A Complete and Compendious Church History, Chapter 7
The Seventh Plot againſt the Church, in the Wilderneſs: Defeated by GOD.
CHAP. VII.
THe Devil hath not yet done with the Church, but makes one Proof more of another Plot from Intrinſick Engines, to wit, in the Conſpiracy of Korah, Numb. 16. Satan had given the Church many Diſturbances betwixt this Plot or Conſpiracy, and that about the Golden Calf: The People were often making Tumults againſt Moſes, and as often did Moſes (in the Wiſdom and Power of God,) quiet theſe Tumults. One of the worſt of them was that, wherein Aaron and Miriam did murmur againſt Moſes upon the account of Zipporah, either becauſe ſhe, being not of the Stock of Iſrael, hinder'd him from Circumciſing his Son, Exod. 4. 24. or becauſe he was too much with God, and too little with his Wife, as the Rabbins ſay: Or rather, becauſe Miriam (according to the ſignification of her Name) would be Exalted, (as ſhe was a Propheteſs, Micah 6. 5. Exod. 15. 20.) and could not brook that Zipporah ſhould take too much Honour upon her ſelf, (becauſe of her Honourable Husband) and give too little to her: As Satan prevailed firſt with Eve, then by her with Adam; So here firſt with Miriam, then by her with Aaron; ſo ſets a Siſter and a Brother againſt Moſes, he loves to Fiſh in Troubled Waters, no Relation or Qualification (either of Honour or Meekneſs) can ſecure a Man from Offenſive exceptions. Their Murmuring againſt meek Moſes, cauſes the Cloud of Glory to depart, as the ſin of the golden Calf had done before, wherein Aaron had a Hand in the Sin alſo: Moſes is Vindicated by God himſelf, Numb. 12. 4. He that had been a Lyon in Gods Cauſe, (in breaking the Calf to Powder) was a Lamb in his own: and the leſs he ſpeaks for himſelf, the more God ſpeaks for him. God Hears and Stirs, Yea, and Strikes Miriam with Leproſie, becauſe Chief in the crime, and (poſſibly) more paſſionate and peremptory in her Reports and Reproaches: Not Aaron, becauſe he was the Judge of Leproſie, and ſo could not be tainted with it, as ſome ſay; but rather, becauſe he met God by Repentance, v. 10. So diſarm'd Gods Indignation, and Redeem'd his own ſorrow, Yea, and Miriam was humbled too, Deut. 24. 9. The People ſtaying and Mourning for her, (to go before them, Micha 6. 5.) till ſhe was Recover'd. And another Diſturbance (after this Halt) was, They Journeyed to Kadeſh-barnea, Numb. 13. 3, 26. not far from the South-point of the Land of Promiſe, Deut. 1. 2, 19. 20. From hence they ſent the Spys, which (no doubt, but) the Devil of Unbelief put them upon, ſeeing God had before Spyed out the Land for them, Ezek. 20. 6. and Search'd it out, Deut. 1. 33. But this Satisfied them not, Seeing (with them) muſt be Believing: Thoſe Spys came to Hebron, Deut. 1. 22. and Returning with the Fruit of the Land, Ten (againſt Two, great odds) prove the Devils Inſtruments, (who had prompted them to this Practice) and Rais'd an hard Report upon the Glory of all Lands, Ezek. 20.6. Numb. 13. 32. Hereupon Iſrael falls upon Miſtakes: As 1ſt. That the Lord Hated them, Deut. 1.27. whereas never was Child more Charily carried by a Tender Father, (as his own Bowels,) and never was Prince ſerved in more State, than they had been all along, yet they thus Deſperately Belyed the Lord. 2dly. They make themſelves a Captain to Return to Aegypt, Neh. 9. 16, 17. as if that were better for them, (which could no way be.) Thus they caſt the Helve (according to the Proverb) after the Hatchet, and like Children becauſe they might not have what they would, grew Sullain, and would have nothing: This highly pleaſed the Devil, and the rather, becauſe it mightily Diſpleaſed the Lord, inſomuch as he Swore, They ſhould wander in a Circle until they were worn out, and ſpend about 38 y. in Journeying from that place (of their Sin) Kadiſh-Barnea, to the ſelf-ſame place Kadiſh-Barnea again, Numb. 33. 18. and 37. which is call'd Richmah here, but before, Paran, and Kadeſh, Numb. 13. 3, 26. and Deut. 1. 