Chap. 19, An ExpL;°Won upon the Book, of ; o a. Verl. 9. Thirdly Others referre it to his acquaintance and fpeciall friends, who ( having been a comfort, and an honour to him ) he calls his Crowne. So the Apoftle falutes the Philippians, ( Chap. 4. t. ) Mybrethren, dearelybeloved, and longedfor, my joy, and crowne. He fpeakes as high oftheThefalonians,(t Epif. 2. 19. ) What is our hope, or joy, or ('Towne of rejoycing ? are not even yee in the prefnce of our Lord f efoas Chrif at his coming. Converfion is the Crowne or chiefe worke of the Miniftry, and converted perlons are the Crowne, or chiefeft honour of a Mini- fter. What is more either defirable or honourable, then tocon- vert, then towinne foules to Chrlft,and to build them up in faith, And thus any man may call his godly friends, and familiars, efpe- cially filch as he hach been helpful! to in their turning to God, his Crowne. Yet I rather take the word Crowne here in the generali noti- on of it (as Glory was in the former part oftheverfe) for any' earthly excellency. In which fence the whole people of Ifrael cry out, ( Lament. 5. a6.) The Crowne is fallen fromour head, or, thecrowne ofour head is fallen; That is, ali our priviledges and dignities are departed, now that wee are carried Captives into Babylon. Hence obferve ; The belt of earthly excellencies may foone be taken from_* stir. GloryandCrowne, expreffe the higheft of worldly attain- ments, or enjoyments ; and yet behold yob ftript ofhis Glory, and his Crowne is taken away. Not onely is all flefh gratte, but all the goodlinef fe thereof is as the flower of thefield, (Ifa. 48. 6.) The ßefh of man is his natural! conftitution, the Goodlineffe thereof is all morali and civili perfections ; not onely is man of a brittle constitution in nature , but all the perfections which he hath on this fide grace , are brittle too. All Goodlineffe is fading, onely goodneffe or godlinefle is nor. As the Prophet ( by way of oppofition) intimates ver. 8. But the word of the Lord (hall fand for ever. As the Crownes of all men, or their chiefe delights, fo the Crownes of Princes ( who are the Crowne or chiefe of men) decay and wither. Former ages have given teftiwony to it, and fo bath ours. If the Scripture were filent in 205
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