[ontemplationJ. ~~~~--~~~ Iffrom the Agents, we look to the atl it felf; fee afide the origin11l defcc~ what difference was there betwixt th<fe fires ~ Borh lookt alike,heated alike lfcendedalikc,confumed alike: both were fed with the fame mttreriall wood bori1 vaniflled into fmoke;There was no difference,but in the Commandemenr ~f God. IfGod had injoyned ordinary fire,they had finned to look for celelli>ll : now he commanded only the firewhich he fent; they finned in fending up Incenfe inthat .fire, which he commanded not.It is a dangerous thing in rhefervice ofGod rode. dine from his own in!licutions; we have to doewith a power which is wife ro pre. fctibe his owneworfhip, ju!ltorequire what he bath prefcriool, powerfull eo revenge that which he harh not required. IfGod had !\ruck themwith fome Leprofie in their fore-head, as he did their Aunt Miriam,foon after; or withfomepalfie, or lingring confumprion, thepunifiJ. ll ment had been gnevous: but he,whofe judgements are ever ju!l, fomerimes fecret faw fire the fitte!l revenge, for a fin offire; his owne lire fittell to puni01Ilrang~ fire; afudden judgement,fit for 3 prefent and exemplary fin; He faw,that ifhe h1d winkt atthis,hi' fervice had been expofed to prophanation. It is wifdomeingovernours to take fin at the fir!\ bound;and fo to revengeit,t!Jlt their punifhmems may be preventions:Speed ofdeath is not alwaies a judgement : fuddenndfe as it isever ju!lly fufpicable; fo then certainlyargues anger, when it finds us in an act offin.Leafureof repentance is an argument offavour; when God gives 3 man Law,ir implies that he would not have judgement furprife him. Doubtlelfe,Aaron lookrfomewhat heavilyon this fad ff'CCtacle; It could not bur appale him,tofee his two fonsdead before him,deadin difpleafure,dead fuddenly, C dead by the immediate hand ofGod. And now he could rep:nt himofhis new honour, to fee it fucceed fo ill with the fans ofhis loynes : neither could he chufebut fee hlmfdf!lrikeoin them. But his Brother Mofis th.at had learned not to know either Nephewes, orBrother,when they !lood in hisway toGod, wifely turned his eyes fromthe de~d carkalfesofhisSons, t~his refpetl ofthe living God; My Brother,this event is fearfull,butju!l; Thefe were thy fons, but they finned; it was !jOt for God,it is not forthee,to look fo much who they were,aswhat they did. It ~as their honourand thine,that theywere cholen to mmi!ler before the Lord: He that called them, jullly requiredtheirSao&ficationandobedience. Ifthey have profaned God,and themfelves;canthy natural! affeCtion fo mifcarry thee,thattbou couldeft wifh their impunity with theblemifh oftlJyMaker ~ (\)ur fons are not ours, if D they difobeyour Father: to pirry their mifery, is to partakeoftheir fin ; If rhou grudgeat their judgement,take heed le!\ the fame lire ofGod come forth upon this llrange fire ofnature.Shew now whether thoumore lovcll God,or thyfons;~hew whether thou be a better Farher,oraSon. Aaron, weighing thefe things,holds his peace,notout ofan amazement,or fullennelfe,bot out ofpatient and humble fubmjllion;and foeing Godspleafure, and their defert,is content to forget that he had fons. He might have had a filent tongue, and a clamorous heart. Thereis no voyce louder in the eares ofGod, then a fpeechlelfe repining ofthe foule.Heat is more intended with keeping in;but AArons filencewas no lelfe inward: !:le knew how little he fhould !let by brawling with God. Ifhe breathed out difcontentment,he faw God could/peak fire to him again ; And there. E fore he quietly fubmits tothewill ofGod; And held his peace, \Jecau{e thS Lord had doneit.There is no greater proofe ofgrace,then to fmart panently; and hum· blyand contentedly to re!\ the h~a~t in the jullice, and wifdomeo~ Gods proceeding · and to be fo farre from chldmg,that we d1fpure not. Nature IS froward; and thou~hfhewell know.,. we meddle not with our match, whenwe!lrivewirhour Mak~r, yet lhe pricks us forward to rhi~ idle quarrel!; and bids us wit~ !ohs wife, Cr~rfe •nddye. IfGodeither chideor fm1te (as fervanrs are chargedto thelfMa!lers) we may not anfwer again; when Gods hand is onour back,our hand mull be onour mouth : elfe, asmothers doe their children, Godfhall whipusfo much the more forcrying. . . . . . . It ishard for a llander by,mthis cafe,ro d1!l1DgwOJ betwixt hard-hearcedneffc,and ~----~------------------------------------~~
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