832 Chap. 42. f./In Expofition upon the Book of J o s. Verf. 6, .Solitis rerem,, Or janitor; :piamoso. vation, not to be repentedof ; his meaning is, the repentance which it works is matter of great rejoycing, or fills the foul of an hum- bled believing firmer with great joy. I abhor my Pelf (faith Job) and repent. But how did fob re- pent ? his was noordinary repentance, therefore, he adds, l re.. pent, In dull and afhes. That is, either ; Firf}, Throwing my (elf upon the ground, (ter. 6, 26. Per. 2.5. 34. 2 Sam. z. r6.) or, Secondly, Sitting upon the ground in the duff, as (fob 2.8. If.a. 58. 5. Jonah 3. 6.)or, Thirdly, Cafiing duff upon my head (fob 2. I£.) DA caft upon the head was the embleme of an afflicted heart. And to fit in the duff, or to call duff upon the head was anciently the cere- monial part of repentance. Job Both not leave that out, I repent (faith he) in dull andafbes ; and fo force exprefs ir, I repent with outward wonted ceremonies. But, I conceive, we need not take it ffrictly ; to repent in daft and afbes, being only a proverbial fpeech, implying very great, folemn, and ferìous repentance. There is another rendring of this latter part of the verfe,thus,I repent,ae looking upon, or accounting_my felt daft and afhes ;'ds an argument of much humility and humiliation to do fo. Abraham gave himfelf no higher a title before the Lord (Gen. 18. 27.) 1 have begun to fpeak, who am but dull and afhes. If we take it thus, I abhor my Pelf, and repent, looking upon my felf but as daft andafhes, it is agood fence alto, and reacheth the purpofe which job was upon, or which was upon yobs fpirit in that day and duty of repentance. There is no difficulty in the words, theyyield many ufeful obfervations : 'wherefore I abhor my 'elf. Firft, As the word wherefore refers to that lignal difcovery which fob had of God, who did nor only manifefi himfelf to him by the hearing of the car, but by thefeeing of the eye, that is more fully_ than before; Obferve,
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