Deuteronomy 8

ALl the commandments which I command thee this day, shall ye observe to do, that ye may live........ and happily, as life is oft taken, as. 17. 18. v......... on the contrary troubles or afflictions are called Death. End. 10. 17. 2 Cor. 11. 23., and multiply, and go, possess the which the LORD sware fathers.

And thou shalt remember all the way i. e. All the events which befel thee in the way, the miraculous protections, deliverances, provisions, instructions which God gave thee, and withal the frequent and severe punishments of thy disobedience. which the LORD thy God... ed thee those fourty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee to know i. e. That thou mightest discover to thy self and others that infidelity, inconstancy, Hypocrisie, Apostacy, rebellion and perver... which lay hid in thy heart; the discovery whereof was of singular use both to them, and to the Church of God in all suc... eding ages. what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with Manna (which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know) that he might make thee know, that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD i. e. By every or any thing which God appoints for this end, how unlikely soever it may seem to be for, as appears in the Manna; seeing it is not thee Creature, but only Gods command and blessing upon i... that for the support of life. does man live.

Thy raiment not old upon thee, neither did thy... oot swell these fourty years.

Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that as a man chasteneth his son (i.....) Unwillingly being by thy necessity; mode... ely, in judgment remembring mercy and for thy reformation, not for thy, Compare 3. 11, 12. Heb. 12. 5, &c., so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his wayes, and to fear him.

For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains, and depths (i. e.) Deep Wells or Springs, or Lakes, which were divers and large. that spring out of valleys, and hills.

A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranats, a land of oil olive, and honey.

A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without, then shalt not lack any thing in it: a land whose are iron Where are in a manner as plentiful a... stones, and upon which as in other par... they do upon stones., and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass To in plenty. These are mentioned, because they had none such in Egypt whence they came..

When thou hast eaten, and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God (i. e.) Solemnly praise him for thy food; which is a debt both of gratitude and justice, because it is from his providence and favour that thou receivest both thy food and refreshment and strength by it. The more unworthy and absurd is that too common profaneness of them, who, professing to believe a God and his Providence, from whom all their comforts come, grudge to own him at their meals, either by desiring his blessing before them, or by offering due praise to God after them., for the good land which he has given thee.

Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day.

Lest, when thou hast eaten, and art full and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein:

And when thy herds, and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplyed, and all that thou hast is multiplyed:

Then thine heart be lifted up As if thou didst receive and enjoy these things either by thy own wisdom, and valour, and industry, v. 17. or for thy own merit, D... t. 9. 4. See Hos. 13. 6. 1 Cor. 4. 7., and thou forget the LORD thy God (which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water, who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee By keeping thee in a constant dependance upon him for every days food, and convincing thee what an impotent, helpless, and beggerly Creature thou art in thy self, having, nothing whereon to subsist, but from hand to mouth, and being supported wholly by the alms of divine goodness given to thee from day to day. The mercies of God, if duly considered, are as powerful an argument or mean to humble us as the greatest afflictions, because they increase our debts to God, and manifest our dependance upon him, and insufficiency without him, and by making God great, they make us little in our own eyes. Though this clause, as well as that which follows, may have respect to their afflictions, mentioned, v. 15., and that he might prove thee good at thy latter end (i. e.) That after he has purged and prepared thee by afflictions, he may give thee, and thou mayest receive and enjoy his blessings with less disadvantage, whilest by the remembrance of former afflictions thou art made thankful for them, and more cautious not to abuse and forfeit them again..)

And thou say in thine heart, My power, and the might of mine hand has gotten me this wealth.

But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God; for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth So this word is used, Numb. 24. 18. Iob 20. 18. Prov. 31. 29., that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testifie against you this day that ye shall surely perish.

As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.