I saw a beast, &c. and upon his heads the name of blasphemy, &c. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemies, &c. and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. -Rev. xiii. 1. 5, 6.

And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues and they repented not, to give him glory, &c. They gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and their sores; and repented not of their deeds, &c. Men blasphemed God, because of the plague of hail, &c.—Rev. xvi. 9—12.

CHAP. LI.

ISRAEL'S MURMURINGS AGAINST GOD AND MOSES, WHEN GOD WAS IN HIS WAY OF REDEEMING THEM.

WHEN Moses and Aaron had been with Pharaoh, and Pharaoh had made their burden heavier, they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way as they came forth from Pharaoh; and they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because you have made our savour to be abhorred (or to stink) in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hands to slay us.→→→ Exod. v. 1, 2. 6, 7. 20, 21.

When they were pursued by the Egyptians, they cried unto the Lord: and they said unto Moses, because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. -Exod. xiv. 10-12.

They could not drink of the water of Marah, for they were bitter, &c. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? -Exod. xv. 23, 24.

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness; and the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we bad died by the hand of the Lord, in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger, &c. Ye shall see the glory of the Lord, for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? &c. Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.-Exod. xvi. 2, 3. 7, 8. 12.

The people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water, that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide you with me? wherefore do you tempt the Lord? And the people thirsted there for water: and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this, that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, and our children, and our cattle with thirst? &c. They tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?-Exod. xvii. 2, 3. 7.

When the people complained, it displeased the Lord, &c. and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burnt, &c. And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again (or murmured and wept), and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely: the cucumbers, and the melons, and the onions, and the garlick; but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all besides this manna, before our eyes, &c. God gave them flesh; but while the flesh was yet

between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people; and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague.-Numb. xi. 1. 4-6. 32, 33.

Upon the report of the spies, of the difficulty of entering the land, all the congregation of Israel lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses, and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or, would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? &c. Let us make us a captain, and let us return into Egypt. Your carcases shall fall in the wilderness, &c. These men, who saw my glory, and my signs, have tempted me, &c.-Numb. xiv. 1-4. 9, 10. 22, 23. 28-32.

When Korah and his company were swallowed up, all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses, and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord.-Numb. xvi. 41.

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There was no water for the congregation and they gathered themselves together against Moses, and against Aaron; and the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or vines, &c.-Numb. xx. 2-5.

The soul of the people was much discouraged, because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses: wherefore have

ye brought us up out of Egypt, to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water: and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and much people of Israel died.-Numb. xxi. 4-6.

Ye have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you.-Deut. ix. 23, 24.

They tempted God in their heart, by asking meat for their lust; yea, they spake against God: they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, &c. Can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people? Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wrath. So a fire was kindled against Jacob, &c. because they believed not in God, nor trusted in his salvation, &c. They sinned still, and believed not for his wonderous works, &c. How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert? Yea, they turned back, and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.-Ps. lxxviii. 18-22. 32. 40, 41.

I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our fathers were under the cloud, &c. but with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were for our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted, &c. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples (or types), and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come : wherefore, let him who thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall1 Cor. x. 1-13.

CHAP. LII.

MOTIVES TO DILIGENCE AND INDUSTRY IN OUR CALLINGS.

vest.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harHow long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall thy poverty come, as one that travaileth, and thy want as an armed man.— Prov. vi. 6-11. xxiv. 33, 34.

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He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich he that gathereth in summer, is a wise son; but he that sleepeth in harvest, is a son that causeth shame, &c. As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.-Prov. x. 4, 5. 26.

He that tilleth his land, shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons, is void of understanding, &c. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful shall be under tribute, &c. the slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting; but the substance of a diligent man is precious. Prov. xii. 11. 24. 27.

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so much as bring it to his mouth again. Prov. xix. 15. 24. xxvi. 15.

The sluggard will not plow, by reason of the cold: therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing, &c. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.Prov. xx. 4. 13.

