Chap. 5 An Expofition upon the Book of J O B. Verf. 17. 325 make nothing of the aEtsor inftrumentsofGods difpleafu re. This is grofs defpifing. But befides every undervaluing, or inadver- tency of thecorreEtrng handofóod,hath adegree of this defp;fang it. Thatexhortation ought neverto be forgotten,which fpeaketh to us, asunto children, Hebr. 12. 5. My fen, defpife not.thot, the ehafttning of the Lord, nor faint when thole art rebuked of him. Thegrcek word imports, theLittling,or thinking of them little. Do , ,. not think thechaftnrngsof God little,donot lit tle,orflight them mu ° iVel't in thy thoughts. Neither faint when thenart rebuked , that is doe "Telas xis not think thy aftlï&ions fogreat, that thoumutt needs fink and 4 faint under them. Thefe are the two extreames, into which our hearts ufually run, when chaffnings are upon us. Samerre by neglecting the hand of od,as light;and others by fainting under it,as too heavy. As a good heart takes notice of, or will not de- fpife a little, the leaft comfort ; So it will take notice of,and nor defpife a little, the frail crofs, When man bath a (mall lofs in his eftate,if hefay,this will not undue me,!can beare this,I will fare as well, and goe as fine as ever for all this, Inch fpeeches or thoughts area difpifing of the chaftening of the LordWe are to obferve thehand of God taking away, as well as giving a penny. So when a man bath a little fir of ficknefs; ifhe fay, I (hall rubb out this well enough, this is todefpife thechaftning of the Lord: We are to blets God for every hours health,and to be fenftbleof his hand in every hours ficknefs;or aking joynt. Everyaffliaion is a mcfíenger from God,it bath fomewhat to fay tous fromHeaven, and God will beare it, if his meffea- gers be defpifed, how meare fo evert If you fend achild with a meffage to a friend,and he flight and defpife him;you will take it ill. I remember what the Rory relates of Galienus the Emperour, . who,when the report came to him,rhat Egypt was lofl,w,hat then (laid he) cannot I live without the flaxof Egypt? And when the report was brought that agreat part of hisdominions in Alia was wafted : Cannot I live ( laidhe) without the delicacies of .g/ia ? To fpeak thus from a principle of mortification toward the crea- ture,is the charaEter of an excellent fpirit;bur to fpeak thus from a contempt of the providence of God,is the charaEter of a proud, or of a ftupid fpirir. When weheare of the lots of a child, of a friend, or of a lofs in our eftate; To fay,what then ? I can bear that well enough, I have more children, other friends, eftate eA sough befdes that; This( I fay)is ahigh dcfpifingof affli.`t'on, There
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