Chap. 27. An Expofition upon the Book, of J o B. Verf. $; Verf. 8. For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he have gained, when god taketbaway his foul ? Some conceive Job in thefe wordsgivinga reafon of what was faid before, that he had nothing to doe, in a wayof cdmpliance, withwicked men ; for what is their hope when God taketb away their foods ? who would be in their coate, who though they flou- rifh, and are gay while they live, yet will be moil miferable when theydye. Our readingfeemes tocarry this fence. Further, We may expound this text as'an argument by which fob would prove that he was no hypocrite ; As if he had faid, re my friends have long [.once given your opinion of me, that 1 am an hypacrite,andwere1 indeed [tech aone, my Condition, I confeffe,were mo jmiferablealtbough Imight flattermy (elfe with the gain ofout- wardcomforts andadvantages in this world, yet when Idye (itmay be today before tomorrow); fliould have no true comfort in poffeffion, nor anyfolid ground to hope for it ; For what is the, hope of the hypo crite, what comfort, or hope ofcomfort canhe take up, when Godta- keth away his foule ? But ifGod take away my foule, I have hope ; I amfullyper[waded my hope ;hall not dye whenmybody dyeth,there- fore Iam no hypocrite, no wickedman. Job hath given proofe indi- Confannatio in- vers parts of this booke, that he had hope, and another fpirit in sacentiieJibe afiìi&.ion than the wicked have, therefore his of li&ion did not in deram edtiam in i rove himwicked. Firff ' acknowledged all his aflli &ions to pfü p efjlifionibus. come fromGod, yea from (mod as a father, while he wounded jun. him as an enemy. Secondly, in his deepefl afflictions he begged helpe of God. Thirdly,he had hope of helpe,or would hope upon God, though he fhould not help him; this no hypocrite ever did. Yea Job profeileth, that though God fhould take away hisfoule, yet he had hope, ( Chap. a 3. 15, ) Thoughheflay me, yet will craft in him ; 1 will maintains mine own ways before him ; he alfo is my falvation,andan hypocrite(hall not come before him. job could :ruff God flaying him, or rakingaway his foul, and therefore he could not but have hope, ifGod fhould take away his foule.We read (Cbap.6. 8,9,i e.) that when he fpake of dying, and of his delre todye, yea, was begging that hemight dye, he declared a lively hope ; O that 1might boeve my revolt, andthat Godwould grant one the thing that I longfor ; even that it would pleafe god .to deftroy me, that he would let loafs his hand, and cut me of. Then"
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