Chap. 2. An Expofitionaupon the iSoakg,of I O B. Verf. 13. 3 2,1 hope of good vihen wife men fpeak : A wordfrom their mouths may cure and deliver a Nation. Yet I conceive that this Text of Amos maybe undertlood as a defcription of .a wife mans duty, at leafl of his property, in fome high and great diftempers upon a .people. He fees themuncapableof counfel to give them good advice, is (at that prefent) but the calling'ofpearls before Swine, all is loft and undervalued, it not trampled on : Yea, he fees, that themore helabours to reform,themore he enrages them;therefore till this fit be over, prudence teacheth him to keep filence. Thus alto it is, private perlons in regard of the evils they en- dure, they cannot endure faithful counfel in fuck an evil day upon any private perfon let the prudent keep filence, and, wait for an opportunity, which may open a paffage to let-in their re- proofs, or direGfions, or-confolations, with a taking advantage into thehearts oftheir afflieîed friends and brethren. The Prophet Ifaiahfeeingthe troublesapproachiwg yerufalem, refolves to take his fill ofmourning, .ThereforefaieI, look, awayfromme l will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, Chap. 22:4. Heneither thought that the beholders would faint to feehim, and therefore faith, look awayfromme ; or that feeinghim, they would fay, he fainted,and fo would be giving him comfort : that therefore his forrory might have full (cope , he faith, Look=,awayfromme, I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me. When a man is refolved to,mouru, let him mourn; your advife may anger him, but it will nat help him: Let forrow have its way a while,and that will make way for com- fort. We have thus far carried on the fad Flory offobs vifitation, his griefis now come to the height,It ix verygreat. We have alfofèen his friends vifit , with a double intendment , -both to mourn with him, and to comfort him. We have fees themmourning, they fully reacht that end. We leave them now filent, waiting for a time to attempt and accomplith theother end:theymiferably failed in that-, it was to comfort him, but they provedmiferable comforters : Which in the progrefsand procefs of this Book, will receive a large and full difçovery. Ja
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