The Preface. reit, do prefently fhew, that there 14 that within them which we or they before perceived not. It was ( doubtlefs ) from too much experience of the felfithnefs even of Profefors of Religatan did ion, and of thefuccefsfulnefs of temptations in this kind; that S tell,God f o boldly,that Jobwould f i n i f he were but touched inhis Pelf-interell : 701, I. 9, x o, 1. & 2.4, 5. [Doth 7ob (faith he) fear God for nothing 1 haft not thou made an hedge n about him, and about his houfe, and about all thathe bath every fide ? Thou hafibleffed the work of his hand and his fubltance is increafed in the Land : But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that hehath, and he will curfe thee to thy face.] As if he fhould have faid, [Glory not of Job or any of thy ferv,nts : It i,s not thee,bat themfelves that they feek: They, ferve thee but for their own commodity : Jr is Self and not God- that releththern, and that they do all this for : Seem but to be their enemy ; and touch theirfelf-intereft, and crofs them in their commodity, that they may ferve theefornothing, and then fee who willferve thee.] This mis the boaft of Satan aping the Saints of the moft high which hypocrites that encouraged him hereto would have fulfilled; and which God doth glory in confuting andtherefore he gives the Devil leve ro try Job inthis point, and pottetb all that he had into his power, v. iz. And when Satan by this fucceeded not, heyet boafteth that if he might but touch himmore neerly in his felf-intertft, he doubted not to prevail he c. 2, 4, 5 . [Skin for skin, yea all that a manhath will give for his life:Put but forth thy hand now,and touch hisbone and his fiefh,and he will curie thee to thy face .3This confidence had Satan, even againft filch a fervant of the Lord, That there was none like him in the earth, a perfett and an upright man, that feared God& efchewed eviljc.i.8.And though the powerof grag,. in Job did fhame the boaftsof Satan, yet how frequently prevail with men that feem teligious ? HOW truly may he fay of many among its [Now they feemgodly,but let the times turn, & godlinefs undo them in the world,and ten fee whether they wine godly : Now they feem faithful t h t stand o their Pafo a Brethren I but give them a fufficient reward, peaceable ee whither they will not play the 7 udas : Now they feem hum- ble men ; but touch them in their felf-intereft crofs thermin 3} their `e z .........
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