Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37. v1

Chap. 2. An xpofitiota2spon the Bookof J 0.B. Ve G 44. Here is Satans anfwer , with his motion upon it. By his anfwer he labourstoblot and obfcurc the glory which ob had gained in the former battel; and by his motion belabours to bring, him about unto a fecond tryal. As by his anfwer in: the former Chapter (a little' to compare : him with himfelf) Satan flandered . jobs aCfions;fo by his anfwer here,hc flanders jobs fuf- ferings.There it was for fomething that job fervedGod,and here that which jobhad fullercd.is nothing. It is Satans tradc(and hehath many childrenofthe fame occu- pation) to flander and, to flight whatfòever the fervants of God either doe or fuffer. Before he ,flandered jobs alive obedience, now he flanders his paflive obedience. What is this (faith he) tufh, Skinfor skin, yea all that a man bathwill he givefor his life : It is a flight tryal that he hash pall yet;what great matter is it if he hold feehis integrity; whowould not, who could not h'oldfafi for any thing that bath been done to him yet ? let us try him :again. For the clearing of this we will examine the words. Skinfor skin, yea all that a man bath will hegivefor his life. We fee here that malice is flecped in wit, Satananfwereth by a Proverb, skin for skin, &c. A proverbial, quick, (harp fpeech, the general fenfe of which and Satans intendments arc very clear. The general fenfe of this proverbial fpeech is this;. That life is the mofi precious treaf ire, that a man will part wit h any thin: upon theft terms ; Thejaving ofhis life.That all a man fufers comes_ not very near him, while that it out ofdanger. Such is the general fenfc, and Satans intendment in fpeaking this, is as clear ; name- ly, that as job before had ferved God for his wealth, fo now he loth ièrve him for-his breath that as before job kept clofe to God, that, he might enrich him ; fo now Job keeps clofe to God, left he thould defroy him : He feemed to hold fall his in- tegrity (fo you tell me) but it isonly that he may hold fall his life ; he ferved you before for wealth, and now he fèrves you for breath. His fear of lofing that, makes him humble himfelf, and give many thanks : Search him to the bottome,and you will find him full a mercenary fervant, holding his integrity that he may bold in with thee, and live. This is the general drift: of Satan. H lt But

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