Chap, 19, eAn expofition upon the Book, of J o a. Vert i 3 . 239 á#llic`tions and troubles which come upon us , fo in the with-- drawings of friends and brethren from us. As God formes the fpirit of man within him , in refpeec. of being and exiflence, ( for he is the Godofthe fpirits of all fl.fh, or the father of fpi- rits) fo like,vife in relpeel of motion and influence ( 'Lech. t z. t .) It is the Lord, who makes men to he of this minde or of that minde, who fhapes and falhions their fpirits either towards a. complyance with , or a diflike whether of things or perfons. friends love no longer thenGod maintaines love in them , and they can doe us good no longer then God maintaines in them a will to doe us good ; we cannot dilchárge the loweft naturalL dutie of love unto a brother, unleffe God come in;yea, we quick- ly grow unnaturall, if God leaveus. The love or hatred of man is from the Lord. But fume may fay, Is the hatredofman fromGod ? Iffo, how. (hall we acquit God from being the authorof fi n ? 1 anfwer, God is laid to put our friends farre from us, . when he withdrawes or withholds that aflìftanee or influence which inlárges and unites the hearts of friends. We are all by, nature (as the Apoftle fpeakes, Tit. 3. 3. ) Hateful', andhating ene another: And while nature, as corrupted afts alone., it is not more hatefull to God, thin full of hatred tomen, efpeci.- ally tò good men. As God dotfrnot, fo. there is no need he.: fhould put enmitie and hatred into the heart of brother a-. gain{ his brother, there's too much of thele already in-every mans heart ; if God doe but leave a brother to himfelfe , he quickly fbewes himlelfe unbrotherly. Now if. brethren hate unleffe God over-rule theirhearts, then'ris nowonder if 4tran- gers and enemies-doe it. (. Pfal. toy. z5:..) When Mofes defcribes the cruell ufage which the ,../Egyptians ¡hewed to the people of Ifrael,he tells us.,God turned their hearts, that they:hatedhis people, dealt /ubtilly with hisfervants.That is fomewhat a hard fpeech when 'cis faid; He turned their hearts to hate his people; God did. not drop hatred into theirhearts ; God turnes the heart from fin not to fin ;. but he is therefore faid to turne their hearty to hate his people, becaufe he gave them up to the bafeneffeand fttfpicioufneffe of their owne hearts, which told them_ a. thou-- fend fad Dories, or prophecies rather, what the Ifraedites would doe, and how they would burden e/E ypt, and bring it low,, unleifè.:
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