Chap. 3 3. An Expofition upon the Book of Jo E. Verf. 17. 319 no more. When the Apofile had fayd (James 4.6. ) He refifeth the proud ( he prefently adds ) but givethmore grace to the hum- ble. As if he had fayd, Though the Lord bath given proud men much (for 'tis forne gift of God,andufually a great one of which- men grow proud ) yet lie will now Prop his hand and give them no more.TheLord gives to themwho are humble and praifehim, not to thofe whoare proud and praife themfelves. Secondly , Not only Both the Lord flop his hand from giving moreto thofewho areproud,but often makesan ael of revocation and takes away that which he hath already given. As he who Idly putshis talent into anapkin,fo he whovainly and vain-glorioufly thews it, is indanger of having it taken away from him. It is as finfuli to pew our talent proudly, as to hide it negligently. Nebu- chadnezzar boafied proudly of his kingdome, and prefently it was fayd to him, The kixgdome is departedfrom thee. Hezekiab' boatied of his treafure (Ifa: 39. 6.) and byand by the Lord told him, his treafure fhould be taken away, ( thoughnot imme- diately from him, yet from his pofierity) and carried toBaby- lon. 'Tis fo in fpiritualls, whenwe proudly thew our treafure, the treafures of our knowledge , or other gifts and attain- ments , the Lord many times, in judgement, fends them into captivity, takes them from us, and flrips us naked of that cleath- ing and adorning whereof weare proud. Thirdly, If GodBoth not take all away, yet what reniaines is withered and Wafted, it dries up and comes to little; ifit be not quite removed, yet it appeares no more in its former beauty and lufler. WhenGod withrebuke correlleth man for ( this) iniqui- ty, hemakethhis beauty (the beauty of his parts andgifts, yea of his graces ) to confirmeaway (as David exprefheth ir, PJal: 39. II.) like a moth. Owhat a drynefs, and fo ádecayednefs falls upon that foule from whom the foaking dewyes and drops, the fweete influences of heaven are refirained I And furely if they are refirained fromany, theyare fromproudmen ; No marvaile then if others fee and they feele their witherings,and even fenci- ble declinings everyday. Fourthly , Suppofe thegifts andparts of a proud man conti- nue florid and appeare fü! wing intheir former firength,vigour, and beauty, yet God fends a fecret curfe upon them, and though he doth:not wither them, yet he doth not delight in them,! nor give
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