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

First, We find Job complaining, because things were not otherwise ordered about him, he is troubled, because he was borne, or because he was not cast away in the birth; for then it had been better with him, he had been asleep and quiet; he was troubled things were with him as they were. Hence it may be questioned, Whether it be lawful for us to wish or to desire, that had not come to pass, which we see come to pass? And are we not bound to rest satisfied with the present and fore-past dispensations of God, and so be content with the things that are, or with things as they are?

First, We find Job complaining, because things were not otherwise ordered about him, he is troubled, because he was borne, or because he was not cast away in the birth; for then it had been better with him, he had beene asleepe and quiet; he was troubled things were with him as they were. Hence it may be questioned, Whether it be lawfull for us to wish or to desire, that had not come to passe, which we see come to passe? And are we not bound to rest satisfied with the present and fore-past dispensations of God, and so be content with the things that are, or with things as they are?

For this, I say in general, such wishes or desires are not sinful. It is not absolutely sinful, to wish that not to be, which is; Nay some things which are, ought to be wished they had not bin, and it is a sin not to wish, they had not been. As those things that are displeasing to God, provocations to the eyes of his glory; things that are dishonourable to God, we ought to wish that such things had never been. God himself wisheth in that manner, Psal. 81.13. O that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! They did not walk in his ways, he wisheth they had, he desireth they had been better, more holy and more obedient then they were. To wish that a thing had not been, out of a tenderness that God should be offended by sin, is not only lawful, but very commendable. But to wish things otherwise then they are, as murmuring against and misliking Gods administration, or out of a tenderness, because we suffer, is not only sinful but abominable; When our wills rise up against the will of God, when we cannot be contented to be what God will have us to be, and to suffer what God would have us suffer, when we who should learn to be content in every estate, are angry with our estates, and on that ground wish, O that this had never been, O that I had never seen this day, because it hath so much trouble in it; this wish hath I know not how much evil in it. So likewise when man shall (as it were) take upon him to direct the Almighty and only wise God in governing the world, secretly surmising, or openly complaining, that things might be dispensed and managed with more wisdom, justice and moderation; such boldness is plain blasphemy. Some are ready to say in their hearts about the Lord Christs governing the world, as Absalom did concerning his father Davids government