or being fallen return not into the way of righteousness and persevere therein Consider I beseech you what the Apostle saith to the Hebrews in this condition It is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come if they shall fall away to renew them again to repentance seeing they crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame Hebr. 6.4 5 6. And to the same purpose the same Apostle writes Chap. 10.16 17. If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins but a fearful looking for of judgement c. Consider also what comfort it can be to us that we receive as we daily do our outward good things as Abraham told the rich man Luke 16.25 when we enjoy them Cum irato Deo when they proceed not from Gods good will toward us or his purpose to do us good but as it were by chance yea out of the fury of Chance An ingenuous childe joyes not in all his father gives him unless he have it with his blessing And what joy or comfort can we take in what ever our heavenly Father gives us if it come not with a blessing If he gives us rain from heaven the former and the later rain in their season with what comfort can we receive them unless they be showers of blessings Ezech. 34.26 But as the threaâ—nings and terrours of the Lord are the greatest to those who walk at all adventure with their God and forsake his way so are the promises proportionable to those who walk with God with full purpose of heart All the promises of God both of temporal and spiritual blessings are made unto those who are obedient unto him and walk with him as I shewed before Yea to walk with God in the way of his Commandements is such a universal duty as abundantly rewards it self For in keeping of them there is great reward Ps 19.11 Fear not Abraham I am thy shield and thine exceeding great reward Gen. 15.1 and 17.1 I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect What ever can be added unto this it s less Wherefore let blinde Homer make Fortune a goddess let the purblinde Heathen worship the goddess of blinde Homers making They that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them Psal 115.8 Let the false Christians whose iniquities have blinded them walk by chance with the true God as for us let us walk with the Lord our God with full purpose of heart But how shall we walk with our God with full purpose of heart in the way of his Commandements 1. Hate every false way Psal 119.104 2. Can two walk together and not agree Amos 3.3 Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him Matth. 5.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be well-minded bear a good will consent unto the Law that it is good that 's thine adversary The Law cannot consent to thee while thou walkest in a way that is not good The Law cannot remit one jot or one tittle of its strictness and therefore that cannot agree with us in our evil way we must go out of every evil way and agree with it And there is the same reason of the Prophets as the Lord saith to Jeremy Chap. 15.19 Let them return unto thee but return not thou unto them When the government of Rome was changed from a Monarchy to a Republick under Consuls and Lawes the young men of the City attempted to recover the former government Livy tels us one of their reasons among others That Kings might be of a flexible disposition but Legem esse rem inexorabilem but the Law is inexorable And certain it is the Law of God and his Prophets they are inexorable inflexible They cannot consent to us in any evil way therein they are enemies unto us we must consent unto them in the good bear good will unto them So the Apostle in the person of one in that state I consent saith he to the Law that it is good Rom. 7.16 And so do them 3. Psal 110. Ver. 3. Luke 2. Ver. 14. Continue in that good will until the power come Thy people shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 willingnesses exceeding willing in the day of thy power For Christ the power of God is given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was the old reading of that Text which Hierom therefore turn'd Hominibus bonae voluntatis to men of good will 4. Follow that great example which Christ hath given us that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2.21 Follow that great light who is the way the truth and the life He who followes him shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life John 8.12 5. Walk in that most excellent way 1 Cor. 12.31 which is ill divided from the first verse of the next Chapter where we learn what that excellent way is even love or charity that way wherein there is no stumbling John 11.9 1 John 2.10 That way of holinesse wherein the wayfering men though fools shall not erre Esay 35.8 That way wherein and whereby we keep the Commandements of God Exod. 20.6 So shall we run the way of Gods Commandements when he shall enlarge our heart Psal 119.32 Now unto him who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Jude v. 24.25 Numbers Every male by their poll from twenty years old and upward Numb 1. Ver. 3. all that are able to go forth to war in Israel thou and Aaron shall number them by their Armies The main scope of this Book is the preparation of Israel for their encamping about the Tabernacle and their march toward