Chas. 36. an ExpoJui&nìépon the Bogkof J o B. Verf. a5. 365 God who have fuch workings towards God. It were better not receive a txercy, than not to be bettered by a mercy. Ic is not our cryingup the works of God in our words, but in our works, which is the magnifying of them. It is more fafe for us tofay no- thingof what God bath wrought for us, than to pubiifh ir,or make our boaa of ir, when we our felves do nothing worthy of ir, in a way of condecency;; and proportion to ir. 'Tis the deltgn of God in giving protnifes tomake us rleanfe ourfelves from allfilthinefs of flejhandfpirit, perfepling holinefs in thefear of God (2Car. 7. z.) Much more having given us anygreat performances of his pro- mifes, Bothhe expo& that we fhould be clean and holy. O them -what a pittiful courfe do they take, who pretending to magnifie the works of God, do fuch things asare adefilement both to fiefh and fpirit 1 A third deignof God in working for us, is to make us trufl himmore, or, to bemore in believing. T is (hewed (Pfaff. 78. 4. ) what great things God did for the jewith nation, and for their fathers ; But what did God aymeat in all ? we have the an- fwer (v. 8.) That they mightfei thear hope inhim, and not forget his,vorl¿ps. The aimwhich`Gad had in thofe great works, was that their hope aright be fet uponhim,that theymight crufk in him more then ever theyhad done. The Lord, by the great works he doch, would gain uponour faith, or caufe us to trua him fo: the future. How difhonorablydo they carry it towards God,who be- lieve not his word,much more theywho believe not his wörkes, that is, whobelieve him not, notwithaanding his wotkes, as 'ris faid of Ifrael( Pf. 78. 3 z,) For all this theyfinnedflit! ; and be- lieved not his wondrous works. The P.almia Both not mean, that they didnot believe fuch works had been done ; but the meaning is,they didnot true God who had done chorewoks. Thefe and manymore dutyes the Lord teacheth us by his word, and he teacheth them agobyhis wo kes, as it is Paid(v. 22.) who teach- eth lilZábim ? TheLord teacheth us many excel lent leffons by his . works, if we hadhearts to lea: n them. Lay thefe things toge- ther in praaife, and theywill be the bell, yea, they are the only wayofmagnifying the weeks of Goddone for us. And,if the works ofGod are to be magnified all thefe wayes, then they fall fhoe of this duty, Firtf,Whoonly make areport of the works of God, who ttell`
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=