Chap. 9. An Expofition upon the Book of J OB. Verf,27. whie'i way to mend my fell. I am fo far front any probability ofhelp by contending and driving with God,that I have no hope ofu by wattling and cleanling my felf. As carnal and earthly fuccours fail we, fo there heavenly and fpiritual duties will not tùccour me. I will give you the rum and fubilance of thefe five verfes, in a few words together, and then open the particu- lars. The general fenfe ofthe context may be thus conceived , As if Job had laid ; Ipoor man in this condition ffudy to forget the troubles which are uponme, and laying afide all anger,pallion anddifeontentments with whicbye charge me, I labour to refrefh and revive myfélf eviti hopes offomedawning or near drawing deliverance, but while I amaffiy- =ng to doe the , my forrows affault me afrefh, and even over-whelm my infant hopes, my beginning, budding comforts, withmighty ter- Tours ; fo that. now I even defpair ofrecovery out of the bandofney afliifion,andam perfwaded that I(hall not only not be delivered that Imay appear or be accounted pure and innocent, but ifcontinuedaf- flictions be an argument of mic-k,ednefs (asyou affirm) I(ball have the bonds ofmyprefent troublefifatfnedupon me,andfuch newones, it may beffronger ones added, that Ifhatl frill lookinynereyes, andbe viewed in the glafs of your opinion, like a wicked man. J'7 erefore thenfhould l deceive myfelfwith hopes that Ifhall be delivered ? Or that God will awakefor me, andmake the habitation of my righte- oufnefrprofperotts?When as Ibeleive andam very con ident,rbat how pure and righteousfoever Iam,or(byfurther waffling andcleanftng, beleivingand repenting)fhall appear to be, yet the Lordbatb an in- tent to try mefurther, even to the uttermoft, andwill caft me-into the ditch, mtreanddirt,offurtherafjiWons; fo that they who make up their judgementsbyyour rule, though they were as near to me as the clothes upon my back, muffyet abhor, and loathme (as ye myfriends now doe) as a wickedperfon. He feems to (peak as the Apotlle Both, a Cor. f}. g. I thinktbat Godbath letforthus the 4poffles lafl,as it were men appointed unto death, for we are made a fpeelacle to the world, and to Angels, and to men. This is the rum and general fenfeofthefe five verfes. The words are full ofdifficulty, and there is much variety ofjudge- rnents about them : bat Ihope in thedole to make out 2 feria up- cm every particular, which tha11 be matching and ridable with tkia which ha,th been given ingenerall, If
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