Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v8

438 Chap. 29. E.xpofition upon the Book of J o B. Verf. 3, (lining from'below,but fromaloft ; not a light to his fide, but up. on his head ; he hada clear and good light, as the light at noon. day, which is grown into aproverb, fuch a thing is as clear as tbe light at noon-day. And becaufe the head is the teat of the un- derfianding as well as of the fcnfss,the candle upon the head may fitly import, aclear light of knowledge in advifing others or our fefves what to doe or how to order our affairs. From all which notions, it appeares that job had much of God, many fagnal tefli- monies of refpeet from him, he had comforts without, and coun- fels within, and mercy every way. His candle (faithhe) fhined openmy bead. Hence Note ; 3godlyman owns God as the Author,and hisfavour Rt thefpring ofhis projperity and goodfaccefs. yob cloth not fay,0 that it were with me as in former times,wben Igot and gained, but, O that it were with me as in months pa/% 'when the candle of God 'hissed upon my head. AS the candle of God or his favour ttitntng upon us, is the bell portion, andportion e- nough, though we had nothing elfe ; fo what portion foever we have in other things is to be afcribed to that. Carnal menSacri- fice to their ownnet, and burn incenfe to their own dragg (that is, they that;k their wit or their indutlry, their pollicy or their firength, their own forecafl, or the kindncfs of their friends) becaufeby them (they conceive as the prophet faith, Hab. I.6.) their portion isfat, and their meatplenteous. And as many have no mind to offer the facrifice of praife ro God for their plenty, fo theyhave no reafon to doe fo : And because they have no reafon to doe fo, it would be their fin to doe fo. For Teeing their plenty comes in by their fin,and is at once provided by and for their lutls, they in praifing God for their plenty, thould entitle God to all chofe fins by which they have provided ir. They have not got their riches by the Candle of God (pining upon their. beads, but by puttingout the Candle of God which thined into their hearts is a natural Candle or light which God bath put into the hearts ofall men, by which they may fee (Heathens have Peen it) what is jutl and right in their dealings with men. This Candle of light they put our, that they may heap up the gain of deceit and fraudof unrighteoufncfs and oppreffon in the darknefsoftheir. own

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