A plain and familiar exposition of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth chapters of the…A plaine and familiar exposition of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth chapters of the…

First, God honoureth them that are virtuous, though Reas. 1 poor, with all preferments of parentage, as adopting them to be his own children: of dignity, as advancing them to be kings: of inheritance, as making them coheirs with his only begotten Son: and he vilifieth them that are lewd and sinful, though wealthy, with all disgraces, as reputing them fools, and bondmen, and beasts.

First, God honoureth them that are vertuous, though Reas. 1 poore, with all preferments of parentage, as adopting them to be his owne children: of dignitie, as aduancing them to be kings: of inheritance, as making them coheires with his onely begotten sonne: and he vilifieth them that are leaud and sinfull, though wealthy, with al disgraces, as reputing them fooles, and bondmen, and beasts.

Secondly, he hath exercised the dearest of his servants with §2poverty, as Elijah and Paul, and Christ himself, which he would never have done, if it could have made them vile and miserable: and he hath bestowed on the worst of his enemies these earthly riches, as on Ahab, Jeroboam, and Belshazzar, which they should never have gotten, if they would have made them honourable and happy. For the uses, see chapter. 12. v. 26. and the first verse of this chapter.

Secondly, he hath exercised the dearest of his seruants with §2pouertie, as Elijah and Paul, and Christ himselfe, which he would neuer haue done, if it could haue made them vile and miserable: and he hath bestowed on the worst of his enemies these earthly riches, as on Achab, Ieroboam, and Balshazzar, which they should neuer haue gotten, if they would haue made them honourable and happie. For the vses, see chapter. 12. v. 26. and the first verse of this chapter.