584 Chap.rq.. .4n Expofztion upon the Book of JoB. Verf. 5 new law upon the point, 'Godbath oncefettled it, and itis fetled for ever ; When Abifhai went to the cave where Sag/ was, And asked David leave to kill him , I" will [mite him ( faith he) but once, and Iwill notfmite the him the fecund time, I will make lure work at a blow { i S. z6. 8. ) fuch is the intendment of the particle once in that Law The Lord hath appointed the bounds of life once, and the bounds of death once he will not appoint them a fecond time. Thou haft fethim his sounds which he cannot a e p There are two opinions about the bound of mans life , or what this bound is. Firfi, fome place it in natural caufes, as in the tempearment and conftitution of the body. There is a truth in that,, but we muff not reft there : Natural caufes are fomewhat, and men who live long are ufually of a lafl- Impoobile ing complexion and confl:itution. But fecondly the true eß hominem bounds are fet by God ; The will of God is the limit of mans diutios vel ; for though there be a futableneffe in the natural tem mainsu vivere per of men to fuch or fuch a term of life, yet, God often adts be- qua» divina fide and croffeth that fome healthy men dieyoung, and fome difpofstio ha- crazy men live till they are old. The bounds may be paflred bet, licet whichour natural complexion fets, the bounds cannot be paged bane homi-' which the providenceand will of God . lets : That man dies at nemnine fuch a time, may be a contingency in reference to fecond caufes, prigsmori fit but let himdie when hewill, it is neceffary in regard of the firft contineens, fs caufe. Hecannot offe. ìxfe eonfade_ -The word paffe, is proper to laws and bounds; bounds are retar. fet onpurpofe to keep us frompaffitng beyond them. As all good Aquin. laws are bounds which we fhould not paffe , fo tranfgrefon -1' l'er- which is the breach of fome law, liignifies a palling over or be bumpratere- yond the law. God hath fet man a bound or a law, how long he and reie [hall live, as well as a law in what manner he (hall live. Thefor- quadrat legi mer bound is paired bymanevery day, the later was neverpaffed fiatato. by any man. We often paffe : the bounds of the morfall Iaw of God, but we cannot paffe the bounds of the eternal decree of God. , Hence Obferve, That as the oyes of man are determined by God, fo man cannot live aday beyond that determination: Friendscannot .pfotrac`t, enemies cannot íhorten the life of man one moment. Howoften did the Jews defign the death of Chrift
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