744 Chap. 34. An Expofition upon the Rootsf. Jos Verf. 29, plefor their good ; yea, he tells them; he would not regard the prayers and amerce-ions of any others for them, (Ter. t 5. I.j 7 houghMofes and Samuelflood before me, (that is, fhould become Advocates in their behalf) yet my heart could not be towards this people, (that's a lure and a dreadful prognoflick of ruine, as it fol- loweth) crs,4l ¡hem out of my fight, and let them goforth. Thirdly, When the Lord hides his face from a Nation, he re- fufeth to give them counfel, or to dire& their way. We need the counfel ofGodas much ashis firength ; as we cannot do what we know=leis he firengthen us, fo we know not what to do un- lefs he counfel us. Ancrwhen ever God hideth his face from a people, he hideth counfel from apeople. When God hid his face f omSaul, who was in a publick capacity, and in a publick cafe, his war with the Philif fines , O how he complained that he couldget no counfel, (i Sam. 28. 6. 15.) The Lordánfwers me no more, neither by Vrim, nor 6yThummtm, nor by Prophet, nor by Dreams ; as if he had faid, I cannot get a word of dire&ion from God, what to do in this calamitous and intricate condition, wherein my felf and my Kingdome are plung'd, by reafon of this invafion ; I knownot what to do, andGod will not at all give me any intimation what to do, nor how to do, what is fafeft, or moll: conducing to my own fafety and prefervation. The Pro- phet brings in the Church lamenting this effe& of Gods hiding his face, (Pfal. 74 wefee not our tokens, there isnot any Pro- phet, nor any that can tell how long ; as if they had laid, heretofore Godwas wont to give us fignes and tokens, he would even work miracles for us, or he would fend a Prophet to inflruel and advife us what to do, we had thofewho could tell us how long, that is, how longour troubles fhould latl,andwhen we fhould have our expe&ed end of them; but now we are in trouble and no man can tell us how long, now we are left to thewide world, to fhift for our felvesas w..11 aswe can ; the Lordwill not advife us what to do, nor give us his minde what's bef} tobe done, or how to proceed ; thus dels(orablewas their condition upon the hiding of Gods face from them. Fourthly, (which is het worfe) when the Lord hides his face from apeople, he doth noï only with-hold his counfels, but gives them up to their own counfels.& that is, to their own hearts lulls, (Pf.8a , z z.)Ifrael would noneof>yee(faith God)they would not hark- en
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