Chap. i5. An Expofition.upon the Boäkof J O B. Verf,26. 145 flaming Sword in the wayof lull, as he did in the way of the Tree of life ( Gen. a,.) though the Lord let an Angel with a drawn Sword in the way of lull , as he did in Balaams way, when he was going to curie Ifrael, yet on they will . Till the heart be changed,neither Swords,nor Bucklers,norBoffes, nei- ther wrath threatned , nor executed , can caufe a finner to change his courfe. This the Prophet complainsof ( Ifa. 9. 13. ) The people turneth not to him thatfmiteth them,neithher do theyfeektbe Lord ofHoaffs : Their incorrigiblenefs under (evcrefi corre Lions is elegantly defcribed by another Prophet , enumerating five fpecial firoakes or finirings , to every one of which he fub- joyns, Yet baveye not returnedunto me,faith the Lord, Amos 4. 6,7,8 &c. When the bellows were burnt, and the lead confumed ofthefire ( that is, when all infiruments andmeans of refi- ning them were fpent and worn out, yet their drofs remain- ed in, them) The Founder melted in vain , for the wicked ; that is, their wickedneffes or evil things) were notplucked away (ter, 6.29 , 30.) They went into the Furnace full of drofs, and they came out as full of drofs as they went in. The Founder blowed his fire, till he burnt his bellows, but their fluffs had no lent of tire upon them ; his lead (by which he fe- _ palates thedrofs from the metal) was all confumed and eva- porated , but the droa of their corruptions wafted no more than the purefi gold Both in the fire. Hence the Lord refol- ved towage no more of his judgments upon them: Whyfhould you befmitten any more, ye will revolt more and more (Ifa.r,S.) To revolt from God, and to run upon him,are fins of the fame firain; and they who revolt from him, will not fear to run up- on his neck, even upon the thickBefjes ofhis Buckler. Thus Eliphazhath given usan account., why the Lordof fli .ls a wicked man all his days he fights againfi God all his days; We have a reafon of this reafon in the next words why itis that this wicked man is filch a valiant Champion againfi God, why he commits wickednefs with fo much gree- dinefs , it is,Beesure he covers bis face with hisfatnefs,&c.The fatter and, fuller he grows in fulfilling the lufisof the fletli, the morehungry and (harp let he is to fulfil them. Full-feed- ing in fin, doth not fatisfie, but increafe a finful appetite. il JOB,
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