An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

When the horse finds it is the battle indeed, then he rejoiceth ⟨p. 460⟩greatly. Men often break out into such exclamations, when having been long doubtful of a thing, and fearful how it might issue, they at last see its issue answering the utmost of their wishes and expectations (Psal. 40.15.) Let them (saith David) be desolate for a reward of their shame, that say, Ah, ha, Ah, ha; that is, let them be rewarded with desolation, for their shameful doings, in saying, Ah, ha, Ah, ha, because they see me cast down. To say, Ah, ha, at what is done, is as much as to say, it pleaseth us well, it gives us high content. Thus also they cried out (Psal. 35.21.) Ah, ha, our eyes have seen it. As the vision we shall have in heaven, is faith perfected in the highest assurance imaginable; so in any case in this world, what of our desires our eyes see, we take high content in. It is comfortable when we have some hope of what we desire; but when we once see it, then we cry Ah, ha, if what our eyes see, be to us as theirs was to them in the same Psalm, where they are again brought in saying, Ah, ha, so would we have it (ver. 25.) now it is as it should be; we have been looking for such a day a long time, but now it is come; Ah, ha, Ah, ha, So would we have it. And consider it either in natural or spiritual things; there is a time as to spiritual things, when we do not believe the silver trumpet of the Gospel sounds mercy to us, that sin is pardoned, that God is gracious; but when once there is a convincing sufficiency of the trumpets sound, when once our unbelief is fully overcome, and our hearts wound up to assurance, then the soul is in its triumph, and cries out (as the horse, when he perceives the desired battle approacheth) Ah, ha, Ah, ha.

When the horse finds it is the battel indeed, then he rejoyceth ⟨p. 460⟩greatly. Men often break out into such exclamations, when having been long doubtful of a thing, and fearful how it might issue, they at last see its issue answering the utmost of their wishes and expectations (Psal. 40.15.) Let them (saith David) be desolate for a reward of their shame, that say, Ah, ha, Ah, ha; that is, let them be rewarded with desolation, for their shameful doings, in saying, Ah, ha, Ah, ha, because they see me cast down. To say, Ah, ha, at what is done, is as much as to say, it pleaseth us well, it gives us high content. Thus also they cryed out (