Manton - BS2785 M35 1651

Obferv. I. Art Expofition, with Notes CHA-p.[.•. The Notes are thefe: I. That all good things ~tre from above , they come to us from God: Meer evil is not from above, the fame fomatain doth not yeeldfweet and-bitter waters; God is good, and immutably good, and therefore it cannot be from him, which was Plato's argu– ment, E1;1ils do not come from qod, becaufe he is good; which reafoning is true, if it be underfiood of evils of fin ; for other– wife, Shall there be Evil in a City, and the Lord h.-tth not done it-? Amos 6. 3· Bot for good that floweth dearly from the upper JPring, there are indeed fome pipes and conveyances, -as the Word, and Prayer, and the Seals, and for ordinary-bleffings your indufiry and care, but yourfrefh JPrings are in God: and in all thefe things we mull:, as chickens, Jip and look__ upwards: 'Tis I confefs the waywardnefs of fldh and blood to lookto the next hand (as Chil– dren thanlftheTaylor for the new Coat} and fuffer the immediate helps to intercept their trufi: and refpeels ; and therefore God often curfeth the means, and blafieth our endeavors: The divine jea– loujie will not brook a rival; .God delighteth in this bonor of being the foie Author-of all our good~ and therefore cannoten– dure that we fhould give it to another : When God was about to work mirades byMofes hand, he.firfi made it leprom, Exod-4.6. ~ there he was afore-hand with this fin' firfi: or lafi the hand ofcrea– ture is made leprous. This Note, That God is the Author of all the Good that u in tU, is ufeful to,prevent many corruptions, as I. Glorying in our felves,who would magnifie bimfelfin thatwhich is from above; .we count it odious for a man to fet out himfelf in another mans work, and glory; as the Apofile faith, 2 Cor. _o. 16. That he :would not boaft in~mother mans line, of things made ret4dJ ·to his hands: Now all good is made ready to your hand, 'cis the botlnty of heaven to you) 'tis not your ·line and work, but Gods. 2. Infultation, or vaunting it over others; had we all from our' felves, the highefi might have the highefi: minde; But who made you to differ ? I Cor. 4o 7• Carnal and weak fpirits feed their.luO:s with their enjoyments; a £height pillar, the more you lay .upon ir, the fireighter it is, and the .more flable; but that which is .cro(,k· cd bowech under its weight: So the more God cafieth in upon carnal men, the more is their fpirit perverted. 3· Envy to thoft! that have received moll:: Our eye is evil,when Gods hand is g€lod: Envy is a rebellion againft God himfelf 1 .and the liberty and plea· - ---------- ---- ----- ~ ------ · -· · -- -_· -· fure

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