofe left In those things which God hath prescribed and commanded noâ— the least thing is to be omitted Moses was charged to make all things belonging to the Tabernacle even to the snuffers and ashpans according to the paterne which the Lord shewed him in the mount Exod. 25.9 Simler So not one jot of the word of God must be left undone but it must be kepâ— exactly to an haires breadth as wee say CHAP. XI 1. The method and Argument IN this Chapter there is a continuation of the narration of Moses
the Apostle maketh not any conjunction in situation And so the Replier is answered QUEST VI. How Moses is said to goe up unto God Vers. 3. MOses went up unto God c. 1. Some thinke that Moses went aside to give himselfe to prayer and meditation as he was wont Calvin But this phrase of going up unto God sheweth that this was some extraordinary calling of Moses unto that place 2. Others thinke that Moses went up into this mount uncalled because there the Lord sometime appeared before in the fiery bush and had appointed that to be the place where they should sacrifice unto him and therefore Moses went up to the mountaine but not to the top of the mountaine remembring that hee was before reproved for approching so neare Lyran. Tostat. 3. But it is more likely that Moses for the same reason went not up into the mount till the Lord called him because of the reverence of the place and so the words are to be read For the Lord had called him Simler Genevens So also Oleaster And then hee is said to goe up to God not because it was the mountaine where God had appeared Vatab. Or because there was the cloud or some visible signe of Gods presence Simler But for that he heard Gods voice calling unto him from the top of the hill Quamvis nulla species sensibilis scribatur apparens in monte ipsa tamen vocatio c. Although no sensible shew is written to have appeared in the mountaine yet the very calling of God put Moses in hope there to find God Cajetan QUEST VII Why both these names of Iacob and Israel are joyned together Vers. 3. THou shalt thus say to the house of Iacob and tell the children of Israel c. 1. Hee calleth them the house or family of Iacob because as one house is to the master and father of the house so all that people were in respect of Iacob Tostat. They had all their beginning out of that family 2. He calleth them the house of Iacob rather than of Abraham or Izak because they had each of them but two sonnes nay in effect but one sonne a piece because the other were not counted their seede which were not sufficient to make a family but Iacob had 12. sonnes Oleaster 3. Both these names are joyned together Iacob and Israel to shew that as the first was Iacobs naturall and originall name the other was given him by grace so there were two sorts of Israelites those which were such only after the flesh others that were true Israelites according to promise Simler And that as Iacob had that name of supplanting and Israel for prevailing with God so they should seeke to be answerable to both these names in supplanting of vice and being strong with God Ferus And as Israel was a name given of God so they bearing this name should assure themselves they were the people of God QUEST VII How the Lord is said to carry them upon Eagles wings Vers. 4. I Carried you upon Eagles wings c. 1. Some by these two wings understand Moses and Aaron by whom the people were led Gloss. interlinear but Moses and Aaron themselves were carried upon these Eagles wings 2. Some understand the two Testaments Gloss. ordinar but they as yet had received neither of the Testaments 3. Therefore hereby is metaphorically described the singular protection of this people and their mighty defence and in divers respects 1. In respect of their speedy deliverance that all of them in one day being such a great multitude came out of Egypt which was an admirable thing Cajetan 2. In that they passed many difficulties in going thorow the red Sea in travelling thorow the wildernesse they went thorow all these hazards and difficulties as though they had beene carried upon Eagles wings Tostat. 3. The Hebrewes here write that the Eagle taketh her young ones and carrieth them upon her backe whereas other birds carry them in their talants whereby the Lord shewed his love Genevens and their safe and secure defence that they were extra omnem teli jactum without the compasse of all danger Tostat. Lippom. But this conjecture of the Eagles carrying her young ones upon her shoulders frivolum videtur seemeth to be of no great credit Calvin fictitium c. it may be thought to be fained Oleaster The Eagle is said to beare them on her wings because when the young ones begin to fly shee doth support them with her wings lest they should fall Oleaster and she soareth with them aloft using them to flie against the Sunne Calvin And so the meaning is that as the Eagle supporteth and protecteth her young ones while they flie aloft that no danger can come neere them so the Lord protected his people 4. And as the Eagle stirreth her nest and provoketh the young to fly and defendeth them in flying when she changeth her place and nest so the Lord transported and removed his people stirred them out of their uncleane nest in Egypt to bring them to Canaan Oleaster As Moses setteth forth this similitude at large Deut. 32.11 As an Eagle stirreth up her nest fluttereth over her birds stretcheth out her wings taketh them and beareth them on her wings 5. And as the Eagle taketh her young ones aloft sic Deus eduxit eos elevatos in filios Dei So God tooke them advanced or lifted up to bee the sonnes of God and as the Eagle from aloft defendeth her young ones so God de superna nube pugnavit pro eis did from the cloud above fight for his people Cajetan QUEST VIII How they are said to be the Lords chiefe treasure Vers. 4. YE shall be my chiefe treasure c. 1. The word is segulah which signifieth a speciall and peculiar treasure above the rest as that is called peculium which the sonne and heire of the house hath of his owne beside the right of his fathers inheritance which he may dispose of as he thinketh good so the meaning is this that although the whole earth be the Lords by the right of creation yet this people should have a speciall interest in God before all other Tostat. 2. Beside the Lord had given unto them his law as to no other people in the world which he had committed unto them as a chiefe and principall treasure Vatab. 3. And herein as the Lord sheweth what prerogative they had over other people so thereby is signified how deare and precious they were in the sight of God Vos veluti populum quendam eximium mihi consecravi I have consecrated you to my selfe as an excellent people Theodoret. QUEST IX How they are said to be a kingdome of Priests Vers. 5. YE shall be unto me a kingdome of Priests 1. That as the Levites and Priests were chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to bee peculiar unto the Lord for his service so the Lord had chosen the seede of Abraham out of all the nations of the world
that so much gold was put into one vesture for the whole summe counting sixtie sicles to a pound amounteth but to eighteen pound weight or thereabout and seeing the text maketh mention of no other ornaments which Gedeon made but the Ephod we cannot conjecture that he made any beside that And though it were unlawfull to make an Ephod elsewhere like that which the high Priest used in the Tabernacle yet that was not onely Gedeons fault but for that also by this occasion the people fell to idolatrie and abused that Ephod in the idolatrous service of Baal Berith as it followeth in the same place Iudg. 9.33 Iun. QUEST XVI Of the fashion of the Ephod Vers. 7. THe two shoulders thereof c. 1. R. Ab. Ezra thinketh that this Ephod onely covered the back-parts of the Priest and that the breastplate or pectorall served for the other part before but if it had beene so then how could the shoulders thereof be joyned together one to another therefore the Ephod had two parts one before and another behind Cajetan 2. Beda thinketh that the Ephod was made double and so halfe of it was in sight without and halfe within and so it was joyned together But Hierom calleth it palliolum mira pulchritudinis a cloake of exceeding beautie it was not therefore onely put double upon the back-parts it was fastened in the shoulders one part to another Montan. 3. Iosephus thinketh it had sleeves so also Ribera But the contrarie is received that it was fine maâ—icis without sleeves Lippoman 4. Iosephus also thinketh that it was but a cubit long and so came but to the waste So also Ribera and Tostatus thinke that pertingebat usque ad zonam it came but downe to the girdlestead or waste Procopius extendeth it usque ad praecordia unto the parts about the heart But it rather reached à lumbis usque ad humeros from the loynes to the shoulders as Iunius and Montanus in his description usque ad umbilicum downe to the navell Cajetane for if it did not hang downe beyond the waste the broidered gard of the Ephod could not handsomely serve to close in the other garments and gird them in the waste together with the Ephod as is prescribed chap. 39.5 5. Thus then was the Ephod made it had foure laps or wings whereof two were joyned together on each shoulder and two were coupled beneath under the arme holes Tostat. quaest 2. which are called the broidered gard or girdle as Iun. Oleaster which was not made of the same stuffe onely which the Ephod was made of but out of the same peece to make a difference betweene the girdle of the Ephod and the other embroidered girdle which was put aloft upon the garments so that the nether lappets of the Ephod served as a girdle to fasten it below Iun. Oleaster 6. It was made of broidered worke not pictured either with beasts or flowers or any such but devised worke as the word signifieth such as Turkie and Arabian worke is Montan. 7. On the forepart of the Ephod was left a certaine hole or void place for the pectorall to be placed in Iosephus Contra pectus nihil contextum erat c. Against the breast there was nothing wrought that a place might be left for the pectorall or breast-plate Hierom. 8. Beside the Ephod had two golden chaines not to hold up the breast-plate or pectorall as Tostatus seemeth to thinke for these chaines are described afterward vers 22. but they served rather Vt illaquest partes superhumerales c. To fasten together the parts of the Ephod in the shoulder on both sides Cajetan Oleaster For they were fastned on both sides to the bosses of gold upon the shoulders where were set the two precious stones vers 14. which now come in the next place to be handled QUEST XVII Of the two Onyx or Sardonyx stones why they are called stones of remembrance Vers. 9. THou shalt take two Onyx stones 1. The Hebrew word is shoham which the Chalde whom Montanus followeth takes for Berill of a sea colour the Septuag for the smaragd which is of greene colour Procopius for the Saphire of skie colour but Iosephus calleth it the Sardonyx so Iunius and commonly it is called the Onyx stone rather the Sardonyx because it is so called Apocal. 21.20 which is of the colour of the naile shewing upon the flesh wherein there is a red mixed with white so the Sardonyx hath a mixt colour of red as the Sardius stone and of white as the Onyx which is of the colour of the naile Tostat. qu. 10. Oleaster Ribera 2. In these two stones were graven the names of the 12. Tribes according to their eldership in the stone on the right shoulder six of the eldest and in the other the six younger Iosephus The six elder were Ruben Simeon Iudah Dan Nepthali Gad the six younger Asher Issachar Zebulon Ephraim Manasses Benjamin for Levi was left out that Tribe being now to bee sequestred for the service of the Tabernacle and for Ioseph were written his two sonnes Ephraim and Manasses 3. These are called stones of remembrance not that the Lord need be put in remembrance but that hereby the Israelites might be assured that they were alwayes had in remembrance with God Marbach And Beda assigneth three other reasons why they are so called Vt ipse fidem Patriarcharum meminisset imitari That he should remember to imitate the faith of the Patriarks whose names he did beare that the Priest should remember the Tribes in his prayers unto God and to admonish the people in generall not to decline from the steps of their fathers Beda QUEST XVIII Of the mysticall application of the Ephod and the two precious stones NOw this first priestly garment is diversly applied 1. Iosephus by the two precious stones understandeth the Sunne and Moone 2. Philo the two Hemispheres of the world 3. Hierome by the twelve names written in the precious stones would have signified the twelve Apostles which first preached the Gospell 4. Beda The Priest is admonished hereby to follow the life and embrace the faith of the Patriarks and Prophets 5. But most fitly rather is hereby signified that Christ doth beare his Church as it were upon his shoulders even as the Eagle beareth her young ones upon her wings Deut. 32.11 Marbach Osiand Simler Rupertus also hereby understandeth the bearing of our iniquities which were laid upon Christs shoulders Prosper the government which is laid upon Christ. Procopius by the names graven in the stones their names who are written in the booke of life whom Christ carrieth as it were upon his shoulders into heaven QUEST XIX Why it was called the breast-plate of judgement Vers. 15. THou shalt make the breast-plate of judgement c. 1. The Septuagint call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latine Interpreter following them rationals that is the rationall or reasonable ornament so named as Tostatus thinketh of the effect
and the Angels upon this day Christ rose the holy Ghost was given and Manna descended from heaven first on this day serm detempor 251. Wherefore I cannot wholly condescend to Mercerus judgement who saith politiae causa retinuerunt Apostols diem dominicum Sabbato subrogatum that the Apostles for policy sake have retained the Lords day in stead of the Sabbath in 2 Gen. vers 3. A policy I grant in the use of the Lords day but that is neither the only nor chiefe reason of the institution thereof There are three causes of the observation of the Lords day a religious and holy use for the Lord to this end did consecrate this day by his owne example and commandement to bee spent in holy exercises the Civill or politicall use of the Lords day is for the rest of our selves our servants and catteâ—ls the ceremoniall or symbolicall end was to shadow forth our spirituall rest in Christ in this last respect I confesse the ceremony of the Sabbath in part to be abolished for it is a symbole still of our everlasting rest in heaven Heb. 4.9 But in the other two respects the law of the Lords day is perpetuall for that as Philo saith it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 festum populare a popular or generall festivall to be observed of all people for ever I doe wonder then this doctrine of the Sabbath and day of rest now called the Lords day having such evident demonstration out of the scriptures and being confirmed by the constant and continuall practice of the Church in all ages that any professing the Gospell specially being exercised in the study of the scriptures should gainsay and impugne these positions following as erronious 1. That the commandement of sanctifying the Sabbath is naturall morall and perpetuall for if it be not so then all the commandements contained in the decalogue are not morall so should we have nine only and not ten commandements and then Christ should come to destroy the Law not to fulfill it contrary to our Saviours owne words Matth. 5.17 2. That all other things in the law were so changed that they were cleane taken away as the priesthood the sacrifices and the sacraments this day namely the Sabbath was so changed that it yet remaineth for it is evident by the Apostles practice Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Apocal. 1.10 that the day of rest called the Sabbath was changed from the seventh day to the first day of the weeke and so was observed and kept holy under the name of the Lords day 3. That it is not lawfull for us to use the seventh day to any other end but to the holy and sanctified end for which God in the beginning created it for this were presumption to alter Gods appointment and the will and ordinance of the Creator must stand in the use of the creature otherwise the Apostle had not reasoned well for the use of meats from the end of the creation which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving 4. As the Sabbath came in with the first man so must it not goe out but with the last for if the keeping of a day of rest holy unto the Lord bee a part of the morall law as it cannot bee denyed then must it continue as long as the Lord hath his Church on earth and the morall Sabbath must stand till the everlasting Sabbath succeed in place thereof 5. That we are restrained upon the Sabbath from work both hand and foot as the Jewes were though not in such strict particular manner as they were for whom it was not lawful to kindle a fire upon the Sabbath Exod. 35.2 yet in generall wee are forbidden all kind of worke upon the Lords day as they were which may hinder the service of God saving such workes as either charity commandeth or necessity compelleth for it is a part of the morall precept in it thou shalt doe no manner of worke 6. That the Lord would have every Sabbath to be sanctâ—fied by the Minister and the people and that in the Church he ought to preach the word and they to heare it every Sabbath day but not each of these under paine of condemnation as the place is misconstrued is confirmed by the practice of our blessed Saviour Luke 4.16 and of S. Paul Act. 13.14 and 20.7 And hereunto are the Canons of our Church agreeable which require that every Minister preach every Lords day and likewise catechise the youth 7. That the Lord hath commanded so precise a rest unto all sorts of men that it may not by any fraud deceit or circumvention whatsoever be broken under the paine of his everlasting displeasure who doubteth of this but that every breach of any part of the morall law especially by deceit and circumvention deserveth in it selfe Gods curse and everlasting dâ—spleasure as the Apostle saith the wages of sinne is death and the Law saith Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the booke of the law to doe them as the Apostle citeth this text This doctrine of the Sabbath first grounded upon the authority of scripture hath accordingly beene ratified by the constant and perpetuall practice of the Church Origen saith In nostro Dominico die semper pluit Dominus Manna de coelo in our Lords day the Lord alwayes raineth Manna from heaven Hierome Dominicus dâ—es orationi tantum lectionibus vacat upon the Lords dayes they onely give themselves to prayer and reading Ambrose tota diâ— sit vobis oratio vellectio c. nulle actus seculi actus divinitatis impedâ—ant c. Let us all the day be conversant in prayer or reading let no secular acts hinder divine acts let no table play carry away the mind Augustine quomâ—do Maria mater Domini c. As Mary the mother of our Lord is the chiefe among women so among other 〈◊〉 this is the mother of the rest the whole grace of the Sabbath and the ancient festiâ—ity of the people of the Iewes is changed into the solemnity of this day Concil Tullen cap. 19. Oportet eos qui praesunt Ecclesiis c it behoveth those which are set over the Churches upon all dayes but especially upon the Lords dayes to teach the people c. Matisconens 2. cap. 1. Exhibeamus Deo liberam servitutem c. Let us exhibite unto God our free service not because the Lord requireth this of us to celebrate the Lords day by corporall abstinence but he looketh for obedience whereby we treading downe all terrene rites might be raised up to heaven But these allegations are here superfluous seeing there is a learned Treatise of the Sabbath already published of this argument which containeth a most sound doctrine of the Sabbath as is laid downe in the former positions which shall be able to abide the triall of the word of God and stand warranted thereby when other humane fantasies shall
note is too violent that Noah doth not here as God bid him but abstained still from the company of his wife because hee feared lest men might kill one another as Cain did Abel or because he expected another floud the simplicity of the text warranteth no such thing 3. Musculus noteth the obedience in Noahs family that they enter in and goe forth according to Noahs direction 4. Luther observeth also the singular order in the creatures that goe not forth confusedly together but according to their kindes or as the Hebrew word is families every one sorting to his like QVEST. XVI Noah buildeth an Altar not without Gods direction Vers. 20. NOah built an Altar c. 1. Though Noah had no expresse commandement now to offer sacrifice for as Ambrose saith non debuit Deus quasi avarus mercedem gratia postulare it was not fit that God as one covetous should require the reward of thankes yet hee was not without direction in this case Calvins reason is because it is evident that he in this story did nothing without a warrant from God he would not come forth of the Arke though the earth were dry till God bid him Oecolampadiâ—â— proveth it by these words that God smelled a savour of rest but every thing stinketh before God that is not according to his word Wherefore Noah knew by the example and practice of the Patriarkes that God was pleased with this kinde of worship by sacrifices as also he was directed thereunto because to this end there were seven of the cleane creatures taken into the Arke by Gods owne appointment and for the fashion of the Altar which was made either of earth or of unhewen stones whereof first mention is made in this place he had either the patterne from the practice of the elder Patriarks or by instinct from God QVEST. XVII To what end sacrifices were used ANd so offered burnt offerings three reasons are yeelded why the Lord pleased to be served with sacrifices two are alleaged by Chrysostome The morall end was that the piety and devotion of the people might be stirred up by his externall note a politicke end that as circumcision was given as a marke of difference betweene them and other people so the solemne use of sacrifices might containe them in the service of God that they should not be enticed to the Idolatry of the Gentiles by their pompous and magnificent sacrifices A third end was mysticall well touched by Calvin Semper illis ante oculos symbola proponi oportuit c. These sacrifices were as symboles and signes to preach and prefigure unto them their Mediatour and atonement maker Jesus Christ without whom nothing is acceptable to God And further although Noah gave thanks also to God for the preservation of the uncleane creatures as for the cleane yet he offereth onely of the cleane because he had so learned from the Patriarks that God was pleased with such sacrifices before whom otherwise nothing is uncleane but in respect of man and whereas he offered of all cleane both beasts and fowles it is like he tooke of more kindes than those five used in the Law that is Oxen Sheepe with Goats Doves and Turtles Further he offered burnt sacrifices rather than oblations Eucharisticall not as the Hebrewes imagine for his owne sinne but because such sacrifices were most used before the Law and were best accepted when as the whole sacrifice was consumed upon the Altar Mercer QVEST. XVIII How God smelled a savour of rest Vers. 21. GOd smelled a savour of rest 1. As men are delighted with pleasant savours so this service and sacrifice of Noah was pleasing unto God as the Chalde Paraphrast readeth 2. Not that the externall act of sacrificing in it selfe pleased God but the thankfull minde of the sacrificer Calvin 3. All our acts have a double smell one outward before man another inward before God Cain and Abels sacrifice had one outward smell but Abels had a sweet savour beside within Muscul. 4. And this savour herein differeth from all sensible savours for there may be saciety in the most pleasant odours but with this sweet savour the Lord is never filled or wearied but alwayes delighted with the prayers of the Saints Cajetane QVEST. XIX How the Lord will no more curse the earth Vers. 21. I Will not henceforth curse the ground any more for mans sake c. 1. The Lord speaketh not generally of all kinde of cursing the earth for those curses which are upon the earth for mans sinne Gen. 3.17.4.12 are not taken away but he meaneth this particular curse by waters that all flesh shall no more perish by them as is shewed cap. 9.21 for the world notwithstanding shall bee destroyed by fire 2. Where it is added as a reason for the imagination of mans heart is evill c. it is not to be taken as Rupertus collecteth that God will spare the earth and beasts because man is subject to sinne but the promise is made specially for man That seeing hee is by nature subdued to sinne hee is to bee pitied and not for every offence according to his deserts to be judged for then the Lord should continually overflow the world Calvin 3. And whereas this reason is given why the Lord would destroy the world Gen. 6.6 because the imaginations of his heart were evill it may seeme strange that the same cause is alleaged here why from henceforth the Lord would spare the world therefore this is here added to shew the originall beginning of this mercy not to proceed from man who is altogether corrupt by nature but from Gods owne gracious favour Mercer 4. Further whereas it is said God said in his heart this was not only secretly purposed by the Lord not uttered but either revealed to Noah as a Prophet or to Moses the Writer as some Hebrewes but it is cleare that the Lord thus spake to Noah who is said thus to speake in his heart as taking counsell and deliberation with himselfe Mercer 5. From his youth not only from his youthfull estate which age is more prone unto sin committing the same with rage and violence as Tostatus or when man beginneth to have use of reason and free-will as Rupertus But mans thoughts are evill even as soone as he is able to conceive or thinke any thing yea our nature is evill from the cradle Calvin Though as Ambrose well saith crescit cum aetatibus culpa as age groweth so sinne increaseth QVEST. XX. How the seasons of the yeare are promised alwayes to continue Vers. 22. SOwing time and harvest c. 1. The Lord doth not promise that for ever these seasons of the yeare shall continue for after the end of the world they shall cease But all the dayes of the earth that is so long as the earth continueth in this state Muscul. 2. Neither is this to bee understood of every particular Countrey for sometime and in some place it falleth out through
it is most like that Noah was exercised in most excellent workes yet Moses omitteth to speake of them as also of the rest godly succeeding fathers because he hasteth to the story of faithfull Abraham who was diversly honoured of God 1. in being selected to be the father of his people and visible Church 2. hee received the visible signe of the covenant circumcision whereby the people of God should be distinguished from all other 3. to him were given most rich promises both temporall for the possession of the land of Canaan and spirituall concerning the Messiah 5. But whereas it pleased some of the fathers to turne this story of Noahs drunkennesse to an allegory resembling the Jewes to the true vine that Noah planted Christ to Noah that was cast into the sleepe of death by his owne people the Jewes deriding Christ infirmâ—ties and sufferings upon the crosse to C ham scorning his fathers nakednesse I hold it not safe wading without a bottome and therefore I omit these allegoricall applications as mens fancies and so leave them 4. Places of doctrine 1. Doct. Liberty granted to eat flesh Vers. 3. EVery thing that moveth shall bee meat for you Here this liberty to eat flesh is granted to all wherefore for religion sake for we speak not of the prohibition politicall to forbid the eating of some meats infringeth this liberty granted by the Lord. Calvin 2. Doct. The prohibition of not eating of bloud not perpetuall Vers. 4. FLesh with the life thereof Tertullian writeth that in his time it was counted an heinous thing to taste the bloud of beasts but we must know that this prohibition was not perpetuall but for those times the better afore hand to inure them to beare the yoke of Legall ceremonies afterward to be given The Apostles likewise willed for a time the forbearance from strangled and bloud only because of offending the beleeving Jewes but these ceremoniall observations as touch not taste not handle not are now abolished in Christ. Coloss. 2.21 3. Doct. The liberty of marriage generall Vers. 7. BRing forth fruit and multiply Here the liberty of marriage is granted to all this blessing of increasing and multiplying is given to all Noahs posterity of all sorts and degrees wherefore the Papall restraint of marriage in some callings and degrees is contrary to the divine indulgence and permission in this place Oâ—colampad 4. Doct. The word and Sacraments must be joyned together Vers. 12. THis shall bee the signe of my covenant Here wee see the word and the signe or Sacrament goe together first the Lord maketh a covenant and then addeth a signe as a seale thereof for better assurance The Chalde paraphrast interpreteth not amisse this shall bee a signe betweene my word and the earth Wherefore the edifying word must goe before and the Sacraments concurre as seales 5. Doct. In the visible Church hypocrites mingled with the faithfull Vers. 22. WHen C ham the father of Canaan We see that in the visible Church the wicked are mixed together with the faithfuâ—l as in Adams family there was a Caine with an Abel so in Noahs house there is a Cham for a Sem. So the Apostle saith in a great house there are vessels of gold and vessels of silver some of honour some of dishonour The Church of God shall not be purged from all drosse in this life till it be made a glorious spouse without spot and wrinkle in the kingdome of heaven 5. Places of Controversie 1. Confut. No wickednesse to eat flesh Vers. 3. EVery thing that moveth That which God permitteth is lawfull therefore Ovid was deceived that thus writ heu quantum scelus est in viscera condi c. it is a wicked thing in deed with other flesh our bellies to feed How can that be counted a wicked thing which the Lord alloweth 2. Confut. Of negative doctrine 2. WHereas it is a common objection of the Papists that the Protestants doctrine and principles be altogether negative if it were so which to be otherwise is other where shewed at large yet it might be warranted by this place whereas Pererius a man of their owne side though more reasonable than the rest confesseth that there are two precepts given to man and both negative the one morall and perpetuall not to shed mans bloud v. 5. the other ceremoniall and temporary not to eat flesh with the bloud 3. Confut. The covenant belongeth to infants though presently they want Faith Vers. 12. BEtweene me and every living thing to perpetuall generation c. If God make a covenant even with unreasonable creatures that have no understanding it is no sufficient reason to exclude infants from the covenant as the Anabaptists doe because presently they want faith And seeing God made not this covenant only with that present age but with the generations following why should not the covenant of grace be extended also unto infants which are the succeeding generation Calvin 4. Confut. Noahs drunkennesse not without sinne Vers. 21. HE was drunken and uncovered c. Pererius noteth here ebrietatem Noe excusandum est ab omni peccato that Noahs drunkennesse must be excused from all sinne because it was involuntary and proceeded of ignorance for he never is read to have beene drunke againe But this is a very corrupt glosse for admit that Noah was ignorantly overtaken of the force of wine which yet is not sufficiently proved yet ignorance excuseth not aÌ„ toto sed a tanto from all sinne but from a greater sinne the sinne is not adnihilate that is made no sinne by ignorance but onely extenuate made a lesse sin unlesse they will in like manner excuse the incest of Lot from all sin because it was involuntary 2. What though Noah committed not the like afterward no more did Iudas lye any more with his daughter in law Thamar Genes 38.26 yet that did not exempt his unchast action from sinne no more doth this Noahs intemperancy 3. We are not afraid therefore to the glory of God to confesse the infirmities of holy men which the Scripture hath not concealed and wee say with Ambrose Patriarchae nos instruunt non solum docentes sed errantes the Patriarkes instruct us not only teaching but erring 5. Confut. Popish Bishops not the fathers of the Church and therefore may be discovered Vers. 23. BY the example of Sem and Iapheth covering their fathers nakednesse Pererius againe noteth that the like piety should be shewed toward our spirituall fathers the Bishops of the Church as Constantine said that if he should find a Bishop committing adultery hee would rather cover that uncleane act with his cloake than others should be offended c. Ans. 1. True it is that if those popish Bishops which he speaketh of were the fathers indeed and shepherds of the Church such as Constantine meaneth and not rather the Ministers of Antichrist and devourers of the flock their infirmities should be covered Calvin 2. If their
his seed and beleeved they should possesse it in time 2. Abraham had great store of cattell treasure and houshold and of other goods which he gave unto Isaack Gen. 25.5 bestowing onely gifts upon his other sonnes 3. She desired that Isaack might be heire of Abrahams name and bloud as the Lord faith afterward that his seed should be called in Isaack QUEST VII Whether Hagar carried Ismael upon her shoulder Vers. 14. PVtting it upon her shoulder and the childe also 1. It is not like that Ismael being now a youth of twenty yeares old was laid upon his mothers shoulders to beare as the Septuagint read or that Abraham was constrained to binde Ismael with cords and lay him upon his mother for v. 18. she is bid to take him by the hand not to lay him upon her shoulder and whereas shee is said to cast him from her this was done not out of her armes but animo in her mind and affection Augustine Iunius Or taking him into her lap being sicke she after despairing of his health put him from her Mercer whereas also hee is called jeled a childe this word is used not onely of infants but of young men Genes 4.23 and Hierome well noteth that all children are so called in respect of their parents 2. Neither is it here a metaphoricall speech as Cajetane saith that to lay Ismael upon his mothers shoulders was to commit him to her care 3. But the sentence is thus distinguished as the Latine readeth well that whereas there are two words he gave and imposed or layed on this is to be referred to the bottle of water and bread the other to the child 4. As for that conceit of the Hebrewes that Ismael was sicke and through griefe fell into a dropsie or some inflammation which was the cause the bottle of water was so soone spent it hath small ground QUEST VIII What the reason is that Abraham gave Agar and Ismael no better provision HE tooke bread and a bottle of water c. How commeth it to passe that Abraham being so rich a man and loving Ismael so well should send him out with no better provision seeing that they were not to send away their servants empty but to give them a liberall reward of sheepe come and wine Deut. 15.13 1. Cajetane thinketh that by bread and water all other victuals are expressed and that Abraham gave them both servants and cattell being both his father and very rich and so both willing and able neither would he deale worse with Ismael his first borne than with the rest of his sonnes to whom he gave gifâ—s Genes 25.5 sic Cajetan But the Scripture it selfe gain-sayeth Cajetan herein which omitteth not to make mention of the very bottle which Abraham gave to carry the water in then by all likelihood the other gifts or greater value should have beene spoken of 2. Neither need we with Rupertus to seeke out an allegory that by Hagars carrying of water and not wine is shadowed forth the old Synagogue labouring under the literall sense of Scripture 3. Wherefore Tostatus thinketh better that Abraham gave Hagar no more than these necessary helpes in her journey 1. Either because Sarah the dame of the house would have it so whom God commanded Abraham to heare in this case 2. Or for that the Lord had promised to provide and take care for Ismael 3. Or Abraham might afterward remember Ismael with a portion among the rest of his brethren sic Tostatus 4. Or Abraham did thinke to send them a supply afterwards they sojourning not faire off 5. Or Abraham being in griefe and heavinesse for their departure might forget to doe that which otherwise he would have done for it seemeth he did it in haste Calvin Among which reasons I take the first and the last to be most probable QUEST IX How Hagars eyes were opened Vers. 19. GOd opened her eyes c. 1. Not that her eyes were shut before 2. Neither as though this fountaine which the Angel shewed did suddenly breake out of the ground as some think ex Vatablâ— 3. But caused her to see the well which either by reason of her griefe she before regarded not Calvin or she saw it not by reason of the farre distance or for that it was in some hidden place Perer. Thus the two Disciples are said not to have knowne and discerned Christ till their eyes were opened Luke 24. 4. Rupâ—rtus gathereth from hence a further mystery that as Hagar wandring in the wildernesse was brought to see a fountaine of water so the Jewes in the end of the world shall be called and brought to the knowledge of the truth QUEST X. Abimelech rather of feare than love maketh a league with Abraham Vers. 22. ABimelech spake unto Abraham c. 1. Some thinke that Abimelech not of any suspition or jealousie toward Abraham but for love of his vertue and seeing him to be a man prosperous and beloved of God both by reason of the victory given him against foure Kings when he recovered Lot and the honourable congratulation of Melchisedech that met him and now the rate birth of his sonne Isaack for these causes he desired his friendship Pererius 2. But it is more like that Abimelech feared Abrahams greatnesse and therefore of feare rather than love desired to make a league with him Muscul. Calvin for it is no other like but that Abimelech was affected to Abraham as afterward to his sonne that sojourned in the same place and how Abimelechs affection stood toward Isaack the Scripture sheweth Wherefore came yee to me seeing you hate me c. Gen. 26.27 yet Abimelech desireth also to make a covenant of friendship with Isaack QVEST. XI Of the gifts given to Abimelech and the seven lambs Vers. 27. ABraham tooke sheepe and beeves c. Pererius thinketh that no other ceremony was used in making this covenant but only an oath betweene them but this giving of sheep to Abimelech sheweth that some other rite and solemnity was performed Muscul. 2. And hereby Abraham doth acknowledge his homage to the King of the place for though all this land was promised to Abraham yet the time of his actuall possessing it was not yet come 3. The seven lambs were not money stamped with that marke but so many in the kind which Abraham giveth as a price or redemption of his well that he might enjoy it quietly afterward Calvin 4. And these seven lambs did not belong unto the covenant as a rite and ceremony thereof for then Abimelech would not have asked what they did meane v. 29. But they were as an earnest given for the redeeming of the well Perer. 5. Augustine thinketh that Abraham bought with them that parcell of ground where he planted a groave and it is not unlike for before this time Abraham is not sound to have planted any QVEST. XII Of the name and City of Beersheba Vers. 31. WHerefore the place is called Beersheba 1. The word
