294 Chap. 22. An êxpoftionupon thé BoakofJ O B. Verf. 30. .to be a Saviour to an Itland, to aNation.? Some indeed are of fuchnarrow fpirits, that iftheymay fave themfelves, and keepe f theirown flakes, they care not what becomes of the publique, But as it is a great honour to be active for the laving and delive- ring of 9i Nation, foit is a greater honour to have the fafety and deliverance ofa.Nation attributed or given in ro us byGod.him- felfe (though not atall by way ofdefert, yet) in a way offavour: Paul was at Sea with no goodcompany, yet when all looked to be fwallowed up, An Angel of godappeared to bins, faying, Feare not Paul,Thou mug bebrought beforeCafar, and lo, ,god baskgin ven theeall them thatfailewith thee (Acts27.23,24. ) That is, for thy fake, or becaufe they are now in thycompany, they alto âirall efcape the rage of this tempeft. They all owe their lives to theehenceforth as well as tome, for to thee bave Igiven them. Themenof this world might hence take notice oftheir own folly, who can hardly afford them a,.good word, or room to live in the world, for whole fake it is that they live. How often do theywith and feeke their deftruttion, for whole fake it is, that themfelves are not detlroyed ? How often do theyaccule the Godly, as the troublera ofa Nation, as the hinderersofpublique good: where- as they are indeed a common good The chariots and horfémen, The Protection and Defence, . theSalvation and Deliverance of thofe States and Nationswhere they are.The breaches whichwic- kedmen make by finning, they make up by praying, to turne a- way the Lords wrath, that they be not confumed. We read how the LordCornplaines, that there was nonefound so make up the kedge, toHand in the gapp when he was coming to defroy them. (Etch .22. 30.) And it is laid of Moles (Pfal. io6. 23.) that beRood before the Lord in thebreach, that he ¡houid not defray the Ifraelites. Which phrafe offtanding in thebreach feems to beare an allufion to an Army befieging a City, who fir( plant their Canon, and makea breach, and then come tothe forme. Thus the Lord deales many times with a people, he encampes againtt . them, & batters thetn,hemakes fome breach upon them by trou- bles and divifions, and then expo&s that forne fluid !land in the breaeh,and befeech himnot to form them with the wholeArmy ofhis Judgements. And theLord takes it well when any of the ValiantOnes, when any ofthe Worthies of his Ifroelprefent themfelves in the breach,praying with uttnofi importunity, that the
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