An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

So now, if man should accuse and complain against God, he hath done thus and thus in the world, afflicted a Job, troubled a righteous person; shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall this man in his complaint be justified? shall not God rather be justified against whom he complains? Certainly he shall. God shall be declared just, yea, he shall be declared just by man. A man un-engaged ⟨p. 110⟩and rightly principled, Such a man shall say, verily there is a God that judgeth the earth. In the judgement of man, that judgment shall speak a God; and all shall be forced to Daniels mourning acknowledgement, O Lord righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face. Dan. 97. 9 We may enlighten it further by that of David (Ps. 51. 4.) where he professes thus, I will confess my sins, &c. that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest: as if he should say, if hereafter thou shalt afflict me, and lay thy rod upon me, I know many will be ready to complain and say, why doth God thus, why doth he afflict David, David a holy man, a man after his own heart: a man of whom he hath given such large testimony, of whom he hath said, I have found a man after my own heart. Now to the intent all these may be cast in their suits, and answered in their complainings, I here acknowledge before all the world, that I have sinned greatly; & therefore, though thou hast pardoned my sin, and so wilt never charge it upon me to condemnation, nor punish me for it in a way of satisfaction; yet hereafter thou mayest in thy fatherly wisdom, see it needful to chastise me, to prevent and purge out sin, or to help me against the weakness of my nature, and the strength of temptation for the time to come. So here in the Text, Shall man be justified before God? If Job or any of his friends for him, should complain against God, why he being one commended and approved from the mouth of God, for a man perfect and upright, should be thus afflicted; what? Shall weak Job be justified before God? Yea, though Job be considered in his greenest flourishings of grace, and highest pitch of his prosperity, as he was Geber indeed, the greatest, the mightiest man in the Eastern world; yet shall he be more pure than his Maker?

So now, if man should accuse and complaine against God, he hath done thus and thus in the world, afflicted a Job, troubled a righteous person; shall mortall man be more just than God? Shall this man in his complaint be justified? shall not God rather be justified against whom he complains? Certainly he shall. God shall be declared just, yea, he shall be declared just by man. A man un-ingaged