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

First, Because he is so great, so immense, so incomprehensible, so powerful, so just, because he hath such plenty of justice, therefore men do fear him.

Secondly, Therefore men do fear him; Why? Because, though he be clothed with power, justice and judgement, yet he will not afflict, that is, he will not afflict extremely, in any of tho•e four senses before given; he moderates his power by compassion in his sharpest dispensations towards his people; there is a great mixture of love & mercy with his justice, therefore men do fear him. As if Elihu had thus bespoken Job: Others fear God because they experience or find him kind and good to them, even in affliction, how then cometh it to pass, that thou hast from the beginning carried it, as if God mixed no kindness nor showed any tenderness in his afflicting of thee? why is it that thou hast cursed thy day? that thou hast complained that ever thou wast born, that thou hast so often wished for death? Why hast thou said that thou art not only pressed, but even oppressed, that though thy cause be good, yet th•u hast born the heaviest loads of evil? Why dost thou strive with him? These are no arguments of thy fear, but of an impatient and fretful spirit, if not of a kind of rage and fury against God himself; These are no proofs that thou doest acknowledge his goodness in afflicting thee, and so fear him, for by these thou dost rather charge and accuse him of harshness and severity.

Secondly, Therefore men do fear him; Why? Because, though he be cloathed with power, justice and judgement, yet he will not afflict, that is, he will not afflict extreamly, in any of tho•e four sences before given; he moderates his power by compassion in his sharpest dispensations towards his people; there is a great mixture of love & mercy with his justice, therefore men do fear him. As if Elihu had thus bespoken Job: Others fear God because they experience or find him kind and good to them, even in afflicti•n, how then cometh it to pass, that thou hast from the beginning carried it, as if God mixt no kindnes nor shewed any tenderness in his afflicting of thee? why is it that thou hast cursed thy day? that thou hast complained that ever thou wast born, that thou hast so often wished for death? Why hast thou said that thou art not only pressed, but even oppressed, that though thy cause be good, yet thu hast born the heaviest loads of evill? Why dost thou strive with him? These are no arguments of thy fear, but of an impatient and fretful spirit, if not of a kind of rage and fury against God himself; These are no proofs that thou doest acknowledge his goodness in afflicting thee, and so fear him, for by these thou dost rather charge and accuse him of harshnesse and severity.