754 Chap. 34. An Expoftion upon the Book of E. Verf. ag, quered by Chrifi (Heb: 2.14) Hebath defiroyed him that had thepower ofdeath, that is;:he Devil!. He ismore thenconquered who is deftroyed ; Chrifi hath deftroyed the Devil }, who is the defiroyer,though not as to his being, though not as to his will to deflroy, yet as tohispower to deftroy thole whom he hash re- deemed, 4nd will eternally fave. Thirdly, Chrift hash alfa per- feetly conquered theLaw (not by defiroymgbut) by fully lling ir. Chrilt was above all that the Law requiredor commanded, and fo hedid at once freely fubmit to ir, and fully (as to any hindrance of a believers peace) fubdue it-, he holdeth it under him as well as he was made under it. And he was contentedfor that very rea- fon tobe made underthe Law , that he might hold it under him, and that we might not be under ( the dreadof) the Law (though we mutt walke and worke by the rule of it)but under grace. 'Tis matter of ftrong confolation toPoore foules, that when-the Lordgiveth quietnefr none canmake trouble. And hence we alto learn, that all the breaches which are made upon the peace of the people ofGod, are from God himfelfe. As thofe breaches are meritorioufly from themfelves, fo efficiently fromGodhim- felfe till he breaks their peacenone can. Thirdly, From the fecond branch , when he hideth his face, who then can behold him :? This being applicable to a fingle perfon as well as the former. Obferve. Godfometimes clouds his face from his ownefervants, andchil- dren. Thefe words, when he hideth hisface, fuppofe that God fome- times cloth fo, and the Scripture elfe-where tefiifies that God bath often donefo ; Clodbath love alwayes in hisheart towards his children, but he bath not alwayes favour zn hisface towards them ;. his appearances are not alwayes the appearances of a friend, he may appeare angry, and tarn away his faceas if he would not be fpoken with. Of this we find frequnt complaints inScripture; and I might fpeake much to this poynt , but I have already met with it ( Chap: 13. 24. ) and therefore I paffe from it. Only from the connexion of thefe wards,. when he bidethbis face, whocanbeholdhim ? Note.
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