Chap. [ 2. An Expofition upon the Book o f JOB.Verf.2o. 297 Firíl, When they whom he had fent with promifes ofmercy in their mouths,are now commanded to thunder out threatnings Gomrnutar pro= and educations ofhis wrath, when they towhomGod hath Paid, miffiones fùar. Comfort ye , comfortye my"people, have now no meffages, but } Per p p,beras, rn cem- fad ones, no vifions, but of amazement and defolation. mrnatroneis vel Secondly, The Lord removeth away the fpeech of thefe trufly effuit ut qui læ. ones, by leaving a people to the fpeech of thofe who are untrufty. tape/seersfo- When the Jews would not receive the faithful Prophets, God lent nihil jam gave them up to the teachings of falfe Prophets. Speech is re- nifi trifle pri. dreent. Philip. moved, when the fpeakers are thus changed. Thirdly , God changeth or removeth the fpeech ofTruth- fpeakers , by forbidding them to fpeak. God doth fotnetimes Silence the fincereil Prophets. When men will not obey what they fpeak , God will not let them fpeak (Ezek,3 26.) I will make thy tongue cleave to the roofofthy mouth , that thou fbalt be dumb, and(halt not be to them a reprover, for they are a rebellions houfe. As men when their fins is at the higheit,fay to theTrophets, Prophefie no more , fowhen judgment is at the higheil,God faith unto the Prophets, Prophefie not ; The wrath of God is ex- treamly hot , when flattering prophets are fent to cry , Peace, peace, where there is no peace , and to daub up finful menwith un- tempered matter : 'Tis all() as hot, ifnot hotter, whenGod puts abar upon the lips of his faithful Prophets , that theyfliall c no longer denounce his war againft fin, or convince the finner. The peaceofapeople cannot be long liv'd , when once the fpeech of the iru ftro is their or thus removed. - Take two briefdedu&ions from all. Firfl, There is no depending upon the faithfulnefsof man. God removeth away the fpeech of the trufty. Surely men of low de- gree arevanity ,,andmen of highdefree are a lye(Pfal.6ì. g.) they that have done and fpoken right to day , may fpeak and do wrong to morrow. Man is amutable creature in his qualificati- en, as well as inhis conflitution. Bothhis natural , and his 'no, ral endowments are as mortal as his life is. And inmany thefe die and go to the grave before their Matters. Secondly, if the fpeech of the trufty be fo often removed ; Then, we muff judgeofwhat is fpokva by a ftanding rule , not by the perfonfpeaking. It is an evil,and a fore difeafe under the fun, that goodcounfels are refufed , becaufe force have a prejudice againfi theperfon : And it is a worfe evil , when all, even evil l coun.
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