Chap. 21. An £xpoftion upon the Boot; of J o B. Vert*. 27. 349 or again({ is ; and ler men, the greateft; the wifeft of men be as much diïpleafed as they will at what I doe,I will ( and ask therm no leave) do all mypleafure. And thus David fhewethat once the fiability of Gods counfel, and the inliability of theirs who either give or take counfel contrary tohis(Pfal. 33. to, t i.)Tbe Lor4 brsngttb the counfel ofthe Heathen to nought , (or,as the Margin bath it, maketh it fruffr-ate) He maketh the devices of the people ( their fineft and molt artificial contrivances ofnone) effeCt. The counfelof the Lord ftandetb for ever, the thoughts of Ins heart to all Generations ; that is, whatfoever he bath thcughr,fhall be done in its proper time and generation. As man perifheth, fo histhoughts perifh too ; that which he bath been fpinningour and weaving to- gether into a plot many yeares together,mayperifh in amoment; But as God himfelf is infinitely removed from the leaft fhadore of turning, fo much more of perifbing, and fo are his thoughts. The thoughts of God as God himfelf abide for ever.The thoughts of God are the proceed of his infinite and eternal wifdom, of which lob affirms, Then did be prepare or e(taóli(h it , yea his preparation was itseffablifhment. That's his Third a& concern- ing wifdom. The fourth andJafi ac& is thus expreffed, and bath (earthed it out;',. The word notes a very diligent enquiryafter or fcrutinie about T ircrutaturr aloft things thatare fecretand 'remote. But is any thing remate perfcrutatus eft from,or a fecret untoGod ? I answer ; There is a twofold fearch.- remotaautab' ing ; Firft, proper or in kind ; fecondly, improper or in figure. ffnujttir Goddoth not fearch properly as men do for that which they have not; God fearcheth wifdom, but he dorh not fearch for it, he al ,,,ayes bath it, yea he alwayes is it. Men fearch upon three grounds firft, to get what they never had ; fecondly, to find what they once had but have loll; thirdly, tobe informed of what they know not. 'David faith (Tfal, t 39. r.) O Lord,tbou haft fearched and knoron me. God knows without fearching, but he is PerveFirtic faid to fearch and'know,becaufe he knoweth as perfe&ly, yea tins peYieE ionem conceiveably more perfe&ly then we doeby our exaecoefs fearch- fcihhtie gnÍfs' ings. This ex2ref{ion,'and fearched it out, imports nor any ante- cat, ivtercè cedentimperfe6tion,but the prefent perfe&ionof the knowledge of God,.- The things that we have fearched and.laab.o;ared robe fully.
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