Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37. v1

.34o Verf. 3. An Expnfition upon the Bookof J Q$, Chap.3, We inuft therefore {late it in the middle way, that job is nei- ther rigidly to be taxed of blafphernyor prophanenefs,nor totally to be cxcufed, efpecially not flatteringly commended for this high. complaint. I conceive it mutt be granted , that yob difco vered much frailty and infirmity , force paflion and diftemper in this complaint and curie ; yet notwithftanding we mull affert him for a patient man , yea, for a mirror of patience ; and there are five things confiderable for.the clearing and proof of this Aflèr. Lion. As úríá, Confider thegreatnefs ofhis fufl'ering, his wound was very deep and deadly,his burden wasvery heavy, only not intolle- rabic :The fufferings ofChrift being exceeding great, caufed him. to complain, that his Soul was exceeding forrowfr:l even unto death, Mat.27.38. Yet in this complaint there was not the leak imaginar ble touch ofimpatience. When he hung upon the Crofs, he cryed. out, My God, my God,why haft thou fortálen me? verf.4,6. yet in this cry, no impatience. To cry out for every light touch,argues. indeed a vain and an impatient fpirit:but he that fometimes fetches a groan under a weight of furrow , is yet untoucht either in his wiltomor iii his patience. In fuch a cafe to cry out, is a difcovery ofhumane frail.ty,but not offinful frailty : Gracedoth not take a- way fenfe;it heightens nature ,but it doth not abolifh it. Confider howmuch Job endured, and then.you will find little impatience, though he complained much. Secondly, Confider the multiplicityOf his troubles ; they were great and many : many little afiftions meeting together, make a great one ; how great then is that which is compofed of many great ones ? Many pebble hones will make a heavy burden, how then is he burdened, who hath (iffuch a thing maybe fuppofed) many mill - clones uponhis back ? job's afHi4ions came upon him as an Army,and encompaft him round about. He had many parti- cular affic ions, any one ofwhich might make a very patient man complain ; then Job,whobare them all,was not impatient,though he complained. Thirdly,Confider the long continuanceof thefe great.and many troubles, they continued long upon him, fume fay they continued divers years upon him. We ufe to fay, A light burdenk heavy, if the journey belong : a man may bear any thing for.a brunt, orfor a fpurt,but to havea fad load continued upon the fhouldersall the day, pinches"fore. lob's load lay upon him day and night, day. after,

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