or courage that we may imagine to be in us that we may not think of standing upon our own legs for these will fail us And should fix our eye on this Father of Lights from whom every good gift must come and by faith depend upon Him and seek this from Him in prayer through faith We have encouragment now to go to God through Jesus to seek this gift because it is a gift and because it is a gift purchased by Christ. 5. And especially should this be our exercise when at any time we finde our heart like to fainte and our strength like to faill us and we are like to sinck Then should we double our â—…uites and renew our acts of Faith upon the ground of Christs Purchase and the Fathers Grace and Readiness to bestow what we need and cannot now want of His own Free Grace and good Will Lastly There is here a sure ground of great Comfort laid down and this is the plain scope of the words for the Apostle is comforting these Christians of the Church of Philippi against the Cross with this among others that to suffer for Christ's sake was a gift of God and a gift bestowed upon them through Jesus Christ So that there is here comfort against many Discouragments As 1. Against the thoughts of the greatness of the difficulty we are ready to cry out Oh we cannot wrestle thorow this Cross wherein are so many difficulties and each more insuperable than another But this may comfort us That there is a gift of God for it which will make all difficulties superable we of ourselves as of ourselves cannot wreastle thorow but this gift can enable and that there is nothing called for at our hands but what this gift will enable us to do this gift will bear all our Charges and keep our heads above when swiming thorow the most dangerous Seas 2. This may comfort against the thoughts of Rageing Strong and Cruel Adversaries for this gift will enable if it be given to Suffer we shall be helped to Suffer all their Rage and Cruelty and not fear or fainte 3. It may comfort us against the thoughts of our own weakness we are but like a reed shaken in the winde and cannot endure much Yet as when the gift of faith was given all our corruption and unbeleefe and all the Power of Satan could not hinder our closeing with Christ so when this Gift of Suffering is bestowed through Jesus Christ all our inward weakness and aversness shall not hinder our through-bearing We shall then go in the strength of that gift without wearying or fainting for we shall then be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might 4. It may Comfort against the apprehensions of our own sinfulness and great unworthiness whereby we may fear that He shall forsake us because of our provocations and not helpe us thorow For this being the gift of God and given in the behalfe of Christ we cannot think that it can be given for any worth in us What ever our sins be we may look to Him when we are called to bear witness to His Truth who is a great and a free Giver and have hope that He will make us Partakers of that free Gift in and through Christ. Beggars look for a free almes though they can plead nothing but poverty and want and are far from pleading their own worth and merites He gave us faith at first which we neither did nor could merite and why may He not also give us this gift when He calleth us to the duty 5. It may comfort against the faintings of others whom we apprehend to have been more able to ride thorow the storme than we are We are ready to say How can such as I am stand when the like of Peter fainted so foulely But this is comfortable that it is not any stock of Grace or inward Strength Resolution and natural Courage or the like that will carry thorow but the gift of God and without this gift of God the strongest will not stand and with it the weakest will be enabled to stand-out the trial And when God denieth this for a time unto strong Christians for His own Holy Ends He may give it to the weak and so carry them thorow that all may see it is His gift that doth the thing and nothing else 6. This may also comfort us against the thoughts of our unpreparedness to meet with the trial for the matter of our throw-bearing dependeth not upon our fitness and preparation for the Exercise but upon the Gift of God and this gift will be more glorious and excellent in their eyes who knowing themselves to have been very far out of case for such a trial were yet enabled by vertue of that gift to stand and to suffer for the sake of Christ. 7. So it may comfort against the sorrowful thoughts of their former Miscarriages Faintings and sinful Shunnings of a faithful Testimony which may readily cause such apprehend that the Lord will stand by them no more but forsake them as they did formerly forsake Him This I say may comfort them that it is a gift and a gift of God and a gift purchased by the bloud of Jesus by which they must be helped and what is of that nature may be given notwithstanding of all that hath past all Gods gifts being free and the more unworthy they be on whom they are bestowed the glory of free grace shineth forth the more and the worth and value of the Merites of Christ is more conspicuous CONSIDERATION XVI The Sufferings of Christs Servants are for the advantage of the Church WHen persecution ariseth especially against Christs eminent Servants and Followers then many are ready to draw strange Concâ—…usions in their own minde touching the Church and to think that the Church shall be utterly extirpated little considering the