14 ¶ And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.

15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:

16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,

18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:

19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

20 But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.

21 Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:

22 But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.

23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

25 ¶ When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:

26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.

27 And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in num

ber among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither sce, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shall be obedient unto his voice;

31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?

33 Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?

34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.

36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the

fire.

37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their sced after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;

38 To drive out nations from before thec greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.

39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

41 Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sun rising;

42 That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:

43 Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.

44 ¶ And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:

45 These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt,

46 On this side Jordan, in the valley over against Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt:

47 And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sun rising;

48 From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon,

49 And all the plain on this side Jordan eastward, even unto the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah.

MOSES has now passed through the exordium of his address. It is evident that he designed the several circumstances related in the foregoing chapters to be a sort of groundwork, or platform, on which to build his further instructions. On these he now begins to enlarge, in this and the subsequent chapters.

To prosper well in any design, you ought to begin on a firm bottom. If your foundation work be safe and sound, you may succeed. If that be defective, all will be wrong. The remark will admit of general application. Ought it not to be so in regard to the soul? Ought it not to be equally so in your aim to instruct others? Truth must lie at the bottom of all. Truth, in its pure nature, and proper place. All these facts enumerated by Moses were true. They were adduced by him in their proper order. They were designed by him for a very useful end. If you would win souls, you must be wise. If you would

be sound in the faith, you must build on the truth of Christ the Lord.

Having stated these facts, what use does. he now make of them? He employs them as so many motives to obedience. Because the Lord had done these things for them, they were, therefore, bound to love and serve him; to obey his voice, and hearken to his will. "Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you" (v. 1). That is the application urged on their notice. Were they thus bound to love and serve the Lord? Are not we also under the same obligation? Are not all mercies designed to bring us nearer and closer to God? Ought they not to be like so many cords of love to bind us the more willingly and closely to his happy service? Can you be really sensible of any mercy which you have received, or truly grateful for it, if such be not the case? If you abuse the Lord's kindness, or disregard his blessings, can the thrilling sensations of gratitude and love ever have pervaded your bosom? How joyful did David feel when he said, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?" "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name!" (Ps. ciii. 1; and cxvi. 12.)

In order to maintain this spirit of holy obedience, there were several things to which they must particularly attend. They were not to add to the Lord's word; nor diminish from it (v.2). They must remember what they had heard and seen. They must consider all they had passed through. They must not depart from the Lord's statutes; nor violate his precepts. They must not forsake him nor offend him; nor forget his mercies; nor transgress his laws. Must you not have something of the same mind, if you would love and acceptably serve the Lord? Must you not remember, and not forget, what the Lord hath done for you? Ought you not to keep his mercy in mind? Ought you not to adhere to his truth, and walk in his ways? The gift of the Saviour, the promise of the Spirit, the blessings of pardon and peace, the blood of Christ, and all the precious promises

of his word; ought they not to be remembered, considered, and always engraven on the heart? Loving obedience must spring from a loving mind; when your heart is set at liberty, you will delight to run the way of his commandments.

But why were these cities of refuge appointed by Moses at the end of this chapter? Doubtless, for the sake of those who might unhappily still need their safety. Cases of that kind he evidently contemplated, though they were bound to love one another. Is there not another important truth here? Will not the Christian always need the refuge in Christ? Is there not defect in his love; unevenness in his walk; unsteadiness in his spirit; and sin in his ways? Where is his remedy? Not in his obedience; but in Christ. There is his refuge; there is his safety, even to the end. Oh! think of this, and abide in the strong tower of your salvation for evermore !

CHAPTER V.

1 The covenant in Horeb. 6 The ten commandments. 22 At the people's request Moses receiveth the law from God.

AND Moses called all Israel, and said

unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and 'keep, and do them.

2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.

3 The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

4 The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,

5 (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,

6 ¶ I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of 'bondage.

7 Thou shalt have none other gods before

me.

