10 VE R. s.:z. An E xpojition, 'With Notes then; !!.f!odfratres nosvocdmm,infamant,faithTertuUi~n: And it is.fiill made matter ofreproach; what fcoff more ufual then that ofholy Brethre14 ? Ifwe win not keep up the tide, yet the affeai· on,which becomes the rel.Mion ,fhould not ceafe. The term htnteth duty to al forts ofChrifiians, meekzlefs to thofe that excel in gifts or office, that they may be n<?t fiately and difdainful to the meanefi in the body ofChrifr ; It is Chrifis own argument, Ye are Bre·th1·en, Mat.2 3.8. And it alfo fuggefieth love, and m~tt-Hal amity; Who fl1ould love more then thofe that are united in the fame headand hope? Eodem fanguine Chrifti _glutinati, as Auguftine faid of himfdf, and his friend Alipivu, that is, cemented with the fame Blood of Chrifi; We are all travelling homeward, and expect eo meet in thefame hei/l,ven: 'Iwould be fad, that brethren fbould fall out by the way, Gen.45. 24. 'Iwas once faid , Afpice, ut fc . mutuo diligum Chrifiiani? See how the Chriftians love one ano• ther! Tertul. in Apol. cap.g9. But alafs, now we may fay, See how they hate one another ! · Obfcrvat. :z. 2. From that [count it J miferies are fweet or bitter, according as we will reckon of them : Seneca [aid,Levu eft dolor ji nihil opi– nio adjecerit: Our grieflyeth in our own opinion and apprehm/ion of mifeties. Spiritual things are worthy in chemfelves,other things depend upon-onr opinion and valuation of them. Well then,it O:an- · deth ~s much upon tomake aright judgment,therein lyeth our mife– ry or cornfort;things are according as you wil count them.That your judgments may be rectified in point ofaffiiCl:ions, tal<e thefe Rules. I. Do not judg by fenfe: Heb. 12.1 I .No ajfiiffion[Dr the prefent T6eoJb,in /or. feemeth joyom but L~rievom,&c. Theophylart obferveth, that in this paffage two words are emphatical, 71'fd~ Ta ?rcte9 v and J'oH/.1, for the prefent, andfcemeth; [.for the prcfcnt J noteth·the feeling, and experience of fenfe;md [fccmeth J the apprehenfion and dictate ofit : fenfe can feel no joy in it , and fenfe will fuggdl: t1otbing but bitternefs and forrow; but we are not to go by that count and reck– oning. AChriilian liveth above the world 1 b'ecau[ehe doth not judg arcording .to the world. Paul's fcorn of all fublunary accidents arofe from his fpiritUll judgmem concerning them, Rom.8. 1 8. I reck._fm that the jufferings of thu prefent world are not 'Worthy to be compared with the ;oys that foal! be revealed in us. Senfe, that is altogether for prefent things, would judg quite otherwife ; but faith the Apoille, I reck_pn., (i.e.) reafonby another manner ofrule · and
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