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A22507 A commentarie vpon the fourth booke of Moses, called Numbers Containing, the foundation of the church and common-wealth of the Israelites, while they walked and wandered in the vvildernesse. Laying before vs the vnchangeable loue of God promised and exhibited to this people ... Heerein also the reader shall finde more then fiue hundred theologicall questions, decided and determined by William Attersoll, minister of the word. Attersoll, William, d. 1640.; Attersoll, William, d. 1640. Pathway to Canaan.; Attersoll, William, d. 1640. Continuation of the exposition of the booke of Numbers. 1618 (1618) STC 893; ESTC S106852 2,762,938 1,336

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know him in his kingdome For the word is the path way that leadeth vnto it and therefore is called the Gospell of the Kingdome This teacheth vs to consider diligently the saying of Christ Iohn 17. Iohn 17 3. This is eternall life that they know thee to be the only very God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ If then we desire eternall life we must labour to know God lest he say to vs in his wrath Wherein the knowledge of God consisteth Depart from me I know you not This knowledge of God necessarily required of vs consisteth in these points following First we must confesse acknowledge him to be the soueraign and highest good Dan. 4 32. incomparison of whom 〈◊〉 things are reputed as nothing being as drosse drauery and nothing to be desired with him as Christ saith Why callest thou me good Math. 19 17 there is none good but one euen God If we equall ought with him or preferre any thing in heauen or earth before him wee are ignorant of him and know him not Secondly it behoueth vs to depend vpon him and to put our whole trust in him alone not in any man or Angell for then we make flesh our strength and so leane vpon a broken staffe that cannot stay vs but will deceiue vs. Thirdly wee must draw neere vnto him in time of need as to the fountaine of all goodnesse with all reuerence and humility crauing all things of him by hearty and feruent prayer If we call vpon him hee hath promised to reueale himselfe vnto vs. Fourthly we must giue him thankes for all blessings receiued from him not only in prosperity but in aduersity Now wee shall shew our selues than●full vnto him by dooing that which he commandeth by auoyding that which he forbiddeth by praising and aduancing his name for all his works whether they be works of his mercy or whether they be works of his iustice in correcting of his Children and in punishing his enemies Fiftly we must seeke the knowledge of his waies word and increase in the knowledge thereof which bringeth vs to eternall life As we grow forward in knowledge so wee grow forward vnto life and when our knowledge shall be perfected then our life shal be perfected in the next world Now if eternall life consist in this knowledge doubtlesse death is to be found in the ignorance of God The Apostle ioyneth these two as companions together ignorance and death They haue their vnderstanding darkned Ephes 4 38. heere is the ignorance of God are strangers from the life of God here is death For the priuation or want of the life of God is eternal death Wherfore whosoeuer desireth to liue the life of God must auoid ignorance which is the forerunner cause of death And what is the darknesse of ignorance as it were a mist before our eies but the beginning of vtter darknesse in the pit of destruction where shall be weeping gnashing of teeth Hence it is that Christ saith Iohn 10 When he hath sent foorth his owne sheepe Iohn 10.4.5 hee goeth before them and the sheepe follow him for they know his voyce and they will not follow a stranger but they flie from him for they know not the voyce of strangers If then we would approoue our selues to be the sheepe of Christ wee must haue this eare-mark we must know his voice we must heare his word wee must partake his Sacraments otherwise we shall be Goats not Sheepe Many there are that would bee accounted Sheepe but they want this badge cognizance they are not hearers but contemners of his word they follow not Christ Iesus the Shepheard but flye from him they know not his voyce they are not acquainted with his call but they thinke themselues in the best case when they are farthest off from the hearing of it The Lord calleth vs by his worde the preaching of the Gospell is his voice if we regard it not woe be vnto vs we exclude our selues from his Sheep-fold and renounce our beeing in the number of his Sheepe Lastly we must yeeld all obedience vnto him and his word For as all his Sheep are hearing Sheepe and none of them deafe dull eared so are all obedient Sheepe They haue their eares opened which maketh them hearers and they haue them bored to their heart which maketh them obedient and to offer vp themselues as a sacrifice well pleasing vnto God But all our hearing shall hinder vs and serue to further and increase our condemnation vnlesse we ioyne vnto it a carefull obedience according to the doctrine of