ChapzO An E.rpofstion upon the Booke of J OB. Verf. 26. 58 Sixthly, A fire not blowne may be interp .-eted of that which is the kindler ofall penali fires, namely the anger and wrath ofGod. The wrath of God is often in Scripture compared to fire, ífa1. 78. 21. `Pfal 38. 4. `Detat 4. 74. And fo the fence is, Afire not blownefhall confume bins, that tr,the anger of God (hall confume him. There is no ftanding before the wrath of God : when that burnes, it burnes to confumption. Hence the Apo- file exhorts the Saints to b.ware of this fire ( Heb. 12. ult. ) Let us have grace toferve him acceptably with reverence & godlyfeare, (take heedofprovokingGod to anger)for our God is a confuming fire. Seventhly, A fire not blowne, is any great or terrible judge- ment ; \arre is fuch a fire (Ezeh 20. 47.) Behold í will kindle afire in thee, and it fhall devoureeverygreen tree in thee, and every dry tree ; That is, all forts ofpeople, rich and poore, ftrong and weake, young and old , naafi be confutned ; The flaming fire fhall not be quenched. Great fires need no blowing, the buuinefle is to quench, not to kindle them. Fires made ofgreene fuel) will not kindle without much puffing and blowing ; but dry light fuell is fo conceptive of fire, that the very finell of fire puts it into a flame. The Judgements of God take oftentimes as fuddenly as fire'duth in Rubble fully dry, as fuddenly as a fparke in tinder, or Gun powder, yea the green tree, is as combuftible in this fire as the feare and dry. And as tffis fire is eafily kindled, fo it is as hardly quenched. That which the Church fpeakes ofher love to Chrift ( Cant. 8.6, 7.) is as true of thewrath ofChrift againft the wicked ; The coales thereof are coales offire,which have a mofl vehement flame. Many waters can- not quench this wrath, neithercan thefood.c drown it. Mr Broughton renders the Text, thus ; An unquenchable fire fbafl eat him up. That fire needs no blowing to kindle it, which cannot be quen- ched. Elghtly, Afire not blowne, may be a foft gentle fire , as ifhe had faid, he fhall confume fecretly, and without noyfe. Lattly That which I rather pitch upon, is, by the fire net blowne , underhand chofe judgements which come, no man knowes how, fudden unexpcfted judgements. We have two forts of fires ; fome fires are intentionall, that is, we purpofe tomake them; fuch fires are for our pre and fervice ä nor is any
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