Chap. a3. ciln ExpofFtion upon the B30 of J O B. VcrL a. 307 To the former I fay, judgecharitably of thole who complain bit*. terly for as a man in a low condition knoweth not what himfeíf would either be or doe, were he advanced to the heights of ho- nour and power ; fo he that is at cafe, andwel,knoweth not what himfelfe wouldeither beor do, were he in Paineor overwhelmed with forrows, Extreames in any frateare rarelybone with a well or doily temperedmoderation. Secondly, To the latter I fay, let them cape* to heare them- (elves hardly cenfured, and learn to bear it : let not fuch thinke ftrange of their fufferings, either under the hand of God, or by the tongues ofmen. great fuferers .feake often unbecomingly, andare as oftenfo fpoken of. Thirdly, Forafmuchas the matter of this fuggeflion againft lab, tumultuous axd rebellious .Beeches, at leaft fpeeches favouring ftrongly of rebellion are incident to any Godly man in yobs con- dition. Obferve. Theremay be rebellion againfr God in agoodmans cowplainings under theafffio`ling bandofGod. An unquiet fpirit is not onely a great burden to man,but a díf- honour to God. Our diffatisfaâionwith the dealings ofGod, carrieth in it (at leaft an implicit) accufationofhim, or that God bath not done well becaufe it is ill (to fence) with us.There is a rebellion againft the rod as wel as againft the word ofGod. For as our ftrugling anddriving with the word ofGod& the unqui- etneffeof our hearts under any truth when it takes hold of us is rebellion againft God, fo to ftrive, and áraggle, with the rod of God, or with the croffe that he layes uponus is rebellion againft him alto. God fpeakes to us by his rod as well as by his word ; andwe fpurne at God in wrangling with his rod, as well as in wranglingwith his word. Yea to have hard thoughts of God,as that he is revere, and rigorous, that hehath put off his bo velis of compaffion towards us, and forgotten to begracious ; fuch thoughrs,as there of Godunder affli&ion,are rebelious thong` ts. And as there is a rebellion in the thoughts againft God in care of afffiäion; fo alfo in the Tongue. Thus, to murmur is to rebel!. Idoe not fay that all complaining is rebelling,but all murmuring is ; we may complain and tell the Lordhow fad it is with us,how much our foules, our bodies, our eftates, our relations bleed and R r z fmart.
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