303 Verf. r 8. fn Expe tioar upon the Book of Jog. Chap 3K, laughs. Ir is laid (Job 9, x 3,) God will laugh at the tryal of the in- nocent, and why,was thewed in opening that place ; I only touch it now upon this occafion : The Lord knows the innocent will come off with honour, will hand it out in their tryal bravely, he fees what Courage &Faith &Patience theywill manifeft in and under their fufferings. Now as the Lord even claps his hands,and laughs, when his chosen noble ones go forth to the rryal, knowing theywill honour him in their tryal ; ro the Lord laughs ac the de- ft: uction of the wicked, knowing that his Juffice and Righteouf- nets (hail have a full ltroke at them, and lay both their (name and fincpen to all the world. That the Lord in his wrath takes away with a ftroke, (hould make us all beware, fear and tremble ; but that which followeth, may make us wary, fear and tremblemuch more ; for, faith Eli- hu in the cloie of the verle, Then agreat Ra: force cannot deliver thee. `1 D The word rendred a Ranfome fignifies that which is paid as a Redemptionis price for the deliverance of a Captive out of bondage Fretivat, gaol P : Thus 7vordv Graecá Ch -a gate himself a Ranfome for tanners. But here is a Cafe appellant. wherein no Ranfome will be taken, no, though it be, not a (mall, petty Ranfome, but a great Ranfome,of that(faithElihu) it cannot deliver thee. As ifkte had faid., When onceGod is fo far provo- ked, that the Decree is gone forth ro deftroy thee, then it will be in vain to thinkof getting off by Ranfome. Here it may be queried, What is this great Ranfom that will not deliver ? There is a twofold Ranfome, by one of which the people of God are fomtimes delivered,and alwayes by the ocher. Firft, The people of God are fomrimes ranfomed or delivered by the deftruFtionand ruine of the wicked ; that's their Ranfom, and that, not feldom, proves a great Ranfome. It is faid ex- prefly (Prov, z t. 18. ) The wicked [haft be a Ranfome for the rghteoxe; how, a`Ranfome for the righteous ! will a wickedman pay a Ranfome for the righteous ? or will the wicked man offer himfelf a Ranfonse for him, and fay, l'ledye inftead of the righ- teous man? furely there's no fuch thing to be expected from him. Peradventurefor a good man ( faith the Apoftie,Row. 5, 7, 8.) one would evendare to dye ; that is, one good man may poilìhly be willing to lay down his life for another good man. Scarcelyfor a
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