sinned Wilt thou be wrath with all the multitude 23 And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses saying 24 Speake vnto the Congregation and say Get you away from about the tabernacle of Corah Dathan and Abiram 25 And Moyses rose vp and went vnto Dathan and Abiram and the elders of Israell folowed him 26 And he spake vnto the congregation saying Depart I pray you from the tentes of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs least ye perish in all their sinnes 27 And so they gate them from the tabernacle of Corah Dathan and Abiram on euery side And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the doore of their tentes with their wiues their sonnes and their little children 28 And Moyses sayd Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these workes for I haue not done them of mine owne minde 29 If these men die the coÌ„mon death of all men or if they be visited after the visitation of all men then the Lorde hath not sent me 30 But and if the Lorde make a newe thing and the earth open her mouth and swallowe them vp with all that they haue and they go downe quick into the pitte then ye shall vnderstand that these men haue prouoked the Lorde 31 And assoone as he had made an ende of speaking all these wordes the ground cloue asunder that was vnder them 32 And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them vp and their houses and all the men that were with Corah and all their goodes 33 And they and all that they had went downe aliue vnto the pitte and the earth closed vpon them and they perished from among the congregation 34 And all Israell that were about them fled at the crie of them and they sayd Least the earth swallowe vs vp also 35 And there came out a fire from the Lorde and consumed the two hundred and fiftie men that offered incense 36 And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses saying 37 Speake vnto Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest that he take vp the censers out of the burning and scatter the fixe here and there for they are halowed 38 The censers of these sinners against their owne soules let them make of them broade plates for a couering of the aulter For they ffered them before the Lorde and therfore they are halowed and they shall be a signe vnto the children of Israell 39 And Eleazer the priest tooke the brasen censers which they that were burnt had offered and made brode plates for a couering of the aulter 40 To be a remembrance vnto the children of Israell that no straunger which is not of the séede of Aaron come néere to offer incense before the Lorde that he be not like vnto Corah and his companie as the Lorde sayde to him by the hande of Moyses 41 But on the morow all the multitude of the children of Israell murmured agaynst Moyses and Aaron saying Ye haue killed the people of the Lorde 42 And when the multitude was gathered against Moyses and Aaron they looked towarde the tabernacle of the congration and beholde the clowde couered it and the glorie of the Lorde appeared 43 And Moyses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation 44 And the Lorde spake vnto Moses saying 45 Get you from among this congregation that I may consume them quickly And they fell vpon theisr faces 46 And Moyses sayde vnto Aaron Take a censer and put fire therein out of the aulter and poure on incense and go quickly vnto the congregation and make an attonement for them For there is wrath gone out from the Lorde and there is a plague begunne 47 And Aaron toke as Moyses commaunded him and ranne into the middes of the congregation and behold the plague was begunne among the people and he put on incense and made an attonement for the people 48 And when he stoode betwéene the dead and them that were aliue the plague was stayed 49 They that died in the plague were fourtéene thousande and seuen hundred beside them that died about the conspiracie of Corah 50 And Aaron went againe vnto Moyses before the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation and the plague was stayed The Exposition vpon the .xvj. Chapter of Numbers And Corah the sonne of Isaar c. went apart with Dathan and Abiram c. THe Scripture in this place setteth forth vnto vs an example of repining Of the wicked and of rebelling against the good Magistrate and ordinance of god Wherein we haue to marke that no Prince or Magistrate can be so good and vpright but that wicked and lewde subiectes blinded with their priuate affections will rebell and * picke quarrels against him Moyses and Aaron were chosen and appointed by GOD himselfe they had the continual assistance of Gods holy Spirit and Angels guiding them and working with them They were painefull and diligent in their office verye carefull for the good estate of the people verieâ— milde and mercifull in their gouernment and Farre from all couetousnesse briberie and corruption And yet did Corah Dathan and Abiram with many other rebel