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5J5
1
SERMON
IV.
job.
x.
2,
Shew
me wherefore thou contendest with me.
.AFTER
general observations raised
from these words,
you may
remember the last doctrine
from
the
latter
part
of
the verse
was
this,
It
is
God
alone
that
by
his
Spirit
can
effectually dis-
cover to
us the sin
for
,which he
contends
with
us
;
and
therefore
Job
desires
that
God
would shew himwhy he
con-
tends
with him.
We
first
mentioned
the common methods
that
God
uses
to discover
sin
to
us
under
affliction.
1.
His
word
written
or
preached.
2.
The admonitions
of
a friend.
3.
The reproaches of
an enemy.
4.
By
Gods
providence
:but
all
these
of
themselves,
if
the
Spirit withhold or deny
his
presence,
are
ineffectual to
.
convince
us.
,
The
second general head therefore
was,
to
give
some reasons
why
the
Spirit alone can do
the
work.
;1.
Because the
sin
sometimes
lies
deep
in
the
heart
and
very
secret,
and
it
is
only the
Spirit
that
can
search
to
the
bottom
of
the
soul.
2.
It
is
often a be-
loved
sin
that God
contends
with us for,
therefore
we
are
unwilling to have
it
discovered,
and none
can do
it
powerfully
but
the
Spirit
of God.
For,
3.
We are ready
to conceal
sin from all
other
methods
of
conviction,
and
to
think
the word
of
God
may
be
misapplied,
our
case
may
be
mistaken,
we
are ready
to
think the providence
of
God
speaks no
such thing,
but the Spirit alone can
set it
home.
4.
Because
it
is
the
particular
office
of
the
Spirit
to convince
us
of
sin,
and he
will
not
give
his
office
to any creature.
The
third general head
which
we
proceed to
is,
To
shew
how
and
in
what
manner
the
Spirit
effectually
convinces.
1.
The
Spirit
gives us
a clear, plain,
and
evident dis-
covery
of
sin
;
the
providences
of
God
may
seem
to
be
but
dumb
language, and
it
is by
silent signs they
point
out
sin
to
us
;
the voice
of
the
preacher
may be
confused
stud
not understood,
and the
word
of
God,
-
when it
is
ct