Chap. 2.3. An Expeftion upon the Book of JOE. Verf 7. 'Firf#, The Spirit helps us with ftrength of argument to plead with God. Secondly, TheSpirit helps us with tlrength of faith in taking hold uponGod. Thirdly, "f he Spirit helps us with flrength ofpatience in was- ting uponGod till we receive what we have prayed for. yacob by this threefold frengtb bad power with God in prayer (Hof. I z. 3.) and it was the power or Spirit of God by which he had this three- fold ftreng h ro prevail with God. Thus we areftrengtbnedwitb might by the Spirit in the inner man (Eph. 3. 16.) We are firong todoe, and firong to fuffer,we are ftrong tomortifie corruptions, and trong to conquer temptations, we are ftrong to pray, and firong to plead our caufe at the throne ofGrace,whéa God puts ftrength into us. lob whohad received great firength fromGod in all the formercafes was of 'ured that he fhould receive ftrength alto in the laft, were he admitted to the feateOf God. Would he (there) plead agai.nft me with his great power? No,but he would put ftrength in me, to pleadwith him.And as he was thus aflured that Godwould put ftrength into him to plead his caufe, fo alto liberty and freedome to doe it ; as appears more fully in the nett verfe. Verf. 7. There the righteous might di/'pute with hirn ; fo Jheuld be delivered for ever frommy judge. There; where ?hemeans at the feat of God, as if he had faid;. Could i but once c.-me to the throne or feat of God, I fhould have' free leave and liberty enough to open and argue, to fiate and de- bate my cafe, my long controverted and yet unrefolved cafe with him. He would not plead agaï > :fi: me n ith boil great power of Au. thority, but he would give me the power of liberty to difpute, . and reafon out that m:+ttt r with him.Several! pa%:ges in the for mer part of this Hooke, dearly told out this fenfe. (Chap. 9.3q 3.5.) Let him take his rod aoeayfrom rice, and let not his feare ter- rifleme ; then would iBeak and not [care hino, but it is notfo with me; as yet 9dpleadeth againfl in with blsgreat power. Againe,. (Chap. 13. 2r , 22.) iritbdraw the handfeare from me, and let not thy dread make me afraid (a if he had Nei, Plead not againff' me with thygreat power) then call thon and 1 will an(wer,or let not fpeake,, 351
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