434 Chap. r 3. AnExpofitaonupon the Bookof j oa Verf. I anfwer, There is a fence wherein we may aèquit lobof this charge, though we should read it negatively; which yet is not the fence I finall flay upon': For the clearing of_it,I muff premife two things concerning the Original text. I. That the Hebrew word which we tranflate, to trufl (of which more a littleafter ) fignifies allo to expect or loßk for a, thingat thehands of-another. j rnvis ab co z. The word {lands aloe e.in the Hebrew without tiofe words moatsfe;tc: tiam S ciperem whichwe fgpply, in him, and mull be tendred thus,accordirig to tames meilorem the fenceunder hamd, 7-hough he flay me,/ willnot exped,and then al) eo fententiam the meaning may be given thus ; Although God fho,uld pro_ non expettarem, novice that heavy fentence of death upon me, yea, {ìgn thewrit guiPpe graá no= for my execution, yet I would not expeé?; a more gentle fentence 'rimme.° i or look for a reprieve, becaufe I know that what Goddoth to utr a hoc fecitfe. Bo/. anyman, or to me, he isju{U in doing it ; I know that if he load me with the heavie{l: afietions, he may do it, and (without'any further pleadingor expeetatíons) I am ready to fùbmit unto it ; and yet in .this I donot carry my fell'as a wicked man, for Iwill 11;11 áriitintainmx ivayes _ (as he adds in the next words) neither in this do I calloffall my hopes or expeflations in God, for he fh,,ll be myfalvaation,as he fpeaks in the next verfe. Thus much he had Paid in effe.ì before (chap. cy.. i5.) Whom, though Iwere righteous" yet would 1 not anfver, that is, I would not Rand upon any terms with God, or,expeCl anyother terms from him : though God flould wound me deeper, yet I would not.hope to havehim alter whathe had done, as if .I thought he had done me wrong, Toe, my friends, conceive that I complain of God, as ifhe had been c-gel and too fevere towards me; ro, I do not think fo, for ifhe (houldflay me, I mould.not fue to him to take of that fentence as unjuf; but Iwould willingly lay,my lifedown at.his feet, knowing that he willgiveme a more defaralle life than this. Thus we may fairly bring leboff in the negative reading; he" was ready to gaeefféro nze '-';undergo the hardell meafare, and yet not to think hardly of nonclÌ'er me God, or Rand expellingany reverfal of his judgement as too e. fore Be con_ hard. vakfcam ;atom Again,thus, I3eholdbe willflay me, Iwill not hope,-that is,I fee rp de me, de. my bodily elate and outward comforts brought fo low, that it lertátsase, hic were folly to hope Why{hould I hope for life and profperity at1orbu '''Mere. here, whenprovidence fpeaks to me of nothing but death, and vie- thinks I fee the Lord ready to flay me ? mydifeafe is not for cure,
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