Balaam letting out his Tedder for a time permitting him not only to go along with the Messengers of Moab c but also to erect Altars and offer Sacrifices and to use Inchantments for three times then pulls him back with shame and ignominy Thus God oft suffers Wicked Men to carry the Ball upon their foot 'till they come almost to the Goal and then defeats them of their golden dreams and highest hopes as he did this wicked Couple Balak had not his will nor Balaam his wages God made fools of them both pulling that morsel out of their mouths which they had almost devoured The Fifth Remark is Balaam before his departure gave Balak that pestilent Counsel of seducing Israel to Idolatry and Adultery v. 14. and after put into practice Numb 25.1 c. And tho' Moses concealeth the Counsel in this place because as Chaskuni saith Balaam said it to Balak in secret yet afterwards God reveals and records it Numb 31.16 and our Lord relates likewise what this Advertisement or Doctrine of Balaam was in particular Rev. 2.14 Balaam might assure Balak that at presen the was in no danger of Israel for God had Commanded that they should not meddle with Moab Deut. 2.9 but they shall subdue Moab hereafter to prevent this evil insnare them saith he with thy Idols c. then God will become their Enemy Thus Court Parasites propound to Princes Suavia potius quà m sana Consilia pleasing but pestilent Advice and so do officiously mischieve them yet Moab was destroyed after 2 Sam. 8.2 and Jerem 48. at large The Third Particular of Balaam's Extatick Oration which is his double Prophecy concerning the Rise of Christ and the Fall of Nations affords these Remarks First From his knowledge of Mysteries he so much magnifies in himself ver 16. Balaam saith he had the knowledge of the Most High that is not so much knowledge as the All knowing God hath but as the Chaldee Paraphrast explains it the most high God did illuminate him with this Prophetick knowledge this Sentence is added here more than was said in his Preface or Prologue to move attention v. 4. yet this great knowledge Balaam had was but Intuitiva Mentis consisting in the speculations of his mind it was not Directiva Vitae not directing him to lead the life of the Righteous that he might dye the death of the Righteous he knew but by hear-say as a Blind Man knows Colour the eye may be clear when the hand or leg are lame with a Palsie his light did but serve to light him into utter darkness he rebell'd against his light Job 24.13 and perished Balaam had so much light of knowledge that some say he sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost in giving such pestilent Counsel to Balak v. 14 c. The Second Remarks is from Balaam's Prophecy of the Kingdom of Christ saying I shall see him but not now I shall behold him but not nigh v. 17. Wherein he professeth that he saw by a Prophetick Revelation the future Kingdom of the Church the Israel of Godâ— begun in David but compleated in Christ the Son of David as if it were now present tho' the event were yet a great way off Balaam might say thus either 1. In the person of his posterity respecting those Wise Men his Countrey-Men of the East who came to Worship Christ at his Birth Mat. 2.2 and then saw him c. or 2. He might speak it in his own person that though he could not expect to see Christ coming in the Flesh his first coming in this life but he should be sure to see him in his second coming to Judgment at the Resurrection for then Every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him Rev. 1.17 Tho' Balaam here was Orthodox in this profession of his faith yet had he no well-grounded hope to see Christ as Abraham did who saw him and rejoyced John 8.56 Nor as Job did who beheld him as bis Redeemer c Job 19.25.27 't is only the pure in heart that shall see him then to their comfort Mat. 5.8 The Third Remark is The Rising-Star he foretells may partly be meant David who subdued Moab 2 Sam. 8.2 Psal 60.10 but chiefly 't is Christ who was usher'd into the World by a Star Math. 2.3 and calls himself the bright and Morning-Star Rev. 21.16 who was not so bright and glorious at his first coming but afterwards his glory increased to the brightness of the Sun Mal. 4.2 the Disciples beheld the glory of the Father in him Joh 1.14 Thus the Jews of old understood this Star for the false Christ who rose among them in the days of Trajan the Emperour and was called in allusion to this very Prophecy of Balaam Bar-â—ochab that is the Son of the Star but he being after slain in Battel the Jews seeing themselves deceived call'd him Bar-chozibah the Son of a Lye or falsehood c. The Fourth Remark is A Scepter shall rise out of Israel c v. 17. is also a Prophecy of Christs Kingdom for Shebet a Rod or Scepter is the Ensign of Dominion and Power of Government the Sign being by a Metonymy set for the thing signified Thâ—â—s that Mighty Monarch held a Golden Scepter