Chap. 3. An Ex oJition upon the Bookof J O B. Verf. 8. 373 forward enough to curie : Wicked men love darknefs, and they hate the light,therefore they curfc the light. Light is of two forts, either natural, that of the Sun, or metaphorical, that of know- ledge. Take light either way ; take light properly , for the na- tural light ; or take light improperly , for the light or the dayof knowledge,wicked men, and eefpecially the worft of wicked men, will be found curfersof the day. Firft, They are fo exprefl in this bookof job, refpeC ing thenatural day, Chap.24.. where ha- ving defcribedmany as of violence committed by cruel oppref fors,who know not God, verf.a. heconcludes, ver:r3. they are of thofe that rebel againft the light, they know not the wayes there f, nor abide in the paths thereof : And ver: 16. In the dark they dig through houf¿s, which they had marked for them- (elves in the daytime; they know not the light : For the Morning is to them even as the fhadow of death :. If one know There, they are in the terrors of the fhadowof death. Men to whom the morn- ing is á terror, and light as the fhadow of death, cannot but curie theday,- whole approach hinders them in their night-works, in' their black deigns and purpofes. Secondly , Other Scriptures difcover more deadly hatred inwicked men againft the light of knowledge ; they rebel more againfll the day ofgrace,then againft the day ofnature,or the natural day : The former hinders only the outward practice of fin , but this oppofes the inward principles of fin. We fee what cold entertainment; yea what war this light found in the world, and why, (Job. 3. z g,2o.) Light is come in- to the world , ( that is ,' Chrift and the knowledgeofhis wayes ).- andmen ( not men ih generai, but ungodly men) loveddarkzejs rather then light; ,Why ? Becaufe their deeds were evil, ( evil deeds and evil doers feekcovert in this darknefs) for every one that doth evil bateth the light, neither cornet~ to the light, ¡cfi his deeds fhould be reproved. They areignorant willingly, that they may tin more freely : For though they are refolved to fin in and againli the light of knowledge, yet they had rather fin lia and with the darknefs of ignorance ; no man can fin with fo,much cafe and delight in this light, as he can in darknefs. Aman that hash light in his underfianding, can hardly fin without finart up- on his Confcience : Hence they who love fin hate knowledge. On thisground it is as clear as the clay, that wicked men are ( Leecifeeg<e ) filch as avoid, fhun, and hate the day, no marvel then if theycurie the days and to be angry with or,curfe the day, lo
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