. Chap. 42. Expof,tionupon the Boo}Z, of J o B. Verf, r r; have givenBaleam, he offered himgreat gifts, Ima ¡remote thee to honour. But what was it for ? even to hire him to curfe the people of God. Let all take heed of giving or taking gifts to pervert juttice, or co encourage any in the doing of any wicked- net's or unworthinefs'; these are corruptivegifts. Further, Whereas they gave not only a piece ,of money or a lamb,but every one an ear-ring of gold; which we mayconfider not only as to the matter, as it was gotd,butas to the form,as is was ale car-ring,or an artificial piece of gold, & that an,ornamental piece of gold ; they might have given gold (and probably they did) in the pieces of money which theygave him, but they gave him ear- rings alto, in which the fafhionor ufe is tnoti confiderable,and the workmanthip more worth than the.mectal. Hence, Note ; It is lawful to wear ornaments. Not only may we wear that which felves for a covering to the body, but that which is for the adorning of it.. An ear-ring is an ornament.As all are towear cloths to hidetheirshame ana naked- nefs, fo fome may wear robes, to Phew their flare and greatness. job received ear-rings ; he did not cafi them by as vain things. When Abraham fent his fervant to take awife for his SonIfaac, he fiored himwith cabinetsof precious jewels tobeftow upon her (Gen.24.) and when he found Rebeccab at the well,and found who fbe was, he took, agolden ear-ring of half a fhcltel weight, and two bracelets forger bands of ten Jheltels weight of gold, and gava them to Rebeccab. And afterwards, when her parents had given confent to the marriage, then (vor. ;;.) The fervent brought forth jewels of flyer, and jewels of told, and raiment, and gave them to Rebeccab, &c. Abrahamwould not fend fuch things to a Wife for his Son, had they been vain in their own nature, or fin- ful in their ufe. Yet take the point with there cautions. We may wear ornaments, but, Firfi, Wemuff not be proudof them. Secondly, Wemuff not fat our affections upon them T Eirdlly, We muff beware of an affeetation in woacïng them. Fourthly, We muff take heed` of wafifulnefs ; we mayvot lavifh out an elate uponornaments, nor make our felves poor, ro snake our felves fine.
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