A Complete and Compendious Church History, Chapter 9

A Complete and Compendious Church History · Chapter 9

p. 71The Ninth Plot againſt the CHURCH: Defeated by GOD.

CHAP. IX.

BUt the Soreſt Thruſt, and moſt Fiery Dart of the Devil againſt this Wilderneſs-Church, was that of the Moabites, (with their Aſſiſtants the Midianites,) which was [Ʋltimus Diaboli Crepitus] the laſt Gun-Shot of the Wicked one againſt Iſrael, (as to External or Outward Engines,) before they Entred Canaan, yet proved it (by the Over-ruling Providence of God) but the Shot of a Pot-Gun, a Dintleſs Dart; and an Unſucceſsful Thruſt in the Iſſue: No Weapon that is formed againſt the Church ſhall proſper, Iſai. 54. 17. This Divine Promiſe did blunt the Point, and Spoil'd the Purpoſe of all both Humane or Diabolical Projects; Yea, of this laſt, which was the worſt of all, [Morſus Morientum ſunt Maximè Mortiferi.] The laſt Bite of Dying Beaſts are moſt Deadly, no leſs was this laſt of the Serpent to Interrupt p. 72the Church in her Paſſage out of the Wilderneſs to Canaan.

Take a Particular View of Two Things, 1ſt. of the Church's Danger, and 2dly. Of the Church's Deliverance. God Requires a Due Commemoration hereof, Micah 6. 5. where he ſaith, Oh my People, Remember now what Balak King of Moab Conſulted, and what Balaam the Son of Beor Anſwered from Shittim unto Gilgal, that ye may know the Righteouſneſs of the Lord: The Compellation [Oh my People,] doth plainly Demonſtrate, That the ſinfulneſs of Gods People doth not Deſtroy Gods Claim to, and his Intereſt in them. They are his by Creation, by Redemption, and by the Covenant of Grace: 'Tis True, by the Old Covenant God might Write Lo-Ammi, and Lo-Ruhamah upon his Sinful Church, but the Free-Grace of this New-Covenant Rides Triumphingly over all the Incapacities and Unworthineſſes of his People; and when they are not (in themſelves) Worthy, yet their Gracious God will Account them Worthy, Luk. 21.36. when he cannot own them (as his Jewels,) Mal. 3. 17. for their ſakes, yet then will he own them for his own ſake, Ezek. 36. 22, 32. No Love like Gods love, that Loves thus Freely, Hoſ. 14. 4. Though all the World diſclaim them, yet muſt God lay his Claim to them, Oh my People; How can he Diſclaim them: So he tells us in his 4. ſuch Hows as are not to be p. 73parallel'd in the whole Book of God, Hoſ. 11.8. How ſhall I give thee up Ephraim, &c. I cannot find in my heart to do it, What will the Aegyptians ſay, Exod. 32. 12. And, what will become of my Great Name? Joſh. 7. 9. The very Banks of Blaſphemy will be broken down, when God cannot behold Innocency in his people, (as before) yet will he prevent the Inſolency of their Enemies, Deut. 32. 27. Pſal. 140. 8.

The Commemoration Holds forth Three Things; 1ſt. The Plot or Danger, as the Church in the Wilderneſs had a Balak and a Balaam againſt her: So the Church evermore in her Wilderneſs-State hath Force and Fraud, Power and Policy againſt her. 2. The Iſſue and Deliverance, God Deliver'd the Church out of their Hands, Joſh. 24. 10. and brought her from Shittim (the place of their Sin of Baal-Peor) to Gilgal, where he Renew'd his Covenant. 3. The End, to Proclaim Gods Praiſe.

