gip. 34. An Expofrtion upon the Boo-,, of J o B. Verf.29. one mind, ofoneheart and way, trouble can fcarce find any way to come inamong them. But onlyGod ( who peremptorily gives cluietneffe) cangive quietneffe to and prevent the trouble of a -peoplewho are divided in opinions, affections, and Interefls. As therefore it is the molt defireable mercy that apeople may be all united asone man, in one mind, heart, andway , according to the mind, heart, andway of God ; fo it is a moil admirable mercy, to fee their peace continued while any confiderable part among them are dif-united in any of, efpecially if in all thefe. Fourthly , Confider, that fence the time of our peace, we have had many changes , we have been emptied from velfel CO vetfel, from hand tohand, from government to government, and from governour to governour ; and is it not matter of aflonifhment as wel asof thanks- giving, that yet we have quietnefs ! howmany have waited and hoped , yea defired and longed for our dayof trouble, by thefe changes, revolutions and viciffitudes, but yet we have peace. Muft we not then conclude, IfGod giveth gnietnefe, none can make trouble ; neither our fins, nor our divilions, nor our animofitiés, nor our changes -fhall put it into any mans power ( though they put an advantage intomanymenshands) to make trouble where the Lord our God is gracioufly & freely pleafed to give us quietnefs.Yet let us be in a holy feare,lefl we at lafl pro- voke God, and fin awayour quietnefs, and make trouble for our felves. The conditionof a people whodoe fo is veal wófull ; for furely ( as it followeth in the text ) Ifhe hideth his face,.who thencanbeholdhim ? This latter part of the verfe is applicable to a nation as well as the former, and therefore before I come to fpeake of either with refpeet to a fingle perfon, or aman only. Obferve. God fometimes hideth his face fromwhole nations, evenfrom thofe nations that have the outward profeffionofhis name. As there are national mercies, fo national calamities , as his people in commonmay have the Chitlings of Godsface upon them, fo the hidings ofhis face from them. Didnot God hide his face from the people of Ifrael, his peculiar people, when they were though aprofellìng peopl:e,yet avery finfull & provokingpeople ? Bbbbb z (1fa: 739
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