Chap. 34. n Expoftion upon the Bookof J o s. Verf. 27. hu, were, worldly wife men ; theywere the mighty,the great men of the world, and they are commonly very confidering men, as well as very confiderable men; they are knowing men, as well asmen much known; they are men of counfel, and fir in councel to debate difficult matters, and of greatefl outward concernment ; thefe things they could confider exa&ly, and weigh them to a brain; but they would not confider any of God's wayes. Hence Note. 'There is nothing fo little regarded by ungodly men, as the wayes of Godare. Though they have wifdorne and ability to underfland and con- der earthly things, yet they will bellow none of it upon the things of heaven. Chrift rebuked. Martha when he faw her fo bufie about worldly bufinefs, (Luke 10.41.) Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, one thing is need- ful ; Marthahad fouie care about the one thingneedful, but be- saufe not fo much as fhe fhould, Chrifi gave her a gracious check and reproof for it : How much more mayChrill come and rebuke the men of theworld , ye are careful about many things , ye are wife confidering men about your profits and preferments, thole ye can think of all night long ; but there is one thing need- ful, my wayes, my word, my commandments are to be confider- ed, what account can ye give of or concerning them ? Farther ,-this non-confderation of the wayes of God is brought , as a charge, as a high charge againfl thole mighty men ; not only Were they bad men who did not confider the wayes of God, but this wasapart, yea I may fay the whole of their badnefs,that they did not confider the wayes of God. HenceNote. Not toconfider the wayes of God, it in it feff a verygreat fin. The omiffìön, or non-performanceof what is good, is as finful as the commiflion or doing of that which is evil. Not to do good is to do evil ; efpeciallywhen it is the not doing of filch a good duty as opens a way to the doing of all evil. Should we fuppofe a man not chargeable with the breaking of any commandment of God, yet if we could charge him that he did not confider, the commandmentsof God, this were the breaking of all the corn- Y y y y mandments. 713
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