Chap.9., AnExpofitionupon the Bookof J O B. Verf 2g. Cup of forrowwhich he drank was mixed arad tempered with all our forrows, and with the caufe ofthem, our fins. This was it he feared, being in our nature ; though as that nature was hypoila- tiea -llY united unto the divinenature,it had infinitelymore power tobear all thole forrows, then we have in our nature to bear the leafs farrow. Now, ifChríf} himlelf in our &fit was afraid of his forrows, which yet he knew he should overcome, how much moremay the fear offorrows overcome us, while we are in the Beth ? Laftly, Obferve, That thefear of afflictions affa ohs and opprefJ''e. fume moft, when they let themfelves molt to conquer and oz ercornc them. I,faith Job, wouldcomfort myfelf,but lam afraidofall myfor- , rows ; I fear they will be doubled and trebled upon me, there - fore I had rather fit ílíll,then by firiving to unloofe, firaiten the cordsofmy aûliflien fatter uponme. The next claufe Cams to hint this as a reafon, why his forrows hung fo clofe upon him. Iknow that thou wilt not boldme innocent. Eat how did Jobknow this? As God laid to Adam (Gen, 3' z i.)Who told thee that thouwaft naked? So I may fay to Job,ewho told thee that God would not hold thee innocent ? Or, where hadft thou this affuranee of thy condemnation ? The Saints may know, or be allured that God will pardon them ; but a wicked man cannot know, or be allured that God will not. This know- ledge ofJob was but a fufpition or at the molt a conjecture. And the giving out ofthis conjecture was but the language ofhis fear, his faitla could fay no fuch thing, for God had nowhere laid it, The belt menfpeakfómetimesfrom their tvorfer part, Their graces may be filent a while, and leavecorruption tohave all the talk. 'When the faeth is under great pain, the fpirit is hindred from aCt- ingitspart, and then fettlegets themafiery over faith. Had it nor been upon fuch a difadvantage, Job had never offended with his te7 tongue, by fayingheknew what he could not know. i radice that thou wilt not boldme innocent. "p, Purus.raundut, The word which we tranflate innocent, cometh from a root per nera,ho- which frgnifïeth pure and clean, and in the verb to cleanfe and ram iwcdxr, makepure : And becaufe innocency is the purity or cicannels of frYforr. a perfot , therefore the fame word fignifáes to cleanle, and to Z z 2 hold 35.5..
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