Matthew Poole and continuators on Hebrews 12:18

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest;

For, sheweth from this Verse to the 25th, the Apostle inforcing on these Hebrews, and with them on all Christians the Pursuit of Holiness and Peace, by subjoining the great helps they have for it, beyond what the Old-Testament-Church had, they being freed from the Legal Dispensation, which was less helpful to it, and admitted to that of the Gospel, most promoting it. The first he layeth down from v. 18, to 22. and the other from v. 22, to 25. They are freed from the Covenant-Dispensation at Mount Sinai.

You have not been called, as to your Body, to journey it to Sinai, or as to your Faith to close with that Covenant-Administration, to depend on, or have any Expectation from it, as delivered by Moses at Mount Sinai in Arabia, a Mountain visible, tactible, sensible, on earth; signifying the Covenant-Dispensation from this Mount to be low, and earthy, occasioning earthy Thoughts of God, and carriage to him, sticking in an earthy Altar-Sacrifice, and carnal, and sensual Religion, to the Law written in Stones, without minding the Spirituality of it, or having it in Hearts, walking wisely in this Wilderness-state, yet by the Charge of God, not touchable by Israel at that time, tho they came near to it in the third Month after their coming out of Egypt, Exod. 19.1, 12, 13, 23.

To the Fire, in the which the Lord descended on the Mount, Exod. 19.18. which burnt unto the midst of Heaven, Deut. 4.11. and 5.23, 24. and would consume them that broke that Law, which he spake to them out of it, Deut. 33.2.

To the black, thick Smoke that ascended as the Smoke of a Furnace, Exod. 19.18. to Darkness, occasioned by the thick Clouds enveloping the Mount, Deut. 4.11. and 5.23. to Tempest, the Storm of Thundering, and Lightnings, and Earthquake, the terrible Attendants of this Solemnity, Exod. 19.16, 18. and 20.18. All these shadowing forth the fiery and terrible Storms of Wrath and Indignation, which should pursue the breakers of this Covenant, to the lowest Hell; giving them in this Delivery of the Law, a visible Type of what should be the issue of their breaking it, Exod. 19.22, 24. These Terrors of the Almighty did so fright them, that they run from God, and set not themselves to the serious pursuit of Holiness, Isa. 33.14.

Marginal references: Exod. 19.12, 18, 19.