Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37. v1

j20 Chap. 2. Eln <Expofition upon the Book,of J O B. VerL 13; becometh us forctimes ;,as great mercies call for great rejoycings, fo great affiiEtions call for great lamentings. There is a `decency itr it, when our affections keep pace with the difpenfations of God, whether they be Mercies or Judgments, comforts or affil i- ens. Secondly,."Forafinuch as jobs friends, feeing his forrow tobe thus-veiy great, kept filence ; Obferve; That in great, in Overwhelming forrows, the mind is unfit to receive and ta;,e in comfort. when Grief is very great, words give little cafe, precious words are wafted and thrownaway, com- fort it !elf is a trouble iii the greatnefs and height of trouble. I am fore a mind full chargd with forrow,' hath no room for com-' fort, is not at leafirre for counfel. It is a profitable Rule in vifit- ing friends that 'are lick, or in diitrels.; when you fee them in ex- tremity of pain of body, or in extremity of, anguifh and trouble of fpirit, keep filence, wait a while. Let the waters affwage a lit- tle, and the winds fall before you meddle : Let them come to Eei; tntacitur- themfelves before you move them. As fudden anger, fo fudden rims ipfa mo- forrow is a kind of Phrenfie : No wife Phyfclan willgio-ea medi dicna et,. Am- cine in a fit : The body mull fettle before it is fit for phyfick, and boot,in1'f'3i' fo mutt the mind too ; filence is as goodas phyfick in fame diftem confolotoolo. pets both of mind and body. A talkative comforter is another 51.ate novas difafe to a lick man ; unfeafonable counfel is a wound inftead of anor5yq zgroto e/I. ,veiot in a plaifter,and inftead ofhealing, tortures the Patient. It is as high fermonibrmma á point of prudence to know when, as to know what to advife a a vuleerot, dillref:ed friend. Solomon tells us in general ( Ecclef, 3. 7. ) These id' a time to keep filence, and a time to fpeak : Let me ad, vile this for one particular time or feat-on to keep filence, namely the extremity and heightoftrouble. The Prophet Áiszos, c. 5. 13. fpcaks ofa time, wherein the prudent fhall be lilent ;and he thews us'why, in that time the prudent !hall keep filence, for it id an evil time. Some interpret this as an addition to the common calamity of thofe time : They should be fò evil, that wife men would hold their peace. The Apoftle propheties of loch times ,. wherein Men will not en.lurefound doc/irine (2 2im.4, 3.) in Reli- gion. And foch times may be, whereinmenwill not endure found dok`trine,in Policy Then the prudent hold,their peace, and none !peak but fools or flatterers, fuch times make the quickefl market for their fophifticared wares, no other will go off : Suchare very evil times, and this is a fore judgment upon thofe times. There is hope

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