An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

1. There is a soul-trouble arising in the heart, because of Gods displeasure for ¹sin. This trouble David doth sadly groan under many times, and this is the greatest evil that the godly can grapple with. When God hideth his face from David, it's neither his Kingdom, or success, or any great prosperity he hath, that can be so much as a drop of water to cool his thirsty scorched soul. Job also was in this troubled condition, when he complaineth, That the arrows of the Almighty did stick in him. What comfort or joy could Job find in any thing in the world, while God was thus frowning on him? So that the soul in this case is most remote from comfort. Bring him riches, honours, you do but as they that gave vinegar and gall to Christ for to drink, you increase sorrow more: yet at last we find both David and Job were comforted; God could and did of that chaos and dark confusion they felt within them, work much light and joy. And certainly, if there be any of Gods children that live and die without comfort, having no evidence or assurance of Gods favour; this is not because God cannot comfort, or because God is not gracious and pitiful to such, but because God seeth it best not to give comfort to such. Seeing therefore it's God that breaketh the heart, it's he that makes the soul tremble, it is he that convinceth of sin, and humbleth the soul under it: So it is the same God only that can command comforts; when he speaketh the word, all sorrow and tormenting fears shall fly away, as dark mists before the glorious light of the Sun. Oh then, let such dejected and overwhelmed souls remember the Omnipotency of God in comforting, as well as in other things! Say, O Lord, my heart would break and break again, if I had nothing but men or Angels to comfort; but I have to do with thee who art the Father of spirits, and so canst put into the soul gladness of heart, as well as grace.

1. There is a soul-trouble arising in the heart, because of Gods displeasure for ¹sinne. This trouble David doth sadly groan under many times, and this is the greatest evil that the godly can grapple with. When God hideth his face from David, it's neither his Kingdom, or success, or any great prosperity he hath, that can be so much as a drop of water to cool his thirsty scorched soul. Job also was in this troubled condition, when he complaineth, That the arrows of the Almighty did stick in him. What comfort or joy could Job find in any thing in the world, while God was thus frowning on him? So that the soul in this case is most remote from comfort. Bring him riches, honours, you do but as they that gave vinegar and gall to Christ for to drink, you increase sorrow more: yet at last we find both David and Job were comforted; God could and did of that chaos and dark confusion they felt within them, work much light and joy. And certainly, if there be any of Gods children that live and die without comfort, having no evidence or assurance of Gods favour; this is not because God cannot comfort, or because God is not gracious and pitifull to such, but because God seeth it best not to give comfort to such. Seeing therefore it's God that breaketh the heart, it's he that makes the soul tremble, it is he that convinceth of sin, and humbleth the soul under it: So it is the same God only that can command comforts; when he speaketh the word, all sorrow and tormenting fears shall flie away, as dark mists before the glorious light of the Sun. Oh then, let such dejected and overwhelmed souls remember the Omnipotency of God in comforting, as well as in other things! Say, O Lord, my heart would break and break again, if I had nothing but men or Angels to comfort; but I have to do with thee who art the Father of spirits, and so canst put into the soul gladnesse of heart, as well as grace.