4o Chap. io. 1ín Expoftion upon the Book, of J O B. Vert 3, take it here rather for oppreflion by outward violence : So the word is often ufed (Pfal.119.122.) I have done judgment andju_ fiice,giveme not over to mine oppreffours,to thofe, who would wrong me, becaufe I have done right. And it noteth, as an open or vio- lent tpprtflion,fo a cunning fubtill oppretfion, a cheating,fraudu- lent oppreffìon. All wrong,'howdote and cunning foever, is op- prcflion.We have that fenfe of the word (Hof..12.7.) Heisa mer- chant,the balances ofdeceit are in his band,he loveth to oppreIl. How Both a Merchant opprefs ? He comes not like a thiefor a Nimrod with a fword in his hand,bidding you, Deliver your purfe or your lifc,commanding you to give up your right,or your liberty, but while in buying and felling, in trading and dealing, he offers you a fair bargzin, or as we fay, a penny-worth for your penny, he iMites you fecretly,and cuts your throat (as famine Both) with- out a knife : the balances ofdeceit are in his hand : Balances are put for all inflruments, or means of trading, by thofe he deceives; light weights opprefs the State,asa.heavy weight preffes the bo- dy. The word imports alfooppreflion by with-holding what is due, as well as by taking away what we duly hold (Deut.24.14.) Thou Ault not oppreß an hiredfervant that is poor and seedy ; that is, thou ("halt not detain or keep back any part of his wages. The word (you fee) is ofa large fenfe, laitgood unto thee to op- pref.? ? I know thou wilt not opprefs me, either by (peakingevil of, or over-cenfuring the ; either by open violence, or by fecret fraud; either by taking from me what I have, or by detaining fromme, what I ought to have. Thou wilt not opprefs caller with tongue or hand ; either as arobber with thy (word, or as a merchant with thy balances. Thus fobexpof'iulates upon higheft confidence, bothofthe jutiice and holinefs ofGod ; as if he had faid, Lord, l know thou doeft not love toopprefs ; no thou art merci- fuland fullof companion. .Whence is it then that thoufeemejl to ail f®unlike thyPelf ? his this thypity toa poor creature, and thy love to the work, of thy hands ? Thou- ufefl to rejoyce in the confolation of thypeople, andmercypleated, thee; thou ufeth tofind out rivers of goodnefs for weariedfhuas to bathe in, and ftreams of comfort for thirflyfouls to drink andbe refrefhed in. How it it then that a .bit- ter cup isput to my lips continually, and that I am overr:vhelmed in à, falt fea, ina fra of gall andbitternefs ? Hence obferve, God is fo goodand gracious that be loves not to grieve his creature. Among
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