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

Further, when Elihu saith regard not iniquity, we are to expound him by these affirmatives; slight it, turn from it, abhor it, loath it, despise it, reject it; all these affi matives are contained in that negative, regard not. Frequently in Scripture, negatives intend their contrary affirmatives. When that Scripture saith, despise not prophesying, (1 Thes. 5.) the meaning is, ye shall regard it, love i•, follow it, delight in it; so on the other hand, when this Scripture saith, regard not iniquity, the meaning is, despise and oppose iniquity to the utmost; Take heed, regard not iniquity. From this part of the verse thus opened,

Observe, First; It is no easy matter to keep our selves right when things seem to go wrong with us.

Observe, First; It is no easie matter to keep our selves right when things seem to go wrong with us.

It is a hard thing to forbear iniquity when we are pinched with adversity; not to speak unduly and uncomely, not to speak amiss of God, not to speak unbecoming our selves, require •reat caution in a day of distress. We have need to take heed of this iniquity, to be watchful in an evil day, that we neither do nor say that which is evil. When things are amiss with us, we are very apt to speak and do amiss. As soon as ever the hand of God toucheth us, how do we grieve! how do we complain! how do we murmur! how do we repine! O regard not this, 'tis an iniquity to be taken heed of, in a dark day, in a day of trouble, such as was upon Job; as black a day was upon him, as ever upon any in the world, as to his personal condition. If such a Cedar failed, have ⟨p. 321⟩