C 572 ] SERMON I. boa. x. 2,-1 will say unto God, Donot condemn me: shew me where- fore thou contendest with me. THIS book of Job is a history of sorrows and com- plaints, and a sweet treasury from whence we may.derive many useful instructions how to behave ourselves in a day of trouble and truly it is well for us that God has left one part of sacred scripture to teach us lessons under afflictive providences, since " Man is born to affliction;" and we have often need to put such instructions into practice. The good man, who is the subject of this book; is un: der sharp trials and scourges by God's appointment. His large estate was ruined in one day ; he lost all his children by one stroke of providence ; he wastormented. . in his flesh with sore diseases and strong pains ; and be- sides all this, he tells us, that, " God made him to pos- sess the sins of his youth." Here then were afflictions of both kinds, -that touched his flesh sorely, and pinchedhis soul too, and therefore, says he, in the first verse of this chapter, " My soul is weary of 'my life." And who of us wóuld not be weary of living here, if under such exer- cises as Job was at this time ? " I will leave my coin- plaint upon myself." This, is rendered differently by expositors : some say it is to be taken in the way of question. Shall I leave my complaint in myself ? No : I cannót do it I will, I must speak in the bitterness of my soul. Or, in the way of position, and so it may si;- itify, " I will leave my' complaint upon myself; 'I only will he answerable for it if I offend in this my complain- ing :" And what is it he says ? `E I will say unto God, Do not condemn me, &c." As though he should say, " I own, in the sight of God, guilt enough lies upon my soul, for which I might he the just object of wrath and indignation, yetdo not thou mark my iniquity, but exec -, cise pardoninggrace to me." But there may be a further sense also included.in the words ; for, as you know, un
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