264 Chap. 9. An-Expofitáón upon the Book,of )'OB'. Vì:rG 15. Thirdly ,Obferve the vaft difference that is between the fpirit and temper cif a godly man, and of a wicked man. O the humili- ty ofjobs fpirit ! fob willísotjtìfiifie his Own righteoufnefs,or ftifiehimfelf'in his righteoufnefs. Awicked man will juftifie his fin, or juftifie himfelt in his fin. ASaul will juftifie his difobe- dience, but a job will not juilifie his obedience.job will not take Upon him to be a righteous man ; though God had told him he was perf.d and upright. A wicked man will take upon him to be righteous though God teli,bim to his face a thouland times, that he is vile and filthy. How doe wicked men leek for pleas and covers to make themfelves appear righteous ! How doe they gild the bate metall of their hearts, and paint over thofe rotten pofis to make them appear beautiful! ! Chrift tells the Pharifees that thl 'were like filthy fepuichers frill of' dead mensbones, yet they would be painted over with the notion of righteous gene- ration. Job who had much "righteoufnefs and faithfulnefs in him, would not own them, and modeftly blufhes at the praife ofGod, Though I were righteous, yet I mouldnot anfiver. Fourthly, Obferve, the rigbteoufnefs of man is not pleadable be- fore the righteous God. Though I were righteous, yet I would not anfwer. The Apòftle (t Cor. 4.4.) gives a parallel teflimony, Though I know nothing by myfelt, yet am I not herebyjujtifted. Paul knew nothing byhim WE, that is, he had sot anyguilt upon him that he knew of ; he did not allow himfelf in any fin, but kept his confcience void of, offence, both towardGod' and toward man ; yet ( though it was thus with him) he difclaims all opinion ofhimfèlf, I am not here- by juflified, this is not theplea I have to make before God ; he is able to find out failings where 1 finde none, he knows better then I what I am. Fifthly, Obferve, Agodlyman looks upon hid- own righteoufnefs, as no righteoufnej . Whom, though I were righteous I wouldnot anfwer. His fuppb- fition hath negation in it, I am not righteous. job 'did not deny the work of the Spirit, or the grace of God in him ; but he would not own them in his pleadings with God. He could ftánd upon is terms with men,,and let them know who he was, and what he had done ( and it was reafon he fhould) but before God he had nothing to mention but Chrift:' in reference to the higher de- gree ofgrace för fanaificationwemutt forget all that is behinde, and
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