282 Chap. 3o. An Expofition typon the Book of ,Ja a. Vert, 3r. hold ofwonder and aftonifbment before the mentionof (Lich joy, ( v. 13. ) Behold j y and gladnes ; as if he had fayd , What a ffrarge, what an uncouth arrd uncomely fight is this, that men fhoruld thus cyther perverfely contradift, or groffely millake the diredionsofprovide -ce, Thar upon the very day Wherein that calls to mourning, &c. they fhould be found rejoycing ; Now I fay) as the Prophet fees a Behold ofwonder before fuch a joy, fo he follows it with a dreadful' denunciation in the next verfè, (r4. ) And it was revealed in mine cares by the Lord ofhoflb,fure- ly thin iriquitie fhall not bepurgedfromyou , till ye die, That is, it fh: l'1 never be purged or pardoned, and if guilt be not par- don'd, we are in.danger ofpunifhment every boure. To be do- ing with harpe and organ infiffering times, may bring [words and fpeares upon its. It is both our duty and our fecurity , to humble our felvco,when God humbles us ; And to lay away our Muficke as Toone as ever wee fee the Lord taking it away. The Lord by . 1ofes fayd to the Children ofIfrael, Put offthy ornaments,that Imay knowwhat todoe unto thee, (Exod. 33. 5. ) God knowes well enough, what to doe, and what he will doe with us at all times; his caunfels and refolves what to doe, depend not upon what we doe : yet when there are appearances of difpleaPure, as then there were again(# the Children of Ifrael for their Idolatry in making the golden calfe, (Iwill come sep into the midfiz of thee in a m ment, and confume thee; When( 1 fay) thedifpleafure of God appeares thus againft a people) then he fpeakes as a man u-refolved cyther for fparing or for deftroying, and feemes wil- ling to be determin'd eyther for judgement or for mercy, by what he findes in us. And bidsus put effour ornaments, that is, lay downe our pride, and lienaked in theduff, that he mayknow what to doe with us; as if he fhould fay, I will thew thee mer- cy if thou repent, or I will punifh thee if thou per rf ft in thy pride and imperitency; Though 'have decreed what to doe with thee, yet thou (halt findmy dealings with thee futable towhat thou doeft. Therefore in a time ofpatted provocation, and of feared eli Lion, let us as the Apoflle advifeth (?awes 4.9.)Be affil cied,and msurneand weepe,let our laughter be turned to mourn- ing, and our joy to heavines, let ass humbleour (elves in the fight of the Lord, andhe /hall lift au up. Woe to chofe who will net be afíliâed when God afTlitts them, who when God cafes them downe,
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