yoke : but they were not to cast off obedience to their God. They were, as his redeemed people, to consecrate themselves to him, and to obey his voice in all things: and, according as they performed or neglected their duty to him, he would extend to them his favour, or visit them with his displeasure ; either loading them with, or exempting them from, the diseases with which the Egyptians had been visited, and which they greatly dreaded c.
This declaration of God to them was so important, that the Prophet Jeremiah, a thousand years after- wards, referred to it, to shew, that, from the very first moment of the people having been taken into covenant with God, their sacrifices had been held as of no account in comparison of obedience. " I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices. But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people ; and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto youd." Nor is it less important to us, at this day; for God will still deal with us according as we conduct ourselves towards him. The retribution indeed may not now be so visibly marked by external dispensations ; but it shall be maintained in reference to our souls, God either healing our spiritual maladies, or giving us up to the power of them, according as we approve ourselves to him, or walk contrary to his commands. If we offend him by a wilful and habitual disobedience to his will, none shall be able to protect us : but, if we surrender up ourselves unfeignedly to him, " none shall be able to harm us : " whatever we may either feel or fear, we may assure ourselves of his favour ; for he is, and ever will be, " The Lord that healeth us."
In further discoursing on these words, we shall be led to point out,
I. The office which God executes in behalf of his people —
c ver. 26. with Deut. xxviii. 27, 60. d Jer. vii. 22, 23.