Chap.17. An .Expo fLion upon the Bookof J oB. Vgr.5 439 Wemay undertiand it two wayes. Inreference to God. Firfl, His friends had fpoken flattery to him ; for though in force things theywere very fevere and harsh, yet in other things he might interpret their fayings to be but foothings ; they made him large promifes ofa reflauration, that his eftate is ell as> i should be like the morning, that he should outíhine the very y®. 4 vet, Sun, and be a great man again. Thus they fpake, Cbap.5 , t 9, b, xnultatn zo. Chap. &. 5. Chap. II. 15, 16, &c. he looked on all their polücetur re promifes as flatteries, becaufe in his own thoughts he was a nihil praflat. dead man, and his Calamities pail all hope of recovery in this BEictiiehantur World. As if he had faid, Why doyou feedme withfuch vain du: externa hopes, andProphete to me of Wine, and of ffrong Drink,, of bona opal_ earthly honour and riches, oflength ofdayes, and of a multitude cobanrur,Mer, ofyears yet behind in the race of Ibisprefent life ? I cannot but all thisflattery, and adeparture from the Laws of friendfhip For alas ! My days are extinll, my breath is corrupt, andyet you are telling me oflong life, andgood days in this World. And indeed this is at once the cuftorne and the fault ofmany who vifit their friends upon the borders of death , they think they are not friendly, unlefs they labour to give them hopes of life, and delivertheir opinion peremptorily, We doubt not but you will do wellenough, you will recovtr from thisficknefs, andgets tingover ibis brunt, andfee many dayes. This is flattery: it is our duty to fpeak comfortably to our dying Friends , to let forth the love ofGod, and his readinefs to pardon, to prepare them for a better life, and to make their paffage out of this more eafie : But when we fçe them at the Graves mouth when death is ready to feize on them, then to tell them oflong life, is rather the office ofa Flatterer then ofaFriend. We thewmore love toour dying friends by offering our counfels, and tenderingup our Prayers for their fitnefs to depart out of this life, then by{hewing our defire, that they fhould live, and our lothnefs to part with them. Secondly, Jobs friends may be laid to fpcak flattery to God; and then the words are an Argument from the greater to the lefs; as if he had laid , If he mbo fpeaks flattery to his friend, . a man like bimfelf, (hall be pnniJhed , then much more {hall he,
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