Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v4

Chap. 13. 11n Expofition upon the Book of JoB. Verf. Zit, 491 Hence Obferve, Firff,The holy God is inhimfelfverydreadful to themoft holy and upright among the children of men. job had Paid, Chap.io.7. Lord thouknoweft that I amnot wick- ed : and at the IV' verfe of this chapter, I know that Ifhall be jufiified . What a faithwas here ! Yet now he confelfeth, Thy terrour makes me afraid. Where was there a holier man then Habakkuk? yet read the third chapter of that prophefie,and you (hall find how he (hook and trembled, how his lips did quiver, and rottennefs entred into his bones, and all at the apprehenG- ons he had of the majefly andgreatnefs of God. That holy Pro- phet Ifaiah, howwas he affefted when God appeared tohim he criethout, Wo isme, for Iamundone, for mine eyes havefeen the King, the Lord of hofls. When the Lordappeared to pub- lifh that holy-Law, how did the people tremble ! O (fay they) let Mofesfpeakto us, but do not thoufpeak, left wedie, Exod.r9. Secondly, Note, That God doth fometimes appear to bispeople inmajefty only, and not in mercy. He letteth out his glory and his greatnefs, but conceals his goodnefs, his loving kindnefs and compaffion. They can fee a holy God, a juft God, a high God, a glorious God , but they do not fee a merciful God. God aE'<s not as a natural, but as a voluntary agent, and therefore he canfufpend ordifpenfe him- fell as he pleafeth. The fun bath light, but`the fun (being a na- tural agent) cannot fufpend its light ; it alwaies (hews its bright- nefs and beauty, except tome cloud interpofe, or the moon eclipfe it : but the Lord who is light, and all light, doth not al- waies manifel'c himfelf in light; he puts clouds and darknefs round about him ; he hideth hisface and will not be feen. Some- times he appears all mercy, andat other times all juflice ; fome- times all goodnefs, and at other times all wrath ; fometimes he lets out nothing but love, and at other tithes nothing but dif- pleafure Now, as he varies hisdifpenfationss tous, fo we are apt to vary in our apprehentons of him : and as we cannot fee God at all untill he manifeft himfelf, fo we fee him no other- wife than he pleafeth to manifeft himfelf : Hence the fame foul fees him today all mercy, and thenext day , poflibly, the next hour all jullice: Now, his goodnefs refrefheth, and anon his dread terrifies. R r r 3 Thirdly,

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