the land of Canaan wherein although many things of various argument are delivered yet because the principal matter spoken of is the numbering of the people which is twice commanded and accordingly performed Chap. 1. and 26 of this Book as once before Exod. 30.12 therefore this Book according to the title of it in the LXX 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called Numbers As for the special handling of the Text let us first enquire into the translation of it which seems not to be so right as were to be wished For although all they who went forth to war in Israel were supposed able and were numbred yet in the words before us nothing in the Hebrew text answers to able nor doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie war nor doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used in this place properly signifie to number onely So that against the translation of these words there lies a threefold exception
as well to the Lord to whom the burnt Sacrifice is offered as to the person who offereth it He shall offer it for grace or favour to himself from the Lord. And accordingly the Lord makes promise of acceptance verse 4. On the contrary the Prophet tells the Jews in the same expression Your whole burnt-offerings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are not to acceptation Jer. 6.20 This hath been the most ancient translation of this Scripture So the LXX 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He shall bring it acceptable So the Chald. Par. the Syriac Arabic and Samaritan versions the Vulg. Lat. Martin Luther three Low Dutch translations the Tigurin Bible and Castellio and of our old English Coverdale and another And to this I rather encline because the whole burnt Sacrifice offered to the honour of God prefigured the body of sin to be destroyed and that service accepted through Jesus Christ of the Lord. But because the Lord loves a cheerful giver saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 9.7 I dare not reject that other translation Yea why may we not according to that admirable fulness of the holy Word admit of both Namely so that the mortifying Spirit of God excites the Good will of him who offereth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to his own will that the Son through whom we offer up all our Sacrifices Hebr. 13.15 meets him who offers willingly That the Father through the mediation of the Son accepts of him who so willingly offereth and his offering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to his grace and savour Thus is the service of God pourtrayed in the ceremonies of the Old Testament especially in this mystical Book ½ and lively represented in the New Since the Lord promiseth so gracious acceptation let us be encouraged willingly to come and bring our whole burnt offering the dally mortification of our sin through the mediation of the High Priest so shall we and our Oblation finde acceptance in the Beloved Ephes 1.6 If thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan Levit. 2. Ver. 5. it shall be of fine flower unleavened mingled with oyl It s much doubted what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is whether a Pan as it s here turn'd or a flat plate or a slice as it is in the margent or a Platter or a Gridiron For all these have their Authors and we are left to conjecture what it is or which of all these it is or whether none of all these I know all or most Expositors have herein followed the judgment of a learned Jew Howbeit since in doubtful things every man hath liberty to conjecture I believe that this vessel was neither slice nor flat plate much Iess a Gridiron but rather a baking or boyling or Frying-pan My reasons are 1. From the original of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which according to the most is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to hide so that it seemes a vessel of some depth wherein the meat-offering was to be hidden But whereas some conceive that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we read 1 Chron. 23.29 We must 2. Further enquire concerning the use of this vessel which was that therein the meat-offering was to be baked or boyled or fryed Now since we read Levit. 6.14 15. that the meat-offering was thus offered the Priest shall take of it his handful of the flowre of the meat-offering and then is added and of the oyl thereof its apparent that the vessel wherein it was boyled or baked or fryed could not be a smooth plate or stice much less a Gridiron since such it must be that must hold the oyl as well as the meat-offering which therefore could be no other then some hollow pot or baking or boyling or Prying-pan Hierom renders the word by Sartago a Frying-pan So Pagnin Vatablus Munster Tremellius and the Tigurin Bible And whereas verse 7 we read o◠a meat-offering in a Frying-pan Hierom and the other Latin Translators there have Frixorium which differs from Sartago But what is this to us The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or meat-offering is rendred by the LXX sometime 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sacrifice which is here used sometime 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a gift as Gen. 4.4 but that is most-what