7g Chap. 42. an Expfotton upon the Bookof J o s. Vert. 12:,. fethGod, when he praifeth him for Ills goodnefs,and for the good which he bath done, either to himfelf or others : But when God bleffeih man, he doth more than wifl},he makes him bided. Man bleffeth man minif+erially ; God bicflcth man effc6kually, as he alto did the feventh day ( Gen, 1. 3.) And therefore the Lord is laid to command the 6leffzng ( Levit. 25. 21. ) elpecially in $ion, even lifefor evermore. (l'fal. 133. g.) Nor was it lets than acommand, by which The Lord.biefed the latter end of jobmort than bis beginning. Hence Note ; Thegood word or blefngofGod, it enough toprocure tbtgood. of man. Every wordof God hath its effe& ; he (peaks novain words his Word going out of the mouths of his Miniilers, returns not to him void,but accomplifheth that which be pleafeth,andprofpers in tba thing whereunto befends it( Ifa. çg. r i.)that is, eitherfor the con- vi&ron or converfïon of thole that hear it. Surely then, the word of blefsing goingout of his own mouth, (hall not return to him void, or without effectt. David fpakc thus of, or toGod (Pfal. a 45. 16.) Thouopeneff thine hand, and fatisftefi the de f re of every living thing. When the Lord opens his hand, he alfo opens his. heart : and when his heart and hand open, his mouth opens too; that is, he gives forth a word of blefsing, and he gives it forth to fatisfaEtion, Thon fatisfeß everyliving thing. And again (Plat. e4.2L.)Thon openeff thinehand, they are filled tiithgood.They, that is, whatloever lives upon the.earth . or in the.Sca, wait upon thee (as it is laid, verf. 27.) that thoumail'give them their meat indue feafon ; that thougtveff,them, they gather ; thou openei thy kand,tbey arefilled withgood. The hand of God is full c.f good, and his blefsing fillsall withgood,out of his hand. This maycomfort thegodly in their lowefi condition.What was lcthat railedfob from poverty to ricbes,fromweaknes to firength, from the dunghil to the throne ? Only this, TheLord..bleffed bim. Though all be loft, his word of blefsing will relate all again. If elate be lof+, his blefsing will makeus rich ; _ if health be loft, his blefsing will make us well; if firength be lot+, his blefsitg will renerart; if credit be loft, his blefsing will repair it, and get us f oaoaar for, difgrace or reproach. Theblefsing of the Lord is ever ry
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