Chap. 23. arin Expoftion upon the Bookof J OB. Vert. 6. 347' or greater ftrength. As all our fins (the lealt whereof is a burden too heavy fot us to beare) are light to us through the righteouf- neffeOf Chrift, fo all the commandements of God (the leaft of we', is too hard for us alone)are light tous through the fìrength ofChri This was the Apoftle Pauli profeffion, I can doe all things through Chrilai thatirengthnetb me, (Phil. 4. 13. ) A little iscoo much for us, all is but little for Ch rift ; as we have the anointing of the Spirit, whereby we know all things, ( 7ohn 2. 20.) fo we have the ftrengthning of the Spirit, whereby we doe all things. It is a high priviledge, that Saints who receive their worke from heaven, receive their ftrength from heaven too. And that as Godputs hiscommands upon them, fo he puts this power into them. The Lord is fo farre from requiring worke of us with- out giving us wages for what we have done, thathe doth not re- quire worke Of us without giving us ftrength to doe it.vVhen we Tookeupon our reward it might feeme that we have done all our (elves, but when we Tookeupon his aifittance,it is as evident that we have done nothingofour felves. TheLord is not like thofe toEgyptian task- wafters who called for brick, but would notgive ftraw ; no, the.Lord who calls for brick, doth not onely give us (craw, but ftrength, even hands, and hearts todoe our work, Go- fpelgráce or new-Covenant-grace, promifeth us ftrength to doe what we are commanded to doe. Secondly, The Lord gives us, as ftrength to doe, fo to fuller, ftrength to beate his croffe as well as his yoake : fo the Apoftle comforts the Corinthians (a Ep: ao.13.) lVo temptation( chat is, no affliFtion, for as every temptation bath trouble in ir, and is therefore juttly called anafflition,fo every a#fliâion bath a try- all in it, and is therefore iuftly called a temptation, in which fence the Apottte there faith, no temptation) bath takenhold , f jíu, but that which is common toman,but hod is faithfull that will not /uffer you to be tempted above whatye are able, but with the temptation will make a way ofefcape, thatye may be able to hare it. As if tse had laid ; be not afraid that you (Iv t be opprefl'ed with the bur- den ofany aftlitionor temptationwhich yeendure in my caufe or for my name fake ;for ye £hell receive anability cornmentara- blc to your affThelion, whatfnever it is ; you (bait be tupported in thofe affliftionswhich are immediately from the hand of God, much more in thole which are from the handofman, even in the Y y z extrea-
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