An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

First, The voice of flesh and blood in such kind of troubles, is to make a final conclusion and sentence upon our selves, That God hath forsaken us, that we are cast out from his love. Insomuch that did not the principle of grace in some measure withstand, and at some times overcome these temptations, the soul would be swallowed up in this whirlpool: but let the godly know, that this is not the voice of Jacob, but of Esau. The regenerate principle will not, dare not give in such false testimony, Isai. 49. 14, 15. Zion hath said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. But in the next verse we see God expressly denying it, and that not only, he had not forsaken her, but that he could not forsake her, for his affections were more to her, then any mothers to her sucking child. The Church then was too hasty and precipitate, she should have considered Gods Word, before she passed such a peremptory sentence concerning her self. Therefore when God saith one thing, and thy heart another; when the Scripture speaketh one thing, and thy flesh another thing, which is more to be regarded? See this distemper likewise in Jonah, Chap. 2. 6. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight. Here the corrupt part in Jonah, made quick his desperate work, He was cast out of Gods sight, but Nubecula fuit, cito transivit; it was a little storm, it was presently over; for immediately he doth (as it were) contradict himself, and saith, I will look again toward thy holy Temple. So that it was with corruption and grace at this time, as it was with Rebekah in her child-bearing; the first came out red and hairy, but the second came out smooth, and holding Esau by the heel. Thus the first motion of Jonah's heart cometh forth red and hairy, bloody and rough; but then faith like Jacob followeth this Esau immediately, and supplants it. When therefore the godly do at any time find such motions, and workings of heart, as if their troubles were a demonstration of Gods desertion of them, that if he loved them, he would never let it be so with them, rebuke these immediately, and be as much affected as Hezekiah was, when he heard Rabshakeh blaspheme God. For indeed such thoughts do highly dishonour God, and represent him otherwise than he is.

First, The voice of flesh and blood in such kind of troubles, is to make a final conclusion and sentence upon our selves, That God hath forsaken us, that we are cast out from his love. Insomuch that did not the principle of grace in some measure withstand, and at some times overcome these temptations, the soul would be swallowed up in this whirlpool: but let the godly know, that this is not the voice of Jacob, but of Esau. The regenerate principle will not, dare not give in such false testimony,