GOD THE BEST FRIEND IN TROUEZE: 573. der the Old Testament spiritual promises were. expressed. in earthly metaphors ; so, frequentlyGodbestowed earthly: blessings, together with spiritual ones ; and, both in the literal and mystical sense, promises were often-.accom- plished, and temporal blessings were often pledges of eternal ones. And with regard to this says Job, " Do not thou condemn me ; Do not only pardon the guilt. which thine eye beholds in me, but deliver me from present troubles, and thereby free me from theunjust charges of men ; that though my friends accuse me.of hypocrisy because thou afflictest me, yet let my innocency appear from, the haud of God, by finishing .my sorrows and restoring me again to peace." This may be the prayer of Job, that God's removing his afflictions from him might be a good ground, both to vindicate his up- rightness before men, 'and to hope that God would never condemn him in this, nor in the other world. But in this time of the New Testament, I shall insist only on the first thing implied, " Do not condemn me, mark not iniquity, let me have thy pardoningmercy, and then I .shall be glad to know why thou contendest with me. From the first part of these words I will raise several doctrines, and as I go along endeavour to apply them to our use. If we compare. this verse with the preceding, we find he would speak in the bitterness of his soul, and the first thing he will say to God is, " Do not condemn me ;" whence thé first doctrine may be inferred, wiz. . Doc 'raI NE I. When the soul isf ïcll ofbitterness and wants vent. or it sorrows. God is thefittest friend to break them to.." In the bitterness ofmy soul Iwould speak.". Perhaps should bur full sorrows find a vent before men, we might be apt to run into violent speeches to our friends, but if we speak to God .himself there must be a greater awe upon our spirits; besi4les God alone can remove our .afflictions, and quiet the spirit under them. It is God alone can speak peace by taking away the occa- sion of trouble, or giving a calm spirit. Let this then be our. practice. Learn by this exam- ple,- whatever troubles we are under, to make our first 1
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=