The other Plots before this was a Complication of leſſer Plots, but this laſt External, is a Plot of Plots: the Devil Employing his Grandeſt Engines at this Onſett againſt the Church. As 1ſt. Balak Hires Balaam to come and ſecretly Curſe them, Numb. 22. 4. 2. He Draws out all his Armies in Battel-Array againſt them to Suppreſs them by Open Power, Numb. 22. 5. Joſh. 24. 9. as ſoon as Balaam had Curſed them. 3. When this would not p. 74do, than by Wiles and Private Policy, according to the Counſel of Balaam, he Seduces them to Fornication and Idolatry, Numb. 25. 1, 2, 3. In the Management of this laſt and worſt Plot, Obſerve Three things, 1. The Ground or Occaſion. 2. The Manner. 3. The Matter thereof. 1. The Ground, it was indeed a groundleſs quarrel, for Moſes fretted againſt Iſrael, to ſee them upon their Plains, juſt ready to ſet foot upon the Land of Promiſe, Numb. 22. 3. though Moab was (Allyed to Iſrael) eaſed by them of a Troubleſome Incroaching Neighbour, (Sihon King of the Amorites, that had taken ſome part of their Land from them, Numb. 21. 26.) and (3) Aſſur'd by Iſrael that they would not meddle with them, or moleſt them, becauſe they were of the Poſterity of Lot, Deut. 2. 9. So it was a Cauſeleſs Quarrel, as Satan moved God againſt Job without Cauſe, Job 2. 3. So they were Acted and Agitated by the Devil without cauſe on Iſraels part: they being of a Differing Religion, were carried on with Satanical malice, and ſought their Ruine. Thus Rome (at this Day) ſeeks the ruine of thoſe of the Reform'd Religion, and Deviſes Deceitful matters againſt them that are Quiet in the Land, Pſal. 35. 20. Their Quarrel is Cauſeleſs. 2ly. The Manner, Threefold. (1.) Secret and Undermining, Moab ſent no open Deſiance by ſound of Drum or Trumpet, it was cloſe as the Plot of Rome againſt us at p. 75this Day. (2.) It was Earneſt, Importunate and Irreconcileable, for Balak was a reſtleſs Adverſary, and would not give over, till ſome Miſchief were done, as Rome doth at this Day. (3.) Sumptuous or Coſtly, Balak ſpares no Coſt, either in proffering Honours, or in Building of Altars and offering Sacrifices: Paul Perſecuted out of Ignorance, 1 Tim. 1. 13. ſo was eaſily Check'd, Act. 9. 4. but Balak out of Malice, as Rome does, and ſpares no coſt in her Malice. 3ly. The Matter of the Plot. (1) Balak Hires Balaam to Curſe Iſrael, Numb. 22. 6. Balak was a politick and potent Prince, not more Valiant than Vigilant, Ingenioſe Nequam, Wittily Wicked; he calls for Balaam (the Devils Spelman) to Curſe Iſrael. This Balaam (his Inſtrument) is call'd a Prophet, 2 Pet. 2. 16. there is frequent mention of his Receiving Meſſages and Anſwers from the Lord, Numb. 22. 8, 13, 18. and 24. 17. 'tis ſaid, God put a Word into Balaam's Mouth, Numb. 23. 5. a Phraſe never uſed concerning the Inſpiring of any of the Holy Prophets, which Word did but paſs through him as a Trunk through which a Man ſpeaks, his Heart was not Holily Affected with what his Tongue uttered; He did not Eat his Words as Jeremy did, Jer. 15. 16. Nor did he Believe what he had ſpoken, as David did, Pſal. 106. 10. And after him Paul, 2 Cor. 4. 13. And as he was call'd Prophet, ſo a p. 76Sooth-ſayer, Joſh. 13. 22. As all his Altars, Sacrifices and Conſultations with the Lord were by the Wicked Art of Enchantments, or Obſerving of Fortunes, ſuch as the Diviners and Prophets of the Heathen uſed, Deut. 18. 10, 14. Numb. 24. 1. He went not as at other times to ſeek for Enchantments, as being Reſolved to curſe Iſrael however and without Gods leave, he was fully bent to do it, and nothing ſhall Hinder him. Thus Satan makes Uſe of the meeteſt Means to Accompliſh his own Develiſh Ends, and makes Balaam to do more Miſchief to the Church by his Counſel, than Balak could do by his Courage: He lay'd a Stumbling-Block before Iſrael, Rev. 2. 14. No doubt but this Wicked Perſon had excellent Gifts; yet as he was Famous for Propheſie, ſo he was Infamous for Prophaneſs. And oh what pernicious Counſel was this of Balak's Conſulting with Balaam to have Iſrael Curſed, and that, from Heaven too, to wit, by the Mouth of a Prophet, this was more Dangerous than to Fight againſt them with all his Forces: And Balaam was as willing to Curſe them, as Balak would have had him, for the word [foreign] Jude 11. Imports it. He powr'd out his Malice (like Water in a Spout) after an Impetuous and Violent manner, he Ran greedily from Altar to Altar, gaping after the Gain Promiſed, If but his Curſing-Curſed-Work were perſorm'd, he was like a ſwift ſwelling Torrent p. 77that breaks down all its Banks and Bounds which are made to keep it in. Thus Balaam's March to Marr the Church was as furious as Jehu's, ſo that, neither Gods Prohibition before his Journey, nor the cruſhing of his Foot, the Speaking of his Aſs, the drawn Sword of the Angel in his Journey, nor the Diſappointment of all his Endeavours by his Enchantments afterwards, could Hinder him from purſuing his Curſed-Curſing Project: yet God made all Fruitleſs and fruſtrate, neither had Balak his Will, nor Balaam his Wages: God over-rules the Devil and his Spelman, Turns the Deſired Curſe into a Devout Bleſſing: gladly would Balaam have Curſed Iſrael, but he cannot wagg his wicked Tongue without Gods leave, nor Balak with his Men of might could find their Hands without Divine Permiſſion, Pſal. 76. 5. Yea, Balaams Heart Curſes againſt his Tongue, and his Tongue Bleſſes againſt his Heart.

