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

Secondly, When Elihu saith, he preserveth not the life of the ⟨p. 188⟩wicked, ¹we are to understand it by an ordinary Figure, wherein less is expressed, than is to be understood; He preserveth not, that is, first, he is not solicitous about their preservation, he cares not much what becomes of them; and not only so, but Secondly, he destroyeth the life of the wicked; the Lord will certainly ruin and utterly undo them, one time or other, one way or other; he will do it either immediately, by his own Arm, by some notable stroke of vengeance from himself: or he will do it by means, he will find out, and impower instruments, that shall destroy the very life of the wicked. And I conceive Elihu brings in this Proposition concerning God, in answer to what Job had observed and complainingly alleged about the Prosperity of the wicked, (Chap. 21.7.) Wherefore doth the wicked live, become old, yea are mighty in power? As if Job had intimated, that the Lord surely did show, not only some, but much respect unto wicked men; they did not only live, but they lived a long time, and not only a long time a bare life, but were mighty in power, and over-powered, yea, oppressed many with their might. Elihu replieth here, notwithstanding this Allegation (which seemed to reflect upon the Justice of God) that the Lord preserveth not the Life of the wicked. Mark, first, he doth not say, he preserveth not the Life of a man that sinneth, for then whose life should be preserved? but, he preserveth not the life of the wicked; ²that is, of a man who sinneth presumptuously, and goeth on impenitently, who is incorrigible. Secondly, he doth not say, God suffereth not a wicked man to live, for then (most men being wicked in all Ages of the world) the world would be very thin, and almost naked, of Inhabitants: But he preserveth not (saith he) the life of the wicked; that is, he sets no sto•e by them, as we do of those things, which we carefully preserve. We may compare this verse with that of Job (Chap. 34.26, 27, 28.) where 'tis said of mighty oppressors, the Lord striketh them at wicked men (that is, as he useth to strike wicked men) in the open sight of others; because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: So that they cause the cry of the poor to come up to him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.