Chap. 22. An Expoßtien um the Book of J OB. Ver. 23. 233 But whenmay we be laid to returntoGod ? I anfwer ; firft, whenwe returne out of a fenfeof fin againfi `God, as well as offmarc upon our felves ; for when we retorne only becaufe offmarr,we return toour felves rather then toGod, as when it is faid iri Hofea (Chap. 7. t6.) They returned but not to tke meft high : wemay fee the reafonofthis charge at the [4th verle : They have not criedunte me with their heart, when they horded upon theirbeds : they off'emble themfilvei for corne andfor trine, and they rebell againf t me. As if he had Paid, all their crying and howling, is not becaufe they have finned againft me, burbe- caufe their fins have pincht them, they doe not mourn becaufe of their wickedncffe, but becaufe oftheir wants. 'Tis famine that moveth thern,not my fear.Theywould fain be at their full tables again, they are all for corne and wine, nothing for grace and ho- lineffe. We may fay of forge perfons repenting, as yob (Chap. 6. 6.) ofthe wild Affe braying, Doth the wildAffe bray wb:n he bath grate, or Greth the Ox over hiefodder; he applyed it to his own cafe,that he did not cry out without caufe, nor complaine when he felt no paine ; but (I fay) we may rpply it tofore per- fons repenting.Tbey wouldnever brayif they had but grafi en ugh, nor loo ifthey bad foddar enough ; that is, ifthey had but outward comfort enough, corne and wine, health and ftrength enough,did they but abound in'thefe, you fhould never hear them complain nor flied a tear, howmuch foever they abound in fin ; All the world cannot fatisfie the foul ofa godlyman, till (after finning) ht be reconciledto God : His foule is hungry and thirfty, not- withftanding all his cornand wine,till he be filled with the faveur .0fGod. And, this is indeed to remote to the ei4Bmighty. Secondly,, Then allo we retorne to the Alimighty, when we turne fptcially from and mourn for that finne whereby we have moft provoked the Almighty ; when that which path moft offen. ded God, is Mott offenfive and burdenfome untoa For though in repentance, every fin is to be repented of, yet fore more ; As Samuel laid to thehoufe ofIfrael (a Sam 7. 3.) ifyou do return to the Lord with allyour hearts, then put away theJIrange Gods and Afiarotb.But why doth he exhort them to put away that ftrange God e.4ftareth, by name, more then any other of their ftrange godo ? I anfwer ; it was becaufe they, had molt provoked the true God by worfhipping that firange God, and therefore he counfels H h thm
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