38& (--hap 31 An Exyofsion upon the Book? of J o a. Verf:z,$' the ioviii,hle things of him f rom the creation ofthe world are clearly éene, being nnderjlsod by thethings which are made, even ho eter- nal power,&God, head,(a that they are without excufe.The reafon why fuch Idolaters were without excufe , was becaufe the very light of nature might teach them, that there is an eternall power and God. bead,whomade the world,or that the world was made by Lorne eternal! power, It could not make it felfe;And therefore they muff needs be inexcufable who worfhipped the things that are made in the place of their maker. Seeing then, this kind of ' Idolatry is a fin againft the light of nature, and the Magiftrate bath power to punifh fins againft the light of nature, it follows that where fuch Idolatry breakes forth, and proofe is made ofir, the Migiftratemay punifh it. This alfo is an inigoeitie to bepuni, fliedby the judge. The ground why it is fo.is alfo afiigned by lob in the next words. For I flsould have denied the God that is above.. ernmenti,t. As if he had fayd, Ifany require an account of my opinion, why I affert, that Idolatry is an iniquity to be punifhed by the Judge, my anfwer is this;Idolatry is a God.denying 6n. And I in adoring the Sun and Moone as Gods, fhould have denied theGod that ili above. The. word rendredto denie,is taken fiirft metaphorically for any, kind of deceaving our expectation. Thus the Prophet fpeakes, ( H.zb. 3. 17. . Though the labour of the Olive fbaI/faile, or ly, that is, yeeld no oyle;and when the harveft comes fhort ofhope,, ' p>em menthe the latines fay, the has ft lyes,that is,it deceaves the hopeofthe fees husbandman. Secondly, Taken properly it notes a direet denial! of what is asked ( Gen. 18. 15, ), Then Sarah denied , faring , I did not hough. Thirdly, It lignifies to be-lye, which is to report a matter o. titerwife ofanother then it is (7er. S. t t, t a) They have belied. the Lord, and[aid, it it not he, neither fha1l evil!cone upon me, wee. fh;tN not fee(word, norfamine.. Fourthly It notes theyeelding of feigned or falfe fubje&ion ('Fial. t 8.44.) Thineenemies fhould havefubmitted themfelves (or lyed) to thee ; that is (as we put in the Margin) yeelded . feigned fubniiftion,. So (Pf41, 66, .3, Tfal. gi. 15, ) Thepro. vi:.
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