Chap. 2. An Expofition upon the Bookof J O B. Verf i r. flings whenour friends are under deep and fore afffidions, are ufually expreft by moving the bodÿ, or at leafmoving force mem- ber of the body,; as many times thehand is lifted up,andwe stroke ki rondo!en our breafls, or we faake the head : It is ordinary in compaftionate ata coolénr fun- forrows, thus tomove the hand or the head ; and fo the. word is indemo erg ufed to lignifie mourning, from that adwhich accompanies or te- caputad rejian -_ flifies mourning. And the fame word is fometimes ufed 'to fign - dun; doloremk fie that trepidation or tremblingof the heart, thofe convulfionsof Mcrc the fpirit, upon the approachesofour own troubles ; So Va.7.2. That fearful motion and difquietnefsboth of Prince and People, when they heardof the invation of their Country by R ezin King ofSyria, &c. is thus expreft, The heart ofIle King, and the heart ofhir eople were Moved, as the trees ofthe wood are moved with the wind. Secondly, It is faid, they came to comfort him. The wordwhich í=711 is there ufed to comfort , lignifies likewifc tomourn : and efpe- cially the mournings of repentance, or to repent;for fin with fot- row: the reafon is given, becaufe.true conìfort doth,fpring from repentance; joy often arifeth out of farrow, and fo the fame word is applyed to both.Worldly joy and forroware contrarics,but god- ly joy and forrow are con- caufes, mutually effecting and helping one another. We have herean excellentpatternheld forth unto us ofour du- ty, in referenceunto diftreffed perfons Or Nations. raft thus, It -is bothan all ltnd an argument of true friendship, to mourn with, and comfort-,thofe that are in AfiEtion. A man dóth then let his feal to it,that he is a friend,when he will partake and fiare in his friends afllidions ; when, he will dividewith him in all eflates,whatfoever it is, whether fweet or fowre, joyor for- row, he will have his part. Many friends will.,come and rejoyce with you, they will come to a leafs with you , they will meet at á houfe of mirth with you ; but they fall off and go back, when they mull weepwith you, when if they come, they mull come to a houfe of mourning. Solomon (Prov. 17. ir.) gives us the true charmerofa friend ; A friend loveth at all times, and a brother it bornfor adverfity. It is the note and tryal of our love to God, when we love him at all times, whatever he doth With us And it.is the argument of true love unto our brethren, when we love andown them at all times, whatfòever they endure from the hand ofGod, or man.: This Chrifl approves and commends in his Dif- R r cipics, 305
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