Ghap,4o. Expofstion upon the Bookof J o a. Verf. 9. asking fome things promifed : His arm is powerful enough to do what he willech ; and this is the will of God, to fulfil or make good all his promifes. Men often put-promifethemfelves, but God doth not. Hall thou an arm like God ? Hence take thefe inferences; Firf}, If the Lordbathfilch a mightyarm, Then let us take heed we do not provoke the Lord to turn his arm againfi ur. That's the ufe which the Apof'lle makes of this point, and which naturally floweth from it (i Cor, i o. se.) Doye provoke the Lord to anger:? areye ffronger than he? The Apoltles fenfe hits the language of the Text fully ; as if hehad faid, Haveyou an arm like God e There'snocomparifon between yours and his ; Hecan crufli you before the moth (job q.. x 9.) that is, as loon as, or beforea moth is crufhed, which crumbleth to duff with the !earl or lighten touch of the hand, or little finger. Secondly, If the Lord have fach an arm, Then let as la- boar toget andengage thearmof the Lord for our help. Men love to be on the fironger fide ; and fome refolve to be on the firongerfide, though it fhould be, or not regarding whe- ther or no itbe the worfer fide. Now feeing all have a natural delireto interea themfelves where the greatelt arength is, be- caufe there probably and rationally the greate(i fafety and belt fhelter is; then, how fhould we labour to get and allure an inte- reft inGod,which cannot be done,but by being onGods fide (that is, by keepingdole tohim in allthe duties of holinefs and righ- teoufnefs) for doubtlefshe is ltrongel ; his fide is not only a good, but the belt, not onlya firang, but the ltrongea fide. Hath any man an arm like God ? can all men, fhould they joynall their armsinone, make an arm like Gods ? They cannot. No is there any arm wrong, but in or by the firength of Gods arm. As old dying facob fpake while he was blefïìng his fon jofeph (Gen, 49. 24.) The archers have forely grieved him, and fhot athim, and batedhim ; batbis bow abode inflrength, and the arms of his hands were made flrong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. How werehis arms made ftrong 1 Howdid his bow abide in ltrength l it was by the hands (that is, by the power) of the mighty God of
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