4co Chap. 23 c An expojTtion upon the TookcfJOB. Verf i r. If we had fparedour paines of labour, we couldnot have endured more paineof trouble ; for allthe day ling have we beenplagued, andchafined everymorning. Such arguings as thefe thew great de- clinings. Yet they whoare fincere will foon recov r themfelves againe, and fay as Davidafter he had reviewed this Temptation (ver. 15.) Ifwefay we willfpeake thou, we fh)oldoffendatrainfl the , Generation of the righteosu. Now feeing theGodly are fo rñany wayes endangered to decli- ning, let us be warned ofit, and beware ofir. The fe are declining times, many profeffors have filmed themfélves;and the profefli- onof the Gofpel.He is a Chriftian indeed that can fay in truthas yob did, have kept bit words andnot declined; they that knew me manyyeares agoe may finde me in as good, yea in a better plight then I was then.Hypocrites and true beleevers may look and ad very likeone another, but as the natureof their elates have al- wayes a vaft difference to the underftanding, fo the event gives a vaft difference between them to the eye.Hypocrites keep the word ofGod a while, but theyever decline in the end finally from it, and fometimes throw it off in the way totally. When they are in the way they growweary ofit,and a fmall matter working either upon their hopes or fears, will put them quite Out ofi .Every dif- ficulty, every danger is to them a Lion in the way, caufing them todeclinefrom it; whereas to thofe that are fincere, difficulties are not lops, but incitementsand fpurres, they doe but provoke theirzeale, they cannot quench it. And hence the holy Apofile Sends a challenge(Rom. 8. 35.) to all the troubles, aflli Lions, and evils in the world : he bìds`themdoe their won`t, and when they have done it, they thall not be able tofeparate himfrom the loveofGod, neither from the love wh rewith God loved him, or from that love wherewith he lovedGod. Ihave kept his wayes and not declined. Secondly, Obferve. That finne is adecliningfrom floe way cf rod, That`sthe Apofles definition (t 7oh.3. 4.) Sin is the tranf greffonof the Law; And tranlgrtífìon isa goingafide, ora going over the lineby which Geld teach chai:I :ed us out our way. God bath not left usat our liberty, though he hath left us (as the . Apofile lame1 calls it, Chap, i. 25.) aptrfetllaw of liberty. He bath
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