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Deut. xxviii. 58, 59. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this Law that are written in this book, that thou may est fear that glorious and, fearful name, The Lord thy God; then the Lord ivill make thy plagues wonderful.
WE admire the fidelity of Moses, who " declared to Israel the whole counsel of God," " not withhold- ing from them any thing whereby they might be pro- fited." To deliver such warnings as are contained in this chapter, must have been inexpressibly painful to him. But he had no alternative, unless indeed he would subject himself to all the curses here de- nounced ; and involve himself, as well as them, in all the consequences of his unfaithfulness and conceal- ment. Brethren, the same necessity lies on us also: we must, at the peril of our souls, deliver all that God has commissioned us to declare : and, if we fail to do so, not only will " you perish in your iniquities, but your blood will be required at our hands a." Bear with me, then, I pray you, whilst with becoming fidelity I set before you,
I. What God requires of us —
God is indeed a great and glorious Being, " a God of terrible majesty b," "before whom the pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at his reproof0." And he requires that " we fear his glorious and fear- ful name." He requires that we regard him,
1. With reverential awe — [Truly " he is greatly to be feared, and to be had in re- verence of all them that are round about him." When he came down upon Mount Sinai in the presence of all Israel, not a soul except Moses was suffered to approach him : and, if even a beast had touched the mountain, it must immediately be slain. So great was the terror which his presence inspired, that even " Moses himself said, I exceedingly fear and quake d." And he is still the same God, though lie do not manifest him- self in the same way. Yes, under the New Testament, as well
a Ezek. xxxiii. 8. b Job xxxvii. 22.
c Job xxvi. 11. d Heb. xii. 20, 21.
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