402 Chap. N. An Expofition upon the Bookof J O B. Verf. 27, make tryalofourfelves ;or`we fhould make; truth our'own,before we diftribute it to others. We have fearched the thing out ( faithEliphat ) we knowthe truth tobe thus, we are mailers of what we teach. They who hear aright,fearch(as the Bereans)thofe things,which are taught them ; and they who inftrua a right, ought to fearch the things which they teach; Ifthere mull be after-fearching of thofe things we hear, certainly theremufl be fore- fcarchings of the things we teach. Truth (ordinarily) is not worth the having- unlefs it be come in by our own fearching. They who receive that for truth which they never fearcht,will nothold any truth when them- (elves are fearcht.Truths merely borrowed and taken upon truft, areno flock, no abiding treafure ofknowledg ; And yet moil can only fay ofall the truth they have,ashe of his axe-head,(2 Kings 6. 5.)Alasmalter,for it was borrowed;they (Hatch up one truth froto this hand* another from that;they take it upon the credit of this and that learned man ; very few are able to fay (as Eliphaz here) Loe this, wehavefearched it : The more pains we take to find truth, the more pleafure we take in it ; That is fweeteft tous, which we fweatmoft for, inpraying and ftudying MMortèls of Truth dipt in that fawce, fatten and ftrengthen the foul moil. Obferve thirdly, What aman knoweth by fearch and difquifition, he it confï0 dent of. avefearchedit ; and`what follows? fo it is, He (peaks with authority, nottimeroufly, as if hedoubted whether it werefo dr no; but, f it is we will bide by it, we have itupon enquiry and diligentTearch. Obferve fourthly, The truths we know our felves, we jhould communicate unto others. Here it'is, we have fearched it, but we willnot put the light we have found,under'a butbellwewill not hide the talent we have in a napkin:Here"it is,make what ufe ofit thou canft,knom itfor thy good. Obferve fifthly, truth ma cha/lengeiJredt, and command the eare. }leare thou it. Truth needs not (land begging audience,or creep upon the ground with flattering infìnuations,or humble fubmif- ftons to gain6acceptance. Truth is a great Prince, and may (peak in the language ofPrinces ; We will, We require ; It commands rather then entreats) or allits entreaties commands, cyery word
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