192 Chap.12. AnExpofition upon the Bookof JOB. Verf.s. are eorífurned, a mans reputation confu es too, he is a defpifed lamp : Thus the intendment ofJób is obvioùs,and may be drawn into this plain-obfervation. Derr"porgy fi fu- That theywhole ofaces are f i i,rgandfalling are f r &jeatto de- ecint nnbr'a fpifing. Or more briefly thus, `They two are alpaca dre: tafuahy form eris. fliehted. Aftlidtion fubjec`'s us to contempt. Chrift appeared meanly in his out -fide, he appeared in anafflicted condition, aman of fir- m's (Ifa,53.) and what was'theeffect of this ? He was defpifed Níl habst irnr and refoiledof men (ver,3 .) and we hid as it wereoar faces from tix paupertas him, and we efleemed him not, Unhappy poverty (faith the Ilea- durius in fe, pan qùod ri- then Poet)batb nothing in it more unhappy than this,that it makes diculos hcminer men [corned and derided. A man emptyed ofriches is ufually facir. juveu. filled with contempt. They that flide thould be lifted up,as the Sat. 3. Law ordered concerning the Afs overburthened, and the Oxe cortemprus elf fallen into a Pit ; but when a man is fallen under tlit burthenof ultima adverfe affliattion, ufually another burthen, the burthen of contempt is forruaafarcina. laid upon him,he is defpifed: while we are burning lamps (pining . with riches and greatnefs, we are lookt upon and fought to, but no fooner under a vailofwant, but thrown by,and regard ed no more.' This holds true alfo in regard of internal gifts and endow ments ; while a man bath great abilities and quick parts, :he is as a lamp full ofóil,or as a burning light: fo JohnBaptist is defcri- bed. (job. 5. 35.) He woo a burning and apining light, and ye were willing for a f afon to rejoice inhis light, all liked him very well, yea they even danced about him, as children about a bonfire (fo ntdch the word bears) for a feafon, The lamp of John's,Miniftery was always alike, burning and fhining, his oil did not waft. 'Tis faid indeed by John bimfelf (Joh.3:3(3.) I muff decreafe, not that John did abate or lefren his light, but becaufe a greater light coming, his light was ohfcured (as the Stars by the Sun) but not at all diminilhed : but though John's Ught wa,, always alike, yet the Peoples delight in him was -only for a f afon : Even they whofe gifts are not at all abated, may yet finde a great abatement in the acceptationof their -gift ; howmuch more they (which is thecafe of not a few) whofe gifts are indeed abated ? Many are as a burning and fhining, lamp a great while, but at last (according to the lamps motto) bypining they con[ume. Their oil fpends,their parts impair,tr giftheis Prslvicendo perca.
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