Chap. 3.3'. An Expefttion upon the Book. of J o s; Verf. 14. 271 xrnth which is not followedby great numbers, or the moff of the World. The traine of Chriti is not large, nor are, his wayes throng'd, fewthere be that find them. As they whem he calls forth tobe eminently his witneffes are not many, therefore called two ; fo they that receive their witneffe. arenot many ; The world wonders after the 6eaft. Thus as two or twice imply a finall num- ber ; fo inScripture language,that which is done more then twice is fuppofed done oftenor many rimes (.2 Kings 6. io.) When the Prophet had cold the King of Ifrael where the forces of the Kingof Affyria would come, and by that eneanes defeatedhim of his putpofe ; it is faid, And the King of Ifraelfent unto theplace which the manof God told him,, andwarnedhimof, and faved him- felf there, not once, nor twice ; that is, many times, which made the King of wonder how it came to.patle that hewas fo often defeated ; he thought he, had laid his plots fo wifely and clofely that the King of Ifrael could not efcape, but he faved himfelf:not once, nor twice more then twice is many, but bare twice is the. narrowefi compaffeofnumber imaginable: Hence note. God hath not given us any ground to prefume. upon frequent' warnings or fJeálZings,' Though he fpeake more then once,. yet it may be but twice,. poffibly but twice precifely, probably but twice refirainediy ta- ken. The Lord would not have us buildupon the hope offfuture. fpeakings,to the tiegleet of what isprefently fpoken.ThoughGod. be very patient and long-furfering to finfult men, yet be bath not givenany man, the leafi occafion, no not by a-promife óf fpeaking:, a-fecond day, to continueone day.much leffeto continue long in : fin. When God fpake (as I may.fay) at the largefi race of his patience toLinnets, he fayd (Gen: 6. 3..) c.,/ fpirit(hall not al-, walesflrive with man ; not alwayes ,,that is, though it (!rive long yet it shall not (irive very long, and that he mayknow it, I will give him a day, yet his dayes"hall beanbunked and twentyyeares. This was fomewhat a long day indeed ; But remember this hun- dred and twenty yeares, was, all the time that was granted to all'. the men of that world, there was not fo much granted 'to every particular manof world, . pe ibly the Spirit of God did nor' firive a day longer, with many à.one among them,,.Therefore take. heed.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=