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1.3 KiB
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2 lines
1.3 KiB
HTML
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<p>This shows how wisely the great God serves the designs of his providence by persons of very different tempers, capacities, and conditions in the world, even, 1. By those that are contrary the one to the other. Some are <i>poor</i> and forced to borrow; others are rich, have a great deal of <i>the mammon of unrighteousness (deceitful riches</i> they are called), and they are creditors, or <i>usurers</i>, as it is in the margin. Some are <i>poor</i>, and honest, and laborious; others are rich, slothful, and <i>deceitful</i>. They <i>meet together</i> in the business of this world, and have dealings with one another, and <i>the Lord enlightens both their eyes</i>; he causes his sun to shine upon both and gives them both the comforts of this life. To some of both sorts he gives his grace. He enlightens the eyes of the poor by giving them patience, and of the deceitful by giving them repentance, as Zaccheus. 2. By those that we think could best be spared. <i>The poor and the deceitful</i> we are ready to look upon as blemishes of Providence, but God makes even them to display the beauty of Providence; he has wise ends not only in leaving the poor always with us, but in permitting <i>the deceived and the deceiver</i>, for both <i>are his</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Job.12.16" href="/passage/?search=Job.12.16">Job 12:16</a>) and turn to his praise.</p>
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