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e . ) ‘ OUD, | . e et e <s e said, Thou bitiay horde my 1 That is with Goa | 21 Acquaint now thyself ?! with him, and be name, a mere cypher, or one they have nothing to do with, and that has nothing same day, the same hour, nay, perhaps, the same minute, Let ua therofore be to do with them. How hardly they speak of religion! They call it a service, and always ready, mean a hard service. Is it not enough, they think, to keep up a fair correspond: (2) Another dies slowly, and with a great deal of previous pain and misery, enoe with the Almighty, but they must serve him, which they lovk upon as a (», 25,) in the bitderness of his sow, such as poor Job was himself now in, and never task and drudgery. Observe also how highly they speak of themselves; “ 7'hat eats with pleasure, has no appetite to his food, nor any relish of it, through sick we should serve him: we, who are rich and mighty in power, shall we be subject ness, or age, or sorrow of mind. What great reason have those to be thankful, and accountable to him? No, we are Lords,” Jer. 2,31, (2) They will not | that arin health, and always cat with pleasure! And what little reason have they believe it is their interest to be religious; Wat profit ahall we have if we pray unto to complain, who sometimes do not eat thus, when they hear of many that never do! him? All the world are for what they can get, and (herefure wisdom’s merchandise; 2 How indiscernible this difference is in the grave: as rich and poor, so health. is neglected, because they think there is nothing to be got by it; // 7s vain to serve ful and unhealthful, mect there; (v. 26,) They shall lie down alike in the dust, anc God, Mal. 3, 18, 14 Praying will not pay debts, nor portion children; nay, per-: (he worn shall cover them, and feed sweetly on them, Thus, if one wicked map haps sorious godliness may hinder a man’s preferinont, and expose him to losses; die in a palace, and another in a dungeon, they will meet in the congregation of and what then? Is nothing to be called gain but the wealth and honour of this the dead and damned, and the worm that dics not, and the tire that is not world? If we obtain the favour of God, and spiritual and eternal blessings, we’ quenched, will be the same to them, which makes thuse differences inconsider have no reason to complain of losing by our religion, But if we have not protit ‘able, and not worth perploxing oursclves about, — H. by prayer, it is our own fault, (Isa. 58, 3, 4,) it is becauso we ask amiss, James, 4, f CHAT, XXTL Piery no PRorit to Gop.—Man’s piety is no profit to God, ne 8 Religion itself is not a vain thing; if it be so to us, we may thank ourselves’ gain, ». 1,2 Lf we could by any thing merit from God, it would be by our piety, for resting in the outside of it, James, 1, 26.—//. our being righteous, and making our way perfect. Lf that will not merit, surely AL's ILL THAT Enps [LL —The little difference there is between one wicked nothing else will: if a man cannot make God his Debtor by his godliness, and man’s dying impenitent in peace and pump, and another wicked man’s dying sv’ honesty, and obedience to his laws, much less can he by his wit, and learning, in pain and misery, when both will, at last, meet in hell, he illustrates by the; and worldly policy. Now Eliphaz here asks, whether any man can possibly be little difference there is between one man's dying suddenly and another's dying ' profitable to God? It is certain that man cannot, By no means: he that ta wise slowly, when they will both meet shortly in the grave. So vast is the dispropor-| may be profitable to himaelf. Note, Our wiadom and piety are that by which we tion between time and eternity, that, if hell be the lot of every sinner at last, it lourselves are, and are likely to be, great gainers, Wixdom ts profitable tw «direct, makes little difference, if one goes singing thither, and another sighing. See, 'Icel, 10, 10, Godliness is profitable to all things, 1 Tim. 4,8 If thou be wise, thou 1. How various the circumstances of people's dying are. There is one way into | ‘ghalt be wise for thyself, Prov. 9,12. The gains of religion are infinitely greater the world, wesay, but many out; yet, as some are born by quick and easy labour, | than the losses of it, and so it will appear when they are balanced. But can a others by that which is hard and lingoring, so dying is to some much more ter- | man be thus profitable to Gad? No, for such is the perfection of Gor, that he rible than to others; and, since the death of the body is the birth of the soul into } cannot reccive any benefit or advantage by men; what ean be added to that anuther world, death-bed agonies may not unfitly be compared to child-bed | which is infinite? And such is the weakness and imperfection of man, that he Observe the differenoe. cannot offer any benefit or advantage to God. Can the light of a candle be pro- (1.) One dies suddenly, in his full strength, not weakened by age or