d be slain by such weapons as men could hurl without
themselves pursuing it. Only when the trumpet blew a long summons might
the appointed ones come up to the mount (ver. 13).

On the third day, after a soul-searching interval, there were thunders
and lightnings, and a cloud, and the trumpet blast; and while all the
people trembled, Moses led them forth to meet with God. Again the
narrative reverts to the terrible phenomena--the fire like the smoke of
a furnace (called by an Egyptian name which only occurs in the
Pentateuch), and the whole mountain quaking. Then, since his commission
was now to be established, Moses spake, and the Lord answered him with a
voice. And when he again climbed the mountain, it became necessary to
send him back with yet another warning, whether his example was in
danger of emboldening others to exercise their newly given priesthood,
or the very excess of terror exercised its well-known fascinating power,
as men in a burning ship have been seen to leap into the flames.

And the priests also, who come near to God, should sanctify themselves.
It has been asked who these were, since the Levitical institutions were
still non-existent (ver. 22, cf. 24). But it is certain that the heads
of houses exercised priestly functions; and it is not impossible that
the elders of Israel who came to eat before God with Jethro (xviii. 12)
had begun to perform religious functions for the people. Is it supposed
that the nation had gone without religious services for three months?

It has been remarked by many that the law of Moses appealed for
acceptance to popular and even democratic sanctions. The covenant was
ratified by a plebiscite. The tremendous evidence was offered equally to
all. For, said St. Augustine, "as it was fit that the law which was
given, not to one man or a few enlightened people, but to the whole of a
populous nation, should be accompanied by awe-inspiring signs, great
marvels were wrought ... before the people" (_De Civ. Dei_, x. 13).

We have also to observe the contrast between the appearance of God on
Sinai and His manifestation in Jesus. And this also was strongly wrought
out by an ancient father, who represented the Virgin Mary, in the act of
giving Jesus into the hands of Simeon, as saying, "The blast of the
trumpet does not now terrify those who approach, nor a second time does
the mountain, all on fire, cause terror to those who come nigh, nor does
the law punish relentlessly those w