A35535:617
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.
If we flatter men, God will not flatter us, he will deal plainly with us. To receive flattery, or to suffer our selves to be flattered, ⟨p. 136⟩is very dangerous, as we see in the example of Herod (Acts 12.22, 23.) who having made a very eloquent Oration, The people gave a shout, saying, it is the voice of a God, and not of a man; They gave him flattering titles, or (as some render the former part of this verse) they wondered at his person. But what was the issue of it? Presently (saith the text) the Angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten up with worms, and gave up the ghost. Thus his Maker took him soon away, for taking that glory to himself. O take heed of entertaining flatteries when given, we should put them back from us, as we would a poisonous cup. High commendations of Sermons given to the Preacher, may have a sad consequence. When men give much glory to men, 'tis hard for men to give the glory back again to God. Herod was so pleased and tickled with the glory which the people gave him, that he could not part with it, and so lost himself. Because he forgot that he was a worm, he was destroyed by worms. The translation given us by the Septuagint of this text in Job, 1complies fully with that dreadful example in the Acts; I know not how to give flattering titles, for in so doing the worms or moths will eat me up. The words of Elihu thus rendered in Job are a threatening assertion, That the worms shall eat those that give flatteries; and the judgement which fell upon Herod, is an example threatening all those that receive flattering titles, with that dreadful doom of being eaten up by worms. And doubtless, if not that, yet either some other corporal and visible judgement, or (which is much worse) some spiritual and invisible judgement, will overtake those who love either to flatter others, or to be flattered themselves. And as that example shows how dangerous it is to receive flatteries; so to give flatteries, hath in it a double danger.
If we flatter men, God will not flatter us, he will deale plainly with us. To receive flattery, or to suffer our selves to be flattered, ⟨p. 136⟩