Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v12

Chap. 41. An Expef:tion upon the Bookof J o n. Verf. Fourthly., Note ; According to the meafure ofGods revealing bimfclftow,fact) is themeafure of oar profiting in the knowledge of God. The word is fpoken to all,in the publick Minifiry of ir,it is fcat- tered uponall;but they only learn to knowGod & themfelves tru- ly,to whomGod cloth inwardly reveal ir,&whofe hearts he couch- eth and openethby his Spirir.Everyman(faith Chriff,john6.45.) That bath beard& learned ofthefather,cemetb unto me;thac is,All that are taught of God, believeon me. And the more any learnof the father,themore they come to, & abide the more clofely with the Son. pb underflood more of God, and the mind of God more, in all chofeguefflons he put tohim,concernìng the heavens, the earth, the Sea, concerning the beads of the eàrch, and the fowls of the Air, concerning Behemoth and Leviathan, than ever he did before. The more immediate and extraordinary revela- tions of God, arealwayes accompanied with notable cffe&s_And though few profit in knowledge, accordingco the meafure of the mediate and ordinary Revelation, yet probably the more re- velation we have of that kind, the more we profit. Fifthly, feb had thefe great difcoveries after God had kept him long in afluiaion. Hence note God dotbufually reveal himfelf moll to his people aftergreat fuffBrings. Hence Tome are of opinion, that in thefe words Job pointed at his two flares. Firf{, that of his profperity ; then he heard of God only by the hearingof the ear. Secondly, Of his adverfity ; then his eye faw him, that is,he,greatly profited in the knowledge of him. There are two things which Godufually bellows upon his people in the day of, or foon after their affli66ion ; Fir(i, more cordials and confolacions : He gives that flrong drink to chofe that are ready to perifb, that wine unto thofe that be of heavy hearts, Hebids them drink and forget their poverty, and remem- ber their mifery no more ; as Solomon; metaphors may well im- port (Prow. 31.6, 7.) Secondly, as the Lord gives more confo- lation inErich aday, fo more illumination ; the head is bettered by it as well as theheart. Many havegot much inward light or Nation know-

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