Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v11

Chap. 3 S. e/fn Expofition upon the Book of J o B. Verf. 7. them) do love, Giveye that word founded well, even like fweet mulck in their ears : And if others did not offer bribes to cor- rupt Jullice, they invited them,give ye, we are ready to receive. The Apofile puts both these together in a good way,(Phil.4. t ç.) NoChurch communicated with me as concerning giving and re- ceiving, hutye only : And he would have the Church at Ephefsu to remember thofe words of the Lord Jefus,howhe faid,/t is more blcffed togive,than to receive, (Ads W. 3 i. JArtaxerxes, one of Artaxerxeo the Perfian Monarchs,was Sirnamed, Long-hand ; his right hand, longimanus or giving hand, being longer than the left ; (hewing, as forne con- dextram ms- je&ure, that the Honour of Great Kings is seen more in giving gum hebeb t than in receiving. But as we have nothing of our own to give un- toGod, fo he bath no need ro receive anything of us. Thus Eli- darelquant a hit here, what gives thou himfor what receiveth) heat thinehand ? cipere. Of thine hand. He expreffeth it not barely, what receiveth he of thee, but of thine hand ; becaufe as the hand is the great Infirument of work- ing, fo alfa of giving ; we give and befiow with the hand, ( what bath he received of thy hand ), there is a fpeciallitie in that. Confider thy hand, what can the hand of God take out of thy hand ? Thy hand is, Firf?,a wealtband; Secondly, a narrowfcanty hand ; Thirdly, thy hand is an ineffectual hand to thy fell, it can- not bring any work about to the iflùe, to the full end and accom- plifhment ; therefore what is thyhand, thy weak, thy narrow, thy tneffetìual hand, that God should receive any thingout of thy hand ? And then confider what thehand of God is; His is, Firft, a firong hand ; Secondly, a large, a wide hand ; Thirdly, a hand full already; and, Fourth!;', as his hand is full already, fo it is a hand filling all things; He openeth his hand, and fills all things with good. Now Godhaving fuch a hand, how canfl thou fill his hand With thy hand ? What receiveth he at thine hand ? I need not ta- bour further in the explication of the words ; Take one general Obfervation from them, which I fhall draw down into föme par- ticulars. The Righteenfnefs or Right eaue Ailiona ofmen, contribte: e no- thing to God; They are no advantage to God:Thebell things that we cando, cannot

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