the Apostle Be ye doers of the word and not hearers onely Iam. 1.22 deceiuing your owne selues If these things be found in vs then we know God aright then we may be assured wee shall be knowne by him and not denied of him This is that vse which Christ himselfe toucheth Iohn 10. I am the good Shepheard and know mine and am knowne of mine Where we see that the consideration of Gods acknowledging vs to bee his should bee a forcible meanes to make vs endeuour to know him For who are wee that he should know vs Yea what is man that he should be mindfull of him or the son of man that he should consider him Wee are dust and as●es rottennesse and corruption yea lighter then vanity no better then enemies to him and the heires of wrath as well as others Seeing therefore the bountifulnesse and loue of God toward vs hath appeared so that of his mercy not our merits hee hath saued vs by ●he wash ng of the new birth Titus 3.5 and the renewing of the holy Ghost let vs passe our pilgrimage heere in feare and aboue all things let vs labor to know him in his owne ordinances and to se●k● the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse that in the end of our dayes we may be knowne of him to his glory and our endlesse comfort in Christ Iesus our blessed Lord and Sauiour Verse 17. Then Moses and Aaron tooke these men which are expressed by their names 18. And they called all the Congregation together in the first day of the second Month who declared the r kindreds by their families and by the houses of their Fathers according to the number of their names from twenty yeare and aboue man by man 19. As the Lord had commanded Moses so he numbred them in the wildernesse of Sanai HItherto we haue heard and handled the Commandement of God The obediēce of Moses and Aaron requiring Moses and Aaron to number the people now followeth their obedience without any delaying or deferring the matter It is meete that the seruants obey the commandement of their Maister and that subiects perfourme the decrees of their Princes Hence it is that Moses taking to him Aaron and the heads of the Tribes do addresse themselues to take a suruay of the people discharging their duty with all diligence He doth not
his reconciliation and attonement For so long as we liue in sinne we lye vnder the curse and wrath of God no grace can shine vpon vs no mercy can ouertake vs no blessing can fall vpon vs. But when sinne is punished the curse is remoued and the fauour of God doth compasse vs about as with a shield Now let vs come to the Vses that we may Vse 1 haue the profit and comfort of this Doctrine First wee learne that such as continue in any knowne sinne vnrepented of cannot look for peace from God So long as sinne reigneth in any place the wrath of God hangeth ouer it and will vndoubtedly fall vpon it There is no peace saith the Lord vnto the wicked Esay 48 22. God doth come into the field as an open enemy to wage warre and enter into a combate against all impenitent sinners This the Prophet speaketh Psal 7 11 12. God iudgeth the righteous and him that contemneth God euery day except he turne he hath whet his sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready He abhorreth all the vngodly and therefore he will fight against thē as a man of war he will raine downe snares fire and brimstone and stormy tempests vpon them hee will destroy them in his wrath and fierce displeasure It is a fearefull thing to bee a rebell and traitor against a Prince and to stand out in armes against his Soueraigne in the field with weapons it is high treason the losse of life the forfeyture of lands and goods the staining of our blood the vndoing of our posterity So to stand out in any sinne is high treason and rebellion against the most High The continuance in any sinne is rebellion and they that are the committers of it are rebels against God This made the Prophet to say Destroy them O God let them fall from their counsels cast them out for the multitude of their iniquities because they haue rebelled against thee Ps 5 10. To this purpose Samuel calleth the disobedience of Saul rebellion 1 Sam. 15 23. Euery man knoweth the danger of rebellion against the Prince it is more against God When we heare of forreigne warres we feare and tremble wee are much moued and perplexed and shall wee not much more be afraid when the Lord the King of Kings wageth battell against vs Whē God by the Ministery of his word doth reproue sinne among vs our ignorance our loosenes lewdnesse our negligence security he doth stand out against vs as with his sword ready drawne in his hand to reclaime vs or to destroy vs. We were better to haue the whole world set against vs then God to be our enemy What a monstrous madnes is it for a mortall man to stand at defiance with him who is the Lord of hostes Doe we faith the Apostle prouoke the Lord to anger Are we stronger then he 1 Corinth chap. 10 verse 22. How many are there which are so witlesse and bewitched that they thinke themselues strong enough to encounter with God like the Gyants that would plucke God out of heauen But let them take