Cap. 7. .4n Expofstion upon the Book of O B. Verf. 17. 6.5 But thirdly, rather take it thus. What is man that thou fhouldeft magnifie him ? Namely, by dealing with him thus inchallnings and afietions, by difcipliningand tutoring himwith the rods of thy correction. But you will fay, Is it a magnifying of a man to afliá a man ? Yes, it is a magnifyingof man; man is magnified two wayes, by of iCtion. Firtf, in that, God who is great will defcend to chafiife and correft, or order the challifements and correec:ons of man. Man is magnified when God deales or contends withhim, That, Indgnsbfum, God wreftles and flrives with man, is an,honour to man. David quern vet per- ( to look upon it, as too great honour Cut í', con - ISam, 24.. 14. ) P lampoon fum (though it were a burdenfom one ) that Saul, a King, one Co quamutadver- much above hire, would follow and purfue him, Againff whom fur me mama is theKiegof Ifrael come out? againff a dead dog, or againff a flea . Alafs, 1 am no match for thee, thouputteft too much weight up. on me, in that thou contendeft with me; To make great prepara- ti:mns,and to fend out a great army and skilful commanders agamlt an enemy,magrnfies that enemy, that is,it begets an opinion, that furcly -he is Come great & potent enemy,againft whorn fuch great preparations are made, In this fenfe you may underftand it, that affliction is a magnifying of a man, becaufe the great God comes forth to battle againil him, who is but dull and allies, but as a dead dogg , or a flea. The Heathens had fuch a notion,they look- Hoe 'amen ín eel upon it, as no final! priviledge for a man to be (lain by force fa'ixmiferaw` famous great Commander; Comfort thy felf in this miferable folabcre mort . ci magní e. death (laid one) thou falleff by the hand of great 1E;tear, thou detracadi, art magnified enough in this, that thou. haft fuch a man as,Æxe_rs Virg. 1, r ©. to fight with thee: And another, to dye by she arene of Hercules, Oecumbens, e a mightyfavour, andalways tobe remernbred. Some kind of trouble nuns Hercules. is an honour, as well as a trouble : the magnifying ofman,as well mar:. ixgens as an afitilìng ofhim. Man is far from deferving any favour from fempera tai, God, that,as a creature. Reis not worthy a blow, though as a fin- meValefa. ner, he is molt worthyofdeath from God. Flae:1.;: But fecondly, we mayanfwer it, that man is (not only thus notionally, but ) really magnified by aflliCtions, and that two wayes, Firft, in this life; the very humblings of the Saintsare their exaltations : their afflif ionsare their glory.There was never any FPPP fa.
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