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Num_10:7 But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.
Ver. 7. But when the congregation.] Cenalis, bishop of Avranche, {a} was hard driven, when to prove the Church of Rome a true church, he makes no mention at all of ministers, or ordinances, but allegeth that the Catholics had bells to assemble them together, whereas the Lutherans met by the clap of harquebuses {b} and pistols. And so he goes on to triumph in a long antithesis. The bells, saith he, do sound, the harquebuses crack. The bells give a sweet and melodious tune, but the harquebuses a foul and terrible noise. Bells open heaven; the other hell. Bells chase away clouds and thunder; the other, gender clouds and counterfeit thunder, &c. Oh, the profound arguments of these doting doctors!
But you shall not sound an alarm.] Or, A broken sound; but a continued equal sound, as fittest for their quiet assembling, to the service of God, and hearing of the law. The sound of God’s word must not be broken or quavering - pompalis, Tertullian calleth it - but downright and simple. Non oratorum filii sumus, sed piscatorum: nec verborum õðåñï÷ç , sed Spiritus åðéäåéîåé , {c} &c. {1Co_2:1; 1Co_2:4}
{a} Act. and Mon., fol. 838.
{b} The early type of portable gun, varying in size from a small cannon to a musket, which on account of its weight was, when used in the field, supported upon a tripod, trestle, or other ‘carriage’, and afterwards upon a forked ‘rest’.
{c} Nazianz., ad Libanium.