Chap. i 3. .finExpofition upon the Book ofJ03. Verf. Withdraw thine hand awayfrom me, was a good petition; we may make fuch petitions unlawful if we put our wits as a law to God, and donot leave all to the will of God. We may pray for the thing,but wemuff fubmit thecircumftances of it,the time die, the manner of it, to thewifdom ofGod. Whilewe delire him to withdraw his hand, we Mouldget our hearts willing to bear his hand; that's a gracious frame of heart indeed. As it is the worft frame of heart to pray for thepardon and removing of our fins, while we find a willingnefs, much more arefolved- nefs inour hearts to continue in them ; it is the beft frameof heart to pray for the removing of aflliCtions whileft we find a willingnefs to continue under them, if God (hall fodifpenfe and pleafe. See more ofthis, Chap.9.34. Withdraw thine handaway fromms. And let not thydread make meafraid. Thy dread] Giants are called Emims, from this word (be- caufe they are terrible to beholders.) And foare Idols, becaufe m yo' though they are indeed but Meer fcar-crows and bug-bears, yet Gigtes. they are terrible to the ignorant and unbelieving, as was further ihewed, Chape 9.34 What was this dread ? it mayeither be that terrour which ac- companied his afiiiEtions, there being as it were force fparklings of Gods anger mixed with them. When Godgives us the bit- terelu cupof aftliktion todrink, ifhe do but drop in a little of his love we take it down as a pleafant draught; but if he drop the leaft ofhis anger into thecupof afHietion,this is dreadful. Hence Davidprayeth (Pfal.6.t.) OLord, rebukeme not in thine anger, neither chaflenme in thy hot difpleafure. He doth not pray abfo- lutely, let me not be rebuked, but rebukeme not in thine anger, let me fee.thy love in my rebukes. Heknew God did love him, but he could not fee it God rebuked him,and he perceived no- thingbut anger; God chaftened him, and he faw nothing but difpleafure, yea, and hot difpleafure ; this madehim cry out, O Lord, rebuke me not, &c. Secondly,. Thisdread/may be taken forthemajeftical prefence of God ; though there be no lettings out of his anger or difplea- fure, yet thevery appearance of God to poor duff and afhes bath a dread in it, fuch a dread, as not only firikes'the molt elo- quetmandumb, but the ftouteft dead : Themajefty of God is R r r infinitely 489
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