Chap. 24. An Expofition upon the Bookof J 0 B. Verf 4. er to reftore life, for 'cis like water which being fpilt cannot (by any humane power) be gathered up againe and the LaWof God faith concerning the fin of murther, that no fatisfaftion (hail be taken foteit,and indeed none can. For though fome would corn. mute& have(by the linful indulger ce &crud pityofunju(t Ma. gillrares) commuted for it, yet none could ever fatisfie for ir. And when Maglfirates either through ford corruption,or foolifh compaffion, have not taken vengeance upon the murtherer in kinde? but have (offered him to commute,or compound for that fin,either by paying a pecuniary penalty,or by undergoing (nine punifhment leffe then death, God hath taken vengeanceupon them for it, and hath laid to them in his providences as he laid co Ahab by his Prophet for the fparing of Benbadad (a Kings 20. 42.) Becauliye bave let gee oat ofyour hand a man whom Ibad appointed to utter deftrutlion, thereforeyour life XIIgo for his life, andyour people"hall-be cut ofby the (word, bicaufeyour "word did not cut cif the murtherer. Whole N lions have been filled with blood by this kind of keeping back the hand froen blood. Lafily, The murtherer hurts others, but he chiefely hurts him- felfe.Some expound Lamech confefli,g this with ferrow (Gen.. 23 ) while he (aidunto his wives, Hearken untomy fpeech, f,r bave flaine a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hart. There are divers other Interpretations and readings of chore S; rnzgirirnc words,andwe put in the Margin,repossidfig a man in my wound, elan ,b offío andayoung man in my hurt, As ifhe had boafted of his thength flee:1;tesfirt to his wives, that thoughhe were weak with wounds and hurts, pc/t6-be/ yet hewould venture to fight with any man,and doubted not to get vitiory over him & kill him:& fo the words cary a fence like tOJYtIIÇ utc,14- that fpe-ch ofthe Peophet (7cr. 37. ro.) telling the?ewes chat tan. "'en' theirs were vaine confidences while they hoped to be delivered from thé Ciatdeatre who befieged thern,for,faich he,Theugke!vre remained but woundedmen amongtioeno,yet they ,a2uld,rife up every man in his tent, andburnt tbit City with fire. But as to our read- ing, Ihave flaine a man to my wouneii,g. Some expound it onely ofa bodily wounding I have got a wound my felf,or I hate hurt my Idle while I flew a man.much more is this true ofa rpiritual I wounding, and hurt to the foule and Conrcience; for though a murtherer flay a roan, and come off with a whole Skin, yet he flayeth a man to his wounding, and killeth him to his hurt The Ddd d R15- 57f
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