Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v12

góo Chap. a}2. .4n ExpoRion upon theMoo of J o B. iferf fpdts and countenances for us ; this fpirit of the world Rath Sifusris fz been anciently obferved, even -by Heathens ; If you be happy, or lixmultos nu- - rsflored tohappsnefs, you(hall number many friends, thoughyou had msrabis arnica s.nanebefore. Such friends, are like chofe birds that vifir our coatis I'emporofrfue- -inSummer, -when 'tis warmweather, when every thing flourifh- rintnubilofolus ech and is green, then formbirds vifìt us, who all the Winter, eat. 'when 'ciscold, frofi and fnow, leave us: Farther, it may be conceived, that feveral of fobs friends"left . him, not only upon the occafion of his poverty and want, but upon the fuppofi:ion of his hypocrifa and wickednefs ; many of themmight have the fame opinion of him, which chofe three had, who particularly dealt with him, that furely he was a bad man, becaufe the Lord brought fomuch evil upon him. Now when the 'Lord reflored Tab, they had another, a better opinion of him, the Lord alto giving avifible tetlimony of his, accepting rob. Hence note, Fourthly_; Godwill one timeor othervindicate the integrity of hiefaith- fulfervants, and fet them right in the opimdn of others. God fuffered fobs integrity ro lie under a cloud of fuppofed hypocrifie, but at last the Lord reflored him tohis credit, as well as to his e(lare, and made his unkind, and notonly firfpicious, but cenforiousfriends, acknowledge that he wasupright andfaithful. The Lordpromifeth (Pfalm 37. 6.) to bringforth the righteouf. refs of hie'fervants ae the light, and their judgement a the noon. day ; that is, a right judgement in others concerning them, -as well as the rightnefs of their judgement in what they have done and been,or his own molt righteous judgement in favour of them. They who had a wrong judgement, and took a falfe meafure of fob (meafuriig him bythe outward difpenfations of God, and judging of his heart by his flare, and of his fpirit by the face of his affairs) theeewere at lall otherwife perfwaded of him. 'Tic, -as the way, Co the fin and folly ofmany, to judge-uponappearance, upon the appearance of Gods outward dealings; they conclude men goodor bad, as their outward conditionis good or bad ; and therefore, the Lord, to redeemthe credit of his faithful fervants that lye under fuch mifapprehenfions, fends profperity, and ma- -nifefis hisgracious acceptance of them, that menof that perverfe opinionmay be convinced, and delivered out of their error.

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