Chap. 21. .An expoJition upon the Tookof J o B. Verf. 3. joy and crowne (Phil 4. 1.) Why faith he the fame ofchic Thep falonians and more, re are ourglory and joy f (1Epia. 2, 19. ) Was it upon any other account then this, besaufe they had re- ceived the Gofpel at his mouth, & diligently heard hisfpeechë Paul received fo much confolation and joy when his fpeech was heard, that he calls his hearers his j 3y, yea bú joy and his Frown, that is, his chiefe his principal joy,or that which he rejoyced in more thenhe could in any earthly crowne ; It would not have pleafed him fomuch to have been Einperour of the world, as to fee foules bought off from the world by his miniftry to theobedience of the word. This made them his cro<vne and joy his glory and joy at prefent , and this gave him hope ( in which fence he calls the rheffalonians his hope, verf. 19. ) that he fhould rejoyce and glory on their behalfe for ever, yea, that through free grace he fhould receive the crown ofrighteouf- nefe, as himfelfe calls it (a Tim, 4. 8.) or as the Apo[tle Teter fpcaking to the fame poynt, calls it (1Pet. 5. 4.) A crowneof glory that fadeth not away. How can it bebut a confolation to be heard,when fach are the confequencesof beingheard in force things ; and in what things foever we are heard, we judge it to be offorce confequence tous, ifwe get nothing but a hearing. We fometimes heare a poore man thus befpeaking the rich ; Sir, if you will but bore me open my cafe to you, though you doe nothing for me, I will take it as a favour, and thanke yon for it : though you give meno reliefe, yet if you doe but lend me your care a little, that will be anAlines to me. Thus poore fob ; Heare diligentlymyfpeech, and let this be your con- folation. Verf. 3. Suffer me that I mayfpeake,andafter I kale,: fpcken, mock on. We have here the fecond argument whereby fob befpeakes attention ; Let me fpeake, and after that mockon, doe not judge before you heare. As approving fo mocking or difapproving fhould follow judgement, and judgement fhould follow hear- ing ; no man fhould judge till he bath heard the matter; nor fhould he eyther approve it till he bath judged it found and good, nor mock at it, till hehath judged it vaine and worth. lefTe.Ssfer me that I mayfpeak,and after Ihavefpeken,moc K k k 2 Suffer 6t9
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=