Deuteronomy 30

God commands us to love him: Alas, how weak is our love? It is like the herb that is hot only in the first degree: But God has promised to circumcise our hearts, that we shall love him (Deuteronomy 30:6). He that does command us will enable us: God commands us to turn from sin,…

2. Consider how serious and weighty the matters delivered to us are. As Moses said (Deuteronomy 30:19), I call heaven and earth to record this day, that I have set before you life and death. Can men be regardless of the Word, or drowsy when the weighty matters of eternity are se…

And this wisdom we must labour for, that when these different things are set before us, we may make a wise choice: otherwise, we show ourselves to be like brute beasts without understanding, and do quite overturn our own salvation. In the Ministry of the word we have life and de…

3. Observe, (which is much the same with the former observation, and to which we would speak a little more particularly,) that by the preaching of the gospel, Jesus Christ is laid before the hearers of it, as the object of their faith, and proposed to be believed upon by them, e…

It is held forth by several other expressions in the Scripture, it is called a cleaving to the Lord, or sticking to him (Joshua 23:8), and (Acts 11:23) it is called hearing, hearkening, and inclining of the ear (Isaiah 55:2-3) — an attentive, concerned, and holily greedy listeni…

Answer: If this were presumption, then all we have said of the warrant of the Gospel to believe is to no purpose; Christ never counted it presumption to desire and endeavor in His own way to believe on Him for attaining of life through Him; to desire heaven and peace with God, a…

A man starving for hunger when meat is set before him on any terms he desires, if he be in his right wits will necessarily eat, and not kill himself, but the necessity of saving souls in the tender and loving mind of God in Christ is much stronger, and if we consider the corrupt…

Glorious professors, like glistering stars up in heaven, are drawn away after the dirty world — should there be more power in Satan's tail to draw down stars from heaven than there is beauty and sweetness in Christ's face to ravish hearts? And (Deuteronomy 30:17), some turn away…

God promifs the Israelites, that he will circumcise their hearts, that they may loue him with all their hearts, withall their soules, and with all their strength. Deut 30:6. And thus Iosua turned to God with all his heart, with all his soule, and with all his strength according…

The word scattering, is collective, and under it he comprehends the Jews scattered here and there. It seems also that he alludes (as he often does in other places) to one self same text of Moses, where the Lord promises to gather together his people, when they shall be scattered…

And yet the Lord would not have us be so void of fear, as that we should thereby grow careless or idle; but when we hear that he is near, and that he will assist us, faith must then overcome all difficulties in the midst of imminent dangers. I will bring your seed from the East.…

For the Prophet's meaning is, that the way of salvation is set open to us, if we hear God speaking; because he is ready to lead us through the whole course of our life, if we will submit ourselves to his lore. And thus Moses protests that he set before the people life and death…

It is a small matter to know wherein true justice consists, unless therewith we taste the benefit of it. But to let the Philosophers pass, we see the law itself, which contains a perfect rule of a godly life, is not able to confer righteousness (as we have said:) Not because the…

We are therefore to observe this order well which the Prophet here keeps. And thus Moses brought the people to the knowledge of the word, saying, Ask not who shall ascend up into heaven, or who shall descend into the deep, for the word is near you in your mouth and in your heart…

For this cause then he promises to assemble them again, yea, and to join diverse nations to them, that so the Church might grow and multiply into a great number. As often then as we doubt of the restoration of the Church by being astonished at the sight of so many storms and tem…

But if Moses had given nothing more than the first lessons of true righteousness, how ridiculous would have been that appeal! “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that you…

Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh to you, even in your mouth, and in your heart, that you should do it, (Deuteronomy 30:12-14.) They who ridicule as f…

And again, I call heaven and earth to witness that I have this day showed you life, (Deuteronomy 30:19.) We have no right, therefore, to deny that the keeping of the law is righteousness, by which any man who kept the law perfectly — if there were such a man — would obtain life…

Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy Heart, and with all thy Soul, and with all thy Might. It is such a fervent, vigorous Engagedness of the Heart in Religion, that is the Fruit of a real Circumcision of the Heart, or t…

Some few Testimonies of many shall suffice as to its present Confirmation. The Work of it is expressed, Deut. 30. 6. The Lord your God will Circumcise your Heart, to love the Lord your God with all your Heart and all your Soul, that you mayest live.

In this calling, there bee especially foure kinds of vnsauourie salt; First, the blind watch-men that have no knowledge; and dumb dogges that cannot barke: that is, such as either cannot, or if they can, will not dispense Gods word, for the salvation of mens soules. Secondly, He…

2. Let us consider the weightiness of the matters delivered to us. As Moses said to Israel (Deuteronomy 30:19), I call heaven and earth to record this day, that I have set before you life and death. We preach to men, of Christ, and the eternal recompenses; here are the magnalia…

Therefore when the Holy Ghost would set forth that perfection of God's image first planted in man, he adds this title love to other duties, whether they concern God or man. Concerning God, Moses exhorts Israel to love the Lord and serve him: and again, to love the Lord, to walk…

There is an aversion from God which is natural, and which is increased by custom; therefore it is God must give us a heart to do his will, and skill and strength. Thus God, he must draw us off from other things, which is called the circumcising of the heart, (Deuteronomy 30:6).…

How many are gone down to the chambers of death since the last night! 2. It quickens us to love and serve God, who is the strength of our lives, and the length of our days (Deuteronomy 30:20). Your life is wholly in God's hands: man cannot add a cubit to his stature, nor make on…

