756 Chap. 34. An Expofstion upan the Book, of J o a. Verf.29. only the joy and triumph of his faith , but his very peace, he is not only in a dark , but in a dit{urb'd condition , not knowing where to repofe himfelfe, or ref} his head, when God hideth kis faàe. Take this inference from ir. Ifthe hidingofGods face befo terrible, then take heed of pro- vokjng him te hidehisface. For though we are not tenants at will for öur peace in refe- rence unto the world, in reference to men, in reference to de wills ; yet we are only tenants at will for our peace in reference untoGod. He can takeaway our peace ; and he doth ufually con- tinue our peace, only fo long as we behave our felves well. As forehave Letters Patents for great offices which run in that tenour ; They fhafl enjoy them (quarn diu fe bene gef erint) ar longas they carry tkemfelves wex ; but upondefault or male-ad- tninifiration they may be turned out of all ; fo I fay , though we are not at the will of the world, nor of anycreature, for the hold- ing of our peace, yet we are at the will ofGod for it. And as he fometimes meerly out of prerogative hideth his face (aswas chewed yob t 3.24.) that he may trywhat a foule will doe in a dark condition, and that he maydeclare what the firength of his . invifible grace can doe whennothing is vifible,no not any the kart ray or thine of favour from himfelfe to fupport and comfort the foule, I fay, though God doth thus in a prerogative way fome- times hide hisface) yet ufually he doth it not,but upon force de- fault in us,efpecially our negle&of him ; when we regard not the face of God,.atid grow flight as to our valuations of his prefence, . then he withdraweth his prefence and vayles his face towards us; and when we fall into any grolfe fin (fuch was the cafe of David, Pfal: ç a.) God takes us upon default, and leaves us in a fad con- dition, as hedid David, who complained that even his bones were broken, and that he had left the joy of his falvatiori, which upon the renewing of his faith and repentance, he begg'd earneft- ly might be reftored to him, and it was. Therefore ifyou would' keepe the light of Gods Countenance, keepe deli to the light ofGods Commandement. No tnarvaile if we be under the hidings of the face ofGod, when we are turning our backes upon God ! Sin is a turning fromGod, a turning our backs upon God ; and is it any wonder
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