Chap. 2. An Expojition upon the Boo(o f JOB. Verf.4. 179 ofthe creature for that very end,that wemight draw neerer un to him ? doth he not give up the world to a fpirit of reviling and mocking,that hemay itirre up in hispeople a fpirit of pray- ing ? This is a graciousdefign ofGod, and we Ihould interpret the neglects, the contempts and (corns ofthe world, to be as the voice of GodPaying to us , Come to me andfee whethe;,3ou(hail not have better ufage , fee whether I will fcorn you ; you`have loved the world too much , you have too much pleafedyour (elves with the fmiles and good looks ofmen ; -you have been taken & overtakenwith the things of this life, come to me, and take (you cannot over -take) the things of eternal life. The lean things pf Heaven are more noble than the greaten things on earth. Shall we not then prize the great things ofHeaven much, when we canhardly enjoy the leaft things of the earth? Shall we not when we'are mocked of ourneighbours call upon God , we having this affurance, that he will not mock, but anfwer us ? And he anfwereth him. The anfwer which God makes to Poch ascall upon him, is ei- ther to the outwardor to the inward man : He anfwers the in- ward man, or the fpirit of man,, by ahint from his Spirit. Satis- fac`tion to our fpirits, is an anfwer from'the Spirit. When the Lord (having faid to the foul, I am thyprivation) faith allo, lam -thine honour, I am thycredit, I am thy liberty, I am thy riches, I am thy fiend,the foul is more abundantly filled than with riches, 'credit, liberty, friends, orhonour. Again, anfwer comes to the outwardman, providence fpeaks to fome as the fpirit doth to o- thers. We having called upon God , fee the creature at work towards a redrefs ofour evils, & a fupply of our prefent wants. Under the LawGod anfwered many waies : He anfwered by Vrim andby Thummim, by Prophets and by dreams , by vifons -and revelations. And though we have not fuck anfwers now,yet we have as Pure anfwers. God never receives any prayer which doth not receive an anfwer. We may call upon men andnot be anfwered, men may go to Idols, to lyingvanities, and not be -anfwered; but ifwe go toGod, we lhail. Hence Obferve, Prayer avidfeeking unto Godare not in vain orfruitlefs. The Lord will auiiver. Sometimes he anfwers before we call; and he gives before we ask; and he prornifeth ifwe ask he will A a s give,
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