Opened and Applied~ MMoahfa lvthe .Angeld6wo,.droujly, Judg.IJ.I9· PiaLI39·14· Marvelt1UJ I are rhJ wark,s, verf. 17,1 8. How precioUI are rhy thoughts l he faw from the \Lords works, and gathered an idea of the thoughrs ofGod; fo fhould·Ml"; and I hence when he did awttk! he was fti/1 with th: Lord rthl: firfi thing thatappea~d was tf.leLord., Pfal.73 · 13,z4,z'i. .~· · · ' · ,. ' "'" ( ' 1 To rhe beafls the Lord is near, but they cannot reflett- uponi;heidlwn attions, much lefs upon the Lord; ~he Heathens may fee wNre Gods~lf.ifpring, and fee God as a Creator ar (ome ttmtls; but let them that prdfefs Chrlfi, fee and fi nde ont·Chri!* as Mediator'; .as 01iofn tiW delired to lee the Lord p~ffing by himJ whom he had feen a lirrle before; nuly the Lord not ohly palfeth by you, but is with you proclaiming his nJme by the voyce of his Providenc;e toward you, patienCe, pity, love, truth, wifdom ; and yec truly this is very difficult and hard to fee. ' ( . SECT. XVI. M En fee not Jefus Chriit, Firll, Becauie fetond caufe~ feem to Work all; This efiate my friends gave me,or my labor got me ; rhis houfe the Carpenter built for me, thefe provilions my money bought for me ; and fo we creatureslikebroad leaves'hide the bouf,hs of the glory ofGod in Chrill on which thl!y gr01v, ahd are opake and denfe, and nor tranfparenr, through which t~e foul may fee the glory of God abroad. Secondly, Becaufe men have fo many bufi',lell"es and cares that they cannot f have leafure really to fee the Lord. ·· Thirdly, B~caufe there is a malice in all mens hearts naturally which fuffocates all that which may be knownof him, 1\.!m:r..zf$. ThtJ detz;'l,hted not to retain God in their kpowledge; the works ofGod grow vi!e and fordid through their commonnefs to them. , , ' , . Fourthly, Becaufe men can live well enough without him; hence lrke a childe at nurfe, t_hat forgers friends and home, b~caufe jt is well enough without them; thus mens minds are n6t fed with the thoughts of him,Jer. z.o: Fifthly, BecaufeNacure never heard of a Mediator !!civerning all their Jives, and comforts, and all ; they fee not all given them by the Almighty hand of Chrill-, whg hath tdl power given him in hMven a'nd l4rth, and wb6 · mull reignlnot only .over friend> till rbey are gathered, bufove. his e!Jemies aiL fo cill they are ft:bdued, and to quellion this is ro que!Hon Chrifi's fitting at Gods right hand. He is owner of all, and difpofer of all to the . leatt growth of thy llacure, and the moll: carelefs fall of the leatl hair ; •to do not only the greateR, but the ~neaneA offices of love for thee. You fay indee4 you believe all is from Chrift ; oh but you fee it not ; ;come near therefore and fee the Lord, De lit .8.9. they were forty yeus a learning that Man lives not by bread, naris warmed by cl oaths, &c. and though they had · marvellous wondrous works, yet Deut.29. To thisdaJthe LO:d hAtbnot given you qes to fee. Oh therefore labor to fee who it is that nurfes you , gutde.s you, tends you, leads you, teacheth ycu, lays you down , · and tako:s you up , and let the works of Chrifl: raite up your minds; to th~ thoughrs of Chriit in heaven; remembring thee in his Kingdom of glory, who rrtig}ar forg~t thee; and che poorer and (maller the mercy ·is, the more do thou wonder that ·he iliould rh~rein b~ ~ fervant unto thee! fee all bleffings growing upon rhis rree,-Teiced w the m1dit of Gods Paradife, Rev. zl. 3,4. though thou la yea· rhy h~ad with Jacob upon Hones, and forrows, yet fee this ladder of tbe Lords providence 133
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