A35535:1413
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and the thirty fourth chapters of the book of Job being the substance of forty-nine lectures / delivered at Magnus near the Bridge, London, by Joseph Caryl ...An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and the thirty fourth chapters of the booke of Job being the substance of forty-nine lectures / delivered at Magnus neare the Bridge, London, by Joseph Caryl ...
London: printed by M. Simmons, 1661
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.
Fifthly, The purpose of God in afflicting us, is to set us a praying to and seeking after him. We seldom know our need ⟨p. 344⟩of him, till we feel it. (Hos: 5.15.) In their affliction they will seek me early; affliction puts man upon supplication, yet every man who is afflicted, doth not presently seek God (many in their affliction mind not God, they seek to men, not to God, a cross without a Christ, never made any seek God) but affliction through the workings of the Spirit of Christ, is a means to bring the soul to God; and we see the effect of it at the beginning of the next Chapter in the same Prophet (Hos: 6.1.) Come let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn, and he will heal us, &c.
Fifthly, The purpose of God in afflicting us, is to set us a praying to and seeking after him. We seldome know our need ⟨p. 344⟩of him, till we feele it. (Hos: 5.15.) In their affliction they will seek me early; affliction puts man upon supplication, yet every man who is afflicted, doth not presently seek God (many in their affliction mind not God, they seek to men, not to God, a crosse without a Christ, never made any seek God) but affliction through the workings of the Spirit of Christ, is a meanes to bring the soule to God; and we see the effect of it at the beginning of the next Chapter in the same Prophet (Hos: 6.1.) Come let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn, and he will heale us, &c.
Sixthly, God is pleased to exercise us with crosses, for the exercise of our Graces, or to set grace awork; Grace hath most business to do when we are taken off from all worldly business, and are laid upon our bed, our sick-bed. Some work is not done so well any where else, as there. And many graces work best when 'tis worst with us; they would even stand s••ll, and have nothing to do, if God did not bring us into straights, or keep us for a season in them. In a sick-bed the Lord shows us, and we may find work enough for all our graces, especially for faith and patience, and submission of spirit to his work and will. We may do better work (and do it better) in sickness then in health.