wonderful Workings of God who by that meane which to them threatneth ruine is bringing about the welfare and advantage of the Church to the Glory of His Power and Wisdom Whereas if it were beleeved that even by persecution raised against the Preachers and eminent Professours the Church should be no loser the thoughts of such a Dispensation could not cause much consternation In order to the speaking a few words unto this we would take notice of a few Instances which will confirme the truth thereof Act. 8 vers 1. It is said that at that time there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Ierusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the Regions of Iudea and Samaria except the Apostles that is all the Church-Officers were forced to flee after Stephen was stoned But did this any harme to the Church No but did tend rather to the furtherance of the Gospel for it is added vers 4. Therefore they that were scattered went every where preaching the word so that by this meanes the Gospel was spread throughout the Regions about and that more
the day of the most dismal and deep distresse whereby it is evident that the sweetest ferenitie of soul in the sadest most surprising of troubles is possible to him that beleeveth Thirdly That which doth commend Books and without an Epistle of of recommendation is an Epistle Commendatory sufficient makes all courting of the Reader to their perusal a superfluous complement an unprofitable waste of words yea a profuse expense of precious time is That what the Author writs be not onely upright and words of truth But that the truth treated of be pertinent to the present day the duty pressed be that which must be known that it may be practised when upon the real and right performance thereof depends in a particular manner more than the believers peace yea more than his soul and eternal happinesse can amount uuto Viz. the glorifying of God in the fires of fiery trials and the bringing up a good report upon his vvayes by a practical proof that there is a sufficiency of strength communicable whereby the weakest is made strong and a singularitie of sweetnesse experienced whereby a man otherwise of sorrows can sing in the wayes of the Lord even when his way lyes thorow fire water so that he who hath taken hold of the path of life needs neither faint in the way because of his own weaknesse there being everlasting armes underneath stronglie supporting nor yet turn aside out of it when there is a lyon in it neither wearie in going foreward through want of what is sweet and refreshing since there is a well spring of comfort insured unto the walker in these wayes so as in the greatest pinch and penurie of all outward things yea when put to the greatest pain he hath still everlasting consolation and can glory in tribulation and rejoyce not onely in the hope of the glory of God but sing as alreadie in the suburbs of heaven while under the shineings of his Masters face and the shedings abroad of his love in the heart And according to this rate and reckoning I may make bold to say the mater herein treated of is of that moment import present necessitie as to draw the eyes of all men towards it that their hearts may be cast into this mould and they put in case to practise accordingly for this was the happie Authors scope for this he wearied himself and was at this peece of pains amongst his other eminent singularly useful and assiduous labourings for the edification of the Church at home and abroad the care of all which lay upon him that thou mightest know how to finde ease safetie and refreshment when there seems nothing in thy life but sorrow and in thy cup but gall and wormewood In a word the Author hath written the first second part of the Life of Faith that the Reader may write the third part in his practise by making his life a transumpt of both in a day when most are making shipwrack of faith and a good conscience and many who once professed themselves Disciples are now turning back And Alas I am affraid it shall be observed and said of them they walked no more with him But for their turnings aside unto these croaked courses were led forth with the workers of iniquitie So that this is a word in season seeing besides the native and intrinsick beautie of truth that commends what is said to thy peruseal the adventitious beautie of seasonablenesse endears it to thee For he that writes it was a Preacher who sought to finde out acceptable words the tongue of the learned was given unto him For what he writs doth witnesse that his eare vvas vvakened to hear as the learned that so the might speak and vvrite as the learned But for a conclusion I must tell thee that the spiritually vvise and zealous Author vvas not only driven to treat of this subject because of the present pressurs of the poor remnant pressed out of measure and beyond strength though he had this also in prospect that so they might be quickened quieted encouraged and comforted under these crushing calamities and might be instructed hovv to glorifie God in this day of visitation and endure the vvorlds hatred and the vvorst that either enraged Adversaries or incensed friends can doe as seeing him vvho is invisible and as believing that all these shall vvork together for their good and as assured that they shall turn to their salvation through the intercession of the Mediator and the supplie of the Spirit of Jesus Christ But more particularly considering our vvay and our proceeding