396 Chap, 3 3. An Expofition upon the Book of J o B. Verf.24 a fit frame, till we are in a due temper to. receive his grace. And.becaufe as to the difpenßngs of grace, Godwaits to be gra- cious ; thereforemany retard and hinder their owne good ; they are not yet in a frame to receive ; their veifell is not yet feafo- ned to hold mercy. The Lord waited to be gracious to David . after his grievous fall , and therefore hedid not give 2Z,athorn a Commif Tonto fay, Thyfin i done away, till David: heart was broken, and had faid ; 2 Sam: 12. i 3. ) Ihavefinnedaggainft the Lord ; But when once that word fell from him, then Nathan de- clared how gracious the Lord was to him. As foone as David' faid, I havefinned(that's an a& of repentance) prefently,Nathan faid, the Lard bath done away thy fin, that's an a& of grace. When did Ephraimheare a word of comfort from God ? The Prophettells us (, er: 3 t. 18, 19, so.) Ihave heard Ephraim bemoaning bimfelfe, ( that is, mourning over and bewayling, his tin )faying, thouhaft chaftifed me, andIwas chaflifed, as or bullock unaccuftomed to the yoake. We have him there alto praying, Turne me, OLord, and I(hall beturned, &c. Upon this, howgra- cioufly, howmeltingly did the Lord fpeak ? Is Ephraimmy dove fon ? ishe apleafant child?fnce I'peke againft ham, I doe earneff- ly remember him f ill; (or, in remembrang I remember him) my bowellsare troubled for him, I will foray have mercy on himrt.,. Now I will manifefl'my grace, and acquainthim with my good- nefs. TheLord was very gracious to Saul afterwards Paul,he Pent Ananias to himwith ameffage of mercy, as to reflore the fight of his bodyly eyes, fo to aflure him thar he fhould be an inilru- ment in the hand of Çhrifl to open the-eyes'of many, and a cso- fen veffel to beare his name before the gentiles and Kings and the ChildrenofIfrael, ( Ads 9. i 5. ) But when was thismefl'age de- livered him ? the text tells us (v. r t.) For behold heprayeth the man is in the dui+, he is brought upon hisknees, his fpirit is broken that word heprayeth, comprehends thewholeworke of a gracious foule, as tohis humiliation and returning to the Lord.. In the parable of the prodigall Son, his father is reprefented a- bundantly gracious tohim ; but he did not fignifie it, he did not fend the ring, nor the rich robe tohim, whenhe wasisbroad in a grange Country among harlots, drinking and, wafting his elate, time and flrength vainely ; we read of no a&s of grace to him then, but when, being pinched with famineand hunger, he came to
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