Chaff. 36. an Expgfition upon theBook,of° J o a. Verf. I i, lure what. he{hould beat his labour, he will foon be reduced to a náorfel of bread, and become a poor man : But he that loveth unlawful pleafures, (hall not only be a poor man, but will prove a wicked man. Thou that art given topleafures (Ifa.47.8.) is the. Chars ierof Babylon. Godgives good menpleafure, but 'as the: mark of an evil man to be given to pleafure. They that loveplea- fare, are lovers ofpleafure more than lovers ofGod ( z Tit» . 3.4 ) and fuch muh needs be the worfl of men. And therefòre we are not to underhand this Text of any (inful pleafure, nor of a life meetly lead in lawful pleafure, that a man íhouldbe all upon his pleafure, and lay afide his Calling ; Elihie dohs not oppofe pleafure to work, labour or, buhinefs, but to trouble, forrow, and afflil ion.They that obeyand ferve the Lord (hall fpend their years in pleafures, in höneft pleafures, that iq, they (hall live, not only contentedly, but joyfully. The Lord al- loweth us to take any hooch pleafure while we live, but not to live in pleafure ; healloweth us to take our delights, but our de- lights muff not take us. There is yet another Query , for it may be faide, Is this a truth, that theywho obey and ferve the Lord fed fpend their doges inprofperity, and their years in pleafures ? I anfwer to that, Firft , If we take it abfolucely and univerfally, we cannot af- firme that every one who ferveth and obeyeth God,lhall alwayes havepleafure, that is, outward comforts and contentments in this world; many of the Lords faithful( fervants have lived in pine and forrow ; fo that if(as David fpake in this cafe,hfal,7 3. 5.) we fhouldfpeak,thus, we fhould offend againfl the generation of his fervants. Some-flourifh in grace, who wither to worldly com- forts. There is no'cettain connexion between thefe two,. Grace and outward peace or pleafure ; the providences of God vary in this poynt as himfelf pleafeth. Neither is it true , that t h true fervants of God do uninterruptedly or alwayes enjoy inward pleafures , comforts and contentments ; for he that feareth the Lord,-and obeyeth the voyce of his fervants, may walk in dark- nefs, and trouble of fpirit, andfee no light, (Ifa, 5o. 1o.) We are therefore tounderhand this Scripture as others oflike nature, of that which is commonlydone,or of that which we may upon good ground expea fromGod, and in faith wait for, that if we ferve and obey him, he will make our lives comfortable to us. I an- fwer, Secondly, 45
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=