Chap. 29. An Expafltion upon the Book of J p B. Vert-. 5. 457 Be foundhim in thedtfart, and in the waft howlingWildernefs, he ledhim about, besnftrueledbinr.t od found Ifrael in the Wilder. Hers, not by chance, but by:tefolved and graci,us choice, he ma- nifetted himfelf a leader,there,wherCwas molt needof leading ; we arc always led of God, but thenchi: fly and moti difcernably when we are in a Wildetnef. cp dition.As he caufeth the wicked towander in a Wiidernefs where there is no way (job I2. 24.) fo he fheweth h3'e.>p'e a .ztay in the Wilde:nets. Thirdly, Thé Lord is with them to profper and to give them fuccefsin all rh.i- undertakings, that are according co his will. Thus 'cis laid concerning Tofpb (Gem, 39, 23,) The Lord was with him, and that which bedid, the Lordmade it to prosper. God puts walk in o our hiods, but keeps the fuccefs in his own ; and we may domuch,but to little purpose , wnlefs the Lord be wi h u4 i0 war we do. The reafon why they who pray much, domolt, is t,.c..,+t r..,,t is ,loft with borewho pray most ; while God is -with a3 helping us topray , he is al' o with us to give us an anfwer of fuccefs in the things we pray for. Here's the happi- nefs of theSaints, in this life the Lord is ever with them, and in the next life they shall ever be with the Lord (t Thef.4. z7.) To be ecru the Lord but a moment is a heavenupon earth nd to be with the Lord for ever,is =,be Heaven of Heaven. And as it will be the height of glory hereafter to be ever with the Lord, fh'cis now the highs of dutyco be with the Lord, in our a&consó beying hior, in our atf.&ions loving, and in all oursdefgns aiming at the lìirir u.) of his name and glory. Bet some who are preffed either with perfonal,' or publick troublesmay fay as Gidtes,when the Angel alined him in the lan- guage of job (Jadg.6.t 2,t 3.) The Lord is with tbee,tbots migh- tyman ofvalour ; Ob my Lord, ifthe Lord be with tu, why then is all this befallen us ? Whyam I fo weak, faith one, both indoing good, and opnofingevil, if the Lord be with bis people to afsift them ? why am I fo much milledand carried out of the way,faiih another, why am I fo much in the dark, what todo, if the Lord be with his people to lead and to infirm% them ? why am I fo un- fuccefsful in all I take in hand, or go about, faith a third, if the Lordbe with his people toprofper them ? why are we,fayothers, fo clouded and covered withforrows,if the Lord be with his peo- ple to comfort them ? why are our hearts Co bards fo firaiceed, fo N n n dead,
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