258 A Commentary upon theG.4el Chap.7. EpheG 5. s.s. Cor.i35. 1v14,th.18, t o., Thef,3.5. Nurab.6.23,3 i. yeahe paffeth by their iniquity tranfgrefïìonand finne,Micah 7.18. with one breath both theree are reported. The high-places were not removed, yet neverthelere A/aes heart was perfect, &c. So i Pet.3.6. compared with Cen.18 12. Sarah: whole fentence was vile and profane : not one good word in it, but this, that fhe calledher husband Lord. God of his goodnefte takes notice of that word, and records it, by St Peur, to her e- ternal' commendation. He fpyeth out and fevereth gold, though but a dramme, from a meffe of droffe ; good grain, thoughbut a handfull, from a heapof chaße, cutsout that which is perifht, (as mendo out of a rottem apple) and preferves the reif. Be ye therefore followers herein of God, as dear children : And walke in love, &c. It thinketh not evil, but beleeveth all things, hopetb all things, [trains. to hold a good opinion,, where it bath leaft pro- bability to induce it ; rafhly Tejecs none, in whom it feeth fignes ofgrace : according to that of our Saviour, See that ye de¡pi¡e not one of t hefe littleones, neither for errour in judgement, Rom.14. 3.10. nor for flips and infirmities in life and converfation, and that becaufe God defpifeth them not,but guards them by his An- gels, verf a o. and faveth them by his Sonne, whom he lent for the purpo(e, verf i r. And i Thef.i.4. Knowing brethren belo- ved,your elt Clion of God, viz. by your effec`fuall faith, laborius love, patient hope, verf.3. although they were fo compaffed with infirmities, as he doubted Jeff the Tempter had tempted them, and his labour had been invain : he feared theirutter Apoftacy. So, Hcb.y.io. he could not but be perfwaded of them better things, andfuch as accompanyfalvation, though he had juffly.and íkiarply reproved them for their dulneffe of hearing, and flotxmeffe of proceeding; yea lets before their eyes that terrour of the Lord upon Apofties, to quicken their pace, andexcite them to profi- ciency. I am black taith the Church, but comely, as the tents of Kellar, as the curtains of Solomon. The Kedarites dwelt in tents and open fields, where ail was expofed to the parching Sunne in the defart.; but in Arabian defarts, and they werevery rich and glorious, (leeEzekay.zL.. yer.49.28,29, 1fa.21.13,16,17. full of precious jemms, gold, and pleasant odours. e/frabia look rudely, yet by farching it regularly, therewere tobe found things . of grearef$ price. So is it with manyof Gods people, elpecially in the fcorching heat of temptation, defertion, or outward afili- etion,cfrc, He that follows his own conjehure, may condenine a deer.
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