Crap. 29. An Expofition upon the Book, ofJ o B. Verf. 4. 45 3 But was not the Lord with him in his affliEtcd condition ? or is he not always with all men ? was the Lord quite departed fr&p fob ? or are any out of his prefence ? how then faith he, rake» he was yet with me I answer, God is faid to be with us or abfent from us, as he is- ' pleaded to give out himfelf to us,or withdraw from us in his pro- vidences and difpenfations. Woen God aasgracioufly towards us, then is he laid to be with us; and when he leaves us in the hand of any trouble, then he is laid tobe:far from us.(Pfal. i ()J.) Why flandefl thouafar off, OLord ? Why hidefít thou thy[elf in time of trouble ? God isalwayes near to his people, and ufually then nearefi in his care for and watchfulnefs over them, when they are in trouble ; yet then theyare apt to thinkhe is afar off from them, and then they cry out as men forfaken, why flandefi thou, afar off O Lord? Thus the Scripture (peaks according to our fen.e, or as the flesh apprehends,which,whenwe fmart under any trouble, is ready toconclude,God is not with us. There is not any form of words ( that I remember) in the whole book of God which is made use of with fo much variety as this, the Lords being, with'us. Firff, 'ris ufedby way of promise, and'iis indeed the fum of all the promises. If God9ould bid us ask what we would-have at once,or wrap up all otar'desires in one word, what couldwe: ask fo comprehenfivcû this, Lord give us thy promife to be with us. Thus the Lordexprefl'edall that good which he intended to do by the hand of folhua for the conduaof his people into Cana an (/ofh. t . g..) There(ball net any man be able tostandbefore thee, all the Mayer oftby life ; ae Iwar with Mofes, fo will 1 be with thee; Iwill not fail thee norforfake thee. God afl'ures 7ofhua again 1 all oppofitìon, bygiving him, affurance of hisprefence. And thus the Apof+le reasons for the comfort of all beleivers (Rom. 8:. 31.) IfGod be with us, who can be against us ? Many (poflibly,.. yea certainly) will be against us to oppofe us, but none can be againtt us, to prevail over us. Secondly, Godly men (peak thus in as way of faith (Pfal. 46; ts.) The Lord ofbolls re with tss, the God of Jacob ie our refuge. Their faith was pofitive and peremptory in the thing ; they doe apt fay, we have force gs innerirg hopes that the Lrrd will he: with us;but they conclude upon it,The Lardis with sa,to uphold. and
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