sickness, ' fitable to the sun, or the drop of the bucket to the ocean? He that ia wise, is (p, 23,) being wholly at ease and quiet, under no apprehension at all of the ' profitable to himself, for his own direction and defence, his own credit and com- appruach of death, nor in any fear of it; but, on the contrary, because his breasts || fort; he can with his wisdom entertain himself, and curich himself; but can he eo are full of milk, and his bones moistened with marrow, (v. 24,) that is, he is be profitable to God? No; God needs not us or our services, We are undone, healthful and vigorous, and of a gvod constitution, (like a milch-cow that is fat , for ever undone, without him; but he is happy, for ever happy, without us. Is it and in good liking,) he counts upon nothing but to live many years in mirth and || any gain to him, any real addition to his glory or wealth, if we make our way per pleasure. Thus fair does he bid for life, and yet he is cut off in a moment by the} fect? Suppose it were absolutely perfect, yet what is (iod the better? Much lcae stroke of death. Note, It isa common thing for persons to be taken away by| whe it is ao far short of being perfect, —//, bye death when they are in their full strength, in the highest degree of health, when Th Bust ACQUAINTANCE —A cquaint now thyself with God. eee = mean oat anemen cmmed + h peace: thercby good shall come unto | thee. 22 Receive, I pray tice, the law from his mouth, and lay up ‘his words in thine heart. 23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. 94 Then shalt thou lay up gold }% as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks, 95 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy !° defence, and thou shalt have !4 plenty of silver. 26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in pe euenty, and shalt lift up thy face unto od. 27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto lim, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28 Thou shalt/ also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29 When men arc cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save } the humble person. 30 18 He shall deliver the island of theinnocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands. CHAPTER XXIII. 1 Jod longs to appear before God, 6 in confidence of his mercy. 13 God's decree immutable. TINHTEN Job answered and said, 2 Even to-day 7¢ my complaint bitter: my ! stroke is heavier than my groaning. 3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to ]iis seat! 4] would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. 51 would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. 6 Will “he plead against me with Azs great power? No; but he would put strength in me. 7 There the righteous might dispute with him; j so should I be delivered for ever trom my judge. 8 Behold, * I go forward, but lie zs not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: ! 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold Aim: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: | 10 But he knoweth * the way that I take: atl “he hath tried me, | shall come forth as. Gold, | 11 My @ foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. | ie —cmmeeen acme seen +9 JOB, XXIM1, XXIV. CHAP, $2—B, C, 1981.") CLAP, $—B. 0. 1080 =e | | 2ce-eereremennanee-ammeeremennennenen oes A Ur let him take hold | is the man that endur- of my atreugth, that he eth temptation: for may make peace with when he in tried, he me; and he shall make: shall receive the crown perce withme, Isaiah, '' of life, which the Lord . & Therefore being hath promised to thom justified by faith, we that love him. James, have peace with (iod 1,12 7 through our Lord Jesus your faith, being much Christ. Rom. 5,1. more precious than of i Thy word have I hid gol hat perisheth, in mine heart, that | | though it be tried with might not sin against | Arc, might bo found un- thes. Psalm 119, 11,/,t0 praise and honour 19 Ur, on the dust.— |! ud lury at the appear And the king made all- | Ped . esus Christ, J ver and gold at. Jeruna-'| Peter, es lem aa plenteous as | @ Bee Paatm 44, 18, stones, and cedar trees | 8 I have hid, or, laid made he ns the ayoa- |) up.— Lut he said unto more trees that are in | them, I have meat to the vale fur abundance. || eat that ye know not of. 3 Chron, 1, 15. John, 4, 3% 13 Or, gold. - mo my appointed a a j Commit thy words: unto me, Why doth he unto the Lon, and thy gay find fault? for who thoughtn «hall be ed hath resisted bia will? tshed, rov, je Be |) AVOMTIAIIB, Y, A tablished, PF 16,3. | R 9, 19 2 That the trial of | Uf the temporary prosperiy of the wicked. 