688 Chap. °'7. An Expofitionupon the Bookof J O B. Vert'. 7. fugc, when we have told over the dory of our forrowes and fact condition, and pawedour wants into the bofomes of our molt faithful friends ; yet, this Apoffrophe is fweeteft to the foul, when he can turn unto God, 0 remember me. It is laid of He zekiah in his ficknefs, that he turned himfelf unto the wall, and prayed, he turned from the people, from thofe that were about his bed, unto the wall ; why, what was the wall to hire ? Or what could the wall doefor him ? furely nothing. As good turn to an Idol for help or cafe, as to a wall ; yea Inch a turn to the wall, turnes the wall into an idol ; Good Hezekiab had no thought of the wall, nor had he any meffage to any image,hanging there.But as 'tis probable, many of his loving fubjcós and fervants were weeping about the bed oftheir lick King and he had been dif- courfingof his difeafe, and telling themofhis ficknefs, but at Tall he turnerto the wall ; that is, he leaves fpeaking to the company, and turnes away from them,that he might have communion with God;andhis fìrft word of prayer,is,the fame with ,fobs, Remem- ber now O Lord, lfa, 32. 3. Creatures are but creatures, and when they have done their belt for us, it may be they can doe no good for us ; when they have tried all their skill, and all their ítrength, and !lined the utmoft oftheir abilities, to give us coun- fel and cafe, we mull fay to them all, ftand by, and come to yobs Turn, 0 Lord remember. 7bat man is molt to be bemoaned, rho can make hismoane to man only. He, who knowes not how to complain to God, or to fpeakout his forrowes, and his griefes in the ear ofChrifr, (hall gaine little ( thoug h he receivemuch) by complaining to the creature. But-fo long as we have a God to turne to, and fpread our caufe before, though men turn from us, yea, though they turn againfi us, and forget us,yet it is enough, that we have laid, 0 Lord remember. Secondly, from the matter; which Job puts God in mind of, namely hisnaturalfrailty and fleetingcondition,that he was apal- fngwind, Obferve, It iran argument, movingtbe Lord to compalion, to mindhim ofthefrailty ofour condition. There is no argument from our felves, fo effec`ual,to draw out the bowels of Gods compatti- ons toward us, either in regard ofourfpiritual or temporal eftate, as this, to tell him how frail we are The Pfalmift fhewes this the motive ofmercy often to that ancient people the Jewes,Pfal. 78.38. He being full of compalion forgave their iniquity, and deffroyed
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