s Chap. 31. An Expofision xpon tbt Book of J o a. Uerl.. 13 . 427 words and law-Mites.The Children of lfrael (Exod. r 7.2. ) did conendìt jur chide with Mofes when they wanted water,and thereupon(v.7,) gavit. De ver he called the name of the place Maffah andMtribah becatsfe of the rntiartedice?uf. chiding ofthe Children ofIfrael, &c. But how did yobs fervants contend with him ? I anfwer, wee are not to underhand this centendirg, eyther firft, ofbold, or as we fay, faucy contendings ; yob was a wife man, and would rot have indured fuch unmannerly fervants inhis houle. Neither fe- condly, are we to underhand it, of contending, bygainfaping, or contradiffing his orders and commands, a Maher who knows his place will not Puffer that. Nor thirdly, are we toundei hand it of any unreafonable murmuring and diflikeupon every frivo- lous or light occafion. There thingsare not to be permitted, much leffe cherifhed in any (fact' as robswas) wel governed fa- mily: and if fervants will contend thus with their Mailers they have reafonnot only to defpife and difl:ke them, but urleffethey . amend, to difmiffe, and put them out of their houles. Therefore this contendingofhis fervants with him, was upon Tome confide. rabic caufe, and then he did not defpife them , Tbcogh the) con- tendedwith him. There is a threefold expofition of this their contendinp, with S' 9ui ambi- geem inquo jo. him. inuit deci tears Firft Some interpret it ofcomplaints made by his fervants a- ;udiciariá us- gaintl him before other Judges. But this is ob;efted againh upon rerent nee lee, a double reafon. Firft, Bzcaufe fervants in thofe times had not irnperiofe reje- the libertie of impleading their Mayers, though they had done ci, led ad iudi- them wrong, or made them (as the gyptfan taske- mailers Cen` at"tm, ego made the I raelites Exod. i. z ferve with rigour. Secondly, (upramv f + 3) ÿ, regionú judex yob being himfelfe a Magifirate,and as fome affert the chicle Ma- rem foram re- giftrate in that Country, would not ( probably) admit of an ap. miili l'araph: peale,efpecialiy made bya fervant from himfelfe.. And therefore Servi olim non though to have done fo would have argued a very great conde- rn lurebci`viiio fcention in lob. yet I doenot conceave this proper to the rear. Druf. Secondly Othersexpound it ofcontentions b.tween Servant and fervant brought before him to judge and determi e ; As if he had fayd, Whenmy fervants complained of, or brought ac- cufations againft one another, I did not defpife their caufe, but laboured to reconcile them, or doe them Jufice as wel as any o- therofasy fubjet' s or people within my Dominion. But though I ii2 it
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