Numbers 16

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XVI.—It is hard for the best of characters to stand before envy. Unsanctified honours often puff up men to their own destruction: and, if God exalt them above most of their brethren, they can endure to be in subjection to none. Yea, God permits unsanctified professors, especially ministers and magistrates, to go often the most fearful lengths in sin. Every act of disobedience to, or contempt of, God’s vicegerents in the church or state, is by him accounted rebellion against himself: and often would sinful nations be utterly ruined, were it not for the intercession of those saints whom they abuse and persecute. But God can, and sometimes does, execute upon presumptuous sinners the most terrible correspondent vengeance. And though, with care, he distinguishes between the more and the less guilty, yet he sets up proper memorials of his judgments, that others may hear, and fear to do so wickedly. But, notwithstanding, hardened sinners, who survive, forget the most awakening alarms, and return to their persecution of God’s servants! Yet still, in the most endearing manner, ought we to promote the welfare and salvation of those who have injured us: and, when we are maliciously accused, the greatest comfort is the testimony of a good conscience. How like unto their master Christ do ministers act, when they expose their very lives to prevent the ruin of such as abuse them! And quickly the Lord repents him of the evil, when earnestly entreated by such as, along with himself, are abused by sinners. Let me now, with trembling, remember my faults this day.—How often have I, at these rebels, gone about to establish my own righteousness, and refused to submit to the laws of Christ; and thus attempted to thrust him from his office of priest and king over the people of God, in order that I might usurp his place! How often have I refused to come at his call, and offered strange incense before him! How often, the moment in which I had witnessed the awful vengeance of heaven, and obtained a distinguished deliverance, have I returned to my former iniquities! And remarkably is it of the Lord’s mercies that I am not consumed, not swallowed up alive into hell by an opening earth! not burnt with fire from heaven! But here let me admire the wonderful zeal and love of my great High Priest, when he ran from his throne of glory, when he came among dying sinners—himself exposed to all their miseries—to stop the plague of sin, already begun in the woes of life, the stings of conscience, and the sentence of death and to bring in everlasting righteousness and redemption. How superior Priesthood! If they did not escape who despised Moses and Aaron, how shall escape if I despise Jesus the great High Priest, Jesus the King in Zion!