65,0 Chap 7. An Expofition upon theBeokofJ B. Verf. r d, Mich. 7. 18, Who is a God like unto thee, pardoning iniquity,tranf.. greffion,andfin?The queftion puts the brighteft glory upon God, in pardoning fin. Hence man is abated in a quelìion, what is man ? how low, how poor acreature is he I Or take the quefiion, barely fora dcfireofrefolution. ;as ifthis were a piece of a Catechifine about mans frailty, What it man? Be had told us in the words immediately foregoing the text ; that man it vanity, why then dock he enquire in thefe words, What.is man ? it is not to learn what man is, but to teach us the wonder, that man being loch, fhould be thus regarded : As if he had laid, Forafmuchas man it vanity, what it vanity that than (hóuldejt mag- nifie it? will any oneeftecm vanity, and prife a thing ofnought ? man is vanity; that's the answer to the quettion. The Scripture gives many anfwers to this queftion : Ask the Prophet Ifaiah, what is roan ? and he anfwers ( Chap. 4o 6.) Man is grafs,All fiefk is graf's, and the goodlinefs thereof as the flower of the field. Ask David ,what is man ? He anfwers (Pfa/. 62. y.) Mart is a lye, not a lyar only, or a deceiver, but a lye, and a de- ceit. All the anfwers the holy ghoft gives concerning man, are to humble man.: Man is ready to flatter 4imfelf, andone man to flatter another ; but God tells us plainly what weare. That thou fhouldeff magnifie him, or make him great 1;t7 There is à threefold fence of that word [magnifie] ufed in Scrip. i71-13 titre. Magnusqusm r, It implies, only a manifeflation or declaration of anothers ti'e, annis reatncfs, or anopening of his intriafecal worth and dignity honoreexyli- g ; in orations, au. which fence man is often faid tomagnifie God, he declares and thoritare.Shi- publithes the infinite, eternal worth and dignity ofGod,Luk. r. 46. The Virgin beginneth her Song thus, my foul cloth magnifie the Lord. It is impoffible we thould give the leaft addition to the greatnefs of God : Then magnifying of God, is only a declaring that God is great : So Pfal. 34. 3. 0 magnifie the Lordwith me, that is, let us joyne our hearts and our tongues in this great work, to lift up the honour and Name ofou r God. a. To magnifie, is to efteem or prize greatly : So the Apo. file (peak ing ofhis office, thews how highly hepriz'd it, by break- ing forth into this holy boal,Rom. 34, 13,, I margnifte mine 0tce. I eíteem this as mygreateft priviledgt. and honour that God bath called me to bean Apoftle ; And AU. 5, 19. when the Pharitees were fo. angryywith theApofiles, and many were. afraid to joyne with
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