Chap. 9. An Expofttion upon the Bookof f'O B. `Vert,=a9. 289 There are five words in the Hcbrew which lignifie (trcngth. The fiat notes flrength in general The fécond Irength to endure labour : Tue third, efficacy : The fourth, vigour : Prevalenr, the fifth, which is that ofthe text, fuperiorityofftrength, or pre- vineenr fn. nailing flrength. It isone thing to be prong, and another thing to vaflo,,quodanv prevail. The Lord is not only jirong, ',wit-range/1- ; he 'hatii a ai,7° pre nu:, strength above all flrength, he is thong overco:ning'y, ftrong dietfoterdee° prevailingly. Chrift in the Gofpel fpeaKs of a ,ttrong in (he quiviribus Jt . means the devil)that kept the houfe ; but he was not ftrong pre - ror e gene. vailingly,for there came aftronger then he, thar fpoyl'd him , and vatirer, Yt'$ took away all his armour from hini,wherein he trulted (Luke r i, funnel atpro_ 22.) but when the holy Ghoti faith, That the Lord is ltrong,the parionemad meaning is, that he is stronger then all : and fo generally the poti- of cantiam.vel tive is expounded by the fuperlative, Ifwe fpeakoffiren.tb, lo, he a°'trencinem irftrong, that is he is molt Itrong. Thus we find the word uCed, .vëtddu ? 2 Sam. 22. 18. He deliveredme from my iron enemy, and from rat f y f g y inageruée: them that hated me, for tby were tooftrongfor me : they were pre- aftrone. vailingly ftrong for me, and therefore unlefs I had found a fupply -11123 ofhelp, unlefs (oche auxiliaries had come from heaven to take my íÌ'1',i aremt part, they had been too hard for me, I had been overmatcht, they 440 oß, were prevailingly ttrong, or too ftrongfor me. We have the word in thefàme fenfetGen.25. 23.) in that refolution which the uner- ringOracleofheaven gave Rebekah enquiring about the children ftriving in her womb, the Lord anfwereth thus, To Nations are in thy womb, and twomanner ofpeople ; and then addeth, The one people ¡hall beftronger then the otherpeople ; it is this word, the one people (hall be prevailingly ilrong, and shall overcome the other i both people (hall be ttrong, mighty and potent, but there is one Regnum regno of them ¡hall have the rule, and (hall conquer and fubdue the o- p;uturebi fc. ther. "If: fpeakofj rength, be firong. The fum is, If thekee- pulorobuffüor. ftton be about Jtrength and power, then the Lord carries the day and thehonour,he is moltpowerful!, be is ttrong above ajl.Hence obferve, That God is ofinfiniteand infuperableftrength. He hath ítrength many have malice and wickednefs, bold- nefs and prefumptión enough to oppofe, but none have power e- nough to overcome him. He bath force which nonecan fubdue; and he hath authority which noneought to refìft.Thefe two mutt concur' wherefoever there is full determining power. A man may have authority orlright to do a thing,and yet have noflrength P p to
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