19. Kadiſh-Barnea, as the Lord was there Sanctify'd (Hebr. Kadeſh,) upon the People, and made them Wandring Sons, as [Barnea] ſignifies, Numb. 14. 32. Yea, and there Mans Life was ſhortned, from Hundreds of Years they had Lived, to 70 or 80 Y. (as Moſes (then making the 90 Pſalm) ſheweth) to wear them out the ſooner. And thus God was a Moth to them (to wear them [Senſim ſine Senſu] inſenſibly away, though he would not be as a Lyon to them to Devour them at once, and to Extirpate them utterly, Hoſ. 5. 12, 14. becauſe he had Pardon'd them at Moſes Prayer, Numb. 14.20. And therefore doth he Preſerve their Children both to Propagate the Church, and to Poſſeſs the Land: However, this ſad Doom, (both in cutting their Lives ſhorter, and in cauſing them to Wander ſo as to make that way, which in it ſelf was but 11 days Journey, Deut. 1. 2. to be above Three times 11 years Journey long) Expos'd them for the Devil of Diſcontent to poſſeſs: Hence aroſe this grand Plot, Korah's Conſpiracy, as well as all their other Murmuring afterwards. Korah was the Devils Chief Inſtrument in this 3d. and Grand Diſturbance, or Internal Impediment, in the Church's Motion towards Canaan, he was the Principal Rebel: Hence this Plot is call'd Korah's conſpiracy, and 'tis Korah's Congregation or Company, Numb. 16. 5, 16, 22. and 26. 9. and 27. 3. And the Gain-ſaying of Korah, Jude v. 11. And to make his Conſpiracy the ſtronger, draws in Dathan and Abiram to be his Complices, Yea, and 250 Princes of the Aſſembly, Numb. 16. 2. and not onelyonly ſo, but even all the Congregation, v. 19. Who were all too ready to promote this Plot, he having perſwaded them that God alſo would promote and Proſper it, v. 41. Thus one Scabb'd Sheep infected the whole Flock; and as Juvenal ſaith, Vua que Corruptâ livorem ducitabab Vuâ: Hence the Pſalmiſt Imputeth this Conſpiracy to all Iſrael, [They Envyed Moſes alſo, and Aaron the Saint of the Lord, Pſa. 106. 16.] Inaſmuch as the People did neither Deſire to Puniſh thoſe Conſpirators, nor Enter'd their proteſt againſt them, they are all look'd on as a Rabble of Rebels againſt God and his Servants, and accuſed as Guilty of the Sin: (Thus Satans ſowr Leaven almoſt Leaven'd the whole Lump:) And though Aaron was not Innocent in the Two former Internal Impediments, being an Acceſſory in them both, yet in this he keeps Clean, and is call'd a Saint of … Lord, being one of the main Marks thoſe Rebels Shot at, for Korah (his Couſin-German, Exod. 6. 18.) of the Tribe of Levi, Aſpired to have the Prieſt-Hood from Aaron, v. 11. and being enraged that Elizaphan Son of the 4th. Family, ſhould be preferred before himſelf of the 2d. Family, Numb. 3. 30, and he Incenſes Dathan and Abiram (who were his next Neighbours in the Camp, ſo ſooneſt ſeduced) to claim the Principality from Moſes, as being of Reuben the Firſt-Born: 'Tis againſt Moſes, and againſt Aaron, Numb. 16. 3, 11. againſt Magiſtracy, and againſt Miniſtry, a Deſperate and Dangerous Conſpiracy, 1ſt. In Slaunderlng the Governours, that they took too much State, too much Power, too much Honour, and too much Holineſs upon them, whereas they took none of theſe upon them, but what the Lord God had given them, Hebr. 3. 3. and 5. 4. Thus theſe Ring-leaders of the Rebellion moſt Preſumptuouſly preſcribe an Amendment of Gods Word and Work, and would have his Divine Inſtitutions to truckle unto their Humane Humours, and fond Inventions. 2dly. In Flattering the Governed, As if the People were Holy, and might make their immediate approaches to God both with their Incenſe and Offerings. All this is as falſe as the former, Moſes was Ambitious, (ſay they,) 'Tis as true as Iſrael was Holy, much alike: had Moſes been ſo, while God lifted him up over Iſrael, he had never faln at their Feet, as v. 1. And had Iſrael been Holy, (who had now ſcarcely wiped their Mouths of the late Tranſgreſſion) aſſuredly there had never been ſo much Idolatry, Infidelity, and Mutiny amongſt them: What could make them Wicked, if all theſe would Denominate them Holy?
