Chap. z 3. AnExpofition upon the Book of Jos. Vetf, 19. 483__ this bufinefs bydint of argument, becaufe he fawdeath ready to put him to filence; Ifhall die, and then itwill be too late to ar- gue or fpeak with me, therefore while I live, and I perceive I !hall not live long, let us try it out, and fee what youhave to fay agaiuft me. Secondly, Thefe words, If 1 hold my tongue Ifhallgiveup the shoji, may note two things. Firft, That Job was filled with a- bundanceof matter, which was exceeding burthenfome to keep within his breaft, therefore he mutt needs vent, and let it out. As if he had faid, I have fo much to fpeak, that it will even kill me if I íhould conceal it. Elihu was in the fame cafe (Job 32, 17.) 1 alfo (faithhe) millPhew mine opinion ; for I amfull of matter, the fpirit within me conJtrainetbme: Behold mybelly is as wine whichbath no vent, it is ready to bur/I like new bottles, 113411 fpeak,that Imay be refrefhed, Iwill openmy lips and anfwer. Elihu was conttrained to open his mind, it would be an cafe to him satins mihi fu_ to fpeak. So faith Job, Now if boldmy tongue I. all give up the eras mori quam J f Y 1 .Íh g p filentio caufan shaft. Or fecondly, It maynote, that Job was much aliEted means prodere., and exceedingly troubled in his fpirit at what his friends had Bez. fpoken to him, and charged upon him. And fo it is, as if he had Non poflamme faid, you have fo tormented me withyour reafonings, that if I continere quiz have not liberty to juflifie . mine own innocency, my heart will q,iHamor enders break: it werebetter for me to die then to live ttained with filchmill eft. Mete., imputations, and I know not how to live unIefs I may wipe themoff. Hence Obferve, Firif , It is apain not to fpeak, when we are much engaged to fpeak,. Thus theProphet complains (Jerem, 20.9.) I was weary with forbearing, and Icould not flay. As force are wearied with (peak - ing, fo force are wearied becaufe they do not fpeak : they are . tired with holding their tongues, as much as force are with ufing them. Words kept in are as great a burthen to force, as words Oakenout are to others. When a man is under fuch a prefhure he finds no refs till he bath delivered himfeif. When j fephs brethren came to him, he hidhis affeEtious a great while, but as loon as he fawhis brother Benjamin he couldnot refrain, he muff go into a private place to weep, and fpend his patlïon, elfe it would have broke out before them all. 'Tis fowith us when we have much to fay to God in prayer, the heart bath a load Qq 9 2 upon
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