the age of Ioseph for divers reasons 1. By this it may be gathered how long Ioseph was a servant in Egypt from 17. to 30. yeares the space of 13. yeares whereof 3. he spent in prison the rest in service Mercer 2. But Ioseph for his thirteene yeares service was recompenced with 80. yeares of libertie prosperitie and honour for he lived till he was 110. yeares old which may also be a figure of the everlasting reward of the Saints which they shal receive for their short and momentarie afflictions here Perer. 3. This observing of Iosephs age helpeth towards the Chronologie of Iacob and Iosephs age for hence it is gathered that Ioseph nine yeares after when the seven plentifull yeares were past and two of famine was thirty nine yeares old and Iacob at that time an hundred and thirty yeares old then it will follow that Ioseph was begotten in the 91. yeare of Iacobs age foureteene yeares after his comming into Mesopotamia for Ioseph was borne in the end of the second seventh yeare of Iacobs service so that Iacob was 77. yeares old when hee went first into Mesopotamia Perer. 4. Iosephs age is expressed that it might appeare what wonderfull graces hee had received of God at those yeares of chastitie of patience of pietie of wisdome of knowledge of secrets of policie and government It is said that Iulius Caesar beholding the picture of Alexander in Hercules temple at Gades lamented that hee had done no worthy exploit at those yeares wherein Alexander had conquered the whole world But Ioseph here at the same age of thirty had shewed more true wisdome and vertue than either of them both Perer. 5. Likewise by this president of Ioseph made a governour at thirty wee see that at this age a man is fit for publike imployment David at that age began to reigne Ezechiel then prophesied Ezech. 1.1 Christ began to preach and Iohn Baptist Mercer 6. Lastly Iosephs age is expressed to shew how mightily the Lord wrought with him that the grave counsellers and Elders of Egypt were content to give place to his youth and be advised and ruled by him Calvin QUEST XIIII What food Ioseph laid up where and how Vers. 48. LAid up food in the Cities 1. It is not like that Ioseph gathered of all other fruits and provision as Ramban thinketh but onely of corne for other food could not have beene so well kept and the next verse sheweth that food ochell was gathered namely bar wheat Mercer 2. Iosephs wisdome appeareth that provideth barnes for every Citie that they should not need to travaile farre for food but have it provided at home 3. Where it is said till he left numbring it is like that Ioseph observed order in laying up of the corne and kept a talie of it he numbred it not of curiositie as David numbred the multitudes of his people but in a provident forecast to see what quantitie would suffice for every place Muscul. QUEST XV. Whether indeed Ioseph had forgotten his fathers houses as it seemeth by the name of Manasses formed of the word Nashah to forget Vers. 51. GOd hath made me forget all my labour and my fathers house 1. I doe not thinke with Calvin that this is to be imputed to Ioseph as a fault that would commit to oblivion his fathers house being entangled with this great honour and prosperitie for how could hee forget his father or fathers house unlesse he should together abandon his faith and religion and forget Gods covenant made to his father and his seed 2. Neither doth it helpe the matter to say with some that he did not forget his father but his brethren who are understood by his fathers house 3. Nor yet is this spoken by way of comparison that in respect of this great honour his fathers house his kindred and education was nothing as Mercer 4. But the words doe expound themselves he speaketh of the labour and affliction and great indignitie which he received at his brethrens hand in his fathers house the remembrance and griefe whereof his great preferment and honour in Egypt allayed and mitigated Iun. 5 But whereas it will be demanded if Ioseph had not forgotten his father how came it to passe that he remembred him not all this while nor sent unto him seeing Memphis the kings Citie was not above 40. mile distant from Hebron where Iacob dwelt It may be answered that whether by reason of Iosephs long affliction before in which time he might thinke his father to be dead or in respect of his most busie and troublesome imployment in the 7. yeares of plentie or because he would yet conceale his kinred he might forbeare to enquire after them it was the speciall worke of Gods providence so disposing that his brethren should first seeke unto him and bow before him that his dreames might take effect Mercer Augustine further thinketh that God so disposed that Ioseph all this while sent not to Iacob being not above 300. mile from him that Iacob by this meanes might be exercised with sorrow Voluit Deus isto mode parva peccata Iacob in hoc seculo igne tribulationis consumere God would by this meanes with the fire of tribulation purge Iacobs sinnes in this world ser. 82. de tempor But Augustine is deceived in the distance of Mephis from Hebron which was rather 50. than 300. miles for the Patriarkes could not carrie their corne so farre upon their beasts Thom. Anglicus and Pererius thinke that Ioseph had a revelation how his brethren should come downe to Egypt to buy corn But if this were so it is not like that Moses would have omitted it Theodoret thinketh that God so disposed that Iacob knew not of Iosephs being in Egypt lest he might have redeemed him from thence and so the occasion of the Israelites going downe into Egypt should have beene prevented this opinion and the first I preferre before the rest QUEST XVI When Egypt began to be affamished and what other countries beside Vers. 55. AT the length all the land of Egypt was affamished c. 1. For the first two yeares of famine the dearth was not felt in Egypt because private men might have laied up in store at home for themselves therefore the Latine text is here very corrupt that in the former verse where the true reading is in all the land of Egypt was bread readeth in all the land of Egypt was famine 2. Where the famine is said to be in all lands we must not understand all the countries in the world but these countries next adjoyning which came thither for corne vers 57. and so the Hebrewes especially apply it to be spoken of the countries Phenice Palestina Arabia which doe border upon Egypt 3. Some Hebrewes affirme that Ioseph before he would sell the Egyptians corne moved to have them circumcised and that there was much altercation about it It is like that he circumcised his owne two sonnes and instructed the
considered 1. Such things as went before as The occasion which was their grievous oppression in Egypt chap. 1. The preparation of the instruments of their deliverance of Moses chap. 2 3 4. and Aaron chap. 4. with their message to Pharaoh chap. 5 6. The meanes procuring their deliverance those ten severall plagues which were sent upon Egypt described from chap. 7. to chap. 12. 2. Their deliverance it selfe consisting of their Departure out of Egypt with the manner thereof and institution of the Passeover chap. 12. and their going forward in their journey c. 13. Their passing thorow the red sea with the destruction of the Egyptians chap. 14. Their thanksgiving chap. 15. â— In the constitution of the Church is set forth 1. The provision of things necessarie for them as 1. Their foode chap. 16. and water for their thirst chap. 17. 2. Defence from their enemies as the Amalekites chap. 17. 3. A politike order set for government c. 18. 2. The prescription and promulgation of lawes Morall chap. 20. with the preparation thereunto chap. 19. Judiciall belonging to the policie of the Common-wealth chap. 21. to 24. Ceremoniall touching The sacred things of the Tabernacle chap. 25.27.30 The Tabernacle it selfe c. 26.27 The Ministers of the holy things the Priests and Levites Their institution with their holie garments chap. 28. Consecration ch 29. The workmen and instruments chap. 30. 3. The execution and practice of their people partly in Their disobedience to the Morall law in their apostasie and idolatrie chap. 32. with their reconciliation chap. 33.34 Their obedience concerning the ceremonials Of the people in bringing stuffe to make the Tabernacle and other holy things chap. 35.36 Of the workmen in making all things according to the patterne chap. 36. to 39. Moses in approving the worke chap. 39. and disposing it chap. 40. 3. Certaine generall questions out of the whole booke explaned QUEST I. Concerning the inscription of the booke THis booke is called in Hebrew of the first words velle shemoth that is and these are the names of the Greekes it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exodus of the miraculous going of the Israelites out of Egypt Simler The inscription of the bookes of Scripture is of three sorts for it is taken either from the persons that wrote them as the bookes of Esay Ierem. c. or whereof they be written either in generall as the bookes of Ioshuah and of the Judges or in part as the bookes of Samuel or else from the things entreated of as the booke of Leviticus Numbers c. or of the first words of the booke as Genesis is called of the Hebrewes beresheth in the beginning Leviticus veâ—â—kra and he called c. which are the first words of the text and so also is this booke named as is said before Iun. and the reason of it may be this because where the writer of any booke of Scripture left it without name they of elder time for reverence and religion sake did forbeare to give it any title Simler QVEST. II. Of the computation of yeeres comprehended in the storie of Exodus COncerning the continuance of time and number of yeeres which are comprehended in this booke they are found to be 142. as may bee thus gathered From the death of Ioseph to the birth of Moses are yeeres 60. from the birth of Moses unto the departure of Israel out of Egypt are yeeres 80. chap. 7.7 from the departure of Israel thence unto the Tabernacle erected was one yeere chap. 40.17 Iun. These two latter numbers are certainly gathered out of the Scripture only the first may be doubted of which is thus also warranted all the time of the peregrination of Abraham and his seed in Egypt and Canaan maketh 430. yeeres Exod. 22.40 this time beginneth when Abraham was called out of his countrie and 30. yeeres was run at the birth of Isaack who at 60. begat Iacob Gen. 25.26 who at an 130. went downe into Egypt unto Ioseph Gen. 47.9 who being then 39. yeeres old and dying at an 110. Gen. 50.26 lived after that yeeres 71. then put hereunto 80. yeeres of Moses age all maketh joyning the summes of 30.60.130.71.80 together yeeres 371 there remaineth then the summe of 59. yeeres or 60. to make up the whole summe of 430. yeeres QUEST III. Whether Moses were the writer of this booke NOw that Moses was the pen-man and writer of this booke the spirit of God being the author and inspirer thereof it is diversly evident 1. for Moses testifieth of himselfe that he wrote all the words of the Lord Exod. 24.4 which are contained in this booke 2. The Scripture so divideth the bookes of the old Testament that they were written either by Moses or some other of the Prophets Luk. 16.31 3. Our Saviour alleaging a certaine place out of this booke doth call it the booke of Moses Mark 12. 26. Have you not read in the booke of Moses so also Luk. 20.37 And that the dead shall rise againe even Moses shewed it beside the bush when he said c. QUEST IV. Whether Moses Iudiciall lawes do now necessarily bind the Civill Magistrate BUt whereas in this booke divers both morall ceremoniall and Judiciall lawes are prescribed whereof the two first there is no question but that the one doth bind us still and the other is abrogated only concerning the Judicials of Moses it is controverted whether Christian Magistrates are bound to observe them which Judicials being of three sorts either such which are annexed to the Morall law as the punishment of adulterie and murther and disobedience to parents with death and such like or such as were appendant to the Ceremoniall law as the punishment of those that touched any dead thing or that came neere a woman in her monethly course and such like or such as belonged to the peculiar policie and state of that Common-wealth as concerning the yeere of Jubile the raising up of seed to the brother departed in marying his wife and such like of the two latter there is no doubt made but that the one is abrogated together with the ceremonies whereon they attended the other as proper to that government are now determined only the third kinde of Judicials remaineth about the which great question is made how farre Christian governours are obliged to the same For the discussing of which question 1. I neither am of their opinion which thinke that the Judiciall law is left to the libertie of the Christian Magistrate to adde to it and take from it and to alter it as shall â—e thought fit for the time and manner of the countrey for this were 1. to be wiser than God to leave altogether those directions and rules of justice which he hath set downe and the Apostle saith the foolishnesse of God is wiser than men 1. Cor. 1.25 that which seemeth to be meanest of the Divine orders is farre beyond the wisest humane inventions 2. And there is but one Law-giver
father in law that he might be more willing to let them goe Simler QUEST XVII Of Moses wife and children and of his provision for his journey Vers. 20. THen Moses tooke his wife and his sonnes and put them on an asse 1. Here mention is made of Moses children in the plurall whereas onely Gershom is spoken of before chap. 2. Pellican But Eleazar also was now borne which is the child that Zipporah afterward circumcised the story therefore of the birth of both his children must bee supplied out of the 18. chapter 2. Moses substance was not great nor yet his companie that one asse could suffice to carry his wife and children it seemeth that his abilitie was not such as to provide Camels thus the Lord would use weake instruments Moses commeth not with power honour and riches to deliver Israel but in the name of God as the Prophet Zacharie prophesieth of Christ Behold thy King commeth c. poore and riding upon an asse 3. Moses taketh his wife with him as the Apostles carried about their wives 1. Cor. 9.5 because men are to forsake father and mother to cleave to their wives Sâ—mlerus and Moses would have them also joyned to the people of God Ferus 4. Yet at this time Moses wife and children went not forward into Egypt but by reason of that which fell out by the way about Moses childe his wife being thereby offended Moses sent them backe unto his father in law who bringeth them unto him Exod. 18. Iunius QUEST XVIII Why Moses staffe is called the rod of God Vers. 20. MOses tooke the rod of God in his hand 1. It is called the rod of God not as the Hebrewes imagine because it was foure square the foure letters of the name of God Iehovah being written upon it or because it grew in Iethros orchard and none could pull it up but Moses or because it was sent from heaven but it was so called because the Lord commanded Moses to take it in his hand Pererius and for that thereby the Lord would have Moses to worke miracles Iunius yet not by any vertue in the rod but by the power of God Pellican 2. It was also called Aarons rod because he was the minister but God was the author and worker of the miracles Simler This rod also was a signe of the divine authority of Moses like as Magistrates have their ensignes of office carried before them Pellic. 3. Thus it pleased God who could have wrought by wonders without any visible signes that Moses should use the rod for the more visible demonstration of the power of God yet the Lord useth such meanes which have no power of themselves or likelihood to effect that which is wrought as Naaman was bid to wash himselfe in Jordan our Saviour used spittle and clay to anoint the eyes of the blind David goeth with a staffe against Goliah And this the Lord doth that the worke should not be ascribed to the meanes Simler 4. And hereby also the high spirit and pride of Pharaoh might bee abated and confounded when hee saw so great workes to bee wrought by the contemptible staffe of a shepheard Simlerus QUEST XIX How God is said to harden Pharaohs heart Vers. 21. I Will harden his heart 1. Some thinke that God is said to harden the heart when he deferreth his punishments and so men abusing Gods patience and long suffering are hardened but seeing the hardning of mans heart is one of the greatest punishments that can fall upon man whereas Gods long suffering proceedeth from his mercie and is a great benefit these two cannot agree together that the same thing should be both a punishment and a benefit Simlerus 2. Neither doth it satisfie that God hardeneth by permission and sufferance for if God permitteth either unwillingly then should he not be omnipotent or willingly so should he be accessarie to sinne if permission therefore be opposed to Gods will as though hee should suffer only things to be done and bee as an idle beholder and no doer this distinction cannot be admitted If permitting be taken for not approving or not assisting with his grace so the Lord may be said to permit but then he rather permitteth or suffereth the heart to be hardened than hardeneth it Simlerus 3 Wherefore thus the Lord may bee said to harden the heart 1. By the deniall or withholding his grace as he tooke his good spirit from Saul and the Lord is not debtor to any hee may give his grace to whom it pleaseth him and withhold it at his pleasure 2. God may leave a man to himselfe and give him over unto Satan who worketh upon the corruption of mans owne heart and hardeneth it so an evill and a lying spirit was sent upon Ahabs Prophets 3. The generall power of moving and working is of God but the evilnesse of the action is of mans owne corruption as when the Rider doth cause a lame horse to goe hee is the cause of his going but the horses evill and uneven going proceedeth of his owne lamenesse Simler And like as a good workman using a bad instrument so the Lord worketh by the wicked Borrh. 4. The occasions whereby the heart is hardened through mans corruption doe proceed oft from God as the miracles which Moses wrought whereby Pharaoh became more indurate and obstinate 5. God is to be considered here as a just Judge who punisheth mens former sinnes by their hardnesse of heart as here Pharaoh is judged so the hardning of the heart is of God as it is poena a penalty not as it is culpa faulty Ferus 6. Likewise God is said to harden the heart dispositivè because he disposeth of it and turneth it to such end as shall bee most to his glorie as the Lord ordered the envie of Iosephs brethren in selling their brother and the treachery of Iudas in betraying his Master to the good of his Church and his owne glorie Simler So some things are done in the world simply and absolutely according to the will of God and by it all such good actions Some things are not done absolutely according to Gods will but in respect of a further end for the which the Lord permitteth them to be done as Gods will was that Pharaohs heart should be hardened that God might declare his power in him Exod. â— 16 Borrh. 7. Thus God hardeneth not onely by permitting but in withdrawing his grace and ordering and disposing even mens evill actions to the end which the Lord hath propounded to himselfe and in using the meanes which the corruption of mans heart apprehendeth and perverteth to his destruction so God is the cause of the action of hardning but man is the cause of the sinne Iunius So God hardeneth Satan hardeneth and man hardeneth his owne heart man as the instrument Satan as the worker and efficient God as the supreme Judge overruling every action and disposing of it unto good Borrh. As in a ship man is as
yet this being admitted that some alteration of the tongue then happened yet this sheweth no more that this word Iehovah should not bee pronounced than other Hebrew words but that onely the manner of pronuntiation is changed which thing falleth out in all languages in continuance of time 4. Others thinke that Iehovah cannot be pronounced because the letters whereof it consisteth make no perfect sound 5. But the Hebrewes generally of a superstitions conceit doe forbeare from reading or naming Iehovah even in their Synagogues in the lecture of the Law thinking that holy name thereby to be prophaned and they would prove it by that place Lev. 24. â—6 that he which nameth the name Iehovah should be stoned Contr. 1. That the name Iehovah may safely be pronounced it is evident by this place because the Lord himselfe sheweth a difference betweene his name Iehovah and other names which Moses could not have understood if the Lord had not spoken it Againe if it bee not lawfull to be pronounced neither is it to be written if the Hebrewes doe the one why not the other they themselves doe allow that the high Priest may pronounce it in their solemne feasts in the Temple when they deliver that publike blessing which is prescribed Numb 6.24 Iehovah blesse thee and keepe thee it is not therefore simply unlawfull to utter that reverend name 2. That place alleaged serveth not their turne for beside that the word nakab signifieth as well to pierce through and consequently to curse as to name it is evident that the Lord speaketh not of simple pronouncing the name of Iehovah but of uttering it in contempt and disdaine as there in the next verse before the word Kalal is used which signifieth to curse 6. Wherefore the conclusion is this that wee grant the name Iehovah not in respect of the letters but of that which is thereby signified the nature and essence of God to be ineffable Againe it may be so called in some sense because this reverend name is not communicable to any creature And thirdly in that it is not to be prophaned or unreverently used and upon light occasion but in grave and weightie matters any of these wayese we confesse the name Iehovah to bee ineffable but not in their sense as though it were impietie at all to pronounce it and that in the very reading of the Scripture we should forbeare to name it but to pronounce some other word in stead thereof Simler QUEST VII How the Lord was not knowne to Abraham Isaac and Iacob by his name Iehovah Vers. 3. BBut by my name Iehovah was I not knowne unto them 1. Some thinke that the Lord spake not at all unto Abraham Isaac Iacob by the name Iehovah but that Moses using that name in writing the storie of Gen. spake according to his time Osiander But this cannot be admitted for then whereas the Lord is brought in saying to Abraham I am Iehovah Genes 15. if the Lord did not there give himselfe that name then he should be made to speake otherwise than he did And againe whereas Abraham giveth this name to the mountaine Iehovah ijreh the Lord will see or provide Moses should write an untruth if that Abraham had not indeed so called it 2. Some other thinke that the meaning is that God had not shewed his power before in working of such wonders and miracles as he did by the hand of Moses Paulus Burgens Rupertus But beside that the Lord here saith that he had shewed himselfe unto them by his name Shaddai that is omnipotent and so mightie in workes it is evident that as great miracles were wrought before as the taking up of Henoch the drowning of the whole world the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone the turning of Lots wife into a pillar of salt 3. Some thinke that by this speech is insinuated the great increase of the knowledge of God which was more fully revealed to Moses than to Abraham Isaac and Iacob and afterward was greater in David and so the neerer they came unto the times of the Messiah and the Apostles excelled all that went before them in knowledge sic Gregor and Glâ—ss interlinear But this seemeth not to be the proper meaning for then it might as well be said to David that his times compared with Moses God was not knowne to Moses by his name Iehovah 4. Others doe thus interpret that God had not to any of them declared the meaning of this name Iehovah as he did to Moses Exod. 3. where he calleth himselfe Eheje which aâ— which is the sense of the name Iehovah which signifieth the essence and being of God and beside the Lord did more fully reveale his glorie unto Moses than unto any other Prophet Numb 12.8 He shall see the similitude of God Lyran. Cajetan Thostatus But if this were the meaning then neither afterward unto the other Prophets should the Lord have beene knowne by the name Iehovah seeing Moses in respect of cleere illumination hath the preeminence before all Prophets before or after But that cannot bee seeing God was revealed unto other Prophets by that name 5. Oleaster thus expoundeth i. That whereas Shaddai may be derived either of shadad which signifieth to spoyle or pray upon or of shad which signifieth the â—eâ—tes and so consequently plentie and Iehovah is taken either from the roote Havah to be or rather of Hovah which signifieth destruction as Ezech. 7.26 God was knowne to the fathers both in giving them plentifull graces and spoyling their enemies to bestow on them as he tooke from Laban and gave unto Iacob but now he began to be knowne by that name Iehovah in destroying Pharaoh and the Egyptians c. But beside that Oleaster in deriving of the name Iehovah dissenteth from all other his collection is not generally true for God had before shewed his power in destroying the wicked and ungodly as in the floud and in the overthrow of Sodome and Gomorrah 6. Wherefore the best interpretation is this that whereas the name is taken often for the thing signified by the name as Act. 1.15 The number of the names that were in â—ne place were c. i. the number of men and Rev. 3. I have a few names in Sardis So here the name Iehovah is taken for God himselfe Perer. Then whereas the fathers did beleeve in God as omnipotent and all sufficient able to effect his promises which they possessed onely in hope but saw them not fulfilled Now the Lord will performe unto Israel whatsoever he had promised to their fathers in delivering them from their enemies and giving the land which he sware unto their fathers that hee would give unto their seed as the Lord himselfe saith unto Moses vers 7 8. and thus will he be knowne by his name Iehovah which signifieth being of himselfe for so of God in him through him and for him are all things Iun. Simler QUEST VIII Why the genealogie of Reuben Simeon
the heart fat the eares heavy and to shut the eyes Isai. 6.10 all which phrases doe imply an action and operation it is evident that God some wayes concurreth either directly or indirectly negatively or positively by way of working or giving occasion in the hardning of the heart QUEST XV. God otherwise hardeneth then by way of manifestation BUt yet God doth more than by way of manifestation harden the heart as some doe expound it that the Lord hardned Pharaohs heart which interpretation Augustine toucheth quâ—st 18. in Exod. that is by his plagues and judgements declared how hard it was 1. For in this sense God might bee said to commit any other sinnes when he doth manifest them and bring them to light 2. And though this exposition might serve here yet it faileth in other places as Deut. 2. it is said that God hardned the heart of Sehon King of the Amorites and Iosh. 10. that God hardned the hearts of the Canaanites and Rom. 9. God hath mercie on whom he will and whom hee will hee hardneth In these places it cannot be so expounded that God hardned that is declared their hearts to be hard QUEST XVI God hardeneth the heart not only by permission SOme doe expound it by way of permission because those that are hardned God depriveth of his grace and leaveth them to themselves So Damascen Ista non 〈◊〉 Deo agente accipienda sunt sed ut Deo permittente these sayings as God shut up all in unbeleefe and God gave them the spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see are not to be taken as though God did them but permitted them So likewise the ordinarie glosse in 4. Exod. Indurabo cor Pharâ—onis i. indurari permittam I will harden the heart of Pharaoh that is suffer it to be hardned So also Chrysostome Tradidit in reprobum sensum nihil aliud est quam permisit He gave them up to a reprobate sense it is nothing else than that hee permitted it as a Captaine leaving his souldiers in the midst of the battell may be said to deliver them into their enemies hands in Epist ad Roman Cajetane to confirme this interpretation sheweth how sometime in Scripture that is called a precept which is permitted as when Matthew said chap. 19.8 Moses for the hardnesse of your heart suffered you to put away your wives Marke hath Moses for the hardnesse of your heart wrote this precept unto you chap. 10. But although this be most true that God suffereth such to continue in their hardnesse of heart yet this is not all 1. For so the Lord suffereth also other sinnes to be done for there is nothing done in the world nisi omnipotens fieri velit vel sinendo ut fiat vel ipse faciendo unlesse the omnipotent God will have it done either by suffering it to be done or doing it himselfe Then if this were all the Lord might be said as well to steale and such like because he suffereth them to be done 2. Wherefore Augustines judgement is rather here to be received Deum ad indurationem cordis concurrere non modo secundum permissionem vel secundùm patientiam sed etiam secundùm actionem potentiam non sane per quem fiat immediatè duritia ipsius cordis sed per quem multa fiant à quibus peccator vitio suo concipiat duritiam corâ—â—â— That the Lord doth concurre in the hardning of the heart not only by permission or suffering but according to his power and action not by the which immediately the hardnesse of the heart is made but whereby many things are done by the which a sinner by his owne corruption doth conceive the hardnes of heart 3. And concerning the place alleaged out of Marke a precept is not there strictly taken for a commandement but for any order or decree that is written QUEST XVII Whether hardnesse of heart be of God as it is a punishment of sinne SOme doe hold because the induration of the heart is two wayes to be considered as it is a sinne and a punishment of sinne in the first God hath no part but as thereby God punisheth former sinnes so he as a just Judge inflicteth hardnesse of heart as a punishment as the Apostle sheweth Rom. 2.28 As they regarded not to know God so God delivered them up to a reprobate mind And 2. Thess. 2.11 Because they received not the love of the truth God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve lies In these places the Apostle sheweth how the Lord punisheth them with blindnesse and hardnesse of heart because of their former sinnes This distinction is approved by Augustine lib. 5. cont Iulianum Isidorus thus concludeth the same point Facit Deus quosdam peccatores sed in quibus talia jam peccata precesserant ut justo judicio ejus mercantur in deterâ—us â—re Therefore God maketh some sinners but in whom such sinnes are found before that by the just judgement of God they deserve to become worse and worse So Cajetane upon these words 2. Sam. 12. Behold I will raise evill upon thee out of thine owne house which was verified in Absolon that rose up against his father thus resolveth Deus non est author peccati ut sic sed ut est poena peccati God is not the author of sinne as it is sinne but as it is the punishment of sinne The same judgement he giveth of Shemei whom David saith the Lord bid curse David that God wrought that Shemei cursed David Non quatenus erat peccatum sed quatenus erat poena peccati Davidis Not as it was sinne but as it was a punishment of the sinne of David So Ioâ—senius Illa Deo tribuuntur non quatenus peccata sunt sed quatenus poena peccati they are ascribed to God noâ— as they are sinnes but as they are the punishment of sinne in chap. 15. Ecclesiastic But Pererius misliking this opinion thus reasoneth against it 1. If God be said to be the Author of the induration of the heart as it is a punishment of sinne then he may aswell be said to be the Author of the other sinnes when as a man falleth into them as a punishment of his former sinnes Contra. As though all such sinnes doe not proceede from the hardnesse of the heart that confirmeth and setleth the sinner in his wickednesse therefore God is not said to be the cause of these sinnes but of the hardnesse of heart which is the cause of those sins Man by continuing in sin hath his heart hardned by the just judgement of God and then out of the hardnesse of his owne heart he bringeth forth other sinnes of himselfe 2. The hardnesse of heart as it is a great and horrible sinne so it is a punishment of former sinnes if God then doe cause it to be a punishment he also causeth it as it is a sinne Contra. In this argument there are ambiguous termes for in the first clause this
way sufficed for the whole host of Israel so many divisions had beene superfluous 3. This dividing of the tribes into severall quadrants had beene discommodious unto them for both they had no time to doe it the Egyptians so eagerly pursuing them and beside it would have weakned them to have beene divided into so many parts 4. And by this meanes they could not all have had Moses to bee their guide to goe before them which would have beene a dismaying unto them if the host had beene quartered out into so many parts And of this opinion that they all went one way thorow the Sea are Thostatus Lyranus Cajetane Ex Perer. QUEST XV. Which of the tribes first entred into the red Sea BUt this being made manifest that all the host of Israel went together the same way there is another doubt which of the tribes went first 1. Hierome upon the 12. of Hoshea saith that the Hebrewes doe hold that the tribe of Iudah entred first and that thereupon that tribe deserved to have the principalitie over the rest according to the prophesie of Iacob Genes 49.10 and to this purpose they alleage the words of the Prophet which they translate thus Iudah a faithfull witnesse descended with God into the Sea and is faithfull among the Saints Hosh. 11.12 But in this translation somewhat is added for in the Originall there is no mention at all of the Sea and the rest is corruptly translated for the word ghâ—dh signifieth here not a witnesse for then it should be ghedh but adhuc yet and the other word radh commeth of rudh to rule not of jaradh to descend so that this is the right translation of the words Iudah yet ruleth with God that is though Ephraim were fallen away from God yet Iudah continued upright and stedfast in the worship of God 2. Lyranus reporting the same opinion of the Hebrewes saith that they also affirme that Aminadab the Prince of Iudah was the first that went downe into the Sea and that the rest being animated by his example went in after him to which purpose they cite that place Cantic 6.11 My soule troubled me because of the chariots of Aminadab as the Latine readeth or My soule set me as the chariots of Aminadab as the Septuagint which they say had relation to Aminadabs valiant marching into the Sea before the people But the word amminadib is here no proper name but is taken for the willing people for the proper name Amminadab is all one word Numb 7.11 but here are two and the proper name is written nadab with chametz but here nadâ—b with jod some doe translate it the chariots of the noble Vatab. Montan but then it should be nedib it signifieth the willing people as Psal. 110.3 and the meaning is that the Church with her willing people maketh haste as being set upon chariots to come unto Christ. And further it is not to be thought that there were any chariots among the Israelites but that all went a foot the Lord leading them as sheepe after him 3. Therefore it is most like that the first which went into the sea was Moses himselfe for he was neerest unto the Sea when he stretched his hand over it and beside it was the part of a good Captaine in such extremitie to goe before his people to incourage them Iosephus also thus writeth hereof Moses primus progreditur hortatus Hebraeos ut alacriter sequantur per viam divinitus datam Moses first goeth forward exhorting the Hebrewes cheerfully to follow by the way which the Lord had made lib. 2. antiq Iud. cap. 7. QUEST XVI Whether the Israelites went thorow the middest of the red Sea or onely a part of it Vers. 22. THen the children of Israel went thorow the middest of the Sea 1. Some thinke that the Israelites did not goe thorow the Sea in the breadth thereof to the other side but fetched a compasse like a semicircle and arrived on the same side againe beyond the mountaines of which opinion are the Hebrewes to whom Thostatus consenteth using these reasons to confirme his opinion 1. The Egyptians bodies were cast up upon the shore where the Israelites arrived for they could not see them on the other side over all the breadth of the Sea but the Egyptians were neerer to their owne shore when they were drowned going into it but late in the night after the Isaaelites now the Sea useth to cast up things at the next shore 2. Againe it was after midnight when the Hebrewes went into the red Sea and about the morning were the Egyptians drowned in the space of five or sixe houres it is not like that the Hebrewes could goe all the breadth of the red Sea 3. This further appeareth that the Israelites returned to the same side againe because they pitched in the desert of Ethan when they went into the Sea and went three dayes journey in the â—ame desert of Ethan after they came out of the Sea Numb 33.8 which desert of Ethan is also called the desert of Sur Exod. 15.22 4. If they had gone over the red Sea they should have beene forced to have come over the Sea againe to gâ—t into the land of Canaan for they were further off from Canaan on that side toward Arabia than on the other toward Egypt and the red Sea did not bound the land of promise on the West but onely toward the East as the land is described and confined from the red Sea to the Philistims Sea Exod. 23.31 Contra. But these reasons may easily be answered 1. Though it be admitted that the Egyptians were neerer their owne coasts when they were drowned than the other side yet by the tempest and course of the water which came against them they might be and were carried to the other side for Cajetane well observeth that the Egyptians when their chariot wheeles were taken off fled away from Israel and fled against the waters that returned upon them vers 27. the violence of the waters then did drive them to the other side wherein Gods speciall worke also is to be seene that to the comfort of his people would have the Egyptians bodies cast up in their fight whereas usually bodies being drowned doe sinke in the waters and flote not 2. The Israelites were above five or six houres in going over the Sea they went all the night aâ— is shewed before quest 14. neither were they all passed over when the Egyptians were drowned as is shewed vers 29. for the Israelites walked on still 3. The desert of Ethan is so called on both the sides of the Sea both where the Israelites entred and where they arrived as Lyranus thinketh they were two deserts of the same name and Iunius well thinketh that both that desert on Egypts side is so called and where they travelled afterward when they had gone over Annot. cap. 13. v. 20. Ethan is not the same with the desert of Shur which bounded the Ismaelites countrie Gen.