Let us turn Aſide a little here (with Moſes, Exod. 3. 2.) and Wonder a while that this Buſh ſhould be ever Burning, yet never Conſum'd. Oh let us Admire the Power, Wiſdom and Goodneſs of God towards his Church, both in that Antient and in this preſent Wilderneſs-State, as to thoſe Pregnant Parallels following.

The 1ſt. Parallel is, As the Church then had a Balaam to Curſe her, and a Balak to hire p. 78him thereunto; Even ſo it is now, Gal. 4. 29. There is no new thing under the Sun, &c. Eccl. 1. 9. The preſent Church of the Reformed Religion, hath the Great Balaam of Rome to Curſe her with Bel, Book and Candle (as the Phraſe is) he is The Devils Spellman, [Primo genitus Diaboli] The Gull and Cheat of the World, to whom the Balaks or Kings (that have given their Power to that Beaſt, Revel. 17. 13.) ſays, Whom thou bleſſeth ſhall be bleſſed, and whom thou curſeth ſhall be curſed, Num. 22. 6. Whereas the Power given to Man, for Bleſſing or Curſing others, is not Deſpotical or Magiſterial, but onelyonly Miniſterial.

The 2d. Paralel, As Balaam is call'd a Prophet, 2 Pet. 2. 16. yet a Mad One, yea, a Sooth-ſayer, Joſh. 13. 22. So the Great Man of Rome is ſaid to ſit in the Temple of God, as a Prophet, 2 Theſſ. 2. 4. Yet a Sooth-ſayer, a Sorcerer, a Necromancer, a Conjurer: See my Diſcovery of Antichriſt, Pag. 48. and 59. So he is the Devils Prophet: and 'tis very remarkable the Devil hath done more Miſchief to the Church of God in his Transforming himſelf into an Angel of Light, than ever he could do while he appeared in his own proper Colours, as the Prince of Darkneſs, Gog [Tectus] or the Secret Adverſary is a greater Plague to the Church, than Magog [Detectus] or, the open Enemy. The Pope, that Falſe Prophet, and Chriſts pretended Vice-Gerent, hath given p. 79more bloody blows to the Reform'd Religion, (in its Power and Purity) than ever the Turk hath done.

