Chap. 9. An Expoftivn upon"the Bookof J O B. AterC 15. 2 which is molt probable to carry us thorow it, Righteoufnéfr, Though 1 were righteous I were not able to anfwer him, no not I. Though I were righteous. It is, as ifjob had further expreft himfelf to this fenfe; Í zrx fo farfrom jufii ping myfelf in all my complaining! ( which was 'the things his friends taxed himwith) as i fGod couldfinde nothinga- mifs in what I havefpoken, that I freely confers there is not the molt confiderate, righteous or holy aCtion that ever I did in My life,which I "durft bring to' the tou==-hjione, to the balance, tojuftifie myfelfbefore God by no, butinfleadcf that I wouldfall down and abate myfelfas knowing I am beforehim, wbofe eyes (being ten thoufand times brigh- ter then the Sun are able to fee unrigbteoufncfs,where I f e nothing but rightecufnefs: Doe not think' am juftifyingmy felf as a righte- ous man in what I have fpoken or done.for though !were righteousyet I would not (upon that ground) goe about toplead my caufe or jiand' it out with God. Or thus, I know I amunrighteous and unclean, but ifI were righteous; I would not anfwer Here a Queflion or two mull be refolved As, Fitit," was not job righteous? He puts the Quéilio Whom, though 1 were righteous, was Job an unrighteous man Doth not he himfelf fay ( Chap.29. r 4.)1put on righteoufnefs,and it cloathed me) Why then doth he here only make a fuppofition ofit, Whom, though I were righteous, when as there he makes it a potation, that he was cloathed with righteoufnefs. I anfwer { to clear this Scripture)Man is rightcousin a double oppofition. Righteous ; firft, in oppofition to the wicked : and thefe may taken in three ranks, either, Firft, the abominable and profane: Or, fecondly, hypocrites and unfincere : Or third.. ly; oppreffours, & fuch as are unjuft in their dealings toward men. As righteous is oppofed to wicked in thefe thrce,profane,bypocrites: or opprefors, fo jobwas a righteous man. Jobwas not profane,he feared God:Job was not an hypocrite, he was perfeEt and udright: Job was not an oppreffour, the loynes of thepoor bleffed him. And . that's the peculiar fente of the 29thChapter,Iput on righteoufnefs, that is,rightcoufnefs'in all my dealings with men. Secondly, Righteous is oppofed to imperfect, or that `which bath any failingor want in it.And in this fenfejob was not right- teous ; and that's his meaning here. Though I were righteous; that is,though I had the uttermofi perfusions which a creature is capa- ble i.
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