in his hand Esth 4.11 and 't is said The Lord breaketh the Scepter of Rulers Isa 14.2 that is their Dominions So the Scepter of Christ's Kingdom is call'd a Scepter of Righteousness Psal 45.7 Heb. 1.8 and he shall Rule Nations with a Rod or Scepter of Iron Psal 2.9 wherewith he broke down the Dominion of Moab from corner to corner as this was done literally by David 2 Sam. 8.2 so Spiritually by Christ in destroying all Idolaters represented by Moab and Antichrist their head who some say was to be a Moabite however like Moabite Mengrels in Religion The fifth Remark is This Scepter of Christ shall conquer also the Children of Seth which some suppose to be 1. The Name of some famous King of the Moabites or the Name of some eminent City in Moab 2. Some take it for all the Children of Adam seeing Seth was the third Son of Adam Gen. 4.25 Abel being slain and all Cain's Posterity drowned by the Floud so that the Race of Mankind remained in Seth's Posterity by Noah 3. Others take the Name Seth not as a Proper but as an Appellative Name signifying such as were behind that is behind Balaam's back while he turned his face towards Israel ver 1. and those People behind Balaam's back while he stood in that posture were the Ammonites the Midianites and other Oriental Countreys reaching so far as Euphrates whom Junius and Tremellius call filios podicis expounding Seth by Achor pone behind Sons behind the Brich c. The sixth Remark is Edom c. shall be a possession for Valiant Israel c. ver 18 19. This truth was foretold Gen. 25.23 and fulfilled in part 2 Sam. 8.14 Jacob being a Type of the Godly and Esau of
passeth through them Isa 27.4 and which seemingly might Promise Fruit but were really dry to shew that there is no hope of Relief by any legal Performances N.B. The Apostle calls the Law given upon Mount Sinai a Covenant of Works Gal. 4.24 which was a fiery Law Deut. 33.2 and hath still something of the Fire in it but no Relief or Comfort as the Tenure of it is do and live so 't is full of Terrour and Malediction to those that continue not in all things Gal. 3 10. It made not only the People but even Moses himself their Mediator Tremble Heb. 12.21 But we have a better Mediator in the Gospel-state not God coming down in a thick Cloud as here but God manifested in the Flesh c. 1 Tim. 3.16 'T is the Gospel-state that 1. Gives us Relief from the Curse of the Law 2. Procures Acceptance both of our Persons and of our Actions of Obedience And 3. Obtains Pledges of Divine Favour both for here and hereafter The Voice of Words was the Decalogue or Moral Law which was first writ in the Heart but now by the overspreading Corruption of all Flesh was much worn out Therefore God gives it here such a glorious Renovation and not only Audibly spake those Ten Words in the Audience of all this prodigious Auditory but also wrote them with his own Finger in Tables of Stone to shew both the Law 's Duration and our Obduration The Seventh Remark is the Perturbation of the People at this horrible Promulgation and Delivery of the Decalogue Wherein the Objects the Effects and the Remedy of their Horrour and Trembling are expresly observable in this Place First The Object Exod. 20.18 They saw the Thunders c. which strictly taken are rather heard than seen but seeing is largely taken for perceiving by any Sense or by the Understanding Thus Jacob saw there was Corn in Egypt Gen. 42.1 is explained by the Holy Ghost by Jacob heard Act. 7.12 Seeing is the surest Sense for believing one Eye-witness is of more Credit than many Ear-witnesses therefore 't is oft used for Knowledge that comes by Hearing or by the other Senses as Exod. 5.21 Yea by the Light of Reason or by the Evidence of Faith whereby many Truths are apprehended so assuredly as if they were seen with our Bodily Eyes Omnes Sensus conjuncti sunt in communi sensu all the five outward Senses are conjoined in the inward common Sense Nor doth Moses relate all the People saw for there was Fire mixed with Smoak and Darkness c. which burned up to the midst of Heaven This was the Object that affrighted them Secondly The Effects were twofold First Their Supplication that God would no more speak by himself but by Moses to them Exod. 20. ver 19. 