645 Chap. 24 An Expoftionupon the Book of J O 3 upon their wages, to difcover tome fault, ifany be, or if porebe- yet to fuggeft fornewhat as matter ofaccufation, and fo of pre ceeding againft them.This is a truth,though a man buy his peace at a very dear rateof wicked men, yet there is no afáurance tobe had ; bribeing and fubmiffion, and flattery will not hold long ; many examples have proved that ehete things have not fecured good men from the opprellion oftyrants, but they have quickly found out a way to reline them that have been moll liberal in re- wards to gain their favour, and purchase theirown peace. If any one give to be in fafety, and tt ufethhe thall be fafe,his truft will fayle him ; The more we trufl god the fafer we are, but there oo no fafety to be had by trufiing. ungodly men. This is agood fence, yet, rather according toour translation, the words thew the Omdìti onofthewicked man hitnfelfe in his profperity. Though it be givenhim to be in fafety, wherein he ref¢eth, yet hto eyesare upon their wager. That is, though it be given himofGod, or though God give rort7 adfi him this priviledge to be infafety, that is, though he rife up, and duciám, nomen put down all that eppofe him; thoughGod give him this safety, I3 awl) infigné yet &c. The wordwhich we translate, to be infafety, lignifies the importai frduci- molt fecure fafety, or safety accompanyed with the high-eft Con- am confiders- fidence, that is, when there it not to much as the leaf4 mixture of Ivor 'u neao any feare, not fo much as the least Jealoufieor fufpicion ofa Date¡fecurita change. Babylon is defcribed prefuming upon fuch a fafety (Efay tem ;;.e. dal ei 47. 8.) Ifit a ,2ueen and am ns widdow, and ¡hall fee noforrew quad ipfan red" and thewicked are spoken ofas pofTeffìng and enjoying such a dere p01tfl J`et1' fafety (?ob21. 9.) Theirhouses are freefromfeare, neither is the rodofGad upan them,they are freenot only from the rodof God, but from the feare of the rod; though the wicked man live thus Confidently, and all things are with him according to his. with ; though God feemes to crowne himwith loving kindnefeand ten- der mercies, which are the proper portionof the Saints (mfr o3: 4;) Though he give him his hearts defire(which is a promise pe- culiar to the godly man (Pfal. 37. 4.)though it begiven him to be thus in fafety,wherein, or whereon he reffeth, that is, though as he feethno danger, fo he fufpetlfethnone, but refis inhis fate, & faith, all's fure, all's well ; though the Condition ofa wickedman be thus fafeand profperous)and all this by the gift ofGod,yet &c. Before
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