tit éphefian.r,Chap.t, V ER.Io. red,Exod.rz.çr.When the 7o.yeares are expired, Dan.g.Chrift, in the fulneffeof time, (hall be exhibited : It cannot be, but that God Mould both appoint times for every purpofe, and execute in them the thing that he bath purpofed ; Todefrgnetimes is his prerogative; as aMatter ofa family bath this power, to let all times which he will have this or thatbufineffe taken inhand,fo 4Ols e.7. Secondly; Such is his wifdome, that heonely knoweth how to appoint the fittelt feafons for all his workes : as thehusband -man, it is his wifdome or skill in husbandry, which makethhim know the fitteft feafons for Eating, Sowing, Set- ting,Graffing,and fuch like bufineffes. Now look as mans fidelity doth binde him, ifhe bath faid he will do thisor that, at fuch a time, to make his wordgood,& do it accordingly: So Gods fidelity doth fobind him, that he wil not but mofifaithfullyexecuteal that goodhe bath purpofed tous,in thefeafons which with himfelf he bath difpenfed thereunto. lPfe r The Vfe is, firft to reproveour weakneffe, who thinke God often to delay : No, God is not flacke, as men count flackneffe ; he doth but Waite his fit opportunities, which his wifdome bath prefixed. Ifthe husbandman doe not reape at Midfommer, he is not faid to delay rea- ping, becaufe it is not time to reape then : SoGod, who doth never flay but till the fit time come,may notbe faid to delay:To our fenfe itfeemeth otherwife, but we mutt learne to judge righteous judgement. How long it is fit forme to purge,and when I mutt have reftoratives given me,this the Phyfitianmutt prefcribe. Yfi 2. Secondly ; We mutt learneto waiteon God : It is not fit we should ' teach him his time, make him be at oür call, dance attendance at our wits : Superiours would take it in great fnuffe, that their inferiours fhould offer them this meafure. Againe , we would not now in Win- ter haveMidfommer weather, for it would not be kindly. Thus in the winter- feafonsofany trial,we Mouldnot with the funfhine ofthis or that bleffing,before ourGod dothfee it may befeafonably beftowed,remem- bring that the manwhobeleeverh,muft not make any prcpofterous haft, Dc£f,r, Obferve fecondly, that hefaith, the gracious purpofe ofopening the Gofpell is that we might be gathered. Obferve, That God byopening to us the Gofpell, Both bring us to his Chrift, Chap.q.. Hegivetha Paftorand Teacher, whomay outwardly reveale thefe things ; that he may gather his Saints, knitting them to their head,& one with another : So he gave the Prieft, Levite, and Prophet to this end. How often, faith Chrift, wouldi have gathered thee, as a hen Both her chickens under her wing? andyou wouldnat. Looke as the newel ofa gracious Prince calleth togetherfubjeéts who were fled under tyranny hither and thi- ther:So the opening to us ofthis ourKing and Saviour,who mutt fave us from finne ; this Both make us fly home to him, as Pigeons ufe to their owne lockers. For the better underftandingofthis point:Firft, we mull know that by nature weare manywaies difperfed andfevered; Second- ly, the order inwhich we come to be gathered. rò 1. For thefirft, the are disjoyned from God our father ; the prodigall is the type ofus, who was now wandred from his father houfe, and would
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