First, If the strength of horses be the gift of God, then, do not glory in their strength; though they are very strong, yet rejoice not in their strength, but in God, who hath given them their strength. David saith (Psal. 147.10.) The Lord delights not in the strength of the Horse. The Lord gives the Horse strength, but he delights not in it; no, nor in the legs of a man; The Lords delight is in them that fear him. The Lord tells us, he doth not delight in them, to teach us, that we should not delight in them. The Lord delights not in the strength of a horse, much less in the strength of those men, who are like Horses and Mules (of whom David speaks, Psal. 32.9.) whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto us, to do us a mischief. Some men are strong in body, and strong in mind too; they have strong understandings, and strong memories; yet a•e but like strong horses, that must be held in with bit and bridle, else they will do more mischief with their strength, than the strongest ungoverned horses. ⟨p. 426⟩In these the Lord delights not; he cannot delight in the strength of any who are strong to sin, and to do wickedly; or (to give it in the words of the Prophet, Isa. 5.22.) Who are strong to drink wine, and to mingle strong drink: such a strength some men glory in, but the Lord abhors all that strength which is used and issued to the darkening of his glory.
First, If the strength of horses be the gift of God, then, do not glory in their strength; though they are very strong, yet rejoyce not in their strength, but in God, who hath given them their strength. David saith (Psal. 147.10.) The Lord delights not in the strength of the Horse. The Lord gives the Horse strength, but he delights not in it; no, nor in the legs of a man; The Lords delight is in them that fear him. The Lord tells us, he doth not delight in them, to teach us, that we should not delight in them. The Lord delights not in the strength of a horse, much less in the strength of those men, who are like Horses and Mules (of whom David speaks, Psal. 32.9.) whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come neer unto us, to do us a mischief. Some men are strong in body, and strong in mind too; they have strong understandings, and strong memories; yet a•e but like strong horses, that must be held in with bit and bridle, else they will do more mischief with their strength, than the strongest ungoverned horses. ⟨p. 426⟩In these the Lord delights not; he cannot delight in the strength of any who are strong to sin, and to do wickedly; or (to give it in the words of the Prophet, Isa. 5.22.) Who are strong to drink wine, and to mingle strong drink: such a strength some men glory in, but the Lord abhors all that strength which is used and issued to the darkning of his glory.
