Chap. 20. An Expofttion upon the Book of J o B. Verf. 13. facrifice : But indeed 'twas pride or covetoufneffe,or at the belt a groundleffe pity which prevailed with him. In this fenfe wee are to take it here. Though he be very tender towards fin, as if he were afraid the winde fhould blowupon it : Though he deale gently with it : as `D svid gave inftru&ions to his Army concerning Abfalom : though (according to the Allufion in the Text ) he fpare it as a plealant morfei, which he would be al, wayes eating and never cateup, yet it will be bitter to him, &c. Hence obferve : A carnal! man is mercifull tohis fan,andfavourably, to his lugj. TheApoftle faith (Rom. 8. 3 2,) God feared not his own Sonne; That is, he did not deale with him in a way of pity when he was in the place of finners, but delivered him up( namely to death )for us all : but finfull hearts arekind and pitifull to their fins : though they heare that fin will damne them, yet they will not giveotheir fins an ill word, much leffe a wound, they fpare them, as Saul (pared Agag and the fat cattle. Sin is (pared three wages. Firft, When not eonfeffed : we bring fin forth to tryall and arraignment by confeffion. Secondly , Whenwe doe not paffe fentence upon it,nor judge our (elves for it.: fo the Apoftle fpeakes ( Cor. II. 3r . ) Ifwe wouldjudge our [elves, we Jbould not be judged of the Lord, We fhould fay this fin deferves death, and wedeferve to die for it, elfe we fpare it. Thirdly , We fpare finne when it is not a&ually put to death, though we condemne it : force confe(fe the iniquitie of their finne, who yet will not part with it. And fin like a male- faflour call by the fentence of the Judge cryeth for mercy, or as a prifoner of wane for quarter, when the life of it is indan., ger : fin faith as thofe ten men to Ifhmael (Per. 41. g. ) Slay ue not ; why ? what hash fin to fay for it felfe why it fh©uld not dye? ufually it faith, as thofe men in theProphet did , We have treafures in thefield. Spare us, fay covetoufneffe andoppreffi- on deceit and fraud, We bave treafures and riches for you ; (pare me fayth uncleaneffe, I have pleafures and delights for you fpareme fayth another. I am but a little one : (pare me, this is the firft time : Jthave been committed but once, or twice; (pare, lAS 503
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