488 Chap; 6. An Expofition upon the Bak ®f JOB. Verf.14' A godlyman in thedarkefi: a jlillilu or night of forrow, finds a light ofholy wifdome to anfwer all the objellions of his enemies, and thefufpitions ofhis freinds ; Is wifdome departed quite from, me ? Doe you think I have nothing to fay ? nothing to reply by wayof apologie for what l have doneor fpoken ? Thoughyob had manyallidions upon him, and his friends againft him, yet fee how he recollects himfelf, Is not my help in me, he makes out the goodnefs ofhis caul, in the midi ofa thoufand evils, and can plead his own integrity, in the throng of many jea- loufies and contradi6 ions. Is not my help inme ? Doe you think, you have fo daunted me, that I am not able to make out my own eftate?or that iknow not what lam ? The truth is, fometimes God leaves his fervants in fo much darknefs, for their tryal and exercife, that they cannot fee their own Oates, but cry out, they are loft and undone ; Many a good foul cannot refleét upon his graces, or get his heart into any communion with Chriit in pro- miles. This is walking in darknefs, and feeing no light. As our fins are fomtimes Jeerers to us, fo alfa our graces may. But let a man be encompaft with never fo many outward afflictions, yet if his fpirit be frec,he is able to judge ofhis own interefts,through all the black clouds whichhang over him, through all the diffra- ótions and confufions that are about him.Tbe eye offaith is ufually quickeff, ina dark night. Andwhile trouble is near at band, beholds Chriff,near at hand.He can never be without help,wbo carries hishelp about him or within him. Nor can he utterly wantcounfel to direct him, whole heart is as a counfel Table, whe reChrift ( the wifdom ofGod is ever Prefìdent and in the Chair.My worldly comforts are quite driven fromme, but wildome is not : Iam afflicted, and therefore fhould not be thus fufpeéted,but pittied. Vert. 14. To him that is afilled, piety fhould be fhewed from his friend; but beforfaketh tbefear ofthe This verfe begins the third Sectionof the chaptergwherein fob draws up a ftrong charge againft his friends, for their uncharita- blenefs. See the progrefs and links of his Difcourfe. Firft, he refuted and anfwered their objections againft him, from the firft to the 8 verfe. Secondly, he renewed his complaint, which was the ground of all their objeEttons from the 8th, verfe unto the endof the 13th. Here
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