CHAP. I. Verse 22.

I Cannot but wonder at the Counsel of God. If the Is∣raelites had gone to Canaan without enquiry, their confidence had possessed it; now they send to espy the Land, sixty thousand of them never lived to see it: and yet I see God in Numbers 13. enjoyning them to send; but enjoyning it upon their instance. Some things God allows in Judgement; their importunity and distrust extorted from God this occasion of their overthrow. That which the Lord moves unto pro∣spers; but that which we move him to first, seldom succeedeth. What needed they doubt of the goodness of that Land, which God told them, did flow with Milk and Honey? what needed they doubt of ob∣taining that which God promised to give? When we will send forth our senses to be our Scouts in matter of Faith, and rather dare trust men than God, we are worthy to be deceived.

Page  182Verse 27. Now was Moses in danger of losing all the cost and care that ever he be∣stowed upon Israel: his people are already gone back to Egypt in their hearts, and their bodies are returning. O ye rebellious Hebrews, where shall God have you at last? Did ever Moses promise to bring you to a fruitful Land without Inhabitants? to give you a rich Country without resistance? are not the Graves of Canaan as good as those of Egypt? What can ye but dye at the hands of the Anakims? can ye hope for less from the Egyptians? is there less hope from the Enemies that shall be, when you go under strong and expert Leaders, than from the Enemies that were, when ye shall return masterless? feeble minds when they meet with Crosses they lookt not for, repent of their good beginnings, and wish any difficulty rather than that they find. How many have pull'd back their foot from the narrow way, for the troubles of a good Profession?

Verse 28. It had been happy for Israel, if Caleb's Counsel had been as effectual as good: but how easily have these Rulers discouraged a faint-hearted people. Instead of lifting up their Ensigns, and marching towards Canaan, they set them down and mur∣mur. I fear if there had been ten Calebs to perswade, and but two faint Spies to discou∣rage them, those two Cowards would have prevailed against those ten Solicitors; how much more now ten oppose, and but two incourage. An easie Rhetorick draws us to the worse part; yea it is hard not to run down the Hill. The faction of evill is so much stronger in our nature than that of good, that every least motion prevails for the one, scarce any suit for the other.

Verse 34. That God which was invisibly present whiles those Israelites sinn'd when they have sinn'd shews himself glorious and full of power. They did not believe before that he was able to bring them into that good Land of Canaan, now they shall believe but never enter. They might have seen God before that they should not sin, now they cannot choose but see him in the height of their sin, unusually terrible, that they may with shame and horror confess him able to defend, able to revenge. The help of God useth to shew its self in extremity: he that can prevent evils, conceals his ayde till dangers be ripe; and then he is fearful, as before he seem'd connivent.

Verse 37. What a weary life did Moses lead in these continual successions of Con∣spiracies? What did he gain by his troublesome Government, but danger and despight? Who but he would not have wish'd himself rather with the sheep of Iethro, than with these Wolves of Israel? but as he durst not quit his Shepheards crook without the calling of God; so now he dare not his Scepter except he be dismiss'd of him that call'd him; no troubles, no oppositions can drive him from his place: we are too weak if we suffer men to chase us from that station where God hath set us. But what was this noted sin here that deserved Gods anger? Israel murmured for water. God bids Moses take the Rod in his hand, and speak to the Rock to give Water; Moses instead of speaking and striking the Rock with his voice, strikes it with his Rod: here was his sin an over-reaching of his Commission; a fearfulness and distrust of the effect. His Rod he knew was approved for miracles, he knew not how powerful his voice might be, therefore he did not speak but strike, and strike twice for failing. It is a dangerous thing in Divine matters to go beyond our warrant: those sins which seem trivial to men are hainous in the sight of God: Any thing that savours of infidelity displeaseth him more than some other crimes of morality. Yet the moving of the Rod was but a diverse thing from the moving of the Tongne, it was not contrary; he did not forbid the one, but he commanded the other: this was but across the stream, not against it; where shall they appear whose whole courses are quite contrary to the Commande∣ments of God?