Chap. 24. 1n Expafiion upon the Bookof J OB. Vere 18. 607 ing to its kinde, and that tree whofe root is not fuckled by the earth can bear no fruit. Every wicked man is either curled in not bringing forth fruit, or elle the fruit which he brings forth is curled. And therefore Their portion, is ( every way) curled in the earth. There is yet another Interpretation of thefe words, which I (hall but briefly touch and paffe on. Their portion is Curled in the Berth, that is, the Region, or place where they dwell is Cur.. fed ; They dwell in defolate places, or they skulke up and downe indeferts and wilderneffes,having done fo much miichiefe among men that thsy dare not (hew their faces where they are knowne. Now, deferts and defolate places may juftly be called curled pla- ces, bocaufe oftheir barrenneffe, for harrennefs is thecurie which God laid upon the earth for the fin of man ( Gen. 4,17. ) As a fruitful land may be called a bleffed Land,becaufe the bleffing of God maketh a Land fruitful) (I /atc laid to his Son 7accb (Gen. 27.27.) The finalofmy Son is as the (-retell of a field which the Lordbath bleffed.that is,as the finell ofa f uitfull field) So it may Dena tic s be laid that the earth or land where a man lives, and bis portion in it is curled while he lives in a barrendefolate land, which looks jleanr: kr flea as if it were under theperpetual! curie ofGod. And according toma'efcii co r.e- thisinterpretation, the latter parr of the verfe ( and he belooldetb dz o I `n' ganr obi /e.sr no the wayof the vineyards) maybe thus underfkood ; Hecomes,: vaftii Jocie ; sot into any fruitfull fields ; Vineyards areplanted in a fruitfull un,`,e di tit, ,cc fe,yle, and fruitfull vines are full of the blefiing ofGod. Thus as 'e converrit a.1 the portionof the wicked in the each is alwayes curled, by a de- via! vi.nea,in?n cree fromGod, fo it may be Paid that their portion is fometirmes lacù e! j curled by their own Ele&ion,becaufe for the better fecreting and rkfl ten tro:kl hiding of thesnfelves from the eye of juftice, they (pend their at: krb ;tus, dayes in filch places as by reafon of their waftneffe and barrennefs 1e[e. feeme to confeffe tbemlelves under a curfe. Their portion is eurfecl in the earth. Hence note. Firft, Sin brings a curfe with it. When lob had defribed the wickednefafe of thefe men, their marchers, their adulteries, and their thefts, he concludes , Their portion is curled. Sincalleth for a Curie from men, and it calleth for a Curie fromGod. Solomon faith ( Troy. 11.26. )'He that witk
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=