Matthew Poole and continuators on Deuteronomy 8

1 ALl the commandments which I command thee this day, shall ye observe to do, that ye may live , and multiply, and go [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word] possess the [illegible: 1 word] which the LORD sware [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] fathers.

[illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] ▪ and happily, as life is oft taken, as [illegible: 1 word]. 17. 18. [illegible: 1 word] v. [illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1 word] on the contrary troubles or afflictions are called Death. End. 10. 17. 2 Cor. 11. 23.

2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God [illegible: 1+ letters]ed thee those fourty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.

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.

i. e. That thou mightest discover to thy self and others that infidelity, inconstancy, Hypocrisie, Apostacy, rebellion and perver[illegible: 1+ letters] ▪ 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[illegible: 1+ letters]eding ages.

Marginal references: chap. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1 word].

3 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 doth not live by bread onely, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

i. e. By every or any thing which God appoints for this end, how unlikely soever it may seem to be for [illegible: 1 word], as appears in the Manna; seeing it is not thee Creature, but onely Gods command and blessing upon i[illegible: 1+ letters] ▪ that [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] for the support of life.

Marginal references: Exod. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1+ letters].; Exod. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. 1[illegible: 1+ letters], 14.; Mat. 4. 4. Lux. 4. 4.

4 Thy raiment [illegible: 1 word] not old upon thee , neither did thy [illegible: 1+ letters]oot swell these fourty years.

[illegible: 1 span]

[illegible: 1 span]

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]

5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that as a man chasteneth his son , so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

(i. [illegible: 1+ letters].) Unwillingly▪ being [illegible: 1 word] by thy necessity; mode[illegible: 1+ letters]ely, in judgment remembring▪ mercy▪ and for thy reformation, not for thy [illegible: 1 word], Compare▪ [illegible: 1 word] ▪ 3. 11, 12. Heb. 12. 5, &c.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]

7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys, and hills.

(i. e.) Deep Wells or Springs, or Lakes, which were divers and large.

Marginal references: chap. 11. [illegible: 1 word] ▪ 11.

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

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Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]

9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without [illegible: 1 word], then shalt not lack any thing in it: a land whose [illegible: 1 word] are iron , and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass .

Where are [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] in a manner as plentiful a[illegible: 1+ letters] stones, and upon which [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] as in other par[illegible: 1+ letters] they do upon stones.

To [illegible: 1 word] in [illegible: 1 word] plenty. These are mentioned, because they had none such in Egypt whence they came.

Marginal references: chap. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]

10 When thou hast eaten, and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God , for the good land which he hath given thee.

(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.

Marginal references: chap. 6. 11, 1[illegible: 1+ letters].

14 Then thine heart be lifted up , and thou forget the LORD thy God (which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

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[illegible: 1+ letters]t. 9. 4. See Hos. 13. 6. 1 Cor. 4. 7.

16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee , and that he might prove thee good at thy latter end .)

By keeping thee in a constant dependance upon him for every dayes 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.

(i. e.) That after he hath 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.

Marginal references: Exod. 16. 15.

18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God; for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth , that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

So this word is used, Numb. 24. 18. Iob 20. 18. Prov. 31. 29.