A35535:404
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.
Secondly, God is merciful, he is gracious, (Lament. 3.33.) He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the Children of men. Now, if God hath declared himself so unwilling to grieve the Children of men, surely, when we see him so willingly grieve a man, as he hath grieved this or that man, may we not say, he is a wicked man? Judgement is called Gods strange work, but in judging some he acteth as if judgement were his proper work, as if he were in his Element when he is laying heavy strokes on their backs; therefore may we not conclude such among the wicked?
Secondly, God is mercifull, he is gracious, (Lament. 3.33.) He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the Children of men. Now, if God hath declared himselfe so unwilling to grieve the Children of men, surely, when we see him so willingly grieve a man, as he hath grieved this or that man, may we not say, he is a wicked man? Judgement is called Gods strange worke, but in judging some he acteth as if judgement were his proper worke, as if he were in his Element when he is laying heavie stroaks on their backs; therefore may we not conclude such among the wicked?
Thirdly, God is wise; he cannot be deceived concerning any man; therefore there is some great reason why he afflicts, and what reason can more probably be given of a great affliction, then some great sin? As God is so true that he will not deceive any man, so he is so wise that he cannot be deceived in any man. He cannot miss his mark, nor fall upon a wrong subject in his dispensations; therefore we have fair warrant to say, that a man against whom God appears so much, appears very foul to him, what ever fair appearances he may have among men.
Thirdly, God is wise; he cannot be deceived concerning any man; therefore there is some great reason why he afflicts, and what reason can more probably be given of a great affliction, then some great sin? As God is so true that he will not deceive any man, so he is so wise that he cannot be deceived in any man. He cannot misse his mark, nor fall upon a wrong subject in his dispensations; therefore we have faire warrant to say, that a man against whom God appeares so much, appeares very foule to him, what ever faire appearances he may have among men.