326 Chap. gig. A t Expofition upon the Book of ;J O B. Verf24. They are not mear ufurpers, neither flail they be dealt with as ttteer ufitrpers. They have no fpiritual title, no title by, Chria, theyclaim not by promife, which the Saints doe. They have for- kited their title by fin, all is lapfed and efcheated into the 'hand -.of the great laud-Lord. Their goods are. forfeited , and fo are their lives.into the hand of God, and he gives both back for a while into their hands.He gives them their lives back,and reprie- veth them; for which time of their reprieve, he giveth then the earth to live upon, or to maintain their lives : and fo far as they ufe earthly things for the continuance oflife,they (hall not Abe ac- . counted or reckoned with as ufurpers. They flail not be charged -for ufing the creature, but for abufing it, for making the earth ferve their lulls, notfor making it a fupport of their lives. And fetingas the Lord hath given them back their forfeited lives,fo al- fo their forfeited lands by a deed ofgift, fealed with general pro- vidence, this is enough to fecure them in thole worldlypoffe8ions Tominttt"ston (which they have neither got nor hold by inju{lice) from the fu brand ofufurpation, and from the violence of difpofieflion. As gracia. what Godbath joined no man may put afunder ; So what Godhatl given, no man mull- takeaway. Neither riches nor ride are found- ed totgrace. He bathgiven the earth into the band ofthe wicked; He covereth thefaces ofthe Judges thereof. He covereth] There is fame queflion whom we are to under- repic ne, yid?, fand, astthe antecedent to this relative. He, who is, he that cover- ant guod.a.gun eth ? Some make the antecedent, a wicked man. Others fay, rj` %,lura 'tis God. The earth isgiven into the hand ofthe wic ed and.he that - 03. itzzsk g f k > > is,, the wicked one covereth the faces ofthe Judges thereof.Or,.He, that is, God covereth thefaces of the Judges thereof. I shall a little open this cxprrl ion, it needetla Tome uncovering, for it is dark in both relations. Ertl, Look upon that in{erpretation, which,refers it to wick- red men. He covereth, namely, That wicked man, who is,pretti- ed and exaltëd, covereth thefaces ofthe fudges; that is, he (lops the courfecf juhlice. And there are four wayes by which wicked Manerarreros men cover the faces ofthe Judges. reddunt it By y gifts and rewards. Bribes nail, yea put out the eyes res. ofa Judge, that he cannot fee to give every one his due. Hcuce that charge(Exod.23.8. )thou (kalt take no gift;for thegift blinded) the wif-e, andpervert eth the words ofthe righteous. Secondly.,
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