Chap. 13. An Expofitionupon the Book of Jos, Verf. '16. The point fromit is, That none but God is able togive Jalvation to his people. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord ( Pi' /.3.3) The Hebrew is, falvation unto the Lord, .alvatión is-fo much his, that the holy Gholt pits nothing Between it and thin. We fupply the fence; well, Salvation Belo ctbat the Lord. And it loth not belong unto him in common with others, 'tos his property ; He gives it and none elfe can (Ifa. 43. rs.) I, even I, am the Lord, and befide me there is no Saviour. No ? we find in the book of Judges, that God'raifed up Saviohre tò his people ( 11l'eh. 9. 27.) True ; but, aril, He never raifed up:any Saviour for eterr alfal'- vatioabut only Jefus Chtitt, who is aifo God. Secondly, They- who were temporal favionrs didnot fave in their own ftrength, and by theirown power God is Paid " to raite them upSaviours, becaufe he railed up fuch inliruments as hi mfelf intended to fave themby ; it was God that fated them,- though men were em- ployed to fave them whofoever brings usfalvation, God is th,r,! Attborof it. The Prophet concludes-( ter. 3.23.) Trulyinvatn isfalvation hopedforfrom the hils,andfrom the multitudeofmoan.. tains. He fpeaks but of temporal falvation, and by hills and mountains he means thegreateft means, the highelt helps, the ftrongefl hands, thewifett heads onearth, and yet he faith, In vain isfalvationhopedforfrom thehills and mountains ; truly God is the help of his people. It is much morevain toexpeet eternal falvation from any other , in vain is foul -falvation hoped for from hits or from the multitude of mountains, from this good work, or that good work, from hills and mountains of good works ; though youpile up mountains of prayers, hits ofalms, and deeds of charity, yea, though yon dig the Iowelt valleys of humiliation, and make rivers and feas of tears with weeping, yet in vain is eternal.falvation hoped for from thefe hils and moon- , tains, from thefe valleys and feas, Salvation is ofthe Lord; He alto fhalllemyfalvation. When Job had faid, I will maintainmineoran"wales before him, Doth he fay, and they(hall to mytitivation ?Dothhe fay, ,yrigh- teoufnefs, my integrity, Thal be my falvation? His wares were indeed the way to fav iiion. but his vvaies vverenot, nor did he intend rhem to be his falvation. The upri,Jhinefs of-our hearts,. the righteoufaefs ofour traies cannot fave us, Chritl on- ly is our falvation. Howmuch foevervve maintainor may be compelled 4S5
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=