----------------~~~~--------------- 878 [onten1plations. L 1 a. V I. venge: He will nor give God peace,till fhe bnecured. Beh.,ldawonhyandnoble A patterne for us to follow. How farre are they from this difpolition, who are not ondy content God fl10uld revenge; bur are ready to prevent Gods revenoe with their owne -: 0 Gods love to Mofes fuffershim not U> obtain prefently his f•re for <Miriam- his good nature to his li!ler,made him pray ag:linll: himfelfe. Ifthe judomenr had been ot once inAilted,and removed,there had been no example ofterror"fot others:God ~ither denies,or differs the gram ofour requell:s,for ourgood;It were wide for us, 1four fmts fhould be ever heard. It was fir for all parts, c.Miriam 010uld continue fame while leprous. There is no policie in a fudden removal! of jun pnnifhment :. unlelfe the rame fo £1ll that it lie,and foake intothe earth, it profit! nothing. Ifthe JudgmentsofGod fl1ould be onely as palfengers, and not fojourners at lean, they ll. would be no wh1rregarded, 7"he Se11rchers of[dnaan. ~~~~if Can but wonder at the counfel ofGod.Ifthe Ifraelites had gone on to Canaan,without enquity;theirconfidencehad polfelfed it: now C they fend to efpie the Land, fix hundred thoufand ofthem never lived to fee it: Andyet Ifee God enjoyningthomro fend ; but en-. joyning it,_upon their!nnance. Some things God allowes in judgement ; the1r1mportumty,and d1nrun extorted from God this occationoftheir overthrow.Tharwhich the Lord moves unto,profpers;but that which we move him to firn,feldome fucceedeth. What needed they doubt ofthe goodnelfeoftharLand, whichGodrold them did Aowwirhmilkand honey! What' needed they todoubt ofobtaining that, which God promifedto give~ When we will fend forth our fenfes, to be ourfcouts in thematters 11>ffaith, and rather dare trufi men, then God,we areworthy robe deceived. The bafenlort ofmen are commonly held fit enough for inrelligencers;but No- 0 fos ,to make fure work,choofeth forth the befi of!frael,fuch aswere like to be mon judicious in their inquiry,and mofi credible in their report. Thofe thot ruled Ifrael at home,could bell: defcry forthem abroad ; What lhould direltthe body, bur the head~ Men can judgebut by appearance; It isfor him onely that fees the evenr,ere he appoint themeanes,not to be deceived. It had been better for Ifrae! to have fent the offull ofthe multitude: lly how lelfe the credit oftheir perl<>ns is, by fo much Ielfe is the danger offeducement. Theerror ofthe-mighty is armed with authority, and ina fort commands ~fl'ent;whether ingood orevill,Grearnelfebathever atrail) to follow it at the heeles. Forty dayes they fpcnt in this fearch; and this cowardly unbeliefe in the fearch lhall con them forty yeares delay ofthe fruition. Who can abide to fer,~he Rulcts E oflfrael fo bafely timorous! They commend the Land,the fruit cornmends it fdf, and yet they plead difficulty: We he not abltto s• "F· Their !boulders are bdenwith the grapes,and yet their hearts are overlaid w1th unbeliefe: It is an unworthy thing to plead hardnefl'e ofatchieving, where the benefit will more then requite theindeavour. Our Land ofPromife is above; we know, the fruit thereof is fwect and glorious,the p11fage difficult. The gyanrly fons of An•k (the powers ofdarkne!fe) , fiandin our way: Ifwe tit down and compl:lin,weflJallonce know,that with1ut foaU h the jtarfidl. .. . See the idle pleas ofd1firufi;WtAre not •~le: They arejlr.nger. Could not God m- ·able them(Was henot ll:ronger thentheir Giants( Had he nor promifedto difplace the Canaanites,to fettle them in their !kad~How much moreeafie is it for us to fpy their
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=