_A.M. 2315. B.C. 1491._
All things being prepared for the solemn promulgation of the divine
law, we have in this chapter,
(1,) _ The Ten Commandments, as God himself spake them upon mount
Sinai, Exodus 20:1._
(2,) _ The impressions made upon the people thereby, Exodus 20:18._
(3,) _ Some particu... [ Continue Reading ]
_God spake all these words_ The law of the ten commandments is a law
of God's making, and a law of his own speaking. God has many ways of
speaking to the children of men: he speaks by his Spirit, his
providences, and our own consciences, his voice in all which we ought
carefully to attend to: but he... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am the Lord thy God_ Herein God asserts his own authority to enact
this law; and proposeth himself as the sole object of that religious
worship which is enjoined in the four first commandments. They are
here bound to obedience. 1st, Because God is _the Lord, Jehovah_,
self-existent, independent,... [ Continue Reading ]
The first commandment is concerning the _object of our worship,
Jehovah_, and him only: _Thou shalt have no other gods before me_ The
Egyptians, and other neighbouring nations, had many gods, creatures of
their own fancy. This law was prefixed _because of_ that
_transgression;_ and Jehovah being the... [ Continue Reading ]
The third commandment is concerning the _manner_ of our worship: where
we have, 1st, A strict prohibition. _Thou shalt not take the name of
the Lord thy God in vain_ Supposing that, having taken Jehovah for
their God, they would make mention of his name, this command gives a
caution not to mention i... [ Continue Reading ]
The fourth commandment concerns the _time_ of worship; God is to be
served and honoured daily; but _one day in seven_ is to be
particularly dedicated to his honour, and spent in his service.
_Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy; in it thou shalt do no
manner of work_ It is taken for granted, t... [ Continue Reading ]
We have here the laws of the second table, as they are commonly
called, the last six commandments, which concern our duty to ourselves
and one another, and are a comment upon the second great commandment,
_Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself._ As religion toward God is
an essential branch of un... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not kill_ Thou shalt not do any thing hurtful to the
health or life of thy own body, or any other's. This doth not forbid
our necessary defence, or the magistrates putting offenders to death;
but it forbids all malice and hatred to any, for _he that hateth his
brother is a murderer_, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not commit adultery_ This commandment forbids all acts of
uncleanness, with all those desires which produce those acts and war
against the soul.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not steal_ This command forbids us to rob ourselves of
what we have, by sinful _spending_, or of the use and comfort of it,
by sinful _sparing;_ and to rob others by invading our neighbour's
rights, taking his goods, or house, or field, forcibly or
clandestinely, overreaching in bargains... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not bear false witness_ This forbids, 1st, Speaking
falsely in any matter, lying, equivocating, and any way devising and
designing to deceive our neighbour. 2d, Speaking unjustly _against our
neighbour_, to the prejudice of his reputation. And, 3d, (which is the
highest offence of both t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not covet_ The foregoing commands implicitly forbid all
desire of _doing_ that which will be an injury to our neighbour; this
forbids all _inordinate_ desire of _having_ that which will be a
gratification to ourselves. O that such a man's house were mine! such
a man's wife mine! such a m... [ Continue Reading ]
_They removed, and stood afar off_ Before God began to speak, they
were thrusting forward _to gaze_, but now they were effectually cured
of their presumption, and taught to _keep their distance. Speak thou
with us_ Hereby they obliged themselves to acquiesce in the mediation
of Moses, they themselve... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fear not_ That is, Think not that this thunder and fire are designed
to consume you. _God is come to prove you_ To try how they would like
dealing with God immediately, without a mediator, and so to convince
them how admirably well God had chosen for them in putting Moses into
that office. Ever sin... [ Continue Reading ]
While the people continued to stand _afar off_ Afraid of God's wrath,
Moses drew near unto _the thick darkness_ He was _made to draw near;_
so the word is: Of himself he durst not have ventured into the _thick
darkness:_ if God had not called him, and encouraged him. And being
gone into _the thick d... [ Continue Reading ]
_An altar of earth_ It is meant of _occasional_ altars, such as they
reared in the wilderness before the tabernacle was erected, and
afterward upon special emergencies, for present use. They are
appointed to make these _very plain_, either of _earth_ or of _unhewn
stones._ That they might not be tem... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar_ Indeed afterward
God appointed an altar ten cubits high. But it is probable they went
not up to that by steps, but by a sloping ascent. The garments worn in
those countries, being perfectly loose, were easily blown aside, so as
to discover the lowe... [ Continue Reading ]