Here see the glorious effect of being on the mount with God, of having free access to him, and holy converse with him. When we draw nigh to God and he draws nigh to us, our souls catch the splendor and glory of his grace: this revives our countenance and makes our face to shine. Here is something worthy of our attention, for the inspired writer calls upon us, Behold! Lord, give us to behold this to our edification and comfort.

When Moses came down from the mount his face shone, but he knew it not: O, it is well for us, when we are so wholly taken up with the majesty and glory of our Lord, and see such splendor of grace and love shine in his countenance as not to be looking at ourselves and admiring our own gifts and graces: it is to imitate the worthless fop to look in a glass to admire ourselves.

Though Moses knew not that the skin of his face shone, yet others saw it and were afraid to come near him. Here behold the glory and majesty of the holy law of God; like the face of Moses, it darts its piercing rays of light and terror into the consciences of poor sinners: it works wrath, it fills the soul with the knowledge of sin, the fear of hell, and the dread of damnation: there is a glory in the law, though it ministers nothing but condemnation.

The face of Moses shone so that he was forced to put a veil on it while he was talking to the people. Did so much of the glory of the law shine in the face of Moses, but with borrowed splendor, that they could not behold his face? then how terrifying, how dreadful for sinners to stand before the majesty of divine justice, and to be arraigned by divine truth, as transgressors of the holy law of God? Who can bear the thought without terror? Who can bear the sight without death and destruction from the presence of the Lord? O think of the law in all its dread and terror: see sin in all its exceeding sinfulness; and then consider the ministration of righteousness which exceeds in glory through the love and grace of our dear Mediator: we are called to behold him, but not with a veil upon his face: for "we all with open face behold, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:18.

Did the Lord cause the face of Moses thus to shine? Eternal praises to him, "he hath shined in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Cor. 4:6. In him we see the law fulfilled, its curse sustained, our souls redeemed from all its terror and bondage, and brought into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. "Ye are not under the Law, but under grace." Rom. 6:15.