He that loveth pleasure (or sport) shall be a poor man, &c. The desire of the slothful killeth him, for his hand refuseth to labour.-Prov. xxi. 17. 25.

The slothful man saith, There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets, &c. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.-Prov. xxii. 13. 29. xxvi. 13.

Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.-Prov. xxiii. 21.

I went by the field of the slothful, &c. and lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, &c. Yet a little sleep, &c. so shall thy poverty come, &c.-Prov. xxiv. 30-34.

By much slothfulness, the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands, the house droppeth down.

Eccles. x. 18.

As the door turneth upon its hinges, só doth the slothful upon his bed, &c. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that can render a reason.-Prov. xxvi. 14. 16.

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.-Prov. xxviii. 19.

The industry of a good wife set forth at large. Prov. xxxi. 10, &c.

Rise up, ye women that are at ease hear my voice, ye careless daughters, &c. Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women; for the vintage shall fail, &c. Tremble, ye women that are at ease: be troubled, ye careless ones, &c.-Isa. xxxii. 9—11.

This was the iniquity of thy sister

Sodom pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her, and in her daughters; neither, &c.Ezek. xvi. 49. Matt. xx. 3. 6.

You yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me: I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring, ye ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus; how he said, It is more blessed to give, than to receive.-Acts xx. 33-35. xviii. 1-3. 2 Thess. iii. 7-10.

Let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good; that he may have to give to him that needeth.-Eph. iv. 28.

That you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.-1 Thess. iv. 11.

We commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear there are some among you which walk disorderly, working not at all, &c. We command, &c. that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 2 Thess. iii. 10-12.

Withal, they learn to be idle ; wandering about from house to house. -1 Tim. v. 13.

That they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good works (or honest trades); these things are good and profitable unto men, &c. and ours also earn to maintain good works (or profess honest trades) for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.-Titus iii. 8. 14.

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After these things, the word of the Lord came unto Abraham in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abraham, I am thy shield, &c.-Gen. xv. 1, &c.

God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man; for the woman which thou hast taken, &c. God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart, &c.-Gen. xx. 3-7.

THE Lord spake to Adam, to Cain, Noah, &c.-Gen. ii. 16, 17. iii. 8, &c. iv. 6, 7. 9-16. vi. 13, &c. vii.1, &c. ix. xii, 1-3.

Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren, &c. And he dreamed yet another dream, &c.— Gen. xxxvii. 5-9. xlii. 6. xliii. 26. 28. xliv. 14. 1. 18.

The dreams of the butler and baker of Pharaoh, in the prison; and of Pharaoh himself, interpreted by Joseph.-Gen. xl. xli.

God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob, &c. I am the God of thy father; fear not to go down into Egypt, &c. -Gen. xlvi. 1-5.

God called to Moses out of the

Moses went up unto God: and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, &c. Moses spake: and God answered him by a voice, &c. And the Lord said unto

Moses, Go down, charge the people, &c.-Exod. xix. 3, 4. 9, 10. 19, 20

22. 24.

If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known to him in a vision.-Numb. xii. 6.

He hath said, which heard the words of God; which saw the vision of the Almighty; falling into a trance, but having his eyes open.-Numb. xxiv. 4. 16.

The Lord spake to Samuel, by voice, or word. Sam. iii. 4. 10. To Nathan, by vision.-2 Sam. vii. 17.

11. 21.

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.-1 Kings iii. 5-7. ix. 2.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time: but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: and though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.-Hab. ii. 3.

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I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.-Joel ii. 28. Acts ii. 16, 47.

Saul saw a vision, and heard a voice, saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? &c. A certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias and to him said the Lord in a vision, &c. Arise and go, &c.— Acts ix. 1-11. xxii. 6, &c. xxvi. 13,&c.

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Cornelius saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying, Cornelius, thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. Peter also had a vision; and God spake to him, &c.-Acts x. 3, 4. 9—15. 28. 30, &c. xi. 5.