There was a time when Job was far from striving with God, far from doing or speaking any thing which had the least shadow or savour of it. Time was, when Job was altogether for, and in submitting to God; Let God do what he will with him, he had not a word to say against him. After all the sad reports and messages which were brought to him of the devastation of his whole estate in the field, yea of the disastrous death of all his children in one day, and at once; did Job strive with God? did he utter one word of complaint, or so much as of any dissatisfaction? No, not one, but gave Glory by this confession; The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken, blessed be the name of the Lord. Was not here a clear yielding of himself up to God, to do what he would with him? Did he not freely lay himself low, when God had laid him at the lowest? who ever heard or read of a more perfect work of patience in a mere mortal man? Yet in the process of the business, Job did not only speak such words as carried a shadow of striving with God, but were real strivings and uncomely pleadings with him. His heart did not retain that first sweet submissive frame throughout the affliction, which appeared to admiration at the beginning of it. The state of grace abideth always, 'tis not (as some affirm) loseable; 'tis not, like the best things of this world perishing. But though a state of Grace abideth always, yet every mans grace (if any mans) doth not always abide in the same state. A true frame of grace shall never be destroyed, but the heart of a gracious man doth not always continue in the same frame. The heat of grace may be cooled, the height of it abated, the strength of it weakened, and the beauty of it faded. He that a while ago walked and acted very humbly, may upon another temptation act very proudly, and walk as if he were above all his brethren. He that one while hath acted very self-denyingly, may at another time act very self-seekingly. He that hath acted very lovingly, (the very law of love being stamped upon his words and works) may at another time act very unlovely and lovelessly, and do things which are very much beside and below, yea contrary to the fulfilling of that royal Law; He may be so far from bearing his brothers burden, ⟨p. 248⟩(which is the fulfilling of that law of Christ, Gal: 6.2.) that he may be a burden to his brother.
There was a time when Job was far from striving with God, far from doing or speaking any thing which had the least shadow or savour of it. Time was, when Job was altogether for, and in submitting to God; Let God doe what he will with him, he had not a word to say against him. After all the sad reports and messages which were brought to him of the devastation of his whole estate in the field, yea of the disasterous death of all his children in one day, and at once; did Job strive with God? did he utter one word of complaint, or so much as of any dissatisfaction? No, not one, but gave Glory by this confession; The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken, blessed be the name of the Lord. Was not here a cleare yeilding of himselfe up to God, to doe what he would with him? Did he not freely lay himselfe low, when God had layed him at the lowest? who ever heard or read of a more perfect worke of patience in a meere mortall man? Yet in the process of the business, Job did not only speak such words as carried a shadow of striving with God, but were reall strivings and uncomely pleadings with him. His heart did not retaine that first sweet submissive frame throughout the affliction, which appeared to admiration at the beginning of it. The state of grace abideth alwayes, 'tis not (as some affirme) loseable; 'tis not, like the best things of this world perishing. But though a state of Grace abideth alwayes, yet every mans grace (if any mans) doth not alwayes abide in the same state. A true frame of grace shall never be destroyed, but the heart of a gracious man doth not alwayes continue in the same frame. The heate of grace may be cooled, the hight of it abated, the strength of it weakned, and the beauty of it faded. He that a while agoe walked and acted very humbly, may upon another temptation act very proudly, and walke as if he were above all his brethren. He that one while hath acted very self-denyingly, may at another time act very self-seekingly. He that hath acted very lovingly, (the very law of love being stamped upon his words and workes) may at another time act very unlovely and lovelesly, and doe things which are very much beside and below, yea contrary to the fulfilling of that royall Law; He may be so far from bearing his brothers burden, ⟨p. 248⟩(which is the fulfilling of that law of Christ, Gal: 6.2.) that he may be a burden to his brother.
