Chap. 34. 4n Expofition upon the BoolZof J o B. Verf. o. 5,17 This grand prophanei e the Prophet rebukes ( Mal: 3.14.) re havePaid, It is to vaine toferveGod,and what profit is therethat see have kept lizs ordinances ? Thus the ca:nal heart , which would faine free or keepe it felfe from keeping the ordinances ofGod, is ready to que(lion,whetherthere be anyprofit in keeping them. And while fuch feeme only to put the quef+ion, they indeed con- clude, that there is no profit imkeeping them ; yet the truth is, the very keeping the ordinances of God, as it is an a& of obe- dience to him, and of communion with him is very profitable, though we fbould have novifible nor fenfible profit by it.Inkeep- ing the commandementsofGod, there is great rcpard (Pfal: 19. r i.) that is, the keeping ofthem is a reward, as well as a reward is promifed to thofe that keepe them. The Reader may conCult this poynt further, at the r 5th verfe of the zathChapter. Note , Thirdly. Good men fometimes Beakworfe then they meant. 70b.never thought it was noprofit to ferve God, yet he had let fall words which might beare that gloffe. As wicked men often fpeake better then they meane ; They have golden words in their mouths, when there is nothing but drofs in their hearts ; their words are fmoother then oyle,yet they are drawne fwords ; their words foundwell, while they wound deep, (now as a carnal man fpeakes oftenbetter thenhe meanes, and fometimes fpeakespur- pofely the bef+ when he meanes wort+) fo a godly man fpeakes fometimes worfe then he meanes, or he may fpeak ill when he in- tends nothing but good. Holy David ( which conies up fully to the fence ofwhat job is taxed for Paying here) fayd ( and what couldhe fpeakmore unholyly) (Pfal:7 3. r 5. )Verily Ihave clean- fed my heart in vaine, &c. What language was here ? would one think to heare David foule his mouth with fuchwords as thefe ? wouldone think,that fuchaword couldhave dropt from the mouth of David,whofemouthufed todrop like anhoney comb,& whole lips were wont tobe like a treeof life feeding many ? yet David in temptation, that is, ingreat afliiaion (for he there complaines that he was chaflened every morning) fpake thus withhis tongue ro the griefe of his heart a little after. The tongue is an unruly member, (as the Apoflle fames faith, Chap: 3. R. ) The tongue can no man tame ; we need a great command upon the heart ro A. a a a 2 bridle
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