Chap. 22. An £xpofition upon the Book of J OB. Verf. 30. 293 whom they dwell ; For we know the Lordhimfelfe hath given, 1 expreffe Exceptions to this rule( 7er. 15. i. ) where he teas the ífubborn yewes by his Prophet, Though tifrf f es and Samuelflood before me, yet mymindcouldnot h towards this people ; Cafl them out ofmy fight, and let them goe forth; and it /b:alt come to pie if theyfay unto thee, whither Jball we goeforth, thou /halt tell them, thusfaith the Lard,fach as arefor Beath,to death: & !tech us arefor the fword, to the(word, andfuch as arefor famine, tofamine.Wben, he faith, 7 hough Mofes and Samuel ffoocd before mee , Some may aske, what to doe ? I anfwer, we are nor to take it for a mute handing before the Lord, but a finding before the Lord with came Prayers, intercef ms, and Supplications, for the sparing ofthat people; Now faith the Lord, though Alfa and Samuel (who in their generations were eminent g,}dly men, andeminent favourites ofGod) though thefefhould fiand before me, ear- nelfly praying for this people, yet my minde could not be toward them, that is, I wouldnot {'pare them, nor fave them fromdeath,, fword, famine, or captivity, nonot at their entreaty. And we have a like Inftance (Ez,k 14 14. ) Though thrfe three men,, Noah, Daniel, and yob were in it ( there werebut two named in yeremy,but here three,though three three men, Noah, Dani-el,and 7ob were in it) they lbould but deliver their ozone foulesby their righteoufnefs faith the LordGod. They might have the priviledge mentioned byEliphaz in the former ver`e, When men were calk,' dowtre, they might fay, there is a liftingup, or there is prefervation for us, Gad will takecare ofus : but God would not be perfwa- ded, no not by Noah, `Daniel, and ?ob, to fave the reft. So that there are cafes wherein the Lordwill not heave the Interce{l ons, ofthe belt ofmen fo. a finfull people. The Iflandof the wicked, or of the not Innocent (hall not bedelivered,no,not by the pure- nesoftl,eir hands vet'tis anexperienced truth, that God hath (pared a:people for the fakeoffome Godly found among them;. yea the reafon why the Lorddoth not deftroy the world which lies imwickednes,is,much,in refpeâ ofthemwhowalk in holines. , For were it not (asB li(bi told yell-ram to his face inreference to good kingYehofaphat, a Kings 3. i4.) that God hash regard to their prefence in the world, Godwould not fo. muchas looke co wards the ungodly, nor fee them for good, This honour haveall the,Saints, and how great an honour is it to be a publique good,
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