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…

Q. Is the decree of God secret within himself, or revealed and made known? A. It is secret within himself, till himself does reveal it, and therefore further than so it is not to be searched into (Romans 11:33, 34; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Deuteronomy 29:29). Q. How does God reveal h…

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…

So says Moses, The Lord made not this Covenant with our Fathers, but with us even us, who are all of us alive here this day (Deuteronomy 5:3). God made not this Covenant on Mount Sinai, with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but with the people then present, and their posterity, as he d…

(1) Some utterly despise it. Such are the presumptuous sinners mentioned (Deuteronomy 29:19, 20). As they disregard the curse of the law, so they do also the promise of the Gospel, as to any repentance or relinquishment of sin with respect to them.

The whole knowledge of God prescribed in the Law is here intended. And this may be reduced to two heads: (1) the knowing of him, and the taking him thereon to be God, to be God alone, which is the first command; (2) his mind and will as to the obedience which the Law required in…

(1) A quiet resignation of all times and seasons to the sovereignty of God. The soul possessed of it, quiets itself with this; it is not for me to know the times and seasons which God has put in his own hand (Deuteronomy 29:29). (2) A due valuation of present enjoyments, which i…

1. Because of God's indulgence to them therein. For although the general sentence of the Law was a curse, wherein death was contained against every transgression thereof (Deuteronomy 29), yet God had ordained and appointed that for all their sins of ignorance, infirmity, or surp…

There is nothing in the text contrary to this, but rather for it, in that the covenancer here spoken of, is avouched that day to be the Lords peculiar people (ver. 18, 19.) which title of [People] is not suitable to any particular person. And sure it is, that covenant (Deut. 29:…

We know that every transgression, or falling short of duty required in the Covenant, is not accounted in Scripture an absolute breach of the Covenant (or a forsaking and rejecting thereof) such as for which God gives to persons or people a bill of divorce. Do but compare these p…

This last instance is propounded as the first part of a similitude, the reddition of which is in the next verse. In the words observe, 1. The places or people judged, [Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities round about them in like manner] — those two cities are only mentioned here,…

The Covenant taken thus is either the Covenant of Works, or the Covenant of Grace: and again the Covenant may be considered, first as it is personal, private and particular, between God and one particular soul, making Covenant with God, and God with him, either at his first conv…

If men would deduce one thing from another, and do that they know, they might be brought to God. Deuteronomy 29:2-3, you have seen, says Moses, all that the Lord did before your eyes, in the land of Egypt, upon Pharaoh and his servants; you have seen those great signs and miracl…

XIII. 3. "That although God had placed among them the unspeakable benefit of His word, they had nevertheless been so utterly destitute of spiritual strength that, unless He himself by His efficacious grace and heart-turning mercy were pleased to come to their aid in this matter,…

In the second head we ask, that all things being performed, and all enemies overcome, Christ, the resurrection, and his judgment may come quickly (Matthew 24:32; and 25; 1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 22:20). The next is also disposed in an Axiom simple of the adjoint and subject,…

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…

The Scripture minds us, [in non-Latin alphabet], (Romans 12:3), to keep ourselves within the bounds of modesty, and to be wise to sobriety. And the rule of that sobriety is given us for ever, (Deuteronomy 29:28): [in non-Latin alphabet], 'Secret things belong to the Lord our God…

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…

Be it in judgement; see what issue he will bring his work to. Deuteronomy 29:24, 25. Even all nations shall say, therefore has the Lord done thus to this Land? What meaneth the heat of this great anger; then men shall say, because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God…

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…

Therefore we may pray against withdrawings of influences, as sad privations of dreadful consequents; and so much is held forth in that Petition lead us not to temptation. Yet so, as there is no deserving in us of having eyes to see, and spiritual influences to see, to hear, to p…

3. Under withdrawings of influences of grace we are guilty. 1. In not considering the temptation, signs and wonders we see and hear (Deuteronomy 29:3); yes, though the Lord's not giving a new heart, be not our sin formally; yet our not having, nor receiving of a new heart, is ou…

Be tender, and stand in awe of smaller sins: it speaks much of the spirit in David, to be smitten with the renting of the lap of Saul's garment. Some make themselves uncapable of the actings of the Spirit, who seeing great temptations, signs and miracles, have plenty of means, y…

Whereas softness and tenderness in Josiah (2 Kings 22:19, 20) brings stooping and self-humiliation, and receives influences for repenting, weeping and renting the cloths before God; for what impressions of grace can the stone or rock, (and such is the heart hardened, Ezekiel 36:…

Then may you do good that are accustomed to do evil. 2 Peter 2:14. Having eyes full of adultery, that cannot cease to sin (Deuteronomy 29:2, 3). 3. Threatenings and curses are charged upon every one who abides not in all that is written in the book of the Law to do it (Deuterono…

2. Some are plagued with plenty of means. 3. The scope of the place, Deuteronomy 29:3. The great temptations which your eyes have seen, &c. opened.

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…