C- hap, 6. Au Expefition upon the book of J O 1. Veff. t 0. in purfuing his petition for death, o,becaufe he had been fo fincere, holding forth the wordof God both in doctrine and in hfe. And fowe may obferve from it. Firfi, Tbat the teflimonyofagood confcience, is the belt ground of our willingnefs to die. That man fpeakes enough for his willingnefs todie, who hath lived (peaking and doing the will of God ; and he is in a very miferable cafe, who hath no other reafon why he defireth death, but only becaufe he is in mifery. This wasone, but not the only reafon, why lob defired death, he had a reafon tranfcending this, I have not concealedthe words of the holy One, and I know,if I have not concealed the word ofGod ,God will not conceal his mercy and loving kindnefs from me. Davidbottoms his hopes of comfort in fad times, upon this, Pfal. +o. 9, r o¡ I havepreacbed righteoufnefs in the great Congregation, I have not refrained my lips OLord thoukno í fl he was notfadively or pol.i tickly filent ) Ihave not hidlthy righteoufnefs within my heart (it lay there, but it was`not imprifoned or filed there)Ihavedeclared tbyfaithfulnefï, and thy falvations : I have not concealedthy loving kindnefs and thy truth, from thegreat Congregation. Upon this he falls a prayingwith a mighty fpirit ofbeleiving, verfe I a. With- hold not thou thy tender merciesfromme, 0Lord,let thy loving=kind- nefs and thy truth continually preferve me : for innumerable evils bave compafedme about. The remembrance ofour active faithfulnefs to the truth of God will bear up our hearts in hopingfor the mercy of God. He that in Davids,and in Jobs fence can fay, I bave not concealed the words of the moll high, may triumph over innumerable evils, and (hall be more then a conquerer over thç laff and worfl oftemporal evils, death. Godcannot long`conceal his lovefrom them,who have not concealedhis truth. Secondly, obferve, pofitively ; That the coisnfels ofGod, his truths, muff be revealed. God hath fecrets!which belong not to us,but then he puts them not forthin a word,nor writes them inhis book,; he keeps his fe- crets clofe in the cabinet of his decrees and counfels ; but, what he reveals either in his word, or by his works, man ought to reveal too. It is as dangerous, if not more, to conceal what God hath made known, as to be inquifitive to know what God hath con- cealed. Yea, it is as dangerous to hide the word of God,as it is to hideour own fins. And we equally givtglory to God, by the pro- O o o ftfhon 465
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