from evil to vvorse vvhat high affronts have been put upon our infinitly glorious Lord and Master hovv these have not only not been resented and vvitnessed against vvith a zeal a fervor of pure zeal proportioned to the furious fervidnesse and unhallovved heat of that opposition to Christ and hatred to the coming of his Kingdom in the World vvitnessed by the complex of the adversaries course and carriage But Alas to our shameful astonishing faint vvhen called to have been valiant for the truth and to have acquit ourselves as the good souldiers of Jesus Christ ambitious to have been sacrificed upon the Interest of our Royal Master's glorious Crovvn and Prerogative hath been added a drawing back Courses have been taken patronized and applauded partly in recto partly in obliquo And that by some vvhom least of all it became if I may say so from vvhose hand Christ might have exspected a heroick opposition to these hell-black driveings vvhereby a defection for in despite of all the palliatings and cunning plaisterings to hide this novv its manifest hath been and is novv carried on And there is no small rage vvitnessed against all vvho essay to discover our iniquitie to turn avvay our captivitie In a vvord vvhen he considered all the dispensations of God and took notice of the dispositions propensions of men not of the multitude but of Ministers and Professors even of these vvho vvould monopolize to themselves the repute of zealous according to knovvledge the onelie vvise men in the Church vvho knovv the times and vvhat the Israel of God ought to doe as if vvisdom vvere either to die vvith them or to live only with the persons of their principles and practises he fell under the apprehension and persuasion and who can escape it of a woful day coming upon the people of these practises however a great many have not only been puting far away the thoughts of this evil day but have been dreaming of a delivery ah how deep a delusion shall this be quickly found And therefore that the poor remnant who in some measure have escaped and have endeavoured to keep themselves pure frâ—…m the pollution of this defection may know what to doe and how to carry in that day of vengeance of our Godâ—… when he shall draw his wheted his glittering and furbished sword to avenge the quarrel of a
and Tenderness not being the Rule of our duty we must not think that we are never called to hazard on suffering untill we meet with some such Dispensation of his free grace Nor must we waite for some singular Intimation made by some more than ordinary light given to discover the Truth and the Importance thereof for owning of which we are exposed to suffering The Revelation of the Truth made by Jesus Christ in his Word is the only ground of our faith our faith thereunto is called for though we want such rare communications of Light bearing home the soul-captivaring perswasion of the Truth its concernments over all possiblity of doubting or hesitating in the least for these are not our Ground or Rule of faith but soveraigne and special helps to strengthen our faith and to fix us more upon our ground But the ground of our Suffering and that which we should look upon as a call from God to choose suffering is the Lord's command to owne and avow His Truth so that when the Lord in His Holy and Wise Providence ordereth matters so as that we must either suffer or sin in denying His word or any point of Truth revealed in his word and so either Suffer or forsake our Duty then are we to look upon our selves as called of God to choose suffering rather than sin When as it were Sin and Suffering are laid before us that we may make our choise and there is no third thing to demurre us nor any faire and lawful way to escape the suffering but by sinning then with Moses in that forecited place Heb. 11 2â—… We are to preferre Suffering before Sinning and that according to the will of God This deed of Moses in chusing rather to suffer a â—…tction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season was a rare Act of faith and consequently an act of obedience faith being no blind act but walking upon the ground of a command When then we can not evite suffering but by sinning in denying the Truth or in not adhering to it or not Professing of it according to the will of God we suffer for well doing This is it that is acceptable unto God and that to which we are called to wit That we take it patiently when we do well and suffer for it This is to endure grief suffering wrongfully for conscience towards God and which is thankworthie 1 Pet. 2. vers 19 20 21. Hence we see that it must be Truth and the Word of Christ that must be suffered for else we cannot be said to suffer for Conscience towards God nor for well doing If a Person be under the Power of an Erroneous Conscience taking that for Truth which is nothing but Errour his suffering in defence thereof and for adhering thereto is not suffering for well doing nor for conscience towards God nor have such any call from God to suffer upon that account and yet if for fear of suffering any such should deny that which they apprehended to be truth they should virtually deny the truth of God and sinne because they should deny that which they took to be the truth of God and if it had been â—…eally the truth of God they would have denied it no less than now they have done though they did mistakingly apprehend it to be the truth of God when it was not In this case there is no preventing of