444 Chap. 23. An Expoftion upon the Book cf JO B. Verf.14. had faid ; He will as furely doe it; as if he were now a doing it, Hence obferve. First, That godwill certainely performall hit appointments con; cerning man ; He is able to doe it, andhe will doe it. This point was largely infiftedupon from thole words ofthe former verle ; He is in one mind, whocan turn him ? God doth what he bath a mind to do,therefore I (hall not here Ray to fhew thecertaintyofGods performing what he bath appointed, but to thew the appointment ofall things which he performeth. Take the oblervation thus fotmed. lvb<<tfoever Godperformeth, or dotlo to any man, was before ap- pointed, or decreedfor, or concerninghim. All the workes ofGod in time, were his decrees before time, he performeth the thing that is appointed,and appointedby him- kite, and his appointments are as himfelfe is from everlatting. Wha:foever God doth, w finde it under an appointment. Firft, and eìpecìaily,as to (the bufines in hand) the aft!,etions and iuffsring ofhis fervents ; All their fufferings are under an ap- pointment. (Micah6. 9.) The Lordsvoice cryeth unto the City, and the man ifwifdmr ¡bä11 fee thy name, bear. ye the rod, andwho bathapp.inted it. As if he had laid ; your felves by your finsare the pr;curers of it ; we the Prophets are onely the reporters and publifh r; ofit ; But Godhimfelfe is the appointer of it. As pub- lique and nationall rods, fo privateor perfonall rods are appoin- ted ; And as often aswe feel their fmart,we fhould confider their appointment. The Apoftie (1 Thef. 3. 3.) moves the Saints to a fteadines of fpirit under affliâionupon this ground,that no man fbould be moved by theft affi ¿!ions (he doth not mane that we fhould be without fenfe of our afft.ftions,ílroakesand tufFrings, but his meaning is that we fhould neither bemoved b impatience under them, to murmure at them, nor be moved by undue feares to faint in them, why ?) for yourfrlves kko'' that we are appoin- ted thereunto. The affiHtions are appointed to us. and we are appointed !o them, andyour felves know it. This doc`Irine bath been pubt(bed toyou,that rfilietions are under a divine appoint. sent, Cie there is adecree ofGodeb ut them. And ,:hat, icffa as to the matter ofwhat ton the affhaion (hall be secondly, as to
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