278 Chap. 30. 14n Expofation sepan the Book of J e B. Verf. 30. cufing himof blafphemy as blacke as a coale. And though the skins and faces ofmanyof the Saints have been perfecuted and afliided into blacknes , yet their foules and confciences never could, but under the darkeft appearances or covers of trouble and forrow they haveDill retained a reali comelinefre, and under the blackeft skin,a beautiful! foule.While David laid (73fal. 83.) 1 am become likea bottle in the fmoake; (he Paid alfo,)ret doe I not forget thy f atares. David through the force of his aftfidi- onwas like a bottle in the fmoake, which if of leather fhrinks and fhrivels up, and if of more folid materialls, yet looleth its beautyand is quickly footed blacke. But when David was as a bottle in the fmoake , yet the holy frame of his heart did not íhrinke nor alter ; for he adds, Yet doe I not frget thy precepts ; thoughmy beauty is gone, yet my grace is not; 1am like a bot- tle in the fmoake, ( that's to ue )but I doe not forget thyStatutes, that's as true. Ifoutward beauty falle, where there is no inward beauty, if the skin be blacke, and theconfcience blacke too, how great, howmiferably uncomely is that blackneffe ? The Prophet lamenting the famineof the Jewes, faith ( Lam. 4.-8.) Their vi- fags is blacker then a Cale, they are not knownein the flreets, their akin éleaveth to their bones, it is withered it is become like a flicke. And he preíènts them making a like lamentation (Chap.5. io.)Oar skin was blacke likeanOven, becaufe of the terriblefa- mine. Thus ficknes, famine, any kind of deepe afphdion makes fad impre.ffìons upon theskin, the beauty ofthat is foone blown off,and to be lure old age will fhrivel it up &make it look likea bottle in the frnoake. Therefore, I fay again, looke to the beau- ty of the foule which fadeth not, which the teares of foam cannot Daine nor death it felfe deface. (r Pct. r. 7.) The tryall of ourfaith (or our tryed faith) beingmuch morepreci au then rf gold that perifheth, though it be tryedwith fire, will be foundurto praife, and h,nour, and glory, at the appearing of ?etas Chriff. faith comes purified, not corrupted out of the fire ; the body comes out blacke, but gracecomes out white. yob was affuredof this ( Chap. 23. 10. ) when he kath tryed wee, I /hall comeforth As gold. Yet here he faith, My skn is blacke, Andmy bones are burnt with beate. Thefe words are a further and a fuller defcription of obi' ca- lamity.
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