A35537:786
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of the book of Job being the substance of thirty-five lectures / by Joseph Caryl ...
London: printed by M. Simmons, 1664
AN EXPOSITION WITH Practical Observations UPON The Thirty-fifth, Th… › Chapter 36 › Verses 8-10
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Further, what was the season of opening the ear? It was a day of affliction, when they were bound in fetters, and holden in cords of affliction.
Hence learn; God useth afflictions as medicines or means to restore spiritual hearing.
Man is often cured of his spiritual deafness, both as to the voice of the word and works of God, by sickness. A good man in health,1 peace, & prosperity, may have his ears so stopped that the Lord sees it needful to send some sharp correction to get out the ear-wax and unlock them. Prosperity (saith one of the Ancients) is the gift of God comforting us; adversity is the gift of God admonishing us; why then dost thou complain that thou sufferest, thy suffering is a medicament, not a punishment; 'tis for thy bettering, not for thy undoing. 'Tis a favour to feel God striking, when we have not heard him speaking, and he therefore strikes that we may attend what he speaks; When words do not prevail to open the ear, fetters and cords shall. That's the second design of God when he brings the righteous into straits, Then he openeth their ear to discipline: The third is given in the close of this verse; And commandeth that they return from iniquity.
Man is often cured of his spiritual deafness, both as to the voyce of the word and workes of God, by sickness. A good man in health,1 peace, & prosperity, may have his ears so stopped that the Lord sees it needful to send some sharp correction to get out the ear-wax and unlock them. Prosperity (saith one of the Ancients) is the gift of God comforting us; adversity is the gift of God admonishing us; why then dost thou complain that thou sufferest, thy suffering is a medicament, not a punishment; 'tis for thy bettering, not for thy undoing. 'Tis a favour to feel God striking, when we have not heard him speaking, and he therefore strikes that we may attend what he speaks; When words do not prevaile to open the ear, fetters and cords shall. That's the second designe of God when he brings the righteous into streights, Then he openeth their ear to discipline: The third is given in the close of this verse; And commandeth that they return from iniquity.