Chap. 3 3. An expofrtiox upon the Book of Jos. Verf. 27. 447 nently from that moil patheticall tiwifh (Pfal: 1. t 3,14,15,16.) O that my people-had hearkned unto me,and 'tract had walked in my wayes, I fhouldforme havefubdued their enemies, and turned my . Band againfì their adverfiries. The haters ofthe Lord, fhould have fübMitted-themfelves, bat their timefhould have enduredfor ever : I fhouldhavefed themal fo with the f nefl of the wheate, &c. As if the -Lord had fayd, How glad fhould I have been if my people had been butfrtly.qualified to give me occafion of removing all evil from them, and of doing them all manner of good. The holy Prophet.fpeakes the heart of God in the fame readinefs (Ifa: 30. 18.) Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be graciour unto you, therefore will he be exalted, that hemay have mercyuponyaw; As if he had fayd , The Lord expe&s your reformation, that he may notproceed in rigour'againll you , or- as fome conceive ra- ther, he onlydelayeth his puttingan end to your troubles, till ye are humbled,expeainga feafonable time to-fhewyou that mercy, in bellowing of which he will exalt- and advance his owne name and honour, when once he feeth you-fitted andduely prepared to receive it. The-Lord ( faith David,' Pfal: t.l.. 2.) looked- downe from heaven uponall thechildrenofmen, tofee a f therewer `any did underfandandfeekGod., There he is reprefented looking downe from heaven to fee if any did underfland, as here; he looketh upon men tolee ifany doe repent, flying, Ihave finned,. &e. The Lord often;yea alwayes Iooketh downe uponNarions,Cities-and peo= pie, to fee if any have a right underílanding of him,or-a will with upright affeolions tohim. The Lord at this dayis !truing ',iron the lick, and baking the found, ro fee if there are any, whoare going on faithfully in a right way,or repenting that.theyhave gone. = wrong: I1 looketh -upon men ; And ifanyfay,., 1-`have finned, &c, In this latter part ofthe verfe, we have the matter 'expreffed' which theLórd looketh upon men for, 'tis repentance and godly forrow.for fin ;1 Ifanyfay,1 have finned ;' Thatis if any repent: When the Lord faith, Ifany fay,--I havefinned, he-dochnot meane it of a bare layingfo-; bút, if any fay fo, laying his fin to heart ; if any fay fo from a true fence of the- evil! of fin ; ifanyfay- fo bur= den'dwith fin; and tailing the bitternefs of it ; if (hall fay, I havefnned,andfay it"thtis,thenVic,- The word which we trap- flag .:
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