The 3d Parallel. As Gain is the great Wheel (or at leaſt the Yellow Ʋnction) that made Balaam run ſo greedily after his Deſign of Curſing Iſrael, Jude v. 11. So the Balaam of Rome Hews out the Principal Pillars of his Romiſh-Religion out of the Quarry of filthy lucre. Gain is not onelyonly got from the Living, in his Pardons, Indulgences, Diſpenſations, Oblations, Pilgrimages, &c. (He making a Money-matter of the moſt Execrable Abominations, as Witchcraft, Parricide, King-Killing, Inceſt, Sodomy, Beaſtiality, &c.) but alſo from the Dead, (in his Maſſes, Diriges, &c.) who leave large Legacies to be Pray'd out of Purgatory, a Toy which he crys not up ſo much for Truth as for Traffick; as Mr. Jenkins Excellently ſhows, upon Jude laſt part. p. 212. ſaying, Silver is in the Sacks Mouth of every Popiſh-Errour: 'Tis a Religion wholly Compacted and Compounded for Gain: 'Tis altogether a Contrivance to make the Pope's Kitchin Smoak, and their Thirſt after Gain makes them Thirſt after Blood.

The 4th. Parallel, As Balaam Broke through all Difficulties to break Gods Deſign of Bleſſing Iſrael, (whom he was Brib'd to Curſe) though (1) a good Angel ſtood in his way to ſtop him, (who was Acted and Agitated p. 80by the Devil that wicked Angel) (2) though his own Aſs (that had been long his faithful Servant) did reproove his Madneſs, 2 Pet. 2. 16. (3) Though he ſaw a Sword drawn before his Eyes, and that in the Hands of an Angel, who was able to Kill 185000 Souldiers (notwithſtanding their Armour of Defence) in one Night, Iſa. 37. 36▪ and therefore able to Kill him (a Naked Man) at one blow: Yea, and (4) though God ſtood over him with a Cudgel, (as the Angel had done with a Sword) or Whip all the time he ran from Altar to Altar with his Enchantments and Diabolical Arts, and would as gladly have Curſed Iſrael, as ever the Dogg would be at his Carrion, which he yet forbears, not becauſe he Hates it but becauſe he fears the Whip or Cudgel. So the Grand Impoſtour of Rome hath met with many Rebukes in his bloody Deſigns, the Kingdoms that hath Couch'd under him as his Aſſes, Gen. 49. 14, 15. and have been over-faithful Servants to him, 1 Chron. 4. 23. have (at leaſt ſome of them) (through Grace) thrown their Mad Rider. And what Signal and Singular Appearances of Divine Providence hath been Evident againſt him, Yea and Bleſſed be the Lord who holds his Whip and Cudgel over that Balaam at this Day, ſo that the Dog cannot come at his Carrion, (no better than Carrion he accounts the Church) whom he would Eat up as Bread, Pſal. 14. 4. Yea, as p. 81Fleſh, Pſal. 27. 2. Yet when he comes to do ſo, Oh ſtand and wonder, God gives him a knock with his Cudgel, and then he Stumbles and Falls.

