greater then he] More in number; so in the numbring of the Tribes, Numb. 1. there were reckoned 8300. men more of Ephraim then of Manasseh, and though Numb. 26. the Tribe of Manasseh have the exceeding number, yet after that againe Ephraim is numbred by ten thousands, Manasseh but by thousands, Deuteronomy 33:17. and though both were the progenitours of eminent persons; as of Ephraim came Joshuah and Jeroboam, and others; of Manasseh, Gideon, Jephthah, &c. yet Ephraim in the placing of the children of Israel about the Tabernacle had precedence before Manasseh, Numb. 2. vers. 18. 20. and had the name of Joseph, as Manasseh had not, Numbers 1:32. Revelation 7:8. And in regard of the prevaling of Jeroboam over the ten Tribes, the name of Ephraim is taken for the whole Kingdome of Israel, as Isaiah 7:2. and in divers other places; yet was that Tribe more guilty of Idolatry, then the Tribe of Manasseh, yea more then any, and in most kinds of impietie more infamous then any of the other; in whose example is seene the uncertaintie of goodnesse by descent, and the pronenesse of corrupt nature to Apostasie from God; when Ephraim, once so gracious with God, and man, as to have his name brought into a proverbiall benediction, 5: 20. fals so far frōgrace as hath beene said, what trust then to succession of persons, for truth or goodnesse, whether in families, or Churches?