252 Verf.Y-2. a., E.A.poftion upo;r the Pookof J o B. Chap. 36 The righteom perifh , &c. As the righteous perifh by a natural death, to they may periíh by a violent death, and poll-61y that may fall upon them when they attend not the providential dif- penfations of God. r1t7fU They ;hall perifh by thefword, or by the drawn weapon. The word prprie r notes any weapon that is drawn or call forth, hence foale ttanflate cSr1e, map- it a Dart or Javeling,which is (hoc out of the hand ;bait may allb culum. be applied to the Sword, which being drawn forth out of the 'heath is often Pent upon deadly meffages, and may be numbered among miflïve weapons : Nowwhen Elihu faith, they'hall perifh by the fznord, we may take the wordfword properly or tropically. Properly twowayes; Firtl, for the fword of the Warcier ; Se- condly, for the fword of the Magistrate, eithet juflly punishing or grievoufly afflidling. Some good men have acknowledged in great trials and fufferings, under the hand of man, that God hath. met with them for their neglea or non-attendance tomore im- mediate aflli&ions under his own hand. Again, take the fword tropically or improperly, and fo any fore affli&ion that greatly annoyerh, efpecially if to death, is called a fword in Scripture ; They fhall perifhby thefword ( under one notionor other) i f they donogobey. Hence learn ; God will not fpare, no not his own People, if they donot obey him. God is full of fparinamercy, but the righteous may provoke him fo, that he will not fpare, no not them. Judgement begins oftenat the houle of God (t Pet.al.. i y.) And if3'udgewent begin at the houfe ofGod, what 'hall the end be ofthofe that obelynot the Çofpel ? This is a terriWe word. The righteous may perish by the fword;how dreadfully then (hall the unrighteous,thewick- ed, the fcornersofgodlinefs,,peril I. If Godwill make his own people ftnart in his anger, 'when- they provoke him, howwill he (peak to his enemies in his wrath, andvex them in hisfore difplea- faare (Pfal. 2. 5. Secondly, Rom the gradation of their troubles; Firfl, they were bound in fetters and holden in cords, but now here's a fword, a devouring fword, a killingdeadlyweapon. Hence
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