12 Neither have I gone back from the com. mandment of his lips; § I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than 4 my necessary Sood.. 13 But he zs in one mind, * and who can turn eee and what his soul desireth, evon that he oeth. 14 For he performeth the ee 13 J ap- ointed for me: and many such ¢hings are with im. 15 Therefore am I 2 troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am atraid of him. 16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: 17 Because I] was not cut 2 off before the dark- 1 him that hath low | f That to man should | ESS, neither hath he covered the darkness from eyes, Though theLorp be moved hy these af- be high, yet hath he flictions: for yourselves respect unto the lowly; know that we are ap- but the proud he know: | pits. thereunto, 1 eth afar off. Pa. 158.6, Thens, 3, & Surely he scorneth the y My flesh trembleth scorners:; but he giveth ‘for fear of thee; and I eo unto the lowly. am afraid of thy judg- A 3, 44, Bute give | ments, Pa, 119, 120, eth more grace Where | - fore he auth Uod r@- |! ety anda montayett sisteth the proud, but © 6s aki iveth ce unto the it to heart; and merci: f mis) Sy aines 4. g . fulmen are taken away ae 8, 4. GB none oonsidering that 16 Or, the innocent ‘the righteoux in taken shal) deliver the island. ‘away from the evil to —And the Lorp said, |come. Isaiah, 57, 1 If U find in Sodom ufty | ———-—_________ rantenne ae the CHAP. 31—B, C. 1590. city, then 1 will apare all the place for their” ,7, And he said unto sakes. Gen. 18,93. Kun then, It in not for you ye to and fro through to know the times or the strecta of Jcrusn , the seasona, which the em. and see now. and father hath put in his know... if ye can tind MAE POMEL: Acts, 1,7, a man, if there be any; 6 Thou shalt not re- that executeth judge ‘Move thy neighbour's meut, that seeketh the laud-mark, wluch they truth; aud f will par- of old time have set don it, Jer, 4,1. in thine inheritance, i ; bal gy Lae verit in the land tha CHAP. —B. C. 188 the pon thy (od give my hand. ng thee to Laci who would set the bri.: wot the old landmark; ers and thorna against and enter not juto the mein battle? L would fields of the fatherless. go through them, £: Proverbs, 2, 10. would burn them to: |! 1 Or, feed them, wether, Iea37,.4 For ¢ When thou dost lend I will not contend for, thy brother any thing, ever, neither will 1 be (thou shalt nut go inte alwaye wroth: for the his houwe to fetch hi spirit ehould failbefore pledge... And if the mennd the souls which man be poor,thou shalt 1 have made, Isaiah, not sleep with his 57, 16. . pledge.,.. Thou shalt blo, he goeth by me, bot pervert the judg- and | see him not; he ment of the stranger, pagecth on also, but I nor of the fntherlens; peroeive him nut. Job, nor take a widow's rai- %, 11, Who only hath ment to pledge. immortality, dwelling 24, 1, 12,17. in the light which no d@ When the wicked man can approach un- rise, mon hide them- to; whom no man hath gelvea: but when they Bren, Dor cab see: to perish, the righteous in: whom be honour “ crenee overbe, 83, a eut, , power everlasting. imothy, 6, 14, '! 9 mingled corn, or, 2 the way that iawith | dredge. me. () Lorn, thon bust : 3 the wicked gather searelied bie sti eHow the vintage, me, Thou kKuuwestmy , ; down-sitting and mine - ne een Uprising, thou under: jieen with his pled stundest my thought ede Mh a a eh afar off, Peal 130, 1,4 ,, aoe e Thou hust proved ° yi hey that did feed mine heart; thou tinat Se heae OS rar thas vinited mein the night: 1D a ‘ Toete: they tha thou hnat tried me, all abet r on wtou shalt find nothing: 1 fCiiet Smee am purposed that my Ue MAM. Se mouth shall not trans: uug- g Because eentence a- gress. Ps. 17,3. Blessed gaiugl an evil work is in | ‘my face. CHAPTER XXIV. 1 Sin often goes unpunished in this life, 12 Of Gods providence in all thinga, ec ITY, seeing * times are not hidden from ‘the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? 2 Some remove the “landmarks: they violently take away flocks, and ! feed thereof. 3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they ° take the widow’s ox for a pledge. 4 They turn the needy out of the way: @ the poor of the earth hide themselves together. 5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. 6 They reap every one his 2 corn in the field; and 3 they gather the vintage of the wicked. 7 They ‘cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. 8 They are wet with the showers of the moun- ‘tains, and / embrace the rock for want of a shelter, 9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, jand take a pledge of the poor. | 10 They cause zm to go naked without cloth- ‘Ing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry; 11 Which make oil within their walls, and ‘tread their wine-presscs, and suffer thirst. 12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of tlie wounded crieth out: % yet God layeth not folly to them. 13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor ‘abide in the paths thereof. longer in opposition tou him. Our translators render it well; “ Acguciu thyself: A constant communion with God; “The correspondence, once settled, shall with him; be not such a stranger to bim as thou hast made thyself by casting off be kept up to thine unspeakable satisfaction. Letters shall be both statedly the fear of him, and restraining prayer before him.” It is the duty and interest and occasionally interchanged between thee and Heaven,” v. 27. 