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

We may well put the Apostles question (Rom. 6.21.) to our selves, What fruit have we in those things whereof we are now ashamed? What benefit have we got by polluting our selves with sin? But how vain a question is it to say, What profit shall I have, ⟨p. 18⟩if I be cleansed from my sin? Elihu chargeth Job with this; yet still remember, he refers not to his eternal, but temporal condition. And this was Asaph's or Davids temptation also, as to his temporal condition; even he, the one or the other, David or Asaph spake as much in express terms, as Job is here charged with, (Psal. 73.13.) where complaining of the great trials and troubles he had been under, and of the prosperity of the wicked; Behold (saith he) these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world, they increase in riches. But how is it with me? Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency; for all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every moment. As if he had said, What have I got by my holiness, and forsaking of sin? what have I gained by my strictest walkings, and abstainings from the very appearance of evil? Have I not reason to conclude, in good earnest, that I have cleansed my heart and hands in vain, seeing my sufferings are not lessened, though my sins are, seeing my punishments are renewed every morning, though I am every morning upon the renewal of my repentance? Thus spake the Psalmist in the day of his temptation; and doubtless, this day of his Temptation had been a day of temptation and provocation to the Lord, (like that of Israels in the Wilderness, Psal. 95.7.) had not the Lord come in by his grace, and helped him to bite in his words at the very next verse; If I say, I will speak thus, (if I use such, not only uncomely, but wicked language as this, I have cleansed my heart and hands in vain) Behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. And when I thought to know this, it was too wonderful for me; that is, it was beyond my skill to reconcile these works, these providences of God towards me, with his word and promises; nor was I any whit less at a loss, how to reconcile the prosperity and flourishing condition of wicked men, with those terrible threatenings which the Lord in his Word every where thunders out against them. These cross and intricate dispensations puzzled me greatly, put my soul into a maze;