Numb. xv. 30, 31. The soul that doeth aught presumptuously (whether he be born in the land or a stranger), the same re- proacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off: his iniquity shall be upon him.
EVERY command of God is to be obeyed : and it is no excuse to say we were ignorant of the command. We know that there is a God to whom we are ac- countable : we know that he has given us a revelation of his will; and it is our duty to acquaint ourselves with all that he requires at our hands. Even in reference to human laws, it is no excuse to say that we were ignorant of them. We are supposed to be acquainted with them : and if we violate them in any respect, the penalty is from that moment incurred. A merciful judge may consider our ignorance as a reason for mitigating, or even for remitting, the penalty : but the law knows nothing of this : its en- actments are valid; its sanctions attach on every one that transgresses them : and every one feels interested in upholding its authority. Thus it was under the Mosaic Law ; even where the ordinances were so numerous, that they could scarcely be remembered by any, except those who were altogether devoted to the study of them. Yet, if any person transgressed through ignorance, he must, as soon as he was in- formed of his error, bring the appointed offering, in order to obtain forgiveness of his fault a; and, if he refused to bring his offering, he must be cut off, as a presumptuous transgressor. For sins of presumption, of whatever kind they might be, there was no atone- ment whatever prescribed. It did not become God to spare one who could deliberately set himself against his authority: and therefore it was expressly com- manded that the presumptuous sinner, whoever he might be, should be cut off.
a ver. 27, 28.