8ó2 Ch ap..¢2. e/1n Expofition span tbe Bookof o s. Verf have I payed myvows :but ehe burnt-offering was wholly con- fumed, and Pent up unto the Lord. Go to my fervant Job, and offer Hp for par felvet a brornt- offering. Hence note; Firf, The Lord is very ready to forgive, and to beat peace with thofe that have ofendedhim. Though the fire of his wrath be kindled (as it is laid in the former verfe) yet he is willing to have it quenched. The Pro- phet Micah (chap. 7. 18.) makes this report of God, He re- taineth not his anger for ever, that is, he retaineth it but a little while, he is fpeectily pacified,and forgives ; and fometimes (as here) he forgives, without any higher fignification of his anger than a bare rebuke. TheLord did not lay the leaf+ mull+, the leaft chaffning or af+lic`+ion upon Elipbaz and his two friends, though his wrath was kindled againa them. I grant,it is not foalways; force fmart forely,and pay dearly for their errors.When the anger of the Lord was kindled againfi Aaron andMiriam(Num. 12. 9.) for fpeakingagainfi Mores (as thofe three had againfi fob) he was not then fo eafily pacified ; for, firft, it is Paid in the chofe of the 9th verle, he departed, and (ver, io.) the cloud departed fromof the tabernacle ; here was much difpleafure, yet not all, for it fol- loweth, and behold Miriam became leprous, white as fno>v. In this cafe God was angry with two that had fpoken again(+ a fer- vent of his ; and they felt more than a bare rebuke, herewas a blow given, and that a fore one. TheLord deals gently with Tome finners, that nonemay defpair ; and feverely with others, though his fervants, that none may prefume. Only let us remember, that when the Lord at any timeBoth chat+enand rebuke his fervants for fin with great feverity, he Both not d rive them away, nor difcourage thern,but would have them look to him for pardon and healing. When he joedgeth them (as the Apofflc fpeaks, a Cor. 1 T. 3 z.) he doth not condemn them; or if we call it a condemnation, yet he doth not condemn them with the world, nor as he condemns the world. God condemns the unbelieving world todeffru+ion,but he condemns his fervants only for their humiliation. The goodnefs of God appears much in thefe two things. Firff, In his fiownefs to anger, his mercy loth even clog his juflice, and gives it leaden feet, it comes flov lyo Secondly,
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