Chap. 24. An Ezpofition upon the 3ook of JOB. Verf. z r, 63 5 Againe, I conceive we may take the word barren here, not only aridly for one that beareth not,but largely for any one that is in a fad or afflicted condition, as the words widdow andfather- les are often tiled in Scripture, not onely for luch ashave no fa- ther, or have loft their husband, but for any tharare in a troubled or low eftbte. So becaufe barrennes was then a Lateof afflidion and ofreproach, therefore by the barren any afidion may be meant ; And fo Evilly to Intreate theBarren,is to vex or opprefs any that are afflicted. Hence note. TO 4u1 the aiil{.,d, is the werkeofthe wicked. Not to fupport the afflicted is finfull, how finfull then is k to Sterilis per fe adde to their afíüdion, and encreafe their burden? I only menti fads afitia eft, on this, having dilcovered this ftraine ofwickednefle heretofore, er/,adum conre- and what this former part ofthe verle faith affirmatively, is laid r ;', c. negatively in the latter. addict. Dru1 And loe doeth net good to thewiddow. Eliphaa ( Chap.2 I. 9.) charged `lob with this wickednes that he had Pent widdowes away empty, that is, that he bad not done good to the widdow; and lobat the third verle of this Chapter numbers it among theevill deeds ofthe wicked man, that he had taken the widdowes Oxefor pledge. In this verle he againe rec- kons up the fame pieceof thewicked mans uncharitablenes,be d,th netgood to the widdow ; That is,he adminifters no help to the wid- dow in her wants,no counfell to her in her ffraites, nor any com- fort toher in her forrows. And this negative, he doth not good to the widdow, bath an affirmativein ir, he doth her wrong, he grieveth and vexeth the widow.Foras negative commandements alwayes containe the Affirmative ( while we are forbidden to do any evill,we are enjoyned todoe the contrary good) fo negative practicesufually imply the affirmative, and whilewe neglect to doe good, we are alive in doingevils. Or as the negative threat- tiings ofGod containe affirmatives (Exod.ao. 7.) Thoulhalt not take the name ofthe Lord thy God in vaine, for the Lord will not hold bins gsriltles that taketh Isis name in vaine : that is, he will hold him very guilay,or look upon him as very finfull,and punifh him accordingly that takeshis name in vaiine, and as Negative M to m m z pro 7
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=