dap .14. An Expofition uponthe BookofJoa . Verf. 3 . ofEphefua in the fame (lateof love, though their faith and love did continue. What foul can fay it continues ever in the fame degree of fpiritual ftrength, health , life and enlargements? Though the whole timeof a Chrittián in thisworld be a growing time, yet confider lain parts, and we íhall find many declining times. Thus as man continues not at all in hisnatural and civil fiate, fo hisfpiritual Eftate doth not alwaies continue the fame and fo ofall it may Paid, Hecontinueth not. It Ì0 73 Chap. 14. Verf. 3, 4. Anddoff thou open thine eyes upon finch an one, andbringelt him into judgment with thee.:. Who can bring aclean thing out ofanunclean ? not one. QB having íhawdowed thefrailty ofman under divers hmili. tudes, in the clofe ofthe r 3 th chapter, and in the beginning of this, draws down from all this paflionate queftion, at the 3 d verfe, And doll thou open thy eye upon fach an one? Upon filch an one as I, who amas a rotten thing, or, as a garment that is motheaten : Upon fuch a oneas I, who am of few dales and full of trouble r Upon fach a one as I, who am like a flower coming r(4 _17v4 forth, and prefently cut down : Uponuch a one as I, who am like a fhadow fleeing away and continuing not ; Dofl thou open Etiam filer thine eyes upon fach an one , ! andbringet me into judgment with hunt. thee ? Such an one, is a term ofdiminution ; fob debafeth and lowns Terminus - himfelf,' Suchan one, is filch a poorone, aman fo inconfiderable, diminueni. aman who befdesthe common condition of men, which is low enough, isyet brought lower by thefeaili&ions ? Such anone, fometimes increafeth the fente and heightens it. (Neh.6.1 r .) When 4anballat and the Enemies of the Jews by fecret pra tices, andcunning plotswould have difcouraged Ne- hemiah, telling him what defignes were againft him, and per- fwading him timely to avoidhis own fall , that fo the workmight fall he anfwers, Shouldfisch a man as Iflee?,Inch aman, A man in facha place, and having filch a power, a man- fo trufled, and ender filch ingagetnent , a man upon whole care and condutt Cccc the
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