Chap. 3r. ßn Expofttion upon the Book,, of J O a. Verl, i6. 459 The fayling of theeyes is painfull, and implyes a decay in <<na. Lure; The eyes fayle through old age, or through much hndyly weakneffe and want. 'Tis layd (Per. 14. 6. ) The wild fi°s did Hand in the high places, they fnuffed up the mind like Dragons, theireyes didfaylebecaufe there was nografe. Whatfoever makes the eyes fayle is afBitlive ; Therefore long delayes muft needs be a great afiftion, teeing they make the eyes fayle ; yea delayes doe more thenmake the eyes fayle, they make the heart fayle too ( Tro.i 3. a 2.) Hopedeferred, makes the heart ficke,, bate when the delire cometh it ie a tree oflife. 'Tis the word in the former part of this verfe, when the defire cometh ; that is, when the thing defired comet!), it is as a tree of life. A lingringhope is like a lingring confumption, it weakens the whole man. Hópe having cocceaved tome probable good approaching,waites for the birth ofit; And we are like awoman in travel till it be brought forth long travel in child - bearing makes the mother ficke and faint; and fo doth hopemake us, whew we travel long in the bringing ofit forth. But as a woman forgets the paineof her travel for joy that a man is borne, fo dothhe that fees his hope, that is,the ging hoped for borne. ThisSolomon expreffeth to the life, when he faith, The delire come le a tree of life. As ih,hen Chrift who is called The de fire rf 2Qtions ( Hag. 2.7. ) (hall come, he will be a tree oflife to all truebeleevers ; fo in its degreeandmeafure is the corningof any good thing which we delire. The fullfilli.ng of delre is fo great a reliefe that it is a kind ofNew life to the foule, and caufech our dead hearts to revive.The hearts of many Godly men have been made ficke when Godbath deferred their hope David fayd ( Tfal. 69.3. )-Mine eyesfayle while IWaite for my God. And againe( Pfal. i r9, 92.) Mine eyesfaylefor thy word ; that is, in waiting to receive that goodwhich thou haft promi- fed in thy word. Whether God or man keepe us long at a fiance from our hopes, we quickly were with griefeof heart and fayling ofeyes. Total denying and long delaying ate not farce afunder. Thirdly, Obferve. The widdows cafeandcomfit muff not be delayed. If widdows are not fpeedily relieved,they are doubly grieved. They are weake, and not able tobeare much They are under forrow already. To deferre-their hope is togive them forrow N n n 2 upon
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