Chapter 29: The Review of Moses Choice
WE have finished the Choice of Moses, the argument upon which Moses went in his Choice, and now we are come to this 26. verse, where we have the Review of Moses choice, looking back to see what he had chosen, to the consequent of it. He sees that while he joins himself with the people of God, and suffers affliction, he is like to meet with nothing but reproach and scorn for his labor; this he sees, & yet he repents not: his judgement still is not only for his choice, but he does esteem of ithighly, as accounting that reproach of Christ that he was to suffer, great riches; and the argument that here he has, is the greatness of the recompence of the reward, He had an eye unto the recompence of the reward.
[Esteeming the reproach of Christ:] Reproach is taken either materially, or formally; materially, so it may be taken for the affliction that he did endure with Gods people, that outward mean wretched condition that he was like to suffer with the people of God, this was the matter of the reproach. Or otherwise formally, the scorn, contempt, reviling, railing, and all the evil that should be spoken of him when he had left the Court, and joined himself with Gods people; and this formal kinde of reproach is that which is especially meant.
[The reproach of Christ:] How could that reproach that Moses suffered, be the reproach of Christ? for Christ was not then born, it was a long time after before Christ came into the world.
Christ was present unto Moses by the eye of faith, though he were not yet come into the world, Christ is the same to day, yesterday, and for ever; he was the same to the Patriarchs and Prophets, that he is to us.
[Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt] Moses was not only content to suffer patiently the reproach of Christ, but he counted it his glory, his riches, greater riches then the Treasures of Egypt. Egypt was a rich country, and full of treasures; and therefore in Psalm 87. Egypt is called by the name of Rahab, and the reason is, because of the pride, and power, and insolency of Egypt; because Egypt was a fruitful rich place, therefore they had a great deal of strength, and power, and were lift up with pride; So Isa. 51:9 vide Hieronym. upon the place. The King of Egypt is called a Dragon in the waters: and the chief horses that Solomon had, in 2 Chron. 9. they came out of Egypt; and the Whore in the Proverbs, had her fine linen out of Egypt. Egypt was a very fruitful Country, Gen. 13:9 The fruitfulness of that place to which Lot turned aside, is described to be the garden of the Lord, like the Land of Egypt: it is called by many Horreum caeterarum regionum, the Granary of other Countreys: hence Abraham, when famine was in Canaan, went into Egypt; and after, Jacob in time of famine sent his sons into Egypt; it is said of it, that they sow almost every moneth. And being such a flourishing place, all kinde of learning was there; and therefore in 1 King. 4:30 where the greatness of Solomons wisdom is set out, it is said, it excelled the wisdom of Egypt. In Egypt was treasures of riches, and treasures of strength, treasures of the riches of the earth, and treasures of merchandize, and treasures of learning, and yet Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ, greater riches then all the treasures of Egypt. Now the points that arise from these words, are these:
First, that the people of God have been, and usually are a people under reproach.
Secondly, the reproach of Gods people is the reproach of Christ.
Thirdly, a gracious heart is not only willing to bear reproach when God calls unto it, but in the cause of Christ, triumphs and rejoyces in that reproach it suffers.
Fourthly, the strong argument that moves Gods people thus to do, is the eye that they have unto the recompence of the reward. To begin with the first, and that is this:
