But here again it may be queried, Where did Job say, that it should profit a man nothing though he delight himself with God? If you read his discourse all over, he never spake these words directly or explicitly, they are the language of hell. But Job had spoken words, which (unless taken in a very favourable construction) might bear this censure. He spake thus, in a manner, while he at once justified himself so much, and cried out as much of the hard dealings of God with him. And while in many passages of this Book he denieth that the godly have a present reward in this life, and also affirmeth that many wicked men enjoy outward prosperity, and pass unpunished. These speeches might easily be interpreted (by common and carnal men especially) that, Job thought it an unprofitable thing to delight in God. For if All things in this life come alike to all, to the godly, and to the wicked, what doth it profit a man (as to this life) that he should delight himself in God? who among the sons of men (that knoweth of no profit beyond this life) can delight himself in that, which brings no profit? Job also said (Chap: 9.22.) God destroyeth the wicked and the righteous, that is, he afflicts the good as much as the bad, this was a principle which he held out all along. ⟨p. 546⟩Now because the Scripture saith,1 He that cometh to God, must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him (Heb: 11.6.) and (1 Tim: 4.8.) Godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come; (which Scriptures though not extant when Job lived, yet the truth contained in them was) Elihu might well be led into this apprehension, that Job had brought up an ill report upon the ways of God, as (in this life) unprofitable unto man. But though Job spake thus, yet he was far from speaking this to justify such an opinion, that there is no profit for a man to delight himself with God. His meaning was only this, that a man may want temporal present profit, notwithstanding his delighting in God. He was full and positive enough, that they who now delight in God, besides the present inward peace and profit which they find and feel, shall hereafter be crowned with everlasting rewards and delights.
But here againe it may be queried, Where did Job say, that it should profit a man nothing though he delight himselfe with God? If you read his discourse all over, he never spake these words directly or explicitely, they are the language of hell. But Job had spoken words, which (unless taken in a very favourable construction) might beare this censure. He spake thus, in a manner, while he at once justified himselfe so much, and cryed out as much of the hard dealings of God wich him. And while in many passages of this Booke he denieth that the godly have a present reward in this life, and also affirmeth that many wicked men injoy outward prosperity, and passe unpunished. These speeches might easily be interpreted (by common and carnal men especially) that, Job thought it an unprofitable thing to delight in God. For if All things in this life come alike to all, to the godly, and to the wicked, what doth it profit a man (as to this life) that he should delight himselfe in God? who among the sons of men (that knoweth of no profit beyond this life) can delight himselfe in that, which brings no profit? Job also sayd (Chap: 9.22.) God destroyeth the wicked and the righteous, that is, he afflicts the good as much as the bad, this was a principle which he held out all along. ⟨p. 546⟩Now because the Scripture saith,1 He that cometh to God, must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him (Heb: 11.6.) and (1 Tim: 4.8.) Godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come; (which Scriptures though not extant when Job lived, yet the truth contained in them was) Elihu might well be led into this apprehension, that Job had brought up an ill report upon the wayes of God, as (in this life) unprofitable unto man. But though Job spake thus, yet he was farre from speaking this to justifie such an opinion, that there is no profit for a man to delight himselfe with God. His meaning was only this, that a man may want temporall present profit, notwithstanding his delighting in God. He was full and positive enough, that they who now delight in God, besides the present inward peace and profit which they find and feele, shall hereafter be crowned with everlasting rewards and delights.
- 1Utdetur principium undo ad omnia peccata feruntur improbi approbasso, est enim praemij fides non tantum futuri sed et hujus vitae magnum incitamentum ad obsequium. Coc:Vtdetur principium undo ad omnia peccata feruntur improbi approbasso, est enim praemij fides non tantum futuri sed et hujus vitae magnum incitamentum ad obsequium. Coc:
