Chap. 23 . An ExpofitionUpg.n the Bookef JOB. Vert 3. fudged1frael in all thofe places, and returned to Boman, for there wad hidhoufe, and therehe lodgedIfrael ; As if he .had laid, foil Handing haufe wasat Raurah and thither all caufcs were brought, and all perlons grieved reforted for Jul?ice in their feverail cafes. He rid Circuit every yearer that all the people might the more eafiiy finde him ; yet hehad a fixed five. Inalufion to this prac- tice 74appealing from his friends to God faith, O that I knew where Imight find hirn ! and goe tohim for judgement ; O that I might, have Audience before him in this great buti;:effe: But it may be Paid, Did not lob know where to find God ? or was lob out of the prefence of God ? I anfwer, the Lord carryed himfelfe to yob at that time as a- franger, and though he werewith him (as he alwaycs is with all his) yet he did not find him ; TheLord is with many ofhis peo- ple when they are not with him, that ir, when they do not find him, or are not fencible of his preferce. God is with his people, even when they walk through the valley of the fhadowofdeath, het they are not alwayes with God : yeaGod loth not alwayes manifett himfelfe to them while they walke in the moft dcliciout and lighrfome paradifes of this life. God fornetimes hides him- felfe, fo that they cannot make it out that God is pref ne with them. God is never feene in regard of. the invifibility -of his na- ture,' and he-is oftenunfeene in regard the oblcurity ofhis die- penfations : as yob fhewesfurther at the 8th verfe, Behold I f,a forwardbut he is not there, &r^ backward but I cannot perceive him,' I goe forward and backward, that is, I goe every way, I takea courtes to find him, hut I cannot perceive God, for he hides and- covers himfelf with clouds, that our prayers' cannot comeat him ; as the Church complaines (Latnert. 3, 44.) though we are al- wayes prefent to God, yet God is not alwayes prefent to us, that ïs, to our apprehenfion as God is not at all prefent to our fenfe, . fo he is not aiwaees prefent to our faith ; that's the meaning of 766, whenhe faith, Igoe forward but be id Act there, &c. God is- . everywhere ; whither can Igoefreni his preface ( faith David, Peal, t 39.) IfIgoe up into heaven be is there &c, yet faint Yob, ;if- goe I forward he is net there,that is,I have no En oyroentsof God there ; and upon this ground he faith in the prcfnr rat, O that I: kn'w where I might find him ! 7eb was well acquainted with the dot&iine ofGódsOmniprefcnce, ha was farre.from thinking char theta 317
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