Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v10

Chap. 3.3. An Expofition upon the Bookof J o B. Verf. 26. be more comfortable to man, then tohear and know, that God delighteth in him, and bears favour tohim (through his Son) with the fame affeóion as he doth to his only begotten Son ? He -will befavourableuntohim. Whence note. Firff, God iswell pleated with, he favourable to, and delisht- ed ix an humblefinner. When a finner is brought upon his knees and becomes afup- pliant, whenas he is laid low by affli&ion,fo he lyeth low inpray- er and fupplication, then the Lord will be favourable tohim, and thewhis delight in him. The Lord dellghtethnot in the f}rengch of thehorfe, he takethnot pleafure in the legs of a man(Pf.i47. -no, i r.) No man is favoured by God, becaufe of hisoutward favour, becaufe he hath a beautiful! face, or flrong cleane limbs; yea not only hath the Lord no pleafure in any mans, legs, but no: in any mans braines, how reaching foever, nor in any mans wit how quick foever, nor in any mans judgment howdeep foever, nor in anymans tongue how eloquent or well fpoken foever, bun theLord taketh pleafurein them that fear him, in thofe that hope in his mercy; an thofe that walk humbly with him, and call upon him, Let me (faithChrid tohis Spoufe, Cant. 2. I4.) hear thy voyce for it isfweet hemeanes it non ofan artificiali Pinging voyce, but of a fpirituall prayingvoyce. That's the mufick which the Church makes for Chriff. Nothing is fo tunable nor rakes the eare and heart of Chriff, like the voyce of prayer and praife from a graci- ous heart. All the beauties and rarities both ofperlons and things are dull and flat, yea weariìome and loathfome to God in compa- rifon of agracious, honefl,humble foul. Princes have their fivou- - rites ( they are according to the language of this Text) favou- rable to fome above many, either becaufe they are beautiful! and goodly perlons, or becaufe they are men of excellent fpeech,pru- dence and comportment. All godly men are Gods Favourites, he is favourable.to them not only above manymen in the world, butabove all the men of this world, who have their portion in this life ; And he therefore favours them; becaufe they are the purchafe of his Son, and the workmanship of his Spirit, . convinc- ing them of, and humbling them For their fins, as alto creating them after God in righteoufnefs and true blinds, Suchfhall.be hiefavourites, I i i z Second- 427

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