One place where the Israelites pitched in their passage to Canaan, was called Jothatha, from Jatab and Batha, a pleasant Wilderness, or delectable Desert. A Christian hath many such stations in his travails to the Heavenly Canaan; When he is ⟨p. 360⟩in a Wilderness alone, out of the noise of Pharaohs Court, and free from the clamours, and complainings of Gods Israel, by reason of Egyptian Task-masters; he hath the Pillar, the extraordinary presence of his God, which abundantly satisfieth and rejoiceth his soul. The highest Princes sometimes give their largest gifts to their favourites in private, to prevent that envy which public notice or knowledge of them might occasion. Some Saints give their largest alms in secret, that their left hand scarce knoweth what their right hand doth; The great and holy God sendeth many a rich present, giveth many a large alms to his indigent friends when there is none by, to witness his bounty and charity. In the dead time of the night, when deep sleep seizeth on men, the earth receiveth many pleasant refreshing showers; The Children of God have many costly Collations, and much curious Music, when no eye but their own seeth or tasteth the former, and no ear save theirs heareth the latter. The Prophet Hosea represents God thus, speaking of his people, Behold I will allure her, and bring her into the Wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her, Hos. 2. 14. Gods method is marvellous, he brings his Church into a Wilderness, and then turns it into a Canaan, causing it to flow with Milk and Honey. By Wilderness some understand a sorrowful, and others a solitary condition; but then God appears to her, the God of all consolation, for he speaks comfortably to her. He that chid her when she was in the crowd of the world, saying as they said, and doing as they did; when he hath her ⟨p. 361⟩alone, reflecting upon her sins, and recollecting her self, will speak friendly and comfortably to her; In the Hebrew it is, I will speak to her heart; and surely his powerful satable speech will banish all her heaviness.
One place where the Israelites pitched in their passage to Canaan, was called Iothatha, from Iatab and Batha, a pleasant Wilderness, or delectable Desart. A Christian hath many such stations in his travails to the Heavenly Canaan; When he is ⟨p. 360⟩in a Wilderness alone, out of the noise of Pharoahs Court, and free from the clamours, and complainings of Gods Israel, by reason of Epyptian Task-masters; he hath the Pillar, the extraordinary presence of his God, which abundantly satisfieth and rejoyceth his soul. The highest Princes sometimes give their largest gifts to their favourites in private, to prevent that envy which publique notice or knowledge of them might occasion. Some Saints give their largest almes in secret, that their left hand scarce knoweth what their right hand doth; The great and holy God sendeth many a rich present, giveth many a large almes to his indigent friends when there is none by, to witness his bounty and charity. In the dead time of the night, when deep sleep seiseth on men, the earth receiveth many pleasant refreshing showres; The Children of God have many costly Collations, and much curious Musick, when no eye but their own seeth or tasteth the former, and no ear save theirs heareth the latter. The Prophet Hosea represents God thus, speaking of his people, Behold I will allure her, and bring her into the Wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her, Hos. 2. 14. Gods method is marvellous, he brings his Church into a Wilderness, and then turns it into a Canaan, causing it to flow with Milk and Honey. By Wilderness some understand a sorrowful, and others a solitary condition; but then God appears to her, the God of all consolation, for he speaks comfortably to her. He that chid her when she was in the crowd of the world, saying as they said, and doing as they did; when he hath her ⟨p. 361⟩alone, reflecting upon her sins, and recollecting her self, will speak friendly and comfortably to her; In the Hebrew it is, I will speak to her heart; and surely his powerful satable speech will banish all her heaviness.
