S68 Chap. 42, t,4n Expoftion upon the Book, of J o g, Verf. 7. titulars. And whereas he fometimes a&ed impatiently, and fpake uncomely, blotting a good caufe with paflionate andhilly words, fuch as ignorant and evil men might make an ill ufe of, and draw to the patronage of their prophanicy; three proceeded not out of the abundance of his heart, but from the abundance of his pains under the heavy hand of God. And when he feemed to tax the judgment o f God, it was not any affirmation that God was un- juli or unequal in it ; but an expofiulation with him about it, or, as.fome expreCs ir, a confeflìon of his own ignorance, and an earnefi delire of clearer light and better information concerning the way of it, But if we confider the fum of what Elfphaz and his two friends fpake of God we (hall find Eliphaz in this great miflake, affirm- ing, that all the fufferings and affíi&ions which befal man in this world, are laid upon him by God asa punifhment for fin. And all three joyned in two other mifiakes. Rift, That all wicked men, fooner or later, arc vifibly punilhed for their fin in this life. Se- condly, That though a good man may poffibly fuller grievous if- fliaions in this life, yet God always delivers him out of them, before he departs this life. Hence it muff needs follow, that if a man for long continuance of time, efpecially, if all his life long he continue in great calamity, that man mull be judged wicked, though no apparant wickednefs can be charged upon hints, nor proved againff him. Upon chele unfound principles, they were all confident to infer againfi lob, that he was an hypocrite, and that all thofe troubles which befel him, were ioflieted by the righteoushand of God as a punishment for his fin. Now if this be the fum of what they fpake,we have reafon enough to anfwer the quellion propofed,That the Lords decifive fentenceberween Job and his friends,refpe ð whatjob fpake of or to God ,throughout the book, and is not to be underflood only of what he fpake towards the clofe of it ; Te have not fpaken of me the thing that is right, At my fervant Job bath. There are two parts of a Judges office. Fir(i, To condemn the guilty. Secondly, To acquit the innocent. God the great Judge cloth both here; the firff,in the former words; the fecond, +n thefetYca, the Lord doch not only acquit, but own lob in the dole li
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=