Chap. 32. ,,fn Expofition upon, the Book, of f o B. Verf. 2. 23 But what was lobs felfe-juítitication, Or of what kinde, that it railed fuch a duf ,yea kindled latch a flame ofAnger in the breafl of Elihu ? Ianfwer ; job did not juflifie himfelfe by lyes or falfboods; that was not the matter for which Elihu was angry with ob , but becaufe he fuppofed he was more tender of his owne name then of Gods. Thus the Text fpeakes expreßèly ; Again fobwas his »rash kindled, becaufe he juflified himfelfe rather thenGod. Hence note ; . re, juftifie our felves rather then God, is not onlyfinfuil but f a- pious, not onlyfinfull but blafphemou s, Let God be true and 'every Man" a lyar (Rom. 3. 4, ) woe to rhofe who goe about to fave their owne honour, by fpeaking that which reflects difhononr upon 'God, or who keepe their owns: credit untouchr, by expofing his to any hazzard ; let Godbe jufl and everyman unrighteous. As-whofoever exalts himfelfe, hum- bles God ( when we exalt our felves vainly, we humble God as much as we can, and fo it will be interpreted ) fohe that juflilies himfelfe inany degree unduely accufeth God, how much more he that juflifieth himfelfe rather then God. To commend or praife our felves,in the hearing ofmen, is unfavory, to commend or praife our felves rather then men ( who are our fellowes, yea though our inferiors) is odious, howmuch more to jufiifie our felves rather then God, who is infinitely above us. It becomes the bell ofmen, to accufe, judge and condemne themfelves, to drawup-their own enditement, and fay,we have deferveçl worfe then we fuller from the handof God ; and have done leffe then duty requires at our hand. But, becaufe to iuflifieour felves rather then Cod, is a thing fo horrid, fewwill be brought under this conviétion, that they are guilty ofir, or chargeable with it, And therefore I 17,à11 endea- vour to make it appeare, 'that there are many who 'though they doe not jufli':ie themfelves rather then Cod dire&ly and bare- f'ced,' yet they doe it fecretiy or con(lruaively. I fhall make out this ingenerall as it may concernany man, while I more diflinA ly fihew, how _fob incurred this fufpirion, and gave Elihu more thin a probable ground to fay, that he juflified himfelfe rather theta God. yobnever laid, he was more juíl then God,. but he f:i:_
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