Chap. 4, An Expofition upon the Bookof J O B. Verf. ,8., 4; and take up hiscrofr ' there is fcarce filch a word in all the old Tellament as that : he which will follow me, [ball find a crofs, and be lure ofperfecution; they were but children luau words and tights might terrific them,therefore they were(as it were)dandled on the knee,and allured by fallible comforts, a Lind flowing with milk and honey,if they did obey;and they heardofrods and itripes in cafe of ftubbornnefs and difobedience ; Say to the righteous, it ¡hall be well with him, for they (hall eat the fruit of their doings : Woe to the wicked,it¡hall be ill with him, &e. Ifa. 3. 10,1 t. David faith (indeed) many are the troubles of the righteous, bnt (it is not put among the terms of their hate or fervice) It is nót faid, ifye will be righteous ye (hall have trouble. Mofés never told them, If any will be my difc.ipli, let him take up his crois, &c. So then Gods dealings and'difpenfations being moft in outward things, at that time, they were very apt to Bumble at the crois. And there is greater reafon why they fhould Rumble at a mole- hill, then we at a mountain of trouble : God ha ving told us; that feting he hath given fuch excellent things in Clarift, fuch glori- ous mercies, and rraufcendent priviledges in the Gofpel,we may well take affliótions and troubles into the bargain , and never {brink or strain at them, but rather take themwell. So much for that verfe, The righteous are not cut off, neither eio innocent perfons perifh. Eliphaz having given Yob his turn to fearch his experiences, brings forth his own, in the next words : Even as I have feen, vet . 8. tiny that plow iniquity, andfow n ickednefs, reap the fame., As ifhe f- fhould fay, lob, I know you are not able togive me one inftance ofa,righteous mans perifhing, but I could give you many and ma- ny inllances,I could write whole books concerning wicked met} perifhing, and of the ungodly cut off This he carries under a me- eaphor, and by continued metaphors,makesup an elegant allegory, in thofe terms ofplowing,fowing, reaping. f`122 Even as Ihavefeet:: J That word notes, a curious obíervati- St ; ,cat non on ; not a light tranfitory glance of the eye, but critticàl con- j;;,ptl;¡ter v;. Tideration ofany thing. As it is fail, Gen. t. 4. Godfaw the light dere fad curiafë that he had made, a God la' it difcernly, for he found it was erfp;cerc very good : And fo it is faid, Gen. 34.. 1,2 that Dinah went forth to fee the daughters ifthe land, that is curioufly (though vaine- ly) to obferve the manners and fafhions of the people ; and in the fame verfe, Hamor the Son of Sechetn fan, ber, he law her fo G 2 ex-
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