the Almighty k&. g For what I am ſaying, without ſerious confideration. þ Heb. bleſſeaneſſis (i. e various and great happineſs, as the plural Number implies) beleng to that Mar whom God rebukes, to wit, with ſtrokes, Ch. 33: 16, 19, Thoſe «Mi. Qions are ſo far frommaking thee miſerable,as thou complaineſt, that they are,and will be,if rhou doſt thy Duty, the means ofthy Happi- neſs : Which though a Paradox to the World,is frequently affirmed in holy Scripture ; and the reaſon of itis plain, becauſe they are pledges of Gods love, which no m2N can buy too dear ; and though victes, yer neceſſary Phifick to purge out that fin which is deeply fixed in all Mens Natures, and thereby to prevent far greater, evers infiaite and eternal Viſeries. Without reſpe& to which this Pro- poſition could not be true or tolerable. And therefore is plainly ſh-ws, that good Men in thoſe ancient times of the Old Tetament, had the proſpe&, and belief, and hope of Everlaſting Bleſſedneſs in Heaven after this life.? i. e. Do nor abhor it as a thing pernicious and intolerable,nor refuſe it as a thing uſeleſsand unprofitable, nor {light it as a mean and unneccflary thing; but on the contrary, prize c highly,as a favour and vou-:hſafement of God ; for ſuch negative -xprefſions oft imply the contrary, as 1 Theſ. 52 20: 1 Tim. q: 12:
Jee Prov. 10. 2: & 17: 21; k Or, of rhe all-(uffciert God, who is
able to ſupport and comfort thee in thytroubles,and to deliver thee
,ut of them, and tro add more calamities to them, if thou art obſti-
"ate and incorrigible,
woundeth, and his hands make whole, I Towir, the Wounds, as good Surgeons uſe to do when they have drefled them, in order to their healing-Comp.P/al. 147: 3: Exek:
+D4 he
11 * To ſet up on high thoſe that be low q; that *:Sam:2-7 |
Pſal:113 7
'9 Theſe words contain either 1: A Declaration of Gedsend in giving Rain, which is to enrich thoſe who were poor, or mourning ior the drought, by ſending Rain, and making their Lands fruirſul:
4
Ne: 4:15: ſfal:3 3:10 IfA:;8.10:
PFe- | Or,canmot
perform as ny things
* 1 Cor: 3? 19:
; opinion of the World, he not only deceiverh in their hopes and contigs
* Deut:28 29:
Ch: 12: 253 Amos 8:9 [or ,runinte
EET, - * Pal. 107 16 * So the Poor hath hope 4, and iniquity e ſtop- 42:
Pro.3 122
eth þ ; therefore defpile not thou # the chaſtening of Heb-12-5: Jam: 1:12:
though moſt true, will not be believed Rev: 3:192 |
"18 * For he maketh ſore, and bindeth up] : he *Deut 32:
I Sam: 2:6. Iſa: 30:26:
34+ The Senſe is, Though he hath ſeen it fir to wound thee, yer Hol. 6:1;
l ( k ji
Pſ: 912 3:
Heb fom che 4anas
| Or, when the tongue courgeth.
Ez<s:34+
25; Hoſ;2:18:
* Pſal: 91: 13:
hip, F
Pro 24. 16;
* Tfa:11:9: & 35: 9:& G :.- 25:
{] Or,,nuch:
he will not always grieve thee, but will in due time releaſe thee from
all thy Miſeries. T herefore diſpair nor. ' 19 * He ſhall deliver thee» in fix » troubles ; Yea,
in ſeven there ſhal no evil couch thee 0. |
m To wir, if thou ſeekeſt ro him by Prayer and Repentance zz. e. Manifold or repeated ; as Six is ufed for many, Prov. 6:16: 0 To wir,ſo as to undo or deſtroy thee, as zouching is uſed, Foſ. 9; 19. Heb. T1;28, 1 John 5+ 18. See allo Gen: 26: 11. 29. 2 Sam. 14 10. P/al, 195: 15: Zech 2: 8. Thou ſhait have a good iſſue our of all thy troubles, though they are both great and many.
20 In famine p he ſhall redeem thee from death
q, and in war © from the power of the Sword 7.
p Which Job mighr be thought to far, as being ſo poor that he needed his Friends Contributions for kis relief. q brom that terrible kind of dearh. r Theſe tiings he utcers wita more confidence, partly becauſe the rewards or puniſhments of this life were more conftantly diſtributed to Men in the Q/ Teſtament according to their god cr bad behaviour than now they are: And partly, becaule it was his particular Opinion, That great AffM:Cions were the conſtant fruits and cer:ain evidences of a Man's wickedneſs ; and conſequent- ly that great Mercies and Deliverances ſhould infallibly follow upor true R-pentance and Godlineſs.
21 Thou tball be hid « || from the ſcourge of the rongue, 7 neither ſhalt chou be afraid «of deſtruction
when it cometh x. 7
s 5, e, ProtzQed as in ſome ſecret and ſafe place. 7 i.e. From falſe accuſations and virulent flanders and reproaches, either by d1- verting their Tongues to other perſoasor things ; Or, by clearing thy integrity. # Taou ſhalt bave no cauſeto fear it, becauſe God will ſecure thee in itand from it» x To wit, upon orhers,near thee, or round about thee.
22 At deitiuction and famine thou ſhalt laugh y: *neither ſhale thou be afraid of the beaſts y of the earth,
3 Thou ſhilt nor onely be redeemed from famme. verſe 20. and not fear deflrution, wer, 21: but thou ſhalt laugh at them, not with a l:.ughter of icorn and contempr, as rhis word is uſed, Ch, 38: 18. Pjal. 2: 4: & 37: 13-(for God's judgments are to be entertained with reverence and gooly fear) but with a laughter of joy and triumph, ariſing from his juſt ſecurity and confidence in God's watchful and gracious Provide:ice which will either ke2p him from it,or int, or do him much good by it. » 5.e. The wild beaſts which werenume- rouMnd miſchievous in thoſe parts. See Deur. 28: 26; 1 Sam. 17. 34:
3 2 For thou ſhalt be in league with the ſtones ofthe
field z. And the beaſts of the field a ſhall be at peace
with thee.
z Thou ſha!t be free from any annoyance by Stones,either in thy walking, or other poſtures, or in thy Plowing, as if they had mane an inviolable league with thee. Stones may be, and in theſe ſtony Countries were, hurrful to Men many ways ; either by bruſing or hurting their fzet, when they walked barefoor, as the manner then was; or,by giving them occaſion of ſtumbling, or ſlipping, and fa]. ling ; Or by falling npoa a Man from a Rock, or higher ground, as
ſometimes ir hath happened : Or filling his grounds, fo as to hinder