972. Chap. 42. an Expofition upon the Book of 3 o B. Verf. i r, Gemmas c3 fronte penden- us. Vulg. Monile flue. Sept, Honoraria ob- aulerunt.jun. R'lune,ra hæc erant,tumámi- c.itiæ, tu>B ob- foquti fymbola. SiCenict viri principesmi<- nerofalutaban- aur, I lamb, it wasworth a piece of money ; and if it were a piece of money,,ic would buy a lamb. But, why did they bring fob either a piece of money or a lamb ? I anfwer. Fìril, To teflifie their reneged friend -chip, or as a fignifica tion of their love, and fo to ingratiate themfelves with him. Secondly, It might be towards the repair of his loffes; every one brought him fomewhat ; yet i conceive they bellowed ihofe gifts upon him, rather as an honour than a relief, yet poffibly they intend both in giving them. Upon the one account or the other, or upon both, the Lord brought over fobs friends to con- gratulare him with thefe prefents. It bath been an ancient ufage to prefent Princes with gifts inway of honour and homage, as appears plainly from what is of the refufal of fotne called Sonsof I3e1a1( a Title of difgrace bellowed by the Spirit of God upon none but the wor(I of men) to bring prefents unto Saul, the firfl King of Ifrael(i Sam. ro. 27.) And many fuperiors in any kind think themfelves flighted, if they have not gifts from their infe- riors. fob was a Prince, the greatetl man of the;Eall, and for that reafon it was but a duty in his friends to bring him prefents, Every one gave him a piece of money (or a lamb) . 4nel every one. an eat--ring of gold. There is fool: difpure%har this ear-ringof gold wa'.Theword is tranflated (Ifa. 3. 2 r.) Anofe jewel; which Was not a jewel to hang upon the nofe, but-a jewel that was faflned upon the fore- head, and hung down towards the nofe. Iñ°other places it is called an ear-ring ( Gen. 24. 47. Gen. 35..4. Ezod. 35. 22.) Such jewels were doubtlefs ufed, and worn by g -eat perfons in the Land of Vz, where fob dwelt, and was chiefamong them'. lobs friends brought him not only prefents of moneyor cattle,`Whi h are ufeful to all, but jewels,whichare ornamentals,and'ufed only by perfons of to5le quality or of great elate.' An car-ring in force teens ears, would be no more becomingnor better' placed, than a jewel in a (winesfnoset tó which Solomon compares beauty ina.woman without wit, difcretion, andunderflanding.' Ajewel, or an ear-ring,is hot for every mans wearing.The prefenr§'brougliç fob, (hewed him aperfon of honour. Every'one alfo gave him ;a pieceofmoney, and every ons an car -ring ofgold. ILcncea,
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