Chap. 20. An Expofition upon the Book of J o s. Verf. z9. 599 whole elate lyes in the valley of the fhadowofdeath. The troubles of this life ate at leali the fhadows ofdeath, or a kinde of death, and they are their portion ; The difunionoffoule and body at the end of this life, is death in kinde, and that is their portion. The everlalling feparation offoule and body from the faceor favourable pretence ofGod, is the moll deadly death. This alto is the portion ofa wickedman f remGod, and the heritage appointed'him ofGod. That this is theif portion, Hands in a double oppofirion. Firll, To the opinion which others have ofthem. The men ofthe world account them veryy happy, and tbinke they have a good portion. But this is the portion appointedearnby God ; though manyfitter, and applaud, admire and adore their felicitie, as ifthey were the onely men in the world, yet. in oppofitionto this, faith God, mifery rry their portion, they are the moil unhappiemen in the world. Secondly, This portionappointed by God Rands in oppo- liition to what their ownehearts appoint them, or at leaf! point .them to ; their owne hearts fpealç peace, and affure them all is well, and fhall end well; For as flatterers and fawners never deale plainely with them, nor tell them oftheir miferable end, fo neyther doe their own hearts.(Pfal. 36. 2.) Thewickedman flattersbimfelfe in his owneyer,, rill his iniquity befoundhateful: Ele.chinks his way is good, and that his end (hall be better ; he heares of and delights innothing but flattery ; others flatter him, which is bad and dangerous enough, and he flatters him- felf, which is worn and molt dangerous of all. In oppofition to both thefe fleteries'cis Paid ;. This is the portionof the wicked manfrom god. God tells him it will be thus, and he loth not. flattter, (Pf. r i. 5.) The Lord tryet h the righteouc;he layes ma- nyaflii&ions upon his own people, but upon the wicked he will rain an horrible tempeft, this /hallbe theportion oftheircup, And again (Pfal. 75.8.) In the hand ofthe Lord there is a cup, the wine is red ; (red with wrath, in the day ofGods wrath) It is_ full ofmixture (it bath no mixture ofgood, no fweetneffeat all in it, but all forts of evill are mingled in that cup ) andbe powres out of thefame ( upon many occafions he powres it out - in theworld ) but the dregs thereofallthe wicked ofthe earth /hail wring.out and drink. They have not.onely the cup,but thedregs of
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