because our Church has suffered in consequence, both in its ministry, and I fear, its benefits on the people at large; and because our own congregations, even, seem to have very imperfect notions on the subject; many thinking it a matter of no importance what the society, what the ministry, and even what the doctrines be which men profess, provided they themselves call them Christian.

And now, may God bless this our Church, and, in the words of this day's collect, grant that "it be preserved from false Apostles, and may be ordered and governed by faithful and true pastors."

May He grant, also, "his Holy Spirit to all who profess and call themselves Christian, that they may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life," through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Preached at Hawkhurst,

24th Feb. 1839.

St. Matthias' Day.

SERMON II.

NUMBERS XVI. 3.

And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them; wherefore, then, lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?

THE subject to which I am

about to call your attention, you will recognize to be that of the First Lesson of Sunday morning last. Being at that time precluded from bringing it before your notice from the pulpit, I have thought fit to do so now; for it is one which should not be lost sight of in these days of liberality falsely so called.

The question, therefore, into which we have to make inquiry, is the sedition of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On; and the consequences resulting from it.

were.

To understand this matter clearly, we had better consider first who these people This may give us an insight into their characters, and shew both whence their springs of action arose, and to what points they tended.

Now, Korah was a Levite. He was engaged, therefore, in the service of the tabernacle; for all the Levites were chosen to officiate in that service. Before the institution of the Levitical priesthood, it was the prevailing custom of the world, that the head of each family should be the officiating priest of that family, and the head of each tribe of that tribe, and the head of each nation the high-priest of that nation. But when God chose the Israelites from the rest of the world, as his especial people, and proceeded to establish them in a body corporate, he altered this patriarchal system, and chose one tribe out of the twelve in lieu of it for the various services of His ministry. And out of this one tribe He chose one family for the office of the priesthood. The remaining families of this tribe were

not to engage in that, but have other their own peculiar duties, distinctly and orderly set apart for themselves. Aaron, therefore, and his sons, were to fulfil the duties of the former, whilst the rest of the tribe of Levi were to attend to their own respective charges. A further choice was also made in respect of the high-priesthood, to which peculiar duties were assigned, and from which were excluded the remainder of Aaron's family, as the remainder of the tribe of Levi was from those of the ordinary priesthood. This was conferred on Aaron alone. Thus Aaron was, by God's appointment, set above his own family, and his own family above others of the tribe of Levi.

Now, Korah's charge was two-fold; that which he held in common with other Levites, to assist the priests (Numb. iii. 31) "to keep and guard the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altar, and the vessels of the Sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof,” and other especial duties of his

own. It appears, therefore, that Korah and his family approached very near in ministration and dignity to the priestly office, but, nevertheless, were excluded from it. And this circumstance was probably an alluring temptation to him and them to aspire after that also.

It further appears (Numb. xvi. 1) that Korah was descended from an elder branch of the family of Kohath; but that (Numb. iii. 30) Elizaphan, who was of a younger branch, took precedence of him; for God had especially appointed Elizaphan, the son of Uzziel, to take precedence of Izchar, the father of Korah, and to be the head of the family. This, perhaps, also generated in the mind of Korah dissatisfaction and illwill.

A third circumstance to be remembered is, that, being of the same tribe as Moses and Aaron, and nearly related to them, he was on that account, perhaps, so much the more impatient of their authority, and thought himself as good as they, either for the civil government, or ecclesiastical preeminence.