Stand Still, Sermon · Part 1
Stand still, not Murmuring.
First, Stand still, not Murmuring, 1. Corrupt nature prone to murmure. Rom. 13.4.whether against God or me. This corrupt nature is very prone, and readie to doe, to murmur against God, and Superiours, those whom God hath set over us, and made his Ministers for our good. To make good this charge, we shall need no other evidence, or instance, but this of the Israelites, whom if we follow in their march through the wildernesse, wee shall take them murmuring no lesse then eight severall times, (besides that in the Text) against God, and his servant Moses. Looking upon them, stand not to wonder at their wawardnesse, and forwardnesse, but rather reflect upon our selves; in this Glasse beholding our owne faces, taking notice how prone our corrupt nature is to fall into this distemper upon all occasions. This we are prone, and ready to doe; but this we may not doe: Sand still, saith Moses unto them, willing them not to give way to any discontented Passions that might cause them to murmur.
A Lesson for all the Lords people, the Israel of God, …. Gods people in their strait… must Stand still, not murmuring. 1 Cor. 10.…0.teaching them what to doe, (or rather what not to doe) in all their straits and difficulties, viz. Stand still, not Murmuring. It is Pauls advice and charge to his Corinthians, 1 Cor. 10. Neither murmur yee, as some of them also murmured; some of the Israelites in the wildernesse. And how did they murmur? Why, upon all occasions they were discontented, and displeased with Gods administrations, and dealings with them; and withall, ready to vent their discontents, expressing them both in words and deeds. As for instance: In case, 1. They wanted something which they would hauehave:The Israelites murmuring in in four cases. 2. Liked not what they had: 3. Met with some dangers, difficulties, discouragements: 4. Saw others honoured, and preferred before themselves. In all, and every of these cases, we shall find their spirits (like the Sea in this Winter season) presently stirred, and their Tongues ready to pumpe out the secret discontents of their hearts, in quarrelling with, and murmuring against God and his servant Moses. Take a briefe view of particulars.
First, In case they wanted somewhat that they would hauehave. 1. For want of somewhat that they would have.Thus we find them thrice murmuring for water, viz. once in the wildernesse of Shur, Exod. 15. Exod. 15.22, 24.A second time at Rephidim, afterwards called Massa and Meriba, from their strivings, Exod. 17. Exod. 17.3.A third time in the Desert of sinne, Numb. 20. Numb. 20.3.Twice for Food, viz. once for Bread, Exod. 16. Exod. 16.2.once for Fl…sh, Numb. 11. Numb. 11.4.and every time ready to fall foule upon Moses.
Secondly, In case they liked not what they had. Thus being cloyed with their Mannah, 2. The dislike of what they had.they nauseate and loath it; and loathing it, fall to murmur against God, and his servant Moses, for not making them better provision. They speake against God, and against Moses, saying, Wherefore have yee brought us out of Aegypt to dye in the wildernesse? Here is neither Bread nor water, and our soule loat…eth this Mannah, this Light-Bread, Numb. 21.Numb. 21.5.
3. Meeting with dangers and difficulties.3. In case they met with any danger, (thus in the Text) any difficulties or discouragement. Thus at the returne of their Spies, making a discouraging report to them of the good Land which they had taken a view of, representing to them a great deale of difficultie in the conquest of it, hereupon they fall soule upon Moses and Aaron, and upon Caleb and Ioshuah, ready to Cashire the one, and to stone the other, and so to create a new Generall, that might conduct them back againe into Aegypt, of all which you may read, Numb. 14.Numb 14.…, 4, 10.
Fourthly,4. Seeing others preferred before thēselves. Seeing others honoured and preferred before themselves. This was the ground of that grand Rebellion, or Sedition, raysed by Korah and his Confederates, those two hundred and fiftie Captaines, or Princes of the Assembly, (as they are called) i.e. Chiefe Senators, principall States-men, Famous in the Congregation, men of renowne; of which you may read, Numb. 16. Numb. 16.2, 3… 41.These combine, and make head against Moses & Aaron, whom they maligned and envied, onelyonly for their promotions and preferments, that they should be in any thing preferred before themselves. Hereupon they charge them to be too Pragmaticall, too busie, to usurpe and arrogate to themselves more then was their due; Yee take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation is holy, v. 3. And afterwards, when God had made the chiefe Actors in that Conspiracy exemplary, by causing the Earth to take vengeance upon some, and the Fire to doe execution upon others of them, the next day the people begin to take up the quarrell afresh, making a fresh charge upon Moses and Aaron, calling them to account for the disaster of the day past, charging all that Blood upon their heads. On the morrow all the children of Israel murmured against Moses, and against Aaron, saying, Ye hauehave killed the People of the Lord, v. 41. Thus did some of them murmur. But take wee heed that none of us thus murmur. This is Pauls counsell to his Corinthians, and this is mine to you at the present, and I beseech you in the feare of God to hearken to it.
