23 2 Chap. 3 6. Expofitic%supon the Book of J o B. Verf. t o Secondly,'tis as true if underflood of the inrelteaual eye and ear; the hearing ear and Peeing eye, that is, theear that hearetjt obedi- ently and prao ically, that ear is of Gods forming and making ; filch an ear did God create ( Aels 16. t4.) where it is faid , A certain wwraannamed Lydia,a feller ofpurpleof theCity of Thya- tira, whichworfhipped God, heard au , whofe heart theLord opened, that (heattended to the things that were fpoken by Paul. Further, what was the feafonof opening the ear ? It was a day of afflicIion, when they were bound in fetters,and holden in cords of aflli6tion. Hence learn ; god ufetb afil ions as medicines or means to reftore fpirituaI hearing. Man is often cured of his fpiritual deafnefs , both as to the voyce of the. word and workes of God, by ficknefs. A good man Res profpera in health,peace,&profperity,may have his ears fo flopped thacthe damn eft dei Lord fees it needful to fend Tome (harp correí` lion to get out the emfolanrir, res ear-wax and unlcck them. Profperity (faith oneof the Ancients) nomof c firs is thegift of Godcomforting au ; adverfity is thegift of Godadmo- neatsr; good(- nifhing us ;why then deft thou complain that thoufiefferel , thy fuf- giturpaterio,un. fering isa medicament, not apuni fknaent ; 'tiífor thy bettering, not deplangh; me- for thyundoing. ' Tis a favour to feel God flriking, when we have diina ell,"" not heard him fpeaking, and he therefore ftrikes that we may at- pæna ;caftigatio danenatie. tend what he freaks ; When words do not prevaile to open the non Auguíi: in ear, fetters and cords (hall. That's the fecond defignne of God Pfa1: 002. when he brings the righteous into fireights, Then heopeneth their ut juhenti, ear to difcipline e The third is given-in the dole of this verle ; 'terba non au- diunt,ferientù And commandeth that they return from iniquity. varberibus ad- monentur;ut ad Here's the ifhue of the former two : The fhewing theta their bons term tranfgreflions, the opening their ear, are that they may return perm» trahont, from iniquity ; and here is a command that they mull ; And com- s ñvirmant, mandeth that they return, &c. The Hebrew text may be ren- Greg:1.26. Bred, He fpeaketh, or faith, that they return from iniquity; and M©ti al. c. 2.6% this fpeaking may be expounded two wayes ; Firfl,by perfwading; `1Oili1 et di- He (peaksperfwadingly. The Lords afflictions are perfwaf ons, fit. his (lroaks are entreaties'; he befeecheth us by our forrows, and fickneffes, and weakneffes, and pains, that wewould return from our
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=