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XXX. 11. Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.

Because God hath bereaved me of that power and honour, which I formerly enjoyed, therefore they let loose the reins of their obedience and respects to me.

XXX. 18. By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.

By the running of my sores, my garment is all stained with purulent matter, and requires a frequent change; yea, it cleaveth so close unto my body, by the means of this loathsome moisture, as the collar of my coat is straitened to my neck.

XXX. 22. Thou liftest me up to the wind, &c.

Thou tossest me up with thy judgments, as dust or chaff is blown up with the wind.

XXX. 29. I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. My pain forceth me to so lamentable cries and ejulations, that I might seem fit to be consorted with dragons and owls, in some horrible desert, whose howlings and shriekings are wont to be held most mournful and ominous.

XXXI. 1, 2. I made a covenant, &c. God is there from above? &c.

For what portion of

For if I had suffered my eyes and my heart to rove after these unlawful lusts, what could I have looked for at the hand of God, but due vengeance?

XXXI. 10. Then let my wife grind unto another, &c.

Then let my wife become false to my bed, and repay my sin with the like adultery: let me be plagued, as I deserve, in my own kind.

XXXI. 11. Yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

This had been a capital offence, worthy to be punished by the sword of authority.

XXXI. 21. If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate.

If I have used my power injuriously against the fatherless, when I saw that my sentence would have been seconded, and would have carried it, upon the bench.

XXXI. 26, 27, 28. If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: This also were an iniquity, &c.

If, when I have beheld thy glorious creatures, the sun and the moon, I have given way to any idolatrous conceits, and have ascribed divine honour unto them, as my heathen neighbours do; this were indeed a heinous and capital wickedness.

XXXI. 31. If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

If the people of my house were not so taken up with the offices and employments of my hospitality to others, that they had no leisure to feed themselves, and therefore complained for want of that flesh which they dressed for others.

XXXI. 33. If I have covered my transgressions as Adam.

If I have made shifts and excuses to hide or diminish my offence, as the manner of men is, who do herein imitate our first father Adam, and from him have derived this corruption.

XXXI. 34. Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me?

Did I forbear to reprove or oppose any sin, because it was backed by a multitude of offenders? or, if I suffered myself to be disheartened by the fear of that contempt, which might fall upon me from large combinations and families.

XXXI. 35. Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

Oh, that I had a fair and equal hearing in this cause of mine! Yea, I could presume so far as to wish, that the Almighty himself would be pleased to undertake this business: and that my trial might be the more certain, oh that my adversaries would put in their bill of complaint in writing against me!

XXXI. 36. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind

it as a crown to me.

Surely I would much rejoice and triumph in that indictment; and would account it the greatest honour, that could be done

me.

XXXI. 37. I would declare unto him the number of my steps ; as a prince would I go near unto him.

I would help such a one with such informations against myself, as he should never be able to find out; and when I have done, I would encounter him boldly and courageously, as some warlike prince would come into the field against a weak enemy.

XXXII, 7. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

I said, as in good manners I ought; Those, that are ancient and full of days, should speak; and those, that had many years' experience, should be most able to teach wisdom to their younger.

XXXII. 8. But there is a spirit in man.

But I see, all is not in age: there is a spirit of God, which, breathing where it listeth, maketh a difference in man.

XXXII. 13. Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.

Do not think, or say, that you have, by your great wisdom, convinced Job, upon this ground, that God hath afflicted him, not man; and God, being just, punishes none but a sinner,

therefore Job is a hypocrite: I shall go another way to work with him.

XXXII. 22. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

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I dare not sooth up and flatter any man in a false conceit if I should so do, I know God would be sure to be speedily avenged of me.

XXXIII. 14. For God speaketh once, yea twice, but man perceiveth it not.

Many times and divers ways, doth God solicit and admonish men; yet, such is the dulness and security of their hearts, that they either do not or will not hear and understand him.

XXXIII. 16, 17. Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instructions, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

Then, and by these means, he causeth men to hear, and imprinteth in their heart his instructions; that he may prevail with man, to withdraw him from those evil courses and resolutions, which he hath undertaken; and that he may convince him of his proud and insolent conceits, which he hath harboured in himself.

