294. Chap. 9. AnExpofition upon the BookofJ O B. Nema audet There is yet another underftandingof the word, as havingre- r reteih °- ference to theteftimony or witnefs which is brought in. So the Vulg. Vulgar reads it. No man will be fo bold as to give in evidence for me, or be a w itnefs>onmy behalf. Take all there fenfes, If I come tojudgement, ¡rho, &c. Ifnallget none to give in evidencefor me,none topleadfor me, I'Mget none to aligncounfel for me, none to appoint time andplacefor a hearing ,; ThereforeI may as well contend with God by firength, as by judgetnent. The rum ofall is, lob confeffes, in cafe he hails ' mind to go= thisway, he thould notMid any in the world to al- lift or help him in it. , We havehad divers paffages oflike nature with this, wherein job declared his utter inability to plead with God ; therefore I Mall but briefly note one thing from it. .There as nojtandingbefore God in judgement by thehelp ofany crea- ture. Who !hallJet me a time to plead? Or, who 'hall be my pleader ? One man cannot do it for another; all the Angels in heaven are not able to do it for anyman. If-man enterinto judgement with God, men and Angels cannot help him. As the Apofile fpeaks in another cafe about the want of love, If1 'peakwith the tongue of menandAngels, andbave not charity, it profitsme nothing : So, if we thould fpeakfor our feives, or others for us, with the tongues ofmen, that is, with the tongues of the moil excellent Oratours or pleaders, yea,with the tongues ofAngels, with tongues that ex- ceedall that men canfpeak; yet in judgement with God there will be butfounding brafs, and tinklingCymbals. job goes on yet a Rep further. III thould undertake to man- nage my caufe my felt (fomeClients will defire their court- fell toRand by, and they will argue their own caufe) why, faith job, If fhould do fo, if/fhould bemy own Advocate, or Attur- ney, and appear my feltin my own caufe, it would be all one,If! juftife myPelf, nay own mouth 'hill condemn me, I thall be as bad , if not worfe then before. I can get none to plead for me, and if I plead for my felf, I am lure to becaft, 1 cannot mend my felt by (peaking inmyown caufe ; that's the meaning ofthis 2otb verfe, which is but a continuation, with afurther illuftration,of what he had fpoken before,thereforeI fhàll but touch upon it. Verf. 19 Verfe
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