The Prose Works of John Milton ...

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the congregation lifted up their voice and criedxx. 10, 11. "must we fetch you water out of this rock?.... with his rod he smote the rock twice." 2 Kings vii. 2. "if Jehovah would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?" Isai. vii. 12. "I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah."

Secondly, an overweening presumption. Numb. xiv. 44. 'they presumed to go up unto the hill top." xv. 30. "the soul that doeth ought presumptuously-." Prov. xxvii. 1. "boast not thyself of to-morrow-. Amos v. 18. "woe unto you Mic. iii. 11. "the heads

that desire the day of Jehovah.” thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon Jehovah, and say, Is not Jehovah among us Matt. iii. 7. "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" iv. 6, 7. "thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Rom. ii. 4. "despisest thou the riches of his goodness-?"

Thirdly, carnal reliance. 2 Chron. xvi. 7. "because thou hast relied on the king of Syria—.” v. 12. “in his disease he sought not to Jehovah, but to the physicians." Psal xiv. 6. 'ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because Jehovah is his refuge." See also cxviii. 8, 9. cxlvi. 3. "put not your trust in princes.' cxlvii. 10. "he delighteth not in the strength of the horse." Prov. xxix. 26. "many seek the ruler's favour." Isai. xxx. 2. "to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh," &c. iii. 1. "the Lord doth take away the stay and the staff." xxii. 8. "thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest." xxxi. 1. woe to them that go down to Egypt for help.” Jer. xvii. 5. "cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah.” vi. 13. "ye which rejoice in a thing of nought."

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Amos

Fourthly, a trust in idols. 2 Kings i. 2. "go, enquire of Baalzebub- More will be said on this subject hereafter, under the head of idolatry.

HOPE is that by which we expect with certainty the fulfilment of God's promises. Job xiii. 15. "though he slay me, vet will I trust in him." Psal. xxxi. 24. "be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in Jehovah." xxvii. 14. "wait on Jehovah-." cxix. 116. "let me not be ashamed of my hope." Prov. x. 28. "the hope of the righteous shall be gladness." Isai. xl. 31. "they that wait

upon Jehovah shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles." Rom. v. 4, 5. “ experience worketh hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts."

Opposed to this virtue, as well as to faith, is doubt; to which even the pious are sometimes liable, at least for a time. 1 Sam. xxvii. 1. "David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul." Matt. xiv. 31. "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" xxi. 21. "if ye have faith and doubt not-." Mark. xi. 23. "whosoever shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe-."

Secondly, despair; which takes place only in the reprobate. Gen. iv. 13. "Cain said unto Jehovah, My punishment is greater than I can bear." Matt. xxvii. 5. "he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself." Acts i. 18. "falling headlong, he burst

asunder in the midst."

GRATITUDE towards God is that whereby we acknowledge his goodness in conferring benefits upon creatures so unworthy as ourselves. Psal. ciii. 2. "forget not all his benefits." cxvi. 12. "what shall I render unto Jehovah-?" 1 Cor. vi. 20. 'ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.' Heb. xii. 28. 'let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." 1 Pet. ii. 9. " that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness-." 1 John iv. 19. "we love him, because he first loved

us."

Opposed to this is, first, ingratitude towards God. Isai. i. 2. "I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me." Hos. xiii. 6. “ according to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted therefore have they forgotten me." Rom. i. 21. “when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful."

Secondly, the bestowing on idols, or on created things, that gratitude which we owe to God. Jer. xliv. 17. "to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drinkofferings unto her.... then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil." Habak. i. 16. " they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag."

The FEAR OF GOD is that whereby we reverence God as the

Psal.

supreme Father and Judge of all men, and dread offending him above all things. Deut. xxviii. 58. that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, Jehovah thy God." ii. 11. “ serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling." xxxiv. 11. "I will teach you the fear of Jehovah." CXXX. 4. "there is forgiveness with him, that thou mayest be feared.' Prov. xix. 23. "the fear of Jehovah tendeth to life." Mal. i. 6. "if I be a father, where is mine honour? if I be a master, where is my fear?" 1 Pet. i. 17. "if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear." Matt. x. 28. rather fear him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell." Philipp. ii. 12. "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.'

