72 Chap. 38. an Expofition upon the Book¿, of J o a. Verf. his dealings with the children of men ? Hath he not fa( }erred the foundations, and laid the corner-lime of all his diìpenfations right ? fob Teemed to fpeak fometimes, as if the Lord had not dealt with him in.meafure ; nor ftretchéd an equal lice upon his proceedings ; he looked upon all as off the hooks, and out of courre, Now, faith the Lord , have I laid themeafn es of the earth, and/It-etched the line uponit ? Have Ifaflered the foundati- ons and laid the corner-franc thereof ? Have Idone ail there things; anddof thou ehirkthat 1 will let the world ingeneral, or any mans cafe in particular , run to ruin ; as ifmy worker of proa ideate had neither foundationnor corner-tone ? i_,rmember, ()Job, and well confider , that at when in thebeginning Ifaw the earth withoutform 9 72 vin, and void (Gen. r.) I, by a creatingword,commanded it into form andfslncfs : So when thou feefi nothing but (Tohu and Bohu) con- fu son and di(order , voidnefs anddarbncfs, in the earth , even then I am laying the rneaftsres of fisflice , and firetchiag the lire of Truth and Equity , upon all that ú done or fuffcred ; and will bring forth my work. in full perfeflion : Nothing (hall be ami fir , or out of order, when my work is fini flied , howmuch foever it may fees to be amifs , as to beginnings or prefent allings. Therefore, O fob, leave off' thy complainings, and ref- quietly in my deal- ings. Some have quefiioned the Natural Works of God , yet 'cis irnpoffible to mend any parr,or the leaf- pin of them. And 'tis as ìmpof-iole for the wit and under£-anding of Men or Angels to mend any thing in the Providential Works of God. That's the (cope of this difcourfe, even that the confideration of Gods powerand wifdom in making the world, fhould bridle our curio- 1iiry, and awe our fpirits, when they begin to quarrel with , yea, but to query aboutany thing that God bathdone ; though it ap- pear to us altogether irregular and confufed , or as done with- out either line or meafure. The Lords work is beautiful and glo- rious , 'cis alto lure and ftrong. As his Promife or Covenant is ordered in all things and fore (2 Sam. 23. 1.) So are his Provi- dences too (for they are the iffues and accomplifhments of his Protnifes) ordered as to means, and Cure as to the end t They ihall end oriffue in bringing about the things which arelaid in the foundationand corner-floneof hispurpofes,counfels,and decrees; all which work, together for good , to them that love God , to them who
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