436 Çhap.17. An Expófitionupon the Book of J O B. Verf, q< mine the caufes and cafes of all mankind. He that bath the hearingbut of any one cafe, fhares in this honour of God and they who are fet apart by office to do fo, are called Gods, Ff. al. 82. God puts fo much of his own work into the land of a Judge, that he therefore puts his own name upon him. Again , We may look upon JobsFriends, not as Judges of his cafe, but as Parties , putting in their accufation, and pleading againfi him. Hence Obferve. It is anhonour, and an exaltation to win the day inany caufe, or to get the better. Whatfoever the contention be, or in what way fo ever managed, whether by the Sword , or by the Tongue, or by the Pen, to be vióorious in it, is honourable ; and he that lofes his Caufes, lofes much ofhis Credit alto. And though prevailing, or fuccefs doth not at all juftifie the matter ( it is the matter whichmutt juflifie the fuccefs) yet fuccefs Both always exalt the man. He that overcomes in a Difpute car- ries away the honour, though poflibly he carry not-away the truth. Lafi9y, Fromthe Connedionof this with the former part of the verte, Obferve, They wbo maintain errour among men, fhaU not findfavour withGod. A heart hid from underftanding is hid from the truth.; God loves his truth fo well, that he will not exalt thofe who deprefs hjs truth, Jobs Friends being left in the dark ( as to that point in quettion) Didnot fpeakofGod the thing that was right , Chap.4.2. 7. Andtherefore the Lordfaid to Eliphaz, My wrath is kindledagainfi thee, and againfi thy two Friends. Though an errour be held unknown and in zeal for God ( as they did)yet the jealoufie of God waxeth hot againfl fuch : Thefe repenting, were, and fuch as they, repenting, may be pardoned, but they fhall not be exalted. And if they who for want of light of knowledge, in much heat of honefi zeal, defend a letter errour (fuch was theirs) thall not be exalted, howwill theLord call them down who broach, and fpread blafphemous Errours, and damnable Dotrines, in a tim
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