1The letter of the Hebrew is, If the Lord will not turn away his nostrils, or his face. Nostrils or face are taken here, as in many other Scriptures, for anger, because there is such an appearance of anger in the face and nostrils, acted passion is seated there, as was noted (Chap. 4.9.) Therefore to turn away the face or nostril, is to turn away from anger, Psal. 78.38. Many a time turned be away his anger; 2it is this word. When the Lord is angry, the turning of his face towards a man showeth he is reconciled; and when he is angry, the not turning away of his face, shows that he is unreconciled, or resolved to continue angry. And while God is so resolved, man is in a sad case, his helpers must stoop, The strength of Israel will not lie or repent (1 Sam. 15.29.3) The Hebrew is, The victory of Israel, The Lords strength is victory; victorious persons can hardly ⟨p. 243⟩be overcome, but victory cannot; therefore except himself will with-draw, except himself overcome himself, it is not in the power of all creatures to overcome him (Job 23.13,) He is in one mind, and who can turn him? As if he had said, except the Lord will turn himself, and alter what he himself hath determined, it is not in men to cause him to alter, He is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doth; which is the highest expression of power imaginable. How many things do our souls desire which we cannot do? We are desiring and desiring, yet our hands are not able to bring it to pass, The desires of the slothful (always) slay them, because (saith Solomon, Prov. 21.25.) their hands refuse to labour; and the desires of the diligent slay them, sometimes, because they cannot compass the thing desired, with all their labour; but as for the Lord, What his soul desireth, even that he doth. And as his desires are irresistible, so is his anger, his irascible appetite is as victorious as his concupiscible, unless God withdraw his anger.
1The letter of the Hebrew is, If the Lord will not turn away his nostrils, or his face. Nostrils or face are taken here, as in many other Scriptures, for anger, because there is such an appearance of anger in the face and nostrils, acted passion is seated there, as was noted (Chap. 4.9.) Therefore to turn away the face or nostrill, is to turn away from anger, Psal. 78.38. Many a time turned be away his anger; 2it is this word. When the Lord is angry, the turning of his face towards a man sheweth he is reconciled; and when he is angry, the not turning away of his face, shews that he is unreconciled, or resolved to continue angry. And while God is so resolved, man is in a sad case, his helpers must stoop, The strength of Israel will not lie or repent (1 Sam. 15.29.3) The Hebrew is, The victory of Israel, The Lords strength is victory; victorious persons can hardly ⟨p. 243⟩be overcome, but victory cannot; therefore except himself will with-draw, except himself overcome himself, it is not in the power of all creatures to overcome him (Job 23.13,) He is in one minde, and who can turn him? As if he had said, except the Lord will turn himself, and alter what he himself hath determined, it is not in men to cause him to alter, He is in one minde, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doth; which is the highest expression of power imaginable. How many things doe our souls desire which we cannot doe? We are desiring and desiring, yet our hands are not able to bring it to passe, The desires of the slothfull (alwaies) slay them, because (saith Solomon, Prov. 21.25.) their hands refuse to labour; and the desires of the diligent slay them, sometimes, because they cannot compasse the thing desired, with all their labour; but as for the Lord, What his soul desireth, even that he doth. And as his desires are irresistible, so is his anger, his irascible appetite is as victorious as his concupiscible, unlesse God withdraw his anger.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] Non revocabit nasum, non redibit à furere.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Non revocabit nasum, non redibit à furere.
- 2•vertit nasum suum, quasi se vinci permittat, & ab hu mil•ante see peccatore fugeret.•vertit nasum suum, quasi se vinci permittat, & ab hu mil•ante se peccatore fugeret.
- 3Ipsamet victo•ia vinci ne•cit.
