Air elf. 4. ÁyExpofttion upon°the Book. of J O -B. Chap. 2. will give skinfor skin, fo a man will part with all he hath for his life. We find fome Scriptures wherein this particle is taken in the very fame fenfe : To giveyou inftance, Prov. 25. a,. there the Hebrèw reads it thus,Theheavens for height,andthe earthfor depth, and the heart ofKings it unfearc-liable : Now this is clear , that the fenfe is comparative, and it is thus to be given, as the Heaven is unfearchablefor height and the earthfor depth, fo the heart of the King is unfearchable So verfe 25. of the fame Chapter, it is thus read out of the Original, word for word, Cold Water to a thirfiyfowl, andgoad 'news from a far Country ; Now we tran- flate it according to the fenfe, and make it a comparifon thus, As cold water to a thirfiy foul, fo itgoodnerves [from a Pr Country. Thus alto we may interpret'this place, and it carries a good fenfe, Skinfor skin,and all e?-c. Asa man would give skin for skin, one outward thing for another (for they take skin in both places for outward things,for the goods of this life) as a manwould give or barter away one commodity for another ; So a man will give all outward things for his life ; life is more' valuable to all outward things than any one particular thing is to another. It is ordina- ry to a proverb among men in danger to fay, fpare my life and take mygoods.Howwillingly doth the Marriner in a florm unlade his Ship, and call all his rich wares over-board, that he maypre- ferve that precious jewel,his life?As a godly man will give life up- on life,a thoufand lives (if he had them) rather then lofehis foul : So a natural man will give skin upon skin,Gold upon Gold,trea- fureupon treafúre, that he may fave his life. Let life, lye at the flake, and a man will giveall things elfe hé bath in the world for it, and think he bath a good bargain. Here are five expofìtiorisyou fee offered : The two latter to me feeur the moll clear, howfoever every oneof them bath a faire fenfe in it ; and fo we areagreed upon the general, which is one- ly to fet forth the excellency and precioufnefs of life, there can- not be anyrnifearriage in pitching uponeither ofthere interpreta- tions. I than! give you force notes from hence. Firft, obferve what a bleffìng life is. Skin for skin,andall that a man bath will hegivefor his life. Life is the moll- precious treafure; the moft excellent thing in nature.And let the tell yoú,life is the treafure that is now fo much :digged for: thereare many abroad that are digging for your pre- cious lives. Confider what l'yes at 'flake and'what will you give for the
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