454 Chap. 33. An Expofition upon the Book, of J o s. Vetf,27, Thus here, faith the fick man, Ihave finned , And it profited me nor, or 1 havegot nothing by it : And when he faith , it profitedme not ; we are to expound it by a ufuall figure in Scripture, where- by more is intended then is expreffed, lb that, it profitethme not, is, it had beenvery detrimentall, dangerous, and deadly to me. I feel and fmart .under the fad Ales of my fin, my perverting that whichwas right .hash done me (though I have had but my right) muchwrong. !-havefinned, and it profited me not. Hence note. Firfi, Sinpretends profit and advantage to alimner. There is no temptation comes without a bait. Though fome fm purely for fins fake ; yet it is rare that fin cometh without the offer ofa bribe, andprofit is one of the greatefi both baits and bribes that the Devtll pursupon the hook oftemptation, when he fiftieth for foules. Tofeu!! get by it, faith that deceiver. But the repenting foule, can truly fay, itprofited me not ; I had thought to have gotten by my fin, it promifed me very faire, but I havegot nothing but blows. The temptationwith which the Dcvili a(faul- ted our firft parents was of this kinde,He told the womanof pro- fit, fhe and her husband,(hould gaine knowledge by it, ( that's noble gaine )'They jiould be as Clods knowing goodand evil!, there's all profit imaginable in fuch a knowledge: Chrifi himfelfe who wasGod and perfe6ly knewgood and. evill , was alfo tempted withprofit ( Math: .1. 5;9. ) 7lhe devill fheredhim .all the king: domes of the world ( and thofe not with bare walls, but ready hung and futnilhed,)4nd theglory of them, andfayd untohim, all thefe things will Igive thee, ifthou ao/t falldowne and mop-Alp me. Ifour bead and the heire of all things was tempted with profit, how muchmorepoor we ! Nomarvaile if Satan provide himAgents to fay to us as they are reprefented ( Pro: r. r 3.) Come, raft in your lot among acs, we will all have onepurfe,r a joynt flock in this wicked trade ; What they hoped to get by it , is told us in the next wo:. s ; we fhallfind all precious fubflance, and fill our houfes withfpoyle. We (hall get enough, and you (hare with us if you will but come and goo with us. We fee what fin promifeth ; Rut what doth the sinner find ? himfelfe anfwers, It profited me not. Hence
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