8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:

9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the

11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. 13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:

14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.

15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

16

Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

17 Thou shalt not kill.

18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
19 Neither shalt thou steal.

20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.

21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

22 ¶ These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.

23 And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

24 And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.

25 Now therefore why should we die? for

this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.

26 For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?

27 Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.

28 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.

29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

30 Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.

31 But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.

32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall

possess. (1) Heb. keep to do them. (2) Heb. servants. (3) Heb. add to hear.

MANY important matters are brought before us in this chapter. Moses reminds the people of the covenant made at Horeb. He He recapitulates the law of the Ten Commandments; and restates an essential circumstance which took place in the giving of that law, namely, their inability to stand before the majesty of God; and the necessity which they then saw and felt of having a mediator who should stand between God and them, that they might not die. Let us consider and seek to improve these several subjects.

The covenant at Horeb. When the Lord was pleased thus openly and visibly to take them for a people to himself, obligations imme

diately diately arose which were connected with that relation, and inseparable from it. All their blessings originated with him; all their alle

giance was due to him who gave them; all their safety must be from him. All their dependance, therefore, should be upon him. When the Lord became their God, they became his people. The covenant was for their good. It redounded to his glory in their welfare. Do you understand the covenant of grace? In that all is free, freely bestowed, freely brought to pass. Grace, therefore, lays the soul under gracious obligations. Hath the Lord loved you? you ought to love him. Hath he saved you? you ought to praise him. Is the covenant of his grace perpetual and for ever? so ought your love and gratitude to be also. If you are the Lord's; be for ever his. If you are his child; be for ever so. If you are bound to love and serve him; never cease so to do.

The law promulgated. It was the moral law; the law of the Ten Commandments. Here they are all recapitulated as they were then made known. What does this law require? Perfect love to God, and perfect love to man, without abatement or cessation, for ever.

Tried by this law, as the law, what is the result?"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. iii. 23.) Tested by this law, "there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not." (Eccles. vii. 20.) Why so? Because there is no man upon the earth who hath perfectly fulfilled it. There is no man upon earth that hath loved God with all his heart, soul, and strength; and his neighbour as himself. Every command has been broken; every precept has been violated. In letter or spirit; in thought, word, or deed; every one has failed to render that perfect tribute of loving and holy obedience which the law of God so reasonably and justly requires. Every person, therefore, as a guilty transgressor, is under the wrath of God, and liable to perish for ever. "By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Rom. iii. 20.)

That which the people

What follows? required, required, a mediator. A holy God and an unholy sinner can never meet in peaceful

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contact, without a mediator. The people could not even endure what they heard, much less the consequences of their sin, without a mediator. "Go thou near" (v. 27). "Let not God speak with us, lest we die." (Ex. xx. 19.) Are you able to endure the glorious display of the majesty of heaven? Can you, as sinful creatures, stand before a holy God? Do you not equally need a mediator? Who is that mediator? Jesus Christ. He is the "One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Tim. ii. 5.) He magnified the law; he obeyed the precept; he endured the curse. In him God is reconciled. Through him you may draw near, and find mercy, pardon, and peace.

The people here addressed never uttered so wise, or so pleasing a speech, as when they asked for a mediator. "They have well said all that they have spoken" (v. 28). How pleasing, then, to God is it, when the sinner is brought to see his need, and to express his desire for the mediation of Christ. It is the very state of mind to which the Holy Spirit brings all who are saved; and it is, in itself, a gracious preparation and a sure pledge of the sinner's salvation. Put your cause into the hand of Christ; look to him as your Mediator; rely upon him as your all-sufficient Redeemer.

Now

CHAPTER VI.

1 The end of the law is obedience. 3 An exhortation thereto. TOW these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:

2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

3¶ Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

gods of the people which are round about 14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the

you;

15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

16 ¶ Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD Sware unto thy fathers,

19 To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.

20 And when thy son asketh thee 'in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:

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22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before

our eyes: