Chap. 23. An Ezpofition upon the Bock of J O F. Verf 5 3.3.5 toknow the minde ofGod concerning him. As a man that is ac cufed longs to hear the minde of the Judge, as for others 'cis not much tohim what they fay for himor againft him.As Paul fpake in a like cafe (t Car. 4. 3.) withme it if a very (trail tbi>g to 6, judged ofy(u,or of manyjudgement, &c. he that jadgeth in- so the Lord ; that is, tohis judgement I muff Rand ; He above al. Hence note. Firft, That a godly man if carefsoll to underftand theanfwer and determinations ofGod concerning rim. I wouldknow the words that he would anfwer me, and this not ònely ( according to the fuppofition which fob makes here ) if God fhonld fpeake to him perfonally, or mouth to mouth ; but in what way foever God thou d fpeake to him.It is the great care. ofa Godlyman to know the word ofGod written and deliver'd over to as, as the rule ofour lifeand faith ; for indeed therein we have our judgement, and.our anfwer :. as Chrift faith, the w'raa that Ifpeake, they /hall judge youat the laß day : that is, by the word you (ball be judged. Likewife it is the care ofa Godly man to underftand what God fpeakes to him by his workes and pro dences, by his rods and chaftnings.In thefe the Lord fpeakes to us . and gives us anfwers. They who arewife, will thirty to know and underftand them. We may conceive that 706 had refpeét to ru o. things efpecially, abut which he deft red that he might under- hand the anfwer, and words of God to hint. FirR, That G..d would thew him the true Caulè ofhis afili&i on ; for he did not take that to be the Cause which his friends had fooften fuggcfted, and fo 3ifputed upon that Fallacy all afo,ng,. which Logicians call, 7 be putting of that fora Cattle which ie not the Cattle. Therefore lobhoped to knowof God what hewould fay, as to the reafon why he did Contend' with him. Secondly, What God would fay to him by way of Direcstion and Councell,by wayofremedy and redrefs,he was follicitous to underftand the minde ofGod,and what God expe&ed from him under this difpenfation. So that Ps fcope was not at all (as Eli phaz fufpeded) to pleadhis owne righteoufnefe and holy walk- ings before God, as if Godhad been beholding iohim for them, and fo muff needs grant him ( as havin deferved it ) whatfoever heIhould. aske. But that he mightbe acquainted with the holy with
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