Chap. 6. An Expofition upon the Book of J O B. VerC, i o. 461 Secondly,fparing for the degree,when theLord moderates and mitigates, abates and qualifies our fufferiugs, not letting them fall fo heaviy upon .us, as they might : This (paring mercy, [lands (I fay) in the middle of the two former; it is not fo much as preven- ting mercy, flopping trouble that it comes not ; neither is it fo much as delivering mercy, removing it, when it is come. Now job did not only,not ask delivering mercy,but he asked not (pa- ring mercy ; Let himnot fpare mein the time, let himnot delay, or look time, let him come as loon as he will. And let ¡him not fpare mein the degree and meafure,let him flrike me as hard,and lay his hand as heavily upon me as he will. David (Pfal. ß9. r3. ) makes this his requefì,Ofpare me that I may recover ffrength, before Igo hence and be na more; That is, abate and mitigate my fufferings that I die not, but Job de.lireth not tobe fpared at all. He rather faith, takeaway all my itrength,that I may go hence, and be Peen no more. Obferve hence, That the-hope troubles will end, comforteth, yea hardneth, in bear- ingprefent troubles. Then will I comfort mÿ ¡elf, then will I hardenmy felt, let him not fpare, if I may have my requeff, and dye. The fharpeil flingof trouble, is, that it is endlefs, and it is next to that, when we cannot look to the end ()fit, nor fee any iffue or way out of it;that which dìfcourages the damned,in bear- ing their furrows . and foftens both their ¡lib and fpirits, to re, ceive home tothe head, every arrow ofwrath, and dart of ven geance, is, they fee no end, and aie allured there will be none. Theyknow,they cannot be cut off,and therefore they cannot har- den thank lves in forrow; no,that very contideration makes their hearts,which have been hardned to commit tin, tender to receive punifhment, and exactly, fenifbleof their pains ; could they fee that at loll they ¡hould be cut off,even they,would be hardned to bear the torments of Hell, in the mean time, though that time fhould be very long,yea as long as time can be, onely.not endlefs. The pain it felf Both not atiliCt fomuch, as the thought that they than be athi&ed for ever ; as the affurance, that the glory ofHea- ven ¡hall never end;infinitely fweetens it,fo the affurance thatthe pains ofhell ¡Nall never end, infinitely fharpens them: And not, to fee the ending ofworldly troub'e3 neer,putsus further offfrom comfort,then the bearingof thofe troubles. Therefore faith job, if I might be aflured, that God woùld cut me off,I would harden my felt in farrow, and let not God fpare; I would not delire him to
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=