There is some spiritual compensation in the Lord's forbidding the wind to blow in one earth, when it strongly blows in another. Some deadened deserted ones are much meekened and made to speak out of the dust, and fed and fattened also with hunger; yea, if it were but lying at the gate of Christ and knocking, though no answer at all be returned, it hath much of Christ in it, in other considerations; deadness may be on, and want of holy vigorous acting of faith, and yet spiritual complainings; yea and with the complainings fervent praying, Psal. 119. 25. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. Ver. 28. My soul melteth for heaviness, strengthen me according to thy word. Ye would judge righteously of the Lord, and see whether or no ye complain without cause; for though there be fainting, yet there is hoping, Psal. 119. 81. My soul fainteth for thy salvation, but I hope in thy word. Some children are always malcontent and still weeping, nothing in the house can please them: its the fault of some greedy wretches, who have abundance, and yet still complain of want. It were good to turn our censuring of the Lord's providence into complaining of our own evil hearts, it follows humble and diligent obedience, that hath sweetness of submission, Psal. 119. 165. Great peace have they that keep thy Law and nothing shall offend; 1or (as the word is) stumble their feet There is a heart-covenanting with God, when the man saith, God shall do nothing that shall stumble me; his killing of me, his casting me out of his presence, into hell shall not offend me, Job 1. 22. 2 Sam. 16. 10. The man Christ could be broken or offended at nothing, whether the traitor sell him, or the disciples forsake him, or the Jews apprehend him, or the soldiers spit on his face, or Pilate condemn him, or the people nod the head, shoot out the lip, and mock him; there is nothing can break Christ, but the Scriptures must be fulfilled in Christ's sufferings. If the Lord slay Aaron's sons, Aaron holds his peace. Let me be rained upon with showers of influences from Heaven, or let my fleece be dry, and let me be a bottle in the smoke, yet there is no unrighteousness with God, and in him is no darkness. Ah, I am dead, but the ⟨p. 118⟩Lord guides well; ah he is a Lion to me, and a Leopard; but the Lord is good to the soul that waits for him.
There is some spiritual compensation in the Lord's forbidding the wind to blow in one earth, when it strongly blows in another. Some deadned deserted ones are much meekned and made to speak out of the dust, and fed and fatned also with hunger; yea, if it were but lying at the gate of Christ and knocking, though no answer at all be returned, it hath much of Christ in it, in other considerations; deadness may be on, and want of holy vigorous acting of faith, and yet spiritual complainings; yea and with the complainings fervent praying, Psal. 119. 25. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. Ver. 28. My soul melteth for heaviness, strengthen me according to thy word. Ye would judge righteously of the Lord, and see whether or no ye complain without cause; for though there be fainting, yet there is hoping, Psal. 119. 81. My soul fainteth for thy salvation, but I hope in thy word. Some children are always malecontent and still weeping, nothing in the house can please them: its the fault of some greedy wretches, who have abundance, and yet still complain of want. It were good to turn our censuring of the Lord's providence into complaining of our own evil hearts, it follows humble and diligent obedience, that hath sweetness of submission, Psal. 119. 165. Great peace have they that keep thy Law and nothing shall offend; 1or (as the word is) stumble their feet There is a heart-covenanting with God, when the man saith, God shall doe nothing that shall stumble me; his killing of me, his casting me out of his presence, into hell shall not offend me, Job 1. 22. 2 Sam. 16. 10. The man Christ could be broken or offended at nothing, whether the traytor sell him, or the disciples forsake him, or the Jews apprehend him, or the souldiers spit on his face, or Pilate condemn him, or the people nod the head, shoot out the lip, and mock him; there is nothing can break Christ, but the Scriptures must be fulfilled in Christ's sufferings. If the Lord slay Aaron's sons, Aaron holds his peace. Let me be rained upon with showres of influences from Heaven, or let my fleece be dry, and let me be a bottle in the smoke, yet there is no unrighteousness with God, and in him is no darkness. Ah, I am dead, but the ⟨p. 118⟩Lord guides well; ah he is a Lion to me, and a Leopard; but the Lord is good to the soul that waits for him.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] impegit offendit pede.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 impegit offendit pede.
