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

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.

It hath been said before, that those words, If I be cleansed, are ⟨p. 17⟩not found expresly in the Hebrew Text; And the word in our Translation rendred 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 tryed 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 tryed 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 vaine); 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.