432 Chap. 3E3. AnExpofition upon theBook of Jon. Verf. j g, not..conceive it to be the particular reafon of it in this place For, as tofuch a fenfe, yob íhould rather ,confidently afhrm, I will, or I do put my life in my hand, then either quef}ion or expoftulate..wi.th himfelf, - Wherefore) do I put my life-an mine hand ? Now, feeing : Job, fpeaking thus, refutes a charge that was brought againtt him, that he was carelefs ofhis life, or through diftemper and impatience cared not what became of it ; We may Obferve, That though we are to ventureor put our lives unto any hazard when God calleth us, yet no man may expofe his life without a call. job would have his friends know, that he didnot carry his life open in his hand as a thing he made no reckoning of.Our lives are given us of God, and till he bid us bring them forth and carry them inour hands, we mutt keep them as fafe as we can, I only hint this here, becaufe the ftrength of Jobs intendment in thefe words lyeth in their connection with the following verfe, to which I pafs. Verfe t S. Though he flay me yet will I tsuft in hîm; but Iwill maintainmine own integrity. Why íhouldyou think that I am impatient? Why fhould you cenfure me as defperate and carelefs? This is the temper and frame ofmy foul ; fudgeyou of it, whether it look like your con- ceptions of me. Let God dowhat he will withme, flay me, tear me, take away my life; I am refolved what to eo, to.trmft inhim. Is this impatienceor defpair? Further, If weconfider the former expottulations in the latt expoltion, as a reproof or a check to the motions of his own heart toward impatience; Then thefe words are the leffon of inftruEtion which he giveshis foul. What ? Thoumy foul in rage? doeft thou bid me take my flelh in my teeth ? I tell thee what my former refolves have been, and what myprefent duty is, even to truft God in all eftates. And now I am upon that refolve a gain, Though heflay meyet will I trraft in him. AI}IiEEiones Though he flay me. graviores rtroi- tis da occifionis Slaying fpeaks death, and that a violent death, yet all flaying nom ne Drue `is not death. ( Rom. 8.36.) For thyfaki are we killed, orflain, all the day long. All theperfecutions and troubles which the Saints endure
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=