changeable unconstant and variable as the weather never at any certainty discontented with the present Government which if changed for another they would like no better weary of present things affecting change and alteration either they serve basely or rule proudly As for liberty that is the mean between them both they have neither the skill to despise with reason nor the grace to entertain in any proportionable measure Sir Wat. Ralegh History of the world as one saith But what say our Church Levellers the people are all holy what need there be any one to teach them they can teach themselves the Church are all Saints they all know the Lord from the greatest to the least what need is there then of any such thing as the ministerial Office Heb. 8. 11. They have received of God an Unction or an anointing which teacheth them and need not that any man should teach them 1 John 2. 27. Resp By Unction and Anointing is meant the Spirit and his Graces so called because they are the Unction wherewith Christ and his Members are Anointed Now to conclude from hence that the Ministry and the Ordinances are not necessary but only the immediate teachings of the Spirit is a conclusion never intended by the Spirit of God First because this would be contrary to his own Institutions and Commands and so make God to contradict himself For God hath set up the Ministry to teach edify and perfect Saints he hath commanded them to Preach in season and out of season God prohibits us to despise Prophecying He threatens Damnation to such as shall neglect to hear the Gospel Preached To what end hath God appointed and commanded these things if his mind be that we shall be immediately taught of God by the Spirit 2dly St. John himself makes this evident to be his meaning 1 John 5. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of God If they had been all immediately inspired by the Spirit it had been absurd for John to write unto them But because the Spirit of God doth teach by the Word mediately therefore he writeth to them God's Courts are his School his ordinance are his books by which he teacheth Men And they that will be taught of God must come to his School and wait upon his Ordinances St. Paul sheweth that the Ministry is to continue in the Church till we all meet together in the Unity of Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ The Ministry is to continue till we all meet in the Unity of Faith in the Universal Meeting when Christ shall appear in Glory when we shall have an uniform Faith and Knowledg of Christ Observation IX That those that are the greatest Deceivers of the people do often pretend most Zeal for the Peoples Liberty So we see here in Korah and his Company St. Peter saith 2 Pet. 2. 3. of false Teachers that through Covetousness by feigned Words they make Merchandize of those whom they seduce Doth not the Scripture among divers kinds of Merchandize in the Ware-house of the Whore of Babylon number the Souls of men Rev. 18. 19. Hereticks for Gain by feigned Words do sell the Souls of Men to the Devil by fair pretences they draw Men into damnable Heresies c. Pernitious Practises and into the way of Destruction Observation X. That it is usual with evil Men to draw false Conclusions from true Premises What was the ground Korah went upon That all the Lord's People were Holy every one of them This is true according to Scripture in a Sense externally holy as a people professing the Lord to be their God But what was the Conclusion they drew from hence it was that therefore Moses and Aaron took too much upon them and that there was no need of Magistracy or Ministry Take heed of sudden Entertaining any New Doctrine though it seem to be countenanced by some Scripture misapplyed Observation XI That true Zeal doth oppose great Sins with great Detestation This mutiny tended to destroy those two great Ordinances of the Magistracy and Ministry and to bring confusion into the Church and Commonwealth of Israel and to provoke the Wrath of God against them And therefore Moses though the meekest Man upon Earth yet he was far from coldness and neutrality in this respect he was full of Zeal he falls upon his Face in Detestation of so foul a Rebellion and was very wrath with them verse 15. True Zeal is proportioned to the Object The greater the Sin is against which it is set the more it is stirred it is fervent as the Cause requireth it is governed by true prudence or discretion and proceeds with caution A true Christian useth Zeal as a skilful Rider doth his Horse making use of the mettle of his Horse suitable to the Use he hath of him True Zeal mindeth the Cause and according to the Importance of that riseth or falleth as the Tide which followeth the course of the Moon Observation XII That it is true Wisdom to undertake such a Cause and so to manage it that whatsoever opposition may arise a man may confidently and safely appeal to the righteous God So it was with Moses he had undertaken an extraordinary Work and he had managed it in an extraordinary way yet such was his carriage in it that he approveth himself to God And then if men did offend him scorn and resist him here was his comfort that his witness was in Heaven though Men did condemn him yet God did justify him Carnal Wisdom thinks it best for men to engage in such a Cause and so to carry themselves that men may be pleased with them but it is cold comfort to a Prisoner at the bar that some ignorant persons standing by shall acquit him and the Judge on the Bench shall condemn him A good cause and an evil Conscience are so unsuitably match'd that some sleight occasion of discontent is enough to divorce them Observation XIII That evil Men are apt falsely to object things against their Betters which may truly be retorted upon themselves These Men say to Moses and Aaron Ye take too much upon you which Moses restores unto them v. 7. ye take too much upon you ye Sons of Levi and justly accuseth them for medling with things too high for them which the Lord had never called them to 1 Reg. 18. 17 18. Ahab saith unto Elijah Art thou he that troublest Israel The Prophet retorteth this upon him because of his Abominations The Pharisees charge Christs Disciples for transgressing the Traditions of the Elders To whom Christ answereth why do ye also transgress the Commandments of God by your Traditions Observation XIV That evil Men pretending only to quarrel with men do many times rise up against God These Mutineers pretended to rise up against Moses and Aaron but Moses tells them that they are risen up
