2 r4 Chap. 19. oAn expofrtion upon the Bookof JO a. Vert r r Verf. t I. He bath alfo kindled his wrath againft me, andhe counted) me unto him as one ofhis enemies. lob proceedeth to fet forth his aff:iciion by a third Allu- lion. His afflidion was very great., in that his hope was re- moved ; but this made his aifli &ion molt grievous, that there was an appearance of the wrath of God againft him in it, and the kindlings of Divine difpleafure. God doth fometimes re- move the hopes of his faithful people, in regard of worldly things, and yet m anifefs his love to them, in fpirituall things; they feele not the kindlings of an enemy-like wrath, but the warme beaniesof a friendly, yeaof a fatherly kindneffe in their fiery tryalls ; but when thefe two meet; when at once earthly hopes are removed, and a fire from heaven kindled, who can beare it ? The Prophet cMalachy quettions (Chap. 3. Z. ) who may abide the dayof his coming ? and who /hall/land when he ap- peareth ? for he is like a refiners fire. If none can abide the coming of Chrift with refining fire, then who ,shall abide it, when hecomes with confrsming fire ? The fire of Divine ho- lineffe is very terrible, then O how terrible is the fireof Divine wrath ? He bath kindled his wrath againft me. In this and the next Verfe, the comparifon is taken from Warre, (as before from 'Trees and buildings) in which God is compared to force great Monarch of the world, who being exceedingly offended, and provoked, his anger kindles against his enemies, and he fends his Troopes and Armies, to incamp againft them ; Hiswrath is kindledagaini me ; and he counteth me as oneofhis enemies. Warrebegins at anger, and wrath, it flirres firít within, and then it breaks out; whence come wanes .(faith the Apofle games, Chap. 4. i .) and fightings among you ? Come they not hence, even ofyour lufls, which fight in your members ? Were there not afight in our felves, there would be no fighting with others. There is fomewhat in the Lord, proportionable to this ; Whenceare theWarresthathe 'bath with the Creature ? Their originall is defcribed after the manner of men, from force kindlings of ;jealoufie ardd wrath inhim, not that there is any pertur-
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