Chap. 9. An Expofition upon the Bookof J O B. E7erf. 23. 317' tender- hearted mother (Ifa.49.zÿ ,)Cart a mother forget her fuck ing chnld, that fhefbould not have compaJon on thefon ofher womb? yea', they mayforget,yet will Inotforget thee. Will a mother laugh and deride a poor infant, when it lies fprawling and wants her help.? No, touch 1.fs will God laugh at.his people : therefore as - lauï;hing noteth hard- heartednefs, or unnatural harflmefs ofípi rit,` the Lorddoth not laugh at his aflic`ted Saints, it is againft his nature, again his practice and all experience. what is it then he laughs at ? Era, Potitively, thus, Job would hear exprefs that the Lord carries himfelf in outward things, with an equal hand both to .the good and bad, as was touched before, The Lord laugheth at and derideth the wicked ,Prov.i.28.) I will laugh at their firuc?ion, andmockwhen tbeïr"fear cometh. The carriage of God:to1 Dicitur, were, his own people isfuch, as it he did mock and laugh at them olio. galaliie judi- He that laugheth and derideth at a mans afilidion, doth not se canthosn+nam gard what he fuffers,he gives him no help nor delivers him out of vutgus. his fuiièrings. N y, a man that laugheth at_another in affl ion, will lay more afhdion upon him.Even thus in regard of outward difpenfátions, God deals with his own people, that is, When in- nocent ones are in afll:étion and cry unto him, he mattes as if he aidiredkitur, did not hear or regard them, but lets them lye crying it may be currant rnere day after day in their pains and wants,yea fometimes inilead of ea,- videturorati- fing them he la yes more a1í1ierions upon them;poor fouls,lince they 72:1"`"- g Ye P P Y fought the Lord tlr:y find an increase of their forrows. God kerns to deal with them,as Pharaoh did with the; Ifr'aelites in E- gypt;who crying to hirn for releafe oftheir burdens, are anfwered only w th,Ye are idlege are idle ; let more workbc laid upon there men. Exod.5.Or like Eehoboam,who threatned his. people to make their yoak heavier while they petitioned he would make it light- er,and told them of fcorpiòns, while they complained of whips. Davidgives us this in his own experience (Pfal. 77. 2, 3.) In the day of my trouble I ilaight theLord,myfore run in the ni_ht,andcea- fednot, or, my hand was flretched out in prayer, and bedewed with tears) myfoul refufed to be comforted(David fought for com- fort, but his troubles encreafir,g,he could not take in the comforts adminifired) I re.memb-red God, and was trouped, I complained, andmy fpirit was. overw elmed. If any thing in the world can -eafe a troubled heart, thoughts of God can. Thus David once reliev- ed hitnfelt,When the people talked ofjioning i im,he encouraged him- feif
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