666 Chap. 34. An E.vpofition upon the Book, of J o B. Verf.aa (f er: 16. 17. ) where he firs} all-errs thatGod Teeth all , mine eyes are upon all their wales, and then denyeth, that any thing is a ferret unto him, They are not hidfrommy face,neither u their is -. gaity hid frommine eyes. Thefelatter words of the Prophet areof the fame fignification with there ofElihu, There if no darko fr, &c. We may take darknefs two wayes ; Firfl, for naturall dark- nefs,that darknefs which fpreads it felfe over the face of the earth upon the going downe of the Sun,'ris the privation of Light. Se condly,there is artificciall darknefs,that darknefswhich men make tohicle themfelves, and their aeliots in, from the eye of Godor man ; many are very skillfull,yea and fuccefiefull inmaking (had- doylies to hide their alions frommen: They cover the eviti which they have done with fuch cunning excufes or flat denyalls, and they cover what they purpofe todoe (how foule fcever) un- der fuch faire trappings of words, and fpecious pretenfes , they . gloffe their worfl aelions and intentions with fnchappearances of good, that the wifefl andbell lighted men cannot finde them out. When.Abfalonhad a -oft unnatural) as well as a moll difloyalt purpofe to rayfe a rebellion againfthis king-father, he coloured it with a devout profefliion of performing avow ; This was artifici- all darknefs. 'Tis reported by the naturali Hiflorian, of a little fifh, which feeing its enemy neare, calls out a kinde of biacknefs from it felfe, which darkens the water , and fo efcapes the dan ger. Thus men indeed hide themfelves from tnan,and they would bide themfelves fromGodtoo; but there is no darl¿nefs, neither ataturall nor artificiali , that can cover their wayes from his eye; No, Norfhaddovofdeath. The importance of this expreilion bath been opened more then once in this book, (chap, 3. 5. chap 10.21. chap. r z. zz. chap. z8: 3.) therefore I thall not flay upon it here ; only confider, when he faith, There is no darknefs' nor fhaddow of death, by fhad- dowof death, he meansextreamefi darknefs.If there be any dark- nefs (as job fpeaks chap. To. 22.) likedarknefs it felf, and whole light is asdarknefs,that is it.Themetaphor is taken from the grave, where the dead beingburied, havenot the leali glympfe,ray, or Thine
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