VB R s.;. An Exp~Jiti9n, with Notn fpel, 'tis in regard of God, lofr and forgotten. So E~ek.: r8.24. w'hen he turneth to iniquity, a!/ the righteoufnefs t~at he hath done fha/1 not be mentioited. As under the Law, ifaNa~~~trite had defiled him[elf, he was to begin all anew; Numb.6. u. The d11JI th.1t 'Were before (ball be /fJft, becaufe ,his {eparation 'W.u defiled: As ifhe had fulfilled the halfpart of his vow, or three pares ofhis vow, yet all was as to be null and loll upon every pollution, and he was to begin again : So ·cis in point of,Apofl:acy, after,by a folemn vow and confecration,we have feparated our felves to Chrill:, ifwe d<'J not endure ro the end, all the righteoufnefs, zeal and patience of our former profeffion is forgotten. Verf.). Ifany ofyou lacfz.'Wi{dom,let himas/z.ofGod,that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; ~tnd it jha!t Ge given him. The Apollle having fpoken of bearing affiiClions, with a mind above them, cometh here to prevent an objetl:ion, which might be framed thus: Thu u an hardfaying, to keep up the {pirit not only inpatience, but joy; When all things are againll us, who c4n ~tbide it .? Duty is foon expreJTed,but how lhall we get it pr~tfli[ed? The Apoflle granteth it, 'cis hnrd, and it will requireagreat deal of fpi~ ritual skill and 'Wlfdom;wbich tfyou want (faith he) God will fur~ nitb you,ifyou as/z.it ofhim: and upon this occafion digreifeth into the rules and encouragements of prayer : In this verfe he encoura~ . geth them by the nature andpromife ofGod. But to the words. - •_Nml drtbtt , 7 nIfany of pmJ *This Ifcloth not argue doubt,but only inferreth ~;~~~;itd f up· afuppo(ttion. But why doth the ApofHe fpea.kwith a fuppofition? Hofca 14 . ~hodoth ~ot I:ckwlfdfm-:?May we not ask m the Prophets que- • !hon, who es Yvife? T¥ho u prudent ? I anfwer, I .Such expreffions ' do more frrongly aver and affirm a thing, as Mal. I .6. If I be a Fa~ ther, where u my honour? if I be aMafter, where i.> my fear? Not as ifGod would make adoubt of tllefe things,but fLtch fuppo· fit ions are the firongefi affirmations, for they imply a prefumption of aconce.!fion; You'l all grant, I am aFather,andaMafler, &c. So here, Ifyou laclz.wifdom; you will gram, youall lack this skill: So Rom. I3·9·lfthere beanyother Commandment)&c.The Apofile knew there was another Comm.u-~dment; but be proceeded upon that grant: So 2 The f. I .6. li71'~~, Ifit bea righteom thing,&c. The Apofile takech it for gtanted 1 'cisrighteous, to render trioulation to , · the
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