Chap.; I. An Expofttion upon the Book of j t3 a. dèrt.3 S. 73 reeds delireGod to be bis Judge, who knoweth him throughly, who knoweth not only theway without him,but that within him too, who knoweth not only his a&ions but his thoughts, who knoweth not only what he cloth, but what he aimes at, the pur- poles, intents, and defignesof all his aâions. Whom fhould a godly man delire to judge him in comparifon of God , who knows the frame of his heart, who though he cannot but fee ma- ny faults, and finfull faylings in him, yet he knowsalto whatfoe- ver is good inhim, that is, whatfoever hitafelfe bathwrought in him, and helped him to worke by his Spirit. God knows the worke of his owne grace,together with themolt fecret workings of all that grace. And therefore agodly mandelires molt of all that God thould,judge him. Againe, fecondly, hedelires it be- caufe he knows God will beas juft in determining his caufe, as he is knowing about hisattire ; He cannot be turnedalide, nor by- aff'd by any meanes; no folicitations, no threats, no promifes, no flatteries, no witcheries can in the legli draw the Lord, off from that which is right. And as he is a juts, and a knowing Judge; fo, thirdly, he is a merciful! Judge, andwill award to us accord- ing to the tenour of a covenant ofgrace ; bee will not enter into Judgement with us, upon tlrid legal! termes, upon the termes of the covenant ofworks; for then who could delireGod to be his Judge ? Enter not into ?udgement with thyfervent OLord, (every one mutt fay) for no flefh is righteous in thyfight; but a beleever knows God will judge himupon the termesof the covenant of grace, and therefore he defireth no other Judge but God, Re bold, mydtfire id that the Almighty would anfwer me, and that my Adverfary had written a booke. Whereas forcemight object againft 'obs with ; you, perhaps, would,have the Almighty for your Judge, becaufe you hope he \ will favour you; no faich jtob,l amwilling that God fhould know the very worft of my cafe ; As 1 delire that God fhould judge me , fo that my Aa'v:;rfary 'build writea booke, and chargeme home. The Hebrew is, the manofmycontention. There is a three- + :11 tU`it fold interpretation about this man ofhis contention. nu ¡loo mee. Firft, Someby this Adverfary or man ofcf.ntention,undertand fc 4vi ronrrm Godhinafelfe, who had dealt with `foh inoutward difpenfations" a "gat, likean enemy, or an adverfary, like a man full of contention. The Aa aaaa
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=