That is, he can make a young or a healthy man weak as an old man, and an old or sickly man strong as a young man; and as it is with natural, so with political bodies, as with persons, so with nations. A nation that is flourishing in its youth, heat, strength and glory, rich and full of peace and plenty, God can bring an oldness upon it, and cause it to decline every day. The Prophet spake of the state of Israel in this notion (Hos: 7.9.) Grey hairs are here and there upon them, and they perceive it not; they thought themselves to be in a very youthful flourishing condition (as a state) but the Lord brought grey hairs, that is, they were decaying, withering, weakening, and became a decrepit nation; And when a nation is grey-haired, old and withered, he can make it youthful, he can recover the honour and power of it, and cause the dread of it to fall upon the neighbouring nations round about. He turns a land into a wilderness, which before was as the Garden of God; And he can change that land into a Garden of God which now is a desolate wilderness. The unchangeable Lord is visible and glorious in all these changes. The health and strength both of the body politic and natural are at his dispose. He can bring a decay upon what is built, and repair what is decayed, whether in nations or persons. When the earthly house of this Tabernacle is ready to drop down into the grave, and crumble into dust, God by a word speaking, repaireth it to as much beauty and strength, as when, the first stone being laid, the top-stone was set up. When Naaman had once submitted to and obeyed the Prophets counsel, which at first he despised, & washed in Jordan, His flesh (saith the text, 2 Kings 5.14.) came again ⟨p. 419⟩like unto the flesh of a little child. The holy Psalmist charged his own soul to praise the Lord, and all that was within him to bless his holy name (Psal: 103.1, 5.) Who had satisfied his mouth with good things, so that his youth was renewed as the Eagle. This renovation of his youth may be understood three ways; First, as to his natural state, or bodily strength. Secondly, as to his civill state or worldly successes, as to his honour and kingly renown. Thirdly, as to his spiritual state, or the heightening of his gifts, graces, and comforts.
That is, he can make a young or a healthy man weake as an old man, and an old or sickly man strong as a young man; and as it is with naturall, so with politicall bodyes, as with persons, so with nations. A nation that is flourishing in its youth, heate, strength and glory, rich and full of peace and plenty, God can bring an oldness upon it, and cause it to decline every day. The Prophet spake of the state of Israel in this notion (Hos: 7.9.) Gray haires are here and there upon them, and they perceive it not; they thought ttemselves to be in a very youthfull flourishing condition (as a state) but the Lord brought gray haires, that is, they were decaying, withering, weakning, and became a decrepid nation; And when a nation is gray-hayred, old and withered, he can make it youthfull, he can recover the honour and power of it, and cause the dread of it to fall upon the neighbouring nations round about. He turnes a land into a wilderness, which before was as the Garden of God; And he can change that land into a Garden of God which now is a desolate wildernes. The unchangeable Lord is visible and glorious in all these changes. The health and strength both of the body politick and naturall are at his dispose. He can bring a decay upon what is built, and repaire what is decayed, whether in nations or persons. When the earthly house of this Tabernacle is ready to drop downe into the grave, and crumble into dust, God by a word speaking, repayreth it to as much beauty and strength, as when, the first stone being layd, the top-stone was set up. When Naaman had once submitted to and obeyed the Prophets counsell, which at first he despised, & washed in Jorden, His flesh (saith the text, 2 Kings 5.14.) came againe ⟨p. 419⟩like unto the flesh of a little childe. The holy Psalmist charged his owne soule to praise the Lord, and all that was within him to blesse his holy name (Psal: 103.1, 5.) Who had satisfied his mouth with good things, so that his youth was renewed as the Eagle. This renovation of his youth may be understood three wayes; First, as to his naturall state, or bodyly strength. Secondly, as to his civill state or worldly successes, as to his honour and kingly renowne. Thirdly, as to his spirituall state, or the hightning of his gifts, graces, and comforts.
