390 Chap . An Expoftion upend), Book of j Q B. under the influence of heavenly bleffings. As grace loth not run in a blood, fo neitherdo hidings in- fallibly run in a blood, yet the children of thofe who are bleffed, are neareft a blefling : and their poflibilities for mercy are faireff; Many promifes are made to them, they are heirs apparent of the promifes in their parents right ; others to appearance, are ftrangers from thepromifes. Though, we know freegrace chufeth often out of the natural line; Themercies ofGod are his own, and it is his prerogative, to have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom lie will he hardneth. Secondly, When he fums up theblefüngs of a godly man, the bleflìngs of his children are raft into the account. Whence note, That the bleffings of the children, are the bleffings of the parent. As the parent is aftlided in the afflic ions of his children, fo he is bleffed in theirbleffings. Relations fhare mutually both.in com- forts and croffes. Children are their parents multiplyed, and every good of the child, is an addition to the parents good. A flourifh_ ing and a numerouspofterity is a great outwardbleffing. Some have the-choifeft of fpiritual bleflings, who want this (IJá. 56.`3 .)God comforts thole that have no children, Do not fay that thou art made a dry tree; for l willgive thee inmine boufe, a place anda name better thanof fans and daughters; As if he had Paid, the name of Eons and of daughters, is a very great comfort, but it is not the greateft comfort, the bell blefling : thou lhalt have a name and a place, better than of Tons and daughters. Verf, 26. Thou fbalt come to thy gravein afullage, like its a fhock of corn cometh in his feafon, From perf-nal prefent bkflìngs of this life, and the blefíïngs of poftert y, Elipbaz defcends tsi thew the bleffing of a godly man in death. A happy death is the dole of temporal happinefs, and the beginning of eternal A happy death Rands between grace and glory.fike the Baptiii between the Law and the Gofpel, and is the conn.xion or kni!ting of both. And as it was laidofJohn, chat am ng them who are b,rn of women, there arofe not agreater than he, neverthelejs, be that is leaft in the kingdom of heaven, isgreater than John i So we may fay that among all the blefñngs of this life; there is none grcarcr than a bleffed death; neverthelefs that which is hart its eternal life, is a greater blcfiing, than a bleffed death; Verf. 26.',
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