Chap. 40. n Expofitionespon the Book_ofJ o a. Veit 8, 54 ç It is ahigh grace of God toman, to jui+ifie man ; but it is ohely the dutyof man to juflifieGod in all things. Let himdo what he will with perlons or Nations , let him break them all to pieces, let him lay all walle and defolate ; in all this we are to jufiifie. God. We fhould rather bewilling to appear finful , and that we are punifhed for our fins and evil deeds , than fomuch as in ap- pearance to queflion or make the leaft doubt of the juflice of God , or give others the leafs fhadow of anoccafion to queflion or doubtir. That of the Schoolman bears much weight in this cafe. If Aquinas, (faith he) two are equal, and afault is to be laidupon one of them; it is not reprovable , ifone of them purge hirnfelf of thefault char - ged, although he be blameable in the opinion of others ; becaufe man naturally loveth himfelf more than another. But where there is fogreata diflance, as between God andman, man !had rather take the blame to himfelf , though unjuffly laid on him , than ca/.} ït upon God which he cannot do but unjaflly. And therefore Godin arguing withJob , propofeth thefisperlative excellency ofbimfelfa- bove man, Obferve, Thirdly; We fould be much in judging ourfelves, Wilt that: condemn me , that thou mayefá be righteous .p Thou fhouldeft condemn thy felf , and judge thy fell; thy judgement is upon a wrong objet. Self judgement is good , but judging of God , oh how finful is that (a Car. r r. 3r.) If we wouldjudge our (elves, we fhould not be judged of the Lord. Our bufinefhe is to judge our felves, and for not judging of our felves, it is , that we meet with fo many judgements from the hand of God. Therefore God judgeth us, becaufe we donot judge our felves.And therefore let every mouth be flopt;it (hall be at daft as the Apofile conciudes(Ram. 3 . r 8.)Everymouth f all be flopt,and all the world fallbecomeguilty before God. We are Pelf- guilty,and therefore fhouldbe felf-condemned.'Tis a dreadful thing in one fence to be felf-condemned,as it is fpoken ofthe Heretick (Tic. 3,, r r .)He is condemned of himfelf:He is condemned of himfelf,while he doth juflifie himfelf. 'Tis the worfl ofcondemnations , to be condemned of our felves, by juflifying of our felves ; but it is good to condemnour felves, in judging or in humbling oar felves, dA a a a David
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