the compact between them and their subjects, is also certain : but it is no less certain, that religious people, above all, should be " the quiet in the land," and should ever conform to that solemn injunction, " Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people8."]
II. Who disregard the ministers of the Gospel —
[Those who minister in holy things are ambassadors from God, and speak to the people " in Christ's stead11." Their word, as far as it accords with the inspired volume, is " to be received, not as the word of men, but as the word of God him- self1 :" and whatever, in the name and by the authority of God, they bid you to observe, that you are bound to observe and do k. It is true, that ministers are " not lords over God's heritage1," neither have they any " dominion over your faith"1 :" yet it is also true, that in things pertaining to God they are invested with a divine authority : they " are over you in the Lord11:" they " have the rule over you, and you are to obey them, and submit yourselves0:" and if, while " they labour in the word and doctrine, they rule well, they are to be counted worthy of double honour p." What shall we say then to those who despise the ministers of God, and that too in proportion to their fidelity ? This we must say, that " in despising us, they despise both Christ, and the Father who sent him q :" and their opposition to such ministers is felt by God as opposition to himself r ; such opposition too as will meet with a dreadful recompence in the day of judgment s. What Moses had said and done, was by the direction and authority of God : and it was at the peril of the greatest people of the land to contradict and oppose him.]
III. Who neglect the Lord Jesus Christ —
[Moses, as the head of the Church and people of God, certainly prefigured the Lord Jesus Christ. The very enco- miums here passed on Moses by God himself, are such as of necessity lead our minds to Christ. Was Moses a prophet far superior to all others*? Christ is that Prophet of whom Moses was only a shadow, and whom all are commanded to hear at the peril of their souls u. Was Moses faithful in all God's house as a servant x? Christ is that Son who presides over his own house y. Was Moses the meekest of all men upon the face of the earth2? Christ is he whose unparalleled meekness is our
* Acts xxiii. 5. h 2 Cor. v. 20. » 1 Thess. ii. 13. k Matt, xxiii. 2, 3. '1 Pet. v. 3. m 2 Cor. i. 24.
n 1 Thess. v. 12. p Heb. xiii. 17. p 1 Tim. v. 17.
i Luke x. 16. r Zech. ii. 8. s Matt, xviii. 0.
* ver. 6, 7. u Acts iii. 22, 23. x ver. 7. y Heb. iii. 2 — 6. z ver. 3.
153. j AARON AND MIRIAM REPROVED. 49
great encouragement to learn of him3. In reference to Christ therefore, the expostulation in our text has tenfold weight. O, who must not be afraid to speak against him, or to entertain so much as a thought contrary to his honour ?
Here then we have not to address the unbelievers ; for they may well be classed under the former head : those who openly reject Christ, cannot even in profession obey his ministers. But many who are partial to faithful ministers, are yet far from being conformed to the mind of Christ. Many who are in high repute in the Church of Christ, have yet their unsub- dued lusts, which rise in allowed hostility against their Lord and Saviour. The murmurs of Aaron and Miriam were not public ; but " The Lord heard them." And so these vile affections may not be known ; but God sees them : and he will, if we continue to harbour them, be "a swift witness against us "