246 Verf. at. e/PeExpofcaenapt; Ak Look of Jo B. Chap. 36. Secondly , This promife,orpromifes of a like nature. werefit - ted to the time wherein Elìhu fpake; he fpake of the times long before Chrifis appearing in the fled-, when the Lord did ; as it were, lead onhis people verymuch by promifes,of temporal and outward profperity, ofwhich theScripture is more fpanng inhe new Tef amenr, where we are come to the fulnefsof Chriff , and the riches of the grace of God to us is him; of which there isbut little ( comparatively) fpoken in the,old Tel}ament : And there- fore under that darker difpenfation of fpirituals, the Lord'faw it good to encourage that people toobedierfce by a multitude of very particular outward promifes, as we may read ( Dent, 28. ) He would biefs their basket and their flore,the fruit of the field, &c. Zhere promifes were lured to the flare of that under-age people, who were led on and enticed by viable and fenfibleblef- fings, aswe do children with toyes and Gaudees ; and indeed all vilible enjoyments arebut fuch in comparifon of fpirituals. Be- lievers under the Golpelbeing come to a higher flare, to fuller. attainments, the promifes made to them, run not much in that channel ; yet it cannot be denied; that the Gape( alto holds out promifes for remporals, as well as the Law; and this latter difpen- fation of the Covenant as well as the former, path provided fuffi ciently for OUT outward comforts. Thirdly , For anfwer, let us confider the drift of the Spirit of God in this.prots<iife of pleafure. fobhad often complained of his own .forrowfull condition, and concluded himlelf aman of furrow for all the remainder of his dayes : though his faith was thong for the refurre6lion of his body after death, yet he had little, if,any faith at all, that he should be railedout of that milerable elate wherein he was in this life. He allo had fpoken fomewhat rafhly and mils concerning thedealings of God with his lervants in ge- neral, as if nothing but trouble and for row, did attend them, and that the wicked went away with all the fweet and good of this world. Now Elihu to takehim offfrom thefe fad, and almoff de- fpairin; thoughts, as to the returnof hisown comforts, and to re- &ifie hisjudgement in the general poynr,as to the dealings of God with others ; he aflureth fob, that if righteous men beingbound in fetters, &c. hear and obey,. God will break chofe bonds, and cur the cords of their , and they fhall fpend (the remain- der _. of)their dayes inprofperity, ,and (the red of) their years in pleafures,
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