472 Chap. 3r. An Expofttion upon the 'Book of J u a. Verf. 18. give no Mmes but in words ( Tames z. 15,16, ) Ifa ;rather er afrfter be naked, anddeftituteof daily food, and one ofyeufay unto him, depart inpeace, beyou warmed and:filled : nctwithfiarding ye give them not thole things which are neeafull to the Body, what doth it profit ?Barewords will not fatisfie hunger, nor will they make a covering for the naked ; yet words may procure bread for the hungry, and cloathing for the naked ; and in many cafes we may relieve the neceffities of others with our tongues as wel as with our hands. It is a great mercy in God, to guide man ( 'Pfal. 32. $.) Iwill infstrutl thee and teach thee in the way tha thou /halt goe; I willguide thee with mine eye. And fo the promife runs in the Prophet (Ifa. 58. I I.) I will guide thee continually. Now as it is a great favour fromGod to goodmen to guide them in their way ( the way of man is not inhimfelfe, Ter. to. 23.) fo it is a great favour from man toman, efpecially to a poore mats molt ofall a poore widdow, to guide and dired her in her way, to Phew her what conrfe the mud fteere and take for the right end- ing of any intricate bufienes, or for the attainement of her righ- teous ends. And if to guide others in civili and outward affaires and concernments be a great charity, then how great acharity is it to guidepoore foules in fpiritualls, and Phew them their way heavenward ? To give anfwer to that queftion, What (hall I doe to be faved ? or to thefe, how may I walke to all wel-plea- fing ? howmay I keepe my confcience in all my wayes without offence towardGod and toward man? (To anfwer thefe clue- !lions, togive counfel in and refolve thefe cafes is I fay) the heft charity in theworld infinitely better ( which yet muff not be neglettted) thenall worldly charities. Soule-guides are the molt ufefull and neceffary guides ; And doubtlefte lobwas wel skill'd and prae`tifed in this fort ofguiding as wel as in the other; for fo c'liphaz doth at once upbraid him,and enforme us(Chap.4.3,4) Behold thouhaft infrutted many,, and thou haft ftrengtkned the weak* bands , shy words have u eholdenhim that was falling, and thou haft f rengthned the feebleknees. Yob had been every way a guide, and he had alwayes been the widdows guide; l ( faith he ) haveguidedher frommy mothers wombe. Laftly , Note. a,4godly man is not fatisfied with doing goodonce or twice, ina little matter, or for a little while, bat hewould doe good in all matters
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