5©2 Chap. 4o. an Expofition upon the Book of J o B. Verf. 2. ings about the works of God-, for they may foon come to be Con- tendings with him. For the ciofe of this point , take thefe four Confiderations , which may move all forts of men towatch their hearts againft Contendings with God , whether as to his dealings in the world, or with themfelves. Firfi , Remember, Whatfoever the Lord loth , he may do ; for he is an abfolutely fovereign Lord , and therefore not to be con- tendedwith about any thing he Both, becaufe nowayaccounta- ble for any thing he doth, as hashbeen (hewed upon feveral oc- cations offered in opening this Book. He is Lord of our being, and bathgiven to all fe , breath, and all things, as the Apofile told the fuper(,titious Athenians (Ails 17. 25.) and may not he dowhat he will to all beings, in whom all have their being ; and who bath givenall things toall which concernthat being?He is our Maker , and bath not the potter power over the clay, to de what be will with it ? Hach not the Creator power over the creature, to difpofe of it ashe pleafeth ? (Ifa. 4.5.9.) Let the,pot(heard firive with the pot/beards of the earth. If any will be firiving, let them firive with their like; pot(heards with por(heards,not put-beards with the potter, to whom they are fo unlike. The Lord ufed no other a-gumentbut this to quiet all (Pfal. 46. ate.) BeHill, and knew that I am God; remember that, and you will either not be- gin,or quickly havedone contendingwithGod: Yet in that Pfalm the Lord is reprefenredmaking moli dreadful work , Come,bebold the worksof the Lord what defolations he bathmade on the earth. Though God make that which was as a garden, to become a de- folate wildernefs, yet contend nor with him ; be nil', and know that he is God. Secordly , Remember whatfoever work the Lordmakes in the world , it is allrighteous work; there is nothing amifs in it. Ile ù a rock (laid c,'l'tofes, Deur. 32. 4.) Has workis perfebl, for all hiswayes are judgements (not as judgements are (Tpofed to mer- cies, but to injufltce, as it followeth in that verle) a godof truth, andwithout iniquity, jufl-and right is he. To this David gives wimefs (Pfal. 145. 17.) The Lord is righteous in all his reayes, and holy in all his works; Not only is he righteousand holy in this and that way or work, but in all his wayes and works ; in wayes of judgement aswell as in wayes of mercy , in wayes of defiru- &ion aswell as in wayes of falvation. He is righteous in pulling down
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