330 Chap. 39. eÁ Expofitionspan the Boohof J o D. Vere S. inä barren wildernefs wherenone could controul them, than in good pafiures under any thing that looked like a refirainr, or a rule. This is a very unworthy fpirit ; this is liberty in a way of licencioufnefs, this liberty is libertinifm. They who fubmit tono rule but that oftheir unrulyhead-thong pallions and affeetions,nor will be reclaimed nor tamed by any, whether fair or foul means,, there in Scripture are compared to the wilde Als for their folly and vanity. Zophar offered this rebuke to rob, in the i tth Chap- ter of this book, verf. 12. and poi-1.161y he could not altogether free himfelf from it, Vainman would bewife, though he be born like a wildeAffes colt ; that is, though this be all his wifdom to be free from that fubjediion which he oweth toGod and min. The Prophet (f er. 2. 'a4.) compares the whole people of Ifrael, when they call off the fervice of God, to a ;Tilde ifs (which Scripture was toucht at the fecond verfe upon another occalion) that f nuffeth up the wind at herpleafure ; in her cccafion who can turn her away ? all they thatfeek,her, will not weary themfelves,in her month they fhall find her: There is no bringing fuch into compafs, till they are compafled with pains. Wemay tall all fuch nominal ¡fuel ites real lfhmaelttos, it being raid of Ifhmael (Gen. a 6. t 2.) that he was(pre Adam) a wilds man, having moreof the wilde Als than of theman in them. Thus it is with vain and unbridled fpirits, they cannot bear the yoak of fervice; and there- fore remember, thoughchis be fpoken of as a priviledge, yet it is a low priviledge tobe free from any honer} fervice ; and to be be free from all fervice, is worfe than the worn of outward fer- virudes. 'Tis a mercy tobe free from flavery toman, but to be I free from fervice to man, is to be unmanly ; every man (hould be a fervant in one kind or another, and therefore the Law faith, To call aman a fervant,diilinguilheth no man, feeing everyman is fuppofed in the way of his life a fervant. TheApoflie fpeaking to thofe whole very calling is to ferve, and are therefore in (lri i fenfe calledfervants(t Cor.7.21,22.)faith,Art thoucalled,beinga fervant, care not for it (that is, be not troubled that chou arta fer- vant (fervice to man is not inconfi(fent with the fervice of God) but if thou maiff bemade free, arfe it rather; for he that is called in the Lord, being afervant, is the Lords free man. Let every man ív.24.)wherein he is ealled,thereinabide with God ; that is,let him 4ontinue to ferve man in all things, according to thewill offood. To
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=