46 2. Chap. 23. An Expofition upon the BookofJ 0 B. Verf. 1, . world, then endure the troubles out. This is the fira part of the reafon, 14,n troubled, why ? becaufe I was not cut (ff. before the ,darknes, or before this trouble came ; As if he had raid ; Ifbould have been glad, or it had been goodfor me, ifdeath had prevented thefe troubles ; this troubles me that I dyednot, that Iwent not to thegrave before theft troubles came upon me. Thus 706 gives way againe to his paffioA he broke out much in this ftraine or lan- guage at the thirddapter, where at large he openeth his with for death, either that he bad dyed before, or prefently after he was borne into this world, that he might have been at rell,and fo out of the reach of thofe evills and calamities that did encamp a. gainft or beret him round about. The reader may confult what hath been done upon that Chapter, ofwhich this verle is anEpi. tome, and there finde the nature of this with for death explained, as alfowhat lively delires lob had ofdeath, or as this text fpeaks, that, he hadbeen cut ofbefore the darknes. I (ball here onely take notice ; That to fome, the forrowsof this life are much more bit- ter thendeath it felfe ; yea that God himfelfebath fometimes in a way ofmercy & favour called Tome out of the worldbefore he would let great troubles in, There was a prornife made to 7ofiab :King of 7galah, char, God being refolved to bring trouble upon that people, yet he should be cut r f before the darknes. (z Kings 22. 20.) Becaufe thy heart waa tender, &c. Behold therefore Iwill gather thee unto thyfathers, and thou pat be gathered to thygrave inpeace, and thine eyes Thal! not fee all the mill, which I will bring upon this place. And when Ahab had hurnlakcl himfelfe before the Lord, even he went not with :ut a reward for it, and his reward was this (i Kings 21. 29, ) Iwill not bring the evill in his clays, He (ball be cut ff before the darknefelerom speakingof the trou- fn:511;:iNhrnio`; hies that came upon theChurch,doth as it were applaud the death wider. Hier: ofNeptian upon that Confideratien, Happy be that dyed before theft troubles livcd.lt hath fomewbat ofmercy in ìt, to go out of the world before extraordinary afli;elion comes in ; yet in thefe things we mutt take heed cfl-eing our owne Carvers ; it is one thing tohave a prornife from God, that the Cloud than not breake in our time 5 and another thing for us to with anddelire tobe out of the world befor: the Cloud breaks : The former er- gueth the tenderneffeand care ofG od towards us, but the latter snuft needs argue either our unwillingnes to fuller tither from or for
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