Patience and its perfect work under sudden & sore trialsPatience and its perfect work under sudden & sore tryals

1. He adores God in his Sovereignty, both in his falling down, as also in those words, The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken. He is Lord (says he) the Lord of all: All was his own; and shall he not do what he will with his own? as 10 Mat. 15. I am the Clay, he is the Potter: He is the Lord of me, and all. Job had prayed for his Sons (as we did for the City) so far as he had then in his view, what might then concern them: but for all his good prayers for them, God took them away, by a violent death; and herein God seemeth angry with his prayers (as with ours for the City) yet Job begins to worship him afresh, and adores him after all: And 'twas the first thing he applied himself unto. (Faith and Patience, will cause the heart to apply it self to God in all sorts of dealings, and will vent and utter gracious ⟨p. 105⟩dispositions, some way or other.) And to adore God (which was most suitable to this condition he was in) is an higher act then to pray, simply considered, though it be done, mostly in prayer. And as thus at first, so he retained this practise and Principle, all along, although he did grow very unquiet, when his Sins, and Gods wrath came in upon him. Yet however impatient he otherwise were, he still afterwards continued in this manner to adore, and fall down afore God at times. Thus in Chap. 23. 11, 12. You shall see how this poor man falls down before God, and submits to him. He first professeth his integrity, at v. 10. And his Faith, as to the issue of his Trials, that all would be for good. He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as Gold. My foot hath held his steps, &c. As if he ⟨p. 106⟩had said: But yet for all my holy walking with him, his resolution and design upon me, thus to tri• me, went on: And all my prayers aforehand could not turn him therefrom, as follows v. 13, 14. But he is of one mind, and who can turn him? And what his Soul desireth even that he doth, for he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: (What is my Lot from him, (as this was) I must take it, and submit to it: And Many such things are with him: Many such strange and wonderful unusual dealings are with him, and we must magnify him in all. It is Gods Sovereignty, you see, which he here adores and falls down afore.