The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 141

fire, not the sword. Nevertheless, order is quite as necessary in the Church as in the State. " In all churches of the saints God is the author of peace, not of confusion," and all things are to be "done decently and in order" (1 Cor. xiv. 33-40). 2. The narrative admonishes us that office and order and official service, necessary ns they may be, are not everything. They are not everything, even in the State, much less are they everything in the Church. The salvation and edification of souls will not go forward unless there is a continual ministration of the Spirit in gifts and in grace. That is a general lesson the facts teach. More particularly they Rdmonish us that we need not be surprued if it slwuld occasumally happen that men wlw are walking irregularly give evidence of having been richly endowed with spiritual gifts. I will not discuss the question, How such n thing can be; how the God of order can, with- out contradicting himself, bestow his valuable gifts on men who do not •quite conform to the good order of his house. For the fact is plain. Whether we can account for it or no, the fact is indubitable. Has not Christ raised up men like Pascal within the Romish communion? Yet every Protestant believes that the Church of Rowe hns grievously erred both in respect to Church order, and in the weightiest points of faith and holiness. Do not suppose that these and similar facts are to be accounted for by alleging that Christendom has for n long while fallen away into anarchy. For facts of the same kind found place in connection with the personal ministry of Christ himself. The Twelve were Christ's apostles, and it was the duty of all disciples to follow with them. Did, therefore, Christ withhold his gifts from all save those in the apostles' company? On the contrary, there was found an individual now and then who, though he followed not with the apostles, nevertheless both spoke in Christ's name, and spoke to such good purpose that devils were cast forth ( cf. Mark ix. 38--40). 3. What, then, is the conclusion to which we are led? "Quench not the Spirit: despise not prophesying." I do not say that it was the duty of Moses, or is our duty in similar circumstances, to go forth to Eldad and Medad, and identify ourselves with them in their work. That will depend on circumstances. Sometimes one can- not take part with the irregular prophets without concurring in what would for us be sin. Christ's command was not, Go and join yourselves to the man who is casting out devils in my name, irregularly. But it was, Forbid him not. Is a man really prophesying? Is he casting out devils? Is he setting forth the truth nnd doing good?· Then do not forbid him. Bring him, if you can, to a fuller knowledge of the truth, and to more regular courses, but do not look on him with jealous eyes, or try to put him down. If Christ is preached, wl10ther it be in pretence or in truth, I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice (Phil. i. 14--28).-B. Vers. 4-15; 31-35.-Thecomplainers, and lww God made answer to their com- 11lainu. This eleventh of Numbers is a chapter of complainings. First, at Taberah, vague murmurings are hearrl throughout the camp. Then at Kibroth-hattaavah, a stage further on, the vague munnurings take shape in bitter complaint because of the £~re to which the congregation w&B now confined. Manna I nothing but manna I Wlnle the people were harping on this grievance Moses also lifted up his voice in com- plaint. "Why has the Lord dealt so hardly with him as to lay on him the burden of so great a company? Better kill him out of l1and, and not let him see his wretched- ness I " Consider this scene at Kibrotb-hattaavah. It is not pleasant to look at, especially when one becomes aware that it is a glass in which are to be seen passages in one's own history which one would gladly forget. Scenes not pleasant may nevertheless be profitable, I. THE coMPLAININGB OIi' THE PEOPLE. 1. Where the sin began. It was among "the mixed multitude." A great crowd of foreigners who had been neighbours to the Israelites in Egypt, came forth with them at the Exodus, moved some by one motive and some by another (Exod. xii. 38). It is instructive to observe th11t these were the first to break out into rebellious murmurs ; equally instructive to observe that the evil generated amongst them spread from them into the body of the peo~le. Every community has its mixed multitude, its pariahs, its residuum. To the exist- ence of this cl&Bs men have been too willing to shut their eyes. I know no better sign of the present age than its wide-l!pread desire to take note of these m11sses, and if possible bring them to God. Were there no higher motive, self-preservation ott. :xt. 4-M.1 THE BOOK OF NUMBtitS. 121