Chap. 23. An Expofition upon the Book, of j OB. Veri, y. 37 home to their dores,but out they will go to lick him.For though it be a truth thatno man can feek or looke after God, till God bath firft looked after and found him, yet they whomGod bath once found, have fuch an irnprefiion left upon their hearts, that whenGod kerns to leave them, and to be as loft to them, they will more then feeme to look after and fide him whilehe is ab. fent from them ; that is, whilehe hides himfelfe from them.Sure- ly Godhath never toucht the hearts ofchore lazie profeffors that would faine be faved, but will goe neither forward nor backward, - neither North nor South,after jefusChrikwhereas iftheir delires were true and genuine, theywould ufe all manes, goe all due wayes, leave nothingunaffayed that might probably bring them to the knowledge and enjoyment of him ; O how bufie was 706r fpirit to finde out God?And fo bulle íhould our fpirits be to find him out, both for comfort and forcounfell in all the turnings of our lives. Laftly, Obferve ; That after theufe of much meaner to finde god, yet potbly God may nst defoundby its as to ourapprebenfion. lob fparedno pines to finde out God, and yet he could not fpeed at that time,after all his fearch he found hint not,hepercei- ved him nor, hedid not behold him ; you may pray, and feeke, and advife, andwait, follow this meanes and that meanes to find out God, or to recover the fenceof his gracious pretence with your foules, and yet (for a long tim^) miffe ofhim. This is one ofthe exercifes which God is pleated to put his people to he therefore hides that we may feeke him ; he cloth not hide himfelf becaufe hewill not be found,but he hides himfelfe becaufe he will be fought ; and yet whenhe is fought, and fought in a right way too, he will not prefently be found. For though none that leek him in fincerity, but (hall finde him at laft (He bath not laid to the feedof Jacob, feekye myface in vaine ;that is, feeke me and never --t finde me, the Scripture fpcakes no fuch thing) nor did fob al- wayes leek and not finde; yet, as he in his time, fo we inours may feek him long andnot finde him, and yet 1h 11 we mufi conti- nue feeking, becaufe God hides himfelfe that we may feeke him more, not that he would haveus give over feeking. And there- fore in times ofdefection, in hiding, and withdrawing times, doe Bbb2 not
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