Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v4

Chap. 13. AnFxpofition upon the Book of Jos: Verf. a 5 5 t 3 fpeaks of himfelf is applicable to mankind. Man at his tell e(fate is altogether vanity, Pfal. 39. He is compared indeed fome . times to a flower in the field, which bath fapand nmoiHsre,green- nefs andverdure in:it, yet he is of fö Mort a continuance, that even this green flower is but dry ft:hble i ..He" bath a fpring Wherein he b.udldeth, and. a fummer ìv.'hereiu he is green, but his Autumn and hiswinter, wherein hefadeh,, and his fruit fai- teth off, come fo tali upon him, that he maycall his whole Iife a winter, and all his daies the fall of the leaf. A godly, man in reference to his'fpiritual ellate, is like urìtö a tree, whofe leaffhall not wither, Pial. i. 3.) but in reference to his temporalelate, he Dam fe lobos is like a withered leaf: So the Prophet complains, Ifa. 64.6. wefoktsm & ¡li- alldo fade as a leaf, and oar iniquities'ike the wind have taken us í6a t app at, m away. proparat ad Lafily, Note this, ei vinam mife- The Lord is moved to pity, when we mind hint of our frailty. vecordiam quo The intendment of Job was not to charge God with feverity, an 'e facilites but to move him to mercy. Our Hrongefl argument to prevail m orem ,lib with God, is to íhew himour weáknefs : To confefs our natu- eider mifeream. tal weaknefs moves himmuch ; to confefs our Spiritual weak- San&. nefs, moves him much more. If a Pharifee come and tell him a94ton fuit hoe lonlsHory of his righteoufnefs, the Lord abhors it ; but if a poor lobi mens us publican look uponhimfelfas unworthy to look up to heaven, this vo- luit de Bei glo- Hirs, not only compafiion, but acceptation ; He went homelufli- vi;duet! drahere, fled ratherthan the other. If you would prevail with God, bold f comme- forth your foars,your lickneffes, your difeafes, your diílempers, morationg tenth yournothingnefs;fay,you are but fmoakingflax,and brufed reeds, itatisfu.e : that youare but leaves driven to and fro,and as the dried Hubble. ficrotm,c De' po.. There is yet a further fence to be giveu of thefe words as they tentio iliumad Y g Y Hand in conneE íon with the following verfe, towhit ifereeeordiam t I pafs. fietieret. MaI. X Jö

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