Applic. Let not us murmur.Thus let us not murmur. A piece of counsell (I think) never more seasonable. Murmurings, I suppose they were never more rife; and it may be others may thinke they were never more just then at this day.Grounds of murmuring amongst us compared with Israels in the wildernesse. It cannot be denyed, many bl…ssings at the present we (or at least our Brethren) want, which formerly we and they have enjoyed, viz. Peace and Plentie, and Libertie; Abundance of outward comforts and contentments; And many Pressures and Burdens wee now lye under, which heretofore we have not beene acquainted with; And this causeth murmurings in some: Some Blessings wee have, and those choice ones, (so our Fathers would have thought them) which yet some are discontented with, and weary of; That causeth murmuring in them. Many dangers and difficulties, and discouragements, are dayly represented unto us for us to encounter with; And those cause murmurings in others: And some there are, who thinke that Moses and Aaron take too much upon them, not sparing to impute all our disasters to the evill counsells of Superiours, upon their heads, charging all the Blood that hath beene shed in this Vncivill and Vnnaturall Warre; And that causeth murmuring in them. Thus, whatever cause or grounds of murmuring the Israelites in the wildernesse pretended to have, the same with like pretext, may be thought to be found amongst us at this day: So as Murmuring-Spirits may seeme to want no …ewell to feed the fire of their present discontents, and to make it break forth into open flames. But this let us beware of.
Murmuring, what. P. Martyr. Com. in Cor. 1, 10.…0.Take we heed how we quarrell with Gods dispensations and dealings with us, or proceedings towards us, (for that is properly Murmuring, (as P. Martyr well describes it) Quesimonia de Administratione Dei, A quarrelling with Gods Administration, an inward discontent, outwardly expressed by words or actions, against Gods dealings with our selves or others.) And of this murmuring take we heed.
First, To set on the Councell: Consider wee (in the first place) against whom it is that we murmure:Note. 1. Consider against whom it is that we murmure, viz. God himselfe. Against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? It is the Lords speech to, and concerning that proud Senacharib, Is. 37. Is. 37.23.Let it be spoken to us, to all I meane that stand guilty of this sinne of Murmuring) Against whom is it that we rise up? Is it against the holy one of Israel? what doe we set our mo…th or heart against the Heavens, quarrelling with divine dispensations, murmuring against Gods proceedings? If so; Alas who or what are wee that we should dare to quarrell with that God in whose hands we are, as Clay in the hands of the Potter? Who art thou O man that …epliest against God? (that quarrellest with him (saith the Apostle) shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made mee thus? Rom. 9. Rom. 9.20.However God be pleased to deale with us, what ever his Administrations be towards our selves or others, yet who, or what are wee that we should dare to murmure against him?
I know what will here presently be replied.Obj. W… murmure not against God, but Instruments, Superiours. It is not against God that wee murmure. Against whom then? Why against those whom we apprehend to have beene, or like to bee the Instruments of our woe?
First, And who, or what are they? It is Moses his Interrogatory to these murmuring Israelites,Ans. 1. Take heed of murmuring against Superiours. when they were murmuring against Aaron and himselfe, Exod. 16.7. Exod. 16.7.And what are wee (saith he) that yee murmure against us? So I may here say; Those whom wee looke at with so evill an eye, apprehending them as Instruments of our woe: who are they, or what are they that wee should murmure against them?Being set over us by God. Are they such as are called, and set over us by God, by him appointed and commissionated to goe before us, and with all such as desire to approve themselves faithfull, faithfull both to God and us, in seeking his Glory and our good? In this case if the successe of their indeavours doe not answer their desires, and our expectations, take we heed how we dare to murmure against them; which if we doe,
2, God is sensible of this murmuring. Exod. 16.8.12.Secondly, Consider (in the second place) that God will be very sensible of this Murmuring, so much Moses tels the people in the 7 and 8 ver. of the Chapt. last named, The Lord heareth your murmurings. There is not a murmuring word that passeth out of the mouth, nor yet a murmuring thought that riseth up in the heart against any Instruments imploied by God for our good, but he taketh notice of it, and is very sensible of it.
