Chap.27. An Expofition upon the Book, of J o B. Verf. 8;-` Firft, Awickedman while heliveth may befull ofhope, andhis hope may live with him as long as he liveth. The hypocrites hope is nourifhed both with temporal and fpi- ritual things. He hopeth that he bath the love ana favour of God, becaufe ht enjoyeth many outward (is he thinks) fa- vours fromGod. His cflate is good here, and therefore hehopes it will be fo hereafter. Poffiblyhe is rich, and great, and pro- fperous in the world, and thence conchideth, ,Surely God loves me. Yes, and in reference to fpirituals, the hypocrite may have hope, he may be planted into Church-Priviledges, he may be reckoned among Saints, or true believers ; he may enjoy all the Ordinances of ahe Gofpel ; he may eat bread at the Table of the Lord, and fit among the Lords people ; All which may breed inhim a great deal of hope. Further, He may have many and great fpiricual gifts, yea, he may have a fair appearance of grace ; As he often bath great gifts of knowledge, of utterance, of prayer, . fo he may have that which looks like grace, like faith, like re_ pentance and godly for- row, he may have that which looks like love and humility, and patience, he may have the appearances of all thefe graces, and thefe may windup his hope very high, and fill his faylswith fuch flrong confidences, that he may reckon himfelf among the dar- lings of heaven, and the delight of Chrifi. He may look upon himfelf, not only as in favour with God, but as one of Gods fa- vourites, and fay in bis heart, furely J (hall be faved if any are to be faved; he may come and lean upon the Lord, as the Prophet tells us that finful people did (Mic. 3./ a .) Theheads therefore judgefor reward,and the Prie(ls thereof teach for hire,and the Pro. phets thereof divinefor money, yet will they leane upon the Lord, and fay, is not the Lordamongus, none evil can come upon au ? But in- deed the Lordwill do to him as another P:ophet (Pzk.29.7. ) faith, Egypt did to the houleof ¡fracl, When they took holdofthee by the hand, thou didfl break and rent all their fhoulder ; and when they leanedupon thee thou brakefl and madcfi all their loyns to be at a'land. Thus will the Lord do to all thole who leane upon, and make their boafts of him, while their hearts are nor perfect with him. And therefore, Secondly,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=