Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v8

2,80 Chap. 28. an Expofìtion opon the Book, of j o B. Verf. eo. is any glory like to that which appeares in what is feen.Beleivers look not at the things which eire feen, brat at the things whichare NOT feen (aCo -. 4. 18) unbcleivers look not at the, things which are not feen, but at the things which are feen. Faith is theevi- dence of things which are not feen ; fence hath no evidence of any thing beyond what it fees. And therefore the bell things feen, (fu.ch are Silver and Gold and glittering Gemms) are the belt delights of the moltof the children of men, the delire of their eyes,and the joy of theft hearts; after there their foules run,and to'. them they ci rave:nor had it been to 7ods purpofe,if there rarities, Gold and Silver, 6c. had not been of high efteem with men, to have fpoken of them ::ere. And though it cannot bedenied, but that the tufts and pride of men have let the greateft price upon thefe things; (The.cóverous man is all forGold andSilver ;proud seen and women are all for precious (cones and jewels)yet it tnult be granted that they have afro agreat intrinfecal worth in them ; they are ferviceableas well es delightfull, and yeeld an excel- lency to the eye of reafon as well as tothe eye of fence. Indeed moll men exceedingly over-.ate them, and earthly-mindedmen not only elfeem them 1-:ighly, but adore them füperflitioufly as a God, or as their chiefefi good. VVhen the Ifraelite: would make themfelves a God,they made it of +îarold,AGoldencalf ; fo Mofes at once complained'againfi and prayed for them (Excel. 3 z, 31.) Oh this people havefinned a great fin, and have made them Clods of Gold. And as they (in this grofs way of I dolatry) made them Gods of Gold,lo nothing is more Common then (in a dole way of Idolatry) to make Gold a God. All theydoe fo, who give it rhoIe valuations and affe&ions which are due and proper CO God only. Thus the covetous mans Gold is his God and every man whole mind is either delightedvainly, or lifted up inordinately, either in the poffefling or wearing of Gold and Silver, puts them in the place of God. Now, what higher efieem can man bellow upon any thing, then to e(leem it as God, who is higher then all things, and the maker of all things. AGodlyman ufeth thefe things, but he doth not admire, much lets adore them. He takes and ime-press them as they are, the fporrs of nature,the delights of fence, the criills of humane folly, and at bell, the helps of hu- mane frailty ; But thatwhich he properly and truly feckes, and loves, and embracerh,and rejoyceth in, is infinitelybetter then all there.

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