274 Verf. 9, An Expofition upon the Bookof J O B. Chap. 2. hand is nearer that ílrikes it. Af li ±ions preís us moll when they arefrom our friends. What,thou mySon? faid.Cefar in the Senate. What,thoumy wife? is thy hand uponme in myown houfe,might fob fay ? The Prophet brings in one queflioning, What are thefe wounds ? And Chrifl anfwering, Thofe with which I was wounded in the honfe ofmyfriends, tech. 13.6. The height ofenmity is thug expreft,Amansenemies than be the men ofhis own houfe, Mice 7. 6., This caufedDavid to complain fo bitterly, Pfal. 55. I2. It was not an enemy that had done this, but it was thou myfriend,andmy equal, andmy companion : The friend wounded more then the Sword. So might fob complain, it was not an enemy, it was not a Sabean, or a cruel Caldean that fpake this, bút it was thou my equal, my, friend, my companion ; and which is more thenall thefe, my wife, my fecond I grant, that in one fenfethe woundsof a friend are precious : Precious are the wounds of afriend ; but the kips of an enemy are deceitful. Precious are the wounds ofa friend, when a friend doth wound withholy reproof; but when a friend wounds by finful counfel, or follicitations unto fin, thofe are pernicious wounds. If that which is Light in us be turned into Darknefs (as Chrift fpeaks) howgreat is that darknefs ? So, if that which thould be our comfort,be turned into our forrow, how great is our forrow ? Therefore we fee whySatan fpared the wife, that the might be an Inflrument, and a molt effeCual Inflrument,either to prevail upon him, orto vex him in cafe he did notprevail. Doubtlefs fob did not feel fo much fmart, whenSatan fmote both flaband bone, as now, when his Beth and bone finote him. Thus we fee thecruelty óf Satans mercy: He fpared jobs tongue,and he fpared jobs wife; he fpared his tongue,t hat Job might have a memberfreefor an in- lrument of fin,in turfingGod ; and he (pared fobs wife,that him- felfmight have anInstrument to bid him fin , Curfe God anddye. This was her Counfel. Andhir Wiferaidunto him, Dof thoufill retain thine integrity.? Curfe Godand dye. Her words confift of two parts I. A sharp and a fcornful Exprobration. 2. Awicked and fistful Direction. Her fcornful Exprobration, in thefe words : Dolt thoufill re. tgin thine integrity Tier flan] Dire Lion, in,thefe words ; Curfe God anddye, Math, Fò.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=