Chap.id. AnExpofition upon the Book of JÖB. WO: 9. s6; not upon the knowledge ofothers, and therefore as there can be no failing in, fo no avoyding of, his judgement. Secondly , Obferve. It is lawful to appeal to God, or to take God to witnefs. An Oath is the calling of God to witneffe, and whenfoever we appeal to God, or call him to witneffe, it is an Oath. The Apoftle Paul took an Oath, when he faid, Rom. 1,9 God ismy witnefs, whom I fervawith my fpirii in the Gofpel ofbis Son, that without ceafing l make mention ofyou in myprayers. Thus in highefi holinefs he fware that he prayed for the Romans fpi. ritual good, while he was abfent from them, and had never fo much as Peen them ; and that ha paflianately defired to be pre - lent with them , and fee them, that he might impart unto them fmefpiritualgift : Becaufe being ameer firanger, he had not yet made his actions a witnefs of his love to them, an_d be- caufe no man can be an unerring witnefs of another mans heart , or of the movingof his afflaions , therefore he calls God to witneffe, who alone knows the heart, and can tell how muchwe love either himfelf, or oneanother. He fpeakes as much (though in another cafe) to the Corin thianr (a Cor. t. 23.) Moreover I can God for a record upon myfoul, that to(pareyou, Icame not asyet untoCorinth. As if he had laid, by this my carnell adjuration, I affure you, that the reafon why I have deferred my comming to you, was not from any levity of mind, or change of purpofe in me, but onely becaufe I was unwilling to ufe fuch feverity as the di- flempers among you call for, and would havepreffcd me unto beingprefent. We find him in the fame tenour of fpeech towards the Philippians (Chap.t. 8 ) For God is my record, howgreatly I longafteryou all in the bowels of Cbrifi ; that is, I call God to witneffe, I love you And again (i 26eí.2,5.) Neither at any time ufedwe flatteringwords, of you know, nor a cl,akofcoveteufnefs, Godis witnefs : As if he had faid, Had I ufedflattering words, you might witneffe it; and that I have not ufed a cloak, ofcovetoufnefs, God is witnefs. I might have worn a cloakof covetoufnefs fo clofe, that you could not have Peen it , but God could ; he can judge through the dark - en clouds, and fee through the thickets cloaks and coverings but I appeal to him whether I have put on fuch a cloak, A as í or
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