which should come of the stocke of Iesse and of the graft that should grow out of his root Isay 11.1 who should make our bitter waters sweet as he saith Come unto me all that labour and I will refresh you Borrh. 3. It signifieth also that our bitter afflictions by faith are made easie and pleasant which remaine bitter sowre and tart Nisi fide adhibeamus ad lignum crucis Christi Vnlesse we doe apply by faith the wood of Christs crosse that iâ— beleeve in his death Osiander So also Augustine Praefigurans gloriam gratiam crucis It prefigured the glory and grace of the crosse 4. This further sheweth what wee are by nature and what by grace by these bitter waters the Lord would bring to light Amaritudinem quae in eorum cordibus latebat the bitternesse which lay hid in their hearts Calvin By nature therefore our waters that is our thoughts and all our actions are bitter but they are washed and purified by grace and faith in Christ. QUEST XLIII What law and ordinances the Lord here gave his people Vers. 25. THere he made them an ordinance and a Law 1. The Hebrewes thinke that this Law here given them was concerning the Sabbath which in the next Chapter is confirmed and established where they are forbidden to gather Manna upon the Sabbath But the law of the Sabbath was more ancient for immediately after the creation the Lord sanctified the seventh day of rest to bee perpetually observed and kept of his Church And it is not to be doubted of but that the Israelites kept the Sabbath in Egypt as may appeare by the institution of the Passeover wherein both in respect of the number of the seventh day prescribed to be an holy convocation and by the manner of keeping the same in resting from all servile worke Exod. 12.16 there seemeth to be relation to the rest of the Sabbath and seventh day which they were already acquainted with after the ensample whereof they should keepe the seventh day of unleavened bread 2. Lyranus thinketh that these were certaine ceremoniall Lawes as of the red cow prescribed afterward at large Num. 19. and other rites of legall purifyings as also some judicials But this is only his conjecture without any ground the first Law that was given the people after they came out of Egypt was the morall Law and before this it is evident that there were certaine ceremoniall rites and judiciall equities kept by the Fathers so that this was not the first time and place that they received such things 3. Simlerus is of opinion therefore that such ceremonies and rites as were preserved and continued by tradition from the Fathers were here by the authority of God confirmed that they should not take them as grounded upon custome only but warranted and commanded by God But it seemeth by the phrase He set them an ordinance that they received an ordinance not given them before and seeing that the Lord intended shortly within the space of little more than a moneth as may be gathered chap. 16.1 and chap. 19.1 to give them Lawes and ordinances in mount Sinai there appeared no such necessity to prevent that time and place 4. Pellican understandeth the Lawes and ceremonies which were given afterward in mount Sinai Eo loci sed non jam tunc About that place but not at that time But neither about that place were the Lawes given which were delivered in mount Sinai for betweene Marah and the desert of Sinai they had six stations or mansions as they are numbred Num. 33. from verse 9. to vers 16. And this Law here mentioned was given at this time while they stayed in Marah where they proved and tried their faith and obedience as the next words shew 5. Some thinke that the Lord here gave them Lawes Non scriptura sed ore ut justè viverent not in writing but by word of mouth that they should live uprightly Ferus And what Lawes they were is not here expressed Osiander But to what purpose should a Law be given not written that the people might alwayes have it in remembrance 6. Therefore what this Law and ordinance was is here in the next verse expressed where the Lord moveth the people to the obedience of his Lawes with promise to bee their protector in keeping them from the plagues and diseases of Egypt Iun. So that the Lord in this place dealeth two wayes with his people Postquam aqua penuria illos examinavit verbo etiam admonuit After he had tried and examined them with the want and penury of water hee doth also by his Word admonish them to be more obedient Calvin QUEST XLIV Why the Lord at this time gave his people a Law NOw why the Lord gave them this Law and ordinance in Marah the reasons may be these 1. Because the people a long time having beene in bondage were not used to the Lords yoke they might have said then with the Prophet Isai. 26.13 Other Lords beside thee have ruled us therefore Hoc populo longa servitute oppresso forte iâ— dissuetudinem venerant Because the people by their long servitude might perhaps have growne to a disuse the Lord giveth them a Law Simler 2. The Lord in thus doing Pactum cum patribus factum renovat Doth renne the covenant made with their Fathers Pellican Hee doth give them a Law to put them in mind of the ancient covenant made with their forefathers 3. The Lord taketh occasion by this present benefit in providing of them water in their distresse to take triall of their obedience Postquam aquae penuria examinavit populum After he had examined them with the penury of water Calvin Which might serve as a preparative to move them to obedience 4. Because they were a carnall and disobedient people they had need of a Law to bind them Carnales enim cancello legis indigent For carnall men had need to be held in by a Law Ferus As the Apostle saith The Law is not given to a righteous man but to the lawlesse and disobedient 1. Tim. 19. 5. The Lord here giveth them a Law to shew what was the end of their deliverance and redemption out of Egypt not to live as they list but to walke in obedience before God Populum docet ne ex servitute liberati ad carnis libidinem deflectat He teacheth the people lest they being delivered out of bondage should turne unto the lust of the flesh Pellican 6. And beside the Lord would by this meanes Paulatim populum jugo legis adsuefacere By little and little acquaint his people with the yoke of his Law which he was purposed to deliver more fully in mount Sinai Osiander So also Simler and Borrh. QUEST XLV Who is said here to tempt him ANd there he â—â—oved him 1. Some doe understand this of the people that they should tempt God and in that sense it is understood two wayes either that they tempted God after he had given
of God as the Lord by his Prophet saith They worship mee in vaine teaching for doctrines the commandements of men as our Saviour citeth the Prophet Maâ—kâ— 7 5. Places of confutation 1. Confut. Against uncertainty or doubtfulnesse of salvation Vers. 13. THou wilt carry thy people But in the Hebrew it is â—achitha thou hast carried Propter certitudinem fidei sic de futuris loquitur ut de praeteritis For the certainty of faith hee so speaketh of things to come as already past Ferus As S. Paul saith By his mercy he saved us Tit. 3.6 whereas yet we are not saved but are assured of our salvation by faith in Christ This then sheweth the absurdity of popish doctrine that counteth it presumption for any man to be assured of his salvation 2. Confut. Against the Maniches Vers. 25. ANd there he proved him The Maniches upon the like place where the Lord is said to tempt Abraham thus objected Egone Deum colam qui tentat shall I worship a God that tempteth These Maniches rejected the old Testament and the Author thereof they made two beginnings one of evill the other of good two chiefe Princes the one of darknesse to whom they ascribed the old Testament the other the Prince of light whom they held to be the Author of the new Testament Sâ— displiceat tibi Deus tentans displiceat Christus tentans If God displease thee because he tempteth then must Christ also displease thee because he is said also to tempt As he said to Philip Whence shall we buy bread that thâ—se may eat Ioh. 6.5 then it followeth This he said to prove or tempt him for he himselfe knew what he would doe Christ is said to prove him that is to see what he would say so Deo tentante id quod occultum est proditur God tempteth that what is hid may bee bewrayed Deus tentat ut dâ—ceat and God tempteth to teach and instruct August de tempore serm 7â— See before quest 50.51 3. Confut. Against free will Vers. 26. IF thou wilt give eare unto his commandements These and the like places are urged by the Romanists to prove freewill as Esay 1.19 If yee consent and obey yee shall eat the good things of the land upon these and such other places they argue thus If it bee in our power to performe these conditions then have wee free will if not to what end are they propounded Bellarm. lib. 5. de grat cap. 19. Contra. This argument consisteth upon a disjunctive proposition These places either shew free will or else they are propounded in vaine First therefore I answer that according to their collection these places as well shew that a man hath power of himselfe to keepe the Commandements as that hee hath free will But this S. Paul denieth and thereupon hee concludeth that every one that is of the workes of the Law is under the curse because they cannot keepâ— it Secondly these places being urged in their sense doe as well conclude that a man of himselfe without grace may keepe Gods commandements for if a man cannot performe them wholly of himselfe the same question remaineth why they are propounded to him that cannot keepe them Thirdly And yet though it bee not in mans power to keepe these commandements they are not in vaine for they serve as spurs to incite and stirre us up to obedience and to strive unto perfection and to labour to goe forward But S. Paul sheweth the onely sufficient reason why the Lord gave the Law to bee a Schoolemaster to bring us unto Christ Galath 3. And Augustine writeth excellently of this point Non ob aliud superbis data ista praecepta sunt quam ut in suis viribus deficientes in quibus confidebant liberatoreâ— requirerent These precepts were for no other cause given to the proud people than that failing in their owne strength wherein they trusted they should seeke for an helper and deliverer Contra Celestin. de perfectione justitiae 6. Places of Morall Observations 1. Observ. Against vaine confidence in strength or riches Vers. 4. HIs chosen captaines were drowned also in the red sea Notwithstanding their great power nobility favour with the King skill in feats of warre the Lord being mightier than they and a greater man of warre was able to confound and overthrow them this sheweth that no man should put confidence in his nobility power riches Ferus As the Prophet saith Ierem. 4.23 Let not the wiseman glory in his wisdome nor the strong man glory in his strength neither the rich man glory in his riches c. 2. Observ. The enemies of the Church are the enemies of God Vers. 7. THou hast overthrowne them that rise against thee They which are enemies unto the Church the Lord holdeth them to be his enemies they which rise against his people doe set themselves against the Lord as the Lord Jesus said to Saul Why persecutest thou me Simler They then which oppose themselves to the Church and people of God doe bid battell to the Lord himselfe and hee will take their cause in his owne hand and maintaine it 3. Observ. Sinne presseth downe to hell Vers. 10. THey sunke as lead in the mighty waters Sinne is heavy and presseth downe yeâ— it weigheth downe to hell Examinemus ergo nos per poenitentiam ne deprimamur gravitate pecâ—atorum usque in profundum Let us therefore examine our selves by repentance lest wee bee pressed downe with the weight of our sinnes into the deepe Ferus So the Apostle exhorteth That wee should cast away everything that presseth downe and sinne that hangeth on so fast Hebr. 12.1 4. Observ. Not to give over to goe on in our calling notwithstanding the unthankefulnesse of men Vers. 24. THen the people murmured against Moses and he cried unto the Lord. Moses notwithstanding the peoples murmuring goeth on in his calling and leaveth not off to pray for them though they were a very stubborne and ungratefull people this teacheth the servants of God to goe on with courage in their calling notwithstanding the evill acceptance in the world of their labours Ministers must looke for small thanke at the hands of men for their paines nor yet must such as labour either by preaching or writing to propagate the knowledge of the truth looke for their reward among men nay it ought to be a comfort unto them that they find not their reward here for it is a sure signe that a greater reward is laid up for them in heaven As the Lord saith by his Prophet Ieremy Râ—fraine thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from teares for thy worke shall be rewarded Ierem. 31.16 As Moses here prayeth for a murmuring and unthankfull people the like doth Samuel God forbid that I should sinne against the Lord and cease praying for you but I will shew you the good and right way 1. Sam. 1â— 23 5. Observ. Obedience the best remedy against sicknesse Vers. 26. IF thou wilt keepe all his
conspectu Dei c. The Saints doe eat and drinke in the sight of God and all that they doe they doe in his sight And so the Apostle saith Whether ye eat or drinke or whatsoever ye doe doe all to the glory of God 1. Cor. 10.31 4. Obs. Diligence is required in a Magistrate Vers. 13. THe people stood about Moses from morning to even Moses singular diligence and paines is here set forth in attending upon the causes of the people Audiant hoc delicusi Indices nostri qui vix ad horam c. Let our delicate Iudges heare this which scarce indure an houre to heare their suiters causes Diligence in the charge commited to us is sweet unto God and good to our selves Come thou good and faithfull servant will God say to the Magistrate as well as to the Minister Enter into thy Lords joy B. Babington 5. Obs. Iudges and Magistrates specially must be men fearing God Vers. 21. FEaring God c. The feare of God is a vertue most necessary in Judges for hereupon hang all vertues Abraham thinking that the feare of God was not in Gerar despaired of any other vertue there to be found Gen. 20. B. Babington 6. Obs. Good counsell is to be received at any hand Vers. 24. SO Moses obeyed c. In quo mite modestum ingenium declarat c. Wherein Moses sheweth a milde and modest disposition not to refuse to receive wholesome counsell at any mans hand Marbach As the Apostle saith Set up them which are least esteemed in the Church 1. Cor. 6.4 Good counsell proceeding even from simple and meane people is not to be despised The end of the first booke THE SECOND PART OF THIS BOOKE OF EXODVS Containing THE HISTORIE OF THE Constitution and setling of the people of Israel after their deliverance out of Egypt in their state Ecclesiasticall and Civill by Lawes morall ceremoniall politicall WITH THE OBEDIENCE AND disobedience of the people thereunto divided into two Bookes THE FIRST SHEWING THE PRESCRIPTION of those Lawes to chap. 30. The second the practice and execution thereof unto the end of Exodus THE FIRST BOOKE SHEWING THE PRESCRIPTION and promulgation of the foresaid Lawes VERITAS †FILIA †TEMPORIS LONDON ¶ Printed by the Assignes of THOMAS MAN PAVL MAN and IONAH MAN 1633. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE HIS SINGVLAR GOOD LORD SIR THOMAS EGERTON Lord Ellesmere Lord Chancellor of England and of his Majesties most honourable privie Councell RIght Honourable there is a saying That nothing so soone wâ—â—eth old as thankes for a benefit received This imputation of unthankfull oblivion might justly fall upon mee if having occasion to use my penne I should in silence passe over your Honour I cannot therefore forget your Honourable favour and bounty which I have some yeeres past felt and found The eye better seeth the object removed in equall distance from it than when it is put close unto it so a thankfull heart will as well consider of a benefit after as at the first time when it is received I hate flattery neither have I used to fawne upon great men in praising above desert or blazing their names whom their vertues commend not yet I hold it as great a wrong not to ascribe praise where it is deserved as it is follie to give it where it is not due It is a good saying It is seemely to give incense unto God and praises unto good men for the praise of the instrument redoundeth to him that handleth it and the industry of the Minister commendeth the skill of the chiefe worker and the acknowledging of the gifts and graces of men setteth forth the praise of God that giveth them This therefore I cannot conceale that I have found your Honour the greatest respecter and only rewarder of my poore travels and labours This I speake not as though wee which by preaching and writing keepe the watch-tower against the enemy ought to make the reward of the world the end and scope of our paines taken in the world I hold it Pharisaicall to doe any thing for the praise or recompence of men This is sufficient for the servants of Christ that their Lord hath promised Thou shalt be recompenced at the resurrection of the just I am of his minde that when one had said It is an excellent thing for a man to obtaine all that he desires made this answer Multò majus est non desider are eâ— quibâ—â— nibil indiges But it is a greater matter not to desire at all the things which thou needest not But this I have mentioned to note by the way the strange humour of this age that of all presents least esteemeth bookes and vilipendeth no gift as it doth the fruits of Scholars studies I have read that the women among the people called Iberi did use every yeere to shew publikely their spinning worke and that she was most honoured which in the judgement of the men had laboured most If the Spinsters of these times which spinne and weave garments not with Dorcas to cloathe the body but with Paul to adorne the soule were had in such regard we should have more spinners and better worke Such bookes I confesse as feede mens fansies and breed wanton delight are had of some in price when graver treatises are set light by as one of Terentius Comedies called Eunuchus was valued at eight thousand peeces of money which make two hundred crownes more than all Tullies Orations and other his learned workes were esteemed at But the choice of bookes should bee as the choice of Physicians Medicus non jucundior sed utilior eligitur A man will have a Physician rather profitable that can doe him good than pleasant to feede him with words Such difference there is in bookes they which please the eare doe flourish with leaves but such as instruct the minde doe yeeld the fruit the one as a song of Musicke that endeth with the sound the other as wholsome physicke that worketh after it is gone the bookes of the one are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Commentaries to instruct the other are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Commemoratives of mens folly Now what should be the reason why bookes of Divinity are so much at many hands contemned and treatises of vanity so highly commended may easily be conjectured for as Diogenes being asked why men used to give unto the blind and lame but not unto Philosophers made this answer Because they may thinke they may one day become blind and lame themselves but never hope to be Philosophers So mens affections being blind and lame and their phantasies vainly bent must needs delight in vaine and lame pamphlets which feede their humours and cannot brooke that which would purge them But leaving to complaine of that which I cannot helpe I cannot but commend that which I heare and have my selfe found that your Lordships respective care in preferring freely men of desert a rare president in
particular persons God is said to have done it and not the Angels as it is said God prepared a worme to smite Ionas gourd Ion. 4.7 Therefore this observation also of Tostatus is untrue 4. But this evasion he hath that if the name of God be used and not of the Angels in such small and particular workes it is for the confirming of those that be weake but they which are weake because they cannot ascend at the first or comprehend the majesty and omnipotency of God had so much the more need by the secondary ministration of Angels to bee brought unto that high and deepe apprehension of God And indeed the ministry of Angels serveth especially for the comfort and supporting of the weake whose faith not serving them immediatly to depend upon God are the more easily brought to have confidence in him by the subordinate deputation and ministry of Angels So when Daniel was in great distresse and perplexity in the lions denne God sent his Angell to stop the mouth of the lions and to comfort Daniel Dan. 6.22 So when Ioseph was doubtfull what to doe concerning Mary an Angell of the Lord appeared unto him in a dreame to confirme him saying Feare not to take Mary for thy wife Matth. 1.20 5. That instance of Iakobs vision of the ladder directly proveth that it was God that appeared unto Iakob and not an Angell 1. Because it is said that Iehovah stood upon it and said by which name of Iehovah no Angell is called in Scripture 2. He that speaketh to Iakob nameth himselfe the Lord God of Abraham 3. He that speaketh is but one but the Angels which ascended and descended were many 4. He saith The land whereon thou sleepest will I give thee and thy seede but the earth is only the Lords 5. Iakob himselfe saith that Iehovah was in that place Gen. 28.16 6. 1. The people were but yet weake while they were in the wildernesse yet then and there that great worke of leading and keeping the people and bringing them to the land of Promise is ascribed to an Angell which was none other but Christ the Angell of Gods presence Exod. 23.20 2. Yea wee shall finde that mention is made oftner in the stories of the Patriarkes and first Fathers of Israel as in the bookes of Genesis and Exodus when they were yet as it were in their infancy of the apparition and ministry of Angels then afterward for it was fit that they should be confirmed by such visible and sensible meanes therefore this reason here alleaged by Tostatus holdeth not 3. And in that place whereof instance is given by Angel is understood some Prophet and man of God not any of the celestiall spirits because the place is named from whence he came from Gilgal and hee is said to ascend or goe up but Angels descend from heaven and it is not unusuall in Scripture to call Prophets the Lords Angels as Hagg. 1.13 and Apocal. 2. and 3. chapter thorowout QUEST XXI Whether it were Iehovah the Lord Christ or an Angell that came downe upon mount Sinai 7. BUt that it was Iehovah himselfe the Lord Christ that appeared in mount Sinai and talked with Moses and gave them the law it is thus proved 1. Because he is called Iehovah which name is never in Scripture given unto Angels 2. Hee saith vers 5. Though all the earth bee mine but the earth is the Lords Psal. 24. not the Angels 3. The Lord here maketh a covenant with his people vers 5. But God himselfe not the Angels make a covenant with men to bee his people And so the Lord saith hee was an husband unto them Iere. 31.32 but Christ and not the Angels is the husband of the Church behold the Church is not the spouse of the Angels but Christs 4. He which writ the Law in tables of stone was the same that gave the Law to Moses but those tables were written by the finger of God Exod. 3â— 18 the same finger that writeth in the fleshy tables of mens hearts Ierem. 31.33 2. Cor. 3.2 5. S. Paul saith it was ordained by Angels in the hand of a Mediatour Gal. 3.14 The Angels attended as ministers and as the Lords instruments were used in those thunders and lightnings But the Lord himselfe the Mediatour both of the old and new Testament was there present as the Author of the Law as Moses saith The Lord came from Sinai c. he came with ten thousand of Saints and at his right hand a fiery Law for them Deut. 33.2 6. He that wrought those wonders in Egypt and carried the people as upon Eagles wings was the same that delivered the Law vers 4. But Iehovah himselfe did the first for many of the wonders in Egypt could not be done by any but the Lord as in converting and changing of one substance into another as of a rod into a Serpent of water into bloud of the dust into lice And so much Tostatus himselfe confesseth Fiâ—â—ant talia portenta quae nullus poterat facere nisi Deus Such wondrous things were done which none could doe but God So it was Iehovah himselfe that did leade the people thorow the red Sea and destroyed the Egyptians as chap. 14.24 Iehovah looked unto the hoast of the Egyptians out of the fiery and cloudy piller who is before called the Angell of God vers 19. which was the Lord Christ called the Angell of the covenant Malach. 3.1 So chap. 15.14 Iehovah brought the waters of the Sea upon them And further that Iehovah himselfe conducted the Israelites is evident Exod. 33.15 My presence shall go with thee And yet the Lord saith Exod. 23.20 Behold I send an Angell before thee to keepe thee in the way but what Angell this was is expressed afterward my name is in him This great Angell of the covenant in whom was Gods name and his presence who else could it be but the Lord Christ the Iehovah And that God himselfe appeared unto the Patriarkes and Prophets and not the Angels onely it is evident Numb 12.8 where the Lord saith Vnto Moses I will speake mouth to mouth c. he shall see the similitude of the Lord and the Apostle witnesseth that he that is Moses endured at he which saw him which is in visible Heb. 11.27 Not that Moses did see the very glory and substance of God who is invisible and whom never man saw nor can see 1. Tim. 6.12 but he saw only his backe parts Exod. 33.14 that is some part of his glory as the Lord thought good to reveale according as Moses was able to apprehend And that in this place it was Iehovah himselfe that came downe in Mount Sinai beside these reasons before alleaged it is the generall opinion of Divines both old and new Gregor Nyssen Praecepit Deus populo per Moseâ— ut tam corpore quam animo mundus fierit God commanded the people by Moses that they should be cleane both in body and soule Hierom.