'T was here Man 's own choice and we should therefore look on it as a great Mercy that God's Mind is made known to us by the Ministry of Men like to our selves as Elihu said to Job Behold I am according to thy wish cut out of the Clay My Terrour shall not make thee afraid Job 33.6 7. N.B. God speaking â—he Law was so terrible to the People that they had need of a Mediator wherein Moses â—ypified Christ Gal. 3.19 1 Tim. 2.3 to mediate betwixt God and Israel Secondly Their Tergiversation or flight from the Mountain as frighted ones retreating to their Tents ver 21. For which doing God commiserating their Infirmities gave them his Commission Deut. 5.30 As he had before given them his Commendation in requesting a Mediator Deut. 5.28 29. The People being terrified seek for a Mediator ver 27. which was the end of the Law as a Schoolmaster to drive us unto Christ Cal. 3.24 This humble motion pleased God and for the present he gave them Moses to mediate for them but farther promiseth them a Prophet like to Moses who was Christ our Blessed Mediator Deut. 18.15 18. Act. 3.22 26. Whose Office is to go near unto God and declare his Mind to us which was fulfill'd in Christ Joh. 1.18 and 3.13 and 8.28 c. The Law was given in this terrible Manner for many Reasons 1. To shew forth the dreadful Majesty of God 2. To awaken the Consciences of Sinners 3. To declare the controversie betwixt an Holy God and sinful Men without Christ by whom Grace cometh and the Gospel of Grace invites those whom the Law excludes 4. The Law given out of the Cloud intimated it's obscurity without the Gospel 2 Cor. 3.13 c. God is not clearly seen in the Law for God is Love 1 Joh. 4.8 5. All this Dread and Terrour was to shew the Nature of the Law how it is a killing Letter like Draco's Law written not in black but in Blood holding forth Justice only and not Mercy manifesting God's Will and Mens Sins and to warn them of the Wrath deserved summoning them to appear before the Judge And 6. To assure that as the Law was given at first with all this Horrour and affrightment so with much more unspeakable Consternation of all Flesh God will require it at the Day of Judgment when all the World that have been are or shall be must appear before the Judge The Third Branch is the Remedy of the Peoples Perplexity Moses saith to them Fear not there 's a Prohibition Yet fear that 's a Precept Exod. 20.20 Servile or Slavish fear which startleth and stareth perplexed ones at the Approach and Apprehension of Danger he forbids here yet promotes he a filial and awful fear which is compounded of Reverence and Love this must be a Bridle from Sin and a Spur to Holiness as well as Beneficence is a Bait to Obedience Isa 1.19 20. Or the sense of the Words runs thus Fear not this glorious Appearance so much as to cry out Let not God talk with us lest we Dye ver 19. for they now had heard God yet they did not then die and this they acknowledge Deut. 5.24 but such was the guilt of their Sin that they feared should God continue to speak to them any more they could not escape death Moses wisheth them here to raise up their Meditations from this terrour in giving the Law to that future fearful appearance of the Law-giver at the last day when he cometh to take vengeance upon all breakers of this Law not only Jews but all Genâ—iles c. For which day we must much more sanctifie our selves to day and to morrow as they did for receiving the Law when God comes to require it our Sanctification is not perfected in one day nor may we only promise obedience as they did but be as ready to perform it They promised universal obedience without any limitation Exod. 19.8 yet soon forgot their promise when they made a Golden-Calf c. Our Lord tells us in the parable The Son that said to his Father he would not go to work in his Vineyard yet after repented is commended before him who said I go Sir
sort of Persecutors he violently broke open many Doors of the Houses where those Christians had their private Meetings and there he spared none of either Sex but haled both Men and women by the Hair of their Heads as if they had been taken Captives in the heat of War and cast them into Prison and still which was worse than all this he compelled them to blaspheme Acts 26.11 that is not only to renounce their Religion but also to curse their Crucified Christ therefore confesseth that he had been not only a Persecutor but one who had been notoriously Injurious 1 Tim. 1.13 Phil. 3.6 The Remarks hereupon are 1. That there is a blind Zeal misguided by an Ignis Fatuus a Will-with-Wisp or rather by a false Fire from Hell His Zeal was only exercised in persecuting the Church Phil. 3.6 that could not conform to the Pharisaical Traditions N.B. Zeal is good when it acts in a good matter Gal. 4.18 but this of Saul's was not so Gal. 1.13 He saith the same of his own Zeal as of that of the Jews that it was a Zeal without knowledge Rom. 10.2 3. though a warm yet a blind Zeal They knew not that Christ was the End and Accomplishment of the Law and that his Righteousness not that of the Law was only acceptable to God If Zeal be not qualified with knowledge all will be on fire as the primum-mobile with its swift Revolution would be were it not cooled by the counter-motion of the lower Spheres Blind Zeal is as wild-fire in the hand of a Fool 't is like the Devil in the Demoniack which casts him sometimes into the Fire and sometimes into the Water Mark 9.22 Ignorance is a great Breeder and mostly great-bellied which Aristotle himself makes the Mother of mis-rule and mischief The dark corners of