234 Chap. 19. AnExpofition upon the Book of J o a. Verf. 13; crollè ? yet even fuch was?t defertion, as will appea to air he opening and profecution of this context. V erf. 13. He bath put my brethrenfairefront me. In the former verfe we heard of Troopes drawing about y,b's Tabernacle, and befieging it. Now, in this nick of time, while Troope ofenemies draw neere about him , his brethren withdrew and departed farre from him ; He bath put my brethren farrefrom me, This defertion of his brethren is put in quail ballance with the invafron of his enemies, and is indeed a hea- vier burden of afflihion, and Both much over- ballance it. Their unkindneff troubles us most!, from whom we have leafl rcafen tofufj'ecb1 unkindneffe. He bath put my brethren, Gi-c. f1,tpatty cog. The word which we tranflate brethren , notes not onely nationom beber ,neerencs, but onencs Many brethren, yea all brethren_fhould be «rn rit #- one , and agree in one. They who are neere in relation, ,sue, gtaia holies fhould not be farre off in affe6tion. yob calls himfelfe a brother zn urn covenire ment,acproin- to Dragons ( Chap. 30. a9.) becaufe his prefent (tare was like de res ina ima- that of Dragons , folitary and withdrawne from friends. And ta, qua in uno Solomon tells us (Trov. 1$. 9. ) He that is floathfull in his work co>aveniunt fa- is brother to him that is a great wafter ; That is, he is very like him, ties wanntn'. er fach another; yea , things without life, which have a like- neffe are called in Hebrew brethren or fitters ( Exod. 26. 3. ) becaufe brethren and lifters have , or are fuppofed to have likeneffe in conditions, and onenes in affection ; My bre- tbren.. But what were his brethren ? There are (even forts of brethren.. Firft Naturali brethren , who are of the fame blood; and thefe are fo called, fometimes in a larger , and fometimes in a ftric`ter fence : they are called brethren in a large fence who are ofthe lame linage, though they be not immediately fprung froni the fame 103nes. Abraham calls Lcr Ms brother who was onely his nephew (Jen. 14. 14. ) ? s 'yes and yofes, Simon and rudas, who were the kinfinen ofCF > are yet called his bre- thren, Math. 13. 55. But (trial . .ley are naturali brethren, who,are borne of the fame parens ., Secondly,.
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