èhap. 7. An Expof:tion upon the Book of ) OB. V-rf. 19. 6 'lackedor loofesed, having before, as it were arrefed and attach- cd him, or clapt hint in prifòn for making t hat great default,the neglcd of Circurncifion. Sometimeswe find the Lord himfelf (peaking, as if he were at the mercy, or under the power of man, and therefore calling .(iii this word) to be loofned or let alone, Deut. 9 14. Let me alone, that 1 may defiroy them-The prayer of faith is as a band upon Gods hand, holding him fofait, that he fcems, as one that cannot (bike or dettroy till a Mofes give him leave,by cc ating to pray unto him. To be lure we are at Gods mercy ; and under his power fo, that nothing but the prayer offaith can loofen us. And therefore Job dothnotattempt to break the cords, or cut them asunder, nor leeks he to untie their knots, but delires God himfelt to,do it, let me alone, loofenme : I will be thy prifoner, till thou opened the door for my deliverance. As}epbtahs daughter Paid to him, (Judg r 1.37.)when he had bound himfelfand her, in the bandsof a rafh vow, Let me alone for two months, or loofenme from the ingagement of my vow for two months, as if the had laid, I will not loofe my fell by a wilful refufal, but do thou giveme a willing difpenfation. So a godly man befpeaks the Lord in hid-flraights,Loofen me Lard. Ia.0 lyfs God be pleafed to loofen him, he will be contented, and (when in a good frame of heart, and freenelsoffpirit) well plea- fed with his bands. In Tome fence he (peaks, as Paul and Silas, when they were in prifon ( A67 16. 57.) Let the Lord.himfèlf comeandfetch us out. That is, let us fee loch means of our en- largement and`freedome from trouble, as may affure us, that the Lord hath loofned and enlarged us, A godly man had e thoufand . times rather beput,intoprifon by Gód, thanput himfelf into a pa- raa'ice. He tad rather be bound by Gods hand; than loofened by tisQwn.'. That place toucht before, may reach this fence (Protí. z.}. 0. ) ,ifthou fainteff (fu we) or loofneft thy felf in the day of adverfity, 7byßfrength isfmall ; that is, the ftrength of thy faith and patience is Cmall. There is nothing difcovers our weaknefs more than £hiving to break the cords of our ofiaions. The ítron- ger we are in faith, in love, in humility; the more quietly wt lye bound. Faith feeks cafe and releafe only in God : to fay Lord loofen me, is a duty, to loofen our felves, is bothour fin and our punifhment. Rrrr Tel
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