Chap. 35. e/In Expofttion upon the Joekof J o Verf.. 3, -a; nocency is, I have little comfort,or'cismuch-what alike withm,, whether I be righteous, or wicked. In thefe places,and by thefe fpeeches Job feems to put little or no difference between the dealings of God with the wickedand the righteous. Once more. Thofewords ( Chap. 9. 28, 29, 3o. ) are of a like import, I arm afraid ofall my forrows,Iknow that thouwilt not hold me Innocent. IfIbe wicked, why then-labour I ins vain ? if Iwafh my felfwith fnow water, andmake my hands neverfoclean ; yet fhalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own cloaths fhall abhorre me.Saying this, thou haft faid, how innocent foever I am, I (hall not be dealt with as an innocent ; if I make my felf never foclean, God will throw me into the ditch, thatis, into affli9ion. From thefe fpeeches E- lihu might chargeJob with fayirig , what profit is it (as to my tem- poral good ) that Iam cleanfedfrom fpiritual evil, myfi n ? As for his eternal eflate,that's not thematter controverted in this book. The fumme of all amounts to this, If I am cleanfed frommy fin, I may beas great a fufferer and as hardlydealt with in this worlds as if Iwere altogether unclean.: Andhence it might be inferred, Surely Job was more righteous thanGod, becaufe while he la- boured to pleafe God as becometh his people and good fervants todo,God.was pleafed(infleadof rewarding him, as he had done many; and promifed all who do fo) to afflie him,ashe ufeth to do- and hach threatned to doto the worfl of evil men , the wicked. Thus thou hail faid, what advantage, &c. The word here rendred advantage, fgnifethgainany way, or nu pvofaït any thing that is commodious and gainful to us ; thou haft laid , contulit,utilss what advantage will it 6e unto thee ? Thus he brings in 7-06 pitt- commodes f L ring the queflion to himfelf,what advantage fhauld he get to him- fell in this life by living a religious or aholy life ? As if hi. had laid, Doubdefs'cisconcluded in thybreaft, thou Chair get none And to f,<rengthen this thyunbelief, at, leaf/ to (hew that thyun- belief in this poynt is very flrong, thou haft laid the fame thingin another drefs.of wordsa fecund time ; For I have heard thee bay- ing thus alto. What profit (hallI have, if1 be cleanfedfrommyfn ? Job was taxed for a firingof thefame fcandalous fence (Chap. 34. 9..) He bathfaid, a prafitetb a man nothing, that he (hould de l;gbthtmfclfwfthGod. There ,E accufeth him #as affirming in
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