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

Why Job, there may be many reasons, many answers given to this, wherefore a man should be in light, though he be in misery: and why his life should be continued, though his soul be in bitterness. What if God should appear and tell thee, It shall be thus▪ and the reason of it is, because I will have it so; Is not that therefore answer enough, to any mans wherefore? The will of God is reason enough for man, and ought to be the most satisfying reason; If God say I will have life remain in a man, that is bitter in soul, that man should say, Lord it is reason I should, because it is thy pleasure, though it be to my own trouble. Yet it is but seldom that God makes his will his reason, and answers by his bare prerogative: He hath often given weighty reasons to this query. First, The life of nature is continued, that the life of grace may be increased. Again, Such live in sufferings, That they may learn obedience by the things which they suffer. God teaches us by his works, as well as by his word, his dealings speak to us: And, It is as great an act of holiness to submit our selves to the will of God in his works, as it is to the will of God in his word: Another reason of this wherefore, may be this, God sets up some as patterns to posterity, he therefore gives the light of life to some that are in misery, to show that it is no new, nor strange thing for his Saints to be darkness: And what if God doth it to magnify the strength of his own power in supporting, and the sweetness of his mercy when he delivers, such bitter souls. Further observe, first, That

Why Job, there may be many reasons, many answers given to this, wherefore a man should be in light, though he be in misery: and why his life should be continued, though his soule be in bitternesse. What if God should appeare and tell thee, It shall be thus▪ and the reason of it is, because I will have it so; Is not that therefore answer enough, to any mans wherefore? The will of God is reason enough for man, and ought to be the most satisfying reason; If God say I will have life remaine in a man, that is bitter in soule, that man should say, Lord it is reason I should, because it is thy pleasure, though it be to my own trouble. Yet it is but seldome that God makes his will his reason, and answers by his bare pre••gative: He hath often given weighty reasons to this quaerie. First, The life of nature is continued, that the life of grace may be encreased. Again, Such live in sufferings, That they may learne obedience by the things which they suffer. God teaches us by his workes, as well as by his word, his dealings speake to us: And, It is as great an act of holinesse to submit our selves to the will of God in his workes, as it is to the will of God in his word: Another reason of this wherefore, may be this, God sets up some as patternes to posterity, he therefore gives the light of life to some that are in misery, to shew that it is no new, nor strange thing for his Saints to be darkenesse: And what if God doth it to magnifie the strength of his own power in supporting, and the sweetnesse of his mercy when he delivers, such bitter soules. Further observe, first, That