Chap. 19. An .Expoftion upon the Booïzof o B. Verf. TZ 31 tborossgh them,! wo o H boarne them together ? Wicked men are bry- ars and thornes, if they cóntendwith God, they contend with a fire, and are burnt. Ifgodly men Ihould let themfelves inbat- tell against-God , when he lets himfelfe in batten againft them, how bootie could he goe through them alto , and burce them together ? When the Lord ofHofts fends his troopes to encamp againft us, He doth not intend we fhould fight them away, but pray them away ; nor is it his meaning, that we fhould raife the liege by oppofióg his troopes, but by falling downe before them. Wee cannot conquer the lealt afic`tion by force, but we thatl be more then Conquerours over the greateft afflic`}ions, even over all afflictions by faith. When Armies of bloody men invade or encamp againft the people of God, we cannot (with- out prefumption) expert vidorie, unleffe we fight as well as beleeve, and act courage againft them, as well As faith in God. But when Armies of affliction encamp againft us, there is no over. comming, but onely by beleeving in God, and humbling our (elves. We mutt refift the Devil! and his troopes of temp= tations, and he will flie,from us. But no affliction Pent byGod did ever depart from him that was found reflfting it. The Armie of forrows which encamped againft rob', was never fully with- drawne,till he faid,labhörre in_yPelfe, and repent in daft andallies, (Char. 42.6. ) Thus, we have heard 'lob bewayling his condition under the Allegorie ofwarre, troopes ofenemies drawing together, and encamping againft him ; in the next place, he bewailes his eon - dition, in the withdrawing of his friends; if when evills, and enemies, come upon us, our friends (land dole to us, it is a great fupport , but when many troubles throng about us and all our friends leave us, this is fad. .Thus lob defcribes his for- lorne eftate in the next words ; He bathput my brethrenfarfrom, me, tic. o JOB 19,
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