Chap. 40. fn $xpoFtion upon the Boò,kof ,j o B. Verf.g, 564 she world. Yea, there is fuch *power in the teaching voice of God, that like a thunder-bolr,it over-throweth and fopulls down all the ftrong holds of fin, callingdown imaginations , and every high thing that eealtethit felf againfi the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chrifl ( 2 Cor. 10. 4) 5.) 'ThusGod thundersagainfl fin, and batters finners; which is infinitely harder to do, than to batter and level the walls of a City to the ground with thundering Cannon. The weapons of our warfare, for the conquefl of fouls to Chri(f, are all laid up in, and fetcht out of the Arcenat of the holy Scriptures or Word of God and, O what work have they made in the world l Howmany have fallen, by fubmitting to them, to their own falvation! and how many more have fallen, by refilling them, to their own everlallingderudion l Fifthly, There is a mighty power,in the reproving voice ofGod, WhenGod deals verbal rebukes to (inners, as well asverberal, he often makes their beauty to confume away likea moth (Pfal. 39. a a. ) TheLord profeffeth to all hardned (inners, whofe confci- ences now give them no reproofs, and who prefume God will give them none neither, that he bath thundering reproofs ready for them( 'pal. 50. 21. ) d well reprove thee, and fit them (that is, thy fins) in order before thineeyes. O confider this (as'tis ad- vifed in the next verte of the fame I'Jahn) ye that forget God, left-he tear you in pieces, with the thunder of his reproof. Sixthly, There is alío a mighty power in the comfortingvoice of God. Owhat avert#teis there in thofe fecret whifpers, where- in Godfpeaketh peace to his people ( Hofa e. 14. ) /raid d1 lure her, and bring her into thewildernefs, and fpeak, comfortably untoher,or toher heart. A thunder (as to power ) goeth with this voiceof God: This bath apower to fettle a{baking or dif- conColate foul, and nothing but the power of Gods voice cando that. When none cancomfort, the Lordcan. Tocomfort the confcience is ( faid Luther ) as great a work as to make a world. Seaventhly, There is a mighty power, as in the promits,ng or comforting voiceof God, foalto in his threatning voice: The Lord thunders reproofs againft rhefe that have finned, and he thunders threarnings to keep all from finning ; and how terrible that voice is the tlpofile knew,_who faid, Knowing the terror of the Lord we perfwade men ( 2 Cor, 5.11. ) And as the Apofile knew it Cccc by
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