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

And therefore we are not to understand this Text of any sinful pleasure, nor of a life merely lead in lawful pleasure, that a man should be all upon his pleasure, and lay aside his Calling; Elihu doth not oppose pleasure to work, labour or business, but to trouble, sorrow, and affliction. They that obey and serve the Lord shall spend their years in pleasures, in honest pleasures, that is, they shall live, not only contentedly, but joyfully. The Lord alloweth us to take any honest pleasure while we live, but not to live in pleasure; he alloweth us to take our delights, but our delights must not take us.

And therefore we are not to understand this Text of any sinful pleasure, nor of a life meerly lead in lawful pleasure, that a man should be all upon his pleasure, and lay aside his Calling; Elihu doth not oppose pleasure to work, labour or business, but to trouble, sorrow, and affliction. They that obey and serve the Lord shall spend their years in pleasures, in honest pleasures, that is, they shall live, not only contentedly, but joyfully. The Lord alloweth us to take any honest pleasure while we live, but not to live in pleasure; he alloweth us to take our delights, but our delights must not take us.

There is yet another Query, for it may be said, Is this a truth, that they who obey and serve the Lord shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures? I answer to that,

There is yet another Query, for it may be said, Is this a truth, that they who obey and serve the Lord shall spend their dayes in prosperity, and their years in pleasures? I answer to that,

First, If we take it absolutely and universally, we cannot affirm that every one who serveth and obeyeth God, shall always have pleasure, that is, outward comforts and contentments in this world; many of the Lords faithful servants have lived in pain and sorrow; so that if (as David spake in this case,