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

This may seem at first hearing, a strange connection; will he not afflict? how then hath he plenty of Justice? Doth not God afflict? who afflicts then? have men the power of affliction in their hands? or hath Satan the power of affliction in his hand? Affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground, said Eliphaz (Chap. 5.6.) ⟨p. 631⟩Saith not the Scripture every where, affliction comes down from heaven, or that 'tis of God? did not Job say (Chap. 1.21.) The Lord hath taken, that is, afflicted me, by taking away my all of this world? and doth not God himself say (Psal. 89.30, 31, 32.) If his children forget my Law, I will punish their transgression with a rod, and their iniquity with stripes? How then saith Elihu, God will not •ffl ct?

I answer, First, In general, Elihu speaks thus in answer to a doubt, or to remove a fear arising upon the whole, of what had been said of God. For if God be such a God, so excellent in power, and in Judgment, and in plenty of Justice, then surely our case is very sad, may some say, who can abide to be near or stand before such a God? O, saith Elihu, fear not, He will not affl ct. More particularly, I answer,

I answer, First, In general, Elihu speaks thus in answer to a doubt, or to remove a feare arising upon the whole, of what had been said of God. For if God be such a God, so excellent in power, and in Judgment, and in plenty of Justice, then surely our case is very sad, may some say, who can abide to be neere or stand before such a God? O, saith Elihu, feare not, He will not affl ct. More particularly, I answer,