294 Chap. a 9. AnExpofition upon theBooke of JO B. Verf. 21. teoufnefï'e fake under the wrathfull hand of men, or to try their righteoufneffe under the chaftning handofGod , as they are the higheft objects ofour pittie, becaufe they are good, fo they are the objects ofour joy, becaufe their fufferings are good ; yet even they alto are to be pit tied who ftrffer for their finnes, not onely becaufe their mifery is great, but becaufe the. roomof the fame fin is in us, which might have put forth the fame fruit in us, and fohave wrapt us up in the fame miferies. While wee applaud and rejoyce in the jufiice of Godupon wicked men we may pittie them as men ; in tome cafes where God deales Non affügtt de- feverely, it becomes man to deale kindly ; and no onely is it tt, ut caieri of- fitful( to vex, but not to eafe thofe whomGod bath fmitten. füganr, fed ut GodBoth not afflict to teach others toafflict, but to give tt em queï7a tüe per- s cu r benígnè an occafion to thewmercy, and an oppertunitie to he chonta- trItienr ; & hie. As many of ourgraces ( as faith and patience, &c. ),vane quapntn'ant ra an oppertunitie for their full exercife, till we our feives are rione lenianr. af23i ted fo forceofthem ( as charity andmercy) want anop- uatnvis dews porvinitie for their exercife till others are afl eled.That hand puniat in nohn 01 God which we fee wounding others, points alfa to us to bumanitatern po -re theoyleof our tendereft companions into their wounds. vutr. Nicer. And therefore 706 ureeth his freinds by this argument to thew him pittie; For the ha, d of God bath touchedme. As if he had faid, Let not your hand be agatnfi me, .becaufe the hand of God is . nay rather becaufe hishand h th fmitten me, let your hand obfervandum embrace and fupport me. Doe not yee perfecute him, whom eftz/lud quía Goa hath wounded ; as he intimates they did in the next verfe, Harr divinum y fuppliciumpro- Why doeyee per/ecute meas God, &c. ponirproratione Fourthly, Obferve; commovenda bumanamifere- Doubleorgreat afflitlions callforgreat or doublecompafons. radix. lined. We ought not onely to pittie thofe who are diftreffed, but we.rnull pittie them in proportion to their difireffes. A nar- row plaifter will not helpea wide wound. TheApollles word implves both elegantly and comfortably, that thecompafons of Chrift areofthe fameextent and dimenfions with ournecefïi- ties. (bleb. s. 2.) He can have compaffion (orcompanion in meafure ) on the ignorant and on them that are out ofthe way.Ifwe be indouble wants, Chrift gives double fupplyes, ifwe be in double forrow, he gives usdouble comforts; and fo fhould we one pdBTQtoaCasty ébvatasvo6 fut yua_tam fun eft p^ffit dalere. Bez.
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