Chap,t7. tln Expoftion upon the Book of J O R. Ver.3, fpeaker. It is a high work of, grace to think well of them, who fpeak ill of us, or to us. Secondly, Provoking fpeeches blow up hard words of the fpeaker , many excufe it, when they give ill language, Ton provokedme : And though they be not to be excufed who do fo when they are provoked, yet their fin is the greater , who provoke them. Thirdly,Provoking fpeeches are fometimes the caufe of re, vengeful praóifes, and very often of licentious pratifes. So- ber Admonitions and grave Reproofs , reclaim thofe who go affray, but violent rebukes make them defperate. Some care not what they do when they hear others fay they care not what. Many Children have run ill Courfes by overmuch in- dulgence, and negle6t ofDifcipline ; and fo have not a few, by the over much feverity and iharpnefs ofthole that are o- ver them. Patience is hard put to it, to keep either mind or tongue,or hand in compafs,when we are provoked r Great Provocations aregreat Temptations. When God is provo- ked he is tempted, Heb. 3. 8. Harden not your bearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the Wildernefs, whenyour Fathers tempted me, &c. We may expound it two wayes. Firfl, That while they tempted God, by quellioning his power for them, and prefence with them, they provoked him, he was greatly difpleafed with them for it. Secondly, That while they provoked God they temptd him, they tempted him to defiroy them, or to a61 that power againft them which theydid not believe ( after fo many ex- periences ) able enough to deliver or proteá them. If then God himfelfbe fo tempted that ( as he is pleafed often to ex- prefs himfelf after the manner ofmen) he can fcarce hold his hands, or forbear to do that which he had no mind to do when he is provoked , how much more is weak man temp- ted to do that which his corruptions are alwayes forward e- nough ( and too toomuch) to do , when he is provoked. Again, When he faith. Doth not mine eye continue in their provocation ? - Learn, Thirdly. Hard wordsffick vpon the fpirit. Hhh They 417
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