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

But God justly, and in much wisdom, sharpened the spirit of Elihu, to speak cutting words to Job, that Job feeling the smart, might be made sensible of his error, and at last be brought low, and broken under his hand. Mild words may skin a sore before 'tis searched to the bottom, and so not only retard the Cure, but endanger the Patient. The holy Apostle fore-seeing the murmurings, quarrels and disputes which flesh and blood would make about Election or Predestination, doth not go about so much to answer them by Reason, as to repress them by a strong Reproof, and vehement Objurgation, (Rom. 9.20.) Nay, but O man, who art thou that replyest against God! shall the thing formed, say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus? hath not the Potter power over the Clay? &c. Now as about that unsearchable depth of eternal Election, so about present dreadful dispensations, and providences, our undue reasonings and tumultuating thoughts of heart, concerning God, breaking our bounds, and forgetting with whom we have to do, or who hath to do with us, call for and deserve sharpest reproofs; Who are you that reply against God! Who are you that think this to be right ••••h you do, or any thing wrong which God doth? Who are you, that you should presume to say (so much as by inference) that your righteousness is more than Gods, or, that it is any thing compared with the righteousness of God!

But God justly, and in much wisdome, sharpned the spirit of Elihu, to speak cutting words to Job, that Job feeling the smart, might be made sensible of his errour, and at last be brought low, and broken under his hand. Milde words may skin a sore before 'tis searcht to the bottom, and so not only retard the Cure, but endanger the Patient. The holy Apostle fore-seeing the murmurings, quarrels and disputes which flesh and blood would make about Election or Predestination, doth not go about so much to answer them by Reason, as to represse them by a strong Reproof, and vehement Objurgation, (Rom. 9.20.) Nay, but O man, who art thou that replyest against God! shall the thing formed, say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus? hath not the Potter power over the Clay? &c. Now as about that unsearchable depth of eternal Election, so about present dreadful dispensations, and providences, our undue reasonings and tumultuating thoughts of heart, concerning God, breaking our bounds, and forgetting with whom we have to do, or who hath to do with us, call for and deserve sharpest reproofs; Who are you that reply against God! Who are you that think this to be right h you do, or any thing wrong which God doth? Who are you, that you should presume to say (so much as by inference) that your righteousness is more than Gods, or, that it is any thing compared with the righteousness of God!