246 Chap. 3ó. An Expofttion upon the Took of Jo B. Vert', 25. Chrift wasmercifull before he tooke our nature, ( God is infi- nkely merciful), and Chrift as the Son or fecond p r on in the. Trinity, thought no robbery to be equall with God, and there- fore muft .needs be infinitely mercifutl before bee Cooke our nature) but hee was not merciful) by way of Compaffion, or as having a fymphathy with us or a fence of our tor- rowes, and fufferings upon him, from his owne experience, as he wasGod ; As fuch purely he could not be feneible of our for- rows in that way. And for this caufe ( amongmanyothercau- frs) he became man, that fo he might be fencible of them, and that having taken our forrowes upon himfelfe, he might give us a ready reliefe and helpe out of them. This is compleate Chari- ty, when our compsffi ns are altive for the reliefe of thofe that Exre,ior largi- are in,mifery. I grant if we compare heart-compaffron and hand. en: rem extra reliefe together, the fòrmer is in it felfe moreexcellent then the fevel Ìf 1". latter for he thatgives reliefe, offers fomewhat out of himfelfe, fl4t,n e` tom- but he that beftowes compaffion upon another, gives. him fome- paionem pro., what Ofhimfelfe, or from withinhimfelfe he gives nim his heart x4ao t ¡bait a- and good will, which is better then any ernaíl gift; yet if any ti jaedde feinet- man fhall thinke he hath doneenough, (it being in his power to 'tto dedt4 doe more ) for an afflieeted friend or brother, when he hash pi- Greg. Moral. tied him and beftowed aparcel ofgood words only upon him, let him know he hash donenothing at all for him. Conspsffinn ù better then the fruit.,. of it, but compafon withoutfruit is not good. He that gives a cupofcold water only, (where reed is) in corn- .. paffion, (hall not look his reward, but compaffin alone (where cold water is needed, and we have it to give) tali have no re- ward. Lally , Ifit be a duty to weepe for thole that are in bard dares, and to begrieved for thepoore, Then Firft , How fhort are they oftheir duty, that re7ioyce not on- ly in,but at the forrowesof others, and who are glad of their griefe. Thewickednes offuch was fhewed (v. 9. ) Secondly, How (tort are theyofthis duty; who in hard daves upon others, in ftead of pitying and weeping for them, upbraid themwith their troubles, and craft their afflictions in their teeth, Such unnaturali and cruel men , have alto been branded from other paffages of this Booke and Chapter. Thirdly , How farceare they departed from this duty, who tnftead
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