Chap.i6. .änExpofrtionupon the Book of J O B. VealS. 3.53 ged. To this fort of imprecations the prefent point is confi- ned : This was jobs cafe, he was deeplycharged to have done wickedly, and he as, deeply,denied that he;had done fo. Thus ,David imprecatesevil upon hitnfelf, Pfal. "7.3,4,5. The title of the Pfalm Thews theoccafion of it. Shiggaion of David (that is, Davids variable, or delightful long, or Davids fo lace) Concerning the words of CuJh the Benjamite : that is, ei- ther of Saul himfelf, whole ill difpoltion towards him, he clofely taxeth under the wordCull), which Lignifies a Black moor, or .Æthiopian, or it may defign Come of Souls Courti- ers, who had done ill offices to David, and accufed him of a confpiracy, to takeaway Sauls life, as appears, a Sam. 24.9, And Davidfaid to Saul, Wherefore bearelf thou melts words, faying, BeholdDavidfeeketh thyhurt. Now Davidcompofed this Pfalm in his own vindication, and feares not to call down vengeance upon his head, ifhe wereguilty. O Lordmy God, if I have done this, ifthere be iniquity in my hands (that is, this iniquity, if I have done this) If l have rewardedevil so him that was at peace withme (What then ? Heimprecates) Let mine enemyperfecute my foul and take it, yea let him tread my life down to the earth , andlay mine honour in the dull". Da. vid laies all at flake, foul, and life, and honour, in the higetf af,}ings of holinefs towards God, and integrity towards man. He that is inDavids cafe, and hath Davids confeience, may do the like and fear no hurt. The Woman fufpeëìedof A- dultery was by the Law.; Num 5. to imprecate, and with evil on her felf, it the did not speak true in denying it : For the Prief was commanded to bring the Woman, and to put the offering on her head, and then to give her the water of jealoufie to drink, faying, This water which caufeth the curie, jhallgo into thy bowels, to make thy belly to fivel), and thy thigh to rot ; and the ,Womàrt was to anfwcr.; amen, Amen As if (he had faid, :I pray.Ggr this mifery maycome upon me , In cafe Ihave been falfe, or unfaithful to my Husband. Thus the Woman confirmed the curie, and took it upon her fell, if the weredefiled ; or tetlified her faith in,God,,that he would clear her innocency, the beingnot defiled; and therefore the word Amen wasdoubled...:' And here it will not be impertinent to remember how the fuper(iitiousheart ofmanhath in times of former ignorance Z z and
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