29o Chap. 9. AnExpofition upon theBookofJ OB. Verf. r9 to execute and effeft it. And many have ftrength to do thofe things ( as toopprefs a man, to take his goods or his life from him) for which they have no authority : bothmeet in the Lord, therefore he is the Soveraign Lord; he bath authority to do as much as he can, and he hath ftrength to do as much as he will. Somemen would make I}range work in the world, if theyhad firength futable to their authority; and others would make a good world by their works, ifthey had authority finable to their strength ; both there meet in God ; who can contend with him ? Ifwe f oeak,offtrengtb, loe,be isfirong! There are three things wherein this infuperablenefs of the ftrength ofGod appears. t. He hath fire.ngth todo whatfoever he will, There is-nothing n,tfecibleor toobardfár him. 2. He hath frength to do what he willeth not ; the Lord is a- ble to do more then ever he will do; he could prefently take ven- geance upon all the wicked, but he will not ; he is patient and good toward them, who looknot at all towards repentance, to whichhis goodnefs and patience lead them, Kom. 2.5. 3. He is firong that he can do whatfoever imports tlrength, becaufe he only Both what he will do. To do that which it not our will to do, is a note ofdifability. It argues a want of power to bb forced to do a thing, as well as. not to be able todo it. He that cloth what he would not, is not able to do what he would. God is therefore able to do whatfoever he wills,- becaufe he never -did. nor can be drawn to do any thingagainft his will.ft follows then, that the Lord is fo lirong that he can do whatfoever names him: strong; and only cannot ,do thofe things,which'ifhe did, he muti be weak, as was further {hewedat the fourth verfe of this Chap- ter.. Secondly, Hence it appears, that No creature is able tograpple withGod. He is ftrongeft. The Apoflle gives thatadmonition(' Cor.i o, 22.) Do weprovoke the Lord to jealoufie ? Are we f#conger then he? Surely, except man thought he were able to match God, he would not be fo fool-hardy,fo vain,to throw down theGauntlet, . or enter the lilts with God : The weak,nefs of God isftronger then men (i Cor. 1. 25.) not that there is any weaknefs in God, but take that which men conceive to be weakefl or weaknefs in hire that's tirongcr then man. Orr, Themeaknejs ofGod, that is,' the weaketl
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