Chap.27. Àn Expofiton npon the Book of o s. Verf.1 t. feEiions; and fo thole who receive them are madefruitful' in praúice. When c.24 fes was about tomake his laf or dying Sermon tol¡ rael, he infilis much upon this metaphor, My doElrine (ball drop as the raine, and myjpeech [hall diflill as the dew,as the /mall retitle upon the tender herbes,and as the[homers upon thegraffe,(Deut.3 2. 2. ) And in the 34th Chapter of this booke, Elihu preferring the teachings of God above all teachings, faith, Who teacheth like him ? namely,like God ; none teacheth fopowerfully, fo effe tu= ally as God ; yea, there's no efficacy or power in any teaching but in the teaching of God. TheHebrew is,who rainetb like him? Noman ever powred out fuch raines or dif illed fuchdewsof ho- ly do&rine as God doch; He with a word can make that heart and the life which before was a dry heath or barren wildernefs, to bud or bloffom like Eden, to fpring likea watered garden. But though it be true which Elibu faid, that no man can teach or raine down like God, yet man muff venture and doe his parr, Hemay fay to his Brother or friend, as jobhere did, 1 will teach ( or drop do&rive upon )yore by the band of God. Hence Note ; It is aduty toteach thole whoare ignorant and out ofthe way. It is aduty to learn, but it is a higher duty to teach ;it is good to receive [nftruecion, but it is better to give it. Davad having prayed earne(fly that God wouldgive him a new experience of his free grace in the pardon of his fin, promifeth ( Pfal. çr, 13. ) Then will teach tranfgreffors thyvoles, andfinners [hall be con- vertedunto thee ; That is, I will doe myutmoft, and take all op- portunities for the converfion of finners. Chrifi faith to Peter, (Link. 22.3 2. ) When thouart converted flrengthen thy brethren ; ftrengthen themby inffru&ion, and flrengthen them withconfo- lation, evenwith chofe comforts wherewith thou wa(I comforted in thy converfion. He fpeaks not of his firfc Converfion, Peter was converted long before from a flute of fin, but he fpeaks of his renewed converfion from a fpeciall a& of fin. When thou art converted from that fin, from that foule fin of denying me, then ftrengthen thy brethren by telling them what God bath done fog thy foul. It ir the duty of all whoare ableandcalled,to teachothers ; but none are fo fit forit, nor have anyfo much reafon todoe it,as they avhoJhave experienced thegrace ofGod to themfelves in the padon of 117
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