Chap. 3 3. An Expofition upon the Book of Jo B. Verf. 18. far towards, yea is near, very neer to the pits brink, even ready to drop into it, then, then the Lordgracioufly keeps his foule from falling into it. This word is ufed in the negative twice to fet forth the high commendation of Abraham ( Gen. 22. 12. 16. ) When God had commanded Abraham to offer his Son, and he was fo ready to doe it,that prefently God tells him, Now i know thou feareff God,feeing thou haft nor with- held (or kept back ) thy fon, thine only ton fromme. Abraham might have had many reafonings within himfelfe to keepback and withhold his on frombeing a Sacrifice, but, faith the Lord, thou haft not withheldor kept him back; There the .word is ufed in the negative, as afro upon the fare occafion at the i6 eerie of the fame Chapter. And fo by fob (Chap.7. it.) Therefore I will not refraine (or k.etp back,) my mouth. It is as haul a matter to keep back,or hold the mouth in,asit is to+keep back a head-firong horfe with abridle. Therefore the Holy Ghoff ufeth that Meta- phor (Pfal. 39, r.) But faith fob, 1 will not refraine mymouth, I will not keep it back, let it-take its courfe,I willfpeaktn the bit- terneffeofmy fptrit. The word imports powerful' aging, take it either in the negative or affirmative.. When the tongue is kept back, 'tisdone by amighty power of grace, and Ó howgreat as well as gracious is that power, which the Lord putteth forth to keep back a poor foul that is going, goingapace too, from falling into the pit. He keepeth buck, Hisfoul from the pit. But loth the foul fall into the pit ? Tanfwer, firfi, The foul isoften inScripture (by aSynecdoche) put for the wholeman ; J-le keepeth back. his foal, that is, he keepeth him from the pit ; fecondiy, pofhibly 'tis faid, hekeepethhis foulfrom the pit,to teach us that man by running on in fin,ruines his bet}part, it is not only his body, and his skin that he def}royeth by fin,bút his veryfoul. 'Tis a metcy that God tellethus aforehand the worflof that dan- ger, and thegreatnefie of thehazard, or how great a matter we venture upon evill wayes and werkes. He' keepeth :back hr' foul from the pit. Whatpit ? Theword is rendredvarióuíly. BitiI thus, he ke=eps rr v foveat, backcorruptáo, sieri. 327.
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