Chap. 19. AnExpof:tion upon the Booke of J OB. Verf. 22. love, for it is feirce, and her embraces, for they are cruel) ; She is not fatisfied with flail, fhehunts for the precious life, even the precious life of the never-dying foule. Thirdly, Thefewords are interpreted as expreffing both the fpirit and the worke ofdetradors and flanderets, their fpirit is full of fpight, and their work is to eat up the honour of o- thers. Thuswhile ?ob's friends judg'd him an hypocrite, and declared hima wicked one, he might fay theywere not fatisfi Eft det-aíiorit edwith bis flesh; Hander devoures a man alive ; and it de- penipbrafis. voures more then flefh, yea that which force efteeme more Obtreítatores then their lives, their credit and reputation. Now as we vivú palanrxr may fay ofall flanderers, Theyare not fatúfed with the fielb of carndau.Merc. thofe they.oppofe, fo it is very rare that any man oppofeth ano- ther Without come mixture of Bander. The Chrtftians in the primitive times were íubjefted and willingly gave up them- felves to a thoufwnd forts of deaths for the name of Chrift ; but this did not fatifie their perfecuters. They alwayes en- deavoured as much to flay and kill their credits, as they did their bodyes ; and were as bufie to invent and let a face up- on horrible lies againft them, as to invent terrible tortures for them. They could no more beare it that their good names fhould live, then that they fhould live. And therefore they fwggefted inceft, murder, and what not, as the common prac- tifes oftheir early meetings. That they were Chriftians,, was indeed, their crime, that was capitali by the Lawes of thofe times, but their perfecuters were not fatiefied with their fle¡h, which they might (at pleafure) devoure; becaufe they pro- feffedChrift, they mutt fall upon their good names, andcharge themwith enormities in manners, whom they meant to delroy for the faith. The like methods we have found revived in thefe latter dayes ; all wayes being ufed to Raine their reputation, and heape reproaches upon their perlons, whole way and intereft bath been oppofed. The ApoRle warnes the Church of Cjalatia ( and that is our warning ) Jal. 5. 15. ) 1f ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not confumed one ofanother. But forcie may fay, ifmen be once bitten and devoured one of another,what is there remaining of them to be confumed? R r : I anfwer; 307
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