volume 4

24 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. III.
06s. VI. Every thing in the commands of God, relating unto the
manner of their giving out and communicating unto us, is to be re
tained in our minds and considered as present unto us.
The psalmist, "after so long a season/ as the apostle speaks, calls
the people to hear the voice of God,
as it sounded on mount Sinai
at the giving of the law. Not only the law itself, and the authority
of God therein, but the manner also of its delivery, by the great and
terrible voice of God, is to be regarded, as if God did still continue
so to speak unto us. So also is it in respect of the gospel. In the
first revelation of it God spake immediately
"
in the Son;" and a
reverence of that speaking of God in Christ, of his voice in and by
him, are we continually to maintain in our hearts. So in the dis
pensation of the gospel he continues yet to speak from heaven, Heb.
xii. 25. It is his voice and word unto us no less than it was when
in his own person he spake on the earth. And God being thus, both
in his commands and the manner of his giving them out, rendered
present unto us by faith, we shall receive a great incitation unto
obedience thereby.
Obs. VII. Consideration and choice are a stable and permanent
foundation of obedience.
The command of God is here proposed unto the people, to their
understanding to consider it, to their wills to choose and embrace
it: "If ye will hear his voice." Consider all things, all concerns
of this matter ; whose command it is, in what manner given, what is
the matter of it, and what are its ends, and what is our own con
cernment in all this/ Men that are engaged into some course of
obedience or profession as it were by chance, or by their minds being
merely pre-occupated with education or custom, will leave it by
chance or a powerful diversion at any time. Those who are only
compelled unto it by some pungent, galling convictions, so that they
yield ^obedience not because they like it or choose it, but because
unto it as
they dare not do otherwise, do assuredly lose all respect
their convictions do by any means wear off or decay.
A deliberate choice of the ways of God, upon a due consideration
of all their concernments, is that which unchangeably
fixeth the
soul unto obedience. For the strongest obligations that are unto it
ought to be in our own wills. And it is the most eminent effect of
the grace of Christ, to make his people willing in the day of his
power; nor is any other obedience acceptable with God, Rom. xii. 1.
2. The apostle carries on and enforceth his exhortation unto obe
dience, in the words of the psalmist, by a caution against or pro
hibition of the contrary, or that which would utterly prevent it, as
in others :
"
Harden not hearts." your To
having done so formerly
clear his intention herein, we must inquire, (1.) What is intended
by
"
heart;" and, (2.) What by the
"
hardening" of it.