used for gifts given by Subjects to their Princes as 1 Kings 4.21 and elsewhere sometime 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Oblation as Psal 40.6 This gift is offered unto God either by Christ himself or by those who are Christs 1. Christ himself gave himself unto God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Oblation and Sacrifice unto God both which words answer to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the meat-offering Ephes 5.2 and thereby caused the legal Sacrifice and Oblation prefiguring him to cease Dan. 9.27 2. In vertue of Christs Sacrifice and Oblation they who are Christs offer up Sacrifices and Oblations unto God either immediately as their prayers so Psal 141.2 Let my prayer be directed unto thee as the incense and the lifting up of mine hands as the Evening Sacrifice Or mediately when men do good works unto men which God accepteth as done unto himself Phil. 4.18 Hebr. 13.15 Yea the converted Gentiles as the Prophet foretold Esay 66.20 were to be offered up as a meat-offering in a clean vessel which the Apostle as the Priest offered up Rom. 15.16 But whereof did the meat-offering consist Surely of fine flowre as appears Levit. 2.1 The flowre of that wheat which fell into the ground and died and brings forth much fruit John 12.24 which our Lord understood of himself and so decipher'd himself unto the Greeks who came to Jesus ver 20.21 They came to see his person and he shews the mystery of himself that he is the increase of God growing up in us even the pretious fruit of the earth James 5.7 8. which must be grownd or beaten so that the husk and bran must be purged from it For so Christ growes up in us according to the flesh and letter until we have been dead with him and risen with him we then attain unto some maturity and ripeness when as unto the flesh he disappears and we then begin to know him according to the Spirit 2 Cor. 5.17 and become new creatures Upon this unleavened sincere fine flowre the oyl is powred Levit. 2.1 That oyl is a figure of the holy Spirit and love of God that perfect gift which descends from the Father of lights James 1. For when Truth thus springs out of the earth Righteousness looks down from heaven Psal 85.11 This meat-offering must have Frankincense upon it even the incense of our prayers Psal 141.2 This meat-offering no doubt is a pretious gift and it requires a clean vessel which may hold it even a pure and clean heart Esay 66.20 The Lord is good unto such an Israel Psal 73.1 who are of a clean heart Such as these shall see God Mat. 5.8 Such a meat-offering such a clean vessel with all our
our Lord there delivers and fear lest the like or a worse judgement remains for themselves My Brethren The hand of the same Lord of Hosts is stretched out still And if we shall in life or doctrine especially this doctrine of unbelief and impossibility cause the people of God to sin let us fear the like yea heavier judgement upon our selves because we have not taken warning by the heavie hand of God upon them Quorum facta imitamur cur non illorum exitûs exhorrescamus If we be like them in the sin why should we not fear that we shall be involved with them in the same judgement 1. We who call our selves and would be reputed Ministers of the Gospel are supposed to know more then other men do and to be more strong in the Lord and in the power of his might then others are and so to be more able to resist the Tempter and his motions unto sin 2. We are thought to have received more grace from God and therefore if we sin against our God we are more ingrateful then others are 3. Impiety in us is in a special manner repugnant unto our profession who more then other men pretend to piety and holiness 4. The example of our sin extends more to scandal then other mens because being reputed learned we may be supposed to sin by the Book O let us bring our sin-offering even repentance a broken spirit and a contrite heart Psal 51.17 Let us confess forsake and mortifie our sin that by the blood and spirit of Christ we may be sprinkled from an evil conscience Hebr. 10.22 and the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ shall cleanse us from all our sins 1 John 1.7 Then will our sober chaste temperate honest just godly conversation win the people to sobriety chastity temperance justice honesty and piety and every grace which they shall see in us they will copie out into themselves Then shall we be pretious men indeed not in the vain opinion of ignorant men then shall wee bee powerful Preachers when we preach powerfully Christ to be the power of God 1 Cor. 1.24 by whom the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8. So that we warn every man and teach every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Jesus Christ Col. 1.28 Then shall we boldly propound our selves examples unto the flock And when the chief Shepherd shall appear we shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away 1 Peter 4.2 3. If a soul sin and hear the voice of swearing and is a witness Levit. 