Two extremes (whereunto we are very prone to run,1 the Preacher, and which much hinder this perfect work of patience) are noted byb and byc the Apostle:⟨p. 182⟩ one is, too light regard, the other is, too great fear of such crosses as God layeth on men: for some despise them, as matters not much to be regarded (so much the notation of the originald words imply:) other faint and sink under the burden of them, as if they were unsupportable, not to be endured (so much also the notation of thec other original words imply:) They look not to God who smiteth: these fix their eyes too fast upon his Justice and wrath. It is commonly stupidity of mind, or stubbornness of will, that maketh men fall into the former.6 They, who are by nature stupid and blockish, have not a spiritual sense of crosses, but are like to men dead drunk, (Pro. 23. 33.) they endure many troubles, but receive no good by any trouble. Such were those Israelites of whomh Jeremiah complaineth: and iPharaoh was such an one. They who are of a stubborn disposition, despise Gods corrections, ask the fool whose foolishness will not depart from him, though thou shouldest bray him in a mortar, &c. Such were those Israelites of whoml Isaiah complaineth: andm Ahaz was such an one▪ These are two dangerous rocks, at which many suffer shipwreck: two such stumbling blocks, as cause many to fall, and pitch into hell. Yetn many count the first of these, (namely, so to stand out all crosses, as not to be moved therewith) a virtue: answerable to this heathenish opinion is the practise of many, who profess themselves to be Christians. Let public judgements fall on the land where they live, as famine, plague, sword, &c. or on cities and towns in that land, as inundations of waters, fires, sicknesses, &c. or on their own houses, their wives, and children: are little moved, no though it fall upon their own pates. If they may be freed from them, or delivered out of them, they think it well: if not, they think it⟨p. 183⟩ destiny, they must bear it, and so like beasts, or rather like blocks lye under their burden: thus many lye on their death beds, without remorse, likeo Naball, whose heart dyed within him, and he was like a stone.
TWo extreames (whereunto we are very prone to runne,1 the Preacher, and which much hinder this perfect work of patience) are noted byb and byc the A•postle:⟨p. 182⟩ one is, too light regard, the other is, too great feare of such crosses as God layeth on men: for some despise them, as matters not much to be regarded (so much the notation of the originalld words imply:) other faint and sinke vnder the burthen of them, as if they were vnsupportable, not to be endured (so much also the notation of thec other originall words imply:) They looke not to God who smiteth: these fixe their eyes too fast vpon his Iustice and wrath. It is commonly stupidity of mind, or stubbornesse of will, that maketh men fall into the former.6 They, who are by nature stupide and blockish, haue not a spirituall sence of crosses, but are like to men dead drunke, (Pro. 23. 33.) they endure many troubles, but receiue no good by any trouble. Such were those Israelites of whomh Ieremiah complaineth: and iPharaoh was such an one. They who are of a stubborne disposition, despise Gods corrections, ask the foole whose foolishnesse will not depart from him, though thou shouldest bray him in a morter, &c. Such were those Israelites of whoml Isaiah complaineth: andm Ahaz was such an one▪ These are two dangerous rockes, at which many suffer shipwracke: two such stumbling blockes, as cause many to fall, and pitch into hell. Yet
- 1VI Point two extremes con•••ry to patience.VI Point two •xtreams con•••ry to patie•ce.
- bPro. 3. 11.
- cHeb. 12. 5.
- d[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- c[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 6Sunt nonnulli qui molestiam quidem sustinent, caeterum fructu privantur Ch•ys. de Laz. con. 3.Sunt nonnulli qui molestiam quidem sustinent, caeterum fructu priuantur Ch•ys. de Laz. con. 3.
- hI•r 53.
- iExod 5 2.
- kPro. 27. 22.
- lIsa. 1. 5
- m2. Chr. 28. 22.
- nStoics.Stoicks.
- o