1 ‘Thou of every one of us, to acquaint ourselves with God. We must get the knowledge shalt by prayer send letters to God; Thou shalt make thy prayer” (the word ia, of him, fix our affections on him, join ourselves to him in a covenant of friend-: Thou shalt multiply thy prayers) ‘unto him, and he will nut think thy letters ship, and then set up, and kecp up, a constant correspondence with him in the troublesome, though many and long, The oftener we come to the throne of ways he has appointed. It is our honour, that we are made capablo of this grace, the more welcome. Under all thy burthens, in all thy wants, cares, and acquaintance; our misery, that by sin we have lost it; our privilege, that through fears, thou shalt send to heaven for guidanco and strength, wisdom, comfort, and Christ we are invited to return to it; and it will be our unspeakable happiness to ‘good success.” 2 ‘ He shall, by his providence and grace, answer those lettora, contract and cultivate this acquaintance, —//, 'aud give thee what thou askest of him, cither in kind or kindness; he shall hear A Lire or DELicHt.—A life of complacency in God; (v. 26,) “ Fur then shalt thee, and make it to appear he does sv, by what he docs for thee and in thee,” Huu have thy delight in the Almighty; and thus the Almighty comes to be thy; 3 ‘Then thou shalt by thy praiaes reply to the gracious answers which he sent guld, by thy delighting in him, as wordly people delight in their money. He' thee: thou shalt pay thy vows, and that shall be acceptable to him, and fetch in shall be thy Wealth, thy Defence, thy Dignity; for he shall be thy Delight.” || further mercy.” Note, When God performs that which in our distress we prayed The way to have our heart’s desire, is to make God our heart’s Delight, 1's. 37, for, we must make conscience of performing that which we then promised, clae 4, If God give us himaclt to be our Joy, he will deny us nothing that ia good fur | we do not deal honestly. If we promised nothing else, we prumised to be thank- us.“ Now, (sod is a Terror to thes, he is so, by thine own confession; (ch. 6, 4;'/ful, and that is cnough, for it includes all, Pa. 116, 14.—H, 16, 9; 19, 11,) but if thou wilt return to him, then, not til) then, he will be ty | CHAP. XXIIL Asrigation.—O thal I knew where I might find him! Thia Delilt; and it shall be as much a pleasure to thee to think of him, as ever it was:'| May properly express the pious breathings of a soul convinced that it las, by a pain.” No delight is comparable to the delight which gracious souls have in | sin, lost (tod, and is undone for ever if it recover not its interest in hia favour, the Almighty; anc those that acquaint themselves with him, and submit thum-, “Oh that I knew how I might recover his favour! How 1 might come into sciv.:s entirely to him, shall tind his favour to be, not only thoir atrength, but |; covenant and communion with him!” Mic, 6, 6, 7. It is the cry of a poor their omg, |, deserted soul, “ Saw ye him whom my sou loveth? O that I knew where 1 might A humble, holy, confi lence toward God; such as they are said to have, whose || find him! Oh that he who has laid open the way to him, would direct me into hearts condemn them not; 1 John, 3,21 “Then shalt thou lift up thy face w God | it, and lead me in it!” But Job here seems to speak it tuo boldly, that his friends with boldneas, and not be afraid, as thou now art, to draw near tu him. 15 The eye also of the adulturer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me; and ¢ disguiseth hzs face. 16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themsclves in the day- time: “ they know not the light. 17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. | 18 He 28 swift as the waters; their portion is | the Veh low hindeeds cursed in the carth: he beholdeth not the way fii (Andhaven tt of the vineyards, 19 Drought and heat 5 consume the snow! ¢ sons Of men is full aet in tiem to do evil. Keel, 8, 31. Or deapisent thou the riches of his goodness and forbear- not ery Hy that the goodness of God leadeth thec to repentance? Rut after thy hardness and furest up unto thyself of wrath aud revelation of the righteous judg: eta of vod. Rom. 8, 4 getteth hin face tm secret, h For every one that dueth evil hateth the fruitful worka of dark- them, Eph. 5, 11, , viul waters; so doth the grave those which have| (ie. .., just ie blessed: but the till’ rok, soy" 104°? 20 ‘The womb shall forget him; the worm shal] | Ande't mw the wick: feed sweetly on him: the shall be no more; gome aud’ gone trom remembered; and wickedness shall be broken | sv they weretorcuueu as a tree. tino veuity.” Eccles & 21 Ile evil-entreateth the barren that bearcth not, and doeth not good to the widow. 