Exod. xxxiii. 5, 6. Therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. And the chil- dren of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, by the Mount Horeb.
THAT which is principally required of Ministers, is fidelity a, to dispense the word of God aright, with- out courting the applause of men, or fearing their displeasure. Of hearers it is required, that they receive the word of God with all readiness of mind, and obey it without reserve. Where such Ministers and such people are, happy will they be in each other, and happy also in their God. Of the descrip-
a 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2.
tion we have mentioned was Moses ; but not so the people of Israel : they were stiff-necked and rebel- lious throughout the whole course of his ministry among them. On some few occasions, however, they seemed to be of a better mind ; particularly on the occasion now before us. Moses had declared to them a message from God ; in which their true character was drawn, and his judgments against them were awfully denouncedb : and the effect, for the present at least, was such as was reasonably to be expected : they trembled at the divine judgments, and humbled themselves instantly in the mode prescribed. This is declared in the text ; for the elucidating of which we observe,
I. God is not able to exercise mercy towards an impenitent transgressor — God certainly is " rich in mercy," and delights in the exercise of it; and would gladly manifest it to- wards all the human race0. But impenitence pre- sents an insurmountable obstacle in his way, so that he cannot shew mercy towards any who abide in it. He cannot,
1. Because it would be inconsistent with his own
perfections —
[He is a God of inflexible justice, unspotted holiness, and inviolable truth. But what evidence would there be that any one of these perfections belonged to him, if he, in direct oppo- sition to his own most positive declarations, put no difference between the proud contemner of his authority, and the humble repenting suppliant ? ]
2. Because it would be ineffectual for the happiness of the persons themselves —
[Annihilation indeed would be a benefit, if that were granted to them ; because they would then be rescued from the sufferings that await them : but to raise them to heaven would be no source of happiness to them. Having still a carnal mind which is enmity against God, they must hate him though in heaven : either God, or they, must change, before they can have fellowship with each other. As little comfort could they find in the society or employment of the heavenly hosts. The
b Sec the former part of ver. 5. c 1 Tim. ii. 4. Ezek. xxxiii. 11.
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