Chap.17. An Expofition upon the Bookof J O B. Verf.z6. 449 37. The Lordfhall bring theeand thyKing whom thou haft fet over thee,to a Nation whom thou nor thy Father have known,and there thou(halt ferve other Gods,Wood,and Stone, and thou ¡halt become an affonifhment, and a Proverb, and aby word, amongall the Nations whither the Lordfhall lead thee. This threat was renewed, a KiYg. 9.7 And the Pfalmift bewails it that God had brought his people into fucha condition , Thou haft made us a by-word among the Heathen , afhaking of the Headamong the people:thou haft made us a reproach to our neighbours,afcorn andderifion to them that are roundabout us, Pfal, 4.4.. 13. The Prophet feremiah fpeaks terrour from the Lord, 24.9. I will deliver them to be removed to all the Kingdoms of the earthfor their bunt, to be a reproach, and a Proverb, and a taunt, and a curfe in alltheplaces whither I Pall drive them : The Hypo-, crite, whoputteth the flumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a Prophet to enquire of the Lord,hath his doom denounced in this terrour, Ezek 14.. S. I will fet myface againft that man, andmake bim a fign anda Proverb, and cut himoffrom amidff my people. Again, Ezek.16.44. They thatfpeakin Proverbs(hallfay, Such as the Mother is, fuck is the Daughter , The Hittites and the Ifraeliteswere both alike in fin, and theyfhould not be unlike in punifhment : Such fhort fentences are an advantage tomemory , and ferve inftead of larger Hifiories ofeminent Providences, whether mercies or judgments. ' Thirdly, Obferve. God often turns that to the honour of his fervants, which men intended to their difgrace, yobwas a by-word, indifgrace; Godmade him a by-word too,but for his honour. Yob is famous to a Proverb at this , rvev ,uQs day, for as when we would fet forth the greatnefs ofany mans obpt;;oói om, fuffering, we fay, He is aspoor as fob ; fo when we would t;entia, fet forth the greatnefs ofany mans patience, we fay, He it as patient as Job, or he is another Job: All the vertues, and graces which the Saints have manifeffed under fufferings, are prover. bially expreft under the fufferings and patience of Job, Never did C.efar, nor Alexander, nor any of the great Herot'softhe World obtain fucha Name and Glory, by vióories over men, as Jobdid by patient fuffering under the hand ofGod Mmm And
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