----- 564 Verf. 17. t/ln E.rpof,,tion upon the Boekaf ,j B. Chap. 37. ble without, and peace within, at the fame time, This ás the fpe. dalgift ofG®d. The text tells us, God graieteth the earth ; and as that gift of natural quietnefs is a mercy, fo civil quietnefs is a great mercy, and fpiritual quietnefs, quietnefs of heart and tran- quility of mind, efpecially in the midft of tribulations, is the greaten mercy of all. We ihould pray earneffly, that Godwould keep the earth quiet-, or quiet the earth, whenever we findit un- quiet,, by force gracious South wind, but above all, that he would quiet our fpirirs by the fweet breathingsof his blefed Spirit, that though at any time there - flhould benothing (which God forbid ) but nnquietnefs on the earth, yet we may have muchquietnefs in our heart?. Again confider, the formercontexttold us, of formesand tem- pea,,of thnndet and lightening, of fnow and rain, driving men from their labour inthe field, to their homes and houles, and the wildbeafls of the fields to their dens and coverts : Now this text fpeakes of warmth, of calmes,and quietnefs, Ilegnieteth the earth éty the South wind, Hence obferve ; There is a cautinual iaiciftude in natural thingr. Asno day of the Year is of the fame continuance or length as to tight, fovery few are of the fame complexion or tenaáer as toheat andcold, fair or fowl weather, formes or calmes. Now if there be firch a viciffitrtde in natural things, then do not wonder that there isaviciffitude in civil chings,or in the affaires andconditions of Lien in this world. If after the faire weather of health and peace, the fowl weather of fcknefs and trouble come upon us, if after calmes we meet with formes, 1er us, not be troubled. A heathenPoet laid, We fhould not be d'ffident in a formyday, Ydèro coafiJ. t that we fhall never have quietnefs, no iiaouldwe be confident in a annumluau a quiet day, that we Nall never have a form, David a holy man, ,nerro Y s y fiefpeyet tae was once exceedinglyout in both ; in his a.dverfity he faid,1 fhall liora1apfis: never be efiabliihed; that was the fence o iris laying, when in Res Dagno,- his hafie hefail, ali men are 'Tars (Pfal. i t 6. t 1,) In bù prefpe- ,era: celeri ra tit he ard, I ale never h,a moved. The Lords favour had made ¬ turbine f erfar, seta, has mountain fand f+rong, and he began not only to think but con- clude it .\.ould alwayes (land in the fame fl ength, till his ence confuted that fancy,, Theo:didfi hide thy face, and [was trau- e
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