f 246 Chap. zz. An expofition upon the Book of J O B. Verf. 2,5 . pineffe confifteth..For to have vouch, and that fecured, is all we can defire for the things of this world. Many have gold,_and ri. ches [tore, but the thing that troubles them is this, how to make all Pure; Returne to the Lard, andhe piall be thy defence : he !hall be an ofjurance Office to thee,he fhall prote6t theeagairft all winds and weathers,againil all enemies and pirates;The Allmighty fhall he thy defence and the defence ofthy gold. Further, Becaufe the wordwhich'we render defence,1gnifieth gold zffo, as was !hewed ; therefore fome keep to that reading, and thus trarflate this 25 verfe, And the /hell be thy 'Eritq; emnipo choicegold, andfilver, andftrength unto thee. Which reading is mittn g likewife followed byMafter Broughton; And the Rllmightywill be azgentxm cif thyplentiful! goldandfilver offirengtb to thee. This fence ofthe rejq, tiro. jun. word is comfortable indeed, for to have told ?obonly this;Tbou fhalt lay upgoldas the daft, and gold of Ophir at the f#ones ofthe brook; this had been (though a great mercy, yet but a common mercy)fuch as the men of theworld haveand enjoy. Many that 'know not 'god lay up gold at :he daft, and they who ferve him not, haveoftenflore atfilver. But when God himfelfe faith, I will be your Goldand filver,This is not onely the richeft oftemporall,but the riches ofall fpiricuall mercie.For when 'cis laid the Lord /hall be thy choice goldandfilver offitrengrh to thee, the meaning is, he will be better to thee then the choiceft Gold, and a greater ftrength then filver,nnto thee. This is a rareand a diftingutfhing mercy. Wicked men may have goldfromGod, but no wicked man loath (god for hi.r gold. Hence note ; That God himfelfeis the rickey, andfulnef je, thegold andfilver ofhis people. The Lord is my portion, faith my feule ; whofe foule raid this It was the foule of a mourning7ereeoie. And whenPaid he this ? even then,when their lands and houfes were poffeffedby theenc.. my, even then, when their Gold and filver with all theirgoodly thingswere carryed captive into Babilon; Then 7eremiefaid,Tke Lord is my portion (Lam. 3. 24 ) the Gold and filver whichI had inmy houle are gone, but my Gold& !jiver inheaven is not gon into captivity, he is my portion mill and for ever. They who have god for their goldandfiver, arehappier and richer then gold and ,Aver
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