Chap. 19. An Expofttion upon theBookaf J O B. Verf. 21. 293 to remember them is topittie them., topittie them really, that is, to doe them good, tominifler and exhibit fuch things to them as they had in need of. How often foever we either thinke or fpeake ofthofe that are afflieted, we remember them no oftener, then we fupply fome refrefhing to them ; for as to remember God, is not barely to have God in our thoughts but it is an obedientiall a& While Solomon ( Eccl. 12. e. ) cautions theyoung man , with remember tby Creator is the days ofthyyouth; his meaning is, obey and honour .him : fo while theApoille exhorts to remember them that are in bonds, it implies the aftingofour charity towards them. Or as the Apofile Pe- ter fpeaketh ( i Pet. 3.8.)it is to have compafon on them, to love them as brethren, to bepittifeoll, to be courteous. They who ¡hew no compaffion to man, thew they have little or no acquaintance with the compaffionsofGod. And they are both forgetful) of and unanfwerable to the compaffion they have received from God, who withhold compaffion from man. Hardneffe ofheart is oppofed both to repentance and topittie. That hardneffe of heart which is oppofed to repentance, is the figne ofa wicked man, who loves his fin ; and that hardnesof heart which is op- poled topittie, is the figue ofa cruell man, who hath no love to his brethten. Though the former be the worfer of the two, yet the latter is fo bad that he cannot be good that bath it . The Apoflle yohn concludes againfl fuch (1Epi.t.3. 17. ) who fobath this worlds gaod,andfeeth his brother,and fhutteth up hisbow elf ofcornpa f ansfrom him, howdwelleth the I,ve ofGod in him That is,the love ofGod cloth not at all dwell in him. Compaffiorl is due toevery brother in the flefh who hath need,but moft of all toSaints, who arebrethren in the faith,and partakers of thefarne grace withus. There are two forts of fufjferers ; fome under the hand of God, and that either chaining or punifhing.. Othersunder the hand ofman, and thefe are of two forts, either fuch as fuffer for rignteoufneffe fake ; and as the Apoflle Peter expreffeth them( 1 Pet.4.15s16. ) as Chriffians, others as evill.doers,or as bufibodyes in other mens matters.Thus the converted theife rebuked his fellow- fufferer who railed on Chrift, faying, We indeedfuffer ju/lly, for we receive the due reward ofour deeds. 6ut this man bath done nothing ami¡e ( Luk.23.40a41. ) They who fuffer for righ- teoufneífe
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