Chap.12. AmExpofitianupon the Bookof JOB. VerLS. 19 with the wind, the Lord bids the Prophet, fay unto him, Take heed, and be quiet,fear not,,neither be faint-hearted : What? not fear when fuch mi;hty enemies are coming againft us : No faith hefear not,for the two tails of thefe fmoakngfire brands('fa.7,4,.) 4h1, and the /Tracheal lookt.upon them, as the flame of a de- vouring fire that would burn and confunie all,no,faith God,they are,but asfmoal`ingftre- brands, they are but brands ends, they have almoft confumed themfelves, they are fmoaking rather. than burning, they will foon.go out. A fnoahing brand is a proverb for that which is almoft (pent, whofe violenceyou need not fear, it can do no great hurt, nor can it Rani you in any ftead. Asfmoakingflax in the Gofpel (Matth. z 2.2o,) notes the loweft degree of grace, which Chrift will not quench nor put out,to a finaakng"fire brandnotes the leaft degree of hurtful power remaining,ormalice vexedout; and a fmorhering lamp, the leaft decree of ufeful remaining power,or comforts wearied out. On the other frde,a bright burning lamp, or the lighting, ofa candle, expreffeth the beginnings of honour and excellency, or our continuance in the enjoirnent of them. (Pfal.t Thou.wilt light my candle, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkneft. See what an office holy faith puts God unto ; David believed that God would come and light his candle ; what candle ?. his meaning is that the Lord would renew his eítate, and chafe away the darknefswhich lay upon it. Tiau wilt light my candle ; thou wilt caufe me to Shine clearly and fairly in the world, though I have been a while as a candle extinguilht, or burnt out. The Prophet:fets the hoped and prayed for reftaura Lion ofSian under alike metaphor and allution (Ifa.62.I.) For Sion;fake I will not hold mypeace, andfor Jerufalems fakeI will not refl., until the riçhteaufnefs thereofgoforth as brightnefs, and theSalvation thereof as a lamp that. bxrneth. That is,tiil the eftate of t'ie Church be beautiful and glorious. Now as a burning lamp is the emblemof a happy, fo.a dying defpifed lamp is the emblem of a. miferable condition. For what'sa broken dying lampworth ? what's the Snuffof a candle worth ? or a candle burntdown to theLocket ? of no more worth is many a graci- ous foul in the thoughts of worldly wealthy men, when once he bath loft the wealth ofthe world. Riches are to the reputation of man, as oil to the lamp, they feed and nourilh it, they caufe it_to thine_out with a refplendent brigi refs ; but when riches are
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