Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v5

128 Chap. rg. An Expofition upon theBookof J® B. èFerfà25, that in the hand of pride thinksfo, (hall be cut of: The Chaldee Paraphrafe gives it thus, He that fins with an uncovered head : An uncovered head is an argument of boldnels, and that he who ads, cares not who fees him. Modefry caufeth us to hang down, or cover the head, when we havedone ill ; and íhame makes us cover the head when we receive evil, or are punifh- ed (Jet. r¢..}.) The Plowmen were*anted, they covered their heads becaufe the ground was chaps : For there was no rain in the earth : So that to do or Puffer with an uncovered head, is like doing or fuffering with a high or firetchedout hand, boldly, prefumptuoully, and as it were, hanging out a flag of defiance againfi theGod of Heaven. Fourthly, Stretchingout the hand, is the potlureofa furious mad man ; he that wants the ufe of his reafon, makes this life ofhis hand, layingabout him, as if he would do wonders ; inch madnefs lotlgeth in the heartsofdebauched (inners, they do they know not what ; they rage and are furious, as if they would pull God out ofHeaven, and throw the houfe, yea,the World out at the Windows : There firetch their hands againft God, and they do it three ways. Firft, Againfi the very being of God i tech a wicked man oppofeth God as God, he wifheth there were no God or that himfelf were God ; he would have all power in his own hand : Francis Spira in his difpairing diftradion laid, I would I rere above God : In him nature fpake her mind plainly, and not in Parables : Nature heigl tned in wickednefs would be above God ; therefore a carnal man is called, hater ofGod. Now that which we hate we would deftroy, and take out of the way. Secondly, There is a (retching out the hand againfi God, not onely in this' open bold challenge, or profeffed oppofi- tion this very few will own. Few Atheifis will fpeak oùt their blafphemy, or fend their Trumpet to defie God; and moil wicked men take a fufpicion of this, as the highef difho- nor and affront that can be put upon them; What ? They oppofe God? They firetch out their hand againfi God ? They will tell you, they love God, and-it may be they will tell you that God is their God, and yet will be found firetching out their hand againfl God : therefore not- onely 'do his profeffed Enemies t{retch out their handagainft God, but even thofe his

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