Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v6

Chap. IS. a In expofìtion upon the Boob, of J o n. Verf. i í. hadnot fhined, yet adds( As 14.17. )that, oddidnot leave him- , felfe without witneffe, in that he did good, and gave m rainefront heaven, andfruitfullfeafons, filing our hearts with foodandglad- nefe. Food is a greatmercy, but gladneffe is a better. Some have been fatisfiedwith gladneffe, whobave not been fill'd with food ( Hab. 3. ) but no manwas ever fatisfied with a fullneífe of food, while hewas empty of gladneffe.David prayes,Lord reflore to me the joy ofthyfalvation,( Pfal. 5x. 12. ) The joy of falva- tion is more refrefhing then falvation ; though a man be in the ftate offalvation, yet ifhe have not the joy of it, what is falvation it felfe to him ? As we may have many outward temporal( mer- cies, and yet not have the joy of them, fo we may have fpirituall and eternall mercieswithout that joywhich is annexed to them. avid had the falvation ofGod, his foule was in a fate ((ate, he was not fallen from grace, nor out of the love ofGod, yet he wanted the joy of it. Now, (I fay) as the joy of falvation to our feeling, is better then falvation it felfe, and the gladneffe we have withour food, then our food ; fo the terrours, affright- ments, and amazements which come with any judgements, are more aiTh ive then the judgement : and God can feperate thefe two when he pleafeth For as God can give a man food, and no gladneffe at all, riches and no comfort at all; to he can give trouble and no terrour, aflietion and no feare at all. Many a good man hath had abundanceof the one, and not the leaf( touch of the other. But as trouble is the portion ofa wicked man, fo terrours ufually accompany his-troubles, if they come not before his troubles. . Againe, Thewords, on every fide, are an allufion to a befie- ged City. As Chrifi threatens'7eru¡alem, ( Luke 19.43.) The dayes /hall come upon thee, that thy enemies /hall caft a trench about thee, and compaffe thee round, andkeep thee in onevery !le ; Thou (halt not be able to ¿cape any way, there (hall be no path, no Port open fohere, terrours !hall make him afraid on everyfide, his foule !hall be fo ftraitly beleagured with Armies of evills round about, that he (hall not have the leafl hope to make an e- fcape. This is the height of the mifery of a wicked man. It is ill to have terrour on any fide, but to have terrour on all fides, how terrible is it ? The Prophet ?cronygives `Paf nr that wick- ed falle Prophet this doome, ((hap. zo. 3.) Thy name!hall not be

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