A FUNERAL SERMON ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEATH OF Algernon Sidney Esq Who was BEHEADED on TOWER-HILL on December the seventh 1683. for HIGH-TREASON LONDON Printed for J. Smith M DC LXXXIII Numbers XVI 1 2 3 4. Now Korah the Son of Izhar the Son of Kohath the Son of Levi and Dathan and Abiram the Sons of Eliab and On the Son of Peleth Sons of Reuben took Men And they rose up before Moses with certain of the Children of Israel Two Hundred and Fifty Princes of the Assembly Fathers in the Congregation Men of Renown And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said unto them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation are Holy every one of them and the Lord is among them wherefore then lift you up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord And when Moses heard it he fell upon his Face c. SUCH is Satan's Malice and the Corruption of Man's Nature That the Church of God is Exercised with variety of Difficulties and Distractions Satan turning himself into divers shapes appearing in variety of Forms and by several sorts of Instruments sometimes acting one part and sometimes another whereof we have plentiful Evidences in the History of Israel penned by Moses who wrote the Story of many hundred years and in the Book of Exodus and this Book of Numbers the things that befel for the most part his own Government 1. Satan seemed to shew himself in Pharaoh like a roaring Lyon or a wild Boar of the Forrest breaking into the Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts commanding first the Midwives and afterwards his own People to cast every Son of the Children of Israel that should be born into the River Nilus Exod. 1. â— the last And withal made the men of Israel themselves to serve with rigour and to sigh for hard Bondage 2. And when as it appeareth after Moses and Aaron were sent from the Lord to deliver them and the Lord sealed to it by many Miracles the Devil appeared in the shape of a Mountebank or Jugler apishly imitating the glorious Works of God by counterfeit Signs and Lying Wonders until the Lord did confound him and brought him to an open Confession This is the Finger of God Afterward he proceedeth no further that way 3. Now in the third place the Devil puts on his Harness and appears like a mighty man stirring up Pharaoh by force of Arms to destroy them and bring them back again into Bondage after they marched out of Egypt but the Lord caused the Sea to fwallow up Pharaoh and all his Host 4. And now Satan remembring how he prevailed over our first Parents in the Form of a Serpent he putteth on that shape and windeth into the Bosoms of many of the Israelites stiring them up to Pride Murmuring Idolatry Fornication Tempting of God Lusting and at last to Unbelief and Apostacy hereupon the Lord passeth Sentence upon them and excludeth them out of the promised Land and adjudging them to wander Forty years in the Wilderness the Lord reserved the Mercies they had forfeited for their innocent Children Now in this time of Vacation their old Enemy was not idle bnt seems to take upon him the appearance of an Angel of Light and by his Accomplices sets on foot the Levelling Design viz. by his Factors Corah Dathan and Abiram who said unto Moses and Aaron Ye take too much upon you What need have we of Prince and Priest seeing all the Congregation are Holy every one of them c. This was a most mischievous Plot and more like to undermine the Church than Pharaohs Rage and Cruelty Where ye may observe two things First the Mutineers Attempt and in that Four Particulars First The Actors and they are of two ranks 1. The Principals 2. The Accessories The Principals are described by their Names and Pedigree And of these there were Two Parties Korah a Levite and Dathan and Abiram Reubenites 1. Korah and his Pedigree He was descended of Levi of the same Tribe whereof Moses and Aaron was yea he was of the principal Family of Levi coming from Kohath who was the principal Son of Levi. And this is thought to be one cause of the discontent because the preheminence was given to Elizapban the Son of Uzziel Numb 3. 30. He was appointed to be the Chief of the House of the Family of the Kahathites Elizaphan was of the Fourth and youngest Family of the Kahathites yet preferred to be Prince over them This as the Hebrews think was offensive to Korah who was of the second Family of Izhar and occasioned him to rebel Korah is noted as the Principal in the Rebellion which St. Jude calls the Gainsaying of Kore Epistle of Jude v. the 11. And in Numb 27. 3. only Korah's Companies are mentioned where Speech is of this mutiny To Elizaphan was given the charge of the Ark and the Table and the Candlestick and the Altars and the Vessels of the Sanctuary wherewith they minister and the hangings and all the service thereof therefore as R. Sol. Jarchi on Numb 3. noteth Korah was offended that Elizaphan and his Family should have this Honourable Charge rather than Korah and his Posterity Another part of these Actors were Dathan and Abiram and On Sons of Reuben i. e. descended from Reuben who had forfeited his Birth-right by defiling his Fathers Bed Reuben had lost his Honour by his Sin which his Sons by unlawful means seek to recover By the Sequel it appeareth that Korah lifteth up himself not only against Elizaphan but against Moses and Aaron who were descended of Levi the Third Son of Jacob and they did not only stomach at the personal preferment of Moses but sought the Priesthood also verse 10. Now compare their Stations Numb 2. 