472 Cltgp. 24. An Expofition upon the Bookof J OE. Verf. r, it their fludy to unvaile the times which God bath hid,ando un- cover his ferrets. And it is no part either of the honour or orna- marhemat;co- ment of thefe times, that Aftrologers and Mathematicians have ram&&mil, been fo bold in the fe fiudies. As ifthe flarres ofheaven wereei- l'aèorumvefana Cher betrufled with the ferrets ofthe God ofheaven, or being fo reins itna, would be unfaithful) Secretaryes, bewraying his ferrets, and put- ting thofe times and feafons into thepower of man which God bath put into his owne power. Ancient hifloryes tellsui that the Princes of the world have been very greedy after this forbidden, orat leaft unrevealed knowledge. Being more defìrous to know what fhoúld come to paffe in after times, then diligent in thedu ties of theprefent time ; Whereas indeed, which is A fecond-reafon why it is fo,God thereforehides the iffues and events offuture times, that wemight bekept toprefent duties,to the work and burineffe of the day.He conceals from man the pre- cgtfe day of his death,that be might everyday bepreparing to dye.. It men had all times in their hands, they would quickly lay the greatefl and beft part of their worke outoftheir hands. Thirdly, God hideth times to try the faith ofhis Own people whether they can depend uponhim in the darke ; whether when . they know not when the time (hall be, or what a day may bring forth,they can yet freely truft him for all their dayes,He that lives by faith'at all times,troubles not himfelf about what fhall be next in time, nor what the next times may be. Fourthly, God hideth times, that we maybe guided by rules,' notby events; Tbat we may flareour cortrfe through this world . according to his divine appointments, not according to humane fuccef es. Upon all thefeand many more accounts,wky fhould net t mes be hidden by the Almighty? But I fail proceed with our reading, to open that, and give fore notes from ir. w yfeeingtimet, &c: As if70b had laid, feeing the Lord knoweth alltunes, feeing times are not hidden from him, what isthe reafon why chofewho know him,and, are neereft tohim,donot know times alfo?or thus;. God knoweth times, they are nothidden from him, why doenot they know timesthat know him ? We arenot to take time here nakedly or naturallyas it notes dayes,
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