Chap. 20. ai,Ix E'xpofition xpox the Bookof J o s. Verf. Z8, As he woke violently or fraudulently from others ; fo God gives him up to tons of violence and fraud, who take all from him. Thus the Prophet threatens ( Ida. 33. a . ) when thou(halt ceafe to,ffoyle, (Awicked man may ceafe from fin, not becaufe he repents ofit, but becaufe he is glutted with it,or barred from it ; now when thou íhalt thus ceafe to fpoyle) rhoutbalt befpoy- led, and when thou(halt (uponchafe termes) make anend to deale treasheroufïy, theyfhall deale treacheroufly with thee. Thirdly, His increafe flows away by a fecretcurfe. A man fees the increafe of his houle departing he knowes not how, he perceives his goods flowing away, but hecan give no reafon of it. For as fome men increafe, and goods flow in unto them they fcarce know how themfelves, their care and labour bath not been more then other mens, yet they grow rich beyond other men. As the Lilly attaines her bautie ( as Chrift faith, Math. 6.) without labour or fpinning, fo it is with force, they get the beautie of the world, though ( comparatively) they neyther labour nor fpin for it; wealth drops into their bo- fomes and golden fhowres fall into their laps. Now, (I fay ) as force grow rich they know not how; fo others grow poore theyknow not how. When they are called to an account, they cannot fay how their eftate wafted : Aske them, have you had bad debts ? No; Have youhad loffes at Sea ? No ; they are un- done,but feenot what hath done it.Whatthe Prophet (Hag. t. 6.) fpeaks ofwages earned, is true of all their wealth gained, it is as put into abagge with holes, or pierced through. While a man takes his mony out at the mouth ofthebag, he knows how it goes away, and what becomes ofit ; bug ifhis bagge have holesin it, and his mony flipt out there, he cannot fay what's becomeofit ; Holes in the bage are rothingelfe but a fecret curfe. That alto is rth ant by the fame Piophet (verf. 9.) when ye brought it (that is,your good) home,Idid blow upon it,er blow it away. l f Goddot but blow or b each upon our good things is anger, they are bailed and prefenrly brown away, or they melt and flow away. The Prophet Ifa. 64.1. fpeaks ofthe flow ing downeof the Mountaines ; O that thou wauldeß rent the heavens, that thou wouldef come downe,that the mountaines reright flow at thy pretence. Mountaines are firme and abidefor ever in their place; Rivers flow, but who ever fawmountaines flow ? GEggz What
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