46e) Chap, 23 An Expotion upon the Book of 1 OB. Verf. t 6 as it were, let themselves with unholy refolutions to (land or ra. ther flout is out with God, and beare the worn that he coulddo unto them ; But (faith the Lord, Ezek 22. 14.) can thine heart endure ?,,r can thine hands be ftzrong in the day that I f>iall deal with thee When I deal with thee in wayes ofJudgement,when I take thee in hand to punifh and repay thee according to our workes, can thine heart endure ? no ! it cannot endure;,it (hall not be able toendure. The Lorddoth not meane it ofan enduring with fub- enifiìon and patience;So it is the honour ofSaints to endure what ever God layesupon them, but to endure with ftoutnes and re- finance; art thou able to :`land it out,orcan thine handbe thong? no, thy heart and hand will be loft and weake, thou wilt not be able tó beare it when I come to deale with thee. It is faid of Chrift by David his type ( pfal. 22.13. ) when he was under thole terrible fufferings for our fins, that his heart was made loft (and ifit were fo with thegreene tree, what mull it be with the dry ?) I wpm pouredout like water, and all my boots areout ofjoynt: my heart is like wax, it is melted in the midji ofmy bowel's. Thus the sufferings ofChrift ourhead ( who was allo the Captaineef our falvarion, and the mighty God) made his heart foft and mel- ted him. His heart was not meltedwith forrow for his owne fin, (foe he was without fin) but the forrow that was upon him for our fins meltedhis heart.Whole heart will not melt &grow loft, (that is, unable to beareir) when God layeth his handheavy and long upon him ? Thereforewe read in the Prophet,how the Lord takes notice of this, andcondefcends to the weakneffe of man ("fa. 57. 16.) Iwill not contendforever, neither will I be always wroth. I will nor goe on todoe, as I have done. Why ? Whats reafon of it ? not but that God is able tocontinue his Con- tending, and to carry onhis warte whether with perlons or with ° Nations for ever ; but he bathrefped to the poor Creature ; for ( faith he) Iwill not doe it, left the fpirit ßisu'd failebefore me, and thefoules which Ihave made. Howcan foules faite ? the foul is an immortals fubftance, and (hall not faite for ever. The fouls of the damned (hall beunder everlaflingContendings, and never faite, they fhall bear wrath for ever andnot fade, v-ea their bodyes (hall not faite, but through the power ofGod (fúftoining them t;nder. his Juftice) fhall endure everlafling torments. î he meaning Q:f that exprellion in the Prophet,is the fame with this in the text Már
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