Chap. g. An Expofition upon the Book of J p B. Verf. 8. 233 is no gracious ad, but a wicked man, at one time or other, will imitate. He will pray, and repent, and forgive, and commit his caufe to God, and when he dies, commit his foul to God. There is no trufling to a mouth full ofgood words, while the heart will not empty it felfof wickednefs. It is good alwayes to com- mit our caufe and our fouls to God, but a caufe or a foul are not therefore good, becaufe committed unto God. The language of Ifrael is often fpoken by the men of 1lfhdod ; And many who ne- ver had rte leafl part of holinefs in them, can yet fet themfelves (when there is no remidie)toad a part in it. The Apofile Peter gives us this rule, (t Epilt, 4. 19.) Let them that fineraccording to the will ofGad, commit the keeping of theirfouls tohim, in well - doing, as unto afaithful Creatour. Except we fulìeer according to the will (or from the hand)ofGod,and alfo,do well in our fuffe- rings, Chrif will not admit this Feofment, though we commit our felves to him,he will not accept the truth But he that fuffers according to (or by) the will of God, and doth well in fuffering, that is, hath a good caufe, andhath a good confcicnce,He (I fay) may commit all to God,(,and in the mercy of the molt High) he shall not mifcarry. Laftly, Whereas Elipbaz faith, I wouldfeekunto God were I in thy cafe, obferve, That It is a wife court in advifing others, to fhew ourfelves ready tofol- low thefame advife, Itwins exceedingly upon others, to take our counfel, when it appeals we are read y'to follow the fame counfel, our felves. We ought to do nothing unto others, but what we would have done unto our felves, and wefhouldadvife nothing to others, but what we our felves would de ; It putsfirengtb into a rule, when he that gives it, is ready toenliven it by his own praelice. As a Phyfitian, for the encouragement of his patient to take a naufeous medicine, will fay to him, Sir you feem unwilling to drink it, but if I were tick and diftempered, as you are, I would drink it readily, and that you may fee there is nohurt in it, I will tale a little my felf; His tatting fweetens it, and the patient likes it well. Thus when either Minifker or private friend offers advife or counfel, and íhall fay, thus I would do, this I would follow, . This takes upon the heart : whereas it difparages prayer or any duty, to fay to another, Seek unto God, put your cafe unto him, fall and pray ; When he that gives the counfel negieds all thefe H h duties,
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