244 Chap. 3o. An Expofttion upon the Books of J o B. Verf.25. Davids pra Lice, ( 35. 13, 14.) where (peaking of his enemies, who hod rewarded himwith evil' for good, he makes this folemne profeflion, But as for mee when they were ficke , my Cdo othirg was f;ckcl th, 1humbledmyJoule with fafding, andmy prayer r, turned into my acme bofome, (that is, I bettowed hearty prayers upon, and whether t!:ey got any good by them or no, I am lure I did, I found the comfort and the bleflìngof them in my bofome) nor did I only pray for them,bur, I behaved myfelfe as thoub he ( that is, every one of them) had been my friend or brother,'bowed downe heavily as one that mournethfor his mother; but inmy forrowes they rejoyced. Davids enemies could rejos ce in his ruine, yet he could not but mourne in that which was leffe then theirs. As God delighteth not in the death of a (inner, fó neither doth he that is godly. It grieves a godly manmolt to fee others linfull,riversofteares fhould rundowne our eyes,(as they did Davids) becaufe men kept not theLawofGod, ( ?Ja1.119. 1 36) and teares fhould drop fromour eyes when we fee men un- der the revenging band of God, for not keeping or tranfgreffïng his Law : Howmuch moredoth it become the Saints, as the A- poftle counfels them, ( Col. 3. i2.) Teput on as the eletl ofGod, holy andbeloved, bowel's ofmercies and kindnete towards each o- ther, in any fad and fufferingcondition. Wee fhould put onne not only bowel's and mercy, but bowel's ofmercies, we fhould be clothed with bowel's ofmercy, not only togrieve for the Saints that are in mifery, butto relieve them in and helpe them out of mifery. And therefore Further Confiderlobs teares are not barely to be taken for teares ofcompaflion ; fo to weepe for thofe that are in trouble is b,t dry comfort, though we could weepe rivers and floods of teares over them in their troubles. Compaflion muft be accom- panied with"aCtion, and our charity, with liberality as we are able, to Succour and comfort chofe that are in trouble, and to fupply their neceflities. Thus the Apottle both cautions and di- reds, ( ?ames 2. 15, 16.) If a brother or f fler be naked andde- flitate tfdaily food, andone ofysu lay unto them, depart in peace, beyou warmedandfilled : notwithfanding yeegive them not tboje things, which are needfull to the body, what loth it profit ? To compaflionate another with words and teares, and doe no more, is an unprofitable companion; What Both it profit, faith the Apofle ?
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