Opposed to this is, first, carnal security. Job v. 3, &c. "I have seen the foolish taking root." xxiv. 23, &c. "though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth-." xxxiv. 22. "there is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." Psal. x. 5, 6. "thy judgments are far above out of his sight." xxx. 6. "in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved." lxxiii. 6. "therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain." xciv. 7. "yet they say, Jah shall not see." Eccles. viii. 11. "because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." Isai. v. 19. "that say, Let him make speed and hasten his work." xxviii. 15. 66 because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death." xxix. 15. 66 woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from Jehovah." Ezek. viii. 12. "Jehovah seeth us not, Jehovah hath forsaken the earth." Amos vi. 1. " woe to them that are at ease." Zeph. i. 12. "that say in their hearts, Jehovah will not do good, neither will he do evil." Matt. xxv. “the foolish virgins." Luke xii. 2, 3. "there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed-." v. 19. "I will say to my soul," &c. v. 45. "if that servant say in his heart," &c. 1 Cor. xi. 31. "if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." Secondly, a slavish fear. 1 John iv. 18. "there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment; he that feareth is not made perfect in love." Thirdly, a fear of idols. 2 Kings xvii. 33. " they feared Jehovah, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence."

And lastly, a fear of anything whatever except God. Matt. x. 28. "fear not them which kill the body."

HUMILITY is that whereby we acknowledge our unworthiness in the sight of God. Gen. xxxii. 10. "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies," &c. 1 Chron. xxix. 14. "who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee." Psal. li. 17. "the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit." cxv. 1. "not unto us, O Jehovah, not unto us, but unto thy name give the praise." Isai. lxvi. 2. "to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." Matt. v. 3. "blessed are the poor in spirit." Luke ix. 48. "he that is least among you all, the same shall be great." 1 Pet. v. 5, 6. "submit yourselves," &c. 1 Tim. i. 15. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”

To this is opposed, first, pride towards God. Job xv. 25. "he stretcheth out his hand against God." Prov. iii. 34. "he scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly." See also James iv. 6. 1 Pet. v. 5. Prov. xvi. 5. every one that is proud of heart is an abomination to Jehovah." Acts xii. 23. "the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory." Rev. iii. 17. “thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."

Secondly, a false or superstitious humility. Col. ii. 23. "which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."

PATIENCE is that whereby we acquiesce in the promises of God, through a confident reliance on his divine providence, power, and goodness, and bear inevitable evils with equanimity, as the dispensation of the supreme Father, and sent for our good. Job i. 22. "in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." ii. 10. “ shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" 2 Sam. xvi. 10. "because Jehovah hath said unto him, Curse David, who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?" Isai. xxviii. 16. "he that believeth shall not mistake." Lam. iii. 29, &c. "he putteth his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope; he giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him."

the congregation lifted up their voice and cried—.' xx. 10, 11. must we fetch you water out of this rock?.... with his rod he smote the rock twice." 2 Kings vii. 2. "if Jehovah would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?" Isai. vii. 12. "I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah." Secondly, an overweening presumption. Numb. xiv. 44. they presumed to go up unto the hill top." xv. 30. "the soul that doeth ought presumptuously-." Prov. xxvii. 1. "boast not thyself of to-morrow." Amos v. 18. " woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah." Mic. iii. 11. "the heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon Jehovah, and say, Is not Jehovah among us ?5, Matt. iii. 7. "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" iv. 6, 7. "thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Rom. ii. 4. "despisest thou the riches of his goodness-?" Thirdly, carnal reliance. 2 Chron. xvi. 7. "because thou hast relied on the king of Syria-." v. 12. “"in his disease he sought not to Jehovah, but to the physicians." Psal xiv. 6. 'ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because Jehovah is his refuge." See also cxviii. 8, 9. cxlvi. 3. "put not your trust in princes." cxlvii. 10. "he delighteth not in the strength of the horse." Prov. xxix. 26. "many seek the ruler's favour." Isai. xxx. 2. "to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh," &c. iii. 1. "the Lord doth take away

the stay and the staff." xxii. 8. "thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest." xxxi. 1. woe to them that go down to Egypt for help-." Jer. xvii. 5. "cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah." Amos vi. 13. "ye which rejoice in a thing of nought."

Fourthly, a trust in idols. 2 Kings i. 2. "go, enquire of Baalzebub-." More will be said on this subject hereafter, under the head of idolatry.

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The Prose Works of John Milton ...: With a Preface, Preliminary ..., Volume 5