Chap.a7. do Expofition upon the Book of J O B. Ver,5, 443 faid of Treafon, They may love the Treafon, but all hate the Traytor ; fo many love to hear themfelves flattered, but all hate flatterers. And though true reproofs are bitter Pills, and very diftaftful tomolt in the taking down, yct wife So- lomon bath affured us, That he that rebuketh a man, after. wards¡ball find more favour ( even with that man) then be thatflatteresh with bis lips,(Prov.2$.23.)There are many who as the Pfalmift(peaks ( Pfal.36. 2.) Flatter themfelves, They are their own Paraftes. But as they who flatter others , do molt commonly fall under their difpleafure, fo all they (Coon - er or later) Chaff fall usider their own difpleafure ( and that's worfe then the difpleafure ofany, yea then ofall men) who have flattered themfelves. It is our wifdom and our peace, to be plain with our £elves and with all men, howmuch pre. fent difquiet ¡Dever we get by it. Paul fpeaks it out to the Theß'alonians , r Epiff. 2, 3, 4, 5. Our exhortation was not ofdeceit, neither at any time ufed we flattering words. But as we were allowed'ofGod to beput in truff wih the Gofpel, evenfa we¡Peak; not aspleating men but God, Further, Thefe words may be expounded not as a threat a- gain£i his Friends for their flattering of him, but as a threat againit himfelf, in cafe he fhould have flattered them. And fo they carry alto the weight of reafon, why he ufed fo much freedomin reproving them, and £hewing them the danger that hungover their heads : As if he had faid, You my friends mayperhaps wonder at my boldnefs acid plainnefs of fpeech while I tell you that God bath bidyour hearts from underffands ing, and that he will not exaltyou : Butyou muffpardon me, I had rather incuryour frowns by my downright dealing withyou, then Gods by flatteringyou; I had rather makeyour ears tingle by reprovingyou, then make the eyes of myChildren ale by my ap ?laudingyou ; For this I have learned as a certain truth, that he whofpeaks flattery to his Friend, the eyes ofbis Children(hall fail. Hence Obferve. That even a godly man doth, andought to firengthen him+ [elf in doing his Duty , by the remembrance of thrfe evils which are threatned again¡¡ the neglei'1 of it. A Believer makes ufe of the threatnings, as well as of the promifes ,to keep his heart clofe in obedience. That is the belt obedience L 11 2 which
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