Chap. 5. An Expelftien upon the Book of J OB. Ver( 20. 347 'Jacob and his Ions were redeemed from faminein the fame Egypt, afterward their houfe of Bondage. It is a precious comfort to !rave bread infilch a promfe as this, when there is none upon the Board. God takes care for the bodies of his people as well as for their fouls;he is the father of both,and . theprovider for both. And while we remember what fore afi- c :}ions have beenupon many Nationsand people by famine; while we rememberSamaria's Famine, 2 Kings 9. Jerufalems Famine, Lam. q, and that foxed byjofephus in the Roman fiege of that City ; While we remember the late famines in Germany, and the prefent one in many parts of Ireland ; While we confider, that the (word threatens this Nation with famine` Surely we should labour to get under fuch a promife as this is, that we may plead with God in the midfl ofall fcarcity and wants ; Lord, thou hall promifed to redeem Thine in famine from death : There is us dearth in Heaven : And whatfaever dearth is on Earth, the plenty that is in Heaven can fupply it. How fad will it be, if your poor children (hould come about you, crying for bread, and youhave none togive them ; How much (adder would it be, if your poor children should be made your bread,and ground to pie- ces between your teeth, as in the famine ofJeruJälem : Ín fuch a time, to look up to God in the flrength of this promi£e, will be a full to us, though we (hould peri(h in the famine. 'But howdoth God redeeme from famine? Firft, TheLord canmake the barrel ofmeal, and the oyle that is in the cruze, though but little, yet to hold out and lait, while the timeoffamine lafls.Such a miracle redeemed the poor widow from death, in that great famine, a Kings 17. Secondly, he can redeem by lengtheningone meal,to many days. Elijah went forty dayes in the flrength of one dinner. Man li- vethnot by breadwithout God,hut man may live by God without bread. Thirdly, Not onely are the flores ofthe creatures his, and the fruitfulnefs ofthe earth at his command, but if he pleafe he can open the windows ofHeaven ; he can bring bread out of the clouds ; he can make the winds his Caterers to bring in (wales and abundance of provifon for his people. Thus alto he can re.. deem his from death, in the time offamine. Or fourthly, He can doe it in a way of ordinary providence. by making the land yeeld it's natural increafe, and by giving T y 2 ftrength
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