heed lest setting themselues against him they thrust thēselues downe into hell to their eternall confusion Secondly it teacheth a notable and necessary Vse 2 duty to all Magistrates to be zealous for the Lords cause to roote out euill dooers to maintaine the glory of God and to shew thēselues enemies vnto all iniquity Do they desire to haue their people liue in peace tranquility and to bring a blessing to those that liue vnder their gouernment Do they desire to haue the curse of God remoued farre from them The onely way is for them to punish sinne wherby they bring quietnesse and safety and moue the Lord to dwell among them with the graces of his Spirit The Lord threatened Ahab because he had let go out of his hands a man whom he had appointed to dye his life should go for his life and his people for his people 1 Kings chapter 20 verse 42. When Saul had spared Agag contrary to the expresse commandement of God who charged him to smite Amalek and to destroy all that appertained vnto them haue no compassion on them but to slay both man and woman both infant and suckling both Oxe and Sheepe both Camell and Asse the Kingdome was rent from him was giuen to his neighbour that was better then he 1 Sam. chapter 15 verse 26. When the Leuite had his wife abused vnto death and villanously defiled at Gibeah which is in Beniamin because those wicked men were not put to death that euill might be put away from Israel it turned almost vnto the vtter destruction of that Tribe Iudg. chapter 20 verses 13 35 and there fell of them in one day fiue and twenty thousand an hundred men all they that could handle the sword So the Magistrates must regard to punish sinne if they regard the honour of God the profit of their people or the good of themselues We see what an head sinne groweth vnto and gathereth strength in all places It beareth the cheefest sway preheminence euery where He that checketh and controlleth it laboureth in vaine and maketh himselfe a prey True it is the Ministers of Gods word haue the sword of the Spirit put into their hands Heb. 4 12. to cut in sunder the cordes of sinne It is a fire that burneth and consumeth the straw and stubble before it It is an hammer that breaketh in peeces the hard stones Ier. 23 29. and it hath the power of God adioyned with it Notwithstanding vnlesse the Ministery of the word be assisted and strengthened by the force of the Magistrate it is little regarded esteemed of the greatest number It is good indeed to haue some instruction but it auayleth little without correction If a master should cry neuer so often vnto his scholler learne learne and disswade him from his idlenesse and lewdnesse neuer so earnestly yet if he know his master hath no authority or power to correct and chasten him he will smally respect the vehemency of his words but esteeme them as a blast of winde that passeth away So is it with the people when the Magistrate and Minister go not together when the word and the sword doe not accompany one another For these two being the high holy ordinances of God do giue strength assistance one to another The Magistrate would bee much more troubled if the word which is liuely mighty in operation were not taught to keepe men in obedience and they might sit as it is saide of Moses Exod. 18 14 to heare causes from morning to euening and weary themselues with the toyle and trouble of their Office without comfort to themselues or profit to others And on the other side the Ministers might lift vp their voyce as a Trumpet and cry aloud vntill they be hoarce vnlesse they be backed and encouraged by the godly Magistracy So long as Moses and Aaron as
two brethren walke amongst the people of God I meane the Magistrate to rule and correct the Minister to teach and reproue sinne wil be suppressed and godlinesse will in some measure bee promoted and aduanced Heere then is a notable direction for all Magistrates fathers masters housholders and gouernors whatsoeuer to set themselues against euill doers seeing therby they shall finde the Lord fauourable vnto them Among all encouragements which Rulers who are as the gods of the earth haue giuen vnto them to beare the burden of the worke and the heate of the day Psal 82 6. none is more comfortable then this that by rooting out of the wicked and punishing the vngodly according to their vngodlinesse they bring a blessing vpon their owne heads a blessing vpon the places where they dwell and a blessing to their families in which they liue as wee see in Phinehas in this place of whom the Lord saith While hee was zealous for my sake among them he turned away mine anger therefore I haue not consumed the children of Israel in my iealousie and I will giue vnto him my couenant of peace and he shall haue it and his seed after him Who is it that doth not desire to finde the fauour of God in this life to leaue a blessing behind him But if God haue made vs Magistrates in the Common-wealth or Gouernors in the priuate family we cannot looke for any blessing at his hands to follow vs and ouertake vs so long as sinne is vnpunished and the sinner is not