Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v3

Chap. 9. Expofit ossupote the Bookof J O B. Vert: i3. 24.7 pter of JeCus Chrift, held forth by the Church, as if they would lick up the very duff, and fhall employ their powerand authority for the good and protection of the Church. The fpeech ofIfrael (Gen.27.29.) in his prophetick bleffing upon Jacob, Let thymo- thersions bowdown to thee,and ofJacob, in his,upon :Judah ( Gen... 49: 8.) Thy fathersehildren'ball bow downbefore thee,note great& honour and fubjetion. to theni both. The meaning of all is plainly this, That except the Lord bimfelf fist fiend his own ael,andreftrain bia anger,nopower in heaven or earth, bowflrsng, howproud, how confident offuccere foever, is able to force him, or to alter him. Helpersfhall not help themfelves, much leis thof to wbofe help they come, againfl the mindandpurpofe ofGod. Obferve here fill, Titofepaffions which are aferibedto God, arefully under the -com- mandofGod. The pailîon of anger is afcribed to God, yet the anger which we fay is in God, bath nopower over God : Mans anger ulivally: maffers him ; but God is alwayes mailer ofhis anger ; that is,he can turn and with-draw his anger when he pleafeth. There is nn per- turbation in God ; when he is offended,he is not moved ; his mo- tionsare all without upon the creatures, he bath none in his own bofom.The pafliions of the Lordare his molt feriouscountels and de- terminations ; and we therefore fay,hc is angry. becaufe thofè corn--- felsof hisailed look like the effc£fs of anger. Secondly, obferve, That, It r not in thepower of man to turn away theanger ofGod. Fie Both not fay, except men by prayer or other means flop the anger ofGod, but, Except the Lord withdraw bis anger all help is, vain. Prayer is laid to appeafe the wrath ofGod, and to flay his anger; Moles flood in the gap, andAaron came out with incenfe to turn away his wrath ;yet it is an aO of Gods will, which turns a- wayhis anger,not the forceofour prayer;prayer therefore prevails with God, becaufe he bath faid,it {hall. He is infinitely free when himf if acknowledges that we lay the powerfulleft refiraint upon him : when the Lord is turned by prayer, it is his will to be turn- ed ; it was his counfel, and is his command that prayer should be made as a means to turn him ; and it is his promire, that he will turn to us when we pray.Then it appears to us that the Lord bath decreed to do a thing, when he airs up the hearts of his people to pray for the doing ofit, and that he is pupofed'to. withdraw his anger, when he draws out their hearts ifrongly to entreat his fa- vour. Thirdly, obfèrve, That,

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