10. Ye shall find that the Reubenites were to be placed on the South-side of the Camp of Israel and on the otherside the Kohathites of whom Korah was encamped on the side of the Tabernacle South ward Numb 3. 29. These Reubenites encamped next unto the Kahathites and so being Neighbours in Situation associated themselves in evil which Sol. Jarchi observing saith woe be unto the wicked and woe unto his Neighbour Their quarters being so near one to another their Agitators had leave to confer together and to hatch this Conspiracy The Accessories in general were certain of the Children of Israel In particular Two Hundred and Fifty Men described first by their Degree Princes of the Assembly or Called of the Assembly or Senatours called to the Assembly Men of Name of Renown famous in the Congregation whereby the Conspiracy was the stronger A small number in comparison of those who were under Moses's Government yet in regard of their Eminence such as had a great Influence upon the People 2. Consider their Design which as it was closely carried by them so it is covertly laid down here Their Aim was to destroy the present Government setled by God in the Church and
Commonwealth of Israel to degrade Moses and Aaron from their Dignities and in Case of resistance to murther them and to raise themselves to the Chief Places of Command and so to bring the People into a real Slavery of whose Liberty they seemed so zealous 1. That their Aim was at the Priesthood it appeareth by Moses his upbrading them ver 9 10. And Moses said unto Korah Hear I pray you ye Sons of Levi seemeth it but a small thing to you that the God of Israel hath seperated you from the Congregation of Israel to bring you near unto himself to do the Service of the Tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the Congregation to Minister unto them And he hath brought thee near unto him and all thy Brethren the Sons of Levi with you and seek ye the Priesthood also vers 11. For which Cause both thou and all thy Company are gathered together against the Lord And what is Aaron that ye murmur against him As if he had said is it not enough that God hath advanced you above thousands of your Brethren but that ye will lift up your selves above Aaron and seek the Priesthood also This was the design or the Kahathites On the other side the design of the Reubenites was against the Scepter verse 12 13. and Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the Son of Eliab which said we will not come up that is we will not come up unto the publick place of Judgment where Moses by debateing with them might had perswaded them to have desisted from their evil enterprize and have found mercy Is it a small thing said they that thou hast brought us up out of a Land that floweth with Milk and Honey to kill us in this Wilderness except thou make thy self altogether a Prince over us verse 14. Moreover thou hast not brought us into a Land that floweth with Milk and Honey or given us Inheritance of Fields and Vineyards wilt thou put out the eyes of men We will not come up Hereby you see that they aimed at the Supream Power Now. what was the fair Vizard that they put upon so foul a Face First they pretend to be great Enemies to Ambition They said unto Moses and Aaron ye take too much upon you Why lift you up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord 2. They cry up the People They are an Holy People all the Congregation every one of them and the Lord is among them Wherefore then list ye up your selves above the Con gregation of the Lord The Presumption of their own Holiness brought them to Ambition and Affection of the Priesthood an Honour that none should take to himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron Hebrews 5. 4. 3. They seem to be very tender of the peoples sufferings First Of what Moses had deprived them Thou hast brought us up out of a Land flowing with Milk and Honey to kill us in the Wilderness Secondly In regard of what he had disappointed them Thou hast not brought us into a Land flowing with Milk and Honey or given us inheritance of Fields and Vineyards Thirdly They seem to be very zealous of the Peoples liberties All the Congregation is Holy fit to govern themselves let all be levelled all be equal to the Supream Power and none be above or under others Here was their pretence 4. Consider what was their way of proceeding 1. It was close and subtile the Kohathites and Reubenites being gathered near each other had opportunity to contrive their PLOT closely to cheat the Multitude 2. Mark their Audaciousness First They stood or rose up in a daring manner affronting Moses to his Face Secondly They gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron they banded themselves and came strongly armed 3. They spake too saucily to them Ye take too much upon you why lift ye up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord They charge them shamelesly for taking too much upon them whereas they took no more than God had given them And for lifting up themselves above the Congregation when God had lifted them up to it Yea Moses was very backward to take a Commission from God and after he had it complains of his Burden Numb 11. 