Chap. 2. An Expoaiti4n, upon' the B.óohof J ÒB: VerC 9. former peace ; If we thus fet the one over againfl the other, our accounts will be balianc'd , yea our former receits of good will be far greater,and out-ballanceour pretint futferings ofevil. E.fpe- daily if we: remember, that we never deferved the leali part of the good.we have received,, but we have deferved more then ail the evil that we fuffer. We tnay. (ày as Ezra did, (Chape 9. i3.) Thou; our God haft punifhed us let then our iniquities ; and we may fay as Jacob (Gen,32.10.) Lord, we are not worth the leafy ofall thy mercies. This argumentmaybe of great ufe tous Of this Nátion,in thefë times.ofdarknefs.;andfear. What ? (hall not we receive evil from the hand of God , who have received fomuch good ? we have received many years of peace fromGod,fouricore years of peace ; (hall we receive fo many years of peace from the hands of God, and (hall we takeit ill, if we receive iòme years:of war ? We have .received many years of plenty, fnall we take, it,ill if we (hould. have fome:years of fcarcity ? We have had the dofpel many years, every one fitting under his Vine, and under his Figtree ; what, if now we hold theGofpel flanding.upon our guard, or marching in the Field? what ifwe hold it a while fitting in Tents, and hand- ing under our difplayed Banners ? Fourthly., Forafinuch, as the fame word is applyed here to ex- prefs the add of the mind in reference both to good and evil ;.,©b- ferve, that outward evils are to be received in the fame man- ner , andwith thcfame mind that good thins are received with. Yet a caution is to be, given in with this. There are two forts of outward evils or fufferings Sin is . the caufe of force text( rims, . and grace is the caufeofother fui-ferings,either grace aç'red,or grace to be trycd.Now we arenot to receive theevil of futfering, where- of fin is the caufe , with the fame minci as we do good joy and chearfuinefs Both not become fuch evils.' But when our fuffer- nags are caufed by Grace, either of thofe ways, then it becomes us to rejoyce. The Apofile faith more Korn. 5. 3., We glory in tri- bulation. And again, (2Cor. 6. r o.) asforrowfal , . yet alway rejoycing. The forrowofgodlymen is like the joy ofthe wicked , only in appearance ; Paul had only a shadow-offurrow, as forrow- full ; but his joy was fubflantial and continual , almayes.rejoycing, though his outward eflate caii up, . mounted but to this, poor, an d having nothing: The reafoa is; -.bee.aufe Gerais the fame inall va- rietyofour eflates; God loves as well when we are poor, as when we 295
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