22 He draweth also the mighty with his! ness, but rather reprove sinned. led Wuried, who had poy he riscth up, ° and no man is sure of: ife. 3 — c # Or, he trusteth not his own life. 7 That Mi, God'n- Nei- ther in there any cren ture that ja not mani things are nuked ani opened unto the eyes of him with whomwe have todo. Heb. 4,13. JT have seen the wick: ed in great power, and 23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth, yet ’ his eyes are upon their spreading himself bke ways poe aan . ‘ ° ‘ lo, he w . ee : ' 24 They are exaltcds for a little while, but! sucht “i bit he 8 are gone and brouglit low; they are ® taken out | 7.35.50, | Bare not 9 closed up, of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 95 And if at be not so now, who will make me a liar, aud make my speech nothing worth? CHAPTER XXV. and every perfect gift Bildad declarea the sovereiynty of God, before whom man cannol | is from above, and voi: be justified. very ready for them, that we need not time to get readier? [Woe to them that, thus CHAP, 95.--RB, C, 1890, a That ye may be the children of your Father which isin heaven: fur he maketh his sun to ride on the esi) and on the good, and sendeth rain on the justand on the unjust. Matthew, 6,45. very good gift tn a heat, desire the day of the Lord, Amos, 5, 18—H. CHAP, XXIV. THRZE Sorts or Sinnens.---l, Murderers, », 14, They rise with | he light, as goon as ever the day breaks, to kill the poor travellera that are up early, and abroad about their business, going to market with a little money or ' goods; and though it is go little, that they are really to he called poor and needy, (who with much ado get a sorry livelihoud by their marketings, yet, to yet it, the murderer will both take his neighour’s life and venture his own; will rather i play at such small game than not play at all; nay, ho kills for killing sake, | thirsting more for blood than booty. See what care and pains wicked men take to compass their wicked designs, and let it shame us out of our negligence and alothfulness in doing good. 2 Adulterers; the eyex that are full of adultery, (2 Pet, 2, 14,) the unclean and | wanton eyes, wail for the twilight, v.15, The eye of the adulteress did so, Prov. 17,9 Adultory hides its head for shaine: the sinners thomaclves, even the most ‘impudent, do what they can to hide it: 4% non caate, tamen caute— vf not chiately. yet cautiously, and after all the wretched endeavours of the factors for hell t. take away the reproach of it, it is and ever will be a shame even to speak of thas | thinga which are done of them in secret, Mph, 5, 12 It hides its head also for fear, knowing that jealousy ts the rage of a husband, who will not apare in the day af venveance, Prov. 6, 34, 35. See what pains those take that make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lust of it; pains to compass, and thon to conceal, that pro- vision, which, after all, will be death and hell at last! Less pains would serve to mortify and crucify the flesh, and would be life and heaven at last. Let the sinner change his heart, and then he needs not disguise his face, but may Lift it up without spot. 3, Honge-breakers, ». 16. These mark houser in the day-time, mark the avenucs of a house, and on which side they can most casily force their entrance, and then, in the night, dig through them, cither to kill, or steal, or commit adultery. The night favours the assault, and makes the defence the more difficult; for the guod man of the house knows not what hour the thief will come, and therefore is asleep, (Luke, 12, 39,) and he and hislife exposed. For this reason, our law make bur- glary, which ia the breaking and entering of a dwelling-house in the night-time with a felonious intent, to be felony without benefit of clergy. And laatly, Job observes, (and perhaps observes it as a part of the reste though secret, punishment of such sinners as these, ) that they are in a continua terror for fear of being discovered; (x. 17,) The morning ta to them even as the shadow of death. The light of the day, which ia welcome to honest people, is a terror to bad people. They curse the aun, not as the Moora, beowuse it scorches them, but because it discovers them. 1f one know them, their conscicnces ily in their faces, and they are ready Y beoome their own accusers; for they are tn terrors of the sludaw of death, —H. TAP. RXV. Mines Hr Is, —What low things are here gaid of man, and very truly and justly; v. 4 How then can man be justified with Gad? or how can he be clean? Man is not only mean, but vile, not only earthy, but tilthy: he cannot be justified, ho cannot be clean, 1. In comparison with God, Man's righteousness and holiness, at the best, arc nothing to (iod’s, Ps. 89,6, 2. In debate with God. He that must unavoidably go by the worst. God will be fext tu hia sight: but all): V, XXVI. ht killeth ; iar. sinc ism. "CHAP. wn, om YY M : . 1 Bot executed speed] "eth down from the Fa- in the night 18 AB QB therefore the heart 3 ‘ther of lights, with ; th f whom ia no variable ance and long-auttering; | impenuitent heart trea- ||} wrath agaiust the day |! Jot T|| the waters in ao i idence of God, |! 