No doubt but the Devil had a fair proſpect of his Plot and Deſign, when he had raiſed up a Grand Ring-leader of Rebellion, and not onelyonly ſo, but when this One Man, v. 22. the Great Wheel (the Primus Motor, or Primum Mobile,) thereof, had (by his Inſtigation) Twiſted to himſelf ſuch Two conſiderable Intereſts of 250 Princes, and of ſo many People, yet the Great God (who is higher then the Higheſt, Eccleſ. 5. 8.) Laughs all this to Nothing; for Moſes well tells them, v. 11. That this their Riſing was againſt the Lord, as the Lord told Saul after, Saul, Saul, why Perſecuteſt thou me? Act. 9. 4. Who ever hardened himſelf aegainſt God, and proſpered? Job 9. 4. Nor they then, for (1ſt.) Moſes Retorts upon thoſe Rebels the ſame they had falſly reflected upon him and Aaron, v. 7. Ye take too much upon you, ye Sons of Levi: (as doth Elias upon Ahab, 1 Kin. 18. 17, 18.) and (to Hide pride from them, Job 33. 17.) he minds them, not to look up at thoſe few Prieſts that were above them, ſo much as look down at the many Myriads of People that were below them. Their Thankful-Contentedneſs with their Advancement (as Levites) above all the People, ſhould have kept them from all Repining Diſcontentedneſs at the few Prieſts that were above them: But thoſe ſturdy Rebels were Uncounſellable, Incorrigible, and their Envy and Ambition are reſtleſs and Unſatisfiable: Hence they ſay, We will not come up, v. 12. Preferring the Land of Aegypt (their Houſe of Bondage, and their Iron Furnace, Deut. 4.20.) moſt Ungratefully and Maliciouſly, before that of Gods moſt Gracious Promiſe, v. 13.14. Hereupon (2d.) Moſes referrs this Controverſie betwixt the Church Malignant and the True Church Militant to a Divine Deciſion, 1ſt in Praying, that God would not reſpect their Offering, v. 15. and thereby maintain his Honeſt Cauſe and Holy Calling againſt thoſe Invaders thereof; they had forgot Gods Judgements upon Nadab and Abihu, Levit. 10. 1. which ſhould have made their Hands Tremble, inſomuch as Handling ſtrange Incenſe and Cenſors, which they had ready provided when firſt they Combined to Uſurp the Prieſts Office, and now ſtood ſtouting it out in the very Face of God; but he had no Reſpect to their Offering, when he came to make known who were his, as v. 5. Though he Anſwer'd by Fire from Heaven, it was to Burn themſelves, but not their Sacrifice. 2dly. In Predicting Gods Miraculous Judgement upon thoſe Rebels, v. 28. 29, 30. wherein Moſes Engageth the Truth and Honour of his Cauſe upon a Miracle Immediately comming to paſs: At laſt (3dly.) both the Plot and all the Plotters Periſhed, Jude v. 11. Some one way, and ſome another, (as the Word [foreign] ſignifies) none of them dying a common Death, God Created Two New Deſtructions for them: Some were Swallowed up of the Earth, ſo Buryed Quick, (the worſt of Deaths) becauſe their Mouths had been open Sepulchres to ſwallow up Gods Servants, and Others were Burnt to Death with Fire from Heaven, having ſinned by Fire in their Cenſors and Incenſe. As for Korah (the Captain of the Conſpiracy, and the Ring-leader of the Rebellion, the main Wheel of this Malicious Mutiny) the Scripture ſeems to doom him to a double Death, (as his Sin was [foreign] a Twice-dip'd Scarlet Sin, and of a double dye: As if he were not onelyonly Buryed Quick, (in that Diſmal and Univerſal Grave) but alſo Burned with thoſe that Offer'd ſtrange Incenſe, as if the Mouth of the Earth below him, and Fire from Heaven above him had both Conſpir'd together to Stigmatize and Brand that Arch-Rebel who had been the Original of all.
