Chap. 3 3. An Expofttion upon the Bookof o s. Vert. 9. 20t_ is ourfaire haven, and jafeff harbour. When the windes are high- eft, and the Seasmoll rough and angry, there, if any where, we may ihelte, and anchor our felves from the ¡forme and tempell. Thus David prayed ( Pfal: 2 5. 2 r .) Let integrity and upright- nefs preferve me ; that is, let me be preferved in mine integrity and uprightneis. And that he had been fopreferved, he tells us (Pf4 t . it 2.)As for me thou upholdefi me in mine integrity.He that can fay, lam innocent, (hall have caufe to fay,/ am proteál ed ; the innocent perfon is under covert ;God proteeleth the innocenr,yea maketh innocency their protection. Man is never fo well ilael- ter'd, as by the righteoufnefsof Chrift,and by his own innocency. 'Tis guilt which leaves our breaft naked to every dart and thruft. Againe to come a little nearer to our tranflation ( though this be very fignificant ) I am innocent ; 'Tis a negative, I have done nohurt, or I have no guilt uponme. The Rabbins tell us, VI en Ralri- the word cometh from a roote which fignifieth towafh and fo 1D1° verbo the Chaldee Paraphrafe renders Iamwafhed Others thus, lamE1 t exponant brufhed or comb'd ; Mr Proughton,, Ian; neat, like a man that hath Lae," fe r put on his apparrell decently ; force are in a flovenly habit, er mundare. their cloaths are foule; but fob could fay as to his better part Lotusego. and fpirituall cloathing, I am innocent, washed, brutbed, comb'd, Targ: I have no filth in my skirts, nor fouleneffe in my hands. I gee not C eg*rt" in the natty habit of fin, but in the lovely, comely, beautifull dreffe of Grace. Thus various is the fence of the word which we tranflate innocent. fob's converfation was fo well ordered, that it had not a plight nor an haire ( common infirmities ex- cepted) amüfe or out of order. Our tranflation gives in his mind fully, yet it is not unprofitable to take in this plenty and copioufnefs of elegant metaphors riling out of the original words, here rendred, I am innocent. But if we take the word ftri&ly, then to be innocent, is to doe or to have done no hurt, to be iarmelefie, and fo guiltleffe of the hurt or harme of any. Hence note. Sin is an hurtfull thing. It hurts, firfi our (elves ; Secondly, it hurts others inwhole fight it is committed, either firfl by the ill example given them, or, fecondly, by injury done to them ; either firfi in their credit, or, fecondly, in their etaares. Yea, thirdly; fin hurts God him- D d fèlfe l
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