Chap. 9. lln;Expofition upon the Book, of J O E. Vrrf 1^7__ 2- Do not think your -prayers are loft, becaufe your of liCtions are not removed, or that God doth not hear you,becaufe he cloth 'a't,ct row not prefcntly relieve you. God forbears when he doth not de- regantla e;i rongruotentn ny. He anfwers to our profit, when he anfwcreth not to our :edema:,; ;- feeling. Fie anfwcreth to our fpi, itual inttreft, when not to our runrur.nug. corporali. The tick man calleth to the_Phytitian to take away the bitter, loathfume potion ; and the wounded man calleth to the Esiudrt pp.; Chyrurgion to takeaway thole corroding plaillers, and to for- adprofet}um, bear thofe torturing operations.But the one gives him his portion, viotustiket .non Bqúinad and the other lances his fores, and layes corrofìves to his Beth; in lot. both theft:, while they vex the patient, anfwer him : for what's soviturin the refon, why the patient would have his bitterpotion taken vatnut,ut bozo away?it is not becaufe he wouldbe better?and why would he have fa"eru"ug. thofe painfull operations forborn ? is it not becaufe he would have cafe : Now, for thofe very reafons the Mailers of thofe profef.- fions keep him to both; neither could they give him his dei rc,but by doing contrary to his will. Thus alto the Lord is healing us, when we think he is only wounding us,and fullfilling our detires, while we cry out he is trotting them. Secondly, Obferve, Even while we are praying, the Lordmay be thundering, he may be breaking as when we are befeeching him. We mutt learn to keepour duty, whatfoever the dealings of God be; whether it be fowl weather or fair,pray frill ; whether it be ilorrn or calm,go on in prayer ltill.Pray fill! thoughGod break gill. It is our duty to pray, and it is Gods priviledge to break. Thirdly, Obferve fromtie loftinefs ofthe language. that the Lord layes very fore aßtittions upon theft that arevey dearly him. job expreffeth his afiCtionsby breaking with et tempef.Stroaks from the clouds are moll, terrible. The fame afflictions and fourges which he tiyes upon hisenemies, he layes (in the matter yea,and often in degree) upon his bell friends. What can the Lord do to his-grcateft enemies,butbreak themwith a tempeft?he doth not only chaflen with a rod,but fometimes [tatter with a form; he hath not only a fword,but a thunder- bolt for his fervants;he bath terrible flroaks and blows far them who lie in his arms, and live. in his embraces. Therefore we cannot diftinguith men by the mat,ter,no nor by the meafureof their afflictions ;that which is a judgement to one, is but a chaltening to another, with the Lime weapon he wounds a friend and deflroyes an enemy. Fourth --
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