G 0 i) A fi A B I T A T I 0 N. Book II. C 0 R 0 L L A R E S. !. THIS lhews the great and wonderful Condefcenjion of God- in giving himfelf to be his People's Portion. 2. This lhews the great Difference between the Godly and Ungodly, the one are exceed– ing rich in the Midfl of Poverty, and the other milt:rably poor in the Midfl of Riches· a, in the Cafe of Lazarus, and the rich Man, Luke xvi. ' 3· lt fhcws how grofsly the World is abufed by Satan, in efleeming good Men to be poor and miferable; .Gnce the Meaneft of them is born W a Kin;;dom, and Heir apparent to a Crowil, whtch ts but the leaft Part of theu Portwn netther; for the Heioht of their Inheritance is the God of the Kingdom. 0 4• From hence we fee the Reafon <vby wife and good Men jlighted the World; for they had piercing Judgments, and could fee beyond it, and take a View of that more exceeding and eternal fVeight of Glory, that an Interelt in this Portion 01all inveft them in. 5· From hence we may be informed why God is fo much jlighted in the World, not becaufe he is unworthy of chief Regard, for he is all excellent : (2 .) Not becaufe he is 'tot fufficiently difcovered to be fo ; for the Hea~·ens declare his Glory: And if a rare Piece of Art and Curioftty in a royal Palace will lead us to judge it the Producr of an inge– nious Mind; much more the View of the ftately Canopy of Heaven, and the Wonders of the Creation, will carry our Minds to the Contemplation of the great Creator: But (3.) It is becaufe of afferted and chofen Ignorance, with which Satan ftrikes; fo that Men's Damnation is of thcmfelves. 6. This fhews the infinite Reafons that Jway with good Men for the Choice of this Por– tion, becaufe if they have him, all that is good and defirable is theirs, and all is nothing without him. 7· This may lead us to enquire who have this God for their Portion. ( 1.) They are fuch as Jet light by the World, and all Things O>Ort of him. (2.) Their 'l'honghts are upon him, and bzmger and thirfl after him, cleaving to him as the highef/ ObjeCt. (3.) They make their Boa!t of him, I will make my Boafl of God. (4.) They take care to keep him. And, (5 .) Are refolved to exalt him: 0 God, thou art my God, I will ex• alt.thee. 8. This leads us to an ufeful Enquiry after the beft Way to get this God to be our Por· tio11, which may be reduced to the following Heads : (I.) It is nece.J!ary to know how we loft him, viz. by Sin. (2.) To remove tha't which feparated us from him- Let the Wicked forfake his Way, &c. (3.) By Confellion and Acknowledgment to foe to him, as the Prodigal did; for he that confejfes and forfakes Si11, fhall find Mercy. (4.) To draw our Hearts from earthly Objecrs, which may be Evils (though not in themfelves, yet) by Accident, becaufe we cannotJerve God and M ammon. (5.) We muft believe on Chrift, and obey him. 9· This 01ould teach us Contentment, fince this Portion is enough. (2.) Not to fear Death, becaufe it is but the Entrance to a fuller Enjoyment. (3.) Not to repine at others large Share of the World, becaufe this Portion infinitely excels it. (4.) We ought to live upon it, as our proper and peculiar Inheritance. G 0 D A H A B I T A T I 0 N. "111 "11::1 1)~ !1"0 0!1~ 11)10 'l1~ * Pfal. xc. I. Lord thou h4fl bem our Dwelling-place, (or · Habitation) in Generation and Generation- (or, in all Generations.) See Pfal. xci: 9· K!%1 o p.~vw11 ~:v T)) aty<Z'~'~'"'Il, 1:11 -rw Ehw p.tvt1, &c. 1 John iv. 16. Et manens. (vel qui manet) in charitate, in Deo manet- He that abideth (or dwelletl1) in Love, dwelleth in God. UNDER the Metaphor or Similitude of an Habitation, or Dwelling·place, the Lord God is expre£fed by the Pfalmifl in this Text: The Words Habitation, Dwelltng– place, and Houfe, are promifcuouOy ufed in Scripture, and Ggnify the fame Thing, v:z. the chief Place of Rejidence, or Abode; the Nature, Ufefulnefs, and Convemencj of which the enfuing Parallel demonfhates: • Domint Habiraculufll [«i/li nobis in GeneratiMt f.5 Cuzerations Alias Montan. METAPHOR.
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