3. Hee taketh it as done to himselfe. Ibid. v.8.Thirdly, I, so sensible (in the third place) as that hee taketh it as done to himselfe; your murmurings, (saith Moses in the place forenamed) they are not against us, but against the Lord. Such a respect hath God unto his Officers, his Ministers, whom he imployeth in any speciall service for him; that what is done to them, (whether for them or against them) he taketh it as done unto himselfe; So it is in the case of Murmurings: The Lord heareth your murmurings which you murmure against him, (saith Moses there) Their Murmurings there they were directed and aimed immediately at Moses and Aaron;vers. …. I but they rebounded, and reflected upon God, wounding him through their sides.
4. Hee will not … it.Fourthly, And thus taking it, (in the fourth place) God will not beare it; however not ever beare it. True it is, such is his long sufferance and patience, that sometimes he beares and beares much, with the Infirmities of his people in this kinde. This we see in these Israelites, whilest they murmured for bread and water, (as one well notes upon that,Par. com. ad Boar. 1 Cor. 10, 10.) things necessary for their sustentation, God beares with their Infirmitie, passing it by without any remarkable Judgement. But when they goe on still to provoke him in that kinde, withall, adding contumacy to their sinne; murmuring not so much out of want as wantonnesse. This was the case when they murmured for Flesh, for Quailes;Specially if wanton murmurings. Not contented with the Commons which God had allowed them, (though Angels food, Man did eat the bread of Angels, (saith the Psalmist) Bread given from Heaven,Ps. 78.25. and brought to them by the ministerie of Angels, 1 King 17.6.even as Elias his Bread was by the ministerie of Ravens; I, and such bread as if the Angels would have had bread to eat, they could have eaten no better) they would have more full tables, and more delicate fare. In this case God would not beare with it.
Much lesse when their murmurings were out of Envy and Malice. Malicious murmurings.That was the case when Korah and his Confederates so seditiously rose up against Moses and Aaron; That was the case when the whole Body of the Army siding with those wicked Spies, and giving credit to their false reports, they were ready to take up stones against Caleb and Ioshuah, making head against their Governors. Here their murmurings were not out of weaknesse, but wilfulnesse; murmurings not of Infirmitie, but Contumacie, having a tincture of malice in them: Now such murmurings God will not beare with. Read we but the stories, & we shall see how severely God dealt with them in these cases; what exemplarie vengeance hee took upon on these their contumacious, Exemplarie vengeance taken upon the Israelites for such murmurings. Numb. 11.1. Montan.wanton, envious, malicious murmurings. When the People became murmurers, (saith the Text in that 11 Numb.) i.e. contumacious murmurers, conquerentes injuste, unjust Complainers, (as the Originall hath it) not contented with Gods allowance, but quarrelling with his administrations: This displeased the Lord; malum fuit in auribus Domini, it was very evill in the eares of God, and therefore his wrath was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burnt amongst them, (the fire of the Lord, i.e. a fire sent from the Lord, or a vehement and terrible fire, as that Hebrew phrase often signifieth) which consumed the utmost part of the Hoasts. Thus dealt the Lord with those wanton murmurers, who would not be at his finding; being weary of their Mannah they would have flesh: God giveth them their longing, but withall he sends a Curse and a Plague with it; so you have it in the close of that same Chapt. ver. 33.Numb. 11.33. While the flesh was between their teeth, yer it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the People, and the Lord smote them with a very great Plague. And for the same cause hee sent the fierie Serpents amongst them, (Numb. 21. Numb. 21.6.How he dealt with that seditious confederacie, Korah, and his company, the storie is well knowne. The Earth swalloweth up some of them,Numb. 16.31, 34. and the Fire consumeth the rest: And as for the people who took up their quarrell the next dsy, no lesse then fourteeen thousand and seven hundred of them are swept away with the Plague.Vers. 49, As for those wicked Spies, and that Rebellious rout which sided with them, God suffered them not to go unpunished. They were all of them by little and little consumed in the Wildernesse;Numb. 14.29, 30. not one of them entred into Canaan, 1 Cor. 10.10.but were destroyed of the destroyer, (as the Apostle hath it) Thus did God make them Exemplarie to us, that we might heare, and feare, and take heed of committing the like wickednesse. These things were our Examples, 1 Cor. …0.6.(saith the Apostle) to the intent that we should not lust as they lusted, nor yet murmure as they murmured; which if we shall dare to doe, doe not thinke that God will beare with it in us more then in them: specially if we murmure as they murmured, Contumaciously, Wantonly, Enviously, Maliciously.
