Chap. 9. An t xpofition upon theBook of J OB. Vcrf. j 4. 25 in all things, not anfwering again. Servants cannot pleafe their matters, unlefs they nCwcr to what they are demanded, and they cannot pleafe their mafters,if they oppofe what is duly com- manded., this anfwering again is unfeemly in fervants. The latter kind ofanfvvering is that which the Apoille. Peter charges upon all Chriftians(a Epift.3.15.)Be ale ready togive an anfwer to everyman that asketbyou a reafon of the hope that is in you, with meeltnefr andfear. To anfwer thus is every mans duty, both to God and man. To anfwer by contradicting the command of God,is rebelli,on. To anfwer by fatisfying thedemands of God, is a duty. 'To anfwerby a proportion to the power or wildorne ofGod, is infinitely beyond mans ability.yob abhored the firth he wasready (aswell as he could ) to perform the fecond ; and therefore Yob is chiefly to be underftood of the third, How much left fhaU Ianfwerhim ? That is, donot look upon my Pelf as a match for God,as if I had ftrengthproportionable tohis ftrength, or wifdome futable tohis, as if I could thunder like him, I donot think that I am able to anfwerhis reafon by my reafon, no, I am fo far from an ability to anfwerhimwithreafon, that I know not how tochufeout words to reafon with him, Mowmuch left 1h41 I anfwer bim,&c. From thewhole obfervebefore I come to particulars, A godly mans thoughts are loweft ofhimfelf. yob had gone thotow the feverall feries of the creatures ; and finding them unable to contend with God, concludes himfelf more unable then they. Doubtlefshe might have anfwered God as well as any. Ifany are able to contend withGod, godly men are,lhey have the great& flrengtli ; Such of them efpecially as yob, a manof that height and elevation offpirit in holinefs, of whomGod had given his word, That there was none like him in the earth. What creature (Except an Angel) came fo nigh the Creatour as Yob? and yet when he had looked over them all, he faith, Howmuch lefsfhall 11? he thought any one might enter the lifts, and contend with the Lord better then he. Man ( having reafon) is more able then all the irrational creatures, and a- mongft men, godly men, and among godly men, they who teach thehigheft degreesofgodlinefs, are moil able, and yet job a man letupon the top and pinacle ofall perfeCtion attainable in this life, faith, How much lefsfhall I? theyof whomGod-bath the higheft thoughts, have the mean/ K k 2 thoughts
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