222 Chap. 28. An Expofition upon the Bookof j o Be Vert, a natural parts of man by culture and education. Gold and Silver have an attraElive beauty when purified but ,while they lye in the earth they are bar and'duskie,wecan fcarce dilinguifh them from the earth where they lye, till the skill of man hash wrought them up to their proper perfe6ions. The wifdom of God bath made all things for mans ufe,and he bath given man wifdom to fit them for ufe. Ifall things were fit for ufe as they come imme- diately out of the hand ofGod, man would loofe, as agreat part of his honour, foof hisimployment. All chofe callings, crafts and trades, which are the exercife of mansnatural flrength andgifts, and the prevention of that perl of his moralls, idlenefs, are but fo many wayes found out for the melioration, or bettering of the worker of nature.The earth with the influences of Heaven brings forth Gold by Gods appointment, and Clod bath appointed and inllrueted manto fine or refine and purifie it.Where nature ends* art begins ; and when nature bath done her bell, arc can doe bet- ter. Fourthly, Note ; rhofe things which haveonly a naturalworth and excellency in them, cannotbe attaine4without much labor - We mull dig for the veins of Silver,and fearch forthe placeof Gold, yea, what toyling is there for the Iron and for theBrafs, though much below the former two in worth and excellency. There isnothing in nature that hash any ufefulnefs or precious nefs in it, but tolls a great deal of pains before we can enjoy ir. How much more Both Gofpel-grace (which is infinitelybetter then Gold and Silver)require labour and paines!lf theta (faith So. lomon,Prov.2.4, 5. fpeaking of fpiritual wifdom) feekeff her as fil. ver, andfearcheth for her as for bid treafures, then fhalt thou under- fand the fear of the Lord, andfind the knowledge ofGod. Silver is fought with fomuch diligence , t hat tofeeka thingus Silver, is a proverbial fpeech for diligent feeking. We are eafly- perfwaded to labour hard for Silver, but how hardly are we perfwaded to labour, beyond our cafe, for wifdom. Hence, Fifthly, Obferve ; Man is willing and ready to undertake any labour, to run -through any difficulties to attain the precious things of the eartb. If
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