342 Chap. 23 . .4n expoftion supon the Bookofj O B. Verf. 6. will not put it forth against me (faith lob t.) And what was yob that he Ihould be thus confi. ent,and rife up to fuch a ftrong affu- rance that God would not ufe his ftrengch againft him ? ?ob was a godly man, a man fearing God, a man perfe& and upright, a man Tull .of;aith,even full offaith ,(thoughhe lived in dark tunes, and under dark difpenfations,yet 1 fày,he was a man full offaith) in tite Redeemer.Now it is no wonder ifa man ofthis chara&er,a man thus q;alified and priviledg d had this confidsnet, and was much affured that he fhouid prosper and fpeed irr it, That god wouldnot plead againfl himwith his great,power. Hence obferve ; e/f godly man may be.coiPent that god äi11 deale gently and graciouflywith him, or, That God will deal with him according to the greatnes ofhis mercy, not according to the grearnes ofhis power The greatnes of the power ofGod is an exceeding great comfort to the fincere, becaufe they know it is a&ed towards them in the greatneffeofhis mercy. It is comfortable to hear that the Lord,who (as the Pro phet defcribes him, X.00ba. r. 3.) i.r great inpower, is al/o flaw to arger(thegreatnes Of mans power loth ufually quicken not clog his paffìons) but it is more comfortable to know, that God who is great in power, is quick and fpeedy to flewmercy. And hence it is that a true beleever rejoyceth in the power of God as well as in his mercy,beca.ufe heknoweth that God hath declared himfelf powerful) for him, as well as mercifull.He knowerh God will not pur forth power alone, or nothing but power towards him. God doch exercife all his refrefhing attributes, and divine perft &ions, in dealing with Saints.Whcreas upon the wicked he exercifeth his power chiefly, though not only. WhAt i .God to make his per knowneendured withmuch kg f,ffering theveilels : fwrath fitted firdeftruElion, faith theApoñie (Rom. 9. 22.) God pleads with the wicked according to the tenour ofthe Covenant of worker; but with Believersaccording to theCovenant ofgrace, in which he doch as it were uncloathhimfe If ofhis power, and cloath him felfe with love, mercy, goodneffe, and tenderneffe to his people.. The Lord (as the Pfalmift fpeakes, Pfal, 93. s. ) is cloathed with firength,wberewith he bathgirded him/ilfe,he is cloathed alto with en$rcy, and with that he bath girded himfelfe ; he pleads withhis people
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