Corah had drawn a multitude to rebel against Moses and Aaron, 1Moses and Aaron pray for their rebels. They were worthy of death, and they had it; yet would these merciful Leaders have prevented it: refusing to buy their own peace with the loss of such enemies. Yea, they are so far from carving their own just revenge, that they would not have the Lord to revenge for them. Let us fill our hearts with this great Example: the people rise up against their Pastors, the Pastors fall on their faces for the people. Certainly, if God had not meant to hear us, he would never invite us to pray. But as it pleaseth Him to make us His mouth to you; so also, your mouth to Him: both to tell you what He doth say, and to return Him what you should say; to preach against your sins; to pray for your souls. Do you hear us plead for Christ, for Christ hears us plead for you. Indeed, we are men of polluted lips and lives: but as Gods power is not straitened through our weakness, so, nor is his mercy lessened through our unworthiness. Therefore as Paul had his, Vae mihi si non praedicavero; Woe unto me, if I Preach not: So Moses, in effect, had his Vae mihi, si non intercessero, woe unto me, if I pray not: God forbid I should cease praying for you. But as all ⟨p. 12⟩our Preaching can work no good upon you, but through the holy Ghost: so all our Praying can bring no good to you, but through Jesus Christ. We pray for you, forget not you to pray for us. Indeed, weak ones pray with us, malicious ones pray against us, covetous ones prey upon us, few pray for us. We entreat for you, do you entreat for us; and that only Mediator betwixt God and man plead for us all.
Corah had drawne a multitude to rebell against Moses and Aaron, 1Moses and Aaron pray for their rebels. They were worthy of death, and they had it; yet would these mercifull Leaders haue preuented it: refusing to buy their owne peace with the losse of such enemies. Yea, they are so farre from caruing their owne iust reuenge, that they would not haue the Lord to reuenge for them. Let vs fill our hearts with this great Example: the people rise vp against their Pastors, the Pastors fall on their faces for the people. Certainly, if God had not meant to heare vs, he would neuer inuite vs to pray. But as it pleaseth Him to make vs His mouth to you; so also, your mouth to Him: both to tell you what He doth say, and to returne Him what you should say; to preach against your sinns; to pray for your soules. Doe you heare vs pleade for Christ, for Christ heares vs plead for you. Indeed, wee are men of polluted lippes and liues: but as Gods power is not straitned through our weaknesse, so, nor is his mercy lessened through our vnworthinesse. Therefore as Paul had his, Vae mihi si non praedicauero; Woe vnto mee, if I Preach not: So Moses, in effect, had his Vae mihi, si non intercessero, woe vnto me, if I pray not: God forbid I should cease praying for you. But as all ⟨p. 12⟩our Preaching can work no good vpon you, but through the holy Ghost: so all our Praying can bring no good to you, but through Iesus Christ. Wee pray for you, forget not you to pray for vs. Indeed, weake ones pray with vs, malicious ones pray against vs, couetous ones prey vpon vs, fewe pray for vs. We intreat for you, do you intreat for vs; and that onely Mediator betwixt God and man plead for vs all.
- 1Numb. 16.22.
