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

Secondly, He may intend it of righteous men in any other condition; for Elihu having showed how graciously God dealeth in exalting some righteous men, showeth that God is gracious also unto those that are not exalted, even unto those that are greatly afflicted, and brought very low. Briefly, as in the former verse he spake of righteous men lifted up, so here of righteous men cast down: As if he had said, If any of the righteous are at any time so far from being exalted with Kings on the Throne, that they are cast upon the dunghill, and are brought into great straits, yet it is not because God takes no care of them, or because he hath cast them out of his favour; but it is thus with righteous men for many blessed ends and purposes, which God hath upon them, or towards them, to show them their sin, to fit them for instruction, and to bring them off from their iniquity. Thus the words prevent an objection; for Elihu having said, he withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous, but with Kings are they on the Throne, some might say, You can show us very few such sights, you can show us few righteous men with Kings on the Throne, or exalted highly in this world; and we can show you many righteous men in great trouble, in fetters and cords of affliction. Well, saith Elihu, suppose it be so, suppose you find many righteous men in such a low condition, ⟨p. 220⟩yet God withdraweth not his eyes from them, no not then; yea, he is doing them good by all the evils that they suffer. So then, if this relative they refer to righteous men in either capacity, either to such as were before exalted, and are now affl cted, or to such righteous men as were never so exalted, yea as are depressed and cast into an afflicted condition, yet God withdraw h not his eyes from them, but still continues his care of them, and tenderness towards them.

Secondly, He may intend it of righteous men in any other condition; for Elihu having shewed how graciously God dealeth in exalting some righteous men, sheweth that God is gracious also unto those that are not exalted, even unto those that are greatly afflicted, and brought very low. Briefly, as in the former verse he spake of righteous men lifted up, so here of righteous men cast down: As if he had said, If any of the righteous are at any time so far from being exalted with Kings on the Throne, that they are cast upon the dunghill, and are brought into great streights, yet it is not because God takes no care of them, or because he hath cast them out of his favour; but it is thus with righteous men for many blessed ends and purposes, which God hath upon them, or towards them, to shew them their sin, to fit them for instruction, and to bring them off from their iniquity. Thus the words prevent an objection; for Elihu having said, he withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous, but with Kings are they on the Throne, some might say, You can shew us very few such sights, you can shew us few righteous men with Kings on the Throne, or exalted highly in this world; and we can shew you many righteous men in great trouble, in fetters and cords of affliction. Well, saith Elihu, suppose it be so, suppose you find many righteous men in such a low condition,