Deuteronomy 29

2. False peace separates those things which God has joined together: God joins holiness and peace, but he who has a false peace separates these two. He lays claim to peace, but banishes holiness (Deuteronomy 29:19): I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my hear…

Mercy abused turns to fury. (Deuteronomy 29:19): If he bless himself, saying, I shall have peace though I walk after the imaginations of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst, the Lord will not spare him, but the anger of the Lord, and his jealousy shall smoke against that man.…

The Devil has given them opium to cast them into a deep sleep of security. The presumptuous sinner is like the Leviathan, made without fear: he lives as bad as the worst, yet hopes he shall be saved as well as the best; he blesses himself, and says he shall have peace though he…

This doctrine is very comfortable to a distressed conscience; but yet it must not make any man bold to sin: for many abuse this Doctrine, and say, that though they live in sin, yet God will accept of them, for they love GOD in their heart. But they deceive themselves: for, this…

For, GOD is merciful to perform his promise; yea, and beyond his promise, to do for us more than we can think of. Many indeed abuse this mercy of GOD, by presuming thereon to go on in sin: but such deceive themselves; For, God will not be merciful unto them, Deuteronomy 29.20. I…

And to make out this, we need go no further than to your practice; we are sure many of you live in profanity, and yet you have all a hope of heaven — and what says this? But that you think not faith and holiness necessary, but that you may come to heaven another way; and this is…

In the second place, to speak a little for confirmation of the doctrine, we would consider these four or five grounds or reasons, to show that there is such a work of the Spirit wherever faith is begotten, and that most intelligibly in them that are at age. 1. It's clear from th…

The first of which is drawn from these express instances of Scripture wherein it is clear, that there has been much powerful preaching, and by the most eminent preachers, and yet the generality of people have been fruitless under it, and their fruitlessness has been brought to t…

The first of these uses speaks to two sorts of persons, with whom the Word of God has no weight, and who, in effect, think to satisfy God with nothing. First, a profane, graceless, secure company, who, because God keeps silence, are disposed to think that He is like themselves,…

This way that many take, is not to draw the evidences of believing from works of holiness, which is warrantable, but the founding of faith, or their hope of heaven on works, and the use they make of their faith, is to ward off challenges for the imperfection of their works, and…

And such as have made a covenant with God by sacrifice, they are his people; of them it is said, I am your God, verse 7, according to the tenor of the covenant (Genesis 17:7): Behold, I make a covenant with you this day, to be a God to you, and to your seed. God becomes a God to…

Thus many gentlemen and others offend, when they turn recreation into an occupation. Secondly the gifts of God are immoderately used, in respect of themselves; as when men exceed in eating and drinking, as the prophet says (Deuteronomy 29:19), adding drunkenness to thirst. Third…

Ans Shee is rewarded double, yet not above, but according to her deserts, give her double according to her workes, v. 6. the meaning is not, that shee should be punished twise as much as shee had deserued (for it is the law of God that the malefactour should be beaten with a cer…

Under the word counsel, he comprehends God's decrees, but not all: for it is unlawful to sound the depth of those secrets which he has not revealed to his servants: but when he discovers that which he has purposed to do, we ought to receive the same with as great reverence as if…

And thus the faithful in this verse confess that God has left them, but their sin was the cause, so as they still acknowledge God's just revenging hand upon them. In like manner after Moses has said, that up to that point God had not given the people eyes to see, nor a heart to…

It certainly was a proof—as I have lately mentioned—of brutal ignorance, that they did not perceive the power of God, when they might almost feel it with their hands; but as the whole human race labors under the same disease, Mark purposely mentions blindness, in order to inform…

Unadvisedly therefore is the power of our will drawn out of this place, as though Paul should say the observation of the law were subject to our power, seeing he speaks not of the power of fulfilling the law, but of knowledge. Neither is this word heart taken for the seat of the…

And (1.) the Doctrine of it is revealed and taught us. For secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our Children for ever, that we may do all the Words of the Law, Deut. 29. 29. And we speak not of curious Enquiries into,…

A Rule it must have, which nothing else can pretend to be. The secret Will or hidden Purposes of God are not the Rule of our Obedience, Deut. 29. 29. much less are our own Imaginations, Inclinations or Reasons so; neither does any thing, though never so specious, which we do in…

In order to the clearing of this Case, we are to consider, what is meant by the will of God; what by those doubtful Providences, that make the discovery of his will difficult, and what rules are to be observed for the clearing up of Gods will to our selves under such difficult a…

I shall first somewhat speak unto it in This; as considering in its self, and then inquire into the concernment of the soul in it, whose condition is here described. The Lord speaks of some who when they hear the words of the curse, yet bless themselves, and say they shall have…

If it be thus with you, forgiveness it self will not relieve you. This is that of the presumptuous man, Deuteronomy 29:19. gospel-pardon is a thing of another nature; It has its spring in the Gracious heart of the father, is made out by a Soveraign Acts of his will; rendred cons…

And no doubt, he that bids us forgiue our brethren that sinne against us, though it were seauen times in a day, if they seeke it at our hands, will much more forgiue us. This must not embolden any to sinne presumptuously, for the Lord has saide, He will not be mercifull unto tha…

Now God is pleased to style himself a jealous God, to express the heat of his wrath and indignation against sinners. So (Deuteronomy 29:20), "The Lord will not spare him, but the anger of the Lord, and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are writte…

Though all do not feel this sickness, yet the less the distemper is felt, the [reconstructed: more mortal it is]. 3. The Scripture compares sin to gall and wormwood (Deuteronomy 29:18). It breeds a bitter worm in the conscience.

