Chap. 38. an Expofition upon the Book of J o s,. Verf. a. but a neceffary reprover, provided and Pent by God Firfi, To calm and coole foh fpirit, difquieted by enduring tharp aflli6tions from the hand ofGod,and heated by hearingthole fharper accufations from the tongues of men. Secondly, To reclaim him from thofe over-eager defences of his own integrity, and likewife from thofe over- paflionatecom- plaints about the dealings of God, to a better and more fubmit- five temper of spirit towards him, as alto to lower thoughts of himfelf. Elihu fell upon the ufefull point andhit ( as I may fay) the Nail on the head, he (}ruckthe right Vein,and met with the pec- cant Humour a yet being young, and wantinggravity`to fet all home ,: and make it work ; or , to make the impretlion deepenough upon fob, it was but need that God himfelf fhould fecond him, and hedid it to purpofe; or with full etfe& ; pref- fing the farne Arguments, for the main, which Elihit had begun ;. yet fo, that we may manifetly difcerna wide difference, whe- therwe refpe& words or things,tnatter ormanner,between men, howmuch foever ofiified by the fpirit of God, and God himfelf in fpeaking. Here the Eternal GodJehovah, having feen hisfaithful fervant, and flout Champion fob, contending andwaffling long with Sa- his profeffed enemy, and with his har(h and cenforious,, though both profeffed and real Friends, forefeeing alfo that if Job and his Friends ( who had alto been provoked. by 81411 ) thould have proceeded to anfwer him , a new broil muti needs begin; God (I fay) who never fails, nor for- fakes his in their extreamity, or in time of their grcateff need,., Peeing and fore-feeing álí this,. ftept inmot feafonably, and moll gracioufly to undertake the decifion of this great Controverfie betweenfob and his Friends, in perfon, railinga (iormy Wind, as a wimefs of his mighty pretence, or to tettifie who was there, as alto (though with a Fatherly love and affe&ion;yet) impar- tially and plainly to convince fob of his errour , (hewing him, wherein he had offended, and bringing him at lati upon his knees, in aPelf-abhorrence and repentance in duf} and afhes. Thus God the chief Judge, the great Arbitrator, and Deter- miner of all doubts and queflions, and of all matters and things ; the great God (I fay) declared himfelf, to whom fob hadmade fo
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