SECTION XXIX.
The punishment of Israel for the golden Galf. Exod. 32.
ISRAEL cannot be so long without Moses, as Moses can be without meat. The fire still burneth on the top of mount Sinai, out of which they had so lately received the Law, and yet so suddainly do they break the greatest Commandment of that Law to extreami∣ty of Aegyptian Jewels, they make an Aegyptian Idol, because thinking Moses had been lost, they intended to return for Aegypt.
Griveous was the sin, for which they must look for grievous punishment, which lighted upon them in divers kinds.
First, the Cloud of Glory, their Divine conductor, departeth from the Camp, which was now become prophane and unclean.
Secondly, the Tables Moses breaketh before their face, as shewing them most unwor∣thy of the Covenant.
Thirdly, the Building of the Tabernacle, the evidence, that God would dwell among them, is adjourned and put off, for now they had made themselves unworthy.
Fourthly, for this sin God gave them to worship all the host of Heaven, Acts 7. 42.
Fiftly, Moses bruised the Calf to Powder, and straweth it upon the waters, and maketh the People drink. Here spiritual fornication cometh under the same tryal that car∣nal did. Numb. 5. 24. These that were guilty of this Idolatry the water thus drunk, made their belly to swell, and to give a visible sign and token of their guilt: then setteth Moses the Levites to slay every one whose bellies they found thus swelled, which thing they did with that zeal and sincerity that they spared neither Father, nor Brother of their own, if they found him guilty.
In this slaughter there fell about three thousand, these were ring-leaders and chief agents in this abomination, and therefore made thus exemplary in their punishment: upon the rest of the People the Lord sent a Plague, vers. 35.
Aaron had first felt the smart in this destruction, had his action in this business been as voluntary as was theirs, but what he did, he did in fear of his life.