322 Chap. 2. An Expoftionupon the BooltofJOB.Verf. 23. Expandit ear. was.nofiranae Godwith him (Deut.32.I2.) The Lord in mercy fuper faci'm ledforth the people, which he had redeemed , he oraided them in his cara, & umat iirength to his holy habitation (Exod. i5. i3) This interpretation perdirionis runs fair. And while we , in ftead or he leadeth , render he Merc. ex R. ffraitneth them; we mean, he leadeth them into ítraits. As he Rinch. fpreadeth themout by profperity fo he Itraitnerh them by affli- dion. In this variety ofreading, the fcope andgeneral feníe of the text is the fame, Petting forth the irrefftablepower of God, in difpofing Nations for the better, or for theworfe, as he feeth caufe, or as they give it him. Firll Obferve, There is avicif tade and change in Nations as well as inper= fns. In this verle the fcoals go up and down, he increafeth the Na- tions, and -defiroyeth them, he enlargeth them, andflraitneth them again, Particular men, are fometimes up, and fometimes down, fometimes well, and fometimes Pick , fometimes enlarged and fometimes ftraitned, Now as it is with the parts fo with the whole ; and though the worldbe a difïimular body; yet in one notion it is a fimular body, being all alike in fubje6tion to vanity and change. What Nation is there but hath fuffered many changes ? This Nation hath been a great example of it , and- fo it, is at this day : And unlefs we humble our (elves before God and bits the. Sonleaft be be further angry, we have-caufe to fear greater changes. then ever we have had. Who knows what changes a year, yea a day may bring forth, Thefe two things are out of all queftion ; "it. That wehave deferved the worft of changes. 2. That the faceofaffairs looks asif we Iliould every day change for the worfe, till we come"to the worm. Secondly Obferve, Ali the changes in. Nationsarefrom Clod. Hé increafeth andJIraitneth them, his providence (not fate) watchethover them, to after all their motions. As the motionsof fìngle perfons , fo the motions of whole Kingdoms are ordered by a higher hand. Divine providence alts upon every flag: of worldly affairs inthe world There is a wheel in a wheel, Gods wheel moves in all the wheels of'the creature : States cannot do what they pleafe, and go on after their own pleafure God go- verns the Governours, as much as thofe who are 'governed. He leadeth them intowaies ofpeace and profperity, he alfo.leadeth them
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=