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

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,

First, Though God be excellent in Judgment, and plenty of Justice, yet it may be said, he will not afflict, because in some sense, he hath not a will to afflict, or he doth not afflict with his will, that is, he delights not to afflict, he hath declared himself more ready to show mercy, than to execute judgment. In one Prophet he saith,¹ I have no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth (Ezek. 18.32.) and another Prophet saith of him, He doth not willingly afflict, nor grieve the children of men (Lam. 3.33.) This Prophet was there bemoaning the greatest affliction that ever befell the people of God, yet, saith he, God doth not afflict willingly, he doth not afflict with his heart, as the word there is expressed in the Margin; when he afflicts, it is as it were a work of his hand, not of his heart, yea a work that he would gladly rid his hands of. What once that c•uel Tyrant Nero said when he was to •••ne a Warrant fo• the Execution of an offender,