An Expojititm, with Notes Gods hand is open, but our h.eartsare not open : The divine grace; like the Olive trees in Z echary, is ahvays dropping.; but we want av.cf{el. That Expreffion of the Virgin is notable, Luk: r. 46. M1 heart doth magnifie the Lord, M~yGtr-w)c-t, that is, make more room for God in my thoughts. When Gods bounty is not onely ever-flowing, but over-flowing, we {hould make our thoughts and hopes as large and comp~ehenfive as poffibly they can be ~ When the King of glory is drawing nigh, they are bidden to fct open the doors, Pfal. 24. 7·. No thoughts ofours canfcarcht~utGod toper– fection ; that is, exl1aufl: and draw out all the excellency and glory of the Godhead: But certainlywe lhould rife and afccnd more in our apprehenfions. 2. Let us imitate our heavenly Father, Give liberally, rJ:7rr-c-:~, that's the word of the Text, with afree anda native bounty: Give jimp!y, not with a double,minde: Some men .,. , , have a backward and adofe heart, liberal ondy :in promifes. Con– . ~ip.'71'o~Gtv, fider, Coddqthnotfeedyou with emptypromifcs. Others eye Self f:I.>~·A.Mv 11 XGt- in all their kindnefs, make a* mP~rk.ft of their charity; this is not ~~c~::e~s~Jv. (tmp!y, a~d acc<?r?ing to _the divine ~at't_e~n. Some men gi~e gr~d~Nun e~ [portu· ~ngly, ':Vtth adtv~ded mmde, ha~f t~chnt~g, haJf forbea~mg; this. ta qu.e nrgotia· ts not hkeG9dnetther. Others gtve mgUile,.and to dec~tve men; tir•.Manial. 'tis kindnefs to their hnrt, ,Nleg. J!JICtJeg.~ gifdefs gifts: * Their *Tune~ Dan/: , courtefie is mofi dangerous. Give like your heavenly Father, lios & auna Je· . . rmtes. berally, jimpfy. . . . Obferv II. . n. From that [Andupbratdeth·not;] Men are aptto do fo,but ' God gi-veth in anot:her manner. Obfervdrom hence, Firfr, in the general; · That (jPdgiveth quite in another manner, then m~tn doth. 'Iis our fault to meafure infinitenefs by our Lafr, and tomnfe of God according as weufeour felves. The foul in all her conclu.. lions is diretled by principles and premijes of fenfe and experi– ence ; and becaufe weconverfe withlimited natures and difrofiti.. ons, therefore we doe not. fmme propel!· and worthy thoughts qf God: twas the g~oiS Idolatry of tht Heathens, T{) turn the glo. ry of the·glory of the inco-rruptibleGod into the im~ge of am11n, . Rom. r• .z3••that is, to fancy God according to the lhap.e and-figure of our bodies: andfo 'tis the fpiritualldolatry,df Chrifiians,.to.fancy God according to the~odel andGzt: of their ownminds and difpo.. fitions.I .am perfwaded there doth nothiag difadvantage us fo much ~ Pra. P. 11. in beleeving, as this conceit, That* qod u altogether lik.! our [elves; we,beingofeaget and revengeful fpirits)oanoot beleeve his . '· .. - .-- - .. . ..- p~~!~~~~
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