NUMB ERS X17lII. word of the LORD. lebovab myGod]by this it appeareth , that balaantthe Syrian ( and fo the know anpwor(hipt Prophet, did he though d corruptly, and it may be other gods alto with hint. And that other peoples, as the Temanites, Sbuhiter, I Naamatbites and Iuzitet , kept the knowledge and fervice of the true God , is manifeft by Iobs hiflory , Lb 2. n. and 32.2. and 42. 7,8, 9. Al lò the Name of God lebovab was both knowne and pronounced by Balsam , and other peoples, . together with the Hebrewes , who now many ages fince have abftained from pronouncing of it , as is noted on Numb. 6. 24. leffè or more] or, little or great : underhand , little thing or great, (as the phrafe is more fully expreffed in 1 Sam. 20.2. and 22.15. and 25, 3 6.) meaning any thing at all; to which the Greeke addeth, of mine otne mind¢. In Balaam here is a pilure of covetous hypocrites, which pretend they would not doe againff the Word of God, for an houle full of gold, when they will doe it for an handful' : as this Prophet laboured with all his might to doe the thing which God had forbidden him. 9 Verle 19. that I may know] or, and I will know, ( that is, inquire) what lebovab will adde to fpeake witbmee, that is, will fpeake more tinto ntee. Here hee beginneth to difcover himfelfe and his love-to Balaks wages , in that he refleth not in Gods will , plainly revealed to him before: and that he tempteth God by this fecond confulta- don, as if he were changeable like himfelfe, and would refpeét the perfon of the King or Prophet, to fpeake otherwifethan he had done. For where he pretended to know more, he intended and de- fired to heare otherwife, and contrary to that which hee knew to bee the mind¢ of God. But Gods people fhould reff in that whith they know to bce his word and will : and if any teach otherwife , let hint be accurfcd , Gala:. 1.8,9. 20 Verle 20. If the men le come] that is, Foraf much as, or, Seeing the men are come. So the word Ifineaneth allo in Sang 1. 8. goe with them] Gods permitting of Balaam to goe with there fecond Embalfadours , when he had forbidden him to goe with the fish , was in wrath againft the Prophet , who flood not in the Lords firff counfell : and therefore he was indanger to have died by the fword of the Angell ,verfe33. and was indeed ( laine by the (word ofIfrael, lof 13. 22. In the meane time, both bee and the King had hope that they might effeít their evil! pur- pole , feein9 thatGod himfelfe feemed to change his mind : lo being hardned,they went on, with altars and lacrifices, to procure leave front God to curie his people, Num. 23. r. For when men will not hearken to the voyce of the Lord, hee I withdraweth his grace, & giveth themup to the perverfe intetttdment oftheir owne heart,and lets them walk¢in their Dane cowfeela, Pfalm. 81. 02513. butjet] or, but finely the word, &c. By this rellraint, God frgnifieth the continuance of his good will towards Ifrael, though in fuch words, as Balaam might hill conceive hope to obtaine his delire : for the firfc anfwer was plain, thou pals not turf¢ the people , verf. 12. in which hee not refling,hath now a darker Oracle, thou fbalt ¿lathe word that Ifhall peak unto thee , when hee knew not what God would fpeake, Thus when the will of God is known and not regarded, he taketh from men the certaintie of their knowledge , and cau- feth his word to be darke and doubtfull unto them, fo that they fl amble at it, i Pet.2.8.. the Sunna goeth donne over the Prophets, and the day is darke over them, Mich. 3.6. Balaam thought he fhould have heard more from God, but hearethleffe, and lofeth that which he had learned before. that fbalt thou doe] this both taught Balaam his dude , that he ought to doe it willingly , and clofely fignified that that hee fhould doe, though again(1 his will. For , the Lordbringetb to nought the counfell of the heathens , he maketb opiate efel'f the devi- ces of the peoples e but the caunfell of the Lord fi an- deth for ever, Pfalm. 33.2o, r 1. And hee re(fra'i- neth the wicked of their wils, putting his haak,in their note , and his bridle in their lips, Efay 37. 29. even Satan himfelfe is limitted , ( as in Iobs cafe lob 1. 1 a. and i. 6.) and cannot hurt the very fwisie , without leave from the Lord, Mat. 8. 31,32. Verle 21. in the morning ] as Abraham being fpoken to ofGod to facrifice his Comae , rofi early in the morning and fadled hit Af , and took two gbh young men with him , &e. Gen. 22. 3. (hewing his readineffe to obey the will of the Lord , though with the loffe ofhis onely fonne whom he loved: fo Balaam here rifts!' in the morning , fadleth his AfJe and taketh two of his young men with him, verf¢ 22. (hewing his greedineffe to get prefer - ment,and the wages of iniquitie which he loved, though with the loffe of the favour of God , and (in the end) of his owne life. Gods children runne not fo fall in the way of hit commandements, when hee enlargcth their heart, Pfabr 19.32. but the children of Satan runne as fall to ovill,aml make baffe to fhed innocent blond , 4'15 9.7. They turne and prepare themfelves without iniquitie inGods people , Pfalm59.4,5: So are the wages of every one shoat of gaine , which taltetb away the life of the owners thereof, Prov.1.16.19. Verle 22. Gods anger was kindled] in Greeke, God was angry in wrath. The judgements of God are a great depth, Pfalm.36.7. hee is often of fended,and that juftly,when men doe that which he faith Doe , becaufe they doe it not with that minde,and to that end which hee requireth, Efay 10.6, 7. and his word or leave, is in difpleafitre againff ftnners that have no love to the truth. The young Prophets ofIericho would have leave to feud fiftie men to feeke Elijahs bodie, but Eli - fha forbade them : after by their importunacie, bee Paid, Send. They fent, and fought,but found him not : then Elifha gave them this reproófe, Did not I fay trntoyou , Goe rtat , 2 King. ti. 16,17, 18. As they ought to have relied in the Pro phets firfl word,fo fhould Balaam have done here in the fin I anfwer ofGod; and for not doing it; Nnnn wrath
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