494 Chap. 13. An Expofition upon the Book of Jos. Vert. 22. the earth, he will call them all before his throne ; ,foboffered himfelf to a perfonal day of judgement before that general day of judgement. Call thon, is (verbum forenfe) a law-term, call me to the bar, or call me before thy judgement -feat. And I will anfiver. The word which we tranflate Iwill anfwer, lignifies often in scripture, to teflifie orgive witnefs; (Exo.2o.16.) thou (halt not bearfalfe wttnefs, the Hebrew is, Thou [haltnotjsnfwer falfe witnefs, that is, when thou art required by a Judge to fpeak in any cafe, thou fhalt not anfwer besides the truth. When Jacob bad put his part of the cattel on theone fide, and Labans on the other, he faith, fo (hall myrighteoafnefsanfw,er for mein time to come (Gen. 30.33.) it (hall teftifie or bear witnefs forme. The word is ufed in that fence (1fa.59.12.) Ourfins tefiifte againius, the Hebrew is Ourfinsanfwer agatnfl us, which imports tL at our a&ions whether good or bad (hall be called out to fpeak what we have been and are.And then,good aftions will give a good te- ll i nony, and evil aCtions will give an ill teftimony ; (Hof. 5.5) The prideof Mad doth teflifie tohisface ; or dothanfwerto hisface. thus here, Let himcall,and iwill anfwer : I will give in evidence and teftimony according to the truth ofmy heart and life. I will not bear falfe witnefs, though it be in my own caufe. Or let me fpeak, and anfwer thou me. ?fp.ndeadei"ri There's the other part. Let me fpeak,, I will be plaintiff, or hac fecrtxda opponent,and let the Lord anfwer or return; for the word which parte eft ab alia we render toanfwer, in this latter claufe is of a different root in radice & le,.ias the Hebrew from that in the former, and carries in it more re. accipi debet. fpta. It intends not any fummons or citation of God to anfwer, Bind. but is an humble fupplication,befeechinghim to return what his wifdom fhould think fit in anfwer. Hence Obferve, That acquaintance with freegracegives usmighty confidence to- wards God. Take away thy dread and then I am ready for a hearing. 1' acknowledge my weaknefs is Inch that I cannot bear thy maje- fty; and I knowmy own uprightnefs is fuch, that I_am affured of thy mercy. When the Lord had called his people to repen- tance, . (lfa.i . IÓ.) wafh yeil,makgyou clean, put away the evilor jour
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=