And are there not such murmurings to bee found amongst some of us (my Brethren) at this day?Such murmumurings to be found amongst us. wanton murmurings. Murmurings not of Infirmitie, but Contumacie, we murmure, and wherefore is it: not for Bread and Water. (Blessed be God we are not yet reduced to that necessitie, though it may bee many of our Brethren are.) It is not for any necessaries ▪ whether for Body or Soule, but for Flesh, for Quailes. It may be some of us want what wee would have, and formerly what we have had, and herein we cannot indure to be abridged and cut short; or else we like not what we have, and so murmure for a change of condition; wanton murmurings. In some of us (it may be) Envious and Malicious murmurings:Envious, malicious murmurings. Murmurings against the Callings of some, and Persons of others, whom we envie and maligne, and that for no other cause, but for some speciall honours which God himselfe hath put upon them: Our murmurings against the waies of God, against which we are prejudiced through the evill reports that some slanderous Spies have brought upon them: Or (…o come neerer) and there not murmurings to be found amongst some of us rising chiefly from this ground? we are afraid lest we shall not have the like licence, the like libertie for our lusts that formerly we have had, but that we shall be more straitlaced that way then heretofore we have been. This it was that irritated and stirred up some of the Corinthians against Paul, occasioning their m…rmurings against him, (as P. Martyr notes upon that, 1 Cor. 10.10. 1 Cor. 10.10.(Vincebantur impatientiâ Disciplinae, Their spirits would not stoop to Pauls Discipline. They being loose themselves thought him too strict, and thereupon did in a manner preferre the false Apostles before him; they would give them that libertie, that licence, allow them that latitude in their walkings that Paul would not. And is not this the case of some amongst us at this day? doe not their murmurings spring from the same root? they cannot indure Pauls Discipline; the very shaking of Pauls Rodde over them (that Rodde which he telleth his Corinthians of, 1 Cor. 4. 1. Cor. 4.21.what will yee, shall I come unto you with a Rod?) this afrights, and terrifies them. They cannot indure so much as to heare of a Rodde, under which they must Passe, Ezek. 20.37.that they may be brought into the bond of the Covenant. The very name of Discipline, and noise of Reformation founds so harsh in their …ares, that it even sets their teeth on edge, (as some harsh founds sometimes use to doe) so as they are even ready to gnash them against all those whom they looke upon as Instrumentall in this worke: Now are our murmurings such? Contumacious, Wanton, Malicious, Envious Murmurings? surely these God will not beare with; And therefore in the feare of God, take wee heed all of us how we give way to them, which that we may not doe: Give way to the Counsell and Charge here given by Moses unto the People of Israel, when they were in a condition not unlike unto ours at this day. Stand wee still.
Take we heed of murmuring against God.Not murmuring against God, not quarrelling with his Administrations and dealings, whether with our selves or Brethren, which if we doe, (yet to put a little more strength to it) know we.
First, The next … to blast the mercies which we have(In the first place) This will be the next way to blast all the mercies which wee have; what was it that tainted the Israelites Quailes? so as (though in themselves both toothsome and wholesome, delicious food, yet) to them they proved pernicious, surseiting and poisoning of their bodies; Insomuch that what they put in at their mouths came out at their nosthrils, becomm…ng most loathsome unto them? why, it was their murmuring which had blowen upon them, and caused God to blow upon them.Numb. 11.2…. They despised the Lord which was amongst them, (as the Lord bids Moses tell them) murmuring against him, not contented with his allowance; and that turned this Blessing into a Curse.
