Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v7

Chap. 23. An Expofition upon the Book, of J OB. \erl. 3, 3 3 then in cold ; fowhen is is cold weather in the world, when it is as it were froft and fnow, forme and tempeft, then our fpirituall fpirits refort &come in to God, and keepclofe to him. When we have molt friends in the world,orwhen theworld is molt friendly untous, thenGod is our belt friend ; his favour is the moil be- neficiall and defireable favour, when we haveas much as we can defire offavour among men. But when the world hates us and frownes uponus, efpecially when (as theProphet fpeaks offome, Ilia. 66.5.) Our Brethren hate us,and caff ut out for the name fake of godhimfelfe, faying,let the Lord be glorified. When 'cis thus with us (I fay) our foules ateeven forced into the prefence of God, to renew our interefts in his love, and to affure our foules that we are accepted with him. Ifunder fucla meafure from men, we finde not helpe in God, we mull remaine for ever miferable. Godalone is enough, Ml without God is nothing to a Godly man. The fullneffeof the creature without God cannot fatisfie him, and the utmoft want ofthe creature cannot difcontent him while heenjoyeth God ; the more he wants in the creature, the more he reeked' his content in God, and when he findes nothing below, he cryeth out withgreatef earneftneffe, o that I knew where 1 might finde him, whofe throne is above, and who is the onely happineffe ofman while he is below. Sixthly, We fee how Inquisitive fob was after God, as he had a defire and a minde to findeGod, fo he layes about him for in- formationwhere and how to finde him. Hence obferve ; Theywho truly defire tofinde god, are diligent in fearching after him. Ó that Iknew.(faith lob) where Imight finde him 1 This was not an Idle with ; many are much in the Optative mood, full of wifhings andwouldings; but their wifhes are altogether wifhes, and their deliresnothing but delires; and fuchdelires are killing delires ; as Solomonbath taught us ,The defire of thefl.atr.,full kil. leth him (Prov. 2t. z5.) an Idle defire is a death to the deli rer ; A godly mans delires are ac4ive delires, they put him upon en- quiry, lead him to the meanes of enjoying the good defired. And though God be unexpeetedlyfoundof force that feeke him nor, yet no man can exped to find God,but he that feeketh hind. T t z And

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