§. 153. Of Faiths working Obedience.
Through faith he kept the Passeover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that de∣stroyed the first born, should touch them.
HEre is set down the third evidence of Moses Faith, (See §. 147. in the be∣ginning) which was his Obedience to Gods charge.
Though our English do somewhat alter the accustomed phrase, which is, by faith, and therein alter the elegant Anaphora, or beginning several proofs with the same phrase, thus, by Faith: yet the Greek is constant in holding the same word, without any variation. Such an alteration was noted in the beginning of vers. 11. But those two phrases, through Faith, and by Faith, intend one and the same thing.
The repeating of the word in the beginning, sheweth, that this is another, and* 1.1 a distinct evidence of Faith; and that taken in the same sense as it was before, for a true justifying Faith; which so apprehends Gods respect to man, as it makes man to take all occasions of testifying all due respect to God: which Moses here did in his faithfull observing of that which God had expresly enjoyned him.
The particular act of Moses obedience is thus expressed, He kept the Passe∣over.
The word of Obedience here used, signifieth, a 1.2 to make, as if it had been thus translated, b 1.3 He made the Passeover.
This word, Making, hath a double reference.
One, to the primary, institution whereby Moses delivered it as a divine Ordi∣nance to the people; he first made it known to the people; and in that respect may be said, to make it. In this sense, our former English translation, thus renders it, He ordained.
Obj. God, not Moses, was the ordainer of it.* 1.4
Answ. The Holy Ghost doth oft attribute divine works to the Ministers whom God is pleased to use about them, Iohn 7. 19. See more hereof Chap. 4. vers. 8. §. 48.
The other reference of this word, made, is to the observation and celebration of the Passeover: For Moses both observed it, in his own person, and also cau∣sed all the people to observe it. Thereupon our Translators thus render it, He kept.
Herein we have a pattern.
- 1. Of obedience: for Faith puts men on, to do what God enjoyneth. So did the Faith of Noah, v. 7. of Abraham, and of others. See v. 8. §. 37.
- 2. Of faithfulness in declaring Gods Ordinances to others, that they may ob∣serve them. See Chap. 3. v. 2. §. 32, 40.* 1.5