Chap. 9. An Expofition upon the Book of J O B. Ve#f. 29.. If a man be wicked, it is in vain for him to feel unto God, while he loveth wickednefs and delighteth in it. Peal. 66. 2 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lordwill not hear myprayer. He that is wicked, as to love wickednefs, prayes in vain, tails and humbleshis foul in vain. Thefàcrifice of the ticked is an abomi- nation to the Lord, that is, the Lord abominates his facrifice,but, The prayer of the upright it his delight, Soldnion defcribes an -hy- pocrite in the former words : he is one that will pray and offer facrifice, and yet puts thLitumbling block of bis iniquity before hit face ( Ezek. 14. 4.) So they (Jer. 7. 4.) cried, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lordare theft; The Prophet difcovets,who there zealous 'emplers were,verf, 9, W11 yefteal,murder,and com- mit adultery, andfwearfalfly, and then come and ftandin this hottfe, which is called by my Nahte, andfay,We are delivered to do a:l theft abominations ? Some mingle prayerand fatting with healing and murdering: fuch praying and fafting,areis unacceptable to God, as healing and murdering are : Such labouring to pleafe the Lord, is difpleafing to the Lord. What haft thou to do (faith God to the wickfd) to take my Covenant in thy mouth (Pfal. 5o. i6.) both God fay to the wicked,What hats thou to do With my Covenant ? For whom is the Covenant made, but for the wick- ed ? If men were not wicked or finful, What needed there a Covenant of Grace ? The Covenant is for the wicked. And the Covenant brings grace enough to pardon thofe who are molt wicked,; why then doth the Lord fay to the wicked, What haft thou to do to take my Covenant into, thy mouth ? Oblerve what . follows, and his meaning is expoùnded, Seeing than hateff to be reformed ; As if God had faid, Thou wicked man, who Pre). teach thy fin, and holdeh it clofe, refuting to return, and ha- ting to reform ; what hall thou to do to meddle with my Cò- venant ?, Lay of thy defiled hands. He that is refolved to bold his fin, takes boldof the Covenant in vain, or rather he lets is' go, while he recites to bold it. V Voc unto thofe who fue for mercy, while they neglect duty. Thus a wicked man labours in' vain. Eut there is a knfe in which a wicked man doth not labour in vain howwicked foever;he is. VVhat elfe means the Prophets, invitaüón (Ifa. 55..5.) ,et the wickedforfake hit Way, and the unrighteous man bií tho'atghts,and lit hint retrutaunto the Lord, and be will baveniti y upon NM, arid toour God,fat'. be will "abitíidztn'tl Pardon. Let him forfake his wayes, and then nomatter what his A a a 2 wayes 3 `3
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=