11. as desiring to be freed from it Again they tax them for bringing them out of a Land flowing with Milk and Honey viz. out of Egypt wherein their Infants were murthered and themselves cruelly enslaved And charged them for not bringing them into a Land flowing with Milk and Honey Whereas it was their Murmuring and Unbelief that kept them out of Canaan and shut them up in the Wilderness Now consider the Remedy Moses used First The Course he took and there ye may see 1. That he shewed his utter Detestation of this Wickedness When Moses heard this he fell on his Face as abhorring so foul a Rebellion 2. He makes a solemn Appeal to the righteous God v. 5. He spake unto Korah and all his Company saying even to morrow the Lord will shew who are his and who is holy by causing him to come near unto him even him who he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him Thirdly He Summon's Korah and his company to the highest Judicature This do take the Censers Korah and his Company and put fire therein and put Incense in them before the Lord to morrow And it shall be that the man whom the Lord will chuse he shall be holy verses 6 7. As if he had said ye reject mine Authority but I am content to plead this cause with you before the Judge of the whole world Fourthly He doth unmask them verses 8 9 10. Seemeth it a small thing to you that the God of Israel hath seperated you from the Congregation of Israel to bring you near unto himself to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Lord c. And he hath brought thee near to him and all thy Brethren the Sons of Levi with thee and seek ye the Priesthood also For which cause both thou and all thy Company are gathered together against the Lord And what is Aaron that ye murmur against him Fifthly He sends for Dathan and Abiram to give an account of their Action and upon their refusal to come up he is full of Holy Indignation against their wickedness and said unto the Lord verse 15. Respect not thou their Offering Sixthly He pleads his own integrity I have not taken away one Ass from them neither have I hurt one of them Seventhly He prays for the People whom God threatened to destroy upon a sudden for siding with these Rebels v. 22. And then exhorts the people to withdraw from the Tabernacles of Korah Dathan and Abiram lest they be consumed in their sins And then makes a Declaration to them Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works For I have not done them of mine own mind If these men die the common death of all
men or if they be visited after the Visitation of all men then the Lord hath not sent me verse 28 29. Now the Success of this course in respect of the Rebels was very dreadful One part of them the Earth opened it's Mouth and swallowed them up quick and the other part of them was consumed with Fire even those Two Hundred and Fifty Men that presumed to offer Incense Now in Respect of the People the Issue was very strange though they had seen the hand of God in a strange manner upon these Rebels yet the People the next day murmured against Moses and Aaron saying ye have killed the People of the Lord Verse 41. Whereupon the Lords Wrath was provoked and the Plague began and the Lord smote 14000 of them though Aaron made all possible speed to get between the dead and the living to make aconement Here are many things to be noted by way of observation Observation I. That the Churches of Christ in this world are subject to many troubles So Christ himself foretold John 16. In the world ye shall have Tribulation The Church in the World is like a Ship on the Sea and it is nothing strange to see it tossed with Winds and Waves Christ's Ships his Church and passengers have in their Sailing more than ordinary storms Lament 1. 12. Behold and see whether any sorrow be like my sorrow saith the Church wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce Anger The Ship in its nature is a tumbling and rolling thing moving too and fro and by its constitution ordained for motion The Church triumphant is landed and is above motion but the Church militant is afflicted and tossed with Winds and Waves Storms and Tempests How many States and Common-Wealths are up and down now green and flourishing and anon in their cadency like May-Flowers God doth many times Roll them like Bowls in an Alley Pride Excess Oppression Injustice and abounding Iniquity do put a Biass on the Bowl that it tumbleth over and over and God with the touch of his foot as I may so speak turns the Bowl out of his place Read the History of the Church and ye shall find that the Church for one good day of Ease Peace and Rest hath had ten or twenty troublesome days of War Persecution Division Plots and Conspiracies Read the History of the Judges and of the persecuting and Christian Emperours and ye shall see what vicissitudes the Church had It was sometimes up and sometimes down they had Ease and Court and favour but a short time with the godly Emperours It is true Christ seems sometimes to be asleep and this much shakes his Childrens Faith he lies as if he were asleep that the Passengers may cry aloud to him for help God sometimes would have his Church brought to a very low Ebb and to be near unto drowning and then he stands up for their deliverance yet not so but that new Storms may arise at such a time and in such a Coast as they do not expect The Church was at a low Ebb in Egypt the Males Children drowned in the River Nilus the tasks of the men multiplied The Lord with ninescore Plagues cannot rescue his People out of the hands of a Tyrant God must step in with immediate Omnipotency to pull them out with a stretched out Arm in the tenth Plague Moses his word of deliverance and Gods decree of bringing out the People is now ready to fall to the Ground The roaring Seas are before them the Enemy behind them and Mountains on every side Is not the Church of God now in great danger But then saith Moses stand still and see the Salvation of God God divides the Red Sea for his Redeemed to pass through and drowns their Enemies The Lord shall judg his People and repent himself for his Servants But when When he seeth their strength is gone and there is none shut up and left When the Church hath neither hands nor feet then God will arise for their help Christ can Sail against Wind and Tide and without Wind He never sinks his Bark nor breaks his Helm nor loseth a Passenger nor misseth his Harbour though the Winds be strong and the Sea tempestuous yet the Port is sure For this is the promise of him that sits at the Helm Isa 54. 11. O thou afflicted and tossed with Tempest behold I will lay thy Stones with fair Colours and lay thy Foundations with Saphyrs Yea the harbour is near Behold I come quickly saith the Lord. In the greatest storm that ever fell on the Church it could see the Shoar and dry Land Let the Church remember that she is in the deep and so prepare for foul weather The Church of God hath had much experience of this Truth in all ages and happy are they that make aright improvement thereof Observation II. 2. That in times of vacancy and rest turbulent Spirits are apt to be working and hatching mischief When Israel was confined to the Wilderness many years Korah and his accomplices fell into this mutiny When men want grace in their hearts and business to employ themselves about their lusts are apt to boyl them up into some mischievous attempts When Heretical and Anti-Christian Enemies are Vigilant and Active Let us be Sober Watch and Pray We have to do with Enemies that are most busie when we are least Apprehensive of Danger Those who outrun others in sinful Activity or rather Turbulency and Unquietness of their Spirits as they are without peace themselves So they seek to molest and disturb the peace of others The Prophet describes them to be like the troubled Sea which cannot rest Isa 57. 20. Observation III. That Pride is the cause of Contention it makes men to overvalue themselves and undervalue others Therefore the Romans painted Pride in the form of a Devil having three Crowns upon his head one upon another In the First was written Transcendo I surpass all others because the proud man thinketh he exceedeth all other men Therefore saith Hugo Pride is a Vicious Haughtiness whereby a man despiseth his inferiours and earnestly busieth himself to rule over his equals and those also that are above him In the second Crown was written Non obedio I obey no others for pride would give laws to others but obey none himself In the third was written Perturbo I trouble all and sometimes the Pride of some persons troubleth a whole Nation Prov. 13. 10. Only by Pride cometh Contention It is the great Incendiary of the World Eusebius sheweth that when the Emperours began to favour the Christians they began to fall out and disagree among themselves In the time of the ten famous Persecutions of the Church by the Heathen Roman Emperours it is noted that after the death of Valerian the Church had rest and prosperity for above forty years In this time the Church grew exceedingly and Christians were gratious in the eyes of Emperours and Presidents and many
where they were whipped and in the end their heads were struck off after the manner of their Country The Emperour Charles IV. in his war against Philip of Austria corrupted three of his Captains with promise of great reward if they would betray Philip into his hands by making him flee through false fear they did it and received the promised reward The Emperour had provided for them a mighty Mass of Counterfeit Money which he gave them they returning afterward complained that they were deceived with Counterfeit Coyn the Emperour answered Adulterinum aurum pro adulterino opere that counterseit Coyn was a worthy reward for counterfeit Knaves false Coyn for a false Work John Justian of Genoa having betrayed Constantinople to Mahomet upon condition that he should make him King thereof under him he made him King thereof and Crowned him most Royally but within three days after cut off his head Pausanias having received five hundred Talents of Gold of Xerxes to betray Sparta Agesilaus his Father when he fled into a Temple to save himself caused the Gates of the Temple to be walled up and so he died of hunger whose body his Mother caused to be cast to the Dogs and would not bury it All men hate Traitors Plutarch saith men are affected towards Traitors whom they are driven of necessity to use as men that use the poyson of a Viper c. they willingly use the poyson but hate the poysonful Creature So many that willingly make use of the Treason do hate the Traitor Observation XX. That evil men make an ill use of beholding God's judgments upon others instead of humbling themselves under the hand of God they are apt to fall foul upon others verse 41. On the morrow all the Congregation of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron saying ye have killed people of the Lord. The judgment of God against Korah and his Company was before then eyes and yet on the morrow they offended again what they had seen God to do they impute to Moses and Aaron Themselves had been saved by the Prayers of Moses yet now thus they requite them They repine more at the loss of a few than at the saving of themselves and many thousands others Murmuring in Scripture is called by the Name of Rebellion After this murmuring of the people against Moses and Aaron in the next Chapter v. 10. The Lord said unto Moses bring Aaron's Rod again before the Testimony to be kept for a Token against the Rebels against God to murmur is to have a heart rising against the Lord. A general Discontent and Murmuring in a Nation is usually the Forerunner of Rebellion and Murmuring is the root of Rebellion against God Gregory saith That Murmurers do enter into Judgment with God Consider the Evil of Murmuring First It is a great piece of Folly to murmur at any of Gods Dispensations with us and God at one time or other will shew such Men their Folly It is great Vanity to think we can redress any Evils by our own Wisdom for who can make straight that which God hath made crooked Eccl. 7. 13. Moreover by murmuring ye dedeprive your selves of the comfort and sweetness of all your Enjoyments If it be a pleasant thing to be thankful then on the contrary it is an unpleasant thing to be murmuring And let me add if you let loose your Tongues to murmur against Magistracy and Ministry and any of Gods Instruments God hath an Ear to hear all your Murmurings Exod. 16. 