s84 A HOPE OP FREEDOM FROM CONDEMNATION And that this seems to be intended in the words.--I give two arguments. 1,. He desires to know the reason why God contends, with him. The word contends implies there is an oppo- sition between God and the creature : when there is something of sin in the creature that opposes God, and God by testimony of his displeasure opposes sin in the creature, then it is contending. As if Job had said, there seems to be somewhat in me, that I cannot yet discover, that is contrary to thy nature, and so thou opposest it. So God charges Job (40) " The Lord said unto Job shall he that contends with the Almighty instruct him ?" And Job said, " I am vile." There was some- what in Job for which God contended with him. 2. Another reason to prove that Job desired not only to know in general why God might afflict him, but to know what was the sin wherefore God contended with him, is, because he prays to God just before, Do not condemn me;" he thereby implies that there was sin in him; and thoughhe justified himself that he wasno villain, hypocrite, or scandalous liver, as his friends charged him to be, yet he did not justify himself in the eyes of an holy God ; ," I have sinned, says he, what shall I do unto thee ?". Well, if this be the end of our Lord in correcting us, let us learnt() submit to his hand, to comply with hiswise methods of instruction. Let us remember that the great end that God has in afflictingus, is that weshould still seek after and labour to obtain, that afflictions may yield to us the peaceable fruits of righteousness, though for the present they seem not joyous but grievous to us. DOCT. ,",. Compare these words with the first part of the verse, " I will say to God do not condemn me," and then this observation is natural from them, That a hope ofnon- condemnation makes afurther conviction of sin easy anddesirable. Job would first say in faith and prayer, " condemn me not ;" then shew and discover sin to Me: It is a dreadful thing to see sin without a hope of pardon ; and should God discover to such a soul the whole of the evil there is in sin, how it opposes his own infinite holiness, and contradicts that holy law of his which is built on in- finite goodness and wisdom, we should not be able to
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