Againe secondly, 2. The next way to keep off mercies we would have.This is the next way to keep off the mercies which we want, and would have. What was it that kept the old stock of Israelites, even all that came out of Aegypt, from entering into Canaan? Not one entred in but Ioshua and Caleb, not one of them received the promise. It was their Murmuring, Murm…rings upon Earth will cause Repentings in Heaven, making void promises, keeping off Mercies; at least retarding and delaying them. What was it that made the Israelites march in the Wildernesse so long, so tedious unto them, keeping them there for so many yeares, when as they might have dispatched it in as few dayes? It was their murmuring, which still set backwards the work when it was in a good forwardnesse; putting them out off, & keeping them out of the possession of the promised land for fortie years together: besides the many difficulties and hardships which they met with, for all which they might thanke their murmuring. No such way to lay blockes in the way of merciemercy, to keep off mercies, at least to retard them as this.
Thirdly, In the third place, 3. … ready way to pull downe judgement.as it will keep off mercy so it is a ready way to pull downe Iudgement: Iudgement, and that both Temporall and Eternall, Temporall, not upon our owne heads onelyonly, but also upon the places where wee live; Eternall upon our owne heads without repentance. It is a branch of Enochs prophecie with Saint Iudes glosse upon it, Jude. ver. 15.16. Jude, v. 14, 15.Behold the Lord commeth with ten thousand of his Saints to execute Iudgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly: Convince them of what? why, as of their wicked workes, so of their wicked words, of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. And who are these that Enoch there speaketh of. T…e Apostle in the next words points them out: These are M…r…urers, Complainers; men that are so ready to quarrell even with God himself,Verse 16. to complaine of his dispensations and proceedings with themselves and others. O take we heed of this, as we desire to have the mercies which we enjoyed, continued, sanctified, blessed unto us; As we desire to have the mercies which we want, speeded and hastned; As we desire to have judgements temporall removed, and both temporall and eternall prevented; stand wee now still, Take heed of Murmuring against God.
Take heed of murmuring against our Leaders and Governours.Or yet (in the second place) against those which are appointed by him to go before us, to be our Leaders and Governours; Take we heed how we quarrell with them, murmure against them, or against their Counsels and Actions, passing rash, and uncharitable censures upon what (it may be) wee understand not;Ignorance of the councels of Superiours oft-times a cause of murmuring. A case verie common and ordinary. It was the case of the Jewes our Saviours auditors; when they heard him say, that hee was the Bread which came downe from Heaven, they were presently offended, and began to murmure against him, so you have it, Joh. 6.41.Io. 6.41. And so did many of the Disciples also, when they heard it, they murmured, v. 61. And what was the ground of their murmuring? Why, their ignorance; they understood not our Saviours meaning; which had the Disciples done, certainly they would never have murmured against their Master. Thus happily, did we but understand the counsells of our Superiours, and were able to dive into the bottome of them, wee would approve and allow of what through ignorance we murmur at; Ignorance being the mother of mis-understanding, oft-times brings forth murmuring. This maketh me… to murmur against God.This it is that maketh men so apt to murmur against God; even Ignorance of his Counsells; they cannot trace him in those deepe and hidden wayes, which in themselves are foreign,Rom. 11.33. untraceable, past finding out; and thence is it that they are so ready to quarrell with his Decrees and Administrations; whereas if they could but dive into the bottome of his counsells, they should then see so much wisedome and justice in all his proceedings, as would quiet and silence all their Murmurings. To this purpose is that of the Prophet Isaiah, Isa. 29. Isa: 29. ult.last, They that erred in spirit, shall come to understanding; and they that murmured, shall learne doctrine. Intimating that it is the want of understanding and instruction, that maketh men to murmur against God: the not understanding of his counsells, of his wayes; wherein if men were rightly and throughly instructed, it would heale all their murmurings against him;Against me… And surely this it is oft-times that maketh men so apt to murmur, ahd complaine against Superiours: They are none of their Counsell; they are not privie to their aimes and intentions; and consequently through ignorance thereof, are apt to misconstrue their actions, though in