5. Ver. 1. whether he hath seen or known of it if he do not utter it then he shall bear his iniquity The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is here turn'd swearing is not to be understood in the latitude of it but more proper to the business here treated of by Moses it signifies an Adjuration which is that kinde of Oath or Execration whereby a man hearing is obliged to say or do something as in controversies among men an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife Hebr. 6.16 Thus also in mens private affairs and extrajudiciall matters As Abraham adjured his servant or caused him to swear imposing an oath upon him Gen. 24.3 And examples of both kindes we have many in Scriptures Exod. 13.19 Numb 5.19 1 Sam. 14.27 28. 1 Kings 2.43 Ezra 10.5 Cant. 5.8 9. and elsewhere This Adjuration is understood in this Scripture here before us For the Jews in their Courts admitted an Adjuration to be laid upon all persons present for the eliciting and drawing forth the truth in question Insomuch as although a man were not personally cited and adjured to confess his knowledge yet if he heard the adjuration or execration and concealed the truth he rendred himself guilty according to this Law Much more if any man were personally adjured to speak his knowledge and yet held his peace In which case he was obliged to answer the adjuration although possibly what he uttered might prove disadvantageous unto himself So vain is that assertion which yet is vulgar and common that no man is bound to accuse himself This very Law bindes a man to speak his knowledge although summoned thereunto generally only and in common with all who hear the adjuration however his own personal interest may be concerned thereby Otherwise this Law makes him guilty How much yet more if the Judge himself adjure him to declare the truth In which case it is very observable that when the High Priest had questioned our Lord Luke 22.67 68. and the false witnesses had bin produced against him Matth. 26.61 62. which yet could prove nothing and Jesus himself held his peace so that they were all at a loss the high Priest made use of the last expedient which in this case could be used and adjured him by the living God that he should tell them whether he were the Christ the Son of God This Adjuration drew from our Lord that Confession that he was the Son of God Matth. 26.59 64. For so what there we read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou hast said S. Mark reports to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am So sacred a thing is an Oath that he who submitted himself to be a Servant of Rulers as he is called Esay 49.7 when he had stood dumb and opened not his mouth the Adjuration caused him to make that glorious confession of the truth This sense Arias Montanus Vatablus Munster and Castellio give of these words Tremellius and some of the Jews understand this Law to be against him who hath heard one blaspheme God and conceals his knowledge And he refers this Law to the precept of brotherly correction and reproof Levit. 19.17 And it is possible that our Translators may have been of the same judgement But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not any where used to signified blasphemy in that sense so far as I yet can finde Nor was swearing wholly forbidden the Jewes either judicially or extra-judicially but onely vain and false swearing Levit. 19.12 Jer. 7.9 And of this swearing Hos 4.2 is to be understood and Zach. 5.3 Every one that sweareth shall be cut off What kinde of swearing is that It followes in the next verse every one that sweareth falsly by my Name So Mal. 3.5 For the merciful God graciously connived for a time at the Jewes swearing so they sware not falsly nor vainly by his Name And therefore our Lord in his exposition of that Commandement saith not Thou shalt not swear but thou shalt not forswear thy self And the reason may be The people of God lived among the Nations who walked every one in the name of his god Mich. 4.5 Wherefore the Lord condescended for a time to be accounted as it were a Topical God as if he had been the God of Israel only as may appear by Jephta's reasoning Judges
the Lord such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 build a wall about themselves Prov. 28.4 as the LXX turn it The Lord promises that he will be a little Sanctuary to his people Ezech. 11.16 Yea as we are round about the Lord the Lord is round about us we have a strong City salvation will the Lord appoint Murale antemurale Wals and Bulwarks Esay 26.1 As the hils stand about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people Psal 125.2 But God is our Captain and Leader Hebr. 2.10 True but also the Lord is the rereward Esay 52.12 The God of Israel will be our rereward The Lord is in the midst of his people his Saints are round about him yet not only so but he is round about Israel also Zacb. 2.4 There we have this objection answered if Jerusalem be inhabited as Towns without walls by reason of the multitude of men and cattle therein then shall we lie exposed to the malice of the enemy Nay it followes I saith the Lord will be unto her as a wall of fire round about and will be the glory in the midst of her These are the names of the sons of Aaron the Priests which were anointed Numb 3. Ver. 3. whom he consecrated to minister in the Priests office Moses having numbered visited and mustered the other Tribes Chap. 1. of this book and Chap. 2. disposed them according