Chap.'32. ,fin Expo/ition sloe the Book, of J o B. Verf. 2, raid many things which gave Elihsa occafionto fay, That lately he juftified himfelfe rather then God. Fir41, When he fpake fo largely of his own innocency,fpend- ing five wholeChapters in the vindication of it, and fpake fo lit- t le, comparatively, of the righteoufineffe and jufliceof God, this might bring hini under a fufpition of juflifying himfelfe rather then God. For what could this intimate to his hearers; but that he had better performed the part of agracious and righteous man, then God had of a gracious Father orrighreous Judge, Though all that be true ( how much foever it is) which wè fpeak of our felves, yet it is not good to fpeakmuch, much leffe all of , our felves ; efpeciallywhen upon that account, we may feeme to Clifpute either the juflice orgoodneileof God in dealing out the troubles and aifli&ions, under which we fuffer. Secondly , While yob did fo often and fo boldly offer to :plead his caufe before Gods tribunali, and was fo importunate for a Hearing, this carried a fecret implication, that God had not dealt wellwith him; or at leafl had not confidered his caufe throughly, for if he had, furely he should have foundmore fa- vorable dealing fromGod thenhe daylyexperienced. Thirdly, 'While Yob complained fo often and greatly of the greatnefleof his aff i&ions, of the Weight and heavineffe of the handof God uponhim, and, that he beingbut apoore worme, the great and mightyGod fhould ftretch out his ftronghand againft him ; This also might be conilrued, as if he thought Goddid not take a due-meafure of his infirmities ,but let temptations take hold of himwhich were not common toman, andburdened him beyond what he was able to beare. Now, what was this, but to juftifie himfelfe rather then God ? Fourthly,- While he complained that the hand of God had not only touched him, but even abode and dwelt upon him, 'that he was c©nfumed from morning tomorning, that he had notonly wearifome nights, but moneths of vanity appointed to him, that his afi&ions were not only exceeding fharpe , but exceeding long, yea that though they were extreamlyviolent, yet perpetu- all, thisbare hard upon the goodnefs and wifdome of God,Forato -fay thatGod over-a&s in the meafure, and exceeds in the conti- nuance of our affli&ions,reflest alike upon the honour ofGod,and are rather.a juftification of our felves in bearing the croffe, then ofGod in laying it onn. Fifthly,
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