themselves never so just and equitable. Thus did the by-standers misconstrue that pious and most religious act of Mary Magdalens in pouring out her Box of oyntment upon the head of her Saviour:Mark. 14. vers. 5. They seeing it, were offended at it, crying out of the waste. Ad quid perditio haec? vers 4.To what purpose is this waste? And what was the cause of their offence? Why, they understood not the meaning of what was done. The waste they saw, but the meaning of that waste they saw not. They understood not that she bestowed that oyntment upon her Saviour, vers. 8.foreign, as an Embalming in way of preparation to his Buriall. Surely even thus fareth it with many of us at the present: We see the great waste and spoyle that hath beene, and yet is made in the Kingdome at this day; waste of Treasure, and waste of Blood; and we are ready thereupon to cry out in our discontented passions, Ad quid perditio haec? To what purpose is all this waste? But in the meane time (as we doe not know what the purpose of God herein is, so) we are not so privie to the Counsells of Superiours, as that we can passe an unerring verdict upon their Actions. Wee know what the Wiseman faith of the Kings heart; The Heavens for height, Prov. 25.3.and the Earth for depth, and the Kings heart can no man search: And the like may we say of his Great Councell; Their counsells are for the most part mysterious and deep, locked up from vulgaries, not to be fadomed by common apprehensions, specially by those who look upon them at a remote distance, & so cannot take the true height, or just scantling of them. Now seeing we cannot pry into them, be we ware how we passe rash, and uncharitable censures upon them, least we fall into the number of those whom Saint Iude speaketh of,Jud. v. 8, 10. Turn we Censurings and Murmurings into Prayers & Supplications. …who speake evill of Dignities, speaking evill of things which they know not.
It will be a great deale more safe for us, and more prositable both for us and them, to turne our Censures our Murmurings into Prayers; Our censures upon them, and murmurings against them, into prayers for them. For this (I am sure) we have warrant sufficient, It is that which the Apostle exhorts to, and calls for, 1 Tim. 2. 1 Tim. 2.2.I exhort therefore, that first of all, Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, be made for all men (all sorts of men.) For Kings, Pray for Superiours.and for all that are in Authoritie, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godlinesse and honestie. This is an exercise fit and proper for Subjects to pray for Superiours. And this doe wee. Pray for them, not Curse them. Curse not the King, no not in thy thought, (saith the Preacher) And Curse not the Rich in thy Bed-chamber, Eccles. 10. Eccles. 10. last.Pray for them, not Revile them. Had Paul beene aware who it was that he spake to, he would not have given him such language as he did. So much himselfe tells the people, alledging his Rule for it; It is written, Act. 23.5.thou shalt not speake evill of the Ruler of thy People. Pray for them, I, though they should be persecutors, That is the Rule. Pray for them that persecute you. This doe we, and doe we it in the first place.Mat. 5.44. So the Apostle there presseth it, foreign, First of all. Oh that murmurers would but take out of this lesson, to pray for Superiours first of all; pray for them, before they let flye at them, or murmur against them, certainly this would take off the Edge of their murmuring: The more they prayed for them, the lesse they would murmur against them Sure I am, They which murmur most, are such as pray least. To prevent the one, practise the other. Pray for …r Superiours.First for the King.
And that (as the Apostle there directs) First for the King, whom we acknowledge by a divine and speciall Providence, set over us, as a Supreme Governour in these his Dominions. Be we earnest with God for him, that he may be made a Moses to us, having Moses his spirit put upon him, (and if it might be, doubled upon him, as Elias his spirit was upon Elisha) a wise, King. 2.9, 10.and a large spirit proportionable to the charge committed unto him; that he may be wise as an Angell of God, (as the woman of Tekoah said to King David) able to discerne betwixt good and evill:Sam, 14.17. And with Moses his head, beg we for him also Moses heart, a heart faithfull to his God; that like Moses he may be as a faithfull servant, faithfull in all the house of his God: Mat. 24.45. Heb. 3.5.A heart tender, and affectionate towards his people, Carrying them in his bosome; (lovingly, tenderly, carefully) As a Nurse beareth her sucking child, Numb. 11.12.(as the Lord requireth Moses to doe to his Israel:) So making him in truth, Isa. 49.23.what he is by office, Patrem Patriae, a Father, a Nursing Father to his People, Gods People. Every wayes a Moses, a Saviour, a deliverer to the Israel of God.
