Now he talketh no more of his palace, nor his power, nor his majesty, though it be greater then it was: but he looketh above his own palace, up to another palace, from whence that terrible voice came down unto him, Thy kingdom is departed from thee: which expresseth ⟨image 8⟩his contrite heart, and wounded spirit, how many passions battled within, as if he should chide himself, and say, O unthankful man, my power descended from above, and I ever looked upon the earth, mine honour came down from heaven, and I never lift up mine eyes before: Go up my eyes, and my heart, and my voice, and mine hands, how long will ye pore upon the earth, like a beast? so he lifted up his eyes unto heaven. After he had lift up his eyes, he beginneth to pray, and gave praise and thanks unto God: which showeth that he did not only lift up his eyes, but his heart too. For unless we can say with David, I lift up mine heart, it is in vain to lift up 1hands, or eyes, or voice, as the hypocrites ⟨image 8⟩do, because he that is a spirit, requireth the spirit. Therefore Mary saith, Mine hart doth magnify 2the Lord. As for the infidels and idolaters, they have no heart service, but their religion is like an occupation which is done with the body: for when we read of the sacrifice or prayers of Idolaters, we do not find that they lift up their harts to their idols, but their hands 3or eyes, or voice, as the Baalites roared to Baal, as the mariners cried 4to their sea oods: as the Ephesians shouted to Diana: but the lifting up of their hart, the hearty service is always appropriate to God, which saith, My son give me thy heart. Therefore 5Nabuchad. lifted up his hart to God, showing that he had learned the lesson God gave him 7. years ⟨image 9⟩to study, that the most high beareth rule over the kingdoms of men. Now God thinketh the time long enough, and as he reformed the ground after the flood, with fruits, and herbs, and flowers again: so he reformed Nebuchadnezzar with an understanding, and beauty, and honour again, as if he repented himself and said, I will drown the earth no more, I will 6change Nebuchadnezzar no more: now he knoweth there is a king above him, he shall be a king again: now he seeks my honour, I will give him honour: now he magnifieth him, that debased him, I will return to exalt him. So the voice which thundered from heaven:
Now he talketh no more of his pallace, nor his power, nor his maiestie, though it be greater then it was: but he looketh aboue his own pallace, vp to another pallace, from whence that terrible voice came downe vnto him, Thy kingdome is departed from thee: which expresseth ⟨image 8⟩his contrite heart, and wounded spirit, how many passions batled within, as if hee shoulde chide himselfe, and say, O vnthankefull man, my power descended from aboue, and I euer looked vpon the earth, mine honour came downe from heauen, and I neuer lift vp mine eyes before: Go vp my eyes, and my heart, and my voyce, and mine hands, how long will ye pore vpon the earth, like a beast? so hee lifted vp his eies vnto heauen. After he had lift vp his eyes, he beginneth to pray, and gaue praise and thankes vnto God: which sheweth that hee did not onely lift vp his eyes, but his heart too. For vnlesse we can say with Dauid, I lift vp mine heart, it is in vaine to lifte vp 1handes, or eyes, or voice, as the hypocrites ⟨image 8⟩do, because he that is a spirit, requireth the spirit. Therefore Mary saith, Mine hart doth magnifie 2the Lord. As for the infidels and idolaters, they haue no heart seruice, but their religiō is like an occupation which is done with the bodie: for when we read of the sacrifice or praiers of Idolaters, wee doe not find that they lift vp theyr harts to their idols, but their hands 3or eies, or voice, as the Baalites rored to Baal, as the marriners cried 4to their sea oods: as the Ephesians shouted to Diana: but the lifting vp of their hart, the hartie seruice is alwaies appropriat to God, which saith, My son giue me thy heart. Therfore 5Nabuchad. lifted vp his hart to God, shewing that he had learned the lesson God gaue him 7. yeares ⟨image 9⟩to studie, that the moste high beareth rule ouer the kingdomes of men. Now God thinketh the time long inough, and as hee reformed the ground after the floud, with fruites, and hearbes, and flowers againe: so he reformed Nabuchadnezzer with an vnderstanding, and beautie, and honor againe, as if he repented himselfe and saide, I will drowne the earth no more, I will
- 1Psal. 15 1
- 2Joh. 4. 24Ioh. 4. 24
- 31. Kin. 18 28
- 4Jonah. 1 5 Act. 19 28Ionas. 1 5 Act. 19 28
- 5Pro. 23. 26
- 6Gen. 8 21