6 7. The Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron but say they to the people In the Morning ye shall see the Glory of the Lord for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord. And what are we that ye murmur against us verse 8. Ye murmur not so much against us as against the Lord. Therefore St. Paul gives us a Caveat to take heed of murmuring Neither murmur ye as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer The Israelites no sooner brake out into this Sin after the death of Korah and his Confederates but God sent the Plague among them that destroyed Fourteen thousand and seven hundred beside them that dyed in the matter of Korah And now I wish that that Scripture Psal 29. last may be made good this day That all that erred in spirit shall come to understanding and they that murmured shall learn Doctrine To murmur at Gods Providences is very prejudicial to us Seneca tells us that Caesar having prepared a great Feast for his Nobles and Friends the day fell out to be very wet that nothing could be done to the honour of that meeting Caesar being greatly displeased willed all them that had bows to shoot up their Arrows at Jupiter then their chief God in defiance of him for that rainy weather which they did accordingly But the Arrows fell short of Heaven and falling upon their own heads many of them were sorely wounded so by our murmuring against our Rulers or against any of Gods Providences we hurt not him at all but they will light on our own heads and wound us dangerously Let us all study peace and live peaceably and labour to make up those unhappy breaches that are among us Tacitus in the Life of Agricola his Father-in-Law describing the Fashions Chivilry and Resolutions of the Britains in that time observeth this also that they were then drawn into divers petty Factions and the greatest advantage that the Romans had against that our Warlike Nation was That they had no Common Council They did not consult together but each City fought against their Neighbours ita dum singuli pugnant saith he universi vincuntur whilst one by one fighteth all are overcome And it is much to be feared That the Romans are again ready to set foot into our Land they expect to get ground by our home-bred Factions and Divisions so that the Pope hath now hopes of a great Harvest in England And how can we think the Church of England can stand saith one when there be Sizers and Consizers so many Cuters and Carvers of her Members Moreover let us all be content with that Condition in the World which God hath allotted us keeping our selves within our due Bounds There 's a notable Story for this in Plutarch in the Life of Pyrrhus One Cineas adviseth him to desist from the Wars with the Romans May it please your Majesty saith he it is reported that the Romans are Good Men of War and if it please the Gods we do overcome them what Benefit shall we have of that Victory Pyrrhus answered him we shall then soon conquer all Italy with ease Cineas replyed it is probable it may be as your Highness speaketh but when we have won Italy will our Wars be then at an end If the Gods were pleased said Pyrrhus That the Victory were atchieved then might we afterwards go into Africa and so to Carthage But when we have gotten all into our hands said Cineas What shall we do then Then Pyrrhus laughing said we will then be quiet and take our ease and eat drink and be merry every day To whom Cineas returned saying and what hindreth us now from being merry together and at quiet sithe we enjoy that presently without further cost travel and trouble which we should seek for abroad with so much danger and Bloodshedding So how quietly and comfortably might men live together could they be content with their present Condition did not the corruption of their hearts swell them into Discontent Pride and Faction Making them to transgress the Bounds wherein God hath placed them Now the Lord of Peace give us Peace all ways by all means FINIS
hail and rain the air being filled with Thunder and Lightening ran armed to the Pallace which they assailed having filled the large Market-Place of St. Marks with armed men The whole City was quickly in Armes and there was a sore Fight the Fight ceased not till such time as the Senate getting the upperhand the Conspirators were beaten back from the Palace Baimonti returning from his own house through the Mercers Street a woman forth of a Window threw a Mortar on his head with which blow he fell half dead to the Ground and was slain out right by those who persued him who presently returned to the Pallace Some of the Conspirators which were Patricians by birth being taken on the Dice-Bridge were by the command of the Prince forthwith beheaded whereupon that place hath ever since born the Name of Mal-pas And to extinguish the memory of these wretches it was decreed in all places to deface the Arms of Baimonti and his Complices their houses were razed to the Ground and all their Goods confiscated a Pension was given to the Woman and her Heirs who with the blow of the Mortar stayed Baimonti When James the First King of Scotland had besieged the Castle of Roxburgh which was ready to be surrendred unto him the Queen came to the Camp in great haste unto the King signifying that there was a Conspiracy begun against him The King thereupon raised the Siege and returned home Now Walter Stuart Earl of Athol and head of the Conspiracy pretending a right to the Crown procured his Nephew Robert Stuart and his Cousin Robert Graham to slay the King Hereupon the said Robert Stuart and Graham came one Evening to the Black Friars in Perth where the King then lay and by Licence of the Porters coming into the house ran up into the Gallery before the Kings Chamber-Door minding to have staid