296 Chap.ta. An Expoftion upon theBookof JOB. Verf.2o. in the providence of-God, make the changeableneff of ttaens mindes ; both vifible in their a&ions , and audible in their fpeeches. For This change or remove of fpeech, arifeth twowaies. Sometimes from fear, Some arefurprifed acid arrefted with dreadful fore-cafts what will become of them , and their eftates, what of their wives andchildren, if they iland-to for- mer profeffions and engagements. Fear is a very bad Coun- fellour. Fear bath removed the fpeech of the trufty more than once. Secondly, The fpeech ofthe trufty is removed through hopes and gifts. Expeetation will change a mans opinion, muchmore will fomewhat in profeffion.Howmany have loft or alter'd their tongues by being felt in the hand (Deut.16.19.) Agift doth blind the eyes of the wife, and pervert the words of the righteous, That expreflion in Mofes of pervertingwords, doth excellently anfwer and expound this inlob of removing fpeech. Andwhere- as yob faith only that the fpeechof the crafty is removed, Mofes faith, the words ofthe righteous are perverted. He that was right and went right before, even his words are perverted by a gift. Bis 7/1 The ancient adageSaid of fuch, The ox is upon their tongue, that yi 7n. is, money or worldly refpec`ts bath filenced them : The reafon of that fpeaking was becaufe the figure ofan ox was anciently ftampt upon their money ; we fay the blackox treads upon fome mens toes, we may fay, the white, or the red ox treads fo hard upon many mens tongues, that either they will not fpeak at all, or not as theydid. We read that Demofthenes, agreat Orator, being to (peakupon a bufinefs of confequence, came to the bar with a fcarfor mufler about bis necks, and Paid he was not able to fpeak,he was troubledwith a Quincey ; towhich force of the wits of the time,anfwered, That the Orator was fick,of the fdo Argwan_ money, not of the rquincey. Bribes had fwel'd his throat, that g na correptum he could not plead. Thus the fpeech of the trufty is remo- Oraeorem di- ved , when force unrighteous bias will not fuller them to canes Xlutar. fpeak what they Mould, or carries them to (peak what they Mouldnot. Yet further, Some underftand the crafty, of (men trufted with the foulsof men) the Priefts and Prophets of thofe times. The wordmay be well tranflated, truthfpeakers, or meffengers of truth, God removeth their fpeech. i irft,
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