5 76 An Expofition upon the eredit of treir Lord ; and naturali ' children doe fludy huw to increafe the reputation of their parents, tuch ought to be the dilpotition of all Chrilliansy who are bound to firive hereunto, even to have the teftimony of their confcience to witneffe, that in all uprightnefle they defiro and leek this more then their own wealth, credit, life,yea, our falvation, that their loving Father and gracious Lord, may reap praife and honour by their obedience to his will. This will give more peace and true comfort to the foul,then all the world will do. T 1 M. Ir there any other doifrine be- hinde ? S r t. Yea, that it behooveth all Cirriflians,efpecially Miniflers, by Pauls example, to walke very wifely towards then which differ and be at variance a- mongtt themfelves. For fometime he nameth the f}rong before the weake, as verfè 2. and here verle 6. the weake are put before the firong. Alto he maketh them both equal! in this, that they in- tended Gods honour in omillion,as well as in fa& ; pafling by the infirmities of both, that he might not feem partiall, and have more hope to winne them to concord. The reafon hereofis : If among Chri- flians which do contend in matters of Religion, any refpe& of perfon or ine- quality be ufed, morebeingyeeldedto the one then to the other, unkindneffe will be taken , jeaoufie kindled, peace hindred, and the edge of all good ex- hortations blunted : therefore, an even hand mutt be carried without leaning to any flde.This rule holdeth, when dif- ferences grow though weakeneffe, and this will require much wifedome and prayer : but with thofe that erre of malice, and are obftinate impugners of the truth, after lawfull inftruaion, Paul dealeth more roughly and roundly : fee Gal. 5.3,4 and Chap. 4. alto Phil. 3. 2. 2 John ver. 10. Ting' 3.10. Rom. 16.17. Here marke, that the Apoftles are pe- remptory without favour or indulgence towards fuch as maintain evils opinions in Religion, with an evill minde to Chap. i4l deprave the ti uth, and to corrupt their brethren. T t M. What is the fourth and loft dotïrine from this faith verfee ? S r L. That Gods creatures and bleflìngs ought to be received with gi- ving of thankes to the Lord : fee 1 Tint. 4.3 ,4. Col. 4.2. and 3.17.1 Thef. 5. 18. To which, adde the example of Chriff, Job. 6. is. and of Paul, 4'j. 27.35. The reafons of this duty ( betides for- mer precepts and examples) are firft thankefgiving, which is a part of Gods fervice, PJal. 51. It makes to his honour and glorifying of his name. Againe, without it we have not a pure and con - fcionable ale of the creatures and bene- fits of God : alto unthankefùlneffe is odious toGod, it hindereth the a& of faith, and fo turneth our eating and drinking into fin, Rom. 14. 23. T t M. What ufe of this infirufiion? S t t. This reproveth fuch as fore - flow this duty, and deride fuch as do it, or do it'oniy of cuftome for fafhion, not as of duty and confcience to the word. Likewife fuch as turne it over to children in their own prefence, being themfelves more able for gifts, and molt bound for Gods bounty and benefits to them : and the excellent God looks and deferves to be ferved with molt excellent graces. Lafily, it pro- vokes both our felves to ferquent wil- lingly and often this duty (there being nothing wherewith God is fo pleafed and honoured, as with hearty Thankef- giving) and to teach our children, and to fee them doe it on their owne behalfè; but not to make them our mouthes, fo long as we have an heart and tongue to praife our God.Although Chrifts Difciples were men growne, yet he put not them to fay grace in his pretence; he alwayes gave thankes in his own perfon, leaving a pattern for all Houtholders to look upon to do the like, for his moral] a &ions are our in- firu&ions. DIA-
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