300 Chap. 19. An Expofitionupon the Bock of JOB. Verf 2E,. And as men are unlike God in the manner of their afHiding ore another : fo in the defigne and intendment ofir. Godaf- flitts to try and purge us; muff men affli f eithér to vex and trouble us, or to pleafe themfelves. The Fathers of our Jiefh ( faith the Apoftle ( Fhb, 12. ro.) chafteit us after their owne pleafure, or as themfelves pleafe ; yea for their owne pleaCure f rnerimes, or to pleafe themfelves ; but he ( that is, the Lurd the father offpirits) for our profit He doth it that the iniquity of7acob may be purged, and this is all thefruit to takeaway-his fin (Ifa. 27. 9.)But m:on loth it that force injury may be revenged ; and this is all the fruit he lookes after, that his enemy may be taken away, or that he may take the fpoyle. It is laid ofthe eiífyriaii (ICa 50. 7. ) when God fent him againft an hypocriti- call Nation, againft the people ofhis wrath, CO take the fpoyle, &c. howbeit he meaneth, not fo, neither doth his heart thinke fo. What d.d he not mean or think ? Did he not meane to goe or to take the fpoyle when he came thither ? Yes, he was forward enough to goe, and be was greedy enough after the fpoyle when he was come. But he hadno thought nor the leaft 111eaning. to doe this in any compliance, either with the will" or purpofe ofGod. All that wasin his heart was to deftroy' and cut offNations. not a few ; he only deli gned to heape up riches, and advance his honour and intereft in the Kingdomes of the world. I his was, all that was in his heart, while the worke of God was in his hand. There are but few who.fol- low Gods defigne in doing his worke. And though lob's friends had fomewhat in their hearts futable to the defigne of God upon lob in his fufíerings, even a. further humbling and abating ofhim in the fight ofhis own unworthineffe ;yet they were fo unfutable to God in the handling ofhim, and of the whole matter, that the wrath of God was kindled againft them ( Chap. 42.7. ) Why then dothhe fay,that.they perfecuted-him, as God. I anfwer ; Firft, Godafiliffed himwithout caufe, ashe tells Satan in the fecond Chapter : That is, without any fuck caufe asSatan fuggefted againft him. lob was a perfed man and up- right, according. to Cods own teftimony. Thus lob. might fay to his friends ; Wilt ye perfecute me as God ? God, indeed, za,ut.,,of his prerogative may dce.-it, he bath fupreame power;
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