tin Expofitton upon the Bookof I OB. Chap. 2. hardly live. When Eláu (Gen. 25.32. ) was hungry and could not obtain a mess of pottage from his Brother, but upon very hard terms, the'fale of his birth-right Sell me thy birth-right, faith Jacob, a precious jewel indeed, which Efau Ihouldhave va- lued more then his life ; he cornes to his price ofJhis ground, Behold I am at the point to die, and what profit fhall this birth- right do to me ? He was prophane Efeu for faying fo, that's the Apollles ftyle, Heb. 12. 16. It was prophanenefs to prefer one model of meat before his birth-right ; becaule the birth-right was a fpiritual priviledge as well as a natural : but there is no mear natural biding, but we may both in wifdom and conkcience part with to keep our lives, when we aré ready to die ; ye may fay, what will this eftate, thefe riches do us good ? If that your eflates may be the price ofyour lives,ye have reafon, and it is your duty to part with them willingly ; give Tome; give all, for what will thefe riches do you good,whenyou are ready to die, or already dead? Further, be ready to give more then your eftates,for your lives. Give fume ofyour blood for your lives, that's more, Skinfor skin, and all that a man bath will he givefor his life : and which is yet more, give a limb for your lives. The whole is better then a part: And which is highef ofall, venture your lives to fave your lives. That which I intend is only this, donot barter away your lives upon mean-rates, upon low terms. If it comes to it (as we have great caufe to tear it will, we fee many have beenput to it already) fell yourlives as dear as you can. Indeed there are pone in fo great danger to lofe their lives, as they that will not venture their lives. That of Chrift is true in this fenfè alto, he thatwill fave his life fhall lofe it ; fuch laving tendsto undoing,yea it tends to death. And whofoever will (venture to) lofe his life, fhall (moll probably) find it, Math. 16. 25. Let it not be Paid that you died to fave charges, let it not be Paid that you died to Pave your skins, or to fave your blood, yea, let it not be Paid that you died to fave yourlives,I meanthat you feared to hazzard your lives for the fecuring of your lives. Give all that youhave for your lives,venture lifeand all;your fafety dependsupon this hazzard ;by fuch a noble liberality,you are in the faireft way, not only to fave all you have, but to gain more then you have. Thirdly, Ifyour lives be fo much worth, what are your fouls worth? What is this life, which is valued thus above all that a man
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