A35535:2459
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.
Vers. 14. If he set his heart upon man.
To set the heart upon any thing or person, is a Scripture expression, often used, noting more then barely to think upon or mind both or either. It signifieth to have deep and serious thoughts, to think with consideration and attention, yea with some height and heat of affection. And all this whether that thing which the heart and affections are set upon, please or displease, be comfortable or grievous; for both love and hatred, hope and fear, are thoughtful of, and solicitous about their several objects. Hence ⟨p. 588⟩that caution (Psal: 62.10.) If riches increase set not your heart upon them; we naturally love riches, and therefore as naturally spend many thoughts, both how to get and how to keep them. If a man have riches, or an increase of riches, it is not unlawful for him to think or them, (yet we should be as sparing of our thoughts that way as can be, our thoughts and the bent of our souls should always be upon God) but that which the Psalmist forbids is the settling of our hearts; As if he had said, Let not your thoughts stay or dwell there. Riches are themselves transient things, therefore they should have but our transient thoughts. Set not your hearts upon them, for they may quickly be unsettled. Samuel bespake Saul in the same language about a worldly concernment, when he went out to seek his fathers Asses (1 Sam: 9.20.) Set not thy mind on them. 'Tis like Saul was over-burdened with this thought, What's become of, or what shall I do for my fathers Asses? Be not solicitous about them, saith Samuel, greater things are towards thee. Abigail useth the same form of speaking to David concerning Naball (1 Sam: 25.23.) Let not my Lord regard this man of Belial, lay not to heart what Nabal hath said or done. Thus Jonadab took off Davids fear, that in one day he had been deprived of all his Sons (2 Sam: 13.33.) Now therefore let not my Lord the King take the thing to heart, to think that all the Kings sons are dead, for Amnon only is dead. We are as apt to set our heart upon our losses, as upon our enjoyments. And to show how little Pharaoh regarded the heavy hand of God upon him, it is said (after Moses had turned all the waters that were in the river to blood, Exod: 7.23.) And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did set his heart to this also; That is, he slighted what God had done.