Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v3

Chap.'ro. Ast Expofitionupon the Book of J OB. Vert- I . 417 My foul it weary of my life.] I am fo wearyof thepains wherein I that.:l had rather my life thould end, thenmy ,,pains thould _continue. Job complained in the third Chapter, he complained at the fixth and tkventh Chapters, he erred twice, yea thrice upon this point before, yet now we hear him complaining, as if he had not complained at all, This was Jobs infirmity ; though fomewhat bath, and more may be fàid to take off thole afperfions which his friends call upon him for complaining, yet no doubt it was his tin to complain , efpecially to break out fo often, and in (-Itch bitter complainings. Hence obferve, A,godly min may (pofió(y) fall often into the fame fin. Where grace taketh hold of the heart, it breaks the cullom and fpoils the trade of tin ; yet a godly man may fin over the fame .tin, and renew the fame tranfgrdlion. The trade of fin is fpoiled, when the foul leaves deviling, plotting, contriving fin, which alts denominate a worker of iniquity. The eu- lom of fan is broken, when though the fame tin be commit- ted again, yet the foul puts in its plea and complaint againfi it ,'Tis here as in civil things, if we makeour challengeor demand, the cutlom is gone, though the ads be renewed by the power and prevaleney of the oppofite party ; yet, when I fay a godly man may fall into fin often, I mean not of grofs and fcanda- !ous tins ;. God Both not let his people fall often into the mire. Noah was not ,often drunk, nor did David commit adultery of- ten, or more then once. The grace of God which bringeth falvation, teacheth us to deny ungodlinefs and worldly lulls. And if a godly man fall often into any the leali fin, yet he lies not in fin, becaufe he renews repentance, as often as he fins, and rites as often as he falls : he refolves ( through the ftrength of Chrili) never tofin, when through his own weaknefs, and the violence of temptation, he is foon after overtaken or fur- priz'd with fin. David profelfeth (Pfal. i i.9. 30,) I have eh fen she way of trntb ; His elebion was truth ; truth of heart, which is oppofed tohypocrisie ; truth of judgment, which is oppofed to errour ; and truth of fpeech, which is oppofed to lying ; yet he flipt with his tongue, more thenonce, and told an untruth, more thenone. He cannot be acquitted from this failing, when he anfwered Abimilecb the Prietl, The King bath commanded me s bufinefl, and bath f.id unto me, Let not any man know any thing Hhh of

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