36a Chap. 9. An Expofition upon the Book of J O B. Vert. 29 ing for our ['elves with God. Prayer is firong labour, therefore it is called mrcftling: Bildad advifed Job to pray unto God, in the 8th. Chapter ; here yob fcems toaníwer,Wby labourI inpray- er , and in feeking unto God, feting all's in vain, and loft labour? to what end fhould I labour in any of thefe duties, fr I am:vie- ked ( in the opinion of man) or,ifI be wicked, in the light of God, or feting God hath call nie into filch a condition, as appearingly and visibly calls me among the wicked. For the better underllanding of this, we may confider the words, as an argumLnt by way of Dilemma, IfI be wicked, Wly then labour I in vain ? If I waft my felf with Snow -water, &c. As if he had Paid, Either I am wicked, or I amclean and pure ; If I am wicked (as you lay I am) I deferve more punifhment, then I labour in vain to be eafedof this. If I am pure and clean, as wafhed with Snow- water,what will the iffue be ? God will yet call me into the ditch of atflif,}ion ; Co that I am between two walls, hemmed in on both fides : Wickednefs would certainly ru- ine me, and my righteoufnefs will not deliver me; Why therefore do ye feedme with vain hopes that I fhall be delivered, if I were righter aus ? So Bildad affured him in the former Chapter. si virapr.rte- More particularly, If I am tricked, Why then labour I invain ? tilt laboribtst lint, Some interpret his words as a corned with God ; Thus pieratir/lu. if by my fiudy of holinefs, and care to walk circumtpc ly in thy slit fanVitatern wages, 1 have not yet gained the reputation of holinefs ; If E non eomporavi, cannot yet parrs in thy account for a godly man, furely I (hall: aseq; caromDea fill labour in vain about that point, as hitherto I have done. jujius .bJweor, ceae labor me- But fecondly (for I lay this alide) Others thus, If Iam wicked, ionetiir fair. it is a vain thing for me to feek the Lord, as you advife me. . quin. Why will you put me upon a bulincfs,which will be fruitlefs and ,.eueemQ'f>c without fuccefs ? It was the word of God in Yobs time, though. impiusfumfru- no Scripture, That God heareth not Sinners : Not fuch (inners as ro ¡aboravi, jobs friends challenged him to be. So Yob feems to compare i.e. f impies their opinion of him,and counfLlgiven him thus together; your fum, ut vo: III opinion of me is, that I am a wicked man ; your councel tome is, rptaàrestu.Vur. that l fhould feck unto God: Surely, your opinion of me, and your councel to me can never agree, for if I amwicked (as you hold me to be) I labour in vain, while I obey your councel. There is a tilde, wherein it is in vain for a wicked man to leek unto God, and a fiance wherein it is not in vain for a wicked man to Leek unto God ; we diflinguith of this interpretation. If
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