294 Chap.ad. AnExpofition upon the Bookof JOB. ` erf. t2 As Arrows in thehandof the mighty,fo are the Children of the youth, bleffedis the man that bath bit Quiver full of them. Now as Eons are compared to Arrows in a Quiver , lb Arrows are compared to Sons, becauleas Sons are together in their Fa thers houle, fo are Arrows in the Quiver. Chrif is defcri- bed byold Simeon, as a mark let up to (hoot at, Luke 2. 34, 35. This Child is let for thefalling and rifing of many in lfrael, Siignifrcat andfor a fign to be fpoken ag.sinfl : What fign ? A Butt fign , cl)rißum vela. et or Butt mark A fign to be fpoken againff ; that is, All (hall quern cumnfore,? direct the Arrows of their words againfi him, Bitter words es rertatimAcre are compared to Arrows;many thowres ofthele were (hot a- contendatu, gait( Jefus Chrift : He was aimed at on every fide, by envious Bcz. fpirits and malevolent tongues : He might fay as Job,Thou haft fee me up as a mark Obferve from this Allufion. Firtl, The Servants ofGod muff expeCt many afflielions from the handofGod. Amark is not let up ( or it is very rarely let up) for one fhot : As God hash more mercies then one in florefor his peo. ple, fo he bath more arrows then one for them in his Quiver. When thou haft received one (hot, prepare for a fecond, and a third. Obferve. Secondly, Godfeems to takepleafure in afflieling hispeople, This alto contributes to the prof of the generai Obfervati- tion before given , For the more pleafure any one takes in afflic`ing, the more feverity he {hews in afflicting: A Father chaftileth his Child with tears in his eyes every ftroak which a wife Fathergives his Child, is as a wound to himfelf, and this abates the (mart of the blow ; but for Fathers to do it as the Apoflie fpeaks, Heb, i2. For their pleafure, or when it pleafeth a Father (in that fenfe to do it, this encreaf th the (mart. The fufferer feels moll pain when it is a pleafure to another to make, him fuller. Now, what is (hooting at a mark ?No man (hoots at a mark for toyl,to make a labour,and a butinefs of it, but men ¡hoot at a mark for their recreation, and pleafure. God delights not properly in the forrows and fufferings of his people , he is not like thofe cruel Tyrants , who fallen their Captives to aPofl,and then(hoot them dead for the(port: God
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