276 VerC g, AnExpofttion upon the Bookof J O B. Chap. 2. That thofe things which commend its molt to God, ufitatly render RI- molt contemptible before theworld... Dcft thou (till retain thine integrity ? She ilighteth him, and fcorneth him for this whereas God highlycommends him, fpeaks L.xk(1-6.'5. it to his praife. That rvliich is highly efteemedamo, ft men, id abo. mination in the fight of the Lord:And that which theLord efteems highly, man abominates. Secondly this, It is the endeavour of Satan andhis Inftruments to perfnade, that theprofeffion ofholineJs if vain andunprofitable. Satan bath taught wicked ones,and they (like forward Schollers fay it without bock) fay it openly, It is a vain thing toferve the Lord ; Satan would fain infufe this curfe*d principle into the hearts ofGods own people, and make them believe their faith is alto vain. Daft thou (till retain thine integrity? Come take a little counfel at the lair, work likea wife man, wilt thouhold a thing thou carat get nothing by ? Take it on my word, thou canft not thrive this way,thoucanit makenothing of it, what doll thou mean to go on madding in fuch a courfe as this?Thou (halt never get bread by it toput in thy head, no nor water to wafh thy hands; all thou get- eft by it will be a knock,a rod upon thy back,a difhonour upon thy name : And wilt thou fill be fo flrait-lac'd,and hold fait thy inte- grity ? Thirdly,Obferve further fromSatans intendment inputting fuch words as thefe into the mouth of jobs wife, That hisgreat defign id to take advantage from outward troubles, and ill fucceffes, to difcourage the hearts, and weaken the hands of Gods people in holy duties.That was his projeft,quite to difcourage job,and from the ill fuccefs he had in the fervice ofGod,to get himput offhisLivery, and give over his fervice:It is the courfe that the world,inflruded by Satan (as hereJobs wife was) frill holdeth with the people of God. Their language is, why are you fo precife, why fo hot ? 3ec, Do you not obíèrve, you get nothing by your prayers ? nothing by your fatting ? nothing by your holinefs ? All that you have got you mayput in your eyes, and fee never theworfe. Shew ús fotne ofyour gains; what have you got ? where are your deliverances ? whereare your viaories ? where is your Salvation ? You have prayed till you are altnoft undone, you have faked till all is almoft loft, things are worfe then they were ; will you frill go on in thefe duties offailing and praying ? ofhumbling and Peeking, of wait- ing and believing ? This is the languageofSatan,this.the Divinity. of,
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