4O4 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. That he may manifest his own holiness; which is such that he can without the least injustice or oppression, even on account of their own provocations, take away the houses, possessions, estates, liberties and Iives of the best of his own saints. For how should a man, any man, the best of men, be just with God if he would contend with him 2 No man can answer to him one of a thousand. Job, 9: 3. This they will also acknow- ledge : on account of righteousness none can open his mouth about his judgments without the highest impiety and wickedness. He does so that his own people may learn to know his terror, and to rejoice always before him with trem- bling. Therefore Job affirms that in the time of his prosperity he was not secure, but still trembled in him- self with thoughts of the judgments of God. Doubt- less much wretched carnal security would be ready to invade and possess the hearts of believers, if God should always and constantly pass them by in the dispensation of his public judgments. Such judgments also become a stone of offence and a stumbling-block to wicked men, who are to be hardened in their sins and prepared for ruin. When they see that all things fall alike unto all, and that those who have made the strictest profession of the name and fear of God fare no better than themselves, they are encouraged to despise. the warnings of God and the strokes of his hand, and so to rush on to destruction. God does it to proclaim to all the world that what he does here is no final judgment and ultimate determina- tion concerning things and persons. For who can see the wise man dying as the fool, the righteous and holy
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