Chap, 2, An Èxpoftion upon the Bookof J OB. Verf. 9. 273 lined with cruel and bloody intendments. Secondly obferve, That the greateft outward blefngs may prove the greateff outward affliEiions. A wife is made a crofs, a fnare. Our greateft danger may be from our helper ; And that which was given for our good, may be to us an occafion of fall- ing. Satan can make ufe of our friends to do us hurt by. He tern - pteth not only by himfelf,but by creatures: And not only bycrea- tures that areat a diftance from us, but by thofe who are neereti in relation, and by thofe, moft.He can make a fervant,a child,a wife, infirumental for our ruine. In this fente, we may apply that Caveat ofthe Prophet, (jer. 9.4.) Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and truft ye not in any Brother. That alfo of Micah, Truft ye not in afriend, putye not confidence in a guide : keep the ifq', eeusm doors ofthy mouth from her that lyeth in thy Kam. Yea, take heed fibs caveat, no of thy ownbofom ; Satan draws a party fromour felves, againft train"' our felves. Thirdlyobferve, Satan is very fubtil to make choice of fetch in- fi-ruments as may do his work moft effeblitally. Of all thole that wereabout job he could not have picked out any to have carried on his plot fo powerfully, and with fuch probability of fuccefs. Firft, in regardof her nearnefi, the had opportunity to cone unto him,and freedom to improvethat opportunity. Saul knew what he did when he married his daughter to David : I will give him her (laid Saul) thatfie may be afnare to him,' Sam. r 8.2 r .Po- litickmarriages are ufually made for temptation, not for comfort: fnares are tiedfafteft with a fall lovers knot. Secondly,the motion or perfwafìonsof a wife, whether to good or evil, are very takingupon a husbands heart:We fee it in the tint wife that ever was, the by perfwafions overcame Adamunto fin, the was the Devils agent for the undoing of her husband, and the world.Ahabwas verywicked,but he had a tempter in his boCone. But there was none like unto Ahab, who did fell himfelf to work r King 2i. 25. wickednefs, whom Jezabel his wife jtirred up. Unparallel'd wick- ednefs is afcribed to the provocations of a wife. When a Prince hathgiven up his affeEtions, and his confcience,into the hands ofa malicious, wanton woman , he will quickly fell himfelf to fuch wickednefsas will be his own trouble, and entitle him (like King Ahab) the troubler of the Kingdom. Thirdly, Satan knew that awound is deeper by howmuch the N n hand
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