the Earth saith the Psalmist are top-full of cruelty Psal 74.20 The Soul that is without knowledge is not good and he that without knowledge basteth with his feet sinneth saith Solomon Prov. 19.2 The faster he goeth the farther he wandereth out of the Right way Mettle in a blind Horse is dangerous Yet this mad Zealot lived a blameless life otherwise Phil. 3.6 The second Remark is This black Character is designedly given here and elsewhere of this peevish Zealot as a foil to give the more lustre to the Riches of the Grace and Mercy of God towards him in changing such a bloody worrying Wolf into such a gentle and useful Lamb and of such an unparallel'd Persecutor to make such an eminent and wonderful Pastor N.B. All this is Recorded of him that none might despair of Saving-Mercy who can but find hearts given them to repent of their sins and to be converted c. The third Remark is the prospect of that black Hue which this young Persecutor had put upon him by being dip'd in the Devil 's Dye-Fat N.B. Satan before his Fall did think none but after his Fall would have none better than himself therefore makes he Saul here as bad as himself both in Malice and Sin These two Evils whether in Devils or in Men are equally Aged and be as equally Evil both have the same Name and Nature as if there were no sin but Malice All Evil is envious The good that a bad man will not imitate he cannot but envy He that grieves not because himself is evil usually Irks that another is good As Sin separates 'twixt God and Man so it sows Enmity 'twixt the Devil and Man yet can it combine wicked men to become Sworn-Brethren in Iniquity not only in being but also in doing Evil. N.B. This Confederacy is not Union or Concord but the worst sort of Conspiracy as was that of Herod's and Pilate's against Christ When Thieves shake hands 't is done for malice and mischief against the truly honest Man Judas both consents to and consults with the Priests for killing Christ Saul consents only which is always the first step to sin with the Stoners of Stephen Acts 8.1 and 22.20 N.B. To behold Evil and not to dislike it is to consent to it By-standers may be Accessories making the offence of others their own by their consent He that forbids not Evil furthers it Particpat Nutans non obstans non manifestans Either Saul's degree was above the Office of an Executioner or his Age was under it Yet if he may not be a Partner in the Murder he will be a Witness yea a Witness of the Witnesses who laid down their cloaths at his feet Acts 7.58 N.B. No Age is innocent Childhood and Youth are vanity Eccles 11.9 10. This Young Man though not rejoycing in the vain pleasures of his Youth yet was villanous and violent in a malicious persecution of the Gospel of Truth So villany as well as vanity was found in this Youth who might be too young to have Might enough for casting a Stone at a Martyr's head with his hand yet was there no want of Malice in his heart though there was not Might in his hand to hold the cloaths of those that could more mischievously cast them So Saul stoned Stephen with his heart while his hands held the cloaths of those that did it and probably prompted them on therein So Saul stoned Stephen by the many hands of the mad Multitude as if his own hands alone were not enough to stone him N.B. Now being once flesh'd in Stephen's Blood Saul becomes a second Nimrod a mighty Hunter not satiated with devouring one silly Lamb whose flesh still sticks in this Wolf's Teeth becomes now bolder to seize upon the whole Flock Stephen's Blood had only made his mouth to water after a deeper Draught and a fuller Carouse of the Saint's Blood as one who could not sit down satisfied with destroying one single Saint without dissolving the whole Communion of Saints Having thus far spoke 1. To the Efficient Cause or Instrument of this Fourth Persecution I come 2. To speak of the sad and deplorable Effects thereof which is expressed in those words They were all scattered abroad throughout the Regions of Judaea and Samaria excepting the Apostles Acts 8.1 There be various Opinions about the All that were scattered hereby The first Opinion is that this All here is to be taken largely for the Multitude of Believers who were the Constituting Members of the first Gospel-Church at least so many of them as could not commodiously Abscond and had conveniency to fave themselves by flight This was allowed or rather commanded by Christ Matth. 10.23 Therefore they are too Rigid that discommend it The second Opinion taketh this All more strictly for all the Teachers of the Church those extraordinary Gifted Deacons and others who Preached the Word a work only proper for Ministers Acts 8.4 one of which number was Philip who Preached at Samaria verse 5 c. which very Imploy is ever most obnoxious to Persecution N.B. This sense is the more probable For 1. Luke's scope is to write an History of the one