to Gods command about the Tabernacle of meeting In this third Chapter he recites the names of the Priests of Aarons house and commemorates their unction and consecration unto the Priests office And the Lord having given the other Levites to the Priests for the service of the Tabernacle the Lord commands Moses to number visit and muster the Levites according to their families the Gershonites the Kohathites and the Merarites Of this verse I have chosen only the later part to treat of at this time Whom he consecrated to minister in the Priests office In which words we have 1. The consecration of the Priests he consecrated them 2. The end of their consecration to minister in the Priests office Accordingly there are in the words these two divine truths 1. He consecrated them 2. He consecrated them to minister in the Priests office 1. He consecrated them Who consecrated them we shall shew anon But first let us inquire into the Priests consecration What is here turn'd whom he consecrated is word for word in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose hand he filled So Arias Montanus Quorum manum implevit whose hand he filled So the Spanish Bible Martin Luthers translation and Piscators and three Low Dutch and Coverdale Ainsworth and another old English translations all which render the words whose hand he filled The LXX have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom they consecrated their hands Harsh Hierom Quorum repletae consecratae manus whose hands were filled and that is consecrated And this last the most of the other Latin English translations follow By filling the hand some here understand Oleo consecrare to consecrate with oyl But in regard of oyl it were more proper to fill the Head on which the oyl was poured then the hand since only the Thumb of the Priest and that of the right hand only was anointed and that with blood not with oyl as appeares Exod. 29.20 Others have conceived that by filling of the hand is to be understood the Priests taking somewhat in their hands to offer and this they prove by Jeroboams consecration of Priests 1 Kings 13.33 and 2 Chron. 13.9 Whosoever cometh to fill his hand with a Bullock and seven Rams he shall be a Priest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the no-gods But this is a very weak proof to say no worse of it especially since the Scripture saith expresly This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam even to the cutting it off and to destroy it from off the face of the earth 1 Kings 13.33 34. That therefore we may know what 's here meant by filling of the Priests hand let us inquire 1. With what the Priests band was filled And 2. who filled it The hand of the Priest was filled with the Oblations and Sacrifices to be offered up unto God What those Oblations and Sacrifices were we shall best learn out of the first institution and consecration of the Priests which ye read of Exod. 29.9 Where after the clothing of them follows this command of the Lord to Moses Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons the words are the same with those in this Text Thou shalt fill the hand of Aaron and his sons With what That we read at large together with the rite of consecration ver 22 23 24 25. Thou shalt take of the Ram the fat and the rump and the fat that covereth the inwards c. And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons c. 2. But who here filled the hand of the Priests Here is no mention in the text some say Aaron And Vatablus supplies his name in the margent But Moses is said to have consecrated Aaron and his sons and the Spanish Bible puts in the marg Moses according to Exod. 29.9 Levit. 8.33 Ecclus 45.18 And therefore if either of their names be to be supplied surely 't is rather the name of Moses then that of Aaron But whether it were Moses or Aaron it was no doubt at Gods command and therefore Piscator in his High Dutch hath Deren hand der Herr gefullet hatte whose hand the Lord hath filled The reason of this appears 1. From the consideration of the Priests office For since every high Priest is ordained to offer gifts and Sacrifices Hebr. 8.3 these must have something to offer 2. No man might assume this power unto himself Hebr. 5.4 but he who is called of God whose hand the Lord filleth Mysticè What is meant by the hand Manus est animae virtus quâ tenere aliquid constringere quis potest velut si dicamus actus ejus fortitudo The hand is the vertue and power of the soul whereby we may apprehend something c. It is the strength and actions proceeding from inward power and strength Thus to have something given into our hand that is into our power Thus Abraham saith to Sarah Thy Maid is in thy hand Gen. 16.6 that is in thy power For so it followes Do to her what is good in thine eyes Num. 21.2 If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand that is into my power as it followes then I will utterly destroy their Cities Now what is that which is given into the Priests hand what is that wherewith the Priests hand is filled in the place before named we read what 1. The fat That 's held either the best as Genesis 4.4 Abel brought of the fat or the worst as Psalm 119.70 Their heart is fat as grease 2. The rump or tail of the Ram either the best or the