A35439:1347
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of the book of Job being the sum of thirty two lectures, delivered at Magnus near the bridge, London / by Joseph Caryl ...An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of the book of Job being the summe of thirty two lectures, delivered at Magnus neer the bridge, London / by Joseph Caryl ...
London: printed by A. Miller for Henry Overton, 1647
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Fourthly, Observe, That afflictions continued cause us to suspect that our prayers are not answered.
Fourthly, Observe, That afflictions continued cause us to suspect that our praiers are not answered.
Why doth Job think that God hearkened not to him? I would not believe (saith he) that God had hearkened unto my voice; why? because still he continues to break me. Faith is put hard to it at such a time;1 and this is the thing which stumbled Job, he could not tell how to make it out, that God had heard his prayer for him, because he heard so great a noise of tempests and storms against him. It is very difficult for faith to see mercy through clouds of trouble. It is a hard thing for faith to look upon the pleased face of God through a louring tempest, or to believe the calmness of Gods heart to us in troublesome dispensations. Therefore he speaks here as if his faith were even mastered. The providences of God are often too hard for man. And with this temptation Satan helps on unbelief. If he come to a soul in affliction, which keepeth close to his interests in Christ; Yea (saith he) you may do so though afflictions were upon you, but yours are more then afflictions, yours are tempests and storms: God dealeth with you as with an enemy, yours are no ordinary matters, yours are like the portion he gives to those he hates; I would not weaken your faith, because of a chastening rod, but you are beaten with scorpions, and will you still believe? Can God love you and deal thus with you? Thus the serpent whispers in those louder tempests of affliction.
Why doth Job thinke that God hearkned not to him? I would not believe (saith he) that God had hearkned unto my voice; why? because still he continues to break me. Faith is put hard to it at such a time;1 and this is the thing which stumbled Job, he could not tell how to make it out, that God had heard his praier for him, because he heard so great a noise of tempests and storms against him. It is very difficult for faith to see mercy thorow clouds of trouble. It is a hard thing for faith to look upon the pleased face of God thorow a lowring tempest, or to believe the calmnes of Gods heart to us in troublesome dispensations. Therefore he speaks here as if his faith were even master'd. The providences of God are often too hard for man. And with this temptation Satan helps on unbelief. If he come to a soul in affliction, which keepeth close to his interests in Christ; Yea (saith he) you may doe so though afflictions were upon you, but yours are more then afflictions, yours are tempests and storms: God dealeth with you as with an enemy, yours are no ordinary matters, yours are like the portion he gives to those he hates; I would not weaken your faith, because of a chastening rod, but you are beaten with scorpions, and will you still believe? Can God love you and deal thus with you? Thus the serpent whispers in those louder tempests of affliction.