Chap. 4o. an ExpofLion upon the Book of J o B. Verf.s. ç 2; but once -? he confeffeth more in the latter part of the verle. Tea, twice, but I will proceed no furthor. Once, yea twice. Some Interpreters are much in ihewing what that onceor twice fpeaking fhould be. Firfi, Some fay it was that he fo importunately defired to plead with God. Secondly, Others, that he did fo much ju- flifie himfclf;for though he did well in maintaining his integrity, yet his over-doing it or being fo much in ir,was not well.Others, That his once was his complaining of the afflielions of the godly, efpecially of his own, as if they were too heavy, and he not weighed man even ballance, at leaf+ affii&ed more than needed. That his twice, was his heightning the profperity of the wicked, as if God favoured them ; at leafI, that he did not punifh them as they deferved, nor Phew difpleafure enough againfi them. But we need not flay upon fuch particulars, nor take once and twicef}ritly. This exprefhon, once, yea twice, implies only, that hehad fpoken often ; I have fpoken not only once, but twice, that is, I have fpoken feveral times amifs. The firft flep beyond once is twice ; and who knows how much beyond twice he had fpake?when he faid once have 1 fpoken,yea twice,the meaning plain- ly is, I have feveral times fpoken units. We had this form of fpeech'(fob 3 3. I4.) where Elihu told lob that the Lord fpealt- eth once, yea twice, yet min perceiveth it not ; that is, he (peaks often, in adream, ina vtfeon of the night, and man undertiands not the meaning of it. So here, I (faith fob) have fpoken once, yea twice, or many times. But I will proceed no further, or 1 will not adde faith the He- brew. I will no more apologize for my felt, nor Rand inmy own defence ( for in fodoing, I (hall (land in my own light) but lay my felt low in the pretence of God. As if he had faid, (My fin is already too great, in that I have divers times fpoken too bold- ly and freely, if not prefumptuoufly abont thy proceedings , but will refrain from o fending to that kind any more. The fum of all that Soh had fpoken may be thus conceived. Now Lord I corfefs to thee, andbefore all theworld, myfin and folly in guefli- oning any of thy dealings with me, in/lead offubmitang to them, efpecially inurging a bearing ofmy caute in thy pretence : Therefore I revoke my ehallenge , and cafl my felf at thy fsotflool.., X x x z acknow-
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