your attention to the great and leading points con- tained in the words of our text. In them, God ex- postulates with Aaron and Miriam for presuming to speak against Moses. Now Moses sustained a variety of characters ; in reference to which the words before us may be differently understood. As he was a civil magistrate, they shew God's anger against those who resist the magistracy. As he was a teacher of God's word, they shew how God is offended with a neglect of his faithful ministers. And, as he was a represen- tative of our great Lawgiver and Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, they shew what indignation God will exercise against those who either openly reject, or secretly despise, his only dear Son.
First then we shall consider them as expressing God's displeasure against those,
I. Who oppose the civil magistrate —
[Magistrates are appointed of God to bear a portion of his authority ; and they are invested with it, that they may be a terror to evil-doers, and a protection to the good. To these we are to be subject, not reluctantly through fear of their dis- pleasure, but willingly, and for conscience sake : and " if we will resist them, we shall receive to ourselves damnation d." Both temporal and eternal judgments must be expected by us if we rebel against the constituted authorities. Nor is it of open and avowed rebellion only that we speak, but of murmuring and complaining against them without just and great occasion. This was the fault of Aaron and Miriam; "they were not afraid to speak against" the person, whom God had ordained to be " king in Jeshurun." Persons of this class are invariably represented by God himself as enemies to him. " Presump- tuous are they, says he, and self-willed, and are not afraid to speak evil of dignities e." They take liberties with earthly potentates, which the first archangel dared not to take with Satan himself f. It would be well if religious people were suffi- ciently on their guard respecting this. We have seen, during the French Revolution, great multitudes even of them drawn after Satan ; and the supporters of civil government traduced by every opprobrious epithet : and though the generality of these deluded people have seen their error, yet the necessity for cautioning you on this head has not ceased. That the rights of people are very different in different countries, is certain ; and that rulers may so conduct themselves, as totally to destroy
d Rom. xiii. 1—^5. e 2 Pet. ii. 10. f Jude, ver. 8, 9.