The 5th. Parallel, As Balaam (who had been brib'd by Balak) goes about to Bribe even God himſelf, to keep off the Blows of his Whip and Cudgel, and to purchaſe a permiſſion for Curſing Iſrael. Hence was it, that he crys ſo oft, Build me here Seven Altars, and Burn on them Seven Bullocks and Seven Rams. The firſt whereof was done upon the High places of Baal, Numb. 22. 41. with 23. 1. a ſit place to bribe God in, and to bring him into this Wickedneſs, who had forbid him to Curſe his People, Numb. 22. 12. Hereupon Balaam (who inſtead of diſuading Balak from his Wicked purpoſe, and inſtead of Conſulting with God about the Building of his Altars) he firſt builds his Altars to Conſult with God, and then boaſts of his Devotion, ſaying, I have prepared Seven Altars, &c, Numb. 23.4. as if he would bribe God with his Sacrifices, and now did merit this Favour to turn his Bleſſing into a Curſe; but 'tis expreſly ſaid, God would not hear him, notwithſtanding all his Flatteries, Deut. 23. 4, 5. Joſh. 24. 10. God was not ſo ſoon taken with the Multitude of Balaam's Sacrifices, as he had been with a Multitude of Balaam's Treaſures and Honours. So the Balaam of Rome with his many Altars and p. 82Sacrifices (though unbloody) thinks to Merit Gods Favour, Yea, to over-Merit it in his Works of Supererogation; exceeding the Phariſee, ſaying, [foreign] Wherein am I behind hand with God? Matth. 19. 26. What lack I yet? he can keep the Law, and be before-hand with God, ſaying, Coelum Gratis non Accipiam. I ſcorn to take Heaven as a Free-Gift, I will either Earn it, or I will never have it: And another Romiſh-Phariſee ſaid, Non habeo Domine, quod mihi Ignoſcas, I have no Sin, Lord, for which I need to Beg thy pardon. Thus (with Balaam here) they make themſelves Veſſels of Merit, rather than Veſſels of Mercy, but they (as Veſſels) ſhall be filled with their own Merit, or rather Demerit at laſt, even with endleſs wrath as veſſels of wrath.

