37 Vert. z6. Expoftion upon the Book of J o rr. Chap. 36. fee into them l let as not find fault wich that thing,the perfeScions whereof we cannot find out fay not, why is it thus ? why loth God let things go thus ? why are his providences ordered thus ? there are many inch queryings in the hearts of men,and f©rne finch areexpre('l by the tongues of men. But remember the Lord can- not be known in his works, therefore let us not complain of his works,but,fitting down in filence,fubmir to them ; let us (as Da vid) Be doinob becaufe God bath done it, (Piái. 39, 9.) Davidwas filent, not only with refpe& to the foveraignty of God, who, he knew, had power and liberty co do whatfoever he pleated, but with refpe& tohis incomprehenfibility , becaufe he knew he was not able to know or underhand the bottome- reafon of that which God had done. This fome conceive, the fpecial intendment of Eliha in this Text, as reproving fob for his many complaints,and murmurings, and difputings about the dealings of God with him in the extremityof his fut erings: Therefore, faid he, Confider God isgreat, andwe know him net. Yet let none bediscouraged in feeking after the knowledge of God, becaufe'cìs told us we cannot knowGod ; yea let no man think to excufe himfelf in his negle6 of purfuing the knowledge of God, becaufe this Text faith we cannot know him. Some pof- fibly will fay, If God be fo great, that wecannot know him, then why fliould we labour after the knowledge of God ? or we hope this will excufe us, if we do not know him, feeing we cannot, Take heed of fuch reafonings ; for though God cannot be known to the turnoff of what himfelf is,yet GodWay 15e known fo far as is needful' for ut, and that is very far. Wemay,knowGod fo far as concerns our duty to him, and our happinefs by him ; we may knowGod fo far as to honour him , and to enjoy him : and we mull labour toknow hitaa perfeelly, though we cannot.. ThgA- pohle fpeaking of the love of God (Eph. 3. r 7.) would have us labett to comprehend with all ,Saints, the heighth, thebredtb, the depth, the length, and to know the love of Chrift that pafferb know- ledge. That the loveof Chri(l paffeth knowledge, that is exceeds our underhandir , (lieuld not difcourage us from labouring to know it ; nor will it excufè any that fit down idly, anddo not (la- dy the knowledge of t;äod, though he pafleth knowledge ; tee mull labour to know the oreatnefs ofGods love,and the greatnefs of Gods wifdorne, and the greatnefs of Gods power, though the great-
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