Chap. 3 3. An Expofition upon the Beek, of Jos. Verf. 23. I anfwer ; Era, 'Tis apeice of our 'hewing man his upright- nefs, to fhew him that hehash- no uprightness. The., Spirit con- vinceth, firít, of fin, and then of righteoufnefs ( John a 6.8. ) Secondly, I anfwer,a mans uprightness (according to the meaning of this Scripture ) cannot be thewed him, but he mutt alto be ihewedhis unrighteoufnefs. Thirdly, I anfwer, The fickman here fpoken of, may be fuppofed aman troubled in mind about his fins ; and in that cafe the interpreters duty is tocafe his mind by chewing him his uprightnefs in the way opened, rather then to burdenhismind further by (hewing him his fin or unrighteouf- nefs. And therefore laftly, To clofe this poynt with a word of caution When Elihm fpeakes of an uprightness to be ihewed the, troubled foule ; 'Tis nor,that the meflenger who comes to relieve and comfort him, should ufe flattering words,andblow him up with aconceit ofhis owne good workes, andio tell him a flory of his vertues or ver- tuous deeds. No, the uprightness chiefly intended here is the righteoufnefs of Chriit, in and by which we are reconciled to and madeone with God. Nor can weever attain to this till we are made fencible of our owne no_hingnefs, till we are unhinged of felfe, and quite taken off from anybottoming upon our owne righteoufnefs. Some, when they have trouble of confcience upon them, what doe they ? they fly to their owne righteoufneflè; And when they are lick, and ready todye,how doe they prepare to fiand right before God ? they confers they have finned, and done amiffe, but they hope they have repented, and made a- mends for that ; yeathey can remember they have done fuch, and fuch,pofíìbly,many good things,theyhave been juft to all men, and charitable to the poore, they have heard the word, and been at many a good Sermon, they haveprayed and fatted, eç: This theypatch up the bufinefs, as if this were their only uprightnefs, whereas, indeed, their only uprightnefs is the righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift. We never fee where ouruprightness is, till we fee there is nothing that makes us -Rand upright in the court of hea- ven, but onlyChrift our righteoufnefs.. This is the great duty of the meffengers, and interpreters ofChrift,todeclare to manThis righreoufnefs for his uprightnefs. And that hence it is (as Elihu proceeds in thenext verse to affure the fiick -man ) that God = is - and will be gracioustohim, , Veit; 24. 389
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