401 Chap: r 9. An Expojition upon the Bookr of -J O B. * Verf. 28 the kirgdome of heaven, yet the kingdom; ofGod delights to fuffer violence, and then 'cis bea when the violent take it by force. The grace of to man is free, yet man fhould be feirce- in following the grace of Cod. The Jove of goodbath made as hot perfecutions as ever wrath bath made again!§ it. But to the' Text. whyptrfecute we him ?' This word may he conlidered two wayes. There is a per fecution in a aria fence ; and' a perfecution in a large fence. I conceive that weare not here to take perfecution in a fri& fence, asif 74 did imagine his friends were (as we may fay )' blondie Tonners, or 7(r:ro's, orDiscirfans, that they did oppfe. and vexe himdire;ily ( or eonotnise) for truth and righteouf- neff fake or that inoppofing him, they oppofed or fuppreffed- their owne light : But here perfecution is taken in a large fence, for unfriendly dealing, or for fuch unkinde carriages, as are very wide from and u:rfutable to thofe who profefTe love. There is a threefoldperfecurion. Fira, A mental! perfecuti- on,, when the fpirit-ofa man rifeth up, and oppofech another,. Secondly, There is a verbali peerfecution, when mengive hard words arid uncharitable cenfures. Thirdly There is i reall perfecution ( there is reali per:eccstion in both the former, as reali is oppoled to imaginary) or a perfecution by. the hand ; jctch as is the dragging of innocent perlons before the tribn- nail ofthe M: Orates As Chrif foretells his Difciples ; re fballbe brought before 7 overnours andKingsfor my !damesfake. (Matti. io. 18.) Here we are to take perfecution in the fecund fignification. `lobs friends did not hate him, they thought in- deed that he had done very wickedly, and that he was very., wicked, they concluded that he was leavened with hypocrifie,. but I cannot conceive that they were leavened with malice a- gainf him nor was theirs perfecution in the third fence; they did not hale himbefore theMagiftrate, nor bringhim to judge- ment and tryall.' But it was perfecution of the middle ranke, hard language, and unfriendlycenfures .ob was under the per- fecutionof the tongue, hecomplained oftbat ( (hap. Iz. 4. ) Iam as one mockedofhis neighbour. And againe ( Chap. 17. z.) 4re,therenot mockerswithmee ? Mockingis called perfecution, (:Gail. 4.
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