Chap. 22. As Fxpoftion upon the Boo&af JOB. Verf 23. 23T How often in Scripture doth the Lord complain as if hewere wholly fruftráted ofhis defigne, when either nations orperforas being (mitten by his judgements did not returne unto him, or re- pantednot, (Ifa.9. T 3.)They turne not to him that fmiteth them that is, they turne not tome the Lord r I have fmitten them, and I alonecan heal them, yet they turne not to me ; as if the Lord had laid, I therefore fmote them that they might bethink thernfelves of returning,but they turned not to me.As they turned not at my word, or to me (peaking, fo they turned not at my fword, or to me fmiting. I set they are not onely sirmonproofe, my Prophets= fpake to them in vain, but they are judgement-proof alfo,my hand isupon them in vaine, they returnnor. And as it was then, fo at this day, for may we notobferve, fome mould<rïng in their e.. @ares,erufhed in their hopes,croffed in their children,blotted and blafted in their credit, weake and ficke in their bodies, even tired and worne out under feverall aff &ions, yet no thought of re- twining to the Lord, or of making their way perfe$ before him. So that the Lordmay fay to them, as he oncedid to his ancient people the !ewes (Ifa. 1.6.) Whyfh,uld ye be [mitten any more;, ye mall revolt moreand more. The returning of many is like that which Solomon fpeaks of(?ro. 26. t s .) Rs a dog returneth to hz6 vomit, fo afoole returneth to his folly ; As 7e¡rerun waxedfát, and Nicked, fo tomewill be kicking while they waxe leane. Further, Elipbaz. doth not fpeake barely to lab ofreturning, but he directs him to the object ; Ifthou returne To the 4ilmighty, And that is expreffed in fore tranflations very emphatically, it iv re' Return home to the Alltnighty,return till thoncomet toor 'each- a'erte' 41 eft God, be°thou lure to repent home; fo the word' is ufed'(H=(s4. e,r idrmee 2.70e12. r z, Amos 4. 6) return home toGod, flay nor fhott of.e m snu IR him inyour repentance, that is, repent fully, ferioufly ; And the intendment of Elithaz in fpeaking thus, might be to reprove lob for his former (by him fuppored) hypocnfie thou haft returned, '' !, ,<ne e' fé rio tou> c7rae before, but not to the Allmighty.furely thou didit reperr or:Iv} as an hypocrite in former times when thou madeft the greateft fliates'pv,itafsírtj. ofrepentance. Therefore now repent as a fincere convert. Thy &c, t'ietc. former repentance was.co the a f uitleffe repentance, and there- foredoubtleffe but a faired and falferepentance.Thou couldit Tr- veb
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