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…

Thirdly, To be in the stocks is a disgraceful thing; it is not only a pain and a restraint, but it is a reproach; He that is in the stocks, or in the pillory, is exposed to shame, every one points at him, and many revile him. Affliction as to the eye of the world, carrieth a disgrace with it, or, at least, subjects the person afflicted to disgrace; And it hath been showed from several passages of this book, how Job's afflictions were interpreted to his disgrace; and he looked upon, as I may say, like a vagabond in the stocks, that God had brought him thither, and clapped him by the heels for his misdemeanours. Though afflictions diminish no mans honour or esteem with God, or with his people (an afflicted Saint is as precious and honourable in their eyes, as when in the greatest prosperity; The clouds of trouble cannot eclipse the glory of Grace, nor render the gracious contemptible to those who know them such) yet, as to the eye and opinion of worldly men they do. Job said his afflictions were a witness against him, as if all were not right with him, yea, as if he had been very unrighteous. The stocks are a witness against a man, that surely he hath done some ill thing. Thus you see there is pain in affliction, restraint in affliction, disgrace in affliction, especially in the opinion of the world, and therefore to be in affliction is to be as in the stocks. He putteth my feet in the stocks.

Thirdly, To be in the stocks is a disgracefull thing; it is not only a paine and a restraint, but it is a reproach; He that is in the stocks, or in the pillory, is exposed to shame, every one poynts at him, and many revile him. Affliction as to the eye of the world, carrieth a disgrace with it, or, at least, subjects the person afflicted to disgrace; And it hath been shewed from severall passages of this booke, how Job's afflictions were interpreted to his disgrace; and he lookt upon, as I may say, like a vagabond in the stocks, that God had brought him thither, and clapt him by the heeles for his misdemeanours. Though afflictions diminish no mans honour or esteeme with God, or with his people (an afflicted Saint is as precious and honorable in their eyes, as when in the greatest prosperity; The clouds of trouble cannot ecclipse the glory of Grace, nor render the gracious contemptible to those who know them such) yet, as to the eye and opinion of worldly men they doe. Job sayd his afflictions were a witness against him, as if all were not right with him, yea, as if he had been very unrighteous. The stocks are a witness against a man, that surely he hath done some ill thing. Thus you see there is paine in affliction, restraint in affliction, disgrace in affliction, especially in the opinion of the world, and therefore to be in affliction is to be as in the stocks. He putteth my feet in the stocks.