An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Thirdly, We then magnify the works of God, when we freely submit to God in them, as just and righteous, when we accept and take them kindly at his hand, not only when they are outward kindnesses, but crosses. All the great words and rhetoric we can bestow upon the works of God will not magnify them, unless we freely submit to them as just and righteous. They that would magnify the works of God, must say, Judgment and righteousness are the habitation of his throne, while they can see nothing but Clouds and darkness round about him (Psal. 97.2.) I (saith the Psalmist) am in the dark about all that God is doing at this day, yet of this I am as confident as confidence it self, Judgment and Righteousness are the habitation of his throne; I know God doth nothing amiss, no not in the least. Thus John in the Revelation (Chap. 15.3.) saw them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over, his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, and they (saith he) sing the Song of Moses. &c. saying, great and marvellous are thy works, just and true are thy ways. The works of God in Judgment upon Babylon, are full of justice, and we magnify them by proclaiming and crying them up as just; yea, the work of God in judgment upon Zion, is exceedingly magnified, when Zion submits to it, and embraceth it as just and righteous. It was the great sin of the house of Israel, when they said (Ezek. 18 25.) The ways of God are not equal. As if they had said, are these the Lords equal dealings, that we his People should be given up to the hand of the enemy, and suffer such things as these? ⟨p. 336⟩yea, the house of Israel must say, all the works of God, not only his exalting works, but his humbling works, are equal, just and righteous, for we have sinned. This is to magnify the work of God.

Thirdly, We then magnifie the works of God, when we freely submit to God in them, as just and righteous, when we accept and take them kindly at his hand, not only when they are outward kindnesses, but crosses. All the great words and rhetorick we can bestow upon the works of God will not magnifie them, unless we freely submit to them as just and righteous. They that would magnifie the works of God, must say, Judgment and righteousness are the habitation of his throne, while they can see nothing but Clouds and darkness round about him (