Chap. 9. An .Ekpofition upon the Book of J O B. erf, 20, ,295 verfe 20. IfIjufiifie mj fe1f, That is ifwitnefs fail, and counfel fail, ifall help and fuccours fail me, and thenlrefolve to go towork with my own hirength and wit, if1go about to makeordeclare my Pelf Oft before God, (for fo the word is to be underftood,as in thedodriue of jutlifica- tion)What fhall I gaiai?the profit will not countervail the charge, or pay for the expence of one breath ; For Mineown mouth Jhall condemnme, My tongue would cut my own throat ; the fentence or words which 1 should bring forth to plead my caufe before God, would be found againti me ; the Lord would turn all my arguments back upon me, and wound me withmine own weapons. I thould go oimeum,ï,e. out condernned,and my plea would be turned into tin. I thall mourn teflimo certainly fpoyl my caufe, ifI handle it. As, ifI should put it into niam,meáora- thehands ofAngels or men,lhey could make nothing of it,fo nei- ther can I make any thin' ofit, if 1 manage it my felt. hujurmodiju- Y g b Y diï ° condem- There are three things which evince that if man undertake the mutts, et oratio matter with God, he thall be condemned by his own mouth. me.ifìet inpec- Firti, Man is unfuthcient. How can he, who is ignorant, weak Cotum and unrighteous, plead his caufe with God, who is infinite in wif- dome, righteoufnefs and holinefs ? and therefore, mans own mouth will condemn him, his words will (peak himguilty,whiie he plead, Not guilty. Secondly, He that juflifies himfelfmuff appear in hisown com- mendation, he mutt bring forth all his good works, and thew the Lord howhe bath fatted, prayed ,and mourned,how humble, how liberal hehath been,what alms he bath given,he mutt (as it were) paint and adorn himfelf in all his excellencies, and Rand before the Lord in this array. Now mans own mouth mutt condemn him, ifhe do thus. The Heathen could fay by the light ofna- ?1t tautfie te- ture,That a manspraifes are fulliedby pang thorow his own lips.Ta flim°n`umpr°° foundour own praife, founds our ownfhame. If a man have n e- Fir) fordefcit ver fomuch worth in him ,t he dithonours himfelf by being the in ore trumpet of it. Thirdly, A mans own teftimony is not legal inhis own caufe. Thefameperfon muft not be a witnefs and aparty. He that jutiifies himfelf, condems himfelf, for his very juftification is an accufati- on. If a mans ownwitnefs may be taken,who BO be condemn- , ed?
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