there till one of the Kings Servants who was Privy to their wicked purpose should come to give them entrance into the Chamber but before the coming of this Traitor another of the Kings Servants named Walter Staunton came forth of the Chamber-Door to have fetched Wine for the King who seeing these two Traitors standing there at the Door either of them having a long Sword girded to him he stept back and cryed Treason but e're he could get within the door to make it fast they leap'd upon him and flew him there Mean while a young Virgin named Catharine Douglas that was afterward Married to Allexander Lovel of Bolunni got to the Door and shut it but because the Bar was away that should have fastened it she thrust her arm in the place where the Bar should have been put and being young and her bones tender her armes was chrushed asunder and the door broke up by force Herewith they entred the Chamber slaying such of the Servants as made defence and then the King himself with many cruel and deadly Wounds The Queen also was hurt endeavouring to save the King her Husband Patrick Dunbar Brother to George late Earl of March was left for dead on the floor by reason of such Wounds as he received in the Kings defence Observation VI. That Pride Envy and Malice will make men insolent in their carriage toward those that are of greatest worth and dignity and desert Was ever Nation more obliged to a man than this People to Moses Did any man carry himself with more Meekness than he did and more Integrity But no Dignity and Worth can exempt him from the malice of those whom Pride and Envy hath made more brutish than the Beasts themselves Ye see how sawcily these men speak to Moses and Aaron Ye take too much upon you Why lift ye up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord How stubbornly did Thomas Becket oppose King Henry the Second How Insolently did Bonner and Gardner two Popish Bishops behave themselves against the Authority of King Edward the Sixth In the beginning of Queen Elizabeths Reign how stubbornly did the Popish Doctors behave themselves in refusing to dispute with the Protestants according to that order which was prescribed and refusing to set the Royal Crown upon her Head No wonder that those who maintain Errours and Lies audaciously and obstinately against the truth of God do all shew themselves Presumptious and Insolent against Princes and Magistrates St. Peter calls them 2 Pet. 20. Presumptuous and Self-willed Presumptuous the word is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men of daring and audacious Spirits impudently bold or presumptuous Hereticks what they want of Truth in their Doctrines they labour to make up with impudency and boldness not only against Inferiours but also against Governours whom God hath set in his own place especially when they have got strength on their side Again saith St. Peter they are Self-willed and stubborn and refractory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men that will please themselves and have their own will and way in despite of Authority Hereticks and false Teachers proud envious and malicious men out of self-will Pride and frowardness behave themselves audaciously and impudently against their Governours and will go their own way because they will In the first Reformation in England under K. Edward the VI the Popish Prelates and Clergy the State having before discarded the Pope did easily joyn with the Protestants though not in their Opinions yet in the publick Service of the Church and had not the Pope soon after been restored by Queen Mary to his former Authority in all Probability that Faction long since had been ended but after the Readmission of the Pope and his having Liberty to tamper with his Party at pleasure in the Second Reformation by Queen Elizabeth not a Popish Bishop could be perswaded to come to our Church And this practise hath been continued by the greatest part of the Recusants their Followers to this Day notwithstanding our Service be in it self less offensive to them and in no part opposite to any point of their Creed than that in King Edwards was Thus it pleased their Politick Governours to preserve and perpetuate the Remains of their party by this utter Breach and Alienation inhibiting them not only the reading of the Protestants Books and repairing to their Churches but also to joyn with them in any Divine Service by whomsoever or how lawful soever performed thereby kindling in them an extream hatred and detestation of their opposites Observation VII That those that know not how to govern themselves and are much more unfit to govern others are apt to despite Government and labour to destroy it This ye see here in the Examples of Korah Dathan and Abiram Loose and Licentious Spirits would have none above them that should have Power to restrain them Lust and Corruption are Irregularities which abhor to come under Order St. Jude saith v. 8. They defile the flesh despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities They despise not only Men in Authority but Dominion and Authority it self cannot
