Cbapa. an Expofotionupon the BookofJ o td. Verf, to, great hardfhip in captivity. Davidcattail fuch an ,Hate an im- prifonment (Pfal. 69. 3 3.) The Lordhearetb the poor, and de fpfetbnot his prifoners. Some are prifoners firitly, bang under refiraint; all are prifoners largely, or (as we fay) prifoners at large, who are in any diftrefs. The Lord makethmany prifoners by ficknefs and weaknefs of body, as alfo by poverty and the want of bodily comforts and conveniences. The afflicted condition of the Church in any kind is exprefled by captivity, as captivity, in kind, is fometimes the affliaion of the Church. The ten tribes were led into captivity by Salmanazar, udab by Nebu- chadnax.oar. Hence that promife (lercm. 3o. 18.) Behold, l will bring again the captivity of Jacobs tents ; And that prayer (Pfal. r 4.7.) 0 that the falvation of Ifrati were come out of Sion. Whenthe Lord bringeth back -the captivityof his people, Ja- cob fhall rèjoyce, and Ifrael'Jhall be glad.: This Scripture may be taken. both l+rily,as a prayer for their return outof proper capti- vity, and largely, for their deliverance out of any adverfity : So (Pfal. 126. t.)' Wher3 the Lord turned the captivity of Sion tee were like them that dream: Read alfo (Zepb. 2. 7.) Secondly, From the author of this turn, The Lord turned the captivity, &c. Obferve. Deliverance out of an afj`liled Rate is of the Lord, He isthe authour of theft comfortable turns, and he is to be acknowledged as the authour of them. The PP/miff' prayed thrice, Turn its again (Pfal. So. 3, 7,19.) The waters of affli` Etionwould continually rife and fell higher and higher, did not the Lord flop and turn them, did not he command them back, and cattle an ebb. Satan would neverhave done bringing the floods of affitaionupon3-obs if the Lord had not forbidden hire and turned them. It was the Lord avho took all from ph, as he acknowledged (chap, r. 2t,) and it wasLthe Lord who reflored all to him again , as we fee here the [attic hand-did both in his cafe, and cloth both in all fuch cafes (Hof. 6. r.) Let ms return to the lord for he bath torn, and he will beal'ar ; hebath [mitten, and be will bind eel up. 'David afcribed both teGod (Pfal. 66. it,t2.) Tboubroughteftouinwt1.i icet;,thoulaÿedjaaiClton "upon àitr''loins t thou haft roofed men to ride over our heads, we went tbretegh: 933
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