18, ad j elgg ger iin aod thes ima will the Almighty, will not always call upon him. Tho more comfort we find im our aa, Ee —————— ~ Ae ere eet me Oe we cee: ee eeLeEE oe e NE Ot seme Omeeee 8 tees ew: OO 8 ee: eee ne aeRO 6-00 AE iced dementeebeeenee Job reproves the uncharitable spiru of Bildad. reat answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 2 Dominion and fear are with him; he maketh | peace in his high places, 3 Ig there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his “light arise? 4 How % then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that zw born of a woman? 5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, tle stars are not pure in his sight: 6 How much less man, that is ° a worm; and the son of man, which 7g a worm? CHAPTER XXVI. 1 Job reproves the uncharitable spirit of Bildad, § God's potoer wnfinie and unsearchaubles UT Job answered and said, 2 How hast thou “helped him that is without power? ow savest thou the arm dat hath no strength? 3 How hast thou counselled 4 him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? 4 To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee? | 6 Dead things are formed from under the waters, | and the inhabitants thercof. if Who hath ascended! 6 [Tell © 2s naked before him, and destruction tered the nind'in fz | Hath no covering, the waters ina gare| 7 Lle @stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. 8 Ile *‘ bindcth up the waters in his thick ment? who hath ena liahed all the ends of clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. une earte Proverba, { Fear yenot me? saith the Lown: will ye not 9 Ile holdcth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it. tremble atimy prenaucs, 10 Ile * hath compassed the waters with which have pluced the sand for the hound of bounds, ? until the day and night come to an end, the sea bya perpetual decree, that {t cannot pase it; and though the waventhereof tors them- selver, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they nut pasa over it? Jer. §, 22. S until the end of light with darkness, be condemned, Ps, 51, 4; Rom, 3, 4 There is no error in God's judgment, and therefore there lies no exception against it, nor appeal from it. 3. ln the sight of God. If God is so great and glorious, how can man, who is guilty and impure, appear before him? Nute, (1.) Man, by reason of his actual trans- gressions, is obnoxious to God’s justice, and cannot in himaclf be justified before him: he can neither plead Not guilty, nor plead any merit of his own to balince or extenuate his guilt. The scripture hus concluded all under sin. (2) Man, by reason of his original corruption, as he is born of a woman, is odious to God's holiness, and cannot be clean in his sight. God sees hisimpurity, and it is certain that by it he is rendered utterly untit for communion and {fellowship with God in grace here, and for the vision and fruition of him in glory hereafter. We have need, therefore, to be born again of water and of the Holy Ghost, and to be bathed wgain and again in the blood of Christ, that fountain opened. —JZ, CHAP, XXVI. Brautirvu, GagNniturge,~The bnght ornaments of heaven are the work of his hands; (v. 13,) By his Spirit, the eternal Spirit that moved upon the face of the waters, the breath of his mouth, (Ps. 33, 6,) he has garnished the heavens, not only made them, but beautified them; has curiously bespangled them with stars by night, and painted them with the light of the sun hy day. severe in it; who reckon their religion a task and a drudgery, a weariness, and snuff at it; who inake use of it only to serve a turn, and lay it aside when the turn is served; who will call upon God while it is in fashion, or while the pang of devotion lasts, but leave it off when they fall into other oompany, or when the hot fitis over. 2 The reason why hypocrites do not persevere in religion, because they have no pleasure in it. Thoy that do not delight themselves in nese. neither shadow o turning James, 1,17 6 Shall mortal man be more just than God? ahall a man he more pure than hia Maker? ob, 4, 17, What is man, that he should be elcan? ud he which is a woman, th rd 0 ‘ he ahuuld be righteo = ower ua f thou, t mark jniquities, O Lurd, who shall stand? Bx, 130, 3, nd enter not inte judgment with thy ser- ob, 16, J4 Lon, shouldes vant: for in thy sight whall no tau living be juatified. I's. bau, ¢ Dut lama worn,and no man; « repronch of men, and decpised of the people. Ps, 24,4, CHAP. 26.—B. ©, 1690, aA word titly apoken fe like apples of gold in pictures of silver, Prov, b And my apeech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man'a wisdom, but in demnunstration of the Spirit aud of power, 1 lor, 3, 4 1 Or, with the inhalite aute, ¢ Nell and destruction are before the Juonn; how much more then the hearts of the chile IL ja the Lonn’s, and the fulnesa thereof; the world, and they that dvell therein: fur he bath duunede di at upon the wean, and ce tablished it upon the floods, 14. 94,1,% dren ofinen? Prov.i5, d The earth ee errata peste ee mee. est ® Job declares his sincerity ‘lars of heaven tremble and are 11 The astonished at his reproof. 