Chap.g. An Expofttion upon the BookofJ'OL Verf.24. - 923 deny us any thing, when he,bath given us himwha -1f above things i Cor.g._2,23, r Nether Paul, or Apollos,or the world, all ityours, ,(for)yeare,Chriftr.Belicversenjoy earthly things by an heavenly tihe.Cbrift is their conveyance.lp this fenIe the earth is not given to the wicked The Lord gives themnothing in Chritl, or for -Chrifl,as a Saviour in the Covenant ofgrace,GhriJt as a Lord bath bought the wicked (2_Pet.a.i.)and he gives them what they have, as they are his creatures :as he bath given them a fubfittcnce,and a breathing in the world, fo he allots them maintenance in the world. So then, to receive by donationfrom God, may note any way ofpoffeffion. What wicked men inherit by fucceflion and defcent from their'anceflours, is a gift of God. Yea, what they get and hold by violence and oppreflion, is a gift ofGod. The earth which wicked men tear out ofthe haifds of the godly the earth which they (lain with the blood of lawfull owners, that they may enjoy it;even this is Paid to be given unto them by God, in that common way of providence.Nebuchadnez zar was a cruel oppreffour, yet he had the earth given him by God,Jer.27. 6.Noav have Igiven all thefe lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the King ofBabilon myfervant, and the beafts of the fieldhave Igiven him alfo toJèrve him. God gave the land, yet Nebuchadnezzar invadedit,and got it by violence. God tent him (Ifa. i o. 6.) but he went ofhis own errand, verf: 7. He had no thought offerving the will and commandsofGod, but offerving his own ambition and covetoufiaefs yét ofthis cruel oppreffour the Lord faith,/ havegiven him all thefe lands, &c,Thus, The eartb itgiven, Into the handof the wicked. There is aquetlion,whom we are to underhandby thefeantees, or the receiversof this gift?fome expound the text(with a fpecia- lity of the devil)tbe earth isgiven into the hand of that wicked one, who is,as, the Prince ofthe air,fo,the Prince ofthis znorld,and bath great power upon the earth. Buc take it of wicked men whoare the fervantsand heirs of Satamas the Saints are the heirs ofChriff, and receive all things from him,fo wicked mechare t!ae heirs of Satan, his children, and what they receive as a common gift from God,they receive by a fpecial gift. romSatan.The devil boafled to Chrifl (Mat. g.) All thefe things will Igive thee, if thou wiltfall T t a down
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=