On the other side, we are to see how his afflictions grew, when he saw the neglect or contempt of the law in others: for his eyes failed, his heart was […], his spirit panted, his flesh parched away. Thus, whilst he measured himself by the word how his inward man ebbed and flowed in a delight of the word, his joy increased, and decreased with the estate of the mind, insomuch that he desired for no other end to live, than to feel the comfort of Gods promises, and his affections governed by the word of God. For he saith, portion 3. 1. Be beneficial unto thy servant, that I may live and keep thy word. Wherein he agreeth with a saying of Paul, Galath. 2. 20. I live, yet not I now, but Christ liveth in me. But I fear that I1 speak mysteries and paradoxes unto a great many▪ who yet are but natural men, and may learn these things of simple men in the country. Well let us learn if we cannot bring forth 100 fold, yet let us bring forth 60 fold; if not so much yet at the least 30 fold; unless we be either stony ground, who for want of root, in time of tribulation and persecution will be offended; or as the thorny ground, being choked with worldly cares; or as trampled ground, which is trodden of all men. And here is one thing to be noted more notable, that is, he was not grieved for himself alone, but even for others, which made no conscience of Gods word, was he grievously vexed and tormented, as portio 7. 5. Fear is come 2upon me for the wicked, which forsake thy law. And portio 17. 8. Mine eyes gush out with rivers of water, because they keep not thy law. And in portio 18. 3. My zeal hath even consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. He was not only grieved for his own incredulity, but for the incredulity of others; he lamented not only his own wants; but also the wants of others; his glory was then chiefest, when the word was glorified; his grief, when the word sustained wrong, did most abound. Like zeal was in Paul, who cared not for his own bonds, so the word of God might be free: neither did he care how much he did suffer for the Gospels sake, which he preached, so others might thereby •e confirmed.
On the other side, wee are to see how his afflictions grew, when hee sawe the neglect or contempt of the law in others: for his eyes failed, his heart was 〈…〉, his spirit panted, his fleshe parched away. Thus, whilest hee measured himselfe by the word how his inward man ebbed and flowed in a delight of the word, his ioy increased, and decreased with the estate of the mind, insomuch that hee desired for no other end to liue, than to feele the comfort of Gods promises, and his affections gouerned by the word of God. For he saith, portion 3. 1. Be beneficiall vnto thy seruant, that I may liue and keepe thy word. Wherein he agreeth with a saying of Paul, Galath. 2. 20. I liue, yet not I now, but Christ liueth in mee. But I feare that I1 speake mysteries and paradoxes vnto a great many▪ who yet are but naturall men, and may learne these things of simple men in the country. Well let vs learne if wee cannot bring foorth 100 folde, yet let vs bring foorth 60 folde; if not so much yet at the least 30 folde; vnlesse we be either stonie ground, who for want of roote, in time of tribulation and persecution will be offended; or as the thornie ground, being choked with worldly cares; or as trampled ground, which is troden of all men. And here is one thing to be noted more notable, that is, he was not grieued for himself alone, but euē for others, which made no conscience of Gods word, was he grieuously vexed and tormented, as portio 7. 5. Feare is come 2vpon me for the wicked, which forsake thy law. And portio 17. 8. Mine eyes gush out with riuers of water, because they keepe not thy law. And in portio 18. 3. My zeale hath euen consumed mee, because mine enemies haue forgotten thy words. He was not onely grieued for his owne incredulitie, but for the incredulitie of others; he lamented not onely his owne wants; but also the wants of others; his glorie was then chiefest, when the word was glorified; his griefe, when the word sustained wrong, did most abound. Like zeale was in Paul, who cared not for his owne bonds, so the word of God might be free: neither did hee care how much he did suffer for the Gospels sake, which he preached, so others might thereby •e confirmed.
- 1The natural man counts all spiritual things as paradoxes. 1. Cor. 2. 14.The naturall man counts all spirituall things as paradoxes. 1. Cor. 2. 14.
- 2To lament the want of othersTo lamēt the wāt of others
