92 Chap. 3 z. An Expóition upon the Book of J o B. erf.T 3, which they built all their feverall cenfures of him , yea, their hardeft fentencesagain[+him. And there is afaire probability in, this way of a,guing uponfoure Confiderations. Firfi It may be urged, thus ; God is jufl, ( menindeed are often uniufl and unrighteous in the evill'which they bring upon others ; but Cod is jult ) and therefore he would not lay his hand uponany man in this manner, unleffe he were a wickedman. Surely his inicuiry hash foundhim out,whom the hind of God hath thus found our. Secondly , God is mercifull, he is gracious, (Lament.3.3 3.) f1e doth not afflill willingly,nor grieve the Childrenof men. Now, . ifGod bath declared himfelfe fo unwilling 'to grieve the Chiles dren ofmen; furely, when we feehim fo willingly grieve a pan; as he hath grieved this or that man, may we not fay,he is a wick ed man ? Judgement is called Godsorangeworke, but in judg- ing force he að as if judgement were his proper worl¿,e,as if he were inhis Element when he is laying heavie ftroaks on their, . backs ; therefore may we not conclude fuch among the wicked ? Thirdly , god iswife ; he cannot be deceived concerning any man ; therefore there is fòme great reafon- why he affli&s, and what reafon canmore probably be givenofa great afflielion, then force great fin ? As God is fo true that he will not deceive any man, fo he is fo wife that he cannot be deceived in any man. He cannot miffe his mark, nor fall upon a wrong fubjeéì in his difpenfations ; therefore we havefaire warrant to fay, that a man, againft whomGod appeares fomucb,appeares very foule tohim, what ever faire appearances he may have among men. Fourthly , Take this Confiderationalto, whennlenaffli&I their brethren,they often do it either out of refolvedmalice,or inheat ofrevenge;but God cannot do it with fuch a fpirir,nor from fuch principles ; thehighefl aìts of revenge in.God, are bat theawards' offnflace. Again, Men will afflia o hers out of envie, or to cafe themfelves ; as-the Apollle fpeaks of parents chaftning their chil- dren ( lieb: as. 9, a o.) We have hadfathers ofour fiefh, which havecorxet :ed -us, and-wegave, them- reverence, (hall we not mach morebe in faabje61'ion to the father of fjiirits and live?For they veri- lyfor a few dayes chaftned na after their ownepleafure,or ( as that a _7à d'- x4kext maymore clearely be rendred our of the original Greek )' ¿ui'as. pro tit as, itTeemed good to them, or 'as they thought. good ; As if he had,: tpfarvidebuur faid, 13eï:
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