Chap. 4Z. Ale Expoftton upon the Book, of J o s. Verf. 9. any thing of an humble foul ; had the Lord commanded there men to go to Yob, and offer facrifice, before he had convinced them of their fin, they mighthave flung awayover the field, and nothavekept the path of hiscommandments; but having humbled them they fubmitted. When 'Peter had preached that notable Sermon, which prickt hishearers atthe very heart (Aas2. 37.) Then they laid unto Peter , and to the refs of the Apo. files, men and brethren, what fháll we do ? They were not only ready to do what they were commanded, but did even ask for commands ; What ¡hall we do ? 1 hey, as u were, threwdown a blank, and defired the Apofiles to write whar commands they would that tended to falvation ; as if they had Paid, weare ready to dowhat the Lord commandeth, and according as the Lord commandeth : Thus being made fenfible of their fins, and of the wrath of God, which they had provokedtgain(i themfelves, by crucifying the Lord of life, They cried out, what (hall we do ? We will fubmit to any thing that is fit to be done. Saul, after- ward Paul, came out with fury to perfecute the Difciples of Chrift ; but the Lord having beaten him from his horfe to the ground, be trembling and aj?onifhed,laid, Lord rabat wilt thou have me to do?(A&s9.6.) He wasfit to take any impreflìon, and to be moulded into any form, by the hand of God. They who have been made to know what it is tobreak commands, are willing to obey and keep them. Thiswas the firft fpringof their obedience; God had humbled them. Therewas a fecond fpring of their obedience,whichwill yield a fixth Obfervation : For, as the Lord had convinced them of their fin, fo he bad given them hopes of mercy in the pardon of it, and of reconciliation CO himfelf. So much was intimated in that gracious eounfel given them ; Take untoyoultven Bullocks and (even Rams, andgoand offer upa burnt- o f fertng for yourfelves, &c. This was a comfortable wordAnd doubtlefs they underfiood it fo, and faid in their ownhearts, God might have made us a facrifice,but he commands us tooffer a facrifice: And what doth this fignifie ? Surely, that he will be gracious to us, and is ready to pardon us. Having thefe hopes of pardon, theywent and wil- linglydidwhatthe Lord commanded, they went to rob, they fub- mitted to him whom they had contemned, they honoured him whom they had defpifed before. Bbbbbb Hence 92
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