An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

As there is no counsel, so no force of strength against the Lord. Hannah sang this truth (1 Sam. 2.9.) By strength shall no man prevail, that is, against man, if God be with him; much more is it true that by strength shall no man prevail against God (Isa. 1.31.) The strong shall be tow, and the maker thereof as a spark; that is, as some expound, their Idols, whom they made their strength, shall be as tow, that is, as the most combustible matter, easily consumed, and the maker of it, that is, the Idol-maker, shall be as a spark. Do but blow a spark among tow, and what will become of it? Such are the strongest Idols, in which men trust, and such are the mightyest and strongest men before the Lord, who trust in them. Tow or flax or hemp (after the dressing) is as tinder, that the least spark will give fire to The strong (Idol) shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark; or, which is in effect the same, The strong (man) shall be tow, and that which he hath made, or (as we put in the Margin) his work, that is, his Idol, shall be as a spark, and they shall both burn, or perish together. This is the sentence of the Lord against the strong, a spark shall set them on fire and burn them; how then shall the strong be able to stand before the Lord who is not a spark, but a fire, and that a consuming fire! and therefore, I may urge Elihu's counsel to Job, upon all sorts of men, upon those especially who persist in any sin, take heed, because there is wrath, beware, &c. or I may urge them with the Prophets dehortation (Jer. 9.23.) Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor the mighty man in his strength, nor the rich man in his riches, for, none of these can help or deliver from wrath, only Jesus Christ can, and it hath been showed who they are to whom he will not be a delivering ransom. It may be very useful to consider what negatives Elihu puts upon sinners as to deliverance from kindled wrath; not riches, not honour, not crying, not praying, not strength, not defence can deliver without turning from sin to God, and all in Christ.

As there is no counsel, so no force of strength against the Lord. Hannah sang this truth (1 Sam. 2.9.) By strength shall no man prevail, that is, against man, if God be with him; much more is it true that by strength shall no man prevail against God (