494 C114.i. The words expounded: Corn. 9, What is The words nova refpondebis, thou fhalt not anfwer mutt be underflood according irteanthy Non the Hebrewphrafe; in which,to anfwer is (to fpeak) whether there be any th,fie debis, ueflion askedor no.So the Evangel often begin a Rory, ?elite veered j rft words. q $ $ Y s ` f f siaceh.11.5, andfaid,though no man fpake to him,nor demanded any thing ofhim. So that by anfwering is not meant only,fpeaking the truth when it is demanded, but alto to peak truth whenfoever we fpeak,thoughno queftion be asked of us. For the He- brew'word 13v figniheth generally tofpeak orutter tires mind, and therefore we find it ufed to exprefs tinging, as in Exod.32.1S. where Mofes faithhe heard vi- cemcantantium,the voice of them that fang, where the fame word is ufcd,fo that it lign'ites to fpeak, either by wayof quetlion, or anfwer, or otherwife. etano.. et the Although it be true, the word 1) mayfgnifiegenerally to (peak,and fa is oftenree- meanin,gofthe dredbyos,,w,liitw, rgAia,hbos, andfometimesbyórtoe igloo refpondco; and though ail wordrl3il contained under thegeneralf:gnification maybe reduced hither, yet it is more proabie.chat refpondere. literally and properly in this place the word is ftritTtly taken far anfwering, becaufe the cuftome was amongthe 7ews , that the yesdges did adjure the witneffes, by the name of God to fpeak.the truth, to which the Witneffes madeanfwer ? and therefore whereas we Levit, 5.t, read,Levit.S.a.If a foul fin and hear the voice of fwearing,andbe a Witnefs,&c. The Hebrew is r17ÿ 'nP r1UaVl1which is rewiredby theGreek xj áxáan gmy Uú ópc+7 hear the voice ofone adjuring &c. as referring to the adjuratisnofthe 7adge, to which theWitnefs was to anfwer. So alfo perfoddar fuch as were accufed, were wont i,yJCe.you, tobe adjured, as wefee in the example of Achan adjuredbyJothua, and ofour Saviour adjuredby the High Prieff. Theform of faith adjuration was ,So disev nj Jofy t9 .yep, Give glory to God, as in that place of jothuaandJohn 9.24. orin other words March. z6.63. equivalent, as óp d o oa, 7 - os¢Aions n'pii :4th ,Lsí.ynar cr in4ssols nopla, l adjure thee to (peak the truth to me in the name of the Lord, t Kings 22.6. Th, teeond The next word is,.Witsoefs. Thou (halt not bear fadfe witnefs,d-c: which we word tvita:fs, find applyedfour wayes inScripture 1. God, r.To the great and chief witnefs,God himfelf. When yob was unjufly accufed Job 16, 19. by his friends,heappeals to this witnefs, Etteteftismews eft inCeelis,Beheld mywir- y John5.7 ants is in Heaven;.and S'?ehn faith, Thereare three that bear witnefs in Heaven, the Father, the Word,andtbe Spirit,every perfon in the Deity is a witnefs of the truth, and fuck witneffes we have of our thoughts, words, and deeds, whether theybe good or evil. Thefe are true and faithful witneffes, God is often filed the Gaol r.. oftruth, and Chriff is called that trueandfaithful witnefs,yea,truth it Pelf ; and the John 4.6. Hol Ghofl is S trittu veritatie, theSpirit oftruth. Thefe are the witneffes, with John 4. ty. Whole teftimonywemutt comfort our felves: This mutt be our comfort, when our Rorn.2.uit, praife is`htot'of men , but ofGod, who only can judge of the fìncerity of our hearts. Wicked men may often be applaudedby the wicked, when a goodman (hall be flighted a but fuck praife (hall not Rand a man ïo Read; it is not the praifeofmen that makes one praife.worthy,nay,it is a great judgment,tobe weh fpoken of and Luke 6.26. commended by wickedmen.We be to you, faith Chrif, whenall menfball fpeakwell of yore. ui laudatur ab hominibusvituperanteDea nonfalvabitur ab hominibru damnante Deo, Hethat is praifed by men when God abhors him, /ball not belaved by menwhen God Roin.2.29. condemns him : He is not a Jew that is one outwardly, but he that is one inwardly, Whorepraifeis not ofmen,but of God. Therefore the Apottle,when the Corinthians parr :rafh judgment upon him,tells them,Mihi pro minimo eft,& c. It is afinall matter for meto bejudgedo f you, he thatjudgeth me is Lord. 3,rheConfoi- 2.Now after this great witnefs,in the fecond place cometh that witnefs which ` " "' the A oftle f eaks of, Rom. 2.15. .4tre ante t u con cientia, Their confcience bearing 2.15. P P s 5 ft f f f g them witnefs: andRom.9. r.I (peak the truth in Chrift ,my confcience alto bearing me wit- Rom, 2:18. refs, Of this the Heathen man Paid that it is Mille teftis, as a thoufand witneffes, becaufe it is the knowledg ofour felves,and of our own aEtions,and therefore he calls him bliferum,miferable, i contemnit hunt teffem,that delpifeththis witi:eft: For he that regards notthe teftimony ofhis own conlcience,wül not make confcience of this Commandment,in bearing falfe witnefs againf his brother;and when men hearken not to the voice of their confcience, it is the beginning of all apoftalìe both in faith and pratice; and therefore the Apoftle fairh,rhat the wrath ofGad is revealedfromHeavenagainit ali latch as fupprefs er (mother the truth in unrighreosrfnefr,. Now when men have a wicked affeflion or inclination to any fnfui aft, and their
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