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…

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.