402 Chap, 28. An Expofition upon the Book of J o B. Vetf.28. condly, faith the. Apoflle, Thatfin might become exceeding finful. Some render, out of yogurt finful ; not that there is any due mea- fure in any fin , the 'call fin exceeds that meafure of our actions which the Law requires and keeps us to :And yet as to the event or punilhment of tin, we may fay finbath a meafure, which when it once exceeds or goes beyond,t. od will no longer (pate nor for- bear to punish ir. Aswe may fee inthe Canaantter and other wicked Nations, whomGod fpared s great while, but when their fins had furpafled fuch a meafureor decree,and their iniquities were full (Gen. ty. z6.) then the Lord would bear no longer, but utterly defiroyed them. But I rather take that phrafe of the Apofllefor tb) as it is ufed inmany other texts of the NewTell ment (z Cor. i2,. 3 I. 2Cor. i . 8. 2. Cor, q,.7, c'. Gal. i i 3.) co note only the exceflive finfalnefs ofevery fin; fin becomes hyperbolically, or (u we) exceedingly finful, that ir, it puts forth all its flrength, whenit finds a check or flop put to its concie by the Commandement. The Greek is a fubflantivt (äl'P'ds) Tbat fin might become an exceeding fanner ; which im- ports a perfon that bath the very art and knack of finning. So the Apofile elegantly callsfan a fanner, and wickednefs a wicked one, as on the other hand, the Scripture fometimes calls, a wicked man wickednefs, and a (inner fin (Pfal. toy. 42.) The ri mat jhall fee it and rejoyes, and all iniquity ¡ball flop bet mouth ; that is, al unrighteous or wicked men flail flop their mouths. Wicked men are nothingbut a very matte of wickednefs. Every agent puts on the nature of, and takes up the likenefs of that which he is commonly and contlantly at. And fo the finner is, as irwere, changed into fin, and is not fomuch vicious as vice. As through the obedienceof faithSaints are made partakersof the Divine na- ture, and may be called (in acorree fenfe) not only godly, but godlinefs, not only holy, but banes ; fo through difobedience and unbeleif, finners hive not only a finful nature, but are tranf- formed into the nature of fin, and may jufily be called, not only fingers, but fin. Thus we fee, that as the (inner is fin,foaccording to the tlritnefs of the text in the Romans, Sin to a friar, an ex- seeding fanner. But our reading is aboundantly full to thew the evil offin, which faith, Sin through the Commandement become, exceed- ing f :nfool," and that the difeafe of it doth increafe by that which at firm was prefcribed for its prevention,though never Secocure, The law.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=