sin but by laving by the blinded and erroneous Conscience that is by laying aside the mistake and errour and receiving â—…ight Information concerning the Truth And therefore when a time of trial cometh and persecution ariseth upon the account of the Testimony of Jesus and of his Word all wâ—…o would be found faithful in that day of trial should labour to have the Word dwelling in them richly to be rooted and grounded in the Truth tobe receiving and drinking-in the Truthes of God and to have all grounded upon the infallible Word of Truth that what they owne and hold may be the sure and undoubted Truth of Jesus and so a part of his Testimony And for this Cause they would be living neer to Him who is the Truth that being taught of Him and receiving the Truth as it is in Jesus they may be in case to assert and owne the same upon all hazards and so fitted for witnessing to the Truth and for holding fast Christs Word and nothing else But some may say Though we know and beleeve the Truth that is opposed Yet we are not able to maintaine it against learned Adversaries nor to answere their contrary Arguments and Objections How can we suffer upon the account of such a piece of truth which we have not skill and understanding to defend against cunning Adversaries I Answ. Though it is true Men of great parts and abilities to plead and argue for truth would seem to have a great advantage in such a day of trial yet experience proveth that such as are far inferiour unto them as to parts and abilities will be helped to faithful witness-bearing to the Truth when they may shamfully decline that Duty Suffering is a peculiar gift doth not alwayes accompany the gift of learning And I doubt it be required of all Christians to be able to disput for the truth and to answere all the Sophismes of cunning Adversaries yet it is required of all that they contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints Iud. 3. and that they stand fast in the faith 1 Cor. 16 13. and in the Lord Phil. 4 v. 1. 1 Thes. 3 8. and hold fast Christs Name and the Word of his Patience and not deny his Faith and Name Revel 2 10 13 and 3 v. 8 10. and that they keep his Word Revel 3 8. It is the Duty of all to receive the Truth and the Love of the Truth and when the truth in its Love and Loveliness is received then it sincketh into the heart and such though they cannot Disput for the Truth yet can suffer for it and not deny it upon any termes Though they have but a little strength yet they will keep his Word as is spoken to the Commendation of the Church of Philadelphia Revel 3 v 8. Truth is Truth though we be not able to defend it against Sophisters and to stop the mouth of gaine-sayers and the Truth as it is in Jesus and as it is a part of his Testimonie who is the Truth should be owned and maintained by suffering The Primitive Christians who suffered martyrdom for the Truth were not all able to answere the Cavils and Sophismes of a Celsus and a Porphyrie and others who imployed their learning and parts against the Truth yet having received the love of the truth and embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ no sufferings nor torments could move them to a forsaking or denying of the same They did keep Christs word and would not deny his Name But may some say what
Iob said the Lord hath given and taken blessed be His name 3. We finde them following their duty notwithstanding of all the trouble and calamity which they did meet with Paul notwithstanding of all that befel him went on and minded his work when he was persecuted in one place he went to another and there preached the Gospel And in this we should follow them for for this end are these things left on record 4. We finde them so far from fretting and repineing at the Lord's Dispensations with them in suffering wicked instruments to afflict them and persecute them for righteousness that they therein rejoice as the Apostles did Act. 5. vers 41. And Paul glorified in these his infirmities 2 Cor. 12. And it is commendable to follow them here 5. We finde them likewise notwithstanding of all their Sufferings standing fast in the faith adhereing to their principles refusing deliverance upon any sinful or base termes Heb. 11. vers 35. Others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtean a better resurrection And it were good if we were considering them to this end that in this we might follow their footsteps 6. We finde them acting faith on God in the mean time Heman Psal. 88. was in a very sad case yet for all that was come upon him he would not quite his interest in God but beginneth that sad Psalm thus O Lord God of my salvation So did Iob likewise act faith on God Chap. 19. 