12 He 4 divideth the sea with his power, and roud.. P33 By “ his Spirit. he hath garnished the hea- vens: his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. 1+ Lo, these are parts of his ways; but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thun- der of his power who can understand? CHAPTER XXVIL 1 Job declares his sincerity, 8 The hynocrile without hope. ORE) VER Job } continued his parable, and said, 2.As God liveth, “who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath *vexed my soul; 3 All the while my breath ts in me, and ? the spirit of God zs in my nostrils, 4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. 5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die ®I will not remove mine integrity from me. 6 My nghteousness I * hold fast, and will not let it go: @ my heart shall not reproach me‘ so long as I live. 7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riscth up against me as the unrighteous, 8 For °what zs the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away JOB, XXV11, XXVITL But Iam the Lorp | what ahall a man give hy God, that divided inexchange for ‘i | CHAP, 96.—B, ©, 194," CHAP, #7.—B, 0. 1580, ; the sea, whore waves || Teaiah, 51, 15, }) roared. hua saith the Lorn,. lwhich giveth the sun» by his understanding he smiteth through ° the: for a light by day, and the ordinances of the muon and of the stars |: for a light by night, |! 9) roar: The Lonp of hoste iv hla name Jer. 31, 8 pride, or, Kahab. h Ly the word of the Lorp were the heavens made; and all the hust of them by the breath of his mouth. m 83, 6, Ee CHAD. 97.—B. C. 1590. 1 added to take up. a For Joh hath said, I ain righteous: and G hath taken away my judgment, Jub, 34, 5. 9 made my soul bitter. % That is, the breath which God gave him. bo Though he slay me, qr will IT trust tu him: mt I will rmintais mine own Ways ure him Joh, 14,15, For our rejoicing is this, the teatimony of our con- that it adr- mricice, odly ain- plisity aud cority, not with Heshly wisdum, but by the der of God, we have ad our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you- al 9 Corinthians, 1, 18, ¢ And the Lorp said untu Satan, Ilast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none Like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and atill he hold- eth fast his integrity although: thou movedst me aval him, to de- etroy im without cause. Jot, 9, 9. @ And herein do I ex- ercixe niyself, to have always & cunsclence sold of offence toward his soul? g Will f God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him‘ 10 Will ¥ he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon (sod? 11 I will teach you ® by the hand of God: God, and toward men. Acta, 4,16. For if our heart condemn us, (éu in greater than = our heart, and knoweth all things. 1 Jolin, 3, 2. 4 from my days ¢ For what is a ma prone, if he shall gain he whule world, and loge Lig own moul? ur mre oo mee OF se wet ates: eligion, the more closely we shall cleave to it. Those who have no delight in tod, are easily inveigled by the pleasures of sense, and so drawn away from their ‘eligion; and they are easily rnin down by the crosses of this life, and so driven wway from their religion, and will not always call upon God. —//. Trg Exp op a Rick Sinner, — Zhe rich man shall lie down to sleep, to repose uimself in the abundance of his wealth, Soul, take thine ease; shall lic down in it is hia atrong city, and acem to others to be very happy and very easy; but he shall wt be gathered, that is, he shall not have his mind composed, and settled, and tathered in, to enjoy his wealth, He does notaleep so contentudly as people think 16 does. He lies down, but his anindance will not suger him to aleen, at least not wo aweetly as the fabouring man, Eccl. 5, 12 He lies down, but he is full of toss- ngs to and fro till the dawning of the day, and then he opens his eyes, and he ia iot; he sees himself, and all he: lias, hastening away, as it were, in the twinkling fan eye, [lis cares increase his fears, and both together make him uneasy; s0 hat, when we attend him to his bed, we do not find him happy there. But, in he close, we are called to attend his exit. and see how miserable he is in death and afer leath. 1. He is miserable in death. It is to him the king of terrors, ». 20,2), When some morial disease seizes him, what a fright is hein! Z'errors take hald on him 18 waters, as if he were surrounded by the flowing tides. He trembles to think of leaving thia world, and much more of removing to another, This mingles sorrow anal wrath with hia aickness, as Solomon observes, Eccl, 5, 17. These terrors put him either (1.) Into a silent and sullen despair; and then the tempest of God's wrath, the tempest of death, may be said to ateal him away in the night, when no one ia aware, or takes any notice of it Ur, (2) Tnto an open and clamorous despair; and then he is said to he curried away, and hurled out of his place, as with 4 Btorm, and with an east-wind, violent, and noisy, and very dreadful. Death, to a godly man, is like a fair gale of wind, to convey him to the heavenly country, bat, to a ‘wicked man, it is like an cast-wind, a storm, a tempest, that hurries him aw ay, in confusion and amazement, to destruction. 