4,10 Chap. Z3 . tfn $xpofition upon the Bool¿, of J OB. Verf. t2. portion. So the word is ufed (gen. 47. 22.) Onely the Landof the Pritftf bought he not,for the Prieftf bade portion affigned them of Pharcah, and they eau the portion which hegave them; their affig- ned portion; is expreffed by this word; a portion it was to live up- on 9 fuch as Schoners have in Colledges, and Mmes-men in Hof pitalls by the Statute of their Founders. And in the book of the Proverbs, wehave it twice ufed in fuch a fenfe (Pro. 30. 8 ) Re- movefret., me varsity, and )yes, give me neitherpoverty nor richer, feed me withfood conveyTent f r me, or with my Paiutebread;that is, give me fomuch onely as the lawof nature, or the lawofmy necefiiry and conveniency calls for, to fit me for duty; with this liatute bread let me be fed, let others have their full tables, `Ibis (hall ferve my turne. Againe ( Pre, 31. 15. ) She arifeth 0 while it is yet night (ipeaking of the good haute-wife)and¡he gi- verb meat to ber kufehold, and a portion to her maidens ; fhe dotti not throw thehoufe out at windows, or make havock ofall, as not caring which end went forward. And as the is no prodigal! wafter, fo the is neither niggardly nor fcraping, neither pirìeing nor pinching, but giveth a meet portion to her maidens. So here, I have deemed the word ofthy mouth more then my necrffàryfood. This (mall proportion of food greatens the fenfe of the Text, and heightens robs holineffe and piety very much ; for when we come to full tables, where there is exceffe,our ftomacks loath the mear, and the more meat there is, the ìeffe fome are able to eat, becaufe the [lom;ick is over-charged with the fight ofit. Appetite may be dull'd with abundance ; but when we finde onely a convenient, neceff:ry !lame portion, as it were, fo much as is needful) to fa- tisfie hunger, and give force moderate delight, this pleafeth moft and is more efteemed by temperate perforas then the greateft feaÍt in the world. A man doth not nautiate his neceffary food, or loath what hunger craves ; a cruft of bread, and that which is courfe is pleafant then;neceffary food is the fweeteft food,andwe are belt fatisfied with that which breeds no fatiety. We live mefl comfortably with that food,v itheut which wecannot liveat ail sow. fortably,. So then, when lob faith here, I deemed the wordofhe mouth mere then my necefaryfood, it is as ifhe hadplainely faid,I tookmore care for,and had a higher efteemeof the foodofmy focale; then for that foodofmy body,whichnecef ity forceth eve. ay roan to efteem, Bence
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