A35438:511
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of the Book of Job being the substance of XXXV lectures delivered at Magnus near the bridge, London / by Joseph Caryl.
London: printed for L. Fawne, 1656
AN EXPOSITION Upon the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Chapters o… › Chapter 4 › Verses 19-21
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Hath not man cause to lye as low in his thoughts, as that from whence he was extracted? should not he be humbled to the dust, who is dust? Especially, this earth should be abased in all addresses to Heaven, in all our approaches unto God, as Abraham, Genesis 18. 27. I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes. We should never be so low in our own thoughts, as when we make use of our highest privileges; and the nearer we are admitted to come to Heaven, the more should we (for the magnifying of Free-grace, which makes this admission) remember that we are but Earth.
Hath not man cause to lye as low in his thoughts, as that from whence he was extracted? should not he be humbled to the dust, who is dust? Especially, this earth should be abased in all addresses to Heaven, in all our approaches unto God, as Abraham, Genesis 18. 27. I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes. We should never be so low in our own thoughts, as when we make use of our highest priviledges; and the nearer we are admitted to come to Heaven, the more should we (for the magnifying of Free-grace, which makes this admission) remember that we are but Earth.
Fourthly, if the body be but clay, and hath but a foundation of dust, then do not bestow too much care and cost upon your clay, upon your dust. How many are there who bestow much pains to trim up a vile body, and neglect a precious soul? Most usually they who bestow most pains upon this mortal house of clay, bestow least about that immortal inhabitant. In an over cared for body, there ever dwells a neglected soul. You shall have a body cleanly washed, and a soul all filth; a body neatly clothed and dressed, with a soul all naked and unready; a body fed, and a soul starved; a body full of the creature, and a soul empty of Christ; these are poor souls indeed. That complaint of the Moralist against ⟨p. 149⟩Heathens, may be renewed against some Christians, they are busied most between the comb and the glass, and troubled more at a disorder in their hair, then at a disorder in the Common-wealth