444. Chap. I 3. An Expofition upòn theBook of Jos. Verf, I-5 nutted as much as he is known, and if we knew him more, we woald srult him more ; every uifcovery ofGod Thews fomewhat which renders himmore worthy of our trails Secondly, Recolle& and meditateformer experiences. The con- fideration of what God bathdone for us keeps the heart up in truft char he will do more. Thirdly, Be upright. That which tt`ade ;fob confident to tru:I upon God though he fhould flay him, was the uprightnefsof his heart with God. He may truft God who is faithful to God. Jób had Godsown hand to his certificate, that his heart was upright. Beloved (faith that beloved Difciple, John r. epif. 3.21.) sfour heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God. An hypocrite mayprefume,but he cannot be truly confident,Befides; 'tis a difhonour to God,when they fay they trail him,whofe lives are difhonourable to him : They make God (as much as resin them) a "partaker_ in their wickednefs, who pretend he w;11 take their parts while they are wicked and do wickedly. Railing Rabjhakethtels Hezekiath (2 King. 18.2'0,21,22.) Thou fayeff ('btst they are but vain words) Ihave counfel and flrength for' war; and when he had beaten him offfrom humanehelps,he" labours to drive him from divine help all(); thou perhaps wilt fay, I;.eruff in God If thou fault fo, remember, Is not that he whofealtars and wholehighplaces. Hez,ektahkath taken away, and hashfaid to Judahand Jeraftleri, ye(hallworfhip before this Altar in Jerufalem ? As if he had laid, Thou truft inGod ? thou who haft difhonoured ,God, pull:d down his altars, &-c ? Rabfhaheth thought that Hezekiah had done God great diflervicein deftroy- ing the altars; and if it had been fo, this charge bad cut offthe confidenceof.Hczek..ah But how julliymay we upbraid many that profefs they trull in God, and fay, Is not he the God whole name you blafpheme? the God whom you provoke ? the God whole truths and wales you ne.leEt and kick againfl ? the God whofe-fervants you Opole ? and will you fay you trail in God ?' For fhame either di/claim your confidences or be reclaimed from your coarfes. The man who walks uprightly before God may trait perfellly in Cod. He that contemns the command, bath no part in the promu,ife. We do not oblige God to do us good by our doing good ; but God bath not obliged himfelf to do us good:while weare doing evil. There arepromifes of grace,but there_ar.e no promifes of reward to wicked men. .afltys
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