Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v12

0hap,42. An Expòfation upon the Book of J o s, Verf. i r. 957 airy and`converfe with him before. Chriff (Mat. 7. 22.) fail of thofe that did fo hotly preis acquaintance upon him, I know pa not, yearenot of thofe that L.know, or have had fellowfhip with, you are none of my acquaintance.. So that, there was a colleeìion of all jobs relations and friends at that time, they all fhckt rb him; and thronged abouthim, as toand about fome ffrange.fight ; the fame of his refloration was foon blown all the Country over. Hence. the.. Septuagint render the words paraphrallicaliy; ill dierwir,o his brethren heard all that had befallen him ;and fo they. came, scungue ae. But, wherewas his wife ? There is no mention here of her re-ctderens ei,. d7 turn ; fhe had.fpoken as a foolifh woman (Chap. 2, i o.) and did vsneruntsepr; not anfwer the duty of her relation after that, as he complained (Chap. 19.17.) My breath is fraange to my wife, though l en- treated for the childrens fake of mineown body ; yet doubtlefs Elie returned to her duty,and honoured him as her head and husband, now at laff, elfe the mercy had not beencompleat, but defeefive ina veryconfiderable.parr of ir. Now, in that jobs refforing, or the repair of his loffes, _began with the return of his friends, Obferve; The lofs of friends isagreatand grievouslofs; He that torah the affcaionof friends, lofeth a great pof effion, a.greatintereff..Friends indeed are great helps, great helpers ; tobe in friendlefs condition, is to be in a helplefs condition; toe havefriends, is a veryvaluable mercy. Let us biefs God that we have mento friend us, above all,chat God is our friend. Secondly, There words, Then came all bis brethren, imply; that when he was in an affíidled condition, none of his friends came at him,, neither thofe that are here called his brethren and` lifters, nor thole that are called his acquaintance. Hence obferve ; In times of affliv`tion, worldlyfriends will have to, and godly friends mayprove fraange to us. Doubtlefs, among thofe brethren, fifers and acquaintance of job, force, that I fay not, many, were godly, yet even they left him, in thteday of his diffrefs. Men are but men, and they often- times fhew.themfelves.unconflant toman. M Chtiul had thofe that

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