First, Here are several Inferences from this Text; see the infinite goodness of God towards his people in all cases that fall out in this world, whether affliction or desertion. Oh the goodness of God! the Lord doth chequer his work; he intermixes some Stars to give light: As the Limner mingles bright colours with dark shadows. The condition of Gods people on Earth is never so dark, but they may see a Rain-bow in the cloud of Providence. Take that one Scripture to verify this, Psal. 138.7. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me. Every step I take I tread upon thorns, I walk in the midst of trouble. Joseph, he was in prison, there was darkness; but the Text saith, The Lord was with Joseph; there was light did arise, Gen. 39.21. Jacob had the hollow of his thigh put out of joint, there was darkness; but at that very time he ⟨p. 140⟩saw Gods face, a dark glimmering of God, and the Lord blest him; there was light risen in darkness, Gen. 32.25. Job, that had lost all that ever he had, struck with boils and soars, here was a dark providence; yea but hereby Jobs grace was perfected and improved, and God gave him an honourable testimony, that he was upright, and gave him double Estate to what he had before; here was light arisen to Job in the clouds of darkness, Job 42.10. Thus God doth mix light with his peoples darkness. As in the Ark, there was Manna laid up with the Rod: So it is in Gods providence towards his people; with the Rod of affliction, there's some Manna, some Light, some Comfort that God causes to spring up. Manna with the Rod, oh the goodness of God! in the darkest night that is, he keeps alive some spark of light amongst his people. That's the first.
First, Here are several Inferences from this Text; see the infinite goodness of God towards his people in all cases that fall out in this world, whether affliction or desertion. Oh the goodness of God! the Lord doth chequer his work; he intermixes some Stars to give light: As the Limner mingles bright colours with dark shadows. The condition of Gods people on Earth is never so dark, but they may see a Rain-bow in the cloud of Providence. Take that one Scripture to verifie this, Psal. 138.7. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me. Every step I take I tread upon thorns, I walk in the midst of trouble. Ioseph, he was in prison, there was darkness; but the Text saith, The Lord was with Ioseph; there was light did arise, Gen. 39.21. Iacob had the hollow of his thigh put out of joint, there was darkness; but at that very time he ⟨p. 140⟩saw Gods face, a dark glimmering of God, and the Lord blest him; there was light risen in darkness, Gen. 32.25. Iob, that had lost all that ever he had, struck with boyls and soars, here was a dark providence; yea but hereby Iobs grace was perfected and improved, and God gave him an honourable testimony, that he was upright, and gave him double Estate to what he had before; here was light arisen to Iob in the clouds of darkness, Iob 42.10. Thus God doth mix light with his peoples darkness. As in the Ark, there was Manna laid up with the Rod: So it is in Gods providence towards his people; with the Rod of affliction, there's some Manna, some Light, some Comfort that God causes to spring up. Manna with the Rod, oh the goodness of God! in the darkest night that is, he keeps alive some spark of light amongst his people. That's the first.
