Chap. 9. An Expofition upon the Bo9k of JOB. Verf. 27. 38a cannot reprefent it in a work likenefs then its own. All men fay they fin, but fin appears fin to very few. And when the Apoftle would put a difgraceful title or epethite upon fìn,he invefis it with its own name, fìnfúl fin. Thus to the point in hand,we cannot call God more,then when we call him God. Nothing can be predica- ted of him better then himfelf, When God.appears to be God,all excellency appears. Ml men (almof})acknowledge God,but God appears to very few. 'Tis but little of God that can be known : and there are not many who know that little ; very many know but little of that little, and molt know nothingof it at all. Thus alto to fay that man is man, is proof and aggravation enough of his depraved condition (Hof.6.7.) They like men have tranfgreffed the Covenant, they have done like themfelves. When . we fee menvain,and wicked,and finful, and covetous,and earthly, we may fay of their , they have done like men ; and how won- dermas and glorious things foever God doth, we can but fay, He hath done like God. As a confedary from the whole., take this caution, If God is not .a man as we are, then God muff never bemeal-tired by the rule and line of man. Man hath not line enough to meafure God by. The Lord exceeds man, in all ; he is not only above mans infir- mities, but he is above all his perfedions. The Lord is not only not weak as man is weak, or unholy as man is unholy, but the Lord isnot thong as man is ftrong, nor holy as man is holy, nor jufl as mau is jutl, nor wife as man is wife:. Then, manmull not Venture to judge ofthe wifdpmofGod by his own wifdom, or of the juftice,holinefsand ttrengthofGod, by his own ftrength, ho- linefs and.juttice.,. Man is not able to meafure God inany of his Attributes ; and in three thingsefpecially, man thould take heed of meafuring God in hisadings. Firil, In the great workof election. In this man is very apt to be medling, and to be meafuriyg God by the line of natural reafoit, or of civil juftice : the Apoilles difpute beats down-this prefumption, Rom. g. We read there how man begins to.buftle and f}artleat that great conclufion (verf. i8,.) Therefore he bath mercy on whom he will have mercy, andwhom be will he hardeneth. áfit.be thus, faith he,. if , every mans fiate be peremptorily deter- mined by the will of God, if he loves and hates before men have . done either good or evil, Whydoth he find fault ? for who Bath 'refilled hit will ? What treed any trouble themfelves about the way,.
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