For 1ſt. That he was Swallowed up of the Earth, Appears, (1.) Inaſmuch as the People were bidden to Seperate from the Tents of Korah, as well as of Dathan and Abiram, Numb. 16. 24. and accordingly they did ſo, v. 27. (2.) The Words, [v. 30. If the Lord Create a New Thing, and the Earth open her mouth and Swallow Them up] ſeems to referr unto all the Three: (3.) The Earth did Swallow up all the Men that appertaineth unto Korah, v. 32. And (4.) 'tis Expreſly ſaid, That the Earth did Devour Korah himſelf, Numb. 26. 10.
2dly, That he was burned by Fire from Heaven, Inaſmuch as Korah being a Levite. 1. was one of thoſe that offered ſuch Incenſe as God Reſpected not. 2. Korah joyning with them in the ſame Sin, was alſo joyn'd with them in the ſame Puniſhment: They all ſinn'd together by Fire, and they were all Puniſh'd together by Fire, and that Immediately after their burning Incenſe. 3. Thoſe that were thus burnt are call'd Korah and his Company, ver. 40. 4. Korah's Cenſer was among thoſe Cenſers which were to be Plates for the Altar as a Caveat to ſucceeding Ages, That none ſhould Invade the Prieſt-hood as Korah and his Company had done, Numb. 16. 6, 17, 38, 39, 40. However he was Burned in Hell, both he and his whole Tribe of Traitors; Thus the Sheol, v. 30. (taken either ſtrictly or largely, for Hell or Grave) Swallow'd up both this Plot and all the Plotters; Yea, and the Wiſe God here beats Satan, and batters his Kingdom with his own Weapon, and ſtrikes him thorough with Arrows out of his own Quiver; in his Reſerving Korah's Children alive: [The Sons of Korah Dyed not, Numb. 26. 11.] who (ſome ſay) were born up (Pendulous) in the Air by Divine Power, (while the Earth had Swallowed up their Wicked Father) being either Innocent of their Fathers Sin, or Penitent at Moſes Admonition, Numb. 16.5. And thoſe became as eminently Serviceable, as their Father had been notoriouſly Deſtructive to the Church. Of them deſcended Samuel, 1 Chro. 6. 33, 34. (with 1 Sam. 1. 20.) They were ſingers in the Houſe of the Lord, v. 31. and many Pſalms have them in their Titles, as Pſal 42, 44, 45, &c. Thus God can gather Grapes from Thorns, and Figgs from Thiſtles: And (as one ſaith) can make White Paper even of Dung-Hill Raggs: An Holy Off-Spring Extracted out of an Ʋnholy Root: Thus Satan loſes Ground by this Plot, and the Church winns; Aaron's Prieſt-Hood (ſo oppoſed) is Confirm'd by a Miracle, Aaron's Rod (alone) Budded, Numb. 17. And the Church marches on towards Canaan.