654 Chap. 7. An Expofttionupon the BookZ of J O $, Verf. but through my comelinefs thou art very beautiful. The worth ofman is out of himfelfe; the Church Alines by thole rayes, by that luttre, which Chriti calls upon her. Secondlyobferve frein this queflion, What is man, f&°c. Man bath laid himfelfe fo loon, that he is not worthy of one thought from God. W,oat i, man that thou JhouldeJl magnifie him andfit thy heart upon him ? It is a wonder that God thould vouchfafe a gracious Inoke upon Cuch a creature as man ; it is won- derful, contidcring thediftance between God and man, as nun is acreature, and God the creator ; What is man : that God fbould take noticeof him? is he not a clod of earth, a peece of clay ? but confider him as a finful and an unclean creature, and we may wonder to amazement ; what is an unclean creature that God lhould magnifie him ? will the Lord put value upon fiithinefs, and fix his approving eye upon an impure thing? One ttep further, what is rebellious man, man an enemy to God, that God lhould magnifie him ! what admiration cananfwer this quellion ? will God prefer his enemies, and magnifie thole who will call him downe ? Will a Prince exalt a traytor, or give him honour, who attempts to take away his life ? The finful nature of man, is an enemy to the nature ofGod,and would pull God out of Heaven yet God even at that time, is rating man to Heaven ; Sinner: would ltfen :begreat Godandyet God greaten: finul man, Thirdly obferve; Though man be low in himfelf, )et God bellow: many thought: andcarer uponhim. Though there be no realen at all in man, why God lhould magnifie him, yet God doth and will. Free grace overlooks all the diftance Vhat is between God and us, as we are creatures, and it overlooks that greater and nailer diftance, which is between God and us, as we are finful creatures ; Many a man is ready to thinkof himfelffo good and fo great, that his bro- ther is not worthyone of his thoughts, or a call of his eye ; he thinks it too much to look towards a man, that is of the fame make with himfelf, becaufe he is a little lower Ratur'd in eftate or degree. Agreat rich man thinks he cloth a poor man a very great favour, ifhe turns about and (peaks to him : We may well cry out with admiration,O the pride ofman to man ! and O the love of Ghd to man! one man hath fcarce humility enough to fpeake to a- nother, who in nature is equal to him,and yet God(who is infinite- ly aboveus) hath love enough to magnifie and let hisheart upon. hiva. The
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