Chap. 2I: An Expofition upon the Beokof J o B. Verf. 7. 653 I (hall now fpeak more dittine`t1y to thefe words, as they lye in this gradation. Wherefore doe the wicked live ? Some read in the tinepart, Wherefore have the wicked lived ? others in the timeto come, wherefore fhould the wicked live ? We tranflate in the prefent time, wherefore do they live ? Ta live, in Scripture is taken two wayes. Fira, For a bare fubfìftence in the world, or for the hold- ing (as we fay) of life and foule together, to bekept out ofthe grave, or to beabove ground; this is to live. So Come reftraine it here, Wherefore doe the wicked live ?That is, wherefore have they fo much as a breathing. time ha the world? that's too much for them. Wherefore are not their filthy and uncleane foules preffed by death out of their bodies ? why are they not tumbled into the grave? why are they not tumbled downe in, to hell ? why doe they cumber, (till cumber the world ? A wic- ked man is not worthy to five, much leffe is he worthy of the comforts of this life. Ifa wicked man had his defert, he fhould have nothing but wrath.The wrath of god is revealed againft all anrighteoufneffe. Thewages offin is death ; that's all he earner, why then Both be live ? Secondly, To live, fignifies not barely to live, but to live comfortably, to have content with our life ; to live is to pro, Non eft viveae fper. Thus the word is often ufed in Scripture, (Pfal 118. 17.) fed valere visa; Ifball not die, but live.David didnot lookuponhimfelfe as im- mortal, or that he (houid never dye ; he knewhe was fubjec& to the ftatute ofdeath : but the meaning is, I (ball not die now, I (ball not dye by the hands ofthefe men, I (hall not die the death which they have defigned me to;or when he faith, I 'hall not die, but live ; his meaning is, I (hall live comfortably and profperoufly, I (hall live as a King. That which we tranflate, { I Sam. I o.24.) godfave the King,is,Let the King live,that is, let him profper, and have good dayes ; let him have peace with a'l, or vi &orieover his enemies. 'Tis faid in.that prophefie of j,efus Chrift (Tfal.72. i 5.) He /hall live ; Chrift hath not only a being, but a glorious being. Though Jefus Chrift had. no outwaid pomp, whilehe was in the world, yet they who knew him honoured him , and all power was committed to him. jr
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