An exposition with practical observations upon the three first chapters of the book of…

As first, consider the greatness of his suffering, his wound was very deep and deadly, his burden was very heavy, only not intolerable: The sufferings of Christ, being exceeding great, caused him to complain, that his soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death, Mat. 27.38. Yet in this complaint, there was not the least imaginable touch of impatience. When he hung upon the cross, he cried out, My God my God why hast thou forsaken me, verse 46. yet in this cry, no impatience. To cry out for every light touch, argues indeed a vain and an impatient spirit: But he that sometimes fetches a groan under a weight of sorrow, is yet untouched either in his wisdom or in his patience. In such a case to cry out, is a discovery of humane frailty, but not of sinful frailty: grace doth not take away sense, it heightens nature, but it doth not abolish it. Consider how much Job endured, and then you will find little impatience, though he complained much.

As first, consider the greatnesse of his suffering, his wound was very deepe and deadly, his burden was very heavy, only not intollerable: The sufferings of Christ, being exceeding great, caused him to complaine, that his soule was exceeding sorrowfull even unto death, Mat. 27.38. Yet in this complaint, there was not the least imaginable touch of impatience. When he hung upon the crosse, he cried out, My God my God why hast thou forsaken me, verse 46. yet in this cry, no impatience. To cry out for every light touch, argues indeed a vaine and an impatient spirit: But he that sometimes fetches a groane under a weight of sorrow, is yet untoucht either in his wisedome or in his patience. In such a case to cry out, is a discovery of humane frailty, but not of sinfull frailty: grace doth not take away sence, it heightens nature, but it doth not abolish it. Consider how much Job endured, and then you will find little impatience, though he complained much.

Secondly, Consider the multiplicity of his troubles: They were great and many; many little afflictions meeting together, make a great one, how great then is that which is composed of many great ones? Many pebble stones will make a heavy burden, how then is he burdened, who hath (if such a thing may be supposed) many mil-stones upon his back? Jobs afflictions came upon him as an Army, and encompassed him round about. He had many particular afflictions, any one of which might make a very patient man complain, then Job who bare them all, was not impatient, though he complained.