Because there are different ways propounded to man, therefore he must follow all, or take up one upon evidence. Not only in point of practice, as life and death is set before us (Deuteronomy 30:15), and the broad way and the narrow (Matthew 7:13-14); not only to counterwork the…

Fifthly, In this change there is a weakening of the old inclination to carnal vanities, and there's a new bent and frame of heart bestowed upon us. The heart is taken off from the love of base objects, and then fixed upon that which is good (Deuteronomy 30:6). The Lord your God…

They that forsake the law have quite divested themselves of all hope, and cast off all dread of him. The law offers death or life to the transgressors and observers of it (Deuteronomy 30:15), Behold, I have set before you good and life, death and evil. Now this is as little beli…

(Psalm 116:1) I will love the Lord who has heard the voice of my supplications. (Deuteronomy 30:20) That you may love the Lord, who is your life, and the length of your days. The soul by praise is filled with a sense of the mercy and goodness of God, so that hereby he is made mo…

Fourthly, there is required that the affections be purged and quickened; these are the vigorous motions of the will, and therefore this must be heedfully regarded; purged they must be from that carnality and fleshliness that cleaves to them. This is called in Scripture the circu…

It seems to me we should press with violence, and be so violent, as to besiege Heaven, and take it by force; and we should no less hasten to receive the Gospel, and take into us the wine and milk thereof, and the waters of life, seeing we may have them so freely for coming for.…

Thus conscience comes armed with evidence and authority of the truth; like the angel with a drawn sword in his hand, stands as the watchman to give warning, he still minds and remembers the sinner of his ways, and of God's righteous judgments. As sometimes Moses to Israel (Deute…

Vers. 2. she describes him to be such a one as he is; and (says she) therefore the Virgins love you: as if she had said, there is a Harlots love, that lookes only what they shall have by him: but none but Virgins, that is, those that have chaste and good affections, those that h…

And above all, be much in prayer; for that in a speciall manner maintaines and increaseth this communion and familiaritie betweene the Lord and you. Againe, the other thing that hinders is uncircumcision of heart, or worldly-mindednesse: in Deut. 30:6.I will circumcise your hear…

And if you say, who is able to performe this? who is it that does not at some times preferre his pleasures and profits before the obedience to a command? I answer, it is a thing that has beene done and is done by all the Saints: Therefore if you looke into Deut. 30:6. says the L…

Indeed and so was that on Mount Sinai, to do all that are written in the Book of the Law (Deuteronomy 27:26; Deuteronomy 28:1-4, etc.) to that same end, to love God with all the heart, and with all the soul (Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 5:1-3; Deuteronomy 6:1-3; Deuteronomy 5:…

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…

For, 1. Circumcision of the flesh was a seal of the Circumcision of the heart promised in the Covenant of Grace (Deuteronomy 30:6), and of the cutting of the foreskin thereof (Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 9:26; Ezekiel 36:26-27), and baptism is the same (Colossians 2:11-12; Titus 3:5)…

Sure Paul must give a dark interpretation (Romans 10) of that Psalm. Second, if the hearing (Romans 10:18) — "But I say, have they not heard?" — be the hearing of God as Creator, his sounding [illegible] in the firmament, night, day, and sun, as it is (Psalm 19:4), by all that s…

Therefore Adam in his pure naturals, as not yet endowed with the Image of God, cannot be the party with whom the Covenant of Works is made, for then the Image of God must either be a reward, which Adam by his pure naturals and strength thereof must purchase by working, which the…

God never said that he would be Adam's God by giving him influences to obey, and to obey to the end, all influences granted to Adam, to will and to do, were granted to him. 1. By God Creator, not by the grace of a Redeemer, as in the Covenant of Grace, to walk (Ezekiel 36:27), t…

This is a part of his reign (Psalm 110:2): The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule in the midst of your enemies. 3. Your people shall be willing in the day of your power (Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 11:19-20; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Jeremiah 31:31-35; Jeremiah 32:…

The summary of these promises is in Jeremiah 31:33, repeated by the apostle in Hebrews 8:10-12, setting out the nature of that covenant ratified in the blood of Jesus — which contains the summary description of all free grace toward us, both in sanctification (verses 10-11) and…

And now Israel, What does the Lord your God require of you, but to Fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his Ways, and to Love, and to Serve the Lord your God, with all your Heart, and with all your Soul. And as to the Word of his Grace, he declares it to the same purpose, Deut…

All these things are so often repeated of the Prophets, that I need not to heap into this place many testimonies, which do each where offer themselves. We have proved therefore, that in circumcision a spiritual promise was uttered to the Fathers, such as in Baptism is given: for…

Yet there is alleged a testimony out of the law of Moses, which seems to be much against our salvation. For after the publishing of the law, he protests to the people in this manner: The commandment that I command you this day, is not hidden from you, neither far off: It is not…

As you will] As you desire: God makes, of his free dispensation, a sanctified will and affection in prayer, the measure of his gifts to us; a word then 1. Of a sanctified will and affections: 2. How these are [reconstructed: the] measure of God's goodness toward us in these posi…

Now this God promises (Jeremiah 31; Hebrews 8:10; Ezekiel 36:26-27). Answer. Either does God promise to give us Faith, and to cause us to walk in his ways (Ezekiel 36:26-27), and to circumcise our hearts to love the Lord (Deuteronomy 30:6), which Arminians deny, contrary to the…

And this is the reason why faith does so wonderfully sanctify, because it does so strongly mortify. Again, secondly, faith does mortify our corruptions by applying God's promises to our souls, for faith does meditate upon the promises, and believes therein, and waits upon God fo…