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

Thirdly, For answer, let us consider the drift of the Spirit of God in this promise of pleasure. Job had often complained of his own sorrowful condition, and concluded himself a man of sorrow for all the remainder of his days: though his faith was strong for the resurrection of his body after death, yet he had little, if any faith at all, that he should be raised out of that miserable estate wherein he was in this life. He also had spoken somewhat rashly and amiss concerning the dealings of God with his servants in general, as if nothing but trouble and sorrow, did attend them, and that the wicked went away with all the sweet and good of this world. Now Elihu to take him off from these sad, and almost despairing thought•, as to the return of his own comforts, and to rectify his judgement in the general point, as to the dealings of God with others; he assureth Job, that if righteous men being bound in fetters, &c. hear and obey, God will break those bonds, and cut the cords of their affliction, and they shall spend (the remainder of) their days in prosperity, and (the rest of) their years in ⟨p. 247⟩pleasures. So that Elihu in holding out this promise to Job, would rather clear his judgement from an error concerning the lastingness or continuance of his pains and sorrows, than heat his affections in the expectation of joys and pleasures in this world.

Thirdly, For answer, let us consider the drift of the Spirit of God in this promise of pleasure. Job had often complained of his own sorrowfull condition, and concluded himself a man of sorrow for all the remainder of his dayes: though his faith was strong for the resurrection of his body after death, yet he had little, if any faith at all, that he should be raised out of that miserable estate wherein he was in this life. He also had spoken somewhat rashly and amiss concerning the dealings of God with his servants in general, as if nothing but trouble and sorrow, did attend them, and that the wicked went away with all the sweet and good of this world. Now Elihu to take him off from these sad, and almost despairing thought•, as to the return of his own comforts, and to rectifie his judgement in the general poynt, as to the dealings of God with others; he assureth Job, that if righteous men being bound in fetters, &c. hear and obey, God will break those bonds, and cut the cords of their affliction, and they shall spend (the remainder of) their dayes in prosperity, and (the rest of) their years in