34 Chap. i. An Expofition2ponthe Book, of J O B. Vert' % Verf. 2. And there were born unto himfeaven fans and three daughters. Herc obferve, S.ELL z27, r3, iChildren are the blengsof. the Lard. They are put here as a part ofhis Inheritance. Children are an heritage of the Lard, and the fruit ofthe womb is his reward. They arc 1pecial blefíings. Chiidren;(as it is to be obferved) are a refemblance ofour immortality, becaule a man revivea again, lives a new (as it were),in every child :. he isborn again (in a ci- vil fence) when others are born to him. Therebe force who ac- count their children, but bills of charges, but God puts them up- on the account ofour mercies ; how holily and pioully fpeaks Gen. 33,5. Jacob concerninghis children,.Thefe (fait he) are the! aildren whichGod bathgretciouflygiven tbyfervant. .. 2. Obferve this, Children as they are blefings, andgseat blef- fiings, f o they aregreater bleJngs then any outward thing elfe what- fôever.. When.a defcription is madeofJob's goods thebell is put,firft. kiríl, his fpiritual bleftìngs are fet::down, then, comes his out- ward;now children are put in the very next degree to his graces.. Mat. tá,a6. What our Saviour Chrifr faith of a mans foul, maybe.tàidof childrtn;.What (faithhe)fhall aman give in exchangefor hisfoul? It is true, that is fpoken there of a mans own foul,. that it is more to himfelf then the world ;. but it is a truth here too, ifone have a foul given him (and tohave a child,is-to have a foul be- flowed on us) for the prefent, it is more then to havethe whole worldbellowed on him. Awhole world ofriches is not fo good, not fuch goods, as one child; therefore children are put in the firft place, as his choiceft and chiefeft outward bleflîngs. Then from the number:of.his children, he had many children, he had (even Eons and three daughters. Observe,' To have many children is a great bleffing, and the more chil- dren thegreater the bleffing. Some think themfelves bleffed, ifthey may have one or two- children ; one to inherit their eflates, one or two to delight themfelves in, to play with, or to bear their name ; but .if they come to a nuinber,to a great númber, then theythink themfelves- exceedinglyburthened, then they aretroubles. When God calls up the eftate of a bleffed man in outward thiugs,he faith not only,. that...
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