Chap. 23. 1n Expofition upon the Bookof j OB. Vern 13. come, are all the fame to him, and he is the fame in all ; Thou art the fame, or moreemphatically according to the ftrianes of the Hebrew phrafe, Thou art thyfelfe, allwayes shyfelfe. As thou art thouwaft, and as thou art and waft thou wilt be for ever. When .Mofes defired to know the name of God, (Exod. 3. 13.) we finde it at the i4. verle ; and God laid unto Males, 1am That I am; And hefaid,thsufhalt thoufay to thechildren ofIfrael, IAM pathfeat me untoyou. Secondly, As God is unchangeable in his effence, fo in all his divine perfections and attributes all which are effentiall unto him. God is as powerful! and ftrong as ever he was (Ifa. z6. 4. Ifa. 59. e. As high and foveraigrae as ever he was, Pfal. 92,. 8. as wife and omnifcient as ever he was, 1 Tim. 1. 17. ) As gracious and merciful! asever he was, his mercy endurethfor ever. (Pf. i co-. 5.) As faithful! and true as ever he was (Rom. 3,3,4.) And as ;uft and righteous as ever he was, he doth andwill reward every man according to his works. Thirdly, God is unchangeable in his purpofes, decrees, and counfells. The Medes and Perfians boaftedof their decrees, that they alterednot(D.tn. 6.18.) But the veryunalcerablenefs ofhu- mane Decrees is alteration it felt comparedwith the unalterable- nes of divinedecrees.We have the Lord thus freaking in thePro- phet (liai. 46.-16.) I am god, and there la none like me, declaring she endfrom the beginning, and from ancient times, the things t h:. t are not yet done, Payingmy counfell fhallfland,and 1 will doe all my pleafure. And as the Lord eftablifheth hisown counfel, fo he can unfetle theheft laid counfells of the Eons ofmen (Pf. 33. r o,11.) The Lord bringeth the coon/elof the Heathen to n-ught : he maketh the devices of thepeople of noneeffefl:The counfel of the Lordfland- ethfor ever, the thoughts of hisheart to allgenerations. And hence the Lord, by his Prophet, challengeth the deepeft politicians, the Oracles for counfel, the Achitophels of this world to ftraine their wits to the utmoft, for fecuringoftheir owncounfels from difap- pointment (Ifa. 8 1o.) girdyour(elves, and ye [ball bebra-ken in pieces, take counfel together, and it /hallcome to nirught ; ffieake the word, and it (hall notBand,forGod is with us ; he is with us as toprole& us againft your open oppofition, fo to blaft your molt ferret confultationsagainft us.And as the Lords counfels are immutable inthemfelves, fo hehath condefcended to allure us of theia 421
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