,Chap. 9. An Expofition upon the Book of J O B. Vat' 34. 403 fiate of grace, force littleofthat prefence.of God, whi:h is pro- per to the fiate ofglory falls Upon us, we are more dittr if d then comforted with it. How much more then, when God clothes bimfelf with terrour, and (as he did to job) fbxeveals iuufcif unto us. Secondly, We may interpret this fear (by the former part of the verle ) the rod i his atdidions were terrible, the hand of God lifted up to finite him, made him afraid. But whether it- were this or that, the majetly of God over-awing him, or the rod of God cha(iening him, the fente is plain, yob was oppreft with fear from the Lord, yea with terrour from the Almighty, caufing this vehement deprecation, Let not his fear terrific me. Hence ob- ferve, Firfl, That, Godfometimes appears terribly to thofe he loves en- tirely. fob was oneof Gods darlings; and God was imbracing him, while he was Icourging him. fobhad kiffes from heaven, when he felt nothing but lathes here upon the earth. The heart of God was full of love, while his hand was.frlled witha rod ; his bowels yearn'd upon job, and his face terrified him at the fame time. That precious man Heman, was followed with terrours and vifons of amazement all his dayes, I am af}iierted andready ti die frommy youth up, while I Infer thy terrours I am diftraaed (.P14..88.15.) Theterrours of God, even terrours to dittrat;l:ion, may be the prefent portionof thofe, wholeportion iseverlaífing mercy. Obferve, Secondly, Man is not able to bear the anger of God. Though he be but correcting us, yet we cannot bear his anger toward us. Tais caufed the Prophet to cry out (f er. to. 24 ) Gorreîl me, 0 Lord, but not is thine anger. The words are not a prayer for corredion ( I know no warrant for that) but a fub- million to it. As if hehad laid, Lord, I am willing to bear thy correc` ion, but I cannot (and who can ? bear thine anger. The Church complains (Pfal. 90. 7.) We are confumed by thine anger, andby thy wrath we are troubled The fatherly auger of God, is as a confirming fire, and we are but as flubble before it : What then is the tìercenefs of that anger, which he will pour out upon wicked men for ever ! Who knocnetb the power of thine anger ? (Pal. 90 I t.) Man cannot underfiand how powerful the anger of God is, much lets ¡Land before the power of his anger. As Fff2 man f
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