agaynst them reprooued them and discredited them in all theyr doyngs as ambitious prowde cruell and false In this example we haue to obserue First that the * rootes of rebellion commonly are Pride and selfeliking Enuie and ambition For pride causeth men to haue a great liking of themselues and to thinke themselues more Worthie men to be in honour and dignitie than anye other And therefore mooueth them partly to Enuie partly to Disdaine other and ambitiously by sturre and rebellion to seeke that which by other quiet meanes they cannot get That this was the roote of this rebellion here mentioned it appeareth by that Moyses speaketh to them You take to much vpon you you sonnes of Leui. Seemeth it but a small thing vnto you that God hath seperated you and taken you to his owne seruice but that you must seeke the office of the priest also In these wordes he toucheth theyr Pride and Ambition Secondly wee haue to marke what Instruments Rebels commonly vse agaynst good Princes and Rulers that is to saye Lying and Dissimulation By Lying they spreade false and vnâ—eue reporrtes of the Prince that he is Prowde that he is Couetous that he is Cruell that he Oppresseth the commons c. Yea and depraue all his well doynges to bring him the sooner in Hatred with the people and to cause them to mislike him which commonly with euery apparant cause are easily caryed to the desire of alteration of Princes and Rulers especially if they vse seueritie of Iustice in punishing By Dissimulation they cloke their owne Ambitious purpose of aduauncing themselues and pretende forsooth that they doe all for the Loue and safegard of the common weale and for Pitie toward the poore commons and for their ease and reliefe when as in deed they seeke nothing but the setting vp of themselues or the wreaking of malice
the calling of GOD sprang out of a Constant* Faith in the promises of God by Miracles confirmed vnto them By the same meanes must we also learne to frame our selues to the Obedience of Gods Calling though it seeme to be ioyned with neuer so great daunger And yet although they haue the calling and commaundemeÌ„t of God to deliuer his people they doe not stirre the Israelites to Rebellion and will them to arme themselues against the Tyranne were he neuer so Cruell and iniuryous but in curteis maner entreate him that they maye haue licence to depart into the wildernesse But what obteyned they by their endeuour First Pharao CoÌ„temneth and despiseth the God of Israell VVho sayth he is the Lorde that I should heare his voyce Then he chargeth Moyses Aaron as authors of Sedition saying VVherefore doe yee lette the people from their workeâ— c. Lastly he Oppresseth the people farre more Grieuously then he did before For he causeth them to gather strawe and stubble yet to make their Full taske of Brickes as they dyd before These things happened not without the Knowledge of God for he said before * I know that Pharao will not let you go But Gods pleasure is in this maner of Deliuerance of his people to set vp a Spectacle or Example to all ages to learne in what Sort he will vsually delyuer his people out of the kingdome of Satan Wickednesse and Error First he sendeth abroade his Messengers Prophetes and Preachers to publish the sweete voice and Promises of his Worde and Gospell Then when they beginne to execute their office and men somewhat hearken vnto them the Deuill by hys Instruments Raiseth greater trouble and Affliction then euer they had before so that manye mindes be therewith greatly Offended Yet in the ende God by the * Mightie power of his Spirite and holy Worde ouerthroweth the kingdome of darkenesse and Deliuereth his people out of the Tirannie of Egipt And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in woorse c. These officers of the Israelites by this Cruell answere did not acknowledge the wicked Obdurate hart of Pharao against the holy wil of God as they should haue done with Pacience Comfort themselues and their brethren but after the maner of olde Adam Murmure against GOD quarreling with his seruauntes Moyses Aaron and laying all the cause of the trouble vpon them Wherein they shew an example both of Impiety and Vnthankfulnesse Impious it was to lay the fault of their affliction and miserie vpon them that were the Ministers of Gods blessing and of their gracious Deliuerance Great vnthankfulnesse might it appeare seing Moyses and Aaron did hazard their Liues for their great Benefite to Call and accompt them Tormentors and Murderers of the people For say they You haue put a sworde into their hands to kill vs. But this is and hath bene the Course of the worlde alwayes The cause of all Mischiefe when it ryseth after the publishing of the worde of God is Cast vpon the Ministers and Preachers of the same and in steede of thankfull minds they haue all Spite and Reproch that can be done or spoken against them So was it in the time of the Prophets â–ª So was it in