thap. 3b. efln r .rpof tion upon the Bos.IZof Jo s. Verf. lo. 235 ever. And howgreat an argument of the goodnels of God is ir, that he defigneth the evils which we fuffer in thefe dying bodies, to heal the evils, and help on the good of our immortal fouls l that's all the hurt that the Lord means us. And the Lords heart is fo much in this defign (the returnof thoTe he affl,&s from their iniquìty)that he Teems confident of it, that when any are in af- fli&ion, furely they will return, ( Ho/ea 5. i 5. ) In their ef on they will feek. me early, cutely they will. And therefore the Prophet fpeaks of the Lord as defeated and difappointed of his purpofe, hm he Teeth fuch as he hath affli&ed continuing in their fin, ( Ifa. 9. s 3. ) The people turreth not untohim that Puai- teth them,neither do theyfee!¿ the Lord ofHofs : As if he had laid, ' Tis a wonder, that being fmicten they have not returned ; what a Orange, what a crofs-grain'd people are there ! What ? doth the Lord fmite you that you íhould run farther from him, and follow your iniquitydefer, or hold it facer ? you may be a(hamed that you turn not unto him that fpeaks to you; but whenyou are fink- ten will you not return from iniquity ? remernber,the Lord there- fore fuffers you to be bound in fetters, that you may be loofed from year fins; he therefore fuffers you to be holden in the cords of affii&ion,that you might let go your tranfgrefhons. Take heed you be not found difappointing him of his purpofe. How well it will be with thofe who do not diCappoint him, andhow ill'tis like to be with fuch as do, will appear further and fully in the two next verfes. Hha JO B,
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