Whom, though I were righteous, I would not answer. His supposition hath a negation in it, I am not righteous. Job did not deny the work of the Spirit, or the grace of God in him; but he would not own them in his pleadings with God. He could stand upon his terms with men, and let them know who he was, and what he had done (and it was reason he should) but before God he had nothing to mention but Christ: In reference to the higher degree, of grace for sanctification we must forget all that is behind, ⟨p. 265⟩and press on to that which is before: And in reference to the whole grace of justification, we must forget all our sanctification. The less we remember our own righteousness, the more righteous we are in Christ. As we abate in our selves, we increase in him. Christ draws the picture of an hypocrite to the life (Luk. 18.) in that parable of a Pharisee and a Publican, going up to the Temple to pray; and the design of Christ in that Parable, is held forth at the ninth verse, to be the conviction of such as trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Now what did this Pharisee? He thanks God he was not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as that Publican, and then he minds God that he gave tithes, and kept fasts twice a week, and so makes a goodly report of himself, both in the negative and in the affirmative, what he was, and what he was not. Never did any good man tell God such a story of his own life, as this Pharisee told. The Saints love to do well, more then to hear well from others, much more, then to hear well from themselves; they love to do good, more then to receive good, much more, then to speak good of themselves. When Christ is represented sitting in judgement (Mat. 25.35.) he tells the faithful of all their good deeds, or acts of charity, I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me. &c. Hear how the Saints answer, as if they had done no such thing; when was this Lord? when saw we thee hungry and fed thee? &c. We have forgot the time. They did so little mind the good they had done, that they remembered not they ever did it. The Lord keeps a faithful record of what his people do, but themselves do not. It is our duty to remember to do good, but let God alone to remember the good we have done.
Whom, though I were righteous, I would not answer. His supposition hath a negation in it, I am not righteous. Job did not deny the vvork of the Spirit, or the grace of God in him; but he vvould not own them in his pleadings vvith God. He could stand upon his terms vvith men, and let them knovv vvho he vvas, and vvhat he had done (and it vvas reason he should) but before God he had nothing to mention but Christ: In reference to the higher degree, of grace for sanctification vve must forget all that is behinde, ⟨p. 265⟩and presse on to that which is before: And in reference to the whole grace of justification, we must forget all our sanctification. The lesse we remember our own righteousnesse, the more righteous we are in Christ. As vve abate in our selves, vve encrease in him. Christ draws the picture of an hypocrite to the life (Luk. 18.) in that parable of a Pharisee and a Publican, going up to the Temple to pray; and the design of Christ in that Parable, is held forth at the ninth verse, to be the conviction of such as trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Now vvhat did this Pharisee? He thanks God he was not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as that Publican, and then he mindes God that he gave tithes, and kept fasts twice a week, and so makes a goodly report of himself, both in the negative and in the affirmative, vvhat he vvas, and vvhat he vvas not. Never did any good man tell God such a story of his own life, as this Pharisee told. The Saints love to do well, more then to hear vvell from others, much more, then to hear well from themselves; they love to do good, more then to receive good, much more, then to speak good of themselves. When Christ is represented sitting in judgement (Mat. 25.35.) he tels the faithfull of all their good deeds, or acts of charity, I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye cloathed me. &c. Hear how the Saints answer, as if they had done no such thing; when was this Lord? when saw we thee hungry and fed thee? &c. We have forgot the time. They did so little minde the good they had done, that they remembred not they ever did it. The Lord keeps a faithfull record of vvhat his people doe, but themselves doe not. It is our duty to remember to doe good, but let God alone to remember the good we have done.