not yet gone downe to the people and therefore not within their hearing 4. Rupertus saith Moses securum Deum reddere voluit divina inharens visioni That Moses being desirous to continue there still to see that heavenly vision would have put the Lord out of doubt for that matter But this had beene to make himselfe wiser than God to give him securitie in that which the Lord himselfe made question of 5. But it is most unlike that Moses should find fault with this charge as somewhat hard and that in effect he should say thus Si non licet eis ascendere audire te quis ergo audiet If it be not lawfull for them to ascend and heare thee who then shall heare thee Hugo de S. Victor 6. Moses therefore replieth not as discontented with this charge but seeing that the Lords commandement was so generall and so strict that no not the the Priests were exempted he is therefore desirous to be satisfied whom it was the Lords pleasure to admit to come up into the mount and so the Lord presently giveth Moses satisfaction herein giving â—nto him and Aaron onely liberty to come up Iun. QUEST XLI Why the Lord not withstanding Moses answer still chargeth him to go downe Vers. 24. ANd the Lord said unto him go get thee downe 1. Tostatus thinketh that this replie of the Lord is a correction of Moses answer Videbat enim Deus quod Moses non videbat For God saw that which Moses did not see that is that it was needfull for him to goe downe and charge the people againe but the mentioning of Aaron afterward whom Moses spake not of before sheweth that the Lords speech was not a correction but rather a satisfaction given unto Moses 2. Cajetane saith Imperfecta responsio Aaron â—utila meruit non admitti The imperfect and lame answer of Moses deserved not to be admitted for Moses in his answer neither maketh mention of the Priests nor of the punishment both which the Lord had spoken of But Moses was not refused here of God he received satisfaction of his doubts 3. Therefore it appeareth by the Lords answer unto Moses giving him and Aaron onely libertie to come up that the Lords intendment was to satisfie Moses in that behalfe who seemed to make question upon the Lords straite charge whether any should be admitted to come up at all and therefore the Lord telleth him that though the people and Priests were inhibited yet it should bee lawfull for him and Aaron to come up Iun. 4. So here two other reasons may be gathered why Moses is sent downe from the hill the one that Moses should goe downe Vt sit unus de populo andiendo legem To be as one of the people to heare the law among the rest and that he should bring up Aaron with him Cajetan QUEST XLII Why Aaron is bid to come up with Moses wherefore he went up and when Vers. 24. COme up thou and Aaron with thee c. 1. This was not that comming up when Moses went to receive the Lawes of God for then not onely Aaron but Nadab and Abihu and 70. of the Elders went up also chap. 24. 2. Neither did Moses and Aaron goe up together when the ten commandements were delivered by voyce for then Moses was below and not farre off from the people for then they could not have spoken to Moses as they did immediately after the delivering of the Law chap. 29.19 3. Nor yet did Aaron goe up with Moses into the top of the mountaine into the middest of the darknesse for thither Moses onely went up leaving Aaron and Hur behind to heare the peoples controversies chap. 24.14 4. Therefore Moses and Aaron went up to some place of the mountaine not to the top but as it might be to the middle not far from the people from which place Moses might heare the people calling unto him Tostat. 5. The Lord thought it fit to joyne Aaron with Moses because he was appointed to the Priesthood that he might be better prepared by those heavenly visions and revelations unto it Simler 4. Places of Doctrine 1. Doct. One faith one Church of the beleeving Iewes and Gentiles Vers. 6. YOu shall be unto me a Kingdome of Priests S. Peter applieth this Scripture which is here uttered by the Lord to the people of Israel to the faithfull and beleeving Gentiles Ye as lively stones be made a spirituall house and holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifices unto God acceptable to God by Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 Whereby we see that there is Vna Iudaeorum Gentium credentium fides unus Deus una Ecclesia One faith of the beleeving Iewes and Gentiles one God one Church Ferus 2. Doct. The occasions and beginnings of sinne to be prevented Vers. 12. GOe not up to the mount nor touch the border of it God forbiddeth them so much as to touch the very border and bottome of the mount that they should have no occasion to goe up So Eve was forbidden to touch the tree that shee should not be enticed to eat the fruit thereof Gen. 3.3 And the Israelites were charged to have no leaven in their houses that they might the better abstaine from the eating thereof So our Saviour forbiddeth the wrath of the heart and the lust of the eye lest being tempted by such occasions men should fall into greater sinnes It is good therefore to cut off the occasion of sinne and to set an hedge before and to make markes and bounds in every action which wee should not exceed Oleaster 3. Doct. The giving of the law a figure of the comming of the holy Ghost Vers. 16. THe third day there was thunder and lightnings The giving of the law in mount Sinai was a lively figure of the comming downe of the holy Ghost upon the Apostles 1. As there the law was given the 50. day after the Passeover so Quinquagesimo die post passionem Domini datus est spiritus sanctus The fiftieth day after the passion of our Lord who is the true Passeover the holy Ghost was given 2. There the law is said to be written with the finger of God and the Lord saith of the holy Ghost By the finger of God I cast out devils 3. They which were with the Apostles 120. Mosaica atatis numero constituti were 120. according to the number of Moses yeares Isidor 4. Hic altitudâ— coenaculi ibi cacumen montis c. There the upper roome and here the top or upper part of the hill doe shew the height and depth of the precepts delivered 5. Here was thunder there was the noise of a mightie wind here fire appeared and there fierie cloven tongues here the mountaine trembled and there the place where they were gathered together was moved here was heard the sound of a trumpet and there they spake with divers tongues Beda hom vigil Pentecost 6. Yet this difference there was in these two apparitions Here
considered why it pleased God to give now his law unto his people seeing from the beginning of the world there was no written law but as it was by the law of nature inprinted in their hearts 1. God did not therefore now first give unto his people the Morall law written as though he were either mutable in changing his first determination or that in processe of time he had found out a more profitable way than hee knew before as some wickedly have objected Sed quia superfluâ—â—â— fuit hoc fieri stante adhuc lege natura But because this was superfluous and needlesse to be done the law of nature yet standing firme By the light of nature before the floud they discerned good from evill just from unjust and therefore the old world that sinned against this law of nature was justly punished of this law printed in the heart the Apostle speaketh They shew the effect of the law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing them witnesse and their thoughts accusing one another or excusing Rom. 2.15 Now then when this law of nature began more and more to bee obscured and iniquity to abound the Lord thought it needfull to give unto the people a written law Lippom. Ex collation Patrum 2. Another cause of giving the law was Ne sibi homines aliquid defuisse quererentur scriptum est in tabulis îquod in cordibus non legebant Lest that men should complaine that somewhat was wanting that was written in tables which was not written in the hearts August in Psal. 57. Therefore to take away all excuse and pretext of ignorance the Lord gave his written law 3. Another end of giving the law was to prepare and make a way for the Gospell Vt te ad faciendum legem de tuo vires non habere monstraret c. To shew that thou hast not strength of thy selfe to doe the law and so being poore and beggerly shouldest flee unto grace Augustine likewise in Psal. 118. 4. Further the law was given as a supply of the weakenesse and ignorance of man that whereas there was no certaine rule before to know what was good what was evill but men according to their blind fansies and carnall imaginations placed happinesse some in one thing some in another the law was to correct their erroneous opinions and to teach one constant and sure rule of truth and vertue And further such was their errour that though in civill and politike matters the wise among the Heathen by the light of nature and experience attained to some perfection yet they were utterly ignorant of the true knowledge and worship of God which is set forth in the law Tostat. quest 1. 5. Further because the law of nature was more and more obscured the Lord would have his law written in tables of stone that it might ever be kept and remembred and be no more drowned in oblivion Ferus And though those tables of stone wherein the law was written are not now to be found yet the copy of the same law is extant in the Scriptures there to be seene and read which shall continue to the end of the world 6. Lastly The Lord in giving this law to this people therein sheweth his love to his people committing unto them the greatest treasure in the world as Moses saith What nation is so great that hath ordinances and lawes so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day Deut. 4.8 QUEST VII How the Lord spake all these words and why Vers. 1. GOd spake all these words saying 1. Some thinke that God is said to speake whereas it was an Angell in respect of the opinion of the people that thought Moses spake with God Paul Burgens But it is before shewed chap. 19. quest 40 that it was God himselfe that spake these words who nameth himselfe Jehovah vers 2. which name is not given to any Angell yet this word also is said to have beene spoken by Angels Hebr. 2.2 because God did therein use the ministry of the Angels in framing of that audible voice which was heard So that the Angels speake not now as in the person of God as his messengers as at other times but here they attended only as Ministers Longe aliter hic loquitur quà m ad patres adhuc locutus est the Lord speaketh farre otherwise here than hee spake hitherto to the Fathers Ferus But to them hee spake by the ministry of Angels This question also is well decided by Cajetane You will aske saith he how God is said to speake Cùm ista locutis fieres per Angelum c. Seeing this speech was framed by an Angell The answer is ready Quia ipse Dominus loquebatur in Angelo ad populum c. Because the Lord himselfe spake in the Angell to the people not as the King speaketh by his Embassador or Interpreter Sed ut presens mens in Angelo formans verba hujus sermonis magis quam Angelus But as present in the Angell and so framing the words of his speech rather than the Angell So Cajetane So that God spake as the Author and enditer the Angell spake as the tongue or pen-man of God 2. The Hebrewes have this opinion that this was that great Angell of such eminency Vt citra essentiam Divinam Angelus faciei nominetur that setting the Divine essence aside he is called the Angell of Gods presence Isay 63.9 Paul Burgens addition 1. Nay this Angell of Gods presence that heard them when they cried in their troubles and saved them as there the Prophet saith was none other than Iehovah himselfe the Lord Christ as S. Paul expoundeth 1. Cor. 10.9 Let us not tempt Christ as some of them tempted him and were destroyed of Serpents And in this Angell was the very divine essence of God as the Lord saith Exod. 23.21 My name is in him 3. Burgeus Reason to prove that it was an Angell and not God himselfe that spake because he saith in the third Commandement Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine in the third person not in the first as Thou shalt not take my name in vaine and so likewise in the fourth Commandement Which sheweth saith hee that it was an Angell that spake and not God This reason is of small force and may easily be answered 1. The Lord useth the third person because although now the Lord as present in Majesty spake by voice yet this law was to bee delivered afterward written in tables of stone which being a perpetuall monument unto the people of the Lords will was more fitly expressed in the third person because the Lord would no more in like manner as now deliver the law with his owne mouth 2. Beside in the first and second Commandement the Lord useth the first person Thou shalt have no other Gods before mee and I am the Lord thy God a jealous God 3. And further it is observed to be an Hebraisme and an
the 10. So Pelacherus Pelargus Iunius in his Analysis somewhat differeth the first table he subdivideth thus that it prescribeth first the worship of God who is to be worshipped in the first and after what manner in the second 2. The profession of this worship in the third 3. The meanes belonging to the worship of God in the sanctifying of the Sabbath and the religious exercises thereof The second table he likewise divideth thus into speciall duties in the 5. common duties in the 6 7 8 9. and into the roote and spring of all the concupiscence of the heart in the 10. Now of all these divisions I have made choice to follow Vrsinus and Pelatherus in the first and Iunius in the second table as is set downe before in the method and argument of the chapter QUEST X. Whether foure Commandements or three only belong to the first table IT followeth as we have seene the division of the whole law and of the number of the precepts in generall so to consider of the number of the particular commandements to be assigned unto each table The opinion of the Romanists is that there are but three Commandements to the first table putting the two first into one and seven to the second dividing the last Thou shalt not covet into two So Tostat. quaest 2. Ferus with others and of this opinion is Augustine quaest 71. in Exod. Some other doe make five Commandements in each table as Iosephus lib. 3. de Antiquit. cap. 6. But this opinion is confuted before And beside Iosephus reason is nothing for he thinketh that the two tables being written both within and without that two Commandements and an halfe were written of a side for the foure first Commandements will take up more roome and space in writing than all the six of the second table This opinion is ascribed to Hesychius in his Commentary upon Leviticus that rejecting the fourth Commandement of the Sabbath yet he maketh foure in the first table and six in the second but if the fourth Commandement be excepted there will bee but nine in all for these Commandements as they were delivered here by the Lord himselfe are called the ten words Exod. 32.28 The common and received opinion is that foure Commandements teaching our duty toward God are to be referred to the first table and six to the last So Origen hom 8. in Exod. Nazianzen in Carmin Chrys. hom 49. in Matth. Oper. imperfect Zonaras tom 1. Hieron in cap. 6. ad Ephes. And Ambrose upon the same place Sulpitius Severus lib. 1. histor sacra Ex Simler Vrsin Procopius also holdeth this precept Thou shalt make to thy selfe no graven image to be the second So also Rupertus lib. 3. cap. 32. Now the reasons to strengthen this opinion against the first which the Romanists follow are these 1. Because those precepts which differ in sense and matter are divers and not one such are the first Thou shalt have no other Gods c. and the second Thou shalt make no graven image for one may offend in the first as they which worship the Sunne and Moone and yet make no graven image and some may transgresse in the second and not in the first as the Romanists themselves which worship graven images and yet we will not thinke so hardly of them that professedly they would make other Gods So then the matter of these two Commandements being divers as the first shewing who and none other is to be worshipped the second in what manner they must be two precepts and not one 2. The distinction which Moses maketh is to be observed the last Commandement of not coveting the neighbours house and wife are joyned in one verse as shewing but one Commandement but these two are severed in two verses which sheweth a division and distinction of the precepts the matter also differing for otherwise in the fourth Commandement there are divers verses but the agreement in the matter sheweth that they all belong unto one precept 3. The last Commandement which they divide into two shall be proved afterward when we come to that place to be but one whole and entire Commandement and this one reason shall suffice in this place because Moses repeating this last precept Deut. 5.21 doth put in the first place Thou shalt we covet thy neighbours wife which is here placed in the second so that if they were not all one Commandement it would be uncertaine which should goe before the other As for the reasons of the contrary opinion they are of no value Augustine would have but three precepts in the first table to expresse the Trinity but the beleefe of the Trinity is commanded in the first precept directly and therefore need not bee insinuated in the number Another reason is because man oweth three things unto God fidelitatem reverentiam cultum fidelity reverence worship Lyraâ— As though worship also includeth not reverence Ferus maketh other three the first precept requireth us to worship God in heart the second to confesse him with the mouth the third to acknowledge him in our workes All this being acknowledged that this must bee yeelded unto God yet another precept must of necessity goe before as the foundation of the rest that wee must acknowledge but one onely true God QUEST XI Whether all Morall precepts as of loving of God and our neighbour be reduced to the Decalogue NExt followeth to bee considered whether all Morall duties may bee reduced unto these ten Commandements 1. It will be objected that they are not because there is no mention made in the Decalogue of the love of God and our neighbour therefore all Morall precepts are not thither referred To this 1. Thomas answereth that these precepts are written in the heart by the law of nature that God and our neighbour are to bee loved and therefore they needed not to bee given in precept Contra. By the same reason then they needed not to be mentioned in Scripture at all if they were so manifest by the law of nature yea the grounds of all the Morall precepts are printed in our nature and yet the Lord thought it necessary to write them in his law 2. Burgensis answereth thus that like as in speculative artes and sciences they use to proceed from knowne and manifest conclusions and principles to those which are more obscure So the Lord propoundeth his law in the easiest and plainest precepts as in the second Commandement It is easier to abstaine from idolatry than from other kindes of superstition and in the sixth a man will abhor murder which cannot so soone decline all other wrongs and injuries These precepts of loving God above all and our neighbour as our selfe because they were hard and difficult the Lord would not propound them at the first to a rude and ignorant people but reserved them till another time when the people were growne more able and strong as in that 40. yeere in the wildernesse then Moses beginneth to explaine this law
offend against this precept Qui Christi cognitione carent quae cognitio non alia re quà m fide in Christum constet Which want the knowledge of Christ which knowledge consisteth in nothing else than in faith in Christ. Marbach Commentar in hunc locum Against this opinion that faith in Christ is not commanded in the Morall law the reasons follow afterward but first the question must further be explaned 1. First then we are to distinguish of faith which is of foure kindes or sorts 1. There is fides initialis or fundamentalis the faith of beginnings or the fundamentall faith whereof the Apostle speaketh Hebr. 11.6 That he which commeth unto God must beleeve that God is c. And this kinde of faith toward God the Apostle referreth to the doctrine of beginnings Heb. 6. 1. This faith apprehendeth onely the being and essence of God to know him to be the only Lord. 2. There is another faith called fides miraculorum the faith of miracles touched by the Apostle 1. Cor 13.2 If I had all faith so that I could remove mountaines 3. There is fides historica an historicall faith which beleeveth all things to bee true that are written in the Scriptures in which sense S Iames saith The Devils beleeve and tremble they beleeve there is a God and that all is true which the Scripture speaketh of God of his justice power punishing of sinners rewarding of the righteous 4. There is beside these a justifying faith whereof S. Paul maketh mention In that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Sonne of God who hath loved me and given himselfe for me Galath 2.20 This faith is the life of the soule whereby hee which beleeveth is able in particular to apply unto himselfe the merits of Christs death Now this is the difference betweene these foure kindes of faith the first apprehendeth the essence and being of God the second the faith of miracles his power the third which is the historicall faith his truth the fourth namely the justifying faith his mercie The three first to beleeve God to be to beleeve him to bee omnipotent to beleeve him to be just and true are included in the first precept Thou shalt have no other Gods c. but not the last wherein is the errour of the Romanists that make all these kindes of faith the same in substance differing only in property which if it were true then it were possible for them that have the one faith to have the other and so Devils also which in some sort doe beleeve should also be capable of justifying faith But this matter that all these kindes of faith are not the same in substance nor of like nature with the justifying faith is shewed elsewhere whither I referre the Reader 2. Further we are to distinguish of the law for it is taken sometime more largely either for all the Scriptures of the old Testament as Luk 16.17 It is more easie that heaven and earth should passe away than that one title of the law should fall So Ioh. 15.25 It is written in their law they have hated mee without a cause which testimony is found in the Psalmes Psal. 35.19 or else the law is taken for all the bookes of Moses and so the Law and Prophets are named together Matth. 7.12 This is the Law and the Prophets But the law is sometime taken more strictly for the Morall law whereof the Apostle speaketh Rom. 7. I knew not sinne but by the law and so S. Paul opposeth the law of workes to the law of faith Rom. 3.27 Now as the law is taken generally either for all the old Scriptures written by the Prophets or for the writings of Moses it cannot be denied but that faith in Jesus Christ is in this sense both contained and commanded in the law for of Christ the Lord spake by the mouth of his Prophets Luk. 1.70 And Moses wrote of Christ as our Saviour saith Had yee beleeved Moses yee would have beleeved me for Moses wrote of mee Ioh. 5.45 But as the law is taken strictly for the Morall law the law of workes which containeth only the ten words or Commandements so we deny this justifying faith to bee commanded in the law 3. Indirectly or by way of consequent it will not bee denied but that this faith also is implied in the law because we are bound by the law to beleeve the Scriptures and the whole word of God for this is a part of Gods worship to beleeve his word to be true and so some define faith Est certa persuafio qua assentimur omni verbo Dei nobis tradita It is a certaine perswasion whereby wee give assent to all the word of God Vrsin And so by this precept wee are bound to receive all the promises and doctrines concerning Christ delivered in the old and new Testament But directly as a part and branch and so a worke of the law wee deny justifying faith to be in this precept or any other prescribed or commanded The reasons are these 1. The Morall law and the Gospell differ in the very nature and substance for the one is naturally imprinted in the heart of man the other is revealed and wrought by grace The first the Apostle testifieth where he saith The Gentiles which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law Rom. 2.14 The other also is witnessed by the same Apostle Rom. 2.24 We are justified freely by his grace The argument then may be framed thus The morall law is graft in the heart of man by nature but faith in Christ is not by nature but by grace above nature for if it were naturall all men should have faith which the Apostle denieth 2. Thessal 3.2 Faith then in Christ belongeth not to the law Therefore it is strange that Bellarmine confessing in another place that pracepta decalogi sunt explicationes juris natura that the precepts of the decalogue are the explications of the law of nature Lib. 2. de Imaginib Sanctor cap. 7. could not inferre hereupon that the precepts of faith and of the Gospell are no explications of the law of nature and therefore have no dependance of the morall law Ambrose useth this very argument Nemo sub lâ—ge fidem constituat lex enim intra mensuram ultra mensuram gratia Let no man place faith in the law for the law is within the measure and compasse of nature but grace is beyond measure Ambros. in 12. Luc. 2. The effects of the law of works and the law of faith are divers for the one worketh feare the other love and peace as the Apostle saith Ye have not received the spirit of bondage to feare againe but yee have received the spirit of adoption whereby we crie Abba Father Rom. 8.17 Againe the Apostle saith The letter killeth the Spirit giveth life 2 Cor. 2.6 Thus then the argument standeth the same thing cannot bee the instrument of
lawes which were instituted before Moses are immutable and perpetuall but such was the institution of the Sabbath Answ. The proposition is not true for the fathers before Moses used to offer sacrifices Circumcision was given to Abraham even from the beginning there was a difference betweene cleane and uncleane beasts and yet all these being types and figures of things to come are abrogated by Christ. Simler 3. Object The lawes given before mans fall in the state of his innocencie could bee no types of the Messiah being not yet promised and therefore they doe bind all Adams posteritie such was the sanctifying of the Sabbath Answ. 1. Such lawes the ground whereof was printed in the soule of man in the creation as are all morall precepts are perpetuall but not all in generall given unto Adam as was the prohibition to eat of the tree of life Vrsin 2. But it may be further answered that the Sabbath was not instituted before mans fall for he is held to have fallen upon the sixth day the same day wherein he was created as it is at large handled in that question upon the 3. of Genesis 3. This law of sanctifying the Sabbath in substance remaineth still though the ceremonie of the day be changed 4. Object The keeping of the Sabbath is called an everlasting covenant Exod. 31.16 it is therefore to remaine for ever Answ. 1. So Circumcision is called an everlasting covenant because they were to continue till the comming of the Messiah and so long as the Common-wealth of Israel continued to them it was perpetuall but now their state being dissolved the covenants made with them are expired also Simler 2. It is called everlasting in respect of the signification and substance thereof our rest in Christ and so it remaineth still and shall for ever as the Kingdome of David in the Messiah shall never have end Vrsin 5. Object The reason and cause of the law is immutable namely the memoriall of the creation therefore the law it selfe also and seeing the knowledge of the creation is necessarie so also is the symbole and monument thereof the celebration of the seventh day Answ. 1. The cause or reason of a law being immutable the law it selfe also is immutable if it bee so tied unto the law as that it cannot stand if the law be changed but so is it not here for the creation may as well be remembred upon another day as upon the seventh Vrsin 2. All the sacrifices and ceremonies of the law were symboles and signes of necessary things as Circumcision the paschall Lambe of the Circumcision of the heart and of the Messiah which things remaine still but the symboles are abolished Simler Now then that Christians are not bound unto the Jewish Sabbath it is evident by these reasons 1. By the doctrine of the Apostles Galath 4.10 You observe dayes and moneths times and yeares I am in feare of you lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vaine and by name S. Paul speaking of the Sabbaths saith They were shadowes of things to come but the bodie is in Christ Coloss. 2.16 2. The Apostles by their example shewed that the Jewish Sabbath was determined for they began to keepe the first day of the weeke Act. 20.7 and 1 Cor. 16.2 3. All types and shadowes were but to continue untill the bodie came which was Christ but the Sabbath was one of those shadowes 4. The Sabbath was a note of cognizance and a worke of distinction and difference betweene the Israelites and other people which difference and partition is now taken away in Christ for now there is neither Jew nor Grecian but all are one in Christ Galath 4.28 Ex Vrsin In Gregories time there were Qui die Sabbati aliquid operari prohiberent which did prohibite to doe any worke upon the Sabbath or Saturday whom he refelleth thus Quos quid aliud nisi Antichristi praedicatores dixerim c. whom what else should I call than the preachers of Antichrist who when he commeth shall cause both the Sabbath and the Lords day to be kept without doing any worke for because he shall faine himselfe to die and rise againe hee shall cause the Lords day to be had in reverence and because he shall compell them unto Judaisme he shall likewise command the Sabbath to be kept And thus he concludeth Nos quod de Sabbato scriptum est spiritualiter accipimus c. We spiritually observe that which is written of the Sabbath for the Sabbath signifieth rest Verum autem Sabbatum Redemptorem nostrum habemus and we have our Redeemer and Saviour our true Sabbath 2. Cont. Against the Iewes carnall observing of the Sabbath BEside this that the Jewes would enforce upon us their Sabbath they have another errour in the manner of keeping their Sabbath which they solemnize in taking their ease in eating and drinking and giving themselves over to all pleasure and licentiousnesse for as Burgensis reporteth of them The Jewes thinke they are bound upon every Sabbath to eat thrice that is one dinner and two suppers and in so doing they shall escape the punishment of hell Burgens addition 4. Contra. 1. Thus their forefathers kept an holy day to the golden Calfe in eating and drinking and rising up to play God will not be so served 2. The way to Paradise is a strait and narrow way by many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdome of heaven not eating and drinking and taking our pleasure 3. Augustine saith Quanto melius foeminae eorum lanam facerent quà m in neomeniis saltarent How much better might their women spinne than dance in their new moones Tract 4. in Ioan. 4. Chrysostome also thus proveth that the Sabbath is not â—tii but spiritualis actionis materia not an occasion of idlenesse but of spirituall exercise because the Priests were by the law upon that day to offer double sacrifice but if it were a day of ease Oportebat Sacerdotem omnium maximè otium agere it was meet that the Priest most of all should take his ease then Concion de Lazaro 3. Cont. Of the Iewes superstition in the precise and strict keeping of the Sabbath rest AGaine the Jewes were superstitiously addicted to the corporall rest which they would not breake upon any occasion as our Chronicles doe make mention of a Jew that being fallen into a jakes refused to be taken out thence upon their Sabbath day and the next day being the Lords day the Governour would not suffer him to be pulled out upon that day because it was the Christians Sabbath and so the wilfull Jew there perished Of the like strictnesse were some among the Christians in keeping of the externall rest upon the Lords day therein imitating the Jewes as Gregorie in the fore-cited place writeth how some did forbid any to wash themselves upon the Lords day whom he thus confuteth 1. Si pro luxu animi ac voluptatis quis lavari appetit c. If any man
