Chap. 20. 1ínExpofition upon the Bookeof J OB. Verf. 2a: 569 What, I fay, is fpoken of thofe fpirituall weapons, is true allo of thefe corporals and vifible weapons, the fword, the bow, and the arrow, whenGod fends them forth to executehis will, and fulfill his counfels, they are not carnali, but mightie through god. Though they are weapons of flefh, yet they are not, like flefh, frayle and powerlefle; though they are weapons offlefh, as to matterand forme, yet they will declare themfelves wea- pons offpirit, as to theeffe& and fuccefe ; they (hall prevaile over the ftrongeftenemies, and ftrike thorow the thickeft of their defences. The Lord can weaken the ftrongeft weapons of the enemies, and foblunt their fharpeft edge, that they fhall doe no hurt, but be as a wooden dagger in thehand ofhim that weilds them, of how weil tempered mettall foever they are made, and howwell foever their edge be fet. This is it which the Prophet affures the Churchofin the name of the Lord ( Ifa. 54. i 7.) Forhaving madea promife of falvation and fafety to the Church, It might be objef`ted, how can we be fafe, who have fo many enemies, fo many weapons formed againft us ? how canwe be fafe when fo many Smiths are at tvorke, making (words, and forging inftruments ofdeath a- againft us? The Lord anfwers(verf. 17.) No weapon that isfor- med againfi thee ¡ball profper. I grant there aremany forming weapons, whetting, and preparing their fwords againft thee, but noweapon that isformedaping thee (ball pro/per. Now ( I fay) as the Lord gives check to all weapons that are formed againft his people, and faith, they (ball not profper, they (hall not hurt the leali ofmy children, the meanelt of my fervants. So, if himfelfe forme a weapon againft the highelt andmigh- tieff ofhis enemies,it (hail profper to their dettruc`tion;the bow of fleele (hall strike them thorow, and the fire fhall consume them to the very (lumps. That is a f cond note from the effe- etualneffe ofthefe weapons here defcribed. Thirdly, When God is about to rain down judgment and war upon the wicked man ; what doth he ? The Text faith ; He fleesfrom the iron weapon ; That is, he endeavours to flee from it, hedoth what he can toefcape. Obferve this from it ; Dddd no
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