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…

Lastly, This heavenly Father hath not only appointed the time, the kind, the degree of thy tribulation, but also the time of deliverance from it. And this is also a great comfort to know, that the tribulation shall not stay an hour longer, then while it may do good to thee; he will not take one drop of blood more from thee then is necessary to prevent thy disease, or abate it. So Rev. 2. 10. Some should be cast into prison for ten days. You see here God had determined the time. Even as the Artificer knoweth how long the gold must be in the fire, to take away the dross, and will not suffer it to abide any longer. This the Psalmist made use of in his Prayer for the Church, The time to favour her, yea the set time is come. ¹So thou art to know, that the time of favour, the time of deliverance, yea the set time will come. So that this may add much comfort to the godly, that their afflictions shall be as the horseleeches set to the body, to stick no longer then the corrupt blood is taken away. Thus Job though he had many gloomy and sad temptations, yet sometimes again he was refreshed with this, That he should come out of that affliction, like gold out of the fire, Chap. 23. 10. How wonderfully was Habakkuk comforted in his exercises? for being informed, Chap. 2. 3. That the vision was for an appointed time, that God though he did tarry would surely come, see how he breaketh forth, Chap. 3. 17, 18. Although the fig-tree doth not blossom, &c. yet I will rejoice in God, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Well may God be called the God of consolation, who can make Habakkuk so greatly rejoice, when all earthly props are taken away.

Lastly, This heaveuly Father hath not only appointed the time, the kind, the degree of thy tribulation, but also the time of deliverance from it. And this is also a great comfort to know, that the tribulation shall not stay an hour longer, then while it may do good to thee; he will not take one drop of blood more from thee then is necessary to prevent thy disease, or abate it. So Rev. 2. 10. Some should be cast into prison for ten dayes. You see here God had determined the time. Even as the Artificer knoweth how long the gold must be in the fire, to take away the drosse, and will not suffer it to abide any longer. This the Psalmist made use of in his Prayer for the Church, The time to favour her, yea the set time is come.