Chal;. 36. an E:vpofitran upon the Eook,of J o B. Verf. 3 z. '42 3 Hence note ; 'Though Godcan do all things byhis bareword, yet he ordina- rily ufeth means to, bring about his purpofer, whether for good or evil, whether tomercy yr in judgement, to the children of men.' There is fotnething comes between. God bath a Cloud, or fomewhat like ir, to put between us and.the light. The Apofdle vertu' (z Thef. 2. 6, 7.) treating of Antichrift, the manof fin, inci- mates, that he would have filled the world with thedarknefs of erreur and fuperf'lition very quickly, by a full difcovery of him - felf, had not fomething with-held him, had not fotnething come between him and his defign for a time. What was that ? 'Tis ,generallyconceived, that which did with-hold or cbme between °tsiv,v°i" the man of tin, and his purpofe of filling the worldwith the dark- nefs of his wicked erreurs and abominableworihip, was the pow- er of the Roman Empire at that time ; Antichrifi couldnot put forth -his power while that power flood in its ftrength. God could have with-held Antichrifft immediately from putting forth of him- fell, but he faw it bell to put a block in his way, the power of the Roman Empire, and until that was thrufl out of the way, the man offin couldn:ver fhew himfelf fully, in that unlimited exercife of his finful power. Now, I fay, as therewas then a with-holder of Antichriílian darknefs, fomewhat that came between and hin- dred its eftedlual working ; fa ufually,I may fay univertall,fouie- what comes between to ch ck and flop the courfeof the GoTel- light, or ofanyother mercy. Sin is a Cloud ofour t, aking atätl God in judgement makes that as a Cloud coming between us and'" our mercies. He did fo of old to Ifrael, and he told them foby his Prophet (air. 5. a 5.) MP. finshave with-holdengrooel things fromyon. Sin with -holds good things, not fortnally.,but m.erefori- oufiy, that is, fin is the meriting or defetving caufe of their with holding. This one Cloud of our fins, brings all the Clouds of troublebetween us and our mercies ; and the Lord hath alwayes feriae Cloud or other of trouble at hand, in readinefs to cover the light, that it &nine not to us, when we trouble and grieve him by thof foggy and filthy clouds of our fins.Thus far of that which is preparatory to rain, Clouds caverìng the light. It £olloweth, Yell;
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