Praying for him, Pray we also for those which are in Authoritie over us,For all in Authoritie under him. under him. And here in speciall for the Representative Body, the great Synedrion, our English Sanhedrim, The high Court of Parliament. Numb. 11.17.the supreme Court and Councell of this Kingdome, now assembled together in the name of God, to be unto their Prince, as those seventie Elders were unto Moses, a Councell of Assistance, to beare the Burden of the People together with him. For them beg we also, that God would do for them, what he there promiseth Moses to doe to his Counsellours and Assistants, Ibid.viz. take off the spirit which was upon Moses, and put it upon them, even a spirit suitable, and proportionable to the Burden layed upon them. Making them a Wise and faithfull Councell to their Prince; and Wise and faithfull guides unto his people, leading them on in such wayes as God himselfe hath layed out for them, so as in due time they may conduct them through this Red-Sea, this Sea of blood, and this wildernesse of Confusion, whereinto at the present we are cast, unto a Canaan, a Land of rest and peace, where Righteousnesse and Peace may dwell together.
And remembring them,Assembly of Divines; for whom beg. Direction. forget we not the Sons of Aaron, who are now called together to consult about the businesse of the Tabernacle. For them also beg wee a spirit proportionable to the worke which they have in hand: Even the same spirit that the Lord put upon Bezaleel and Aholiab, when he called them to the worke of the Tabernacle; The Spirit of wisedome, and understanding, Exod. 31.2, 3. Exod. 36.1.and knowledge, to know how to worke all manner of worke for the service of the Sanctuary, according to all that the Lord hath commanded. Such a Spirit beg we for them, that so all things in this Tabernacle-Temple-worke, may be done, and performed according to the Patterne in the Mount, Act. 7.44. Heb. 8.5.according to the mind and will of God himselfe.
Begging direction and assistance for them,A blessing upon their endeavours. The budding and blossoming of Aarons Rod, the next way to stay the murmurings of the people. Numb. 17. vers. 2. withall beg we a blessing upon their endeavours, that the Rod of Aaron may Bud and Blossome, and bring forth fruit. No such way to quiet the murmurings of the people as this. It was the Lords owne way which he bad Moses take, and make use of for this very purpose, Numb. 17. The people being subject to murmuring upon all occasions (and in particular about the Priesthood) (as you have heard) for a Cure of that Disease, the Lord directs Moses to take twelve Rods, according to the number of the Tribes, for every Tribe one,vers. 4. laying them up in the Tabernacle before the Testimony;vers. 5. And it shall come to passe, (saith the Lord) That the mans Rod whom I shall choose, shall blossome; and I will make to cease the murmurings of the children of Israel, &c. This was the meanes propounded. What the successe was the sequell of the Chapter will shew.vers. 8. It came to passe that Moses went into the Tabernacle, and behold Arons Rod which was for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth blossomes, and yleeded Almonds; whereupon the Lord ordereth Moses to take that Rod, and lay it up in the Tabernacle before the Testimony,Vers. 10. there to be kept for a Token against the Rebells, and (saith the Lord) Thou shall quite take away their murmurings. I shall not need to tell you that the chiefe ground of our murmuring at this day, is (if not the same, yet) not unlike to theirs, about the Priesthood. O that the wonder-working God would be pleased to worke the like wonder in our dayes; that we might see the Rod of Aaron (which at the present through the Calamitie of the times seemes to lye secure and dead) to Bud and Blossome, and Bring forth Almonds; yeelding us, not onelyonly Hopes but Fruits; Hopes of a quiet and comfortable condition to the Church, with the sweet and blessed fruits of a Glorious administration in it: No doubt but this would have a strong influence upon the present and future distempers of unquiet spirits, either to cure and stay their murmurings, or else to be a witnesse against them to all succeeding ages. This we know our God is able to doe, and this we hope he will yet doe. In the meanetime, let us and all the Lords people Stand still, waiting, and quietly waiting upon our God for his salvation. It is good for us so to do, so faith the Church, Lam. 3 Lam. 3.26.It is good that a man should both hope, and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. I have done with the first Branch of this Direction, which (I confesse) hath taken more of my thoughts and your patience, then at the first in my intentions I allotted it.