Chapr 6. . An Expofition upon theBakof JOB. Verf.q,, 225 AndMoles and Aaron gathered the Congregation together before the rock, andhefaid unto them Hear nowye Rebels , mull' we fetchyou water ate of thís Rock 3 AndMofes lift up his hard, . and with his he Rai fmote the Rocktwice, &c,The error of Moà. fes in this bufinefs was twofold. Fira, That he did not onely (mite the Rock , but Croke it twice with the Rod in his hand, whereas he had order onely, to take the Rodin his. band , and fpeak to the Rockbefore their eyes, and itjhould give out, water l VerC.8.) His fecond errour was , that ha did not only (peak to the people ( for which in that tranfation he had no order from God) but fpake bitterly and hardily to them, calling them Rebels, and (lighting them , Muff wefetch water foryou,&c? What, for you, who area murmuring, andgainfaying people ? God knew the ftubbornefs of that people , and their rebellions againtt him yet he did not call themRebels, but Paid in the clofe of the eighth Verle, Sofhalt thou give the Congregation, and their Bestir drink. God had more reafon and power to call themRebels than Mofes had, yet he did it not. And becaufe Mofes did,that unadviled fpeech ofhis, and the actions which attended it , were called Rebellion , at the twenty-fourth Verne of the fame Chapter. Tee (faith the Lord of Mofes and Aaron) rebelled againft my wordat the waters ofMeribah. Now , if Moles was thus reproved and cenfured by God himfelf , for (peaking pafionately , to a people whohad pro- yoked bothGod their deliverer, and him their Leaders what reproof do they deferve, who.; either upon none,or very lit- tle provocation,call their Brethten ,Hypocrites,Heretickr,Schif= maticks,Rebels,perjuredper fens , men ofproftituted Confciences, orat leaJt ofsinfetledand uncertain Principlesi will not the Lord take notice of this bitter:nefs , even in thole who are his pre- cious Servants, towards their Fellow- Servants , wheal he laid fo heavy a penalty ( as non- admiflion into the promifed Land) upon a pair of the moil eminent and faithful Servants that ever he called forth to his work fince he laid the foundati- ons:of the .World ? This falls heavy, upon the prefent Age:: Whence is that bit- ternels , that. Gail and Wormwood which falls from many, both tongues. and Pens every day ?, whichhathprovoked them thus to fpealt and write ? 1 confefs there have been .provoca- G g tions
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