302 Chap.i6; AnExpofition upon the Book of J O B. Vexf.I Ja. mer fruit, the Lord the wed their ripenefs in fin, and his readi- nefs to puni(h and not 'to (pare. Secondly, It is (paring mercy, when punifhtnent is defer. red, or adjourned to a further day; thus,the Lord fpared the old world, a hundred and twenty years, lilyfpirit (hall not al- way ftrive : It did a long time, he fpared them many years to draw them to repentance, and to leave them inexcufable, be- caufe they repented not. Thirdly, It is a fparing mercy, when_ judgment is mode- rated : When though God punith, ye he doth not punch to the full ; When though the cloud break, yet lets he but a few drops fall on us, and doth not powre out thowres, or make an inundation to overwhelme us when though he firike, yet he gives but few firokes ; yea if he abate but one firoke, it is fparing mercy. The Jews (2Cor, II. 24.) gave Paul for- ty ftr,.ipes, fave one ; and in this they would be thought to be merciful, becaufe they might have givc°n him forty by the Law (Deut. 25. 3.) therefore to abateone was(paring mer' cy. 1ís to purufh beyond the Law, though it be but a little beyond, is cruelty ; fo to punifh lefs, though it be but a little 1efs, is mercy : And this is brought in as an argument of great mercy (Pfal.78. 38.) But he beingfiell of compa/on, forgave their iniquity, and deflroyed them net :yea many a time turnedbe his anger away, anddiductftir up all his wrath : They felt his wrath,but God did not fiirr up all his wrath;they were Emit- tt n,but riot detiroyed , Jullice did not make anutter end of them, there was mercy in that. The like read (pr. 3o. i t. 46.28.) I will not let theego altogether unpuni(hed(yet I will (pare thee though I puniíh thee) I will corral thee inmea- fure, I will not make afullendof thee.But are not all thecor- reóions ofGod,yea and his judgments too done in meafure ? All the judgments of God are dor.ein meafnre , as meafure notes a rule ofequity,but not as meafurenotes a rule ofeguali- ty. Again,to do a thing by meafure doth not alwayes note the rule by which it is done, but the degree in which it is done. And fo to do a thing inmeafure is to do it moderately ; as when it is Paid (john g. a4. ) that Godgives not hisfpirit by meafure to Jefus.Chrift : the meaning isonly;this;he gives him the fpirit abundantly, infinitely, without (lint or limit : So When it is laid, that he correas man in meafure, the means ing
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