6gChap. 23. An Expoltionupon the Boos{of J OB. ÿerf.g puzzled¡ in his Spirit what to doe, whether this òr that be the conrfe which Godwould have him take.God hides laimfelf from us in the hidingsof his will from us.For as when the Apof±le faith (Ephef. 4. 2e. ) Ye have not fo learned Chrifl, we are not to underftand Chrift perfonally, but Chrift according to the Revco lation ofhimfelfe in the Gofpel, Chrift there is the will or mind ofChrift ;fo whenGod hideth himfelf fromor Both not difcover himfelfeto us, the meaning may be this; he doth not difcover his minde andwill tous, what he would have usdoe, as to our particularcafe and condition. God keeps force long in fufpence, long in the darke about this poynt ; fo that they often cry out with that good King in his dangerous itait, we knew not what to do,but osrr eyes are towards thee. (z Chroa. 20. i z.) Many a man is in as great a flrait what to doe in regard of the darknefe ofhis condition, as yehofaphat was, in regardof the dangeroufneffe of it. Fourthly, Note ; Tha_ç,.t Gracious foule asfetb all means to attaine what he dares, elpecially tofinde Out the mind and will ofGod in ria workings. Whatelfe is the meaning ofail this?why elfe went 7:6 forward and backward ? why went he on the right hand,and on the left? why did he thus traverfe his ground, and reprefent himfelfe in there bule enquiries after God, travelling in the multitude of his thoughts uponhis bed from fea to fea,& from the river tothe ends of the earth, leavingno Hone unturned (as we fay) n'or path untrodden, that he might get his caufe determined, and his heart. felled. Obadiah tells Eliabafter he had met him (fee how indu- ftrious themalice ofAhab, againft that holy man, made him to finde himout whom his foule hated, a Kings 18. 10 ) As this Lord thy Godliveth,there is no nation or Kingdomwhether my Lord' bath not fent tofait thee, &c. Not that Ahab had fent Mef!engers intoevery quarter of the world, but the meaning is, that he had been very diligent and indufirious to find out Elijab.And fo faith lob, there is not any Corner under heaven, where I have not been licking to finde him whom my foule loveth and longeth for. Thereby importing his exceeding diligence to findeGod. They who havea delire after God indeed,will take pains for him, they will leek him, Ea&, Weft, North, and South,and never complain attic length off their journey.They will not flay till God comes home
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