5 16 An Expofition upon Chap. 12 . Whence it is,that many have neglected things neceffary to be known, and fruitlull, to fearch out things which cannot be fought out, and tend not a whit to edifying. Of thefe men Solo- mon faith, that fuch as fearch the Ma- jetty ¡hall be (wallowed up , it is the Wifemans counfèll to content our (elves with that which God hath com- manded and taught, and not to Peek unto high things above our capacity. It is a needieffe matter ( faith Augu- ffine)to define that without danger,what we may be ignorant of without dan- ger: and better it is Hill to doubt of things hidden, then to contend about that which is uncertain. The third branch is curio fity, when a man thru- fteth his fickle into other mens harveft, ru(bing beyond the bounds of his own calling, to run into and intermeddle with the matters which appertain to the vocation of other men, intruding upon other mens gifts and funftions; as King Vzza did ufurp the Neils (unction, 2 Cbron. 26. x6. andanother Vzza rut his hand to theArke:as Ro- mifh Prelates not content to meddle with their own Churches affairs, would curioufly bufie themfelves with other mens Churches and charges, and fecular matters, till they did arife unto this height of tyranny which now they are grown unto. To be (fort, as all bu fie bodies do, which leave their own places and matters, to intermeddle with that which in no wife belongs to them,con- trary to the precept of the Apofle, t Meg: 4. x t . Study to be quiet, and to do our ownbufineffe.This curiofity draweth with it infinite contention and much wafle of time, which mi,t be better (pent : as Seneca faith, Men (pend much timeamiffe in doing nothing, but more in doing evil! things,and yetmoft of all in doing other things which be not proper to us, but appertain to our neighbours ; and this is moft 'properly meant here. T x tu. Now wefee what it is (to under. f and above that is meet :) let to hear what it i (to thinkfoberly) which is the fecond part of Paulo exhortation ? S t t. There is a fobriety of the body, ooubíc s . i which is properly temperance,and con- briery. fills in a moderation of our appetite about pleafurable things of this life; as meat, drink, apparel!, generation, &c. Secondly,a fobriety of themind,which is modefty or humility, (the mother of all vertues, and the preferver of the minde in foundneffe and temper : ) as on the other fide, pride is the over- thrower and overturner of the minde, leading men oftentimes to folly and madneffe.This humility ftandeth in two things : Firft, the fight and acknow- ledgement of our own infirmity. Se- condly,in a contentment with ou r own gifts and condition of life, without be- ing puffed up through our gifts,orthru- fling our oars into other mens boats,by by beingbuhe in other mens callings. This is to be wife according to fobrie- ty,as the next verfe opens it, when we judge or think of our (elves, according to the meafure of our own graces and degree,efteeming meanly of our (elves, and much better ofothers then of our (elves. T r st. What be the reafons whereby Paul perfwadethus to the exercife of this Chrßioa modefly S t L. Firlt, becaufe it is God, who is the diftributer of our gifts, x Cor.7.7., 2 Cor. ra. 6. Now it is certain, that God adminifireth his gifts both moll wifely and molt juflly; therefore, let not fuch as have greater gifts, be info - lent,feeing nothing is their own, but, all received, i Cor. 4. 7. nor men of lelIer gifts repine at othecs,for this were to negle& Gods adminifiration. Nei- ther let any man hide his talent Ina Napkin, or bury it in the ground,with the naughty fervant in the Gofpell, re- membring that God will have an ac- count of his gifts,how they are u fed or bellowed.Thefecond reafon is, becaufe God hath diftributed a gift to every man ; there is not a perfon in Gods fa- mily, but bath a talent committed to him : one bath the gift of teaching,ano- ther of exhorting, another of ruling, another of being ruled : one hash a pub - lick gift, another bath a private gift : as in
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