Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general and…

After Aaron's Sons were Consecrated to the Priestly-Office, they coming to attend this their Office, the very first day after their consecration to offer Incense unto God, they ventured to offer Incense with strange Fire, with other Fire than ⟨p. 2⟩God had appointed: Upon that the fire of Gods wrath broke out upon them, and slew them both presently in the very Sanctuary before all the people, for it was a solemn time: being the beginning of the solemn Consecration of the Priest-hood. Upon this, the spirit of Aaron could not but be exceedingly troubled, to see his two Sons thus struck Now Moses comes to him and saith, This is that which the Lord spake, I will be sanctified in them that draw nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And upon this, Aaron held his peace.

After Aarons Sons were Consecrated to the Priestly-Office, they coming to attend this their Office, the very first day after their consecration to offer Incense unto God, they ventured to offer Incense with strange Fire, with other Fire than ⟨p. 2⟩God had appointed: Upon that the fire of Gods wrath broke out upon them, and slew them both presently in the very Sanctuary before all the people, for it was a solemn time: being the beginning of the solemn Consecration of the Priest-hood. Upon this, the spirit of Aaron could not but be exceedingly troubled, to see his two Sons thus struck Now Moses comes to him and saith, This is that which the Lord spake, I will be sanctified in them that draw nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And upon this, Aaron held his peace.

We read that once fire came down from Heaven in a way of Mercy to consume the Sacrifices: but now fire comes down from Heaven in a way of Judgment to consume the Sacrificers, even Nadab and Abihu: they were Aaron's Sons, the Sons of a godly man, the Sons of the High-Priest, they were his eldest Sons, for Aaron had other Sons besides Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, but these were his two eldest Sons: they were two young men, they were struck in the very prime of their age, they were two that were newly consecrated in the Priests Office, for so you find it in the 9. Chap. And they were two men of renown in the Country, and before all the people of Israel two men that God had much honoured heretofore; as you shall find in Exod. Chap. 24. and the beginning; this Nadab and Abihu were men of great repute, and great renown, that God did much honour in former times; for when God called Moses and Aaron with the Elders to come to him, he singles out Nadab and Abihu amongst the rest, and names them. And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70. of the Elders of Israel. Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu are only named, and then 70. of the Elders in general, but Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, as if these were the four eminent men of renown among all the people of Israel, he names none of the 70. Elders but these two, besides Moses and Aaron: therefore these two that were consumed by strange fire, were renowned men, and newly consecrated into their Office.