Cyprian — On the Unity of the Church 18
Thus Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who endeavoured to claim to themselves the power of sacrificing in opposition to Moses and Aaron the priest, underwent immediate punishment for their attempts. The earth, breaking its fastenings, gaped open into a deep gulf, and the cleft of the receding ground swallowed up the men standing and living.
Nor did the anger of the indignant God strike only those who had been the movers (of the sedition); but two hundred and fifty sharers and associates of that madness besides, who had been mingled with them in that boldness, the fire that went out from the Lord consumed with a hasty revenge; doubtless to admonish and show that whatever those wicked men had endeavoured, in order by human will to overthrow God's appointment, had been done in opposition to God.
Thus also Uzziah the king — when he bare the censer and violently claimed to himself to sacrifice against God's law, and when Azariah the priest withstood him, would not be obedient and yield — was confounded by the divine indignation, and was polluted upon his forehead by the spot of leprosy: he was marked by an offended Lord in that part of his body where they are signed who deserve well of the Lord.
And the sons of Aaron, who placed strange fire upon the altar, which the Lord had not commanded, were at once extinguished in the presence of an avenging Lord.
Latin
Chore et Dathan et Abiron, qui sibi , contra Moysen et Aaron sacerdotem sacrificandilicentiam — vindicare conati sunt, poenas statim pro suis conatibus pependerunt. Terra compagibus ruptis in profundum _ sinum patuit, stantes atque viventes recedentis soli hiatus absorbuit. Nec tantum eos, qui auctores fuerant, Dei indignantis ira percussit, sed et caeteros ducentcs — quinquaginta participes eiusdem furoris et comites, qui coagulati cum iisdem simul ad audaciam fuerant, exiens a Domino ignis properata ultione consumsit, ~“ OYPRIAN: DE UNITATE ECCLESIAE 4] it were the contagion of death; as it is written: Hedge thine ears with thorns, and hearken not to an evil tongue. _ And again: Evil communications corrupt good minds.” The Lord teaches and warns us'to withdraw from such. They are blind leaders of the blind, he says; but if a blind man leads a blind man, they fall into the pit together? Whoever is separated from the Church must be shun