5 32 Chap. 4o. An Expofition upon the Bookof J o B. Verf; Hence, Noce ; The bat of men may fometimes need the terrible appearances ofGod, to humble them and to bring them to a due confeJoo of their fins. Certainly God would not have fpoken to Job in a whirlwind, if there had not been caufe for it;he would not have fpoken twice in a whirlwind,if there had not been doublecaufe for it.The Apoffle Peter faith (a Eph. r.6.)Te are in heavinefr through manifold tem. rations (that is,:tfliftions and trials) of need be.\7Ve fhould never feel any affliblion from the hand of God, never be in heavinefs,if there were not need. There is need that the holiefi in this world fhould fometimes be made heavy, or that heavinefs Ihould be upon them for a time. We fhould always have calms and fair weather, never any (forms, nor tempefts, nor whirlwinds from God, did not our needs call for ir. As we everydayneed bread, which is therefore called by Chrìfl our dailybread ;; fo moil days we need a rod, either the rod of Vs mouth to reproveus, or the rod of his hand to chaffen us: And we dofo, efpecially, for there reafons. Firrl, To bring us into a deep fence of our own vilenef,, to humble us, to lay us low. Secondly, To rasakegreater imprefions uponour hearts, of the power and foveraignty of God, of the holinefs and righteoufnefs of God. It is, that we might know our felves more, and that we might knowGod more, that God fpeakstous in whirlwinds, in terrible difpenfations. Further, Asthis is a fecond whirlwind, as it is a fccond fpeak- ing to Job, a good man, ina whirlwind, Obferve ; god will not give over terribledifpenfations and appearances, tillhe hooch brought man to bis purpofe. God hash an end, a purpofe in every work, and every work of his goeth on, till he bath attained his purpofe. As the word which goeth out of the Lords mouth (hall not return untohim void, but (hall accomplifh that which he pleafeth,and profper in the thing whereto he fends it (!fa. 55. r r.) So the work which God takes in hand, (hall not be in vain, but (hall profper to the purpofe for which he undertakes ir. Now if any ask what is the purpofe of God
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