Chap. 4o. çn Expofition upon the Bookof J o E. Verf.a. 499-- let him come forthand try his skill. Thus the Lord (yet in a tender and fatherlyway) derides the folly of Job, who would needs attempt (upon the matter) to teach him who is perfcEt in knowledge , and CO over -rule his decrees and determinations, who is not only , The Lord ChiefJuftice of allthe world, but Joe- ftice it felf , and the felt rule ofit. Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty inftrutl him ? Hence obferve ; Firfc, There is a(pipit inman , in weakfmfulman, ready to contend with the Almighty God. ThequeRion in the Text may be refolved into this pofition There are Contenders with God. There are Contenders with the Word of God (as was fhewed before) There are Contend- erselfo with the Works of God , or with God about his Works, as I (gall Phew further now ; and thiswill loon appear, if we do but co,_;.pare the 4th verfe of they r thPfalme, with the4th.verfe of Rom. 3, In the Pfalme DavidmadeConf effion of his fin , of that fpccial enormous fin Adultery, vvirlrthe Murder that follow- ed it. 4gainft theeonely have ! finned, and done this evil in thy fight , that Chore m.ghttrt be jufh'fledwhen thou fpeakeFt, and clear when thoujudger b. As if Davidhad faid I humbly confef fie my fin, my adultery andmy Imo4er ; that when-ever the Lord (hall bring any chafiii(em.rnt upon my perfon or upon my family , when e- ver he (hailnffLll me or minegreatly, he may be juftifled info doing; or that all tieworld may fee that Godhadgreatreafon to carrell me, and fo juflifie himin ir. For fome poflibly may fay,wirh wonder, at the hearing of it , what! the Lord correctDavid ? fuchaman as David ? fo holy a man as David ? fo juft andupright a man em David ? re',and the Lord isju,indoing it ; and David confeffed his fin , that Godmight be jufitfeed when be fhould fpeak terrible things. andbe cleared whenhe fhould judge,that is correEt and afjrlie him terribly ; as the word is ufed (a Cor. t 1.3 r.)If we would judge our felves, we ?sauldnot be judged , that is, we should not be cha- flened , as'tis expounded {verf. 32.) whenwe arejudged (faith the Aponte there ) we arechaftened f f the Lord , that we fhould not be condemnedwith the world. Now thole words fpoken by Da- vid, are applied by the Apofile (Rom. 3.4) to vindicate the ho- nour of God spina all afperfions whatfoever, in his proceeding S ff 2 with
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=