The 6th. Parallel, As Balaam had his Conſults, Micah 6. 5. and his Confidence that by his many Altars and Sacrifices he had merited this Favour to Blaſt Iſrael, whom God had Bleſſed, yet both were Blaſted and Baffled by the God of Iſrael, who over-rules the Matter ſo, that Balaam's Anſwer unto Balak, was 1. a plain Prohibition, Numb. 23. 8. as God had ſaid to Laban concerning Jacob, [I Charge thee not to hurt him,] Gen. 31. 34. It muſt therefore follow, that Laban's Words were falſe, when he ſaid, It is in the power of my Hands to hurt thee, v. 29. For that Power muſt be given of God, as Chriſt told Pilate, Joh. 19. p. 8310. 11. Even ſo had God Charged Balaam not to Curſe or Hurt Iſrael, Numb. 22. 12. and 23. 12. God Speaks for his People in the Hearts and Mouths of their Enemies, 2dly. Balaam's Anſwer was an Abſolute Inverſion, God doth not onelyonly put a Spoak into his Wheel to ſtemm, and to ſtop him from Curſing his Church, but he makes him to powr out Bleſſings, when he was Hired to Curſe; and thus the Wrath of Man turns to the Praiſe of God, Pſal. 76. 10. 3ly. His Anſwer is an Ʋnexpected Retortion, all his Intended Curſes are Retorted and Returned (1.) upon Moab that Hired him, (2.) upon himſelf that was Hired, Numb. 24. 9. Curſed be every one that Curſeth thee. They both Deſigned and Deſired to Curſe Iſrael, and therefore on Gods Account they did it, Joſh. 24. 9. Qui, quia non licuit, non facit, ille facit. Even ſo the Balaam of Rome hath his Conſults de propag and a Fide both at Home and Abroad, and his Confidence in his Multitude of Maſſes and Money: but oh! how Wonderfully hath God hitherto bound their Hands to the Peace, and their Tongues to Good Behaviour. Their cauſeleſs Curſes ſhall not come, Prov. 26. 2. but are retorned on their own Heads: And 'tis very Remarkable here (3ly.) that though Balaam cannot Curſe Iſrael, yet he Curſeth Amalek their firſt, and Rome their laſt Enemy, Numb. 24. 20. and 24. As ſure as that of Amalek is come to paſs, ſo p. 84ſure ſhall that of Rome be [Gods Hand is upon his Throne] to Accompliſh both in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1.20. and by him, 2 Theſſ. 2. 8. Thus [Me Jad Kittim] from the Coaſts of Kittim is meant Italy, as Dan. 11. 33. for there is an Harmony and Congruity betwixt the Two Names, Latium of Latendo, and Kittim of Katham abſcondere, to Hide or Lurk: The Italians, Latines, (call'd Ketims or Ketij, as Suidas ſaith,) or Romaniſts are Gog (ut Suprà) as the Turks are Magog) to wit, Hidden and Lurking Enemies againſt the Church, and do (as Balaam had foretold they ſhould) Afflict Heber, Numb. 24. 24. to wit, the Hebrews, or Iſrael, (Hebers Poſterity) or the Church of God. Now Chriſt was the Chiefeſt of Hebers Race, Luk. 3. 23, 35. and was Kill'd by Pilate the Roman-Deputy, and ſince that time, Rome (by Antichriſt Raigning there) hath been Killing Chriſt in his Members ever ſince: But ſhall he Kill for ever? Oh no, for God makes Balaam (himſelf) to Denounce his Doom and Downfall: [He alſo ſhall Periſh for ever, Numb. 24. 24.] Or ſhall go into Perdition, 2 Theſſ. 2. 7, 8, 9. Thus Balaam (the Devils Spelman, and Hired by Balak to Curſe Iſrael) was over-ruled by the Great God to begin with the Bleſſing of them, and to End with the Curſing of their firſt Enemy Amalek, and their laſt Enemy Antichriſt. The Lord (even by the Mouth of this Sooth-ſayer) Confirming his Promiſes made to Abraham p. 85and to his ſeed for ever, which are all Propounded, ratified and Performed in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1. 20, 21. Notwithſtanding all this, the Devil hath not yet done, nor his Diveliſh Diviner Balaam, although he foreſaw ſuch Felicity lay'd up for, and to be lay'd out on Iſrael, as made him Wiſh that his own latter End might be like theirs, Numb. 23. 10▪ Yet Reſts he not Here, but Acts ſtill in giving curſed Counſel, and never gave over Acting Deviliſhly until the Sword, which he had ſeen Drawn in his way, at laſt was Sheath'd in his own Bowels, Numb. 31. 8. 'Tis ſaid (indeed) He return'd to his place, Numb. 24. 25. That is, ſaith Baal Turim, He went to Hell, as Judas did, Act. 1. 25. had he gone then to his own place in Hell, his Doings of Miſchief would then have Ceaſed, and been Turned into Suffering of Miſery, which Undoubtedly was done at laſt; but either he was (in his Returning Homeward,) Detained by the Midianites, where he gave that Peſtilent Advice to Entice them (with their Daughters) both to Adultery and Idolatry. Iſrael was joyn'd hereby to Baal-Peor, that Shameful God of Opening, Numb. 25. 3. Hoſ. 9. 10. This became [Peccatum Flagrans] a Foul Flaming Sin in God's Eye, that Stank in his Noſtrils, without which (he had Subtilly ſaid) none of his Enchantments could prevail againſt Iſrael, Numb. 23. 21, 23. p. 86Until this ſin put them, (at his Advice) under Gods Diſpleaſure, 2 Pet. 2. 15. Jude 11. Rev. 2.14. or if he went Home, he return'd again to Midian to Demand his Wages (ſaith Chaskuny,) as ſoon as he heard Gods Plague was upon Iſrael through his means, Numb. 25.9. 1 Cor. 10. 8. but as Shemei ſought his Servants, and loſt his Life, 1 Kin. 2. 40, 46. ſo did Balaam, Numb. 31. 8. Neither Balak had his Will, nor Balaam his Wages: How could he Dye the Death of, that Liv'd not the Life of, but Plots againſt the Lives of the Righteous.