the time of Christ and his Apostles So was it in the time of the Primitiue Church as it maye be declared by infinite examples Moises returned vnto the Lorde and sayde Lord wherefore hast thou so c. Moyses here in part doth Well and godly in part he sheweth his Weakenesse Mistrust and infirmitie He doth Well in this that he both not Storme and rage agaynst those 〈◊〉 Sâ—aunderers * nor doth not requite euill with euill and also that he doth not giue ouer his calling and Flee from God but rather runneth to him for Succour and comfort For so the Text sayth He returned to the Lorde He sheweth his Weakenesse in that he seemeth not througly to Remember the wordes of God Before spoken to him when God sayd I know that Pharao will not deliuer you no not in a mightie hande and therefore he doth complaine and quarrell with God. VVherefore sayth he hast thou so euill intreated this people and why hast thou sent me As though any thing had happened which God had not Before tolde him shoulde come to passe and yet God doth not Sternely rebuke Moyses but mercifully 〈◊〉 with his Infirmitie strengthneth him with the Renewing of his Promise and signification that he will nowe begin to shewe his mightie power against Pharao for their deliuerance The sixt Sundaye in Lent at Morning and Euening prayer Exod. 9. 10. THe Lorde sayde vnto Moyses Go in vnto Pharao and thou shalt tell him Thus sayth the Lorde God of the 〈…〉 Let my people go that they may 〈…〉 If thou refuse to let them go and 〈…〉 Beholde the â—ande of the Lorde is 〈…〉 is in the fielde for vpon horses vpon asses vpon camelles vpon ouen and vpon sheepe there shall be a mightie great 〈◊〉 4 And the Lorde shall doe wonderfully betwéene the beastes of Israell and the beastes of Egypt so that there shall nothing die of all that pertayneth to the children of Israell 5 And the Lorde appoynted a time saying to morowe the Lorde shall finish this worde in the laâ—de 6 And the Lorde did that thing on the morowe and all the cattell of Egypt dyed but of the cattell of the children of Israell died not one 7 And Pharao sent and behold there was not one of the cattel of the Israelites dead And the hart of Pharao was hardened and he did not let the people go 8 And the Lorde sayd vnto Moyses and Aaron Take your handes full of ashes out of the fornace and Mosses shall sprinkle it vp into the ayre in the sight of Pharao 9 And it shall be dust in all the lande of Egypt and shall be swelling sores with blaynes both on man and beast thorowout all the land of Egipt 10 And they tooke ashes out of the fornace and stoode before Pharao and Moses sprinckled it vp into the ayre and there were swâ—lling â—ores with blaynes both in men and in beastes 11 And the sorcerers could not stand before Moses because of the blaynes for there were bâ—tches vpon the enchaunters and vpon all the Egyptians 12 And the Lord hardened the hart of Pharao and he harkened not vnto them as the â—ord had sayd vnto Moyses 13 And the Lordâ— sayde vnto Moyses Rise vp earely in the morning and stande before Pharao and thou shalt tell him Thus sayth the Lorde God of the Hebrues Let my people go that they may serue me 14 Or else I will at this time sends all my plaguey vpon thine heart and vpon thy seruants and on thy people that thou mayst know that there is none like me in all the earth 15 For now I wil stretch out my hand that I may
Prophet to publishe vnto the Infidels and Heathens the promise and couenant that he made with Abraham and his seede By this meanes he proclameth great comfort to his people euen out of the mouths of their * enemies and by the endeuours of them that with all meanes they could did seeke their confusion And he tooke vp his Parable and saide Balac the king of Moab c. By a Parable is vnderstanded an Hie kinde of Speech which by the instinction of the holye ghost he vsed therewith the more to Abash and wound the harte of the wicked king Balac that he myght the sooner knowe not onely how Foolish but how vaine also his endeuor was to striue against God and to haue that people cursed that God had blessed And whereas * Balac had saide of Balaam that whomsoeuer He blessed was blessed and whomsoeuer He cursed was cursed In this place to the further reproch and griefe of that naughtie king Balaam with his owne mouth renounceth that prerogatine and sayth plainly he can not Curse him that God hath not cursed giuing that Power and honor to God and shewing that in this respect he is not Ruler of his owne tongue but that God for his people sake had Brydeled both his will and his speech Loe the people shall dwell by themselues and shall not be reckened amonge c. When he sayth they shall dwell by themselues his meaning is not that they shall dwell in solitarinesse but that they shall holde themselues contented with their owne state and trusting in their God whom they worshipped should not neede nor desire the protection and helpe of any other people And