Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v10

540 Chap. 34. An Expoftion upon the Beek, of J ó B. Verf.$- ceffary, thewot flip and fervice of God. It is a good argument, - that man hash an'heart for God, who walks withgood menhi the waves of God. To converfe much with or to bemuch in the com- pany of good men, is a probable figne of goodneffe ; but when we with them to,the houle and worship ofGod, orconverfe with themin the dutyes of holinef(e, this is agreat (thoughno in= fallible )' argument of goodneife. And to be lure to walk with evill men, efpecially to joyne with them in doingevill is an argu- ment- that the man is evil!. Therefore . Elihu may feeme to bring'ademonfration againfl fóbs godlinefle. (that he intended it not fo I than ihew.'afterwards, but, I fay,he feemes to fay_toy while he faith, fobwalketh with wicked men. TheHebrew Phrafe ufed in the Text is more then (aswe ex- preffe) wicked men, we may render it menofwickedneffe ; the Scripture calieth thofe men fo who are. (as it were), transform- ed into wickedneffe, or formed up of wickedneffe. As fame men are fo witty, that we call themmen of wit, and others fo judiciou3 that we call them men of judgment, as force are fo skilfull and cunning, that we call themmen of skjgand cunning ; fo force are fo wicked, that the Scripturecalls themmen of wickednejfe ; even with thefe_very dregs ofmankind, it feemes job contorted. He gaeth in. company .with.the.workers of:mgmty, andwalketh with suit kedmen, But here it may be queflioned, was it indeed fo with fob, or. was Tob fuch a -man as he is exprefly.charged tobeboth in this and the former verle ? Did Elihujudge.him afcorner, a compani= on oftheworkers of imgnity, andawalker with,menofwickednejfe Doubtlefje that's not Ebbs,s fcope or intention ; ;nor could he_: imagine that lab, in flria fence, was either a fcorner ofgoodmen, . or chofe the company of wicked men. And Purely all that knew, Job could certifie (upon their knowledge) that he was a man. of a gracious fpirit andunblemi(ht life; that heloved goodmen and fweetly converted with them, and therefore was farre from doing with deboyfl companions, or men of a profligate fpirit, Why thencloth Ebb%fpeak thus ? or. fpake he the words of truth and fobriety while he fpake thus ?' I anfwer, . this forme of (peaking lothnot aiwayes import a likeneffe ofcenverfation and difpofltion, as fometitnes it Beth, (Prov, , i z, z 5.) Come with r5, and caf1 in thy lotamong.uu, !err:

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