Chap. 29. An Exp tion Fspos; thl IN of I o , OVerf, 2o, 579 That of the Prophet reaches both the perCons mad conditions of all men (Ifa.4o, 6, 7.) 411 f cfh is grog's, and the goodlinefs thereof as the flowerof the Field, tire Graffe witbereth, the Flower fadeth. How often have we fern the slogof thole that have been in power fading as the Graffe, and their good;ineo, their honour, and fplcudor,withe! ing like the flower of the Field; Tlx ii bow hach ben weakned in their hand, and at lift fallen quite out of theirhand, And whence is all this ? Surely,as the P,ophet fpeelts in the fame place concerning the withering of the fleiv tF 'cis.be m caulle the fpirit of the Lord bloweth upon them. W oen the ,lpir t of the Lord blowech a cold chilling wind,every thing decayes and dyes, as ie is laid (Hag, I. 9.) re looked for much, and lo it, cams to little; and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it ;that is, I lent an unkind and rough windupon it.Andwhen the Spirit of the Lord blowech a favourable gale,or breaths a blefliug, then e- very thing fionrifheth,¬ only retaines,but renews its (icength and beauty. Tis this breath of the Lord upon the, Magificace; which keeps his glory frefh, and reneweth the impreß'ions of his power upon the hearts of his people every day. Mofe.efpeaking of the Idolatry of the children of Ifrael,faith (Dear. 32.i,ß.8.) They facrificed to new Gods that came newlyup,whom their fathers feared not ; bat ofthat rock that begat them they were unmindful, and for - got theGod that formed them. Even the glory of the ever- living and all-Glorious God is not alwayes frefh in the heart of man. They muff have ¡ newGods, elle their devotion groweth old. And if there be fuch a principle of wickednefs in the heart of min to be weary of the immortal God, how much more of any mor- tal God. The relp>a and honour or Magìtirates is more fubic& to decaying anddying, then .theiäperfons are. It is the Lord,who preferves bothhis own dory and the Magiftrates glory freth a- mong the people_, Arad %is he allo that reneweth the Magifirares bow in his hand, that mak±' i; Eis authority terrible, as abow with arrows in the hand of a mighty man,the Pfslmifl fait h,(Pfei. t27.. 4.)As arrows are in the hand of a mighty Man, fo are children of theyoutb.Andwhile the Mltlagifirates Bow or Authority(for that's it out of which he fends forth or (hoots hisarrows) rernaines, like children in their youth,frefh and (irong, and is daily renewed in firength,all fubmrt to hisgovernmenr,and the wicked tremble at it. And, though the Archers, as 'cis Paid of Jofeph (Gen.49.2,3, E e e e 2 24°)
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