350 Chap. 9. An Expofition upon the Book of J oB. Verf.27. halt ho!pen others, canit not help thy fell. Yet here Job was upon a refolve to comfort himfelf. anfwer, though it be a truth, that no man is able to comfort himfelf, no more then he can convert himfelf ; and that a man is no more able to change his heart from forrow to joy, then he is able to change his heart from fin to grace;yet, a man may attempt or affay., he may ufe means to comfort himfelf. When Job faith, ! will comfort myfelt the meaning is, I will do the utmoll I can, I will not be behind in my endeavours, I will take the bell courfe, and improve all opportunities toget out of thefe dumps ; whofo- cver will prefcribe me a way, or diref%me to a remedy ofthefe forrows, I will fubmit to it, Iwill comfort my felf. From whence note, That What a man really endeavonretb to do that he may be Paid to dc. 1 will comfort myfell ; Why ? Becaufe though hewere not able toatt ain fuch an end ( Joy and comfort lye beyond the line of the creature) yet he reached at it, he attemptedi and affayed all means to comfort himfelf. Thus the falyationofa man is afcri- bed to himfelf; a man is laid to fave himfelf, though falvati- on belongeth to theLord, even temporal falvation, but efpecial- ly eternall falvation,yet,a man maybe laid to favehimfelf; as the Apotlle (r Epift.q., 16.) exhorts Timothy to walk by a holyrule,to fettle himfelf in his fludies,to read the Scriptures, and tomeditate in them, to be faithfull in difpenfing of theGofpel, aOTuríag him, If thou daft thefe things,thou fhalt both Pave thy fill; and them that hear thee.Save thyfelf.No mancan be his ownSaviour;he maybe as well his own Creator. Timothy was thus encouraged, becaufe in fo doing, hedid all that a manought, whoexpels falvation. That was the way to,though not the caul offalvation. Salvation isall Chrifts,yet he who doth hisbelt to favehimfelf, may be raid toPave himfelf. Thus alto a man comforts himfelf, converts himfelf,in- firuf s himfelf,when he putteth out to the utmo& ofgifts, gra- ces, and opportunities to doe or attain dutiesand bleflìngs. Noman (faith the Prophet)dothftir bimfelfup to take hold ofthe Lord. The word in the Prophet Lignifies to awake , or to watch ; no man wakes or watches his opportunity to take hold ofthe Lord. It notes alto that affioí: ofold birds, who flutter with their wings, and beat up their young ones, to urge and provoke them to ufe their wings, and íiye abroad, Thus he complained becaufe the lazy
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