Cap.17. AnExpofition upon the Book of J OB. Yeti-, 6. 463 andmen, r Cor, 4, 9. Theword which the Apoftle ufeth is an Allufion to the Romane Theaters, whither all the people an tia& retorted to fport themfclves, and their fpecial (port was, to "O.P11 "41'. behold the Combats ofMen with Menor of Men with Beafls; Such a (porting Spectacle were the Apofiles made (in their Combates with the World) to the World, and to Angels,and to Men : They had Speé}ators enow, they were a Speeitacle to the World, that is,To the Inhabitants of the World , who are ditlríbuted into their firfi andgreatefi divifion in their next word, Angels and men: Heaven and Earth are the Fabrick of the whole World, Angels and Men are all the Inhabitants of both, yet tome re(irain Pauls Text, to evil Angels only, or Devils, becaufe it founds harsh to the Ear , that the good Angels fhould delight themfelves in beholding the Cuff:rings ofgood men ; but it is not Pauls fcope to (hew that every be- holder of their fufferings tools delight in their fufferings, but that all did , or might behold them ,, for thole things were not done in a corner. The Apofiles were let forth by their Adverfaries asif they had invited all the World, Angels, and Men, good and bad, to laugh at them ; yet as good men could not behold themwithout weeping, fo the good Angels could not behold them with rejoycing, unlefs it were at their con(lancy and their courage of God, or at that Crown which they law ready prepared for thole who overcome And in this fenfe good men alto rejoyced at their fufferings. But . when any mans fufferings are rejoyced at, becaufe he fuffers and is in pain ; This is very painful. This was Moab, burden, Jer, 48. 39. They fhall howl, fay. ing, How is it broken down ? How bath Moab turned the back, with fhame ? So Jhall Ahab be a derifion , and difrnaying to all them about him. And when the Pfalmilt would exprels how highly God was offendedat the counfels and plottings of wic- ked ones, he tells us, He thatfitteth in heaven (hall laugh, he Jhall haue them in derifion, Pfa1,2. And ifever people had caufe to biefs God becaufe he hash not nude their enemies to rejoyce over them, we have caufe to do it. What a by-word (hould we have been by this time, what aTabret to the Nations round about, what mufick to many thoufands at home, had the Lord given but that occae ton to them, that he hath oft, andoft put into our hands ? Bleffed
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