7. We finde them exercising Hop for as desperat-like as their case would seem to be as David Psal. 38. the beginning whereof sheweth that his case was then very sad yet V. 15 he crieth out In the Lord do I hope 8. We finde them taking with their iniquity whereby they provoked God to deal so with them or desireous to understand what is the ground of God's controversie so the Church Mica 7. vers 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him See likewise Lam. 3. vers 39 42. And Iob said Chap. 10. ver 2. I will say unto God do not condemne me shew me wherefore thou contendest with me If we were thus taking notice of the commendable deportment of other worthies when they were in Afflictions to the provoking of our selves unto the like carriage we would finde it a more profitable exercise than to be in our mindes aggravating our lot beyond the lot of those before us and imagining that God dealeth worse with us than He hath done with others before us CONSIDERATION XV. Suffering Christianly is a special gift of God MAny look upon Suffering for the Name of Christ with an evil eye and with prejudice and because of the misapprehensions they have of it they cannot complye with it whereas a right view of it would make it less terrible yea more lovely and desireable The Apostle writting to the Philippians Chap. 1. vers 29. giveth them ground to think well of the cross of Christ when he said for unto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ not only to beleeve on Him but also to suffer for His sake He had been exhorting them in the foregoing Verses that they would stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel and in nothing be terrified by their adversaries and after he had told them that the opposition of the adversaries was an evident token to them of Perdition that their own standing withstanding was an evident token to themselves of Salvation and that of God He subjoineth this ground of encouragment that it was granted unto them as a special favour and that in the behalfe of Christ not only to beleeve on Him but also to suffer for His sake In which words these Three Particulars are chiefly considerable in order to our present designe 1. That suffering for the sake of Christ is a special gift of God and not a thing that meer natural Strength and Courage can reach 2. That it is a gift purchased by Christ and given on His behalfe or for His sake and not for any thing in us 3. That it is a gift in some respect beyond that excellent gift of faith But before I speak particularly to these points I shall premit these three things considerable 1. Though to bear any crosse or crossing dispensation outward or inward in a christian acceptable manner be beyond the power of nature and natures strength and is the pure gift of God yet here we are mainely to speak of that Trouble Afflictions and Crosses which the followers of Christ are put to suffer by wicked Men and for avowing of His truth and Interest of what measure or degree so ever it be for this is that which is here understood and whereof the Apostle is speaking as the forgoing and following Verses cleare 2. Nor do we hereby understand every Trouble that wicked persons create unto the Godly though unto a Christian deportment in such a case the special grace and gift of God be required but of that which is properly for the Name of Christ for adhereing to His truth and cause for of this doth the Apostle speak when he mentioneth suffering for Christs sake 3. Nor do we speak of Suffering here simply considered but of suffering accompained with its Christian Concomitants or of Suffering in a Christian humble self denied handsome and cleanly manner this being the Suffering which is to be called the gift of God and not that which may be undergone upon a carnal account and may flow from a carnal Principle and be intended foâ—… some carnal end Having premised these things we come to speak to the first point and shew That suffering in a Christian manner for the Name of Christ is the meer gift of God and beyond the reach of all natural Strength and Courage Which will be sufficiently clear if we but take a view of such particulars as are requisite unto a Christian way of suffering for Christs sake some only of which we shall content ourselves here to name as 1. To the end that one suffer as a Christian for the sake of Christ it is requisite that he be a Christian indeed a beleever in Christ indeed for a man in nature can act nothing as a Christian as wanting the divine principle of all Christian Actions This is imported in the Text now before us where the gift of faith in Christ is supposed as existent before the gift of suffering Now it is beyond all debate with the orthodox that to beleeve in Christ and to become a Christian indeed is beyond the reach of nature and the same Text here evinceth faith to be given of God so also is it expresly said to be the gift of God and not of ourselves Ephes. 2. 8. And therefore this Christian suffering for the sake of Christ must be the special gift of God 2. Unto suffering Christianly it is requisite not only that the sufferer be aBeleever but also that
sometimes wise and great Politicians Statsmen and Leaders of Armies carry on their designes in such a way as ordinary onlookers shall not understand what the matter meaneth nor what is intended by what they see done with their eyes And the more they carry on their work with success in the dark and hid from the observation of ordinary spectators the more do they discover their great wit and give proof of their dexterity in the managment of affairs of greatest consequence and such under-ground workings and stratagems carry on them a special piece of Beauty and Glory Thus our Lord thinketh good sometimes to work and while working not let every one see what he is doing but carry on his business much out of sight and under ground and by Holy and Majestick Stratagems so as not only enemies shall be ignorant of what He is doing or about to do but many even of his owne followers and friends shall be in the dark So that the observation of Iob. Chap. 23 8 9. is oft times found to be true Behold I go forward but he is not there and backward but I cannot perceive him on the left hand where he doth