recompenced in the earth It is not enough for vs to be godly men except we labour also to be godly Magistrates We heard before that the boast of God could not prosper and preuaile so long as Achan was not found out but when he was stoned the blessing of God came vpon thē The Marriners in the ship could not be safe so long as Ionah was in it Ionas 1 15 but so soone as he was cast into the sea the sea ceased frō his raging Mark this yee Rulers of the earth and learne from hence yee Gouernors of ho●ses a profitable lesson so long as yee are zealous for the aduancement of Gods glory and for the rooting out of iniquity ye shall be blessed in your persons blessed in your children blessed in your families and blessed in your places and habitations Set your selues therfore with courage against sinne and God shall be with you He will prosper the works of your hands nothing shall be able to preuaile against you as the Prophet faith 2 Chron. 15 2. The Lord is with you while ye be with him and if ye seek him he will be found of you but if ye forsake him hee will forsake you Let euery one so farre as his calling stretcheth deale faithfully with God and shew their zeale in resisting sinne as it is sinne in whomsoeuer they finde it without respect of persons not fostering it in some because they are their friends nor winking at it in others because they are their children their seruants their kindred or acquaintance nor hating it in a third sort because they are their enemies but punishing it and striking at the roote of it without difference and partiality For many are enemies to some sinnes because they are enemies to the sinner and so hate the euill for no other cause but because they cannot abide the person But we should in punishing sinne ayme at the good and at the reformation of those that commit it we should loue the person and abhorre the euill like the Physitian that liketh his patient but hateth the disease But to examine our selues a little How far are we in these dayes from the sound practise of this point Haue wee a true zeale to punish offenders or are we careful to finde them out that euill may be taken away from vs Alasse who seeth not plainly except such as are wilfully blinde how cold and carelesse we are in setting our selues against sinne and opposing our selues against euill doers Doe not wicked men in al places lift vp their crests on high and walke with outstretched neckes without controllement that no man dare say vnto them Why do ye thus Nay are we not come to this passe that if one in a Parish settle himselfe to do good and offer to put too his helping hand to weede out malefactors will not twenty step foorth to speake for them to crosse such as shall go about to punish thē If any good cause be to bee promoted how backward are wee to further it How nice how squemish are we and pinch curtesie who shall goe before as if we were ashamed of it But if whoremongers drunkards harlots that are as the off-scouring of the world and the scumme of the earth bee brought before Magistrates to be rewarded according to theyr deseruings they cannot want many of theyr neighbours to countenance them to go with them and to speake for them What persons euer were there so lewd and licentious that haue not found diuers to entreate in their fauour Yea so desperate are our times seasons growne that if the diuell himselfe were incarnate and dwelled visibly among vs it seemeth likely that hee should finde some friends some spokesmen and mediatours for him But know this for a surety and carry it home with you vnto your houses and thinke of it vpon your beds that so long as you thus backe and vphold bad fellowes loose in life lewd in example you shall neuer want store of them We must not thinke euer to breake the heart of sinne except wee ioyne hand in hand one with another and all draw one way to suppresse it If a theefe were to be c●rried to prison and one drew him one way another haled him another way he were neuer like to haue fetters cast vpon him In like manner so long as we are sundred and diuided one from another sinne encreaseth and getteth an head And we cannot assure our selues to obtaine any blessing of God so long as we nourish such serpents in our bosomes and doe not pull out the stings of them And as this ought to be a great encouragement to all in authority ouer others to consider the blessings of GOD that they bring to themselues and to their seuerall iurisdictions by breaking the necke of vngodlinesse so on the other side it ought to terrifie all negligent and carelesse Gouernors that are not ready resolute betimes to destroy all the wicked of the Land Psalm 101 8 and to cut off all the workers of iniquity frō the City of the Lord. Such bring a curse vpon themselues a curse vpon their substance a curse vpon their children a curse vpon their seruants a curse vpon their families a curse vpon their houses and habitations This should work a feare in their hearts and bring terrour and astonishment vpon their consciences seeing God will take away the sinner in his wrath but will require the sinne at the