64 VERS·9· AnExpojititn:,withNotes CHAP·l· ry in the Lord. Aman cannot finkfo low, as to be pafr the help of JPiritual comforts. In thepl.-~ce ofDragons there is fomewhat to . check murmurings, fomewhat that may all~y the bitternefs of our condition, if we had eyes to fee it : Though the worft thing were happened to you, poverty, lojs Qfgoods, exile, yet in all this there is noground r.:f imp.ttiency : The brother of low degree may pitch upon fomething i~ whichhe mayglory. Well then, do not excufe pajfignbymi[ery,and blameyour condition,when you lhould /;lame Jour [elves: 'fis not your miferJ, but yourpajfions, that occafion fin ; Wormwood is not poy(o.n. But alafs, the old Adam is found in us: . 7 he U'oma.'4 Which thou gaveft me, gave me, and1did eat. We blame providence,when we lhouldfmite upon our own thighs: •ris but afond excufe to fay, Never fuch fufferings as mine; Lam. I. I 2. Is there any forrow lik§ unto my forrow? Men pitch upon that circumftance,and fo jufiifie their murmurings. But remember, the greatnefs ofyourfuffirin,~s cannot give allowance to the·exor- , bitancies of your paf]ions : The low degree hath its comforts. Obfervat. 7• 7· Fromtbat [rejoyce, or glory,or boaft,] There is aconceffion of fome kind of boafiing to a Chrifiian, he may glory in his privi-_ Iedges. To flare this matter, I .!hall lhew you ; I. How he may not hoaft : I. Not to fet off fe!f, [elf-worth; [elf-merits; fo the Apofiles reproof is jufi., I Cor. 4·7· why doft thou glory (the fame word that is ufed here) .u if thou hadft not received what thou haft ? That's an evil glorying, to glory in our fdves, as ifour gifts and graces were of our own purchafing, and ordained for the fetting offof our own efreem; all fucb hoafting is contra~y to grace, as the Apofile faith, Rom.3.27. n~ ou% ~ JGctv– :X}IITJ~; Where u hoa(fing ? 'Tt"-:5 excluded by grace. 2. Not to vaunt it over others ; the Scripture giveth you no allowance to feed pride: ~tis the language of hypocrites, Ifai.6).)· Standhy thy [elf, I am ho!.er then thou:To defpife others,as carnal,as men ofthe world,and to carry our felves with an impericus roughnefs towan;ls them, 'cis afign we forget Who m.:ide the difference : The Apofile .chideth fuch kindofperfons,Rom. I 4·1o. 'Tt ~~~9svEi'H Why dojf thou fet at naught thy brother? Tertullian readeth it, Cur nullificas? rvhy aoft thou notiJing him? He that maketh nothi1~g of others,· forgetteth that God is ~ll in All to him{eif. Grace is of another temper, Tit. 3+ Shew meek!,zefs to all men, for We our[elves in times pa[l Were foolifh anddifobedient : So think of whatyou are, that
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