therfore it foloweth that they should not be accompted among Nations * because no nation or people should be worthie to be compared vnto them for that they were adopted and chosen as the onely people of God whom he would take vnder his defence and protection Who can tell the duste of Iacob and number the fourth part of Israel c. By the Dust of Iacob he vnderstandeth the great Multitude wherwith God would blesse that people and therein he alludeth to the promise of God made to Abraham * that he would multiplye his seede as the Sande of the sea c. And Balac saide vnto him come I pray thee with me vnto another place c. In this that foloweth we haue to note the blind obstinacie both of Balac in his superstition and of Balaam in his couetous affection For albeit God had euidently nowe at two sundrie times declared his purpose yet neyther the wycked king would be satisfied nor the false Prophet perswaded to leaue his tempting of god But both of them by superstitious chaunging the place indeuour to make God shew himselfe mutable and as it were by their superstitious Importunitie to winne his fauour from his people and to make him to yeelde to their lewde and naughtie affections Therefore God maketh the false Prophet to pronounce sentence against himselfe and that obstinate and wicked king in saying God is not a manne that he shoulde lye neyther the sonne of a man that he should repent should he say and not do or should he speake and not make it good c. And yet all this would not satisfie them such is the maner of the obstinate and reprobate sinners that no teaching nor declaring of the holy will of God can make them so to chaūge their mindes but that they will more and more continue in their Deuillishe and naughtie purposes And the ioyfull shoute of a king is a mong them c. By this he meaneth that the Maiesty and might of God as their louing king and gouernour is among them for their assured defence to their great ioye and comfort According to this time it shall be saide of Iacob and Israel what hath c. That is to saye According as at this time it is sayd what wonderous works hath God wrought for this people so shall it more and more be sayde hereafter For God hath promised for Euer to be their God and to deale Wonderfully for them He shall not lye downe vntill he eate of the pray and drinke the bloud c. In this verse he noteth that the People of Israel shall be Valiant strong and mightie as a Lyon and hable to conquer and spoile their enimies that vniustly doe assault them and by violence seeke to doe them wrong The second Sunday after Easter at Euening prayer Numbers 25. AND Israel abode in Sittim and the people began to commit whooredome with the daughters of Moab 2 Which called the people vnto the sacrifice of their gods And the people did eate and bowed downe to theyr gods 3 And * Israel coupled himself vnto Baal Peor and the indignation of the Lorde was kindeled agaynst Israel 4 And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses Take all the heades of the people and hang them vp before the Lord against the sunne that the wrath of the Lordes countenaunce may be turned away from Israel 5 And Moyses sayd vnto the iudges of Israel Euery one slay his mē that were ioined vnto Baal Peor 6 And behold one of the children of Israel came brought vnto his brethren a Madianitish woman in the sight of Moyses in the sight of all the multitude of the children of Israel that wept before the dore of the tabernacle of the congregation 7 And when Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the son of Aaron the Priest sawe it he rose vp out of the middes of the companie and tooke a iauelin in his hand 8 And went after the man of Israell into the tente and fhrust them thorough both the man of Israell and also the woman euen through the belly of hir And the plague ceassed from the children of Israell 9 And there dyed in the plague twentie and foure thousande 10 And the Lord spake vnto Moyses saying 11 Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest hath turned myne anger away from the children of Israell whyle he was zealous for my sake among them that I had not consumed the children of Israel in my ielousie 12 Wherfore say Behold I giue vnto him my couenant of peace 13 And he shall haue it and his séede after him euen the couenaunt of the priests office for euer bicause he was zealous for his Gods sake and made an attonement for the children of Israel 14 The name of the Israelite thus killed which was slaine with the Madianitish woman was Zamri the son of Salu a lord of an house and kinred of Simeon 15 And the name of the Madianitishe woman that was slaine was Cozbi the daughter of Zur a head ouer the people of his fathers house in Madian 16 And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses saying 17 Vexe the Madianites and smyte them 18 For they trouble you with their wyles which haue beguiled you by deceyt in the cause of Peor