8 Chap. 32. An Expofation upon the Bock of o B. Verf. ] .. further moved ? (AEts 2t. t4.) When Padsfriends fame hewould- not be perfwaded, they,cea; ed : they had ufed much perfwafion to -keepe him from going up to ferirfdlem, becaufe of the fufferings that were prophe+.ied Should befall him there, yet when he hood out, in an holy obhinacy again(' them, cloathed with a gracious fpirit of courage to Puffer for Chrifl :; when he woaald not beper- fwaded they ceafed,fayinq, the will ofthe Lord be done. As it was the height of Paul; holuaefs that he would not :be perfwaded, he was obhinate for Gods cafee, or for the doingofa duty ; fo it is the height of many mens wickednetfe that they will not beper - fwaded, they are obtlinate againff God, or agatnh the doing of their duty.; Such as are infe'aed with the full of contending, will maintaine that opinion pertivacioully, which they cannot maintaine. tritely. As Come hrtve for the love of victory, rather thenof truth ; fo others ilrive becaufe they love hrife evenmore then victory, and had_rather contend then conquer, becaufe that puts..an . end to hrife. In fuck cafes they doe belt who dna no more; And if jobs cafe had been fuch, if he hadheld up the dif- courfe, not for truth but for victory, or becaufe 'he wouldhave the lah word, like a clamorous Sophifler, who hath alwayes fome- what to fay, though nothing to the purpofe ; In that cafe, I fay, yobs.friends had done wifely incealing to anfwer ; They indeed did well upon their owne fuppofition, though as to the truth.of Tabs condition they failed greatly. lob was not a manof that fpi- ric, he that perfills in holding anddefending truth , is not oblii- nate but conhant. Further, as to the ground why they ceafed, according to their .fuppofition, Obferve To be righteous in ear owne eyes is`hastefaill both to God and goodmen. A man isnever fovile in the eyes of thofe who can diicerne him, as when he is righteous in his owne ; how righteous foaver any man is, he fhould be little in owning it. To infili much upon our ,owne righaeoufnelfe, favours ranklyof a Phárifee( Lake a 8, 9. ) Chrifl fpake aparable to this purpofe ( that's thetitle ofthe Parable) (ver. g.) Andhefÿal`e this parable anta certain which trailed to themfelves that they were righteous, and dej ifed others. Then
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=