An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

If a righteous man cannot, can an unrighteous? No marvel if David saith in the first Psalm, The wicked shall not stand in judgement, for (in a sense) the righteous cannot stand in judgement, that is, they cannot plead their own righteousness before God. Wicked men have nothing to help them, no help without, and none within, they have nothing but sin in them, and they have no Saviour without them. Hence the Apostle Peter argues (1 Pet. 4.18.) If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? If Abel be not able to answer God, how shall Cain? If David cannot, how can Saul? They who have not the righteousness of Christ, have nothing but unrighteousness of their own.

If a righteous man cannot, can an unrighteous? No marvell if David saith in the first Psalm, The wicked shall not stand in judgement, for (in a sense) the righteous cannot stand in judgement, that is, they cannot plead their own righteousnesse before God. Wicked men have nothing to help them, no help without, and none vvithin, they have nothing but sinne in them, and they have no Saviour vvithout them. Hence the Apostle Peter argues (1 Pet. 4.18.) If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? If Abel be not able to answer God, how shall Cain? If David cannot, how can Saul? They vvho have not the righteousnesse of Christ, have nothing but unrighteousnesse of their own.

Thirdly, Observe the vast difference that is between the spirit and temper of a godly man, and of a wicked man. O the humility of Jobs spirit! Job vvill not justify his own righteousness, or justify himself in his righteousness. A wicked man vvill justify his sin, or justify himself in his sin. A Saul vvill justify his disobedience, but a Job vvill not justify his obedience. Job vvill not take upon him to be a righteous man; though God had told him he was perfect and upright. A wicked man vvill take upon him to be righteous, though God tell him to his face a thousand times, that he is vile and filthy. How do wicked men seek for pleas and covers to make themselves appear righteous! How do they gild the base metal of their hearts, and paint over those rotten posts to make them appear beautiful! Christ tells the Pharisees that they were like filthy sepulchres, full of dead mens bones, yet they would be painted over with the notion of a righteous generation. Job who had much righteousness and faithfulness in him, would not own them, and modestly blushes at the praise of God, Though I were righteous, yet I would not answer.