noteth upon that place in Luke that we are not bid onely to hate our fathers and mothers c. but even our owne life and soule also Nihil est homini anima sua conjunctius tamen nisi etiam hanc oderis c. Nothing is neerer to a man than his owne soule yet if thou doest not hate this also for Christ thou shalt not be rewarded as one that loveth him Homil. 36. in Mat. QUEST XII How farre children are bound to obey their parents NOw then it is evident how farre our duty is extended to our parents 1. Though they bee froward and perverse and endued neither with vertue nor wisdome or any other good qualities yet they must be reverenced and relieved as our parents and the reason thereof is that conjunction whereby they are joyned unto us by nature Hanc conjunctionem alia attributa non tollant This conjunction cannot be taken away by any other attributes but seeing by Gods providence they are our earthly parents and so instruments of our outward life wee must honour them as herein obeying the will and pleasure of God and submitting our selves to his providence Simler 2. But wee must so farre obey them as that wee disobey not God our heavenly father and so the Apostle doth limite our duty and obedience to our parents Children obey your parents in the Lord Ephes. 6.1 So Chrysostome Si habes patrem infidelem obsequere ei c. If thou hast an unbeleeving father obey him but if he would draw thee into the same pit of infidelity wherein hee is plus dilige Deum quâ—m patrem quia pater non est animae then love God more than thy father for he is not the father of thy soule but of the flesh therefore render unto every one that which belongeth unto him Carnalibus patribus praebete carnis obsequtum c. Unto carnall fathers yeeld carnall and outward obedience but unto the father of spirits reserve animae sanctitatem the holinesse and freedome of the soule Homil. 26. in Matth. Our duty then unto God being alwayes excepted in all other things wee must obey our earthly parents though they be evill and wicked for officium à personis discernendum c. the office and calling must be discerned from the persons wee may hate their vices and yet because of Gods ordinance honour their calling Vrsinus QUEST XIII At what age it is most convenient for men to marry to get children TOstatus here hath a politicke and wise consideration that because children are to honour their parents not only in giving them outward reverence but in helping and relieving them in their old age when as the aged parents cannot provide for themselves that parents should neither marry too soone nor yet stay too long but beget children in the middle and strength of their age as Aristotle would have men to take them wives about 37. yeeres of age lib. 7. politic c. 15. For if they should marry at 14. or 15. yeeres they themselves being yet but young and wanting experience are scarce able to provide for themselves much lesse for their children and for the same reason if they should deferre their marriage till their old age as to 65. yeeres or thereabout neither they growing impotent by their age can discharge the part of fathers in the education of their children and their children cannot bee of any growth in time to succour and relieve their aged parents But if they take the middle age of their strength both these inconveniences will be prevented for both they shall be sufficient for strength of body and mind to take care for their children and they also will bee attained to perfect growth and strength to helpe their parents in their age Tostat. qu. 17. QUEST XIV Whether the reciprocall duty also of parents toward their children be not here commanded AS children are here commanded to honour their parents so the reciprocall duty of parents is required toward their children for although expresse mention be made onely of honour to be given to parents and superiours yet the other also is included for seeing God tribuit eis nomen etiam tribuit eis rem doth give them the name of parents he doth also give them the thing and if he would have them reverenced with due honour his meaning is also they should doe things worthy of honour Vrsin Neque enim veri sunt parentes qui labores negligunt For they are not true parents indeed which doe neglect their children Basting And seeing the Scripture doth in many places urge and prescribe the duty and care of parents in bringing up their children this morall duty should altogether be omitted and so the Law of God should not be perfect if it were not comprehended in this precept Calv. QUEST XV. Wherein the duty of parents consisteth toward their children THe care then of fathers toward their children consisteth in these three things in their education in providing all things necessary for their maintenance and life in their instruction and institution and in due and moderate correction and castigation S. Paul toucheth all these three together thus writing Ephes. 6.4 Yee fathers provoke not your children to wrath then he saith but bring them up and further in instruction and information of the Lord. For provision and sustentation the Apostle saith If any provide not for his owne and namely for them of his houshold he denieth the faith and is worse than an Infidel 1. Tim. 5.8 that is herein he commeth short of the example of many Infidels who were kinde and naturall to their children For instruction and institution Moses saith thou shalt rehearse them continually to thy children Deut. 6.7 And the Wise-man saith Teach a childe in the trade of his way and when hee is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22.9 Concerning due correction and chastisement the Wise-man also saith Withhold not correction from the childe if thou smite him with the rod he shall not dye thou shalt smite him with the rod and shalt deliver his soule from hell Prov. 23.13 14. And this was the overthrow of Eli his house because hee did not reprove his children with a fatherly severity according to the quality and merit of their sinne Basting QUEST XVI Whether all the duties of mercy and charity are commanded in this precept LYranus and Tostatus consenting with him as he seldome useth to doe will have by the name of fathers here understood all men that are in need and necessity whom we are bound to succour as Augustine saith Pasce fame morientem quod si non poteris occidisti Feed him that is ready to be famished if thou doest not feed him thou hast killed him And Tostatus by honour here understandeth all the workes of mercy and charity and generally all good workes which a man is bound to doe nam mala opera qua vitare tenemur c. for the evill workes which we are bound to shun belong unto the other
the Lords day next after the Nativitie in the towne of little Ashen or Eason in Essex in the house of a worshipfull Knight there dwelling The manner of it was this One Thomas Rugesby a servant of the house with another that was a Retainer and a youth about the age of thirteene yeeres did in the afternoone withdraw themselves into a private chamber taking with them strong Beere Aqua vita Rosa solis Tobacco and shut the doore close that they might be privat and take their fill of drinke without controlement who so excessively and immoderatly distempered themselves with drinke that they in most beastly manner vomited it up againe two of them the servant of the house and the youth were in vomiting strangled and were found dead in the morning the first sitting in his chaire the other lying upon the bed that which they cast up being by the cold of the night frozen to their mouths the third the Retainer was taken up in the morning wallowing up and downe in his vomit and in a manner halfe dead whom they had much adoe to recover This example would not bee forgotten but carefully bee laid up in remembrance that other excessive takers of drinke and wanton abusers of plentie which sinnes doe now every where overflow might receive warning thereby and judge themselves by repentance and leaving their sinne in time lest they be suddenly overtaken by Gods judgements in like manner 8. For stealing Achan may bee an example who for his theft and sacrilege was with throwing of stones put to death and that by the Lords extraordinarie direction in causing him to bee found by lot Ioshâ— 7. 2. For lying the fearefull examples of Ananias and Sapphira would be thought upon who were for that sinne striken with sudden death Act. 5. 10. For coveting of Sara Abrahams wife both Pharaoh King of Egypt and Abimelech King of Gerar were punished of God Gen. 12. and 20. though they were prevented of God and kept from committing adulterie Thus it pleaseth God to exemplifie some that others might take heed But here concerning the temporall judgements in this life these three observations are necessarie 1. That they which are temporally punished are not alwayes to be deemed the worst of all others though it please the Lord to make them examples to others as our blessed Saviour saith of the Galileans whose bloud Pilate mingled with their sacrifice and of those eighteene persons upon whom the tower of Siloam fell in Jerusalem that they were not greater sinners than the rest but except yee repent saith he yee shall all likewise perish 2. God neither punisheth all such offenders in this life for then men would expect no judgement to come neither doth he suffer all to go unpunished lest worldly men might be altogether secure and denie in their hearts the divine providence as the Prophet David saith Psal. 10.13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemne God he saith in his heart thou wilt not regard 3. That they which goe on still in their sinne without punishment should not flatter themselves for there remaineth a greater judgement behind and there is more hope of them which are chastised in this world So the Apostle saith Thou after thine hardnesse and heart that cannot repent heapest unto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and the declaration of the just judgement of God Rom. 2.5 The other kinde of judgement is in the next world as the Apostle sheweth 1 Cor. 6.9 Be not deceived neither fornicators nor Idolaters nor adulterers nor wantons nor buggerers nor theeves nor drunkards nor railers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdome of God and such were some of you but yee are washed but ye are sanctified c. Adde hereunto the like sentence and declaration of Gods judgement upon the wicked Revelat. 21.8 But the fearefull and unbeleeving the abominable and murtherers whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death This so heavie a sentence there is no way to escape but in being washed from these sinnes by repentance sanctified by newnesse of life and justified by faith in Christ. And thus much of this treatise of the law which by Gods grace I have thus happily finished 3. Questions and doubts discussed out of the rest of this 20. Chapter QUEST I. In what sense the people are said to have seene the voyces which are properly heard and not seene Vers. 18. ANd all the people saw the thunders c. 1. Some thinke that by sight here is understood the hearing because it is usuall with the Hebrewes to take one sense for another Vatabl. But the sight is no more taken for hearing than to heare for the seeing 2. Ambrose referreth it to the understanding Interioris mentis videtur obtâ—tu It was seene by the inward sight of the minde like as our Saviour saith Hee that hath seene me hath seene my Father Iob. 14.9 Ambros. proâ—â—m in Luc. So also Hierome will have it like unto that saying of S. Iohn 1. epist. chap. 1.1 That which we have heard which we have seene with our eyes c. of the word of life Hierom. in Abdiam But seeing Moses speaketh of outward objects of the externall sense as of thunder lightning he meaneth also the sense unto the which such things are objected 3. Ferus thinketh that herein ostenditur oscitantia populi the carelesnesse of the people is shewed who more regarded that which they saw than the voyce which they heard and therefore they are said rather to see than heare But it seemeth that the people well regarded the voyce of God because presently after they desire that Moses might speake unto them and not the Lord any more 4. Procopius thinketh that it is said they saw because of the evidence thereof as if they had seene it with their eyes as it is said Amos 1.1 The words of Amos c. which hee saw c. Deus Prophetarum oculis res subjicit tanta evidentia ac si oculis cernerent c. God doth so evidently set things before the eyes of the Prophets that is their inward sight as though they saw them with their eyes But this was not done in vision as the Lord spake to his Prophets here was a sensible demonstration 5. Augustine therefore thinketh Videre hic poni pro generali sensu tam animi quam corporis That to see is here put for the generall sense both of the minde and bodie because Moses would speake compendiously so we use to say vide quid sonet see what soundeth so also is it taken for other senses as Christ saith to Thomas Because thou hast seene me thou beleevest whereas Thomas touched him Tract 121. super Ioann The reason hereof is Quia visus primatum obtinet in sensibus intermiscetur omnibus Because the sight is the chiefe among the senses it is as intermingled among them all Interlinear And Sensus
so it is as the fountaine and beginning whence good Lawes proceed Lex enim per judicium facta est for the Law is made out of judgement Secondly it is taken pro ipsa exhibitione justitiae for the very exhibiting and administration of justice which is the execution of the Lawes Thirdly it is taken pro lege secundùm quam judicandum est for the Law it selfe according to the which judgement is given and in this signification is the word used here Tostat. qu. 3. QUEST VI. How Moses propounded these Lawes by speaking or by writing Vers. 1. WHich thou shalt set before them or propound unto them 1. Augustine saith Notanda est hic locutio c. The manner of speech is here to be observed this is said to Moses Thou shalt propound c. but the rest that followeth If thou shalt buy c. vers 2. is spoken to the people as unto Moses Locut 91. in Exod. 2. These Lawes Ab. Ezra saith might be propounded two wayes unto the people either by pronouncing them or by writing of them But it is evident chap. 24.3 that first Moses told all these Lawes by word of mouth before he writ them and he had first the peoples consent unto them for they were no Lawes till the people had received them and submitted themselves unto them And therefore as soone as Moses had propounded them the people answered with one voice All the things which the Lord hath said will we doe chap. 24.3 Tostat. qu. 3. QUEST VII Why the Israelites were called Hebrewes Vers. 2. IF thou buy an Hebrew servant c. This was a peculiar name to the Israelites to be called Hebrewes 1. which name is not derived of Abraham as some thinke for the name Hebrew beginneth with the letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ain the name of Abraham with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aleph and beside there were other nations that came of Abraham as the Edomites Ismaelites Amalekites Midianites which should also by that reason have beene called Hebrewes 2. Neither is this name derived of the signification thereof which signifieth to passe over that therefore they should be so called because sometime they dwelt beyond the river in Mesopotamia and came over the river for Lot came over as well as Abraham and yet his posterity the Moabites and Ammonites were not called Hebrewes 3. Therefore they are so called of Heber not only because they were of him descended for other nations which came of Ioktan the second sonne of Heber descended of him yet were not called Hebrewes neither was this name given them in respect of the holinesse and true worship of God which Heber professed for in that sense they might rather have beene called by Abrahams name who is famous in Scripture for his faith and obedience but the reason of this name is because the Hebrew language which was peculiar and proper to the Israelites was preserved in the family of Heber when the tongues were divided at the destruction of Babel and so although many other nations did spring out of Hebers family yet it was so disposed by Gods providence that the true worship of God together with the Hebrew tongue should be preserved only among the righteous seed It is no other like but that in Abrahams house Ismael as well as Isaack◠and in Isaacks house Esau as well as Iacob spake Hebrew while they lived together but afterward when Ismael and Esau were departed from their fathers house they spake the tongue and language of those nations to whom they joyned themselves Tostat. qu. 4. QUEST VIII How the Hebrewes became servants AN Hebrew servant 1. The Israelites had two kindes of servants some were of other nations as most of the servants which the Romans had were such and these servants they might keepe a longer time than for six yeeres their servitude was perpetuall and hereditary both of themselves and their children the other kinde of servants was of their owne nation for whose benefit this Law is made Tostat. Oleaster 2. Some thinke that this Law is made concerning such servants being Hebrewes which were bought of the Gentiles but R. Salomon thinketh better that it is a generall Law concerning all servants that were Hebrewes howsoever they came to be servants Ex Lyrano 3. The Hebrewes became servants by these wayes 1. If any man did steale and had not wherewithall to make satisfaction hee was to be sold by the Judges and so the theft to be made good Exod. 22.3 2. If any did sell himselfe through poverty Deut. 15.12 or a man sell his sonne or daughter chap. 21.7 or when any were taken to be servants and bondmen for debt as 2 King 4.2 Simler 3. Or when any having a servant and being decayed had no longer any use or service for him he might sell him over unto another Lyran. 4. There might bee also a fourth occasion of servitude namely when in the civill warres which were among the Israelites as when the kingdome was divided after Salomons dayes they did take any Hebrewes captives or prisoners they afterwards became their servants Simler QUEST IX The difference betweene Hebrew servants and strangers NOw the condition of an Hebrew servant was more tolerable than of other servants which were of strange nations in these two respects 1. Their service was not so hard nor so cruell Levit. 25.43 Thou shalt not rule over him cruelly And before vers 39. Thou shalt not compell him to serve as a bond servant but as an hired servant and as a sojourner he shall be with thee that is his service should bee easie and gentle and their entertainment good as when one is hired yet herein the condition of such servants differed from an hireling the servant was bound generally during his service to doe any worke which his master enjoyned him but the hireling was onely to doe that worke for the which he was hired the hireling was free and at his owne disposition he could not be set over to another but so might the servant be sold over during the time of his service being not his owne man but to be disposed of at the will of his master Tostat. quaest 5. 2. The Hebrew servants differed from others in the time of their service which was not to exceed six yeeres whereas the bondage and servitude of strangers was perpetuall Simler Such as they were commanded by the Law to have Levit. 25.44 Thy bond servant and thy bond-maid which thou shalt have shall be of the Heathen which are around about you as were the 〈…〉 upon whom was laid the curse of perpetuall bondage or servitude Gen. 9.25 Cursed be Canaan 〈…〉 of servants shall he be to his brethren QUEST X. Of three kindes of liberty and how servitude is agreeable to the Law of Nature BUt here it will further be demanded whether servitude be agreeable to the Law of nature and how it commeth to passe that the Lord suffred the Israelites being a free people to
yeeres and seven yeeres It is as like that they neglected the Sabbath of dayes which was the seventh of weekes which was Pentecost of moneths which was the seventh as well as of yeeres yee the Sabbath of seven yeeres which was the Jubile was also intermitted if the seventh yeere from which they accounted it were not remembred 5. Further if they suffered not the land to rest in the seventh yeere they likewise abandoned other privileges incident to that yeere as the remission of debts the setting free their servants which apparent transgressions nay rebellions should not have beene suffered to slip without some reprehension by the Prophets and correction from God especially under the vertuous Kings of Judah QUEST XXII Why the Law of the Sabbath is so oft repeated Vers. 12. SIx dayes thou shalt labour 1. Some thinke that this precept concerning the observation of the Sabbath is repeated by reason of the former Law concerning the seventh yeere of intermission lest that the Hebrewes because that whole yeere was a time of rest might have taken unto themselves greater liberty in the keeping of the Sabbath Lyran. But this seemeth to be no sufficient reason because although they rested from the workes of husbandry all that yeere yet they attended other â—â—â—â—nesse and labour Tostatus 2. Some thinke that the Sabbath is here mentioned in respect of the civill 〈◊〉 thereof the rest and relaxation of the servants whereas before it was urged as a part of Gods service Gallas Siml 3. But the best reason is that the Law of the Sabbath is repeated because it chiefly concerned the worship of God and therefore so often is this precept iâ—crated as chap. 20. Deut. 5 Exod. 31. 〈◊〉 and in divers other places Tostat. quaest 13. 4. And such respect the Lord hath to the seventh day of rest which he himselfe consecrated by his owne example that according to this rule he did proportion the other festivals as the seventh weeke the seventh moneth the seventh yeere yea in naturall experiments the seventh day is observed as the seventh fouretenth and twenty one are the criticall dayes for diseases as Hippocrates and Galâ—â— have written Hierome 4. The benefit of this day the Lord would have extended to their servants strangers yea to the labouring cartell R. Salomon thinketh that in the next clause Yee shall take heed to all things c. the implements and instruments which are used to any businesse or worke are understood as the sword aâ—e cutting knife and such like that all these things should rest in like manner But this is too curious and beside it were superfluous seeing the men are forbid to labour without whose hands these things cannot stirre or move therefore this clause either is to be referred to the former duties which concerned the Sabbath Lyran. or in generall to their obedience to the whole Law and all the former precepts which were delivered have it Simler QUEST XXIII What manner of mention of strange gods is here forbidden Vers. 14. ANâ— ye shall make no mention of the name of strange gods 1. The Latine Translator readeth Thou shalt not sweare but the word zachar signifieth to remember which is more than to sweare which is too strictly taken they must make no mention non solum jurando sed landandâ— probande abtestande not only in swearing but in praising of them approving protesting by them Lippoman 2. The Jewes doe run into another extreme making this precept too generall they thinke it not lawfull at all once to pronounce the names of the Gentiles Idols but the Prophets which inveighed against them could not but pronounce their names with their mouth the meaning then is nullus loquatur honorabiliter none should make honourable mention of them Cajetane 3. This phrase then is to be understood as S. Paul would not have fornication once named among them Ephes. 5.3 that is that more should be committed none named with desire or delight Simler therefore here only is forbidden â—onesta 〈◊〉 c. non inhonesta cum detestatione c. the comely and reverent mention of their gods not the iâ—reverent mention with detestation 4. Cajetane thus distinguisheth the sentence the first part biddeth ut praeteriti dâ— non memorentur that the former strange gods should not be remembred but be forgotten as though they never had beene the other part neither shall it be heard out of thy mouth sheweth ut de moderuis diis nemo honorabiliter loquatur and of the gods present none should speake honourably But indeed the meaning is that generally the memory of all false gods should be extinguished as they 〈◊〉 commanded to abolish the very names of them Deut. 12.3 that neither in their oathes nor in their familiar talke they should revive the memory of them see the practice thereof Psalm 16.4 Neither will make mention of their names within my lips So the Lord saith by his Prophet I will take away the 〈◊〉 of Baalim out of her mouth and they shall be no more remembred by their names Hos. 2.17 Iun. 5. By the name of strange gods are here understood all which the Heathen worshipped whether by images or without whether things in heaven in the earth or under the earth which are called strange gods not because they are gods at all but so reputed in the opinion of their idolatrous worshippers and strange they were because such were worshipped onely of strange nations and not of the people of God Toâ—tat quaest 13. QUEST XXIV Why it is forbidden to sweare by the name of strange gods Vers. 13. YE shall make no mention of the name of other gods c. 1. If it be unlawfull to make any honourable mention at all of the names of strange gods no not in usuall talke much lesse is it lawfull to sweare by them because in taking of an oath invocatur Deus tanquam testis veritatio God is called upon as a witnesse of the truth so to sweare by the name of God is actus â—â—reiae an act of divine worship and therefore it cannot be given unto any other beside God and againe one Idols because they are false gods non possunt esse testes veritatis cannot be witnesses of the truth Lyran. 2. 〈◊〉 observeth here this difference betweene the Law and the Gospell there per nomen Dei jurure non 〈◊〉 they are not forbidden to sweare by the name of God Evangelica veritat non recipit juramentum But the Evangelicall truth admitteth no oath because the speech of a faithfull man ought to be in stead of an oath c. He thinketh that by this Law the Hebrewes had liberty given them to sweare at their pleasure so they did sweare only by the name of God But I rather here approve Calvins annotation Non incitâ—t Deus pâ—pâ—lâ—â— ad jurandi licentiam c. God doth not hereby incite his people to sweâ—ing or give them liberty to sweare sed ubi opus fuerit vel necessitat
charge and government with Moses Num. 11. of which number were Eldad and Medad Gloss. interlinear But this cannot be for those seventy Elders were appointed after the campe was removed from Sinai and pitched in Kibrath Hattavah which was the next station beyond Sinai Numb 33.16 But now the Israelites remained at mount Sinai 2. Some are of opinion that these seventy Elders were appointed when Iethro gave counsell to Moses that is six out of every tribe which make 72. but the even number is set downe Simler But those Captaines over the people which were chosen according to Iethro his direction were heads over thousands hundreds and fifties chap. 18.25 they were then more than seventy 3. Neither were these seventy such as before time the people had chosen out for their Rulers answerable unto the number of soules that went downe with Iacob into Egypt as Calviâ— seemeth to thinke for it seemeth that before Iethro gave that advice to Moses there were no such Governours and Rulers over the tribes because Moses then needed not to have wearied himselfe in hearing their causes himselfe alone 4. Wherefore these were no speciall Elders that before were elected and chosen out but such as Moses did single out upon this occasion out of the more honourable sort of the people and therefore they are called vers 11. eetzilee separated or selected And Tostatus holdeth this as a reason because the word Elders ziene in the Hebrew hath no article set before it as is usuall in that language when any speciall persons of note are named But though his reason doe not alwayes hold yet his opinion seemeth of the rest to be most probable Tostat. qu. 3. QUEST III. Why Moses went up into the mount alone Vers. 2. ANd Moses himselfe alone shall come neere to the Lord c. 1. Here are three degrees or orders appointed to be observed in their comming neere unto God the people stand farre off and come not neere at all Aaron and his two sonnes and the seventy Elders ascend with Moses to some part of the mountaine but Moses himselfe only goeth up unto God vers 12. Calvin Lippoman 2. Rabanus maketh this morall application of it that as the seventy Elders went not up with Moses so unusquisque perpendat discrete vires suaâ— ut ultra non praesumat that every one doe discreetly examine his strength and not presume beyond his knowledge 3. For the mysticall sense Procopius maketh Aaron here a type of Christ who stood aloofe off and contemned not our humane nature sed descendens ad nos inter nos moratur but descending dwelt among us c. But this application can in no wise be fit that Aaron should be here a type of Christ who went not up unto God but Moses did for who should have freer accesse unto God than our Mediatour and intercessor therefore Moses here rather signifieth the Law which is perfect and pure in it selfe yet is not able to bring us to God as these ascended not with Moses but were left behind Simler QUEST IV. Whether all the people in generall were assembled Vers. 3. ANd all the people answered c. 1. Sometime the whole congregation is understood to be the Elders only and principall men that stand for the rest of the people as chap. 12.3 the Lord biddeth Moses to speake to all the congregation and yet he onely spake unto the Elders vers 21. But here we rather understand that all the multitude was called together for as we reade that when the Law was confirmed and ratified the whole assembly came together not only the Elders and Officers but even their children and wives yea the strangers unto the hewer of wood and drawer of water Deut. 29.10 11. so was it requisite that at the first receiving of the Law all the whole multitude should come together to give their generall consent 2. If it be objected that it was not possible that so many hundred thousand as there were in Israel could assemble in such sort to heare the voice of one man we may either say that God might give an extraordinary strength unto Moses voice that it might be heard round about Tostatus Or though all the people were not within hearing themselves at once yet one might receive it from another and so give their consent or one company might succeed another to heare Oleaster QUEST V. Why the Lord requireth the peoples consent to his Lawes Vers. 3. ALL that the Lord hath said will we doe 1. Though God might by his soveraigne right impose what Lawes he thought good without the peoples consent because they were bound to obey whatsoever the Lord commanded yet the Lord thought good to require their consent because otherwise they might be lesse culpable if they had not obeyed those Lawes which were thrust upon them against their will 2. And although they had twice before chap. 19.8 and 20.19 promised their obedience yet that was but in generall before the Lawes were published and therefore it was necessarie that a particular consent should be had now unto the severall Lawes which were propounded 3. God knew before they would consent but that was not sufficient unlesse they also expressed it themselves that they might afterward be left without excuse Tostat. 4. The people are to be commended for their readinesse but yet they knew not how impossible it was to keepe the Law and therefore cannot be excused of rashnesse Iun. Of this sudden promise of obedience which the Israelites had soone forgot Hierome thus writeth Melius est non promittere quam promissa non facere c. It had beene better for them not to have promised at all than not to performe their promise And Gregorie herein compareth the Jewes unto Locusts Subiâ—o saltuâ— daâ—tes protiâ—â—s ad 〈◊〉 codemes c. Which doe of a sudden give a spring and forthwith fall upon the ground againe QUEST VI. What Lawes they were which Moses wrote in a booke Vers. 4. ANd Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. 1. R. Salomon thinketh that Moses first rehearsed and afterward wrote the whole booke of Genesis and all Exodus unto this place But this cannot be 1. The Rabbin himselfe thinketh that Moses rose the next day and built the Altar how could he then write these two bookes without a great miracle in one day which we are not without great necessity to bring in to make or devise miracles where no cause is were great presumption Lyran. 2. It is said he wrote all the words of God and so consequently only the words of God but the history of Genesis and Exodus containe many things beside the words of God therefore there was no cause either to rehearse or write all the contents of these two bookes Tostatus 2. Cajetanes opinion is with whom consenteth Osiander that Moses did write all the former Lawes contained in the 21 22 23. chapters and the ten Commandements beside with all those Lawes set
forth in the 12. and 13. chapters and his reason is because it is called the booke of the covenant but the covenant betweene God and his people pracipuâ— consistit in dâ—câ—m praceptis chiefly consisteth in the ten Commandements Contra. The covenant here made with the people was that speciall bond wherewith the Israelites were obliged and tied unto God more than any people beside and this was the bond of the Ceremoniall and Judiciall lawes for the Morall law is grounded upon the Law of Nature and all people are bound to obey it so that if the Israelites respâ—erent pracepta ceremonialiâ— judicialia nullum foedus magis cum eis esset quà m cum aliis gentibus should have refused the ceremoniall and judiciall precepts there had beene no more covenant made with them than with other nations Tostat. Therefore it is not necessary to comprehend in this place under this covenant the Morall law but such peculiar precepts as onely concerned Israel 3. Wherefore it is more probable that those words of God which Moses did write were only the Judiciall and Ceremoniall lawes rehearsed in the three former chapters and not the ten Commandements of the Morall law for these reasons 1. Moses writeth the same Lawes which he had rehearsed vers 3. But he rehearsed only the Judicials and Ceremonials which he had received of God and were not yet published he needed not rehearse the ten Commandements which the Lord had pronounced with his owne mouth therefore them he writ not Marbaâ—h 2. The ten Commandements were first written by the Lord himselfe in two tables of stone as the Lord himselfe telleth Moses vers 12. therefore seeing the Lord purposed to give the Morall law written with his owne hand it is not like that he would command Moses to write it before for Moses did not write this booke of his owne minde but by the Lords direction Lippom. Pellican Gloss. interlin and Augustine quaest 89. QUEST VII Whether Moses rose up the next morning Vers. 4. ANd he rose up early 1. Cajetane thinketh that this was not the next morning because it is not said the next morning and that some time came betweene the publishing of the lawes and this morning wherein Moses wrote the said Lawes But Cajetanes reason is but weake for Gen. 19.27 it is said Abraham rose up in the morning which was the next morning though it be not so expressed and the like may be found in other places And the Lawes which Moses did write might be finished in one day so that there is no necessity to imagine any longer time to come betweene 2. Rupertus thinketh that this morning was upon the 50. day when the Law was delivered But that is not like for that morning there was thunder and lightning and the sound of a trumpe chap. 19.16 so that all the people was afraid it was then no time to build an Altar or to doe those other things here described they were all attent then and prepared to heare the Lord. Beside Rupertus must hold this chapter wholly to be transposed to maintaine his opinion which is shewed before qu. 1. not to be so 3. Therefore this is like to have beene the very next morning as thinketh R. Salomon Lyranus and Tostatus and Gallasius useth this reason Verisimilius est Moseâ—â— haâ—d diâ— distulisse haue gratiarum actionem It is more like that Moses would not long deferre this thanksgiving c. QUEST VIII Whether there were 12. pillars beside the Altar Vers. 4. ANd set up an Altar and twelve pillars c. 1. Some thinke that Moses erected twelve Altars But beside that this is against the letter of the text which speaketh but of an Altar Lyranus It had beene dangerous to have made so many Altars to sacrifice upon which might have beene an occasion to draw the people to superstition as though they were not to sacrifice all to the same God Tostat. 2. Some thinke that this Altar was set up upon twelve stones which were taken according to the number of the twelve tribes Cajetan Ferus As Elias built an Altar of 12. stones representing the 12. tribes 1 King 18.20 Lyran. Osiander And Ioshua made an Altar of 12. stones which were brought out of Jordan Iosh. 4. And the signification hereof was this that the sacrifice made upon that Altar consisting of 12. stones was for the benefit of the 12. tribes and that as those 12. stones made but one Altar so the 12. tribes belonged unto one God Tostat. Contra. 1. The word used in those two places given in instance is abaâ—iâ—â— which signifieth stones which were gathered together to make one Altar or heape but here the word is mâ—â—zabah which is a pillar so called à standâ— because it standeth alone and is erected and set up as a monument neither is it said here that Moses made an Altar of these pillars as Elias did of those stones 2. And againe the signification is more full to erect an Altar by it selfe which was a type of Christ our true Altar and the pillars by themselves that so both the parties Christ on the one part and the people on the other here contracting and making a covenant might be the better thereby prefigured Iun. 3. Therefore because they are said to be 12. pillars not stones it is like they were set up apart as more conspicuous monuments representing the 12. Tribes And this is more consonant to the text that saith Moses set up an Altar and 12. pillars which the sense will give to be beside the Altar especially seeing the perfect distinction athuah commeth betweene and divideth the sentences Iun. Vátab 4. And there were foure kindes of these pillars 1. Some served as memorials of the death instead of their sepulchers as Iacob erected a pillar for Rachel Genes 35. 2. Some pillars served for Altars as Iacob set up such an one in Bethel and powred drinke offerings upon it Genes 35.16 3. Some were superstitious pillars consecrated to Idols such the Israelites were forbidden to make Levit. 26.1 4. Some pillars were used as monuments and remembrances of some notable thing done in that place where they were pitched as was the pillar which Iacob erected Genes 28.18 Tostat. quaest 5. And of this sort was this pillar QUEST IX Whether the names of the Tribes were written in these stones Vers. 4. TWelve pillars 1. Some thinke that the names of the 12. Tribes were graven in these pillars Borrh. And this opinion may be thought more probable both because a better remembrance might have beene kept by this meanes in the writing of their names than otherwise and afterward the names of the 12. Tribes were graven both in the two onyx-stones which the high Priest did beare in his Ephod upon his shoulder six in one stone and six in another and in the 12. precious stones inclosed in the breast plate Contra. 1. The memoriall of this solemne sacrifice might very well be kept only by the sight of
