A brief exposition with practical observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that…A briefe exposition with practicall observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that…

Reasons why fruitless: 1. From Gods concealment many times of the causes and reasons of the afflictions of his people, especially in the beginning of their troubles, till towards the end. Job was long before he saw the reason of Gods strange hand upon himself, Job 10.2, to 7. And it is a great part of their affliction, that they cannot discern the reason of Gods dealing with them. God concealeth his mind, till we have learned to prefer his wisdom and will above our own, when Job stooped to this (Job 40.2, to 5. with Chap. 42.5, 6,) then he not only saw a gracious Issue, but the cause of all his troubles, from Gods conference with Satan.

Reasons why fruitlesse: 1. From Gods concealment many times of the causes and reasons of the afflictions of his people, especially in the beginning of their troubles, till towards the end. Job was long before he saw the reason of Gods strange hand upon himselfe, Job 10.2, to 7. And it is a great part of their affliction, that they cannot discerne the reason of Gods dealing with them. God concealeth his minde, till we have learned to preferre his wisdome and will above our own, when Job stooped to this (Job 40.2, to 5. with Chap. 42.5, 6,) then he not onely saw a gracious Issue, but the cause of all his troubles, from Gods conference with Satan.

Reason 2. From the power of God to have brought to ⟨p. 192⟩pass any ends of his own and ours in dealing bountifully with the godly, and justly with the wicked, if it had pleased him. Though sanctified affliction be wholesome to the godly, yet God was able to have humbled and healed them without such outward crosses and afflictions. The spirit of grace could do it effectually by the word. That God chooseth rather to do it by afflictions, what man can find the reason? Or if some reason might be rendered in regard of our fellowship with the first Adam in sin and vanity, and with the second Adam in afflictions, yet why might not God have chosen rather to afflict the godly in the inner man, then in the outward man? and why might not the wicked have undergone greater afflictions in this world?