And particularly God's Covenant is called his Oath. Deuteronomy 29:12. That you Should enter into Covenant with the Lord your God, and into his Oath.

REFLECTIONS. THis Meditation may be to me what the hand-writing upon the wall was to that profane Prince,Dan. 5. 5, 6. and a like effect it should have upon me; for if all the actions of this life be seed sown for the next, Lord, what a crop, what a dreadful harvest am I like to…

Shall I spare that which cost the Blood of Jesus Christ? The Lord would not spare him, When he made his Soul an offering for sin, Romans 8:32. Neither will he spare me, if I defend and hide it, Deuteronomy 29:20. Ah! If my Heart were right, and my Conversion sound, that lust wha…

Then, when it is too late, when the day of Grace is past, and the Draw-bridge of Mercy is pulled up, then shall ye discern a difference between the Holy and the Prophane. The Wicked at present have their Eyes shut, Deuteronomy 29:4. The Lord has not given you an Heart to perceiv…

1. He lives as bad as the worst, yet hopes to be saved as well as the best. He does bless himself, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, Deuteronomy 29:19. As if a man should drink Poison, yet not doubt but he shall have his health.

Though truths are never so plainly delivered, never so powerfully pressed; and though they are capable to understand the words, yet they do not take in the truth into their hearts, so as to profit by it. So (Deuteronomy 29:2-4) You have seen, yet you have not a heart to see. Mos…

In one place it is said, The Lord will not spare him. All the curses that are written in this book of this law, shall light upon him (Deuteronomy 29:20). The book of the law is full of curses, and all together they show you what is the portion of an impenitent sinner.

By a fuller illumination (Ephesians 1:17-18): That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, that father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, etc. Otherwise we have not a heart to perceiv…

2. The effect, salvation: this properly deserves to be called so; we are saved but in part before, then from all evils, from the greatest evil hell; before we are saved, but we may be troubled again; now no more sorrow, when all opposition is broken, and God is all in all, and t…

If good be not good when better is expected, how miserably vexatious must the disappointment be? When men look for good and peace, but behold evil and trouble (yes, and nothing else) comes upon them: when they bless themselves and say (as in Deuteronomy 29:19), we shall have pea…

Nay, he may send you as he did the Israelites to the idols of your heart (Jeremiah 2:28): But where are your gods that you have made? let them arise and save you. But lastly if I cannot satisfy for my evils, yet out of his bounty and mercy he may abate me of the plagues — the me…

He doubts not but to die [illegible], [illegible] go to Heaven as well as the most precise professor of them all. Thus they in Deuteronomy 29:19-20: when they heard all the curses of the law, yet they blessed themselves, saying, I shall have peace. Let men speak what they will,…

Whatever you give to God, or do for him, unless you give your heart to him, and bestow that upon his service, you do nothing that will stand you in any stead. The want of this was that which Moses so heavily complained of (Deuteronomy 29:3-4). You have seen all that the Lord has…

And yet when the power of all these is improved to affect the will, and stir and provoke it, but not change it, it is never savingly brought home to God. So Moses, concerning the condition of the Israelites (Deuteronomy 4:34) compared with (Deuteronomy 29:4): Did ever God assay…

And therefore out of the presumption of their own hearts, they would easily persuade and delude themselves, they have no cause to alter their condition, and therefore they should not endeavor it. Hence the carnal heart is said to bear up himself against all the assaults of the W…

These wretches defeat the power and stroke of the Truth by their [illegible] conceits; It's true (says they) the Lord requires the soul should sue out an everlasting divorce between itself and sin, such emptiness and such underness; It's but a white at which we should aim, not w…

The seventy years captivity was ended, but their repentance was to begin. When the Jews had traveled forty years in the wilderness and been spectators of the wonders of God, yet they wanted a heart to turn to their God (Deuteronomy 29:4). There is nothing but God that made the w…

Shall a lump of clay be made a bright star in the firmament of glory? Be assured they shall never be blessed, who bless themselves in their sins; if says God (Deuteronomy 29:19): the sinner blesses himself, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart…

1. The Law as the Law or as a Covenant of Works is made with perfect men who need no mercy; But this Covenant is made with sinners, with an express preface of mercy: I am the Lord your God that brought you out of the land of Egypt, etc. It is made with stiff-necked Israel (Deute…

It must be a narrow blessing of covenanted Egypt, Assyria, Israel, if it be a blessing of these come to age, 2. professing the faith, 3. and baptized. How can the Lord say, blessed be Egypt, and though the whole seed be visibly in covenant, old and young, yet it follows not that…

But Christ could not bestow the Law blessing of Works upon these infants, for they had not fulfilled the Law in their persons, nor can infants or any flesh be justified by the Law (Romans 3:20) therefore must Christ have bestowed upon them the blessing of the Covenant of Grace (…

And in all there lie snares within, and without the house. 12. There is a wicked flintiness of heart; we shall have peace, though we both hear cursing and walk loosely (Deuteronomy 29:19). We are fallen, but Ephraim's stout heart (2) will rise whether God will, or not (Isaiah 9:…

Both are false, as is evident, [illegible] they say in the issue what we say, and contradict themselves, to wit, that believers, and only believers, are these for whom Christ died. We before said, the promises are conditionally to all within the Visible Church, but so as the con…

This one thing of which we speak — the sufficiency we have described — is a sufficient basis and ground for all those general precepts of preaching the gospel to all men. Second, the preachers of the gospel in their particular congregations, being utterly unacquainted with the p…

Therefore he underwent the wrath of God. Second, the curse of the law is the wrath of God received passively (Deuteronomy 29:20-21). But Jesus Christ underwent the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13) — made a curse for us, the same curse that falls on those who are out of Christ a…