VERSE 27.
THe second notable thing in Moses, is a necessary crosse im∣posed on him: which is amplified by a corrumpent and a conservant cause of it. The corrumpent was the fiercenesse of the King, which he feared not: the conservant was the sight of God standing by him.
The greatest part of Interpreters expound it of Moses departing out of Aeyypt, when hee carryed the people with him: then and in the dispatchall of his message and office, he feared not the fiercenesse of the King, but contemned it.
That is true: yet it seemes not to be the proper meaning of the place.
1. Then the Apostle should invert the order, which hitherto he hath not done, nor hereafter doth in this Chapter, hee should set the departure out of Aegypt before the Institution of the Passeover.
2. This departure out of Aegypt is included, Verse 29. it should be now unseasonable to speake of it.
3. Then Moses did not forsake Aegypt, but hee went as a Con∣querour out of Aegypt. They that forsake a Country, leave it for some cause; in regard whereof they cannot safely tarry in the Country. Therfore it is rather to be referred to the flight of Moses, when after the killing of the Aegyptian, he left Aegypt, and fled into the land of Midian. This might seeme to have proceeded from in∣fidelity, yet the power of faith is to be seene in it.
Moses perceiving that now, the King being incensed against him, and the Israelites as yet not acknowledging him for their deliverer, there was no convenient time to prosecute his office: therefore he flieth for a season, committing himselfe to the providence of GOD, and expecting a better opportunity for the delivering of the Israelites: in the meane season, by faith he forsaketh Aegypt for a time.
There is one only thing that opposeth itselfe to this Interpre∣tation.
Here it is said, that he feared not the fiercenesse of the King, yet Exod. 2.14. it is as cleere as the noone day, that he feared it, and fled upon it.
1. The participle may be rendred in the praeterpluperfect-tense, as Verse 31. by faith Moses forsooke Aegypt, having not feared the fiercenesse of the King, namely, in killing the Aegyptian, according to his commission received from God: not, that he feared it not after∣wards.
2. Though hee feared a little at the first, yet that feare was Page 504 allayed afterwards: in a couragious magnanimity he forsook Aegypt, and feared not the fiercenesse of the King in pursuing after him. It may be this fierce Lion will sent messengers after me to catch me, but the King of Kings is with mee, I feare him not, I will rest under the wings of Gods protection.
Chrysost. answers, that he did not so feare, as that he should ne∣ver returne againe.
Why? for he endured, with a strong and a valiant minde: no∣thing could overthrow him.
As seeing him, that is invisible. God in himselfe is invisible, and cannot be seene. Yet Moses by the eye of faith saw him as a Gyant on his side; which made him to contemne Pharaoh and all enemies whatsoever: he saw him in the bush, Exod. 3. but rather, by the eye of faith.
The Rhemists translate it, him that is invisible: he sustained, as if he had seene him: how can a man sustaine God? they have quite lost the force of the Greeke word; which governes no case, but is absolute of it selfe.
All flight is not to be condemned. Moses fled out of Aegypt, yet it was in faith. St. Paul fled out of Damascus, yet in faith. Tertullian hath an excellent treatise to this purpose. There is a time to burne, and a time to flye. If they persecute you in one City, flye to another. If our flight come from faith, not from feare and infidelity, wee may have comfort in it.
It had beene 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Chrysost. cast thy selfe downe, said the Devill to Christ: so Moses should have cast him∣selfe into danger, if he had not fled.
There be two wings wherewithall we must flye, when wee flye out of any Country, being pursued by our enemies: the wing of faith, and of righteousnesse. Whatsoever we doe, must be done in faith, else it is sinne in the sight of God: if we sticke by it in the time of persecution, it must not be in presumption, presuming in our owne strength, but in faith relying on GOD. If we flye, it must not be in infidelity, as if GOD were not able to keepe us in security, and be∣ing unwilling to suffer any thing for the name of Christ; but it must be in faith to reserve ourselves for better opportunities, and to fight more manfully afterwards under Christ his banner. By faith Moses forsooke Aegypt.
The second wing wherewith we must flye is, the wing of righ∣teousnesse.
If wee flye not sinne, as well as the Country, if wee carry our sinnes, adultery, covetousnesse, pride, &c. with us in our flight: they will make hue and cry after us, and pursue us to the terrour of our conscience, whithersoever wee goe; these things being obser∣ved, let us bee bold to flye. Christ himselfe fled, and hee gave his Apostles license to flye.
2 We cannot see the essence of GOD, yet we may see the good∣nesse, mercy, and power of GOD. The essence of the winde can∣not Page 505 be seene: yet the effects of it may. When David was hunted by Saul as a Partridge, he saw GOD preserving him from his clawes. The three children saw GOD in the fiery furnace, Daniel in the Li∣ons den, Ionah in the belly of the Whale, S. Peter in prison. The faithfull in all calamities see GOD: in poverty, in disgrace, exile, sicknesse, yea, in death it selfe, they see the Lord Iesus ready to re∣ceive their spirits: and they have such joy at this spirituall sight of GOD, as that it makes them in a manner to forget all sorrow. This makes them to endure all crosses, as Moses did. Let us desire the LORD to sharpen the eye of our faith, that we may see him which is invisible, to the comfort of our soules in this life, and may see him face to face in the life to come.
The reason why we faint in calamities, why wee give place to the fury of men is, because we see not GOD on our sides by the eye of faith: for if we did, we would not feare men. Will the Soul∣dier feare, if he see his Captaine with him, especially if hee bee a most wise Vlysses, and valiant Ajax, that can protect him from his enemies? Will a childe feare, that hath his Father by him which is able to defend him? If Gehazi had seene the Chariots and Horsemen of fire round about him and his Master, he would never have deli∣vered that pitifull speech, alas Master, what shall we doe?
