Chap. 9. An Expóf:tion upon the iiookof J O'B. Vert. 23 319 Secondly, Tofeegodmet, tryedit a Might unto God. Laughter is an expreflion of our inward content and joy. ifihonghihe word of the text is fcarce ufed for laughter in a good fence, yet here it may.,The Prophetic faithof Chrili(Ifa.53. i ®% It pleafed the Lord-to bruife him ; God the father was delighted to bruife. his Son , not that he delighted in.affILing or dtriking him, he was tender and dear to him, as the apple of his eye. l3at.wíth refped to the iffue and fruit of it the Lord was pleafed ; Rh-father laughed tofie him cafe downand fuffering, whom he fore-fata9 conquering and triumphing : So it is here.. A- man delights to fee wrelilers íhew their firength,as alto to behold men ftrivingfor tnalteries in fencing or running a race, which are but tryals of activity, and con:tendings for honours. Thus When the Lord bringeth his innocent fervants into affli.dti on he -cloth but bringthem'to a wreftling, to a running or a fencing,. to. fee how they canmake ufeof their-hands and legs, how they can make ufe of- their fpiritual armour, how theycan weild the £word of -the, Spirit , how they can defend themfelves with the fhield offaith,how they can bear a knock upon the helmet of sfàlva-tion,. how they can walkupon thorns and (harp liones,him- :felfhavitg before (hod their feet with the preparationoftheGofpel. ofpeace.This is the-fpec`kacle which Ged delighteth in and laughs at, and itis-a;glorious fpethele. TheRoman triumphs were but. ,childifh piles to thefe ofthe Saints, called out and clad with the. armour ofrighteoúfhefs, which makes ahem more then Conquer-- ours, over tribulations and difirefs, over perfecation, famine, aìakednefs, - peril and the fw-ord, yea over principalities and pow ers, over things prefent and to come ; the. Saints in their tryal No video quid conquer not only all prefent evils, but all that are pollible. They habeas t`n terria Vare real.viL ours over thq.fe evils,which-they 1hallnevetfcel or lee, Jupiterpul_ -As in doing,fo in fufferiing,all is reckoned to ùs,which we áre,wil- ehriut f ling to engage in>, =though affuallywe do not ; nomarvel ifGad vein ealn,- -laugh at the tryall offuck Champions and CliriRiara 'Hero's. It is gfmn ut fpefiet the obfervation of Seneca, a Roman Moralifi and Philofopher, in cotoneat,103 his bookof providence, fpeaking ofTome of the Ancient worthies pirtibuf non Of Rome, Ifee not (faith' he) what yfupiter:hath on earth more con- fentel frati,:, tentful tobim,or'to which he would rather turn hisreye,tben tobebold nurJ nanahil© Cato f}andingfirm in the midfe ofpublic&ruines,6 -- that though after ru'n,cr publicist 1 all-his wrejelings as a noble Patriot for thefavingof his Country) he redurn.Senc. foun;iboth his bone(} counfcls brok,en,and his unrDearieilabours loftyei I ádc. prom [ he
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