XXXIII. 23, 24. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

When a man is thus soundly humbled, if a faithful messenger and minister of God, which is not easy and common to be found, shall shew that man his true estate, both in the truth of his repentance and in the safety of his faithful dependence upon his All-sufficient Redeemer; then will God be gracious to that man, and will administer seasonable comforts to his soul, and say, This man shall be delivered from hell; I have found perfect and absolute atonement and ransom for him, in the blood of that Saviour in whom he hath believed.

XXXIV. 6. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without my transgression.

Should I belie myself in my own cause, so as to say, I have received hard measure from God, without any desert of mine; I am plagued, and have not offended?

XXXIV. 7. What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorn like water?

There is no man, that pretends to be so wise and holy as Job, that would thus expose himself to the scorn of the world, in his insolent challenges; or would thus turn off the grave admonitions of his friends, with scorn and contempt.

XXXIV. 14, 15. If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish.

If God would resolve to deal with man according to his absolute power; if he should call back that life and soul which he hath given him; there were no abiding; all flesh should perish

at once.

XXXIV. 17. Shall he that hateth right govern? &c.

Is it fit for thee, who fondly censurest the just proceedings of God, to over-rule thy Maker?

XXXIV. 20. In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight.

He shall fetch away the great commanders of the earth, in a time when it is least expected; even in the deepest of security, shall he cause astonishment and tumult in the death of the mighty

ones.

XXXIV. 23. That he should enter into judgment with God. That man should hereupon have any just cause of contestation with God, or any ground of cavil against him.

XXXIV. 30. That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

Yea, not only doth God execute his judgments upon the vulgar people only, but on the great potentates of the earth; so as he strikes wicked tyrants with his plagues, lest the people should be too much oppressed with their injustice.

XXXIV. 33. Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I.

Dost thou think it meet, that God should proceed in his judg ments according to thy conceits? If thou and I should determine what were fit for him to do; he will take what course he thinks best; whether thou or I like it, or dislike it.

XXXV. 6. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

If thou sinnest, what dost thou hurt him? Is his holiness, justice, power ever the less, because thou hast transgressed? Is ought diminished from his essence by thine offence?

XXXV. 10. But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?

Many make formal flourishes, but none doth heartily acknowledge the powerful and just hand of that God, who gives due and seasonable comfort to the soul, in the deepest and darkest night of our sorrows.

XXXV. 12. Therefore they cry, but none heareth them, because of the pride of evil men.

Therefore they cry out, and complain of the pride and oppressions of wicked men; but God giveth them no answer, by reason of their impatience and unbelief.

XXXV. 14. Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

Although thou sayest, that God gives thee no assurance of his presence by any sensible demonstration, yet certainly he will be sure to execute true (though secret) judgment, in all the cases of men; and therefore do thou acknowledge him, and trust in him.

XXXV. 15. But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity.

But now, because thou dost not approve thyself to him as thou oughtest, therefore he hath afflicted thee in his anger: yet Job doth not consider, that his suffering is not in such extremity, as his sin hath deserved.

XXXVI. 13. They cry not when he bindeth them.

When he afflicteth them, they do not humble themselves under the hand of God, and repent them of their sins.

XXXVI. 20. Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

Do not thou wish for night, as thinking that that silent and quiet time might give thee ease from thy thoughts; while thou hast to do with a God, that can in an instant cut off whole nations, much more thee, who art one weak and frail man.

XXXVI. 21. For this hast thou rather chosen than affliction. Thou hast rather chosen to tax the proceedings of God in thy weak impatience, than meekly to suffer his affliction.

XXXVI. 30. Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

Behold, when the heaven is overcast with clouds, he sendeth forth his bright beams, and enlighteneth and cheereth the face thereof; and again sendeth such gloomy and dark clouds, as that the blackness and obscurity thereof shadeth even to the bottom of the sea.

XXXVI. 33. The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

The noise of thunder, which is in the cloud, sheweth and presageth the rain, which will pour down from it; and the very cattle have a kind of notice, and give a certain intimation, by signs and tokens, of the falling of that moist vapour.

XXXVII. 2. Hear attentively the noise of his voice.

While we are now speaking, hear how dreadfully the noise of his thunder sounds in the clouds, &c.

XXXVII. 9. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind and cold out of the north.

Out of those hidden chambers of his, which are the southern coasts, the strong winds arise; and the cold winds come from the north.

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