Chap. t 2. An Expofition upon the Boo( of Job.Verf.24. 331 molt at of the way of Obedience, cannot wander nut of the eye and way of providence. The providenceof God is ever in irs way, even in reference to them who wander our of the way. They who a& molt confufed)y, indifpofedly,and.erro nioufly,are kept in a due courfe and method, as to the purpofe and defigne of God. The Prophet lfaiah (Chap. 20. 20.) (peaks of a Bridle thatfhallbe in the jaws of the people, canfing them to erre or wander. A bridle is rather to keep in rue way than to carry out of theway. The pace is of a difficult Interpretation : moll expound it of the power of the Babylonians, _which being put into the jaws of the Jew Nation,caufed them to wander out of their own country' intocaptivity, yea and canted- many of them to erre and wander from the way of holy Do&rine and Wor(hip. However, we may allude ro that Scripture for the clearing of the point in hand, though we make no p,roof'of it. The bi idle of providence is in the jaws of manymen,even in the jaws of the heads of theearth, cauhng them (as Job fpeaks here) to wander, and yet while they are wandering,that bridle rules and holds thenwithin the corn- pals of divinepleafure. Thus the Lord who guides his people in his own way, cauleth many to wander in a Wildernefs where there is no way, and yet guideth them in their wanderings. For as the darknefs is no darknefs toGod,(o the wildernefs is no wil- dernefs to God: his providence is in a clear way to the fulfilling of his own counfels, howmuch rr how long (Dever he caufeth mèn to wander from theirs. In a Wildernefs. We are not to take this wildernefs literally, as if the meaning were that God bringethmen into defects and wafts, as he did Ifrael his people fourty years together. To wander in a wildernefs is aproverbial fpeech, and itñplies there two things. a. He is laid to wander in a wildernefs, who is ignorant of his way, or knoweth nor how todire& andmake his courfe, we fay, The man's in Wood,whenwe perceive one intangled in fpeechor a&ion. Hence 2.To wander in awildernefs,notes improbabílity,yeaestreatu- tit difficultyof attainingour end. Aman that is in a wide vatt' wildernefs, gives himfelf for loft, every ftep may be backward as well as forward : As he knows not where, he goes,fo he knows not, U u 2 whether
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