386 Chap. 3 3. An Expofition upon the Book of J o B. Verf. 2L Secondly , The word uprightnefs, and the fhewing unto man uid ipfum fa- hie uprightnefs here fpoken of, takes hi the whole duty, yeaand serepro oJJìcio the whole priviledge and intereft of a Godly man, or that which oporteat. Bez: will be his uprightnefs and fet him right both before God and his d hand' owneconfcience. To (hew unto man. this his uprightnefs, is to agere , ægtsum p b trt,fc:uragnitís thew lim when he is right, and how he may be fetled in a right peecatis (lei flare ; in fuch a flareas will be to him likeMount Sion which can- gratiarn prop- not be removed. Thus the uprightnefs ofman comprehends the ter merita Pi- whole bufinefs both of faith and repentance, or all that which a ae,náculc io- finer is called both to doe, andbelieve, for the repayring and mending ofhis lot} and ruin'd (late, for the putting and fettleing hits in tuch a (late as theLord may own:: him ashis, and be graci- oets to him. This, whatfoever it is, is mans uprightnefs or righte- oufnefs, and the 1hiewing untoman , this his uprightnefs is the bringing him word in thename of Chrifi, that God jufiifieth him. from the guilt of all his fins, andaccepteth him into his favour. Hence obferve. Thegreat duty o f the didin,freers of the Gaffe!, is to sleare up to man, whether he be upright, or how he may /landupright with God. This obfervation takes in both parts of the expolition.To (hew unto man how it is with him, what his prefent flare, and conditi- on is, and toPhewunto man what he ought robe, or how he may be in a fafe condition, this is the worke of that meffengerand in- terpreter who is one among a thoufand , this is aWelled worke, and thus it muff be done. Firfl, Man is tobe (hewed the uprightnefs of his flare, or that which mull, be andbe had tomake up the uprightnefs of his flare, which is Firfl, Hisfirft-repentance, or converuon to God. Fallen man. can never come into a right (late, till he returne to God from whom he fell. A mans Gnfull ftate is a crooked, perverfe, and wretched (late ; repentance ar returning to God, is the bringing ofaman right again, it brings him to his uprightnefs, even to that flate,wherernhe was first made ; Loe this have Ifound (faith Solomon, Eccl:7. 29.) that God bath made man upright ; but they havefought out many inventions. Solomon doth not difcover the feverall branches and fireames of mans finfullnefs, but the cuore and fpring of it he doth,the corruption of his nature by the fall4
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