that Iesus is the LORD, vers. 9. that is, that God was manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3. 16. for no man hath ascended up to heaven, (of whō we may learne the true understanding of the Law,) but hee that came downe from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven, Iohn 3. 13. and cause us to heare it] that is, preach it unto us. that wee may doe it] or, and we would doe it.
Vers. 13. beyond the sea] Thargum Ionathan explaineth it, beyond the great sea; and Thargum [unspec 13] Ierusalemy addeth, Neither is the Law beyond the great sea, that thou shouldest say, O that we had one like Ionas the Prophet, that might goe downe to the bottome of the great sea, and bring it to us, &c. All things hidden from men, which they cannot at∣taine, are either in heaven above, or beyond sea, in the farre places of the earth: but the Law of God is in neither of these, but neere unto every one, to learne and to doe. who shall goe over to beyond sea] Paul alleageth this place thus, Who shall goe downe into the deepe, that is, to bring up Christ from the dead? Rom. 10. 7. unto which he opposeth in vers. 9. beleefe in the heart, that God hath raised him from the dead. Now, Ionas the Pro∣phet, to whose example the Ierusalemy Thargum applieth this, was a figure of Christ, as himselfe hath said, As Ionas was three daies and three nights in the Whales belly; so shall the Sonne of man be three daies & three nights in the heart of the earth, Matt. 12. 40. And as the Sea in Ionas case is called the Deepe, Psal. 104. 6. and 107. 24, 26. Exod. 15. 5. so David (prophesying of Christ) saith that God had brought him up from the deepes of the earth, Psal. 71. 20. So the Apostle speaking of Christs rising out of the grave, useth the word Abysse or Deepe, which is spoken both of earth and sea.
Vers. 14. But the word] This the Apostle ex∣poundeth [unspec 14] thus, But what saith (the righteousnes which is of faith?) The Word is nigh thee, &c. that is the word of faith which we preach, Rom. 10. 8. By this it appeareth that Moses wrote of Christ, Iohn 5. 46. and that he was closely taught in the Law, E••r Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth, Rom. 10. 4. And the Iewes, which cleaving to the Law refused the Gospell, or word of faith, had a zeale of God, but not according 〈◊〉〈◊〉 knowledge, Rom. 10. 2. in thy mouth] or, for thy mouth, that is, for thee to confesse with thy mouth, that Iesus is the LORD, as Rom. 10. 9. So in is used for for in Deut. 9. 4. and 24. 16. in thine heart] or, for thine heart: that thou maist beleeve in thine heart, that God hath raised him (Christ) frō the dead, (& so maist be saved) Rom. 10. 9. to do it] the Law, which is fulfilled by beleeving in Christ; as it is said, This is the worke of God, that ••ee beleeve in him whom he hath sent, Iohn 6. 29. upon which beleefe true obedience followeth; H••••. 8. 10.
Vers. 15. I have set] Hebr. I have given, that [unspec 15] is proposed and confirmed by my doctrine. So in vers. 19. life and good] life as the end, and good as the meanes leading to life: or life, that is, God himselfe, (of whom hee saith i•• vers. 20. hee is thy life;) and good, that is, fe∣licity following. The Greeke version changeth the order thus, life and death, good and evill. Thar∣gum Ierusalemy explaineth it, the Law of life, which is a good Law; and the Law of death, which is an evill Law. And Thargum Ionathan thus; The way of life, for which a good reward shall be re∣compenced to the just; and the way of death, for which an evill reward shall be recompenced to the wicked.
Vers. 16. to love] this is a declaration of the life [unspec 16] and good fore-mentioned, which they, whose hearts God would circumcise, vers. 6. should come unto by the faith that is in Christ. in his wai••s] the Chaldee saith, in the wayes that are right before him. keepe his commandements] which is an effect of love; as, If ye love me, keepe my comman∣dements, Iohn 14. 15. and, This is the love of God, that we keepe his commandements, 1 Iohn 5. 3. And this is his commandement, that we should beleeve on the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ, and love one ano∣ther, &c. 1 Iohn 3. 23.
Vers. 17. But if] or, And if thine heart turne, [unspec 17] &c. This is the death and evill fore-spoken of: see Deut. 29. 18. other gods] in Chaldee, the idols of the peoples.
Vers. 18. perishing yee shall perish] that is, assu∣redly [unspec 18] and speedily perish; as the Greeke saith, pe∣rish with perdition. So in Deut. 4. 26.
Vers. 19. I call the heavens, &c.] This obtesta∣tion [unspec 19] of heavens and earth, (used also before in Deut. 4. 26.) may be understood of God and the Angels in heaven, (as Paul expresseth them in 1 Tim. 5. 21.) or of the other creatures also in hea∣ven and in earth; as Iosua said, This stone shall be a witnesse unto us, for it hath heard all the words of the Lord, &c. Ios. 24. 27. So in Deut. 32. 1. Esa. 1. 2. Give eare O heavens, & heare Oearth: & in Psa. 50. 4. He will call to the heavens from above, and to the earth to judge his people; and in Iob 20. 27. the hea∣vens shall reveale his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him. I have set] Hebr. I have gi∣ven, that is, faithfully proposed by doctrine, and discharged my dutie: so in vers. 15. The life and blessing which he set before them, was by the faith of Christ, Gal. 2. 16. and 3. 9. the death and curse was by refusing Christ, and seeking to be justified by the workes of the Law; for as many as are of the workes of the Law, are under the curse, Gal. 3. 10. therefore chuse] Hebr. and chuse thou; or, and thou shalt chuse: which is the dutie of all Gods people, to be performed by grace in Christ. So Da∣vid chose the way of truth, the precepts of God, Psal. 119. 30. 173. Compare also Ios. 24. 15, 22. Thargum Ionathan explaineth this speech thus, and chuse ye the way of life, which is the Law, that ye may live in the life of the world to come, you and your sonnes. This is true, if it be understood not of the Law of workes, but of the Law of faith, as Rom. 3. 27, 28. and 9. 31, 32, 33.
Vers. 20. to hearken to his voice] in Chaldee, to [unspec 20] receive his word. unto him] Chald. unto his feare. he is thy life] that is, the author of thy life and salvation through Christ, as in Iohn 17. 3. This is life eternall, to know thee the onely true God, and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent: yea, Christ