------------ .. t98 Chap. 33. An Expofition upon the Bo&of .J o B. Verf. 9. Fourthly, ( which followeth upon the third) I fhall inquire whether Elihu dealt rightly and fairly with fob, in bringing this. fore and revere charge-againf} hun. Firf} , Toopen the words, as they are an affertion, Thou hail fayd, I am cleane without tranfgrefon, tam innocent, neither is there iniquity in me. Some dil}ingui{h the three terms ufed in the text, as a denial( of three feverall fortsof fin. Firtl, Thar, by .being cleane without tranfgreffion, he intends his freedome from fins again(} fobriety, or that he had not .find 4 again(} himfelfe. Secondly, that, by being innocent, his meaning is, he had not done impioufly againft God. Thirdly, that, by having no iniquity in him, he cleares himfelfe of wrong done toman. Thefe three forts of fns, containe fin in the whole latitude of it. All fin is either again{} our felves, f}rie}ly called intemperance, or againf} (:god, ftrielly called impiety, or againf} man , f}ricikly called unrighte- òufne{fe. But though this bath a truth in it, as to the diftin&ion of fin, yet it may be over-nice to conclude Eau had fuch a di- í}in& refpe& in thefe diffin& expreffìans ; And it may be que-- ffioned whether the words will beare it quite thorow. There- fore I paffe from it and leave it to the readers Judgement. Further as to the verfe in generall, we may take notice, that the fame thing is fayd foure times ; twice affirmatively, I am cleane, I am innocent ; And twice negatively, I amwithout tranf- greffion, There is noiniquity in me. I am cleane without tranfgrefon. The word which we render cleane, implyeth the cleane(} of cleanneife ; 'tis rightly oppofed to the word tranrgrefon, which fignifieth, adefection or turning otf fromGod. Every fin in the nature of it, is a defee}ion from God ; bat fine fins are an in- tended orrefolved defe&ion from him. Some even throw otf the foveraignty of God over them, and his power to command them, notbeing willingto fubmit their backs to his burden, nor their necks to his yoke. Thefe are juftly calledfoes of Be1al, they not only tranlgreffe the Law, but throw off the yoke of Chrif} from their necks, and his burden from their fhoulders , and fay ( like them, Luke 19. iq.. ) we will not have this man reign over tas. So then, when lob fayd, I am cleanewithout tranfi refon, hemay be verywell=underffood thus; Though I have many failings, yet I
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