._. 3 64 Chap. 9. An Expofition upota tbe Bookof O B. Verf. 29, wages have been, let him return to the Lord,aud then his former depaìtures thall not hinder acceptance. Chr7 f} diedfor the ungodly,, ttom. 5. 6. and God juJiifteth the ungoell}, Rom. q.. 5. It is not la vaizlfor an ungodly man to come toGod indeed, and when he doth, he ceafes to be ungodly. They draw nigh only with their lips, whole hearts are not changed, and they draw nigh in vain. As Godbath notfa id to the feed of Jacob (real Saints) Seekye m` in vain. So he hath not faid in vain to wicked men,átekye myface.. For with the word which bids them leek, he gives them power to leek, and the mercy they leek for. The grace of God prevents us,' that we may leek him, and blelfes us when we do leek him. If all who are wicked labour invain, then all had laboured in vain, forafmuch as all were wicked. 3i adhue mere Thirdly, You may take the meaning of it thus, Iflam wick- appeal tan. ed ; that is,if I am reputed by men,and (dill aflliffed by God, as a rum rum ins- wicked man, thenwhy fhould I labour in vain, or trouble my Pelf 0'4 quo jua any further to fo little purpofe ? If this fence may beadmitted fuJt9a lobo- °tis a paflionate fpcech proceeding from impatience and dillempe,. rag? Philip. Hiccfunt web._ of fpirit Much like that of David, and very near it in wordsr ba homins à Prat. 73.I3r. Verily I have cleanfed my heart in vain, andwafleed, Deo derelifli. my hands in innocency, for all the day longhaveI been plagued, and àtabl, cb.,ffned,every morning. Davids afic`#ions wrought as hard con - clufrons in him, as Jobs did. Grace aas and Jpeakr ever like itfelf, but a gracious man loth not. David fhewed there was vanity and remaindersof defilement inhis heart, by laying, Ihave cleanfed my heart in vain. Mr. Eroughton renders to this fenfe, I (hall be. klden as wicked, mowwhy do I labour in vain? Hence obtèrve, That where hope faileth, endeavour faileth too. I have no hope, faith yob, toget out of thefe afìfions,which fa* upon wicked men, or to get one fiep beyond a wicked man in yourreputation, my labour is in vain, why then do I labour ?' When the heart finks, the hands hangdown.- ddhere the one gives over believing,anel hopeing,the other gives over affingand working. Hence the of li&ed are called upon by the Apofile, to lift uptbe:hands thathang down, and thefeeble knees (Heb. 12.12.) Hands and "knees are the infi.ruments of a&ion and motion ; and the hangingdown of thefeiml orts both retarded or flopt. Thole afHided Hebrews law littleor no hope of deliverance, therefore they gaveOver endeavouring:and moving after deliverance. La(ily,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=