work but I cannot behold him he hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot perceive him As also of the Psalmist Psal. 77 vers 19. Thy way is in the Sea and thy path in the great waters and thy footsteps are not known As all the wayes and footsteps of the Lord are full of Majesty and of hid and unseen Glory and therefore must be sought out of all that take pleasure therein Psal. III vers 2. so that in all of them the Lord is like Himself acteth like Himself and every piece of them discover to a spiritual observer the Finger of God So there are some special pieces of work which are more signal and remarkable and wherein the Lords gloriously-working hand is less obvious and even these works upon that very account are in a special manner Glorious and Majestick and of such is the truth in hand to be understood wherein the Lords footsteps are not seen nor known nor observable by every one for further clearing of which point of truth concerning the Lord's thinking good to work and yet to hide Himself so as it shall not be observed by every one that He is indeed working we shall mentione some few of these special Works of God that are thus covered with a cloud of Majesty that every one cannot understand the Reasons of State why such and such things are done or suffered to be done nor see the connexion betwixt these Actings and the intended Designe As 1. When there is not only a seen and palpable disproportion betwixt the meanes taken and followed and the end projected or intended and an obvious unsutableness of the meanes used unto the designe to be carried on by them But the Work of the Lord seemeth to Onlookers to Crosse and Counter-work the intended end How oft is it seen that the Works of Gods Providence seem not to run in a subserviency to the bringing effectually about of the Promises but rather to turn head upon them and to threaten the utter annulling of them and rendering of them void and of no credite When the present Dispensations of providence are considered and compared with the great things concerning the Kingdom of Christ promised who can see what rational correspondence they keep can observe them smiling one upon another as fit meanes and the end would do Nay who would not say that these Dispensations do rather drive on a direct designe to defeate the Promises who would consult with humane Reason Is not this then a special piece of the Lord's Work wherein He hideth himself and thinketh good to cloath himself with State and Majesty that every one may not be able to prye into the Depths of his Insinite Wisdom nor see how all things are laid and joynted together with firme bands and ligaments that cannot be broken or dissolved and so have a certaine connexion with the intended and promised good When Moses was sent to deliver the People of Israel out of Aegypt and to tell them good newes that the Lord had visited them and looked upon their Affliction and would now rescue and deliver them from their bondage and slavery Exod. 4 v. 30 31. the Dispensation that immediatly followed upon the neck of that seemed to keep no good correspondence therewith when their yoke was made heavier and their bondage more grievous and their slavery and hard work doubled by the People of Israel their being constrained to seek straw for themselves without diminishing the tale of their bricks and they hereupon who formerly believed the Word of God by Moses and bowed down and worshiped when they heard the same now made to say unto Moses and Aaron Exod. 5 v. 21. The Lord look upon you and judge because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his Servants to put a Sword in their hand to slay us Yet herein was a piece of that Stately Working of God which is full of Majesty which the People could not see and which Moses himself could not well take up as his words to God Vers. 22 23. evidence where he saith Lord Wherefore hast thou so evil intreated this People Why is it that thou hast sent me For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy Name he hath done evil to this People neither hast thou delivered thy people at all 2. When the Dispensations of God are such as even those whom they most concerne who have greatest interest in them and are most called therefore to understand them do not know what to say of them nor what construction to put upon them nor what to gather out of them not only in particular but even as to a more general matter that is they shall not know whether they speak-out Mercy or Anger in God towards them This must be a singular piece of God's hiding himself and covering himself with a cloud that no distinct judgment can be made of what He is doing Such was that Dispensation which Sampsons Father met with He and his Wife could not agree in their judgment as to what they saw Iudg. 13. Manaoh said Vers. 22. We shall surly die because we have seen God But his Wife on the contrary said Vers. 23. If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have received a Burnt offering and a Meat-offering at our hands neither would he have shewed us all these things nor would he at this time have told ut such things as these So as to that strange and unusual Dispensation which holy Iob did meet with he did not know what the mind of the Lord was nor what he was intending and driving-at thereby therefore he resolveth Chap. 10 Vers. 2. to say unto God Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me which sheweth that he was utterly ignorant