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…

The word which we translate [Make thy supplication] is very significant of the manner how we should seek unto God, namely,¹ bottoming our selves upon free-grace alone. A thought of our own worth is inconsistent with a supplication; Call upon the Almighty for pity, saith M. Broughton, when we supplicate, we desire that to be done for us, for which there is no reason in us why it should be done. To make supplication: is to seek help and relief freely or gratis, acknowledging there is nothing in us worthy love. That adverb used in the first, and repeated in the second Chapter, where the devil objects, Doth Job serve God for nought, that is, without respect of good pay for his pains from God, that adverb (I say) comes from this verb. As we ought to serve God (in this sense) for nought, and not like mercenaries for our hire: So God helps us for nought, without looking to any thing in us, or from us, as an hire of his help. The Baptist had his name (John) from this ⟨p. 30⟩word, either because he preached the free-grace of God in Christ, then exhibited; or, because God bestowed him upon his parents in their old-age, as a special grace and favour: The poor (saith Solomon, Prov. 18.23.) useth entreaties; some render it thus, The poor maketh, or speaketh supplications; a poor man hath nothing of desert to plead, why he should receive your charity, but he lies at your feet, and begs somewhat, because he is in want, because misery hath arrested and taken hold upon him: The poor useth entreaties, he doth not call for any thing of right, and he will not wrest any thing from you by force; he only supplicates your favour. We in our drawing nigh unto God should pray for grace and favour, as a poor man, begging an alms, who makes this his plea, that he is poor. So then, Bildad's counsel to Job is this, Stand not upon thy terms with God, plead not thine own integrity and good works, but cast thy self at his feet for mercy, Make thy supplication unto him. The word is used by Moses, Deut. 3.23. when he describeth his own unbelief, for which God said he should not go into Canaan, And I besought the Lord at that time, saying, &c. When Moses perceived God was angry, he did not reckon his former good services to balance this failing, but he sought unto God for mercy, as one that had never done him any service at all.