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

Some translate, cords of poverty; ¹the same word signifying both affliction & poverty, because poverty is so great an affliction. Here's the case, this is the condition into which Elihu supposeth righteous men may fall; They may be bound in fetters, and holden in cords of affliction. Taking the words as they refer to righteous men in general, observe, The best of men may fall into the worst outward condition;

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew] Eunibus p•upertatu. Vulg: [Greek or Hebrew] Dicitur qui quid premit & constringit; quare appellalatione Funis comprehenditur pignus, quo obligatur homo, •• dolour praefertim parturie• l•m.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Eunibus p•upertatu. Vulg: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Dicitur qui quid premit & constringit; quare appellalatione Funis comprehenditur pignus, quo obligatur homo, •• dolor praefertim parturie• l•m.

They may be in a condition of captivity, they may be in real fetters and cords, or they may be in a state of affliction, as bad to them as fetters and cords. I have heretofore, more than once, spoken of the afflictions of the righteous in the opening of this Book, therefore I shall not stay upon it here. Only take notice that the righteous may come into fetters, &c. not only for trial of their graces, but for the punishment of their iniquities; they possibly have not kept close to the bands of duty, and therefore God brings them into the bands of calamity. As wicked men say in the pride and stoutness of their hearts, (