AnExpofition upon the Book ofJ OB, Verf.z. 41 y The ApoilIe gives the rule to Husbands, Col.3. 19. Huf- kinds loveyour íYiver, and be not bitter to them ; that is , Do not give them bitter words inllead of faithful counfels- Some Husbands fpeak their Gall to their Wives, to whom they have given their hearts. Among the Heathens the Gall ofthe Sacrifice which they fuperftitioully offered at Marriages, was puld out and thrown away, before it was prefented at the uóínflítueo Altar, fignifying that Man and Wife (hould bekasNatura- legt;AutFior¡ lifis fay the Dove is ) without Gall one towards another. non obfcureta. Whole¡onßg&counfels and admonitions for the matter, are nuelyataeonja- often a miniflred with fuch an undue mixture of heat and gtofemperde- paflìon as renders them, not only diflafiful but hur,ûul to the ómque ab e/fe,° receiver. Druf.Prov. Secondly, Note. Clat;a 1,4. Harfhwords carry much provocation in them. The fame Apoíile in the fame Chapter enlarging his Infti= tutes for the dircetion of Believers in all Relations , befpeaks Parents, Verfe 2 I. Fathersprovoke not your Children to anger ; _ The word lignifies any kind of provocation, but that efpe- cially which is caufed by contumelious and upbraiding fpee- ches. A Father provokes his Child , when he (peaks hafli ly, and threatningly , terrifying his Child , rather then in ttru&ing him ; The reafon why Fathers (hould not thus pros yoke their Children, is added, Left they,be difcouraged, or (as the word imports) be as if they were without fouls, moop't ( as we fay ) land heartlefs. For as there is a provocation ( in good fenfe) which heightens the fpirit to well doing, and enlivens it for anion : The Apoftle exhorts to that, lieb. 10,24. Let xi confider one another to provoke one another to love,and togood work!, that is, let us let fuch copies of holinefs that others may be ftirrcdup, beyond their ordinary pitch, and elevation of Spirit ; to a zealous. doing of good. Or fpeak lush winning words, give filch pulling exhortations, that the hearts ofyour Brethren, may be carried beyond their ufual courfe in holinefs, ,Thus he tells the Corinthians ( 2 Epift. 9. 2.) That their zeal badprovokedmany t But to what had it provoked them ? Not to anger and paflion, towards a- hy,but to charity, yea and liberality towards the poor. And though the Apo(tle ufeth another word in the Greek , yet he means the fame thing, when he a(fuxes us, Romans xi. II. that. .
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