2. He is miserable after death. (1.) His soul falls under the just indignation of God; and the terror of that puts him into such amazement at the approach of death; (n, 22,) For (od shall caxt upon him, and not apure. While he lived, he had the benefit of sparing mercy; but now the day of Giod’s patience is over, and he will not spire, but pour ont apon him the full vials of his wrath, What God canta down upon a man, there is no fying from, nor beating up under. We read ot his casting down yreat stones from heaven upon the Canaanites, (Josh. 10, 1.) which made terrible execution among them; but what was that to his casting i : ce it for him that | 3, hewet! ity, N 1 it] was none tosave them; even unto the Lon»,bu he answered them nut, ay which divideth the sea: shall seek me earl i; when the waves thereof |; they shall not iv me . Then shall they cry unto the hear them: he willeven at that time, as they selves ill in their do- The hypoorste without hope. that which t with the Almighty will I not conceal. 12 Behold, all ye yourselves have seen #; why then are ye thus altogether vain’ 13 This és the portion of a wicked man with (Jod, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty. 14 If * his children be sorte it 1s for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. 15 Those that remain of him shall be buried his soul? atthew, 16, 36. { They cried, but there Paalm 18, 41, Theu shall call upon me, but I not answer; ihe Proveris, |, 2 Lorp, but he will not hide hin face from them have behaved § them- juga Micah, 3,4 8 hi 3, 9. at . ® ‘ 5 on ang 1 we|in death; and * his widows shall not weep. au ee sortta.| 26 Lhough he heap up silver as the dust, and man the son of Flam: medatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew the fi ad prepare raiment as the clay; 17 Ile may prepare #/, but / the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver. 18 He buildeth his house as a moth, and as “a but on the spoil 1 they not their han Esther, 9, 10, «Their priests fell hy the sword; and their widows made no lam | booth that the keeper maketh. Ne ieee 19 The rich man shall lic down, but he shall unjust gain incroaseth his substance, he ab:all not be ’ gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he 18 not. 20 ‘l'errors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night. 21 The east wind carricth him away, and he departeth; and as a storm hurleth him out of his place. 22 For God shall cast upon him, and not ‘spare: ® he would fain flee out of his hand. 23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place. CHAPTER XXVIII. ] There te a knowledge of natural thinga, 12 but wisdom ts an excellent gift of God. QIU RELY there is! a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine 2. 2 Iron is taken out of the * earth, and brass 28 molten out of the stone. | we 3 He setteth au end to darkness, and * search- travail hath Wod given eth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, w exercived therewith. | and the shadow of death. will pity the poor, Pro- vere, $4, 8 For God giveth toa man that is oud im his sight wise om, and knowledge, and joy: but tu the sin- ner he giveth travail, to ther and to heap up, hat he maygive to him that is good befure Uod. This alev is vanity and vexation of spirit. Keol. & And he hath violent ly taken away his taber- nacle, as if it were of a gardeu: he hath de stroyed his places of the axgermbly, Juam. & { Aaron shall be ge thered unto his people, aud shall die ere, (umber, $i), 96, 6 in Heelug he would fire, CHAP. 8&—B. CL 1580, 1 Or, & mine. 2 Ur, duet. a And | gavemy heart to neck aud search out | hy wisdom concerning | all things that are dire | under heaven: thinsote | t God, by which he is cut off, and be well pleased in his fall When the wickea periah, there ia shouting.—/1, CHAP. XXVIIL Money.—The wealth of thia world is hid in the earth Thence the silver and the gold, which afterward they refine, are fetched, v. 1. There it lay mixed with a great deal of dirt and dross, like a worthless thing al no more account than common earth; and abundance of it will 8o lie neglected till the earth and all the works therein shall be burnud up. Holy Mr, Herbert, in his poem called Avaric, takes notice of this, to shame men out of the love of money. Money, thou bane of bliss, thou source of woe, Whence com’st thou, that thon art so fresh and fino? { know thy parentage is base and low; Man found thee poor and dirty in a mine. Surely thou didst go little contribute To this great kingdom which thou now hast got, That he was fain, when thou wast destitute, To dig thee out of thy dark cave and grot Man callcth thee his wealth, who made thee rich, And while he digs out thee, falls in the ditch. 