Chap. 4°. "InExpoftion upon the Book ofJ O B. Verf.4. 5 a e fuch is the Majefly and glory of God, !when it breaks, forth inany cafe to a poor creature, that it leaves himquite anfwerlefs, and takes away not only all matter of difpute,but of fpeech;and there- fore job reColves upon filence, as appears by what he faith in the la( claufe of this verfe. Igill lay myhandupon my mouth. As if hehad Paid. That all may fee I know not what to,anfwer, I will flop up the conveyance of arfwe's.- What this Scripture phrafe, to lay the bandupon the mouth, imports, hath been opened (Chap. Zt. 5. ) In brief,jobs meaning in refolving thus, was, as if he had Paid, Iwillimpofe ftlence capon my felt; Or thus, Lord, thou fhalt not need to fifence me or to flop mymouth, I will do it my felf ; Iknow not'what to anfwer thee ; but if Idid, if I could ga- ther up fometbing that might loop, like an anfwer, yet Iw11not an. fiver,/ will lay myhanduponmp mouth. Further whenhe faith, /34// lay my handupon my mouth, it may imply, that he would fain have been anfìvering, though he could not tell what to anfwer. The tongue, if left at liberty, if not checkt,will be making anfwers, when it cannot anfwer any thing topurpofe ; and therefore as David faid ( Pfeil. 39. r . )/ pod/ conflitaolin- gux licentiam keepmy mouth with a bridle, while the wicked u before me. So, perenite'r co. would job here,vvhile the Holy one was before him, fearing he ercero. might give further offence, 'while he went about to take off of- fences. The tongue of a good man needs a bridle;and the bet- ter Any man is, the more he bridles his tongue. jobhad offended with his tongue ; though hehad not fpoken wickedly, yet he had fpoken rafhly and incoefiderately, and now he faith, Iwill lay myhand uponmy mouth. Hence note ; tye fhould bevery watchful over that which bath been an in- flrument or an occafionof fin. He that bath offended with his mouth,fhould lay his hand upon his mouth,and take order with his tongue.It is better CO be filent, than to offend in (peaking. Pambo ( as the Church Hiflorian re- socsates ports) confeffed, that in forty nine years he had fcarcely learned hft. Ealtr the meaning of, or the duty contained in the firfl and fecond cap.ts. X x x verfes
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