262 Chap. 1 g. ei4n expofition ¡Ion the Book of o B. Verf.16 went, he denied his father with his tongue, but he obeyed withhis hand ; it Were well if a fervant who forbeares to an- fwer by word, would aniwer by his worke. When rob's fer- vaut gave him no anfwer, he gave him neither wordnor work, tongue nor hand /VIA though lob's fervant had deni- ed him nothieg buc an anfwer in wog ds,. yet he had reafon e- nough to be troubled at it, and to number it among his for- rowes. Not to answer when weare called to, is a defpifing of him that calleth us ; and we can hardly fpeake any thing of a Man, which renders him more worthleffe, then by not fpeaking tohim ? What can we efleeme him worthy of, whom we doe not e{leeme worthy ofa word from us? Hence Obferve ; Firff, eri man inof jlicîion isapt to lay every thing to heart; and is very jealous ofevery mans carriage towards him. We are fencible of any difrefpeft from men, when the hand ofGod is uponus yob could not but take notice of a flight from his fervant We might thinke that 74 a manofa great al d truly noble fpirit, (home' have over- looked the 'negkd of his maidens and men- fervants, and not have troubled hicnfelfe with it, but he could not. Though the thing in it felfe was light, yet it lay heavy upon his fpirit ; As in his profperit y he did not ae[pife the castle ofhis man-fervant, or of his maidervant, when they contended with him ( Chap. 31.13.) fo in his adverfs- tie he could not defpife the contempt of his man-fervant, or of his maid -fervant, when they did not owne nor anfwer him. We takemoft notice of little evifls, when treat evills are upon us. And as ulually it is our infirmitie to do fo, fo there may be both a difcovery and an exercife of much grace in doing fo. For as it {hews much holineffe of fpirir, ifwhen we are loaded with greatmercies, we can take notice of little mercies to be thankfull for them, fo if when we are under great affi &ions, we take notice oflittleafielions to profit by them. He that is fpititua!l, defires to picke out the meaning of God towards him, in the fmalleft croffe-carriage of man towards him. There ismuch faith feene in bearing a heavie croffe, and much tenderneffe in feeling the lighteft croffe. And as he that bath a tender conscience is troubled for and feeles the fmarc of the leaf'
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