386 An Expojtion upon the 'Book of jOB. Verf. to: and who can fay to God (by an a& of appropriating faith) the Lard is our God. Surely then Saints lofe nothing in the fire (but what is not worth the holding) hileGod finds and owns them, and they finde andownGod in the fire. Further, Some read this latter pa:t of the verfe as an offer ; Probat ms. Let him try me, and ',Thal! come f rth asgold ; as ifyob had laid, I doenot refufe, but defire a tryall ; god knowes my way,the way that is mr,let him come and try mecca lam ready to come to him for my tryall. Hence note ; aíl fincere heart is willing to be tryed. 'Tis a great part of the worke ofa godly man to try himfelfe and his workes, and it is one of his greateft wifhes, that God wou'd try him, and bis works.They who are fincere are much in trynogthemfelves; Let as fearch and try our wares (lay they)and went againe unté the Lord.And they who are much in felf- tryall and Ex , mination, are willing to be tryed and examined both by God and man; lure enough, They that try therrfelves much, are not afraid of the trial! ofman, nonor of the trial of God. if we com- pare the firft verle ofthe t 39Th falme with the 23d we (hall fee what an anfwer there is in them as to this poynt. At the firft verfe David faith, OLord,thou 1;4 fearchedmeand known me : at the 23. verle he prayes; Search me O god, and know my heart; why didDavid pray thus to God; Search me and know my heart? having laid before, Thou haft fearched me, and known me. Seeing David knew that God had fearched him, what needed he to pray that God would (larch him ? why did hebegge God to do-that which he had done already? The anfwer is at hand. David was adil gent fell fearcher,and therefore hewas fo willing to be fear- ched yea hedelighted to be fearched, by God ; and that not (as was laid) becaufe himfelfe had done it already, but allo be- caufe he knew God could doe it better. He knew by his ovine fearch, that he did not live in any way ofwickedneffe againft his knowledge,and yet he knew there might be tome wayof wicked n, ffe in him that he knew not of.And therefore he doth not Only fay, Searchme, O God, and knC7my bear,: re me, ant' and kj Owmy way thoughts ; but he adds (ver, 24.) fee if (The lame any wicked (or any way ofpaint andgrirfe) in me. ( both ,
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