Chap. 3 3. An Expofition upon the Boob of J o B. Verf. 13. 247 ggracicau mendoe not alwayes hold out the fame gracious frame. offpirit. . There was a time when lob was far from_ flriving with God, far from doing or fpeaking any thing which had the 1ea(l fbadow or favour of ir. Time was when job was altogether for , and in fubmirting to God; Let Goddoe what he will with him, he had, not a word to fay againft him. After all the fad reports andmef- fages which were - brought to him of thedevaflazion of his whole eflate in the field, yea of the difaflerous depth of Oil his children in one day, and at once; did fob ft.ive with God ? dio h.; utter one word ofcomplaint, or fo much as of any dif 'aciaadtíon.?No, not' one, but gave Glory by this confeifion;7 he Lordhasheven, and the Lordbath t4en, blefJ'ed be the nameof the Lord. Was not ;here a cleare yeilding of himfelfe up toGod, to doe what he would with him ? Did he notfreely lay himfelfe low, when God had layed him at the lowest?whó ever heard or read of a more perfe&worke of patience in ameere mortall man ? Yet in the procefs öf the bufinefs, job did not only fpeak filch words as carried a fhadow of ftrivingwith God, but were reali firivings and uncomely pleadings with him. Hisheart did not rotaine that firft fweet fubmifíìve frame throughout the áffii&ion, which ap peared to admiration at the beginning of it. The flare of grace abideth alwayes,'ris not (as force of iirme) lofeable ;'cis nor, like the belt things of this world perifhing. But though á flare of Grace abideth alwayes, yet every mans grace (if any mans) cloth not alwayes abidein the fame (late. A -true frame of grace f},all never be deftroyed, but the heart of a gracious man-doch not al- wayes"continue in the fame frame. The heare of grace may be cooled, the bight of it abated, the ftrength of ir weakned,and the beauty of it faded. He that a while agoe walked and a&ed very humbly, may uponanother temptation a&very proudly,and walke - as if he were above all his brethren. He that one while hath of -- ed very felf-denyingly, may at another time a& very felf-feek - ingly. He that bath a &d very lovingly, ( the very law of love being fiamped upon Lordsand workes ) may at another time a& very unlovelyand lovelefly, anddoe things which are very stanch betide andbelow, yea contrary to the fulhlling of that roy all Law; He'may be fo far fröm bearing his brothers btírden, (which
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