great pollution but never their flesh alone Tostat. qu. 7. 8. QUEST XII Whether the high Priest did well in meeting Alexander in his Priestly attire BUt if it were not lawfull to carrie the Priestly garments out of the Tabernacle it will be objected that Iaddua the high Priest being apparelled in his Priestly robes met Alexander the Great without the gates of Jerusalem and by the sight of him Alexanders wrath was appeased and the Citie delivered from the danger which was feared 1. Here it may be answered that as wee receive this part of Iosephus narration how Alexander meeting the high Priest reverenced him and adored that God whose name hee carried written in his forehead so if we give credit to the rest how that after publike supplication made before unto God and solemne sacrifice for their deliverance the Lord appeared in a dreame the next night unto the high Priest appointing him to go forth to meet Alexander in his Priestly attire this being admitted for truth this question is at an end for by Gods extraordinarie direction the Priest might do that which ordinarily was not lawfull as though they had a strait charge to offer their sacrifices at the doore of the Tabernacle yet the Prophets as Samuel David Elias built Altars in other places and there offered their sacrifices Tostat. quaest 17. 2. But though there had beene no such vision shewed to the high Priest which it is not necessarie to beleeve seeing Iosephus is found to be very forward in setting downe such things as might tend to the credit of his nation yet this act of the high Priest might be justified in respect of that necessitie whereunto they were then brought for the ceremoniall lawes were to give way in such cases as David to satisfie his hunger might lawfully eat of the shew-bread which otherwise none were to eat of but the Priests So likewise they might upon the Sabbath lead their oxe or asse to water or helpe them out being fallen into a ditch and yet not transgresse against the rest of the Sabbath If these ceremonies were dispensed with for the safegard and preservation of one man or of a few cattell much more for the deliverance of the whole Citie which was then in danger might the high Priest without any extraordinarie direction have put on his Priestly apparell to meet that victorious King QUEST XIII Of the matter whereof the holy garment should be made Vers. 5. THey shall take gold and blew silke 1. By gold is here understood Aurum in massa aurum in filis Gold in the lumpe or masse and golden threed for the garments were made of golden threed the precious stones were set into gold and thereof was made the golden plate in the high Priests miter Tostat. qu. 8. 2. And under the name of gold are comprehended also the precious stones because they were inclosed and set into the gold Simler 3. And these five are named gold blew silke purple skarlet fine linen not that all these concurred to the making of every garment Sed quia nullum ornamentum erat quod non ex istorum aliquo c. But because there was not any of the ornaments which was not made of some of them Cajetan 4. The blew colour was like unto the skie or violet the purple was like to the rose colour which was made of the liquor or bloud of a certaine shell-fish called the purple the skarlet was died with certaine graines growing in a tree whereof Plinie writeth and to make the colour deeper it was twice died in the wooll and afterward when it was spun the fine linen was made of a most fine and white kinde of flax or linen Ribera 5. These foure colours represented the foure elements two of them in colour the skarlet the fire the blew the skie or ayre the other in their originall the purple the water the linen the earth out of the which they came and hereby as Iosephus noteth was signified Sacerdotem illum esse summi rerum omnium conditoris That he was the Priest of the high Creator of all things because the colours of his garments did represent the whole world 6. Beda also thus collecteth that because all things were prescribed to be made of gold and precious colours Nihil vile vel sordidum in Sacerdotis ore vel opere debet apparere There should no vile thing appeare either in the Priests words or works c. Ribera QUEST XIV Of the name of the Ephod and the divers kinds thereof Vers. 6. ANd they shall make the Ephod 1. The Latine Interpreter calleth it superhumerale following the Septuagint which interpret it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the shoulder garment Iunius translateth it amiculum a short cloake but the Hebrew word is better retained Ephod because it was a peculiar garment belonging to the high Priest so called of the word aphad which signifieth to close or compasse or gird about as chap. 39.5 Thou shalt close them to him with embroidered gard of the Ephod Oleaster 2. There were two kinds of the Ephod one was common made of linen onely both to the inferiour Priests as Saul put to the sword 85. Priests that did weare a linen Ephod as also to the Levits as Samuel ministred before the Lord girded with a linen Ephod 1 Sam. 2.18 Some thinke that this kinde was also permitted unto lay men in generall Ribera Some that the Kings had a privilege to weare it because David danced before the Arke in a linen Ephod 2 Sam. 6. But R. Salomon thinketh more probably that none were girded with the Ephod but colentes Deum aut servientes ei They which worshipped God or were specially addicted to his service Other then beside the Priests might weare the linen Ephod but onely insacred actions as David at that time danced before the Arke Gallas Oleaster The other kinde of Ephod was peculiar to the high Priest which was made of gold and of the foure colours before named Hierome ad Fabielam And this Ephod it was not lawfull for any other to imitate which was the cause of the fall of Gedeons house because he made an Ephod like unto that used in the Tabernacle Gallas QUEST XV. How Gedeon offended in making an Ephod BUt whereas Gedeon made that Ephod of 1700. sicles of gold Iudg. 8.26 1. Augustine moveth a question how so much gold could be put into one Ephod and thinketh that by the Ephod are understood as the whole by the part Omnia qua constituit Gedeon in civitate ad colendum Deum All the other things which Gedeon made in his City to worship God by as in the Tabernacle And he thinketh further that all Israel is said to go a whoring after it although Gedeon made no image Quia extra Tabernaculum fieri aliquid simile fas non erat Because it was not lawful to make any like thing out of the Tabernacle 2. But it need not seeme strange
sint lapides vel capienda sit quaedam duorum nominum quasi intabella inscriptio It is uncertaine whether other stones are here to be understood or wee may take it for a certaine inscription of these two names in a table c. These two latter opinions I put together that it is like these Vrim and Thummim were written in some precious matter not made by art but prepared of God and given to Moses who put them within the breast-plate So Gallasius resolveth Diversum aliquid fuisse à lapidibus catonis minimè dubium est It is without doubt that they were a divers thing from the stones and chaines and what if wee say that these names Vrim and Thummim inscripta fuisse intra pectorale were written within the pectorall QUEST XXVIII How judgement was given by the Vrim and Thummim NOw it will be further inquired how the Lord made answer and the Priest consulted with God by Vrim and Thummim 1. Iosephus thinketh that when the Lord promised good successe to his people the stones shined extraordinarily but he saith Desiit tam essen quam Sardonix fulgorem emittere c. As well the Pectorall which he calleth the essen or rather choshen which is the Hebrew name for the Pectorall and the Sardonix stone upon the right shoulder which used to shine extraordinarily as often as the high Priest sacrificed did cease to send forth such brightnesse and that two hundred yeeres before his time which Tostatus thinketh was in the time of the Macchabees as he doth gather out of that place 1 Macchab. 4.46 where it is said that they laid up the stones of the Altar upon the mountaine of the Temple till there should come a Prophet to shew what should bee done with them It is like then they wanted that direction to know the Lords will by the shining of the stones Tostat. qu. 15. But I thinke it more probable with Montanus that the Vrim and Thummim was lost in the captivity as also the Arke tables of stone Aarons Rod and the pot of Manna as also thinketh Burgens addit 2. And as may appeare Ezra 2.63 that after the captivity they had no Priest with the Vrim and Thummim The Priest which met Alexander in his glorious apparell might have precious stones in his breast without the Vrim and Thummim 2. Ab. Ezra thinketh that they used to write the thing inquired upon in a peece of paper and so put it within the breast-plate upon the Vrim and Thummim and there they should finde written an answer of their question and demand But it is evident that the Lord when he was consulted with answered by voice 1 Sam. 23.11 3. Suidas thinketh that when the Lord granted their petition the Adamant shined extraordinarily if not nihil accedebat ad solitum lapidis fulgâ—rem nothing was added to the usuall brightnesse of the stone and when the Lord threatned warre pestilence or famine the stone had the colour of bloud But it is shewed before that the Vrim and Thummim was no such stone 4. Hugo de S. Victor thinketh there were certaine characters of letters quibus projectis ex literarum junctura desâ—per apparenâ—ium c. by the casting whereof and the joyning together of certaine letters it appeared what was to be done But the Vrim and Thummim was no such uncertaine conjunction of letters but some certaine glorious thing put into the Pectorall as is before shewed 5. Montanus thinketh that the Vrim and Thummim inde proferebantur were taken out of the Pectorall when any answer was to be given and that the Priest by the inspection thereof had his direction But it is not like after Moses there put them that they were taken out as Tostatus well thinketh Oportebateas educere è plicatura rationalis quòd non conveniebat c. That it was not convenient to draw them out from the folding of the Pectorall 6. Nehemonides is of opinion that the answer given by Vrim and Thummim was madregeh a certaine degree and instinct of the Spirit inferiour to prophecie yet of an higher nature than nathkol the voice which came from heaven Ex Pelarg. Ribera also thinketh beside the brightnesse of the stones that the Priest ad prasentiam rationalis spiritum prophetiae accipiebat at the presence of the Pectorall received the spirit of prophecie But for the Lord to answer by Vrim and by Prophets were two distinct things 1 Sam. 28.6 the Lord would not answer Saul neither by dreames by Vrim nor by Prophets 7. Wherefore it is most like though this be not certainly determined in Scripture that the Lord when the Priest asked counsell of God by Vrim made answer by voice As when David asked of God by the Priest that had the Ephod whether Saul would come downe and whether the Lords of Keilah would deliver him into his hands the Lord answered to both his questions that Saul would come downe and that the other would deliver him So 1 Sam. 30.8 David asked counsell of the Lord saying Shall I follow after this companie shall I overtake them and the Lord answered Follow for thou shalt surely overtake them and recover all Hence Tostatus well inferreth Non fiebat inquisitio in aliqua lamina sed à Deo inquirebatur veritas There was no inquisition made in any such place but the truth was inquired of God quaest 12. Ribera also useth this reason that seeing God answered to every point it was necessary there should be some voice heard Nam fulgor gemmarum tot tantaque minuta declarare non potuit c. For the brightnesse of the precious stones could not declare such and so many small particulars God used then to answer the high Priest by voice as Numb 7.89 When Moses went into the Tabernacle of the congregation to speake with God hee heard the voice of one speaking unto him from the mercie seat But it will then be asked if the Priest discerned not the Lords will by the Vrim why is it called the Vrim of judgement and what use was there of it I answer that it was so called not of the effect as though by the inspection of the Vrim hee gave judgement but ex consequenti by a consequent because the Lord onely vouchsafed to give judgement in the cause enquired of by the Priest when he applied the Pectorall with the Vrim and Thummim which was ordained to be a type of Christ the true and perfect light to signifie that in him all wisdome dwelleth and that by him only the will of God is revealed to us Calvin And this further may serve as a proofe thereof that it is like if there had beene any reall demonstration in the stones of Gods will that meanes had beene certaine and perpetuall and never failed But it was otherwise for God answered not Saul by Vrim and in Iosias time who was a vertuous King the high Priest Hilkiah enquired Gods will of the Prophetesse Huldah which he needed
heavens the celestiall conversation of the Ministers of the Gospell 6. Athanasius saith that talaris tunica the side coat is a type of humane flesh which Christ wholly put on 7. Prosper saith the bels doe signifie the fiery tongues that sate upon the Apostles 8. Augustine saith that by these bels is insinuated Vt nota sit conversatio Sacerdotis that the conversation of the Priest should bee knowne to all 9. Procopius by the blew robe of skie colour understandeth immortality the Pomgranates urbium quandam speciem prae se ferunt doe signifie Cities which consist of walles and houses as the pomgranate of the bark and the graines or kirnels within that as every pomgranate had a bell by it so in every City there should be preaching 10. But the best accommodation of the type is this the pomgranates which are of themselves of pleasant savour and the bels doe shew that Deus fragrantiam in illa veste requirebat unà cum sonitu That God in that garment required both a pleasant smell and sound signifying that we being clothed with Christs righteousnesse as with an heavenly garment are acceptable unto God and this sweet savour is dispersed and communicated unto us by the sweet sound of the Gospell Calvin Simler QUEST XXXV Of the golden plate the fashion thereof inscription and fastening Vers. 36. THou shalt make a plate c. 1. Concerning the fashion of this plate of gold Iosephus saith it was like dimidiato globo to an halfe circle or globe and Lyranus in his description maketh it like an halfe moone or an horne turning up with both the ends But it seemeth by the text that it lay plaine upon the forefront of the miter as Tostatus thinketh it was an halfe coronet reaching from eare to eare which is most like because it is afterward called chap. 3â— 30 the holy crowne it therefore compassed the head before as a coronet Borrh. Pelarg. 2. Hence also it appeareth seeing the text maketh mention but of one plate or crowne that Iosephus narration hath no warrant out of the text who saith Hunc corona triplici circumdabat Hee compassed the miter or bonet with a three-fold Crowne 3. This plate had written in it holinesse to the Lord kodesh lajovab holinesse to Iehovah not la adonai as Tostat. which was the Jewes superstition who were afraid to pronounce the name of Iehovah but in stead thereof said Adonai The meaning is that all holinesse belonged unto God ille solum actus est pâ—rus that he only in himselfe is a pure act and that all his workes are pure Cajetanae It also signified that sacerdotalis majestas sacra Deo that the priestly dignity was holy unto God Borrh. Et non aliundo peâ—endam esse sanctitatem and that they should not looke to be sanctified elsewhere Calvin Wherein the high Priest was an evident type of our blessed Saviour who sanctified himselfe for us and in whom wee are sanctified and this to be the meaning the next words doe shew because Aaron did beare the iniquities of their offerings and sanctified them 4. For the fastening of this plate or crowne of gold Tostatus thinketh it was tied at both the ends to the miter with two silke laces at the two eares But the text maketh mention only of one silke lace Cajetan saith that the plate did lye and rest upon this silke string or lace which was in infima parte in the neather part thereof and so it stood upright neque inclinabatur ad mitram and was not put close to the miter but the golden plate could not lye without some fastening therefore Iunius better giveth the sense Appâ—nas cum vitta hyacinthina Thou shalt put it to with a blew lace QUEST XXXVI How Aaron is said to beare their iniquities Vers. 38. THat Aaron may beare the iniquity of the offerings 1. Augustine by iniquities here understandeth those things which are offered for their iniquities qua peccata dicuntur quia pro peccatis offeruntur c. which are called sinnes because they are offered for sinnes and so his meaning seemeth to be that Aaron shall take those things which the people offer for their sinnes But in saying the iniquities of the offerings it is evident that in this place a difference is made betweene the offerings themselves and the iniquities of the offerings 2. Oleaster taketh here iniquity pro poena iniquitatis for the punishment of iniquity and would have this to be the meaning that if any oversight were committed by the people in their offerings in not doing as they should by Aarons default who was to looke unto it he should be punished for it But the words following in the end of the verse to make them acceptable before the Lord shew that the meaning is not that Aaron should be punished but that by his office their offerings though otherwise imperfect should be accepted 3. Some thinke if any errour were committed in the ceremonies id remissum fuisse sacerdotis precibus that it was pardoned by the prayers of the Priest But Calvin calleth this frigidum a slender conceit for here is no mention made of any prayers of the Priest but only of the having the golden plate in his forehead 4. Tostatus giveth this reason why the Priest herein was acceptable unto God quia sola erat obedientia in istis qua Deo placebat because it was obedience only in these things which pleased God which the Lord so highly esteemed of that where obedience was wanting things otherwise commanded were not accepted as Sauls sacrifice and where it was found even the service in things of themselves evill was pleasing unto God as Abrahams obedience in sacrificing his sonne Tostat. 19. Who hath given a good reason why the Priest in his owne person should bee accepted of God performing his obedience in such things as were commanded but the Priests obedience was no cause why the Lord should be pleased with the people for the word is lahem that with them God may be pleased 5. Cajetane saith this is the reason ut profitendo sanctitatem summo Deo tollat immunditiam sacrificiorum c. that in professing holinesse unto God as it was written in his forehead hee might take away the uncleannesse of their offerings But Tostatus addeth further Hoc protestari meritorium est To professe this that is to give God the praise and to ascribe all holinesse to him was meritorius But Aaron herein merited not for himselfe much lesse for others the bearing of the plate could be no such meritorius thing of it selfe 6. Herein therefore the high Priest was a type of Christ Condonabitur propter sacerdotem summum It shall be pardoned because of the high Priest who represented Christ Vatabl. Sic in fronte unici sacerdotis omnes sensus nostri defixi maneant c. Let all our senses be so fixed in the forehead of the only high Priest that wee may know that all holinesse floweth forth
for as they washed their feet from soile when they began to minister so it is like they had a care to keepe them cleane during their Ministerie 4. Neither did the Priests onely wash themselves thereat but they also washed their sacrifices the inwards and such other parts which were not to be carried forth into any profane place to be washed Tostatus Lippoman Ribera QUEST XXVI Of the mysticall application of the laver wherein the Priests washed BY this washing of their hands and feet 1. Beda understandeth the lavacre of Baptisme wherein we are first received into Christs Church as the Priests first washed their hands and feet before they entred into the Tabernacle 2. But because Baptisme is ministred once onely whereas the Priests did wash often he rather would have thereby understood ablutionem compunctionis lachrymarum the washing of compunction or contrition and of teares so often as we come before the Lord. 3. And thereby was signified the spirituall washing and cleansing of the soule which the faithfull in the old Testament well understood as David saith Psal. 51.7 Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow and the Prophet Isay alluding unto this rite saith Wash you make you cleane chap. 1.16 Simler 4. And for this cause our Saviour reproved the Pharisies for being addicted so superstitiously unto their outward washings wherein they committed a double fault both in bringing in other kindes of washing than were prescribed in the Law and in being addicted only to the outward ceremony Simler 5. And by the hands our works are signified by the feet the affections that we should both cleanse our hearts and be holy in our workes when we come before the Lord Tostat. qu. 11. 6. And in that the Priests washed their hands and feet Hac ablutione apertam impuritatis confessionem edebant They did by this washing give an evident confession of their impuritie and uncleannesse Gallas 7. The Heathen had such a custome to wash themselves when they sacrificed to their gods as this was a proverb among them Sacra non tractanda illotiâ— manibus That holy things must not be handled with unwasht hands Calvin 8. Therefore like as men doe not sit downe at their owne table but first they wash their hands so wee must not presume to come neere the Lords table with unprepared affections and uncleane hearts Simler Wee must be inwardly washed by the Spirit of grace the water of life whereof our Saviour speaketh Ioh 4.14 Marbach QUEST XXVII The difference betweene Moses laver and Salomons great sea of brasse NOw to finish up this matter concerning the laver these differences may bee observed betweene it and the great brazen sea which Salomon made and other vessels to the like use 1. They differed in the quantitie and large capacitie Salomons was ten cubits wide and five cubits deepe it contained 200. baths 1 Kin. 7.26 being filled after the ordinarie manner but 3000. baths 2 Chro. 4.5 that is if it were filled up to the brim So Cajetanus and Ribera doe well reconcile these places The bath was of the same capacitie for liquid things that the Epha was for dry containing each of them ten pottles or thereabout foure or five gallons And therefore because of the great capacitie it was called a sea But the laver that Moses made was nothing so big for it had not beene portable 2. They were divers in fashion Moses laver stood but upon one foot the other was borne upon twelve oxen And it was cast with knops and flowers and wilde cucumers 1 King 7.24 But this laver is not so appointed to be made it seemeth it was plaine 3. There was also some difference in the number Moses caused but one laver to be made Salomon beside the great molten sea made ten other caldrons or small lavers 2 Chron. 4.6 because in Salomons Temple there was more use of such vessels than in Moses Tabernacle 4. Their uses also were divers Moses laver served both for the Priests to wash thereat and to wash the sacrifices but Salomons great sea served onely for the Priests to wash in the other appertained to the sacrifices 2 Chron. 4.6 QUEST XXVIII Of the spices that went toward the making of the oyntment Vers. 23. TAke unto thee principall spices c. 1. Here are two confections appointed to be made the first of things more liquid and moist and the same to bee tempered with oyle to make an oyntment of to the making whereof in generall were required the principall or head spice or drug which Iunius inclineth to thinke to be the Balme which is the principall among such precious drugs and therefore is called of the Arabians Belsuaim as having dominion or excelling among such things but that there is no quantitie expressed of this as of the rest that follow neither were they yet come to the land of Canaan where great store of Balme was it is therefore the generall name rather of these spices and drugs which are named afterward in particular 2. The first is myrrh which Oleaster taketh for balme but the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mar sheweth it to be myrrh There is another word tzeri which is taken for balme Ierem. 8.22 There were two kindes of myrrh one which of it selfe distilled out of the tree and therefore it is called mar deror myrrh of libertie that is freely flowing Paguine Oleaster or right myrrh without mixture Iun. Vatab. There was another which came of the cutting of the barke of the tree which was not so good Lyran. The myrrh tree groweth in Arabia five cubits high Strabus writeth that the fume thereof would breed incurable diseases in that countrey nisi fumo storaâ—iâ— occurrerentpunc but that they correct it with the perfume of storax c. But it is not like that if it were so dangerous and offensive that the Lord would have prescribed it to make the holy oyntment of These properties rather it hath it is good to healâ— wounds to dry up rheâ—me to care a stinking and unsavourie breath to cleere the voyce Plin. lib. 12. cap. 8. Pelargus 3. The next is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 kinemon cynamom whereof because there are two kindes one that is verie sweet and pleasant the other of no great smell therefore it is added here sweet cynamom R. Salomon Lyran. It cureth the biting of venomous beasts it helpeth the dimnesse of the sight Dioscorid lib. 1. cap. 13. Pelarg. But whether it be the same cynamom which is in use among us it is doubted it seemeth to be of another sort Simler For our cynamom is rather pleasant to the taste than smell whatsoever it was it is certaine it gave a pleasant smell Pro. 7.17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh alâ—â—s and cynamom 4. The third kinde is keneh which signifieth a cane it is calamus odâ—ratus sweet calamus which was a kinde of reed or cane of verie sweet savour Genevens It groweth like a shrub
puram religionem mandatorum Dei concedens sanguinem victimarum c. So taking away the pure religion of keeping Gods commandements and granting unto them the blood of sacrifices c. And this assertion he groundeth upon that place of Ieremie chap. 7 2â— I spake not to your fathers c. when I brought them out of the land of Egypt concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices but this thing I commanded them saying obey my voice c. QUEST XXV 〈…〉 QUEST XXVI 〈…〉 QUEST XXVII What is 〈◊〉 here by the finger of God WRitten with the finger of God 1. By the finger of God Augustine understands the Spirit of God which he proveth by comparing of those two places together in the Gospell that where the one Evangelist writeth that Christ should say If I by the Spirit of God doe cast out devils another saith If I by the finger of God cast out c. which signified that as the law was written by the finger and power of God in tables of stone so is it written in our hearts by the Spirit of grace Gregorie by the Spirit signified by Gods finger understandeth spiritualem intelligentiam legis the spirituall sense and meaning of the law Theophylact thereupon concludeth that the Spirit is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of one substance with the Father as the finger is to the hand So Ambrose saith Ad formaâ—â—â—itatis non ad distinctionem potestatis referendem digiti nuncupationem That the terme of finger is to be referred to the forme of unitie not to the distinction of power But this may seeme somewhat curious 2. These reasons therefore may rather be given of this phrase and terme 1. It is said By the finger of God that is opere Dei by the worke of God because the fingers are instruments of working Tostat. qu. 13. 2. Gallasius referreth it to the paucitie and fewnesse of the precepts Ita ut in digitis 〈◊〉 possent which were not so many but might be numbred upon the fingers 3. This is added also to shew a difference betweene the first tables of stone which were both made and prepared and written by the finger of God so were not the second which Moses made like unto the first they were prepared by Moses but written upon by God chap. 34.1 Iun. 4. And further though God have no hands nor fingers neither is like in bodilie shape unto man yet this may have a speciall reference to Christ who was become verie man with hands and feet like unto us as Borrhaius noteth Digitus humanâ—â— Deo assingitur in Christo vero Deo homine c. The finger of man is attributed to God in Christ who was true God and man QUEST XXVIII Whether Moses did write upon the tables Vers. 2. OF God It will be here objected that Exod. 34.28 it is said that Moses wrote in the tables how then were they written by the finger of God 1. Augustine thinketh that the first tables were written by the Lord the second by Moses But it is otherwise affirmed chap. 34.1 that God also did write upon the second tables 2. Lyranus thus reconcileth thâ—se places 〈…〉 Moses ministerialiter That God did write because he endited and it was done by his authoritie and Moses did write them as the penman and instrument And he hath another concâ—iâ— beside that Moses seemed to put his hand to the tables and yet the Lord might miraculously 〈…〉 that Moses did nothing at all to the first tables they were delivered 〈…〉 only prepare the second tables for the Lord to write upon 3. 〈…〉 saith it is a phrase only he did 〈…〉 QUEST XXIX How the law is said to have 〈…〉 by Angels 4. Places of Doctrine 1. Doct. Gods speciall and particular providence toward his children Vers. 2. BEhold I have called by name Bezaleel This sheweth the singular care that God hath of his elected and chosen vessels in that he knew them by name as the Lord called unto Samuel by name 1. Sam. 3. Like as among men it is counted a great grace and favour if any be knowne unto the Prince by name And in the Athenian and Romane Commonwealth such as were popular would labour to call the most of the citizens by their names God hath not then a generall care only over his children but his particular providence watcheth over them Simler 2. Doct. Mechanicall arts Gods gifts Vers. 3. WHom I have filled with the Spirit of God c. Bezaleel was inspired of God with the knowledge of artes whereby we learne that manuall trades and mechanicall arts doe proceed from Gods Spirit and they are his gifts Marbach B. Babing For every good gift is from above Iam. 1.17 3. Doct. Even works tending to charity and pietie are not to be done ordinarilie upon the Lords day Vers. 13. NOtwithstanding keepe yee my Sabbaths c. If it were not lawfull for the Israelites no not to worke in the building of the Sanctuarie upon the Sabbath then no other servile works are to be done then intuitu pietatis c. with the pretense of pietie as to make garments to cloath the poore to go a fishing to redeeme captives Oleaster Which workes of charitie where necessitie constraineth may be done upon the Lords day but not to make an ordinarie practice of it 5. Places of Controversie 1. Confut. Against those that despise handicrafts as base â—nd contemptible Vers. 2. WHom I have filled with the Spirit of God in wisdome c. If then handicraftsmen have a portion of Gods Spirit and are endued with wisdome from heaven to worke skilfully in their mysteries that assertion of Cicero is to be misliked who thus writeth of these mechanicall arts Opifices omnes in arte sordida versantur nec enim quicquam ingenuum habere potest officina c. All tradesmen are occupied in base arts neither can any ingenuous thing be found in an artisans shop c. True it is that handy-crafts may be counted base and illiberall in comparison of liberall sciences but yet in themselves they are commendable and not to be despised Marbach Our blessed Saviour wrought carpenters worke and therefore is called a carpenter Mark 6.3 and S. Paul was a tent-maker and laboured with his hands which he saith ministered to his necessities Act. 20.34 2. Confut. Against free will I Have filled with wisdome c. Hereupon Calvin giveth this note Vitiosa est ergo illa partitio c. That there is a 〈◊〉 and evill partition whereby men doe ascribe all the helps which they use partly to nature and Gods gift partly to mans 〈◊〉 whereas their industrie it selfe is the gift of God Therefore we are hereby taught that the honour of everie good thing must be given unto God And if humane arts proceed from Gods Spirit how much more hath man no activitie at all in divine things 〈…〉 by grace This then evidently overthroweth free will in divine and spirituall thingâ— as our
