Chap, 6. An Exposition upon theBookofJ O B. Verf. 7. 449 unreafonabl.e jealoufies then for hiscounfellours and helpers to be angry with , and oppoftoagainti him too, Observe hence That not only words untrue, but words misapplied, are unfavou- ry, andmay be dangerous: They are no food, and they may be poifon. Prudence in applying, is the fait and feafoning of what isfpoken. As a word spoken in the right feafon is precious, and upon the wheele, fo is a word right placed : When that faith- full Prophet(Ezek.13.)reproves the false Prophets, he fait h,They dawbedwith untempered mvrter, ver. to. it is the word of the Text : and why was theirs untempered morter ? even, because they applyed the wordof God wrong. They madefad the hearts of thofe, whom God wouldhave refrefhed, and they cheared the spirits ofthofe, whom God would have fadned ; theyfliy the fouls that fheuld not dye, andfive thefouls alive, thatshould not live ; this was untempered morter : The Apostle advifeth all, Colloff 4. 6. Let yourfpeech be alwayes withgrace, feaf''oned with fait. And fpeech mull be feafoned, not only with the fait of truth but with the fait of wifdom and difcretion:and therefore the Apoilleadds, that ye may know how to anfrrer every one ; that is, that you may give every man an anfwer,fitting his cafe, and the present consti- tution of his fpirit OfTome have compaffion(faiththeApotîle jade, verf. 22.)making a difference, and others fave with fear, This (hews the holy skill ofmanaging the word of God, when we make a difference ofour patients, by our different medicines and not serve all out of the fame box. Henceour Lord calleth thole great Teachers of the Gofpel,and difpenfers ofhis Oracles,Light, and Salt;Tou are the Light ofthe World,andyoa are the Salt of the earth, becaufe they were to fpeak favoury things to every perfon, to every pallate,as well as to enlighten them with knowledge,and prevent or cure the corruption of their manners, and ke p their lives fwcet. As there is an unfavourinefs in perfons,when they are tnil.employed,fo there is an unfave,urinefs in fpeeches,wh n they are mil.appl ied. The hillory_of the Church (peaks ofone E erebo lixs, who changed Religion fo ofren,andwas fo unfettled,that at last he cask himfelf down at the congregation door,and faid,tram> Concuttate pie upon me, for 1 am uxfavouryfait. And that word though in film info-. it fella truth)which is unfeafonably delivered,or unduly placed, duan. Nrctph. may be cafl at the doors of the Congregation to be trampled en, for (in this feule) it is unfavouryfait ; fuch corrupt the word, and theirs isbut corrupt communication, fuch as cannot minifter Mm cn vacs.
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