Chap. 23. An Expo f ition upon the Book o f J OB. Vert t . 3 95 Secondly, as we fhould thus take heed ofdeclining in the way ofgrace, fo we fhould muchmore take heed, that we decline not from the way of grace, or as the Apoftle Teter expreffech it (3 Ep. 2. 31. ) that we turne not frown the holy commandement delivered unto ut. This declining or turning from the commande- ments, is twofold ; f rft, to the right hand ; fecondly, and to the left. TheScripture gives warning againft both (7oJh. i. 7.) Be thoußrong and very corragiosen, that thoumigluefi obferve, anddoe according toall the Law which Mofes cc mmanded,turn not from it to the right hand, or to the left. Againe (Pro. 4. 25, 26, 27,) Let thine eye look right on, and let thine eye- lids lookfreight before thee; ponder thepathofthyfeete, and let all thy sayer be eftabliíhod, turn not to theright hand, nor to the left, remove the foote from evill ; Asif hehad Paid, there is evill both on the right hand, and on the left, therefore turne neither to the one, nor to the other, that thou mayett remove thy footfromevill. But tomemay fay, What is here meant by the right hand,& what by the left?and what are eheledeclining-, or turnings? I anfwer; To turne to the right hand, notes excefl'e, whenwe will takeuponus todoe more then God bath commanded, whenwe will needs over. doe, this is to decline to the right hand; for though, when man bath done his utmoft through grace in this life (confidering his in- dweiling corruption)he alwayes falls thort ofthat exact}nes which the Law requires, and fo cannot poffibly exceed the Law inhohinefs; yet all they may be laid to aet beyond the command, or to out at the LawofGod,as to the matter oftheir obedience, who do that which Godnever commanded, nor evercame into bit heart (as the Prophet fpeakes, per. 7 3 t.) to command them. They who thus do what God requires not, and as ifGod had been too fcant in his rules, will needs give a new rule either to themfelves or others,and as ifGod had not given them lawes enow,will(in this fence) be a law to themfelves or others, either. in matters of pratthfeor worfhip (And fo indeed make void the Law of God by their tradition) theft exceeders are the men who turne to the right hand, though indeed ( except they repent this rafhnefl'e ) themfelves are likely to be let upon the left hand. Men never ac$ more left. handedly then when they thus turne to the right hand, nor doe they ever wrongGod more, then when they doe that which isright in their own eyes : men never thew themfelves fo
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