CONTENTS This Chapter concludes the first part of Moses' Sermon, and a most pathetic and practical conclusion it is: in which he earnestly urgeth the people to the love and obedience of the LORD GOD of their fathers. In the close of the chapter Moses appoints certain cities of refuge for the mansla... [ Continue Reading ]
It is worthy of remark, how jealous the LORD is of his name and glory; in both Testaments of Scripture the precept of neither adding to, nor diminishing from, is strongly formed. See Revelation 22:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
Compare this with Numbers 25:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Reader! if your soul be united to JESUS, must not all spiritual life be derived from this union? Oh! the inexpressible preciousness of those words of JESUS: because I live, ye shall live also. John 14:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
Into what an astonishing degree of nearness, are believers now brought by the blood of JESUS! Reader! pause and contemplate your vast privileges; and ask your own heart that question, Am I indeed brought nigh, by the blood of JESUS? Ephesians 2:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is refreshing to see, that while both Testaments enjoin the same precept, of keeping the soul diligently, (see Jude 1:21.) the apostle had it in commission to tell the church, that the LORD is the keeper of his people. 1 Peter 1:5. And what is yet if possible, more endearing; JESUS committed all... [ Continue Reading ]
The part of Israel's history, which Moses here referred to, hath been already commented upon. To that I refer: See Exodus 19:18. But, Reader, we never can sufficiently attend to this interesting part of Israel's history, while connecting with it its typical object. Oh! how sweet, how very sweet is i... [ Continue Reading ]
Moses lays great stress upon the prohibition to similitudes: not only condemning all improper resemblances, but all resemblances. "To what will ye liken me?" saith the LORD. Isaiah 40:18. How sweet is pure gospel worship. See our LORD'S short but most expressive statement of it. John 4:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is remarkable, in nations unacquainted with the gospel, how prone the natives have been found to worship the heavenly bodies. Reader! think how precious the gospel is, which hath taught us to consider all these lights of the firmament, but as the servants of our JESUS. Psalms 19:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
I would have the Reader observe with me, how Moses delights to harp upon that string of distinguishing mercy. The instances of it are very many, through all the parts of the history. See it repeated in Deuteronomy 4:32, etc. Reader! of all mercies, those which are distinguishing and personal are the... [ Continue Reading ]
It is to be questioned whether anything in the annals of mankind, ever came up to the generous conduct of Moses upon this occasion; who in his love for Israel, passed by his own personal humiliation. Never perhaps was he equaled in this instance, excepting by thee, thou blessed JESUS, who though ric... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe the vast earnestness of the Sacred Preacher in the arguments he adopts to interest the feelings of the people; and how he dwells, again and again, upon the same very powerful motives to induce them to obedience. But Reader! while attending to these things, think yet more particularly, how ou... [ Continue Reading ]
Reader! pause over those verses, and then call to mind that, concerning the dispersed of Israel, even now in the present hour this blessed promise hath not lost its force. The promise is sure. The event must take place. The day shall come when the deliverer shall arise out of Zion, to turn away ungo... [ Continue Reading ]
If we read these verses with an enlightened understanding, and paraphrase them in gospel terms, as they really ought to be read by every awakened and regenerated soul, how precious do the evidences of distinguishing grace manifest themselves under everyone of them, to the believer's own experience.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD hath given commandment concerning those cities of refuge: Numbers 35:9. But of such importance was the thing itself, that Moses in the very opening as it were, of his sermon, breaks off to follow up the LORD'S precept concerning this thing. But is there not a gospel sense in it, and that of a ve... [ Continue Reading ]
The Man of GOD is particular in marking down the very spot, where he rehearsed and performed these things for Israel: because the place was truly memorable; for Israel now possessed, as it were, the earnest of the promised land. And there is somewhat striking also in the observation, that it was ove... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS SWEET and precious Chapter, when explained to my soul by the HOLY GHOST, in reference to my adored Redeemer. May the LORD give me grace to read it with all possible reverence and affection; and may he open mine eyes to see the wondrous things of his law. Oh! may I be enabled to see the v... [ Continue Reading ]