512 Chap. 31. An Ezpoftion upon the Rook of Jo B. Vtrf.23. eAcc:anted all thugs, brat dung, and droft, (Phil. 3.9 ) The reafon whyany overrate the things of this world, why they reckon their gold and filver, better then gold and fiber, and their honours better then honour is becaufe they under-rate Chrift, they account Chrift leffe then Chrifi, his blood lower, then his blood is, and his fufferings of a fmal'er value, then his fuff:rings are. They make Chrifi le& then he is, elfe they would never make the thing; of the world greater then they are. What a nothing is all in our felves to us, and all in others tous, yea all other both things and perfons to us, when we have feene God in Chrift our Ail, or our Alines in God through Chrift ! Did we convene with God by faith in his highnefs and greatnes, what could be highor great in our eyes in comparifon of him ? Wee commonly fay, Nothing id high or great to a highor great Ipirit howmuch more may we fay, nothing is high or great to a fpirit hightned and greatned in God. Fourthly, The remembrance of Gods Highnefs isvery com- fortable to all that are in a low condition, they having an inte- reft inhim, or being (through grace) related to him. The High Godfeu the poore on high ( Pfal. 107. 41.) For as another Scrip- ture affires us, Thoughour Godbe high , yet hehash regard to the lowly (pal. 138.6. ) Here is comfort to thofe that are low and lowly, who are low in eftate, and lowly in fpirit who have the graceof lowlynes in a condition of lownes ; They have a friend on high, and he beinghigher then the higheft, can rayfe thofe on high, whoare lower (in theirowne fight) then the Ioweft. Laftly, If the Lord be molt High, then let us make the Lord our higheft end,and exalt him,not only in,bur above all our felfe- aymes and defignes. The heft way to fet forward or attaine to our owne ends, is to make God our higheft end. While we fin- cerely advance the nameof God we need rake no careof our owne advancement ; let Cod alone with that. But if any man fats his owne ends above God, let him know, he fees himfelfe a- boveGod too, yea he makes himfelfe his god ; which is at once the hight of fin, ofmadnes, and ofprefumption. Againe, When yob faith , By reafon of hhe highnelr 1could not endure ; Confider lob was a man in high place himfelfe, Yob held the bight of the Mill others were but in the valley, in thole times to which thefe words referre. And yet, faith he, by reafn of his higbnefr 1 couldnot endure. Hence Anima magne mi-hit tnagaem.
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