Chap. 23. An Expofttion upan the Book of JOB. Uerf. q. doe draw nigh to him, difputing as well as praying.In opposition Co which 'cis raid (pfal, 5. 5.) Thefooli/h fhall not Rand in tky fight, thus hatefi dWorkers ofiniquityThefo^lifh, that is, the wicked man, the hypocrite withhis falfe- hearted and flattering tongue, are an abomination to God. The foolifhman that the Pfalmitt wanes, is not the man low in parts,but unfound in fpirit. This foolifh man fball not Rand in the fight of God, nor will God heave him either difputing orpraying, but reject himwith his difputes and prayers. Thou bateft all Ike workers ofiniquity, and to the wicked godfaith, what haft thcu to doe todeclare myifa- tutes, or that thou fhouldeft take my Covenant in thy mouth (PI'al. 5o. 16.) God will not endure it, that wicked men fhould (peak ofhim, much lefïe will he endure, that a wicked man fhould dif- pute with him. God will have nothing to doe in way ofarguing, and reafoning, either with a perfon or with a people, ttihile he or they continue in their finnes. (Ifa. a. r 5, 16. ) When ye fpread forthyour bands, Iwill bide my eyes fromyou ; yea whenyemake many prayers, 1 will not heart ; your bands arefull ofblood ; that is, eitherof bloody finnes in fpeciall, as murder and oppreffion, or of finnes in general' ; for every fin is blood andbloody,every fìia may be called blood : and while the hands are full of blood in ei- ther fence, Godwill not heare, that is, he will not gracioufly heare or accept fo much as one ofmanyprayers. But are the wic- ked and their prayers and their difputings excluded for ever while they continue Etch, or to do fuch things they are ; and therefore in the next words, the Lord by his Prophet gives-them this coun- fell ; Wafh ye, make ye clean, put away the evill ofycure ing,rfrom before my eyes,teafe to ace evil', learne to doe well, f"eeke judgement, releive the oppreffed, judge the fatherleffe, plead for the widdow; here's a description of righteous perfon, righteous in his way, upright withGod and rren; and with filch God fpeake, fach may d«pute with him, as it follows (v. 18.) Come now, and let ue reafon together. We know (faith the blind man after he was healed) (fob 9. 3I,) that CJed heareth nrt finners ( that is, filch as plead for or pleafe themfelves in an fin) but ifany man be a worfhipper of jod,anddoth his will, him he heareth;him fie heareth praying, and him he heareth difputing. Whereas of the prayirg; of the wicked he faith, they are bat meere bablin s, and of their difputings, they are but vaine janglings. If (faith David, Pf. 66, Z z 18.). 3
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