A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

Again, take that memorable instance of Job, God hid his face from him, the arrows of the Almighty stuck fast in him, Satan was let loose ⟨p. 345⟩upon him, the wife of his bosom proved a tempter to him, a tormentor of him; his most inward acquaintance deserted him, reproached him, and condemned him as an hypocrite; God writ bitter things against him, and made him to possess the iniquities of his youth, all was clouded above him, and he stripped of all the outward comforts that did once surround him; so that he had nothing left to stay him, to refresh him, to support him, and to be a comfort and joy to him,¹ but the sense of his integrity, and the evidence he had of his own uprightness, his own righteousness, Job. 27.5. Till I die I will not remove my integrity from me. Ver. 6. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. Job was under great afflictions, sore temptations, and deep desertions; now that which was his cordial, his bulwark in those sad times, was the sense and feeling of his own uprightness, his own righteousness; the sense and feeling of the grace of God in him, kept him from fainting and sinking under all his troubles. So 1 Joh. 2.3. Hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments, &c. In these words two things are observable; First, that where there is a true knowledge of Christ, there is an observation of his commandments. Secondly, that by this observation of his royal Law, we may know that our knowledge is sound and sincere. He speaks not of a legal, but of an evangelical keeping of his commandments. A conscionable and serious endeavour to walk in a holy course of life, according to God's will revealed in his Word, is a most certain mark or evidence that we have a saving knowledge of God, and that we are his children, and heirs of glory. Such who sincerely desire, and unfeignedly purpose, and firmly resolve, and faithfully endeavour to keep the commandments of God; these do keep the commandments of God evangelically and acceptably in the eye of God, the account of God. So ver. 6. He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Here you may observe two things; First, that by faith we are implanted into Christ. Secondly, that we discover our implantation into Christ by our imitation of Christ.