52o Chap. 4o. 4n Expolition upon the Book, of J B. Verf,4. noway able to anfwer, when he faid, What !hall lanfwer ? The Hebrew is, What ¡hall l return, or tarn back ? We may exem- plifie thispaffionate interrogation, by that of the Patriark Judah (Gen. 44, -16 ) when fofepb would have detained Benjamin ( having found the cup in his lacks mouth ) Judah faid, what Mall we fay unto my ;Lord ? what (hall we fpeak ? or bow ¡hall we clear our felves ? Here are three quellions to thew that he had nothing to anfwer. Fi;R , .what !hall we fay to my, Lord ? Secondly, what [hall we fpeak? Thirdly, How (hall we clear oar ¡elves ? Truly, we know not what to fay,nor fpeak,nor how to clear our felves. The plain truth is, we have nothing at all to anfwer for our felves, but to yield our felves to thy mercy. Thus fob, dam vile, what fhàlll anfwer thee, the great God, the ho- lyGod, the mightyGod,the wife God?what fhall I anfwer thee ? Hence note; When God is opponent,no man canbe refpondent. God can put fuchquefiìons, and make fuch objeElions, as no -man is able to anfwer. Thus fpakefob at the 3d -verle ofthe ninth Chapter ; If he ("that is, God ) will contend with him ( that is, with man) he cannot anfwer him one of a thoufand: Which im- plyerh,that not only not one among very many men, but that-not cine among all men, or that not any man is able to anfwer, if God will contend. The Apofile faith of all men in a Rate of fin(Rom. 3. 19.) We know, that what things foevir the law,faith, et faith to them who are under the law ; that every mouth may be flopped, andall the worldmaybecomeguilty before God. If the Lord lhould make objediions again¡, or charge timers, according to the ffria_ fiefs and feverityof the law; thebef,the holief of men could not find an anfwer or no anfwerwould'be found in their mouths:how much lefs could any anfwer him, who not only were altogether born in fnas all are, and as the proud Pharifeesçold_táe poor man in the Gofpel he was (7oh, 9. 34) but abide and continue in fin ? How will the mouthes of all fuch be flopt with a fence of their felf- gniltinefs ? how mute, how anfwerlefs will they Rand beforeCod ? or fay, as job in the Text ( but in a ten thoufand times ladder plight than he ) What ¡hall we anfwer ? It is the happinefs of humbled fanners that they have Chrift to anfwerfor them, Peeing in that cafeno finer can anfwer for himfelf. And fuch
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