ON THE OTHER PART, He enjoined them,

1. To abstain from making a covenant with the inhabitants of Canaan, thefe nations which God had deftined to utter deftruction. There was a particular reafon for this prohibition, even the divine declaration formerly given, announcing their certain and utter deftruction: And alfo a reafon of univerfal and perpetual force, fpecified in the text, "Left it be for a fnare in the midst of thee; and thou go a whoring after their gods, and do facrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his facrifice; and thou take of their daughters unto thy fons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy fons go a whoring after their gods*." How often have perfons made a facrifice of their religious profeffions out of complaifance unto their connections! At firft, thefe profeffors meant only to comply for once, perhaps ; but, having once fet their feet into the down-hill path, they find it difficult, if not impoffible, to make a decent retreat. They go on, from begun apoftacy, to down-right enmity.

2. To break down all monuments of idolatry: "But ye fhall deftroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves : This commandment had been in the forego

* Exod. xxxiv. 12, 15, 16. + Exod. xxxiv. 13.

ing tranfaction, and was, for fpecial purposes, repeated in this one *; namely, That their covenant-renovation might contain a teftimony, aimed directly against their idolatry in making the golden calf, which had been done in imitation of Egyptian idolatry. Accordingly, as often as Ifrael returned to the Lord, in aftertimes, by covenant-renovation, they broke down the monuments of idolatry.

3. IF they might not fuffer fuch monuments of idolatry, as had been framed by others, to abide in their land, much lefs might they "make unto themfelves any molten gods +." Idols were abfolutely unlawful; whether intended as the objects, or as the means of worfhip.

4. GOD enjoined them OF NEW, to celebrate their folemn feasts, and dedicate their first-born, and first-fruits, unto himself. These bore also a part in the foregoing tranfaction; and the commandment was given out at this time, that thefe feafts might be oppofed to THAT FEAST which they had proclaimed in honour of the golden calf.

5. GOD prefcribed abftinence from SEETHING a kid in his mother's milk. Some of the enemies of religion have derided this precept,

Exod. xxiii. 24. + Exod. xxxiv. 17.

as

as trivial, and fome of its friends have hefttated as to the reafon of it; but there is no room either for derifion or doubt. Such as have duly attended unto the matter find, that the idolaters of ancient times feethed a kid in its mother's milk; and, in a fuperftitious manner, fprinkled their fields, orchards, and vineyards therewith, imagining, by these means, to fructify them against the next year*. Now, this prohibition was properly inferted in this covenant, as it was intended to be a teftimony against all idolatry and fuperftition, then abounding, whatsoever.

THIRDLY, The OCCASIONS of this Covenant deferve to be confidered in the next place. The interval between this covenant and the last was not above four months: The incidents which filled it up, however, were various and important.

1. IMMEDIATELY after the former covenant, Mofes had been called up to the mount, for the purpose of receiving inftructions as to the making of the tabernacle, and the office of the priesthood. Genuine covenanters put a blank into God's hand; and God took this method to fill it up. The fpace of time between Mofes's being called up into the mount,

* GREGORY'S Obfervat. cap. xix. apud Crit. Sac.

Tom. ix.

and

and his leaving Jofhua, was fix days: On the feventh day God called to Mofes out of the cloud. This seventh day was probably the Sabbath; and the first of the forty days on which Mofes fafted *. This is one of the particulars in which Mofes prefigured our Lord Jefus Chrift. One reason why both obferved fuch a faft feems to have been a confirmation of the miffion,-evidencing they were at once divinely upheld, and divinely authorised.

2. DURING Mofes's abode on the mount, the congregation of Ifrael, impatient of his abfence, despairing of his return, and fwayed by the idolatrous taint of Egypt, too fuccefsfully folicited Aaron to MAKE them gods to go before them: Aaron, far from that firmnefs which became his ftation, not only complied with their request, but also planned the execution of it. To fatisfy their fond defires, and filence their clamours, he founded the GOLDEN CALF. Thus, in the very place where they had exprefsly engaged NOT TO MAKE,

UNTO THEMSELVES ANY LIKENESS OF ANY THING THAT IS IN THE EARTH BENEATH,

did they change the glory of the incorruptible God into the liknefs of an ox. While the fire of his jealousy, which fenced this article, flamed about the mount, did the rage of idolatry flame in their hearts.

* Exod. xxxiv. 18.

Tt

3. THEIR

3. THEIR idolatry involved in it a notable breach of covenant with God, and provoked him to break off from finishing that fyftem of ordinances which he was beftowing by the miniftry of Mofes; and to denounce his moft dreadful indignation against them. The fyftem was far advanced, indeed, before it was broken off. The ordinances of the tabernacle, and the regulations of the priesthood, were already finished; as alfo the writing of the ten commandments, on TABLES of stone. These tables were the workmanship of God, both in point of preparation and infcription. He faw meet to write the fubftance of the former covenant on flone, to denote the perpetuity of the ten commandments, as the rule of condust and inftruction to his children. The tables were broken, however, by Mofes, whenhe came down from the mount. Some tax Mofes with rage and weakness in this step of his conduct; others endeavour to excufe him. But, whether he was culpable or not, his conduct was certainly emblematical of God's breaking off from finifhing the fyftem of ordinances which he had begun; and it was also a standing teftimony againft their breach of covenant with him. Hence, he denounced moft terrible judg ments against them: "I have feen this people, and behold (faid he) it is a ftiff-necked people! Now, therefore, let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may

confume