I; Chap. 42. An ExpofitionUpon the Bookof Jo B. Verf. ; . 8 tr wonderful for him: What were they ? The counfel of God, the nature,ofGod; thefeare pat/ finding out. There are wonders in GodWhich cannot apprehend, much leiscomprehend. fob fpake of chinos far above his reach, even of aronderful things; and therefore nowonder ifhe fpake unduly of them. I (faithhe) have tittered things too wonderful for me, which lknew not, Job here confeffeth,that he wanted knowledge ; and weknow(though he were amirror of patience) thatmany impatient fpeechesgaf- fed from him. Now,here wehave the root of all that impatience which this good man (hewed in his affli&ions; he hadnor a clear knowledge about the counfel or meaning of God in aflliaing him. Hence note ; Impatience flows from ignorance. Did we underhand there two things ; Firh, our own finfulnefs; Secondly, the foveraignty of God ; we íhould never be impa- tient. Did we underf}and our own linfulnefs, that we have de- fervedgreater evils than any the Lordpath laid upon us ; and did we underhand the Lords foveraignty, that he may lay upon as what fufferings he pleáfeth, though we had not finned ( for we arewhollyhis, andhe may do withhis own what he will) did we (I fay) underhand and meditateupon thefe two things, it would quiet our minds in the greaten forms of adverfity, and be apre- fervativeagainft all impatience. But if with there two, we con- fidera third thing; that the end which the Lord bath in bringing fufferings uponhis people, is to do them good, how unreafon- able a thingwill impatience appear ? thanwe be impatient at our profit! If we are well innru&ed in this great truth, that all thingswork together for good to them that love Clod, and are the cal- led according to hie purpofe (Ram. 8. 28.) Where is there any room for impatience, in chofe who are effetuallycalled, and tru- ly love God ! Impatience fioweeb from ignorance. Again, in that lob confeffeth himfelf to be theman that hid the counfels of God, when he had only been fpeaking unadvifed- ly of them, Lull 2 Note ;
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