Chap. 20 edn expofition upon the 71ook of J o a. Vert. 29 Fiftly, The Lord gives tome wicked men a rich portion in temporals, to take off the loves and to dull the delires ofthe godly to them. For when they fee the belt things ofthe world in their hands whoatre evil!, they cannot but remember that God bath provided better things for them. And ifGod bellow fo much upon thole who rebels againfl him, and arehis ene- mies, what bath God in flore for them who love him, and are loved of him. Sixthly , Hereby God commends his own patierce, long - fufferacce, c.nd goodneffe. Thefe Attributes are highly honou- red and advanced by ir. We allo by this patterne are inflruded to patience, long -fufferance and goodneffe towards others, though evil! men and our enemies, Chri(l prefreth love to ene- mies, by theexample of God himfelfe, (Mat. 5.45.) He maker his Sun to Thine upon the good, and upon the evill, and the raine to fall upan thejug andunjuff. The Lord gives wicked mei a por... cion here for our inllruetion; That we might learne to do good to our enemies;to feed themwhen they hunger,and when they thirft, to give them drink. SeventhEy,Thegood which evil men receive fromGod,leaves themwithout excu'e, this flops their mouches for ever What can they fay, whenGod powres out the vialls of his wrath uF. on them who kickt againft him, while he fed themand fild their veff is with aboundance ofoutward b!eflings. As they who defpife this riches of his goodnes treafure up to them- felves wrath againft the day ofwrath ; fo, they (hall haveno- thing to plead for rhemfelves in theday of wrath. Thefe are fome of thole accounts uponwhich wicked men towhomGod bath appointed tnifery as their portion, doe yet at prefent re ceive a portion, do yet at prefentreceive a portion ofoutward profperitie. But though upon thefe, and other confiderations which might be added, the Lord put exceptions to this generali rule, That mifery is theportion la trickedman ; yet the truth (lands firme. For in that force wicked men are priviledged from it, it is a confirmation that all are lyable to it ; Exceptions ratifie tie rule; that fume wicked men are exempted andexcufed from trouble, (hews that is the proper portionof them á1L Againe, I anfwer ; Firft, This is fulfilled in the letter up. on very many wicked men : looke upon their lives) their porm H h h h ,a tton 603
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