An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…

That while we speak, or our hearts rise up against the dealings of God with our selves or others, we may be said to turn our spirits against God himself: Many who think they have not neglected Christ, will be found to have neglected him, because they have neglected those by whom, or that wherein Christ is offered. The Evangelist brings in Christ speaking thus (Matth. 25.) I was hungry and ye fed me not, thirsty and ye gave me no drink; they to whom he speaks wonder at this, Lord (say they) when saw we thee hungry and gave thee no meat, or thirsty and gave thee no drink, surely we have not been guilty of such a wickedness: Yea, saith Christ, In as much as ye did it not to one of these, ye did it not to me; when ye refused to feed these, ye refused to feed me, I was in these, and these were in me. Now in the same manner many will say, when we charge them with turning their spirits against God, with fighting against, and opposing God: Who? we oppose God? we never opposed God as we know of; yea, peradventure, they will say, we have honoured ⟨p. 53⟩God, and do you charge us that we have turned our spirit against God? to many such God will say, In as much as ye opposed my word, and murmured against my works, in as much as ye were angry with my dispensations, and discontented with what I have done, ye have turned your spirit against me. We may become guilty of this sin before we think of it; for as there is a direct and literal contending with God, so an equivalent, or constructive contending with him. As some men commit plain open Treason against a State, but others commit only constructive Treason: 'Tis so here, the God of Heaven knows when spirits turn against him directly, and when by consequence, and he will take vengeance not only of direct and avowed, but also of consequential and constructive Treason against his Sovereignty, unless the offender repent and be humbled before him. He will judge thousands at the last day, for opposing him, who, it may be, in some things have pleaded for him; yea, who have in some things not only acted, but suffered for him; though usually when the spirit of any man turneth against God, that mans works and words turn against him too: So Eliphaz further taxeth Job in the latter clause of the Verse.

That while we speake, or our hearts rise up against the dealings of God with our selves or others, we may be sayd to turne our spirits against God himselfe: Many who think they have not neglected Christ, will be found to have neglected him, because they have neglected those by whom, or that wherein Christ is offered. The Evangelist brings in Christ speaking thus (