Chap12, An Expoftion upon the i ook o f jOB. Verfe 5. II q; gifts are deaded, Theft are defpifed Lamps There are Lamps token of, Matth.25. which thrift will defpife. The foolifh Virgins brought lamps, but they had no oil in them. Some make a greatprofeflion, and would be thought burning and {hining lights, who yet Kaye no oil, that is, no truth ofgrace. Lamps without oÿ1, Chrift will defpife : But he will not defpife a Lamp becaufe it is not gilded with riches and worldly honour, or be- caufe not filled with fuch or fuch a meafure ofgifts; that's the way the worldgoes , let a man have never fo much oyl ofgrace and fincerity in his Lamp, never fo much of God and of Chric inhis Lamp if he have not golden oyl in his Lamp , riches and fulnefs, rare gifts and great parts, he is defpifed, and caft off. There is another reading of the words, take it thus ; A man that is as adefpifed Lamp by thole who areat cafe, is ready to flip vrith hisfeet,that is, to fin : the words may bear this tranflation, without añy [train to the Text , and with the advantage of ano- ther truth, which may be given you in this Obfer-vation, ..elfflie`tion laies us openunto temptation. As holy David(Pf1.73.) was ready to flip with his feet into fin, by feeing wicked men stand fo faft in honour while they fin- ned So when a holy and righteous man fees himfelfdifhonour- ed, he is ready to flip with his feet, to fin,and fay, I have cleatnf= ed my heart in vain andwafhedmy hands in innocency. It is a temptation tobe defpifed, and except the heart bevery well let- led, the feet will hide. When a hypocrite is defpifed , he not only flips in, but falls from that profeffion he formerly feemed to [land in ; he cults off the waies of God , when be feeshim- felfcaft offby men. They who are well rooted and found at heart may be forely haken, but the rotten hearted, and unfound are rooted up by the ftrergth of this temptation. The third branch of this verle , hews us by whom the man ready to flip is defpifed; it is . In the thought of him that is at cafe. my Cañdidur, niij In the thought.] The word lignifies allo clear, or pure,and by a dur, per me"' metaphor it notes a thought,becaufe thoughts are as the irradati- jhoram, denetat ons and beamingsforthof the mind. And the word in fpecial c °gttatuæejìan notes joyful or acligbtful thoughts ,,r that fence makes the text yet extiRrad i more emphatical.A, man compaffed about with forrow is defpifed ans MR. C Ç s;
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