Chap. 19. An Expofition upon the Booke of JOB. Verf. zz. 299 Firft, Stri&ly, as it is the atluall oppofition ofany man for the ceufe of god, orfor righteoufnes fake, proceedingfrom an enemy-like Male againff his perfon or his peace. Thus 7,14 friends did not pericute him, they did not at all leek to ruine him, but to re- claime him, and bringhim to repentance. Secondly, Perfecution is taken in a large fenfe, and fo to perfecute is no more then to profecute and put to trouble. Thus lob's friends had perfecuted him all along; and thus, not- withftanding his many proAations of his owne integritie, anci nis late cry for pitie, they continued to perfecutehim. why doeye perfecute me as God ? ?ob (beaks as if his friends had exampled themfelves by God in this perfecution ; did God perfecute him ? I arrfwer by the former dittin&ion, God did not perfecute him as perfecution is taken ftriftl"y, but as periecution is taken in a large fenfe for a violent profecution, fo it may be fayd ( with reverence) that God did perfecute hita while he followed him with af- fii&ions. But how is it that he faith ; They perfecuted him as God ? as if they had fet God for their patterne, and had done as they law him doe. Man is not more unlike to God in any thing than in his, perfecution ofman. The Lord is pitiful! when he perfecuteth ; he in judgment remembreth mercy ; he is kinde when he is fe- vere. This was the groundofDavidschoice (zSam. 24. 14. ) Let mefall into the handofthe .Lord,for his merciesaregreat,and let me not fall into the hands of men. When did he look for mercy ? even when the Lord was refolved to of iet him. Daviddid not fay, hismercies are great, when he gives mewealth, riches, and honour, when he gives deliverance, and workes falvation for his people : but when he is fmiting his people, and confuming themwith the dreadful! peftilence. The wounding! of Godhave more kjndneff e in them then the kiffes ofmany men. Man feldome thews pine to thofe who are fmitten : but how rarely doth he thew pitie while he is (mining, or minglemercy with his justice God ufuallv ex=rcifeth fparing mercy towards his enemies, and he alwayes Both it towards his own people, againft whom he never fullers his whole difpleafure to arife, though he be often provoked by them, and difpleafedwith theme q z And
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