Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v9

r to Cl ap.3o; .tn Lxpofitian upon the Reek of Jo N. Verf.t, ny Dabilit9 or continuance in graffe and flowers ? There's no more in man. We law lob a flourifhing flower in the former Chapter, but we fee him a withered flower in this. Secondly, as 741 outward Date changed, fo did the opinion, ofmenabout hip perfon. Hence obferve, (Men are very uncon(tant in their (fteeme and opinions of men. Variety ofopinions often arife concerning the fame men, even while the men are the fame, muchmore when their condition al- ters ; They that were elder then fob,had him in honour formerly. But, Now they that wereyoungerthenhe, bad tine in derifion. And ifwe looke upon the young men in the29th Chapter, they were all in awe of him, and hid themfelves, they durft not appears where he was prefent ; He was a man of fuchauthorit'y, and car- ried it with loch a Majefickgravity, that he w-a above reproach; yet now, evenyouths, grew not only bold with him,but abuuve. We read (e 4Ets 14. t r. ) how highly Paul and Barnabas, were efteemed by the Heathen i yßrians ; thole holymen, had . much a doe to flave off the people from adoring, and facrificing to them ; They cryed them up for more then men, Paying, The Gods are come dawn to tat in the likeneffe ofmen. Sothat `Paul was forced to nfe his heft oratory to perfwadc them out ofthat lav- i[h opinion, arai idolatrous devotion ; (v. Is. ) Sirs whydoeye theft things, we alfo aremenoflike pawns with you,andpreach un. to you that you lhould turn from theft vanities unto the living Clod, yet at the i 8th verfe, theydrew them out ofthe City andDoned' them as men not worthy to live. And as Paulhad here a change from the better to the worfe, fo from the worfe to the better, ( Alts28. 4, 5, 6,) when the BarbariansTaw the venemoses beat bang on his hand, they[aid among themfelves, ne doubt this man is a murderer, &c. And though he Aooke offthe beaft into the fire, andfelt no harms, yet they lookedwhen he /'hould have fwollen, or fallen down deadfueldeztly ; but after they had looked agreat while, andfew noharme come tohim, they changed their minds', andPaid that he was agod ; Thus upon eventsor changes of providence, tzany change their apprehenfions ofmen, fomtimes for the bet- ter,

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