362 Chap.3. Al2 Expofition upon the Bookof J O B. Verf.3. with knowing times ; but God never winketh at anyperfon,or at ally times, how ignorant foever, fo as to let them go unpunithed, and never call them to an account. Such connivance God hates,as being inconfìitent,both with his Providenceand his Juflice. The Apoflle is di red, They who fin without Law, (that is, without the knowledg of the Lawwritten) Jhall perifh without Law, namely, the written Law , only according to the fentenceof that Law, which the finger of Nature bath written in their hearts, Rom.z. i 2. Ignorance fhall not be fo winked at, as to be altogether ex- cuied. How then did God wink ? There is a two-fold winking. i. OfdificfpeL. z.Ofdifpenlation. Gods winking is his difrefpe- ding. He winked at thole times, that is, he lightly pafï'ed them by, his eyewas not upon them forgood, he regarded them not in f ich a manner as to provide for them, and fend amongft them that great bleffing,which now (faith Paul) he fends you by my hands, the knowledg of Jefus Chrifl. When the bleffed Virgin heard by that meffage of the Angel , that fhe thould be Mother to the Saviour ofthe World,the bleffeth God in this phrafe , Thou haft regarded the low eftate of thine hand- maid : When God in a way of favour Both but look towards us, our lowed eftate is railed up , Thou haft regarded the low eftate of thine handmaid; it is but a look ofgracious regard from God , and all is well with man. On the other fide , if God take offhis eye, wink anddifregard, all is bladed, yea accurfed, our high eftate falls , our comforts are fowred and turned into a lump of forrow. We may fay ofall outward excellencies, as Haman did, (Efth4a3.)'ofall his honour, and greatnefs,and favourcat Court; All tlls' I have ; but all this availeth me nothing, fo long as Ijee Mo`r'decai the yewfitting at the Kingsgate : All his comforts were clouded, all the light ofhis high eftate was eclipfed, becanfe there was a new Star, Mordecai, fhining fä11 at the Kingsgate. Much moremay we fit down, and callingup all we have and are , make the foot ofour account nothing,without the favour ofGod : What do riches,what loth credit, what doth beauty or parts avaius, if God regard not ? All is nothingat all without God. What are times, what are dayes,what is yoiar condition,if God withdraw himlelf? 'This aggravates the curie , this is mournful, when God regardeth not jib goes on to a thirdbranchof the, curie, Let
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