3 6 Chap. 33. An.ExpoJition 6apon the Book of J o B. Verf; ìt. it may haveamore fpirituallmeaning, yet there is a truth in' it as to the poynt in hand. HolyFafling,. which is a foralefatning duty ( as all agree) is under a gracious promife, that it (hall alfo be a body:farning, yea a honefatning duty. Now,though we have a good affurance, that while we are trading with.God for the gaine and encreafe of our foules, our bodyes thall not wafie nor be ioo- fers, yet we fhould be ready to walte and weare off the flefh from our bodyes for the gaine and encreafe of our foules. Sixthly , Why fhould Wt be unwilling to offer our flesh to be confumed by the fury ofmen,ot by the rage of flames inthe caufe ' ofGod, feeing it mayere long confume by fcknefs and not be feene ? why fhould we be afraid tolet our flefh conïùme or rot uprifons, or by tortures for Chrift, feeing a difeafe Will doe it, and bath often done it ?, Thoufands of the blalfed Martyrs, and fuffering Saints, have.rejoyced they, had flefh to confume when Cod called them to it. So fome interpret that Scripture before mentioned ( z Cor: 12. 14. ) where the Apofile profefied, barn willing to be fpent foryou. (how fpent ? as an offering or facrifice by fire ) in thefervice ofjourfaith, and in bearing my witnefs to thoff trurhs of the Gofpel which I have preached toyou. And indeed, he irichat fenfe , fpent his flèlb at the laft, he fuifered death, and let his flefh fall, in holding up and. holding out the faith of our Lord Jefus Chrifi. It is better that our flefh fhould be thus confumed(ifGod call usto it) then that we leave it to be confumed byage or ficknefs, by wormes or rottennefs. How freely fhould we offer up this flefh to fo noble a confumption, feeing we cannot keepe it long from fo meane a confumption, doe what we can ? Secondly , Note. Sichnefi is a confiomer;ficknefs is a cot:Amer of all that will conf%rne It confumes thebody, and it confumes the purfe , yea it con- fumes all our worldly comforts: and concernments, tt confumes every thing but grace. We fay, A time officknefs is a (pending time; the ufuall reference of that expreflion, is to fpiritualls. Inhealth we gather grace and lay up truths, which we fpend in ficknefs. But though ficknefs be afrending time, yet, it is not I an furs it ought not be) a wattirigtime tograce and fpiri- tuallso.
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