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

First, Thus; Thou hast said, What profit shall I have more by it (that is, by my righteousness) than by my sins: As if his meaning were (which is a very gross one) What good shall I get by well-doing more than by ill-doing? One of the Rabbins takes in strongly with this comparative exposition, between those remotest moral extremes good and evil, as to his case: But I dare not join either with the one or other in this interpretation.

First, Thus; Thou hast said, What profit shall I have more by it (that is, by my righteousness) than by my sins: As if his meaning were (which is a very grosse one) What good shall I get by well-doing more than by ill-doing? One of the Rabbins takes in strongly with this comparative exposition, between those remotest moral extreams good and evil, as to his case: But I dare not joyn either with the one or other in this interpretation.

¹A second gives it thus; If thou demandest what may it profit thee, saying, What good shall I get by further punishment or suffering?

1. 1Si roges, quid profuturum sit •ibi, dicens, quid proficerem a supplicia mea. Jun:

It hath been said before, that those words, If I be cleansed, are ⟨p. 17⟩not found expressly in the Hebrew Text; And the word in our Translation rendered sin, signifieth also punishment or suffering, which is the fruit or effect of sin. So that according to this reading, Elihu in these words prevents an objection, which Job might take occasion to make from what he had said, or wished rather, at the 36th verse of the former Chapter. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end; That is, further afflicted, or afflicted to the utmost. Against this desire of Elihu, Job is by him supposed making his exception, or objection, in this verse; As if he had said, Why doest thou, or what reason hast thou to desire that I should be yet again tried by affliction? What, I pray, would that profit me, if I were afflicted yet more and more? Can the suffering of evil do me good, or make me better? To this objection, Elihu gives answer in the next verse, and those which follow to the ninth; and he doth it (as the Asserter of this Interpretation judgeth) by this Dilemma. Thy afflictions would profit either God or thy self (seeing God doth nothing in vain); but neither thy sufferings, how grievous soever, nor thy doings, how righteous soever, can profit God, no more than thy sins or evil doings can damage God; therefore it remains, that if God afflict thee further, it will be (if thou hast a heart to improve it) for thy profit.