248 Chap. 22. ffn óxpof°ction upon the Beok,of J"G B. Vert. 25. Thhil tam fan- havefilver offtrengths, orfilver tojtrengthex thee. As for plenty, ilum quad vio- that was fully fet forth in the former verfe, where he is promifed /ail' nihil tam el as the du andthe Gild ofOphir as theflanes of the Brooke. nonnexpxgnári Bdìdes,the word is divers times_applyed to expreffe lrengthby, 'ecuniapelt. but rarely ifat all in Scripture to expreffe plenty by, and here our crc. tranflaters render it fo, not properly but tropically,as appears be- 1i` fore; for properly it ex;reffeth the greaceft ftrength,as firft,The flrengthof the Vnicorn (Num. 23. 22.) Cod brought Jim cost of Egypt, hehallo as it were theftrength ofanVnicorn, Secondly,The flrengthef t.Ilauntains (Pfal. g5. 4.) therefore I conceive it is bel rendredfilver of rlrergth ; as gold is cloathed with a word which liignifies defence, fo filver is joyned with a word that figni- fiesflrength, becaufe there is much ftrength anddefence in both, moneybeing the frncwsor ftrengthofwarre;So that to fay,Thou fhalt havefilver offirength, is as if hehad laid, thy filverfhall be at ftrength, or a bleffing to thee.Some.have flyer & it is no ftrength to them ; or he-calleth it, filver offtrength, because it fhould be confirmed, and eftablifhed for his ufe andin his pbffeffion. He fhould finde, by experieflce, that therewas tacke in ir,that it was folid flyer, or filver that had ftrength in it.So then, there are but feverall expreffionsof the fame thing,all whichgathered together heighten up thepromife of this outward mercy ; he fhould have gold, andGod would ha his defence, yea his gold, and he fhould have filver plenty, enough ofit to makea man weary to tell it;or he fhould have filver of ftrength, his filver fhould be a ftrength tohim, and all this is Allred hirn upon hisrepentance and return to the Allmighty. Hence note ; irlt, That godlineße is the beff andneereft rvay,even to worldly gaine. Godlinefs is gainfull,though agodly man fhould die a beggar; but befides there is worldly gain in it,thefepromifes are not made in vaine. Chrift fpeaks as much (Math. 6. 33. ) Seeke firfl the kingdome of God,and the righteou(neffe thereof ; andall other things (even gold and flyer) ¡hall be added soyau. And the Apoftle is full for it (r Tim. 4 8. ) 'ggod/iorfe is profitablefor all things, 'tisgood tomake men rich, it will bring in worldly profits; God - linefs bath the promife ofgold as well as ofgrace,offilver,as wel as ofpardon and peace, doe not think thatgod li.nels is barren of out-.
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