to the passions and affections of men yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is convenient to understand of God who seemeth to repent and change sinâ— motu quod nos sine motu nostri non possumus facere without any motion or passion at all which wee cannot doe without passion Iun. Wee could not understand how the Lord turneth from his wrath unlesse the Scripture should speake to our capacitie Pelarg. 2. So indeed the Lord is immutable and unchangeable in himselfe but Dicit se mutâ—re sententiam non in homines sed in opera quae mutata sunt He is said to change his sentence not toward men but in respect of the workes or things that are changed For God is not angrie with men but with their sins which ceasing to be nequaquam pâ—nit quod mutatum est God punisheth not that which is changed Hierom. God is said to repent cum rem mutet consilium non mutet when he changeth the thing not his counsell Gloss. interlin 3. But it will bee said that God is here changed indeed that whereas hee purposed to destroy Israel at once yet he doth it not at Moses intercession It may bee answered 1. That God here had determined no such thing sed loquebatur per modum optantis but he spake after a wishing manner let me alone Tostat. qu. 20. 2. We must understand that the divine sentence is of two sorts one is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a condition such was the proclamation against Niniveh that within fortie dayes they should be destroyed and the message sent by Isaiah to Ezekiah that he should die for in these sentences there was a secret condition included in the one of the Ninivites repentance in the other of Ezechiahs intercession so there is here a condition understood that the Lord would bee intreated by Moses The other kinde of sentence is absolute without any condition such was the decree for the destruction of the old world by water and of the overthrow of Pharaoh and his host in the red sea Bâ—â—rh QUEST XL. Whether Moses at this time was kept in suspense or indeed obtained pardon for the people Vers. 14. REpented of the evill which he threatned to doe unto his people 1. Some thinke that an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is here to be admitted because Moses obtaining nothing at this time but at his second intreatie as is shewed in the end of the chapter Et nullo accepto veniae responso suspensum venisse And that he came downe in suspence having received no answer for any pardon Calvin Gallas But it is not like that Moses would have given over and gone away till he had knowne the Lords minde in part 2. Iunius thinketh that Deus distulit donec Moses vidisset God onely deferred his sentence till Moses had seene what might bee done with the people and consilium fustinuit suspended his counsell But the Text sheweth more that God at Moses request actually repented of the evill which hee had threatned Moses therefore is here put out of doubt for that that the people at this time should not be destroyed 3. Cajetan thinketh that Moses onely intreated quod non tunc fiat punitio quam populus meretur that the people at that time be not punished as they deserved But Moses reasons tend to that end that the people at all should not utterly be destroyed because of Gods promise made to Abraham Isaak and Iacob and so much he obtained 4. But Oleaster goeth somewhat too farre that Moses did not onely intreat God not to punish sed ut cum poenite at voluisse punire but that he would repent him that hee had purposed to punish But that had beene too great boldnesse in Moses to have presumed so farre and it was enough that he by his prayer obtained a pardon of that great punishment 5. Wherefore Moses obtained only by his prayer now at this time that the Lord mitigated his sentence neâ— totum populum per dere velir that he would not destroy the whole people Marbâ—ch and hee only repenteth of the evill which was threatned that is ne totaliter deleret that hee would not wholly destroy them yet God might not withstanding consume them per partes by parts as hee did afterward in the desart for if Moses had obtained an absolute and generall pardon hee needed not have sollicited the Lord againe as he did in the end of the chapter nay he continued his supplication unto God for the people fortie dayes and fortie nights Deut. 9.29 Tostat. qu. 20. QUEST XLI What was written in the tables of stone Vers. 15. THe tables were written c. 1. Some Hebrewes thinke that beside the morall Law which consisted of ten Commandements there was written the exposition as a commentarie of the Law But that is not like 1. Because the Commandements being certaine evident and knowne principles grounded upon the light of nature needed not to receive any exposition by the Law-giver himselfe but afterwâ—rd the same were explaned and amplified by Moses 2. If there had beene any such exposition Moses when hee declared to the people the ten Commandements Deut. 5. would not have omitted them being a part of Gods writing 3. Seeing the tables were to be kept in the Arke never to be brought into the peoples sight it was requisite if there had beene any such exposition that it should have beene set downe in some of Moses bookes that the people might have taken knowledge thereof Tostat. qu. 22. 2. Therefore there was no such exposition nor any other thing written in the tables beside the ten Commandements 1. Not because as some thinke there were yet no other lawes delivered to the people for it is evident that Moses before hee came downe from the mount when the Lord had uttered with his owne voice the ten Commandements received also other lawes judiciall and ceremoniall of the Lord as they are set downe chap. 21 22 23. and writ them in a booke and read them to the people Exod. 24. therefore other lawes were given before to Moses before hee came downe with the tables of stone 2. And the reason which Isidore giveth why the ten Commandements were there only written is both curious and without ground Vt per eundem numerum figura crucis exprimeretur that the figure of the crosse might be thereby expressed for the Roman X signifieth ten and doth also represent the figure of the crosse for neither doth this figure in the Hebrew tongue signifie ten neither was there any such figure written in the tables 3. These reasons rather may be yeelded why the morall precepts only were written in these tables 1. Because these onely the Lord pronounced with his owne mouth the other were delivered by Moses 2. The morall precepts are most evident and manifest as grounded upon the light of nature 3. They were so pronounced as that all the people were witnesses thereof and therefore least exception could be taken
unto them Tostat. quaest 21. QUEST XLII Why there were but two tables neither more nor fewer THe two tables c. The reasons why there were two tables were these 1. Because if all the Commandements had beene written in one table of stone it would have beene too large and so too heavie and cumbersome for Moses to beare whereas being now divided in two they need not bee so great in thicknesse or bredth and so were more portable for Moses that he might carrie them without a miracle which some Hebrewes vnnecessarily conceive for they being tables of stone in forme and fashion made like unto writing tables but larger not thicke or grosse but plaine and of no great thicknesse but so much as might suffice for the depth of the letters might well bee taken up and borne in Moses hand 2. But the speciall reason of this division of the tables into two is to distinguish the Commandements which concerned our dutie toward God and the other towards our neighbour The first being written in one table and the other in the second Tostat. qu. 23. QUEST XLIII How the tables were written on both sides Vers. 15. THey were written on both sides 1. R. Salomon thinketh that each table was so written that the letters might appeare on both sides and so be read indifferently on each side But this opinion is improbable for two unlikely things are here presupposed one that the stone whereof the tables were made was transparent that what was on the one side written might be discerned on the other and beside whereas the letters appearing on the backside must be read backward these letters by another miraculous worke must on both sides appeare all one 2. Lyran. Tostatus and Lippoman thinke that the tables were written each on both sides as in the first table there might be the three first Commandements which Tostatus maketh but two graven on the one side and the fourth on the other so in the second foure on the one side and two on the other which he divideth into three or he thinketh that the same Commandements might be written on the inside and repeated againe on the outside So also Gallasius aversa adversa parte scriptas fuisse that they were written on the neare and ofward side both of them such writing the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 written behinde and before But the words of the text will not beare this sense for thus the tables should have been written on their foure sides whereas it is said they were written mishene on the two sides 3. Therefore the meaning is no other but this that these tables were written on the two sides namely the two inward or foresides And so Oleaster noteth by the signification of the word gheber which he pronounceth without any asperation at all eber which signifieth properly not the side but the forepart because so the word ghabar or abar signifieth to goe over or passe on before So also Vatabluâ— translateth ab utraque faecie on both the foresides And thus the writing might better be preserved one table lapping over another like unto a booke Oleaster But this further may be gathered that these tables were written full within that no spare place was left which signified that the Law of God was perfect Et nullum locum nobis relictum aliquid addendi That no place was left for us to adde any thing to his Law Simler QUEST XLIV Why the tables are called the worke of God Vers. 16. ANd these tables were the worke of God and this writing was the writing of God 1. Some Hebrewes thinke because it is said before vers 15. that they were written and here againe mention is made of the writing that the first writing was of the Commandements only the second was the exposition of the Commandements But that there was no such exposition is shewed before quest 41. 2. But in that the tables are said both to be the worke of God and writing of God to signifie that God both prepared those tables and was the writer also he was both artifex tabularum scriptor the workman of the tables and the writer Cajetan The second tables were factâ— opere Mosis made by Moses workmanship and written onely by God Tostat. qu. 23. 3. And whereas they are said to be Gods worke we are not to thinke with some that these tables of stone were of purpose now created of God anew Vocatur factio Dei non creatio sed delatio The worke of God is not said to bee the creation but the fashioning and preparing of them Tostat. 4. And this was not done by the worke of Angels as Tostatus thinketh aut scalpello non calamo or was graven with a knife not written with a pen Cajetan For the Lord needed no such instruments but it was written with the finger of God chap. 31.8 that it as Ambrose expoundeth Spiritu suo dedit legem He gave his Law by his Spirit whereby it is written in the fleshie tables of our hearts See more chap. 31. vers 18. QUEST XLV How many precepts each table contained COncerning the order observed in the writing of the Commandements in the tables there are divers opinions 1. Some thinke that the negative precepts were written in one table and the affirmative in another But this cannot be admitted for these causes 1. There are but two affirmative precepts the fourth concerning the Sabbath and the fifth Honour thy father and mother so it would follow that two precepts should onely be in one table and eight in another and so the one table must needs be very large â—he other very little 2. Thus also the precepts which concerne our dutie toward God and the other belonging to our neighbour should bee mingled together 3. And the greatest inconvenience of all is that the order of the Commandements should be inverted and that they were not written in the same order wherein they were delivered Tostat. qu. 24. 2. Rab. Salâ—mon and so also Iosephus doe thinke that five Commandements were written in the first table and five in the second and to the foure first they joyne the fifth Honour thy father c. in the first table But by this meanes the precepts of divers kindes which command love toward God and our neighbour should be put together which are better distinguished into two tables 3. Tostatus with other doe distinguish the Commandements well in respect of the tables placing in the first those which containe our dutie toward God and in the second those which are to bee practised toward our neighbour but the Commandements he rightly divideth nor making of the two first but one and so counting but three in the first table and dividing the last into two which is but one But these two points are handled before at large that it were superflous to treat of them here againe the first quest â— 10. generall before the Commandements chap. 20. and the second quest 1.
upon the 10. Commandement 4. Wherefore the Commandements are thus best sorted that to the first belong foure prescribing our dutie toward God to the second six touching our neighbour the last Thou shalt not covet c. being but one intire precept as is shewed in the places before quoted QUEST XLVI Whether the writing of the tables were the first writing in the woâ—ld Vers. 16. ANd the writing c. Ferus inferreth upon this Quòd Deus fuerit primus author scripturae literarum c. That God was the first author of writing and letters 1. Because Cadmus that is said to have invented the letters among the Greekes was long after in the time of Othâ—â—iel one of the Judges and Nicostrata or Carmentis which found out the Latine letters was in the time of Iair another of the Judges 2. And it was fit that no other should be the author of so profitable a thing but God for there is nothing that bringeth us neerer to the knowledge of God than writing therein is contained the historie of things past and present and the declaration of things to come And thereby God speaketh unto us and declareth his will 3. So this is the third gift that God hath given unto man to bring him to the knowledge of himselfe the first is to meditate in the minde of God the second to expresse the meditation of our minde by speech the third to commit to writing sic Ferus Wherein as Ferus in some thing collecteth well that the invention of the Hebrew letters was more ancient than the times of Cadmus or Carmentis and that so profitable an invention came from God yet two things hee affirmeth the one being uncertaine whether this invention proceeded from God mediaâ—ely or immediately the first is more probable as other arts of graving and working in brasse and such like were invented by men Gen. 4. yet through Gods gifts the other is untrue that this writing of the tables was first of all for before this chap. 24. it is said that Moses wrote all the words of the Lord in a booke And although Moses is held to have beene the most ancient writer in the world as is proved before qu. 7. in 2. Exod. yet it is like and verie probable that letters and writing were in use before Moses time as is likewise shewed before quest 13. upon the second chapter QUEST XLVII Where Ioshua stayed all the while Moses was in the mount Vers. 17 ANd when Ioshua heard c. 1. It is evident that Ioshua went not up with Moses into the top of the mountaine for then he should have heard what the Lord had told Moses concerning the making of the golden Calfe which he was ignorant of as it appeareth afterward by his speech to Moses Ferus 2. But whether hee returned to the camp or not during this space of fortie dayes and fortie nights some make it doubfull as Hugo de S. Victor because onely in ascensu descensu legiturfuissaecum Mose he is read to have beene with Moses in his going up and comming downe yet it is evident by thâ—se reasons that Ioshuah all this while returned not to the camp 1. Seeing Ioshua met Moses in the uppermost part of the hill when they had no sight of the camp but onely heard a noise a farre off as the next words shew it had beene too laboursome for Ioshua everie day to goe downe and come up againe so high into the hill 2. He not knowing the time of Moses returne by this meanes might have missed of him and so failed in his attendances Tostatus qu. 25. 3. If Ioshua had beene in the camp he could not have beene ignorant of that which was done there as it appeareth he was by his speech to Moses Iunius Cajetan 3. Therefore Ioshua stayed in that place where Moses left him when he was called up into the thicke cloud Ioshua followed Moses up still into the hill after Aaron and his two sonnes and the Elders were departed chap. 24. and when Moses was called up after six dayes into the top of the hill there Ioshua stayed where hee had stood waiting with Moses But how Ioshua was occupied these fortie dayes and nights is not expressed nor whereof he lived he might feed of the Manna which might fall also in that place Tostatus Without eating any thing it is not like hee continued as Moses did such a miracle would not have beene omitted as it is so written of Moses QUEST XLVIII Whether Ioshua first heard the noise Vers. 17. ANd when Ioshua heard the noise c. 1. Tostatus here noteth that Ioshua first heard the noise and shouting because it is likely he was quicker of hearing than Moses who was now 80. yeares old and Ioshua about 39. or 40. But seeing Moses immediately maketh answer that it was not the noise of warre in the host it seemeth that his eare was not heavie in that he discerned the noise what it was and Moses must bee supposed to have beene verie deafe that could not heare such a confused noise and shouting the reason why Moses though he heard the shouting as well as Ioshua yet first spake not was for that he had revealed nothing yet to Ioshua concerning the sinne of the people Iosuae verba indicant silentium Mosis Ioshuahs speech declareth Moses silence Lippoman 2. Lyranus thinketh that Moses discerned of the noise what it was propter vivacitatâ—â— sensus c. because of the quicknesse of his sense in his old age for being 120. yeares old his eye was not dimmed nor his naturall force abated Deut. 34.7 But although Moses at these yeares had fresh and quicke senses it is not like that they were more lively than Ioshuahs at halfe his yeares 3. Tostatus thinketh that Moses immediately after Ioshuahs speech did not discerne the noise but after some pause as they went on still walking he perceived more But in that Moses maketh answer unto Ioshuah it seemeth there was no long pause made but that Moses in the same place having listened with his eare gave judgement of the noise 4. The verie cause therefore why Moses ghessed right what this noise meant was for that God had revealed to him before what the people had done Moses pramonitus intelligebat quid sonus populi vociferantis portenderet Moses being premonished did understand what the noise of the people shouting out did portend Lippom. Gallas Lyranus also toucheth this reason QUEST XLIX Why Moses anger was kindled at the fight of the Calfe and not before Vers. 19. AS soone as he came neere c. he saw c. so Moses wrath waxed hot c. 1. Gallasius thinketh that Moses Satis ira accensus audita populi defectione was sufficiently angrie and moved already as soone as he had heard that the people had fallen away and that this anger was more increased by that which he saw But although Moses when the Lord told him what the people had done was
before and this were but one Simler But the contrary appeareth Deut. 9.20 4. Therefore these may be the causes why Moses prayeth againe 1. The Lord granted before that he would not destroy all the people at once sed 〈◊〉 ex inâ—ervallo vel per partes but whether he would doe it in continuance of time and as it wore by peecemeale hee knew not which he prayeth for here Lippom. 2. And there might be other sinnes as well as this for the which the Lord should be angry with them as Deut. 9.18 he saith he prayed and fasted because of all their sins Tostat. 3. And now he prayeth not only for the turning away or judgements but that the Lord would be againe fully reconciled unto his people and restore them to their former state and condition of favour Simler 4. And he prayeth not only for the pardoning of their temporall punishment but against everlasting death which sinne deserveth Osiander QUEST LXXVIII What booke it was out of the which Moses wisheth to be raced Vers. 32. IF thou wilt not race me out of the booke which thou hast written 1. By this booke R. Salomon understandeth the booke of the Law as Deut. 33.4 Moses commanded us a Law hee desireth if the Lord were purposed to destroy the people that his name should not be mentioned in the Law nor he taken to be the Law-giver for to what purpose should he be spoken of as a Law-giver unto that people which was not Contra. But this is not the meaning 1. Because the bookes of the Law were not yet written Moses therefore would not desire to be raced out of a booke which was not 2. Neither would Moses aske that of God which was in his owne power to doe now Moses did write the booke of the Law and he might have left out his owne name if he would 3. Againe Moses setteth against this great benefit the safety of the people the greatest losse which he could have but this had beene no such great losse unto Moses not to have his name remembred in any such written booke 4. Moses here useth a disjunctive speech Doâ— this or else race mee c. but if he meant the racing of his name out of the booke of the Law there had beene no disjunction at all for one had followed upon the other for if Israel had beene destroyed neither should Moses have written the booke of the Law which was only given unto Israel for it had beene in vaine to give Lawes unto a people that were not 5. Moses also speaketh of a booke which God had written now Moses writ the booke of the Law the ten Commandements only were written with Gods hand Tostat. quaest 41. 2. R. Abraham Francus who writeth upon Aben Ezra understandeth the racing out of this booke of the death of the body and he addeth further that there is quaedam rota coelestâ—â— a certaine celestiall wheele wherein are many starres which worke by their influence upon those iâ—â—eriour bodies and by the moving of this wheele death or life is caused so that thus he would interpret Moses speech Cause me by the motion of this wheele to dye But seeing the motion of this wheele which he imagineth is the naturall cause as he supposeth of life and death Moses could not dye naturally before his time came and if now he should have died it had beene not a naturall death but supernaturally caused by God therefore not by the motion of any such wheele Tostat. ibid. 3. Hierom also differeth not much from this former opinion in substance understanding Moses desire of death in this life he wisheth Perire in praesentiam non in perpetnum To perish for the present not for ever But whereas the Lord afterward answereth Moses Whosoever hath sinned will I put out of my booke vers 33. it followeth that they which sinne not that is without repentance are not put out of that booke but all as well the righteous as unrighteous the just and the sinners are subject to this temporall death therefore Moses speaketh not of that 4. Hierom hath beside another opinion for upon that place Psalm 69.28 Let them bee put out of the booke of life neither let them bee written with the righteous he inferreth that God hath two bookes viventium justorum of the living and of the righteous that was the booke of the living In quo ante adventum Dei Prophetae Patriarchae scripti sunt Wherein the Prophets and Patriarkes were written before the comming of God in the flesh the other wherein the faithfull are written whereof our blessed Saviour speaketh Rejoyce because your names are written in the booke of life and of the first Moses saith he speaketh in this place So some doe understand this booke in the same sense with Hierom of the booke of Gods Covenant which hee made with Israel out of the which the Gentiles were excluded of which mention is made Ezech. 13.9 where the Lord saith that the false Prophets shall not be written in the writing of the house of Israel So Moses desireth here not to be counted of the family of Israel wherein all the Prophets and Patriarkes were written But if Israel had now perished the booke of Gods Covenant with Israel likewise should have beene no more remembred therefore it had beene superfluous for Moses to desire to be raced out of that booke And againe the booke of the living mentioned in the Psalme is the same with the booke of life spoken of Apocal. 3.5 I will not put his name out of the booke of life In which booke of life not only the Prophets and Patriarkes before Christ but all the faithfull before and since are written 5. Cajetane understandeth it De libro principatuâ— in hoc mundo Of the booke of principality and preeminence in the world for it is decreed with God as in a booke Quod isto vel illi principentur in hac vita That such or such shall beare rule in this life And so Moses desireth to lose his principality and government which the Lord promised him that hee would make of him a great nation c. But whereas they which sinned only are taken out of this booke of life and yet many wicked and evill men are governours in the world it cannot be meant of any such booke or decree of principalitie or government 6. Oleaster by this booke thinketh to be understood the booke of the acts and doings of the righteous which is mentioned Iosh. 10.13 and 2 Sam. 1.18 But there are many righteous men whose names and acts were not written in that booke which is now thought also to be lost therefore it had beene no great matter for Moses to wish to be put out of that booke 7. Burgensis maketh foure bookes of God 1. One is the booke of life wherein only are written the names of the Elect that are ordained unto life as when souldiers are written in the muster booke which are pressed
and appointed for warre 2. That also may be called the booke of life wherein those things are written which lead and direct us unto life eternall as that may be called a booke of warfare wherein the precepts of the act military are contained So the Scriptures are called the booke of life wherein the truth is contained Eccles. 24.26 3. The booke of God is that divine power wherein every mans doings shall bee brought to his remembrance as it is said Dan. 7.10 Iudgement was set and the bookes opened 4. There is also a booke of the righteous which conteineth the acts of the Saints for the memory of times to come In this place he thinketh the booke of God here may be taken either the first or second way Burgens addit 8. But Moses here speaketh of a booke only written by God but those bookes of the Scriptures and of the righteous were written by men 8. Tostatus maketh three bookes one a great booke wherein are all things registred in the world and all men foreseene good or bad which booke hee saith is divided into two other bookes the one which only containeth the names of those which are ordained unto life which is called liber praedestinationis the booke of predestination the other wherein they only are written whom the Lord foreseeth shall come to everlasting destruction and this is called liber praescientia the booke of Gods prescience And in this place Moses by Gods booke understandeth the booke of predestination Tostat. qu. 41. But as Tostatus resolveth well that the booke of life and of Gods predestination is here understood so yet that assertion of his that there is a booke of prescience wherein their names are written which shall be damned hath no warrant in Scripture for although it be most true that as the number is certaine with God of those which shall be saved so the Lord knoweth who are left unto destruction yet the Scripture only giveth the name of a booke unto the first and they which are rejected are not said to bee written in any booke but only not to be written in the booke of life Psal. 69.28 Apocal. 27.8 9. Therefore thus better are the Lords bookes distinguished 1. There are two generall and common bookes as they may be so called the one is the booke of Gods prescience and providence wherein the Lord seeth and directeth all things which hee himselfe doth in the world of this booke speaketh the Prophet David Psal. 139.26 In thy booke were all things written Simler 2. The second generall booke is the booke of remembrance before the Lord wherein all the acts of men good and evill are as registred before the Lord as Malach. 3.16 it is said A booke of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord so Apocal. 20.12 other bookes beside the booke of life were opened the booke of every ones conscience Borrh. 3. Then the third booke is the particular summe of all the elect appointed to salvation and this is the booke of life which Moses meaneth here Simler QUEST LXXIX How the Lord is said to have a booke TAke me out of the booke c. 1. This is a metaphoricall speech sicut nos ea literis consignamus as we use to signe with letters those things the memory whereof we would have kept so God is said to have a booke not that he needeth any booke of remembrance but because all things are present before him as if they were written in a booke Simler Iunius 2. So also Thomas Liber vitaein Deo dicitur metaphorice The booke of life is said to be with God by a metaphor according to the use and custome of men for they which are chosen to any speciall place or service conscribuntur in libro are written in a booke as souldiers and Counsellers as among the Romans the Senators were called patres conscripti the fathers whose names were written or registred 3. So also Burgens Sicut liber militiae vocatur in quo scribuntur electi ad militiam As the muster booke or of warfare is so called wherein their names are written which are chosen for warre so the Lord is said to have a booke of life wherein all they are comprehended which are ordained to salvation Burgens addit 8. QUEST LXXX Whether any can indeed be raced out of the booke of life TAke me out of the booke of life 1. Some thinke that the elect indeed may be raced out of the booke of life for they which are elected Si secure vivunt absque penitentia à numer◠electorum Dei excluduntur If they live securely without repentance are excluded out of the ranke and number of the elect Marbach To the same purpose also Osiander Deletur rursus de libro vitae c. He is blotted againe out of the booke of life which by his sinnes loseth the celestiall inheritance 2. Contra. But this is an unsound opinion 1. For thus either they must make God ignorant of things to come that he certainly forseeth not the end of the elect and reprobate and so is deceived in his decree in ordaining some to be saved which shall not be saved or else they must be driven to confesse that Gods decree is mutable that hee changeth his sentence in excluding those upon their sinnes which were before elected But neither of those are to be admitted for neither is God subject to change Iames 1.17 neither can his prescience or foreknowledge be deceived as the Apostle saith The foundation of God remaineth sure c. the Lord knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2.19 But this were no sure foundation if they which God in the decree of his election knew to be his should afterward fall out not to be his 2. Indeed they which live and dye without repentance cannot be elected But it is impossible that they which are elected should finally fall away or be void of repentance but as God hath decreed the end of such to be everlasting salvation so he hath also ordained the way and meanes which they should walke in as the Apostle saith Ephes. 1.4 As he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that wee should be holy and without blame before him in love Therefore Tostatus with other of that side are herein more sound than the moderne Lutherans Qui intus scripti sunt in libro vitae secundum firmam Dei praedestinationem impossibile est deleri c. It is impossible for those to be blotted out which are written in the booke of life according to Gods firme and certaine predestination Tostat. qu. 43. So also Lyranus Impossibilis est deletio c. It is impossible to be blotted out if we take it simplie to be written in the booke of life So also Burgens QUEST LXXXI Of the two wayes whereby we are said to be written in the booke of life BUt one may be said two wayes to bee written in the booke of life 1. Lyranus hath
temporall things because Gods will is not revealed unto us we must limit our desires with a subordination of our wils unto Gods will as our blessed Saviour there prayeth out of the naturall will and desire of man not looking unto Gods secret counsell But in spirituall things where Gods will is evidently knowne as Moses knew that it was impossible for Gods decree in the election of his Saints to bee changed it had beene an idle and superfluous condition inwardly to have so conceived or outwardly to have professed if it were possible himselfe knowing the contrary that it was impossible 9. And to say that Moses preferred the safety of the people before his owne soule as Calvin seemeth to affirme Nihil aliud venit in mentâ—â— quam ut salvus fit populus Nothing else came into his minde than that the people should be safe may be thought to be against the rule of charity for though another mans soule ought to be dearer unto mee than mine owne bodily life yet my soule ought to be dearer unto me than all mens soules in the world And Tostatus further addeth that if all the soules of the Saints yea of the Virgin Marie should perish unlesse my soule perish Citius deberem eligere omâ—es illas perire quam animam meam I ought rather to wish all their soules to perish than mine owne 10. Wherefore this only remaineth to be the meaning and sense of Moses fervent desire here that because the salvation of Israel was joyned with Gods glory both in respect of the promises made to Fathers which it was not for Gods honour to frustrate and to prevent the blasphemies which the Egyptians and other would be ready upon the ruine and destruction of the Lords people to cast out against him Moses therefore Non tantum populi salutem sed ante omnia gloriam Dei spectavit Did not only looke unto the salvation of the people but unto the glory of God so that in respect thereof is carelesse of his owne salvation Simler Pretiosa est nobis animarum salus sed multo pretiosior nobis esse debet gloria Dei The salvation of our soules is precious unto us but Gods glory ought to be more precious unto us Gallas So Moses in this place prayeth not as a man beside himselfe not considering what he said as neither was Paul forgetfull of himselfe when he wished to be accursed so Israel might be saved for Paul so writeth Post longam meditationem After long meditation and â—dvisement QUEST LXXXIII In what sense the Lord saith I will put out of my booke c. Vers. 33. WHosoever hath sinned against me him will I put out of my booke c. 1. Some doe gather hence Inconsideratè precatum Mosem That Moses prayed inconsiderately quia castigat Deus praepostorum ajus votum because God correcteth his preposterous desire Calvin But Ferus collecteth better as if the Lord should say thus Delector quidem tanto charitatis tuae ardore c. I am delighted with such great heat of charity but justice must be kept which condemneth not the innocent c. 1. Hugo de S. Victor understandeth the Lord here to speake of blotting out not secundùm praescientiam Dei according to Gods prescience but secundum praesentem statum in respect of their present state So also Tostat. quaest 44. But the Lord answereth to Moses petition in his sense which was to be raced out of his booke rather than the people should perish not in respect of his present state for that had beene to desire to sinne and by sinne to be raced out but eternally therefore in that sense the Lord also maketh answer 3. Some hold indeed that God may race out the very elect upon their sinne Marbach But that were to make God mutable and changeable See this assertion confuted before quâ—st 80. 4. Iunius maketh it a conditionall speech si aliqui delendi essent if any were to be blotted out then they which sinne shall be so raced out But the Lord speaking here of notorious sinners pronounceth certainly what shall be their end they shall have no part in God 5. Some interpret it only of the manifestation of the rejection of the wicked Deâ—â— tandem patefacturum reprobâ—s c. That God will at the length make manifest the reprobate which for a while seemed to be counted in the number of the elect Calvin But the Lord answering to Moses petition keepeth the same sense now Moses by racing out meaneth not any such manifestation for he was no reprobate but indeed an actuall blotting or putting out therefore that must be also the Lords meaning here 6. Borrhaiâ—s giveth this sense of these words Whosoever hath sinned c. that it must not be understood of every sinne but of such as sinne and are not restored by repentance So also Ferus Qui peccaverit mihi He that sinneth against me quò inâ—â—itur finalis impâ—â—nitâ—ntia by the which is signified finall impenitencie This exposition is sound but yet it taketh not away the doubt and scruple which lieth in the other words him will I put out c. and not in these 7. Wherefore I rest in Gallasius interpretation Delere hic dici impropriè atque accipi pra rejici reprobari That to blot out is spoken improperly and it is spoken to be rejected and become a reprobate the Lord will blot them out that is they shall not be numbred among the elect And this exposition is warranted by that place Psal. 69.28 Let them be put out of the booke of life neither let them be written with the righteous to be put out then of the booke of life is as not at all to be written there QUEST LXXXIV What day of visitation the Lord meaneth here Vers. 34. IN the day of visitation c. 1. Some of the Hebrewes say Primum diem anni That the first day of every yeere is this day of visitation But God did not use to plague them upon every such day 2. Some understand it of the captivity of Babylon but beside that other causes are shewed by the Prophets of that captivity so the sinnes of the ages then present God would not visit the sinnes of the fathers upon so many generations he saith he will visit the iniquities of the fathers but to the third and fourth generation 3. The Interlinearie Glosse referreth it to the Romanâ— captivity But our Saviour in the Gospell sheweth there was another cause thereof for that they did not know the time of their visitation Luk. 19.44 Christs bloud which the Jewes wished to be upon them and their seed calleth for vengeance against them 4. Lyranus taketh this day of visitation for the day of finall judgement So also Osiander But that judgement shall be generall the Lord here speaketh of a particular day of visitation for the Israelites onely 5. Some thinke that God sent a speciall plague not long after for this idolatry which is mentioned in the
