Chap. 2. An Expofition upon the Bóokof 3 O Vérf a 2 3 r though it be not improbable that he was fometime 'abroad for the benefit of the air, by reafon of the fìlthinefs of his difeafe ; and fo ,his friends might find him abroad. But that hewas turned but of hishoufe, is refuted, chap.7. r 3. where he fpeaks ofhis bed, and of . his couch : When Ifzy, my bedfhall comfort me, my couch fh.11 eaJc my complaint, &c. that is, when I thought to find cafe by lying down upon mybed, or leaning on my couch ; therefore he hada houfe furnifhed with bed and couch. When they lift up their eyes afar off, they knew him not. We need not take it abfolutely, ,as if his difeafe had fo di<f gured him, that he, could not be known to be the fame man : For Often in Scripture, that which is put as an abfolute negativc,is intended for a weak affirmative. It is laid,. i.) When Chrijl came, he came to his own, and his own receivedhim not i there is an abfo- lute negation, (yet it followeth,) But to as many as receivedhim, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God. His own re- ceivedhim not,' yet fome did receive him ; fome ofhis ownkin- dred and Country did receive him; So that, his own receivedhim not,is as ifit had been laid, fewofhis own received him,or he had but cold entertainment among his own. So Hof. ¡. 6. Ephraim it finitten, their root is dryed up, theyJball bear no fruit There is the found of an abfolute denyal , yet the fenfe will bear a weak affirmation ; for it followeth, yea, though they bringforth, yet I Will flay the belovedfruit of their womb : They may bring forth afew or fome fruit perhaps, but I will deftroy it. So here, They knew hint not, that is, they could fcarce difcern him, or di- flinguifh who he was , his,difeafe-arid fores had fo difcolour'd or blotted out the lines and feature of his face, that they could not fudcaenly affure themfelves, this was he. They flood as men a- mazed; What ? is this Yob ? What a fpedacle is here ? How strangely is his vifage changed, and his whole 'body disfigùfed?' Such kind of doubting language, doubtlefs, pafs'd amongft them. When they Jaw him afar off, they knew him dot. The Prophet ye- roily obferves the like, after the hard liege of Jerufilem, which, cauled him thus to lament, (Chapter 4.7, 8.) Her Nazariteswere purer then[now, they were whiter these milk,- they were more ruddy inbody then Rubies, their pollifhing was of Saphire : But fee' the change; Their vifage is blacker then a coal, they are not known in the ffreets. Famine had eatenup, not only their flcfh, but their form ;.mifery had altered their very complexion and vifage ; they S f who
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