As he weighs Men, so he weighs their Works, their Graces, their Gifts, their Duties, to see whether they hold weight, whether true and righteous or not; whether the Grace be true Grace, special Grace, not common Grace, and their Gifts not Counterfeit Gifts, or mere Natural Gifts, or only humane and acquired Gifts: Some boast of false Gifts, which as Solomon tells us, is like Clouds and Wind without rain: What a stir doth a vain Person make of a strong Memory, crying it up as if it was a Spiritual Gift, and as if none were true Ministers but such who have a great Memory, and can deliver all they have got by their Study, by the strength of their Memory; alas, all men of any sense know, that is but a Natural Gift, which some wicked men have as well as some good men; but let him know, God knows what mens Hearts are, what their Ends 1and Designs are, what their Gifts are, and what their Duties are, as well as what the matter of their Worship is, which they perform to God; that is, whether it hath his Image stamped upon it; or is of his Authority, his own Appointment, his own Institution, or but Humane Inventions; he also weighs the manner how they perform all Divine Worship towards him, from what Principle, Life, Power, End and Design; whether 'tis from a changed Heart, from unfeigned Faith and Love to Christ, in sincerity, with Zeal, and to glorify God; if not, he will discover them, weigh them, and they will be found wanting, and be found no better than Chaff at last: Though they may seek ways to hide and cover their Wickedness, and false Spirits, and base designs, yet let them know, he that weighs the hill in scales, and the mountains in balances, doth and will weigh them, and find out all their Cursed Deeds, their Pride, their Malice, and put a rebuke upon their back-sliding and detracting Tongues: Talk (saith Hannah) no more so exceeding proudly, let not arrogancy come out of thy mouth for God is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed: Thou Peninnah (as our Annotators note) speak no more so insolently and reproachfully of me as thou hast done; he knoweth thy Heart, and all that Pride, Envy and Contempt of me, which ⟨p. 39⟩thy own Conscience knows, and thy perverse Carriage towards me: God pondereth, and trieth all mens Thoughts and Actions, as a Just Judge, to give to every one according to their works.
As he weighs Men, so he weighs their Works, their Graces, their Gifts, their Duties, to see whether they hold weight, whether true and righteous or not; whether the Grace be true Grace, special Grace, not common Grace, and their Gifts not Counterfeit Gifts, or meer Natural Gifts, or only humane and acquired Gifts: Some boast of false Gifts, which as Solomon tells us, is like Clouds and Wind without rain: What a stir doth a vain Person make of a strong Memory, crying it up as if it was a Spiritual Gift, and as if none were true Ministers but such who have a great Memory, and can deliver all they have got by their Study, by the strength of their Memory; alas, all men of any sense know, that is but a Natural Gift, which some wicked men have as well as some good men; but let him know, God knows what mens Hearts are, what their Ends 1and Designs are, what their Gifts are, and what their Duties are, as well as what the matter of their Worship is, which they perform to God; that is, whether it hath his Image stampt upon it; or is of his Authority, his own Appointment, his own Institution, or but Humane Inventions; he also weighs the manner how they perform all Divine Worship towards him, from what Principle, Life, Power, End and Design; whether 'tis from a changed Heart, from unfeigned Faith and Love to Christ, in sincerity, with Zeal, and to glorify God; if not, he will discover them, weigh them, and they will be found wanting, and be found no better than Chaff at last: Though they may seek ways to hide and cover their Wickedness, and false Spirits, and base designs, yet let them know, he that weighs the hill in scales, and the mountains in balances, doth and will weigh them, and find out all their Cursed Deeds, their Pride, their Malice, and put a rebuke upon their back-sliding and detracting Tongues: Talk (saith Hannah) no more so exeeding proudly, let not arrogancy come out of thy mouth for God is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed: Thou Peninnah (as our Aunotators note) speak no more so insolently and reproachfully of me as thou hast done; he knoweth thy Heart, and all that Pride, Envy and Contempt of me, which ⟨p. 39⟩thy own Conscience knows, and thy perverse Carriage towards me: God pondereth, and tryeth all mens Thoughts and Actions, as a Just Judge, to give to every one according to their works.
- 11 Sam. 2. 3.
