An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Thirdly, none teacheth like God, so patiently and meekly. There is nothing doth more provoke the passion of a teacher, than the untowardness and dullness of those that are taught. It was a very good Rule given by one of the Ancients, he that will teach children, must in a manner be a child; He must consider what they are, and form himself to their condition, else she will never have the patience to teach them. O with what patience doth the infinite and only wise God teach his children! (Isa. 28.9, 10.) He giveth line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Here is the patience of God; He doth not say, if ye cannot take it now, I will teach you no more; No, saith God, I will give precept upon precept, and line upon line; though former precepts have not been received, yet I will give you more, here a little and there a little, ye shall have another little to the former little. God was forty years tutoring and teaching the Israelites in the wilderness, to fit them for the possession of Canaan. These three years, saith Christ, have I come looking for fruit, and all that while he was teaching them, to make them fruitful; nor was he hasty then, but upon the intercession of the vineyard-dresser, waited one year more. O the patience of God in teaching!

Thirdly, none teacketh like God, so patien•ly and meekly. There is nothing doth more provoke the passion of a teacher, than the untowardness and dulness of those that are taught. It was a very good Rule given by one of the Ancients, he that will teach children, must in a manner be a child; He must consider what they are, and forme himself to their condition, else she will never have the patience to teach them. O with what patience doth the infinite and only wise God teach his children! (Isa. 28.9, 10.) He giveth line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Here is the patience of God; He doth not say, if ye cannot take it now, I will teach you no more; No, saith God, I will give precept upon precept, and line upon line; though former precepts have not been received, yet I will give you more, here a little and there a little, ye shall have another little to the former little. God was forty yeares tutoring and teaching the Israelites in the wilderness, to fit them for the possession of Canaan. These three yeares, saith Christ, have I come looking for fruit, and all that while he was teaching them, to make them fruitfull; nor was he hasty then, but upon the inercession of the vineyard-dresser, waited one year more. O the patience of God in teaching!