Chap. 3 r. An 6xpofition upon the Book of J o a: Vert. 36. Vert 36. Surely Iwould take it on my /boulder. Mr. Brougb- ton renders the word ofaffeveration, Soerely,as an oath ; IfweareIwould beare it on my fbcolder. There words areaconfirmation ofwhat he fpake lafl ; as ifhe had fay d. When myadverfary bath male his booke as bigge and Verbis fgnfr- asheavy as he can, I (ball beare it for all that ; I would beare it caurrlfimn e>r upon too, !boulder. Sin or guilt are a burdenwhich no man is able 1;4,14,, quam to beare ; who can take up any one fin, the leaft fin, upon his J iwb er gram {boulders, and Rand under it ? Any onefin lived inand loved, will certò perfisafua not only overburden our /boulders, but breake our backer. But frt/engela ecco. (faith rob) let mine Adverfary write my faults and faylinge,I can faritnir ta; ítq beare the booke upon my (boulders ; why ? becaufe he knew his !audr (braco adverfary could write no finfull rac&ife chat he lived in or loved oarr,'nro fore. P a ñtesi: or defired to keep in hisbofome,as he profeffed at the 3 3d verle. Yea when yob faith, Iwould beare it upon my fhoulder,he lothnot only intimate it fuch a burden as would not preffe him downe, nor breake his backe, but that it would be his honour,and that he {hould bare that booke ás a banner ofvictory, or as an er.figne ofglory. He was confident that whatfoever his adverfary could write, withan intendment todifparrage him, would in the iffue turne tohis praife. There is yet another interpretation of there words, I mould beare it on my !boulder; As ifjebe meaning were;Suppofe my ad- verfary find reali faults inme, and charge me with them upan due proofe; yet I wili takehis booke uponmy (boulder, andbeare it patiently eu my burden ;I will acknowledge and confeffe what l' have done amiffe,and neither deny or excufe it. The word which we tranflate to take upon the/boulder, lignifies the taking up ofa heavy burden,and 'cisapplyed to the bearing of any punifhment; that's a good fence; ifmy adverfary doth write my faults indeed,' I will beare his charge upon my fhouleer, and take it patiently ; I am ready to fubmit, as to the dealings and chaftenings ofGod, fo to the reproofesof man. 74 was farre from thinking he cóuld beare the guilt ofhis (inne upon his (boulder (he might as grit beare the weight ofthe whole earth as ofone fin) only iffound faulty guilty he would quietly bare the blame. But if his adverfaries booke fhould be found a fonder, and his integrity appeare through all his accufations, what then ? l 735
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