these two reasons may be given because such commonly as are used in that service are lewd persons themselves and so odious and men that are evill bent would not have any punishment inflicted upon sinne and therefore they hate the very minister of justice But seeing that God useth as well good Angels as evill in the execution of his judgments and the place and calling of a Judge is honourable that giveth sentence upon the wicked and seeing it is as pleasing to God to punish a wicked person as to set free the righteous it cannot be an odious thing in it selfe to be a minister of justice Simler 7. Doct. The number of the elect certaine with God Vers. 32. TAke me out of the booke God then hath as it were a booke written wherein all the names of the elect are contained whence it may be concluded and inferred that the number of the elect is certaine with God and none of them can possibly perish Piscator as the Apostle saith The foundation of God is sure and hath this seale the Lord knoweth who are hiâ— 2 Tim. 2.19 5. Places of Confutation 1. Controv. That it is not lawfull to make images to represent God by Vers. 5. TOmorrow shall be the holy day of Iehovah It is evident then that neither Aaron nor yet Israel did thinke this Idoll to be their God but they thought this tended to Gods honour and they used this only as a visible representation of God the Romanists therefore use but a slender shift when they alleage that they are unlike the former Idolaters Quod statâ—â— simulachra neque vocent neque existâ—ment deos Because they doe neither call nor thinke their images to be gods for no more did the Gentiles thinke that the very idols which they worshipped were their gods they called them all by a figurative speech because they were made to represent their gods likewise those are but vaine pretences which are commonly used by the popish Idolaters Nolumâ—s à Deo recedere ipsum quaerimus c. his adjumentis imbecillitas nostra sublevatur c. Wee purpose not to depart from Gods service wee seeke and serve him but by these meanes our infirmity is helped c. for all this here the Israelites pretended Gallas See more hereof quest 18. before and Synops. centur 2. error 44. 2. Controv. The Papists proved to be Idolaters like unto the Israelites Vers. 6. ANd offered burnt offerings c. Though the idolatrouâ— Israelites intended here the service of God yet in as much as they set up an Altar before the golden calfe danced before it and praised it they were very formall Idolaters and idoll Worshippers The Romanists therefore are not here wrongfully charged to worship idols seeing they set them up in their Church before Altars decke them with flowers adorne them with apparell and jewels burne candles before them and incense kneele unto them and knocke their breasts yea they set their similitude of beasts before their images as a dog they dedicate to Rachus an hog to Antonie a Dragon to S. George an Hart to Hubert Gallas 3. Controv. Against the Iewes that boast they came not of Idolaters THe Jewes likewise are here refuted who make their boast Quod ex iis qui idololatria dediti fuerunt non descenderunt That they are not descended of them which were given to idolatry whom Cyril thus confuteth Patres eorum in deserto vitulum conflatilem adoraveruâ— Their fathers in the desert worshipped the golden Calfe and in the time of the Judges they went after strange gods and under the Kings Judea as well as Israel played the harlot Ierem. 3.8 and committed spirituall fornication 4. Controv. That the Pope may erre Vers. 5. WHen Aaron saw that he made an Altar before it By this that Aaron was seduced and not only made a calfe for the idolatrous people but erected an Altar and proclaimed an holy day we see that even holy men of excellent gifts and high calling erroribus peccatis gravissimis obnoxios are subject to errours and grievous sinnes Piscator Which sheweth the shamelesse pride of them which being neither in calling nor gifts like Aaron yet say they cannot erre B. Babing The Pope is farre inferiour to Aaron who erred at the least he would not challenge to be superiour to Peter who erred in denying his master and after was received when he was reproved openly by S. Paul Galath 2. See more of this Synops Pap. Centur. 1. error 47. 5. Controv. Against the invocation of Saints Vers. 13. REmember Abraham and Isaack c. The Romanists doe urge this place to prove the invocation of Saints who they say being in heaven doe pray for us here in earth But herein they contradict themselves holding that the Fathers under the old Testament were in that dungeon of darknesse which they call Limbus Patrum and so were ignorant of such things as were done in the world but it is evident in this place that Moses doth not make these Fathers Mediators or intercessors for Israel but only presseth and urgeth the covenant which the Lord confirmed by oath unto them 6. Controv. Against merits LYranus further upon this place noteth Allegat merita Patrum Moses alleageth the merit of the Fathers But Moses insisteth only upon the promise which the Lord made to Abraham which was fouâ—ded upon the Mesiah therefore Non propter patrum merita sed respectus promissi Messia petit he maketh request not for the merits or worthinesse of the Fathers but in respect of the Messias who was promised Simler For neither was Abraham himselfe justified by his workes of merits but by faith as Saint Paul sheweth Rom. 4.3 7. Controv. Against the Lutherans that tolerate images in their Churches Vers. 20. ANd he tooke the calfe Moses did not only restraine the people from worshipping this abominable idoll but he defaceth it and taketh it out of the way which practice and example of Moses sheweth their errour who although they condemne the adoration of images yet thinke they may be tolerated in their Churches But Moses could not indure the sight of this Idoll So the Apostle saith Babes keepe yourselves from Idols Ioh. 5.21 They must not only beware of worshipping them but take heed of the offence that may come by the sight of them Gallas 8. Controv. Against the Popes insolencie that indureth not to be reproved Vers. 21. ANd Moses said unto Aaron c. Though Aaron were appointed of God to be the high Priest yea he was Moses elder brother yet Moses doth noâ— forbeare him but doth openly reprove him therefore the insolency of the Bishop of Rome is intolerable who holdeth scorne to bee reproved unto whom his clawbackes ascribe so much Vt simille 〈◊〉 ducat ad â—reâ—m nâ—mâ— ei dicat cur facis sic c. That although he should lead a thousand soules to hell none should say unto him why dost thou so Simler Paul rebuked Peter openly who by
hurtfull unto him for he could not have seene Gods glorie and live Calvin It was therefore commendable in Moses that hee desired in cognitione Dei magis magis aâ—geri to increase more and more in the knowledge of God Marbach As Bernard speaketh of some Qui pro fidei magnitudine inveniuntur qui inducantur in omnem plenitudinem Which are found worthy for their great faith to be brought to a fulnesse of knowledge talis erat Moses qui andebat dicere c. such an one was Moses that was bold to say shew thy selfe unto mee Such was Philip that desired the Father to be shewed them and David that said Thy face will I seeke Magna fides magna meretur c. magnuâ—â—iritibus magnus accurrit sponsus A great faith is worthy of great things to great spirits the Spouse offereth himselfe in stately manner To this purpose Bernard Herein Moses desire then was to be commended but he goeth somewhat beyond his bounds Hereof Ambrose thus writeth excellently Norat sanctus vates Domini quod invisibilem Deum facie ad faciem videre non posset sed devotio sancta mensuram super greditur putavit Deo etiam hoc esse possibile ut corporeis oculis faceret id quod est incorporeum comprehendi non reprehensibilis hic error sed etiam grata cupiditas inexplebilis c. The holy Prophet of God knew well enough that he could not see the invisible God face to face but his holy devotion exceedeth measure and he thought this not to be impossible unto God to make that to be comprehended with corporall eyes which was incorporeall this errour is not much to be reprehended but his insatiable desire was gratefull and accepted c. Cyrill more fully toucheth this point comparing together Moses desire here and Philips Ioh. 14. that Christ should shew them the Father Studiosus quidem Philippus fuit sed non adeo acutus ut commode apte quae sit visio Dei posset intelligere Philip was studious and desirous but not sharp enough to understand what the vision of God is c. And in the same place hee sheweth that Philip failed in these two things first in his understanding for it was impossible for a man oculiâ— corporis Dei substantiam aspicere with the eyes of his body to see the substance of God and in his discretion Non valde prudenter cum imago character patris verus adesset Neither did he aske this wisely seeing the true image and character of God Christ Jesus was present seeing then that the vision and knowledge of the Son sufficed to understand the nature of the father supervacaneus iste Philippi sermo videtur this speech of Philip seemed to be superfluous Non tamen lande sua privandus Philippus yet Philip is not to be deprived of his due praise c. And in these two things Cyrillus setteth forth his commendation first in respect of that which he desired Visionem Patris caeteris omnibus rebus anteposuit He preferred the vision of the Father before all other things Secondly in regard of the end that whereas the Jewes boasted of Moses that God spake with him in the mount and shewed him his glorie hee thought that the Jewes mouths might be stopped Si Christus quoque credentibus in cum Patrem ostenderet c. If Christ also would shew the Father to those which beleeved in him c. In like manner Moses here is to be commended in these two things first ut plurimum spiritualia petit Moses desireth all spirituall things he desired nothing more than to see Gods glorie which is all one with that petition Hallowed bee thy name Ferus And Moses propounded unto him a good end that hee might see Gods glorie ut de eo populo tuo concionari queam that I may preach thereof to thy people Osiander So also in two other things Moses faileth because hac carne circundatus being compassed about with this flesh hee desired to see the greatnesse of Gods glorie and that hee desired to see the brightnesse of Gods glorie qui ministerium non lucis sed umbrae teneret who had the ministerie not of the light it selfe but of the shadow Borrh. QUEST XXXVII What the Lord meaneth by All my good Vers. 19. I Will make all my good goe before thee 1. Some by all my good understand all Gods creatures which he saw in the creating of them to be good and those hee caused to come before Moses that in them hee might behold the glorie of God ex Simlero But Moses which had writ the storie of the creation therein had seene and considered Gods power before and this is a common and ordinarie knowledge of God by his creatures but here Moses craveth an extraordinarie demonstration of his glorie 2. Tostatus by all the Lords good understandeth the divers kindes of good things bonum spirituale both the spirituall good which was the divine essence of God bonum corporale a corporall good which was a most glorious lightsome body both which the Lord shewed unto Moses quest 18. But although it bee true that Moses both inwardly in his minde and outwardly with the eyes of his body did see Gods glorie yet the Divine Essence hee saw not for no man can see God and live as the Lord himselfe saith 3. Ferus giveth this sense thou needest not looke so high as unto my essence inspice opera mea inspice bonâ— quae tibi feci faciam looke unto my workes looke unto those good things which I have done for thee and meane yet to doe c. But this sight and experience Moses had of the Lord before he desireth to see him now in an extraordinarie manner and measure 4. Lippoman followeth the same sense Omne bonum meum quote donabo istum populum oculis tuiâ— videbis All my good which I will bestow upon thee and this people thou shalt see with thine eyes But the demonstration here made of Gods glorie was presently done it cannot therefore bee referred to the benefits which the Lord intended afterward to bestow 5. Some doe understand it of the life to come Requiem aternam dabo tibi in qua est omne bonum in visione Dei c. I will give thee everlasting rest wherein there is all good in the sight of God Gloss. interlin Hugo de S. Victor So also Thomas Aquinas sheweth at large how in illa foelicitate quae provenit ex divina visione c. in that felicitie and happinesse which commeth of the vision of God all humane desire shall bee satisfied and so God will shew them all his good 1. Est quoddam hamanum desiderium intellectuale There is a certaine intellectuall desire of man in the knowledge of the truth which shall then be satisfied 2. Est quoddam desiderium rationale A certaine desire grounded on reason as in attaining unto morall vertues this shall also then
be filled when as reason shall be perfect without errour 3. There is in a civill life desired honour and then shall they reigne with Christ. 4. And another thing is here desired fama celebritas renowne and fame and then the blessed Saints shall be famous in heaven 5. Another thing here desired is riches and that blessed estate est omnium bonorum sufficientia there is a sufficiencie of all good things 6. There is also delectatio perfectissiâ—â— most perfect delight which is another thing sought for here 7. There is also a common naturall desire in everie thing to desire it owne conservation which then shall most abundantly be satisfied in everlasting perpetuitie which is subject to no change In this manner he sheweth how the Lord will shew all his good in the next life But the Lords promise being here presently performed that what Moses desired the Lord in part promised and what he promised he at this time shewed and effected it cannot conveniently be put off to the future time 6. Cajetan understandeth all this good to be all those good things qua continentur in ipso Deo which are contained in God as his power wisdome goodnesse justice which the Lord proclaimed before Moses as all those epithets are ascribed unto God in the next chapter vers 6. So also Osiander Revelabo tibi in verbo bonitaâ—em I will reveale unto tâ—â—e my goodnesse in word that by his eares rather than his eyes hee should know God But it is evident in that the Lord granted Moses to see his backe parts vers 23. though hee could not see his face that hee saw as well a vision with his eyes as heard a voice with his eares 7. Therefore by Gods goodnesse here is understood his glorie as vers 22. while my glorie passeth by so the Septuagint and Chalde translate here so expound R. Salom. Procop. Lyranus Iun. Borrh. Oleaster giveth this interpretation I will cause to passe by all my good that is meipsum in quo sunt omnia bâ—na my selfe in whom all good things are which also shall be expressed by voice c. So that as Calvin well noteth Quamvis exhibita fuerit oculis visio praecipuas tamen partes fuisse in voce Although there was a vision exhibited to the sight yet the greatest matter was the voice c. Therefore God both to the sight and hearing of Moses made some demonstration of his goodnesse and glorie ut omnes ejus sensus percellantur that all his senses might bee moved Marbach Cum oculis Mosis se signum objecturum promiâ—tit tum additurum vocem c. He promiseth both to object some visible signe to his eye and beside to adde a voice Gallas QUEST XXXVIII How the Lord is said to passe by and why Vers. 19. I Will cause all my good to passe before thy face 1. The Latine Translator readeth Ego ostendam I will shew all my good but the Lord saith not so for he did not shew unto Moses all his goodnesse his face he did not shew neither was Moses able to see it The Lord only saith I will cause to passe by that is I will shew vestigia tantum meorum bonorum onely certaine footsteps and markes or signes of my goodnesse Vatab. 2. In that he saith I will cause to passe by it sheweth that it was but a transitorie vision Transitus significat visionem exigui temporis The passing by signifieth that it should bee but a vision of a short time Calvin Non sic ut in illud figi posset intuitus videntis not so as if he that seeth could fasten his eyes upon it but as one that hastily passeth by Cajetan 3. Who further noteth another circumstance the preposition here used gnal signifieth above thy face rather than before those things which are above us we see onely on the one side that which is next below a full sight we cannot have of those things which are above 4. The like transitorie sight and glimpse as it were of the divine glorie is set forth afterward by the like circumstances as that God will put Moses in a cleft of a rocke hee shall see but as thorow a crevie or small hole then God will cover him with his hand and he will speedily passe by and in this manner hee will but see his back-parts all this sheweth that Moses should not have a full and perfect sight of Gods glorie but in part onely and in some small measure 5. Procopius straineth this sense I will cause my glorie to passe before thee Tu post gloriam meam quae ab aeterna est creatus es Thou wast created after my glorie which was from all eternitie or I will goe before with my glorie tu sequeris ut famulum decet c. and thou shalt follow as it becommeth a servant But the Lord speaketh not here of any such transition of his glorie from the beginning but his passing by at this time neither did Moses follow when God passed by but was still in the cleft of the rocke 6. Augustine understandeth it mystically of Christs passing out of this world to his Father Ipse anto omnes Sanctos transit ad Patrem He before all his Saints passed out of this world to his Father although this may be typically so applyed yet there is beside an historicall sense how at this time the Lord passed by Moses in his glorie QUEST XXXIX How the Lord is said to proclaime his name Vers. 19. I Will proclaime the name of Iehovah before thee 1. Here then appeareth the great errour of the Latine translation which chap. 34. vers 5. readeth that Moses proclaimed the name of the Lord whereas Moses is not there in the originall 2. Augustine here taketh the active for the passive and thus interpreteth it that God would so bring it about ut vocetur Deus in omnibus gentibus that he should be called God among all nations 3. The Gloss. interlinear thus expoundeth Invocabor in nomine Filii per Praedicatores Apostolos I will be called upon in the name of my Sonne by the Preachers and Apostles 4. The author of the scholasticall historie thus Faciam me vocari Deum vostrum ex miraculis I will cause my selfe to be called your God by my miracles But whereas the Lord speaketh here of the proclaiming of his name at this time as it followeth afterward chap. 34.6 these three last expositions being referred to the time to come cannot stand in this place 5. R. Salom. hath here a fabulous conceit that God had written on his back-parts thirteene of his names which Moses did read as the Lord passed by for the same word kara signifieth as well to read as to crie out and proclaime But beside that this conceit is frivolous it is against the text for the word karathi is in the first person the Lord saith I will proclaime 6. Lyranus hath another curious collection who understandeth it de vocatione electorum
all his courses shew the contrarie that hee sought still the good of the people and not his owne 2. Cajetan also hath the like note Dola tibi non mihi ego enim non indigeo tua dolatione Hew to thy selfe not for me for I need none of thy hewing nor yet any of these tables 3. But it is rather a phrase of speech in the Hebrew tongue as Vado tibi ibo mihi Goe thee or I will goe me wherein the English phrase is answerable unto the Hebrew manner of speech And this kinde of speech is often used when no profit is intended as Numb 13.3 the Lord saith to Moses shelach 〈◊〉 Mitte tibi Send thee men to search the land which was not to Moses benefit Oleast So here lecut◠thee is added ex superabundanti of abundance more than needeth Tostat. qu. 2. 4. Lyranus noteth further that because Moses had broken the first tables it was just and right that he should make new QUEST III. Whether the Lord or Moses wrote in these tables and why I Will write 1. God himselfe did write the same words in these tables the ten Commandements which was in the former though Moses prepared them and whereas it is said afterward vers 28. He wrote in the tables it must be referred unto God not unto Moses some make this answer that God did write them because it was done by his authoritie but Moses ministerialiter Moses ministerially But that is not like for whence should Moses have these instruments wherewith he should grave these letters seeing he carried none into the mount Lyranus But to this reason Tostatus who doth often without cause oppose himselfe to Lyranus taketh this exception that as Moses had instruments wherewith to hew out of the rocke the tables so he might have other to grave with Contra. But Moses hewed out the tables after he was gone downe from the Lord before he came up againe and brought them readie hewen and made Moses then had no reason to carry any instruments with him 2. The writing mentioned vers 27. where the Lord saith to Moses Write thou these words is understood of Moses writing not the ten Commandements but the other lawes given in this place in an authenticall booke not in the tables of stone Tostat. Iunius as further is declared in the questions upon the 31. chap. vers 18. 3. In that Moses himselfe hewed these tables Procopius would have Christ the true Lawgiver shadowed forth Qui ipse carnis suae lapicida Who was the preparer and hewer out as it were of his owne flesh But more properly herein Moses resembled Christ that as the first tables being broken the second were prepared by Moses so the law of nature being decaied in man it is repaired in us by Christ and the image of God renued in us Simler Ferus 4. R. Cahadiagon sheweth divers frivolous reasons why these second tables fuerunt digniores primis were more worthie than the first but he is convinced by this that the first were both of Gods making and writing but the latter were onely written by the Lord and prepared by Moses QUEST IV. Whether Moses was to be readie the next morning and why Vers. 2. BE readie in the morning c. 1. Cajetan thinketh that this was not the next morning because the tables could not be hewed and finished in one day but he thinketh onely the time of the day to be noted that he should come up in the morning But beside that the phrase Be readie in the morning or on the morrow alwayes includeth a signification of the next morning following Moses should have beene left in great doubt and suspense when to come up if the Lord had not assigned the time as for the finishing of the worke there is no question but that Moses being thereunto appointed and so enabled of God might dispatch it in a day 2. Therefore Iunius opinion is rather to be received who giveth this sense as though the Lord should thus say to Moses Hodie illas expedi Make them readie to day that you may come up in the morning so also Tostatus who thinketh that when the Lord had thus said to Moses he descended and made readie the tables against the next day 3. By this then it is evident that when the Lord had all that communication with Moses as is set downe chap. 33. that Moses was not gone up to the Lord to the mount the second solemne time as thinketh Tostatus where he continued fortie dayes more for all that while he came not downe See before chap. 33. qu. 55. 4. The morning is prescribed as Lyranus thinketh Quia talis hora est convenientier c. because that houre is more convenient to talke with God as also Quia Deus amat hilarem obedientem servum The Lord loveth cheerfull obedience Ferus and he is bid to come up betimes as Tostatus thinketh that the people should not see what he carried quest 4. But seeing that Moses spent most of the day in hewing the tables it is not like that the people were ignorant what he did and Simlerus thinketh rather that the people saw Moses bearing the tables QUEST V. Why none are suffered to come up now with Moses Vers. 3. LEt no man come up with thee 1. At the first time when Moses went up to receive the Law Aaron Nadab and Abihu went up with him and 70. of the Elders and Ioshua accompanied him still after he had left the other but now none is permitted to come up with him because the Lord intended to shew unto Moses a more glorious sight which he would have none else made partakers of but Moses 2. This was not onely done for more reverence sake because the Lord shewed himselfe there in some visible signe as Lyranus for the Lord at other times as when he gave the Law the first time did shew himselfe by visible signes when yet no such prohibition was given therefore Burgensis noteth that this apparition was majori◠solemnitatis of greater solemnitie than the former and that the Lord did now shew his secrets to Moses which it was not lawfull for any other to see whereupon Moses face shined at his comming downe now and not before therefore curiositatis cohibenda causa to stay their curiositie none are permitted to come up with Moses Simler 3. Here is no mention made of thunder or lightning as in the giving of the Law Hic omnia laet◠sunt All things here are cheerfull because this was a signe of the giving of the Gospell Ferus 4. Another reason hereof that none ascended with Moses was to get him more authoritie with the people when they see that he onely hath accesse unto Gods presence Simler 5. And if Moses had taken some witnesses with him as hee did when hee smote the rocke it had not beene so much an act of faith as an evidence of their sight to acknowledge thus he received the law of God
and why 58. qu. Wherefore the people were compelled to drinke the powder of the Idoll 59. qu. Whether by the drinking of the water any visible signe of difference was made among the people who had most deepely offended about the golden Calfe 60. qu. How farre Moses fact herein is to bee imitated 61. qu. How Moses maketh Aaron the author and cause of his sinne 62. qu. Why Idolatrie is called a great sinne 63. qu. Why Moses onely rebuked Aaron and forbeareth further punishment 64. qu. What things are to be commended in Aarons confession what not 65. qu. Whether Aaron dissembled in not confessing plainely that he made the Calfe 66. qu. In what sense the people are said to be naked 67. qu. Why Moses stood in the gate and what gate it was 68. qu. VVhether all the Levites were free from consenting unto this idolatrie 69. qu. Of the authoritie which the Levites had to doe execution upon the idolaters and the rules prescribed them 70. qu. VVhether the Levites did not make some difference among the people as they went and killed 71. qu. VVhy none came unto Moses but onely of the tribe of Levi. 72. qu. Of the number of them which were slaine whether they were three thousand or twentie three thousand as the vulgar Latine readeth 73. qu. How the Levites are said to consecrate their hands 74. qu. Of the time when Moses came downe from the mount and when he returned againe 75. qu. VVhy Moses urgeth the greatnesse of their sinne 76. qu. Why Moses speaketh as it were doubtfully If I may pacifie him c. 77. qu. Why Moses againe intreateth the Lord seeing he was pacified before vers 14. 78. qu. What booke it was out of the which Moses wished to be raced 79. qu. How the Lord is said to have a booke 80. qu. VVhether any can indeed be raced out of the booke of life 81. qu. Of the two wayes whereby we are said to bee written in the booke of life 82. qu. VVhether Moses did well in wishing to bee raced out of the booke of life 83. qu. In what sense the Lord saith I will put out of my booke 84. qu. What day of visitation the Lord meaneth here 85. qu. When the Lord plagued the people for the Calfe 86. qu. Of the difference betweene the act of sinne the fault staine and guilt 87. qu. How God may justly punish twice for one sinne Questions upon the three and thirtieth Chapter 1. QUest At what time the Lord uttered his commination 2. qu. Whether the narration of Moses Tabernacle in this Chapter be transposed 3. qu. How God saith he will send his Angell and yet not himselfe goe with them 4. qu. Why the Lord saith hee will not goe with them himselfe lest he should consume them 5. qu. What ornaments they were which the people laid aside 6. qu. Why in publike repentance they used to change their habit 7. qu. Why the Lord thus spake unto Moses 8. qu. In what sense the Lord saith I will come upon thee 9. qu. VVhether the people put off their ornaments twice 10. qu. In what sense the Lord saith That I may know 11. qu. Why it is said They laid aside their good rayment From the mount Horeb. 12. qu. What Tabernacle Moses removed out of the campe 13. qu. Why Moses pitched his Tabernacle without the host 14. qu. How farre from the campe this Tent was removed 15. qu. VVhat is called the Tent of the Congregation 16. qu. Why the people stood up unto Moses and looked after him 17. qu. Whether there were two clouds or one to cover and conduct the host 18. qu. Why the Lord spake to Moses in a cloud 19. qu. How the Lord spake to Moses face to face 20. qu. Why Joshua is here called a young man 21. qu. Whether is here understood Joshua not to have departed from the Tabernacle 22. qu. When the Lord thus said to Moses 23. qu. How Moses desireth to know whom the Lord would send with them seeing hee had promised before to send his Angell 24. qu. Whether the sole government and leading of the people were here given to Moses without the administration of Angels as Burgensis thinketh 25. qu. When and where God thus said to Moses 26. qu. How the Lord is said to know Moses by name 27. qu. What Moses meaneth saying Shew me the way 28. qu. In what sense Moses saith That I may finde grace c. which he was assured of 29. qu. What is understood by Gods presence 30. qu. What rest the Lord promised to Moses 31. qu. Whether Moses here rested in Gods answer or begged any thing further 32. qu. Why Moses addeth Carrie us not hence seeing even in that place they had need of Gods protection 33. qu. Why it is added people upon the earth People upon the earth Gen. 25. 34. qu. Whether Moses desired to see the very divine essence of God 35. qu. VVhat imboldned Moses to make this request 36. qu. Whether Moses shewed any infirmitie in this request to see Gods glorie 37. qu. What the Lord meaneth by All my good 38. qu. How the Lord is said to passe by and why 39. qu. How the Lord is said to proclaime his name 40. qu. Why these words are added I will shew mercie c. 41. qu. Why the Lord is here doubled 42. qu. Of the divers kinds of mercie which the Lord sheweth 43. qu. Of the divers visions and sights of God 44. qu. Whether God may be seene with the eyes of the bodie in this life 45. qu. Whether wee shall see the divine nature with the eyes of our bodies in the next life 46. qu. Whether the divine essence can bee seene and comprehended by the minde of man in this life 47. qu. VVhether the Angels now or the soules of men shall fully see the divine substance in the next life 48. qu. VVhether Moses had a sight of the divine essence 49. qu. Of the meaning of these words No man shall see me and live 50. qu. VVhat place this was in the rocke which the Lord here speaketh of 51. qu. How the Lord is said to cover Moses with his hand 52. qu. VVhy the Lord covered Moses with his hand 53. qu. VVhy the Lord put Moses in the cleft of the rocke 54. qu. VVhat is here understood by the Lords back-parts 55. qu. VVhat manner of visible demonstration this was here shewed unto Moses 56. qu. VVhere the Lord promised that Moses should see his back-parts Questions upon the foure and thirtieth Chapter 1. QUest VVherefore the second tables were given 2. qu. VVhy the Lord saith to Moses Hew thee 3. qu. VVhether the Lord or Moses wrote in these tables and why 4. qu. VVhether Moses was to bee readie the next morning and why 5. qu. VVhy none are suffered to come up now with Moses 6. qu. VVhy their cattell are forbidden to come neere the mount 7. qu. VVho is said here to descend and how 8. qu. VVho