against God That they were gathered together against the Lord. What is Aaron that ye murmur against him When by the Providence of God Men are placed in the Magistracy and Ministry and ingaged in it and act faithfully in their places Those that band against them do band against the God of Heaven denying his Prerogative whose Right it is to pull down one and set up another Therefore when Men rise up against such the Lord vindicates his own Authority and exalts his own Name Observation XV. That undervaluing of Gods Mercies makes Men unthankful for them and discontented at their present Condition Moses said unto Korah seemeth it a small thing to you that the God of Israel-hath separated you from the Congregation of Israel to bring you near to himself to do the Service of the Tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the Congregation to minister unto them And he hath brought thee near to himself and all thy Brethren the Sons of Levi with thee and seek ye the Priesthood also When great Mercies are undervalued by evil Men God hath little Thanks and Men have little Content Observation XVI That Evil and Unthankful Men are soon apt to forget those Miseries out of which the Lord hath delivered them These men v. 13. call Egypt a Land flowing with Milk and Honey They speak not of the cruel Bondage they were kept in that rigorous Servitude that made them weary of their Lives Now they talk as if God and Moses had done nothing for them but deprived them of many comforts they had there How many men do soon forget those dangers miseries and straits out of which God hath delivered them Such forgetfulness is displeasing to God Observation XVII That those that undertake to maintain a bad Cause who want Strength of Argument to maintain it they will strengthen it with great words they will talk confidently and peremptorily before the people who are apt to be taken more with words than matter So here these Men talk confidently to Moses who being called to come up to the place of Judicature say we will not come up Wilt thou make thy self altogether a Prince over us Wilt thou put out the eyes of these Men Unless thou wilt say the people have lost their Eyes they may see thou art guilty of wronging the Multitude False Teachers are said to speak swelling Words full of vanity 2 Pet. 2. 19. Hereticks love to speak in a lofty strain to amaze the ignorant With what great swelling Words do the Popish Hereticks set forth the Pope's usurped Supremacy and the glory of their Church How do they talk of Antiquity Universality perpetual Succession Insalibility glorious Miracles such as Christ and his Apostles never wrought How do their words swell in extolling their Popes Authority over Councils making his words spoken in his Chair as Divine Oracles as if they had issued out of the Throne of Christ let us then put a great difference between great swelling words of Vanity and solid and substantial truths Observation XVIII That Malice in accusing those that are innocent doth usually catch at shadows to enforce an accusation against the innocent Moses had brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt into the Wilderness but with no intent to keep them there Now Korah and his company charge Moses for bringing them out of a land flowing with Milk and Honey to kill them in the Wilderness Now this was but a shadow it was their own sin that detained them there and kept them out of the land of Canaan So Doeg to humour Saul maliciously accused Ahimelech the Priest of Conspiring with David against the King because he enquired of the Lord for him gave him bread and the Sword of Goliah This should teach us not to be too hasty in entertaining false reports upon men of worth and eminency Observation XIX Here ye may observe Gods severity against the Rebels and Traitours that rose up against Moses and Aaron Enemies to Magistracy and Ministry The ground clave asunder that was under them and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up and their houses and all the men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods they and all that appertained to them went down alive into the pit and the earth closed upon them and they perished from among the Congregation And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them for they said lest the earth swallow us up also And there came out a fire from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered Incense God's punishments on Traitors are of three sorts External Internal Eternal 1st External either when he doth it by ordinary means extraordinarily stirred up The Servants of Amon conspired against him and slew the King in his own house and the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against King Amon 2 Reg. 21 23 24. Or by means which man cannot use as Miriam was smitten with Leprosie for murmuring against Moses Numb 12. 1. This punishment was memorable both for the suddenness and soreness of it wherefore it is after-said Remember what the Lord thy God did to Miriam in the way after that ye came forth out of Egypt Deut. 24. 9. Absalom was hanged by the hair alive upon an Oak and smitten by Joab and here I have shewn you how severely God dwelt with Korah and his company 2dly Internal in Conscience such as will not obey for Conscience sake Rom. 13. 5 nor submit for the Lords sake and deprived of a good Conscience which is a continual feast 3dly Eternal punishment sedition is one of the works of the Flesh a sin that keeps a man out of Heaven without Repentance Gal. 5. 19 20. They that resist this ordinance of God shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13. 2. As these men are odious to God so likewise are they odious to men No man will trust a Traitor When Viriatus his Souldiers had slain him thinking to please Scipio and get a reward in that Viriatus had stirred up Spain for fourteen years together against Rome they had nothing but this answer for cold comfort Nunquam placuisset Imperatorem a suis Militibus interfici that it never pleased the Romans to have an Emperor killed by his Souldiers Selymus the Grand Seignior having hired his Phisitian to poison his father Bajazet he afterward cut off his head lest he would be hired to do the like against him Philip of Macedon made use of Traytors to bring his matters to pass but hated them extreamly afterward When Lasthenes that had betrayed the City of Olynthum to him complained that the Traytors were called by the Macedonians Proditores he answered the Macedonians are plain rude fellows calling every thing by its proper name calling a Spade a Spade The Romans having taken Rhegium about three hundred Traytors were taken alive who presently after their coming to Rome were by the Commanders of the war brought into the Market-places